The lamia's grand dinner

Chapters

Job proposition
Mental trials
Coil ocean
Outmatched
Chipping away
Prey
Into her parlour
Final preparations
Hunter and Prey
The dinner
Find for me a chef

Job proposition

It was well into the night when the wagon reached Canterlot, lamps glowed around the walls and streets as the Royal guard patrolled. Their armour had been changed slightly; close inspection revealed snake scales in the golden armour, otherwise it was the same just more serpentine for their new rulers. Bolt stared out the window, he’d never had a need to visit Canterlot, it was always open to the public but it was always a great maze with many a closed corner and alley that a pony could get lost down… forever. Bolt didn’t know the truth like many, but fear, rumours, and increased disappearances didn’t help soothe the smaller percentage of the population that much, though most ponies ate up the lamias stories and the lamias were good at catching criminals compared to the old methods which helped their image improve. Lamias mainly accomplished this because the rules didn’t apply to them. As for hypnosis, the lamias main gimmick which was thrown around like confetti as they tried to normalise it, Bolt just wasn’t comfortable with the idea of somepony else controlling his mind.

But those ideals might not be respected out here. Bolt turned to look out the window, turning away from Polish who had been staring ahead the whole way, almost, if not more anxious than Bolt himself. Outside the streets were lit up occasionally by spaced out lamps, between the lights small groups and pairs of ponies walked home after a night partying, their dresses and makeup needed touching up by now. At one point Bolt witnessed a pair of mare’s cross paths with a lamia stallion, whom held a coil out to them both and they eagerly stepped into the leash it formed and he led them along like dogs, the whole while they nuzzled into the thick muscle like it was bliss.

Bolt gulped, he was in the deepest snake pit and was about to nestle up to sleep beside one of the biggest snakes at the top of the pile, and judging from his escort she was important.

Within a few minutes the dense buildings of the shopping district broke into a residential area, streets led away to cheaper, more affordable homes, whilst the grander homes remained visible and on display. Attached, semi-detached, and then detached houses broke away into large homes, large homes into mansions and then estates.

Finally, Ruby’s home came into view. It was like a miniature castle! The entire place was given a great wide berth by all the other buildings around it and it was surrounded by a wall thirty meters high and it was made of thick bright limestone. The wall clearly had an inner passage for traversing around due to the thickness and small windows for archers dotted about, the gate, which was grey steel, had a building out the side within the courtyard with a glowing light pouring out from within. Perhaps a barracks. At the four corners were four towers that rose up above all the other houses and Bolt could see a pair of sentries watching, one outward and one inward. Along the walls were more guards, more visible than the archers, they wore separate armour to the Royal guard, deep purple with a sash like scarf around their necks with a snake eye insignia on it. Their helmets bulged out like viper snake hoods and their eyes were covered over by a visor that was painted with multi-coloured rings and was eerily beautiful in the light. Fakes were dotted within the ranks and Bolt was vaguely thankful his escort had neglected to bring their equipment… Perhaps they knew it would only hinder them with a pegasus?

The wagon stopped outside the gates and one of the fakes waved upward, after a moment the gate wound upward and they were admitted entry. Within, Bolt got to see the room beside the gate and he was able to confirm his idea that it was a barracks, and inside appeared to be filled with replicas of lamias coils as beds with several soldiers wrapped up for the night, weapons and armour strapped to the walls around them. On either side of the gate were a pair of doors into the wall itself and Bolt noticed a guard who had a sort of cape draped over him that looked like a thick yet short coil. Bolt surmised it was likely the Captain.

Back towards the building, it was oddly simple compared to the other former complicated mansions leading up. A three-story building in a C shape, on the left was a wide and open glass room as tall as the house itself filled with trees and vibrantly coloured plants, gardeners tended within the greenhouse room. The building itself was an obsidian purple-black colour and roof, yet the colour in the torches lighting it up only made it glisten with beauty rather than threatening the group approaching it. Deceitfully welcoming, fitting for a lamia.

The door to the wagon was opened and Bolt was roughly pushed out by Polish. Bolt took a moment to stretch his wings outward and flap them once but only received a soft threatening hiss from the first fake, who began tending to the wagon so it could be packed away.

“I’ll leave you to escort him to Mistress Ruby.” The second fake said, a small lisp in his s’. He nodded to Polish and made his way to the barracks to find a sleeping troop.

“Follow me, and stay grounded if you don’t want to help the archers practise their aim.” Polish threatened.

Bolt did as he was ordered, following Polish up to the door where he was greeted by a pair of guards, the first guard opened the door for them as they approached. Bolt noted that although it was outwardly wood it had a thick line of steel within to reinforce it, with the door open Polish and Bolt were nodded inside. Within the house the entryway was almost pitch black, save for the moonlight pouring in through the windows. Several candles glowed in sockets along the wall and Bolt nearly jumped as a shadow approached, having risen from the floormat having been sat motionless there for a while.

A mare stepped into the candlelight, a maid’s outfit loosely fitted to her body as her hair was strew about, she smiled dimly as if there were as many lights on in her head as there were in the house. Her eyes were glazed and unfocused, peering through Bolt and Polish rather than at them.

“Mistress Ruby has summoned you Polish on your return, you must go immediately regardless of the time.” The mare shivered and bit her lip blissfully as if she’d just been electrocuted and enjoyed it, Bolt didn’t know but Polish did, she’d just fulfilled a command and received her reward.

“Thank you Nedra, was there anything else?” Polish asked and Nedra sighed sadly, upset she wouldn’t get another wave of bliss.

“No,” she cooed in a low chime “I will return to bed, I am not allowed to join Goddess Ruby tonight.” Nedra said sadly.

Goddess, Ruby’s hypnotic alias, it made her slaves seem even lower. Polish had to maintain a stoic expression, no doubt his distaste for the title would be grassed up by his former friend to Ruby, and he had enough trouble as the moment.

Bolt watched the mare turn and stumble over her steps as she trotted up the stairs as if she was hammered, sighing softly every so often, an odd eerie light flashing up the hallway ahead each time she did.

“Follow me.” Polish said leading the way Nedra was going.

The pair headed up a spiral slope to the second floor and Nedra stumbled down a side corridor, which was full of doors that were spaced rather close together in a tight row of at least fifty “Bedrooms for the staff, there is a room specifically for the head chef which you will be admitted to. It has been emptied of the previous owner’s belongings.” Polish said as they went up another spiralling slope, Nedra flinging herself into her own room.

At the top of the stairs was a door, it was a plain bright white door with red fittings and a red handle on it, yet Polish stared at it like it was venomous “Just… Stay quiet.” Polish said softly, it almost sounded like he was pleading.

Polish knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open, the room was almost entirely plunged in darkness, save for the faintly glowing embers of a nearby fire that had died out a while ago. The room consisted of a huge bed as the centre piece, easily large enough to fit several king size beds upon it, alongside the left sidewall was a walk-in wardrobe, or slither in for lamias, the fireplace was to the right side of the room and beside the bed was an oddly cute little dresser with a book sat upon it and a lamp, switched off naturally. On the bed itself was a strewn mess of a giant cover that rose and fell in various places as it tried to contain its occupant, shifting, sliding, rolling and gripping. Along the top near the headboard was a long line of pillows and a shadow lay upon them.

Polish cleared his throat quietly “Mistress Ruby?” The shadow shifted, the bed rustling as a few coils moved under the covers. Bolt felt a trickle of fear as, for a moment, there was a flash of purple within the darkness from the shadow itself.

“Ah Polish, is this the first candidate?” Ruby asked.

“Um… Y-yes…” Polish said nervously as he bowed once Ruby spoke.

Bolt didn’t even see the coils move, one moment Polish was bowing the next a collar had looped around his neck “You seem nervous Polish… What happened?” Bolt heard Polish gulp at Ruby’s question.

“T-th-this is the o-only candidate.” Polish stuttered and gulped as the coil shifted under him tightly.

“Why were you unable to find more than one?” Ruby asked.

“I-I’m sorry Mistress! They’ve all been hired by other lamias or have dropped their trade, it wouldn’t have been productive of the time you allowed me to search homes at random!” Polish said pleading.

Ruby gave a quiet ‘tsk’ in displeasure “Ssssorry huh?” She hissed to the black stallion “You had a week, a full week… Yet you only ussssed a ssssingle day ssssearching and ended it the ssssecond you found the firsssst chef around, what wassss he doing?” Ruby asked.

“Running a wagon restaurant,” Polish mumbled hardly able to get the words out now from how tight his coily collar had become around his windpipe.

“A wagon… Restaurant…?” Ruby asked in an emotionless tone “You brought to me a pony who works out of his own house to be my head chef… Is that correct, Polish?” Bolt, at the back of his mind, felt a mild bit of offence from the lamias words but fear kept it subdued. That and lockjaw.

Polish quivered on the spot, trembling with fear as he stared into the shadowy purple eyes “Polish?” Ruby asked dangerously and Bolt heard the coil grind against itself as it tighten to breaking point and Polish, unable to speak, simply nodded.

For a full minute, the room remained silent before Ruby broke the silence with a cold voice “How did you test him?” Ruby asked.

“T-test him…? Y-you only ordered me to find a chef Mistress, that’s what I did.” Polish realised as the words left his mouth he’d said the wrong thing.

“I did tell you to find me a chef, and I had thought from how long you had been here you would know how to find competent staff!” Polish suddenly rose his hooves to the coil as it began to rise up of the ground.

“Mistress! Mistress please wait!” Polish begged now flailing about, Bolt stood stock still horror struck as he watched.

“And yet all you do is find the first roadside cooker you can and head home, did you even try his food to see if it was good?” Ruby asked, her voice rising as she lifted Polish with her coil collar, that was quickly turning into a noose.

Polish stood on the tips of his back hooves holding onto the coil, gulping as he tried to breath “N-no Mistress.” Why was his mind now focusing on how squishy the coils felt pressed up to his cheeks? He needed to focus, or was his mind wandering like this due to oxygen deprivation “B-but he was very popular… H-had a full yard full of tables with ponies eating they must enjoy it if that many would attend.” Polish moaned.

“So, you judged his skill not upon your own testing but upon what you saw?”

“Wait, I… No but I well… Yes, but I didn’t want to have you waiting-ULP!” Polish gulped as his hooves left the ground waving back and forth, the coil was too broad and wide to choke him like a rope, but it did tighten his windpipe considerably more than before.

Polish looked down with fearful eyes as Ruby lifted him up onto the bed, a mass of coils curling up in a corkscrew fashion snagged him down from the coil like an apple from a tree. He was carried over and set down beside Ruby.

“Mistress?” Polished asked in a tiny voice looking up.

“You failed me Polish, you failed your Mistress.” Polish shook his head as the coils made him sit up.

Bolt began to back up towards the door slowly as he watched glued to the scene “No, Mistress please wait you haven’t tried his food yet what if you like it?” Polish begged.

“It’s not a matter of whether his food is good or not… It’s the fact you failed at this task so miserably! You actually went out searching for a chef yet didn’t send out any form of advertisement… There are plenty who can cook who would flock to Canterlot for this job, yet you neglected them in your short sightedness.” Ruby scolded softly, her tone so much more eerie as she leaned close to Polish.

It was true, Polish had simply assumed he would have to go looking on such short notice but Ruby had given him more than a week… He was about to pay the price for his error “M-Mistress please no!” Polish begged weakly as his face began to take on a light blue tinge.

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that Polish, this is your fifth failure… You can be forgiven for the first one when you began. Those after may be minor but they build up quickly for me… And this one… well… we won’t call it a nail in the coffin… Let’s call it, the final seasoning, shall we?”

Polish opened his mouth to scream but Ruby was faster than him. Ruby’s jaw gave a quiet click and unhinged which allowed her to quickly stuff his head into her mouth and gulp down forcing Polish into her throat. Polish quit trying to be professionally or apologetic and thrashed about, trying to roll out of his former Mistress’ grip and mouth. He knew how she fed if he could…

But Polish never really knew how strong Ruby was until her coils pressed in, bordering on breaking his bones he moved into a position where the coils relaxed to tempt him to sit there… It was an easy position to gulp him down from for Ruby. The second he realised that he was flung up into the air and gravity betrayed him for the snake, Ruby taking a moment to recover his uniform for her next personal butler. From the door, Bolt watched with pure horror the form of Polish slowly slipping down Ruby’s throat as she moaned happily. Ruby’s throat had bulged out with the muffled crying head of Polish and he was only going down, and the more of him that slipped into Ruby the faster he slid down, his body coated in saliva to make him slip, also helping to get him down faster. Bolt watched Polish be swallowed up to his waist, his head almost disappearing into Ruby’s tail, more a formless bulge now as Ruby began gulping his flailing hooves and at last Bolt’s body responded and he turned towards the door trying to open it. Unfortunately, it refused to budge; the handle went down but it didn’t open. Bolt tried to force it as Ruby reached the end of Polish’s hooves, even throwing himself into it but that only made his side hurt from the reinforced wood.

Turning back to the horror in the room Bolt swished his head around for a place to escape. Ruby gave a loud gulp and Bolt looked over, his body unable to resist the sick curiosity he felt. Bolt could see the bulge of Polish stretching the coils out slightly, he slowly swirled down and down the coils, moaning, no doubt pleading from within his prison now that escape was hopeless. Bolt looked around, once Polish stopped moving the lamia would be on him next. Ruby turned her gaze up to the pegasus who was snapping his eyes around for an escape, his panic was cute. Ruby gulped, working Polish down a little faster.

“Five,” Ruby chimed loud enough for Bolt to hear and he knew what she meant. Five seconds and at that realization Bolt could move again.

“Four,” Bolt looked around the room more frantically, the wardrobe wouldn’t hold her coils back, the bed was strewn with her, the fireplace was too narrow for him to fly up and Bolt had never climbed before and the door was locked and the walls solid stone.

“Three,” Ruby smiled, watching the pegasus, who began to kick the door to see if it would give way.

“Two,” Ruby chimed in a song like voice. Bolt looked around the room then finally sat down at the door.

“One,” Ruby said as Bolt just stared at the floor looking dejected. Odd, sometimes ponies broke into tears, begging and pleading or huddling away yet Ruby hadn’t seen one look like this so… Broken.

Ruby tiled her head at the stallion “Zero.” She said and Bolt looked up watching her as a coil rose from the bed and sailed through the air peacefully towards him.

He didn’t scatter for cover, instead Bolt stared at the coil, he was done. The lamia was physically stronger than him by far and even if, by some insane miracle, he did overpower her, Bolt had figured out the door was on a magical lock and needed the lamia’s touch to open it. Finally, if Bolt did not only overpower Ruby, but get her to open the door Bolt then had to escape through a courtyard with a small militia guarding it, not to mention the hypnotised staff. It was a hopeless unwinnable situation, best to just let the lamia do what she will. Maybe she’d make it swifter then.

Ruby shared a glance with Bolt before he looked back down, unable to watch his doom approach without cracking under the strain of his screaming mind. Bolt gave a soft gasp as the coil touched his head and looked up with fearful eyes as the coil curled down the side of his face and around his body, clamping his wings down. With him bound to her tail Ruby gave a tug, Bolt shifted and a second tug got him up and moving, albeit slowly. Bolt’s gaze had found Polish who had similarly fallen silent, though that was more to do with the fact that he had been moved to Ruby’s second stomach, her digestive stomach, and the gasses had let him drift to sleep than by him accepting his situation.

Bolt was pulled onto the mass of cold coils which greeted him in earnest, rolling him over onto his back and carrying him over to Ruby’s lap. Bolt was able to see her properly now, she was white… Like fallen clean snow and had a red mane that fell down around her head gracefully like fire, her purple eyes had a snake slit and glittered mischievously. She almost seemed friendly. Almost. It was easy to see how a normal oblivious pony could fall for a lamia normally from Bolt’s current position.

“I am sorry you had to witness that, I don’t take well to my staff underperforming when employed to me, and Polish was declining in his ability to serve me anyway, hopefully his replacement will be better… Like you are replacing my former chef,” Ruby pushed the coil containing Polish but a bit further down and Bolt felt another bulge of a pony, though… softer “This was Lilac, my old head chef… She failed and now you are her replacement… No, you aren’t going to be eaten… Well unless you want to.” Ruby cooed with a soft chuckle “What is your name?”

“B-Boltblood Thundercloud.” Bolt said quietly “But Bolt is fine.”

Ruby cooed “And what do you do?” She asked as her coils lay Bolt out spread eagle, he wasn’t coiled over saved for his belly which shifted down allowing Ruby to grab his wings and stretch them out.

For a moment, Bolt feared he would lose he wings as a coil approached each one. But instead Ruby just draped them over the feathers rubbing back and forth slowly, enjoying the soft feathers.

“I well… I’m a chef like Polish said… I make a variety of meals for customers but generally I make sweet treats and coffees since most ponies eat at home where I work…” Bolt said.

“How many can you cater for?” Ruby asked running a hoof along his wing as she listened. Ruby never had a Pegasus before, and he was so tall compared to normal stallions, so much more to coil!

“On my own? Um, about fifty ponies.” Bolt said.

“And lamias?” Ruby asked looking sideways at him.

Bolt kept his gaze on Ruby, afraid if he looked down he’d been greeted with a sea of coil bulges “I think five ponies would work for one lamia so… Ten.” Bolt admitted.

“There will be more than that at the dinner I’m hosting this week, twenty-five to be exact and you will be leading it as head chef.” Ruby said.

“Will I have help?” Bolt asked and Ruby nodded.

“Yes, my friend Sunny can provide as many extra hooves as you need. Normally I only need one chef as the guards and staff have their own cooks though they are very limited in what they can make, hence why I hire a professional cook like yourself.” Ruby said “Now… Let’s make a deal.” Ruby cooed.

“A deal?” Bolt asked.

“Mhmmm,” Ruby smiled bearing a set of fangs on the top and bottom of her teeth “Tomorrow morning I will head down and you will provide breakfast for me… cook whatever you wish, for it will be your test to show your capabilities. We have a fully stocked kitchen and pantry and the two porters Lilac had will have kept it clean for you to use tomorrow. If I like your food you will provide catering for the dinner… If I don’t,” Ruby pressed a coil as thick as Bolt up to his face, the strong muscles and fat melding to his head “This will be your new home. Understand?” Bolt nodded into the squishy coils “Good and once the dinner is over you can leave.” Ruby promised “Deal?” Bolt nodded again and Ruby smiled “Glad to hear it, now it’s late and I have a pony to digest… Nedra!” Ruby called out softly.

Bolt didn’t think there was any way a pony could hear Ruby’s voice from her chambers, but sure enough in just thirty seconds Bolt heard a desperate running of hooves and the door opened to the smiling Nedra “Yes Mistress?” She asked, quivering at being summoned and arriving in what she hoped was a timely fashion.

“Take Bolt here to his room and in the morning take him to the kitchen, he is going to make me breakfast.” Nedra nodded and beckoned quickly for Bolt to follow.

“Where is Polish?” Nedra asked.

“He failed me, we’ll need to get a replacement. Look into it please Nedra.” Ruby ordered sleepily.

“Oh, poor Polish he never got a chance to be hypnotised.” Nedra said sadly.

“A shame, he had many opportunities to try it… But I guess he’ll just have to go with an unfulfilled life sadly.” Ruby said with a grin.

“Yes… Unfulfilled…” Nedra cooed as Bolt was released from the coils pinning him. As he walked out he realised his wings were still stretched out; Bolt’s body still seemed to want the coils and he had to close them with his hooves, blushing a light pink around his ears.

Ruby smiled at the sight, he was a cutie.

Nedra led Bolt back down to the second floor, turning towards the bedrooms she led the way towards one of the far-right doors, upon the door was an empty slot for a name under the title slot ‘head chef’. Nedra paused heading for the very far end room on the right which was slightly larger judging from the space and was set as ‘head butler’. She removed the name plate Shoe Polish from the door and ran her hoof over it, the name fading away by magic and she set it back in place for when the position was taken. Nedra then took the plate to Bolt’s room down and used an oddly carved inkless pen to write his name down, setting it over the door.

“There’s a bed, you are allowed to furnish your room as you see fit, enjoy.” Nedra said giving him a key with a smile heading towards her own room further down on the left.

Bolt opened the door to his room, it was simple, painted white with a blue carpet, the room was like a slightly wider broom closest that went to the far end of the room, very little would likely fit inside here beside personal possessions and minor comforts. At the far end, at the back of the room, was a single window for light and under it was a ‘bed’. It was one of those replicas of a lamias coils, the inside was made up of puffy soft memory foam and the outside smooth scales, there was also a tiny desk with no visible chair cramped into the side beside the doorway. It was large enough to serve as a double bed and with no alternatives beside the cold floor, Bolt was forced to close the door (and lock it just in case) and head over to the single piece of furniture within his new home.

Bolt gave the bed a test, it was pretty much piled up on the floor and wouldn’t break and fall down since it didn’t need supports like a normal bed, and it was padded enough by so many ‘coils’ he couldn’t feel the floor. Bolt climbed up curling the coils around so he lay upon the soft belly scales that were lined with the memory foam, pulling them over himself to keep warm and using a fat coil as a pillow.

At least it was comfy.

Author's Note

Welp, that's certainly an unorthodox way to hire a chef isn't it?

Mental trials

Bolt watched a dark shadow approach, a glint of white teeth below a pair of purple eyes approaching him with a wide smile. Bolt tried to back away from Ruby but he was already coiled up, her tail piled around his body in a mess of thick coils, pressing in yet oddly soft and squishy and not at all scaly like he remembered, but no less threatening. As Ruby approached she opened her mouth wide, a red dripping maw waiting to greet him and he could hear the soft moans of Polish deep within.

Bolt was awoken by the sound of a pan being smacked against by something wooden and he sat up straight, panting heavily as the false coils around him fell down as his bed became askew under him, his hooves sinking into the belly foam. Bolt jumped out and stumbled away from the mess of coils gathering his wits as faint light poked through his window. When Bolt’s breathing had settled, he turned to the door and opened it stepping out to find the hallway full of ponies, all in various states of sleepiness. Nedra, whom had awoken the staff in place of Polish, put down the wok and wooden spoon she’d used and led the way to the bathrooms, getting in first as the others were all too tired to compete, the other four filling up just as fast.

Bolt headed towards the line, only just faster than two other ponies, whom he glanced back at. One just stared ahead at the doors waiting sleepily, rubbing his eyes, while the other one smiled dimly, her eyes looked funny to Bolt, like Nedra’s, unfocused and glazed and she appeared to be enjoying her thoughts, or rather lack of them, as her body remained closed together as if she was being compressed. Bolt looked forward seeing similar ponies like the two behind him, glazed eyes and smiles or a weary stare. Bolt saw a couple ponies glance back at him, their eyes more focused and they gave a polite nod to him. Bolt also noticed the staff all had their uniforms ready and the fact that he hadn’t received one marked him as new rather clearly.

Looking towards the doors Bolt noticed an empty unoccupied one “Why isn’t anyone using that one?” Bolt asked turning to look at the sleepy stallion behind him.

He suddenly snapped awake “That’s Mistress Ruby’s bathroom! Nopony uses that without her permission!” He said sharply and Bolt noticed a few heads turn towards him.

“I didn’t know…” Bolt grumbled.

The line moved forward steadily, a pony leaving the bathroom with their uniform on, fur clean and their mane no longer a tangled mess. Some of the staff also looked more vitalised, however others appeared to only grow in their glazed stares as if they were falling deeper. Bolt didn’t ask why that was, he didn’t want to get another stare from the other staff. Finally, as the line began to end, Bolt got a free bathroom and skipped inside quickly. It was simple, a shower, sink and a toilet. The shower also featured two gels, one labelled and one simply marked ‘pets’ in swirly writing. Bolt skipped it having a distinct impression it was what made the other staff… unfocused.

Once Bolt had sorted himself out for the day, he finished by drying his hair and tail, which then proceeded to return to its natural messy fashion no matter how hard he tried to fight it into place. Giving up, Bolt left the bathroom and followed the other staff to the opposite doorway. It looked like a sort of staff room, living room and dining room mixed together. A wide table was set out with various food along the middle of the room. Bolt sat down and glanced over the food. Simple salads, hay fries and less common pony food; meat. Bolt guessed the staff had to eat what was available and whilst it hadn’t been illegal before the lamias arrival meat had sort of been taboo for most. Now it was culturally acceptable and the ponies happily grabbed whatever suited them. Bolt had never been bothered by meat before; as a chef, Bolt sometimes made it for griffons, so it didn’t bother him in the slightest.

As Bolt ate he glanced around the room, there was a TV surrounded by several wide sofas, with a pile of fake coils similar to the bed set to the side for those who liked to be bound up. Behind the sofas were a set of recliners arranged in a circle with large goggles on a table in the middle of them, Bolt could only guess what they were for. On the other side of the room were more TV’s and seats and even some computers and consoles. If not for the threat of becoming breakfast it wouldn’t be a bad place to work!

Once the staff had mostly finished, Nedra stood up and began to speak to the staff assembled around her “Mistress Ruby has temporarily given me the position of head butler until a replacement arrives. Polish did a poor job attempting to find a chef and Mistress could not overlook this, his biggest mistake.” A few of the staff look worried and mildly upset at the loss of Polish, but no doubt it had happened before, the rest of the staff, which made up the majority, looked satisfied, as if failing Ruby was a major crime deserving of more punishment than being eaten “However, Polish did manage to find a new chef, Bolt, whom will be taking over the role of head chef. Silver, Sparkling,” Two mares shifted in their seats, having been listening to Nedra with unwavering attention “He is to be your new staff Master.” The pair nodded and smiled mindlessly in response.

“Mistress Ruby is also planning to host a dinner at the end of this week on Sunday! That’s just six days away now, hence the demand for a new chef… Now we don’t want the rest of the Canterlot lamias to think we are subpar in our skills so I want this place doubled over in its efforts this week, Ruby will be the judge of us all so don’t you fail us!” Nedra said and received eager or fearful nods “Now you all know your usual jobs, Silver, Sparkling and Bolt stay here the rest of you get started!” Nedra ordered and they all sprinted for the door to get started on the day ahead.

Silver, Sparkling and Nedra walked over to the edge of the table and Bolt followed after them. Silver was like her name sake, silver with only a darker silver coloured mane that was just barely visible, her eyes were a cool grey and her cutie mark was a row of cutlery. Sparkling was bright blue with a yellow mane and green eyes, her cutie mark was a washing up sponge with sparkling dots around it for cleanliness.

“Bolt this is Silver and Sparkling, the two staff porters, they will help you familiarise yourself with the kitchen once I have you in your uniform. You are their staff Master, they will obey your every command as if it were one of Mistress Ruby’s, however her rule outranks your own so remember that. You will also be able to forward to the head butler, when he arrives, a request for new staff in the future, but for now Mistress Ruby had informed me that you may ask for as much staff as you like from her if you pass her test this morning.” Bolt nodded in understand of Nedra’s explanation “Good, now follow me and we will get you a fitting uniform!” Nedra said leading the way as Silver and Sparkling headed for the kitchen.

Bolt was taken downstairs, along the corridor he had first arrived in and into a back room. Within were rows upon rows of uniforms for the staff, one of which Bolt could tell had recently been worn.

“Hold still for a moment please.” Nedra ordered pulling out a tape.

Bolt did as he was asked watching Nedra as she wrapped the tape around various parts of his body before walking over to the line of clothing “Here we are, this should fit.” Nedra said presenting Bolt with a uniform, the exact same design as her own, save for the fact it was designed for stallions.

“I can put it on thank you.” Bolt said trying to take it from Nedra.

“I am sorry Bolt, but Mistress Ruby gave me specific orders to make sure the suit not only fitted you, but that you wore it at all times! She will inspect you herself, she has never shown such interest in an employee before! Please show your respect and gratitude when you see her, we are all so envious.” Nedra said with a pout, how come the new stallion got all the luck?

How come indeed? Bolt tried to raise an objection but Nedra silenced him, showing him how to put the suit on and fasten it, as if Bolt had never worn a waist coat before “It’s… Comfortable.” Bolt admitted.

“Indeed, it is based upon the texture of Mistress Ruby’s coils themselves… So soft, squishy and strong… all slaves desire is to be held by them.” Nedra said gaining a thousand-mile stare.

“If you say so.” Bolt mumbled.

Nedra shook her head gaining some form of clarity “Now you are suited up, please make your way to the kitchen, Ruby will soon come down for her meal!” Nedra ordered shooing Bolt towards a side door to the kitchen.

Bolt was ushered into the kitchen, Nedra closing the door and leaving to tend to her own tasks for the day whilst Bolt was greeted by Silver and Sparkling whom had been waiting patiently in the clean kitchen.

“Welcome Master, we are at your command.” They chimed together “What are your orders?” This seemed more extreme to Bolt than he expected… It was like they were semi-mindless robots and he had been hoofed the controller with no instructions.

“Um… Right…” Bolt looked around uncertainly, the kitchen was large, with a row of ten cookers each with an oven, in a five by two row, making up the core of the kitchen, there was a large walk in fridge, freezer and dry store side by side and rows of counters, shelves with bowls, utensils and more made up the other side of the room. Towards the far back were a pair of large sinks for Silver and Sparkling to work from as well as a glass wash and pot wash beside them. It was certainly a more industrial set-up than Bolt had previously worked with at his wagon, his whole kitchen would fit snugly just in the fridge!

“Alright, breakfast. What is Ruby’s preferred meals?” Bolt asked deciding it would be best to make that first.

“Mistress Ruby doesn’t have any particular favourites, and if she does she keeps them secret so the chefs cannot use them as a clutch if they underperform!” Silver explained with a smile.

Well there went that idea “Okay…” Bolt gulped drawing on an easy idea “Get me… A carton of sausages, eggs, bacon some salad ingredients and also baking powder, cake butter, self-raising flour, caster sugar, syrup, a few more eggs, some milk and custard powder!” Bolt ordered, speaking the words as his mind worked on how to get it done for Ruby quickly calming his nerves as he slipped into what he was good at.

Silver and Sparkling raced off quickly to complete the order as Bolt retrieved a selection of knives, boards, pots and pans and some select herbs. Choosing the hobs closest to the door, Bolt set the gas fire going and the pair of porters returned setting down the requested items on a counter behind him before heading for more.

Bolt set out several chopping boards of various hygienic colours, oil gulping out of bottles and filling the room with the sound of fat sizzling in a pan, and the thud of a knife landing on a board repeatedly. Silver and Sparkling, waiting breathlessly beside Bolt as he worked, galloped at even the most meagre of orders and requests Bolt asked; working tirelessly to appease their newest master and bask in the glow of obeying orders. Bolt had Silver watch the bacon and sausages cook and to let him know when they were done, a nice toasty brown colour he specified, and she seemed to be scowling at them as if her gaze could make them hurry up to appease her Master faster. When they were done she hopped up and down excitedly chiming the fact and nearly fell over as she wobbled from the euphoria flooding her body.

Due to Silver and Sparkling’s eagerness to obey, the meal took a little longer than normal for bolt to be ready; a large plate with a circle of eggs and a wall of sausages covered from bacon that Bolt had propped up with roasted tomatoes to make a cute lean-to tent. Bolt had also added a side dish of salad to go with the main. The desert was syrup sponge which bubbled away in a large pot as Bolt had made the pudding five times larger than his normal ones, as it seemed fitting for Ruby given her size.

“Is Ruby waiting in the dining room?” Bolt asked and Sparkling shook her head “Could you go get her?”

“Of course, Master.” Sparkling said leaving her companion to finish the washing up as Bolt set silver covers over the food to keep it warm, then lifted it up on a wide tray and laid it out along his back.

Bolt made his way out into Ruby’s personal dining room, which was a long massive oak table with cushions set before pre-made up place mats. At the far end was a more pronounced setting for Ruby herself, more cushions had been set out and a maid was busy warming them with both her body and hot water bottles. The room was decorated with forest like walling and a sunny sky poking through dense canopy, the windows were stained glass with patterns of weaving coloured snakes over them, watching those within like guardians, though the room had a pair of guard patrols within for Ruby’s safety, as if she was unable to protect herself. Bolt walked over to the setting and organised Ruby’s food for her, turning to go back to the kitchen but a voice stopped him.

“Don’t you want to stay so I can give you my opinion straight away?” Ruby called and Bolt looked back as she slid towards her place, stopping before him.

It was a lot easier to see her in the daylight and the way the morning light sparkled over her coils made Ruby’s movements seem more elegant and captivating. Bolt watched mystified as Ruby’s tail glided like a sea of white, he looked up at Sparkling who was weaving left and right, almost falling each time, as she followed the coils before her dreamily. Ruby stopped before Bolt and cupped his chin with a cold hoof.

“Are you confident in your abilities and that I will enjoy your food?” Ruby asked and Bolt gave a small nod as those pools of purple bore into his head like moles in the ground “We shall see, won’t we.” Ruby said taking a seat.

Ruby took the cover off the first plate of food and smiled “Cute.” She said lifting a fork up with her magic and pointing it at the lean-to. Ruby stabbed her fork into the sausage, cut it up with the knife and got some bacon on with it too. Ruby gulped it down without chewing and paused licking her lips. Bolt felt a breath he hadn’t noticed he’d been holding finally be released out as Ruby kept eating her meal.

Without a word, Ruby pushed her plate away and pulled the dessert Bolt had prepared close. Ruby gave a soft ‘Oooo’ as the golden coloured pudding was coated in a thick layer of syrup and the yellow custard steamed beside it. Ruby took a spoon broke a piece off and scooped up some syrup and custard. Bolt heard Ruby let out a long sigh as she gulped the pudding down and noticed her eating became more rushed, though she was now also chewing, trying to get the flavour in her mouth.

Ruby leaned back against a propped-up coil with a content smile when she had finished and Silver took her plates away afterwards “Well,” Ruby looked sideways at Bolt with a smile as she licked her lips “That was delicious. Seems you will have the privilege of cooking for my dinner party.” Ruby cooed.

“Joy.” Bolt muttered and Ruby chuckled.

“Hold the enthusiasm back a notch.” She teased as she curled a coil towards Bolt who flinched but Ruby didn’t stop despite his obvious discomfort, and her smile only grew as Bolt backed up “Oh you’re going to have fun at the dinner… Rows upon rows of lamias all so very grabby for a server… And who doesn’t love a stallion whose heart is fluttering in fear? It’s so… Predatory!” Ruby hissed leaning towards Bolt from her cushions.

Ruby giggled at Bolt’s face “Now then… I guess it’s time to tell you what the plan is. The dinner is going to consist of three courses that you can decide, of course you will also have to provide some prey.”

“Prey?” Bolt asked.

Ruby nodded “Yes, prey… See some of us like to eat ponies now and then and we have specific ponies for the job, ones who have done crimes or failed us… Or some who ‘volunteer’ for it. You will prepare some side dishes and sauce with them, don’t worry the lamias will send you the main ‘ingredient’ for the dish.” Ruby said “Perhaps you should give it a try on one of my own prey?” Ruby suggested.

“I-I dunno… I’ve never done anything like this before.” Bolt stuttered, too shocked by the idea of ponies being eaten to feel disgust at the idea yet.

“Of course, I understand, one step at a time I forget you’ve probably never seen or at least spoken to a lamia before up close so let’s get you up to speed on what we can do.” Ruby looked over at Sparkling “Go find me some prey.” Ruby ordered and Sparkling nodded trotting briskly away and out the main double doors.

Ruby stood up and slid over to Bolt who kept backing up, Bolt began to move to the side but Ruby sent a pile of thick coils around Bolt like a pen backing him up until he tapped against the wall. Ruby flicked a coil under Bolt’s front hooves and he stood up on his hind legs in time for Ruby to pin him up with her hooves. Bolt watched the thick muscular tubes wrapped around the base of his body, feeling the sheer power through the thick armour flex up against him. Bolt looked down at the coils, which were as thick as his head, and watched in awe as the coils curled around his body squishing up against him. He could feel them rise and fall as Ruby breathed softly, the texture of scales rippling over his fur, it didn’t feel too bad if the situation wasn’t so terrifying.

With Bolt now caught Ruby gave a sharp yank as she turned around and Bolt stumbled forward after Ruby “Lamias arrived in your broken land not too long ago, and we brought peace and prosperity to it. Unifying all of the races across the lands… Guiding the ponies through the dark where they could not see with our eyes… Our hypnosis.” Ruby said with a smile as she returned to her seat at the table. Bolt didn’t really understand why Ruby had told him this, was it important for what was to come?

The doors opened and Sparkling returned with another unicorn mare following beside her, who smiled at the sight of Ruby and sprinted towards her, eagerly accepting the coils that scooped her into the air and twisted her around and around like a fly in a spider’s silky web. Ruby set the bound pony down on her lap.

“Watch my eyes little morsel.” Ruby cooed.

“Yes Mistress.” The pony whispered and Bolt watched. He could just see the side of Ruby’s eyes and watched the deep purple and black begin to narrow into tiny pinpricks of black. The mare under Ruby tensed in anticipation and Bolt felt his eyes drawn to the pinprick, his own mind holding its breath in equal parts fear and curiosity.

However, the dot soon broke, breaking outward into a ring of red which consumed the forming whiteness of Ruby’s eye, then another ring followed and chased the red colour away and another ring and another. Bolt watched the rings feeling a rising numbness in the back of his mind. Bolt didn’t notice his body was leaning forward slightly as if drawn to the rings. Bolt was confused, why was this so captivating? His mind felt a little fuzzy and slow… Dizzy as if he was on several shots of some spirits or something, yet there was also a sharp clarity there too.

Bolt wrenched on his mind and closed his eyes looking down, slowly he opened his eyes and looked at the mare. She had been inducted into trance previously and broken down so she was nameless and thoughtless in or out of trance. She was prey, food for Mistress waiting to be eaten and her mind was quickly drawn into trance, spiralling, pulsing rings racing through her eyes at a faster pace than Ruby’s. Colours of the spectrum that no artist could even dream of competing with raced for dominance in her eyes and a wide smile crossed her mouth. Part of Bolt’s mind drew his attention to how happy she looked, no fear or worry etching her face, no depression or drowsiness ruining her eyes… Just rings of colours and bliss.

Again, Bolt wretched his gaze away “Oh you missed most of it.” Ruby scolded as Bolt opened his eyes, Ruby’s eyes once again purple slits “Look how happy and carefree she is, not a concern in the world, does it feel nice?” Ruby said in a soft whisper as she squeezed her meal-to-be.

“Yes Mistress.” She cooed in monotone.

“Are you ready to join me, forever?” Ruby asked.

“It would be bliss to do so Mistress.” Prey said as she was lifted up and her cocoon opened slightly.

“Then crawl into your new home.” Ruby ordered opening her jaw.

The mare’s smile grew as she reached out with her hooves and wriggled forward sticking her hooves down inside Ruby’s wet, soft, throat first and trying to drag herself inside. Ruby turned the cocoon upward and the mare slid in head first, moaning in pure ecstasy.

“It feels so good Mistress!” She moaned just barely audible through Ruby’s mouth and neck and she wriggle the back half of her body like a fish, wriggling deeper and deeper, getting faster as her own body weighed her downward. The mare gave a sudden jerk and slid down as if Ruby’s throat was a slide, her moaning voice muffled through the layers of muscle over Ruby’s body. Bolt watched the moaning wriggling bulge roll down Ruby’s body, into her tail and head towards Polish.

“Mmmm, I can’t wait to try ponies you’ve ‘prepared’ Bolt.” Ruby cooed with a smile as she gulped the bulge into her stomach, letting her struggle in her first stomach for a while like a good morsel, tiring herself out for the move to the next stomach later on.

“W-well… Thank you for the demonstration but I… I had b-better go practise preparing… Ponies for you now. W-when do you want me to ask you for the extra staff?” Bolt stammered.

“Oh, don’t worry about them, just tell me how many you want and I will send a messenger to Sunny… But you I have a job for you now.” Ruby smiled “A little birdie told me you asked about my bathroom this morning, wanting to use it since the others were all occupied, well we can go do that now. You can help me bathe.” Ruby said as if this was a privilege, which to the others it was considered to be as such.

“O-oh no that’s fine Ruby but… I don’t think you want me bothering you I…”

Ruby drew a snake like grin with full teeth “Two mistakes.” Ruby cooed.

“What?” Bolt asked stunned by the show.

“Two mistakes,” Ruby let go of Bolt around his belly and snapped a coil around his neck pinning him down against the coils “One; you called me Ruby and forgot Mistress at the start!” Ruby said tightening her grip “Two; you refused me, you don’t do that Bolt. You obey me, always. Got it?” Ruby asked with a cold smile.

“You can’t do this!” Bolt wheezed trying to pry the coil off.

“What?” Ruby asked pausing in confusion “Did you just talk back?” Ruby asked tightening her hold even further now as Bolt began to tap his hoof against her tail.

“I… I’m just on for the dinner… Mistress is… Title for full staff…” Bolt said eyes rolling up as the muscle weighed down on him like stone.

Ruby stared at Bolt as he began to turn blue “Regardless of how long you stay my title is still Mistress whilst you are here, got it?” Bolt nodded in understanding “And you will do as I say?” Another nod “Good.” Ruby released her vice grip and Bolt crumbled gasping for air “Be thankful I like your cooking, I’ve ‘fired’ employees for less than what you did so watch it.” Ruby warned and when Bolt didn’t respond, because he was too busy gasping for air, she pressed on a bit more “Got it…?” Ruby rose an eyebrow threateningly.

“Yes… M-Mistress… Ruby…” Bolt said looking away from her holding his sore throat.

“Good, now follow me Bolt you’re going to join me for my morning bath.” Ruby said happily, holding out her tail tip like a helping hoof.

Bolt took hold of Ruby’s offered tail tip and it wrapped around the base of his leg and pulled him up and with that Ruby set off slithering towards the door, the sea of white flowing left and right. Bolt had the sense to look up as he followed Ruby and as she looked back she seemed amused, but remained silent as she led the way back upstairs.

Ruby led Bolt up to the second floor and along past the staff bathrooms, where Nedra stood waiting with a few other ponies “Ah, Mistress, your bath is ready was your breakfast to your liking?” Nedra asked.

“Indeed, Bolt has the fortunate fate of becoming our new head chef. Now that is settled I will need you to visit Sunny at the Castle,” Nedra gave a bow in response “Bolt, how many staff do you need?” Ruby suddenly asked “Tell Nedra and she will inform Sunny and the staff will arrive tomorrow for you.

Bolt looked around surprised and confused at the sudden order but recovered quickly “Oh um… Right. Will the butlers and maids act as the servers?” Ruby nodded “Okay, seven chefs, three more porters.” Bolt told Nedra.

“Ten staff. I will let Queen Sunny know and she will send them along.” Nedra said skipping away to relay the message.

“You’re not going to use all the ovens?” Ruby enquired, knowing of her own home well.

“There shouldn’t been any need for every oven to have a chef for the number who are eating, I’ll have enough time to prepare the food during the morning.” Bolt said, trying to sound like he was reassuring Ruby and not himself.

“Well I look forward to seeing you working with some enlightened.” Ruby cooed opening the bathroom door.

Bolt shrugged, enlightened or not, whatever that meant, so long as they followed his orders it would work out for him and he could leave this all behind!

Bolt stepped into the bathroom and gasped, the room was huge! No wonder the staff bathrooms were so small; this room was like an indoor pool! The wall led out from the staff showers like a small entryway and then broke sideways leading along behind all the other bathrooms and stopping beside the staircase. In the middle was a great deep pool with three pairs of taps around each side, hot steam rose from the water into the air and curled around, steaming up the room as it tried to work its way out the open windows.

Ruby slid up to the edge of the pool and let her tail slide in until it touched the bottom, as she slid in Ruby’s tail moved faster as the warm water heated her up and increased her metabolism. Ruby sighed as her tail floated or lay upon the base of the pool, weightless to her as she lay back floating her pony body just above the water. She looked at Bolt standing at the edge of the pool, staring at her unsure what to do. Looking around Bolt noticed a wardrobe fixed into the wall with massive towels and fancy soap.

“Strip,” Ruby said lazily and Bolt took a step back.

“What?” He asked taken aback.

“Strip, you don’t want a soggy uniform, do you?” Bolt shook his head and looked down at his uniform, undoing it and folding it up neatly and setting it on a long table fixed into the wall for clothing.

Bolt looked at Ruby and the mass of white hovering over the blue tiled bath. Bolt sat down by the edge of the pool and dipped his hooves in nervously “Why do you need me here? Not as a chef I mean… Here in the bathroom?” Bolt asked “Mistress.” He added, almost forgetting again.

Ruby chuckled softly “You’re… Amusing.” Bolt raised an eyebrow and Ruby rolled over sliding along the water making it ripple as her tail propelled her along with incredible grace and speed that her bulk shouldn’t have allowed. Ruby pulled her pony half out of the water and leaned up towards Bolt holding herself up with her hooves, fur dripping and hair stuck to her head. Bolt thought of a sea siren for a moment at the sight.

“How am I amusing you?” Bolt asked.

“Well… A few reasons, first you are afraid of me and nervous to be around my tail.” Ruby proved her point by holding a coil out towards Bolt, who leaned back as a result “Next, you resist me… My eyes, my beckoning control and my tight grip. Even Polish was susceptible to it and just let it play out, even on his first day when he had the will to do so he just let me dominate him… They all do, they see me and are afraid and let me do as I please… But you, you are afraid like them, yes… But you hold onto the idea that your mind can’t be touched or won’t be… You try to block me out, try to fight, to resist… You are afraid of me physically but brave mentally…” Ruby smiled leaning towards Bolt grinning “And I want to make you quiver at my touch, not from fear or worry… But blissssss.” Ruby hissed with a grin “I want you to ask me to dominate you… To wrap you up… Hypnotise you of your own free will. It will be… Fun.” Ruby said suddenly surging her hooves forward and dragging Bolt into the bath and under the water where the world fell silent from the rushing water.

Ruby’s hair flew out around her like a tornado of flames and she smiled at Bolt as she held him, air bubbles streaming upward as she watched Bolt before letting him go, Bolt quickly flipped around and broke the surface.

Bolt coughed up the water he had swallowed and felt something press up under him, he knew it was a coil as it breached the surface but he still clung on to stay afloat, Ruby popping up in front of him.

“Ooops,” She said in mock worry “Here let me support you.” She cooed curling the thick coil around Bolt as a buoy to keep him afloat.

Bolt looked below him and noticed a sea of writhing coils waiting to snap up and wrap him up like the coil around his body “Is there a shallow part of this bath?” Bolt asked and Ruby nodded, floating towards the other side until Bolt felt the tiles under his hooves and stood up on his own legs.

Well, he could feel the tiles for half a second before a layer of snake scales, muscle and fat slid under him. Bolt was swept off his hooves and fell down with a splash, his head still above the water but now he could feel strong rippling coils sliding under him. Bolt was about to get up when Ruby weighed him down with her pony body. Bolt looked up as Ruby rested her hooves on his head and her head atop them staring down at him happily from behind him.

“Comfy?” Ruby asked as her pony body and the start of her tail rested up against Bolt’s spine.

Bolt flushed “I suppose.” He muttered.

“Oh, you like this?” Ruby asked her smiled growing.

“I didn’t say I like it… Just that it’s comfy.” Bolt argued.

“How can you not like something that is comfy?” Ruby asked confused.

“It depends on the situation.” Ruby laughed at Bolt’s hollow reason.

“Sure, you don’t like my coils supporting you. The thick muscles and line of fat moulding to you so you sink comfortably, the water heating you and lapping up your body, my weight holding you down and pressing you into my scales which rub and tickle your back.” Bolt managed to hold back a shiver but Ruby wasn’t done, resting her mouth on Bolt’s left ear, which had the chunk torn out, Ruby whispered letting her tongue flick out “I bet last night you dreamt you were in my coils whilst you slept in that mock coil bed of yours… You know I let the staff have them since I don’t have time to coil them all… It drives them… Wild.” Ruby cooed “They know it’s fake and only sub-par to the real deal and you can tell, can’t you? The bed is soft, squishy and thick, yet it doesn’t have my muscles or integrity… Nothing holding you, the feeling of muscle within the softness blends comfort and tightness together in a wonderful symphony of blissful relaxation that supports you so sweetly.”

Bolt was unable to subdue the second shiver his body was rocked with and Bolt tried to reach up to cover his ears but Ruby casually rested her hooves on his and the jelly of his leg muscles caved to her hold “Stop.” Bolt pleaded.

“Why, I am doing no harm telling you what you are feeling… What you could feel, after all I’m not trying, you’re just sitting on my coils and they’re still and motionless. All you have to do to understand what I say is speak. Ask and I will grant your wish to be coiled.” Ruby cooed her devilish offer.

Bolt glanced down at the coils twisting in the water under him and gulped “I think you better start washing yourself.” Bolt managed.

Ruby blinked in surprise, he didn’t break… Impressive. Oh well, she’d let her words stew in his mind over night and try another approach tomorrow. Ruby let go of Bolt and dipped her head back under the water running her hooves through it quickly before surfacing and reaching for a shampoo bottle, then Ruby hesitated and smiled. Ruby reached over and grabbed a plain white bottle which Bolt noticed had some sort of violet leaf on it with scented swirls, like the ones from cliché hypno movies. Ruby smiled as she poured a generous amount onto her hair and began brushing it in. Giant pink bubbles began to form in her mane that turned the water a foggy pinkish purple as they fell from her head into the water. Bolt breathed in, the scent of the shampoo was smooth, like a refreshing cold drink on a hot day, yet at the same time it was hot like hot chocolate during winter. Perfection blended into an aroma.

Ruby dipped herself under the water and it flooded with the soapy colour as she surfaced not far from Bolt who glanced over, the scent of the shampoo now clinging to Ruby as she stood up over him and grabbed the bottle about to wash his hair with it. Bolt took another breath as the foam on the water floated over and touched Bolt’s leg, it made him tingle pleasantly with a sweet numbness and he had a sudden desire to scoop it up onto his body…

Bolt had climbed out the bath before Ruby had even finished taking the top off the shampoo “W-what is in that stuff?” Bolt asked shaking it off quickly and running it under the tap to wash the rest of it off his body quickly.

“It’s just an herb from our homeland, do you not like it?” Ruby asked with a smile.

“I’m not an idiot! I know what it’s doing… I’m staying out the bath now…” Bolt mumbled and Ruby looked a little upset.

“Guess bath time is over… Ah well. I’m getting out!” Ruby called and the servants from outside trotted in to help Ruby “Would you mind preparing a snack for me, Bolt?” Ruby asked.

“What?” Bolt asked bitterly and Ruby glanced over at him “Sorry… Yes, Mistress?” He asked taking a step back.

“Better… Tell Silver and Sparkling I want you to prepare for me a ‘mind melt cake’ they will provide you with the ingredients that you need!” Ruby ordered as the two servants basked in Ruby’s sensual aroma.

“I’ll get to it, Mistress.” Bolt said softly watching Ruby’s tail arch upward, the water dripping off making it sparkle in the light. Bolt left before he ended up gawking like the others.

Back in the kitchen Silver and Sparkling were dusting and doing a few routine clean-up jobs now that everything was done “Master, you’re back.” Silver said and Sparkling looked over eagerly “Do you have any orders?” Silver bounced on her hooves in anticipation, why did they like this so much?

“Yeah I do.” The pair quite literally jumped for joy at these words “Ruby wants a mind melt cake; can you get me some ingredients and instructions?” Bolt asked.

“Oh, the instructions aren’t needed you just mix it all in a bowl at once and cook it… We’ll get the ingredients!” Sparkling promised the pair racing off to collect them.

The pair soon return with a trolley containing a collection of items, standard things like flour, sugar and butter were laid out however the one thing that stood out was a purple label-less bottle that looked like a spirit bottle.

“Is it alcoholic?” Bolt asked taking the bottle, Sparkling and Silver standing close as Bolt took the bottle.

“No.” Silver said.

“What is this?” Bolt held the bottle up to the light, admiring its stunning violet colour…

“Dripleaf.” Sparkling said.

Bolt began to uncork the bottle as he said “I’ve never heard of that before.”

“It’s a lamia herb, they brought it with them when they became the new rulers.” Silver said as they leaned even closer.

It clicked in Bolt’s head what it was but by then it was too late as the cork popped out and the aroma of the bottle’s content hit him. Bolt stumbled back holding onto the bottle as the scent went straight up his nose into his head, a long moan escaping him. Bolt felt his hoof move as Silver took hold of the bottle leaning close as if to try and drink it.

Bolt tugged it back “T-th-this is Ruby’s…” Bolt managed to stammer out as he held the bottle close. These two were so obedient, the idea they would do something so disloyal surprised Bolt… Could the drink taste that good?

Before Bolt realised it, the bottle was halfway up to his mouth which was hanging open in eagerness to try some before Bolt caught himself and tried to pull back “Why don’t you drink it? It will make you feel so good and fuzzy… Mistress won’t mind, and besides you are a chef you have to make sure the products taste good.” A voice cooed in the side of Bolt’s mind.

“Can we try some too Mistress?” Silver asked and Bolt heard a slap behind him and looked back as Ruby lowered her hoof from her face.

Bolt gulped as Ruby smiled at him “Ignore them, go on try a bit.” Ruby cooed holding Bolt’s legs from around his back and pushing his hooves with the drink clutched in them upward.

“It… It’s unsanitary for me to drink from the bottle I plan to use.” Bolt tried to argue but Ruby simply took the bottle from him and used her telekinesis to hover a glass over and pour him a generous amount.

“Go on, it’s can’t hurt to try new things, right?” Ruby cooed managing to get the glass in Bolt’s hooves with ease.

“But the hypnosis… What you said before…” Bolt mumbled.

“I said I’d make you beg for my coils and gaze… This is fine, it’s just a taster you can have some and that’ll be it, sate your curiosity and let it leave you in peace… I’m not forcing you to go under my spell, just indulge Bolt… Just a bit…” Once again Ruby took hold of Bolt’s hooves and turned them up, but this time he was no longer able to fight back.

Bolt let the glass touch his lips and Ruby guided the liquid into Bolt’s mouth. Leading up to the purple drink running toward his mouth every part of Body’s nerves cried for him to spit it out instantly once it got near him, but once the drink touched his lips his resolved melted like ice in a furnace. Bolt let the drink slip into his mouth and felt a hoof hold his chin up and he was thankful for it, because otherwise his jaw would have fallen open because the muscles turned to jelly. Bolt gulped once and molten lava rolled down his throat and baked him from the inside, moaning all the way, another gulp and the whole drink was gone. The world span before Bolt’s vision as the appliances in the room morphed into a cacophony of various colours and Bolt slumped against the strong hooves of Mistress Ruby.

Ruby lowered the glass and smiled “Was it good?” Bolt managed a tiny nod as his mind bubbled and fizzed like soda, thoughts floating just out of reach like vapor “Hmmm, perhaps I gave you too much…” Ruby leaned into Bolt’s ear holding the bottle up to him temptingly “Or maybe not enough?”

Bolt gasped he didn’t want to drink more of that stuff but he could smell the same fragrance from the drink on Ruby, the many sources were blowing out every cell in his head as he tried to fight his body’s urges to drink more of this poison… This sweet, smooth, delicious poison.

“Stop… Please…” Bolt managed ashamed and humiliated by how whimpery and broken his voice sounded in his throat.

Ruby swayed the bottle under Bolt’s nose then cooed “Alright.” Ruby set the bottle down on the counter beside the other ingredients “Sorry girls you’ll have to try another time, unless you can convince Bolt to let you have some. He’s in charge of the kitchen after all!” Ruby cooed smiling and Silver and Sparkling hopped over hugging Bolt, nuzzling him and cooing.

“Can we have some Master~?” They sang in unison.

Bolt felt his face flush as he tried to push them off “It’s for Mistress Ruby, you don’t want to drink it all and upset her, do you?” The pair gasped and pulled off shaking their heads “Then make sure the place is tidy for now whilst I make her cake.” The pair nodded, a little upset, but they complied.

“Aw now that was a little mean.” Ruby teased leaning over to look at Bolt as he focused on the task at hand trying to shove the tingling sensation his mind was revelling in away “You could have given them a little bit.”

“They’d just ask for more and more then… B-Better to not encourage… Them…” Bolt said slowly.

“Or encourage you from seeing the effect from another perspective?” Ruby cooed with a smile.

“Is there anything else you wanted?” Bolt tried to sound angry or hostile but he couldn’t find the willpower to do so at the moment.

Ruby slid her coils around into a doughnut and lay upon them facing Bolt as she lounged about “Not really, I’m just curious to see how you work.” She said watching as Bolt began to mix all the listed ingredients into a bowl with mild curiosity “It is really interesting that something that looks like brittle cement paste can taste so good when you do it.” Ruby commented.

“Most cakes or food in general doesn’t look that appetising until it’s finished, but once they get a nice colour, like a golden brown, they look a lot more appealing to the eyes than dull grey.” Bolt said happy to stay on the conversation of food.

Ruby sat up slowly as Bolt paused holding the closed bottle of dripleaf, Bolt felt his lips go dry and felt a soreness in his throat that he knew the drink could sate. Ruby giggled behind Bolt “The temptation to just gulp down all the sweet smooth dripleaf you can get, let it flow over your tongue and soothing your throat with its comforting numbness.” Ruby said in a soft temptress voice.

Bolt took a sharp breath through his nose and poured the dripleaf into the cake mix and quickly capped it fixing the lid down firmly as Bolt began to mix the cake, which began to turn a purple colour “Please stop that…” Bolt pleaded and Ruby smiled curling a coil towards Bolt.

Bolt’s leg muscles twitched but he didn’t stop Ruby from curling the thick tube of muscle slowly around his neck, twisting upward and pressing her tail tip into his cheek until he looked over at Ruby “Why… Your reactions amuse me.” Ruby cooed as she squeezed the coil, making Bolt gulp air as his breathing was interrupted “And if you mean it why are you letting me do this?” Ruby cooed giving another squeeze.

“You’ll get mad if I try to stop you.” Bolt excused turning back to the cake, even though it was ready. He couldn’t say it, wouldn’t say it… But the rippling bulk of Ruby’s muscle and the soft undertone of fat pressing and caressing his neck DID feel pretty good, and her playful petting of Bolt’s cheek wasn’t distracting enough that he couldn’t work through it.

Ruby gave a soft laugh in amusement “Keep telling yourself that’s the reason until I slither through your defences!” Ruby threatened.

Bolt ignored Ruby pouring the cake into a tin and almost throwing it in the oven as Ruby gave another squeeze “Thirty minutes…” Bolt mumbled to himself turning a timer on so he wouldn’t forget through all the pampering coils- Distracting strangling snake!

Bolt shook his head as Ruby chuckled “Sorry am I bothering you?” Ruby cooed “I’ll uncoil you if you like.” Ruby said.

“No-bother…! It’s no bother you can uncoil me if you like.” Bolt said biting his lip before he felt a gentle breath on the side of his neck.

“Is your mind conflicted inside your head… Why don’t you let me quell it and allow it to fall silent… Help you relax…?” Ruby offered and Bolt stood up straight and walked away “What are you doing?”

“Ch-checking… The equipment…?” Bolt suggested.

“You can’t dodge me forever Bolt.” Ruby cooed slithering away with a low laugh.

Bolt later took the cake out of the oven and pushed it out of the tin onto a plate, grabbing a knife to cut it up Bolt turned to Silver who was waiting “Take this to Ruby for me.” Bolt ordered.

“I cannot.” Silver said softly “Mistress Ruby has ordered me to tell you she wants you to deliver it to her yourself and her word is divine!” Silver said with a smile as she again quivered at relaying Ruby’s orders.

Bolt gulped “Great,” He said with a raspy voice “I better go take it then. Where is she?” Bolt asked.

“In the living room, follow me.” Silver said taking a brisk trot, almost galloping to reach her Mistress quicker.

Bolt followed after Silver into a high ceiling room with white and red wallpaper and a green grass floor carpet, above a silver chandelier swung back and forth slowly like a pendulum. Bolt turned towards a warm fire where Ruby lounged on a pile of slightly squashed pillows that had obviously been used many times before.

“Mistress, your cake.” Silver said taking her leave and abandoning Bolt to the giant snake mare who turned to look at Bolt.

“Well, are you too scared to approach me?” Ruby asked and Bolt had the thought ‘terrified’ cross his mind then. But Bolt still approached Ruby and managed to fly over her coils to the front of her and sat the cake down on a small table beside her “Thanks.” Ruby said dragging out the s “You can go for your own lunch now, I will see you later.” Ruby said “Unless you’d prefer to stay for some cake?” Ruby said with a smirk.

Bolt stared at Ruby for a few seconds “I would like some cake since you’re offering, thank you.” Bolt said quietly sitting himself down in front of her.

Ruby actually sat up slightly in surprise “What are you doing?” She asked.

“Taking you up on your offer.” Bolt stated.

Ruby paused in confusion then giggled which broke into a full legitimate laugh “I will admit, Bolt… You are resilient… I will enjoy this.” Ruby cooed cutting a piece off and wrapping a long-forked tongue around it and swallowing it without a bite “Enjoy the dripleaf.” Ruby cooed.

Bolt froze, oh Celestia the dripleaf how did he forget? That was the main thing that had distracted him so much earlier “O-oh right I… Erm… Maybe I’ll pass on the cake.” Bolt said before a coil wider than his head snaked around his shoulders and pulled him forward back towards Ruby and the dreaded cake.

“Nonsense a hard worker needs to eat, right?” Ruby said holding up a piece she’d cut off, larger than her own.

Bolt wanted to flee from Ruby’s grip but the soft shifting of muscles against his neck, the sound of scales rubbing together as they slithered around his ears, and the lingering tingling of his previous dip into dripleaf made Bolt crack far too easily for his liking. Bolt allowed Ruby to feed him the cake like a caring mother and Bolt stared up at her with a deep shameful flush as she cooed like he was a foal.

“Is that tasty?” Ruby asked in a mock bubbly voice, it was, the flavour was sweet and sugary and the cake melted almost like a liquid but it was still solid enough to have a satisfyingly soft chew to it so the flavour mixed around Bolt’s mouth. His empty belly welcomed the meal easily “I’ll take that as a yes.” Ruby said as Bolt, shamelessly, took another bite.

Bolt was unable to stop himself as he ate the cake, only able to restrain himself enough to slow chewing so he didn’t guzzle it all down, that and Ruby feeding him meant she held it back to tease him and if he ate too quick his mind wailed for more, how easily Ruby got into his head made Bolt hate himself.

“You look very cute like that.” Ruby said and Bolt looked up from his seat beside Ruby’s coil pile.

“Will you need me to cook your dinner tonight?” Bolt asked between another bite of his cake piece, unaware Ruby had gotten a second for him to eat as she munched on her own.

“No, I have somewhere to visit, so I think you can relax for the rest of the day, or plan the dinner if you like. I have the guest list with all the lamias and ponies for you and I’ll give it to you before I leave.” Ruby said softly “Why don’t you sit on my coils, it’d be easier to reach the cake!” Ruby said and Bolt hardly noticed his mind and body agree without argument.

Standing up, following Ruby’s hoof with the cake, Bolt stepped forward and felt his hooves rest upon Ruby’s coils, the soft muscle flexed and moulded to his hooves and pushed upward rubbing his frogs soothingly. The sensation brought a flicker of lucidity to Bolt’s mind for a moment and he hesitated.

“Oh, don’t do that, come on!” Ruby cooed offering the cake to Bolt.

He didn’t want to, Bolt really didn’t want to eat it, but his mouth moved on its own and took another nibble of the cake and Bolt felt as if his nerves had settled and he was brave enough to step upon the coils. It wasn’t that he WANTED to stand on them, he just had to show Ruby he wasn’t afraid… Yeah… Bolt pushed up on the coils and waded over the squishy sea of white scales, looking between Ruby as she slithered backwards, and the cake she mocked him with, a dog following a treat. Ruby suddenly moved the cake forward and Bolt sat down, partially aware he was now across from Ruby, the soft strong coils of her body ruffling his tail and rump as well as his legs now as Bolt took another bite. See, he wasn’t scared of this mare! Bolt took another bite then realised it was the last of the cake, Ruby leaned back in her coils and watched Bolt with a smirk as the faint dazed and glazed look in his eyes receded and he blinked clearing his head.

“Did you enjoy your cake?” Ruby cooed smirking as she lay back in her coils, hooves either side of her along a thick coil like the rest of a sofa, coils sparkling from the firelight “Are you enjoying the view? I get many compliments about the captivating beauty of my coils, you may enjoy it too if you wish.” Ruby said supressing a laugh at Bolt’s locked gaze.

Bolt tried to look away but the beauty of the glowing embers along Ruby’s coils was irresistible and his gaze would return quickly if he did manage to look away, following the flow of armoured scales up to the mare connected to them “Y-yes… It’s… Nice…” Bolt was unsure if he was complimenting Ruby’s coils or confirming he’d like the cake. He felt like Ruby was circling his very mind ready to pounce on it and he couldn’t get it to sit up, it was like it was laying itself down as a mat for her!

Bolt managed to close his eyes for a few seconds then sighed as he felt as if he was swaying although he was motionless and, with wobbly legs, he stood up and began to walk off Ruby’s coils “Where are you going?” Ruby asked, and Bolt noted the tone of surprise and awe Ruby had at the fact the stallion still had some means to so much as move away from her. She’d forgotten how fun it was to break a strong will, and how challenging it really was too.

“I… I wanted to get a start on planning for the dinner… Mistress.” Bolt said, finding the last word too natural.

Ruby looked visibly disappointed “Oh, very well… Yes, I understand there is much to do and only a few days to do it so you need to begin as soon as you can. Very well.” Ruby said again as she stood up herself, Bolt managing to hop off her tail before he fell “I will be visiting Sunny’s castle and likely won’t be back until tomorrow evening so have some dinner ready for me when I get back.” Bolt nodded in understanding “Good, and here is the list.” Ruby opened the drawer on the table where Bolt had set the cake down, now eaten mostly by him, and she gave him a short list of twenty-five lamias “Best of luck.” Ruby said smiling as she slithered away.

Bolt went back into the kitchen and looked down at the list, it was just names and titles, like “Sunny Coils – Queen.” and “Midnight Blade – Captain of the guard.” It didn’t list their likes, dislikes or anything… It wasn’t very helpful.

Bolt sighed as Sparkling and Silver trotted over “Ruby has gone out until tomorrow… We best start a plan for the dinner.” The pair nodded with a smile “I’ll head to my room and plan a list of meals, get me some paper and a few pens.” Bolt paused looking at an old battered book on a shelf with a bunch of other cook books, Silver and Sparkling scrambling off to follow his order gave Bolt plenty of time to check this oddity. It was a plain brown book and almost looked like a diary, Bolt took it down and flicked it open, quickly discovering from the tables of contents that it was a former chef’s book! Could be useful, he thought.

Bolt returned to his room once Silver and Sparkling returned with the paper and pen, Bolt telling them they were done for the day and to pack up. Bolt looked at the plaque showing his name and the title ‘Head chef’ he gulped quietly to himself wanting this week to go by quickly! Bolt opened the door and stepped inside setting the paper and pens on the desk. Since the room lacked a chair he pulled the coil bed over and piled it under the desk… And when he sat down he had a ghostly thought of Ruby’s coils.

“Smooth coils slithering into the nooks and crannies of your muscles, pampering you sweetly as you relax… and slowly look up at me… Into my eyes.” Bolt actually turned around in fright to check Ruby wasn’t actually there whispering to him. Bolt placed his head in his hooves groaning.

“Get out of my head.” He mumbled and a quiet hissing followed, retreating and leaving Bolt in peace.

For now.

Author's Note

Chapter 3, Bolt you should always be on guard in a lamia's home, always one slip up and it can spiral away.

Did you see what I did there...? ... I'll leave.

Coil ocean

When Bolt left his room an hour or two later, without a clock he couldn’t tell, the sun glittering on the horizon signalled the end of the day. With that, Bolt headed for the break room for dinner. As expected the room was full of ponies sat down grabbing food off a small buffet in the middle of the room. Bolt grabbed a selection of food and sat down beside Nedra who was flicking lazily through CV’s.

“Who makes the food for the staff, I wasn’t told to, so who does?” Bolt asked.

“Oh, the staff food?” Nedra said without taking her eyes off her papers “It’s just a couple of enlightened down in the basement levels. They have a separate kitchen to work for us since the lamias don’t want our kind of food mixing or dirtying theirs. Plus, the head chef has to focus solely on Mistress Ruby, he must make her happy and can’t get distracted!” Nedra said strictly looking up at him with a smile.

“Soooo, how’s the employee hunting going?” Bolt asked, changing the subject from thin icy waters.

Nedra shook her head “Not good, I’ve met a few of them who have signed up and they aren’t very eager, nor well trained. The test is to prepare a bedroom for Mistress, devise a plan for an event that might happen and fill out some test forms for Mistress Ruby’s financial records since she has no time for that, a fake lamia acts as Mistress to give a good impression. Then there’s talking to Mistress, I have yet for one to understand you NEED to call her Mistress and when I encourage them with the help of a fake lamia they flee…” Nedra sighed as if it was simple but Bolt had an idea what she meant by encourage “Mistress Ruby usually does the testing herself with a range of those who have passed the initial tests... Maybe I should just do the tests and let Mistress check them with the final test herself, to see if they are worthy…” Nedra said softly debating the idea in her muggy mind.

“Well, they are going to work for her it’d be for the best if she tests them herself to check they’re good for the role, that way it isn’t your fault if you get a sub-par pony for Mistress Ruby.” Bolt blinked, he’d just noticed how casually he was speaking Ruby’s title and how he didn’t seem to mind that much that he was sending more clueless souls to a mental grinder… He began to feel his pulse rise.

Nedra nodded with a smile “Good idea Bolt!” She said taking a few out of the pile and setting them beside her before leaning back and grabbing a hay sandwich “So, how’s your side going?” She asked with a smile.

“Oh… I’ve decided to do a selection of foods for the starters, mains and deserts… Basically like our buffet but a bit fancier and with a wider selection. It shouldn’t be too difficult, I’ve decided to make five times what a normal pony could eat per course for the lamias since they are a lot bigger.” Bolt said, glad he could talk about something he understood “I’m just writing down ideas at this point, and instructions… Should be able to start prepping a few of the selections in a couple days before the dinner itself.”

Nedra nodded approvingly “Glad to see you’re settling into your new life.” She said.

“Life… I’m just here for the dinner then I go…” Nedra smiled but remained silent and Bolt gulped.

Bolt grabbed his own sandwich and bit into it, since the conversation had now basically died. Bolt looked around the room, beside the seats with the goggles several ponies were slouching with them on, almost drooling as they occasionally twitched and smiled, as if they were dreaming whilst watching the headset. Bolt had a faint idea what the screen likely showed. By the consoles one pony was playing a lamia themed game, a platformer where a pony tried to escape hypnosis and coiling. Whoever was playing kept letting themselves get caught… And spent a long time on the capture animations too.

“I’m gonna go eat in my room…” Bolt mumbled to Nedra who waved goodbye cheerfully.

Bolt sat his food and drink down beside the diary, a selection of cooking books and the sheets of paper listing the food Bolt had selected and the quantity he’d need of the ingredients to feed the extra-large mouths. As Bolt sat down to finish writing up the desert list he glanced at the diary. Since he had several days a quick read of it wouldn’t hurt, and since it was in the kitchen maybe it had some tips on dealing with Mist- Ruby!

Bolt flicked to the first set of pages, it was a diary all right and scribbled over the front was ‘Lilac Stir’ Bolt had a dead mare’s book. Wonderful.

“Why were you in the kitchen?” Bolt mumbled to himself flicking through the entries.

It began rather normally, with Lilac describing day to day life, her ordinary woes and concerns of bankruptcy… Then the point when lamias entered the picture began. Lilac seemed quite eager to meet one to begin with, finding them attractive and mysterious, and they brought great business back to her trade! Emboldened Lilac set off for Canterlot, the lamia haven to find a job, by some miracle she met a stallion of pure clean jet-black fur whom enquired what her role had previously been, as she had been searching around the castle for a job at the time. Lilac wrote how Polish, whom Bolt had surmised to be the stallion Lilac wrote about, had seemed to glow eagerly and had taken Lilac home to Ruby instantly.

Lilac’s first entry of Ruby describe her beauty, her flowing coils, her welcoming smile and her eyes. Lilac didn’t seem to understand what happened when she met Ruby, one moment she was greeting her and being allowed to pet Ruby’s coils, next moment the world had twisted in a sea of colour and blissful sensations. Lilac seemed to have written falling into trance four times before realising she’d already written it down.

The second entry was cheerful, stating how Lilac had made Ruby’s first breakfast and the lamia had purred happily at the chocolate cake she’d made her (Bolt made a mental note) and Lilac was rewarded with her eyes and even touch this time! Bolt had to supress a quiver as Lilac described sinking into the folds of muscle and fat as Ruby’s gaze seeped her mind away.

Entry three was the other side of the coin. Lilac found Ruby eating a member of staff and Lilac was no longer happy at her current disposition and wanted to try and get out immediately! Ruby tried to coil her up but Lilac was onto her trick and ran for it. She made it to the courtyard and was dragged back by the abominations of pony and snake that lined the courtyard.

The next page was splotched with tears, it had been a couple days and Lilac was writing how she’d told Ruby she ‘didn’t want to work for a monster who had no disregard for her staffs lives!’ Ruby had cupped Lilac’s chin and ordered her to go ‘prepare’ herself for dinner… Lilac had been unable to resist her conditioning and spent the lunch time curled up apparently going through her family pictures wondering what her mum and dad would think if they found out her fate.

There wasn’t another entry.

Bolt snapped the book close and set it down, feeling sweat lining his forehead, that didn’t help his nerves at ALL! Bolt though of the bulge beside Polish, that was Lilac and he was the replacement. Bolt rubbed his eyes, all focus had deserted him now and the sun had finally set. With a sigh Bolt left his room to brush his teeth, upon returning he dragged the coil pile to the window dumped it down flopped onto it, staring out the window at the sky above. The night was beautiful.

The walls of Canterlot castle still let off a welcoming glow, even under the night sky. To the unobservant, little had changed to the castle from an outside and naïve perspective, but within the stained windows were decorated with art of the lamias’ holy arrival and many tourists enjoyed being told them by the lamia spokesmare… The demonstrations also helped relieve boredom! But tonight, the castle was devoid of flashing cameras, idle gossip and laughter, it was quiet and peaceful, with the night staff and guard patrolling in their scaly purple uniforms, lamps bobbing about lighting up the walls and passing over the dark corridors where the light did not reach.

The main door swung open as a pair of guards admitted Ruby within, there was the soft clip clop of hooves and Luna, almost fading into the darkness with her dark blue fur and night sky rippling mane as she made her way down the steps, smiled in welcoming of her scaly friends moving forward to hug her. It took all the shreds of Luna’s former self not to rush to her Mistresses embrace and was glad she did, as Ruby no doubt would have teased her if she had seemed desperate. Ruby chuckled as Luna quivered and eagerly accepted the head thick coil over her neck, tailing down her body with a comforting heavy weight.

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Luna asked, her mind had always been more sophisticated and complex than an average pony’s, like her sister’s, this meant she could maintain some semblance of face in the public eye and still perform her royal duties, raising the moon and warm Ruby’s coils!

“Sunny has sent for me, I imagine I would be right in guessing she is in her bedroom?” Formerly it was Celestia’s bedroom, but as the grandest room of all Sunny had naturally claimed it for her own, though Celestia still used it herself instead of the reworked bedroom that she had been granted.

Luna nodded “Indeed, she informed me you would be visiting and I couldn’t wait to greet you again!” Luna said her blue-green eyes fixed on Ruby’s purple eagerly.

Ruby leaned closer and Luna’s wings fluttered in anticipation “Later, I promise.” Luna looked dejected, as if her sweet treat had just been crushed.

“Okay,” Was all Luna could say in a puppy dog sad tone.

Ruby squeezed Luna’s neck and it seemed to revitalise her a little “Come, take me to Sunny.” And without a hint of hesitation, Luna allowed Ruby to hop her upper tail on top of her back, looping a thick coil around the barrel of her body, so that Ruby could ride Luna through the castle.

Luna and Ruby travelled silently, save for the swishing of Ruby’s coils on the marble floor and Luna’s gasps for air at the tight and heavy load she bore. Luna led Ruby to a rather simple double door and opened it with magic, dragging herself through. Once inside Ruby placed a hoof on Luna’s head and pushed down, Luna collapsed under a combination of her own weight and Ruby’s on the spot, landing with a humorous ‘plop’ on Ruby’s eagerly waiting coils, which smothered over her body like a white Venus fly trap. Luna disappeared into a muffled pile of white and red moaning coils, her horn just visible out the end of a pair of tight coils that were rippling back and forth.

Ruby bowed politely to the lamia splayed upon the grand bed of gold before her and Sunny smiled in welcome to her friend “Ruby, nice of you to join us.” She said as Celestia, the once grand Princess and joint ruler of Equestria sat up from Sunny’s coils, which were strewn over her body haphazardly, to turn a sleepy head before snuggling back down in her hypnotic stupor to sleep.

Ruby sat herself down on the bed beside her unicorn friend, pulling Luna onto the bed with her, Sunny shifted her coils so Ruby was able to get her smaller coils in and around Celestia’s body, the differences between the two were immense, Ruby was muscular with a body as thick as a pony at the wider part and snow white and red, Sunny was thick enough that if she ate a pony they wouldn’t be visible in her coils anymore, Ruby could have hidden in her great thick tubes of muscle with ease, the sky blue and golden yellow belly a contrast to her friend’s beside her yet no less beautiful.

“So why did you call me here? Surely it’s not to just snuggle with our toys?” Ruby inquired as she looped a coil over Luna’s horn, enjoying the bits of magic she emitted despite her wishes as Ruby squeezed her.

“No, I wanted to check-up on how the dinner is going, Nedra arrived with a letter for the staff, I have them ready to leave with you. So, did you find a chef? I heard Lilac had failed… You know, how you ‘fire’ your staff may be the reason you have such trouble keeping up consistency.” Sunny said softly as she stroked a hoof through Celestia’s magical mane, the mare cooing like an infant.

Ruby gave a small pout, she didn’t like how Sunny always judged her on how she handled her staff “Well if they set my food on fire and then try to attack me?” Ruby asked.

“Did she?” Sunny asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ruby gave a nod “Yeah She burnt the food and then lashed out suddenly when I said I wouldn’t eat it and that I would have to punish her she must have thought I was going to kill her so she attacked… Then, I ate her… I’ve also eaten Polish.” Sunny rolled her eyes at the statement “What?” Ruby asked.

“Well I can’t fault you with him I suppose, he has failed half a dozen times or so correct?” Ruby nodded “But I take it you found a new chef? And haven’t yet had to replace them?” Sunny asked mockingly.

“No,” Ruby said and Sunny noticed a smile.

“Oh, you got a good one?” Sunny asked sitting up eager to hear.

Ruby smiled “Yeah I did, he’s called Bolt and he is terrified of hypnosis and being coiled up… It’s probably because he had to watch me ‘punish’ Polish… But he’s so cute… I got him to try dripleaf drink and cake and he’s shifting without noticing… It’s so much fun to toy with him.” Ruby said clapping her hooves happily.

“What happens when you do hypnotise him though? Will you grow bored of him?” Sunny asked softly.

Ruby looked up in thought “No.” She said smiling wider “First time I’m going to make him become addicted to hypnosis, make it so good every happy moment in his life will seem bleak by comparison… Then see what he does to get back under!” Ruby said giggling and Sunny chuckled softly.

Sunny suddenly stopped “You haven’t hypnotised him yet?” She realised.

“No… I’ve been teasing him, poking his curiosity… I want him to ASK to be hypnotised,” Ruby cooed dreamily, as she turned her gaze to Luna happily as Ruby imagined a red stallion in her place.

“Hmmm, it sounds like you are having fun with him. Almost as much fun with Luna when you visit,” Sunny said softly “May I ask a favour?” Ruby nodded “I didn’t just call you to catch up, you know?” Ruby gave a soft laugh.

“I would have been pleasantly surprised.” Ruby admitted and Sunny chuckled herself.

“As would I, but I need you to go to Harbourside, the port to the West of here, a little North too, the driver waiting for you will know. I have it in good faith that the Clarity Restorers are bunkering some ponies down there that would be a bit of an inconvenience to lose!” Ruby smiled and nodded in understand.

“And the favour?” For this was Ruby’s job, Sunny didn’t ask her to do it she ordered it. Sunny was the lamia queen and, oddly enough, the lamias, including Ruby, were willing to follow her.

Sunny smiled “May I visit Bolt tomorrow? I imagine, since you are out, he will no doubt have the day off and I would very much like to see who it is that has got you so creative with your entrancing ideas this time… Oh and, do enjoy your ‘hunt’. Try to bring back at least once pony we can question.” Sunny said with a chuckle “It’s rather hard to ask bulges you know.”

Ruby flushed “Sorry. I’ll make sure to bring some back this time. And of course, you can see how far along I have gotten with him… But no giving him what he wants!” Ruby said with a grin.

“Of course, no hypnosis.” Sunny promised.

“And coiling?” Ruby sceptically raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, now let me have a little fun with him!” Sunny said “If I can’t even touch him how will I have fun?” Sunny asked.

“Alright, coiling is fine.” Ruby said “Mind if I stay the night and leave in the morning, the CR don’t plan to move soon do they?”

“As far as we know they are oblivious to our awareness of them.” Sunny said confidently.

“Good, now why don’t you let me inspect my new staff?” Ruby asked smiling.

“Good idea,” Sunny turned towards the door and lit up her horn, a golden glow bathing her head in light “Come to me.” She said, her voice resonating with an echo through the castle.

Ruby smiled as a small group of ponies arrived shortly, scuttling up to the bed quickly to get a good selection of coils, this was always the best way to run an interview!

Bolt woke about half a dozen times or so, the first time had been because Bolt had a nightmare that he had been tied to a serving tray and Silver and Sparkling were busy decorating him with food, such as apples, carrots, sliced tomatoes and a nice dripleaf sauce down his back with twisting spaghetti around his body as if he were some sort of food Hearts Warming Eve tree! The second time Bolt had been pinned under a moaning lump in Ruby’s coils as she watched from above, Lilac sounded like she was singing happily for some reason. Bolt knew it was meant to be her as it was clearly a mare, though her voice wasn’t recognizable and he couldn’t remember it when he woke, since he’d never heard it before. The next time Bolt was laying on a bed of coils with the night sky and moon streaking over his head- No wait… Bolt wasn’t dreaming he was just half asleep. Bolt got up to have some water to calm himself and looked at the dishevelled face in the mirror.

“Hello handsome,” He said mockingly to himself before using the bathroom then returning to bed.

The next dream was both better and worse than before. Bolt was hanging limply from a coil held above Ruby, feeling his mouth turned up in a smile as he watched the faint moment he had first seen Ruby’s eyes, surprised by the detail and realism he felt as his mind buzzed even from his first experience, although only red and yellow flickered over her eyes like a broken loop since he hadn’t seen anything else. When Bolt awoke he was ashamed at how well he had memorized Ruby’s eyes and it was a while longer before he got back to bed. Bolt finally had a bit of peaceful sleep before Nedra woke everypony with her wok and spoon again. Bolt was half up before he slumped down again and rolled over to hide from the faint morning light, Ruby was out he got the day of basically! It took Bolt a while to nod off, the noise of ponies outside his room bustling about was very distracting and when he finally got to sleep he was once again awoken by an eager knock on his door.

“Bolt, you have an important visitor, wake up quickly!” Nedra called giving the door several loud raps before leaving. Bolt grumbled and sat up looking outside, the sun had almost reached an angle it would have hit him, close to midday, he would probably have woken up anyway without Nedra but still, he had been enjoying a dreamless sleep just then!

Bolt pulled himself out the coils and patted down his hair the best he could before giving a stretch and a yawn and heading out of the room, leaving his uniform behind. Bolt glanced around there was nopony in the hallway so he headed down the stairs looking around “Nedra?” Bolt called softly.

“She’s in the greenhouse room.” Nedra called from the living room.

The greenhouse room was a bit of a deception, Bolt had seen it from the outside when he’d first arrived but hadn’t been in yet. Flora of all sizes, shapes and even colours adorned the walls in various rows of pots with the ground itself being clean sweet-smelling soil with long grands of grass all around the room. Two giant trees made up the bulk of the room in the centre, their branches and leaves dancing a twisting between one another, their multi-coloured leaves dancing merrily in the still room, as if the tree were alive. The leaves were awash with colours, blues, purples, reds, yellows and more, all but the typical green as if the tree was bent of not fitting in.

“Maybe dripleaf?” Bolt mumbled to himself as he glanced down at a pair of low hanging giant ‘pods, like fat purple tomatoes big enough to hold a pony, the top was a bright blue flower with green pollen clearly visible on it filling the room with a thick sugary scent.

“It isn’t dripleaf,” A comforting voice stated to Bolt’s left. Bolt looked over quickly in surprised and gulped. Very few lamias were known by name but before Bolt was one whom was as widely known as the Princesses, as she had replaced them as the Queen of Equestria. Sunny Coils had an air of elegance that made her seem graceful even motionless, as she currently was. Her bright blue fur and yellow mane shimmered in the high sun as she watched Bolt with glittering purple slitted eyes, twisting a small daisy in her magic before her before letting it float away on a breeze through an open window.

“No uniform?” Sunny asked softly.

Bolt looked down at himself “Sorry,” He said softly “Ruby is out so I thought I could have the day off as my service is solely to looking after her so…” Bolt kicked the ground nervously.

“Oh, do not worry, I doubt Ruby would mind seeing your body without it being restricted and I am not here to see a head chef I’m here to see Boltblood Thundercloud and he can wear whatever pleases him, or nothing if you prefer.” Sunny said with a smirk and Bolt felt a flush rise faintly.

“Um… Why did you want to see me?” Bolt asked nervously as he looked around the room to distract himself, admiring a plant with vivid purple leaves and swirling branches.

“That is dripleaf,” Sunny said with a smile and Bolt was torn between eating the plant and burning it when she told him “And I was curious… I spoke to Ruby last night at the Castle,” Bolt was vaguely surprised she didn’t say ‘my castle’ but Sunny didn’t seem to be boastful, at least not in the regard of buildings anyway, she was boastful with her servants. “And she is most interested in you… And I am too now.” Sunny pushed away from the wall she had been leaning back against, her blue and golden coils shimmering even brighter than Ruby’s, though that was because Bolt had never seen them in direct sunlight instead of them being prettier. As Sunny approached Bolt moved to the side in the hopes Sunny would slide by and as she got closer it almost looked like she would before she circled him, leaving only the odd trees behind him, since her coils were so thick he’d have to get a running leap just to clear them “Oooo… She was right,” Sunny let a thick forked tongue flicker out of her mouth eagerly as she smelt Bolt’s scent “You are skittish, this is so much fun!” Sunny said happily as she moved closer.

Bolt backed up nervously as he watched the lamia before him approaching slowly “W-well you’ve seen me can I go now?” Bolt asked before a coil as wide as his body looped over his shoulders and along his back, Sunny didn’t ease the weight and Bolt bent over from the strain of standing.

“Oh no, I want to feel your fluttering heart, your raspy desperate breathing, your meek struggles in my coils… All of it!” Sunny cooed with a grin then cupped Bolt’s chin with a hoof as her tail began to slither around massing itself around Bolt ready and waiting “Don’t fret, I won’t hurt you, and Ruby has forbidden me to hypnotise you first… You may even enjoy it, if you let yourself!” Sunny said grinning as she pulled down on the coil over Bolt’s back.

Loaded down, Bolt collapsed under the weight of the coil and before he could struggle back up a coil had looped a figure of eight around his back legs pinning them together. The coil around Bolt’s back shifted and twisted, the figure of eight turning his legs over, to avoid discomfort Bolt allowed Sunny to roll him over, staring up at her from below as she watched.

“A bit more eager to remain comfy, aren’t you?” Sunny noted mischievously as a coil looped around Bolt’s neck tugging him upward.

The stallion’s remark choked in his mouth as he gulped from the neck squeeze, the coil was as wide as his head yet pudgy enough that he could still move through it, though with a bit of difficulty and much soft scale rubbing! The coil around Bolt’s waist was quickly pushed down by a thick loop riding down over Bolt’s noose/collar Bolt tried to move away but was tugged taunt by the two coils either side of his body, and Sunny made sure Bolt’s front hooves were kept locked to his side with her own before pulling back, her own coil snapping around Bolt. The coil was so thick that the upper part of Bolt’s back legs was covered up all the way up to the collar coil, even pressing over it a little. Sunny effortlessly raised Bolt off the ground with the anchor coil around his waist and was glad when the tension in his neck was loosened, though there was a downside to this. Now that Bolt was no longer in life threatening danger his mind had begun settling on the details of Sunny’s coils, which closed the cocoon under his back hooves entirely so only his head was visible, and even then, only from above due to the sheer bulk of the coils.

Bolt could feel every flex of the muscles, every ripple of the outer line of fat, the scaly armour slithering over his fur and muscles and his body trying to both move outward to enjoy it and remain inward to appease the snake.

Bolt closed his eyes forcefully and groaned at himself in shame, which Sunny picked up on “Like it? Such a naughty stallion, enjoying the dangerous seductive lamia’s coils!” Sunny hissed grinning as Bolt was held up as if laying upon a bed of blue and gold “I bet you can feel my muscles pressing into yours, tenderising them and making them just slip into bliss… I doubt you could even lift a hoof if there was room!” Sunny mocked.

Bolt grumbled into the coil pressing over his mouth and tried to shift, but this only brought his situation into vivid clarity. He couldn’t move his hooves AT ALL! He was locked to his sides by the coils around him, though they were lined with fat there was then only muscle all the way until it reached bone then more muscle around it. The coils wove, moulded and shifted to his body perfectly not only to keep a grip on him, but ensure even the smallest movement sent shockwaves of relaxation into Bolt’s body. Attempting to move also made the coils sort of roll, the fat moved in contrast to Bolt’s commands as he tried to struggle but it was like trying to climb up onto water, he simply sank back down into the original position.

Trying to find a grip on the shifting slope was near impossible, on top of that as Bolt moved the coils would relax then press in, tensing the fat so it was solid muscle only and Bolt was being constricted, causing him to gulp or gasp depending on the timing. Bolt tilted his head back, his eyes sinking into soft golden belly scales and he had to focus not to let out a jittery moan from the sensation.

“Stop! Please!” Bolt begged before the coil began to push his head back down “No- not again please-mfffhm…” Bolt looked up pleadingly at Sunny who simply rolled a hoof along Bolt’s mane.

“Stop trying to escape or fight it, am I hurting you?” Sunny asked twisting her coils and resting them on the grassy floor so Bolt was propped up as if seated, Bolt stared up as Sunny towered over him and, very slowly, shook his head, several times so he could sneakily enjoy the feeling of scales against his face “You see? No harm, so why try to escape?” Bolt gave mumbled reply, his voice dying due to the coil over his mouth, Sunny laughed at Bolt’s meek unheard response “Whatever the reason I’m sure I can... Ah, wring it out?” Sunny tried raising an eyebrow with a grin.

Bolt looked up nervously, not liking the sound of that but he was hardly in a position to argue anymore. Bolt glanced down as he felt the coils tense around him, slowly pulling him upward as if he were trying to stand on his hind legs. Sunny kept tightening even as Bolt felt a hard pressure over his chest, his lungs being compressed. Bolt felt a sense of fleeting panic; he’d thought she wouldn’t hurt him, since he worked for Ruby! Was he wrong? Had he got her angry trying to escape?

Before Bolt could work himself up into a panic attack Sunny began to tug down on her coils, rolling pressure downwards even though the coils remained motionless. It felt as if the muscles were moving down in waves, a zigzag of tense and relaxed, solid and plush coils sliding in bands over Bolt’s body. Bolt gave a strangled gasp as the muscles stretched out his body as straight as possible, opening up his most cramped tensions to the coil onslaught. Bolt heaved a short sigh, as he was still being squeezed, as he leaned back, unable to resist the temptation of being pampered by the queen of lamias. Bolt felt his bones pop into place, causing his body to simply shut down, having decided that Sunny clearly knew what was best for him at this point, that and being complacent meant Sunny relaxed her death grip. Stirrings of concern at how easily Bolt was going along with Sunny’s wishes were smothered by wave after wave of comfort from the coils and Bolt let his head relax, eyes drooping.

“There you go, see? So much better like that, nice and limp a perfect stallion ready to be played with!” Sunny cooed and Bolt rose no objections, because then the massage might stop and he didn’t want that to happen!

Sunny began to slowly loop more coils around Bolt pushing them in, the downward rolling massage stopped, replace with the smaller coils pressing the larger ones in at certain points to make Bolt quiver and moan.

“I should be ashamed,” Bolt thought to himself as he flushed in his scaly confines “Allowing her to toy with me so easily, without so much as a word of objection… What’s happened to me to allow this to go on?” Bolt’s train of thought was then derailed by another squeezed.

Again, and again Bolt would try to think around Sunny’s massaging, constricting coils, try to find a means to focus… But again, the wisps of thoughts and will were squeezed effortlessly away by Sunny who watched in amusement. Maybe it was because Bolt thought she wouldn’t hypnotise him, since Ruby seemed to have called dibs on that first… But if Bolt was honest he was simply enjoying himself.

Sunny, the massage not even faulting for a second, lifted the almost motionless stallion up and flipped him upside-down. When there was space between the coils, Bolt’s blood began to rush to his head causing a ringing in his ears as he stared at the upside down grinning lamia. Without any means to speak Bolt was unable to ask what Sunny was doing though he quickly found out as it was revealed to him. Sunny raised Bolt a bit higher then loosened her coils, Bolt flopped out limply as another thick coil caught him, holding him under his front legs but not in a restrictive grip. Even as Bolt put this thought together to try and get up, his right wing unfolding to try and fly, Sunny slammed up a curling coil in a corkscrew fashion up Bolt’s body.

Bolt’s unfolded wing and right leg hung out between the gaps as the coil gripped him from the bottom of his body up to his head, covering most of his face and looping back down his back. Bolt tried to move, feeling a twinge of control in his uncovered wing, though all that did was draw him to the contrast of his wing pressed into the scaly fat. Sunny watched curiously as Bolt sluggishly, as if drunk, reached down with his free hoof and meekly tried to push her away. Though all he really did was put his weight down on her coil but Sunny could tell Bolt was trying his best and the effort made her laugh.

“Aw, sorry did I leave that leg bare?” Sunny asked as the coil shifted, slithering over Bolt’s formerly exposed body and quelling his struggles and tensions in an effortless motion.

However, Sunny didn’t add more coils, she simply switched the position of the original coil so it now covered the formerly exposed spots, including his wing which was being held up on a coil tickling the underside of Bolt’s feathers. Bolt’s head flopped, as Sunny had only covered one eye leaving the rest of his face exposed, and he watched her graceful tail control skills having waved the flag of surrender to the onslaught. Bolt tried to wrestle out some words but it was just a garble of sighs.

“Oh dear, have I tired you out?” Sunny asked with a smile and Bolt felt her pull his head up before letting it flop down again, an unmistakable mockery of a nod “So sorry… Maybe I should help lull you to ssssleep?” Bolt’s body suddenly felt alive as Sunny hissed, going ridge and quivering in its coily shackles, as if Sunny’s hissing was electrocuting his nerves, once it stopped Bolt was once again motionless, but a lingering tingling in his body like pins and needles was slowly receding away having been left by the hissing.

Sunny grinned, obviously pleased by Bolt’s reaction and the stallion had no means of objecting as he was hoisted through the air. Sunny made no means of concealing Bolt as Sunny carried him around the mansion like a trophy, the staff gawking as he was held aloft by the Queen of lamias. At the hallway with the bedrooms Sunny followed them down until she located Bolt’s room, peaking inside.

“Wow, way to spoil the staff.” Sunny commented looking around the miniature space “I guess we’ll just have to keep really close together, won’t we?” Sunny suggested with a smile as she pressed herself into the tiny room.

Sunny’s coils formed like water as she closed the door with her tail tip, her huge bulk consuming the whole space the room provided with ease, her coils were higher than Bolt’s table, with more slithering around the legs and underneath. Bolt tried to reach over for his notes before Sunny lay her coils over the table and she noticed, leaning over to look at the nearly finished dinner list. Sunny took in what would be provided and Bolt noticed her coo pleasantly before she picked up the lists and papers and set them on the window sill, which was just high enough to avoid Sunny’s coils.

“Looks promising.” Sunny said softly as she raised Bolt over where his usual coil bed would be “But you can finish that later, right now you are clearly too exhausted to continue working.” Sunny said with a grin as her coils shifted like the waves of the sea under Bolt, eagerly awaiting him.

Bolt tried to hold onto the coils, not wanting to disappear into the sea under him, but it was like trying to cup water with his bare hooves, his body just wasn’t responding and he feel down onto the top of the coils. Sunny’s coils began to wriggle and shift like hundreds of shifting snakes, a loop curling around Bolt’s back legs slowly began to drag him from the door to the window sill slowly, Sunny trying to extract some means of resistance from him by making a mockery of danger. To his credit, Bolt did try to hold on, digging his front hooves in and trying to drag himself forward, but he felt like lead, and as he was dragged further along the coils, the scales rippled, shifted and rose pushing him onward as they pampered him belly. Finally, Bolt felt his legs being pulled down under the coils and he began to slip down under them. One moment Bolt had a final fleeting display of Sunny grinning at him before his body was dragged down into the coil fissure, his front hooves trailing after him.

The second Bolt was inside the coil sea it closed over his head blocking out the light, pushing in against him and compressing the space, every inch of Bolt’s body was squished up against coils as if he was being suspended in some sort of scaly stasis box. Bolt sluggishly shifted about, shifting and wriggling as the coils held him suspended in place. There was a little slack to the coils so if he put the effort in they would move, which allowed him to move his hooves down. As he did so Bolt felt the coils in front of him wriggling excitedly. Curious, Bolt poked his hooves through the coil he could feel in front of him and gasped. Sunny was making her coils go wild, wriggling left and right, causing the fat and muscle to roll all about like water crashing against his legs as if they were rocks, numbing him to any sensation. Bolt sighed happily as a dribble of a disgraceful thought trickled into his mind.

“I could climb through…” Bolt didn’t feel as much shame as before, he was becoming accustomed to this, and Sunny didn’t seem that bad really.

With a drunken smile, and much force of will, Bolt pulled his hooves back and pushed the coil running lengthways before him upwards, dragging himself into the space provided. Bolt crawled headfirst on his belly before reaching forward to make room as he touched the wriggling coils, the coil hiding it before pressing down over his back. Bolt reached out, a passing waving coil snagging him leg and dragging it in towards the rapids. Bolt, once again, felt himself being dragged forward slightly but still had to wriggle and push against the coils behind him before he entered the waving coils. There was no pattern to it as Bolt was lifted up and down as if a boat being thrown at sea, the scales and muscles pampering Bolt’s body as he was guided along a tight passage that opened up at his head from the waving coils as if he was going somewhere. Along and along Bolt glided being tossed and thrown in the tunnel as he cooed, unable to fight or move as each movement of the coils reinvigorated his body’s submission to being motionless for Sunny to toy with.

After sometime Bolt felt his head dip forward and he slid downward before he was once again being dragged the other way through the compressing coils, now laying on his back instead of his stomach, which were pressing in and out, pushing him along in great waves of movement, Bolt’s brain had a wisp of an idea what this was yet he was having trouble focusing on it at the moment, it just felt so good! Bolt travelled the length of the room before once against sliding down, his body motionless now, limp and still… Having completely submitted to the whims of the coils around him. When Bolt stopped travelling he was confused for a moment and looked around in the darkness, the coils all against his body were motionless for a second as he lay in some sort of ‘pod’ of scales. Then they pressed in, pushing Bolt’s body inward gently before pushing out, not enough Bolt stopped feeling the coils against his body but enough his body slid back out from the coils under him, rolling about as if they were sliding away, the dry silky scales of Sunny’s upper tail rolling around to the soft, plush belly scales… Again, the walls pressed in… Moved out, and the sensation of slithering began…

“I’m being eaten.” Bolt thought, and the concept to him wasn’t frightening, it was… Pleasant. Because, he knew in his groggy mind, he wasn’t really in any danger, he wasn’t going to be melted into fat to feed Sunny’s coils, he’d wake up later and be let out… So, he could enjoy it, quietly and peacefully.

Author's Note

Bolt is being slowly broken down and twisted to a perfect lamia worshiper, it's so cute to watch. I'm so proud of him ^.^

Outmatched

Ruby had left Sunny after the ‘interview’ was finished. Just an hour or so before dawn she had gone down from Sunny’s bedroom to the armoury and store room, collecting a set of saddle bags too big for a pony, but suitable to be attached around a lamia’s tail, as Ruby did so quickly, also from the storeroom she collected a map of Harbourside. From the armoury Ruby took a massive oddly thick curved blade that had no handle yet a set of straps on the end and a hole, setting a woollen sheath over it Ruby stowed it in one of the bags to keep it hidden. Afterwards Ruby made her way down to a huge cathedral sized room off the side of the castle, within were rows upon rows of carriages, some fancy and formal, some for festivals and seasons, and some were armoured and intimidating, suited for combat rather than transport. Ruby slithered past them until she reached a rather beautiful crimson coloured carriage, with golden fittings and a white coat of arms featuring a lamia curled around a small rabbit bearing a set of fangs. Ruby’s personal carriage, at least the backup she kept with Sunny when going on jobs, she had one at home but this was closer. Ruby waved her tail up and five Pegasi galloped over, one looking confused as her friends left before joining them, realising they had just been summoned. Ruby watched the lagging mare with amusement, she was alert, clear minded and looked fresh as summer grass. A rookie, how sweet. She could be useful later.

“Harbourside, pleasssse.” Ruby said making a lisping hiss with her tongue and Ruby was amused to see the new recruit quiver like her friends, though confused why.

Ruby watched them fasten into the coil themed harnesses, which had a little magic, causing them to loop scaly textured ropes and such around them for support, squeezing them each in turn. The rookie failed to maintain a stoic expression like her well-trained friends and cooed and was shot an angry look from the leader and she bowed her head shamefully.

Ruby opened the door and climbed inside the padded plush interior, closing the door with a snap. Ruby knocked lightly on the front as heard the lead guard give a bark “Open the gates, Ruby Scales, hypnotic tail to the Queen, wishes to depart for Harbourside!” Name of lamia or pony leaving, title of importance to show respect or lack thereof and location arriving, always so formal, Ruby thought.

Ruby settled down for a short nap, hoping to catch some sleep she’d missed that night with her latest toys, Harbourside was a fair distance away.

Ruby was rocked awake by the impact of the carriage landing upon solid ground, opening one eye Ruby yawned lightly then sat up to look outside. A rather short nap, but it would have to suffice for now. Ruby took out the map from her supplies and glanced over it, she had no means of knowing where the Clarity Restorers were based but with the rookie… Ruby had an idea. Ruby climbed out of the carriage smiling to her entourage and telling them to guard the carriage at the small maintained military checkpoint. Ruby looked at the map then away from the landing strip towards the actual town. It was no surprise this town hosted the ‘rebels’ currently, it was a good distance from Canterlot and mainly dealt in the transaction of buying, selling and catching fish, though it was also the town closest to Equestria’s Naval fleet and boasted the biggest port for holiday makers. It was no surprise it was named ‘Harbourside’ in retrospect. Most lamias were indifferent about fish, it was okay but too bony usually… Not like ponies.

Ruby shook her head, last thing she needed was to add more weight on right now, she still hadn’t finished off Lilac, let alone Polish one more pony and she may as well just hoof herself over to these misguided idiots. Ruby looked at the map and smiled, there was a small central market place in the middle that boasted a good trade of various goods, according to the little leaflet attached to the map, it would probably have a place to sell pearls no doubt. Even though Ruby was the hypnotic tail to Sunny, she did have her own hobbies, such as making jewellery, and lamia crafted wears had a high price these days, no doubt this was due to their popularity and recent appearance. Not to mention their own exotic appearance moulded into gold to be worn around the neck like a collar. Or necklace, whichever they preferred.

Ruby turned back to her guard and smiled as the little mare was left sorting out the wagon all alone whilst the other five set off to relax, informing the local guard to keep an eye out. Ruby debated telling them off but they were Sunny’s staff, not her own. She’d have to settle for informing Sunny later. For now, Ruby slid up to the rookie who looked up in surprise.

“Yes, Mistress?” She asked nervously.

“What’s your name little one?” Ruby cooed softly.

“Oh… C-Copper Shield.” Copper said with an attempt at a smile.

“I have some business at the town hall and it will likely consume most of my time here, I need to ask you a favour, you can stop sorting out the carriage your friends can do that instead.” Copper nodded, the mare would take any assignment over polishing the many layers of gold plated metal “I need you to go to the market and get me as many pearls as you can,” Ruby took out a bag of bits and tossed them to her “Stay to the main road.” Ruby advised as if she was worried the rook will get pickpocketed and Copper nodded, though she flushed. She could defend herself “Oh and leave your uniform behind, I don’t want the citizens to panic for any reason.” That and she’d give her away with that signature armour. Copper nodded in agreement

“Good I just need a moment to figure out the way.” Ruby said sliding off on her own whilst Copper happily went and told her friends what they had to do, which was responded to with much groaning and complaints which caused Ruby to look over and they shut up in moments, trotting over to the carriage. Once that was done, Copper shed her armour in a little barracks and flew over to the gate and made her way out, Ruby following afterwards to stay on her tail into town.

Harbourside had the dense chatter of a port town and market place, with seagulls crying shrilly as they circled to steal unwanted and abandoned meals, the rumble of local carriages, wagons and a thick smell of fish both raw and cooking and the nearby sea the town was nestled against built up the daily hustle and bustle for the town. It was home. Harbourside was longer than wide, hugging the sea. It was the natural trade here and there was little need for expansion away from it, save for a slightly more comfortable home or business, or a carriage depot so tourists arriving from foreign lands didn’t stay too long in the sub-par town. The houses were watery blue, or a sickly green for seaweed, bunched up in rows and disorganised groups, forming alleyways upon alleyways, crisscrossing roads, and mazes of streets and paths, which blurred at the outlines as ponies rushed about to and from places, going about their lives. Occasionally a bright colourful poster showed the lime light of lamias, a pretty friendly colour palate and a nice, biased, depiction of a pony enjoying their coils, hypnosis or working in unity to build a cute little home. They were pretty cheesy, but most ponies thought they were cute and the lamias they saw certainly seemed friendly and helpful, though often clingy, but not too bad. But occasionally you got a bad egg or two who needed to be removed so they didn’t threaten the tranquil peace of Equestria.

A gruff, bearded steel grey Earth pony stallion with a tussle of greasy black hair was chipping away at a selection of fishing spear tips as he watched a bright white and fiery red siren slither past, her eyes fixed on an oblivious tourist, nose in a map as she wandered about the streets uncertainly. He gave a kick with his back leg to his stocky, dirty mustard yellow unicorn friend who stirred under his hat and looked up under the hat, lifting it up with his magic, noticing the serpent.

“Bring some of the sharper ones,” The grey one rumbled in a cool voice “Some good eels.” His friend nodded and they joined the throng of ponies shuffling about the street, just another pair of fishers.

The pair made their way towards the centre of town, calmly trailing the path of the lamia, before her target turned off a main street and down a triple twisting alleyway. The grey pony snorted as if holding back a sneeze and his counterpart turned away to deal with his own business, taking a faster way around the fish guts disposal warehouses. The ‘eel’ made her way down the alley after the target, whom had turned to the final alley, the lamia, as she was about to turn off and be visible yet again to the public, was cut off by the yellow stallion whom had suddenly turned the corner, holding aloft a net of gutted fish. Appalled by the smell she backed off quickly, away from clear sight lines.

“Watch out!” She hissed grumpily, trying to get past as the net was tossed towards her. A pair of air whistling filled the air as two javelin tossed spears sailed towards the eel’s unprotected top half, half a second to react.

CRACK-CRACK

In an instant, the spear shafts had disappeared in twin coils, bent double upward the oak had splintered and cracked in an effortless display of power. The eel ducked aside as the fish guts flew over her shoulder slamming into the grey stallion as he grabbed a second spear, which was flung from his hoof as the wind was knocked from him. Several more cracks and crunches signalled the destruction of his remaining weapons as he was knocked over onto his back and plastered with rotting guts and fish heads, not a pleasant smell. Meanwhile, with muscles gone, the mustard stallion wasn’t looking so fresh and before he could even fathom the idea of running the eel had slammed her coils into his chest and had dragged him to her lap, lazily looping him up.

He could feel her coils close in easily, bending and pressing his bones in, compressing his chest and making his ribs threaten to buckle and crack, or skewer his own organs from the pressure. Wisps of gagging air made their way down his throat as he tried to breath, she wasn’t even looking at him anymore; that’s just how much she considered him a danger right now. And she was right, he had been idiotic to believe THIS could be fought, he was an irksome fly to her, something to be swatted and done with.

Steel managed to pry the gut bag off and stood up just in time to slam back down with a coil around his neck, wide enough that it covered its mouth, but the peril and deadliness was no less despite its width and pudginess. Steel was lifted off the ground and held aloft by his neck, legs flailing uselessly under him as he tried to wriggle free, he was more fortunate as Steel looked down at his friend, he could still breath somewhat comfortable, Mustard was now less yellow and more a blue.

Mustard gave a deep gasp as the coils around him relinquished their grip. Coughing and breathing the sweet air he flopped forward in her grasp as he tried to recover, even as the pressure began to, yet again, threaten his chest with compression. He gave a soft whimper and the siren turned back to Steel who scowled and growled at her defiantly, this didn’t last long. He felt her tail tighten and become taught and his breathing ceased, Steel gasped fruitlessly and felt wisps of air escaping as he tried to hold on. As the last bubbles of air floated out of his lungs Steel’s kicking became weaker and weaker as Mustard watched his friend’s eyes turn upward, the eel seemed to be inspecting him, as if wondering what to do with him… Oh Celestia, was she going to eat him!?

Steel’s eyes had closed and the eel made up her mind, Mustard heard a soft intake of breath but Steel’s eyes remained closed as he kept on breathing, the eel drew close and seemed to be checking his pulse before she was confident he was out of it and lay him down, almost tenderly, on the floor of the alley, nestled out of sight even of those wandering down the street. Then she turned to him and slithered close.

“Time to show me your second home.” She said softly.

Mustard gulped, both from fear and from the fact that the coils had tightened a little more. This was his moment, his call to protect his fellow members of the Clarity Bringers, the one meagre moment he could fight back against a lamia for real. Mustard tried to screw up his face in one of stoic refusal, angry at the concept that this lamia could make him do what she told him… But he just looked more scared and it was hard to focus and make his face change expression when he was trying his best just to stay conscious. Mustard was allowed another respite of air and gave a pitiful wheezing cough, his body, if Mustard could see it, was covered in scale imprints where he’d been squeezed hardest. As Mustard tried to recover the lamia asked him the question.

“Where are you situated from?” She asked, Mustard shook his head, not trusting his voice to sound defiant enough from how little air he had, though this likely made him seem more frightened if he thought about it vaguely. The lamia tilted her head and Mustard failed to hide a whimper of fear as he realised she could just wait for Steel to wake up “Very well,” Mustard felt cold sweat break out as his heart beat began to pound on his chest, trying to run through a lifetime before it would stop.

The lamia closed her eyes, Mustard watched in a stoic terrified silence, waiting for the great red maw to open, shining white teeth beckoning him in, the end… Instead, she opened her eyes and Mustard didn’t understand what he was seeing. Gone were the purple iris’ and black pupil slits… In their place were beautiful pulsating rings of colours, flowing endlessly and effortlessly from the lamia’s eyes, with no pattern or logic, different in both eyes. Mustard felt his jaw muscles slacken as his eyes widened wanting to take in this marvel of nature, the glow of the colours illuminated the lamia’s face and Mustard finally understood why she was doing this in his mind, his certainty in the fact growing; he was a danger! To lamias yes but to ponies and the peace between the races, he was a criminal pretending to be a heroic vigilante and he was so wrong in that ideal! The real hero was right in front of him, showing him the truth… After all, how could something so beautiful, so peaceful that made him feel so good, so relaxed and calm be bad? It was just so… So nice… Nice to watch… He’d refused her, that was bad of him.

The lamia gave a soft laugh and Mustard smiled, she was happy, he hadn’t upset her. She gently closed his mouth before he began to drool, that was nice of her, and began to squeeze him, now he wasn’t afraid he could appreciate the tone of muscle underlining the fat of her body, caressing and pampering his body… Wonderful… It felt so… Nice…

Ruby let her eyes slow to a stop, blinking them once as the rings flooded out of her eyes, her pupils and the slits of her eyes growing and returning to normal as she blinked back into focus from the slightly distorting change of vision. Ruby smiled down at the stallion gaping up at her in her tight comforting coils, he had a cute dopey smile plastered on his face as his mind was awash with empty quiet bliss. Ruby had been tempted to eat the steel coloured stallion, but she was still going through Lilac, let alone Polish any more in her belly and she may as well just let the Clarity Restorers beat her down. But she didn’t need that, her snoozing friend wasn’t going to wake for several hours and this little salty coward was going to show her his friends so they could… ‘Learn to get along’ with lamias the same way he had.

“Now, why don’t you show me the way to your friends?” Ruby cooed giving a tight jerkish squeeze. Mustard nodded groggily and Ruby uncoiled him slowly and smoothly, noticing him watch her tail retreat “Tell you what, if you’re good, I’ll make it so you NEVER leave my tail again, sound nice?” Mustard seemed to be even more invigorated at the idea and set off at a trot, leading his Mistress to his obliviously doomed former friends.

Ruby and Mustard were surprisingly not that strangest pair of individuals in the town of Harbourside, with so many different species to ponies, zebras, griffons and even a dragon, the townsfolk hardly batted an eye at Ruby, which was good for her as she simply stood out in the open, perfectly camouflaged there. Mustard turned off the main road to a decrepit side alley, weaving between sprinkles of stone and glass shards to a turn off, the alley was so dark that Ruby was surprised Mustard could see with his normal pony eyes. Mustard stopped beside a boarded-up warehouse and smiled at Ruby.

“So, this is it? How do I get in?” Ruby asked softly.

“Oh, it’s under the warehouse, the base.” Mustard said cheerfully “Here…” Mustard pulled out a brick from the warehouse and the plywood swung open, a set of cobble steps leading downward into a poorly lit tunnel that levelled up deep below, below the sewer lines most likely, Ruby thought with disgust at the idea of being under such filth.

“Well done, now you stay here and make sure nopony follows me, okay?” Mustard nodded dully and Ruby slipped inside, closing the way in with her tail softly, carefully making her way down the steps awkwardly with her tail.

Ruby’s descent was a bit slower than she would have liked, there were no railings or ramps or anything she could use, so she had to awkwardly brace her coils on the tiny steps one at a time, it was so slow and time consuming! But, finally, she made it to the bottom of the stairs to the tunnel opening. Ahead was near pure darkness, even for Ruby with her serpentine eyes. The path ahead was lit up with occasional glowing orbs of light from wall socket lights that looked suitable for mine work, some which had blown out leaving large patches of darkness between them to hide in. Above, Ruby could hear gushing water, enforcing her idea she was below the sewer, that or the ocean and Ruby didn’t fancy having either option flooding down on her and really hoped the occasional echoing dripping wasn’t going to become something more intense later on.

Darting her tongue out to smell the air, Ruby could smell fading scents leading ahead, many mixing together into a gaggle of heavy scented salt and fish mostly, with a few other scents like cloth and berries underlining them. Likely rations for those hiding out down here when it became to demoralising to eat nothing but fish daily she thought. Ruby made her way down the hall, the soft swish of her tail sliding left and right the only noise in her ears for light after light… It was a full minute before Ruby heard a voice and froze, her tail posed to strike, listening.

“Luna can’t tamper with members of the Clarity Restorers dreams because there are so many ponies sleeping she can’t tell who is who, and even then, she’d need to know who the members are to tamper with their memories, as it is she’d just be hopping from dream to dream at random, assuming she still has the mental capability to use her magic!” Ruby gave a grim smile, Luna COULD still go into dreams, but she was so complacent from hypnosis she barely managed to get her job done most nights and typically she only dealt with nightmares, which Sunny had not changed so as not to arouse suspicion to the populace. Plus, a lot of early nightmares were lamias so it was generally beneficial to keep it as such, nightmares were much more suggestible than pleasant dreams to being changed to something more beneficial to the lamias image and public opinion.

Ruby found a break off in the dark between two unremarkable lights, she might have even missed it if not for the talking “Not only that,” The first voice continued “She will only tamper with nightmares, and Drifter’s dream catchers stop them. Let’s focus on the main issues please!” Ruby began to head down the hallway, turning a corner, Ruby was surprised by the change.

Ruby had expected more stone, dull lights and damp floor, instead a plush purple carpet lay nestled along a large open area, the wall was still the same stony grey but more well maintained and dry, a light grey as opposed to a fading dampened grey. Comfy chairs and sofas lining several maps, charts, timetables and worn out schematics. The room led off four other ways, one to a massive hallway Ruby assumed was the sleeping quarters, a second to an iron bar grated door, armoury, a cute little red cross infirmary and, with the door held open ever so slightly, must be the operations room. Ruby crept closer and leaned around, a single guard was sat upon a squashed sofa facing the door, a lamp lit on a small table beside him, head in a book called ‘Tackles and lines; a fisher’s guide to repairs and maintenance’. He seemed pretty absorbed in his book but his eyes were fixed on one page. The eavesdropper must have left the door open on purpose to listen and was more focus on what he was hearing to notice Ruby yet.

Ruby lay down on the floor and slid slowly and silently along the floor, dodging around the table in front of her, keeping in the stallion’s blind side by his book as she approached slowly, the conversation continued within the briefing room “The main issue is recruits, we brought in a fresh batch and I’m seriously concerned by the numbers!” A new voice said.

“What’s the issue, it was a good big selection all things considered and we got a new listening post!” A third voice interjected.

“That’s just it, there were too many at once! Too many ponies coming down here we could have been noticed, assuming we haven’t already!” Ruby grinned, voice two was painfully right, as she passed the table stretching her tail behind her posing to strike.

“Stop panicking gramps,” The third voice replied with a tone of disinterest “We need to take risks sometimes or we’ll never get anywhere.”

“And too many and we won’t exist!”

“Quiet.” The latest voice didn’t speak strongly, powerfully or even angrily but with a chilling calm and Ruby heard the stallion change page quickly which indicated this mare’s importance “You three bicker like a punch of foals over schoolyard toys.” She scolded “I don’t want to know what’s gone wrong or what problems you currently have… I want to know what you are doing to help you designated operating area! There are many tourists coming in here and we know the lamias have not yet gone overseas so there is no risk, yet, of them being touched when they arrive… We need to secure this town for recruitment and fast, what steps have been taken?” Ruby tried to strain her ears, it wasn’t easy doing so in the next moment.

The eavesdropper had a split-second flash of movement before his book was smacked into the air, he didn’t make a noise as three coils slammed into his mouth, covering it over, his chest, winding him and a third wrapping over his body preventing him from getting up or throwing anything. Ruby gracefully caught the book and set it down on the table, also bracing her tail on the floor as the chair pitched really far back, almost falling, and slowly set it back on four legs. Meanwhile Ruby was quickly looping up the struggling stallion, wrapping up more of his mouth and nose as a priority as he was trying to call out with what little wisps of air he had, but by now three thick coils had his face covered and he was silent even to Ruby right beside him, which was good so she could listen as she began to bind up his body in the chair, his flailing legs forced still and disappearing into tight scaly whiteness.

The dream paranoid pony spoke first “We’ve taken to defacing the posters and pictures of lamias and their lies in the town, showing them more accurately, but they replace them almost daily when we do so.” He said weakly.

The second more aged voice spoke “We’re still collecting the parts to make it mobile, but we are ready to start hijacking their radio with messages around town. I don’t want the signal to be fixed and trackable when we broadcast so it’ll be a little bit of time before I approve of its use.”

“Good, less risk IS better.” Ruby heard a grumble “And you, Bass?”

“I’ll be reworking our recruitment selection to observe for longer before reaching out to potential recruits.” Bass grumbled “But don’t come crying to me over limited or loss of horsepower.” Bass added.

“We’ll manage. Now, back on topic, the main brass sent a messenger, simple really. They want hooves and tools, we’re going to try and get the Princess of Friendship back, she’s the best as magic between all of those available and we could potentially find a way to combat their enslaving gazes with her help, once she’s recovered from it. Now, I assume I can count you Nails to get me the supplies…” Nails, the aged stallion, gave a grunt.

“Sweet Celestia Codes, how am I meant to get half of this? This is a fishing port town, not a factory! We’d have to steal all the supplies from the local checkpoint and even then, we’d be under what you need here…” Nails cried.

“Sorry, but you have eight months to figure it out, we want to strike during winter since it’s their weakest months. The snakes can’t stand sub-zero temps due to their cold blood and that will make pursuit impossible. If need be we can cut a few corners but we need as much as you can get.” Codes insisted.

Nails gave a long sigh “All right girl, give me back the list I’ll see what I can scrape together…” Nails said with an apologetic tone.

Ruby had her little friend wrapped up several times, so focused on the meeting taking place she had hardly noticed what she was doing to him. The stallion had his eyes rolled back in his head from the weight of the coils pressing in, slithering over his body. No doubt, having to stand stock straight all the time left him tense and he was now drowning in bliss, how sweet! Ruby smiled and gave a gentle tug to him and had to hold her mouth to stop a giggle as he gasped. Ruby covered his eyes next, surely, he wouldn’t…

“All right Bass, I need you to filter out between your weak and untrustworthy and get the best you can manage out of this town’s soldier supply.” Codes ordered strictly.

Bass grumbled “Gonna be interesting.” Ruby just barely managed to hear that part, Codes chose to ignore him.

“Padlock?” Codes asked the final voice “Any requests.” He must be the leader of the band here in Harbourside.

“Not much we need, except Bass here to be careful but I doubt you can provide anything like that to fix that problem… Could do with a better entrance, something to actually hide, a false wall or something maybe?” Padlock suggested.

“No, the entrance is fine, so long as it’s guarded, narrow hidden in darkness, assuming they get down here… It’s safe so long as nopony falls asleep and snores in the lounge.” Codes grumbled.

Ruby had to hold out a hard laugh, he’d fallen asleep!? Grinning Ruby uncoiled him and laid the stallion down in the chair to rest, he would be fine there. With the room clear she slithered up to the open door and tried to peek inside. A small room with a single green table, topped with so many papers that it was almost a centimetre higher than normal. Four ponies stood looking over it, Codes, a Pegasus pony, stood in the middle, with the aged Unicorn walrus stashed supplier to her left and Padlock and Bass to her right, both Earth ponies.

Padlock opened his mouth and spoke and Ruby felt a cold shiver down her neck “Baton is on guard tonight so don’t hold your breath.” Codes gave a noise of dislike.

She didn’t have time. Even as Ruby turned to try and cover Baton’s mouth he had it open and let out a noise like a ship engine that had blown its muffler. Ruby grit her teeth, crap he just gave her away. If they woke him up he would tell them instantly, if she took him away they’d be suspicious and raise an alarm and there wasn’t time to hypnotise him and implant triggers and wake him up with Codes already heading towards the door… Well only one option left.

Streaking her tail tip in her bag, Ruby took out the long blade, those trained in the use of this lamia exclusive weapon fondly called it the ‘rattle dagger’ though it was anything but a dagger. It was bigger than a longsword at around six feet long, a third as wide and pointed downward with a curved blade for parrying. It was a deadly looking instrument and was so heavy that a single normal pony could hardly carry them for knighting ceremonies. Ruby tied up a set of purple straps to her tail so the blade wouldn’t fall off and, as Codes reached the door she slammed it open with a crack, Baton didn’t so much as grunt at the noise.

Codes gave a rather comical shriek no dignified leader would ever dare make in front of their soldiers as Ruby forced so much of her tail through the door so fast the door flew off its hinges and part of the wall crumbled in submission. Codes tried to start backing up but a pair of coils grabbed her legs and she disappeared, screaming, into a cocoon that Ruby stood upon taking a second to choose the next target. It was Padlock, naturally as head guard, who reacted first. Grabbing a short sword, which looked like a butter knife next to Ruby’s own weapon and jumped aside as Ruby advanced on him, piling Codes in the cracked doorway to hold the other two within. Ruby held her blade over her shoulder like a scorpion tail posed to stab and crept slowly towards Padlock who stood defensively against the lamia, watching him stoically. Ruby gave a fake blink, holding it for just a little longer than normally. Assuming she was getting ready to use her hypnosis Padlock flew forward in an attack and Ruby opened her perfectly normal eyes and swung low and swept sideways. Padlock’s sword swished through the air and embedded itself in the wall where it quivered an eerie tune to the group, it was the sound of everypony having been disarmed.

Ruby turned the curved tip of her blade the other way and held it to Padlock’s neck, making him stand taller. He was a dark blood red and had a tussle of black hair on his head… Ruby could imagine a streak of red and dark brown instead… Ruby lowered her blade slightly and slammed her tail into Padlock who gave a gasp and wheeze as he too was twirled up. Ruby then turned to Bass and Nails who were backed up beside Padlock’s sword. To his credit, the stubborn old codger was refusing to give in and had grabbed a chair in his magic as a shield and was trying to wrench the sword, which was buried nearly to its hilt, out of the wall. Bass did not seem cool and calm, or bored anymore like he had before. No doubt regretting his recruiting process now a lamia was so close to him and not at all like the pretty pictures; a fully grown, bulking heavily armed seriously pissed off serpent of power.

Bass fell down and cowered, easily wrapped up in coils and Nails gave a grunt of annoyance “Blubbering baby!” Before abandoning the sword and flailing the chair, which Ruby cut down to the legs he was holding. Nails lowered the four small chair leg pieces down to his eyes and scoffed “Heh, I never was a combatant…” And then he did what a snake normally did, and struck out at Ruby “But there’s always time to learn!” He screamed flailing his hooves as the coil around his belly held him back.

“I think,” Ruby said with an amused smile “You need to calm down old timer.” Ruby said as her eyes dilated into pinpricks and then pulsating colourful rings.

“Old timer!? I ain’t that old you overgrown worm! I’m still young enough to get you… A good hide… A good… A… Ah… I…” Nails slumped in the coil ring as his speech broke away and his scowl relaxed and into an expression of empty minded bliss and peaceful quiet, he looked a bit younger really.

“There you go, have a nap.” Ruby suggested softly.

“M’kay.” Was all Nails managed before his head fell down like a dead fish and he began to breath softly.

Well that took care of the chain of command, at least here and hopefully sending waves over more of this ‘rebellion’, Ruby would take these four back, and Baton to be safe with Mustard and Steel. Sunny’s interrogation could do the rest until she was needed again. Ruby also took every scrap of paper off the table and locked the doors behind her, grabbing Baton and covering his mouth, returning the way she went, the snoozing night guards none the wiser.

Ruby’s trek out of town, having told Mustard to follow and collecting the sleeping Steel, was much briefer than entering. Making her way hastily out of town, appearing similar to most of the ponies wanting to leave the fish gut smelling place, Ruby still maintained her air of similarity to the other travellers. Mustard remained close to her side and Ruby’s coils were bunched up around her so the coil cocoons containing her captives received few looks, save for when sunlight peeked through the cloud line to make the white cascade with rainbow like colours. Ruby arrived at the camp and Copper let her in quickly.

“Get me some subduing goggles, seven, quickly.” Copper nodded and galloped away. She returned soon after with a set of square visors, similar to the ones in Ruby’s staff room, and presented them to Ruby “Good, well done… Did you get the pearls?” Ruby asked and Copper nodded.

“I put them in the wagon.” She said as Ruby took the first set of goggles and lowered the coils around Codes down as Ruby flicked a switched on the side, a soft colourful glow emanating from within the goggles.

Codes scowled and shook her head, wriggling and trying her best to hit Ruby before a coil crown around her forehead held her still and Ruby forced the visor on, fastening it in place “You won’t get away with this!” Codes said.

“I have a warrant and plenty of evidence to convict you.” Ruby said softly wrapping up the prisoner to enjoy her hypnotic display for the trip. She’d been deeply under when they arrived.

With a little help from Copper, Ruby was able to get the others in a pair, Baton was still snoring which made Ruby have to fight off a fit of giggles at the sight of his head lolling backwards, mouth open and snoring like a tankard.

“Okay, all prisoners have their goggles on Mistress,” Copper said waving her friends over “Shall we return?” Ruby gave a stern nod.

“Yes, straight to Canterlot castle, Sunny will be interested in what I have found.” Ruby said softly.

The soldiers quickly set to fastening in as Ruby climbed into the back of the carriage, sitting her new guests down as she took out a paper at random, it was a photo of a shoe polish black stallion leading two lamias and a red stallion and a small folder tied together with an elastic band, which listed the members of Ruby’s staff and their current ‘conditions’.

“I might need to request additional security.” Ruby mumbled in thought as she looked over the extravagant amount of intel the Clarity Restorers had on their worst nightmare.

Ruby normally would have spent her time taunting and teasing her captives, whispering and edging them on as they watched ring after ring pulse over the goggles, more and more of their minds whittling away into peaceful nothingness. However, Ruby was much further away in her thoughts, as she stared at the back of Bolt on the picture and sifted through the other documents she’d recovered. There were several scraps of intel on her, like half a jigsaw that Ruby couldn’t assemble, finally she found another piece related to her, or more accurately her staff. Once again it was Bolt and it listed him as ‘unenlightened’ but with a caution depicting that he was at the highest risk possible for being compromised and recruitment wasn’t advisable. On an attached note, Ruby found something unlike Nails’ secretive nature.

“Centre Point,

Induction of classified stallion, file attached, is recommended. He is closer than any other pony can possibly get to our ‘virus’ and would undoubtedly have the best opportunity not only to eliminate her but also various higher ups in the snake pit as intel suggests they are gathering at his current placement for a meal. Likely he is afraid if we can infiltrate and contact him we may be able to convince him to uptake in this endeavour. I have no doubt you’ll be able to locate something suitable to eliminate them that they wouldn’t notice right away, thus ensuring his safety and emboldening him. Once we have removed the snake’s head and tail the body will rip itself in piece for us, we’ll just need to stop it becoming a hydra. I would rec-” Ruby flipped over the paper and sighed a breath of relief. Evidently, it had just been a draft instead of the note being returned by Codes for discussion or even an update on it. Still better to make sure it wasn’t just one draft of several. Ruby never had time to check Nails’ quarters, which was foolish of her but it was either what she had guaranteed or nothing at all if she got trapped.

Ruby was snapped to reality as the carriage gave a sudden bump, colliding with the floor of the Canterlot Castle hanger and Ruby sat up looking out the window of the door, having hardly noticed the light outside her carriage changing from bright sunset to glittering silver moonlight “Ruby Scales, Hypnotic tail to the Queen, has returned from Harbourside!” Ruby’s lead rider called out and Ruby looked over as Sunny arrived within the room, flanked by a small white mare adjusting a pair of spectacles on her nose, the head of Canterlot’s intelligence and surveillance department.

Ruby opened the door as several guards trotted over and took Ruby’s captives away “I see the news must be dire, they still look to be fighting.” Sunny commented, noticing Codes meek kicks “What is it?” Ruby simply held out the draft about Bolt “Ah yes, your new chef… He was a lot of fun.” Sunny re-read the letter noticing Ruby’s stern look “Ruby,” Sunny slithered away hoofing over the note to Strat, the white mare, to uncover “I find it unlikely they reached Bolt, when would they? Has he not been with the two porters all this time and when he is not he has never left the building since he arrived, correct?”

“As far as I know, I have no reason to believe he has gone outside into the courtyard let alone outside my home, but he could have found a way.” Ruby argued.

“Oh, pray tell what it is?” Sunny asked “Ruby, I met him, he is no assassin. He’s a normal stallion with an extraordinary gift for cooking and being coiled up. He just wants to feel safe, like his life is not in danger, maybe if you weren’t so threatening mutiny wouldn’t be such a concern to you.” Ruby looked away not wanting to descend into an argument again “He enjoyed it.” Sunny added.

“Enjoyed what?” Ruby asked.

“Being coiled up and rolled around in my coils, he was nervous at first, naturally, but soon allowed himself to enjoy it… I might suggest giving it a try with him could be a good bonding exercise, and who knows… Maybe he might grow tempted for another type of comfort and bliss.” Sunny suggested with a smile “Anyway, I need to get back to work, the court resumes tomorrow.” Sunny said with a tired sigh, politics were so boring to her.

Ruby looked down in thought “Yeah,” She said softly then more strongly “Sure, I’ll give that a try, will be nice to coil him up!” Ruby said more eagerly with a fang filled smile and she quickly slithered off to file a report then leave.

Ruby slithered across Canterlot, ducking past nobles, lords and ladies of various lands and other lamias, who smiled and waved as Ruby passed by, who waved back quickly. Soon Ruby’s manor came into view and she grinned calling for the gates to open and tapping her tail tip on the ground, like a pony tapping their hoof impatiently. Ruby slid into the courtyard and was greeted by a low bow of a dozen ponies.

“Welcome home Mistress!” Nedra chimed happily as she raised back up onto her legs.

“Where is Bolt, Nedra?” Ruby asked managing to hold her appearance and dignity and not sound too eager.

“Bolt?” Nedra suddenly looked nervous “He is asleep right now Mistress.” She said quietly.

“Asleep?” Ruby asked and gritted her teeth. Ruby was his Mistress, he should be here ready to answer her beck and call! To serve and be down on his legs smiling up pleading for her coils!

“W-well… It is past midnight Mistress, most of the staff is asleep now.” Nedra whimpered.

“I told him to remain awake for my return why didn’t you wake him?” Nedra quivered on the spot.

“S-S-Sunny asked he not be disturbed…” Nedra said weakly “I’ll go wake him now.” Nedra said turning to gallop away for Bolt’s room.

“No,” Nedra froze, a trickle of her old self’s fear running down her spine “Return to your duties I will see to him myself.” Nedra sighed and nodded, wanting to move quickly to avoid her Mistress’ rage but Ruby almost knocked her over in her speedy haste.

Ruby swung the door open and slithered up the ramp to the bedrooms, along the hall until she founds Bolt’s name. She had to hold back the desire to smash it open, pulling the handle down she opened the door ready to pounce… And Ruby froze.

Bolt lay sprawled out in his bed, chest rising and falling in a soft tempo as he hugged the soft fake coil in front of him, his face relaxed, not etched with worry or fear or furrowed and braced for a hypnotic assault… he looked content and peaceful. Ruby slowly lowered her hoof as she stared at him, she’d wanted to hurt him but he didn’t even know he was doing anything wrong… he’d been doing what Sunny told him to do and fell asleep from exhaustion. Sunny could have woken him up but she let him sleep. It was hardly Bolt’s fault he had missed Ruby’s return. Ruby slid quietly into the room up to Bolt, his face bathed in silver light as she knelt down beside him. Ruby gently pulled away the coil in front of Bolt he was hugging and slid her own in place, nudging it again his hoof. Slowly, like a foal timidly going for a puppy is had just met, Bolt took hold of Ruby’s coil and hugged it, resting his head against it without a change in breath or his heartbeat. But his mouth had turned up slightly in a content smile.

Ruby stared at him for a whole minute before a quiet voice spoke from the doorway “Mistress?” Nedra asked timidly, concerned she may get Ruby’s backlash of anger as she had expected her to punish Bolt.

Ruby stood up and slid her coil away and Bolt kept on dreaming, far away from the concerns of Ruby’s control. The lamia slid out of the room and past Nedra without a word closing the door behind her, Nedra watching in wonder.

Author's Note

A chapter based around Ruby's role in the new world, an interesting insight. :)

Also, she's a badass!

Chipping away

Bolt stirred at the sound of Nedra beating the wok with her spoon, as he had done so every single morning for the past week here at Ruby’s manor. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, Bolt gave a dreamy smile as he looked down at the coils around him at peace with the world, remembering how tenderly Sunny had held him and how good he felt sliding through her coily sea. Bolt looked up at the window as he stood up, the piles of fake coils slipping off his body easily as he looked at the shimmering sunrise outside. All things considered, Bolt thought that things weren’t too bad right now.

Bolt grabbed his folded uniform from the table, vaguely glad Sunny hadn’t crumpled it with their night of fun, and headed out into the hallway with the others. Bolt found a spot in line, further along than previous since he had felt more rested and had an easier time waking up, unlike his co-workers, whom all seemed rather shattered and were on the point of nodding off again in some cases. Bolt filtered towards the front of the line until he got his chance to freshen up again and dress himself, passing by the others. As Bolt reached the ramp downstairs Bolt heard a collection of gasps from the remaining workers, some in fearful surprise and some in eager anticipation, before a series of ruffling as they all bowed. Bolt looked back in confusion as Ruby slid down from her room above; she looked a little tired but managed a welcoming smile to her staff, stroking a hoof through Nedra’s mane who wagged her tail like an affectionate dog. Ruby slithered past Bolt and she watched him, even turning her head to looking at him with a faraway gaze.

Confused at her silence and gaze, Bolt shook his head to clear his thoughts and made his way downstairs. Silver joined Bolt halfway down at a brisk trot and Sparkling ready and waiting with an eager grin in the kitchen for his return. An entire day without orders had them a little needy for commands.

Bolt gave a small smile as he looked between the pair “Okay, let’s get to work, shall we?” Bolt said strongly with an air of confidence he hadn’t felt since arriving. Silver and Sparkling nodded in earnest “Right, Sparkling give the pans a quick clean to get any dust off them from yesterday’s sit around, Silver get me these ingredients; oats, milk, syrup, hay, a selection of fruit like apples, pears, peaches and maybe some honeydew melon if we have any, and see if we have any coco powder I think brownies sound nice!” Bolt watched the pair whizz into action and set about with the oven and hobs.

Sparkling returned first with her selection of pans, her front left hoof giving a little spasm as she was wracked with hypnotic ecstasy from obeying her Master, and she was more than eager to retrieve some cake pans and mixing bowls.

“Cut these up.” Bolt instructed Silver upon her return with the ingredients, hoofing her the fruits to slice up which she did in neat rows at breakneck speed, setting them into separate piles.

As she did so, Bolt was busy filling a large pan with the oats, milk and as he stirred up the porridge he added generous amounts of syrup to change its flavour to something sweeter for Ruby. Leaving it to heat it, Bolt grabbed the cake tray and sent Sparkling for more ingredients for them. The room was swiftly filled with the smell of cooking, gas fires and heating up rapidly with the fans humming to keep it at a modest temperature.

“Get the dripleaf,” Bolt said over his shoulder as he took out the brownies and began shaving off the burnt edges of the giant brownie, Bolt noticed the pair rocking on their hooves “Alright, three shot glasses as well.” Silver was practically bouncing as she watched Sparkling gallop for the dripleaf and tiny cups, when she returned the hoofed them to Bolt and watched eagerly as he filled three cups with violet liquid.

“Cheers, Master!” The pair chimed happily and downed the drink, giving long breathless sighs as their eyes glazed over, focusing on a world of nothingness. At the sight, Bolt paused, he’d been so caught up in doing what he liked he’d managed to drop himself into some form of normalcy and had not given the drink a second thought…

“Do I really want to do this?” Bolt thought nervously, staring at the shimmering liquid for a long time.

“…Make you beg for my touch, my gaze… Fall into quiet minded blisssssss and drift peaccccefully through my coilsssss.” Not for the first time, Bolt looked behind him to see if Ruby was actually speaking to him, convince he were alone, Bolt downed the drink “A cute little stallion, so deeply wraps in my coils and scales… Unable to break free, unwilling to try.” Bolt smiled numbly as his head swirled as the colours swam before him in his mind’s eye.

“Coils and… scales…” Bolt mumbled to himself as he felt a fleeting sensation across his neck, and the soft sound of ruffling fur and shifting scales over muscle…

Bolt hardly noticed him mix the dripleaf into some icing and draw spirals all over the square slices of brownies in a purple ring, watching them peacefully almost able to see them move. Gathering up a bowl of porridge and giving it a good mix to make sure it was still creamy, Bolt made a huge bowl of fruit salad with a nice apple juice to sit in to flavour it all, and a platter of brownies. Bolt they lay up a tray and took it out with Silver and Sparkling. Ruby was waiting patiently at the table, her head resting on one hoof under her chin as she looked out the window, deep in thought. As Bolt approached he noticed her coils shifting, slithering around her as if she were moving, her tail tip rising and falling slowly, the light from the sun was caught easily off the white scales and Bolt found himself staring at its exotic movements, almost colliding with the table in his stupor.

“Your breakfast, Mistress.” The three said bowing their heads as Bolt settled the food down.

“Thank you.” Ruby said softly and, with no other comment, Silver and Sparkling left but Bolt paused, still staring at the coils feeling his wings shifted and ruffle at his side. A phantom sensation hit Bolt as he stared at Ruby’s gorgeous tail; scales sliding over his body, pinching and squeezing so tight his chest actually felt like it was closing in and he had to focus not to gasp out loud, as he watched the mass of ivory shift to get more comfortable whilst eating.

Ruby was eating her food slowly, her face at first was furrowed in thought then relaxed at the taste of her food, which made Bolt feel slightly relieved. He should just leave Ruby to her meal… Just go, turn around and start walking…

“Mistress Ruby…” Bolt said with a confident voice, but when she looked over his voice withered and died.

“Yes, Bolt?” Ruby asked softly.

There was a long pause where Bolt couldn’t meet Ruby’s eyes “How is your breakfast…?” Bolt finally asked lamely, looking at the coils again, feeling like a fool.

Ruby took an equally long time to answer “It is very good, I notice you seem quite comfortable using dripleaf decoration… Did you have any?” Ruby asked.

“Yes.” Bolt said on impulse, hardly a second between Ruby’s question being out and Bolt responding. Bolt held his mouth in confusion as if it had just disobeyed him.

Ruby however suddenly smiled and leaned towards him “Did you hesitate?” She inquired still eating slowly, licking her lips, he’d come so far… or, more accurately, fallen so deep.

“A little.” Bolt admitted just as quick, his heart starting to beat faster.

“Only a little?” Ruby inquired and Bolt shook where he stood.

“Please, stop.” Bolt pleaded, watching the tail tip rise and curl itself into ever shifting shapes before him in a personal display, seeking comfort out of its beauty.

“Hmm, stop what?” Ruby asked, raising her tail up and letting it curl in the air, sparkling and twinkling like snow upon the ground, towards Bolt, who’s head turned to follow visibly.

“M-making me answer… Like… Like this!” Bolt pleaded “I… I didn’t…” Bolt stammered unable to find words.

“I am sorry,” Ruby said with a mocking smile dropping her tail with a soft thump and Bolt blinked as if blinded by harsh light “What did you want to say?” Ruby smiled encouragingly at Bolt and he stared at her for a long time before he bowed his head, not responding “Bolt, I cannot just guess these things…” Bolt, very timidly, stepped forward and placed a hoof on the pile of coils Ruby had surrounded herself with, unable to show his face at this point. Ruby, at this point, had noticed the pink in his ears “Huh…? Oh… OH!” Understanding dawned on Ruby’s face which then splint into a grin “Oh.” She said again, softer than before “You want me to coil you up, don’t you?” Ruby leaned back and waited and, with a strong force of will, Bolt raised his head up and back down once in an obvious nod.

“No,” Ruby said and Bolt looked up confused and Ruby grinned at him baring her serpentine fangs.

“W-why?” Bolt asked, and was so shocked by her refusal, he didn’t acknowledge his own disgust at the fact he was pressing into this subject so much.

Ruby very slowly stood up, grabbing the plate of brownies with her telekinesis. Ruby left the empty bowls behind as she slithered away and said nothing, watching Bolt as she made her way to the door. Bolt remained locked on the spot where he stood “She said no, just go now! Whilst you still can, she wants you to follow her don’t give her the damn satisfaction!” A voice barked the order in Bolt’s mind standing his ground firmly, at the same time however Bolt kept hearing the soft sound of Ruby’s coils slithering over carpet, swishing back and forth “Stop thinking about that!” The voice ordered, but soft, as a long thick white snake tail was curling up Bolt’s mental image of himself slowly, muffling his protests and dedication to resisting Ruby.

“Don’t you want this to be you?” Ruby asked, leaning out from behind the cocooned form of himself, which was shouting in anger, but it was so muffled it sounded pleasant, at least to Bolt.

“Y-yes…” Bolt whispered out loud to himself, Bolt blinked and glanced around, he was still alone in the dining room “Silver, Sparkling! Clear the table!” Bolt shouted galloping after Ruby.

Ruby had just made it into the living room and Bolt spreading his wings, flying, at a greater speed than galloping, through the door before Ruby closed it. He spun round to face Ruby, hovering in front of her and, just like in the dining room, his voice faltered as he took in Ruby’s animalistic beauty, landing softly.

Ruby remained quiet raising one eyes brow “C-coil me up… please…” Bolt mumbled, hardly able to get the words out as he blushed.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Ruby asked smirking.

Bolt looked up at Ruby’s grin “Celestia damnit, Ruby! I’m swallowing my shame please…” Bolt’s voice died from his shouting “Please coil me up.” Ruby remained still.

“That was rude, shouting at me,” Ruby said in a soft tone and Bolt took several steps back, concerned for his safety.

“I… I’m sorry, Mistress.” Bolt managed, his throat dry, bowing his head trying not to quiver.

“I still won’t coil you up.” Ruby settled down beside the fire and Bolt stared at her.

A thought occurred to Bolt “Would you… would you stop me coiling myself up?” Bolt asked timidly, just outside Ruby’s line of coils.

Ruby looked back, the firelight dancing off her untamed mane “Now, isn’t that an interesting question… I suppose, if you truly wish to be coiled… who am I to stop you from making the first move, maybe then I’ll take the lead.” Ruby cooed smiling as her purple eyes flickered and reflected the fireplace “After all, you aren’t a full employee I can’t control you like the others.” Ruby added cryptically.

Bolt looked down at the coils, the reflected firelight on her scales twinkling merrily up at him, as if coaxing him to approach. Ruby flexed her coils, the muscles and scales rippling outward like a wave of scales along a beach. Very cautiously, Bolt stepped up to the closest pile of coils, glancing up at Ruby whose eyes never left Bolt for a moment.

“There’ll be no going back.” The voice warned, but knew that and was perfectly okay with it.

Bolt reached under the closest coil and managed to get a hold around the soft squishy scales, lifting it up with some difficulty as the muscle and line of fat kept slipping between his hooves, not to mention Ruby was no lightweight. With a heave Bolt managed to lift the coil up over his head and let it rest along his neck and shoulder, grabbing one end Bolt then rolled the coil back over his shoulder under the first loop, forming a thick collar around his neck. Taking a moment to pause and rest, Bolt dipped his head forward, resting it upon the soft scales as he enjoyed the sensation of his neck pressing against the scales to breathe. Curious, Bolt took hold of the coil still trailing down to the floor and began to pull, Ruby kept a grip on his neck and Bolt sighed softly as her grip tightened… Then more and more. Bolt ended up forcing himself to hold his breath before letting go, the shade of red on his face lightening from the lack of air indicating his limit, and the coils loosened, as if he had been holding some sort of elastic band taunt around him and it had sprung back to its old shape and size. Ruby had fully turned around, her back warming by the fire as she watched Bolt subject himself to the point of asphyxiation. It made something stir in her chest, like a beast rolling over to gauge its prey.

Bolt reached behind him, struggling to reach the coil before Ruby helped him by sliding it back, making him bite his lip as the scales ruffled and caressed his fur and body underneath. Bolt guided more coils around his back, working down his body forcing him to raise his legs up as he worked further down, Bolt paused for a second at his wings thinking, before he stretched them out and looped a coil along them length weighs as if he was holding it up, the sensation of Ruby’s coils pressing heavily down on his wings divine. Bolt’s collar, the starting point, was beginning to thicken out as Bolt slid the coils along his body, turning his head upward and forcing his gaze forward away from his work, making progress harder… and harder. It also did not help progress that Bolt was now staggering under the weight, and each time Ruby gave a shift of coils he swayed on the brink of falling. As Bolt looped a coil back over his back, brushing against his own tail, Ruby gave a little tug down and Bolt collapse, letting his head turn forward, since he could barely face to his sides anymore let alone behind him. Bolt braced his legs under him and tried to stand but Ruby pressed her weight down and Bolt stopped looking up at her. The coils were fairly loose around his body, once Ruby stopped pulling, and there were plenty of gaps where Bolt’s body was visible… uncovered, uncoiled and so very ‘wrong’.

Ruby smiled as she leaned down towards Bolt and tugged on his neck, pressing the collar under his neck deeper, locking his gaze upward at her “Are you comfortable?” Ruby asked looking over him.

Ruby’s coils curled down from Bolt’s neck, over his chest and spiralled down in a slightly closed in corkscrew like fashion, covering ‘most’ of Bolt’s body, skimming over his legs which lay uselessly against the floor, stretched out around him as if he were sleeping. Bolt’s wings were pressed under the coils he’d braced over them, which had widened in girth to the point only the feather tips could be seen, they were bent down a little and not the most comfortable point to focus on anymore.

“My wings… Are getting crushed.” Bolt admitted and Ruby lifted the coil up from them curling them around, the coils around Bolt squishing and pressing in as they slithered around his body to give them some slack. Ruby purposely compressed her coils to get the extra length she needed, causing Bolt to gulp as his lungs were subjected to tight pressure before Ruby slid more coils to loosen her vice like grip. With some slack Ruby curled the spare coils under Bolt’s wing, holding them up at an ideal angel for comfort.

“Better?” Ruby asked and Bolt nodded “I’m glad.” Ruby gave Bolt a squeeze, which he found almost friendly, as it was tendering and light as if she were hugging him in greeting.

Bolt, without the need to stand as the ability had been stripped from him, simply lay under the comforting weight of Ruby’s coils, feeling them roll back and forth slowly over his back, his neck and stomach, his wings which tried to flap on instinct to being massaged.

“Does this feel good?” Ruby asked as she leaned closed to Bolt, the stallion so content he didn’t feel the bubbling fire of fear in his stomach.

“Yes.” Bolt whispered, barely audible, due to a combination of tight neck squeezing and his relaxed state.

“Well, it’s bleak to what I can do with my tail, would you like me to show you?” Ruby offered with a tempting smile.

“Will it be gentle?” Bolt inquired raising his head a little indicating he was listening.

“I can’t promise that.” Ruby chuckled.

“Okay.” Bolt gave a nod of understanding and his own smile.

Ruby seemed surprised but nodded with a smile, recovering quickly to get down to squeezing the supple prey she had in her grip! Ruby tightened the coil around Bolt’s neck and lifted him out of the coils around his body which dropped away onto the floor, the pegasus giving a meek wheezing gasp as his air was almost entirely cut off, his legs kicking in the air uselessly. The compression on Bolt’s neck was intense, however due to the sheer size of the coils it was not an effective noose and thus Bolt was still, though barely, capable of breathing so he was able to stop his wings from flapping madly to gain height to start breathing properly, though they still flapped out of survival instincts but out of sync thanks to Bolt’s efforts. Instead, Bolt let himself enjoy the texture and feel of the soft muscle around his neck, smothering his jaw and mouth as well as all around his neck.

Ruby watched in partial amusement as she gathered her coils underneath Bolt, ready and waiting as her captive began to turn a faint tinge of blue, she was also surprised to see him allowing Ruby to do this she had expected him to hover but she was thankful for the trust. However, Bolt had clearly had enough of this. Ruby didn’t want to hurt him, so she quickly curled several coils up Bolt’s weak flailing body, keeping space out to flow easily up to where the noose was settled, a cocoon easily and quickly began to form underneath it and worked down Bolt’s body, his entire red figure disappearing in a body of white scales. Bolt gave a sharp gasp and several rapid breaths as Ruby’s cocoon took the weight from the noose, taking a moment to recover before his focus could shift to the coils around him.

“Maybe not so long next time.” Bolt suggested weakly and Ruby smiled as her coils flexed, pressing in and tugging Bolt down deeper inside as the noose left, being replaced with neat orderly coils.

“We’ll see, if you behave this time.” Ruby cooed softly, brushing a coil along Bolt’s cheek, whom closed his eyes in response as the squishy appendage rolled over his face.

Ruby began to squeeze her coils in, then relax, drumming a steady tempo with her coils into Bolt’s body. Bolt could feel his muscles being compressed in and gripped, squeezed and having the coils shift back and forth. With a shuddering moan Bolt slumped in Ruby’s grip rather easily, he tried to force his body back up but Ruby just gave a rolling downward squeeze and he was back in his docile state, watching Ruby as she hummed during her work on his body. Ruby began to add subtle pressure and twists to the dexterous belly scales of her coils, making several tense bones in Bolt’s body click and shift, causing him immense relief from any form of discomfort and tension he had.

“Bolt, how is it?” Ruby asked softly, slowly beginning to shift left and right, ever so slightly, Bolt following her.

“Feels great.” Bolt said clearly watching Ruby as a coil rested upon his head, caressing his mane and holding his head in place with a soft, yet firm, grip.

“Are you afraid?” Bolt shook his head, being naughty he wanted to feel the scales rub and slither over the underside of his chin and it felt good “Why? Aren’t I dangerousssss?” Ruby hissed softly, yet it wasn’t threatening or intimidating, it was just Ruby adding a natural and slightly longer lisp to her s’, kind of playful.

“Y-you are… dangerous…” Bolt said quietly “But… It feels so good… You won’t hurt me… Whilst you’re happy… I can see it.” Bolt mumbled slowly. Bolt was so relaxed that speaking seemed like a chore that he just didn’t want to bother himself with.

“Well… I suppose that is true,” Ruby smiled “Perhaps I am being too… predictable.” Bolt looked up with a confused expression before he was hoisted into the air and held upside down before Ruby who slowly began to circle him, trailing her hoof along his face “Let’s see how well you fare without a wisp of free air to breathe.” Ruby cooed devilishly and Bolt followed her the best he could, feeling his own heartbeat throbbing in his head.

Ruby wasn’t gradual, she snapped her coils close and Bolt let out a strangled gasp of air, his mouth hanging open in a futile way to try and get air down, but he may as well not bother as Ruby had near enough sealed of his windpipe. Bolt felt a growing numbness in his head and his eyes began to trail away from Ruby and towards the door as he weakly kicked his legs, this was more than he could stand… Then Ruby let go, completely and Bolt spiralled towards the floor, too busy gasping for air to open his wings to stop his fall. But, before he could collide with the ground Ruby curled her pony body forward, along with the top portion of her tail. Ruby gracefully caught Bolt, who ungracefully span around like a spinning top trapped in a hoop of coils, which Ruby began to fill out underneath. With a push Bolt was launched up into the air, opening his wings to try and start hovering, but he was caught in a net of coils like a butterfly. Ruby closed the top like a Venus flytrap and Bolt looked out between the little gaps.

“What are you doing?” He asked hooking his legs between the coils to get the best grip he could.

“Why, I’m playing with you.” Ruby said simply as she lifted the coils towards the end of her tail up. Squeezing her coils into trap Bolt’s hooves Ruby began to caress the frogs of Bolt’s hooves with a firm pressure “Are you not enjoying it? Maybe you prefer something like this?” Ruby closed her ‘net’ around Bolt so only his hooves, trapped between the shifting coils, could be seen.

Ruby held her mouth as Bolt let out several soft moans of enjoyment, the coils shifting and slithering over his body slowly and tenderly, pacifying him once more and tending to his muscles and tensions once again “Hmmm, yessss… it would seem you prefer it when THIS is the situation you find yourself is… I find these circumstances amusing,” Ruby lifted herself up, leaning close to where Bolt’s head had previously poked out, quiet breathing as Bolt panted in joy behind the thick muscle the only noise of Ruby’s prisoner, and without his hooves the only evidence he was even there “The fact you are enjoying this so much, being bound and coiled up deprived of your freedom, ability to speak and even your sight, I would have though you ashamed… I guess I’m just that deeply wrapped around your mind that you don’t care.” Ruby laughed in a soft mocking tone “So how long will it be… A day, two… maybe when you can move your mouth you’ll ask now… when do you want to see my eyesssss?” Ruby hissed giving a strong constricting squeeze, Bolt moaning within as Ruby’s words battered against his mind like a ram against a castle door.

Ruby began to unravel and lower her coil pod to the floor, Bolt eventually appearing in a sprawl of coils on the floor, panting heavily as his body refused to cooperate with his desire to stand… or move really “N-no… don’t stop…” Bolt managed his words sluggish and slurred as if he was drunk on Ruby’s contact.

Ruby smirked “But what about me? Don’t I get to enjoy this? It’s no fun if only one of us is happy, and if that’s the case I don’t want to carry on…” Ruby made a motion to pull her coils away but Bolt, displaying agility far superior to any of his previous attempts in the last few minutes, jumped up and hugged the coils desperately clinging to them, words spilling from his mouth before his brain could reboot.

“No! Please, I’ll do anything.” The second the last word was out Bolt paled and Ruby seemed to notice, with a slick smile stretching from ear to ear.

“Anything?” She hissed looking back slightly, a hint of eagerness in her tone at Bolt’s disregard for his own safety.

“W-well… I wasn’t… within reason?” Bolt suggested, unsure of what to say in the situation he’d landed himself in.

Ruby slid over to Bolt and leaned over him, her cold, sweet breath playing over his face as she held herself just above him, her purple eyes boring into his blue “Afraid not, it’s anything or nothing.” Ruby insisted with a smile.

“Can I at least hear what you plan to do?” Ruby shook her head, Bolt looked sideways away from Ruby, unsure what to do. On one hoof, his survival instinct and common sense told him to just back off from the deal it wasn’t worth it… however the other hoof kept whispering the joys and bliss of being coiled up and massaged… in the end the second hoof won out “O-okay… anything.” Bolt confirmed and Ruby smiled.

“Stand up,” Bolt, with a bit of difficulty as part of him did not want to leave the coil rug he was still resting upon, stood up and watched Ruby, his eyes flickering to her tail wherever it moved “Good boy, now I don’t mind my uniform but I prefer to feel the fur of my prey in my coils, so you can take it off.” Bolt did as she asked, carefully folding and setting his uniform aside, tapping the floor nervously.

Ruby shifted her coils about, letting the dense packed in pile stretch out. Snakes were able to loop their coils over themselves to compress their size and fit in small areas, and similarly lamias could do so as well so they didn’t take up entire rooms, but right now Ruby didn’t want to do this… Ruby wanted Bolt to see her in her full majestic glory. When Ruby took up over half the room, Bolt having backed up a little to avoid tripping, Ruby lay down upon the rug of coils she’d formed.

“Come over here.” Ruby purred with a mischievous grin, folding her hooves under her chin as if she were laying on a gel table. Bolt stepped up onto the layer of coils and, resisting the temptation to flop down there and then, made his way over to Ruby, enjoying the sensation of the soft scales shifting against the frogs of his hooves “Now massage me, and if I like it I’ll reward you.” Ruby said and Bolt gave a nervous nod as he settled down behind and to the side Ruby’s pony body.

“You can massage my tail, I like that more.” Ruby said softly.

Bolt placed both front hooves flat on Ruby’s soft coils and pressed down, feeling and seeing his hooves sink into the pudgy, soft, smooth scales. Bolt then began to roll his hooves up and down, pressing into the coils thinking this was simple enough as Ruby let out a content sigh “Don’t you have somepony who can do this for you?” Bolt asked softly.

“I could hire a masseuse specifically, yes; however, I find it much more enjoyable to tease my staff with the job and watch them squirm and wriggle as they rest upon my coils, touching them but not receiving the blessing in return.” Ruby said with a grin and Bolt had to agree. Feeling the smooth strong scales guarding the muscles of Ruby’s serpent body was certainly making him want to fall forward and just lay upon them, going back to content relaxation, but Bolt knew this wouldn’t be a good idea.

As Bolt set to work on a fresh set of coils, the coils around him began to shift and Bolt watch one coil slithering by, the light twinkling off the snow coloured top and he grumbled to himself, glancing at Ruby who was watching with an interested grin. Bolt sat back, lifting a coil onto his lap and massaging it that way, as he did so he had a thought. Unfolding his wings Bolt leaned forward and began to lightly tickle Ruby’s coils with the edges of his wings and Ruby gasped.

“Oh, I can see why pegasus feathers are used in pillows, very nice.” Ruby cooed and Bolt smiled, glad he’d made Mistress happy. Ruby also noticed this at the same time Bolt did, letting out a soft chuckle “You like it when I compliment you now?” Ruby asked softly and Bolt looked down, focusing on the task he was working on and Ruby laughed more in response “Don’t be ashamed Bolt, it’s fine… natural even…” Ruby rolled over onto her back folding a coil behind her like a cushion, her tail rolling over a little in front of her so her belly scales shone like flames along her snow white topped body “Move onto my belly scales.” Ruby cooed and Bolt tried to roll the coil he had over.

“Ruby, a little help?” Bolt requested, Ruby not aiding him in moving her coils.

Ruby gave a playful smile and lifted the coil Bolt was attempting to roll over up, looping it around his neck and pulling hard “Don’t lay down now.” Ruby ordered and Bolt managed a nod, taking hold of the coil and massaging it in a hug like motion, with his legs wrapped around it “Creative.” Ruby said “But still nice.” She hissed, curling her tongue around any word she could to make Bolt quiver.

This continued for a long while, Bolt being made to switch between Ruby’s under belly and upper tail in his massage. Occasionally, Bolt would get up and move to a new spot of coils, looping as many as he dared around himself as he worked, the time it took to switch taking longer and longer… longer still… finally, as Bolt stood to switch to another set of coils his legs, as well as his mind, finally gave in and he fell forward, laying upon Ruby’s coils. Bolt tried to get up, knowing it was a bad idea to lay down like this but it was just so comfy… he could feel his body sinking into the coils as they cradled his weight within them, feeling them slither and grip him as Bolt rested his head with a content sigh.

Ruby stood up slowly and slid over and out of sight of Bolt, who tried to turn to face Ruby but his head just slipped back into a more comfortable position and he didn’t have the range of vision to see her currently. Bolt tried to speak but his mouth wasn’t cooperating with his brain anymore… Bolt was a plaything for Ruby, he couldn’t do anything. Bolt felt a weight along his back, Ruby’s hooves pressing into his shoulder’s as she leaned down.

Ruby gave a soft laugh as she nuzzled Bolt’s right ear “Aw, did you wear yourself out Bolt?” Ruby cooed flickering her tongue out to tickle his ear further.

“I… I’m sorry, Mistress.” Bolt whimpered, his fear of being eaten overruling his comfort and relaxation of the situation, though his body remained motionless and limp as it had yet to awaken and recover.

Bolt felt Ruby sit up a little before two coils rested lightly against his back. The coils curled around into themselves forming perfect circles, Ruby placed her hooves atop the dome of coils and pressed down, the coils tensing and pushing deep into Bolt’s back, much more noticeable as a focus point as most of his body was uncoiled. Ruby began to roll the coils along his body, up, down, left, right and in small rolling circles. Bolt rested his head sighing as he felt Ruby grabbing his wings with her coils, stretching them out and letting two coils rest on top and on the underside of his feathers rolling back and forth from either side, meeting in the middle. Bolt closed his eyes letting the world fade away as Ruby pampered him, cooing softly.

“So good, so relaxing you could just stay here forever. There’s no need to move, no need to work to strain and tire your body just let it rest, fall limp and quiet… stay perfectly still and relax.” At first Bolt assumed those words were his thoughts, but the undertone of hissing gave away Ruby’s speech, but Bolt hardly cared at this point “You like this, like being pampered by your Mistress, comforted and held tightly and securely… it feels wonderful your body just melting away into her grip.” Ruby cooed still playing into Bolt’s thoughts, and she was wriggling inside easily, Bolt was so relaxed he was nearly asleep which made Ruby’s silky words slide into his mind easily.

“Sit up.” Ruby ordered in a soft, comforting tone and Bolt complied, pushing himself up and rolling over to face Ruby with a gentle smile, which faded slightly as he blinked dully wondering where he was “I bet you want even more relaxation, well why don’t I hypnotise you and it will be heavenly.” Ruby cooed in the same voice as before, Bolt nodded numbly as his mind tried to work it out “Say it!” Ruby ordered.

Bolt opened his mind and blinked. He shook his head and backed up “H-hay wait… I don’t… I don’t want to be hypnotised…?” Why did he phrase it as a question? He was certain on this! At least, Bolt thought he was.

Ruby groaned softly and slumped where she sat, scowling at her tail as if it had failed her in its abilities “Just… go finish the dinner list, there’s only three days left until the event!” Ruby ordered waving Bolt away. He quickly decided it was best to leave Ruby be at the moment.

Bolt stood up, the coils loosely looped around him slipping down onto the floor with sad, although slight comedic, plops. Bolt stood upon the pile of coils “I um… I enjoyed the coiling by the way… thank you, Mistress.” Bolt said very softly and stepped off making his way to the door. Bolt felt a tingle on the back of his head and instinctively looked back at Ruby watching him leave, he noticed she was faintly smiling. At least she wasn’t mad.

With a wave to Ruby, which was returned by her tail tip, Bolt left the living room and made his way up to his bedroom to finish the dinner list.

Prey

Bolt retrieved the meal list from the window sill and settled down to finish it, twirling a pen around his hoof before scribbling a selection of desserts. As an afterthought, Bolt added a small after meal tray selection with coffee, tea and hot chocolate to relax with after a good meal. At least, Bolt hoped it would be considered a good meal! With the list done, Bolt stood up to head down to the kitchen and start the preparations for the meal, it would mostly be ordering food today with some prep work tomorrow and leading up to the dinner but it never hurt to be prepared, especially if he could end up on the menu.

When Bolt stepped into the kitchen however he was greeted by Sparkling and Silver standing stock still at attention waiting beside the door leading out to the dining room. Upon noticing Bolt, they waved him over with a hurried nervous air to them “Queen Sunny is talking with Mistress Ruby, they plan to come in here soon!” Sparkling said, her tone tense and ready to spring and snap.

Bolt settled in beside the pair and waited with them as well, watching the swinging doors patiently, checking his list to pass the time. Perhaps it was because Bolt knew Sunny that he wasn’t scared, but his disregard for appearance meant he was caught off guard when the doors opened and the pair slithered in side by side. Bolt’s head snapped up to look, still holding his list and looking more out of place beside the two obedient porters beside him than ever.

Both lamias noticed, as it was pretty difficult not to, Bolt hastily stuffing his food list away and standing at attention. With a sly grin, Ruby slid up to Bolt who nervously stared back. Ruby leaned down towards Bolt as her tail rose and looped over his shoulders and behind his neck holding Bolt firmly on the spot as she got closer. Ruby’s smooth rounded nose pressed up against Bolt’s boxy snout, the latter of which turned red at the invasion of his personal space and the foreboding pressure of the coil around his neck. Bolt heard a ruffle as the food list was taken and Ruby pulled away with a smirk as Bolt began to sigh, before it was choked out of him as the coil looped back around forming a collar with a tight snap. Ruby slithered back over to Sunny, who watched Bolt as he instinctively, without even noticing, rested his head within the ring of scales and muscle.

“He seems more relaxed.” Sunny cooed softly to Ruby encouragingly.

“He is more comfortable with my coils but… still not my eyes.” Ruby mumbled back gloomily.

“Perhaps you’re too forward?” Sunny suggested.

Ruby just shrugged and looked back at Bolt, who’s head was dipping forward a bit as his eyes drooped lazily as he allowed himself to relax in the grip he was experiencing. Ruby paused and smiled giving a small squeeze, which was a lot gentler than the usual squeezes she normally uses to get the attention of her staff. Bolt’s head turned up a little, his mouth reappearing from the coil it had disappeared inside.

“Bolt, you have the dinner list ready?” Bolt gave a nod and a strangled moan as he tried to speak, strangled as he tried to conceal his vivid enjoyment of the coils, trying and failing to both lamias amusement “Excellent, but as we stated before you will need to provide some prey for those who want it. As such, Sunny and I will give you this chance to prepare some, seeing as your new staff hooves are here to help it will be a good way to break them into the fold. Can you do that?” Ruby asked.

“How do I prepare prey?” Bolt asked, and as if on cue Silver approached with a book, which had a smiling bundled up pony with an apple in their mouth and various side dishes around a table of eager looking lamias. Inside, there were various pictures and instructions of how to prepare certain meals out of ponies, covering them in special sauces and decorating them… it was an art on par with icing, and just as refined it looked quite nice.

“And of course, you will need the main ingredient,” Sunny said opening the door as a stream of ponies wandered inside dreamily.

They stood in a dysfunctional group off to the side of Sunny, looking around slowly, taking in their new working space “These are all the ponies you requested, correct?” Bolt did a head count, which took almost a minute, and nodded “Excellent, now then.” Sunny turned to face the group and they looked over eagerly “Thissss issss Bolt, slavessss,” Sunny hissed and Ruby glanced at him with a grin “He will be your Masssster for the time being! You are to obey every command he givessss or you will end up being sssserved! Undersssstand?” The group nodded with a chiming of ‘Yes Goddess’ in soft monotone. Sunny turned back to Bolt “They’re numbered, slave one through to ten.” Sunny said as if this was a normal acceptable thing.

“Wait… they’re all named slave?” Bolt asked confused, the group looking over at attention, didn’t they have unique names like... like normal ponies?

“Sorry, they have been entranced so much they forgot their own names and I never learnt them.” Sunny said with an innocent smile. Oh, okay that’s understandable.

“Alright, and the prey?” Bolt looked over as a pair of unicorn stallions stepped forward, one bright green with a blue mane, and one a white coat like Ruby’s with a jet-black mane.

“This is Chilly and Nightwish, they volunteered to be our prey tonight.” The pair had glazed eyes and smiled as their names were called, Bolt could imagine this was an opportunity they had no means of refusing. At all, though how anypony could say no under even normal circumstances escaped the stallion at that point “Will you be able to do it?” Sunny asked and Bolt gave a nod “Oh good, Ruby and I will wait for you in the dining hall then, thanks.” Sunny hissed turning and slithering elegantly back out, Ruby giving another squeezed to Bolt’s neck before turning and following suit, her tail slithering off from around Bolt’s neck.

Bolt blinked as if recovering from a blinding camera flash and after Ruby and Sunny left he wanted to vomit. Bolt looked at the two ponies he was going to prepare- was happy to prepare just moments ago! What the hell happened to make him accept that right then?

“Master?” One of the slaves asked looking concerned at her pale faced controller “Are you okay?” Bolt snapped back, he didn’t want to end up being served, or disappointing Ruby!

Bolt gulped back the bile in his throat and nodded, at least they didn’t seem aware of the situation “Yeah… alright let’s… let’s get started.” Bolt wished he still had that coil around his neck, the comfort and weight would be so much nicer to focus on than this right now “Stop thinking like that.” Bolt scolded himself under his breath, unheard by the others as they waited for orders.

“Okay, Slave one through to seven you will act as chefs with me, eight, nine and ten you are porters, understand?” They all nodded in unison in response “Good, okay… One moment,” Bolt was glad they were all hypnotised so deeply, that last line was a natural morale breaker.

Bolt flicked open the book on preparing prey Silver had acquired, there were various options, cooking them on gentle heats to cook the food decorations but not harm the prey, slathering them in sauces and there was one where you could massage them to ‘tenderize’ the meat. The time, dedication, and skill put into this book was disturbing, and Bolt tried to not think about what kind of things the author had done in the pursuit of their art and refinement. Eventually, Bolt chose one that looked easy enough; hypnotic honey glaze.

“Okay,” Bolt said, his voice oddly confident now he knew how to served up a helpless pony to something fully capably and intending to eat them “One, Two get a pair of ovens going, Silver, Sparkling, Eight and Nine bring a selection of vegetables, Ten get me a load of dripleaf, you might need a couple bottles. The rest of you get me two trolleys and a serving tray large enough for these two to lay on!” The group scattered to complete their respected jobs and Bolt decided that the ground needed orders to continue working so it was more efficient for him to lead rather than participate, which was nice because Bolt had never gotten to boss around a workforce of his own before!

Chilly and Nightwish were led over to the trolleys, which were rather large so as to allow them room to lie down upon them. They were helped up on top by Bolt and a couple of the slaves each, once on top Bolt had they lay down and remain still for decorating, feeling queasy yet again. The vegetables arrived and Bolt began to organise them into dicing them up before having them move along to a prep table, creating saddles and smaller dishes. Smaller as in; a suitable full meal for a pony but nibbles for a lamia. Once that was done the dishes were line along the bodies of the two stallions, Bolt even had the ‘creative’ idea to have one salad be knitted together into a sort of salad necklace which his obedient side said looked lovely and the rest of him was repulsed by his eagerness to think up such ideas, as well as the fact he had the capability to do so!

Finally, Slave Ten returned with the dripleaf, Bolt turned to order him where to go with it but apparently, he already knew, or thought he did. Bolt was about to discover the enlightened needed specific orders or things could mess up. Slave Ten walked right up to Bolt, with a trolley filled with several buckets of liquid dripleaf, stepped around grabbing one and proceeded to dump it over Bolt’s head. There was a moment of silence in the kitchen, save for faint sizzling as meat was slowly cooked, Bolt felt his body sing in joy as his mind was smothered due to the fact the majority of the dripleaf had smacked him in the face. Every nerve was burning pleasantly, so this is why dripleaf was used in the shower, he should have tried it… Or stayed in the bath when Ruby was using it letting those bubbles envelope his body and mind as he sank slowly into blissful submission.

Bolt vaguely noticed Slave Ten turn away reaching for another bucket and Bolt was able to strangle his voice into cooperation “I DIDN’T TELL YOU TO THROW IT ON ME!” The effort alone just to shout made Bolt sway slightly, threatening to fall over from his weakening legs, as Slave Ten cowered at angering her Master. The shouting also attracted some attention.

The door to the kitchen opened and Bolt managed to moan out “F-finish the rest of the decorative food.” Though, his voice was weaker and a bit slower than Bolt would have liked.

Drenched in dripleaf, tethering on trance and collapse, Bolt managed to turn to face Sunny and Ruby’s smiling faces “So, having success with the enlightened?” Ruby teased.

“L-loads…” Bolt managed to say, trying to be sarcastic but failing miserably due to every motion and sense being so sluggish, uncooperative and bathed in wondrous heavenly sensations…

Bolt blinked forcing the smile from his face as Ruby took hold of his head with her hooves “Certainly looks like you’ve decorated something, just not the prey we provided or…” Ruby leaned down running her tongue up along Bolt’s cheek and up the side of his head, the little forks at the end tickling “Did you mean to do this intentionally?” Ruby cooed as she reached his ears.

Bolt quivered, finding Ruby’s touch and presence much more pleasant and relaxing than before “N-no… Accident…” Bolt managed his voice weak and croaky.

“Mmmm, a tasty one.” Bolt took a sharp breath gulping as he watched Ruby lean back “Why don’t you go wash yourself off, and ask Nedra for a change of uniform. Yours is clearly stained.” Bolt looked down at himself, he was tinted purple like the liquid and nodded “You can all finish for Bolt’s return, don’t disappoint him… Or me.” Ruby cooed and the crowd bowed, Bolt blinking as he found himself on his knees, sprinting out the room as his heart beat like a drum, but his mind just whistled as air rolled through an almost empty space between his ears.

Bolt chose the shower first, the shred of what was left of him wanting to escape the swirling mass of pretty colours that he was hallucinating all around him… Bolt had to shake his head as he paused at the shower room door, forcing himself inside. Dumping his messy uniform in a corner Bolt jumped in turning the water on which sprayed out cold making him cry out, but it served to wake him from the hypnotic stupor as the water poured the purple sticky mess away. Bolt rested his head against the tile wall, letting the water beat down his head and neck, relaxing his shoulder muscles, this was a nightmare… A pleasant, blissful, entrancing, scaly, wonderful nightmare…

Bolt leaned his head back and bonked his head on the tiles, the dull throbbing served to, for the moment, beat back the swirling colours in his head and he sighed “Three days… Just three days I can do this!” Bolt told his shimmering reflection in the gleaming tiles before shutting the shower off to dry himself.

With the dirty uniform under his wing, Bolt began to search for Nedra. He eventually found her in a small little office space downstairs, it was a sunset orange colour with several pictures depicting Ruby hypnotising important ponies before the lamias rule, like they were historical moments. Behind a desk across the room form a larger desk no doubt meant for Ruby. Bolt moved up to her “Mistress Ruby sent me to get a clean uniform.” Bolt said softly Nedra looked up immediately from her list and nodded.

“Iron!” Nedra called out to the hallway and within minutes the door opened, a dull grey coloured mare stepping inside “Get a new uniform for Bolt here and take his dirty one away.” Iron nodded grabbed Bolt’s uniform from under his wing and sprinted from the room. Before the minute ended she had returned and hoofed a new freshly pressed uniform into Bolt’s hooves before leaving again with an obedient bow.

“Thanks.” Nedra nodded and returned to her scribbling, Bolt leaving as he had no further reason to remain in the small office space.

Returning to the bathroom, Bolt changed quickly and trotted swiftly back to the kitchen. Upon entering his staff bowed once again in welcome, presenting Bolt each with what they’d be tasked to make “Follow me to the… Prey…” Bolt said barely getting the word out.

The slaves all lined up beside the two overly eager waiting ponies upon their little tables, who looked up as Bolt approached them, beginning to add little dishes of food around them. As a final touch Bolt, rather ironically, began to pour dripleaf over them like a chocolate fountain turning them a nice purple colour in turn, and making them moan sufficiently in bliss and Bolt had to resist pouring it on himself.

“O-okay, let’s take them out.” Bolt ordered taking hold of the little green pony’s trolley and pushing him out into the dining room.

Sunny and Ruby were sat at the head of the table talking to each other “…So what do you suggest?” Ruby asked.

“Well, Bolt’s resistance is certainly admirable and amusing, the Princesses never displayed such gusto in resisting us.” Sunny said looking up in thought.

“Well, they never had much of a chance, they weren’t gradually teased for as long as Bolt, we got right into it.” Ruby said with a grin.

“It also helped they were so very trusting.” Sunny admitted.

“They were so cute as their minds were swallowed by our eyes.” Ruby hissed with a grin “But, Bolt…” Ruby said coaxing the conversation back on track.

“Tonight, see if you can summon him, he looked very… Obedient with that dripleaf all over him and I am sure he will be more than a little tempted and affected by it.” Sunny said with a smile.

“And if he isn’t?” Ruby asked.

“Well,” Sunny smiled “You could always line the inside of his uniform with the stuff.” She said.

“Oooo, that’s cruel.” Ruby said smiling just as the door opened and Bolt appeared, the conversation was dropped as the pair looked over “Ah, they look wonderful well done Bolt!” Ruby said as Chilly and Nightwish approached, wriggling and cooing at being complimented.

“Thank you, Mistress.” Bolt said automatically before catching himself.

Sunny held back a giggle “See? Normally he forgets, doesn’t he?” Sunny pointed out.

“He was having trouble remembering before.” Ruby admitted smiling as Bolt approached “So which do you want?” Ruby asked Sunny, her eyes darting between the two delicious courses.

“Hmmm, I think we should keep you colour coordinated, you can have Nightwish, I’ll have Chilly, the little lucky cutie.” Chilly smiled up at Sunny and Nightwish turned his head to look at Ruby as she slid over to him.

“Oh, but first we must try Bolt’s side dishes, it would be rude.” Ruby said and Sunny nodded.

“How inconsiderate of me.” Sunny said, the pair of lamias selecting a plate of food, Ruby a small set of chicken thighs in a nice sauce, Sunny took a mixed salad and gave if a few munches with a soft coo of delight, however Ruby seemed to have other plans for how she would eat her current snack.

“Bolt, come here.” Ruby cooed as her coils shifted to a more inviting position, she smiled at him as Bolt shifted nervously on the spot “Oh, don’t be scared I won’t bite.” Ruby cooed playfully nipping the air with her teeth. Gulping down his ringing fear and instincts, Bolt slowly approached Ruby’s coils, stepping atop them as Ruby watched silently.

Sunny was both watching the sceptical between Ruby and Bolt and getting ready for her own ‘main course’. Lifting Chilly up, who kicked his back legs playfully under him as Sunny looped a coil around his upper body. Sunny began to inspect Chilly, he looked expertly prepared and rather tasty, purple dripleaf pouring from all over Chilly’s body slowly dribbling onto the silver platter under him.

“You look very tasty.” Sunny complimented the little green stallion as she looped a second coil around him, but the grip was gentle. Dripleaf extract was very slippery, and coiling a pony smothered in the stuff was like trying to hold a stick of butter or soap.

“Th-thank you, Mistress.” Chilly cooed with a flush as Sunny sat up to lick his hooves with a soft coo.

“Hmmm, Bolt sure is a great cook,” Sunny mumbled as she tilted Chilly’s back legs towards her mouth “Would you like to watch?” Chilly nodded in response and Sunny slowly opened her maw, a soft click emanating from her jaw as it unhinged in preparation for the meal, even if it was slightly smaller than the norm.

Chilly watched, blinking slowly as his legs began to decent into the waiting wet red maw of Sunny Coils, the sky-blue mare grinning as she gave a gulp, closing her mouth around her legs and suckling the dripleaf of him. Sunny’s forked tongue danced up, down and around the stallion’s lower legs as she gulped deeper, his legs locking together as they began to push on Sunny’s throat. The lamia lifted both Chilly and her head up, angling his decent for a more comfortable meal. It wasn’t natural for a lamia to eat a meal legs first, typically they went for the head so the body would be forced to bend down… But Chilly’s mind was such a pile of mush that it was unlikely he would do anything to disrupt Sunny’s delectable meal, least of all make it difficult. Sunny smiled as the thought crossed her mind, giving a large gulp with her powerful throat muscles dragging Chilly down to his waist. He was such an obedient pet he didn’t even fathom the idea of rebellion anymore, he just did what he was told… the way it was meant to be.

Chilly’s front hooves tapped against Sunny’s cheeks and she gave a slight jerk of her head, Chilly pulled his legs up a little and folded them in before Sunny gave another gulp, taking Chilly’s legs in halfway, where he was able to push them down straight in a more comfortable position instead of being bent awkwardly. With another couple gulps Chilly’s body disappeared, his head was now just jutting out from Sunny’s mouth looking like a bizarre art piece. The stallion gave a small shift around, feeling the compressing walls of Sunny’s throat pushing in. Under Chilly, out of sight from him, he was bulging out her throat a fair amount, but soon that would return to normal as Sunny gave another gulp taking Chilly inside her gullet. The stallion looked up giving a final playful moan as Sunny slowly closed her mouth, another gulp sent Chilly sliding rapidly down before he stopped, then jerked further down entering her tail where the space he had expand, just a little. Further and further down Chilly went, eventually his small stature made him completely disappear, an unnoticeable bulge in Sunny’s coils, the only indication of his whereabouts, as he went deeper and deeper, were quiet muffled moaning and the occasional poke as Chilly tried to act like struggling prey for Sunny to enjoy.

Sunny gave a soft sigh of contentment as her attention once again returned to Ruby and Bolt.

Ruby had been marvelling at Sunny’s sceptical and Bolt watched on nervously, with a tiny part of him curious how it would feel to be in such a confined space like that, his eyes locked on Chilly’s progress as he descended out of sight. Bolt held his throat nervously as he tried to find Chilly, occasionally seeing him push out as he wound around Sunny’s long looping tail.

But before Chilly could settle in Bolt was pushed down onto his back, his uniform once again being removed though this time by a mixture of red magic and coils, once bare all four of legs were pinned down to prevent precise movement, or him sitting up. Afterwards, Bolt felt something cold being placed on his belly and upper chest. Looking down, Ruby was in the process of laying out the side dishes Bolt had made on Bolt himself. Sliced carrots and strips of cucumber, strips of meat and chicken in deep sauce, Bolt could feel it running along his body. In a stroke of mischievous brilliance Ruby took a couple slices of ham and laid them out on Bolt’s wings, pouring gravy all over the sensitive precise wing tips which made them flutter and jitter as Bolt fought the instinct to flap them. Bolt surmised that he had to be careful to avoid throwing food all over Ruby’s beautiful form which would, no doubt, result in in a ‘punishment’.

Ruby gave a disgruntled moan, evidentially that had been her intention, to make Bolt flap his wings but she merely shrugged her shoulders and leaned down towards Bolt. Bolt gave a whimper as Ruby opened her fang filled mouth and nipped at the edge of his body, lapping up the various platter she’d spread over him with a constant grin, moving around as she held him down with her coils which gave a thankful squeezed with each snack gobbled up. Finally, Ruby slid down towards Bolt’s wings and smiled at him, watching her movements with transfixed fascination. Ruby scooped up a large slice of ham with her tongue and managed to curl it back into her mouth whole, sliding up she rested her head above Bolt’s, his nose pressing into her throat as she gulped. The bulge of the meat pressing ever so slightly outward against Bolt’s face was a very strange sensation to experience.

Ruby leaned down again and began to lick the gravy off Bolt’s wings, switching between them one at a time, relishing the mixed taste of cooked meat with the lustrous scent and sweet taste of Bolt’s body. Bolt, meanwhile, was more focused on not flapping his wings still and he wriggled in his restraints biting his lip, not from fear but his wings were sensitive and he was make cute little restrained laughs as he fought tooth and nail not to burst into giggling fits. Bolt let out a long sigh when Ruby finally stopped before looking up from his current position as Nightwish let out an impatient and saddened moan from his platter.

“Oh, how cruel of me to neglected my meal, one moment please Bolt…” Ruby cooed lifting the red stallion up and settling him down under Ruby’s chest against her torso.

Nightwish gave a serious of gasps and moans as Ruby wrapped him up, giving a tight jerk with the end of her tail to make him gulp to silence him. Ruby carried Nightwish through the air to her awaiting mouth, where she tightened her coils so hard Bolt could hear them rubbing together. Nightwish’s mouth hung open in a silent attempt to wheeze so air down, failing obviously as nothing could repel a lamia’s coils, not even magic. As Nightwish began to slump, eyes drooping, Ruby relaxed her grip and Nightwish took slow comfortable breathes, obviously he had experienced this treatment before and was use to recovering from it. However, his breathing exercises were cut off as Ruby pushed Nightwish’s head forward into her mouth, the stallion giving a wheezing grunt of surprise at the sudden shift of movement before moaning softly and kicking his legs weakly, playing up the helpless prey act the best he could in his entranced state.

Bolt watched from under Ruby as Nightwish’s head descended into her throat, an obvious outline appeared as his face pressed out against her throat, rapidly stinking down. Bolt tried to lean away but Ruby held Bolt close, forcing him to feel Nightwish slip down her throat, which expanded and pressed in against his back. Nightwish’s upper torso soon joined, following after his head as his front legs entered, trying to push some semblance of free room in the tight, damp, comfortable confines of Mistress’ throat. But Mistress was a powerful hybrid and Nightwish’s playful struggles were mere twitching to her as she gulped more of his body down towards her belly, white disappearing within white. Bolt all the while was being pushed up against the descending body of the helpless, obedient, lucky prey behind him. Wondering how good it must feel, Bolt leaned back further hearing Nightwish moan as he was compressed in his tight tunnel of bliss. Above Bolt, Ruby gave a couple more powerful gulps and closed her mouth on Nightwish’s back legs, his tail hanging out like strings of spaghetti which she slurped down, licking her forked tongue along her lips. Bolt managed to turn his head to watch Nightwish descend into the coils around Bolt, hearing them gurgle and shift as they transported the filling meal around towards the end. Once Nightwish had settled into place Ruby lifted Bolt’s head up with her hooves and turned his gaze to look at her.

“Did you enjoy the spectacle?” She asked and Bolt looked aware nervously.

He had been enjoying it, but not the idea of Nightwish being digested, he enjoyed the concept of watching him slid slowly down and around Ruby’s coils but the end result…

“He’ll be fine,” Sunny said and Bolt looked over, Sunny was hanging a coil, presumably containing Chilly, upside down and wrapped more coils around the first, which seemed to wriggle as she did so “Chilly and Nightwish have other owners so we can’t keep them or digest them, we’ll spit them out when we’re ready but they’ll be okay…” Sunny grinned as Bolt’s mood seemed to lighten, it wasn’t too terrible then, so long as he didn’t go the way Polish did. He didn’t get spat back out, and Bolt knew that for a fact “You know what that means, Bolt?” Bolt looked back at Sunny and shook his head, Sunny grinned as she leaned behind Chilly, watching him with a serpent’s grin “You could join them.” She cooed in a sing song voice.

Bolt glanced back at Ruby, she seemed to have a similar mindset to this idea “I… Really don’t want to…” Bolt mumbled trying to lean away from Ruby’s mouth.

“Oh, now surely you can at least give it a try, as a chef don’t you have to keep an ‘open mind’ to something new?” Ruby cooed grinning, but her smile fell away at Bolt’s continued nervous expression “Very well, shall we try something else?” Ruby offered.

“What?” Ruby smiled and Bolt found that he no longer wanted to know the answer to his question.

However, Sunny came to the stallion’s rescue “I think Bolt should begin work on the dinner preparations, don’t want him falling behind.” Bolt sighed and nodded.

“R-right… a lot to do…” Bolt’s expression tightened as Ruby started down at him “I… I can do it later…” He whispered scared to speak any louder.

Ruby however just loosened her coils and wave a hoof “Go get the preparations underway, I am satisfied so I won’t require an evening meal.” Bolt nodded and made a brisk walk away from the pair before nervously trotting away. Once the door swung shut Ruby turned on Sunny with a scowl “What the heck was that for?” She asked grumpily.

“Now, now don’t be so hasty to rush him along.” Sunny said smiling as she lay the coil containing Chilly down “You need to be a little less intimidating, or show a kinder side.” Sunny suggested.

“And how will I do that?” Ruby asked.

Sunny merely pointed at the bulge that was formerly Nightwish moments ago “Later tonight, might I suggest after you spit Nightwish out, have him visit Bolt and inform him that he is safe and going home, or at least allow Bolt to see him in passing so he knows he is safe and well. You might find him trusting you just a little bit more, and combine that with the dripleaf shower he has had today…” Sunny smiled and Ruby looked down in thought.

“He might not answer if I call, or even hear.” Ruby commented.

“Well, you can only find out by trying, be patient, he’s on his way.” Sunny encouraged.

Back in the kitchen, Bolt returned to the crowd of waiting enlightened, who were diligently cleaning the kitchen for a third time already. Upon Bolt’s arrival, they all tossed their cleaning supplies and equipment neatly into a pile and galloped up to him, bowing low respectfully “What are your orders, Master Bolt?” They chimed like a chorus.

Bolt stepped off to the side and grabbed his dinner list turning back to face his awaiting armada of obedient slaves “Okay, we’re going to begin preparations for the dinner, I’m going to need these things done first…” Bolt began to list of a selection of items and instructions splitting them into teams. The earliest set of deserts and meals could begin and the preparations for the mains and such to be cooked closer to the day could be set up, with trays upon trays of food being racked up in the manor’s many fridges for the rapidly approaching dinner.

It was long, and often tedious, work for Bolt to organize the enlightened. They were good at following orders, which was both their high point and low. They had no initiative and couldn’t think outside the box, because that could be considered rebellious to their Master and thus the lamias which was unthinkable to them, like most things really. So, Bolt was forced to, word for word, tell them what to do with slow steady improvement. It wasn’t so much that they were learning how to work as chefs better; he was learning how to command them as a slave master better, which made Bolt shudder but he couldn’t figure out why anymore.

Eventually evening began to roll around and the door to the kitchen opened. Bolt turned from the station where he was checking slave six’s work on a large platter of batter for scones, which seemed satisfactory upon inspection. Ruby stood in the doorway looking around the kitchen before locating Bolt “Why does she always turn to me first?” Bolt thought with a suppressed grumble before walking over.

As Bolt got closer to Ruby he raised a hoof and spun it clockwise for attention “We’ll call it a day for now, focus on the desert prep and main meal tomorrow don’t want anything getting stale before the big day.” Bolt ordered and the enlightened filed out leaving Silver and Sparkling to clean. Bolt stepped up to Ruby “Did you change your mind about dinner this evening?” Bolt asked softly, speaking loudly to a superior was rude “What the…?”

“Oh no I’m quite alright. I was wondering if you’d like to go out into town tonight with me I would like some company.” Ruby said with a gentle smile.

“Isn’t Nightwish technically company?” Bolt asked, that was cruel “Sorry, Mistress.” Good.

“No, he’s going back to Ponyville to his Master once he’s dried off… Come on, don’t you want to enjoy the night air, when did you last get a chance to do so?” Ruby slid a little closer and Bolt turned his head.

“Well I… Suppose an evening trot can’t do any harm,” he said slowly with a little accepting nod.

“Wonderful,” Ruby said clapping her hooves together “I’ll get a coat and meet you at the gate.” Ruby said slithering off towards her room.

“A date with the devil, wonderful.” Bolt muttered to himself.

Bolt decided to change out of his uniform as he didn’t really fancy wandering around in it around Canterlot, Bolt didn’t have any other clothing in his possession but dress code was hardly necessary most of the time in Equestria. On his way down towards the main door, Bolt heard some chattering and looked into the room it was coming from before continuing.

“…Sunny, it was a lot of fun.” Chilly said with a genuine smile.

“No problem, glad you enjoyed! Let Buttercup know we can swag again any day. You okay Nightwish?” Sunny asked the second stallion.

“She hugs a little tighter than I’m used to.” Nightwish admitted “But it was a nice change, I’m ready to go home though.” Bolt sped up as he made his way out of the door; eavesdropping was rude, both in this new lamia age or the prior one. Though Sunny smiled as she noticed a red flash pass by.

Despite it being spring and high on a mountain, it was still nice and mild out in Canterlot. Even the crickets seemed to be enjoying spring, chirping softly in the bushes dotting the walls.

“Okay, we’re ready. Guards open the gate.” Bolt looked behind him as Ruby announced her arrival by ordering the guards around like usual.

“Oh, just a little wander around some of the parks, it’s quite beautiful tonight so I thought it’d be a good idea, help you… Relax.” Ruby cooed, Bolt didn’t need to know of her influence over Luna to make the night bright for her plan “Maybe we’ll stop by and get a few drinks.”

“Well um I suppose you know Canterlot better, so I’ll follow you.” Bolt mumbled feeling a little lost in the situation, this wasn’t like Ruby… Not at all…

“Okay, if you get lost, just look for the sparkling white coilssss.” Ruby hissed with a grin.

“Sparkling white c…” Bolt blinked then flushed as he stopped himself whilst Ruby prodded his nose with the end of her tail smiling all the while. Bolt’s eyes followed the tail tip as it waved back and forth in the air slowly before banking down and looping around his neck, giving a tug like a leash “What…?” Was all Bolt managed before Ruby tightened her hold.

“Come along, little puppy.” Ruby cooed as the gate began to roll upward slowly.

Ruby tugged Bolt along through the entryway, the gate rolling down behind Bolt with a clang as it hit the ground once more, this time though sealing him out. Bolt took a long breath of fresh night air, looking between the sparkling houses, glowing lamps, the castle now ruled by Sunny and the lamias and the night sky. It had been so long since Bolt had last had the chance to just enjoy this serenity that it was beyond words in terms of refreshing. Ruby glanced at Bolt, smiling, thinking that it was nice to see him content. It made things so much easier and influential on his little mind. Bolt stretched his wings and took off into the air and Ruby blinked before looking up, he would flee from her? He was going to pay for… Ruby shook her head as she watched Bolt simply loop lazily through the air, the end of her tail following along behind him as he did barrel rolls and zipped back and forth, like a kite on a line, though a slightly more sporadic one to be sure.

“He’s not doing any harm stretching his wings, and I have a firm grip,” Ruby mused out loud to herself “Speaking of stretching…” Ruby let her tail ripple out behind her, Bolt getting a strong tug making him drop at the sudden loss of forward acceleration before recovering.

Down below, Ruby began to make her way down the road away from her manor and towards the more densely packed houses and streets, her white coils shimmering, brighter than the moon and starts, glimmering like a lighthouse in the darkness. Bolt’s wings began to beat slower, matching his heat rate as he watched, following the swishing, swirling coils of Ruby’s body, stretched out endlessly along the bare road, like a singular, yet still equally beautiful, aurora. Bolt began to descend slightly due to his wavering wings, following lazily along like a bee trailing flowers upon a wagon, a moth caught in the allure of a flame. Bolt swayed left and right as Ruby slithered to and fro, he tried to tug his eyes away, but in the dim light, the coils were like a flare, both blinding, yet soothing and unyielding in their grip upon Bolt’s mind.

Ruby glanced back as she heard four soft clops on the cobble road, Bolt’s gaze was fixated on her tail and he had the expression of somepony guiltily divulging into something they shouldn’t “Enjoying the show?” Ruby cooed raising a coil so Bolt could see up, upon realising he was discovered, Bolt put in a large force of will and tore his gaze away “Oh, now that’s cruel I wasn’t doing anything wrong!” Ruby moaned with a smile and Bolt flushed.

“You keep trying to hypnotise me.” Bolt accused in a soft meek voice.

“Now that’s not entirely true,” Ruby began to slither backwards, raising her pony half up and curling back towards, holding his chin up “I have other means to do that. And don’t forget we had a deal… Besides my tail alone isn’t enough, but it can do a nice pleasant trance, maybe you should try it, relax… Enjoy your night off.” Ruby cooed softly raising an eyebrow in question “Well, either way, the offer will be open.” Ruby said grinned in response to Bolt’s continued silence.

The pair soon reached a shadowy forest enclosed in a section of pristine brick wall. Somewhere deep within the park were the shadowy outlines of climbing frames, swings and several lamia themed ‘rides’ both for lamia foals themselves and to entice young ponies. Ruby led her leashed stallion inside, the sparsely dotted lamps lighting only the path leaving patches of blackness between them. After walking past half a dozen or so lamps Ruby suddenly stopped and Bolt caught up beside her, noticing the sly grin and Ruby glanced down at him before back at her target.

Ahead, a strained looking stallion was walking slowly along the park path with head bowed occasionally kicking larger stones in the gravel, a shortcut returning home from work at the lab where he was employed. The pale white stallion gave a slow yawn, tears speckling his blue eyes before he raised a hoof to wipe them away, scratching his white and blue highlighted mane at the same time before looking up and pausing. Ruby and Bolt were a single lamp away from the stallion who blinked slowly upon seeing Ruby, before the lamia slithered forward towards him.

“Hello, little one, are you alright?” Ruby asked in a soft and caring voice, lowering herself to the stranger’s eye level to appear friendlier and caring in the dim light.

“Oh, yeah fine, just a little tired after work.” The stallion admitted with a smile “Don’t worry I’m just making my way home now.” Ruby nodded.

“Okay good to hear,” As she spoke Ruby slowly swayed and curled her tail behind her, the blue eyes following smoothly, enjoying the display and as the stallion turned, watching the coils for guidance unknowingly being steered by them, to leave Ruby grinned “You’re going back the way you just came.” Ruby pointed out.

The stallion paused and blinked “Oh I… Am…?”

“I think you may be losssst,” Ruby hissed softly “Maybe you need to follow me, I can help you, I’m helping thisss sssstallion too.” Before Bolt could muster up the willpower to counteract this statement, Ruby curled the leash up and covered Bolt’s mouth up, silencing his warnings, assuming he had intended to even give one.

The stallion gave a wistful smile “S-sure, that sounds fine.” He said slowly and Ruby smiled, offering a coil to him, which he took, being led along like a lost lamb by a shepherd.

“So, what’s your name?” Ruby cooed softly as she began to curl away from the path, using her tail as Alex walked alongside her to keep his focus off the path which they were leaving, the stallion dismissing the change from gravel to grass in his mind.

“Alex…Ander Holmes…” Alex said watching in fixed fascination as the tail seemed to glow, bathing the ground in a dull white light.

Ruby smiled “I’m Ruby Scales, this is Boltblood Thundercloud, or Bolt. So, what have you been doing today?” Bolt was confused, he had an accurate guess of what Ruby had planned but this wasn’t how he expected her to go about it, asking Alex about his day, how did that lead to hypnosis?

“I work at a bon-dage lab, you know the place where they test all the lamia themed comforts, toys and décor. I keep track of subjects’ heartrates, reactions and condition when using the products.” Alex said “It’s long work watching somepony else enjoy themselves.”

“Yes, I can imagine, watching in a stiffly heated enclosed room, staring through paved glass at a pony enjoying themselves more vividly than yourself as you take notes upon the enjoyment they are being paid to be subjected to… Must make you jealous, but curious, wanting to go down and try the products yourself. Wanting to know how it’d feel to be the one curled up and pampered by the smooth comfortable coilssss.” Ruby kept up her swaying tail, curling the coil around Alex’s leg up towards his body, pampering and rubbing it slowly.

“Yeah, just wish they had to watch me lay back and relax, whilst they strained their minds taking notes of nothing happening but me enjoying myself.” Alex admitted his gaze become distant as he imagined the situation in where he was sprawled out on a lamia coil mattress.

“You know, all the products you test are based around our anatomy, it’s a mimic to us and that’s all it’ll ever be… Would you like to try something real high quality? The real deal?” Ruby offered and Bolt nodded, here we go… Wait, why was he eager for this? And nodding to her question, Ruby wasn’t talking to him!

“I… I suppose it couldn’t hurt for a few minutes…” Alex said with a nervous nod and smile.

Ruby smiled as she spun on the spot to face Alex, both stallions coming to a halt, Alex because there was now a mountain of snake muscle blocking his path and Bolt because of taunt tug on his neck from the collar. Bolt felt his gaze quickly drift to Ruby’s, waiting eagerly and nervously to watch the spectacle, but before it could begin a blindfold of white scales slithered up and cruelly cut off his vision. Oh yeah… He wasn’t allowed to be hypnotised because… He didn’t want to be controlled………

Alex’s vision meanwhile was unhindered and remained fixated upon Ruby as she approached him, cupping a thick coil under his neck to hold up his head “What a sweet little stallion, so trusting and kind, working so hard and long all through the night,” Ruby smiled as her coil began to wind around, compressing against Alex’s windpipe as it began to slide further along towards his body curling down and around lifting him slowly up onto his hind legs, Ruby raising herself up steadily to remain towering over the helpless pony “I think, and I’m sure you can agree, it’s high time that you got pampered, rather than watching others being pampered, would you like that?” Alex gave a nod, silent as he listened, hardly moving save for the occasional ear flick at Ruby’s silver honeyed words “I’ll be glad to oblige, now just focus on my eyes and everything you work towards will make sense.” Ruby softly murmured so Bolt had to strain his ears to catch the words.

Alex did as he was ordered, watching Ruby’s eyes as they began to dilate. How strange, tiny pinpricks of blackness quivering in the centre of empty whiteness… As Alex watched the pinpricks in both eyes burst in each eye into glowing pulsing rings and a wave of euphoria began to trickle down the back of his mind, eyes widening to marvel at the spectacle before him. More and more rings began to join the first rings, Alex had the sensation of being pulled in and smothered at the same time as the coils kept winding around his body. As Ruby strengthened her hypnosis, she raised several of her coils, wrapping them around Alex again and again until she formed a closed off cone shape, the coils curling in a dense corkscrew fashion towards Alex so all he could watch were the rings. The low light only emphasised the beauty of the hypnotic rings to Alex as they glowed like a pair of lighthouse beacons guiding in ships… Guiding in his mind…

Ruby began to put the next phase into motion, with a simple though, Ruby ceased supporting the coils she had looped around Alex. The stallion, with his mind rapidly approaching trance, was physically weaker than normal and standing on only his back legs didn’t help his situation. Alex’s legs quivered then gave out under him, collapsing onto the floor, cushioned from the ground by the coils. Ruby moved swiftly, so Alex never missed so much as a flicker of the glowing orbs.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry maybe I should stop.” Ruby cooed as if she was divulging somepony with sweets and they were having a few too many.

“N-no… Please…” Alex moaned trying to get back up but the sheer weight was impossible to shift, even for those of clear mind.

“I don’t think so, you’ve just collapsed no doubt from exhaustion, working such long tiring hours, straining your mind with all the thoughts and analysation of what happens before you, all of it has taken its toll, I’m sorry for not noticing just how tired you were, you look ready to pass out.” Ruby’s words began to sink into Alex’s mind and they became truth.

Alex’s eyes drooped and he let out a little yawn trying to force it away to keep watching… The pretty… Rings “F…Fine…” He managed, he didn’t want this to be taken from him now!

“Hmmm, well you are in no state to go home alone, nearly passing out as you lead weighted eyelids droop down dreamily… No, you will have to come home with me so I can take care of you, since you are helpless without me.” Bolt gave a little nod, Ruby cared and would tend to his needs… Who’s needs? He didn’t know…

Alex just gave a mumbled of agreement, his eyes were lead, weighing down and drooping and he gave a soft sigh as Ruby squeezed him, lifting him up and gently rocking him, there was little need for any more coaxing. Alex closed his eyes before they opened wide, rings rapidly spinning faster than Ruby’s eyes through them as a wide grin spread over his face. Ruby ceased her hypnosis and lowered the coil controlling Alex’s gaze, as well as the coil hiding Bolt’s gaze and mouth.

“So, what do you think?” Ruby asked and Bolt looked at Alex, who was staring into nothingness looking like he had never enjoyed anything more, not a flicker of himself floated through Alex’s mind. Bolt’s gaze turned to the rapidly speeding eyes, they had tired lines but were currently alert and wide open ready to obey any order. It looked pleasant, blissful, relaxing…

“Tempting…” Bolt spoke aloud and covered his mouth why had he just said that? Why had he dragged himself back? Bolt realised he was approaching Alex at the time and looked back up, having turned his gaze towards his hooves as if he could see and scold his mouth. When he looked up Alex had closed his eyes and instantly fallen asleep, as per his hypnotic suggestions during Ruby’s entrancing and lack of orders to obey.

Ruby however was grinning “Oh, is that so?” She hissed leaning closer to the red stallion tugging him towards her with the coil collar still around his neck as Bolt tried to back away “So nice of you to admit that, I’d just like to remind you that if you want to be hypnotised… My door is always open to it… Just knock.” Ruby cooed flickering her tongue against Bolt’s nose.

“I-I’ll… Keep that in mind.” Bolt said very quietly flushing.

Ruby nodded, lifting Alex and adjusting his cocoon to be more like a swaying hammock or crib for him as she began to slither home “What are you going to do with him?” Bolt asked “Mistress.” He needed to stop forgetting to say her title… What?

Ruby paused and stroked Bolt’s mane, similar to that of petting a dog “Don’t fret, he’ll be well cared for tonight. Who knows… I might even see if he can fit a role in the staff, he certainly seems a lot happier with me than his old workplace, don’t you think?” Ruby turned away and kept going as she rotated Alex so his head moved to face Bolt and he gave a little nod of agreement.

“Head butler?” Bolt asked looking at Alex, could he perform in that role like that? Polish had been kept clear minded to manage it… Then again Nedra was managing.

“We shall see, he likely has past experience organising experiments and I’m sure he can adapt to the new work place given time and a little… Induction,” Ruby grinned “As for the note your thinking of about him not being able to perform without a clear mind, well I have had previous head butlers who I use to ‘relax’ in my grip every so often. They still managed.” Ruby said.

“Until they messed up and you ate them all?” Bolt asked quietly “Mistress.” Good boy, remembering.

Damnit.

“Now that’s not true, so leave my employment for new jobs, retirement or my lamia friends pay me off to switch them around to help staff their homes. I don’t eat ALL of my staff.” Ruby glanced back “Just those who disappoint me.” Bolt felt a cold shiver that had nothing to do with Ruby’s cool coils.

Silence fell on the pair after that chilling threat and Bolt merely walked beside the cocoon housing Alex, Bolt occasionally glancing at him and taking in the peaceful complexion of his face and wide smile, the image etching into his mind as he kept thinking back to his spiralling eyes knowing they just under those eyelids. Bolt was snapped away from his dreamy thoughts by the grinding of iron on stone, they were home. That was abrupt they hadn’t been walking long… Had they? The trip back was such a haze… Of colours…?

“I erm… May I return to my bedroom, Mistress?” Bolt asked rubbing his head confused, he felt like he’d fallen asleep during the day and awoken with the moon up thinking it was still the afternoon and not evening.

Ruby nodded “You may, I have… Matters to deal with.” Ruby smiled at Alex as she loosened Bolt’s collar and he lifted it off over his head with delicate care before setting it down, Ruby watching all the while as Bolt took unusual care of her tail.

With that task done Bolt set off at a steady walk, watching the dirt move under him as he thought. Bolt knew Ruby was affecting him, a lot more than previously and certainly more than when he first arrived, was he just being tempted, finally seeing why other ponies indulged themselves in this forbidden fruit… or was he being mentally manipulated. The last one seemed most likely to the stallion, yet the concept didn’t bother him. Bolt rapped a hoof on his skull. Nope, still fine with it. Bolt gave a long sigh shaking his head trying to clear the clinging vestiges of hypnosis but he knew it was a hopeless endeavour, it wasn’t something you could just dust out your ear.

“If this keeps up I’m gonna end up like Nedra, Alex and the other staff, trapped in a pit of spirals and coils.” Bolt thought as his mind pleasantly pointed out to him that this wasn’t such a bad fate as Bolt had been enjoying Ruby and Sunny’s coils already of his own free will.

This thought then drew Bolt’s mind back to the comfy, squishy and yet firm coils that had once enveloped his body making him feel so small, helpless, safe and comfy, squeezing and sliding over him as he gasped for air, whittling away any strength to resist his Mistress…

Bolt groaned, a mixture of annoyance at how easily his mind had become a turncoat and also thinking longingly for this to be reality again, shivering at the concept, though Bolt had realised this was a desiring and pleasant shiver, and not one of disgust now.

Ruby, meanwhile, led her new potential head butler into her office, Nedra was sat waiting for her beside the cushions after being ordered to organise the potential participants. Ruby held out a hoof for the small pile of folders “I will take a look at those Nedra, thanks, take Alex here with you and interview him, see if he can manage the role,” Alex looked over dreamily with pulsing eyes having awoken instantly upon hearing his name “As he was very eager to start a new job here with me as my head butler.” Ruby said softly and Alex nodded, course he said that, why would Ruby say so if he didn’t?

“Of course, Mistress, I will at once. How was your evening?” Nedra asked politely as she stood up and waited as Ruby uncoiled Alex lovingly.

“Hmmm it was very… progressive.” Ruby said lightly as she took a seat behind the desk, laying out the six folders she had to read. She almost regretted sending the pair away, but still… If tonight worked out then her desires would be sated by a greater prize.

Author's Note

Chilly Willy: https://chilly--willy.deviantart.com/
Nightwish: https://lunahazacookie.deviantart.com/
Alexander Holmes: https://alexh-05.deviantart.com/

Thanks to my friends for letting me ~~enslave~~ use your OC's.

Into her parlour

Bolt opened, hopped inside and swiftly closed the door to his bedroom, slumping down against it before holding his head in his hooves gasping for air as if he’d just surfaced from the bottom of a lake. Bolt slowly lowered his hooves staring up at the window. This was bad, very, very bad. The corrupted and snake-like twisted part of his mind merely shrugged wondering why he was so stubborn and defiant in neglected himself from what he clearly enjoyed and desired, whilst Bolt himself trembled nervously before giving a deep sigh.

“Two days,” Bolt told himself as if that might speed up the passage of time “Two more days then the dinner and I can just leave.” Bolt gave a weak nod then stood up, glancing around the room before heading to the pile of coils strew about from his previous night’s rest, hardly able to believe the shift from how numb and relaxed he had been after Sunny’s toying the previous day.

Bolt shuffled the coils around a climbed inside, resting his head upon a pillow he’d made out of them and stared straight ahead at the wall, feeling no sense of tiredness or need for sleep. Bolt rolled over, shifted and wriggled trying to find the comfiest spot that would allow him to drift off to sleep, but all his mind was focused on was the mockery of the coils; they were too soft and plushie, with no support or weight within them, they didn’t shift or rise and fall with gentle breathing, they could constrict him with a tight tug around his neck no matter how hard he tried it was just an uncomfortable tug… Bolt soon realised where his mind was and dropped the coil he had picked up, with the intention of draping it around his neck like Ruby so often did.

Rolling sideway, Bolt glanced up out the window as he stewed in his thoughts glumly. He’d been laying there for a while now, he wasn’t sure exactly how long, but long enough that he was drowsy and wishing to slip into sleep. Bolt’s mind, no intend to retreat in its assault upon his dark cravings, returned with visions and ghostly memories of Sunny and Ruby’s playing. In a moment of weakness and sleep desperation, Bolt wondered if he just let the memories envelop him would he fall asleep? Just as he was cracking into temptation to let himself try this forbidden fruit, Bolt’s ear flickered as he heard a murmur of a voice. Bolt turned his head, blinking in confusion, but before he could write it off as a memory Bolt heard it again; dim, shallow and vaguely echoey like somepony speaking softly from a cavern or well.

For a third time Bolt heard the whispers of the voice and, since sleep was eluding him so much, he decided that he would find out whatever it was that was calling out to him “How do I know it’s calling to me?” Bolt wondered in his mind as he reached the door and opened it.

The hallway was dark, dimly lit by a pair of windows either side of the long hallway, with occasional flickers of light from the torches of the night guard outside. Bolt glanced back and forth, wandering down the hallway to the crossroad leading to the bathrooms, staff room, downstairs and up to Ruby. As Bolt reached the middle of the hallway he glanced downstairs as if hoping to see someone there waiting for him, but it was deserted; not a soul stirred. But Bolt was not given to chance to debate going back to bed, the whispering cooed from behind him, coaxing him toward the source… up towards Ruby’s room. Bolt remained where he stood, staring fascinated up the spiral staircase to Ruby’s room. When the call brushed through his mind again however Bolt began to move towards the ramp and made his way steadily up. Bolt soon found himself outside Ruby’s room, nervously staring at it as if it was threatening him. The voice spoke again, however this time Bolt heard it through the door.

“Bolt,” Ruby cooed softly under her breath. How had it carried all the way down to his room?

Bolt knocked lightly on the door “Can I come in, Mistress?” Bolt asked the door politely, his voice soft in the hopes Ruby was in fact asleep.

Those hopes, sadly for him, were dashed quickly “You may,” Ruby said from within.

Bolt hesitated, only for a second, before pulling the door open and peeking inside. Ruby lay upon her bed, her coils laying sprawled under and atop the covers and around the edges of the bed. The first thing Bolt noticed was a small space right beside Ruby… she had been waiting for him. The realisation made Bolt both afraid, nervous and excited as he stepped over the threshold of the door, which closed behind him by Ruby’s magic.

“You…” Bolt gulped somehow aware he was admitting how much control Ruby had over him “You called?” He asked with a crack in his voice.

“Mmmm,” Ruby purred with a smile “I did,” she admitted quietly, “…and I am glad to see you answered, but do tell… when I called… what did it sound like?” Ruby leaned forward folding her hooves under her chin waiting in suspense for Bolt’s answer, a little giddy with excitement.

Bolt shifted where he stood looking at the grand display of Ruby’s incredible length and bulk. Captivated by the moonlight lit coils he felt the truth slip forth easily “It was a distant voice calling from a well, echoey but not with any defined word, I could just tell someone was saying something, I wasn’t sure what until I got here,” Bolt said glancing back up at Ruby who seemed a little disappointed.

There was a moment of pause before Bolt asked “Mistress why… why did you call for me?” Bolt asked softly.

Ruby rolled a hoof, thinking “Mostly to see if you would answer, or hear me.” She said dismissively.

“So, you don’t need anything?” Bolt asked.

“No, you may go,” Ruby said waving a hoof dismissing Bolt, laying back down on her pillows to rest and think. But Bolt, nervous though he was, remained where he stood and Ruby slowly sat up again, smiling “Or perhaps… you’d like to stay?” Ruby asked with an almost hopeful smile.

Bolt nervously kicked the floor flushing “I… can’t sleep anyway,” He mumbled quietly but Ruby just barely heard him.

Ruby grinned, the opportunity perfect “Well, why don’t you climb up here with me and I can sort that dilemma for you.” Ruby offered curling her tail around forming a set of glittering white stairs, inviting Bolt into a world of bliss.

Bolt walked over, glancing between Ruby’s coils and Ruby herself watching patiently. Stepping up onto the bed, the nervous stallion felt the bed shift around and quiver as he walked along and between the coils under the covers, finally reaching Ruby. Bolt, cautiously, crawled beside her and wriggled his legs under the covers, feeling the end touch a cool coil causing him to pull his leg back up immediately in surprise. Bolt looked down as he heard the bed creak, Ruby moving her coils towards him.

“Would you like me to coil you up?” Ruby asked and Bolt gave a little nod “Good boy.” She cooed.

Ruby slithered her coils towards the little ball of heat emanating beside her, her body and instincts eager to sap the warmth he would soon provide into her cold coils. Bolt gave a little gasp looking down as two thick coils looped around his hind legs, dragging him down a little and lifting him up. Bolt was spun around once by the coil which swiftly slid under him and curled up and around his body, thick bulky coils wider than his head gripped his body leaving not a sliver of free room to wriggle within, though Bolt did try on instinct. Ruby gave a playful squeeze with her coils, sat up looking at him as another coil curled behind his head lifting it up to be on a slightly higher level so he didn’t have to hold it up uncomfortably. Ruby flexed and let her coils slither and glide smoothly over Bolt’s warm-blooded body, feeling how soft and fluffy he felt in her huge coils, with Ruby letting out a content primal hiss of satisfaction. Ruby’s slithering also served to lock Bolt in place, the coils tightening around him, forcing his body to lock in position or be painfully compressed if it didn’t comply with her wishes, and when it did it received a grateful pleasant squeeze as a reward.

Trapped in his relaxing position, unable to move, Bolt’s mind was bombard by irritable fearful thoughts of how weak, helpless and vulnerable his was in Ruby’s grip. Ruby felt his pulse speed up in his neck and leaned close “Ssshhh,” Ruby whispered into his ear quietly “It’s okay Bolt, I’m here, I won’t hurt you. Just let your eyes flutter down and relax. Feel the muscles in my coils flex and compress you as I message away your concerns and your fears.” Ruby kept up the soft tone, hugging Bolt’s neck with her hooves, pressing her lips to his damaged left ear, her cool breath ruffling his mane and cheek “You’re safe here, nothing will touch you except my coils in here, it’s fine to just relax and let me take over. It’s natural, for you are weak and I’m strong, I can protect you much better.” Ruby smiled, Bolt’s heartbeat was a steady drum, beating dully in his chest, eyes half open as he listened to her honeyed words, merely cooing softly with each tantalising squeeze.

Ruby reach down with one of her hooves and turned Bolt’s head to face her, not daring to smile or hope Ruby once again pushed her mind pact upon Bolt “Would you like me to hypnotise you? It’ll make this feel so much better!” Bolt stared at Ruby as the words processed through his droopy mind, after lying awake so long he was finally being permitted the sleep he so desired, thanks to Ruby and her comforting embrace.

Bolt looked away and Ruby deflated a little in disappointment, once Bolt couldn’t see. Meanwhile Bolt was twisting the offer around in his mind, it was a dangerous, stupid, reckless and just plain dumb idea to say yes… but he couldn’t lie to himself right then, he was too tired to do so, he was tempted. Bolt had been tempted since he’d first seen Nedra back with Polish, what felt like so long ago. Bolt was tempted again, daily, seeing the entrance smiling staff… they were so peacefully enveloped in blissful obedience and relaxation all the time... but Bolt was also afraid of losing himself, of forgetting who he was or… worse things that drifted along the back of his mind in the shadows of fear and doubt that remained posed to strike his happy little bubble… a bubble Ruby could make into iron… or strong white scales…

Bolt took a shaky breath and Ruby resigned to another denial “Can I make a… condition?” Ruby blinked and looked over, Bolt was busy watching the nearby wardrobe handle, fascinated by it.

“I guess I can hear it and see what I think.” Ruby said, keeping her voice level, was he about to…?

“Don’t…” Bolt took another nervous breath, remaining silent until Ruby squeezed, wringing the air out of him like water out of a cloth, at the same time forcing out his words “Don’t erase me.” Bolt mumbled, getting steadily quieter as he realised how silly the words sounded.

“Erase you?” Ruby tilted her head, then smiled leaning back down to whisper “I promise, that tomorrow morning, when you awaken you will still be Boltblood Thundercloud. You’ll still be able to think for yourself, still be able to do your job and still have the opportunity to leave after the dinner, I will not erase you.” Bolt quivered as Ruby spoke softly in comforting tones, enticing him further.

“W-will… I end up like Nedra and the others?” Bolt asked nervously.

“Mmmm,” Ruby paused thinking whether to tell him or not, deciding she would so it would feel all the more satisfying if he cracked here and now “Well, you might see me, shall we say, in a more appealing light. You will be able to easily recall my eyes and spell and find it hard, though not impossible, to be afraid of me… but yes, it is possible, only possible, you may end up like the others, depending on how much you enjoy this.” Ruby flicked her tongue out against Bolt’s ear, his pace had picked up a little “Go on, you can only find out one way, indulge… go on… indulge… indulge Bolt… indulge.” Ruby cooed in a soft mantra.

“A-alright… I… I’ll give it a try.” Bolt said softly and Ruby failed to supress her smile.

“Glad to hear it.” Ruby said dragging Bolt deeper into her coil as they tightened, allowing Ruby to slither atop before loosening her grip so he could resume breathing.

Bolt shifted nervously, glancing around and away from Ruby. It was to be expected, permission didn’t necessarily mean eagerness “Bolt,” Ruby noticed him glance at her eyes then away once more, Ruby gave a soft sigh “Alright, I’ll start like this and you can look when you’re ready, okay?” Ruby offered.

“Thanks.” Bolt mumbled and Ruby’s smile returned.

“You’re welcome.” Ruby said to her slave to be.

Ruby closed her eyes and opened them, willing them to dilate into the pinpricks of black dots and empty whiteness, before bursting into a torrent of lazily pulsing, beautifully glowing rings “Bolt,” Ruby cooed softly and Bolt looked over his eyes widening as they locked onto the source of the ethereal glow. Bolt’s eyes began to dilate a little before, with difficulty, he wrenched his gaze away, focusing on the pillow beside him instead. Ruby’s tongue flicked out of her mouth as she smiled “Aw, now that wassss hardly a look,” Ruby purred, letting an obvious lisp into her words “Go on, little morssssel turn your gaze back, let you mind ssssink into my gazzzze and sssslip into blissssssss ssssilently.” Bolt quivered in Ruby’s grip and she smiled, pleased at how easily Bolt was to toy with.

Ruby shifted her coils, pulling the whole cocoon up Bolt’s body a little before it slid back down settling in place, rubbing his muscles and body making him sigh softly. Ruby then slithered more length around Bolt’s coil pillow, raising the thick coil up and pressing it against his cheek, the muscle and fat slack so it moulded itself around his head as Ruby guided his gaze back to her eyes, which were still pulsing in earnest, hoping to welcome the helpless prey into their depths. Bolt felt, again, the sensation of being tugged towards Ruby’s gaze, the world and scenery around her dulling and fading as the colours lit up his face. The glow was the only thing visible in the dimly lit room, an ideal setting and situation for Ruby. But just as before Bolt felt a twinge of fear and let it rule his decision, turning away, though it was a little longer before he did so, his head turning into the coil that had turned his gaze, which lowered under him and waited for his breathing to settle.

Ruby waited patiently, counting in her head until she dared try again without pushing beyond Bolt’s limitation, she didn’t want adrenaline to kick in or it’d be a pain to get him to relax under her gaze, she had to be subtle and smooth. Coax him in, slow and steady. To pass the time, and aid her next assault, Ruby let her coils press and smother Bolt’s body, squeezing and flexing against his tired muscles, raising and pampering his back before lowering Bolt back down, the coil snug under Bolt’s neck tightened, harder and harder until he was unable to get hardly a wisp down before relaxing. There was mutual pleasure to be had in Ruby’s coils pampering Bolt, Ruby was able to enjoy the sensation of prey in her large coils, squeezing and constricting his helpless form, and Bolt was massaged and relaxed by the grip, which switched between gentle and caring to tight and mischievous… but it never did anything he didn’t enjoy.

Ruby let her coils relax for a moment, the only movement was her tail tip which had slithered over, drawing spirals around Bolt’s ear playfully, making it twitch which Ruby found amusing. She then leaned closer whispered to him softly as her eyes made the side of his face glow with interchanging colours, Bolt having closed his eyes as he saw a glimpse of her approaching from the corner of his eye “Bolt, I want you to think and remember ssssomething for, jusssst for a moment… I want you to think about my sssstaff, when you have sssseen them enthralled in my sssspell. I want you to remember how they looked; colourful ringssss pulssssing through their eyessss rapidly, a blissssssssful, content ssssmile upon their facessss. I want you to remember Alexxxx, how relaxxxxed and peacccceful he wassss, sssso comfy and content he wassss able to effortlessssssssly fall assssleep in my coilssss without a care in the world.” Ruby smiled as Bolt bit his bottom lip, shifting in her coils as their pampering continued. In Bolt’s mind eye was the vivid memory of Alex smiling at nothing in particular within Ruby’s coils, pure euphoria coursing through his mind, body and very soul, part of Bolt wondered if he would look the same “Can you ssssee the image?” Ruby cooed softly.

Bolt nodded “Yes… yes I can.” He softly answered, focused very intensely upon Alex’s eyes and smile as Ruby kept talking, only half listening.

“Now I want that image to shift, blur and melt, let it float away sssso your mind issss like a blank canvassss for me. I’m going to draw a new picture; now imagine yoursssself, jusssst yoursssself, normal and well,” Bolt did as Ruby asked, imagine himself stood in an empty white void “Can you ssssee yoursssself in your mind?” Bolt nodded “Good, now imagine my coilssss sssslithering towardssss the image of yoursssself. Ssssee yoursssself sssstand on your hind legssss and allow the coilssss to curl up around your body, looping around growing thicker and thicker forming a nicccce tight cocoon.” Ruby paused letting the image play out as she gave Bolt a full body squeeze making him gasp “Now, with your body encassssed in blissssssssful coilsssss ssssqueezing and compressssssssing into your body focusssssss your attention on your eyessss, they’re widening and the pupilssss are shrinking, turning into pinprickssss of blue.” Bolt saw his imaginary self’s eyes widen in his mind’s eye, staring at something Bolt couldn’t see “You’re watching my own pulssssing eyessss and ssssoon, very ssssoon, your eyessss begin to reflect mine, a ssssimple content ssssmile playing over your mouth assss all thought issss pushed away and ssssmothered under my eyessss, no thoughtssss, only blissssssss.” Ruby’s smile widened as Bolt flushed a little at the appealing image.

Ruby leaned away from Bolt again, allowing her seductive messages to sink in. Ruby’s hissing voice echoed dully in Bolt mind as his eyes slowly opened. Seizing the opportunity, Ruby reached down, taking Bolt’s cheek with a hoof and turning his gaze, guiding it gently, towards her own. Bolt’s eyes turned to Ruby’s, the pulsing colourful rings having been patiently waiting for his return. Bolt’s eyes began to widen, his pupils dilating slowly as Ruby cupped both of Bolt’s cheeks with her hooves, holding him softly, carefully. Bolt’s eyes flicked to look at Ruby’s hooves then back to her eyes. Nervous, Bolt began to turn away, Ruby pulling her hooves away so as not frighten him, but as his left eye was covered, his right eye remained watching Ruby’s. Bolt glanced away again for a few seconds, his pupils growing back to normal size, then he looked back at Ruby’s pulsing eyes, turning his head to see her fully. Ruby’s hooves, once again, cupped Bolt’s cheeks but he didn’t flinch away, allowing his eyes to widen and dilate to a quarter of their normal size. Ruby had not yet put enough power into her spell to make them reflect her own, but as Bolt remained fixed upon her eyes she willed another ring to join in the dance flowing through her eyes, the power growing. Bolt’s eyes dilated further, this was his last chance to look away and stop this, but he didn’t, his jaw was locked tight from fear but he remained watching the rings, enticed by his curiosity and shameful desire to go further.

Ruby let her coils squeezing loosen up in its intensity, letting them flow and contract in a more relaxing, comforting rhythm for Bolt to enjoy “That’ssss it, jusssst relaxxxx. Don’t fight it, jusssst focussss on my eyessss as each new colour pulssssessss through and chassssessss after the previoussss ring. There’ssss nothing to worry about, jusssst let my ringssss flow into your mind, you’re ssssafe here, no harm will befall you in my sssstrong coilssss. Relaxxxx Bolt, let your mind wander into the colourful enssssnaring embracccce of my eyessss, relaxxxx and let go of your fearssss, you don’t need to lissssten to them anymore. Relaxxxx, Bolt, just relaxxxx.” Ruby droned on in her beautiful entrancing hissing tones.

Finally, after ducking away and avoiding her gaze for so long, a single blue ring began to stretch and envelope Bolt’s right eye, halfway along his left eye began to pulse yellow. As Bolt’s former white eyes began to fade into new hypnotic colours, his connection to his body’s motor control loosened and relaxed, meaning that, should he have regrets or hesitate he would no longer be able to look away, at least not without a great feat of self-control and will power. Bolt’s eyes were covered in a new colour and a new ring began to lazily pulse along, his focus was fixed entirely upon Ruby’s entrancing eyes.

“That’s it Bolt, good, relax, just let me take over, don’t fight just relax.” Ruby didn’t turn up the power rapidly after that though, she gradually let her eyes speed up, a new ring squeezing in as she did so, no after so long waiting and so much teasing she was going to drag this out as slow as possible, let Bolt enjoy it and marvel in what he had denied himself for so long.

“Does it feel good, my eyes having snared you mind, slowly looping its colour rings around your mind, encircling your thoughts and making them slow and sluggish?” Ruby asked with a grin. Bolt’s jaw had slackened from its tense position so now it hung open in shocked awe, it was a cute expression.

“It… it feels good… Mistress.” Bolt managed as his eyes twitched a little from the unfamiliar sensation of having his mind bombarded with the order to relax.

“Good, good, I’m glad you are enjoying it, that’s important to both of us. This is meant to feel good for you, you want to enjoy it and I care about you just like all my good, obedient staff, Storm. You know this don’t you, Storm? You know I care and will keep you safe and happy, just relax into my spell, submit and let me take control.” Bolt gave a soft moan of confusion. Something sounded… wrong?

Bolt’s jaw moved up and down sluggishly, Bolt having to fight to make words come out his mouth “M… Mistress… S… Storm?” His name was Bolt, not Storm, that was what was wrong, Bolt was glad he remembered that. Bolt’s eyes were pulsing steadily faster at this point, just two rings behind Ruby’s now as she slowly and steadily kept up the increasing potency in her spell.

“That’s your name whilst under my spell, you didn’t want me to change your conscious self, Bolt, so to protect Bolt I am going to craft Storm. A sweet, obedient, coil loving pet who will do anything to appease her Mistress. By making Storm separate to Bolt I am not touching Bolt so I am keeping my promise, isn’t that caring of me? Don’t you want to stay the same?” Bolt nodded. So did Storm.

“Y… yes that makes… sense…” Bolt and Storm said as Ruby let her eyes pick up the power a little more than previously, working towards breaking the pair.

“Good boy, Bolt just snuggle up in your mind, relax and let my spell take over. I want you to focus, imagine yourself in my coils again, my coils are sliding over your head, covering it up, as I cover your head all of your thoughts, dreams, desires, aspirations everything that makes you up is being stowed in the cocoon with you, safe and protected, untouchable. Let it all be wrapped up.” Bolt gave a stiff nod, his home, his job all his thoughts and memories being dragged in by the pulsing colours, squeezed into the coils around him before he was closed into the cocoon.

“Now Storm, you are all that’s left, but you are nothing, blank with no memories thoughts or anything, you are just here, in bliss.” Ruby said softly and, as she said it, the final wisps of Bolt and his resistance were dragged into the dark corner where his cocoon sat snuggled up, unable to poke out, the stallion inside asleep, unaware of anything happening at the moment. With Bolt gone, Storm’s mouth slowly turned up into a mindless smile, the rings in his eyes began to speed up and quickly surpassed Ruby as all thought was washed away, Storm was just there, he was bliss and knew nothing else… to Storm this was life, this was heaven.

“Good boy Storm, you love being hypnotised, loving being in my coils, squeezed, massaged and held by them, to you there is no greater pleasure than my eyes and coils.” Storm nodded, a sponge to Ruby’s succulent words, he needed her after all, Ruby knew Storm but he didn’t know himself “Now I have drawn you out, you will obey, you will do anything I ask without question and your mind shall never return to Bolt unless I allow it, understand?” Storm nodded, his smile never wavered for he knew not of Bolt’s old morals or his views on right or wrong. To Storm, Ruby was always right and anypony disagreeing or contradicting her was wrong!

Ruby smiled, but Bolt was the one who knew how to cook, best get the horrible mandatory part out the way “Storm, can Bolt hear me?” As she asked Bolt, within his coil prison, stirred, unable to see anything but white coils and colours, but he didn’t mind, Ruby was keeping him safe from having his mind changed “I have something to tell you both. Whenever I say, there is a storm coming Bolt shall obediently climb into my coils within his mind and allow Storm to take control of his body. And when Storm is in control and I say thunder has sounded he shall return to my coils and allow Bolt to come back to his senses and resume control of his body.” Ruby smiled as the triggers settled into their subconscious latching onto their entranced minds, for now two resided in one body thanks to Ruby “Of course, Storm you shall not be asleep when Bolt is in control, you shall whisper sweetly to Bolt, to make sure he loves, obeys and worships me even when in control and out of trance. Will you do that for me Storm?” Storm nodded.

“Of course, Mistress!” Storm said eagerly.

“Oh no, I am Mistress to Bolt, to you, Storm… I am the very goddess of your existence!”

“Sorry, Goddess Ruby!” Storm corrected himself quickly with a bow of his head, but his eyes remained fixed on Ruby’s as she never ceased in her hypnosis.

“It is quite alright Storm, you didn’t know any better, you’ve been away from me since you were born, locked up within Bolt’s mind but that’s okay now, I brought you out. Now, you may once again obey and worship me as you were always intended to do.” Storm nodded with a smile as Ruby squeezed him in his cocoon, his eyes finally returning to their wondrous purple, lifting him up then dropped him out the bottom, as if it were a slide, atop the covers. Storm looked up saddened that Ruby would drop him from his comfy encasement “Oh don’t fret Storm, you shall touch my coils again soon, in fact why don’t you stand up and I will do so now!” Storm instantly scrambled to his hooves smiling at Ruby in eagerness “Stand on your back legs.” Storm complied, utilizing balance that would have escaped Bolt had he been in control.

Ruby nodded in approval and Storm’s smiled widened, watching Ruby’s coils eagerly. Sensing his impatience, Ruby selected a coil wider than Storm’s body and draped it around his withers, curling it into a curly U shape down Storm’s front, who held the underside of the coil with his free hooves. Ruby smiled, moving around to face Storm, laying back upon the pillows twirling a hoof in the air “Dance for me Storm.” Ruby ordered and Storm nodded, slowly raising his hooves up, lifting the coil draping down before his legs escaped and the coil slid back against Storm’s chest.

Storm crossed his hooves over his head, looking up and slowly lowered the left hoof, resting it atop the coil and he spun, flapping his wings in a slow offbeat rhythm, one up the other down. Storm’s left hoof caressed Ruby’s coil softly as the right slowly lowered as well, curling around the coil and lifting it up, Storm spinning again as his tail swayed left and right before he knelt down as if bowing before standing back up, lifting the coil up with both hooves over his head as if it were as prize. Ruby giggled, Storm wasn’t a great dancer but it was still entertaining to watch him try so hard to appease his Goddess.

“Enough.” Storm stopped and lowered the coil back onto his shoulders where it rested itself upon his chest and neck “Kneel,” Storm obeyed sitting upon his haunches, his front legs still gripping the coil as it closed the open space around the front of Storm’s neck, causing him to tilt his head up so his chin wasn’t being painfully pinched “Now, I am going to teach you a mantra and to you it will be like a prayer to me, to your goddess. Repeat after me;” Ruby shifted where she sat and let her eyes pulse with colourful rings once more “When I can think I am helpless, when I am helpless I am afraid, when I am afraid I am weak, when I am weak I must ask my goddess to hypnotise me, when I am hypnotised I am happy, I remain happy by obeying, when I obey my goddess she keeps me safe, when my goddess keeps me safe I am rewarded, when I am rewarded I can think.” Ruby smiled, satisfied with the loop.

There were a few seconds pause as Storm’s sluggish mind processed the words then began to repeat them like a recording “When I can think I am helpless, when I am helpless I am afraid, when I am afraid I am weak, when I am weak I must ask my goddess to hypnotise me, when I am hypnotised I am happy, I remain happy by obeying, when I obey my goddess she keeps me safe, when my goddess keeps me safe I am rewarded, when I am rewarded I can think.” Storm’s voice was a soft drone, monotone, as he watched Ruby’s pulsing eyes, taking in the words deep into his very being “…When I am rewarded I can think. But when I can think I am helpless…” Storm kept saying his mantra over and over, it would be a part of him, a part of his life natural and demanding him to obey his goddess’ unspoken order to speak it every day, for he only thought when Bolt was awake so Bolt was helpless…

“Okay, I think that is enough.” Ruby said as Storm finished he mantra for an eighth time, his voice a little raspy. Ruby gave his neck a soothing rub and he smiled in gratitude “Now that you have your mantra I think we shall retreat to bed as Bolt has much to do tomorrow.” Ruby said.

“As you wish my goddess.” Storm agreed, bowing.

“Do you wish to sleep in my coils?” Ruby asked grinning and Storm nodded “In the coils, or inside them?” Ruby asked, quite aware Storm didn’t care.

“Whatever pleases you, goddess.” Storm droned softly and the coil around his throat tugged him forward.

“It would please me to have you slide down my throat kicking and struggling like helpless prey!” Ruby said with a glint in her eyes.

“If it would please you.” Storm replied simply, crawling forward a little as the coil curled around to form a loop which Ruby used to lift Storm up into the air.

“It would, very… very much.” Ruby cooed letting her jaw unhinge with a soft click. Storm stared down into the tunnel of red soft bliss that Ruby was inviting him to take and flapped his wings in eagerness. It looked simply wonderful.

Ruby didn’t leave Storm hanging, metaphorically, guiding his head towards her mouth which quickly enveloped his whole skull, suckling softly on it and gulping, drawing him deeper. Ruby curled her tail down Storm’s body lifting his legs up a little and giving them a squeeze “Sorry goddess.” Storm called from around her throat, having forgotten in the bliss of feeding his deity that she had wanted him to struggle.

With great gusto, Storm began to wriggle about, kicking his free back legs up and down and trying to push his front ones out of the cocoon gripping him, Storm’s wings beating as if trying to fly away but Ruby swiftly smother them with a coil to prevent that. Storm tried to give a scream of fright but it was more a moan or sigh, it was just so hard to feel afraid when he was making Ruby so happy, and the rings just kept soothing and comforting him the whole time, there was nothing to be afraid of here. Ruby lifted Storm up, his body turned straight up, there wasn’t anything for him to grip or brace himself on as gravity worked smoothly in rhythm with Ruby’s gulping to guide Storm deep into her body, heading towards her stomach. Ruby hummed as she felt Storm’s fluffy wings pass into her mouth, taking a moment to savour their succulent taste before continuing on. Storm’s struggles, which had been meagre even to begin with, were now pitiful as Ruby reached his back legs, trapping them and preventing them from kicking much anymore. They waved back and forth as much as Storm could manage but submitted to Ruby’s gulping easily. Ruby closed her mouth, the end of Storm’s tail sticking out like lines of brown and red spaghetti which Ruby slurped down with a smile, holding her belly as she felt Storm continue on his path down into her tail.

Once that was done Ruby turned around and following Storm’s progress, poking and pressing her hooves into the sides of her tail to feel Storm descending, before finally coming to a halt, for a moment. To Storm, he was in a literal utopia which Ruby had granted him access to, were it up to Storm he would remain here forever. This little bubble was popped as Storm felt himself press against something, an odd wall with a dip in the centre that was moulding to his muzzle as he pressed in against it. Storm began to feel a little cramped in his current position, his body still trying to slide forward as Ruby’s tail kept compressing itself to push him along a path that had ended. Storm tried to turn and shift to get a bit more comfortable when the wall he’d been pressed against suddenly opened and admitted him access. Storm was pushed through and, as he stretched himself out to relieve the cramp in his legs, he found himself within a long chamber, the walls were still compressing but no longer pushing him along. That must mean he was at his destination, Ruby’s stomach, he thought.

The last of Storm’s body was forced inside and he lay where he had slid inside, pressed down by the low stomach ceiling, it was an almost perfect body moulded sleeping bag, tailored just for him by his goddess’ very body. Storm shift his legs and pressed out against the odd slippery walls, his hooves slid along them, they were slightly damp and slimy but not unlike a water bed, though once Storm released the pressure he was putting upon the walls they moved back in to grip him snuggly. Storm sighed, thus noticing the air. It was thin, with little to breathe making him a little woozy and ditzy, but not too bad. It was also strangely heavy with the pre-digestion juices filtering into the air making Storm’s body tingle pleasantly as he lay his head down, feeling drowsy with the stomach walls resting upon his head, like a soft hoof stroking his mane as it rippled with life.

Outside, Ruby was slowly rubbing her hoof back and forth along the bulge that was Storm, hearing him, albeit barely, sighing occasionally “Comfy Storm?” Ruby asked smiling and she saw her tail shift and move, obviously a nod.

“Yes, my goddess.” Storm’s voice was faint and muffled, it was nearly impossible to catch if you didn’t have you ear to Ruby’s tail like Ruby currently did.

“I’m glad to hear it, you must love this, making me feel so stuffed and content, you are such a good little stomach filler! No doubt you will dream of being hypnotised and eaten again and again and again whilst you sleep in the real thing.” Ruby chuckled as Storm merely hummed in delight at the idea “But of course, Bolt will eventually have to come back out,” Ruby said resuming her stroking of Storm’s form.

“Does he have to?” Storm asked in a whiny voice.

“I am afraid so, you are living in his body and it would be rude not to let him have a chance to be coiled up and experience it, after all he can’t feel what I’m doing to you. At least, not as vividly.” Ruby explained in a caring tone.

“That’s a shame.” Storm admitted.

“Indeed… Since you’ve had a lot to not think about tonight why don’t you go to sleep and when you wake up; thunder will have sounded.” It wasn’t the exact trigger, but it was close enough to do it’s intended purpose.

Storm gave a soft sigh and another nod, nuzzling up to Ruby’s belly as his eyes shut, the pulsing rings were slowing but Bolt had already been brought to sleep before he had a chance to stir properly, as Ruby had intended. Within the pair’s mind Bolt and his mental self was uncoiled and set down, the coils awaiting Storm who climbed eagerly within, snuggling up in their depth to sleep, the tail tip giving a fleeting stroke of Bolt’s cheek in goodbye as his took control of his body again. Well he would, once he awoke.

“Sweet dreams my pets.” Ruby said laying upon the bulge and closing her eyes.

What a productive night.

Final preparations

Bolt gave a content stretch, snuggling up to the squishy softness that he was cradled in, his movement cause a sliver of movement from Ruby and he cooed as her stomach contracted, pampering his body… then that thought processed through his mind and he opened his eyes and was met with sticky darkness. Bolt felt his pace accelerate and his breath before harsh, his gingerly reached out to touch the stomach walls, to make sure he wasn’t just dreaming pleasantly but sure enough he was inside Ruby. Bolt wanted to scream in desperate fear and panic.

“It’s fine, Goddess will never harm us, so long as we obey.” Bolt felt himself nod to the comforting voice then paused, that wasn’t him… yet it also was him… what had Ruby done? Bolt tried to remember, but it was a haze of beautiful rings and then coils… coils everywhere, they were everything he knew and he’d felt so safe and comfy, he’d been sleeping whilst he was obeying Ruby? Bolt was beyond confused by the conflicting meshed thoughts, transition into hypnotic split personality wasn’t often graceful, but Bolt and Storm would adjust.

“S… Storm?” Bolt spoke softly.

“Hello.” Bolt felt like he’d just been hit in the face with a lead weight, had he just spoken… to his own MIND!? Not only that, it had talked back at him! “Of course I spoke, we are one, but separate, Ruby made me to preserve your mind, untouched and unharmed. She respected your wishes to be unaffected so made me to do as she pleased without harming your mind.” Storm explained and, somehow Bolt knew, he smiled knowingly and kindly like he would to a brother or little sibling.

The idea of having Storm in Bolt's mind both comforted him and frightened him, comforted him that Ruby had taken steps to, as Storm had said, preserve his mind, and frightened that he had a hitchhiker in his head, which Bolt didn’t understand was possible before yesterday!

“O-okay… S-Storm… what do we do now?” Bolt asked himself, boy this was weird.

Storm remained silent for a long time before answering, judging how he could answer in goddess’ favour “I think we should wait for Ruby to wake naturally, in our stake we cannot do much to save ourselves without outside aid, which in goddess’ palace will not come anytime soon in the foreseeable future. Angering goddess will only sever to annoy her and thus result in our digestion and fusion with her. Desirable, but not something we aim for.” Storm said thoughtfully.

“I suppose your right.” Bolt mumbled to himself and Storm, this was a real headache inducer.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get use to each other, and then we can be friends!” Storm said cheerfully.

Bolt curled up, steadying his breathing the best he could “I suppose…” Bolt said closing his eyes, too frightened as his eyes adjusted by the gloom to look into the tunnel of pre-digestion juices he lay within to keep them open.

“Why are you scared?” Storm asked, with little experience in self-preservation.

“I don’t want to die.” Bolt mumbled to Storm.

“Goddess… sorry mistress to you, will not harm us so long as we behave… she likes us, finds us entertaining and enjoyable to entrance. Did you not enjoy the hypnosis?” Bolt mussed on Storm’s question for a moment.

“Yeah, I enjoyed it, it’s just… I didn’t think Ruby would… make you.” Bolt said, a little ashamed to admit he didn’t wish Storm to exist.

“That’s okay, I’m not offended, Bolt. I understand your fear, but it’s okay just listen to my advice I’ll look after you. God… mistress will not hurt us!” Storm repeated, trying to beat the idea into Bolt’s mind.

“How do you know?” Bolt asked, but Storm didn’t answer, yet Bolt could sense a smile “Storm? Storm!” Bolt opened his eyes “Don’t leave me…” He pleaded nervously, but Storm was curling up to sleep.

“Don’t worry, I will always be here, in mistress’ coils, waiting… I will help you but I’m tired now I’ve been up all night since I was born, please… let me sleep. Enjoy the day, for it is yours to enjoy… see you later, Bolt… night.” Storm mumbled laying down as the mental coils closed over him, guarding him from Bolt’s noisy mind, who was once again alone.

Bolt tried to go back to sleep, but the nagging fear at the back of his mind refused to subside, and this he remained awake, hearing the dull quiet thud of Nedra, or was it Alex now, hitting the pan with her spoon to awaken the staff. Still, afraid, Bolt waited for Ruby to stir, finally though Bolt cracked.

“M-mistress?” Bolt called out his voice half breaking back into a whisper.

The walls around Bolt shifted and contracted, lifting him up and shaking him about before settling “Good morning.” Ruby said softly from outside “Sleep well?”

Bolt wanted to get angry, or afraid, something other than what he calmly said “Yes, mistress.” Bolt flushed, this was beyond embarrassing!

“I’m glad,” Ruby smiled at the bulge in her tail as she sat up in her bed, to an outside observer who was not close enough Ruby would appear to be talking to herself, though nopony would dare point this fact out to her for fear of being eaten “I had a lot of fun last night, thank you for giving your mind up, I’m sure we should do this again sometime, I do wish to play with Storm more… though you don’t know who that is, do you?” Ruby asked grinning, she couldn’t wait to abuse this new leverage!

“We’ve… met.” Bolt said, the thick scales, muscle and fat muffling his tiny voice.

“Oh,” Ruby failed to hide her disappointment “Well, I suppose it saves introductions then!” Ruby said, this didn’t change anything really, long term, but she would have liked to see his reaction.

“Can I um… can I get out now, mistress?” Bolt asked shifting nervously, frightened of offending her.

Ruby let out a long “Hmmmm,” Drawing out her thoughts as if debating whether or not to allow Bolt his freedom or to let him lay in her belly, finally she said “I suppose I will still need you to cook for the dinner, and I have so much more I can do to your little cute mind!” Ruby said almost laughing at the ideas.

“I can’t wait.” Bolt said and legitimately meant it before turning bright pink in the face.

Ruby burst out laughing whilst Bolt mumbled incoherently in embarrassment “Oh, don’t be ashamed Bolt, it’s good that you are relaxing… after all it felt so good to slip into my gaze, didn’t it?” Ruby cooed quietly.

A ring flickered through both of Bolt’s eyes, his pupils didn’t change it was more like a shadow playing over a reflection “Yes… relaxing…” Bolt moaned smiling dreamily.

“I’m glad. Now,” Bolt was shaken around in his confines as Ruby climbed out of bed, making an exaggerated effort of lifting Bolt down and squishing his form under various coils “Let’s get you back outside into the waking world!” Ruby said as she slithered off to the bathroom, making sure to rub the bulge that was Bolt against the walls to squeeze him in his squishy prison.

Ruby’s servants awaited her arrivals and upon hearing the tell-tale sounds of her swishing, slithering tail over the carpet, leapt into action, turning the hot taps around and letting steaming water gush into the pool like bath Ruby used. By the time Ruby had lazily slithered into the bathroom, it was full with hot water and the three ponies bowed respectfully “Thank you.” Ruby said casually, the group leaving Ruby to soak.

Ruby slipped in gracefully and silently and, if not for the sudden growing warmth around Bolt, the pegasus might not have known Ruby had even entered the water. Ruby sighed contently as she allowed her great bulk and length to slither and slip into the comforting warming water. With a sigh, Ruby decided this was the most ideal time to let Bolt out. With a gulp, Ruby began to contract her stomach, pushing Bolt back up to the stomach entrance, which his legs pushed through dragging him back out in great jerking sliding strides. Ruby opened her mouth, the tips of Bolt’s legs appearing before he was flung from Ruby’s mouth faster than he had expected, slamming against the bottom of the pool. The shift from the cool, damp tightness of Ruby’s throat to the chilling air then water shocked Bolt and he gasped out what little air the impact had not knocked out, which made bubbles stream from Bolt’s mouth up to the surface. Before he began to swallow water, though, Ruby curled a coil around his waist and lifted him up, coughing and spluttering for air.

“Exit… not so graceful.” Bolt grumbled once he had recovered slightly.

Ruby laughed softly “Try being the one spitting you out!” Ruby teased grinning.

“I thought you said I was tasty.” Bolt mumbled.

“You are, very much so, but so is anything you eat and is it just as tasty back up?” Bolt shook his head “Well there you go.” Ruby said lifting a cup over and taking several gulps to clear her mouth.

“Oh, sorry.” Bolt said quietly as he slumped in Ruby’s grip and Bolt gasped as he was pulled against her.

“Don’t be, I had a lot of fun last night, we should do it again!” Ruby said hugging Bolt as her coils looped around him effortlessly under the water “But later, we need you clean and cooking! I have a Bolt shaped hole in my belly now, so let’s get it filled.” Bolt nodded as he was spun around, Ruby tending to his mane.

“I… I could do it myself…” Bolt said, flushing at how Ruby was treating him.

Ruby grinned lifting Bolt up and looping thick coils around his body, rubbing slowly, the stallion merely laying within the muscular grip, content to relax and let Ruby do as she will “I dunno, you don’t look like you could hold yourself up right now let alone wash yourself. No, I’m going to have to help you.” Ruby cooed and used her magic to levitate over a bottle of dripleaf shampoo “You won’t climb out this time, will you?” Bolt shook his head the best he could, as a coil was scratching his mane loose, tugging on the knots a little painfully but at least he’d look a bit better. Was this going to be normal?

Ruby loosened her grip and Bolt’s hooves touched the water, sending ripples along it as he once again sank into the warm water, cradled in a strap of coils, like Ruby were some sort of crane for him. Ruby slid closer, lifting the bottle and Bolt closed his eyes as Ruby poured the cold gel onto his head, which caused it to tingle and blur up as if his mind was filling with static. Bolt bowed his head as Ruby scrubbed his mane, rubbing down over his body turning the water a pretty purple as the stallion sighed softly, succumbing to the mind-numbing bliss easily.

“This is so much nicer, you relaxing, a soft gentle heart beat… just enjoying my pampering grip.” Ruby smiled as she worked “Say Bolt, do you know why we’re having the dinner, what we’re celebrating?” Ruby asked smiling and he shook his head “Well it’s to celebrate the end of the second golden year Equestria has enjoyed under our rule, and to welcome in the third. It’ll be fun, it’s a public festival with lots of lamia themed activities and a ceremony with the former Princesses and our Queen, Sunny. Since I have such a prestigious role in our new community I get to attend personally and I would like to bring a guest, would you like to attend? You can have a bit of fun too!” Ruby said smiling.

“Oh, would I have to do anything?” Bolt asked weighing the idea to see if it had any possible risks.

“Not really, just arrive with me and stay by my side during the ceremony, you can wander around during the day. But if you say yes, I’d make sure everything is ready by the end of today it starts at dawn tomorrow and the dinner is afterwards.” Bolt shifted where he sat as Ruby made bowls with her tail, scooping up water and pouring it over his head, the tingling numbness washing down his body making it quiver in delight as the dripleaf soap painted the water a deeper purple.

“I think I can manage.” Bolt said softly.

“So, you’ll come?” He nodded and Ruby clapped her hooves “Wonderful, I can’t wait! You’ll love it so much, I promise!” Ruby said and Bolt smiled, her reaction was rather cute and strange, it wasn’t like her to act... bubbly.

“Shall I clean you?” Bolt offered and Ruby smiled.

“How forward!” She teased leaning close to whisper before giggling “Of course Bolt, get plenty on, I want your mind to spin if you so much as get into proximity with me.” Ruby purred lifting Bolt around her back, holding the bottle on a circle of coils for him.

Bolt took the dripleaf shampoo and poured some out onto his hoof, which tingled and shuddered as the effects wound and burned into his nerves underneath. It was with considerable force of mind that Bolt began to rub the gel into Ruby’s mane and fur, the lamia bowing her head with a content smile as her pet set to work.

“So, how are you viewing things?” Ruby asked as Bolt’s hooves trailed down Ruby’s body to her tail which rose out of the water for him to douse in suds.

There was a very long pause before Bolt answered, partially thinking over his answer and partially “Nice, I suppose it is a lot easier to enjoy being here in your service when things feel…” Bolt paused drifting back into a dripleaf haze.

“Relaxing?” Ruby cooed softly as a suggestion.

“Yes, Mistress, thank you.” Bolt sighed and blinked as he felt an anchor form in the existence of a coil looping around his neck and tightening, making Bolt gulp down a puff of air.

“Such an obedient little coil warmer, I do so enjoy this change, you should have made it sooner!” Ruby said chuckling as she tipped water over her body using her tail again, splashing Bolt as well.

“Yeah sooner…” Bolt shook his head “Stop doing that, making me repeat your… truthful messages.” Bolt held his face in his hooves as Ruby laughed, tugging on the leash to make Bolt look up.

Ruby curled around facing Bolt “Now, you just said it, what I’m saying is simply the truth, so enjoy it, the feelings and sensations of my spell and body playing with you. It’s very relaxing, isn’t it?” Ruby asked smiling and Bolt felt his eyes gravitate towards her own, as if drawn there by past memories of them… pulsing…

“Yes, Mistress.” Bolt droned with a dull smile and glazed expression, which made Ruby grin wider, looking as snake-like as ever.

“Good boy, now why don’t we get out and you can set to work getting ready for tomorrow!” Ruby said sliding towards the edge of the bath, Bolt turned to watch the shimmering coils gliding atop the water, following them all the way to Ruby, before following slowly after.

“Dinner’s tomorrow.” Bolt mumbled reminding himself, as if he were forgetting.

Ruby curled her tail down and around Bolt, lifting him out with a life preserver coil “Indeed, glad to know you can remember what I tell you.” Ruby teased and Bolt nodded grabbing a towel to dry himself, before assisting the sparkling, beautiful Ruby. It was quite nice to dry her soft, comfy, strong coils… deep in Bolt a sliver of his stubborn former self covered its eyes and moaned in humiliation, but it was cast aside by Bolt himself, he didn’t want to feel guilty enjoying this anymore, it was… heaven!

Returning from Ruby’s bathroom, Bolt collected and dressed himself in his uniform, heading down to the kitchen where the Slaves greeted him in unison once again.

“Okay, we only have the rest of today to get the rest of the mains and starters finished and begin the desserts,” Bolt looked between his staff “So, I want to see some real movement in here today or I might not be inclined to hold back Ruby’s… disappointment.” The effect was like a cold wave Bolt saw them all shiver and smirked “Glad I have your attention, now let’s get to work!” The group gave a heartful cheer despite the threatening introduction.

Bolt set the group to work on the starters, even if they didn’t finish everything at least if they had them Bolt could work with a bit of a buffer before the lamias became impatient and… ravenous. Divisions of steel trollies lined the kitchen, being piled with platters, trays, bowls and pots of cold salads, small pastries and hot soup. The scent of food wafted up through the building and it wasn’t long until it reached Ruby’s office.

“So, Alex, do you understand your new role?” Ruby asked the stallion tight in her embrace, who nodded numbly.

“Yes, Mistress, I will ensure the staff is up to a standard befitting your excellence, and keep the paperwork you have to attend to at a minimum.” Alex said, nearly singing as he repeated the twisted words.

“Good boy, now…” Ruby darted her tongue out and broke eye contact, her spiralling eyes turning to the door “Now I’ll let you get adjusted and a uniform from Nedra and see how you do after breakfast.” Ruby said a little hastily as she headed out the room.

The door to the kitchen creaked as the lamia slithered inside, looking at the fast pace blur of ponies running about obeying their Master’s instructions, who seemed not only more confident and in control of them, but more at ease, even enjoying this new means of controlling them.

Ruby slithered up silently behind Bolt and leaned down beside his ear “Something smells… delicious.” Ruby hissed, her forked tongue flickering against his chewed-up ear.

“AH! …Oh, Mistress you frightened me.” Bolt said flushing, his expression grumpy at being caught off guard in such a playful way “Can I get you something?” Bolt offered and turned looking for something suitable.

“The food for the dinner is ready?” Ruby asked.

“Oh? Yes, we’re just putting the soup and cold food in stasis spells to prevent aging and so the soup stays hot, do you want to taste some before it’s put away?” Ruby nodded at Bolt’s suggestion.

“That would be nice.” She said letting Bolt lead her between the ovens.

“Hold on those spells for a moment,” Bolt called, two of the slaves pausing while holding a pair of enchanted gemstones “Mistress Ruby would like a taste.” Bolt said stepping aside “We have mushroom, chicken, lentil, tomato and rabbit for a more predatory option.” Bolt said smiling, before whispering in a hiss like his Mistress “Butter her some bread.” To the nearest available slave who rushed over returning with a tray and bowl.

“Rabbit.” Ruby said simply and Bolt carefully spooned some of the requested soup into a bowl and added a nice cream decoration in a hypnotic swirl on the top, it was becoming Bolt’s trademark here.

Ruby took a spoon and sipped the soup giving an approving nod “I should have known you would make even soup delicious.” Ruby said very softly to Bolt whilst he slaves cheered happily.

“Glad you approve.” Bolt said and waved them to seal them up, storing them in walk in cupboards, the soup would be heated when the spells weaved over them were removed later.

Ruby accepted the plate of bread from one of the approaching slaves, carrying it with her magic “Well, chef, I shall leave you to preparing the dinner, I wish you all good luck. Make me proud.” Bolt nodded and the crowd bowed before returning to work as Bolt began to bark orders at them once more.

Bolt and his slave staff worked relentlessly on preparations for the starters and mains, the desserts filling up the fridges as well. The porters galloping back and forth carrying trays, dirty pots and pans, clanking like foals pretending to be knights, bringing forgotten ingredients and scrubbing off stains before they could stick to surfaces. After roughly seven hours of hard laborious work, it was all said and done, the final cakes were slipped into the fridges to solidify overnight and the slaves sat down upon their haunches their and then to rest.

“Well done everypony, I’m certain tomorrow’s dinner will be a huge success!” Bolt said with a smile and the staff return his smile with their own before heading up to the staff room to finally rest. Bolt did a little check off to make sure it really was all completed.

Bolt wandered through the fridges checking off the starters and uncooked mains ready for the ovens tomorrow, the dull hum and chilling breeze of the fridge breathing down his neck making him shiver. When Bolt left he felt something… somepony stir.

“Good evening Storm.” Bolt said softly as he began to list off the desserts ‘cheesecake, brownies, sponge cakes…’

“Hello, have I missed anything important?” the hitchhiking split asked Bolt with a grin.

“Cheesecake… yeah, Ruby invited us to a festival tomorrow, lamia themed, to celebrate the renewal of our world into a bright enlightened golden age.” Bolt said absentmindedly, it was an interesting thing to think about, the festival and it was good to remember such important history, but Bolt had a job to do “Sponge ca… am I listing the same things…?” Bolt muttered staring at the sheet of desserts he had yet to write anything on.

Storm chuckled “No, you must be imagining things.” He said and laughed as Bolt began his list a third time.

“Oh, stop it!” Bolt grumbled, flushing pink.

“Or what, you’ll kick me out?” Storm mocked and Bolt hummed angrily but said nothing, Storm, sadly, had a point.

With much difficulty, Bolt eventually finished his list, everything was ready and sorted for tomorrow evening, he had the rest of the day off, as did the rest of his staff! Leaving the list on a shelf, Bolt made his way through the manor back to his bedroom, undressing out of his uniform before settling down on the bed of coils he’d left behind the previous night. Bolt stretched his hooves behind his head, sinking into the plush softness.

“That’s it, you’re just going to lay here?” Storm grumbled, trying to coax Bolt back up.

“What else is there to do? I can’t leave the manor, far as I know, until tomorrow and I’ve seen pretty much everything of interest.” Bolt commented “Plus, Ruby hasn’t summoned me… us… she’s busy.” Bolt said, still not entirely sure how this relationship really worked.

“Well there is one thing we could do to pass the time…” Bolt gave a soft hum for him to continue “There’s the games in the break room.” Bolt tapped his hoof against the coils absentmindedly as he thought, they were games Ruby had chosen… but then, remembering the relaxed ponies with the visors on their heads, Bolt didn’t see this as such a bad thing.

“Yeah, alright… guess it could be fun for a while.” Bolt said and Storm hopped around happily, anything hypnotic based made him feel delighted.

The staff room was full of the enlightened cooking staff Bolt commanded, as well as sprinklings of other staff members having a little down time. Bolt skipped passed them to the little corner with the games set in, finding a comfy, squishy chair and leaning back, taking one of the visors and inspecting it. It was a thick, black box with several straps for securing it to the head, with adjustments on the side. Uncertain what would happen, Bolt set it over his head and clipped the visor in place, one it was secure and not bobbing about, Bolt leaned back… waiting in pure darkness. A simple menu popped up with a selection of options and Bolt got the feeling this was likely used to help ‘settle in’ some of the more rowdy or fearful employees and keep the good ones pacified… like himself, at this point. Skimming the names along the list Bolt didn’t feel so at ease with this.

“Maybe just something simple…” Bolt mumbled softly to himself and rose a hoof, able to click an option for ‘constriction’.

The visor warmed up around the sides of Bolt’s eyes and, within an instant, the visor had shifted to black to a bright colour, which was changing… changing in a… a familiar… pat…pattern…

Ruby looked over the high hedge walls as the teams of unicorns worked in droves to make the maze curl, twist and rise up from the small plants the Earth ponies were tending to, a team of weather Pegasi ensuring they had an adequate supply of water at all times “You look happy.” Sunny commented, approaching with a checklist.

“Indeed, I am very happy.” Ruby said smiling at Sunny.

“I take it Bolt paid you a visit last night?” Sunny asked.

“Yes, and it was a very enjoyable experience, for all of us.” Ruby said.

“All of us?” Sunny piped but Ruby merely flicked her tongue out “I’ll know tomorrow, you do realise that?” Ruby chuckled.

“I imagine you have already guessed, but yes, you will know. As will Bolt, fully.” Ruby said with a mysterious air.

“I imagine he’ll be delighted.” Sunny commented “Now, why don’t you help me see if the prey maze is suitable.” Sunny suggested, gesturing to the maze.

“I can spare a little bit of time to play.” Ruby said “It’ll be good practice for tomorrow.” Sunny merely smiled setting down the clipboard and addressing the working group, who were putting in a few finishing touches to the jungle-like maze.

“Well done everypony, now, of course, we have to ensure that this game is up to the standard we have set, so why don’t we have a little short game, let us have about two minutes then come inside, and best of luck!” Sunny said and slithered within, joined by Ruby and a few of the other lamias present, the ponies looking almost as eager.

It was late evening, the moon had risen and Ruby slithered in its pale glow, swishing like a long phantom down the organised roads of Canterlot city. The soft low tune of her humming the only sound, save for scales rippling along the floor as she moved. The carefree lamia passed a few night owl ponies and waved cheerily to them, before reaching her manor, her guard welcoming her back with bows. Ruby glided past, thanking them as she slipped into the building, the radiators heating the cold snake as she slithered upward. On the second floor, Ruby paused and smirked looking sideways.

“Boooolt.” She hummed, watching the respective door “Boooolt…” Ruby called again and slide closer “Bolt.” She said firmer then chuckled “Trying to fight my spell so deep within my thrall is pointless.” Ruby cooed and leaned against the door clicking it open quietly to the vacant room “Huh…? He’s not here.” Ruby opened the door fully, definitely not here. There wasn’t much space to hide, really.

Ruby slithered down to the kitchens, maybe he was waiting with some food for her? But the lights were out and only the fridges and freezers made a peep in the room. With a frown, Ruby slithered back upstairs, if Bolt had attempted to leave without permission Ruby would have been informed, so he was INSIDE the building at least. Ruby slithered over to the staffroom, maybe the other employees Ruby ruled over knew where he was. But the staffroom was deserted, empty… Ruby was about to leave when she noticed a flicker of light, something was still switched on. With her serpentine eyes, Ruby had no need to switch the lights on, and decided, instead, to slither up to the source of light. As Ruby curled around she was able to tell somepony was wearing one of the visors she’d had made, such wonderful little devices, with a vast array of ‘encounters’ with their mistress, it was rather fitting then that it was named ‘snake visor’. Ruby smirked, relaxing as she slid closer and paused, almost cracking up.

Bolt lay, slouching with the backrest of the chair set back so he could rest comfortably, on the chair with a visor on. His mouth was partially open with a trickle of drool running down his mouth and as Ruby watched his gasp a little gaps and wheeze and his breathing became harsh and tiny as if he were being crushed by a great weight or compressed.

“Little stallion loves his coils… guess the staff could tell too.” Ruby commented as she had noticed the ‘blanket’ of fake coils somepony had wrapped Bolt in as he lay in the chair. Bolt had managed to wriggle and shift them where he lay so he was tightly looped in them, as tight as puffy coils allowed anyway.

Ruby leaned over Bolt grinning at him “Is he enjoying himself Storm?” Ruby asked.

“I imagine so,” Storm said, his voice oddly level and calm, not monotone like a normal hypnotised pony “I can’t really feel it same as Bolt is, still, least I get to sit at the forefront whilst he’s… ‘occupied’.” Storm said smiling, Bolt’s mouth then dropping back into flabbergasted awe.

“How cute, Bolt… Boooolt can you hear me?” Ruby cooed softly leaning even closer, placing her hooves upon the squishy coils to whisper to him.

“Y…yyyessshhh…” Bolt slurred, a pony wasn’t entirely ‘gone’ when wearing a snake visor, but very little of their brain could operate under the intense stimuli subjected to them that was required to build up the mental image and sensation they were being made to experience. Only a sliver of Bolt’s mind registered the real Ruby’s arrival, the rest, awash with colours, spirals and scales, simply thought the lamia had finally broken her silence whilst toying with him.

“Does it feel good?” Ruby cooed, and smirked as Bolt managed what was definitely a nod “Glad to hear it, but would you mind taking the visor off… it’s time to go to sleep.” Ruby said and Bolt whimpered “You can sleep in my coils, the real thing, not a trick of the mind, even if it is a realistically pleasant one.” Ruby said, enforcing Bolt’s enjoyment of his situation.

“Oh… okay…” Bolt mumbled and after another gasp, managed to wriggle his hooves free and tap a very tiny box labelled ‘awaken’. The pulsing rings reversed and Bolt felt his mind being dragged back to lucidity rapidly. As the visor blinked off back to darkness, Bolt was able to remove it with sleepy, uncooperative hooves.

“Enjoy yourself?” Ruby asked as she came into focus in the dimly lit room.

“Er… yes… why didn’t anypony wake me up?” Bolt asked.

“Did you tell anypony to?” Bolt shook his head “Well then, there you go. The ‘encounters’ go for twelve hours if you don’t switch them off, guess everypony just thought you were enjoying the night off. You can always sleep with it on, that’s an option. Literally, there’s a sleep coiled encounter.” Ruby said giggling at how the stallion was becoming steadily more and more susceptible.

Bolt flushed “What about the real thing?” He asked quietly.

“Oh yes, I did promise…” Ruby slid back, allowing Bolt to climb up if he wished and Ruby offered him a stretch of coils “Why don’t you put them on?” Ruby suggested, like they were pajamas.

“Oh…erm…” The coils slid closer and rubbed Bolt’s cheek affectionately with pudgy soft scales, the stallion, noticeably, didn’t recoil as he smiled dreamily “Sure.” Bolt mumbled and reached up, taking hold of the coil and looping it around his neck and shoulders, the coil curling down to form a sort of cloak that drooped down either side of Bolt’s body.

“There, so comfy, now come along.” Ruby didn’t even have to tug Bolt to get him started after her, he followed obediently after her glittering tail.

Ruby led Bolt like a shepherd leading a sheep, up to her bedroom without him even registering that was where he was going. Bolt was far too fixated upon Ruby’s swaying tail, watching the low light of the dimly lit manor flick like flames up and down her canvas white scales, seeing the muscles grip the floor to propel her along. Majestic, a befitting word for Ruby.

“Ahem, Bolt, I said to climb up.” Ruby said with a soft titter and Bolt looked up, blinking as he registered Ruby’s massive bed, her coils strewn with them.

“Oh… oh, right. Sorry.” Bolt said glancing down at the edge of the bed and after a moment’s pause Bolt managed to coax his wings into beating at his side so it was easier to hop up onto the plush mattress.

“Well done, now, come over here and lay down beside you Mistress so she can… ‘tuck you in’ for the night.” Ruby said smiling.

Bolt nodded and walked over the bed to where Ruby had settled herself at the head, resting upon the line of pillows, watching Bolt stumble over her coils towards her. Ruby lifted a coil underneath Bolt, lifting him up by his belly as if he were laying atop a tree branch. Upon contact with Ruby’s coils, Bolt’s body shut down and his head plopped down onto the thick squishy coil, which his cheek sank into a little, cradling him. Below, Ruby twisted her coils a corkscrew, closing them together forming a cocoon which she neatly rolled Bolt off over the branch coil into, she didn’t even have to tell him to put his legs inside the cocoon he did it for her, like a good boy. Ruby tightened Bolt’s cocoon, smirking from the sensation of his body bending inward from the compression, kneeling to her might and feeding her warmth! Ruby let her coils slide and Bolt glanced down, almost dreamily in expression, as the moving coils closed over his chin, mouth and up the rest of his face. Ruby let Bolt’s form slip downward slowly and heard a content sigh as the coils atop Bolt weighed down on his chest, Ruby didn’t need to squeeze him to make him short of breath due to their sheer bulk.

“Pleasant dreams Bolt, think of my eyes glowing before you, your mind a lost ship and I am acting as the lighthouse, drift towards my safety and protection… let me guide you.” Ruby cooed as she settled down beside the top of the cocoon.

Bolt hummed and as he drifted away, he had dreams of being perched upon a sailboat, following a rainbow coloured lighthouse upon a scaly sea.

Hunter and Prey

Bolt felt oddly heavy and sluggish as he stirred, eyes still closed, content to try to catch at the wisps of his fading dreams. He could hear soft murmuring, like steady chanting but his sleepy brain was floating over what the words actually were. Bolt tried to move and felt squishy softness gripping his body, weighing him down from all around. The chanting softened in tone and he decided to stop moving and let the softness continue to weigh him down, it was fine… he could let it happen, should let it happen… just… just relax… drift… drift………

Bolt felt a little tug on his neck and gave a deeper breath as the air flow in his neck closed a little, the softness tensing as Bolt mumbled softly, confused. How could something soft become tense? Very slowly, Bolt opened one eye to be greeted by a vast bright red void, opening his other eye revealed more redness with hints of white as the red twisted away. Bolt tried to reach up and touch the wall of red, but felt his legs stopped by the softness, smooth and cool on his body. Bolt blinked his brain still partially asleep and he felt his mouth move…

“I’m an obedient coil warmer… I will stay still and warm my mistress… warming my mistress makes me…” Bolt stopped flushing slightly “M-Mistress!” He said loudly shifting as a rush of air blew against his ear as Ruby sighed then leaned away from the side of Bolt’s head.

“Guess I squeezed too hard. I can’t help it you’re just so huggable!” Ruby said and, as if to prove this, proceeded to squeeze Bolt tightly all over his body the helpless stallion giving a tiny little wheeze of a gasp.

“Huggable?” Bolt asked unable to supress a laugh.

“Well the other term I could use is stress toy.” Ruby said with a chuckle.

“I’ll take the first one.” Bolt said softly.

“Thought so. Now, why don’t we get ready for the festival today?” Ruby suggested, finally freeing Bolt from the void of scales and allowing him to climb out of the dip Ruby had formed around his sleeping body.

Bolt noticed that Ruby’s coils seemed to have gravitated towards him during the night, and formed an almost perfect circle with his previous resting cocoon snug in the centre, no doubt warming Ruby’s body as much as he could during her sleep, natural instinct moving her body closer to get as much worth out of him as possible. Ruby smiled as Bolt stared and stretched her tail, which he was still stood upon, and Bolt stumbled, nearly falling if he didn’t flap his wings to right himself.

“Be quick now, the games and events will have started even if Sunny’s speech itself is later on in the day.” Ruby said sliding out of bed, Bolt hopping down before he was thrown off by her tail following after its owner.

Bolt paused before heading for the door and Ruby smirked taking the lead and let her tail slide in wide curves, twinkling like a constellation and Bolt flushed faintly, following after the light reflected off the smooth inviting coils, a tiny smile forming on his face as his senses dulled. Ruby led Bolt downstairs and headed towards her own bathroom, the stallion almost unaware of the change from the top floor to the second or to the hallway, only as he reached the bathroom were his senses revived by Ruby’s waiting maids.

“The general staff bathrooms are back that way, Mistress bathes alone.” Bolt blinked as Ruby glanced back in the doorway, visibly wrestling with a mixture of emotions and desires. Embarrassment at having been led like a dog being offered a stick, a want to keep following the pretty coils and, naturally, fear at disobeying. Fear quickly took rule and Bolt turned as a soft coil swished up to his cheeks making him pause, rubbing it lovingly.

“It’s just for a while, why don’t you check the staff know what to do when you return since I’ll be a bit longer.” Ruby said and Bolt nodded “Good boy.” Bolt had to resist the temptation to smile happily at Ruby’s praise, instead, with a little bit of longing regret, he ducked out of the coil loops and walked, almost trotting, to a vacant bathroom.

Bolt quickly filled a sink and ducked his head inside the warm water, his reflection watching with a slightly raised eyebrow. Bolt gagged in the sink coughing for air as he looked back up, there was a sort of shade filtering over his real reflection, noticeably not wet, grinning. Bolt turned not wanting to have a conversation with Storm… himself. Bolt flicked the shower on, water gushing out steam rising as it warmed up. Bolt didn’t even know how to describe how he felt, confused, afraid, eager, embarrassed, disgusted then back to confused and eager. Bolt plopped himself down under the water feeling it roll over him head, trying to figure out how he’d ended up at the bottom of this rabbit hole… and if it was even the bottom yet.

“At least Ruby’s being a bit nicer to me.” Bolt mumbled to himself, which was true, she’d warmed up, as much as a cold-blooded creature can warm up, to him since he’d let her hypnotise him… or maybe he was seeing everything she did through rose tinted lenses? He didn’t know, and the uncertainty was what concerned Bolt the most.

With a defeated sigh, Bolt stood up setting to washing him Bolt, his mind mingling on how easily he let himself go to the whims of Ruby… he did enjoy it, to some degree, it would just be nice without the mingling fear or concerns… maybe he could ask Ruby to get rid of those… did he really just consider that?

Bolt left the shower swiftly then after, leaving half the water inside as he dried, flapping his wings to sprinkle the water out, quite aware of his mental split still watching, but refusing to acknowledge him. He was in control… for the moment. Bolt skipped past the mirror and paused, glancing around, did he need his uniform? No, he hadn’t during their walk before so… surely not now… deciding to ask Ruby later, Bolt carried on out and made his way to the kitchen.

The ten staff members were staff staring vacantly into space, silently moving their mouths in obedient mantras, like they were praying, halting when Bolt appeared, waiting for orders “Everything is prepared, Ruby is going to be visiting the festivals and will return with the guests come nightfall. When they arrive, begin taking out the starters and heat the ovens and started cooking the mains, I’ll come through when you need to take them and then get the desserts ready, understand?” Bolt asked looking between their glazed eyes.

“Yes, Master.” They chanted and Bolt nodded, he didn’t really need to say anything else and as such they returned to their mantras.

Bolt left, both a little creeped out and a little tempted to mimic them, heading for the manor’s main entrance. There he stood, shifting nervously on the spot waiting and listening for Ruby to return from her bath. An easy, soothing scent wafted down the hallway and Bolt smiled dreamily, thinking vaguely of drifting peacefully to sleep, his legs shifted on their own, as if being pressed in and Bolt glanced down, certain he wasn’t actually being coiled up. Ruby chuckled softly watching Bolt’s reaction from the shadows approaching and flicking his nose with her tail tip making him blink, dazed.

“Sorry… oh, Mistress… do I need my uniform?” Bolt asked and Ruby looked back, considering this question.

“Hmmm, probably not, it isn’t really ideal for a night of fun, but other lamias might think you’re free game,” Ruby said smiling “Yes, it would be best for you to have something to associate you with me…” Ruby glanced sideways as her horn glowed, her study door opening as something floated out, surrounded by burning red magic “Here we are.” Ruby said approaching Bolt and clipping a collar like necklace around his neck. It hung loosely down Bolt’s neck, rubbing slightly yet the inside lining was soft and smooth and not unpleasant like most metal jewellery. Glancing down, Bolt could see a purple snake eye embedded in the centre.

“There, now no one will take you away… without returning you.” Ruby said and Bolt shifted, being treated like a toy to pass around was awkward “Now come on.” Ruby said suddenly snagging Bolt’s hoof and dragging him outside into the sunshine.

The gate was already opening as they left, heading towards it and just outside Bolt could see decorations yet they were still too far to make out details. As Ruby led Bolt out he was able to look up at the colourful linings stretched between each street lamp. Mimicries of lamias and their coils stretched between the lamias, their bodies looping around the lamps easily and smiling in an inviting way, between the lamps were coiled up ponies with fixed smiles on their face, the only indication of the detailed art that it wasn’t real was the stationery rings in some of the ponies. Bolt looked ahead of Ruby, with a bit of difficulty, and gasp. A forest had sprung up around the centre of town, high trees stretching up over buildings and across their roofs, shadows as the leaves swayed dreamily in the low breeze. Bolt could see figures moving in the dense branches, trails of glittering coils following and the murmuring bustle and laughter of many ponies drifted towards the pair, making it feel warm and open, the sun helping build this sweet illusion.

It wasn’t long before they reached the festival itself, Bolt didn’t know there were this many lamias. Some had dressed up smartly, fitting in snugly with the nobility of the city. Furry, fluffy coats covering their bodies as they chatted around small tables, spreading gossip, little servants running about with trays stretched out on wings, or balanced on their heads. Young lamias slithered giggling after other pony foals, tackling and hugging them tightly with their shorter tails. Classical game stalls sat nestled against brick walls, shooting ranges, cup throws, a silly game with monkeys chasing after bananas as you fill a cone with water, fortune telling and little food stalls that made Bolt feel a pang of longing for home. Ruby also noticed the food stalls, glancing between them all and the owners looked nervous wanting to shrink away no doubt.

But these weren’t the only things, similar to the fortune teller, a lamia, who had covered her eyes with a white cloth and had her tail looped under a table forming a large seat across from her, was sat in a low tent filled with dripleaf fog, a sign claiming she’d show a pony their inner self for five bits. As Bolt looked a wandering pony caught a whiff of the purple smoke and decided to head inside, the flaps closing as the lamia already began to pull up her cloth. In another corner, there was a lamia sat beside a large timer with various words written on, such as ‘mouse’ ‘rabbit’ ‘fox’ and more, it was easy to tell it was a mimic of an entrance game. The lamia running the stall took a bit of a pony and had him stand on a marked plate, laying her tail over his body as the timer began to run, the pony falling just after rabbit and being looped up easily. Other lamia themed games dominated the marketplace and saw a greater density of traffic than classical games, given the lamias popularity.

Ruby looked over the crowd, noticing Sunny at one such game, a pony sat across from her, it seemed that Sunny had to get the pony to open their eyes and be hypnotised to win. Sunny had achieved this with a flick of her tail on their temple, forcing their eyes open as Ruby approached, the pony resting her head on the table grinning placidly as her eyes pulsed too fast to catch specific colours.

“Efficient.” Ruby complimented as Sunny stood up.

“Thank you,” Sunny said following Ruby away from the game after having collected her prize, a silly looking hot water bottle that seemed to resemble a golden retriever “So is Bolt with you?” Sunny asked.

Ruby paused, having expected Bolt to follow her to Sunny. She immediately jumped the idea that he’d made a break for it before Sunny nudged her side, nodding her head forward. Ruby relaxed, seeing Bolt amongst a small crowd of other ponies watching a lamia twirling a pony between her coils as she danced gracefully. As she stopped the crowd left bits as tips and filtered away and the lamia set her partner down. Bolt made his way over to an open stage, smiling as a lamia slid on, a staff clunking on the wooden podium. The lamia glanced between the ponies watching smiling and called for his assistant telling the crowd, in thickly mysterious tones, that he was going to devour her without opening his mouth. The mare sat upon the lamias coils smiling nervously as the lamia shifted his large brimmed hat, hiding his magic as the mare glowed and seemed to slip down through his coils which grew in girth, the assistant moaning softly from within, pushing again the walls making his tail contort at random intervals. Some of the crowd moved up to confirm she had been eaten and clapped, Bolt looking nervous until the mare simply sat up, her legs still inside his belly and climbed out of the coils, a little sticky and damp but otherwise unharmed, then he clapped.

“Looks like he’s enjoying himself.” Sunny commented and Ruby nodded as Bolt moved onto another lamia who was making fire glide down her tail elegantly.

“Yes, it does… perhaps I should hunt him.” Ruby said smiling.

“Well, you could if he agrees… assuming he makes it far enough,” Sunny said glancing to her left “The maze is all set up, shouldn’t be long until the current game finishes. Hope you don’t mind if I join in too.” Sunny said with a smile.

“Not at all, just give him back, I’d like a taste too.” Sunny laughed as Ruby smiled the pair slithering over to Bolt who had managed to find the courage to play a game of hangpony with a lamia, but with himself being hanged. Though not really so morbid, given that he’d just get squeezed around his neck if he lost.

Bolt flushed looking sideways away from the lamia “Obedience.” He mumbled and the lamia smiled filling in the last of the letters.

“Okay, what prize would you like?” The lamia asked.

“How about seasoning for his mane?” Sunny suggested as Bolt looked up in surprise.

“We don’t have that, sorry.” The lamia said resisting the temptation to smile.

“Um, how about that dream catcher?” Bolt suggested nervously and the lamia passed it over.

“Nice choice, this will ensure you can enjoy your slumber in nice comfy coils.” Bolt looked at the catcher he’d just taken noticing the little snake looping over to form the ‘net’ that looked like a sleeping bag.

Before he could pass it back, he was tugged up from his seat and pulled away by Ruby, boxed in by the two lamias on either side “Come along, we don’t have all day.” Ruby said happily shepherding Bolt towards what looked like a giant twisting tree maze, there were two entrances with little pictures above that Bolt tried to get a clear look at.

Under the right picture, which was a curled-up snake, a group of lamias stood talking happily, noticeably, a few of them appeared to be wearing body paint over their tails to meld into the trees. The other picture had a rabbit stood up high, alert for danger, ponies were talking with a lamia beside the entrance to the maze signing a clipboard and getting little coloured bands. Ruby, Bolt and Sunny made their way over to the free lamia.

“Two hunters, one prey.” Sunny said and the lamia took their names and passed over some more bands, Bolt’s was a clear white, whilst Sunny and Ruby got black.

“What are these for?” Bolt asked nervously, as he inspected the plain band.

“Never played hunter and prey?” The lamia asked helping a couple more ponies sign on, Bolt was immediately on alert from the name alone as he shook his head “It’s quite simple, the prey, ponies, try to make their way to the middle of the maze, no teleporting or flying over the hedges or our referee’s will catch you. The maze is set into rings, the very outer ring is designed to scatter the prey before they get into the inner rings. The hunters, the lamias, spread between the rings, the further in the less prey but the… ‘higher quality’ of the catch. The first ring is typically filled with open spaces with trees, bushes and other places to hide, prey or hunter alike, between the maze paths you have to navigate. The path to the inner rings are guarded by four bridge guardians, our largest lamia friends who form the bridge with their own tails, you have to resist falling in with them. Then the final ring, where the best hunters lie in wait, if you somehow pass them and win you can have any trigger of your choosing.” The lamia said finishing with tapping Bolt’s forehead.

Bolt shuffled nervously and mumbled quietly “I erm… Is that really the prize?” The lamia nodded smiling.

The lamia running the stall looked over as the lights on a nearby board pinged green suddenly “Oh, looks like the last lot have finished, please head to the start.” Ruby smiled, pushing Bolt towards the other prey-ponies…

Sunny and Ruby slid over to the lamias and the desk running let a group of late comers through quickly before starting, the lamias sprinting inside before the prey was released a minute later. The group around Bolt happily galloping in as he stood nervously, glancing at the lamia at the desk who was standing up to help a few other nervous starters. With little choice Bolt followed into the maze.

Immediately, the entryway broke into a four-way path, Bolt kept going forward until he hit a dead end, then doubled back quickly and headed to his right, the path curving around steadily until Bolt was able to turn right again. Soon feeling dizzy as he kept running around the ring, Bolt heard a sound ahead and dropped down, crawling to a corner. Ahead, there was an opening, a perfectly circular clearing with grass that touched up to Bolt’s waist. It was an obvious place to hide a giant coily mass and sure enough one pony had already attempting to sprint through. A lamia, darted with tan orange striped paint over her body and tail, held a vice like grip on her prey, holding the pony in a seat as she gulped up her legs, the pony smiling with pulsing eyes, unconcerned about what was happening. Bolt felt a strange sensation, like a forgotten dream or memory… of tight, squishy walls dragging him down…

Bolt shook his head as the mare moaned, slipping down into her mouth. He didn’t want to become a snack a second time, so, once the lamia was halfway through her current meal, Bolt began to sprint through the grass. The lamia looked over slightly, but her prey wriggled and her focus returned to her present meal. Bolt passed into more winding, narrow passageways, turning left, right, right, left, turning back, skirting around an open space with trees or obvious holes and slither marks… It wasn’t long before Bolt was well and truly lost, glancing around hopelessly searching for the correct way to go. Stumbling along, Bolt soon found another circular opening, but this one was open and clear, no grass, no trees no where to hide. Sprinting for the other side desperately, Bolt looked up at the sky, he didn’t remember what way the sun had been facing when he’d started. Distracted, Bolt only heard the lamias emerging when the sound of rock and dirt being thrown about reach his ears. Bolt gasped trying to stop as two lamias on either side collided into Bolt, gripping him with their hooves as their tails followed, pushing Bolt down onto a pile and twisting, each lamia trying to loop over him more.

Bolt whimpered quietly but the lamias didn’t look at him, they’d begun to argue as Bolt was tugged between each lamia “I grabbed him first, get your own prey!”

“It was my idea and my clearing, you tried to steal both, you can’t steal my catch as well!”

“I didn’t steal I was already burrowing! Besides, everypony uses this method! It isn’t yours!”

“It was my idea to burrow here!” Bolt wriggled and both lamias coils shifted tried to grip Bolt as he freed a little of himself, parts of his body switching tails.

In a fid of desperation, Bolt rolled over and the coil sprung up, trying to grab him and Bolt pushed himself backwards deeper into the coily mass and each lamia ended up trying to grab their partner as Bolt simply stood up as the coil converged on the empty space that had held him.

The two lamias didn’t even break stride in their argument as Bolt crept away, only as Bolt took another turn did he hear over the hedge “Where’d he go!?”

“You let my catch escape!” The sound of scuffling followed and Bolt smiled, having the strangest feeling they might be related.

Once again, Bolt trekked through the winding maze, occasionally finding ponies wandering like him, or, luckily, a lamia preoccupied with another catch. That delay at the start was certainly paying off. Bolt passed by a turn off, glancing down and continuing, before turning around and checking again. Ahead, Bolt could see an open pit, between two sides of another circular clearing. Bolt nervously approached and found a twilight blue coloured lamia filling the pit with her huge coils below covering the ground, she was currently reading. She glanced up as Bolt accidentally knocked a little bit of gravel down onto her coils and smiled, closing the book as she raised herself up to Bolt’s eye level, brushing back a dark blue dreadlock mane to see Bolt better. The lamia’s pony body was disproportionately small compared to her tail, which rapidly widened out to a couple widths of a pony at least, not to mention she had to be several times Ruby’s length.

“Well, hello little one, here to cross my bridge?” She asked, her voice smooth, as if she could sing every syllable effortlessly.

“Uh… yeah.” Bolt said blinking, momentarily stunned by her voice.

“Nice to hear it, please give me a moment. You’re my first rider of the day.” The lamia said lifting her coils up and bracing them between either side like a rope bridge, but without the gaps to frighten ponies using them. The bridge was wide enough to admit a wagon on it and Bolt looked at the lamia nervously as he stepped forward.

The sensation of stepping on liquid greeted Bolt’s hooves and he wobbled before settling, the coils were very pudgy and had little tension, but they were so squishy that Bolt sent ripples down them that rubbed the underside of his hooves nicely. Bolt stepped forward and began to walk, the lamia following “So, how are you enjoying the games, how many times did you get eaten before you made it to me?” She asked.

“How many times?” Bolt asked looking up and slipping, falling on his belly and sliding over the coils, moaning weakly.

“Oh, first time?” Bolt nodded as he tried to stand up, but slipped again, after that a coil lowered atop Bolt closing the bridge into a tight tunnel.

“W-w-wait!” Bolt stuttered.

“Don’t fret, so long as you don’t stop moving for too long you can make it, this is just… supporting.” The lamia said between the gaps letting light in, watching Bolt mushed under heavy drooping scaly fat. Bolt sighed then worked to crawl along the best he could, feeling every scale caressing his body.

“So, what did you mean when you said how many times did I get eaten?” Bolt asked.

“Oh, well, some ponies like to play just to disguise that they want to be gobbled up by us, or wrapped up tight and snug. We don’t all eat you, some can rub and caress your body all over until the next game, unable to notice if your completely ensnared in bliss.” The lamia squished her tail down and Bolt couldn’t help but pause resting his head as he received a full body hug “Obviously if you’re eaten we spit you out, we all want a chance for a taste.” Bolt hummed and forced himself onward “Are you with anypony?”

“My Mistress, Ruby… she um… she tricked me into playing.” Bolt admitted, he could see the end.

“Ruby? I thought you might be with one of the others further back,” The lamia paused as Bolt reached the end, the coils were squeezed close together, Bolt kept wriggling trying to lift the coils up enough to escape.

“Hay!” Bolt cried “This isn’t fair!” Bolt whined.

“Do you want to make it to Ruby?” The lamia asked.

“What… oh well… I’d much rather make it to the end…” Bolt said, stopping his fruitless attempts to get any traction on the liquid-like coils.

“But what if you can’t? What if a lamia does catch you, would you like it to be Ruby? I could treat you so much nicer.” The lamia offered, rubbing Bolt’s back slowly and he slipped down a little, glancing back Bolt noticed a gap in the bridge that he would slip through soon if he didn’t act.

“I… I…” Bolt stuttered glancing down between a tiny gap at the twisting sea of giant coils, he wouldn’t even be visible under the first layer “…I’d like Ruby to catch me.” Bolt admitted flushing a little and the gap closed as the coil over Bolt’s head slid away and Bolt was bounced up onto the other side with a soft thud “Thanks.” Bolt said looking at the lamia upside down.

“You’re welcome, I hope you enjoy yourself.” The lamia said turning to another pony waiting on the other side as Bolt rolled over and kept going.

The inner circle was noticeably smaller, though still rather large, twisting, turning and abruptly ending at random. Bolt came upon one of the clearings and saw a pony sat squarely below what Bolt first thought was some sort of giant flower. Looking closer, it did resemble a plant, it reminded Bolt of a pitcher plant, hanging off a large tree with a tunnel leading down to a little belly. The leaf above the pitcher’s opening however looked like a flower and was open facing the pony and was spinning in circles, the pony captivated as she started drooling a little. The pitcher tilted downward on its own and the pony stood up, following the flower dreamily, stepping up then slipping on the brim of the flower, falling down the tube and stretching it out. Bolt could see her figure in the bottom of the flower rolling over and moaning, rubbing the edges of the flower before laying down as the flower closed and covered the top. Was that it, was she doomed? Bolt heard a twig snap and hid under the maze line as a lamia appeared twisting out of the hedge itself and approached the plant. The lamia took out a bag and threw a large wad of what looked like melted candy canes at it, the flower snapping it up and munching messily before the mare was pulled out by vines, fast asleep and covered in sap. The lamia took the dozing mare and left silently. It was nice to know they were keeping an eye on things.

After this delay, Bolt sprinted past the plant as it opened it flower, trying to coax Bolt in but he was on guard for its trick and crossed without problem, the plant curling in almost sad as Bolt left it behind. The path onward turned left and right, Bolt followed along to his right trying to move quickly but quietly now, a little nervous about being so deep in the maze on his own. As Bolt approached the next corner he peeked around and stifled a little gasp. Sunny was stood in the centre of the next clearing, her coils sprawled in the open in the sunlight, warming herself up as she lay on her back casually, unconcerned with the events happening around her. Bolt glanced behind him to check it was clear and backed up slowly, once behind the hedge he stood up sighing quietly. Bolt turned to leave as another pony came sprinted from the opposite side to Bolt, glancing back Bolt tried to silently tell him to keep it down, but the damage was done. In a flash of blue and yellow, the running pony disappeared into the hedge, Bolt just barely able to see past the gap into the clearing as the pony was pulled right over to Sunny, who rolled her pony body on top to get acquainted with her latest guest.

Bolt leaned over, did he dare try this trick again? It was Sunny, not a rookie lamia… Bolt decided to try it, he’d just find another lamia later on, plus if he did get caught at least Sunny was kind. Bolt pushed off the ground and began to float along as Sunny, focused on her target, spoke softly to entice them in.

“That’s it, let my coils envelope and surround your body. Sink deeply into them as your mind sinks into my gaze… enjoy how nice to feels as my coils rub and tenderise your body letting you sink softly into submission.” Bolt had to cover his mouth with a hoof to stifle a groan of longing as he kept going, his wings doing an odd sort of mid-air jitter as they tried to approach Sunny’s enticing voice and glittering coils, but Bolt was on the other side before he fully succumbed to the mental effects bombarding him.

Bolt glanced back at Sunny, he’d made it further than he’d expected. In truth Bolt had expected to be caught within minutes of starting. Was sheer luck keeping him out of their grip… or maybe he just hadn’t indulged as much as these ponies… he could always turn back towards Sunny and her twinkling coils… Bolt blinked shaking his head as one hoof hovered in the air, hanging towards Sunny before he flew away, Sunny not noticing the dull swish of Bolt’s wings.

Bolt followed the curling path along, heading deeper inward. At one point he was about to take a turn when he heard a soft sneeze and hugged the ground, just barely able to see a trail of black coils on the other side of the hedge. Okay, not that way, he thought. After that, Bolt could almost have enjoyed the walk for the next few minutes, it was almost silent save for birds singing and there didn’t seem to be many lamias this deep in despite their superior level of skill. Bolt took a turn and smiled. A little pedestal sat in front of Bolt with a gold button on top with a little trophy embedded in it, briefly checking the ground Bolt approach and casually tapped it, fireworks shooting up, if this hadn’t been a game Bolt would have been more concerned about the signal he’d just sent up of his position. As it was, Bolt merely rocked on his hooves for a few minutes, waiting, before a lamia covered in black and white striped markings appeared.

“Oh, congratulations. First to win today, please follow me.” The lamia said heading for the hedge as he offered his tail for Bolt to climb up on top of the maze.

Bolt complied, a little nervous as he wandered along the ridge of the hedge, only noticing from this vantage the number of lamias sat along them looking down on the games below. Bolt and the lamia took a straight line across the maze towards the beginning, a few lamias hanging up to see the victor, much to his embarrassment. The entrance to the maze was picking up in traffic for ponies now that midday approached, and a dense crowd was chattering as Bolt hopped down on his own.

“Wait here until the other contestants finish.” The lamia said and Bolt glanced around before finding a shady tree growing alongside the hedge.

It was almost half an hour before the lamias began to return, several ponies hung around them with towels draped over their heads, heading for a little tent with hot water and heated towels to clean up. Bolt headed towards the pack of lamias, wanting to know when he could leave.

“…didn’t see him. I started at the entrance of the maze too, but the number of scents made it hard to nail him down. I got eight others though.” Bolt glanced over knowing their smooth voice, it had infected his mind after all.

“I only had four pass where I was set up but he might have gone around,” Bolt managed to see through the crowd Sunny and could tell she was speaking with Ruby “Willow or Serpis probably got him, they were in the inner circle the whole game as well.” Bolt made his way to the two conversing lamias but felt a tug on his back leg.

“This way, we’re doing the victory ceremony,” The ref lamia said tugging Bolt away “It’ll just take a minute.” He added as Bolt tried to carry on towards Ruby, before letting the lamia guide him to a tent with all the other prey, standing beside the podium as the lamia took a checklist, the lamias filtering in.

Sunny and Ruby took their placed against the edge of the tent wall and Sunny nudged Ruby in the side, nodding towards Bolt. The lamia took position at the front addressing the lamias and ponies gathered around “The fourth hunter and prey games are over, we had thirty-eight lamias participating and eighty-one ponies,” The crowd clapped politely at the modest turnout “Thanks, now we had eight survivors,” Survivors being prey who had avoided the lamias until the time had run out after the victor first hit the button “And two winners, we’ll also being giving a prize to one of the survivor’s who made it furthest. At third, Net Lines,” A tan orange stallion stepped up onto the lowest podium and took a white ribbon and a purple ticket “His third-place ribbon and a ticket for a minor trigger of his choice at Bobines hypnotisantes.” The crowd clapped politely and the stallion smiled clutching his ticket “Second place, Water Droplets.” A blue mare hopped up quickly smiling as she took a red ribbon and another purple ticket “Another ribbon and a ticket for a minor or moderate trigger.” The mare looked ecstatic and rocked on her hooves smiling at a bulky lamia to the side who was grinning as he clapped “Now first place, the first to hit the victory button, Boltblood Thundercloud.”

Ruby’s folded hooves dropped in surprise as Sunny raised her eyebrows “He got past you lot in the inner ring!?” Ruby asked in a low whisper.

“He got past you at the start, too!” Sunny remarked as Bolt, a little awkwardly, stepped up with the other two and looked down on the crowd of lamias, feeling a little exposed as he was given a blue ribbon and a purple ticket with a golden centre.

“His first prize ribbon and a ticket for a trigger of choice. Thank for playing and if you’d like to go again the next game started in ten minutes.” The lamia said and the crowd began to disperse and Bolt jumped down and walked up to Ruby.

“Hello, Mistress.” Bolt said a little nervous.

Ruby looked down at the ticket Bolt was holding “Would you like to use that now while you have the chance?” She asked with a smile and Bolt flushed, stuttering.

“Lunch first, I feel.” Sunny said as her belly rumbled and Bolt looked a little pale at that instead “Not you, Bolt.” Sunny said chuckling as the group left “So, how many lamias did you wander into?” Sunny asked.

“Just a few, some at the beginning too busy with ponies, like you near the end.” Bolt said and Sunny coughed, choking on air as Ruby laughed.

“You got past me?” Sunny asked, glaring briefly at Ruby who was chuckling.

“You were busy with another pony at the time… telling them… telling them to let your coils envelope and surround them in bliss.” Bolt’s voice shook and Sunny slid closer to the flustered pegasus.

“Would you like to know how it felt?” She cooed softly as one of her coils hooked itself under Bolt’s chin, his body visibly relaxing at the faint touch.

Bolt gulped glancing down at the inviting coils “I… I would like to…”

“We’re here.” Ruby announced and Bolt stood up straight, Sunny dropping her coils as Ruby slid ahead ‘oblivious’ to what she’d just interrupted.

Sunny sped up falling in line with Ruby as Bolt tried to keep up, but caught a flicker of the pair’s tails glimmering off each other and began to trail behind unable to escape the lull of their beauty “What was that for?” Sunny asked in a hush, hurt, whisper.

“He’s mine.” Ruby replied simply glancing at Bolt who was glancing dreamily between the pairs tails as if wondering how he could get them both around him.

“No, he’s not,” Ruby turned to Sunny to argue but Sunny cut her off first “You took him on as temporary staff; he can leave after tonight and then he’s free game for any of us. He isn’t yours specifically… unless you want to force him to be?” Sunny raised an eyebrow as Ruby turned to look ahead searching for a table at the little café, though there were plenty to choose from currently.

“You won’t force him either, you want to tempt him in like me.” Ruby muttered “Want him to willingly submit. That’s the appeal.”

“Precisely. But you haven’t broken him, fully.” Sunny said as Bolt caught up, now they weren’t moving the sparkling coils had dimmed and his wits had returned, somewhat.

“Yet,” Ruby said slithering over to a clear table bathed in sunlight, curling her tail under herself in a giant plush throne of white coils, Sunny sitting opposite her friend as Bolt walked over.

“Where do I get a chair?” Bolt asked and Ruby smiled.

“Why don’t you make a chair out of coils?” She suggested holding up her tail tip.

“There are other options.” Sunny added offering her own tail tip and Bolt glanced between the two glaring lamias before taking Sunny’s tail tip and pulling on it gently as Sunny let her coils swish over to Bolt, Ruby looking slightly offended and betrayed.

Bolt piled Sunny’s coils up against the table between the two, forming a raised doughnut shape with coils trailing off the sides like an overflowing fountain, then took Ruby’s tail tip wandering back over and climbing onto his homemade seat. Bolt tugged on Ruby’s tail and her coils slithered over and Bolt began to pull them up resting them over his legs and trapping him in as if he were wearing a blanket.

“Is this okay?” He asked.

“Er, yeah.” Ruby said smiling as she squeezed Bolt, Sunny feeling Ruby’s coils rubbing over her own and mimicking her friend, rubbing the underside of Bolt’s body as the coils tightened all around, closing the space and supporting Bolt more.

“Very.” Sunny said, taking a menu. Bolt leaned forward trying to reach one, but Ruby’s coils had looped up his belly and he couldn’t lean forward now.

Ruby passed a menu over to Bolt with a smile and he leaned back, slipping a little as he glanced over the menu of sugary treats “So Bolt,” Sunny said and the stallion looked over at Sunny as she spoke “When the dinner’s over what are you planning to do?” Ruby was looking between a triple chocolate cake and sticky toffee pudding when Sunny proposed the question and glanced up watching.

“I thought I’d go back home.” Bolt said simply, putting the menu down “I left my wagon, my own business, behind when Polish took me to Ruby and I’d like to get back to it.”

“You wouldn’t like to stay here, find a job in the employment of a lamia?” Bolt glanced down at the pile of coils he was nestled on as they looped up his body a little more “Can you really leave this behind?” Sunny asked.

“W-well…” Bolt glanced at Ruby silently watching “I-its not that I’m not enjoying this but… I have my own home and business and-ack!” Bolt choked as Ruby snapped her tail around his neck tightly, cutting off his voice. Bolt glanced at Ruby whose expression hadn’t changed as her tail loosened, Bolt opened his mouth to speak again and Ruby tugged his throat close once more.

“I think what my chef is trying to say is he’d like to visit his home before considering returning.” Ruby said softly.

“Returning here or to you?” Sunny asked as the pair turned to each other ignoring Bolt’s confused expression.

“To me, obviously. I hypnotised him first, he let me in so if he’d go back to anypony it be me.” Ruby said.

Sunny smiled “So you made him need to return?” She asked.

“No, he can leave, he has that choice.” Ruby retorted.

“Um, Mistress…” Bolt mumbled softly, unnoticed by either.

“Just like my staff can, unless they offend me as they were made aware in the contract they signed. Last I check your hiring method was join or add salt.” Sunny rolled a hoof, miming a pony being coiled up.

“I don’t hire ponies like that! Bolt could have said no, and forgive me for being firm on my staff I pay them plenty and want my money’s worth, and they know it’s a good job since they all stay!” Ruby argued.

“Because they’re frightened?”

“They’re not!” Ruby somewhat lied, some were frightened of upsetting Ruby true… but she was their boss that existed with any job.

“I… I’m not frightened.” Bolt chimed in but was, once more, ignored.

“Is that why your staff is full of slaves?” Sunny asked.

“So is yours.” Ruby pointed out with a jab of her hoof.

“Mine are criminals, reformed to help society in exchanged for time served, you just take from the community.” Bolt had had enough and pushed back Ruby’s coils, who finally noticed the movement as Bolt jumped out.

“Bolt?” Ruby asked.

“I’m gonna go find a waiter, have you chosen what you want?” Bolt asked pausing at the door to the shop.

“Toffee pudding.” Ruby said surprised at Bolt’s outburst.

“Banana split.” Sunny added staring at Bolt as he opened the door with a soft bell chime “Nice.” She added.

“Shut up Sunny.” Ruby said looking away “You nor any other lamia are better than me in terms of caring for our staff or slaves.” She said “You sent enlightened to me.”

“Reformed criminals, as I said before.” Sunny said once more and Ruby looked into the café with a cute pout.

Bolt stood at the counter waiting to be served rubbing his temples “Headache? I could help with that.” A lamia said leaning towards Bolt.

“I’m fine thanks, I’m just getting my Mistress’ order.” Bolt said and the lamia hummed moodily. As a waitress walked over to Bolt and took his order Bolt did have to wonder what he would do next.

Heading back towards the door Bolt began to think, living with Ruby wasn’t luxury but it beat sleeping in a drafty, wooden wagon. And she did treat him nicely, her comfy tail, squeezing and rubbing and he had constant meals and care… and her eyes twisting into his mind did add a nice tinge to her argument… if only he didn’t have the threat of being a meal, like Polish, he just couldn’t shake that memory of his body bulging out of her tail from his mind.

Bolt hadn’t even noticed he was back at the table until he tried to sit down and realised the coil seat was gone “Ouch.” He mumbled looking up.

“Oh, sorry Bolt.” Ruby said as he stood up.

“Mistre…Mis… Miss R-Ruby.” Bolt managed biting his lip as his conditioning twisted knots in his brain.

“Yes Bolt?” Ruby asked surprised at Bolt referring to her by name after so long.

“So, the um… when you took me on… about eating me… if… if I took a job with you does that… that still hold true…?” Bolt asked.

“What do you mean?” Ruby asked.

“If… if I stay on and I… mess up… will I be the fill in meal?” Bolt asked nervously and Ruby folded a hoof under her chin smirking at Sunny.

“Are you considering staying?” Ruby asked.

“I… well I am considering the possibility.” Bolt said as Ruby curled her tail around and Bolt sat down obediently.

“Tell you what, if the dinner goes well, you can go home and sort things out there. Then, if you come back, we can sort you out working for me. And I won’t digest you, promise.” Ruby leaned closer “But if the meal is poor you will take its place until I find something else, good deal?” Ruby asked quietly and Bolt flushed.

“Sounds good… I mean I er… yeah… sure…” Bolt looked away as Ruby kissed his ear.

“Good little morsel.” She whispered, Bolt’s wings ruffled against his back as Ruby leaned back as their food arrived.

Bolt pulled his own toffee pudding close as Sunny leaned over “You are really good to her.” She commented nodding to Ruby.

“Oh, thanks.” He said not seeing how he was good to her, but Sunny just nodded, beginning to eat as if nothing had changed.

“You aren’t bothered he chose me?” Ruby asked Sunny who shook her head.

“Why? I now know Bolt won’t be going anywhere… well, permanently at least, and that was my main concern,” Sunny said grabbing Ruby’s thickest coil and looping it around Bolt with her own tail, forming a nice hoop encircling his neck so as Bolt swallowed his food he felt it press against the smooth scales “And I doubt you have any argument visiting me, do you Bolt?” Sunny asked as a coil rose up swaying slightly.

“I… wouldn’t say no, I suppose.” Bolt admitted watching the coil.

“Heh, good little prey.” Sunny said “Now, what trigger are you going to choose?” Sunny asked smiling.

“What?” Bolt asked following the tail even as it dropped to the floor “Oh, right erm… I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it, maybe something to make me braver around lamias?” Bolt suggested and the pair groaned.

“Bolt, you have a world of triggers to choose from, how could you choose something so mundane?” Ruby asked and Sunny nodded.

“I don’t know what I should choose.” Bolt mumbled.

“Whatever you want.” Sunny said with a smile.

“You can have a trigger word, a day to day word, that could make you feel coils slip and glide over your body,” At this, Ruby let her coils slither and glide over Bolt’s body tightening around his neck making him gulp quietly “Or perhaps a trigger so every vowel of a word makes you see a single hypnotic ring and you mind whittles away from the inside out.” Ruby cooed leaning closer to the flushing stallion.

“What would you like Bolt is what you can choose.” Sunny said smiling.

“But if I want a trigger why could I just ask Ruby for one?” Bolt asked quietly.

“You trust me not to abuse that power over you?” Ruby asked smiling.

Bolt glanced away from the table, tapping his spoon against his empty bowl “I trust you not to do anything I wouldn’t like.” He said so softly Ruby had to strain her hearing to catch over the low chatter around them.

“Duly noted.” Ruby said as she pushed her own empty bowl forward “Well, we better get going now or we’ll be stuck in a queue, come on Bolt. Sunny are you alright to pay.” Ruby asked.

“Sure, indulge Bolt, have fun.” Sunny said happily and Bolt hopped up from his pudgy, coily seat and followed alongside Ruby, thinking on how he’d like to shape his own mind.

Bobines Hypnotisantes was a smooth limestone building along the main street, the festivities extended just far enough that it skimmed its borders and had decorated accordingly, though a little more based upon a spa house as was to be expected. There were lamias holding pitchers of hot water with heated towels draped along their tails, the ponies sat snuggled up in coil cocoons with folded towels on their heads or lying on their bellies atop their lamia massagers and even a few lamias being tended to by crowds of ponies. The windows featured various products such as shampoo, cream and even some heated pillows with lamia textures along the pillow cases.

The double doors slid back to admit Ruby and Bolt into the lobby which had a decent string of ponies wearing fluffy white robes, robes with rainbow streaks that glittered with scales and a few braver ponies were wearing live snakes that had somehow been domesticated into acting like robes for patrons. Ruby slid up to the desk where a pony was sat micromanaging all the admitted customers on a large list.

Ruby cleared her throat and the mare looked up with a slight scowl then shattered into surprise and a little fear at having possibly offended Ruby “Oh, good evening Miss Scales, what brings you to our spa today?” She asked with an accented purr.

“Bolt, my chef, has won a choose your own trigger prize and we’re here to cash it in.” Ruby said.

“Of course,” She took the ticket from Bolt and turned over, checking it with a machine then hoofed over a device similar to a tablet “The listed lamias on the screen are available, just tap who you’d like.” The desk mare said eager to get through this particular customer.

Bolt glanced down, looking between the available lamias he would be entrusting with his mind. The lamias had size, weight, length and even types of hypnosis that they were capable of. They all seemed skilled and able to do everything Bolt could dream of, there were names for massages they specialised in like ‘twisting spiral slip’ or ‘scaly devouring’ and Bolt had a fleeting memory of passing through Sunny’s coils back at the manor. The mare providing that service was rather large and her picture was flaunting this, with her own massive lime green coils wrestling themselves for the picture, curling over the same coloured body and draping over her long waxy white coloured mane.

Bolt checked the name, Lime Candle and she used ‘display’ hypnosis? Bolt didn’t know what that was and was slightly curious, so he ticked the name a little impulsively before returning the tablet.

“I’ll just inform Miss Candle.” She said sending a request into the computer beside her. Half a minute later and Lime slid into the lobby and to the desk, speaking directly to Bolt, no doubt already aware of what she would be providing for him “This way please, Mister Bolt.” Bolt glanced at Ruby who waved goodbye, turning to the counter mare to order something for herself leaving Bolt to wander after the large lamia alone.

Lime led Bolt down a hallway with doors spaced far apart, clearly for the lamias, on each door was a cutie mark and Lime stopped at the one matching hers, a candle coloured green with puffs of colours rolling up from it. The inside room seemed like a full spa miniaturized into one room. There was a jacuzzi, massage tables and chairs, cupboards full of oils, gels and cream and more. Above, however, were real tree branches curling and twisting around the rafters and Bolt imagined hanging from them as a lamia curled her tail down towards him lifting him up.

“Now, have you decided on what you’d like for your trigger, Mister Bolt?” Lime asked facing towards Bolt as she closed the door, rubbing a coil along the side of his neck, inspecting today’s catch.

Bolt flushed but nodded, glancing at her coils as he did so and Lime remained silent, waiting “I’d… like to be able to feel… coils… rubbing over me… whenever I want…” Bolt mumbled having a hard time working his mouth into confessing.

“How would you like it done?” Lime asked stroking Bolt’s cheek in a comforting, understanding way.

“W-well… um… when I say ‘coil’ I’d like to feel coils sliding over my body and every time I say it more join and they get tighter… and ‘uncoil’ to stop it.” Bolt said, a little too green on how triggers worked.

Lime smiled “How’s about a little alteration?” Bolt looked up “When you say ‘coil’ you start the trigger, but it doesn’t do anything until you see a lamias tail then, if you pay attention, you can feel their coils rubbing and sliding over your body, and hear them rub and grind together. It would also mean you could have diversity in how the trigger functions.” Lime suggested, smiling.

“That… sounds nice, we’ll go with that.” Bolt said nodding with a smile.

“Wonderful. Now, do you want me to go through some of the standard practises to help you loosen up and soften your mind, or right to it?” Lime offered.

Bolt glanced towards the jacuzzi and other available services the room contained “I er… suppose having you relax my mind during all this wouldn’t do any harm for later on.” Bolt said and Lime grinned.

“Wonderful, please, we’ll start with the jacuzzi.” She said holding a hoof out towards the still pool of water, her tail slithering ahead of them both to switch it on.

Bolt sat down on the edge of the pool as the bubbles and steam began to rise before Lime began to push him down with her tail so he slipped inside, sat on the edge below her, feeling oddly small for once. Lime looped a coil over Bolt’s head like a folded towel and began to gently caress and rub his head and temples, weighing down upon his skull as he sighed quietly.

Bolt looked up at Lime, a little curious about the proceedings of this place “So, how does ‘display’ hypnosis work exactly?” He asked, curious.

Lime pushed Bolt’s head back down with a smile “Now be patient, that’s later. For now, we’ll start on a verbal and sensation trance.” Lime said happily.

“Verbal and sensation?” Bolt asked.

“Yes, it’s quite simple, all I need you to do is focus on my words, listen to every subtle little lisp as my fork tongue curls around your Equestrian words, feel my voice slither and loop around your brain flickering against it. Let your mind drift and float, your head dip under the heavy weight of my coils, slipping down deeper into the soothing, bubbling water that is tenderising your mind.” Bolt’s ears flickered, rubbing against the coils above them as Lime spoke, soft, smooth and clearly to him, her hooves gripping and rubbing his neck, rolling in circles as she drilled relaxation into his tense muscles.

Bolt began to lean back against the side of the jacuzzi, smiling dimly “E-easy… enough…” He mumbled and Lime laughed.

“Indeed, it is so easy, so natural for a lamia to take control, for you to give control over to them. Let us decide Bolt, for your mind is so slow and sluggish it’s just so much easier to let us think and let your mind fall silent.” Lime looped her hooves around Bolt’s neck “How do you like to be coiled?” She whispered, drawing out Bolt’s buried desires.

“Round my… neck… tight…” Bolt admitted, faintly surprised he didn’t feel embarrassed.

“Oh, that’s rare. Bet you make a lot of friends with lamias, we don’t have to restrain ourselves with you, so sweet.” Bolt smiled, Lime easily normalising what he liked, further diminishing any sense of awkwardness his confessions might have brought up.

Lime curled the crown of coils around, still maintaining the heavy weight upon Bolt’s head, but at the same time looping a coil down and under Bolt’s neck like a scarf, tightening until he was gasping, eyes drooping as he wheezed for air, Lime only tightening as Bolt’s vision blurred and began to distort “Such meek, helpless prey, unable to resist the predator’s whims and desires. Being shown his place, and loving it.” Lime cooed, tugging on Bolt’s head to make him nod “Glad you agree.” Bolt sighed quietly, his meagre attempt at trying to correct this fact but not having the will nor the air to do so.

Bolt’s head began to dip as he weakly shuddered in Lime’s grip before she loosened her hold at last, Bolt gasping and panting as Lime caringly massaged his neck “Just let your breathing settle… in… out… having trouble?” Lime raised a coil to Bolt’s eye level, her waxy underbelly facing him “Up breath in, down breath out.” Lime ordered raising her coil then letting it slowly lower before Bolt, who’s eyes followed the progress of it with complete fixation.

Bolt’s eyes rolled up and down in their sockets, his mouth drooping slightly as Lime scooped up water from the pool, letting it trickle down and sparkle against her coils to entice Bolt’s mind further. At the same time, Lime wound a coil around Bolt’s midriff and lifted him slowly and steadily from the pool, keeping him focused on the swishing, metronome-like coil before him as Lime carried Bolt over to one of the gel padded tables. However, Lime didn’t lay Bolt down on the padding, instead curling her tail over the top like a mattress and letting Bolt lay on his belly atop them all, his head resting on a lower coil so he could comfortably face forward, still watching the coil rising and falling, guiding his breathing.

“That’s it Bolt, just let my coils mould to your body as you sink into their smooth hold. Now relax your back for me…” Lime said as she stretched a coil down along Bolt’s back, squishing him between the coils like sandwich filler, with the coil running the length of Bolt’s back began to slide slowly onward, rubbing and pinching into Bolt’s muscles.

Lime stopped her tail and let it drop from sight, Bolt continuing to breath as his mind still pictured a phantom image of the sparkling coils rising and falling before him, mouth agape, hardly aware of the coils relaxing his body, and by extension his mind. Lime lifted several thick coils and twisted them around in a corkscrew method, but packed close enough Bolt’s could see between them when looking down into the white waxy belly scales inside. Bolt could hardly tell where a new coil started or ended, though almost all of his focus was currently dedicated to trying to find out.

“Now watch the coils, imagine falling into them, letting them encompass your body all around.” Lime dropped the coil over Bolt’s back, switching it out for a single coil which she draped on the very tips of Bolt’s hind legs, slowly rubbed back and forth, imitating the process of being coiled up in both slow motion and repeat “Focus on the pale whites of my tail… watch closely Bolt… so very closely… can you see…?” Bolt blinked slowly. See what, he thought, what was he meant to see?

Bolt’s question was swiftly answered as Lime’s belly scales began to glow, shifting along the colour spectrum, glowing into pulsating colours so very similar to Ruby’s eyes. The colours swirled in a spiral deep, deep down into Lime’s twisting tail, the colours flowing along her body so it was like a tunnel… a tunnel of hypnosis, dragging and pulling Bolt forward. Lime’s tail was motionless, merely hovering in mid-air, but the colours along her belly scales were shifting, running down to the tail tip covering the very end closing the tunnel off, giving the illusion of movement. This movement worked in perfect harmony with Lime’s coils sliding and rubbing Bolt’s body into sensual numbness, climbing higher and higher his legs so numb he believed he was being squeeze, wrapped up in those pulsing coils. The twisting spiral of colours began to flood over Bolt’s eyes as his wings stretched out, squashed between the cocoon of colours, rubbing and massaging them, pampering him and his mind.

“You can see, can’t you? The colours flowing and spiralling down, deep into the abyss, and you’re following, sinking deeper and deeper into them, all the colours outside the tunnel I’ve formed don’t matter, all the thoughts outside the tunnel are silent… just slip and fall into my tail Bolt, slip and fall from control of your own mind.” Bolt’s body became suddenly rigid on the bed and a wide smile plastered his face as Lime continued her massage “Good boy, such a good obedient colt doing what your lamia tells you to, because all ponies obey, it’s natural to obey, it feels good to obey.” Bolt smiled letting Lime’s words roll over his placid, silent mind “In fact, it all feels so good you want to feel it all the time, don’t you, Bolt?” Bolt gave a little nod, sighing as he rubbed up against his coil pillow under his chin “Glad to hear it, now just watch the spiralling tunnel of colours and I’ll get you all ‘ready’, okay?” Bolt didn’t respond but Lime hadn’t expected him to, being continuously bombarded with hypnotic powers tended to leave even a slave with a mushier brain than usual.

Lime lifted Bolt up gently and looped her coils up and over his back, encompassing him inside his own cocoon, so very similar to the one his was so fixated upon, before laying him back down, with the coils atop Bolt weighing him down into those supporting him below “Now Bolt, watching the twisting colours and focus for me, focus on your sense of touch and hearing,” Bolt’s ears flickered and Lime took that as an ‘okay’ from him “Feel my coils slip and slide over your body, pinching, gripping and tightening over your puny muscles. Hearing my scales rub together as they encompass your body… I want you to take all these sensations and let them curl up and wrap around themselves in a little corner of your mind,” Lime waited, letting the massaging and conditioning settle into Bolt’s mind “Whenever you say to yourself the word ‘coil’ you will feel the next lamia’s coils your see curling and wrapping around a part of your body, their weight, muscles and fat encompassing and surrounding you, unable to escape as they subtle massage you into obedience… and every time you see a new lamia you get a new coil, each one weighing down upon your body… perhaps if you see enough you might collapse where you stand, imagining yourself fully bound hoof to neck, being squeezed to the point of gasping for air… but of course, there comes a time when you need air and you need to be uncoiled to recover and escape. When you say ‘uncoil’ all the lamias shall leave you be,” Lime paused and smirked “Each coil leaving your body allowing a ring of hypnosis to flow over your eyes to remind you why you chose such a pleasant, sweet trigger.” Lime cooed and Bolt hummed in delight, the trigger nestling up beside Storm “Good slave, now… why don’t you sleep in the tunnel of hypnosis?” Lime suggested, suddenly tipping Bolt up and dropping him inside her pulsating tail as Bolt cried out in delight.

Bolt struggled for a while, the hypnosis so intense it energized him, but this soon passed and he fell still. A muffled little bulge looped around by Lime’s coils “Another happy customer.” Lime said slithering out the room to return Bolt back to his owner, Ruby.

Ruby was sat in the lobby when Lime returned, holding out Bolt’s cocoon so she could drop him into Ruby’s own coils, which she accepted, looking over the slightly drooling mess her head chef had been reduced to “Effective work as always.” Ruby complimented as Lime bowed Ruby in farewell.

Outside the spa Ruby looked over Bolt, who was hanging limp before her like a prize from a carnival game, his head bobbing up and down, full of twisting colours flowing like Lime’s tail “Hmmm, it would be cruel of me to wake you… but I bet Storm’s wide awake, it’s a nice day, I’m glad there’s isn’t a storm coming or we might have gotten wet.” Ruby smiled as Bolt vaguely twitched, the stallion’s mind too pulverised with hypnosis to really operate, merely getting up and flopping into it’s little corner to buzz with hypnotic bliss.

Storm wriggled his hooves, smiling “Hello, Goddess.” Storm said smiling at having been awoken from his long nap.

“Good afternoon Storm, ready to enjoy some time together?” Ruby asked.

“Always, Goddess!” Storm said wiggling his hooves in delight as Ruby set him down on the floor, retreating her tail from his body save for a collar tight around his neck which she tugged on to make him suddenly fling forward up against Ruby like a puppy.

“Glad to hear it, now come along.” Ruby ordered sliding along to wander the festival a little longer.

To Storm, the whole world seemed new and inviting. Lamias of various colours slithered around, curling and wrapping up lucky ponies, displaying their unique and various hypnotic powers to them as they took control of their weak minds. The world was perfect with lamias around and Storm could hardly wait to join in on the delightful, entrancing fun. Ruby and Storm began to pass by a stall game with four ponies sat watching hypnotic screens, trying to see who could resist the longest, and Storm tried to get in line before Ruby tugged him back to her side with a ‘gulp’.

“B-but I want to try that game, Goddess, please!” He begged like a child being denied candy.

Ruby glanced at Storm and his ears folded back apologetically “Oh alright, since I know that your purpose is to be hypnotised.” Ruby said smiling letting Storm gallop back over to the game.

Ruby chuckled as Storm climbed up onto his seat beside three other ponies, Ruby glanced between them, all within a lamia to care for them, what a shame. Ruby glanced at the stall runner who hit a button then continued to read her magazine. It wouldn’t do her any harm if Ruby joined in on the game too, she thought. Ruby curled her tail up towards the three other ponies as the screens began to hum, swirling black and white spirals appearing, Storm humming in delight as his mind was caressed by the hypnotic powers. Ruby used her tail to wrap up the three stunned players and began to squeeze, compressing their chests and necks, rubbing against their backs and weighing their heads down with coil crowns. It didn’t take much to have them crumble and as Ruby retracted her tail before the stall runner looked up, only Storm remained, leaning as far forward as he could without tipping his chair as the screen switched off.

“W-what happened, why did it stop?” Storm asked glancing at the stall runner who nodded at the other three stallions smiling dimly. Storm turned to look at Ruby, a little angry, and hopped down, Ruby taking a little plastic windmill that resembled the game’s white and black spiral “You made them lose.” Storm accused.

“Did you see?” Ruby asked innocently.

“Well… no… but I couldn’t look away from the screen!” Storm looked forward, searching for another game, but just as he was deciding the sound of trumpets began to play.

“Time for Sunny’s speech.” Ruby said and Storm had to admit defeat and follow Ruby, as all the stalls were closing for the moment to listen to Sunny’s honeyed words.

The crowd swiftly gathered to a podium with a high golden statue, the top looked very much like the sun in full blaze but with a chunk missing from it, and it glittered from the rays flowing down from above onto the stage. Sunny was stood waiting at the base of the statue, beside her were two regal looking alicorn mares, one as clear and white as clouds with a mane flickering with magic, filled with rainbow colours that glittered and gleamed like rays of light had been caught within. She was wearing golden royal attire; a chest piece with a purple gem centred in it and four high horseshoes. The other was dark blue with a mane flowing with magic like her white counterpart, but her mane seemed to contain darkness, with little twinkling stars, and her attire was the same but a black chest piece with a crescent moon centrepiece and pearly white shoes instead of gold. The two former Princesses of Equestria, Celestia and Luna, looked over their surrendered subjects with spiralling eyes and dreamy content smiles, feeling truly blessed.

Sunny slid forward and raised her hoof in a slow wave, her horn glowed and Sunny spoke with an echoing, powerful voice “Lamias and ponies of Equestria, we welcome the second wondrous year that the lamias have ruled over the land,” The crowd cheered and stomped the crowd happily and Celestia’s eyes pulsed in agreement “I welcome you all to share in this continuing golden, scaly age with us, to share and grow a bond that is closer, and stronger than any that previously persisted in Equestria before us. May it continued to curl and wrap us up close together in friendship and harmony.” Sunny turned from the cheering crowd and nodded to the two Princesses who leapt skyward, horns glowing and Sunny’s own magic joined them.

A pulse of powerful magic flowed from the two alicorns, pulsating with colours and the crowd looked up gasping in delight, the ponies in the crowd stumbling slightly from the subtle affects of the disguised hypnosis. Celestia and Luna circled back down to Sunny who caught them with her coils holding them beside her in mid-air “To many, more, wonderous years bound in the comfort of coils!” Sunny cheered and Celestia and Luna smiled as they were squeezed.

“Amazing…” Storm mumbled.

“Isn’t it, I can’t understand how you all managed without us before.” Ruby cooed.

“I guess we just didn’t know life wasn’t perfect.” Storm admitted as music began to play.

“Well, you know now… Shall we go play a few more games?” Ruby offered.

“Yes, thanks you, Goddess.” Storm said trotting after Ruby.

The dinner

Storm and Ruby continued to enjoy the festival for the next few hours, Storm exploring the various hypnotic possibilities now open to him. He tried ‘Bait’ which was a game where a pony had to hold onto a pole whilst being swallowed by a lamia, more stall games centred around hypnosis and even something like a climbing wall but using lamia tails instead. Ruby mostly snuck around Storm, snagging a pony or ten with her coils during the games whilst they couldn’t resist, but it soon began to get late.

“Time to go, Storm… in both senses.” Ruby said and Storm looked upset. “Until next time; thunder has sounded.”

“B…ye…” Storm mumbled as Bolt blinked, glancing around, when did he leave the spa?

“Welcome back,” Ruby said “It’s almost time for the dinner, come along!” Ruby ordered and Bolt stumbled forward, pulled along by his neck.

“What happened?” Bolt asked.

“Oh, I just let you relax your mind, so Storm took the reins on your body until you woke up.” Ruby explained as the final straggles of the festivals were snagged by late night lamias.

“Okay… oh… right, the dinner…” Bolt mumbled, his brain still catching up with his senses.

“Indeed, we’ll need to get dressed quickly.” Ruby said glancing at a nearby clock “I spent too long playing with the ponies at the festival.” She muttered, mentally scolding herself for her lack of restraint.

Bolt glanced at a nearby house, admiring its design “Did you play with me?” He asked.

Ruby smiled “I played with Storm, I saved you for the dinner.” Ruby said smiling as the manor came into view, the gate opening at their arrival. Once inside the manor, Alex, alongside the other staff, were assembled at the door “Nedra, go inform the kitchen to begin. Alex, one last check of the whole first floor. I doubt the guests will go upstairs but if I get one comment…” Alex nodded and hastened away swiftly “And you four,” Ruby pointed to four mares who stepped forward “Bolt and I shall be dressing up for the evening, we’ll be heading up to my room, come along.” They followed obediently and Bolt was pushed along.

“Dressing up?” Bolt asked sceptically.

“Yes, of course, we must look presentable. Don’t worry, you won’t need your uniform.” Ruby said as Bolt made to turn off sideways on the hallway.

Once inside Ruby’s bedroom, Ruby quickly slid up to her walk-in wardrobe and pulled out a dressing table with a high mirror, as well as a stool Bolt was made to sit in. Three of the mares descended on Ruby who leaned back as Bolt was made to face his ‘face painter’ as he often called ponies in such a profession. Bolt took much notice of the many golden rings and stubs that she was holding.

“Er, hang on I don’t have piercings!” Bolt said as the right side of his head was grabbed.

“They’re clip on rings.” The mare mumbled in soft monotone as Bolt felt a golden stub and ring being attached to his right ear, the mare moved to his left then shook her head “Not enough left for this one.” She mumbled, moving behind Bolt and tugging on his mane pulling it down and hooking the very bottom into a golden ring, freeing his left eye from the hair that normally covered it “And now to mark you as Mistress’ property…” Bolt glanced down as a white tie with a purple bow was fastened around his neck, noticing the snake eye peering out the front. “There… acceptable.” The mare said stepping back as Bolt heard soft swishing.

“I think you look quite handsome like that.” Ruby said smiling as Bolt turned to face her.

“W-wow… you’re beautiful…” Bolt muttered too stunned to think.

Ruby chuckled “Thank you, glad you approve.” Ruby cooed her hair bouncing from her laughter.

Ruby’s mane had been parted around her horn and curled neatly down with two golden bangles either side of her face with little curly puffs of hair protruding from the ends, the back of her mane was tied up high, with the base wrapped under a golden tiara blazoned with emeralds. Her normally exotically wild mane had been swiftly tamed with only a few stray strands that seemed to work perfectly with her serpentine origins were just barely visible. Ruby’s ears had two golden stubs in each one as well as a golden neck piece with more emeralds and her purple snake eye and wrapped around her horn, hanging from the end, was a small amethyst gemstone. Ruby looked stunning, and very much like royalty.

“Shall we go down?” Ruby asked and Bolt nodded, following after Ruby, who smelled strongly of strawberries and dripleaf essence.

Ruby took position up against the door to the manor, curling her tail around and under her, out of the way, whilst Bolt glanced down at the gleaming white coils. They looked like they’d been oiled from how they shimmered like water flying from sprinklers.

Ruby, noticing Bolt staring, smiled “When we sit down you can cosy up in them.” She promised.

Bolt glanced at Ruby then down the hallway, it was just the two of them currently. Glancing at Ruby once more, Bolt softly mumbled “Coil.” Under his breath.

At first, nothing seemed to have changed from Bolt’s perspective, he was still stood waiting in the lobby of the manor for the guests to arrive. However, when Bolt finally chanced a glance at Ruby, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of her tail and he looked down fully to admire the shimmering white and red scales, unable to resist. Bolt had to bite his lip to keep his gulp quiet as he felt a set of smooth pearly white scales tug on his neck like a leash. Bolt stood up straighter, his mind telling him the coil was tugging him up slightly. His instincts were confused by the non-existent threat and told him to flap his wings, whilst Bolt himself forbid this so as not to look stupid. Ruby glanced over at Bolt’s shuffling and he gulped, the sound a little familiar to the serpent. The lamia turned to fully face Bolt, her coils shifting and sliding on the carpet, and Bolt felt the coil slithering around his neck do likewise, thickening up like the coils piled under Ruby, sliding away from her tail tip to her wide middle.

Just before Ruby could question Bolt the door opened and Ruby snapped back into position, Bolt gasping. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea at the moment. Four lamias slithered in a small group, at the front was a rather short lamia with a light pink coloured body and a faded grey mane, her tail pink and grey with white spots around the bottom of her upper scales, just above where her belly scales began. She was wearing a rather elegant royal blue dressing robe that made Bolt think of a mountain spa owner and had a pair of gold rimmed glasses and a dripleaf flower tucked in her mane. Her tail curled back towards a tan brown Earth pony mare in a simple black maid uniform who glanced between the other lamias flushing as she kept her head low, hanging close to her mistress. Bolt glanced over her coils, they were small but seemed to be almost entirely made of fat; clearly this mare enjoyed having almost everything brought to her and the ghostly mental image of her tail looped over Bolt’s head like a heated towel, trying to push his head downward.

Ruby bowed, smiling “Spa business going well?” Ruby asked, politely shaking tail tips.

“Wonderful, we just finished with a recent tour group.” The lamia said as she patted the maid’s head.

Ruby smiled curling her tail around the maid and squeezing her tight so she grunted then sighed “Welcome to my manor.” Ruby said softly and the maid nodded in thanks, unable to speak.

The lamia slid over to Bolt who bowed his head “Welcome, I hope you enjoy the food.” It was much more difficult to push his head back up as the mare nodded and slid towards the dining room, tugging her maid along.

The next lamia slid forward and Bolt couldn’t describe her as anything but huge! The unicorn lamia was just as long as Sunny but her coils were nearly double their thickness, having to compress themselves to fit through the doorway. Ruby hugged the green giant “Good evening Willow.” Ruby said smiling.

“Thank you, tight squeeze as usual, I should lay back on the ponies some time…” Willow said brushing her blue mane out of her face and lowering the black necklace she was wearing to scratch at her neck.

“But they make such good eating.” Ruby commented.

Willow hummed in agreement “Indeed they do, Chilly, as you know, is no stranger to that fact.” Willow said as Chilly followed after Willow through the door, managing to dodge a swinging yellow tail from behind as he joined his Mistress.

“Hello.” Ruby purred and Chilly smiled nervously.

“And you must be Bolt,” She asked him, as his chest was being crushed by a grabby coil just as thick as his body.

“Y-yes.” Bolt wheezed.

“Oh, don’t be frightened, I’m really just a… softie.” Willow cooed curling her tail around Bolt’s face to squeeze it in a massive hug, with Bolt gasping into the coil.

“Willow, don’t make my head chef faint before we even begin.” Ruby said smirking as she greeted Sunny and Celestia again.

Willow retracted her real coil, the hypnotic implanted one tightening as if saddened that it was leaving “Later then,” Willow purred half closing her eyeshadowed eyes before slithering after the first pair.

Bolt couldn’t stand it now, there were too many coils, he was going to collapse… “U-un---ughncuh…”

“Have you been pushing Bolt too hard during the festival?” Sunny asked moving in front of Bolt to greet him, her coils remaining behind her away from Bolt as they coiled a loop around his hind legs, draping atop Willow’s meaty girth.

Bolt’s body began to bow a little from all the bombardment of weight atop him and Sunny glanced at Ruby, who merely winked. “Well, see you soon Bolt.”

The fourth and final of the first small group slithered forward, a steel grey unicorn mare with a blonde mane. She had no pet with her surprisingly as she greeted Ruby, the pair hugging as Bolt felt the petite steel coils curl over his face, as if trying to blindfold him but invisibly.

“Another twenty to come,” Ruby commented as Bolt gave a little nod.

“Oh…kay…” He then gasped “Uhn… cu…”

“Quiet Bolt.” Ruby said and he fell silent as his Mistress grinned.

The next lot of guests arrived alone, in pairs or small groups. Bolt was subject to thin, fat, muscular and soft coils, curling and sliding over his entire body. Bolt wanted to collapse onto the floor, the weight felt like it was causing his back to bend and it took more focus than he could muster to stay presentable. Bolt normally would have been quite shocked at the arrival of a bright leaf green ‘naga’ who had scales covering his body and a cobra-like hood instead of a mane, but Bolt was too busy trying to maintain his breathing to take much notice of the lamia’s army commander.

The last lamia arrived, a green blue mare with a lime green tail covered atop with white markings that looked vaguely like clouds and a long orange mane covering her eyes when it fell forward. Her coils were relatively thin and slithered atop all the others piled over Bolt as the lamia greeted Bolt with a hug.

“Okay, that’s all of them.” Ruby said closing the door as Bolt finally crashed upon the floor wheezing as the coils cinched and tightened further.

“Un…unc-coil…” Bolt gasped, panting in fresh air as he let his head rest against the floor, staring up at Ruby as she smirked “S-sorry…”

“Don’t be, you were enjoying your trigger. What was it, it must be coil related?” Ruby asked.

“W-when I see coils I get wrapped up by a single loop… b-but Willow…” Bolt rested his head.

“Mmmm, a very big lamia indeed, but don’t worry… the next lot of coils will be very much real.” Ruby said curling her tail tip down and around Bolt’s chin, pushing it upward so he looked up at her.

Bolt had suspected correctly, Ruby had oiled her tail, it slipped and slid like butter across a slick surface and felt pleasant as it rubbed into his fur. Bolt gave a little sigh, his breathing not yet steady, as he stood up and followed alongside Ruby. The guests were crowded around the table, Willow was playing some sort of tug of war with Sunny using Chilly, much to the little stallion’s delight as he was stretched out between the two thickest lamias at the party. Ruby slid towards the head of the table beside them and sat down, Bolt seating himself beside her atop her tail which looped over his front legs. At once the crowd of lamias fell silent, snagging their pets they’d brought back into their coils to listen, the only sound the occasional rubbing of coil against coil as grips tightened delightfully.

“Welcome fillies and gentlecolts to my manor. I hope you enjoy the party, the atmosphere and of course; the food.” Ruby clapped her hooves and the waiters appeared from the kitchen doors, answering their Mistress’ summons.

Bolt looked over the starters as they were laid out upon the tables. There were bowls big enough for him to sit in filled with salads, trays of thin meat and fish and fizzing drinks, champagne and cocktails and more. “I have my head chef with me so if you have anything you’d like to say regarding the food as you try it, just… snag his attention,” Ruby said and the lamias chuckled as Bolt flushed nervously. “He loves it tight.” Ruby advised as an after though and Bolt wanted to bury his head as a couple mares hiss-whistled at him, flexing their coils behind them threateningly. Or… invitingly.

As the guests began to pile food onto their plates, a group of Ruby’s staff walked into the room with drums, flutes and violins and began to play. Bolt immediately thought of jungles or arid deserts as the music began in a slow steady tempo, following the flute as a centre piece, and picking up when the drums took over. Bolt could almost imagine groups of lamias around fires dancing and twirling around helpless ponies…

Bolt snapped back to reality when he felt a coil rubbing against his neck, the cool surface catching him unaware but waking him from his stupor. Ruby looked a little put off at being caught but smiled anyway as she munched on piles of sugar topped strawberries in yogurt, humming in thought. Bolt glanced around the party, the other guests were busying themselves with food first, chattering about businesses and the number of ponies they’d enthralled and enlightened. A couple lamias at the back had switched pets and were in the process of hypnotising them, and Bolt’s gaze lingered for a moment on the spectacle before Ruby tugged on his neck.

“You’re not ignoring me, are you?” Ruby asked softly.

“W-what, no! D-did you say something though?” Bolt asked nervously.

“No, I just noticed you letting your gaze linger.” Ruby said and Bolt shuffled on his seat as Ruby rose another coil, draping it along his hind legs and curling up his body.

“M-Mistress?” Bolt asked flicking his gaze between the coil and Ruby.

“Didn’t you want to be coiled, like at the door? Nice… and… tight…?” Ruby cooed slowly as the waiters once again returned.

Bolt sat up, facing the table as the starter plates and half empty bowls were taken away, replaced now with silver trays of meat, sandwiches, soup and more. However, it wasn’t the cooked food that majorly interested the lamias, it was the ponies sat on silver platters, draped in dripleaf and gawking at thin air. Bolt looked at the closest prey and she looked at Bolt, blinking slowly as the lamias began to snag them up, the prey moaning or giggling in delight. It wasn’t long before wheezy gasps and gulping followed, tails and hind legs waving in the air. Ruby looked between the available prey and picked a golden-brown mare, lifting her up and setting her down between her and Bolt, where she continued to merely stare up at Ruby.

The coils curling up Bolt’s legs continued to rise higher and higher up his body, looping around and around until they reached his waist, meaning he couldn’t wander off to avoid watching Ruby eat. But there was also a part that wanted to watch, because Bolt knew the coil curling around his body right now had to be the location of Ruby’s second, digestive stomach, if not a point the mare would have to pass through. Ruby shifted her coils, snapping them haphazardly around her meal as she hoisted it up into the air above her, opening her mouth wide. The mare began to struggle and, if Bolt didn’t know it was her conditioning, it seemed almost believable, save for an eager smile. Ruby lowered the mare down into her mouth, slurping her face in and gulping, Ruby’s coils slithering back away as she pushed her food deeper into her mouth, the mare’s body bending as her face pressed up against Ruby’s throat, the outline of her face visible as it slid down from Ruby’s throat into her pony body and finally began to round out and lose it’s defined features in Ruby’s increasingly thickening tail. Ruby gulped down the mare’s hooves and tail like strands of noodles, grinning at Bolt who watched the mare slip and slid down, curling left and towards him. Bolt felt Ruby’s coils convulsing and shifting, rising and falling beneath him as the mare slid casually along beneath him, moaning as the walls of Ruby’s tail massaged and pampered her like a princess. It was a delightfully pleasant descent to join with her Mistress for eternity.

Bolt leaned back as Ruby’s coils looped over his front legs, pinning them down, rising up his back and forming a thick heavy back rest. It moulded to his form, caressing Bolt’s wings softly. The coils continued to slither along, growing thicker with each passing coil, whereas before the coils sat around Bolt’s upper chest, the increase in girth now had them nestled towards his neck. Bolt watched the mare leave the coils underneath him and twisted around, giving a slight high pitch wail as her body was bent back double. As she slid by her voice quivered through the stomach walls and she climbed upward a little, Ruby’s tail working hard, rubbing back and forth against Bolt before the mare came to a halt across Bolt’s lap, an indistinguishable bulge in Ruby’s tail.

Quiet gurgles sounded from Ruby’s belly as it began to fill with stomach acid and the lamia sighed contently as her coils shifted around, freeing Bolt’s front legs. Bolt lifted his legs up, pawing at the air before placing them on the mare’s confined body, rubbing slowly back and forth, feeling where her legs locked together to her side, and pushing down revealed some facial features, such as her nose and the dips in her eyes and mouth, which was open wide panting.

“Nothing better than pony,” Ruby cooed “She was prepared perfectly, well done.” Bolt nodded, acknowledging the compliment but he remained silent.

Bolt was entirely focused on how easy it was to press into Ruby’s coils, pushing the muscle, fat and scales down and around, caressing and rubbing her wriggling meal. He could also tell where there was liquid as when he rubbed the scales sort of wobbled, like jelly or a semi-solid liquid surface. It felt oddly nice just to let his hooves sink into the comforting embrace of his Mistress.

Bolt looked up, several lamias had already finished devouring their meals, but a few were making games of it, toying with their food. Sunny had one prey holding onto a coil above her mouth as Sunny gulped up her legs, it seemed the prey had to hold as much as possible, but the thick tube wasn’t exactly a suitable rope, not to mention Sunny was able to distort the shape and cause the prey to fall, slipping down helplessly into Sunny’s waiting jaw.

Sunny looked over at Bolt and snapped her lips grinning and he flushed looking down and quickly filling his plate with some food at random, eating slowly so as to avoid the expectation of having to speak.

“Wonderful food,” Sunny said leaning towards Ruby, before glancing at Bolt “Thanks Bolt, it is delightful. It’s nice to see you here.”

Bolt gave a little nod “Glad you’re enjoying yourself.” Sunny grinned as she took a sip of a drink, twirling a mixer, clearly alcoholic then.

“But you seemed tense yourself, why don’t you relax a little?” Sunny suggested taking a drink from a passing tray and sliding it over to him.

“I er… o-okay.” Bolt glanced at Ruby before taking a sip, the lamia grinning as she held the drink up with her tail. Bolt could taste the smooth, strong and lively tang of dripleaf and kept gulping the drink down, far faster than was needed. Bolt was left gasping for air when he was permitted to remove the glass and a second was offered, and there was hardly a flash of hesitation before it was going and gone.

“Now your system and mind are starting to unwind, how has your stay in Canterlot been?” Sunny asked, offering a third glass, though with a straw so Bolt couldn’t gulp it down.

Bolt held his forehead briefly, his head spinning from a mixture of alcohol and dripleaf, spirals and swirls danced in the corners of Bolt’s vision and shutting his eyes made it feel as if the world was twisting around him. The coils around Bolt shifted and turned and he opened his eyes with a low moan. Ruby had slithered around to face Bolt for his answer and her coils were twisting and slithering against his body again, as if trying to wring the answer out of him like water from a damp cloth.

“It… it was scary to start… I was always nervous Mistress Ruby would eat me… n-now… I don’t… don’t care if she does… feels nice…” Bolt gulped as Ruby looped around and tugged on Bolt’s neck and he continued a little more “I… I like it… working here is nice… being played with… feels good…” Ruby smiled and squeezed Bolt as a reward, tightening and pushing his body upward, his hooves rising to his neck, but the tugs were playful and wouldn’t really be able to pry Ruby’s hold away without any true effort, which he wasn’t mustering up.

Sunny smiled. “I’m glad, it’s nice to know you’re enjoying your time here and that Ruby’s had become a little less uptight and a little tighter with her coils instead to compensate.” Ruby smirked, glancing at Sunny as Ruby’s coils gave a grinding rub as they tightened more around Bolt’s throat.

“Uuggghhnnn… Muh… Mistress…!” Bolt moaned and Ruby relaxed her vice grip on Bolt who sighed, panting slightly.

“So what trigger did you choose yesterday?” Bolt’s eyes flickered up then away, embarrassed. “Come on Bolt, there’s no shame.” Sunny insisted.

“I… When I say coil, and see a lamias coils I feel them around my body even if they don’t wrap me up, uncoil stops it.” Bolt added quickly as he was feeling the effects from Sunny’s looping body already.

“Oh… so that’s what was going at the door… did I squeeze tight?” Bolt nodded and Sunny laughed. “You are strange, for somepony who didn’t like being wrapped up, your sure became a coil addict now.” Sunny said and Bolt flushed.

“They feel nice…” He mumbled.

“You don’t need to tell us that, we could tell as we curled and looped around your body, rubbing and caressing, squeezing and tugging as you give little gasps, pleading for air that’s being delightfully denied.” Ruby cooed, pushing her coils in on cue.

Bolt smiled “Y-yeah…” He mumbled and Ruby tugged him closer.

“Pardon?” Ruby asked with a sultry look.

“It… I like being coiled and squeezed.” Bolt admitted and Ruby leaned down, nose touching his and Bolt gasped, getting a whiff of concentrated dripleaf. “Peh…pretty…” Bolt mumbled as his eyes drooped as if mesmerised.

Ruby blinked in surprise then leaned over, pushing Bolt backwards as she leaned atop her previous meal, which moaned quietly. Ruby tilted her head and Bolt felt his lips being touched by Ruby’s, he could taste the drinks on her lips and breath, intoxicating his and her mind. Sunny chuckled as Ruby leaned back.

“Dance with me.” Ruby ordered.

“Okay.” Bolt said panting, as he questioned what was happening right now.

Before this train of thought could be followed, Bolt was on his hooves with coils tugging him along, holding him up. Ruby slid over to a clear space on the floor in front of the band and hoisted Bolt up onto his hind legs. Ruby began to sway her pony body left and right, causing her tail to pitch and sway making the whole length quiver and shake, rubbing over Bolt and her meal. It felt more like Ruby was dancing for Bolt as opposed to Bolt dancing with Ruby, as Bolt merely stood as a sort of anchor for Ruby as she twirled and spun around, her mane flying in fluid, foreign and mystical movements. Bolt just let his gaze follow, it was clearly hypnotic, or perhaps Ruby simply was hypnotic by nature. But, by this point Bolt’s addled mind didn’t care, and allowed Ruby to enjoy herself.

However, as the song began to slow and soothe itself, the flute almost alone save for a low drum beat, Ruby slid in front of Bolt, looping her hooves around his neck and swayed left and right slowly. The lights had dimmed and the glow of the stage lights so the musicians could see their music sheets cast dim shadowy glows over Ruby and her body.

Bolt glanced towards the band then Ruby “I… thought a bit more about the… proposition you made today,” Bolt mumbled and Ruby raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue “And… I’d… like to stay on…” Bolt finished a little less confidently as he would have liked.

“You still sound nervous.” Ruby commented, leaning closer to whisper.

“W-well… I am still committing myself to serving a lamia with the threat of being a snack cake, even if I won’t be a permeant one.” Bolt whispered, flushing.

“Again… nervous, why…” Ruby leaned up to whisper into Bolt’s ear. “Do you not like it when you slip down my throat and through my tail, smiling broadly without a thought?” Bolt shivered, a static wave of pleasure running along his spine.

“I… yes… yes I like it, a lot.” Bolt admitted and Ruby leaned around.

A tight tug on his neck and Ruby leaned down a second time as Bolt gasped, this time her forked tongue entering Bolt’s mouth. Bolt gasped then moaned as Ruby’s tongue curled and wrapped around his own, flicking against the top and teasing his mouth, Ruby nipping at his lips affectionately. When Ruby broke the kiss, Bolt was flushing deeply.

“I’m going to break you down through your contract and build you how I see fit.” Ruby stated.

“D-dessert…” Bolt mumbled and Ruby glanced back towards the tables, where chocolate fountains and various cakes had been served up. “N-not those… do you… want a pony dessert?” Bolt asked.

Ruby cupped Bolt’s chin, smiling. “I’d love another tasty morsel to have wriggling in my belly, but perhaps off the dance floor?” Ruby suggested.

“I… I thought you’d want to show the others… you own me.” Ruby glanced towards Sunny who was watching the pair, or perhaps just one of them.

Ruby turned back to Bolt, smiling “Well… when you put it like that.” And Bolt noticed a new dim glow on the dance floor.

Find for me a chef

There once was a land called Equestria that was ruled by four Princesses, loved far and wide, the land was bathed in peace and love, or what they believed at the time to be peace and love. However, one fateful night the lamias arrived at Canterlot and met with the princesses of the capital. The lamia queen, Sunny, and some of her most faithful lamias met with the princesses and showed them their way of life, it truly showed the bleakness of the way ponies lived. Twilight, the Princess of Friendship and the elements of harmony, alongside the rulers of the Crystal empire, Cadence and Shining Armour, came to visit Equestria’s new guests and they too saw how much greater their way of life was.

The lamias lived their lives guiding ponies, protecting them and showing them the way forward, their soft strong coils offering comfort and shelter from fear and worry, their voices smooth, commanding and yet far kinder than all of the Princesses combined alone… And their eyes showed a beauty that deserved to be worshiped by all who witnessed it. Naturally the Princesses stepped down from leadership and a new scaly golden age was ushered in and the land prospered even greater as the lamias took the reins of the ponies, showing them what they had showed the Princesses. The lamias showed many ponies the wonders of servitude to them, the bliss of obedience and the calm of no thoughts, and, though a few foolish enough tried to resist, peace always wins in the end, and peace is being ruled under a coily blanket of bliss.

The sound of a warm fire crackling away filled the large dark room, despite the early morning sun being outside the window it did little to illuminate the room or heat it more in the early spring time. The walls of the room were donned with deep red and waving white like a gentle snow fall before a warm fire. The floor was a frost covered grass green and above hung a grand chandelier made of pure silver, it was befitting a Lady of Canterlot and the lamia Queen’s hypnotic tail, as was the current resident owner’s title. Upon a sea of pillows and cushions, plush and lined with the softest fabric, lay a sea of glistening white snake scale coils, trailing around the pillow pile, turning over revealed deep red belly scales, gleaming with cleanliness. As the tail wound around it eventually crept up to an equally beautiful mare with snow white fur and a fiery red mane. The mare brushed a lock of red hair back with her red magic to reveal her slitted purple eyes, donned with a deeper purple eyeliner to give her a look of seductive beauty. The mare smiled as she glanced down at a pony under her, whom looked up slowly her eyes pulsing with a wild torrent of colourful rings. This pony had been enlightened to the ways of serving lamias for life, and as such had no further need to think for themselves, after all a coil warmer only had one purpose; to be coiled at a lamia’s convenience… And maybe massage them if they were good at it!

“Mistress Ruby,” A clear voice said, Ruby Scales turned her head towards the door to the living room, a single purple glittery eye staring at the black shoe polished coloured stallion standing at the door.

“Yes, Polish?” Ruby asked softly, caressing her warmer’s mane with a hoof slowly as her magic reached over for a slip of paper as Shoe Polish, fearfully, approached his Mistress and lay down in a submissive bow.

“M-Ma’am, you summoned me.” Polish was one of maybe a dozen or so non-hypnotised ponies in Ruby’s ‘employment’ and he intended to keep his mind intact… Ruby had threatened to make him only just aware of himself when she humiliated him if he failed her in his duties and tasks. Or worse if it was truly a terrible failure.

“Yes Polish, I did… I have received a letter from Sunny.” Polish gulped, Sunny was generally more merciful to her staff than the other lamias. Failure meant being put to the bottom of her staff list instead of being brainwash or… Eaten. Failures became sex toys for Sunny, and she had so many it took ages for you to work your way back out! Sunny never made it easy when you did get a chance either.

“What do you require, Mistress?” Polish asked shifting his mind back to the present moment, lamias were known to trade ponies who displeased them as punishment too!

Ruby smiled and made her coils snap over to Polish who gave a frightened squeak as the thick muscular appendage wrapped around his middle. Ruby’s coil warmer sat up to watch like a curious cat. Ruby set Polish down beside her, a dangerous place to be saying the least.

“Read this.” Ruby glanced at Polish, as he opened his mouth to speak “To yourself! I can read!” Ruby hissed furiously.

“S-sorry Mistress I read out loud, forgive me!” Polish said hastily covering himself before turning back to the letter.

Ruby,

With the second year of Equestria’s new golden age under our reign it has come to my attention from slave Celestia that Equestria use to hold festivals and dinners in celebration of past events and achievements. I will be providing such a thing with an open invite list, however I have a request of you. Afterwards I wish to have a dinner with you and some of our close lamias friends to catch up on how things are progressing across our new land and I hope I can count on you to provide food for us, I have attached a guest list and they will send any servants they wish to dine on your way closer to the day. I hope I can rely on you, my friend.

The Queen of Equestria and the hypnotic morning rays, Sunny.

P.S. If you need any extra hooves to help I do happen to have an access of workers who need to earn their jobs back, though most are very… Enlightened.

Polish nearly scoffed, the lamias loved calling hypnotised ponies ‘enlightened’, it sounds more appealing to those who don’t live in the larger lamia controlled cities like Canterlot, Las Pegasus or Manehatten and it draws them foolishly like moths to a flame to their lamia businesses, spas and restaurants where they would fall for it always… Even if they fought. The lucky few whom had not been enslaved lived in tiny towns with basic commodities… Comfort had a high price these days; your mind.

“What do you need of me, ma’am? We are prepared to serve them, we have an excessive pantry with plenty to offer and Queen Sunny will provide us with all the help we need.” Polish said softly.

Ruby turned to Polish and he gulped, out of both fear and the coil tightening around his neck “Think, my little butler, it’s what I allow you to do for your pay check. If I was suited to handle this request I would not call for you.” Ruby scolded in a contrastingly happy voice.

“T-then why not give it to another lamia who is, why strain yourself, you are the second in command of Equestria itself.” Polish said, which had been the appeal for his job application to begin with, he just never learnt until he began how… snake-like she was.

Ruby bared her fangs “Oh I could, Sunny wouldn’t mind… But I do not want my fellow lamias to handle the trouble, besides if I cannot handle it, then it means my staff is… Under performing.” Even the coil warmer, with little of her mind left, looked fearful.

“Sorry Mistress.” Polish said bowing “What do you require?”

“A chef.” Ruby said.

“A chef, Mistress? But we hired Lilac Stir only last week…” Polish said softly yet again, afraid raising his voice would seem offensive.

“Indeed… And she served a very fowl tasting meal, normally I can overlook it and simply move to the other courses but she had ruined all of them… Even my desert! Lilac herself however…” Ruby shifted a bulging coil which moaned quietly “Was delicious.” Ruby said with a serpentine smile.

That was the third one in the last two months, Equestrian chefs were all dropping their trade in fear of being forcefully hired now because of the lamias! Or at least, Ruby. Ruby’s appetite, both mundane and… special… were well renowned!

“So, we require a new chef?” Ruby nodded to Polish’s statement.

“Indeed, and soon, we only have a week… And if you can’t find anyone you will take the role and I will find a new butler.” Polish gulped, head butlers had a low run time, with Polish holding the record of four months, but chefs… One had yet to last a full month and the average was two weeks currently.

“I will find one.” Polish promised, any chef would do, even if they failed at least Polish wouldn’t get it himself he thought.

“Good boy, now you can take two of the fakes to assist you in the search but before you go… Send Deer through, I had no dinner this evening.” Ruby said with a smile.

Polish stepped outside Ruby’s living room in a grand hallway of golden yellow and silver with pictures of both herself and various lamias showing them taking over Equestria in a peaceful splendour of rainbow like colours. Ruby herself had captured Luna in her coils in one picture, no doubt when the lamias invaded she had gone after the Princess of the Night. Polish always got nervous when he went to sleep these days… Did she mess with pony’s dreams at night to make them more compliant? Who knew for real these days?

Polish wiped his steel grey mane off his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief at surviving this ordeal, he then walked up to a selection of maids and butlers, Polish was the head butler and was in charge of their jobs, pay and hire. As well as keeping Ruby happy “Nedra.” Polished called and a mare with grey fur and a dark blue mane stepped forward.

Like Polish, the staff all wore a form of uniform showing their employment to Ruby and to keep them from being scooped up by another lamia if they lacked protective paperwork. The uniform was a scaly red suit, or dress for mare’s, with a white collar around their necks with a purple lamia eye watching over their throats. The eye was actually a gem enchanted by the lamias and could pacify any pony if the lamia simply spoke a trigger word to it, no pony knew their own personal trigger word but they all feared to hear it, even those who enjoyed their disposition.

It generally meant they had failed and would be joining their Mistress forever.

“Yes Polish?” Nedra asked with tired eyes. The head butler was rarely hypnotised but the rest of the staff weren’t so fortunate generally, most went under at some point and Nedra had recently experienced her first trance, Ruby had wrecked her mind and she was still recovering, certain words made her space out into a dreamy smile. At least it was pleasant for her.

“I am going out to find a replacement chef, send Deer in for Mistress Ruby would you… Perhaps with some flavouring for her whilst you are at it, Ruby is hungry.” Nedra nodded. The meals were often hypnotised into believing they were food and nothing brought them greater pleasure than to finally be eaten by their Mistress, such a wonderful occasion for them!

“How lucky of Deer, he’s been waiting so long.” A stallion said with a genuine smile.

“Yeah… Lucky.” Polish mumbled as he turned and left Ruby’s home.

On his way out, Polish collected two fakes, which was the name of ponies taking on the form of lamias. This was achieved by the former Princess Twilight who had found a way to turn ponies into lamias, such joy because who didn’t want more mind stealing snakes slithering around ready to take control of your mind? Fakes were used as a sort of police force generally, but some high up lamias like Ruby had a few as personal guards or to collect servants if the lamia didn’t deem it worthwhile for them to use their own time up. Fakes could be hypnotised like regular ponies and could also use hypnosis themselves to enforce their owners will, however real lamias themselves were immune and the fakes had no more power than a regular pony at the end of the day. Fakes could also be used to gather up unwilling staff as Polish had done previously and intended to do now.

Now, miles away from Canterlot, sat a shanty town of wooden huts, stone houses and tents. Ponies with clear minds wandered about tending to their day to day lives the best they could, tending farms, buying produce… Enjoying a walk in the park the best they could. It was relatively normal out here, they were rarely bothered in Oakbark and the ponies here were thankful as such and made no effort to change it. However down several winding streets rose a plume of smoke and gaggles of ponies sat out on chairs around small tables, chatting happily as they munched on sandwiches and cakes and hot meals. The food they ate lifted their spirits slightly for the hard day ahead. Life for them had not changed since the lamias took over, save for some new lamia propaganda posters here and there about town.

The tables led up to a wagon fixed into the small space at the back with two open shutters with a chalk board of food and a set of fridges and freezers, amongst them stood a tall blood red stallion pegasus, brown and red hair kept short to avoid getting hairs in the food. The stallion was usually busy as he flew from the fridges and to a customer with a meal, or even flying out the side door to bring the food to a table trays in hoof. But now things were dying down as the day wound to an end, bills were sent over and bits exchanged as the stallion cleaned down, blue eyes watching the customers leave with full bellies and tired eyes. Boltblood Thundercloud, or Bolt as his friends knew him by, was content in his life; it was a little stressful working alone but he managed the best he could and his talent was both apparent in his customer count, his food and the mark on his rump, a chef knife crossed with a lightning bolt, to show his skill in cooking and speed when doing so.

Bolt’s ears, both the pristine one and the left one with a chunk missing, flickered as he heard a collection of gasps and quick movements of hooves skittering away. Bolt heard several bits hit the counter of his wagon, some being thrown so hard they fell inside his home and Bolt looked back in confusion at the commotion. He then almost wished he could flee too. A stallion dark black as Luna’s night was walking towards him with a satisfied smile whilst two lamias slid side by side in time behind him. Obviously fakes as the stallion pony was the ring leader, and no lamia served a pony here! Bolt gulped as he watched his customers scarper, he might have shouted as most of the remaining stragglers had yet to pay but Bolt had more pressing issues now.

Feigning an air of calm Bolt grabbed a tray and set it along his back and stepped out to clear the last set of tables, avoiding eye contact with the approaching trio in the hopes they’d just pass by.

They didn’t.

“Good evening.” The stallion said in a highly cheery voice. Bolt looked up.

“Hello… Can I offer you a drink, or a meal?” He asked trying to remain professional the best he could.

“Ah no, we’re not here to dine, we’re here to collect you.” The stallion said “I am Shoe Polish, but Polish is fine. My Mistress, Lady Ruby, is in need of a chef and I have been sent to gather them up.” Polish explained.

“Then you’re looking in a poor place, I just run a small takeout wagon, you’d want to look elsewhere for professional chefs.” Bolt said softly as he began to fold the tables, however Polished placed a hoof on said table stopping him.

“This isn’t negotiable young colt, you’re coming with us now understand?” The two fakes slid around Bolt to block his back and Bolt looked at Polish.

“I’d really rather not…” He said now looking around skittishly.

“Do you like your wings?” Polish said in a casual tone, Bolt beat them once nervously “If you do, then follow me…”

“Can I at least pack up and lock my wagon?” Bolt asked.

“Oh… Very well, but be fast!” Polished barked.

When the space was empty of chairs and tables, Polish began to tap his hoof on the floor, not from impatience but from fear. Bolt locked the door and windows on his wagon, glancing at the two fakes positioned at either side of his home to block him off. He could run or fly for it, they were grounded, but Bolt had heard some dark rumours of what happened to Pegasi who fled the callings of a lamia… He’d go with this Polish make the meal then just leave, they couldn’t keep him trapped… Right…?

Bolt gulped as he stepped up to Polish “Okay.” Was all he managed to utter.

“Very good, follow me.” Polish said turning and setting off, he led them around a corner to a large wagon and ushered Bolt inside, whom thought this was an oddly big deal for just a chef. Polish climbed in and the two fakes locked them inside and they set off.

For Canterlot.

Author's Note

So here we are yet again, another lamia story based around Bolt and Ruby... This time Ruby is the villain! What a shock! Please note this is not the canon version of Ruby and Bolt's story that's Spirals and Spices, this is just an idea I had that I started and built up... I think I did pretty well with it! More to come soon, so look forward to that!