The Freeville Chronicles (A Fall of Equestria: Shattered Order Story)

Chapters

Chapter 1: Confessions [reworked]
Chapter 2: Foundation [reworked]
Chapter 3: Ein Hauch von Heimat (A Scent of Home)
Chapter 4: Encownters (part 1)
Chapter 5: Encownters (part 2)
Chapter 6: Speaking Differences
Chapter 7: Shadow's Awakening
Chapter 8: Mysteries
Chapter 9: Contract Matters
Chapter 10: Going Wild
Chapter 11: The Lever
Chapter 12: Tales of the Hearth
Chapter 13: Star Charmer's Present
Chapter 14: The Grey Council
Chapter 15: An Encounter in the Woods
Chapter 16: Another Medium
Chapter 17: End of the Silent One
Chapter 18: The Servant's Arrival
Chapter 19: The Councilman's Agenda
Chapter 20: Springtime
Chapter 21: A Visit to Ponyville
Chapter 22: A Mare's Confusion

Chapter 1: Confessions [reworked]

Lamentations

Before I tell my story, let me first introduce myself. You can call me Ari. When I made the pact with Hermaeus Mora, I adopted the name Aristagtle. It is a mash-up of words from Ancient Equestrian and from our own language, and it means: Stag of the Higher Cause.

It all began a few years after the invasion. I had decided to take a walk in the streets of Canterlot, which I didn't do very often because I tried to avoid any unnecessary contact with my own kind. Back then, I already had developed a deep disgust of my people, for I had to see how they corrupt and destroy anything beautiful or sublime. Hell, as one of them, I even had to participate in their brutality and stupidity in order not to attract attention. I had seen how they react to members of their own kind that think and feel as different from themselves as I do, and I know that this wasn't something I wanted to experience first hand. I was good enough at pretending to be like them, but I hated it, and I hated myself for it, and I hated them for what I was forced to do because of them. Even more importantly, for what I was forced to give up, what I had to surrender, what I had to destroy in order to be like them. Most of them still don't know what they deny themselves.

But sometimes I just had to get out and take a walk, not just to keep my body in shape, but also to keep myself distracted from the dark thoughts that would come to me after dawn. At that particular night, I noticed a riot of some sort, a group of stags and a few stallions. Still disgusted by their brutish shouts and yelling but still curious as I am, I came closer to investigate what they were doing. I quickly learned that they had found one of the secret libraries the Alicorn Princesses had hidden before the invasion, and were about to burn the books. They could not see value in any literature that didn't involve sex or oppression. They don't get that while reading can be extremely satisfying, it isn't just about the pleasure, it's about knowledge, and the power it can give you. I decided that I had to do something this time. I had acquired a small fortune in the last years through clever trade, and, I'm not ashamed to say it, also through some deception. It's simply too tempting to use such methods when most of your own kind aren't the brightest. So, this time, I worked up the courage to address them. "I want to buy those books."

When you try to preserve parts of Equestrian culture seen as useless by the others, you are certain to draw suspicious and even hateful looks. The one who appeared to be their leader immediately asked me: "And what would you want with them? That's pony literature from before the fall. Stupid mare's entertainment, good for nothing. They don't even contain images of mares or descriptions of what you could do to them. They're screaming to be given to the flames."

I thought for a moment, then had an idea. They were all heavy books, with many pages, so I said: "I think they would be ideal for disciplining my mares. Wouldn't it be nice to beat them with their own stupid scribbles?" Every word was a sting to me, but I had been accustomed to hide my thoughts and feelings from my brethren. Also, before he could think, I immediately had drawn my purse and taken out quite a nice amount of Gold Stags. This is a sure way to deal with my people: distraction. Whenever they might have second thoughts on something, just draw their attention to something else which might interest them more, be it gold or pussy.

My fellow stag, immediately more interested in the gold than in what I had said a second ago, grabbed the gold coins, threw some of them to his fellow mates, then handed the books over to me. "Have a nice time with them", he said with a condescending grin.

I immediately went home to take a look at my new conquests. I sat at my table, my favorite mare lying on the ground next to my feet, still smiling thankfully after she had learned I had just rescued part of her cultural heritage, and studied the books. One book particularly gained my attention: The Daedronomicon, the Book of Demon Names. There was no autor named, but it was a list of Equestria's most potent demon beings. I had always been interested in magic, especially in the deeper forms of Magick that were beyond the understanding of "King" Dainn and his stupid ilk, even though they were not above making pacts with beings they didn't grasp for the sake of conquest and petty benefit.

The book heavily stirred my imagination as it described beings of unimaginable power and beauty. There was a twenty page essay on Discord, "also known as Khyoo, or Coyote, in the Southern Zebra tribes, or as Sheogorath in the Griffin Kingdom". I studied the text carefully but could not find an explanation why a sublime being like him would make a deal with a moron and brute like Dainn, especially since Discord apparently wasn't gaining anything that could be of interest to him. But then again, the article mentioned over and over again how mysterious and hard to understand Discord's plans are and how mortals fail over and over again in their attempts to figure out the ways he toys with their minds. So, I left the chapter on Discord behind. He probably wasn't the right being for what I planned to do anyway. I also found a short essay on a being named Meridia, who might have been an ancestor of the now fallen Princess Celestia if my speculations and conclusions drawn from the descriptions in the book are correct. I have written an essay about this, it is available in our library for any initiates of the fifth degree or higher. I was tempted to summon her, but then I remembered how spectacularly Celestia had failed. This wasn't the right choice either, at least not for now.

It was only when I came closer and closer to the last pages of the book when I found an article that drew my attention. There were some unreadable words in the description and the explanations, but the first thing I checked was whether the invocations and rituals were fully readable, and they were. This is what I read in the description.

"Hermaeus Mora. Known to many as Chaos Star. Also known and revered by the Ancient Zebraegypt culture as Nyarlathotep, the Dark Pharaoh, or the Wretched Abyss. Known in Saddle Arabia as the Shapeless Chaos, but also as the Old Wise Man. Known in the ancient city states of peninsulae as Atena Mnemosyne, or as Zofia (apparently female). Known also to some even older cultures as Amazzeroth-Iridabaar, or as Xzammanoth, Kaliph of the Depths, One-Eyed Squid Sultan. Known and revered until today in the primitive fish towns of , as Gr'uncle Neall.

Demon God of Knowledge, especially Forgotten and Forbidden Knowledge. God of Education. God of Fate. God of Memory. Sometimes also identified with thought in general, especially with repressed thought and its violent, eruptive return.

Manifestations: Hermaeus Mora has no definite form and is said to be able to take any form he likes, but he has often appeared as a male of the same species as the person invoking him, only without any hair or fur, dressed in Mage's robes. He may also appear as a throne room, decorated with a combination of Zebraegyptian and Ancient Saddle Arabian glyphs and artifacts, with a male youngling of the summoner's species sitting on the throne. Note that the whole room, not just the youngling, is the manifestation of this being. Other forms include a swirling ball of purple energy with a black center (a form also known as Wretched Abyss), or as a hovering squid with one cyclopic eye and innumerable tentacles. All of his appearances may vary in dimensions, but he usually chooses a size that fits the room he is invoked into. More rarely, he can appear in the shape of predator birds, especially eagles or owls.

Gifts and artifacts: His boons are usually associated with knowledge, especially lost knowledge, or knowledge forbidden by the culture of the summoner. He has also been reported to grant increased mental, intellectual and rhetorical skills, better memory, and heightened, but also refined awareness. He is also said to hand out a book called the Oghma Infinium, which contains all knowledge a specific individual needs to fulfill its full potential, to his most loyal and promising followers."

This was exactly what I was looking for. The next day, I gathered everything I needed for the invocation, especially careful not to draw any attention. During the afternoon, I carefully formulated my concerns and requests. When you deal with beings this powerful, you have to choose every single word carefully, not leaving anything to chance. Another proof Discord is just playing with Dainn. Someone like Dainn could never have found the right words to appease a thirteen-horned demon or communicate his wishes, let alone force him to do anything. He was lucky Discord didn't just purge him from the earth with a flip. I also still had to find the right place for the invocation. My own little house certainly wasn't it.

Fortunately, another one of the books I bought was about old castles and ruins all throughout Equestria. It contained descriptions of all kinds of strange and wonderful places. One day I had to visit them all. Sadly, there was no temple of Hermaeus Mora left from the old days when the Old Gods still walked the earth. But I found another place that I thought might just be perfect for a summoning. An old castle in the Everfree forest, once inhabited by the Alicorn princesses, then by Luna, now abandoned and partly in ruins. It might also be perfect for what I wanted to do after the summoning. I had to at least take a look at it.

The next day, I packed a few things and traveled to Ponyville. I found the rural town quite pleasant, for the madness of my people had left fewer traces here so far, at least compared to other, bigger cities like Canterlot or Manehattan - even though those traces were still clearly visible everywhere around me even here. Luckily, not much happened during my stay, and I managed to avoid any contact with the caribou in town. From Ponyville, I made my way into the Everfree forest, strictly following the descriptions and maps I had found in the book.

When I approache the castle, I realized the land around it was less wild than other parts of Everfree forest, and quite promising. I figured it could easily be transformed into farm land by a little bit of caribou magic and hard work. It made sense. There was a castle here once, so there must have been a town around it as well. I found no traces of it though. I noticed that the setting sun made the ground and the rock formations in some areas around the castle glow in a strange, dark-ish light. I had to investigate this later. But for now, I entered the castle.

I was amazed by the beauty of the place. Parts of it were surprisingly well-preserved. Banners depicting Luna were still hanging from the walls. The early days of Equestria must have been a time of high culture and refined beauty. I caught myself dreaming of those old days, how it must have been back then. I even found a huge library that was amazingly well preserved. I had no idea how this place was still like this after centuries of abandonment.

In one of the back rooms of the library, I found the perfect place for the summoning. It even had a table that could easily be repurposed as an altar.

I wasted no time, drew the sigils for protection and began reciting the invocations and performing the rituals. To my surprise, it worked far better than I had expected. The Wretched Abyss immediately formed before me and I heard an oily voice in my head.

"You have summoned me, Hermaeus Mora, to the mortal realm. Speak fast, mortal. What is your concern?"

I knew the two magical questions, involved in every negotiation with a demonic or otherwise supernatural being. »What is your concern?« and »What is your request?« - strictly in this order. To outsiders, those not versed in the ways of magic, those two questions might appear to be identical or at least close to each other, but they are really two very different questions, and confusing them while dealing with a demon can cause disastrous results. They are just as different and as far apart from each other as the questions "What is?" and "What should be?" in any enlightened philosophy. (Studying philosophy is always a good idea for those who want to understand the secrets of true Magick. It opens your mind for new possibilities.)

I began my speech which I had so carefully prepared during the day.

"My concern, oh mighty Hermaeus Mora, God of Knowledge and of Fate, God of Memory, Dark Pharaoh, Wretched Abyss, Old Wise Man, Kaliph of the Dephts, is my people. I can't stand them. They are stupid and brutal and have no regard for the more refined things in life. They burn books, smash cultures, tear people apart from each other, rape entire civilizations and leave behind nothing but wasteland. They don't think, they don't even feel, they just follow their immediate primal instincts. Their culture, if one can even call it that, is based solely around the most petty desires and most blunt pleasures. They do not create, they not even reflect, they only react to outside stimuli."

"A perfect example of this is how they treat the mares of Equestria. Don't get me wrong, I have no objections against a certain severity to keep your females loyal and obedient like they should be, but what my people do is very different and has nothing to do with this. It is nothing but cruelty for its own sake. They have plucked the feathers of the mares of Equestria and brutally cut off their horns. Why? They say it's to ensure that they don't use their magic to defy us, or that they don't use their wings to flee. I don't believe a word of this, there are other, more effective methods to ensure this, without crippling their potential. Can't my people see that Equestria before the fall was a place of sublime beauty and refined culture? Of course I understand that its politics were misguided in certain points, that it was more or less a matriarchy and that the mares needed to be put in their place. I just don't believe for one second that my people did what they did for any such purpose. They didn't take Equestria to show its people better ways of life. They took it to rape and pillage it until nothing will be left of it and for no other reason. They don't understand that a submitting mare is also an embodiment of sublime beauty that has to be revered and cherished, not destroyed. And because they don't understand the beauty right in front of their eyes, they fear it. The truth is that they are afraid. They fear what they don't know. They only follow their primal instincts, and fear is the most primal instinct of all. Our whole culture is based on fear. Not the fear we cause in others, that's just a symptom, but our own fear of everything foreign, everything different, everything we don't understand. My people think they are great, fearless, mighty conquerors, but they are just a bunch of bullies, and like all bullies, they are cowards."

"They don't understand that to truely conquer something, especially a mare, you don't just have to break her with violence, put her in profane metal chains. To truely conquer her, you have to bind her to you on an emotional and spiritual level, to establish a true bond with her, not by means of petty show magic or convenient mind control gadgets you don't even understand, but by connecting with her on a personal level. I have tried with my mares, but only in secret, for my brethren fear this very idea, and so they try everything to destroy those who truely know. They ostracize them where they find them, force them into hiding, force them to hide their true thoughts and feelings and intentions, force them to hide any diversity, any characteristic, any excellence they can't understand. They cripple themselves and each other, they deprive each other of their true potential. Because they are afraid. They have committed the most heinous crimes one can imagine, they have built a culture on stupidity and brutality and destruction, and they are still afraid of themselves and each other and what they are capable of. What do they have to fear? They don't know, and still they live their lives in fear, fear of themselves, fear of everything different, fear of that which in themselves is different. And they don't even know any more that they are constantly afraid, because they have crippled their potential to express emotions to each other, ridiculing and ostracizing anyone who tries to reinvent it. They don't realize that they have lead themselves on a path that leads to their own destruction. They are insane, not individually insane like Discord, which is a harmless kind of insanity in comparison, but collectively insane. I agree that having the males in dominant positions is desireable, but those lunatics are simply not the appropriate candidate for this job. They are far below the female rulers of Equestria before the invasion in any meaningful respect, morally, emotionally, spiritually. They need a strong hand themselves, to teach them discipline and force them to find the right way, much more than the females of Equestria needed. They control others, but they have not the slightest bit of self-control that is simply necessary to reasonably justify any position of power and responsibility over others. They can show no one the way because they have no way. With males like these, a strict matriarchic rule of the alicorn princesses over them would have been preferable. The people of Equestria at least had an understanding of sublimity, beauty, refinement, and excellence. My people have left nothing of this, because they understand nothing of it and because they fear it. Someone has to teach them a hard lesson."

Once I had finished, I once again heard that oily voice in my head. "Yes. I have observed your species for some time now and I have come to similar conclusions in some respect. But I want to see how you do from here on. What is your request?"

I had waited for this.

"While my people disgust me, they are still my people and I still at least somewhat care and hope for them. I want to be able to make them better, to change their ways and improve them, to open their eyes. But I have to be honest here. I am not just summoning you for purely altruistic reasons." This part was especially important. If you lie to a demon about your intentions, or even if your requests are guided by subconscious intentions you haven't reflected on properly, you are lost and your life will end in disaster and misery. So, I continued my speech. "My people has done great harm to me, and I do want revenge. This is a petty intention and I know it, but I can't help it. They have forced me to hide in plain view for years, to put on a smile to hide my true face. They have tried to cripple my potential, my potential to think, my potential to feel and to express my feelings, and I can't deny that they may even have succeeded to some degree. What they have done to me and to themselves on a mental and emotional and spiritual level is not unlike what they have done to the mares on a physical level when they cut off their wings and horns and beat and fucked them till they were nothing more than pulps of twitchy meat. But unlike the mares, I was even forced to participate in my own crippling, and to pretend to do so of my own free will. I can't forgive them that. I want them to suffer. But this actually ties in to how I want to improve them. They have crippled their potential, and to people like them, change normally doesn't come easy. It comes slowly, and with many setbacks. But I don't have time for this. I want to force it on them." I paused for a second. The Wretched Abyss pulsed lightly, as if he wanted to order me to continue. Was there even a hint of something like impatience? I continued.

"Here is what I am proposing. I will submit myself to you. I will do everything I can to spread your word, your faith and your ideals, to increase your power and glory whereever I am. In exchange, I want you to give me the power to improve myself, to increase my potential to a maximum. I also want you to give me the right words and gestures to make the other caribou see what I truely am. I don't just want to open their eyes to new possibilities. I want to metaphorically rip off their eyelids so they finally have to see their reality for what it is. I want them to suffer from their own cruelty, from the realization of what they have done to the world and to themselves. This will also purge my race. Only the best of them will be able to rise above their upbringing and join me in my cause for excellence, while those who are not willing to give up their fear and the way of life that results from it will fall into despair and depression. Stop us. Forgive me if I am presumptuous, but if I understand anything about you, which I know is anything but certain, I believe this is also your cause. I will build an organization dedicated to your worship, to spreading your word and message, an organization dedicated to advance our shared goals. Just give me the means to do it. My body and my mind and my soul are yours if you grant me my wish."

The Wretched Abyss slightly changed its color and pulsated in a different rhythm, which I instinctively felt was the demon's equivalent of a benevolent smile. I felt that he understood me, and more importantly, that I had understood him correctly. The last part of my speech was a bit risky, it took the longest to formulate correctly, as it always is with the final part of a speech, especially to a demon, but at this moment, I felt an unending benevolence towards me from the Wretched Abyss. Once again, and for the last time on that evening, I heard the oily voice in my head.

"What you ask for indeed ties in with my own plans for this plane. You are a promising individual, very unexpected for your race. I will give you the Oghma Infinium, it will give you exactly the abilities and vision you will need. I might give you further instructions later, once My own plans have advanced. Now go, My Champion, take My Oghma Infinium and carry My word and My light into the world. Hammer it into the heads of the deaf, peirce the eyelids of those who have chosen not to see. Purge them all of their ignorance and stupidity, with the sublime force and the violence of the word and the spirit. Purge them, in My name."

A book manifested in the center of the Wretched Abyss, which then began to fade slowly. The Oghma Infinium. As soon as I touched it, images of the past came to my mind. Suddenly, I was able to see myself in a way I had never seen myself before. It was as if my eyelids were metaphorically ripped away. I saw the horrible things I had done, I saw my own complicity in the horrors my people had committed. I remembered how I had claimed my mares and even enjoyed it while I had kept telling myself that everything I did was just to keep up my cover, that it was really the fault of my people and not my own. I finally understood that my failure to connect with my mares was not because of the other stags, but because I had used force and intimidation. I had blamed the others for everything I had done, but now I saw myself as just another one of them. I saw that I shared all their vices: the tendency to force my own ideals onto others by means of violence and brutality, and the tendency to blame others for my own mistakes. I knew that if I wanted to redeem my people, I had to rid myself from these vices first, and I had to make amends for what I had done. My journey had begun.

The Wretched Abyss faded, and I felt a painful burn in my left hand – as if I was being branded. I instinctively tried to remove my hand, but I noticed that I was unable to do so for a few seconds. I still held the Oghma Infinium when I took a look at my left hand. A strange mark had appeared – a symbolic depiction of what I took to be a snake coiling around a mirror. Symbols of Hermaeus Mora. The pact was made.

Chapter 2: Foundation [reworked]

Confessions

The other stag opened the door and we entered his living room. He asked me to sit down, then asked me if I wanted a drink. "Yes, please", I said. I already had a few drinks with him in the bar, but I was still thirsty.

"I think I have something special for you", he said. "Just what you need now." Then he turned to one of his cow servants who was cleaning the room. He gently petted her head between the horns and said: "Be a deer and get a bottle of my special creation for me and my friend, will you?" She giggled and rushed away. I noticed that he was more gentle with his cow than stags usually were. It made me confident that I had found the first initiate. Hermaeus Mora had certainly sent me to Lindisbarne for a reason after all.

The cow returned with a bottle, approached us and poured each of us a glass. We looked each other in the eyes as she poured mine. She had deep, brown eyes that looked almost thoughtful. What a silly thought... a thoughtful cow, sure. She still smiled at me but didn't say a word. Cows always smile, but her smile was... somehow different. I didn't know what it was though. The cow left to do her work somewhere else, and I took a taste from my glass. A strange taste, sweet and bitter at the same time, but the notes didn't clash. "This is really good. But also strange. What is this?", I asked.

He smiled. "Oh, just one of my creations. I use rum as the base and cherries and bitter herbs for the taste. A weird idea that occured to me only recently. I'm surprised myself about how well it turned out."

I smiled back. "Do you have a name for it already?" He shook his head. I took a look at the liquid. It was brown of color, almost the same shade of brown as the eyes of that cow. It also seemed to... glow somehow. It was probably an optical illusion, created by the light in the room, but still... "What do you think of Brown Glow?", I asked.

He raised the glass to look at the liquid himself. "Glow, definitely", he said. "But I think it's more like a very dark shade of black amber, don't you think?"

A thought or memory went through my mind, but it was gone so fast that I couldn't catch it. "Fine", I said. "Amber Glow it is, then. Cheers!" I raised my glass.

I was ready to begin my little inquiry. "Thank you very much for inviting me to your house", I said. "I'd actually like to ask you a question. I've seen two or three cows in and around your house, but I haven't seen any mares..."

He took a sip. "That's because I didn't claim any. I'm simply more comfortable with cows. They need us and our leadership, and they also seem to desire what we do to them. Both doesn't seem the case with the mares. They don't desire it, we have to force it on them and bend them until they do. I haven't told this to any other stag so far, but something tells me I can trust you. It may sound very strange but somehow I... think it's not right." He had gotten visibly nervous when he said that.

I smiled. "Don't worry, I won't tell on you. As a matter of fact, I've come to see things similarly lately. Well, there were a few points that always puzzled me. Maybe you as a medic have some insight in this matter. Why did we pluck the pegasus mares' feathers when clipping the wings would have been easier, and would have preserved the beauty of their wings?"

The other stag thought for a minute. "I think we did it because it is humiliating and must hurt like hell. As we've come to say, it puts the mares in their place. It shows them what we're capable of and disencourages them from resisting." He smiled. "Of course, everyone knows that females are dumb and weak and crave subservience by nature anyway." I noticed more than just a hint of irony in his voice. "So", he continued, "the question is why this was necessary in the first place. After all, we also don't usually have to cripple our cows just to ensure their obedience." He paused to take a sip. When he continued, his voice was serious again. "Unless, of course, the mares are not like this to begin with."

I chuckled a little bit. "Yes, I can follow that line of thought. What about the unicorn horns? We have other means to prevent them from casting magic."

He smiled. "Oh, that's an interesting one! You know, I've thought about that for some time, and I think I've found the answer. You know that our antlers are not just tools for creating runes and other kinds of magic. They are also sense organs, among other things allowing us to determine the magical properties of minerals, gemstones and other materials. I think it's the same with the unicorn horns. They're sense organs that give an insight in the magical fabric around us. Now what happens if you blind someone, or take away his hearing? He becomes less able to orient himself, more dependent on outside leadership. I think it's similar with the horns. It is yet another way to ensure that they depend on us."

"You know, this is very interesting", I answered. "I haven't seen it that way so far, but yes, I guess you have a point. So far I had thought that most males of our species have a deeply rooted fear of female beauty, and that's the reason why we're destroying it."

He raised an eyebrow. "Another interesting theory. But then, why are we not crippling our cows as well?"

"Well, don't get me wrong, cows are cute and sexy, certainly... but I can't really see them as beautiful", I said. "They sort of... don't fit my standard of beauty."

"You obviously don't know them as well as I do", the other stag objected. "I do find them beautiful. Their beauty is very different from that of the mares, of course."

I didn't really want to discuss this, so we remained silent for several minutes. Then he asked: "By the way, did you claim any mares during or after the invasion?"

I looked at him sheepishly. "Yes, quite a few actually. Four, to be precise, and I still have them. My family lost all cows during our escape from home, and a young stag still has some needs..."

His face gave away no emotions. "I... understand", he said.

I continued. "As a matter of fact, I'm not proud of it. Something about it never seemed right, but a few weeks ago, I actually started feeling guilty for it. So far I had prided myself with the thought that they probably had it better with me than with any other male under those circumstances. A few weeks ago, a new... friend convinced me that what I had done was still wrong. It was literally a revelation for me. I believe now that there must be other ways to deal with the mares. After all, the stallions had done it before we used magic to force our views on them. I have bought Luna's Castle and the land that surrounds it in order to build up a new agrarian community there. I want to explore those new ways. If we can make them work, we might even... apply them to all of Equestria."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying what you think you are?"

I gulped. Now it was all or nothing. "M... maybe?"

He gave a big smile and clapped his hands together. "Finally a stag who talks business! I had thought about disturbing the status quo for some time now. But so far, I couldn't find anyone who shared my views. If you want to do this, you can count me in. We could even try out new ways of dealing with the cows. I don't see that much problems with our treatment of them as in case of the mares, but if we're trying some social experimentation anyway, why not in this area as well? As a matter of fact, I can gather my cows immediately and leave with you if you're ready. I'd like to pack my medical equipment and some of my bottles, but nothing more than we and the cows can carry. We can fetch all my other stuff later." He was excited like a little boy. "Seriously, there is literally nothing that keeps me in this town. The earlier we move, the better."

I smiled. "We don't even know each others' names yet, do we? I have chosen a new name a few weeks ago, after my revelation. I call myself Aristagtle now."

He laughed. "Aristagtle is it, hm? You have the wits and guts to put a pun in your own chosen name. I think I really like you. So, let's see... you use Ancient Equestrian, so I think I'll take that up as well. I think its meaning should connect to my birth name though, so... Anaphainos, maybe? Bringer of Light. Yes, I think I'll go with that. Also, that new friend seems to have had quite the impact on you. If what you tell me is true, not only did he change your world view, he even made you choose a new name. You have to tell me about him. He seems to be a very interesting person."

"Well, I'm not sure if one could call Him a person", I answered, then thought for a second. "Or a Him, for that matter." I showed him the mark on my hand. "Do you know what that is?"

His eyes widened. "As a matter of fact, I do."

"So you probably have an idea of what you're signing up for. I hope you won't bail out now."

He laughed. "Don't worry, I won't. I'm actually even more interested now. If I knew how to conjure entities like this one, I would have done so years ago. I think I'll call the cows now."

I smiled.

Every Order of Hermaeus Mora begins with twelve initiates. It can grow later, but it always begins with twelve.

About a month later, Anaphainos and the other ten stags we had recruited had gathered in the palace yard.

"Have the mares chosen a representative yet?", I asked Anaphainos. We had brought almost two dozen mares. They outnumbered us almost two to one, not counting the cows. Interestingly enough, I had brought more of them than any other of my brothers.

"Yes", he said. "A pegasus named Spring Breeze. A black collar. Was she one of yours?"

"No", I said. "I don't know her. A black collar, hm? Interesting. I had the impression that the red collars were the majority."

"They are", he said. "I don't know why they chose a black to represent them."

This will probably make things slightly more unpleasant for me. If I don't get out of this alive, you know how to proceed. You can tell the mares that we want to see them now. Oh, and gather the cows as well. I don't know why, but I want them to see this. Call it a hunch." We had exactly twelve cows. It was an interesting coincidence. I and some others hadn't brought any, but some had more than one.

"The cows? I'm not sure if this is a good idea. But if you say so..."

A short time later, the mares stood in front of us while the cows cowered behind us.

Spring Breeze stood directly in front of me now. Her arms crossed, shoulders squared, glaring at me, defiant in the face of whatever I might do. "You have called, we have come. What do you want, caribou? Another round of public abuse? Can't see why we had to choose a representative for this. Unless you want to humiliate that one specifically."

Now I knew why the reds had chosen a black. I put my hands on Spring Breeze's collar. My antlers began to glow. The collar came off her neck. "You are free now", I said.

My brothers approached the other mares and removed their collars. Spring Breeze looked at me in complete disbelief. "What?", she asked.

I gulped. What I had to say would be hard, but it had to be said. "You know we have made a claim to the castle and the lands that surround it. It is yours now. You can do with it what you want. We also have clothing for you if you want to go back to wearing it. Only males' clothing, unfortunately, decent mares' clothes have become hard to find in Equestria during the last years. Or you can improvise something yourselves if you want, we have brought materials. As I said, this land is yours now. If you allow us to stay here, we will work with you on the fields, and we will help you to build houses. But we know that we are criminals, we have done horrible things to you all, and more than a few others. So we wouldn't blame you if you told us to go. As a matter of fact, this is your land now, and we surrender to your judgment. If you come to the conclusion that we all deserve death, every single one of us is willing to face it."

Spring Breeze still looked at me with disbelief. But then she seemed to remember something.

"Nice fake choice, caribou", she said. "You know full well that we can neither chase you away nor kill you. They know now that this place exists in Canterlot. We have to keep you around to cover for us, and you know it. Once again, you're using tricks to gain our trust, just like your people always do. I don't know what kind of twisted intent you have with this, but it won't work."

I sighed. "Of course, I realize that you have to keep some of us around. But you don't need all of us. Which is why I will take sole responsibility for the crimes of all of my brethren. We have made a list." I pulled out a parchment and gave it to her. "Ah, here it is. A full confession of all of our crimes. All the mares we've taken against their wills. All the other crimes we committed in the last years. It's all there. I expect your judgment." I handed her my dagger. "You may use this dagger to pass judgment over me right here and now. Or you may keep me here and do to me what you want if you think this is an adequate punishment. You can also choose another one of my brothers, they have all agreed to take my place if necessary. After that, all others will stay here, build houses for you if that's what you want, or work on the fields, they will cover for you so you won't draw attention, and they will also provide you with advice if you want to listen to them. If you want to find the worst stag of the bunch to judge, you can stop looking though. Apparently, my list of crimes is longer than that of any other stag here. I took more mares than any other. I keep telling myself that I did all the things I did just so I wouldn't draw attention, but that really doesn't excuse anything, does it? I used your sisters for my own ends, just like all others did. I am ready to face your decision." I lowered my eyes.

She took the dagger and pulled it toward me with force. I closed my eyes. The stinging sensation... didn't come. I opened my eyes again. She had stopped the blade short before it would have hit me.

"Damn you!", she shouted. I felt a punch from her left fist in my side and immediately stumbled back a little. She must have dropped the dagger, because only a second later I felt her right fist in my face. "Why. Can't. I. Kill. You?", she said. Each further word was accompanied by another blow. Each one of them felt strangely liberating. I went to my knees with the last one.

She backed away, breathing heavily, then picked up the dagger and looked at it. "I'll keep that one, it's nice. Me and my sisters will be to the castle to choose our quarters for now. It's ours, so we get first pick. You can take what's left. It's big enough, there should be enough space for all of you. Just stay out of our way for now. We'll talk later."

Blood ran down my mouth. Anaphainos rushed to me. I also saw a cow coming from the other side. They reached me almost at the same time. "Are you okay?", Anaphainos asked.

"Yes, I'm well. Just a few bruises. It will hurt like hell the next days, but I think it's nothing serious."

Anaphainos smiled. "I'm the doctor here, leave judgment to me. You're probably right, but I want to have an eye on you during the next days."

I looked at the cow. I knew her, she was Anaphainos' cow. The one with the amber eyes. She was trembling from fear. "M... master...", she said to Anaphainos. "I'm sorry for rushing to him without permission. I... I was so scared."

Anaphainos embraced her gently to calm her down. "It's okay, Bruna. Don't worry, it's... all okay."

"I've never seen a stag be as gentle to his cows as you are", I whispered to him. "Giving them comfort, allowing them to use the first person pronoun... you are a true gentlestag. Our people really needs more stags like you."

He smiled. "Bruna is... special to me. But yes, I treat all my cows a little bit different than other stags do."

His cow was still sobbing. "Master, what... what will become of us cows now? Are they our mast... mistr... masters now? The mares? Will we be allowed to keep our collars? Wh... who do we belong to now?"

"You belong to us all", Anaphainos said, gently calming her down. "I mean, we all belong together, don't we?", he asked, more to me than to her. "We are one people, aren't we?"

Once again, I smiled.

Chapter 3: Ein Hauch von Heimat (A Scent of Home)

A Scent of Spring

A week had passed since we took residence in Luna's castle. Spring Breeze and I had agreed to meet once a week to discuss matters of politics and of building the community. I knocked at Spring Breeze's door, then opened it once I heard her voice allowing me to enter.

"Well then, caribou", she said, sitting at her desk. "Please, sit."

I sat down on the second chair in front of her desk, facing her. "How is it?", I asked.

She looked at me coldly. "I have to say, you have gone out of your way not to get into ours. So far you kept your word. The other mares feel very well, they really like it here. Unfortunately, I'm not similarly well. Your doctor has removed my wing sheaths recently. I have to say, he is quite kind... for a caribou. He said that the other pegasi were red collars and will regrow their feathers and be able to fly again in maybe a year or two, if they train their wings. But the wing sheaths of black collars are less comfortable, so in my case, they have caused permanent damage. If we don't find a way to cure them by some magical means, I almost certainly won't be able to fly any more, and it's even doubtful whether I'll regrow my feathers. Anaphainos says he has no idea if there is any way to heal them. I'm thinking about having them amputated so they can't become the cause of any further medical problems, but we neither have the means for that nor a doctor that I would trust enough."

"I'm... really sorry to hear that", I said. "If I can do anything..."

"Unless you want to offer yourself as a punching bag for my frustration again, you can try to stay out of my way, thank you", she said rudely. But then she added, a little bit more friendly: "But to be fair, you haven't caused any trouble so far. You did what we asked of you, you stayed out of our way, and you did it with far more dedication than we expected. You also do your work on the fields, and it is good work. Seriously, I can't understand why your people put slave mares to work on the fields when most stags are much more capable of doing the same kind work." I couldn't argue with that. "But then again", she continued, "I don't understand why you enslaved us mares anyway. Your own females seem to be so much more suited to fit your needs." I glanced at her sheepishly.

"Interesting that you would mention the cows. That's actually what I wanted to talk you about", I said. "Of course we will continue to stay out of your way until you decide otherwise. But may I ask you... if you would allow the cows to spend some time around you?"

She looked at me suspiciously. "Is this a trick, caribou? Are you hoping that contact with the cows might make us a bit more like them? More subservient? If this is what you're trying, I can tell you in advance that it won't work. Some of us come from Ponyville, so we already know these kinds of tricks."

"No, nothing like that", I said hastily. "You don't even have to let them interact with you at all. Just... let them spend some time around you. I promise they won't be a bother." I sighed. "As a matter of fact, it's exactly the other way around. I ask this because I hope that they might become a little bit more like you. As they are now, they simply need us as their masters. But we're more like... a necessary evil, aren't we? I mean... I think you will agree that we're not exactly the best kind of influence. So while they still need us to give them direction, I don't want them to spend all the time with us. So I wonder if they could stay with you for some time each day. As I said, I think you might be a much better influence than we are. They won't bother you, I promise."

She raised an eyebrow. "I have to say I'm almost flattered. I still don't trust you though. But I will discuss this with the others. Expect our answer tomorrow evening."

The next evening, she came to me to inform me about their decision. "We have discussed your request and decided to allow this for now. But do not make the mistake to take this for granted. If the cows cause any trouble, we'll void this decision immediately. We will not allow them to touch us. Tell them that." I thanked her politely and left.

The next day, we gathered the cows. We still hadn't told them what to expect for the future, mainly because we weren't even sure ourselves, so they were still visibly afraid. I addressed them.

"You probably wonder why we have gathered you all here. First of all, we will still give you everything you need. Our guidance, our direction, our protection, our cocks..." I saw the eyes of the cows glow with happiness when I said those words. We were still settling in and we had work to do, so they hadn't gotten that much from us in the last week. "However", I continued, "there will be a few changes from now on. First of all, we are all one people now, so you won't belong to a single stag any more, but to all of us. Also, we have another new task for you, starting from now on. You will observe us. Observe the masters, and how we do things. And you will also observe the mares. You know that we've told you not to go to their part of the castle, but we cancel this order. From now on, you will spend a few hours each day with them. You will observe them, learn from them. If you have any questions, you can come to us and ask at any time, and about once a week, you will come to us and report about what you have seen. Can you do this?"

The cows nodded weakly, not sure what to think about this. I continued.

"You will not cause them any trouble though. If they tell you to do something, you will do it. If they tell you not to do something, you won't. Also, I know that touch is just as important to you as seeing or hearing, but you will not touch them unless they give you explicit permission to do so. You can touch us while you are with us though."

The cows' eyes went wide with shock. Had I said something wrong? One of them stepped forward. I recognized her, it was the one with the amber eyes that had belonged to Anaphainos. Bruna, if I remembered correctly. "Master, I apologize for speaking without permission, but... we may really touch you now without being ordered to do so?" Oh, now I got what I had just done. I really hoped my brothers wouldn't hang me for this, but I felt experimental right now, so I decided to go along with it.

"We're giving you permission now, aren't we? Yes, you can touch any one of us whenever you feel like it. If it's not a good time, if we're busy otherwise, we'll just chase you away or order you to do something else. You don't have to worry, if that happens, it just means that the master is busy right now. So yes, feel free to touch us whenever you want."

Hearing this, the cows instantly rushed to us to make use of their newfound feeling of freedom.

This time, we didn't chase them away.

Five days later, I went to meet Spring Breeze with another request.

"Good evening, Spring Breeze", I said after I had taken place at the chair in front of her desk again. "How's the situation? I hope the cows haven't caused you any trouble."

"They aren't that bad, actually. They're quiet and not much of a nuisance. They can even be useful at times."

I grinned. "Yeah, that sounds like an apt description of the females of our species."

She was unimpressed by my joke. "There is one thing though. After only two days, we had already decided to only walk around dressed except in our own private bedrooms. A few former red collars objected, but they were overruled. The cows, however, are nude all the time except for their collars. I realize we can't ask them to remove those, they seem to place quite a big importance on them. It's almost as if they wear them with pride. Anyway, we just want to ask you that you tell them to get dressed when they're around us. Their nudity simply further fuels existing conflicts among ourselves, and we really don't want that to happen."

I grinned at her and said: "Why don't you tell them?"

"What?", she asked.

"Well, I've told them to obey your orders as long as they are around you. It was risky, I actually didn't even want to tell you, so please don't abuse this. But yes, you can simply tell them to cover themselves – if they're able to obey your order, they will. But this is quite a problem, isn't it? We only have males' clothing here, it's even a bit big for most of you, and our cows are even smaller. For now, I might suggest you give them some sheets or pieces of cloth to cover themselves. I 'm not sure if they'd know how to do this though. Since you don't want to touch them, we might show them, but as you may have guessed already, we are also not really experienced in getting a female dressed properly."

"Well, I think this won't be a problem", Spring Breeze said. "Frankly, I don't really want them anywhere near me, but there are a few of us, particularly red collars, who have already said that they have much less problems with touching a cow, as long as she doesn't get frisky. I think they would be willing to help them. Also, we'll provide them with what we can spare."

"Thank you, so this problem should be solved", I said. "I also have another request. We want to ask if we stags might use the library of your castle. We don't want to take it from you, we just want to be able to use it for our studies."

Spring Breeze was immediately back to her usual suspicious, abrasive self. Not that I could blame her. "And why exactly should we allow this to you?", she asked.

I sighed. "Well, for a start, some of us, myself included, know how to deal with old books. They are a quite delicate matter, you know? We can work to preserve the library. Second, we will also add most of our own books to the library for free. Most of us want to keep one or two books that are special to us for ourselves, but we are willing to spend most of what we have to the library. After all, we also have an interest in making those books available to each other. Third, you know that this isn't just a new kind of community, we are here to find ways to change and free all of Equestria. Maybe we'll find knowledge in the library that might prove useful for this aim. Never underestimate the power of knowledge!"

She relaxed. "I still don't exactly like you, but what you say makes a lot of sense. I will discuss this with the others tomorrow, and give you our decision tomorrow evening. This time I'll vote for your request myself, actually. I'm not really interested in books anyway, and you did make a reasonable argument. Oh, before you leave, another thing. Anaphainos asked me yesterday if we would allow him to use a small plot of land to plant some herbs, and maybe one or two cherry trees. Now I can get the herbs, he's a doctor after all, but do you know why he would want to plant cherries?"

I smiled. "I think it's for an alcoholical beverage. A secret recipe of his. Seriously, you have to try this, it's really good. I think he still has a few bottles left. I'll ask him to give me one, so we can have it next week."

"That sounds lovely", she said. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a long night of wing pain and uncomfortable lying positions ahead of myself." Once again, I gave her a sheepish look as I left the room.

The next day, I went to Anaphainos to ask for one of his bottles of Amber Glow. "What do you need it for?", he asked. "I only have a few left."

"Well", I answered, "Spring Breeze has asked me about the cherry trees." He smiled. I continued. "I've told her about Amber Glow, and promised to bring a bottle next week. I'm really sad to hear that you have only a few bottles left – we won't get any at least until autumn, will we?"

He still smiled. "I think I have an even better idea. Spring Breeze will come to you this evening to tell you their decisions, won't she? Why don't you invite her over to me next week? We can drink Amber Glow together."

"I will tell her", I responded, "but I really doubt that she'll come. As I see it, she still doesn't like or trust any one of us, and honestly, I can't blame her. Her alone in the same room with two stags... might be a bit much."

When Spring Breeze came to me that evening to tell me about her decision, I was happy to hear that all three requests had been granted. I told her about the invitation. Her answer surprised me. "What a lovely idea. Of course I'll come." She paused for a second, then continued with a more serious voice. "Of course, I don't want to be alone and drunk with two caribou, so I'll bring a friend. I have to talk to Anaphainos anyway, so I'll just go and ask him myself."

She left the room. I was left behind, utterly confused. Had she really just agreed to our invitation?

The next evening, I sat at my desk when I heard a faint knocking at my door.

"Yes please?", I answered.

"Master", I heard a voice say. "I have come to you to give you my first report."

I sighed. Bruna. It was exactly a week since they were given the order to observe the mares, so she was perfectly on schedule. I hadn't expected her though, I thought she would either go to Anaphainos or pick any stag she would encounter. But maybe she hadn't encountered any of us on her way back here, and I knew that my room was simply closer than Anaphainos'.

"You may enter", I said. She opened the door. I felt a little bit surprised.

"Bruna, are you still wearing your clothes?", I asked.

She blushed, immediately removed her clothes and dropped them to the floor. It wasn't too difficult, they were improvised and the mares had created something simple enough for the cows to put on by themselves. "I'm sorry, master", she said. "I just came back from the mares and I forgot to take them off. I made a mistake, I angered you, I know I deserve punishment..."

"You didn't anger me", I said. "I was just surprised, that's all. So, you're here to report about your observations about us and about the mares. Please sit down and begin."

I hadn't specified where she should sit, so she instinctively chose the bed.

"First of all", she said, "they don't need to be fucked that much. Not as much as we do, I mean. When we don't feel the closeness of our masters' bodies for some time, we become afraid and start to make mistakes. It's not like that with them. They don't need it. At least not that much."

"Well, that one is for certain", I said. "Good. What else?"

"I find it extremely odd that they want us to wear clothes, and that they don't like our collars. They also don't want to hear us talk about our masters, how good you are to us and how proud we are to serve you, to make and keep you happy. Or hear us talk about ways to serve you even better. We don't have many other things to talk about with each other or with them. So we remain silent most of the time while we observe them."

"Well, why don't you listen to them and find out what they like to talk about?", I asked, feigning interest.

"Oh, we've tried that. But they only talk about what they want to do, about things they like to do. They also make plans, and talk about what they want to do. We don't understand it. Females shouldn't think about themselves, or make plans. We are happy that you masters do all those bothering things for us and we may serve you. But they don't want us to say that. They also often talk about how horrible it was for them to serve you, and how happy they are that they don't have to any more. We also can't say anything to that as well. We don't even understand it. Usually we would try to find out about this by touching them and guess their feelings, but the masters have forbidden."

"Yes, and you will obey this order", I insisted. "For now, I also want you to ask the mares if they would introduce you to the things they do. Just the easiest and least dangerous ones. Maybe ask them if you can do a few chores for them. You know, all the little things we also let you do for us."

"We should serve them just like we serve you?", she asked.

"If you want to put it that way", I said.

She was a bit scared of the idea. "Well, they are... better at doing things on their own than we are. They make mistakes sometimes, but they don't need correction, they correct themselves. They are females, they shouldn't be able to do it. But they do. They are almost a bit like..." She stopped short.

I raised my eyes to look at her. She instantly had my full attention now.

"They are almost like... what?", I inquired.

I immediately realized that I had made a mistake. My reaction had made her think that I wanted to correct her. "Sorry, no", she stuttered. "I was mistaken. I thought something dumb for a moment. I sometimes think dumb things. I mean, even dumber things than normal for us cows." She giggled. But then her voice became frightened again. "Are you going to punish me?", she asked.

I know she expected it and believed to deserve it, but I simply couldn't bring myself to punishing her for this. And now I also really wanted to hear the rest of what she had to say.

"No, I won't punish you this time", I said. "Are you finished? Do you have any more questions?"

"How do they do it?", she immediately asked. "The mares, I mean. How do they do it. Making plans, doing things on their own. How do they do it? How do they know what to do?"

I thanked Hermaeus Mora. That girl had just given me something to build on.

"How do we do it?", I asked.

She was confused. "I don't understand... master."

Had she already forgotten that she wanted to make the same comparison herself only a second ago? Were they conditioned to forget thoughts like this one or was their attention span really this short?

"Well, how do we do it. Remember, we also gave you the order to observe us – your masters. We decide what to do all the time. And not just for ourselves but for you as well. So how do we do it?"

She became uncomfortable again. "I... don't know. I really don't know. A cow can't know such things. But... you are masters. You don't make mistakes, do you? You always know what to do."

I raised an eyebrow. "I assure you, we really don't."

Her nervousness turned to fright. "What? But... but..."

I know that I had to stop this now. I had pushed too far. This would need more time.

With a soft voice, I said: "Hush now. Don't be frightened, we're still quite capable of protecting you as long as you obey our orders. Let's talk about this another time."

She visibly relaxed. "Is there anything else you need now?", I asked her.

"Yes, master", she said, leaning back and spreading her legs. "I know I should just be content and grateful that you didn't punish me, I know I don't deserve this, but... I need to be fucked, master."

A week ago we had more or less given them permission to come on to us, and during the last week, Bruna had been particularly bold when it came to exploring the scope and limits of her masters' odd new command. She was really eager to please all of us.

I looked at her firm, big tits and dripping wet cowhood and found what I saw very pleasant. Sure, mares had always interested me more, but how could a healthy male like me not instantly get hard from this view?

I rose from my chair and smiled at her. "I think you do deserve it."

She left my room with a smile. I noticed that she picked up the dress when she left.

Only moments later, I heard another knocking at my door.

"Yes, who is there?", I asked.

The response came immediately. It was a voice I didn't recognize. "Excuse me for disturbing you. My name is Star Charmer, I'm one of the mares, and I would like to discuss something with you."

"Come in", I said.

The door opened and she came in. She was a unicorn with a bright purple coat and a long, blonde mane. Unlike Spring Breeze, she didn't wear stallions' clothing, she had improvised something for herself. I thought that it probably covered just as much skin as Spring Breeze and the others demanded, but nothing more. She might have been one of the few who had voted against the rule that made dresses obligatory except in their own quarters.

"Please sit", I said. She took place at the chair. "What can I do for you?"

"Well", she began, visibly nervous. "You see, I have been a red collar, and I'm one of those who thought that not everything was bad. Don't get me wrong, I am just as happy to have my freedom back as the others. But I still have... needs, and I can't... satisfy them alone."

I interrupted her. "So you want sex. You should really talk to Spring Breeze about this first..."

She interrupted me. "No! It's not just that I want sex! I want... I want to be taken. To be used and commanded. To be bent over something and f-fucked roughly." She took a deep breath. "Once again, don't get me wrong, I am happy and thankful for my freedom. So this would just be in the bedroom. But you see now why I had to come to you first, why I couldn't talk to Spring Breeze?"

I looked at her coldly. "But you really should have."

I stood up from my desk, went to the window and began to watch the horizon.

"You know, for a second I was almost tempted. I'm really grateful that I just had release – you might have noticed the cow coming from my room – for otherwise you might have made me do something really stupid. But you know as well as I do that Spring Breeze would have my head if I took advantage of this, and rightly so. I also can't talk to her for you, she would just assume that this was me making things up to get my wicked caribou way with a mare again – and honestly, after what my people have done to yours, I understand her worries. Now if you can find the courage to go to her and tell her what you just told me, I'm sure we can work something out. But unless you do that, there's nothing I can do for you. And don't even think about trying this with any of the other stags. Now please leave, I still have work to do." I noticed how I was still used to giving commands. I had just ordered one of my landladies to leave my room. But she left immediately.

I knew I couldn't give her what she wanted. Not now, not as long as we and the mares hadn't decided on how to proceed in such cases. I had guessed that this problem would have to be addressed sooner or later, but I certainly couldn't bring it up. I had to wait until some of them brought it up first. I just hoped Star Charmer would find the courage. I had looked forward to our next meeting in Anaphainos' quarters, to drinking Amber Glows and sharing a nice evening together, but this issue cast a shadow on the whole evening in advance. This was simply not a topic that I wanted to discuss at that evening.

There were still four days left until my meeting with Spring Breeze and Anaphainos. I decided to use these four days to go to Canterlot to do some research. But that would have to wait until tomorrow. Right now, I still had another very important date – a date with my own right hand.

Stupid, sexy Star Charmer.

Chapter 4: Encownters (part 1)

Tourmaline

Four days later, I had returned from Canterlot and was sitting in Anaphainos' room with him, waiting for Spring Breeze and whoever she would bring to join us.

Someone knocked at the door. "Come in please", Anaphainos said. Spring Breeze entered the room.

"Welcome to my place", Anaphainos said. "It's not as big or luxurious as yours, but I hope you like it anyway. Please, have a seat." He pointed to the sofa.

I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, when have you been to her room?"

"When I removed her wing sheaths, of course", he answered. "Her office wasn't exactly a good place for it, so we both decided that her private room would be the best place for that." Well, that did make sense. He then addressed Spring Breeze. "Where's your friend? Didn't you say you wanted to bring another one?"

"She should be right behind me", Spring Breeze said. "She said she briefly wanted to talk to one of the stags we randomly encountered. I've got no idea why. I really wasn't comfortable about leaving her with him, but she insisted. She almost pushed me away, as if she wanted to be left alone with him."

Oh, hell no.

"Please tell me the mare you brought isn't Star Charmer", I said.

Spring Breeze was surprised. "You know Star Charmer?", she asked.

"Yes", I said. "She paid me a visit and asked a favor a few days ago. It was one of the reasons why I went to Canterlot this week. Has she talked to you yet?"

"Talked to me about what?", Spring Breeze asked.

Bloody hell!

I rose from the chair. "If you excuse me, I'll look for Star Charmer. See if anything is alright. I also have to discuss something in private with her. I'll be back in a minute." Spring Breeze got visibly nervous.

I left the room and met Star Charmer just in front of the door – without any stag. "Good", I said to her coldly. "I see you weren't successful this time again. Why haven't you talked to Spring Breeze yet? Are you hell-bent on sabotaging everything I'm trying to build here?"

"Hello, Star Charmer. Nice to see you again", Star Charmer said with a sarcastic voice.

"I would have said that if it were true", I responded.

"Oh yeah, I love it when you talk dirty", Star Charmer said. I sighed.

"Listen, cun..." - I bit my tongue. "Listen! You will either leave this part of the castle immediately and stay in your part, or you will come with me in there right now, and then the first thing you will do is tell Spring Breeze what you asked of me, and what you have apparently been trying to do lately. I told you we can work out something together. But we have to discuss this openly first. If you can convince Spring Breeze that this is what you want, then we can work something out and let the mares decide on it tomorrow. If you want to, I'll be there for you to gladly put you in your place myself as soon as we've worked out how to deal with this as a community. But you will not try anything else to jeopardize my project any more. I really don't want to do this, but this has gone far enough. If you don't tell Spring Breeze right now, I will."

She sighed. "Very well. I'll tell her." Then she gave me a little smile. "If you show the same degree of fierce determination in the bedroom as you just did here, I'll definitely come back to you once this is settled."

Stupid, sexy Star Charmer!

We entered the room. I noticed Spring Breeze was still nervous. "Don't worry", I said. "Everything's allright. Star Charmer has to tell you something. Maybe Anaphainos and I should go outside and give you some privacy while you talk."

Anaphainos immediately rose from his seat. "Is there anything wrong?", he asked.

I sighed again. "No, nothing. This is just something they have to sort out among themselves before we can begin our talk. It's something we'll have to discuss today as well, but Spring Breeze doesn't know about the issue yet, and it's a rather delicate matter, so they should talk to each other first."

We left his room.

"So, would you please tell me what this is all about", Anaphainos asked.

"That unicorn... Star Charmer. She came to my office a few days ago and asked me to have my way with her. You know what I mean. She wants the whole program, apparently."

Anaphainos looked concerned. "And did you?"

"Of course not!", I responded. "I know as well as you do that it could jeopardize everything we're trying to build here."

"Indeed", Anaphainos said. "Also, a few things make sense now. During the last days, I've heard some stags talking about that mare that was coming on to them and trying to make them do things to her. So that's her? Interesting. From what I've heard, they've all turned her down so far. Most of them think that the mares are testing us to see if we're trustworthy. Some of them have come to see it as a test of faith, maybe even sent by Hermaeus Mora Himself. As I see it, they might not be far away from the truth. But seriously, if this continues, one of them will succumb sooner or later."

"I have the same concern", I answered. "That's why I went to Canterlot for the last days. Well, one of the reasons anyway. I knew we would have to address this problem one way or another soon. I wondered if there were any cases like her before the invasion, and how the old Equestrian society would deal with things like this. So I went to Canterlot to do a little bit of research on that topic. I was surprised. There were quite a few societies dedicated to sexual activity involving domination and submission, actually. There were even some stallions who wanted to play the submissive part. It was quite fascinating. Familiar and yet entirely different at the same time."

Anaphainos was surprised. "Really? Wow, who would have thought."

I continued. "There was one rather big and active society that particularly drew my attention at first. It had quite a few members of influence, some among the Wonderbolts, and even in the Royal Court. I was surprised. Unfortunately, the more I read about it, the more it turned out that I wouldn't find any solution for our problem there at all. As a matter of fact, I was more than a little bit surprised that the Princesses would allow something like this to exist in the first place. Hell, it may have even been something like a catalyst for Equestria's downfall. I was even a little bit surprised that the king and his council decided to disband it instead of repurposing it for their own purposes. But the reason for their decision to shut it down was that the society also allowed for female domination and male submission. Oh yeah, their leader was apparently a crystal pony, by the way. A female. No idea what happened to her after the invasion."

Anaphainos was impressed. "Not exactly the most useful information, but definitely interesting. You found out about this in only three days? Since it involves female domination and male submission, I would have guessed that this information would be classified."

"It was", I said. "I still know some people in the lower levels of administration, and I pulled some strings and called in a few favors. Also, once I realized that this society didn't have what I was searching for, I turned to the smaller groups. Some of them did have applicable solutions. Most of them used a system of written texts where the partners involved could specify their desires, hard limits, and something called safe words. Those texts were called contracts, even though they were not technically legally binding, and the subs could of course void them at any time. Those groups also operated much more publicly than the other one I told you about, to ensure that a sub would be able to find help outside the group immediately if anything went wrong."

"Well, now the thing about the contracts does sound like something that could be applicable to our situation", Anaphainos said. "We could even use runes to code them, so we will be magically prevented from accidentally overstepping our limits. You know the stags are trying their best, but you also know how they are."

"Don't remind me", I said. "As a matter of fact, when Star Charmer came to me a few days ago, I would almost have taken her. I could restrain myself, of course, and I'm happy and relieved to hear that the others were strong enough to do so as well during the last days – but I'm also surprised."

The door was opened, and a smiling Star Charmer told us that we could come back in now.

I sat down in one of the chairs while Anaphainos went to get us a bottle of Amber Glow. Spring Breeze addressed me. "Star Charmer has explained the situation to me", she said. "I actually understand the craving for the closeness of a male body. I occasionally had the same craving myself during the last weeks. But of course, this case is a little bit different. It is a delicate matter. I don't think I understand her desire, but I understand why she was hesitant to tell me. I also understand why you didn't tell me. If you had come to me four days ago, I indeed wouldn't have believed you. Not because I hadn't guessed that there were some of us with such cravings. It's more like... you know."

"I understand completely", I said. "After what my people has done to yours, your mistrust is simply something to be expected, especially in matters like this." Anaphainos had returned with a bottle of Amber Glow, and poured each of us a glass. I continued. "Actually, this was the reason why I went to Canterlot during the last days. I did some research on how this was handled in Equestria before our invasion."

I told them everything I had found out.

"Wow", Spring Breeze said. "I had heard of people with weird kinks before the Fall, of course, but it had never interested me. The story about that crystal pony's society really gave me the creeps. I honestly don't know how something like this could have been possible." She took a big sip from her glass of Amber Glow. "Hm, what an odd taste. But also very delicious. So this is what you need the herbs and cherries for?", she asked Anaphainos. "I have to say, I'm impressed."

"Thank you", Anaphainos said. Did my eyes deceive me? Was he blushing?

Spring Breeze continued. "As for the other groups, I agree with you that their solutions are a little bit more applicable when it comes to our situation. The contracts are an interesting idea, and could certainly be helpful here. We should make them official though. As a matter of fact, the first solution that came to my mind when Star Charmer told me about this was written laws."

"Yes", I said. "We'll probably need some of those anyway sooner or later. Anaphainos also had the idea to use runes to magically ensure that the stags don't overstep their limits."

Spring Breeze was visibly offended by the idea. "Absolutely not! Using magic to force behavior again? Only a stag could come up with such an idea." She paused for a second. When she began to speak again, her voice was a bit calmer, but still absolutely determined. "Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely certain this particular stag had only the best intentions." She smiled at Anaphainos for a short second. He smiled back sheepishly. "But it's nonetheless a really bad idea and I will do everything in my power to prevent this from happening", she said.

I looked at my glass, lost in thought. There was something I had read about in Canterlot when I did my research... something about a ritual that was used to magically enforce behavior... but I couldn't quite remember. "You may be right", I said. "It's too dangerous."

"Well, then it's settled", Spring Breeze said. "As for the laws, we'll discuss this with the other mares tomorrow, and work out a set of coded laws. Our two groups will then decide on them together. Of course we realize that we outnumber you two to one and could overrule you in any point, but we do want to listen to your suggestions and objections. If they are reasonable, we will debate them with you, and change details if necessary."

"This is very generous", I responded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I don't trust you completely and I know I'm rude sometimes, but I want this to work as much as you do", Spring Breeze said. "It's about freeing my people after all!"

Once Spring Breeze was finished, Star Charmer spoke up. "As for the contracts, we will also bring this up with the other mares first time tomorrow morning." She smiled at me seductively. "If we can come to a decision on this quickly, maybe the two of us can already work something out together tomorrow evening. I'll definitely come to your room to let you know. I'm sure we can quickly work something out together."

"Well, that's very sweet", I said nervously. "But there's another thing to discuss. We want to begin recruiting new members soon, and most of them will also bring their mares and cows. Right now there is still some free space in the castle, but we'll have to start building houses sooner or later. You know that we stags can do it enormously quickly, so that shouldn't be a problem. But since it's your land, I wanted to ask for permission first. I guess you mares probably want to keep the castle, so we are willing to agree to move to the new houses."

Spring Breeze shook her head. "Actually, not quite. Personally, I want to stay in the castle, I think it's nice here. But some of us wish for more privacy than we have here. They have already asked to be given space outside the castle. As I see it, the best would be to mix it up. Keep one wing of the castle for the mares and the other one for the stags and cows, and give everyone a house who wants one."

"Okay, so this would be settled as well", I said. "However, recruiting new members might cause other problems as well. Most of them will bring their mares, so your community will also grow. Right now, the females outnumber the males three to one, counting both cows and mares. But when it comes to gender relations, this could be a problem. If every stag limits himself to only one mare, most of you will be left unsatisfied. But if each of us would take more than one, this might be a source of new gender inequalities. Not to mention that the cows are also still a problem."

I sighed, then continued. "The real problem is that we can't really recruit stallions. Most of them are under the influence of the Crystal Cock. Of course, there are some who don't feel its effect, and we should gather as many of those so-called 'incurables' as possible – preferably as quickly as possible. But we also have to take care not to draw suspicion. It's a difficult problem. Also, recruiting only stags and incurables won't cut it in the long run. We have to find a way to disrupt the artifact's influence."

Spring Breeze took a sip from her glass, then sighed. "Well, much to ponder, but I don't really have any ideas about those questions yet. I will bring them up with the other mares tomorrow though. Also, since the bottle is empty, I think we should adjourn this meeting for now. Anaphainos, I'd like to meet you again tomorrow evening – just some minor things to discuss. My quarters this time? Also, I would be pleased if you brought a bottle of your stuff if you still have one." She smiled.

I gave him a grin. Was he blushing again?

"Oh, there is another thing", Star Charmer said to me. "When I took a walk outside the castle a few days ago, I found this stone. There were more like this one there, but I found this one incredibly beautiful, so I picked it up. I immediately felt a sense of security and protection. I held it in my hand for quite a while, and I noticed that it got warm. As soon as I put it away, it was cold again in only minutes. I know you are a scholar and a magician. Do you know what this might be?"

She showed me the stone. Pitch black and beautiful. My eyes went wide. "Let me have a look at that!", I said.

She gave it to me. As soon as I touched it, my antlers began to glow. I noticed how my mind opened up while remaining firmly rooted at the same time. It was as if all bad thoughts and feelings were cleansed from my mind. It confirmed my suspicion. "This is black tourmaline!", I said. "Where did you find this?"

"As I said, outside the castle", she responded. "There's a whole bunch of those there. I guess there might even be many more of them if you dig a little bit. Is this important?"

I chuckled. "The black tourmaline is one of the most potent stones for magical protection and grounding. It binds negative emotions and transforms them into something more healthy. It opens up the mind and lets you see the world and yourself more objectively. But it doesn't just bind negative emotions this way. It also does the same to magical attacks that target the mind. If used the right way, it is essentially one of the most powerful psychic shields in existence. My father and I wanted to get our hands on one of those for as long as I can think back. But there weren't any in our homeland at all, and even in Equestria, they're more rare than in other parts of the world."

I paused for a second, then continued. "There are more of these outside, you say? You have to show us tomorrow. Actually, I'll tell the others right after you have left. If there are really more of those outside, we have to start gathering them as soon as possible. This might be exactly what we need to counteract the magic of the Crystal Cock. It could also help us stags to get some focus. Star Charmer, may I have this one? I want to do some experiments with it today. I'm so excited! Black tourmaline, wow!"

"Sure, take it", Star Charmer said. "Consider it a token of my soon-to-come submission to you... master." She smiled at me again.

Spring Breeze and I cringed almost simultaneously. "Could you... please... stop saying such things... in front of a stag... at least as long as you're in the same room with me?", Spring Breeze begged.

Once again, Star Charmer smiled deviously.

Chapter 5: Encownters (part 2)

Contract Negotiations [CLOP Stag/mare, consensual]

The next evening, Star Charmer came to me with the "good news". Good for her at least.

"We've decided on using the contract system. No runes, that proposal was immediately vetoed. Spring Breeze wants a copy of every contract, but we can begin making one immediately. Usually Spring Breeze would come to you to tell you, but I told her that I was on my way to you anyway."

I smiled nervously. "You want us to make a contract immediately, don't you? Very well, it's probably best to get this issue off the table as soon as possible." I pulled out pergament and a quill. "I think we should begin with our limits. What shall I write down for you?"

"Well... I guess this will be a short contract", Star Charmer said. "See, I talked to your old mares. None of them want to get into a contract, at least not right now, but I asked them what you liked, what you did to them. The thing is... I probably have no hard limits that would be relevant here. You can do anything with me you did with your mares. Actually, I'd like you to go beyond that. The hardest things you did to them was giving them a little spanking, hair pulling, or fucking them in the ass. Seriously, if you want to do something harder, like tie me up suspended in the air and then work me with a crop while you do me, feel free to do so. Actually, I'd love that. You see, it'll be a bit difficult to find anything to put in there. I'm simply far more kinky than you are." She grinned.

"Good Lord Hermaeus", I mumbled. "Well, if Spring Breeze wants a copy, I think we have to put something in there. She'll just become suspicious otherwise – and rightly so."

Star Charmer smiled. "I've already talked about this with her. Under normal circumstances, it would be a reason for her to inquire, but I've told her that I can't come up with anything to put in there. So she knows what to expect."

"You think of everything, don't you?" Once again, I sighed. "But I also don't just want to leave that field open. Blame my obsessive-compulsiveness. Is there really nothing you can think of?"

She thought for a minute. "Actually, there is something. Cutting off air supply for longer than five seconds. It has never been done to me, but I've heard of it. It gives me the creeps."

I smiled. "Perfect. This is nothing I would do anyway. It isn't really a hard limit for me, but it also doesn't arouse me, and it is not without danger, so I also don't want to do it. I'll put that down here, wait... 'cutting off air supply... for longer than five seconds'. Fine."

Star Charmer seemed to remember something. "Oh, I just thought of something else. Something important. Your mares said you didn't do that anyway, so I didn't remember right now. But it is important to me, so I want it in there. Knives. Or more precisely, anything with blades. I've felt the cut of a blade only once so far. It cut my horn off. It hurt like hell and it essentially cut off one of my senses permanently, so I really don't want to feel the cut of a blade again."

"Good", I said. "As a matter of fact, I'll put this one under the category shared limits. It is a hard limit for me as well. I still remember that moment back in Lindisbarne when they began chopping off unicorn horns for the first time. The moment I actually saw them do it was also the very moment where I started to distance myself from my people. So we have... not exactly a shared experience, but something we both can relate to."

She smiled.

I continued. "Actually, there is something I want to put in there. It's not exactly a hard limit, but I still want it in the contract, so I'll put it under soft limits for me. You're not a slave, and you are also not a cow. So I don't want you to call me master. Not even in private." I saw a little bit of disappointment in her eyes. But I continued. "Honestly, I'm most comfortable with Ari. I don't want to hear my birth name again, and Aristagtle is probably too much of a jawbreaker. If you insist on addressing me by a title, call me Sir."

She smiled. "Yes, Sir."

"Good. Anything else?"

"Well, yes", she said. "A... request of sorts. See, if you want to invite over some friends of yours and pass me around, feel free to do so. As a matter of fact, I'd like that. Maybe we can... do that some time."

"I really don't know if that's a good idea", I responded.

She came closer and touched my cheek. "You are a good stag. I trust you. I know that you would never allow anything that would cause me harm. And the other stags seem to listen to you. I've noticed how eager they are not to do anything that could displease you. You seem to have them under control. If it were any other stag, I wouldn't have asked for this, and I also wouldn't have suggested suspension. Actually, I've probably added a few other things to the list, at least as soft limits. But with you, I feel... safe. And this doesn't change when other stags are present. As long as you are there to have an eye on them while they take me, I know it'll be okay. My... protector."

I blushed and smiled.

"Fine", I said. "We should write this in here though. 'The sub allows the dom to let others use her as long as the limits set in this contract are respected.' There, that should do it. Not sure if I'll do that any time soon though."

She looked at me with those big, disappointed eyes and begging lips again.

"Could you please stop that?", I said. "We're still in the negotiations. Anything else?"

"Yes", she said. "As you said, I'm not a slave, and I'm also not a cow. I'm a free mare and I need time for myself. You can call me any time if you want me, but I will spend most of my time with the other mares. I.. really don't know how to put it in there."

I smiled. "I think we don't have to. As a matter of fact, I don't even want the cows to spend too much time around us. That's why I ordered them to stay with you for most of the day. Well... one of the reasons. We are a bad influence, aren't we?"

Her hand touched my cheek again. "I don't think you are", she said.

"There's something else", I said. "The safe word. Any suggestions?"

"I've already thought of one", she said. "Alicorn Twilight."

"I beg a pardon?", I said. "What an odd choice..."

Star Charmer began to explain. "You see... Twilight Sparkle's 'ascension' was precisely the point where everything began to go downhill for Equestria. Before the invasion, I was what we used to call an Orthodox Diarchist. I had no problems with Luna, she was Celestia's sister and apparently reformed, and she had ruled alongside Celestia before. She was part of our tradition, and she was also quite capable. I began being sceptical once Cadence appeared, but she ruled another country and was hardly ever seen in Equestria, so I didn't care that much. But Twilight Sparkle's ascension... it was simply a bit much. She wasn't suited for the job. The best proof of this is that she and Cadence were the first to betray their people and become willing sluts to the king and his men..."

I raised an eyebrow. "Funny that you of all ponies would complain about something like that..."

I noticed too late that I had offended her. "What?", she asked. "What do you think of me? I have certain rather unusual kinks and desires and I put quite a bit of effort into making sure they are satisfied, but I already told you that I value freedom. I want to submit in the bedroom, and my kinks helped me to get the red collar, but I never wanted to give up myself and my life entirely – not to mention the lives of others, like they did. I know that some black collars see it differently, claiming that all red collars are traitors. But I would never have sold out my people like they did, or anyone."

"I apologize", I said. "Honestly. I apparently misjudged you. But still, I don't know if the bedroom is the right place for political statements - especially historically obsolete ones. Seriously, it would even make more sense to use 'King Dainn' as the safe word."

"Maybe, but I don't want to hear that name at all unless it can't be avoided", she said. "Especially not in the bedroom. This is actually the one thing not open to negotiation. 'Alicorn Twilight' it is."

I sighed. "Very well then, I'll write it down. Let's sign this, and then I can give you what we both want."

She took the quill and signed, then handed it to me. "Hermaeus, let me do the right thing", I mumbled, then put my signature on it as well. "We still have to write two more copies of that and sign them", I said, but I noticed how impatient she had become. "But... I think we can do that afterwards. Now come here, you..."

I pulled her toward me, grabbed her by her hair and forcefully kissed her. I wrestled her tongue down with my own and began exploring her muzzle. We both moaned in pleasure. I began undressing her. It was easy, her dress was anything but complicated. When I had finished, I broke the kiss, then sat down in my chair. I dragged her with me so she would come to lie across my knees, butt exposed.

"You have a very nice muzzle", I said. "We'll put that to good use later." She giggled. "But first, you have caused me quite a bit of trouble during the last days, haven't you? Going around and asking all the other stags to take you, even though I told you not to? Letting your cravings guide your actions without even thinking about how it could jeopardize what we're trying to build here? Not to mention that you put yourself in danger with it. I think you know what has to happen, don't you?"

"Yes, sir", she said sheepishly. "I need to be punished."

She yelped as my hand descended on her butt cheek. "You bet! You will count the slaps, and you will thank me for them."

"One! Thank you, mas... sir!"

SLAP! I gave her a hard slap on the other cheek.

"Two! Thank you, sir!"

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! Three hard ones in a row.

"F... five... thank you, sir!"

We went to twenty, then I stopped. "That should be enough for now", I said. "Now let's see what that muzzle of yours can do. Get to your knees in front of me and begin." She complied immediately, got down to her knees before me and used her hands to open my pants and pull out my member. The spanking had already made me hard and incredibly aroused, and now I felt her hands and then her tongue running along it. She gave me several thorough licks, then took my full size in. I moaned, then grabbed her mane and began to fuck her muzzle.

She began to breathe heavily through her snout... but she could still breathe. I felt my orgasm approaching anyway, so I continued until I came in her muzzle. "Swallow it", I commanded. She complied without hesitation.

"Good girl", I said. "Stay there on your knees, spread your legs, and straighten up to present your breasts. I'll sit here and enjoy watching your beauty until I'm ready for the next round."

She straightened up, still breathing heavily. I took my time enjoying the view while gently running my fingers through her long, blonde hair from time to time. She looked at me with eyes of anticipation. I saw that she was wet between her legs.

When I was hard and ready to go again, I grabbed her hair, pulled her up and lead her to the bed. I bent her over the bed and put my hand under her hip, pushing it upward. "Ass and cunt up, slut", I commanded. She immediately complied, and I slowly inserted my cock into her marehood. She moaned with pleasure. I became fiercer, increasing speed and pushing in deeper, with more force. I held her head down, moved my own head closer to hers, and began to whisper into her ear while I fucked her from behind.

"Yes, you're not a slave and also definitely not a cow", I said. "But do you know what you are? A whore. My little dirty, desperate, cock-seeking slut whore. Asking all those other stags to fuck you during the last days, without even considering the possible consequences, for you or for them. Asking me to share you with others, to pass you around like a toy." She became more and more wet the more I insulted her. I was talking and fucking myself into extasy. I didn't know what I was saying or doing any more. "You know... maybe I'll do that to you", I said. "Maybe when you come to me tomorrow evening, I'll have five or six other stags with me. We'll fuck you sore until we are all sated, and then we'll leave you to lie in our filth for the night. You'd like that, wouldn't you, whore?" What the hell was I saying? I realized I was losing control of my actions. But I felt unable to do something about it. I became afraid of myself, but I felt unable stop. She seemed to like it though. Her moans increased. She was coming. I gave her a hard slap to the butt and pulled out.

I wasn't thinking any more. "How dare you come before I do, and without asking for permission first, slut?", I asked harshly. "As punishment, I'll finish in your ass, and I'll spank you again while I do it. You will count the slaps again, and you will thank me for them. No additional lube, you've been so wet, the fluids from your cunt should be enough." I pushed into her other entry. She yelped. I gave her another slap.

"One", she said. "Thank y..."

"Wrong", I said and gave her another hard slap. "You forgot the one I gave you when I pulled out. Try again." I gave her a fourth slap.

"Thr... ah, I mean four. Thank you very much, sir."

I continued to fuck and spank her until I came. I more or less exploded within her while she was moaning and yelping...

When we were finished, I fell onto the bed beside her. We were both panting heavily now. I realized only now how thoroughly I had lost control again. The curse of the stag. "Hermaeus Mora help me", I whispered. "What have I just done?"

"What do you mean?", she said, smiling at me. "You were wonderful. Those words you whispered to me... wow. I haven't been so wet for a long time." I was pretty sure she was exaggerating, but she continued. "It was incredible. You are really good with words."

"I didn't know what I was saying... or doing", I said. "I lost control. It is fortunate that you liked it. But... next time, it might turn out differently. This is exactly why I liked Anaphainos' idea to use runes. But I realize now they wouldn't cut it. They can prevent me from doing something, but we can't think of everything I could do in advance. What I really need is to keep up my self-control somehow. The runes can't help me with that, that's not how they work. But at the very least we simply need more failsafes."

"I really don't think it's necessary", she said. "You didn't violate any rules we've set up, and you didn't give me displeasure... at least not more than I want you to. As I said, you were wonderful..."

I interrupted her. "But it is necessary. You liked it this time. What if something goes wrong next time? No, I can't continue doing this if I can't control myself. Maybe this will be a beginning: I will refrain from calling you a whore again as long as I'm in control of myself. If I call you a whore again, or a slave, I want you to call Alicorn Twilight immediately, because it'll be a sign that I'll be losing control again."

She was disappointed again. "You know, I liked being called a whore. But okay, if you insist..."

I continued. "In the long run, this won't be enough. We have to think of something else..."

Something came to her mind. "The black tourmaline!", she said. "You said it also helps to stay grounded, to keep up self-control. Simply use it while we're together. If it is as powerful as you say, maybe this will help."

My face brightened. "You're right. I've experimented with it today, and it is indeed as powerful as I thought. It could indeed help me to keep self-control. But... I'd have to keep it in touch with my body all the time. But holding it in one hand would limit me too much, hmm..."

"An amulet", she said. "Or a necklace of some sorts. So you can wear the stone around the neck while you do me."

I smiled. "Wearing an amulet while I fuck you. Maybe I should continue to call you my whore - because with that, I just need a fancy purple hat and I'd look like a pimp."

We both burst into laughter.

When we had stopped laughing, Star Charmer and I lay beside each other for a while and said nothing. But then I remembered something. "Star Charmer", I said. "It's a bit weird to bring this up now, but I wanted to ask you for something else."

"Sure. Whatever you wish, sir."

"You know that we have ordered the cows to spend some time with you mares, and that I've asked Spring Breeze if you could show them how you do things a little bit. I would like to ask if you would be willing to take one specific cow... under your wing, as it were. Show her how you mares do things."

"The one with the amber eyes", she said. "Bruna, I think. You fancy her a bit, don't you?"

I smiled. "I just can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"I don't think so, no. Not any more", she answered. "Also, yes, I'm willing to take care of her."

"Wonderful", I said. "Anaphainos has invited me for dinner and drinks tomorrow evening. So we'll see each other the day after tomorrow if you have the time."

"Love to!", she said. "You'll get your amulet ready until then?"

"Yes", I said. "As a matter of fact, I'll craft it tomorrow during the day."

"Awesome!", she said. "See you in two days, sir!"

She left the bed, picked up her dress and left the room. I went to sleep quickly.

Chapter 6: Speaking Differences

The Lever [CLOP Stag/Cow/mare, consensual]

The next evening, Anaphainos and I were sitting in his room and enjoying dinner. He had prepared a traditional caribou delicacy.

"Wow", I said. "I'm surprised you could put this together. But actually also a little bit concerned. Where did you get the main ingredient?"

"It was growing in the forest near our fields", Anaphainos said. "I thought it was better to chop it down quickly. I also made sure there weren't any others nearby. But then I didn't know what to do with it, and I didn't want to let it go to waste. So I invited you over for dinner."

"You know, we probably won't have this for a long time. So let's enjoy every little bite of it", I said. "Also, you did an amazing job with this. It's really delicious."

We ate silently for a while.

Anaphainos broke the silence. "So... you have a contract with Star Charmer now, huh? I assume you have already taken her? How was it?"

I sighed. "It was amazing... for her. For me, it was distressing. I lost control. I didn't do anything foolish or dangerous, objectively it was actually rather tame, but for a moment, I forgot myself. I know... we stags don't usually see this as a problem. I also didn't really see this until recently. After all, we let ourselves be carried away all the time – just look at what we did to Equestria. But the Order and my pact with Hermaeus have changed me..."

"I know exactly what you mean", Anaphainos said.

"I also had much time to think during the last weeks", I continued. "You know that I believe that our species is on a direct road to self-destruction. I think the loss of control is exactly the problem. We stags lose control all the time because of our over-inflated egos – and the cows have no control because they have no ego to begin with. Our species is spinning out of control, and with it all of Equestria. We founded the Order precisely to fix this. But how can we get our species back under control if I can't even control myself? Sometimes I envy you. For one of us, you seem to have an enormous amount of self-control..."

Anaphainos gulped. "Ari, I... yesterday, I let Spring Breeze dominate me."

"I... oh... I didn't... wow... wait, what?"

"Well, we've set up this little community in order to be able to try new things, haven't we? Your tale about female domination and male submission in Equestria before the invasion had made me curious", Anaphainos continued. "I didn't exactly plan for this though. But yesterday evening, I visited her with a bottle of Amber Glow. We drank, and she began to tease me again. You probably have noticed already. She compliments me for my kindness, and in the next moment she negs me for being a stag. I find it... addictive. Yesterday evening, it became more and more obvious that she was interested in me. Before either of us even knew what was happening, I found myself kneeling before her, kissing her hooves, calling her mistress and milady... so much for self-control. She was even more surprised than I was, and also incredibly embarrassed. But we sort of... went from there."

I took a big sip from my glass. "Wow... you offered yourself as a punching bag for her frustration?"

"Look, I know you have already felt her fists once. But it wasn't like that. It was much more... sweet. It wasn't entirely without pain, but... I'm addicted to it, Ari. I'm addicted to her."

"It's a little bit weird, that's for sure", I said. "But... I think I'm happy for you."

"Don't get me wrong", Anaphainos said. "I still like to take a cow now and then. I can still assert myself. Just... not towards her. She has me now – entirely."

"Isn't that a bit extreme?", I asked. "I mean, you just started this."

"Yeah, I know. As I said, lack of self-control."

"Maybe you also need a tourmaline amulet", I said.

"I beg your pardon?"

I smiled. "It was something Star Charmer suggested." I pulled out the amulet I had crafted during the day. "We know of the properties of black tourmaline. Originally we only wanted to use it to pull stallions out of the mind control. Star Charmer suggested that I should craft an amulet for myself to give me focus and control while I do her. She didn't mind my loss of control, but she saw that it bothered me. So she suggested it. And so, I made this." I showed it to him. "The frame is made from brass and steel. I would have prefered more precious materials, but we can't afford them right now. It's also crafted in a way so the tourmaline stone remains in contact with my skin when I wear it."

"The frame... it looks like two figures that are holding the stone. Almost like the old symbol of the alicorn princesses from old Equestria."

"Look closer", I said. "The figures both face upwards. And only one of them is an alicorn princess."

"The other one... has antlers", Anaphainos observed. "It's a stag."

"Yes, it's a stag. The entire thing symbols the union of our two peoples, and of our two genders."

Anaphainos raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure if the mares will like that."

"I know Star Charmer will", I said.

Someone knocked at the door. I put the amulet away. "Please come in", Anaphainos said.

Spring Breeze entered the room. "Anaphainos, I just wanted to thank you for... oh, Ari. I didn't know you were here this evening. You're having dinner? I don't think I know that dish. What is it?"

"It's a caribou delicacy", Anaphainos said. "A... plant. Steamed, and flavored with a very specific set of spices. I found it in the forest, close to the fields. I thought it would be best if I chopped it down, and then I didn't want to let it go to waste."

"Sounds tasty", she said. "Mind if I try it?"

Anaphainos looked at her sheepishly. "I... I'm not sure you want to eat that, milady."

Spring Breeze looked at him with a stern face. "You don't really want to deny me a bite, do you?"

Anaphainos moved his hand across his head. "How could I deny you anything... milady. I'm just saying I'm not sure if you would want to..."

"Nonsense", she said. "If it's good enough for you, it sure as hell is good enough for me as well." She took his fork, picked up a piece, put it into her muzzle and began to chew. "Mh", she said. "This is really good! How could you think I wouldn't like it?" She swallowed. "Seriously, we have to cultivate more of those plants."

"Yeah, no... that really isn't a good idea", Anaphainos said.

"Why not?", Spring Breeze asked.

"Because... as I said, it's a caribou delicacy, and it's a plant. A plant that didn't grow natively in Equestria until we brought it here. A... vine, to be more precise."

"Oh no!", Spring Breeze said. "Please tell me this isn't..."

"It is", Anaphainos said.

"Oh no, oh my... how... what... how could..." She left the room, visibly distressed.

"Spring Breeze!" Anaphainos rose from his seat and rushed after her. "Milady, wait!"

I chuckled a little bit. I didn't know exactly what they were doing together, but images of Spring Breeze giving Anaphainos' sorry butt a thorough spanking all through the night came to my mind.

Afternoon the next day, Bruna knocked at my door. I told her to come in.

"Master, I'm here to give you my next report", she said. "Something happened, and I... I think I have learned something."

"Oh?", I asked. "What happened?"

"You know how we cows really get to know someone only by touching?"

"Yes, Bruna", I said and raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?"

"That new mare of yours", she said. "'Star Charmer', I think. I have trouble remembering mares' names." She giggled.

"Yes, I asked her to spend some time with you during the day. Did she?"

"Yes...", Bruna said. "You know how we cows only really get to know someone by touch?"

"Yes, Bruna", I said impatiently. "So, what happened?"

"I...", Bruna stuttered. "She... let me... get to know her yesterday evening."

"Oh", I said. I had asked Star Charmer to show her how mares 'do things', but that wasn't exactly what I had in mind. "That... is a surprise. What did you learn about her?"

"Well...", she said. "It's like there are... several different parts of her. If that makes sense."

I raised an eyebrow. "Could you explain that a little bit more?"

"Well, a cow always feels like a cow - like a slave. And a stag always feels like a stag – like a master. One feeling. But with her, it was different. I felt... several different things at the same time."

I slowly began to understand what she meant.

She continued. "For example, there is one part of her that feels... like a cow. A slave."

I smiled. "I wouldn't call it that, but if you understand it better that way... in a way, yes. I don't want you to call her that though. Also, I think it's only her, you won't find the same with most of the other mares. Or at least... not that much."

Bruna continued. "There's also another part of her that feels more like a master. That's the part she actively let me see. She knew what I was, she knew I needed a master, so she took control. And she was able to do so. She didn't hurt me, but she was firm."

"Yes, and I didn't tell her to do that, so she came up with that idea all by herself", I revealed. "Another trait of a master, isn't it?"

"Master, there... there was another part of her... I felt it, but I didn't understand it. It was neither slave nor master. But it was... more than both. Bigger."

"I think I know what you've found", I said. "What you felt, that aspect of her that is neither slave nor master... it's called freedom. You can think of it as a lever, to switch between slave and master. Actually, it has even more settings. Maybe even countless ones. That's why it felt bigger than slave or master. Because it really is much bigger."

"Oh", she said. "Why don't we caribou have that, master?"

"I think we have", I said. "It's just better hidden, and harder to pull. That's why it's mostly on one setting all the time. But just yesterday I've seen a stag find his lever and change his setting. I think you know which one."

"My... former owner?", Bruna guessed.

"Indeed", I said. "He's special, isn't he? A little bit different from us other stags."

"I've... always felt it", Bruna admitted. "May I go now, master? This talk tires me."

An idea came to my mind. "You may go", I said. "But I want you here this evening. If another stag wants you as well, tell him that I have asked for you and that this is important. Can you do that?"

She nodded.

I had promised Star Charmer to take her again this evening. And she had explicitly asked me to invite a friend or two and pass her around.

I wanted to see if I could find Bruna's lever.

Later that evening, I went to get Star Charmer. Bruna had already come to my room, and I had ordered her to wait there. I found Star Charmer in her quarters. "Good evening, Star Charmer", I said. I showed her the tourmaline amulet. "It is finished, and as promised, I have time for you this evening. I might also have something special for you. The idea came to me today."

"Oh, interesting", she said. "What is it?"

"It's a surprise", I said.

Once we had reached the wing of the castle that belonged to us caribou, I put a blindfold over her eyes. "Now we don't want to spoil your surprise, will we?", I asked.

"What do you have in mind?", she asked, her voice somewhere between anticipation and concern.

"Let's just say I've decided to grant you your request", I said.

"You're going to pass me around?", Star Charmer asked. "How many others have you invited over?"

"Only one", I said. "I won't tell you who it is though. It's a surprise."

Spring Breeze was visibly excited now. "Have you asked that doctor of yours? He's a nice guy, and you two seem to be good friends. I wondered if you would ask him first. But... no, it can't be him. He's with Spring Breeze now, isn't he? I'd love to make Spring Breeze a little bit jealous though..."

I smiled. "No, it's not him. Oh, you'll never guess. Just let yourself be surprised..."

We entered my room. "Kneel", I ordered Star Charmer. Still blindfolded, she went to her knees in an instant.

I went over to Bruna and whispered something in her ear. She approached Star Charmer and touched her cheek with her right hand. "You feel that hand on your cheek", I said to Star Charmer. "Touch it with your hands."

Star Charmer did as she was ordered. "This... isn't a stag's hand", she said. "It feels familiar... oh."

I removed her blindfold so she could see Bruna.

Star Charmer's eyes went wide. "You're going to share me... with her?", she asked.

"Well, I have already more or less shared her with you, haven't I?", I said. "So why not turn things around this time?"

She looked at me sheepishly. "Fair enough", she said.

I continued. "Also, you know that I've told you not to call me master. But I will suspend my soft limit for this evening. You will call me master. And you will call her mistress."

I saw that Star Charmer had trouble keeping herself from bursting into laughter. But I saw that Bruna got nervous. "Master", she asked. "What does the word 'mistress' mean?"

I explained it to her. "A mistress is... a female master", I said.

Bruna's eyes went wide. "Something like this exists?", she asked.

"Of course it does", I answered. "Only a few hours earlier, you have told me yourself that a part of Star Charmer was like a master, and that she could switch to that part. If she can, why not you?"

"But... I don't feel like a master", Bruna said.

"Come on, it's not that difficult. You already know Star Charmer sexually. There must be something that you particularly liked when she took you. Just order her to do that again."

Bruna giggled. "That thing you did with your tongue", she said to Star Charmer. "Do that again!"

Star Charmer crawled forward and buried her muzzle between Bruna's legs. Bruna tripped backwards and would probably have fallen, but I instantly moved to hold her. "Don't worry, I'm there", I said. She giggled again.

Star Charmer continued until Bruna came. She then moved a step back. "You know, this is turning out very different from what I had hoped for", she said.

I chuckled. "You know, the entire relationship between you and Bruna turned out very different from what I had in mind. Yes, she did tell me about your little encounter, obviously. When I asked you to show her how mares do things, I didn't mean that, you know? You deliberately misinterpreted my request, and you took advantage of Bruna."

"What an incredibly odd accusation", Star Charmer said.

"Have I or Bruna given you permission to speak?", I asked. "As I said, you've taken advantage of Bruna. It probably turned out to be a good thing, but it was still foolish and could have caused problems, and it was still disrespectful toward her, and toward her people. I think it would be in order for you to apologize to your mistress."

"What?", Star Charmer asked.

"I said: Apologize to your mistress."

"Look... I'm sorry, Bruna. I thought you..."

I interrupted her to correct her. "I'm sorry, mistress", I said. "Actually, forget that. A simple apology won't cut it any more. Crawl to her and lick her hooves. Either that, or call Alicorn Twilight."

"Master, what is Alicorn Twilight?", Bruna asked.

"I'll explain to you later", I said.

I saw how Star Charmer fought with herself. For a moment, I thought it was incredibly odd. If I had ordered her to lick my hooves, or if I had brought another stag, or even a mare, and asked her for the same, her tongue would probably already be at work. She also wasn't disgusted by cows, she had already taken Bruna after all. But submitting to a cow... that was a challenge for her. How weird. But was it really? Would I be able to submit to a cow? So far I hadn't even submitted to anyone...

Finally, Star Charmer crawled forward and began to lick Bruna's hooves. "I'm sorry, mistress", she said. "I know I wronged you. Please, be merciful." I have to say, despite everything, she was still eager to play her role. I didn't know if that should make me proud of her, or concerned.

Bruna was utterly confused. She looked at me. "She... wronged... me? What did she do?"

I explained it to her. "I asked Star Charmer to take care of you. To show you how mares do things. I thought she would introduce you to her life, explain things to you. She used my request to take you to her bedroom. I hadn't asked her for that. She used my request to get to you, and then she used you. What happens to someone who tries to use her masters?"

Bruna thought for a minute. "She... needs to be punished?", she suggested. But I felt that she was not comfortable with saying that. Could it be? Was I delusional, or was there something in her voice that sounded like she wanted to object?

"You say it", I said. "What would you suggest?"

"I... I really have no idea. It's... not my... place to decide... such things", Bruna stuttered.

She became more and more uncomfortable. Cows have a strong submissive tendency apparently by nature, and I even had a few theories about why this might be the case. Aside from the story of Estra, I had never heard of a cow deciding anything on her own, let alone for someone else. So this reaction wasn't unexpected. Yet there was something in Bruna's voice that hinted at... something else. I had deliberately set up the situation to be as weird as possible, for her and for Star Charmer. But right now it became increasingly weird for me. So far, nothing had happened that I hadn't planned for. It had played out more or less the way I thought it would, including Bruna's indecisiveness. But there was still something about this whole situation that I found more and more odd.

Yet, I had to go through with this. If only to see what would happen.

"You are her mistress for now, and she wronged you", I said. "You decide."

"I can't, master. There's simply nothing that comes to my mind. I know the thing you do to us cows to punish us. Before we moved here, I've also seen a few things you do to mares to punish them. I think of them, but they all don't seem right."

"Come on, just pick one", I said. "I'll tell you if it's appropriate." But she still hesitated. I knew she wouldn't be able to choose without help. "What about spanking?", I suggested.

Bruna's face brightened. "Yes, master. That sounds good."

I addressed Star Charmer. "You heard her. Place yourself across her legs, ass up."

Star Charmer obeyed. "You can begin now", I told Bruna.

She gave Star Charmer a little pat to her right butt cheek. It was so pathetic, just watching it definitely hurt me more than it had hurt Star Charmer.

Star Charmer began to laugh. "Seriously, Ari... you can end this charade now. It was a nice idea, really. I even admire what you're trying to do. But it won't work. She will always be a cow and nothing else. You can't turn her into what you want her to be just like that."

Bruna's next slap hit her hard. It was probably still not as hard as my slaps, but it caught her by surprise. She yelped.

I knelt down so my face was on the same level as Star Charmer's, then grabbed her chin and moved it up so I could look her in the eyes. "Star Charmer, you shame me", I said. "You were the one who asked me to pass you around, to share you with my friends. I was never really comfortable with the idea. But we put it in the contract. So I expect you to show anyone – and I mean anyone – I would invite over exactly the same amount of respect as you would show me. If you don't like it, call Alicorn Twilight, but don't start to insult my guests. Do you understand me?"

She nodded weakly.

I addressed Bruna. "Continue to spank her. Hard. Just like your last one, or even harder if you can. Show her no mercy." I stood up. Bruna continued her work. Now that Star Charmer knew what was coming, it was no problem for her to adapt. I had another idea.

I unzipped my pants and addressed Star Charmer again. "You know, I wanted to have you thank your mistress for the slaps. But since you obviously can't keep your foul muzzle shut, I think it needs to be filled. So while Bruna continues your punishment, I will fuck your muzzle. I don't expect you to do anything. You will just take it in passively, and you will swallow afterwards. If you want to call Alicorn Twilight, you should probably do it now."

Star Charmer shook her head. "No, it's okay. I can take it."

"Good", I said and inserted my cock into her muzzle while Bruna continued spanking her. She choked for a second, but then she took it as I had told her. Once again I made sure she was still able to breathe.

A while later, I came in Star Charmer's muzzle and she swallowed it as I had told her to.

I looked at Bruna. "I would say she had enough for now. But it's you she used, and it's you she insulted. So it's your decision. What do you say?"

Bruna stopped spanking her. "Whatever you say, master", she said and smiled at me.

Now I would go to the third phase of my plan. "You may leave your mistress' lap now", I told Star Charmer.

"Thank you, master", she said and crawled down.

I took Bruna's hand and guided her to the bed. Then I told Star Charmer to sit down on the chair.

"What do you have in mind now?", Star Charmer asked. "...Master", she quickly added.

"Easy", I said while I got a few things from my cupboard. "I will tie you to that chair. You will watch and remain perfectly silent while I will give Bruna a good fuck."

Bruna's eyes seemed to shine. Finally something that wasn't completely weird.

I sat down on the bed and then moved Bruna onto my lap.

"You know what your mistake was?", I asked Star Charmer while Bruna began moving on my cock. Star Charmer shook her head, so I explained it to her. "You said that Bruna would always be a cow and nothing else. About that part, you are probably right." Delivering a speech while fucking a cow isn't exactly easy, so I stopped talking for a second to catch my breath. Then I continued. "You also said that I couldn't just turn Bruna into what I want her to be. And this is where you are wrong. What you didn't take into account was that a cow will always be what her master wants her to be." I chuckled a little bit. Once again, I noticed how Star Charmer struggled against her urge to burst into laughter. I continued. "You're also wrong in another point. I don't want to change her. Only a lunatic would try something like that. I just want to give her a good time, and a new experience." I noticed that Bruna instantly became even more eager to give me a good time. I grunted from pleasure.

I decided it was time to up the ante even more. So I started to mock and insult Star Charmer. I didn't call her a whore, but I used a lot of rather colorful terms to convey the same idea. I really wanted to pull a trigger, so I also accused her of being a traitor for not being able to think of any other way of using her freedom than signing a contract of submission to a stag. Star Charmer got visibly angry – but we both knew she could call Alicorn Twilight at any point, and she didn't. Time for the last stage of my plan.

"Bruna, why don't you join in the fun?", I asked. "Go on, mock her. If you can't think of anything to throw at her, that's fine. Just tell me, I'll whisper things to you that you can throw at her."

Bruna immediately stiffened. "I can't... master."

My eyes went wide. I hadn't expected that. "What did you just say?", I asked.

"I... apologize for disappointing you, master", she said. "You'll probably punish me. But I just... can't."

"Why not?", I said. "It's really easy, just repeat what I whisper to you."

"I can't, because... I want to be like her! I know I can't be. I know that now. But I can't mock her for... being... what I want to be. I'm sorry, master. If you want to punish me, go on. But I can't."

Had I found Bruna's lever? If I had, it wasn't where I had looked for it. I had found it by accident. Maybe we stags were not suited for the job of searching for levers.

Maybe it was Star Charmer who had found it.

"No, I'm not going to punish you, Bruna", I said. "You are her mistress, if you say she doesn't deserve to be insulted, she doesn't deserve it. In fact, I'll stop insulting her as well."

I continued to fuck Bruna, and made sure we both came. "Thank you, Bruna", I said. "You may leave now. Also, you're not a mistress any more... at least for now." She looked relieved when I said that. Then, she left the room quickly.

"You magnificent fucker", Star Charmer said once Bruna had closed the door. "This wasn't about Bruna at all, was it? This was about me. You wanted to fuck with my head, and I have to say you succeeded. In more than one sense." She chuckled.

I smiled deviously. "Thank you for the compliment. Also, you are right in part, of course. But I also didn't lie. I did want Bruna to have a good time, and to gain a new experience."

I untied her. "Also I really didn't expect what has just happened. I mean, I didn't expect that she would refuse my request to insult you. That really surprised me. You're right, I can't change her. But... it seems like you can." I paused for a second. "I have to be honest with you. I have no idea what to do with the cows. No idea whatsoever. We can't just change them, but I know we also can't leave them as they are. I always say we are a bad influence to them. But the opposite is also true. They are also a bad influence to us. As long as they are the way they are, we'll always be tempted to start seeing females as inferior. You know as well as I do that we can't let this happen. That's why I let them spend time with you mares. You are a good influence, aren't you?"

Star Charmer smiled.

"You ponies are really an extraordinary species, aren't you?", I asked. "You are... bridge builders. You are the antithesis of what we are. We can't even build bridges between us and our own females. We can only rip apart relationships, friendships, entire societies. You, on the other hand, build bridges. You bring completely different people and species closer together. You build societies. Anything and anyone you touch starts to flourish like a beautiful flower in spring. That's why Dainn and the others try so hard to destroy you, mind-controlling the stallions and beating the mares into submission. It is all about taking away this power from you. They fear it more than Tartarus and all thirteen hells. It really does threaten our way of life – but only because our way of life is wrong."

"I think you give us far too much credit", Star Charmer said.

"Do I? Just look at the influence you have on Bruna. I don't have to mention that I would like to ask you to spend more time with her. Or look at Anaphainos, how he has changed during the last days. How happy he seems to be now. Did you know that he lets Spring Breeze dominate him in bed?"

"Really?", Star Charmer asked. "Well, I should have guessed it. The way they've interacted during the last days... I just didn't consider the possibility. Because – you know, because he's a stag."

I looked her in the eye. "There is one big danger to our project and to what we want to build here. It's a bigger danger than Dainn. It's the danger of falling back into old patterns of thought and behavior. Gender prejudice, racial prejudice... despite what I said earlier in order to provoke you, there is nothing wrong with you playfully submitting to me in the bedroom, as long as it's consensual and we respect each others' limits. But we mustn't allow it to determine our patterns of thought and behavior in a way that reproduces those old prejudices. If we do that, no laws or contracts and no amount of tourmaline will save us and our endeavour. We have to actively break these patterns, at least from time to time. What Anaphainos does is... apparently still a little bit one-sided, but at least he's breaking patterns. Also, it has made me curious. I'm trying to break patterns with Bruna, but I'm not sure if I have tried hard enough with you so far."

Star Charmer yawned. "I didn't have any release so far, and you are starting to bore me. I'm close to calling Alicorn Twilight and leaving so I can at least do myself. Is this rant going anywhere?"

I chuckled. "I think it is."

I fell to my knees before her and started to kiss her hooves. "Milady", I said. "Your humble servant is at your command."

Star Charmer raised an eyebrow. "Not enough mindfuck for today yet, huh? Very well, I'll go along with this for now. I really hope this won't be permanent though. I still want to receive my share of playful verbal and physical degradation in the future, you know?"

I lowered my eyes. "Whatever milady wishes."

She finally gave herself permission to laugh.

Chapter 7: Shadow's Awakening

Summer Nights [sex Cows/Mare/stag, semiconsensual, nonexplicid, drugged]

The next day, I sat at my desk when Bruna came to my room.

"Ah, Bruna", I said. "Are you here to talk about what happened yesterday evening?"

Bruna answered shyly. "Master, I... am here to receive my punishment."

I looked up from my work. "What punishment? What are you talking about?"

"For yesterday evening", she said. "I disobeyed you. You haven't punished me yet."

"Bruna, I won't punish you. I've already told you that it was your choice. Bruna, you remember what I told you about the lever recently? How I believe that we caribou also have that, it's only better hidden and harder to pull? I think that was your lever, Bruna. You didn't make a mistake. It also wasn't misdemeanor on your part. You made a conscious choice. You set a limit that you decided you would not cross, no matter what I would do to you. I am proud of you."

She was confused. "You are proud of me... for disobeying you?"

I nodded. "A few months ago, I told you that we stags don't always do the right thing, remember? I have to admit... yesterday evening, I did the wrong thing. I shouldn't have insulted Star Charmer the way I did. It was... unfair. I also shouldn't have demanded it from you. You like Star Charmer quite a lot, don't you?"

She nodded.

I continued. "I should have known it. The way you talked about her the evening before. I should have known that I would hurt both of you with that demand. I was the one who was misbehaving."

Bruna was surprised. "Master... does that mean that you need to be punished?"

I smiled. "Don't worry, Star Charmer has already taken care of that."

She was even more confused now, but she didn't inquire further. We both remained silent for a while. Then she asked: "Master... if I may, I have another question."

"Bruna, you know you can ask me anything you want to."

"Master... what is 'Alicorn Twilight'?"

Oh. I had completely forgotten about that.

"I think I know what an alicorn is", Bruna said. "I've never actually seen one, but I've seen images of one on the castle walls. She is pretty."

"That is Luna, one of the Royal Sisters", I explained to her. "And yes, she is indeed an alicorn. Well, not any more. She doesn't have those wings and the horn any more. I fear... she isn't as pretty as she used to be. What's even worse is that this is the result of another example of grave misdemeanor committed by stags. And they haven't even been punished for that yet."

"Oh", Bruna said. "That's really sad. But still, why did you mention alicorns yesterday evening? It's still really confusing. You told Star Charmer she could call one named Twilight. I think I've heard of that one. Would that one have come if Star Charmer had called her? What would she have done?"

I smiled. "She wouldn't literally have called for her. This is what we call a safe word."

Bruna looked at me confused. So I began explaining it to her.

"You see, I told you that the lever can switch between different settings – master, slave, even others as well. But sometimes when we are set to one setting and act it out, there might be the point where we accidentally overstep a certain limit and lose grip of the lever, or accidentally make another one lose grip. Whoever loses grip of the lever can... become stuck on a certain setting."

"Oh", Bruna just said.

"You see, the king's men even do it on purpose", I continued. "It even has to do with why Luna doesn't have her wings and horn any more. They took them away precisely for the purpose of making her and others lose grip of their levers, get them stuck on different settings." I thought for a second. "That's also what the different collars are for. They represent the different settings they can get stuck on. Red for compliant sex toy, purple for broken, black for... punching bag, or beast of burden."

Bruna was completely horrified. "That's... horrible", she said. "We thought that it was the mares' fault. That they were misbehaving, and you were disciplining them to show them the right way again. But... that wasn't the case, was it? They weren't misbehaving, just like I wasn't yesterday evening. What the king and the others did to them... they turned them into..." She was struggling to find words. "I want to be like them... but the king's men try to turn them into... something like us!"

I nodded. Bruna was completely shocked now.

"I know now that what the king's men..." I stopped myself. I had to be honest with her from now on. "I know now that what we did... to the mares of Equestria was a big mistake. A serious misdemeanor even, one that we should be severely punished for but haven't really been so far. That's why I and the others have come here and built this community. We want to at the very least do things differently from now on. We don't purposely make others lose grip of their levers any more. But we certainly also don't want it to happen by accident. That's what the safe words are for. Whenever I'm with Star Charmer, and she believes that she might be losing grip of her lever again, she'll say 'Alicorn Twilight', and then I'll instantly stop doing whatever I'm doing to her at the moment. No matter what it is. I'll even stop punishing her. I will also never punish her for using her safe word – that is entirely her decision."

I saw that Bruna had trouble coming to terms with that idea. But I just remembered something.

"Thinking of it, now that you have found your lever, I think you should have a safe word as well. If you had a safe word, you could have stopped me yesterday evening just by saying it, and you wouldn't have to fear being punished for it. So let's choose a safe word for you. Whenever I do something with you and you say it, I'll immediately stop. I'll also tell the other stags to respect it. Even if you never actually use it, now that we have found your lever, I think you should have one."

She wasn't convinced. "Whatever you say, master. What should my safe word be?"

I thought for a minute. "What do you think of tourmaline?", I asked. "It's the name of the black stone I'm wearing around my neck."

"Tur... ma... leen", she said. "A difficult word. I'm not sure if I will be able to remember it."

She had a point. I had to find another one. I thought for a minute...

I facepalmed. It was so obvious!

"Bruna... for now, why don't we simply use the word lever?"

She smiled.

One night in midsummer, I was still at my desk reading a book, I heard a strange noise from my window.

"Who!"

I looked to my window and saw an owl sitting on the window sill.

"Now who might you be?", I asked.

"Who!", the owl said.

"Owls are sacred animals of Hermaeus Mora", I remembered. "Is He whispering to you, little friend? Or are you just here in hope of catching a mouse?"

"Who!"

"Let's see what the Oghma Infinium has to say about this", I said, walking over to the pedestal that held the book, carefully opening it. It always almost instantly showed me what I needed. I read aloud.

"The Whisperers in Darkness. Owls: Messengers of the Prince. Part one: How to understand their language. Hm, let's try this out."

"Who!"

"So, you're saying that your name used to be Owlowiscious?"

"Who!"

"You once worked for... could you repeat that last part again?"

"Who!"

"Oh. Mighty Hermaeus! You are quite an important owl, aren't you?"

"Who!"

"What did you say?"

"Who!"

"Someone from Canterlot is coming to look how we're doing here? That's bad. I didn't think they would be moving that fast, even before the first harvest. If what you say is true, you have done me an invaluable favor. Let's see what the Oghma Infinium has to say..."

The owl flew through my open window and landed on my desk. "I think as of tomorrow, I'll have to install a perch for you in this room", I said.

"Who!!!"

I smiled. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship", I said and browsed the pages of the book. Once again, I quickly found what I needed. "Ah, here. That should do the trick." I made a list, went straight to Anaphainos, and knocked at his door.

"My dear friend", I said. "I need a bottle of your Amber Glow. Also, I need the three components on this list. Do you happen to have any of those? Some of them have medical application, so I figured you might have them."

He looked at the list and raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I have those. This is a very interesting combination though. Could you tell me why you need those?"

"There's someone from Canterlot coming to investigate us", I informed him.

"Oh. That's bad", he said. "And now you want to drug or poison him?"

"Probably", I said. "I found that recipe in the Oghma Infinium. A former champion of Hermaeus Mora from Saddle Arabia used it to divert attention away from his Order. Any idea how this works?"

Anaphainos smirked. "If you mix those components in the right ratio, and give the right amount of it to somestag, he'll experience enormous feelings of euphoria, and hallucinations. He'll feel like he's in Oden's hall, with the muzzle of one of Oden's famous cows wrapped tightly around his cock. He'll also become enormously susceptible for the time the drug is in effect. There is a danger though. You should really let me do this. If you miss the right ratio, or if you administer only a little bit too much, the poor guy will literally be in Oden's hall."

I smirked. "Okay, you do it. Funny that you would mention Oden's hall though. Because right now, I think that I should give our guest from Canterlot to the cows. Let them have their fun with him."

"Interesting choice of words", Anaphainos smirked.

"Yeah, I've come to see things a little bit differently during the last months. Also, we should tell the mares to stay in their rooms and houses while our guest is here. We don't want him to see them while he's still sober, do we?"

Anaphainos instantly rushed to inform Spring Breeze.

One evening later, I watched the cows enjoying themselves with a very happy stag from Canterlot, who was experiencing a bliss he probably hadn't known before. Even watching it made me feel a little bit of his extacy.

A figure appeared behind me. "So, what are you up to?", a familiar voice asked.

I turned around. "Star Charmer!", I said. "I assumed Spring Breeze had told all of you to stay in your rooms. Hasn't she informed you about our guest?"

I noticed that Star Charmer was wearing a red collar. It was clearly fake, easy to remove. It was risky, but at least she tried not to be completely reckless. I calmed down a bit. Something told me that she wanted to meet that stag, and convince him that we still knew how to put our mares in their place here. It was a nice idea, but it was reckless and stupid. If she had met him while he was sober, he might have seen through our charade, and then we'd have had a problem.

Star Charmer smirked. "Yes, but I'm a bad girl. Also, he doesn't seem to pay much attention right now, does he? Seriously, that guy looks fucked – and I don't mean what the cows are doing to him."

I put my hand at the back of my head. "I kind of... drugged him", I said. "He's enormously susceptible right now, so they'll convince him that everything is as it should be here. Tomorrow, he'll return to Canterlot and tell the king that he has never seen a place where the females are as well-behaved as they are here." Then I had another idea. "I'll personally escort him safely to Canterlot. My birthday is coming, and I still need to buy a few things myself there."

"Wow, that's devious! And I thought I was the naughty one!", Star Charmer chuckled. "Also, shame on you that you didn't invite me over for the fun. May I... still join in?"

I thought for a minute. "That's actually not a bad idea. Right now, he clearly won't be able to distinguish a real red collar from your fake one. Make sure he sees your face. It will convince him even more that everything is alright here."

Star Charmer immediately joined the cows.

It was late summer, my birthday had arrived, and we had decided to use Anaphainos' room for the celebration. I entered the room. Everyone else was already there. Anaphainos was the first to congratulate me.

"Happy birthday, my dear friend", he said.

"Thank you very much", I responded.

Star Charmer stood up and bowed down a little. "Happy birthday, sir. If you have any wishes, I'll do everything I can to make this a pleasant evening for all of us." She smiled seductively.

I grinned. "Well, not right now, but I'll see what I can come up with."

Spring Breeze was next to congratulate me. "Thank you, Spring Breeze", I said. "I'm glad to see that Anaphainos could convince you to come. I really wanted to have you here."

"Nah, it wasn't that hard", Spring Breeze said. "I'm beginning to think you really are a good guy."

I smiled. Then, I saw Bruna. I was surprised to see her wear a dress. Star Charmer must have made it for her - it was clearly her style.

I noticed for the first time how hot a cow could look in a dress.

"Bruna, you're wearing a dress for the special occasion?", I asked. "I really like it. You should wear it more often. Also, I really look forward to peeling you out of it later this evening."

She giggled. "Yes, master. I... look forward to that, too."

Anaphainos poured each of us a glass of Amber Glow. I took my first sip.

"Well, well", Anaphainos said. "Let's get to the important part, shall we? I think I shall begin." He handed me a neatly wrapped present. "Go on, open it", he said. "But be careful, it's old and can easily be damaged."

I opened it with care and found an old book. Legends and fairytales of our people.

"Anaphainos, that looks really old. And valuable."

"It is old", Anaphainos said. "The only book I didn't give to the library. My grandfather wrote this copy with his own hands, around the time when he came of age. The original book was a family heirloom, said to be several centuries old, passed from generation to generation, copied every few generations. While the alleged age sounds like an exaggeration, it does contains several stories that aren't told today any more, and several older versions of familiar stories, so there may be something to it. Which reminds me, you should really check out the story on page 128. I can guarantee that it'll amuse you."

"I will", I promised. "This is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much."

I looked at the table of contents for page 128. The Tale of Friga and the White Cow. Hmm...

Star Charmer was next. She stood up, knelt before me and presented me a riding crop with both hands. "For your birthday, another token of my submission, sir. I look forward to tasting it later this evening."

Spring Breeze flinched again.

I smiled, took it and looked at it with dreamy eyes. "You know, I have used a riding crop occasionally in the past. But I've never felt it myself. I wonder how it feels. Maybe you could give me a little demonstration soon?"

Star Chamer grinned. "Your wish is my command, sir."

Once Star Charmer had returned to her chair, Spring Breeze now also rose. "Ari, this may surprise you, but I have something for you as well. I had quite some time to think..."

She handed her present to me.

"My old dagger!", I said with surprise.

"Yes, look... I have no use for it. It's of no value to me, but I saw that it was of value to you. I took it only to hurt you. I had no right to do that..."

"You had any right in the world. You know that", I said.

"Fair enough", she said. "But I still did it out of resentment, not because I had any actual interest in the dagger. I've seen how you looked at it in my office during our meetings. Hell, in the beginning, I deliberately placed it there before our meetings, and later I somehow forgot about it. This must be of great personal value to you. I really think you should have it back."

"Thank you very much", I responded. "Yes, it is of great value to me. This is actually a heirloom of my family. Like Anaphainos' book, it is quite old, and it has a name engraved on it that is traditionally given to stags in my family. My father also bore that name, so to me, it is also kind of a keepsake of him. Here, look." I showed it to her.

"May I have a look, too?", Anaphainos asked.

"Sure", I said. "Here, take a look at it."

When Anaphainos saw the name, his eyes widened.

"Ari... has your family been nobility once?", he asked.

I chuckled a little bit. "My father used to say that some of our ancestors were actually royalty. I never believed it, of course."

"Ari, it may be that we share an ancestor", Anaphainos said. "The names of our fathers, and the fact that I own this book and you own this dagger point to this possibility."

"Really?", I asked. "What was the name of your father?"

Anaphainos smiled deviously. "I challenge you to make a guess. I'll give you two hints. A mythological king of our people once bore the names of both our fathers. My father also named one of his daughters after him."

"One of his daughters...", I mused. Then it clicked.

"Bruna is your sister?", I asked.

Anaphainos nodded. "Half-sister. We have the same father, obviously. Also, congratulations, you have just won my challenge."

I grinned. "Okay, let's do another one. You know I don't want to hear my own birth name again, and I'm also sure you have an idea as to why, but it just occured to me that I have never asked you for your birth name."

Anaphainos smiled. "Oh, that one is easy. It's also tradition, and you can deduce it from my chosen name. I really just translated my birth name into Ancient Equestrian. I was the only son and the heir of my father, and he used to say I was the light of his life."

"Ah, I see", I said. "You're right, that one was easy."

"Uh, what are you guys talking about?", Star Charmer asked, visibly confused.

"Never mind, just an old caribou drinking game", I grinned.

"If this is a drinking game, when were you going to drink?", Star Charmer asked.

"Why, when one of us would have guessed wrong, or wouldn't have known the answer, he would have been obligated to empty his glass and pour himself a new one", I responded.

Star Charmer's confusion was now encompanied by a slight hint of anger. "But you didn't even make any guess!", she said.

I grinned. "Yes, we did."

"Oh, never mind", Star Charmer said in a voice of defeat and disappointment. "Maybe I'll simply never understand you people."

For a few seconds, we were all silent. Then, I began to talk again.

"Very well then, let's proceed. It's my birthday, but I actually also have something to give" I stood up and approached Bruna. "Bruna...", I said.

Bruna became nervous. "Master...", she stuttered.

I took both her hands in mine.

"Shh, say nothing, please. Let me talk. In the past, I didn't think much of you cows, because I didn't know you. But these last months with you have made me realize that you are among the most wonderful creatures of this world. You might not be among the most clever or capable creatures, but you give us your everything, you never complain, and you never demand anything in return. I also realized that we have treated you cows very badly in the past, not nearly as well as you deserve. You treat us like Gods, and we repay you by treating you like furniture at best and like punching bags at worst. It is high time that we give you something back. Bruna... after all you've done for me during the last months, it is time that I give you something back, to show you how special you are to me."

"Aw, how romantic", Star Charmer said and smiled.

I gently opened Bruna's hands, then put the tourmaline amulet I had made for her into her hands. "Bruna, I made this for you. I'm certain you have already seen some of those. I wear one myself. But this one is special, and it's only for you. We usually use steel and brass for the socket, but for you, I went to Canterlot and bought some silver and gold. The stone is called a tourmaline stone, or Schörl in our own language. I told you about those stones about a month ago, when we were discussing safe words. It's a magical stone that will protect you from fear and worries."

"Wow. I did not see that coming", Anaphainos muttered. "How odd. How incredibly odd..."

"Oh, it is pretty. Is it really for me?", Bruna asked.

"Only for you", I said. "I want you to wear it proudly, as the first free cow."

Bruna's eyes seemed to shine. Amber Glow indeed. "Thank you so much, master", she said.

"You may call me Ari if you want to", I said. "But it's really your choice. As I said, you are a free cow now."

"Thank you mas... Ari." Bruna smiled.

Star Charmer frowned. "I wish I had that much choice."

I turned to her. "Star Charmer, you're right. I've given Bruna a gift, so it's only fair that you should get something as well. I'll scrap that stupid soft limit of mine from our contract. But you should keep in mind that I don't like to be called master by you. I won't write it in the contract, but I don't want to hear it in nonsexual situations." I thought for a second. "I also don't want you to sexualize nonsexual situations just so you can use it. Do we have a deal?"

"That sounds fair... sir", Star Charmer grinned. Once again, we all fell silent for a few seconds.

"Ari, is that really wise?", Spring Breeze asked. "Giving Bruna a tourmaline amulet, I mean. I mean, you stags wear it to humble yourselves and to keep your ego in check. What will it do to a cow?"

"That's not entirely accurate", I explained. "A tourmaline stone never destroys confidence. Aside from protecting against psychic attacks and mind control, it provides grounding, focus, and guidance. The cows need that just as much as we do. In our case, we tend to get overwhelmed by our egos and our impulses, so a tourmaline stone brings us back to the ground, as it were. On the other hand, the cows tend to get overwhelmed by, well... everything else. So the tourmaline might help Bruna to get more focus, to stay calm when something unusual happens, and maybe even help her find the focus to articulate her own desires, independent of outside guidance. If this should prove to be true, we might give all cows tourmaline amulets. In steel and brass sockets, of course."

Spring Breeze shrugged. "You're the expert for those things."

Bruna stuttered. "M... Ari... may I say something as well?"

"Of course! You know you can ask me anything. You don't have to ask for permission any more", I said.

"Thank you... Ari", she said. "I... just thought of something. Your gift... and your... name... This all reminds me of... it reminds me of the story of Riddari and Estra."

"Oh really?", I said. "I didn't even make that connection. But you're right, it is somewhat similar to the beginning, isn't it? Maybe this is also the beginning of a new tradition."

I noticed only now that Anaphainos' was rubbing his forehead, and that he was making strange faces. "Ari... you have to read that story from the book I gave you. As soon as possible. This is... too much coincidence. Far too much coincidence."

"O-kay...", I said.

"Ari... will I also have to pull and carry you?", Bruna asked.

That question actually surprised me. "I don't know... would you?"

"Yes!", Bruna answered. Then, more hesitantly, she added: "Although it would scare me a lot. But Estra was also scared. Wasn't she?"

I didn't know how to respond. "Bruna... I... I would also carry you", I said. "To the end of the world and back if necessary." Bruna's eyes shined again.

Star Charmer sighed.

Chapter 8: Mysteries

Friga and the White Cow [CLOP several short scenes, Stag/cow, Demon/stag, consensual, semiconsensual, mind control]

The wise king Oden had many cows, and they were famous all throughout the land for their beauty. All the great houses and families of the land would seek his approval by giving him the most valuable of their cows, for he was as kind and gentle as he was wise, and they knew that the cows he took were always provided for, and they lived rich and happy lives under his roof.

There was one cow which he was particularly fond of. The name of that one was Friga. They had known each other forever, and even though they were not twins, not even brother and sister, they were as close to each other as though they were. She was his top cow, and the other cows loved and admired her almost as much as they loved the king, for she was as kind as he was, and they loved the firm gentleness of her touch. When they were alone, they sometimes giggled and whispered to each other that something about her felt almost a little bit like a master. She was also quite bold and clever for a cow, and the king allowed her to speak freely when they were alone. When his cock was between her legs, deep within her, she would sometimes moo words of advice, and even though her words were simple and clumsy like that of all cows, the king still often found that they had a depth to them that wasn't visible at first glance, and he often found that he benefited from listening to them. To show all the world how much she meant to him, he once gave her a wonderful amulet, made from gold and silver, and with a very rare black gem in it, a stone he had found near the rural town of Zschorlau when he had traveled his country in his earlier days.

The other stags sometimes laughed at him behind his back about how he listened to her. But deep in their hearts, they knew that they only laughed because they were jealous. They were jealous of Friga, because the king did not listen to them as much as he listened to her. And they were jealous of the king, because they did not have a cow like that one to give them advice this beneficial.

One fateful winter night, the king and his top cow were outside. It was snowing when a splinter of evil ice fell from the heavens and pierced the king's heart, settling within it. Fortunately, it was only a small splinter, so it did not kill him, but it instantly began to grow and to freeze his heart. His expression darkened, and the traces of wisdom and kindness began to vanish from his face. His eyes became glassy, and the ice exaggerated all the bad things he saw, while covering and diminishing the good things. He looked at his Friga and did not see her warmth and kindness any more, but only how silly and clumsy she was, how silly and clumsy all cows were. "I have to get myself a better female", he thought.

"Master, those snowflakes are wonderful", Friga said. "They look a bit like bees in their flight."

"Maybe a little bit", the king answered, disgusted by the cow's naivity.

"Do you think they have a queen as well, just like bees?", she asked.

"Don't be ridiculous!", Oden answered harshly, for the reference of a female ruler angered him, and it also reminded him of the shortcomings of his own females that he could now see so clearly for the first time. "They are not really bees. They are only frozen water."

"Hihi, how silly of me. I'm sorry, master", Friga said shyly.

"Stop playing around!", Oden ordered. "It's time to go home. Your king needs comfort."

When they came home, he bent her over a table and fucked her roughly, rougher than he had ever fucked her, and he hit her ass hard while he did it, to see how loud he could make her scream. But she did not know what she had done to deserve it. Tears flowed from her face, for she knew in her heart that something had changed her beloved king and master. But she knew not what it was.

From that day on, he became more cruel and more distant every further day. His words became cold and cruel and hurtful, and his kindness and mercy vanished more and more every day. He started to administer harsh punishments to his cows and even began to take pleasure from punishing them, and where they had loved and admired him before, they now started to fear him. The other cows thought nothing of it, for they had seen and sometimes even known plenty of cruelty from other stags. But Friga's sadness grew every day. She would often try to speak to her king to find out what was wrong with him, but he did not listen to her any more.

One day, it was once again snowing, the king returned from a hunting trip with a new cow. That one was scary, because she was bigger than all other cows Friga had ever seen, and she had antlers like the stags. Her coat was all white, and her eyes were even colder than Oden's had become. She was also not naked like the others, but wore armor and a helmet, a sword was hanging from her belt, and she wielded the staff of a Magus. The king approached Friga, and she instantly knew that something was wrong.

"Friga, come here", he ordered roughly. She rushed to him and knelt before him.

"Friga, I am very sick", he said with a distant voice. "I will leave and travel to seek out the fruit of wisdom and knowledge, from the tree of life, in the cave of ice, beyond the black mirror of reason, for the white cow has told me that it is the only cure for my disease. I have promised her to come with her and follow her from now on, for as long as it takes, for she is the only one that can lead the way. I will not take you with me, for you have disappointed me very often lately, and I cannot burden myself with you. But you are still my best cow, and the others still follow you. I have arranged for my guard to come here every day to give you and the others everything you need, and you will obey them like you would obey me. But as long as they are not here, you are in charge. Do not disappoint me again, Friga." He threateningly raised his right hand.

"Yes. I mean no. I won't, master", she stuttered.

"Good. Now come here and give your king and master a last blowjob before he departs."

She instantly wrapped her muzzle around his cock. But instead of letting her work on him like he always had, he put his right hand at the back of her head and began to ruthlessly and mercilessly fuck her throat. Once again, she wanted to cry, but she knew by now that her king now saw tears as a sign of defiance and she did not want to disappoint him again. Even though she was gagging, she stopped herself from crying and did her best to work her tongue in order to please him. When he came, he left his cock in her mouth. "Swallow!", he ordered roughly. She gulped, and he withdrew. "That was surprisingly good", he said. "I think once I return, we'll always do it this way." A single tear fell from Friga's face.

Then, the king left with the white cow. She saw them get onto a white and red sled, ornamented with gold, pulled by five otherworldly beings like Friga had never seen them before, and never again would in her life. They looked a little bit like lobsters, their heads composed of fleshy rings and covered with weird antennae. On their backs, they had strange wings that looked like those of butterflies or moths, but also a little bit like those of bats. "Wilbur!", the white cow yelled. "Francis! Nathaniel! William! Wilmarth! Hya!" The five creatures began to move, and the sled with the white cow and the king disappeared in the snow. "Strange names, for strange creatures", Friga thought. Then she instantly remembered what had happened, and she became very sad.

Many months passed, and word had it that Oden was dead. Most other stags believed him dead, and the cows believed what the stags told them to. Fortunately, the guard was loyal, and he would not allow the other stags to come and claim Oden's cows for themselves. Just like him, Friga also did not believe her beloved king and master dead, for the stone in the amulet around her neck whispered to her that he was not. One day, it called to her that she should travel and search for the king. When the other cows heard about this idea, they laughed at her. A cow should travel alone? But the voice of the amulet would not stop to whisper to her. So one night, she silently left Oden's hall and wandered into the darkness. She was scared and alone, but the stone in the amulet gave her courage and showed her the way. It guided her deep into the forest of dreams. And so, her journey began.

The forest of dreams was a scary place, with many strange and dangerous creatures living within it, and Friga was very afraid. But the stone around her neck encouraged her to continue. She had to be careful with every step, for the strange creatures of the forest reached out for her from the shadows, and she had to run from them many times. The forest was also full of the delicious, but wicked vines well known to our people, and more than once she felt the temptation to give herself to one of them, for she did not have any release since she had left Oden's hall. But the stone helped her to fight off the temptation and to concentrate on her mission.

Finally, she reached a glade in the center of the forest, which was inhabited by a tribe of Zoogs, who were very small and had wings that looked a bit like those of insects. They welcomed her with their high-pitched voices and strange accents, for they are a secluded but friendly and open-hearted people. They fed her, and gave her to drink from a strange beverage that tasted of cherries and wild herbs, and had the color of her beloved king's eyes. She was cold, for it was still winter, but the beverage gave warmth to her bones and skin and made her smile. She asked them if they knew anything about the white cow. They said they did not, for they did not mingle in such affairs, but the cat people at the other end of the forest, in the city of Ulthar, might know of such things. So they gave her another bottle of the beverage, and showed her the way.

Once again, she had to fight her way through miles of thick forest, but this time, the light of the Zoogs guided her way through the darkness and protected her from missteps, and the beverage they had given her kept her warm. Finally she reached the edge of the forest, and instantly saw a wonderful city of white arenite, with pyramid and a big statue of a cat warrior towering over it. She had found the city of Ulthar where the cat people ruled.

When she entered the city, she was very afraid of the cats with their pointy claws and sharp teeth. But when they heard about her quest, they welcomed her and were very friendly to her, for they were mortal enemies of the Trow and were also at war with the white cow, and with all other creatures that were like these two. They sheltered her and gave her to eat and to drink, and particularly the male cats with their muscular bodies, long manes, and huge cocks were eager to tend to all her needs and desires. She was tempted to stay, but the stone around her neck still told her to continue her search. So she asked the cats for the way, and they told her they knew the location of the hidden cave of the white cow, where Oden was most certainly being held. They gave her a map, and even though it took her weeks until she could properly read it, and much encouragement from the male cats, in the end she was finally ready to leave. They also gave her a magical rope which they promised would never tear apart. She playfully tied it around her wrists and gave herself to the male cats one last time. When the cats were done with her, their king and queen said her goodbye, and she promised them to visit them again when she had found her king and master. The queen politely asked her to bring king Oden along, for she wanted to get to know him as well.

After promising it to to the queen, Friga set off for the ice cave. She crossed many wondrous roads and fields, and the cats and ponies that lived in those area were very friendly to her. She met no more dangers on the road until she reached the mountain where the ice cave was supposed to be. She found it and began her descent. The cave was big and labyrinthine, and she was in danger of losing the way many times, but the stone always guided her in the right direction.

Finally, Friga arrived at a big, frozen lake within the ice cave. A strange, black glow came from below the lake, making the frozen surface mirror everything that was above it without even the slightest bit of distortion, showing all things in their true form, for it was the black mirror of reason. At the other side of the lake, a tree was growing. It was an enormous tree, bigger than any tree Friga had ever seen. From its branches grew nine fruits, incredibly strange to look at, for they were glowing as though they were precious gemstones of different colors.

She looked at the tree and saw Oden hanging in the branches, his arms restrained in place by some of the tree's branches. One big, thick branch was entangled across his chest, holding him firmly in place. Another, smaller branch had inserted itself into the king's ass. Friga saw that it was moving inside him. Other branches were apparently stroking his cock, but stopped to move for a short while from time to time. Seeing her beloved master like this made Friga sad in her heart, for she heard him moan and moo in the bliss of his helplessness like she had thought only a cow would.

Above him, in the crown of the tree, was the white cow with a wicked grin on her face – but Friga was not sure if she was sitting on the branches or growing out of them. Above her head, three golden crowns were hovering. Those were the crowns Nothingness, Origin, and Eternity, the crowns of the triplet kingdoms of Aìn, Sòf, and Aùr, over which the white cow ruled supreme.

Friga was more scared than she had ever been, but her amulet kept telling her to go on. So she carefully placed one hoof on the ice. When she was sure the ice wouldn't crack below her, she began to move across the lake, one step at a time.

When she was half-way across the lake, Oden finally noticed her. "Go away, Friga", he yelled at her in a voice more cold and distant than she had ever heard from him. "Can't you see that I am happy here? I don't need you any more. I have her now. Go home. You are a good cow. Another, better master will claim you."

But the amulet around her neck continued to encourage her to go on. She had finally crossed the lake, and was standing in front of the tree, which she knew must have been the tree of life. She began to climb the tree.

The white cow now also once again began to spit her poisonous words. "Go away", she said. "He will not come back with you. I keep him here for your own protection, and for the protection of your entire people. He is dangerous, he will bring great pain to all of you if I allow him to go."

But Friga didn't believe it. Her beloved king and master should be dangerous? She knew him, as well as a cow can know a stag. Aside from those last months before the white cow had come and taken him away, he had always been kind to her, far kinder than other masters.

She continued to climb the tree when she realized in shock that the branches of the tree were moving toward her. The white cow continued her verbal attack, so Friga feared that the branches were now also going to attack her more directly. But to her surprise, they even started to support her ascent. Finally, one thick branch moved under her and allowed her to sit on it, carrying her upwards. She was now facing her beloved king and master. He looked at her with eyes that seemed like he was an eternity away, with a face that seemed like it was frozen to a block of ice. All expressions of love and gentleness she had known and loved from her king and master had vanished from it. It made her feel infinitely sad to see him like this. "Master", she said with a shy, sad voice. "Please, come home with me. We all need you. *I** need you."*

"Friga", he said, with a voice still eons distant. "Listen to her. She is right, I am dangerous. I need to be kept here. Go home, and live a happy life serving another master. Don't worry about me. I deserve and desire what she does to me. I am happy here." But once again, she did not believe him, for she saw the sadness in his face.

As she was nearly overwhelmed by love and sadness, the black stone around her neck began to glow. She took it in both hands and gently touched the branch that was covering the king's chest, right above his heart. A tenth fruit began to grow from the branch, reaching full size in only a few moments. Gently, she plucked it from the branch with her mouth and moved it upwards until she faced her beloved king. He took a small bite and smiled. The warmth slowly returned to his face. He began eating his way through the entire fruit, finally reaching Friga's lips. As their lips met, a warm energy went through both their bodies, finally reaching the king's heart, melting the evil sliver of ice that had poisoned his heart. The branches immediately withdrew, and the two caribou fell to the ground. But the ice below them did not crack. Overwhelmed by the experience, the king passed out. Friga, who had landed safely on top of him, was still fully awake.

As soon as they had hit the ground, the walls of the cave started to shake from a sudden tremor. The cave began to collapse. For a moment, Friga panicked. She knew they had to leave instantly - but she couldn't leave him behind. Then she saw the white cow's sled standing under the tree. She remembered the magical rope she had gotten from the cats. Clumsily, she moved her unconscious king and master onto the sled, strapped herself in front of the sled with the rope, and began to move forward, pulling the sled across the lake, back to the entrance of the cave...

When the king opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in his bed, with his beloved Friga lying closely by his side, her head rested against his chest. She looked at his face. "Master, you're awake", she said. "I'm so happy."

"Uh... Friga, what happened? Where am I? The last thing I remember is falling... with you."

"You're at home, in your bed", Friga said. "When we had fallen down, you weren't moving. I was afraid like I had never been before, but I couldn't leave you behind. So I used the white cow's sled to pull you all across the mirror lake, all the way back home."

"Friga, you have saved me from the grip of the white cow", Oden said. "I'm infinitely proud of you, and grateful to call you my own. How can I ever thank you?"

"I did it for you, master", Friga said. "I would do anything for you."

"Friga, my sweet cow", the king said. The kindness and gentleness he was known for had returned to his face and his voice, and it would never leave him until the end of his life. "Friga, I... love you." Never before had a stag spoken those words to a cow. The surpise made her moo with excitement and happiness.

"Uh, I'm stiff", Oden said with a loving, but demanding voice. "Friga, my love. Be a good cow and give your king the comfort he needs." Friga smiled happily. Knowing exactly what he wanted, she eagerly moved down and gently wrapped her muzzle around his hard cock. He gently caressed her head with his right hand. Then his arms sank to his side, and he let her do her work.

Chapter 9: Contract Matters

Discussing the Story

"So, what do you think?", Anaphainos asked and poured us both a glass of Amber Glow.

"Well, first of all, Oden allows his cows to use the first person pronoun", I said. "Is this where you and your father got the idea from?"

"Maybe", he answered. "That's really the first thing that comes to your mind?"

I smirked. "Somehow I found the fact interesting. But let's begin with the basics. It sure is an odd story, isn't it? It seems to be an older, more mythological version of the story of Riddari and Estra – at least in some sense. I find it interesting that it also links to our first great king while in the story of Riddari and Estra, the main characters are merely town nobility. But that's not all there is to it anyway, is it?"

"Certainly not", he said. "But go on."

"Well, first of all, we have to talk about target audiences. This is where things begin to get odd. Estra's story is clearly meant for the cows, isn't it? It tells them how a good slave should be. But as far as I see, there is nothing it could tell to us stags..."

He interrupted me. "I don't think that's perfectly accurate."

"Let's discuss this another time", I said.

"Agreed", he answered. "I'd want you to find it out for yourself anyway."

I continued. "This story is obviously different from Estra's story when it comes to target audiences. It is clearly not meant for the cows. It clearly addresses our weaknesses – the lust for cruelty, the emotional coldness, the lack of self-control. Yet it is told from the perspective of a cow."

Anaphainos smirked. "Well, who else would you ask to address our weaknesses?"

"Friga is also a rather odd cow. She is... in some sense more than a cow. Better, more capable. The story sort of explains it away with the stone. I won't go into detail about the nature of that stone, it's pretty obvious anyway. But the story certainly greatly exaggerates its effects."

"Possibly...", he muttered.

I continued. "It clearly addresses our weaknesses, and it gives a mythological solution to them. We have to somehow melt the ice in our hearts. But the story does not really tell us how to do that, does it? I mean, this is obviously an allegory. But what is the message? What is the lesson to be learned?"

He smiled. "Well, first of all, the story does address the question of how to overcome our weaknesses. But I'll let you figure that one out for yourself. As for the intended message or lesson, I think has to do with this one line of thought of Oden. The one he has immediately after the splinter of ice gets into his heart. 'I have to get myself a better female.' Ari, have you ever wondered why during those three years since the Lindisbarne landing, I did not even try to claim a mare? It surely wasn't easy. My superiors often tried to get me to claim one, even to force me. But I resisted. I said I would never take any other female than a cow. As I see it, I have kept my word even until today. I did not take Spring Breeze, she took me, even though she was and still is a little bit more uncomfortable with our current arrangement than I am. I never owned a mare, and I was never together with another mare except Spring Breeze. Only with the cows. Do you know why this is?"

"You're... simply not into mares?", I guessed.

"Come on, Ari. I know you can do better. This is clearly wrong. Think of Spring Breeze."

I thought of her. Was she his white cow? Was that the point? In that case, who was his Friga?

I sighed. "I surrender. Why did you never take a mare?"

"Because our ideology of male superiority... is wrong. I don't just mean wrong when it comes to the mares of Equestria. That one is obvious anyway, they are absolutely on the same level as we are. You already know that. I mean wrong in general, even when it comes to our own females. It is harmful to ourselves, and to them as well. I would go so far as to call it insane. Imagine for a moment how Oden must have thought about this."

He took a sip from his glass. "Of course he knew that the cows were less capable than him and the other stags were, that they needed his protection and leadership, and he was clearly not above getting his own benefits from this. He gave them everything they needed, and in exchange, they gave him what he needed. Concepts like superiority and inferiority didn't even enter his thought process. It was only when the splinter of ice hit him that he began to see things this way. And the moment he sees himself as superior is also the moment when he suddenly feels the need to get a better female."

He sighed. "That's why we prey on the females of other species, Ari. We're searching for a perfect match. But it does us no good. The splinter of ice doesn't just cloud Oden's vision when it comes to the cows. It makes us exaggerate the weaknesses of everything, and therefore no female of any species will ever meet our standard. They will all end up as 'inferior', because we will always bend and break them until they are. That's even the declared goal of Dainn and the others, isn't it? The only female that does not fall prey to this is the white cow. A female so immensely more powerful than we are that we simply cannot bend or break her – but in the end, she will break us."

"Okay", I said, only slowly beginning to understand. "But what about the cows?"

"Ari, our culture gets it all wrong", he said. "For centuries now, probably. We though that they should be there to fulfill all our needs and desires. So we punish and fuck them into submission until they are perfect slaves, not realizing that a perfectly obedient slave was precisely not what we desired. Or at least not the only thing. We think this is the way to cure or at least deal with what we perceive as their 'shortcomings' or 'inferiority', but we only make it worse. The more we do this, the more 'inferior' they look to us. We have to turn our perspective around, Ari. You know it, you're already starting to do it with Bruna – and although I pride myself of being a good teacher for you, you came up with some very interesting ideas all by youself. Like allowing the cows to touch us without permission. I'm ashamed I didn't come up with this. It's perfect, it precisely touches the issue. As I said, we got it all wrong all those centuries."

He stood up and walked a few steps around the room. "The cows do not exist in order to fulfill all our needs and desires", he said. "As I said, we have to turn our perspectives around. They are the weak and needy ones, and they will continue to be mostly subservient. That's simply how they are. There is nothing wrong with letting them tend to those needs of ours they can actually satisfy – after all, they have a need and desire to please us. But why do we have to abuse and overexert them and then punish them if they fail? Why do we have to force them to become even more subservient than they already are? Mainly, we have to be there for them, to care for their needs and desires. To protect them from harm and provide for them. To give them comfort when they are scared. To stand up and fight for them when others want to hurt or abuse them. If we do it that way, I promise that it will be infinitely more rewarding than just using them to fulfill our needs. It will be more rewarding because it will allow us to form a real connection with them – on the basis of their needs, not ours."

He walked back to the table and took another big sip from his glass. "I know this, because I have done it during those years, and even before that. After the death of our father, I had to. The cows and I had to be there for each other. I had just reached the age where I could inherit – as if my father had held out until that time, to make sure the cows ended up with me and not with someone else. But I was still only a young stag searching for guidance in a world that became more and more complicated. My father had no male friends or relatives who could have given me guidance. I looked to the cows for orientation, silly as I was back then, and they looked to me. Of course I ended up on top – but you know that my cows are still a bit bolder than others."

Some things about my friend suddenly started to make sense. He continued.

"That's also why I became a doctor. I wanted to be able to be the perfect healer for the cows when they got hurt because of their clumsiness, or because someone else had hurt them. It drove me to become one of the best, and that is why Dainn's men allowed me to come with them in the first place even though we had obvious ideological differences. During the passage and after the landing, life was particularly difficult for the cows. Our people already had an unhealthy attitude towards the cows to begin with, and Dainn had packed the worst of the bunch. Not to mention that the cows had to adapt to a completely new world. They needed me more than ever, and I took up several who had lost their masters, or who suddenly found themselves neglected and abandoned after their masters had gotten a taste of fresh Lindisbarne mare. One reason why I didn't take any mares was because I didn't want to fall into the trap of striving to 'get myself a better female'. Another reason was because I wanted to be there for the cows. More than ever, I dedicated my life to them. Of course I had to push quite a few of my own desires aside, and it wasn't always easy. But believe me, it is rewarding. I think that's the true message of the story. It's the cows that can free us from the trap of trying to 'get ourselves better females' – but only if we dedicate our lives to tending to their needs and desires instead of violently imposing our standards and desires on them."

"Well, you still took Spring Breeze", I remarked.

"As I said, she took me", he corrected me. "Yes, Spring Breeze precisely tends to those needs of mine that the cows can't tend to. But I sure as hell didn't get her to replace the cows. My life is still mostly dedicated to making their lives better. You know that. It's the main reason why I'm discussing this with you. You also know that I still give them everything they need. Even though they can now also get it from other stags, like you for example."

"I'm sorry", I said. "You're right."

He smiled. "Good to see that you agree. Is there anything else about the story you want to discuss?"

"Actually, yes", I said. "There is one reference to an entity named a Trow in the story, and it is said to be immensely powerful, on the same level as the white cow. Earlier in the book, there is another story about a Trow creating an artifact called the black mirror of madness, which exaggerates all bad things and diminishes all good things. It's sort of the reversal of the white cow's mirror of reason. But an alliance of powerful entities destroys the Trow's mirror, and smashes it into thousand pieces. That ice splinter from Friga's story is... supposed to be one of those pieces, isn't it?"

"Probably, yes", he said. "But I'd really see it as an allegory."

"Maybe", I said. "It just occured to me that the description of this Trow is oddly reminiscent of Discord. Mirror of madness also sort of fits. Do you think this could actually be Discord?"

"He's clearly a powerful demon of some sort. So yes, maybe", he answered. "The description sure points to this possibility. But maybe not. There are other possibilities. Did you know that Trow is actually the name the Diamond Dogs use to refer to themselves? So from the name alone, he could be a Diamond Dog, possibly a wizard or a priest. But then it's a bit odd that he's apparently male, not female as one would expect."

"Really?", I asked. "Well, it would make sense, with the cats being their enemies in the story and all that. But I know of some trouble with those creatures around Ponyville. They always called themselves Diamond Dogs."

He smiled. "I actually looked that one up in the library. We got it wrong, and the ponies also did. It's a job description, not a name of their race. The dogs we see on the surface are mostly those who are sent out to search for more gemstones. They are the lowliest caste of their society, except for the slaves they take from other races. The bitches – the true rulers of their society – remain in their warrens, deep within the earth below us. They are physically stronger than the dogs, and they rule their realm with an iron paw. The dogs are just servants to them, and they suffer greatly under their rule. They never rebel, but they live in constant fear and self-hatred. The bitches see them as not much more than animals, and do everything they can to keep them stupid and brutish. The slaves they take from other races have it even worse. They are punching bags for the bitches and the dogs. We only see dogs here on the surface, so we assume that they lock their bitches away. But the real reason why the bitches never even come near the surface is because they see everything related to the surface as impure – so they send their dogs instead."

"Wow, I did not know that", I said. "Another very sick society. But let's focus on healing ours first, okay?" I grinned. But then I remembered something. "But I read somewhere that the dogs have knots. Does that not imply that they dominate when it comes to sex, at least by trend?"

"Well, it sure helps them to hold down and fuck slaves from other races", Anaphainos said. "But their bitches are also built a little bit differently. In case of them, the knots are actually a disadvantage to the males. Not to mention that they get an erection from even the slightest stimuli when they're around the bitches. It's because of their scent, I believe. Trust me, the dogs are literally at their bitches' mercy, even when it comes to sex. It's also the reason why they almost never rebel. It's not exactly easy to fend off a much stronger female when you have a big boner."

"Okay, that makes sense. But then I don't understand why the Trow in the story is only one single entity, and he is said to be a creature similar to the white cow, and of similar power. The Diamond Dogs are certainly not similar to cows. And none of them even remotely has power similar to that of the white cow. Also, the description points to something else – a demon, dragon, or draconequus of some sort. It even seems like this is just one appearance of many. I still think it's Discord."

"Well, if we're talking about Demon Gods, Discord is a possibility, but it could actually also be another one. The one called Clavicus Vile in Ancient Equestrian, or Morðen in our language. The Demon God of wishes and desires. It would even make some sense to call him a Trow - his companion is a dog or takes the form of a dog, and even though most Trow worship Mephala the Spider, there are some among them who do worship Clavicus Vile. Of course, they see him as female and call him Hecate."

"Clavicus Vile. Oh yes, I remember reading about him in the Daedronomicon. You looked him up, didn't you? I gave the Daedronomicon to the library when we moved here. The only book I kept for myself was the Oghma Infinium. Hermaeus Mora gave that one to me specifically, it is for my eyes only, and it only contains information on Hermaeus Mora and his previous champions, followers, sacred animals and cults, and some private information for myself to develop my abilities."

"You got me", he said. "I indeed looked him up. He's even associated with a weird, black artifact that could be a mirror."

"Interesting", I said. "I think we should leave it at that for now. I'm tired, and I've promised Star Charmer a nice evening."

I didn't realize back then that I hadn't even asked the most important question yet.

"There's another thing I have to tell you", Anaphainos said. "You know I was away from the castle during the last days. I'm not absolutely certain yet. But I think I've found the first 'Incurable'."

My heart skipped a beat.

Chapter 10: Going Wild

Tempus [sex Stallions/mares, NONconsensual, nonexplicit]

I was attending the town's plenum meeting in the great hall of Luna's castle. We already had recruited a few more stags, and the number of mares had subsequently risen as well. We had also built the first few houses already. The stags and mares were now meeting regularly to discuss issues about the growing community together. We had also agreed to allow Bruna to attend our meetings, but she usually didn't say anything.

"What's on schedule today?", I asked Spring Breeze.

"First, our town has grown quickly during the last months. We should find a name for it", Spring Breeze said.

I stroked the back of my head apologetically. "Well, about the official name... I already had to register one in Canterlot when I made the claim. We can still choose a name to use for the town as long as we're among ourselves – an inofficial name. Actually, I think we will want to."

Spring Breeze raised an eyebrow. "What name did you choose?", she asked.

"Well, I wanted to make absolutely sure to choose a name that would calm the guys in Canterlot down, particularly the king. And you know how my people are. One of the best ways to make them not suspect anything is to appeal to their huge egos. It's... sort of how I made my money before I claimed the land. I'm a businessman, so I used the same tactic I've always used when dealing with others of my people."

Spring Breeze got impatient. "Ari, which – name – did – you – choose?"

I grinned sheepishly. "Our town officially bears the name of our glorious king and leader. In Canterlot, it goes by the name of Dainnville."

Spring Breeze looked at me for a second. Then she burst into laughter. I hadn't expected that. "BWAHAHAHA, that's both brilliant and hilarious. But you're right, we definitely don't want to use this name when we're among ourselves. I had my own suggestion, actually. If you don't object, I want to honor you by calling this town Ariville. It was your idea after all. We all wouldn't be here without you."

I shook my head. "But I do object. This is not about me. We stags already have problems keeping our egos in check. I definitely don't want to use our community to blow mine up."

We went silent for a while. Then I said: "There was another name I considered for a short time. This community is in the Everfree forest, so the name Freeville would make some sense even to the guys in Canterlot. But I dropped the idea because it was too suspicious. But as an inofficial name, it's perfect. I hereby suggest the name Freeville."

Spring Breeze nodded. "That sounds reasonable. Well, let's vote. All in favor?"

I couldn't see any hand that wasn't up.

"Very well", Spring Breeze said. "Freeville it is. Anything else on the schedule today?"

Anaphainos nodded. "I have spotted the first incurable. A stallion who lived in Ponyville before the Invasion. He moved to a lonely cottage just outside of Ponyville afterwards. Also, he hasn't exactly been diagnosed because he has never been tested, but his behavior strongly indicates that he's not affected. If I remember correctly, his name was something with Turner. Tino Turner? Timmy Turner? Something like that. I couldn't find out exactly. Anyway, Ari wants to approach and recruit him."

"Finally, a stallion in town!", some mare yelled from behind.

"Let's just hope he really is unaffected. This is quite a risk, isn't it, Ari?", Star Charmer asked.

I nodded. "Yes, but we know that incurables exist, and we have to get at least some of them to our side if we want this to work. If we notice anything odd, we can still drug him and make him believe that he just had a nice trip to a neighbouring town, then send him back to his cottage."

"Also, he isn't exactly popular", Anaphainos said. "Apparently he was already something like an outsider even before the invasion, having contact mostly only with the Major and one grey-coated blonde pegasus mare. We couldn't find out what happened to her though. She definitely isn't with him. After the invasion, it got even worse. He has no friends in Ponyville. Even if he would tell on us, I doubt anyone would believe him. Also, there's still the drug option."

"I think it's safe to risk it", I said.

"Very well then", Spring Breeze said. "May I call for a vote?"

We had a close majority in favor.

Just like Anaphainos had told me, I found the 'incurable' in a pub around Ponyville, staring deeply into a glass of whisky. A brown-coated stallion with an impressive dark brown mane. I approached him with a friendly smile on my face.

"Hello", I said in a friendly voice. "We don't know each other yet, but I'd like to speak a few words with you."

"Bugger off, caribou", he said rudely.

At a table close to us, two stallions were about to bend their black collar mares over a table for some kind of drinking game. I could see nervousness and anger rising in the face of the brown-coated 'incurable' stallion next to me.

"You're not like those two, are you? You don't socialize, and you don't bring any mares to the pub."

"I said bugger off", he repeated. "I am really not interested in anything you have to say."

"Okay, same rules as ever?", one of the stallions at the other table said.

"Same rules as ever", the other one answered. "I'll take your mare and you'll take mine. Both holes are allowed, but the only position is the mare bent over the table like this and the stallion behind her. Whoever can make the other one's mare scream the loudest wins. The loser pays the drinks for the evening. Spanking and beating allowed, but no permanent damage. Ready, set, go."

The moaning began. The 'incurable''s face showed a clear expression of disgust. I kept my straight face, lowered my voice and made sure the barkeep was occupied elsewhere. "I know you moved from Ponyville to a single cottage far outside after the invasion. I know that you're trying to avoid anything that has to do with the culture of my people. I know what you are. Be assured that I mean you no harm. I don't want to give you to the authorities, and I don't want to lure you into some kind of trap. As a matter of fact, I think we're on the same side..."

"What do you know about my side, caribou?", he asked and emptied his glass. "What do you know about my loss?"

I sighed. "Let me buy you a drink." Then, I addressed the barkeep. "Barkeep, the two of us will be at the table over there." I pointed to an empty table at the other side of the room. "Could you bring us two glasses of your best whisky?"

The moaning and screaming grew louder.

"No problem", the barkeeper said. I stood up and moved to the empty table. The 'Incurable' fortunately followed me without further question.

Once we were sitting and our whiskys had arrived, I began again. "You may have heard about a new town growing around Luna's castle", I said, still with my voice down. "I know you don't like caribou culture, so you might be interested in taking a look at our new community. We're doing things a little bit differently there..."

The moaning and screaming from the other table continued to increase.

"Listen, caribou", he said silently, but still visibly angry. "I'm not interested in you, I'm not interested in your project, and I sure as hell am not interested in seeing yet another slavers' town."

"As I said, we're doing things a little bit differently there", I whispered. "You won't see any..."

"AAAAOOH!" I was interrupted by a loud scream from one of the mares.

"I think I'm winning", the stallion who was pounding her said triumphantly.

"Would you excuse me for a second", the 'incurable' said. "I have to take care of something over there." Then he stood up and moved into the general direction of the two stallions.

This was bad.

"Excuse me, you two", he said with a rather aggressive voice. "My... new acquaintance and I would like to have a nice chat over there, and we're hearing you at the other end of the pub. Could you please be a little bit quieter?"

This was really bad. I stood up and moved in his direction.

One of the other two stallions shook his head. "If you want silence, why don't you go home and tell your own mares to shut their muzzle while you fuck them?", he asked.

"You really should not have said that", the 'incurable' said, clenched his fist and raised it to hit the other stallion.

I interrupted quickly enough, grabbed his fist and held it back. "Please excuse my friend, he's a little bit drunk", I told the other stallion. Then I addressed the 'incurable', whispering to him, making absolutely sure that none of the others would hear it. "I understand your feelings. I really do. But this is not the way to do it. You'll be of use to no one if you get yourself switched." He was still angry, but he calmed down.

He had dropped most resistance, but I still held him back when the door opened. A stag entered, a small cow on a leash directly behind him.

"Magistrate", the barkeep said. "Nice to see you here this evening."

Ah. So this was Gunne, the magistrate of Ponyville. Since I had been in Ponyville shortly before summoning Hermaeus Mora, I had observed the town. Ponyville wasn't exactly like our town, but it was still slightly more pleasant than most other locations in Equestria, which was why I decided to have a look at it now and then. I made sure to stay a night in Ponyville whenever I went to Canterlot if my schedule would allow it, to hear the newest town rumors. And Owlowiscious and his brothers and sisters made watching the town's developmend even easier. So far I hadn't met Gunne yet, but the way he ran this town sure seemed interesting.

He spotted the two of us. I noticed the stallion was still clenching his fists, and I was still holding him back.

"Is there anything wrong here?", Gunne asked.

"Not really", I said and smiled at him. "I just prevented this stallion here from making a mistake. But he really hasn't done anything yet. Isn't that right, you two?", I asked the other two stallions. But they were already back at their wager. Stallions under the geas had an extremely short attention span – even shorter than most of my brethren. "You see", I said to Gunne. "Nothing wrong here. This stallion is just a bit drunk right now and seems to have a bit of a temper, but I could really use someone like him at Luna's castle."

Gunne thought for a second. "Oh, so you must be the magistrate of the new agricultural community I heard of, in the Everfree forest", he said.

"Yes, that would be me", I answered. "Magistrate of the newly formed town of Dainnville."

Once again, Gunne's face showed no emotion. "Interesting project. It sure is important to secure and increase food production. No one knows that better than I do. I'm not sure if I would have chosen this specific plot of land though..."

"It's actually quite fertile once you put a bit of good old work in it. We have already begun with our first harvest. It's really plentiful." I smiled at him. "There already had been a town around that castle after all – a long time ago. It worked back then, and it also works now. But the town needs to grow, so I want to offer this stallion here a plot of land and a position in the new community. He seems to be a good, honest guy."

"He's a troublemaker", Gunne said. "Moved out of town as soon as we moved in. Comes to town once a week to drink himself to the point of unconsciousness, or to the point where he starts yelling at people. So far he hasn't broken any laws, but I think it's only a matter of time. No idea what you want with him. But personally, I'm happy if you get him as far away from Ponyville as possible. Good luck with him. You'll need it."

"Thank you", I said. "I'll make sure he won't bother you any more. He just needs the right... encouragement." I smiled. "Speaking of which, I've watched this town for some time now, and I love how you use..." I corrected myself. "I like the specific way our laws are enforced in this community. I mean I really admire your work here. I haven't seen every spot in Equestria yet, but right now I consider you the second best magistrate in the kingdom"

"Thank you", Gunne said, still without showing any emotion. "Wait, who's the best then?"

"Why, me, of course." I grinned.

I noticed the cow that was still standing at his side. I knew about Gunne and his sister, of course. It was an open secret, most stags in Canterlot knew about this. I don't know why, but I instantly remembered a passage from the beginning of Friga and the White Cow. What had it said? "Even though they were not twins, they were as close to each other as though they were." I really had to thank Anaphainos. His book had just given me yet another idea.

"So... I take it this is your sister then?", I asked.

He became uneasy. "Yes, this is Ginna, my sister and pet", he answered.

"How lovely", I said. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm aware of... how you were born. I know what most of our people think about that, and I wanted to say that I don't see it that way. I mean, I... really don't care. You seem to be a good guy, Gunne, no matter what they say." I didn't wait for his response. Another idea had come to me.

I always had a few extra tourmaline amulets with me. I chose one without the Order's symbol, with a simple tourmaline stone in donut form, and put it into Gunne's hand. "Take this as a symbol of my appreciation for your work here", I said. "We all have one of those in Dainnville."

I didn't give him time to respond. "Also, I have a riddle for you", I said. "Why are there so many of our people that seem to be frowning all the time? We're not frowning this much in Dainnville, not any more, but as soon as you get into another town, you see the stags constantly frowning. Why would this be? Think about it. I'd really like to hear your response when we meet the next time." I moved toward the door quickly. Surprisingly, the stallion I was trying to recruit followed me without hesitation. "Goodbye, Gunne", I said while moving past the stag. "Looking forward to meeting you again some day. Oh, and goodbye to you too, Ginna." I smiled at her utterly confused face.

"What was that all about?", the stallion asked as soon as we had left the pub.

"Oh, just pleasant conversation between two caribou", I answered.

"No, I have seen stags talk to each other", he said. "This wasn't the usual stag smalltalk about raping females and similar stuff. This was different. As if you were trying to... get into his head somehow."

I scratched my head. "How's that different? We stags try to get into others peoples' heads all the time. It's practically our main modus operandi. Yes, this also applies to how we relate to each other."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm no expert on your culture. I just know Gunne and a few soldiers I see passing by from time to time. But thinking of it, you may be right. Gunne seems to be similar."

I didn't answer.

"Also, that riddle you gave to him...", he murmured. "I have to say, that was interesting." He lowered his voice. "I don't really want to see a town named after that tyrant, but you have made me curious. You are right, you are the first stag I've ever seen smiling, at least outside of some kind of rape scenario. Is it true that the stags don't frown that much in your town?"

"Absolutely", I said. "Also, the official name is really not important, believe me. It's a... diversion." I looked around to see if anyone could hear us. Then I continued with a low voice. "You know, nothing diverts the king more than his own big, shiny, overinflated ego. So I inflated it a little bit more, so that he and the others will be even less able to see what I hide behind it."

"Hah, that's a good metaphor", the stallion said. "I don't know why, but I think I'm beginning to like you. I tell you what. I'll take a look at that town and castle of yours, and if I don't like it, I can still move back to my cottage. Oh, by the way... you haven't even told me your name yet."

"I actually don't use my birth name any more", I said. "Where I live now, everyone calls me Ari. Aristagtle is a mashup of an Ancient Equestrian word and a word of my own language. We all choose new names when we move to F... Dainnville".

"I see. In that case, call me Tempus", he said and offered me his hand.

I took it and laughed. "Hah, that's sort of fitting. So you do speak Ancient Equestrian?" He nodded. I continued. "I have a room in town and I don't want to travel Everfree in the night, so let's meet at this exact place tomorrow morning at sunrise. Allright?"

"Fine by me", he answered.

We met at the same place tomorrow morning, then immediately started to make our way through the Everfree forest.

We reached Freeville in early afternoon. The welcome committee was already there. It consisted mostly of mares, but there were a few stags as well. Most stags were working on the fields, but Anaphainos had taken some time off to join the committee.

Tempus was surprised to see mares dressed, without collars, apparently well, standing side by side with stags. Spring Breeze approached him and offered her hand. "Welcome to Freeville", she said.

Tempus smiled. "I see. So that other name really was a diversion. But seriously, how do you keep this a secret from the guys in Canterlot?"

"We have our methods to create a few distractions", I answered.

"Yeah, but you have to be crazy prepared to pull that off. I mean, you'd essentially have to watch the entire forest all the time to make sure no stag or stallion was accidentally stumbling in your direction. Not to mention the guys from Canterlot who are deliberately heading in your direction."

"Actually, there is a report from an official in Canterlot which says that our females are perfectly in their place and absolutely well-behaved", I informed him.

The shadow of an owl appeared directly above me.

"Yes, but how do you do it?"

I raised my arm. Owlowiscious landed on it. "The owls are not what they seem", I said.

"Okay... creepy", Tempus said. "But I think I might come to like it here. Of course, I'll have to make sure that this isn't some kind of trick..."

"Who", Owlowiscious said to me.

"I assure you it is not", Spring Breeze said. She then gave Anaphainos a glance. "My good Anaphainos and I would like to give you a tour of the town and the castle. If you want to stay here, the whole community will build a house for you tomorrow. It has become... something like a tradition here to do this as a community for any newcomer."

Tempus scratched his head. "I think I've heard that somewhere else before. But I can't say where."

"Who!", Owlowiscious insisted.

"I think the owl is trying to tell me something", I said. "Could you repeat that?"

"Who!", Owlowiscious repeated.

"Is that guy crazy?", Tempus asked Spring Breeze.

"Most probably, yeah", Spring Breeze answered with a smile. "But this has nothing to do with that."

I addressed the community. "Owlowiscious has just informed me that a stag from Canterlot is on his way to Freeville. Owlowiscious and the others have observed him since shortly after he left Canterlot, and he's apparently just a messenger with a message for the magistrate of Dainnville. But it's better to be save than sorry. Anaphainos, tell the other stags to stop working. Some of the mares should put on fake black collars and pretend like they're working. Maybe put a few willing mares in red collars as well to distract him, although I guess we could also use the cows for that. Also, do you still have one or two potions of our drug ready? Just in case."

Anaphainos nodded.

"Well then. The normal procedure", I said.

"I'm sorry my good Anaphainos can't join us on our tour now, but I'd still like to show you around", Spring Breeze said to Tempus. The stallion nodded. "Also, you might get to see how we distract guys from Canterlot", Spring Breeze added. "It's quite a show, believe me."

I chuckled. "But then again, maybe not", I reminded her. "I will wait here and interrupt the guy. I have my signet ring with me. If he's really just a messenger, he'll probably be happy that he can give the message to me directly and leave the forest."

Spring Breeze nodded, then she and Tempus moved in the direction of the castle. "Lead the way", I said to Owlowiscious.

"Who!", he said.

A few minutes later and a few meters outside of Freeville, I saw the messenger. He was apparently in a hurry. That was probably fortunate.

"Are you from Dainnville?", he asked.

"As it happens, I am the magistrate of Dainnville", I answered. "On my daily late-afternoon walk in the forest." I showed him my signet ring. "And who might you be?", I asked.

"I'm just a messenger", he said. "With a letter for you. Lord Vestri sends his regards."

He handed me a letter in an envelope. Vestri? What could he want from me?

This was probably bad.

The other stag had already turned around and was heading in the general direction of Canterlot – away from Freeville. I exhaled. At least he wouldn't be a problem.

I opened the envelope and read the letter.

My eyes widened, and I even had a little smile on my face.

I had to call yet another meeting of the town plenum. If Tempus wanted to stay, it would be his first, and on the very first day, but this simply couldn't wait.

Chapter 11: The Lever

Earning Kindness [CLOP scene 1: Stags/mare, semiconsensual, false pretense; scene 2: Mare/stag, consensual, Femdom]

Star Charmer and I were standing in front of Vestri's office. Star Charmer was of course nude save for a red collar and a leash attached to it. This collar was a real one, sealed with runes by myself so as not to risk discovery – she would need me to take it off once we were back in Freeville. I wasn't happy with this, but it was the only way. She didn't really care. I was holding her leash...

"Star Charmer, you know we're here to make a good impression. So would you... go to all fours?"

Star Charmer grinned at me. "Of course, master", she said and went to her hands and knees.

I knocked at the door and heard Vestri's voice from inside. "Enter, please."

I opened the door and entered with Star Charmer. Vestri was at his desk, doing some paperwork.

"Ah, Magistrate Eadgil. Welcome." He was still not looking up. I nervously bit my lip when I heard my birth name again after all those months. He pointed to a chair. "Please, take a seat", he said.

I sat down.

"Of course, you already know why I summoned you here", he said.

He finally looked up from his papers. "Hey, don't I know you? I knew the name sounded familiar! You were one of the men under my command during the invasion, weren't you?"

I saluted. "Yes, sir. I had the honor. How's your brother, by the way?"

He sighed. "Ivangir is still gone on a mission of exploration to the south. He's already several weeks overdue. I'm really beginning to worry for him. It's a strange land, down there in the south."

"I'm sorry to hear that", I said. "But I'm sure he's alright. He's a good soldier." I smiled.

I hope he rots in hell.

He took a closer look at me. "You know, I didn't make the connection when I read the name, but now I remember you. You were the one I had to encourage to claim that unicorn mare during the Canterlot invasion."

That was bad.

"Yes sir. That was me. I... wasn't quite myself back then. The stress of the invasion..."

"I see", he said. "By the way, do you still have that unicorn cunt I made you claim back then? She smelled and tasted a bit weird – but she was drop-dead gorgeous."

I shook my head. "I'm sorry sir, but no. I gave her to a friend when I founded Dainnville, as a welcome present." – That friend had been herself, of course.

"I see. That's too bad. But I also see you got yourself a very nice new one." He looked at Star Charmer.

"So, you're considering me as handler for the yellow pegasus mare from the old Elements of Harmony?", I asked. "May I ask why?"

"No, you may not", he answered coldly. "Also, you still have to prove that you could handle her."

I smiled deviously. "Well, I certainly think I can handle her better than Gunne could. You know about his birth... condition. You know how lenient he is with mares and incurable troublemakers in Ponyville. I really think I could do a better job."

He raised an eyebrow. Had I seen through him?

"You know, three years ago, shortly after the invasion, I wouldn't have considered you for anything. Back then I thought that you were just a weakling without backbone, or that the stress of the invasion had taken a permanent toll on you, especially when you decided to leave the army after the Canterlot invasion – but then again, you hadn't been a soldier to begin with. But I've read the report on your community, from that official we sent a few weeks ago to investigate. I have to say, I'm impressed. According to that report, your females are absolutely in their place and even extraordinarily well-behaved. You've always been a bit of a romantic, but I think I underestimated you. You've really come a long way in the last three years, haven't you? But I'm not convinced yet that you're the stag for the job. So what else can you do to convince me?"

I knew I had to make a good impression, but this was a bit much. I was annoyed, but I had an idea. "With all due respect, sir, I find it a bit annoying that you summon me all the way here to Canterlot and have me prove my fitness for a job I never even applied for. Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely willing and eager to serve the king, council and state the best I can in this matter. But I think you already have a good idea as to why you're considering me. I guess you wouldn't take me into consideration without having a clue as to why. You're far too smart for that."

He laughed. "You speak your mind, you're absolutely confident about your abilities, but you're still handing out questionable compliments. I see you really have changed in the last three years. Frankly, far too many of our brothers are either mindless brutes like the yellow one's former handler; or weaklings like you have been once, or like that magistrate of Ponyville whose name I will not say out loud. But I see you're different now. You have a backbone, but you also have style. I respect that, really. As to your question, of course we have a clue why we're considering you."

Of course you have. You consider me because you think I'm the less shitty alternative than Gunne.

"Don't pique yourself on it though", he continued. "The most important reason why we're considering you is because we can't move the yellow one too far away from Ponyville, we can't move any of our own men there with Ivangir still gone, and there are no other stags in Ponyville that would be suited for the job."

Yeah, I figured.

"Of course, even though doesn't seem very probable right now, I might still come to the conclusion that you're not up to the task. In that case, we could still decide to give the yellow one to Ponyville's magistrate, and in that case we might also consider investigating closer how you handle your mares in your town. Your report is more than favorable, and you've made a good impression to me so far as well. But I'd really like to have a little demonstration." He looked down at Star Charmer, who was still on all fours. "I can see that you've already anticipated that."

"Indeed. I've brought that one to show you how well-behaved our mares are. I call her Star, by the way."

"I see", Vestri said. "Well, so far she has been almost invisible. Silent and on all fours like she should be. But let me give her a closer examination."

I was still holding her leash. He pulled her up by her hair. Even I was amazed that she didn't even make a sound. Then, he bent her over his desk. The leash was long enough, so I didn't let go of it.

"Ass up", he commanded. "Present yourself!" She immediately complied.

"Very good", Vestri said.

Then he made a step back. "Eadgil, you're first. Of course, I'll also test her myself after you've done. But for now, show me that you can put a mare in her place!"

"Very well", I told him. "Let me show you."

Of course, Star Charmer and I had discussed this in advance. At least for this part, we were prepared. I went over to her, placed myself behind her, then gave her ass a little slap. "I'll take one of your holes now", I told her. "Then Vestri will decide by himself what he'll do to you. He'll probably give you new orders, but for now, I don't want to hear a sound from you."

"Yes, Master", she responded.

I gave her ass a hard slap. "I said I don't want to hear a sound from you!"

Silence. I waited a few seconds, then gave her another hard slap. "Failing to respond to your Master's command even though you've clearly heard it? Why do you shame me, Star?"

As we've discussed beforehand, she just whimpered a little.

"As a punishment, I'll rut you hard. You will not cum." I drove myself deeply into her pussy in one push. She remained perfectly silent. I had to admit, she still managed to impress me.

I began to fuck her hard, changing pace from time to time and giving her butt occasional hard slaps. Nothing she hadn't expected. We both knew it was exactly what Vestri wanted to see.

After a while, I came. I pulled out, took a handkerchief and cleaned myself, then took place on my chair again.

Now it was his turn to place himself behind her.

"I see your Master has already given you a good rutting", he observed, looking down at her. "I will give you another one. Now tell me, Star: which of your holes should I fill?"

"Master has taught this cunt that it is not for her to decide", Star Charmer answered softly. "Her body is for any male to use however he wants, sir."

"Very good", Vestri said to me. "You know, even Sunny still sometimes falls for the fake choice. But then again, you probably prepared for this meeting in advance and might have anticipated this. I think as a reward, I'm going to fill both her holes. Then we shall see how she does."

He took a big dildo from his board and crammed it deep into Star Charmer's cunt, and she let out a single loud moan. He then gave her a single hard slap to her right ass cheek. "Since your pussy is already full now, I'm going to fuck you in the ass", he said. "No lube, and you'll push yourself against me. You are allowed to let out soft moans of pleasure, and maybe a few little yelps as acknowledgments of my superiority. But I want to hear nothing else from you. No loud moaning, no screams, no crying, nothing." He slapped her rear again, then pushed his cock into her ass.

She instantly began to moan softly. It almost scared me how precisely she followed his instructions.

He began to spank her ass hard while rutting her. She continued to move exactly the way he wanted without even flinching.

I began to worry. But then she turned her head a little bit and gave me a look. I saw pure lust in her eyes. It made me relax. Everything was still under control... for now.

He rutted her until he was sated, then he pulled out. I tugged at Star Charmer's leash. Time for the next part of the show. "Come here, Star", I said. "Watching you getting rutted by my former commanding officer has made me hard again. Time to give your own Master some release."

I hadn't lied. The show had made me hard again. I was still a stag after all. She crawled over to me. This was one of the parts we had discussed in advance. I saw in her eyes that everything was alright. She put her head between my legs and opened up. I shoved my cock in her mouth and began to deepthroat her. As always, she took it without a noise, without gagging, and she still worked her tongue.

"So, she can still take a deepthroat without flinching after the rutting and beating I gave her?", Vestri asked. "Of course I know quite a few other mares as capable as her, but you did train her well. I wouldn't have imagined that someone like you could become able to train a mare like this."

"To be honest, that's not something I've taught her", I said truthfully. "She was already good at taking a deepthroat when I got her."

Vestri laughed. "I really appreciate your honesty. But it's still impressive nonetheless." He gave her another look. "She reminds me a little bit of my Sunny. Not quite as well-trained, of course, but still. Maybe we could bring the two together some time. Show off our favorite mares to each other. Or let them have a bit of fun with each other while we watch."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "The Sun and the Star. We'd only need a third cunt with a moon-related name and we would essentially be fucking the entire Equestrian old regime."

Vestri put a hand on my shoulder. "Well, we've already fucked the old regime three years ago, haven't we?"

That's not the only regime I'm going to fuck soon, I thought.

Then he smiled deviously. "You know, I could even get us the actual royal moon bitch. No problem, you know I'm the right hand of the king. Tomorrow evening, how does that sound to you?"

I shook my head. "I'd love to, but unfortunately I already have to return to Dainnville as soon as possible, and that would be tomorrow. If you decide to appoint me as handler for the yellow one, I even have to make a detour to Ponyville to get her. And harvest season is approaching. I really have my duties to attend to at home. But maybe another time?"

Vestri smiled at me. "I understand. Maybe I'll come visit you soon though."

"Any time you want", I said. I was fairly certain Owlowiscious and his fellow owls were able to warn me in time. But I'd have to discuss this with Spring Breeze and the others in council, to see if we could put up a show for him. Drugging Vestri was of course still possibility, but I figured it should be the last resort.

I came in Star Charmer's mouth. She instantly swallowed, then thanked me and smiled at me.

"Also, about the yellow one, this little demonstration was proof enough", Vestri said. "You certainly are able to train and handle a mare. You got the job. I already prepared the papers, and I have permission from the king to sign in his stead. We just have to put our signatures on it." He took a sheet of paper and a quill and put his name on the paper. Then he handed me the quill, and I signed as well.

"Thank you very much", I said.

"Oh, I have to thank you!", he said. "I really think you're the right man for the job – unlike you know who. And that dildo in Star's cunt... you may keep it. Maybe the yellow pegasus will also like it."

I realized only now that he hadn't taken it out. She obviously also hadn't.

"Turn around", I ordered Star Charmer. She instantly complied. I pulled my present out and put it in my bag.

I thought for a second. "I think I have something for you as well", I said. Then I reached into my pocket, took out one of the tourmaline amulets and put it into his hand. "It's nothing special, just an amulet with a fancy stone", I told him.

"Holding it feels strange", he said. "I feel... relaxed."

I grinned. "Oh, that probably has nothing to do with the stone. It's certainly just because of the good time you just had with my Star. She can have this effect on a stressed stag."

"You're probably right", he answered. "I have to tend to other matters now, But I hope to see you again soon! It has been a very pleasant conversation."

"Likewise", I said, stood up and went to the door. I tugged at Star Charmer's leash. "Come, Star", I said.

When I reached the door, I thought of something. I turned around another time.

"By the way", I said to Vestri. "May I ask how the yellow ones' former handler died?

"I read the report", Vestri said. "Gunne put a lot of irrelevant crap in it, of course."

Oh, really? Interesting.

"But the bottom line is, he was killed by Diamond Dogs. They're already apprehended and will await their just punishment. As far as Canterlot is concerned, this case is closed."

"I see", I said. I wonder if Gunne sees it the same way. Well, I guess I'll find out soon.

"Well, then... have a good day", I said and smiled.

He was already back to his paperwork. "Yeah, yeah... thanks and all that. Goodbye."

Star Charmer and I left his office.

When we were back at my house in Canterlot, Star Charmer gave me a worried look. "You were very convincing", she said. "Almost a bit too convincing. The thing about fucking the old regime... are you alright?"

I tried to calm her down. "I just know how to talk to guys like him. Army talk, that's all. But you also gave a great performance. You didn't lie, did you? You really wanted to have your fun with Vestri..."

"I didn't have my fun with him... yet", Star Charmer said. "Maybe after the revolution..."

I laughed.

"Speaking of fun", Star Charmer said and touched her red collar. "You know, wearing a collar again makes me incredibly horny. You know how much I am into degradation. Maybe you could give me some more fun."

I laughed. "You're insatiable! One would assume that the rutting Vestri gave you earlier was already enough to satisfy you. But then again, thinking of it, he only took you anally, and you only had that dildo in your cunt. Very well, I'll give you another round. Maybe I should show you my old punishment room here. I'm sure you'll like it, it has an X-shaped cross with shackles..."

Star Charmer's eyes widened. "You have a punishment room?", she asked.

I tried to change the topic. "You know, I always wondered how it feels to be tied to that cross... maybe I could try it out this time. I know you wanted to be the one to be degraded, but..."

"Don't try to change topic, mister!", Star Charmer said. "You had a punishment room. You punished your mares. Mares you took as slaves, mares that didn't agree with it. In order to discipline and break them, to shape them into perfect toys for yourself. Yes or no?"

I lowered my eyes. "Yes. I was a very different stag before I founded Freeville. I was already opposed to the more ugly aspects of the regime, like the cutting of horns and plucking of wings, the blankings, or the constant sexualization and degradation of mares. But compared to today, I still had fairly conservative views about gender relations back then. I believed that it was the male's duty to provide for his females and to keep them safe, and that it was the females' duty to give him comfort in exchange – and that as long as he did his part, he was entitled to force them to do theirs. It was only when I made the pact with Hermaeus Mora that I realized the full extent of the crimes we were committing against your people, specifically the mares, and also the full extent of my own participation in those crimes. It was the first gift the Prince gave me. I'm infinitely thankful for it. I'm also thankful for finding other stags that had already come to similar conclusions without direct divine intervention, like Anaphainos. Without him and others like him, Freeville either wouldn't have been possible in the first place, or I might have relapsed to old habits by now. He really is a shining light in the darkness for me."

"Wow", she said. "I didn't know that."

"Well, when I confessed to Spring Breeze, I did say that I had been the worst stag in the bunch."

"Ah yes, I remember", she said and smiled. "The moment you let her beat you bloody also was the moment I realized for the first time that I wanted to be with you."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're weird."

"Well, to be fair, my former owner also punished me. It's a bit different since I was his only one and I'm sort of into it, but I do understand that things were a bit different before Freeville. And while not all of your old mares agree with what you did, they didn't have any bigger complaints otherwise. You know I've talked to them. At least Snowflake was even particularly thankful."

They were all still avoiding me, so I was surprised to hear that.

She touched my cheek again, like she usually did when she wanted to comfort or encourage me. "I think you're a good stag – at least by now. Even though we probably have to thank Hermaeus Mora and Anaphainos for it." She grabbed me by one of my antlers. "But still, you have been a slave owner and worse, and I'm not sure if you have properly made amends for your crimes yet. You know, I wanted to be on the receiving end of our degradation game again, but I think you deserve it more than I do. Alright then, show me your punishment room."

She dragged me along by my antler while I told her where to go. When we entered the punishment room, it was a bit dusty, but otherwise it was just like I had left it behind. The X-shaped cross leaning on the wall, a wooden table with more shackles in the middle of the room, a chair in the corner, and a table with all kinds of crops, whips, canes, clamps, dildos and other nasty stuff in another corner. Star Charmer instantly rushed to the table and picked up a cane.

"Wow, you caned your mares?", she asked. "Well, personally, I find it kinky – maybe we could take a few of those with us when we return to Freeville. My former owner also caned me, but as I said, I was already into this stuff. But to think that you did it to mares who didn't agree with it... particularly Snowflake. Wow."

I shook my head. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course I never caned Snowflake. You can ask her if you want to. If memory serves, I only ever caned Amy... I mean Shadow Amethyst - and she was a special case. She didn't exactly like it, not the same way you do at least, but she firmly believed in the virtue of slavery, and she saw me as a superior being, entitled to do anything I liked to her. On the other hand, she couldn't stop giving my other mares a hard time, especially the weaker ones like Snowflake, and she called me out for being too lenient with them. She could have endangered them, and you know I believed my duty was to protect them, so I resorted to those means with her."

"Shadow Amethyst... oh yes, the dark blue crystal unicorn. They're all named after stones, aren't they? I only talked to her briefly, and I didn't like her. She said she would run away from Freeville and sell us out if it wasn't for the contract system. She said it wasn't exactly slavery, but it was the next best thing. I think she has a contract with one of your other mares now, as the sub."

"Yes, I think I know with which one", I said. "Deepest Desire, am I right?"

Star Charmer nodded. "I also talked to her only briefly. She seemed to be nice, and quite clever. And she clearly wasn't as fucked up as Shadow Amethyst." She paused for a second.

"There are quite a few crystal ponies who have ideas like Shadow Amethyst's, aren't there?", she then asked. "Maybe it's an aftereffect of Sombra's rule. Maybe that's why your people could take the Crystal Empire so easily. I still remember what you told me a few months ago, about that other crystal pony who had a society dedicated to spreading such ideas before the invasion. That story really gave me the creeps. But I was curious, so I went through your notes when you weren't looking, and looked up that mare's name. Tourmaline. Quite the coincidence, isn't it?"

"Yes", I said. "To think that I found out about her on exactly the same day you found the tourmaline stone right outside Freeville. It's a quite stunning coincidence, isn't it? Anyway, Amethyst is quite a bit different from her. From what I understood, Schorl Tourmaline apparently wanted to become the ultimate Master herself, and I don't know what happened to her during the invasion, so I don't know how she sees things today. Amethyst, on the other hand, once told me that it was Destiny which distributes strength and weakness and puts each of us in his or her proper place, and that she wasn't entitled to having a preference in this respect. But I think the place she feels most comfortable with is... somewhere in the middle. As a 'functionary slave'. To be bullied around by her masters, but to have enough even weaker slaves below her to bully around herself. A little bit like Vestri's favorite pet when you think about it – even though that one isn't a crystal pony. If you ask me, people like those two can be even more dangerous than their masters. They are willing tools of oppression and even enjoy it. Without people like them, regimes like Sombra's or Dainn's wouldn't even b..."

Star Charmer cut my speech short by grabbing me by my antler again and dragging my head down so it was even a bit below hers. "Oh no, mister! Don't you dare to try and pass judgment over others right now! Not after what you've just told me about yourself. Mares like Sunrise Splendor or Shadow Amethyst are clearly horribly deluded, and Sunny apparently does quite a few nasty things to other mares for Vestri, but both of them are also victims themselves. Amethyst has apparently even been victimized twice. You, on the other hand, have been a slave owner and a criminal, you have abused helpless mares, and you have no excuse whatsoever. Thinking of it, you might be even worse than that. You claim to dislike the cutting of horns and the plucking of feathers, but I'm absolutely certain that you did those things during the invasion. Didn't you?"

I gulped. She had found my lever, and now had a grip on it that was just as tight as her grip on my antler. She hadn't even begun to cane me yet, but I already felt a tear forming in my eye. I quickly blinked to make it go away. The last thing I wanted to do now was disappoint her. Whatever she wanted to do to me this evening, I knew I wouldn't be able to refuse her.

"Enough with the talk", she said. "You were just trying to stall anyway. But it's time for your punishment now, and no way around it. I'll be using this cane on your sorry butt."

I gulped again. "Yes, Mistress."

"What are you waiting for?", she asked. "Do you think I'm appropriately dressed? Get that collar off of me!"

I put my hands to her collar, my antlers glowed, and I held it in my hand.

"And now put it on yourself", she commanded. I gulped once again, but complied. It closed seamlessly around my neck. I hoped I would be able to get it off again, otherwise I'd have to hide it under my long coat until we were back in Freeville. There were no precedents of stags collaring themselves, so I didn't know how the magic would react.

I briefly tried to get it off again. My antlers glowed, and it opened a bit. I let out a sigh of relief, then closed it again.

"Now undo your clothing", she ordered. I complied immediately.

"Get to the cross", she said. "Face the wall. Hands up."

She used the shackles to chain my hands to the cross. I felt exposed.

She reached between my legs, grabbed my balls and squeezed. "Who's my little bitch?", she asked.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You know, the Diamond Dogs actually use the term 'bitch' synonymous to..."

She cut my lecture off by squeezing my balls even harder. "You know, sometimes I wonder why I bother to put up with you in the first place, smartass. Did I ask you for a lecture on Diamond Dog culture? Answer my question. Who. Is. My. Bitch."

I panicked a little. "AW! I am! I am, Mistress! I am your little boy toy! Please use me any way you want to! I know I've been very bad! A slave owner and worse! I deserve the worst kind of punishment you can think of! But please, don't abandon me! I need you!"

She let go of my balls. "Wow. You really have talent for submissive dirty talk. Once again, just listening to you already makes me wet. I'm usually not even into femdom, but the more often we do it, the more I come to like it. We definitely have to explore this further once we're back in Freeville. But now, to your punishment. I'll cane your sorry ass until you either cry or use your safe word, so don't bother to count the strikes. You should be thankful that I'm allowing you to use it - but unlike some others, I do believe in consent. However, you will thank me for every single strike."

"Thank you, Mistress. But I know I deserve anything you'll give me. So I'm not going to use my safe word."

"Challenge accepted", I heard her say. I couldn't see her face due to my position, but I was certain that she was smiling deviously.

The cane descended hard on my behind. My backside exploded in a fiery line of pain. I screamed to what I thought was the top of my voice – I didn't realize yet that I would be screaming even louder before this was over. So this is what Amy must have felt whenever I caned her. She believed I was entitled to doing that to her, or more or less anything else I wanted to, and it had been the only way to protect my other mares from her caprice, but it still felt horribly wrong. Star Charmer was right, I deserved this. This insight made me feel a little bit better. It even made me feel something like desire for more of Star Charmer's loving beatings. They did not erase my feelings of guilt, and they weren't supposed to, but they made them a little bit easier to bear.

"Thank you, Mistress", I said weakly.

"Ask for another one", Star Charmer commanded. "I want to hear you beg."

"Please, Mistress. Please give me what I deserve."

"Aw, just look how contrite he is. Alright then. Take this."

She hit me again, even harder this time. I screamed again, even louder.

I was just thankful that the entire house was isolated so no one outside the house could hear us. If someone heard repeated male screams, he might have alerted the guards.

I whimpered. "Thank you, Mistress. Please, give me another one."

I didn't need to ask twice. She continued her onslaught.

I didn't count, so I don't know how many strikes she gave me. I didn't use my safe word, but in the end, the tears came. When she noticed it, she instantly stopped the caning, took a handkerchief and wiped them away. Then she undid the shackles on my hands.

She gently caressed my head between my antlers. "You were very good", she said. "Very brave. You didn't use your safe word, even though I put my full force into the blows, especially the last ones. So let me give you a little reward. Turn around."

I turned around, now facing her. "Raise your arms again", she said.

She chained my arms to the cross again. Then she went down and started to suck me off. She didn't exactly bite me, but she also didn't bother to keep her teeth in check. The mix of pleasure and slight pain felt surprisingly good.

She stopped shortly before I would have come. "Not yet", she said. "I still have something else in mind with you." She took the leash I had used to lead her to Vestri's office and back, and attached it to my collar. Then, she undid my shackles again.

She took place in the chair, then gave my leash a short yank, so I tumbled into her direction. "Go to your knees before me", she ordered. I complied.

"I'm pretty sure you know what I want you to do", she said and opened her legs. I nodded, then put my muzzle and tongue to work. She grabbed my antler and pulled my face toward her. I had problems to catch breath, so I put even more dedication into licking her. I drank her deeply while I was gasping for air. Once again, I felt overwhelmed, but I continued. She soon came hard.

"Mmmh, that was nice", she said. "But there's more we can do! Get on the table!"

I complied, lying on my back. "Yes, exactly like that", she said and used the shackles on the table to tie my hands and legs to it. She awkwardly climbed on top of me, but once she was up, she had entirely retained her posture and dignity. She mounted herself on my cock and began to ride me, still holding the cane, then she began to hit my upper body with it. I whimpered again.

"Mmmh. Do you like that, boy toy? Do you like being punished for your crimes?", she asked.

I nodded awkwardly in my lying position. "Please Mistress, give me what I deserve!"

"Stop saying the same things over and over again", Star Charmer ordered. "Also, it sort of spoils the idea of punishment if you enjoy it. But anyway... tell me why you deserve it."

"I took slaves", I said. "I abused them. Punished them. Hurt them." Tears formed in my eyes again. "I... I cut off their horns! Plucked their feathers! Even though I had sworn an oath to my father on my name to protect them and let no harm come to them! I cut Deepest Desire's horn even though I had sworn an oath to myself by my name to never do it again! How could they or anyone ever forgive me for that?"

She began to ride me even harder, and her beatings became more severe. I couldn't help but admire her naked form riding my cock. She noticed it, of course.

"Do you want to touch that, boy toy, eh?", she asked. "But slave owners and criminals don't get to touch that. You should be thankful that I allow you to look at me!" She brought down the cane hard on my body again. I yelped. "What are you waiting for?", she asked. "Thank me!"

"Mistress, thank you for letting this filthy criminal admire your beauty! I... he doesn't deserve to lay his eyes onto someone so beautiful."

"You know what?", she said. "I'm in a good mood, so I'll allow you to come, even though you clearly don't deserve it. But don't you dare to come before I do! I swear you'll regret it!"

I nodded weakly, trying my best to hold myself back. Fortunately, I managed.

"I'll now bring my head and body down to you and kiss you", she said. "My tongue yearns to explore unhindered, so you better keep yours out of the way." She brought her face down and pushed her lips onto mine, grinding her entire body against mine. Her tongue pushed into my muzzle fiercely and deeply, exploring every inch of it. Her body movement increased, indicating that she was approaching a huge orgasm. When she came, she practically exploded.

I also did. I came inside her. When I shot my seed into her, she groaned loudly from the pleasure.

"Uh, that was... good", she said. She held me, her body close to mine, her hands on my ass. We kept lying like this for a while, not saying anything.

Then she began to whisper into my ear. "You're a good stag, Ari. Of course I'm not abandoning you. I already knew you hadn't exactly been a shining hero before Freeville. I... was just shocked to hear it from you, and to see it with my own eyes. But I know you're a good stag. You do so much good in Freeville. I can't give you forgiveness for what you've done, only the mares you wronged can do so... but I want to know that I'll be on your side. I... Ari, I l... I love you."

"Star Charmer, I love..." I stopped.

"Yes?", Star Charmer asked.

"Bruna", I said. "Star Charmer, I love Bruna."

"Yes, I know", she said. "And I would have called you out for any other answer. I know you don't feel for me what you feel for her. I also love her, very much actually, and I wouldn't want your feelings for her to be any different than what they are, so there is no jealousy on my part. I believe one can love more than one person, so maybe one day you will come to love me too. But right now, I'm happy with what I have with you."

"Thank you, Star Charmer. That is... good to hear. You may even be right. I don't love you, maybe not yet, but I didn't lie earlier when I said I needed you. You give me stability in a way Bruna never could, among other reasons precisely because you're also able to dominate me. You are... a corrective. You prevent me from becoming too prideful, too undeservedly certain of my own virtue. You know it's a weakness of more or less my entire species, and I also share it."

"Well, it's a start", she said. "I guess we can work with that."

I continued. "It's also good to hear that you love Bruna. She loves and adores you deeply, you know? I'm sure you know. After all, you were there when she told me she wanted to be like you. Also, I guess you're right... about being able to love more than one person."

"Of course I am! I love you and Bruna, that would be two. And Bruna also loves two others..."

"Three, actually", I said. "You forget Anaphainos."

"Oh yes, of course! How could I forget him? Maybe because Bruna is the only one in our little relationship triangle who is also physically intimate with him."

I didn't respond to that.

She unchained my hands. "I still want to punish you a little bit. So you will now show me where you've slept before you moved to Freeville. Then you will go to the mares' quarters and sleep there."

I thought that was fair. I showed her my old room with the bed, then I went to the mares' quarters and placed myself on the cushions that were still lying on the floor. I desperately tried to find a comfortable position, but it was in vain. Even without the stains from the caning it would have been difficult. With them, it was positively impossible. My entire body hurt when I tried to lie down, and the cushions only made it slightly better. So this was how my mares must have felt.

I felt terrible. The feelings of guilt were even worse than the pain.

Since I founded Freeville, I had avoided talking to my former slaves. So far I thought I did it in order to give them the time to approach me on their terms, but now I realized it was just cowardice on my part. I wanted to talk to them again. Particularly Deepest Desire.

I heard Star Charmer moan in the other room. The house was thoroughly isolated to the outside, but when you were inside, you could still hear louder noises from the other rooms. From what I heard, I guessed she was using Vestri's dildo to give herself a last goodnight orgasm. I smiled a little. That mare was simply insatiable.

The moans had stopped long before I managed to fall asleep myself. But finally, Vaermina, the Demon Prince of sleep and dreams, granted me her mercy. I fell asleep, and dreamt sweet dreams of Star Charmer putting me in my place again.

As we had arranged, Star Charmer and I met Anaphainos at the outskirts of Ponyville. She left with him, and I moved towards Gunne's residence in Ponyville's town hall with a small smile on my face.

When I reached Ponyville's town hall, I knocked at the door.

"Enter, please", I heard Gunne's voice from the inside.

I opened the door. It wasn't locked.

Gunne sat at his desk, going through paperwork. I saw Ginna doing small chores at the other end of the room – the things cows can do.

Gunne looked up from his desk.

"Ah – Eadgil. Welcome. After our last encounter, I thought I should look up your name. Please, take a seat."

I reluctantly sat down on a chair on the other side of the table. I felt pain in my sore ass. It made me flinch a little. Fortunately, Gunne didn't notice.

"So... what brings you here all the way from Dainnville?", he asked.

I smiled at him. "Actually, I'm on my way back from Canterlot. Took a detour to Ponyville to... fetch a few things."

I took out the papers with the seal of the king that appointed me as Fluttershy's handler, and gave them to him. He read them carefully.

"Ah, I see. So the king appointed you as handler for the yellow pegasus. I wondered what they would do with her. I figured the council would intervene if the king tried to appoint me. But I thought it'd take some time for them to find somestag else. It apparently didn't."

I smiled sheepishly. "I also didn't have a clue. This is just as much a surprise to me as it is to you. It was Vestri's idea. I served under him in the military during the invasion."

"I see", Gunne just said, showing no emotion.

"He never really liked me, and that feeling is frankly mutual. But I guess he thinks that I'm still a better option than you are. Maybe he's right. But I'm not sure."

He still showed no expression. "By the way, did Vestri or anyone else from the council give you any details on how Thungrox died?"

I shook my head. "Vestri just said that it was Diamond Dogs, and that they were already taken care of. And I didn't even see any of the other council members during my stay."

He seemed to be neither amused nor particularly surprised. "I figured he wouldn't go into details."

"Indeed. I have to say, I'm quite uninformed. Since you brought it up, do you happen to know more details?" I smiled.

"I was the one who investigated the case", Gunne said. "It happened at the southern end of Everfree forest, just barely within your area of influence, and quite a bit outside of my own, but since Thungrox lived in Ponyville, I was the one who went after him and found him in the end, and the officials in Canterlot love to find excuses to make me do any kind of work they see as unnecessary, they made me look into it. Maybe I should have talked to you first."

I shook my head and smiled. "It's okay. I was a bit busy during the last weeks, so I actually thank you for not involving me. But maybe you could fill me in now?"

"Very well", Gunne said. "One of the mares that was sent to Thungrox' animal farm ran away before he could breed her. A black collar, that one. A dirt mare. With all the rumors about that 'Freeville' community allegedly located somewhere in Everfree, I wasn't too surprised that some mares would try to get away in order to find it sooner or later."

Rumors about Freeville were already spreading around among the slaves in Ponyville? And Gunne had even already heard of them? I wasn't sure what to think of this, not even how it could have happened.

"By the way, you don't happen to know anything about that?", he asked me.

"We occasionally hear those rumors in Dainnville as well. Our mares know their place well enough not to try anything funny though. Also, we keep a very close look at every inch of Everfree, and we have our very special methods. So if there was any truth to those rumors, I would know by now."

"I see", Gunne said. "Anyway, that's where the Diamond Dogs come in. They got her before Thungrox could. He got wind of it though and tried to pursue them on his own. They unfortunately overpowered and killed him."

"Strange. I figured a bull like Thungrox should be more than a match for those little pests."

"Maybe", Gunne answered. "But even the best of us can have a bad day." I nodded, and he continued. "Anyway, he found them and decided to rush in all by himself instead of coming to me for help. They apparently tried to sell him the mare back for a very over-inflated price. Or that's what they told me later. Of course Thungrox didn't agree to that. When they didn't get what they wanted, they just killed him. Put one of their swords right through his heart."

I shrugged. "Seems like an open-shut case to me. But the look on your face tells me that there's more to it. Did the Diamond Dogs say anything in their defense?"

"Actually, yes, they did try to make up some silly excuse. They insisted that they didn't do it, and claimed that some white rabbit demon came in, knocked some of them out and somehow paralyzed the others, and by the time they could move again, Thungrox was dead and the slave they were trying to sell back to him was gone. The usual ridiculous Diamond Dog babble, obviously."

I chuckled. "A rabbit demon, sure. They'll say about anything to save their skin, won't they?"

"What I found really disturbing about it was how consistent they were with their reports though", he said. "Even if the culprits of a crime coordinate their stories in advance, they're usually not that consistent. At least not unless there actually is something to it."

"You don't believe them, do you?"

"Of course not", he said quickly. "After all, those are Diamond Dogs. They make up all kind of weird stuff. After all, they believe in a deity that is a dog, but at the same time also a spider."

Gunne knew about the Namira cult in Trow society? I began to wonder what else he knew.

Also, I noticed that there was something else that was weird about Gunne's story.

"By the way, what about that mare?", I asked. "Did you get her back?"

Gunne shook his head. "No, apparently a few of the dogs were able to snatch her and make it to the deeper warrens with her. I neither have the time nor the manpower to search for her. I've asked in Canterlot for help, but they told me that they won't waste any resources on the search for a worthless cunt, and that I shouldn't bother to investigate any further because the case is essentially closed. It didn't occur to me, but maybe I should have come to you. You might want to look into it. If you find her, maybe she's even able to lead you to that 'Freeville', if it exists. It would save me some future trouble here in Ponyville if you could take it out, and you would probably be celebrated as a hero."

"I'll see what I can do", I said. "But now, let's do the paperwork and then I'll fetch the yellow one."

"By the way, did the king also send orders regarding the animal breeding farm?", he asked.

I took out another parchment. "Actually, yes. You are ordered to run it from now on. I'm sorry about that. I know it's not a thankful job. Especially without the yellow pegasus. She seems to be quite capable of keeping the wild beasts in check."

Gunne nervously tapped on his desk with his fingers. "Well, if the king commands it, I'll gladly and thankfully do any job", he said. "As a matter of fact, I already have an idea about how to replace her. I've heard about a green-coated earth mare, allegedly capable of calming down creatures by means of some sort of humming or singing. I'll look into it. If there's something to it, I'll try to buy her and give her the yellow one's task at the animal farm. I'd do everything not to disappoint the king's trust."

"You're really loyal to him, aren't you?", I asked.

"I would follow him to the grave", he answered.

Interesting choice of words.

"Now we sure won't let it come to that, will we?", I said. "But he also seems to think quite highly of you as well. Seeing your potential when no one else would. I guess you owe him quite a bit, don't you? I know he's not much older than we are, but... he's like a father to you, isn't he?"

He flinched a little at the word 'father'. Bingo!, I thought.

I suddenly heard a crashing sound behind me and immediately turned around.

Ginna had ran into a few boxes that were piled up in one corner of the room. She had fallen to the ground, and taken one of the boxes and its content with her. I saw a few books lying on the ground that had apparently been in the boxes. But they were too far away to get a closer look at them.

She was holding her knee. "Master...?", she whimpered.

Gunne had already risen from his seat and was rushing toward her. "Ginna, how often do I have to tell you to look where you walk?", he asked while trying to calm her down.

"I'm sorry, Master", Ginna said.

"Now let me take a look...", Gunne continued.

I stood up. "Is there any way I can help?", I asked.

Gunne seemed genuinely surprised about this question, but shook his head. "No, I got this."

I smiled at him. "I just wanted to say that I find it amazing how well you take care of her. I know many of the others don't like it when somestag puts so much dedication into taking care of his pet, especially one they see as not deserving of it, but I think this kind of dedication is something that is seen far too rarely among our people. I also don't agree with them on the last part."

"Can't you see that I'm a bit occupied right now?", he answered nervously. "Go get the yellow pegasus from the animal farm and then return to Dainnville. I'll handle the paperwork here."

"Once again, very thoughtful. Thank you." I rose from my seat. "Oh, by the way, have you thought about the riddle I gave you? Got a clue about why the stags are frowning?"

"I certainly know why I'm frowning right now", Gunne said. "We should really discuss this the next time we meet. For now, I'm really busy, and I want you to leave."

"Yes, I also have to go", I said and moved toward's the door. "I have to be back in Dainnville with the yellow one before sun's setting. Goodbye, Ginna."

I gave her a quick comforting smile, then left the building without saying another word.

Fortunately, the beast farm was easy to find. There were cages with mares who were about to be punished all over the place. I didn't take the time to take a closer look at them. It would only depress me. I wanted to take them all with me to safety, but I knew I couldn't. The thought that we would free them later made it a bit better.

Unless they'll all be purples by then.

I had to put those thoughts out of my head. Better find Fluttershy and get away from here.

Unfortunately, I had only a rough idea about what she looked like. Yellow coat, soft rose mane, three butterflies on her butt...

Maybe I should call her name. "Fluttershy!"

I had to call several times, but finally, a mare that fit the description approached me.

She instantly fell to her knees and kissed my hooves. "Welcome, sir. I apologize for not coming immediately. I'm confused and disoriented, as you would expect from a mare left on her own for days." She kissed my hooves again. "Are you the replacement for Master Thungrox?", she asked. "Will you punish me for... not being there for Master Thungrox when he needed me?"

"I have indeed been appointed as your handler by the king and his council", I answered. "And no, I won't punish you. Also, you know Thungrox was killed by Diamond Dogs, right? What do you think you could have done to save him?"

She shyly hid her face behind her mane. "Um... oh, right. How silly of me. What could a stupid mare like me do in the first place?" She fell silent and seemed to remember something – then she kissed my hooves again. "I'm so sorry, Master", she said. "I just realized I have been talking to you without being given permission first. I should be punished." Her eyes were begging, but showed neither fear nor desire. It was more like she believed she actually deserved it. She showed a degree of submissiveness that put even some cows to shame. I really didn't know what to do with her once we would be in Freeville.

"Listen, you really don't need to ask me for permission. Well, in public, maybe, but as long as we're alone, feel free to tell me anything you want."

"I can't do that, Master. I will only steal your precious time with my stupid mare's chatter."

I sighed. "Alright then. If you think it is necessary, you may ask for permission first."

She shook her head. "Oh no, I can't risk wasting your precious time, Master. After all, you don't know in advance whether it'll be worth your time. If you want me to say something, just order me to speak. Otherwise I'll remain silent for you, Master." She cast her eyes down.

I was slowly losing my patience. I grabbed her by her hair and pulled her head up. She yelped.

"Listen, mare", I said. "You are already wasting my precious time right now. If I say you are allowed to ask me for permission if you want to speak, you can rest assured that I mean it. Besides, you have senselessly indulged yourself in wailing in your own shame for minutes now, but you haven't even asked for my name yet. Do you have any idea how insulting that is?"

Oh great. That mare had made me fall right back into old patterns in only two minutes - and I was supposed to take care of her permanently. I doubted that I would be able to do that. I also couldn't give her into the care of any other stag – maybe except for Anaphainos, but would he take her?

While I was still pondering this, I suddenly realized that what was just going through my mind was still following old patterns. Damn Fluttershy! She apparently wasn't even able to think of herself as a person any more, and she was close to making me see her the same way. I wanted to free Equestria from Dainn's regime, but Fluttershy's behavior made me think about how to best follow the king's orders with regards to her. How could I free Equestria when I couldn't even see Fluttershy as a person? I had to remind her about what she had been. Fortunately, I had talked to the mares from Ponyville that were now living in Freeville about her beforehand.

But I wasn't sure if it would be enough. This was bad. Really bad. I guessed I had to bring that up in plenum as soon as we returned to Freeville.

I let go of her mane again.

She instantly cast her eyes down again. "I'm sorry, Master. Please, I actually wanted to ask you already. I was just waiting for your permission."

I couldn't help but facepalm.

"So, um...", she continued. "What shall this mare call you, Master?"

"Finally", I said. "My birth name is Eadgil, so you might want to call me Master Eadgil whenever others are around. I don't really want to hear that name again though, so whenever we're alone, just call me Ari."

She smiled. "How odd. But it's not for me to judge, Master Ari."

I sighed. "Please. Just Ari."

"Oh. Okay then, Master Just Ari."

She really managed to keep a completely straight and innocent face while saying that.

I facepalmed again.

"Okay, whatever. Let's move now, shall we?", I said.

"Um... where are we going?", Fluttershy asked. "Are you not taking over the animal farm?"

"No", I said. "The king has given this job to Gunne. He is already looking for a replacement for you. I'm the magistrate of a new town I've founded around Luna's old castle, so we'll move there. You can also call me Ari there as well, by the way. Everyone there does."

She looked worried, but said nothing.

"Alright, shall we go?", I asked.

She nodded. "Just give the order."

We moved instantly. Surprisingly, the travel went without further complications. Everfree was a dangerous place, particularly for mares, but we had to fend off no attacks from animals or plants.

When we had arrived, I noticed the others had already finished the house for her. I was glad there were only stags outside. The sight of clothed and uncollared mares would have unsettled her. I wanted to introduce her to her new life slowly.

The key to the door was in the keyhole. I turned it around and entered with her.

It was a fine little hut.

"Well then, Fluttershy", I said. "Come here."

She obeyed.

I placed my hands on her collar, my antlers glowed, it unlocked and I removed it.

She trembled. I saw fear in her eyes.

"M... master, what are you doing? Are you giving me the black? Look, I don't... I didn't want Master Thungrox to die, really. I was... busy with the animals. He didn't order me to follow him, but... I'm not sure. Should I have? Or... did I do something else wrong? Please, I'm a good mare." She fell silent, then cast her eyes down. "But if you decide that I deserve the black, I of course accept your decision, Master."

I sighed. "Fluttershy, I'm not giving you the black collar. You're free." I handed the key to her. She didn't take it.

Instead, her eyes became even more fearful. "What? Master, no! Please don't abandon me! I'm just a stupid mare! I will die in misery without the guidance of a Master!"

What the hell had happened to that mare???

"Fluttershy, listen. I really don't know what my people did to you. But think back. Remember the time before my people came. You were a hero. A national symbol. The Element of Kindness, do you remember? Do you really want me to believe that you couldn't handle yourself back then? I've talked to a few mares who came from Ponyville before they moved here. They told me you once put a dragon in his place. A dragon. Do you really think you can't handle your life on your own simply because you are a mare? If only a third of what I've been told about you is true, that's plain silly."

"You don't understand... Master! I... your people showed me the truth about myself and all mares, so I didn't see it before you came, but... the truth is, I've always been like this. Thungrox was the first male to put me in my place sexually, but even before him, there have always been males organizing my life for me... and sh... showing me my place. Before Thungrox, it was Discord..."

I had to stifle a mocking laugh. I doubted that Discord could organize even just a drawer of socks without turning them into some kind of flesh eating mutant, let alone organize someone else's entire life.

"...and before him, I had my sweet Angel Bunny. He was even better at putting me in my place than Discord was. Oh, how I miss him. I wonder what happened to him."

A bunny? She really expected me to believe a bunny had organized her life for her before we came?

Wait, hadn't Gunne said something about a rabbit demon?

No, that was just silly. My mind was making up stuff in order to distract myself from the mind-boggling bullshit right in front of me.

"No, this... this can't be happening!", she stuttered. "Please, Master! Please put me in my place!" She curled up in a corner and began to whimper. "No... please, Master... this can't be happening..."

She fell silent.

I had to call an extraordinary plenum meeting immediately.

"Look, Fluttershy... let's talk about this later. If you really think you need this, I will search for someone who can handle you. But I can't promise I will find anyone here."

She rushed and kissed my hooves again. "Oh, thank you, Master. We're apparently both confused right now, but... I'm sure you'll come to your senses, and then you'll punish me until I come to mine. Until then... um... I hope you don't mind if I curl up in this corner again."

And so she did. I sighed, put the key on the kitchen table, and left the house.

Chapter 12: Tales of the Hearth