Mind control is a sensitive subject for Twilight and Starlight, but for completely different reasons. Starlight wants Twilight to hypnotize her. Twilight isn't so sure about that.
It was supposed to be a simple lesson in consent.
After Twilight discovers that Starlight Glimmer placed their friends under mind control magic, she proposes some turnabout to demonstrate the importance of consent. Instead it reveals one of Starlight's deepest secrets.
Now Twilight must decide if she's willing to take things further to help her friend, even if it takes her far out of her own experience.
Twilight Sparkle smiled blissfully, savoring one last squeeze of the group hug Pinkie Pie initiated with all her friends as they departed the castle. “Goodbye, girls,” she beamed as her friends slowly peeled away from the hug, walking or flying off toward their homes. “Thanks for the help with the lessons. See you tomorrow!” A chorus of different farewells called back to her before her friends were out of earshot, and Twilight and Starlight Glimmer watched until they were all out of sight.
They turned back to the castle doors, Twilight opening them with her magic, when Spike stepped out as well with a large backpack secured to his back. “I'd best get going too,” he said eagerly. Looking to Starlight he added, “Thanks for getting me tickets to the Canterlot O&O Society convention tomorrow! I should have just enough time to get settled in and check out the pre-con events.” He hugged Starlight and Twilight quickly before jogging toward the train station.
“Sure thing, Spike,” Starlight answered. “It's the least I could do after all the help you've been.”
Once the dragon was gone, Twilight and Starlight finally returned to the castle library, chatting about the eventful day.
“I'm still not sure about that “chillaxing” business with Rainbow Dash,” Starlight admitted as they entered the doors. “I can see sitting still for a little while, but she takes it to a whole different level. I guess I just want to do something when I relax.”
Twilight chuckled, nodding, “Rainbow definitely has her chillaxing honed to an art.” Closing the library door behind them, she trotted over to the central table and levitated a parchment up to read it. “I just have one more thing before we call it a night.”
Starlight raised a brow, walking over to her mentor. “Really? I thought the chillaxing was the last friendship lesson for today.”
“It's not a friendship lesson exactly,” admitted Twilight, lowering the parchment. She put on a serious expression. “I wanted to talk a little more about your choice to cast mind control spells on our friends.”
“Oh!” Starlight glanced down at her hooves for a moment, lingering shame surging within her. “I thought we talked about it already. You helped me realize what a bad idea it was to use magic to force friendship.”
“We did,” Twilight agreed, setting down the parchment. “But I wanted to cover a related topic that I think will help you a lot. It's called “consent”.”
Starlight lowered her head a little, nodding. “I know! I have to think before I act against a pony's consent . . .”
“No, Starlight,” Twilight interrupted gently. “Consent is about getting full and knowing permission from the pony before doing anything. It's about asking first, and respecting the pony's choice.” She sighed and stepped closer, reaching out to her friend. “Starlight, I'm not trying to lecture you or bring you down. I just think this is a vital lesson you need to learn, and right now we have a perfect learning opportunity.”
Starlight looked up, her brow raised. “Opportunity, how?” she asked carefully. Seeing Twilight's hoof still raised to her, she took hold with her own and let her mentor draw her close.
Twilight smiled and led her to the table where the spellbooks Starlight consulted earlier still lay, open to the very spells she'd used. “Now it's important you understand this is a lesson, not a punishment. I've forgiven you, as have all of our friends, and I wouldn't feel right suggesting a punishment even if they hadn't. You're my friend, Starlight, and I'm suggesting this as a way to help you grow.”
“I know you're trying to be comforting, Twilight, but I'm starting to get nervous about what you have planned.”
Twilight stopped herself, smiling slightly, and took a deep, steadying breath, raising a hoof to her chest. She let it out slowly, extending her hoof as she did. “Sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound so bad.” She gestured to the books. “Since this is a lesson in consent, you need to consent to the lesson once you know what it is. If you don't, that's okay, I'll find another lesson, but this is the one I think will help you the most.”
“Alright,” Starlight said slowly. “What are you proposing?”
“I think you need to experience the spells you placed on our friends from their point of view. If you agree, I'll cast the spells on you and you will spend the evening feeling what they felt when you were controlling them.”
Starlight's eyes grew wide and she took an involuntary step back. “Umm, are you certain that's a good idea?” she asked hesitantly. Without fully realizing it, she started biting softly on her lower lip..
Twilight nodded, her face the picture of quiet confidence. “I think it is what will help you most. Out of what you've experienced, I suspect you've never really surrendered control willingly before, have you, Starlight?”
Starlight shook her head, blushing softly and shifting her hind legs closer together. “Never willingly.” A sheepish grin came to her lips and she chuckled, remembering a moment. “At least, not since you talked me down from the time travel, um, incident.”
“It'll be OK, Starlight,” Twilight promised, offering a smile. “It's entirely your choice if we proceed. I promise this will be a big help to you, and I won't let anything bad happen to you while you're under my spell. You'll be completely safe in my hooves.”
She looked deep into Twilight's eyes, taking her own steadying breath while she considered her options. “Okay, Twilight,” she said finally, the flush in her cheeks remaining despite her calm tone. “I trust you. Let's do it.”
With a glow of purple magic, the three books lifted into the air beside Twilight Sparkle. “Alright, you won't regret this, Starlight.” She studied the pages carefully. “Now let's see... you said you combined Fiducia Compelus with Cogeria and Persuadere, correct?”
“Just a pinch of Persuadere,” Starlight corrected.
Twilight nodded, her horn glowing bright behind the books. She lowered them to get a close look at her friend. “I'm ready when you are. Say the word.”
Starlight smiled softly, an almost giddy feeling flooding through her. “Go for it, Twilight.”
She nodded once, then focused on the books as the magic flared from her horn, the purple aura flashing so bright it almost seemed white. The magic expanded quickly, stretching out in a ribbon of light and winding itself into an orb of power in front of her hooves. With a last glance at Starlight's eyes, she propelled the ball toward her. A blinding flash filled the library and she covered her eyes until it faded.
When Twilight opened her eyes again she saw Starlight standing perfectly still in front of her with wisps of magic swirling around her frame. Starlight's eyes stared off into the distance before her, focused on nothing, unblinking. Twilight waved a hoof in front of her face, but Starlight didn't even flinch.
“Hello, Starlight, do you feel alright?” she asked, waving a little more. She frowned at the lack of response. “She should be answering my every question. Hmmm, let's see.” She floated the books in front of herself again, quickly scanning the pages. “Oh, of course! Fiducia Compelus needs a trigger.” She turned back to Starlight, her horn lighting up with magic. The purple light flared stronger again and Twilight's eyes lit up white. “Starlight Glimmer!” she stated with all the authority she could muster. “Hear my voice and listen!” Another bright flash of white light filled the room.
Starlight blinked and shook her head slightly as the light faded. She still remained where she was, but slightly more animated than before.
Twilight looked her friend over, checking for any signs of distress. Apart from a somewhat awkward stance with her rear legs pressed together, she seemed fine. “Starlight Glimmer, are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle,” she intoned, no hint of emotion or inflection in her voice.
That's a little creepy, really. She took a breath. “Let's start with something small, shall we?”
“I'll start with whatever you want me to start with, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Er, alright, take these three books and return them to the places on the shelves from which you took them, by hoof.” Twilight floated the spellbooks over to Starlight.
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. At once, Twilight Sparkle.” She stepped up close, taking the books eagerly. Without another word she immediately turned around, her tail raised high in the air, and trotted briskly toward the library shelves.
Twilight smiled, watching her friend start to do her tasks as ordered. I can see the appeal from Starlight's perspective. It's still slightly creepy, though. Her eyes happened to glance lower and the smile faded from her lips, her eyes widening. Wait, she's not... Oh! Oh my, I think she is! She snapped her head up, her cheeks blushing a deep red.
Starlight shelved the last book and stopped moving, staring at the wall with her rear toward Twilight. There was no doubt about it, Starlight Glimmer showed every sign of intense physical arousal that a mare could show. Twilight risked another blush-inducing glance to be sure, her cheeks positively glowing. “Starlight, come back over here and stand facing me, please.”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle,” came the immediate response, and she trotted back over, standing in front of the blushing alicorn. The light from the high windows glistened off the moisture clearly coating both her rear legs from thigh to hoof, and as she drew closer the faint, unmistakable scent of arousal reached Twilight's nose.
“Starlight, tell me how you are feeling right now.”
“I am feeling very horny, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Why are you feeling horny right now, Starlight?”
“I feel horny because being totally controlled is very arousing to me, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight's eyes grew wide again and she let out a worried little whine. “Uhh, that would have been nice to know before we did this,” she murmured. She shook herself out of the shock of the new knowledge. “Alright, we have to end this.”
Starlight Glimmer opened her eyes, blinking against the fading flash of magic from Twilight's horn. While her head ached from the magic that was recently withdrawn from her mind, that wasn't the first sensation that caught her attention. Throughout her body, her nerves resonated with a deep-seated heat radiating from between her flanks, as if she'd spent all night indulging in her best fantasies.
She felt flushed as she looked over to Twilight, noticing the deep crimson blush on her mentor's cheeks. “Um, is that it, Twilight?” she asked slowly, trying to remember the events that occurred while she was under the spell. “That sure didn't feel like a full evening.”
“It wasn't,” Twilight confirmed, trying her best to look anywhere but in Starlight's eyes. “I pulled you out of the spell early. Something, ah, unexpected happened.”
Judging on the state of her body, Starlight took a good guess at what it was. “Umm, yeah, about that. I don't really remember what happened, but, ah, what happened to me, Twilight?”
Twilight took one of her steadying breaths. “I just had you put the spellbooks away. However it looks like you might have, um, some rather... intimate side effects from the spells.”
They sat in silence for a moment, each trying to work out what to say.
Twilight broke the silence. “Starlight, I'm sorry.”
She blinked in surprise. “Sorry for what?”
“For suggesting doing this at all, really, but more specifically, while you were under the spell I asked why you were feeling, um, the way you were feeling. I wasn't thinking that you couldn't help but answer truthfully, and you did.” She blushed again, her cheeks taking back the color they were starting to lose. “It was wrong of me to pry into your feelings, so I'm sorry.”
Starlight lowered her head, her eyes closed, but didn't answer. Twilight's hopes of forgiveness dropped at the silence... until Starlight started laughing.
“Hahahaha! No, Twilight, haha, I should apologize to you.” She nodded in response to Twilight's puzzled look. “I've, ah, known about that particular kink of mine for years. I should have told you about it before I agreed to let you cast the spell. I thought that I would be able to keep control of my feelings while I was completely under your control.” She sighed, then gave a rueful chuckle. “I should have figured that wouldn't work.”
Their eyes met, Starlight smirked, and a moment later they were both laughing without reservation.
“Alright, let's say we both have some lessons to learn, then,” Twilight said when they finally regained a little composure. “I guess we should call it a night.”
“Actually, I do have one thing I'd like to ask before we stop tonight.”
Twilight Sparkle's thoughts were already turning toward dinner or maybe a cup of chamomile tea while reading for the rest of the evening when Starlight said she had one more thing to ask. “Anything, Starlight,” she said, imagining her student might want to talk through some of what happened.
“Will you do it again? Please?”
Twilight turned toward the library door, still smiling. “I'm sure we can... wait, WHAT?” She spun back around, eyes wide and her wings flaring out. “What do you mean, do it again?”
Starlight Glimmer blushed a bit deeper, but her grin remained. “Well, you said yourself this was a learning opportunity for me.” She pointed to the windows where the sunlight still streamed in. “And you did say it was supposed to last for the rest of the evening. I just really want to make sure I fully appreciate the lesson you planned for me. I wouldn't want any of your teaching to go to waste because of some trivial reaction of mine.” She smiled hopefully as she wrapped up.
Twilight's expression slowly grew less panicked and more skeptical as Starlight continued to plead her case. When the words stopped, she raised one eyebrow as she continued to watch her student incredulously.
Starlight held her smile for all of five seconds under Twilight's disbelieving look. “Oh, alright! That was the hottest thing I've ever experienced in my entire life and I really want to feel more of it.”
“Starlight!” Twilight gasped at the frank admission.
“What?” Starlight asked, asserting herself with an easy, confidant tone. “You taught me the importance of being honest with my friends, and that was the honest truth. All of it was, actually, since I did agree to go under your spell for the whole evening and I really do value your lessons.”
“Well, I, um,” Twilight hemmed, casting her mind around for ways to end this without hurting her friend's feelings. “Thank you, umm, and I, ah, do want you to be honest. But don't you think the circumstances make continuing this lesson a little... awkward?”
Starlight shrugged, her smile returning. “It doesn't have to be. I've thought about it and I've decided I am completely comfortable with continuing the lesson.”
Twilight blanched, then started to pace, her wings flaring. “That may be so, but I'm not certain I'm all that comfortable with it.” She looked back at Starlight. “I mean, the spell is making you, um...”
“Horny.”
“Aroused, I wanted to say!” Twilight's blush deepened as her panic rose. “Why would I knowingly do something that's making my student feel that way?”
“If you think about it, Twilight,” Starlight answered smoothly. “This really is just a case of highly motivating your student. Think of it as really strong positive reinforcement.”
"Starlight, this is crazy!" Twilight paced rapidly around the library table, on the verge of hyperventilating while she cast about for more reasons to say no. "I mean, I don't even like mares that way!"
"That's okay," Starlight asserted eagerly, falling into step beside Twilight, "neither do I."
Twilight nearly tripped over her own hooves, skidding to a stop. She rounded on Starlight, eyes wide in panic. "Then why are we even talking about this?" she shouted desperately.
Starlight backed up from the manic look on Twilight's face when she shouted. “It's okay, Twilight. I swear, I'm not asking you for sex, or to be my marefriend-”
Twilight's eye twitched at the word.
“I was only talking about the spells.” She sighed, straightening up, and continued with a gentler tone. “Twilight, I'm sorry. Clearly I was too abrupt about asking and that upset you, and I'm sorry. We've had a long afternoon, and I know I'm feeling pretty hungry. How about you?”
Twilight slowly regained her composure while Starlight spoke, but the issue was far from cleared in her mind. She opened her mouth to reply, but her belly cut her off with a loud rumble. “Yeah, I guess I'm hungry, too.”
“Then let's table the discussion for now and get a bite to eat. I'll pop out for Hayburgers! I know how much you love the food there.” She trotted toward the library door once again. “Once we've eaten we'll be in a much better spot to work this all out. I'll be right back.” Her horn started glowing in preparation for her teleportation spell.
“Starlight!” Twilight cried, trying to interrupt her student before she left.
Her horn powered down again. “Yes, Twilight?”
She pointed to Starlight's hind legs, still glistening with moisture. “Don't you think you should clean up a little before you go out?”
Starlight looked back at her legs and blushed. “Oh, yeah, that's a good idea. I'll wash up, then go for the food. Be right back.” Her horn powered again and she vanished in a blink of power.
Moments later Twilight heard water running in a nearby bathroom. She sighed and attempted to order her thoughts, but the image of the mind-controlled Starlight strutting through the library kept returning and derailing her ideas. She trotted off to her private bath to wash for dinner, knowing Starlight would be back seconds after the order was ready at the restaurant.
“What did I get myself into?”
As expected, Starlight returned scarcely fifteen minutes later with two large Hayburger bags floating in her teal magic. “Twilight!” she called, walking toward the dining room. “I'm back with the food. Where do you want to set up?”
“Out here, Starlight! On the back balcony,” came the reply echoing down the crystal hallways, amplified by a bit of magic.
Starlight shrugged and teleported to the balcony, appearing right before Twilight. “I figured you'd want to eat in the dining room,” she said, floating the bags to the small table between the chairs.
Twilight smiled slightly, her horn lighting up purple. Moments later a bubble of purple energy spread out around the balcony and faded to transparency. “Given our likely topic of conversation, I thought somewhere less formal might be appropriate. I also thought some privacy might be in order, so I put up a soundproofing spell. Nopony outside this balcony will hear what we have to say.”
Starlight chuckled as she unpacked the large amount of food. “Sounds like you have everything covered, Twilight.” Sitting on one of the chairs, she floated a paper-wrapped burger over to her mentor. “No pickle and extra ketchup, right? I wasn't sure how hungry you were, so I kinda went overboard. Better to have leftovers than go hungry.”
Twilight took the burger and settled in. “You know me pretty well, Starlight.”
The two simply ate in silence for a while, looking over the view of the mountains in the distance as the sun slowly lowered toward the horizon. They were well into their second burgers when Twilight finally spoke.
“So, Starlight, when did you learn about it?”
Starlight raised a brow, her mouth full from a large bite she'd just taken. She chewed quickly, holding up a hoof, then swallowed. “Sorry, you caught me off guard, there. Um, learn about what, exactly?”
Twilight smiled at the pause, waiting patiently. “About the, um, what did you call it? Your “kink” for being controlled.”
Starlight blinked, chuckling briefly. “Okay, so no small talk. Got it.” She munched on a few hayfries as she sorted her thoughts.
Twilight blushed, looking chagrined. “Sorry. It just hasn't really left my mind since you mentioned it. It felt like we were still in the middle of the conversation.”
“I suppose we are,” Starlight admitted. “It was when I was with the last wizard I apprenticed with, Silver Spark. That was about six years ago.”
Twilight tilted her head, raising a brow. “What do you mean, the “last” wizard you apprenticed with? You were apprenticed under more than one wizard?”
“Mmhmm. Seven in all while I was learning magic.” She met Twilight's confused look with a soft smile. “We don't all get to be the personal protégé of Princess Celestia, Twilight.”
The comment brought a blush to Twilight's cheeks, and she nodded. “Alright, yes, I may have been a little sheltered in my studies. Still, I've heard of ponies having an apprenticeship not work out and finding a new mentor, but seven?”
Starlight looked out over the sunset again. “I didn't exactly take a traditional path to learning magic. I was still hurting about Sunburst being taken from me, and a part of me blamed Celestia's school, so I never applied.” She glanced back at Twilight, smirking at the appalled expression she found. “There are a lot of... lesser magic schools in Equestria. I bounced around several of them until I was old enough to apprentice.”
“You attended more than one magic school, too?” Twilight puzzled over the idea as she munched on hayfries. “I mean, you're so skilled in magic now, I can't see you having trouble in any magic school.”
“Oh, I didn't have trouble. I got bored. None of their programs would take me as far as I wanted, and I always found myself outpacing all the other students, and some of the teachers.” She puffed a laugh, shaking her head. “And I was still scared of opening up to anypony as a friend, so I had nothing else to occupy my time. So I'd learn everything the school had to offer then start making trouble for the teachers until I was kicked out, just to start the process again at the next school. All of my apprenticeships went about the same way.”
“Then how did you learn about your kink?” Twilight asked. After a moment her eyes grew wide. “Your mentor didn't use mind control as a punishment, did he?”
Starlight sighed, shaking her head slowly. “No, it wasn't a punishment. I hadn't gotten to that part of the cycle with Silver Spark yet. He was actually a pretty powerful wizard, compared to my prior mentors, and I was learning a lot.” She smirked, giving Twilight a side-long look. “He taught me most of my dueling skills, to give him credit where it's due.”
Twilight sat back, eyes wide as she remembered the duels she'd fought with her student. “Whoa.”
With a chuckle, Starlight continued. “I learned so much from him I actually started to trust him as a teacher. He challenged me like no other mentor had before. Then he announced he would teach me mind control magic, which I'd asked him to do for moons. I was so eager to try it, until the day came for the first lesson.” She stopped, looking back to the mountains.
Twilight watched her for a few moments, concern creasing her features while the silence grew. She reached over and lightly rested a hoof on her friend's shoulder. “Starlight, do you need to take a moment? We can stop if the memory is bothering you.”
Starlight shook herself out of her thoughts. “No, it's alright. It's long in the past, and I really want you to know, so you'll understand.” She reached up and patted Twilight's hoof. “Thank you, though. You're a good friend.” Taking a breath, she continued the tale.
“Silver Spark was big on teaching through experience, so the first lesson was for me to experience the spell cast on me correctly. I trusted him, so I put up no resistance and the spell took complete control of my body. It was like I was watching someone else from behind their eyes, and I felt a rush of pleasure like I'd never felt before.” She blushed a little, glancing at her mentor. “I think you saw the results of that feeling first-hoof.”
Twilight blushed along with her, nodding at the memory. “All too clearly,” she agreed. “So he cast the spell and you realized you liked it?”
Starlight nodded, but her expression darkened. “Yes, but that's not all that happened. Silver noticed my reaction to the spell, too, and he...” She sighed. “He took advantage of it... and me. He kept me under the spell for the next two days.”
Twilight gasped, raising one hoof over her mouth, eyes growing wide. “Oh, Starlight! That's awful!”
She reached out to take hold of Twilight's hoof, giving it a comforting pat. “It was, but it was also a long time ago. It's okay, I've come to terms with it.”
Twilight responded by lunging forward into a full-on hug of her friend, wrapping her wings around her protectively. “That may be so,” she said softly, “but it's still a terrible thing for anypony to have to go through.” She let the hug linger until Starlight moved away, wiping away a few tears.
Starlight accepted the hug with a warm smile, feeling her mentor's need to express her horror and empathy. She didn't complain, tearing up a little herself before pulling back. “Thanks, Twilight.”
Twilight composed herself, floating up a cup of juice from the table. “So that's when you set out on your own, right? Since he was your last mentor.” She took a long sip from the straw.
“Actually, no. I stayed there for another two weeks.”
Twilight's eyes bugged out and she sprayed the juice from her mouth right over the balcony rail in a spit-take that would have made Pinkie Pie proud. “You did WHAT?”
Starlight nodded calmly. “I still hadn't learned the spell, and I really wanted to learn it, more than ever after that. I was exhausted after being under his control for so long, so I couldn't flee immediately.” She scoffed as a memory returned. “Would you believe he tried to convince me that my response to the spell meant that I “really wanted it” and that what happened was my doing? He likely thought he was being clever and subtle when he suggested that nopony would believe me if I reported it.”
“That doesn't make any sense.”
“I know, right? After all those moons of studying under him, did he think I was some naive little filly who couldn't think for herself?” She sighed, shifting back on her chair again. “All I really knew was that I was right not to let anypony in after what happened with Sunburst.” She checked herself, looking back to Twilight. “Or so I believed back then, obviously.”
“So what did you end up doing when you stayed?” Twilight asked cautiously
Starlight shook her head. “Well, I knew I couldn't trust him anymore, but I had to learn that spell. Given what happened and my reaction, he wasn't about to show it to me anytime soon, so I put a plot in motion.” She waved a hoof between them. “I won't bore you with the details, but it's a good thing I'd already learned teleportation and camouflage spells before I met Silver. He never knew what hit him. Still, while I got it set up he put me under the spell five more times, always for at least a full day, in the name of “training” me.”
Twilight managed to resist the urge to pull her friend into another protective hug at that admission, but only barely. “How did you get away, then?”
Starlight smiled mischievously. “He started to believe the manure he was spreading about me really wanting it, and then he got lazy. He'd been locking up the spellbook with the mind control spells since that first time, but then he simply stopped. Once it wasn't under a magical lock and key, it just took time to put the plan in motion.” Her smile took a mildly-smug turn. “Once he was asleep I used a camouflage spell then teleported into his room. I found the book and got out of there. I spent the rest of the night studying the spell over and over again, so I would get it right.”
Twilight found herself leaning in, intrigued by the story. “What happened when he found out?”
“Oh, he never did,” she answered with a chuckle. “Just as he was about to take a bite of breakfast, I hit him with a slightly-tweaked version of the spell, cutting out the escape trigger he never taught me was worked into it. He was very agreeable about packing and loading his entire magic library into a cart and pulling it out of town for me.” A most-satisfied smile spread over her lips. “Then he wrote out a full confession of all the crimes he'd committed since becoming a wizard. That took a while, since I was definitely not the first apprentice he'd taken advantage of, and he turned out to be pretty sketchy in his business dealings, too. Then he took a moment to make a nice sandwich board with “RAPIST” written on both sides, and wore it when he hoof-delivered his confession to the town's mayor at midday.” She winked at Twilight. “I have the feeling justice was done.”
It took a few moments for Twilight to pick her jaw back up after hearing Starlight's story. “Wow,” she said, thinking it all over. “I knew you were pretty devious before we met, but I had no idea just how devious. Do you know what happened to Silver Spark after that?”
Starlight shrugged, floating up her own drink. “I never did bother to find out. I had all I wanted from him, and I did what I could to keep him from preying on another apprentice after I'd gone. I assume he couldn't answer the charges and ended up in jail.” She chuckled and flashed a wink to her friend. “I imagine the spell wore off eventually. I might have neglected to put in an end timer when I cast the spell, and maaaybe I anchored the magic to his horn, so it would feed off his own magical power. I'm sure somepony sorted it out, once they realized his actions weren't born out of actual regret.”
“Starlight, you can't do that!” Twilight rubbed her forehead against the headache from even contemplating what was described. “I mean, that's incredibly dangerous to the unicorn, having external magic feeding through their horn like that. It could damage him, or disrupt his flow of magic, or . . . “ Her cheeks paled with the thought. “It could create a feedback charge and shatter his horn.”
She nodded along with Twilight's assessment, sipping on her drink. “Good.” was her only reply.
Twilight's mouth gaped at the word. “Starlight, that is not even something to joke about. After all we've been through, I would think you could see how wrong it is to risk permanently disfiguring a pony like that, no matter what vile things he'd done.”
Starlight sighed and looked into Twilight's eyes, seeing deep concern within. “Don't misunderstand me, Twilight. Of course I wouldn't make that choice now, after all you've taught me. By the same token, though, I can't judge my past choices by things I didn't know then. Looking back, frankly, I'm amazed I let him go as lightly as I did.”
Twilight worked through the logic as she listened, nodding slowly as she came to the same conclusion. “I suppose that's true. Sometimes I forget just how far you've come from the pony you were.” She floated over a couple hayfries. “The more I think of it, I would be pretty angry if my first time were taken against my will, too.”
It was Starlight's turn for a double-take. “Wait. When you say my first time, are you talking about the spell?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, I meant your first time with a stallion. You know, for sex.”
Starlight watched her face for any sign of a joke, seeing only earnest sincerity. A huge smirk spread over her lips, then she burst out laughing. Twilight sat watching, perplexed, as Starlight fell back in her chair, struggling to catch her breath. She wiped tears from her eyes as she sat up again, still chuckling.
“Oh, Twilight, I never said he was the first stallion I'd been with. Or mare, for that matter.”
“Wait, what? You told me you don't like mares like that.”
“I don't. How do you think I figured that out?”
Twilight blinked, her understanding fading away. “I'm sorry, but when you said Silver Spark was the first pony you started to trust after Sunburst left, I assumed that meant you hadn't gotten into any other relationships, since they take trust to make them work.”
Starlight nodded slowly, seeing Twilight not quite making the leap. “I know that now. That's why dating never worked out, because I wouldn't open up to anypony.” Her smile grew into a knowing grin as she added, “And, fortunately, you don't have to open up very much if you're just getting together for some recreational sex. You know what I mean, right, Twilight?”
Her eyes popped open wide at the question, cheeks flooding with color, and she took a sudden interest in the remaining hayfries. “Ahh, yes, of course I know... exactly what you, um, mean...”
Starlight stared as her mentor hedged around the question, the grin remaining. “Twilight?”
Twilight looked up at her, still blushing a little. “Yes?”
“You've never had a hook-up, have you?”
She opened her mouth to reply but simply sat there, blushing, as she thought over the question. “Ah, no,” she said simply, cheeks flushed.
Starlight kept herself from laughing, barely, but her smile grew wider. “It's alright, Twilight. Some ponies prefer to keep sex in a relationship, and that's okay. I just decided long ago that this mare has needs, and it's okay to get them met.”
Twilight blushed even deeper. “Ha, yes, in a relationship, of course,” she murmured, floating up some hayfries and taking her time eating them.
It was Starlight's turn to look surprised. “Twilight... are you saying you've never... ever?”
Twilight stopped mid-chew, cheeks positively glowing. “Maaaaybe?” she answered reluctantly, her voice rising in pitch. She took a deep, steadying breath before continuing. “It's just I was always so invested in my studies before I came to Ponyville, I never made any time for asking anypony out. Also, it turns out being Celestia's protégé scares off a lot of ponies.”
She chuckled. “I can imagine.”
“Once I got here I was too busy learning friendship to think about dating. Then I became Princess of Friendship, and everyone was intimidated again.” She sighed. “I've just resigned myself to going without.”
Starlight looked into her eyes, smiling. “You know, Twilight, your friends might be able to help you with that, if you want us to. I know I'd do all I can to help you find somepony you like enough to give a chance.”
Twilight shook her head, her blush finally coming under control. “I appreciate the offer, Starlight, but I don't think I'm ready for that right now. I'm more worried about your request.” She stood and stepped close to her student, reaching out with a wing to her shoulder. “Doesn't being placed back under those spells bring back everything Silver Spark did to you?”
Starlight smiled, drawing a raised eyebrow from Twilight. “That's just it, Twilight. I told you I came to terms with what he did long ago, and I did. But because of what he did, I've never trusted anypony enough to let them put me under to experience all the good feelings that came from surrendering control.” She reached up, tenderly touching Twilight's cheek and looking deep into her eyes. “Until you.”
Twilight blushed, but didn't look away. “I'm touched that you trust me that much, Starlight. I just don't know if it's a good idea.”
“Twilight, I understand why you're hesitating. I'm asking for your help to reclaim a part of myself I never thought I'd experience again. You're the only one who can help me get there. Will you?”
Twilight searched Starlight's face, finding only sincerity. “Alright, Starlight,” she finally said, nodding slowly. “We'll do it, but there will be ground rules in place before we start.”
Starlight leapt forward with a delighted squeal and hugged Twilight tightly. “Absolutely! Oh, thank you, Twilight! Thank you.”
They embraced while Twilight chuckled. “I'm happy to help a friend, Starlight. Even if it feels a little weird from my end of things.” She pulled back. “Let's go inside and get those rules worked out.”
Starlight nodded eagerly, grinning. “Yes, please. Oh, do you want me to clean up dinner?” She lit her horn, about to float all the wrappers and leftovers.
“Just leave it there,” Twilight said casually, walking to the door into the rest of the castle. She glanced back and winked at her. “You'll clean it up later.”
Starlight's grin grew even larger and she trotted after her friend and mentor as they went back inside.
In the castle's library, Twilight Sparkle walked slowly around the central table with a long parchment and a quill floating in her magic, checking over what she'd written once again. Starlight Glimmer trotted along beside her, smiling broadly with a light spring in her step.
“Alright, let's go over the ground rules one last time so we're both absolutely clear,” Twilight said as she finally came to a stop. “Ready, Starlight?”
Starlight took position beside her, nodding once. “Absolutely. Triple-checking the rules before we begin. Let's do this!”
Twilight chuckled at her friend's eager response. “You've been very patient, Starlight. Thank you for bearing with me. I feel a lot better about doing this now that we've worked out these rules.” Lifting the parchment again, she began to read.
“One. This session will last no longer than four hours. Two. At my discretion I may end the session early if either of us appear distressed or any emergency should arise. Three. The spells will include an emergency escape trigger that you can activate by thinking of ending the spells while repeating the safeword 'caravan' five times in your mind. Four. You may trigger the safeword at any time without penalty or repercussion.”
Twilight looked up from the parchment. “That was the right word for it, wasn't it, Starlight? A 'safeword'? That's a very clever turn of phrase for what it does. I'm impressed.”
Starlight nodded. “Yep, that's the right word, but, um, I didn't make that one up. There's a lot of ponies who play in a dangerous way, and it's a common term they use.”
Twilight's brow raised. “And you know that, how?”
She laughed. “I told you I decided a long time ago it was okay to get my needs met. I spent some time exploring what those needs were.”
Twilight blushed a little, letting her imagination wander. “Oh, of course. Let's finish up.” She buried her face in the parchment again.
“Five. All activities during the session are done with the full consent of both of us. If there is any doubt to consent the activity will not be done until consent is established. Six. No other creature is to ever be told what happened in this session.” She looked up again. “I'm still not certain it's a good idea not to catalog exactly what we are consenting to.”
“As I said earlier, I'm giving consent to anything you might request of me, Twilight. I trust you completely. If anything unexpected comes up, we have the safeword to stop things right away.” She grinned at the thought. “Besides, we'd be here all night if we tried to document everything.”
Twilight sighed, nodding. “I suppose you're right. I might just be a little nervous, and detailed lists always calm me down.”
Starlight giggled. “I noticed, Twilight.”
Twilight rolled her eyes, rolling up the parchment and setting it and the quill on the table. “Alright, alright, let's move on, then. We know the spells we'll be using for this session and how we'll combine them.”
“I had a thought on that, actually,” Starlight interrupted, floating the spellbooks over from their places on the shelves. The books opened to the required pages, hovering before them both. “I think if we add a little more Persuadere here... and tweak the Cogeria by removing this bit... and supplementing it with more of this part of Fiducia Compelus, that should eliminate most of the headache after the spells end, and clear up the memory issues I experienced before. That way I'll have a complete recollection of what happened while I'm under your control.”
Twilight smiled as Starlight explained the changes, picturing the alteration of the spells and how they would do exactly what her student intended. “I'm still deeply impressed with your magic skills, Starlight. You're right, that should lessen the aftereffects of the spells on you. I'll make those changes when I cast them.”
It was Starlight's turn to blush under the praise. “Thanks, Twilight.”
They stepped into an open part of the room, close together and facing each other. Twilight cleared her throat. “I, Twilight Sparkle, consent to place Starlight Glimmer under my magical control,” she intoned formally, looking Starlight in the eyes.
Starlight smiled and raised her chin, putting on her own formal voice. “I, Starlight Glimmer, consent to being placed under Twilight Sparkle's magical control and to obey her every command while I am.” She chuckled. “I still don't think we need to be this formal about it, Twilight, but if it makes you more comfortable, that's fine.”
Twilight smiled. “Thank you. So, are you ready for the spells?”
“I did have one more thing I wanted to cover in detail,” Starlight said quickly.
“Alright, Starlight. What's on your mind?”
She stepped a little closer. “When we were talking you mentioned that when it comes to sex you've never done anything with anypony else, and that you had no... empirical data about if mares do anything for you, right?”
Twilight's eyes grew wide and her cheeks grew red as Starlight spoke. “Ahh, yes, I suppose,” she stammered.
“I've already consented to do anything you command during the session,” Starlight continued before her mentor could object. “Given the circumstances, I want it to be clear that consent includes any... data gathering you may want to do on this topic. In short, if you want to find out what being with a mare is like, I'm yours to command.”
Twilight stared, her jaw hanging open. “I... I'm just not sure that would be, ah, appropriate. I mean, you'll be under a spell and-”
Starlight reached up and placed a hoof over Twilight's mouth, silencing her. She looked into her eyes, smiling warmly. “I consent to anything you order me to do, Twilight. I'm not asking you to make that command, I'm just letting you understand the option exists, and I'm perfectly okay with it. The choice is entirely yours.” She lowered her hoof. “Are you ready for us to start, or do you want a minute?”
It took a moment for Twilight to compose her thoughts, standing there staring at her friend. “I, um, I appreciate that clarification, Starlight,” she managed to say. One steadying breath later, she added, “I'm mostly worried it will bring up your feelings about what happened with Silver Spark. I don't want to ruin this for you.”
Starlight shook her head, a gentle smile still on her lips. “This moment has nothing in common with that time, and it never could. I trust you, as a friend and a mentor, and as your friend I want to help you out in a way that only I can. We're both exploring new ground with this session, and I don't want fear to hold that exploration back.”
Twilight watched Starlight's body language as she spoke. Steady and certain, but still eager to move forward, she could almost feel Starlight's excitement. “I'll admit, I am curious how this will all play out. Alright, Starlight, I'm ready to move forward on your word. I won't promise I'll ask anything intimate of you, but I'll consider the option open, as you wish.”
Starlight's smile grew into a wide grin and she stepped out into the open space in front of Twilight. “I'm ready. Go for it.”
As before, Twilight's magic swirled together into a large orb over her raised hoof while she wove the spells together. With a gesture she sent the orb flying into Starlight's forehead light filling the room. She didn't hesitate this time, setting her eyes aglow as she intoned the trigger phrase. “Starlight Glimmer! Hear my voice and listen!” Another flash of light flooded the room, and Starlight stood still, smiling, her eyes wide and blank.
Twilight took a moment to walk around her student, taking more care to study her features and her stance from different angles. There was no doubt, even seconds into the spell she was already showing signs of arousal. Returning to the front of her, Twilight ordered, “Starlight, tell me how you are feeling.”
“I am feeling horny and very happy, Twilight Sparkle,” she responded without inflection.
Twilight smiled at that, nodding. “I'm glad to hear it. Once again my spellbooks are not on the shelves. Please return these three spellbooks to the correct locations on the shelves, by hoof.” She floated the books to her friend.
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. At once, Twilight Sparkle.” Starlight took the books eagerly, trotting to the bookshelves with her tail held high.
I guess her presenting will be a constant during the session, considering how the spell affects her. She watched Starlight quickly shelving the books, efficiently finding each correct spot. I could order her to lower her tail, but I guess it doesn't hurt anypony.
Moments later Starlight stopped, turning to face Twilight. The books were back in place. “Very good,” Twilight praised, walking over to her. “Now I seem to remember we left a mess on the rear balcony. Go to the balcony and clean up after our dinner. Place any leftovers in the kitchen. Place any wrappers or other trash in the garbage can. Clean off the table with a wet tea towel, then dry it with a dry tea towel. Begin.”
“At once, Twilight Sparkle.” Starlight turned and trotted out of the room, heading for the stairs to the rear balcony.
Twilight followed at a more leisurely pace, silently reviewing the tasks she'd planned for her student to complete during the session. Watching Starlight eagerly climbing the stairs, another thought kept intruding on her carefully-laid plans. Even if she says she's okay with it, I shouldn't really ask her to do anything like that, should I?
She watched as the remains of their dinner was cleared away, exactly as instructed. Much sooner than she'd anticipated the task was done and Starlight stood there, waiting for new orders. Her arousal was much more evident now, with the base of her tail glistening in the lamplight.
“Starlight, tell me how you are feeling,” Twilight commanded again, looking into her friend's eyes. She's going to make fun of how much I ask her that when she wakes up.
“I feel very horny and happy, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Very good, Starlight. Follow me. I have several more tasks planned for you.” She turned and trotted back into the castle, Starlight following close behind her and matching her pace. “Time for you to get us some tea,” Twilight said confidently, leading her charge to the kitchen.
Over the next two hours Twilight walked Starlight around the castle, commanding her to perform menial tasks from cleaning to cooking to serving her tea and fresh-baked scones. Starlight never faltered, performing each task exactly as commanded with a smile on her face.
“I feel very horny and happy, Twilight Sparkle,” Starlight replied to the latest check-in by Twilight. A quick glance between her flanks confirmed every word.
She really is enjoying every minute of this. Twilight led her friend through the castle halls. She reviewed the mental checklist of activities she'd planned, finding it completed with nearly half the time scheduled still remaining. What can I have her do now?
She stopped and looked back at Starlight, searching her blank smile for some inspiration. She circled around her again, chewing on her lip. I really shouldn't. I know she said she's OK with it. Twilight took a deep breath to steady herself, catching the rich scent of her friend's arousal when she did. She's under a spell. I should be looking out for her best interests.
She looked Starlight in the eyes once more, trying to glean some further clue. She was so focused she didn't even notice her own legs pressing together against the sensations growing between them. I really need to relax.
Her smile returned and she asked, “Starlight, do you know how to give a massage?”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Good! Come with me.” Twilight led her quickly now up the stairs and to her bedroom. “Bring the window seat out to the middle of the room with your magic, Starlight.”
“At once, Twilight Sparkle.” Starlight's horn glowed bright and the low, long, padded stool by the window floated out to the room's center. While low, it was the perfect length for Twilight to lay over it while allowing access all around to Starlight.
Twilight stepped into her private bathroom, opening the sole cabinet with her own magic and pulling out several bottles. “Aha!” she cried on finding the right one, floating the rest back into the cabinet. “I wasn't sure I'd ever make use of this scented oil Rarity gave me.” She trotted back into the bedroom with the bottle floating behind in her magic along with a couple folded towels. Smiling at the position of the bench, she spread a towel over the cushions and set the oil and other towel to one side.
“Excellent work, Starlight. Now, I'm going to lie on the seat and I want you to give me a thoroughly relaxing massage.” She didn't wait for the reply, straddling the bench and settling down onto her belly.
“Of course, Twilight Sparkle. A thorough and relaxing massage. You will love it.” Starlight floated the bottle with her magic, warming the oil before pouring a little on her hooves. Immediately she set to work, rubbing the warm, fragrant oil into the muscles of Twilight's neck. The scent of roses filled the room.
Twilight sighed and immediately started to relax, the slow and sensual massage occupying her senses and loosening her muscles. I should have thought of this sooner. Now we can fill the time left without having to make a decision. She closed her eyes, nestling onto the towel and letting her thoughts drift.
Starlight proved a very attentive masseuse, slowly massaging down over Twilight's back. She took extra time to gently work the wing muscles before proceeding along her flanks, spending time to work each leg individually down to the hoof. Working the base of the tail, she moved out to the rest of Twilight's rump, persuading the thick muscles to relax again.
Twilight moaned softly with the wonderful sensations, her body limp under the expert attentions of her student. She didn't tell me she was this good. She nearly drifted off to sleep, feeling Starlight's slick hooves running down the outside of her hind legs... then back up the inside of her legs, sliding higher and higher. The feeling nearly overwhelmed her, eyes opening again as she gasped. “Starlight, what are you doing?”
“I am giving you a thorough and relaxing massage, Twilight Sparkle. Just like my marefriend taught me when I dated her.” Starlight continued to massage intimately close between Twilight's legs.
I should stop this. This is going too far. I didn't mean this kind of massage. Twilight hesitated, the feelings from the massage hitting her in ripples with each hoofstroke. I need to protect Starlight from herself, even if she said it was alright. Just then a new thought drifted through her mind, stopping the budding panic within her in its tracks.
If I really trust Starlight, I should accept her word that she truly is okay with this.
Twilight's cheeks grew red from embarrassment even as her muscles relaxed again. She eased back into the tender and intimate massage. “Starlight,” she said softly, turning her head to look back at her friend, ”continue the massage to the end.”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle.”
“And once that's done,” she added, a hint of a smile touching her lips. “Show me what else she taught you to do after the massage.”
“Of course, Twilight Sparkle. I will show you all she taught me.” Twilight could have sworn she saw Starlight's smile grow a little wider, but the continued sensations washed away everything else.
I hope I did the right thing. Any further thoughts were cut off when Twilight felt her friend's lips brushing over her own, and moments later they were kissing deeply.
They were nearly at the four-hour mark when they finished. Twilight wobbled as she stood up again, catching her breath, acutely aware of the wonderfully warm sensation through her entire body. Leaning against the still form of Starlight Glimmer, she managed to keep her feet. “Wow, your old marefriend taught you a lot,” she murmured. Starlight gave no reply, simply standing until she received new instructions.
Glancing at the clock, Twilight sighed. “It's time for this session to end, Starlight.” She smiled, then stepped forward and kissed her friend warmly on the mouth. “You gave me a lot of data to study tonight.”
Stepping back, Twilight's horn glowed as she triggered the spells to release, freeing Starlight's mind and actions for the first time in nearly four hours.
Starlight drew a deep breath, smiling broadly at Twilight. She opened her mouth to speak, then stopped, her body shaking. “Hold me!” she managed to squeak before the shaking grew too strong and she lost her footing, falling toward the impromptu massage bench.
Twilight gasped and dove forward, catching her friend in her forelegs and guiding her to the bench, holding her close as she shook. “Starlight! What's wrong? Are you alright?” she asked fruitlessly. Starlight clung tightly to Twilight as another, stronger wave hit her, drawing a long, loud moan from her lips. She shook and quivered, her body at the mercy of the sensations.
Realization finally dawned on Twilight when the third wave hit and Starlight threw her head back, crying out even more passionately. “Are you... you are!” she gasped, holding her close as she writhed in pleasure.
Slowly, after several minutes, Starlight regained a little more control. Twilight held her close throughout, stroking her mane and whispering gentle words until she could speak again. “Thank you, Twilight,” she whispered, then kissed her on the lips briefly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“You're welcome,” Twilight answered, taking the kiss in stride. “What was all that about?”
Starlight looked chagrined, her cheeks still flushed a deep red from her pleasure. “When I come out of the spell, the sensations from being under the spell all come back and hit me at once. The longer I'm under, the harder they hit and... the more I orgasm.” She chuckled. “I probably should have mentioned that, huh?”
Twilight laughed along with her, nodding. “That might have been useful to know, yes. We'll work on your communication later, though.”
Starlight nodded, snuggling up close to Twilight. “Thank you for trusting me, Twilight, and for living up to my trust in you. I'm truly glad you took the opportunity to explore yourself alongside me.”
Twilight nodded and kissed Starlight's forehead. “I'm glad, too. I'm not certain how we'll deal with this in the future, but I'm sure we can work something out. It's not like-”
“Twilight?” Starlight looked up at her mentor, smiling softly. “Stay in the moment a little while longer.”
