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Pink Haze - Part 3

By Glimbrain
Created: 2025-04-04 21:55:17
Updated: 2025-04-25 21:50:51
Expiry: Never
anonromancensfwflurry heartwipcozy glowfemdommind controlmassageharemfetishesluster dawnmaledomolder flurry heartolder cozy glowevil mares

  1. Synopsis: Anon is bullied by three pink mares, but what goes around comes around.
  2.  
  3. *** AUTHOR'S NOTE ***
  4.  
  5. Updates every 3 days.
  6.  
  7. *** LINKS AND KINKS ***
  8.  
  9. PART 1: https://ponepaste.org/10656
  10. PART 2: https://ponepaste.org/10809
  11. PART 3: YOU ARE HERE
  12.  
  13. LATEST UPDATE: Line 6212 - https://ponepaste.org/10866#6212
  14.  
  15. CURRENT KINK LIST: role reversal, undressing, hoof kissing, preening, kissing practise, breath sharing, clumsy fondling, fingering a princess, squash soup, defloration, gentle missionary under the bed covers, horsey behaviour, horseback riding, extremely deep kissing, throat clogging, the point of no return, some bondage (blindfold, ball gag, nose ring, shackles) body piercings (nose ring, navel piercing, nipple piercing), emotional linkage, taming a mare's inner animal with love and affection, magical chastity, anal beads, horse-sized mare, synchronised orgasms, leg locking, wing locking, fluff huffing, royal pheromones, mare-on-man analingus, back-to-back continuous orgasms, mare-on-mare kissing, foalcon, messy face licking, chubby mare fondling
  16.  
  17. *** 22 ***
  18.  
  19. "Ngh…"
  20. >Groaning yourself into a semi-lucid state, you steadily open your eyes—and you greet cold blue stone.
  21. >Slowly but surely, you manage to lift your face up from the crystalline surface of your front desk.
  22. >Sitting upright in your crystal chair, you lazily look around your empty reception.
  23. >Not a soul in sight.
  24. >Yawning out loud, you stretch both of your arms outwards and upwards.
  25. >Sleeping on the job yet again.
  26. >Poor form, Anonymous.
  27. >Hopefully no-one caught you slacking.
  28. >Then again, barely anyone comes in here anyway—so you're probably good.
  29. >Glancing back down at your desk, you notice a messy splattering of drool near where your mouth once was.
  30. >Better wipe that off; don't wanna look unprofessional in case any customers actually *do* show up.
  31. >After giving the top of your desk a quick scan, you swiftly locate the nearby tissue box.
  32. >Retrieving a tissue, you quickly wipe off your drool pool, and you soon dump your used tissue into the trash can.
  33. >However, your gaze is once again drawn back to your tissue box—as you notice the papery corner of a pink envelope hiding underneath it.
  34. >Quirking an eyebrow, you retrieve the envelope and examine it in detail:
  35. >The envelope's fine texture is both smooth and soft to the touch; in fact, it feels more like you're handling silk than paper.
  36. >The paper itself is subtly scented with a pleasant floral fragrance.
  37. >Double checking the recipient's address, you confirm that this envelope is indeed addressed to you.
  38. >But who would…?
  39. "Hm…"
  40. >Checking the front, you see that this envelope has been sealed with the symbol of a light-blue love heart.
  41. "…oh!"
  42. >You remember now!
  43. >Yes, this envelope shall be the key to your salvation.
  44. >Looking over the seal over once more, you recognise this "light-blue love heart" to be a royal insignia—one depicting the Crystal Empire's very own Crystal Heart.
  45. >Incidentally, the Crystal Heart also happens to be the emblematic cutie mark of Flurry Heart—Crown Princess of Love.
  46. >…Ugh. Flurry Heart.
  47. >You recall how it was only a couple days ago that Flurry, Cozy, and another mare made an absolute fool of you within the sanctity of your own massage parlour.
  48. >That's not an ordeal you ever wish to repeat.
  49. >Thankfully, you may not ever have to.
  50. >Because you and that perspicacious pegasus—Cozy Glow—have now established a partnership of sorts.
  51. >Despite its heart-sealed design, this paper parcel was in fact a delivery from Cozy herself.
  52. >And supposedly, it contains something which will help you turn the tables on the Crown Princess of Love—and secure sweet, sweet revenge.
  53.  
  54. >The possibilities pique the imagination—just what exactly could this envelope contain?
  55. >A tube of really, *really* itchy massage oil?
  56. >A set of scandalous photos that you could blackmail her with?
  57. >A mind-control collar that would allow you to turn her into your brainwashed slave?
  58. >…Eh, that last one sounds a little *too* out there.
  59. >Anyway, there's no time like the present.
  60. >Tearing away the top chunk of that perfumed paper like it's the biggest present on Christmas Day, you greedily reach inside the envelope and slowly pull out…
  61. >…
  62. >…a pink feather.
  63. "Huh?"
  64. >Wait.
  65. >What?
  66. "No, no. That can't be right."
  67. >Setting the feather down to one side, you reach inside the envelope again:
  68. >It's empty.
  69. >Opening up the envelope with both hands, you peer inside:
  70. >It's empty.
  71. >Squinting your eyes, you desperately double-check the envelope's interior for anything you may have missed.
  72. >It's empty.
  73. >Furiously tearing up the envelope into many tiny little pieces, you silently stare at the small piece of pink paper still held in your right hand.
  74. >It's shredded.
  75. >And empty.
  76. >Just like your hopes and dreams.
  77. >You let go of the scented scrap and watch it slowly float down to the desk.
  78. >Then, you turn your gaze over to the feather you set aside.
  79. >That.
  80. >Single.
  81. >Pink.
  82. >Feather.
  83. >It's Cozy's gift to you—it was supposed to be your ace in the hole.
  84. >What the fuck are you meant to do with this?
  85. >Tickle the Crown Princess into submission?
  86. >No, that's not it. That's not it at all.
  87. >This feather. The envelope. Everything.
  88. >It was all just a joke—a cruel, practical joke played at your expense.
  89. >To dangle the slimmest glimmer of hope in front of you—and then yank it away right before the end.
  90. >How could you have ever even entertained the idea that Cozy would betray one of her closest friends?
  91. >You're a human, an alien—an outcast; there's not a pony on this planet that would earnestly side with the likes of you over their tight-knit friend group.
  92. >Damn it. You've been such a fool, strung along by delusions of grandeur and promises of vengeance.
  93. >Perhaps it's what you deserve for so-blindly trusting one of your tormentors.
  94. >After all, two days ago, Cozy watched you gutlessly grovel and debase yourself with a sadistic sneer upon her face.
  95. >And yesterday, she wormed her way into your good graces with sweet smiles, honeyed words and chocolatey gifts.
  96. >Of course she set you up to fail.
  97. >But it doesn't end there, for the punchline to this pitiless prank has yet to fully hit your parlour—Flurry Heart herself will be visiting your establishment later today for a massage.
  98. >This time, she'll be by her lonesome—but you have no doubt that she intends to torment you even further.
  99. >You'd love nothing more than to throw her out your front door the moment she enters your reception.
  100.  
  101. >Alas, you can't—for you still remember how she had openly threatened your livelihood when she last came here.
  102. >If you piss this princess off, she could very easily run you out of town—or worse.
  103. >Breathing out a deep sigh of resignation, you solemnly slump back against your chair.
  104. "I should really look into moving away from this shithole," you mutter to yourself.
  105. >Somewhere out in the countryside, there exists a quaint little village called Ponyville; despite it's equine-inspired name, it's known to warmly welcome curious creatures of many different kinds, providing fresh starts and ample opportunities to all those to seek them.
  106. >That's what a random brochure once told you, anyway.
  107. >Still, it does sound nice.
  108. >If you manage to cut back on your personal expenses and save up your meagre earnings, perhaps you can move out and ply your Handyman trade over there.
  109. >Some place where the grass is far greener;
  110. >Some place where the ponies are far friendlier;
  111. >Some place where the two-faced, backstabbing pegasi and prissy, bitchy alicorns stay far the fuck away.
  112. >…
  113. >Until then, you're just gonna have to grin and bear it—endure the humiliation.
  114. >You might as well make the most of what time you have left before Flurry comes over.
  115. >Maybe you can spend some time pacing around your reception in circles—you love doing that.
  116. >What time is she visiting your parlour, again?
  117. >Assuming Cozy wasn't lying to you—again—Flurry should be stopping by at noon.
  118. >What time is it right now?
  119. >A couple minutes until noon.
  120. >Hm.
  121. "…Fuck."
  122. >You don't have *nearly* enough time to get one of your properly paced panicked pacing procedures in.
  123. >What the hell are you gonna do now?
  124. "Uugh…" you groan out loud, massaging your temples.
  125. >It's at times like these that you need a little bit of moral support from the old reliable:
  126. >Your copy of "Embracing the Heart," lying on top of your reception desk—
  127. >And the—
  128. "Wait. What the fuck is this?"
  129. >You don't remember buying this book.
  130. >What's it even about?
  131. >Tentatively, you read out an excerpt:
  132. "'…perhaps the greatest love of all stems from that which you grant yourself. Your body may mislead you, while your mind may deceive you—but as long as you trust in your most earnest of emotions and continue to stay true to yourself: your heart shall never lead you astray.'"
  133. >You blink.
  134. "What?"
  135. >This…
  136. >This is some whackass self-help book.
  137. >How the shit did this waste of paper end up on your desk?
  138. >And for that matter—who wrote this drivel?
  139. >…
  140. >The author is someone named Jimmy Cart.
  141. >Sounds like a douchebag.
  142. >You promptly close the book and toss it in the trash, never to be opened again.
  143. >Then, you spare a glance towards that singular pink feather on your desk.
  144. "Fucking pink feather…"
  145. >Fucking Cozy Glow.
  146. >Fucking Jimmy Cart.
  147. >Fucking—
  148. >*Dinga-linga-ling*
  149. >Flurry Heart.
  150.  
  151. >Looking up from your desk, you glance towards the entrance.
  152. >An alicorn's at the door.
  153. >She's here.
  154. "Damn it…" you mumble to yourself.
  155. >There's no running from this, you suppose.
  156. >Might as well be professional about it.
  157. >You discreetly clear your throat and stand straight up.
  158. "Welcome back, Princess Flurry Heart."
  159. >You curtly bow before her.
  160. >She drags her bored blue eyes away from the nearest wall and sights you.
  161. >"Hm."
  162. >One of her ears makes a slight twitch as she makes eye contact with you—but she otherwise regards you with a callous indifference.
  163. >As you stare each other down, you note that she's still wearing her royal regalia from a couple of days ago:
  164. >Silver hoof shoes, a silver peytral adorned with a blue heart-shaped crystal, and a blue crystal crown atop her head.
  165. >You're not surprised that she's still wearing her showy attire; you doubt this pompous princess would ever skip a chance to show off her high status—especially to a low-born "pleb" like you.
  166. >A few seconds pass.
  167. >Flurry's disinterested gaze steadily drifts down your body as she sizes you up.
  168. >Her eyes suddenly widen.
  169. >"U-uhm…"
  170. >She bashfully looks to the side, cheeks faintly flushing and wings slightly shuffling.
  171. >You arch an eyebrow at her unexpected diffidence.
  172. "Huh?"
  173. >Trailing her previous line of sight, you look straight down:
  174. >You are completely naked.
  175. >And at full mast.
  176. "Oh shit—!"
  177. >You quickly slam your bare bottom back onto the cushioned seat of your crystal chair, hiding your whole hog from her view.
  178.  
  179. >This…this is awkward.
  180. >You must have been going commando this whole time!
  181. >How on God's green Equestria did you not notice?
  182. >Whatever, the "how" doesn't matter.
  183. >What *does* matter is you immediately rectifying this before a princess jails you in the dungeons for accidentally flashing her.
  184. "S-sorry, uh…"
  185. >You scratch the back of your head.
  186. "…w-wardrobe malfunction."
  187. >Flurry spares you a short glance before once again looking to the side.
  188. >"…Right."
  189. >She takes in a deep breath, and then lets it out as an indignant huff.
  190. >With renewed fire in her eyes, she clears her throat and addresses you:
  191. >"Anyway, I'm here for the massage."
  192. >Quickly lifting a hoof, she points over to your hallway.
  193. >"It's down that way, right?"
  194. "A-ah, yes." You nod. "That's right."
  195. >Lowering said hoof, she traipses past your desk.
  196. "I'll be with you in a moment," you call to her. "Just, um, gotta put my workwear on."
  197. >Stopping in place, she turns her head to make eye contact with you.
  198. >She opens her mouth, and her eyes flit down to your desk for a brief moment.
  199. >Just as soon as her eyes flit back up to your face, she closes her mouth and turns around, promptly heading down the hall without a word.
  200. >Strange.
  201. >After making a quick trip upstairs and into your bedroom, you get to work on reclaiming your modesty.
  202. >While you clothe yourself, you ruminate on something that has been bothering you:
  203. >Were her pupils always bright pink?
  204. >…
  205. >Eh, maybe it's a Princess of Love thing.
  206. >Once you fully garb yourself, you head back downstairs.
  207. >And with a deep, reticent sigh—you head down the hallway towards your parlour.
  208.  
  209. ***
  210.  
  211. >No matter how many times you travel down this tall, wide corridor—you never get tired of it.
  212. >The blue crystal flooring, which is polished to an immaculate sheen, echoes with each measured footstep you take.
  213. >The light-blue crystal walls, also meticulously polished, reach up to dizzyingly high heights.
  214. >Great purple banners hang from up high on these tall walls; they are embroidered with country crests of notable import.
  215. >The crystal ceiling at the very top is indented with polygonally shaped fixtures that shine out a bright white light, thus illuminating your path below.
  216. >The air around you is clean, fresh, and tingles your nostrils with the faint soothing scent of lavender.
  217. >You take in the various sights of this scenic hall as you proceed onwards:
  218. >Such as copious carved crystal busts that depict the polished heads of portentous ponies and celebrated creatures;
  219. >Large glass vases that hold exotic plants imported from all over Equestria;
  220. >And hung paintings that depict magnificent landscapes of many different kinds—ranging from verdant glades, to expansive deserts, to sparkling glaciers.
  221. >These illustrated vistas teem with bustling life; your crystalline reality, however, is far more tranquil.
  222. >The hallowed halls you walk through happen to be unusually quiet at this time of night.
  223. >It seems that everyone else must have gone to sleep already.
  224. >Outside of your own footsteps, the only sounds you can hear are the clippity clops of a pink pony princess walking by your right side.
  225. >Said pink pony princess suddenly trots on ahead of you.
  226. >"Come on," she speaks without sparing you a glance, "pick up the pace."
  227. >So demanding, but you're in no position to refuse.
  228. >Letting out a quiet sigh, you reply:
  229. "Okay."
  230. >And so you pick up the pace.
  231. >Soon enough, you both reach a set of large double doors at the far end of this corridor.
  232. >Each door is roughly twice as tall as you are, carved from sleek-looking wood that's been dyed a deep pink, and adorned with a decorative silver trim.
  233. >Your equine companion impatiently taps one of her forehooves against the floor as you calmly push the left door open.
  234. >The moment you open it wide enough, she immediately trots inside without looking back.
  235. >After a couple of seconds, you hear her let out a loud sigh in relief.
  236. >"Ah, finally…"
  237. >You take that as your cue to step into the room after her.
  238. >Once you step inside, the door swings shut behind you, and you hear the distinctive magical *click* of a princess ensuring her privacy remains undisturbed.
  239.  
  240. >The room you enter is a lavishly decorated one.
  241. >Much like the crystal corridor leading up to this place, the floor is made of brilliant blue stone.
  242. >The walls are lined with pink flowery wallpaper, coating this chamber with a plain yet coquettish charm.
  243. >All along these walls, you see ornate dressers, stacked shelves, gilded mirrors, embroidered banners, comfy chaises, a marble fireplace—and so much more.
  244. >On the right side of this room, two luxuriously curtained windows peaceably let in the serene rays of the deep blue night, thus illuminating this chamber's interior with the moon's pale light; these very same windows also offer a splendid view of the lamplit city down below.
  245. >Over by the left side of this room, you can see a personal study nestled away in the upper left corner; it consists of a cushioned stool and an intricately decorated crystal desk.
  246. >The desktop itself is a messy mixture of several half-opened books, a desk lamp, and a terrestrial globe depicting this world's geography.
  247. >A heart-patterned partition separates this study area from the rest of this courtly chamber, providing some much-needed privacy for a sedulous sort—it's not the kind of place a "pleb" like you is allowed to snoop around, at any rate.
  248. >Between the tranquilly quiet study on the left and the lightly billowing windows on the right, you notice this chamber's crown jewel standing in the centre and by the far wall:
  249. >It's a bright-pink, heart-shaped bed; a baldachin with translucent pink curtains hangs high above it, while a polished wooden bedside dresser stands by its right side.
  250. >Below this bed, an embroidered turquoise rug spreads out from underneath it, promising a plushy paradise towards any feet that touch upon it.
  251. >There's no doubt about it: this bed—and everything else within this extravagant chamber—can only belong to one who drinks deep from the wellspring of excessive wealth.
  252. >After all, this is Princess Flurry Heart's personal bedchamber.
  253. >And Flurry Heart herself is currently sitting on her haunches by the pointed foot of the bed, looking at you expectantly.
  254. >You note that she's still wearing her royal regalia—hoof shoes, peytral, and crown.
  255. >"Are you done gawking at my room?" she chides you.
  256. >You scratch the back of your head and let out an awkward chuckle.
  257. "I guess."
  258. >Rolling her eyes, she lifts her left foreleg off the rug, keeping her knee bent upwards.
  259. >"Come on, don't make me wait any longer."
  260.  
  261. >Wordlessly complying, you walk up to your princess and join her on the woolly bedside rug.
  262. >You then kneel down before her, resting on your right knee.
  263. >She dangles her left forehoof in front of you, and you take it up in both hands.
  264. >You can feel her light-blue eyes bore into you as you gently caress the silver shoe that covers her hoof; you note how her footwear is both cold and smooth to the touch.
  265. >Much like the rest of this mare, you'd wager that even a single one of her hoof shoes is worth far more than what you could ever earn in a lifetime.
  266. >However, you're not here to gawk at her fancy hoofwear—you're here to do your job.
  267. >With your left hand firmly holding her pastern and your right hand clasping her shoe, you carefully pull off her metal regalia; you feel some initial resistance, but it soon slides off without you needing to exert too much effort.
  268. >Flurry lets out a very gentle hum as you remove her shoe; she also idly twirls her naked hoof in the air, quietly relishing the silver weight that you've taken off her body.
  269. >You set the worn shoe down on your left.
  270. >After stretching out her bare hoof some more, she extends her leg towards you, bending her fetlock downwards.
  271. >Her sharp gaze relays a silent command:
  272. >'Kiss it.'
  273. >Letting out a light sigh, you move in and plant a quick peck upon the front of her forehoof.
  274. >"Hm~"
  275. >Her lips curl upwards, pleased by your compliance.
  276. >This is something you could never get away with saying to her face—but her hooves tend to stink a little bit due to being cramped up in her shoes all day.
  277. >Alas, all you can do is hold your tongue and wrinkle your nose.
  278. >Flurry lowers her left forehoof and raises her right one, her expectations crystal clear.
  279. >Thus, you remove the shoe on her right forehoof in much the same way, eliciting another contented hum from her; she once again twirls her hoof in the air, enjoying her newfound nudity.
  280. >Thankfully, she doesn't make you kiss that one.
  281. >You set the second shoe down next to the first, making a pair.
  282. >After lowering her right forehoof, she tetchily addresses you:
  283. >"Don't forget my back hooves."
  284. "Yeah, yeah…"
  285. >Mercifully, she's conscientious enough to turn herself around for you, saving you the trouble of needing to reposition yourself.
  286. >She presents her left side to you and lifts up her left hindleg.
  287. >And just like with her two forehooves, you soon have the shoe on her left hindhoof removed without any fuss.
  288. >This time, however instead of twirling her freed hoof, she lightly kicks out her hindleg behind her body, jittering it about in the air.
  289. >"Hah…" she happily sighs out.
  290. >You set her third shoe down behind the other two.
  291. >One more shoe to go.
  292. >Upon lowering her left hindleg, Flurry performs a one-eighty twirl, gracefully turning over in the other direction—
  293. >And accidentally flicking you on the nose with the tip of her swirly tail.
  294. "Ff…!" you lightly hiss through your teeth.
  295.  
  296. >You take a much-needed moment to give your slapped snozzer a brief rub.
  297. >Looking forward, you see Flurry shooting you a look of thinly veiled concern; you wave her off and promptly take up her right hindhoof in both hands.
  298. >…And with that, you successfully remove her fourth and final hoof shoe.
  299. >Luckily, none of them gave you any trouble this time around; they have been known to be quite stubborn.
  300. >While Flurry heartily sighs and shakes out her right hindleg, you set her silver shoe down with the rest, forming a full set of four.
  301. >You make sure that they're neatly arranged so that they correspond to the correct hoof—heaven forbid she puts them back on in the wrong order.
  302. >Anyway, that's all four hoof shoes removed. You can now consider your mission *partly* accomplished.
  303. >Lowering her right hindleg and turning back to you, Flurry sits down on her haunches, once again shooting you an expectant look.
  304. >You glance down at her silver breastplate, keenly aware of what she wants from you.
  305. "Okay, hold still," you say, gingerly resting your hands upon the sides of her peytral.
  306. >She huffs.
  307. >"I know."
  308. >Her silver peytral is just as cold and smooth as one of her hoof shoes.
  309. >Unlike her shoes, however, her barding is made up of more than just metal.
  310. >A light-blue, heart-shaped crystal is embedded into the front of her peytral; it's no Crystal Heart, but its size is nothing to be scoffed at—being about as large as your outstretched hand.
  311. >Impatiently frowning, Flurry snaps at you:
  312. >"Hey, hurry up and take this thing off of me."
  313. >You tactfully hide your displeasure at her bossy behaviour.
  314. "Don't worry, I got it."
  315. >Looping your hands around the back of her peytral, you quickly locate the clasp keeping it attached around her neck.
  316. >Carefully, you unlatch said clasp and remove her royal chestpiece, soon retrieving it with both of your hands.
  317. >"Phew…"
  318. >Breathing out an alleviated sigh, she cricks her now-unburdened neck to the left and then to the right.
  319. >"Such a relief to finally have that thing off…"
  320. >She casts you an appreciative smile.
  321. >You find yourself returning that smile—by instinct, if nothing else.
  322. >Setting the peytral down by your right side, you look back to Flurry.
  323. "Alright, um…"
  324. >With some trepidation, your gaze trails up to the top of her head.
  325. >A long, spiralling alicorn horn juts out of her forehead, while a shimmering crystal crown sits just behind it.
  326. >Flurry's regal crown is one that's made up of pure light-blue crystal; it bears a simple three-point shape, with the middle point being thicker and larger than the rest.
  327. >Owing to the nearby open windows, this shining symbol of her royal blood sparkles in the pale moonlight—which is a sight that always gives you chills.
  328. "Guess I'll…uh…"
  329. >You awkwardly trail off.
  330. >She lets out a soft titter, and lightly bows her head.
  331. >"Go on, then. I'm waiting."
  332.  
  333. >With a mute nod, you steadily reach out your hands, soon placing them around the sides of her high-class headwear.
  334. >You take a moment to steel yourself before tentatively lifting it up.
  335. >Despite essentially being a big chunk of reflective stone, her crown is surprisingly light.
  336. >However, it is not the physical act of removing her crown that weighs heavy upon you—but rather the metaphysical.
  337. >It feels as if you're taking away a part of her—and unearthing a mare that no-one else but you is allowed to see.
  338. >Suffice to say, this procedure never fails to send tingles running up and down your spine.
  339. >The two of you have come to share a somewhat unorthodox relationship, yet you don't think you'll ever get used to this strange feeling.
  340. >Also, Flurry has this unsettling habit of fixing upon you with this weirdly intense, half-lidded gaze as you undress her—in fact, she's doing it right now.
  341. >Those piercing blue eyes of hers are only amplified by the presence of her unnaturally pink pupils.
  342. >Putting it bluntly, the way she stares at you makes you uneasy—which is probably why she does it in the first place.
  343. >This whole song and dance of removing her regalia is something that she could very easily do on her lonesome—yet she always has you do it in her stead.
  344. >You can't help but wonder what runs through her mind whenever she watches you take away the last and most important part of her princessly apparel.
  345. >Wondering is all you can do, though, as you happen to understand mares just as much as you understand women—which is to say, not in the slightest.
  346. >In just a few moments more, you retrieve her crown and hold it close to your chest, cupping it with both of your hands.
  347. >Fully undressed, Flurry now sits before you a bare mare.
  348. >Her half-lidded eyes briefly flit down to the solid chunk of shining crystal that symbolises her royal status—they then quickly dart back up to your face, her silent smile broadening ever so slightly.
  349. >You awkwardly clear your throat.
  350. "It's, um, done."
  351. >She gives you a curt nod.
  352. >"Good."
  353. >Taking a few steps backwards, Flurry swivels around—thankfully missing you with her tail this time—and faces her bed.
  354. >She then clambers onto her bed, doing whatever it is that pink princesses do on their pink beds—such as making herself comfortable.
  355. >As for you, you still have a princess's priceless crystal crown in your hands.
  356. >If you drop it, it's going to be on your head—and not in a good way.
  357. >So you carefully stand up, carefully carry Flurry's crown over to the bedside dresser, and carefully set it down next to her diary.
  358. >Your eyes briefly linger on said diary.
  359. >You've always wondered about what she writes in that thing—but alas, it's magically sealed.
  360.  
  361. >After a quick trip back and forth, you retrieve Flurry's peytral and set it down next to her crown and diary.
  362. >Just before you turn to face the bed, your eyes catch sight of another familiar furnishing directly to the right of the bedside dresser; it's a free-standing mirror—one that's slightly taller than you are.
  363. >Gazing deep into that reflective pane, you decide to check yourself out:
  364. >Most of your body is currently covered up in a loosely fitting blue bathrobe; it's comfortable and easy to wear, but it does leave you feeling quite breezy sometimes—as your dress code mandates that you don little else but the finest full-body fineries.
  365. >In other words, you're basically naked under this thing.
  366. >It's not all bad, though; you're also allowed to wear socks, shoes, and boxers.
  367. >However, there also exists one more article of "clothing" upon your person—and this is one you've still yet to get fully used to.
  368. >Moving your eyes higher up your mirrored form, you soon sight the article in question:
  369. >That pink collar worn around your neck.
  370. >It never fails to give you butterflies each time you look at it.
  371. >It's not a magical collar or anything like that.
  372. >No, the purpose of this pink pleather strap is far simpler in practise—for it serves to remind both you and everybody else of your place.
  373. >And nothing exemplifies this function more than the small heart-shaped buckle at its front.
  374. >This pink metal buckle has a message engraved into it—one that couldn't be more poignant.
  375. >It says "Belongs to Flurry Heart."
  376. >Utterly humiliating, but entirely true.
  377. >You let out a solemn sigh as you look yourself in the mirror and reflect on the events that brought you up to this point:
  378. >You are Anonymous—the only human in Equestria.
  379. >Once upon a time, you ran your very own massage parlour within the Crystal Empire.
  380. >It wasn't a successful parlour by any means; potential clients were scarce, and they would often choose the services of a rival business over yours, but you still managed to make enough to get by.
  381. >Despite your prestigious status as an extradimensional alien, your life happened to be a peacefully underwhelming one.
  382. >There was always a part of you that yearned for greener pastures—but generally, you were content with how things were going.
  383. >But that peaceful placidity was promptly pilfered away from you when, one day, a certain trio of mares deigned to personally patronise your humble parlour; these mares were Princess Flurry Heart and her two chummy cohorts—and they were *far* from model clients.
  384. >To say these ponies were disrespectful towards your scrupulous self would be an understatement; they were unpleasant, uncouth, unsympathetic—and just plain rude.
  385. >And once you watched those three horsey harpies finally leave, you silently prayed that they would never visit your parlour again.
  386. >Unfortunately, just two days later, Flurry decided to visit your establishment once more.
  387.  
  388. >This time around, though, she came by just on her lonesome.
  389. >She was also surprisingly polite to you, treating both you and your parlour with a modicum more respect.
  390. >Make no mistake, she was still a bratty little princess who pompously demanded that you give her your absolute best when it came to massaging her pink pony body, but you also found yourself catching glimpses of a different side of her—a more affable aspect who almost appeared to be struggling with an inner conflict of some kind.
  391. >It was enough to make you let your guard down around her.
  392. >That was a grave miscalculation on your part, because it was right then and there that she hit you with the real reason she returned to your parlour.
  393. >She proudly declared her desire to own you—to bring everything that you are under her heel.
  394. >To accomplish this, she planned on selling your parlour—your home—giving you no other option but to become her property.
  395. >She would force you to live with her in her Crystal Castle, satisfying her every whim and want—no matter what it entailed.
  396. >Essentially, your rights as an Equestrian citizen would be forfeit to her.
  397. >You could've *attempted* to refuse, of course—but she quickly made it clear to you that nobody rejects royalty.
  398. >And as the Crown Princess of Love, Flurry believed that she was well within her rights to do anything she wanted and take whatever she pleased—including you.
  399. >The worst part was that you couldn't even do a damn thing to stop her; she was a magical pony princess with monarchic connections—you were an alien peasant with pretty much nothing to your name.
  400. >Thus, that was that; Flurry took everything from you—and next to no-one cared enough to contest her claim.
  401. >Soon enough, she had you brought over to her castle, and you began your new life as her one-of-a-kind alien slave.
  402. >That brings you over to the here and now.
  403. >Countless days have passed since then—and every single one of them has been spent in indentured servitude to your Crown Princess.
  404. >In that time, you have become many things to this mare:
  405. >Her live-in masseuse, her personal manservant, her exotic pet, her—
  406. >"Pleb."
  407.  
  408. >The utterance of that familiar epithet sends a sharp shiver up your spine.
  409. >You remember the first time she called you a pleb; it was during her initial visit to your parlour.
  410. >Back then, she spat the word out with pointed intent, wielding it like a knife to both stab at your pride and remind you of your lowly place.
  411. >Nowadays, she speaks that moniker with a much softer tone in her voice.
  412. >Incidentally, you've never heard her call anyone else a pleb, not even once.
  413. >It is a situational knife, it seems.
  414. >Wasting no more time, you turn away from the mirror and face Flurry, who is now lying belly-down across her bed; her head hovers just above one of the bed's heart-shaped pillows, and she gazes up at you with a familiarly haughty expectance.
  415. "Yes?"
  416. >She turns up her snout and shoots you a catty demand:
  417. >"Stop preening yourself and come join me."
  418. >You give her a brief bow of your head before steadily making your way over to the bed.
  419. >'Preening'—quite the deliberate choice of phrase, you imagine.
  420. >Once you are but a few paces from her bedside, Flurry leisurely lifts her right forehoof up into the air.
  421. >"Ah, stop."
  422. >You silently obey.
  423. >She calmly looks you over, thoughtfully twirling her raised forehoof as she does.
  424. >Her eyes linger on the tightly fitting belt of your blue bathrobe, and a subtle half-smile soon forms on her face.
  425. >Looking you dead in the eye, she flicks her fetlock downwards.
  426. >"Disrobe."
  427. >With a slight furrow of your brows, you comply, completely loosening the belt of your robe.
  428. >Your silken garment soon falls to the floor, exposing your bare chest, your bare legs—
  429. >And your skintight pink boxers, patterned with blue love hearts.
  430. >Flurry's narrowed gaze immediately laser focuses onto your filled-out fabric.
  431. >That half-smile of hers swells up into a sly smirk, while her tail lightly bats at the bed's duvet.
  432. >"Hm-hm-hm~"
  433.  
  434. >Her wings gently unfurl of their own accord, soon spreading out all over the bed.
  435. >Pulling her gaze away from the bulge in your boxers, Flurry cranes her neck to the side and throws a glance at her messily splayed plumage.
  436. >The disorderly sight before her eyes causes her to let out an almost-breathless sigh.
  437. >"Oh, my wings…"
  438. >Tilting her head back in your direction, her sharp eyes dart up to yours, while her smirk remains unchanging.
  439. >"Look what you've done, pleb…" she near whispers to you.
  440. >You merely roll your eyes in response.
  441. >She steals one more glance at your boxers before resting the left side of her head upon the pillow, keeping her eyes firmly trained on your face.
  442. >"You need to take responsibility for this," she chides you. "Come on up. My tense wings are in *dire* need of a massage."
  443. >You give her another affirmative bow of your head.
  444. >The cool night breeze coming in from the nearby windows feels quite chilly against your bare skin—but you shall grin and bear it for your princess.
  445. >Even if said princess is a bit of a pervert.
  446. >After kicking off your shoes and taking off your socks, you soon join Flurry on her bed.
  447. >Sitting up on your knees, you position yourself behind her right wing, ready to fulfil one of your many royal duties.
  448. >Taking up her feathery appendage with both hands, you slowly work your way through her pink pinions, preening her plumage as you've done many times before.
  449. >Her wing excitedly twitches within your steady hold, yet her body soon relaxes entirely, finding instinctive peace in your attentive touch.
  450. >"Mmgrh…" she contentedly murmurs into the pillow.
  451. >As you dutifully massage her right wing, you take some more time to ponder your past with this princess:
  452. >You have become many things to Flurry Heart—and in turn, she has become many things to you.
  453. >Chief among them, she's your spoilt brat of a slavemaster—one who vassalised you on a purely selfish whim.
  454. >Naturally, you resented her for that.
  455. >You wanted nothing more than to make her rue the day that she took control of your humble life.
  456.  
  457. "Gee, this feather's in *real* bad shape."
  458. >Your fingers trail around a particular pinion—a secondary.
  459. >Completely devoid of colour, the shaft of this poor plume is bent in more places than one—it looks more like a weather vane than a feather vane.
  460. >Needless to say, its time has long past.
  461. >Flurry lifts her head to look back at you.
  462. >"Hm…?"
  463. "What happened here?" you ask her, holding her wing up.
  464. >Her eyes flit to her crooked feather.
  465. >She physically winces at the state of it.
  466. >"Owie…"
  467. >What kind of pony says "owie" out loud?
  468. >Flurry Heart, apparently.
  469. >"It must have gotten like that from flight practise," she speaks up. "You know, when I scraped my wing against that tree?"
  470. "Flight practise, eh…?"
  471. >You purse your lips for a brief moment, then give her a sagely nod.
  472. "Oh yeah, I remember that."
  473. >Shooting her a wry smile, you pinch her damaged feather in between two fingers.
  474. "I *also* remember catching you right before you were about to crash into the dirt."
  475. >She furrows her brows at you, and you respond by promptly plucking her pinion.
  476. >"N-nn…" She flinches.
  477. >After setting her punished plumule down to the side, you toss her a cheeky quip:
  478. "You still haven't thanked me for that daring rescue of mine, by the way."
  479. >She scoffs, scrunching her snout at you.
  480. >"Hmph. Why would I ever need to thank *you,* pleb? It's *your* job to make sure I don't get hurt in the first place!"
  481. >With a huff, she turns away from you and rests her head on the pillow once more.
  482. >You hear her mumble something indistinct into the pink padding; you have a pretty good idea of what it is.
  483. >…
  484. >Seconds turn to minutes, and your work on Flurry's right wing soon turns to work on her left.
  485. >As your fingers continue to trail through your princess's pink plumage, your mind finds itself wandering yet again:
  486. >When Flurry first brought you to her Crystal Castle, she was the apple of your ire.
  487. >After all, she was the reason you lost everything—or, at least, she was the *second* reason.
  488. >First, it was that damned spontaneous portal—and now, it was her.
  489. >However, you knew that you could never hope to defy this mare outright—not when she held all the cards.
  490. >And so you decided to bide your time, waiting for that one opportune moment to take righteous revenge upon this recalcitrant royal.
  491. >While you weren't exactly sure what that moment *was,* you knew it would come eventually.
  492. >Outwardly, you played nice with her.
  493. >Inwardly, you cursed her name under your breath.
  494.  
  495. >Flurry made sure to take you everywhere she went:
  496. >To the open fields outside the city, where she would impel you into cheering her on during routine flight practise;
  497. >To the royal baths inside the castle, where she would have you wash her body and brush her mane;
  498. >To the dining hall, where the two of you would eat at the same table—which just so happened to be far, far away from everyone else's;
  499. >To her bedroom, where you would personally massage her aching body—applying much the same ministrations that you're applying right now.
  500. >As these days continued to pass you both by, she gradually began to share more and more of herself with you.
  501. >She would cry on your shoulder whenever she felt sad, and perform a happy little prance in front of you whenever she mastered a new spell.
  502. >All of this was only shown strictly while the two of you were alone, of course; during your time together, you've come to realise that Flurry hates showing weakness in front of her would-be subjects.
  503. >Strangely enough, she sees no issue in revealing any of these weaknesses to your discerning eyes.
  504. >You have a sneaking suspicion that you must register as some kind of harmless alien teddy bear in her mind—albeit a teddy bear who's charged with cleaning her bedroom and waking her up every morning.
  505. >In any case, Flurry steadily and willingly dropped her guard down around you, but instead of capitalising on this vulnerability like you had planned—you ended up dropping your guard down around her in turn.
  506. >You're…not exactly sure when it happened, but that spurious smile upon your face had at some point shifted into a genuine one.
  507. >This revelation shocked you at first, but the more you came to think on it—the more it started to make sense.
  508. >Despite your rocky beginnings, you had come to greatly appreciate your grandiose life within this luxurious Crystal Castle.
  509. >Here, every single one of your worldly needs are lavishly taken care of, and all you have to do is tend to the whims and wants of a bratty royal.
  510. >Said bratty royal isn't even that bad once you get to know her.
  511. >Sure, she puts on a cold front—even to you—but she's actually a total softie on the inside.
  512. >And in the end, you found yourself unwilling to risk your current comfy lifestyle over a fading grudge.
  513. >It was in that very moment that you came to realise something:
  514. >You just got yourself Stockholm Syndromed by a pink pony princess.
  515. >How embarrassing.
  516. >…But it also helps that her orderly expectations for you aren't *too* outlandish, all things considered.
  517. >Well, there was that one time she tried to make you kiss her butthole.
  518. >Neither of you talk about that any more.
  519.  
  520. >…
  521. "Alright, we're done here."
  522. >"Phew…"
  523. >Setting Flurry's left wing down on the duvet, you bring tonight's preening session to a close.
  524. >She steadily folds up both of her wings, lightly jittering them against her barrel while happily humming to herself:
  525. >"Hm~"
  526. >Turning your head to the side, you examine the pile of discarded feathers right next to your knelt form.
  527. >Actually, you doubt you could even call something like this a pile—for there are only a couple of plumes.
  528. "Hey," you speak up, "we only lost two feathers this time around."
  529. >Flurry spares you a curious glance.
  530. >You pick up both pinions and waggle them in the air.
  531. "Considering the little scrape you had with that big nasty tree—" You flash her a grin. "—that's not too bad."
  532. >Wrinkling her snout, she whips her head away from you.
  533. >"Hmph. Don't patronise me, pleb."
  534. >She lightly flicks your nose with the tip of her swirly tail; it doesn't hurt at all.
  535. >Chuckling to yourself, you shuffle off of the bed, two feathers in hand.
  536. >You walk over to the bedroom's trash can, which has been placed near the study area—naturally, the can is made of crystal.
  537. >After tossing both plumes into the trash—and resisting the urge to peep at your princess's private reading material—you make your way back over to the left side of the bed.
  538. >Your princess awaits you with sleepy eyes and tired limbs; she is now comfily tucked under the duvet.
  539. >With her left wing, she holds the duvet up for you—and with the other, she impatiently pats the spot right next to her.
  540. >You shoot her a sly smile.
  541. "Someone's eager."
  542. >She scowls at you.
  543. >"Shut up and get in bed with me, pleb."
  544. >Poking the hornet's nest has become a fine art for you, so you decide to hold your tongue for now.
  545. >You silently clamber into Flurry's pink heart-shaped bed—and she slowly lowers the velvety duvet onto you both.
  546. >Ah, comfort.
  547. >Never in your wildest dreams did you ever expect to be bunking with a princess in her own personal bedchambers.
  548. >By her own admission, she has you sleep with her in her bed for the convenience of having you close by—and just in case she gets any cuddly cravings late at night.
  549. >Apparently, it's a pony thing.
  550. >That being said, when Flurry first brought you to this castle, she had an entirely different set of living conditions in mind…
  551. "Hey, Flurry," you say, turning your head to face her, "do you remember when you said you'd keep me in your menagerie?"
  552. >She reflexively shudders.
  553. >"U-ugh, don't remind me…"
  554. >She turns away from you and stares up at the bed canopy; you do the same.
  555. >"Never saw Mom so angry before…" she mumbles to herself.
  556. >The "Mom" that she's referring to is her mother, obviously.
  557. >Princess Mi Amore Cadenza—Princess Cadance, for short—is one of the current co-rulers of the Crystal Empire.
  558. >She *also* happens to be a pretty pink alicorn princess, just like her daughter.
  559.  
  560. >Unlike her daughter, however, Cadance was the only pony out there who sympathised with your plight—and the only one with the stones to stand up to her spoiled spawn.
  561. >Thus, Princess Cadance was very quick to discover that Princess Flurry had kidnapped a sapient creature on a capricious whim.
  562. >She was just as quick to confront her daughter on the matter, and…well…
  563. >Mom was furious, to put it bluntly.
  564. >You may not have been the recipient of Cadance's scathing discipline, but the second-hand impact of witnessing such calamitous castigation shall most-assuredly stay with you for life—hell, you even found yourself feeling a little sorry for Flurry, despite everything she did to you.
  565. >For the sake of your own fragile sanity, you dare not recall those events directly, but there were a few choice words from Mother to Daughter that managed to stick out in your mind—something about the Crown Princess of Love "taking responsibility" for her thoughtless actions.
  566. >Anyway, by the end of it all, a thoroughly traumatised Flurry Heart had you sleeping exclusively in her bedroom from then on.
  567. >She still kept you as her slave, though—you suppose that's as "responsible" as it gets for her.
  568. >However, you're not gonna complain; this big bed has more than enough room for both a human and an alicorn.
  569. >Plus, you and Flurry are spread a respectable distance apart from each other—so there's no need for either of you to get into any compromisingly claustrophobic sleeping positions.
  570. >Currently, you rest your head upon the right pillow, while she rests hers upon the left.
  571. >And with your head still facing upwards, your eyes leisurely explore the translucent pink canopy curtains that hang from the crystal baldachin and drape over the bed's edges.
  572. >This flowing fabric is bejewelled with small blue crystals; these crystals gently glimmer in the moonlit ambience of your princess's bedchamber, evoking the tranquil imagery of a pink starlit sky.
  573. >It's beautiful.
  574. >You look back to Flurry, whose body is about one metre away from yours.
  575. >Then, you gaze upon the cream-coloured tassels that adorn the canopy's swags.
  576. >Those decorative ornaments hang high up on the canopy, floating far above your reach.
  577. >They sure do look pretty—but other than that, you have no idea what else to make of them.
  578. >You look back to Flurry, whose body is a couple of feet away from yours.
  579. >Then, you set your sights up to the very top of the baldachin—or rather, its underside.
  580. >The bedrock of this whole wavy weave is carved from solid purple crystal, serving as a faultless foundation to support the satiny summation.
  581. >In a way, this baldachin's crystal apex reminds you of an orchid crown—one that watches over its stony subjects and silky citizens.
  582. >You look back to Flurry, whose face is several inches away from yours.
  583. >Then, you—
  584. >…
  585. "If you want something, just say it," you address the very proximate princess.
  586.  
  587. >Flurry's snout wrinkles.
  588. >"Mggrng…" she mumbles indistinctly.
  589. >Your brows knit.
  590. "What?"
  591. >Her own brows furrow.
  592. >"Need…kshng shmshm…"
  593. "I have no idea what you're saying."
  594. >You hear her click her tongue in irritation.
  595. >Finally, she's able to grumble out something you can parse:
  596. >"I need kissing practise."
  597. >You let her words linger in the air for a second.
  598. >Then, you arch a concerned eyebrow.
  599. "Again?"
  600. >"Yes."
  601. "Um."
  602. >She's giving you such an intense stare right now.
  603. "Okay."
  604. >It's not like you're allowed to say no to her.
  605. >Still…
  606. "…but don't you think you should be doing this kind of thing with your special somepony?"
  607. >"I don't have one, genius."
  608. >She's got you there.
  609. >"But one day, I'm going to take a prince of my own. And when I do, I need to make sure I'm fully experienced in the ways of being lovey-dovey—I refuse to humiliate myself as a Princess of Love."
  610. >It takes a lot of willpower to not laugh when she utters the term "lovey-dovey" with such complete seriousness.
  611. >She shuffles a little closer to you, tense expression partially softening.
  612. >"Look, we've gone over this several times before: we're just practising—don't make it weird, pleb."
  613. >You roll your eyes.
  614. "Sure, sure…"
  615. >While it's true that you've queried this mare on the matter many times over, you do so in the hopes of coaxing a more-earnest rationale from her plush pony lips.
  616. >Alas, she remains as aloof as always.
  617. >"Okay, here goes."
  618. >Closing her eyes, Flurry slowly leans in and presses her lightly puckered lips against yours.
  619. >After a brief moment of hesitation, she tentatively sucks on your mouth, peppering your lips with soft, wet pecks.
  620. >*Chu*
  621. >You feel her curled-up forelegs nestle themselves between your chest and hers; they occasionally twitch in place, perhaps wishing to do more than simply lay flat against the bedsheets.
  622. >*Chu*
  623. >With each kiss, she lightly sniffs at your nostrils, subtly inviting you to share sweet breath with her.
  624. >You do.
  625. >She smells good, sugary and soothing.
  626. >*Chu*
  627. >For all of her pompous brashness, Flurry's lip-to-lip contact is remarkably restrained; she refuses to go any further than light smooching and breath sharing.
  628. >*Chu*
  629. >Perhaps she's content enough leaving it at that.
  630. >*Chu*
  631. >Or perhaps she's waiting for you to…
  632. >*Chu*
  633. >"Hey, pleb…" she breathily whispers to you between kisses.
  634. >*Chu*
  635. >"…kiss me back…"
  636. >*Chu*
  637. >"…don't make me…"
  638. >*Chu*
  639. >"…don't make me do all of the work…"
  640. >*Chu* *Chu*
  641. >There's your cue.
  642. >If this princess wants a kiss—then you'll give her a kiss.
  643.  
  644. >Snaking your right hand around her back and resting it behind her head, you gently pull her into a smooch of your very own.
  645. >She lets out a shakily sharp inhale through her nose, but quickly relaxes, letting you handle her as you please.
  646. >With you now setting the tempo, the two of you softly smash lips together as you run your right hand through her smooth, silky mane.
  647. >She both feels and tastes divine.
  648. >But soon enough, you reach the point where mere smooches can no longer sate your swelling appetite.
  649. >You part your lips and prod at her mouth with your tongue—she lets you in with no fuss.
  650. >Your tongues swiftly intertwine, swapping spit and sharing taste.
  651. >"Mm~"
  652. >Her horsey tongue wetly wrestles with your human one in a prideful ploy for interspecies dominance; her muscle easily outmatches yours in the moment, so you bide your time while putting up some token resistance.
  653. >Her soft snout continues to quietly sniff at your nostrils, genially breathing in your scent while granting you hers.
  654. >Her left foreleg, having long-grown tired of laying limp, furtively loops around your back and carefully caresses you from behind.
  655. >You've come to realise something about Princess Flurry Heart: she bears an abrasively sour exterior—but on the inside, she's the sweetest mare you've ever known.
  656. >Literally so, in fact—she tastes like treacle and smells like sugar.
  657. >Her coat feels like fine floss, while her hums are heartily harmonic.
  658. >Bratty personality aside, this alicorn really does seem to be quite the heavenly being.
  659. >It's still a little hard to believe that you have the chance to enjoy her so mouthily—even if this is all under the guise of "practising."
  660. >But you'll take it; you'll happily take every part of her—the good with the bad.
  661. >These saliva-laden seconds drag on as you continue to throatily make out with your princess, with neither of you willing to fully yield to the other.
  662. >Her equine tongue may be stronger and longer than yours, but you have her soundly beat when it comes to smoochy stamina.
  663. >Thus, Flurry's tender tongue soon tires out in the midst of this moist muscle tussle—causing her to cede total control of her mouth to you.
  664. >You quickly capitalise on this delectable opening, lovingly lapping all around her marely maw and rolling your tongue across her tuckered taste buds.
  665. >"M-mmph…"
  666. >Shakily huffing into your mouth, Flurry's whole body shudders as her left forehoof fidgets against your back—yet she makes no attempt to stop your oral advantage.
  667. >In this moment, she submits to you completely.
  668. >And over the next few minutes, you slowly savour the sweet subservience of your princess's mouth, licking wherever you please and drawing out her capitulated moans.
  669. >But at some point, you decide that you've had enough, and you steadily break away from your kiss, moving your hand away from the back of her head as you do.
  670.  
  671. >Flurry's lips longingly follow after yours as you leave—but she quickly stops herself, pulling away from your mouth with a fierce blush on her cheeks.
  672. >With a cute pout upon her face, she jerks her head away from you, promptly snapping the string of saliva that had very briefly connected your mouths.
  673. >You notice one of her ears rapidly flicking.
  674. >"N-no…no fair, pleb… You're…you're way too good at kissing…"
  675. >She chides you with her words, yet you can still feel her left forehoof needily pawing at your back.
  676. "Hey, you asked for it."
  677. >You shoot her a gaily grin; she snaps back with a sidelong scowl.
  678. >"Tch…"
  679. >She turns back to face you, and you can see newfound determination blazing within those pink pupils of hers.
  680. >"One day, I'm going to beat you at kissing."
  681. >You blink, momentarily dumbfounded.
  682. "Whoa now, kissing isn't a competi—"
  683. >"I'm going to destroy you."
  684. >You promptly shut up.
  685. >"I'm going to utterly defeat you at your own game," she continues. "And when that finally happens, that's when I'll…"
  686. >She trails off, fierce expression softening into gentle uncertainty.
  687. >You arch an intrigued eyebrow.
  688. "…You'll what?"
  689. >She doesn't answer you.
  690. >Instead, she silently retrieves her hoof from your back, and trails her gaze away from your face.
  691. >She then shuffles back over to the other pillow, creating some distance between you both.
  692. >Flipping onto her left side, she turns her back to you.
  693. >…Ah, she's pulling the old "I don't wanna talk about it 'cause I'm so dang tired" tactic.
  694. >Classic.
  695. >"Don't forget," she eventually speaks up, not sparing you a glance, "we have magic practise tomorrow morning."
  696. >Magic practise, pah.
  697. >You're a human; you can't cast any spells.
  698. >That's not gonna stop her from bringing you wherever she goes, though.
  699. "Gotcha."
  700. >You cast her a confident grin, even if she cannot see it.
  701. "I'll make sure to wake you up nice and early then."
  702. >She huffs, lifting her head to shoot you a piercing glare.
  703. >"Hmph, I don't think so, pleb. I'll definitely be the one waking *you* up."
  704. >Her face twists into a snide smirk.
  705. >"After all, I'm sure we both remember the time that I had to cast *three* different alarum spells on our resident deep sleeper."
  706. >Your face falls into a frown.
  707. "Hey, that was just the one time…"
  708. >Contrary to her claims, Flurry is easily the heavier sleeper between the two of you.
  709. >And as her pet pleb, you're expected to wake up before her and help her get ready for the day to come.
  710. >You always endeavour to carry out your duties as best you can.
  711. >Because if you don't—she'll never let you forget it.
  712. "Well, whatever."
  713. >You turn onto your other side and yawn.
  714. "Good night."
  715. >A couple of silent seconds pass.
  716. >"Mgr-ghr…" you hear her mumble.
  717. >Good enough.
  718. >Your princess's queen-size bed is *royally* comfy.
  719. >Sandwiched between a wondrously warm duvet and a luxuriously malleable mattress, it doesn't take much longer until you drift off into dreamland.
  720.  
  721. >…
  722. >"Mmph…mmph…"
  723. >Well, you woke up earlier than expected—a *lot* earlier than expected.
  724. >Actually, you doubt that you even slept an hour, considering your current situation.
  725. >"Mm…mmph…"
  726. >You're still in bed, and it's still nighttime.
  727. >Your princess is close—very close.
  728. >"Nng…mm…"
  729. >You're now lying on your back, while Flurry is huddled up against your left side, eyes clenched shut.
  730. >Her soft snout is buried into your neck.
  731. >Her clammy feeling thighs are clamped around your left leg.
  732. >And she's making all sorts of sounds—as well as all sorts of sniffs.
  733. >*Sniff sniff*
  734. >"Nng…h-hah…"
  735. >You happen to be the dumbest human in Equestria.
  736. >But even then—you still have a pretty good idea as to what she's doing right now.
  737. >This is no mere sleepy snuggle session.
  738. >How brazen of her.
  739. >"O-oh…mm…"
  740. >Then again, maybe it's because you're also the sexiest human in Equestria.
  741. >*Sniff sniff*
  742. >"Ahn…mmph…!"
  743. >You can feel some subtle sliding movements—and some not-so-subtle secretions—coming from her clenching thighs.
  744. >It's clear that your scent is serving to be an excellent "stimulant" for her, which is a little flattering—and only slightly weird.
  745. >You only foresee one problem:
  746. >How are you gonna sleep with a pony humping your leg?
  747. >Not just that, but she's also sniffing your neck.
  748. >And nuzzling it.
  749. >And licking—
  750. "Wh-whoa!"
  751. >Her eyes shoot wide open.
  752. >"E-eep!"
  753. >She yanks her whole body away from yours, promptly detaching from your neck and detangling from your leg.
  754. >Her startled gaze flits up from your neck to your face, and the two of you make awkward eye contact.
  755. >"Um."
  756. >Several seconds pass.
  757. >You don't say a word.
  758. >Mainly because you're a little too groggy to talk right now.
  759. >But also because you think it's fun to silently tease her.
  760. >"I-I wasn't doing anything."
  761. >You stare at her.
  762. >"You were warm. That's why I was so close to your body."
  763. >You blink at her.
  764. >"I was just moving around in my sleep. Don't get the wrong idea."
  765. "You were using my leg to masturbate," you state, nonplussed.
  766. >She blinks at you.
  767. >"Wh…th-that…uh…"
  768. >Eyes flitting all over the place, she stutters and stumbles over her own words, trying so-desperately to formulate a snappy response.
  769. >You then see that long spiralling horn of hers slowly light up, enveloping itself within a light-yellow glow.
  770. >Her wavering eyes focus on you.
  771. >"S-sleep…" she whispers.
  772. "No."
  773. >You firmly grasp the base of her horn with your right hand before she can react.
  774. >"Ow!" she yelps, magic quickly dissipating.
  775. >Your sudden act of defiance takes a few moments to register in your princess's addled mind.
  776. >"Y-you just…"
  777. >She shoots you a shakily indignant glare.
  778. >"H-how dare you!"
  779. >She jerks her head to and fro, trying to break free of your anti-magic grip.
  780. >It doesn't work.
  781. >"L-let go of my horn right now!"
  782. "I don't think so."
  783. >You're a man who prefers to fall asleep on your own terms.
  784.  
  785. >"I'm your princess!" she snaps. "You can't just grab my horn like this—o-or at all!"
  786. "Just did."
  787. >She growls.
  788. >"If you don't release my horn right now—I'll make sure you regret it! I'll have you fired! I'll have you thrown in the dungeons!"
  789. >Empty threats. You and her both know that she'll never fire you.
  790. >And unless she plans on living in the dungeons with you—but you doubt she'll do that, either.
  791. >You thus flash her a sleepily confident smile.
  792. >"Tch…"
  793. >She slowly ceases her struggles, and the two of you hold tense eye contact.
  794. >You'll never get used to the sight of her pink pupils.
  795. >They have an almost magnetic allure to them—even while they're currently boring a hole right into you.
  796. >"You know," she speaks up, "you're gonna have to let go of my horn eventually."
  797. >Furrowing your brows, you quickly realise you didn't think that far ahead.
  798. "…Maybe."
  799. >"The sooner you let go, the better this will end for you."
  800. >She has you backed into a corner.
  801. >Well played, horny horse, well played.
  802. "Let's say I free your horn right now—what do you plan on doing?"
  803. >"None of your business, pleb."
  804. "Guess I can wait, then."
  805. >"Hmph."
  806. >You handily hold your ground, as does she haughtily hold hers.
  807. >Stubborn seconds soon strain into mulish minutes.
  808. >Occasionally, you flex your fingers around her horn to keep your grip in check—an action that never fails to coerce a light shiver and hiss from her.
  809. >If she were daring enough, she could probably throw a swift jab at you with one of her hooves to try and pry you off her cranial keratin.
  810. >However, such bellicosity runs the risk of you accidentally damaging her horn in the process.
  811. >At any rate, you imagine that's the reason why she has resigned herself to simply glare you in the face.
  812. >On the bright side, your princess has a cute glare, and it's one that's also backed by a not-as-cute-but-still-pretty-cute scowl.
  813. >Blue irises, pink pupils.
  814. >Very frowny face.
  815. >All adorable.
  816. >You find it a little weird that you're remarking on how cute she is while you hold her horn hostage.
  817. >Doesn't make it any less true, though.
  818. >Or cute.
  819. >"Ugh," she groans out, "this is so stupid."
  820. "I agree."
  821. >"Then let go of me already!"
  822. "Can't. You'll zap me."
  823. >"I won't."
  824. "You will."
  825. >"Because you deserve it."
  826. >You blink.
  827. >"I-I mean, I won't."
  828.  
  829. >Stuck at a clear impasse, you take the opportunity to contemplate your strange relationship with the pink pony known as Flurry Heart.
  830. >Sure, she humiliated you. Sure, she kidnapped you. Sure, she enslaved you. Sure, she really wants to zap your ass right at this very moment.
  831. >She's a total bitch, an obnoxious brat, and to top it all off—she's kind of an idiot.
  832. >But despite it all, you've actually become quite fond of this mare.
  833. >You're still trying to figure out why that is.
  834. >Maybe it's due to her earnest displays of girlish glee whenever she succeeds at something in front of you.
  835. >Or maybe it's due to the surprising amount of empathy that she can show you at the worst of times.
  836. >The fact that you now live in a luxurious crystal castle doesn't hurt, either.
  837. >In any case, you've found that you're not in any kind of rush to return to your old life—nor the one before it.
  838. >"Uuugh…"
  839. >Flurry heaves out an irritated huff.
  840. >"Look, if we waste any more time on this, neither of us are gonna get nearly enough sleep for tomorrow."
  841. "True."
  842. >"How about this: you let go of my horn, and we can both just…get some shuteye, okay?"
  843. >Your eyes narrow.
  844. "I don't like that pause."
  845. >"I…"
  846. >Her eyes briefly flit to the side, and then back to you.
  847. >"…I still need to finish up, then I'll head to sleep."
  848. >You lift a doubtful eyebrow.
  849. "Using my leg?"
  850. >She clicks her tongue in annoyance.
  851. >"No, I'm going to use my magic, pleb. That's how I've always—ugh…why am I even talking to you about this…"
  852. >As she grumbles to herself, you ponder to yourself:
  853. >Best case scenario: you let go of her horn, she *doesn't* zap your bitch ass, and then she magically schlicks herself silly—mewling and moaning into the night.
  854. >Sounds saucy.
  855. >It also sounds like something that you're not gonna be able to sleep through.
  856. >Plus, it's like Flurry said: the two of you will have to be up and at 'em early tomorrow morning so she can catch magic practise.
  857. >Thus, her sexual frustration is your servile obligation—and it's in *both* of your best interests to bring this libidinous drama to a close as soon as possible.
  858. >Yeah, that makes sense, right?
  859. >Right.
  860.  
  861. "Hey, Flurry," you speak up, "why don't I help you out?"
  862. >She eyes you with silent confusion, and so you continue:
  863. "That way, we'll both get to sleep faster."
  864. >She scoffs.
  865. >"Help me? And how on Equestria do you plan on doing *that,* pleb? You can't use magic."
  866. >You answer her incredibly obvious question by gently rapping your fingers against her horn.
  867. >"Ah…!" she lightly gasps.
  868. >She shivers, nearly going cross-eyed as she attempts to focus her gaze on your horn-grabbing digits.
  869. >"O-oh…"
  870. >Her pink pupils dilate, and you can see the gears steadily turn in her head.
  871. >You let those gears perform a few rotations.
  872. "So," you speak up, "do we have a deal?"
  873. >Her awestruck eyes slowly trail down to your face.
  874. >She blinks, face falling into a diffident expression.
  875. >"…Fine."
  876. >Before you can say anything else, she very quickly adds:
  877. >"Pleb."
  878. >You roll your eyes, before tentatively loosening your grip around her magical implement.
  879. "Okay, here's how this is going to work: I'm going to let go of your horn—and *you* are going to lie on your back so I can start flicking your bean."
  880. >She wrinkles her snout at your crass commentary.
  881. "We clear?"
  882. >"Hmph. Don't order me around, pleb."
  883. "I'll take that as a yes."
  884. >You finally let go of her horn.
  885. >Tensing up, you mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that she'll just jolt you anyway.
  886. >…
  887. >Thankfully, she decides to keep her horn metaphorically holstered.
  888. >With another marely huff, Flurry turns onto her back and shoots you an expectant glare.
  889. >"Don't make me wait."
  890. "Yeah, yeah…" you say, sidling a bit closer to her.
  891. >The two of you are close enough that you are currently sharing the same heart-shaped pillow.
  892. >Propping yourself up with your left elbow, you take stock of your situation:
  893. >From the chest down, both you and Flurry are comfily covered up by the pink plush duvet.
  894. >Now, you *could* throw it up to more easily locate your "objective," but you aren't particularly keen on the idea of exposing your bare body to the chilly night air—and you doubt Flurry is, either.
  895. >Which means you're gonna have to feel things out.
  896.  
  897. >Starting off, you gently place your right hand upon her fluffy chest, feeling how her moderately sized tuft is both velvety smooth and pleasantly warm to the touch.
  898. >Then, you thoughtfully trail your fingers down her soft coat; Flurry's sternly attentive gaze remains trained on your face the entire time.
  899. >You soon reach her slender belly—and her sensitive navel.
  900. >As you travel over it, one of your fingers ends up dipping into her bellybutton.
  901. >"Nn…" She shivers.
  902. >Flurry shoots you a look of scrunched irritation; you choose to ignore it.
  903. >Descending ever deeper, you reach the part of her body where pink coat turns to bare flesh.
  904. >This is it.
  905. >Slipping two fingers into that supple crevice, you roll your digits around the entrance.
  906. >A few rubs here, a few strokes there—and you quickly have her subtly and silently squirming under your titillatory touch.
  907. >It's cute, but you were hoping to draw out a more intense reaction from her—still, you'll take what you can get.
  908. >Her hole is pleasantly plush, yet surprisingly dry.
  909. >And…hm…
  910. >You can't seem to find the clit.
  911. >Maybe it hasn't come out yet?
  912. >Probably.
  913. >Perhaps some pillow talk will help steam things up.
  914. "So, Flurry…"
  915. >You grin at her faintly flushed face:
  916. "…bet I'm getting you really riled up, eh?"
  917. >Damn. You almost made *yourself* wet with that one.
  918. >Flurry, on the other hand, is not amused.
  919. >"Pleb."
  920. >Her piercing stare cuts straight through your buttery confidence.
  921. >"Those are my teats."
  922. >You blink.
  923. "Uh."
  924. >You tentatively feel around some more.
  925. >…That's no crevice—that's a canyon.
  926. >And those aren't puffy lips—they're modest mounds.
  927. >Feeling an awkward blush grow upon your own cheeks, you hastily clear your throat.
  928. "Oh, uh, yeah. I knew that."
  929. >She gently huffs to the side.
  930. >"Dummy…"
  931. >It was an honest mistake.
  932. >Still, if you *are* a dummy—and, to be honest, you kind of are—then at least you're in good company.
  933. >After that embarrassingly bumpy detour, you resume your downwards journey towards the promised land.
  934. >And soon enough, you reach Flurry's flower—for real, this time.
  935. >"H-hah…" she lightly gasps.
  936. >Those puffy outer lips of hers are slick with both welcoming warmth and residual wetness.
  937. >Trailing your digits in and around her labia, you finger her highly sensitive folds, eager to coax out your princess's precious pleasure.
  938. >Your efforts quickly bear breathy fruit, as you hear Flurry let out cute little moans and marely whickers in response to your explorative touch.
  939. >"Hff…hff…"
  940. >You can feel her love canal slimily suckle at your fingertips, leaving them absolutely lathered in her lubrication.
  941. >Dry or wet, you finger her all the same.
  942.  
  943. >And in just a few more strokes and rubs, you have your pony princess promptly turned to pleasured putty at your touch.
  944. >Her eyes steadily flicker shut, while her huffy nostrils excitedly flare in and out.
  945. >Now *this* is the kind of reaction you were hoping for.
  946. >Of course, you don't intend to deny your princess even for a second.
  947. >Wishing to kick things up a notch, you take your fingers up to the very top of her moist marehood—where her winking button awaits.
  948. >Seizing the opportunity, you pinch that fleshy nub of hers in between your index and thumb.
  949. >"A-ah—!"
  950. >You pinch—and then you squeeze.
  951. >"Nnf…! Mmf…!"
  952. >Her body convulses with pure primal delight, while her hips frantically hump at your hand.
  953. >Even through the thickness of the royal duvet, your nose still picks up on the cloyingly sweet scent of her arousal.
  954. >Perhaps the pheromones of your princess are what guide your hand, instructing you to tenderly tweak and thoughtfully rub at her throbbing horse clit.
  955. >Or perhaps you are merely following your own base instincts, delighting in the simple satisfaction that comes from seeing the mare in front of you writhe in bodily glee.
  956. >Either way, Flurry's huffy snorts and snorty huffs pick up in frequency, until…eventually…
  957. >"Ah~!"
  958. >The climactic curtain falls.
  959. >With a high-pitched yelp and a mareish whinny, Flurry's floodgates swing open with furious fervour as she utterly drenches your hand in her sweet squelchy secretions.
  960. >Her steamy squirts splatter against your hovering palm and splash around your lingering fingers, leaving them absolutely drenched.
  961. >"Hah… Hah…"
  962. >Once Flurry's creamy convulsions calm down, you move your right hand away from her snatch and bring it up to your face.
  963. >You gaze at your digits, which have indubitably been doused in musky marecum.
  964. "Hm."
  965. >And you soon reach a delectable decision.
  966. >Flurry opens her eyes just in time to see you lap up her fluids from your fingers.
  967. >Her eyes widen.
  968. >"Wh-wha…?"
  969. >Her royal ambrosia is goopily viscous, taking its sweet time to slowly slide down your gullet.
  970. >The taste of her juices is a curious cross between sweet candy floss and sour mare piss.
  971. >It's…eye-wateringly potent; that acrid blend threatens to make your stomach churn—but you suppose that's what you get for so-readily downing a princess's squash soup.
  972.  
  973. >Coughing away any gaggish impulses, you look to Flurry—who's now looking away from you with pursed lips and a fierce flush upon her face.
  974. "Safe to say I've fulfilled my end of the bargain, eh?" you say with a smile.
  975. >Her eyes briefly flit to you and back, but she otherwise doesn't respond.
  976. "I'll take that as *another* yes."
  977. >You turn away from her and lie on your right side, covertly wiping off your stained hand against the bedsheets at your front.
  978. "G'nite."
  979. >Ah, bedtime.
  980. >It took a little finessing from your fingers, but these sweet royal comforts shall soon be yours to enjoy once more.
  981. >"H-hey."
  982. >The sour-sweet taste of her squash still lingers on your tongue.
  983. >You imagine that your dreams tonight are going to be particularly lurid as a result.
  984. >"Pleb."
  985. >The mare behind you hasn't moved from her position; she's still right behind you.
  986. >You can also feel her eyes bore into the back of your skull.
  987. >"We're not done here."
  988. >Your ears pick up on what she's saying, yet your body is tired.
  989. >Plus, your mind knows far better than to overindulge this princess, lest she develop an insatiable appetite for your tender touch—and perhaps even more than that.
  990. >"Pleb."
  991. >Clearly, the correct course of action here is to simply ignore her until she gives up and returns to her own slumber.
  992. >"Pleb."
  993. >Yeah, that's right. Just ignore her and—
  994. >"PLEB!"
  995. >A bolt of red-hot energy strikes you from behind, jolting your bones and searing your skin.
  996. "G-GAH!"
  997. >The sheer sizzling shock forces your spine to arch forwards.
  998. >You grit your teeth in wincing pain.
  999. >She—
  1000. >She actually fucking zapped you. Jesus Christ!
  1001. >You are *definitely* going to feel that one in the morning.
  1002. >Using your left hand, you gingerly feel around your back to assess the scorch zone.
  1003. >It stings.
  1004. "Tss…!" you hiss through your teeth.
  1005. >"Listen to me when I'm talking to you, pleb," a voice spits at you from behind.
  1006. >You let out an annoyed growl.
  1007. "F-fuck, fine!"
  1008. >Looks like ignoring her won't work after all. Oh well.
  1009. >Reluctantly, you turn over to your left side and face your princess once more.
  1010. "What do you want?" you ask with a frown.
  1011. >"We're not done here," she answers with an indignant scowl.
  1012. "Yeah, I gathered that."
  1013. >Sighing out loud, you lift up your right hand and flex your digits about in the air.
  1014. >The waggling of your wigglers catches her attention for a brief moment—but her furrowed gaze quickly shifts back to your face.
  1015. "Look, I know you love these fingers but—"
  1016. >"No," she interrupts you, "not your fingers."
  1017. "Then what?"
  1018. >Her scowl slightly softens, and her eyes—filled with fervent fire—flit down to the duvet that covers you both.
  1019. >She focuses on your covered crotch.
  1020. >"Show me your penis."
  1021.  
  1022. >Blinking at her, you slowly take in the worldly weight of her wanton words:
  1023. >You've just jilled her off, and now she wants to see your weird alien wing-wang.
  1024. >Your mind is positively racing in regards to this pony princess's possibly perverted plans.
  1025. >Then again, this wouldn't be the first time that you whip your dick out in front of her.
  1026. >For starters, there was that time you accidentally flashed her when she visited your parlour for her second massage—you're still a little embarrassed over that one.
  1027. >But during your time together, you've come to learn that Flurry is a naturally curious mare; she's instructed you to drop your pants before her eyes on more than one occasion, and as her pet—you've had no choice but to obey.
  1028. >However, she's never taken things further than that, content enough to simply stare and giggle at your flaccid length with a most-innocent intrigue sparkling in her eyes.
  1029. >You didn't think much of it back then—but considering your current situation, you wonder if she intends to cross a barrier that can't ever be uncrossed.
  1030. >Or maybe she just wants a piece of meaty eye-candy while she—
  1031. >"Pleb," Flurry interrupts your thoughts, voice dripping with incensed impatience, "stop wasting time and show me your penis already—or else I'll zap you again."
  1032. >Rolling your eyes, you grumble:
  1033. "Whatever…"
  1034. >Pondering your pecker's purpose isn't going to do you much good while you're under threat of electrocution.
  1035. >You roll onto your back, letting out a harsh hiss as your still-sizzling scorch mark makes contact with the plush mattress.
  1036. >Then, you slowly lift up the duvet—
  1037. >"Wait."
  1038. >You look at Flurry's tetchy expression; it softens a little more as you make eye contact with her.
  1039. >"Let me cast something first. Hold still."
  1040. >Her horn lights up.
  1041. >You then feel something pleasantly cool caress the stinging burn on your back.
  1042. >It soothes your screaming nerves, like a spread of ethereal ointment.
  1043. >And thanks to that ministrant magic, the stinging soon stops.
  1044. >"There."
  1045. >Her magical aura fades.
  1046. >"Does that feel better?"
  1047. >Her expression is strictly stern, yet you can see her eyes slightly shimmer.
  1048. >You look away, not wanting to peer too deep—for you worry that you might lose yourself in fogged thoughts.
  1049. "…I guess."
  1050. >"Good."
  1051. >An awkward second passes.
  1052. >Then, she continues:
  1053. >"Next time, don't ignore me."
  1054. >You sigh, rolling your eyes.
  1055. "…Noted."
  1056. >Challenging her any further on the matter is a futile endeavour.
  1057. >One way or another, your princess will have what she desires.
  1058. >Might as well suck it up—
  1059. >And show her your penis.
  1060.  
  1061. >You once again lift up the duvet with both hands; this time, however, you hold it all the way up, forming a arched cavern of cloth that reveals your whole body from the chest down.
  1062. >Flurry huddles closer to you, staring down at your groin with wide eyes.
  1063. >Incidentally, you're still wearing those heart-shaped boxers.
  1064. >"Hm…"
  1065. >Her horn lights up, and translucent light-yellow wisps soon form around the underside of the duvet, keeping it elevated.
  1066. >"Okay, I'll hold the covers up so you can pull down your panties."
  1067. >Your brows furrow.
  1068. "They're not panties."
  1069. >She huffs.
  1070. >"Just take them off, pleb."
  1071. >You move your hands away away from the bed covers and down to your boxers; true to her word, the duvet stays in place thanks to Flurry's magic.
  1072. >Slightly bending your knees, you pull on your undergarments, steadily sliding them down to your thighs.
  1073. >And once finally freed from its clothen prison, your penis springs forth—
  1074. >Ah. You're fully erect.
  1075. >Fancy that.
  1076. >"O-oh…"
  1077. >Human cock caught in her enraptured sights, Flurry's lips lightly part while her nostrils heavily flare out.
  1078. >You can only make an educated guess as to what's going through her horny horsey head right now.
  1079. >Said guessing is very quickly cut short as she suddenly gives your tallywhacker a strong magical tug, almost popping it out of its socket.
  1080. "Ho-shit!" you yelp. "That hurts!"
  1081. >She flinches, promptly dropping her magic.
  1082. >"S-sorry."
  1083. >Caught off guard by her unexpected apology, you nonetheless hold up the duvet with your hands to stop it from falling.
  1084. >You're pretty sure this mare doesn't know her own strength at times.
  1085. >At least your pecker remains in one piece.
  1086. >"So, um…" she mumbles.
  1087. >Her eyes drift back to your traumatised rod, which somehow continues to stand loud and proud.
  1088. >"Th-that's supposed to go inside me, right?" she blurts out.
  1089.  
  1090. "Uh."
  1091. >You blink, completely taken aback by her brashness.
  1092. "What?"
  1093. >"Y-yeah." She hastily nods. "I read about it in a book. Your penis is supposed to go inside my vagina and, um, make me feel good…"
  1094. >Oh. She means more-so in general, you think.
  1095. >Still, she's acting *far* more forward than she usually does.
  1096. >Perhaps that has something to do with you having so-flagrantly fingered her earlier.
  1097. >"And…and I need practise."
  1098. >You arch an eyebrow.
  1099. "'Practise?'"
  1100. >"When I take a princess—no, I mean, when I become a prince—ugh, no, I mean…"
  1101. >She takes a deep breath.
  1102. >"…when I finally take a prince of my own, I need to be good at…at making babies."
  1103. >You peer into her light-blue eyes.
  1104. >She's being dead fucking serious right now.
  1105. "B-babies…I see."
  1106. >The mental image of this spoiled princess as a mother dares to enter your mind's eye.
  1107. >You immediately shake it away.
  1108. "Well, you're not gonna be making any babies with me; I'm an alien monkey—you're a magical pony."
  1109. >With a flick of her ear, she turns her head to the side and very quietly mumbles out into the cool bedroom air:
  1110. >"…don't know that…" is all you can make out.
  1111. "What was that?"
  1112. >She jerks her head back to look at you.
  1113. >"Um, I mean, that's perfect. That means we can practise as much as we want without worrying about becoming a mommy and daddy."
  1114. >A "mommy and daddy," huh?
  1115. >For all of her carnal curiosity and anatomical know-how, it seems that your princess is quite sheltered when it comes to the intricacies of such intimate matters.
  1116. >Some no-good stallion out there could very easily take advantage of her innocence—and of her.
  1117. >She might be a prissy bitch, and you're far from a pious man yourself…
  1118. >But still…you feel as if you should look out for her, somewhat.
  1119.  
  1120. >Exiting the confines of your own thoughtful thoughts, you can hear that Flurry is currently rambling out loud.
  1121. >She's probably listing off the various reasons on why you should bang her brains out in the name of "practise."
  1122. >"…as a Princess of Love, I'm expected to be proficient in this sort of thing, and also…"
  1123. >Yep. Right on the money.
  1124. >Fortunately for her, you've never needed much excuse to fuck a horse.
  1125. >"…this weird-looking whip that I found in Mom's closet—"
  1126. "Okay," you interrupt her, wilfully ignoring whatever the hell she just said, "I'll do it."
  1127. >She cuts herself short, blinking in surprise.
  1128. >"W-wait, really?"
  1129. >You nod.
  1130. "It's not like I have much of a choice. You were gonna force me into it anyway, weren't you?"
  1131. >"Well, yeah."
  1132. >At least she's honest.
  1133. >"But still, I…" She looks away from you with a hesitant expression. "…I-I didn't expect you to just agree like that…"
  1134. >Is she disappointed that she missed out on a chance to exert her ownership over you?
  1135. >Or is she astounded that you're wholly ready and willing to get down and dirty with her?
  1136. >You can never tell with this mare.
  1137. "Listen, Flurry…"
  1138. >You turn onto your left side, letting the duvet slowly fall onto the both of you.
  1139. >Then, you reach out your right hand and carefully caress her left cheek.
  1140. >She gulps and tenses up a little, eyes flitting to your outstretched arm—but she doesn't make any efforts to stop you.
  1141. >You flash her a candid smile.
  1142. "I wanna help you become the best princess you can possibly be."
  1143.  
  1144. >Her eyes slowly drift over to yours, and you hold steady contact with those quivering pink pupils.
  1145. >She doesn't verbally respond, but you can see her cheeks faintly flush.
  1146. >After a few silent seconds, she subtly leans into your touch, exhaling a soft breath from her flexed nostrils.
  1147. >And that's when you take your hand away from her.
  1148. "Plus," you continue, "the sooner we finish practising, the sooner we can both head back to sleep, right?"
  1149. >She deflates a little bit, shyly glancing to the side.
  1150. >"R-right, yeah…"
  1151. >You don't wanna make things *too* weird; this is just practise, after all.
  1152. >That said, you do feel some amount of guilt for cruelly toying with her emotions like this.
  1153. >But to be fair—she *did* zap you.
  1154. "Don't you worry, Flurry…"
  1155. >In one smooth motion—you push yourself up and position your body right above hers.
  1156. >"A-ah."
  1157. >Your bent knees support your lower body and rest next to her thighs, while your hands rest right by her shoulders and lightly grip the bedsheets just below the pillow.
  1158. >Behind you, you can feel the warm embrace of the duvet against your back as it continues to cover the two of you from the torso down.
  1159. >And directly beneath you, your princess lies on her back, forelegs demurely curled up to her chest, and hindlegs spread wide.
  1160. >She stares up at you with shyly parted lips and all-too-eager eyes.
  1161. "…this 'pleb' is gonna teach you all about the ways of making love."
  1162. >Her lips spark up with a sudden snarky confidence.
  1163. >"You? Teach me?"
  1164. >She snorts out an amused laugh.
  1165. >"You couldn't love your way out of a paper bag, pleb."
  1166. >Damn.
  1167. >Right when you think you've got her beaten—right when you let your guard down—she goes and delivers a critical hit straight to your ego.
  1168.  
  1169. >There's no way in hell that you're gonna take this lying down.
  1170. "Oh yeah?" you fire back. "Let's see how you feel when I…"
  1171. >You shuffle your body and wiggle your hips as you attempt to line up your tool with her tunnel.
  1172. >The smile upon her face is an infuriatingly smug one.
  1173. >Your pride prevents you from breaking eye contact with her, knowing that if you do so—you'd simply be handing her yet another victory.
  1174. >Which means you're gonna have to feel things out once again.
  1175. "…get myself ready to…"
  1176. >As you strive to set your spear by the appropriate aperture, you awkwardly poke at her belly fuzz from a variety of angles.
  1177. >Flurry's smirk widens with every failed manoeuvre of your blind meat—but still, you press on, determined to have the last laugh.
  1178. >Eventually, you have your penis properly positioned by her puffy lips.
  1179. "…here."
  1180. >You give her pussy a prod with your pecker, making one of her eyebrows twitch.
  1181. >The gates to her garden are both soft and supple, quickly working wonders on getting you hot and bothered.
  1182. "Phew…" you huff out. "Alright, whenever you're ready, I'll—"
  1183. >"Pleb," she tersely interrupts you.
  1184. >Flurry's simpering smugness hasn't ceased even for a moment.
  1185. >Her eyes scintillate with a sly sharpness.
  1186. >Wait. You've seen that glint in her eyes before. You—
  1187. >Oh.
  1188. >Oh no.
  1189. >"Those are my teats again."
  1190. >You promptly hang your head in shame, breaking eye contact and ceding the last of your dignity.
  1191. "Ugh."
  1192. >She titters.
  1193. >"You're such a dummy~"
  1194. >Her teasing tone is one tinted with earnest affection.
  1195. >You may as well keep going—lest she lose her good humour and start snapping at you once more.
  1196. "Okay then…"
  1197. >Withdrawing your manhood from her mammaries, you steadily move down along her body as you silently muse to yourself:
  1198. >Pony parts must be placed lower than human ones, you figure.
  1199. >It was another honest mistake.
  1200. >Better not make a third.
  1201. >And so, after angling yourself appropriately, you approach the anatomy between her thighs for a second shot.
  1202. >Flurry lets out a light gasp as your tip prods her entrance.
  1203. >You're so close to her canal that you can almost taste it.
  1204. >Yes.
  1205. >You can feel your pecker press up against her wrinkly puckered—
  1206. >"Ple—"
  1207. "Y-yes, I know," you hastily cut her off, promptly disengaging from her butthole.
  1208. >Looking up at Flurry's entertained expression, you clear your throat and put on a confident air.
  1209. "I pulled away before you could say anything—so it doesn't count."
  1210. >It's a half-mistake, at best.
  1211. >You're still in this.
  1212. >Flurry lets out a soft giggle.
  1213. >"You're terrible at this, pleb."
  1214. >After her audible bout of girlish glee, her countenance changes in an unexpected way:
  1215. >No longer does she flash you a stingingly smug smirk; instead, she casts you a bashful smile—one that's filled with a curious warmth.
  1216. >She then whispers to you:
  1217. >"I'm terrible at this, too."
  1218.  
  1219. >Her willingly offered moment of vulnerability catches you totally off guard.
  1220. >To think, you had so many clever comebacks prepared—so many witty ways to assure her that you were most-definitely some kind of human sex god.
  1221. >But in that instant—upon seeing that sincerely tender smile of hers—all those pithy thoughts fade away completely.
  1222. >Gazing deep into her affectionate blue eyes, you silently yet purposefully shift your hips upwards, positioning your spear by her other hole—the right one.
  1223. >The moment your tip prods at her dewy, faintly pulsing petals—she lets out a breathy sigh.
  1224. >"A-ah…"
  1225. >Taking a moment to collect herself, she addresses you with a serene satiation in her tone:
  1226. >"Right there…"
  1227. >Third time's the charm, as they say.
  1228. >It took some doing, but you've finally put yourself in the proper position so as to practise some hot and sweaty lovemaking with your princess.
  1229. >Kneeling above her and huddled under the duvet together, you can't help but appreciate your closeness with this mare:
  1230. >Her slender alicorn frame renders her just the right height to look you in the eyes while your body is aligned with hers—hips over hips and key up to lock.
  1231. >She really is the perfect size for you.
  1232. >You suppose that also makes you the perfect size for her.
  1233. >"H-hey, um…" she speaks up, voice dripping with trepidation.
  1234. "Yeah?"
  1235. >Her eyes briefly flit down your body, and then back to your face.
  1236. >"G-go slow. I read that it hurts when it…um…y-yeah."
  1237. >You nod, smiling.
  1238. "Got it."
  1239. >She smiles back.
  1240. >Staring deep into one another's eyes, you slowly enter your princess's most private place.
  1241. >"Mm…"
  1242. >Her eyes hazily flicker, yet she never pulls her gaze away from yours—nor does she retreat into the darkness of her own lids.
  1243. >You offer her that very same courtesy as you descend deeper into her depths.
  1244. >Her maidenly canal tightly clasps around your glans with an innocent fervour, while her winking walls gently but greedily suck on your meat like an alien-flavoured candy pop.
  1245. >But soon enough, your amorous advance is halted by the presence of a particular barrier.
  1246. >You can feel your tip tentatively pushing up against it.
  1247. >Flurry takes a deep breath.
  1248. >Then, she gives you a nod.
  1249. >You push through.
  1250. >"Nn…!"
  1251. >She winces, hissing in air through her nostrils as you deflower your princess.
  1252. >Her body squeamishly quivers, while her shaky gaze remains transfixed on you, desperately seeking solace and solidarity amongst her unfamiliar pain.
  1253. >Stilling your pelvic movements, you lift up your right hand and hover it next to her face; then, you gently scritch under her chin with your thumb.
  1254. >"Ah~"
  1255. >She coos at your touch and steadies her breathing—nostrils calmly flexing in and out.
  1256. >A serene smile soon finds its way onto her face, and she peers up at you with lovingly lidded eyes.
  1257. >It's enough to make you wonder if her passionate gaze is also part of this purely platonic practise session.
  1258.  
  1259. >Before you can ponder her hypothetical passion any further—she reaches up her forelegs, looping them over your shoulders and around your back, thus wrapping you up in a warm embrace.
  1260. >"Mm…I'm okay now," she whispers.
  1261. >You nod, taking your hand away from her chin and resting it by her shoulder once again.
  1262. >"Keep going…"
  1263. >With another nod, you slowly slide more of your manhood into her marehood.
  1264. >Her virginal depths are heart-throbbingly tight, yet they wetly and warmly welcome you all the same, guiding you deeper into her royal garden.
  1265. >The further you go, the more you can feel her impressionable insides mould around you, meticulously memorising every inch of your meat.
  1266. >You've claimed this princess's purity, and in turn—her body is doing its damndest to remember your distinct human shape.
  1267. >For all of your "practise" with this mare, you're pretty sure that her pussy is never going to accept anyone other than you.
  1268. >And that suits you just fine.
  1269. >Steadily bottoming out inside of her, you both throatily sigh out in unison.
  1270. >"Hah…"
  1271. >She throws a heated glance down under the duvet, checking out the spot where you two meet.
  1272. >"Are you…are you all the way in?"
  1273. "Yep." You nod.
  1274. >"Mm…"
  1275. >She closes her eyes, perhaps honing in on the sensation of your sword sheathed up to her very core.
  1276. >While she does so, you can sense her mareish walls calmly clasping and churning around your manly meat, giving you a mindfully moist massage while making sure you stay fully hilted.
  1277. >"I can…mm…" Her lips curl upwards. "…I can feel you pressing up against my deepest place."
  1278. >After letting out another sigh, she opens her eyes and earnestly smiles at you.
  1279. >"It feels wonderful~"
  1280. >Tightening her hoofgrip around your back, she cranes her neck forwards and plants a sudden smooch on your lips.
  1281. >*Mwah*
  1282. >She pulls away, eyes sparkling with the utmost adoration.
  1283. >Gazing upon her face, an impish impulse soon finds its way into your brain—and you shoot her a sly grin.
  1284. "Well, aren't you affectionate?" you tease her.
  1285. >Her face instantly falls into a cute blushing pout.
  1286. >"Sh-shut up, pleb. Don't ruin the moment."
  1287.  
  1288. >You awkwardly chuckle, feeling only slightly embarrassed—yet wholly endeared towards your princess's pouty mannerisms.
  1289. "Ahah, sorry."
  1290. >One of her ears twitches as she glances off to the side.
  1291. >"Don't forget, this is just practise."
  1292. >You hum affirmatively.
  1293. "Got it."
  1294. >"So, since we're only practising…"
  1295. >She looks back to you, and a sensually confident glint enters her eyes.
  1296. >"…I'm allowed to 'practise' being as lovey-dovey with you as I want~"
  1297. >Leaning forward, she plants another sudden smooch on your lips.
  1298. >This one lasts longer, and you can feel one of her hooves caressing your back as she does it.
  1299. >*Mwah~*
  1300. >When she pulls away from you this time, she does so with both a sultry grin and a lidded gaze that's filled with no-less affection than before.
  1301. >"Now keep going, pleb~" she commandingly coos.
  1302. >You're pretty sure the two of you must have crossed a line somewhere.
  1303. >Then again, this is all in the name of practise—so it's all good.
  1304. "Right away, my princess."
  1305. >Drawing out your hips, you steadily pry yourself out from her royal passageway.
  1306. >"H-hah…"
  1307. >Her undulating walls tightly clasp around your length every inch of the way, utterly refusing to let you leave—and absolutely desperate to keep you secured within her stickily warm embrace.
  1308. >But eventually—and with great grunting effort on your part—you succeed in your exhaustive endeavour to exit her clingy canal, leaving it so that only your glans remains wedged in her vulva.
  1309. >"Nn…"
  1310. >Lip slightly quivering, Flurry flashes you a vulnerable look of deep longing, dearly wishing for you to once again fill up that now-empty space within her precious place.
  1311. >Answering her silent call, you promptly spear her snatch in one singular thrust, hilting yourself all the way inside her sweltering depths—and bumping right up against her alicorn babymaker.
  1312. >"Ah~!"
  1313. >From there, you piston your hips against hers, soon settling into a rhythm of slow, measured thrusts—thus making sure she feels every inch you have to give her.
  1314. >As if realising that you have truly no plans to abandon your princess—and that you shall always be there for her—Flurry's pussy loosens its possessively vice-like grip on your member; now trusting you completely, her encouraging walls grant you gushing passage to plunder her fertile fields again and again.
  1315. >At least, that's how you're choosing to see things—this mare's pussy manages to feel just as magical as the rest of her.
  1316. >Flurry's pleasured moans match your guttural grunts, and this tranquil bedroom ambience quickly becomes a interspecies symphony of two lovers passionately "practising" their carnal craft together.
  1317. >Your bare bodies sweatily press against each other, drinking deep of one another's primal scents and sexual fluids.
  1318. >And more than ever, you find yourself feeling extremely thankful that her bedroom has a soundproofing spell in place.
  1319.  
  1320. >In this naked moment, naught in the likes of royal regalia or conservative clothing separates you two—status means nothing to you now.
  1321. >Thus, the two of you become so much more than a bratty princess and her beloved pet.
  1322. >You become leader and follower, keeping your loins in loyal lockstep with hers, and turning this erotic first encounter into harmonious routine.
  1323. >You become teacher and student, taking this intimate meeting under the duvet as a chance to extensively explore one another's bodies, and coming to understand each other on an instinctual level.
  1324. >You become man and mare, taking this intimacy one step further as an opportunity to simply enjoy one another's bodies in the most earthly sense, and forever marking each other as cherished companions.
  1325. >You become—
  1326. >Flurry suddenly tenses up.
  1327. >"I'm…ah…!" she gasps out. "I-I'm going to…!"
  1328. >She clamps down on you hard—both with her hooves and with her hatch.
  1329. >And—with a snorting, whinnying shudder—Flurry's floodgates swing open for the second time this night.
  1330. >Her clenching walls churn around your turgid cock, dousing you with a syrupy squash that rushes over your length and splatters against your pelvis.
  1331. >Shutting her eyes, her head lightly tosses from side to side, lost in the throes of an intense maregasm.
  1332. >You seize the opportunity to press your lips right against hers, startling her and stilling her movements.
  1333. >"Mm?!"
  1334. >Her eyes shoot open, quickly seeing yours.
  1335. >Acting on pure mareish instinct, she delicately sniffs at your face.
  1336. >You sniff back.
  1337. >And so the two of you share a tender Eskimo kiss in this heated moment, finding mutual tranquillity together as she rides out the crashing waves of her torrid climax.
  1338. >"Mmph…"
  1339. >Trapped both under the duvet and between your clammily sweaty bodies, the smelly musk of sugary sex radiates upwards from your conjoined groins and greets your nostrils.
  1340. >Even at her most base level, your princess smells truly wonderful.
  1341. >You feel bad for whoever has to wash these sheets, though.
  1342. >…Wait, that's you.
  1343. >You take it back, then.
  1344.  
  1345. >Flurry's second coming eventually subsides as she gushes out the last of her mellifluous marecream all over your crotch.
  1346. >You gently pull away from your shared kiss, yet continue to remain interconnected at the hips.
  1347. >"Hah…hah…"
  1348. >After taking a few seconds to recover, Flurry gaspingly addresses you:
  1349. >"You…hah…you haven't finished, have you…?"
  1350. >You blink a few times, surprised by her marely intuition, before responding:
  1351. "No." You lightly shake your head. "I haven't."
  1352. >She takes a measured blink of her own, before nodding to herself with a soft hum.
  1353. >"Then we…mmph…"
  1354. >She weakly wiggles her hips against yours.
  1355. >"…then we keep going."
  1356. >Eyes filed with an ardent determination, she tenderly strokes your back with a forehoof.
  1357. >"We're not stopping…until you finish."
  1358. >How considerate of her.
  1359. >Or perhaps she's simply following the strong mareish impulses in her brain that demand her stallion's balls be thoroughly drained.
  1360. >Either way, you're completely okay with this—and thanks to your princess's pulsating pony pussy, you're not too far off from your own nut.
  1361. >Taking her sultrily lidded gaze and wantonly writhing body as a go-ahead, you resume your raunchy motions, steadily pumping into her pudenda like a man on a mission.
  1362. >The two of you let out honest huffs and mellow moans as you placidly pound your way across the final stretch.
  1363. >"Mmph…mmph…"
  1364. >Flurry's expression is one of mild fatigue, which is most likely a result of her very recent maregasm—and also the fact that the two of you should've been asleep ages ago.
  1365. >Weary though she may be, her inner walls continue to work you over with a dedicated lover's touch, clasping and grasping at your pulsing meat.
  1366. >Even now, she feels like heaven to your loins—it's a miracle that you've managed to hold out for this long.
  1367. >Alas, that monastic miracle is about to be washed away within the tides of titillation—for you can feel your crest fast approaching.
  1368. >Growling out a guttural grunt, your bestial movements become rowdier by the second.
  1369. >Flurry watches your expression intently.
  1370. >"You're close…" she whispers to you.
  1371. >You blink in surprise.
  1372. >It's not like you made any attempt to hide your exhilaration, but still…
  1373. "…how did you…?" you manage to gasp out.
  1374. >She answers your half-question with a shrewd titter.
  1375. >"You're my pleb, so of course I'd know~"
  1376. >It's your first time together with this mare—and she already knows your tells by heart.
  1377. >Scary.
  1378.  
  1379. >Flurry casts a heated glance down towards your thrusting hips, which painstakingly pump your throbbing penis in and out of her squelching pussy.
  1380. >The salacious sight causes her to let out a deep, dominant snort—one that befits a beast in rut more than it does a regal princess.
  1381. >Following those beastly instincts of hers, she suddenly wraps her hindlegs around your back, leg-locking you.
  1382. "Wh-whoa."
  1383. >With her forelegs firmly hooked over your shoulders and her hindlegs tightly looped around your waist, Flurry has you locked within a full-body bind—and buried up to the hilt.
  1384. >Pulling out is no longer an option.
  1385. >She gazes up at you, animalistic hunger burning within those light-blue eyes.
  1386. >Her voice, however, drips with dignified authority:
  1387. >"Finish inside of me. That's an order from your princess."
  1388. >Her carnal command shoots straight through to your very soul, throttling your will and leaving you powerless to resist her breedish desire—not that you'd ever wish to resist her, anyway.
  1389. >Your spoken obedience freely falls from your servile lips:
  1390. "A-at once."
  1391. >Her lips curl upwards, satisfied with your reply.
  1392. >"Hmph~"
  1393. >With your body closely clamped against hers, your movements are completely constrained; all you can do is wait until the promised moment arrives, staring deep into your princess's passionate peepers.
  1394. >She has beautiful eyes.
  1395. >Your mind might be playing tricks on you, but you believe you can see hearts fluttering around inside those pink pupils of hers.
  1396. >She really is magical—in every sense of the word.
  1397. >Wedged within of her churning canal, your breath hitches and your balls clench.
  1398. >The time has come.
  1399. "Hah…!"
  1400. >Soaring over the edge with white wings, you promptly blast steamily hot ropes of human spunk inside of your pony princess, flooding her royal gardens with your virile seed.
  1401. >Restrained though you might be, you nonetheless try your damndest to furiously hump your hips against hers, desperate to drive your dick even deeper—and shoot your loads even further.
  1402. >Her marehole milks you for everything you've got and then some, making sure not to waste a single drop of your baby batter as it all plasters the inside of her hungering womb.
  1403. >In the midst of all this, you gently lock lips your princess—as has quickly become custom.
  1404. >"Mmph…"
  1405. >Your bodies speak for themselves—exchanging tender kisses, sweet breath, and liquid love.
  1406. >Under this sumptuous duvet, you claim this princess as your own—taking her purity, moulding her marely insides to your distinct shape, and deeply seeding her most precious place.
  1407. >And in doing so, she claims you in turn, marking you with an indelible scent that clings to your core being—taking Equestria's one and only human as her exclusive partner.
  1408.  
  1409. >Flaring out her nostrils, Flurry suddenly and aggressively whinnies into your mouth—signifying the start of yet another heated maregasm.
  1410. >And in a flash, she flips the both of you over—thus, she's now the one atop you.
  1411. >Straddling your groin and keeping your cock firmly clenched inside of her squashing snatch, she further asserts her dominance by pushing her fluffy chest up against your bare one—making absolutely sure that you can feel her utterly enamoured heart beating in tune with yours.
  1412. >Her sweltering thighs encompass your own, while her forelegs remain looped over your shoulders and locked around your back; one of her hooves presses against your nape, pushing you up into her perfervid kiss.
  1413. >Having now taken complete control of this bestial battlefield, Flurry's plush lips ferociously suck on your human mouth as she snorts against your nostrils and steals your breath for her own.
  1414. >You put your best efforts forward to try and keep pace with this mercurial mare, taking what meagre breaths you can in order to stay afloat atop this orgasmic tsunami.
  1415. >Reaching up with both of your arms, you wrap them around her back, using your right hand to gently stroke her withers.
  1416. >Your mollifying caress appears to calm her down at least marginally, as the familiar feel of your fingers causes her to softly whicker and lightly nuzzle your face, giving you some much-needed time to recuperate while the two of you genially ride out your shared orgasm together.
  1417. >Within the eye of this sensual storm, she once again plants her lips against yours and whispers down your throat with a husky growl:
  1418. >"Mine."
  1419. >You can't refute her.
  1420. >From there, your mouth-to-snout contact becomes a lot more tender, much like it was before—just with more nuzzles.
  1421. >Even after you completely drain your balls inside of her tight tract—and even after she finishes flooding you with her latest batch of squash—the two of continue to lose yourselves in each other's lips for a little while longer, sucking face and sharing breath.
  1422. >Your bodies undulate together—and your hearts beat as one.
  1423.  
  1424. >…
  1425. >Eventually, the two of you pull away from your most-intimate kiss, and the two of you take a few breathy moments to enjoy the afterglow.
  1426. >"Hah…hah…"
  1427. "Hah…hah…"
  1428. >Breaking eye contact, Flurry lowers her head and rests it by yours on the pillow, angling her snout so that it points at your left ear.
  1429. >The sweet sweaty smell of a wholly satisfied mare lingers in the bedchamber, serving to congratulate your brain on a job well done.
  1430. >As for your bodies—they remain clingily and claspily connected together, finding continued comfort in each other's carnal embrace.
  1431. >It seems that neither of you wish to let go of the other, perhaps worrying that when you do so—everything shall have to go back to how it once was.
  1432. >But it doesn't have to be like this.
  1433. >All it takes is three words:
  1434. >Three simple yet powerful words to turn this fleeting practise session into something perennial.
  1435. "Hey, Flurry," you mumble up into the air, "I…"
  1436. >Her left ear perks up and swivels your way, standing at full attention.
  1437. "…hope you got it all out of your system?"
  1438. >Her ear flops back down.
  1439. >"…Yeah, I did."
  1440. >Letting out a sigh, she pushes herself up to look you in the eyes, her face hovering above yours.
  1441. >"Listen, I…"
  1442. >With a steadily growing blush on her cheeks, her eyes bashfully flit away from you.
  1443. >"…might have gotten a little heated back there…"
  1444. >You cast her a reassuring smile.
  1445. "It's okay, Flurry. I understand."
  1446. >Moving your right hand up from her back, you caress her cheek.
  1447. "There's no need to sweat the small stuff. It was your first time, after all."
  1448. >She blinks at you, lips slowly curling into a serene smile.
  1449. >Closing her eyes, she leans into your touch and nuzzles your hand, happily humming to herself.
  1450. >"Mm, yeah…my first time…"
  1451. >Looks like neither of you could work up the courage to say it.
  1452. >That's okay, though.
  1453. >At the end of the day, you've still just bust a fat nut inside a magical pony princess.
  1454. >Slave or not—you feel pretty damn good right now.
  1455. >"Hah…"
  1456. >Flurry opens her eyes to look down at you.
  1457. >Her gaze is one of lingering passion.
  1458. >"Pleb," she speaks up, softly uttering your moniker, "just so you know, I don't intend for this to be a one-time thing. You and I are going to practise making love from now on."
  1459. "Yeah." You nod. "I figured as much."
  1460. >"Good." She nods back. "So long as we're clear."
  1461. >She speaks with absolute authority, but you believe you can see a glimmer of relief enter her pink pupils.
  1462. >Flurry might be a bossy mare who always gets the first and final say on whatever she wants, but deep down—she must desire your approval on matters like these.
  1463. >You'll happily give it to her.
  1464.  
  1465. >Moving her forelegs away from your back, Flurry sits up atop you, lifting up the duvet behind her.
  1466. >With a marely grunt, she forcefully pries herself off of you, fully unsheathing your hilted member from her all-too-snug depths.
  1467. >"H-hah…!"
  1468. "Ph-phew…"
  1469. >Her needy nethers wink out a few heady squirts onto your groin, utterly dousing you in unspoken feelings—and perhaps trying to entice you into plunging right back inside of her.
  1470. >"C-come on," she speaks to you through shaky breaths, "let's move over to the other pillow. This side of the bed is all stinky and slimy now."
  1471. >Indeed, your body feels more marecream than man at this point—and you know that the sheets around you are in a similar state.
  1472. "Y-yeah," you shakily answer. "Let's."
  1473. >…
  1474. >After drying yourselves off, pulling up your boxers, and freshening yourselves up—the two of you relocate over to the left side of the bed.
  1475. >The back of your head rests against a comfy pillow, while your body lies splayed out under the duvet.
  1476. >Flurry is snuggled against your left side, head resting upon your chest.
  1477. >Both her left wing and left foreleg are draped over your body, holding you close and covering you in a soft feathery blanket.
  1478. >Your left arm is looped around her back, while your hand rests upon the side of her slender barrel.
  1479. >You can feel her belly rise and fall with each contented breath that she makes through her gently flaring nostrils.
  1480. >Right now, your princess is the very picture of peaceability.
  1481. >Still, you can't help but notice how mussed up her mane has gotten as a result of your practise session.
  1482. >No doubt she's going to have you spend an inordinate amount of time brushing it when she wakes up in the morning.
  1483. >Flurry happens to be a mare who is *very* self-conscious about her image; it's to the point where she absolutely *must* look prim and proper at all times.
  1484. >It's only when she's alone with you that she feels truly comfortable letting her mane down.
  1485. >When you first laid eyes upon this prissy princess back at your parlour, you never would've expected that you'd get this close with her.
  1486. >The two of you are about as alike as oil and water—yet here you are, freely sharing body heat under the bed covers.
  1487. >You don't mind it one bit.
  1488.  
  1489. >After letting out a yawn, you address her:
  1490. "The two of us are gonna be dead tired in the morning, you know."
  1491. >"Hmph, whatever…"
  1492. >She nuzzles into your chest.
  1493. >"If anypony dares to give either of us grief…"
  1494. >She yawns, smacking her chops a bit.
  1495. >"…I'll turn them into a toad."
  1496. "Oh? Either of us, you say?"
  1497. >You give her belly a gentle stroke.
  1498. "Does that mean *I'm* under your protection as well, princess?"
  1499. >She huffs, speaking to you like she's answering the most obvious question in the world:
  1500. >"Of course."
  1501. >She raises her head to look at you, and a sly grin adorns her features.
  1502. >"You're *my* pleb. I'm the only one who's allowed to tease you."
  1503. "Is that so…?"
  1504. >You lift an eyebrow.
  1505. "What does this teasing entail, I wonder?"
  1506. >Firing back with a sly grin of your own, you use your right hand to playfully boop her nose with a finger.
  1507. >Her snout immediately scrunches up, and she narrows her eyes at you.
  1508. >Just like before, you really can't help yourself when it comes to poking the hornet's nest—especially when it buzzes so adorably.
  1509. >"…Maybe it involves turning *you* into a toad instead," she grumbles.
  1510. "But if you do that, you won't be able to cuddle me."
  1511. >Her expression softens in thought.
  1512. >"Hm, good point…"
  1513. >She lifts her left forehoof.
  1514. >"I'll just do this, then."
  1515. >Faster than you can react, she firmly boops *you* on the nose with the toe of her hoof.
  1516. >It leaves you feeling a bit sore.
  1517. "Ow…"
  1518. >She titters.
  1519. >"Here, let me kiss it better."
  1520. >She leans in and plants a tender peck on your bruised bridge.
  1521. >Slightly lowering her head, her face lingers around yours for a few moments as she gently exhales into your nostrils.
  1522. >But before the two of you can share any more breath, she curtly pulls away.
  1523. >"We should really get some sleep," she whispers.
  1524. "Y-yeah."
  1525. >Damn, that really was a brutal tease.
  1526. >Well played, Flurry Heart.
  1527. >She rests her head atop your chest once again, and the two of you snuggle up to each other as you prepare to drift off into dreamland together.
  1528. "Good night…" you say, lightly stroking her belly.
  1529. >"Mhm…" She closes her eyes.
  1530. >Indeed, time to call it a night.
  1531. >Although, at this point—you wouldn't be surprised if you were calling it a morning.
  1532. >It's really late.
  1533. >As your lucidity steadily leaves you, you swear that you can feel Flurry's body shuffle about next to yours.
  1534. >You swear that you can feel a pair of plush lips gently press themselves against your left ear.
  1535. >And you swear that they whisper:
  1536. >"Good night, Anon."
  1537. >*Mwah*
  1538. >"I love you~"
  1539. >Thus sleep takes you.
  1540.  
  1541. *** 23 ***
  1542.  
  1543. >A cheerful giggle rings out in the darkness.
  1544. >"Wakey wakey, Nonny. Your princess is waiting for you~"
  1545. "Huh…wha…?"
  1546. >Slowly opening your eyes to weary slits, you quickly notice that the baldachin's canopy curtain now covers the entire perimeter of the bed.
  1547. >And over by the bed's far end, you can see the shady silhouette of an unknown pony standing by the other side of that translucent fabric.
  1548. >Your eyes swiftly shoot open the rest of the way.
  1549. "Wh-who?"
  1550. >Sitting up, you examine the…
  1551. >…
  1552. >No, you must have been mistaken.
  1553. >That "silhouette" was simply a shadow cast by some nearby furniture—a mere trick of your sleepy senses.
  1554. >You are Anonymous, and you've just woken up.
  1555. >Alone.
  1556. >The rich comfort of the royal duvet is there to greet your groggy body—but not much else.
  1557. >For your princess is nowhere to be seen.
  1558. "Where did she go…?" you mumble to yourself.
  1559. >You cast your gaze around the room, soon noting the absence of both Flurry's crystal crown and silver peytral on the bedside dresser.
  1560. >Moonlit flickers into the bedchamber through the open windows, while the gently billowing curtains amicably let in the cool nocturnal breeze.
  1561. >It's still nighttime, which means that you can't have been asleep for long.
  1562. >And yet…something feels different.
  1563. >The world around you has taken on an unworldly blue tint, as if your vision is now being filtered through a murky cerulean lens.
  1564. >Other than yourself, only one other entity within this bedroom has managed to retain its familiar hue—and that is Flurry's heart shaped bed.
  1565. >The pink bedsheets and plush pillows feel even more inviting than usual when contrasted with the rest of this blue bedchamber.
  1566. >Your eyelids weigh heavy upon your countenance, and indeed—you truly wish for nothing more than to just tuck in and head back to sleep.
  1567. >However, Flurry's sudden disappearance has put your mind ill at ease.
  1568. >Considering the absence of her regalia, it's entirely possible that she's simply gone out for a nighttime stroll around the castle.
  1569. >Still, you can't help but feel a little worried about her.
  1570. >Considering your earlier activities together, the two of you will barely catch enough sleep as is—so this is hardly the appropriate time to be stretching one's legs.
  1571. >Thus, psyching yourself up with a few stretches of your own, you soon decide upon your next course of action:
  1572. >You're going to find Flurry Heart—wherever she may be—and bring her back here to her bedchamber.
  1573. >After all, keeping an eye on her is part of your duty as her pet "pleb," is it not?
  1574. >Plus, you kind of want to cuddle her to sleep again.
  1575. >You'd never admit that to her face, though.
  1576.  
  1577. >Shuffling off of the mattress, you leave the warm comforts of your pink bed and enter this chimerical world of ethereal blue.
  1578. >As your bare feet touch down on the bedside rug, you let out an involuntary shiver.
  1579. >Partly because of how strange and alien everything feels to you.
  1580. >But mostly because it's damn cold.
  1581. >Currently, you're dressed only in your pink boxers.
  1582. >They're snazzily patterned with blue hearts, but they provide little in the way of protection against the elements.
  1583. >Thankfully, your shoes, socks, and blue bathrobe are still lying around on the floor somewhere—so you go ahead and put them on.
  1584. >As you do so, you note the absence of Flurry's silver hoof shoes by the foot of the bed; it's not much—but it further confirms your theory that she must be out there somewhere.
  1585. >Now that you're fully garbed in the finest of finery, you still feel somewhat breezy in certain places—but hey, it's better than nothing.
  1586. >Your eyes drift over to the bedroom double doors.
  1587. >They then drift over to Flurry's personal study.
  1588. "…Hm."
  1589. >Books of all kinds are strewn over the crystal desk.
  1590. >You've always wondered what kind of literature your princess engrosses herself in—alas, she has always taken great pains to keep your prying eyes far away from her reading material.
  1591. >However, Flurry isn't here.
  1592. >Considering the circumstances, this is a golden opportunity to check out her royal reading material before your set out on your highborn hunt.
  1593. >Surely she wouldn't begrudge you a peek?
  1594. >Before you know it, your legs have already taken you up to the front of her study desk.
  1595. >It seems that your body has already made the decision for you.
  1596. >Scanning the desktop, you can see a moderately sized scattering of books lying about, with each one depicting a different subject.
  1597. >There are quite a large variety of topics on display here—which is something that honestly takes you by surprise.
  1598. >You have always taken Flurry to be a bit of an airhead—but clearly, she must be more cultured than you initially thought.
  1599.  
  1600. >The world might be a little blue right now, but you can nonetheless make out the books' titles from their covers.
  1601. >And so you quietly read them out:
  1602. "'Royal Etiquette for Dummies.'"
  1603. "'Advanced Spellcraft: Book Three.'"
  1604. "'Standard Mammalian Reproduction: Book Six.'"
  1605. "'An In-Depth History of the Crystal Empire.'"
  1606. "'Chasing Immortality.'"
  1607. "'Flora, Fauna, and You.'"
  1608. "'Embracing the Heart.'"
  1609. >…
  1610. >Hey, wait a minute—you recognise that last one!
  1611. >It's that accursed self-help book—the very same one that was authored by an enigmatic individual known as Jimmy Cart.
  1612. >You remember tossing your copy into the nearest trash can, finding that its presence served only to irritate rather than mitigate.
  1613. >How curious it is that Flurry should possess a book like this.
  1614. >Could she be battling some internal demons of her own?
  1615. >In any case, you have a princess to catch.
  1616. >Turning around, you stride over to the large double doors that serve as both the entrance and the exit to this fair bedchamber, and you rest your hands upon the silver handles—which have long been adjusted for your human height.
  1617. >Thankfully, the doors are unlocked.
  1618. >You cast one more sweeping glance around the bedchamber and—
  1619. "Hm?"
  1620. >You squint your eyes.
  1621. >There's something lying on top of the bed.
  1622. >A pony?
  1623. >You blink.
  1624. >It's gone.
  1625. >Must have been another trick of your eyes.
  1626. >You turn back to the exit.
  1627. >Taking a deep breath, you pull open the doors and step outside into the corridor.
  1628.  
  1629. ***
  1630.  
  1631. >There's not a single soul to be found wandering the tall, wide crystal corridors of this Crystal Castle.
  1632. >Which makes sense—even servants need to sleep.
  1633. >However, these lonesome halls start feeling truly empty when there's no-one else there.
  1634. >And maybe a little eerie.
  1635. >The ghostly blue filter that's layered over everything and anything certainly isn't helping matters.
  1636. >Still, there's no time to worry about that—you've gotta find Flurry.
  1637. >And so, heading towards the end of the hall, you turn a corner;
  1638. >Head down a winding hall;
  1639. >Ascend the spiralling stairwell on your second left;
  1640. >Head down a straight hall;
  1641. >Take a right;
  1642. >Hit a dead end;
  1643. >Double back;
  1644. >Take another right;
  1645. >Hit another dead end;
  1646. >Retrace your steps;
  1647. >Head down a curving hall;
  1648. >Descend the flight of stairs at the end;
  1649. >Stand still at the foot of an intersection that splits off into three corridors;
  1650. >Realise you have no idea where to go.
  1651. "Huh."
  1652. >Strange. You were never an expert when it came to navigating this place by yourself—but you don't remember the castle being *this* labyrinthian.
  1653. >These crystal halls seem to shift and sway the moment you take your eyes off of them.
  1654. >Paintings turn into photographs, and potted plants turn into crystal chairs.
  1655. >Also, you haven't seen a single window ever since you left the bedroom.
  1656. >Each and every light fixture up above buzzes with a dull blue light, sparing you from darkness—yet further adding to the azure ambience that perpetually pervades your surroundings.
  1657. >This castle…it doesn't feel real.
  1658.  
  1659. >You're steadily coming to the realisation that you may, in fact, be dreaming.
  1660. >Unfortunately, this knowledge doesn't come with any lucid superpowers, so perhaps this realm is more grounded than you realise.
  1661. >Still, dream or not, you feel no shame in admitting that you are now totally lost.
  1662. >You don't know where Flurry is, and you're fast losing confidence that you'll be able to find your way back to the bedroom.
  1663. >It appears that all you can do is press forward.
  1664. >But where…?
  1665. >The path before you forks off into three comparable corridors, with each one leading deeper into the castle.
  1666. >The corridors themselves are fairly mundane; the left one ends in a stairwell that heads down, the right one ends in a stairwell that heads up, and the centre one seemingly leads to a complete dead end.
  1667. >Dark-blue wooden doors line the walls of all three corridors, and you note that the upper panel of each door is engraved with an intricate carving.
  1668. >These carvings are all distinct from one another—depicting the likes of far-off flowers, bejewelled sceptres, and even the snarling faces of fantastical beasts.
  1669. >They sure are pretty to look at, but you couldn't hope to discern what deeper meaning they possess—if any.
  1670. >One door in particular catches your eye; it's one that is situated halfway along the right wall of the centre corridor.
  1671. >This door manages to stand out from the rest—as it emanates a faint scarlet light from in between its gaps.
  1672. >You find yourself drawn to it—and before long, your feet carry you over to the front of this curious fixture.
  1673. >Examining the door's distinctive carving closely, you can see that it depicts what looks to be a tight bundle of thorny brambles.
  1674. >How prickly.
  1675. >Your mother had always warned you to stay away from glowing doors.
  1676. >But that was then, and this is this.
  1677. >The world around you is currently shrouded in a murky veil of jamais vu; simple navigation has become an abstract anomaly.
  1678. >Rather than further lose yourself within this crystal maze of shifting halls, you decide to take the uncertain path that lies before you.
  1679. >You open that dark-blue door, throwing wide the gates to a swelling scarlet incandescence.
  1680. >It quickly overtakes you, shrouding each and every one of your senses.
  1681. >And thus the light consumes you.
  1682.  
  1683. ***
  1684.  
  1685. >You drift through this phantasmal light, weightless but wanting.
  1686. >This etherial journey lasts but a few seconds—though you're certain your stomach will feel this experience for aeons to come.
  1687. >Slowly but surely, your senses return to you.
  1688. >You hear the rambunctious roar of an echoing gale as it bounds around your surroundings and unsettles nearby shrubbery.
  1689. >You smell the unsullied comfort of clean outdoor air—mixed in with the green fragrance of freshly cut foliage.
  1690. >You feel the gentle caress of a cool breeze brush against both your face and your ankles.
  1691. >You open your eyes.
  1692. >And you see…
  1693. >…
  1694. >Blinking your eyes and shaking away the last of your momentary muddlement, you take a good look at your surroundings:
  1695. >A narrow pathway now stretches out before you; it's one paved with short dry grass while walled with tall vertical hedges.
  1696. >Those dividing hedges tower up to the very heavens, leaving only a slim clearing with which to see a cloudy night sky up above.
  1697. >The world around you is no longer tinted a dreamy blue, but a light fog now pervades the vicinity, obscuring your vision past a certain distance.
  1698. >It seems that you must've walked into a hedge maze of some kind.
  1699. "Huh…"
  1700. >You struggle to comprehend the logistics of housing such a labyrinthian structure within this veritable Eiffel Tower of crystal.
  1701. >Perhaps that glowing door teleported you here?
  1702. >Ah, right. That door.
  1703. >Spinning around, you scan your point of entry for a point of exit:
  1704. >Alas, you spy nothing but densely packed foliage—as a doorless dead end is all that's left to greet your disappointed gaze.
  1705. >Looks like your portal has poofed on you.
  1706. >Which means that you're now trapped in a hedge maze while dressed in a bathrobe and some footwear.
  1707. >You really should've just stayed in bed.
  1708. >Still, simply standing here isn't going to improve your situation.
  1709. >If an enchanted door brought you to this maze, then perhaps another door can bring you out.
  1710. >Turning around once more, you decide to press onwards before you run any more risk of catching a cold.
  1711.  
  1712. >…
  1713. >The minutes drag on.
  1714. >As is custom with mazes—garden variety or otherwise—you find yourself turning corners, walking away from dead ends, and then turning some more corners.
  1715. >Some paths are curved, others go straight on.
  1716. >Yet none of them lead you anywhere useful.
  1717. >The dry grass audibly crunches under your shoes, their uniformly short blades lacking even the slightest hint of moisture.
  1718. >This place is peacefully evergreen, yet it also lacks life.
  1719. >There are no bugs, no birds, no flowers.
  1720. >Only the rustling wind is here to keep you company; it ferries a feminine hum along its chilling current, serenading your ears with a hauntingly soft melody.
  1721. >It almost makes you want to stop dead in your tracks so you can appreciate it better.
  1722. >However, you've never been a fan of standing still in cramped hedge mazes, as your claustrophobic inclinations find the idea most disagreeable.
  1723. >So you continue moving forward, choosing to instead taking those tranquil tunes as amiably airy background noise.
  1724.  
  1725. >…
  1726. >The minutes continue to drag on.
  1727. >After some more aimless wandering, you turn a corner and soon find yourself face-to-face with another wall of hedges.
  1728. >Sighing out loud, you slump your shoulders in disappointment.
  1729. >This marks the eighth dead end that you've come across ever since you were dropped into this maze.
  1730. >Unlike the shifting halls of that labyrinthian castle, these tightly hedged passageways seem to stay the same no matter where you go.
  1731. >Not that this fact helps you any, though—you're still shit lost.
  1732. >You're beginning to wonder if you'll ever find your way out.
  1733. >Thoughtfully humming to yourself, you also begin to wonder something else while you're at it:
  1734. "Hm…"
  1735. >What if there are secret passages hidden behind the hedges?
  1736. >Hell, it's worth a shot.
  1737. >Stepping forward into the dead end, you reach out your right hand and—
  1738. "Ow!"
  1739. >You swiftly yank your pricked finger away from the brambly hedge.
  1740. >It turns out these shrubs have thorns.
  1741. >You *really* should've just stayed in bed.
  1742.  
  1743. >…
  1744. >The minutes have dragged on long enough—and they're now on strike.
  1745. >As for you—you're still wandering, wandering, wandering.
  1746. >And keeping your hands far away from any hedges.
  1747. >Which is quite the feat, considering that these narrow passageways only happen to be slightly wider than you are.
  1748. >After turning yet another corner to the right, you walk straight onwards.
  1749. >About a third of the way along the path, you come across an curious-looking archway on your left.
  1750. >Peering through, you see that it leads off into a clearing.
  1751. "Oh!"
  1752. >Your eyes shoot open at the sight of this spacey landmark, and you quickly step through with no hesitation.
  1753. >The moment you enter this clearing, you can feel a wave of relief wash over you.
  1754. >You're glad to be finally free of those tight, prickly passageways—even if it's only for a passing moment.
  1755. >This clearing is shaped like a perfectly round circle; it's about the size of a small plaza.
  1756. >There are several stone statues equidistantly arranged around the outer area of this circle.
  1757. >You're still surrounded by towering hedge walls at all sides, of course, but you'll take whatever open space you can get at this point.
  1758. >Over by the far northern end of this clearing, you can see another archway directly opposite the one that you just came through.
  1759. >It likely leads back into the maze, but you're not too bothered about leaving this place right now.
  1760. >Because it's time to take a breather.
  1761. "Phew…" you sigh out.
  1762. >Wandering towards the centre, you use this moment to examine your full surroundings.
  1763. >Unfortunately, you don't see any magical doors lying around.
  1764. >What you do see, however, are flowers—and plenty of them.
  1765. >Sprouting up from the soil, you can see scarlet roses, light-blue hydrangeas, and amber gladioli.
  1766. >They make a nice change of pace from the swathes of dry grass that you've seen nothing but.
  1767. >You then take a look at the statues, which all stand atop round stone pedestals.
  1768. >The statues themselves tower high above you, while the pedestals reach up to your chest.
  1769. >Some of these stone figures depict upstanding ponies, while others depict terrifying monsters—or "creatures," as is the politically correct thing to say.
  1770. >Gazing over to the north-eastern quarter of this clearing, one of the more monstrous-looking statues manages to catch your eye, so you walk up to it for a closer inspection.
  1771.  
  1772. >Examining this statue from the front, you note that it actually depicts two distinct individuals, with both of them being carved out from the same light-grey stone.
  1773. >On the left, you can see a centaur-like creature—one that bears the head of a bull rather than a human; because of its masculine visage, you assume that he's a dude.
  1774. >He wears a gorget around his upper chest, bracers around his thin wrists, and his septum is pierced with a nose ring.
  1775. >He bears an aged and decrepit appearance; his chest is sunken in to the point of emaciation, while his horns are mere pointed stubs.
  1776. >You notice that his pose is one of abject fear, as he looks to be cowering away from something.
  1777. >He might only be a stony simulacrum, but his truly terrified expression is surprisingly lifelike in its depiction.
  1778. >You've gotta give props to the sculptor; they've succeeded in making you feel sorry for a statue.
  1779. >The centaur's chiselled compatriot, on the other hand, depicts a entirely different kind of reaction.
  1780. >Standing to the right of him—or, more accurately, *lunging* from the right of him—is a tall, alicorn-like creature.
  1781. >With its face twisted in a vicious snarl, the entire upper half of its body extends beyond the circumference of the stone pedestal as this statue remains perpetually locked in its motionless assault.
  1782. >You also believe you can see some eyelashes sculpted upon this creature, so it…might be a she?
  1783. >In any case, in spite of her aggressive posture—she somehow manages to look even more decrepit than the senile centaur to her left; her pitifully gaunt form bears a crooked horn atop her head, while her hooves, mane, tail, and wings are all riddled with large holes.
  1784. >Also, this statue appears to be cracked in several places, further adding to its worn-down form.
  1785. >Despite being made of stone, these wings of hers bear a thin and brittle appearance—looking more akin to a bug's boneless buzzers than a pegasus's feathered flappers.
  1786. >…Actually, you recognise these wings—they're the wings of a changeling.
  1787. >From what you recall, changelings are vividly vibrant bug-horses with an affinity for magical metamorphosis.
  1788. >You've seen a few of them visit the castle as foreign ambassadors; apparently, they've got their own buggy little kingdom somewhere in the far south.
  1789. >You also recall that Flurry is…not particularly fond of them as a species; you always have to take great care in not mentioning them around her—lest you risk spending the next hour or so listening to a diatribe that's just as colourful as the changelings themselves.
  1790. >Personally, you're ambivalent towards those brightly coloured blighters.
  1791. >Back to the matter at hand, though, while the statue in front of you does resemble a changeling in many respects—it also differs in others.
  1792. >For starters, you don't remember changelings being so…holey.
  1793. >You can see that she wears a thin, bulbous crown atop her noggin—perhaps she's a corrupted princess of some kind?
  1794.  
  1795. >Again, props to the sculptor; you can't recall the last time you've mused over a monument for this long.
  1796. >Indeed, this has proven to be quite the meditative breather.
  1797. >There's only one other thing about these statues that catches your fancy:
  1798. >They're both wearing floral headdresses.
  1799. >The bull-centaur wears a wreath linked with amber blossoms, while the holey horse wears a crown made of light-blue blooms.
  1800. >Their lively colours indicate that these particular flowers were not carved from grey stone—but instead freshly plucked from the local vicinity and recently placed there.
  1801. >How curious.
  1802. >"Hm-hm, hm-hm, hm-hm hm-hm-hm-hm~"
  1803. >There's that hum on the wind again.
  1804. >Except it sounds a lot closer now.
  1805. >In fact, it's close enough that you can hazard a guess to its point of origin:
  1806. >It's coming from behind the statue.
  1807. >"Hm-hm-hm something new, something better~"
  1808. >Quirking an eyebrow, you cautiously circle around the stone pedestal.
  1809. >And once you make your way behind the statue, you soon spy the source of this sound:
  1810. >A small pegasus filly sits at the pedestal's edge, idly kicking her hindlegs about in the air.
  1811. >There's an opened box of chocolate truffles by her right side, and a stack of scarlet roses by her left.
  1812. >Twiddling her dextrous forehooves, she presently busies herself with the production of a rose wreath, paying you zero mind.
  1813. >"Hm-hm, hm-hm, hm-hm hm-hm-hm-hm~"
  1814. >She's also the source of this melodious humming.
  1815. >While you were looking at the statue from the front, her tiny body must have been completely obscured by one of the centaur's large cloven hooves—which is why you weren't able to see her earlier.
  1816. >But now that you can, you take the time to further examine her appearance:
  1817. >Her coat is coloured salmon pink, while her baby-blue mane is both curled into ringlets and topped off with a cream-coloured bow.
  1818. >…
  1819. >Wait. It couldn't be, could it?
  1820. >Could this filly really be…
  1821. >"And all we need to do is—"
  1822. "Cozy Glow?" you say, moving closer to her.
  1823. >She stops, brows slightly knitting.
  1824. >"Hm?"
  1825. >She looks up, seeing you standing right in front of her.
  1826. >Her eyes widen—as does her grin.
  1827. >"Golly, Nonny! Fancy seeing you here!"
  1828. >Her ever-chipper demeanour manages to be a glowing beacon within this hedge maze of gloom and grass.
  1829. "Uh, hey…"
  1830. >It also catches you completely unawares, so you take a second or so to fully respond:
  1831. "…Cozy."
  1832. >A wispy red vapour continuously emanates off her body and dissipates into the air; you feel as if you've seen this effect before—yet you can't recall when or where.
  1833. >You haven't seen this pegasus ever since she gave you that singular pink feather and threw you to the wolves.
  1834. >You're still quite sore about that.
  1835.  
  1836. >Furrowing your brows, you address her with a steely tone:
  1837. "It's been a while."
  1838. >"Mm, it has, hasn't it?" she cheerfully answers.
  1839. >You feel conflicted.
  1840. >A lot of the enmity that you expected to feel towards this duplicitous mare is just…not there.
  1841. >Perhaps it's because your resentment has faded with time, just like it did with Flurry.
  1842. >Or perhaps it's because this mare isn't a mare at all—
  1843. >She's a filly.
  1844. >What happened to her?
  1845. >"Then again…"
  1846. >Cozy sets the unfinished wreath held within her hooves down to her left side.
  1847. >She then gives you an inquisitive tilt of the head.
  1848. >"…has it really been *that* long?"
  1849. >You blink at her, confused.
  1850. "Huh? What do you mean?"
  1851. >She slowly lifts a forehoof and opens her mouth.
  1852. >However, she soon closes it, instead opting to thoughtfully twirl her hoof in the air.
  1853. >"Hm…"
  1854. >After giving her fetlock a few rotations, she flashes you a grin.
  1855. >"Never mind, just thinking out loud."
  1856. >She's as ambiguous as always.
  1857. >Cozy reaches her forehoof into her box of truffles, and she soon pulls a confection out from its confines.
  1858. >She then presents said chocolate to you.
  1859. >"Would you like a truffle?"
  1860. >You ponder that delicious treat for a second, before swiftly shaking your head.
  1861. "No thanks. I'm trying to lose weight."
  1862. >Gotta stay fit for Flurry.
  1863. >"Is that so…?"
  1864. >Cozy's eyes flit down to your nondescript human physique.
  1865. >"Hm…"
  1866. >After ogling your robed body for a few seconds, her eyes flit back to her hoofheld treat.
  1867. >"Oh well, suit yourself!"
  1868. >She tosses the truffle into the air, catches it with her mouth, and sweetly savours it.
  1869. >Her contented chews are quiet enough to not be obnoxious, but loud enough to let you know exactly what it is you've just passed up on.
  1870. >Before you can lament the state of your sugar-based sobriety for a second longer, you decide to pose this filly a teensy little question:
  1871. "By the way, Cozy…"
  1872. >Her attentive eyes are now on you.
  1873. "…what happened to you? You're all tiny now."
  1874. >She blinks, one brow lifting.
  1875. >"I am?"
  1876. >Gulping her candy down, she checks out her youthful form.
  1877. >She extends her forehooves in front of her face, examines her flanks, stands up and does a little twirl, unfurls her wings and peruses her pubescent plumage—and she soon comes to a conclusion:
  1878. >"Golly!" Her eyes widen as she gives her left wing a tentative twist. "Wouldja look at that…"
  1879. >Did she really not know?
  1880. >Then again, it's not like there are any mirrors in this place.
  1881. >Cozy plants her tiny rump back onto the pedestal and picks up her incomplete flower crown with both forehooves.
  1882. >"Oh well, back to business, I suppose!"
  1883. >As she resumes work on her wreath, you cross your arms and lift an eyebrow.
  1884. "I figured you'd be a little more bothered by it than that."
  1885. >"These things happen all the time," she calmly answers with an indifferent shrug. "You get used to it."
  1886.  
  1887. >You blink a few times, unsure on how to take her complete nonchalance.
  1888. "They…do?"
  1889. >Well, *you've* certainly never been spontaneously de-aged.
  1890. >At least, not to your knowledge, anyway.
  1891. >"Oh, but enough about my size."
  1892. >After adding another rose to her wreath, she continues:
  1893. >"What brings you here, Nonny?"
  1894. >She suddenly lets out a light gasp, hoof on chest.
  1895. >"Don't tell me you came all this way to check up on sweet little Cozy Glow?"
  1896. >She playfully flutters her eyelashes at you.
  1897. >You curtly shake your head.
  1898. "Not exactly."
  1899. >She deflates.
  1900. >"Aw, phooey…"
  1901. >You cast a sweeping glance around your hedged-off surroundings before looking back to Cozy.
  1902. "I'm looking for Flurry Heart."
  1903. >"Flurry?"
  1904. >She picks up another rose.
  1905. >"Well, you're not gonna find her anywhere around here."
  1906. >She lets out a soft titter.
  1907. >"Golly, you've gone *way* off course, Nonny."
  1908. >Slumping your shoulders, you sigh out loud.
  1909. "You could say that again…"
  1910. >Tilting your head upwards, you purse your lips as you gaze at the night sky.
  1911. >Tonight's celestial canvas is one shrouded by countless clouds; only scant few stars are lucky enough to peek out from the murky veil and make known their dim presence.
  1912. >Even the moon itself struggles to break free from this opaque oppression; constrained by clouds though it may be, it nonetheless reflects what meagre radiance it can unto these dark lands.
  1913. "Feels like I'm far away from home," you muse.
  1914. >You spend the next several seconds staring up at the sky in silence.
  1915. >Wondering where Flurry could be.
  1916. >Wondering where the light has gone.
  1917. >"Oh, cheer up, Nonny!"
  1918. >Bringing your sights back down to earth, you see Cozy beaming at you.
  1919. >"After all, you've got little ol' me here to keep you company!"
  1920. "I suppose so."
  1921. >You cross your arms and suppress a shiver from the ever present cold.
  1922. "What brings you here, Cozy?"
  1923. >"Me?"
  1924. >She lowers both her wreath and her smile, expression growing more muted.
  1925. >"I just thought I'd visit some old acquaintances."
  1926. >You arch an eyebrow.
  1927. "'Acquaintances?'"
  1928. >Steadily twisting her upper body, she tosses a glance behind her seated position—and towards the two statues that share her pedestal:
  1929. >That bull-centaur and holey horse.
  1930. "Those statues?"
  1931. >She doesn't respond to your question, and so all you have to go on is that subtle half-smile upon her face.
  1932. >Her elegiac expression inspires intrigue, thus you pose another question:
  1933. "Are these guys friends of yours?"
  1934. >"Mm, I wouldn't say that."
  1935. >She takes a slow blink, leaving her eyes lidded.
  1936. >"Just two doofuses who got way in over their heads."
  1937. "Oh."
  1938. >Come to think of it, you never considered the possibility that these statues could in fact be based on real individuals.
  1939. >If that's the case, you wonder what they're like.
  1940. >You assume they're still out there, somewhere—given that Cozy is apparently familiar with them.
  1941. >"Would you like to join them?" she suddenly asks, directing her curious scarlet gaze towards you.
  1942.  
  1943. "Uh…"
  1944. >You have no idea how to answer that.
  1945. "…about the 'getting way in over my head' part, or…?"
  1946. >She lightly titters.
  1947. >"Here, why don't I give you something to commemorate the occasion?"
  1948. >With that, she begins rifling through her stack of roses.
  1949. >And with that, she leaves yet another question dodged.
  1950. >This mare—or filly, as she is right now—remains a maelstrom of mesmeric mystery and unanswered queries.
  1951. >You can only guess what she's going to do next.
  1952. >Wait, didn't she say she was gonna give you something?
  1953. >"Oh, here it is!" she exclaims.
  1954. >Hiding both forehooves behind her back, Cozy flutters up off the pedestal and slowly hovers towards you.
  1955. "Hm?"
  1956. >Once she draws close enough, she unveils both her hooves and her hidden object—
  1957. >By way of slipping a red rose into the upper left pocket of your bathrobe.
  1958. >"There ya go!" She perkily pats your pocket and beams at you.
  1959. >You blankly blink at your new attachment.
  1960. "…Huh."
  1961. >Another "gift" from her, it seems.
  1962. >First a feather, now a flower.
  1963. >You throw a unimpressed glance down at your winged benefactor.
  1964. "And will *this* help me turn the tables on Flurry?" you phrase your question with a rhetorical tone.
  1965. >She casts you a confused blink.
  1966. >Then, her face curls into a coy grin.
  1967. >"Aw, come on, Nonny…"
  1968. >Floating upwards, she cordially rests her right forehoof upon your left shoulder.
  1969. >"…you're not still mad at me about the whole 'envelope' thing, are you?"
  1970. >Furrowing your brows, you coldly brush her hoof away.
  1971. "I might be."
  1972. >She flutters backwards, giving you some distance.
  1973. >"But just look at how well things worked out for you both!"
  1974. >She gesticulates with her forehooves, pointing and waving them towards this and there.
  1975. >"*You* get to live life like a pampered royal, and *Flurry* finally gets somepony who's willing to devote every second of his day towards keeping her entertained!"
  1976. >You lightly shake your head.
  1977. "'Willing' is a very strong word," you say, sucking in the side of your lip.
  1978. >She titters into a forehoof.
  1979. >"Maybe, but am I wrong?"
  1980. >Placing both forehooves on her hips, she stares straight at you.
  1981. >"I might not have hoofed you the revenge you wanted, but in a way—I helped you achieve something *much* better; wouldn't you agree?"
  1982. >Taken aback by her piercing statement and sharp eyes, you find yourself breaking eye contact and looking away.
  1983. "I…I guess," you grumble to the side.
  1984. >As much as you hate to admit it—this pegasus has a point.
  1985.  
  1986. >After all, it's partially thanks to Cozy's meddlesome meddling that you and Flurry have grown so close.
  1987. >You recall something that Flurry had confided in you once your bond had deepened:
  1988. >Apparently, it was at Cozy's subtle suggestion that Flurry made the decision to forcefully indenture you as her personal manservant.
  1989. >By your princess's own recollection, Cozy had buttered her bestie up with such choice lines as:
  1990. >'Golly, wouldn't it be swell if you had that human around to serve your every need~?'
  1991. >'Oh, don'tcha know? His kind was basically *born* to be domesticated—why, I heard that he doesn't even have any rights here in the Crystal Empire~!'
  1992. >'Really, you'd be doing him a royal *favour* by asserting your rightful ownership over him~'
  1993. >…Hm.
  1994. >Perhaps "subtle" isn't the best word to describe Cozy's sledgehammer of a sales pitch.
  1995. >In any case, Flurry clearly took her bestie's speech straight to heart, because not long after that, she came to visit your parlour for a second time—and the rest is history.
  1996. >You were promptly saddled with a royal pain, both day in and day out.
  1997. >And yet, what began as a burdensome bond to a prissy princess soon became a lavish life within an opulent castle.
  1998. >Flurry might be an incredibly needy mistress, but she's also one who makes very little effort to hide her utter infatuation with you—which is something you've come to find quite endearing.
  1999. >All things considered, you can't really complain about your current lot in life.
  2000. >What you *can* do, though, is let out a sober sigh.
  2001. >Because this introspection has hit you with a stark realisation as to what your "partner's" mendacious motives could be.
  2002. "So, was this your plan all along, Cozy?"
  2003. >You turn your gaze back to her fluttering form.
  2004. "To play wingmare for your best friend?"
  2005. >Ears perked up, she lifts her right forehoof and rubs her chin in thought.
  2006. >"Hm…"
  2007. >She then blithely shakes her head.
  2008. >"No, not really."
  2009. >She shrugs at you with a carefree smile upon her face.
  2010. >"I just thought it'd be funny."
  2011. >You blink, dumbfounded.
  2012. "H-huh?"
  2013. >She…what?
  2014. >She did it all on a lark?
  2015. >Is she fucking with you?
  2016. >…
  2017. >The filly in front of you refuses to elaborate further.
  2018.  
  2019. >At this point, you can't even bring yourself to be mad at her; you've become numb to your own consternation.
  2020. >Instead, you address her with the pithiest statement imaginable:
  2021. "You're strange."
  2022. >She leans forward, black pupils widening.
  2023. >"Do you like strange?"
  2024. "Uh…"
  2025. >Another one of her cryptic questions, you figure.
  2026. >Or perhaps she's simply asking for your honest thoughts on her bifacial behaviour.
  2027. >In either case, you figure the answer that she best deserves is a non-committal one:
  2028. "It's…okay, I guess."
  2029. >She giggles.
  2030. >"I'll take it."
  2031. >She flutters back over the pedestal and sits her butt back down in her usual spot.
  2032. >"So…"
  2033. >She looks up at you.
  2034. >"…whaddaya wanna do, Nonny?"
  2035. >You arch an eyebrow.
  2036. "Hm?"
  2037. >"Wanna stay here and hang out with me in this creepy maze?" She excitedly clasps her forehooves together. "Oh! We could share spooky stories! I've got a great one about this mean old goat!"
  2038. >She slyly gestures towards her box of chocolate confections, taking on a singsong tone:
  2039. >"And it so happens that there's just enough truffles for the two of us~"
  2040. >Your sugary cravings once again threaten to creep up on you—but you swiftly shake such piggish pangs away.
  2041. "I-I already told you—I'm on a diet."
  2042. >Fluttering her eyelids, she playfully bats a hoof your way.
  2043. >"Oh, I won't tell if you won't~"
  2044. >She retrieves a truffle and holds it out to you.
  2045. >As your eyes fall upon that sweet and sinful sugary treat, you gulp.
  2046. >This pink filly is a winged seductress of everything you hold dear.
  2047. >The labyrinthian maze that you find yourself in must have been one solely constructed to contain her devilish wiles.
  2048. >You must not stay here any longer—lest she tempt you into further depravity.
  2049. >Hastily clearing your throat, you address her:
  2050. "I-I really have to go. Need to find Flurry. Yeah."
  2051. >She retracts her hoof, face falling into a slight frown.
  2052. >"Aw, okay."
  2053. >She pops the truffle into her mouth and savours it in your stead.
  2054. >"Do you—*nom*—know where to go?"
  2055. "Oh, uh…"
  2056. >You cast a few uncertain glances towards both of the archways in this maze's clearing.
  2057. "…no, not really."
  2058. >She titters.
  2059. >"If you want to—*nom*—find Flurry, then you've got to—*nom*—think about her!"
  2060. >She gulps down her truffle, throws up her forelegs, and beams at you.
  2061. >"That's how this place works!"
  2062. "'This place,' huh…?"
  2063. >A magical maze that's beholden to your deepest desires?
  2064. >Once again, it just doesn't sound real.
  2065. >Nothing about this place does.
  2066.  
  2067. >With these existential thoughts now bubbling to the surface, you ask the filly before you a sobering question:
  2068. "Cozy, am I dreaming right now?"
  2069. >Lowering her forelegs and resting them by her sides, she regards you with both a curious glance and a tilted head.
  2070. >"If you were, would I say yes? Or would I say no?"
  2071. >Answering a question with a question—how very Cozy.
  2072. "You'd…um…"
  2073. >You squint your eyes, putting forward your best efforts in trying to decipher her spoken conundrum.
  2074. "…you'd give me the right answer, I hope."
  2075. >Cozy thoughtfully rests her chin on one forehoof.
  2076. >"The 'right' answer, hm…"
  2077. >You are quickly coming to realise that whatever "answer" she decides to give you is just going to invite further confusion.
  2078. "Actually, hold that thought, Cozy."
  2079. >Better for you to simply disengage.
  2080. "I better get going. Flurry is waiting for me."
  2081. >You scratch the back of your neck.
  2082. "At least, I think she is. Just a feeling I get."
  2083. >Cozy gives you an enthusiastic nod.
  2084. >"Why, she certainly is, Nonny!"
  2085. >She holds one hoof up to her chest, speaking with a dramatic tone:
  2086. >"The lovestruck princess long awaits her promised prince!"
  2087. >You roll your eyes at her theatrics.
  2088. "'Promised prince,' wouldn't go that far…" you mumble.
  2089. >Taking a small step back, you straighten your bathrobe—as well as the rose now held within its upper left pocket.
  2090. "Anyway, thanks for giving me a lead on where to go, Cozy. I appreciate it."
  2091. >Assuming she was telling you the truth, at any rate.
  2092. >Cozy waves you off with a smile.
  2093. >"Oh, there's no need to thank me."
  2094. >She picks up her unfinished wreath and peers into its opening.
  2095. >"After all, the real Cozy Glow wouldn't care about any of this."
  2096. >You blink.
  2097. "The real—"
  2098. >You swiftly shake your head, unwilling to get caught up in another one of her mind games.
  2099. "You know what, never mind. See ya."
  2100. >You wave to her, ready to put this curious conversation behind you.
  2101. >She peppily waves back, and so you turn to leave.
  2102. >While taking great care not to trample any colourful flowers underfoot, you make your way over to the northern archway of this clearing—it's the one that you didn't come through.
  2103. >As you do so, you can hear the filly behind you start up her melodious hums once more:
  2104. >"Hm-hm, hm-hm-hm better way to be bad~"
  2105. >What a catchy tune.
  2106.  
  2107. >…
  2108. >Back within the narrow passages of this foggy hedge maze, you turn your thoughts back to Flurry.
  2109. >Apparently, simply thinking of your princess will lead you straight to her.
  2110. >It's a long shot, to be certain—but it's better than nothing.
  2111. >You think of her light-pink coat…
  2112. >Her soft peppery kisses…
  2113. >Her light-blue eyes…
  2114. >Her sublimely fluffy wings…
  2115. >Her light-yellow magic…
  2116. >Magic practise…
  2117. >God, the two of you are going to be so out of it when you wake up tomorrow morning.
  2118. >Unless this actually *is* a dream.
  2119. >If that's the case, you hope this aimless wandering counts as sleeping.
  2120. >…
  2121. "'Promised prince,' huh…"
  2122. >You're still thinking of that grandiose title.
  2123. >It's not bad.
  2124. >You soon find yourself standing before two identical pathways; one on the left, and one on the right.
  2125. >Just before you pick one at random, you notice something peculiar:
  2126. >The right path has a light-blue hydrangea sprouting out from the hedge wall.
  2127. >It's just a flower, but it intrigues you all the same.
  2128. >So you decide to go down the right path.
  2129.  
  2130. >…
  2131. >The hydrangeas are steadily increasing in number.
  2132. >What had started as a singular flower shyly peeking out of the brambly bushes has now become a repeated assortment of light-blue blooms dotting the hedges around you.
  2133. >Whenever you find yourself at a crossroads, you note how one pathway will always have a higher concentration of hydrangeas than the others—and so, that's the route you end up taking.
  2134. >You follow the blue blossoms—thus the blue blossoms follow you.
  2135. >If this was a horror movie, you suspect that this'd be the part where some floral-based cryptid suddenly bursts out of the hedges and attempts to devour your flesh.
  2136. >…
  2137. "Why on earth did I think that."
  2138. >Trimming your intrusive thoughts to a manageable level, you instead focus on the flowers—and on Flurry.
  2139. >The flowers around you smell sugary sweet; they remind you of her.
  2140. >Not much longer now, you reckon.
  2141.  
  2142. >…
  2143. >As per usual, you find yourself travelling down a narrow passageway lined with blue flowers.
  2144. >You feel neither tired nor worried.
  2145. >You simply are—
  2146. >Walking.
  2147. >Giving your legs a good workout.
  2148. >Putting your shoes through their paces.
  2149. >Much like your bathrobe, your shoes are custom-made—hoofcrafted with top-of-the-line, breathable pleather.
  2150. >They're quite comfy.
  2151. >You remember having these ones tailored shortly after Flurry had vassalised you.
  2152. >It did take some convincing on your part, as your princess was initially against the matter of you wearing shoes—or even socks.
  2153. >She never explained why she wanted you to stay barefoot—she was strangely cagey on the matter.
  2154. >But thankfully, and eventually, she relented—granting you the good graces to keep your oh-so-sensitive feet protected from what lies beneath.
  2155. >Reaching the end of your current passageway, you turn the corner and…
  2156. >…
  2157. >Your hydrangeas have lead you to a dead end.
  2158. >Well, no, not exactly.
  2159. >Because you can see a dark-blue wooden door affixed against the hedge at the far end—the very same kind that you've seen time and time before back at the Crystal Castle.
  2160. >Steadily pacing up to it, you note that it emits a pale-blue light from its gaps.
  2161. >You examine the emblematic carving engraved upon the door's front panel:
  2162. >It depicts a large love heart.
  2163. >You nod to yourself, already having a pretty good idea of where this door might lead.
  2164. >After bidding a final farewell to this leafy maze of hedged walls, you decide to take the familiar path that lies before you.
  2165. >You open that dark-blue door, throwing wide the gates to a pulsing blue brilliance.
  2166. >It warmly envelops you, shrouding each and every one of your senses.
  2167. >And thus the light consumes you once more.
  2168.  
  2169. *** 24 ***
  2170.  
  2171. >This feeling of weightless transportation adrift an ethereal flow is not one you ever see yourself getting used to.
  2172. >For a brief moment, you wonder if this is what teleportation feels like.
  2173. >And in the very next moment, you find yourself being unceremoniously deposited on the other side of this magical door.
  2174. >Just like last time, your senses slowly return to you.
  2175. >You hear…nothing.
  2176. >You smell the familiar fragrance of soothing lavender.
  2177. >You feel smooth, solid flooring beneath your feet.
  2178. >You open your eyes.
  2179. >And you see that you are once again back in the Crystal Castle.
  2180. >The world around you is tinted a dreamy blue, just like it was before.
  2181. >Home sweet home, in a way.
  2182. >Turning around, you check out the closed door behind you:
  2183. >The carving on the upper panel depicts a bunch of brambles.
  2184. >Yeah. You're not going back in there.
  2185. >Performing another swift one-eighty, you take a good look at your immediate surroundings:
  2186. >Currently, you stand in the middle of a wide hallway, one that happens to be blessed with an abundance of breathing room.
  2187. >Yeah, you do *not* miss those tight passageways back in that hedge maze—not one bit.
  2188. >Turning your head, you see that the path extending to your right heads deeper into these labyrinthian halls.
  2189. >Turning your head again, you see that the path extending to your left leads off into a room of some kind.
  2190. >…
  2191. >Wait a minute. You recognise that room—it's the upper foyer.
  2192. >That should be a good place to get your bearings and figure out your next course of action, you think.
  2193. >Thus, you turn left and head down the hall, steadily making your way towards said foyer.
  2194. >The lonely clunks of your shoes hitting the crystal floor echo throughout these halls.
  2195. >As far as you can see and hear, you are the sole inhabitant within these walls.
  2196. >Gone are the lively hydrangeas of the hedge maze, and gone is that enigmatic little filly who loved to befuddle you so.
  2197. >All you have are your own footsteps to keep you company.
  2198.  
  2199. >Eventually, you reach the foyer; it is a small yet tall anteroom that leads off in multiple directions.
  2200. >The direct centre of this foyer's light-blue crystal floor features a standout pattern engraved into the surface: a compass rose with far too many points to count.
  2201. >On the opposite end of this room, you see another hallway that looks near-identical to the one you came in through.
  2202. >On your left, you see a low crystal archway that leads to a wide, expansive stairwell.
  2203. >Some stairs go up, some go down—others go all around and loop back.
  2204. >The more you look at it, the more it resembles an Escher painting, so you look away—lest you lose whatever tenuous grip on reality you have left.
  2205. >On your right, you see the rest of the foyer—including the far end.
  2206. >The long walls of this rectangular room are lined with comfy couches and jagged crystal pillars.
  2207. >Fuzzy paintings featuring indistinct figures hang from the blue crystal walls; some of them are undoubtedly equine, while others almost appear…human?
  2208. >Strange.
  2209. >The far end of this foyer features a curtained archway.
  2210. >The archway leads off into a balcony that overlooks the crystal city.
  2211. >Standing where you are right now, you catch a glimpse of the night sky—
  2212. >And a pony sitting by the far end of the balcony railing.
  2213. >They face away from you, their attention focused squarely on the city that lies below.
  2214. >As for their appearance, well…
  2215. >They are an alicorn—one who is familiar, yet also not.
  2216. >Their seated stature places them as being far larger than either of the two alicorns you've come to know.
  2217. >Their wavy mane—which you had first assumed to be billowing in the breeze—appears to flow of its own accord; translucently ethereal, those ghostly locks perpetually undulate in the air, making gentle waves akin to that of a deep blue sea.
  2218. >Their vibrant colours, utterly unmuted by the blue overture that coats this castle, beg a closer examination.
  2219. >And so you cautiously step forward, moving through the royal foyer, under the curtained archway—and onto the castle balcony.
  2220.  
  2221. >As your shoes move from blue crystal onto white marble, a cool, comforting breeze brushes across your face, briefly rustling your bathrobe and hair both.
  2222. >The alicorn before your eyes does not make the slightest reaction to your approach—their ears don't even twitch.
  2223. >And now that you're standing only a short distance behind their body, you take the opportunity to further scrutinise this alicorn's majestic appearance:
  2224. >Compared to the somewhat portable proportions that you've come to known ponykind for, this magical equine is far taller than what you're used to; they're about as tall as a horse—and just as wide.
  2225. >Their radiant coat is light pink, and their flowing mane—which manages to look even more otherworldly up close—is mostly a mixture of purples and pinks; an arctic-blue streak runs along the mane's middle, steadily undulating up and down along with the rest of this ghostly weave.
  2226. >The mane itself literally glitters with celestial activity; short-lived sparkles rapidly materialise all across those intangible locks—and disappear just as quickly.
  2227. >You note that their tail—which currently lies slack against the floor and curls slightly to the left—shares similar ethereal properties to their mane.
  2228. >Befitting their noble splendour, they wear a suitably splendid set of royal regalia: silver hoof shoes, a silver crown, and a crystal crown atop their head.
  2229. >Their cutie mark depicts the Crystal Heart—blue and resplendent.
  2230. >Stealthily stepping over their tail and moving over to their left side, you gaze up at their face, noting that their forelock is styled in a familiarly swirly curl.
  2231. >You examine the alicorn's eyes:
  2232. >Light-blue irises, bright-pink pupils.
  2233. >Lost in deep thought.
  2234. >They are…undeniably female.
  2235. >Undeniably her.
  2236. >Taking a silent breath, you speak up:
  2237. "Flurry."
  2238. >"Ah—!"
  2239. >Her eyes shoot open.
  2240. >She swiftly swivels her head and looks your way.
  2241. >And her eyes somehow manage to widen even further.
  2242. >"Oh! Mast—"
  2243. >Gracefully clearing her throat into a raised forehoof, she continues:
  2244. >"—Anonymous. You finally made it here, I see."
  2245. >She addresses you in a dignified manner, yet you can't help but notice the giddy shine within her eyes.
  2246. >She's even referring to you by your actual name instead of your pet moniker—how very quaint of her.
  2247. "Yeah."
  2248. >She almost referred to you by something else, too; you wonder what it was.
  2249. >That wondering can wait, though.
  2250. >It sounds like Flurry was expecting you.
  2251. "Um, sorry if I kept you waiting."
  2252. >Rubbing the back of your head, you cast a brief glance towards the balcony entrance.
  2253. "I got a bit lost back there."
  2254. >Standing up, she turns her whole horsey body to face you—and in doing so, her regal demeanour is quickly replaced with a cheerily chipper countenance.
  2255. >"Oh, it's okay!" she brightly replies. "Actually, I was planning to come get you soon enough."
  2256.  
  2257. >Her face soon gives way to a concerned frown as she slowly looks you over.
  2258. >"But…what was it—you said you got lost?" She leans forward, eyes sparkling with concern. "What happened?"
  2259. "J-just…"
  2260. >You take a moment to finish your response, still reeling from the close-up sight of your princess's newfound height.
  2261. >She's tall enough to stand at eye level with you now.
  2262. "…just found myself having gone a little off course, is all."
  2263. >Brows knitting and ears jolting up, she opens her mouth to speak—
  2264. >You quickly raise both palms up to your chest and give her a reassuring smile.
  2265. "But don't worry; everything's cool now. Someone was kind enough to point me in the right direction."
  2266. >"Huh?" She tilts her head. "Someone…pony?"
  2267. >You nod, patting the upper left pocket of your bathrobe with your right hand.
  2268. "Let's just say I had a helping hoof," you say with a smile.
  2269. >"You did?" she asks, somewhat incredulous.
  2270. >Her eyes then drift down to the rose in your bathrobe pocket.
  2271. >She blinks.
  2272. >"Huh…I see."
  2273. >Her eyes flit to your right hand.
  2274. >"Ah!" she suddenly gasps. "Y-your finger…"
  2275. "Hm?"
  2276. >You look down at your hand:
  2277. >The tip of your right index finger is stained a dull red.
  2278. >Dried blood.
  2279. >…Ah. This must have been from when you had pricked your finger on that brambly bush back in the hedge maze.
  2280. >A warm light-yellow aura quickly envelops your entire hand as Flurry carefully lifts your fleshy appendage up into the air.
  2281. >Your larger-than-usual princess then gazes at your bloodied finger with quivering pupils and pursed lips.
  2282. "U-um, Flurry…"
  2283. >You make a gentle attempt to pull your hand out of her magic—alas, it comes to no avail.
  2284. "…it's fine. It's just a flesh wou—"
  2285. >"No, Anon, it's not fine," she swiftly rebuts you. "Even in a place like this, I…"
  2286. >She gives a light shake of her head and fixes upon you with a stern stare.
  2287. >"Hold still."
  2288. >You dare not refute her—not when her expression is this solemnly dire.
  2289. >Flurry bends down her neck while simultaneously lifting your hand up to her snout.
  2290. >Once your limb and her face are mere inches apart, she closes her eyes and quietly sniffs at your finger.
  2291. >With how close she is right now, you can't help but notice how much more longer and pointed her muzzle has become—it's a snout truly befitting her new horsey size.
  2292. >"Hm…"
  2293. >After sniffing your digit for a bit, Flurry parts her lips and extends out her tongue.
  2294. >She then tentatively laps at your finger.
  2295. >"Mlm…mlm…mlm…"
  2296. >Her shy laps soon turn to swirling licks as she wraps up your whole finger within the coils of her long, flexible horse tongue—completely lathering your digit with her slimy saliva.
  2297. >You sharply purse your own lips, making not a sound.
  2298. >"Mm…mlm…mmph…mlm…hff…"
  2299. >Flurry, on the other hand, makes many sounds—throaty groans and huffy hums.
  2300. >You're…not sure how to react.
  2301. >You knew that she cared deeply for you, but you certainly didn't expect her to do *this.*
  2302. >When did your princess get so…lewd?
  2303.  
  2304. >Several suckly seconds pass, and Flurry finally releases your finger from her muscly coils, retracting her tongue back into her mouth.
  2305. >She slowly opens her eyes, leaving them half-lidded.
  2306. >Leaning in, she plants a plush peck upon your saliva-drenched finger cut.
  2307. >*Mwah*
  2308. >Pulling back, she eyes your finger for a brief second, and then nods to herself with a slight hum:
  2309. >"Mhm."
  2310. >Fully opening her eyes, she faces you.
  2311. >"There," she addresses you, tone somewhat breathy. "Your boo-boo should get better now."
  2312. >You awkwardly clear your throat, feeling no small amount of whiplash over how quickly your princess can shift from saucy finger fellatio to sweet baby talk.
  2313. "M-my boo-boo, right…"
  2314. >Flurry releases her magical hold on your hand.
  2315. >Her lips then curl upwards into a serene smile, satisfied that she's soothed you most succulently.
  2316. >Shakily pulling your hand back, you silently examine your slathered finger.
  2317. >Thanks to her carelessly aggressive lickjob, she has washed all the dried blood off your wound—thus reopening it.
  2318. >Not that it bothers you that much; it's an incredibly small cut, only tingling a bit in the breeze.
  2319. >Just air it out some more, and it'll be…
  2320. "…hm?"
  2321. >It's closing up.
  2322. >Slowly but surely, you can see that speck of red being gradually replaced with your natural skin tone.
  2323. >A few blinks later, and it's as if you never got pricked at all.
  2324. "Huh."
  2325. >Does horse saliva have healing properties?
  2326. >Maybe, maybe not.
  2327. >Does magical pony princess saliva have healing properties?
  2328. >Quite possibly.
  2329. >However, it's more likely that she chose to stealthily cast a mending spell on you while your hand was encased within her magic.
  2330. >Why would your proud and noble princess resort to such magical subterfuge, you ask?
  2331. >Probably just to see if she could.
  2332. >It certainly wasn't because she wanted an excuse to smuttily suckle on your finger, no siree.
  2333. >…
  2334. >Anyway.
  2335. "Um, okay…"
  2336. >After flexing your right hand a little more, you let your arm hang limp by your side.
  2337. "…I suppose now's as good a time as any to address the alicorn on the balcony."
  2338. >Flurry sits down on her haunches, ears perked attentively.
  2339. >"Yes?"
  2340. >Resting your left hand upon the gilded handrail, you look your horse-sized princess in the eye.
  2341. "You're tall."
  2342. >She blinks.
  2343. >And then softly titters.
  2344. >"I am."
  2345. >You choose your next words with a delicate precision:
  2346. "Why are you tall?"
  2347.  
  2348. >"Well…"
  2349. >She lifts a foreleg and twirls her hoof about in the air, staring at it as she does.
  2350. >"…one day, I'm going to grow into this size."
  2351. >You nod with some amount of understanding.
  2352. "One day, huh…"
  2353. >You then arch an eyebrow.
  2354. "So, why do you look like that right now?"
  2355. >She slowly lowers her hoof.
  2356. >"This is only a temporary transformation."
  2357. "Oh, I see."
  2358. >Flurry walks over to the right.
  2359. >You stay put, pondering her new appearance:
  2360. >From changing someone's age to turning doors into teleporters, it seems that if you have enough magic—you can do just about anything in this fantastical horse land.
  2361. >"Hey, Anon!" your princess calls out to you. "Take a look at this!"
  2362. >Turning over to your right, you see Flurry standing in the dead centre of the balcony platform; she's currently facing you.
  2363. >Once your eyes fall upon her full-bodied form, her grin widens and her tail wags.
  2364. >She steadily unfurls her left wing, extending her feathers as far as they can go.
  2365. >Then, she gives her fluffy plumage a few playful flaps; playful though they might be—her wingbeats are powerful enough to produce a noticeable gale over on her left side.
  2366. >Satisfied with her flappy flexing, she pulls her wing over to her front.
  2367. >Keeping her gaze fixed on you, she lifts her wing just high enough that it covers her face from the snout down.
  2368. >And with the bottom half of her visage now veiled by her vanes, she seductively flutters her eyelids your way.
  2369. >No matter her current size, the sight of your princess acting in such a flirty manner sends a saucy shiver running up your spine.
  2370. >Said sauciness causes you to nervously adjust your bathrobe collar and puff out a breath of heated air to the side.
  2371. >Flurry mirthfully titters into her feathers upon witnessing your clearly flustered self:
  2372. >"Hm-hm-hm~!"
  2373. >She then lowers her wing, soon folding it back into her left side.
  2374. >With a confident smirk upon her face, she adopts a slightly wider stance and whips her ethereal tail out behind her body.
  2375. >Could that be her battle stance?
  2376. >Before you can speculate any further, she suddenly rears up on her hindlegs, kicking her forelegs about in the air and letting out a loud horsey neigh.
  2377. >In this briefest of moments, her bipedal stance towers high above you, leaving you at a loss for words.
  2378. >She quickly lands back on all hooves and lets out a soft, snorty giggle; her girlish noises are a direct contrast to her distinctly equine ones.
  2379. >And once she's all giggled out, she shoots you a question with a wide grin on her face:
  2380. >"So, what do you think of my new body?"
  2381. >You blink.
  2382. "U-um."
  2383. >You are still at a loss for words.
  2384. >Wait. No. The words are coming back.
  2385. >She is majestic.
  2386. >Like a horse.
  2387.  
  2388. >…Do ponies like it when you call them horses?
  2389. >Part of you wonders if it might be considered a racially charged insult.
  2390. >You certainly wouldn't wanna be called a horse, at any rate.
  2391. >Then again, you're not a pony.
  2392. >You're an…uh…
  2393. >Shit. You're getting side-tracked. You better answer her.
  2394. "You're very, uh, big."
  2395. >She blankly blinks, initially unsure how to take your answer.
  2396. >"Big…?"
  2397. >After a couple of seconds, her face quickly puffs up into a pout.
  2398. >"H-hey! You better not be calling me fat, you…um…"
  2399. >She squints her eyes and scrunches her snout, trying her level best to spit out her next word:
  2400. >"…p-plebeian!"
  2401. >You snerk.
  2402. "Plebeian? Gotta say, I've never heard you call me that nickname in full."
  2403. >Her left ear flicks while her cheeks flush.
  2404. >"Y-yeah, well, there's a first time for everything!"
  2405. >Maintaining her indignant pout, she flicks her head to the side and shuts her eyes.
  2406. >"Hmph!"
  2407. "Eheh…" you awkwardly chuckle to yourself.
  2408. >Flurry's recent behaviour strikes you as somewhat strange.
  2409. >Pouting fits aside, she appears to be acting with almost zero inhibitions.
  2410. >An errant thought thus enters your pondering mind:
  2411. >Is she drunk?
  2412. >While you were wandering through a foggy hedge maze—could she have been rooting through the castle buttery?
  2413. >Whatever the case may be, you find her current comportment to be a curious one.
  2414. >And a cute one.
  2415. >Flurry's face is still fixed into a pout as she refuses to look at you.
  2416. >You really should fix your slip-up—drunk mare or not.
  2417. "Aw, hey, Flurry," you say, walking up to her. "I didn't mean to call you fat. That's not what I think of you at all."
  2418. >She briefly opens one of her eyes to look at you—before quickly closing it again.
  2419. "You just left me so speechless I couldn't find the proper words."
  2420. >Her eyes stay shut, but her ears stand at attention.
  2421. >You take that as your cue:
  2422. "You're, um, majestic, awe-inspiring, regalicious, big…"
  2423. >Shit, you said it again.
  2424. >Flurry opens an eye once more—this time lifting an inquisitive eyebrow.
  2425. >And so you quickly correct yourself:
  2426. "…b-big-hearted. Th-that's the one."
  2427. >She slowly blinks both of her eyes open.
  2428. >Then, her lips slyly curl upwards.
  2429. >"Hehe…"
  2430. >Her quiet giggles soon flare up into a snorted laugh.
  2431. >"'Big-hearted.' That's a good one."
  2432. >She's…amused.
  2433. >That's good, right?
  2434. >You'll take that.
  2435.  
  2436. "Y-yeah," you continue. "And I mean every word, too."
  2437. >You nervously rub your left shoulder with your right hand.
  2438. "So, um, are we cool?"
  2439. >She turns her head to face you and gives you a wide smile.
  2440. >"Mm-hmm, of course we are. I know you didn't mean to offend me."
  2441. >She titters.
  2442. >"I only wished to tease you a little, Master."
  2443. >Oh. It was merely a jest. That's—
  2444. >Wait.
  2445. "Did you just call me Master—"
  2446. >"—o-of plebs."
  2447. >She hastily clears her throat and glances to the side.
  2448. >"M-master of plebs. That's what I meant. Yes."
  2449. >An awkward silence hangs in the air.
  2450. >You look at her, she stares at the nearby handrail and nervously flicks her left ear.
  2451. >After a few seconds, you slowly speak up:
  2452. "…Right. Okay then."
  2453. >You *could* attempt to tease her over her little Freudian slip.
  2454. >But you wouldn't even know what to say.
  2455. >This whole situation just feels so alien to you.
  2456. >That hedge maze, this confusing castle, your princess—hell, even yourself.
  2457. >It's as if you've been purposely left out of an in-joke that everyone else is privy to.
  2458. >You feel lost.
  2459. >So very lost.
  2460. >"H-hey, Anon."
  2461. >You look back at Flurry Heart.
  2462. >She's currently casting you a shy smile.
  2463. >It's an uncertain expression, yes.
  2464. >But it's also a sincere one.
  2465. >You can see it in her honest eyes, her twitching ears, and her quivering lips.
  2466. >Her genuine gingerliness is enough to strengthen your tenuous grasp on this dreamlike reality—if only for a moment.
  2467. "Yeah?" you ask.
  2468. >"There's something that I've been meaning to do with this body, and…I was hoping you could indulge me."
  2469. >You quirk a curious eyebrow.
  2470. >She wants you to 'indulge' her 'body?'
  2471. >Your mind immediately goes to prurient places.
  2472. >You try your best to cast those thoughts aside.
  2473. "Wh-what is it?"
  2474. >"I…"
  2475. >She looks past you and peers over the railing.
  2476. >"I wish to take you on a tour of the city."
  2477. "The city…"
  2478. >You turn around, catching a glimpse of those shining streets, illuminated by moonlight and streetlamps both.
  2479. >Flurry mumbles from behind you:
  2480. >"This new body of mine should be strong enough to…um…"
  2481. >You can hear her hesitation.
  2482. >Turning around, you can now *see* her hesitation.
  2483. >Nonetheless, she continues, as if seeing your face is giving her the drive she needs to finish her sentence:
  2484. >"…strong enough to carry you on my back."
  2485. >You blink, eyes trailing along your pony princess's horse-sized spine.
  2486. "You mean, like, riding you?"
  2487. >She shakily nods.
  2488. >"Y-yes."
  2489. >She closes her eyes and takes a deep, bracing breath; in through her nostrils, out through her mouth.
  2490. >When she opens her eyes again, she gazes at you with a shimmering earnestness.
  2491. >"I would like that. Very much."
  2492.  
  2493. >Your prissy princess has just expressed one of her barest desires to you—and in doing so, she fully exposes her vulnerable heart as she anxiously awaits your response.
  2494. >Despite being nearly twice her usual size, Flurry is just as sensitive as you remember.
  2495. >And just as loveable.
  2496. >When you made the decision to set out from the pink comforts of the royal duvet, you did so with the express intent of bringing your princess back to her bedchamber.
  2497. >But now, you find yourself being overcome with a sudden change of plans.
  2498. >After all, even if this mare wasn't your mistress, you'd have to have a heart of hail to reject her honest hopes.
  2499. >Your ankles may be freezing—but your emotions certainly aren't.
  2500. "Sure," you answer her with a smile, "why not. Let's check out the city together."
  2501. >Flurry lets out a breathless gasp, and she gazes at you with subtle shock, unsure of how to respond.
  2502. >But soon, a wide smile flashes across her face.
  2503. >Her excited expression is quickly followed up by a polite bow of her head.
  2504. >"Thank you, Anon."
  2505. >She's being very courteous tonight.
  2506. >Once again: highly peculiar.
  2507. >But perhaps peculiarity isn't such a bad thing.
  2508. "So, um…"
  2509. >Taking a few steps to the right, you platonically check out her left flank.
  2510. "…how do we do this? Do I just get on your back or…?"
  2511. >She lifts her head and hums in thought.
  2512. >"Well…"
  2513. >She shoots you a confident grin.
  2514. >"…we won't know until we try, will we?"
  2515. >You recognise that particular brand of confidence—it's the kind that says "I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm gonna do it anyway."
  2516. >You've fallen prey to that look many times before.
  2517. >…
  2518. >And you shall continue to fall prey to it many times more.
  2519. >Flurry steadily lowers her body down to her knees and hocks.
  2520. >Once she's done that, she flashes you an giddily expectant look.
  2521. >"Okay, mount me!"
  2522. >You suppress a gulp at her double entendre.
  2523. "G-got it."
  2524.  
  2525. >You carefully step over to the left side of her crouched form.
  2526. >And with a cautious eye, you gaze over the long length of her horsey back, which is boldly broad in its bareness.
  2527. >No saddle. No stirrup. No reins.
  2528. >Just her.
  2529. >You've never ridden any kind of equine before.
  2530. >There's a first time for everything, you suppose.
  2531. >Gently resting your right hand upon her withers and gingerly looping your right leg over her body, you straddle her back.
  2532. >Your feet still touch the balcony floor, but you can feel the pulsing warmth of her body underneath yours;
  2533. >Your bare thighs brushing up against her soft coat.
  2534. >The firm tautness of her rippling muscle;
  2535. >And her bony pony spine.
  2536. >For the most part, your princess's bare back carries a curious comfort within it—one that invites you to cast aside your worries and enjoy this intimate moment for what it is.
  2537. >"W-wow…" Flurry sputters out. "This feels weird."
  2538. "Y-yeah."
  2539. >The feeling is indeed mutual.
  2540. "But hey," you continue, "you're the one who wanted to do it."
  2541. >You give her withers a few tender pats, softly admonishing her with your affection.
  2542. >"Hehe," she giggles, "you're right."
  2543. >You can feel her strong horsey muscles ripple underneath your body as she shakily makes to stand up.
  2544. >Through her ascension, your legs are steadily lifted up alongside her, and your feet are soon left dangling in the air adjacent to her forelegs.
  2545. >It feels as if you're sitting and floating at the same time.
  2546. >Flurry's legs wobble as she slowly adjusts to your weight upon her back.
  2547. >"Wh-whoa…heavy…"
  2548. >After straightening your back, you address her with a wry tone:
  2549. "Oh, so now *I'm* the fat one, eh?"
  2550. >Her ears slightly fold back.
  2551. >"Wha—n-no! I didn't mean that! I…um…"
  2552. >As she trails off, you let out a light chuckle.
  2553. "Relax, Flurry. I know you didn't mean it."
  2554. >A cheeky grin creeps up on your face as you stroke her neck with your right hand.
  2555. "After all, I only wished to tease you a little, 'Master.'"
  2556. >Her ears go from shyly folded to shooting straight up.
  2557. >She tilts her head to look back at you and your snarky smile.
  2558. >Her eyes narrow, while her lips pout.
  2559. >"Mgrgr…" she grumbles.
  2560. >She makes the cutest angry noises.
  2561. >And hey, it could be a lot worse.
  2562. >You could've chosen to eat those chocolate truffles back in that maze.
  2563. >She would've had no chance in hell of bearing your weight then.
  2564.  
  2565. >"Okay…"
  2566. >She turns her head away from you and glances around the balcony.
  2567. >"…give me a few moments to get used to this."
  2568. "Gotcha," you reply.
  2569. >You keep your hands laxly trained around her withers, which are right in front of you.
  2570. >And with steady, tentative steps, Flurry walks around the balcony, ferrying you upon her broad back.
  2571. >The wide perimeter of this stone platform, barred by metal handrails, serves as her circular circuit.
  2572. >Closing your eyes and relaxing your hands, you listen to the careful clip-clops of her silver hoof shoes stepping across blue-tinted marble.
  2573. >Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
  2574. >These crisply clicky sounds come from four distinct angles, making it so that you can easily tell which leg she's using at any given moment.
  2575. >Left hindleg followed by left foreleg; right hindleg followed by right foreleg.
  2576. >And thus it repeats.
  2577. >Down, up. Down, up.
  2578. >Left, right. Left, right.
  2579. >There's a harmonious rhythm to her horsey movements—one that you've never had the chance to properly appreciate before.
  2580. >But now that you *are* appreciating it, you find it increasingly difficult to take your mind off of her graceful gait.
  2581. >Despite her inexperience in carrying a human—or, most likely, anything at all—atop her back, she has adapted to this added weight surprisingly quickly.
  2582. >And it's not just that which mesmerises you; there's something else, too.
  2583. >The longer you stay seated atop your princess, the more you can feel a curious calm coolly course throughout your body.
  2584. >It is a strange sensation, yet it's also a comforting one.
  2585. >It's like…you were meant to be together like this.
  2586. >A man riding atop his mare.
  2587. >Two bodies steadily attuning with one another until they become of the same mind.
  2588. >And…
  2589.  
  2590. >…
  2591. >You can feel another sensation steadily surge throughout your corporeal form—one that happens to be a mite less pleasant.
  2592. >Yes, every step she takes is indeed an elegant one, yet it also…
  2593. >Kinda hurts.
  2594. >Just a little bit.
  2595. >Down there.
  2596. "Um, Flurry," you shakily call out to her.
  2597. >She doesn't respond.
  2598. "Flurry?"
  2599. >Again, no response.
  2600. >Instead, she continues on in her circular cycle, keeping her ears forward.
  2601. >Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
  2602. >Crunch, crunch, crunch.
  2603. "G-guh…" you wince.
  2604. >No matter how you orient yourself, this uncomfortable feeling refuses to subside.
  2605. >It's hard to think of anything else but that.
  2606. >Thus, you call out to her once more:
  2607. "F-flurry—owow…"
  2608. >The clops don't stop.
  2609. >And this unpleasant sensation is very quickly becoming excruciatingly sharp.
  2610. >Left with very few options, you grab her ethereal mane and give it a light tug.
  2611. "Flurry!" you shout.
  2612. >"A-ah."
  2613. >She suddenly stops in place.
  2614. >The sharp stings cease, yet the dull pain remains.
  2615. >However, you can at least focus well enough to start contemplating whatever the hell it is you just did.
  2616. >Right now, you're holding onto Flurry purply-pink mane, having used it as makeshift reins in the spur of the moment.
  2617. >Her mane still feels undeniably like a mane, yet it manages to be smooth and sticky both at the same time—as if her luxuriously silky locks are gently clinging onto your hand of their own accord.
  2618. >It's kind of freaky, to be honest.
  2619. >And so you let go of her mane; thankfully, it "lets go" as well.
  2620. >"U-um."
  2621. >You see Flurry looking back at you with a pensive expression.
  2622. >"Sorry, Anon. I must have zoned out back there."
  2623. "It's, uh, fine."
  2624. >The dullness felt within your lower half inspires you to continue:
  2625. "C-could you set me down?"
  2626. >Her expression briefly tightens, but she nonetheless nods.
  2627. >"O-oh, okay."
  2628. >She gently lowers her knees and hocks down to the floor, and you dismount her body with a slight stumble on your part.
  2629. "Hff…" you hiss out in discomfort.
  2630. >You sorely rub your punished pelvis.
  2631. >Your jewels may be bruised—but fortunately, they're still very much functional.
  2632. >Standing up, Flurry eyes you with concern.
  2633. >"Is everything alright?"
  2634. >You're currently massaging your clothed crotch right in front of a full-grown princess.
  2635. >Your indecency knows no bounds.
  2636. >But never mind that.
  2637. "Y-yeah. For the most part."
  2638. >You sigh out into the air.
  2639. "Doesn't feel like anything permanent."
  2640. >She tilts her head.
  2641. >"'Permanent?'"
  2642. "Ah, it's…well…"
  2643. >Your eyes flit to her back.
  2644. "To be frank: it felt like I was getting kicked in the nuts every time you moved."
  2645. >"Kicked in the—?"
  2646. >The realisation soon hits her as her eyes shoot open and her cheeks flush.
  2647. >"O-oh. Um."
  2648.  
  2649. >She shamefully glances to the side, one ear flattening.
  2650. >"S-sorry. I didn't mean to…um…"
  2651. >You walk over to her and caress her neck with your right hand.
  2652. "It's okay, Flurry. No harm done."
  2653. >She looks back to you, and you flash her a warm smile.
  2654. "It was your first time, after all."
  2655. >You say it just like you had said it back in the bedroom.
  2656. >And just like before, she blinks at you, slowly taking in your words.
  2657. >She then snerks out loud, lips curling up into an amused smile.
  2658. >"Oh, come on, Anon. Riding and lovemaking are two completely different things."
  2659. "Are they really?"
  2660. >You trail your hand up her neck and rest your fingers behind her left ear.
  2661. "The way I see it, in either case…"
  2662. >Scritch scritch scritch.
  2663. >"Hah…"
  2664. >Closing her eyes and widening her smile, she gently leans into your touch.
  2665. "…we're both awkwardly exploring each other's bodies to see what sticks."
  2666. >She exhales through her nose, nostrils happily flaring out.
  2667. >"Mm…well, when you put it that way…"
  2668. >She trails off, content enough to let your fingers fondle the left side of her face.
  2669. >Her mane might be wispy, but her cheeks are as tender as ever.
  2670. >You can't take your eyes off of her broad horse neck, though.
  2671. >Pony necks were already pretty thick as is.
  2672. >But this new horsey neck of hers is nearly three times the width of yours.
  2673. >Truthfully, it's giving you a little bit of neck envy.
  2674. >Flurry eventually opens her eyes and looks at you.
  2675. >"Anon."
  2676. >Her sky blue gaze soars with high-flying determination.
  2677. >"I still want you to ride me."
  2678. >You nod emphatically.
  2679. "And I want to ride you, Flurry."
  2680. >You can see her cheeks become a little rosier at your honest statement—as can you keenly feel your own flushness.
  2681.  
  2682. "However…"
  2683. >Retrieving your right hand, you take a few steps back.
  2684. "…we're gonna have to do something about the whole, uh, 'seating situation.'"
  2685. >Said seats happen to give you a stiff feeling—and not the good kind.
  2686. >"Mm, right…" she solemnly nods.
  2687. >Twisting her neck to the side so she can glance along her back, she hums in deep thought.
  2688. >"…Oh. What if…?"
  2689. >Her thoughtful hums are soon replaced by magical hums as her horn lights up.
  2690. >Using her magic, she conjures up a light-yellow blanket and carefully layers it over her back.
  2691. >When she releases the spell, this newly formed blanket appears to "stick" to her body, preventing it from sliding off in the heat of the moment.
  2692. >"What do you think of this?" she asks you.
  2693. >You ponder the blanket briefly, but quickly decide that simply looking at it isn't gonna do you any favours.
  2694. "Let's try it out."
  2695. >"Mm-hmm!"
  2696. >She crouches down, and you mount her just like before.
  2697. >And just like before, she rises up to a standing position, and she soon sets off on a leisurely walk around the balcony.
  2698. >Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
  2699. >Her back bumps up into your crotch, but the magical blanket placed between your bodies softens the blow immensely.
  2700. >In fact…it feels downright pleasant.
  2701. >This unassuming blanket beneath your butt feels more like a plush cushion then it does a thin sheet.
  2702. >Alicorn magic may in fact be the comfiest material known to man—that man being you.
  2703. >"Is it better?" she asks, tilting her head to look at you.
  2704. "Yeah." You nod. "It's a lot better."
  2705. >You lean forward and caress the right side of her neck.
  2706. "Thank you, Flurry."
  2707. >Between your appreciative words and soft ministrations, Flurry lids her eyes and suddenly lets out a soft whicker.
  2708. "Wh-whoa."
  2709. >She stops walking and you stop stroking—though you do continue to gently rest your hand upon her neck.
  2710. >With a growing blush on her cheeks, she sputters:
  2711. >"U-um. Th-that was…"
  2712. >You chuckle and flash her a reassuring smile.
  2713. "Hey, there's no need to be ashamed, Flurry."
  2714. >You give her neck another tender stroke.
  2715. "I thought that was really cute."
  2716. >She blinks in surprise, ears shooting up.
  2717. >"C-cute…" she mutters.
  2718. >Horsily snorting and shaking her head, she turns away from you.
  2719. >Then, she lets out a deeply mareish neigh.
  2720. >Damn.
  2721. >She must've really liked that.
  2722.  
  2723. >After stepping around the balcony some more, Flurry makes her way towards the centre of the platform.
  2724. >She then faces her body towards the city.
  2725. >"Okay," she calmly addresses you, "I'm going to stretch my wings now."
  2726. >She takes a deep breath, before continuing:
  2727. >"Oh, and can you please make sure that your legs aren't covering them?"
  2728. "Gotcha. Uh…"
  2729. >You look down and check out your dangling legs, seeing that they're both currently bent forward by the knee.
  2730. >Surprisingly, your limbs already positioned themselves so that Flurry's wings have plenty of room to do their thing.
  2731. >You weren't even considering her wings up until this point—but it seems that your unconscious instincts had you covered.
  2732. "…your wings are clear," you state to her.
  2733. >"Mm."
  2734. >She steadily unfurls her wings, extending them all the way out.
  2735. >They're…they're huge.
  2736. >The wide wingspan of each light-pink flapper could easily eclipse your whole upper body and then some.
  2737. >She gives her wings a few exploratory flaps, and the gusty sound of her powerful wingbeats utterly dominates everything else.
  2738. >Then, she takes a deep breath.
  2739. >"Alright."
  2740. >Folding up her wings, she casts you a glance.
  2741. >"Anon, do you trust me?"
  2742. >You blink.
  2743. >That was the most ominous thing you've heard all night—easily beating out the likes of "Would you like to join them?" and "We won't know until we try, will we?"
  2744. >And yet your answer comes easier than anything else.
  2745. >Tonight, you got straight out of your comfy bed, wandered aimlessly through countless twisting crystal halls—and spent God-knows-how-long meandering through a foggy hedge maze.
  2746. >And you did all of that solely for the sake of finding this mare and ensuring her safety.
  2747. >Needless to say, you don't go to these lengths for just anypony.
  2748. >Thus, your answer comes easier than anything else:
  2749. "I trust you."
  2750. >She casts you an appreciatively earnest smile; then, she turns away from you.
  2751. >Gazing towards the balcony railing, she scrapes her hoof against the floor and lets out a snorty huff.
  2752. >"Hold on tight."
  2753. >You already are.
  2754. >But her words make you hold on just that little bit tighter.
  2755. >Flurry swiftly breaks out into a spirited canter towards the balcony's edge.
  2756. >As she leaps over those golden rails, wings spread wide, an errant thought springs to mind:
  2757. >Perhaps you shouldn't have equated "trust" with "strong desire to keep this headstrong mare out of trouble."
  2758. >Oh well.
  2759.  
  2760. *** 25 ***
  2761.  
  2762. >After leaping from the balcony, Flurry soars through the air on majestic wings.
  2763. >Her pink feathers gracefully flutter through the rushing wind, utterly unbound by gravity's heavy handed authority.
  2764. >You, meanwhile, cling on for dear life, wrapping your arms around her chest while keeping your thighs clenched beyond mortal tightness.
  2765. >Flurry makes it a good few metres before her forward momentum falters to a halt, and she steadily loses altitude.
  2766. >Exercising her princessly poise, she elegantly switches to a horizontal glide to a nearly vertical nosedive, tucking her knees in and back as she begins her rapid descent to the earth.
  2767. >The world flips on its side—thus the not-so-distant crystal pavement in front of you fast approaches.
  2768. >Roaring winds threaten to yank you off your mounted mare, yet you feverishly hold firm, determined and desperate not to lose your grip on her—or yourself.
  2769. >One of your hands fearfully clasps at her silver peytral, while your other arm remains haphazardly slung just above it.
  2770. >As the pavement draws closer and closer, Flurry's wings, once fully extended, shakily fold inwards and arch upwards.
  2771. >Is…is this how flying is supposed to go?
  2772. >You're not sure.
  2773. "Flurry, is this—"
  2774. >"I have no idea what I'm doing."
  2775. >…
  2776. "Oh."
  2777. >And so the penny drops.
  2778. >Just in time for the two of you to drop, as well.
  2779. >"I have no idea what I'm doing."
  2780. "Y-yeah. I gathered that, um—"
  2781. >Her legs, once beautifully bent backwards, suddenly flail about beneath her.
  2782. >"I have no idea what I'm doing I have no idea what I'm doing I have no idea what I'm doing."
  2783. "F-flurry…?"
  2784. >Joining the panicked movements of her legs, her wings frantically flap about in the air—doing very little else other than raise your heart rate further.
  2785. >"whydididothiswhydidijumpidontknowhowtoflyinthisformorcarrymasterimsuchastupidstupidstupidandnowwe'rebothgonnadieAAAAA—"
  2786. "Flurry!" you shout.
  2787. >The two of you are about to go splat.
  2788. >You do not want to go splat.
  2789. >Faced with the impending possibility of becoming one with this mare in the most gruesome manner possible, your deepest instincts take hold of your core being.
  2790. >These instincts are ones of survival—and also something else.
  2791. >You firmly grasp that ethereal, strangely sticky mane of hers with both hands—
  2792. >And you tug it back towards your torso.
  2793. >You grunt.
  2794. >She gasps.
  2795. >And her body…
  2796. >Slowly…but surely…
  2797. >Angles itself upwards.
  2798.  
  2799. >Her wings shoot outwards and stay perfectly flat—neither flapping nor flailing—instantly bringing to mind the sturdy aerofoils of a streamlined plane.
  2800. >Her legs shift their chaotic movements to something more controlled, becoming less like a stormy struggle—and more of an aerial gallop.
  2801. >Her mane billows like a tempest in response to the g-forces acting on you both, yet no matter where her follicles flow, they somehow never buffet your face—as if actively avoiding the act of hindering your vision.
  2802. >Holding tight onto said mane and continuing to pull back, you somehow succeed to orienting her body from a free-falling nosedive back into a slow-sinking glide.
  2803. >Thus, your world uprights itself once more, and the deep-blue horizon becomes your forward-facing future, while the gleaming crystal pavement becomes your grounded past.
  2804. >Flurry steadily descends to the earth, soon touching down upon an emptily wide crystal street that stretches out towards the very edge of the city.
  2805. >Folding her wings against her body, she keeps on going, running across the clear crystal road with a straight ground-bounding gallop.
  2806. >"Hah…! Hah…!" she pants, equine adrenaline surging throughout her system.
  2807. >Now that you're on the ground, you straighten your stance atop your steed, sitting up on her back instead of clinging to her neck.
  2808. >You notice that you are still holding onto her mane.
  2809. >Perhaps you could call out to her, or maybe you could yank on her locks in such a way that it would force her to stop.
  2810. >However, you opt for neither option, choosing to instead allow your princess a much-needed opportunity to sprint away the stresses of her near-death experience.
  2811. >After all, the instinctual rush of this high-speed gallop is proving to be quite therapeutic for you, too.
  2812. >The rhythmic clip-clops of her hooves hitting the hard crystal pavement is like a healing salve for your harried soul.
  2813. >Clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop.
  2814. >They're much faster now, but her hurried steps remind you of the preliminary paces she had taken around the balcony.
  2815. >Whether it be above or below, there's an innately natural harmony to her horsey movements—one you find yourself easily tuning in to.
  2816. >She lands with her left hindhoof, and then her right.
  2817. >Her left hindhoof lifts; her left forehoof lands.
  2818. >Her right hindhoof lifts; her right forehoof lands.
  2819. >She lifts her left forehoof, and then her right—leaving nothing on the ground.
  2820. >Then, there is this extremely brief yet incredibly poignant moment of suspended airtime—before it all begins anew.
  2821. >You find your own body moving in tune with hers, rising and falling with each gallop.
  2822. >The stationary stone buildings at your sides move like a bluish blur as you speedily ride Flurry through these spacey crystal street.
  2823. >The two of you aren't going anywhere in particular, only forward, and—
  2824. >She's about to run right into a lamppost.
  2825.  
  2826. "F-flurry!" you shout.
  2827. >"Hah…! Hah…!"
  2828. >She doesn't respond, and she doesn't stop.
  2829. >Her horsey instincts are trapped in a panicked haze.
  2830. >You thus do the very first thing that comes to mind:
  2831. >Manipulating her ethereal mane like natural reins, you pull her locks to the right.
  2832. >"Hoh…!"
  2833. >Flurry gracefully obeys your implicit order, swerving accordingly—and narrowly avoiding a face full of crystal pole.
  2834. >"Hah…! Hoh…! Hah…!"
  2835. >Your princess gallops onwards; her forward-facing path is free from further obstructions—yet you continue to hear her huffing and puffing at your front.
  2836. "Flurry," you query her, "are you alright?"
  2837. >"I'm…hah…I'm okay…!"
  2838. "I hope I'm not hurting you."
  2839. >"No…hah…you're not…!"
  2840. >Relief washes over your body, and the two of you spend a few moments striding through this straight street together.
  2841. >Eventually, she speaks up again; her tone is quiet—yet still clearly audible over her clopping hoofsteps:
  2842. >"A-actually…hah…I-I like it when you do that…!"
  2843. >She likes having her mane pulled?
  2844. >The implications are palpable.
  2845. >Too palpable.
  2846. "O-oh, um…"
  2847. >The cool breeze rushing against your cheeks does little to calm the flushing heat that resides within.
  2848. "…th-that's good to hear."
  2849. >You're embarrassed, yes.
  2850. >Yet you also keep a firm hold of her silky, sparkly mane.
  2851. >Just in case you need to direct her in a pinch.
  2852. >That's all.
  2853. >…
  2854. >Clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop.
  2855. >You continue onwards, riding atop your galloping princess.
  2856. >The shining streets seen straight ahead of you, illuminated by both the serene moonlight and magical streetlights, seem to stretch on with no end in sight.
  2857. >You can see a four-way intersection coming up, with the street splitting off into both left and right avenues.
  2858. >Wishing to change things up, you desire to take the left avenue.
  2859. >Before you know it, you've already given her mane a gentle tug to the left.
  2860. >Flurry lets out a horsey huff and follows your silent lead, turning onto your chosen path with no complaints.
  2861.  
  2862. >From there, the two of you roam the roads at random, turning and curving through the crystal city wherever you please.
  2863. >Neither of you need to say anything, for this unspoken bond that exists between rider and horse is all you need.
  2864. >All it takes is a maney tug from you and a affirmative neigh from her, and the two of you move as one.
  2865. >Riding through the night-lit streets of the Crystal Empire, you can feel an unprecedented sense of freedom coursing throughout your veins.
  2866. >Your hair flows freely in the wind, as does the sparkling mane of the mare underneath you.
  2867. >Crystal-carved huts and houses pass you by as mere backdrops to your jaunty journey.
  2868. >It really does feel like the world's your oyster right now.
  2869. >And you owe it all to this princess who locked you in a gilded cage.
  2870. >"Hah… Nngh… Ha-ah…"
  2871. >Flurry's breathing becomes more and more irregular as her strenuous pants are joined by breathy grunts.
  2872. >She's tiring out. You can tell.
  2873. >Thus, you give her mane a few gentle tugs backwards and whisper to her:
  2874. "Slow down."
  2875. >She mareishly whinnies, dutifully obeying your command.
  2876. >It only just now occurs to you how peculiar it is for you to be the one giving out orders in this princess-pleb relationship.
  2877. >Yet you quickly cast those thoughts aside as mere minutia—nothing to get worked up over.
  2878. >Because right here and right now, Flurry is simply your horse—your mare.
  2879. >And in this rider-steed state you currently find yourself in, directing her like this just comes naturally to you.
  2880. >Flurry's sentiments undoubtedly complement yours, considering how readily she's taken to her new role.
  2881. >As your steed steadily slows down, you carefully steer her onto the nearest sidewalk.
  2882. >You can feel her gait drop to a canter, to a trot, to a walk—and then finally, to a full stop.
  2883. >Now at a complete standstill, you and Flurry linger in front of someone's fenced-off yard.
  2884. >The benign blue glow of a nearby crystal streetlight warmly shines upon you both.
  2885. >Flurry turns her head to look back at you; she then blows air out of her mouth, making her lips vibrate as she does.
  2886. >Well…she certainly isn't ashamed about letting her horsey side come out, that's for sure.
  2887. >You can see it not just in her behaviour—but in her expression, too.
  2888. >Her nostrils are fully flared, and you detect a distinctly animalistic passion brewing within those pink pupils of hers.
  2889. >You wonder if it's because you called those mannerisms "cute" earlier.
  2890. >Whatever the case may be, you look this animal dead in the eyes, and you lean forward to tame this majestic beast.
  2891. "Whoa, easy there…" you coo, stroking the side of her neck with your hand.
  2892. >Your caring touch soothes her equine instincts as she closes her eyes and happily sighs.
  2893. >"Hah…Master…"
  2894. >A highly satisfied smile crosses her face.
  2895. >You arch an eyebrow at that particular moniker, yet you do not cease in your ministrations.
  2896. >Because right now, this is all about her.
  2897.  
  2898. >You spend the next half-minute or so caressing your royal steed with right-handed neck rubs and left-handed chin scritches.
  2899. >This affectionate silence is only broken up by the sounds of her soft whickers and marely snorts.
  2900. >Eventually, you pause your care to pose her a question:
  2901. "Feeling better now?"
  2902. >"Mm…"
  2903. >Letting out a deep exhale through her nostrils, she softly smiles at you.
  2904. >"Yeah. I feel a lot better."
  2905. "Glad to hear it…"
  2906. >Straightening your back and looking up, you note that the towering visage of the Crystal Castle can be seen from where you're standing—including the balcony where the two of you had jumped.
  2907. "…because that was one hell of a trust exercise you pulled back there."
  2908. >"E-eheh…" she nervously chuckles.
  2909. >You look back to Flurry, who now bears a guilty blush upon her cheeks.
  2910. >"Sorry, Anon. I really thought I had things covered back there."
  2911. >She hangs her head in shame, and her tone drops to a mournful mumble:
  2912. >"Turns out I didn't."
  2913. >Her ears flop down.
  2914. >"So, um, yeah, sorry…"
  2915. >Wow. You've managed to get your prissy princess so apologetic that she said sorry twice.
  2916. >This is highly unusual; normally, you'd consider yourself lucky to coax even one apology from her lips—and said apology would only be in response to something like her nearly pulling your dick out of its socket.
  2917. >The curiosities continue to pile up.
  2918. >Ah, but first…
  2919. >You're not one to leave a mare feeling despondent for long—especially your mare.
  2920. "It's okay," you reassure her. "We're still in one piece, right?"
  2921. >You stroke her neck a few more times to sweeten your absolution.
  2922. >She lightly hums in response, pleased by your soothing touch and reassuring words.
  2923. >Your position as Flurry's royal rider has left you feeling strangely assertive; thus, you find yourself issuing your steed a gentle yet firm command:
  2924. "But hey, in the future, *warn* me before you try any crazy stunts like that, alright?"
  2925. >Lifting her head and shooting you a bashful grin, she lets out a chipper giggle:
  2926. >"Hehe, you got it, Anon."
  2927.  
  2928. >With that little mishap amiably resolved, you take the chance to calmly check out your surroundings.
  2929. >The starlit canvas high above is utterly unblemished and completely free of any clouds, ensuring that its constellations remain free for all to see.
  2930. >The Crystal Castle stands tall and proud in the distance, scraping the night sky and illuminating the whole city with its enduring blue radiance.
  2931. >The protective light that perpetually blankets this peaceful empire is one undoubtedly filled with life—however, you and Flurry are currently the only ones able to appreciate this gentle ambience.
  2932. >You know this gleaming city to be one that never sleeps—and yet, not a single soul can be seen throughout these streets.
  2933. >No curious faces peer out from the nearby windows, nor can you hear the hoofsteps of any habitual night owls.
  2934. >It's just you and your princess here.
  2935. "This place is a ghost town."
  2936. >"Yeah…" she quietly answers.
  2937. >This dead silence is a little creepy.
  2938. >But at least you aren't the only one to think so.
  2939. >"Hey Anon," Flurry speaks up, looking back to you, "why don't we get a birds-eye view of the city?"
  2940. "'Birds-eye?'"
  2941. >Arching a uneasy eyebrow her way, you continue:
  2942. "You mean…flying?"
  2943. >She nods.
  2944. >"Mm-hmm!"
  2945. >Quickly picking up on your inference, she continues:
  2946. >"O-oh! But don't worry—I think I've got a handle on things now!"
  2947. "Is that so…?"
  2948. >You've certainly heard that one before.
  2949. >Considering the recent excitement you two have gone through, you'd like nothing more than to head back to bed with your princess.
  2950. >The risk of falling to your death is far lower when you're asleep.
  2951. "Hey, aren't you tired, Flurry? I mean, you just got done galloping a marathon."
  2952. >Her eyes drift away from you.
  2953. >"A…a little bit, yeah…"
  2954. >She takes a deep breath and hums in thought.
  2955. >If your princess is tuckered out, then perhaps you should cut your nighttime tour short.
  2956. >"…Wait!"
  2957. >Flurry's face suddenly perks up.
  2958. >"What if…"
  2959. "Hm?"
  2960. >She flashes you a self-assured smile.
  2961. >"Hold still, Anon. I have an idea."
  2962. >Her horn steadily lights up—
  2963. >With light-blue magic.
  2964. "Blue…?" you mouth to yourself.
  2965. >As far as you know, her magic is light yellow.
  2966. >What is this sorcery?
  2967. >This strange blue aura steadily seeps out from her horn and eventually envelops the two of you, veiling your already-blue sights with a lighter tint of uncertainty.
  2968. >It tingles your skin at every angle—and you do mean every angle.
  2969. >However…these are good tingles—*very* good tingles.
  2970. >In contrast to its cool blue hue, Flurry's spell feels more akin to a warm fuzzy blanket being gently draped across your body.
  2971. >And the longer it caresses your skin—the more you find yourself feeling totally revitalised and positively surging with untapped confidence.
  2972. >Flurry suddenly lets out a horsey huff, aggressively whipping out her tail behind her.
  2973. >Ah, right. This spell must be affecting her, too.
  2974.  
  2975. >Flurry directs her flickering gaze towards you.
  2976. >"C-could you do something for me, Anon?"
  2977. >You lean forward attentively.
  2978. "Yeah?"
  2979. >She lightly whickers, as if bracing herself for her next few words:
  2980. >"R-rub my neck, please."
  2981. >A curiously worded request—and politely presented besides—but you acquiesce nonetheless.
  2982. >Your right hand soon finds her broad horsey neck, and you give her a good rubbing.
  2983. >She closes her eyes, letting out a sigh of deep relief.
  2984. >"Hoooh…"
  2985. >Her magic becomes a little more tingly—and thus, a little more rousing.
  2986. >It's like your affectionate actions are helping to fuel her magic, somehow.
  2987. >Also, you can't help but notice that you've been doing a lot of neck stroking recently.
  2988. >Your princess has grown very fond of your hands.
  2989. >Not that you mind.
  2990. >After all, you're quite fond of her.
  2991. >"Mm…"
  2992. >She lets out small coos and hums in response to your tender touch.
  2993. >You can feel her throat vibrate as she does so.
  2994. >It feels nice.
  2995. >"Call me a good girl…" she breathes out.
  2996. >Huh.
  2997. >Flurry's requests just keep getting weirder and weirder.
  2998. >But it's not like you can reject her. She *is* your princess, after all—and her word is law.
  2999. >However, if you're gonna follow through—then you're gonna do it with a little spice.
  3000. >Clearing your throat, you lean in closer and position your parted lips by her left ear.
  3001. "You're a good girl."
  3002. >"Hah…"
  3003. >You trail your right hand up to her chin and scritch it; she huffs.
  3004. >You then gently breathe against her ear; it twitches and she shivers.
  3005. >And you whisper:
  3006. "But you're not just any good girl…"
  3007. >You take a pause so pregnant that you think it's carrying triplets.
  3008. "…you're *my* good girl."
  3009.  
  3010. >Her breath hitches.
  3011. >"H-hah…!"
  3012. >Clip-clop, clip-clop.
  3013. >"I…I am…!"
  3014. >She loudly and deeply neighs.
  3015. >Clip-clop, clip-clop.
  3016. >"I'm your good girl…!"
  3017. >Clip-clop, clip-clop.
  3018. >You can feel her light-blue magic tighten itself around your skin—but in a real good way.
  3019. >It's like you're receiving a full-body hug—one which instils you with limitless energy.
  3020. >Clip-clop, clip-clop.
  3021. >Moving your hand away from her chin, you lean back and check out the curious clopping noise that's coming from behind you.
  3022. >And you soon catch sight of her hindlegs awkwardly shifting about as she stimulatedly taps her hooves against the pavement.
  3023. >Her tail is also spiked much higher than usual.
  3024. >Hm.
  3025. >Twisting your upper body to the right, you decide to soothe your princess's heated agitation.
  3026. >Reaching back with your right hand, you tenderly rub and scritch that sensitive croup of hers.
  3027. >"Hff…!"
  3028. >Flurry huffs and blows into the air as her magical massage increases in intensity.
  3029. >Clip-clip, clop-clip-clop.
  3030. >Her hoof movements become more and more erratic, while her hips noticeably sway from left to right.
  3031. >You also see her tail dock deliriously twitching, perhaps trying to flag higher than it already is.
  3032. >It seems that your touch isn't soothing her in the slightest.
  3033. >No matter. You continue rubbing her rump—if for no other reason than to let her know that you're still here for her.
  3034. >Of course, if your princess should call for you to calm her mareish excitement in any *other* ways, then you'll happily—
  3035. >The light-blue aura dissipates, clearing your sights and mind both.
  3036. >Flurry's movements still, as do yours.
  3037. >Her magic has left you feeling utterly energised—
  3038. >And more than a little embarrassed.
  3039.  
  3040. >You…you've just done and said some things that you never thought you'd be able to get away with.
  3041. >Yet you did them anyway.
  3042. >Sure, you might have fucked her missionary style not too long ago, but that was done safely in the privacy of her own bedroom—and all in the name of practise, at that.
  3043. >But here…to think that you'd fondle your princess so openly—and out in public, no less!
  3044. >Not to mention the part where you called her *your* good girl…
  3045. >That light-blue magic of hers—it was as if it inflamed your impudence and somehow removed your inhibitions entirely.
  3046. >Was it the same for Flurry, as well? You noticed that she reacted quite…strongly to your extremely brash behaviour.
  3047. >With a gulp, you remove your hand from her rump and turn around to face her front end.
  3048. >You see Flurry looking back at you; she bears a calm smile lidded with honest affection.
  3049. >She ardently snorts into the air when your eyes meet.
  3050. >Her warm expression only makes you feel even more hot under your pink collar.
  3051. "U-uh…"
  3052. >After taking a brief moment to shake your head and recompose yourself, you continue:
  3053. "What…what in the world was that blue magic?"
  3054. >"That…"
  3055. >Her eyes slowly open all the way as she begins her explanation:
  3056. >"…that was a revitalising spell—one cast using the magic of my birthright."
  3057. "Your birthright…"
  3058. >Your brows knit in gradual realisation.
  3059. "…the Crystal Heart," you state.
  3060. >"Mhm, that's right." She nods. "Any spells that I cast from the Heart are powered by the emotions we feel towards each other."
  3061. "Emotions?"
  3062. >You can feel your cheeks become a little rosier.
  3063. "U-um, what kind of emotions?"
  3064. >She titters.
  3065. >"Any positive emotions, really—as long as they're honest and heartfelt."
  3066. >'Honest and heartfelt?'
  3067. >Is your princess—your mistress—saying that she "honestly" wants to become your good girl, and that you "honestly" wish to make her yours in turn?
  3068. >It's…it's not like you wholly disagree with your actions back there, but…
  3069. >"There's no need to be ashamed, Anon," Flurry reassures you. "Our hearts are simply doing what comes naturally to us."
  3070. >You blink at her with slight confusion.
  3071. "Our…our hearts?"
  3072. >"Mm-hmm." She nods, then faces forward. "Now come on, let's get moving."
  3073. >Flurry steps off the sidewalk and moves onto the main road.
  3074. >Awkwardness aside, if you understood her right—then that means she's effectively able to convert your raw human emotions into pure magical energy.
  3075. >That sounds pretty potent.
  3076. >As your princess moves across the road, you cast a curious look past your rear—and hers.
  3077. >You can see a wet spot on the pavement where she was once standing.
  3078. >Figures.
  3079.  
  3080. >Flurry stops right in the middle of the road.
  3081. >She then faces her body towards the far end: where that towering Crystal Castle stands in the far distance.
  3082. >The two of you take a moment to silently admire its grand splendour—that gleaming blue beacon standing up on four long legs.
  3083. >It's only once you hear your princess letting out a marely huff is your attention brought back to reality.
  3084. >"Okay."
  3085. >You look down at her.
  3086. "And you're certain that you're not tired?"
  3087. >"Mm-hmm." She confidently nods. "I'm sure. That spell did the trick."
  3088. "Well, if you say so…"
  3089. >You slowly stroke the back of her neck from top to bottom.
  3090. "…I trust you, Flurry."
  3091. >She happily nickers.
  3092. >"Thank you."
  3093. >You cast your eyes straight forward.
  3094. "So, what's the plan?"
  3095. >She looks up at the castle balcony in the far distance.
  3096. >"Um…so, instead of diving off of the balcony like an unprepared dummy…"
  3097. >Trailing her gaze downwards, she stares at the wide gap in between the castle's legs.
  3098. >"…this time, I'm going to get a running head-start and take flight from the streets."
  3099. "Ah."
  3100. >So she plans to use the empty thoroughfare as her own personal runway?
  3101. >It's an interesting idea.
  3102. "Sounds good."
  3103. >"Mhm."
  3104. >She takes a long deep breath.
  3105. >Then, she calmly addresses you, keeping her eyes forward:
  3106. >"Anon, tell me when to go."
  3107. >You close your eyes, feeling the cool night breeze gently caress your face.
  3108. >The only sounds that can be heard are the subtle respirations of you and your royal steed.
  3109. >Loosely holding onto her mane, you straighten your back as much as possible.
  3110. >And after taking a long, deep breath of your own, you slowly open your eyes.
  3111. "Go."
  3112. >You give her body a squeeze with your calves.
  3113. >With a rousing neigh, she breaks off into a spirited canter, leading with her right side.
  3114. >She steadily picks up speed, and her canter gradually turns into a gallant gallop; you shift your weight accordingly, leaning forward to match her gait.
  3115. >Your bodies move as one, and so you both glide across the crystal pavement as if it's the most natural thing in the world.
  3116. >Clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop.
  3117. >It's just you and your mare, running like the wind across these expansive streets.
  3118. >You can hear her wings slowly unfurl from behind you.
  3119. >Briefly looking back, you can see her extended feathers bristle with anticipation.
  3120. >She's ready.
  3121.  
  3122. >Turning back to your mare and facing forward, you give her another commanding squeeze of your calves.
  3123. "Fly."
  3124. >She neighs in affirmation and jumps, giving her wings a powerful flap.
  3125. >This broad wingbeat of hers lifts the both of you off the ground.
  3126. >However, with only the initial feathery boost to keep you afloat—the two of you touch down shortly after, galloping onwards without missing a beat.
  3127. >Her wings remain extended, and so you give her a firmer squeeze of your calves.
  3128. "Fly."
  3129. >She neighs with confidence and jumps, propelling the both of you off the ground with another uplifting wingbeat.
  3130. >This time, you squeeze her with your calves while you're in mid-air, which elicits a gusty flap from her—thus extending your airtime.
  3131. >With your bodies working in tandem, you get her wings to flap a couple more times as the two of you glide a metre or so above the ground.
  3132. >In that blissfully free-flying moment, clopping hoofsteps are replaced by roaring wingbeats.
  3133. >But soon enough, the two of you touch down once more, stride unbroken and hearts connected.
  3134. >Your princess trusts you enough to not only let you guide her stride—but work her wings, as well.
  3135. >She really is a…good girl.
  3136. >Your good girl.
  3137. >You rein in your resolve, knowing that this next jump will be the one to take you sky high.
  3138. >The Crystal Castle draws closer and closer, its looming presence appearing more and more like an astral arbitrator of your rider-steed bond.
  3139. >Pushing all doubts aside, you take a few seconds to calmly breathe in and out—attuning yourself with your mare's galloping gait:
  3140. >Left hindhoof, right hindhoof, left forehoof, right forehoof.
  3141. >Left hindhoof, right hindhoof, left forehoof, right forehoof.
  3142. >Left hindhoof, right hindhoof, left forehoof, right forehoof.
  3143. >Clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop, clip-clop-clip-clop.
  3144. >The moment her left hindhoof once again hits the ground, you give her body a light kick with your heels.
  3145. "Fly, Flurry!"
  3146. >She neighs loud enough for the whole city to hear.
  3147. >With bounding wings and a powerful leap, she launches the two of you into the air.
  3148. >You rhythmically squeeze your heels against her body, coaxing out additional wingbeats that lift you higher and higher and higher.
  3149. >Soon enough, you stop your ascension, only sporadically clicking your heels in order to maintain the current height that you've established.
  3150. >The two of you fly a steady few metres up off of the ground, keeping a low-enough altitude to not get clipped by the underside of the upcoming archway.
  3151. >Holding your breath, you fly between the two frontal legs that support the Crystal Castle.
  3152. >You pass under the palace;
  3153. >Swerve around the empty pedestal underneath;
  3154. >And emerge out from the other side.
  3155.  
  3156. >You puff out a large sigh of relief:
  3157. "Phew…"
  3158. >"Phew…"
  3159. >It seems that you and your steed are once again of the same mind.
  3160. >You chuckle.
  3161. "Not bad for a pleb, eh?"
  3162. >She lets out a sound which can best be described as a nickering giggle.
  3163. >It's cute.
  3164. >Now that your heads are both physically and mentally clear, you guide your princess's ascension to even greater heights; curving to the left, you orbit the Crystal Castle as Flurry flaps higher and higher.
  3165. >The two of you soar high above the shining streets, high above the crystal buildings—high above the city itself.
  3166. >Even the castle balcony that you and Flurry had once leapt from has become a distant memory below.
  3167. >"Aaah~" she sighs out loud. "I love the way you ride me, Anon. It just feels so *right* carrying you atop my back."
  3168. >The feeling is very much mutual.
  3169. >Stopping your ascent and steadying your altitude, you take the time to appreciate this city's layout from an aerial angle.
  3170. >The Crystal Empire's streets are, interestingly enough, arranged in the pattern of a snowflake—and naturally, the towering Crystal Castle stands proud in the very centre.
  3171. >The polygonal buildings that dot this city are mere blips when viewed from above; many of these stony structures happen to be sculpted from their own monochromatic mineral, ranging from reds to blues to oranges to purples.
  3172. >This characteristically crystalline architecture is further complemented by lush greenery, glowing streetlights, striped stalls—and many, many multicoloured tents of various shapes and sizes.
  3173. >Alas, many of the vivid hues that usually encompass this cityscape have been drowned out by the all-encompassing blue tint that pervades this dreamlike world.
  3174. >You're still undecided on whether this place actually *is* a dream or not.
  3175. >Indeed, this night has been an utterly fantastical one.
  3176. >You've wandered through an ever-shifting castle;
  3177. >Teleported yourself to a foggy hedge maze in the middle of nowhere;
  3178. >Found your way back with the aid of a mysterious yet familiar filly;
  3179. >Narrowly avoided a free-falling death;
  3180. >Safely touched down upon a seemingly empty city;
  3181. >And now you're riding atop a mare who has quite literally doubled in size overnight.
  3182. >Everything about your current situation feels as ethereal as the mane that you're holding on to.
  3183. >But…at the same time…
  3184. >Each and every moment that you spend with your beloved princess just feels so *real.*
  3185.  
  3186. >"So, Anon," Flurry speaks up, "What do you think? What do you think of this fair city?"
  3187. >You take a moment to respond, casting another sweeping glance at the scenery underneath your wings.
  3188. >In spite of the overarching blue tint that now blankets the Crystal Empire, you can't deny that there's a certain tranquillity to the uniformity before your eyes.
  3189. >Though their colours may be muted, the crystal buildings, clothen tents, and everything in between all come together to form a glittering sea of harmonious grandeur
  3190. "It's beautiful," you eventually answer.
  3191. >She lets out a soft giggle.
  3192. >"And it's ours."
  3193. "Ours, huh…?"
  3194. >"Mhm. Once I finally ascend the throne, you'll be there alongside me. I don't think I'll be able to make all of the big decisions by myself, so I'll need your help."
  3195. >A wry grin creeps up onto your face.
  3196. "Oh? Is that the sound of a promotion I hear?"
  3197. >Briefly letting go of your reins with your left hand, you give the back of her neck a short stroke, trailing your fingers down her maneline.
  3198. "From princess's pet to Royal Advisor?"
  3199. >"Ehehe, maybe~"
  3200. >Once you take hold of your reins again, Flurry continues:
  3201. >"But don't think you'll be getting off that easy, Anon! I'll still expect you to carry out all of your current royal duties."
  3202. >She curves her neck to cast you a lidded look from behind.
  3203. >"And I do mean *all* of them~" she finishes with a wink.
  3204. "Ph-phew…"
  3205. >She's got you feeling hot under the collar again.
  3206. >After all, you know *exactly* what she means.
  3207. >There's no denying it, you've become so close to this mare, at this point—you may as well be married to her.
  3208. >…
  3209. >Actually, that doesn't sound so bad.
  3210. >Would that make you her "promised prince," as that filly had called you?
  3211. >You don't recall making any promises to this mare.
  3212. >Then again, you do have a habit of talking in your sleep.
  3213. >Might have slipped your slumbering tongue…
  3214. >"Hey, Anon," Flurry speaks up. "Can I take over? I want to show you some of my favourite spots."
  3215. >Hm? Take over?
  3216. >…Ah, she means in regards to the steering of her own body.
  3217. >Slackening your hold on her mane, you nod to her.
  3218. "Sure thing. Go ahead."
  3219. >She neighs into the air, kicking out her forelegs as she does.
  3220. >"Hold on tight!"
  3221. >You do as she asks, wrapping both of your arms around the base of her broad neck—and just above her silver peytral's crystal heart.
  3222. >With your airy princess now taking the reins of this airborne journey, Flurry flappingly ferries you all over the Empire, taking you to see all sorts of sights:
  3223. >First, a beautiful, well-tended public garden filled with crystalline flowers of all kinds;
  3224. >Second, a large, currently empty stadium used to host Olympic events and the like;
  3225. >Third, a library that one of her friends works at;
  3226. >And now…
  3227. >"Do you recognise this place, Anon?"
  3228. "Hm?"
  3229.  
  3230. >Using her right forehoof, Flurry points down at a small, homely building carved from azure crystal.
  3231. >You squint your eyes at it.
  3232. >Its hues may be subdued, but this is a building well familiar to you:
  3233. >That scraggy garden path, more overgrown grass than anything else; that mailbox, bent at the post; that wooden door, known best for its characteristically loose handle.
  3234. >It's been a long time since you've set foot in that place, but…
  3235. "…that's my house, isn't it?"
  3236. >"Mm-hmm!"
  3237. >Well, you'll be damned—
  3238. >You can, in fact, see your house from here.
  3239. >Nice.
  3240. >Then again, you suppose it's not really your house any more.
  3241. >You have a certain spoiled princess to thank for that.
  3242. >"Oh! And if your house is over there, then…"
  3243. >Flurry's hoof trails over and across the road.
  3244. >"Hey Anon—watch this!"
  3245. "Yeah?"
  3246. >You see Flurry's horn sparking up with light-yellow energy.
  3247. >She rears back, careful not to poke you in the eye—
  3248. >And then she suddenly lurches forward, launching a sizzlingly bright spell straight towards a building that's opposite your house.
  3249. >The moment her magic connects with that crystalline structure—it explodes, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
  3250. >Once the dust settles, only a smouldering crater remains.
  3251. "Wh-whoa."
  3252. >Squinting your eyes, you survey the damage:
  3253. >Her primary target has been wiped off the face of this blue earth.
  3254. >Adjacent buildings, unlucky enough to have been caught in the blast radius, bear gaping cavities in their sides.
  3255. >Gazing upon that smoking, desolate sight—Flurry snorts out an awkward giggle.
  3256. >"Whoops, I might have put a bit too much magic into that one, ehehe~"
  3257. >What brought on these destructive impulses of hers?
  3258. >Wait a minute…
  3259. "Was…was that Smooth Claws's house?"
  3260. >"Yep!" she cheerily replies.
  3261. >You blink at that now-empty lot.
  3262. "Damn."
  3263. >Rest in pieces.
  3264.  
  3265. >Flurry casually dusts her forehooves off.
  3266. >"Okay! That takes care of that!"
  3267. >She tilts her head to cast you a broad smile.
  3268. >"There's just one more place I want to show you—so hold on tight, Anon!"
  3269. "Um, sure," you say, only slightly shaken. "Lead the way."
  3270. >With an airy giggle on her part, she takes the metaphorical reins once more, turning left and flying towards the castle.
  3271. >While she does so, you spare one more glance towards that smoking sight of an erstwhile establishment.
  3272. >It's easy to forget that your princess also happens to be a tremendously powerful alicorn—one who is all too eager to obliterate the homes of your former business rivals, it seems.
  3273. >But honestly, you're more surprised that she seemed to know who he was.
  3274. >Your princess has a habit of keeping to herself for the most part; thus, she has few acquaintances—and even fewer friends.
  3275. >Considering her royal status, prickly personality, and monstrous magical might, it's not hard to imagine why many choose to give Princess Flurry Heart a wide berth—and why she affords them the same courtesy in turn.
  3276. >And now that she's all grown up, her parents don't coddle and fawn over her like they once used to, instead choosing to focus their primary attention towards keeping this kingdom running.
  3277. >As for you, you find her power intriguing—if a little terrifying at times.
  3278. >You suppose that, as both her personal manservant and closest confidant, it's your job to help guide her down the correct path in life.
  3279. >At the very least, you should probably keep her from destroying any more houses in public—no matter how obnoxious the tenants are…or were.
  3280. >Directing your sights forward, you can see Flurry circling the Crystal Castle as she flaps her wings with greater fervour, taking you higher and higher.
  3281. >It's almost as if you're ascending up an invisible spiral staircase.
  3282. >"By the way, Anon," Flurry speaks up, "I want to take this opportunity to apologise for something."
  3283. "What is it?"
  3284. >"For all of those times that I was mean to you and called you a pleb…I'm sorry."
  3285. >You blink, a little surprised.
  3286. "Oh, uh…"
  3287. >She's being way more conscientious then you're used to.
  3288. >Or…perhaps she's simply being more honest with her emotions, like she mentioned earlier.
  3289. >Perhaps you should take a page out of her book.
  3290. "…it's fine. Don't worry about it."
  3291. >The term never bothered you that much.
  3292. >It could've been a lot worse; she could've called you a "monkey-man" or an "ape-thing" or—God forbid—a "humie."
  3293. >"The truth is, I don't consider you a pleb at all, not any more."
  3294. >She takes a breathy pause, winsome wings flapping in the wind.
  3295. >"You've become so much more to me."
  3296. >She ends her musings there, content enough to serve as your flying steed.
  3297. >With nothing of your own to add, you silently sit atop her back as you spiral up and around the Crystal Castle's tallest spire.
  3298. >Soon enough, she takes you all the way up to the very top—
  3299. >Where a Heart of Crystal awaits.
  3300.  
  3301. *** 26 ***
  3302.  
  3303. >The highest floor of the Crystal Castle's tallest crystal spire provides an expansive viewpoint with which one can gaze upon this fair city.
  3304. >The floor itself is a circular platform comprised of pure crystal; it is as flat and wide as the stage of an amphitheatre—and just as grand.
  3305. >All around the perimeter of this platform, suitably spaced crystal pillars hold up the ceiling.
  3306. >The ceiling hangs ten or so metres above the floor, serving as both a flat crystal canopy and the spire's pointed peak.
  3307. >Right in the dead centre of this platform, you can see a heart-shaped chunk of blue crystal floating a short distance up from the floor.
  3308. >It's the Crystal Heart.
  3309. >Your royal steed flies in between two of the spire's supporting columns and soon touches down upon the inner part of this platform's perimeter.
  3310. >Folding up her wings, she lowers herself down to her knees and addresses you:
  3311. >"We'll go on hoof from here."
  3312. >You don't have hooves, but you get the picture.
  3313. "Okay."
  3314. >You then dismount to her left, feeling your bespoke shoes touch down upon smooth crystal.
  3315. >Flurry stands up and promptly dispels the magical blanket atop her back; you'll miss it.
  3316. >Here, at the highest point of the Crystal Empire, the benign breeze that once caressed the city has now become a roaring gale; it billows out the bottom of your bathrobe, bites at your ankles—and threatens to blow you off balance entirely.
  3317. >Thankfully, Flurry gently drapes her left wing around and over your back, supporting you from behind.
  3318. >To steady yourself even further, you rest your right hand upon her withers; your princess breathily blows through her lips, making horsily clear her ardent approval.
  3319. >Slightly leaning against one another, the two of you steadily make your way forward, walking side by side.
  3320. >With nothing else to hinder your path, you slowly approach the centre of this spire—and thus, the Crystal Heart itself.
  3321. >That tremendously powerful artefact floats just a short distance up above the ground, hovering around eye level.
  3322. >Spreading from underneath this hovering Heart, you can see a circular pad directly embedded into the crystal floor; it's a few metres wide, and it serves as this spire's central sanctum.
  3323. >This pad's two-toned turquoise colour makes it stand out from the light-blue crystal floor you currently walk across, and it also bears the insignia of a five-pointed star across its surface.
  3324. >The moment you and Flurry step onto this pad, it emits a low warbling noise and briefly pulsates out some white light from its outer edges.
  3325. >You can also feel the raging winds around you die down—as if you've stepped into a pocket of calm.
  3326. >Through this tranquillity, you and Flurry continue to stay huddled together as you press onwards.
  3327.  
  3328. >Several silent and steady seconds later, the two of you now stand before the Crystal Heart.
  3329. >With it floating only a couple feet away from your eyes, you note how it softly hums and warmly glows in the air.
  3330. >At this distance, it actually reminds you more of a beating heart more than it does a stone one.
  3331. "Wow…" you breathe out.
  3332. >"What do you think?" Flurry asks, her gentle eyes falling upon you.
  3333. "First time I've been this close to it."
  3334. >From what you remember, the Crystal Heart is what powers the whole city and keeps it safe.
  3335. >It's the duty of a Princess of Love—such as Flurry Heart—to maintain this artefact and keep it properly juiced up.
  3336. >"You know," Flurry begins with a coy smile, "they say that if you peer deep inside the Crystal Heart, you can see your one true love."
  3337. >You shoot your princess an intrigued look.
  3338. "Really…?"
  3339. >She simply nods.
  3340. >Curiosity piqued, you turn back to the heart, lean forward, and take a gander inside that heart of pure magical crystal.
  3341. >It's blue, very much so.
  3342. >And within that blue blueness, you see…
  3343. >…
  3344. >Yourself.
  3345. "Ah…"
  3346. >Have you secretly been a narcissist this whole time?
  3347. >Wait, no.
  3348. >Something else is coming into view.
  3349. >Something pink.
  3350. >Blue eyes.
  3351. >Horned.
  3352. >Kinda horsey face.
  3353. >Crystal crown on her head.
  3354. >"Ooh~?"
  3355. >She smiles at you.
  3356. >You smile back.
  3357. >And then…
  3358. >And then she sticks her tongue out at you.
  3359. >"Blalalah~!"
  3360. >She waggles her tongue around, making all sorts of silly faces.
  3361. >She puffs up her cheeks, flutters her eyelids, rolls her eyes back—all of that fun stuff.
  3362. >The two of you pull away from the heart.
  3363. >Turning to the right, you face a jubilant Flurry Heart.
  3364. >You then cross your arms and knit your brows.
  3365. "Very funny."
  3366. >She impishly titters into her hoof.
  3367. >"So, Anon. Did you like what you saw?"
  3368. >Casting a sidelong glance towards the Crystal, you can see the left side of your face side-eyeing you back.
  3369. >Looking back to Flurry, you answer her:
  3370. "Pretty sure that was your reflection."
  3371. >"Ehehe, you got me~!"
  3372. >She breaks out into a fit of giggly snorts, amusedly tapping her forehooves on the floor as she does.
  3373. >Sighing to yourself, you steadily come to terms with a most grim reality:
  3374. >You just got pranked by a pretty pony princess.
  3375. >Pack it up, boys.
  3376. >It's over.
  3377. >…Speaking of over, perhaps its time to finally confront a more serious matter.
  3378. >You give your princess a few pats on the withers.
  3379. "Hey, Flurry."
  3380. >Her jubilations die down, and she addresses you with a still-somewhat-amused smile:
  3381. >"Mm?"
  3382. "Be honest with me."
  3383. >Perhaps sensing the severity of your tone, Flurry turns around to face you fully; she sits down on her haunches, granting you her full attention.
  3384. >"What is it, Anon?"
  3385. >Standing here in the eye of an ethereal storm, you gaze deep into those pink pupils of hers.
  3386. >And you ask:
  3387. "This whole place…it's a dream, isn't it?"
  3388.  
  3389. >Your words strike true, and in a flash, Flurry's carefree expression noticeably falters.
  3390. >She sucks in her top lip, eyes flitting away from your face.
  3391. >Your doubts had been creeping up on you for a while now:
  3392. >The nonsensical nature of this warped world;
  3393. >The hollow emptiness of those crystal streets;
  3394. >The new form that your princess has taken;
  3395. >And the fact that the Crystal Heart is floating all the way up here instead of below the castle—where it should be.
  3396. >None of it adds up.
  3397. >Turning away from your princess, you gently rest your hand upon that blue heart.
  3398. >It's warm, comforting, familiar.
  3399. >Through your fingers, you can feel a particular rhythm pulsing out from within this stone.
  3400. >It goes: Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
  3401. >You know exactly what this is.
  3402. >"Maybe this is a dream," Flurry speaks up.
  3403. >Looking back to your princess, you see that her gaze is now back on you.
  3404. >"But if that's the case, doesn't that make me a dream, too?"
  3405. >Her quivering eyes reflect a mix of many emotions:
  3406. >Trepidation.
  3407. >Uncertainty.
  3408. >Anxiety.
  3409. >Hope.
  3410. >Those light-blue irises of hers bear the same dreamlike hue that tints the world around you.
  3411. >You can feel her left wing slung around your back, weakly clinging onto your left shoulder.
  3412. >Its feathery grip is tenuous.
  3413. >But it's still there.
  3414. >And so is your right hand, which remains rested upon her withers.
  3415. >Taking your left hand off of that crystal heart, you direct your digits up to the underside of her chin, propping it up with your palm.
  3416. "No," you state with conviction. "The world around might me be fake…"
  3417. >With your left hand, you scritch her chin—and with your right hand, you rub her withers.
  3418. >She lets out a very light hum in response.
  3419. "…but the princess in front of me is the real deal. I'm dead certain of it."
  3420. >You smile at her.
  3421. "After all, there's no mistaking the mare I love."
  3422. >Her lips lightly part, as do her eyes subtly shimmer.
  3423. >Steadily, you see the despondent doubt in her tense expression be wholly washed away by your honest words.
  3424. >She then breathes out a barely audible:
  3425. >"Anon…"
  3426. >And with a slow blink, she gently exhales through her nostrils, while her lips curve into a small yet sincere smile.
  3427. >"We really are meant for each other."
  3428.  
  3429. >With another blink, her eyes lovingly lid.
  3430. >She then leans forward and plants her plush lips right against yours.
  3431. >"Hff…"
  3432. >Your mouths meet, yet it is your nostrils that do the talking; the two of you wordlessly share breath with one another as you sniff up her familiar sweet scent.
  3433. >Her right wing joins her left wing in blanketing your back, holding you tight and never truly wishing to let go.
  3434. >Now cupping her chin with your left hand, you use your thumb to tenderly trace circles around her right cheek, causing her to happily hum into your mouth.
  3435. >Her breath smells stronger and…horsier, given her new size.
  3436. >It's like a more mature blend of the mare you've come to know.
  3437. >But deep down, she's still the same sweet Flurry that you love and adore.
  3438. >…
  3439. >You're not sure how long the two of you spend sharing breath; time ceases to be relevant in this dreamscape seemingly crafted for only you and her.
  3440. >At some point, you pull away—or rather, you carefully push her face away from yours.
  3441. >With dreamily lidded eyes and softly flexing nostrils, she gently and silently pushes back, eager to match noses with you again.
  3442. >What a needy mare.
  3443. >But you do love that about her.
  3444. >Quietly clearing your throat, you address your beloved princess:
  3445. "Flurry, you said that we were 'meant for each other.'"
  3446. >"Mm. I did," she replies, still trying to reunite her snoofer with your snozzer.
  3447. "What did you mean by that?"
  3448. >She halts her advance, yet her sultry smile does not cease.
  3449. >"Even though I look different, and even though I'm acting a little different…"
  3450. >She nuzzles down into your palm and contentedly exhales through her mouth.
  3451. >"…you could still tell that it was me."
  3452. >You chuckle.
  3453. "Considering I'm royally obliged to spend nearly every waking moment of my life with you, I'd be more worried if I *couldn't* recognise my princess."
  3454. >Moving your left hand away from the underside of her chin, you awkwardly rub the side of your neck.
  3455. "Plus, there's the whole, uh, 'I love you' thing—that too."
  3456. >Your confession of affection was admittedly a spur-of-the-moment thing.
  3457. >But you do mean it.
  3458. >You've taken this mare's first kiss, popped her cherry, and ridden her like the wind.
  3459. >At this point, you can't *not* take responsibility for how close you've gotten to her.
  3460. >Flurry voices her agreement most succinctly:
  3461. >"Ehehe~!"
  3462. >Her melodious giggles ring out through the air, tittery tones rising above the roaring winds that reside just outside this pocket of calm.
  3463. >She addresses you with a wide smile on her face:
  3464. >"I love you too, Anon."
  3465. >Now unbound by your hand, she leans in and happily nuzzles your face.
  3466. >"Now and forever~"
  3467. >Damn, she just one-upped your confession.
  3468. >Leave it to a Princess of Love, you guess.
  3469.  
  3470. >"That's why I brought you all the way up here…"
  3471. >Pulling away, she peers into the airborne artefact on your left.
  3472. >"…to the innermost sanctum of my heart."
  3473. >Her statement has only confirmed your budding suspicions:
  3474. >This warmly pulsing stone—it's not the Crystal Heart at all. This is…
  3475. "…this is your heart, isn't it?"
  3476. >She nods.
  3477. >"Mhm."
  3478. >She turns her head to face you.
  3479. >"And, now that I've let you into my heart…"
  3480. >Her smile widens ever so slightly.
  3481. >"…it's only fair that you let me into yours, wouldn't you say?"
  3482. >You catch something glimmering within those lidded eyes of hers.
  3483. >It's a deeply primal, all-consuming hunger, one that demands immediate and incessant satiation from one thing—and one thing only:
  3484. >You—and everything that you are.
  3485. >Should you accept this mare into your heart, she'll gleefully sink her fangs of endless desire into your very being, taking whatever she pleases—while making sure you will always be ready to give.
  3486. >The thought terrifies you.
  3487. >And yet…
  3488. >You also find yourself wanting nothing more.
  3489. >For she is your princess, and you…
  3490. >You are her human.
  3491. "I-I…"
  3492. >You gulp.
  3493. "…y-yes, I, um, I suppose it's only fair."
  3494. >"Hm-hm~" she softly titters. "I knew you'd say that~"
  3495. >You feel her wings, still warmly wrapped around your back, tighten their grip to a possessive degree, almost cocooning you in her pink pinions.
  3496. >She lewdly licks her lips, while the ravenous hunger in her eyes becomes ever more apparent.
  3497. >There's no running from whatever she plans to do to you.
  3498. >Her nostrils flare, and you feel something gently press against the back of your head; it's a hoof—a bare one.
  3499. >Out from the corner of your eye, you can see some hoof shoes scattered by the perimeter of the turquoise pad; she must have removed them while you weren't looking.
  3500. >Flaring out her nostrils, she uses her wings and hoof to gently guide your body towards hers, soon matching your mouths together once more; this time, however—her intimate interests extend far beyond simple breath sharing.
  3501. >Humming and huffing, she lightly suckles on your lips, peppering you with her sensually slow smooches while lovingly lapping at your mouth.
  3502. >*Mwah~*
  3503. >In between her passionate pecks, she whispers through your lips and into your soul, making perfervid promises that you know she can keep:
  3504. >"I'm going to stake my claim on you, Anon."
  3505. >*Mwah~*
  3506. >"Just as you've staked your claim on me."
  3507. >*Mwah~*
  3508. >"I'll leave my own personal mark upon your heart."
  3509. >*Mwah~*
  3510. >"Something to bind us together for the rest of time~"
  3511. >*Mwah~*
  3512. >"Because this princess needs her prince by her side."
  3513. >*Mwah~*
  3514. >"Just as *my* human needs his loyal mare by *his* side."
  3515. >*Mwah~*
  3516. >"So please, let me in, Anon…let me into your heart."
  3517. >Her lips linger on yours, while her tongue impatiently prods at your mouth, demanding entry.
  3518. >"Accept me as your eternal Soulmate~"
  3519.  
  3520. >At her canorous command, your lips steadily part—and her strong, flexible tongue promptly bursts into your maw.
  3521. >Quickly locating your own—much weaker—tongue, she wrestles you down with impunity, and she soon has you completely wrapped up within her muscly coils.
  3522. >Her horsey taste buds utterly encompass your writhing organ from every angle, wholly wringing out any emergent resistance with loving squeezes and laving slathers.
  3523. >You can feel her naked forehoof gently but firmly pressing your head into hers, keeping you locked in place—and ensuring that she has you right where she wants you at all times.
  3524. >This isn't anything like the royal kissing practise that you've grown accustomed to.
  3525. >Right now, you are nothing but a prisoner to your princess's selfish pleasure; she monopolises your mouth at her salivary leisure, squeezing, licking—and drooling wherever she pleases.
  3526. >"Mmph~"
  3527. >She freely moans into your mouth, wantonly enjoying the sweet taste of her servant's subjugation; her sensual sounds harmonise with the rising hums of her crystallised heart.
  3528. >To further drive home her mareish dominance upon your human self, she breathes down your throat and snorts into your nostrils, forcefully filling you up with her fragrant fervour.
  3529. >The strong subjugating scent of her horsey breath…combined with the cloyingly thick taste of her horsey spit…
  3530. >It feels like you're drowning in her essence.
  3531. >No. You *are* drowning in her essence.
  3532. >As she binds your tongue with her own, you find yourself wholly unable to perform the gustatory motions to swallow her excess of goopy saliva—thus, you are forced to have it spill out of your mouth and dribble down your chin and neck.
  3533. >You can barely breathe—the only source of oxygen that your lungs can scrounge up is the air she aggressively snorts into you.
  3534. >Thus, you breathe it all in—you breathe in her total dominion over you.
  3535. >You've never felt this vulnerable before your princess—so completely capitulated.
  3536. >Yet you know that she's doing all of this for a reason:
  3537. >She's reminding you of your place.
  3538. >Because you belong to her.
  3539.  
  3540. >After what feels like an aeon of being trapped within her twisting taste buds, Flurry finally lets go of your tongue.
  3541. >Her lips remain forcibly locked with yours, while her tongue laxly laps at your teeth and around your inner cheeks.
  3542. >She still has you subjugated, but your princess has granted you an opportunity most divine to clear your maw of her maredrool.
  3543. >So you gulp it all down; you drink up her slimy saliva with a servile thirst.
  3544. "Ulp…ulp…ulp…"
  3545. >With each gulp, you accept more of her marely essence into your body.
  3546. >Your princess gazes upon your weary face with lidded lust, occasionally splashing more of her spit into your mouth to test your reflexes.
  3547. >She continues to huff and snort into your nostrils, making sure you don't forget her sweet scent even for a second.
  3548. >Those light-blue eyes of hers appear to glow in the moonlight.
  3549. >Just like the aura around her horn.
  3550. "Nng…?"
  3551. >Before you can ponder the matter any further—Flurry suddenly shoves her whole tongue down your throat, punching through your pharynx and tickling your oesophagus.
  3552. "G-gkk—!"
  3553. >You gag on her thick, pulsating organ as it completely plugs up your airway.
  3554. >Her undulating tongue writhes and wriggles within your tightly clenching throat, making sure that you feel absolutely every inch of her moist muscle.
  3555. >Your eyelids weakly flicker, yet you are utterly unable to take your eyes away from her lucent blue pools.
  3556. >She demands your full attention.
  3557. >Your body shudders. Your eyes well up. Your supply of oxygen thins.
  3558. >Gripped by panic, you desperately try to shove her face away with your left hand.
  3559. >But her horsey strength far outmatches yours.
  3560. >You can't escape.
  3561. >You can only submit to this breathless darkness.
  3562. >…
  3563. >There's something else.
  3564. >Something else is also seeping into your body.
  3565. >Something chillingly ethereal yet pervasively warm.
  3566. >Magic. Her magic.
  3567. >It reaches deep inside you; searching, exploring, discovering.
  3568. >It finds the core of your being.
  3569. >Your heart.
  3570. >With its target now acquired, her spiritual flow sinks its spindly tendrils into your very soul; groping, fondling, seizing.
  3571. >It infests you. *She* infests you.
  3572. >She violates you on a fundamental level, taking out bits of you—and replacing them with pieces of her.
  3573. >Your heart changes to accommodate hers, while hers change to accommodate yours.
  3574. >Bereft of breath, wanting of will, you no longer have the means to resist her.
  3575. >But why would you resist her? You're the one who invited her in.
  3576. >Better to just accept this.
  3577. >Better to just accept her.
  3578.  
  3579. >You can feel her magic linking the two of you together ineffably.
  3580. >She becomes you, and you become her.
  3581. >Thus, you breathe—you breathe through her thick tongue that's still deeply wedged inside your throat.
  3582. >In that moment, her tongue becomes your tongue, and that tongue becomes your trachea.
  3583. >With weighty, broad breaths, you take in sweet oxygen—and you take in her.
  3584. "Gkk…gkk…gkk…"
  3585. >You accept everything that she is—and everything that you are to her.
  3586. >Once you've sated yourself fully, you reclaim control of your own tongue, using its tip to gently lap at the underside of her undulating organ.
  3587. >"Nng~"
  3588. >Her eyes excitedly flicker, and she throatily moans into your mouth, heavily pleased by your returned affection.
  3589. >Your left hand, once having been used in a feeble attempt to push her away, now rests behind her head, mirroring the actions of her forehoof that's currently behind your head.
  3590. >You slowly caress her maned nape, making crystal clear your continued reciprocation.
  3591. >She happily huffs into your mouth in response—but that's not all.
  3592. >You can also feel her heart beat completely in tune with yours, and in doing so—it freely confides Flurry's most sincere emotions to you.
  3593. >Undying devotion.
  3594. >Unfathomable passion.
  3595. >Unending relief.
  3596. >Utter discombobulation.
  3597. >…Wait, no. That last one's you, you think.
  3598. >It's difficult to tell where she ends and you begin.
  3599. >Hell, it's hard enough to tell where *you* end and you begin.
  3600. >The life that you've lived in servitude to your princess, it's…
  3601. >…
  3602. >You…
  3603. >You remember.
  3604. >You remember yourself.
  3605. >And you remember yourself.
  3606. >Alas, all of these (You)s are giving you a major mind-melting migraine.
  3607. >Ugh.
  3608. >It hurts to even think.
  3609.  
  3610. >"Mnngh…"
  3611. >Moaning a guttural groan, Flurry begins the slow and steady process of extracting her thick tongue from your bulging throat.
  3612. >She takes her utmost sweet time in doing so, making sure to thoroughly savour the parting taste of your clenching oesophagus.
  3613. >You can feel her moist muscle sloppily swirl around your gullet, leaving a heady snail trail of bubbly marespit in her slow retreat.
  3614. >When she finally exits your mouth, she does so with a flourish, flinging her head back and vivaciously sighing into the air above.
  3615. >"Haaah~"
  3616. "Uhk—!"
  3617. >You, on the other hand, can't help but hack out the litres of slimy saliva that your princess has bestowed you with—your gag reflex has been pushed to its absolute limits.
  3618. >Flurry, in her infinite wisdom and kindness, endeavours to keep your chin propped up with her right forehoof—and thus much of your coughed-up phlegm ends up splattering and dribbling onto her naked frog; she doesn't seem to mind, however.
  3619. >"Ehehe~" she softly giggles.
  3620. >Her eyes fall upon you, and her smile bears that familiar felicity you've always known her for.
  3621. >"How do you feel, Anon—no—"
  3622. >She swiftly shakes her head, correcting herself:
  3623. >"Master~?"
  3624. >Your throat feels desecrated and your head feels like it's exploding.
  3625. >Unfortunately, you are far too mentally muddled to properly articulate said woes.
  3626. >Thus, you stare up at her, your gills green and your cheeks blue.
  3627. "I…"
  3628. >You can feel your eyes totally rolling over.
  3629. "…uuurgh…"
  3630. >Groaning and sputtering, your body slides backwards and collapses into her wings.
  3631. >Flurry gasps in shock, eyes shooting wide open.
  3632. >"O-oh!"
  3633. >Your eyelids droop all the way, casting off sight and embracing sweet darkness.
  3634. >"Master?! Master! S-speak to me!"
  3635. >She fawns over you for a few more seconds before drawing her own shaky conclusion.
  3636. >"O-oh, wait, you're—of course, yes. How silly of me. You must…you must need some time to recover."
  3637. >She removes her wings from your body, yet continues to keep you held up with her magic.
  3638. >You feel movement; your body's being levitated backwards.
  3639.  
  3640. >After a few seconds, this magical movement stops, and you can hear the steady clopping of hoofsteps as Flurry positions herself behind you.
  3641. >"Hold on, Master. Let me just set you down here…"
  3642. >She gingerly lowers you down into a sitting position.
  3643. >Your arms rest by your sides.
  3644. >Your legs splay out across the floor.
  3645. >Your back is propped up against something warm and fuzzy; you can feel it gently rising and falling in a manner that directly contrasts your laboured respirations.
  3646. >"Mm, there we go," you hear her voice coo to your left.
  3647. >You try to open your eyes, but your vision is far too blurry to make out much of anything.
  3648. >It hurts to keep your lids open, so you soon close them.
  3649. "Nng…" you groan, still feeling very much out of it.
  3650. >You feel something soft and sniffly nuzzle against the left side of your face.
  3651. >"It's okay, Master," she whispers against your cheek. "There's no need to strain yourself. Take all of the time you need."
  3652. >She plants a loving peck on your cheek.
  3653. >"I'm here for you, and I will always be here for you."
  3654. >She pulls away, and you hear the sparkly hum of her horn starting up.
  3655. >"Here, let me cast something to help soothe your pain…"
  3656. >Soon enough, you can feel the tingly embrace of her magic encompass your entire being, just it has done so before.
  3657. >Unlike before, however, it does not seek to further perforate your already porous soul—instead, it envelops you in a careful caress, tending to wounds both physical and mental.
  3658. >It feels good—like stepping into a nice, warm bath.
  3659. >"Haaah~" she happily sighs out. "My magic feels stronger than ever thanks to you, Master."
  3660. >She continues to apply her magical ministrations upon your body, letting out coos of contentment all the while.
  3661. >Her rhapsodic reactions give you cause to believe that she's casting her restorative magic on not just you—but herself as well, similar to how she did so after her mad gallop through the crystal streets.
  3662. >You leave your thoughts there, though.
  3663. >Thinking too much is making your migraine worse.
  3664. >Need to rest.
  3665. >You feel her nuzzle your cheek again.
  3666. >"There's so much I wish to talk with you about, Master."
  3667. >She takes a moment to softly whicker into your left ear.
  3668. >"But for now, let's just enjoy this moment together."
  3669.  
  3670. ***
  3671.  
  3672. >Several minutes have passed since your trachea was treated as the royal spelunking site.
  3673. >At least, you *think* it's been several minutes; it's hard to tell in this place.
  3674. >Anyway, you're starting to feel a little better.
  3675. >Your thoughts are settling, and your brain is no longer screaming at you.
  3676. >You have both the passage of time and the effects of your princess's magic to thank for that.
  3677. >During your recuperation, Flurry has been whickering and crooning to you, making sure to let you know that she's still there.
  3678. >With how close she is to your left ear, she is essentially neighing her horsey noises directly into your brain.
  3679. >Surprisingly, it's not an unpleasant feeling.
  3680. >In fact, it's like…her earnest desire to see you hale and hearty is resonating with your body and speeding up your recovery.
  3681. >Considering what you know of her magic, you suspect that you're not far off from the truth.
  3682. >"Mm…Master…I love you…so…so much…" she whispers to you, before planting yet another soft kiss on your left cheek.
  3683. >She also never gets tired of confessing her love to you.
  3684. >You suppose it makes sense; she *is* a Princess of Love, after all.
  3685. >The act of reaffirming her affection towards her beloved Soulmate probably comes just as naturally as breathing to her.
  3686. >…That's right, you're her Soulmate now.
  3687. >Or perhaps you always were?
  3688. >You're still struggling to wrap your head around the concept.
  3689. >First, she became your slave.
  3690. >Next, she became your mistress.
  3691. >And now…this.
  3692. >You and Flurry have come a long way from that day in the parlour; that's for sure.
  3693. >…
  3694. >After taking a couple more minutes to steel your recuperating soul, you steadily open your eyes to greet the waking world—or perhaps the dreaming one, considering the circumstances.
  3695. >Your vision starts out incomprehensibly blurry—but slowly and surely, your visible surroundings shift into focus.
  3696. >It doesn't seem like you've moved far from the place where you passed out.
  3697. >You're currently sitting down on the floor; to be specific, you're sitting down on the inner perimeter of the circular pad that surrounds the Crystal Heart—or rather: Flurry's crystallised heart.
  3698. >Facing inwards and looking upwards, you can see said heart still floating in the air.
  3699. >You note that it looks…
  3700. >Different.
  3701.  
  3702. >Before you focus any further on that, though—you'd like to take a chance to check yourself before you wreck yourself.
  3703. >Examining your own body, you note that you're still wearing your blue bathrobe; it's very comfy, and it has done a surprisingly competent job of protecting you from the elements.
  3704. >You can also see a familiar red rose poking out from your upper left pocket.
  3705. >It's a little squashed, likely from all of the neck hugging and horse riding that you've been doing—but still, you had half-expected it to have flown out of your pocket by now.
  3706. >What a trooper.
  3707. >Over by the right edge of this pad, you can see your princess's royal regalia neatly set to one side: four hoof shoes, her silver peytral, and her crystal crown.
  3708. >Looks like she took off everything during the interim.
  3709. >As for your princess herself—she's right behind you.
  3710. >She lies on her left side, while you rest against her tender barrel.
  3711. >Out from your peripheral vision, you see her hindlegs stretch out over to your right—while on your left, you see her forelegs curled up close to her chest.
  3712. >You can feel her belly gently respiring against your back, rising and falling with utmost serenity.
  3713. >"Hah…Master…I…" you hear her breathily begin.
  3714. >Turning your head to the left, you intercept your princess's imminent kiss, feeling her plush lips firmly plant themselves against yours.
  3715. >"Mm!"
  3716. >Her eyes shoot open briefly, before falling back into a calmly lidded state.
  3717. >Flaring out her nostrils, she gently exhales onto your face and softly sucks on your lips, making wet popping sounds as she does.
  3718. >"Mm~"
  3719. >After she spends several seconds amusing herself with your mouth, Flurry pulls away from you with a marely *mwah~* and a satiated snort.
  3720. >Dreamily flickering her eyelids, she slowly licks her lips, sensually savouring your lingering taste.
  3721. >Taking a delightedly drawn-out sigh, her fervent gaze soon falls upon you.
  3722. >"I love you, Master."
  3723. >You lightly chuckle.
  3724. "So you keep telling me."
  3725. >She matches your chuckle with a titter.
  3726. >"And I mean every word~"
  3727. >You note that your princess is being even more forthright with her affections than usual.
  3728. >Here, in the deepest vestiges of her heart, her most earnest emotions are laid bare before your eyes and ears.
  3729. >Thus, you know this to be how she truly feels about you.
  3730. >Despite everything that you've done to her.
  3731. >"Do you feel better, Master?" she asks.
  3732. >You nod to her.
  3733. "Yeah."
  3734. >Giving your right temple a tap with your finger, you continue:
  3735. "Head feels a lot less scrambled now."
  3736. >She sighs in deep relief, and an equally relieved smile crosses her features.
  3737. >"I'm glad to hear it."
  3738. >Flurry's expression is one of gentle warmth.
  3739. >Yours, however, is one of pursed enlightenment.
  3740. >Your memories have finally been returned to you, and you'd like to touch base with your princess before you go any further.
  3741. "There's something else, as well."
  3742.  
  3743. >You take a brief pause to check her reaction.
  3744. >Her ardent eyes remain on you, and you catch a minor flick from her right ear.
  3745. "Everything's come back to me," you continue. "I remember where we really stand in relation to one another."
  3746. >You see her perked-up ears attentively swivel your way, while her lips lightly part in subtle acknowledgement.
  3747. "I am your Master, and you…"
  3748. >This mare has become many things to you, but for now, you settle on how the two of you began:
  3749. "…you are my slave, aren't you?"
  3750. >She nods with confidence.
  3751. >"Mhm, that's right. You are indeed my beloved Master."
  3752. >Briefly closing her eyes, she obediently bows her head before you.
  3753. >"While I, Princess Flurry Heart, am your devoted slave."
  3754. >Raising her head and opening her eyes, she casts you an eternally enthused smile.
  3755. >"And come what may, I shall happily continue to serve you forevermore~"
  3756. >That smile of hers happens to be quite the infectious one, as you can feel it threatening to creep up on your own lips.
  3757. >However, you quickly blink and reluctantly shake such pleasantries away, ready to move onto the next part of your query:
  3758. "Flurry, you've had all of your true memories for a while now, correct?"
  3759. >Her smile slightly falters, and she nods.
  3760. >"Yes."
  3761. >She answers you curtly, yet you can also see traces of guilt beginning to creep up on her expression.
  3762. "How long have you known?"
  3763. >"From the very moment I awakened to this new body of mine, I was able to remember everything."
  3764. "So, after we went to sleep in your bedroom—but before we met up on the balcony?"
  3765. >"Mm."
  3766. "Right."
  3767. >You cast a sweeping glance around the perimeter of this crystal spire.
  3768. "And do you know what this place is, exactly?"
  3769. >You look back to her.
  3770. "This whole castle and everything, I mean."
  3771. >She nods again.
  3772. >"This castle is part of a transient realm that is shared between our hearts, Master. It draws from our memories—but is shaped by our desires."
  3773. "Ah, so it's kind of like a dream, then."
  3774. >"Mm, and it was through my love magic that I was able to bring this place to life."
  3775. >You cast your gaze down to your outstretched legs.
  3776. "I see."
  3777. >Things are starting to make more sense now.
  3778. >You were running off the assumption that this dreamy castle was crafted solely from the building blocks of her blue heart.
  3779. >But if more than one heart has been pumping life into this place, then that would certainly explain some of the strange things you've seen here.
  3780. >…
  3781. >Then again, would it really?
  3782.  
  3783. >"And…and Master…" Flurry speaks up.
  3784. >Looking back up to your princess, you can see that the traces of guilt present upon her face have now grown into gaping cracks.
  3785. "Yeah?"
  3786. >Her ensuing response is hurried and harried:
  3787. >"P-please know that it was never my intention to deceive you. I—"
  3788. >You silence her spiel by reaching out your left hand and resting it upon the side of her neck.
  3789. >"—ah."
  3790. "It's okay, Flurry. I understand. You did what you had to do, right?"
  3791. >Flashing her a gentle smile, you caress her neck, making her eyes lose focus and her eyelids delightedly flicker.
  3792. "Don't worry. I'm not mad at you. You're still my good girl."
  3793. >"I…mm…I'm good girl…"
  3794. >Leaning into your touch, she closes her eyes and snorts in mareish contentment.
  3795. >With just one simple trick, you have your princess completely placated.
  3796. >As for you, you already fully understand Flurry's motives for keeping you in the dark.
  3797. >Because despite her deception, her heart was in the right place.
  3798. >After all, your previous self, plebby as he was, already had a lot running through his mind.
  3799. >He might have known how to best keep his princess happy, but he was *not* ready to tame the needy steed desperately presenting herself towards him.
  3800. >And being bestowed with the knowledge that he actually *owned* this horse of a mare could very well have pushed him over the edge.
  3801. >Between getting lost in mysterious mazes and attempting to wrangle a horse-sized alicorn—it's a miracle that he managed to hold it together for so long.
  3802. >…Eh, maybe you should give him a little more credit; he is, after all, (You).
  3803. >His memories are now your memories.
  3804. >They're good ones.
  3805. >Facing forward, you retrieve your hand from her neck and rest it on your lap.
  3806. >The sudden removal of your diligent digits causes her to heatedly huff out in your direction.
  3807. "Easy there, girl," you state without looking at her.
  3808. >"Hff… Sorry, Master."
  3809. >Your slave is a spirited sweetheart, but you still have to set some boundaries here and there—otherwise, you risk spending every waking moment entangled in each other's embrace.
  3810. >Your hearts are already intertwined enough as is.
  3811. >On that note, you turn your gaze onwards and upwards, deciding to check out the floating chunk of crystal that represents Flurry's heart.
  3812. >You're operating under the safe assumption it's not a literal representation of her vital organ.
  3813. >Ponies are plenty magical—but you'd imagine that even they would find it extremely difficult to live with a literal slab of stone inside their chest.
  3814.  
  3815. >…Moving on, there was something about this heart's appearance that had piqued your interest earlier.
  3816. >You suppose it's about high time you address it.
  3817. "About your heart—"
  3818. >"I want to say—"
  3819. >Your words and her words cancel each other out.
  3820. >And the two of you awkwardly stare at one another.
  3821. >"S-sorry." She quickly shakes her head, face flushing. "You go first, Master."
  3822. "…Right."
  3823. >After that little mutual hiccup, you look back up to her heart—that shining blue crystal.
  3824. >Except…it's not entirely blue any more.
  3825. >The left side of it is still coloured a resplendently light blue.
  3826. >However, the right side of it is now coloured an exotically deep pink.
  3827. >Thus, this one singular heart bears two distinct dyes upon its veneer.
  3828. "Your heart…"
  3829. >You turn your head to face her again.
  3830. "…it's half-pink."
  3831. >"Mhm." She gives you a nod.
  3832. >It is a curious sight, but you already have a pretty good idea as to what it signifies.
  3833. >You clasp your hands together on your lap, interlocking your fingers.
  3834. "It's because of what we did earlier, isn't it?"
  3835. >"Mhm." She gives you another nod.
  3836. >You slightly knit your brows.
  3837. "Flurry, what exactly did you do to me?"
  3838. >After giving you her third consecutive nod—this one humless—she turns her head towards her two-toned heart.
  3839. >She silently studies it for a few seconds, before slowly speaking up:
  3840. >"…As you may know, Master, I am an alicorn—a natural-born alicorn at that."
  3841. >Your response comes in the form of a mute, understanding nod.
  3842. >You see her face gradually fall into a melancholy frown as she continues:
  3843. >"I…am going to live for a very long time."
  3844. >Her eyes steadily drift down to the floor.
  3845. >"In fact, I'll likely live forever."
  3846. >Her brows knit.
  3847. >"But if I live forever, that means I'll outlive my family, my friends, and even…"
  3848. >She turns to face you, and you hear her voice crack:
  3849. >"…even you, Master."
  3850. >She stays silent for a few seconds, simply staring into your eyes as you stare into hers.
  3851. >Her eyes shimmer with subtle sorrow, yet burgeon with fierce determination.
  3852. >It is the latter which fuels her next words:
  3853. >"I refused to accept that."
  3854. >She sternly shakes her head.
  3855. >"I refused to accept a world without my beloved Master—without my King—and so I…"
  3856. >She takes a deep breath, before finishing:
  3857. >"…I carried out a forbidden ritual—one that bound our hearts together as eternal Soulmates."
  3858. >You slowly blink, then you arch a puzzled eyebrow.
  3859. "A…'forbidden ritual?'"
  3860. >"Mm-hmm." She nods affirmatively. "From what I've read, any kind of magic that links your life force to somepony else's is considered to be an unforgivable sin—a sacrilegious act that goes against the very fabric of Equestria's natural order."
  3861. "W-wow…" you quietly mumble to yourself.
  3862.  
  3863. >Given all of the magical nonsense that you've read about in the news, you're surprised Equestrians even have a line to draw in this place.
  3864. >"But I don't give a griffon's fractured beak about the 'natural order' of things!" Flurry states with aplomb. "I only care about you, Master."
  3865. >The longer her eyes peer into yours, the more her lips curl upwards.
  3866. >"And now that your lifespan is linked with mine," she breathes out, "nothing will *ever* keep us apart~"
  3867. >Her frown has now fully transformed into a spine-tingling smile.
  3868. >"We'll be together forever~"
  3869. >You briefly blink, somewhat taken aback by her manically melodious tone.
  3870. "Um—"
  3871. >She suddenly leans forward and lovingly nuzzles your face with her fuzzy snout.
  3872. >"Aaah~" she happily sighs against your lips. "I love you, Master~"
  3873. >While you weather the storm of Flurry's affectionate onslaught, you take a moment to collect your thoughts:
  3874. >As it stands, you should probably admonish your slave for marehandling your soul without your permission.
  3875. >Not only that, but it's entirely possible that she intentionally lured you into this dreamscape for the express purpose of carrying out her soul-binding ritual.
  3876. >…
  3877. >However…
  3878. "…I love you too, Flurry."
  3879. >"Hm-hm~!" she cheerily titters. "I love you three! And four! And five!"
  3880. >Your princess might be just a little unhinged.
  3881. >Perhaps she's actually the Princess of Obsessive Love.
  3882. >That's why she needs someone to rein her in when needed.
  3883. >And that someone might as well be you.
  3884. >Also, it wouldn't be right for you to spurn her dearest, earnest emotions, especially when considering what the two of you have gone through together.
  3885. >Plus…
  3886. >Immortality doesn't sound so bad if you're spending it with the one you love.
  3887. >Your princess eventually pulls away from you, and the two of you enjoy a tender tranquillity together as you slowly wean off the rest of your migraine.
  3888. >Flurry rests the length of her neck along the floor, curving it to the side so that she can keep you in her lovingly lidded sights.
  3889. >Stretching out your legs, you lean back against her gently breathing barrel.
  3890. >You laxly rest your left hand atop your lap, while your right hand casually finds its way to the top of Flurry's upturned flank—where her Crystal Heart cutie mark resides.
  3891. >Idly, you run your fingers through her soft coat, feeling both the fluffiness of her fur and the fullness of her flank
  3892. >Your absent-minded massage elicit several contented coos and winsome whickers from your princess:
  3893. >"Ooh…mm…Master…"
  3894. >Her ethereal tail happily thwips the hard crystal floor, making a jittery jingly sound every time it does.
  3895. >You do wonder what her horsey locks are made of while she's in this form.
  3896. >Magic? Love? The souls of her slain enemies?
  3897. >…Eh, this place is just a dream; best not to think about it too much.
  3898.  
  3899. >Instead, you decide to turn your attention elsewhere:
  3900. >Back to that two-toned crystal heart floating in front of you.
  3901. >It's blue on the left, and pink on the right.
  3902. >Her pure pony heart has been forever intermingled with your essence.
  3903. >She truly is yours now.
  3904. >Just as you have become hers.
  3905. "Hm," you muse to yourself.
  3906. >If the blue hue represents Flurry Heart, then the pink side must represent you, right?
  3907. >That must make you pink on the inside, while she's pink on the outside.
  3908. >Truly, the two of you are a match made in pony-human heaven.
  3909. >The results of her ritual can not only be clearly seen—but felt, too.
  3910. >Here, in the silent serenity found between man and mare, you are able to hone in on the stirring sensation of your own heartbeat:
  3911. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  3912. >It feels stronger, synchronised.
  3913. >As if your heartbeat has been conjoined with another's.
  3914. >Hers.
  3915. >The two of you are now supporting each other both physically and spiritually—and you shall continue to do so until the end of time.
  3916. >It's…heartening, in a way.
  3917. >To know that this mare shall always be by your side.
  3918. >In fact, you hesitate to even think of her as a slave any more.
  3919. >But she *is* your slave—and she always will be.
  3920. >Just as you are her eternal Master.
  3921. >Thus, you shall endeavour to be a Master that your Soulmate deserves.
  3922. >Loving, caring, understanding, and unafraid to set her right when necessary.
  3923. >…
  3924. >Speaking of understanding, didn't she have something of her own to say?
  3925. >Back when the two of you inadvertently spoke over one another, she was courteous enough to let you go first.
  3926. >It's time to hear her side.
  3927. >You look to your princess, who's still looking back at you with a dopily dreamy smile plastered upon her face.
  3928. "Hey, Flurry."
  3929. >She lazily blinks at you, head resting on the floor.
  3930. >"Mm?"
  3931. "What were you going to say earlier?"
  3932. >"Earlier…?"
  3933. >She gives one of her ears a thoughtful twitch—and then, her eyes swiftly widen in realisation.
  3934. >"Oh!" Her head shoots up. "Oh, right!"
  3935. >She clears her throat, and then addresses you:
  3936. >"Master, I don't regret what I've done. I love you, and I want us to be together always."
  3937. >Despite her triumphant tone, you can see her face slightly falter.
  3938. >"However…"
  3939. >She guiltily gulps, eyes briefly flitting away from you.
  3940. >"…I do regret the way in how I went about things."
  3941.  
  3942. >Taking a deep breath, she looks back to you, eyes flopped down.
  3943. >"So I…I want to apologise for the way I acted back there."
  3944. >You purse your lips in thought, recalling your princess's decidedly dominant demeanour.
  3945. "…Ah, you mean when you throatfucked me with your tongue?"
  3946. >Your coarse candidity causes an embarrassed blush to furiously flush across her cheeks.
  3947. >And she gives you a shaky nod.
  3948. >"Y-yes."
  3949. >She clears her throat in an attempt to compose herself.
  3950. >"I lost myself in the heat of the moment, I saw how you recognised me despite myself, and I…"
  3951. >She stops herself, sighs, and shakes her head.
  3952. >"…no. I'm just making excuses for myself."
  3953. >You catch her eyes glistening.
  3954. >"Master, I was out of line back there. I took advantage of you, and—what's worse—I did it while you weren't yourself. I disrespected your authority. I betrayed your trust. I'm a complete disgrace as a slave. I don't deserve—"
  3955. >You curtly boop her nose.
  3956. >Her watery eyes widen.
  3957. >"—ah."
  3958. "Flurry."
  3959. >She's doing it again.
  3960. >Your princess is callously cold to those who dwell outside of her close circle, but when it comes to her Master—she's passionately penitent.
  3961. "This is a very self-flagellatory way to say that you're sorry, isn't it?"
  3962. >She chews on her lip for a second, before responding:
  3963. >"It…it is, yes."
  3964. >She lets out a deep sigh, before casting you a concise:
  3965. >"I'm sorry, Master."
  3966. >You give her a gentle smile.
  3967. "I know, Flurry. I know."
  3968. >There's certainly some irony to be found in how apologetic she is towards the human who enslaved her mind.
  3969. >But now that you and Flurry are Soulmates, bonded by your hearts, you see no reason to question her loyalty.
  3970. >Hell, even before all of this happened, your princess has been a graciously obedient slave—ever eager to submit and serve.
  3971. >Throughout your time together, she has only disobeyed you a singular time—and it was merely a minor infraction, at that.
  3972. >However, it is from that infraction that you can piece together a theory on why she sought to assert her will over yours.
  3973. "By the way, Flurry…"
  3974. >Moving your right hand away from her flank, you cross your arms.
  3975. "…I get why you did it."
  3976. >She blinks.
  3977. >"H-huh? You…you do?"
  3978. >You nod with confidence.
  3979. "You felt threatened, haven't you?"
  3980. >You briefly pause, adding some weight to your claim:
  3981. "Threatened by Luster Dawn."
  3982. >Her expression, which had been a penitent frown before, settles into a neutral line.
  3983. >"…Mm." She lightly nods.
  3984. >Luster Dawn is a mare who almost broke your mind, and if it weren't for Flurry's unforeseen act of heartfelt defiance—that dastardly unicorn would've succeeded.
  3985. >More than that, though—Luster is also your second slave.
  3986. >You've seen the darkest depths of Flurry's devotion on full display here.
  3987. >It's only natural that a mare like her would get testy over another mare muscling in on her "territory"—best friend or not.
  3988.  
  3989. >Incidentally, you suppose that the matter of who gets to be "Alpha Mare" of your herd has been indelibly settled with Flurry's little soul-binding ritual.
  3990. >But still…there remains to be some unresolved baggage here—you can tell.
  3991. >And as the Master of these two mares, it's your job to unravel that baggage and set their hearts at ease.
  3992. "Flurry," you address her. "I want you to know…"
  3993. >You can see her ears slowly stand at attention.
  3994. "…I don't hold your actions against you, not in the slightest."
  3995. >Sitting upright, you roll your shoulders around a few times, limbering up your lax joints.
  3996. "It's okay to feel scared, and it's okay to feel jealous, but…"
  3997. >You inch yourself forward, moving away from her barrel.
  3998. >Using both hands, you slowly and steadily push yourself up off the floor, soon uprighting yourself into a standing position.
  3999. >Right in front of you, you can see that pink-and-blue heart floating at eye level.
  4000. >You can also see a reflection—one of both you and her.
  4001. >She looks nervous.
  4002. "…I also want you to know that I have zero intention of leaving you out to dry."
  4003. >Turning around to face your princess, you are able to see her nervous expression with greater clarity.
  4004. >Her ethereal mane flows like a sparkling sea, beautifully so, yet it is the waves of worry upon her face that you seek to stymie.
  4005. "You'll always be my first," you continue, maintaining that same gentle smile from earlier, "and you'll always be my Flurry Heart."
  4006. >Stooping forwards in front of her, you hold out your right hand, palm outstretched.
  4007. "No matter what happens."
  4008. >Her lips part, and her shimmering eyes drift down to your extended hand.
  4009. >"Master…"
  4010. >She lets out a lightly breathy sigh, and her anxious expression gradually lifts.
  4011. >Slightly shifting her sidelong body towards you, she lifts her right foreleg and gingerly places her hoof in your right palm.
  4012. >She casts you a soft smile.
  4013. >Giving her a small nod, you place your left hand on her hoof, sandwiching it between both of your palms.
  4014. >And you pull her—
  4015. >Holy FUCK she's heavy.
  4016. >—up; mercifully, she pushes up her horsey weight along with you, sparing you from utterly embarrassing yourself during this most tender moment.
  4017. >Soon enough, you have her standing up on all fours; thus, her head is now level with yours.
  4018. >She gazes deep into your eyes with a peaceable passion.
  4019. >Her pupils are still pink, just as they've always been in this dream.
  4020. >Just as her undying fervour for you has never faded.
  4021. >"Out of all the ponies and…" She pauses. "…creatures that inhabit this land…"
  4022. >Leaning forward, she plants an earnest peck on your lips.
  4023. >And the smile she gives you when she pulls away is just as loving.
  4024. >"…I'm glad it was you my heart aligned with."
  4025. >Her words are heartfelt, though you may not fully grasp their meaning.
  4026. >However, your hearts beat to the same drum, and so your feelings mirror hers.
  4027. "Yeah, me too."
  4028. >Even if your reply might not be as poetic.
  4029.  
  4030. >Gently caressing her hoof with your left hand, the two of you silently take in the surrounding serenity.
  4031. >The raging winds have stilled, and the radiant sun peeks over the horizon; the orange rays it shines out manage to cut straight through this gloomy blue atmosphere and warm the both of you right up.
  4032. >You like to think that sun signifies a new beginning for you and Flurry—a new dawn.
  4033. >Or perhaps it simply means that morning is coming.
  4034. "So, uh…"
  4035. >You remove your left hand from her hoof, yet keep it laxly held within your right.
  4036. "…what happens now?"
  4037. >You cast your eyes all around this circular spire, gazing at the crystal pillars which both surround the platform and support the ceiling.
  4038. "What's gonna happen to this place—to us?"
  4039. >Flurry nods.
  4040. >"Mm, well, now that your heart has finally chosen which of us deserves to be your Alpha Mare…"
  4041. >She casts a pleased glance towards that dichromatic heart-shaped crystal.
  4042. >"…this place will no longer have a reason to exist. Like all dreams, it will eventually fade away, and the three of us will all wake up when morning comes."
  4043. "Morning, huh…"
  4044. >Gingerly letting go of her hoof, you gaze at that orange sun steadily rising into the sky.
  4045. >Dream suns may not be real suns, but your gut feeling is telling you that this place won't hold for much longer.
  4046. >This dream shall soon end.
  4047. >"However, Master…"
  4048. >Looking away from the sun, you make eye contact with Flurry.
  4049. >"…if it's okay with you, I would like to spend our remaining moments in this place enjoying ourselves."
  4050. >You cup your chin with your right hand.
  4051. "'Enjoying ourselves,' you say?"
  4052. >"Mm-hmm, after all…"
  4053. >Taking a step forward, she leans in and sultrily whispers into your left ear:
  4054. >"…I still haven't had the chance to properly 'try out' this new body of mine~"
  4055. >She ends her sensual statement by breathily whickering down your ear canal; it sends a steamy shiver up your spine.
  4056. "A-ah…"
  4057. >As she pulls away, you ogle her horsey form for a few moments.
  4058. >Indeed, you've ridden her—but you haven't "ridden" her.
  4059. "…I'm on board with this."
  4060. >She titters.
  4061. >"We should take this to the bedroom, then. We might catch a cold if we do it up here."
  4062. >Are dream colds a thing?
  4063. >Honestly, you're not that keen on finding out.
  4064. >And so you reply:
  4065. "Fair enough."
  4066.  
  4067. >Looking past your body, Flurry levitates one of her silver hoof shoes out from her gleaming pile of royal trappings.
  4068. >After floating said shoe over to the spot on the floor right in front of her right forehoof, she attempts to stick said hoof inside.
  4069. >"Give me a moment to…nng…put on my regalia," she addresses you, keeping her strained gaze trained on her silver shoe. "Once I…nng…do that, we can head over there together."
  4070. >She appears to having some issues putting her hoofwear on.
  4071. >Easier out than in, you suppose.
  4072. >Nevertheless, you nod in affirmation.
  4073. "Gotcha."
  4074. >While she gears herself up, you turn around and make your way over to that two-tone crystal heart.
  4075. >"Come on…get in there…stupid shoe…" you hear her grumble out loud. "Darn it, I thought these grew with me…"
  4076. >She's a big girl; she can handle it.
  4077. >You probably could too, given your past experiences as a plebby pet who had to personally clothe your princess every morning.
  4078. >Those extra two lives that you lived through may have been false ones, but the memories associated with them still feel shockingly real to you.
  4079. >…Man, Flurry's blue magic is pretty damn potent.
  4080. >Anyway, you're a Master now; you have much more important things that you'd rather be doing.
  4081. >Like checking out this floating crystal heart, for example.
  4082. >It's not *the* Crystal Heart, but it's *her* crystal heart.
  4083. >The proof is in the pinkness.
  4084. >She gave away half of her heart, and took in half of yours.
  4085. >And so, while staring deep into the pink side of that heart, you rest your right hand upon its warmly sleek surface and ruminate on the events that brought you this far:
  4086. >Back when Flurry first visited your parlour, she looked down upon you with icy eyes, seeing you as nothing more than a lowly plebeian who only existed for her own amusement.
  4087. >But once you managed to collar her, she quickly became your loyally obedient slave—one who gleefully delighted in submitting to you in every way possible.
  4088. >Even here, in the fathoms between your hearts where her mind is free from the constraints of her controlling collar—she never thought to seek retribution against you.
  4089. >In fact, she only desired to bring the two of you even closer than before.
  4090. >And thanks to this forbidden ritual of hers—she succeeded.
  4091.  
  4092. >Truthfully, you had always found Flurry's dramatic shift in personality to be quite the curious one—it's almost like she turned into a different pony entirely once she came under your collared control.
  4093. >She's sweetly affectionate and ardently servile—a clear contrast to the cold and cruel mare that you initially had the displeasure of knowing.
  4094. >Not only that, but she also accepted your dominion over her mind with minimal resistance on her part—all it took was a little light feather fondling and a few breathing exercises.
  4095. >By direct comparison, Luster Dawn put up much more of a mental fight, and is shamelessly saucy with or without her collar.
  4096. >So, what happened? Did you overwrite Flurry's personality completely? Was she simply pretending to be controlled? Did she plan on stabbing you in the back once you let your guard down?
  4097. >These were just a few of the questions that the more conspiratorial side of your mind had conjured up.
  4098. >But after having witnessed your princess's cooler countenance through a plebbier lens, you find yourself forming some semblance of rationale regarding her bifacial behaviour.
  4099. >You believe that Flurry's bratty mannerisms and obsequious attitude are simply two sides of the same mare.
  4100. >She acts aloof and standoffish towards those she's even neutral towards, but around those she considers part of her inner circle, all of her icy walls break down—and she becomes bright and bubbly.
  4101. >While you were serving as her personal servant, you'd wager that you were being kept right on the rim of said circle; close enough to know that she clearly cared deeply for you—yet distanced enough to ensure you understood your lowly position.
  4102. >And now that you are wholly yourself once more, it appears that her heart has fully accepted you as her beloved Master—and her eternal Soulmate.
  4103. >Perhaps all Flurry Heart ever truly wanted was to have someone earnestly fawn over her—and occasionally call her a good girl from time to time.
  4104. >As long as she had that, then she'd be perfectly happy playing either role in a master-slave relationship.
  4105. >Even if said Master is an extradimensional alien.
  4106. >You suppose that makes Flurry your permanent responsibility now.
  4107. >It's funny, you had always mused on the idea of marrying this mare as a way to atone for how thoroughly you defiled her.
  4108. >Guess that premonition of yours came to fruition in its own perpetual way.
  4109.  
  4110. >On the left side of that floating heart—the blue side—you can see your own reflection.
  4111. >You cast yourself a look of firm conviction, ready to see things through to the endless end.
  4112. >…
  4113. >Something else is coming into view.
  4114. >Something pink.
  4115. >Blue eyes.
  4116. >Horned.
  4117. >Kinda horsey face.
  4118. >Crystal crown on her head.
  4119. >"Ooh~?"
  4120. >She smiles at you.
  4121. >You smile back.
  4122. >And then…
  4123. >And then she snerks at you:
  4124. >"Snrrk, 'Belongs to Flurry Heart,' ehehe~"
  4125. >Your brows knit.
  4126. "Belongs to—?"
  4127. >Ah, right. How could you forget.
  4128. >The two of you pull away from the heart.
  4129. >Turning to the left, you face a jubilant Flurry Heart.
  4130. >You then lightly tug on your pink collar with your right hand.
  4131. "I suppose I have your 'other self' to thank for this little accessory."
  4132. >Examining her body, you see that she has successfully managed to put on all of her royal regalia by herself—shoes, peytral, and crown.
  4133. >However, you note that a couple of her silver hoof shoes look a little warped around the top, the metal throat having been bent outwards.
  4134. >"I think that collar makes you look super cute, Master!" she says with a sincere smile.
  4135. "Cute, huh…" you mumble to yourself.
  4136. >Turning back to the heart, you see your collar reflected in it.
  4137. "I suppose the collar isn't wrong."
  4138. >With a measured blink, you turn your gaze onto the two-toned heart as a whole:
  4139. >Pink and blue, beating together.
  4140. "After all, I really *do* belong to you now."
  4141. >"Mhm, but don't forget, Master…"
  4142. >You hear her horn emit a lively magical hum—followed by a light flashing zap.
  4143. >"…I belong to you, too~"
  4144. >After squinting your eyes at her reflection, you turn back to face Flurry.
  4145. >She's now wearing something around her neck:
  4146. >It's a silver-coloured collar, its pleathery design mirroring your own.
  4147. >There's a small heart-shaped buckle at the front—one with a message engraved into it.
  4148. >It says "Belongs to Anonymous."
  4149. "Oh."
  4150. >Cupping your chin, you nod in silent approval.
  4151. >Flurry titters in response.
  4152. >She then uses her magic to stretch the front of the strap slightly forward, proudly showing it off to you.
  4153. >"What do you think, Master? Should I keep it silver to match my regalia—"
  4154. >With another zap of her horn, she changes her collar's colour.
  4155. >"—or make it pink to match yours?"
  4156. >A contemplative hum escapes your lips as you examine her now-pink collar:
  4157. "Hm…"
  4158. >The collar of a mare is a direct representation of her soul—this is not a decision you can make lightly.
  4159. >In fact, this could very well be the most important decision you'll ever make in your alicorn-bonded life.
  4160. >Thus, you take a monumental moment to ponder the matter of her pleather's pigment.
  4161. >And amongst all of the pigments presented before your mind's eye—a thought most fey springs to mind.
  4162. >You speak it so:
  4163. "…make it green."
  4164.  
  4165. >She blinks.
  4166. >"Hm, green?"
  4167. >At your command, she quickly changes her collar's colour to lime green.
  4168. >She then turns her head and peers at her reflection with pursed lips.
  4169. >"Oh, but the colour is going to clash with everything else…"
  4170. >She stares at her mismatched self for a second more.
  4171. >And she suddenly gasps out loud.
  4172. >"…and that's exactly what'll make it stand out!"
  4173. >Turning back, she beams at you.
  4174. >"Great idea, Master!"
  4175. >Mutely scratching the back of your neck, you smile back at her.
  4176. >Flurry passes a parting glance towards her collared reflection, humming and nodding to herself as she does.
  4177. >Then, turning around, she walks away from both you and the heart, making her way to the turquoise pad's perimeter.
  4178. >"Once we finally take the throne, I want to wear a collar just like this."
  4179. >After walking a couple of metres, she stops in place.
  4180. >Whipping her ethereal mane to the side, she casts you a lidded look from over her withers.
  4181. >"I want *everypony* to know who I belong to~"
  4182. >Her sultry demeanour never fails to give you chills—good chills, that is.
  4183. "Not to worry," you begin, making your way towards her, "you won't have to wait long, for this kingdom shall be ours soon enough…"
  4184. >Stopping by her left side, you rest your right hand upon her royal withers.
  4185. "…my Queen."
  4186. >She lets out a heatedly steamy snort through her nostrils, followed by a breathily sensual titter through her mouth:
  4187. >"Hm-hm-hm-hm~"
  4188. >She continues, lips curling up into a confident smirk.
  4189. >"And I cannot wait to conquer this land with you, my King~"
  4190. >You give her withers a silent stroke, causing her to heavily sigh out in deep contentment.
  4191. >She then steadily lowers herself down to her knees.
  4192. >"But first," she begins, looking up at you from her crouched position, "how would you like to enjoy a morning ride with your Queen before you…"
  4193. >She lightly chews on her words for a moment, before finishing:
  4194. >"…ride her~?"
  4195. >She quietly titters to herself, obviously quite pleased with her own double entendre.
  4196.  
  4197. "I would like nothing more."
  4198. >You take a brief pause.
  4199. "However…"
  4200. >You remove your hand from her withers.
  4201. "…I'm gonna need that blanket again."
  4202. >She blinks, brows slightly knitting.
  4203. >"Hm, blanket…?"
  4204. >Her eyes widen in realisation.
  4205. >"O-oh, right."
  4206. >She clears her throat and lights up her horn.
  4207. >"Um, hold on…"
  4208. >And just like that, her seductively dignified disposition dissipates like the wind.
  4209. >What a dork.
  4210. >But she's your dork.
  4211. >Using her magic, Flurry drapes a familiar light-yellow blanket on top of her back, and that magical fabric soon firmly affixes itself to her pink coat.
  4212. >After comfily saddling herself, she lets out a triumphant huff.
  4213. >"Okay, there."
  4214. >She warmly smiles at you.
  4215. >"Whenever you're ready, Master."
  4216. >You nod.
  4217. "Mm."
  4218. >You mount your mare for the third time this morning, making sure to leave her wings free to flap as they please.
  4219. >Your royal steed steadily rises up with you, soon standing up on all four hooves.
  4220. >She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.
  4221. >And suddenly, she rears up on her hindlegs and squeals out a sky-piercingly loud neigh.
  4222. >Your seating becomes a slope, yet you are in no danger of falling off—for your body instinctively knows when and where to cling to hers so you can maintain your balance.
  4223. >Thus, you can fully appreciate how your royal steed proudly bears her horsey soul to this dreamy realm—and to you.
  4224. >When she lands back on her hooves, she opens her eyes and lets out a mareish snort.
  4225. >"Haaah…" she sighs out. "This is how we were meant to be."
  4226. "Yeah…" you reply without thinking.
  4227. >You can't deny that you feel a certain sense of "rightness" whenever you ride your mare.
  4228. >While your bodies are connected like this, there's an indisputably instinctual bond that exists between the both of you.
  4229. >Your body understands hers, just as her body understands yours.
  4230. >And now that your hearts are immutably linked together—that bond has only grown stronger.
  4231.  
  4232. >Casting a sweeping glance to your surroundings, you gaze at the crystal pillars that gate this circular platform.
  4233. >These pillars are equidistantly spaced, yet there's an opening between two of them that nonetheless catches your eye; you think it might even be the same one you initially came through.
  4234. >Whatever the case may be, you've found your exit point.
  4235. >Taking Flurry's mane as your natural reins, you gently turn her to your destination.
  4236. >The two of you take an equally deep breath at the same time.
  4237. >And then, giving her body a light squeeze with your heels, you shout out your compelling command:
  4238. "Ride!"
  4239. >With a powerful neigh, Flurry shoots off into a full gallop, heading straight for those crystal gates.
  4240. >In no time at all, she approaches the spire's edge.
  4241. >You give her another squeeze of your heels and another command:
  4242. "Hup!"
  4243. >She leaps from the spire, wings outstretched—but does not flap them just yet.
  4244. >The two of you enjoy a pleasantly weightless period of high-flying horizontal momentum, before steadily descending to the earth.
  4245. >Your steed angles her body downwards and spreads her legs outwards, her movement coming more naturally to her this time around.
  4246. >A few seconds pass, and the faraway crystal pavement draws closer and closer.
  4247. >You've been in this situation before, back at the balcony.
  4248. >But this time, you know exactly what you have to do.
  4249. >And so a few more seconds pass.
  4250. >You and Flurry continue to plummet downwards while rushing winds whip through both your hair and her mane.
  4251. >Your hearts are pounding—adrenaline is pumping through your body—but neither of you are panicking.
  4252. >For the two of you deeply trust each other.
  4253. >After a few *more* seconds pass, you decide that it's finally time.
  4254. >Giving her body a light kick with your heels, you roar out your next command:
  4255. "Fly, Flurry!"
  4256. >She loudly neighs in affirmation.
  4257. >In one smooth motion, she beats her majestically wide wings, makes a swift rising u-turn, and propels herself upwards at a diagonal angle.
  4258. >Her wings beat with confidence, her body soars with freedom, and her mane flows like an endless starry sea.
  4259. >Shaking away those dreamy g-forces, you hold tight onto your Queenly steed as she carries you up into the orange morning sky.
  4260. >And the two of you ride off together, hearts and souls united as one.
  4261.  
  4262. *** 27 ***
  4263.  
  4264. >You and Flurry fly over the city and around the castle, bodies as free as the wind.
  4265. >Handing your princess the reins of this ride, you hang back as you take in the sunlit sights.
  4266. >The world around you looks a lot more lively now; while all of the crystal architecture is still tinted a murky blue, the orange rays that radiate from the morning sun readily reflect off the sparkling city streets, transforming this hauntingly beautiful ghost town into a truly incandescent citadel.
  4267. >Even as this dream slowly fades away, the Crystal Empire remains a majestic vista until the very end.
  4268. >Well, one of the buildings has been turned into a still-smoking crater—but you're not too worried about that.
  4269. >"Sooo," Flurry slowly begins, "what did you think of this dream, Master?"
  4270. "It's…certainly something."
  4271. >Gazing down at your royal steed's powerful back, you gently rest your right hand against the right side of her neck.
  4272. "I will say this…"
  4273. >You give the side of her neck a tender stroke.
  4274. "…you're a damn powerful mage, Flurry."
  4275. >She giggles.
  4276. >"And it's all thanks to you, Master!"
  4277. >There's truth in her words.
  4278. >After all, that light-blue magic of hers is powered by the positive emotions that the two of you feel towards each other.
  4279. >It's also what she used to conjure up this place.
  4280. >And now that your heart is linked with hers, you suspect she'll have no trouble drawing out more of this power in the future.
  4281. >"By the way," she speaks up, "what did you think about the other life we lived?"
  4282. "The one where I was your pet pleb?"
  4283. >"Mm."
  4284. >The memories of said servitude are still fresh in your mind, so you assume that it's the same for her as well.
  4285. "Honestly, it was kind of humiliating—"
  4286. >You playfully tap her neck with a finger.
  4287. "—having to serve such a bratty little princess."
  4288. >She snorts out a giggle, taking your slight in soaring stride.
  4289. >"Sorry for being such a brat, Master~!"
  4290. "But," you continue, "all things considered, it wasn't too bad."
  4291. >Flurry nods in agreement.
  4292. >"Mhm, I liked it too."
  4293. >She lets out a light sigh.
  4294. >"It was nice to know that even if the roles were reversed between us…"
  4295. >She turns her head to cast you an affectionate glance.
  4296. >"…we still would've become just as close as we are right now."
  4297. >You arch an eyebrow.
  4298. "Really? 'Just' as close, you say?"
  4299. >"Hehe, yep~!"
  4300.  
  4301. >She turns her head away from you and continues:
  4302. >"Did you see how snuggly we got after I gave you my first time? I was about to make you my prince right then and there!"
  4303. >You hum in thought.
  4304. >Your princess has a point.
  4305. >Not only were you her servile pleb, but you were her sweet paramour besides.
  4306. >She was fiercely possessive of you, and all too eager when it came to having you satisfy her marely needs:
  4307. >Midnight cuddles, deep wing massages, kissing practise…the list goes on.
  4308. >Had the two of you lingered any longer in that life, she may very well have woken you up with a marriage proposal.
  4309. >Make no mistake, though, she was the one who owned you—and not the other way around.
  4310. >In this dreamy realm that is shaped by one's honest desires, Flurry's heart chose to show you a fate where you became her personal manservant.
  4311. >For that reason, you can't help but wonder if there isn't a part of your Queen that desires to dominate you just as you've dominated her.
  4312. >Plus, you can't forget the absolute throat pillaging she put you through earlier—as well as that time she took full control of the situation back whilst the two of you were busy breaking in Luster Dawn.
  4313. >Flurry clearly takes great pride in both her heritage as a royal alicorn and her status as your first slave—to the point where she may seek to subjugate her own Master if it means securing her place as your Number One.
  4314. >However, that's not to say she doesn't deeply relish the act of submitting to you; in fact, when you recall those mirrored memories as your princess's pet pleb, you note that you could always feel a certain tension in the air whenever you and her were alone in her bedchamber—particularly while you were in the midst of removing her regalia.
  4315. >She would regard you with a most passionate gaze, as if daring you to take the first step and lay claim to her bare body.
  4316. >If you had chosen to ravage her right there and then in the privacy of her magically soundproofed bedroom, you doubt she'd have offered any resistance.
  4317. >Indeed, she would've simply submitted to you like the good little princess she is and…
  4318. >…
  4319. >Ahem.
  4320. >Perhaps you're getting off track.
  4321. >You're pondering over the past, instead of focusing on the future.
  4322. >After all, you're not a pleb any more.
  4323. "Being a prince sounds nice…"
  4324. >You cast your gaze to the side, looking at the Crystal Castle.
  4325. "…but I'd much rather be a King."
  4326. >You smile down at her.
  4327. "And this King needs his Queen; what say you?"
  4328. >She titters.
  4329. >"This Queen is ever willing to serve, my King~"
  4330. >The two of you have played make-believe long enough.
  4331. >It's time for you and Flurry to set your sights much higher.
  4332.  
  4333. >…
  4334. >After circling the Crystal Castle for a little while longer, Flurry stops to hover in place.
  4335. >Her eyes hone in on her home.
  4336. >"Hm…that looks like a good…" she mumbles to herself. "Yeah…I think so…mm…"
  4337. >She trails off, and you speak up:
  4338. "What's on your mind?"
  4339. >"Oh, Master!"
  4340. >She looks back to you with a wide smile.
  4341. >"You trust me, right?"
  4342. >Your mouth forms a flat line.
  4343. "…I trust you'll tell me exactly what it is you're planning," you state with a stern tone.
  4344. >She nervously titters, faces forward, and nods.
  4345. >"Okay."
  4346. >Her horn envelops itself in a light-yellow aura, and a conical beam of light shines out from its tip.
  4347. >She wields her magic like a searchlight, shining it down towards a particular spot on the castle's right side.
  4348. >"Do you see that part of the castle over there?"
  4349. >She appears to be pointing at a wall that's a few levels above the balcony where you reconvened.
  4350. >At a glance, there doesn't seem to be anything special about this specific section of spotlit castle; it's as blue and brilliant as the rest of this grand building.
  4351. >You note that the two of you currently float a fair distance above and away from this spot.
  4352. "Yes." You nod.
  4353. >"I want to smash into it."
  4354. "I see." You nod again.
  4355. >You blink.
  4356. >You blink again.
  4357. >You look down at her.
  4358. "You what?"
  4359. >"It's the fastest way to get to our bedroom."
  4360. >You spare a squinted glance towards that lit-up castle wall.
  4361. >Then, you shake your head in disbelief.
  4362. "Flurry, that's solid crystal."
  4363. >"It is, but don't worry!"
  4364. >With a sparkly zapping sound, the light-yellow aura around her horn promptly switches over to a light-blue one, changing the colour of her magical searchlight accordingly—
  4365. >And generating a blue bubble shield around the both of you.
  4366. >"I have the power of love on my side!" she confidently exclaims.
  4367. "Um."
  4368. >Good God, she's really gonna go through with this, isn't she?
  4369. >Well, you could always tell her no.
  4370. >But…
  4371. >You recall how labyrinthian the castle corridors were when you walked through them.
  4372. >And you can't really say that you're all that eager to get lost in there again.
  4373. "…Is it really through there?"
  4374. >"Mm, should be."
  4375. >You recall that Flurry's bedchamber has two windows.
  4376. >However, you can't see any windows where she's pointing.
  4377. >Then again, you haven't seen *any* windows on this castle; this building may as well be a block of blue stone before your eyes.
  4378. >Trying to parse the ever-shifting architecture of this dream palace is just going to give you conniptions; in a place like this, you're better off just following your gut feeling.
  4379. >And if your Queen truly believes in the path that lies before you, then you see no reason not to trust her.
  4380. >…
  4381. >Actually, you can think of many reasons—but time's a wasting.
  4382.  
  4383. "Alright, go for it."
  4384. >She joyfully titters.
  4385. >"You got it, Master!"
  4386. >Dissipating her searchlight but keeping her bubble, she takes a few flaps backwards and slightly rears up.
  4387. >"Hold on tight!"
  4388. "Already am."
  4389. >If you held on any tighter, you'd be strangling the poor mare.
  4390. >After neighing out an appropriately horsey battle cry, Flurry dives down towards her target, shooting straight to full speed.
  4391. >The protective bubble shield that surrounds the both of you also happens to neutralise any and all air resistance; thus, you are left only with a distinctly ominous feeling—that familiar sensation of a disquieting calm before the oncoming storm.
  4392. >You are about to smash into an incredibly thick layer of solid blue crystal.
  4393. >This does not bode well for you, to say the least.
  4394. >However, instead of screaming your lungs out like a ninny, perhaps you would be better served taking your mind to happier places.
  4395. >A little mental misdirection is in order, you feel.
  4396. >How about thinking of this jeopardous activity as an aerial joust?
  4397. >Yes, a joust. That sounds positively splendid.
  4398. >You are a knight most noble, sallying forth into quite-certain danger.
  4399. >Your magnificently magical armour is polished to a resplendent sheen, and the jovial rays of the morning sun bounce off your blue plate like a fine how-do-you-do.
  4400. >Your trusty steed is a little dim at times, possessing a perilous penchant for literally diving head first into her problems—but you love her all the same.
  4401. >Your lance…
  4402. >…
  4403. "…hey, wait a minute; couldn't you have just used a laser—"
  4404. >You smash into the wall.
  4405. >And you…
  4406. >…
  4407. >You keep going.
  4408. >Coming in like a light-blue wrecking ball, Flurry bulldozes right through her own castle in the name of love.
  4409. >This act of demolition is as destructive as it is fleeting, and the two of you soon crash into the castle interior with a loud booming bang.
  4410. >The next several seconds are spent sizzlingly skidding along a long corridor, with the bottom half of Flurry's bubble shield sparking with hot friction against the cold crystal floor.
  4411. >You believe this to be the corridor that leads up to her bedchamber.
  4412. >"WHEEEEEE!"
  4413. >Your princess is extraordinarily jubilant.
  4414. >You are less so.
  4415. >But you do not scream in fear or terror.
  4416. >For you are a knight most noble.
  4417. >And—
  4418. "Flurry we're about to crash into your bedroom!"
  4419. >"Oop—!"
  4420.  
  4421. >You immediately pull back on her maney reins—the universal sign for "stop whatever the fuck you're doing right now."
  4422. >Flurry, thankfully, responds appropriately, focusing all of her magical efforts on slowing down her ball-based approach.
  4423. >You can hear a distinctly sharp braking sound as your Queen grinds her bounding bubble shield to a skidding standstill.
  4424. >Just in time, too—for the two of you stop right in front of her bedroom doors.
  4425. "H-hah…"
  4426. >"Phew…"
  4427. >Releasing her shield, Flurry touches down on the floor and folds up her wings.
  4428. >She then turns her head to shoot you a cheery grin.
  4429. >"Just as planned, Master!"
  4430. >You roll your eyes.
  4431. "Sure…"
  4432. >One day, you may very well have to confront your Queen on her decidedly reckless behaviour.
  4433. >But today is not that day.
  4434. >For you are in a dream.
  4435. >And you're not dream-dead quite just yet.
  4436. >So you've got that going for you, at least.
  4437. "Alright." You give her withers two light taps with your right hand. "Down we go."
  4438. >"Mhm."
  4439. >In a process that almost comes second nature to the both of you—despite having only done it twice before—Flurry lowers herself to the floor so you may comfortably dismount her.
  4440. >Once you do so, she stands up and promptly dispels her back blanket, leaving her saddle zone completely bare and a menace to groins everywhere.
  4441. >Her bedroom double doors currently stand in front of you.
  4442. >However, instead of immediately pressing onwards, you decide to turn around and check out your impromptu landing strip:
  4443. >The long and wide corridor leading up to this place now bares a long black skid mark that runs along the crystal floor; you note that it is still slightly smoking.
  4444. >Over at the far end of this corridor, you see a gaping wound in the blue crystal wall; the orange morning sky can be seen beyond it.
  4445. >Talk about making an entrance.
  4446. >You better hope Flurry's dream parents don't hear about this…
  4447.  
  4448. >As you silently pay your respects to this punctured palace, you can hear the shuffling of hoofsteps coming from behind you.
  4449. >Then, you feel a weight rest itself upon your left shoulder; your eyes flit sidewards to check it out.
  4450. >It's Flurry's head.
  4451. >"Mm…hm-hm-hm~" she hummingly titters.
  4452. >Protectively wrapping her grand wings around your robed chest, she seductively whispers into your left ear.
  4453. >"We work so well together, my King~"
  4454. >Slightly tilting her head, she softly nuzzles your left cheek with her right.
  4455. >"Just imagine," she sensually breathes out, "the Supreme King of Humankind riding into battle atop his loyal wife: the Supreme Queen of Ponykind~"
  4456. >She steamily and triumphantly snorts into the air in front of you.
  4457. >"Nopony will be able to stop us. Equestria shall be ours for the taking~"
  4458. >Right now, your Queen is exuding a deeply mareish confidence.
  4459. >Despite her prior recklessness, you have to admit she's kind of hot when she gets like this.
  4460. >You almost want to take her right here in the castle corridor.
  4461. >But…the bedroom is only a few steps away.
  4462. >And you do prefer a dash of comfiness to go with your debauched carnality.
  4463. "We really do make quite the team," you state to her.
  4464. >Turning your head to the left, you plant a peck on the right side of your Queen's royal snout; her nostrils lightly flex in response.
  4465. "How about we continue this in the bedroom?"
  4466. >Her eyes lid.
  4467. >"Mm, let's."
  4468. >Releasing your body from her firm featherhold, she pulls away to give you some room.
  4469. >Turning around, you walk past your Queen and make your way up to her bedroom doors.
  4470. >Polished pink wood with a decorative silver trim—just how you remember them.
  4471. >Upon resting both of your hands upon the left door, you take a deep breath and—
  4472. >*Tap*
  4473. >Turning your head to the right, you see Flurry pressing her right forehoof against the right door.
  4474. >She smiles at you.
  4475. >You smile back, removing your right hand from the left door.
  4476. >Facing forward, the two of you open the bedroom doors together and step inside, letting the doors swing shut behind you.
  4477.  
  4478. *** 28 ***
  4479.  
  4480. >Flurry Heart's opulent bedchamber.
  4481. >It goes without saying that this is a place you've become well acquainted with.
  4482. >Over by the right side of this room, you can see two luxuriously curtained windows, and past those flowing flaps of fancy fabric, you see the morning sky.
  4483. >Best not think too hard on why you're able to see these windows from the inside and not from the outsi—
  4484. >Anyway.
  4485. >From what you can see, nothing has changed since your dreamy outing.
  4486. >The left side of the room still holds your Queen's stacked study, while a polished wooden bedside dresser still stands by the right side of her bed.
  4487. >As for the bed itself, it's…
  4488. "Huh…"
  4489. >It's a little different.
  4490. >It's heart shaped and possesses a curtained canopy, just like before.
  4491. >And it's pink, just like before.
  4492. >But it's only pink on the left half.
  4493. >The fabrics the comprise the right half of this bed are now dyed a light blue.
  4494. >Pink and blue hues, perfectly partitioned through the centre…
  4495. >This bed's current colouration reminds you of Flurry's crystal heart atop the spire.
  4496. >However, this time—the bicolour arrangement is now mirrored.
  4497. >How very curious.
  4498. >The curiosities continue, as you see that there's also something lying on top of the bed's lower half, illuminated by the orange morning rays:
  4499. >It's the still body of a pink pony.
  4500. >…
  4501. >You blink, eyes slowly widening.
  4502. "Wh-wha…?"
  4503. >Cerise-pink fur, fiery orange mane, a unicorn's horn.
  4504. >You recognise her in an instant.
  4505. >It's Luster Dawn: your second slave—and your sow.
  4506. >But…she looks different.
  4507. >"So this is where you were…" you hear your Queen mumble at your right side.
  4508.  
  4509. >You and Flurry walk over to the bed to get a closer look.
  4510. >Luster lies on her left side, facing your direction, with the upper half of her body pointed towards the bed's edge.
  4511. >She wears a black blindfold around her eyes and a crimson ball gag around her mouth.
  4512. >A steel nose ring has also been embedded all the way through her septum; the loop of this ring is both broad and thick, more resembling the anti-rooting fixture of a pig rather than conventional jewellery.
  4513. >A crimson horn ring has been fastened around the base of her horn, while a light-brown wooden cork is affixed onto its tip.
  4514. >Her forehooves are restrictively bound together by tight crimson-coloured shackles, and her hindhooves are bound in much the same way.
  4515. >All of these shackles are closely connected to a small crimson post that has been deeply and firmly staked into the bed's mattress.
  4516. >There is another crimson shackle around her neck; this one is u-shaped, and is bolted to the bed itself.
  4517. >From the way that her portly belly steadily moves up and down, you can tell she's at least still breathing.
  4518. >However, you note that the top part of her navel has now been pierced with a crimson curved barbell; a small adornment hangs from the bar—one that's shaped like a pig's snout.
  4519. >Further down, you can see that both of her generous mammaries have been pierced through the nipple, with a thin crimson chain connecting them both.
  4520. >You can't see her genitals at this angle—as her closed hindlegs and tucked tail cover them up—but you wouldn't be surprised if she was "modified" there, too.
  4521. >The sorry sight before your eyes causes a pensive frown to form on your face.
  4522. "Luster…" you breathe out.
  4523. >How long has she been here?
  4524. >Or maybe…could she have been here all this time?
  4525. >You take a step forward—only to be stopped by Flurry's left forehoof.
  4526. >Turning to face her, you sternly furrow your brows.
  4527. >Her ears slightly fold, yet she nonetheless speaks up:
  4528. >"Master, I…"
  4529. >She closes her eyes and takes a deep, bracing breath.
  4530. >After reopening her eyes, she holds her left forehoof up to her chest and gazes at you with a Queenly determination, pink pupils subtly wavering.
  4531. >"…as the Alpha Mare of your herd, please allow me to handle this."
  4532. >Your expression lightens at her earnest tone.
  4533.  
  4534. >She's not trying to challenge you, no.
  4535. >As your Soulmate, she wants you to trust her, to believe in her judgement both in the here and hereafter.
  4536. >Flurry Heart might be your slave, but she is also your Queen.
  4537. >If you truly intend to rule this kingdom, then you mustn't be afraid to lean on your better half from time to time.
  4538. >Taking a step back, you give her a nod.
  4539. "Very well."
  4540. >With those words, the subtle anxiety swirling in her shaky eyes dissipates completely.
  4541. >Lowering her hoof, she breathes out a gracious smile.
  4542. >"Thank you."
  4543. >The both of you turn to face Luster, and you notice that your sow's ears have now swivelled around in your direction, indicating that she's been listening in on your conversation.
  4544. >However, the rest of her bound body remains idle.
  4545. >Horn coming to life with light-blue magic, Flurry unties Luster's blindfold, removes it, and tosses it far away from the bed.
  4546. >Luster's weary amber eyes, already half-opened, steadily drift up towards the two of you.
  4547. >Your sow's gaze is an utterly haggard one; she looks like she hasn't slept a wink—nor found a tissue to dry her sorrows.
  4548. >After a brief period of aimless gawping, Luster's wavering pupils—pink, just like Flurry's—slowly crawl over to yours.
  4549. >She stares into you, timidly and tiredly trying to find an answer that just isn't there.
  4550. >You merely fold your arms behind your back in response.
  4551. >"As you can see…" your Queen begins.
  4552. >Lifting up her right wing, Flurry gestures towards the collar around her neck.
  4553. >"…Master chose me," she finishes.
  4554. >Eyes following Flurry's pointed wingtip, Luster listlessly gazes at your Queen's green collar.
  4555. >Then, Luster drags her eyes over to your pink collar; she gazes at that, too.
  4556. >She takes a drawn-out, bleary blink.
  4557. >And her eyes weakly fall down to the blue duvet beneath her.
  4558. >Letting out a light sigh, Flurry continues:
  4559. >"The matter of who deserves the title of Alpha Mare has been settled—decisively so, I might add."
  4560. >She turns up her snout.
  4561. >"Thus, it falls to me to lead this herd alongside my King," she continues. "Master shall be free to enjoy his mares as he pleases, while I shall be the one to oversee the herd itself…"
  4562. >Flurry narrows her eyes at Luster.
  4563. >"…including who gets to be in it."
  4564.  
  4565. >Your brows knit, and your eyes flit over to Flurry.
  4566. >However, you take them away a mere second later, deciding to trust in your Queen's sound judgement.
  4567. >Luster's gaze remains fixed down on the bed, eyes narrowing and watering, threatening to stain the sheets with her defeat.
  4568. >"As Master's Queen—and as his Alpha Mare—I desire only the best for him," Flurry continues. "Stragglers may be permitted to serve, but those unworthy of his love shall never know what it's like to share a spot in his bed, to stand by his side, to enjoy the security and comfort that comes with being a part of his prestigious herd—I will not allow it."
  4569. >Flurry's piercing glare falls down to Luster's piggish navel piercing.
  4570. >"At every turn, you have sought to drag Master down to your level—to turn him into a grunting beast, just like you are."
  4571. >Your Queen's sharply spit words spray onto your sow's wounded resolve like acid, breaking her spirit even further.
  4572. >"No, it was not enough for you to get in the way of his grand ambition, but you also wished to monopolise him, to steal him away from the Queen who adored him so."
  4573. >Then, Flurry's eyes move up to to Luster's ringed horn.
  4574. >"Moreover, it was through your selfish acts and treacherous magic that Master nearly lost his beautiful mind. He selflessly welcomed you into his parlour—into his herd—while asking for nothing in return but your undying loyalty to his cause, yet you could only think to degrade him for your own depraved ends."
  4575. >Flurry's eyes fall down to Luster's face, as does your Queen's expression fall into an indignant scowl.
  4576. >"You…are a purely selfish creature, forever wallowing in a mire of uncouth hedonism, unable to see a life beyond your own loins—and wholly undeserving of a place within Master's herd."
  4577. >Wincing her teary eyes shut and flattening her ears, Luster emits a sad squeak.
  4578. >Even you find yourself nervously chewing your bottom lip upon listening to your Queen's incredibly harsh spiel.
  4579. >"And…"
  4580. >Flurry pauses, letting her condemnation hang in the air for a few moments.
  4581. >She takes a deep breath.
  4582. >In through the nostrils.
  4583. >Out through the mouth.
  4584. >She then delivers her verdict:
  4585. >"…and I was jealous of you."
  4586. >A second passes.
  4587. >Ears steadily rising, Luster slowly opens her eyes and looks up at Flurry.
  4588. >Your Queen continues with an embittered expression upon her face:
  4589. >"Luster Dawn. Top of the class at Canterlot's School of Magic. A natural prodigy in all things magical. And Auntie Twilight's favourite student…"
  4590. >Eyes drifting to the side, she lets out a regretful sigh, lips pursing.
  4591. >"…Meanwhile, I can barely control my own magic half the time."
  4592. >One of Luster's ears twitches, her expression attentively anxious.
  4593. >Flurry's glowering gaze snaps back to Luster.
  4594. >"You tried to hurt Master, and then you tried to take him away from me. I resent you for that."
  4595. >Luster flinches at Flurry's scathing sincerity.
  4596. >"However…"
  4597.  
  4598. >Flurry's eyes drift along Luster's body, soon settling on her cutie mark—that dawning sun with a question mark lingering inside of it.
  4599. >"…I also know that you love him. You love him enough that you would readily bear his destiny upon your own body."
  4600. >Flurry throws a brief glance towards her own cutie mark: that radiant Crystal Heart—wholly blue and entirely her own.
  4601. >Her lips settle into a pensive frown.
  4602. >Tearing her eyes away from her mark, Flurry continues:
  4603. >"And I know that Master loves you too, despite everything you've done to him."
  4604. >Luster's eyes drift over from Flurry's to yours.
  4605. >She blinks at you, another ear twitching.
  4606. >Given the circumstances, you allow the subtlest of smiles to leave your lips.
  4607. >Huffing loudly through her ringed nose, she attempts to jerk her whole body towards you—unfortunately for her, she only succeeds in barely straining the clanging chain of her tightly bound shackles.
  4608. >Flurry watches Luster's restrained movements with ambivalent eyes.
  4609. >It is after only a couple seconds of sow watching, however, that your Queen speaks up again:
  4610. >"So, with all that in mind…"
  4611. >Luster immediately stops her struggles, directing her full attention towards Flurry.
  4612. >"…I will allow you to remain in Master's herd; I will permit you the chance to enjoy his honest affection, his loving touch—and his exotic passion."
  4613. >Luster's eyes widen in shaky surprise.
  4614. >"What I ask in return," Flurry continues, "is that you respect your place in our herd's hierarchy, and that you dutifully serve our goals with every ounce of your being."
  4615. >Leaning forward and lighting up her horn, Flurry carefully removes Luster's ball gag with light-blue magic and tosses it away from the bed.
  4616. >She then returns her sharp blue gaze onto your sow.
  4617. >"Do I make myself clear…"
  4618. >Taking a brief, sighing pause—Flurry's glowering expression lessens in intensity.
  4619. >"…Lustie?"
  4620. >Luster stares at Flurry in silence for a few seconds, steadily taking in the magnanimity of your Alpha Mare's generous offer.
  4621. >Turning her head, she then looks at you for a few more seconds, and you can see a deep yearning lingering within those tired amber eyes.
  4622. >After which, your sow energetically and piggishly responds to your Queen:
  4623. >*Oink oink*
  4624. >Luster nods her head as best she can, rubbing it against the blue duvet.
  4625. >Flurry leans back, expression neutral.
  4626. >"Good."
  4627. >She takes a dignified breath, before finishing:
  4628. >"Then I expect nothing but the best from you, Lustie."
  4629. >*Oink*
  4630.  
  4631. >It seems that your sow has somehow lost access to her speaking faculties during the interim.
  4632. >Could it be that she's merely pretending? Playing the part of a pig—like she did after you collared her?
  4633. >If that's the case, then you *could* try and command her to speak normally.
  4634. >But…hm.
  4635. >If it turns out that Luster actually *can't* speak right now, then she risks earning Flurry's immense ire for failing to obey your orders—and you really don't want that.
  4636. >Your Queen has only just managed to put aside her envious animosity for the sake of the herd; to accidentally reopen the rift between these two mares would be most unideal.
  4637. >To think, this bitter jealousy was brewing inside Flurry's blue heart the whole time—it's no wonder she treated Luster the way she did.
  4638. >Flurry already saw herself as being second-best to Luster when it came to magical talent; the idea of also losing to her in love must've set your Queen off something fierce.
  4639. >With this possessive aggression guiding Flurry's every thought and action, your Queen came to instil deep fear and distrust within Luster's fragile mind, utterly shattering any amity that once existed between these two mares.
  4640. >With the collars as a catalyst, your human affection and their own mareish emotions mixed together to create a most intoxicating invidia—one that completely clouded their judgement and left room for very little else.
  4641. >Ultimately, it was because of you and your influence that these "besties" ended up at each other's throats.
  4642. >Still…you can't help but wonder.
  4643. >Given the depths of your Queen's pre-existing jealousy, perhaps this bygone relationship of theirs was already hanging by a tenuous string.
  4644. >In any case, now that these two mares have finally been reunited under the shared banner of your Masterly herd, it is in your best hopes that they will take the chance to rekindle their friendship anew—or, even better, reforge it stronger than ever before.
  4645. >After all, Flurry Heart and Luster Dawn might be your slaves, but they are also your mares.
  4646. >And they work far better when they work together.
  4647.  
  4648. >…
  4649. >Alright, that's enough introspection for now.
  4650. >It's time for you to enjoy some fine Flurry flank.
  4651. >Which means that you'll have to disrobe soon.
  4652. >Your blue bathrobe has served you quite well during your dreamy journey, but you suppose you'll have to say goodbye to this…
  4653. >Hm?
  4654. >Despite all that's happened, that familiar red rose is still snugly tucked inside your upper left pocket.
  4655. >The two of you really have gone through thick and thin together in this royal reverie.
  4656. >It has accompanied you throughout a hazy hedge maze;
  4657. >Rode with you as you gallopped through the empty city streets;
  4658. >Weathered the raging gales atop the tallest crystal spire;
  4659. >And, of course, survived Flurry's maniacal flight routine.
  4660. >It's a little ragged, a little tussled, and even a little squashed—but still, your blooming buddy has displayed an impressive resilience in making it this far on the Princess Express.
  4661. >This entire place might be a magically induced fantasy, but after everything you've gone through with this flower, you think it deserves better than to be carelessly dropped onto the cold crystal floor along with your robe.
  4662. >You ought to set it somewhere nice.
  4663. >And you have just the spot in mind.
  4664. >Taking a couple of steps back, you address your two mares:
  4665. "I'll be back in a sec."
  4666. >Flurry nods to you.
  4667. >"M'kay."
  4668. >*Oink*
  4669. >Carefully stepping around Flurry's horsey body, you leisurely make your way over to the bedside dresser.
  4670. >And during this Masterly pilgrimage of yours, you can hear one mare talking to another:
  4671. >"Now, I have an idea as to how you may serve your King, so listen well, Lustie…"
  4672. >Eyebrows knitting, you stop and turn around, seeing Flurry in the midst of whispering something into Luster's right ear.
  4673. >Luster's eyes soon widen, and Flurry pulls away with a smile.
  4674. >Your sow then responds with two oinks:
  4675. >*Oink oink*
  4676. >You arch a somewhat-concerned eyebrow at their secretiveness.
  4677. >Perhaps noticing your silent suspicion, Flurry turns her head your way.
  4678. >She giggles and shoots you a playful wink.
  4679. >"It's a surprise, Master~!"
  4680. >Those cheery tones send an ominous chill up your spine.
  4681. >Your eyes narrow in doubt, but…
  4682. "…right."
  4683. >These two mares are your loyal, loving slaves.
  4684. >It's not like they're planning to stab you in the back or anything.
  4685. >You hope.
  4686.  
  4687. >Anyway, they can keep their secrets—for now, at least.
  4688. >Reluctantly turning around, you finish your short voyage to the bedside dresser.
  4689. >A few items already lie on top of Flurry's dresser:
  4690. >Her sealed diary, a shaded table lamp, and a framed photograph.
  4691. >This photograph depicts you and a normal-sized Flurry Heart posing side by side; the two of you are on the front step just outside your house-parlour, with the wooden sign hung on your front door stating that you're currently open for business. You're standing up, while she's sitting down on her haunches. Your left hand rests atop her head, and the both of you are brightly smiling at the camera.
  4692. >Cute. You don't remember taking this—but it's cute.
  4693. >Plucking out the red rose from your pocket, you gently pinch the hip with your right hand.
  4694. >After carefully brushing away its bruises, you gently set your storied companion atop the bedside dresser.
  4695. >Okay. That takes care of that.
  4696. >You turn around, seeing that your mares are still in the same place as before.
  4697. >Flurry's horn hums to life, and you see a light-blue aura surround the shoe of her lifted forehoof—
  4698. "Ah, hey, Flurry," you interrupt her.
  4699. >You walk over to her.
  4700. >Horn still glowing, she faces you and responds:
  4701. >"Hm? What is it, Master?"
  4702. >You kneel down before her, resting on your right knee.
  4703. >Then, you steadily take her warmly glowing hoof—which happens to be her left forehoof—into both of your hands; your right hand holds the bottom of her silver shoe, while your left hand supports her bare fetlock.
  4704. "Allow me."
  4705. >Flurry's eyes widen in surprise, and her magic promptly shorts out, exposing your sensitive digits to the cold metal of her shoe.
  4706. >"Wh-what?"
  4707. >She very barely jitters her hoof in your hands; not enough to take it out of your gentle grip—but enough to let you know her due hesitation.
  4708. >"M-master, y-you really don't have to—I-I mean, you're not my servant any more s-so it's not necessary for you to…u-um…"
  4709. >You thoughtfully rub her bony ergot with your left thumb.
  4710. "You're right. I don't have to."
  4711. >You smile up at her.
  4712. "But I want to."
  4713. >She blinks at you, ears pointed up.
  4714. >"Master…"
  4715.  
  4716. >After taking a couple of seconds to consider your subservience, she breathes out a wispy sigh.
  4717. >Her eyes slowly lid, and her hoof slackens in your hold.
  4718. >She then affectively clears her throat, putting on an air of princessly pomp.
  4719. >"Very well."
  4720. >Slightly turning up her snout, she addresses you with a tone that's both firm and tender:
  4721. >"Undress me, my King."
  4722. >You can feel her whole body shiver as she utters those words; you shiver a little, too.
  4723. "At once, my Queen."
  4724. >Her eyelids flicker briefly as she horsily blows through her lips.
  4725. >You are her Master, of course, yet you can't deny that there's a certain…appeal to this Queenly side of hers.
  4726. >Perhaps you have your plebby memories to thank for that one.
  4727. >Focusing your attention on her horsey foot, you carefully remove her hoof shoe using your right hand.
  4728. >"Hah…" you hear her breathily sigh out.
  4729. >Setting her silver regalia down to the side, you caress the front of her bare hoof for a few seconds; as you do, her eyes close, and her lips curl into a contented smile.
  4730. >You contemplate kissing her hoof—as you've done so many times before—however, you decide against it.
  4731. >After all, you are currently in the company of your sow, and you don't wish to rub your relationship in her face any more than you already are.
  4732. >So instead, you gently set her left forehoof down, and you soon take up her right.
  4733. >The throat of this hoof shoe has been somewhat warped—no doubt due to her actions back at the crystal spire—but it slides off all the same.
  4734. >Another happy sigh from her, and you set her second shoe to the side next to its partner.
  4735. >"Okay…"
  4736. >Flurry gingerly turns her horsey body to the side, presenting her left flank to you.
  4737. >She then lifts up her left hindhoof, expecting much the same treatment as before.
  4738. >Looking her third shoe over, you note that the metal around its throat is warped in a similar manner to the previous one.
  4739. >Nonetheless, you remove her hoofwear with a practised hand.
  4740. >"Mm…"
  4741. >She laxly stretches her left hindleg out behind her body and away from the bed.
  4742. >You set her third shoe down behind the other two.
  4743. >Only one more hoof to go.
  4744. >Upon lowering her left hindleg, Flurry performs a slow spin, carefully turning over to her right side—and sensually brushing her ethereal tail across your face from cheek to cheek.
  4745. >Her tail smells…spacially sweet—like cosmic candy floss.
  4746. >Not bad.
  4747. "Mm…" you mindfully hum, lightly rubbing around your sniffling nose.
  4748. >Looking up, you see Flurry casting you a look of honestly lidded infatuation; you smile at her and promptly take up her right hindhoof in both hands.
  4749. >…
  4750. >And with that, you successfully remove her fourth and final hoof shoe.
  4751. >Unlike the second and third shoe, this one wasn't warped at all.
  4752. >Two out of four isn't bad, you suppose.
  4753.  
  4754. >Flurry sighs out in relief, yet composedly keeps her hindleg still and grounded; which is good—else she's liable to kick poor Luster in the face.
  4755. >You set her silver shoe down with the rest, forming a neat set of four.
  4756. >Even now, you make sure that they're carefully arranged so that they correspond to the correct hoof.
  4757. >You consider it a force of habit at this point; your princess has trained you well, it seems.
  4758. >Turning back to you, Flurry sits down on her haunches and casts you an anticipatory look while softly breathing out through her nostrils.
  4759. >You glance down to her silver breastplate, already keenly aware of what she desires from you.
  4760. "Okay, hold still," you say, leaning forward and resting your hands upon her peytral.
  4761. >She nods.
  4762. >"Mhm."
  4763. >Her silver peytral is…big.
  4764. >Thanks to the power of this desirous dream, your princess has grown to Queenly proportions—and thus, her barding has grown to match.
  4765. >It's nearly twice its original size.
  4766. >The light-blue, heart-shaped crystal that adorns the peytral's front is now about as large as your torso.
  4767. >Worriedly frowning, Flurry speaks to you:
  4768. >"C-careful. It'll be heavier."
  4769. >Her genuine concern touches your heart.
  4770. "Don't worry," you casually respond. "I got it."
  4771. >Looping your hands around the back of her peytral, you quickly locate the clasp keeping it attached around her neck; you also hear the sound of sparkly hum start up.
  4772. >You cautiously unlatch said clasp and remove her royal chestpiece, soon retrieving it with both of your hands—and Flurry's magical aura.
  4773. >Looking up at her smiling face, you see her horn currently enveloped in light-blue energy as she magically supports your held weight.
  4774. >Even now, she endeavours to lighten your burdens.
  4775. >How sweet of her—if a little coddling at times.
  4776.  
  4777. >Gradually, though, she lessens the hold of her magic, offering more and more of the peytral's weight onto your hands.
  4778. >And eventually, her magic dissipates entirely, leaving you with its full metal mass.
  4779. >This wearable combination of crystal and silver is…surprisingly light, all things considered.
  4780. >That being said, it's still majestically large—which means that there's no way this thing is gonna fit on the dresser like it did before.
  4781. >So you quickly plonk that fucker down next to her shoes and leave it there.
  4782. >"Phew…"
  4783. >Breathing out an alleviated sigh, Flurry cricks her neck to the left and then to the right; she's still wearing that green collar, but she must feel a lot lighter now.
  4784. "Feeling bouncier?" you ask with a grin.
  4785. >She softly titters.
  4786. >"It's only when this thing finally comes off do I realise just how much it's been weighing me down." She casts you an appreciative smile. "Thank you, Master."
  4787. >You nod, standing back up.
  4788. "Any time."
  4789. >Your gaze slowly trails up to the top of her head.
  4790. >A ridiculously long, spiralling alicorn horn juts out from her forehead, while a shimmering crystal crown sits just behind it.
  4791. >It is magnificent.
  4792. "One last thing," you state.
  4793. >"Yeah…" she breathes out, lidding her eyes.
  4794. >Lightly bowing her head, she addresses you with a sultry tone:
  4795. >"Take my crown, Master."
  4796. >Her husky voice gives you goosebumps, but you carry out her candid command nonetheless.
  4797. >Steadily placing your hands around the sides of her three-point headwear, you lift it up.
  4798. >Taking her crown over her long horn and holding it close to your chest, you let out a sigh of your own.
  4799. >Flurry lifts her head, yet her cool blue eyes remain fixated on her crown.
  4800. >"Mm," she hums, expression liddedly neutral.
  4801. >She softly exhales through her nostrils, warm breath tickling your face.
  4802. >Then, she looks up at you.
  4803. >"This crown belongs to us, my King."
  4804. >Her lips curl upwards.
  4805. >"It always has."
  4806. >Returning her smile, you stare deep into those enchanting eyes of hers.
  4807. >Those are the eyes of your beloved Queen—your eternal Soulmate—the mare who will happily offer you this Empire's throne without a second thought.
  4808. >Blessed are you to have her.
  4809.  
  4810. >Much like her peytral and shoes, the crown in your hands is a little larger than what you're used to, but you reckon this particular accessory will still be able to fit on the dresser.
  4811. "Let me just…"
  4812. >You make to turn around—
  4813. >"Ah, no."
  4814. >Flurry suddenly stops you by way of firmly planting her right forehoof against your robed chest.
  4815. >"You stay here. Allow me."
  4816. >Taken off guard by her commanding tone and presence, you stand perfectly still as she magically lifts her crystal crown out of your hands with a light-blue aura.
  4817. >She floats her headwear away and behind you, keeping her sultry smile trained on you the entire time.
  4818. >You eventually hear a soft clink as she sets her crown down on the dresser.
  4819. >Her magic dissipates.
  4820. >Your lips lightly part, unsure of what to make about this situation.
  4821. >There's something…off about how she's acting.
  4822. >But at the same time, you're strangely not worried about it.
  4823. >It's like something's telling you to stay calm and let your Queen handle this.
  4824. >What could it be?
  4825. >Flurry's eyes steadily drift down to the spot where her hoof is pressing against your chest.
  4826. >She then slowly trails that hoof downwards, her eyes following its every movement.
  4827. >Her hoof travels down your torso;
  4828. >Across your belly;
  4829. >And rests upon your pubic region.
  4830. >There, it lingers for a few seconds.
  4831. >She then presses the underside of her bare frog right up against your clothed crotch, applying a very small amount of hoofy pressure to your highly sensitive jewels.
  4832. "A-ah," you gasp out.
  4833. >It doesn't hurt, but…it makes you feel like you belong to her—like you're her personal property.
  4834. >In just a single stroke of the hoof, your Queen has just completely objectified you.
  4835. >It's shameful, but you find yourself enjoying this feeling more than you'd care to admit.
  4836.  
  4837. >Flurry lets out a light huff, and her eyes narrow even further.
  4838. >She then slowly drags her hoof away from your groin, lowering her leg back down to the floor.
  4839. >Her pointed blue eyes swiftly flit up to meet yours.
  4840. >And the tone she addresses you with is just as piercing:
  4841. >"Disrobe."
  4842. >You gulp, having lost any will to resist your Queen's newfound confidence.
  4843. >All you can do is comply.
  4844. >Loosening the belt of your bathrobe, your silken garment soon falls to the floor—exposing nearly everything to the world.
  4845. >The only things you wear now are your shoes, your socks—and your heart-patterned pink boxers.
  4846. >Flurry's eyes immediately find the manly bulge straining out your boxers, and you can hear the sparkly swish of her ethereal tail wagging along the bedside rug.
  4847. >The sight of your barely concealed manhood causes her to let out a deeply mareish snort, blasting your belly's bare skin with swelteringly hot breath.
  4848. >Her hot exhalations make you shiver—but they also excite you, causing you to further stretch out your tight fabric.
  4849. >"Hmph~"
  4850. >Her lips twist into an exceedingly lecherous smirk, while her eyes sharpen in those of a predator who has located her precious prey.
  4851. >You see her horn light up, and you feel her warm magic hungrily grope at your groin—squeezing and fondling and caressing.
  4852. "N-nng…"
  4853. >Should this continue, she'll be the one riding you—
  4854. >*SQUEAL*—*Oinkoinkoink*—*SQUEAL*—*Oinkoinkoink*
  4855. >Magic fizzling out, Flurry's head snaps up and to the side.
  4856. >Following both your Queen's gaze and that harsh cacophony of swinish noise, you turn your head to the right and look towards the bed.
  4857. >Luster Dawn, still utterly enchained, desperately struggles against her bedbound shackles, piggish instincts having been sent into overdrive.
  4858. >Her bestially palpitating eyes are laser focused on your crotch, while her flamey tail beats up an incendiary storm on the bed covers with a loud *THWAP THWAP THWAP.*
  4859. >It looks like your Queen isn't the only mare with a taste for human meat.
  4860. >However, sparks are certain to fly when two horses hanker for the same slice of beef.
  4861. >Flurry glares daggers at Luster, and her Queenly countenance quickly twists into an aggressive snarl.
  4862. >In a flash, Flurry wraps her entire left wing around your back and possessively pulls you in towards her chest; she keeps your body close to hers while completely blocking Luster's bulging view of you.
  4863. "Wh-whoa."
  4864. >Your sow sharply squeals in defiance, swinishly outraged that the sight of her Boar's bulge has been obscured.
  4865. >Your Queen lets out a horsey huff in response, further tightening her winggrip on you.
  4866.  
  4867. >This is a surreal scene, not simply because of your herd's animalistic outburst—but also because of how keenly you can sense your Soulmate's primally potent perturbation.
  4868. >You can feel Flurry's heart pounding right next to yours, and it drums to a territorial beat, pumping adrenaline not just through her blood stream—but yours as well.
  4869. >Ba-Dump Ba-Dump Ba-Dump.
  4870. >Your Soulmate's system absolutely floods your brain with potently protective hormones, warning you of nearby threats and instructing you to stay close to your Queen.
  4871. >But now that you're comfortably wrapped up in her wide wing, you feel warm and safe—both inside and out.
  4872. >It is a very strange sensation, knowing that your Soulmate is poised to strike at any moment—and all for the sake of defending you.
  4873. >The bond that you two share isn't quite like a sharing of rationale minds—but rather, an intimate linkage of human and horsey hormones.
  4874. >Now that your hearts beat as one, her unfiltered feelings freely flow into your system with every shared pulse, becoming yours just as much as they are hers.
  4875. >You feel what she feels, yet you also feel what she *wants* you to feel; in this case, she wants to protect you—and so she demands that you desire protection.
  4876. >This explosive cocktail of your Soulmate's most potent emotions—plus the suddenness of this whole situation—has left your mind in a totally muddled state.
  4877. >You know that there's a dire threat directly to your right, and an overly protective princess right in front of you—but beyond that, it's hard to focus on much of anything.
  4878. >The only other thing that you know for sure is that you need to calm your Queen—that takes priority above all else.
  4879. >Amidst all of the animalistic impulses that she's pumping you with, you can tell that she feels scared and cornered.
  4880. >As her King, it's your duty to ease her anxieties, no matter what they may be.
  4881. >And so, ignoring the indignant grunts of your incensed sow, you turn to face Flurry, noting that she's still eyeing Luster with fiery ire.
  4882. >You place your left hand on Flurry's right shoulder and rest your right hand against the left side of her neck.
  4883. "Flurry…" you breathily whisper to her.
  4884. >Your composed voice and gentle touch forces her furrowed gaze to snap to you.
  4885. >The bloodthirsty snarl upon her face dissipates entirely when her eyes meet yours, yet the fierce glower in her Queenly visage still remains.
  4886. >You see her horn crackling with hot and deadly sparks, its intent already known to you.
  4887. "Easy there, girl," you coo to her.
  4888. >You slowly and repeatedly stroke her neck with your right hand, moving from top to bottom to top.
  4889. "It's okay…"
  4890. >Your Queen regards your quieting words with a look of silent scrutiny.
  4891. >She blinks, steadily yet sternly.
  4892. >She then mareishly snorts right into your face, furiously steaming your facial features with her defiant dominance.
  4893. "U-ukk—!" you reflexively hack to the side.
  4894.  
  4895. >That was…an incredibly antagonistic gesture from your Soulmate-slash-slave.
  4896. >However, you have no choice but to let it slide—because within this dreamy realm, the subjugating magic of the collar has zero effect on her mind.
  4897. >All of her earlier deference to you has been done at her own honest discretion, and she could've easily dominated you if she truly wished it so—like she's threatening to do right now.
  4898. >You may not be able to read her rational mind, but you can certainly feel her heart proudly beating against yours, pumping you full of her uninhibited instincts.
  4899. >Your human brain is able to translate her horsey hormones into something legible:
  4900. >'Stand down, my King. Stay within my wings and let me handle this. Obey your Alpha Mare. Obey your Queen.'
  4901. >'All it would take is one clean spell to put this unruly hog in her place.'
  4902. >'I will protect you I must protect you You will be protected You belong to me.'
  4903. >These are all disconcerting impulses, yet they are also all hers.
  4904. >Thus, you accept this easily jealous and overly protective side of your Queen just as readily as you accept her other parts.
  4905. >After coughing away the last of your concerns, you turn back to Flurry, seeing her nostrils cholerically flared out.
  4906. >You do not let your Queen's combative behaviour deter you; instead, you lean in towards her, lining both your lips and your nostrils up with hers.
  4907. >She promptly snorts against your face again.
  4908. >Her blisteringly bellicose mare air shoots down your nasal cavity, burning the lining of your trachea and strangling your lungs; some of it even rides up your face and singes your eyeballs into teary submission.
  4909. >Your whole body shudders in imposed subjugation, yet you suppress any urges to gag or pull away from your snorty steed, choosing to instead calmly breath in your mare's spirited scent as best you can.
  4910. >Then, you gently and deeply exhale out into her own nostrils, passing in your Masterly mollification.
  4911. >You rub her shoulder and caress her neck as you do so, making clear your continued care for your mare.
  4912. >"Hff…"
  4913. >Her eyelids rapidly flicker as she inhales the soothing breath of her Soulmate.
  4914. >You feel her fluffy feathers lightly undulate against your back, while her rubbery snout subtly presses into your face.
  4915. >After a brief period of passivity, her expression tightens up.
  4916. >She then defiantly snorts down your nostrils again, her Queenly pride disallowing her to give up quite just yet.
  4917.  
  4918. >You shakily breathe her in once more, embracing her embittered resolve and making it your own.
  4919. >Your inflamed inhalations come easier this time, as your body is already adapting to your steed's steamily scented supremacy.
  4920. >She continues to press the offensive, but you refuse to submit; instead, you give her a few shoulder rubs, a couple of neck strokes, a small kiss on her plush lips—and you phlegmatically breathe back your Kingly resolve into your Queen.
  4921. >"Hff…eeyegh…"
  4922. >She needily nickers against your lips, desperate to retain her dominance, yet also deeply loving the repeated affection you give her.
  4923. >One of her forehooves weakly paws at your bare chest, yet makes no effort to push you away.
  4924. >Then, she snorts into your nostrils again—this time, she's a lot softer in doing so.
  4925. >A few placating pecks from you, and you gently exhale into her expectantly flared nostrils.
  4926. >And soon, the two of you find yourselves engaging in an intimately breathy back and forth—a meeting of both your breezy lungs and your pumping hearts.
  4927. >Your Queen continually tries to assert her royal authority over you—while you peaceably breathe it right back.
  4928. >Her snorts gradually grow weaker, while her respirations become deeper and longer.
  4929. >Her glowering eyes steadily close themselves as she willingly accepts more and more of your Masterly presence.
  4930. >Her left wing slowly caresses your back, keeping you close and keeping you loved.
  4931. >Her expression becomes more cordial. Her snout becomes more nuzzly. Her lips become more smoochy.
  4932. >Soon enough, you find yourself serenely sharing breath with a thoroughly becalmed Queen.
  4933. >She has become your sedated steed—tenderly and utterly tamed by the earnest affection of her human husband.
  4934. >"Hff…hff…hff…hff~"
  4935. >With each newly contented breath she takes in and out of your nostrils, you feel her heart steady itself alongside your own.
  4936. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  4937. >Her pony pulse is perfectly synchronised with your human heartbeat—thus, as she calms down, so do you.
  4938. >However, this also means that whenever she stresses out, you will feel that very same stress inflicted upon your own body; it completely clouds your judgement, commanding you to prioritise your Queen's emotional well-being above all else.
  4939. >And that means it is in your best interests to keep your Soulmate soothed and satisfied if you wish to keep your wits about you.
  4940. >You can't help but notice how the relationship between the two of you has undeniably changed since you first met.
  4941. >First, she was your humble slave; next, she became your loving Queen; and now, she is your eternal Soulmate whose immortal alicorn heart freely pumps both her divine blood and her overly moody hormones directly into your body.
  4942. >…You really have your work cut out for you, huh?
  4943.  
  4944. >After a good deal of mutually breathy tranquillity between King and Queen, Flurry slowly pulls away from your mouth.
  4945. >With her lips still parted and her nostrils lightly flared, she opens her light-blue eyes and peers into your pools.
  4946. >You can tell that she desires an encore—her heart beats for more of her Master's love—but something else takes precedence within her countenance.
  4947. >Her shimmering gaze swirls with deep shame; it's not hard for you to guess why that is.
  4948. >Loosening her wing's hold on you, her eyes guiltily flit to the left.
  4949. >"…Sorry."
  4950. "It's okay."
  4951. >"I didn't mean to challenge you," she continues. "I really didn't."
  4952. "I know."
  4953. >"I was just trying to keep my King safe. I needed to protect you. My heart—"
  4954. >Moving your right hand off of her neck, you playfully press your index against her snout, silencing her with a boop.
  4955. "Flurry."
  4956. >You grant her a gentle smile.
  4957. "There's no need to worry. I've already forgiven you."
  4958. >Her expression softens, yet she still averts her conflicted gaze from yours.
  4959. >Here, in this realm of honest hearts, you know that words alone won't be enough to absolve your Queen's guilt.
  4960. >Thus, just as her horsey heart was able to incitingly influence your own emotions, you seek to palliatively beat your human heart alongside hers—pumping your Kingly pardons directly into her bloodstream.
  4961. >Trailing your right index finger down her face, you cup her chin with your hand.
  4962. >Bringing her face in towards yours, you gently press your mouth against hers, granting your Queen that second encore she so heartily craves.
  4963. >"Mm…" she hums hesitantly.
  4964. >Nose to nose, she reluctantly shares breath with you, happy for your love, yet embarrassed at her own outburst.
  4965. >After everything you've been through together, you believe that Flurry wishes for you to view her as a trustworthy and dependable Queen; no doubt this unplanned lapse into her more domineering side is one that cuts deep into her pride.
  4966. >Incidentally, this mare certainly *was* trying to challenge you.
  4967. >But you also understand why she did it—after all, you were able to feel the hormonal impact of her emotions directly.
  4968. >For whatever reason, Flurry's horsey body instinctually recognised your squealing sow as a threat, and so her Queenly compulsions quickly took full control of her mind.
  4969. >She operated on pure survival instinct, seeking to protect both herself and her King no matter the cost.
  4970. >It was likely your own mental resistance that ultimately held her back; if you had let yourself fall under your Queen's influence completely—poor Luster Dawn probably would've gotten blasted to giblets.
  4971. >That unicorn might be an "unruly sow," but she's still part of your herd—you have to ensure her safety, too.
  4972. >For now, though—your soul-bonded Queen comes first.
  4973.  
  4974. >You can feel her heart calmly beating against yours, placated yet penitent.
  4975. >She wants to welcome your affection, but she still feels as if she doesn't deserve it.
  4976. >You think she does.
  4977. >While keeping her chin cupped with your right hand, you give her some soft scritches.
  4978. >Her eyes reflexively flutter and lid.
  4979. >"Mhm-hm-hm~" she huskily titter at your careful touch. "Master~"
  4980. >With a cautious smile curling up on her face, her shaky gaze steadily and warily drifts back to yours.
  4981. >When she sees your affectionately lidded eyes peering back, when she feels your continued caress under her chin, and when she senses your Masterly heart continually pumping forgiveness throughout her body—the rest of the self-doubt swirling within her visage soon vanishes entirely.
  4982. >Thus, she wholly and willingly indulges in her Queenly cravings, and the two of you enjoy another eye-closing, lip-popping, breath-sniffling kiss.
  4983. >"Hff…hff…mmph~"
  4984. >You must admit, this was a lot of effort just to calm one moody mare down.
  4985. >However, this is something that you're gonna have to learn to live with from now on.
  4986. >Because this mare also happens to be your Soulmate—your eternal life partner.
  4987. >Managing her hearty highs and lurid lows has now become yet another one of your Kingly duties.
  4988. >You embrace it wholeheartedly.
  4989. >After all, it's partially your fault that she got like this in the first place.
  4990. >You happen to have quite the bad habit of encouraging belligerent behaviour in your mares.
  4991.  
  4992. >Earlier, when you had offered to take off Flurry's royal regalia for her, you did so as a show of mutual trust—to illustrate to her your willingness in submitting to your Queen when needed.
  4993. >But it seems that in this earnest act of Kingly deference, you gave your Queen a most splendid taste of what it felt like to be the dominant one in this relationship.
  4994. >She must have taken that emotional high and ran with it.
  4995. >From there, you'd wager that it was those horsey hormones of hers that subtly influenced you into obeying her spoken commands.
  4996. >And with just a few authoritative beats of her Queenly heart, she had you playing the part of an obedient King at her own discretion.
  4997. >Normally, that wouldn't be a problem; you've come to realise that you bear quite the submissive streak in your Masterly system—you're more than fine with switching from time to time.
  4998. >However, when Flurry is in the presence of your squealing sow—your Queen's composure drastically changes.
  4999. >She becomes jealous, combative, and vindictive.
  5000. >Despite her having verbally accepted Luster as part of your herd, it seems that Flurry still has a long way to go when it comes to accepting her fellow mare as a true herd sister.
  5001. >That's okay, though. Baby steps.
  5002. >"Hff…hff…hff~"
  5003. >You and Flurry continue to enjoy this breathy solace together, caressing and rubbing against one another.
  5004. >Her heart placidly beats its pleasure to you, letting you know that she'd be perfectly happy staying with you like this forever—
  5005. >*SQUEAL*
  5006. >Your eyes shoot open, as do hers.
  5007.  
  5008. >It would appear that during your appeasement, both you and your Queen had completely tuned out your sow's rampant oinking and indignant squealing as mere background noise.
  5009. >But those shrill swinish noises will be denied no longer.
  5010. >Pulling away from your shared kiss, you and Flurry turn over to the right once more, seeing a still-bound Luster Dawn furiously thrashing about on the bed, pink pupils as wide as saucer plates.
  5011. >Your sow starvedly stares you down, mouth lightly frothing and ears completely folded back.
  5012. >Her palpitating eyes relay feral desperation—mixed in with a twinge of broken heartache.
  5013. >Without a single word spoken, Flurry's heart beats to you her innately mareish misgivings regarding your sow.
  5014. >Your heart beats back, letting her know that it's okay.
  5015. >This time, though, instead of slipping into a defence stance, Your Queen relents, letting out a reticent sigh.
  5016. >"…Master."
  5017. >Steadily removing her wing from your back, she addresses you with a sombre tone:
  5018. >"She needs you just as much as I do."
  5019. >You nod to her.
  5020. "Yeah."
  5021. >Unlike with Flurry, you are not directly linked to Luster's beating heart—and so you can only guess as to what's making your sow act this way.
  5022. >But at the same time, her hoggish outburst don't surprise you, not in the slightest.
  5023. >She had been cruelly snatched away from you right when her heart was about to resonate with yours;
  5024. >Bound to this heart-shaped bed for God-knows-how-long;
  5025. >Was ruthlessly and verbally lambasted by a mare thought to be her best friend;
  5026. >And was about to witness said best friend lay claim to you right in front of her swinely face.
  5027. >She clearly isn't in the right state of mind at the moment—and given what she's gone through, it's clear that your sow needs you more than ever.
  5028. >Now having been freed from Flurry's wing, you slowly make your way over to the right side of the bed where Luster resides.
  5029. >And once you stand in front of her straining body, you crouch down and position your face several inches above eye level.
  5030. >You then smile down at her.
  5031. "Sorry for making you wait."
  5032. >Forced to lie on her left side, she oinks and huffs at you as she continues to defiantly struggle against her shackles.
  5033. >Her nose ring makes a light chiming sound whenever she swinishly snorts across it; despite its thickness, you note that there's still enough room for her to breathe through her nostrils.
  5034. "Hey…"
  5035. >You rest your left hand upon the upturned side of her barrel.
  5036. "…easy there."
  5037. >*Oink oink*—*HFF*—*Oink*
  5038. >Pupils wildly palpitating and belly rapidly breathing, she regards you with pure ravenous hunger in her amber eyes.
  5039. >Taking a deep breath of your own, you caress her pleasantly soft tummy.
  5040. "Don't worry," you coo to her, "I'm here…"
  5041. >*HFF* *HFF* *HFF…*
  5042. >Her body twitches at your touch, her tail thwaps the duvet, and her mouth openly salivates in front of you.
  5043. >She wants more—a lot more.
  5044.  
  5045. >"Master…" you hear a voice speak from behind you.
  5046. >Glancing over your left shoulder, you look at Flurry, seeing her ears perk up when your eyes meet hers.
  5047. >She lightly clears her throat.
  5048. >"If I may," she continues, "I believe a kiss from her Master will help calm her down."
  5049. "A kiss, huh…" you mumble to yourself.
  5050. >Casting Flurry an appreciative nod, you turn back to Luster, and you give her belly a few thoughtful rubs as you eye her over:
  5051. >That crimson shackle around her neck keeps her head mostly pinned down.
  5052. >Moving your hand up her body and over to that shackle, you caress both the magical metal and her bare throat.
  5053. "Brr…"
  5054. >Her neck shackle feels oppressively cold to the touch, and the skin that surrounds it is uncomfortably chilly by association.
  5055. >Poor mare; she must've had to suffer through this for so long.
  5056. "Hey, Flurry," you call out to your Queen, "can you remove the shackle around her neck?"
  5057. >"Yes, I think so," she replies. "Hold on."
  5058. >You hear a magical hum coming from behind you, and a light-blue aura soon surrounds Luster's neck shackle.
  5059. >Your sow squeals in surprise in response to the sudden sorcerous sensation around her neck.
  5060. "It's okay…" you whisper to her, moving your left hand across her body to massage her withers.
  5061. >*HFF* *HFF…*
  5062. >Your attentive touch doesn't do much to alleviate her animalistic agitations, but it does seem to stop her from going into a frenzy—so you'll take what you can get.
  5063. >As you continue to caress your sow, you watch as Flurry's light-blue spellcraft begins to work its magic on Luster's crimson shackle.
  5064. >Your Queen's magic appears to break down said shackle at the molecular level, slowly dissolving it into thin air and leaving nothing behind; you note that this is a much more gradual process than the act of dispelling her own yellow-tinted magic.
  5065. >Soon enough, however, the shackle is completely gone—leaving Luster's neck naked and unbound.
  5066. >You take the opportunity to carefully rub at her bare throat, applying some much-needed human heat to her chilly mare flesh.
  5067. >In response to both your rubbing fingers and her recent freedom, her ears steadily rise from their flattened state.
  5068. >*HFF* *HFF* *Oink* *Oink*
  5069. "Yeah." You nod to her. "Your neck's free now."
  5070. >She lifts her head off the duvet.
  5071. >Blinks at you.
  5072. >And then lunges forward—
  5073. >Only to be stopped by way of your right hand firmly holding her throat back.
  5074. "Ah-ah," you admonish her. "Patience."
  5075. >She huffs and snorts, piggishly displeased by your denial.
  5076. >Considering that her hooves are still bound by crimson shackles, you doubt she could've tackled you to the floor or anything like that—but better safe than sorry.
  5077. >Anyway, you're not here to stop your sow—you're here to soothe her.
  5078.  
  5079. >While keeping your right hand trained on her throat, you snake your left hand up her neck, soon resting your digits behind her right ear.
  5080. >You then deliver her some soft ear scritches.
  5081. "Relax, Luster… I'm here now… I'm not going anywhere."
  5082. >*Oink* *HFF* *Oink* *HFF*
  5083. >Your words and rubs serve to relax her—if only slightly.
  5084. >However, she continues to aggressively push back against your hand, desperate to reach you and sate her instinctual need for intimacy.
  5085. >Indeed, your work is far from finished.
  5086. >A smooch will serve, you believe, but you also recall something Luster told you earlier in this dream, back when the two of you were snuggling in bed together:
  5087. >'…let's share some more breath, too. That always helps clear my head…'
  5088. >Perhaps the thing her swinish brain desires most right now is some intimate nose-to-nose contact.
  5089. >You're more than happy to oblige—but there's just one issue you foresee:
  5090. >That broad metal nose ring of hers.
  5091. >You really don't wanna get jabbed in the face by it.
  5092. >Luckily, you think you may already have a solution to this porous problem.
  5093. >Moving your left hand up from her ear and into her mane—which you note is somewhat tussled—you tenderly ruffle through her fiery locks, eager to ease her even further.
  5094. "There, there…" you coo.
  5095. >*HFFhffhffhff*
  5096. >Her nostrils rapidly flex in and out as she huffs and puffs in your direction.
  5097. >With your face only a short distance away from hers, you can smell strong traces of her swinely breath—that familiarly hay-ish aroma.
  5098. >You love it. You really do.
  5099. >Even now, her earthy scent makes you feel right at home with your sow.
  5100. >Once you've had your fill of fondling her mane, you furtively trail your left hand's fingers down her face—sneaking them across the bridge of her snout.
  5101. >Your lips curl upwards; you're in position.
  5102. "Now—"
  5103. >You stealthily slip your index into her nose ring from above, curling your finger around the loop.
  5104. >*Oink?*
  5105. "—open wide."
  5106. >You then firmly tug up on her nose ring.
  5107.  
  5108. >She squeals in both surprise and pain as her snout is forcefully angled upwards.
  5109. >You keep her held in that position, your index finger remaining hooked around the ring's loop.
  5110. >Her eyes roll over in response, and tears freely flow from her ducts; you also see a thin trail of snot steadily leak out from her left nostril.
  5111. >"O-oh my…" you hear Flurry's voice lightly gasp from behind you.
  5112. >Luster's nostrils lie utterly defenceless while her mouth hangs agape, tongue haplessly lolling out of her maw.
  5113. >You descend upon her helpless muscle, taking her broad, slimy tongue in between your lips and sucking it into your own mouth.
  5114. >*H-hff…!*
  5115. >And while you're at it, you line your nostrils up with hers so that the two of you may also share breath.
  5116. >*Hffhffhff…!*
  5117. >She instinctively huffs and snorts through flaring nostrils, directly blasting the insides of your olfactory organ with her stinky, hay-scented breath.
  5118. >You take it all in and genially breathe back into her own nose.
  5119. >*Hffhff* *Oink oink oink*
  5120. >Her eyelids flicker and lid, while her swinish tongue suddenly springs to life within your mouth; it excitedly laps around your teeth and inner cheeks—paying particular attention to your palate.
  5121. >The way she needily rolls her tongue along the roof of your mouth makes you shiver with delirious delight.
  5122. >For the briefest of moments, you consider letting your greedy sow lick around your mouth at her leisure—sating her hunger as she pleases.
  5123. >Breathily banishing those unmasterly thoughts back into your pet pig, you decide to suckle her squirming tongue with your own.
  5124. >She squeals into your mouth as you lovingly lap at her moist muscle, easily taming her thick tongue despite the clear strength and size difference between you two.
  5125. >You suckle and subjugate; she sniffs, snorts, and submits—and in her submission, she finds civilised clarity.
  5126. >Her sights soon descend back to earth, finding your own peepers down there waiting for them.
  5127. >As her eyes meets yours, you see a glimmer of reason enter her gluttonous gaze.
  5128. >She yearningly grunts into your mouth:
  5129. >*Oink oink*
  5130.  
  5131. >Your sow might be a hungry hog, but you reckon that she's now coherent enough to heed her Master.
  5132. >And so, taking a chance on her newfound self-control, you lessen your right-handed hold on her throat and release your left-handed grip on her nose ring, letting its metal loop coolly rest against your forehead.
  5133. >Luster rewards your trust in her by way of gently but greedily pressing her snout against your nose; you rest your left hand behind her head and run your fingers through her mane.
  5134. >Despite her newly attached nasal accessory, you succeed in giving your sow that nose-to-nose contact she so-desperately craves.
  5135. >*Hff* *Hff* *Hff*
  5136. >Closing her eyes, she hungrily snorts up your scent, as do you amiably sniff up hers; some of her nasally mucus ends up staining your face along the way—but you don't mind.
  5137. >Her slimy tongue—now having been thoroughly and utterly suckled—steadily reaches out towards yours; you accept her beastly affection with aplomb, soon interlacing your lappers together in a lover's embrace.
  5138. >You sensually swap spit with your sow, freely drinking up the sweet taste of her swinely submission—and gradually dousing the deep yearning that lies within her heart.
  5139. >After having been separated from you for so long—and after having witnessed Flurry callously stake her Queenly claim on you—Luster slowly sates herself with the reassurance that her Boar is still there for her.
  5140. >*Hff…hff…*
  5141. >Whilst the two of you sniff noses, twist tongues, and suck face, you note how the act of sharing breath differs quite heavily between your two mares:
  5142. >Flurry is gentle and romantic—that is, when she isn't attempting to exert her Queenly will over yours—always making sure to keep her inhalations and exhalations perfectly in tune with yours.
  5143. >Luster, on the other hand, is earthy and animalistic—frequently snorting into your nostrils to remind you of her piggish presence.
  5144. >Even now that she's sufficiently sedated, you can still keenly feel her happily huffing in and out through your nasal cavity, lost in her little world of Masterly scent as she is.
  5145. >She wholly submits to you, yet she's also not afraid to take what she wants—which, you admit, might be somewhat antithetical when it comes to playing the part of an obedient slave.
  5146. >But despite all of this, you love her all the same.
  5147.  
  5148. >*Hff…* *Oink~* *Oink~*
  5149. >Luster opens her eyes, ardently gazing at you with a becalmed, sober clarity.
  5150. >She dearly loves her mated Boar, yet she's also slowly coming to grips with her new place in this herd's hierarchy.
  5151. >Using your right hand, you gently scritch under her chin, causing her to loosen her tongue's clammy coil within your mutual muscly helix.
  5152. >Once your oral organs have been sufficiently loosened, you use that same right hand to carefully push her back as you slowly pull away from her mouth.
  5153. >A sloppily wet *SCHLOP* sound rings out in the air as your entwined tongues steadily detangle from one another.
  5154. >Without your forehead to support it, gravity soon takes hold of her nose ring as the metal loop falls down to hang just below her nostrils.
  5155. >Once you fully pull away from her, several heady and heavy bridges of saliva still connect your mouths.
  5156. >Your sow whines with soft need, subtly pushing against your right hand.
  5157. >With your left hand, you rub through her slightly matted mane; then, you scritch behind her twitching right ear.
  5158. "There, there…" you coo to her.
  5159. >*Hff…hff…*
  5160. >Her tail yearningly bats at the bed, yet her amorous advance ceases.
  5161. >Huffing and oinking, she rests her chin on your right palm, mood turning totally placid.
  5162. >Just like with Flurry, you've succeeded in taming this mare with your Masterly presence, bringing sense back to her psyche.
  5163. >You briefly contemplate calling your sow a good girl in recognition of her compliance.
  5164. >You've addressed her as such before, back when it was just the two of you.
  5165. >But considering your current, easily embittered, company—best not.
  5166.  
  5167. >"Well then," you hear a familiar, Queenly voice speak from behind.
  5168. >A long shadow looms over both you and Luster, and your sow's eyes flit upwards.
  5169. >"Are you finally ready to behave, Lustie?" the voice continues. "If you are, there's plenty more of Master's love where that came from."
  5170. >Luster takes a steady blink.
  5171. >Her eyes drift down to yours.
  5172. >They linger there for a second.
  5173. >Then, they return up towards the mare standing directly behind you.
  5174. >*Oink*
  5175. >"Good~"
  5176. >You can feel that imposing presence take a few steps back.
  5177. >Gently guiding your sow's head back down to the duvet, you take your hands away from her; she lets out a light huff in response, but doesn't complain further.
  5178. >Standing up, you turn around to face the other mare in the room.
  5179. "Flurry—"
  5180. >And your face is promptly peppered with the pap pap pap of pale paper.
  5181. "—uff."
  5182. >"Hehe~"
  5183. >With a cheery smile on her face, Flurry thoughtfully wipes your face with a levitating tissue, carefully cleaning off any accumulated secretions of the nasal variety.
  5184. >Soon enough, she has your countenance completely cleansed.
  5185. >Languidly floating your used tissue past the bed and all the way over to the other side of the room, she drops it in the crystal trash can that resides there.
  5186. "Um, thanks."
  5187. >"Hm-hm, any time, Master~"
  5188. >She trails her gaze down and past you to look at your bound sow.
  5189. >"Now, let's get those shackles off…"
  5190.  
  5191. >Once you see Flurry's horn light up, you turn around to examine her target.
  5192. >You can see light-blue magic once again surrounding Luster's body; this time, it gathers around each of her four hoof shackles.
  5193. >And just like before, those crimson bindings steadily dissolve into nothing as they react to Flurry's azure aura.
  5194. >Luster cringes in slight discomfort, but otherwise remains still.
  5195. >You sit down on the spot of the bed next to Luster's left and tenderly run your fingers through her mane.
  5196. >She oinks with soothed contentment, and her eyes dreamily drift down towards your lower half.
  5197. >Thanks to your Queen's magical efforts, Flurry soon has Luster's shackles fully dispelled—including the crimson post that they were attached to.
  5198. >Incidentally, the absence of that post has left a small wound in the mattress—but you're not gonna raise any complaints, and you doubt any tenants will, either.
  5199. >"There," Flurry states. "Now your hooves are free."
  5200. >*Oink*
  5201. >Luster stretches, jitters, and twirls all four of her hooves for a good few moments, piggishly enjoying her reinstated freedom.
  5202. >*Oink oink*
  5203. >Then, her head snaps over in your direction—and she quickly crawls over to your lap, soon resting her upper body along your right thigh.
  5204. >*Oink oink* *Sniff sniff sniiffff*
  5205. >Lying on her belly and clinging to your right leg, she hungrily sniffs at the bulge in your boxers—thankfully, she's mindful enough to avoid jabbing your genitals with her nose ring.
  5206. >Flurry lets out a good-natured titter at the sight, exercising a jovial sense of restraint at her herdmate's hankerings.
  5207. >While your left hand hangs loosely by your side, you use your right hand to give your sow a few soft strokes along the withers.
  5208. "That's a good…"
  5209. >You pause, lightly pursing your lips.
  5210. "…pig."
  5211. >Salvaged it like a pro.
  5212.  
  5213. >Luster gutturally grunts in abject appreciation of your Boarish smell and Masterly touch, tail joyously wagging from side to side.
  5214. >Flurry, however, appears to have had her attention diverted elsewhere; with squinted eyes, she slowly strafes around her bed's heart-shaped perimeter—gaze suspiciously locked onto Luster's rear end.
  5215. >"…Hm?"
  5216. >Stopping in place, Flurry looks to you.
  5217. >"Master," she begins, "I think there's a worm or something sticking out of Lustie's butt."
  5218. >You blink in bemusement.
  5219. "A…a worm…?"
  5220. >Brows knitting, you look down at Luster, who nervously averts her gaze away from either of you.
  5221. >Worms? That's not good—that's not good at all.
  5222. >Dream world or not, you refuse to accept infestations of any kind within your mares.
  5223. "Luster," you begin, taking your hand off of her back, "turn away and present to me."
  5224. >*Oink…*
  5225. >Your sow reluctantly, but obediently, complies with your command; she pushes herself up off of your lap so that she now stands by your right side.
  5226. >She then performs a one-eighty turn and takes a couple steps away from you.
  5227. >Spreading her hindlegs wide, she hikes up her tail and gives you the full view of her goods.
  5228. "Hm…"
  5229. >Immediately, the first thing you notice is that half of said goods are concealed—or rather, they've been blocked.
  5230. >From the tip of her taint to the peak of her pussy, a thick crimson plate completely covers up her marehood, hiding it from both prying eyes and sexual intent.
  5231. >This celibate contraption seems to be some sort of chastity device, and you note the symbol of a pink six-pointed star engraved upon the spot where her clitoris would be.
  5232. >Raising your sights higher, you can see that her asshole has been left wholly exposed to the elements—
  5233. >And yes, there is indeed "something" sticking out of it.
  5234. >It looks to be a red piece of string; it extends a few inches out from her pucker, and it ends in a small oval-shaped loop.
  5235. >"What do you think, Master?" Flurry asks.
  5236. >Eyes flitting to the left, you see a nosy looking Flurry now sitting by the bedside nearby; she leans in towards both you and your sow—with her Queenly visage now hovering dangerously close to Luster's cheeks.
  5237. "I think…"
  5238. >Using your right hand, you gently push Flurry's face away with an open palm.
  5239. "…you should give us some space."
  5240. >After fully repelling Flurry, you retrieve your hand from her snout.
  5241. >"Okay." She obediently nods.
  5242. >Your Soulmate's light-blue eyes sparkle with an inquisitive innocence, no doubt naively curious as to what exactly this "worm" is.
  5243. >As for you…you have a good hunch as to what's currently plaguing Luster's rectum.
  5244. >Shifting your sights back to your sow, you sternly address her:
  5245. "Lie down on your belly, Luster."
  5246. >*Oink*
  5247. >She gruntingly complies, lowering herself down to her chubby tummy and lying spreadeagle on the bedspread.
  5248. >You note how her pudge spills out at the sides of her body, looking incredibly gropeable…
  5249. >Ahem.
  5250. >Now is not the time.
  5251.  
  5252. >Shuffling a little closer to Luster, you rest your left hand upon her croup.
  5253. >Reaching forward, you slip your right index finger into the end-loop of her "butt-string."
  5254. >Your sow casts you a nervous look from behind her withers.
  5255. "Easy there…" you reassure her, giving her croup a brief caress.
  5256. >One of her ears silently flicks in response.
  5257. >Taking a deep breath, you give her string a tentative tug.
  5258. >Luster squeaks in surprise.
  5259. >The string goes taut, unwilling to budge from the meagre amount of force you applied.
  5260. >Yep, there's definitely something wedged deep in there.
  5261. >Nodding to yourself and flexing your finger, you give that loop a good yank.
  5262. >Luster lets out another squeak, burying her face into the bed while her rump lightly rises up with your pull.
  5263. >After applying just a little more elbow grease on your part, you watch as her piggish pucker steadily expands…
  5264. >And with a wet-sounding *schlop,* you succeed in drawing a crimson-coloured bead out from her butt—causing your sow to emit a shudderingly sharp squeal.
  5265. >Using your left hand, you tenderly rub her croup to appease her.
  5266. "There, there…"
  5267. >*Hff…*
  5268. >Her stretched anus quickly reseals itself once this bead fully exits her rectum.
  5269. >You take the chance to examine said bead, noting that it's about as big as a golf ball; it's also slimily slick with stanky mucus—which is to be expected, given that it's been freshly pulled from her anal cavity.
  5270. >At either side of this bead, you can make out a particular emblem engraved upon its musky material: it depicts a pink six-pointed star—the very same symbol that you are able to see upon the clitoral section of her chastity device.
  5271. >"W-wow…"
  5272. >After gawpingly gazing at that damp bead for a couple of seconds, Flurry looks to you for answers.
  5273. >"So…it's not a worm, then?" she asks, tilting her head with intrigue. "Why did Lustie have a ball up her butt, Master?"
  5274. >Luster doesn't respond, face still buried in the blue duvet.
  5275. "Uh…"
  5276. >You have a quick internal debate on whether to inform your Soulmate about the wonders of anal and anal accessories.
  5277. >…
  5278. >Eh, why not.
  5279. "…this isn't any old ball, Flurry—it's an anal bead."
  5280. >Flurry curiously blinks.
  5281. >"Anal…bead?" Her eyes faintly widen. "Wait, is this thing *meant* to go in the butt?"
  5282. "Yeah." You nod. "It can be used to spice things up in the bedroom, or…"
  5283. >Trailing your gaze over to the bead in question, you note its distinctive crimson colour.
  5284. "…I suppose it can also be used as a form of discipline."
  5285. >"Discipline…?"
  5286. >Flurry looks over to Luster, and her eyes narrow for the briefest of moments.
  5287. >"…Hm. I see."
  5288. >Through your fingers, you can feel your sow shiver slightly.
  5289. >Sorry, Luster.
  5290. >Maybe Master should've kept his mouth shut after all.
  5291.  
  5292. >Upon giving that red string another gentle tug, you feel it go taut once again.
  5293. "Hm…"
  5294. >"Does that mean Lustie has more beads in her butt?" Flurry asks, attention totally rapt.
  5295. >You nod.
  5296. "Yep."
  5297. >Your Queen can be very quick on the uptake when she wants to be.
  5298. >Back to the matter at hand, though; with a strong yank, you promptly pull a second slimy bead out from your sow's sunless tunnel, coaxing out both another wet *schlop* and another swinish squeal.
  5299. >After giving the small of Luster's back a few more soothing rubs, you continue speaking:
  5300. "And I intend to *fully* relieve our sow's burden."
  5301. >"Ooh…" your Queen replies.
  5302. >Ears perked up and lips lightly parted, Flurry absorbedly watches you pull anal beads out of her best friend's asshole.
  5303. >*Schlop*
  5304. >Each crimson bead is identical in both size and shape.
  5305. >*Schlop*
  5306. >And each crimson bead bears that same starry insignia on its sides.
  5307. >*Schlop*
  5308. >Every time you pull out a bead, you watch her flexible ponut stretch around that extruding object, briefly exposing the reddish insides of her rubbery rectum.
  5309. >*Schlop*
  5310. >And every time you pull out a bead, you hear her sharply squeal in strained stimulation—which is then followed by heartened huffs as you tenderly pat down her sensitive croup to assuage her.
  5311. >*Schlop*
  5312. >You note that her shrill sounds decrease in intensity the more beads you pull out.
  5313. >*Schlop*
  5314. >She's probably getting used to the sensation.
  5315. >*Schlop*
  5316. >After all, she has a *lot* of anal beads in her ass.
  5317. >…
  5318. >But it appears that's the last of them.
  5319. >Swapping hands, you dangle your dripping "haul" off of the bed with your left hand.
  5320. >Nine beads.
  5321. >This mare had nine golf-ball–sized anal beads stuffed inside her large intestine.
  5322.  
  5323. >"Wow…"
  5324. >Flurry's gaze shifts from that crimson caterpillar over to your furrowed face.
  5325. >"…Lustie sure can fit a lot up her butt."
  5326. >Through your right hand that now rests on her croup, you can sense Luster shudder.
  5327. >Indeed, there's that uneasy feeling again.
  5328. >This time, however, you decide to speak up on Luster's behalf:
  5329. "Don't abuse that knowledge, you hear?" you address your Queen.
  5330. >Flurry's ears shoot up and her eyes shoot open, as if caught out.
  5331. >She stares at you for a moment, before her gaze flushedly flits to the side.
  5332. >"O-of course, Master."
  5333. >Luster lets out a deep sigh—perhaps one of relief—into the bed.
  5334. >Gotta remember to keep your Alpha Mare in check sometimes.
  5335. >You decide to drop your held string of anal beads right onto the bedside rug; it's not like any dream maids are gonna complain about the mess.
  5336. >"Um, anyway."
  5337. >Flurry clears her throat.
  5338. >"Now that you've finished helping out Lustie, would you like to…"
  5339. >Her lips slowly curl into a smile—a shakily seductive smile.
  5340. >"…ride your mare?"
  5341. >She's trying to be flirty, but she's also trying really hard not to laugh at her new favourite euphemism.
  5342. >You admire the effort.
  5343. >After rubbing your left hand off on your thigh, you lean forward and scritch under your Queen's chin.
  5344. "I would like nothing more," you respond with a smile.
  5345. >She softly titters.
  5346. >"Then I'll go and make myself comfortable~"
  5347. >Pulling away, Flurry circles around the bottom half of this heart-shaped bed, moving from the right-sided blue half over to the left-sided pink half.
  5348. >As she does so, you continue to absent-mindedly scratch and rub the small of Luster's back with your right hand.
  5349. >The bottom half of your sow rests on bent hindknees, slightly angling her rear end up into the air.
  5350. >Her rump gently sways from side to side at your touch, while her punished pucker flexes in and out as it steadily recovers from its prior abuse; its pulsing motions are reminiscent of laboured breathing—or perhaps vulvar winking.
  5351. >The upper half of her body lies flat against the duvet, while her head now rests on its right side, looking back at you.
  5352. >You see her amber eyes gaze at you with unspoken feelings aplenty.
  5353. >Unspoken, perhaps, but not unheard.
  5354. >Moving your hand away from her rump, you shuffle along the bed's edge and whisper into her ear:
  5355. "By the way, can you talk?"
  5356. >She takes a languid blink, before responding:
  5357. >*Oink*
  5358. >Your lips briefly purse.
  5359. "…Figures."
  5360.  
  5361. >After giving your sow's croup a few more caresses, you feel a heavy horsey weight suddenly press itself upon the bed.
  5362. >Turning your head to look over your right shoulder, you check out the point of impact.
  5363. >Naturally, said horsey weight belongs to Flurry Heart.
  5364. >She walks along the bed's pink half of the duvet—with each full-bodied step forcing out a pained creak from the mattress—before soon settling herself on the pink heart-shaped pillow at the end.
  5365. >With a pained squeal from the bed springs, Flurry quickly flips onto her back and nestles her head against the pillow, keeping all four legs curled up in the air.
  5366. >Tilting her head your way, she lids her eyes, lightly kicks out her forelegs, and breathes out a seductive whicker.
  5367. >You respond by way of giving her an approving smile.
  5368. >Standing up, you begin to circle the bed's perimeter, tracing the same route that your Queen took—
  5369. >Only to find yourself stopped by something holding you back.
  5370. "Hm?"
  5371. >Looking down your body, you can see Luster's left foreleg feebly clinging onto your right thigh.
  5372. >You make eye contact with her.
  5373. >Her amber gaze glimmers with a meagre hope, and she gives your leggy limb a few light tugs.
  5374. "Ah…"
  5375. >Her silent desire is as clear as the dawning day:
  5376. >She wants you to stay with her.
  5377. >Sparing a brief glance Flurry's way, you can see your Queen's face beginning to fall into a impatient frown.
  5378. >Alas, you better cut this interaction short.
  5379. >Reaching down with your right hand, you carefully push Luster's hoof away from your leg.
  5380. >Her limb detaches from yours with no resistance, listlessly flopping down and hanging from the bed's edge.
  5381. >Crouching down and leaning forwards, you plant a parting peck on the peak of her snout.
  5382. >Pulling away, you address her with a calm tone:
  5383. "You rest up."
  5384. >*Oink…*
  5385. >That's all you can do for now.
  5386. >After standing up and kicking off your shoes and socks, you walk around the perimeter of the bed, soon positioning yourself at the foot of the bed's pink half.
  5387. >You then crawl onto the bed and steadily make your way over to Flurry's left side; her affectionate gaze follows your every move.
  5388. >Once you've reached your destination, you sit up on your knees, and you gingerly rest your left index on her floofy chest.
  5389. >You then slowly trail your digit downwards, sussing out your Queen's size in comparison to yours.
  5390. >The length of her barrel alone is roughly as large as your entire torso.
  5391. >And when your finger reaches her innie navel, you only have one thing to say to your Soulmate:
  5392. "You're a big girl."
  5393. >She snorts in cheery amusement.
  5394. >"And it's all for you, Master~"
  5395. >God, you love this mare.
  5396.  
  5397. >You give your big horsey Soulmate a few belly rubs to show her your utmost appreciation; she heartily nickers and breathily giggles in response.
  5398. >Compared to Luster's chubby tummy, Flurry's gut is mostly muscle, feeling quite firm around your fingers.
  5399. >You note that her once-slender belly is more rounded in this form, most likely as a result of her equine body filling out as she grows older.
  5400. >Honestly? You approve.
  5401. >After taking several seconds to appetise yourself with the taut sensation of your horsewife's stomach, you decide that it's time to move onto the main course.
  5402. >Lying down on your back, you carefully pull off your slightly stained boxers and promptly chuck them off to the right side and off the bed.
  5403. >Flurry's eyes swiftly widen and then immediately sharpen as she laser focuses on your freed erection.
  5404. >She mareishly snorts in your direction, just as eager as you are when it comes to getting down and dirty on the royal bedspread.
  5405. >Not wishing to keep your Queen waiting any longer, you crawl down alongside the long length of her supine body—moving more than halfway across the bed—and soon repositioning yourself at the region between her spread hindlegs.
  5406. >Sitting up and gazing down at her precious parts, you can see her twitching tail dock, her puckered ponut, and her pink pony—no—her *horse* pussy.
  5407. >Her purplish flower flagrantly winks at you, exposing her pulpy desire.
  5408. >Moving your gaze upwards, you catch sight of her generously sized horseteats, resting just above her pelvic region; at her current proportions, they're bigger than even Luster's.
  5409. >Taking your eyes even further, you see her rounded gut, her large chest fluff, her looong neck—and finally, her cute horsey face, warmly gazing back at you.
  5410. >Given her new size, you'd wager that gentle missionary while looking down upon her is completely out of the question.
  5411. >Still, you're not gonna let this hindrance discourage you—for these full-grown proportions just means that there's more of her to love.
  5412. >Shuffling forward, you prudently position the tip of your Kingly sceptre against the fleshy entrance to her Queenly canal.
  5413. >"Hff…nnf…!"
  5414. >The moment she feels your glans press against her vulva, she snortily huffs, and you see her hindlegs lightly jittering and clenching at the knees.
  5415. >Her lower lips suddenly wink out a quick and heady squirt of mareish excitement, pre-emptively dousing your whole groin in warm and sticky affection.
  5416. >Looking upwards, you shoot your Soulmate a sly grin.
  5417. "Someone's eager."
  5418. >She steamily snorts, sharp blue eyes almost glowing in the dreamy ambience.
  5419. >"I *need* you, Master," she half-growls out.
  5420. "Don't worry." You give her abdomen a reassuring rub. "You're gonna get me."
  5421.  
  5422. >You know better than to test her patience further—you're already pushing the envelope as is.
  5423. >Here, in this magical realm where your hearts may speak earnestly with each other, your Queen could very well claim what she desires by force.
  5424. >But she isn't. Not now.
  5425. >She's holding herself back for your sake.
  5426. >Leaning forward and facing her horsey gut, you rest your palms on the sheets just above her haunches.
  5427. >Then, you slowly slide yourself into her squelching snatch.
  5428. >She welcomes you in with lubricated lips, yet possessively clasps around every inch you have to give her.
  5429. >Despite her enhanced size, she's *just* as tight—maybe even tighter.
  5430. "Hff…"
  5431. >"Mmf…"
  5432. >Her wet walls quickly get to work on warmly undulating around your submerged glans, setting your loins aflame and forcing you to bite your bottom lip.
  5433. >Steadily pushing deeper and deeper into her deliriously damp depths, your breathing hastens while beads of sweat begin to form on your brow.
  5434. >Suddenly, you find your advance stopped by something—a barrier of some kind.
  5435. >It's flimsy and tenuous, familiarly so.
  5436. >Wait. Could it really be…?
  5437. >You look up at your Queen; her eyes are lewdly lidded and her nostrils are passionately flared.
  5438. "Flurry, is this…?"
  5439. >Her lips curl upwards into a proudly saucy grin.
  5440. >"In this dream, anything is possible, Master~"
  5441. >She then gives her head a brief downwards tilt, gesturing towards the sensual site of your incomplete union.
  5442. >"Go on, claim your Queen~"
  5443. >Steadying your gaze back on her navel, you breathe in and out through your nostrils, briefly bracing yourself
  5444. >Then, you push, and you push—and you pierce.
  5445. >"Nn…!"
  5446. >Her whole body shudders in slight pain as you pop her divine cherry for a third time.
  5447. >Instinctively, you lift your right hand up off the bed and caress the side of your Soulmate's barrel to soothe her discomfort.
  5448. >"Hff…hff…mm…"
  5449. >Her affected alleviation can be felt through your shared heartbeat:
  5450. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5451. >"Hah…Master…"
  5452. >Looking up, you see your Queen casting you a gentle, slightly teary, smile.
  5453. >You let out a light sigh.
  5454. "So it really was…"
  5455. >She titters.
  5456. >"You deserve to claim my purity more than a thousand times over, Master~"
  5457. >She says you "deserve it," sure, but…
  5458. >You think your Queen might just have a defloration fetish.
  5459.  
  5460. "Okay…" you huff to yourself.
  5461. >Steadying both of your hands on the bed once again, you assess the current journey of your johnson:
  5462. >Right now, you are about halfway buried into your freshly deflowered mare.
  5463. >As you had noted earlier, her inner tightness hasn't diminished in the slightest.
  5464. >In fact, her grip feels *much* fiercer than what you're used to.
  5465. >Her pony pussy would warmly massage at you at all sides; her tunnel was lovingly clingy, but placid enough to let her Master set the pace.
  5466. >This horse pussy of hers, on the hand, clenches your meat like a vehement vice—her swelteringly sinewy walls churn you in and out of her carnal canal, completely controlling this raunchy rhythm and leaving you utterly powerless to resist.
  5467. >Through muscle control alone, she powerfully pumps your hips in and out against hers, dominating your dick at her own royal leisure.
  5468. >In.
  5469. >Out.
  5470. >In.
  5471. >Out.
  5472. >In—
  5473. "Oh God—!" you gasp out.
  5474. >Her vigorous vaginal muscles force you to hilt all the way inside of her depths.
  5475. >Your balls slap against her butt, and you land face-first into her large horsey chest fluff.
  5476. >Her tuft's potent scent is a exotic combination of sugary sweets and mareish musk.
  5477. >It utterly melts your mind, inundating you with thoughts of her.
  5478. "Ung…"
  5479. >"Nnf…" you hear Flurry suck in air through her teeth.
  5480. >You slowly push yourself up so you don't lose yourself in the sauce.
  5481. >Your hands now rest by her shoulders, with your bare arms brushing up against her fuzzy forearms.
  5482. >You can feel your pelvis squishing up against her fat crotchboobs, providing some comfy cushioning for your sensitive flesh.
  5483. >As for your dick—it is now effectively magnetised to her clenching cooch; there's no pulling yourself out of that one.
  5484. "Th-that…"
  5485. >You gulp, trying to find your words.
  5486. >Arching your back forward, you look up at your Queen's smiling muzzle.
  5487. >Naturally, she's a lot closer now.
  5488. "…y-you're strong."
  5489. >Her sultry smile widens, transforming into a toothy grin.
  5490. >Funny, her teeth appear almost jagged at this angle.
  5491. >"Kehehe~"
  5492. >She must find it funny, too.
  5493.  
  5494. >"Can you feel yourself pressing up against my most precious place, my King?" she asks, carefully concealing her chompers.
  5495. >Closing your eyes, you hone in on the sensation of being firmly wedged inside your mare.
  5496. "Mmf…"
  5497. >You can feel her walls clamping around you with an ungodly fervour; they flood you with lurid lubrication and steam you with sweltering heat.
  5498. >Every movement that you make inside of her depths is one done at her behest; her channel churns and guides you around her Queenly garden, forcefully thrusting you in and out of her hungering horsepussy like an onahole on the absolute highest setting.
  5499. >At the deepest part of her flower—when her walls drive you in to the hilt—you find yourself bumping up against something invitingly stretchy and pulpy.
  5500. >It's a spot that your Masterly meat is *well* acquainted with—the cervical entrance to her royal womb.
  5501. >Despite Flurry being twice her usual size, you and her are still as connected as you can possibly be.
  5502. >You open your eyes, sucking in a shaky gasp of air as you do so.
  5503. "Y-yeah." You nod to her. "I…nnf…I do."
  5504. >She lets out a breathy titter.
  5505. >"No matter how big I get, we'll always be the perfect fit for each other."
  5506. >She slowly leans towards you, bending her broad neck to an impressive degree.
  5507. >Soon enough, her horsey head hovers inches above yours, and she slyly smiles down upon you.
  5508. >"Do you know why?"
  5509. >Your Queen exudes a charismatic confidence; it reminds you of how she got when you removed her crown.
  5510. >However, you do not flinch from this side of her; this is, after all, just another aspect of your Soulmate.
  5511. >Tilting your head up to meet her gaze, you narrow your eyes and lower your tone:
  5512. "…Tell me."
  5513. >Leaning forward just a little more, she presses her plush lips against yours.
  5514. >She silently sucks on your mouth and gently exhales into your nostrils, inviting you to share some sweet breath.
  5515. >You accept said invitation, smooching her horsey lips and breathing into her horsey nostrils; your reciprocation causes her to lightly hum in appreciation:
  5516. >"Mhm~"
  5517. >After a bit of back and forth between you both, she speaks into your mouth.
  5518. >"It's because we *belong* together, my King."
  5519. >She sensually and subtly rubs her muzzle against your face, turning this Eskimo kiss into a breathy nuzzle.
  5520. >"Our hearts beat as one, as do our loins…"
  5521. >She takes a delectable pause, savouring the moment, before whispering:
  5522. >"…as do our tongues~"
  5523. >She prods at your mouth with a persuasive force.
  5524. >You part your lips as if acting on pure instinct.
  5525. >And she promptly drops her thick, flexible tongue into your open maw.
  5526.  
  5527. >Wasting no time at all, Flurry's slithery organ heads straight for your own tongue and quickly coiling around it, lavishly squeezing you with sincere love.
  5528. >This possessively slimy helix of hers reminds you of when she had completely capitulated your plebby self back at the crystal spire; this time, however, she squeezes you with far less force—giving you free reign to lap around her moist muscle and return her oral affections.
  5529. >"Mmph~"
  5530. >Closing her eyes, she moans into your mouth just as cordially as she controls it.
  5531. >She might have relaxed her glossa's grip on you, but make no mistake—your Queen still utterly dominates the field when it comes to twisting tongues together.
  5532. >Perhaps it is her heart's earnest desire to out-smooch her Master; you recall how she was always so passionate about "kissing practise" back when she was your mistress.
  5533. >If that's the case, then you see no reason not to indulge her; now that she's become your Soulmate, you'd say she's earned this victory.
  5534. >She milks your muscle just as thoroughly as she milks your meat; down below, her clamping canal churns up your throbbing rod with a royal finesse, damn-near pistoning your pelvis against hers.
  5535. >You, of course, add some Masterly thrusts of your own into the mix—but it is ultimately your Queen who commands this carnal pace, assertively guiding you in and out of her mareish depths with her sublimely powerful muscle control.
  5536. >Her forelegs loop over your shoulders, while her forehooves lovingly cling to your upper back.
  5537. >Her inner thighs softly squeeze around yours, while her hindlegs link themselves behind your glutes, keeping you lightly locked in place with her limbs.
  5538. >Between her coiling tongue and clenching tunnel, your Queen has you entirely subdued and wholly subjugated.
  5539. >This is a complete reversal of your Masterly paradigm—and yet, you don't find yourself offering any kind of resistance towards her dominant conduct.
  5540. >For she is your Soulmate—your blessed other half within this magical land of dreams and hearts.
  5541. >The love that you two share has grown far beyond absolute roles of submission and dominance.
  5542. >Closing your own eyes and wrapping your arms around the back of her broad neck, you offer yourself unto her—just as she has offered herself unto you.
  5543. >"Mmph…mmmph~"
  5544. >A salaciously two-sided squelching sound echoes throughout this blue-tinted bedchamber; this smutty symphony is only bolstered by the stimulative smell of sweatily sweet mareish musk.
  5545. >Swapping spit and pumping hips, your bodies undulate as one, thrusting and suckling to the same sensual rhythm.
  5546. >As she speeds up, so do you; as you approach your peak, so does she.
  5547. >"Hff…mmph…hmph~"
  5548. >The two of you grunt and huff and moan into one another's mouths as this royal rutting session soars towards its crescendo.
  5549.  
  5550. >Flaring out her nostrils, Flurry's powerful muscles force you to hilt all the way inside of her and stay there, keeping your mushroom tip aimed straight at her most fertile place.
  5551. >Your pelvic movements may have stopped, but your Queen's steamy snatch continues to work your edging erection over with rippling winks and squeezing squirts.
  5552. >Her hindlegs tighten their leg lock around your clenching butt, and you can hear the feathery flutter of her wings reflexively unfurling.
  5553. >Flurry lets out a shakily deep huff of heated mare air directly into your nostrils, filling your world with her sweet sovereign scent.
  5554. >You gleefully breathe her in, letting her Queenly presence suffuse through your mind and light up your loins.
  5555. >With a shudderingly huffy breath of your own, you deeply exhale into your Soulmate's nostrils, making her yours just as much as you are hers.
  5556. >Your Queen's horsey core lays ripe for the taking, fecund fields begging to be hosed down by human seed.
  5557. >And you are not one to deny your mare her heart's earnest desire.
  5558. >As your soul is synchronised with hers, so too do your climaxes come at the exact same time.
  5559. "Hah…!"
  5560. >"Mmph…!"
  5561. >Your balls triumphantly clench as the flood gates fly open for the both of you.
  5562. >Tongues twirling, sniffers snorting, and bodies convulsing, you blast round after round of Kingly cum right into your Queen's loyal womb—as does she giddily gush over your Masterly mast with torrents upon torrents of royal squash.
  5563. >Her warm wings promptly wrap themselves around your midsection, holding you closer than ever before.
  5564. >You might be bottomed out inside of your mare, but that doesn't stop you from further pumping your hips against hers, desperate to shoot your shots as deep as you can.
  5565. >Even in this dreamy realm of honest desires, you luridly lay claim to your sweet Soulmate, fully intent on having her bear your heirs no matter her form.
  5566. >The sloppy squelches of Flurry's fierce maregasm mix together with your pappily plapping thrusts to form a messily slushy duet between devoted lovers.
  5567. >It is music to your ears—and a cloyingly thick ambrosia for your nose.
  5568. >"Hhff…mmph…!"
  5569. >Your shared orgasm feels like it lasts an eternity.
  5570. >Bodies writhe and undulate.
  5571. >Genitals churn and cream.
  5572. >Tongues twist and turn.
  5573. >"Mmph…mmph…mmmmph~"
  5574. >But eventually, the two of you shakily descend down from your mutual high together—riding it out as man and mare.
  5575. >You fire off the last of your loads into Flurry's Queenly womb, claiming her as both your steadfast steed and beloved bedmate.
  5576. >Flurry, in turn, splashes the last of her squash across your bare scrotum, marking you as both her human husband and soulbound sovereign.
  5577.  
  5578. >Loosening her muscly coils around your writhing clapper, your Queen nonetheless continues to keep her mouth connected with yours, savouring the ever-pleasant taste of your tongue upon her palate.
  5579. >Your taste buds playfully frolic together for a few moments more, before she steadily pulls away from you, separating your tongues with a wet *schlop* and leaving several strands of sticky saliva that still connect your lips.
  5580. >"Hah…hah…haah…"
  5581. >Mouthily breathing in and out of each other's open maws, you lovingly gaze into your Queen's sanguine eyes, as does she liddedly peer into yours.
  5582. >Those strikingly azure pools of hers somehow manage to stand out even in the dreamy blue ambience that pervades this fabricated realm.
  5583. >Perhaps it is because they are the eyes of your Soulmate; you'd never mistake them.
  5584. >Slowly and sensually blinking, Flurry soon closes in and plants a passionate parting peck upon your already puckered lips.
  5585. >*Mwah~*
  5586. >She pulls back, happily huffs against your face—
  5587. >And promptly throws her head back against the pillow, nestling the back of her horsey head into that downy plushness.
  5588. >"Haaaah~"
  5589. >She throatily sighs into the air, contented but exhausted.
  5590. >Her fatigued heart, beating right alongside yours, invites you to recuperate with her.
  5591. >Feeling quite worn out yourself, you earnestly accept her enticing appeal, steadily lowering your torso and resting your body atop hers.
  5592. >Your softening dick remains wholly wedged inside of her comforting walls;
  5593. >Your abdomen is pleasantly pressed up against her soft horseteats and muscly gut;
  5594. >And your face is now fully buried into her marely chest tuft.
  5595.  
  5596. >That intoxicatingly sweaty forest of musky fur electrifies your brain with your Queen's royal pheromones.
  5597. >It tells you how much she loves you.
  5598. >It tells you how much you love her.
  5599. >It tells you how much the two of should conquer and claim and breed and sire heirs and…
  5600. "Nng…"
  5601. >This area of your mare is incredibly dangerous; you could very easily get addicted to this.
  5602. >You should find a safer place to rest your head.
  5603. >Thus, you steadily begin to push yourself up—
  5604. >Only to be pushed right back down by a delicate but firm force pressing itself against your crown.
  5605. >It's one of Flurry's forehooves.
  5606. >"Mmph. Stay there, my King. I like you there."
  5607. >Neither your overpowered body or enamoured heart can resist her Queenly compulsion, leaving your weakened mind to continue drowning in her mareish musk.
  5608. "G-gungh…" you shakily groan into her sweaty floof, unable to budge even an inch.
  5609. >"Hm-hm-hm~"
  5610. >Snortily tittering to herself, she adjusts her forehoof's weight upon your crown to rest the side of her fetlock against it, giving you a gentle reminder of her persuasive presence.
  5611. >She really does hold all of the cards here.
  5612. >Whatever this horsey mare wants—she gets.
  5613. >This powerless feeling that comes from being so utterly dominated by your slave-turned-Queen is one that leaves deep gashes in your Masterly pride.
  5614. >She may acknowledge you as both her Master and her King, but until this dream ends and the collar's magic comes back into effect—you are nothing but a slave to her heartfelt whims.
  5615. >You only hope you can hold onto your dwindling sanity until then.
  5616.  
  5617. >Confidently caressing the back of your head with her forehoof, Flurry horsily and triumphantly snorts into the air—
  5618. >"Hffffff~"
  5619. >—which is then followed by a throaty giggle.
  5620. >"Ehehehehe~"
  5621. >You find yourself wholly understanding her ebullience, as her horsey heart powerfully and proudly beats next to yours, letting you revel alongside her in this Queenly reverie.
  5622. >Right now, she feels like a true Alpha Mare in every sense of the phrase.
  5623. >She's the absolute leader of her herd;
  5624. >The crown heiress to the throne;
  5625. >The sweet subjugator of her stallion;
  5626. >The proud steed of her human;
  5627. >And eternally bonded to her beloved Soulmate for the rest of natural time.
  5628. >This pink pampered princess has effectively won at life.
  5629. >To think, all she had to do to achieve this was waltz into an alien's business and insult everything he stood for.
  5630. >Who says being a prissy bitch doesn't pay?
  5631. >And with her newfound font of limitless magical might, nopony can stop this mare now.
  5632. >Not her mom. Not her dad. Not her auntie. Not even the princesses of old.
  5633. >Her reign shall be everlasting, and her reign shall be absolute.
  5634. >First, she'll usurp the throne of this mismanaged Crystal Empire, and assume direct control of her destined birthright.
  5635. >Second, she'll thoroughly cleanse out the filth that corrupts this fair city, and unite its proud crystal populace as one.
  5636. >Then, she'll set her sights beyond these frozen borders, and begin her great work on bringing the rest of Equestria under one resplendent banner.
  5637. >Everypony shall know the comforting glow of the Crystal Heart, and everypony shall bow before the Queen who commands it.
  5638. >They will all learn to love and fear the name: Flurry Heart, Queen of Love.
  5639. >But a Queen of such calibre is ill-suited to rule alone.
  5640. >She needs her other half—her endless well of power and passion.
  5641. >Thus, she shall accomplish all of this with her darling King by her side.
  5642. >Her alien companion. Her magical muse. Her lifelong partner.
  5643. >You.
  5644. >…
  5645. >…Ugh.
  5646. >Her heady pheromones are really messing with your head.
  5647. >It's hard to keep your thoughts straight.
  5648. >Or figure out which ones are yours.
  5649.  
  5650. >"Haah~"
  5651. >Flurry breathes out a happy sigh, deeply contented with how connected you are to her.
  5652. >One of her forehooves remains laxly draped over your left shoulder, while the other tenderly caresses the back of your head.
  5653. >Part of her ethereal mane tickles your right cheek, making your skin feel both tingly and warm.
  5654. >Her fluffy wings remain wrapped around your midsection, encasing you within a feathery burrito of sorts.
  5655. >Her strong, muscly horse gut rises and falls with every gentle breath she takes, moving you up and down along with her respirations.
  5656. >Her hindlegs lightly loosen their lock around your waist; your hips feel freer than before—yet the possessively tight clamp of her mareish walls ever endeavour to keep you safely secured within her squashy snatch.
  5657. >Most poignant of all to your senses is the potently musky tuft upon her chest; your Queen firmly ensures you stay abreast of her natural aroma, making sure it mixes into your mind as well as your heart.
  5658. >Every time you are forced to breathe in her sweetly sweaty smell, it makes you shiver with illicit delight.
  5659. >You fear that her Queenly pheromones have taken firm root in your Kingly psyche, leaving you a hopeless addict to your Soulmate's scent.
  5660. >As if you weren't already enamoured with her enough.
  5661. >With your head buried nose-deep in her floofy chest, you can also keenly hear and feel the throbs of her horsey heart coming from within.
  5662. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5663. >Her heart occupies a separate physical space, yet it manages to beat at the exact same rate as yours.
  5664. >With every heartbeat you two share, she pumps her sanguine life force around your body—as do you pump yours around hers in turn.
  5665. >Your hearts support each other, both physically and emotionally; thus, you are bonded to your Queen's lifespan as her eternal Soulmate.
  5666. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5667. >It should be biologically impossible—extradimensionally unfeasible—for your hearts to function together like this.
  5668. >You're just a plain old human—while she's an immortal, magical, talking horse.
  5669. >Your bodies differ at every single level.
  5670. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5671. >And yet, somehow, the two of you *do* make it work.
  5672. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5673. >Perhaps that's the power of Love.
  5674. >"You…hah…you *temper* me, my King~" she coos to you between hearty breaths. "You've *tamed* this princess and…hah…made her your Queen~"
  5675. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5676. >"You've taught me how wonderful it feels to…hah…to utterly *submit* to the one you love~"
  5677. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5678. >"And so I offer this pleasure to you, my beloved Soulmate~"
  5679. >Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump. Ba-Dump.
  5680. >"Submit to me—and may our hearts beat together forevermore~"
  5681.  
  5682. >Letting that heartfelt metronome sink down into the very depths of your subjugated soul, you close your eyes and obediently sniff up her floofy pheromones.
  5683. >Your hands, extending upwards and resting upon the base of her broad horsey neck, scritch and stroke the sides of her fuzzy throat, massaging your mare with a masseur's touch.
  5684. >Flurry lets out a crooning giggle at your silent humility and soft hands, pleased beyond measure that you have wholly given yourself to her—just as she has gleefully given herself to you.
  5685. >In this mutual submission of your selves, there are now no more barriers that lie between you and your Queen.
  5686. >Using the side of her forehoof, Flurry continues to lovingly caress your crown, cooing and whickering and humming with delight.
  5687. >The vibratory hums of her harmonious voice box are soon joined by the glittery hums of something else—
  5688. >Her magic.
  5689. >You feel that ethereal warmth steadily envelop your body—particularly focusing its presence around your pelvic region.
  5690. "Nng…?" you groan into her chest fluff.
  5691. >"Not to worry, my King," she coos, giving your crown another stroke. "This is just a little something to keep us going~"
  5692. "Nn…"
  5693. >"Hm-hm~" she titters. "Relax, my King. Let your loving Queen take care of you. Trust in her~"
  5694. >Her sweet tones and sweeter tuft compel you to consent—to conform to the will of your Queen.
  5695. "Mm…"
  5696. >You happily breathe in her scented floof, accepting more of her mind-meltingly musky pheromones into your brain.
  5697. >She heartily sighs out loud, clearly vocalising her steamy satiation.
  5698. >"That's right, give in to your Queen~"
  5699. >Her euphonious voice washes over your pulsing psyche, flooding it with natural fulfilment.
  5700. >It makes you squirm and shiver. It makes you feel whole.
  5701. >You want more of it. You want to satisfy your Queen further.
  5702. >Kneading her muscly neck with both hands, you nuzzle your face into her fluffy chest like a mewling kitten, totally submitting your will to hers.
  5703. >She lets out a husky chuckle at your complete compliance, and she gives your crown a candid caress.
  5704. >"Good boy~" she coos.
  5705. "A-ah…"
  5706. >Your body shudders and your breath hitches as her sugary words shoot through your system like a bolt of euphoric lightning.
  5707. >Is…is this how she felt whenever you called her a good girl?
  5708. >You…
  5709. >…
  5710. >You like it.
  5711. >You like it a lot.
  5712. >You also like how it feels when her magic pulses throughout your body.
  5713. >Intangible yet familiar, distant yet personal, you presume this brand of spellcraft to be her light-blue variant, as it reminds you of the previous times she's cast it upon you.
  5714. >It gently grips your loins with a rekindling energy, flaring your pride to life within her cushy depths.
  5715. >"Mmph~"
  5716. >Your newfound vitality is very quickly detected by your Queen's royal canal; her rippling walls soon squelchily squeeze you with a renewed hunger, eager to coax out another round of Kingly virility.
  5717.  
  5718. >Now that you're throbbing and ready inside her fertile flower, you feel her revitalising magic exit your body, its mission accomplished.
  5719. >However, the sparkly hums of her horn do not stop.
  5720. >Could she be casting it elsewhere?
  5721. >Your Queen's next words seemingly answer your question:
  5722. >"Come over here, sow. It's time for our King's surprise~"
  5723. >*Oink*
  5724. >Sow…? Surprise…?
  5725. >Oh, right. They mentioned that before, didn't they?
  5726. >You only wonder what they could—
  5727. >You feel a loop of cold metal suddenly slide itself in between your butt cheeks.
  5728. "Ungh…?"
  5729. >It's Luster's horn ring.
  5730. >Which means that the rest of her face is there, too.
  5731. >*Oink oink*
  5732. "G-gkk…!"
  5733. >In oinking right next to your pucker, your sow's warmly moist breath washes over it, making your butthole clench and your eyes shoot open.
  5734. >She moves in closer, lining up her nostrils with your star and lightly poking your taint with her ring.
  5735. >*Sniff sniff*
  5736. "H-hah—!"
  5737. >Your sow then slavishly sniffs up your chocolate starfish, further ventilating your ass crack with her nasally respirations and causing you to sharply gasp out into your Queen's fluffy tuft.
  5738. >"Hehe~!" Your Queen giggles. "Are you liking our sow's surprise, my King~?"
  5739. >You shouldn't like it. You can't like it.
  5740. >…
  5741. >But you can't reject it—nor can you resist it.
  5742. >Your Queen's pheromones have left your impressionable mind a mushy mess, while your body bends to the will of her locking limbs and clamping cunt.
  5743. >Words do not come easy to you in this pink haze.
  5744. >All you can do is gutturally groan out in response:
  5745. "Nngh…"
  5746. >She amusedly snorts.
  5747. >"I think that means he likes it~!"
  5748. >*Oink oink*
  5749. >Now that her King has been securely sheathed up to her royal womb, your Queen's pridefully pumping heart no longer sees your sow as a threat to her love—but merely a means to enhance your shared pleasure.
  5750. >"Go on, sow…"
  5751. >Your Queen takes a brief pause—and you can almost hear her lips curl into a sensually smug smirk.
  5752. >"…tend to your King~"
  5753. >*Sniff sniff sniiffff~*
  5754. >Luster snorts up your star with reckless abandon, with each huffing chuff making you shiver and squeak in sheepish stimulation.
  5755. >With each whiffy sniff, she thoroughly imprints the smelly scent of your filthiest place deep into her piggish brain, memorising it as a shrine of divine worship.
  5756. >Your sow could most likely fully sate her swinish desires solely by sniffing the stank of your human taint—however, it appears your Queen has other ideas.
  5757. >You hear her issue a command from above:
  5758. >"Kiss it."
  5759. >*Oink*
  5760.  
  5761. >Closing in even further, your sow presses her soft lips right against your asshole, angling her nose ring upwards to avoid prodding you with it.
  5762. >*Mwah~* *Mwah~* *Mwah~*
  5763. >She peppers your pucker with a plethora of plushy pecks, guilelessly giving you mouth to "mouth."
  5764. >You grit your teeth in response to this toe-curlingly intrusive sensation.
  5765. >*Oink oink oink~*
  5766. >The air between your cheeks grows more and more swampily humid as Luster steadily ramps up the intensity of her starfish smooches, making them both longer and wetter.
  5767. >*Mmwah~ Mmmwah~ Mmmmwah~*
  5768. >Sniffing and oinking and snorting and kissing, she moistens up your already sweaty ass crack with a combination of sloppy kisses and sodden breaths.
  5769. >It's crystal clear that your sow has no intentions of stopping—and neither does your Queen, for that matter.
  5770. >Your Queen issues a more delectable command to her deferential herdmate:
  5771. >"Now lick it."
  5772. >*Oink*
  5773. >Out comes the tongue.
  5774. >Luster slowly drags her slimily slick muscle all around the rim of your butthole, lavishly cleaning it.
  5775. "N-nngh…!"
  5776. >Her explorative lapper causes your whole body to shudder and your squirming fingers to needily grope at your Queen's broad neck.
  5777. >She finds your convulsive ministrations most agreeable, letting out a light coo in response:
  5778. >"Ooh…mm~" She shivers with delight. "Keep doing that, my King~"
  5779. >Your sow, on the other hand, swirls her tongue around your knot and prods at your pucker, freely splashing her sticky saliva against your sweltering star.
  5780. >She leaves no part of your ass unlicked, swishing her drooling organ over every rubbery wrinkle, laving and loving your backdoor with not a single drop of hesitation on her part.
  5781. >Once she's done swinishly savouring your slickened sphincter, she slowly runs her lathery lithe organ down your taint, leaving a thick trail of warm swinely spit wherever she goes.
  5782. >Moving all the way down to your hanging nutsack, she gives it a few lightly playful jostles, her nose ring now riding against your gooch.
  5783. >Then, she gently cups both of your balls within her broad tongue, squeezily washing them from below.
  5784. "Nn…"
  5785. >While she's doing that, she piggishly snorts up your lapped taint, humidifying you further.
  5786. "G-gah…"
  5787. >This sinful sensation is one that wholly wracks your body, causing you to convulsively twitch outside and ferociously throb inside.
  5788. >Your Queen lets out a hearty huff, clamping down on you with a similar ferocity.
  5789. >"There, there, my King…" your Queen coos to you. "Let it all out…"
  5790. "M-mm…"
  5791. >Her words are like blessed honey to your ears, soothing and stimulating you at the same exact time.
  5792. >Your bodies may be synchronised, but your brain has been entirely subjugated by her royal will.
  5793. >Her potent pheromones have completely sedated your mind, transforming you into an amenable King—one who can only think of serving your Queen like the good little boy you are.
  5794.  
  5795. >Down below, her powerful horsepussy milks your buried manhood with an authoritative grip, hotly churning and sloppily squeezing.
  5796. >Her greedy breedy womb demands even more of your alien virility, fully intent on siring as many heirs for her new Empire as immortally possible.
  5797. >Her body, her heart, her scent, they all command you to submit to your Queen, to accept your place as her dutiful human husband, her devoted King—and doting father to her innumerable brood.
  5798. >Support your loyal Queen with your love. Ensure she stays utterly gravid with your husbandly affection at all times. Help her dominate this fertile land with your combined progeny.
  5799. >Submit, and breed your Queen.
  5800. "Nng…"
  5801. >"Haah~"
  5802. >Your bodies tremble together; hearts beating as one—and King submitting to his Queen.
  5803. >Your hitching balls, slimily cupped inside of your sow's hot red carpet, roil with virile life.
  5804. >Letting out a deep, snorting whinny, your Queen's body tightens around yours—
  5805. >And you cum inside of her snatch once more.
  5806. >Naturally, she cums too, firmly squashing over you with her fervid maregasm.
  5807. >This orgasm feels just as potent as the last one—perhaps even more so, thanks to her revitalising magic.
  5808. >Spindly fingers scraping at her strong, sturdy neck, you shakily gasp into your Queen's headily addictive floof as you splatter the back of her womb with your copious swimmers.
  5809. >With each pulsing shot, you obediently offer up your human lineage to your pony Queen.
  5810. >With each squelching pump, she greedily gulps down your humanity, ordering her adaptive ovaries to memorise your distinctive genome and bear your children in her image.
  5811. >With each shared shudder, the two of you forever bind your bloodlines together in this matrimonial act.
  5812. >Your scraping scritches turn into kneading gropes, and your gasping moans turn into servile mewls as you calm your endorphin-fuelled mind with the soothing scent of your Queen's powerful pheromones.
  5813. >In this moment, you simply become her obedient breeding stud, peaceably throbbing out the rest of your steamy white seed into her waiting womb.
  5814. >You pump your Queen full of love and life, securing the next generation of your shared lineage.
  5815. >Not only do you sniff her sweatily sweet tuft—but you also kiss it and lick it, too.
  5816. >"Ooh…"
  5817. >She coos in approval, rewarding your wet mouthwork with more tender hoofstrokes to your crown.
  5818. >"Mm…good boy~"
  5819.  
  5820. >Your Queen's earnest appreciation inspires you to take an indulgently deep whiff of her addictive pheromones, blasting out the last of your loads as you do.
  5821. >"Phew…"
  5822. >Your tank is once again emptied, yet she refuses to release even an inch of your breeding rod, keeping you firmly wedged inside of her.
  5823. >Your Queen tenderly caresses your head, softly ripples her feathers across your back, and triumphantly exhales through her nostrils as she enjoys her post-coital claim on you.
  5824. >Riding the gentle rise and fall of her breathing belly, you wholly embrace the submissive serenity that comes after serving your royal mistress's prolific needs.
  5825. >Face planted in her tuft, body wrapped up in her wings, and dribbling member still buried up to her clamping core, your Kingly yet servile self is right where you belong—which is wherever your Queen desires.
  5826. >This is good. It's good.
  5827. >Letting out a satiated sigh, your Queen smacks her horsey chops for a bit before speaking up:
  5828. >"Sow, clean us off."
  5829. >*Oink*
  5830. >The slimy muscle which had been basking in your balls moves even lower, soon gently lapping at the goopy area where King and Queen meet.
  5831. >Working her tongue around your Queen's darkened petals, Luster dutifully drinks up her herdmate's squash soup, already knowing that this alicorn wouldn't have let a single drop of your precious seed exit her body.
  5832. >*Slrrp…slrrp…slrrp…*
  5833. >"Mmph…" your Queen hummingly moans. "She's pretty good at this…"
  5834. >Thoughtfully rubbing your head, she continues:
  5835. >"What do you think, my King? Having her wash our bodies like this is a *much* better use of your sow, wouldn't you agree? Especially after what she did to you way back then…"
  5836. "Mngrhff…" you groanishly huff against her musky floof.
  5837. >It's not like you could respond any other way.
  5838. >"Hehehe~" she giggles. "I knew you'd agree~"
  5839. >You hear her horn hum with life, and you feel her magic inject you with additional vigour.
  5840. >"Let's keep going. I need more."
  5841. "Mm…"
  5842. >Your half-chub springs to life within your Queen's royal garden, ready to fertilise her fields once more.
  5843. >Upon sensing your sceptre stand at stiff attention, she lets out a contented sigh, her muscular walls hungrily churning you up for a third helping of human virility.
  5844. >She relishes this filling feeling for a moment longer, before addressing her herdmate with a similarly stiff tone:
  5845. >"Sow," she barks. "that's enough cleaning from you."
  5846. >*Oink*
  5847. >Luster takes her tongue away from your royally interlocked genitals.
  5848. >"It's time for you to show your King just how much you love him."
  5849. >Breathing out a mareish sigh, your Queen takes a few seconds to drink in the high of her own dominative presence, letting out a throaty chuckle, before giving your sow a most venerable command:
  5850. >"*Worship* him~"
  5851.  
  5852. >Luster doesn't respond immediately.
  5853. >But when she does, it's about what you'd expect:
  5854. >*Oink*
  5855. >"Hm-hm~" your Queen titters in approval.
  5856. >Your fogged-up brain still hasn't fully caught on to the implications, so you can only wonder what your herd has in store for you.
  5857. >You feel your sow seal her soft lips around your rubbery ring, further lathering up your Kingly star in both piggish prods and swinely smooches.
  5858. "Nn…"
  5859. >What makes "worshipping" so different from licking, you wonder?
  5860. >The answer slowly comes to you as she steadily increases the force with which she prods your pucker.
  5861. >Is she going to—
  5862. "AH!"
  5863. >You squeak out a very unmanly yelp as Luster suddenly forces her tongue right through your tight sphincter, rapaciously plundering your anal virginity in the wettest way possible.
  5864. >Thankfully, yet no-less shamefully, her earlier efforts in thoroughly lubricating your pucker beforehand have made her sloppy spoliation as painless as can be.
  5865. >Wriggling and writhing, she rolls her fat horsey tongue all around your rectum, leaving it utterly drenched in her slimy spit.
  5866. >Ever the servile sow, she makes sure that her senses are wholly inundated in your buttscent as she aggressively sniffs up your crack, continuously blasting your penetrated pucker with heated mare snorts.
  5867. >Your teeth grit, your thighs clench, and your toes curl as Luster absolutely goes to town on your ass.
  5868. >Holding on to your Queen's body for dear life, it takes everything you've got to stay sane as your booty is sloppily plundered.
  5869. >Luster's treasure-hunting tongue succeeds in looting out several grunts from you—grunts that are quickly picked up by her piggish brain.
  5870. >Much like how your Queen's melodious voice is music to your ears, your sounds of strained pleasure stimulate your sow's mind in just the right way.
  5871. >*Oink oink oink*
  5872. >She happily oinks directly into your broadly broached butthole, violating you audibly as well as physically.
  5873. >Solely following the tune of her swinish instincts, she swishes and swirls her tongue in tune with your gasping grunts, eager to draw out the most depraved decibels from you.
  5874. >Soon enough, her fat tongue locates a spot more sensitive than any other:
  5875. >Your prostate.
  5876. >She licks at it.
  5877. >Hot shivers jolt through your testes.
  5878. >You squeal in shock.
  5879. >Your Queen huskily chuckles.
  5880. >"Oh, I think he likes that one~"
  5881. >*Oink!*
  5882. >Having teased out the optimal reaction from her Master, Luster swiftly gets to work on tongue punching your p-spot.
  5883. >It is electrifying.
  5884. >Teeth chattering. Body trembling. Sight blinding. Penis *engorging.*
  5885. >You see stars, yet she doesn't let up for a moment.
  5886.  
  5887. >Senses overstimulated, you hear wet slurps, muffled oinks, girlish giggles, and your own throaty cries.
  5888. >She sears you with sinful salacity, burning up your inhibitions, lighting up your loins, and firing up your balls.
  5889. >Your rectum is razed in the boggy bonfire of bawdy desire, with your lapped prostate serving as the sinful kindling of your soul.
  5890. >You are set aflame. You are held under. You are brought back. You rise to the peak.
  5891. >You rise and rise and rise.
  5892. >You cum.
  5893. >"Ooh~!"
  5894. >From your balls to your glans, every screaming part of your reproductive system bands together to release a steaming, streaming torrent of goopy delight straight from your tip.
  5895. >You erupt without restraint, hips quite literally moving on their own as you rocket out load after load of molten mangunk into whatever warm squashy socket you find yourself plugged into.
  5896. >Gasping through gritted teeth and moaning through your mouth, both your balls and voice box are thoroughly milked of their contents via the tireless assault on your fun button.
  5897. >Even once your balls are fully spent, your assailant doesn't let up, oinking and lapping and oinking and lapping and oinking and…
  5898. >"Aaaah…ahahahahah~!" you hear ecstatic laughter coming from above. "Let's go again~!"
  5899. >*Oink oink oink!*
  5900. >Magic coats your body.
  5901. >It restores your vigour, yet refuses to grant your fractured mind even a single moment's reprieve.
  5902. >Thus, she goes again.
  5903. >That slathering tongue targets your most vulnerable spot, forcing your mouth to frantically froth at the incessant stimulation inflicted upon you.
  5904. >She comes at you like a sordid tsunami, flooding your psyche with waves upon waves of pulsing pleasure.
  5905. >Thus, you cum again.
  5906. >"Mmph~!"
  5907. >Body flowing like water yet mind running like molasses, your instincts instruct you to frantically hump that fleshily winking hole as you furiously hose down its slippery insides with torrents of voluminous goop.
  5908. >You utterly drain your tank inside of this slushy canal, mixing your fluids with her own and transforming it into a stinking swamp of seminal secretions.
  5909. >"Again~!"
  5910. >*Oink oink oink!*
  5911. >Magic brings you back.
  5912. >Thus she goes again.
  5913. >That powerfully lithe muscle pounds your already punished prostate and sends your whole body quaking with debauched bliss; toes curling, hips thrusting, hands clawing—throat screaming.
  5914. >Taking a deeply primal whiff of the potently pheromonial fluff in front of your face, your brain is rocked by the bestial desire to breed breed BREED.
  5915. >Thus you cum again.
  5916. >"Ahn~!"
  5917. >Jackhammering your throbbing fucktool with reckless abandon, you relentlessly mate with the fecund fissure right in front of you, blasting abundantly thick ropes of virile human spunk right into its most fertile core.
  5918. >You thoroughly seed this proliferous earth, emptying your weighty nuts down to the very last drop and leaving this fruitful garden wholly impregnated with your future progeny.
  5919. >"Agaaiin~!"
  5920. >*Oink oink oink!*
  5921.  
  5922. >She goes again.
  5923. >That writhing organ playfully tickles your backdoor's erogenous zone, the interminable teasy torment driving you to further delirium.
  5924. >Like a timeless tornado of perpetual titillation, you can keenly feel your slickened passage being repeatedly buffeted by swirling laps and gliding grunts, the combined sensations quickly propelling you up to a quavering peak—just as they have done so too many times before.
  5925. >You cum again.
  5926. >"Ehehehe~!"
  5927. >Light as a breeze yet heavy with need, your body shudders and shivers as you ride out this feverish high in the midst of a stimulatory squall.
  5928. >You stormily blow your fat load into that fluttering vent, filling it up to the brim with a virulent swarm of swift swimmers, knowing that as soon as you've finished finishing, all it takes is another ethereal caress—
  5929. >"Agaaaiiin~!"
  5930. >*Oink oink oink!*
  5931. >Again.
  5932. >Cum.
  5933. >Again.
  5934. >Cum.
  5935. >Again.
  5936. >Cum.
  5937. >…
  5938. >Your enthralled mares have come to deeply love their Master from the very bottom of their hearts.
  5939. >Here, in this realm of heartfelt emotions, they share the sincere joy of their own servitude with you—by way of subjugating your mind and pillaging your body.
  5940. >Draining you with their desires and then mending you with their magic—they ruthlessly ravage you over and over and over and over.
  5941. >You are given no time to rest or even think, and with every spell of recuperation cast upon your spent self, your weathered spirit becomes more and more susceptible to theirs—permanently muddying the line between master and slave.
  5942. >They turn you into their doting servant, sworn to slake both their emotional and physical needs.
  5943. >They turn you into their personal fuckstick, born to breed their fertile wombs and sire innumerable offspring.
  5944. >They turn you into their bestial beloved, shorn from your humanity—living only to sate the base urges of your loyal steed and mated pig.
  5945. >Through the act of thoroughly despoiling your soul, they each impress an immutable mark of submission upon your heart, making you theirs just as much as they are yours.
  5946. >In this way, you all become slaves to each other, and the three of you sink down into the very pits of depravity, bound together by the shackles of mutual servility.
  5947. >Here, you and your herd toss away your grand ambitions, your individual obligations, even the need for conscious thought.
  5948. >You simply satisfy each other with your bodies and comfort one another with your hearts.
  5949. >Breeding each other brainless, you thrust yourselves into an endless cycle of self-perpetuating carnality, feeding off each other's bottomless well of love and lust to fuel this hedonistic engine.
  5950. >The three of you become closer than ever before, and the three of you become one, never to separate.
  5951. >Again.
  5952.  
  5953. >…
  5954. >"Slrrrp…"
  5955. >A brief pocket of lucidity finds its way to you amongst this blind bedlam.
  5956. >Your mind is ringing.
  5957. >Your throat is bone dry, parched to submission.
  5958. >Your body is sore all over, and you can feel warm weights pressing themselves upon your thighs.
  5959. >"Slp…slp…slp…"
  5960. >And you can sense…something working its way around your genitals.
  5961. >It's soft in some places, but wet in others.
  5962. >Feeling a luxuriously comfy mattress at your back and a pliably plushy pillow against your head, you surmise that you're still in Flurry's bed.
  5963. >The air you breathe in is scented with excessive passion and expensive perfume, but your body refuses to heed most commands.
  5964. >All you can do is open your groggy eyes.
  5965. >As you do so, you are immediately greeted by an incomprehensibly blurry canvas of colours.
  5966. >You see mobile pink shapes paired with blaring red dots—while an endless black expanse surrounds you all.
  5967. >Eventually, your vision comes into focus, and you steadily greet the world in front of you.
  5968. >"Slrrp…mm~"
  5969. >The sensual sight before your eyes is familiar to you in some ways—yet vastly different in others.
  5970. >Squinting your gaze, you see your herdmates congregating around your groin; they wordlessly occupy themselves with your shaft and balls, salacity not quite yet spent.
  5971. >On your left side, Luster Dawn—your nose-ringed pig of a mare and servile sow—lies on her belly and rests her head upon your left thigh.
  5972. >With a closed mouth and a messily clumped mane, she directs her breathy attention down to your balls, silently sniffing at your sack and wholly indulging herself with your scent.
  5973. >On your right side, Flurry Heart—your whole-sized horse of a Queen and eternal Soulmate—lies on her right flank and rests her head upon your right thigh.
  5974. >With an open mouth and an ethereally flowing mane, she lets her slithering tongue hang freely from her lips, utilising its pointed tips to gently cup your scrotum and slimily massage your nuts from below.
  5975. >The coats of your herdmates are characteristically pink—warm and familiar.
  5976. >But their eyes…
  5977. >Their eyes are the colour of freshly spilled blood, while their pupils are as black as the stygian abyss that surrounds you all.
  5978. >This room, once known to be Flurry Heart's bedchamber, has been nearly consumed by a pitch black void, leaving only the bicolour bed and its inhabitants behind.
  5979. >Bereft of natural light, those unnaturally glowing crimson eyes of theirs serve as ominous beacons within this dreary darkness.
  5980. >Those very same eyes have been trained on your face this entire time.
  5981. >With liddedly expressionless eyes, your herdmates peer straight into your soul as they idly lick and sniff your scrotum.
  5982. >It's a surreal sight.
  5983.  
  5984. >"Slrrp…slp…slp…"
  5985. >However, between your red-eyed mares and pitch-black surroundings, there exists a third phenomenon that has managed to capture both your attention and your loins.
  5986. >There's a third pony on this bed with you: a filly—a pegasus filly.
  5987. >She's currently sat in between your legs.
  5988. >And she's busy sucking your dick.
  5989. >Her head bobs up and down yours, while her tiny forehooves rub around your turgid length by the base.
  5990. >"Slp…slrp…mmf~"
  5991. >Salmon-pink coat.
  5992. >Baby-blue mane.
  5993. >Soft scarlet eyes that also glow in this bottomless darkness.
  5994. >You open your mouth to utter her name.
  5995. >But no words come out—only a breathless gasp.
  5996. >She stops.
  5997. >Her gaze moves up from your groin and over to your face.
  5998. >With a puckishly unperturbed blink, she pops her soft filly lips up off of your cock and flashes you a confident smirk.
  5999. >"Golly! Nonny! You're finally awake~"
  6000. >Her tone is sugary yet sultry.
  6001. >Her body continuously emanates a wispy red vapour from its pores, just like when you met her back in that hedge maze—and just like when she stormed into your bedroom to snatch away your sow.
  6002. >Her mane looks like someone ran a leaf blower through it; none of her signature ringlets have survived, there are a few red flower petals sticking out of it, and her signature cream-coloured bow has been completely displaced.
  6003. >But despite these differences, the filly before you is still undeniably her:
  6004. >Cozy Glow.
  6005. >You attempt to speak.
  6006. >But once again, no words come out.
  6007. >"What's the matter, filly got your tongue?"
  6008. >She giggles.
  6009. >"That's fine with me. I like you better that way~"
  6010. >She gives her head a slight tilt.
  6011. >"Betcha wondering why I'm here, huh?"
  6012. >No matter how hard you try, you cannot formulate a response.
  6013. >It's like your voice box has totally given up.
  6014. >Cozy, clearly picking up on this, cheerily answers her own question:
  6015. >"I just thought I deserved a reward for a job well done~"
  6016. >Lidding her eyes at your dick, she lets out a dreamily soulful sigh, causing her warmly moist filly breath to wash over your tip and make it twitch with shameful delight.
  6017. >Upon seeing this, Cozy's smirk widens.
  6018. >"Hm-hm~"
  6019. >She lifts her head to look at you again.
  6020. >"You know, the three of you can be a *real* hoofful sometimes. I sure had my work cut out for me when it came to stitching the three of you back together."
  6021. >Slumping her shoulders, her face falls into a disappointed frown.
  6022. >"Really now, Nonny…"
  6023. >Lifting a forehoof, she accusingly jabs it in your direction.
  6024. >"There's always such a thing as 'too' close, you know? You really ought to be more careful next time."
  6025. >You dumbly blink in response.
  6026. >You're being chided by a cock-sucking phantom filly.
  6027. >Even if you could speak, you wouldn't have the words.
  6028.  
  6029. >"Aaanyway~" she continues, "now that I've taken care of that. I'm going to be treating myself tonight…"
  6030. >Her eyes flit down to your pulsing dick, and her sultry smirk renews itself.
  6031. >"…with this *Kingly* sceptre, fit for a *Queen~*"
  6032. >Airily tittering to herself, she levels her small snout right against your tip and sniffs at it, flexing her little filly nostrils in and out.
  6033. >*Sniff sniff sniff*
  6034. >"Mm~"
  6035. >*Sniff sniff sniff*
  6036. >"Mm-hm-hm~"
  6037. >*Sniff sniff*
  6038. >"Hah~"
  6039. >Briefly tilting her head downwards, she leans and plants a soft smooch on your frenulum.
  6040. >*Mwah~*
  6041. >The sinful sensation of a filly's soft lips upon your manhood sends an illicit jolt running through it—causing you to throb out a bead of pre from your glans.
  6042. >Slowly and meticulously, she sticks out her tongue and swirls it around it your leaky tip, completely cleaning off your Cowper's fluid.
  6043. >Drawing it all into her maw, she closes her eyes and steadily swishes your secretions about in her mouth, savouring your taste.
  6044. >"Hm…" she hums, right nostril briefly flaring.
  6045. >Opening her eyes, she flashes you a gratified grin.
  6046. >"Salty~"
  6047. >She leans in to plant another pre-cum–coaxing kiss another kiss upon your pecker—but suddenly stops herself.
  6048. >"Oh, by the way," she address you, "what do you think of our adoring audience?"
  6049. >Taking a blink, you glance towards your red-eyed herdmates.
  6050. >Their liddedly neutral expressions haven't changed in the slightest, while their gaze remains unerringly fixed on you.
  6051. >Even now, they unceasingly focus their efforts on your sweaty ballsack—Luster sniffs while Flurry licks.
  6052. >Their mouthy motions are both perfectly practised and perpetually placid; it's as if they're robotically following a singular command on repeat.
  6053. >It's unnerving.
  6054. >"Awww, aren't they just the most obedient mares you've ever seen?"
  6055. >Leaning to your left, Cozy blithely pats Luster on the forehead, earning no reaction from the entranced unicorn.
  6056. >"Oh, and they even do tricks, too! Watch~"
  6057. >Casting both mares an equally brief glance, Cozy addresses the two at once:
  6058. >"Go on, girls…"
  6059. >With a growing smirk on her face, she leans back and crosses her forelegs.
  6060. >"…kiss it out together—and make sure to give us all a real show~"
  6061.  
  6062. >Your herdmates both blink at the exact same time, and the barest glint of recognition enters their crimson eyes.
  6063. >Flurry quickly retracts her tongue back into her mouth, and both mares silently turn their gaze on one another.
  6064. >Slowly lifting their heads up from your thighs, Flurry and Luster arch their necks forward, leaning in towards each other.
  6065. >Soon enough, their lips meet.
  6066. >Coming in from a lower angle, Flurry pushes Luster's nose ring up with her snout, resting that metal loop upon her Queenly bridge.
  6067. >With a glowing gaze that's just as crimson as her Queen's, Luster peers deep into her herdmate's red soul.
  6068. >Flurry sultrily stares right back, faintly flaring out her nostrils.
  6069. >Their slimy tongues come out at the exact same time.
  6070. >"Mmf~"
  6071. >"Mm-hm~"
  6072. >Mixing slathery slurps with humming moans, they lewdly swirl their tongues together, keeping their mouths connected and their nostrils lined up.
  6073. >Their extended necks and smooching faces form a fleshy archway of forbidden love right above your pubic region, and it is through this amatory archway that these two huffy mares messily make out with one another, swapping frothy spit and sharing sniffly breath.
  6074. >Due to the immense size difference between your two herdmates, Luster has to sit herself up into this kiss, both ears twitching excitably—while Flurry merely lays on her flank, left ear laxly flicking.
  6075. >Being both the bigger mare and the Alpha Mare, Flurry easily dominates this indulgently sloppy osculation between overly affectionate herdmates, thrusting her lathered organ straight into Luster's mouth and exploring it at her royal leisure.
  6076. >"Mmph~"
  6077. >"Mm…hff~"
  6078. >Understanding and accepting her inferiority, Luster wholly submits to her Queen; she leans into Flurry's pliably plush lips, offering zero resistance when the alicorn's slathery taste buds hungrily wrestle down her own.
  6079. >Embracing their new roles and orders both with obedient grace, Flurry and Luster find themselves naturally slotting into their intimately sloppy affair as royal mistress and porcine slave, tongues twining together like long lost lovers.
  6080. >And so these two mares spend a good long while losing themselves in this tongue-twirling, lip-sucking, breath-snorting kiss, blissfully oblivious to the world around them—blissfully oblivious to you.
  6081. >"Hff…mmf~"
  6082. >"Mmf…hff~"
  6083.  
  6084. >But eventually, and after thoroughly savouring her sow's swinishly subservient taste, Flurry presses her horsey advantage even further—by way of suddenly and brutishly ramming the whole length of her lithe muscle down Luster's tight throat.
  6085. >"Nng…!"
  6086. >"Mmmff~"
  6087. >Luster's ears flatten back and eyes roll over as Flurry's thick tongue visibly bulges out her neck from top to bottom.
  6088. >Gutturally groaning into Luster's plugged gullet, your Queen takes a deep nasally breath, drawing out her moment of mareish dominance.
  6089. >Then, she aggressively snorts into your sow's ringed nostrils, making her body needily shiver and her eyes weakly flutter.
  6090. >"Gkk…!"
  6091. >"Hmph~"
  6092. >Flurry lets her slippery muscle linger inside of Luster's fully filled pharynx, keeping it stretched to its very limits and your sow barely breathing.
  6093. >As less and less oxygen is supplied to her system, Luster starts to gag on Flurry's intrusively slimy organ.
  6094. >"Gkk-kk—!"
  6095. >Red eyes tearing up, Luster's whole body convulses in fierce pain and primal fear—yet she cannot will herself to break free, locked into this kiss as she is.
  6096. >You sow's sustained suffering doesn't seem to bother your Queen in the slightest; with an impassive expression upon her face, Flurry doesn't move a single muscle, continuing to choke Luster out with her own tongue at Cozy's behest.
  6097. >"Ukk…kkuh…"
  6098. >The light steadily leaves Luster's flickering eyes.
  6099. >You rapidly blink in worry.
  6100. >But blinking is all you can do.
  6101. >Damn it. You feel so powerless.
  6102. >If only you had your voice, you could—
  6103. >"Aaaaand stop~!" Cozy suddenly speaks up, loudly clasping her forehooves together.
  6104. >After passing a gaily glance between both of your herdmates, Cozy laxly lifts her right forehoof and dismissively twirls it about in the air.
  6105. >"I think we've seen enough, girls. Break it up."
  6106. >Silently acquiescing, Flurry gradually and deliberately trails her throbbing organ out of Luster's clenching throat.
  6107. >"Hukk…hff…!"
  6108. >"Mmph~"
  6109. >You watch as your sow's bulged-out oesophagus steadily contracts and closes in on itself from the base upwards as Flurry slowly slides her slimily slithering muscle out of it.
  6110. >Inch by breathless inch, second by gasping second, Flurry eventually extricates her tongue from Luster's maw completely, breaking this suffocatingly intimate kiss with a luridly sloppy *POP.*
  6111. >This salivary separation causes a heavy dollop of shared maredrool to drop onto your pubic region, deeply marking it with the heady scent of an overly intense mare-on-mare spit-swapping session.
  6112. >Using her forehooves, Cozy cheerily applauds both mares.
  6113. >"Look at that~! So well behaved~!"
  6114.  
  6115. >Weakly lifting your gaze, you look up at your herdmates.
  6116. >Here, in this uncertain darkness, you struggle to identify them as your own.
  6117. >Now that their forbidden kiss has been fully broken, all staged affection has left their faces, and they both gaze down at you with phlegmatic indifference.
  6118. >By your left side, Luster sits on her haunches, fat gut rapidly expanding and contracting as she pantingly and coughingly recuperates from her raunchy kiss.
  6119. >Gaping mouth utterly clogged with Queenly saliva and swinish spit, her expressionless gaze tells no tales, not even of the royal asphyxiation that she almost succumbed to.
  6120. >By your right side, Flurry continues to lie on the right side of her horsey barrel, breathing at a relaxed rate and looking wholly unperturbed.
  6121. >Mouth half-open, she lets the slimy length of her slithery tongue loosely hang out past her plush lips.
  6122. >That limply dangling, lightly drooling muscle descends all the way down to the halfway point of her long horsey neck—exactly where her green collar resides.
  6123. >Your tired mind must be playing tricks on you, but her tongue appears to end in a forked tip, making her seem even more snakelike than before.
  6124. >Just like with Luster, Flurry's eyes betray no emotion; no hate, no love, no pride—just a cold, crimson-hued callousness.
  6125. >It reminds you of when she first spied you back at your parlour.
  6126. >At this point, you wonder if she's the same mare you remember.
  6127. >You can't even feel her heartbeat; did you lose that, too?
  6128. >She offers no answer to your silent question, merely blinking at you with an unchanging expression.
  6129. >But then, she turns up her snout, looking down at you.
  6130. >In her doing so, you can see the metal buckle of her green collar dimly glimmer in this dreary darkness, having recently been shined with spit.
  6131. >Squinting your eyes, you can only barely make out its message—seeing that it's the same one as before.
  6132. >Flurry suddenly flicks her tongue in your direction, flinging a glob of Queenly saliva onto your neck.
  6133. >With a loud and sensual *SLURP,* she slowly draws that dripping muscle back into her mouth, keeping her gaze trained on you the entire time.
  6134. >Once her tongue has been totally recalled, she lowers her head, leaves her mouth hanging open, and leisurely licks off her sharp canines in front of you.
  6135.  
  6136. >"Golly," Cozy speaks up, beaming at you. "we've really trained them well, haven't we, partner~?"
  6137. >Moving her forehooves back to your manhood, she affectionately caresses your length with both frogs, slowly rubbing them up and down.
  6138. >"Good job, Nonny!" She gives your glans two light pats with her hoof. "Good boy~!"
  6139. >You wince in shameful stimulation, tip throbbing out more pre.
  6140. >The term "good boy" doesn't quite have the same effect as when Flurry had said it, but Cozy's teasing strokes do more than enough work in getting you going.
  6141. >"But, jeepers…"
  6142. >Cozy stops stroking you, and her wide grin falls into an impish half-smile.
  6143. >"…what a load of drama back there, am I right?"
  6144. >She turns her head over to the side.
  6145. >"Who would've thought that Flurry-wurry over here—" She playfully gestures towards your Queen. "—had such a deep inferiority complex when it came to her bestie-westie?"
  6146. >Widening her eyes and facing you, she lifts both forehooves and points them in towards her chest.
  6147. >"Golly, well *I* certainly didn't!"
  6148. >She innocently flutters her eyelids at you, doing so for perhaps a bit too long.
  6149. >"But," she continues, lowering both forehooves down to your pubic region, "that's enough of that. I think we've teased each other long enough."
  6150. >She wraps her foalish forelimbs around the base of your manly meat while squishing her left cheek against your leaky tip.
  6151. >"So, sit back, partner. Enjoy yourself…"
  6152. >Upon lidding her eyes, her smirk returns.
  6153. >"…because this is *my* show—and you're *my* Nonny~"
  6154. >She plants another peck on your pecker with a soft *mwah~*
  6155. >"Don't you ever forget that~"
  6156. >Parting her lips and sticking out her tiny tongue, she slowly takes you into her pubescent mouth; once she has about a third of your length submerged inside her moist maw, she stops herself.
  6157. >She then fully closes her eyes, veiling the scarlet glow that illuminates this saucy sight.
  6158. >"Om…mmm~"
  6159. >Indulgently humming to herself, she swirls her salivary tongue across your twitching tip, both cleaning you off and coaxing out more of this filly's favourite salty treat.
  6160.  
  6161. >Further down your length, she delicately runs the plush frogs of her dainty forehooves up and down the section of your throbbing rod that's still exposed, stimulating you even further.
  6162. >"Mmf…mmf~"
  6163. >She then lightly bobs her head up and down your meat, adding some sensually supple friction to this puerile blowjob.
  6164. >The unblinking crimson beacons of your herdmates are all that shine a light upon this dark path.
  6165. >With each side of her body lit up by deep red eyes, this lewd little filly evokes the striking imagery of a pink devil—a youthful succubus sent to claim your sinful soul.
  6166. >Your body refuses to heed your commands, and your mouth cannot bring itself to even moan.
  6167. >All you can do is watch as this small seductress uses your turgid sceptre as her personal salt lick.
  6168. >"Mlm…mlm…mm~"
  6169. >All you can do is listen to her wet slurps, breathy moans, and loud gulps as she leisurely satisfies her salty cravings with your throbbing member.
  6170. >All you can do is shrink under the piercing red eyes of your enthralled herdmates as they silently judge you for succumbing to a filly's sopping mouth and tender hoofstrokes.
  6171. >All you can do is feel utterly helpless as Cozy effortlessly assumes control of both your herd and yourself—as if it were simply her natural right to do so.
  6172. >All you can do is cum.
  6173. >"Mm…mmf~!
  6174. >Gritting your teeth and sharply inhaling through your nostrils, you furiously splatter this foal's palate with your white hot steaming seed; it splashes onto her tongue and rolls down her gullet.
  6175. >"Mmf-nnf…! Ulp…ulp…ulp…"
  6176. >She gulps it all down without a shred of hesitation, evincing her endlessly ravenous hunger for human nut.
  6177. >Silently huffing and clenching your glutes, you throbbingly drain your balls down her tight little throat, using what little leeway you have to lightly buck your hips upwards into her face.
  6178. >"Hff…ulp…ulp…mnf…ulp…"
  6179. >She doesn't detach from your tip even for a moment—nor does she stop her hoofy ministrations on your pulsing pole, synchronously running her soft frogs up and down your length as she diligently pumps out load after creamy load from you.
  6180. >"Ulp…ulp…mnf…ulp…mm~"
  6181.  
  6182. >Soon enough, you finish emptying the contents of your commandeered kegs inside of her hard-working mouth, fully filling up this filly's small stomach with human baby batter.
  6183. >Slowly popping her head up off your spent penis, she lets out a satiated sigh.
  6184. >"Aaah~"
  6185. >After licking her lips a few times, a dumbly wide grin adorns her face.
  6186. >"De~elicious."
  6187. >It's a grin she soon turns upon you.
  6188. >"How did you find it, partner~?"
  6189. >You open your mouth—
  6190. >And let out a shakily exhausted sigh, thoroughly drained in more ways than one.
  6191. >She giggles in response.
  6192. >"That good, huh~?"
  6193. >Casting an affectionate glance towards your softening member, she gives it a couple of calm strokes, causing it to waningly twitch.
  6194. >"Glad to know you've got a type…"
  6195. >Her scarlet eyes—suddenly sharpening—flit towards you.
  6196. >"…you degenerate foalphile~"
  6197. >Another shameful jitter runs through your body—one that's only amplified by the expressionlessly judging gazes of your herdmates.
  6198. >Their crimson eyes glimmer ominously in the encroaching darkness, glowing much dimmer than before.
  6199. >"Hm…"
  6200. >Ears perking up, Cozy looks around her darkened surroundings, noting the presence of nothing.
  6201. >"…looks like it's getting to be about that time."
  6202. >You note that the sightless black void has now made its way onto the bed, leaving only a small sphere of visibility for all four of you.
  6203. >Half of Flurry's horsey body is veiled in shadow; she doesn't seem to care.
  6204. >The stygian abyss tickles your toes; it feels somnolently cold.
  6205. >Your vision grows gloomier by the second.
  6206. >"Well," the pink shape in front of you speaks up, "I suppose that'll be all for tonight."
  6207. >It waves a limb.
  6208. >"Nighty night, Nonny. Sleep tight~"
  6209. >In your last moments, you can hear the pulpy sound of a blown kiss sent your way.
  6210. >And thus the darkness claims you.
  6211.  
  6212. *** 29 ***
  6213.  
  6214. >Your eyes slowly flutter open, and a beige bulwark up above soon greets your sleepy vision.
  6215. >The off-colour splotches that decorate this painted canvas are arranged in an all-too-familiar fashion.
  6216. >Yep, there's no doubt about it.
  6217. >You're staring at your bedroom's ceiling.
  6218. >You are Anonymous—and currently, you're lying in your own bed, body tucked under your greyish duvet.
  6219. >The back of your head is nestled into your slightly slimy pillow.
  6220. >And man—
  6221. >That was a very strange dream.
  6222. >Especially near the end.
  6223. >But hey…you're back, right?
  6224. >No more dreamy glimpses into what-ifs and what-could-have-beens?
  6225. >No more endless wandering through twisting castles?
  6226. >No more naughty pegasus fillies sucking your dick?
  6227. >Hopefully so.
  6228. >Tilting your head to the right, you check out the alarm clock on top of the nightstand.
  6229. >It's early morning—far before your scheduled beeping time.
  6230. >Over by the far wall, you can see a familiar motivational poster plastered on top of your blue wallpaper; as always, it depicts a roided-up pegasus stallion screaming "Yeah!"
  6231. >Inspirational.
  6232. >Although personally, you're feeling more like a "Yeah?" right now.
  6233. >As for the rest of your bedroom, it looks somewhat messy.
  6234. >But it's messy in the "lazy human needs to get his shit together" kind of way—not the "a crimson storm conjured up by a phantasmal pegasus absolutely ravaged the place" kind of way.
  6235. >You'll take it; you'll also take the opportunity to breathe in the morning bedroom air, too.
  6236. >And with each nasally breath you take, you find that this bedroom smells less like a human's den, and more like a barnyard stable—one that's deeply scented with the satiated stink of mareish musk.
  6237. >Which, considering the company you keep, is a fairly accurate descriptor of your current living conditions.
  6238. >"Phew…mm…"
  6239. >Naturally, you're not the only one resting in bed on this fine morn.
  6240. >Right now, you have two pink-coated mares comfily cuddled up to you under the duvet—one for each side of your body.
  6241. >You recognise these pink-coated mares well, of course—how could you not?
  6242. >On your right side, you have Flurry Heart: your Queen—possibly of a soul-bonded variety.
  6243. >Since your fantastical dream has ended, she has reverted back to her regular pony size: the lithe form of a young alicorn—who still happens to be a head taller than most ponies.
  6244. >Lying on her left side, her sleepily sniffling snout rests on top of your right pec, while her right wing is lazily draped over your abdomen, blanketing you with her feathery affection.
  6245. >Her long alicorn horn, lightly poking at your cheek, bears a small pink fluffy pompom attached to the tip—her signature safety conscious sleeping gear.
  6246.  
  6247. >"Phew…mm…"
  6248. >Currently, your Queen is sound asleep, gently snoring and quietly humming against your chest.
  6249. >Your right hand, resting upon her slender belly, slowly rises and falls with her snoozy respirations.
  6250. >Her relaxed rate of breathing isn't the only thing you feel from her, though.
  6251. >For you can also keenly sense something else coming from your Soulmate:
  6252. >Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump…
  6253. >It's a powerful horsey heartbeat, beating both in tune and up close with your very own.
  6254. >It's hers.
  6255. >Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump…
  6256. >It's a strange sensation; kind of like having two hearts instead of one.
  6257. >However, these two hearts beat to the exact same drum, bringing about potent pumps of warm familiarity throughout your system—and keeping you cardially connected to your Queen at all times.
  6258. >Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump…
  6259. >Your somnolent suspicions have been confirmed, and your dreamy doubts have been cast aside.
  6260. >That double life which you lead in loyal service to your pink princess;
  6261. >That crystal spire which held a stony manifestation of your horsey heiress's heart;
  6262. >And that forbidden ritual which she cast upon your heart and hers—eternally linking them together.
  6263. >It all really did happen—or rather, the ramifications still remain.
  6264. >Flurry Heart is no longer your royal slave.
  6265. >She is your Queenly Soulmate.
  6266. >And the Alpha Mare of your herd.
  6267. >Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump…
  6268. >After what happened with Cozy Glow back in that dream, you had found yourself wondering—or perhaps, worrying—that the link established between you and your Soulmate was severed or spurious.
  6269. >But there's no denying this instinctual solace that you feel in the heartfelt presence of your most-important mare.
  6270. >Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump…
  6271. >However, you're also slowly beginning to realise why this ritual of hers was considered forbidden in the first place.
  6272. >The two of you are intimately linked together in such a way that feels perpetually pervasive.
  6273. >This dual heartbeat between bonded Soulmates feels magnitudes mightier than a regular pump of the blood; they are pleasurably peaceful—yet potently permeating.
  6274. >But they also serve as a constant reminder of the connection you and Flurry share.
  6275. >She has immutably bound your lifespan to hers, and the two of you will share this muscular metronome forevermore.
  6276. >Man and mare, together forever.
  6277. >That being said, this isn't an unpleasant feeling by any means.
  6278. >It's actually quite comforting, knowing that your mare is always there for you—and knowing that you support each other on every single level.
  6279. >It's also…kind of tiring.
  6280. >Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump… Ba-Dump…
  6281. >As you noted earlier, your Soulmate is snout-deep in her own sleep—which means that her heart is at rest, too.
  6282. >Even now, her soporific heart peaceably pumps her Queenly contentment throughout your system.
  6283. >She's dreaming of something nice.
  6284. >She's dreaming of you.
  6285.  
  6286. >With her snoozing heart beating next to your waking one, you find yourself in a strange state of torpor.
  6287. >It's as if her horsey soul is trying to tempt you into sharing her sweet slumber.
  6288. >Indeed, the desire to catch a few more winks feels stronger than ever.
  6289. >But you do your best to resist that seductive pull of somnolent pleasure—if only to avoid the risk of seeing "her" inside your dreams again.
  6290. >So you decide to keep your mind occupied—
  6291. >By way of giving your Queen's slender belly a few loving rubs.
  6292. >A dozily wide smile soon forms upon her face.
  6293. >"Mmh…mhm~" she hums in drowsy approval.
  6294. >Nuzzling her warm body into your right side, she lets out a sleepily soft whicker—and then horsily blows a puff of warm mare air onto your bare skin.
  6295. >Now *that* certainly got the blood pumping—in more ways than one.
  6296. >But that's enough of your Queen for the time being; better let her catch the rest of her royal shuteye.
  6297. >There's another mare you want to check up on.
  6298. >Your other bedmate, who lies on your other side.
  6299. >Cerise-pink coat. Orange-and-yellow mane that's tied up into a ponytail at the back.
  6300. >She's Luster Dawn, your sow.
  6301. >Currently, she's cuddled up to your left side—although not to the degree that Flurry is on your right.
  6302. >Lying on her back, her mane-covered head is nestled against your outstretched left bicep.
  6303. >With your left arm looping around the back of her head and lying alongside her barrel, your hand limply rests on top of her chubby belly, which laxly rises and falls.
  6304. >Just like with your Queen, the end of that magical reverie has reverted your sow's appearance to her natural self.
  6305. >In Luster's case, that means all of her "modifications" have been removed:
  6306. >The navel piercing. The nose ring. The horn ring. The wooden cork on top of the horn—and presumably her chastity device, too.
  6307. >And—from what your hand is feeling—you think she might have lost a little bit of dream weight, too.
  6308. >Both Luster and Flurry wear black pleather chokers around their necks; these familiar and fashionable accessories serve to hide hickeys and flaunt fealty.
  6309. >Unlike Flurry, though, Luster isn't your Soulmate, so you are unable to hear the beats of her heart against yours.
  6310. >Also unlike Flurry—she's awake.
  6311. >With partially opened amber eyes and vacantly still black pupils, she silently stares up at the ceiling.
  6312. >Her forelegs are reservedly crossed over her chest, and it doesn't seem like she's looking at anything in particular.
  6313. "Hey, Luster," you whisper, giving her tummy a light rub. "You up?"
  6314. >She languidly blinks, lips briefly pursing, then unpursing.
  6315. >"…Yeah. I am."
  6316. >She's speaking legible words, at least, so that's a good sign.
  6317. >With her gaze still affixed to the ceiling, not sparing you a single glance, she continues:
  6318. >"Good morning, Master."
  6319. "Morning."
  6320.  
  6321. >You note a distinct lack of energy in her voice.
  6322. >It could be because she's still in the midst of waking up, much like how you are.
  6323. >But it could just as well be something else.
  6324. >And if that's the case—maybe you can coax it out of her.
  6325. "Phew…" you sigh up into the air. "That was some dream, huh?"
  6326. >"I guess."
  6327. "It got a bit intense near the end there, but hey—glad to be back in the waking world, am I right?"
  6328. >"Guess so."
  6329. "How long do you think we were in there, you figure?" you ask. "The whole night, maybe?"
  6330. >Her eyes momentarily drift over to the windows on the left side of the room, idly scanning the scant sunlight that shines in through the pane.
  6331. >Then, her eyes move back up to the ceiling.
  6332. >"Probably."
  6333. "Right…"
  6334. >Your lips purse into a pensive frown, complementing and contemplating her apathetic expression.
  6335. >She's definitely down about something.
  6336. >You can't read this mare's heart like you can with Flurry.
  6337. >But even then, you believe you may have an inkling as to the root of her despondency.
  6338. "You know," you begin, "I'm surprised I didn't wake up with your snout in my face."
  6339. >No answer.
  6340. "You loved doing that kind of thing back in the dream, didn't you?"
  6341. >"I guess."
  6342. "So what's stopping you from doing it now?"
  6343. >She takes a couple of seconds to respond, brows briefly furrowing.
  6344. >"Don't really feel like it."
  6345. "Oh."
  6346. >…
  6347. >What are you doing.
  6348. >You aren't in the realm of hearts any more. There was never any need to engage in this fruitless back and forth.
  6349. >She is your slave. You are her Master.
  6350. >You can simply command her to open up.
  6351. "Luster," you begin with a firmer tone, "tell me what's on your mind right now. That's an order."
  6352. >Once again, she takes a couple of seconds to respond; this time, she squints her eyes.
  6353. >"I…"
  6354. >She quickly winces her eyes shut and grits her teeth.
  6355. >"…ngh."
  6356. >The light groan that escapes her lips is one of defiance.
  6357. >She's no doubt trying to suppress your order out of her own personal pride.
  6358. >But it's futile. Your word as Master is absolute.
  6359. >"U…ugh…"
  6360. >You see her closed countenance steadily scrunch up more and more.
  6361. >The weight of her own stubborn resistance grows heavier with each passing second, causing her to uncomfortably squirm against your arm.
  6362. >If you were a crueller and less caring slavemaster, you would simply let the collar's obedient magics do their thing—and you would have your sow spill all of her secrets to you.
  6363. >But you're not that kind of Master.
  6364. >And Luster Dawn is a treasured member of your herd.
  6365. >Thus, you will treat her as such.
  6366.  
  6367. "Luster," you say, giving her tummy a few soothing rubs, "I can't help you unless I know what's bothering you."
  6368. >She lets out a quiet, uneasy groan.
  6369. >"Even…even if you knew, you wouldn't be able to help."
  6370. >You hear her emit the lightest sniffle.
  6371. >"A-actually," her voice cracks, "it's for the best that you j-just…don't know."
  6372. "I don't believe that's the case," you calmly state.
  6373. >Her face tightens even further, clearly not convinced.
  6374. >However, you are not so easily discouraged.
  6375. "I am your Master," you continue. "Even if I can't soothe your woes outright, it is still my duty to at least understand them."
  6376. >You give her paunch some more rubs; no gratuitous groping this time—just slow, conciliatory strokes.
  6377. "So please, Luster," you speak with an earnest tone, "tell me what's got you so downcast."
  6378. >She sniffles a bit louder this time, taking a few moments to respond.
  6379. >"I…I just…"
  6380. >Lifting up both forehooves, she suddenly covers both of her currently closed eyes whilst also letting out a loud groan.
  6381. >"Uuurgh…"
  6382. >You, for your part, continue to apply your palmy massage on her breathing belly.
  6383. "Take your time."
  6384. >For a brief moment, you wonder if the impelling magic of the collar even allows for your slaves to "take their time."
  6385. >In any case, you can see and feel Luster's tense posture slightly lighten.
  6386. >Lowering her forehooves, she lets out another sniffle and gloomily sighs into the air.
  6387. >"…I'm so pathetic. I'm such a failure of a mare."
  6388. >Her self-depreciating words strike you like lightning, and thus you swiftly shake your head in response.
  6389. "Luster, you're—"
  6390. >But you quickly stop yourself.
  6391. >Any hollow reassurances you mindlessly fire off right now will do little to solace your solemn sow.
  6392. >You need to first understand her woes—for it is only then that you can try and overcome them.
  6393.  
  6394. "…Why do you feel that way?"
  6395. >She sniffles for a second, before answering:
  6396. >"Back in Flurry's…" She takes a brief pursing pause. "…spell. I lost control of my emotions. I let my magic go haywire and I…I hurt you. I hurt my Master."
  6397. >She must be referring to that magical forcefield she suddenly surrounded herself with back when Cozy started taunting her; it sent you flying across the room—and you're fairly certain it made you melt into the floor afterwards.
  6398. >It was a pretty harrowing experience, all things considered.
  6399. >However, you know that Luster didn't cast that spell out of any malice towards you.
  6400. "Luster, that wasn't your fault. It was—"
  6401. >"It *was* my fault," she interrupts you. "And…and you were right. About every word."
  6402. >You arch an eyebrow.
  6403. "Right? About what?"
  6404. >She lets out another sigh, deflating into the bed.
  6405. >"I'm a coward. I'm craven. I'm a spineless sow who doesn't deserve you after everything I've done. You were right about all of it."
  6406. >Coward? Craven? You don't remember speaking to her that way.
  6407. >…
  6408. >And that's because you didn't.
  6409. >You *do* remember hearing those words—but it was Cozy who denigrated her as such.
  6410. >Is Luster under the impression that it was *you* who spat that harsh diatribe at her?
  6411. >If that's the case, then you ought to set the record straight.
  6412. "That…"
  6413. >Yet once again, you stop yourself.
  6414. >You *could* explain to your guilt-ridden, self-doubting sow that it wasn't *you* who had so-ruthlessly disparaged her—but rather, it came from a magical manifestation of her pegasus pal who came out of your alarm clock and promptly opened the gates to Hell itself just outside your window.
  6415. >…But thinking about it rationally—this roundabout explanation is more like to muddle her mind than mollify it.
  6416. >Whatever happened in Flurry's heart spell, Luster Dawn must have her own story to tell.
  6417. >And as her Master, you seek to understand it—to understand her.
  6418.  
  6419. "Luster, tell me—what exactly happened to you in that dream?"
  6420. >You see her features tighten up a little more, reticent to answer as she is.
  6421. "It's important for me to know," you continue, "so consider this another order from your Master."
  6422. >"Nnh…" she weakly groans through a scrunched snout.
  6423. >She then sighs, finally realising the continued folly of resisting her Master's authority.
  6424. >"…okay."
  6425. >Right now, you want nothing more than to wrap both of your arms around your sow—to tell her how much you love and cherish her.
  6426. >But you can't—for your right arm is currently comfily looped around your slumberingly snuggly Soulmate.
  6427. >No doubt removing your hand from Flurry's sleepily slender belly will greatly agitate her snoozy humours.
  6428. >Thus, you saddle yourself with the momentous trial of soothing your sow's woes in one-handed fashion.
  6429. "Start from the earliest point you remember," you address Luster.
  6430. >"Mhm…" she pensively hums.
  6431. >She partially opens her eyes and thoughtfully huffs into the air.
  6432. >"So," she begins, "it was a day after me, Flurry, and Cozy all came to visit your parlour."
  6433. "Mm-hmm."
  6434. >Right. It was only a dream, but it was an almost one-to-one recreation of your life during that tumultuous time.
  6435. >Cozy visited your parlour, hoofed you a mind-control collar, told you to collar Princess Flurry Heart, and you…
  6436. >"I remember you showing up at the library I worked at, and you…well…you basically begged me to come get a massage over at your place."
  6437. >…you emphatically rejected Cozy's initial suggestion, choosing to prioritise Luster instead.
  6438. >At Cozy's disgruntled direction, you rushed over to the local library to hurriedly schedule a next-day appointment with Luster Dawn.
  6439. >And yes, you really did beg; you recall Luster being quite amused about the matter.
  6440. >It seems that this version of you was much quicker on the uptake when it came to remembering the mare who helped you get settled into Equestria.
  6441. >In fact, you…you *really* wanted to make Luster Dawn your mare—despite the fact that she had forced your face into her unwashed ass crack the day prior.
  6442. >Perhaps a deep-seated appreciation for natural mare stink is the price to pay for having such an enhanced memory.
  6443.  
  6444. "And you accepted my offer, right?"
  6445. >"Yeah," Luster replies. "I came to your parlour. Came to…"
  6446. >She takes a moment to breathe in and out through her nostrils.
  6447. >"…make things official between us."
  6448. >You give a light nod.
  6449. "Right."
  6450. >Even then, she was wholly willing and ready to put you under the influence of her own mind-controlling magic.
  6451. >Had she succeeded, she would've no doubt made you hers and hers alone.
  6452. >But for whatever reason, the spell she cast on you failed to have the effect she desired, and your mind was left free as a bird—while she was left floundering.
  6453. >However, you didn't let her diffidence deter you from your own goals—not one bit.
  6454. >"After we spent some time together in the kitchen, you took me to the bedroom for a…"
  6455. >Her mouthline subtly oscillates, almost threatening to curl into a slight smile.
  6456. >"…happy ending."
  6457. "Mm."
  6458. >It was there that you sought to break both her mind and her body in.
  6459. >The odyssey you undertook to claim your sow was one rife with slimy smooches and swampy spelunks.
  6460. >There were even a few extraterrestrial oddities here and there—a result of Flurry's dreamy spell interacting with your adventurous psyche, if you had to guess.
  6461. >"That was when you put the mind-control collar around my neck," Luster continues, "and I…"
  6462. >Further nestling the back of her head against your bicep, she lets out a deep sigh.
  6463. >"…I let myself fall under its influence."
  6464.  
  6465. >Despite it ultimately being a losing battle for her constrained brain, Luster Dawn fiercely resisted the collar's commanding magic, choosing to both struggle and shout.
  6466. >However, you held no personal desire to draw out her prolonged mental anguish, wishing to instead ease your soon-to-be-slave into her new role in life.
  6467. >Thus, you took the time to reassure her that you'd always be there for her—no matter what happens.
  6468. >Your softly spoken words deeply resonated with her harried heart, and it was only then that she willingly gave herself over to you.
  6469. >In accepting your Masterly influence, she not only became your loyal sow—but she also turned you into her beloved Boar.
  6470. >"After that happened," she continues, "I started living with you, and we spent about a week together."
  6471. >Some more shuffling from her, and she idly rubs her left forearm with her right forehoof.
  6472. >"It went by in a flash, but…"
  6473. >She takes another deep breath, exhaling through her mouth.
  6474. >And she finally allows her lips to naturally curve up into the slightest smile.
  6475. >"…it was nice. Real nice. Just the two of us."
  6476. >You gently stroke her belly.
  6477. "Yeah, it was."
  6478. >The days you spent with your sow are incredibly foggy in your mind—more so than the day you collared her—but you remember them being pleasantly peaceful.
  6479. >It was a daily routine of domestic bliss between mated pigs.
  6480. >Thinking about it, the life you lived with your enslaved sow likely wouldn't have been that different from your fate as a "humie husband" had Luster succeeded in subjugating your mind.
  6481. >Perhaps that's a sign of how alike your hearts are—even if she couldn't make the cut in the end.
  6482.  
  6483. >"So," she continues, "one day, the two of us woke up early in the morning, and we did the usual—"
  6484. >You suddenly give her pudgy belly a *firm* squeeze.
  6485. >"—hff!" she sharply gasps out.
  6486. >You feel your fingers sink right into her warmly soft flab.
  6487. "Phew…" you blow out a self-satiated sigh.
  6488. >"H-hah…hah…" she shakily and steadily breathes out.
  6489. >You've held yourself back long enough.
  6490. >There's no denying it—you're still totally in love with that tummy of hers.
  6491. >Plus, this gives you the perfect chance to interrupt her:
  6492. "'Breath, belly, and breed'—right?" you say with a grin on your face.
  6493. >Luster's right ear impulsively flicks.
  6494. >Then, she slowly tilts her head your way, stealing a cautious glance—
  6495. >But she quickly looks away from you once she sees your entertained expression.
  6496. >She looks back up at the ceiling with a flat mouth and a faint blush upon her cheeks.
  6497. >"Y-yeah," she stutters out, "that's right. We did our three B's."
  6498. >You respond by way of groping her gut some more—freely fondling and nakedly kneading her bellychub.
  6499. >"O-oooh…" she lets out a guttural groan into the air—followed by a swinish snort.
  6500. >Stunned yet shamefully satisfied, she allows you to feel up her fat for a few seconds—she even oinks out a couple of quiet grunts, unable to completely curb her hoggish happiness.
  6501. >"U-um, a-anyway—"
  6502. >But unfortunately, she soon regains her marely composure, and resumes her story after hastily clearing her throat:
  6503. >"—once we got finished with our morning breeding, we held that position for a while longer."
  6504. >She takes a solemn blink.
  6505. >"And I remembered who I was."
  6506. >You silently nod in affirmation, humming thoughtfully
  6507. >So that was when she got her memories back.
  6508. >You had always thought she was acting strangely pushy back then.
  6509. >Now you know why; she aimed to surpass Flurry as your heart's true partner.
  6510.  
  6511. >"The longer we stayed connected, the more I could feel it—our hearts were about to link up for good."
  6512. >You remember her absolutely brimming with confidence at the time.
  6513. >She was so sure of herself—so bold in believing that she was going to become the number-one mare in your heart.
  6514. >"But…just as your heart was about to accept mine as Alpha Mare…"
  6515. >You glance down at Luster, seeing her gaze flit away from yours.
  6516. >"…you pulled away from me."
  6517. >You mutely furrow your brows.
  6518. "I did?"
  6519. >"Yeah…"
  6520. >From what you remember, it was Luster who detached from you so that she could confront Cozy.
  6521. >This is where your stories diverge, it would seem.
  6522. >"And that's when you started saying your…stuff."
  6523. >She lets out a light sniffle.
  6524. >"About the kind of pony I am. About how I've treated you. About how much you prefer Flurry over me."
  6525. >Her ears flatten.
  6526. >"It was all true. Every single thing you said—you were right about all of it."
  6527. >Her eyes steadily water.
  6528. >"But…but I couldn't bring myself to accept it. I didn't want to hear any more. And so I…I…"
  6529. >She clenches her features shut, forcing a sorrowful tear to roll down her cheek.
  6530. >"…I-I hurt you," she whimpers.
  6531. >You idly rub her belly, but you don't offer any verbal response, only letting out a breathy sigh up into the air.
  6532. >That settles that, then.
  6533. >She thinks that it was you who decried her.
  6534. >And it was those sharp words of "yours" that pushed her over the edge and brought about a splintering spell from your sow.
  6535. >Dream world or not, the ramifications of her own impulsive actions have come to leave a deep wound in her conscience.
  6536. >If you tell Luster that it was actually Cozy who said those things to her—would she even believe you?
  6537. >Would it even help?
  6538. >You're not sure.
  6539. >You need to think things over some more.
  6540.  
  6541. >In the meantime, you ask Luster to continue:
  6542. "What happened after that?"
  6543. >Her ears unflatten, yet remain fairly floppy.
  6544. >"I…everything turned dark."
  6545. >She partially opens her eyes into a shaky squint.
  6546. >"When I came to, I was lying on something soft."
  6547. >She rubs her left forehoof with her right.
  6548. >"I could feel that I was bound, gagged—um, other things…"
  6549. >No need to elaborate on that one.
  6550. >"…and I could hear you."
  6551. >Face falling into a full frown, she lets out a sober huff.
  6552. >"You and Flurry."
  6553. >Your own features tighten as you chew on your lip for a couple of seconds.
  6554. "What exactly did you hear from us?" you ask, tone tinged with concern.
  6555. >You see her brows very briefly furrow and unfurrow.
  6556. >She takes a few seconds to respond:
  6557. >"…Everything."
  6558. >You blink.
  6559. >Then, you breathe another sigh up into the air.
  6560. "Oh."
  6561. >You don't press her any further.
  6562. >After all, you've had some suspicions of your own after you saw her shackled form on top of that pink-and-blue, heart-shaped bed.
  6563. >Once your heartfelt reverie with your sow drew to a close, you were quickly thrust into a new life—that of a princess's personal manservant.
  6564. >During that whole time, Luster must have been bound on top of Flurry's royal bedspread—her fettered form obscured by the very same magics making up that mesmerising dream.
  6565. >Her body was inhibited in nearly every way, yet her ears were wholly free to listen to you and your princess acting lovey dovey with one another.
  6566. >Her mind had to absorb the knowledge that even if the roles were reversed between you and Flurry, you'd still be all over each other.
  6567. >And her heart…
  6568. >"I hated it," Luster speaks up. "I really hated hearing the two of you have such a good time together. More than anything else, I…I just wanted to shut it all out."
  6569. >…Poor mare.
  6570. >Could this truly have been the fate Flurry wished upon one of her best friends?
  6571. >After what you'd heard her say, felt her feel, and almost saw her do to Luster—you find yourself bereft of an amicable answer.
  6572.  
  6573. >Alas, your Soulmate's heart is currently busying itself with more somnolent matters, so any candid clarification will have to wait until later.
  6574. >"The longer I spent in those chains," Luster continues with a softly sombre tone, "the more it felt like I was losing parts of myself."
  6575. >Casting a languid blink towards the ceiling, she lifts her right foreleg out from under the duvet and points it straight up.
  6576. >You see her hoof shaking.
  6577. >"I…I ran out of breath to scream. I ran out of strength to struggle. I ran out of tears to cry."
  6578. >Her floppy ears twitch.
  6579. >"And at some point, I stopped being able to hear you and Flurry entirely."
  6580. >Twisting the fetlock of her right foreleg, she twirls her hoof so that it faces her—and she pensively peers into it.
  6581. >"It was like my senses were slowly beginning to dull and thin, and in their place—there was only this…cold emptiness."
  6582. >You feel her shiver, body being wracked by a chimeric chill.
  6583. >"I thought…I thought I was going to die like that. Freezing to death. Abandoned and alone."
  6584. >She slowly lets her lifted foreleg fall limp at her right side—which happens to be on top of the duvet and across your stomach.
  6585. >As an icy silence takes cold hold of this lukewarm bedroom ambience, you do nothing but mutely stare at her pink hoof and idly caress her listless belly.
  6586. >Just like last time, you find yourself really wanting to comfort your sow with both arms, to remove your right arm from Flurry's sleeping body and press your outstretched hand deep into Luster's solitary hoof—letting her know that she'll never be alone again.
  6587. >But you can't do that.
  6588. >Because to you, that would—on some grand, metaphysical level—mean abandoning your Queen in favour of your sow.
  6589. >They might have started out as your slaves, but you've come to dearly love both of these mares.
  6590. >You're not gonna leave either of them behind to suit the other.
  6591. >It's as you decreed before—you need to learn how to soothe your sow with one hand.
  6592. >You open your mouth.
  6593. >…
  6594. >And no words come out.
  6595. >Because you still don't know what to say.
  6596. >What the hell *can* you say?
  6597. >Damn it, Anon. Get your shit together. You're supposed to be a King, a Master.
  6598. >There's gotta be something…
  6599. >…
  6600.  
  6601. >After a few silent seconds of pointless pondering, Luster lets out an apathetic sigh.
  6602. >"I'm not sure how long I spent stuck like that. But eventually, a certain somepony removed my blindfold, and, well, that's when I saw you and Flurry looking down at me."
  6603. "Right." You lightly nod.
  6604. >It sounds like your stories are starting to intersect.
  6605. >"I…wasn't in the best state of mind at that moment, but I was conscious enough to hear what Flurry had to say about me."
  6606. >You feel her forehoof shakily curl up on top of your stomach.
  6607. >"…She really laid it on me. Really let me know how she truly felt."
  6608. >You reflexively cringe in memorial discomfort, feeling immense auditory recoil over recalling that royal diatribe.
  6609. "Mm…" you pensively hum.
  6610. >You don't think you'll ever forget that slew of scathing remarks Flurry spat at her best friend—and you doubt Luster will, either.
  6611. "But," you begin, releasing your cringe, "it was then that she finally accepted you into the herd."
  6612. >She blinks up at the ceiling a few times, frown ever present.
  6613. >"…Yeah. I guess."
  6614. >Well, that was a bust.
  6615. >Luster bears a swinishly competitive soul; she might be part of your herd, but the idea of only being your number-two mare is clearly one that stings deep.
  6616. >She hungers for more—she hungers for what lies far beyond her reach.
  6617. >"Anyway," she speaks up again, "you know the rest after that."
  6618. >She lets out another sigh, this one tinged with inner frustration.
  6619. >"I ended making a total fool of myself in front of both you and Flurry, and I needed you to calm me down."
  6620. >She must be referring to when she started madly squealing and indignantly oinking at you—right when Flurry was about to exert her Queenly claim over your Kingly person.
  6621. >That must have been a highly embarrassing moment for your sow.
  6622. >And yet, after hearing Luster's side of the story—you wholly understand why she acted out in such a manner.
  6623. >Poor mare really has been through a lot.
  6624. >"Once you finished, uh, taking care of me," she continues, "the two of you went to bed together."
  6625. "Mm-hmm."
  6626. >You can't help but notice that she skimmed over a certain part.
  6627. >That's fair; if you were her, you'd skim over it too.
  6628. >After all, there's "embarrassing moment"—and then there's "having your Master pull nine golf-ball-sized anal beads out of your asshole."
  6629. >Plus, there was that part where she weakly tried to get you to stay with her instead of Flurry.
  6630. >…You imagine that moment had to hurt for her, too.
  6631. >"After some time," she keeps going, "Flurry called me over, and I…uh…"
  6632. >She takes a pause, giving time for another blush to form on her face.
  6633. >"…ended up tonguing your butt. A lot."
  6634. >You awkwardly cough.
  6635. "R-right. Yes."
  6636. >Ah, but she's certainly not shy of recalling the time when your own booty got plundered.
  6637. >Figures.
  6638.  
  6639. "What happened after that?" you ask, wishing to both change the subject and satisfy one final curiosity.
  6640. >One of her ears flick, and she tilts her head to look at you.
  6641. >"Huh? What do you mean?" she asks, face and tone tinged with confusion.
  6642. "After the whole 'butt thing,' do you remember what happened?"
  6643. >She blinks, thoughtfully knitting her brows.
  6644. >"Um…"
  6645. >Briefly pursing her lips, she throws a glance towards Flurry.
  6646. >"The three of us spent a lot of time rutting each other," she guilelessly states. "At some point, I woke up here in your bedroom, and…well…yeah."
  6647. >She looks back to you.
  6648. >"If you want me to go over all the different positions we did, I can—"
  6649. "N-no." You swiftly shake your head. "That's fine. I've heard enough."
  6650. >"Oh…" she weakly breathes out, shoulders slumping.
  6651. >You note that she said the "three of us," which must mean that she doesn't recall anyone other than you, her, and Flurry.
  6652. >Which also must mean that she doesn't remember your pegasian paramour in the slightest.
  6653. >For the most part, Luster's version of the dream matches up with yours.
  6654. >However, it seems that the sections with Cozy Glow have either been replaced with a distorted version of you or omitted entirely.
  6655. >Considering that Flurry is still asleep, the three of you must have splintered off into your own sleep cycles once your Queen's heart magic ran out.
  6656. >If that's the case, then perhaps that disquieting scene with Cozy Glow asserting absolute control over you and your herd came solely from your own slumbering psyche.
  6657. >But that doesn't explain why Luster thought it was you who ruthlessly besmirched her in your bedroom.
  6658. >Maybe it *was* you? Could you have been hallucinating that manifestation of your "partner" the entire time?
  6659. >…
  6660. >There's still a lot you don't know about what Flurry did to you. All you can is theorise.
  6661. >And to theorise is to temporise.
  6662. >You have far more important matters to attend to.
  6663. >Such as the emotional well being of your sow.
  6664. "Luster," you speak up, "I…"
  6665. >Peering into her pessimistic amber pools, you speak with a steely tone and a sombre frown:
  6666. "…I'm sorry for what you suffered through in that place, and I…"
  6667. >Even now, bringing up the presence of that pegasus is like to snarl up the situation.
  6668. >You need to accept her words as your own.
  6669. "…I'm sorry for what you heard or felt. No-one should've had to go through what you did."
  6670. >This is an odd thing for a mindslaver to say, certainly.
  6671. >But…you've come to care deeply for your sow, despite your harried history together.
  6672.  
  6673. >You recall the dreamy experience that the two of you shared here in this very bedroom—and how you forcefully affixed that pink-hued mind-control collar around her neck.
  6674. >Back then, you made a promise to Luster: to always be there for her, no matter what happens.
  6675. >It was a potent statement, and it was one your sow accepted as willingly as she fell under your influence.
  6676. >Circumstances may have changed from dream to reality—and from one mare to two—but still, you would like to keep that promise.
  6677. >With Flurry readded into the mix, keeping that promise will be harder than ever.
  6678. >However, you do love Luster.
  6679. >In fact…you love her enough to consider her so much more than any old sow.
  6680. >"Don't be sorry, Master."
  6681. >Luster regards you with a forlorn look.
  6682. >"You were right about what you said, and I…"
  6683. >She sighs, eyes falling downwards.
  6684. >"…I get it."
  6685. >Her eyelids droop as well.
  6686. >"Flurry is royalty in both blood and name—she can offer you the throne you deserve… Meanwhile, I can't offer you anything other than…books, I guess."
  6687. >She winces, tone turning utterly despondent.
  6688. >"I…I don't know what I was thinking, trying to compete against a Princess of Love. I'm such a stupid pig. I can't…I-I'll never…"
  6689. >She snottily sniffles, then lets out a jittery breath.
  6690. >Just as you open your mouth, she opens her eyes, casting you a gloomy look.
  6691. >"D-don't worry, Master. I won't cause any more trouble for either of you. I know my place now. Flurry is the Alpha Mare—the leader of this herd and the mare you love most—and I…"
  6692. >Breaking gaze with you, she retracts her right forehoof from atop your stomach and guardedly curls it up to her chest.
  6693. >"…I-I'm just a pig whose purpose is to t-trough up the scraps."
  6694. >When her amber eyes drift back to yours, you see them glimmer with self-doubt and self-defeat.
  6695. >"B-but I'll learn to live with it, because I…because as long as I'm with you, I'm…I-I'm…"
  6696. >Through teary eyes, dampened cheek fur, and a thin bead of snot running down from her right nostril, she twists her lips into a smile.
  6697. >"Happy."
  6698. >Your own face remains locked in a ruminatory frown, directly contrasting her false repletion.
  6699. >Luster has accepted her place within this herd's hierarchy, and she's just given you her word as a swinely slave that she won't further disrupt the status quo.
  6700. >For a more pragmatic Master, this would be more than enough to move forward.
  6701. >But you…
  6702. >You refuse to leave things here.
  6703.  
  6704. "Luster, you…"
  6705. >You sigh, struggling to find the words.
  6706. >At the very least, you now have her attention.
  6707. "Do you remember? Back in that dream, I promised to make you the happiest mare in Equestria."
  6708. >"Well, yeah, but…"
  6709. >Her eyes flits away, spurious smile quickly breaking down into a forlorn frown.
  6710. >"…that was back when neither of us had our full memories, s-so it doesn't count."
  6711. "Be that as it may…"
  6712. >While her upper body has now twisted itself on its right side so as to face you, her lower body remains supinely oriented, belly facing up towards the ceiling; thus, while your left hand holds its position atop her chubby tummy—you give her a few soft squeezes and thoughtful fondles.
  6713. "…I don't intend to renege on that promise," you say, giving her a gentle smile.
  6714. >"M-mmn…"
  6715. >Her face contorts, quickly becoming a battlefield of conflicting emotions.
  6716. >She offers no resistance to your continued groping, keeping her lips lightly quivering and her guilty gaze far away from yours.
  6717. >Her reticence only serves to revitalise your resolve.
  6718. "Like I said before. I'll make sure that you always feel loved."
  6719. >Squeeze.
  6720. >"H-hah…"
  6721. "I'll give you a big happy family."
  6722. >Squueeeeze.
  6723. >"O-ooh…"
  6724. "And I'll keep you close by my side as my right-hand mare."
  6725. >Squuueeeeeeze.
  6726. >"N-nnf…!"
  6727. >Your flexing fingers have her breathing belly warmly purring and her moist mouth lightly panting.
  6728. >With a salivary gulp, she drags her eyes back to you.
  6729. >Her expression and tone both carry the same uncertainty with them.
  6730. >"Right…right hand…?" she mutters, eyes drifting past you and over to Flurry.
  6731. >You lackadaisically nod.
  6732. "I suppose the correct pony terminology would be 'right-hoof,' but yes."
  6733. >Also, your literal right hand belongs to Flurry at the moment—but the exact semantics of your statement aren't worth worrying about.
  6734. >After silently pondering the sleepy state of her Alpha Mare for a few seconds, Luster's watery eyes dart back to yours.
  6735. >"B-but what about Flurry? What about her happiness?"
  6736. "Flurry is my Queen, my Soulmate, and my Alpha Mare," you proudly answer. "She is the one my heart is eternally linked with—and she will be the one to give me the throne, as you said."
  6737. >You halt your hammy handling of her hoggish belly, taking on a more serious tone:
  6738. "However, once I claim this land for my own sake, and once I finally feel that crystal crown resting atop my head—you're going to be right there with me."
  6739. >Sharpening your sights, you peer deep into your sow's wavering pools.
  6740. "Because I need you, Luster Dawn. You're the key to making my sovereignty a success."
  6741.  
  6742. >"I…"
  6743. >She slowly blinks, gaze still shimmering with insecurity.
  6744. >"…I am…?"
  6745. >You nod with an affirmative hum.
  6746. "That's right—and I want you to take pride in that fact."
  6747. >Quietly moving your left hand away from her belly, you furtively trail it along her body.
  6748. "I need the mare who was there for me right from the very beginning."
  6749. >Up the side of her barrel.
  6750. "I need the mare who brings both brash confidence and swinish swagger in equal measure."
  6751. >Over her shoulder.
  6752. "I need the mare whose magical might is only matched by the deep love and loyalty she feels towards her Boar."
  6753. >Around the base of her neck.
  6754. "I need my sow—no—"
  6755. >You swiftly shake your own head.
  6756. "—I need my Mated Sow, my dependable pig who stands leagues above all other mares."
  6757. >Her lips lightly part.
  6758. >"M-mated…? A-above…?"
  6759. "Mm. You may not be my Queen, but you shall secure a spot by my throne still."
  6760. >Taking your hand even higher, you rest your left palm against her nape, letting your fingers freely sink into her lusciously flamey mane.
  6761. >"Ah…" she sighs out, unable to hide her breathy relief at your touch.
  6762. "You are my heavy-hitting hog—bringing longevity and stability to my fruitful reign while ensuring swift annihilation upon my enemies."
  6763. >You put some feeling into your fingers, gently running them through her mane and stroking at her scalp.
  6764. >"M-mm…" she shakily hums, eyelids flickering and nostrils faintly flaring out.
  6765. "Yet you are also my sweet-hearted swine: a paunchy bed-warmer bearing the most lovable softness—and a Sow that I simply cannot live without."
  6766. >You temporarily stop your caress and cast your Sow the warmest smile you can.
  6767. "So don't lose heart, Luster," you address her with sincerity straight from your soul. "I want you to walk this path alongside me with your head held high—and your belly bustling with life."
  6768. >You like to think that you're taking a leaf out of your Soulmate's book with how poetic you're being.
  6769. >"Nnf…"
  6770. >Those last few words of yours catch her attention most piquantly, causing her to close her eyes and *deeply* inhale through fully flared nostrils.
  6771. >She holds that breath for a few seconds.
  6772. >Then…
  6773. >"Hffffff…"
  6774. >She lets out a long, drawn-out exhale through those very same nostrils, deflating towards you as she does.
  6775. >Her hot swinely breath brushes against your face, reminding you of her hay-ish scent.
  6776. >She gradually opens her eyes, black pupils almost as wide as her amber irises.
  6777. >Then, she blinks at you, meticulously and thoughtfully.
  6778. >"Master…" she near-whispers, tone tinged with fragility.
  6779. >She steadily twists her whole body around to lie on her front.
  6780. >Thus, her lower body lies slack against the mattress alongside your left hip, while her upper body is slightly propped up by crossed forelegs that are bent at the knees.
  6781. >Head hovering above and to the left of your left pec, she poses you a candid question:
  6782. >"Do you really…did you really mean all that?"
  6783. >You give a candid nod.
  6784. "Every last word."
  6785.  
  6786. >She lets her lips lightly part as she slowly soaks in your answer.
  6787. >Her glimmering eyes peer deep into yours, thoroughly rooting through your soul in an attempt to detect any deceit.
  6788. >Your smile is evergreen, for you have nothing to hide.
  6789. >Seemingly convinced with what she's gleaned, her sights drift towards your sleeping Queen.
  6790. >They linger there for a few moments.
  6791. >Luster's eyes then come back to you.
  6792. >Briefly closing her eyes, she lets out a quiet sigh through her mouth—thus blowing more of her pleasant pig breath across your face.
  6793. >When she opens her eyes once more, you see them burning with emotion.
  6794. >"Then I take it all back."
  6795. >You blink at her, not entirely sure what she's getting at—though you could perhaps hazard a guess.
  6796. "Take what back?"
  6797. >She blinks back, lips curling up into a half-smile that brims with full confidence.
  6798. >"…Everything."
  6799. >Before you can offer your own response, she suddenly leans forward, causing your left arm to slide down her body and wrap itself around her barrel.
  6800. >"'Cause you know what, Master?"
  6801. >As her face moves closer to yours, you see her nostrils flare out again.
  6802. >"I *do* deserve you."
  6803. >You also feel both of her forehooves slyly wrap themselves around your nape, serving as your new and bony pillow.
  6804. >At this point, her half-smile has grown wide enough to be considered a whole smile.
  6805. >"In fact, heh—"
  6806. >She swinishly snorts against your face, blasting your nasal cavity with blistering bluster.
  6807. >It forces you to cough right back—spraying her snot-slimed, tear-stained snout with human phlegm.
  6808. >She pays this expectoratory reaction of yours zero mind.
  6809. >"—I'd say I deserve you the most. I laid eyes on you first, which makes you *my* human, and *my* Boar~"
  6810. >She stares you in the eye loud and proud, her hoggish haughtiness seemingly restored.
  6811. >You must admit…you truly did miss this aspect of her.
  6812. >The sudden snort to the face was a little much, though—but whether she did that on conscious thought or via pure piggish instinct is anyone's guess.
  6813. >"So," she continues with a huskily confident tone, "I'm not just gonna roll over and accept Flurry as Alpha Mare; I'm gonna keep fighting."
  6814. "Wait. Fighting?"
  6815. >You blink, eyes taking on a shade of worry.
  6816. >She also blinks.
  6817. "Um—"
  6818. >"I-in a diplomatic way, I mean," she hastily appends.
  6819. >Still keeping her hooves wrapped around your head, she pulls away from you with a somewhat-bashful smile upon her face.
  6820. >"Don't worry, Master. I don't plan on causing any more trouble for you or Flurry. That part hasn't changed."
  6821. "Oh."
  6822. >That uncomfortable concern soon fades from your eyes.
  6823. "Phew."
  6824. >You wanted to cheer Luster up, but you *really* did not want her to start quarrelling with Flurry again.
  6825. >That would've slapped all three of you back to square one—and you could certainly do without any further magical interventions for the foreseeable future.
  6826.  
  6827. >"But I'm not gonna give up on winning you over," she states with conviction.
  6828. >Furrowing her brows, she tosses a glance down towards your left pec.
  6829. >"Even if Flurry's bound her heart to yours or whatever…I'm not gonna let that stop me. I'm still gonna keep working my piggish charms on you…"
  6830. >Lifting her gaze back up to yours, she flashes you a widely spunky smile.
  6831. >"…until the day your heart finally accepts *me* as your most important mare, eheh~"
  6832. >She holds eye contact with you, smug self-assurance essentially shining off from her visage.
  6833. >"So?" she continues with a flagrantly saucy wiggle of her eyebrows. "What do you think about that?"
  6834. >Once again, her piercingly passionate eyes—pupils only slightly wavering—peer deep into yours.
  6835. >This time, she looks for a spoken answer.
  6836. "W-well…"
  6837. >You quietly and cogitatively clear your throat, feeling more than a little cornered by your Sow.
  6838. >With just a few heartfelt words on your part, she's gone from downright despondent to dominantly desirous.
  6839. >If you truly wished it so, you could easily shut her down right here and now.
  6840. >You could tell her to be a good pig—to stay in her lane and accept her lowly lot in life.
  6841. >It's like she said: she would've learned to live with it eventually.
  6842. >However…
  6843. "I look forward to it," you answer with a slight smile.
  6844. >…you've come to genuinely adore that swinish swagger of hers.
  6845. >With flexing nostrils, Luster steadily breathes in your words.
  6846. >As she does so, you see the last vestiges of self-doubt in her amber eyes disperse with the waves, while her smile slowly grows into a toothy grin.
  6847. >"Heh~"
  6848. >Her horn lights up with amber magic, and she carefully rummages around the back of her bedhead mane.
  6849. >She soon unties and pulls out her red hairband, letting her fiery locks flow freely; her mane now bears the appearance of an untamed flame—one that burns brightest for her beloved Boar.
  6850. >It's just like how it was when the two of you started living together in that dream.
  6851. >Radiating confidence, Luster levitates her hairband up to the space between your faces, letting you gaze upon this accessory one final time.
  6852. >"Then it's settled."
  6853. >She then casually chucks her bygone band over to some forgotten corner of the room, removing it from your lives entirely.
  6854. >"No take backs~"
  6855. "Mm, right."
  6856.  
  6857. >She ardently lids her eyes at you, and you take a breathily brief moment to reflect:
  6858. >Your Sow's demeanour is one that can best be described as "aggressively competitive."—and you have just given this bellicose behaviour of hers your honest endorsement.
  6859. >Thus, you expect no end to the amount of hog-induced headaches you and your Queen will suffer through in the foreseeable future.
  6860. >But it's not like you did this purely out of love for your Sow's indolent insolence; no, there is a Masterly logic to your enlivening mandate.
  6861. >You love your Soulmate—very much so—but after what you experienced in that dream, you've come to realise something quite disquieting about her:
  6862. >Flurry is no longer the sweetly obedient princess who happily lived to follow your every command—now, she is your lovingly assertive Queen, a mare who earnestly wishes to rule this kingdom side by side with her soul-bonded King.
  6863. >While she is still stoutly loyal and undoubtedly trustworthy, there is also an added risk of her getting drunk on a dominant high or falling prey to a particularly nasty jealous streak.
  6864. >If Flurry were to assume absolute control over your herd of three, she'd likely keep your face forever buried in her pheromone-laden tuft, your body completely cocooned in her wings—and Luster perpetually blue-beaned.
  6865. >Normally, you'd be able to stop her from acting beyond your established purview, but those Queenly pheromones of hers have a way of muddying your Kingly mind in a most dangerous fashion; they turn you into exactly what she desires at any given moment—from doting husband to submissive stud.
  6866. >Whatever comes out of her musky chest fluff far exceeds the potency of the protective hormones she pumps into your heart, which gives you grave cause for concern.
  6867. >Perhaps her immense pheromonal power was simply a peculiarity born from the depths of that magical dream—but you're not going to take any chances.
  6868. >The next time something like that happens, you want your Mated Sow to have the full confidence to bail you out of your Queen's scented subjugation.
  6869. >Thus, you wish to perpetuate this friendly rivalry between herdmates in order to keep your harem's hierarchy from stagnating.
  6870. >And if things ever get too heated between the two, then you'll gladly step in to soothe them both—because that's your duty as their beloved Master.
  6871. >Plus…there's a part of you that believes Flurry doesn't want Luster to give up, either.
  6872.  
  6873. >With your faces only inches apart, you continue to peer into Luster's amber pools as she peers into yours.
  6874. >They say eyes are a window to the soul, and you are well-pleased with what your Sow's inner self has to offer.
  6875. >Her snout may be stained with all sorts of fluids, but her soul is a steamy compound of saucy cheek—being full of both piggish pep and ponish passion.
  6876. >Also, despite what had happened in the dream—her face *doesn't* smell like your dream asshole, thankfully.
  6877. >"Mm-hm-hm~" Luster mirthfully hums. "Gonna become my Boar's main pig~"
  6878. >Steadying her grip around the back of your head, she firmly presses her grimily matted snout right against your nose and softly nuzzles you, assertively smearing her honest emotions all across your face.
  6879. >Considering that you were the one who coaxed this side out of her, you don't think you have any right to complain about the mess.
  6880. >Thus, she nuzzles you without restraint.
  6881. >"M'gonna become your top slave~"
  6882. >Nuzzle nuzzle nuzzle.
  6883. >"M'gonna become your Alpha Mare~"
  6884. >Nuzzle nuzzle nuzzle.
  6885. >"M'gonna become your Queen Sow~"
  6886. >Nuzzle nuzzle nuz—wait a minute.
  6887. >You arch a curious eyebrow and manage to speak out a few words in between her bouts of runny affection.
  6888. "Did you say 'Queen' Sow?"
  6889. >She lets out a husky chuckle against your lips.
  6890. >"Heh, surprised~?
  6891. >She slowly and stickily pulls her face away from yours, quickly flashing you a wide smirk.
  6892. >"Believe it or not, I happen to have some pretty lofty ambitions of my own too, y'know~"
  6893. >You return her wide smirk with a intrigued half-smile.
  6894. "Oh really?"
  6895. >"Mm-hmm." She nods. "And they all involve me with my Boarish King—thoroughly *ravaging* and *claiming* this fertile land for our own sakes~"
  6896. >Shifting one of her forehooves up from your nape, she slowly caresses your crown.
  6897. >"Think about it, Master: every mare—heh—every female *creature* out there, completely and utterly subjugated under your rule~"
  6898. >Her gaze sharpens to a penetrative point and burns with a fertile flame.
  6899. >"And all of their bellies totally *swelling* with your piglets~"
  6900. >She turns up her snout, nostrils flaring out self-assuredly.
  6901. >"'Course, I'd be right there at the top of the pile, constantly pumping out the finest humanity has to offer, eheh~"
  6902. >Briefly pursing your lips, you give her a lightly impressed nod.
  6903. "Gotta admit, those *are* some lofty ambitions."
  6904. >"Right?" she merrily replies. "But here's the thing, Master…"
  6905. >She lowers her snout all the way down while keeping her eyes trained on you and her smirk ever strong, causing her vivacious visage to emit an almost-sinister sureness.
  6906. >"…I've got the power to make it all happen~"
  6907. "Oh?"
  6908.  
  6909. >Your curious eyebrow—which had been gradually lowering itself after Luster's Queenly proclamation—suddenly shoots up with interest.
  6910. "Are you saying that you can offer me the throne? And not just that—but the life and land of Equestria itself?"
  6911. >"Heh," she confidently chuckles, "'course~"
  6912. >Lifting her head up into neutral alignment, she stares at you with sincerity.
  6913. >"I may not be, uh…"
  6914. >Tossing a pursed glance towards your resident heavy sleeper, Luster chews on her own words for a second.
  6915. >"…powered by love like our princess here."
  6916. >She looks back to you.
  6917. >"But I've got the knowledge, the connections, and the magic to secure us a spot at the very top."
  6918. >You grant her an approvingly warm smile.
  6919. "And here I thought all you could offer me were books."
  6920. >"Oh, I still do that."
  6921. >Lidding her eyes, she grins back.
  6922. >"But they're really good books. You and I should get a nice and steamy reading sesh in some time~"
  6923. >Her smuttily tinged tone causes you to let out a lightly amused huff through your nose.
  6924. "You manage to make everything sound smutty," you softly chide her.
  6925. >She silently and goofily flashes you some teeth; you can also see a faint blush forming on her cheeks.
  6926. "But," you continue, "I'd like that."
  6927. >Your response causes her to close her toothy gab.
  6928. >She blinks at you, grinning mouth slightly quivering and faint blush steadily intensifying.
  6929. >Her eyes then flit to the side.
  6930. >"…Hehe~" she quietly giggles to herself.
  6931. >Cute.
  6932. >Dangerous, too.
  6933.  
  6934. >It's hard to believe that this is the same mare who had once proudly proclaimed herself as one of Equestria's stalwart defenders.
  6935. >Now, she's become as power hungry as you or Flurry—maybe even more so.
  6936. >Perhaps you just have that effect on ponies.
  6937. >One thing's for sure, your Mated Sow will be a great boon to your forthcoming reign.
  6938. >Your hearts may not beat as one, but your bodies seem to have accepted each other just fine.
  6939. >Her flanks readily bear your human destiny upon her very own cutie mark, signifying her instinctual desire to become your mare in every which way.
  6940. >It's enough to make you seriously consider if she's actually be capable of claiming your heart—of making you accept Luster Dawn as your true Alpha Mare.
  6941. >Because—by God—this mare has tried so damn hard to make you hers.
  6942. >In fact, if "Cozy" hadn't intervened back in your dream bedroom, then Luster very well could've succeeded in fully resonating her heart with yours—thus becoming your bonded mate in both body and soul.
  6943. >If Flurry hadn't saved you back in your real bedroom, then Luster would've succeeded in in fully enslaving your mind with her magic—completely and utterly breaking you in as her eternally enthralled "humie" husband.
  6944. >And…if it weren't for Luster herself, than perhaps she could've fully worked up the courage to ask you out back while you were still acclimating to Equestrian life.
  6945. >If she had done that, then who knows what the future would've held in store for you two.
  6946. >Maybe you would've accepted her offer. Maybe you would've later gotten married. Maybe you and her would've retired out to the countryside to live a nice, quiet life together—surrounded by your steadily growing family of foals.
  6947. >You leave your ruminating there, though.
  6948. >You've had enough what-ifs for one lifetime.
  6949. >It's time to focus on the what-will.
  6950.  
  6951. >There's an undeniably intimate bond that exists between you and your Sow; it's not too dissimilar from what you feel with your Soulmate.
  6952. >The heartfelt love you feel with Flurry is emotionally fluttery, deeply spiritual, and occasionally—hormonally overbearing.
  6953. >Make no mistake, your Queen's relationship to you is a complicated one—but you love her all the same.
  6954. >On the other hand, this…somatic link you feel with Luster is plainer and earthier.
  6955. >Simply put, you want to see her belly well bred and swelling with your piglets.
  6956. >It's as if your body has naturally deemed Luster to be both the perfect mate and the ideal mother for your children—even more so than Flurry.
  6957. >You want to care for her. You want to pamper her. You want to make her feel loved.
  6958. >These instincts aren't particularly overpowering like they can be with your Queen; instead, they come in the form of a fuzzy warmth that envelops your whole body whenever you see your Sow happy.
  6959. >Indeed, these feelings are soft—just like her.
  6960. >You wonder if these intrinsically comforting sensations are linked to her modified cutie mark in some way; after all, she's become a part of your destiny just as much as you've become a part of hers.
  6961. >Whatever the case may be, both of these mares are equally important to you.
  6962. >And thus both of these mares will be equally important in securing your Kingly claim over this fecund land.
  6963. >"Hey, Master," Luster suddenly speaks up, eyes drifting back to you.
  6964. >You see a shyly coy smile lingering on her face.
  6965. "Yeah?"
  6966. >"Since the two of us have just woken up and all…"
  6967. >That coy smile soon widens into a cheeky grin.
  6968. >"…let's share some of our stinky morning breath~"
  6969. >You cast her a warmly accepting smile of your own.
  6970. "Sure."
  6971. >"Heh~"
  6972. >Clinging to the left side of your body and closing her eyes, she leans in to press her still-snotty snout against yours.
  6973. >The sorry state of your Sow's stained visage causes something to flare up in your Boarish brain.
  6974. "Ah, but first…" you whisper to yourself.
  6975. >Just before your noses collide, you slightly tilt your head to the right, causing Luster's muzzle to poke into your left cheek.
  6976. >She slowly opens her eyes, confusion in her gaze.
  6977. >"Uh…?"
  6978. >Tilting your head back to the left, you stick out your tongue and lap around her snottily sticky face—starting from her supple lips.
  6979. >"Wh-whoa." Her eyes widen. "M-master, what are you…?"
  6980. "Your face is so dirty," you whisper to her. "I'm going to clean it, so hold still."
  6981. >"Ah…"
  6982. >She doesn't ask any more questions.
  6983. >There's a part of her that readily welcomes this.
  6984. >The part of your mate.
  6985. >"Mm…"
  6986. >She closes her eyes, keeping her lips curled upwards.
  6987. >"…'kay."
  6988. >She lets you lick her snout at your leisure—thus, you run your salivary muscle all across her muzzle, carefully cleaning off the slimy mucus and salty tears that stain it.
  6989.  
  6990. >Along the way, you note how the rubbery texture of her lips and nostrils contrast with the fine fur that covers the rest of her face.
  6991. >You also note the presence of some bristly whiskers that adorn her supple snoofer; they tickle your tongue every time you run it over them.
  6992. >"Mm…mm…" she quietly hums, contented to be cared for by her Boar.
  6993. >You don't exactly have a logical reason as to why you're washing your Sow this way; you could have used a tissue or something along those lines.
  6994. >But…it just feels *right* to do it like this; it's like you're satisfying an intrinsic need to tend to your mate.
  6995. >Perhaps this all comes back to that "somatic link" from earlier.
  6996. >Your left hand, once wrapped around her waist, now moves up to her withers to give her a soft and continuous caress.
  6997. >"Mm…hm-hm…~"
  6998. >Luster's nostrils happily flare out as she calmly enjoys her mate's mollycoddling.
  6999. >You can also feel her chubby belly subtly grinding against your left side.
  7000. >It's as pleasantly pliant as ever.
  7001. >Of course, a little added baby weight could never go awry.
  7002. >…Incidentally, since one of Flurry's wings is currently draped over your body—that means her wingtips are presently being squished between Luster's belly and the side of your stomach.
  7003. >Hopefully she doesn't mind.
  7004. >Eventually, you finish your tender tongue bath granted upon your Sow, and you slurpily draw your laving organ back into your own mouth.
  7005. "There," you breathily whisper, "done."
  7006. >"Mm."
  7007. >She slowly opens her eyes, gazing at you with porcine propensity.
  7008. >"Let me return the favour…" she huskily whispers back.
  7009. >You simply close your eyes in response.
  7010. >Soon enough, you feel something wet and muscly gliding across your face.
  7011. >"Mlem…mlem…mlem…"
  7012. >Just as you washed her, she now washes you, taking great pains to avoid your eyeballs.
  7013. >And after the tearily snotty nuzzles she gave you earlier—she's got plenty to clean.
  7014. >"Mlem…mlem…mlem…"
  7015. >Thinking about it, this deep care that you show one another is not unlike an act of mutual grooming displayed between social animals.
  7016. >In fact…yes—you do believe that is exactly what's happening right now.
  7017. >"Mlem…mlem…mlem…"
  7018. >Here, in the safe comfort of their shared pen, a Boar and his mated Sow intimately tend to one another, keeping each other clean while also reinforcing their strong bond.
  7019. >This piggish primping just comes naturally for the both of you.
  7020.  
  7021. >"Mlem…mm…mm…"
  7022. >You soon hear the slurping sound of her own tongue being drawn back into her mouth.
  7023. >"'Kay, done."
  7024. >You silently open your eyes.
  7025. >And you see a sincerely smiling Sow staring back at you.
  7026. >She lets out a lightly amused snort.
  7027. >"Heh, you're salty~"
  7028. >You shoot her a half-smirk.
  7029. "That's a plus, I hope."
  7030. >"Mhm." She nods. "Big plus."
  7031. >Her smile twists into a toothily piggish grin.
  7032. >"In fact, I could just lick ya all day long~"
  7033. >You chuckle.
  7034. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We can't conquer Equestria with our tongues wrapped around each other."
  7035. >She snortily chuckles back.
  7036. >"True, true~"
  7037. >She slowly moves in.
  7038. >"Still, there's never a bad time for us to share some breath~"
  7039. >With her forehooves continuing to steady your head from behind, she gently plants her lips and nostrils against yours.
  7040. >"So let's…mm…" She closes her eyes. "…sniff each other up…"
  7041. "Mm," you affirmatively hum.
  7042. >And so the two of you share breath.
  7043. >Although, when it comes to Luster Dawn, you suppose the correct terminology would be "sniff and snort breath," instead.
  7044. >Your Sow really loves to give your olfactory senses a run for their money.
  7045. >It keeps you on your toes, at least.
  7046. >As always, Luster's breath stinks of hay, fast food, and hay-based fast food.
  7047. >It's a potently greasy cocktail that you can never get enough of.
  7048. >Really wakes you up, too.
  7049. >You might have to work this into your morning routine.
  7050. >"Mm~" she satedly hums. "Missed this~"
  7051. "You know," you reply with a nasally inhale, "it wasn't that long ago that we last shared breath."
  7052. >"Yeah, but—" She aggressively sniffs you up some more, making you shiver. "—I had that *stupid* nose ring on back then, so that time barely counts."
  7053. "Didn't like the ring, I take it?"
  7054. >"Hated it. My piggy snout needs to remain unblocked at all times."
  7055. >She gives you a light sniffly nuzzle.
  7056. >"And, preferably, snuggled right up to my Boar's nostrils~"
  7057. "Mm," you hum with mutual understanding.
  7058. >You close your eyes to fully immerse yourself in your Sow's essence.
  7059. >Her supple lips, her grinding belly, her smelly scent—every part of Luster's plump body addictively invigorates you so.
  7060. >Truth be told, if you didn't have eyes for this land's throne, you'd happily spend the rest of your days wallowing in the pits of decadence alongside your Sow.
  7061. >You suppose you have Flurry to thank for keeping both you and Luster's ambitions firmly set skywards.
  7062. >It seems that your two herdmates each have a habit of keeping one another in check—preventing the pendulum of your own Masterly fate from swinging too far in any single direction.
  7063.  
  7064. >In a sense, perhaps it is actually Cozy Glow who you should be thanking; after all, she was the one who provided you with the collars to claim both of these mares in the first place.
  7065. >Indeed, if it wasn't for her fashionable intervention, you imagine that either Flurry or Luster would've staked their sole claim on you at some point—and your fate would have been sealed.
  7066. >That being said, you're not about to shower that pegasus with praise any time soon.
  7067. >Her true intentions are shrouded in mystery—and her unexplained appearance in the shared realm of your herd's hearts only muddies matters further.
  7068. >How did she get there?
  7069. >Why did she set up both of her best friends to be enslaved by an alien?
  7070. >What are her ultimate plans for you?
  7071. >You find yourself with no pleasant answers.
  7072. >Only the stinkily comforting breath of your Sow.
  7073. >"Hey, Master," Luster speaks up, "about that thing you said earlier."
  7074. "Hm?" you hum, opening your eyes.
  7075. >"About you waking up with my snout in your face…"
  7076. >She gives your lips a light smooch and shoots you a self-assured grin.
  7077. >"…I'm calling dibs~"
  7078. >You quietly chuckle against her lips.
  7079. "You're gonna have to negotiate with Flurry on that one."
  7080. >She loudly laugh-snorts back:
  7081. >"Pfftahaha, fair~"
  7082. >You can almost picture your new and improved morning routine:
  7083. >A royal blowjob mixed in with a side of swinely breath sharing.
  7084. >That'd be enough to wake any man up.
  7085. >*Oink* *Oink* *Oink*
  7086. "…Eh?"
  7087. >*Oink* *Oink* *Oink*
  7088. >Falling straight back into her swinely habits, Luster freely oinks against your lips as she sniffs you up.
  7089. >Once a pig, always a pig, you suppose.
  7090. >*Oink* *Oink* *Oink*
  7091. >"Hey, Master…" *Oink* "…oink with me~"
  7092. >You adopt a pensively neutral expression.
  7093. "…Do I really have to?"
  7094. >"Yup~" she piggishly replies. "Y'gotta…" *Oink* *Oink* "…y'gotta oink with your Sow~"
  7095. >You begrudgingly sigh.
  7096. >Once a pig…
  7097. >*Oink-oink* *Oink-oink* *Oink-oink*
  7098. >Drawing up air from your Boarish lungs, you oink against your Sow's lips and join her in this swinish symphony.
  7099. >*Oink-oink* *Oink-oink* *Oink-oink*
  7100. >"Mm-hm-hm-hm-hm~" she snortily chuckles against your mouth, extremely pleased by your Boarish reciprocation.
  7101. >*Oink-oink* *Oink-oink* *Oink-oink*
  7102. >"Hey, Master…"
  7103. >*Oink-oink*
  7104. >"…m'coming in~"
  7105. >You feel something prod at your mouth.
  7106. >Thus, you steadily part your lips, letting her in.
  7107. >You give her an inch, and she lunges forward a mile; Luster's giddily lithe muscle immediately darts towards yours—and your tongues tightly twine together like destined lovers.
  7108. >Your Sow might be a boisterous swine, but she is ever quick to submit to you in a mouthy wrestling match.
  7109. >Whereas Flurry would lovingly bind you within her muscly coils, Luster offers only a playful resistance towards your explorative organ, letting you lick wherever you please—so long as you remember to give her writhing tongue a few affectionate laps every now and then.
  7110.  
  7111. >Loud slurps and excited grunts wantonly echo throughout this musky bedroom air as your oinky kiss quickly turns messily sloppy.
  7112. >Saliva freely flows from both of your mouths as you each lose yourselves in this deliriously decadent snorty snog.
  7113. >And so begins your descent into this pigpen of utter depravity.
  7114. >Man claims Sow. Mare submits to Boar. Any and all titles steadily lose their meaning as two intimate pigs orally oscillate their organs against one another's in a ludicrously lewd fashion.
  7115. >This kiss you share with your Sow is the stuff of corrupted champions; a rousing tonic that gets you out of bed in the morning—yet also an addictive agent that binds you in the sheets with your beloved.
  7116. >This breath-snorting, oink-sharing, tongue-twirling, lip-smacking, withers-massaging, spit-swapping, blood-pumping, belly-rubbing—
  7117. >Wait.
  7118. >Withers-massaging *and* belly-rubbing?
  7119. >Something doesn't add up.
  7120. >*Oink*
  7121. >You Boarishly oink into her mouth, the specific pitch and tone signalling your Sow to stop.
  7122. >*Oink*
  7123. >She obediently oinks back, clearly communicating her constant compliance.
  7124. >Thus, the two of you momentarily pull away from your luridly slimy kiss, with an intricate web of thick pigspit enduringly keeping your mouths connected.
  7125. >"Hah…hah…" she steadily catches her breath after your bawdy breath sharing session.
  7126. >Casting your eyes down along the duvet that comfily covers you all, you get a good feel for your current situation.
  7127. >Luster is snuggled up in the space between your left arm and your left side; her pudgy belly proudly presses into your ribs, feeling like a slightly rumbly cushion.
  7128. >While your left hand still rests upon her withers, your right hand is now firmly grasping her hoggish gut.
  7129. >Her body is as pleasantly pliant as always—however, there is a problem:
  7130. >Your right hand is meant for Flurry's slender midsection, *not* Luster's chubby tummy.
  7131. >Those traitorous digits—ever so quick to switch allegiances for some fondleable fat!
  7132. >But it's not their fault.
  7133. >Because you can feel something encompassing your right hand—something warm and ethereal:
  7134. >Not only that, but you can also *see* this sorcerous sensation faintly glowing from underneath the duvet:
  7135. >It's an amber aura.
  7136. >You lightly frown at the sight.
  7137. "Hey," you look up at Luster, "that hand is supposed to be for Flurry, not you."
  7138. >"Eheh~"
  7139. >The magic around her horn dissipates.
  7140. >"Aw, and here I thought I was your right hand~" she says with a cheeky grin.
  7141. >You roll your eyes; of course she'd bring *that* up.
  7142. >Really, you should've just called her your left hand, or your favourite pet pig, or your gratuitously gropeable gut.
  7143. >"M-mmph~"
  7144. >Ah, your fondling fingers are currently going to town on her paunch while you're having an inner monologue.
  7145. >Love it when that happens.
  7146.  
  7147. >"Feels to me like your grabbers have already made their choice, heh~"
  7148. >Freezing your fondle, you narrow your eyes at your Sow.
  7149. "You're being a very naughty pig, Luster Dawn."
  7150. >"Oh?
  7151. >She wiggles her eyebrows at you.
  7152. >"Gonna punish me, Master~?"
  7153. >You sigh.
  7154. "Yes. I suppose I'll have to, won't I?"
  7155. >Your words cause her to mutely bite her bottom lip in lusty anticipation.
  7156. >This swine has a dirty mind.
  7157. >However, more pressingly, she appears to be under the assumption that disobedience will bring about its own reward.
  7158. >You had better correct that misconception post-haste.
  7159. "Alright," you begin, "no belly rubs for a month."
  7160. >She blankly blinks, slowly absorbing your sanction.
  7161. >And her jaw suddenly drops.
  7162. >"Wha—!"
  7163. >Moving your hand off her belly, you move your gaze away from your Sow, and you huff to the side in disappointment.
  7164. >Your slumbering Queen, thankfully, looks none the worse for wear—despite having had your right hand so swinishly stolen from her body.
  7165. >She's clearly not bothered—and honestly, neither are you—but it's the principal of the matter.
  7166. >"N-no," Luster mutters, "that can't—you can't—b-but I…a-ah…"
  7167. >Feeling a twinge of pity in your heart, you look back to your sputtering Sow.
  7168. >Her eyes and nose freely leak out her fresh sorrow, completely reversing the effects of your earlier tongue bath.
  7169. >She's taking this pretty hard.
  7170. >And here you thought Flurry was going to be the emotional one.
  7171. >Feeling Luster's hooves tighten behind your nape, you see her slightly lean in.
  7172. >"M-maaasteeerrr…!" she tearfully whines to you.
  7173. >…Okay. That's enough teasing from you for one morning.
  7174. "Luster," you speak up.
  7175. >She loudly and snottily sniffles.
  7176. >"M-master, please, I-I swear I'll be—"
  7177. >You press your right index against her snout, swiftly silencing her.
  7178. "I'll let you off this time, okay?"
  7179. >Moving your right hand down from her snout, you take it down to her tummy and give it a few light pats.
  7180. "Belly rubs will proceed as usual."
  7181. >To further accentuate your point, you add in a few circular rubs around her pudge.
  7182. >She sucks in a gasp, stymieing her sorrow.
  7183. >"O-oh."
  7184. >After taking a few seconds to blinkingly recover her swinish spirit, she awkwardly chuckles.
  7185. >"Ph-phew…you, uh, heh, you had me scared for a second there, Master. I really thought—"
  7186. "However."
  7187. >You suddenly remove your right hand from her belly, taking your digits all the way up to the front of her face once more.
  7188. >Then, you warningly waggle your index finger in front of her eyes.
  7189. "Next time, I may not be so forgiving. Thus, I expect you to be on your *best* behaviour if you wish to retain belly rubbing privileges, got it?"
  7190. >She gulps, then quickly nods.
  7191. >"G-got it."
  7192. "Good," you say, slowly trailing your hand down her body and along her barrel.
  7193.  
  7194. >Honestly, you're a little surprised with how quickly she folded.
  7195. >Your Sow puts on a piggishly tough front, but she's actually quite the fragile mare deep down.
  7196. >It makes the act of disciplining her feel all the more scathing to your solacing soul.
  7197. >But it has to be done.
  7198. >Flurry's Queenly persona is already enough of a handful to deal with as is—you really don't need Luster acting up too.
  7199. "Now then."
  7200. >You let your right hand rest upon her chubby gut again.
  7201. "Since we're already here…"
  7202. >Casting her a soft smile, you lightly squeeze her equally soft pudge.
  7203. >"N-nnf."
  7204. "…I suppose there's no harm in allowing myself to thoroughly enjoy the fruits of my fertile Sow."
  7205. >Your fingers freely feel up her flab—as they have done so many times before.
  7206. >"Mmph…"
  7207. >Heaving out a deeply relieved sigh, she lets her lips curl up into a contented smile.
  7208. >"…yeah. Yeah… No harm in that…"
  7209. >She takes the opportunity to press her slimy snout against your face again, gently sniffing up your nostrils.
  7210. >You reciprocate her breathy invitation, sniffing her up in turn.
  7211. >No kissing, this time; just good old fashioned nose to nose contact.
  7212. >"Hff…hff…mm…"
  7213. >Her comportment is a lot calmer now, having just been scolded, but you suspect that she'll soon—
  7214. >"Hey, don't be afraid to get a good grope in, Master—*really* get my belly purring; she's been missing you, heh~"
  7215. >—and just like that, she's back to her usual swinely self.
  7216. >Quick to cry, yet just as quick to retry—that's Luster Dawn for you.
  7217. "Sounds like somepiggy's eager for a belly rub."
  7218. >She grins and gives you a lovingly fuzzy nuzzle.
  7219. >"Heh, 'course. It's one of our three B's, after all~"
  7220. "Ah, the three B's."
  7221. >You take a sniffly moment to recall the three sacred morning rituals that every self-respecting pair of mated pigs should know.
  7222. "Breath, belly, and…hm…"
  7223. >"And breed~" she finishes for you, her grin growing toothier.
  7224. "Mm, right."
  7225.  
  7226. >Taking a deep whiff of your mate's natural scent, you give her fatty flab a tender squeeze.
  7227. "So, is my Sow also looking to get her womb filled on this fine morning?"
  7228. >She snortily chuckles:
  7229. >"Heh heh heh, you know I'm always up for a good rutting, Master~"
  7230. >She plants a peck on your lips.
  7231. >"In fact…mm…"
  7232. >Pulling away from your face, Luster casts her lidded gaze down your duvet-covered body.
  7233. >Lighting up her horn, she magically lifts up the duvet, exposing the lower halves of your herd to the world.
  7234. >There, you can see Flurry's right wing covering your bare chest, your right hand fondling Luster's pudgy belly—and your own Masterly sceptre, standing loud and proud atop your groin like a spire of flesh.
  7235. >"Mmph~"
  7236. >Liking what she sees, Luster turns to face you with a lusty grin.
  7237. >"If we're fast enough, maybe we can get a quick and sloppy breeding sesh in before Flurry wakes—"
  7238. >*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
  7239. >Oh shit, right. The alarm clock.
  7240. >You do, in fact, have one of those.
  7241. >*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
  7242. >Luster huffs in thinly veiled irritation.
  7243. >Her shorted sentiments are not lost on you; you'll have to make it up to her later.
  7244. >For now, though—you've got an alarm to switch off.
  7245. >You turn over to the right, only to see your clock slowly float up into the air—
  7246. >*BEEP BEEP BEeeyuu…*
  7247. >—and promptly get flung against the far wall, smashing it to pieces.
  7248. >Thus, a deathly silence now falls upon the bedroom.
  7249. >This is a silence that is only broken up by the quiet crackle of light-blue magic.
  7250. >Shakily, you look down at your right side.
  7251. >Flurry's eyes are closed, yet her snout is stormily scrunched up in snoozy vexation.
  7252. >"Stupid thing…" she grumbles out loud.
  7253. >The light-blue magic around her horn soon fizzles out.
  7254. >She then re-snuggles into your right side, resting her head on your right pec and tightening her winggrip around your chest.
  7255. >A few seconds pass.
  7256. >Her expression lightens—and you start to hear soft snoring.
  7257. >"Mm…my King…love…big…big brood~"
  7258. >Flurry whickers in her sleep.
  7259. >You and Luster turn to face each other in silent awe.
  7260. >Well damn.

Beware the Strawberry Mare

by Glimbrain

Bench Fine

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Club Anonymous

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You have to eat the eggs

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A Glimmer into the Past

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