> A Little Lamia > by MightyShockwave > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Ch 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scootaloo tapped her hoof impatiently on the wooden clubhouse floor. She hated waiting. Where were Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom? They were supposed to be here an hour ago. After all, Scootaloo considered herself a very busy filly. She had places to go, ponies to see, like all of Rainbow Dash's hangouts to try to get her attention. Her thoughts were interrupted with a knock at the clubhouse door. Scootaloo almost ran into it face-first in her rush to open it. “Howdy Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom greeted her orange friend. “Hi,” Scootaloo said paying her little mind. The pegasus instead trotted out to greet the little white unicorn accompanying the yellow earth pony. “So,” Scootaloo said while stealing glances at Sweetie Belle's saddlebag, “did you get the goods?” “Boy did I!” Sweetie Belle said, beaming. “It was tough, but I was able to sneak upstairs to Rarity's room and get it.” “You weren't caught?” Scootaloo asked. “Nope, when Apple Bloom told Rarity she wanted to make a colt like her, my sister doted over her so much she forgot I was even there.” Apple Bloom gave Sweetie a sour look. “That's why we were late. I spent forever trying to wash off all the makeup. How do grown-ups stand it?” Sweetie Belle huffed. “Hey, tasteful application of makeup can enhance a filly's natural beauty.” Apple Bloom gave Sweetie a venomous glare. “I looked like a clown and you knew it!” “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Scootaloo was getting impatient. “Let's just go inside.” Scootaloo ushered in her two friends, closing the door gently behind them. Sweetie Belle gently laid down her saddle bags in the middle of the clubhouse and poked around in them with her snout. Her friends looked on with wide eyes as she gently pulled out a large, round glass bottle filled halfway with a thick golden-brown liquid. Covering most of the front was a plain, somewhat worn label. “100% Pure Snake Oil, Satisfaction Guaranteed,” Apple Bloom read as Sweetie place the bottle on the wooden floor. “Huh.” The golden oil inside sloshed around as Sweetie Belle nudged it towards Scootaloo for a better look. “Well, this is it Scootaloo. What now?” Sweetie Belle asked timidly. Scootaloo leaned out and gently braced the bottle with her hoof before gently pulling off the cork with her teeth and spitting it into a corner of the room. “I dunno, I didn't really think you two would be successful. I'm winging it from here on out,” Scootaloo said, taking her hoof off the bottle. “Well, thanks for the vote of confidence,” Apple Bloom said with a little snarl. Scootaloo gave a simple shrug before leaning down to inspect the bottle more closely. After eying it a bit, she placed her nose right above the lip before taking a couple of whiffs. “Hmm,” Scootaloo stuck her tongue out in concentration as she tried to process this strange smell. “Smells kinda...like butter.” She lifted her head up and rubbed her snout in a vain attempt to clear the weird smell from her senses. As soon as Scootaloo pulled back, Sweetie Belle nonchalantly picked up the bottle and tilted it up, taking a swig before placing it back down. “Tastes like it too!” Both Scootaloo's and Apple Bloom's mouths dropped at their friend's naïve disregard. Sweetie Belle met their looks with one of confusion. “What!?” Suddenly, a deep, unnatural rumbling in her stomach made Sweetie Belle almost faint. She could feel herself breaking out into a cold sweat and a deep reverberation seemed to echo through her body and mind. “G-girls, I think I'm gonna be sick...” Sweetie Belle said as the room began to spin. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at each other. “WHAT DO WE DO!?” they both exclaimed at the same time. Sweetie Belle put a hoof on her stomach. It know felt like the liquid was eating away at her insides. Was this supposed to happen? Was she allergic? What if she had to go to the hospital? What if... As quickly as it came, the pain stopped. Sweetie Belle breathed a sigh of relief. “Wow, not going to do that again. I think I'm okay.” She put on an awkward smile and was just glad the pain was over. Then her horn blew up. Rather, it exploded with a burst of magical energy. Sweetie Belle only felt the power welling up in her horn for a split second before it reached uncontrollable levels. She could feel magic gushing out of it as the room became filled with a dense, green, magical smoke. Sweetie closed her eyes and just kept wanting this cruel ride to end. The smoke burned Apple Bloom's and Scootaloo's eyes and noses. “*cough* Get the *cough* door!” Scootaloo yelled through her coughing fits. Apple Bloom rushed to the clubhouse door, throwing it open and letting the noxious smoke pour out. Scootaloo ran out the front, her little wings buzzing in an effort to propel her faster, in an effort to breathe deep fresh air. She was going so fast that she was unable to stop, and ended up tumbling down the clubhouse's ramp. Scootaloo fell face first on the warm summer grass, a bit dazed but glad to be out of there. Her moment of respite came to a jarring end when she heard cry from the clubhouse above. “I can't feel my leeeeeegs!” The voice was sweet yet shrill, unmistakeably Sweetie's. “Uh, Sweetie? Apple Bloom? Minor set back, I'm coming!” Scootaloo said as picked herself up and raced back up into the clubhouse. “Sweetie! Are you al...right...what?” Scootaloo was a bit shocked to see that her friend had turned into a monster. Her front part was normal and the only evidence that something was awry was some splotches of slight green residue. However, where Sweetie's thighs would begin, a river of brilliant alabaster-white scales erupted from her body and flowed upon the wooden floor. The serpentine column lay in a straight line, bending only when it met the clubhouse wall and curling ever so slightly inward. It was as is if Sweetie Belle had become a roll of toothpaste and squeezed out all over, the fresh toothpaste forming a perfectly smooth tube free of the wrinkles and blemishes that come with use. Apple Bloom was staring, mouth agape in shock, at her friend's new form before sharing a brief, worried glance with Scootaloo. Cautiously, the pair approached Sweetie, who was examining the effects the potion had on her. “Sw-Sweetie, are you feeling alright?” Scootaloo said, very concerned about how the unicorn would be able to take this all in. “Alright? I feel great! A bit weird, but pretty good.” Sweetie Belle said. “Got anymore of that snake oil?” “Snake oil?” Apple Bloom had forgotten about it in the commotion. Scanning the floor, she quickly found the bottle right where Sweetie Belle had left it, miraculously still standing with all its contents. She picked up the cork with her mouth and sealed the bottle tight before placing it on a high shelf for safe-keeping. She walked over to Sweetie, who was now beginning to slowly shift her new snake body around. “It feels...weird,” Sweetie said, “it's not bad or anything, just different. It still feels like I have my hind legs, but they're really long and I can bend them however I want,” she said while giving the tip of her tail a little shake. Apple Bloom slowly walked along the length of Sweetie's scaly form, somewhat marveling at its beauty. The white scales faded into one another, giving the entire tail a slick, smooth appearance. The belly scales formed a slight lip of alternating mauve and pink that ran along the bottom. Apple Bloom stopped and gave the tail a gentle nudge with her hoof, watching it recoil ever so slightly in response. “Well, what now?” Scootaloo asked Sweetie. “Um, I don't know, I was hoping you'd have an idea.” Sweetie said in turn. Apple Bloom gave the snake tail another poke, this time making Sweetie Belle giggle. “Stop that, I'm ticklish!” “I'm sorry, it just feels really weird,” Apple Bloom responded. She tried pushing on it with her snout, to little avail. “Heavy too.” Sweetie Belle continued to giggle at her friend's touch. “Ha ha...hey wait a sec! Are you calling me fat?” she asked with a playful anger in her voice. Apple Bloom took a little hop back. “What? No! I mean, I didn't mean it like that.” Sweetie Belle gave an overly dramatic pout and tufted her mane with her hoof. “Harumph,” she said, reveling in the cheesiness of it all. “I guess some ponies just don't have such a toned physique from working on a farm like you, Apple Bloom.” An evil smile crept across Sweetie's face. “Oh well, I'm a lot stronger now.” Sweetie Belle quickly whipped her snake tail around and quickly looped around Apple Bloom's midsection. With another lurch, the earth pony was lifted off the ground and left dangling in air. “Whoa!” Apple Bloom yelled as her hooves left the wooden floor. “Wicked!” Scootaloo exclaimed, trotting up to get a better look. “How did you move so fast?” Sweetie Belle shrugged. “I don't know, it just feels naturely, a lot more than I was expected. It feels like I've had a snake tail all my life. It's weird...” she said, curling the rest of her body into a more comfortable S shape. “It's like...I want it to happen, and it just does. I mean, I'm not complaining. I was half thinking I'd move like a slug.” Apple Bloom struggled a bit, pawing at the air in an attempt to shake herself around. “Um, can you please let me go?” Sweetie Belle was about to let Apple Bloom go, but suddenly she got a devilish idea. She turned to Scootaloo. “Hey Scootaloo, want to see something cool?” “Sure!” the pegasus said with gusto. Sweetie Belle turned to Apple Bloom, still dangling in her scaly grip. “Uuuh, Sweetie, I don't like the sound of this.” “Oh come on AB, it'll be fun.” “What are you gonna do?” “It has to be a secret for it to work,” Sweetie Belle coyly replied. “I'm REALLY not liking the sound of this...” “If you go through it with, I promise to do your homework for a week.” “NO!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. She sighed, defeated. “Alright, fine. Whatever it is, I guess we can try it. Just as long at it ain't too weird...” Sweetie Belle squeaked with delighted. “Okay Apple Bloom, just sit tight for a moment.” The earth filly glanced at her binding. “Well, it's tight alright,” she said giving another, futile squirm. Sweetie Belle closed her eyes and rubbed her temples her her hooves. How did Rarity do this? She closed her eyes, furrowed her brow, maybe that meant she was concentration? The snake tail moved just by willing it to move, maybe this new trick worked the same way. Just think, Sweetie, think... Sweetie Belle opened her eyes to reveal a endless explosion of color. She thrust her face so close to Apple Bloom's it caused both of their snouts to scrunch. Apple Bloom's eyes widened as she looked inquisitively at the marvelous display. “Wow, that's a pretty cool trick...” Apple Bloom said as her own eyes began to reflect the mesmerizing patterns in her friend's eyes. “Isn't it?” Sweetie Belle continued focusing, now confident that her spell was working. “I found out about it when Rarity used it on me. She was busy, so she made me stare at a wall for two hours. And you know what?” Sweetie Belle said backing off a bit, “The spell made it the most fun thing I could have ever imagined.” “Uh-huh,” was all Apple Bloom could think to reply. A gentle numbness crept through her mind. Apple Bloom could feel it, yet...she wasn't afraid of it. She could feel it when she tried to say something about those beautiful eyes, but could find the words. Her mind kept going back to how amazing they were. “Apple Bloom, how ya feeling?” “Okay,” Despite not being able to form words earlier, Apple Bloom just blurted it out. It felt a little strange to her; it was like the entire world was melting away into a background of color and thought, but Sweetie's request could be heard clear as day. Bah, she was thinking too much, better just keep staring. “Just okay? You feel better than okay. You feel good,” Sweetie Belle asserted herself with confidence. She knew from experience that whatever the spell-caster said would be true. After all, she wanted to make sure Apple Bloom was having fun with this too. “I...feel good,” Apple Bloom said with a wavering voice. Sweetie Belle was right, this feeling as relaxing, like a weight was being lifted off of her soldiers. Her chores at the farm? Her homework? They didn't matter right now. There would be time enough for that later. Now, Apple Bloom felt like she could just get lost in the moment, any coherency of existence slowly yielding a gentle, warm comfort. Her mind was slowly turning off, and she loved it, because her dear friend told her to. Sweetie Belle could tell that Apple Bloom was beginning to lose it. All four legs dangled carelessly and Apple Bloom's neck began to hunch over with relaxation. “Now,” Sweetie Belle said, “you said before that you wanted me to let you go?” “Y-yeah...” Apple Bloom's meager response was almost pathetic. “Well, for calling me fat earlier, I'm gonna hold onto you for a while. In fact,” Sweetie said as her snake body began to stir, “you like being held onto. It's fun.” Sweetie's tail began spinning Apple Bloom around and adding coils, the young filly's body being slowly covered with more and more with a brilliant white. All the while, Apple Bloom's limbs flopped around from gravity, her mind now totally focused on just looking into Sweetie's eyes. Loop after thick loop was added, going from Apple Bloom's midsection around her toned belly, around her chest, and then a little more encapsulating the thick trunk of a neck before curling halfway around the filly's head. She gave Apple Bloom a little squeeze, making the poor filly squeak like a rubber ducky before slacking again. Sweetie Belle could feel the blood pumping in her veins and slow, rhythmic breathing pulsing against her scales. More importantly, Sweetie was surprised at how warm Apple Bloom was. Compared to the rest the length of the snake tail that encapsulated Apple Bloom, the rest of her lower half felt frozen. Maybe she was cold blooded now? That's what reptiles were, right? Sweetie could have sworn she heard Ms. Cheerilee say something like that. Sweetie once again intently focused on the staring Apple Bloom. At this point, the earth filly 's mouth hang agape, and small strands of drool where dripping onto the coil. “Eww, gross! Keep your mouth closed,” Sweetie exclaimed. Apple Bloom obeyed immediately. “Alright, Apple Bloom, I think I'm going to keep you right where you are for a bit. Not that you mind, you like the sensation. Smooth and cool, soft, gentle,...like...like...” Sweetie Belle thought for a moment for a good analogy. She had to set this up right. “...Like when you turn over your pillow in the middle of the night..” Eh, it would do, she thought. “Just relax and enjoy it.” Sweetie said, finally stopping her hypnosis. Those final few words pervaded Apple Bloom's mind. They etched themselves into the fiber of her being, reprogramming her young, malleable brain. She'd enjoy it, and enjoy it she would. Sweetie was so kind for making her enjoy it, she was so kind for showing her the beauty of trance. A goofy grin appeared on Apple Bloom's face as her eyes gently closed. She began squirming ever so gently, reveling in the soft smoothness of her scaly prison. Apple Bloom rested her cheek on the coil that crept around her skull, rubbing her face into it in a state of pure bliss. Sweetie Belle admired her work with a slight nod. “Well, that was easy. Scootaloo, what did you think?” She turned around to see the pegasus in an entranced state of her own, blankly staring at the spectacle. “Hmm, she must have caught a few of those stray glimpses,” Sweetie thought to herself. She slithered a bit closer. “Um, hello...Equestria to Scootaloo?” Sweetie said waving a hoof in front of Scootaloo's face. Nothing. “Maybe a bonk on the head will do the trick!” Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo's forehead a firm tap with her hoof. The pegasus went from a state of trance to being dazed almost instantly. “Ow! Hey! What did you do that for?” Scootaloo said, rubbing her noggin with her foreleg. “Don't blame me,you went under the spell too!” Sweetie retorted. “Oh, yeah,” Scootaloo remembered now looking when Sweetie was hypnotizing Apple Bloom. She say some pretty colors appear in Apple Bloom's eyes, but after that things were kind of a blur. Scootaloo trotted over to get a better look at Apple Bloom. She could see that the earth pony was blissfully content and seemed to be really enjoy relaxing in Sweetie's coils. Sweetie Belle slithered up to Scootaloo. “Well, what now?” she asked. “I dunno, you're kinda the big thing here,” Scootaloo said. She was more fascinated with Apple Bloom at this point. She reached up and gave Apple Bloom's nose a little boop. No response. “Huh” Scootaloo remarked. “Hey, if you want, I can wrap you up too.” Sweetie Belle said. Maybe she could stay warm with both of her friends in her clutches. Scootaloo choked for a moment. She wouldn't deny it, she didn't really like to tied up or immobilized in any way. For some reason, it made her panic. Then again, she thought, this might be the only chance she might be able to experience this. That is, at least before she got grounded. “Uh, okay,” Scootaloo said, swallowing her pride. “How does this work?” Sweetie Belle shifted the midsection of her snake tail to where Scootaloo was sitting. Resting the still coiled Apple Bloom on the floor, Sweetie tapped the thick tube. “Hop on!” Scootaloo timidly trotted over and slowly sat on the fleshy seat. It was a bit awkward; she had to sit upright with both her forelimbs on her sides to support her. Her legs lazily hung off, with only the tips of her hooves reaching the floor. “Ready?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Yeah, I'm ready.” Sweetie Belle began slithering around, crossing in front of Scootaloo before sliding over herself. As Sweetie Belle continued to slide around Scootaloo's back side, the amount of snake tail lagging behind Sweetie grew smaller and smaller, until it cinched snugly around Scootaloo's belly. Coming up from the edge of Scootaloo's vision, Sweetie began her second pass, resting another coil above the first. The scales slid and pinched methodically, conforming to all the contours on Scootaloo's body. Scootaloo began to feel a little nervous when Sweetie Belle looped around her her third pass, the coils so thick that even just three rings almost covered Scootaloo's snout. Back and forth they moved and rubbed; Scootaloo couldn't deny that it felt a little nice as the coils shifted until they were snug against her. Still, trying to move her front legs into a more comfortable position brought her back down to reality; Sweetie's body was like a vice and Scootaloo could barely move at all. Sweetie Belle stopped in front of the pegasus. Through her scales, she could feel Scootaloo breathing a bit more rapidly than usual. “Scootaloo, are you alright?” “Y-yeah, I'm fine.” Scootaloo felt uncomfortable, but she'd at least try to see this though. Sweetie brought herself up close to her friend. “Do you want me to hypnotize you? It'll help you relax,” Sweetie said. “NO!” Scootaloo yelled. Being wrapped up was already triggering a primal fear in her, being hypnotized and utterly helpless would have been too much. She was a bit curious, but her fear outweighed her curiosity. If she was going to be hypnotized, it would have to be some other time. “Listen, Sweetie,” Scootaloo continued, “I'm sorry, but I just don't feel right being coiled.” Sweetie looked a little hurt. “Scootaloo, you're my friend, do you really think I'd hurt you?” “No, it's not that, it's just that being unable to move makes me freak out for some reason.” Sweetie shrugged and released her gripped. “Fair enough,” she said. Her coils instantly slackened and loosely fell off of Scootaloo. The tiny pegasus staggered back to her hooves, a bit wobbly from the slight loss of circulation in her limbs caused by the tightness. “So now what?” Sweetie asked, shivering a bit from the sudden loss of warmth. Scootaloo pondered for a bit, scanning the room. Coloring book? Nah, too boring. Kerosene lamp? Last time she played with that, Sweetie Belle singed her mane and had to have it cut back so far she looked like a colt. Old teapots Apple Bloom had fished out of the trash from that one restaurant? Maybe... Scootaloo's eyes turned to the still hypnotized Apple Bloom, who was obviously still happily content with being wrapped up and rubbing her cheek into Sweetie Belle's soft snake belly. “Hey Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo said. “Yeah Scootaloo?” “So if Apple Bloom is hypnotized, does that mean she'll do anything you say?” ______________________________________________________________________________________ Scootaloo poured some more imaginary tea from the kettle. “I daresay Princess Applestia, you must really like this Earl Hay tea.” She said after daintily setting down the chipped ceramic kettle. “Indeed, Captain Scootalance.” Apple Bloom replied. She was a sight to beyond; crudely cut and colored cardboard wings and horn were taped on her. She was adorned with random fake jewelry the CMC had gathered up over time, and her face was caked with makeup. To top it all off, a little paper mache tiara adorned her head. Apple Bloom didn't mind in the slightest, though. She was so deeply hypnotized that right now she did believe she was the Princess of Apples, and that she was having a tea party with her captain of the guard and her totally not-a-lamia mage advisor, Sweetie Spell. She could feel the jewelry on her weighing her down as if they were made of solid gold. And the makeup! Why, she was the pinnacle of beauty, a perfect pony princess, she had to be pretty to keep up appearances. Even the imaginary Earl Hay she sipped from her cup tasted as warm and full-bodied as if it was really there. The wooden floor was a cushioned seat, and the dingy clubhouse gave way to a massive, beautiful garden filled with exotic plants and wildlife. She was in a state of utter bliss, her mind completely dominated by this wonderful state of trance. Sweetie Belle couldn't help but snicker. If only her friend could see herself now, she'd probably bust up laughing. Or beat Sweetie to a pulp, but she was certain that Apple Bloom had a sense of humor. “So, how goes the Griffon incursions on our borders?” the good Princess asked her captain. “My princess, they have been getting more bold. Why, my scouts tell me raiding parties have been invading settlements and stealing all of our subjects' cookies!” Scootaloo said putting on a gruff, militaristic voice. “THE FIENDS!” Apple Bloom said, pounding the floor with such force that it caused the tea set to rattle. “They must be taken care of at once! Sweetie Spell, how goes your anti-griffon spell?” Sweetie took a huge pretend swig from her cup. Her snake body had formed a cushiony mass behind her, on which she reclined lazily. “M'lady, it is almost finished. All it needs is a majestic princess dance to finish it. Dance for us, Princess.” Apple Bloom pushed away her teacup and stood up on her hind legs. She couldn't disobey. Nay, why would she want to? Her people's cookies were in trouble! She had to finish the spell and evict those nasty griffons from her borders. Apple Bloom danced with her heart and soul, twirling her body, tapping her hooves, doing cartwheels, anything that came to mind. Her trance made every motion, every beat feel infused with magical energy. It was absolute euphoria. Scootaloo watched her friend prance about with enthusiasm. The earth pony seemed to be having the time of her life. It was a surreal sight; Scootaloo wondered what Apple Bloom was thinking about right now, and if she really believed she was a princess dancing to protect the poor cookies of Equestria. To be on a psychedelic trip without a care in the world... Scootaloo envied her. “Hey Sweetie Belle?” “Yeah, Scoots?” Sweetie said prying her eyes off their entertainment. “I...I want to see what it's like to be hypnotized.” Scootaloo said timidly. Sweetie's face lit up with glee. Maybe things would work in her favor after all! “But!” Scootaloo interjected, “no wrapping. I'm still a little iffy about that.” Sweetie Belle gave a little pout, but then quickly wiped it off her face. Pushing the tea set out of the way, she slithered over to her friend. As she slithered, the mass of coils she was resting on elongated into a flowing ebony river of snakeskin. Sweetie Belle reared up to Scootaloo and hovered her face close to the pegasus's. “Alright,” Sweetie Belle cooed, “I want to to relax.” Scootaloo took a deep breathe and cleared her mind. She was a bit apprehensive, but her reluctance gave way to the thought that she had to experience this before any grown ups found out she and her friends played with snake oil and grounded them for life. Sweetie Belle blinked, and almost instantly her eyes exploded with color. Scootaloo flinched, but her resolve pushed her to not look away. She'd take this like a mare. She kept staring into Sweetie Belle's eyes; Scootaloo couldn't deny that the pattern was mesmerizing. A slight numbness seemed to creep from the back of her skull. It it was anyone other than Sweetie Belle, she'd be a little scared. “Relax” Sweetie Belle said. Relax. The word seeped across Scootaloo's body. Every part of her slackened, almost by instinct. Scootaloo began to feel really tired, but it was a pleasant kind of tiredness, like coming home after a day of hard playing. Sweetie Belle began to way herself back and forth, keeping her eyes locked with Scootaloo's. The pegasus couldn't help to mimic her movements. The gentle swaying had a subconsciously calming effect that made Scootaloo even more receptive to the magic that was relentless assaulting her mind right now. Her brain, barely working on its own, had only made the most basic associations between these good feelings and falling deeper into trance. It was really all she needed. A smile crept across Scootaloo's face as she continued to catch an eye-full. If this was what being hypnotized felt like, she wanted more. She wanted to be like her friend Apple Bloom, wanted to know what being so lost in her own mind was like. Scootaloo was a filly who hungered for experience, and her drive to stick thing out was paying off. “How do you feel?” Sweetie asked. “L-like a m-mill...m-mill...” Sweetie put a hoof on Scootaloo's snout. “Don't talk, just stare.” Stare, yes, of course. Scootaloo took her friend's advice and fell deeper and deeper under her spell. In the back recesses of her mind that still worked, she welcomed the brainwashing. It was like her soul was melting under a magnificent massage. Without even an ounce of resistance, Scootaloo embraced the mindless happiness that was being handed to her on a silver platter. Just before she was totally gone, her last, most intoxicated thought was that she wanted this to never end. _____________________________________________________________________ Sweetie Belle waved a hoof in front of Scootaloo's smiling face. “Scootaloo? Scootaloooooooooooooo?” She asked. No response. Her friend was totally gone. Sweetie smiled. Scootaloo was ripe for reprogramming right now. “Scootaloo, listen to my voice.” She said reclining and shifting her snake body on its back. “When I stomp my hoof, you'll crawl onto my belly scales and spread your legs out. You will imagine that you're flying high in the air, free as a bird, wind in your face as the land rushes beneath you.” Sweetie Belle stomped her hoof to finalize the command. Scootaloo immediately felt the compulsion to obey and crawled over on the massive white tube. The pegasus closed her eyes and buzzed her little wings completely lost in the fantasy. To her, she felt like she was high above the clouds; the sun on her back, the chill breeze, it all felt so real. Her mind crafted the landscape beneath her as she “flew,” from small towns grounded in reality to fantastic creations: a magical volcano, a mountain in the shape of a dragon, an emerald sea, Scootaloo was so deep in trance that it was like she was in a dream, and her mind would enjoy it to its fullest. Sweetie looked contently on her friend. She was happy Scootaloo could experience this sort of euphoria, AND her cold-blooded snake body was able to get warm in the process. Sweetie turned her attention to Apple Bloom, who was still dancing about. Granted, the earth pony was breathing heavily, and the sweat had caused her makeup to run all down her face. Still, Apple Bloom still sincerely believed that she needed to keep dancing. “Princess, you can stop now. The spell worked.” Sweetie said. Apple Bloom stopped her little jig and almost immediately collapsed. “Phew, that's good. I'm glad I could protect the cookies of Equestria.” “All in a day's work my liege,” Sweetie said with a chuckle. “Right now, you deserve a rest. Sleep for a while.” On Sweetie's command, Apple Bloom began snoring. The young lamia carefully maneuvered the end of her snake tail to not disturb Scootaloo and deftly picked up the napping pony. Twirling her a few times in the air to completely mummify her in coils, Sweetie found herself with another source of heat. It was pleasant and relaxing, and Sweetie gave a little yawn. “Yeah, I think I could use a little nap too,” she said to herself. Sliding herself around, Sweetie made a bed of her own snake body. She plopped herself on it and drifted off peacefully.