The lamia's grand dinner

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.