There weren’t many things that scared or even intimidated Cherry Stellar. She always thought of herself as a very brave and confident mare who could take care of anything that life decided to throw at her. But as she sat there on the windowsill, staring out through the open window and watching the sun rise in the east she felt… a sensation of dread and fear welling up inside of her. She wasn’t even sure why, but she felt terrified of the day to come, of what she knew it would bring. It had been coming for a long time. She had planned everything for it, but as she waited for him to arrive she felt scared. Glancing down at the golden badge that she held cradled in her wing, she sighed softly.

It was a plain and simple object. A circular metal badge engraved with “Clocktower” at the top and “Society” at the bottom, the letters following the curve of the badge. In its centre was the oh-so-familiar stylised symbol of a clock tower. She could feel the powerful magic coming from its various enchantments designed to protect her and summon help in case of serious danger. She had been told to always have it on her person, especially considering her high-profile public career as a model in Equestrian society. For as long as she had been a member of the society, she never had to use it. She was certain that she could kick the flank of any pony that tried to mess with her, but she had also heard way too many horror stories from other mares. This wasn’t a situation like that, but holding her badge did fill her with confidence. It was a comfort. Gale was moving in with her and she didn’t quite know what that would mean for her, it could be the best thing ever – or it could be an utter disaster.

Cherry closed her eyes and allowed herself to smile, fondly remembering how she had first met him. She had known this stallion for most of her life. He had been the first Sergeant she had served under. Always relaxed and laid back about things, he was the kind of stallion that would take the entire squad out for beers at the end of the day instead of trying to suck up to the higher-ups. They’d hit it off quickly, although it had never bloomed past a relationship of being best friends. During the years that she spent in the guard their entire unit had gotten a bit of a reputation, and there were many stories she could tell about the hijinks and shenanigans that went on behind those closed doors in the castle. A lot of which involved the then-recently returned Princess of the Night. A few of them involved the Princess of the day, too, though not nearly as many as they would have liked. As Royal guards, they had the privilege and pleasure to see behind the royal facade at times.

Cherry had no regrets about becoming a guard in the first place. She had seen many things happen, and it had shaped her life in ways that she would always remember fondly. There were many ups and downs, but eventually Gale had made Lieutenant, and Cherry became a marksman instructor. But all things eventually come to an end, yet their story didn’t end after she left the guard in favour of pursuing a modelling career. They kept their well-established daily ritual of hanging out. Gale and she had even gone so far as taking Zebra martial arts classes together. Neither knowing the other was a member of the society.

That relationship – and most of her life, if she had to be honest – all changed when Gale had found out she was a member of the society as well. He had been the one to help her live out her ultimate fantasy of being broken down into nothing but his personal pet. It was an experience that she could vividly remember, and she doubted that she would ever forget what he did to her. The memories still sent shivers of excitement down her spine, even if the entire ordeal had been a little over a month ago now. She quite clearly remembered yelling at Gale for not even telling her he was a member, or for that matter even approaching her. Not that she was angry at him. She knew the system for the breaking play didn’t work like that, you signed up and got dragged to the dom without knowing who that dom was until he choose to reveal himself. Still, she just—it had changed their entire relationship so suddenly.

A week after the session he had revealed that the entirety of her ‘breaking’ had been immortalised in a picture album of all things! Cherry hadn’t even been aware of it at the time, but he had been taking pictures of the entire thing. With a small sigh, she glanced over at the offending object on the highest shelf of her bookcase – she had made sure that her mother would never notice it when visiting. Her Mother, who had seen her being dragged off by the Quiet to her inevitable doom at the hooves of her now-coltfriend. She hadn’t shown up yet, and that kind of worried Cherry more than Gale moving in with her. Her mother, Starsong, was perhaps the most terrifying entity in existence. She was a mother. As such, she of course knew everything. And was more than likely going to be giving her a talking to at some point, which promised to be a very nice and certainly not awkward conversation in which she would have to explain everything that had to do with Gale, and probably introduce them. Of course, add to that the fact that her mother is one of the Society’s Den Mothers, who could quite literally appear out of thin air inside of the society, and she could assault her at any moment with an interrogation like she used to when Cherry was growing up.

******

Meanwhile, in Clocktower Equestria East.

“Oh, come on, Fluttershy!”

“I said ‘no’, Gale. I am not rigging the system like that.” The butter yellow pegasus said firmly.

“You owe me, though!” Gale said with a childish pout, but he shifted uncomfortably before the mare. Fluttershy wasn’t a mare you wanted to anger, not that she would turn physical. No, Fluttershy was worse, she would use the stare. Gale had once been on the receiving end of the stare and it had been enough to turn him from powerful dominant to meek, whimpering sub for a good hour. That was an experience that he did not want to relive. “I bailed you out of the whole Tentacle Pit situation.”

“I know,” Fluttershy sighed deeply. “But it is not fair to the other mares to have Cherry be picked princess unfairly. She, like the others, will have to wait her turn and be drawn fairly. We can’t afford to rig the system like this.” She stomped her hoof softly on the dungeon floor. The clop of her horseshoe against the stone rang out like thunder, more than the poor mare had intended.

They were both in Fluttershy’s private breaking chamber. Gale smiled just a little wider as he looked around. He had been here many times before, though it was always interesting to see how different Fluttershy’s tastes were from his. Where his chambers had the aesthetic of being a temple, Fluttershy had designed her chamber in a way that they felt homely, which was another thing that made Gale feel somewhat unnerved. If he didn’t know better, it would appear as though they were standing in a normal living room. That is, if the living room had a hoof rest and other assorted furniture designed to restrain a slave.

There were even windows enchanted to show a pleasant view and the time of day. It was hard to imagine that this mare was a Master Artisan on par with the others. He had to admit that even he was kind of scared of just how good a dom she was. Normally-rebellious pets that left her chambers did so as good, well-behaved animals. Gale sighed deeply and drooped his ears. “I know, Fluttershy. But… it’s her fantasy.”

“Yes? Along with the fantasy of every mare that signed up, Gale.” The mare retorted with a roll of her eyes. “The answer is no. I am not going to prioritise Cherry. Not unless you can give me a very good reason.” The mare’s words carried an air of finality.

“I would owe you.” Gale eventually said, looking the mare in the eyes for a long moment. “I would owe you a lot.”

Fluttershy let out a long, drawn-out sigh. Gale had her, and he knew it. He also knew that he was doomed. Owing this mare meant that she could ask him anything and he couldn’t say no. “I will… think about it, Gale.”

******

Cherry let out a small sigh as she looked at the cart being hauled up in front of her building. She saw a few stallions, but notably absent was the golden glimmer of armour she had been expecting. Gale wasn’t with the movers. For a long moment, she wondered if he had gotten held up at the palace which, if she had to be honest, would not be a surprise. The current Captain was well-known for being a hardass when it came to getting things done. Silverbolt, that was her name, Shining Armour’s replacement. Cherry had met her only once before she left.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. “It’s open,” she called out, wincing ever so slightly at the foalish pitch her voice took. As the door opened it revealed a tan coloured earth pony stallion with a gentle smile on his muzzle. He carried a rather large box on his back.

"Good afternoon m- oh… well hey, little filly! Where's your mother?" the stallion asked, looking at Cherry and then around the room for a moment, his smile turned a bit awkward.

“Oh, mommy stepped out for a moment to get breakfast!” Cherry said in an excited squeaky voice, grinning at the stallion in foal-like wonder. “Oh, wow, that sure looks heavy, Mister!”

“I… assure you it quite is. Is there… no adult?” He asked nervously, putting the box down beside the door. “I kinda need a signature.”

“Oh, well my daddy should be here soon! He’s moving in today! That’s his stuff!” She pointed to the box. Cherry’s grin grew a little – the stallion had asked for it – and she ran over to take out the toys she had been intending to give to her little brothers. Flopping gracelessly on the couch, she started to play with them, humming softly. “Oh, right, Mommy said to set the boxes there,” she pointed to an empty space on the right side of the room that she had cleared yesterday.

“Eeeh… right,” the stallion said with a very uncomfortable look. But he did as he was instructed, which made Cherry smirk just a touch. Adults were never used to being bossed around by a filly – but she talked with ‘mommy’s’ authority. Watching the other stallions work was incredibly amusing as they brought in Gale’s things – which, admittedly, wasn’t a lot, but it all looked like it was very heavy. For a moment, she wondered if the stallion had brought over his entire weapon collection.
The first stallion was sitting there looking very uncomfortable. She assumed he had to wait for her ‘mommy’ to get home. Throwing her forehooves over the couch, she grinned. “Mommy is a guard just like daddy,” she announced as randomly as only a child would, watching the stallion look increasingly uncomfortable with being in the same room as she was. “They both get to have tea with Princess Celestia!” She boasted, which wasn’t entirely a fabrication. She and Gale had met the Princess and had tea with her during meetings. “She is a very nice pony!” she grinned broadly to finish it off. She was very satisfied with the awkward smile he gave and did a mental hoof pump.

“I… see, that is very impressive!” The stallion said in the most awkward tone ever. For a moment, Cherry felt cruel for doing this, then she remembered that he had instantly assumed that she was a filly without even letting her get a word in. He’d definitely earned this.

She nodded eagerly and flashed a grin up at the stallion. “She is like the most amazing pony ever! When I grow up I want to be a Princess just like her!” That made him gawk, and she smiled that innocent smile of hers, going so far as to use the large, innocent eyes she liked pestering Gale with. Now she felt sorry. She could see the look of utter bafflement on his face. The stallion probably did not have any foals of his own, so she assumed that he had no idea how to even respond to a filly wanting to be like a nigh-divine alicorn Princess. “Like Princess Sparkle!” She announced with a happy, innocent grin.

His eyes shrunk to pinpricks. He was panicking and trying to think up something to say. He opened his mouth for a reply when the soft rattle of armour and a deep chuckle pulled both their attentions to the door. “Now, now my daughter. Don’t bother the nice pony trying to do his job.” Winter Gale said in that low, baritone voice that she adored so much. The stallion was tall, and he looked bigger than he was in his armour. He struck a rather imposing figure with his helmet levitating beside him and his blade at his hip.

“Daddy!” she shouted and rushed over to him, giggling as she nuzzled into his metal-plated chest, pressing herself up close to him. The hoof wrapping around her back was nice and comforting. “Where have you been, daddy? I’ve been alone since Mommy stepped out!” She said, pouting.

“Sorry, daddy had a few things to arrange, my sweet,” he said gently, giving the stallion a pleasant smile, then leaned in, his muzzle close to Cherry’s ear, his whisper barely above a breath. “You’re in so much trouble, my little songbird.” His voice was stern. It was as smooth as honey, yet held a core of cold steel that pressed all the right buttons to make her shudder. Then he pulled away, and approached the stallion, lightly nudging Cherry back to the couch. “Be a good filly and play.”

“I hope she wasn’t too much trouble, we normally don’t leave her alone. If my wife did, it was probably very important.” Gale said by way of explanation. Cherry could hardly even contain her giggle. She had put her coltfriend into a bit of an awkward position, but it was fun! Smiling to herself she listened as the two talked. Gale signed the papers and as the door closed he levelled a stern stare at her.

“Daddy, hmm?” he asked with a small, evil grin. “I didn’t know you were into that. Let’s explore!” he said, and in that moment, Cherry realised that she was totally and utterly doomed.

Author's Note

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Big thanks to my editing team for giving this a well needed pass: Fuzzy Fabricator, Silent Whisper

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