It happened not that long after Anonymous first settled in Ponyville. She'd been invited by Rarity and Fluttershy to their weekly spa visits. Rainbow Dash declined. Too froo-frooey, she said. Applejack was too busy, being in the middle of harvest season. And Pinkie Pie was... well, Pinkie Pie.

Twilight sighed as she lowered herself into the hot water. Admittedly, the studious pony never really saw the point at first. She wouldn't consider herself a tomcolt, at this time or ever, but the spa scene never once caught her attention. Too fastidious, too wasteful, she'd think. Why spend an hour or two indulging yourself when you could use that time for more productive endeavors? She wasn't an athlete or a laborer, so it's not like she'd built tense muscles that called for massages. A luxurious soaking in the hot tub? Just take a quick shower. Quick and practical. Mud baths? What's even the point?

Yet as she felt her muscles loosen and the worries melt away, Twilight would gladly admit she'd been wrong. She'd been so wrong. This was bliss.

"Enjoying yourself, darling?"

Twilight's eyelids fluttered open to see Rarity. A small, lazy smile adorned her features, eyes half-lidded. Soaking in the relaxation.

"Very much so," Twilight replied. "Thanks again, Rarity."

She waved a hoof. "Think nothing of it. It's my pleasure to treat you girls."

"Is it alright, though?" Fluttershy asked. Her voluminous mane, like the other mares, was wrapped up in a fluffy towel, sitting atop her head in a shape resembling an octopus. "I mean, three Pamper'd Premium Super Deluxe Blowouts? It's kind of expensive."

"Really, Fluttershy dear, it's fine," she replied easily. "Things are going rather well at my boutique."

"Lots of orders?" Twilight asked.

Rarity hummed. "No more than usual this time of year. Rather, an order."

"One order?" Twilight asked.

"Well, yes. Didn't I..." Rarity trailed off. "Oh. I never told you girls, did I?"

"Told us what?" Fluttershy asked.

Rarity glanced around to make sure nopony was in earshot, then motioned the girls to come closer. They did so, not hiding the inquisitive look on their faces. "This is all between us, of course. Ah, let the others know if you'd like, but keep it within our little circle, yes?" Fluttershy and Twilight nodded. "You see, girls. It just so happened I received a letter from Princess Celestia not a few days ago."

Fluttershy cocked her head and chanced a look at Twilight, who frowned slightly.

"The princess?" Twilight said. "But why?" Left unasked was the question of why not simply send the correspondence through Spike. It would certainly be a lot faster.

Rarity picked up on this. "You'd have to ask her yourself, I'm afraid. If I were to guess, I'd say she wanted to keep things confidential. It's a bit of a... sensitive matter."

Twilight pondered this. What could be sensitive or secretive about a matter involving Rarity? Not that Twilight would disparage her friend, but she did deal entirely in clothes and fashion. Then again, Rarity's name had started to spread out and the mare would occasionally leave Ponyville for a few days to attend an event of some sort. No doubt she used this time to form connections and build a little network for herself.

Is it possible she'd been commissioned to make an order for a secretive client? Perhaps a pop star, artist or broadway actor? But why would Celestia get involved unless...

"Anonymous?" Twilight said. "You're working on something for Anonymous?"

Rarity was impressed. "Right you are, darling. Wouldn't you know it, the poor dear was at a bit of a loss. You see... well, apparently clothes are an absolute necessity for his kind. The hyoomans regard nudity as a major taboo, barring certain circumstances, he says. It's not like us ponies, who for the most part dress up for jobs or special occasions. To them, clothing is a major part of their lifestyles. They simply refuse to live without it."

Twilight bit her lip and quelled the maddening urge to snatch a quill and a piece of paper from the reception desk and begin to furiously take notes. Well, that was fine. She could simply rely on her prodigious mind to recall the information. It had never failed her before.

"All of this stays between us, of course," Rarity said expectantly. Twilight and Fluttershy nodded. "You see, the princess asked me to commission a wardrobe for Anonymous, and paid a pretty bit for it. She was quite generous, actually. Hence..." she broadly gestured a hoof.

"What's he like?" Fluttershy asked.

"He's..." Rarity pondered her answer. "I'd say he's pleasant enough. A bit quiet. No surprise, the poor dear is still adjusting to his situation. I mean, can you imagine being pulled away from everything and everypony you know? Still, I've only met him twice now, so I can't make an educated guess." A look of realization dawned on her face. "Ah! And Twilight, there's something you'd be very interested to know."

"Yes? What is it?" she said eagerly.

"He has a rather peculiar effect on my magic. Or maybe my magic has an effect on him? Regardless," she continued. "Every time I tried to take his measurements, the tape would just... slide off of him. I thought nothing of it, but it happened again and again, so I asked if he wouldn't mind me running a simple test."

"And? What did you learn?"

"Well, I asked if I could try moving his... his... ah, hands! Yes, I asked if I could move his hands with my magic. He accepted readily enough. I think he was curious about it as well. Anyway, I found it exceedingly tricky to get a proper hold on him. It's like my magic just," she paused. "Well, it was like trying to maintain a solid hoofhold on a slippery river rock. My magic just sort of... slid off of him. It took a great deal of practice and concentration to get the smallest form of leverage."

"Fascinating," Twilight muttered, her mind ablaze with theories and possibilities. Ooh, what she wouldn't give to have Anonymous all to herself for a week or two. With his consent, of course. The things she could learn...

"'Allo, ladies," Aloe's familiar accent rang across the quiet spa. "I trust everything iz to your liking?"

The three mares turned to face the spa's co-owner. "Simply fabulous, Aloe," Rarity said. "You girls do know how to pamper a mare." Twilight and Fluttershy echoed her sentiments.

"Most excellent," Aloe said, beaming. "If one of you ladies could follow me, we are ready to begin your massage."

"We?" Fluttershy asked. "I thought Lotus was off on Mondays."

"Oh but she iz, miss Fluttershy. We 'ave hired a new addition to our spa. I believe you know him, miss Rarity? Ah, ze tall ape man?"

Rarity was taken aback. "Anonymous? You hired him?"

"Oh yes. Miss Lyra vouched for him. Very insistent she was." A faint tinge of red blossomed in her cheeks. "Ah, we were a bit unsure at first, but he made the hooves-on demonstration. He iz... ah, very skilled."

"I imagine he must be," Rarity said, smiling slyly. "He's clearly made an impression on you."

Aloe coughed. "Yes. Well. I imagine he will make one on you az well. I believe you will be very satisfied with him."

The three mares shared a glance. Coming from Aloe of all ponies, this praise meant something. That said, Rarity couldn't help but notice Fluttershy wasn't too keen on the idea. Not surprising. The shy pegasus had made great strides in shedding the crippling shyness that stunted her for so many years, yet the prospect of spending alone time with an entirely new pony... er, creature, was understandably a daunting prospect.

As for Twilight... the young mare was hesitant for a completely different reason. It didn't take a genius to see she'd never spent much time alone with a colt in a personal setting, much less one that she'd constantly been itching to get her hooves on. If only in a detached, scientific manner. Possibly.

"Why not?" Rarity said, stepping out the hot tub. "Let's see what this new employee of yours is capable of." Drying herself, she slipped on a fluffy pink bathrobe and followed Aloe to the massage rooms. Fluttershy and Twilight watched her go, the latter angling her neck to try and get a good view of the new masseur.

With nothing to do but wait, the two mares contented themselves to enjoy the soak, basking in the hot water.

"Twilight?"

"Hm?"

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Well, yes. Why do you ask?"

Fluttershy hesitated. "It's just that, Rainbow Dash told me about that experiment of yours. You know, the one for your... urges?"

Twilight grimaced. "Oh, that."

In a bid to rid herself of the annual period of frustration and unfulfilled needs that came with Heat Season, the ever proactive unicorn set out with the goal to devise a way to ride out the worst of this wave with minimal discomfort. Her solution? A spell. One that would suppress her biological urges.

Alas, even her prodigious knowledge and skill in magic could only delay the inevitable, for while she enjoyed three weeks of relative peace, the dam eventually broke, and the delayed onset of estrus hit her with all the subtlety of a speeding freight train.

"Oh, my. That sounds unpleasant."

"Tell me about it." Twilight muttered. "I'm still not sure how it happened, but my spell somehow magnified the effects of estrus."

"Maybe some things should just be allowed to run their course," Fluttershy said.

"You're probably right," Twilight sighed. "At least it happened at the tail end of the season." That is to say, with most other mares having rode out Heat Season, the store shelves were stocked with a surplus of anti-heat remedies that Twilight eagerly scooped up at a hefty discount.

"Oh, my stars!"

The two mares whipped around to the very same doors from where Rarity's voice rang out.

"Ooh... yes. Yes!"

Twilight and Fluttershy shared a wide-eyed stare.

"Don't be shy, darling. I'm not as delicate as I look. Put some muscle into it!"

Neither mare spoke as they heard Rarity coo and squeal with delight for the next several minutes. A heat that had nothing to do with the hot water rapidly flushed their cheeks.

"Ahh," Rarity sighed as she opened the sliding door, Aloe following behind. Twilight and Fluttershy quickly averted their gaze, doing an admittedly poor job at pretending neither of them heard anything, not that Rarity paid any notice. She trotted in an unsteady gait, her legs wobbly. Her half-lidded eyes were glazed over.

"Rarity?" Twilight asked. "Is everything okay?

"Okay? Okay?" she mumbled. "Everything is... just right, darling. Why, it was... it was quite..."

"Transcendent, non?" Aloe finished with a knowing smile.

Rarity gulped. "Quite right, actually. N-no offense, Aloe, dear."

Aloe waved a hoof. "Iz fine, miss Rarity. Most important iz you enjoy yourself. You did enjoy yourself, yes?"

Rarity chuckled and cast a longing look at the door from whence she came. "To put it lightly. Ah, you don't suppose Anonymous would be willing to... to..."

"Regrettably, miss Rarity, your friends are still waiting their turn."

Rarity turned to her still blushing friends, yet before she could say anything, Fluttershy spoke up.

"Was it really that good?" she asked. Any trace of the reluctance she'd displayed before now gone.

"Oh Fluttershy, I can't possibly describe it! Those hands. Those wonderful, magical hands of his." She swooned. "He did this thing with his... and he found this spot on my neck that..." She squealed and cupped her flushed cheeks with her hooves. "Oh, it was marvelous! Simply marvelous!"

"O-oh, my," Fluttershy whispered, glancing at the massage rooms. Her wings twitched. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try."

"Excellent choice, miss Fluttershy," Aloe said brightly. "Come with me, if you please. We'll have ze Anonymous to take care of you."

Fluttershy stepped out the bath with a surprising spring in her step, hastily dried herself, donned her bathrobe and followed Aloe to the massage rooms, all to the bemusement of Twilight Sparkle.

"Ooh!" Rarity yelped, almost tripping over herself.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked, edging for the rim of the tub.

Rarity hastily waved a hoof. "Y-yes, darling. I'm alright. It's just..." she spared a look at the massage rooms. "It was an... intense experience." Twilight noticed the slight trembling in her legs. "Do excuse me, Twilight. I... I need to lay down a bit." She wobbled to a nearby recliner, where she'd normally lay down for a hoof filing and hopped up, sighing as she melted like putty into its embrace. Not two minutes passed before she fell asleep. Her barrel rose and contracted lazily.

Twilight couldn't deny she wasn't the least bit intrigued. For a seasoned connoisseur of all things pampered like Rarity to be reduced to such a state... well, she was all but obligated to gather some firsthoof experience on the matter. For research.

Her ears perked as they picked up a small yelp, no doubt belonging to Fluttershy. The timid pegasus was not nearly as vocal as Rarity, yet if Twilight strained her ears, she could make out several noises of contentment. Gasps, squeaks and even moans of pleasure sent her imagination into overdrive, renewing the furious blush that all but receded from her cheeks. Truth be told, she was looking forward to this.

Sure enough, after what felt like an eternity, the door to the massage tables opened and a dazed Fluttershy stepped out, advancing in unsteady hooves, her cheeks adorned with a healthy blush.

"H-hey, Twilight," she stuttered, a serene expression on her face. She unfolded her rather stiff wings and erratically fluttered over to Twilight, who watched with bemusement as her friend reached out with a hoof and bopped her on her muzzle. "Tag, you're it." That's all she said as she let out a breathless giggle and made a beeline for one of the free recliners, all but crashing into it, sighing in contentment.

"Are you ready to go, miss Twilight?" Aloe asked, not batting an eye.

She nodded and tried her best to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. At long last she had an excuse to meet this so-called visitor who'd taken up residence in Ponyville at the drop of a hat. Truth be told, the news came as a bit of a shock to her.

The day in question had been nothing short of routine, and after finishing her breakfast, Twilight set about the business of opening up the library. Tuesdays were a bit of a slow day, so she didn't expect to see many ponies drop by, and so she contented herself by organizing the sizable pile of books that had been returned the two days prior. She found the process itself rather soothing, and no sooner did she finish that Spike popped in to hand her a letter from the princess.

Dear Twilight. Hope you're good. Yada yada and so on. She read it with a smile, always pleased to hear from her beloved teacher. But the further she read the more her smile faded, giving way to slack-jawed astonishment.

A visitor. That's the word Celestia used. A visitor from... another world? Dimension? Universe? The princess herself could not say for sure, but she did divulge the circumstances by how she became aware of him.

As one of Celestia's students in her school for gifted unicorns, Lyra Heartstrings managed to secure a private audience in which she revealed the existence of this visitor to Celestia. Skeptical, but willing to hear out her former student, Celestia allowed the human Anonymous to be brought before her, and the three retreated to a private chamber where they conducted their meeting in secret. Unfortunately, the princess did not see it fit to divulge the details of said meeting, but assured Twilight that, wherever or whenever Anonymous came from, he was not of this world.

With no home, options or resources to his name, Celestia allowed Lyra to take him in to her home, given that they'd struck a quick friendship, while she consulted with her sister as well as her scientific and magical advisors to devise a possible way to return Anonymous to his world.

To say this development was unprecedented would be nothing short of absurd. It was positively groundbreaking. World shattering, even! Twilight vividly recalled the way her body shook from... excitement? Fear? A bit of both, maybe. She had an alien... an honest to goodness alien sitting at her doorstep. She would gladly close down the library for the day and hurry on over to Lyra's to see if she could get some time alone with this visitor and indeed, that's precisely what she planned to do when a warning from Celestia stopped her in her tracks.

Do not attempt to contact him directly.

I realize this might be a cruel request to a curious mind like yours, but I must insist you give Anonymous some space. His transition to Equestria was nothing short of jarring and he is understandably overwhelmed at the situation he now finds himself in. Lyra will be his caretaker for the moment, and will do her best to get Anonymous acclimated to Equestrian society. Go to her and ask if she'd be willing to arrange a meeting between the two of you. Barring that, I must once again insist you not take matters into your own hooves.

Forgive me if this seems harsh, Twilight, but you and I both know your curiosity and thirst for knowledge can impair your judgment at times, and the matter at hoof requires a more delicate touch.

And so she did. It positively pained her to do so, but at Celestia's behest, Twilight reined in her curiosity and did as instructed, maintaining her distance.

But now? Now she could get a close-up look at Anonymous proper, without Lyra to thwart her ambitions. In fact, if she were a betting mare, she'd say the minty green unicorn derived a smug sort of satisfaction from denying Twilight's numerous requests.

"After you, miss Twilight," Aloe said as she opened the door, motioning her to enter the threshold to the massage room. Twilight gulped and stepped in. The room was dim, the lights reduced to a soft, relaxing amber color. Faint smells tickled her nose; sweet and floral, and there stood Anonymous, his back to her, creasing out the bulges and wrinkles in the sheet that lined the massage bed.

He was more imposing when close up, Twilight's head barely reaching past his waist. True to Rarity's assertions, he was clothed from head to hoof. Twilight noted this peculiar habit of his as well, on the times she'd seen him wandering Ponyville at a distance, chalking it up to him wanting to dress up and make a good impression on the ponies that surrounded him. His arms, face and neck were all but devoid of fur. A cosmetic choice, perhaps? Or were his kind prone to baldness in these areas?

Satisfied with his work Anonymous turned to greet his newest client. His eyes gave her a quick once over, lingering on the pink strip of her mane. He smiled and said, "Hi there, my name's..."

"HELLO!" Twilight shrilled in a high-pitched tone, and immediately regretted it. Anonymous started at the abrupt greeting. Twilight's ears folded back, ducking her head. She'd hoped to come off as friendly and enthusiastic, not so much a madmare.

She cleared her throat, fought down the embarrassment as best she could and, in a much more reasonable tone of voice, said, "Hello. My name is Twilight Sparkle." In a stroke of inspiration, she brought her leg up, aiming for a hoof bump. Yep, friendly and casual.

Anonymous watched in amusement, but kneeled down to her level regardless. He took her hoof in a surprisingly firm grip and shook it once, twice, three times. "A pleasure, Twilight Sparkle. Name's Anonymous."

Twilight smiled. Maybe she hadn't botched this after all.

"If you could lie down for us, miss Twilight," Aloe said. "We are ready to begin."

She did so, hopping onto the massage table and laid belly down at Aloe's instructions. At her behest, Anonymous went to a nearby table and dipped his hands in a cleaning solution before drying off with a towel.

"Anon?" Aloe said. "Would you start us off?"

He took a spot next to the giddy Twilight. "I need to tie your mane so I can work proper," he said.

Twilight nodded and Anonymous carefully unwrapped the unwieldy towel off her mane, where it spilled out. She closed her eyes, sighing in contentment as he took her mane in his hands. They glided over her scalp in a manner most satisfying, his hands closing as they traveled backward, fashioning it into a quasi-ponytail.

Once most of her hair flowed backwards, Anonymous' claw-like digits dug into her scalp and...

"Eep!" Twilight jerked, her body seizing up.

Anonymous' hands retracted, but he regarded her in an almost playful manner. As if he'd been expecting this sort of reaction. "Everything alright?" Aloe mirrored his reaction.

Twilight gave a shaky smile and said, "Yep. All good." She gulped. "Uh... please don't mind me." She rested properly on the table once more, unknowingly holding her breath as she waited for Anonymous to continue.

Twilight bit her lip as she felt his digits sink into her scalp, trailing backwards with the intent to untangle any knots. She could not hold back a low, husky groan as those nails of his sent sent waves of pure, absolute bliss coursing down her body. Unbeknownst to her, she'd done a poor job of hiding her reaction, as she trembled from the pleasure alone.

But then his hands retreated and Twilight fought down the maddening urge to grab them in her hooves, put them back where they'd been and demand he keep going. In a nice way.

Anonymous tied her hair into a serviceable bun before proceeding to the next step of the treatment.

"The question, Anon?" Aloe said expectantly.

He nodded and said to Twilight, "Are there any problem areas? Spots with tension? Aches, pains? Anything of the sort?"

Twilight gulped and did her best to give an even answer. "Just m-my withers. And neck. I... well, I read a lot. Hunching down. You know," she said vaguely.

A telltale chime rang across the spa, signaling the arrival of new clients. Aloe looked to the door, frowning slightly.

"Why don't you take care of that, Aloe?" Anonymous said. "I'll take care of things here."

She hesitated. "I don't know. Your training iz not yet complete."

"Rarity seemed to think so," he said. "Come on, I can handle one little massage."

Aloe looked to Twilight. "Iz that alright for you, miss Twilight?"

She nodded eagerly. "That's fine. I'm sure Anonymous knows what he's doing."

Aloe gave a resolute nod. "Very well, Anon. You may tend to miss Twilight in my absence. I expect complete satisfaction from her upon return." She then briskly trotted out the door to greet her new customer, leaving both her charges alone.

Anonymous grabbed a bottle from a nearby shelf, squeezing a measured amount of lotion on his hand. "So," he said. "Hands and hooves need a different approach where massage is concerned. Aloe's been showing me the ins and outs and I'm getting a good sense of where the problem spots can be found in a pony's body. Muscle groups, all that jazz." He took his position at the massage table just left of Twilight. "All this to say, I'll do my best to get them to relax. Loosen up. Granted, I don't have much experience with ponies but I can sort of... feel my way around it." Having vigorously rubbed the lotion on his hands, he then placed them onto Twilight, just above her withers. "Any, ah, concerns? Questions before we begin?"

Only about a million of them. Well, technically two hundred and ninety six, but who's counting? "No. Whenever you're ready."

Yep. All according to plan. She'd use the situation to her advantage and strike a good rapport with Anonymous. Perhaps they could be friends. She'd like that. Even better, having bridged the gap that is Lyra, she could then invite Anonymous to spend some time with her and the girls. Rainbow was surprisingly curious about him. Pinkie Pie too.

They could all go out on a nice, relaxing picnic and get to know each other better, and Twilight could at long last ask the question's she'd so wanted to...

"Mmmmphh!" The throaty growl manifested before she even had a chance to stop it. Anonymous kneaded her muscles with just enough force. Not so much that he'd hurt her, but not so little it'd be meaningless.

"You've built up quite a bit of tension," Anonymous said, frowning slightly as his digits pressed into her neck.

Twilight's breathing was ragged, her eyes shut tight, muzzle pressed onto the table as she fought down the undignified squeals and screams of delight that threatened to spill from her lips. Unbeknownst to both of them, her tail hitched with excitement.

But the wonderful sensations then stopped. Twilight opened her bleary eyes to see Anonymous opening and clenching his hands. "What is it?" she asked.

"It... you had some real tight knots in your neck. Took a lot of effort to work them out."

Her ears folded back. "Oh, sorry."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't be. It's the job." He squeezed more lotion into his hands and stood in front of her. "Your hoof?" he said, holding out his hand. Twilight placed her hoof upon it and Anonymous resumed his work, starting just above her fetlock and trailing upwards.

Twilight sighed in contentment as Anonymous finished and moved onto her other foreleg. She gave an experimental flex on the limb he'd just finished working. Her muscles felt like butter. No wonder her friends had trouble walking.

"Rarity's told me about you, you know," Anonymous said.

"Good things, I hope."

"Among others." Twilight pursed her lips as he kneaded a particularly sensitive spot. "She says you like books."

Twilight blushed. "I find them fascinating."

"I can understand why. Life experiences, ancient knowledge passed down for generations. A chance to pick at the finest minds of history. Good stuff."

Twilight regarded him with renewed interest. "Oh? Are you a bibliophile too?"

Anonymous snorted. "I mean, I enjoy a good book now and then, but I wouldn't go that far. I ask because Rarity tells me you're an academic type. Thirst for knowledge, that kind of thing."

"Pretty much," she said bashfully. Echoes of laughter, the word 'egghead' being tossed around played in her mind.

"Do you ever get the headaches?" At Twilight's confused look, he continued. "Not always headaches, but... you know," he made a vague gesture. "That thing where your brains feel like mush after an intense study session. I used to get them all the time when preparing for a test."

"I know them all too well," she grumbled. "They're so inconvenient," she said with a pout.

Anonymous nodded, then paused, thinking. "You know," he went to the door and opened it a bit, just enough to allow him to peek outside. "This technically isn't part of the massage process, but would you like to try something new?" He closed the door. "Not sure if you ponies have a way to deal with it, what with hooves and all, but I could try rubbing your temples."

"My temples?"

He nodded. "Supposedly it helps to relax and open up your blood vessels, allowing better circulation to your brain. Helps to soothe headaches. I could show you if you'd like. That way you can do it yourself."

Twilight was intrigued. Such a treatment would be a blessing, if it worked as he said.

"Sure. Let's try it."

Having been given the go-ahead, Anonymous set to work. Standing in front of her, he cupped her face in his hands. "It's a pretty simple technique," he said, rubbing at her temples with three digits from each hand.

Twilight smiled in contentment. So simple, but so comforting. True to her nature, she'd done a bit of 'light reading' this very morning, perusing Ipso Facto's Advanced Guide to the Study of Metaphysics--perhaps for a bit longer than she intended to. The brain fog that often followed these kinds of sessions became so common to the point of mundanity that she barely even noticed it anymore.

And yet, as his wonderful fingers worked their magic, Twilight found herself at a bit of a conundrum. The position she was currently in left her face to face with him. So focused in his work, Anonymous failed to notice Twilight's eyes wandering as she drank in his form. A most curious sort of heat blossomed in her cheeks.

"S-so, Anonymous," she said, clearing her throat. "How did you come to learn this trick?"

"My mom. She used to do it to me whenever I had a headache going on. Or during finals. Not sure if it's a legitimate procedure or one of those things passed down the generations, but it usually helps."

Twilight nodded. "Do you like working here?"

He shrugged. "Can't complain. Aloe and Lotus are pretty chill. I'm just glad they gave me a chance. I mean, being in a magical pony land is great and all, and Celestia was kind enough to pay my bills, but I've been going mad with boredom. At least now I have something productive to do. And the job has its perks. Get to meet a lot of lovely ponies."

"I bet you say that to all the mares, huh?"

Anonymous froze for a split second, so fast Twilight thought she must have imagined it. His eyes met hers. His lips quirked into a coy smile.

"Only the cute ones." And he winked.

Twilight could not hold back the stream of schoolfilly giggles that spilled from her mouth. She pressed a hoof to her lips, though it did little to stem the tide. She produced an undignified, pig-like sound.

"And she snorts, too," Anonymous said, grinning.

A hoof lightly jabbed at Anonymous. "Enough," Twilight admonished, though the effect was lost amidst her wide smile. "Is that any way to treat your client?"

He inclined his head. "But of course, miss Twilight," he said in a parody of Aloe's accent. "Let us get back to your treatment."

"Funny," she said dryly, flicking her tail to lightly slap at his arm as Anonymous moved beside her. His hands sank into her withers and Twilight took the opportunity to bury her face in her hooves as she was assaulted by yet another furious blush.

I bet you say that to all the mares, huh?

Where did that come from? It's the kind of cheesy line she'd seen Rainbow and Pinkie Pie use on a prospective stallion. They're probably rubbing off on me, she thought.

And speaking of rubbing off...

She bit her hoof in a desperate attempt to quell the various groans and squeals of pleasure as Anonymous got to work on her body. She'd embarrassed herself enough for one day and she'd be damned if she allowed this to continue. Anonymous certainly did nothing to help her situation. Why did his hands have to bring her to near-orgasmic bliss? She could feel the blush in her cheeks spreading all over...

...

"Oh, no."

Anonymous looked up. "You say something?"

"Nope! All fine," she said in a high-pitched voice. Anonymous shrugged and resumed his work.

Twilight buried her face in her hooves.

Why??? Why is it happening now?

The heat that coursed through her was one she knew too well. Estrus. Inspired by a surge of scientific curiosity--some might say foolhardiness--Twilight went back to the drawing board with her botched spell, using what she learned from its failure in the hopes of modifying it to suppress the embers of estrus that still burned within her.

She'd had two to four days left in her cycle, as far as she knew, and cast the spell anew in the hopes it would allow her to ride out these days in relative peace. Perhaps even use its supposed success to refine the process. Yet as the spell's matrices gave way, unable to stand indefinitely against the primordial laws that governed nature itself, Twilight came to the only indisputable, irrevocable conclusion.

She had made a grave mistake.

Anonymous' exotic, masculine scent filled her nostrils. Her tail flagged, giving anypony who might have been standing behind her quite a show. She squirmed, her hinds legs rubbing together--the sensation of a wet something spreading from her marehood. Thank Celestia for the dim lighting, for if anypony were to take a closer look, they'd see a wet patch of moisture on the sheet she lay atop, spreading just under her marehood.

Anonymous' hands stopped their ministrations. "Do you..." he sniffed. "Do you smell something?"

Twilight wanted to scream. Whether in embarrassment, frustration or lust was anypony's guess.

"Huh. Kinda smells like... lavender? It's not bad."

*THUNK*

*THUNK*

*THUNK*

Perhaps she could give herself a concussion? Bash her face against the massage table in the hopes unconsciousness would claim her? Yep. That's a good idea.

"Hmph?!"

Anonymous' digits cupped her chin, lifting her head.

"Are you... feeling alright? Even for a pony, you're acting kind of weird."

...

"Ah, no offense."

Twilight inhaled, savoring his natural musk. He smelled so good. She almost wanted to... to...

She licked him, her tongue trailing the length of his hand. Salty. Her body shook with want.

"Uhh..." Anonymous said, jerking his hand back. He looked at the spot Twilight licked and back to her, frowning. "Is this some sort of pony gesture I'm too human to... whoa!"

Twilight's magical aura tugged at his pants, bringing his crotch and her nose-to-nose, so to speak. Her hooves wrapped around his hips, kneading his firm flanks. She buried her muzzle in the fabric of his pants and breathed deeply. A sound between a moan and a raspy growl resonated in her throat.

It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. Twilight opened her mouth and molded it around his stallionhood. The fabric of his pants was thin enough that she could feel the outlines of a phallic, meaty something stiffening within her mouth and it drove her wild.

"Oookay, that's enough."

Twilight barely heard the words. She could not, however, ignore the way two hands grabbed at her in the space between her barrel and forelegs and lifted her in the air. She gave a squeak of surprise, her hind legs kicking in reflex as they sought purchase.

Anonymous looked more than a bit miffed, and no sooner did he open his mouth with the possible intention of scolding her, when Twilight launched herself at him. A simple propulsion spell, but they collided with enough force to send them both tumbling.

"Seriously, what the hell?" Anonymous groaned, his back against the wall, rubbing the back of his head.

He froze as he laid eyes on Twilight. The typically cute, cuddly mare now stalked forward like a predator. Her normally immaculate bangs were now scattered loosely down her brow. Her eyes, pinpricks, giving her an almost feral visage. Anonymous gulped as the little mare advanced with surprisingly delicate hoofsteps. She lowered to his crotch, giving it a brief, almost loving nuzzle.

But then she looked up and licked her lips. Two hooves pressed upon his chest, pushing back with surprising strength, pinning Anonymous to the wall. Twilight's chest heaved, her mouth open as she took deep breaths, cheeks alight in a radiant blush. She smiled in a way that could only be described as halfway between dopey and predatory. Anonymous watched with dreading astonishment as Twilight closed her eyes and leaned in, her lips puckering for a...

"Nnnope!" His hand shot out and grabbed her firmly by the horn. He was not prepared for what came next.

Twilight's eyes rolled to the back of her head. Her horn crackled with power and the room--no, the spa itself--shook to its foundations. Her body went stiff, her back arched and her mouth opened to release out a near-deafening cry of ecstasy.

And the curtain fell.

With all the grace of a plummeting blimp, Twilight's limp body plopped atop Anonymous, wracked by periodic shivers. Anonymous poked her, then again. She did not stir. In fact, and to his indignation, the little mare was soundly asleep, if the soft snores that came from her were any indication. And...

Did he piss himself? Well, he'd be well within his rights to! But then again, the warm patch of moisture he undoubtedly felt spreading came not from his crotch, but rather his left leg. The same leg, in fact, that supported Twilight's lower body and...

Ohhh.

"A-ANONYMOUS?"

Fan-fucking-tastic. He saw the appalled faces of Aloe, Fluttershy and Rarity gawking from the opened door.

"What iz... why iz she..." Aloe sputtered as she trotted into the room, eyes roving over every... single... detail of his compromised position. "How?" she said almost helplessly.

"Like I said, boss," Anonymous smiled, his last recourse lest he fall into the pit of despair.

"I took care of her."

Author's Note

Funny story, I wrote well over 4,000 words for this supposed chapter before deciding it was crap and chucked the whole thing in the bin, relatively speaking. Had to then build this current chapter from the ground up, hence the delay. Still, I'm pretty satisfied with it. Hope it was worth the wait.

Also, this chapter takes place nearly two years in the past, being Anon and Twilight's first meeting.