> Life Outside the Pit Lane
>  by Dusk Melody
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 - Sparky's Big Adventure
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the library of Caffeinated’s ranch on Stallion Island, soft instrumental played in the background, filling the room with its harmonious melodies. Those in the know would recognize it as one of Lady Octavia's own compositions, one of her last pieces before she had announced her retirement from performing on stage. Sat across from his wife, Longshore was reading the Manehatten Times newspaper while Requiem read a book. He was studying the sport section. Air Raid’s first win had at last dropped from the pages, now they were speculating as to whether or not she could make it two for two this coming Sunday. 

Finishing his paper just as Requiem turned the page, Longshore stretched on his seating pad. He smiled, imagining the kinky fun that was happening downstairs in the dungeon while they watched the house – not that they’d hear it above the soundproofing. “I think I should make sure the food hasn't gone bad.” 

Requiem didn’t bother to look up from her book. The red and blue painted earth pony mare did however treat her husband to an eye roll though. As if he needed an excuse to dive into the buffet. “Do try to leave something for the after party, hmm?” 

Outside the ranch, oblivious to the two inhabitants of the library, a bright yellow unicorn mare was trotting up to the garage door. In the rapidly darkening night sky, illuminated by the street lights and the full moon, Sparkplug smiled. She was on a mission, moving with a purpose and, after a brief explore, her goal was at hoof when she found the card key reader. 

Ratchet, her big sister, had told her there was a party here at Mr. Caffy’s ranch that night and, seeing as she was too excited to sleep, Sparkplug had made sure she was dressed for it. Clad in her fluffy white bunny rabbit onesie pyjamas, she was ready for a slumber party. She was blissfully unaware as to the exact nature of the party in question as she slid her key card in the machine and let herself inside. “Hello?” she called out loudly. The garage held Air Raid’s Audi – whose engine she had personally rebuilt from nothing, and a Colt. One slot was filled with her family’s tools and equipment. 

There were no ponies in there though. Cutely, Sparkplug pouted. In her foalish mind, she assumed it was a special slumber party. Then, putting two and two together, she reasoned it would be in the bedrooms. She knew where they were! Holding her bestest bunny, Mr. Flopsy, close to her, she trotted over to the garage door that lead to the back yard and, as it had the same card reader next to it, let herself through.

However, her trek around the back of Caffeinated and Thespian’s ranch was not to be without incident. No sooner had she stepped into the yard than she saw the swimming pool, the cool clear water shining in the moonlight. Sparkplug hated swimming pools. Ever since her accident, she had hated water in general. Wisely, as carefully as she could, the eighteen year old unicorn did her best to walk around it. 

Unfortunately, she wasn’t careful enough. So focussed was she on the perceived slumber party that she didn’t look where she was going. She strayed too close to the pool and, with a yelp of fear, she dropped her beloved bunny into the water. When Mr. Flopsy hit the water, her yelp became a panicked scream. 

As the glass doors that lead from the back yard to the ranch were closed though, Requiem and Longshore were completely unaware of the intruder outside. On the edge of the pool, Sparkplug saw her bunny on the surface of the water. Try as she might, she couldn’t reach him. Not knowing what else to do, she made her way around the pool to the glass doors. Casting a look over her shoulder, she saw her plush start to sink. In desperation, she tapped on the glass doors. 

Inside, having just helped himself to a plate of daisy and watercress sandwiches, Longshore heard the tapping and, stopping to look, was sure he was high. He had to look twice, though on the second look the mixture of fear, panic and terror on the mare’s face shocked him to action. “Love,” he called to his wife, “we have a giant bunny at the back door, would you get it?”

Startled, Requiem blinked and, putting down her book, the earth pony walked out of the library. Straightaway she saw Sparkplug – Requiem recognised the unicorn from the race she had attended with the rest of the herd not a week prior in her bunny onesie and smiled. “Sure, I can get that.”

Requiem’s grin though was wiped from her face when, taking a few steps closer to the glass doors, she saw that Sparkplug was sobbing like a foal, tapping urgently at the glass door and pointing to the pool. Now Requiem was worried there was somepony with her, somepony who needed help. “Who is in the pool?” she asked as she slid open the door.

“Mr...Mr Fl-Flopsy!” Sparkplug wailed, tears leaking like faucets down her bright yellow cheeks, “He c-can't swim! Help, please!”

Thinking quickly, Requiem flicked on the full backyard lighting. In the new light provided by the lanterns placed all around the backyard, she saw the floating bunny rabbit become waterlogged and he started to sink. As soon as Sparkplug saw her plush sink into the pool, she properly freaked out. “He’s gonna get hurt!” she screeched, crying on the tiled floor, “Please...help him!”

Acting fast, and with no thought to her own safety, Requiem dived into the pool and she easily scooped up the toy as it went down. The loud splash of her entry into the water though brought Longshore to the back door with a plate of food in hoof. Moments later, and Requiem climbed out with a very wet bunny on her back. “Where's Belle when you need her?” she groused good-naturedly as she dripped pool water onto the tiles. 

“Playing with a mile of rope, I'm sure…” Longshore’s sarcasm, though well meant, was met with a deadpan look from his partner. He then looked at their new guest. A whole raft of faces and names ran through his head. “Are you...Sparkplug, from the race?”

“Questions inside, Mr. Flopsy and I need to dry off!” Requiem cut across her husband and, wisely, Longshore didn’t question why she had a rather wet bunny plush on her back and instead he took his cue and rubbed Requiem down with a towel he appropriated from the cabinet near the pool after setting the tray of food down on a low table near the snivelling young mare.  

Thankfully, as Sparkplug backed off fearfully from the pool, she found the patio was big enough that she was no longer near the dreaded water. “I'm Sparky,” she whimpered, not nearly as enthusiastic as she'd otherwise be, her ears well back to her scalp inside her bunny onesie. “Is Mr. Flopsy gonna be okay?”

“I think so, I just need to go check him out inside.” While Mr. Flopsy was a plush, Requiem could easily see that Sparkplug’s concern for him was very real. After a quick flick of her ears to Longshore, she squeezed out the vast majority of the excess water when her stallion blocked the view of the bunny twisted like a pretzel. 

Longshore couldn’t block the sound of spattering water. “Is he...um...is he gonna be special now, too?” Sparkplug asked in a scared tone. 

Before she answered that, Requiem thought about what little she did actually know for sure about the young sobbing pony sat on the patio next to her. That wasn’t much, but she knew a little. The psychiatrist in her naturally wanted to know more. “Isn't Mr. Flopsy always special?”

“He's my bestest friend!” Sparkplug squeaked and, smiling, she adorably wiped her eyes on the sleeves of her fluffy white onesie. “It’s just that Jackie says I was special after I fell in a pool…”

That gave Requiem a little more insight than she had before. “I don't know if Mr. Flopsy can be as special as you, but maybe he is a little more special with understanding.” She said as Longshore finished drying her with the towel. While no Belle-dry, it would have to suffice. “Come inside and we'll make sure Mr. Flopsy is okay.” Taking the towel, she wrapped it around the sodden bunny. 

With all the trust of a foal, Sparkplug obediently followed Requiem and Longshore inside the brightly lit ground floor of the ranch. “I told him to be careful,” she sniffed, still more than a little upset by the whole experience. “Water is bad.”

Requiem processed that too. Regressive foalish behaviour, extreme phobia of water, an incident in her youth, it didn’t take a genius to put two and two together. “Too much water is bad,” she agreed, “but I do like to take a bath.”

Once the two mares were inside, Longshore retrieves the plate of food he had been enjoying. “Do you want something to eat, Sparkplug?” he asked, sensing an opportunity to go get some more.

Almost instantly, Sparkplug perked up and hopped in place on the carpeted floor of the library like the bunny she was dressed as. “Is there cake?” she asked hopefully, looking about for any signs of cake. “Ratchy said there was a party.” It didn’t seem like any party she had ever been to.

With the towel in hoof, Requiem squeezed out the last of the water from the bunny. “Here is Mr. Flopsy,” she smiled her best warm motherly smile as she passed the now dry plush back to its grateful owner. “I think he is a little scared so you should hold him close.”

“We have a few different cakes,” Longshore grinned. This mare was just adorable, though he lacked the innate insight of his wife. “You can see which one you like.”

Like she was holding the national treasure of Equestria and the royal regalia of the Princesses, Sparkplug took Mr. Flopsy and held him very close indeed, kissing his head all over. “I like the cake with carrot in it.” She said between her kisses.

“You must have met Ms. Thespian,” Requiem winked at Sparkplug, “Because that is one of her two favourite cakes to make.”

“Yay!” the overgrown foal bounced eagerly on her hooves and then, finally she remembered her manners. Wheeljack always liked her to be a polite little pony. After all, please was a very magic word. “Please may I have some?”

Not for the first time, Longshore was reminded of his filly when she had been, well, a filly. “Yes you may.” Cutting a very adult sized slice of the carrot cake, the earth pony stallion placed it on a plate for her. “I like this one,” he pointed to the one he had been enjoying. “Black Forest, it has cherries in it.”

“Thank you for my cake. Mr. Flopsy likes cake!” Sparkplug then made a very cute show of feeding the bunny before a thought occurred to her. One that had been bothering her but she was unable to express it. “Um...excuse me? Are you the only ones here?” A party should have more ponies than this.

“For now we are the only ones on this floor.” Requiem answered somewhat diplomatically, gracefully skirting all the adult things that were happening downstairs that she was sure were too grown up for big little fillies. “I'm sure the others will be here soon though. Is there a game you like to play?”

Luckily for Requiem, the well-timed distraction worked like a Luna given charm. When she wasn’t muzzle deep in engine parts, Sparkplug loved parties and party games. “I like musical statues!”

Requiem was just familiar enough with that game that she knew how to play. “Do you want to be the first spotter?”

Longshore raised a hoof, quickly swallowing the sandwich he had been enjoying. “After we eat our food, love.”

That drew Sparkplug’s attention back to the cake. The very, very tasty cake. She couldn’t remember a cake that was as awesome as this one was. “This is nice cake. Mr. Flopsy says it’s yummy.” She leant in and listened to him as she imagined him speak to her. “He also says thank you for letting us in to the party.” It still didn’t seem like a party to her.

A thought then occurred to Requiem. Namely that Sparkplug was here when she obviously shouldn’t be. “Did you invite anypony else, besides Mr. Flopsy to the party with you?”

Like a switch, Sparkplug’s mood changed from upbeat and cheerful to sullen as she shook her head, the ears of her bunny onesie flopping here and there. “Jackie and Ratchy are at a party in town. At somewhere called Trixie's. Hoist is having a party with a mare at home.”

Longshore didn’t have to be a psychiatrist to read Sparkplug’s mood. “Feeling left out then?” he asked, to which Requiem rolled her eyes and mouth, ‘Duh!’

“I wanted to go with Ratchy and Jackie, but they said special fillies need their bedtime…” Sparkplug snorted, suddenly annoyed and giving vent to her temper. “It's not fair! I like pyjama parties too!”

Requiem had to really fight in order to not laugh out loud. This filly in mare’s clothing was so adorable she was sure she had diabetes now. Watching her logic at work was beautiful. “Long, I didn't bring my PJ's.”

Now it was Longshore’s turn to roll his eyes at his wife. With a snort he said, like it was blindingly obvious, “Check Thespian's closet, love.” As he chuckled, Requiem made the ever popular and instantly recognised ‘Ohhh’ look. 

“It has to be a PJ party, it's after dark.” Sparkplug’s logic was relentless.

“You two eat. Longshore will get you a drink too, sweetie. I'll find us some PJ's.” And with that, Requiem vanished upstairs, her destination Thespian’s costume closet, so fast one might have believed she had teleported.

Poor Longshore, who was still admiring the young unicorn’s logic, was caught unprepared as his wife zoomed up the stairs. “Us, err, yes, care for a drink, Sparkplug?”

“Yes please!” She was rather proud of herself for remembering her please and thank you. She set aside her half eaten carrot cake – Mr. Flopsy had said that she could eat his bit. “Can we have some juice please?”

“You can!” Longshore quickly recovered, his smile never faltering. “We have apple, orange, and papaya.”

“Pap-ay-a...hmm.” Sparkplug rolled the unfamiliar word around like she was trying it out, seeing how it felt. In the end she decided to go with what she knew. “I'd like orange please. Mr. Flopsy would like orange too, please.” Nodding, the earth pony stallion poured out the two juices, one in a small brandy glass. He then made a coffee for himself and an orange spritzer for Requiem, when she came down. “Asante!” Sparkplug beamed, looking very pleased with herself, “that's zebra for thank you. Ms. Thespy learned it me.”

Longshore was quite impressed. “Do you have stripes under you PJ's, Sparkplug? I thought that was a zebra talking to me.”

Concentrating hard, Sparkplug took the juice in her magic and she blushed a little. Of course she didn’t have stripes! “No, I'm just yellow, like a new crayon.” She then thought for a moment, looking at the stairs that Requiem had used. “Are you two special someponies? Jackie and Ratchy want someponies. That's why they went to Trixie's party. Hoist has a pony too.” She whispered to Longshore, “he was kissing her when I left the house. I want a somepony too, but Jackie says I'm too little.”

“By saying you're little,” Requiem said as she came back down the stairs, now dressed in the finest puppy onesie that Thespian had in her closet, “do they mean you're young?”

Eagerly, the unicorn nodded, “Cos I'm not little! I'm as big as Ratchet!”

“Do you think you're young still?”

“I guess so,” Sparkplug shrugged her shoulders at Requiem’s question. “I have to go a school for special ponies. I like the school here way better than the one in Canterlot.”

Requiem had a sense of what was frustrating the younger mare, but without her background, it was just conjecture. “When you get older you have to trade some fun for some responsibility. Making engines go fast is still fun for you, right?” she asked, carefully watching her response.

“Yes!” Sparkplug bounced extremely energetically, so much so that she almost spilled her juice. “I love making them vroom better!”

“Does your brothers and sister have as much fun as you, or does it seem like more work for them?”

“I have more fun than them,” Sparkplug giggled. She had fun. To her it was a game. Not that she didn’t know what she was doing, far from it. She just had fun doing it. “When Jackie drops the wrench on his hoof cos he's rushing he says bad words!”

Requiem was in no doubt about that. She assumed all stallions used bad words when they dropped tools on their hooves. “Part of growing up is you make your job more serious and less fun. Maybe you can help them see that it can still be fun?”

“But it is fun!” she giggled like the overgrown foal she was deep down. “Matching up the right shiny bits and putting them in the right place! Wohoo!” As she spoke, Longshore finished his food and looked over to see if Sparkplug was done with hers. She just had a mouthful of cake left. “Raid didn't believe I can make engines vroom, just cos I don't know the names of the shiny bits, but I showed her.” With that, she snaffled the last of her cake. “That was super yummy!”

“Ready to play musical statues?” Requiem asked as she had finished off her plate as well.

“Yes please!” she answered very quickly. “Mr. Flopsy likes to play too. He's really good, 'cept earlier when he fell over…”

About to start, a thought occurred to Requiem. “What music to you like to play for this game?” she asked, in no small part because Octavia’s classical cello music was still playing on the stereo sound system. Not exactly the right ‘feel’ for a party game.

“Have you got anything fun, like DJ Moonbeams stuff?” Sparkplug asked innocently, unaware that the mare herself was at this moment downstairs in the dungeon.

Longshore couldn’t help but smirk at that request. “I think Serenity has the entire collection here at the house.”

“I like it, it's fun!” Sparkplug enthused, “I really like Dance All Night. I did once. Jackie was cross because I played it real late. He said a lot of bad words, and Ratchet told him off for getting angry.”

Snickering, mostly because as parents they had been there and done that many times themselves, Longshore picked out the DJ Moonbeams track that Sparkplug had requested and placed it in the stereo. Down in the basement a pink unicorn's ear twitched and a shiver ran down her body. She glanced over at a very innocent looking teal unicorn. “Love,” the stallion conceded defeat, “I don't know how to set this CD to random pause.”  

Giving a dramatic sigh, one that she was sure her husband knew the meaning of, Requiem went over and fiddled with the CD player’s controls. Her look of smug victory was unbearable. “That should do it.” When the music came over the speakers, Sparkplug began to dance very...enthusiastically. She was reminiscent of Princess Twilight but not as good. Longshore danced in a similar fashion but Requiem couldn’t even pretend to dance poorly. “Do you think Mr. Flopsy can take first turn to see who doesn't freeze?”

“He can! He likes this game!” Sparkplug clapped her hooves together, which made no noise in her onesie and she set her bunny down where he could watch. Again, Longshore danced, but he was an agent. Requiem really could dance. After the first pause both of them froze like perfect statues until the music started again. Just like before, Sparkplug’s dance was most uncoordinated, and she was the last to freeze, then she giggled when they danced. “He says we all good!”

The next time the music paused, Longshore staggered a couple of steps while Requiem was standing on one hoof like a statue. Once the music started again Sparkplug pointed to the hastily recovering stallion. “Mr. Flopsy says you are out!”

“He got me fair and square.” Smiling, he went over and sat down by Mr. Flopsy’s side to watch the rest of the game be played out. It carried on and, after the seventh pause, Sparkplug eliminated herself by trying to copy Requiem's one hoofed pose. She overbalanced and, flapping her legs like a bird, fell over.

As Requiem clapped her hooves, the game began all over again. Since Longshore was the first out, it was his turn to watch and spot any moving statues. Sparkplug shared a hoof bump with the red and blue painted earth pony and danced again, at last having a great time at the party. This time around, Requiem fell over on the sixth pause. As it happened, Sparkplug also failed on the sixth, but just after the older pony. She was attempting a one hoof-stand, wobbled and landed on her face with a heartfelt, “Owww...”

“You're right,” Requiem breathed a little heavily, “Mr. Flopsy is good at this.”

“I thought I saw an ear wiggle,” Longshore added, “but I wasn't sure.”

Completely distracted from the sharp pain in her muzzle, Sparkplug giggled where she fell on the floor. “He's super good, like the Power Ponies!” 

Quick as a flash, Requiem was on that like steam on a rice pudding. She sensed another ‘in’ with the young pony and shamelessly she exploited it. “Really,” she said, her eyes twinkling, “and which Power Pony is the bestest?”

“Masked Matter Horn is the bestest,” Sparkplug spoke with undisguised enthusiasm. She really, really loved the Matter Horn. “Because she's a real strong unicorn who can make all sorts of useful things out of magic to help the team beat the Mane-iac!”

“Back in a moment!” Again, Requiem took off upstairs, leaving her husband alone with their guest and her bunny.

“Do you like Power Ponies, Mr. Longshore?” asked Sparkplug, now her attention had been steered onto what was her second favourite subject after engines and making them go faster.

“I have it on good authority that it is good, because Ms. Thespian says it is good. My grandfoal, Shadow, is only one so she doesn't watch it yet.” Longshore quietly thanked all the alicorns for that, though he knew he wouldn’t be able to escape it for very much longer.

“My bigger brother, Jackie says its rubbish.” Sparkplug snorted derisively, as if her older brother didn’t know what he was talking about. Which he didn’t. Obviously. “He likes old puppet shows, like Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Terrahawks. You can see the strings!”

Smiling, Longshore stole a sandwich from the buffet table that was begging to be eaten and laughed, “I like those too, but one shouldn't call newer shows rubbish any more than you should call older shows rubbish.”

Unprepared for such a reasoned argument, the bright yellow unicorn cocked her head to one side, the bunny ears of her onesie following her movement. She thought on that and frowned a little. “You is right. I was almost mean. I'm sorry. I don't like mean ponies. Miss Sunrise was mean to my friend at school in Canterlot, so I got her back.”

Halfway back down to the ground floor, Requiem paused on the stairs to listen, making sure to keep herself out of sight. “You did?” asked Longshore, suddenly curious as to how this sweet little mare could have enacted her revenge. “My work has me deal with mean ponies too.”

“Uh huh!” Sparkplug’s blue eyes were alive with mischief of which she was quite proud. “My friend had a weewee accident at school, and Miss Sunrise got mad and shouted at her, which made her wee more, and she cried, and had to stand in the corner. So I put jelly in her horseshoes!”

“Hmmm,” Longshore saw his wife’s shadow on the stairs and had to really fight to not erupt in giggles, “was Miss Sunrise upset by that?”

“She was, but she didn't know it was me! But I wasn't letting her shout at my friend. It was only weewee!”

Longshore fancied he knew of ponies like this Miss Sunrise. “I find ponies get mean when they don't get what they want, and can get meaner when I don't give them what they want. Then they just get mad when I point out how silly it is that they want. Like blue towels in the dressing room and all I have is white. I tell them they can bring their own blue towels.”

Even Sparkplug laughed at that. “That's silly. It's just a towel.” However, that mischievous look was still in her eyes. “Then, another time, she shouted at me. She said good mares don't go out with mares, and good stallions don't date other stallions.” She made a snort through her nose, “I said she was silly. Jackie likes stallions and he's a good pony. She made me stand in the corner and I missed my lunch. Jackie yelled at her for that. He used a whole lot of bad words.”

Shaking his head, Longshore wasn’t surprised to hear that. Canterlot was Canterlot, after all. “Other times I find that ponies are mean to be mean because they think they have power. I don't hire them and they find how little power they have.”

“You're cool.” Just like that, Sparkplug made up her mind of Longshore’s coolness. She giggled and shared a hoof bump with him. “I think Jackie would like you.”

“Maybe.” Requiem chose that moment to walk back into the library. From what she had heard, she really liked this little mare even more than before. On her back, she bore the fruit of her search, namely one of Thespian's Power Pony plushes, The Masked Matter Horn. All the herd’s foals had played with them, so she saw Sparkplug as no exception.

As soon as she saw the plush sitting happily on Requiem’s back, the bright yellow mare let out a very big, very loud and very long squee of pure delight. “Matter Horn!”

Playing along, Requiem looked around behind her and then she jumped as if startled. “She snuck up on me!”

Sparkplug’s squee became a peal of laughter. She totally and completely bought the act. “That's cos she's the bestest!”

“Just remember she lives here,” said Requiem as she hoofed over the Power Pony plush, which the unicorn took in her glowing blue magical aura. “Do you think she is better at musical statues than Mr. Flopsy?”

“I'll remember.” Sunrise was already a forgotten memory as the young mare looked conflicted at the two plushies like she was seriously weighing up the pros and cons of each. Ultimately, so as not to upset her bunny, she covered Mr. Flopsy’s ears. “Matter Horn is better.”

Leaning into her young friend, Requiem whispered, “Maybe at some things, but I'll say that there may be things Mr. Flopsy can do that Matter Horn cannot do.”

“Mr. Flopsy is best at helping me sleep at night and keeping the bad dreams away.”

“That is very nice of Mr. Flopsy to do.” Requiem offered her a nuzzle, which she accepted before resetting the CD player with the DJ Moonbeams track. “It is my turn to watch, are you ready to play again?” Sparkplug’s happy bounce and clap of her hooves told her all she needed to know. This time around, Longshore lasted until the fourth pause of the CD, while Sparkplug gave out in the fifth. As the Matter Horn plush was well loved by a lot of foals, she toppled over just after the unicorn during the dancing.

Breathing heavily, Sparkplug looked at the plush on its side. In her mind she was having a rest. “Aw! She must be tired, Ms. Requiem.”

“Since Matter Horn is tired of dancing, maybe we could do something else?” Longshore suggested waving a hoof over to the games cupboard in the library. “The games are in that cabinet. There’s pin the tail on the pony – Celestia edition - a bucket of blocks, checkers as well as chutes and ladders.”

“You have chutes and ladders!” Sparkplug let out another excited squee. In Canterlot it was snakes and ladders, but she found the snakes a little scary. “Can we please play this?” she pointed to the board game, “I like chutes better than snakes.”  

That was it. They were playing chutes and ladders. Taking the game out, Longshore set the game up on the floor where they all had room to get around the board. Mr. Flopsy chose to have the orange playing piece, because like Sparkplug said, it reminded him of carrots. Pushes the orange piece towards the bunny, Longshore took the white one for himself. The bright yellow unicorn chose yellow, her coat colour and Requiem took blue, the colour of her eyes. Last to choose, Matter Horn selected green.   

In the end, Longshore won the game, though Sparkplug came a very close second. It was as she was giving him a celebratory hoof bump that she made a huge yawn. She was after all awake a long time past her bedtime. “Oh, excuse me...”

Starlight, who had left the dungeon with Selene when Mapper had taken out the spiked club to use on Serenity, called out, “Mom? Where are you”  

“We’re in the library, Star.” 

Moments later, Starlight and Selene walked in together. Starlight smiled when he saw the unicorn mare dressed in the bunny onesie. That at least explained why his mother was wearing a puppy one, and it also explained the music. “Oh, we have a guest!”

“Hi!” Sparkplug greeted the two newcomers with a smile and a hoof bump. At last there were more ponies at the party! “Are you two here for the party too?”

First of all, Selene caught Requiem’s look. Then she caught the ear flicks and responded that she understood. “Yes, we are, can we play with you?”

“Yes please!” the unicorn nodded so hard that her bunny ears flopped about. “I'm Sparkplug! You can call me Sparky.”

“Hi, I'm Selene, and this is my husband, Starlight.” As chutes and ladders had eight game pieces, there were more than enough for them all to play. Selene opted for the black piece and Starlight went for the purple one. After an intense and hard played game, Sparkplug eventually won, beating Requiem’s piece by one square to get to the one hundred square first. She celebrated her win by a dance and a sing along to “Dance All Night.”  

~ ~ ~

“After you then, Tempest.” As they were the first to leave the dungeon, after Selene and Starlight’s early departure, Luna held the door to the dungeon open for her friend. “I’m afraid I need some fresh air after that, and I need it fast.” She couldn’t help but feel like she did after a visit to Room 101 located underneath the royal palace.

“No joke,” Tempest shuddered in the hall outside the dungeon. She still had the need to get out. “I was worried we would have a repeat of the incident from a few years ago that split us up. Serenity's need to bleed and the blood Airy has watered the ground with.” The violet weather mare shook her head. “I think we will survive this.”

“I'm certain that you will,” Luna smiled and, as they walked together up the stairs, she offered Tempest a comforting reassuring nuzzle. Something though gave the alicorn pause. That something being the sounds of an excited foal and the unmistakeable sound of a DJ Moonbeams song coming upstairs. It was Dance All Night, a song she had written to annoy Celestia with. “What in Equestria is that?” she wondered out loud.

“I don't know,” Tempest was just as mystified as Luna was. Not at the song but at the sound of the foal playing. It sounded like there was a party going on upstairs. What was Requiem playing ay? “Anypony underage would be at a sitters, not here.”

“That's what I thought,” Luna listened again, “That's definitely Requiem's voice I hear. Now I'm curious. Shall we investigate?” With a silent nod between them, Tempest agreed that they would. Not only did she want to know what was going on, as they crept stealthily up the stairs, she had a herd-mate to chew out.

Longshore was the first of the five ponies to notice the Princess’s presence when she and Tempest stood at the open door to the library. “Welcome to the party, Luna.” He glanced at his herd-mate and snickered, “Does Wily and Airy know you stole their date?”

Tempest, who had a whole head of steam built up and ready to unleash on Requiem and / or Longshore, found it somewhat put out when she saw the unicorn in the fluffy white bunny pyjamas. She wasn’t expecting to see her here. “Sparky?”

“I didn't steal...what is it now, ah, Honey from them!” Princess Luna giggled, happy with herself that she had successfully recalled Wildfire’s nickname for her friend from her memory. “She is here completely un-stolen!”

At the use of her name, Sparkplug looked up from the chutes and ladders board – it had been reset for a third game – and had she not been sat down, she would have fallen over. “Oh hey Stormy!” it wasn’t her though that caused her reaction. It was Luna. Her mouth dropped open in shock. “Look! It's the Sorceress!” 

Stepping into the library, Tempest looked around and frowned. “Is any of the other pit crew here?” she asked, to which Requiem launched into a furious set of ear flicks that grew more  rapid as the 'Face of Anger' crossed the violet weather mare’s face. Tempest, about to show why she was called ‘Stormy’, instead chose to do her deep breathing exercises before she said anything else. 

“Hello Sparky,” Luna smiled and, while Tempest did her breathing exercises, she stepped into the large well stocked library, the alicorn supressing a grin because “Dance All Night” was still playing on the stereo. She remembered writing that specifically to annoy Celestia. “It's nice to see you again. Are you having a party with Longshore and Requiem?”

“Uh huh!” Sparkplug beamed happily, pointing to the game set up between herself, Longshore and the other two ponies, “and with Starlight and Selene! We played musical statues, and chutes and ladders! It was a fun party, way better than the ones Ratchy and Jackie went to! We had cake!”  

“Cake?” That did get Luna’s attention. It was rare indeed that she got to have cake, so she was determined to make the most of this chance. “May we have some?”  

Longshore, ever the agent, was quick on his hooves. Not just because there was a Princess present, but because if Luna and Tempest were up here with them, it meant the party downstairs was winding up, and that meant competition for the cake. “I'll get us all some cake. Drinks with that?” he then went and got a moonshine for the Princess and another juice for Sparkplug.

Tempest, who had at last calmed down, turned her attention to the bunny wearing unicorn. “Have you ever gone flying Sparky?”

Requiem’s ears went straight up. “Flying?”

The bright yellow unicorn shook her head, the board game for the moment forgotten. “No, Miss Tempest.” 

Just then, Longshore came back into the library carrying a loaded tray with cakes and drink for all the ponies in the room. He was just in time to hear the word ‘flying’. “No tossing cake at ponies from above, please.”

Taking her second piece of carrot cake on a little plate, Sparkplug giggled as she imagined flying with the Sorceress over Miss Sunrise’s school and dive bombing her with cake. Gratefully, Luna took hers in turn and savoured a big un-Princess-like bite before she spoke again. “We wondered if you'd like to join us in a flight, Requiem?”

Oh, by the alicorn’s fetlock did she want to join them in a flight. “Freefall?”

Luna had a very playful glint in her turquoise eye. “Of course!”

As she had taken a big sip of her juice, Sparkplug suddenly leapt up to her hooves and squeezed her hind legs together. All those juices she had drank that night had gone straight through her. “Oooh! I need the potty!” she then zipped off to the toilet in a bunny shaped blur. Requiem went with her to make sure that she found the bathroom alright. 

While they were both gone, and while Starlight and Selene were enjoying their respective cakes and drinks, Luna’s mind was working, as was Tempest’s. “She made it here on her own, Longshore?” the alicorn asked, relishing the taste of her own moonshine.

“She did,” Longshore answered carefully, lest he risk upsetting Tempest again. Nopony wanted ‘The Storm’ set free. “She was fine till she moved through the back yard. She dropped her bunny in the pool.”

Tempest though wasn’t so easily coddled. “How?” she asked, eyes narrowed.

Longshore had expected that though. “She said that Ratchet and Wheeljack went out to Trixie’s Place in town and Hoist was watching her. Hoist also had a marefriend over and after she went to bed, she snuck out. She overheard Ratchet saying Air Raid would be at a party over here.”

Unable to stop herself, Luna giggled brightly. It was the very serious expression on the pegasus’s face that set her off. It reminded her greatly of Celestia’s reproachful look she used to give her when she had been stealing from the pantry. “As if you never snuck out of the house, Tempest? I myself am guilty of a few night time raids to the pantry. That does explain the bunny pyjamas, though.”

As if offended, Tempest stuck her nose in the air and sniffed. “I never snuck out. I simply didn't go home.” She then sighed deeply, her supressed temper at last evaporating to the ether. “It's not her fault, but I'm not happy with her sitter.”

Cautiously, in case Tempest should fly off the handle at any moment, Longshore rested his hoof on his friend’s shoulder. “She is a child in an adult’s body, Stormy.”

“Yes she is, Longshore.” Luna nodded solemnly, looking quite thoughtful at that. “That was why I was impressed she made it here on her own. I dread to think if she had ended up elsewhere.”

“Well, this is a pretty safe neighbourhood, and anypony would think, dressed like that, she is part of this herd.” Tempest said reasonably, in her mind’s eye she could easily see Mapper and Serenity and even Wildfire dressed up in all manner of outlandish garb.

The lunar alicorn inclined her head, conceding that point to Tempest. “That is a good point, Tempest, very well made.”

Coming out of the bathroom, all freshened up, Sparkplug was all giddy, like she got on the last day of school and the first day of vacation. “The Sorceress is here! I can’t believe the Sorceress is here!”

Requiem couldn’t help but giggle. “She wouldn't turn down a Ms. Thespian party, Sparky.” Sparkplug giggled at that and, as she walked back with the painted earth pony mare to the library, she tried and failed to stifle a yawn. It was getting late and it had been a fun party.

“Would you like to go flying to get home, Sparky?” Luna asked when the bright yellow unicorn returned from her bathroom break.

Immediately, Sparkplug bounced happily on her hooves. “Yes please Sorceress...um, I mean Princess Sorceress Luna, I want to fly home, please.”

“Ms. Requiem is also going flying so I was going to carry her.” Luna smiled, “Are you okay with riding Ms. Tempest?”

“Okay!” Sparkplug was more than happy to ride with Tempest. She clutched Mr. Flopsy tight to her chest and she hugged the Masked Matter Horn plush one last time. “Good bye Matterhorn, it was fun playing chutes and ladders with you.” 

By then, Thespian, Caffeinated, Coffee Bean, Moonbeak, Tinkerer, Belle, Recital and Trumpet all came up the stairs from the dungeon, the party there having been concluded. Topper and Bluefeather remained in the dungeon, both waiting for Lavender and Cyclone to come out of their respective suits. The rest of the ponies of the herd, as well as the friends, had retired to the club rooms. “I see the party up here has started!” Thespian exclaimed, “Hello Sparky, I hope my house sitters have treated you well.”

“Ms. Thespian!” Sparkplug galloped over and gave the older mare a bone crushing hug that Wildfire would have been proud of. “We played musical statues and had cake! Ms. Requiem let me play with Matter Horn, but she lives here and we have to go now.”

In response to Thespian’s question, unspoken and sent via ear flicks, Requiem answered with ear flicks of her own. “Tempest,” the blue / grey mare smiled, “maybe you could take a cake with you, so that Sparky and her family can have some tomorrow.”

Tempest shrugged nonchalantly as the other guests who had come up from the basement level all milled around the buffet table and helped themselves to the food on offer. Moonbeak was particularly interested in the cinnamon rolls. “I can try to deliver a cake with no slices missing.”

“Thank you!” Sparkplug again hugged Thespian, “You're the best!” Standing by his wife, Caffeinated did a few ear flicks followed by Requiem, and the orange zebra stallion went and brought out the bright yellow unicorn’s favourite cake from the kitchen. “It's carrot! Look Mr. Flopsy! It's carrot cake!” she then hugged Caffeinated just like she hugged Thespian. “Thank you, Mr. Caffy, and my bunny thanks you too.”

Caffeinated was very pleased he was of earth pony stock. Otherwise, the unicorn’s hug would’ve hurt. “Just watch what the bunny eats so he doesn't get a tummy ache, okay?” 

“I will, Mr. Caffy!” she finally released the tight hug and she went over to Tempest, an eager look on her face. “Are we flying now? Will it be high?”

“I will go as high as you let me go,” she whispered to her young companion as she got the cake secured on her back. “I think the Sorceress going to go very high though.”

“Okay! I like to go high, Ms. Tempest.”

Thespian’s brain worked as they – Tempest and Luna, Requiem and Sparkplug, got ready to leave. “I believe I'll leave Raid out of the loop, and let the crew tell her about this in due course.” There was no point making a scene and spoiling the party, not when all her guests were having a good time.

“Probably for the best, Thespian,” Luna agreed. “Are you ready, Requiem, we have a sleepy filly to get home.”

“I'm not sleepy!” Sparkplug protested, before promptly yawning.

“Would you like a ride to the balcony, Sparky?” Tempest asked as Requiem and Luna giggled at the widely yawning mare. They were still giggling when she hopped up onto Tempest’s back, holding her treasured bunny tight.

As she watched Tempest lead the way with Sparkplug on her back, Luna bent her head and spoke softly to Requiem, who was walking beside her. “I hope my filly is as bright and well-mannered as that one, Requiem.”

Requiem considered that on the way up the stairs to the first floor and the balcony that overlooked the pool and the back yard. “Dusky turned out okay, so I have high hopes for your next one. Starlight turned out okay, but I was surprised he came out early.”

“You’re right.” Luna commented, looking at Requiem as they walked to the balcony. Mostly because the last time she was stood there she watched her son getting rutted senseless by four stallions. That had been an experience. “You're interested in her, aren’t you? I can tell.”

Requiem let out a little sigh, though she didn’t mean it. “I'm that obvious? I would need her history, but age regression isn't that common.”

Luna giggled, “You're almost licking your lips!” the last pony she had seen with a look on her like that was her dear sister when she had dived muzzle first into a red velvet cake. “Her history I'm sure I can provide for you, along with her school records. I could scan her, like I did for Wildfire, if that would give you more of an insight?”

“That depends, would she notice such a scan?”

“No, she'll just get a warm fuzzy feeling and space out for a few moments.” Although, if she was honest with herself, Luna was certain that Sparkplug spaced out all the time. Shaking her head, she chided herself. That had been unkind. After all, the young mare had been part of the team that had kept her wife safe in the big race.

“Something you can do in the air, along with a cloud walking spell?” Requiem offered, watching Tempest getting ready to take off. 

Without further ado, Tempest spread her violet wings and took off into the clear warm summer night sky with a powerful stroke but she rose slowly so that her passenger could easily hold on. She was ready, should the need arise, to swoop up an errant bunny should it try some free fall too. After giving them some space, Requiem climbed onto Luna's back. “To the great beyond!”

As Sparkplug whooped cheerfully, Luna nodded and, with a flap of her own very powerful wings, the Princess took off from the balcony into her night sky. “Seeing as I'm casting the cloud walking spell on both of you, I'll include you in the scan. Then you'll see what I see.”

If Requiem was licking her lips before, she was salivating at that idea. “Now to see how clearly I see,” she said softly, so just the Princess heard her. Louder, she called out, “Stormy! Let Sparky know she is going to have her hooves tickled by the Sorceress so she can walk on clouds!”  

Tempest looked over her shoulder and saw a very excited bunny. “Did you hear that, Sparky?”

“I heard!” Sparkplug giggled loudly, “I'm super good at not being tickled! Even Jackie can't tickle me!”

“Let's see then, Sparky, how good you are…” Luna signalled Tempest to aim for an open bit of sky, with no clouds ahead, and to fly slow as she prepared to cast her spell. The bright yellow mare was about to say something to that when her jaw went slack and her eyes were suddenly vacant and glassy. A second later, as the complex piece of magic took effect, both the unicorn’s and the earth pony’s eyes shone with a white light. Luna, from her point of view, saw it like a thick fog slowly clearing to reveal a most heart-warming scene. It was a birthday party, Sparkplug’s fifth, if the banners, streamers and party balloons were to be believed. It looked to be a typical villa in the Lower Noble Quarter of Canterlot. There was a swimming pool, lots of ponies playing in the water, her family serving food and watching the foals play.

As she watched, the scene progressed with a pool game, something involving a soccer ball and inflatable ride on ponies. It was one of the most fun things Luna had ever seen. But then, without any warning, Sparkplug had her mane caught in the water vent. 

The alicorn saw the uproar, she felt the panic like it was the most vivid of dreams. She had to remind herself this really happened. Several adults levitated the foals from the pool, and Wheeljack dived in after a second to try and get his sister out. He failed. Again and again he came up for air. After the fourth attempt, she could see Sparkplug stop struggling, her eyes closed, chest still and her body limp. Eventually, Wheeljack magically severed the stricken pony’s mane and pulled her up. 

As soon as she was on the tiles around the pool, Luna saw Ratchet doing emergency CPR on her unresponsive sister while Hoist called for an ambulance. Then, there was a swirl of magical fog – she assumed it was because Sparkplug wasn’t conscious to witness these events. The scene cut ahead like a DVD on fast forward through a blur of hospital shots, of doctors and nurses talking with the family with Sparkplug present. 

The general consensus was brain damage. Most of what the medical ponies said was utter gibberish. Again, Luna assumed that as she was scanning Sparkplug’s mind, and as she didn’t understand the big complicated words, she didn’t bother to remember them.

Once more, the magical fog heralded a scene change. This time it was a fast forward of two years. Sparkplug, now seven, was in a regular school. In the next instant, a blink of an eye, she was removed to a special school. A school designed specifically to help ponies like her grow. It was the first of many meant to help her develop, first run by Morning Glow, then Sunny Day, Sunny Skies and ultimately Sunrise. All of the schools and the mistresses that ran them that Luna witnessed were borderline abusive places that did nothing for the foals placed in their care. All they cared about was taking state money.

When Princess Luna ended her spell, she wore a death glare that Airmail herself would have been proud of. “Did you see what you needed, Requiem?” she asked, her voice cold and hard, with no trace of her former humour evident at all.

Requiem sighed, for she felt much like the alicorn underneath her. “I'm more than happy to take the money, but...I saw enough. It will be a long challenge as they have reinforced this behaviour over the years to where she sees it as normal.”

Luna’s voice could have cut through a lead lined bank vault. “I detected no brain damage, no lasting injury, nothing!” she spoke, not with her Royal Canterlot Voice, but with a cold, measured tone. It was no less angry and vengeful for that though. She was seething under Requiem, power crackling around her horn. “There is no reason why she shouldn't be a fully functional eighteen year old mare.”

“There is a reason,” Requiem corrected her softly, “Self-induced amnesia, but it has been thirteen years. Thirteen years of being told she is a foal and of reinforced low expectations.”

Raw power fuelled by her passionate emotions crackled at Luna’s eyes. Energy sparked from her hooves when she smacked them against each other. The Nightmare inside her wanted to hit something, break something, smash and tear and rend something, anything, until she couldn’t any more. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t give in. “I tell you I will not allow this any longer, Requiem.” She spoke through ground teeth, “I will do something about this. No more will the vulnerable be mistreated in my Equestria!”

For a moment, the very briefest of moments, Requiem thought she saw the Princess’s eyes become slits, only for a split second, before they regained their normal look. “I think we had this conversation before,” she spoke slowly and calmly, relieved to see Luna was listening. “Find the problem, fix the problem, stay vigilant.”

“The EEA are going to get a rude awakening very soon, and Sunrise and the others will have a bad Friday. I promise you that.”

“I'll read it in the news,” Requiem gave Luna a well meant nuzzle before she pointed to a series of thin clouds close together a few thousand feet above them. “Those look like good free fall platforms.” The red and blue painted mare could tell though that Luna still incensed. “Having dealt with these things, I don't know how much of that is admissible in a court. In truth, what we saw from Sparky would be dismissed as hearsay.”

“You're right, sadly.” Luna forced herself into a state of calm as they flew up towards the clouds. She breathed deeply through her nose and allowed her night to wash over her. Most importantly she focussed on the largest of the Midnight Stars, the one that represented Sky Dive, and made herself think. “Proof is what we need, and I have a mind as to how to get it. For now though…” her eyes glowed and several stars in her ethereal mane turned blood red, turning Miss Sunrise’s dream, and the dreams of the other teachers, to the most evil of nightmares. “I believe we are playing on that cloud.”

“Besides, it’s Open Mic night tomorrow,” added Requiem. “Better to show them just how bad a Monday can really be,” she ended with a giggle.

Up ahead of them, Tempest was climbing steadily up towards the Cirrus cloud that was close to twenty thousand feet up. “We're high!” Sparkplug squeaked, looking amazed at all the pretty twinkling lights both below and above her. “How high are we, please?”

Tempest replied, having quickly assessed the cloud’s height in her head and putting it in terms her passenger could understand and relate to. “High enough to go around a race track four times.” That said, both Luna and Tempest flew up to the twenty thousand foot high cloud and landed. Without hesitation, Requiem slid off the alicorn’s back on the side where Tempest was so that Sparkplug could watch.

Since she felt Luna's magic tickle her hooves, Sparkplug was confident that, as she got off of Tempest’s back, she would be perfectly safe on the cloud. She did however touch a hoof to it to make sure the cloud was solid. “Oooooh look at that!” her voice was full of wonder while Requiem was acting like a foal, bouncing and tumbling on the high cloud. 

Sparkplug looked at Requiem for a split second before joining in with her, bouncing with her and giggling like an overgrown foal. Watching, Luna did a very good job of masking the furious look on her face, those red lights in her mane glowing ever so brightly. “It appears we have two large foals, Tempest.”

Tempest snickered behind her hoof, “I'm going to have to pay the sitters extra on gaming night,” she grinned as Requiem raspberried both her friend and the Princess.

“And why should the foals have all the fun?” asked Luna, talking to nopony really, the alicorn bouncing and tumbling on the cloud just like the others were doing. “Am I doing it right, Sparky?”

“Yes Sorceress!” Sparkplug squealed happily while Tempest, ever the mother hen, did a minor eye roll before joining in the fun too.

Luna, lost in a fit of giggles like an overgrown filly, recovered enough to be able to speak. “Sparky!” the alicorn put on her best regal voice, for impressing the populace, “For sneaking out, and being out past your bedtime, the Sorceress sentences you to many tickles!” 

No sooner had the sentence been announced than the tickles began, the alicorn digging her hooves in Sparkplug’s ribs and belly. Just as quickly, Sparkplug was laughing fit to burst. Sharing an evil grin and a nod, Requiem and Tempest both joined in, each mare taking an armpit and her ribs. “Hahahahahoooohohoho!” she laughed and squealed, ineffectually she writhed and squirmed on the cloud. “Teeheehee st-staaaaaahp! Pl-Pl-eeeheheeheeease!”

After a few moments that felt like an eternity to the poor victim, Tempest stopped. “Tickling makes me want to pee.”

Requiem rolled her eyes. “Clouds make you want to pee, Stormy.” Giggling properly now, Luna stopped before she made Sparkplug pee. That wasn’t her intention, though her mood was somewhat lifted as she lay on the cloud and panted, allowing the young mare to catch her breath. While they did that, Tempest moved to the centre of the cloud and peed. 

“Jackie tickles me until I can’t even breathe,” Sparkplug commented as Luna added her pee to the already loaded cloud. “He says there's a reason for it, but he won't say what it is.”

Finishing up, Tempest said, “I'll pass that to the pit boss to ask him.”

“Miss Amethyst?” Sparkplug asked when she could breathe, “I like Miss Amethyst. She's not afraid to shout at Jackie.”

Requiem giggled at that, though she was busy enjoying the magnificent view from where they were. How anypony could sleep through this she had no idea. “Zebra mares will shout at anypony, even the Sorceress.”

“I think he likes Miss Amethyst. But he likes stallions more though. He says they have his favourite bits.”

Tempest snorted. Like Requiem, she was taking in the view. It was like being on the ocean, the city lights almost a mirror for the stars above. “I can well understand that.”

“To each their own.”

That caught Sparkplug’s attention. “That's not what Miss Sunrise says,” she commented, sitting up on the cloud surface. “When I was at her school in Canterlot she taught us stallions don't love stallions and mares don't love mares.”

“I think that is more her upbringing,” replied Requiem before either of the other two could get a chance, “than the school system. Private schools are a bit freer with their own curriculum.”

Tempest though had to get her two bits in. “I'm sure if her siblings researched the school, Sparky wouldn't have stayed long.”

Requiem shot Luna a measured look. “You'll be surprised how easy it is to hide things, Tempest.”

Stood behind Sparkplug, well out of her field of view, Luna had a curious mix of outrage, heartbreak, anger and sorrow all warring on her face. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Everything, Sky Dive, the Nightmare, Octavia, had all been for naught. “When I returned, Celestia assured me attitudes had changed. I see Canterlot is still a rancid cess pool...” she shook her head to get rid of the growl in her voice. “I-I apologise. We were supposed to be having fun!”

“I'm still having fun!” Requiem protested, being joined quickly by Tempest. “As for attitudes, Time, persistence, and the hardest part, a change of heart. That’s a job for the Queen of Libraries.”

Without asking, Sparkplug walked over and hugged Luna tightly. “You looked like you needed a hug. Can we do more flying now, please?”

“I'm going flying!” Requiem declared loudly, getting up and walking to the very edge of the cloud they were stood on.

Tempest just shook her head, “You can ride with me Sparky, or you can go with Requiem.”

Now, Sparkplug may have been an overgrown foal, and she was, but even she could tell that Requiem had no wings and no way of flying, even in her wildest imagination. This was something she gave voice to, albeit uncertainly. “But...Ms. Requiem has no wings, how can she fly?”

Her mood suitably restored, Luna giggled, “Ms. Requiem still needs help on landing.”

Sparkplug’s eyes went wide at that, as she finally put the pieces together. “She's going to jump?”

“I'm going to jump!”

Now, another thing worth noting about Sparkplug was that she was not a mare that liked to be left out. “I wanna jump too!”

At the edge of the cloud, Requiem’s tone turned very serious indeed. “Do you trust Ms. Tempest to catch you?”

“Yes! She's super good at flying!”

“Follow me, then Sparky.” When Requiem trotted back to the edge of the Cirrus cloud, Sparkplug walked with her. She had her bunny held tightly in her hooves, which prompted the earth pony mare to take him and tuck Mr. Flopsy and she tucked him into her onesie so he wouldn’t get lost. Bunny secured, Requiem and Sparkplug turned their backs on the twenty thousand foot drop. 

Facing Tempest and Luna, Requiem flicked her ears, letting her herd-mate know that it was vitally important he was caught should he fall out and Tempest acknowledged that. “Okay,” Requiem gave the young mare some last minute advice, “when you go over wrap your tail around your hind leg and keep your legs together and straight to the front and back, but there is the most important thing to remember…”

“What's that, Ms. Requiem?” Sparkplug asked, her head to one side, absorbing all that information.

“Have fun!” Requiem giggled and, holding hooves with Sparkplug, the two ponies dived off the edge together. They only held hooves for the first couple of seconds before they separated into their own dives.  

“Was she hard to catch the first time?” asked Tempest of Luna, the pegasus and alicorn still sat on the cloud as if nothing had happened.

As they both dived off the cloud, Luna giggled and shook her head. “No, Tempest. I tried to catch her way too early. She waved me off. Sparky reminds me of Wildfire in how easily she trusts…”

Tempest however didn’t allow the Princess to complete her sentence. “I believe youuuuuuuuu...” she called out as she galloped towards the cloud’s edge and promptly jumped off. Realising, once more, that she was surrounded by foals, Luna shook her head, for the moment banishing her angst into a little compartment in her mind for later when she was alone with Celestia, and jumped off the cloud.

Falling, with the air rushing over her face and body, Requiem did a short power dive to be in Sparkplug's view and then she started her aerobatics. Watching, the bright yellow unicorn squealed happily as she fell. She tried to copy what Requiem was doing, but she ended up just falling. It felt a lot like being back in the swimming pool but there was no water.

Diving down, Requiem had her own agenda, so she was determined to continue with that. The red and blue painted pony still dearly wanted to pull off that reverse loop that had eluded her the last time, so she was happy to leave Sparkplug to Tempest. “Be a bird!” Tempest shouted when she was close enough, though she stayed at least ten feet away so she wouldn’t be hit by flailing limbs.

From experience, Tempest knew that from twenty thousand feet, they would get one hundred seconds of free fall before she had to think about catching her. Ten seconds after that was the catch area and another five seconds on top of that would be the must catch area, particularly for Tempest as she had no magic to slow Sparkplug down. The plummeting unicorn immediately began flapping her legs, making like a birdy, while Luna joined Requiem in her aerobatics. 

As she fell, Sparkplug, with the air rushing over her, started to have flashbacks to the swimming pool and her fifth birthday. Although Tempest was a veteran flyer and was ready to act in case Sparkplug should panic, the young pony didn’t panic, strangely. In fact, she didn’t do anything. 

Sparkplug watched the pool party unfold in her head, just like watching a television show. It was easily the oddest and most surreal thing she had ever experienced. She saw the pool games, she saw herself getting her mane stuck. She saw Wheeljack dive in to save her. All the time she was watching this, she just fell, absorbing all the little details. 

Somewhat unnerved by this turn of events, Tempest flew in closer. “Do the birdy, Sparky…” Oblivious to Tempest and what she had said, Sparkplug fell. In her head, she watched Wheeljack keep the other partygoers at bay. She watched Ratchet do CPR on her lifeless body. She watched Hoist calling for the ambulance. 

As Sparkplug fell, she watched the scene skip ahead to the next thing she remembered properly, herself being the foal, not growing up, regressing further and further into herself. It all made so much sense! Why had she never seen this as clearly as this before? A smile began to spread on her face. 

Watching her like a hawk, Tempest saw that Sparkplug was completely relaxed, almost unnervingly so, in fact. Just in case, the violet weather mare dropped down and then she flew up so that her forelegs were in front of the wings and hindlegs behind. She then locked her wings into glide mode and performed larges spirals down. She determined not to say anything unless the unicorn spoke first. Requiem had by now lost sight of them as she performed her own routine.

After a few more moments of free fall, Sparkplug opened her eyes and smiled happily at Tempest by her side. “Catch me please, Stormy.” Over with Requiem, Luna was attempting some aerobatic manoeuvres of her own, but she wasn't all that great.

Tempest was right there, flying just underneath Sparkplug and adjusting her position until she was on the pegasus’s back. “I’ve got you. Let's look at the sights on the way down.”

“Tempest...” when Sparkplug spoke, she sounded a lot more 'grown up' than she usually did. Like she was speaking with another pony’s voice. “I saw the accident. I watched it happen.”

“All of it?”

“Yes, I watched it like it was one of those cheesy chick flick movies that Ratchet likes.”

Tempest wasn’t sure what to make of that. Instead of questioning the young unicorn unduly though, she decided to investigate a little in case she said anything that would be of use to Requiem. “Do you still like to make engines go varoom?”

Sparkplug giggled brightly at that. “I've always liked making engines go varoom, Tempest.” She still had that grown up edge to her voice. “It's odd...I-I've never watched it like that before. Then again, I've never jumped off a cloud before. I feel...I don't know, strange.”

Tempest listened and took it all in. “I'm happy that you're still you, as for the rest, you'd need to talk to somepony smarter than me, like that crazy filly that jumped off of the could with you.” She was sure after hearing about this development that Requiem would be getting involved. It was too tasty for her to resist.

“I...I don't understand,” Sparkplug felt confused. Her thoughts didn’t feel like her own. “I don't sound like me, I'm not...thinking, like me. Not like I usually do, anyway.”

From her recent experience with Wildfire, Tempest fancied that she sort of knew what the bright yellow mare was talking about. “As long as you still like to make engines varoom, you're still you. Since you're there, give me a hug and I'll look for the other two.” As Sparkplug hugged her from behind, she heard Requiem shout with joy on her way past them, with Luna close behind. “Never mind. I found them.”

As Tempest hovered to look for Luna and Requiem, Sparkplug was quiet for a long few moments as she too looked for the others. When she squealed though, she was once more her young foalish self. “There! There's the Sorceress Ms. Tempest!” Filing away what had happened, Tempest dived and gave chase to the Princess. “Varoom! Faster!” Sparkplug giggled gleefully.  

When Luna flew closer to Requiem, the earth pony mare opened up her legs, ready to be caught after her long free fall. With her passenger safely on her back, Tempest up to the pair so they could all fly together. Sparkplug whooped and cheered, then she yawned. “I think somepony's the sleepy filly,” Luna smiled.

Again, Sparkplug yawned. “I’m tired, Princess.”

Tempest spoke up then, in answer to Luna’s unspoken question. “I know the address the pit crew is staying at.”

Graciously, Luna hovered in place before bowing to her friend’s superior intel. “Then lead the way, Mother Hen,” she giggled as Tempest gave her a well-deserved eye roll. “Are you coming along for the ride, Freefall?” 

Requiem recognised her new given call name and she approved. “Flying is flying, even if I'm not using my own wings.” She smiled, sticking her tongue out at Tempest in response to her eye roll. As Sparkplug’s new psychiatrist, there was no way in Tartarus that she was going to miss out on seeing her home.  

“Mother Hen,” Sparkplug started, “is that because you lay eggs?” Luna, who had been giggling, now burst out a very loud and very un-regal laugh.

Tempest let out a deep sigh as she flapped her wings, her course taking her over Stallion Island towards her new destination. “To me, the world is not full of ponies, but helpless baby chicks, like the pointy headed winged blue one over there.” As it happened, the pointy headed winged blue one was laughing so hard she was crying.

Luna was still laughing when, after a few moments flying, they heard a stallion's panicked voice call out from somewhere up ahead and close by. “Sparky! Sparkplug! Where are you?”

Instantly, Sparkplug recognised her older sibling’s voice. She honestly couldn’t remember hearing Hoist yell her name like that. Hoist was the quiet one, not the yelling in panic one. “Ms. Tempest,” she said quickly, “that's Hoist's voice!”

Angling her wings downwards for a glide to the ground, Tempest nodded. “May as well take him home too. I don't like my chicks scattered.” As they descended, Sparkplug made a very loud clucking noise, which didn’t stop until they were all stood on the sidewalk of the darkened side road that Hoist had been searching. Tempest, who had landed closest to the hazel coloured unicorn, looked him square in the eyes. “How long have you been out and about?”

“About twenty minutes,” Hoist replied, his voice quickly retreating back to its usual quiet subdued state. He was unaware that his little sister had been out for forty five minutes. “I went to the bathroom and noticed that her window was open…”

“Hey Hoist!” Sparkplug interrupted him, dragging him into a tight hug.

“Sparky, where have you been?” asked Hoist after he had carefully extricated himself from his sister’s notoriously tight hug, “We were worried about you!”

“I went to a party!”

Requiem smiled, the painted earth pony just loved the amount of happy pride in the bright yellow unicorn’s voice. “We had a lot of fun at Caffy's house,” she whispered loudly enough to be heard by everypony present, “Mr. Flopsy is really good at musical statues.”

“Caffy's...” Hoist’s hazel face went pale. “She made it all the way there? She’s never gone a whole eight blocks on her own before!” he shook his head, convinced that either Wheeljack or Ratchet would skin him alive for this. Most likely they’d both take turns. 

“You live in a good neighbourhood,” Tempest assured him as Sparkplug loudly proclaimed how her bunny was the bestest bunny. It pleased her mother hen senses to see him so alarmed and upset. “Everypony here is used to Mapper's craziness.”

Hoist nonetheless breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank Luna she's safe!”

“You're welcome, Hoist, though Requiem deserves more thanks than I.” 

Now Tempest lost it. The violet weather mare laughed so hard she choked out, thumping her hoof into the concrete of the sidewalk. “That should be by Luna's teat she is safe!” she exclaimed when she was at last able to speak again, wiping away her tears.

As they all started walking again, this time with Hoist in the lead, he coloured up in a huge crimson blush, not least because the Princess herself was with them. When he mumbled, he just managed to make himself heard, “The house is this way, Candyfloss will be happy that Sparky is safe and sound.”

On the walk back to the pit crew family’s home, which wasn’t a very long walk, Requiem did what she did best. She engaged in some light chit chat with Hoist, all the time paying close attention to anything Sparkplug said about the chit chat. Tempest, ever the mother hen, continued to give the bright yellow mare a ride.  

Throughout the walk, Princess Luna was the only one among them who was silent. Far removed from the idle banter, the lunar alicorn was busy marshalling her angry thoughts into something resembling an argument she could use with her sister against the EEA. There was always Royal Ribbon and the changelings she could call upon, that was an option. “Here we are!” Hoist’s cheerful call bought Luna from her reverie and she found herself looking at a three storey six bedroom mansion of a building. “Would you like to come in?”

“Yes!” Requiem squealed all too eagerly. A herd of rampaging yaks wouldn’t have kept her from going inside, it was just fortuitous she had been invited. “You see, Hoist, I'm really a cookie inspector and must determine if you have quality cookies.” 

Tempest rolled her eyes at Requiem. “I'd like a coldnfree beer if you have one.”

“We have cookies!” Sparkplug yelped excitedly as she jumped from Tempest’s back. “I know where Ratchy hides them.”

At last, Luna found her voice. “I should like a beer as well.” She knew they wouldn’t have any moonshine, but a beer would more than suffice.

“O-Of c-course Highness...”

Cutting across the stuttering stallion, the Princess shook her head. “Just Luna, if you please, Hoist.” They were quite far enough away from Canterlot, and she was here among friends, definitely not here as a Princess, which suited her just fine.

Blushing again, Hoist attempted to hide his embarrassment by walking up the porch past the hanging electric lanterns to the white door. Unfortunately he was fooling nopony as he hoofed it open. “Candy!” he called out to his new marefriend of just two days who he had left guarding the phone, “I found her!”

“Hey,” Sparkplug protested, “We found you!”

As they all filed into the house, following Hoist’s lead, Tempest took the opportunity to check out this Candyfloss, purely to sate the mother hen inside her. She needn’t have worried. “Hi!” A very neon pink earth pony mare, quite the most incredibly pink pony that Tempest had ever seen – including Mapper and Trails – bounced over, her white and red striped mane bouncing with every step came over and bumped hooves with them all. She even smelled of cotton candy. She then came to Luna and froze. “Oh my gosh, it’s...it’s the Princess!”

Luna was unable to resist. She looked around in feigned shock, her eyes wide. “Where?”  

While Sparkplug laughed, Requiem made shushing noises and leant in conspiratorially, “She is traveling in disguise, Candyfloss. Keep it under your hat.”

Now in the finely appointed living room, Tempest giggled, “I think she lost her party hat flying, so the disguise isn't as good as it should be.”

The situation at hoof, Sparkplug sneaking out and wandering off, his sister being returned by a Princess of all ponies, was all getting a bit much for Hoist. Wheeljack and Ratchet were better suited to handling things like this. “You ah...um...you wanted drinks...I'll be right back!” Quickly, though not quickly enough, he escaped to the kitchen.

In contrast to her new coltfriend, Candyfloss seemed to be taking it all in her stride. She sat on the couch in the living room, a couch that she and her stallion had been making out on and she had a smile on her face as Sparkplug came over for a nuzzle and a hug. “So...you're all Sparky's friends?”

Tempest shook her head at the hazel coloured blur that was Hoist. “That one is about as hard to tease as Wily.”

Joining Tempest in the head shaking, Candyfloss hugged Sparkplug and giggled brightly. “Hoist is a very sweet and quiet stallion, but savvy he is not. I'm Candyfloss, I work the carnival.”

“These are my friends,” Sparkplug beamed like an excited filly, “even the Sorceress!” Luna, who had sat down, was quite honoured by that remark.

“You’re a Carnie?” asked Tempest, “You know a unicorn of your colour named Mapper?”

“Who doesn't know Maps?” asked Candyfloss with her bright tinkling laugh in her voice. Everypony on Stallion Island knew Mapper, particularly those in the business. “Her plushie stall is nowhere near mine and I still hear her every five minutes. I sell the best cotton candy on the east coast. Now, I'm sorry we didn't hear Sparky escape, I was busy sampling Hoist's lollipop.”

Unfortunately for Hoist, the very shy stallion chose that moment to re-enter the living room, five beer bottles, a juice box and a plate of triple chocolate chip cookies held in his magic. He heard Candyfloss’s last comment and, eyes wide, he dropped two of the beer bottles, which Luna caught her magic. His sister didn’t help when she blurted out, “But we don't have lollipops!”

Requiem and Tempest both shared a look that just screamed they would tease the poor stallion relentlessly over this forever more. “You're lucky I'm inspecting cookies and not lollipops!” 

Accepting the caught beer from Luna, Tempest did her best to not laugh. Yet. “We are herd with Maps, the herd sponsoring Air Raid.”

Poor Hoist let out an embarrassed whimper and retreated to the safety of the kitchen to get the cookies, only to remember that he already bought them out as Candyfloss giggled and hoof bumped Requiem. “I'm determined to bring him out of his shell.” Taking her own beer, the very pink mare looked at Tempest. “Are you really? Even you, Princ...Sorceress?”

Sipping her beer, Luna shook her head. “No, I just tagged along, Candyfloss.”

“She is honorary herd only. I'm Tempest, the inspector is Requiem, and I think you know the one in the bunny suit.” Tempest made the introductions before helping herself to a rather nice cookie.

“She's just the cutest lil' bunny!” Candyfloss affectionately petted Sparkplug’s head, between her bunny ears and the unicorn beamed. She would have answered but she had the straw of her juice box in her mouth. 

“You may want to invest in a security system, or let Caffy know to get one,” Tempest commented as Hoist returned with yet more cookies for good measure. “He is very protective of friends and family.”

A very quiet Hoist was bright red as Sparkplug drank her juice and yawned the biggest yawn yet. “I um...I thought she was asleep...”

“I'm to blame,” Candyfloss spoke up, “I 'distracted' him.”

“Inspecting lollipops?” asked Luna, prompting the pink mare to laugh and the hazel unicorn to blush so hard he threatened to spontaneously combust.

“Ratchy said there was a party!” Sparkplug protested, “I didn't wanna sleep and miss a party.” She got up and hugged her brother tightly. “I'm really sorry Hoist. I'm ready to go sleepy time now.”  

Blinking back tears, Hoist hugged his little sister as tight as he could. “I think we're all smarter after this. Thank you all for bringing her home.”

Moving over to the bright yellow mare, Requiem nuzzled her cheek. “I had fun Sparky, so thank you for coming over, but next time bring Hoist and Candyfloss, okay?” 

Sparkplug nodded and returned the nuzzle to Requiem’s cheek before turning to the pink earth pony. “Can you tuck me in, please Candy?” She liked the way Candyfloss tucked her in. She told the bestest stories.

“Of course I can, sweetie, now, say good night to your friends.” Moving around the group, Sparkplug gave each pony a hug that Wildfire would have approved of and she went upstairs with her new favourite storyteller. As much fun as the party had been, all she wanted to do now was hug Mr. Flopsy and sleep in her bed. 

“We need to be going back too,” Requiem said after she had consumed several of the triple chocolate chip cookies and finished her beer. “I don't want Long to eat all the cake.”

“Which reminds me,” said Tempest, the talk of cake making her think of the carrot cake on her back. “Thespy wanted you to have this carrot cake.”

Hoist seemed like he was between a rock and a hard place. “Thank you Tempest, we'll enjoy that tomorrow. Um...I'm thinking Wheeljack and Ratchet can live the rest of their lives and not know about tonight, please?” He knew it was a very long shot before he finished asking the question.

Requiem snickered, “It may be hard to hide the carrot cake from them.”

The hazel coloured stallion nodded at that. “Good point, Requiem, well made.”

The impish part of the Princess couldn’t resist a tease. “Maybe they'll both be in such good moods from their own lollipop inspections they won’t be mad with you?”

Not for the first time, Hoist wanted to combust. Or open up a hole and crawl into it. Or emigrate to Yakyakistan or Saddle Arabia. “M-M-Maybe…”

Tempest sighed, “Hoist, you worry too much. I won't say anything, but it may be wise for you to do so, and follow up on that security. That way an open window will alert you in the future.”

Having drained her beer, Luna stood and deposited her empty bottle in the trash. It had been a most pleasant evening, everything considered. Everything being the EEA. “Thank you for your hospitality, Hoist. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night.”

Requiem and Tempest also stood, stretching their legs. “Do come over next month, if not sooner.” Tempest extended the invitation out of hoof. Friends of the herd were always welcome at Caffeinated’s parties. Besides, she couldn’t resist a tease too. “I'm sure Candy would love to show off her lollipop.” Hoist stayed bright red as he saw the group out of his family’s house. He resolved to take her up on her generous invitation.
> Chapter 2 - Ratchet Takes Control
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia had lowered the sun and Luna had raised the moon by the time Ratchet and her older brother Wheeljack arrive at the Trixie's Place night club that was situated in downtown Manehatten. Both siblings were almost giddy with excitement – though Wheeljack wouldn’t ever admit it – as they made their way up with a small party of three mares and two stallions to the second floor reception. 

Tonight was going to be a rather good night. “We're lucky,” Ratchet nudged her brother’s ribs, and pointed out the bright gaudy flyer on the wall that was advertising the party on the same sex floor. That was why they were here. “I didn't know it was a traffic light party tonight.” She glanced down at her green lanyard with the black ‘Dom’ stamp on it that she and her brother had received at the main door. That was why she knew that night was going to be a good night. “You going green too, huh?”

Wheeljack sighed, the dark red unicorn rolling his eyes as he did so. “As if you didn't know, Ratchet.” He hadn’t spent an hour trimming his white beard and mane for nothing. 

“Ooooh,” Ratchet giggled, the maple coloured unicorn mare subconsciously straightening her burnt umber mane, though no straightening was necessary, “I'm so looking forward to tonight. I need a break, Jackie.”

Nodding his head, Wheeljack understood where his sister was coming from. From dealing with Sparkplug, the school, Air Raid, Air Raid’s flagging career, as well as everything else and now the move to the east coast, he was ready for a break too. “I hope this works out better than the one in Canterlot. I just want somepony cute. May as well split up, so nopony thinks I'm dating a mare.”

“And Cadance help me if anypony sees me with a stallion!” Ratchet gave her brother an affectionate dig in the ribs with her elbow before they shared a hoof bump. “Good luck, Jackie.”

When the thirty five year old stallion parted from his sister, he made a beeline for the main stage where a troupe of stallions were putting on a show. He wasn’t one for dancing, but he did like to watch. Similarly, when Ratchet went her own way, she spied a likely looking mare way away hugging the wall with a green card and white stamp. 

On the stage was a dark blue pegasus stallion dressed in pink socks, pink mini skirt and panties dancing on his hind legs like it was the most natural stance in the world for him. Getting close to the stage, Wheeljack found himself a nice spot from which to watch the pretty stallions. He found himself drawn to the dark blue one again and again as he sipped on the Stable Hopper beer provided by a waitress, in particular he liked the pink highlights on his feathers and his pink makeup. Maybe Ratchet was right. Perhaps this would be a good night after all.

Going her own way along the second floor of Trixie’s Place, Ratchet chose to skirt the crowded dance floor in favour of a couple of empty tables she had spotted that were quite close to the shrinking wallflower. Passing the summer green earth pony mare, Ratchet gave her a wink. The effect was instantaneous. The mare blushed and giggled behind her hoof, so surprised was she that somepony had noticed her. Hearing that, Ratchet stopped in her tracks. “Something funny?”

With Ratchet’s question, the mare’s giggle became a panicked meep. She silently shook her head and mouthed 'nothing, Miss'. She spoke, but her voice was all but swallowed up by the loud pounding disco music. The mechanic was sure the mare’s voice sounded funny, but she wasn’t sure. “Cat got your tongue?” she asked, stepping closer she again noted her lanyard. “Not the response I was expecting from a sub.”

The earth pony mare caught the unicorn looking at her lanyard and she blushed. While hers was green, there were a few around her that were orange and even red. Why wear red at traffic light party? She shrank back to the wall a teeny bit, “I-I'm de-deaf, Miss.”

Blinking, Ratchet processed that as she sat at the empty table and motioned for the other pony to do the same. She hadn’t expected that as a response. Still, she was cute as a button and a disability was far from a deal-breaker. “Do you read lips?” she asked, making sure to look at her.

The summer green mare fiddled with her pale green and yellow mane as she nodded her head. When she replied, she spoke and signed with gestures of her hooves and flicks of her ears – that weren’t entirely dissimilar from the sign language employed by the members of Caffeinated’s herd, but that was by the by. “Yes Miss, I can read lips.”

Getting comfortable, Ratchet made a decision to carry on. Yes, she couldn’t speak sign, but communication wasn’t impossible and, as it often got very loud in the pit lane, Ratchet and all her family could read lips. “Deaf from birth?” she asked curiously.

Taking the other seating pad, the earth pony mare nodded her head again. “Yes, I’ve been deaf from birth, Miss.” Then, she saw her green card with black stamp and blushed again, deciding it was time to introduce herself. “I'm Buttercup.”

Ratchet smiled broadly. Well, that at least explained her odd sounding voice. She could understand her speech, just. “It must be hard to talk when you can't hear yourself.” She spoke slowly and deliberately, allowing the mare to read her lips. “How do you usually talk?”

“I usually sign, Miss,” Buttercup replied, signing as she spoke as was her way, “Using my ears and hooves.”

For a split second, Ratchet was tempted to change her mind. She played mother to Sparkplug at home, the last thing she wanted was to do the same here. Quickly though, she stomped on that thought. That wasn’t fair on her sister or Buttercup. She at least deserved a chance. “Show me the sign for yes and for no, please.”

Straightaway, Buttercup gestured with her hooves. “That was yes,” again, hardly daring to believe she might just have a potential date at last, she performed a second gesture. “And that was no, Miss.” 

“I think I got that,” Ratchet responded after having committed the gestures to her memory. It seemed simple enough, but she had only learnt ‘yes and no’. “Do you come her often?”

Sadly, Buttercup shook her head, so hard she almost shook out her ponytail. “No Miss, I just come here once a month, when there's a party.”

“Do you usually leave alone?”

Nodding, Buttercup signed ‘yes’. She wasn’t expecting the unicorn, for she thought she knew who she was, to get so close to the mark so quickly. Was she that easy to read? She guessed she must be. “Usually all I talk to are the bar ponies and the waiting ponies.”

“Do you like racing?”

Sighing, Buttercup waved her hoof in a so-so motion, then her eyes went very wide and she smiled a very genuine, excited smile. She thought she recognised her before, now she knew for sure who she was. “I know you!” she signed excitedly, “I saw you in the newspapers!”

“Really?” Ratchet was prepared to be sceptical, well aware that a story in a newspaper could tell a million lies and convince a million ponies. Still, this mare didn’t seem the type to blow smoke up one’s chimney. “Can you dance, Buttercup?”

“Your team were news for days,” she paused in her signing and thought for a moment, casting her mind back to the Manehatten Times of the past week. “You’re Ratchet, right? I'd love to dance with you, um...please.”

“Nice to know you can read, Buttercup,” Ratchet nodded, affecting her very best ‘dom’ voice before mentally kicking herself when she remembered that the poor mare was deaf as a post. “Dance with me, then dance for me.” the chief mechanic didn’t give her the chance to reply before getting up and moving to a relatively uncrowded part of the dance floor.

“I can read, Miss!” Buttercup wore her blush and hoped she looked as indignant as she sounded, then she realised the dominant unicorn had her back to her and thus couldn’t see – and likely couldn’t hear – what she was saying. Instead, she pushed it from her mind and followed Ratchet to the dance floor. 

After the first dance, Ratchet’s not-so-sneaky plan was to dance with her the first time and then, use the second dance to see how erotic she was. Safe to say, she wasn’t disappointed when the first disco number came to an end. “You dance well,” she complimented her sincerely, “now dance so that I want to take you home.”

“Take me home‽” Buttercup exclaimed, signing like crazy. She hadn’t expected to even talk to anypony, let alone be taken home by somepony. But, here she was, with the offer literally on the table. Like her old momma said, all she had to do was grasp the nettle. Thankfully, she had many DVD's back in her tiny apartment. She resolved to put her many hours viewing – and clopping – time to good use, gyrating her hips on her hind legs.

As it happened, Ratchet did enjoy the dance and she wasn’t afraid to let it show on her face. It had been a fair old while since she had gotten the chance to scratch her dominant itch, and she was determined to make the most of it. “Follow me,” she ordered simply when Buttercup had finished her dance. Confidently, she led her back to the table by the wall where she sat and let her hind legs slide forward with her back on the wall. “Now, give me a lap dance.”

“Yes Miss,” having signed her reply, Buttercup proceeded to dance as sexily as she possibly could, just like those mares in her DVD collection. At one point in the lap dance, she summoned her nerve and, with her pale green tail up high, ground her ass in the air inches from Ratchet's muzzle.

Behind her date, Ratchet proved to be a very hooves on mare, although tantalisingly she was very much muzzle off to see how the earth pony would react. For a split second, Buttercup froze at the touch of the unicorn’s hooves on her ass. Then, seizing the moment, she swayed that ass and flicked Ratchet's nose with her tail. ‘I can do this...this is why ‘'m here...and she's nice!' she gave herself the much-needed pep talk, making herself stay where she was.

After the lap dance, Ratchet held onto Buttercup’s flanks and, with her cheeks pulled apart, she placed her nose very close to her exposed marehood so she could breathe in and out and take in the earth pony’s scent. The dominant mare made sure she could feel her breath. Buttercup, in a supreme act of nerve, and wanting to show that she wasn’t a wimp, and in a move she hoped would impress her potential date and Mistress, moved back just a little, placing her crotch in Ratchet’s face.              

Ratchet was understandably surprised when Buttercup pushed back. The first thing she noted was she smelled very strongly of roses and bluebells, amongst other flowers. The second thing was the moist snatch planted on her muzzle. She liked this mare. Supressing a smirk, she pushed her a little bit and turned her around, keeping her on her hind legs. “Did I say you could touch me?”

“No Mistress…” she signed her reply, her eyes downcast towards the floor. ‘Oh buck!’ she kicked herself in the head, cursing her rash decision. ‘Buttercup, what have you done?’

When she saw the downward turn of the mare’s eyes, Ratchet felt immediately guilty. She carefully lifted her chin with her hoof until they were looking at each other muzzle to muzzle. “You are a naughty pony. You may now demonstrate if you know how to kiss.”

Not even daring to believe she still had a ghost of a chance with her, Buttercup leant in and, though she was admittedly a little amateurish, she gave a good effort when she pressed their lips together. “You require practice,” the maple unicorn said when they parted, “See anypony here you'd like to practice with?”

Buttercup only paused for a moment, and that was to get her breath back. She pointed her hoof to Ratchet and said, not signed, “You, Mistress.”

“Good to know you're an intelligent pony.” Ratchet purred, her muzzle still scant inches away from the other mare’s. She had to admit, it felt damn good being called ‘Mistress’ again. It had been a while. Too long of a while. “Buttercup?”

“Yes Mistress?”

“Do you drink alcohol?”

“I do, Ratchet,” she signed before stopping herself in mid-sentence with a sheepish grin plastered on her face, “I mean, Mistress.”

Now, Ratchet was sure she had made the right choice when she had winked at the beautiful wallflower. “Yes, such a naughty pony you are.” She placed a very delicate little kiss on Buttercup’s nose. “You may bring me a beer and get something for yourself.” It felt just as good giving the order as it did being called by her title. Although, she just wanted to see what Buttercup drank. 

“Yes Mistress!” Trotting to the bar, Buttercup was almost giddy with excitement. Being ordered like that was such a thrill! Once she was at the bar, she ordered two beers, a relatively inexpensive local one for herself and an imported Canterlot beer for her partner. She just ignored the hefty price tag. Ratchet was worth it.  

Back at the table, Ratchet drank her beer and watched Buttercup carefully to see if she really did like beer. While she was slower than her, she did seem to genuinely like it. “Let's take a break from our lanyards for a moment,” said Ratchet when she had swallowed half of hers. She wanted to get to know this mare a little better. “What do you look for in a dom?”

“One who listens to and respects my safe word, and doesn't try to force things on me. Somepony who wants me for me and is kind.”

Listening, Ratchet heard a mare who’d had a bad experience with a dominant in her past. She resolved to not be ‘that’ mare. “Seems your likes are a shorter list than your dislikes. I like control,” she looked at her potential submissive’ face to judge her reaction. “I like to control what you eat, what you drink, what you wear, as well as when you eat.”

“I want that, Ratchet.” She replied quickly, for a moment looking at the table then back up at the maple coloured unicorn. “I like a dominant controlling mare. I can be naughty on my own. I eat the wrong things, do the wrong things, like touching myself when I shouldn't.”

Ratchet’s smile almost split her face. The Cheshire Cat would’ve been proud. “Short list, what is off limits?”

“I don't like poop, or sick, or bleeding. They are out.” Never again would she do or be involved in anything like that. She did respect Ratchet though for even asking. The other mare hadn’t even bothered asking or taking her feelings into account. “I’m willing to try pee, and anal. I like toys, and um...breath play, but I don't do that alone.”

Now, that caught Ratchet’s attention. Breath play was exceedingly dangerous. “Only bad naughty ponies do it alone. Want to test drive me for a suitable dom?”

“Yes please!” Buttercup answered way too quickly, so eager was she. “Would you like my place or yours?”

“Eager, are we?” Ratchet giggled, although she too was eager, if she was honest with herself. She didn’t even take her disability into account. To her it was a complete non-issue. “Starting now you can't masturbate unless I'm there and say you can. You can't drink alcohol unless I'm there and say you can. For now you can eat what you like. Your place, tomorrow seven p.m. Can you cook?”

All of that was music to Buttercup’s eyes. “Yes Mistress, I'm eager.” She smiled and giggled in turn. “I can cook for us, Mistress.”

Taking a deep breath, Ratchet forged ahead, taking to her role like one who hadn’t ridden a bicycle for a long time. You never forgot how to get back in the saddle. “I want dinner when I get there, you can make a broccoli and cheese casserole, with fried sliced potatoes and onions. A garden salad. I'll bring the drinks. Where am I bringing them to?” Damn that felt good!

“I have an apartment here,” Buttercup blushed when she gave Ratchet her address, because then she was confronted with the very real possibility of having to take her new partner to her cheap and tiny place.  

“Good,” Ratchet made a note of the address in her smartphone. “Any allergies I need to know about?”

Quickly, Buttercup shook her head. “Only my alarm clock, Mistress.”

Caught unawares, the chief mechanic snorted her expensive beer, almost choking. “You are very good at being a very naughty pony. Safe word?”

“Thank you!” Buttercup did look suitably proud of herself. The more time she spent with Ratchet, the more the other ponies on the second floor all melted away. Whereas normally she would be self-conscious about being there at all, now she hardly noticed anypony else. Her universe was this table. “My safe word is Monday. Because nopony likes Mondays.”

Ratchet couldn’t fault her logic there. “You okay financially?” it was an awkward question, perhaps, but one that needed to be asked. Best to get it out of the way early. “I'm not going to break you to meet my needs and desires.”

It had all been going so very well. When Buttercup saw that question though, she felt the wheels come off the happy train. She went very quiet and very still for a long few minutes. “I have a small flower stall in Times Square. I don't have much, but I have enough to get by.”

Ratchet’s eyes narrowed, not at the fact her partner didn’t have a lot of money – money wasn’t an issue. She had more than enough – no, what she was concerned with was the earth pony would be so enamoured with her she would leave herself short. She didn’t want that. “You can make the dinner I want?”

Buttercup nodded her head and signed, “Yes Mistress.” 

Satisfied, and not wanting to be too indelicate by prying, Ratchet accepted her reply with a smile. “Tonight we will dance. Then, we will each go to our own homes. You will put clean sheets on your bed before you go to sleep. You may dream of me, but you already know what you may not do.”

As soon as Ratchet had swallowed the last of her beer, Buttercup leant over the table and kissed the unicorn’s lips harder than she had done before. “Yes Mistress.” She savoured the taste of the ridiculously priced beer on her tongue and held the kiss as long as she could. 

During the time they spent in each other’s company, Ratchet bought two more rounds of beer. First she tried the one that Buttercup bought for herself the first time, then she bought them both a Canterlot brand. Diplomatically, she didn't ask which was better, rather she made that decision for herself. When it got to just after ten p.m., they both collapsed on their respective seating pads by the table. “What time do you go to work in the morning?”

“I open my stall at eight, there's an early rush through Times Square, you see.”

“What time is your allergy attack scheduled?”

About to say she didn’t have any allergies, Buttercup looked puzzled for a moment and then she giggled, cottoning on. “Oh, the allergy attack comes on at six, Mistress, every morning.”

“Good, here’s my number,” Ratchet reached into her saddlebag and pulled out one of the business cards that her family carried. “Call if anything happens and you have to cancel.”

“I won't cancel, Ratchet.” Buttercup was determined that no matter what, she would have the dinner ready for tomorrow. “I've been looking forward to this for a long time.”

As it happened, Ratchet liked it when Buttercup forgot to sign and just spoke. Yes her voice was odd and she only barely understood her, but there was a beauty to her voice that the mechanic was quickly starting to love. “I have learned that life happens. Better you tell me something has gone wrong than not answer my knock. I need your contact number too.”

“Life has a way of happening, doesn’t it?” Buttercup commented with a wry smile as she gave her partner her number. Once she had the contact stored in her phone, Ratchet called the number she had been given. She was curious to see how Buttercup was notified that it was ringing. It was then she noticed for the first time the earring on her right ear. When the phone rang, it vibrated and there was a big red light flashing on her phone, too.

“Kinky, a personal vibrator and red light district!” Ratchet giggled, the maple coloured mare treated to the most priceless blush she had ever seen. The guilty look on the summer green mare’s face just screamed out loud and admitted that she had placed it on her crotch there before and called herself. With that blush, Ratchet leant in and sniffs the earring and gave it a tiny lick. The taste confirmed her suspicions.  

When she had stopped blushing, Ratchet helped herself to a kiss. “It’s getting late, I won't keep you up. I'll be at your door at seven p.m. tomorrow.”

“Ratchet,” Buttercup bravely took a kiss from her new lover as well, not wanting the night to end but realising it had to. “I want to thank you for tonight. I had a really good time.”

Standing from her seating pad, Ratchet glanced about the second floor. She was looking to see if her brother was still there or not. While there weren’t as many ponies still there, she couldn’t see him anywhere. She assumed he had either met and gone with a stallion or gone home empty hoofed. Nuzzling Buttercup good night, she took her leave of Trixie’s Place and went to catch the subway home.     

It was just past eleven when Ratchet got home. Stepping into the living room she saw Hoist asleep, her brother snoozing on Candyfloss’s lap. The very pink mare gave her a silent cheery wave, which the unicorn returned before dragging herself upstairs. After checking on Sparkplug and listening at Wheeljack’s door, she was pleased to see her sister asleep cuddling her bunny and brother absent, she decided to have a quick shower and a clean-up before heading off to bed, where she set her alarm for ten minutes to six. 

~ ~ ~

The next morning, Ratchet awoke in the darkness of her spacious bedroom to the sound of her alarm clock. As she fumbled for the light switch and had to resort to lighting her horn just to see, she wondered why in the name of Cadance’s sainted ass crack she had set it for this unwholesome time. Looking around in the half-light though, she saw the note she had left herself on her nightstand. 

Now she remembered. Levitating her phone over, she scrolled through her photos and saw her pretty earth pony smiling back at her from the screen. Hers was a face worth getting up at five fifty a.m. for. Smiling warmly, the dominant mare sated her need for control as she texted her. ‘Do not shower or bathe today. I like bright red flowers. Have a good day at work’.

Without so much as waiting for a reply, Ratchet reset her alarm for eight a.m. and promptly went back to sleep. Her submissive would either obey and get rewarded or disobey and be punished. Either suited her. When next she opened her eyes, she woke to a message from Buttercup, sent to her at six fifteen, saying that she wouldn't bathe, and that she would see her later. 

Ratchet was tempted to go back to sleep, but the scent of breakfast cooking downstairs, no doubt it was Hoist making vanilla and chocolate pancakes, teased her from her bed. One quick look in Sparkplug’s room told her that her sister was still fast asleep. Her first port of call, after snaffling down three pancakes and a coffee so hot it almost burnt her throat, was a much-needed shower. 

“I didn't hear you come in last night,” Hoist commented as Ratchet came down from the shower, the unicorn fluffing her mane. “Jackie hasn't come back either,” the stallion continued, “But he did message me saying what needs doing on the car. Just general maintenance, nothing too hard.”

“I had a nice pleasant night. You may not hear me come in tonight either.” Ratchet giggled, very glad of a nice easy day of not a lot to do on the Audi. She had a plan for her Buttercup. “Did you sleep well, Sparky?”

“Yes Ratchy!” Sparkplug giggled happily from across the breakfast table where she and Mr. Flopsy were attacking their third stack of pancakes. She was enjoying watching Hoist sweat. “When I got home!”

Assuming that her little sister had been taken out for ice cream by her brother and his new marefriend, whom she approved of greatly, Ratchet smiled. Candyfloss was a very positive influence on the quiet stallion. “I’m glad you had a good time, Sparky.”

“It was great!” Sparkplug wasn’t about to drop her brother in it, but she was enjoying seeing him squirm. “We had ice cream, and cake, and we even played musical statues. Mr. Flopsy was best at that.”

Ratchet rolled her eyes at that. “I think Mr. Flopsy is the one that turns off the music so he is never surprised.”

Halfway through a pancake, Sparkplug snickered, though she made sure to swallow before she spoke. She didn’t want another lecture on manners. “You know his secret! Don't tell!”

“My lips are sealed,” Ratchet promised solemnly, “Jackie will never find out from me.”

In an attempt to steer the conversation away from secrets and not telling and keeping schtum, just in case a certain secret should get out, Hoist asked, “How was your night? By the silly look on your face and the goofy smile you’re wearing, I’m guessing you met a mare?”

Ratchet declined to answer that. She let the raspberry speak for her. The maple coloured mare even tolerated the giggles that came her way as a result. Once breakfast was done and the dishes washed, the three siblings headed over to Caffeinated’s place to start work on the car. As it happened, Wheeljack had been right. There was just the Manehatten Times decals to replace and the paint to reapply. At noon, after a very easy morning, Ratchet got cleaned up and prettied up before she took the subway to Times Square. 

~ ~ ~

Buttercup, as it happened, was quite the distracted mare as she sold her flowers. All morning she had been making up baskets and bouquets, making her modest living like she did every other morning. Unlike those mornings though, that day the deaf earth pony mare had something on her mind besides flowers. A maple coloured unicorn shaped something that had consumed her thoughts and dreams since getting home the night before. 

When she got to Times Square, Ratchet scanned the area for a flower seller. There were two stalls, but it didn’t take her long to find her mare. Once she found Buttercup’s older, more faded and weatherworn stall, she determined to just watch her. She took up a seat on a nearby bench that was out of the way and got comfortable. In the forty-five-minute period, Ratchet watched her serve four ponies. 

One mare she served was a regular, who bought a basket of grasses and hardy flowers to graze on, and somehow during the morning Buttercup had ended up with a few twigs and leaves in her mane and dirt on her hooves. When Ratchet looked closer to see if she had some lunch or drink with her, the dominant unicorn noted she just had a drink of water and, as for lunch, she had a simple bucket of oats from home. Deciding that would not do at all, Ratchet went and bought two tofu dogs with mustard on both - as she liked mustard, so would Buttercup like it too. She also got two banana smoothies for good measure.

With the food held in her magical aura, Ratchet boldly moved to the front of the flower stall. So confident and assured was her step that the two ponies waiting before her didn’t object to her cutting in the line. Buttercup, who had her back to the counter making up a couple of baskets, jumped in surprise when she turned and saw her lover at last. “Ratchet!” so surprised was she that she spoke rather than signed.

“Hi there pretty mare,” Ratchet leant on the serving counter of the sun bleached wooden stall like she owned the place, “whatcha sell'n?”

Buttercup was that stunned that she responded like Ratchet was another customer. “Graze boxes,” she signed, indicating the different sized boxes with various grasses in them. “Flower boxes, bouquets and herbs. Can I get you anything?”

Extremely curious, Ratchet glanced over everything that her submissive partner had on offer. “What will a tofu dog and banana smoothie buy me?”

Now the initial shock was beginning to fade, Buttercup’s nerve returned. “Dragged inside for a kiss while I close and put the "Back in 10 Minutes" sign.”

Ratchet smiled, reminded again that while the earth pony was a sub, she wasn’t a doormat. She rather liked that. She wanted a pony that was going to challenge her and push back rather than one who was going to roll over. “Not quite a bright red flower, but a fair exchange.”

With a blush colouring her face, Buttercup hoofed the two regular customers behind Ratchet their orders – they had been coming to her for almost a year each. She knew the flowers and grasses they liked and had them ready to go. That done, and with the closed sign in place, she stepped aside and they both went inside her stall. “For you, Mistress.” She had remembered that Ratchet had requested red flowers and she had a basket with chrysanthemum, marigold, amaryllis and anemone in it, all different shades of red.

Inside the quite spacious stall, Ratchet passed over the food and drink and puckered her lips expectantly. Taking the tofu dogs and shakes, the earth pony placed them on a table and gave her marefriend a nice long kiss of thanks. “A very tasty treat,” Ratchet grinned, snuffling her way along her neck and shoulder to take in her smell. It quickly became very clear that she had been a good pony and not washed. There was an unmistakeable earthy smell as well as flowers about her. As she knew about flowers herself, Ratchet placed an anemone behind Buttercup's ear and an amaryllis behind hers. “I like the taste of chrysanthemums and marigolds.”

Buttercup wore a very cute adorable smile. “They're the only red ones I have, Mistress, I'm glad you like them.”

Ratchet, who had been listening to her admittedly odd and hard to understand voice, nonetheless found it completely enchanting. “Thank you, for thinking of me.”

Watching her lover, Buttercup was grateful that Ratchet was considerate enough to speak clearly and slowly so she could read her lips. Not everypony was that thoughtful. “I haven't thought of anything else!” it was the truth, too. “When I got your text earlier, it was like being kissed by you.”

“I'm sure I'll have a chance to 'kiss' you properly at dinner.” Ratchet kept her voice steady, though inside she was doing backflips. “Let's finish our snack while we still have some of that ten minutes left, hmm?”

Buttercup shrugged. “One pony's ten minutes is different to another pony's ten minutes,” she giggled at the frowny look on the unicorn’s face as she ate her tofu dog, mustard and all, without hesitation or complaint. “Lemongrass, my friend who lives next door to me didn't believe I'd found a mare, cos I always come home alone.”

“You did come home alone last night,” Ratchet reminded her with a wink, the same kind of wink she had given her back in Trixie’s Place. 

The moment she saw the wink, Buttercup melted. It was like being held in a fluffy blanket. It was the kind of wink that made her go squiffy inside. “I know and, I'm glad you winked at me last night, Ratchet.” 

Quickly eating her own tofu dog, in which she made sure to get mustard on her lips, Ratchet gave her sub a hot and spicy kiss. “I hope you stay busy, I'm off to enjoy my afternoon.”

“It was nice to see you,” Buttercup said, abandoning her signing to lunge forward and kiss Ratchet’s lips. In the process she got a few twigs in the maple unicorn’s mane. If she was aware of them, Ratchet didn’t show it. She just smiled before turning to leave. Buttercup watched her go, all lovey dovey puppy eyes until a waiting customer finally got her attention.

Moving like she had a purpose, Ratchet trotted over Marecies, the nearby department store. She had things to get to show just whom owned who in this relationship. Thing was, everypony would expect her to get Buttercup a collar. Ratchet fancied something a little different. “I'm looking for a tail ribbon to compliment a summer green coat colour and a pale green and yellow coloured mane and tail,” she demanded of the mare sat at the customer service counter with her nose in a newspaper.

The shopping assistant looked up from her newspaper and fixed a practised smile on her styled made up face. “Why yes ma'am, of course.” Naturally, she had just the right one to hoof. “This blue one here would look lovely with those colours.”

“Excellent,” Ratchet agreed to the choice the other unicorn had levitated over. She then continued with her requests. Why should she go and look for the things if she had an eager assistant? “I'd like two sets of slipper socks suitable for outdoor wear in that same colour too please.”

“An excellent suggestion, ma'am!” the mare smiled that 'customer is always right' smile and once more she lit her horn and levitated over the blue socks that her customer had requested. Once she had paid for her purchases, and knowing when Buttercup would get off work, she decided to go and check out her new submissive’s neighbourhood. 

It didn’t take Ratchet long to get where Buttercup lived. While it wasn’t a rough area – there were no ‘rough’ areas on Manehatten proper, as there was a strong police presence due to the tourist industry - it just wasn’t as affluent an area as others. The apartments, while structurally sound, all had weatherworn facades. It was clear which apartment belonged to Buttercup though as it was the only one with hanging gardens and window boxes everywhere.

Now she was in the area, away from the touristy shops and locations, Ratchet looked for a local coffee shop, preferably a mom and pop kind of a place, one she could watch the front of the building from. As it happened, the unicorn was in luck. She happened across a small café on the corner of the street opposite Buttercup's apartment. She then took up residence inside Silk Cut’s café, where she knew she was unlikely to be seen. 

Ratchet was comfortable, and chatty, with the old stallion who ran the little café. Though she asked about racing, local events, restaurants and other tourist stuff, she was in effect just killing time until she saw Buttercup walk past on the far sidewalk on her way home. She was in no rush. Silk Cut was only too happy to listen to her stories and fill her up with local coffee. After some time, Buttercup did appear over the street walking home. She had full saddlebags packed with what the unicorn guessed were dinner ingredients to make the meal that she had requested. 

Adorably, the summer green mare still had those twigs and leaves in her mane and the dirt on her hooves. As she walked past the little café, she didn't see Ratchet watching through a window, though of course she had no reason to look for her, lost as she was in her own world. 

Up in her small horseshoe box of an apartment, Buttercup was admittedly a little naughty when he washed her hooves in the sink before she started to prepare the meal for her and Ratchet. While she had been instructed not to wash or bathe, she assumed her new Mistress wouldn’t like to taste dirt and soil with her afternoon dinner.  

Determined to be a minute early, Ratchet timed her departure from Silk Cut’s café and walked up to the faded red brick apartment building and rang the buzzer at the main entrance for Buttercup's apartment, so she could get into the building at about six fifty-eight.

The maple unicorn was let in, a few seconds later, as Buttercup could see who it was at her door on her little screen. Unaware of that, Ratchet entered, all the time looking around and absorbing the details of the building. She was happy to take her sweet time going up to look at décor on the way, knocking on the earth pony mare’s door spot on six fifty-nine. It was a nice clean place, overall. It was well kept, though it could have done with an up to date paint job, but it wasn’t a roach pit by any means. 

As she knew she was coming, thanks to the little screen on the kitchen wall, Buttercup was ready at the door. “Hello Ratchet!” she beamed, though before she said anything at all, the unicorn first inspected her hooves. She was pleased because, while she was forbidden to have a bath, she did expect the mare to be smart enough to wash her hooves before making dinner. Seeing them clean, Ratchet next inspected her yellow and pale green mane to see if she brushed it.

Buttercup didn’t know what to make of being inspected so personally on her own doorstep. Particularly she blushed when her hooves were lifted and inspected almost like she was livestock. It was embarrassing and rather hot, if she was honest. It was evident that she had not brushed her mane, it was a little wild, with the twigs and leaves still in it. Satisfied, Ratchet nuzzled her neck, savouring the smell of grass, dirt and flowers. “Show me your bedroom now,” she ordered simply.

Shuddering at the contact, one she had been waiting for all afternoon, Buttercup bowed on her own doorstep. “Yes Mistress, it’s this way,” she then turned and led her through her mis-matched but clean apartment to the single bedroom. Her place was clean, though everything in it was old and obviously came from a thrift store, as nothing matched, and even the TV was a boat anchor. In the bedroom it was the same story, the dresser not being the same make as the night stands and so on, but it was at least clean. There were flowers at the window box and a large wardrobe that housed her collection of toys.

Ratchet though was unconcerned about the mis-matched bedroom furniture. She went straight to the bed and shoved her head under the sheets to see if it smelled of Buttercup, but not a Buttercup that had pleasured herself. Taking a deep sniff, she then checked a bottom corner to see if it had a clean smell to it. She was curious to see if her mare had been a good pony or not. All the time, Buttercup stood like an army pony showing off her bed. She knew it was clean, with clean pressed sheets in place like she had been ordered. Satisfied that her orders had been followed, Ratchet straightened up and gave the earth pony mare a lusty kiss. “You are a good pony, and I'm ready to eat dinner now.”

‘I'm a good pony!’ was all Buttercup thought as she took the long hard kiss, her tail lifting up of its own accord as a result. ‘I like Ratchet's kisses!’ When she was able, she led the way back to the small kitchen / dining area and to the table with three odd seating pads. There were framed pictures on the wall, of Buttercup with other ponies, and a large building behind her. the ponies changed in the pictures changed, but the building and one older mare was the same.

Looking at all the pictures, the maple unicorn filed away the fact that Buttercup and an older mare were the only ponies who remained the same from picture to picture. “Dinner, Ratchet, I mean, um, Mistress…” the deaf mare blushed as her mind was elsewhere from the kisses and she set the food out on the table. Unlike everything else, the plates and crockery were all from the same set.

Seated at the battered old kitchen table, Ratchet was prepared to give her new partner the benefit of the doubt. It did at least look and smell very appetising indeed. Unless it was bad, of course, like Air Raid bad, she knew she would enjoy it. As it happened, the meal was very tasty. Not world shattering perhaps but compared to Air Raid she was a three-hoof cook. “My complements to the chef!” the unicorn declared as soon as she had consumed the last morsel.

“Thank you, Ratchet,” Buttercup beamed as she cleared away the dinner dishes into the sink and let them soak in the hot water, “I'm really glad you liked it.”

“Are you up for some company tonight?” asked Ratchet, doing a very good job of keeping the eager hopefulness from her voice, “Maybe all night?”

“Yes!” Buttercup answered way too quick, before Ratchet had even finished saying 'night'. “I mean, I wouldn't mind, having you...I mean company, all night.”

Getting up from her seating pad at the table, Ratchet kissed Buttercup’s lips. “I'd like company too. Where does this Lemongrass live?” she asked, a little plan formulating in her head for some fun the next morning.

“Next door, Mistress.”

“Does she work on Saturday?” asked Ratchet. She had noticed by now that when Buttercup was excited, she answered without signing, whereas when she was reading the question that was coming, she spoke and signed. “For that matter, do you work on Saturday?” she only asked because Air Raid had a race on Sunday, with qualifiers Saturday afternoon.

Buttercup shook her head. “We don't work at the weekends, Mistress.”

“What are your breakfast plans?”

“None, Mistress, beyond a bowl of oats, a coffee and the news on the TV.”

“I like oats and coffee.” Ratchet smiled sweetly, putting her little plan into action. “I think you should invite Lemongrass over for breakfast, and surprise her with your guest.” She giggled, for the look on Buttercup’s face was just too precious.

“I'd love that!” Buttercup beamed out a wide smile as she signed an explanation to her reply, “She doesn't believe I got a mare as sexy as you, let alone a Mistress as well.”

‘Well,’ Ratchet thought to herself, ‘We can do something about that assumption, cant’ we?’ There was no way she was having her mare called a liar. “Did you by any chance plan a desert?” it was a bit of a longshot, seeing as how she hadn’t requested a desert, but she did fancy something about now.

Quickly, Buttercup nodded her head. The look on her face said she had been waiting for an opportunity to show off her desert skills. “I made it for us.” Intrigued, Ratchet waited to see what it was. She knew what she wanted it to be, however. One trip to the fridge later and the summer green earth pony mare returned with a freshly made key lime pie, which she set proudly on the table. “In the newspaper you said you liked limes.”

Ratchet laughed at that. Not at Buttercup, and not to be mean. It just tickled her that her mare was such an avid news reader. “You read the paper on one of the few days they actually reported the truth! I do love key lime pie, Buttercup.”

“On the third day after your win, they were running out of things to say about you and the team.” Buttercup explained unapologetically as she cut a rather generous slice of the pie for Ratchet to enjoy. The news had finally run out of things to report about the upstart team from Canterlot by the fifth day.

“Tomorrow you will have lunch with me at the Speedway.” Ratchet said simply as they both ate the – quite frankly marvellous – pie. She knew her new lover was a keeper from this alone. “Dinner will be at my house. I enjoyed the meal, Buttercup, and the desert was excellent. I think I'll keep you.”

Buttercup’s blush was almost off the scale. This had gone so much better than she ever dared hope it would. “I'm glad to hear it. I really like you, Mistress.”

“You will teach me sign language. It may take a while, but you'll not give up. Now teach me what I need now. Teach me, ‘you are mine’.”

With her eyes lighting up in a very bright cute smile, Buttercup showed Ratchet the gestures she needed to make with her hooves and her ears. She made them slowly, and repeated them twice, getting a little more fluent with each repetition. Having watched it three times, Ratchet repeated the signs enough to commit them to memory. “My first gift to you is this,” with that, she pulled out the blue tail ribbon from her saddlebag. “I know some use collars, Raid has a collar. When we are together you will wear this tail ribbon. That way you can clean it as needed.”

When Ratchet came over and tied the blue ribbon on near her dock, Buttercup’s smile threatened to become wider than her head. It was so wide; Pinkie Pie would’ve been impressed. She had been claimed! She glanced over her shoulder at the symbol of her submission. “I love it, thank you Mistress!”

Tail ribbon firmly in place, Ratchet then pulled out the two sets of four blue socks with the hardened bottoms. “These you will only wear for work. I have two sets, so you can clean a set as needed. I know they won't last forever, and I expect you to tell me when a set needs to be replaced.”  

Buttercup had a look on her face like it was Hearths Warming morning, especially when Ratchet laid the two sets of socks out on the now cleared kitchen table. It was all threatening to become too much. “Mistress...Ratchet, I love them, thank you so much for my gifts!”

“You will please me by wearing them when needed. Now, show me your home.”

The summer green mare let out a rather loud and completely involuntary squee, she was so happy. “There's not much to show, Mistress.” The first stop on the tour, such as it was, was the kitchenette / dining room they were already in, though she did take the time to properly show her the pictures on the walls. “This is the kitchen!”

Standing, Ratchet looked at all the appliances, and she opened two random cabinets. It didn’t bother in the slightest that nothing matched. It was clean. She looked at the pictures on the wall and saw that Buttercup was in them all, though the other ponies changed from picture to picture. Her mare also seemed older and older in each one, and her smile more and more forced the older she got. “My family, well my families, Mistress.”

“For now that is enough for me.” Ratchet didn’t care too that there was budget food in the cupboards. Cheap stuff was better than no stuff at all. “Is there anypony you could introduce me to?”

Smiling, Buttercup pointed to a lemon-yellow earth pony mare next to her in the picture where she herself was the oldest. “That's Lemongrass, my best friend.” She then pointed to the older mare, a unicorn. “That's Matron Candy Hearts. I called her momma Snuggles. She lives in the retirement home on Stallion Island, she's been my momma for twenty-five years.”

“Good, I'll meet Lemongrass for breakfast. After the qualifiers tomorrow, we will visit your momma. I need to let her know you are mine.” It made a lot of sense to Ratchet now. Buttercup had grown up in an orphanage. She could hazard a guess as to why she had been left there, but that wasn’t for now. “Oh! I need to know the sign for, ‘she is mine’.”  

“Momma will like you,” Buttercup commented as she showed Ratchet the appropriate signs she had asked for. That done, she led her through to the living room. Outside the one window were plants and flowers growing in the hanging garden. Just like the kitchen, everything was old, fourth party stuff but it was at least clean. There was a lumpy sofa that looked like it was older than Celestia, an old TV and lots of chick flick movies stacked in neat alphabetical order next to it.

Casting a cursory glance over the DVD collection, Ratchet saw that she had The Alicorn Bride, and touched it with an affectionate nostalgic smile. “You like that one?” Buttercup asked, the mare smiling broadly at her collection that included more than a few cheesy romance movies for girly girls.

“Indeed I do.” Next, Ratchet opened the inward opening window and looked appreciatively at the flower boxes hanging outside. She certainly had some skill. “You do a wonderful job growing plants. I'll have to take you to meet Ms. Thespian. She likes to grow things too. Maybe you can share information.”

“The actress?” Buttercup asked, pointing to her window with pride on her face. “My garden. I went to see a play she was in once.” 

“She and her husband are nice ponies. Bathroom next, please.”

Buttercup quickly wiped the fanfilly look off her face and walked the few feet to a door, which she opened revealing a modest sized bathroom. Against the tiled wall was a tub that looked just large enough for two ponies as long as they didn’t mind getting closely acquainted with each other, as well as toilet and sink. The wall nearest the bath held enough coat and mane products to open a decent sized store. “Tour complete!”

“Only because I barged into your bedroom earlier,” giggled Ratchet playfully before switching to the more dominant tone in her voice. “You will now bathe me. It has been a long day. You may join me in the tub to do so, but don't get your tail ribbon wet.”

“I liked you barging into my bedroom,” Buttercup said, rather than signed, as she pulled down her summer meadows fur and mane shampoo and conditioner. Products on the side of the bath, she turned on the hot water. Once the bath was ready, complete with bubbles, Ratchet stepped in to be pampered. As it happened, Buttercup was in the mood to do pampering. Since it wasn’t a large tub she could easily reach everywhere from the side. She started with pouring hot bubbly water over her Mistress’s face. “Have you done racing stuff long?”

Ratchet made sure that Buttercup could see her lips, though she was by now getting used to the strange sound of her voice. “I did my first soapbox derby when I was five. Later I learned I like to work on the cars instead of racing them. My two brothers and sister make up the rest of the pit crew.”

“I know their names from the paper. You look like a tight family.” Buttercup commented as she expertly massaged the mane shampoo into the maple unicorn’s mane. “You've been Air Raid's crew a long time?”

Ratchet purred. It was an actual purr of utter contentment. She could get used to being treated like this! It helped that Buttercup had the softest hooves she had ever felt. “Yes, we were her first and only crew. We’ve been running ten years now.” 

“Wow…” Buttercup took several moments when she rinsed the water out of her mane to make sure it was completely shampoo free, before moving on to her neck and shoulders, “You're lucky having your family with you…” her eyes flickered for the briefest of seconds and then she was back to smiling.

Back in the bedroom, after the long relaxing bath had been completed and Ratchet had been suitably pampered to her satisfaction, the unicorn ordered her submissive to stand by her bed while she looked in all the drawers and, in the closet, to see if Buttercup had anything sexy to wear, and to find her personal toys.

She quickly discovered that the earth pony mare had the standard panties, socks and corset, she even had split crotch panties and a bridle. Ratchet found Buttercup’s toys hiding in the bottom of the closet in a trunk. She was impressed at her collection, which included a vibrator, another one with a suction bottom that could be stuck on a chair and bounced on, nipple clamps, a few vibrating eggs, a blindfold, cuffs and, perhaps most surprising of all, an all over latex hood with a rebreather for breath play.

During her inspection, Ratchet sniffed each item she came across – she even licked some of the items, like the bounce on dildo, to see if they had been cleaned before being put away after Buttercup had cum across them. All of the other toys were clean, apart from the suction cup dildo. The hood and rebreather were in a sealed bag so she could tell it hadn’t been used in a while. Pulling out the soiled toy, Ratchet turned to face her lover. “I'll have to take this home for cleaning.” She then produced the latex mask. “Who was the last pony you did this with?”

Buttercup looked at the featureless, eyeless mouthless hood and the tubes from the nostrils as well as the hose that was where the mouth should’ve been with a mix of desire and apprehension. “A mare I used to date. She didn't pay attention. It didn't go well…”

Nodding, Ratchet took the time to sign, 'You are mine'. “I will pay attention. You will forget this other pony, understand?” her tone then softened, and she smiled when her partner nodded her understanding. “I think I'll save it for another day, but for now,” she pulled out the nipple clamps and tossed them between her forehooves. “So, you like pain?”

“A little, yes Mistress.” Buttercup answered with a nod, “It lets me know I'm alive.”

Ratchet set the clamps down on the bed and she used her magic to bring in her saddlebags from the kitchen. She then removed her favourite riding crop and twirled it in the air where Buttercup could see it. “I find this useful in testing for life.”

“It is a nice crop, Mistress,” Buttercup took a deep breath and prepared to be a little naughty, a little insubordinate. She was nervous though, as she wasn't sure how far to go. “Do you know how to swing it, or are you just going to hold it?”

‘Oh yes,’ Ratchet thought, ‘I’m keeping you alright,’ she then took the crop and, moving back her hoof, swung it in a hard and fast arc that made it whistle through the air. At the very last moment she pulled and delivered the softest of love taps. “Is that right?”

When the crop lightly tapped her flanks, Buttercup let out a curious squeak before blushing. She had been expecting a stroke so hard it would have bought her to her knees. “Well played Mistress,” she conceded, though she thought, ‘Maybe she's not such a soft pony after all…’

“What is your safe word?”

Still blushing, she forgot to sign it, instead speaking in her odd sounding voice. “Monday, Mistress.”

“Okay, so that didn't change,” Ratchet didn’t really expect her to have changed her safe word, but it was better to check than not. “When we do breath play, and we will, how do I know you're done, or do I just use my own judgement?”

Buttercup’s eyes were all wide and a little sparkly at the mention of her favourite thing. “I hold a white napkin in my hoof, when I'm done, I drop it.”

“I think I'll be ready to do that next weekend. For now, on the bed, on your back.”

“Thank you!” Buttercup kissed Ratchet's nose and, once she was back in character, the summer green earth pony mare quickly got up on the bed, in the middle, and laid on her back. When she was in position, the unicorn applied the nipple clamps, one after the other, to her teats. Looking at them, she appreciated just how pretty she was. When the clamps went on, Buttercup hissed and bit her lip, her hind legs parting on their own. This was alright, here, with Ratchet. “Thank you, Mistress.”

Stepping back from the bed, Ratchet made sure her submissive could see her and she signed, 'You are mine'.

“I am yours,” No sooner had Buttercup said that than Ratchet moved into snuggle fest mode with a lip lock and tongue battle. She swiftly moved onto her neck and ears without pause, kissing all the time. Buttercup had her forelegs holding Ratchet in a loose hug and she kissed her back but her tongue was no match for the unicorn's. As soon as she reached her neck, the earth pony let out a series of cute moans. Hearing those moans, Ratchet worked her way down the mare’s chest, to her belly and eventually to her nipples where she added some teeth to the nipple clamps. Buttercup’s moans became a squeak of pain, a pleasured hiss, and her hind legs parted a little more, her marehood wet and moist.

When Ratchet got to just above the pubic mound, she pulled away teasing her pet with a wink. She completely enjoyed the frustrated whimpers that Buttercup was making and she waved a hoof to be sure she is looking at her. “You will make me cum.” She held the crop in the air. “In case you need encouragement…” she then leant back and spreads her legs apart.

Buttercup spoke, “Yes Mistress!” Enthusiastically she rolled over to her front and kissed her way down Ratchet's body from her neck to her pussy, where she lingered at her breasts, her hoof rubbing around her labia. Unfortunately, while it did feel good, it wasn’t getting her off. Recognising she was toying with her, the unicorn promptly applied the crop to the earth pony’s eponymous cutie marks. Alternating sides as needed. 

Guilty of toying a little, Buttercup found that the crop, expertly directed to her cutie marks was a helpful reminder of what she was supposed to be doing. After the fourth such reminder, and subsequent squeal, Buttercup at last got the hint to stop messing about and to get Ratchet off. She was just going to give her oral, then an idea came to her. As she wasn’t told how, she scissored her instead. 

Whatever method Buttercup used was absolutely fine with Ratchet. The maple unicorn pushed in and rubbed back, as she wanted to get off and she didn't mind getting Buttercup off too at the same time. She did not hold back and after a few moments of frenzied rutting both ponies reached their climax at the same time, squirting and drenching each other’s crotches in their juices.   

For Ratchet in particular it had been quite a while and now she had reached her climax she savoured every moment of it. Similarly, Buttercup slumped forwards and kissed Ratchet's lips, their crotches still pressed firmly together. “Now for me to see who tastes better, you or me.” She snickered before diving muzzle first into her submissive’s dripping crotch.

“MmmMMM!” moaned Buttercup, her back arched in pleasure. Ratchet took her time in savouring the flavours and she worked with her tongue to send her quickly over the edge once more. Like the unicorn, it had been a while since another pony did that to her, and in short order Buttercup climaxed, this scream louder than the first. Happy with her work, Ratchet nuzzled her thighs and she inspected the flower cutie marks to see if the crop left a lasting impression. 

Buttercup, in a heady daze, didn’t notice the inspection. She was too busy riding out her orgasm. There was a couple of red spots on her hindquarters as a result of the crop’s attention, nothing to worry about though. Smirking, ratchet crawled her way up Buttercup’s prone body until her breasts rubbed and pressed against the nipple clamps. 

The smile that Ratchet wore when she ground her bodyweight onto the nipple clamps was priceless. She adored the cute little whimpers caused by the pain of her rubbing the clamps bringing her back to the here and now, her eyes focussed on Ratchet and she smiled. The dominant unicorn applied soft and tender kisses as she continued to grind against the clamps. “Oh Celesssssstiaaaaa!” Buttercup screamed, the heady mix of pleasure and pain was doing it for her in a huge way, her crotch leaking like a tap, she mouthed 'harder'.

Only too happy to oblige, Ratchet put her whole bodyweight into the grind, pressing one hindleg into Buttercup's groin as she did so. Arching her back, her tongue lolled out as stars erupted across her eyes with the force of this third and strongest climax. Ratchet however would not and did not let up the pressure on the clamps. She continued to grind away, only going to stop when the safe word was used.   

Buttercup did indeed climax for a fourth time, though this time she was spent. She barely quivered, she had nothing left to squirt and no energy. When it was clear that her Mistress wasn’t going to stop, the earth pony said, “Monday!” She actually had to say it as her legs wouldn't work for her to sign it. Straightaway, Ratchet stopped what she had been doing. She used her legs to push herself up, and she moved down to see just how red the clamps were.

It didn’t come as any great surprise, especially after all that activity, that the green teats were getting fairly red by then. Ratchet took pillow case and rubbed a teat when she removed the clamp so as to get the blood flowing. Then, when Buttercup let out a loud shuddering moan with the removal of the clamp, she went and repeated on the other teat. “Are your chick flicks subtitled?” she asked after a few quiet moments had passed.

Slowly, when she had her wits back about her, Buttercup nodded her head, “Yes Mistress, all of them…”

“Then I think it’s time for some more key lime pie, drinks and a movie, don’t you?”

“MmMmm,” by now she had all of her faculties back, in that stars were no longer popping in her eyes, said, “I think...mmmm that's a good idea, Mistress.” 

When Buttercup kissed her, Ratchet was only too willing to return the gesture. “All my ideas are good idea, except the bad ones. Those become my brother's ideas.”

After a moment, the summer green earth pony heaved herself up to sitting, sweating mess. “Which brother?” she asked before she could think of a better question to ask.

“Does it matter?”

Shaking her head, Buttercup smiled. “No, not really. What do you want to watch?”

Ratchet knew which one she wanted to watch, however she was curious to see which one her lover selected. “Pick one you want to share with your special somepony,” she then signed, ‘You are mine’.

Instantly, Buttercup was up and off her bed, almost galloping off to the living room and, just a moment later she came back with The Alicorn Bride, a big smile on her face and then, when what Ratchet had said to her sunk in, she stopped dead in her tracks. The earth pony’s mouth hung open and she had a stunned look on her face, while Ratchet just waited as she didn’t see a TV in the bedroom. “You…You called me your special somepony. I'm your somepony? We're Someponies?”

Again, Ratchet signed, ‘You are mine’. “I don't know the sign for ‘I'm with you’.” Straightaway, Buttercup dropped the DVD and showed the unicorn the sign, which she repeated back to her. “I'm with you,” Ratchet spoke and signed, “I don't think we can watch the movie in here, and I don't see the pie!” she giggled as she walked past the stunned mare. 

After a few moments, Buttercup picked up the DVD and slowly she walked out, dropping it on the arm of the lumpy couch and she went to get the pie, not saying a word. She was still processing what had been said to her. It didn’t seem real. Ratchet, waiting, put the DVD in the player and she made sure the boat anchor of a TV was set up so she could pause it at the title screen.

Quietly, Buttercup came back with the key lime pie in two bowls with spoons, and she sat on the couch. Only now it didn’t seem quite so lumpy as before. “I am with you. You are mine and I am yours?”

Taking a bowl in her magical aura, Ratchet started the movie. She was sure to look at Buttercup when she spoke next, clearly and slowly. “You are with me, and you are mine. I can be yours if you wish.”

With her own bowl held in her hooves, Buttercup sat and blushes hard. “I-I um…I want you to be mine, Ratchet.” She studied the opening title credits for a few seconds, “You're the first one to ever call me a special somepony.”

“It is a start,” Ratchet said kindly. The tone was of course lost, but the kind expression made herself understood. “Time will tell if it becomes more. I've only been in Manehatten a short time and I was not expecting something so soon. For now, I'll try to make this work and meet your needs.”

Happy, Buttercup took her pie and snuggled up to Ratchet’s side. “I'll try to do the same…”

Interrupting her, Ratchet lightly tapped Buttercup's nose with her hoof so that she was looking at her. “No, I'll meet your needs, you'll meet my demands.” She then smiled and turned to watch the movie, content to eat her pie and snuggle until they fell asleep where they were.
> Chapter 3 - Wheeljack's New Sky
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia had lowered the sun and Luna had raised the moon by the time Ratchet and her older brother Wheeljack arrive at the Trixie's Place night club that was situated in downtown Manehatten. Both siblings were almost giddy with excitement – though Wheeljack wouldn’t ever admit it – as they made their way up with a small party of three mares and two stallions to the second floor reception. 

Tonight was going to be a rather good night. “We're lucky,” Ratchet nudged her brother’s ribs, and pointed out the bright gaudy flyer on the wall that was advertising the party on the same sex floor. That was why they were here. “I didn't know it was a traffic light party tonight.” She glanced down at her green lanyard with the black ‘Dom’ stamp on it that she and her brother had received at the main door. That was why she knew that night was going to be a good night. “You going green too, huh?”

Wheeljack sighed, the dark red unicorn rolling his eyes as he did so. “As if you didn't know, Ratchet.” He hadn’t spent an hour trimming his white beard and mane for nothing. 

“Ooooh,” Ratchet giggled, the maple coloured unicorn mare subconsciously straightening her burnt umber mane, though no straightening was necessary, “I'm so looking forward to tonight. I need a break, Jackie.”

Nodding his head, Wheeljack understood where his sister was coming from. From dealing with Sparkplug, the school, Air Raid, Air Raid’s flagging career, as well as everything else and now the move to the east coast, he was ready for a break too. “I hope this works out better than the one in Canterlot. I just want somepony cute. May as well split up, so nopony thinks I'm dating a mare.”

“And Cadance help me if anypony sees me with a stallion!” Ratchet gave her brother an affectionate dig in the ribs with her elbow before they shared a hoof bump. “Good luck, Jackie.”

Naturally, Wheeljack was drawn to the stallion review dancing on the main stage to one side of the dance floor. He made his way around the ponies and found an empty table. A waitress quickly and efficiently took his order of Stable Hopper, Trixie’s Place’s own brand beer and he focused on the mixed tribe of ponies on stage. Then, thoroughly enjoying himself, he looked around to see what prospects were in the area.

The dark red unicorn stallion saw a straw coloured unicorn sat alone at another table. He was cute and, most importantly, he was wearing the correct coloured green lanyard. For courage, he finished his drink and moved over to the table and sat opposite him. “Good evening, can I interest you in a drink?” 

Disinterestedly, the unicorn looked at Wheeljack's lanyard and then he looked at the older unicorn stallion. “I’m sorry, but I don't want you wasting your money on me.” 

“My money,” Wheeljack countered, “and you're looking for a dom, and I'm looking for a sub for the night.”

The unicorn rolled his eyes and all but yawned. “I'm sorry, but the dom I'm looking for wouldn't be you.”  

Wheeljack frowned at that, his old insecurities flaring up faster than Air Raid’s Audi left the starting line. “Too old for you?”

“No, I just need earth pony strength.” 

That didn’t make a lick of sense to Wheeljack, and he said as much. “I lift engines, I'm plenty strong enough.” 

“Unicorn magic strength, I know I'm one.” And, when the younger stallion actually yawned at him, a dejected Wheeljack blinked, quickly swallowed his retort and returned to his table.

About an hour later, after enjoying Hot Lips – the name of the mixed tribe stallion revue on the stage - in particular the dark blue pegasus, Wheeljack spotted another likely stallion sat at a nearby table with a green lanyard but no D/S stamp upon it. The dark red pony smoothed his white mane and beard as he walked over. “Hey there,” he greeted the sky blue earth pony, “your bottle's empty. Can I get you another?”

The earth pony stallion casually looked Wheeljack and snorted derisively as he giggled, “Oh honey, you're asking me out? Nonono, no I don't think so.”

Immediately, the mechanic bristled at that. This night was not going the way he had anticipated. “And may I ask why not?”   

The sky blue earth pony stallion snickered unkindly, “Darling, look at you, now look at me. You have the whole old gravitas thing going for you, but you aren't for me.” When it was clear that he was about to say something, the stallion interrupted rudely, “I'm sorry, but you're just too old. I'm not an archaeologist. I want a different kind of bone.”

“I get the message, I’m sorry to have bothered you.” Curtly, Wheeljack marched back to his table, his mood very sour indeed, especially when he saw Ratchet hitting it off with a mare over the other side of the dance floor. The unicorn was not having a good night at all. “There goes the eye candy,” he snorted when the dance troupe departed the stage for a break. “Ratchy seems to found somepony. Bah, this beer and I'm gone…”

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” a rather sweet sounding Manehatten accent made Wheeljack look up from the empty beer bottle he had been nursing for the past fifteen minutes and he saw the eye candy stood there, on his hind legs, a broad smile on his made up face and two bottles of Stable Hopper held in his hooves.   

“I'm not sitting in it, am I?”

The dark blue pegasus stallion was unperturbed by the unicorn’s grumpy mood. “Good, then I am!” he declared boldly and, after setting the two beers down on the table, hopped on the seating pad. Wheeljack though continued to frown, too annoyed with his failures thus far to offer a greeting. “I'm Velvet Sky,” the pegasus offered his hoof for a bump. “And I'm your date for this evening.”

Though Wheeljack looked at the offered hoof, he didn’t move a muscle to return the bump. “Did Ratchet put you up to this?”

“Oh goodness no!” Velvet used his wing to sip his beer, hoof still out. He managed to sip it without getting his pink lip gloss wet. “I haven't spoken to your sister. No, sweetie I'm your date because I saw you checking me out, I was checking you out - you're way cuter in person, by the way - I saw you strike out with those Donkeys and I have a huge crush on you.” 

Now, the level of familiarity that this ‘Velvet Sky’ displayed was just enough to cut through Wheeljack’s grumpy mood. That it tickled his ego to hear he was somepony’s crush. “Should I know you?”

“No, I'm nopony special,” Velvet replied, “I'm just a fan of Air Raid, her racing, and by extension, her crew. You, in particular.”

Wheeljack made up his mind then. “Are you going to drink both of those beers?”

“No, this one is yours.” Velvet then slid the other, unopened beer, across the table. “I was hoping I'd get a chance to meet you.”

At last, Wheeljack extended his hoof and bumped Velvet’s. He was immediately struck with how soft it was. It was obvious this dancer took care of himself. “I was ready to give up on this place. Air Raid fan, well that is one way to meet a stallion.”

“True, I've been a fan of hers for a long time, as well as yours. I know she's only as good as her support team.”

Sipping his Stable Hopper, Wheeljack was quite impressed by the intelligence shown by the dancer. He had always assumed them somewhat dim. “Tartarus right, that.”

Sensing he had an ‘in’ with his crush, Velvet Sky continued, “I've been over to see her race in Canterlot a few times. I have to say she was uninspired the last few years. Good to see she's got her mojo back in Manehatten,” he paused and sipped his own beer, “I was at the stadium Sunday. very well done, sexy pony.”

Though he was flattered, Wheeljack gave a grim laugh. “Thought I was going to have a heart attack when that beast, Double Zero, blew up in front of her.”

Velvet nodded, he well recalled the sight of the cars crashing and piling up, only for Air Raid to weave through the chaos. “You, me and the Princess then. When I saw that happened I wanted to fly down and make sure she was alright…” he trailed off, blushing very hard indeed.

“It was bad enough the Princess took to the air, I'm glad she did nothing or Raid would have been disqualified.”

“True,” Velvet agreed, “Made me wish I could have taken to the air too, but, well, I can't. Something Air Raid and I have in common.” 

Guessing what the pegasus meant by that, Wheeljack narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t sure if the younger stallion was serious or if he was playing him for a fool. He wasn’t sure, because he knew it was a rare disability. “You claiming to have Scootaloo’s Syndrome?”

“Not claiming to have it, beautiful, I do have it.”

For the first time since he had parted company with his sister, Wheeljack smiled. He reasoned that this – admittedly very cute stallion, what with his pink make-up done just so – had no real reason to lie to him. “I'll just have to take your word for it. When do you get off work?”

“Oh my goodness! You can smile!” Velvet giggled at the look he was given for his cheek, not that it bothered him any. “It suits you, you know. I get off work at eleven thirty, then you can get me off, or I can get you off, whoever comes first.” He then blew the older pony a kiss. “Take me at my word. I have no reason to lie about it.”

Wheeljack tapped his green lanyard, making sure that Velvet could see the black ‘dom’ stamp. “You sure I'm what you're looking for in a pony?”

“Oh yes,” Velvet leant over the table and tapped the lanyard with his hoof. “You are everything I'm looking for. I've been after a handsome dominant for a while now,” he made a show of fluttering his eyelashes like the fanciest of mares, “I do so need taming, you see.”

Wheeljack's smile simply widened. All of a sudden, he was quite pleased the other two attempts had ended in failure if that meant he got Velvet’s cute ass for the night. “Yes, you do, don’t you?”

“And, please don't think me awful, but I was praying to Cadance you wouldn't go with those others before I had my chance.”

“Their loss is my gain.” 

“I quite agree. All praise the Bubblegum Mom!” Velvet Sky declared with one hoof over his heart and the other raised to the ceiling in salute.

It took all Wheeljack had to not burst out laughing. This stallion was a hoot to be around, he could tell. Supressing his chuckles, he pointed at the bottle Velvet had been drinking from. “Clean the top of that off good with your tongue and I'll finish it for you. Wouldn't want you to stagger off the stage, would we?”

Without breaking eye contact, the skilled dancer licked the top clean in a most suggestive manner, like he was licking something else clean. He loved the unicorn’s wide smile, pleased that his innuendo wasn’t wasted. “Why thank you, kind sir.” When it was clean, Wheeljack took the bottle and slowly emptied the beer as he made smooching noises, as, with a flourish of his pink mini skirt and a flash of his panties, Velvet stole a kiss and he was gone back on the stage.

Savouring the kiss, Wheeljack watched his potential conquest for the night return to the stage. He didn’t see any need to leave the table he was sat at, not now he had something cute lined up for later. Once he had drank the two beers he had been left with, he ordered a fourth Stable Hopper while, on the stage, Velvet Sky danced in a way that made him think of Countess Coloratura's dancers, or Songbird Serenade’s dancers, though the pegasus did throw in a cheeky wink and fluff of his feathers in Wheeljack's direction from time to time.

As the night wore on, the DJ taking care of the music got, thanks in no small part no doubt to the consumption of much alcohol, exceedingly silly in his choice of music. Ultimately, he ended the night’s set with three choices that everypony at the traffic light party acknowledged as the end of the night. Those choices being the Purple Pony Eater, Agadoo and the Time Warp, respectively. 

Outrageously cheesy though the final dance numbers were, Velvet Sky was a professional and he danced enthusiastically to each and every one. Wheeljack, familiar with the first two, joined with the hoof movements. That is, until it came to the Time Warp. The grumpy old stallion sat resolutely still. When it was all over and the night was at an end, he trotted over to the waiting unicorn. “You dance rather well, sexy,” he beamed, “For a sitting pony. I enjoyed your Agadoo, not so much your version of the Time Warp. Sitting looking grumpy is not a dance move, you know.”

Wheeljack just chose to roll his eyes at that, as the crowd of ponies around them began to disperse the now quiet dance floor. “You must have missed my left hoof tapping to a better song in my head. Physical by Olivia Newmare, specifically.”

Velvet Sky giggled playfully and, on the very tips of his hooves, kissed Wheeljacks’s lips. “Does this mean I'll get a spanking if I play any Black Lace or Damian near you?”

The older pony simply affixed his better smile on his muzzle. “I do want to hear your body talk, Velvet.”

“Now, there's the smile I like so much!” Velvet grinned and, when he hummed and danced by the table to Black Lace's Birdie Song, just to see what Wheeljack’s reaction would be as his pink mini skirt lifted up.

As it happened, Wheeljack knew the ‘song’, if one could call it a song, as it was one of Sparkplug’s favourite. He hated the noise with a passion. In order to make it stop, the unicorn wrapped the contorting pony up in a hug and whispered in his ear, “My song says it better when it says 'There's nothing left to talk about…”

Velvet Sky, who was a very fun loving stallion in his late thirty something, was a pony who looked to the lighter side of life as a rule. As such, it did not bother him in the slightest when Wheeljack hugged him and let his hooves wander under his pink skirt. “Hey, you wanna go back to my place, beautiful? Then we can discuss it in any position you like…”

That suggestion was music to Wheeljack’s ears. “Yes,” he said softly, still holding Velvet in his tight hug, “it would be nice to spend an evening away from my siblings for once.” As much as he loved them, the possibility of being elsewhere for one night was too good to miss.

“Then let us away!” Velvet cried, striking as he did so a most heroic pose which rather did somewhat lose its desired effect thanks to the pink socks, mini skirt and his pink corset and panties he was wearing. “And pursue that flighty temptress, adventure!” Three Trixie's Place staff ponies just shook their heads and as one they made a 'its Velvet' gesture to each other.

“And where are we awaying to?”

“I have a top floor apartment in a building overlooking North Park. It's not all that far,” he paused and giggled, “your old bones won't get tired, I promise…”

Quick as a flash, Wheeljack silenced him with a hoof thrust into Velvet’s mouth. He knew deep down it was just a tease, but it was too soon after that obnoxious, rude pony for his liking. “There is naughty, Velvet, and there is obnoxious.”

“I’m sorry,” he offered the dominant stallion an apologetic smile as the bar ponies and waiting staff snickered and shook their heads. “Sometimes I maybe go a little far…”

“Test the waters,” Wheeljack mused with a nod of his head. “I may spank you or I may move on,” he placed a kiss on Velvet’s soft lips. “You are so due for a spanking right now.” As much as he wanted to do it where they stood, he knew striking a pony outside of the designated kink rooms would get the security on him quicker than horseapples off a shovel.

Realising he was for the moment safe, Velvet did a little squee and returned the kiss. “Come on then, before I put my hoof in it again.” Since he took the subway there with his sister, who was nowhere to be seen, Wheeljack was happy, once they were outside, to let Velvet take whatever transportation he preferred. uses to his place. “You said you wanted a break from your siblings,” Velvet said as he hailed a taxi cab for them, “How accurate were the papers when they said you were the dad figure?”

As they sat in the back of the taxi, Wheeljack mulled over the younger pony’s question. He pulled Velvet’s head to his shoulder on the grounds that the contact helped him think. “I'm the oldest, and somepony had to take the role. Like Ratchet is the mom. Sparky is our daughter, and Hoist is that uncle you don't talk about,” he concluded with a snicker.

“They were accurate for once then,” Velvet giggled at that as he nestled into Wheeljack's shoulder. He had a scent he just adored. “I’m sorry if that was untoward. it's just, following you all for so long it’s like I know you already…” the rest of the short cab ride was spent in silence, the stallion’s sliding their tongues in each other’s mouths. 

After the twenty minute cab ride, Velvet Sky insisted on paying the fare, which Wheeljack graciously allowed. The unicorn surveyed the large seven storey apartment building he was being led to. It was very…lush, would’ve been the word Air Raid would have used. The top floor apartment, when they got there, was all white, chrome and ultra modern in its décor. He noted that everything was put away in its place, every surface was polished and clean. There were large Brush Stroke landscape prints on the walls, along with what he assumed was a family portrait of mum, dad, sister and Velvet himself. “Would you like a drink to get comfortable?”

“Whatever beer you have in the fridge will be fine,” Wheeljack replied, the dark red unicorn’s attention taken by looking at and admiring the many paintings and pictures that broke up the white walls.

Obediently, Velvet Sky went to the fridge in his clean kitchen and he soon trotted back with two Stable Hoppers held under his wings. The dark blue pegasus saw where his date for the night was looking, the portrait of hid family, and he froze for a split second. “My family.”

Wheeljack guessed that, he wasn’t stupid. He did however note the tone with which Velvet spoke. It was a tone he knew well. It was a longing, desperate, sad tone. A tone that spoke volumes. “Are all of them still with you?” he asked gently.

“No.” was all Velvet said as he deposited the two beers on the nearby coffee table, walking over to stand by the older pony’s side. “They died two years ago.”

Wheeljack nodded thoughtfully, his guess confirmed. “My mom has been gone a bit longer than that. Dad's been gone for a while. You know I still have my brother and sisters. Was it an accident?” He was careful to be gentle in his questioning, for the pained look on Velvet’s face was very real.

“They were on an airship cruise. Manehatten to Las Pegasus. It exploded and crashed. No survivors. How about yours?”

“Dad had a heart attack. Ratchy won't let me miss a physical. Been fifteen years. Mom missed him, and she went peacefully in her sleep three years ago.”

“And Ratchet's quite right, too.” Velvet Sky sat on his faux leather couch and sighed a very deep sigh indeed. Strangely though, it wasn’t hard, opening up to Wheeljack. “I'd only just gotten back on speaking terms with mom too, about a month before the crash.”

Casting a quick glance at the portrait, he saw that ‘mom’ must be the older looking plum coloured earth pony mare stood proudly and with noble bearing by a blue earth pony stallion wearing red glasses. “Sparky doesn't remember Dad, but all of us were close to mom. It did make the choice to leave Canterlot for Manehatten easier as there was nothing to leave behind.”

“I get that. You go where the racing is I guess? If Air Raid is here, then so are you?” Taking up his chosen beer bottle, Wheeljack nodded and Velvet continued. He hadn’t expected a deep conversation with the very pretty piece of eye candy, but then again, neither had Velvet either. “Mom was old school Canterlot pony. Being gay was against Celestia and just not natural. Dad was Manehatten and a lot more easy going.”

That was something Wheeljack could understand. Even now, attitudes towards lesbian and gay ponies in Canterlot were not the best. “Things got crazy for a bit. Raid stopped racing, but we stuck with her. Then Princess Luna got involved and well, things got even crazier.”

“So I read in the paper. Trust me, sweetie, you were news for daaaays.” Velvet smiled and swallowed half of his beer in one gulp. “Everything was raked over. I hated the way the press went after Sparkplug, by the way.”

Selecting what was obviously a Brush Stroke print, Wheeljack pointed at the landscape painting. “I'm well aware of Canterlot attitudes, but I don't think it is Princess Celestia's attitude. I know this pony. Goes by the name of Oils, and he is dating Prince Dusk. They adopted a foal. I don't give two bits about the press and what they say. Sparky don't give interviews, so they make it up as they go along.”

“Jackals, the lot of them.” Velvet snorted derisively, “And I heard in the news the Prince had adopted. Good for him.” Letting out another sigh, Velvet Sky swigged another half of the beer he had left. He hadn’t expected this to be deeper than a quick rut. As such… “Now, I have to be completely up front with you, Wheeljack, because it's only right. After the accident, I rather went off the rails. I used drugs, opium, I was an addict, but I've been clean just over a year now. My support worker got me the job at Trixie's Place.”

Not for the first time, Wheeljack narrowed his eyes, the unicorn alert for any angle or sign he was being played. He saw none. “Anypony from your past that might look to blackmail Raid through you?”

Vigorously, Velvet shook his head, the long ponytail he wore flapping about his shoulders. “Part of the deal with Trixie. You get a clean slate. A second chance.”

“Drugs will end any ties I would have with you.” Wheeljack stated firmly and clearly, making sure that the younger stallion got the message. Still, he appreciated the fact he was being honest with him. “Your past is past and not something for me to drag up.”

“I swear to you I'm clean. I haven't used in a year. Trixie gives second chances but not thirds. You fail a random test and you're out,” he nursed his beer between his hooves, not looking up. “I thought you deserved to hear it from me, before anything happened between us.”

Wheeljack appreciated that. “I don't give gossip any mind either. Still, it’s good to know in case some slime brings it up in a way to get something out of Raid.” The dark red stallion then pulled Velvet closer in a hug. “The past is past, Velvet.” He said, kissing him hard and deep. Then he tapped their beer bottles together. “To the future.”   

After the long hard kiss, when they had both shared a drink, Velvet Sky found that his sheath is straining against his pink panties and he was sporting a beautiful blush. “Oh my oh my...” try as he might though, there was no hiding the large bulge, “to the future indeed.” Wheeljack then finished his beer, and he saw that Velvet hadn’t finished his, so he decided to take it and help him out. Still a little taken aback by the forceful kiss, the pegasus didn’t object. “Hehe...I’m not really much of a drinker.”

“That just means you’re a better performer,” the unicorn gave the younger stallion a salacious wink. “Time for you to give me a tour of your bedroom, I think.”

“Right this way sweetie!” Velvet was pleased to give Wheeljack a tour, it gave him something to do. Getting up from his couch, he stretched his legs and, after adjusting his gait to accommodate his straining sheath, led the way to the largest bedroom. “I can show you the rest of the place in the morning.”

Taking Velvet’s left forehoof in his own, Wheeljack walked with his date. “After breakfast in bed.”

Completely smitten and enamoured, because he was with his crush, Velvet Sky wore an adorable blush all the way to the main bedroom. “I'm sure I can stretch to that, beautiful.” Inside, the bedroom was as white and chrome and modern as the rest of the apartment, with a fitted closet and furniture designed for that room. Wasting no time at all, Wheeljack ‘helped’ the pegasus onto the bed and then onto his back.

Neither of them paid any attention in that moment to the large portrait of Velvet’s family on the wall opposite the window, framed in an ornate frame that had the Princess's cutie marks in each of the four corners. Velvet, laying prone on his back, his panties making a tent, knew exactly what Wheeljack wanted. His hind legs spread apart, he was more than willing. “Do you like what you see?”

Wheeljack made no attempt whatsoever to hide the hungry look in his eyes. “While pink is a fine colour, it does hide something, though I'm unsure as to what.” With that, he was hovering over Velvet Sky with his forehooves by the pegasus’s flanks and his head over the straining panties.

“Hmmm...I wouldn't say 'hiding' is quite right,” Velvet purred, the predatory look from his crush sending a shiver down his spine that excited his wings and made the tent grow ever bigger. 

Just as Velvet was about to use his own hooves to assist in the lowering of his pink mini skirt and panties, the dark red unicorn knocked those delicate soft hooves away. “No diddling with yourself!”

“Oh, you weren't playing with the black stamp on your lanyard, were you?” Velvet winked, “I like it.”

Snorting his desire, his base lust and sheer need to be inside this pretty pony and plow his asshole into the ground, Wheeljack snuffled his nose into those pink panties waiting for his target to spout beyond their limit. “It is a very pretty skirt.”

As it happened, Wheeljack didn’t have to wait very long. After literally a second, Velvet’s cock popped forth from the confines of the panties, sporting a rather impressive length. He was very large for a pegasus, thanks to the earth pony in him. “I-…I um, I like mare's clothes…”

“Sorry to make you sad then,” the dominant stallion’s hungry look now focussed on his fourteen inch iron hard prize.

“Sad?”

“I like removing mare's clothes,” with that, he lit his horn and slipped the mini skirt down Velvet’s hind legs and off, discarding it on the floor. He chose to leave the corset. It was too sexy to think of removing. 

“I like them being removed by a sexy stallion,” Velvet Sky giggled, and started to stroke Wheeljack wherever he could reach with his sock covered hind legs. He was sure, as he was on his back and looking up at his ceiling, he was caressing his thighs.

Kneeling between Velvet’s hind legs, Wheeljack gazed at his lover while he himself emerged from his sheath. Keeping his horn lit, he made short work of removing the panties. Reciprocating as much as he could, the pegasus’s hooves wandered sensuously up Wheeljack's flanks. Once the panties were off and adorning the floor next to the mini skirt, the unicorn moved forward so he could rub their erect penises together. Leaning in, he kissed Velvet’s lips. “Do you have a nice tight hole for me?”

That very cute blush that looked so perfect on Velvet’s face was back in force as he nodded sheepishly. “I do, it's been a while, you see…” 

A well placed hoof silenced his blushing apology. “Where do you keep the lube?”

Quickly, Velvet pointed to the nightstand by the left of the bed. “Bottom drawer, babe.”

A very quick investigation of the other two drawers turned up various sex toys including several vibrating cock rings, two fleshlights, a collection of anal beads, three dildos, a prostate massager and most unexpectedly a sheath lock. However, Wheeljack was only interested in one thing. Opening the bottom drawer he selected the cherry lube and then he hoofed it over to Velvet Sky, his hard cock bouncing on the pegasus’s chin. “You'll do the honours.”

“Oh yes Sir, I will” Velvet would have been surprised, if he stopped to think about it, at how quickly and easily he became submissive. But, he wasn’t thinking about it as he squirted the lube rather generously on his own tongue and used that to apply it to Wheeljack's mottled shaft. Helpfully, the unicorn adjusted his position to make sure Velvet didn't miss a spot. For good measure, Velvet added a little more lube, applying it with plenty of tongue.

Once he was happy he was sufficiently lubricated from the tip of his cock to the base, Wheeljack moved backwards and lined himself up with what was possibly the tightest, sexiest tailhole he had ever seen. “Time for the Friendship Express to enter the Canterlot Tunnel!”  

As the unicorn moved forward with a practised ease, Velvet let lose a rather girly set of giggles at the joke. The pegasus was about to respond with a ‘choo choo!’ but at that moment, Wheeljack thrust his hips forwards and rammed his cock home in one hard but smooth motion. He kept his chest and belly pressed against Velvet’s own throbbing cock as he reached his medial ring and moved in and out. “I hope every pony kept their hooves and heads inside because this tunnel is tight!”

“BUuuuUUUCK!” was Velvet’s erudite and considered response, the pegasus moaning as he felt Wheeljack's length enter him, spreading and stretching him to fit his shaft. “Buck me please!” he begged when he felt the medial ring bump his plundered sphincter and the invading cock retreat. Pre cum was already leaking from his own tip.

Quickly building up a rhythm, Wheeljack was only too happy to oblige the panting pegasus. With an almighty thrust of his hips he forced his ring inside Velvet’s tight asshole. The effect was immediate. Arching his back, Velvet screamed, “Bu-Bu...BuuUUUCK!” Velvet was by now bucking his hips to meet Wheeljack's thrusts, his eyes rolling in his head. The unicorn though was too caught up in the pleasure of the moment to say anything. He just thrust faster and harder, not caring of the mess between them as he came to his climax.

Like Wheeljack, Velvet Sky didn't last all that long. Not with the hard veiny cock of the older stallion plowing his asshole anyway. It didn’t help his staying power any when Wheeljack’s flared head began stimulating his prostate over and over. That was all it took. Like a pony possessed, he soon came, spattering them both with his hot white seed even as the unicorn continued to ejaculate inside him until he was himself spent.

Only when Velvet’s belly was inflated to such a degree that he looked to be in the early stages of pregnancy did Wheeljack’s semen stop flooding his bowels. Leaning forwards, he held the panting pony tightly and whispered in his ear, “Thank you for the dance.”

Panting hard, Velvet was trying to catch his breath amid a sea of wondrous sensations. “I love to dance...”

As he had nowhere to go and was in no rush, Wheeljack withdrew himself from Velvet’s hole when nature allowed him to slide back into his sheath. However, he did not hold back on the snuggling nor did he care one jot about the sticky mess between the two of them. “I think you'll be dancing in my dreams.”

“I think we'll make the Princess blush if she should look in on us...” Velvet sighed and, having placed a soft and tender kiss on Wheeljack’s lips, he yawned a very cute little yawn.  

Wheeljack’s voice was suddenly sleepy as he used his magic to turn off the bedroom light. “By Luna's left teat, I hope she does.” Velvet Sky simply giggled and, snuggling deep into the older pony’s side, used his wings to create a warm feathery blanket for the two of them as sleep took them both. 

~ ~ ~

The next morning, a Friday, Wheeljack was up with the raising of the sun. It was a habit the older stallion assumed he’d never break. Not that he minded this particular Friday morning, not when he was confronted with the sleeping Velvet Sky. If he was pretty while awake, he was downright adorable asleep. Carefully, the unicorn slid from the bed and proceeded to fulfil his promise of breakfast in bed for them both.

While he was in the kitchen making cheesy omelettes, toast and coffee, he investigated the many drawers and fitted cupboards. In one of the drawers he found sobriety certificates and medals dating back to a year ago as well as numerous drug tests with the Trixie’s Place logo on them. Each one was a pass, each certificate a milestone; one month clean, two months clean, and so on. 

Somewhat reverently, he closed the drawer and returned to his cooking. Back in the bedroom, a sleeping pegasus was roused from his slumber as the omelette scent wafted in. Velvet sniffed the smell of food being made and that did finally wake him from his exceptionally comfy bed. “Wh...” he yawned and stretched, “Whee…Wheeljack?”

From the kitchen, Wheeljack heard the pegasus wake and call his name. Thankfully he was just about finished with fixing breakfast. “Stay there!” he shouted and, moments later, he walked in with two large silver trays held in his magical aura to discover a beautiful sight, namely Velvet on his side, sheath on display posing like a Prench ‘lady’. He approved. “You had what I needed for omelettes, toast, and coffee.”

Velvet didn’t move from his suggestive pose, mostly because he was still waking up and mostly because he loved the effect it had on the older pony. “And how did you know I love omelettes, sweetie?”

“Easy, I love omelettes, so you love them too. The two dozen eggs in the fridge may have been a clue.” When Velvet giggled at that, Wheeljack sat on the bed with his back against the headboard and waited for his pretty lover to sit up. As soon as Velvet heaved himself to a more decent sitting position, the unicorn levitated the trays onto their respective laps and started to eat his food. “Are you working today?”

Shaking his head as he ate his eggs, Velvet Sky brushed his dishevelled pony tail out of his face and he replied, “Not on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.”

“Today Hoist and Sparkplug will be dealing with Raid's car. Tomorrow Ratchet and I will do race prep. All of us will fix what needs fixing before Sunday's race. You want to see it?”

His eyes wide, Velvet nodded so vigorously that his pony tail was back in his face and had to be moved aside again with his wing. “Oh, I'd love to!”

“Want to see the time trials tomorrow?”

“Really?” all of Velvet’s Hearths Warmings were coming at once. This was more than he could ever have dreamed of. The chance to see Air Raid race up close, and perhaps meet her? Wow! “I can come and watch? Really?”

Wheeljack was loving every single moment of this. He felt like the present giving pony on Hearths Warming morning. He rather liked that feeling. Besides, it was in his power to give, so what was the harm? “Have you got something you want Raid to autograph?” he asked, waiting for the pegasus to take a sip of his coffee, “Excluding your cock.”

Almost spitting his coffee, Velvet nodded his head, as it happened he did have some things. “I have a model of her Audi I bought from the merch stand at the racetrack.”

“That can be done,” Wheeljack promised, taking a sip of his own coffee.  

“I'd like to show it you later. I have two, one I bought as is, and one I made from a kit.” Velvet Sky was rather proud of the model kit he had made. It was twelve inches long, had taken him two weeks to build and it had opening doors, a bonnet that lifted to reveal a scale version of Sparkplug’s engine block and the steering wheel actually turned the wheels! It was his pride and joy. “So, sweetie, what are you looking for?” he asked, eating his eggs and toast like a proper lady, “I assume more than a one night rut, seeing as you're still here.”

Wheeljack considered that as he too ate his breakfast. “I would have been okay with a one night rut,” he answered honestly, “You didn't kick me out last night. You have a nice kitchen that is well stocked. You're very pretty. A little time will tell if I'm in it for the long haul or not.” He snickered, “Need to find out which of my nerves you dance on.”

“I am fabulous, aren't I?” Velvet giggled and he batted his eyelashes at his handsome lover. “One shouldn't boot their crush out of bed, it’s bad form, darling.”

“I'll try to remember that when you're in my bed.”

Giggling once more, Velvet Sky took a mouthful of his eggs before he continued, “I like to be a good naughty mare to a strong controlling stallion,” he sipped his coffee. “Like you. I'm a flirt and a show off. I suppose you can say I'm an exhibitionist, though I like a little discipline too.”

“Have you heard of a pink unicorn mare named Mapper?” asked Wheeljack curiously as he ate the last of his eggs and toast, being careful to not get crumbs on the bed.

“I've seen her at the fairground. I’ve also seen her at Trixie’s Place with her wife. I don’t know her to talk to though.”

Wheeljack laughed, “To hear it from her, the universe bows before her. I've only been in Manehatten a short time, but the crowd that Raid has fallen in with has opened my eyes. Make the next second and fourth Thursday your vacation days.” 

“If you've ever heard her pitch at the fairground, you'd believe that the universe bows before her.” Velvet Sky grinned sheepishly, “I'll make a note of those dates, and make sure I get them off, so I can get you off.” He then leant in for a kiss, which Wheeljack gladly received. Once they had both eaten their breakfasts, Velvet upheld his end of the deal and took up the trays in his wings and, swaying sexily on his hind legs, carried them through to do the kitchen. So he could wash the dishes.

Wheeljack happily watched the pegasus’s swaying ass with a dopey grin plastered all over his bearded muzzle. He found he could stare at that plot all day and all night. It helped Velvet knew how to swish his tail in just the right way. When he was alone in the bedroom, he looked at the toys that he remembered were in the nightstand drawers for some sweaty activities before they showered.

In the kitchen, at the sink, Velvet hummed and sang the Time Warp as he washed the dishes. Back in the bedroom, after an inspection of the fitted closet, Wheeljack noted that his lover had a thing for pink. That wasn’t a bad thing necessarily, but it was just a pink explosion. On the bed, once he had the toys he wanted to use, he laid out the faux leather pink hoof cuffs, cross straps for chest, the sheath lock, a fresh pair of pink panties and a skirt. To complete the outfit, he laid out a pink tail sleeve and bridle. 

Once he had finished the dishes and he walked back into the bedroom, his gait somewhere between a trot and a dance, Velvet paused when he saw the gear laid out on the bed. “Well, somepony's found my fun things!”

Wheeljack shrugged, “Have to try them on you for fit to be sure they are yours. After we shower.”

“Yes Master,” Velvet Sky bowed low to the floor and he led his crush through to the en suite bathroom where they spent almost an hour cleaning each other of the sticky mess that had been left from the fun the night before, much too thoroughly than was strictly necessary.

Back in the master bedroom, following the very thorough shower, Wheeljack motioned a hoof to the clothing and the toys he had previously laid out on the bed. Since he wasn’t needed at Caffeinated’s to work on the car, and seeing as how Velvet wasn’t working that day, he had an idea for some fun. “Need to get you dressed for shopping then, and I don't have to worry about getting you to work on time.”

Stood beside the bed, Velvet all but pranced in place because he knew that wearing all the things that had been laid out for him, that all eyes would be on him. Just as the exhibitionist in him liked. “Yes you do, and no you don't.”

“If I'm keeping you,” Wheeljack nodded, “then I do need to show you off. Pique my interest while you dress yourself. I'll help with buckles as needed. Excited to show off, Velvet used his hooves and his wings to dress himself, starting with the sheath lock. When that was in place, and the unicorn had the key to the lock, he slipped on the skirt, followed by the hoof cuffs and the cross straps. He did need help with the rest, including the bridle and the tail sleeve, which Wheeljack happily provided. Velvet then made a very, very long show of getting the panties on, bending over and dropping them twice.

“You are a tease, Velvet. I'm liking that.” Wheeljack sat back on the bed, proudly showing off just how much he was liking the show he had been treated to. “I don't want to walk around like this, so put that mouth of yours to use.”

“Yes Master,” he hadn’t been forced to say it, but it seemed the most natural thing in the world to say at that moment. Walking over, Velvet Sky opened his mouth and he took the unicorn’s hard erect penis in his warm wet mouth down to his medial ring before pulling off, sucking all the way. 

Moaning in sheer pleasure, Wheeljack had one hoof playing with Velvet’s soft cared for mane while the other hoof gripped the bit less bridle. He had to be honest, Velvet’s mouth was in the top three holes he had ever bucked. Even though the pegasus was slurping and sucking him like a pro, he couldn’t resist thrusting his hips and gently pulling on the bridle. 

Enjoying his work as much as Wheeljack was enjoying receiving it, Velvet made use of his wings, using his feathers to caress the older stallion’s balls while he sucked him off. He never went deeper than the medial ring and he was glad that even though Wheeljack was pulling on the bridle, he didn’t force him deeper than he was obviously comfortable with. His blowjob was wet and sloppy with plenty of tongue swirling around his shaft. Wheeljack didn’t last long under such treatment. Several deep bobs of his head later and, with a flare of his head, his cock erupted, spraying his seed straight to the younger stallion’s belly. Miraculously, he managed to hold some of Wheeljack’s semen in his mouth as he pulled off, showing off his prize. Winking, he swallowed. “You even taste magical!”

“You get that from a cereal box? 'Magically Delicious'?” Wheeljack snorted before he added the reins to the bridle. Holding them in his magic, he looked Velvet over. As pretty as he was, and by Cadance was he pretty, there was just too much pink! “I need a suit to compliment my pit crew clothes, for after event stuff when we win. You need some more colours to your wardrobe. Some red and some white, which does make for pink, but I think all three at once would look good on you.”

Velvet shuffled his hooves. He knew Wheeljack was right. “There is an abundance of pink in my closet, isn't there?” he asked rhetorically, thinking of the few dresses, skirts and corsets hanging there. The only thing that was not pink was a black formal dress and hat in a protective bag.

“Don't want anypony thinking you're a one trick pony. Do you know of a good place to shop?” he asked, because the unicorn really had no idea beyond Coco Pommel and Rarity's Recreations, and that was only because she made the racing and pit crew suits.

“I haven't been wearing just feminine clothes for very long. The Prince gave me the courage to properly be myself. Clothing wise, there is of course Rarity's Recreations, but that's super high end. I like Rarity For You. It's a smaller more every day shop, and Plaid Stripes is a hoot.”

Using his hoof, Wheeljack caressed his lover’s cheek. “You do look good in them. You just need more colours. I hope you're up for a walk to get to Rarity For You. I know I am.”

“Walk? I feel like I could fly there!” Velvet Sky giggled, “but a walk there with you will suffice.” After a quick couple of laps around the spacious living room to see how the pegasus took to the reins, Wheeljack led his pet to the elevator and down to the ground floor. Now that they were in public, Velvet was determined to be a very good sub for his new Master. He held his head up high, his tail held up in the sleeve.

On the way out, what struck Wheeljack was how friendly the apartment building was. They passed several ponies as they walked, and they all shared a generous smile on their faces that screamed, "Oh, that's just Velvet being Velvet”. There were of course a couple of assholes, but they just stared, that was the limit of their objection. Coming from Canterlot, Wheeljack was amazed that even the disapproving ones outside were not vocal about it. It was another reminder he wasn't in Canterlot anymore.

Following behind the older stallion, Velvet Sky felt like he was on stage, but prancing along instead of dancing. He was in his element. All eyes on the street – which wasn’t busy – were on him! A passing couple called out hello, and Velvet blew them a kiss, but he didn't speak. He was determined to show what a good pet he could be. In the lead, Wheeljack waved at those nice kind ponies that called out and he took the time to wish them a good day. Then, he paused on the street. “I have no idea where Rarity For You is…”

Quick as a flash, Velvet was ready. “If I may be your guide, Master?” Nodding, Wheeljack held onto the reins but he allowed the pegasus to take point. Smiling, Velvet led the way, his tail not needing the sleeve to stay up high. The exhibitionist was loving the parade, practically prancing along the sidewalk.

After a few steps, Wheeljack’s attention moved from enjoying the jiggly bits that jiggled in the pink panties to looking more at those that they passed on the street. Ponies going about their day. Nothing special. Stallions, mares, teenagers, old timers, youngsters. Nopony paid them any mind. Not like Canterlot at all. “No need to rush, Velvet.” Slowing down, he wanted to see if any that passed them do a double take.

“As you wish, Master,” Velvet slowed down to a leisurely canter, Saddle Row his ultimate destination, but he was more than happy to take the long way around. Especially when ponies were looking at him.

One of the ponies that passed them was a mare in her very late teens, an orange earth pony mare who did do double take and even a triple take. She looked and then took a longer look and blushed before approaching Wheeljack. “Excuse me, you're Wheeljack, aren't you?”

“I am, Miss. Can I help you this day?” Wheeljack pulled hard on the reins, forcing Velvet to a stop, but he said nothing to him.

“I’m Slipstream, sir.” The young mare introduced herself as Velvet stopped with a bit of a whinny, “I was backup driver for the Jaguar racing team that came third. I didn't drive, but I saw you!” she bounced happily on her hooves, “Can I get a selfie with you, please?”

Very quickly, Wheeljack tried to remember if Sparkplug had said anything bad about the Jaguar or the team. Unable to think of anything, he was only too happy to speak to this pleasant young mare. “Finishing that race was an achievement,” he said, puffing out his chest proudly, “I'd be honoured, Miss.”

“Thank you sir!” In no time at all, she had her phone out and she was stood posing next to the much older pony. “The pit chief was well impressed how you took care of Raid's car!” she gushed as she took the picture while Velvet flared his wings for a photobomb, prompting Slipstream to giggle and take it again.

“I look forward to seeing that Jag tomorrow, Miss Slipstream.” Wheeljack found he had rather a lot of time for this young mare. Part of him hoped she’d come around to the pit lane and say hello. He also stored Velvet’s photobomb in his head, for punishment later.

“I'm hoping Hot Rod lets me drive!” Slipstream was, apparently, a gushy, bubbly mare. In many respects she reminded her of Ratchet before she had been forced to grow up following their parent’s deaths. “I mean, I'm not Air Raid level, but I want to take her on!”

As it turned out, she was adorable as well as gushy. “Raid is happy to take on all challengers, but she won't ease up on any, no matter how long they have been in the profession.” He smiled at her as warmly as he could. “I remember her first race. So, you shouldn't give in to her either.”

“Thank you sir,” Slipstream smiled as Velvet let out a whinny and pulled on the reins. He wasn’t being the centre of attention and even fluffing up his wings didn’t make Wheeljack look at him. It just made the young mare giggle. “Looks like your pet is eager too!”

Looking over, Wheeljack appeared surprised by the use of that term. He hadn’t considered Velvet to be his pet before now. However now that she had said it, it seemed natural. “Oh, yes, pet. My pet. Sometimes no amount of training will really get them to do as you wish.”

“That's what Hot Rod says when I short shift from second to fourth,” Slipstream let out a long, loud squee and bounced on her hooves. When she had gone shopping that morning, she hadn’t expected to meet Wheeljack! “Thank you for the picture, sir. I'll be seeing you!”

Flicking the reins, Wheeljack got Velvet moving again, again at the slow and steady pace as before. He was in no rush whatsoever. “Will you be receiving any fancolts, Velvet?”

Now that his Master was paying him attention at last, Velvet folded away his wings and walked along the sidewalk. “Sometimes a colt will give me a whistle, Master.” Almost on cue, Wheeljack looked at Velvet’s balls and gave him a lewd whistle. “Hmm just like that…” then, across the street, a rather familiar stallion whistled and called out. It just so happened it was the second one who shot Wheeljack down at the club.

In a low voice, Wheeljack saw the very rude stallion and whispered, “I doubt he is anywhere near a good a prance as you.”

Velvet Sky just snorted derisively, “I should go and knock his wig off his stupid head, Jack...I mean, Master…”

Playfully, the unicorn ever so gently pulled on his mane. Just enough to rein him in. “I wouldn't waste a lug wrench on him. It is far too late for him to whistle at my passing sexiness.” When the obnoxious stallion whistled again, Velvet replied with a rather crude gesture with his wings that left the other pony in no doubt where he stood before walking on with Wheeljack. The unicorn just laughed loudly. “Such a naughty pony, Velvet.”

“I'm your naughty pony. And that idiot deserved it!” Velvet shot back and, after a quick flick of the reins, Wheeljack continued the walk, all the time taking note of the reactions, both good or bad. He was rather pleased to have been recognized, even if it was by another racer. The odd few ponies who did stop took pictures, one offered helpful advice like tie the tail higher and one colt even asked his mom if he could have a tail sleeve too. Nothing was overtly negative beyond a shake of a head here and there. “Saddle Row is just a couple of blocks now, Master.” Wheeljack just nodded and allowed Velvet to lead in to the shop.

“Greetings sir!” Plaid Stripes, a peach coloured earth pony mare with a deep purple mane tied up in a neat bun, greeted them with her trademark wide smile. Although she had been working for Rarity almost twenty five years, she still had her braces and she still wore her spoon earrings. “May I say, nice choice of pets. I was worried 'she' was a stray!”

Velvet, who regarded Plaid as a good friend after all his visits to the store in recent months, giggled at being called ‘she’. “Good day, Plaid, it’s nice to see you again.” 

“I'm still trying to find out if Velvet can see colours other than pink, Miss,” Wheeljack said with a smile as he pulled up a picture of himself in the pit crew suit on his phone. “And I need a nice after race, winning interview, suit. One that will compliment this, please.”

“She has been looking at the pink dresses for a few weeks now, sir, in spite of my efforts to show her yellows and greens.” Plaid Stripes came around the serving counter and she looked at the picture of Wheeljack and her smile widened in recognition. “Hey! You're part of that new racing team ain'tcha?”

“New to the Manehatten racing circuit,” the dark red unicorn corrected her gently, “I think Velvet would look stunning in a little red number. Not too sure about yellow or green, I may need a run way show to see.”

“The papers say you're the new wonder team from Canterlot!” Plaid giggled so much her spoon earrings danced and, as Velvet was about to interject, she cut across him like he wasn’t there. “I happen to have red, yellow and green dresses, evening and casual, for you to have a look at, sir.”

“That would be wonderful!” Wheeljack used his magic to disconnect the reins from the bridle so Velvet could walk about freely. “I'm sure my pet is up to modelling them for me, but let me know if this one gives you any trouble.” The tone of his voice said he wouldn’t stand for any trouble.

“Oh, I don't think she will, right Velvet?” 

“No ma'am!”

“Good! This way, then.” With that, the peach coloured earth pony mare led Velvet Sky to the back, where she first dressed her in the cute red number that Wheeljack had suggested. It wasn’t the same red as the unicorn’s coat, but it wasn’t far away. Once dressed, Velvet strutted out like a model and paraded for his Master.

“Twirl for me,” Wheeljack ordered, eager to see if the salespony had changed out the panties. When Velvet reared up and did the perfect twirl, he showed off the new matching red panties and Wheeljack was not disappointed. “That is a keeper!”

“Excellent!” Plaid Stripes clapped her hooves, thrilled at making a sale. “Velvet dear, let’s go and try on the others for your stallion.” Obediently, Velvet strutted back behind the curtain while the salesmare giggled to the dominant unicorn. “I noticed you had her clitty all locked up, so I left it be. You're right though. the red's a keeper!”

Wheeljack nodded at the very likeable earth pony mare. While he was happy to watch his Velvet strut and parade up and down in the green, yellow and cream dresses, he knew he wouldn’t be buying them today. He was only willing to spend so much on his 'new' pet until he was sure things were going to work out. Plaid, reading Wheeljack’s expression, quickly changed tack. “Sir said he wanted something for himself today?”

“I did, but the floor show was a very nice diversion. A suit to suit me is what I need.” The dark red stallion smiled at his own joke.

Plaid giggled like the expert salespony she was. “I have a royal blue suit I just made, trousers, blazer and white shirt!” she scooted off to one of the nearby formalwear racks and pulled out the suit in question. She chose not to mention it had been made for a customer who hadn’t paid for it and she took great pride in showing off the spoons embroidered on the inside lining.

“Nothing to do but try it on,” Wheeljack smiled as he took the suit in his magic. Bringing it closer he admired the fine hoofwork that had gone into its creation. Such fine work with no magic available to her. “Velvet, you may sit there and give a non-vocal opinion of the suit.”

Velvet Sky was back in the red dress and he sat where Wheeljack indicated and watched him get dressed. With his magic and Plaid’s hooves, it didn’t take very long. Once Plaid had it trimmed to fit, Velvet gave ‘her’ considered opinion with her wings, which were very erect. “Ah, you've out done yourself, Plaid.” Wheeljack looked himself over in the full length mirror. He was very impressed. “I've received the race driver's seal of approval. I'll take the suit and the red dress, but please package them up. My pet can walk out as she walked in.”

“Certainly sir, just one moment please,” once she had the clothes off her two customers, she trotted into the back room to bag them up. “You two behave now, or not.”

“Not!” Wheeljack snickered and, when she returned with the suit and the dress properly bagged up, the unicorn placed the package on Velvet's back, securing it to the harness the pegasus wore.

Chuckling, Plaid Stripes rang up the sale. “Thank you for choosing us for your clothing needs today, I do hope you come again to Rarity For You.” She then blushed, hard. “Sir, before you go, can I trouble you for a photo?”

“No trouble at all, Velvet can take it.”

Taking the camera phone from Plaid, Velvet was tempted to bomb the picture. However, when he saw how proud Wheeljack was, how he puffed up almost to the size of the Princesses, he didn’t have the heart. He waited for just the right smile and took the picture. “Thank you!” Plaid was so thrilled when she took her phone back that Velvet was pleased he didn’t fanny about. The earth pony then whipped out the press cutting picture of the winning race team in the Times. “Can you sign this please?”

With a wide smile on his face, Wheeljack was only too happy to sign away. “I'll have the rest of the crew and driver stop in to sign it too. Raid may shop at the store downtown, but you are more in alignment with our needs.”

Plaid Stripes made a very cute squee at that. “Oh thank you sir! I look forward to seeing you again in Rarity For You!”

Plaid didn’t stop waving until they were stood outside in the summer sunlight. Elated wasn’t enough to describe how Wheeljack felt right then and there. “I'm in need of coffee,” he said eventually, doing a decent job of not leaping for joy like he wanted to.

“Then you're in luck, Master, Domino’s place is close by.” Velvet Sky pointed with a wing over the street where he knew a little coffee shop / café called 'Domino's' was a few blocks away from them.

Wheeljack considered the little establishment, weighing up how close it was against how close Stripe’s Cup of Java was. He knew it was further from Velvet’s place than Rarity For You was, but it was closer to Trixie’s Place as it was in the Theatre District around 50 – 70 Street where the little clothes store was just north of Central Park on the west side where the Fashion District known as Saddle Row was located. “You frequent Domino’s?”

“Only when I go to see Plaid, Master.” Velvet replied, looking wistfully at the small café like it was a long lost friend.

“While I will take your word for Domino's, I think a subway ride is in order. There is a nice shop by Times Square.” That, and Wheeljack wanted to show Velvet off in Stripe’s where he knew the owner and he could be sure of showing off. “So, where is the nearest subway entrance?” 

“Well, Master, the closest is on 60th, ah, just where the MiAC is…” Velvet answered, the very thought of the adult sex store making ‘her’ wings fluff up with excitement. Velvet rather liked thinking of himself as a ‘her’. Yes, ‘she’ liked it a lot. 

Noting the wing fluff, just like Air Raid when she was excited about something, Wheeljack smiled and made his mind up. “Lead on. No time for sightseeing, pet.”

“Yes Master!” Velvet Sky pranced enthusiastically along the sidewalk, picturing a MiAC visit in ‘her’ near future. When they arrived at 60th street, the pegasus pointed out the small coffee shop. “That is Domino's, and the pink store next to it is MiAC!” she giggled like a filly, “Perhaps a quick look wouldn't hurt?”

Wheeljack though was not in the mood for indulging his ‘mare’ any more than he already had. Lighting his horn, he jerked the reins firmly and headed resolutely for the subway. “I guess that would depend on what 'hurt' means to you.” In response to that, Velvet made a cute little whine and, after a second's struggle, followed the reins. “Would somepony rather have water instead of coffee?”

After the short subway ride, Wheeljack left the station and walked up to Caffeinated’s coffee shop with Velvet Sky trotting along behind him, the pegasus taking care to keep the reins slack like a good little mare should. “Hello Wheeljack,” the orange zebra rumbled from behind his counter. “The only ponies I know that walk around like that are Sunny, Serenity, and Mapper, except Serenity doesn't wear a cock block.”

The other patrons in Stripe’s turned to look at what Wheeljack had dragged in. Ever loving being the centre of attention, Velvet visibly basked in the many admiring stares he was getting. Remembering ‘her’ manners though, she gave Caffeinated a bow. “Velvet Sky, sir. I'm a dancer at Trixie's Place.”

“Sparky will be happy you caught something,” Caffeinated commented without thinking. “Would you like coffee, snack or lunch?”

“Lunch,” Wheeljack spoke up, “and coffee for me. I'm feeding the freeloader too, but water only to drink. So, why would Sparky be happy?” 

Suddenly aware he may have said something untoward, Caffeinated blinked as his two new customers took up their bright red seating pads at a nearby empty table. “Um, her and Hoist said you and Ratchet went out to Trixie's last night.” He covered quickly, complete with a winning smile.

“You mentioned Mapper and Serenity?” Velvet asked after raising her hoof for permission to speak, though she was ever so slightly gushing like a fanfilly. “I've seen them about at Trixie's Place up on the second floor.”

“I’m not surprised, as Trixie's does cater to their needs.” Caffeinated rumbled, “The lunch special okay?” the orange zebra pointed out the special consisted of cucumber and watercress sandwiches, tomato bisque soup, as well as a drink of choice, which he already knew was coffee and water. Order filled, he personally brought it over.  

“You said we could come to the Thursday events, but can we bring guests?”

“You can, as long as you take responsibility for them to follow the house rules.” Caffeinated looked from unicorn to pegasus and smiled, deciding there was more chance of alicorns flying out of his ass than these two breaking his rules. “Of course, that was last night.”

“I didn't have a guest soon enough last night,” Wheeljack commented defensively.

“There is always open mic night tonight.”

Velvet Sky’s ears perked right up when she heard that. “You have an open mic night, sir?” she asked, remembering 'her' manners. The more Velvet Sky thought of herself as feminine, the more it made sense and the more comfortable the pegasus was becoming with it.

“Open mic is open to any performance art.” Caffeinated commented. Looking at the dark blue pegasus sat opposite Wheeljack, the zebra was reminded rather forcefully of Prince Dusk. Their coats were similar, but their manes were different and, if he was honest, Dusk looked far more like a mare than this pony did.

“This is Velvet Sky and he, err, ‘she’ can really perform.” Wheeljack smiled at his blushing mare.

“I will let Shoe and Mapper know there is competition.”

“May I be allowed to dance, Master, please?” asked Velvet excitedly, her eyes wide and sparkling with anticipation of dancing in front of a new audience.  

“I overheard Wily say there was no performance restrictions.” 

“That is true after nine,” Caffeinated replied to Wheeljack’s comment. “The event starts at seven and a few can't find sitters,” he snickered, wondering if this open mic would be as eventful as the previous one had been. “Or they are looking to educate the young.”

Velvet Sky, who sensed an opportunity to be looked at, shivered with excitement, her wings fluffing up - she even strained against the lock around her sheath, she was that excited. “Master we have to come, please!”

Wheeljack was loving the way his mare begged. She looked even cuter than usual. “We shall, for I must show off my latest find. Don't have to be at the track till ten in the morning on Saturday,” he said, to which Caffeinated just nodded. 

Nodding at the dark red unicorn, Caffeinated chose not to press the issue. Track stuff was their business, not his. The zebra was just interested in results. “I always welcome new talent. A warning, the audience can be brutally fun though.”

“Sir please, I work at Trixie's Place, I'm accustomed to 'difficult' audiences.”

“So thought Lady Octavia, when she performed.” When he headed back to the serving counter, the orange zebra was chuckling away to himself as he remembered how Mapper had made the world’s premier cellist sing along to Lauper’s Mare’s Just Wanna Have Fun. 

Open mouthed, Velvet was stunned. “Lady Octavia appeared here?”

“Raid said she did,” said Wheeljack, “I wasn't in town then.”  

Slowly, Velvet took a sip of her water. The pegasus did want to dive into the sandwiches, they did look delicious, but she had something to say first. “May I say something, Wheeljack?” when the unicorn nodded his assent, she continued, “you looked really adorable earlier when Slipstream and Plaid asked you for a picture.”

For a moment, Wheeljack put aside his dominant persona and the older pony sighed a sigh of the ages. “Velvet, you have to understand, the last five years have been pretty rough on us. You never know when those days may come back, so seize the moment when you can.”

Velvet rested her hoof on Wheeljack’s and gave it an affectionate squeeze, “I do understand, and you are quite right, sweetie.” 

“Still, it’s nice to know this old stallion is still adorable,” he smiled, leaning forward over the table so he could plant a soft and tender kiss on Velvet’s lips. Whimpering at the kiss, Velvet’s wings fluttered upwards and the lock keeping her secured away was doing its job. “So, this pronoun business. I know Dusk is 'she' in a dress, and 'he' out of a dress. What is it for you?”

“Hmm...” Velvet cocked ‘her’ head to one side in thought. “Honestly? I hadn't thought about it like that before. I just liked wearing mare's clothes,” the pegasus blushed, “they feel nice and soft, and I feel pretty in them. But, when Plaid called me 'she', and you went with it, it felt hot too. I think I like being your mare when I'm in a dress, and your pretty stallion out of one.”

Wheeljack nodded, mulling it over in his head. He could do that. And, it had to be said, Velvet Sky did look damn pretty in a skirt and panties. “That's settled, then.” Indeed it was settled, and he picked up his cucumber and watercress sandwich. He had a lunch to eat. 

“Thank you,” Velvet picked up one of her sandwiches and tucked into her own lunch and she drank her water before a thought occurred to her. “Do you like your pets to have collars? Because if you don't mind, I'd like a mane bow instead.”

Lovingly, Wheeljack ran a hoof through Velvet’s beautifully long soft mane. “You do have the mane for it. Pink, I assume?”

“I was thinking red, Master, your colour.”

“Red is good, you did look very good in that dress in Rarity For You.”

“I have to agree,” Velvet smiles, “You've broadened my horizons.”

“I hope you'll broaden mine, too.”

“I'll do my best, sweetie,” Velvet blew Wheeljack a sheath troubling kiss and she downed the rest of the water in her glass. “My sister used to dress me up and put bows in my mane. Imagine her delight when I came out to her.”

Wheeljack snorted out a laugh that almost sent his coffee everywhere. “Good thing she is your sister. I'd never stand a chance against her otherwise.”

Velvet’s happy smile became wistful, somewhat reticent when Wheeljack said that. “She was very protective of her little brother. Cloudy Sky bucked more than one bully in the face at school. You can imagine they all had a field day with me, first the Scootaloo's Syndrome, then being gay…”

“In a very few words you have summed up Air Raid's whole entire life, only she was in Canterlot. Did you grow up here in Manehatten?”

“I did, I was lucky in that respect,” Velvet knew well that the public attitudes in Manehatten were looser out on the east coast than they were in Canterlot. Still, it hadn’t been an easy journey. “And what of you, pony living a life in the clouds I can't fly too?”

“Princesses forbid it would always be cloudy in Canterlot,” Wheeljack laughed, “I think that is reserved primarily for Cloudsdale. Yeah, we were born and raised in Canterlot, as was Air Raid.”

Velvet then leant across the table and kissed Wheeljack’s lips, loving the way the older stallion’s white beard tickled his nose. “Not easy, sweetie.”

“I'm not looking for easy, but I may fight back more than I really need to.”

“I like that about you,” Velvet smiled, “What are you doing the rest of today?”

“Today I'm going to enjoy you.” Wheeljack smiled sweetly, that dominance back in his voice. “I do need to call my brother later in case there is something I need to do tomorrow on the car. Sparky and Hoist have it in hoof for the day, but now and then things do pop up…” he finished his sentence with a very suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.

“Not with this lock on, they don't!” Velvet winked and blew her lover a kiss.

“Maybe you're one of those wonder ponies and can shatter steel with the force of your cock alone?”

“While I am skilled, I’m not that skilled!” Velvet giggled, “maybe it'll come off if I'm a good mare?” she then shot the older stallion a loaded look, “Or, I can be a naughty mare…” she traced her wingtip all the way down Wheeljack’s flank towards his crotch. She was halted though when she saw the disapproving look on his face. “I suppose it is the wrong time and place,” Velvet noted the families in the coffee shop and changed tack. “Trixie's is open though, if you want to go get a room?”

Wheeljack gave that a thought and liked it, a lot. “Closer than your place, and a lot closer to my place. Of course, watching you with a mop cleaning the floor here, hmmm...” that was all it took for Velvet Sky’s wings to shoot out and stand erect in a perfect wingboner. She even visibly winced from the effects of the cock lock. “I think that is our sign to leave,” he snickered, “We'll be back tonight Caffy. Seven o'clock?”

Caffeinated gave them a cheery wave good bye. “Buffet opens at six, mic opens at seven!” 

~ ~ ~

With Velvet Sky’s reins held in his magic, Wheeljack trotted across the street to Marecies department store. His pet had requested a mane bow, and he was eager to oblige. The greeting pony there swooped on them as soon as they set hoof inside. “Welcome to Marecies, how can I help you today?” 

“This one needs a pretty bow for her mane, close to my coat colour,” he paused and glanced at her nametag, “if you please, Raindrop.” 

“I can help you with that. Follow me please.” The eager salespony then lead her two new customers into the store and another greeter seamlessly took her place at the door. Like a good pet, Velvet kept the reins slack as she followed her Master, at least until they passed a rather fetching cream dress and hat ensemble that made her pause and stare with open want.

Wheeljack however wasn’t having any of that nonsense from his ‘mare’. He sharply tugged the reins that he held in his magical aura. “Feel free to shop in your own time with your own money.” Mumbling apologies, Velvet quickly caught up. 

“Here is our selection of mane ribbons,” Raindrop announced when they were at the right aisle, “and I believe this is a close match to your coat colour, sir. We have it in three sizes.”  

Wheeljack saw there were in fact three sizes. Small, designed to go near an ear. Medium, the size that a filly might wear in her mane, and large, which was a showy costume type of bow. “This is for everyday wear. I'm thinking the medium. Your thoughts, pet?”

While Velvet Sky was drawn to the large and showy one by default, she did see the benefit of the one Wheeljack chose for her. “I like the medium one, Master.”

Lovingly, Wheeljack caressed Velvet’s mini-skirted flank. “She humours me. I'll take two please.” 

“Yes sir.” Raindrop scooped up the two red mane bows from the rack, “Anything else for you today?” While he was tempted to buy the hat and dress, Wheeljack shook his head and just purchased the two bows. Perhaps when they were a proper couple, he’d buy the dress. However, he’d been burned in the past and he wasn’t about to make that mistake again.

“Thank you for my mane bow, Master, I love it!” Velvet Sky squealed like a happy mare when, after the sale had been completed, Wheeljack tied one of the bows in his pet’s silky smooth mane. The other went into the bag from Rarity For You.  

“I like it,” Wheeljack commented with a fond smile, “and you do wear it well.” The older stallion then lead the way out of the store and north to Trixie’s Place. As they left, Velvet made a mental note to get the cream dress and hat the next time she had the chance. “What are your thoughts on pain?” Wheeljack asked when they were on the now busy sidewalk.

Velvet Sky loved the midday crowds bustling on their way, prancing along like she was, and dressed like she was, it was like an impromptu performance. The question though gave the pegasus cause to stop and walk normally for a moment. “I like to be spanked, Master. Enough to turn my pretty ass red. I don't like my feathers pulled though unless I'm preening.” There was fun pain and then there was ‘damn that really hurts’ pain.

“Preening...” That gave Wheeljack cause for concern. “Raid has never showed me how to preen. I don't think any of the crew has ever preened her. Hmm, I will preen you and you will teach me to do it efficiently so that you'll always be pretty.” He smiled and looked back at his pet, “And how to do it sensually so I can watch you squirm.”

“I'm not surprised Master. Preening is a very personal, private thing. It is when a pegasus is at their  most vulnerable, letting another pony inside the wingspan is a big thing.” Velvet explained, for that was something that dated back to the times before the unification of the tribes when the pegasi were warriors. If you allowed an enemy inside your wings you could be fatally wounded, after all.

“Well, I've certainly been inside your wingspan.”

“It's still a very personal, intimate thing Master, which I'll be pleased to teach you.”

“You will teach me, but it is a nice bonus that you'll be pleased to do so.”

At the commanding, dominating tone in Wheeljack’s voice, Velvet’s wings fluffed up, because she knew she would be punished at Trixie's Place for being such a naughty mare. “When would you like to start, Master?”

“When I'm good and ready, pet.” That had Velvet’s wings ruffling up just a little more, she had a feeling her ass was going to be as red as Wheeljack's coat before the unicorn was done. On the sidewalk, Wheeljack walked at a leisurely pace to window shop, though he did note the other pony’s reactions, and to peek at Velvet in those windows. Just as before, the vast majority of those they passed were more than agreeable to them, even asking for pictures to be taken with them both. 

Velvet Sky though, wasn’t window shopping as she usually would. The aroused pegasi’s wings were at three quarters erect and her gait was off, thanks to her sheath struggling against the tight lock. Although Wheeljack noticed, the unicorn did not quicken his pace, nor did he linger at any spot. When Trixie's Place was a moment or two away, Velvet quickened up, pulling at the reins. That bought them both to a sudden stop. “Are you trying to run away?”

“No, Master.”

“I know where I'm going, so back in your place then.” At that point, Velvet Sky’s wings were standing fully erect and, after a couple of whimpers, she was practically hobbling thanks to the lock. She did however get back in her rightful place as Wheeljack continued on to Trixie’s Place. When they arrived, the unicorn wasted no time at all in going straight up to the second floor.

Once there, Wheeljack purchased a private room from the sharply dressed door stallion at the desk. It was a suit that screamed he would stand for no nonsense. Having paid the fifty bits for the hour, Wheeljack left him a business card and took the key to room seven. 

Following her Master, Velvet was very careful now not to pull ahead or do anything other than walk like a good mare behind her stallion. In the private room, which was a twenty foot square space with rings in the walls, ceiling and floor so a pony could be restrained as well as a fully equipped toy box and chill out couch, dropped the reins and moved around the pegasus to inspect her hard wings. “Must be hard to get through doors like that.”

“They are very hard Master,” Velvet, stood between the five rings on the floor, coughed. “I mean, it is hard, Master.”

Standing behind Velvet, Wheeljack caressed his pet’s ball sack through the panties she wore. He could see the younger pony was struggling. “Are you doing okay, Velvet?” he asked gently.

Standing with her hind legs apart to allow the ease of fondling, Velvet whimpered, “Yes Master, it's just a little hard, to think, with my wings, and you doing that, Master.” Indeed, coherent words and thought were getting harder and harder to form the more she was teased.

“I've heard it said it is hard to think when blood rushes from one head to the other, but not about it rushing to the wings.” Wheeljack laughed heartily as he poked lightly at the pegasus’s left wing joint where the limb met the pony’s barrel. “Then again, Raid does this a lot more with those two zebras.”

Wheeljack was rewarded immediately for his actions when Velvet Sky’s hind legs went weak at the knees. The feathers on both wings shivered all up to the tips of the primary feathers. Seeing the fidgeting of his mare, Wheeljack took a look between her legs. “Everything’s still in its place, so no problem here.”

“Please do that again…”

Looking back under her tail once again, the unicorn stood back up. “Must be a voyeur thing.”

A little louder this time, Velvet whimpered in need, “please touch my wing joint again!”

Smirking, Wheeljack plated a firm hoof squarely on Velvet’s ass. “I think you forget yourself, pet.” He then repeated the hoof strike on his pet’s other ass cheek.

“AaAAAH!” Velvet gasped, taking the two firm strikes, precum now starting to soak her pink panties. “I'm sorry Master!”

Appreciatively, Wheeljack used that same hoof to rub the panties over her tail hole. “One can learn. What does my needy mare need?”

“Your needy mare needs her Master to remove the sheath lock, please?”

Smiling broadly behind her, Wheeljack slid his hoof downwards so he could play with Velvet’s balls, caressing and massaging the heavy orbs. “Feeling a little cramped are we? Making a mess on the floor will get you in trouble…”

“Please Master!” Velvet begged, her sheath twitching uselessly, her panties soaked already. Wheeljack then lit his horn and, after making a very big to do out of it, unlocked and removed the sheath lock. Almost instantly her rather impressive - for a pegasus - length, sprang out to stand erect at full mast, popping out of the panties and dribbling pre onto the floor. “Thank you Master!”

Seeing she was free and erect, Wheeljack first prodded the mottled shaft and then the wing joint. He wasn’t done teasing just yet. “Somehow this wing is even stiffer…”

“Mmmmm buuuuck!” Velvet gasped, her wings iron hard.

Wheeljack nuzzled the left wing’s humerus bone and then he ducked underneath the wing to run his nose and ears through the quivering feathers. “There must be away for me to play with your wing until you explode.”

“AaaAAAAHN!” Velvet moaned a very lusty moan, “Y-Yes Master...oooh Buuuck...yes...li-lick and suck the feathers, rub the joints...please!”

The dark red stallion loved the begging note in his mare’s voice. That alone made Wheeljack hard himself. The unicorn experimented with a feather in his mouth to see if it made him throw up. To his surprise, he found it wasn’t nearly as bad as he had feared he pulled the feather taunt and suckled on it. At the same time he used a forehoof to massages where wing met the body. Immediately, Velvet drooled from her mouth and cock, “OOooooh yeeeeah...just like that...that's good Master!”

Moving from feather to feather, Wheeljack tugged each one taunt, but he was mostly just drooling on them. He sat himself so that both forehooves could play around the joint to the body. After a few moments of this, Velvet Sky was ready for blowing. “M-Master...please can I cum?”

“Told you what happens if you make a mess on the floor. It’s on you.” Wheeljack then went back to sloppily mouthing the feathers. Though she tried really hard not to, Velvet didn't last long and, a loud shuddering moan later, she came like a geyser all over the floor. “Such a naughty mare!” Wheeljack smirked, moving around the back with two love taps to her ass and played with the other wing. The unicorn was curious to see if she had anything left after that display and messed – nopony could call it preening – with the right wing.

As inexperienced and sloppy as Wheeljack was, he was good enough to keep Velvet Sky hard and panting. It was obvious even to Wheeljack that the wings he was slobbering over were immaculately cared for. At last though, the dominant pony had finally had enough teasing. He judged it was his turn to mount his mare. “I got you off,” he said, gently but forcefully pushing Velvet down. “And now time for you to be used.”

“Use me please, Master!” Velvet needed absolutely no encouragement to bend her forelegs and lift her ass up high in the air.

Wheeljack slid down Velvet’s panties and prodded her tail hope with his cock. Way too dry for his tastes. “Lube me up,” he said as he walked around to his pet’s mouth. “I don't think it is time to do the rough rider just yet.”

“Yes Master!” Velvet eagerly took Wheeljack’s hard cock in her mouth and slathered spit and drool all over it, too much, as the excess joined the mess already on the floor. Once he judged he was sufficiently lubed up, the unicorn wasted no time as he pulled out of Velvet's wet and willing mouth and quickly moves around to mount her. This was all about him, his need and his getting off, so he resolved to rut Velvet hard. “Oooh bu-buuuuuck…” he moaned, his cock swallowed up by his mare’s tight asshole in one thrust.

Velvet Sky was a very cooperative lay and she thrust herself backwards to meet Wheeljack's hard trusts until she came again from the force of the rutting, from the sheer pleasure of having the unicorn’s flare exciting her prostate over and over again. Not long after that, Wheeljack hilted for a last time, as he dumped his seed deep in her bowels. “Buck that was good!” he declared, gazing lovingly at Velvet’s gaping hole. “Now, go to the desk and let them know you'll be doing maid service in this room. Get what supplies you need to clean your mess up.”

“Y-Y-Yes Master…” Staggering to her hooves, Velvet Sky barely had the wherewithal to pull up her sopping wet panties, the cum leaking from her hole wetting them further. As she made her way to the door, her wings were at last down but her cock was still on show.   

Felt, the sharply dressed stallion who was staffing the second floor desk, raised an eyebrow at the hot mess that walked his way. “Can I help you, Sky?”

“I...I am doing maid service in room seven, sir, as per my Master's orders. Where can I get the supplies I need?”

The earth pony stallion succeeded in not snickering, but he didn’t try in the slightest to keep the look of amusement from his face. Velvet was a fun pony to work with. He pointed a hoof to the left. “Through that door, Sky. A staff member will get you what you need.”

Velvet treated Felt to a low bow that showed off her raging erection. “Thank you, sir…” she gasped and, turning around, further showed herself off as she walked over to the door Felt had indicated.

Having been notified that a mare was there, the maid, a pegasus named Dusty, hoofed Velvet a little maid white lacy crown. “You need to remember to bring your own maid clothes as we don't supply those, Sky.” She then pointed to a yellow bucket on wheels. “Water has simple green in it so don't drink it!” There was a mop, duster, spray cleaner, rags, and even a slippery floor sign attached to the wheeled bucket. “You can leave it outside the door you entered when you’re done.”

“Thank you ma'am,” Velvet, playing her role well, set the lacy little crown on her head just so and she got the bucket on wheels and trotted out of the room, heading back to room seven where her Master was waiting. 

By the time Velvet Sky got back to their room, Wheeljack was lounging on the chill out couch facing the door. “Your mane bow frames that maid's cap nicely.”

Velvet blushed as she felt her wings fluff up. “Thank you, Master.” Still blushing, she got the mop out and began cleaning up her mess from the floor. As she had kept her place spotless, she knew her way around a cleaning product or two. However, when she presented her ass to her lover, Wheeljack leered and whistled when the right view was presented to him.

Wheeljack thoroughly enjoyed the way that Velvet swayed and made the cleaning as sexy as she, determined to put on a good show, was able. “Lovely show!” the unicorn declared, clapping his hooves when Velvet had finished and the floor was clean. “You clean with a dancer's grace.”

“Your naughty mare had to be entertaining, no?" Velvet said, flashing her Master a winning smile. Remembering what Dusty had said, she left the room and placed the cleaning cart outside. “That. Was. Fun!” she giggled as she walked back in and stole a kiss.  

“Yes it was,” the older pony patted the spot in front of him on the couch. “Snuggle time to recharge.” Obediently, Velvet hopped up on the couch and snuggled, holding Wheeljack tight in her wings. “You do need to teach me to preen properly.”

“And I will, sweetie…” Velvet replied, though Wheeljack didn’t answer. He was busy sleeping, using the pegasus’s wings as a pillow.
> Chapter 4 - Chequered Flag
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You have a very nice place, Wheeljack,” Velvet Sky commented as the dark blue pegasus was led inside the six-bedroom detached house. White façade, porch, picket fence, the dancer was impressed. The subway ride to Stallion Island from Manehatten proper had been uneventful, not that either pony would’ve noticed a bomb going off, seeing as how they were kissing the whole way. 

A quick inspection of the finely appointed ground floor confirmed Wheeljack’s suspicions. Namely, that Ratchet had not yet returned and, he knew for a fact that Hoist and Sparkplug were still at Caffeinated’s place working on Air Raid’s Audi R8. “As I thought,” he smiled, closing the front door, “we have the place to ourselves.” The dark red stallion then turned to address his date’s comment. “Raid worked out a deal with Caffeinated and we are currently leasing to buy. The garage isn't big enough for the workshop, but it does hold our van and flatbed truck.” With a nod of his head, Wheeljack then led Velvet up to his room on the first floor where he had the needed ropes. “Now to strip you down and dress you up!”

Velvet’s attention was everywhere as he walked through the house. Books had been taken from the bookshelf in the great room and not returned. A stack of magazines where heaped haphazardly on the coffee table. Sparkplug’s comic books and colouring books were on the floor…he was desperate to clean! He vaguely heard what the dominant stallion had said. “Caffeinated? That's the zebra who owns Stripes right? The decals on Raids car?” he giggled, “I still need to show you my collection…” whatever he was going to say after that died on his lips when he walked into Wheeljack's room and whistled. “And I thought I had toys!”

Wheeljack, surrounded by several vibrators, eggs, lengths of rope, a bridle and hoof cuffs held in his magical aura, snickered. “I may have been doing this a day or two longer than you.” Dropping the various toys onto the wide double bed, he used his magic as well as his hooves to undress Velvet completely.

With his mini skirt, corset, panties and socks all removed and laid around him on the floor, Velvet Sky stood in all his naked glory and, smiling, shook his head. “It’s kind of strange. Our kind are naked by default but, standing here now, I feel really naked.”

“Not that I’m complaining about that,” Wheeljack wiggled his eyebrows at his younger lover. “Nice view of your cutie mark, cutie.”

Actually blushing, Velvet’s first instinct was to use his wings to cover up. Though he was an exhibitionist at heart, this was an altogether different kind of exposure, one he was struggling with. “Well,” he tried to blow off his discomfort, “I'm glad you're enjoying seeing me without my armour on.”

Wheeljack was old enough – and experienced enough – to know that statement wasn’t just a line. He could tell Velvet was nervous. It was on him as the dom to make him as comfortably uncomfortable as possible. In a good way. “I'm going to wait till about four thirty to get you dressed, okay?” It was just after one then, as he picked up a length of yellow rope in his magic. “We can see if you can last three hours with this on.”

When Wheeljack picked up the rope, a whole load of unwelcome memories came flooding back to the submissive pegasus. Memories that had nothing to do with his current partner and everything to do with an earth pony he used to date. He looked more than a little apprehensive but, he nodded his head. “Let’s do it…”

Like an eagle surveying his prey, Wheeljack caught the look immediately and knew it was an issue that needed to be spoken about before any further play proceeded between them. “First things first, Velvet. Let's look around the place and get something to drink in the kitchen.” Going back out of his room, he made sure that the doors to his sibling's bedrooms were closed, as they were not for display.

“Thank you Wheeljack, I appreciate you taking a moment. I ah, I could use a drink.” As he was given the full tour, his earlier opinion that it was a nice place was confirmed. Aside from the six bedrooms, there was a full kitchen, dining room, great room, a den/library, and, in the basement was a guest room, a family room and a room Wheeljack described as ‘the play room’. There were three full bathrooms and Wheeljack, who had the master bedroom, also had a full bath just for him. 

“You have done really well, or, Raid's done well for you,” Velvet giggled once they reached the kitchen upon completion of the tour. His hot host had been nothing but perfectly charming and easy going the whole time, and it went a long way to calming him down. “Listen, I'm sorry I got nervous on you, it's just been a while since I was tied up.”

Nodding, the older stallion stroked his white beard and mulled that over. “I guess it is why and how I'm tying you up that matters. When you strip off that dress at the open mic, I want them all to see the rope harness. I will hold suspending you from the ceiling for another day.”

“If you could, that would be great.” Velvet responded, taking the beer that was offered to him from the fridge. Cracking it open, he took a breath. “A stallion I was with just after the airship crash liked to tie me up. He said he had a new tie to try out. I didn't know he'd literally made it up. Anyway, as you can imagine, it went sideways, I went sideways and nearly broke a wing.”

Wheeljack wanted to spit out his beer and swear. It was irresponsible idiots like that who gave BDSM the poor reputation it still had in some places among the closed-minded morons who didn’t understand it and saw it as abuse. Wheeljack, and his sister Ratchet, had attended enough seminars, expo’s and demonstrations at Trixie’s Place to know you never tried out a new tie without discussing it at length with the submissive first. After all, they held all the power. “Velvet,” he said as reassuringly as he could, “I'm not going to bind your wings. I've seen you use them when you dance.”

“Thank you, sweetie.” Velvet Sky said after he had taken a long slow drink of his beer. He appreciated that and, he knew that his lover was a pony of his word.

After being around Air Raid all these years, Wheeljack fancied he knew when a pegasus was at ease. The wings, folded, looked comfortable and loose, the stance was relaxed. He patted himself on the back for a job well done. “So what else is iffy? I really haven't done much to redden that fine flank of yours.”

“Suspension is fine, I know you know what you're doing.” Velvet amazed himself at how much more relaxed he felt. Another sign his new Master knew what he was doing, alright. “You can spank me a bit more, though not the face darling, I need to be pretty. I'm really not okay with bleeding. That's the main reason why I split from the other guy. He was…too much and…not in a good way.”

“Immediate corrective action is okay then,” Wheeljack was speaking as much to himself as he was to his partner, “I'm usually not big on public display, but I'm growing fond of it just watching you parade around.”

“You really have to thank my sister for that. When I wanted to hide after coming out, she taught me to be fabulous!”

Silently, the dark red unicorn offered up those thanks to Velvet’s sister. He hoped that wherever she was, she could see how well he took care of her brother. “I'm used to being on the edge of the spotlight that is centred on Raid, and I've been happy with that. Away from here, I think I'm starting to enjoy riding your spotlight.”

“You sweet talker. It's thanks to my sister I'm the me I am today. You know what? She picked out my first dress.”

“I don't think I've picked out your last one,” Wheeljack smiled to himself as he swallowed what was left of his beer. “Come on, it’s time to get you ready.”

This time, when he too emptied his bottle of beer, Velvet had no qualms about what was going to happen. “Yes, I'm ready, sexy.” The dark blue pegasus followed his Master’s lead, not bothering to hide the fact he was looking under the unicorn’s white tail.  

For his part, Wheeljack made no effort whatsoever to show off or hide. He was starting to grow fond of the idea of showing himself off. Back in his master bedroom he pointed to his personal bathroom. “Empty yourself before we start. It will be a while before you can do it out of the ropes.”

Nodding, Velvet Sky wisely chose to follow Wheeljack’s suggestion by going to the bathroom and relieving himself – not because he was nervous or anything, because he totally was not, at all – before freshening up and walking back out to the bedroom. “Wings up.” Wheeljack didn’t give his pet a moment to think before he started to apply a simple shell harness. One knot went over the pegasus’s tail hole and one well-placed knot pushed his balls forward. While there were no ropes over Velvet’s sheath, there was one right in front. The unicorn then followed up with some slim rope that formed an intricate cock and ball bondage, but the sheath opening was not blocked. “Wings down,” he ordered when he was done, “Walk around for me to see if it binds up.”

Tentatively, Velvet Sky walked around Wheeljack’s bedroom, first on his four legs and then, thanks to his training as a dancer, on his hind legs to get a feel for the ropes. They were certainly more expertly applied than the stallion before, especially the knot that pressed into his puckered asshole and the ropes binding his sheath. “They feel fine, Master. I can feel them, but they aren't too tight or constricting my movement any.”

Satisfied that the ropes were tight but comfortable enough for his lover to walk around in, Wheeljack proceeded to dress Velvet. First was the red panties, corset and dress, that he had purchased from Plaid Stripes at Rarity For You, followed in short order by a bit-less bridle. As he was being dressed, Velvet smiled a wide smile now that ‘her’ armour was back in place. It was strange how the transition took place. With every piece of clothing, the stallion became more and more the mare. “You are a pretty filly with all the bits I love…” Wheeljack kissed his special mare. “Time to brave the subway back downtown.”

Velvet insisted on putting on his red socks himself to complete the shift to ‘mare’. ‘She’ flicked her long luxurious mane and batted her eyes at her lover. “I'm sure I can brave the terrors of the subway with my strong Master holding my reins.”

Once the reins were in place, Wheeljack led his mare out of the house. “Walk beside me, please.” He didn’t like her a step behind. He wanted her where he could see her, beautiful as she was. “This will be your open mic debut?” he asked once Velvet had done as he had requested. 

“I've heard of it, some of the other dancers at work have been to one or two, but I just dismissed it as karaoke.”

“I guess that is sort of what the name implies, no?” Wheeljack replied, a mischievous twinkle in the older stallion’s eye. “I'm eager to see if my pretty mare can out do her performance of last night at Trixie’s.”

Velvet Sky simply smiled knowingly as she sauntered alongside her Master. “You'll have to see, won't you?”

Smirking at his pet’s impudence, Wheeljack gave her pantie-clad ass cheeks a generous love tap, one that made her lift up her tail in that way he liked. “I guess I will, won’t I?”

The moment Wheeljack’s hoof touched her ass, Velvet’s wings fluttered upwards. Love tap though it was, it made her feel squiffy in the right places. “Oh...you won't be disappointed, Master, I promise.”

Very near the train station, they were ambushed by three unicorn mares and one pegasus stallion. “Wheeljack,” Mapper greeted the dark red unicorn, “when were you going to introduce me to this pretty mare?” she asked. Of the three mares, Mapper was not dressed at all. Serenity was dressed in a very nice gala gown, with panties, while Belle was wearing a cheerleader’s outfit, minus the pom poms. Tinkerer though was not dressed.

“U-U-Um,” Wheeljack stammered, caught entirely by surprise by the four ponies, the dominant stallion thrown for several loops, “maybe at Stripes?”

Seeing his Master falter, even a little, Velvet Sky decided to act. She wasn’t prepared to see him on the backhoof. Stepping forward, she wafted her tail under his nose and then she bowed politely at Mapper. “It is a pleasure to see you outside of Trixie's Place.”

The dominant mare that she was, Mapper utterly failed to acknowledge Velvet’s presence, the other two mares though did smile and Tinkerer gave the pegasus a nod in return. The pink unicorn had her narrow-eyed glare fixed on Wheeljack like a laser pointer. However, thanks to Velvet’s intervention, Wheeljack had recovered his wits. “How did you know we'd be here?”

Mapper’s gaze never faltered. “I’m not giving out state secrets for free.”

As Belle giggled behind her hoof, Wheeljack sighed. “Raid said you were hard to deal with…” he stopped that train of thought though when her eyes narrowed even further. “This is Velvet Sky. My intimate friend going on twenty-four hours now, and I know she will bring the house down tonight.”

Mapper’s critical gaze finally shifted to Velvet Sky, at last acknowledging the pegasus’s presence. To his credit, Velvet didn’t flinch. “Yes I will, Master.” She was completely unperturbed by Mapper’s lack of acknowledgment, for even at Trixie's Place the pink mare had quite the reputation.

“Challenge accepted,” Mapper glanced at Serenity and Belle, both mares seemingly up to the challenge that Velvet had thrown down. The four ponies then quickly fell in with Wheeljack and his mare, all six walking to the station. 

“He, er, she,” Belle caught herself at the last moment, “won't have to compete with Wily, so it is possible.”

“There is still Shoe to contend with though.” Tinkerer replied, though he agreed with his wife’s statement.

Walking beside Wheeljack, the reins slack, Velvet took in the newcomers. She recognised Serenity from Trixie’s Place, though the other two were unknown to her. The chat though did interest her. “Excuse me, who's this Wily?” she asked, very curious as to how she'd be a challenge.

When Mapper nodded, giving her consent to speak, Serenity said, “She is a blind pegasus pony.” The teal unicorn kept her words to a minimum, as per her Mistress’s unspoken order. “She does poetry readings, and Las Pegasus show dancing.”

“Was she at the last open mic?” Velvet asked, something firing off a flash of recognition in the back of her mind. “One of the other dancers in my troupe at work was talking about a blind pegasus who read poetry.”

“She was.” Serenity spoke up once more. “She gave the zebra poet a good run for his bits that night.”

Walking along, entering the almost empty subway station – at that time of the early evening there wasn’t many ponies about – Velvet had a little think, putting two and two together in her mind. “Is she by any chance yellow and quite small?”

Tinkerer spoke without thinking. Not for the first time, as it happened. “Yes, she was tight…” he then paid for that quip when Belle whapped him hard on his ass. “Er, small, yes, I meant small.”  

Mapper rolled her eyes as she led the way onto the platform. “Stallions.”

“Wily...Wildfire!” Velvet Sky suddenly realised just whom they were talking about. “The hero of the Broncs fire! I watched her get the medal in city hall the other day.” It had felt like the whole of Manehatten had turned out and squeezed themselves into the official building.

“Yes,” Belle grinned, “that that is our Wildfire.”

“Was Wheeljack talking about her?” asked Mapper, wishing that the subway train would get a move on and turn up already. She was here! She expected it to be as well.

“Not much,” Wheeljack explained, “She and Raid are close, so they filled us in on what was going on before we arrived.”

Velvet interjected, “Like Lady Octavia performing at the open mic?”

Mapper, distracted from waiting for the train, gave a small moan at being reminded of one of her favourite orgasms. “We sang together,” Serenity supplied in an attempt to be helpful.

“Sang?” questioned Velvet, “Forgive me, but I don't think she sings with anything but her cello.” She couldn’t remember any time where Octavia had actually sung. 

“She sang that Lauper song rather well,” Belle added with a giggle.

Serenity smiled, “I enjoyed singing with Lady Octavia.”

Wheeljack then asked, “Will she be there tonight?”

“It is unlikely that Princess Luna will leave her behind. I doubt she wishes to suffer the wrath of Thespian being deigned a chance to give belly rubs.” Mapper responded, though the pink mare was still thinking about the night she had so completely humiliated Equestria’s greatest cellist.

“I would so love to rub Wily's belly again...”

Belle rolled her eyes at her husband, though she understood his sentiment. “You'll have to settle for rubbing mine.”

As he had no idea what they were talking about now, Wheeljack looked at Velvet and shrugged his shoulders. Likewise, Velvet returned the gesture, the pegasus not having the first or second clue what they were on about either. Instead, she chose to amuse herself on the platform by using her wing to lightly caress her Master’s flank. When the older stallion shivered at the touch, Velvet decided to up her game and she directed her wing tip under Wheeljack's barrel. That got a reaction. Using his magic, the unicorn twisted the rope harness Velvet wore until she whimpered and removed her wing. “There are times to be naughty, pet.”

Mapper was at once immediately impressed. “So very true, Wheeljack.” While Velvet let out a meep that was somewhere between aroused and embarrassed, Serenity lit her own horn and goosed the crossdressing stallion good and proper. “One does have to be good at being naughty,” from out of nowhere, she wielded a crop in her own magic and whapped Serenity’s ass twice. “Isn’t that right, Senior Pet?”

“I think I'll stick to being good at being good,” Tinkerer commented, not wanting similar attention from Belle.

Velvet, now stood rather funny now following the twisting of the ropes and the unexpected goosing, blushed most adorably. “Master told me I was good at being naughty.”

“You must be doing something right to get that rope treatment,” Belle snickered just as the train finally arrived. Serenity and herself were naturally autograph hounds, as they all fit into one car. Serenity, easily the most famous pony there, sounded like an everyday pony talking to them.

Velvet Sky though didn’t notice those interactions, she was smiling broadly and, when the train began to move, she snuggled up to Wheeljack, who placed his foreleg over his mare’s shoulder to pull her in closer. Velvet went in that little bit closer and kissed the dominant stallion’s neck. Wheeljack though lifted her head up by the chin and moved in for a more direct kiss to her lips. Velvet took that kiss and at first she made an attempt at fighting back with her tongue but ultimately she submitted. “I'm growing rather fond of you, Velvet,” he whispered in the pegasus’s ear.

“I'm growing even fonderer of you too,” Velvet purred as she returned to the urgent business of kissing Wheeljack’s lips off his face. When they reached Brooks, they changed trains, and again in Manehatten proper. All the time, still kissing, Velvet Sky didn’t really notice who boarded the train and who didn't, she was far more interested in resuming the one-sided tongue battle with her Master.

Thankfully, Wheeljack was on hoof to ensure that they followed the other four ponies to make the train changes. On the latest train, Velvet was once again snuggled up with her special pony. “So...” she whispered, “you're getting fond of me, huh?”

“You're bold, attentive, and excellent at pushing your boundaries, but you do respond very well.” Wheeljack said quietly in his mare’s ear.

“And you are strong, caring and not as grumpy as I've been lead to believe,” Velvet replied with another well-placed kiss.

“You must see me work in the garage on the car. I wouldn't want you to miss out on my grumpy side.”

“Sounds like it would be a good show. Would I need popcorn?”

“If there is a full buffet and popcorn provided, I will be there!” Belle declared heroically, much to her husband’s amusement. 

“She does require that.” Belle, rather justifiably perhaps, gave Tinkerer her best eye roll number two for the popcorn comment. Just like before though, Velvet Sky was way too busy making out with Wheeljack on the train to notice the eye roll. She was still processing the fact that her stallion admitted he was getting fond of her.

“Let them know we are here,” Mapper sighed when the train stopped, to which Serenity lit her horn and strategically goosed both stallions with her hazel magical aura. Belle just departed the train in fits of giggles while Tinkerer just shook his head. 

After a moment’s pause, Mapper and Serenity followed Wheeljack and Velvet Sky as they departed the subway. “Now that was rude…” the dark red stallion muttered just loud enough for his mare to hear. “Come along, pet, I’m not going to let that stop me from watching you dance.”

“I hope so Master. I have a rather special dance in mind for you.”

The walk from the subway to Stripes Cup of Java was a short and uneventful one. It was by now properly dark, Luna’s moon shining on the city below. Wheeljack, having discarded the reins, walked with Velvet into the coffee shop. There was already a good size crowd of about thirty in attendance. “The buffet is up and running at least, I see.”

Velvet, ever the attentive mare, was right there on cue. “May I get you something to eat or drink, Master?”

“Yes, fried is best. You want a beer?”

“Yes Master, Stable Hopper, please.” Even though she was an exhibitionist at heart, she knew she’d need a teeny bit of courage for the dance she had in mind. While Velvet was at the buffet table, Wheeljack went to the coffee counter, which was now also a cash bar. At the buffet table, Velvet scanned what was on offer for anything fried as instructed, giggling when she saw the fried zebra stuff on offer. “Excuse me,” she said to Tinkerer, who was also getting food, “are you performing tonight?”

Tinkerer shook his head, “Nope, the wife will be though. Most of the herd is in theatre. You see the mare working the sound board?”

“I do, yes.”

“That's Shoe, she’s your competition, and the stallion with her is Sonic, her husband. He is the one you check in with to get your name on the performance list.”

“I see,” Velvet said as she saw Wheeljack, armed with beers in his magic, wave to Hoist, Candyfloss, and Sparkplug who were sat at a nearby table already with some food and drinks. When she thought about the dance she wanted to perform, she blushed. “I'm going to perform the 'special' dance for my stallion.”   

“Really?” Tinkerer was genuinely amazed and impressed at the same time. He knew exactly what Velvet Sky meant by the ‘special dance’. She was going to do the ancient pegasi love dance. “Well if you get Air Raid to raise her wings, drinks on me. If you get Airmail to do that, I'll provide a place to hide.”

Velvet giggled, “I'll take that challenge, Tinkerer.” Having loaded up two plates with fried goodies, she then headed on over to Sonic to let him know that she would be performing.

“What are you doing tonight, lovely lady?” asked Sonic, looking up from his clipboard.

“I’ll be dancing. It's a rather special dance for my stallion.”

“Erotic?”

“Intimate. The pegasi love dance.”

“Shoe,” Sonic got the attention of his wife, who came over from the sound board with a grin on her face, “this is the one Mapper told us about.”

Holding her hoof out in greeting, Shoe smiled. “Hi there, I'm looking forward to seeing your dance.”

Immediately, Velvet bumped Shoe's offered hoof. “Mapper did say you were my competition. I look forward to seeing yours as well.”

“Your choice, Velvet” said Sonic, “Do you want to be on before or after Shoe?”

“Before, please. Give your lady something to aim for.”

Sonic snickered, “Done.” On the way back to Wheeljack, who was now sat with his brother, sister and his marefriend, Velvet saw the four ponies they came in with along with the zebra that served coffee earlier, and several other mixed tribe ponies at another table. Being the professional dancer she was, Velvet recognised Recital, Requiem, Thespian and Trumpet. Velvet gave them all a cheery wave as she walked past to Wheeljack's table. 

Just as Velvet was about to say hello to them all, Princess Luna, Lady Octavia, an elderly zebra mare, an elderly pure white earth pony mare in a nice dress and a well-dressed elderly earth pony stallion entered the coffee shop like it was an everyday occurrence. Greeting them, Caffeinated waved a hoof, and was acknowledged by them in turn as they split up to bar and buffet. “The Sorceress is here!” Sparkplug leapt from her seat, “I'm going to say hi!”

Poor Velvet though was not as composed as Sparkplug was. “The Princess!” she was open jawed just like Wheeljack was, but for entirely different reasons. “It's the Princess!” Thoughtfully, Candyfloss leant over the table and closed Wheeljack’s jaw while Hoist shut Velvet’s with his hoof.

As bold as you like, Sparkplug skipped through the coffee shop and over to Luna like she saw her every day of the week. “Hi there, Sorceress!”

“Hello there, flying buddy.” Luna smiled at Sparkplug as Octavia giggled behind her wrinkled hoof.  

“Oh, that is what you did!” Snowfall, the elderly white earth pony mare joined Octavia in her giggles, “We wondered what you were up to when we came up and you were gone.”

Wheeljack, confused, asked, “What is going on?”

Thankfully Candyfloss was quick on her hooves – at least she was quicker than Hoist, at any rate. “Luna stopped by with Tempest and delivered a carrot cake last night.”

“You didn't see it in the fridge?” asked Hoist, who was sure that they would’ve seen it.

“I had lots of fun flying with you, Tempest and Requiem!” Sparkplug squeaked enthusiastically at Luna. Fortunately, she was far enough away from her oldest brother that her voice didn’t carry over the general hubbub of the ponies that were waiting for the open mic to start. “Even though I felt a little strange after the falling bit.”

“We ah...we were distracted, earlier when we were at your house,” Velvet Sky fluffed her wings proudly. “We didn't notice what was in the fridge.”

Princess Luna, who had a lot of time for the young unicorn, nuzzled Sparkplug’s cheek. “I see you're sitting with your brothers. You can come sit with us if it is okay with them.” 

Octavia, who like her wife had a great deal of affection for the yellow mare, nodded her approval of that idea. “Yes, I didn't have a chance to talk with you yesterday, Sparky.”

“Oh, yes,” Candyfloss snickered, almost spitting her drink, “I imagine lollipop inspection can be very distracting…”

Looking over at the pit crew’s table, Luna didn’t even fight the urge to laugh. The sight of three blushing stallions was just too precious! “I thought for a moment that my sister had showed up. Felt like a solar flare over there!” Indeed, one could feel the heat from where she was.

Sparkplug, oblivious to all that, was too excited by Luna’s offer. “I'll go ask, Sorceress!” with that, she quickly scooted back to a heavily blushing Wheeljack. “Hey, Jackie, is it okay if I go sit with the Sorceress? Please, can I, please?”

“Sure,” Wheeljack agreed easily, “just make sure you don't share her drinks.”

“Thanks Jackie!” Sparkplug hugged her older brother tightly before she turned and walked back to the table that Luna was sharing with Octavia, Coffee Bean, Baron and Snowfall. On her way though, her last comment reached her family’s table. “Maybe I'll get lucky over there!”  

Sparkplug’s voice did indeed carry, making Velvet Sky and Hoist both spit their respective drinks. Candyfloss by contrast just giggled. “So, Velvet Sky.” The pink earth pony mare levelled a stare at the pegasus, “I guess this is like meeting the parents for you?”

“Yeah, um, welcome?” Hoist said quietly when his marefriend nudged his shoulder.  

“It's a little like that,” Velvet agreed, though she didn’t know the pink pony, she was strangely familiar from somewhere. “I know you, Hoist,” she offered her hoof for a bump, which Hoist returned almost instantly. “I've been a fan of Air Raid's for a long time.”

“Oh?” asked Hoist, the unicorn’s attention grabbed. “Even in the bad times?”

“Especially in those times!” Velvet Sky lifted her bottle up in a salute / toast, which the other ponies joined in with, “It’s like Scootaloo said, "A true fan supports their team, no matter what", right?”

Swallowing his beer, Wheeljack nodded, a great wave of affection for his beautiful mare flooding his chest. “I remember that. It helped Raid when everything was falling apart.” Hoist simply nodded at that. Those bad times in Canterlot had been bad indeed. 

“That’s a pretty skirt, Velvet,” Candyfloss said, “Do you often cross dress?” 

“Scootaloo certainly helped me when I was down,” Velvet commented in response to what Hoist had said. The pegasus then smiled at Candyfloss. “My sister used to dress me up after I came out, I've worn all sorts when I dance at Trixie's Place, and recently I've started wearing dresses all the time.” Prince Dusk had been a big influence in that aspect of his life.

“You wear it well,” Candyfloss giggled, “I'm sure Jackie enjoys a mare with a lollipop.”

“He hasn't complained yet,” Velvet announced with pride, “nor will I give him reason to.”

Sat at the table with his family, Wheeljack was rather enjoying how Candyfloss was teasing Hoist and, to a lesser degree, how she was being so welcoming to his mare. After a drink of his beer, he decided to get in on the action. Kissing Velvet’s cheek, he said, “This one is a tight as a vice grip.”

Despite Hoist being the target of Wheeljack’s tease, it was Velvet Sky who blushed so hard that her wings got all fluffed up. “J-Jack!” she squeaked, the pegasus quietly sipped her beer, running through the dance steps in her head while she recovered.

“That’s why I do my Kegel exercises, but I don't think that would work for you, Velvet.”

Wheeljack snorted at Candyfloss’s comment, the unicorn reminded why he liked her and how pleased he was that she was with her brother. “Ratchet talks to no end about that.”

“No, I ah, I don't think it would…” Velvet knew she was being teased and she was perfectly fine with that. “You work the carnival, Candyfloss? I can't imagine you inspect Hoist's lollipop for a living.”

“Living, no. Livelihood, yes!” 

Following that priceless little gem from Candyfloss, Wheeljack performed a perfect beer spit take. “You're a wild one, little brother.”

Velvet laughed at that, she just couldn’t help herself. “It seems you aren't quite as quiet as the press says, Hoist.”

Hoist was just about to reply that yes, he was every bit as quiet and reserved as the press reported he was when in walked Air Raid, with Cream and Amethyst by her sides. As soon as Air Raid saw where they were sitting, the three mares moved over to their table. “Where’s Ratchet and Spar...”  

“Hi Raid!” Sparkplug waved energetically from her present spot beside Luna. “I'm with the Sorceress!”

“Alright,” Air Raid amended her question. “So, um, Ratchet?”

“She is with her newest marefriend,” said Hoist, taking a drink of his beer. “Where you can't comment.”

“I'm with my newest marefriend too,” Wheeljack chimed in, not wanting to be left out, kissing Velvet Sky on the lips. 

Velvet could tell by the look on Air Raid’s face that she wasn’t buying the fact that she was a mare. Which was understandable because the dark blue pegasus hadn’t gone to great lengths with any make up or things like that. And Velvet was perfectly fine with that. She was her own mare. She was about to say something, but mid-sentence her mouth hung open following Wheeljack’s kiss. “Ra-Ra-Raaaa…” quickly, she swallowed and, wetting her dried mouth, she tried again. “A-Air Raid…hello.”

“Congratulations, Jackie. Hello,” Air Raid held out her hoof for a bump. “I'm Air Raid.”

To Velvet Sky, it was like the universe was in slow motion when she bumped hooves with her hero and her idol. “Fan! Aaaah...I'm fan, a fan, big fan, of yours!” she cursed herself for babbling like an idiot. Way to make that first impression.

“Air Raid, this is Velvet Sky,” Wheeljack introduced his mare to his friend. “You two have something in common, which is why Velvet is such a fan of yours.” 

“Well it isn't sex, so...” Air Raid’s grey eyes went wide as saucers as she suddenly understood what her mechanic meant by that. “Um, you, ah have, ah...”

Still in quite a daze, Velvet said, “Scootaloo's Syndrome, yes I have it.”

Sat next to Air Raid, Amethyst did not believe the pegasus’s claim. “Yes, very nice, talk later. You…” the pink zebra pointed her hoof at Air Raid, “Go get some tasty zebran snacks. You,” she gestured at Cream, “Go see if they have some of Mungu wa Usiku's favourite drink.” Once both of her pets had scurried off to carry out their orders, Amethyst turned her attention to Velvet, looking at him like she would a cricket. “So, you say you can't fly due to genetic defect?” She was sure he was using that as an excuse to get close to Raid.

“Amy...” Wheeljack paused when Amethyst raised a sceptical eyebrow his way. “Velvet does have it.” The same thought had occurred to him, though he trusted his pony.

“That's right, Ms. Amethyst,” kissing Wheeljack’s lips, Velvet stood up to face her sceptics. “It's fine, I understand it's a rare condition.” Making sure that there was adequate space around her, she flapped her wings so hard she made a breeze, though she remained glued to the floor of the coffee shop.

At last convinced, Amethyst waved a stripy pink hoof in the air. “Fine, ah, my treats and drink have arrived!” she beamed appreciatively as Air Raid and Cream delivered the food and drink to her. “You two may now get your own, and then you can talk.” The two headed back to the buffet table. “Will this one be in the pits, Jackie?”

“Race fan,” Wheeljack responded as Amethyst enjoyed her fresh mealworms, “She will sit in our reserved seating with the herd.”

Velvet Sky had to try very hard to stop herself from giggling like the huge fan-filly she was. She only just succeeded when Air Raid and Cream sat back down. “Air Raid, I watched your first race here in the stadium! I followed your career all the way from Canterlot, ever since the derby races when you were fifteen all the way till now.”

Smiling, Air Raid was impressed. “It’s good to know I have one real fan…eeek!” she squealed when Amethyst bit down hard on her ear. “From before I moved to Manehatten, I mean!”

“I even stayed loyal after that one time you drove motorcycles.”

Wheeljack and Hoist immediately started laughing loudly. Candyfloss though was confused – she wasn’t the only one, going by Amethyst’s expression, while Air Raid just shook her head at her own foolishness. “I learnt to never ever stick my head above the windscreen.”

“Forgive me,” Velvet laughed, “but it was funny when you slid down that fog bank. Just like a Saturday morning cartoon. I ah, I have a model of your car, I was hoping you'd sign it sometime?”

“Not a problem, Velvet,” Air Raid replied as she drank her beer. She was always happy to please a fan, as long as it was in her power to do so. ‘Always look after your fans’, Scootaloo had taught her, ‘because you never know how long they’ll stay fans’.

Seeing that Candyfloss still looked confused, Hoist added helpfully, “To Raid, clouds are always solid.”

“They are to me as well,” Velvet added, “Which I imagine doesn't help when you drive into one at sixty miles per hour…” 

“I was an idiot,” Air Raid affirmed, though it wasn’t strictly necessary. The whole table knew she was an idiot, but she was their idiot. “I was way ahead and I wanted to see how far. Forgot about the fact that the fog was solid thanks to my defect. I rolled along ways on the track till I stopped.”

Velvet Sky stifled her giggles, “But thank you, for agreeing to sign my model. I appreciate it.” Appreciate it was a teeny bit of an understatement. To have Air Raid autograph the model she had built and painted – complete with opening doors, hood that lifted up to reveal the authentic engine and the steering wheel that moved the wheels – well, it was like her birthday. “Are you performing tonight? I'm waiting my turn to dance.”

Air Raid opened her mouth but it was Amethyst who spoke for her pet. “She is, as my personal waitress. She may have a difference performance after the show.” The dominant pink zebra pointed a hoof at Cream. “This one will sing with Serenity.”

“Both will be admirable performances, I'm sure.” Velvet though was also sure that at least among the pegasi in attendance, she would steal the show. Which was just how she liked it.

A moment later, Caffeinated stood up on a table and immediately commanded everypony’s attention. “Fillies and gentlecolts, everycreature, the open mic begins in fifteen minutes. If you have not gotten your name on the list, then do so with Sonic at the sound booth.” Little speech done, he moved off back to his table.

Candyfloss leant over and said, “This place is packed. Is it always like this?” Wheeljack shrugged at that, it being his first, he had no idea if this was normal or not.  

“Wily said the last one was packed out. I guess this is a popular gig?” Air Raid offered, though she snickered when she saw Wheeljack’s pegasus practically dancing with anticipation on ‘her’ seating pad. “Eager, Velvet?”

“Yes!” she squeaked, “I am, eager, I mean.”

Wheeljack affectionately brushed a hoof over his mare’s cheek. “She’s as soft as velvet too.”

That got Velvet’s wings fluffing up with pride. “Only for you, Master.”

All of a sudden, the whole venue went very quiet. An almost unnatural hush descended on the coffee shop. Velvet soon saw why. Lady Octavia, along with her prized priceless cello, had taken to the stage. “Good evening,” she spoke softly though even without a microphone the place was so quiet her voice carried. “As you are aware, I've stopped preforming concerts, but I haven't stopped performing for my wife. This is for my Luna, but all of you are free and welcome to listen.”  

Velvet Sky – and most of those at the pit crew table for that matter - was amazed at what she and they were seeing, and rightly so, usually one paid at least six hundred bits to see Octavia play. What amazed Velvet more was the sound. If heaven had a sound, then this was it.

Fifteen minutes later, when Octavia had finished her piece, the whole coffee shop erupted in thunderous applause. It was like a thunderstorm from a clear sky. It continued long after the First Lady had taken her seat by Luna’s side at the head table. “Now,” Sonic addressed the crowd, “what act would want to follow that?”

“I will!” Serenity squealed, the teal unicorn jumping up and down with her hoof up in the air. “I will, I will!”

Sonic snickered, for Serenity was probably the only mare in the coffee shop who could even hold a candle to what they had all just been treated to. “Okay, up next is Serenity!”

Up on the stage, Serenity performed a few lalalalala’s to warm up her professional alicorn-given voice and to show her vast operatic range. On cue, Sonic started up the music and out of Serenity’s alicorn-given voice came the discordant noise that was simply ‘Agadoo’. In response to this, Mapper did the only reasonable thing she could think to do. She hit her head on the table.

At the pit crew’s table, Wheeljack didn’t know the opera scene and, while he was not fond of the song, he at least resolved to do the hoof motions if Velvet did them too. With a groan, he realised that of course Velvet was doing them! Not only was Velvet Sky doing the hoof motions, she was up on her hind legs and performing an impromptu floor show. 

Air Raid chose to follow Mapper’s example and she banged her head on the table.

While Mapper and Air Raid were trying to drown out the noise by banging their heads on the table, much of the audience in the coffee shop were following Velvet’s example. Chief among them was Luna, dancing to Agadoo on the table, much to Octavia’s delight. Some danced well, some not so much. Nopony cared though as they were all having a very fun time, the ice of the event well and truly broken.

“I think she may have stolen the show,” Luna smiled to her wife once Serenity had finished singing Black Lace’s ‘classic’.

Octavia just gave a shrug. “The show wasn't mine to start with.”

Mapper, her head still on the table, grumbled, “I'm going to need a lot of rolled up newspapers after this…”

After Octavia and Serenity’s stellar openers, a variety of acts came to the mic. Some ponies sang, some danced and some read poetry. “I'm starting to see the appeal of this event,” Velvet said with a smile as she nuzzled Wheeljack’s cheek. “Perhaps we'll come to another?” 

Wheeljack simply nodded as Air Raid, in the meantime, was making herself busy serving Amethyst. Next on the stage, Thespian commanded all the attention, as did the sexy red corset, socks, panties she was dressed in. When she sang ‘A Little Bitty Pissant Country Place’, Serenity, Belle, Recital and Requiem all joined in on the chorus.

“Velvet,” said Shoe as she came up to the table, “you're on after the violin solo.”

“O-Okay,” Velvet found she was actually a little nervous, it was after all a very big thing she was about to do for a stallion she had just met. “T-Thanks, Shoe.” When the violin player was done, the solo was okay, the pony was still an aspiring player, Sonic called Velvet up.  

‘I can do this. I can do this...’ Velvet Sky told herself as she kissed Wheeljack’s lips for courage and she sashayed up onto the stage and to the microphone, smoothing her skirt and making sure her mane bow was in place. “This dance is for Wheeljack, I'm dancing because...because I love him.” Once she was sure everypony was looking at her, particularly her stallion, the dark blue pegasus performed the ancient pegasi love / mating dance. It was most definitely not the Coloratura dance she usually did at Trixie’s Place. It was slow and graceful, using her wings for a great display.

Watching, Air Raid was absolutely stunned. “By Celestia, he's…she’s…really doing ‘that’ dance?”

Airmail was similarly amazed, though her wings weren’t erect like Air Raid’s were. “Somepony has it hot for pit crew, huh?”

“Tavi can do that dance without wings.” Said Luna, who loved the cute blush that adorned her beautiful wife’s face.

Belle leant in to her husband and snickered, “You haven’t done that since the time you proposed to me.”

Tinkerer laughed, “And you thought I was having a seizure!” 

Among the watching crowd there was lots of murmurs from the audience along with more than a couple wingboners. When she reached the climax of the dance though, Velvet Sky couldn’t quite pull off the grand finale because she couldn’t fly. Instead, she reared up on her hind legs with her wings spread wide apart, feathers flared and head bowed. Air Raid, who was one of those with a boner, applauded rather loudly when Velvet was done.

Seeing as she knew the significance of the dance was completely lost on its intended recipient, nudged Wheeljack hard in the ribs to get his attention. “What did you think of your dance, Jackie?”

“It ah…” Wheeljack turned a stunned face to Air Raid. While the dance had been a very nice one, and he had been fascinated by it just like he had been by the dance at Trixie’s, to him it was just a dance. “Um…it was nice?” he offered lamely.

“Idiot,” Air Raid snorted and shook her head. “You take that stallion out of here and screw him into the ground until he either can't walk or he screams your name, whichever comes first.”

Candyfloss pointed a hoof at Air Raid. “What she said.”

“I wonder why he didn't finish it properly?” Airmail wondered out loud.

“Perhaps because he was inside?” Luna offered, to which Airmail just shrugged. Apart from the incorrect ending, it had been a perfect love dance. Seeing it performed so well gave her an idea for her blind fiancée’s return from Canterlot.

On the stage, Velvet Sky was panting hard once the required time of holding the finale position was done. Bowing low, she took her leave from the spotlight. Unfortunately, Wheeljack was still as clueless as ever. “So...it was a special dance, then?”

Shaking her head, Air Raid sighed. “It was ‘the’ pegasi dance. Like a marriage proposal kind of dance. I guess he really has Scootaloo syndrome, as the performer is required to take to the air and hold the final pose in a hover. It’s a very difficult thing to pull off.”  

“But…But we just met yesterday…”

Air Raid laughed, “Well, it seems like somepony has made up their mind about you, Jackie.”

“And just when are you planning on doing that dance for me?” Amethyst asked, which served to shut Air Raid up and make her blush at the same time. Wisely, the lime green mare decided it was time to get her Mistress more drink, though she still had a huge wingboner to contend with as Velvet made her way back to the table, planting a long hard kiss on Wheeljack's lips.

“All that was for me?” asked the dark red stallion once he was able to speak.

“Yes, it was all for you,” again, Velvet kissed her stallion. “Wheeljack, I love you!”

While Wheeljack’s eyes went wide as saucers, Amethyst said, “Si kwamba hivyo tamu. Anatenda kama filly kidogo.”

Cream burst out into fits of giggles when her Mistress said Velvet was so sweet. The cream zebra’s giggles intensified when Amethyst said he was acting like an adorable little filly. Wheeljack though couldn’t understand her. “What?” he asked, unsure if he was being messed with.  

Amethyst waved her pink hoof towards the coffee shop’s door. “You girls go have fun!”

Taking her turn on the stage, Shoe performed a complete striptease. Those that knew about Shoe, knew, but those that didn't, just didn't. As the striptease progressed, it did slowly dawn on Velvet Sky that Shoe wasn’t actually a mare. Certain things just didn’t look quite right. That was pushed to the back of her mind though when she saw the same stunned look was still adorning Wheeljack’s face. “Um...Jack? Are you okay in there?” the pegasus was worried she had broken her stallion.

Without a word, Wheeljack took Velvet’s hoof in his own and, lifting it up, gave it a kiss. “Let's take this back to my place, shall we?”

Shoe, on the stage, had reached that part of the striptease where ‘she’ was fully exposed. The earth pony showed no sheath, but the fur underneath was long, and on a spin, it looked like mare bits under the tail, but Velvet was positive it was all smoke and mirrors. Having seen enough, kisses Wheeljack’s lips. “Take me to your place and, take me at your place.”

“Take care brother, I hope I don't keep both of you awake. See you in the morning.” Sparkplug, still seated at Luna's table, waved at her brother and his partner as they departed for their more ‘private’ time ahead back at Wheeljack’s house.

~ ~ ~

As they had done on the two subway trains on the way back from the open mic night, Wheeljack and Velvet Sky fell through the front door of the unicorn’s six-bedroom house still kissing like teenagers. That is, until the doubt began to creep into Wheeljack’s mind. “Do you know what you're doing?” he asked once they were separated.

“Yes,” Velvet answered quickly, “I'm kissing your face off.” The pegasus then demonstrated that by kissing the older pony for the millionth time.

“I don't know what I'm doing,” Wheeljack admitted dejectedly, “I honestly don't know if I'm desperate, infatuated, or just stupid…”

For a moment, Velvet Sky paused in the very important kissing of his stallion’s lips. “Sure sounds like love to me.” She stepped back and smiled, though she held the unicorn’s hooves. “Wheeljack, I love you.”

Wheeljack though wasn’t as sure as his partner was. “I...I...I don't know, but I do know I want you in my life.”

“I suppose pegasi do act rather fast, don't we?” Velvet Sky giggled and kissed his nose. It was a little-known fact – little known these days anyway – that pegasi were naturally fast with matters of romance and coupling. It dated back to the time of the Unification, when they were warriors, they didn't know if they'd be alive tomorrow, so they’d do everything today. Unicorns and earth ponies were of course naturally slower. “I want to be in your life, and I want you in mine.”

“Pretend I'm an earth pony then. You're a keeper, but it will be a while before the engagement wing clip.”

“I can do that, and I promise I will go a little slower from now on,” she returned to the immediate and necessary kissing. “At least I know I'm not going to war tomorrow.” Velvet cleared her throat. “Would you like a glass of wine, calm those nerves, sexy?”

“Okay, that will be the last reminder.” Wheeljack now knew exactly what he had to do. Wine! Wine!? How dare his partner suggest he might drink wine! Wine! When there was beer! Wine indeed… “Grab two beers from the fridge and meet me in my room.”

“Yes sweetie,” after kissing Wheeljack’s nose, Velvet Sky swayed her way over to the kitchen and to the fridge to get the beers. In his master bedroom, the dark red unicorn waited, ready for action. On the way to bedroom, Velvet had an instinctive idea that Wheeljack had been burned in the past more than once. Once that realisation entered her brain, she kicked herself for going so quick. On her hind legs, she entered the bedroom with the beers held in her hooves. “Beer time, baby.”

In the bedroom though, Wheeljack was stood ‘ready’. Ready involved the riding crop held in his glowing magical aura. “Put them on the night stand, pet. I'm sure this will be thirsty work for me.”  

‘Oh my oh my...’ the snicker in Wheeljack’s voice unnerved Velvet in a very good way. As soon as she heard his voice, her cock slipped from its sheath inside the red panties, making a bulge as she put the beers on the left side night stand. “Yes Master.”

“I have been saying since we met that I'd give you a spanking, but I’ve only given you a few love taps so far, but!” he paused as dramatically as he could, brandishing the crop in the air like a sword, “To suggest I might like some wine. Wine! Well, forelegs on the bed, ass in the air and keep that tail high. Now.”

‘Yes!’ Velvet cheered internally as she walked up to the bed and assumed the required position. She did so though as sexily as she could manage. She bent over the foot of the bed, her ass up high. She spread her hind legs wide apart but, for a moment, her tail lowered for a moment before it lifted, showing off the now very tight panties. Wheeljack enjoyed the view immensely, particularly the bulge of Velvet’s balls. “Being the first time, I'll let you keep that extra padding on your fanny.” He swung the crop and strike one hit with all Wheeljack’s strength, and he could lift a car, “But I won't go so easy next time!”

“AaaaAAH buuuuuuck!” Velvet screamed, though with the second strike she screamed a second time. Instantly she got harder, her impressive cock popping well out of the panties. Her tail lowered as his wings stiffened up from sheer arousal. “Th-Thank you Master! Pl-Please may I have another?”

‘Oh yes,’ Wheeljack thought as he used his considerable magical strength to pull Velvet up by the tail, ‘You can have another…’ He then proceeded to lay a firm hoof on each ass cheek. He just loved the way it rippled as he spanked it.

On the receiving end, Velvet was loving it. ‘Oh by Hurricane's feathers!’ she thought, dancing on the tips of her hind hooves, her ass quivered in the panties as she was spanked, leaking pre through the silken material. Wheeljack’s hooves were just as firm and powerfully strong as the crop he swung. “Tha-Thank y-you Master, please may I have another?”

Happy to oblige, Wheeljack put his multi-tasking to work and lifted up Velvet’s tail while delivering to more crop strikes. The sheer force of the blows made Velvet dance on the tips of those hooves, the sweet, sweet pain lighting up her ass with angry red welts. “Th-Thank...nnnggggh...oow...thank you! I'm sorry for the wine, Master!” 

Softly, gently, Wheeljack rubbed Velvet’s ass. The older pony’s hoof felt each and every welt, feeling very proud that he had placed them there. “You won't find a bottle of wine in this house. Some strong spirits, maybe, but no wine. Grapes are for jelly.”

With the touch of Wheeljack’s hoof, Velvet Sky moved her ass backwards, eager to feel more of the hoof caressing her burning behind. Breathing heavily through her nose, Velvet squeaked, “I'm really, really sorry Master. I’ll remember next time Master, I promise.”

Looking proudly at his work, Wheeljack was impressed that Velvet hadn’t used her safe word yet. Seems she was tougher than the skirt and panties would suggest. “You haven't safe worded out yet, but now it’s time for the next activity.”

“I-I'm ready Master!” Velvet Sky wasn’t close to stopping the fun just yet, she could take a lot more.

“Good!” Wheeljack declared before moving alongside Velvet, laying down on the bed and lifting up his white tail. “I want you to show me how much thrust you have left in that tender ass of yours.”

After receiving the many crop and hoof strikes, Velvet’s ass was justly tender. As the pegasus slowly lifted up from the bed, he sloughed off the feminine persona, casting the ‘her’ aside and becoming ‘himself’ once more. Stood up, he slid the panties down his hind legs and got rid of them. Next to go was the skirt as his hoof caressed Wheeljack’s exposed ass. “Lube in the nightstand, sexy?”

“Great minds to think alike.”

“That's what a nightstand is for, sweet cheeks!” Velvet smiled and he quickly retrieved the lube from the drawer. “You even have cherry flavour!” Getting in position behind Wheeljack, the pegasus squirted a liberal amount on the unicorn’s ass and then he used his tongue to properly apply it.

Wheeljack was very much enjoying the service. As it happened, Velvet was very good at what he was doing. Using his forehooves, Velvet parted Wheeljack’s ass cheeks and in short order he was eating his ass out like it was a gourmet meal. He was tongue fucking the unicorn’s ass so hard he had to apply more lube. He then applied a load to his cock for good measure before rearing up and prodding Wheeljack's wettened lubed up asshole. “Are you ready?”

“I was ready before you were born, colt.”

Without further ado or hesitation, Velvet Sky thrust his hips forwards, feeling his flat head slip inside his lover’s prepared hole. He did not stop at his medial ring. He simply felt it touch the puckered sphincter and thrust harder until it too slipped inside with a wet schlupping sound. Velvet only stopped when his hips meet Wheeljack's ass. “It seems you're right, beautiful!”

Wheeljack, for his part, was determined to make it as difficult as he could for Velvet to pull back. “Jackie, you have the best ass I've ever bucked…” Velvet sighed, his forehooves on the unicorn's shoulders. He eventually pulled back and slid back inside, though he was not as fast or hard as Wheeljack was. 

As he slowly bucked Wheeljack’s asshole, Velvet did not notice that the unicorn’s horn was lit. He did however notice when the riding crop slammed into Velvet’s ass cheeks one after the other on an in stroke. “Do put some effort into it!” 

Velvet’s squeal of surprise warred with the snort of arousal to produce a rather unique and hitherto unheard sound. He could feel his ass becoming quite tender. This time when the pegasus snorted through his nose, it was full of lust and need, his next thrust was hard and fast. “Yeah, that's putting it into fifth gear!” Wheeljack moaned, he wanted a good buck, not a slow burn. He delivered another slap of the crop, but not as hard. “Pedal to the metal!”

Letting out a whinny from the crop strike, Velvet sped up. “I'll show you my top gear!” he pulled back hard on Wheeljack's shoulders as he buried himself deep in his ass hard and fast. As his magic faded in place of the intense sensation he was feeling from having Velvet’s cock rub his prostate, the crop fell to the floor.  

Velvet then leant forward over his lover’s back and took a long slow lick of his horn, in addition to rutting his ass like he was in heat. It wasn’t long, thanks to this treatment, that Wheeljack lost his load. With a loud scream, the older pony’s cum blasted out underneath him.

A couple of thrusts later and Velvet Sky came too. The dark blue pegasus filled Wheeljack’s colon and bowels with his hot sticky white seed. Though he had cum, he stayed hilted inside his lover. Leaning over the unicorn’s back, he sucked hard on his horn like it was a second cock. “Now, I'm gonna blow your mind…”

As he laid chin down on the bed, Wheeljack gave a pleasant mmmmmm. It was good, it was just a shame it came after having his ass reamed good and proper. “Enjoy, but my horn's spent. It still feels nice though.” Velvet did suckle on the horn for a little while until he started to soften, then he laid next to Wheeljack who kissed him. “Good to know you can set the mare to the side when needed.”

“I don't always wear dresses and skirts, Wheeljack,” Velvet Sky winked and kissed the older stallion’s lips.
> Chapter 5 - Pole Position
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ratchet was the first to wake up on Saturday morning. Rolling over in the bed, the unicorn was presented with Buttercup’s left ear. Smiling, she resumed her role as the big spoon in her mare’s tiny bedroom that was little bigger than a closet. Laying with the deaf earth pony, she was content to snuggle with her mare for a little while, although she quickly got bored of that. Grinning slyly, she bit the mare’s ear – not severely, just enough to wake her up. When her pet did wake, Ratchet turned her head to face her. “I'm just going to lounge here in the bedroom while you fix breakfast and invite Lemongrasss over. When it is ready, loudly announce breakfast is ready, even if your friend is in the same room as you.”

The unicorn waited patiently for a few moments as Buttercup blinked herself awake. Thoughtfully, she repeated her order, slowly, to make sure that she understood her lips. She was a strict Mistress, but she wasn’t unfair. “Oh,” she added as a thought occurred to her, “is it okay to call her Lemon, or does she like Grass, or does she prefer her full name?”

Blinking herself properly awake, Buttercup took a quick moment to process the fact that she had woken up with her beautiful marefriend and Mistress. It hadn’t been a dream! “Yes Mistress,” on her hooves – she didn’t want her ear bitten a second time – she bowed and signed her reply. “She likes Grass as a nickname. I'll just go and get her, Mistress.”

A rather playful thought crossed Ratchet’s mind. “Okay, I'm staying hidden. No reason to give away you now have a special somepony.”

Buttercup laughed, “You are naughty, Mistress.” She was still giggling as she left the bedroom with her blue tail bow in place. Glancing over her shoulder, she rather liked her sign of ownership, as well as to whom she belonged. She caught a glance of the clock as she walked across to the opposite apartment to hers and hoped that her friend wouldn’t mind being woken up so early.   

“Good night…ugh, I mean, morning Buttercup,” Lemongrass groused as she opened her apartment door. Six a.m. was when she usually left with her best friend / little sister to tend her flower stall, but that was in the week. There was no reason to be up this early on a Saturday. It was unnatural. “Wh-What's up?”

“Hey Grass!” Buttercup nuzzled her honorary big sister as wiped the sleep from her bleary eyes. “It's my turn for breakfast, or did you forget?”

“Um, yes?” Lemongrass offered with a giggle. If she was honest, the forest green earth pony mare had only just remembered what her name was, let alone who was cooking whom breakfast. “Whatcha cookin’?”

Buttercup sympathised with her sleepy friend. If it weren’t for Ratchet’s presence in her bedroom, then she would’ve been asleep too. “Momma Snuggles’ special!” the summer green earth pony ran her hoof through her light green and yellow striped mane, smoothing out a few tangles. “Tempted?”   

As it happened, Lemongrass was indeed tempted by the thought of banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes and blueberry pancakes. Especially if she wasn’t the one cooking them. She eagerly followed her best friend across the apartment building’s hallway. “Sold!” she grinned, for one didn’t need an excuse for Momma Snuggles’ pancakes. “Sounds great, Butters.”

Letting them both into her pokey apartment, Buttercup’s mind was on the Manehatten orphanage’s head matron. The yellow unicorn had been her mother as long as she could remember. While other ponies had been adopted out, she had stayed, unwanted. “She only made this once a week, remember, and then only if we'd been good fillies.” She shut the door, “Get comfy on the couch, I'll cook.”

Ignoring her friend completely, Lemongrass followed Buttercup into the kitchen. Not that she hated her lumpy old threadbare couch…much. “Anything new in your life, or are you just spinning your wheel?”

“Well, I told you I have a marefriend, which you don't believe.” Buttercup replied as she pulled various ingredients from her cupboards along with her frying pans and started cooking the pancake batter once it was mixed. She then started her battered old whistle kettle boiling for the coffee. “And I got three new customers yesterday.”

“I'll go along with the second half of that story.” Lemongrass snorted as she signed and spoke her comment. “Do you think they’ll be regulars?”

Rolling her eyes, Buttercup smiled as she cooked. She knew her BSBFF didn’t believe her that she had a marefriend. That was okay. She’d know soon enough. “I hope so. Always need more money. Maybe I'll get enough to replace the lumpy sofa one day.” She giggled, knowing she was more than likely stuck with it. “What about you?”

“Nothing,” the earth pony sighed sadly, “That's why I'm here with you instead of my own couch, my duvet and my right forehoof…”

Buttercup interrupted her with a fit of giggles as she created a stack of banana pancakes on a plate before cooking some more, these ones the blueberry. “Still looking for the perfect stallion, Grass?”

“Yeah,” she spent a moment picturing said perfect stallion along with his perfect member, “at least you won't steal him when I find him.”

“You should’ve come to Trixie's last night,” Buttercup replied, talking more than signing, seeing as how she was using her hooves to cook. Fortunately, she knew that Lemongrass could understand her odd voice just fine. “Lots of perfect stallions on the second floor…”

“Pfft,” she snorted derisively, “All looking for their perfect stallion. That’s the problem!”

Laughing, Buttercup cooked until she had three towering stacks of pancakes on the plate. When she judged she had enough, she said loudly, “Breakfast is done!” as per her Mistress’s orders. With her back to her friend, she divided the three flavours of pancakes among three waiting plates. “You want to sit at the table, Grass?”  

Lemongrass was surprised by that. They usually sat on the lumpy couch watching the breakfast news on the boat anchor of a TV. “Oooh, we are being all fancy and eating at the table. I'm right here, you know.” Buttercup, unsure of her volume, repeated her announcement that breakfast was ready a lot louder as she set three plates on the table. Clearly, by the look on her big sister’s face, she thought she had gone bonkers.   

Seconds later, Ratchet emerged from the bedroom and, with curlers in her burnt umber mane, she walked into the kitchen like she owned the place and she gave Buttercup a kiss. “I thought my special somepony was going to serve me in bed!” she then made a show of noticing Lemongrass sat open mouthed at the table. “Oh, seems we have a guest this morning.”

After kissing her owner, Buttercup bowed respectfully. She only felt a teeny bit guilty at setting up her friend. “Good morning Mistress.” When Ratchet had taken her seat at the table, she provided coffee for both of them before her, though absent mindedly she left her mug by the whistling kettle.

“H-H-Hi, I'm Lemongrass…” it wasn’t often she was lost for words, but this was such an occasion. 

Unable to resist a smirk, Ratchet reached out over the table for a hoof bump. “Pleased to meet you, I'm Ratchet.” She kept her hoof out while she took the mug that was hers in her magical aura.

As Lemongrass bumped Ratchet’s hoof, Buttercup leant over and closed her best friend’s mouth. “I told you I had a marefriend, Grass.” That done, she sat at the table with her hooves at the side of her plate like a good little mare.

Taking a bite of the banana and blueberry pancakes, Ratchet was in love all the more. That they had been made because she ordered it to be so made them taste all the better. Lemongrass’s reaction was just the icing on her cake. “These are delicious!” to show her appreciation, she gave Buttercup a banana pancake loaded kiss.

“Thank you, Mistress,” Buttercup held the kiss, tasting the pancake she had just made. “Momma Snuggles’ special.” She really wanted to attack hers, and though her hooves twitched towards her knife and fork, she forced herself to remain still until Ratchet said she could eat. 

“What do you think of them, Grass?” Ratchet didn’t even try to keep the smug tone from her voice. As a dominant, the way that her pet kept her hooves still, obviously awaiting her order, excited her no end.   

Sat at the table, Lemongrass hadn't even lifted up her cutlery, let alone taste the pancakes. Quickly, she took a bite and nodded, trying to force rational thought through her brain even as she swallowed the chocolate chip pancake. “They're great!”

“I feel generous,” Ratchet said with a nod of her head to their guest. “You may have some, pet.”

“Thank you, Mistress,” though she wanted to dive in muzzle first, Buttercup instead took a refined piece with her knife and fork, smiling at Lemongrass's reaction. “Something wrong, Grass?” Quietly, her friend shook her head and continued to eat her breakfast. Smiling, the deaf mare took another couple of bites, thinking she was alright to do so as Ratchet gave her permission.

“So, ah, what are you doing today?” asked Lemongrass, the flower seller at last seemingly able to speak.

Ratchet answered for her pet. “I'm taking Butters to the race track with me today.”

When Buttercup finished the small stack of three banana pancakes, she was about to start on the blueberry ones, though she forgot to ask if she could eat those. More pressing right then was the confused look on her big sister’s face. “Mistress is a mechanic for Air Raid, the racer. I'm going to see where she works!”

“Oh, I read about her in the papers. She...” As dots connected to dots in Lemongrass’s mind, making a picture, the earth pony’s eyes went very wide as she processed how this strange pony sat at the breakfast table with them was part of Princess Luna's group. The papers said so!

As she ate her breakfast, Buttercup giggled. Now, she was well aware that she hadn't asked permission to speak and she was just being naughty to test Ratchet. “You look like you did that time momma caught you stealing cookies from the pantry!”

Wearing a stunned look on her face, Lemongrass looked at her little sister, a picture formed in her head. “You're going to be hanging out with a Princess…” Ratchet had by now drained her mug of its contents and she moved her empty mug towards her pet, looking to see if her guest also needed a refill.  

Though Ratchet didn’t say a word, Buttercup got the message. “I already have my Princess, Grass.” Standing up, she took both Ratchet and Lemongrass’s mugs over to the kettle where she began to refill the coffee. While she was there, she made the mistake of drinking hers that she left by the kettle before.

Wasting time was one thing Ratchet couldn’t stand. Slightly annoyed, the maple coloured unicorn slapped her hoof hard down on the table. “Do not dilly dally, pet!” she then turned to Lemongrass. “I don't know when Lady Octavia will ride in the car again, but the Princess does like to watch from the box. That is where guests watch from.”

Stood at the kettle by the sink, Buttercup sputtered her coffee and blushed hard at being caught out. Once she had made the fresh coffees, she set the refilled mugs back on the table. “That’s where we could watch from, Mistress?”

“I’m not going to have you under my hoof in the pit, pet.”

“Thank you, Mistress!” Buttercup then took her seat and picked up her fork once more.

At long last, with the smack on the table from Ratchet’s hoof, Lemongrass found her 'big sister' voice. She waved her hoof in the air, making sure she had Buttercup’s attention before she spoke next. She hadn’t really paid attention before now. Now though she was switched on and alert. “Mistress? Really? You're seriously doing this crap again, Butters?”

Quickly, eagerly, Buttercup nodded. It dawned on her that Ratchet had set this breakfast up to show her off. She was okay with that. In hindsight, she supposed she ought to have seen her friend’s response coming. “Ratchet, she's my marefriend and my Mistress, Grass…”

“Quiet pet!” Ratchet snapped, interrupting the deaf mare before she focussed on Lemongrass. “Again?” It crossed Ratchet’s mind that the other night in Trixie’s Place Buttercup did mention she’d had a bad time with a poor Mistress before, but they hadn’t gone into detail about it. She had a feeling they were about to.

“Yeah, again.” Lemongrass kept her voice even, but it was plain to all present in the kitchen that she was barely holding her temper. “What was it, about a year ago, Butters?” the summer green mare nodded but she didn’t say anything, instead twiddling her mane in her hooves.   

“My pet did say she’d had a poor Mistress in the past,” Ratchet replied as she sipped her fresh hot coffee. “You think I'm another?”

“I don't know,” she narrowed her eyes and pointed an accusatory hoof towards Ratchet and then at her friend. “I do know she ain't going to the hospital again just 'cos some plothole who wants to play Fifty Shades doesn't pay attention, got me?” When Ratchet smiled and motioned with her hoof for her to go on, she said, “You know she almost died, right? Cut her air off until she passed out? I'm ain’t letting that happen again.”

At once, Ratchet was impressed. It was totally understandable from everything she had been told and that she had heard that this mare be protective of her pet. Still, she had to assert herself here. “To be honest with each other, there is little you can do, but you can have this,” she then passed the forest green earth pony her official racing team card. “Should I put her in the hospital, you can make some hay out of that.”

“You put her in the hospital,” Lemongrass snarled, crushing the business card in her hoof, “And I'll put you in the next bed and I wo...”

Ever since she had returned to the table with the coffee refills, Buttercup had watched the back and forth between her BSBFF and her Mistress. While she wasn’t able to hear what was being said, she read their lips fast enough to keep up with her big sister best friend forever. She had heard enough. Rearing up, she interrupted their bickering and posturing with a hoof smack to the table. “Hey!” she yelled, “Do I get a say in this!?”

Lemongrass was stunned by her friend’s outburst, “Butters, come on, I'm just looking out for you!”

Buttercup wanted to continue her outburst but, when she snorted through her nose, the pause gave Ratchet the opening she was looking for. “Pet!” she yelled, magic sparks crackling at her horn – though those were just for show, they had the desired effect. “On the floor now and silence!”

When Buttercup moved to the floor so fast it was like she had teleported, Lemongrass snorted derisively, showing she was not impressed. “I stand by what I said.”

Ratchet forced herself to breath calmly through her nose, taking long deep breaths. “Lemongrass. It is good she has a big sister that cares. I noted that you're in one of the pictures she has on the wall.”

Like Ratchet, Lemongrass sighed and she breathed through her nose. She forced herself to remember that this pony wasn’t Compass Star. “She's my little sis. Butters looked out for me in the orphanage after I was put there. I owe her the same…” she blushed then, the fact that she did a rubbish job of that last time. She blamed herself for what Compass Star did to her, that Buttercup ended up in the hospital.

Ratchet had an idea. “Do you like to watch?” she asked slyly.

“Yes, yes I do…” the forest green earth pony’s blush only deepened when she realised what she had just admitted to.

She wasn’t the only one fighting a blush. “Oh my, that usually shuts them up.” Ratchet hadn’t been expecting that response. Now her bluff had been called and she had to follow through or lose face. Which she couldn’t allow to happen. Still this could work out. “Well, I do enjoy an audience.” She then levelled a measured look at her guest. “It has been a pleasure to meet those that my little Butters cares for. Do you want to stay while I discipline my pet for her outburst?”

Smiling, Lemongrass offered her hoof for a bump, which Ratchet quickly returned. “Yeah, I’ll watch, but not cos I'm checking up on you. I know you're okay. I just wanna see how you do it.”

“Happy to give out pointers for your future use,” said Ratchet with a wink. She sensed the air had been cleared between them and she got up from her seating pad. “Butters, follow.” She headed back for the bedroom without looking back. She knew she was being obeyed.

On the floor, Buttercup was rather hoping that Ratchet and Lemongrass had forgotten she was there. Alas, it seemed it was not to be. Slowly she got up and followed her Mistress to her bedroom, with her friend close behind her. “Foot of the bed,” Ratchet ordered when her pet was looking at her, “chin on the floor, ass high and tail up.”

“Yes Mistress,” signing her reply, Buttercup was quick as lightning to assume the position she was ordered. She got down on the thinly carpeted floor and, with her ass up in the air, lifted her tail up and let it fall over her back. Her chin was down on the floor as Lemongrass sat to the side out of the way so she could watch.

Opening the drawer in the dresser, Ratchet took out the riding crop and held the corrective instrument in her magic before slipping on some hoof covers over her forehooves. Taking aim, the maple coloured unicorn applied two hard crop smacks to each of Buttercup’s ass cheeks. “Who owns you?”

On the floor, Buttercup squealed into the carpet, “Aaah, y-you do, Mistress! You do!”

Ratchet deftly delivered two more smacks with the crop, loving the way that her pet’s ass cheeks grew redder with each strike. She had done that. It felt good to be in charge, to own her pony. “Who tells you want you can and cannot do?”

Starting to get wet with arousal, Buttercup’s light green and yellow striped tail twitched. Ratchet certainly knew how to swing a crop. “Ah…aaaah y-you do Mistress!”

To be given such control, freely and by one who trusted and loved her, by Cadance it felt good! Wordlessly, she switched to using her gloved hooves. Two smacks were quickly landed on each of her pet’s cutie marks. These grew an angry red like her ass cheeks. “Did you think I wouldn't punish you in front of a guest?”

As her ass reddened up under the hoofed onslaught, Buttercup whimpered, “Y-Yes...no! No, Mistress!” Sat off to the side, Lemongrass was getting rather interested in what she was watching. It was clear to her that this dominant mare knew what she was doing. Between every slap and smack, she was inspecting her partner for injury.

Smirking, Ratchet landed four more smacks with her hooves, each one hitting the fleshy part of her partner’s behind in quick succession. “You like an audience, don't you, pet?”

“GaaaAAAH!” the earth pony screamed as the dull red hoof marks on her ass brightened with each well-aimed strike, her pussy getting so wet she was dripping onto the carpet between her hind legs. “Yes Mistress! I love an audience Mistress!” Right then she would’ve agreed that rain was dry if her Mistress had asked her to.

Satisfied, Ratchet took out a vibrator from the dresser drawer with her magic and carefully she slipped it deep inside her pet’s sopping wet marehood. “You are an attention whore?” she asked while at the same time delivering two more smacks with her hooves.

“Yes Mistress!” Buttercup’s pained screams at the punishment she was receiving became lewd aroused moans, she was very turned on indeed. She couldn’t resist the hoof that was wandering towards her marehood. Purely by coincidence, Lemongrass was starting to do the exact same thing.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ratchet could see Lemongrass start to pleasure herself with her hoof. It was the hottest thing she had experienced in some time. Smiling sweetly, she remotely turned the vibrator up to full speed and she used the crop to smack the sole of her pet’s hoof hard. “Did I give you permission to masturbate?”

“AaaAaaAAAAGH no-no Mistress! I'm sorry Mistress!” Buttercup screamed the loudest scream yet and Lemongrass now had her hoof rubbing away like a blur at her own pussy.

As she worked her magic to slip the vibrator in and out of Buttercup’s wet snatch, each thrust accompanied by lewd squelching noises, Ratchet picked up the crop and whapped her pet’s raised ass two more times. She gauged from her reaction though she couldn’t take much more of that. “You want to cum, pet?”

“I do...” Lemongrass moaned, blushing intensely as she proceeded to rub one out. Straight as she might be, this was hot as Tartarus.

“Yes Mistress!” Buttercup by now was drooling on the bedroom floor from both ends, “I want to cum, please!”

“You haven't earned it yet…” Ratchet pulled the vibrator and, since it was slick and glistening with the earth pony’s arousal, she plunged it straight into Buttercup's as yet un-played with asshole. Quick as a flash, a second vibrator replaced the first so that both holes were filed with buzzing plastic. Her pet primed, Ratchet moved around and, sitting in front of her, the unicorn slid her own pussy onto Buttercup’s muzzle. “You may cum after me.”

That did it for Lemongrass. The show of dominance was enough to tip her over her edge and she came loudly, though thankfully Buttercup couldn’t hear that. Nestled in between Ratchet’s thighs, the deaf mare began to eat out her Mistress like her life depended on it, all the while emitting cute needy moans from the toys buried in her holes. 

Ratchet didn’t let up on the toys, indeed she increased their speed up as far as they would both go and left them there. She was loving the pleasurable sensations of the tongue dancing around the insides of her muscular tunnel and to keep her in place she rested a hoof to the back of Buttercup's head.

As she ate out her owner, Buttercup tried really hard not to cum. She wanted to be a good pet. She pressed her muzzle into Ratchet's marehood as far as she could reach so that it was all she could breathe, licking away. After several seconds of that, with a scream, Ratchet came hard. 

With her muzzle pressed deep in Ratchet's snatch, Buttercup inhaled nothing but her juices and the smell of her Mistress’s pussy. It was like having her air cut off – and, her sense of euphoria heightening all the time, she kept eating her out. After all, she wasn't commanded to stop. 

“That's bucking hot...” Lemongrass moaned, her cum spattered all over her own hooves from her session.

Since she noticed that Buttercup hadn’t cum yet, Ratchet took both vibrators in her magical aura and thrust them as fast as she could in and out of her pet’s holes. Try as she might, the summer green mare couldn’t hold back for more than a few moments. “MmmmMMMMMPH!” her scream was muffled though by where her muzzle was, namely in Ratchet’s slit. “AaaaAAAAAAHN!”

Presently though, Ratchet lifted her pet’s head up and, using her magic, she carefully, slowly, removed the two vibrators around to the front. With her hoof under her chin, she lifted Buttercup’s head high enough to look at her in the eyes. “Clean those vibrators in the sink and return them dry to the drawer.”

“Y-Ye-Yes Mistress...” Buttercup was very slow to move. When she did though, she staggered cross eyed to the bathroom to clean the toys as instructed.

“Wow…” Lemongrass breathed. She had by then recovered from her orgasm. “That was awesome, by the way. You know that, right?”

Oh, Ratchet knew it all right. Rolling to her hooves, she delved into the closet where she knew the breath play hood was kept in its sealed bag. Lifting up the hood, she showed it to Lemongrass, who recoiled from it like it was on fire and might burn her. “Is this what has you so worried?”

“Yes. I didn't know she still had that…thing.”

“I haven't used it yet, but I will. First, I'm going to talk with some others that do this and do it safely. I don't want to lose my new pet.”

“She told me she'd gotten rid of it,” Lemongrass sighed and then she shook her head. “It's not a thing. I've seen you're okay. I care for her, y'know?”

“Big sisters should care,” Ratchet agreed with a knowing smile. “I don't think there is a limit I'd go to in order to save Sparky.”

“Well,” Lemongrass smiled and hugged Ratchet close. All her fears about her had been addressed, “I gotta go...freshen up, amongst other things.” ‘Freshening up’ would involve her largest dildo on the highest setting until she couldn’t walk straight.

Ratchet eagerly returned the hug. “I'll have Butters email you a comp pass for tomorrows race.”

“Thank you Ratchet, I appreciate it.” The forest green earth pony mare got in another hug. “Hurt her like she wants to be, make her comfortably uncomfortable.”

When Lemongrass had taken her leave, Ratchet turned to the tiny apartment’s bathroom to see just what was taking Buttercup so long. What she found was a certain deaf mare who, having cleaned the toys, had her hoof jammed in between her hind legs. Clearly masturbating, she saw Ratchet in the mirror and she snapped to attention like she hadn't been doing anything. “Are you good enough to read lips in the mirror? If not…” she made a hoof motion to turn around.

Slowly, Buttercup turned in place to face Ratchet. “I’m sorry, Mistress.”

“Not yet, not yet.” But the maple coloured unicorn resolved to make her sorry soon enough. “Finish what you were supposed to be doing.”

“The toys are clean and dry, Mistress,” she pointed to the gleaming freshly cleaned toys.

Silently, Ratchet raised an eyebrow. “Not yet put away.” Blushing, Buttercup made a meeping noise and she hurried to put them away in the dresser drawer in the bedroom. Following behind her, as Buttercup put the toys away, Ratchet performed a hooves on inspection for any real damage from the spanking. There were a couple of angry red welts, but nothing lasting. When the toys were put away, she turned her around. “Can I trust you?”

Quickly, Buttercup nodded her head. “Yes Mistress, you can.”

“Yet you broke one of your orders. Trust is very fragile.”

“I-I'm sorry…”  * she does have the decency to look suitably ashamed*

“You will be,” Ratchet asserted. At least Buttercup had the decency to look suitably ashamed. “I want to know why?”

“After what we just did, I um...I was horny,” she admitted, her face bright red. She looked down at the thin threadbare carpet of her bedroom and then back up. “I was trying to be naughty. I didn't mean to be really bad.”

Ratchet believed her. She did however have to set the rules out firmly. “Naughty is rubbing yourself off on the bed post. Bad is breaking a rule. Clean up the breakfast dishes and then we can go to my place.”

“I won't do it again Mistress, I promise,” with her ears slicked back, she walked from the bedroom to the kitchen to wash up the plates and cutlery.

Saying nothing, Ratchet watched her go. “She will learn,” she promised under her breath. Although, left alone in the bedroom, she placed the breath play hood in her saddle bag as she wasn't leave that there. She had plans for that later.

At the sink, Buttercup was quietly beating herself up as she washed the knives, forks and the pans. She couldn’t believe she had been caught being really bad like that. Once that chore was done, and the table and worktops wiped down, she bowed to her owner. “Done, Mistress.”

“is time to go then. Anything you want to bring?”

“Just my phone, Mistress, please.”

When Ratchet nodded her head, giving her consent, Buttercup went to get her phone. Before she was ready though she gave all her plants and flowers in the window boxes a quick look over and a water. Only when that was done did she open the door for her Mistress. Trotting out, Ratchet held her head high. Pausing just long enough for Buttercup to lock up behind her, she then headed straight for the nearby subway station. 

In the pleasantly warm sunlight of the early morning, Buttercup had to trot to keep up, walking alongside her Mistress so she could see if she spoke to her. While she was still mentally kicking herself over her mistake in the bathroom, Ratchet was walking with a smile. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. At the station, Ratchet turned to be sure she was facing her. “Did you bring your pass?”

Smiling at the barrier, Buttercup reached into her saddlebag and took out her pass. That and her phone was all she had bought with her. “Yes Mistress.”

Again, Ratchet took the lead and led the way onto the platform. This early in the morning, particularly on a Saturday, there was virtually nopony else around, save for the staff. Taking a look at the map on the wall, the pair got on the very next train that was heading to where she wanted to be on Stallion Island. Once on board, she looked at her pet. “I've been told the yellow square is for the handicapped. Do you want to sit there or in the train?”

“The yellow square please, Mistress.” She was however prepared to give the space up should a more handicapped pony than her such as a wheelchair user get on.

In the yellow area, Ratchet settles on the seat next to Buttercup and puts a foreleg over her shoulder. When she gently turned her head to face her the unicorn could feel the tension in her body. She wasn’t having her beat herself up, that was her job! “One set back is not the end of things, but I cannot let it go without punishment.”

Her heart fluttering hopefully, Buttercup nodded her head. “I understand Mistress. I accept whatever punishment you see fit…” The moment she finished signing that, Ratchet stole a long lusty kiss from her mare, a kiss that Buttercup melted into. ‘This isn't so bad...’ she thought to herself as her tongue fought a losing battle with the one in her mouth.

“Fear not, pet, I will teach you.” Smiling, Ratchet was content to just hold her close on each of the next two trains until they got to get to their destination.

Enjoying the warm comfortable snuggles, Buttercup had no doubt that she would see through on her promise of teaching her. That though was for later. For now, she was happy to be held and kissed until they got where they were going. Once they got out of the station on Stallion Island, Ratchet walked along at an easy pace past the ice cream shop, which was closed, the coffee shop, which was open and an Appleloosan restaurant that was also closed. As she’d had very little reason to come to Stallion Island before, Buttercup was very interested in where they were going.

When they reached a large three storey detached house, Ratchet stopped and waved a hoof at the white building. “This is my house,” she said once she was looking at her partner. 

When she looked up at the huge building, Buttercup couldn’t help but stare open mouthed. While it was obvious that no real effort had been made to beautify the landscaping around it, it was the house itself that stunned her. It was like a palace compared to her tiny one-bedroom apartment. “You live here?” 

“The four of us live here,” Ratchet clarified. “It’s a lot nicer than our place in Canterlot.” She pulled out her key card and opened the ornate wrought iron front gate and then the white front door. Taking a step inside, she saw Hoist and Candyfloss making out on the couch in the great room. “Hi Hoist, Candy, where’s Sparky and Jackie?” 

Reluctantly, her older brother looked up from his make out session with his marefriend. “Jackie called and will met us at the track. Sparky is under the hood with Air Raid, Cream, and the Pit Boss in the garage.” 

Springing off the couch, Candyfloss was more interested in Buttercup who was nestled deep in Ratchet’s side. “Oh, who is this cutie, Ratchet?” 

Ratchet looked at her pet and wondered why she was trying so hard to occupy the same space as her. “She's deaf, so you have to make sure she can read your lips.”  

Smiling, Candyfloss proceeded to show off a hitherto un-demonstrated skill as she signed to Buttercup. “Hi, happy you could be here, I’m Candyfloss, I'm guessing Ratchet doesn't know how to sign?” 

Facehooving, Ratchet sighed. “Hoist, you always find the smart ones.”

The moment she saw Candyfloss signing at her, Buttercup’s eyes lit up. She didn’t feel quite so overwhelmed now somepony was doing something familiar. “Mistress doesn't, but I have taught her some signs.” She spoke and signed, as she looked around the entrance hall and great room, enthralled. “This place is amazing!”

Standing by Candyfloss’s side, Hoist chuckled, “so this is why you missed the open mic last night, sis?”

“We had a private open mic,” Ratchet then made sure to sign, using one of the few she knew, 'She is mine'.  

As Candyfloss giggled at what she saw as Ratchet’s slightly clumsy signage, Buttercup responded with, “And I am hers.” 

“You aren't the only ones,” Hoist said, “Jackie got himself a pegasus stallion who looks very pretty in a dress.”

While they spoke amongst themselves, Buttercup had a thought. It was a thought that excited her like it was Hearths Warming Eve. It was a thought that concerned all the unused landscaping space outside that was currently home to long shoulder high grass and weeds. “Mistress? I couldn't help but notice you have a lot of room outside. Um...may I um, plant a few things, please?”

Smiling, Ratchet looked straight at her pet and said, “Are you moving in or staying at your place?”

“Mo-Mo-Move...” Buttercup gasped, unable to sign, she actually shut down for a moment thinking about that, her overloaded brain struggling to process the idea of a pony like her living in such a magnificent house like this. After all this was how royalty lived, surely?

“Sis,” Hoist waved his hoof in front of Buttercup’s wide unblinking eyes and got no response, “I think you broke her.”

“I did try earlier, just check out her ass!” Ratchet said proudly, even more proud was she of her work when Candyfloss did just that, checking the newcomer’s recently cropped and spanked hind quarters with her hooves. The evidence was there of Ratchet’s ‘love’, it looked beautiful.

Buttercup hadn’t moved an inch, not voluntarily, at any rate but Candyfloss’s well placed hooves did cause her to raise up her tail in quite the provocative manner. “M-Move...in?” the thought slowly made its way through her brain to her mouth that felt like she had lockjaw. “I...yes! Yes! I'd love to!”

Her partner’s reaction somewhat passed Ratchet by. “You can do as you please with the lawn and I'd love some of those window boxes. But only after you talk to the herd gardener. We live here, but we don't own it yet.” 

“Who's that?” asked Candyfloss, her hooves still caressing the welts on Buttercup’s behind.

“I will Mistress, I will!” Buttercup at last shrugged off Candyfloss’s hooves as she danced on her own, the deaf mare performing a thoroughly adorable four hooved dance. She was getting very giddy at the very thought of an actual garden! Not just a collection of window boxes, a real garden!

“Mr Caffeinated,” Hoist supplied the answer to Candyfloss’s question, the quietly spoken unicorn nuzzling his marefriend’s cheek, “He owns the place. His wife, Ms. Thespian is the gardener Ratchet spoke of.” 

“Both will be at the race tomorrow.”

“I'll ask!” Buttercup let out a delighted overjoyed squee as the reality of her new partner’s proposal began to sink in. It was all a little much. “Oh my...a garden! An actual garden!” she danced and pranced around the living room without a care as to who was watching. “Wooooo! A garden!”

Curiously, Candyfloss caught Buttercup’s eye as she signed and spoke at the same time, “Ratchet, was she living in a cave?” 

The maple coloured unicorn shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, “One room apartment over in lower Manehatten.”

Eventually, Buttercup stopped her prancing and, gasping for breath, she blushed bright red, shuffling her hooves on the carpeted floor. “I-I’m s-sorry…” Candyfloss was right. Her apartment may as well have been a cave, with all her battered and pre-owned out of date furnishings.

“Ratchey,” Hoist beamed, “she's adorable!”

“She is and what’s more, she's a keeper.” Ratchet walked over and kissed her stunned marefriend’s lips. The root of what had her so stunned still escaped the unicorn though. “Could you show her around, brother. I'm going to the garage to make sure Raid's eyes haven't glazed over.” When Hoist nodded, she continued, “Include my bedroom and she can snoop around.” 

As Ratchet headed out to the garage, Hoist stepped in front of the deaf mare, making sure he could be seen. “Come on, Ratchey's room's this way.” He proceeded to lead the way, giving his newest guest a tour of the large house that ended at last in Ratchet's room. Thoughtfully, Candyfloss tagged along on the tour to answer any questions and practice her signing at the same time. This was a good call, because in Ratchet’s room Buttercup stopped and shook her head. “Oh Celestia!” she was wide-eyed, “This place is a mansion! You have three bathrooms!”

With the aid of signage, Candyfloss said, “Four, Jackie’s room has a private bath.”

Suddenly, Buttercup felt very inferior indeed. As she slowly sat on the floor of the bedroom that was larger than her living room, everything threatened to overwhelm her at once. She felt like a poor little charity case given a handout by a passing noble. “Yeah,” she muttered, her voice subdued, “It's, it's great.”

“Hey,” Hoist wasn’t immune to Buttercup’s swift change in mood. “Are you alright?”

“Fine. I'm fine...” she said softly, trying very hard to hold back hot tears that were threatening to spill forth at any moment. At a loss as to what to do, Hoist did the only thing reasonable. He looked to Candyfloss for help.

Not speaking, the pink earth pony just used her hooves to sign to Buttercup. “It’s just you and me, and I'm here to learn. Show me what is wrong.”

“It's...I don't know, four bathrooms!” Buttercup threw up her forehooves in the air, speaking rather than signing. “You were right, I lived in cave, and now I'm in a place with four bathrooms!” 

Candyfloss giggled, not that she was being mean, far from it. She understood. “It's okay Hoist. She’s just overwhelmed by our apparent wealth.”

Unsure what to make of that, Hoist came over and hugged Buttercup, placing his foreleg around her shoulder. “We aren't wealthy, though…”

“This isn't some high-rise apartment or cookie cutter place though, Hoist,” Candyfloss signed, “The pit crew is here because the sponsor put them here. You should meet them on Sunday too. To them, it is just a house.”

The deaf earth pony mare almost fell over when she read Hoist’s lips. She would have, were he not hugging her. “You aren't wealthy?” she blinked once then twice, “From where I come from this is a palace. I lived in the orphanage all my life, then I got a one bedroom cave and I thought I was lucky.”

Like Hoist, Candyfloss hugged Buttercup. Kissing her forehead, she signed, “I’m really sorry for the cave thing, I'm a carnie and life has to be funny to survive it. Ratchet must like you to ask if you've move in. Plus, another thing, the whole crew is terrible at lawn maintenance.”

Returning the hug, minus the soft kiss, Buttercup smiled, “It's fine, Candy, really. It's just...the chance to have a garden that's mine and I can share with you all, not just window boxes, it was too much.” 

From downstairs, Ratchet’s voice wafted up from the front door. “Car is on the flatbed, Hoist, Candy, it’s time to head out for the track. Please bring Buttercup with you.” Signing, for the deaf mare’s benefit, the pink mare let her know that it was time to go racing.

~ ~ ~

Up ahead on the road through Manehatten, Hoist drove the flatbed truck carrying Air Raid’s Audi R8 with Sparkplug by his side. Following behind, Ratchet drove the backup van with Amethyst sat in the passenger seat and Cream, Air Raid, Candyfloss and Buttercup in the seats behind her. Thankfully, the mid-morning traffic was light. Light enough that Air Raid’s attention was directed not to the upcoming time trials but to the newcomer. “Is this your newest find, Ratchey?”

“I think she is a keeper, Raid,” she replied, deftly steering them and their equipment through the streets. While the others spoke, Candyfloss contented herself with supplying Buttercup with a running signage as there was no way they could all face her from where they were sat in the van. 

“I met Jackie’s new colt at the open mic last night at Mr. Caffeinated’s coffee shop,” though they were being informal, Air Raid was sure to mind her manners. She liked not upsetting her Mistress. “He has the same disorder as me.”

That little revelation almost made Ratchet turn early into the path of an upcoming bus. Fortunately, she recovered the steering wheel before the van could start to turn. “No way! Really?”

“Disorder?” Buttercup, who had been following the exchange thanks to Candyfloss’s rapid hoof signs, was now very curious as to what disorder the racer was referring. Her questioning look was quickly answered by her translator, though she had no idea what Scootaloo’s Syndrome was. “I'm Buttercup,” she said, her odd sounding voice loud in the van, “pleased to meet you.”

“I’m a pegasus that can't fly,” Air Raid explained. With her back to them, the lime green mare was unaware that Candyfloss had already told her what was what. “Welcome to the insanity of racing, Buttercup.”  

While Candyfloss erupted into a full-on fit of giggles, Buttercup remarked, “It's been nothing but insane so far, miss.” She couldn’t help but giggle too, “but it’s been a good insane.”

Air Raid nodded in agreement to that and, when she was about to say something else, Cream swiftly and deftly distracted her driver with the pertinent topic of corner entry speeds and breaking times with the new and updated gear that the pit crew had installed on the car. Candyfloss did make an attempt to sign some of that until she realised that Buttercup wasn’t interested.  

As she had almost next to no idea of what Air Raid and Cream were talking about, Buttercup instead sat back and enjoyed watching the scenery whizz past the van’s windows. When they arrived at the stadium and the pit row in particular, Hoist had the Audi off loaded from the flatbed while Ratchet parked the van. The maple unicorn kept her lover with her. “Introductions first,” she smiled as they walked to their pit area, “and then Hoist will take you up to the box to watch us in action.”

This was Buttercup’s first chance to really see the car properly in the summer sunlight without a tarp covering it on the flatbed. Again, she was amazed. “Mistress, that car is a rocket! Look at it!” She wanted to touch it, to run her hoof over the white curves, but she was scared it would blast off. 

“It is close to one, pet,” Ratchet agreed as she lead the way back to the pits with Hoist in tow.

In the pit area, Wheeljack was there with Velvet Sky by his side ready to greet his brother, his sisters and the new additions to the family. “Hello there, Buttercup. Welcome to the racing team.” Forewarned in advance, the eldest member of the family was careful to look at her and speak slowly.

“Hello sir,” appreciating the care he took with her, the earth pony bowed respectfully. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Offering a friendly nuzzle of greeting, Wheeljack straightened up. “We can chat properly later.” Regretfully, there was work to do, and a time trial to qualify for the next day’s race. That meant no place for extraneous bodies in the way. “Brother, if you'll do the honours?”

Hoist was quick on the uptake and quicker to oblige. “Okay, ponies watching, come this way please.”

Before Velvet Sky left with Hoist, the dark blue pegasus stole a quick kiss from Wheeljack. Likewise, Ratchet gave Buttercup a very hot, lingering kiss, adding, “Enjoy the show, Butters.” The deaf mare wasn’t all that sure she would, but she was heartened when Candyfloss walked alongside her. She liked the pink pony a lot.   

In the enclosed VIP box, there were two earth ponies seated already in the centre seats. “Hello Mrs. Snowfall, Mr. Baron,” Hoist greeted the two very impotant ponies with a deep respectful bow to each. “I hope you don't mind if my marefriend, Candyfloss, Wheeljack's coltfriend, Velvet Sky, and Ratchet's mare...special somepony, Buttercup join you?” 

Snowfall was the first to answer, the elderly pure white earth pony mare looked particularly regal in an airy summer yellow dress. “Not at all, I can have somepony to talk to while he watches the track.” 

His ribs nudged, the sharply dressed Baron, smart in his business suit, snickered. “Company is always welcome. Permission given, Hoist nodded politely once more and he returned to the track, leaving Candyfloss, Velvet Sky and Buttercup with Baron and Snowfall. “It's nice to meet you both,” Buttercup decided to break the silence between them, “I like your dress, ma'am, it’s very nice.”

‘Her’ attention drawn to Snowfall’s exquisite but simple dress, Velvet said, “I agree, your dress is quite beautiful.”

Looking out of the panoramic windows that overlooked the race track, Candyfloss loudly rolled her blue eyes, a giggle in her voice. “Mares…”

Curiously, Snowfall was looking at the group, none of whom she recognised, except for Candyfloss. They did seem pleasant though, and they were with the pit crew. “Thank you, I do try and it helps to have fashion consultants in the herd.” 

While Baron did speak to the newcomers, his attention was on the track below. “The pleasure is mine, it’s always nice to meet new ponies that are in it for the fun.” 

Like she had done in the van on the way to the track, Candyfloss signed for both Snowfall and Baron, just in case Buttercup couldn’t see them speaking. This caught the elderly mare’s attention in a heartbeat. “Candy, what are...” almost as soon as she started to ask, she put two and two together. “Oh, is Buttercup deaf?” that got her husband, Baron, to face the group.

Smiling broadly – this group was so considerate! – Buttercup nodded her head and replied, “Yes ma'am, I'm deaf. You two are the sponsors that Mistress Ratchet spoke of?”

Velvet, so taken by the dress that Snowfall was wearing, spoke before the white mare had a chance. “Pardon me, ma'am, but where did you get that dress, I'll simply have to get one!”

Giggling, Snowfall answered Velvet first. “I got it at Marecies,” then she looked at Buttercup, pointing to her husband. “He is one of the sponsors, Baron is chair-stallion for the Manehatten Times,” just then, the door opened and an elderly zebra mare entered the VIP box. “The mare walking in is the other sponsor, Sweet Water.”

“Hello, Snowfall and Baron dear,” the pale blue zebra mare nodded to the five ponies in turn, “Lots of ponies I find here.”

Since Sweet Water was stood behind Buttercup, Candyfloss again supplied the necessary signage so she knew what was being said. Turning, Buttercup greeted the newcomer who looked like she might have been young when her TV was new. Not for the first time, she was very grateful that Candyfloss was there to help her out. “Hello to you ma'am.”

Though Velvet acknowledged the zebra’s presence with a polite nod of the head, the pegasus was very interested in Snowfall's dress. “I must get one of these! It's gorgeous!”

“I usually shop off the rack unless it is for a specific purpose, then I visit Coco at Rarity's Recreations.” 

Like Snowfall before her, Sweet Water immediately picked up on the fact that Buttercup was deaf. “There is a skill I do lack, for a deaf pony and me to talk back.”

Baron rolled his eyes, “Zebras and their rhymes…ow!” he winced, thanks to the strategically placed elbow driven into his ribs courtesy of his wife.

“I think Wheeljack would love to take me out in one of these…” Velvet Sky was talking mostly to himself, the dark blue pony making a huge mental note to get one at the earliest opportunity, if not sooner.

“You're the other sponsor for Air Raid and Ratchet's family?” asked Buttercup, her spoken voice odd as ever. Fortunately, the zebra could understand her just fine.

“I'm the High Cheiftess of the Coffee Tribe,” Sweet Water replied with no small degree of pride. When Candyfloss had signed for her, she continued, “Air Raid is a good vibe. We sponsor her to race fast. One I hope will truly last.”

“Advertising does help a lot,” Baron cut in, when his phone vibrated, alerting him to a text message. “Amethyst says because of the win, they will be last up for the first try.” That said, the earth pony stallion focussed on the first car to set their time.

“Forgive my lack of conversation,” Sweet Water bowed politely at the other ponies, “I must watch to see the competition.” She then joined Baron at the window to watch the time trials. 

Dramatically, Snowfall lifted up a hoof and sighed, “And like that I'm again a racing widow!” 

Velvet Sky, who was a huge racing fan, took the opportunity once the trails started to soak up the action. This for him was like a special birthday treat. Seeing that everypony else was absorbed by what was happening on the track, Buttercup decided to keep Snowfall company. Candyfloss joined the two mares, but she was casting looks down at the pits to spot Hoist at work when she could. “I've only met Ratchet briefly after the last race,” Snowfall spoke up, nuzzling Buttercup’s cheek, “But I think you've found yourself a good mare.”

“She is a strict Mistress and I love her,” Buttercup smiled a very goofy smile just thinking about Ratchet and her dominant ways. Ways she absolutely loved.

“I understand,” Snowfall beamed, “Strict is a good Mistress. Do let somepony know though if she becomes a harsh Mistress, won’t you?”

“Ratchet isn't harsh, ma'am,” Buttercup still had that adorably goofy smile plastered all over her face, “she's perfect!”

“Good to know. I'm sure we will see more of each other. Maybe the team will even join the herd someday…” Just then, a car spun out on the track and that took up Snowfall's attention, the elderly earth pony eager to see where that car finished and whether Air Raid would come.

~ ~ ~

“That's that,” Baron announced to the VIP box when his driver had completed her time trials, “she has the pole position with only two runs!” 

Sweet Water knew Baron well enough that she could tell the old stallion was virtually rubbing his hooves together with glee. “That is why we have released Cream from her duties. I will talk with Bluff again to have Amethyst released too.” 

“That would make things easier when they start to travel,” Baron agreed. Admittedly he knew little about racing, but he knew travel across the country was part of the deal.

“We need to wait for Hoist to get us,” Candyfloss said to Buttercup and Velvet Sky, “We can't enter the pit area unescorted.” She was though itching to get her hooves on her quiet, handsome stallion.  

Pausing only to give them each a hug and a nuzzle, Snowfall said, “It was a pleasure to chat with you three. See you here tomorrow.” With that, she, Baron and Sweet Water left the VIP box for the track. After that was planned a high level sponsor’s meeting at Caffeinated’s ranch.

Shortly after the older three had left them alone, Hoist opened the door, his face lit up in a wide beaming smile. “It was a good day today, let’s go down to the van…mmmph!” he was cut off mid-sentence when Candyfloss galloped over and gave her cute stallion a series of very big kisses all over his face. 

“So...was that it?” asked Buttercup. Since she was not being a huge racing fan like the others, she was a little lost as to what had just happened.

By contrast, Velvet Sky was as excited as a pony who had a very special reason to be excited. He had watched Air Raid’s time trials and races on the TV at home and at Trixie’s Place, but never had he thought he’d get to watch it in person. “That was brilliant! Raid got pole!”

Smiling, Hoist was more than happy to let Velvet explain the trials to Buttercup so that he could spend more time with Candyfloss on the way back to the pits. Velvet happily jabbered on, explaining in very great and somewhat unnecessary detail the intricacies of what just happened. By the time they all got back to the pit area, Buttercup had progressed from complete racing novice to expert on the qualifying procedure. “Welcome back, pet!” Ratchet was ready to great her lover with a big smoochy kiss. Wheeljack was not to be outdone in the kissing. 

Watching, Sparkplug giggled and she nudged Air Raid’s flank. “It's like that really old movie, Raid. They're twitter patted!”

“Yeah they are kiddo,” Air Raid smiled, because she herself was just as head over hooves in love with Amethyst and Cream. “I’ve never seen such a twitter patted lot of ponies.” The lime green mare, elated from getting the pole position, watched Buttercup hug and kiss Ratchet like she hadn't seen her in a week, while Velvet did likewise with Wheeljack.

“Ratchet,” said Wheeljack when Velvet stopped kissing him long enough for him to breathe, “I'm moving into Velvet's place.”

That hadn’t been entirely unexpected. Ratchet bumped hooves with her older brother. “Okay, we'll keep the room for you anyways. I don't need an in-room bathroom.” She then made sure she had Buttercup's undivided attention. “Are you moving in with me?”

Both Velvet Sky and Buttercup shared near identical looks of wide-eyed surprise, but they very quickly recovered their composure. “Oh you are?” The dark blue pegasus spoke up first, “I think I'd like that.”

Nodding her head eagerly, the deaf mare was quick to agree. She was over the awed feelings she had experienced earlier at the large house. “Yes, Mistress!”

“So, Jackie…”

Wheeljack laughed out loud at his sister, “Give me a week to move out or at least pack up before you move your pet in.” 

Again, brother and sister shared a hoof bump. “Can do.”

Candyfloss nuzzled and kissed her stallion. “We can stay as we are, swapping places when it suits us.” That suited Hoist just fine, and he nodded his agreement.

Looking between the two happy couples, Air Raid smiled warmly, “My, you two sure are fast!” 

Smirking, Amethyst tip-hoofed over to her beloved pet and, like she had at the open mic night, bit the lime green mare’s ear hard. “So days the pony staying in our room at somepony else's house…”

“Good point Mistress,” Air Raid, suitably cowed, had the sense to blush, “very well made.”

“I'm off with Velvet, see you here at ten a.m. tomorrow,” Wheeljack made his rounds and hugged Ratchet, Hoist, Sparkplug, Air Raid, Amethyst, Cream and Buttercup before he left the pit lane with his lover. 

“I'm driving the van,” Ratchet called out, “all aboard!”

Air Raid had no problem with Ratchet driving. After thundering her Audi R8 around the track at almost two hundred miles per hour – thanks to Sparkplug’s additions – driving anything slower seemed like an anti-climax. She was in no mood for traffic either. “It has been over a week since I got a speeding ticket. I’d like to see if I can make it all the way to two.”

“You mean a week since you gave the city economy a boost from your fines?” Cream stuck out her tongue and winked at her fellow submissive. In the van, Buttercup again sat next to Candyfloss so she could get signage on what the ponies were saying, Amethyst called shotgun and got it while the rest piled in the back of the van.

In the back of the van, Cream and Air Raid set about their important business of jibber jabbering about the speeds and break times they had pulled off on the track. Ultimately they decided not to change much, especially when Amethyst helpfully reminded them that they got the pole by 1.23 seconds. 

An utter lifetime between first and second.

Sat by Buttercup’s side, Candyfloss only signed a bit of that talk and, bored, signed 'Should I inspect Hoist's lollipop now or after we get home?' to Buttercup. Giggling, the deaf earth pony mare nodded her head and she just signed her reply, ‘You are naughty. I like you, Candyfloss’.

Immediately, Candyfloss nodded to her new friend and she whispered into Hoist's ear. She just loved the delightful shade of red he turned when she was done. That he had to press a hoof between his legs to cover himself up just meant her work was done. “Whatcha two doing?” asked Sparkplug, who had taken notice of the signing going on.

Laughing, Buttercup explained, “She's looking for a lollipop!” that just made Hoist turn an even brighter and more intense shade of red and make the unicorn try to cover up all the more.

“I already told her we don't have any lollipops at home!” Sparkplug entirely missed the point, “I meant what were you doing with your hooves?”

Understanding what Sparkplug meant now, Buttercup signed and spoke, hoping that the young unicorn would make out her words. “We are talking. I can’t hear, I'm deaf.”

Excited, Sparkplug clapped hooves, “Like a secret language!”

“Just like a secret language!” Buttercup replied eagerly, “Like spies on a secret mission!”

“Wait,” Sparkplug ran some things through her head, those things not adding up in her head. “If you're deaf, how can you hear me?”

Seeing as Sparkplug was being completely adorable, Buttercup giggled as she answered, “I can't hear you, I can read your lips.”

“What!?” Eyes wide in wonder, the yellow unicorn pulled her bottom lip out so that Buttercup couldn’t read what she was saying. “Is there something written on my lips?” As she wondered just who had written on her face, Candyfloss laughed out loud and tapped the deaf mare so she could sign what Sparkplug had said.

As she had not encountered a pony quite like Sparkplug before, Buttercup burst out laughing, she wasn’t mean or nasty, she was literally an overgrown foal. “No, I mean, your lips move when you talk.” She tried to explain quickly while laughing the same time, “I watch them so I know what you are saying.”

That gave Sparkplug a very clever idea. Freezing her lips as much as she could, she managed to say, “How about now?” 

Signing what the yellow unicorn had just said, Candyfloss laughed, as did Buttercup. “No, not that time. You would make a great secret agent spy, Sparky,” After that, they spent the rest of the ride back wanting to learn sign language from her new friend. Hoist secretly thanked his little sister for doing such a great job of changing the subject. Driving along up front, Ratchet secretly wished she wasn't the one driving.

Once they had reached the house after a most uneventful drive where Ratchet wished even more that she wasn’t driving as she was missing out on some top-level signing lessons, the maple coloured unicorn parked the van in the garage. Getting out, Air Raid, Cream and Amethyst said their goodbyes before they went back to Caffeinated’s Ranch where they were staying. Watching them leave, Sparkplug said, “They stay at a really fancy place.”

“I think you stay in a really nice place, Sparky,” Buttercup commented to the young mare. Hoist, once they were at the door, took the first chance he could get to take Candyfloss upstairs so they could 'lie down'.

“Oh yes,” Sparkplug agreed, “we don't get in trouble here with noise like we used to in Canterlot.” 

“Engine noise.” Ratchet cleared up almost before her sister had finished speaking, “What Sparky really likes to work on.”  

“I think you're a very clever pony, Sparkplug.” Buttercup commented as the yellow unicorn nodded vigorously at that. “I don't know anything about engines like you do.”

“How about dinner at The Bread Bowl and some ice cream afterwards?” asked Ratchet, who was in the mood to eat out. If Sparkplug’s excited hops were anything to go by, her idea was a definite win. Then again, who didn’t like ice cream? “It is still early. We'll leave in a couple of hours, so you can watch some TV.” 

Sparkplug made a beeline for the TV’s remote control. “Okay!”  

“Buttercup and I will walk around the yard.” 

The yellow unicorn wasn’t paying attention to her big sister. She was already flicking through the ten cartoon channels in her hunt for the Power Pony Action Weekend Marathon. With a cheer, she found it. “Watch out for that mean squirrel. He tried to kidnap Mr. Flopsy.” 

After promising that they would be wary of the mean squirrel, Ratchet took Buttercup on a little tour of the overgrown and uncared for garden that surrounded her home. “She is adorable, Mistress,” the deaf mare said once they were alone with the shoulder high grass and weeds. She smiled at her partner, “Are you alright? You looked sad when you got out of the van.”

Using the little signage she knew, Ratchet signed, “You are mine. I am yours.” Then, she spoke, “While I was driving my sister was getting sign lessons that I would like to have. You will teach me, and her too I'm sure.” Forcing a smile of her own, she swept her hoof, encompassing the overgrowth that was the ‘garden’. “We are here to look at how you will make your garden grow.”

“I'll teach you Mistress,” quickly, Buttercup kissed Ratchet's nose and she tried very hard not to get as giddy as she did before, though it was hard and, giving in to her excited giddiness, she danced again in place. “Oh, um…sorry.”

With her jealous thoughts banished to the back of her mind, Ratchet booped her pet’s nose with a hoof. “You are being a very good naughty right now.”

Seeing that, Buttercup smiled. She was happy that she was doing that right, at least. Ratchet was a much better owner than her previous dom. Looking around at the jungle that was the grounds, she pictured where she could have her flowers and plants, a vivid image forming in her head. “I can do so much with all this space, Mistress.”

“I'm sure you can,” Ratchet didn’t doubt her for an instant. She recognised the same excited enthusiasm that Sparkplug had when she was about to disassemble an engine. “Tomorrow, after the race, you can talk to Ms. Thespian and use your free weekends to work on the garden. And, since it is flower business, you will have to wear your socks when working.”

“Eeee!” Buttercup squeed before she realised she had done it. She was quite excited about getting to wear her new blue work socks, it was just beginning to sink in just how awesome this all was. “I can have flowers there, herbs over here, a path through it, then veggies there...”

Happy to let her pet ramble, Ratchet followed her and she listened intently. Her partner was so enthusiastic it was infectious, like a schoolfilly on show and tell. She was also sure nopony would tell her Butters ‘no’. She couldn’t see Wheeljack in the garden, Hoist was more interested in Candyfloss’s ‘garden’ and Sparky…was Sparky. While she was happily explaining her vision for the garden, the earth pony mare noticed that her companion wasn’t saying anything. “You're quiet there, Mistress.”

“I'm happy.” Ratchet hadn’t noticed she was quiet. “It has been a few years since I was really happy. “Do continue.”

“I'm happy I'm making you happy Mistress,” Buttercup was about to carry on with her vision before a thought struck her. A wonderful, marvellous, awesome thought. A thought that made her prance through the grass. “I can finally enter the Manehatten Horticultural Competition!”

“What's that?” 

Buttercup stopped her prancing as quickly as if she had been immobilised by a unicorn’s magic, even though Ratchet’s horn was unlit. “Every year there's a garden competition, the mayor and a team of experts judge it. One time, even Princess Celestia was a guest judge. It's a prestigious award to win, Mistress!”

Though she knew little about flowers beyond what they tasted like, Ratchet could appreciate how big of a deal that was. “I think I'd be better at a flower eating award.”

Buttercup burst out laughing at that, “I haven't been able to enter before, because, well, I haven’t had a garden before. They um, they don’t allow window boxes to enter.”

“We'll just have to set you up proper then, won’t we?” Ratchet replied, thoroughly enjoying the overjoyed look on her lover’s face. The next hour and a half passed like that, with the earth pony rambling and the unicorn letting her. Presently, when it was time, Ratchet booped her nose. “It's dinner time. I hope you like country cookin’.”

Playfully, Buttercup nudged Ratchet’s barrel, “I like it because you like it, Mistress.”

“You show wisdom, my pet.” Ratchet was most pleased indeed that Buttercup was starting to get how this worked. She was still smiling as she gathered Hoist, Candyfloss and Sparkplug from inside the house. Amusingly enough, it was just as hard to crowbar them out the house, though for different reasons. Hoist was happy to ‘lie down’ with Candyfloss while Sparkplug wanted to watch the Power Ponies.

That was until Ratchet used her ultimate weapon. 

Ice cream.

As she was really happy with herself and where she was at, Buttercup practically skipped alongside Ratchet on the sidewalk. As it was now a late Saturday afternoon, there were a few ponies about, no doubt going to eat or to the movies. Hoist and Candyfloss walked with their tails and forehooves entwined. The Bread Bowl, when they got there, was quite lively, as was the nearby coffee shop and ice cream parlour. “I didn't think to make reservations…” fretted Ratchet outside.

Helpfully, Hoist went to check while the rest of the group milled around the entrance foyer. Fortunately, there was room for them, though Buttercup, as this was her first time in an Appleloosan restaurant, was place, was curious to see what the food was like. Sparkplug was mesmerised by all the bison murals on the walls. ‘It's like a western movie in here…’ she thought to herself.

After a few moments, Hoist returned and, getting his sister’s attention, pointed to a long table with just three ponies sat at it. “Ratchey, isn't that pink unicorn with the herd?”

Ratchet followed her brother’s hoof and nodded her head when she recognised who he meant. “Yeah, I think. Wait, that blue pegasus is the one who Air Raid said was dating Wildfire. I think we have a table!” 

Nodding, Hoist lead the way over to the table with Candyfloss as ever by his side. Ratchet, holding Buttercup’s hoof, bought up the rear. Ever the carnie, Candyfloss knew both Mapper and Serenity, while Buttercup, who read the newspapers, recognised Serenity immediately. “Oh...oh!” the deaf earth pony nudged Ratchet’s flank, “That's Serenity! The opera singer!”

“Hey Maps,” Candyfloss, by contrast, was casual as ever. “How's the plush stall doing? Still making it hard for Serenity to sit down?” The pink earth pony mare knew very well how Serenity loved it when Mapper made her comfortably uncomfortable.

Imperiously, Mapper surveyed the group of five ponies stood before her table. “Candy,” the pink unicorn said with a raised eyebrow, “you've fallen into a bad crowd. All speed and grease.”

Sat next to her, Airmail lifted up her mopey head. “Oh, it’s most the pit crew…” she sounded despondent, like a wounded animal.  

Serenity winked at Candyfloss, “I'm sitting now, and I'm liking it.” Although she was smiling, there was a tell-tale shuffle to her ass that screamed the hard seat was more uncomfortable for her than it was for the others. 

“We have no reservations,” Ratchet spoke up, the dominant in her wanting to control the situation. “Is it okay if we crash your table?”

Mapper, recognising a fellow dom, inclined her head. “You, stallion,” she said to Hoist, “pull that table over to ours now please.” Nervously, Hoist did as he was told, using his magic to do bring not only the table but the pony sat there as well. Immediately, Serenity gave the slightly inconvenienced pony an autographed photo of her.

Taking her seat, Candyfloss winked at Mapper, “I like the way Hoist smells of grease. And his lollipop is speedy in just the way I like it.” The pink carnie pony just loved the way Hoist blushed, “He's adorable!”

Sitting down next to Ratchet, Buttercup looked at Airmail. In stark contrast to all the other ponies at the table, the azure blue pegasus seemed like she was about to jump off the Narrow’s Bridge. “Excuse me, but are you alright? You look sad…”

“Fine.” Not even bothering to lift her head from the table, Airmail waved a hoof in the air and mumbled, she didn’t even stop to wonder why the strange mare’s voice sounded so strange and odd. “I’m just sitting here doing paperwork while my fiancé is with my marefriend in Canterlot…” 

Mapper rolled her eyes for the millionth time, her temper quickly reaching the end of her rope. While she had a degree of sympathy for her herd-mate, nopony had died. “Mopey pony is mopey and no fun.” 

Seeing as she had a certifiable death wish, Serenity reached over the table, across Mapper and petted Airmail’s green mane. Mopey Airmail said and did nothing but mope into the table top. Possessing no filter whatsoever, Sparkplug bounded around the table and sat herself next to Airmail. “Mopey is no fun. You need a hug!” Buttercup, unsure what to do or how to follow up with that, wisely chose to sit quietly as Sparkplug followed up on that hug.

“This is my pet, Buttercup,” Ratchet introduced her lover, “but you can call her Butters.” 

“Pet is it?” Mapper asked, the pink unicorn definitely not laughing and definitely not smirking as Sparkplug squeezed Airmail so tight she was turning a deeper shade of blue. It was thoroughly adorable, but there was business to attend to. “And you know about the caring and feeding of pets?”  

Since it was a busy afternoon, the waiter had yet to make his way over to the table to take their order. A serving pony though did bring them water to drink in the meantime while they waited. Serenity moved a hoof over to touch Buttercup's hoof as Ratchet replied, “I may be a little out of practice, but I can get back into the swing of things.”

Tapping Buttercup’s shoulder, Candyfloss asked her via signage if she was following this, to which the flower seller nodded eagerly that she was. She then turned to Mapper with a smile on her face, “Mistress Ratchet is a strict but fair owner. I'm a lucky pet to have found her.”

Removing her hoof, Serenity gave Mapper a meaningful look but she said nothing. To Mapper of course the look spoke volumes. “Let me know if you need a pet bowl, then.” 

“As it happens, there is something I need.” Ratchet said and, while Mapper remained quiet, she gave the maple unicorn a ‘go on’ look. One deep breath later, and she continued, “It's, um, well, breath play. I don't want to screw that up.” Watching the exchange, Buttercup almost fell off her seating pad when she saw them talk about her most favourite thing ever.

“If you make a mistake you'll only make it once,” Mapper snorted, though further discussion on the subject was halted momentarily when the waiter at last came and took their orders. 

“She has a hood, and she uses a hanky to signal the end of play.” 

“That is good,” Mapper agreed thoughtfully, “but you need to be sure the hanky will fall if she passes out. Some idiots will wedge the signal to last longer.”

At the ‘idiot’ remark, Buttercup was about to have an outburst similar to the one she had earlier, but she just managed to rein herself in. Ratchet noticed Buttercup rise up to the challenge and, just in time, she placed a hoof on her nose. “I don't think my pet is an idiot, but I think she has had an idiot owner before, and I don't want to be that owner.”

“Then practice. I know a pet that can last five minutes, and others that barely go for one.”

Smiling a grateful smile at Ratchet, Buttercup sat herself back down calmly at the table. “I can easily do three minutes, Mistress Mapper.”

On the other side of the table, Sparkplug still had her hug in place around Airmail's shoulders. “Are you feeling better now?”

Through a very, very supreme effort, Airmail slapped a smile on her face. The yellow unicorn meant well, after all. “Hard not to with your hugs, Sparky.”

“Your pet speaks. You should fix that. First you,” Mapper pointed a stern hoof at Ratchet, “You learn CPR. Then do simple holding of breath and time it. Next simulated drowning. Easy to stop, and fix if it goes poorly. Asphyxiation is not so forgiving. Pet signals because it is all their body can do. Don't trust non-body signals like a hanky. Watch the pet as she fades to nothing,” she giggled, “Fun to masturbate over them too.”

Airmail shot Mapper the most deadpan look she could muster. “I don't see you masturbating over Trails.”

“Even my imagination can only go so far,” Mapper shrugged. Buttercup imagined herself in just that scenario and she had to press her hind legs together, her tail lifting up of its own accord.

Just when the unicorn waiter bought over their orders in his magical aura, Sparkplug, with a most curious look on her face chose that moment to ask, “What's masturbating?”

Mapper barely lifted an eyebrow. “Really Candy? I can see big sis here as being clueless, but you?”

Poor Hoist attempted to cast an invisibility spell that was far beyond his skills and he failed miserably. “Is it a game?” Sparkplug asked genuinely, “Is it fun? Can you play with yourself?” At that, Ratchet lost it and snorted her water out of her nose. “What?” Sparkplug was confused, “Do you have to play with somepony else?”

Somehow Candyfloss managed to keep her composure. “There’s a time and place for everything, Maps.” 

“Time was yesterday,” Airmail commented, though her shoulders were shaking up and down from suppressed laughter. “Place isn't here.”

Ratchet let out a deep sigh, “I'll take care of it. Can you wait till after the race, Sparky, Please?”

Candyfloss patted Ratchet’s shoulder sympathetically, “I think Sparky already knows how, just not the words to go with it.”

“Alright, Ratchey, I'll wait. I like learning new games!” Sparkplug squealed happily. Buttercup, who had been trying very, very hard not to laugh, finally lost it and laughed like a hyena at Hoist’s reaction and Sparkplug's complete and utter innocence.

~ ~ ~

“What did you think of that meal?” Ratchet asked Buttercup when all the plates had been emptied and removed from the table.

“I enjoyed it Mistress,” Buttercup answered quickly and honestly, “The company made it all the more enjoyable.”

“Can we have ice cream now?” Sparkplug asked, the yellow unicorn bouncing on her hooves beside the restaurant table, earning more than a few amused looks from the other diners.

“I don't know Sparky,” Ratchet feigned ignorance, “Is there an ice cream place close by?”

“Yes!” Sparkplug squeed as they left The Bread Bowl – Hoist picked up the bill without question – and the now not so busy ice cream parlour was right there. “It’s just over there! It's just there!” She pointed eagerly as Buttercup and Hoist both giggled at her antics. To the deaf mare, she reminded her of a young filly who got adopted from the orphanage years ago.

“Oh, that ice cream place.” Ratchet played it down like she was just seeing it for the very first time. “I think that is an excellent idea, Sparky.” Buttercup was rather looking forward to ice cream after the meal she had just eaten. She was thinking a fair bit though, mostly about what Mapper and Ratchet had been talking about, she was more than a wee bit distracted because of that.

Following a brief but very pertinent mental exchange between Mapper and Serenity, in which the pink mare didn’t want ice cream but Serenity did, Serenity begged, Mapper said no, Serenity pouted and finally Mapper agreed on the promise she’d be spanked later. “Do you mind if we join you for ice cream?” the teal mare asked finally. 

“No, more the better.” Ratchet had no problem with them joining her little party. “Come along pet.” As soon as they got there, Sparkplug was eagerly looking over the flavours when they walked inside. “You may have a bowl of two scoops of your choosing, as long as you don't choose rocky road.”

Sparkplug rolled her eyes at her big sister. She never let her have more than two flavours. Not like the bowl would explode. “I want the vanilla and strawberry, please, Ratchey.”

Buttercup, having looked over the flavours, chose the mint and pistachio, Ratchet opted for cookies and cream and strawberry, Candyfloss and Hoist both chose chocolate and caramel, Airmail had coffee and vanilla while Mapper and Serenity both had strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. Soon, they all had their respective ice creams and they moved to a couple of tables next to each other that seated four. “Would you sit across from me, please Sparky?” asked Serenity.

“You bet!” Immediately, the foalish unicorn took up a seat opposite Serenity.

Politely, Ratchet coughed, getting the attention of those at the tables. Just to make sure, she tapped her pet on the nose. “There is one rule in eating ice cream in this shop, Butters. You can’t use any utensils, and you can't feed yourself. I will demonstrate.” The maple unicorn took Buttercup’s ice cream and she switched it with hers. She then took some of it on her tongue and she fed it to her pet. 

“I'm all in on this!” Candyfloss needed no encouragement whatsoever to join in and she swapped cups with Hoist. Also joining in, Mapper swapped hers with Airmail.  

For a few moments, Sparkplug looked at what everypony else was doing at the table, her brother and Candyfloss, Buttercup and her sister who are as really into it as were Airmail and Mapper. She had that uneasy ‘left out’ feeling again and she didn't like it. “Um...Serenity, do you want to switch ice cream with me?”

“I was afraid you wouldn't ask me. I'd love to swap with you.” Serenity pushed her ice cream over to Sparkplug, a slight amount of concern in her voice, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Nodding eagerly, Sparkplug leant over the table and whispered not so quietly at all, “I kissed my friend at school once.” Cautiously, always on alert, Ratchet glanced over to see what was happening with her sister.

“Ohhh, that must have been nice!” Quickly, mostly thanks to the look on Ratchet’s face, Serenity became the number one non-sensual ice cream feeder in all of Equestria. While their lips did touch, it was completely non-sexual and, satisfied, Ratchet returned her focus to totally sensually feeding Buttercup her ice cream.

Sparkplug did take the ice cream from the chaste kiss that Serenity offered her and, she fed Serenity in kind, though she could easily tell it wasn’t the same as the other three couples at the table. She looked around once more and pouted. Serenity of course, noticed. “Is there something wrong?”

Yes. There was something wrong. A very big something. “You aren't doing it like they're doing it!”

Serenity blinked at that. Mapper turned Airmail's head to see Serenity. Serenity's ears flicked. Airmail's ears flicked and she turned back to snogging the ice cream from Mapper’s lips. Clearly enough to be heard by all at the table, Serenity said, “You don't know me that well, but if you want to do it like them, I will do it like them also.”

That was enough for Ratchet to turn her attention back to her sister. She wasn’t sure whether to put a stop to it right then and there or not. That would make her the biggest buzzkill in the universe though, so for now she was happy to let it play out while it was harmless. While Sparkplug wasn’t in any way skilled with this ‘kissing thing’, she had kissed her friend a few times in Canterlot. So, she attempted to kiss Serenity as passionately as she could. It was a decent show that got Buttercup's and Hoist's attention too.

“Go for it Sparky,” Ratchet gave her approval – because she didn’t want to be the bad pony – and she went back to snogging Buttercup’s face off. Serenity used her prodigious talents to guide Sparkplug as she introduced her tongue into the younger mare’s mouth, and the intricacies of general muzzle cleaning.

Hoist stared at his sister and Serenity for a second until he was reintroduced to Candyfloss's lips. At the same time, Buttercup engaged in a bit of a tongue battle with Ratchet, not prepared to give up the tongue war so easily. As it turned out, Sparkplug was rather quick learner and she gave Serenity her ice cream coated tongue in return, holding the kiss as long as she could.

Ratchet and Buttercup were the first of the couples to finish up their ice creams. “We're going for a walk. We’ll see you back at the house later.”

Just as Ratchet and Buttercup stood up from the table, Sparkplug pulled away from Serenity’s lips, a small trace of ice cream on her tongue and her eyes wide. “Cadance's feathers...” she breathed, her usually fillyish voice now sounding very adult indeed. 

At the sound of her sister’s altered voice, Ratchet spun around, rooted to the spot. Serenity smiled, “I'd think that Cadance's feathers are tickly!”

“Now...wow...that's how you eat ice cream!” Sparkplug gasped, wiping her lips with her hoof.

“I quite agree,” Candyfloss did indeed agree, though wisely, Mapper and Airmail chose to stay out of the upcoming discussion.

In a bit of a wide-eyed daze, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Candyfloss's very talented tongue, Hoist shook his head in order to clear it. “Sparky? Ratchet...did you hear that?”

“I heard,” Ratchet’s legs were leaden and heavy, “You doing okay there, Sparky?”

“Oh, Ratchet...” Sparkplug was seeing the world as if through new eyes for the first time. “I'm very okay!”

“But...But...you sound...your voice!” Hoist stammered, the unicorn stallion attempting to wrap his head around what he was witnessing. Just like Mapper and Airmail, Buttercup was staying out of it. This was obviously a deep family moment.

“I think Sparky has a beautiful voice.” Opined Serenity, and she would know.

Sparkplug blinked. She blinked again and a third time. This happened to her the other night, and now it was happening again. “I-I don't know how...I don't understand it. I-I'm still me,” she shook her head a little as if clearing out any cobwebs, she still felt like her. “It feels like it felt the other night, when I flew with Luna and Tempest.”

“You what?” Ratchet’s voice sounded like a steel trap. Hoist, realising his ‘secret’ was about to be revealed, really wished he could cast that invisibility spell right then. He was going to get skinned alive, at least killed until he was dead, for sure.

“Don't shout at Hoist, sis. I snuck out on Thursday and went to Caffeinated's house. You said there was a party.”

Ratchet’s steel trap voice was even and measured, though her eyes were narrowed dangerously. “Did you party with Raid?”

“No, I took my bunny and I played party games with Requiem and Longshore,” Sparkplug explained honestly, “Princess Luna and Tempest came upstairs a bit later and offered to take me home.”

“Okay, that is okay…” breathing in calm thoughts through her nose, she looked at her brother trying without success to disappear. The R-bomb wasn’t quite diffused just yet. “Did you tell your brother before you left?”

“Hoist had no idea until I was bought home,” Sparkplug confessed, causing Hoist to let out an embarrassed meep. “He didn't do anything wrong sis, it was all me, I swear.”

Candyfloss, knowing that Hoist needed help, spoke up for her stallion. “He went out to look for her when we found she was gone. He came back with her, and the other two.”

“Okay, I..” Ratchet saw there was little point in exploding. What was done was done, and from the sounds of it there was no lasting harm done. So, it was all good. What she was struggling with now was her ‘grown’ little sister. “Okay, It's fine Sparky. Just make sure somepony knows when you leave by yourself, can you do that?”

“Sure I can,” Sparkplug smiled warmly at her sister. Looking at her now, like everything, it was seeing her for the first time. “This...I like this! Is this being grown up?”

Solemnly, Ratchet nodded, “Yes Sparky, welcome to a whole new world.”

“It's like...it's like waking up!”

Ratchet decided she really, really needed some air, a lot of air. This was threatening to overwhelm her, and she didn’t like being overwhelmed. “We’ll see you at home, brother, sis…” she turned and headed out of the ice cream parlour with Buttercup close beside her.   

The two ponies crossed the street together in silence, with Ratchet very deep in thought. Buttercup did attempt to say something but she noticed that Ratchet wasn't paying attention. So much was the unicorn not paying attention that Buttercup had to stop her walking in front of a car. Still Ratchet said and did nothing. On the other side of the street, the deaf mare tapped her shoulder hard. “Are you okay?”

No, Ratchet was not okay. The thing was, she wasn’t at all sure why she wasn’t okay. She was unnerved, sure. And more than a teeny bit scared of what this new development meant for her, and for the family, for the future. “I'm not sure if I've woken up from a dream or a nightmare.”

Buttercup was in no mood for riddles. Hurrying, she got in front of her lover and stood in front of her, blocking her path. “Talk to me.”

“Sparkplug drowned when she was five. It took a while before Wheeljack and I were able to resuscitate her. Hoist call for the ambulance. Ever since then she has been a five year old filly up here…” she tapped her forehead next to her horn. “The docs in Canterlot said she had brain damage from lack of oxygen. The herd doc here said it was age regression from a traumatic experience before she knew of the drowning. I trust her. Now...”

Buttercup thought she saw where this train of thought was going and she didn’t like it one bit. “So now she's starting to grow up, and you aren't sure if you prefer her growing up or how she was before, because that's what you're used to…”

“No!” Ratchet interrupted her sharply, instantly regretting it. “Sparky and the engine are one! What if...what if she loses that connection? As a pit crew we’d be finished! I don't know what to do if that happens.”

“You don't know what will happen, Ratchet. Whatever happens, you're family, right?”

“Yeah, we're family. We've been though worse, and she said it happened before. I don't even know what Sparky will be like at breakfast.”  

Leaning forwards, Buttercup softly kissed her Mistress’s lips, “Ratchet, at the orphanage, things changed, a lot. Sometimes daily. I was scared to get close to anypony. If I did, they might be gone in a day, week or a month later and I'd never see them again. I know it's not the same, but I kinda know what you're going through.”

Ratchet knew it wasn’t the same, but she could see and was grateful that Buttercup understood a little of what she was going through. “You still have Lemongrass, and we did put on a good show for her. There is something I want you to see though on our way home.”

“Grass and momma Snuggles were the only constants I had when I was growing up. They gave me hope that somepony somewhere might want a broken pony, and now I have you!”

“I haven't even broken you yet, Butters.” Ratchet giggled as they walked along the grass-lined sidewalk. Though it was late in the afternoon, Celestia hadn’t yet lowered the sun. It was approaching eight p.m., they walked past a mom and pop store still open and the homes got nicer, even nicer than Ratchet’s was.

Buttercup felt like she was walking along a street in Canterlot, the houses were that nice. She held onto Ratchet's hoof as they walked along, her tail entwining with hers. The idea of Ratchet breaking her was a very enticing one indeed. “I want you to break me, Mistress. I want to be your lover, pet and slave.”

“So do I, I want all those thing as well, but I want to do it gently.” After a few moment’s silent walk, Ratchet bought her charge to a stop outside a very large, very palatial and opulent home and used her key card to get past the ornately wrought front gate.

“Buuuuuuck…” Buttercup breathed, the earth pony standing stock still staring at Caffeinated’s place as her partner went and opened the gate. Silently, Ratchet walked her stunned mare around the flower and herb garden in the front of the house. That was enough to shock her back to her senses. “A garden!” Buttercup pranced around excitedly, “Ratchet look at this!”

“That’s only part of it,” the maple unicorn then led her through the gate that lead to the back yard where there were vegetable and flower gardens as well as an orchard of fruit trees. Buttercup absolutely lost it in her glee, she squeed so hard that she actually orgasmed on the spot.

Ratchet smiled, opting to overlook the climax without permission this one time on account of the fact it was completely adorable. “This is where Sparky was last night, and where we will be tomorrow, win or lose, for the after-race party. You can meet the gardener, Ms. Thespian. It gives you something to aim for at 'our' place.”

“Look at all this!” Buttercup squealed excitedly, it was like seeing the royal gardens for the first time, then she paused, the name ringing several very large, very loud bells in her head. “Thespian, 'the' Thespian? This is her garden?”

“The actress, yes this is her garden.”

Dismissively, Buttercup waved her hoof in the air at the actress bit. That wasn’t what she was interested in. “She won the Manehatten Horticultural Competition award four times in a row!”

“Um, I didn't know that, but I know you want to, and I thought this would be inspiration.”

“She hasn't entered for a few years, but when she did...she owned it!”

“I think you can own it too.”

“You think...me...I...you think I could...” Buttercup didn't finish that sentence, instead she launched herself at Ratchet and kissed her long and hard, mashing their lips together as passionately as she could. “I love you! I love you so much!” 

“You complete me and I want to give you the tools to succeed,” Ratchet kissed her pet’s lips in tun like she herself had been kissed. “I love you too. Now, we should head on back home. We have other things to do tonight.” 

“Other things...” Buttercup only had to think for the briefest of seconds to have a good guess what those other things might be. She was pretty sure those other things might just be her hood. “Um, like what you were talking to Mistress Mapper about at dinner?”

Ratchet smiled, glad she had such an astute pet. “I think I need to do this as much as you want me to do this. Later, you can tell Lemongrass how it went.”

“I trust you Mistress, completely, and I love you with all my heart.”

~ ~ ~

When Ratchet and Buttercup entered the house, Hoist, Candyfloss and Sparkplug were all sat in the living room watching the large wall mounted TV. Seeing as how Sparkplug was back to her usual foalish self, the growth spurt at the ice cream parlour not lasting that long, they were watching Power Ponies. Hoist was cuddling Candyfloss while Sparkplug was whooping at the Masked Matter Horn kicking ass.

Like she had done all the way back, Buttercup held Ratchet’s hoof and nuzzled her cheek as the unicorn poked her head around the living room door with a smile, “G'night fillies and colts!”

Smiling, Hoist got up – reluctantly – from the couch and he came over to Ratchet and nuzzled his sister as Candyfloss kept Sparkplug occupied with the cartoon movie "Mane-iac's Revenge". “She started to get younger again on the way back. When the TV went on, she was playing with her bunny like nothing happened.”

“Let what happens, happen.” Ratchet said thoughtfully, “As long as she is happy, that’s all that matters.”

“I'm sure Requiem will help her,” Hoist grinned, nuzzling both Ratchet and Buttercup. “Good night you two, I hope you have fun.”

“Try to not wake the neighbours!” Candyfloss called helpfully from her place on the couch.

When she saw Candyfloss say that, Buttercup blushed hard, her green fur radiating bright red heat because, as it was a detached mansion, she knew she'd need a fog horn to wake anypony up. “N-No promises, Candy.”

“What she said.” With that, and all the good nights exchanged, Ratchet led the way upstairs, her destination her bedroom. Buttercup was more than happy to walk behind her Mistress. She wasn’t as overwhelmed as she was earlier, but she still slowly took it all in with a teeny bit of awe. “How long can you hold your breath?”

“Two minutes, easy, Mistress. With training, I'm aiming for three.”

“I'm aiming for as long as you can go.” Reaching into her saddlebags that she had left at the side of her bed, Ratchet pulled out hood and, somewhat reverently, she took it out of its clear protective bag. “I took this as a punishment, so you wouldn't have it at home. Now I'm glad it is here.”

“I'm glad it is too, Mistress,” licking her lips, Buttercup looked at the hood in her owner’s hooves with a great deal of anticipation for what was to come.

Slowly, carefully, like she was holding a relic from the times of the Unification of the Tribes, Ratchet looked the mask over. Turning it, she inspected it from all angles. It was vaguely head shaped, with clear eye covers so they could look at each other. A simple twist valve at the end of the muzzle sealed the mask, and a twist the opposite way let the air back in. “This looks very well built, pet.”

Buttercup nodded her head eagerly. It should be well built, considering what she paid for it, three week’s money, it was easily the most expensive thing she owned. “I saved up to get a good model, Mistress.”

Wordlessly, Ratchet moved around her pale blue bedroom and piled a few pillows at the headboard. “On you back, in the centre of bed. I want you propped up on the pillows so I can watch your eyes.” She was determined to take Mapper’s advice to heart.

“Yes Mistress!” so giddy was she, that she didn’t bother to sign her response. She danced on her hooves for a second before hopping up and getting in the middle of the bed. A quick shuffle later she was up in position so that her head was on the pillows.

“Do you still want to use the hanky signal?”

“I didn't bring it, Mistress.”

Ratchet raised up a dangerous eyebrow. “That wasn't my question, pet.”

“Sorry, yes Mistress, I want to use it.”

Without looking, Ratchet lit her horn and, opening a drawer in her dresser, took out a clean white hanky. “What luck, it seems I have one!” she placed the square of white material in her pet’s right hoof. “Now, show me. Wave your right hoof.” Straight away, Buttercup waved her forehoof. She was laid with her legs spread like she expected to be restrained.

Though she wanted to tie her down, Ratchet resolved to keep it simple. For this first time, at any rate. “Good, now I'm going to put the hood on. I want you to wave that hoof if I'm doing something wrong and we can start over.” Nodding her head to show that she understood, the earth pony’s tail swished up between her hind legs. Carefully, Ratchet placed the hood over Buttercup’s muzzle and, taking extra care to make sure her ears were folded back, she fitted it over her head. The elastic cupped the chin and cheeks, along with back of neck to make a perfect seal. She had the front valve open. 

For now.

Through the clear eye covers of the hood, Buttercup looked very happy indeed. It had been way too long since she had worn it last and the smile on her face that reached her eyes said it all. It communicated perfectly how she felt, and they hadn’t even started yet. Breathing slowly through the open valve, she watched Ratchet position her right hoof up in the air supported by the pillows. Preparations in place, the dominant unicorn moved her muzzle between her legs and went to work.

“Aaaaahn…” Buttercup moaned lustily through the valve and immediately she began to leak into Ratchet's mouth, though she was wet with arousal in any event. For five whole minutes, Ratchet lapped at her pet’s dripping snatch, sliding her tongue deep inside her wet muscular tunnel to see if she dropped the hanky. She didn't drop it, she was taking shallow breaths through the open valve and, groaning, quivered on the verge of an Equestria-shattering orgasm.

Sensing her lover was close, due to her puffy swollen labia and hard erect clitoris, Ratchet lifted herself up so that Buttercup could see her speak. It was time to really play. “I understand that lack of oxygen to the brain causes euphoria and makes orgasms really intense.”

Buttercup nodded her head very eagerly indeed. “It does Mistress!”

Although her pet’s odd sounding voice was greatly muffled by the gagging effects of the hood she now wore, Ratchet got the message. “I want to test that.” In her magical aura, she held a stopwatch up so that Buttercup could see it. She used a hoof to close the air valve while her magic started the watch. It left Buttercup's view and it was replaced by a ribbed vibrator held in Ratchet's magic. 

As she felt the wide ribbed toy slide inside her, Buttercup’s eyes went wide, for she knew what was about to happen next and she was so ready. “Mi...MmmmMMMMPH!” she moaned, the toy easily sliding inside her. She could feel every ridge along the way. 

All the time that the maple unicorn was working the buzzing toy in and out of her pet’s dripping hole, Ratchet was careful to keep eye contact with her, and she had the hanky in view just in case. She was determined, as evidenced by her thrusting the toy deep, to get her off. 

At one minute and thirty seconds of no oxygen, Buttercup arched her back and shuddered through an intense screaming orgasm, squirting over Ratchet like a fountain. However, she wasn’t done and the dominant pony kept going, magically thrusting the vibrator inside her. When the stopwatch read two minutes and six seconds, Buttercup, now starved of air, had that second orgasm, her body shaking with the force of it. By now her vision was going dark, her eyes fluttered and nine seconds later, she dropped the hanky.

Immediately, Ratchet opened up the air valve even before the hanky hit the bed and then she stopped the watch. The vibrator came out and she placed a hoof gently to the cheek of the hood, and one hoof to Buttercup's chest to make sure it rose and fell. 

Though her eyes were closed for a brief couple of seconds, she opened them when she felt the hoof caress her cheek. She breathed in wonderful sweet oxygen through the open valve, her chest rising and falling as she rode out the best orgasm ever. “Time for a taste test, I think.” Ratchet left the valve open as she once again went in muzzle first between her pet’s open hind legs.

“Oooooh buuuuuuck!” Buttercup trembled and quivered, her needy swollen marehood slick wet. Ratchet did say she was going to break her, and she was true to her word. Buttercup had declared her intention to be her slave, and she was going to make her earn that honour. Of course that meant working a third climax out of her.

Seeing as she had already cum twice, Buttercup’s third didn't take very long at all, though she hardly squirted anything this time. Her scream, though muffled by the hood, was as loud as ever. By the time she had done, she was a panting drooling sopping wet mess of fur. Carefully, Ratchet removed the hood and noted there was a lot of water coming from it. “Is it what you expected?”

“B-Be-Better…” Buttercup wore a goofy smile on her face, “I love you!”

“It was fun for me too, just to watch you squirm.”

“S-So we'll do it again?”

“Again?” Ratchet repeated the question, a sly look on her face as she mashed their lips together in a passionate kiss, “We will do it now!” With that, she placed the latex hood in place back on the earth pony’s head.

Buttercup was absolutely sure this was heaven and she didn't know what she had done to deserve such sweet treatment. “Thank you, Mistress!”

Resetting the hanky in her pet’s hoof, Ratchet then moved a feather into view. She waited until she saw the look of recognition on the earth pony’s face and, smiling widely, the feather attacked Buttercup’s hard nipples. “Mmmmmm!” she moaned, though thanks to the three climaxes she’d had, her nipples were very hard and quite sensitive. 

As well as ticklish.

“Ahahahaaaa!” Enjoying the sounds of the muffled laughter, Ratchet started the stopwatch after showing off the feather. She dipped the feather into her pussy to wet it and she continued the nipple assault. Within seconds, Buttercup was laughing so hard she was rapidly using up all the air in the hood. It was quickly getting hard to breathe, though not once did she try to push her Mistress away. 

Through super sensitive nipples and the feather as well as the other climaxes she had already endured, the deaf mare was well on the way to a fourth. Another few seconds of tickling though and breathless laughter and even Buttercup, with her presence of mind, dropped the hanky.

Very quickly, Ratchet opened the air valve all the way open with a hoof and then she dropped the feather and stopped the watch. “You still with me?” she asked, not hiding her relieved smile when she saw Buttercup nod her head, panting to recover her breath. Slowly, she removed the hood and laid it by her side on the bed. “Just two tries for tonight. You did last longer on the first try though.”  

“Th-That...was...amazing...” 

“Yes,” Ratchet giggled, “it was fun. Now you get to clean up the feather, the vibrator, and the hood. Even more fun for you.” Smiling weakly, Buttercup rolled onto her side facing her Mistress and she began to lick the feather that so wickedly attacked her nipples moments before. 

Happy to watch the show, Ratchet just laid back and enjoys the sight of her pet deep throating the vibrator clean. She hadn’t been ordered to, but she made the show as sexy as she could. Ratchet and her hoof didn’t hide the fact that she was getting worked up. Her pet was that good.

After cleaning the ribbed toy like it was a real stallion, Buttercup moved onto the hood. Though she had cleaned the vibrator and feather by mouth, that wasn’t how she was going to clean the hood. On shaking hooves, she took it to the nearest bathroom and rinsed in the sink before coming back to the bedroom.

While Buttercup was away cleaning the hood, Ratchet, feeling mischievous and horny, stuffed the ribbed vibrator deep inside herself. “What a naughty pony!” she declared once her pet had returned, “You were gone so long the vibrator got dirty again! You may clean it again, where it is.”

Though she laughed at that, Buttercup saw straight away what her Mistress’s game was. “I am a very naughty pony, Mistress.” She smiled and got up on the bed, crawling forwards into place and stuffing her muzzle between Ratchet's hind legs. When she was in position, the deaf mare slid her tongue inside her. 

At that moment, she noted the vibrator was turned off. Noting that and, with a sly little smile, she flicked it on with a hoof as she enthusiastically ate out her owner’s pussy. On the receiving end now, Ratchet gave a nice soft moan of pleasure.

Buttercup of course couldn’t hear that audible cue, but she could tell Ratchet was getting wetter by the second. She then took the end of the toy in her mouth and moves it back and forth and few times then she licked around it. It was most strange, having the vibrating toy in her mouth, but she could tell Ratchet was enjoying what she was doing.

After several hard and deep thrusts, Ratchet wiggled her hips as the vibrator went deep enough inside her to tap her cervical wall. Screaming out Buttercup’s name to her bedroom ceiling, the unicorn gripped the bedsheets as she bucked her hips. By Cadance was her pet good!

Instinctively knowing she was doing a good job, Buttercup repeated the little cycle of thrusting the vibrator in and out and then licking around the insides of Ratchet's sopping wet tunnel. After burying the toy inside her screaming and thrashing owner for the fourth time, she began to suck on her swollen clit. 

Buttercup didn’t need to hear to know that, with her back arched up off the bed, Ratchet had reached her orgasm. 

Seeing as she was not commanded to stop, Buttercup carries on sucking on the unicorn’s hard clit for another moment. Then, she decided to take a tentative lick at her puckered asshole to see what she did. As she was deep into the throes of ecstasy, Ratchet didn’t react any different. 

Using a hoof to rub at her Mistress’s clitoris, Buttercup tongued the unicorn’s asshole like she was born to eat ass. Her other hoof kept tapping the ribbed vibrator in and out of her marehood. After her second orgasm hit, and hit hard, Ratchet put a hoof on Buttercup’s head, holding her pet in place.

About to lift up her head, the deaf mare felt the hoof there at the back of her head and she stayed where she was, content to keep doing what she was doing. She had even managed to synchronise her tongue fucking with the tapping of the vibrator.

After her third momentous climax, Ratchet took hold of Buttercup’s mane and she gently but firmly pulled her up until both mares could see each other’s lips. “You are naughtiest of slaves in the best of ways…” she sighed, cross-eyed from her orgasms. “Now, pull that out and clean it then get up here and snuggle me.”

Smiling, Buttercup obediently retrieved the vibrator with her teeth before turning it off. A couple of quick sucks had the toy clean and, once she had set it down on the night stand, she crept back onto the bed for the much-needed snuggles. Content to just hold her close, Ratchet turned off the bedroom light, the unicorn figured they could talk about the move later. 

Very happy to be held, Buttercup nestled into Ratchet's chest and was soon asleep, both mares loving their life outside the pit lane.