Exhibition Inhibition

The journey back home that afternoon proved less eventful. Having given excuses to the party guests, Rarity snuck out the back door, accompanied by Cheerilee, who had offered to walk her home. Having received Starlight's assurance that she would send Twilight over first thing when she got back, Rarity now planned to stay holed up inside the boutique until Twilight arrived.

Being outside again, Rarity found that she felt exposed. Some part of her was constantly waiting for a crowd of ponies to appear around the corner of one of the houses. She imagined them surrounding her and staring at her, their eyes stripping her of all control as tumultuous pleasure overtook her. The notion was terrifying, but also enticing. She tried to focus on the prospect of her imminent release, there were only a few more hours to go. It felt as if being trapped in this device was starting to affect her mind.

With each step, she felt the cobbles beneath her hooves more keenly than ever before. The journey dragged on, as her sex, battered and stimulated raw, made her acutely aware of every movement of her hips, every swing of her legs. She tried not to appear as though she were hobbling, nor to drag her pace, but her backside felt so strange, she could no longer tell if she was walking normally or not.

It was odd — although she now had a clear indicator as to whether anypony was looking at her, she felt as though there were dozens of eyes were staring at her all the time, even though the absence of vibrations in her marehood told her there were not. She could not help but constantly glance around, scanning the streets for anypony who might unknowingly assault her privates.

Strange, too, was having Cheerilee lead the way. Though Rarity trusted Cherilee with this task, their collusion on this matter was, if anything, making her feel more vulnerable than if she had been alone. She could not block out her awareness of just how much power the other mare held over her at this point. She had known Cheerilee for years, but had never gotten to know her very well. For all Rarity knew, the schoolteacher could be a secret dominatrix with a dungeon full of kinky toys. It did not help that a small voice in the back of Rarity's mind asked: If Cheerilee did try to take advantage of her, unlikely as that may be, would she, Rarity, even attempt to resist?

Not having an answer to that question was not making the walk any more relaxing. She tried to keep her mind away from thoughts of sex and being dominated, when trying to focus on her liberation failed, she instead tried to focus instead on thoughts of fashion and dressmaking. The thoughts swimming in her head turned that back to images of Cheerilee in a dominatrix outfit, possibly with a black-and-white rose motif. She tried to direct this towards thoughts of designing and making such attire, focussing on the technical detail rather than its implications. This only led to thoughts of her friends modelling these outfits.

Rarity had often thought that the walk from Fluttershy's cottage to her own boutique was quite a short one; Now every section of the route stretched out before her. The two of them travelled in awkward silence, Cheerilee occasionally glancing back to check that Rarity was still with her, quickly looking away so as not to stimulate her. Rarity chose not to mention that every brief shudder made it harder for her to keep her mind off the subject. That would only make things more awkward.

She at least managed to mostly block out worries of what Fluttershy must have thought of her by now. That crisis could come later.

When at last they reached the door to her boutique, the supplies she had asked Applejack for were sitting on her doorstep. Rarity thanked Cheerilee for accompanying her, and carried the bags inside. Once safely within her home, she bolted the door and closed all the curtains, turning her boutique into her sanctuary for the night, away from prying eyes.

That evening was spent immersed utterly in her craft. She barely paused to prepare food, eating while sketching the concepts for her next designs. Having something to focus on allowed her to almost block out her predicament, and there were brief moments where she managed to forget about it entirely.

When night came and fatigue began to slowly envelop her, she pushed on until well after her usual stopping time. The prospect of ending her work, and being alone in bed with this… thing drove her to work until her eyes grew blurry in the dim light. Eventually, in the early hours of the morning, she crawled into bed, and fell swiftly into an exhausted sleep.

The next morning she rose early feeling refreshed, cheerful, and wide awake. Experience told her that she would likely regret the disruption to her sleeping patterns over the next few days, but for now she could enjoy the high. With the prospect of Twilight's visit, even having to work her morning routine around these intrusions did not dampen Rarity's mood.

Two hours later, Rarity paced the boutique, casting nervous glances at the clock. Starlight had said that Twilight would be on the first train, but Rarity now realised that she didn't know what time that would be. She had already eaten breakfast, then washed and groomed herself as best she could, now she was uncertain what to do with herself. Certainly she could not leave the house. She would just have to busy herself with more dressmaking, until Twilight arrived.

The minutes dragged by as Rarity tried vainly to get some more work done. She simply couldn't focus this morning, instead finding her attention drawn every few minutes towards either the clock or the front door. How long was Twilight going to be? What if she'd missed her train? Well admittedly that just meant a longer wait while Twilight caught the next one, but Rarity would be stuck here, waiting, not knowing for how long. What if Starlight didn't tell Twilight, choosing instead to take advantage of this situation? Rarity shook her head of the unworthy notion. Starlight was their friend now, and deserved their trust.

What if a monster attacked, or a friendship problem emerged? Rarity shuddered at the thought. She hadn't considered what she would do, if the map summoned her while she was like this. Attend the summons and hope for the best, she supposed.

Even within her own head, she dared not give voice to her biggest worry. Of course Twilight would be able to remove the belt.

When eventually there came a knock at the door, Rarity jumped in alarm. Dashing across the room, she reached out with her magic to undo the latch before she was even within arm's reach. When the door opened, Rarity felt immense weight lift from her withers.

“Twilight! I am so relieved to see you! Do come in, darling.”

“He-hello Rarity, ” mumbled Twilight, averting her gaze even while she crossed the threshold, “Starlight tells me you've had a, uh, magical accident.”

“Oh yes, darling. Did she fill you in on the details?” Rarity reached around and closed the door behind Twilight.

“Yes, she… yes. Do you still have the book?”

“Oh… um, yes, sort of. It's right this way…” Rarity led Twilight through to the kitchen, where the remains of the spellbook sat on the table in a heap.

Twilight approached the table slowly, reaching up to run a hoof-tip tenderly across the ruined tome.

“I-I'm afraid it's quite unusable, ” Rarity offered, “but, you… surely you can remove this curse without it? Twilight?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, there's an all-purpose fail-safe built into all these books. I'm a little surprised Starlight didn't know it. You certainly would have done, if you'd bothered to read the warnings in the foreword”.

“Oh darling, you don't know how relieved I am to hear you say that! Please, let's not waste any more time, I'm simply desperate to be rid of this infernal thing as soon as possible”. Rarity turned, raising her rump in Twilight's direction, as though this would make it easier for Twilight to cast the necessary spell.

Moments passed. Rarity's rump began to buzz, and she looked back along her body at Twilight's face. What she saw there shocked her.

Twilight's brow was furrowed, her nostrils flared, and her lips curled to a snarl. Her eyes had the sunken, tired look of someone who has recently had too many stressful days and late nights. Rarity could not tell if she was angry, disgusted, or a mix of both. Regardless, she had the look of a mare pushed to her limits, and ready to explode. Rarity shuddered, uncertain of how to proceed.

“Fine,” hissed Twilight. “I'll remove it. But I want you to know, Rarity, that I am very disappointed with you”. Her horn lit, and a glow of magic enveloped Rarity's hindquarters.

“Disappointed?!” Rarity squeaked, in a hurt tone, “Twilight, I am the victim of a terrible misfortune, I don't see how my attempts to handle the situation would give you any reason to— ghaa…” Her words were cut short when Twilight's horn flared, sending a stinging pulse of stimulation into Rarity's nethers, making her cunt twitch.

“Misfortune!” Twilight exclaimed, apparently unaware that her magic was becoming unstable. “Have you even stopped to consider your role in this? You broke into my home while I was away”. Her horn sparked again, delivering another sting, and Rarity whimpered. “You manipulated Spike, abusing his feelings for you. You stole my property, which you then thoughtlessly destroyed. You put yourself and everypony around you in danger, by fooling around with a dangerous spellbook, without taking the proper precautions…”

As Twilight's unstable magic caused her to continue unwittingly punctuating her rant with electric shocks to Rarity's nethers, the fashionista's front half sank to the floor, her rump still firmly held in place by Twilight's magic. Her marehood felt raw and sensitive, the pain of each sting causing tears to well in her eyes as she bit down on her own forehoof. Yet despite the pain, each jolt brought her closer to a climax. Already she could barely focus on what Twilight was saying.

“You interrupted a trade negotiation that was three months in planning, Prince Taurox was personally insulted and may cut ties with Equestra altogether. You risked being imprisoned for indecent exposure, you could have caused a major political scandal.

“And all of it,” Twilight concluded, “because you were so obsessed with using magic to satisfy your own base, depraved, perversity!!!” With this final exclamation, the most powerful surge yet wracked Rarity's sex, bringing her right to the edge…

…and no further. Rarity mewled helplessly into her hoof as her vagina grasped at the smooth shaft within her, vainly pursuing that final push needed to bring her climax to completion. Yet Twilight was too immersed in her own indignation to notice what was happening.

Twilight stood, panting, where her furious pacing had left her pointed at the wall opposite. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face her friend, forgetting the details of how the cursed belt functioned. She was taken aback to find Rarity flushed and tearful, cowering on the floor. Twilight had been angry, but she hadn't meant for her words to hurt Rarity's feelings so badly…

Rarity rose, shaking, to her hooves, unable to look Twilight in the eye. The vibrations had returned, but Rarity fought down the burning tension wracking her body. It hadn't occurred to her just how much her actions might have hurt her friend, and now guilt battled with the rampant lust stampeding through her. It was hard to be truly apologetic when so much of her desperately wanted to beg Twilight to just finish her already.

“T-Twilight,” she stammered, “I'm so sorry, I didn't mean…”

“Oh, now you're sorry. You didn't think to start with an apology, even when you were asking me to fix this mess you've gotten yourself into.” Twilight sighed. She was still annoyed, and tired, but her tone softened at seeing Rarity distraught. “Well, fine. Just hold still while I fix this.”

“Twilight, please," Rarity squeaked.

“I said I will already, just be patient —”

“NO!” Rarity shrieked. “I mean, please, let me apologise properly. I… I don't want this to come between us.” (But oh please I do want to come). “Is there anything I can do to make this up to you? I… I don't want you to remove this until I know that things will be right between us.”

Twilight stared back, wide eyed, and began to blush. “What!? Rarity! Wait, hold on. You're not suggesting…? I mean, that's completely inappropriate. We can't just… I mean I'm flattered, of course, but this is way too sudden. We're not even… and I don't know anything about…” a nervous smile lifted the corners of her mouth, “I don't know how you could even be so forward as to suggest… We'd have to talk about it first. Or maybe we should not talk about it ever again…” Twilight frowned, waving her hoof in small, tight, circles, while her eyes darted around the corners of the room.

Rarity cringed slightly. “Twilight,” she said, “I just meant that it wouldn't feel right to accept a favour from you while you're still angry at me”. At this statement, Twilight froze. Rarity, meanwhile, weighed her next words carefully, taking deep breaths to quell her rebellious libido. Clearly, Twilight's mind had gone to a sexual place, where Twilight was the stern dominatrix, and Rarity the submissive slave in need of stern punishment. As exciting as the notion was, she needed to stay focussed on the goal of mending the damage done to their friendship. Most importantly, she didn't want to risk offending Twilight.

“Please bear in mind, darling, I… I'm not saying 'no'. I'm just saying that… whatever we do, I want it to be about me making things up to you, showing you how truly sorry I am. Whatever you decide, I am in your hooves”. Rarity cast a glance at the ruined spellbook. “I just wish there was some way to repair the damage I've caused”.

Twilight stared, until Rarity began to squirm. Then, she scrunched up her face, bashed her hoof against her brow, and shook her head. She took a deep breath, and released it, before opening her eyes once more.

“Rarity,” she replied, “I am sorry. And of course I forgive you, completely. I've just been really tired lately, and I… I took it out on you. Please, let me get that thing off you, before either of us says anything else”.

Rarity nodded, and turned around once more. She felt Twilight's magic envelop her backside, tendrils working their way under the confines of the enchanted metal, stroking parts of her anatomy that had been deprived of sensation for over a day now. She tried her hardest to remain still, though she felt certain she was shaking.

All at once, the rigid metal became fluid, flowing out of her and from her like something alive and squirming. She felt the pressure drop away from her hips, the discomforting full feeling giving way to relief. The liquid flowed over her clitoris, one final stroke before it left her completely. She turned her head back in time to see the the liquid swirling and shrinking to nothing in mid-air. Without ever reaching her climax, she felt the tension flow out of her body, leaving only a faint, dull, ache.

“Oh, darling,” Rarity breathed, “you don't know what a relief it is to be free of that thing”. She stepped forward and embraced Twilight, who responded by awkwardly patting her withers before Rarity pulled away.

Twilight was looking thoughtful; Rarity followed her gaze to the ruined spellbook on the table.

“Twilight… I really am truly sorry; I wish there was something I could do to repair the damage”.

“Oh, no-no,” replied Twilight, waving a hoof without looking up from her contemplation, “I couldn't possibly ask you to…”

After Twilight's words trailed off, Rarity waited to see if her friend would finish the sentence. When it became apparent that Twilight was lost in thought once more, Rarity opted to give her a verbal nudge. “To what, darling?”

“Hmm?”

“You said that you couldn't possibly ask me to do something, but you didn't say what”.

“Oh!” Twilight looked up, flustered. “I, er, I was just thinking about Prince Taurox. It's going to be difficult to persuade him to resume trade negotiations”.

“…and you think I can help with that?” Rarity had no experience of politics; She had a suspicion that she knew what Twilight had in mind.

“We-e-ell, he's quite prideful, but I gather he has something of a weakness for pretty mares.” Hesitating slightly, Twilight added crisply: “Provided he doesn't have to treat them as equals”.

“Are you suggesting that I should sleep with him?”

“What? No!” Twilight's eyes went wide. “I was just… wait, are you saying that you would!?”

“Oh come on, Twilight, I'm a grown mare. From what you've said, my actions could have serious repercussions for all of Equestria, one night of indiscretion hardly matters by comparison. Besides… if it means I could make things up to you, I would gladly sleep with a hundred stallions!”. Off Twilight's expression, she added: “Or, well, maybe a dozen. Twenty, at most”.

“Wow… um,” Twilight began to squirm, her face turning very red, “what I had in mind… there's this dance, you see. It's, uh, traditional, for people using that particular spell. Wearing that belt. Sort of a… striptease. I guess I thought, if my close friend offered to perform it for him, by way of apology for interrupting the trade negotiations… I don't think he'd turn down the opportunity, and I don't think he'd be able to refuse your apology afterwards, that would be highly insulting…”

“I see. And would this be a private performance?”

“Uh… traditionally, you would want a larger audience. Um, it would probably be better if there was someone there you trusted to look out for your safety. Not that you'd need it, really,” she hastily added, “but just in case. Someone who knew about minotaur customs, and was strong enough to subdue them if needed”.

“Someone like you, darling?”

Twilight said nothing, but nodded, her face practically luminescent.

“And I would have to wear that belt again?”

Twilight murmured an affirmative.

“I see. And, would you arrange for somepony, or some minotaur, to teach me this dance?”

Twilight scrunched her eyes closed. “Y-yeah…”

“Well then, I think that all sounds quite reasonable, darling”.