Tangled up in Ponytails

Chapter 2: The pain of the past.

After the whole argument with why Oakhearts back was wet, we settled on me just having bladder problems which were only half right. I have had bladder problems since I was a filly, but, not when I am awake. It was only when I had the nightmares that, even to this day, I can't seem to get past. That being said, I didn't think that I'd have an issue like this at such an inopportune time. Thankfully, S'mores and Oakheart were more forgiving than most, and more understanding.

I had been in the hospital for a couple of days, and things were going more or less smoothly. For a place that was supposedly understaffed and undersupplied, they knew their stuff, and they always had this one nurse near me. She was odd, and she always smiled. Her eyes were enchanting, and so was the rest of her. She was healthy, not skinny or large, and tall, much taller than most. It was intimidating, but somehow, I felt safe around her. I didn't know it, but that feeling was there for a reason.

Soon S’mores and Oakheart had come back, they had brought me food and for some odd reason clothes. Sure I had worn armor on the lunar guard but I had never worn many clothes. But these ones seemed fancy with armored pads built-in and many pockets. There was also the matter of the insignia in the chest region. It was that of a mares head, but it had sharp teeth imprinted in the mouth of the mare. It was eerie, but something told me it was just for show. It also had Oakheart’s and S’mores cutie marks on the sleeve. The fabric they were made out of was stretchy and plush it fit on me comfortably without causing any chafing. It was brought into the room by the mare who had been taking care of me.

The mare held the suit for me, I took it and asked for them to give me some privacy. The mare smiled and left, however, she stood outside the door like a guard. After I finished putting on the suit, she knocked on the door and waited for me to open it. And she then spoke for the first time since I met her. "Well, it appears as if the suit fits well, and I thought I had a good form. I guess it's time to introduce myself." She said, and she then added, "if that so pleases you?"

"Well go ahead, I’d like to get to know the mare who has been taking care of me," I said, curious as to why she spoke as she did. "My name is Virtuous Fall, and I have chosen to guard you." She said as if she was talking to a princess.

"But I am a guard of myself. Why would I need someone guarding me? I have been trained by luna herself." I said, minorly insulted somewhat. Virtuous replied with, "you are interesting, and in my line of work, interesting is a good thing. That, and, you haven't had a good few months, and my employer doesn't want a prospect to be lost."

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused as to what she was going on about. She just sat and stared at me like I was the only thing in the world that matters. "Let's just say, you're important to this dimension, and leave it at that." She replied. She puzzled me, but something told me to just wait and see what happened next. She then checked me over and began saying, "wings are good, you can use them now at least, no more rash, and your gashes have scarred up nicely, looks like you're gonna be fine, now it's time for you to start your new job"

"Ok, and what is that exactly?" I ask with a bit of confusion. I then heard a new voice, one that was deep and sounded as if it had its fair share of tragedy. "To be honest, it's to be a smuggler, and for what, healing potions." Said a red stallion with blue blazing mane and tail, swirls covered most of his body. His eyes blazed red and blue, so much so that you couldn't see the pupils. He continued with," my name is Featherlight, and I'm your employer, I hope you don't mind that."

“Well, If I did, I wouldn't be here. Back where I came from I had no life left here I can start anew. Become the legend I know I can be and not a broken mare who wanted to help ponies.” I said with the sorrow of my past spilling in my voice. He looked down, and sighed, "Isn't that the truth. Most of us in the Nightmare Runners are quite the same way. A Lot of exiles come through here if they're not swept up by the hunters first, and by hunters, I mean the Scourge Harvester kind." He said, slightly ominous and filled with sorrow with that last line.

“Can you give me some ideas of what we will be doing on this job and tell me about the crew?" I asked. He replied with," the crew is interesting to say the most. They are, by name anyway, Aurora Shine, Diamond Fire, Natches, Tola, and Spades. Of course, there's you and your bonded lot course, as well as me and Lunacy Heart. Shouldn't be a bad crew for the airship we'll be running."

“When will I get to meet them?” I asked as we were finally leaving the hospital. He looked at me and said, "soon enough, got to get Oakheart and S'mores and give them their payment for the potions. Course, I hope it's a good time to do that. This place can have a certain effect on married couples." He chuckled after saying it.

“Well, I guess now’s the best time there's nothing like the present my mom used to say,” I said, slightly blushing at the thought. He chuckled again, "your mom's right about that, course, moms are always right, aren't they?"

“Yeah, They sure are…” I said as we continued to walk Virtuous started to talk. "Well, if that's true for the married couple, then this other realm must be lacking in intimacy. Night Shade is rather remarkable at that, is it not? I wonder what would happen to myself if I ended up back in that realm, and what you'd think of me then." she gave a smile, one of amusement, or was it an invitation?

“Well if you're down I’d love a drink after being in the hospital." I asked, and the strange mare said,'' well if you wish for a hostess for you to imbibe alcoholic beverages near me? I'd rather enjoy that. I'd be honored to be your hostess." Smiling.

Featherlight chuckled and said, "well, I guess I better get y'all to the nearest inn then. Fortunately, I'm heading to the Nightmare's Wash myself. Got a day or two before we head off, and I plan on making use of that time since the crew is put together now. Oakheart and S'mores are also there I believe, so there's that as well.

“Well, then I’ll finally get to thank them for bringing me here,” I said happily.

We walked through the streets until we approached the Inn. It wasn’t that big a building, but it was large enough for a few ponies to be in. The smell of food wafted through the air, making my mouth water as we got closer.

Hmm, maybe I should get some food as well. It's been a while since I had a proper meal. I thought to myself. I may have said out loud though cause Virtuous said," if you require a meal, then I suggest you do so before you start to drink anything with alcohol in it, the result could be messy otherwise."

“Oh you think I’d puke eh, I have a what's the word of a stallion" I started to say, and Featherlight then said, "constitution, if I believe I'm correct. Still, she's right, without something in your belly to help with the drink, you end up with a bad hangover, and then you'll be late to see the ship we will be using, wouldn't want that, would we?"

“No sir…” I said kinda intimidated by the strong stallion. He seemed to notice," Well, while I'll take that as flattery, there is nothing for you to fear about me. I assure you this night stallion has nothing but goodwill towards you." He said, reassuringly.

“Now for some pancakes,” I said happily And started skipping like school filly.

We walked into the Inn. The music had a good beat to it, it reminded me of the time I went to see Pon3 at the dub hall.

The waitress came up to me. She was wearing a sexy get-up that captured her rear end well. If I didn’t have a date I’d take her to the back for a little romp in the hay.

“What can I get you, ma’am." She asked boardly.

“Can I have a set of pancakes and some cider?" I asked, and Virtuous then said, "I'd like a set of those pancakes, chocolate if you have 'em?" The waitress smiled and said, "yep..and got ya, I'll go get them." She left with a trot that was interesting.

I waited patiently for her to come back with my food. While I sat there Virtuous gently put a hoof and my back and said,

"Hey, I sense that you're not talking about something. What is it that you're thinking of?" She then looked at me with some concern, it was as if she could tell me what I was feeling. Something told me that was going to be a constant with her around.

“Yeah… It's just about my past. I really miss my friends and family,” I said with some sorrow in my voice. She patted my back and said, "I can sense that longing and loneliness seem to be a constant amongst even the hardiest exiles here."

“Do You know of anyone who can help me fix this loneliness?” I asked, hoping that she’d help me. She shook her head in response, and then said, "as much as it pains me, all my race can do is ease it, never erase. It is such a tragic thing actually, the thing we feed on is exactly what we hate, emotions are such manipulative things. Not that I can say much. Perhaps you would like me to share some of the chocolate that I'm about to acquire?"

“No thanks I think mine should be enough, I don’t need to be gaining any weight when I have a job that needs me to be in shape," I said as our plates arrived. The smell of the pancakes was nice, but what smelled better was the melted chocolate that virtuous waved under my nose shortly after.” you sure? I'm sure that it won't be that much on your weight, after all, it's better to get some weight on you with what you've had to eat the past few days." She said in a voice that was….tempting. Even more so than the velvety darkness below my muzzle.

"Ok but only if you can help me find a nice mare or colt to bed down with,” I said, taking the spoon full of chocolaty goodness she had dangled too close to my mouth for too long. The taste of the chocolate and bread was intense and was more than enough for you to have a moment of joy. Virtuous smiled and said, "Well, if it's pleasure you want, I can help you in many ways. So long as it's dignified. Which gender do you like more anyway?" She said with a smirk.

I blushed and whispered in her ear, "I love a good chunky mare,” she just smirked, and chuckled, "ah, I see, now that's something I may be able to help you with, you see, the waitress here is being a bit more friendly than usual, and she loves the feeling of chocolate." She said with brandish and amusement. She then continued with," but information like that comes at a small interest, perhaps after you're done with her, I can have some fun myself?"

“Well I wasn’t referring to her, I was referring to you…” I said Giggling. She smiled wider and said, "Well then, I won't disappoint you at that, and if you ever need a stallion touch, I can help with that as well. One of the many skills of my race. But tonight you asked for the mare, and I'll help you with that." She then fed me another bite of chocolate pancake.

“Well, you better hope you taste as good as these pancakes,” I said as I continued to giggle. She then ate a bit of her food, and chewed and swallowed, and then said, "Well, I'm sure I won't disappoint, but I think you'd rather get the feeling as well, won't you?" Her smile returned, and she seemed even more tempting at that point.

“Well I hope you like hard apple cider because that's all I drink for alcohol,” I said, my tongue catching on my teeth and accidentally biting myself. I gave a bit of a reaction to the injury, but before I could say 'ow', she managed to catch my head and give me a kiss, and afterward whispered, "oh, trust me, you won't disappoint, and I rather love the taste of apples."

**********************************************************

That night was amazing, she shook me all night long and did things I never thought one could do in the name of pleasure. My anus puckers just thinking about it. The weird part was, I felt as if she knew what I wanted from her, and she didn't disappoint as she said. Enough of that though, time to wake up.

I woke up and had her soft and smooth body next to me, and she was warm to be around. I didn't want to actually move away from her. So I didn’t, I let her keep me as the little pet she made of me. She then woke up and began to pet me as if I was an actual pet, scratching in a spot that I hadn't been able to get to for forever. The relief was nice for once.

"As much as a pleasure as this was, I believe we may be late if we continue for much longer," she said, smiling.

“Thanks for the good night and for reminding me of the fact I have a job to get to,” I said as I crawled away from her and fell on my face as I tried to get out of bed. Virtuous then climbed down and helped me off the ground. Smiling, "Well, I was sure I didn't break you now, though I'm not sure if you're gonna be sore later."

"Well do you want to shower with me?" I asked as I tried to regain my balance. She smiled and lifted me up and said," It would be my pleasure to help you. Come on, don't want to get to work smelling like me anyway." She then walked me to the bathroom.

I giggled and watched her as she got into the bathtub and turned on the shower, the water running over her body was so sexy. It reminded me of my old mare friend when she would act all sexy when she took me that first night. Damn, do I miss her and the ponies from home… But I knew she would be happy I am moving on trying to find a new start for me. And if this shower was going to help me get a new start then who am I to deny it now.

She looked at me and cocked her head to the side and said, "Well, are you gonna join me, or sit there reminiscing, the future is yours to hold after all."

I hop into the tub behind her, to which she gives me a view of her. It surprised me at first but I remembered the night before and how much fun we had.

“Um, as much as I’d love to take that beautiful plot I think I should just wait till after work till we have more fun. I don’t want to be late… sorry." I apologized. She chuckled and said," Well, I wouldn't worry too much, we are working together, after all, soon we'll be in the Mare's Knight airship, and it will be a while before we get back to this room. Not that you'll want to leave the ship once you're on it."

Her smile faded, and it was replaced with a scowl, and she sniffed the air. "You know, normally it's noisier than this in the mornings." She then got up and dried herself and checked the window, closed it, and said, "we need to get to that ship soon."

“Hey I haven't even started to clean myself,” I wined.

I tried to grab a washcloth to start but I ended up slipping.

“Ow,” I eeped.

I got back up to my hooves and grabbed the washcloth I was trying to grab before I fell on my ass.

“So are you going to let me shower or are you just going to stand there,” I huffed annoyed that she was acting this way? She walked to me and closed the door to the bathroom, and I saw the blades etched onto her leathery wings suddenly start to glint. Her face was serious, and she only said, "be quiet, no sound." Shortly afterward, I heard some glass break in the room we were in, followed by snarling, growling, and hoof steps.

Someone had broken into the room, and whatever it was, it caused Virtuous's behavior to do a complete flip. It shocked me.

I stood there, as I dropped the soap. I tried to pick up the sounds coming from the other room. It sounded a lot like a diamond dog's grave voice and growling. The question is why were they here.

"Scourge hunters, it seems as if the RF has a new underground alliance," I heard come from Virtuous, but her lips didn't move, and my ears didn't tingle from the voice she had. This was happening in my head.

I watched as her form started to change, horns began to sprout from her head, near her ears. A set of spines grew from every vertebra, and a set of fangs began to appear in her mouth. Her tail faded into a leathery whip that curled and moved like a cat, with a barbed tip at the end. Her eyes began to glow an unearthly color as it all happened. The blades equipped to her wings were more attached than they were before, fitting perfectly now. It looked like she was ready to eat something alive.

I spread my wings and went into the battle stance I was taught in the lunar guards. My teeth ground as my upper k9s sharpened like they do when I get mad or scared. If I was going to need to fight I know I’d need them.

The door banged open and I was then knocked down, my wet body clenched as I prepared for what was to come. What I didn't expect was the sudden splash of red to come gushing out of the doorway. I looked and saw Virtuous slicing the dog in half with a single swipe of her wings, a smile on her face that was far more terrifying than the act of killing itself.

The newly minted carcass then fell to the floor and she walked into the room and looked at the decrypted Pegasus that was now entering the room through the window. She then spoke,"Well, looks like you didn't have a fun time with your broken mind, did you. Course, what would I expect from a Scourge Hunter?" The creature then looked at her and said only one thing before she dealt a killing blow, and it only did so in a raspy manner,"blood."

The blade's wing sliced through the skull, and the hunter fell to the ground, his expertly bisected brain showing for the world to see. The worst part about it, however, wasn't the sight, but the smell. It smelled like a rotten corpse that had just released its internal gasses. Not a pretty sight.

“Uh…” is all I said.

I looked at the mess and thought I sure wouldn’t want to be the Janeter to have to clean this mess. I look at Virtuous who was still standing in the mess, her form going back to normal. She looked at me and said, "I was hoping you didn't have to see that form for a while, but I guess that having a bounty on your head makes it hard to do that." She said as she looked at a sheet of paper that was laying on the ground. It was laying next to the body.

She picked it up revealing her normal form's face. She then proceeded to turn the sheet over, and I saw my face as well, somehow someone put a hit on me. She looked at me and said, "this is kinda weird...how did they?" The question wasn't finished when the door opened and Featherlight walked into the room, he sighed at the bodies on the ground. He looked at the two of us and said, "bounty hunters?"

“It wasn’t me,” I said my voice cracking like a school filly who was caught with a colt in her room. He then smiled and said, "Well, can't be a good pirate without a bounty on your head, that being said, I guess we need to make you two disappear, pack your things, and don't worry about the blood, you can wash up on the ship.

"I don’t have anything to pack, the only thing I own are the clothes on the bed." I said, but he chuckled and walked over to the dead Pegasus, and uttered something before removing some kind of gear off the wings, "I believe you have more than you think, take, for instance, these razor wings. He isn't gonna use 'em any anymore, and he'll be dust here soon."

“What, how he was just killed?" I asked. I then looked over and notice that he was already rotting quickly, and was almost completely rotted away. He walked next to me and placed the Razor Wings next to me and said," such as the land of NightShade, where the dead rest in dust and blood never stains the streets for long. Get ready to go, I'll escort you to the ship."

I climbed out of the shower and put on my clothes and the wing blades, the cold steel was somehow relaxing on my wings, but the insignia of the weather factory drew my attention. Why would Cloudsdale be making weapons like these? More so, what happened to the pegasus that was trying to kill us, how did he get so rotted? He looked like the living dead when he climbed into the window, and the diamond dog, why was it acting so feral? I looked at Virtuous, and all she said was, "not even I know."

We walked out of the room, and my friends guided me three the in and out onto the street. The wind whistled through the building and trees as we walked. Ponies did their business and walked from place to place minding their own business… Well, all except one particular filly. She kept following us like a lost little soul searching for a purpose in life. My guess is she was an orphan looking for someone to take her in.

She was not well fed or clean, and she had decrepit clothing, and her orange fur was starting to look matted and in dire need of a good washing. Her wings were in need of good preening. She walked as if she was desperate and knew we’d be her best option.

“Um guys I think we have a little follower,” I stated as I looked back at the ragged filly. "Do we have room for one more?” I asked hopefully. Featherlight looked and then said, "Well, can't have dead weight, but, if she didn't mind getting cleaned and helping out around the ship, I'm more than happy to have another crewmate. Hot meals, clean beds, and of course, adventure, why not have a young one come along?"

I wave at the filly trying to get her to come closer. She seemed a little skittish but she soon found herself by our crew.

“Hey, there sweetie do you want to come with us. I’ll even let you ride on my back,” I told the young pony.

She looked up at me and smiled and her two front teeth were missing.

“Hop on,” I said to her as I crouched down for her to get on. Virtuous smiled and said, "Well, at least I know your good with kids." Featherlight just shook his head and replied, "Well, at least you two get along well."

More walking was ahead, and they're really wasn't anything of note until we made it to the ship dock, which was large and seemingly hobbled together. However, it seemed that it could hold more than a couple of airships, and it was more than interesting to look at with the different reliefs, and the lanterns of different colors.

It looked as though it was made out of old buildings and materials but in a way of an artistic manner. It was basically organized chaos, yet whoever made it was clearly a genius. Ponies walked up and down the dock, some waved at us normally waved back at by Featherlight or Virtuous. But soon we were stopped by some guards.

“Halt state your business.” Said a stallion guard.

Featherlight was the one who answered."Well, I'm happy that it's you two that guard my ship. But I'm sure that you two should know what I'm here for, Moonlight Blade and Star Blaze." The two guards then looked at each other and smiled, laughing once they couldn't contain their amusement."You know, we had to try once with you. After all, we wouldn't have these jobs without you." Moonlight said. Featherlight smiled and said, "Well, as I said, I'm glad it was you two. After all, who else but you two would take on blood hooves or timberwolves with such skill."

"You got that right." Said Star, whose female voice led you to know she was a mare.

*************************************

Aboard the ship I was greeted by a young pink mare, her purple mane hanging down over one eye and her smile is all that I saw before she turned tail and made me follow her.

“Right this way, miss Compass Star,” she said happily.

The filly on my back slept peacefully as we walked through the ship. She didn’t even seem to move in until we had stopped.

“This is where you will be staying if you want to bring your foal or have her sleep with the others is up to you,”

I looked back at the now awake filly and said, “I think I’ll bring her with me, after all, she is going to need someone to clean her.

The mare opened the door for me and I walked into the room. It was small but at least it had an on-sweet bathroom. I sat the filly down and let her wander around the room until I was ready to clean her.

“Hey, sweetie can you tell me your name,” I asked her in the sweetest voice I could muster.

She looked up at me and nodded. But never said anything.

I looked at her confused. And she pointed to her mouth.

“Are you able to talk?” I asked, still quite confused why she won’t answer me. But she nodded her head to my question so she was able to talk. She pointed back at her mouth. It took me a moment to think what could be wrong until she opened her mouth to reveal a cracked tongue and mouth.

I then asked, “Are you thirsty?”

To which she nods her head.

I smiled and picked her back up and took her to the bathroom. Where I filled her cup of water.

“Don’t drink it too fast. If you do, when you're parched you might get a belly ache later,” I told her.

Before long she had drunk three cups of water and was able to talk again. She told me her name was Butterscotch and that she would be more than happy to help around the ship.

Well Sweetie I am glad you’re willing to do some work, but I don’t think you’ll want to go looking like that. I said looking over her filthy body.

She looked up at me and said nothing.

“What are you, scared of the water? I asked her as she started to tremble.

“Yes, I am. Is as she said.”

“Well I can bath you if it makes you feel better,” I said as I picked her up and sat her in the tub.

“That would be nice,” Butterscotch said, still kinda shaking.

I started the water for the filly, I was happy the water seemed clean and not the usual rainwater we used in my days as a guard. And so seemed Butterscotch. The filly sat in the water and no longer seemed scared while I bathed her. But I could tell she was still tense.

“Hey, Sweetie are you ok?” I asked her while I cleaned her mane.

“Um, It's just I have been wanting this all my life… and now it is finally here for me. I just don’t know how to react.”

I looked at her and smiled, "what do you mean little one?" Asking as I gave her mane a good working through, picking out the mud and clumps of debris.

"I mean I have never known what it was like to have family, I have been on the streets as long as I can remember. I have seen ponies happy and I never truly was. I longed for it. But now I have something and I am hoping you’d be the one…” She said as she started to tear up.

“Well I know that feeling, I was an orphan also. But I had to relive my fears when they outcasted me. And now I am here. I have someone I love and a cute filly who needs a home. But what I have learned is in tough times you got to think positive even when you think it will never get better.” I told the filly in the tub.

She looked at me and smiled, and seemed to relax once I said it. I moved on from her mane after getting sparkling clean and began to scrub her body.

The cleaner she got the more scrapes and bug bites I found. The poor thing wasn't in that good of shape. I felt bad for her. It didn't help the fact when you could tell that she was malnourished and in need of a decent meal. Hopefully, you'd be able to rectify that soon.

“So sweetie after your bath do you want to eat? I bet the dining hall has some good food.” I said to her betting she’d be hungry. She turned to look at me with a smile and said, "yes, I'd love to eat something. If that's ok with you."

"Yes of course it's ok with me sweetie… the question is is it ok with our boss…"I said. There was only one way to find out, of course.

I continued Scrubbing the dirt from her hide. Some of it was stuck on like super glue. It made her tense when I scrubbed at it but I told her that it was the only way to make her clean. It made me feel all the more sorry for her though. Half an hour of hard scrubbing later, she was finally clean, but she had so many sores on her and so much of her fur had been taken away with the mud and scabs I scrubbed off, it made me feel horrible that someone so young had to endure this.

And some of the stories she told me even made me tear up. I took her out of the bathroom and found Virtuous standing there, keeping guard near the door. She looked over and said, "the boss gave us some cash for the little one, food and clothing, and maybe something nice if the vendors have it." She said, smiling with the good news she had, and proceeded to show me a set of crystals that reminded me of the night sky.

“What are these?" I asked. Virtuous then looked at me and said, "the primary currency of Nightshade, Night Shards. Supposedly they were created from a unicorn who cracked the night sky one night. Now it's just special fire opals or obsidian. Either way, it's pretty."

“Oh, so I take that my bits are useless?” I asked. Virtuous shook her head," when we are smuggling stuff, we can pass through Daylight, those bits are useful in trading with the vendors that will, but here in Nightshade, they are worthless. Vendors don't like gold here, it's too shiny for them.

“Well thanks, I might be needing these soon… well unless the food here is free,”I said. Virtuous, handing the shards over to me. Once it was in my hoof, I understood what she meant by being pretty, it was literally like a shard of the night sky in crystal form.

I take the crystal from her happy and me, her, and Butterscotch walk to the dining hall.

The Dining hall was massive and the smell of food made my mouth water. Sweet rolls, bread, various plants...and something that had a roasty toasty smell to it, smothered in some sort of red sauce. You could tell there were also potatoes, carrots, and onions with it, along with pasta of some type. You looked over to a table to find a Nightmare eating it, and as good as it smelled, it was best to avoid it, considering.

“Hey what's that,” asked Butterscotch as she looked at the food. The mare who was serving looked at the filly and then towards me.

“Um hi,” Is all I said. The mare made me look like a filly in size. She then just raised an eyebrow, and then said, "what would you like you two?" It was bland and not very happy.

Butterscotch was the first to answer, “Can I have a hay burger please!” She said excitedly. The server looked at her, smiled, and said, "why not little one, how well done does she like her burger?" She then looked to me for the answer.

“Sorry Miss I don’t know that question. I only just met her three hours ago. But I plan on taking care of her.” the mare looked at me again, and it seemed even more genuine. "Well, since you don't know, I guess well done will work. Don't need her getting sick on you, am I right? And how about you? What would you like?" She said and asked.

“A salad please and some milk for me and Butterscotch,” I said. The mare nodded and left to retrieve the items. The salad and milk were quick, but the burger took some time. That being said, once it got to the table, however, it looked amazing and smelled amazing as well, and there was a batch of fries next to it. On another set of plates were slices of chocolate pies.

“Oh wow that looks delicious,” I said happily. The mare smiled and said, "and it's free...so long as you keep that fact quiet." She said while giving a such

“Oh wow thanks ma’am,”

We sat at the table and ate our food. The salad was the best I had since my first date. It was a simple one, iceberg lettuce, some radishes, a good dandelion or two, all topped with a salty cheese of some sort. However simple it is, it was fresher than I ever thought, and the dressing helped round out all the flavors.

I began to think about the day's events. It had been an odd day. I watched ponies die. But also saved one from the streets. She may be young but I knew she’d be useful to us. Course, there was also the whole understanding her situation was also a factor.

She ate voraciously, and I understood why, and that one was staring at me, and I was kinda hungry myself. So I focused my thoughts on the salad. And as I finished the salad, my gaze returned to the piece of pie that was closest to me.

I looked over to Butterscotch, who had finished her burger and was smiling at me. I scooted closer to her and put my four legs around her giving the filly a hug. She then looked at me and asked, "are you ok?"

“Yeah, I just thought you looked like you needed a hug, plus you're just so cute.”

“Um, tanks,” she said blushing.

We sat there for a while with me hugging her and it seemed as though she was enjoying my company. And I knew I was enjoying having her by my side, I had always wanted to have foals but since I was a lesbian I couldn’t have one unless I adopted and my apartment wasn't suited for the adoption. I really miss my mare friend. I just hope she has moved on.

Soon we were eating the pie, Butterscotch wanted me to feed it to her so I did as she asked and damn was it cute. The one was creamy and rich, and the deep dark chocolate was like that of the chocolate pancakes, and I began to realize, the chocolate in this dimension was a lot deeper and darker than that of what I'm used to.

By the time we were done The mare from before came back and grabbed our dishes and said, “Did you enjoy your meal?”

Butterscotch was the first to answer, “Yes, It was the best meal I had in a long time… If not the only meal I had in a long time." She said whimpering at the end of her sentence.

Well, If your caregiver is ok with this I’d be willing to discount your food until that belly of yours is nice and round.

“Thanks, ma’am, I’ll gladly take that offer, you see I am new to this place and just starting my job.

She smiles and said, “I understand, that's why I am offering this to you.”

I cock my head and thought to myself, what is with these ponies and reading minds.

I and Butterscotch walked back to our room, where Virtuous was waiting on us. She had a set of bags and a suit on the bed. "Have a good lunch?"

"Hey, what are these, and yes we loved our lunch didn’t we Butterscotch," I asked

“Yes ma’am,” She said happily.

I walked over to the bags. "Clothing for the little one, till she grows some of her furs back at least. After all, we may end up somewhere cold at points on our journey. The boss wanted to make sure she was comfortable during those times." She said." and we are visiting the capital of Nightshade soon.

“Oh, did you get me anything?" I asked, acting like a filly myself.

“Well yeah since you're such a baby and have night terrors and wet yourself I got you diapers, that and this," she said right before she pointed out a coat that was made of Rabbit fur and a fleece of some kind. It looked to be made in some other country due to the style.

Butterscotch started giggling. To which I blushed like my first night at prom. It was the night I discovered my sexuality and the first time with a mare. It was also where I met my last mare friend. My gosh was that night was fun. But this moment I am in isn’t. It had to be the second most embarrassing thing that happened to me since Oakheart found me pissing in the forest.

"Hmm, try not to show it all dear, may give someone ideas…" Virtuous said, a sly smile on her face letting you know what she was thinking.

Damn and she knows your kinks. How could this get worse? Simple," oh trust me, I know more than just kinks, but that's not a conversation with our guest here dear." She said an even more sly smile on her face. Alas...succubus is in the mood. I couldn't help but blush, and she was eating up every moment of my humiliation. Her tail twitched like a cat would when it was playing with a toy.

I look at her with a sly smile forming my own. “Hey Butterscotch can you give us some private time please,” I told her being less obvious as possible, Butterscotch proceeded to walk out and Featherlight was standing outside the door. He took one look and said, "ill babysit, but be on the ship all the sooner." He closed the door and left us to it. All I heard from her was the question, "male or female this time?" Needless to say, the embarrassment of the moment quickly faded.

“Oh, I thought you knew my kinks.” I said, and she said, "oh I do...including future ones…" she said, looking like she was about to pounce on me. "So...about that question, Compass." Her smile got wider as she said it. You know well what I want. I want a cute mare who’s going to rock my body till I fall asleep. "Ok, I get that, but if you ever want something different for a change, I don't blame you for being curious," Virtuous said before doing her thing. She then decided to change, turning into a Moon Song look alike. She then smiled, "I hope you don't mind this, but I kinda felt like being different for a change, since you don't want to have fun with the male variant that I have."

“Wha Huh, How did you know, I have been thinking about her all day… I was hoping she moved on as I did…” she smiled and said, "my job is to know what you want, and occasionally tempt you to have that thing. That being said, reading your mind as your bonded is also part of the job. What I want is what you want. Course, I have my own reasons for keeping you happy.

“But the question is are you happy?” I asked, she smiled and said, "of course I am, I have a bonded who is kind, wonderful, and can be such a tease sometimes. The only thing I regret is that you won't let me show you everything I can do to please you, but I understand you're not used to that yet, and there is no need to lie to me about what you like, cause I already know. I can worry about that later though, cause this is what you want right now. Now the question is, who's taking the lead?"

“Oh, you know me I love a good dom.” I said and she replied with, "well then, get ready, cause I'm feeling particularly feisty, so there may be a bit more than normal. Now get on that bed, and open up." She said, a smile on her face, and her tongue hanging out. She crawled between my legs Smiling even more.

“Look, the baby wet herself how cute,” She said in a kinky voice being playful but not over the top that it was bothersome.

I looked down squirming at her hot breath as she teased me. She looked cute in this form, but it just wasn’t the same.

I started shaking like mad tears started to fall down my face as I thought of my life before and how I'd never get it back. Playing pretend wasn’t going to help me. I needed to feel the real touch of my lost lover, not Virtuous’s. My shaking intensified as she changed back into her normal form. Virtuous looked at me trying to read me as she stopped her activity.

“Oh, deer… Compass what's going on… why are you blocking your thoughts.”

I began to laugh hysterically, as more tears glided down my face. I was getting hot as I couldn't stop thinking about my home, My fucking commander, and what she said to me as her guards took advantage of me be for my exile. My best friend yelled insults at me, and my Mare friend’s tears as she was forced to watch it all so she wouldn't try to find me.

What have I become, how can I move on from this… betray my country even more than I did before?

Virtuous was trying to talk to me. But I wasn’t listening.

I am back to breaking the law. Fuck, my new lover killed ponies to save my life.

I gouged my eyes trying to get the memories to stop. But they keep playing out clear as day.

Blood cakes my hooves as I continue to tear at myself.

“Compass stop, please, you're hurting yourself,” I heard her say before I passed out. The burning streams of blood from my eyes fading into obscurity beforehand. Thinking back now, that may have been what led me to where I ended up. Either way, madness was more than just a comfort to me at that moment, even if there was more to what was happening that I would soon realize.