“Well, well, well,” said a commanding female voice, “isn’t this just a happy reunion.” The happy group of ponies opened their eyes to find themselves trapped, their legs welded to the ground by green resin. Changeling resin. With Queen Chrysalis standing before them, knocked out royal guards in her wake.

“What is the meaning of this, Chrysalis,” said Celestia as she took in the changeling queen.

“That's Queen Chrysalis, and allow me to demonstrate,” said Chrysalis stepping toward where Tabula Rasa - once Twilight Sparkle - sat pinned in her resin prison. The changeling exerted a minor effort of magic and suddenly the resin about the lavender pony was no more.

“Now, pony,” said Chrysalis. “Your friends and allies are at my mercy. You are free, have your magic and no’ling is affecting your mind. What do you intend to do?”

“Can I brush your mane for you, Your Majesty?” asked Tabula in a happy voice.

“Brush...my...mane,” Chrysalis said in shocked voice. She facehoofed and dragged the hoof down her face before sitting herself down. “Go ahead.” Chrysalis seemed to deflate and shrink as Tabula skipped behind the queen with brushes in tow and began to work the knots out of Chrysalis’s mane.

“See,” said Chrysalis, “see what is left of the one alicorn I actually respected?” She let loose a burst of magic which shattered the resin holding all the ponies in place. “The one mare out of all of you - oh, yes, right there - who saw through my schemes. Who saw through my plans. Who defied - careful - her Princess. Who defied her own - by the Egg that feels good - blood because she knew she was right. Reduced to this, this simpering simpleton.”

Tabula had already cleared the knots from Chrysalis’s hair and was now slowly running a brush repeatedly down the long length of the changeling Queen’s mane. As the nubs of the brush massaged Chrysalis’s scalp, she closed her eyes, letting out a small chrrr of contentment. Celestia got up and slowly, softly walked up to Chrysalis.

“And so, you came to help,” breathed Celestia into Chrysalis’s ear. Celestia smiled as Chrysalis’s eyes shot open and she abruptly sat up, catching the brush in her mane.

“Ouch! Not your fault,” said Chrysalis as Tabula flinched. “Just...go sit with your friends for now while Celestia and I talk.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Tabula as she got up to walk back toward the others. “You really should get one of your drones to do that for you every day. Before you leave, I can braid your mane for you, if you like.”

“I hate Sombra so much right now,” growled Chrysalis. “If Rarity hadn’t destroyed him, I would be reminding him what physical pain is really like.”

“Because of what he did to Twilight?” asked Celestia, now sitting a more proper distance away.

“Because he left her adorable, even as that device of his broke everything that made Twilight a pony worthy of respect,” said Chrysalis. “If I had not already decided on my course of action, I would be tempted to sweep her up and take her away with me.”

“You care that much for her?” asked Celestia, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

“What? No! Twilight is merely another pony,” assured Chrysalis a little too quickly. “Just more food for my hive.”

“Of course,” said Celestia, rolling her eyes. “You came here for no reason but to restore one of your greatest foes.”

“When I defeat you,” said Chrysalis, sounding more like her old self, “it will be because I am better than you. Not because you are weaker. Also, I like the idea of you being in my debt.”

“Well, I cannot argue with that logic,” said Celestia. “What do you need to help her?”

“I have an entourage outside the city,” said Chrysalis. “They will need your permission to glurk.” Silent as smoke, Rarity had left the side of her friends and had, unseen, snuck up behind the changeling queen. She now had Chrysalis in her grasp, one foreleg wrapped around her throat, the other on her horn.

“Listen to me, mind raper, and listen well,” Rarity hissed softly with a voice of pure malice in the changeling’s ear. “I don’t believe you. I think you’re here to get a free meal at the expense of a friend who sacrificed everything for me. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t crush your throat right now.”

“RARITY,” commanded Celestia, “release Chrysalis this-” Celestia suddenly paused at the sudden touch of steel on her own horn. Mirroring his student, Yowl-E had also crept up on the discussion. He now stood to one side of the white alicorn, arm outstretched, his paw now resting on Celestia’s nose having dropped a horn blocker over her horn and cutting off her magic.

“Please do not move, sister of My Princess,” he said. “Or attempt magic. Val...Rarity has only just returned to you. Let her take back her power and come back all way to you."

“Yowl-E,” said Luna, gently, “if you harm my sister in any way I will have no choice but to reply in kind.”

“I understand, My Princess,” said Yowl-E. “I only mean to stop your sister, not harm. When all is done, I accept your punishment. Without resistance.”

“Very well,” said Luna. “Sister, I advise you to do as he says. I’ve studied Yowl-E over the past few weeks. He was head of the Alpha’s bodyguards before Sombra. He is a master of half a dozen martial arts and probably among the top twenty beings on the continent with a weapon. Any weapon.”

“Yowl-E,” said Celestia, “provided Rarity can resolve this, your punishment will be to become our new combat instructor. We’ve lacked one since Shining Armor joined the Crystal Empire and you’ve clearly demonstrated your fitness for the role. I would also ask that I be among your first students.”

“Your word?” he asked Celestia.

“My word on it,” the solar princess replied.

“As you wish, sister of My Princess,” said Yowl-E, deftly plucking the blocker off Celestia’s horn.

Then, all eyes returned to the pair that had started the drama. Rarity still had the changeling Queen bent slightly backward, Luna noted. She was allowing Chrysalis to breath, but little else. The alabaster unicorn was a study in contrasts. Her body was still and calm, her face full of determination and fury, her purple mane contrasting with the silver collar about her throat.

“Collar?” Luna suddenly thought to herself. “Rarity wasn’t wearing a physical collar. The only one she has is...oh dear.” Luna cleared her throat and spoke aloud.

“Rarity,” she said, “is it you here or am I talking to Valiente?”

“We are both here, Your Highness,” said Rarity wincing. “And neither of us wants this creature near our friend. And could you all PLEASE stop saying my full name. It still hurts to hear it and that is making me tighten my grip.”

“What are you?” said Chrysalis in a strangled voice.

“I am called many things now, because the dogs took names away from me,” said Rarity. “But among them are The Dancing Mare and The Two-Fold Mare.”

“I swear, I am only here to help,” gasped Chrysalis.

“Not good enough,” said Rarity, evenly as she tightened her grip a little more. “I have the blood of over a hundred and thirty dogs on my hooves. One changeling won’t make a difference.”

“Fine,” choked out Chrysalis. “Twilight makes me better, sharper, stronger. You ponies have a saying: ‘As steel sharpens steel, so one pony sharpens another.’ To be able to defeat Twilight Sparkle at her best keeps me alive, and I will not stand by while her edge is dulled.”

“Now that, Your Majesty,” said Rarity, suddenly releasing Chrysalis, “is an answer I can respect.”

Chrysalis rubbed at her throat and looked back at the innocent looking mare. Rarity took a few steps back, the collar she was wearing fading from view. “When did you become so dangerous?” Chrysalis asked Rarity.

“When she was broken, hammered and reforged,” supplied Yowl-E. “When she was tempered in blood of friend and foe alike.”

“You make her sound like a sword,” said Celestia.

“She is, Sister of My Princess, she is,” said Yowl-E. “And, tomorrow morning, guard’s practice field, one hour after dawn. Be on time, bring four others at most.”

“So,” said Celestia as she nodded in acceptance, “before we were interrupted Chrysalis, you mentioned something about an entourage?”

“Yes,” said Chrysalis, eyeing Rarity sideways as the unicorn walked back toward her friends, “I have a party of drones outside Canterlot that will need your permission and an escort to openly enter the city with their cargo.”

“I may find that hard to arrange if you have knocked out all my guards,” said Celestia.

“Just the ones in the garden here,” said Chrysalis. “And they should be reviving any minute now. I had no intention of disabling them for a long time.”

“Very well,” said Celestia. “As long as they molest nopony. I give permission for your entourage to enter the city. Provided they come directly here.”

“As you say,” said the changeling monarch. “Let’s talk price...”

As Celestia and Chrysalis began to dicker over issues and tea, Luna walked over to the group of ponies many feet away. They were excitedly talking among themselves, greeting their friend whom they thought lost and generally catching up. They didn’t notice Luna’s approach in their happiness. But Yowl-E did, and he saw Luna’s stormy glare.

“Unicorn Rarity,” Luna said loudly. “Stand forth for judgment.” A babble of voices from Rarity’s friends rose up asking why. “Silence,“ said Luna, and as one the voices cut off. Rarity emerged from the group and knelt before the Princess of the Night. “Unicorn Rarity, you are charged with Lese-Majeste, Assault on a Fellow Monarch in Time of Peace, and Disrespect to the Crowns. How plead you?”

“Guilty,” whispered Rarity, her will and any thought of resistance smashed flat by Luna’s commanding use of her name. She had done all the things Luna had accused her of, even if they felt so right at the time.

“Do you have any idea what the punishment for these crimes are?” asked Luna in a gentler yet implacable voice. “Do you know Chrysalis is well within her rights to demand we hoof you over to her? After all we went through to get you home.”

“I’m sorry, Princess,” said Rarity. “I wear your collar and your bridle now. The bond Raarg passed to you is still in force. You still own me. I throw myself on the mercy of my Princess and my Mistress.”

Luna blinked, her anger broken by confusion, for a moment. Rarity was still wearing the bridle she had put on Valiente to guide them all into the mindscape. If she concentrated she could indeed feel the bond between her and Rarity that Raarg had passed to her. A general sense of Rarity’s well-being came through it, and she had indeed held out the collar Rarity had willingly placed her neck into. While it was intended to cement the bond between the two personalities, it definitely could have been considered to be Luna laying further claim to both mares.

“Very well,” said Luna aloud, after another moment of consideration. “I hereby find you guilty.” Everypony gasped. Even Celestia and Chrysalis turned to watch the drama before them. “However, I choose to suspend the sentence. Provided you meet certain conditions.”

“Whatever you ask of me, Princess,” said Rarity. “I do not deserve such mercy, but I do accept it.”

“Unicorn Rarity,” said Luna formally, noting Rarity’s wince again at her name, “you are now a dangerous mare, capable of deadly things, capable of great things. Capable of being equal to a great destiny; IF you learn to control and guide your new powers. Therefore, I sentence you AND Valiente to nightly dream meetings with myself, where I can guide and train the two you in control of yourselves and your abilities. Failure in this will result in my being forced to exile you from Equestria.”

“One addition,” said Chrysalis, having glided over to the impromptu session of court. “I will forget and forgive every little thing you did to me, if you let me play with you for a week, my delightful-double-snack. I promise you will return with body, mind and soul intact.” Chrysalis leaned forward, her fangs barely touching Rarity’s ear. “Let Valiente out to play, and I promise to not even leave bite marks.” The voice carried all the temptation and promise of a demon of lust. Rarity couldn’t help but shudder in response. Neither she nor Valiente could tell if it was a shudder of fear or desire.

“You are an injured party in this, Chrysalis,” said Luna. “Much as it pains me to say this, your addition is reasonable and within your rights. So mote it be. But I will hold you to your word that she returns intact and undamaged.” Luna turned back to Rarity. “The collar I placed on you and your other half in the mindscape was meant as a cementing of the bonds between you both. Not a further claim by me. And, the bridle, I’m sorry, I had not meant to leave it on.” Luna snapped a strap on the bridle and Rarity pulled it off.

“I would like to keep this...Princess,” said Rarity. “As a reminder.”

Luna nodded, and then turned. Her eyes focusing in a deadly gaze on the dog present. “...and Yowl-E, you may have gotten off easily with my sister”, said Luna, her scowl deepening, “but I take a very dim view of lese-majeste and anypony or anydog who thinks they can offer disrespect to I or my sister without consequences. She. Is. Your. Princess!” Luna shifted from calm, yet stern monarch voice to angry Royal Canterlot Voice. “SHE IS MY SISTER AND YOU WILL TREAT HER WITH THE RESPECT SHE DESERVES!”

Yowl-E did the only reasonable thing when confronted by an angry goddess calling him to task for a mistake. He submitted. He knelt low and bent his head to the ground, offering his neck to Luna, in the old way. “My life is yours, Great Princess,” he said. “Do with me as you will.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Stop being willing to die for you mistakes. Learn from them. You cut off my sister’s magic and you have no idea how dangerous it is to do so. By her power, beings and forces are held in check that must be held back. Yowl-E, your punishment is to gain an understanding of what disaster you might have accidentally unleashed. I will arrange for you to spend a week assisting Cerberus in his duties during the week your student is with Chrysalis.”

Applejack and the others gathered around Rarity who was looking at the bridle in her hooves. Fluttershy and Pinkie drew Rarity back to where the group had been. But Applejack and Rainbow Dash moved forward in mute agreement, standing side by side between Luna and their friend.

“Princess, no disrespect or nothin’ but Chrysalis is bad news all around,” said Applejack. “Personally, Ah think it did her a world of good getting taken down a peg or two.”

“Brave Applejack, your friend committed crimes,” she held up a hoof forestalling a reply by the earth pony. “She committed them, not because she is a bad pony, but because in that moment she could only think of protecting a friend. Nothing else mattered to either of them at that moment. They had no restraint.”

“An’ exactly how does that make Rares,” Applejack looked back at Rarity, who smiled in gratitude at the use of nickname. “How does that make her dangerous? Ah know lots of ponies who have trouble controlling themselves.”

“To explain that Applejack,” said the Princess. “You need to understand what has happened to Rarity.”

Luna summoned a sheet of paper, her magic creating broad stripes of different colours on the page. “Now,” she said, “imagine that this sheet of paper is the mind and soul of a pony. And that the colours are the various personality traits of that pony. Everypony tends to have the same sort of traits, just in different ‘widths’. What the dog’s bridles do is to find certain traits or ‘colours’ that it wants. It then separates those traits from the pony.” Luna took a pair of scissors and sliced off a section of the paper holding a few of the coloured stripes.

“Now there are two sets of personalities in the pony,” Luna continued. “The original and the cutting. The cutting will have traits that lend themselves to enslavement. Submissiveness, passion, desire, a willingness to obey and learn. The specifics will vary. Which is why each bridle has to be ‘tuned’ to its intended wearer.” The others were riveted by the explanation, but Rarity found herself unable to watch the clinical explanation of what had been done to her.

“The bridles are set to trigger when names are said. Names are power. So, when the name of the cutting is said. Power is given to it,” Luna added some paper to the cut piece. “When the name of the original is said the bridle cuts a piece of that and adds it to the cutting,” Luna took a slice off the original and added it to the smaller piece. “This continues until the cutting is larger than the original and it simply enfolds the original into itself.” Luna’s paper example did the same. The cutting growing larger through additions to itself and subtractions from the original until it simply wrapped around the original.

Luna continued with a freshly coloured sheet of paper, “But with...Rares something different happened. Generosity colours her entire life and so when her cutting, Valiente, was made, part of her generous nature was included. Valiente, following this nature, gave back portions of the power the bridle gave her.” The fresh sheet of paper was cut and again the adding and slicing happened. Only this time the cutting also gave back to the original, causing it to grow as well.

“So, what we wound up with in the end, were two complete souls and minds, with two complete personalities. Both have folded themselves into each other. Rarity and Valiente are literally a two-fold mare,” concluded Luna.

“Princess,” said Applejack. “That still doesn’t explain why ma friend is so dangerous you’re threatening to exile her.”

“Because, Applejack,” said Luna. “When either the mare within or the mare without are operating separately nothing untoward occurs. No matter which of them is in charge at the time, nothing beyond her former ability occurs.”

Luna held the two pieces of paper up to the light. “But when they both focus on the same goal, or their interests align,” Luna lined up the sheets so the colours aligned, becoming deeper and more vibrant, “a synergy is created, their power and ability increasing many times over, becoming greater than that of any mortal pony alive. But that power and ability is single-minded in its focus, lacking restraint or control.”

“I no longer have self-control?” asked Rarity, having gathered up the courage to face Luna again. But only with Fluttershy and Pinkie both supporting her.

“No, you don’t,” said Luna, lifting Rarity’s chin to look her in the eye. “Not when you and Valiente are in synergy. It is why the collar your mental selves wear manifests physically when you are both operating in concert. It is an outward sign that someone needs to control you. That you are a slave to your combined passions and desires. I will teach you to control yourself when you are in alignment, and if I cannot, I am left with two choices.”

“And those are, Princess?” said Rarity.

“Either exile from Equestria, to protect ponies from you,” said Luna sadly, “or spending the rest of your life on a leash at the feet of either myself or my sister. A short leash.”

“I...we, will do our best,” said Rarity.

“I know you will,” said Luna, who then addressed her friends. “Watch her. Be with her. Be her friend. I take no joy from what I have had to levy against my friend and battle companion, but sometimes I must be a princess first and a friend second.” Luna walked back to her sister as Rarity’s friends gathered back around her. Yowl-E clustered with them. The usually unflappable dog shaken to the core.

After about thirty minutes a group of ten changelings entered the garden. They were escorted by a large group of heavily armed guards and they were leading seven harnessed ponies, who were pulling a wagon with something large in the back covered by a tarp.

“Chrysalis, explain yourself,” demanded Celestia.

Chrysalis said nothing to Celestia but walked over to the ponies. Unharnessing them with her magic she pointed toward Celestia and said, “Go to her, ponies, she is your Princess.” The ponies hesitated. “Go!” yelled Chrysalis. “Go to your Princess.” The ponies looked back to Chrysalis, unwilling to go. But finally, each of them walked away from the changelings and clustered up beside Celestia.

“Chrysalis, who are these ponies?” Celestia asked as the seven ponies laid themselves down beside her.

“Well, the first two are Clean Sweep and Deep Delve,” said Chrysalis. “They are the married pair we bought from the dogs. The other five were experiments.”

“What do you mean ‘experiments’?” said Luna, beginning to bristle.

“A few days after you and your friends took care of Sombra we were approached by a dog,” said Chrysalis. “He gave us samples of the trapping and breaking bridles used on Double Snack there," she said, pointing to Rarity, "as well as crystals and designs so we could make our own.”

“What did you do with them?” demanded Luna, a growl beginning to tinge her voice.

“What do you think we did with them?” laughed Chrysalis, ignoring the growing anger of the Lunar Diarch. “A way to trap ponies, bend them to our will and keep them perpetually happy and devoted to us. We made as many as we could, of course.”

“AND?” Luna’s jaw could have pulverized stone as she said the word.

“And the trap bridles worked fine,” sighed Chrysalis. “So do the breaking bridles. But what they leave is inedible to us.”

“What do you mean?” asked Celestia.

“Meaning that on the outside the ponies may love and adore us,” said Chrysalis. “But on the inside the original pony is screaming and begging for release. It taints the whole meal. The two we bought from the dogs, they already loved each other. But the others?” Chrysalis shuddered dramatically, “You can have them, and the bridles we made.” A pair of changelings carried a chest from the wagon and dumped it out. Dozens of bridles could be seen in the pile.

“Chrysalis,” said Celestia. “Thank you for returning my ponies. But do you have something that can help Twilight?”

“I would not be here if I didn’t,” said Chrysalis. “It occurred to me that Twilight has been reshaped, like clay. You could reshape her, if only you had a mold.”

“And you have a mold?” asked Luna.

“I have a mold,” said Chrysalis. “Behold!” The drones pulled the tarp off of the wagon, revealing an empty green changeling pod.

“It’s pod, Chrysalis,” said Celestia.

“It’s more than that, Celestia. It’s Twilight’s pod. The one I had her in the last time she was in my hooves. It still retains an impression of her,” said Chrysalis.

“Of course!” exclaimed Luna. “We place Twilight into the pod and use it as a mold to reshape her mind.”

“Princesses, Your Majesty,” came a voice from above. “Might I be of some help in this?”

“Side Slip,” said Celestia. “Where have you been? No, never mind. Yes, you can be of extreme help.”

“And who is this?” asked Chrysalis.

“This is Side Slip,” said Luna. “Twilight healed him mentally some days ago. He retains a portion of Twilight’s soul within him.”

“He does?” said Chrysalis. “Put him in the pod with Twilight and her restoration becomes a virtual certainty.”

“Chrysalis, if this works, if we restore Twilight, I will pay your price,” said Celestia.

“What price?” asked Luna. “I was dealing with other matters when you negotiated.”

“I agreed to be hers, for a week,” said Celestia. “If this works, I will be her toy, her servant, her food...whatever she wants me to be.”

“Seven days for seven ponies,” said Chrysalis. “And I even promise to do nothing permanent to you.” Luna could only look on in shock as Chrysalis continued, “To have food, willing food. Food freely giving itself is the sweetest taste of all. I want it. I want the flavour of Celestia in my mouth and on my tongue. I want to feel the love for and from her running out of my mouth and down my throat.” Chrysalis looked over to where Rarity sat. “Combined with little Double Snack over there, it shall be a feast for the ages.”

Side Slip was already helping Tabula toward the pod.

“All right, get in you two,” said Chrysalis. Obediently Side Slip and Tabula laid down in the pod, wrapping their wings and hooves around each other. The pod closed, sealing itself and pressing the pair into an even tighter, intimate embrace. A few moments later both ponies closed their eyes as the pod put them to sleep.

“What’s the plan, Chrysalis,” said Celestia.

“The three of us enter her mind,” said Chrysalis. “Twilight’s psyche will be malleable. All we need to do is push the boundaries and patterns of her mind to match that of the impression left in the pod and the part of her left in that pegasus of yours. We will be basically pushing things and attaching them to a framework.”

“Very well, let’s do this,” said Celestia. Together the three monarchs powered their horns, touched them to the pod and closed their eyes, entering the mindscape.

The trio of monarchs found themselves in a small area, bounded by an irregular framework. Outside the framework all that could be seen was a grey purplish mass that was oozing in and around the structure. Slowly reducing the space the three were in.

“We must push the mass outwards, while keeping it to the shape of the framework.” said Chrysalis beginning to put action to words with magic from her horn. “If we get it out far enough the process will take over for itself and we will have won.”

The two alicorns joined in, pushing back sections of the mass, further and further out. But for every portion they pushed beyond the framework, two more crossed back in. It was like fighting a collapsing bowl of taffy, from the inside. Time passed and it became clearer and clearer that the strategy was not working.

“Chrysalis,” called Luna. “We need another plan, or we need to regroup and try again.”

“Well, sorry to say, now that we’ve started, to stop now would leave your precious Twilight nothing more than a new born foal,” said Chrysalis.

“You never said anything about that,” shot back Celestia.

“It’s not terribly important to me,” said Chrysalis. “So I didn’t bother...and I am thinking of cutting my losses and leaving anyway. This is using a lot of my power.”

“No!” shouted Luna, “You cannot. We need your help.”

“It’s not worth the power I am using up,” said Chrysalis. “It’s not worth my while.”

“I will MAKE it worth your while,” said Luna. “In addition to my sister...you may have me as well.”

“You?” asked Chrysalis. “Oh, you do know how to tempt, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know temptation,” said Luna, a flash of the darkness that she had once given into flashed behind her eyes. “You may have me, willing and pliant, for whatever twisted games and perverse pleasures you desire, for a week, if we succeed. Just not for the same week as my sister.”

“Done!” shouted Chrysalis. “For both royal sisters, willingly in my grasp, I would drain myself dry. Done and done.” The changeling turned back and pushed with renewed vigor and determination. Some long period of time passed, but the trio made no further headway in their quest despite their best efforts. The task seemingly beyond even their power.

“The best we can do is a little more than holding even,” said Celestia, panting. “I fear we are not going to win this one Luna.”

Luna opened her mouth to answer, but before she could say anything a great light appeared before them. The light slowly dimmed, resolving into the forms of six ponies. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Valiente stood before them.

“My ponies,” said Luna, “you should not be here. The fight does not go well.”

“How many times do I have to say it,” said Rainbow Dash. “You know we’d never leave a friend hangin’.”

“Indeed Princess,” said Rarity, her collar gleaming. “It’s obvious you need our help and even more obvious how.”

“If you have an idea, I suggest you hurry,” called Celestia. “The three of us are nearly at the end of our strength.” Rarity nodded and began directing her friends.

“Applejack,” said Rarity. “Help the monarchs by bucking back the sections slipping in. Pinkie, break out your party cannon and back up Applejack.” Applejack began bucking sections of oozing mental mass, each buck pushing the mass back as far as an alicorn blast. Pinkie Pie got out her party cannon and began blasting the sections Applejack had just bucked. Pushing them back even further.

“Rainbow Dash, use your speed to fly around hitting as many pieces as you can,” ordered Rarity next. “But save your strength. You are going to need it soon, and I think you can guess why.”

“Oh, Yeah!” exclaimed the speedster as she flung herself into the fight. Her blows only pushed back the masses a small distance. But she was hitting dozens in rapid succession, and entire areas began to push back beyond the framework.

“Um, if you want me to just stay out of the way,” demurred Fluttershy. “It’s okay, I’ll just take care of anypony who gets tired.

“You will do no such thing, my dear,” said Rarity. “You are nearly the most powerful pony here.”

“Me?” squeaked Fluttershy. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

“Darling,” said Rarity, “we are in the mental realm. Where force of will is strength. And I know of no greater force of will than your Stare.”

“OH!” exclaimed Fluttershy, and she too flew into the fight. She summoned her Stare. The sledgehammer of will that she could summon had cowed dragons. She began to use it against the mass as well. Driving back sections with massive force.

“And us?” asked Valiente, her matching collar to Rarity’s shining bright. “What is our role?”

“We, dearest, have to fill out the framework,” said Rarity. “Twilight has always had an ordered mind, and the framework being used is chaotic, disorganized. You and I must fill in the gaps to create order and organization. What’s more, we must expand the framework as our friends push things into place. Now, mirror me.”

With that, Rarity began to build silvery lines of power connecting sections of the framework. Valiente took her example and matched her. Taking their cues from the existing frame, a pattern of order began to grow and spread. Together, the friends pushed the mass further and further back, while expanding the framework to hold back what had been pushed into place.

“They...they are doing it,” marveled Chrysalis. “But how? We are monarchs and they are merely mares.”

“Do you still not understand, Chrysalis?” said Celestia. “Do you not see why I rarely take a direct hoof in matters? Can you not see why my ponies have pushed back every threat to Equestria? Tirek, Discord, Sombra, even yourself. None of you is even a candle before the mighty flame that is my ponies wielding the Magic of Friendship!”

Almost in answer, Rarity called out, “Now, Rainbow!” Rainbow Dash grinned and let loose a Sonic Rainboom, driving back the mass out of sight. As the rainboom cleared a white fog appeared over everypony’s vision and all found themselves back in the material world.

“Did...did we do it?” asked Fluttershy. With everypony still clustered around the pod Chrysalis reached out and tapped the pod, opening it. Out spilled Side Slip and Twilight. She landing full upon him, the pair still embraced. Both of their eyes snapped open.

“Um, hello?” said Side Slip.

“Side Slip?” said Twilight. “What are you...” Her voice trailed off as four weeks of memories came charging in. The pegasus beneath her had cared for her, watched over her and mourned for her for a month. He had been the perfect, caring gentlestallion. Even if she could feel a certain part of his anatomy begin to involuntarily react to the intimacy of their position.

“We’ll talk later,” she said quietly and rolled off of him. Only to be immediately pounced on by her overjoyed friends.

“Twilight!” cried her friends, sweeping Twilight up into a group hug. The three leaders looked on at the happy mayhem.

“Well, my drones and I should be going,” said Chrysalis, tiredly. “We’ll make arrangements later for your...visits, to my hive.”

“Not so fast, Chrysalis,” said Twilight, walking up to the changeling queen with her friends close around her. “You are not leaving here before I make sure you know how I feel about you.”

“Go ahead,” said Chrysalis. “Get it out of your...” Chrysalis stopped as Twilight put a hoof on her chest. Love flowed into her from the lavender alicorn. Love directed at her, personally. Chrysalis had never felt this before from a pony. She had stolen love meant for others, impersonated others being loved, but never love for her, meant for her, from a pony. The feeling was indescribably glorious.

Twilight leaned forward, and in a whisper only Chrysalis could hear said, “You think you are unlovable, that I could not love my savior, that I could not love somepony who says they are my enemy. You’re wrong, Your Majesty. You are worthy of love, and I love you for what you have done for me, even if you did charge for it.” Chrysalis didn't trust herself to speak. She just nodded, walked away and gathering up her drones, flew off.

“Oh Twilight,” said Celestia, wrapping her former student in a hug. “It is so good to see you back to yourself.”

“It’s good to be back,” said Twilight. “I remember most of what happened, but there are some gaps.”

“I’m just glad to have you restored,” said Celestia. “Why don’t you and your friends go catch up and I’ll have some tea and snacks sent to you.”

“Oh, and Twilight-” said Luna, suddenly cutting off as Twilight abruptly threw herself to the ground before Luna. For some reason Twilight was lying at her hooves. Luna suddenly had a strong mental image of locking a collar around Twilight’s slim neck and leading Twilight off to her private chambers. Luna felt her face heating even as she dismissed the image.

"Luna...um, what’s going on? Why am I in this position?" asked Twilight. She had no idea why she had lain herself at Luna's hooves like this. All Luna had done was say Twilight's name to get her attention. It had just felt like the most natural reaction. Not turning her head, not saying, "what?", but throwing herself before Luna. Even now, Twilight wasn't sure she could break position. Forelegs flat on the ground, nose touching the ground, plot and tail raised high.

"Oh Light," said Luna, "please rise." The strange compulsion vanished and Twilight lifted her head to see Luna was blushing from the tip of her nose to the base of her neck.

“Mis...Princess?” asked Twilight. “What just happened?”

“Do you remember those last moments before you fell to the bridle?” asked Luna.

“Yes, I...oh. OH! Oh, dear,” said Twilight in comprehension.

“Well, could someone explain it to the rest of us?” asked Rainbow Dash in exasperation.

“When I got hit with that bridle,” explained Twilight. “Its magic was forcing me to be Sombra’s slave. The only way to avoid that was to get Sombra away and have somepony else lay claim to me with dark magic. Which Princess Luna did. If she hadn’t I would have been his.”

“I had hoped that my claim would have lapsed with Twilight’s fall into Tabula and then her restoration,” said Luna. “As you have just seen though, it would appear Twilight is still magically enslaved to me. No matter that neither of us wishes it. Twilight, we will work this out later. Go and make merry with your friends.”

“As you wish, Princess,” said Twilight and the group began to leave.

“That is going to be a thorny problem, sister,” said Celestia. “But we will work it out. By the way, you said something earlier about a great destiny for Rarity. What did you mean?”

“The diamond dogs have a prophecy about a terrible evil that shall befall our entire world,” said Luna. “Part of it goes like this:"

Beware, beware
The two-fold mare,
Her flashing eyes
Her flowing hair.

To win she has split her soul,
The parts greater than the whole.
She will take you as her blade.
And of you, evil will be afraid.

Diamond your name,
Diamond her fame,
Beware, beware
The two-fold mare,

Together, the two sisters watched the happy group leave the garden and silently contemplated the future. Their own and that of their subjects. None of them, however, could hear the internal bantering conversation going on inside the alabaster unicorn as she left with her friends.

“That was a dirty, dirty trick with the tassels,” thought Rarity to her inner mare.

“You weren’t coming out any other way, Rarity. I’m not particularly sorry either; you were scaring our friends,” replied Valiente.

“Fine. I said hello to our friends; come back out.”

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“A few reasons. You need to actually spend time with them, dear. It’s not like my plans to sleep with them were going anywhere.”

“You were going to what??”

“I was going sleep with all your friends, eventually. Only a matter of time. Besides, somepony has to care about our figure, and I like food too much to be a good steward.”

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

“No, I don’t, but never do this again.”

“No promises,” said Valiente. “No promises.”

~~~~~ The End ~~~~~

Author's Note

And our heroes walk off into the sunset. Door Belle wrote the walk off and offered it to me. It was so awesome I couldn't resist. Thank you very much for that bit.

This is going to be a long afterword as it is the last.

Regarding this last chapter. I felt the need to resolve certain issues with Rarity's restoration and make sure she didn't come out of this OP. She has come out stronger and harder. So I had to make sure there were limitations. Also, this is My Little Pony. I had to make everything come out happily in the end.

Also, yes, Luna still is the owner of Rarity/Valiente and Twilight. Through two different mechanisms. She doesn't want them as her possessions but while she does she will hold them as gently as possible. As for Luna's description of what the dogs' bridles did. You would think I would have come up with a better description before the very last chapter of the story. But I didn't, and Luna lost patience with me, showed up in my head, and dropped the whole thing into my frontal cortex in a single go. Thank you, Your Highness, and yes, I will commend you to my lady wife.

Overall, this part of the Bridle Path is done. What was supposed to be one or two chapters of basic clop spun out into something far larger. I never meant for this to turn into a bondage/mind control/slavery epic, but it did. And for that I have two readers to directly thank for that.

Gliese581c
and
Arzoo

Both of you asked questions that I realized I wanted to answer. You kept my plot honest. You did your best to hold me to a standard and I deeply thank you for that. Bridle Path would have been a far poorer story without you.

I would also like to give a shout out to Mix-up and Cross Lament. Your support, particularly in the early days of this story, was huge for me. Your words gave me encouragement and kept me going.

Also, big thank you's to Kaidan and sleepyichigo. Kaidan, your featuring me on your blog put me over the moon for a good couple of days. Sleepyichigo, your FA fan art was so awesome. That I could inspire creativity in others through something I had created? Just a huge boost to my self esteem. Between the two of you, I really feel like I've actually accomplished something over the past 4 months.

Over the past 4 months I've gone from someone who had no idea how to do correct punctuation in dialogue to someone who gets it right the majority of the time. I've gone from someone who could write maybe 1200 words a week to someone who can write 1200 words a day. I've walked my own bridle path, and like Rarity, I think I've come out better and stronger for it. Thank you, Madam, for letting me walk that path with you.

My second to last shout out goes to Damaged. Sir, you have become a mentor, a friend, a sounding board, an editor and a taskmaster. You've set up a place where people like us can get together and bounce weird crap off of each other. My day no longer feels complete if I haven't logged into your Discord channel.

Wither Bridle Path?

I never intended there to ever be any sequels to The Bridle Path, but a lot of folks have been asking me privately for sequels. So, I've deliberately left a few side plots unresolved and the Discord chat horde has seized on some ideas:

Bridle Path 2: Celestia's Penance - Celestia makes personal amends to the Mane 6
Bridle Path 3: The War for Tartarus - Yowl-E discovers what Cerberus does
Bridle Path 4: The Bonds Between - Rarity, Valiente and Nightmare Rarity engage in kinky shenanigans

But none of those will be started for quite some time. I have many other projects to do.

My final shout out is to my own personal Princess of the Night, my wife, Serenetea. My love, without your kindness and support I never would have been able to even start on this story. Never mind finish it and be able to look forward to new projects. If any of you wonder what my wife is like. All I can do is quote Byron to you:

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Thank you.
And so, it is with a heavy hand and a glad heart that I mark The Bridle Path,
Complete.