Amber continued to knead the top belly scales of her tail, it was a common comfort for lamias and the deep orange mare was no exception to it. Amber, her full name being Amber Fragrance, was a deep orange Earth pony mare with a dark brown mane flowing down the back of her body to her serpentine tail, Amber’s hair was kept in place with a pair of bright yellow scented sticks, forming an X under the back her neck, it gave her a sweet aroma. And of course she had her kind’s notorious purple slitted eyes.
Amber was half snake waist down, a lamia, or naga depending on your preference, who had been selected by her Queen for the Equestrian exchange, the idea was to let lamias integrate into pony society. Amber had been chosen due to her being one of the few lamias who met ponies within her village on a regular basis. She had been the town’s local spa worker, meaning she occasionally had ponies who just wanted to relax without fear that their lamia partners would try to have a bit of ‘fun’. As such, Amber had been offered a job at the more welcoming town of Ponyville. She was to work for the owners; Lotus and Aloe Blossom, the spa twins... Amber just didn’t want to end up disappointing them.
So, here she was, sitting quietly and more nervous than she had ever felt in her life in the spa staff room, waiting for the twins, with only a small satchel with her supplies in being the only possession she had brought to her new life. Amber had been greeted by an oversized Pegasus stallion, with miniature wings... He had been a bit... Eccentric, which hadn’t helped Amber’s nerves. Finally, however, the twins appeared in the open doorway. They looked like matching opposites of each other, one was blue with a pink tail and mane behind a blue headband and the other pink with blue and a pink hairband, both with sweet, but knowledgeable, blue eyes... Now Amber was afraid of getting them mixed up.
“Are you Miss Amber Fragrance?” The blue twin asked.
Amber nodded “Yes I’m Amber.” She said softly, the pink twin smiled.
“There is no reason for you to be nervous, we’re working with a lamia not you.” Pink said encouragingly “Anyway, we’re Aloe and Lotus, we’ll be testing to see if you’re cut out for this job, practically of course.” Aloe said gesturing to herself then her sister.
“Wait, I’m giving you two a massage together?” The pair smiled.
“Indeed, we were hoping your tail could work with more than one pony at a time... And anyway, even if you can’t use your tail in this line of work we want you able to work your hooves to a suitable standard that well represents our establishment.” Lotus explained.
“O... Okay I can do that.” Amber said softly.
The pair smiled then turned and began to walk away, Amber hesitated a little out of nerves, then followed after the twins. As they walked Lotus spoke, pointing out various rooms and what they offered.
“Though, for special workers like you and Bulk you will have your own personal room to decorate and fill, we’ll provide anything you might need of course.” The twins turned to a door so suddenly Amber almost slid past them.
The room was a simple welcoming blonde sunrise colour with a sea blue floor and white ceiling. For the most part, the room was bare, it contained a single large, wide, wardrobe like cupboard, likely containing massage oils, but Amber had her own which she was more comfortable with. The only other bit of furniture was a pair of plain white massaging tables, which the twins had brought in for Amber’s test.
“Okay, Miss Amber, pretend we’re customers her for a treatment, we’ve just arrived. Go.” Lotus ordered and Amber just managed to control herself, just like that? She really was in the deep end.
“H-hello, welcome Mistresses I am Amber Fragrance I will be tending to you today, please take a seat while I prepare.” As Amber spoke her confidence grew in turn, it was just like back home, just treat it like that!
The twins complied, walking over to the tables and climbing on. Amber took her satchel off and sat it down between the two tables for later. Amber helped Lotus lie down on her stomach and then slid over and mimicked her actions with Aloe. Amber then stood between the two before letting two, heavy, thick coils curl up and onto the separate tables, going down each twin’s bodies, from their necks down and off a back hoof. For now they were just smooth soft weights, but then Amber started her treatment.
Amber's actions mimicked for both twins, she let her tail flex first to loosen the coils then let them shift slowly from one side to the other across the mares backs, mimicking the movements of a snake. The rest of the coils around the twins back hooves curled into a ring, wriggling under, forming another ring on the other hoof in a figure of eight. Amber let the rings press in and glide slowly down to the tip of their hooves, the gradually back into position.
Amber briefly wondered if she was doing a good job when she heard Aloe moan in undeniable bliss, she had just turned to putty and was completely motionless, the frequent moans the only indication she was still awake. Lotus, however, was clearly trying to be the difficult customer, though the more Amber let her tail slide and press into her body, the more Lotus submitted to the blissful relaxation.
As her tail worked, Amber picked up her bag and ruffled through it until she found a small bottle containing a green cream with bits of blue dotted within. Amber scooped a little up and spread it over her hooves, then approached the limp, relaxed Lotus.
Amber placed both hooves on either side of Lotus' head, on her temples, and began drawing slow smooth circles, kneading in gently. Lotus' eyes snapped open as her mind began to tingle, she moaned softly, but soon relaxed again. But Aloe had noticed, she looked over at her sister and gasped. Amber was kneading an odd paste into her head and Lotus was being hypnotised by it! There was no other word. Lotus’ eyes were lidded and as Aloe watched, her pupils shrank into pinpricks and colourful mismatching rings began to pulse in pairs over each of Lotus' eyes, blocking the original colour and pupils from view. Lotus was silent save the occasional moan and her mouth was turned up into a bliss filled smile.
“Amber... What have you done to my sister?” Aloe asked trying to sound fearless... She just sounded tired, and her mushed relaxed body prevented the words leaving her mouth to sound anything like words, it was just a long moan to Amber’s ears
Aloe tried to stand, Amber wasn’t pinning her down, but when she tried to move she barely twitched, her body was limp and heavy, like a dead weight. Amber removed her hooves from Lotus, the hypnotic cream she had personally made insuring Lotus was far away in dream land, in a river of endless bliss she couldn’t escape from. Amber turned and slid over to Aloe, grabbing the cream she’d put down on Lotus’ table. Aloe saw Amber approaching with the intent of doing the same thing to her as Amber had done to her sister.
Aloe tried to escape, but her body had shut down “Amber... No!” Aloe managed to fight her jaw into cooperating and Amber paused, noticing the little mare’s rolling fear filled eyes.
“What’s wrong, Aloe?” Amber asked with her hooves hovering just over Aloe temples.
Aloe tried to speak but the ability had shut down entirely now, if only Amber would stop with her wonderful... Gentle... Relaxing, massaging tail. Aloe blinked back to reality, she couldn’t speak but maybe Amber would understand if she looked between her and the paste.
Amber watched Aloe’s flicking eyes, what was scaring her, Amber drew her hooves back and Aloe followed them... Oh right, the paste... Yeah seeing her sister like that was probably scary.
“Sorry Aloe, but look she’s not in any danger or pain. Look at her, she seems quite content.” Amber said softly, nodding to Lotus and Aloe’s gaze shifted.
Lotus was still being softly pampered, like Aloe, by Amber’s tail, the little blue mare had sunk into the table padding. Amber had given Lotus a little coil pillow to rest her head on as she stared, with those rainbow coloured rings in her eyes, at the wall with a content drowsy smile... It did look pretty nice, but Aloe was still hesitant to trust a mare she’d just met with her mind.
Amber noticed Aloe's continued concerned look "Can you open and close your eyes?" Amber asked, Aloe found the question odd but closed her eyes for a few seconds to prove she could "Okay, open normal blinking means yes, closed means no... I'm going to massage just one temple with a little bit on, give you an idea for it, if you don't like it or are scared just close your eyes and I'll stop, you okay with that Aloe?" Aloe gave a soft mumble and her head twitched, her eyes remained open, so she trusted Amber a little it seemed.
Amber clicked the lid off, but unlike Lotus with her generous amount, Amber just smudged the edge of her hoof. Aloe gave a fearful moan, second thoughts rising.
“Just a few seconds trial Aloe, it’s okay.” Amber said in a gentle, reassuring voice.
Aloe watched Amber’s hoof slip out of view, then she felt the cool cream touch her temple, there was a moment where Aloe thought “Nothing is happening, why?” Then the hypnosis kicked in.
Aloe gasped softly and her eyes widened, within the centre of her vision Aloe noticed an odd pinprick of light, two in fact side by side, wherever Aloe looked the lights followed. Then they moved closer, or they began to grow, turning the room a funny colour... No... The room was fading. Aloe could still feel Amber’s heavenly tail massaging her, but now she started to feel lightheaded as Amber kneaded the cream into her temple. The lights turned out to be a solid colours, neither the same and they had stopped growing, they were roughly the size of a pony’s head... Aloe watched, captivated by its beauty and her curiosity, as a new ring rolled out the centre of each and pushed the last ring away.
It was breath taking, Aloe’s mind no longer supplied the reason she feared this marvel, it was beautiful... So nice to watch how could it be scary? The colourful rings kept changing, Aloe was fascinated, was this what Lotus could see? No wonder she was dumbfounded.
“So shall I add more?” Amber asked softly.
Aloe gave a moan “Uh huh.” Then returned to peaceful silence.
Amber smiled, scooping more cream onto her hooves and rubbing it into Aloe’s temples. Aloe shuddered, Amber’s glorious touch had returned. Aloe watched the giant colourful rings grow to engulf her whole vision, there was no resistance as Aloe welcomed her Mistress’ hypnosis into her mind. Aloe rested her head on her Mistress’ soft, comfortable tail and her eyes drooped, she felt so happy and absentminded, so relaxed it was heaven.
Amber allowed a faint smile to play on her lips, she’d done it, no way they could refuse her application “How does it feel girls?” Amber cooed.
Aloe and Lotus gave soft delighted moans, smiles still plastered on their faces, Amber clapped her hooves before focusing. Amber let her tail curl up the two mares, lifting them up off the tables. Amber laid the pair down on a mass of her coils, which shifted and slid to support them, pushing them up as if they were sitting in a recliner chair. Amber slid behind them and began rubbing the last of the cream in with her hooves, so it sank in then began to wear off. As it did so, Amber began to worry the pair might not be in the same mind set as Amber in terms of the cream. They might be mad at her... Or afraid.
Lotus, having been given the hypnotic cream first and less of it, stirred first. As her mind slowly cleared she began to remember what Amber had done, her tail, the cream, the bliss. Lotus gasped and her mind suddenly clutched at the wisps of hypnosis, but it had run its course and, though Lotus tried, she couldn’t keep the spell wrapped around her. Lotus sighed then looked around. First noticing the ‘chair’ she was sitting on, how it shifted and moulded to her body, it was wonderful. Then Lotus looked up at Amber, who was circling one hoof around the other.
“H-Hi Lotus.” Amber said, her weak nerves obvious, the lamia sure was skittish around non hypnotised ponies.
Lotus smiled gently “Impressive mix.” She said noticing her sister, whose eyes were opening and closing awkwardly as she awoke.
Aloe held her temple, massaging it slowly before she glanced at Lotus “Are... You mad?” Amber asked softly.
The twins glanced at Amber and Aloe nodded slightly, the pair turning to look at the lamia “Amber...” The lamia gulped “What was that?” Lotus asked.
“Hyp... Hypnosis cream.” Amber mumbled.
“Amber, may I ask a question?” Lotus asked and Amber nodded “Can you get more?”
Amber blinked then nodded “Yes, I can.” She said surprised.
“Excellent, you best start thinking of some names for treatments, we’ll see if we can call in a paying customer to try one for you tomorrow. “ Lotus said as the twins smiled.
“I’m... I’m hired?” Amber asked in disbelief.
“Isn’t that why you came? To get a job? Well it’s available if you like.” Aloe said and both twins gasped as their chairs surged forward and they were trapped in Amber’s coily hug.
“Thank you so much.” She whispered, shacking a little.
“That’s okay Amber, welcome to the team.” Lotus said cheerfully patting her back.
Amber spent the following thirty minutes getting to grips with the first floor of the spa, where the twins said she’d work the most, there was a storage basement full of spare tables and various things to use whilst tending to customers, and also a set of stairs opposite that went up to a locked door. Amber thought she could easily break through, but it would be a scar on the trust the twins had placed on her. Amber soon returned to her personal work room, she’d seen the twin’s room, they’d decorated it to seem peaceful and welcoming, Bulk, Amber’s second co-worker... His looked more like a gym than a spa room, but that was his choice.
Amber returned to her room and began setting all the various homemade ointments, creams and tools she had on the top shelf of the wardrobe, Amber had been right the rest was taken up by standard massage oils. There was room for loads more but... Amber only had individual bottles of each to start with for now. Amber then turned and glanced around the room. Amber was on a two week trial, if she proved successful with the customers Lotus and Aloe could get for her then she got a full time job and would be given a budget to decorate her room... Strangely the idea of turning the room into a jungle appealed to her. Trunks of trees as the wallpaper and soft light poking through the leaves high above, and maybe a water fountain running into a large pool and various plants from her home, more comfortable and homely for Amber really. Amber then reminded herself she had to first get past the two weeks trail before that could happen, she'd done well with Lotus and Aloe but... No two ponies were identical, even the sisters proved that.
Amber sighed then closed the little cupboard with her kit inside, sliding out the room, she passed by the entrance where Aloe was sifting through some old paperwork.
She glanced up at Amber and smiled "We'll have something by tomorrow, we know all the details to contact you, it'll be okay. First couple days settling in are always strange and scary." Aloe said.
Amber smiled in thanks and held her hoof on the door "Were... Were you scared of me... During the test?" Amber suddenly asked, the sound of paper moving suddenly stopped but Aloe didn't look up.
"I honestly don't know, before... I was petrified but you managed to coax me into the idea and then... I think I'd have been upset if I missed that opportunity." Aloe said blushing.
"Was it nice?" Amber asked and, in the little window of the spa she saw Aloe squirm in her seat.
"Yes." She admitted and Amber's face turned up into a smile again.
"That's good... I'll see you tomorrow Aloe, Mistress is sleepy." Amber cooed teasing her and Amber saw Aloe blush but smile too.
Amber's smile, however, soon faded once she began to make her way through Ponyville, Amber knew very few of the ponies in town and, although they were all very friendly, for the most part, Amber was always nervous approaching and talking to a stranger. I mean, what if they had a snake phobia and she made it worse? Amber had never been very good with these sort of things so she simply followed the path home.
Amber was staying on the edges of the town, a small new block had been built for the developing town, Branch Lane it was called, but everypony had come to calling it the lamia den, due to both Amber and the towns local lamia Pine now living there. Amber was okay with Pine... He could be a bit forward with her, his idea of a joke, which made talking awkward but he was mostly just a joker, but could be kind when he wanted to. Thankfully Pine spent most of his time helping Lemon Glaze, his mare friend, move her supplies around, and could often be seen lugging giant unmoulded clay over his head in his coils. Amber leaned around the corner onto her street from a small side alley entrance; clear. She quickly slid up to a little two story house, two houses from the end of the road, quickly unlocked the door and ducked inside, sliding her tail within quickly.
Amber sighed leaning against the door, she then pushed herself forward off the door and opened the opposite door into the hallway. Amber slid down the hallway to the end and into the kitchen, as expected Amber's carer, Point Lookout, was making a meal for the two. Amber had mixed feelings about the stallion, on one hoof it was nice to have somepony around the big house she could rely on and keep her company, on the other he was... Kind of cold. She'd never seen him smile... Shout or... Just show basic emotions. She didn't know why but Point was like a well disguised robot, he was bright blue all over his body, with a deep black mane and tail that was spiky naturally, like an equine hedgehog, and his cutie mark was a little watchtower, but his blue eyes looked like they were calculating every movement Amber and other ponies made for a possible fight... It hurt when he turned his gaze on her, it also freaked her out because he seemed able to spot every bit of emotion in Amber's face, even if she didn't face him!
"Welcome back Miss Fragrance, how did it go at the spa?" Miss Fragrance, never Amber, not even lamia... Always talking like they were at a command post.
"Fine, Point I start tomorrow, the twins are going to sort out a regular customer for me to try some ideas for treatments on." Amber said smiling.
"Well done." Though he said it, Point's voice was monotone, did he know what emotion meant "You seem a little distracted, are you okay? You've been this way since the first day we got here, four days ago." Point said and Amber was tempted to sigh.
"I'm alright just thinking." Amber said.
"The job will go fine, Miss Fragrance, it's the first step to you looking after yourself at your new home, be happy." Point said and Amber couldn't help but think he should do the same just for her to see emotion.
"I'm not a pony or a lamia, I'm a job to him, which he must be present at until I am settled in by the end of the thirty day trial, at which point the job will have been a success." Amber thought sadly, but it was true. The pony who had given Point the papers and assigned him to her had explained it. Point seemed to be counting the days as if he couldn't wait to get away.
Amber, and the other lamias moving to Equestria, would be provided with thirty days assistance by a royal guard, once they had a job and somepony else they could rely on for help, friend or employer, the assigned guard would be able to leave back to active duty, returning once a month to check on the 'status' of the lamia. Amber felt more like a project than a living being to Point at times. But she never said this, no he may not have shown any emotion at all, but he had helped her on his own initiative with taking her to the spa, setting up the appointment... And on the second day Amber had awoken with a cute chubby panda water bottle that had somehow gotten into her hooves in the night when the crude heater broke in her bedroom.
It was the one time Amber saw a ghost of emotion on Point's face, his eyes looked a little less calculating and a little delighted even when Amber thanked him, it gave her hope Point didn't think of her as just a project or assignment and he might open up, one day.
Point trotted over to the 'table'. It was a little different than most tables, being that the chair legs were much thicker than an average table and it was wide enough for three on each side and two on the end, able to seat ten rather than just two. However when Point had bought it, he had gotten it with Amber in mind, a lamia's tail likes to shift and have free movement at all times, so provide the space and they won't damage anything. There was a drawback, for both of them as it was kind of awkward when it happened, with the legs so far apart Amber couldn't coil them up... So she sometimes took to coiling Point's legs up. The first time she had sat down after getting the table, having crushed the first and literally cried she was sorry to Point, she didn't notice until Point cleared his throat and pointed it out. Amber was now very conscious of her tail too.
Amber ate with her head bowed a little to watch the shifting coils "It's okay to let them wander, I don't mind." Point said, reading her mind.
"N-no it's rude for me to coil you under the table." Amber muttered.
"Alright if you're sure, but the offer is there." Point said and Amber nodded. That was it with Point... He allowed Amber to try anything, she was learning to fit in with Equestria, but Equestria was also having to learn to let her fit in too.
Point cleared the table, as he always did and Amber watched, out of fascination. Amber found almost anything in the house wonderful. The doors with their own unique wood and patterns, the bulbs on the ceiling and how they bore light like candles, the taps, which had spooked Amber on the first day. But Amber's favourite things were the heaters, the squishy sofas and the TV. She liked to curl on the sofa, wrap a huge blanket over her coils and snuggle down to watch various shows with the warmth breathing on her body. Amber preferred the living room to her bedroom as the bedroom radiator was broken and until it was replaced it was gathering frost. Literally. Point had offered his room but Amber had managed to convince him... But he was willing to share. Amber had managed to keep a straight face till he left the room to go to sleep but she'd blushed and been sorely tempted to take him up on the offer... But they were hardly friends so, though he wouldn't say it, Amber knew Point would probably find it weird.
Amber left the room as Point began staring out the window above the sink, he never spoke. Amber had asked what he was thinking one time he did that and he'd just answered "Family." In the only other tone of voice Amber had heard him use; fury.
He could be scary when he wanted to be, Point.
Point joined Amber in the living room after she had fought the sofa into submission to let her get comfortable and she had her head on a large pillow as she watched a silly cartoon about a dimensional triangle taking over. It was pretty funny. Point sat down in a large armchair and stared out the window.
"Point?" Amber asked softly.
"I'm fine." He said softly "And I know you didn't ask but your tone of voice indicated that as the most likely question you would ask." Point evaluated.
Amber sighed softly "Poor lie there." Amber said.
"It doesn't matter Miss Fragrance, just go back to your show..." He said picking up a newspaper to read, hiding his face. He turned the pages a little faster than usual.
Amber turned the TV off after a bit and snuggled down into her blanket, glancing at Point. He'd dropped the newspaper and was snoozing lightly on the chair. Amber's tail curled over the back of the chair and tugged the blanket draped over it down around Point.
"Goodnight Point." Amber whispered, resting her head to sleep.
Author's Note
So this is chapter one, I'll mostly work on this on the side to Spirals and Spices when I want a break from it, if this goes well I may do the other version, with Paper's journal, you remember him? He's the guy who now lives in the reformed lamia village be fun to do that view, but later. For now enjoy this chapter of introducing the major players in this story, Amber, Aloe, Lotus and Point. Have fun. :)