Red Moon

by LightningSword

Rating: mature
Tags: Fetish, Comedy, Shining Armor, Sex, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 5823

Celestia was a very naughty filly. Now, it's Luna's turn . . . .

Princess Luna has known about her sister's dirty little secret for quite some time. And since coming back from her banishment, she has caught Celestia (by proxy), and now as payment for keeping her secret, 'Tia's "escort" must fulfill a certain task.

He must discipline the Princess of the Night, as well.

Ordering the deputy captain to her chambers, she prepares herself for a moment of observation, and hopefully, satisfaction of curiosity. But despite her best efforts to stay objective, Luna learns some pretty surprising things about herself as she endures the most intense—and the most delicious—pain she's ever felt in her life.

Another naughty princess is about to strictly punished, and love every second of it . . .

Contains erotic spanking, but no sex (the sex tag is for moments that are the closest to full sex that I have ever written).

Published 2016-02-14 21:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-02-14 21:30:02 UTC

Red Moon

He was coming by any moment, now.

It had been three days since Princess Luna had caught the Deputy Captain of the Royal Guard, Steel Saber, sneaking out of her sister's chambers at night. Luna had known from the beginning that Celestia was up to her old naughty activities; one-thousand years of banishment did nothing to erase memories of her older sister trying to hide her ugly fetish.

But it had done nothing to satiate her curiosity, either. For centuries, Luna had pondered how something so strange could be so fun, how something so painful could be so pleasurable. It mystified Luna, but she would not let it stay a mystery for much longer. She was determined to uncover the pleasure behind the severe reddening of the posterior.

Delivered by a strong, sexy stallion with tough hooves who could swing for hours . . .

Luna snapped out of her unbidden reverie as she lie in bed. This was getting to be a bit exciting already, and Luna didn't even know why. But she was sure she would get to the bottom of her feelings on this matter shortly. Such a strange hobby required careful, objective observation if she were to find the answers she sought. What was it like? Was it different with a partner rather than doing it alone? If Celestia enjoyed it so much, what did it really feel like?

And was Steel Saber really good enough to make her scream, just as he had made 'Tia?

There was a knock at the door, and Luna's excitement spiked again. Gathering herself and maintaining the dignity of a princess, she sat up in her bed and answered, “Enter.”

The door opened, and a steel-gray Pegasus stallion with a darker gray mane stepped inside. Steel Saber stepped into the middle of the room and respectfully bowed. “I'm here, Your Grace. Just as you asked.”

Luna smiled and replied, “Very good, Steel Saber. We are pleased that you could come.”

Saber didn't look quite as eager. “Anything to keep my secret, Your Grace. Even if I must repeat my actions, I cannot let them be known to anypony.”

“Commendable, Saber, but I wish for this to be as informal as possible. Firstly, we must ask that you refer to your princess simply as 'Luna' tonight.”

Saber nodded, “Yes, Your Highn—uh, Luna. As you command.”

“Very good. Secondly, you are not here to fulfill your duties as a soldier, Steel Saber. So it will be unnecessary to dress like one. We must ask that you please remove your armor.”

Steel Saber looked puzzled at first, but obeyed. “Yes, Luna.” He removed his helmet, slipped his wings out of his armor, and stepped out of his horseshoes, all the while Luna looking on in growing interest.

Well, I suppose he is rather attractive, Luna admitted. In fact, he's quite handsome. As bizarre as my sister's interests are behind closed doors, she does have good taste in stallions.

Such strong forelegs, too. No wonder Celestia was screaming . . .

Now fully naked, Steel Saber saw that Luna had been staring, and blushed. “Uhh . . . n-no armor, as you ordered, Your Gra—uhh, Luna.”

Luna maintained her smile as she stepped out of bed. “Mmm, good.” She slowly cantered toward Saber, holding back a chuckle as she saw him nervously shuffle in place. “Now, Steel Saber, I want to know all of the details about your time with my sister. What exactly did she ask for you to do?”

Saber seemed to think back on the moment in question, and began to recount it aloud, “Well, Princess Celestia told me that she is capable of making mistakes, and wanted to appoint me her . . . 'personal disciplinary officer' so she could—”

“We are not interested in the pretenses upon which you were called, Saber,” Luna interrupted. “We simply ask what it is that Celestia asked you to do to her.” She leaned in close, “And don't leave out the details. Tell me everything.”

Saber's blush returned, and he stuttered as he continued, “Well, I-I . . . sh-she wanted me to punish her, s-so I . . . I-I came up with a few, but she wanted me to . . . to . . .” his blush deepened as he fought to get the words out, “. . . spank her. I-I refused, but she . . . she ordered me to. So I submitted. As an officer to the crown, I was . . . . sworn to.”

Luna nodded pensively. “Mm-hmm. Go on, then.”

“Well, when I agreed, Celestia dug under her bed for this strange, wooden, plank-like object. A paddle, if you will. She fastened it to my hoof, bent herself over the bed, and asked me to scold her. I started, but then I . . . lost my head. I couldn't quite . . . control myself.”

“I see. And did you move straight to the spanking?”

“Well . . . .” Saber hesitated again, “not at first. While I was scolding Celestia, she actually seemed to . . . enjoy it somehow. Like it was part of what she wanted me to do. Before I started, I tried to think of a way out, but something made me . . . lose myself again. It was like I . . . felt this new presence in me, wanting to do exactly what Celestia wanted. Exactly what . . .” another pause came with another struggle to form the words, “. . . what I wanted.”

“And what was that something, Saber?”

Saber seemed to freeze, his blush now spreading down his neck. “Well . . . she . . . sort of . . . stuck her bottom out. As if to . . . at least I think . . . as if to tease me.”

Luna felt herself grin at Saber's nervousness, but she also felt a certain disdain for his explanation. She loved her sister dearly, but 'Tia could act like a wanton tart when she knew she could get away with it. And being crown princess of Equestria, she knew exactly when she could get away with it.

But it seemed to help her. She'd gotten what she'd wanted.

Luna considered Saber's words, then turned around, keeping her head bent towards him. “Did it look something like this?” she asked, bending her front end low and sticking her rear end up.

Saber's eyes bolted open. “Uhhh . . . .”

“Or perhaps it was more like so.” Luna stood up on the tips of her back hooves, giving her hips a slight wiggle as she did so. “Or like this, rather?” She spread her back legs and gave her behind a wag, her long, shimmering tail moving with it. “Or this, perchance?” She brought her back legs tightly together, arched her back, and jutted her butt out.

This last one seemed to signal something in Saber. He visibly resisted the temptation to reach out to Luna's upturned bottom with his hoof. “Uhhh . . .” he muttered again, turning his head away, “. . . yes, Your Grace. Like that. Exactly like that.”

Luna grinned as she stood back up. “Well, I won't keep you waiting. I'm just as eager to start as I'm sure you are. One more thing, though. Tell me, Steel Saber, exactly what this paddle object of Celestia's looked like.”

Saber once again paused to think back on that night, recalling details about it that seemed to keep his blush from leaving. “Well,” he mumbled, “it was small and round, and made of wood, like I said. It seemed like she'd made it herself, because it also had this band around it, so it could fit on a hoof. It looked about the right size for one . . . .” he struggled to use the word, “. . . one . . . .” It finally came out in a whisper, “. . . buttock.”

Luna put a hoof to her cheek in thought, then turned and went back to her bed, beckoning Saber to follow. She reached her bed, bent low and rummaged underneath it, looking for the object she herself had been keeping. As she dug around, she made sure to stick her butt out as far as it would go, just as she had moments earlier. He seemed to react before when I did this, she thought, grinning as she fiddled around for a few unnecessary minutes, I wonder what he'll do if it lasts just a bit long—

“Ooh!” she squealed as she felt Saber's hoof touch her backside. She looked up from under her bed and saw Saber, standing there with his hoof frozen in midair. His eyes were saucers and his mouth was a cavern. Luna suppressed her grinning and responded, “Are you enjoying the company of our royal posterior, Deputy Captain?”

Steel Saber seemed to finally get his mind together, and began stuttering in reply, “Oh! M-my lady, I . . . m-my most humble apologies! I-I was out of turn, I . . . I lost myself for a moment, I . . . I apologize, it was not my place—”

“Relax, Saber,” Luna calmed him, “if I didn't want you to touch, you wouldn't have.” Luna found herself thrilling at the shocked look on Saber's face. She didn't know why she suddenly found pleasure in playing around with this stallion, but pleasure she found.

Much of it.

She turned back to rummaging under her bed and finally pulled out the object she'd been saving. “Tell me, Steel Saber,” she asked, her own face beginning to grow warm, “will this create the same desired effect?” Saber observed the object; it was a long black scrap of leather, like a belt, looped on one end so as to fit over one hoof.

Saber's breathing became erratic, “Uhh . . . y-yes, my lady, I-I believe so.”

“'Luna', please,” the princess replied, touching a hoof to his cheek. She then enveloped the belt in her magic, held up Saber's right front hoof, and wrapped the looped end around it, fastening it tight and making sure it would not come off easily. Satisfied, Luna took a step back and continued instructing, “Well, Steel Saber, judging from your description, my sister seemed to be rather . . . titillated by your scolding. I rather think that's the reason why she asked you to do so. Shall we try something similar, so that we may feel the same way?”

Saber shook slightly where he stood, glancing occasionally at the belt tied to his hoof, “Well . . . I-I suppose we can, Your Gr-uhh, Luna. Is . . . is there anything in particular you had in mind?”

Luna took a moment to think on that, but it didn't take long at all for an answer—and a deeper blush—to come to her. “We rather enjoyed you kissing our hoof,” Luna smiled, her blush moving as she spoke and her voice starting to sound giddy. “You may pleasure us in that way, if you so desire.” She held out her left hoof daintily, as if greeting an important male dignitary.

Saber cautiously approached, seeming afraid to touch his princess once again. But Luna looked upon him with mellow eyes, allowing him to proceed. Saber approached, took her outstretched hoof in both of his, and lowered his lips to it. His lips gently caressed the tip of Luna's hoof, and he kissed it, a little longer than expected. He glanced up at Luna, as if asking for permission to continue. Luna didn't speak, but she must have given it, for he continued even as she said nothing in response—her smitten smile and ever-reddening face seemed more than enough.

Saber continued kissing Luna's hoof, picking a different spot each time. Each kiss made a very slow and subtle path up Luna's foreleg, and she took a shaky breath just before he reached the elbow. She felt her other three legs grow weak underneath her, and she sat down, her skin prickling and her fur rising at Saber's attentive kisses. What is happening to me? Luna asked herself. Why do I find myself so . . . captivated by this mere soldier? We haven't even started yet, and I feel so . . . so . . . aroused. It's as though there's something else I want . . . something . . . more . . . .

No! another part of Luna stopped her from going on. It will not come to this. I must not develop an attachment to this stallion. I promised myself I would learn what a spanking felt like, and I shall. That is all. Her thoughts may have been resolute, but Saber had started on her right hoof by now, and it made Luna take a sharp breath.

Saber seemed to realize he'd gotten carried away, and pulled his lips away from Princess Luna's right front leg. He looked up at her again, and there was a certain sense of wonder in his eyes, as if he'd achieved something different here, something that he hadn't with Celestia. Luna shared this feeling, knowing fully well that her sister had only been searching for a cheap thrill—Luna had found something better.

She leaned in close to Saber and almost whispered, “Shall we begin now?”

Saber shuddered a bit, glanced at the belt on his hoof, and complied with a nod.

Feeling the thrill return, Luna scampered over to her bed and threw her front half on top. “Now, Steel Saber,” she asked, “is this how my sister presented herself to you?”

Brushing a lock of moist mane from his eye, Saber could only gulp nervously and nod.

“Excellent. And she stood like so, correct?” She brought her back legs together as her back hooves remained flat on the floor, and she arched her back and stuck her bottom out teasingly, just as before.

Once again, Saber could only nod. It seemed the sight of his princess in such a fetching pose was too much for him.

“Well, then, Steel Saber,” Luna concluded, “whatever you did to Celestia, you may start now. No further explanations, no further words, simply begin. Remember what you did to her, and do it to me.”

Saber gulped again, his response reluctant and shaky, “Y-yes, Luna.” He stepped up to the bed, and Luna could feel an excitable churning feeling in her belly. Once again, some sort of incredible feeling filled her body, and it made the prickly feeling return, this time all over the surface of her butt. Her back legs vibrated in anticipation, and her breath was short and excited. The feeling she fought earlier returned with a vengeance, and she fought it no longer. It was clear, sexual desire for a stallion she hardly knew.

Luna gasped when she felt his gentle hoof brush against her plot, moving her luxurious tail out of the way. The tingly, almost fiery sensation spread between her legs and into the base of her tail, and she could hardly bear the excitement any longer. “Please, Saber!” she called out, only an inch away from shouting. “I cannot stand the tension! Please, just do it! Hit me! Hit me as hard as you can! As long as you can! Hit me!! Now!!”

WHAP!

“OH!”

The swing of the belt was automatic, and there was a split-second of delay before the pain settled in. But settle it did; Luna felt a burst of pain in her butt from where the belt connected, as if a string of fire had been pressed against it. Luna turned her head around, and saw Saber staring in awe at what he'd just done. The shock lasted shortly for both of them, though—Luna faced front again, and Saber began swinging the belt again.

WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!

The belt slashed at Luna's backside five times, and Luna squealed in pain and surprise each time. This was absolute agony, and it was only within the first few minutes. How could Celestia possibly enjoy such humiliating pain?

“More, Saber! More! Please, more!!”

WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!

Five more swats with the belt, and Luna began wriggling around where she lie. The strings of fire now became a blanket of searing heat that spread over her plot. It was absolute Tartarus, but there was something equally heavenly about the pain, the sting, the shaking of her legs and the fluttering in her stomach. It was impossible to figure out, but it was just as impossible to figure out why she wanted more.

She got more.

“OW! Again, Saber! OW! Again, please! OW!! Keep going, keep going! OUCH!! Oh, Saber, don't stop! Don't stop! AHH!! Yes! That's it! That's it! OWWW!! I feel it, now, I feel it!! AAHH!!”

Now, Luna did not weigh herself down with logic or questions. There was only the pleasure in pain. It no longer mattered where it came from or why it felt so good. She wanted it, more, harder, and longer. The heat, the stinging sizzle, the spasms in her legs and tail—she never wanted it to end.

There was a brief pause in the middle of Luna's belt whipping, and she quickly picked herself up off the bed. Trotting quickly and stumbling on shaky legs, Luna reached a nearby wall, stood up on her hind legs, and pressed her front hooves against the wall. “Don't stop, Saber,” she ordered him with a breathless voice, “please. I want more! I need more! Please don't stop!”

Steel Saber was frozen where he stood, his front leg extended and the belt flaccid on his hoof. He looked as though he were witnessing some sort of disaster.

His hesitation made Luna angry. She wanted more of the delicious, sizzling pain, and the princess of Equestria would have it.

“NOW, DEPUTY CAPTAIN!!” Luna thundered in her Royal Canterlot Voice. “WE COMMAND IT!! DO NOT STOP UNTIL WE HAVE BEEN SATISFIED!! WE DEMAND MORE, NOW!!!”

This set Saber's hooves moving immediately; he galloped up to Luna and stood next to her on his hind legs. He steadied himself against the wall for support before grabbing Luna's tail and wrapping it tightly around his free hoof, tugging it hard and pulling Luna's butt out further. With no further commands necessary, the Deputy Captain swung the strap again and again, raising thick welts all over Luna's bottom.

As Luna felt the belt burning and blistering her plot, she began to realize what it was that was making her so sexually charged tonight. She hadn't realized it before, but she found she had it in her subconscious the night she'd caught Steel Saber sneaking out of 'Tia's chambers. She had figured out her sister's secret, and it made her curious, but discovering spanking for herself had brought something to mind. Something that seeing Steel Saber here tonight had brought fully to her mind.

Princess Luna hadn't had sex in a thousand years.

But now, having her butt whipped so harshly had caused the release of her inner tension. It was as if being spanked had unleashed that dormant need; she had been locked, and Steel Saber's strong foreleg was the key that unlocked her sexual animality.

She wanted to be spanked longer and harder, and by the end of this, she knew she'd want something even better.

“OOOWWW!! Yes, Saber, yes! OW! Harder, Saber! OUCH!! That's it! OUCH!! Again, Saber, hit me again! OW-OW-OW!! Yes, you're doing it! You're doing it! OOWWW!! HARDER, SABER!! HARDER!! NOW!! AAAAHHHHH!!!!!”

Saber yanked on Luna's tail even harder, almost pulling her back legs out from under her, as he whipped and swatted and slashed at her bottom harder and harder. The reddish-purple stripes were raised so high on her skin, they could easily be seen under her blue-and-black fur. Luna bucked her hind legs, slammed her front hooves against the wall, and wriggled and writhed all over as she screamed and begged. Her back ached and her butt was screaming in agony, but she still couldn't get enough.

Considering the naughty thoughts she'd been having about the Deputy Captain, she knew she deserved it anyway.

After a few long, painful minutes of more swatting and whipping, Luna began to get tired, and had slowly coasted to her stop. “Ow! OW! OWW!! OUCH! OWWW!! OW-OW-OW!! OUCH!! AHH!! AHH-HAAOOWW!! All right, Saber! Ah! All right, enough! OW!! I said, enough, Saber! OUCH!! Saber, aren't you listening?! OW-OW!! I SAID STOP!!”

But Saber wasn't listening. Luna's tail still wrapped around one hoof, he continued whipping and whacking away at the princess' ravaged backside. Luna may have been done, but Steel Saber seemed ready to go all night.

“Saber!”

No answer. WHAP!!

“OW! Saber!!”

Again, nothing. WHAP!! WHAP!!

“OUCH!! SABER, WE COMMAND YOU TO CEASE!!”

WHAP!!

At last, Luna was done ordering—evidently this called for more than the Royal Canterlot Voice. Igniting the glow in her horn, she seized Saber by his foreleg with her magic, swung him around in front of her, and flattened his back against the wall. She stared into his widened, fearful eyes with her own, a look of ferocity spread across her face as she spoke in a dangerously low whisper: “I said enough.”

Saber shook where he stood, unsteady on his hind legs, as Luna burned him with her glare. “I . . .” he tried to struggle with his words, “I . . . I'm so very sorry, Your G—”

Luna pressed a hoof to his mouth to silence him. This wasn't the time for apologies. The entire night had been building up to this moment, and now that Luna had embraced that, she would at least make something of it. Even if there was no connection between them of any kind tonight, this excess sexual energy needed to be worked off in some way—any way. Without any further words, Luna took her hoof off of Saber, threw him to the floor telekinetically, threw herself on top of him, and began passionately kissing him.

Their kiss lasted a good, long while. The entire time, Luna squeezed Saber's right hind leg between both of hers and thrust herself against it over and over, achieving the same feeling she wanted without penetration. She would only fleetingly realize it at the time, but later, she would find that everything that had happened that night, she owed to Celestia. Discovering her sister's fetish, her choice of stallion for the job, and her millennium-long abstinence—it was all because of Celestia.

And as much as she wanted to thank her, the thought of giving her sister a real spanking was the only thing that came to mind in relation to her. But that would have to come later.

Luna felt herself climax several times, each time causing her to moan pleasurably into Saber's mouth. Saber didn't seem to mind; in fact, he'd gotten as deep into this fit of sudden passion as he had in his duty in whipping his princess; he slowly wrapped his front legs around her, running a hoof through her mane. Tonight, she was indeed his princess, and Luna had no qualms with it. For it was just as true that he was her captain.

And not just her captain. He could have been her king for all she cared. It was just her and him tonight.

After one more thrilling climax, Luna pried herself off of Steel Saber and rolled over onto her back, her tail twitching and her lungs screaming for air. Her entire body shook all over, and next to her, she could hear Saber gasping for breath just as hard. There was no doubt in her mind, now—she loved spanking. She still didn't understand how, but the pain was so intense, so delicious, that she felt herself not wanting to go back. Maybe it had to do more with her millennium-long period of celibacy than actually enjoying herself. Maybe it had to do with the sudden, profound sexual attraction she felt towards her consort tonight (another possible side effect of her lust for a connection), and maybe it had something to do with the thrill of the risk of being seen or caught. In the last two cases, it made sense that Celestia would act like such a naughty floozy to get the attention she needed.

Luna would have to have a long, particularly painful discussion with her sister later on.

Luna slowly picked herself up, hearing Steel Saber stir next to her as he did the same. They were both upright, and when their eyes met, there was a feeling of awkwardness that reached deep into the both of them. There was a protracted pause in which both pairs of eyes shifted around, until finally, Steel Saber spoke, his meekness returning, “Umm . . . m-my lady, I must apolog—”

Luna reached a hoof to his mouth again, silencing him. “Do not apologize, Steel Saber,” she said, her imperious tone returning just as easily. “We asked for a spanking, and you have granted us our wish. We are deeply grateful for your efforts and your compliance, and we shall hold you in the highest regard for your performance tonight.” As she spoke, she felt the pain in her backside recede to a dull ache that throbbed across the skin, and she instinctively pressed her back legs together to stave off the pain. Looking at Steel Saber, she found him marvel at this sight, almost looking shocked somehow. Luna continued, somewhat hopeful, “Is that all you did for Celestia, or was there anything else she had you do?”

“No!” Saber blurted out, then corrected his tone, “I mean, no, Your Grace. My, uh . . . services were no longer required at that point.”

“Hmmm . . . very well, Steel Saber. You may go. We thank you again for your indulgence.”

Saber lingered for a moment, his vision clearly focused on Luna's back end. Snapping himself away, he nodded and took a low bow, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Sighing with a smile, Luna took her hoof to his chin and brought his gaze up to meet hers. “As I said, Saber,” she spoke low and alluringly, “call me Luna.”

Saber stared back, blushing, a grin slowly creeping across his face. “As you wish . . . Luna.”

Saber then turned to leave, stopping to put his armor back on, and Luna watched the entire time, just as she had while he undressed. She watched him leave, and felt giddy at staring at him from behind. Quite the nice backside he has, she thought, feeling a tingly feeling between her back legs return, I wonder if he might like to take a good spanking sometime? Just the idea filled her with a warm, sensuous feeling that she'd remembered from having her own plot whipped, and she slunk into her bed to enjoy the feeling. She didn't know which she liked better—having been spanked by Steel Saber, or the idea of bending him over and making him squeal, just as he had her.

In the end, she'd decided on neither.

The idea of giving her sister a sound punishment was thoroughly entrancing, the best and most enthralling idea by far. Maybe, once Luna had given Celestia's backside its just desserts, she would give Saber a good plot-whipping afterwards.

Maybe . . .

As all these thoughts ran together, another wave of stinging pain in her butt made Luna climax again.

Exhausted, with a soaking-wet right hind leg, Steel Saber approached a corner, prepared to reach his quarters and take a quick breather before beginning his next shift. Twice in the space of a week, he'd committed a grievous act of assault upon each of the joint rulers of Equestria; that in itself was enough to render him completely spent. But having exerted himself so much both times, especially now, was especially distressing. And knowing that both princesses would now call on him to fulfill their bizarre fetishes was something he could hardly stand to think about. This meant that, at least once (and at most, indefinitely), he would be back to give Celestia or Luna another spanking.

The worst part, though, was how he had felt throughout this whole bizarre process. He'd remembered losing control and touching Princess Luna's plot without permission. And that horrible moment when he'd lost his restraint completely and kept whacking the princess without stopping, without heeding her command—he was afraid it might happen again. He was afraid of going a step too far, a step from fetish fulfillment to treason. He was especially afraid to getting caught.

He had been.

Rounding the corner, Saber hadn't expected to be stopped dead in his tracks by the one pony he'd wanted to see less than even the surprisingly amorous princesses. Clad in full captain's regalia and bearing down on Saber with a stern look, was his superior officer, Captain Shining Armor.

“Deputy Saber,” Captain Armor greeted him, his tone dubious, “fancy seeing you here.”

His academy training kicking in, Saber's posture stiffened to full height, and he gave the captain a respectful salute, “Captain Armor, sir! My apologies, captain. I was just on my way to my quarters to prepare for my shift, sir!”

Captain Armor looked back at Saber with a stone face, “Then I suggest you leave that there, Deputy.”

He pointed to Saber's saluting hoof, and Saber glanced at it. When he saw it, his face burned and his heart plummeted—he'd never taken off Luna's belt.

“Before you go giving me any possible excuses,” Captain Armor continued, “you should know that I've been paying some attention to you in the past few days. Princess Celestia's chambers are disturbed at night, and you're the closest guard at the scene? The princess wearing long dresses and wincing every time she sits, for three days since? The same sounds are heard from Luna's chambers just today, and here you are with the . . . smoking gun?” He shook his head, “Too much of a coincidence for me, Deputy.”

Saber felt his legs grow weak under him. He knew this would happen eventually. Deep down, something told him that somepony else would expose him as the princess-beating fraud he really was. He didn't know exactly who or when, but now that it was happening—and knowing that it would be his commanding officer, no less—made the feeling of helplessness only more terrifying.

“Sir,” Saber struggled, trying to get his thoughts in order, “I was . . . I volunteered, sir. I was bound by my duties to the crown. I . . . I had to.”

Armor's eyebrow went up suspiciously, “'Had to'?”

“Yes, sir. You see, three days ago, I was called to 'Tia—uh, Princess Celestia's chambers. She asked me to. She practically ordered me to. She asked me to promise to keep it a secret, but Lun-uh . . . Princess Luna caught me that night as I left. She said she'd keep my secret if I did the same . . . . to her . . . sir, I'm truly sorry. I know I've brought shame on you and the entire royal Canterlot guard. But . . . .” Steel Saber finally broke off, hesitating as he felt a new strength inside, something he didn't recognize. He fleetingly speculated that it was a ripple from his forceful, almost savage handling of Princess Luna's request. “But . . . but I couldn't disobey my princesses. My . . . my oath to the crown trumps all, sir. If I am to be dishonorably discharged, then I will stand by that, if nothing else.”

Saber felt a bit proud of himself for standing up for his oath. Even if it had to be done in the face of his superior, he knew it had to be done. And now, he was fully aware that he was glad to.

In the pause that followed, Armor's suspicious look slowly softened, “Hmm . . . that's commendable, soldier. Upholding a promise to your princesses in the face of disapproval. I have to say, I taught you well.”

Saber was dumbstruck. Of all the reactions he'd anticipated, this was the one he'd least expected. “Uhh . . .” he fought to put his surprise into words, “. . . thank you, Captain.”

“I know you must think I would take your job for this, Saber,” Armor admitted, “but you can rest easy. I won't vacate a position that's being filled by a strong-willed pony like yourself. In fact, right now, my only hope is that you'll learn to dispose the evidence.” He once again gestured to Saber's belt hoof, and Saber felt his face flush once again.

“Thank you, Captain,” Saber replied after pulling off the belt, “I was . . . I was so sure this would lead to drastic consequences . . . .”

“Of course not,” Captain Armor shook his head, “In fact, from what I've seen, and from what I figured out on my own, I think you might be able to help me with something.”

Saber gave another respectful salute. “Absolutely, Captain. My duties to the crown are important, but I will obey orders given by my superiors to the best of my ability, sir.”

“Good,” Captain Armor replied with a nod. “Well, I hope you're up for putting your . . . newfound skills to good use.” He stopped to cleared his throat, then resumed, “I don't really like talking about my personal life in front of my men, but . . . my marriage has been a bit bland lately, Saber, and I'm hoping you might help me with that.”

Saber stared back at Armor, bewildered. “Uhh . . . sir, marriage counseling isn't exactly in my job description.”

“No, no, don't get me wrong. Cadance and I love each other with all our hearts. We're just a bit . . .” Armor leered a bit as he finished, “. . . bored, I guess you could say.”

Feeling a familiar sense of foreboding, Saber tentatively asked, “What do you mean, Captain?”

Shining Armor continued, “We've tried a few things at night to make things interesting in our love life, but we've approached something that I think will work for us. I asked her about it, and she said as long as we knew somepony who could teach us a few things, she was thrilled with the idea.”

Saber gulped, feeling the foreboding getting stronger, “S-s-sir?”

“I suppose I'd better cut to the chase, Deputy. What I'm asking you here is . . . will you teach me how to spank my wife?”

For the second time in the space of three days, Steel Saber's jaw almost hit the floor.