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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“And if he isn’t?” Ruby asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“And how will I do that?” Ruby asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Damnit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author's Note

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

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