Twilight hesitated for a moment. Something was going on and she couldn’t just leave Rarity alone like this, but perhaps she was wrong and would only intrude on her friend.

‘Maybe I should just sneak a peek through the window? Just to make sure everything is okay.’

A bit of a sneaky option, no pun intended, but one that might work out best to ensure her friend is indeed fine and well. Before that however…there was something she wanted to ask.

Rarity could see it too as her friend’s eyes traveled to her ears and the piercings that were there.

“Ah,” she began, before the princess could ask her, “Those things? Just something I was trying out on the day…it happened. Right before it.”

Something was nagging at the back of Twilight’s mind. It was unusual…Didn’t Rarity say something about piercings before?

‘She did say…’

“...Piercings are for desperate mares that want to cheaply increase their sexappeal,” she cited, making Rarity flinch on the spot. “You did say that before, Rarity,” the alicorn pressed on seeing that reaction. “So it is unusual for you to wear those…”

“Ah, um, you see…I suppose, I changed my mind about it. It is a fashion trend and I don’t want to be some stubborn mare that will ignore something this fresh and revolutionary.”

The excuse was apparent and it was obvious that Rarity didn’t want to answer why, so any more prying would be pointless, so Twilight nodded.

“I don’t mean to hold it against you. I simply want to make sure you are okay, Rarity. Either way, I am glad you are here. I promise, I will bring Sweetie Belle back to you,” the alicorn said in a clear act of reassurance, while also slowly turning away to leave the mare to her own devices for now.

Rarity’s eyes lingered on her good friend for a moment, before she lunged forward, pulling her into an embrace, stopping her dead in her tracks.

“I…appreciate that you came looking for me, darling. It has been a while since I saw you, so I was probably a bit silly. Even starting to worry that I might not be as important to you,” she explained, making the alicorn want to speak up, but before she could Rarity continued. “I know, I know. Silly as I said. You obviously were out after these brutes were…having relations with you and then were flooded with work as soon as you recovered. I shouldn’t expect you to simply play along with my whims.”

“Rarity, I am sorry that I didn’t come by earlier. I still should have. My head was just…full. I promise that I will come by more often. With the others too that are still here. I will make sure that everything will go back to how it was before.”

The unicorn pulled away from the hug, giving her a sad smile. “That would be lovely.”

Twilight’s heart swelled, as she gave Rarity another quick hug as they said their goodbyes.

She then moved quietly towards a nearby window, readying an invisibility spell as soon as she got a good spot. Already, she could hear voices again.

“...as you were wrong about Twilight. She did come to visit me. I knew those were some vile lies you were trying to tempt me with! Ha!” Rarity announced triumphantly, pointing her hoof at another figure.

What Twilight saw made her eyes widen.

Pale purple skin on a bipedal form. Nude and with big F-cups breasts and a rather big rounded dick, she was casually caressing. She was voluptuous and had a tail that ended in a pointy tip, as well as two horns on the side of her head.

This was a demon.

Twilight had to instantly refrain from bursting in through that window and blasting it with her magic. It hardly would help if she reacted like Rainbow here. Rarity after all was conversing with that demon, showing that there was more to this, so she instead tried to focus on the conversation, even as she worried.

One hand of the demon went to her hips as she gave her a slight pouting look. “Yes, yes, my dear pet. Your friend Twilight cares very much about you. I will have to relent on that point. But that doesn’t change my offer to you, does it?”

The pristine unicorn dropped her smug smirk at that, as she got a pensive look.

“...It doesn’t. I am simply unsure about this ‘collaboration’ you are offering. Especially with how you have been tricking me two times already, Ceraph.”

The now named demoness Ceraph tapped her full lips, “I suppose so, even though I did plead my case before. Yes, a cutey like you would be skeptical, but this is genuine. I am not associated with the ones that were kidnapping your fellow townsfolk, but others will see me just the same.”

“I wonder why that might be…maybe because you try to put piercings on me and turn me into one of your pets?” Rarity asked with a deadpan.

“Possibly~ But I am quite picky when it comes to selecting pets for my harem, so you should feel honored. Besides, I find the earrings and nipple studs suit you well~”

The unicorn blushed and now that Twilight was keeping an eye out for it, she could indeed see some silver nipple studs on her friends teats, making her blush a bit.

Her friend blushed as well, though it might not only have been from embarrassment, but also indignation.

“Well, I never! Especially since I don’t even like piercings! So, I am seriously considering going back out there and getting Twilight in on this conversation!”

“Which would blow the deal and ensure you have a smaller chance of seeing your sister again,” she pointed out with a roll of her eyes, making the unicorn’s mouth clamp shut. “...And I will even use my influence to find your missing friends too, to make it extra juicy for you. In all honesty, I feel that I am offering too much already, but I don’t back down from it.”

Another thing added and Rarity did look even more tempted than before as she was thinking this proposition over.

“So…to review. I become your pet and you offer to find and free my sister…and my friends. My life for theirs.”

It was a surprising revelation for Twilight, hearing this. Not only had this demon visited Rarity on several occasions, but they also attempted to strike a deal with her to help find the missing ponies.

The alicorn couldn’t be sure how strong this Ceraph was or if she could even hold their end of the bargain. Considering the deceptive tendencies Rarity mentioned, such a deal might not be the smartest idea.

Then again, she could also offer insights about their world and indeed be a huge help to them, but this would come with a price, even if Twilight wasn’t sure yet, what Rarity becoming her ‘pet’ would entail.

What to do?
1. Storm in and fight
2. Go in and negotiate
3. Stay out of this

Vote Results:
1. Storm in and fight IIIII
2. Go in and negotiate IIIII IIIII IIIII
3. Stay out of this I

Author's Note

One week to vote. A bit short of a chapter, I know, but in return, there is a small extra interlude story to make up for it.