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!