Ponies and Pets

The sun slowly approached the horizon as seen from Canterlot. The city’s elevation gave it a few more minutes of sunlight when compared to a village like Ponyville, which sat in the valley below, and the renowned views beckoned creatures from all over Equestria. Standing on one of the balconies at the outer edge of the city, Midnight ruffled her light grey leathery wings and prepared for the princess to perform her celestial rite over the plains that stretched out to the south and west. At the same time, she pushed her cyan mane away from her face while she looked out at the daily spectacle and waited for a very particular pony to show up.

He better be here soon… I did say sunset, didn’t I?

She shuffled nervously for a moment as she tried to remember if she’d specified the exact time. Her question was answered when she heard hooves hitting the stone tiles behind her, the lavender-coated, black-maned pegasus stallion coming up to her while breathing hard.

“I’m… so sorry! Work… held me up—”

Midnight Dagger pressed her hoof against his muzzle, silencing him. “Shut up, Nerd.”

Wing’s ears briefly splayed as his meandering eyes anxiously drifted between Midnight’s icy-blue stare and her outstretched leg. Holding his breath, the stallion kept his mouth shut when Midnight removed her hoof, and he only released a relieved sigh when she directed him to the sight of the setting sun. Instinctively, the two ponies pressed together as the last rays passed over the horizon and descended beyond it.

“Beautiful…” Wing whispered, giving a side glance to Midnight before getting hushed again as she turned his gaze to the opposite horizon. It took a few more seconds for the sun’s light to fade and the sky to darken further, but that only increased the spectacle when the first stars became visible and the moon started rising. The silver orb appeared massive over the horizon as it rose to take its place in the night sky, its princess gently coaxing it out to take center stage in her stunning tapestry of stars.

“That’s beautiful,” Midnight smirked as she kept her gaze on the twinkling stars, her slitted eyes fully dilated to see the night sky in its true glory. Only after a minute or so did she move her attention to the stallion beside her, opening her wing and wrapping it around his back while resting her chin on his head. “Glad you made it in time.”

“So am I. I’d never want to miss out on time with you,” Wing purred, pressing his muzzle into Midnight's chest and prompting the batpony to give him a purr in response.

The two remained in the warm embrace for a bit while Midnight contemplated how to bring up a topic she had wanted to discuss with the pegasus. After their hookup and several dates, she had pondered it, and even though it felt right, the air of secrecy still plucked at her nerves.

“Hey, Wing, there's something I wanted to discuss with you…” Midnight carefully said, pulling back so she could look the stallion in the eyes.

Wing fashioned a concerned expression, and he timidly fluttered once he observed Midnight’s flushed muzzle and her struggle to maintain eye contact. “Middy, you're my priceless mare. You can discuss anything with me.”

Midnight's blush intensified for a moment as her eyes found the tiles of the ground between them. “Sh-Shush.”

“Make me,” Wing challenged, a smirk on his lips until Midnight's were pressed against his in a kiss. The maneuver caught the scientist off guard, and his feathers fanned in the wake of the accelerated intimacy.

Midnight coughed after she broke the kiss. “I’m trying to be serious here, Wing,” she huffed, having found some of her courage again after proving her point and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. “Know how I caged that pretty little cock of yours when we first met at the academy?”

Now it was the pegasus’ turn to blush as he was reminded of what his member had been straining against for the last few weeks, the black plastic keeping it neatly restrained. “Hard to forget that.”

“Well…” Midnight bit her lip. “I'm not exactly the only pony into such things.”

Wing's eyes widened, but he kept his mouth closed as he allowed Midnight to finish what she wanted to say before confirming his suspicions.

“You see, there's this underground society of sorts where what we've been doing at each other's places can be done in the ‘open’.” Midnight punctuated the last word by making quotes with her hooves. “It’s a place where I've had some forays into but without a permanent partner… Well, it just didn't have the same appeal as it does now… and I was hoping you'd consider coming along?”

“Midnight—”

“If you don't want to that's fine too, I just wanted to—”

“Midnight,” Wing cut the batpony off with an uncharacteristically gritty timbre. “I’d love to go to Clocktower with you.”

The batpony froze as she looked down at the smiling stallion, her mouth hanging open in shock. “You… you know of it?”

Wing snickered. “What? After all we've already done together, you're actually surprised?”

Midnight blushed again as she had to admit to herself that it was kind of obvious that the stallion had already been approached by the society, but that also meant the next part became much easier. “So, if you've been down there, what position do you hold within the society?”

“Well,” the pegasus explained, “I was first invited to do some research on the Fire of Devotion, but I’m guessing that’s not what you want to hear about. When it comes to masks, collars, and their colours, it depends on the situation. If I am wandering around by myself, I usually run with either a red collar or mask.”

Midnight's face stiffened a little upon hearing that, but the stallion shot her a reassuring smile.

“It’s not because I’m uninterested in permanent ties. I like building relationships on firm foundations. Wearing the white when I was alone always felt empty, like I was making some sort of sales pitch. If we’re going together, though, that wouldn’t be an empty action. That’d be going with somepony I admire, clicked with, and want to be around. I’d definitely go for the white collar instead.”

Upon hearing Wing’s interest in pursuing a deeper connection, Midnight let out a sigh of tension she hadn't realised had been building up.

“So what about you? What roles have you explored?” The stallion’s questions trailed the mare’s emotional release.

“Well, on the previous occasions I've gone down there, I picked a white mask. Although…” The blush came back in force, and she found the toes of her hooves to suddenly be the most interesting things in the world. “I-I went down there once with a silver-studded red collar…”

Wing’s ears perked at the revelation, and the corners of his lips swiftly spread to form a sultry, mischievous grin. “Here I thought you didn’t want guys chasing after your precious pussy. It’s a shame I didn’t run into you on that day. You would have had me pulling out my mask in a nanosecond, and I would have had you admitting you were priceless, beautiful, and cute months in advance. The pesky cage wouldn’t have been in the way either.”

With the mounting pressure of Wing’s teasing bearing down on her, Midnight took drastic steps to contain the pegasus. Her large span opened up, and she quickly engulfed Wing’s head in a cocooning hug that blinded the pegasus with her cozy chest floof. “I just needed some fun…”

Pressed between her wings and her chest, Wing listened to Midnight’s heartbeat as the batpony’s explanation trailed off. His haunches wiggled while his smirk curled a teeny bit more. “Did you get it? Is that why your pulse is racing?”

Immediately, Middy tightened her hold and thanked Luna’s starry sky that Wing could not see the wave of rosy hues that conquered her muzzle and cheeks. “No, you dork! It’s racing because I just asked about having a fun time with you!”

Wing’s train of thought derailed once his brain processed the blunt admission. Even Midnight had snapped her mouth shut after the declaration leapt from her lips, but the stallion carried on. He squirmed his way upward, practically snaking his way through her leathery grasp until his head popped out in the crook of Middy’s neck. “We certainly won’t be needing any silver studs during our visit. I can promise you that.”

Midnight kept her mouth shut once Wing’s declaration drilled into her thoughts. Various options filled her ponderings, and a blush swept across her muzzle. Even the idea of just dragging him down there made her stomach flutter, but she knew that the experience would be worlds better if she took some time to plan first. “Are you familiar with Carver's Pets?”

Wing lightly bit his lip and nodded. “I passed by there once or twice.”

“Be there. Tomorrow at twenty-two hundred. Understood?” Midnight gave the pegasus as intense a look as she could manage, which ended up being good enough to make the stallion shiver.

“Orders received, ma’am. Your wingpony will be in position as always,” Wing replied before receiving a loving nuzzle from the towering mare for his silly antics.

Midnight smiled. “Such a dork. I’ll have to reserve everything I need, so I’ll see you then.” She winked at Wing as she trotted away, revealing a small bounce in her step that he loved to watch.

Midnight stared into the mirror of the prep room she had claimed for herself. She'd retrieved a collar from the society and unboxed her personal mask. While the collar she chose was more plain than the standard Clocktower collars, which had metal hearts secured to the leather straps where leashes could be connected, she preferred simplicity. It wasn’t that she found the Clocktower’s more elaborate aesthetic terrible. She wanted something that better communicated her intent for restraint, and that, in her mind, demanded a design that was simple and rugged. It wasn't a collar’s job to look pretty. It was there to keep her firmly in place.

When that was what she wanted, of course. Tonight, there was another mission objective, prompting the mare to don a mask that matched the collar. The intricate piece was far more ornate than its submissive counterpart. The white mask had black borders and sharp shapes pressed into the surface, and around her eye holes, the dark shape of eyelashes had been intricately crafted onto the leather.

Strapping the mask around her face, she took another good look at herself in the mirror, deciding that she didn't want to leave her hair in its usual, rougher state. Grasping her mane, she divided it into three bundles and braided the strands together. At first, she used a normal, bland tie to keep the braid from unravelling, but the look didn't fully sit right with her – something she rectified when she found a small, buckled leather strap that she could pull over the tie.

“There, hope that impresses the nerd.” She blushed a little at the thought of Wing. They had been on a few dates, but this marked a way more significant step than simply going out to eat with the stallion or wandering around the academy grounds together during off-hours.

Midnight repositioned her white canvas saddlebag, signed off on the collar, tie, and strap she'd taken from the prep room, and left for the public areas of the society. Having taken the portal for dominants, she found herself in the grand halls of Clocktower's central hub, but if she wanted to find Wing, she would have to travel to the first level of the dungeon where they'd agreed to ‘meet up’.

Stepping out of the grand structure, Midnight looked over the adjacent square that complemented the front of the building. Large gear patterns had been set by masons into the stone slabs, and two cobble clock hands reached out from the center of the decoration to cement the society’s motif. There were quite a few other doms milling about and socializing with one another under the light of the moon. Some of them even had leashed subs lying beside them as they conversed.

Although Midnight was sure the topics being discussed were undoubtedly interesting, she had elsewhere to be first. After trotting down the steps, she crossed the square and descended into the market district, where she could find the dungeon entrance closest to the cages where Wing would be waiting.

The sub-to-dom ratio became noticeably higher now that she was moving away from Clocktower Square. Most doms guided their subs along to check out stores or eat at one of the cafés that lined the street. Midnight would return here later for what she had planned, but for now, she catalogued each of the stores as she passed. One had an assortment of chocolates and other treats, while another store sold clothing. Though some of the establishments were a little on the spicy side, very few truly explicit items were being sold on this level. That was something Midnight knew would change once she entered the lower floors – where the tides of commerce slanted drastically in the ‘toy’ store direction.

A few minutes later, she arrived at the large spiral staircase that led into the underground cavern in which the dungeon was constructed. Magical crystals embedded into the walls lit up the shaft, and the slight red glow set the correct mood. It wasn't a long walk to the kennels from there, but a glance at a wall-mounted clock revealed that Midnight might have been making too good a time. While she knew that Wing had likely rushed for the cages at her request, she also didn’t want to pull him from his situation that soon. A devious little idea popped into her mind as she considered her potential approach.

Taking position at a nearby bench, Midnight contented herself by watching ponies and other creatures pass by with their slaves, pets, and subs. She filed away some of the contraptions she saw for later consideration with Wing if today went well. After spending a good thirty minutes lounging and observing, she decided she'd let the stallion cook for long enough and slid off the bench to retrieve him.

A dom greeted Midnight as she entered the kennels. Cages lined the space in stacks that rose on both sides of the central aisle. Pairs of wooden posts appeared at regular intervals, supporting a ramp and platform that allowed perusers to safely access the additional inventory.

“Welcome to Carver's Pets!” exclaimed the light brown earthpony stallion who managed the place. His dark green tail swished from side to side as he peered at Middy through his mask, and a vibrant smile accompanied his jolly tone. “Are you here to pick up an order or do you wish to just browse?”

The question drew a subtle grin onto the batpony’s countenance. After speaking with Wing and agreeing on this kind of play, she had arranged everything with the kennels in advance. Now, however, the innocent proposition presented an opportunity to tease her pegasus in an unexpected way. Sure, it would alter the script, but if there was one thing that Midnight knew, it was that the ponies of the society were flexible.

“Just to browse,” Midnight casually said, her gaze passing over the locked, occupied cages. Some of the pets perked up and stepped toward the bars to see if there was a chance they could be picked. The kennels were mostly filled with ponies like Wing who were there on appointment, but there were always a few spots available for subs who wanted the chance for a random pony to take them out for a session. If Carver had no such ponies available, he'd reply that he was out of unreserved stock and that the requestor needed to place an order.

That procedure did not apply here. In Midnight's case, the shopkeeper understood exactly where she was going, and he smoothly replied, “Of course! Do follow along. I've got some very nice specimens in stock at the moment!” Carver took the lead as he pointed out various cages, the contained creatures behind the steel bars, and their longing, desperate expressions. The stallion paused in front of the cell holding the lone, young griffon in the kennel. “This one, for example. A bit feisty if you ask me, but you, Lass, look like you can handle ‘er.”

The griffon squawked and pushed herself against the back of the cage, lowering her chest to make it look like she would pounce the moment the door was opened. Midnight remained relaxed under the attempted intimidation, knowing that it was both for play and that – if the griffon really meant the hostility – she'd wipe the floor with the fledgeling regardless. “Hmm, perhaps another time. I was looking for something a little tamer for now.”

Carver bowed his head and continued to the next promising fit. As the pair neared, the captured stallion shifted closer to the entrance and peeked through the bars with a pleading stare. The pony possessed a similar colour to Wing, though his coat was decidedly more blue than the faded lavender Midnight sought. Nevertheless, the pet in front of the batpony put in some considerable effort, yielding a string of purrs as he pushed his head through the bars as much as the metal would allow.

Midnight responded with a soft, subdued smile as she repaid those efforts with a gentle cheek rub. The mare internally swore that she could hear a suppressed whine coming from Wing’s cage, and her smile grew as she provided one final headpat before pulling her hoof away. “Almost, but not quite…”

“Hmm… I may have another offer for you to consider, but I’m not sure of that one’s value,” Carver thought out loud, clearly intending to lead Midnight to Wing next, but she was well prepared to throw another wrench in the gears before getting to the stallion in question. Right as the shopkeeper stopped in front of Wing’s pen, Midnight let out a shocked gasp as her sights fell upon Wing’s particularly small unicorn neighbor.

“My my, this one looks exquisite!” the batpony exclaimed, mentally relishing her plan. She confidently strode up to the bars while the tiny mare inside looked up at the looming Midnight with an equally shocked expression. The sudden, unexpected attention drew an adorable blush on the mage’s cheeks, and the dom dove on the opportunity. “Can you get her out so I can inspect her?”

“I certainly can!” Carver chuckled, opening the cage and calling on the pet to step out and assume the down position.

Midnight used the demonstration as a reminder to review Clocktower’s pre-approved list of commandable submissive positions. Meanwhile, the little, crouched mare trembled beneath the towering Midnight, and the genuine intimidation honestly suited the batpony’s objectives in this instance.

The unicorn’s blush intensified as Midnight pushed aside the pet’s tail to inspect her marehood. The act coaxed another, definitely audible whine from the waiting Wing, and the nervous tremolo made the dominant flier flick her pierced ear.

“She looks like quite a steal. How much?” Midnight asked, smirking as she fixed Carver with a gaze.

“I fear this one is on order from another one of my patrons, but I can mark down her type as one of your preferences if you wish.” He ushered the unicorn back into her cell while delivering the apologetic explanation.

“An offer I appreciate,” Midnight replied through a reassuring smile, “but it’s unnecessary. You had a free pet you were leading me to?”

As she had her focus directed to Wing’s cage, the pegasus practically begged for attention by pressing against the bars and casting a timid, reserved glance in the mare’s direction. The delay had driven the cooped-up sub into a twitching frenzy – as though he had clung to every word and act that had transpired since Middy stepped into the kennel. Even now, his feathers quivered at the slightest movement. Apprehension kissed his wavering irises, and ears swiveled forward to snatch each statement.

“This pony here is not reserved by anyone right now, but I have to warn you that its previous owner left a chastity cage on its cock. I wasn’t able to acquire a key, and I fear that might pose a problem,” Carver apologised as if it were an actual issue.

Midnight abruptly waved his concern off. “He won’t need to have that freed anyway. Can I see him?” Midnight asked, locking eyes with Wing while Carver opened the door and beckoned the stallion out. Soon, Wing echoed the movements of his neighbor by assuming the down pose once he cleared the threshold, and Midnight followed suit by making another small show out of the inspection. She tugged on Wing’s namesakes, pushed aside his tail, and checked his teeth. Satisfied, especially with the shivers her touches induced, she gave Carver a smile. “How much?”

“Nine lashes,” Carver replied, using one of the common in-house denominations. While the rest of Equestria traded in bits, the secretive Clocktower Society devised a rather ingenious system for its self-contained economy. Within this space, tallies, lashes, and brands reigned supreme, and the names reflected almost exactly what one could expect on the tin.

“Deal!” Midnight exclaimed before she looked down at Wing and gave him a nodded order to follow. The stallion remained close to her flank while the batpony trailed Carver toward the counter for payment. There, they spotted a relatively common sight in society shops – namely a submissive mare trapped at the midsection by a hole in a decorative wall. Her hind legs had been chained to the base of the structure, making it impossible for her to buck under any circumstance, and her tail had been tied to an elevated hook to get the strands and dock out of the way.

Taking out her master phaser, the electrothaumic tool used to make transactions, Midnight got ready to make the payment for Wing. She glanced down at the console embedded into the base of the rounded, Y-shaped device and checked her balance. Happy to find that her charge was sitting pretty at eighty tallies, she shifted her focus to a sign nailed onto the wall beside the restrained earthpony. Written here, Midnight found the information she needed to properly adjust her phaser. Each unit had a circular dial mounted at the intersection of the arms, and that knob controlled whether the payment process would induce pleasure or pain in the store’s bank.

For the mare in question, there was no cap on the shock amplitude, but it was strictly prohibited to give this pony any pleasure. Midnight’s hoof slid across the dial face, and she homed in on the halfway point for strength before she put the tool to work. The targeted mare squirmed and squeaked as yellow sparks danced between the prongs of the Y – and as four lashes were deposited onto her flank. Once that was done, the batpony stretched her leg forward to firmly press the phaser into the mare’s side for five seconds, depositing a full brand to take care of the remainder.

“That should do it,” Midnight confirmed with Carver after seeing her phaser’s charge balance drop to thirty-five after the payment.

I’ll have to do some jobs around the place to take the nerd to the fancy places around here…

“Sure does! Enjoy your purchase!” Carver grinned as he hoofed over the temporary ownership contract. Midnight promptly stored the parchment and her master phaser before she pulled a leash from her saddlebag. In a blink, she had it clasped to Wing’s collar and gave an assertive tug that beckoned the stallion to follow her along the route she had already explored.

“Aren’t you a clingy one?” Midnight smirked as Wing had been practically pressed into her flank since she plucked him from the cage. He had still not uttered a single word, instead remaining a good pet with his purrs. “That reminds me! Now that I have you on the leash, I might as well offload some currency onto you. Sit!”

Wing obediently followed the command, looking at Midnight expectantly as she retrieved her phaser. The batpony briefly contemplated the setting she’d put it on, but, as a devious glint engulfed her icy-blue eyes, she settled on using the maximum pleasure the device could give. To an outside observer, the decision might have been viewed as an affectionate reward for a fantastic sub. However, considering the chastity cage the pegasus wore, Midnight knew the action wasn’t necessarily a blessing.

She pushed Wing’s soft, conditioned namesake aside and pressed the phaser into his blazeberry fur. A moan bubbled from his muzzle as his nerves surrendered to the magical shocks that rippled through his body the moment Middy applied a brand just beside the base of his wing. He shuddered and huffed while his cock strained against the confining plastic, and all that surging desire swirled around with no obvious outlet.

The mare couldn’t help but snicker at the spectacle, and she brushed his feathers after noticing the pent-up twitching of his hind legs. “There, a good start, don’t you think?”

Wing gave her an appreciative nuzzle, but his first few steps after being pulled back onto his hooves were a little unsteady. After a few seconds of recovery, however, his stride returned to its typical cadence, and the pair continued their journey together.

Midnight beamed as she sneakily clutched the leash as if it had become her prize. The society facilitated this otherworldly realm, where nopony gave them odd looks as she led her pet toward their destination. In Equestria proper, this would have garnered the same kind of judgment her heritage garnered at the academy. Here, she could live out a fantasy with somepony she found quite valuable.

Several minutes of strolling finally brought her restaurant of choice into view. Another last-minute reservation, made the previous night, had gotten them a table. She endured a scramble to make it all happen, yes, but with a name like Pet’s Place, where else could she really treat her nerdy pet? Advertised as the perfect spot for such players to come and dine, the establishment sported a backyard garden where pets could frolic to their heart’s content, and the tables and menu had suitable accommodations for their particular patrons.

A collared stallion came up to them with his head bowed, and the pony’s horn glimmered in a faint purple aura that levitated a nearby clipboard. “Welcome to Pet’s Place. Do you have a reservation, ma’am?”

“Under the name Dagger,” Midnight acknowledged, prompting the sub to scan his list and mark off the name when he found it.

“I see that payment is still required. That will be three tallies in total, ma’am.” The stallion turned around and presented his flank, which already seemed quite filled with deposits from other customers. “Pleasure settings only please, ma’am.”

Midnight then noticed that the stallion was wearing a chastity cage, one even smaller than Wing’s. She clearly wasn’t the only dom who had figured out how to make pleasure such a frustrating thing to give to her sub. To the server’s credit, he only twitched slightly as the three tallies were applied.

“Thank you, ma’am. Table Five is yours. I’ll return with menus for you soon,” he provided after pushing himself back up. Midnight gave the host an appreciative nod, pulled Wing along to the allotted table, and set him down on the dog bed beside it. A solid metal post installed next to the bed served as a hitching spot, and the batpony took advantage by clipping Wing’s leash into a locking latch.

Looking around, Middy found that the restaurant was nice and compact, containing about thirty tables that pampered pets with toy boxes loaded with new balls, rubber bones, and mice plushies – along with other trinkets a cat or dog might enjoy.

“Now, if you’re a good boy, we may even go out and play in a bit, understand?” Midnight explained when she saw Wing silently examine the toy box and peer through the windows to the backyard, where another couple was engaged in a game of fetch. He purred in response and gave Midnight a nudge with his muzzle, receiving ear scritches as a reward. Not long after, the stallion that had received them at the entrance came bringing the menu and asked if the two of them required any drinks. Midnight asked for water for both of them.

“Let’s see. The hayburger sounds like a treat, but maybe a healthier option would be better…” While she checked the selection of foodstuffs, Wing did his best to scoot up to his mistress.

The deliberations carried on when their server returned with a glass for the lady, a bowl for the sub, and a pitcher for refills. “Have you decided on your order yet, ma’am?” he asked with a polite smile.

Midnight gave it a little more thought before she put down the menu. “I think the salad for the two of us will work just fine,” she said, passing the menu back to the stallion who bowed his head as he took it.

“Of course, I’ll be right back, ma’am.” The stallion retreated swiftly, allowing Midnight to take a sip from her water and simply enjoy the environment.

Another mistress was using a cat toy to play with her pet. The sprawled sub had stretched out on her back beneath the table and pawed at a bundle of feathers that dangled from some seafoam-green twine. Her tail swished from side to side, hurling reflections from the safety bell that soundlessly navigated the exuberant moves. A glance down at Wing showed that her stallion had a bell tied to his tail too. The simple instruments proved to be useful tools for when submissives were gagged or otherwise unable to say one of Clocktower’s standardised safewords. Her observations of Wing also reminded her of something completely different.

“Pet, is something wrong with the water?”

Wing’s ears flattened, and he glanced down at the untouched bowl of water before taking the hint. He lowered his muzzle to the metal dish and started scooping up the liquid with his tongue. Midnight hummed contently as his sounds joined the chorus of noises in the bustling restaurant. When the salads were delivered to the table, her pet needed no further encouragement to dig into his bowl of food. The two of them enjoyed the meal in their own ways – Midnight for the quality of its ingredients, and Wing for the humiliating manner in which he was made to eat. Midnight finished her plate first, having an easier time than her pet, who was putting in a valiant effort to finish his own bowls. When she chuckled at his struggles, he looked up at her and blushed at his own state. Though, his wagging tail betrayed his true feelings.

“Go on, you’re almost done,” Midnight encouraged, coaxing out a happy purr from the reinvigorated stallion before he put in the extra work to snatch the remaining scraps from the bowl. Midnight let out a giggle when Wing looked up at her again. “Up here, Girl. You have something on your muzzle.”

The flustered blush returned the instant Midnight referred to her pet as a girl. Of course, the pegasus immediately jumped up beside the batpony and obediently waited while she used a napkin to clean the bits of salad that clung to his muzzle.

“Much better. Now, shall we?” A tennis ball rested atop Midnight’s hoof, and she teased Wing to try to take it. The stallion’s eyes grew along with his excitement as he was released from his leash and led to the playgarden. The pet-master duo that had been playing fetch before was now tucked away in a corner of the yard where the stallion was combing out his mare’s hair. More importantly, they had unwittingly yielded the entire field to Midnight and Wing.

Chuckling, Midnight tossed the tennis ball up and down in her hoof before pitching it away. “Fetch!”

Wing didn’t need to be told twice. He bolted after the ball the second the syllable shot from his mistress’ mouth. His namesakes spread as he raced through the grass, revealing the brand to any onlookers lucky enough to catch it. They’d have to be quick, though, because Wing darted through the yard with reckless abandon and returned in no time with the ball held firmly in his muzzle.

Panting slightly from the sudden exertion, Wing dropped the ball for Midnight and received purr-worthy ear scritches as a reward.

“Good girl… again!” the mare shouted after she flicked the ball up with her wing, bounced it on the leathery surface a few times, and launched it across the garden.

Once again, Wing repeated the rapid recovery. He sped through the yard at a blistering pace, chomped down on the tennis ball with more vigor than he attacked the salad, and returned to his owner with a triumphant trot. Without even receiving a command, he placed the ball in front of Middy’s hooves, lay down in front of the toy, and pleadingly nudged it with his muzzle.

“You are absolutely adorkable you know~”

Midnight repeated the game a few more times, heaping small bits of praise onto the stallion whenever he returned. The cycle drew out the most adorable melody of squeaks and purrs, and his notes continually made the masked batpony vibrantly smile. Eventually, when Wing delivered the ball, he put it down and rolled over onto his back, looking up at his mistress with begging eyes as he wiggled in the grass. “You want belly rubs?” she asked with a chuckle.

He let out a happy squeal and squirmed a little more, doing just enough to persuade Midnight to plant her hooves on his belly and give a great rub.

“Such a good girl~” Midnight sighed as her pet was panting from all the running and wriggling he had been doing. He was downright irresistible in this cute form, and the mare couldn’t keep herself from pulling him close and treating him with gentle brushes. With all the purrs she was getting in return, Midnight assumed the stallion was loving the attention, but all great outings couldn’t last forever. Even her plan had to end, and time was ticking on. With that in mind, and after another round of scritches and rubs, the batpony grasped the leash and connected it to Wing's collar once more.

“Up!” she commanded as she stood. Taking point, Midnight guided the stallion through the restaurant, out its front door, and onto the society streets. She didn’t head back down to the kennel – instead charting a course toward a nearby, strategically located establishment named The Pup Shack.

Here, you could make use of Clocktower’s answer to a fundamental petplay question and ‘drop your pet off for the night’ in a manner that wouldn’t break immersion in a way that regular submissive prep rooms could. At the establishment’s door, Midnight confirmed her reservation. Just like Carver’s, the Shack’s space had a row of small cages, except these units possessed two doors – one that faced the shop’s main hall, and another that led back to care rooms for the subs to use after the drop-off was completed.

Stopping in front of one of the cells, Midnight gave Wing his last ear scritches before she whispered into the stallion’s ear. “Meet me on the balcony tomorrow at noon.”

Wing responded by giving a gentle nuzzle to Midnight’s hoof before he stepped inside the cage.

With that, the mare closed the door, waved goodbye, and departed as her heart jittered from the rush that accompanied every memory of their evening.

Midnight found herself back at the balcony. This time, the warm rays of the sun fell upon her grey coat and counteracted Canterlot’s typical altitude-induced chill. Despite the pleasant weather, Midnight stewed in some self-inflicted turbulence. Somehow, she was more nervous than when she had asked WIng to join her in the Clocktower Society.

She fussed with her hoof, anxiously fidgeting as her mind asked questions that only somepony else could answer. Did he enjoy himself? He didn't say anything or use any safewords, so that's good, right? But maybe he was just being polite. Maybe he didn’t want to make it weird. Maybe he just didn't want to disappoint you?

Not having seen or heard from Wing since she had left him at The Pup Shack, the mare fought the harassing thoughts that plagued her mind while she waited for him to show up. She was so occupied with this battle that she completely missed Wing’s arrival, giving the stallion the exceptionally rare opportunity to sneak up on her. Midnight almost jumped when he nuzzled her cheek.

“Hey there, Priceless,” he cooed as a devious glint flashed across his irises.

“H-Hey,” Midnight stammered, trying to compose herself as she blushed. “S-So, what did you think about last night?”

Wing immediately met Midnight’s nervous twitches with a gentle, reassuring smile. “What I thought?” he answered in a teasing tone before he extended his namesake, wrapped it around the back of Midnight’s neck, and pulled the mare into a passionate kiss with more force than she ever thought he could muster.

At that moment, Midnight's world changed. Her body felt light as a lavender feather as she pushed into the kiss. Nothing within her wanted it to end. The nagging thoughts ceased. Her pride couldn’t be bothered. Wing could hold that kiss forever.

When he finally broke it, his chocolate-colored eyes locked onto Midnight’s crisp blue stare. One word dripped from his muzzle in the echoes of that epiphany. In the past, he had blurted it, but this time, he spoke it with a surprising degree of resolute authority. “Beautiful.”

Midnight blushed once again. “W-Well, you were pretty good yourself,” she answered while shyly looking away from the pegasus that now sat in her embrace.

The two leaned into the hug and cast their gazes across the valley. They watched, in silence, as weather workers scurried over the landscape to clear a few rogue cloud puffs that drifted into Canterlot airspace. They both hummed at the spectacle – perhaps reminiscing on the days when they flew side-by-side – and then laughed at their spontaneous unity.

Wing took advantage of the jovial moment to spur a much-needed addition to their conversation. “So, when do you want to go again?”

Midnight bit her lip at the question and glanced down at her wingpony. “Well, maybe you should be the one to tell me that. Since… I thought it might be a nice idea if you organized the next visit.”

The admission stoked a fire in Wing’s stare and prompted another quick kiss that found Midnight’s cheek. “You had better prepare yourself then – because I intend to make you the most precious mare in the society and give you a night that you’ll never forget.”

Author's Note

"I dunno what Middy is talking about. Science has already confirmed that she's the cute one. Maybe I'm a han-nerd as she says. Whatever in Tartarus that is."

Feel free to leave suggestions for adventures for these two, making Wing blush is a great pastime and we writers love our comments!