> Dash's Restraint
>  by Damaged
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Stretched Wings and an Obedient Pet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing was as good as flying for the Wonderbolts… well, maybe being with her friends; for Rainbow "Crash" Dash however, the two never got in the way of each other. But one thing kept stealing her concentration.

The memory that almost had Rainbow losing her position in the tight formation was of how amazingly pliant Twilight had become when her eyes had been glued to Dash's plot. She remembered the hunger, the desire in her friend's eyes.

"Crash, move over!" Soarin screamed the words over the air rushing past them, his voice worried that the mare made famous for crashing would use her unique talent on him.

"Sorry!" Dash broke free of the memory and got back into her pattern as they zoomed over the skies of Fillydelphia. It took focus and training to keep her angles matched to her wing-mate’s and keep the "smoke trail" tight and distinct, but Dash was starting to become a pro at this. Landing, the squad all lifted their hooves and gave a hearty clop as they all came together. "Aww yeah!" Dash turned to Soarin, "Sorry about losing my cool back there, just… I keep getting distracted by something."

"Or somepony? Crash, did you almost buck Soarin mid-air?" Spitfire's voice wasn't really accusing, it had only been a minor shift after all. "I swear girl, you should either get under him or find somepony else to."

Both wing-mates blushed crimson, while it was typical "locker-room" talk from their commander, it seemed to hit a mark on both of them regardless. "Don't listen to her, Crash, you are still the best flier in Equestria, even if you do lose it sometimes." Soarin gave Dash's shoulder a bump. "Hey, did you want to catch the magic show tonight, I hear there is some unicorn who is meant to be amazing at-"

"Trixie!" Rainbow Dash's attention was completely diverted from her distraction problem. "That faker, I would never pay bits to go see… her?" She looked at the two tickets Soarin produced. "You paid for those?"

"Nope, totally got them for free. When she heard some Wonderbolts wanted to see their show, she practically threw them at me." Soarin made sure Dash took one. "So be ready just on nightfall, I hear she is doing something awesome."

"Yeah, totally not. I don't know if you picked up on it Clipper, but me and Trixie have history, or as Rarity would say, 'history.' " Rainbow had to lift her hooves to make air-quotes but it meant she got to stomp them back down again. "She is bad news, she almost destroyed Ponyville with some magic mumbo-jumbo; and that wasn't even the first time!"

"Well, we can sit in the back, ignore anything crazy and just watch the light show?" Soarin wasn't doing much to hide that he was inviting Dash to the show to make out.

"But then I can't keep an eye on her." Sadly for the stallion, Rainbow Dash was a little too focused on being Rainbow Dash to notice his advances. "So let's sit up front, I want to give her the evil-eye too."

"I guess I'll see you then…" Soarin gave a sigh as he turned, leaving the blue pegasus. "I really need to just stallion up and kiss her, or something."


~~~~~+++++~~~~~


Dash was right up front and center, even before any other crowd had arrived. It wasn't even dark but the pegasus couldn't resist the chance to show Trixie up. "Heh, 'great and powerful'? I don't think so."

"Trixie hears a voice she knows all too well." Trixie poked her head out from between the big curtains, spotting her only audience member already. "Well, well, well; if it isn't Rainbow Dash. Here to cheer on the Great and Powerful Trixie?"

"Pfft," Dash stuck her tongue out at the unicorn, "as if! I am here to see just how terrible your show really is now. I bet without that amulet thing you can barely even get a single spark!"

"Why…" Trixie froze and smiled. "Trixie won't do it. She absolutely will not be baited. Her show is the best and she certainly doesn't need to prove it to a washed up…"

"What's the matter, Trixie? Manticore got your tongue?" Rainbow Dash got up from her seat and walked over to the stage and then froze at the look on the unicorn's face. It wasn't hate, it wasn't malice at all; the look Trixie sported was pure calculation.

"The Clever and Manipulative Trixie has an offer, Rainbow Dash. Trixie is always the star of the show, but how would you like to be the… co-star?" Trixie's eyes flashed with challenge.

A challenge Rainbow Dash could never say "no" to. "Pfft, if I was in your show I would be the star. You'll see, there is nothing you could-" She cut her words off as blue magic levitated Rainbow into the air, her eyes drawing level with the egomaniac performer. "T-T-Trixie…"

"Shh, Trixie needs to get you in your costume, and then teach you some tricks." Trixie stared deep into Rainbow Dash's eyes. "Oh yes, all the tricks."

Rainbow Dash gulped. What have I gotten myself into? Bah, whatever it is, I am a Wonderbolt, nothing could faze me! She stepped through the curtains and followed Trixie. Oddly, Dash's eyes caught on Trixie's tail, following it up and seeing the slight color of the mare's dock. What am I staring at, this is Trixie, not… 

"Here you are." Trixie had led Rainbow all the way to her little wagon at the back of the stage. "Put this on, make sure it is on the right way." She levitated a magically "sticky" bodysuit to the pegasus. "With this on my magic will last however long Trixie needs it to."

"Wha… what is it?" Rainbow held up the thing, turning the suit this way and that. At first it appeared that the only hole was in the neck, but as she investigated the thing closer there was another two holes at the rear, one was for a tail but the other… The buck is this?

"Just put it on, you do want to be in Trixie's show?" It was a moment the unicorn had been waiting for, she watched as Rainbow Dash started pulling the tight and stretchy costume on from her rump first. "Trixie thinks you have worn these before?"

"Sorta, it is like the thermal gear I had to wear when I flew to Yakyakistan." Dash pushed her back hooves down into the stretchy stuff. "Does it have to be this color? It makes me look like… it even has your cutie mark!"

"Trixie had this made to wear herself." Stepping around Rainbow, Trixie started helping, working the pegasus' tail through the appropriate hole. Of course this let Trixie get a good look at what else was exposed back there.

"Hey, I don't… okay, okay." Rainbow squirmed backwards into the outfit and was surprised to find wing holes. "I thought you said you had this made for yourself?" She smirked at the other egomaniac.

"Trixie… had an amulet that she thought would… oh you know the story." Trixie pulled the tight outfit over the mare's back, carefully adjusting Rainbow's wings and working them through the holes. "It cannot be said you don't wear this well. Trixie approves."

The words froze Dash in place. Did she just compliment... my figure?

Yanking the suit up further—having gotten both blue wings through the holes in the back of the costume—Trixie had the thing all the way up to Dash's withers. "Trixie needs you to lift your hooves."

Rainbow blinked, the world returning and bringing a blush with it. "Uh, right." Lifting each hoof, Dash stepped into the suit and, a moment later, had it pulled up neatly around her neck. "So what is it about this thing? It is neat enough, and I look almost like a second you… without the horn."

"Put this on now." Trixie fumbled around in a box and produced a steel collar. "What are you staring at, Trixie's show starts shortly and she will not have a monstrous Shadowbolt on stage unless they have a collar and leash."

Dash looked at the collar and blinked. The device was not a "neck-collar," it was one designed to fasten around a pony's head, around their snout and face like a bridle, but without the class of such an item. "Shadowbolt? Trixie, what is this-" She got no further, Trixie started weaving illusion around Rainbow and it felt… it felt like it was becoming part of her. "T-T-Trixie…"

"Put the collar on now. Trixie's pet Shadowbolt must wear it." Trixie glared at Rainbow and knew this was the moment, her heart beat a million miles an hour and wouldn't slow until.

*CLICK*

Gulping, Rainbow could feel the weight of the collar threatening to drag her neck down unless she fought it. Why the buck did I put it on? Why do I feel so… so… good? "Trixie?"

"Shadowbolt pets call Trixie 'Master.' " Trixie grinned and pulled a mirror over with her magic. "With that costume on, Trixie's magic will stick to you for weeks. What would normally fade in minutes will persist long past that." She gave a tug on the leash attached to the head-collar.

"T-T-T-Trix…" This is all a show, she is doing it to make me feel like I am weak… but why does it feel so good? Rainbow Dash lifted her head and looked in the mirror. "Master, that is amazing…" A Shadowbolt, looking to be stitched together by the night from smoke and darkness, stared back at Rainbow Dash, their eyes glowing a soft yellow. Not a hint of her mane was visible and her wings were midnight black. Memories rushed back, of refusing to join their ranks and work with Nightmare Moon.

"Trixie enjoys the sight of her new pet. Come on, Shade, and don't forget to look terrifying; because you are." Trixie gave a tug on the leash and strode through to the curtains.

"Y-Y-Yes Master!" Rainbow puffed herself up, loosing her wings at each side of herself and, to her oddly aroused delight, did exactly what Trixie asked her to. I need to get a grip, this is… okay, this is more exciting than anything I have ever done before, but this is TRIXIE! The curtain pulled back and the performer within Rainbow Dash latched onto the command Trixie had given her and she was rushing toward the stage, past Trixie, snarling at Soarin in the front row. Glaring at her wing-mate, Rainbow realized he was cheering. This. Is. So. Awesome!

"Fillies and gentlecolts. Welcome to the Great and Powerful Trixie's Night-stravaganza!" Trixie was pulling back on the leash, but not jerking it; she held her Shadowbolt at bay but wasn't pulling her back to heel. "However the ever-amazing Trixie must inform you that she has spent some of her magical might capturing this beast." Now she did jerk the leash.

The tug was instinctive, Dash kept pulling, but she backed up slowly toward Trixie, casting her gaze around at all and sundry. Oh wow, look at him, he is… Dash almost broke her character, apparently Soarin really liked the idea of a captured Shadowbolt.

Once she had Dash back and beside her, Trixie reared up and jerked her hooves skyward. "Welcome to the Nightmare!" The blasts of light that shot skywards were blinding at point-blank range, but Rainbow was focused on two things: looking scary, and waiting for her Master's commands.

She is the master of all of this, I am part of her show… does that make Trixie my Master? Dash had no time to contemplate things, she felt the leash go slack.

"Fly! Fly and spread your darkness over all here, but return to Trixie, she commands it!" Trixie gestured skywards and Dash was off.

Pumping her wings, Rainbow flew like a maniac, like a mare possessed with a mission. From her smoke-shrouded body darkness fell, like a blanket. To those below Rainbow knew that she was snuffing out all light in the sky and plunging them into the inky depths of Trixie's spell.

"Now return!" Trixie called through the dark spell. The crowd was just getting to the edge of worry about the black when Trixie lit things up. "The Great and Powerful Trixie has a story to tell, a story of a young mare who would not only save a princess, but become one…"

Dash froze and lay down at Trixie's side, judging the action would be perfect for when things faded. A hoof gently rubbed her mane—caressed her ears—as Trixie told the story of Twilight, Dash, and their friends as they saved Luna from Nightmare Moon. She… she sounds like she really admires Twilight… in her own odd way.

When the spell finally ended, Dash's eyes lit up, watching a crowd of ponies climb to their hooves and start stomping. The applause rang through the stage, washing over Trixie and Rainbow Dash. The hoof on Dash's head stroked a little firmer, working in around one ear. That feels so good...

"The Great and Powerful Trixie, and her Shadowbolt pet, must depart now, but she will leave you with a present…" Trixie ignited the spell-pot at the front of the stage, sending streams of fireworks into the sky. Tugging lightly on Dash's leash, Trixie walked the other mare off the stage. "Trixie was most impressed, her pet really is a good flier."

Wagging her tail and smiling, Rainbow hadn't even realized how good such praise could be until they came from her Master's lips. She opened her snout to thank Trixie but got a hoof pressed to it instead.

"Ah-ah! Trixie doesn't want her pet talking when she is a pet, does Trixie's Shadowbolt understand?" Trixie drew her hoof back and grinned wider as Rainbow nodded. "Good girl. Now…" Trixie started unraveling her spell, removing the twists and turns that held it in place on the suit and, soon, left Dash as just herself again, in a very "Trixie" costume… still wearing the head-collar. "Wait."

Rainbow felt Trixie start working magic again, wrapping it around her. It didn't take the unicorn long but she soon had Dash looking. "Hey, I look like me." A hoof rubbed behind Dash's ear and she leaned into it instinctively.

"It is, even your collar is hidden. All illusion of course. Trixie will be along to Ponyville in about… a week or two; she will remove the collar then, unless Trixie's pet decides she wants to keep wearing it." Trixie turned and walked away, swinging the unclasped leash around in her magic. 

"But… but… Master…" Dash stared at Trixie's plot as the unicorn walked off.

"There you are Crash!" Soarin's voice came from behind Dash, she couldn't take her eyes from Trixie until the unicorn was out of sight. "Hey, Equestria to Crash… Crash, you in there?"

"I… I think I am…"
> Shade on a Sunny Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The best thing about clouds," mused Rainbow Dash, with her hoof between her back legs, "is that it is so hard to get caught masturbating." Squirming a little, she closed her eyes and not for the first time cast her thoughts back to that performance. It was easy to return to the moment, Dash still had the metal head-collar on, still wore the synthetic outfit that clung to her body. "Yes Master…" She stroked a little more firmly, hoof getting as wet as her mound. It wasn't quite enough, she dropped her other hoof down to the other sensitive place; she lightly rubbed her little udders, the bliss it built pushing reality far away.

While the pegasus worked her body, her mind roamed. She was a Shadowbolt—a beast to be tamed—and only one mare could tame her. The collar was on, but the would-be master hadn't yet fastened a leash to it. Dash ground her hoof in more firmly and weakly flapped her wings against the soft cloud. "You need to break me to be my Master." In her mind, Trixie cracked that whip again and again, stinging Dash's nose, her flanks, and catching a lucky strike under her tail. 

Just the thought of getting whipped there had Dash crying out, her body going stiff with release. "Yes my Master!" Her hoof stayed in place, gently rubbing as her body came down from the climax. Little twitches and shocks of pleasure kept her from fully relaxing, so she began to stroke slowly again.

"Rainbow Dash?" The words shocked the mare and before she could do more than heap some cloud over her indiscretion, Thunderlane flew up beside her. "Rainbow Dash, don't forget to move the last cloud over to Sweet Apple Acres, Miss Applejack asked if we could drop some rain over there."

Blushing hotly, Dash nodded. "Uh, sure!" She tried to hide her hoof and her back end. "Just… uh… give me a minute. I'll get it done myself."

"Okay… uh, Dash?" Thunder waited until he had the mare's attention again. "Take a break after it, okay? You look like you have just been through a Running of the Leaves!" Just as the stallion turned to fly off, a wind-change brought a new scent to him and he knew exactly what Rainbow had been up to. Eyes widening, he took off as fast as he could.

"Yeah, perfect Rainbow Dash." Rainbow pulled herself out of the cloud. "Didn't suspect a thing!" Flapping her wings and hovering over the cloud, Dash gave it a few kicks; happy with the amount of moisture it seemed to have, she started pushing it toward Applejack's farm. 

Reaching the farm in short order, Dash heard a voice call, "What took ya so long?" Of course it was Applejack. "Can ya send it over that way?"

Dash had just gotten the cloud into place and gave it a kick. "Yeah, yeah, keep your hat on." Another kick in just the right place and the cloud was dumping the water it carried. "Aww yeah, perfect. And now…" She flew a loop around the cloud, dunking herself in the heavy rain. The collar was fine, as was the tight suit; but the quick shower shed the last of Dash's "excited" smell. Swooping down to meet her friend she almost tripped over three excited fillies.

"Applejack! Rainbow Dash! You will never believe what we saw!" Apple Bloom was panting a little, as were her two friends. She looked up at the mares expectantly. "Well?"

"Uh, did Twilight turn Rarity's boutique green again?" Rainbow Dash lifted one hoof to her chin, tapping it.

"N-N-No…" Sweetie Belle looked interested though, clearly the filly was working out how to get her sister's shop and home to turn green.

"Did Big Mac step in some Poison Joke again and get tourettes?" Applejack thought back to the last time that had happened. 

"No! There is a show in town!" Scootaloo was unable to hold back her news any longer. She began buzzing her wings in excitement. "Trixie is back and she is really building things up to be huge!"

The world narrowed for Rainbow Dash. Everything after the little pegasus' mentioning "Trixie" was lost, as was Rainbow's attention. Master is here… Master is here... Her brain was like a broken gramophone. At last a poke on the snout ripped her from the special place she had mentally fallen into. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is here?" Her hooves itched—her wings too—she wanted… needed, to fly right there.

"She was pretty 'great' when she helped save us all from those crazy changelings, not sure how powerful she was…" Applejack ribbed her best friend's use of the unicorn's full title. "Hey Dash, didn't you used to have a rivalry with her? Gonna heckle her again?"

"Igottagocloudsandstuffneedthings!" Rainbow Dash almost left a rainboom behind her, she flew away so fast. Master is here! She pumped her wings faster and faster until she realized she was already arcing up, already halfway there. "Buck it, this one is for you…" She got to the apogee of her flight and turned down. Speed rising, Rainbow Dash felt the air itself pull at her, trying to slow her down. 

Rainboom.

She had seen books in her friend's library on "meditation," even accidentally read one when looking for more Daring Do books. This felt a lot like what those books described. She aimed herself directly at the open area where she could see her blue Master setting up her wagon. Extending her wings at the last moment, Dash hit the ground in a partial stall and felt her nose brush against Trixie's hoof. Perfect.

"Well, look who it is." Trixie lifted her hoof a touch and pressed it a little more against Dash's snout. She felt the pegasus' lips purse against her soft appendage. "Good pet, Trixie approves. Are you still wearing your collar and outfit?"

"Yes Master." Rainbow Dash lifted her head, feeling that hoof she had just kissed lift and rub her mane and ears. She was suddenly just as wet as she had been on the cloud, her body tingling with excitement at the attention. The hoof drifted and brushed the hidden metal surrounding her head, then rubbed down her neck to touch the suit.

"Trixie has new games to play with her pet." Trixie gestured to the stage she was assembling. "But first, she needs Rainbow Dash to help build her stage."

Dash shook her head, coming out of a daze at the speaking of her name. "Dash can… I mean, I can help you." Rainbow Dash brightened and without another word started fetching more wood.

"You saw how Trixie's stage was set up last time, she is wanting a similar build." Trixie began with instructions, working with the blue pegasus that so tickled her specific desires that it hurt not to drag her back to the wagon and play with her immediately. "The Great and Powerful Trixie spent some time with the changelings after everypony left, you see. She learned some tricks from them that she really wants to use with her pet."

"T-T-Tricks?" Rainbow licked her lips. "What kind of Tricks?" She hefted up the first upright part of the stage.

"These tricks require the Mesmerizing and Hypnotic Trixie to enchant herself first, then she can play games with her pet's mind and body. But there is a special thing Trixie needs to do with her pet first." Trixie used her magic to help assemble the stage.

Dash trembled in anticipation, she wanted so much to "play" with Trixie again… to play for Trixie. "Anything, Master."

Trixie lifted up the first awning onto the uprights. "Trixie's pet needs to know ways to let Trixie know when something is not completely to her pet's liking." Trixie added fastenings to bind the huge curtains up. "Trixie thinks that when her pet can talk, if she says 'showstopper,' things will stop." She began lifting another of the big curtains. "And if pet can't talk, she will tense her muscles twice, once, then twice. Does Trixie's pet understand?"

"Yes Master. Showstopper, and…" Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof up, leaning her leg against Trixie. She tensed her muscles twice in a row, then once, then twice again.

"Good!" Trixie leaned in and gave Dash a kiss on the forehead. "Trixie's pet learns fast, but tonight we will find out if she can learn even faster. Follow your Master." Turning, Trixie started trotting for her wagon. 

Blinking, Rainbow Dash nodded and felt every inch aroused and ready for whatever her Master wanted. Smiling wide like she hadn't a care in the world, Rainbow took off at a trot after the unicorn. Ducking inside the mare's wagon, Dash was looking right at Trixie.

Pale blue magic closed the door behind Rainbow Dash. "Good, Trixie has her pet all to herself and now she will play." Trixie focused on the spells she had adapted. It was specific patterns she needed, particular colors. Working her magic, she built up what she wanted and cast it on her own eyes; quickly closing them so as not to jump the gun. "Okay, pet, Trixie will now hypnotize you." Trixie bit her lip, this was her most important show she would ever make and it all hinged on this next bit. "Will Rainbow Dash surrender her will to Trixie and let her play with the pet Rainbow Dash always wanted to be?"

"S-Surrender… this sounds heavy…" Rainbow Dash suddenly realized this part was a lot more intense game than they had played already. "What will it do?"

"Trixie is glad her pet is clever enough to ask. If Trixie was a changeling, this would lock away your mind and leave you at her mercy for as long as she redoes it. Trixie is not a changeling, this will be normal hypnosis. You can only be made to do things you already want to." Trixie kept her eyes tightly closed. "Trixie promises. She will even make sure her pet can use her safeties and will not hold it against her pet if she does."

Dash closed her eyes too. "Okay Trixie, my Master." A deep shudder ran through Rainbow Dash, she was letting go of something that she never had before.

"Trixie needs her pet to open her eyes." Trixie reached a hoof up, brushing a stray strand of Rainbow's mane to the side.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, blinked, and looked right at Trixie. "Your eyes are swirling, spinning…" She couldn't look away, no matter what seemed to move in her peripheral vision. Rainbow Dash stared and stared, unable to get enough of her Master's eyes. "Thank you…"

"Feeling emptier?" At Trixie's question, Dash nodded. The pegasus never broke eye contact. "Now Trixie's pet feels emptier and emptier. All her thoughts will flitter away as soon as they come to her. The only thing Trixie's pet can think of for herself is the safeties that are her own little warm candle." Trixie worked to keep the excitement out of her voice. She ached to reach back and rub herself.

Dash wasn't even sure why she would ever want to think her own thoughts, they made her head too heavy, too full. She smiled blankly at Trixie, waiting for the mare to talk again. "Now Trixie will help her pet think, she will give her pet things to focus on. Trixie's pet is fiercely loyal, she doesn't want to be anypony's pet but Trixie. But Trixie's pet needs training, she needs to learn to be good and follow commands. When Trixie counts to three, her pet will wake up. One. Two. Shade, you are mine. Three."

Shade blinked, the feeling of her eyes opening again making it seem like she had just woken from a long nap. She looked at her Master and smiled. A memory filtered through her slightly confused head. "Trixie doesn't want her pet talking when she is a pet." Shade gave a big smile and leaned in, rubbing her cheek against her Master's neck.

"Shade… Shade, Trixie commands you to sit." Trixie's tone was commanding and full of demand.

It was a simple command, and Shade was happy to comply for her Master; she parked her plot on the floor of the wagon.

"Now the Masterful and Dominant Trixie thinks her pet needs to look right." Trixie had been practicing the "Shadowbolt" disguise spell, but first she dismissed the enchantments already on Dash's suit. Charging her horn, Trixie cast her new-and-improved "Shade" form onto Dash.

Smoke coiled around Shade, she squirmed in place but didn't move her rump. More and more of her was engulfed in the blackness. She looked down at herself and recognized the basics of a Shadowbolt, but there was dark smoke leaking from her hooves, her tail itself was rife with smog and her mane too was dusky and leaking. Opening her mouth and looking down, Shade could see more smoke leak from her lips. I am awesome! It was a voice in Shade's head, she knew it was herself, the "self" that was when her Master wasn't in complete control. Mentally, the two parts of Rainbow Dash gave a hoof-bump. Very awesome, we are both awesome!

"Shade." Trixie's words were accompanied by the mare fastening a leash onto the now-visible head-collar around Shade's face. "You are going to go for a walk. You will behave or Trixie will jerk on your leash. Trixie will take her pet to visit all Rainbow Dash's friends."

My friends… this will be… I look like… oh wow Trixie is the best Master ever! The smell of excited mare grew in the little wagon. Shade turned in place, stuffing her smoke-puffing nose under her back end to sniff inquisitively.

"Ignore that, come on Shade." Trixie opened the door and tugged on Shade's leash, leading her out into the afternoon.

"Trixie!" The voice was immediately familiar to both Trixie and Shade. Twilight Sparkle waved and then froze when she saw the beast of a pony that the unicorn was leading. "Trixie, what is that?"

"This is Shade. Do you like her? She was a Shadowbolt Trixie tamed herself. Say hello to the nice mare, Shade." Trixie walked closer to Twilight.

As soon as Shade was close enough she quickly marched around the alicorn and, to the shock of Trixie and Twilight, shoved her nose up and under Princess Twilight Sparkle's tail. 

The first lick was not reacted to, Twilight was too much in shock. But the second reminded the mare that she wasn't actually exposed, that the improved, invisible chastity belt Maud had gotten her was still protecting her. "Trixie! Get your pet under control!"

Twilight's wearing something naughty... Dash's inner mind spun on the idea, remembering the taste of rubber and metal on her tongue as Shade had licked her friend's most personal place. Buck Master, let's lick there again. Despite the jerking on the leash, Shade pushed forward and kept licking. Definitely something wrapped around her, protecting her. I wonder if Master would get us one of those? Shade shook her head and sneezed.

"Shade! Bad girl!" Trixie jerked harder on the leash, suddenly realizing just how strong—and apparently willful—"Shade" was. "Trixie is... Trixie needs to train her pet better, Princess; she is working on training her first for tonight's show." 

Twilight reached a hoof out to the Shadowbolt. She sparked her magic and felt a whole mess of illusion and something she identified. "Who is this, Trixie?" Twilight felt the prickle of hypnosis on the pony in the unicorn's care.

"She consented, she has a safe word and motion. Touch her Twilight, Trixie is right. If she twitches her muscles twice, once, then twice… Trixie will remove all the spells and things." Trixie felt a snout press to her side, Shade looking up and shook her head. The subservience and support warmed Trixie, restoring her own ego to full power.

Twilight lifted a hoof up and pinched the bridge of her snout. "Trixie, I can see that whoever it is wants this. Just be careful with them. Make sure that if something bad or dangerous is happening they can become themselves again."

Trixie tilted her head at the Princess, but grinned. "Trixie thinks Princess Twilight knows a lot more about this than the Humble and Inquisitive Trixie. Tomorrow… if Trixie brings her pet, would the Princess help Trixie and her pet learn more about this?"

It was impossible not to agree. Even without Maud present, Twilight could help one of the "Saviors of Equestria" learn to play safer. "Of course, Trixie. Now promise me you will play with… Shade, carefully until then?"

"Trixie promises!"
> In Orbit Around her Ego
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you doing okay, Dash?" Trixie checked the leash and the enchantments. 

Rainbow Dash stretched, arching her back and shaking her body. "Feels so good like this, being your pet… Shade is a whole new side of me I never knew I had, Trixie." Flexing her wings, she gave each a little flap and arched her back like a cat. "Does it make me more flexible or something?"

"Trixie's spells are only illusion, they only cover her pet, not modify her. The Mesmerizing and Commanding Trixie would suggest Rainbow Dash ask her friends; Twilight Sparkle or Princess Luna may be able to help her. Trixie certainly wouldn't object to having Shade around more often."

A shiver ran down Rainbow's spine, and ache of desire for something that she wasn't sure she had been aware she wanted before. "Rainbow Dash—I mean, Shade—would really like that, but let's stick to illusions for now. Besides, I am still a Wonderbolt." And with that Dash closed her eyes and focused on the feel of the head-collar—Shade leaped forward and was off, the leash pulling at Trixie's magic behind her.

Trixie let out a laugh as she ran after Rainbow, the experience almost like having a normal pet. "Hold on!" Trixie was laughing too hard for it to really sink in too much. "Slow down Shade!" Of course the mare known best for her speed wasn't going to slow down just for her Master, oh no. In no time at all they were both at the front door of the castle; and if it wasn't for long days pulling her wagon, Trixie would have been panting. "You are irrepressible, Shade."

Before Trixie could reach out a hoof, Dash did so and knocked on the door. Rainbow giggled as she saw it start to open, but kept any words to herself.

"Trixie, Shade… come in please." Twilight opened the doors wide for the two mares. "Before we continue, I must know who your pet is, Trixie." She closed the doors behind the two and almost changed her mind about the requirement when "Shade" began whining and dropped to their belly before her. "No. No this won't do and I will tell you why."

Dash looked up at her friend, it was so much easier to play a pet, to be a cute, strong, and completely uninhibited animal—rather than herself. "Okay." The word cut to the quick. "Trixie, drop the enchantments."

"Rainbow…" Twilight watched as the spells and enchantments were pulled away and there, crawling at her hooves, was the most self-confident and ego-maniacal pony she knew. "Okay, that was not who I expected."

"Twi I-" Rainbow Dash froze as Twilight's hoof raised up and began to rub behind one of her ears. It was cathartic, it melted every misgiving she had. A jerk came at her leash and without thinking, Rainbow got up and trotted back to Trixie's side and sat. It was strange for her, she was revealed, she wasn't being called a pet; but the treatment from both mares was as if she were, so Dash kept acting like Shade.

"Trixie… doesn't want to mess up the fun she has with her pet." Trixie rubbed Dash behind the ear, the whole pegasus practically falling against her. "Give Trixie a moment, her pet needs to keep her… anonymity." Trixie had practiced the spell more now, it was almost as simple as setting off fireworks. She sent the magic out and it wrapped Dash, it remade her into Shade properly. "That better, Shade?"

Twilight froze in astonishment, the dark, shadow monster leaned up to Trixie and nuzzled along Trixie's neck. "I… okay, we have a lot ahead of us today. I really would like to get-" She froze, almost having told them Maud's name. "My Mistress… I will have to ask her if she would be okay helping. She knows a lot more about this than I do." Twilight practically melted into a purr at the thought of her Mistress.

The front door of the castle made quite an obvious sound as it opened and closed. Twilight froze as a gray-furred mare walked in. "Hello Princess. Hello Trixie Lulamoon, Rainbow Dash." Maud's eyes didn't stray from their normal half-opened state. "Twilight, I found a nice rock."

Twilight couldn't stop herself, she climbed up from her chair and leaned in and kissed Maud. It wasn't a little kiss—neither mare could stand half measures—they pressed close and from the corner of her eye Twilight saw the two other mares staring a little. "A nice rock, Maud?" Twilight held out her hoof for the stone. "Oh, this is pumice. Did you go to the dragons?"

"Yes, they wanted to buy some heavier rocks, and gave me this one." Maud gestured at the rock. "They wanted some granite and shale mostly. Did you know there are different kinds of shale?" The words had a way with each and every pony Maud met, and that was just how she liked it. "Twilight Sparkle, you will be my servant today."

Trixie stared in surprise as the Princess of Friendship quickly bowed to the earth pony. "Trixie isn't sure what is happening here. Prin-" she froze at the look Maud gave her. "Maid Twilight," Trixie was very surprised to get a nod from both Twilight and Maud, "was just explaining that Trixie has a lot to learn about hypnosis and mind-control. She really wants to learn!"

"Tea." Maud looked at Twilight until she bobbed her head and quietly trotted off. "I can teach you, you have already played with it?" The tone was clear to Trixie and Dash, dismissive.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie has already hypnotized her pet, using techniques she learned from changelings. She knows perfectly well how to…" Trixie's eyes strayed to Dash and saw somepony she really didn't want to hurt. Trixie hates swallowing her pride. "Please teach Trixie how to do this properly."

Twilight returned to see her Mistress half-smiling at Trixie. Setting the tea-set down on the table, she began pouring two cups out and then a bowl—which she set on the floor. Backing away and to the side of where her Mistress had sat, Twilight sat down and watched on with bright eyes.

Maud lifted up her own cup and gave the tea a sip. "I can teach you, but first I need to hypnotize you." She looked through her relaxed eyes at Trixie, at one of the mares that had saved Equestria when even the princesses were captured.

"H… Hypnotize Trixie?" Despite how odd it seemed, it did ring true to one part of Trixie. She is going to make Trixie realize how it feels to go under, clever. "Trixie… Trixie will do this, for her Shade." She reached a hoof down and blinked at her pet.

Shade paused from lapping up the tea to press her head up into the touch of her Master's hoof. She had been quietly ignored by all the ponies present except Twilight, and all she had done was set her a dish of water on the floor like a common pet. I totally owe Twi big for playing along with this… I really owe the egg-head now. I bet she will just say something cliché like "Just don't tell anypony about Maud," or something like that. Ugh, and that is terrible, this was the juiciest gossip I have had all year!

Maud nodded and lifted her tea again. "I will do it just how I would my pet, all you need to do is listen to how relaxing and soft my voice is, how even it is in your ears." Maud looked down at Twilight at her side. "You can feel my words flowing into your head, skipping your mind and slipping deep into your thoughts. Just relax, have some more tea."

Looking up at her Master, Shade tilted her head a little and watched as Trixie reached out with her hoof and took another sip from her tea. She started to turn her head to look at Maud but a purple hoof stopped her. That is Twilight, she is a friend of mine, and Master's. Shade licked the hoof and smiled.

The teacup was heavy, and while Trixie gazed down into it she yawned. Somepony was talking, it was Maud she was sure. With some effort she could hear the words again, but she could do nothing to stop them soaking into her head, making her own thoughts slow to a crawl and then, finally, stop.

"Trixie will be hypnotized because she let herself be hypnotized. As soon as she doesn't want to be hypnotized, and help her pet, she can just say 'Cards Tumble' and she will no longer be hypnotized at all." Maud had adopted the mare's own references for herself. "Trixie is completely under my power, except for these words. Being under my power helps Trixie help her pet."

This is all for Trixie's pet, Trixie will not fail her. A happy smile spread over Trixie's snout. "Trixie will help her pet, Trixie will stay hypnotized." But it wasn't that simple, Trixie was fighting a war inside herself to break free.

"Trixie, spill your tea." Maud said the words, using full commands on the mare rather than the suggestions she usually used. She watched as Trixie tipped the last of her cup onto the table. "Now lap it up."

It wasn't what Trixie had expected, she railed against the command, but there was only one way to not do what Maud had told her. Leaning forward she started to lap at the tea, the bitter taste of humble pie ruining the delicious tea's own flavor. 

"Now tell Twilight she is your owner now. Trixie, you are her pet." Maud watched as Trixie's whole body shook and Maud knew she had hit just the point she wanted.

Trixie must do this for… for Shade... It was full-scale war in Trixie's head, but she had spent so long cultivating her ego that, with tears streaming down her eyes, she lowered her head. "Cards Tumble. Trixie can't do this."

Twilight took her hoof from Shade's snout and pointed to Trixie. "Go." The whispered word spurred the unicorn's pet into action.

Sobbing and whimpering, Trixie leaned into the suddenly soft body that pulled against her. The black smoke and dark form was obviously Shade. "Trixie couldn't do it, she can't help her pet."

"You feel how hard that was to say, Trixie Lulamoon?" Maud had her pumice stone in her hoof, feeling all the soft little holes in it.

"Trixie didn't want to, she wants to help Shade so much, to be a good Master for her pet. Trixie… Trixie has a lot of ego." She spilled tears into Dash's neck, sobbing a little.

"Imagine how much harder it is for a mare who is being submissive, whose ego is pinned down." Maud's words suddenly had three sets of ears paying very close attention. "Trixie, when Dash is like this, she is almost completely bound to your word and will." 

Twilight leaned in and rest her head against Maud's side. "I have used my words twelve times." She looked over at Trixie and Dash. No, she is Shade like this; just like I was Pet. "You have to give her more than one word. There will be times she needs to break out completely, but others she just might like things a little different." 

"And then there is you, Trixie." Maud gestured at the unicorn. "Will you always want to do what Shade wants to do?"

The question astonished Trixie, Shade, and Rainbow Dash.

"But… but Trixie is in charge." Trixie blinked a few times at the words. "Trixie should…" She looked at Shade and then gave a laugh. "Trixie has the most amazing pet, the most willful pet. The Commanding and Confident Trixie will need safe words as well."

"Shade, Rainbow Dash," Maud spoke both names and had the Shadowbolt and Wonderbolt's attention, "you are going to need to honor those words every bit as diligently as your Master does. Hypnotism is not enough for this, it needs to be trust."

I need to talk, Shade. Dash felt a relaxing of her other self's grip. "Trixie, I trust you in this… you saved Equestria. You're a hero and… I like being your pet." Rainbow Dash wrapped a shadowy wing around Trixie.

"Trixie trusts you too, Rainbow Dash." Trixie found it odd to mean it; heckling aside, they hadn't been the best of friends. "It feels special, it makes Trixie feel very Great and extremely Powerful. Can she trust Shade as well?"

Go on, we both want to. Shade took control again, the pegasus' whole body seeming to relax and squirm before Trixie got a big lick from her nose all the way up into her mane.

"Shade!" Trixie giggled like a filly as she was pushed back and had the Shadowbolt standing over her, licking and nuzzling at her like a big dog. It should have felt domineering but to Trixie it felt just like what it was. "Good girl, Shade." Trixie heaped up praise. "Heel now."

Wagging her whole back end, Shade took up her position at Trixie's side, well, what would be her side when she got up from being licked. Looking at her Master, Shade leaned up and licked Trixie's cheek again.

"Good girl." Trixie couldn't bring herself to be angry at her Shadowbolt pet. "So tell Trixie everything, leave nothing out. Just like a show, the Great and Powerful Trixie will do things perfect and-" She cut off as Shade was poking her side insistently with their snout. "Stop that." The command came with a sigh. "Trixie knows some of her shows don't go perfect, but with her pet they always have."

"Those times when your 'performance' is not going well, that is when your safe words need to be used." Maud looked at both ponies, giving each a penetrating stare that had been rumored to be able to break rocks.

"Trixie thinks that Shade will be able to talk, when she needs to say her safe words." Trixie booped her pet on the nose, her ego re-inflating her confidence.

Shade was having none of it, she gave a little growl and shook her head. We need to do something. We need to be able to tell Master when we aren't having fun. 

Twilight lifted a hoof like she was back in school, and waited for Maud to smile and nod to her. "Does Trixie use- Do you use restraints? Apart from the cage." She had no clue what the name for the device was, but she was thinking of asking her Mistress about it… later. 

"Trixie doesn't plan to use such things. Does Shade want to be… bound up?" Trixie looked to her pet and got a shrug back from her. "Having a pet is Trixie's enjoyment from this, having Shade is… Trixie wants to quote a pegasus she knows, 'Best thing ever.' "

"Then Shade's safe word could be a gesture. So long as she is never bound, she can signal to you with a gesture. If that gesture is built into her hypnosis, it wouldn't matter, just trying to do it would lead to her immediate relief." Twilight grinned widely, unable to be unhappy with how cute the two mares were together.

"So the Studious and Inquisitive Trixie can learn from you?" Trixie's eyes begged the earth pony, on the verge of tears. When Maud nodded, Trixie whooped and set off fireworks… inside the castle.
> Special School for Special Subjects
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maud looked at the three ponies arrayed before her. "Do you like rocks? I like rocks, rocks are wonderful. They sit where you tell them to, they-" She stopped and gazed impassively at one of her new students. "Trixie, pull your pet to heel."

"Trixie is trying! Shade!" Trixie tried to clamp her tail down and pull her Shadowbolt around to her side. "Shade! HEEL!" She gave a hard yank on the leash.

Shade gave a quick lick to her Master before turning slowly and sitting at her side. I can't believe I can just do this stuff, I feel… free.

"As I was saying. Do you like rocks? I like rocks, rocks are wonderful. They sit where you tell them to, they…" This time Maud stopped because Trixie was desperately yanking on the leash, trying to pull Shade back from sniffing at Cheerilee's plot.

"Trixie," Cheerilee sidled away from the dark pet, "can't you control her?" She reached a hoof out and gently stroked her own pet's nose, the pony hidden under the weak spell Princess Twilight had cast for her giving a happy sigh and rubbing against her hoof.

"Shade." Maud's voice was calm, even. But even the ponies she hadn't named focused completely on her. "Behave, Shade. I am trying to teach your owner how to treat you properly."

I should probably behave. I can always taste her later. Stepping back beside Trixie, Shade planted her plot on the floor again. She felt a pair of forelegs wrap around her neck and turned to see her Master had hugged her.

"Good girl, Shade. Trixie will learn how to take care of such a Great and Powerful pet." Trixie let go and stood up, feeling Shade lean slightly against her. "Sorry, she will behave now."

Rarity smiled at Trixie, thankful that her pet was on the other side of the entertainer. "Darling, it is quite alright. That is what you are here for." Of course Rarity didn't have a pet here. Smugness drove the unicorn to even greater heights of superiority: her "little filly" was so big that not even some heavy enchantment magic would hide her from being identified.

Maud gestured to the side, where Twilight was stacking cards ever so carefully with her magic. It wouldn't normally take so much work, but when the base of the card tower was thinner than the top even magic had trouble countering the irresistible force of gravity. "This is the way we do hypnosis. It all builds on two cards." Her three students paid close attention to Twilight's tower. "At the top is what you want your subject to behave like. I have used it to split Twilight's personality, make her want things, and forced her to do particular things."

Twilight was grinning brightly. It is such a relief that I don't have to hide this from some of my friends. She looked at the three mares, learning this wonderful gift from her Mistress.

"In the middle we have the building blocks. Hypnosis is built on trust initially, but to reach the things you desire to impart onto your subject you need to link trust to control. 'Slow down' safe words, background desires, even mild commands can go here." Maud walked closer to the pile of cards. "At the bottom of your tower will always be two cards, two important ones."

Trixie had experienced first-hoof this low in the tree, but it was still fascinating. Lifting one hoof, she began rubbing Shade's ear.

"Your subject is only yours to control because she wants to be." Maud gestured to one card. "If either of you use the 'bail out' password, or if anypony is in danger, she is no longer yours." Maud pointed to the other card at the bottom of the tower. "If either of these conditions fail…"

Twilight reached her hoof in and only tapped the "bail out" card, sending the cards tumbling down and ruining her work.

"Good girl." Maud gave praise to her pet and turned to the ponies assembled. "Tell me how you would layer these cards up in your subjects head. Starting on the end, Rarity."

"My little fillies both have horns, so we use magic as our safe words." Rarity stepped forward, but without one of her "fillies" nearby she felt a slight pang of worry. To her shock, Twilight got up and trotted forward.

"Rarity, pretend I am one of your fillies, then. But it is only pretend." Twilight smiled to her friend and got a hug back.

"Darling, thank you." Squeezing Twilight, Rarity beamed in delight and settled back. "So first I would use those wonderful tricks Maud taught me, to calm my filly and have them relaxed and open." She looked to Maud and got the slightest nod. "Twilight, you are my pet only if you want to be, if you don't want to be my pet then you are not." The words slipped from her throat easily, she had heard them used by Maud herself on Twilight. "If you touch me with your magic, or I tell you 'We are over,' or if you think anypony is in danger, you are no longer my pet and are once more yourself."

"I chose Rarity," Maud began, cutting in. "Because she has been present when I have worked on Twilight in the past. Go on, what would you layer on top now?"

Rarity grinned. "Well, since it would be my first time playing with Twilight, I would ask you first, what you would allow me to do." Rarity watched as Maud gave her a half smile. "Etiquette with another mare's pet is everything. Twilight, you will keep your eyes slightly downcast at all times, while you are my pet. My pet, you will keep your tail arched as high as you can make it, and you will always prance as well as you can. You will do all these things in the hope of catching another mare, or stallion's, eye, and you will do them because when my pets do them they make me very happy."

"Not a hard one, but you forgot slow down words. Sometimes my pet doesn't want to drop out of her fun completely, but she wants to let me know when things are not quite as she wishes." Maud looked from the blushing Rarity, to Trixie, and finally Cheerilee. "Tell us how you would word such a thing."

"My pet, if you need something changed, if anything makes you feel bad, or hurts you in a way you do not wish, give a tug on my mane with your magic. When that happens," Rarity suddenly remembered this bit, the words coming easier, "you will still be my pet, but whatever command made you want to tug my mane will no longer hold sway over you." She looked up to get a nod from Maud.

"I want to prance like a pretty mare." Twilight turned her head back to Maud and earned a little smile from her Mistress.

"Next time, pet." Maud reached a hoof out and her pet rushed over to rub her head against it. She looked at Trixie. "Next. No hypnosis, just give her the commands."

"Shade, stand before Trixie, good girl now." Trixie's ego overrode any hope that her voice would crack, that she would show any hint of weakness, particularly not in front of her pet. She smiled and reached her hoof up when Shade did what she wanted, rubbing the Shadowbolt's snout. "You are a good girl." 

The little voice of "Rainbow Dash" inside the head of the freer version of herself smiled to see Trixie so happy. Shade wagged her tail and tilted her snout to lick the offered hoof.

"Trixie's pet is only her pet if she wants to be, the moment she doesn't want to be Trixie's pet, she isn't." The words stung a little in Trixie's throat, but one look at the devotion in her pet's eyes fueled her ego more than putting on a thousand successful shows. "If Trixie's pet ever thinks anypony is in danger she will not be Trixie's pet, and if Trixie tells her pet 'Show's Over,' or Trixie's pet curls her wing tips, she is no longer Trixie's pet."

"Show me how Trixie's pet curls her wingtips, how easy is that to see?" Maud walked forward and saw as each of the feathers on the Shadowbolt's wings curled up in quite a distinctive way. "Noticeable and easy?" She looked right at Shade and got a nod back. "Continue, Trixie."

Neither part of Dash could deny how awesome this was. It's not even full hypnosis, she is just saying these things and I… I want to believe them.

"Stop." Maud stepped forward and used her earth pony strength to try to push Trixie out of the way. It was a surprise to Maud when it wasn't as easy as she would have thought. "Shade entered a trance."

I sure did, this is awesome. Shade smiled, lolling her tongue out of one side of her snout.

"Trixie didn't do anything!" Trixie was trying to push past the solid earth pony to get to her pet. "The Careful and Caring Trixie wouldn't try to hurt Shade. Trixie's pet is not her pet now, she is free."

The words echoed in Dash's head, they pushed Shade aside and let the real Rainbow Dash be free. "Trixie, what was that for? That was totally awesome!" She suddenly realized that she had talked with her normal voice. "Uh, I mean, growl, snarl…"

"Rainbow Dash, darling if you think this is in any way demeaning, remember that you walk the path of a princess." Rarity smiled at her friend. "And I must say, that really is quite amazing how different you act as Shade, like you are putting on an entirely new mental dress."

"This is so much cooler than dresses." Rainbow Dash felt obliged to defend Trixie's costume. "I mean, look at me!" She spread her wings, smoke curling off her feathers. Lifting a hoof, she offered it to Trixie.

Unaccustomed to such things, Trixie had to draw on her showmareship and bulldoze through the situation. The two pony's hooves connected with a firm clop. "The Great and Powerful Trixie would have nothing less than the best for her pet to wear."

"We really should talk about it later." Rarity beamed in delight at being able to mix her two favorite topics. "I am sure I could come up with something much nicer than that old metal head-collar. The industrial look is so last season. I hear braided rope is big now."

"The Curious and Intrigued Trixie would… would really like that." It hit her extra hard that she was connecting with the ponies she had previous hurt, but Trixie was really enjoying the subject. "After class?" She watched Rarity get the most adorable look on her face and nod.

"Ugh, really Rarity? You are going-" Dash got no further, a jerk on the leash was all it took for her to give a happy little sigh and sink back into Shade. Shade didn't care that two ponies were talking about fashion, Shade liked the idea of getting a new bridle.

"Oh gosh. Trixie…" Twilight rushed over, seeing the change in her friend. "That put her under again right away. As she neared the once-more pet-like mare, Twilight got a lick on her cheek from the irrepressible Shade. "You are a good girl, Shade."

The element of harmony that Rainbow Dash embodied practically hummed inside her. Twilight understands this so well, if Master hadn't found me I would totally be her pet... She licked Twilight's cheek again for good measure.

"Rainbow Dash seems to really like this role. Trixie, it is your responsibility to make sure she is safe." Maud examined Trixie, looking into her eyes with her impassive stare. Memory of how much hypnosis Trixie had put up with, completely against the grain of her character, poked at Maud's mind and she gave a half smile. "Is the Great and Powerful Trixie up to it?"

At her full title, Trixie puffed her chest and glared at Maud. "The Careful and Caring Trixie likes her… likes Rainbow Dash, a lot for what she does for her. She is very willful and very able to help her pet when she needs it." Trixie stepped over to her pet. "Show's Over, Shade."

The words trickled through Dash's mind, sending Shade back to rest and uncovering herself again. She leaned closer and hugged Trixie, resting her head against the other mare's neck. "Thank you, Trixie." It felt like Shade was away, put back where she lived when Dash was in full control.

"So was she hypnotized?" Rarity batted her eyes a few times in consternation. "Darling, are you alright?"

"I feel great." Rainbow Dash drew back from Trixie. "See? Nothing wrong. But I don't get it, she didn't do the whole 'eye thing,' or that voice thing you do." Rainbow looked at Maud. "So how did I get hypnotized?"

"You wanted to." Maud stepped back from the pair and gave a sigh. "I haven't seen this before, but one of the books I read about hypnosis mentioned it. You shifted right into a trance."

"Mistress, you read books on hypnosis?" Twilight's excitement bubbled over into her words and she was almost dancing in place. "What ones? Was it Salating's Mind Mixing?"

"This means Trixie needs to make sure she is even more careful." Trixie pondered on the implications of a pet that hypnotized themselves into trance. "Oh, the perfect answer to this. Trixie will encourage her pet into trance each time they play, and make sure her tower is built properly. Dash, you want to be Trixie's pet now."

It wasn't a command, but Rainbow didn't care; she did want to be Trixie's pet. All this egg-head talk is useless to me anyway. Hey, Shade, tag. Relaxing and shaking herself, Shade looked up at her Master and grinned.

"Good girl, Shade. Now listen to Trixie's words, relax, calm yourself and just listen." As Trixie spoke, she saw Shade's eyes focus on her, saw the subtle hint that she had missed the first time. The Shadowbolt's entire attention was on her unicorn master. "You are Trixie's pet now, Trixie's Shade, Trixie's wild Shadowbolt. Trixie's pet doesn't need to worry about what others think, because she is a pet. Trixie's pet is the best flier in all Equestria, and knows it." It was easy for Trixie to see what words really sang to Dash's pet-self, the last words had the mare standing as tall as ever, wings slightly loose. Trixie began the same commands as before, building the tower as Maud had taught her.

This time, as Trixie spoke the words, Dash and Shade knew what was going on, knew that this collar that they consented to was their freedom and safety. Even when she was told that Trixie could remove the wonderful relaxation with just two words, they accepted it as law.

"...no longer Trixie's pet. Trixie's pet will be able to balk a command simply by barking, and if Trixie's pet does so whatever command that made her balk will no longer exist." Trixie stared deep into Shade's eyes, watching as the mare soaked up every word. "Is Trixie's Shade happy with-"

Shade made sure her Master knew how happy she was by licking her on the snout, again and again.
> Dress to Impress
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash didn't walk out of Twilight's castle, she strutted. Lifting her hooves high, she felt on top of the world, like she was flying two Rainbooms back to back, and shooting for a third. She was also walking without Shade's disguise on. "Well, that was the best fun ever, but I am so beat. Guess I will head-"

"Rainbow Dash." Trixie didn't have the leash on the other blue mare's head-collar, but she didn't need it when she had her name to use instead. "Trixie remembers her pet promising to come and do this thing." She tilted her head, the wizard hat that lived on her head tilting a little.

Joining the two mares, Rarity couldn't help but join in. "Darling, we are doing this for you. You wouldn't believe how glorious some of the new outfits I could produce, are. Why, did you know-"

"Rarity… it's clothes! You know how I… I…" Dash trailed off, no less wanting to argue, but Trixie's magic had gripped the invisible collar around her face. "M-M-M-"

"Rainbow Dash will be joining Trixie and Rarity when they discuss her new 'suit,' won't she?" Trixie's eyes danced, her confidence overwhelming the fear that Rainbow might ignore her command, or want to end this. "Or does Trixie need to say another name?"

"R-R-Rain…" Rainbow Dash gulped, her body trembled, Shade railed in the back of her mind. "I'll go, but I want to be… her."

"Absolutely not. The Great and Powerful Trixie wants you to be there, Dash, not her. She wants you to help choose your new suit." The moment Trixie said the last word she saw Rainbow's eyes light up.

"A new suit? Like this one?" Rainbow Dash lifted her hoof and ran it down her foreleg, able to feel the second skin like a… second skin. "Why do I need a new one?"

"Trixie's pet needs a new suit because her Master wants her a little easier to control… and play with." Trixie whispered the words quieter and quieter, Rainbow leaning in ever closer until Trixie's snout touched her ear.

"You two really should just kiss." Rarity trotted away, her smug smile hidden from the two blue mares. Trixie and Rainbow both laughed awkwardly, each looking away. When Rarity looked back and saw them she immediately stopped. "Oh bother, I said entirely the wrong thing. You don't like each other that way?"

Rainbow's heart was hammering in her chest, she felt a million things but none of them felt like the kind of love that she had heard Princess Cadance talk about at her wedding. A hoof brushed her cheek and she spun her head around to see Rarity's pure white hoof there, and further across she saw another on Trixie's cheek. "Rarity-" Trixie and Dash both halted as they began to speak over each other.

"Trixie goes first Dash." Rarity booped Rainbow on the nose but drew back from the pair.

Inhaling deeply, Trixie closed her eyes. "Trixie likes Rainbow Dash as her pet, but isn't sure if she likes her as more… she thinks."

All the panic and worry drained from Rainbow. "I love having a master. I love that it is somepony I know can challenge me and win at least as often as I do, even if she cheats. All that 'fru fru love stuff' is boring anyway. Who wants to stare into another pony's eyes for hours… unless they are going to hypnotize you… that's pretty hot…" Dash couldn't stop the giggle from slipping free. It might have been a nervous one, but it was joined by Trixie's own. "I know some pretty awesome unicorns, Trixie, but I only know one that is…"

Rarity was practically trembling in place; she could sense that both mares cared for each other more than they were revealing, but when Rainbow trailed off, her excitement got too much for her. "JUST SAY IT!"

Trixie looked into her pet's yes. They each nodded at the same time and turned back to Rarity and, together, stuck their tongues out and laughed.

"Come on, Trixie, I know a friend who is not too terrible at sewing." Rainbow Dash walked past the distraught Rarity. "We might be able to get her to… I don't know, tell us the name of somepony who can do a professional job."

"The Great and Powerful Trixie would be interested, too, in who might be able to do some seamstress work. She has been in Ponyville before and-" Trixie didn't get further, Rarity finally came back enough to turn on the pair. 

"I'll do it, whatever you want. But you both have to promise me I get to design real dresses, for both of you." Rarity stomped after the blue mares, every nerve set on end by their practical joke. "And that is just for starters."

"Of course, but for Trixie and her pet you must make them how they want them." Trixie lifted her hoof up as she walked, holding it out to Rainbow Dash and getting a solid clop back. Something clicked in her head and Trixie smiled like a silly filly. My second friend. Her resolve to be what Dash needed intensified.

"If I have to have a dress, I am totally getting something awesome. Something I can fly in." Rainbow fluffed out her wings for emphasis. "Something that lets me go really fast." She knew her demands were impossible, but Rainbow also knew that when it came to designing a dress, Rarity was the best. Of course she would let her friend have her way… mostly. "No frills at all, or those plaits."

"Pleats, darling, and I only ever did that on your dress once." Rarity felt obliged to defend her creation. "And besides, they were the 'in thing' that year, you certainly caught everypony's eye."

"Rarity, I tripped on the dress and fell head-first into the grape punch, my whole mane was purple… for a week." Rainbow stepped to the side as they reached Carousel Boutique, letting her friend lead the way into her own domain.

"And you certainly learned how to walk more daintily because of it." Rarity gestured at the main workroom of her shop. "All the usual things, I can make absolutely anything that goes on or around a pony. But I think we need to go downstairs for what you both want."

"Downstairs?" Rainbow blinked. "Rarity, since when have you had a 'downstairs'?" Nonetheless, she followed her friend to a set of stairs that were tucked behind the ones that led up to the living area. "Okay, I never knew about this…"

"Trixie has heard of strange ponies with strange things in their basements. She wonders if these strange things are more to her liking than what some rumors she hears on the road would lead her to believe." Trixie was right behind Rarity as they filed down the elegant stairs into the recently dug basement.

"Surely you have to understand why I would need this. I simply can't have Sweetie Belle encountering such… exotic things. Not until she is old enough to think on the finer points of gentlecolts…" Rarity paused at length and smiled a little, "or mares, at least." She reached the bottom and brushed the light switch with her magic, slowly bringing up the illumination. "Welcome to my parlor."

"Oh gosh…" Rainbow Dash was struck dumb by the amount of naughty garments, from actual strapped items to bind up a pony and stop them moving, to equipment a mare… or stallion could wear, that would leave them both snugly covered and very exposed at the same time.

"Trixie doesn't remember the ponies of Ponyville being quite… this eccentric. Do you have customers for all these things?" Trixie was already walking over to examine some of the exotic merchandise, her mind conjuring up images of Shade wearing them, trying to rate each on how good it would look on her.

"Well, one princess showed me that there is another side of myself." Rarity smiled wide, knowing it was a double-truth, but that neither Dash nor Trixie would see the second one. "She showed me things I had only ever had dreams of, and now I find that I am a little more relaxed on the subject."

"A 'little more relaxed'?" Rainbow finally got her voice back and walked over to a costume clearly made for a mare who likes to have what a stallion normally did. "Rarity, this is…" Dash couldn't do it, she couldn't say "obscene" or "disgusting," not when she liked being another pony's pet. "You must think it is pretty awesome, I guess?"

"Thank you Rainbow Dash, I know this," Rarity gestured around the room, "isn't your thing. But we are going to make something that is your thing. Now, let me see that garment you have on."

Trixie moved over beside Dash when she saw a worried look on her pet's face. "Shade, come on out."

The world settled back down, Rainbow smiled. She leaned against Trixie and licked her cheek. Thank you, Shade. I was about to look really uncool then. She felt relaxation pour through her until Shade caught sight of her body. Oh, we are still just me.

"Trixie wants her pet to relax," the moment Trixie said the words she was the full focus of Rainbow Dash, or Shade as she might be now, "she wants her pet to be calm, be happy, and listen to everything the Dominant and Masterful Trixie says."

Every resistance Dash—or Shade—might have had, melted at the slow words; her eyes half drooped when Trixie spoke her adjusted title. She nodded to her Master. This is amazing, I love going into... into... The thoughts floated from Dash's head completely and she was smiling blankly.

Reaching a hoof up, Trixie rubbed her pet's snout. "Good girl. Now Shade, listen to what Trixie has to say so carefully, it will sink into your thoughts. Trixie's pet is only her pet if Trixie's pet wants to be, the moment she doesn't want to be Trixie's pet, she isn't."

A soft little groan came from the blue pegasus' throat, her smile spread nearly from ear to ear. I really love being Trixie's pet. Don't you, Shade? A vague feeling of assent flowed over Dash, along with delight as Trixie began opening her snout to continue.

"If Trixie's pet ever thinks anypony is in danger she will not be Trixie's pet, and if Trixie tells her pet 'Show's over,' or Trixie's pet curls her wing tips, she is no longer Trixie's pet." The words were rehearsed now. "Trixie's pet will be able to refuse a command simply by barking, and if Trixie's pet does so whatever command that made her balk will no longer exist."

Complete. Dash and Shade both felt it flow through them. They almost zoned out completely until their Master opened her mouth again and brought full focus back.

New, something new. "Trixie's pet will feel as comfortable without her costume and collar on, as if she were still wearing them. Trixie's pet will find pony hooves irresistible until she leaves this room." Trixie smiled and booped Dash on the snout. "I know I wanted you, Dash, but I think you need to be Shade to do this.

Yawning wide, Shade dropped to her belly and began snuffing around her Master's hooves, licking at them and giving little growls as she tried to get under one, to the frog. At last her Master lifted the hoof up and Dash darted her snout under it, licking the frog and rubbing her cheeks against the hoof.

"I… I…" Rarity was lost for words at first, watching the change in Dash without the disguise was even more astounding than when she had first found the mare out. "Shade, we need your outfit off." Rarity wasn't silly, she held up a pristine, hooficured limb and shook it in the air. 

Trixie lowered her own hoof down and pushed Shade's head so she could see Rarity's. "Get her Shade. Trixie bets her pet could tip Rarity over and get at all her hooves, but Trixie's pet has to take her costume off first."

The ache was too much, Dash groaned and whined, rolled around and was helped out of the outfit by her Master. She looked up and gave a happy yip before launching herself at Rarity. 

"Rain-" Rarity stopped herself before finishing the name of the mare now licking her raised hoof's frog. Shade hadn't stood a chance, she had a nice command to pounce the mare but there was a hoof "right there" before her, and the suggestion dominated her actions. "Good girl, Shade." Rarity looked up at Trixie, as her fellow unicorn gathered up the suit and head-collar. "I know you are still quite a clever pet in there, Shade, so I am going to ask you. What would you like to wear?" Rarity lowered her hoof, cutting off the source of Shade's distraction.

If we don't choose, Master—or worse, Rarity—will choose for us. Rainbow Dash looked around the room and at the same moment as Shade stopped turning her head, saw what she wanted. That looks tight. Fluffing her wings, Shade trotted over to the ponequin that had the tightest and most form-fitting suit she had ever seen. She leaned in and rubbed her cheek against the midsection, felt ridges like ribs. That tightens… squeezes...

Rarity moved as quietly as she could, coming up beside Shade and reached out to stroke the outfit. "It is woven silk, but not from the worm, darling. This is spider silk and here it stretches," Rarity traced her hoof over the soft covering of the outfit, "but here you can see it is much tighter. It will pull you into a more marely shape."

"Can this be worn for long periods? Trixie's pet will be having it on every day." Trixie moved up on the other side of Shade, running her hoof down the garment and feeling the corset-like insides. "And can it be made so it reacts to Trixie's magic?"

"Darling, I can assure you if I cannot do it myself, that I will personally find you somepony who can make your magic stick to Shade like glue." She couldn't help it, Rarity lifted her hoof and rubbed Shade behind the ear, ensuring that the pet tilted her head way back so that Shade was soon having to sit down to reach back enough to lick Rarity's frog. "Will there be any new headgear or other accessories?"

"Trixie does not wish for anything but a nice snug head-collar for her pet. She is quite sure that Shade enjoyed her present one… perhaps something more custom fitted?" She almost giggled at how comical Shade was, rocking back on her plot and leaning up to press her snout to Rarity's forehoof. 

Rarity's eyes danced. "What about something engraved? Something that proclaims ownership?" It was something that Rarity dreamed of, it made her heart beat faster just at the idea. My fillies… I wish I could mark you like that.

Rainbow was able to smell her own excitement as she pressed her snout in against the hoof over and over. Shade was in full control of their body, lapping at Rarity's frog, living all the fantasies that Dash never realized were at her core.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie believes that would be perfect." Trixie offered her own hoof to her pet, shivering in bliss at having her pet lap away at the underside of it.
> The Truth is Hard
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dash's head was in the clouds, she swept a perfect arc with her wing-mates on each side, their primaries just barely touching. Daydreams didn't plague her anymore, not with a Shadowbolt in her head to chase them away. "Clipper, Flatfoot; break NOW!" Dash felt the touch of the mare and stallion's feathers leave her own, and beat her wings hard to reach the altitude she needed. All eyes were on her, she saw her own smoke-trail flowing out behind to where Soarin and Fleetfoot had parted from her.

With her speed slowing, Rainbow Dash tilted her wings and gave one last flap. "Trixie, I really wish you were here to see this." The words were lost to the wind and clouds. She tipped her head down and picked the mark on the ground where she would dive to. Rocking forward further, Dash tucked her hooves up, angled her wings just right as altitude yielded speed. Faster and faster she went until her grin fought with the air itself to stay plastered on her face. 

A tremble started in one wing, she corrected. Then the other wing too started to shake. Redoubling her focus Rainbow "Crash" Shade Dash, hit the limit of what the world could handle in terms of speed and she pierced through. The slam in her ears was her signal to spread her wings and pull back.

Two speeding pegasi rushed past her head, barely clearing her as they cut through her perfectly timed dive, piercing the heart of the rainboom that spread out around them. Rainbow's heart and ego both thrummed with the delight. As she leveled out, her speed translating horizontally now, she saw dark violet eyes peeking out from under a tilted blue hat. "Master…" Rainbow Dash whispered the word as she passed over Trixie's head, clearing the crowd by no more than a few feet.

Pulling back and up Rainbow shed her speed in a turn and was moving slow again, gliding down to land between Soarin and Fleetfoot. As she hit the ground, the noise in her ears resolved itself; it wasn't her heartbeat, it wasn't the wind, it was the crowd. And right up front, cheering just as wildly as any other colt or filly, was Trixie Lulamoon. She saw me fly! Dash strutted from the landing mat over to the unicorn that held her attention.

Behind her, Dash heard, "Well, at least she found somepony. Never would have thought Crash would tap a unicorn." She knew it was her commander, she didn't care, Trixie was there.

"The Humbled and Amazed Trixie is always amazed to see her pet perform so well." Trixie didn't hold back, she leaned in and rubbed cheeks with Rainbow; what surprised her was how enthusiastically the pegasus returned the attention. "Maybe Trixie should schedule her shows after the Wonderbolt circuit?"

"That would mean… for the whole season… we would be…" Rainbow felt a blush rise in her cheeks. "That would be totally awesome!"

"Then it is settled. Trixie also has a present for her pet." Trixie gestured out of the arena where the Wonderbolts were winding down. "So long as she is finished with her little show, of course?"

"Yeah, that was my last stunt." Without thinking, Dash spread a wing out over Trixie's back; followed her along with her. "So, a show tonight?"

"Trixie planned on it, so long as her Shadowbolt was feeling up to it. Otherwise-" Trixie stopped, the grin on Rainbow's face enough of an answer. "And Trixie might have gotten some new things for Shade."

Dash's whole body seemed to tremble all at once, her breathing slowed, deepened. "Uh… is that… well, did Rarity?" Rainbow's mind raced, she tried to think properly but it just wasn't coming to her. She wanted something, needed it. Until she walked up the ramp into Trixie's little caravan, until she stared at her Master, she wasn't sure what it was.

"Shade, Shade, come out and play." Trixie said the words evenly, making sure Rainbow heard her.

"Ugh…" Rainbow slumped down to the ground. Over a month of being hypnotized, of being restricted from being Shade, took its toll. Shade wasn't tired though, she wasn't worn out in the slightest. Shade was playful. Bounding back up to her hooves, Rainbow nuzzled and licked Trixie's cheeks and mouth. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

"Good girl Shade. Trixie is very proud of her pet for keeping hypnotized all that time. Did it work well? Was Dashy more attentive and aware?" Trixie got more licks, some nods, and a big slurp all the way from her cheek up and to her ear. "Very good girl."

Shade wagged her tail as quickly as she could, fawning over her Master. But the Shadowbolt caught sight of herself in the mirror and froze. Yeah, that is my clothing. We need to get out of that, Master said she had your new stuff. Dash bubbled with excitement, thinking back on the choices she had made with the suit.

Trixie noticed her pet's distraction and began to help, using her magic to peel the old suit off her, removing every sign that the rainbow-maned mare was a Wonderbolt. "Now for Trixie's surprise." She opened a small chest and lifted out the outfit. It looked tiny, designed for a foal. "Lean forward Shade, plot in the air."

Shade wasted no time, leaning forward and balancing on her forelegs and chest. She knew her plot was in the air, but there was nopony she would trust more back there than her Master. The touch of silken fabric on her back-legs surprised Shade, enough that she looked back. 

Having practiced on herself, Trixie knew just how tight this outfit was. Pulling the back two sleeves up Rainbow's back legs, the outfit itself was revealed to be patterned on a Shadowbolt. She worked it up the mare's thighs. "Down now." Shade responded immediately and squirmed as Trixie got the tight spider-silk up and over the sporty pegasus' plot. 

Shade closed her eyes in bliss, feeling her Master teasing her tail through the outfit, picking and making sure each and every strand was through. She looked back and gave a happy whine at how she knew she looked. We might as well be presenting… she is Master, though. Dash settled back into the relaxation that came with being just an animal, a pet.

Trixie worked the suit over her pet's hips, reaching the really tight bit. "Shade, you know what is coming, don't you?" The Shadowbolt nodded back, looking as excited as could be. "Rarity showed Trixie how to release and tighten this, so hold on a moment." She lit her horn, reached into the garment's weave and pulled on the releases. It was suddenly easier, the outfit pulling down Shade's body. It took a little work to get her wings worked through but Trixie was there, every step of the way to make sure her pet was dressed properly.

The first touch at her forehoof made Shade shake it a little, the second had her look down and give a little growl of excitement. Lifting her foreleg up she watched her Master slid it down into the dark black sock, then they repeated it with her other hoof. The suit pulled all the way up, snugging around Shade's neck. The moment it was on she spun around and pushed her Master over, flopping on top of her and licking her face again and again.

"Sh-Shade!" Trixie was laughing and giggling too much for her words to carry any weight at all as potential commands. She tried to move out from under the enthusiastic pegasus, but heard a growl and got more licks. "Trixie apparently could use a bath."

Shade licked and licked, making sure her Master's face was damp with her saliva. At last, deeming the unicorn "well thanked," Shade shook herself and stood up. You like-like her, don't you? There was no answer, but Dash was acutely aware that Shade was, after all, her a construct of herself. Stupid egg-head stuff, I don't care.

"Trixie was not ready for that, but without a leash on Trixie's pet there is quite assuredly no way to control her." Trixie got up to her hooves and reached one out to rub her pet's mane vigorously. "Good girl, does Shade want her new collar?" It wasn't going to take another pouncing for Trixie to find out how excited the Shadowbolt was to have the new device. She reached into the bottom of the little chest with her magic, lifting out a pitch-black assembly of straps, with a plate of shiny metal on it. "Sit, Shade."

Dash felt her plot connect with the floor very quickly, and once more her tail was swishing from side to side. So good to just wag my tail, everypony knows a pet is happy when they wag their tail. She kept it up, looking up at her Master.

Reaching the heavy-duty bridle-like device out, Trixie worked it around Shade's snout, pulling the straps up her cheeks and tugging the rest of it into place. At last she fastened the strap that locked it all on, around Shade's neck. "The Great and Powerful Trixie has a Great and Powerful Pet." Trixie lifted her hoof and booped the other mare on the nose. "And now anypony who sees Trixie's pet like this, will know who she belongs to." Trixie gestured to the mirror.

Stepping over, Shade gazed into the mirror at the dark pony staring back. The dark bridle-like head-collar made her give a happy whine, until she saw the plaque that was just above her eyes.



Trixie's Pet
If found, return to Castle of Friendship, Ponyville.




Dash flexed her wingtips, her primary feathers curling at their ends. The sound of all the commands Trixie had given her fell away like a card castle collapsing. "Trixie, you are the greatest." Dash leaned up and kissed the surprised unicorn. "And the most powerful." She kissed her again, this time her head lingering, close, after their lips parted.

"Rainbow Dash?" Trixie was in a bit of shock. "Trixie's pet tapped out, what is wrong?" Her empathy for her pet kicked in, Trixie pushed past Dash's lips, inspecting the collar. "Is it hurting her? Did Trixie hurt her pet?"

"No, Trixie, the opposite." Dash blushed. "I wanted to tell you how good it felt, how much I love this. I really like you, Shade… Shade loves you as a pet loves their master. But I wanted you to know, I like you too."

Trixie stared at the mare. Her head went silent, her mouth—for once—staying closed. She likes Trixie? Shade loves Trixie? It was a lot to take in for a mare who could count the number of true friends she had on her hooves. "Rainbow…" She stopped, not sure how to continue. But apparently the other mare did. Trixie felt soft lips press to her own again and after the first startled heartbeats, closed her eyes. Trixie is not a good kisser, but she could learn...

Rainbow Dash hadn't kissed anypony before, it wasn't like she was into stallions… or mares really, but this bond was more special than just what was under a pony's dock. But Trixie was worth doing her best for, and when Rainbow Dash was concerned, if it wasn't a hundred and twenty percent, then it wasn't enough.

Both mares, however, broke apart in giggles when their tongues collided midway and each bit down on their own. "Owth!" Both mares froze, staring at each other and started laughing.

"Trixie is surprised by this, and will need to think more about it. She likes…" No, don't you dare brush her off. Trixie wanted to kick the little voice in her head telling her off. "Trixie loves her pet, she loves the feeling of power it gives her, knowing that somepony would put themselves so far into her power, and want to stay there. She loves Shade." It was as close as she wanted to admit. "Oh bother. Trixie can say she loves Shade because Shade is just a pet, of course a pony loves her pet. It is harder for Trixie to admit she loves another pon-"

Dash's eyes widened, and a grin plastered across her snout. I love how this collar pulls around my face, it moves with me, but reminds me of… where was I? "I think I have the same problem, Trixie. How about we make this easier?" Dash closed her eyes and mentally whistled. Shade, she loves you, she wants to play more.

"What do you-" Trixie was forced onto her back again, the pegasus landing atop her. "Trixie didn't call for Shade, what-" Her tirade halted by a lick on her cheek, Trixie just giggled and reached up with her hooves, rubbing Shade's head. "Shade is a clever pet. But she needs to be under Trixie's control again, at least as far as she wants to be."

It was an odd situation for both of them, Trixie laying on her back, pinned under the other pony, while Shade stared down into her eyes, it took Trixie no time at all in giving the guiding words, laying the foundation, building Shade's tower back up. It came time for the top row. "Trixie's pet will feel good when she follows a command, and extra good when she is told she is a 'good pet.' " Trixie watched Shade, her eyes gazing down almost sightlessly, nod a little. "But above all, Trixie's pet is the Greatest and most Powerful pet, because she IS Trixie's pet." With that, Trixie reached up with her magic and tugged, pulling the corset-like part of Shade's outfit tight, squeezing the sporty mare into an even more defined shape.

I love you, Trixie. Dash knew the words wouldn't leave Shade's lips, she wanted to say them, to make sure Trixie knew, but she knew the best way to show her Master just how much she did love her. Shade leaned down and licked Trixie's nose, getting a gasp and a snort from her. This really is so awesome.