[This is the archive of a Dungeons and Dragons themed Choose-Your-Own-Adventure quest I ran on /mlp/.  The frequent breaks in the story are due to pauses for the readers to select the next option, and occasionally for scene transitions.]

>Even the weak morning sun feels hearty and warm on your face after so much time spent up north
>You are Gilda, wandering warrior, having just made the journey from the wilderness of Yakyakistan to the Crystal Empire on foot
>It's been almost five years since you've seen the place, and the towering crystal spires make your chest ache with nostalgia
>One in particular holds the gaze the longest; unlike the others, it's constructed from a shimmering granite, giving it a steely, imposing look compared to the radiance of the buildings around it
>You recognize the place well; it's the central academy for the Wonderbolts, a proud order of knights almost as ancient as the country itself
>Ever since you were a kid, you've dreamed of being a knight, of earning fame and glory defending Equestria...
>...and maybe rescuing a fair maiden or too along the way
>But you never had the connections to even set foot in the academy, plus you've always been terrible with authority
>So there were no fancy academies or swordmasters for you; you learned to fight alone, hunting wild beasts in the Frozen North
>And now you've returned, ready to earn the glory you've always dreamed of

>The pathway to the city leads you through several of the poor villages that surround the imperial capital
>Children dressed in rags sprint away when they hear you coming, and peasants working the fields give you a weary nod
>You nod back, unusually respectful; you were just like them once
>Up ahead, the path is interrupted by a winding river, with rickety wooden bridge crossing it

>You make your way out onto the bridge, but are interrupted by the sound of creaking footsteps on the planks behind you
>"Slow down there, buddy," says a woman's voice behind you. "Ya forgot to pay your protection fee."
"Eh?"
>You turn casually, eyeing up the strangers accosting you
>A tall, willowy girl with arms like whipcords stands behind you, dressed in loose-fitting leather armor and with her arms wrapped in combat bandages
>Something about her looks vaguely familiar...
>She flashes you a cocky smile, fingering twin blades strapped to her hips
>"We wouldn't want you getting hurt by any, heh, dangerous folk around here, now would we? It'll only cost ya whatever you got in your pockets."
>You grin back, unfazed by her goading
"Oooh, scary," reply, cracking your neck. "Look, you caught me in a weird mood. Just run off now, and I won't ruin your day."
>The bandit leader chuckles, and two lackeys step up next to her, pointing crossbows at your chest
>"I don't think so."
>You lick your lips
"Looks like my first day back is gonna get interesting."

>”Yeah?” the bandit leader asked, still smirking.  “We can make it *real* interesting, if you want.”
>The lackeys stepped forward
“You think I’ve never seen a bow?  Please.  I’ve taken hits from worse.”
>”Oh?  We found a tough girl, eh?”
“Tough enough that you feel like you need a three-on-one.”
>The leader let out a steely chuckle
>”You looking to get thrashed the old-fashioned way?”
>You shrug
“It’d definitely be a lot more fun.”
>The leader brushes her hair back, stepping forward
>”For me, sure.”
“Yeah?”
>You step forward as well, and both you and the bandit woman slowly approach each other, fingers drumming on the hilts of your weapons
“Then why don’t we sweeten the deal a little.”
>”Huh?”
>That actually catches the bandit off-guard
>”What are you talking about?  You don’t have anything on you I want.”
“Sure about that?”
>You wink, ever so slightly lifting the hem of your combat skirt
>The bandit leader sputters
>”Y-you… you’re sick!  I see what you’re doing.”
“Hah.  Of course you do.”
>”What’s that supposed to mean?”
>She whips out her twin blades, her smirk transforming into a snarl
>You step forward, until you and the bandit woman are chest-to-chest
>She’s about a foot shorter than you, and you grin hungrily as you loom over her
“You know what I mean.  You said it yourself, I’m broke.  You’re attacking me because you want something else, right?”
>The woman takes a step back, but you advance
“Go ahead and take it.  If you’re strong enough.”
>A deep blush spreads across the bandit’s face
>She starts to shrink away, her eyes having a hard time staying focused on your face as they drift lower along your body
>You reach out and place one hand on the nape of her neck, applying just enough pressure for her to feel your absurd strength
>She gulps
>”H-holy shit…”
>She raises one of the blades to strike, but her hands are trembling
>You lean in close, your breath hot on her cheek as you whisper into her ear
"Now, let me tell you what we're gonna do..."

>Lightning lets out a tiny gasp
“You’re gonna drop the weapons.”
>”Like hell!”
>She swipes at you, half-heartedly, but you knock the blade out of her hand
>Lightning gulps, sweat pouring down her face
“That wasn’t a request.  Now, lose the armor too.”
>”You… you’re r-really messed up…”
“I know.”
>Lightning hangs her head, and obediently unclasps the patchwork armor covering her body, letting it drop down onto the bridge’s wooden floor
“Everything else, too.”
>Behind Lightning, her lackeys glance at each other, clearly confused as to what the hell they should do
>Lightning obediently removes her cloth undergarments –half of which are dripping wet, now– until she’s standing naked before you
>Her body is lithe and muscular, as you’d expect from her style of fighting, with perky little breasts that she quickly covers with her hands
“Hmm.  Not bad.”
>”Hmph.  W-what now?”
>She looks up at you, her cheeks red and her eyes glazed with desire
“Now… eh, I’m gonna go get a drink.”
>You take one last glance at her body –a pretty good one, you have to admit– then turn around, continuing on your path towards the city
>”H-hey!” Lightning calls out behind you.  “Something has to happen next!”
“Yeah, the entire village gets a look at your bare ass!”
>Lightning yelps, sinking to her knees and desperately trying to pull her clothes back on
>”You… you’re pure evil!”
“Nah, I’m just sick of your shit,” you mutter, continuing on your path towards the city
>Lightning continues to yell obscenities at your back, but you ignore her

>At the capital, a mage scans you for dangerous magical trances and, finding none, tells the guardsmen to let you into the city
>You stroll past them, finding yourself caught up in the bustle of the Crystal Empire
>All around you, people bustle past each other, some with carts, some with arms full of books, and some with strange, whirring contraptions you can’t begin to fathom the purpose of
>It’s kinda scary just how little has changed since you were last here
>Same buildings, most of them encrusted with blue and pink gems the size of cannonballs, all of them bustling and alive
>You take a deep breath of the city air, then set off towards your next destination

>Since you’re pretty much broke, it seems best to look for a quick couple gold while you’re here
>Bounty boards are always posted near the city gates, specifically targeting wayward adventurers like yourself with promises of gold in return for completing somebody’s dirty work
>You scan the board, which is filled with petty “kill eight rats in my basement” type assignments, hardly interested
>But your eyes light up when they fall on a piece of fancy parchment, far more official looking than the rest
>It’s written upon in a neat, professional hand:

“Please help!

The Imperial Library has been ransacked three times by a dangerous sorcerer!  The guardsmen have been unable to fight off the fiends she summons.  We are willing to offer 500 to anyone skilled enough to defeat and capture this infiltrator.

Contact Arch-Librarian Minuet if you are up to the challenge!” 

>You whistle, and head off towards the library
>Books and studying aren’t exactly your speed, but 500 gold would really put some weight in your pockets

>An hour later, you step through the Imperial Library’s doors, immediately receiving several annoyed looks from the resident scholars on account of your filthy boots and general rugged appearance
“Relax, ya buncha geezers.  I’m here about the infiltrator.  Was told to talk to Minuet?”
>”That’s me!” a cheery voice calls from somewhere above you
>A young woman descends the stairs, practically tripping over her robes as she skips towards you
>She’s young, especially for an arch-librarian
>You were expecting some old hag, but she’s about your age
>And pretty cute, if you’re being honest…
>”Oh, I’m so glad someone finally showed up!  And wow, look at you!  You’re built like a really pretty orc!”
“Uh… thanks,” you say, taken aback.  “You wanted help, right?”
>”We really do, it’s been awful!  Three of our most valuable relics have already been stolen, not to mention dozens of tomes.  We’re worried she’s going to find a way into the Dark Vault next.  There’s no telling what she’d do with the kinda stuff we have in there.”
“How do you know she’s a she?”
>Minuet taps her head
>”A little divination magic.  It’s been hard to learn much, since she’s surrounded by powerful defensive magic of her own.  But I know a little.”
“And you want me to beat her up and bring your stuff back.”
>Minuet giggles
>”You’re so straightforward, I love it!”
>You shrug, actually blushing a little in spite of yourself
>She’s way too adorable
“Any idea when she’ll strike again?”
>Minuet frowns
>”Soon, I’m sure.  My intuition tells me that much.  I might be able to divine one more fact about her, but it’ll be hard.  Do you have a plan, brave warrior?”
>She beams at you, making you *really* want to have a plan good enough to impress her

“Uh…”
>Minuette blinks expectantly at you, making you stutter
“…why wait for her to attack again?  Then we’re playing on her terms.  I say we take the fight right to her!”
>The head-librarian gasps
>”You’re a total go-getter!  I love it!”
“Hah, well… it’s what I do.”
>”But how do we find her?”
>You puzzle over that for a moment
“You’ve got that divination magic, right?”
>”I do, but I haven’t been able to get a read on her.  She’s too good at cloaking herself.”
“Hmm… she stole some of your stuff, right?  Could you locate that?”
>Minuette’s face brightens
>”I could!  By the princesses, you’re clever!”
>Your face is positively on fire, and you try to play it off by shrugging at her compliment
“Just a good guess.”
>”So, if we find her, what next?”
>You tap your fingers against the hilt of your greataxe
“Just leave that to me.”
>”Excellent!  When should we meet up?”
“What do you mean?”
>”Well, to go find her.”
“Who said anything about waiting?  Let’s get this over with.”
>Minuette nods
>”That’s a great idea!  Just give me a minute to grab my things!”

>Minuette disappears back up into her chambers, then reappears dressed in a much simpler set of robes and carrying a backpack
>”I’ll try and divine the location of one of the relics she took.  It’s called as the Rod of Nox, and it emits a powerful aura based on the phases of the moon.  Tonight’s moon is almost full, so it should be easy to sense.”
“Just point to where she is.”
>Minuette nods, then closes her eyes
>Several minutes pass, and you start to smell a faint trace of ozone and cinnamon as magical power coalesces around the librarian
>Then her eyes flutter open, and Minuette lets out an exhausted gasp
>”She’s at the Old Library!”

>As it turns out, centuries before the new Imperial Library was built, an austere stone complex served as the city’s scholarly hub
>It’s been long abandoned, and now lies empty and crumbling on the outskirts of the city
>A perfect place for a relic-obsessed thief to hide, really
>You and Minuette journey out out to the Old Library, making idle chatter along the way
>She’s pretty easy to talk to; all of your stories tend to be about fighting large animals or drinking obscene amounts of Yakish mead, but Minuette laughs and gasps at all of them just the same
>This girl’s alright in your books
>Eventually the Old Library comes into view, looking like a mass of crumbling stone cubes, all of them joined by shattered hallways and stone arches
>Minuette leads you towards one of the more intact sections, her eyes glowing white
>”She’s close.  Somewhere through here.  But I sense she might have set a trap for us.  I should go in first.”
>Minuette steps towards the entrance to the cube, a single stone archway beyond which you can see nothing but darkness 
>You grab her arm, stopping her
“Seriously? Nah, you’re staying behind me. No telling what’s in there, and I don’t want you getting hurt.”
>Minuette blushes furiously
>”That is, wow… that is very noble of you, brave warrior!”
>She steps a little closer to you, grinning
>”So what do you propose?”

“Hmm.  I don’t know a single thing about magic, except that it sucks.  But you do, and you look like you’re pretty damn smart.”
>”Heh, I like to think so too.” Minuette says with a chuckle
“But you’ll get splattered if there’s something nasty in there.  So let me handle the rough-play, alright?” you say, thumping your meaty chest
>Minuette gives you a mock salute
>”Aye aye, cap’n.  Lead the way!”
>You start forward, but pause just as you duck under the archway
“By the way,” you say, glancing back at Minuette.  “If we get, I dunno, smashed to bits by a summoned demon or something, I just wanna say, uh…”
>Minuette gazes intently at you, her breath held
“I like your attitude.  The happy, bubbly stuff.  It’s cute.”
>”Aww, thanks!” Minuette says with a flattered giggle.  “Maybe, after we get back, I could let you handle a different kind of rough-play?”
>She winks at you
“Oh.  Oh!  Then let’s get going!”

>You march into the Old Library with Minuette close behind you
>She keeps one hand on the small of your back, crouching behind your imposing form
>With a bit of spellcraft, she enchants a pebble to glow, and it casts just enough light to illuminate the empty, austere hallways around you
>The interior of the library is drab and crumbling, with vaulted ceilings yet incredibly narrow passages
>Together, you and Minuette approach the far end of the hallway, where it ends in a circular stone room with a dark, domed ceiling
>A towering sculpture of some bearded mage stands atop a stone dias in the center of the room, one hand clutching a tome and the other brandishing a gnarled staff
>”That’s Starswirl the Bearded,” Minuette whispers to you, breathless with awe.  “He was once the closest advisor of Princess Celestia herself.  They say half of all magical knowledge in the world can be traced to him.”
“Huh.  Cool.”
>You continue onwards, nonplussed, and stride towards the room
>”Wait!”
>Minuette grabs your arm, stopping you
>”There’s a spell protecting the room!  And she hid it really well too.  I can barely even sense its magical trace.  She’s good…”
“Could you stop fawning over the girl trying to kill us and help me get rid of it?”
>Minuette nods
>”I can, but I need to know what kind of spell it is before I can dispel it.”
“So, we gotta trigger it somehow?”
>”Pretty much.”
“Can do.”
>You blow Minuette a kiss, then stride right into the room
>Immediately, the eyes of the Starswirl statue flare up with a vivid green light, and twin bolts of crackling energy blast out of them, flying directly towards your face
>You block the attack with your forearms, grunting as the sizzling magic sears your skin
>It hurts like a bitch, but doesn’t cause any lasting damage: [-3 HP]
>Then you stumble back out of the room, rejoining a terrified Minuette in the hallway
>”W-what were you thinking?  You coulda been killed!  Mother of the princesses that was so cool…”
“Takes more than a lightshow to kill me.”
>”I can see that.”
>Minuette just stares at you, her breathing heavy
“You, uh, gonna dispell that now?”
>”Oh, right!  Right!  Just give me a second…”
>She kneels down right at the threshold to the next room, muttering counter-incantations under her breath
>Looking beyond her, you can see patterns of glowing runes drifting into view around the Starswirl statue
>One-by-one, they disappear in puffs of magical haze, until the room is once again still
>Minuette takes the first step in this time
>”There we go!  Totally safe!”
“Not bad.”
>You join her and scan your surroundings
>Near the base of the statue, the floor sinks away into a spiral staircase, leading deeper into the ruins
>There’s also several more narrow hallways leading away from your position, probably connecting to larger sections of the library
>”I can sense she’s somewhere below us,” Minuette says, her glowing eyes narrowed in concentration.  “And I think it’s a pretty good bet she knows we’re here.  If we look around, we might be able to find a safer way down.  Then again, there’s no telling what kinda nightmares are living in here…”

“You’ve got that magical sense, right?”
>”Sure do!”
“Could you sniff out another way down?  I don’t wanna take hits the entire way down the stairs.”
>”Good idea!” Minuette says, then closes her eyes
>She concentrates for a moment, the air stirring around her body as magic coalesces around her fingertips
>With a sweep of her hand, she casts little glowing balls of white energy onto the floor, and they scatter off in different directions
>All but one fade away almost immediately, and the remaining ball of energy trails its way down one of the hallways
>”C’mon!  We better hurry, the little guy’s fast!” Minuette says
>She reflexively takes you by the hand, and the two of you run after the orb of light
>It winds complexly through the building’s passages, leading you through a maze of claustrophobic tunnels until you emerge into a stone lecture hall, complete with rows of seats and a single marble podium
>The orb dances circles around the podium like an excited puppy
>Minuette leads you over to it, and the two of you somewhat awkwardly unclasp hands as you scan the structure
>The ball of light disappears back into Minuette’s palm
>”So, there must be a passage hidden beneath this podium.  But how do we open—“
“Like this,” you say, and wrap both arms around the podium’s base
>Veins bulge out along your body as your muscles flex, and you tear the podium up with a creak *crack* of stone
>Minuette gapes, fanning herself with the back of her hand
“You good?” you ask as you toss the hunk of stone aside
>”Very good,” she says, wiping sweat from her forehead
>Where the podium once stood, there’s now a gaping whole in the floor, leading down into darkness
>Iron rungs are bolted to its side, forming a makeshift ladder
“I better go first.”
>”Awww.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
>”Nothing!” Minuette says, taking a cursory glance at your combat skirt.  “You’re right, you should go first, heheh.”
>She flashes you a thumbs up, and you begin to descend together

>The tunnel extends for what feels like several hundred feet, then dumps you into a cold subterranean chamber
>Unlike the carved halls of the Old Library, the walls down here are rough and irregular, looking more like those of a natural cave than something man-made
>Minuette holds up her lightstone
>”She’s really, really close,” she whispers to you
>”T-that’s right.  I am,” says a voice just a few feet behind the two of you
>Suddenly, something warm, slimy, and viciously strong wraps around your waist, pinning your arms at your sides
“Agh!  What the hell!?”
>Next to you, Minuette yelps in terror, and you hear something wet sliding across the ground, followed by the sounds of her struggling
>”You r-r-really shouldn’t have come here,” the mysterious voice says.  “But it’s okay.  I’ll f-find a use for you…”
>You hear the mysterious girl snap her fingers, and a ring of torches alights around the cavern, each of them glowing with a ghostly purple flame
>The girl standing before you is pale and filthy, dressed only in an oversized wool sweater
>In one hand, she clutches a tome bound in blackened leather, and the other is stretched out towards you, currents of violet energy crackling at her fingers
>You finally get a good look at what’s holding you, finding yourself in the grip of a slimy black tentacle
>The tentacle itself seems to materialize directly from the floor itself, where dozens of purple runes glow amongst the rock
>You open your mouth to spit curses at the warlock, but Minuette beats you to it
>”Moondancer?  Is that you?” she calls out, shocked
>Behind her glasses, the warlock girl’s eyes go wide with surprise
>”M-Minuette?”
>For a moment, both girls stare at each other in shocked silence
>Then Moondancer curls her fingers, and Minuette cries out in pain as the tentacle tightens around her waist
>”I s-should have known!  The only time you ever cared about me was when I had something you wanted!  Well h-h-here it is!  Your precious Rod of N-N-Nox!” Moondancer says, holding out a golden relic with a moon-shaped crystal at its top
>”Moondancer, stop!  This isn’t like you!” Minuette pleads
>”You d-don’t know anything about me!” Moondancer snarls.  “You all abandoned me!  You, Lemonhearts, Twinkleshine, and T-Twilight Sparkle…”
>She spits the last name like a curse
>”You never c-cared about me!  But I’ve got new friends now, and they promised they’ll n-never leave me!  Not as long as I g-g-give them what they want…”
>Her hands drum on the hilt of the relic
>You glance over at Minuette, who’s pained and struggling in the grasp of the eldritch appendage holding her fast
>You’re not doing much better yourself
>By the princesses, you really hate magic…

“Hey!” you manage to grunt out, finding difficulty getting air into your lungs.  “You’re getting played.  As soon as you give whatever these things are the rod, they’ll abandon you too.”
>”They w-w-will not!  They promised, I’ll b-be important to them forever!”
“Yeah, ‘cause they’re gonna eat your soul, dumbass.”
>Moondancer balks, twisting her hands around the Rod in her fury
>”S-shut up!  You’re lying to me!  Just like everyone else!”
>She points the rod towards you, and the tentacle squeezes even tighter
>Something inside you cracks, sending pain lancing through your body [-4 HP]
>You grit your teeth in spite of the pain, laughing at her
“That’s it?  No wonder they’re gonna eat you.  This is pathetic!”
>Moondancer snarls, advancing towards you with the rod held high
>Perfect
>The crystal set in it begins to glow, and she raises the artifact to strike you
>But before she can, you kick out with both legs, wrapping your thighs around her face
>She immediately yelps in surprise, her voice muffled by your muscled flesh
>The tentacle holding you slackens somewhat, shudders of confusion rolling through it as Moondancer begins to lose control
>She flails weakly, but her feeble nerd arms are nothing against your thighs of steel
>Finally, the tentacle weakens enough for you to slip out of its grasp, and you tackle Moondancer to the ground, ending up sitting on her chest
“I can’t believe that worked.”
>Moondancer gasps for air, raising the rod to attack you
>You easily knock it out of her hand
“Not gonna happen.  Now why don’t you just let my friend go, alright?  Or I’m gonna make it a lot harder for you to breathe.”
>Moondancer’s eyes go wide with panic
>A second too late, you notice the miasma of violet energy forming around her fingers
“Stop!”
>Moondancer slams her fist into the ground, and the runes carved into the stone flare up with light
>A chilly, foul wind rolls through the chamber as the magic markings begin to coalesce, forming a glowing portal
>More tentacles rise up from the portal’s swirling depths, grabbing for your legs and arms
>You roll away from them, dragging Moondancer with you
>Your hand finds it way to her throat
“Call ‘em off!  Or I’ll end this the quick way!”
>”I c-can’t!  I’m losing c-c-control!”
>Moondancer’s body begins to shudder in panic
>Meanwhile, Minuette cries out, her voice muffled by a tentacle as it finds its way into her mouth
>You turn, finding your friend in the embrace of dozens of the slimy appendages
>They’ve torn Minuette’s robes to ribbons, leaving her nearly naked and dripping with slime, and each tentacle pulses vilely as it slithers along her body
>You get one good look at Minuette before she’s dragged down into the portal’s depths, disappearing from view
>Only a few tentacles remain, probing for prey, but they too are beginning to retreat

>You grab Moondancer by the collar of her sweat, pulling her face up to yours, until you two are nose-to-nose
>She cowers, terrified
“Listen, you.  That girl used to be your friend.  She’s a good person.  Who I maybe kinda wanna get with.  And if you’re gonna let her get eaten by demons, than you’re way worse than you think she is.”
>”B-but she… she…”
“I don’t give a shit what she did to you.  If you let this happen, you’re the evil one.”
>Sweat pours down Moondancer’s face, and her eyes flick from the portal, to you, then to her own hands
>”I… I don’t know what I can do.”
“Try something!” you demand, shaking Moondancer.  “I don’t care what, but try!”
>Moondancer gulps
>”That thing, it’s t-t-too strong for me to banish it.  But I could pull it back into this world, i-if you think you can take it.”
“There’s only one way to find out.  Do it!”
>Moondancer nods, her face set in a grim nod
>You let go of her and she staggers to her feet, stretching her hands towards the swirling miasma of the portal
>”By the authority of Hadar, I hereby draw you to return to me!” she calls out
>As soon as she vocalizes the spell, the stutter disappears from her voice, and a wicked confidence overtakes her
>The portal trembles, spitting out bolts of magical energy as the tentacles within it writhe
>Slowly, a true horror rises from the portal’s depths
>It resembles a single, yellow eye, surrounded by a wreath of wriggling tentacles
>Minuette is grasped in an undulating mass of tendrils, her body a mess of slime
>The sight of this adorable arch-librarian being violated by some nasty hate-beast is enough to send you into a red-hazed fury
>Your hands curl around the hilt of your greataxe, and you finally whip the massive weapon out, lifting it up and resting it on your shoulder
>Moondancer backs up, her face pallid with strain
>”I c-can’t hold it here much longer!”
“It’ll be enough.”
>You surrender to the rage inside you, and the world sharpens to a fine point as you lunge towards the tentacle demon
>A leash of tentacles streak through the air towards toward you, but you slice through them with several well-placed sweeps of your ask
>The demon’s eye narrows with hatred
>A focused beam of energy blasts towards you, intending to knock you away
>But you grit your teeth and let the beam slam into you, feeling the scorching energy wash over your body [-6 HP]
>It blackens a large patch of your stomach, but you hardly even feel it as you leap towards the demon, swinging your axe in a vicious arc
>Your biceps bulge, and a warrior’s howl escapes your lips as you bury your axe in the demon’s eye
>Black ichor spurts out around the blade, and a fiendish howl echoes throughout the cavern as the demon recoils, its tentacles coiling in agony
>Minuette is dropped to the ground, shivering and humiliated, but alive
>You leap over here, standing over the librarian to defend her as more tentacles lash towards the two of you
>The currents of fury inside you push your body to act before you can think what to do next, and you spin your axe in razor-edged circles, splitting open any of the demon’s appendages that dare to get too close
>Moondancer steps up next to you, extending her hand towards the demon’s form
>”As an authority of chaos, I have found you unworthy!  Return to the miasma which spawned you!”
>The creature shies away, nursing the bleeding stumps of its tentacles, and slowly sinks back into the portal
>Moondancer lets out a sigh of relief, sinking to her knees
>You, meanwhile, take Minuette in your arms
“Hey!  You okay?”
>Her eyes flutter open, and she weakly gives you a thumbs-up
>”You have no idea.  That was… so, so cool… can’t believe you’d… do all that for me.”
>She coughs
>”Feels awesome, even if my whole body… kinda hurts…”
“Easy.  We gotta get you to a healer.”
>”That’d be… pretty nice…” she mumbles, then passes out in your arms
>You turn on Moondancer, who also looks like she’s near fainting herself
“Find somebody.  Now.”
>She snaps back into focus
>”There’s a priestess n-n-near here who can help us!”
“Good.  Lead the way.”  
>You stagger to your feet, holding Minuette’s unconscious form in a bridal carry
>To be honest, you’re hardly able to stay standing yourself
>But somebody’s gotta make sure Minuette makes it out of here, and you hardly trust this sweater-clad warlock
“Alright, you,” you command Moondancer.  “Lead the way.”

>Moondancer gathers up the stolen artifacts, stuffing them into a satchel across her back, then scurries back down the cavern
>You lurch along beside her, your whole body aching with each step you take
>She leads you to the spiral staircase, disarming various magical traps she had set along it as she leads you back up into the library’s main floor, then out into the city itself
>It’s early evening now, and the spires of the Crystal Empire glitter with the orange light of the setting sun
>Moondancer hunches low once you get back to the busy city streets, shaking her hair so that several stray locks fall in front of her face
>She avoids looking at anyone, except to occasionally glance backwards to check if you’re still following her

>Finally, the three of you reach the upscale, scholarly neighborhoods of the empire
>Sandwiched between a high-fashion garment store and a shop specializing in magical curios, there lies an unassuming temple constructed of opaque, glassy quartz
>Moondancer pauses at the temple door, staring at her feet
“What’re you waiting for?”
>”I d-don’t really get along well in temples…”
“Too bad,” you say, shouldering past Moondancer and dragging her into the temple
>Inside, the building is spartan and clean, with an altar at one end and several glass pews facing it
>Banners are draped from the ceiling, with the ones on the left wall containing scenes of sunrise and the right containing crescent moons and stars
>You’re so busy examining the regalia that you hardly notice a young girl come scurrying out of a doorway behind the altar
>She’s dressed in simple white robes hemmed in silver trim, and has hair of a matching color
>”Good evening, travelers,” she squeaks out in a timid voice.  “May the blessings of the holy sisters be upon you!”
“Yeah, blessings to you too, kid,” you say through gritted teeth.  “Listen, my friend’s in real bad shape.  We need some help.”
>The girl nods, her young face taking on a surprisingly grim look as she examines your and Minuette’s wounds
>”I understand.  Please, follow me.”
>She bows low, then makes a beeline for the altar
>You follow behind her, and lay Minuette atop the stone surface
>The young priestess steps up to the altar, barely tall enough to see over the top of it, and bows her head in prayer
>You want nothing more than to collapse onto one of the pews, but you stand and watch the entire process, swaying slightly on your feet as you fight to keep conscious
>Soft strands of silver energy coil out from the girl’s fingertips, intertwining with each other as they spread over Minuette’s body
>Minuette shivers in her sleep, then her breathing slows to a calm, relaxed pace
>The demonic slime coating her evaporates away, and the shreds of her robes melt away from her body
>You avert your gaze to preserve your friend’s modesty
>Well, okay, you take a *little* peek, but you’re mostly respectful
>A few minutes later, the girl lets out a tired sigh
>”It’s done.”
>You turn back, finding that she’s dressed Minuette in simple cloth robes
>The arch-librarian looks just as healthy as when you first met her, and relief floods you at the sight
“Thanks, kid.  You’re alright…” you manage to mumble, then immediately pass out

>When you come to, you’re lying on a narrow wooden cot, surrounded by a plain, stone room
>The sky outside is dark, and only moonlight illuminates the room
>Next to your cot, the little priestess is seated on a wooden chair, her eyes glazed with exhaustion behind her glasses, and she’s reading from a massive book propped open in her lap
>You sit up and check your stomach to find that your wounds have been healed
>The priestess hears you sit up, and gives you a small, tired smile
>”Thank the princesses, you’re awake!  Your friends will be so happy!”
“Huh?  Where am I?”
>”You’re still in the temple.  You were hurt badly, it’s somewhat amazing you’re still alive.  I managed to heal everything, but it took a while.”
>The girl gestures to the archway leading out of the room
>”They’re waiting for you, if you’d like to follow me.”

“Is the librarian okay?” is the first thing you ask
>The priestess smiles
>”She is quite well.  And she’s been diligent in waiting for you to wake.”
>You stand, testing your weight on sore legs, then follow the priestess out of the room
>It opens into a bare stone corridor, with a small font of water at the other end
>You gulp down several mouthfuls, then join the priestess inside the temple’s main room
>Minuette is stretched out on one of the stone benches, watching the ceiling
>She glances over when you enter, and her face breaks into a relieved smile
>”You’re alright!” she exclaims, running towards you
“Looks that way.”
>Minuette throws her arms around you, squeezing you in a tight, yet gentle hug
>You return it, resting your head atop hers
>It feels good to have her close
>Moondancer’s sulking in the corner, her eyes on the ground
“What’s with her?”
>”The two of us had a bit of a talk while you were passed out.  She… she needs some serious help.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
>You point towards Moondancer, still holding Minuette under one arm
“You.  Follow us.”
>You turn back to the priestess, and hand her the measly ten gold you have
“Sorry, kid.  I know it ain’t much.”
>The young girl bows nonetheless
>”To serve the princesses is its own reward.  Thank you, travelers.”
>And with that, you and Minuette set off into the night, with Moondancer following close behind 

>The city is well-trafficked, even at night, though the crowds are much thinner
>Several upscale clubs are alight with activity, and the sounds of refined string-quartet music can be heard up and down the Empire’s more highbrow districts
>Minuette stays under your arm through the entire walk, with Moondancer staring at the ground and walking close behind the two of you
So… where we headed?”
>Minuette considers that
>”My quarters at the library should be the safest place.”
“Sounds perfect.  You owe me a couple things, if you remember.”
>Minuette giggles
>”Of course I remember.  You’ve got 500 gold coming your way.”
“And a little rough play.”
>”Oh, there’ll be plenty of rough play…” Minuette says with a wink
>”I’m s-s-still here, you know…” Moondancer grumbles behind you
“I know.”

>Minuette’s quarters turn out to be a lot roomier than you expected
>There’s a study, complete with wall-to-wall bookshelves and a mahogany desk that looks like it’d be fun to smash
>Then a washroom, a master bedroom, and even a guest room
>Minuette immediately gestures to the guestroom, and speaks to Moondancer
>”You’ll be staying here for the night.”
>Moondancer nods glumly, and tromps over towards the room
>She turns just before she enters it
>”L-listen, Minuette, I… I d-d-didn’t mean for things to get out of hand.  I never w-wanted to lose you.”
>”You sure have a weird way of showing it,” Minuette responds
>Moondancer hangs her head
>”I d-did a really awful thing.  And I c-can’t fix it.  But I’m s-s-so sorry.  Whatever you want to do with me is f-fine.  I don’t deserve anything more than that…”
>She suddenly ducks into the room
>”G-goodnight.”
>You and Minuette look at each other
>With a sigh, Minuette heads towards her bed, a fancy velvet-quilted one large enough for three of her, and flops into it
>”Sorry you got dragged into all this.”
“Hey, I ain’t complaining.  Got to beat the shit out of a demon.  And I’m looking forward to that reward.”
>Minuette sits up, grinning
>”Oooh, that’s right.  Your reward…”
>She taps her fingers against her chin, smiling coyly at you
>”Why don’t you go wash up?  I’ll get it ready for you,” she says with a sly chuckle
“Wash up?  Shit, sounds good to me.”
>You duck into the bathroom, and strip out of your armor

>There’s a stone basin in the corner of the room, and it fills with hot water when you touch a rune on its side
>Being a total nerd has its payoffs, apparently
>You sink into the water, your sigh of delight echoing through the room as the tension seeps out of your muscles
>Not bad for a first day back, you think to yourself
>Eventually, you hear Minuette call your name from the bedroom
>”Your prize awaits you, brave warrior.”
>Oh man that’s cheesy
>You love it
>With a splash, you haul yourself out of the tub
>There’s a rack of towels nearby, so you dry yourself off
>But you don’t bother getting dressed again, and instead open the washroom door and step back into Minuette’s bedroom
>It’s dark, except for the flickering light of a lantern next to the bed
>Minuette herself is lying atop the velvet quit, completely naked, with a bag of coins placed right in front of her crotch
>”Claim what you’ve earned.”
“Huh.  Don’t mind if I do,” you say, right before leaping onto the bed
>The mattress groans beneath your weight, and you lay your massive body across Minuette
>Your mouth meets hers in a wet, sloppy kiss

>Minuette’s lithe body squirms beneath you as she runs her hands along the rippling muscles of your back, then across your chest
>”So… so much better… up close…” she pants out between kisses
“I know.”
>You place a single hand between Minuette’s breasts, pinning her to the bed
“Wanna feel what I can really do?”
>”Yes.  By the princesses, yes.  Do whatever you want with me.”
>Minuette spreads her legs, revealing the soaking folds of her sex
>You toss the bag of gold aside and spread yours as well, then grab Minuette and mandhandle her body into position as if she were a warm, silky toy
>Her crotch meets yours with a sopping squelch of flesh, and your thighs lock around her abdomen
>Minuette gasps as your overwhelming strength drives her into the mattress
>Something animalistic and hungry awakens inside of you the moment her pussy meets yours, sending your hips in a chaotic frenzy
>Wet slapping noises fill the room as you ram your hips into Minuette, smearing a combines mess of juices across both your inner thighs
>She buries her fingers in the sheets, holding onto them for dear life as shudders wrack her body
>”By Celestia I can’t… ~ah~ …it’s too much!”
>Tears of pleasure stream down her reddened cheeks
“You promised me rough.  I want ROUGH!”
>You slam yourself against her, and Minuette’s juices spill down your thighs
“Had enough?” you ask through gritted teeth
>”More…” is all Minuette can squeak out.  “Please, more…”
“That’s what I thought.”
>Minuette climaxes again and again, but you just keep fucking her
>After years of trying to get yourself off with a quick fiddling in the bitter snows of Yakyakistan, you’re not about to rush through an experience with a warm body
>Sweat pours down both of your faces, and Minuette’s pleas for more eventually devolve into lusty, animalistic grunting
>And you’re still not satisfied
>You grab her in both hands, holding her like a doll as you smear your pussy juices along her shuddering body, itself already slick with her sweat
>Minuette gasps, her tongue lolling out of her mouth in delight
>When you finally do cum, you pull her against your chest and kiss her greedily
>Minuette returns the kiss, then flops onto the bed when you let her go
>”T-t-that… princesses, that was… a-ah…”
>She curls into a dripping, shuddering ball
>”Please do that to me again.  Whenever you want.”
“Heh.  I like the sound of that.”
>You wrap an arm around the librarian, and she drapes her nude form along your body
>Out of the corner of your eye, you notice the door to the guest room is open just a crack
>In the dim lantern light, all you can see is Moondancer’s silhouette and the reflection of light in her glasses
>You flash her a thumbs up, and she immediately disappears back into the room, closing the door
>Minuette is fast asleep almost immediately, but you stay up late to count your gold
>Not bad for your first day back

>In the morning, you awake to find yourself staring at the library ceiling
>You’re still naked, but a sheet has been draped over you
>Minuette is seated at the foot of the bed, an open book in her lap
>She’s so focused on it, she didn’t even notice you get up
>You let out a loud, contented yawn, finally getting her attention
>She gives you that flustered, sultry smile reserved for girls who just got fucked *really* well the previous night
>”Good morning~”
“Morning.  How you feeling?”
>”I’m sure you can guess,” she says with a giggle
>Goddamn, you got her hooked
>You scoot up next to Minuette and wrap your arms around her, letting her snuggle against your chest
>”You know, I did almost get killed while retrieving the library’s relics,” she says playfully.  “I could totally take a day off from my duties, if you want…”

“I like the sound of that.”
>You pick up the sack of gold from the floor, testing its heft in your palm
“I got some money to burn now.  How about we find something to drink?”
>”Oooh.  I’m always up for a few libations,” she says, resting her head on your shoulder
>You glance over at the guest bedroom, where you assume Moondancer is still sleeping
“We should take her with us too.”
>Minuette raises an eyebrow
>”You worried about her, even after what she did to us?  Someone’s got a bigger heart than they let on,” she says with a teasing grin
“As if.  I just don’t want her sneaking off.  Celestia only knows what she’d get up to.”
>Minuette chuckles
>”Of course, of course.”
>She disentangles herself from your arms and walks over to the guest bedroom
>”I’ll see if I can wake her up.  Then we’ll find a place where we can drink in private, ‘kay?”
>You flash her a thumbs-up, then roll out of bed and begin pulling on your armor

>It takes nearly an hour of encouragement, but Minuette finally gets Moondancer out of bed and practically wrestles her into the bathtub
>When she emerges, Moondancer looks like a completely different person; her hair is washed and tied up in a neat bun, and she’s dressed in a set of loose-fitting acolyte robes, revealing several sketchy tattoos trailing across her upper body and down her arm
>You make a mental note to ask about those later
>T-totally not because you think they look cool or anything!

>The weather outside is overcast, but the Crystal Empire still glitters in the gray early-afternoon light
>You, Minuette, and Moondancer are seated in a private room on the top floor of The Enchanted Emerald, a building constructed from the same stone as its namesake
>A floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooks the bustling city below, and all three of you have a mug full of your drink of choice in front of you
“Alright.”
>You take a long swig of your mead, then thump the flagon back onto the wooden table
>Moondancer flinches at the sound, and drops her gaze to the floor
>Minuette glances between you and her, trying to hide a smile
“Listen.  Your dumb ass almost got me and her kill.  I really oughta break you in half for that.”
>Moondancer lets out a scared *eep*
“But I think— I mean, uh, Minuette thinks you’re not as bad as all that.  So I’m gonna give you a chance to explain yourself.”
>You let just enough of your steely ALPHA CHICK vibe creep into your voice
>”I d-didn’t mean for things to go this far!” Moondancer blurts out
>She looks close to tears
>”I never wanted Minuette to g-get hurt!  I was just s-so lonely, and I… I made friends with the only things that acted like they w-wanted me.”
“Which just happened to be demons.”
>”That was b-better than nothing…”
>Minuette takes over
>”What did they want with the Rod of Nox?”
>Moondancer shakes her head
>”It contains of a small amount of Princess Luna’s own m-m-magic.  And after that, they wanted me to s-s-steal the North Star Diadem.”
>”Another artifact blessed by Luna…” Minuette muses
>Moondancer nods
“How did you meet up with demons anyway?  They don’t exactly hang around taverns.”
>”It was r-right after I moved to the Crystal Empire.  I… I was sitting on the city walls, looking down, thinking of d-d-doing something really awful.  I f-felt so alone…”
>Moondancer fights to keep her voice steady
>”And this w-woman approached me.  I didn’t hear her coming, but s-s-she sort of appeared from the night itself.  And she comforted me.  She promised me f-friends, if I made a promise to her in return…”
>Minuette reaches across the table and takes hold of Moondancer’s trembling hand
>”I couldn’t see what she looked like.  She wore a cloak, and it was dark.  But I remember her eyes.  They g-glowed, and staring into them made me f-f-feel… I don’t know how to explain it.  They made me f-feel stronger, like all the things wrong with me were f-far away.”
>Moondancer takes a single, shuddering breath
>”I’m s-so sorry.”
>You and Minuette share a look
“That was a stupid thing to do,” you say bluntly
>Minuette elbows you in the ribs
“Hey!  It was!”
>You drum your fingers on your chin, thinking
“But hey, we’re both still here,” you say, gesturing to yourself and Minuette.  “So, eh, whatever.  No hard feelings.”
>A squeak of relief escapes Moondancer’s lips
“Sounds like we’re both in trouble, though.  Something really bad’s lurking around here.  You ever see this woman again?”
>Moondancer shakes her head
>”I c-can speak to her, though.  When I dream.”
“Oh.  That’s kinda scary.”
>”I’m w-worried she knows I betrayed her.  What if she c-comes for us?”
“Then things get a lot simpler.  We just need a plan.”

>Minuette brightens
>"If she's within the city, I could try to divine her location!  It’d be a huge pain to find her, probably, but there has to be a spell that’ll do it!  And Moondancer will help me.”
>Moondancer glances up, surprised
>”I w-will?”
>She looks between the both of you, taken aback
>”I m-mean, of course I will!  Just let me know what you need me to do!”
>You grin
“I’m liking you more already, glasses.”
>Moondancer beams
>”Y-you really mean that?”
“Guess so.  But don’t jinx it, y’here?  Any funny business and you’re gonna end up like that demon you summoned.”
>”Of c-course not!  None at all!” Moondancer stammers, fidgeting excitedly with the hem of her robe.  “Thank you s-s-so much for helping me…”
>Minuette reaches across the table to pat Moondancer’s shoulder
>”Hey, what are friends for?”
>”F-friends?”
>Moondancer looks like she just passed into valhalla
>You cough, interrupting the cute little moment 
“So it’s settled.  You nerds find some magic to track her down.  In the meantime, I’m gonna see if I can’t go burn through a bit of this gold ya gave me.  If this evil bitch is as scary as you say, I’m gonna need something extra sharp.”

>You pay for drinks, then hug Minuette goodbye outside the Enchanted Emerald
>Moondancer waits patiently nearby, looking hopeful
“Easy, glasses.  You haven’t earned your hug privileges yet.”
>She nods, looking a bit glum
>”Y-yeah, that’s fair.”
“But hey, maybe once all this is done…”
>You let the sentence trail off, and flash Moondancer a smile
>She immediately perks up
>”Right!  I’ll s-s-start researching right away!  I won’t s-sleep a wink until I’ve found something!”
“Atta girl,” you say, clapping her on the shoulder
>She blushes furiously, then sprints off towards the Imperial Library, with Minuette following close behind
>You, meanwhile, start looking around for shops that might actually have something you want
>Pretty much everything in the upscale sector of the city sells nothing but tomes and luxury items
>But you know that, closer to the outskirts, there’s plenty of shops selling semi-legal weaponry, along with all sorts of potions
>The pouch of coins is heavy on your belt, and you’re feeling ready to lighten it a little

>There’s nothing quite like a good weapon shop
>Racks of blades of all shapes, sizes, and materials glitter in the room’s dull lantern-light, and the sketchy guy behind the counter –who’s missing half of his right hand, you don’t have to guess why– cackles as you buy yourself a brand-new greataxe, trading in the old one for a little extra gold for later [-325 gold; +1 Silver-Edged Greataxe]
>The new weapon is of similar size, but the blade’s edge glimmers with an infusion of pure silver
>It’ll cut truer than the last one, and can even damage lower-level magical foes
>You also pick up two potions, figuring it’ll help keep you and the other girls as far away from death’s door as possible [-100 gold; +2 Health Potions]
>On the walk back to the library, you strut like a badass, relishing how hefty the new axe feels strapped to your back

>When you catch up with Minuette and Moondancer, both girls are seated on the library’s top floor, which contains a series of small, well-furnished study rooms
>You lay on a couch and bond with your new axe while the two of them pour through books
>Exhausted-looking acolytes occasionally show up to bring more and to return the piles they’ve already thumbed through
“Any progress?”
>”Can’t talk.  Reading,” Minuette says, her voice unusually robotic
>You whistle, more than a little impressed; they didn’t make her an arch-librarian for nothing
>Moondancer doesn’t even seem like she’s aware the rest of the world exists
>Hours tick by and she doesn’t stop for bathroom breaks, food, drink, or anything else
>She sits curled up in a little focused ball in her armchair, scanning through books, until sometime around midnight, she jumps to her feet with a cry of excitement
>”I f-f-found something!”
>Minuette tosses her book
>”Dammit!  You’re good, Moons.  Alright, I owe you ten gold.”
>She slaps the coins into Moondancer’s palm, who’s grinning like an idiot
>”What do you got?” Minuette asks
>She hugs her knees to her chest in excitement, and you both wait patiently
>”It’s a b-bit of an archaic spell.  And it’ll require a bit of, um… b-b-blood magic.”
>Minuette’s eyebrows shoot up
>”That’s gonna be a no from me, then.  Imperial scholarship forbids blood magic.”
>”Well, I, um… k-kinda know a lot about it.”
>Moondancer lets out an embarrassed chuckle
“Course you do.  What do we need?”
>”Since I’ve been magically linked to the sorceress, a bit of her magical trace is in my blood.  I can activate it, then M-Minuette can use her divination to find the source.”
“That… makes no sense to me at all.  Will it work?”
>Moondancer nods
>”I’ll m-make sure it does.”

>The two mages quickly prepare what they need for the rites
>Moondancer holds her pale palm over a small crystal dish, then glances over at you
>”C-could you, um, d-d-do it for me?”
“Do what?”
>”Get the blood.  I’m a b-bit squeamish…”
“The demon-summoner is squeamish about blood?”
>”D-don’t make fun of me!  It’s just a weird—“
>You draw your knife and open a small incision along her palm in one quick, clean motion
>Moondancer yelps in terror and closes her eyes, going even paler as blood dribbles down into the ditch
>Minuette is quick to bandage the wound, for which a clammy, sick-looking Moondancer thanks her
>”Okay.  N-now, um… just gotta activate the magical traces…”
>She extends her uninjured hand over the tiny pool of blood and speaks in hissing infernal verses
>A webwork of glowing blue energy appears in the blood
>Minuette gingerly joins her hand with Moondancer’s, speaking her own incantations, and then Moondancer lowers Minuette’s hand into the dish
>Minuette grimaces with discomfort for a second, then blinks
>”I got it!  I got the trace!”
>Moondancer cheers, throwing her skinny arms around the other mage
>You clap both of them on the shoulder, grinning
“Knew you had it in you.  So, where we headed?”
>Minuette closes her eyes for a moment, muttering divination spells under her breath
>”She’s still in the city,” she says, her brow furrowing in concentration.  “But she’s on the move.  Moving… towards the city gates.  We need to hurry, before I lose her!”
>Her eyes fly open, and all three of you run for the door

>Even at night, there’s plenty of coaches willing to offer rides for a few gold
>You’re lucky enough to nab one almost immediately, and they speed you off towards the city gates
>Minuette keeps her eyes closed the whole time, focusing on maintaining her read on the sorceress
>”She’s right outside the city, now.  She’s moving slower than we are, on foot.  We can catch her!”
>At the gates, you disembark from the carriage and march out along the same path on which you first encountered Lightning Dust
>This time, though, nobody decides to get in your way
>You’re not sure if that’s because of your reputation, or because something far worse than the three of you just came through here…
>Either way, the ruins and peasant villages that lie just outside the imperial capital are silent
>Minuette leads you up into the hills surrounding the Crystal Empire, and you three take shelter beneath the wild trees
>”She’s close.  Very close.”
>Gradually, the wild earth beneath your feet becomes a cracked stone path
>”She’s up ahead,” Minuette whispers
>You take the lead now, standing protectively in front of the other two, and move down the path
>It ends in a small clearing about two hundred feet in diameter and covered in large chunks of stone about as tall as you are
>You crouch behind one and the mages follow suit, hiding in the shadows of the boulder
>In the center of the clearing lie the ruins of an old temple, with crumbling columns and spires that caved in long ago
>Flickering torchlight filters out of the cracks in the stone walls and from the arched entrance, where two cloaked figures stand guard
>More strange people in cloaks seem to meld out of the shadows, drifting towards the place like specters
>”That mark above the door…” Minuette mutters, pointing to where an emblem of a crescent moon surrounded by two stars sits above the main entrance.  “That’s the sign of old Church of the Moon.  They were Luna worshippers, before her banishment.  This place must be over a thousand years old…”

“So it’s a buncha weirdos in an old, weirdo religion.  Awesome.”
>”It w-would explain why the sorceress was after artifacts blessed by Princess Luna,” Moondancer adds
>”It explains a bit.  But we still have no idea what she could be up to.  We need a way to get closer…”
>You glance around, then point to where a pair of cloaked figures are approaching the church
“I think I have an idea…”

>The moment the cloaks pass by an outcropping of rock, you wrap a hand over both their mouths, yanking them back behind your hiding place
>They thrash and try to bite your fingers, but a quick spell from Minuette sends them both into a deep, peaceful sleep
>When you pull back their heads, you don’t reveal any sort of ghoul or other horrific creature
>Instead, all you see are two wiry girls, a couple years younger than you
>Even in the darkness, they look familiar
>You’ve seen them around here before, somewhere…
“Wait a minute,” you mutter under your breath.  “Fuck me, these are Lightning’s girls.”
>”Lightning?” Minuette asks
“Just some nobody bandit I thrashed.  Guess she must hide out around here.  But what are her lackeys doing here?”
>”Beats me.  But there’s one way to find out,” Minuette says, stripping off one of the girl’s cloaks and wrapping it around her
>”Hah, this is awesome!” she whispers to you.  “I look like a badass!”
>”P-please.  I’ve seen way hotter c-c-cultist robes,” Moondancer retorts
>Both of you stare at her
>”I m-mean way more intimidating!  Because I s-s-study the occult!”
>You continue to stare, and Moondancer pulls her hood up over her reddened face
>”Let’s just g-get this over with.”

>The two mages stroll calmly towards the entrance of the church, matching in with the figures swarming in around them
>You, meanwhile, are pretty sure you’re never going to be able to fit into one of those cloaks
>So you creep up to the side of the building, crouching next to wall
>Inside, two dozen or so cloaks are standing at attention, all facing the ruined altar at the front of the temple
>A sphere of unnatural darkness surrounds the altar; even though there are torches lining the walls, the light can’t seem to penetrate into that one specific area
>Within the small island of darkness stands a tall, gaunt figure, wrapped head-to-toe in a midnight blue cloak with her hood drawn over her face
>When she speaks, her voice is barely more than a whisper, but it carries all throughout the temple and beyond
>”Greetings, my fellow Knights of the Moon.  I am overjoyed to see our numbers have doubled since last I looked upon you.  I come to you with joyous news.  A loyal servant of mine has retrieved the Rod of Nox.  With it, both I and the order shall grow far, far stronger.  Soon, the false princesses will quake in fear at our approach.  Aha…”
>The sorceress sucks in her breath, creating a sound like knives on stone
>”She approaches now.  Welcome, sister Moondancer.”
>You peer through a different crack, spying Moondancer and Minuette walking beneath the doors
>They hesitate for a moment as the sorceress’s attention falls upon them
>But they don’t panic; Moondancer recovers quickly
>”That is… correct, my lady,” she says with a reverent bow
>The sorceress chuckles in delight
>”And you’ve brought us an initiate.  How truly splendid of you, Moondancer.  My love for you abounds.”
>The sorceress steps down from the altar and places her hand beneath Moondancer’s hood, caressing the girl’s face
>Then she turns to Minuette
>”And what of you?  I sense traces of dark magic already stirring within you.  Moondancer, is this your doing?”
>”It… it w-was, my lady,” Moondancer says
>”Delightful.  Then come with us, both of you.  Let us awaken the magic inside this girl.”
>She takes both girls by the hand and begins leading them towards the altar
>Atop the slab is a length of blue-velvet rope, along with a shard of navy-colored crystal that glitters with a wicked light
>Minuette, even from this distance, is shaking slightly with dread
>Moondancer, however, seems completely calm
>Does she have a plan?
>She stands alongside Minuette on one side of the altar, and the sorceress stands on the other, twisting the rope in her hands
>"Disrobe, both of you. Then I shall bind you."
>Moondancer obediently begins to undress
>Minuette looks terrified, but reluctantly begins to strip out of her robes...
>Moondancer places a calming hand on the girl's arm, and helps Minuette remove the rest of her garments

>Both girls stand naked before the sorceress, with torchlight casting shadows over Minuette’s full, supple curves and Moondancer’s pale, nearly skeletal figure
>”Good,” she sorceress whispers, then gestures towards the table
>”Lay here.  Then I will bind you.”
>Moondacer lies flat on the altar, facing upwards, then grabs ahold of Minuette’s hand and pulls the other girl atop her
>”It’ll b-be okay…” she whispers
>Minuette nods
>”I trust you, Moon.”
>She drapes herself across Moondancer, then the priestess begins to wind the velvet chord around the two of them, tying them tightly against one another
>The tighter she pulls it, the more the material begins to glow with sickly purple light
>Veins of corrupted magic begin to show beneath Minuette’s skin, and she writhes atop Moondancer, her face twisted
>”Ah, yes….” the sorcerer coos.  “You pleased something truly awful inside her, Moondancer.  You never cease to amaze me.”
>The sorceress runs her gloves hands along both girls’ bodies, sighing in delight as the veins of corruption spread along Minuette’s flesh
>”Now, Moondancer.  Call upon the darkness within this girl.  Awaken her as a new disciple.”
>Moondancer grins at the sorceress, her face shining with sweat
>”S-sorry.  I’ve g-g-got some other plans.”
>Then she presses a kiss atop Minuette’s forehead
>Immediately, the corruptive energy spreading through Minuette changes direction, racing into Moondancer instead
>Moondancer throws her head back, crying out in agony as violet, spiderwebbing veins of evil course through her
>”No!”
>The sorceress hisses in fury
>”Insolent girl!  What are you doing?”
>”You were n-never my friend!” Moondancer calls out.  “You used me!  But I w-w-won’t let you use me anymore!”
>With one final surge of power, the corruption leaves Minuette and full settles inside Moondancer
>”I h-have…” Moondancer mutters, her voice muffled by pain.  “I have p-p-people I need to protect…”
>”You dare choose a worthless girl over me?” the sorceress growls.  “Then she shall die in your arms!”
>The sorceress grabs up the shard of crystal from the altar and thrusts it towards Minuette’s back
>Moondancer rolls both of them over, ending up on top, and the shard plunges into her instead

“You bitch!”
>A torrent of raw, unbridled rage sweeps over you, and the world comes into sharp, vibrant focus as your instincts take over
>Right now, the only thought going through your mind is thus: protect your friends
>With a single kick, you smash a hole through the side of the church, sending chunks of rock hurtling through the air
>They smash into the wall on the opposite side, and large cracks begin to spread through the already weakened masonry
>Cultists scramble, seeming to move in slow motion as they draw knives from beneath their robes
>You pay no attention to them, instead sprinting towards the altar
>The sorceress turns towards you, her glowing eyes registering a brief hint of surprise
>Her hand raises in slow motion, and an arc of magic streaks towards you
>You let the spell strike you on the shoulder; immediately, your own blood freezes and sticks through your flesh in a series of painful, frozen spikes [-10 HP; right arm immobilized]
>Now that she’s open, though, you sweep the axe off your back and swing it through the sorceress’s torso
>She tumbles backwards, howling with rage
>You look at where the axe struck her, expecting to see a vicious wound and gushing blood
>However, beneath her torn clothing, there’s no body at all
>Just magical vapor that rapidly dissipates from the whole you sliced
>The sorceress retreats towards the back of the church, clutching at the wound to try and keep her essence from pouring out of her
>”A silver blade?  You wretch…”
>She extends a finger towards her cultists
>”Kill them all!  May their suffering eclipse mine a hundredfold!”
>The cultists throw themselves towards you and your friends
>You rush in to meet them, holding your body like a shield between the mob and the bound girls behind you
>They fall upon you with slashing knives, but you hardly even feel the blows past the haze of rage and the sheer magnitude of your endurance [-2 HP; -2 HP; -2 HP]
>Your right arm is useless from the effects of the sorceress’s magic, otherwise you’d cleave them all in half with a swingle backswing
>Desperate, you drop your axe and pick up a stone from the floor, swinging it wildly to drive the cultists back
>It’s not much of an opening, but it’s something
>You take arm for the ceiling, where the crumbling archways are already showing signs of giving
>Then you wind up, and hurl the stone, sending it smashing into the ceiling
>For a moment, nothing happens…
>Then, spiderwebbing cracks branch from the point of impact, and a titanic groan echoes through the room as temple slowly crumbles apart
“This is gonna hurt…”
>You grab up Moondancer and Minuette from the table, holding their bound bodies awkwardly under one arm
>Chunks of rock fall around you, smashing craters into the ground around you
>The cultists reform, but you run directly through their line, ignoring the knives that pierce your skin [-2 HP; -2 HP; -2 HP]
>With a skull-shaking *crack*, the ceiling splits in two, and rubble rains down atop the cultists
>You drive through the temple’s entrance, landing on your back in the dirt and clutching the other girls protectively against your chest
>The shrieks of the cultists are barely audible over the thunder of the collapsing temple
>Then, everything is still…

>You barely manage to struggle to your knees, then use your good hand to cut the ropes binding Minuette and Moondancer
>Both are unconscious, and Moondancer’s blood is pouring down her back
>The rage has just worn off, leaving you in shock
>What do you do now?
>She’s dying, and you don’t know how to fix this
>Then you remember the health potions in your pack, and pull both of them out
>Will they be enough to cure a wound like this?
>You’re just about to try when you hear footseps behind you, followed a familiar voice
>”Ooooh, someone’s sure in trouble.”
>You turn, finding yourself staring at the jaunty, roguish form of Lightning Dust
>”Not so damn cool now, are ya, hotshot?”
>She fingers the blades at her hips, grinning at you


>You glance down at your self; your body’s beat to shit, there’s no way you could fight her like this
>The potions would help…
>But taking them could very well mean Moondancer dies
>And you’re not willing to take that chance
>Lightning licks her lips, and more sweat rolls down her face as she waits for you to make your move
>”C’mon.  Try and fight!  I’m gonna do way, way worse than what you did to me.”
>You sigh, realizing your only recourse left is trickery, hardly befitting a warrior like yourself
>But then again, Lightning’s the one who attacks people while they tend to their injured friends
>You attempt to stand, then fall backwards, sprawling on the ground in a pathetic heap
>You make sure to just right, so that your combat skirt flips up over your waist
>And, like any proper barbarian, you’ve never worn underwear a day in your life
>Lightning’s eyes go wide, and a tiny drop of blood trickles from her nose
“I… I c-can’t…” you say, doing your best Moondancer impression.  “I’m too weak.  P-please… you can d-do whatever you want with me, I can’t fight anymore.  Just please h-help my friends.”
>”You… you’re giving up that easily?” Lightning asks, her cocky grin momentarily replaced by pure, blank disbelief.  “You mean I won?”
“You win… I’ll d-do whatever you want…”
>”Well, uh… yeah.  Yeah!  Of course I won!  And now I’m gonna, uh…”
>She stares at your exposed crotch, then wipes sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand
>”Princesses, what *am* I gonna do?”
>She coughs, adopting a somewhat shakier version of her smug posture from earlier
>”Well, um, I think your honorable surrender deserves a reward.  I’ll help your friends.  But then you’re mine!”
>Lightning grabs up the potions you dropped, and gingerly pours both of them into Moondancer’s mouth
>Almost immediately, the wound on her back closes shut, though it leaves an ugly scar
>”There!  You’ve gotten your last wish, barbarian!  Now, submit to your new queen!”
>You obediently spread your legs
“Anything you w-want, mistress…”
>”G-guh!”
>Lightning clutches at her nose again, breathing heavily
>”W-what did you just call me?”
“Mistress Lightning…”
>”Ack!”
>She clutches at her chest, sputtering
>”Keep it together, Lightning.  Keep it together…”
>She jabs a finger at you
>”You!  Hold still!  And if you dare tell anybody what I’m about to do, I’ll kill you!”
“Y-yes, mistress.”
>Her eye twitches, and an involuntary shiver of pleasure runs through Lightning’s body
>”Princesses, forgive me… I’m going to enjoy this.”
>Lightning glances around, as if worried that one of her lackeys might be watching, then drops onto her hands and knees and shoves her face between your thighs

>You tense the muscles in your legs, ready to clamp them around her head and squeeze her into submission
>But then you feel her wet, hot tongue against your flesh, and your entire body goes limp with delight
“By Celestia…” you gasp, suddenly losing control of your meek act.  “You’re fucking *good* at this…”
>Your reply spurs Lightning on, and she sinks her fingers into your thighs, anchoring herself down and burying her face in your crotch
>A shudder runs through you, starting in your gut and then spreading to the tips of your fingers
>Inside your boots, your toes curl in delight, and you arch your back as short, stabbing cries of pleasure escape your lips
>Lightning’s tongue dexterously flicks against your dripping ladybits, somehow predicting the exact moment to taste each delicate, sensitive part of you
“Fuck it.  I can’t hold back anymore…”
>Lightning pauses for a moment
>”H-huh?”
>With your good hand, you grab Lightning by the hair and mash her face against your crotch, desperately humping her hot, wet mouth
>She gasps, but doesn’t let up
>In fact, she gets all the greedier, sputtering and moaning in her desperation
>It isn’t long before she makes you cum
>With a howl of pleasure, you plaster her face with your fluids, holding her pinned between your legs to make sure every last drop ends up on her face
>When Lightning resurfaces, her face is a red, dripping mess
>She stares at you, her eyes glazed with lust
“So?  Did you enjoy it, *mistress*,” you ask with a wink
>Lightning scowls
>”You… you tricked me!”
“Damn right I did.  That’s twice now.”
>You hold up two fingers with your good hand
>Lightning hisses, and then lunges forward, pinning you down and holding her blade to your throat
>”I oughtta slit your throat right here.”
“Go ahead.  But then I can’t return the favor.”
>”R-return?”
“Even a savage doesn’t leave a girl hanging.  Not unless she deserves it, at least.”
>”How do I know I can trust you?”
“You just had your whole face in my pussy.  Relax, dweeb.”
>You push the knife away from your throat, then pull Lightning into a kiss
>The taste of your juices is still strong on her tongue, and you use your good arm to roll the two of you over, ending up atop her
>She whimpers as your kisses travel down to her kneck, and then lower on her body
>Her leather leggings are impossible to get off, so you don’t bother
>Instead, you just shove your hand down her pants, finding a soaking mess in her panties
“Aww, you’re already so wet.”
>”S-stop that!” Lightning demands, pouting.  “It’s embarrassing…”
“It’s adorable.”
>”D-don’t talk about me like that.”
>She shakily points her knife at you, but you just grin
“Make me,” you say as you delicately slip a finger inside her
>Lightning’s mouth goes slack, and her hips reflexively buck against your palm, pushing the finger deeper
>She holds eye contact with you the entire time, still glaring at you even as she writes beneath your touch
>You don’t blink or even flinch, daring her to strike you
>Of course, she doesn’t
>She reaches her limits quickly; Lightning throws her arms around you, squeezing tightly against your massive body as she cums
>A series of tiny, girlish squeaks escape her lips, and she shivers violently as her love dribbles down your palm
>You whip your hand back out, holding eye contact as you lick the tangy fluids from between your fingers
>Lightning glances away, pouting
>”Why do you look at me like that.”
“Because I wanna fuck you.  Now I did.  Not everything has to be so complicated.”
>”Hmph.  I can’t believe I let you do this to me,” Lightning mutters, rolling away from you.
“I sure can.”
>”This isn’t how tonight was supposed to go at all.”
“You’re telling me.  My arm’s fucked and those two almost died.  You got nothing to complain about.”
>”I have plenty to complain about!  You can’t just keep making me… you can’t keep getting me addicted to you like this!”
“Looks like I can.”
>You try to stagger to your feet, but end up sinking to your knees
“Might as well give up the act.  Besides… I could use your help.  I need shelter for those two.  And something to fix this arm.”

>”There’s absolutely no way I’m helping you!”
“Hmm, makes sense.  You wouldn’t be able to keep up.”
>A vein bulges on Lightning’s forehead
>”I could duel circles around you right now!”
“Sure.  Then I’d flash a titty at you and you’d trip over your own feet.”
>”I would not!”
“Wanna bet?”
>”…yes.”
>You grin
“Cool.  Then help me get these two back to the library and I’ll give you a peek there.”
>Lightning hesitates
>”Are… are you serious?”
“One way to find out.”
>She groans
>”I can’t believe I’m letting you do this to me again.”
“Huh.  I can.”
>You stagger over towards the ruins of the church
>The brand-new axe you bought is buried underneath there, somewhere
>If you were in better shape, you could dig it out
>But right now you’re having enough difficulty just staying standing
>So you instead find where two of the cloaked cultists are buried, dead, beneath the stone, and tear their cloaks from their bodies
>You wrap the torn cloth around Moondancer and Minuette, covering up as much of them as you can with the garments
“You get one, I’ll get the other.”
>”Hmph.”
>Lightning grunts as she hoists Moondancer up, slinging the girl over her shoulder
>You casually pick up Minuette and toss her over yours
>”Where now?” Lightning asks, struggling slightly under the other girl’s weight
“Only safe place I got right now.  Imperial Library.”
>”The Imperial Library?  What’s a savage like you doing there?”
“Screwing the librarian, mostly.”
>Lightning scowls, her face flushed with jealousy

>About halfway back, Lightning collapses, unable to carry Moondancer any further
>You sigh, and sling Moondancer over your back as well
>Lightning turns out not to be entirely useless, however
>Instead of trying to talk your way past the city guards, she shows you one of many secret passages beneath the walls
>This particular one was built from an old sewer line, and various sub-passages lead to hideouts of the city’s notorious thieves
>You make a mental note of that

>Back at the library, up in Minuette’s quarters, you set Moondancer and Minuette onto the main bed as gently as you can with only one arm
>Neither of them look hurt, and they’re booth snoozing peacefully
>You absentmindedly rub your useless right arm, finding the skin is now hot to the touch
>Lightning prowls around the room, intently eyeing the centuries-old books and precision magical instruments that fill the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in Minuette’s rooms
>Eventually, she makes her way over to you
>”Not that I really care, but that looks bad,” she says, gesturing to your wounds
“Yeah.  I’m aware.”
>”You should get try to find a healer.  Or I could nick you some potions…”
“Sounds like you’re pretty worried about me,” you say with a wry chuckle
>”Not in the slightest.  But you still have a promise to keep.”
“I wanna be here when they wake up.”
>”They’ll be fine.  We should—”
>Lightning reaches out, as if to touch your shoulder, then hesitates, letting her arm drop back to her side
>"We should go. Just to be safe."

“Hmph.”
>You glance down at your ruined right shoulder, and realize that Dust definitely has a point
>Sighing, you stand up and throw a blanket over both Minuette and Moondancer
“You gotta point.  But we’re gonna make this quick.”
>”I don’t feel like wasting any more time than we have to.  Now c’mon.”
>Lightning holds out a hand to help you up
>You just stare at it, then laugh
“You’re totally smitten, aren’t you?”
>”S-shut up, I am not!  If you’re going to keep being a pain in the ass, I’m not gonna help you.”
“Heh.”
>”What?  What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, nothing,” you say, taking Lightning’s hand and letting her pull you up.  “Let’s get going.”

>A refreshingly frigid north wind is sweeping through the Empire’s streets, and you relish the feeling as it courses through your hair and cools your aching body
>Lightning walks just a few steps ahead of you, her eyes bright and wary as she scans the streets
>She strategically tells you which alleys to avoid, seeming to have an encyclopedic knowledge of where you’re most likely to get jumped
>Normally you’d welcome a few brigands to beat up, but right now you’re a bit grateful for her help
>The longer you walk, the heavier each step becomes

>Finally, you get to the same temple that healed you yesterday, and plunk down heavily on one of the stone benches
>Your head feels fuzzy with pain and fatigue, and your injured arm is stiff, hot, and extremely uncomfortable
>After a few minutes, a woman who looks to be in her early 30’s emerges from the passage behind the altar
>In her arms she’s carrying a basket full of midnight-blue roses, each of which glitters when the torchlight falls upon it
>”Good evening!” she says, her voice surprisingly bright despite the late hour.  “May the princesses blessings fall upon you, and all that.  I am Sister Roseluck,   What can I—“
>Her voice trails off when she notices your injury
>”Well, that answers my questions.  Just sit right there, okay?”
>She hurries over to your side, still holding the basket of roses, and sits by your shoulder
>”Oooh, this is bad.  How are you even still alive?”
“Years of practice.”
>The rose priestess lets out a wry chuckle at that
>”You’re hard to kill, clearly.  I’m impressed.  And kinda terrified.”
>She probes gently at the wound, and you grit your teeth
>”I can fix this.  But it’s going to hurt a lot, okay?”
>You half-shrug
“Whatever.”
>”No, like, it’s reeeeeally going to hurt.”
“I’m fine.  Just get it over with.”
>”Alright, pushy.  But don’t complain to me.”
>She removes some of the roses and twists them together into a rope of petals and thorns
>”You, uh… might wanna bite down on something.”
>Lightning hands you the sheath to one of her blades, and you slip it between your teeth
>Roseluck gingerly wraps the band around your arm, letting the thorns pierce your ruined flesh
>Then she bows her head and whispers soft incantations to them
>In response, the petals glow, as if struck by shafts of moonlight
>A dull itching begins to spread through your arm, which then builds to a throbbing, then to an outright, searing pain
>You sink your teeth into the leather sheath, your entire body shuddering as your own muscles knit back together beneath Roseluck’s magic
>Dimly, you’re aware of Lightning’s hand on your shoulder
>Then the entire world falls into blackness as you pass out

>…

>When you awake, you’re lying in a familiar bed somewhere in the temple
>You’re naked aside from a set of white robes, and your massive form is sprawled across the mattress
>Lightning Dust is seated on the floor next to the bed, fast asleep
>And her hand is clutching yours
>You gingerly let go of her as you sit up, then open your robe to inspect your body
>All the injuries from the fight with the sorceress are healed, leaving you with a snakelike scar that curls down your right arm
>You flex a little to test that you’re entirely back together, and find that you’re feeling even better than you did before the fight

>You step barefoot onto the cold tile floor, then pace around to check out the temple
>Roseluck is outside, tending to her garden
>For some reason, you haven’t noticed the nice, silver-haired younger girl who tended to you the first time
>You take one more lap around the place, relishing having your body back in one piece again, and try to decide what to do next

>You end up deciding to let Lightning sleep a little more
>Dumb thief probably waited by your bed all night
>What a total dweeb
>That totally isn’t adorable and you *definitely* don’t hope she stays with you a little longer
>You have enough dweebs to deal with already
>Outside, you approach Roseluck in her garden
>It’s a small space, just a circular patch of green grass and banks of roses, surrounded by a stone wall
>She glances up when she hears your footsteps, and smiles
>”Ah, thank the princesses, you made it.”
“You sound surprised.”
>”Not many could handle sustaining such an injury, let alone having it knit back together.  You’ve certainly been blessed.”
“Hmm, not sure if I’d call it that.”
>You lean against the wall, admiring her handiwork
>”You like them?”
>You nod
“Flowers aren’t really my thing.  But this is kinda nice to look at, I guess.”
>Roseluck giggles
>”I’ll take that as a compliment, then.  How’s your friend?”
“Still asleep.”
>”She must be.  Was up half the night pestering me with questions.  She was terrified you wouldn’t make it.  Almost had to curse her too, when I caught her with her hands in the offering box.”
“Oof.  Shoulda cursed her anyway.”
>”If she woke me up even one more time with her questioning, I might have.”
>Roseluck returns to her work, delicately trimming a few dead petals from a teal plower
“So… speaking of friends, where’s the girl that used to be here?”
>”Oh, Silver Spoon?”
>Roseluck bites her lip
>”That’s anybody’s guess.  She’s been… kinda sneaking off a lot lately.  Don’t tell anybody I said that.”
“I don’t blab.  Too much effort.”
>”Hah, I can respect that,” Roseluck says as she stands up
>She claps the dirt from her hands, then walks a slow, pensive circle around her garden
>”There’s this noble family in the empire.  House Tiara.  Silver was assigned there as a tutor to the family’s daughter.  Since then, she’s been finding excuses to wander away from the temple, or just flat-out leaving.  Usually she comes back after a few hours, but…”
“You haven’t seen her since yesterday, I take it?”
>”Just about.  I can’t really offer you much in the way of reward.  But if you wanted to look into it, you’d have my thanks, and the gratitude of the princesses.”
“Well, that’s hard to pass up.”

>You mull over what she said as you shake Lightning awake, then head out to retrieve your axe
>It’s a whole half a day of walking, round-trip, but you eventually manage to make it out to the abandoned temple and grab the weapon back
>While you dig through the rubble to grab your weapon, Lightning snoops through the looser wreckage, pulling out trinkets and pieces of broken artifacts from the deceased cultists
>When she returns, she has almost a full sack of broken bits of gold, gems, and rune-encrusted stone
“We’re splitting that.”
>”Like hell we are.”
>You try to jostle her, but she leaps nimbly away, sticking her tongue out at you
>As the two of you head back towards the library, you get a chance to chat for a bit

>Instead of following behind you, Lightning now walks shoulder-to-shoulder alongside you
>Occasionally, she steals sidelong glances of your body
“So…”
>You cross your arms behind your back, stretching a bit
“How long are you planning on sticking around?”
>”Huh?”
“I’m fine now.  You don’t have to keep hanging here.”
>”I-I know that.”
“How long, then?”
>Lightning shrugs
>”As long as I feel like.  You still owe me, by the way,” she says, her cheeks slightly pink
“You’re still holding out for that?  Princesses, you’re desperate…”
>”I am not!”
>You just stare at her
>”I was promised something, and I’m gonna make sure you give it to me.”
“Huh.  What did I promise again?” you say, feigning confusion.  “I was so out of it yesterday, I can’t really remember.”
>”W-what?  Are you serious?”
“Maybe.  You should remind me,” you say, grinning
>”You… you’re the worst!  C’mon, you remember what it was.”
“Not a clue.”
>”Stop playing this s-stupid game!”
“Ain’t a game.  I took a lotta blows to the head.  Hard for me to remember my own name sometimes.”
>”Agh.  I hate you.  I shoulda gutted you when I had the chance…”
>Lightning grits her teeth as she speaks, and her face is flushed with embarrassment
>”You promised to…”
>She mumbles the rest under her breath
“You’re gonna have to speak up.”
>”You promised to show me your…”
“Louder.”
>”You promised to show me your breasts, dammit!” Lightning nearly screams
>An entire street full of Imperial citizens turns to stare
>Lightning’s face turns a deep, radiant crimson
>Then she buries it in her hands, groaning
>”Kill me.”
“Nah.  This is more fun.”
>You reach back and start tightening the straps that hold your axe to your body
>When you finish, you lift up the hem of your combat skirt just enough to flash Lightning a quick view of your ass
>She gulps, her eyes going wide
“All ya had to do was ask.”
>You drop the skirt again, then continue on as if nothing happened
>Lightning scampers along beside you, stumbling slightly since her eyes aren’t exactly on the road
“Now talk to me.  If you’re gonna follow me around I wanna know at least a little about you.  Where’re you from?”
>”Where?  I, um…”
>Lightning shakes her head, trying to get her wits back
>”Cloudsdale.  Moved here when I was a little girl.  Wanted to be a Wonderbolt Knight.”
>You raise an eyebrow, genuinely surprised
“No shit.  Me too.  What happened?”
>”Didn’t have the money to get in.  So I turned to mercenary work.”
“Yeah?”
>You and Lightning have reached a public square, in the center of which sits a flowing fountain
>You step up to it and splash some water in your face, bending nice and low as you do so
>Though you can’t see her, you can feel Lightning’s eyes on your exposed crotch
“What kinda work?” you ask, taking a bit longer than usual to wash your face
>”Uh… you know, just whatever got my attention… anything I r-really wanted to get into… whatever gave me a t-taste of adventure…”
>You can’t tell if she’s trying to flirt or just insanely awkward
>Probably both
>Slowly, you straighten back up, leaning against the fountain’s basin
>Lightning is trying to keep her composure, and she sits on the basin next to you, her eyes on the ground
>”I just drifted around until I met this lady. She flunked outta the Canterlot Mage College, and this feud with the new princess ruined her reputation. So she was putting this gang together, called the Illusions. They were item hunters, and good ones too. By the time I left, they were pretty famous in the underground. I worked with her for a couple years…”
“Then?”
>”…I fell in love with her. But she hardly knew l existed. I was just one mercenary out of dozens. She'd never have cared.”
“Oof.”
>”And I couldn’t handle that. So I left. I… I kinda have issues getting addicted to people. Like I did with you..."
>Lightning immediately realizes what she said and claps a hand over her mouth

“Heh.  Glad you’re admitting it, finally.”
>”S-shut up,” she grumbles
“Hey, at least you’ve got good taste.  I’m definitely a girl worth getting addicted to.”
>”Hmph.  You’re not bad, I guess.”
“Not bad?  You telling me this Illusion chick is better?”
>Lightning shrugs
>”I couldn’t even give you an honest answer on that.  I’ve been hung up on her for so long, she’s like… she’s like a goddess, or something, in my mind.”
>You whistle
“You got it bad, huh?  I’m a little jealous.”
>”I do.  And that’s why I can’t go back.  It’ll kill me.”
“Nah, fuck that.”
>You jab a finger into Lightning’s chest
“You gotta go find her, and you’re gonna tell her everything.  And if she’s not into you, it’s her loss.”
>”I can’t.”
“You can, you big baby.”
>”She has no reason to ever want me around.”
“Psh.  If you’re good enough for me, you’re definitely good enough for her.”
>Lightning stares for a second, then hangs her head
>A single tear drips down her cheek, but she quickly wipes it away
>”I’m… good enough for you?”
“If you weren’t, I’d have gotten rid of you a long-ass time ago.”
>For a few minutes, Lightning is silent
>Behind the two of you, the fountain gurgles and splashes just the same, but you can feel in the air that something’s changed
>When Lightning looks up, she gazes at you with soft eyes
>”I don’t know what to do now.  I want you.  And I want her.”
“Then let’s go find her, and you can take your pick.  For now, though…”
>You grab ahold of Lightning’s wrist
”I know exactly what I want.”
>Lightning yelps when you wrap your hands underneath her and pick her up
>The next sound out of her mouth, though, is a squeak of delight as you throw her against the wall of a nearby ally and mash your lips to hers in a sloppy, hungry kiss
>Her lithe body conforms against your muscular frame, and you take her in your arms and hoist her up, pinning her to the stone wall with her crotch level with your face
>She kicks her feet as she yanks her leggings down, then her thighs press in on either side of your face as you bring your mouth to her pussy
>Beneath your tongue, her taste is sweaty and sweet, and she moans for the whole block to hear as you lick her

>Five minutes later, Lightning is following behind you on wobbling legs, her eyes glassy with pleasure
>”You are… a monster…”
“I know,” you reply, licking your lips
>Up ahead, the library looms over the two of you
>It’s nearly sundown now, and orange light glitters off its crystal spires
>You tramp up the stairs to Minuette’s quarters and open the door
>Minuette and Moondancer are curled in the bed together, each reading their own book, with a few softly glowing candles surrounding them
“Don’t worry, I’m not dead.”
>Minuette laughs
>”I wasn’t worried.  Well, maybe a little.  But if anyone knows how to keep themselves alive, you sure do,” she says with a wink
>She’s dressed only in a thin tunic, and Moondancer is wearing only her oversized sweater
>Minuette sets her book down and waves you over
>You sit on the bed next to her, and she throws her arms around you
>”I owe you a lot.  Both of you.”
>She pulls Moondancer in too, and the three of you nuzzle together in a little, snuggly pile
>Lightning just kind of stares out the window, not knowing what to do with herself
“Eh, I did what I had to.  Gotta keep the cute ones alive, or this world would be a pretty shitty place.”
>Minuette laughs
>”T-thank you for giving me a chance, too.  After w-w-what I did, killing me would have b-been understandable.  But you and M-Minnuette s-s-saw there was still good in me.  And I can’t thank you enough for that.”
>She gives you a shaky kiss on the cheek, then sits back on the bed, her hands clasped in her lap
>Minuette leans against you, and you both give Moondancer a “goddamn, that’s cute” type of look
“So, you’re gonna hit that, right?” you whisper to her
>”Princesses, I hope so.  You and Dust are figuring something out too, right?”
“Figuring out is a good way to put it.”
>Minuette smiles and nods
>”You’re heading off soon, I take it?”
“It’s what I do.”
>”Don’t worry, I know.  We had some great times, these past few days.  But I still have to be a librarian…”
“And I still have to wreck shit.”
>Minuette giggles
>”That’s what you’re best at.  I’m just I got a chance to be wrecked too,” she says, unabashedly.  “I’m gonna think about that when I touch myself for years, you have no idea.”
“Then my work here is done.”
>You give Minuette a final kiss on the forehead, then stand up from the bed
>She scoots back towards Moondancer, and lets the other girl rest her head on her chest
>You nod to them both
“You two are pretty good together.”
>”Heh, thanks.  If you’re ever around the Empire again and want to join in, we’re pretty open-minded,” she says with a wink
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
>Then you throw your arm around Lightning’s shoulders, and the two of you head off

>For the first time in your life, you get a chance to see more of Equestria than the narrow, cold corner you grew up in
>As you and Lightning head further south, and the mountains of the Frozen North recede in the distance, and the pine trees are replaced with sturdy oaks that overlook a soft, green countryside crisscrossed by babbling brooks
>The read between the two cities is well traveled, and you find yourself walking over stone bridges and stopping at high-class inns, where the straw mattresses groan under the two of you as you work off the stress of a long day of walking
>After a week of travel, you finally find yourselves at the base of Canterlot Mountain, a majestic peak of bluish-gray that stretches up into the clouds
>The city is carved from and built into the side of the mountain, and its many spires and bridges glitter in the morning light
>You’re not particularly religious, but the sense that you’re staring up at the home of the princesses themselves fills you with a tiny bit of excitement
>This feels like the last place a savage like you should end up, but here you are
>As you and Lightning start your way up the curving mountain road, you find yourself standing up a little straighter, feeling a tiny bit impressive as you stroll past the high-society merchant types that form a group around you

>When you finally reach the lower levels of the city, it’s already late evening
>The merchants around you all came atop horses or in carts, and cast dirty glares at the two filthy, underdressed women wandering in beside them
>Even their attitude can’t ruin your spirits, though
>You stroll on into Canterlot, with Lightning close behind
>All around you, buildings carved from alabaster stone sit in neat little rows, with thin, polite streams of traffic between them
>It’s definitely different than the hustle and bustle of the Crystal Empire
>Hard to believe a place like this even has any sort of seedy underground
>Speaking of…
“So?  Where’re we headed?”
>”To an inn,” Lightning grumbles.  “I’m tired, I’m hungry, and my feet hurt.”
>You roll your eyes
“You’re such a baby.”
>”Sorry, I didn’t spend my childhood wandering around the middle of nowhere,” she says with dripping sarcasm
“You made the wrong decision, clearly.”
>To tell the truth, you’re a little beat up too
>You glance around the nearby streets, unable to tell what anything is, it all looks ultra-fancy and totally boring
“You know this city, right?”
>”A bit.”
“Find us somewhere cheap, and I’ll pay.”
>Lightning lets out a sigh of relief
>”I’m on it!  Now let me see…”

>It takes almost an hour to find the place she’s talking about
>As it turns out, there are sub-sections of Canterlot buried inside the mountain itself
>And *these* are where Lightning’s type hang out; it’s dark, and the narrow streets are lit with flickering torches, leaving plenty of pooled shadow between buildings for all sorts of shady business to go down
>Along one of these streets, Lightning takes you to a squat building of gray-black marble
>It doesn’t look like much, but inside you find yourself facing a raucous nighttime celebration
>Weary guards, mercenaries, and thieves drink and carouse at wooden tables, all of which are bussed by a busty, bubbly barmaid with curly pink hair who giggles and tells bad jokes at every table she serves
>In the far corner of the inn, several shady figures huddle and chat, with their faces covered by hoods
>In the center of the place, something between a dance and a brawl is going down, all set to the frantic jig music strummed by a goggles-wearing bard in the corner
>You elbow Lightning in the ribs
“I like this place.  You did good.”
>She smiles
>”If there’s anything I know, it’s where to find a good time.”
“And I’m pretty good at having one.”
>You absentmindedly grab Lightning by the hand and pull her towards the party
>There’s so much going on that it’s hard to tell where to start

>…yeah, right
>You head right for the barmaid, hand already fishing gold out of your backpack
>She turns around as she hears you coming, and hits you with this bright, sugary grin
>”Hiya!  Haven’t seen you around here before.  You must be new.  My name’s Pinkie!  I run the place.  Or, well, Mrs. Cake runs the place, but I keep everything fun!”
>She skips over to you, her chest bouncing beneath a strained blouse
>You try not to stare, but end up staring anyway
>If Pinkie notices, she clearly doesn’t care, and cozies up next to you
>She runs a finger along your abdomen, whistling
>”Ooooh, muscles!  You must be in pretty high demand, huh?  In more ways than one,” she says with a wink
>You gawk at her, finding it impossible to keep up
>Lightning, meanwhile, is staring daggers of jealousy into the barmaid
“I get around.”
>”What a coincidence, me to!  So how about you let *me* get *you* a round, eh?  Eh?  Geddit?”
>Your mouth stretches into a grin
“Now we’re talking!  One for my friend here, too!”
>You throw an arm around Lightning’s shoulders, and she huddles possessively against your side
>”You got it!  Just gonna need a quick deposit first, okay?”
>She giggles, then pulls her blouse down just enough to reveal her ample cleavage
>You shove a fistful of gold between her jugs and she skips off behind the bar; [-5 gold]
>”I don’t like her.”
“Relax you,” you say, tussling the girl’s hair
>”That kinda happy-go-lucky stuff skeaves me out.”
“You’re jealous.”
>”…not I’m not.”
>You pat Lightning’s back, almost hard enough to knock her over
>She scowls
“I’m not gonna run off and fuck the barmaid.  But if I do, you’ll be invited,” you say with a wink
>Lightning drops her eyes to the floor, blushing
>”Just get me something to drink.”
“Taken care of.”

>It takes barely two minutes for the barmaid to show up with foaming flagons of mead for you and Lightning
>”Drink up, ladies!” Pinkie cries out, then slams her own mug against yours
>Both of you drink long and deep, and the sugary warmth of the mead immediately rushes through your body
“Hell yeah!  I feel fucking awesome!”
>”That’s what I wanna hear!” Pinkie cheers
>She chugs the entirety of her mug, then slams it onto a table with a gasp of delight
>”Man, that stuff is good!”
“You’re telling me!  C’mon, Lightning, drink up.”
>Lightning is still scowling, hardly having touched hers
>”I’m good.”
“C’mon, get the giant knife-hilt out of your ass and let’s party!”
>You grab her mug and practically force-feed the contents to her
>When you do, though, she almost immediately starts blushing
>”Whoa… that *is* good.”
>She teeters a bit, then leans heavily on you for support
>”You got me, right?”
“I gotcha.”
>”Good.  You stay *right* with me, or I swear I’m gonna fuckin’ stab you.  I stabbed tons of people before!  You ain’t shit!”
“Try it!  I’ll suplex your skinny ass.”
>”Princesses, please… give it to me, you big savage…”
“Maybe I will.”
>You kill the contents of your mug, then wrap Lightning in a hug
>”Kiss!  Kiss!  Kiss!  Kiss!” you hear Pinkie chanting behind you
>You cup Lightning’s face and start loudly smooching her
>A round of cheers go up through the tavern
>”Oh man, you two are the best!” Pinkie cheers, clapping you on the back.  “Next round is on me.  Y’know what, the whole rest of your night is on me!  Drink up and let’s paaaarty!”

>Mead flows long into the night, and after about a dozen or so tankards worth, your head is starting to really spin
>The bard keeps the music jumping the entire night, showing almost inhuman amounts of endurance as she drops jig after jig, her hands never seeming to wear out
>You and Lightning eventually get to the point where it’s hard to stand, and you end sprawled out on top of a table with her snuggled under one arm
>Pinkie plunks down next to you just as the party is starting to wind down a bit
>”Y’know…” she says with a loud hiccup.  “It’s cool, badass chicks like you two that make the whoooole job worth it.  You girls are the best kinda guests!”
“Hell yeah!  You run one hell of a tavern.  Definitely coming back here.”
>”Awesome!”
>You try to fistbump Pinkie, but end up lightly sucker-punching her left breast instead
>She laughs way too hard at that, nearly falling off the table as she staggers drunkenly
>”You should tell her about how badass we really are, G…” Lightning says, her voice slurred with drink.  “Tell her ‘bout the sorceress!”
>”Sorceress!?” Pinkie asks.  “That’s crazy cool!  Did she curse you?”
“Damn right she did.  Check it out.”
>You show her the pale scar that winds down your right arm, flexing the muscles a little to make it bulge out
>”Whoooooa.”
>Pinkie’s already blushing hard from the booze, but her face positively shines as she drinks in the sight of you
>”Girl, you are hooooooot.”
“I know.”
>You casually flex a little more, then stretch out on the table
>Pinkie licks her lips
>At your side, you feel Lightning protectively squeeze herself closer against you
>”Back off, you thot-goblin.  She’s mine!” she snarls
>Pinkie snorts with laughter
>”I’m not gonna take her from ya!  I’m just saying, if you brave warriors wanna share a little treat together…”
>Pinkie sits up and runs a hand down her own body, grabbing a fistful of her own ample ass, itself barely concealed by her short-cut skirt
>”…there’s plenty of me to go around.”
>Lightning gulps
>”She makes a good argument…” she mumbles into your ear
“Got that right…”
>Pinkie trails her hand along your thigh, wriggling her eyebrows
>”So?  What’s it gonna be?  As if I don’t already know,” she says with a giggle-snort
>Then she bends in
>”The room’s the first on the right.”
“All I need to know.”
>You kick your legs and jump up from the table
>Then you grab Lightning under one arm and sling her over your shoulder
>A tiny, shuddering gasp of pleasure escapes her lips
>”Dear Celestia, yes…” she moans
>Then you grab Pinkie in your other arm, and she giggles and kicks her legs, pretending to struggle
>”Oh no!  I’ve been captured!  I’m so weak and helpless!  Now you can do whateeeeeeever you want with me, aaaah…”
>Most of the tavern is staring at you, but you don’t particularly care
>Lightning is already rubbing her thighs as you carry both girls up the stairs into Pinkie’s room

>It turns out that the inn is much larger than you thought
>The stairs stretch almost a hundred feet, and then you have to trek down a seemingly endless hallway, all while carrying to insatiably horny girls
>By the time you get to Pinkie’s bedroom door, you’re actually starting to feel a little drained; your arms are heavy, and the booze is making your entire body buzz
>The door opens with a single kick, and you find yourself in a small, cozy bedroom
>In one corner lies a full-size bed, covered in bright pink sheets
>You toss Pinkie on first, and she bounces onto the bed with a squeal of delight
>”You’re crazy strong!  I love it!”
“Just wait.”
>You toss Lightning onto the bed after Pinkie
>She lands much more gracefully, then rolls onto her side, facing you
>”So?  What’re you gonna do with us?” Lightning asks with a coy grin
>You shrug
“Nothing.  Not until you two get me back in the mood.”
>”W-what?” Lightning asks.  “That’s not fair!  You carried us up here!”
“Yeah, and now I’m tired.  Fuckin’ both of you would be a lotta work.  I could just masturbate and then go to sleep.”
>Pinkie sits up
>”Masturbate and sleep?  That’s no fun at all!  You got me all hot and bothered for nothing.”
>Again, you just shrug
“Then make me want you.”
>Pinkie just balks for a second
>Then a sly grin spreads across her face
>She drops onto all fours, turning so that her ass is facing you
>”How can you possible say no to a booty this?  Just look at it!”
>She shakes her hips, and the plump mounds of her buttocks jiggle in response beneath her skirt
>”C’mon, I took the night off and everything!  Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me!” Pinkie squeals.
>Lightning rolls her eyes
>”She’s just being coy.  Don’t play her games.”
“Yeah, she’s right.  Don’t play.  I’m gonna hit the hay.”
>You turn around, grinning slightly to yourself as you head for the door
>Lightning calls out after you
>”H-hey!  Get back here!”
>You pause, then turn
>She yanks down her leggings, revealing her own perky rear, along with the soaking gash between her legs
>Then she hoists up Pinkie’s skirt, letting you see that the barmaid’s pink-striped panties
>Lightning presses her ass against Pinkie’s
>”You want this, right?  How does this not get you going!?”
“I need a little more.”
>”Anything.  Seriously, anything.  Just pleeeeeease give it to me.  Princesses, I need you so bad…”
>”I’m ready and willing,” Pinkie chimes in.  “What do you want, *mistress?*”
>Fuck, your one weakness
>You pretend to look disinterred
“Kiss a little.  Let me watch.”
>Lightning drops to all fours next to Pinkie, and both girls press their mouths together in a sloppy kiss
>They pull apart just long enough to let you watch their tongues swirl together
“Pinkie.”
>”Yes, ma’am!”
“Spank Lightning.  Make it hurt.”
>”Aye aye!”
>”W-w-wait!” Lightning starts to protest, but her voice quickly breaks in a squeal of pleasure as Pinkie’s hand connects with her petite buttocks
>A sharp *smack* resounds through the air, and Lightning buries her face in the mattress
>”Fuck me, that was good…” she mumbles
>Pinkie winks at you, then lays into Lightning’s ass with a series of smacks, each leaving a bright-red imprint on Lightning’s pale skin
>You nod
“I think I’m ready to take over.  On your knees.”
>”Oooh, can do~”
>Pinkie bends over next to Lightning
>You practically leap onto the bed, and raise your right hand
>The rage that’s been steadily coiled inside you for the past week of inactivity explodes out, and your hand slams into Pinkie’s ass with the force of a thunderclap
>Lightning chuckles at the other girl’s cry of pain, then bites her tongue when she feels your backhand
>Her eyes tear up in mixed agony and pleasure, and a mini torrent of fluids run down her inner thighs
>”More…” is all she manages to choke out
>”Ditto on that…” Pinkie moans, wiggling her hips
“Tell you what,” you say, cracking your knuckles.  “Whichever one of you lasts longest gets to cum.”
>”S-seriously?”
>”Ha, you’re on!” Pinkie cries out
>”But I already— ah!”
>Lightning starts to protest, but you reward her with a quick smack
>She shudders in pleasure, all complaints ceased
>”Just don’t stop doing that… I don’t care how much I beg… don’t stop,” she whimpers
“Got it.”
>You hit her again, just for good measure
>”W-wait, hold on!  You were supposed to—“
>You lay a truly vicious smack across both buttocks, and she drops onto the bed, twitching
>”Mother of… Celestia… I think I already c-came…”
>Pinkie frowns
>”So does… that mean I win?”
“Sure does.  Here’s your prize.”
>You grab a fistful of Pinkie’s hair and yank, making her arch her back
>”Yes!  Yesyesyesyesyesyes!”
>She shoves her ass against your hand, and you literally tear her panties off with the force of your next smack
>Her thighs quiver in response
>”Wow, you’re good at that,” she says with a gasp of pain
“I know.”
>You toss her onto the bed just as Lightning Dust is starting to regain consciousness
>She sits up, looking groggy, and you point towards Pinkie
“She won.  Now she needs her prize.”
>Lightning winks
>”Oh, I gotta prize for her.”
>Lightning sits her beaten-red ass right on top of Pinkie’s face, biting her own lip as she does so
>Pinkie doesn’t complain, and Lightning begins drooling pleasure as Pinkie slurps greedily at her nether regions
>You, meanwhile, strip down your bare skin, then unleash a little Thigh Kwon Do on the barmaid
>You legs lock with Pinkie’s large, but far squishier thighs
>Pinkie writhes beneath you, her gasps of pleasure muffled by Lightning’s ass
>She still manages to give you a thumbs-up, though
>Her legs hold you in place as you trib her, and her soft curves jiggle along her body as she undulates in pleasure
>The haze of rage and booze begin to overtake your body, and Pinkie and Lightning’s moans urge you to ram yourself harder and harder into her, until you’re aware of nothing but the velvety heat of Pinkie’s skin and the overwhelming warmth flooding your body
>There’s no telling how long you fucked her, or how many times any of the three of you came
>But eventually, you all found yourself passed out, piled in a heap atop Pinkie’s bed

>The next morning, you’re the first one to wake up
>You’re sprawled butt-naked atop the mattress, with Lightning resting on one arm and Pinkie on the other
>The room is, surprisingly, not that cold
>Your head is bleary from a hangover, and it takes a minute for your eyes to adjust to the low light of the room
>In the corner of the bedroom, an unfamiliar woman is seated cross-legged in front of a lit iron furnace
>She’s stocky, a lot shorter than you but nearly as muscular, and she’s dressed in the simple garb of a wandering monk
>Her hair is purple and cropped in a simple bob, and she gazes into the fire in a deep, meditative trance

>You rub your aching head, trying to remember back to last night
>Everything is a bit of a blur, but you’re pretty sure a random monk didn’t ever join your threesome
“Hey,” you croak out
>The woman doesn’t even look over at you
>She just keeps staring into the stove, her body appearing almost to be carved from stone
“Hey,” you repeat, a little louder this time.  “I think you got the wrong room.”
>The monk still doesn’t look at you, but she does finally speak up
>”I have the correct room.”
“Uh…”
>You gesture to Lightning and Pinkie
“Look, if you’re some kinda weirdo who wanted to watch, I don’t really give a shit.  But you should probably scram before Pinkie wakes up.”
>The monk gives you a brief, unconcerned glance
>”My sister won’t wake for another three hours, at least.  I have time.”
“Sister?”
>You glance between the bubbly, soft-bodied Pinkie and this stone-faced monk
>They look about as unalike as any two people can
“For real?”
>”I’d have no reason to lie about that.”
“Yeah, but… whatever.  What are you doing in Pinkie’s room?”
>”It’s my room too.  I’ve asked her not to have sex on our bed, but she seems to forget that request when she drinks.”
“Huh.  Yeah, I’d say she forgot it pretty hard.”
>You look down at the still-visible stains the three of you left on the bedsheets
“Sorry about that, I guess.”
>”It doesn’t bother me.  I will weather the annoyance, as I do all things.”
“Gotcha.”
>You stretch and then stand up from the bed
“So who are you, exactly?”
>”Maud Pie.  Pinkie’s sister.  Disciple of the Igneous Clan.”
>She turns to watch you as you start to pull your clothes back on, moving slowly due to the hangover wracking your body
>”And you?”
“Gilda.  Wandering warrior.  And absolute fucking player, I guess.”
>”Your sexual prowess is clearly to be commended.”
“You don’t sound too impressed.”
>”Bedding my sister is not a feat.”
“Oof.  Harsh.”
>”It’s only an observation.  Giving of herself is part of Pinkie’s nature.”
>Maud’s eyes drift down to your body, then back up to your face
>”But I’m not interested in your sexual exploits.  You look like a capable warrior.  I heard what you told my sister last night.  You survived a blood-magic curse and killed its caster.  That’s reasonably impressive.”
“Eh, yeah?  I aim to please.”
>”Please don’t patronize me,” Maud replies, her demeanor cold; all your barbarian charm doesn’t seem to do a thing against her.  “I may have someone who’d like to meet you.”
“Who would that be?”
>”A very good associate of mine.  I hesitate to call her a friend.  She’s the head of a great and very powerful association, and needs cunning and potentially disposable fighters.”
“Disposable, eh?”
>”Unfortunately.  You’d be very large, very volatile cannon fodder.”
“Huh.  I can live with that, if the pay’s good.  Where can I meet this friend of yours?”
>”She isn’t hard to find.  Tonight, she’ll be performing in a club called The Untamed Unicorn.  It’s in lower Canterlot.  And it’s not a very nice place.  But you’ll find her there.”
“What’s she look like?”
>”You’ll know her when you see her.”
“That’s vague.”
>”I know.  Making it too easy would remove all the fun.”
>Maud returns to her meditation, leaving you to think

>Eventually, she wanders back out of the room, leaving you to rest between Lightning and Pinkie’s sleeping forms
>Gradually, both of them wake up
>Pinkie immediately skips downstairs to get back to work, pulling on her barmaid outfit as she does so
>You and Lightning lay around with each other for a while, but eventually even you two have to head out
>After a quick bite of food, you head out to explore Canterlot
>As you walk through the city, you fill her in on what Maud told you
>”That’s her, alright.”
>Lightning sighs
>”I remember that club.  Used to watch her perform.  It was…”
“It was a lot.  I getcha.”
>You pat her on the back
”We’re gonna find her, and you’re gonna confess.”
>”Right.  Gonna confess.  Ack.”
>Lightning gulps, already nervous
>”I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
“It’s not the worst thing I’ve talked you into.”
>Lightning blushes
>”You’re not wrong.”
>Eager to change the topic, she leads you out of mountain interior and into the bright outdoor streets of Canterlot
>”So?  We’ve got all day.  What should we do?”

“Hmm.  I still got about 70 gold I could stand to get rid of.  There’s gotta be a decent shop or two around here, right?”
>”There’s a couple.  Why, you look for an even bigger, sharper axe?”
“Nah.  This girl’s big enough.  For now,” you say, patting your weapon’s hilt
>”A change of clothes, then?  I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear anything but that one set of armor.”
“Don’t need anything else.  And I was gonna get something for you, you big dipshit.  But now I’m not so sure.”
>Immediately, Lightning’s signature smirk disappears from her face
>”F-for me?  Why?”
“Why not?  I got everything I need.  And you could probably use some new clothes too.  Don’t think I’ve seen you wear anything else either, you smartass.”
>Lightning blushes
>”We’ve been on the road all week.”
“Mhm.”
>You head off in a random direction and Lightning follows close behind
>”You were really going to go shopping for me?”
“I was going to.”
>She hangs her head
>”I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to be such a jerk about it.  I didn’t think… that’s really nice of you to…”
“Hah!  Relax, you!  It’s not that big of a deal!”
>You sling your arm around Lightning’s shoulders
“I was just messing with you.  Nothing to cry over.  Besides, if you weren’t acting like your smug self, I’d start getting worried.”
>”O-okay.”
>Lightning gives you a shaky smile
>”There’s, um… there’s an Adventurer’s Goods shop just a few blocks down that way…”

>She leads you down towards one of the terraced edges of the city, where the expanse of Equestria is plainly visible just beyond the marble walls of Canterlot
>The sheer height of the place is enough to make even you feel a little shaky, but Lightning quickly pulls you inside a building
>As it turns out, all Adventurer’s Goods stores are exactly the same, no matter what city you’re in
>That’s a little comforting, you suppose
>Full sets of armor hang from one wall, with racks of weapons on the other
>They range from battered, secondhand pieces with rusty edges and tattered leather to top-of-the-line, brightly polished works of metal, some even inlaid with gemstones
>You don’t have time for any of that, and so you head over to the armor racks and scan them
>The heavier, plate-based stuff is obviously a no-go for Lightning
>Her skinny body would crumble in all that metal
>But there’s plenty of leather which, even for the well-crafted stuff, isn’t too expensive
>You point towards a particularly fine suit of reddish leather, designed to be form-fitting and fitted with metal studs to help deflect attack
“Think that’ll fit?”
>She looks it over, her eyes shimmering with excitement
>”It’ll be a little tight, but… yeah.  It should.”
>She somewhat awkwardly places her hand against your arm
>”Thanks, G.  For real.  This is… this is really nice.”
“It’s nothing.  I don’t want you getting wasted if a fight breaks out tonight.”
>”I can handle myself.”
“Sure you can.  But I doubt you’re gonna handle a knife to the chest.”
>You thump 45 gold down on the counter, and the shopkeeper piles the armor’s pieces together in a bag and hands them to Lightning
>Lightning hugs the bag against her chest
>”You didn’t handle it that well either,” she says, gesturing to some of the visible scars on your abdomen
“Maybe not.  But I’m still alive.  And I want you to stay alive too.”
>”…that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Oof.  I must be going soft.”
>You pat Lightning’s back
“For the record, the only *real* reason I’m buying this for you is because your ass will look damn good in leather.”
>”S-shut it,” Lightning says, clearly flattered

>You make a few more rounds around the store, and buy a pair of bracers and some shoulder pads for yourself [-10 gold]
>They aren’t too much in the way of armor, but they’ll make it easier to take shots on your arms without absolutely destroying them
>Lightning changes into the new set of armor
>And boy, were you right
>Her lithe, athletic figure was made for this suit, and her booty strains against the leather as she walks ahead of you, leading you to the Untamed Unicorn
>When you reach the club, she stops right outside the doors, tapping her foot in annoyance
>”I can feel you staring at me.”
“Good.  Means you’re worth staring at.”
>You give her butt what you would consider a tiny pat
>The force of it sends her stumbling, and she scowls at you when you laugh
>”C’mon, take this seriously.  This place is dangerous.”
“So are we.  You look good, Lightning.  Just go in, finally admit to this girl how you feel, and we’ll see about getting ourselves some work.”
>”That’s… that’s the thing.  I don’t know if there’s anything to admit anymore.  Now that I, and you… it’s complicated.”
“Then let’s simplify things a bit.”
>You push the doors to the Untamed Unicorn open
>Inside, the club is far different than its posh, white-marble exterior would have you believe
>Chandeliers of blue and purple light hang from the ceiling, and all manor of shady, figures dressed in strange, multicolored robes cavort about beneath their light, dancing to strange, erratic music
>Occasionally, somewhere around the room, a random person will cast a bit of drunken magic, which usually results in a puff of light and some acrid smoke
There’s a bar, but it seems to be serving multicolored liquid in flasks instead of regular beer
>Multiple altar-shaped tables are set up around the room, most surrounded by shady figures huddled together in whispered conversation
>”Guess this is what mages do for fun?” you whisper to Lightning
>She nods
>”They’re a weird bunch.  Don’t draw too much attention to yourself.  They get weird about non-magical types hanging out here.”
“Think it’s already too late for that.”
>You gesture to several mages who are already staring at you
>Lightning’s eyes fall on one, who’s dressed in complex, three-layer robes, and she gulps
>”T-that’s Princess Twilight’s personal student.  What’s she doing here?”
“Minding her own business, hopefully,” you say, then stroll inside

>The mage that Lightning seemed so scared of tracks you with your eyes as you stroll casually inside, stopping first at the bar
>Behind the counter, a hopelessly drunk woman dressed in sloppy robes leers back at you, her face almost as rosy as her hair
>”What ’n I get for you?”
>You’re acutely aware of the Princess’s student still staring at your back
“Lightning,” you whisper to your companion.  “What’s a fancy drink?”
>”Unicorn blood martini,” she whispers back.  “This place is famous for it.”
“Perfect.”
>You repeat the order, and tack on a few extra, stupid requests to make it sound sophisticated
“Unicorn blood.  Shaved ice only.  Stir it, uh, three times.  Counterclockwise.  And make it quick.”
>You add a bit of an intimidating edge to your voice at the end
>The barkeep doesn’t seem particularly spooked
>She mixes a drink exactly to your specifications, her hands surprisingly nimble with the glass bottles despite her obvious intoxication
>You take it from her with a nod, then drop five of your last few gold pieces on the counter
>Lightning buys herself a simple glass of wine, then the two of you turn to face the mystery mage
>She’s still watching you with a tiny smile on her lips, like she knows something you don’t
>”Looks like she wants something from us.”
“Yeah?”
>You grin at Lightning
“Then let’s give it to her, eh?  Just watch.”
>You stride towards the mage’s table, with Lightning close behind you
>”Be careful,” she says prodding your arm
“Please.  There isn’t a woman alive who can resist my charms.”
>You plunk down into a seat at the mage’s table, casually setting your drink down in front of her
>The mage herself sits across from you, and she crosses her legs as she regards you
“Noticed you staring.”
>”I sure was,” she says, in a surprisingly friendly, gentle voice.  “Along with half the bar.  What brought you over here?”
“My friend here tells me you’re a pretty big deal around here.  Princess’s own student?”
>The mage chuckles, a little embarrassed
>”That’s me.  The name’s Starlight Glimmer.  To be honest, I didn’t think my reputation had gotten that far ahead of me.  It makes me a little nervous.”
>A faint pink flush colors her cheeks, and she rubs her nose with the back of her hand, looking a little self-conscious
>Holy shit, she’s cute
>You stretch out on your side of the table, resting one arm on the chair next to you and the other on Lightning’s shoulders
“It should.  Reputations attract dangerous people.”
>”Oh?  Like yourself?”
“Maybe,” you say with a wink
>Starlight’s smile widens
>”You’re so bold.”
“It’s why I’m still alive.”
>Both of you take a sip of your cocktails; Starlight’s eyes rest heavily on you, trailing up and then down your body
>”Oooh, I like that.  Won’t you let me know who you are?”
“Gilda.”
>”Nice, nice.  I’m very glad to have met you, Gilda.  All I get are the same boring, stuffy scholar types around here.  You though… you look like you could bench-press the entire crowd, plus a few extra.  Seeing you is really an *enticing* change of pace.”
“Heh, I mean…”
>You actually don’t know what to say to that
>Starlight holds up one hand, her palm held towards the ceiling
>A vague, tingling sensation begins to spread across your lap
>”I absolutely adore strong women.  I really do…”
>She curls her index finger, which is surrounded by a glowing velvet aura
>Your entire body clenches as a sudden, electrifying current runs through you, starting between your thighs and radiating outwards in pulsating waves until it reaches your fingers and the tips of your toes
>”But strength isn’t everything, around here.  You need to stay in control of yourself…” she says with a wink
>Her finger twitches again, and another electric wave of pleasure rolls through you
>You clench your teeth, barely stopping a moan from escaping your lips, and a shudder runs through your body
>”I like you a lot, Gilda.  And I want to keep you safe.  You should start by telling me why you’re here.”

>You grit your teeth, returning Starlight’s grin
>Does she seriously think you’re going to crumble just because she magically stroked your pussy?
>After the number of times you’ve been stabbed, blasted by magic, nearly crushed, this is the last thing that’ll make you—
>Starlight’s fingers twitch, making you gasp
>Lightning looks over, concerned
>”G?  You okay?”
“Fine…” you mutter
>A bead of sweat rolls down your face, and you fight to keep your face steady
>”It’s just a simple question.  What’s your business here?”
>Starlight places her hand on the table, gently stroking the grain of the wood
>You can feel every stroke, each one impossibly gentle and electrifying, along your soaked, sensitive lips
“We’re passing t-through,” you say
>Your voice cracks slightly, and Starlight giggles
>”Nobody just passes through Canterlot.  I promise, I’m not gonna hurt you.  Just want to make sure me and my friends are safe, that’s all.”
“Course you’re safe.  We’re just here to relax.”
>”Oh?  Well, go ahead.  Let yourself relax.”
>She starts twirling her index finger in little circles around a nub of wood
>And you feel it
>Your thighs involuntarily clench up, and a low, lusty moan escapes your lips
>Lightning’s eyes go wide
“Fuck…”
>You slam your hand onto the table, your fist clenching it so hard the wood cracks
>A shudder wracks your body, followed by another
>Desperately, you will yourself not to cum, not yet
>But it’s so close…
“That’s a dirty trick,” you grumble.  “Bet you can’t get laid at all… *a-ah, fuck~* without this underhanded… unf… bullshit…”
>Your chest is heaving now
>“You’d be surprised,” Starlight says with a wink.  “Stay until after the show, and I’ll show you what I can do without magic.”
“You’re… on…”
>”So, now will you tell me what you’re doing here?  I’d hate to have to embarrass you in front of the whole bar.  But, y’know, I will.”
>You grip the table with both hands, and stare her dead in the eyes
“Fuck you, bitch.  Make me cum.”
>Starlight giggles, and snaps her fingers
>”No.”
>Suddenly, the wonderful stroking ceases, leaving you dripping wet and half out of your mind with desire
“Huh?” you ask, your brain trying to readjust to the sudden absence of pleasure
>Starlight gives you the smuggest grin you’ve ever seen on a human being, then stands up from the table
>”I think I’m going to get a seat for the show tonight.  See you around,” she says, then heads off towards the back of the club
>You drop your head onto the table, panting heavily
>Lightning tries not to laugh as she pats you on the back
>”So now you know what that feels like.  It sucks, huh?”
“I’m gonna kill her.”
>”Chill out.  She’s just trying to get you riled up.  Tangling with her is just gonna get you in a lotta trouble.”
>You chug your entire martini in one gulp, your hole body feeling tense, begging you for release
>Lightning pats your arm
>”Besides, if you *really* wanna get off, I’m right here…”

>You turn slowly, and your grimace morphs into a predatory smile as your eyes fall on Lightning’s nubile, leather-clad curves
“That’s right…” you say, licking your lips as you do
>Lightning grins, blushing slightly under your gaze
>She wriggles in anticipation
>”How about we go somewhere private, and— gah!”
>Lightning yelps as you pick her up and throw her on top of the table
>”W-what are you doing?” she sputters
“I don’t feel like waiting.  And this place sucks anyway.  Let’s make it a bit more interesting.”
>You clamber on top of Lightning, your massive form pressing her slender body the table’s stone surface
>She gasps, and you can feel a shudder of mixed fear and delight course through her
>”You’re gonna get us into so much trouble, you idiot…” she says
“I know.  And I don’t really care.  Now put that mouth to some good use.”
>You hike your combat-skirt up around your waist and move until you’re straddling Lightning’s face
>She licks her lips just as your thighs close around your head
>When you lower your soaking, desperate crotch onto her face, you’re met immediately by the hot, wet thrashing of her tongue
“Princess, how are you always so desperate…” you grunt out
>Lightning, of course, isn’t exactly able to respond
>You grip the sides of the table, your whole body shuddering as relief *finally* floods through your body
>Waves of warmth cascade down your back, and then spill out in torrents of fluid that smother Lightning’s eager face
>Her body spasms as she fights to get air into her lungs and continue pleasuring you at the same time
>Your eyelids flutter as another waves hits you, and you press your hips into Lightning’s face, making her writhe in delightful terror beneath you
>”By the princesses, what are you two doing!?”
>One of the clubgoers, a raven-haired young woman dressed in tattered robes laden with skull ornaments, points an accusing finger at you and Lightning
“What does it… f-fuck… look like?” you shoot back, sweat rolling down your face as you grin at him.  “Mind your own… ~ah~… business, you cobweb-cunt
>The necromancer girl recoils, clutching a hand against her chest
>All around her, more robed figures turn to stare at the sight
>Some make horrified grimaces
>Others just raise their glasses to you, as if to say *nice*, and sit back to enjoy the show
>The unhappy mages, unfortunately, begin to form a circle around you and Lightning
>”Cease this at once!” the necromancer cries.  “Or we’ll be forced to call the royal guard!”
“Cool.  They can take over… (“H-holy fuck, you’re good at that,” you whisper to the rogue beneath you)… when she’s done,” you respond, patting Lightning’s head
>The necromancer balks at that
>”You… you’re filth!  Filth like you doesn’t belong at such an esteemed establishment.”
“Then make me leave.”
>Beneath you, Lightning’s ministrations slow, and the room falls completely still
>The necromancer girl is the first to snap
>”Alright then, I will!” she cries
>She crosses her hands in front of her chest, with one of her skull ornaments wound between her fingers
>”By the defiling magic of the Dark King Sombra, I bid the dead to rise!  You will know sleep once more when my foe is dead!”
>Suddenly, the ground begins to rumble
>Like, really, really rumble
>The vibrations send you over the edge one last time, and your eyes roll up in your head as you give Lightning one final, thigh-clenching, face-drenching orgasm to taste
>As you cum, though, you’re treated to the sigh of five skeleton warriors digging themselves up through the ground around your and Lightning’s tables
>Each warrior is dressed in ancient, rusty armor, and the eye-hollows of their skulls glow with a violet flame
>They carry weapons that, while rusted an ancient, still look plenty sharp
>”Kill them!” the necromancer cries, pointing towards you and Lightning
>Behind her, several other pissed-off magic users assemble, their hands glowing as they prepare combat spells

>The first skeleton lunges at you, swinging a rusty scimitar right towards your head
>You duck, then jump off the table, leaving Lightning gasping for air on top of it
>Her face is dripping wet and plastered with your fluids, and she yelps in fear when she sees the undead bearing down on her
>You grab the rogue and put yourself in front of her, your arms raised in defense
"Sorry, Dust.  I'll get you back later.  Promise."
>"T-take your time..." Lightning gasps out, still trying to catch her breath
>The skeletons advance towards you, pressing you and Lightning into the corner of the room
>A single one of the dead warriors steps forward and stabs toward you with a rusty spear
>You block the shot with your arm, and it leaves a stinging scratch [-3 HP]
>In return, you grab the nearest barstool and swing it like a club into the skeleton's head
>Its cranium shatters, and it staggers backwards as the rest of its body begins to fall apart
>The rest of the skeletons split up, trying to surround you
"Dust!  Make yourself useful!"
>"I'm working on it!"
>Suddenly, you feel nimble feet on your back as Lightning leaps over you, using your shoulders as a springboard
>She lands behind the skeletons and drops to her knees, dealing nimble, bare-handed blows to the backs of their legs
>Her strikes aren't particularly powerful, but they make up for their lack of strength with precision
>Each one sends cracks down the leg-bones of the skeletal warriors, and their arms pinwheel cartoonishly as they try to stay standing
>With your enemies thrown off balance, you take advantage of the opportunity to charge in, smashing two more skeletons' skulls in with a single swing of the barstool
>The two remaining warriors regain their balance, and the one wielding a scimitar slash's through Lightning's side
>She hisses in pain, then rolls behind you
>Just as you're about to destroy the last two enemies, though, a bolt of magic streaks towards you and Lightning
>You spread your arms, protecting the girl behind you and letting the bolt explode in a shower of crackling blue stars against your chest [-6 HP]
>The remaining two skeletons charge towards you, but you overturn the nearest table, crushing both of them underneath it
>The necromancer begins to retreat, muttering spells beneath her breath
>”As the dark roots spread beneath the cursed Everfree, may those who cling feebly to the promise of life be ensnared!” she chants, extending her hands toward you
>From the ground, thick black vines erupt and coil around your arms and legs, holding you in place
“Lightning!”
>”On it!”
>She vaults off of you again, then nimbly jumps from table to table as she darts towards the necromancer
>The enemy mages fire spells at her, but she easily evades them
>When she reaches the necromancer, she draws one of her twin blades and slashes at the woman’s arm, dealing no damage but cutting off one of her skull charms
>She recoils from the streak and her spell falters
>The vines weaken, and you tear your limps free of them and charge towards the rest of the enemy mages, unsheathing your axe as you prepare to turn this whole ordeal into a bloodbath…

>”HALT!”
>That single word reverberates through the bar like a cannonshot
>Against your will, you find yourself suddenly slowing to a standstill, along with the mages you were about to murder
>Everyone turns, dazed, to stare at the figure striding into the bar
>There, silhouetted in the sunlight streaming through the open door, stands a woman in glowing plate armor, colored in alternating shades of purple and gold
>Her hair is a rich navy blue, shot through with streaks of turquoise, and it billows around a stern, but beautiful face
>Several other knights flank her, but the woman in front is, unmistakably, their captain
>She’s also the first person you’ve met since leaving Yakyakistan that you don’t think you could take in a one-on-one fight
>Beneath her armor, her muscled, perfectly-balanced figure is evident, and she holds her lance with the confidence of someone who’s held a weapon as long as they’ve been able to stand
>”What…” she asks in a voice as commanding yet gorgeous as she looks, “…is the meaning of all of this?  Dark magic?  Bloodshed?  I knew you all could be wild, but this is…”
>She’s interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps as Starlight glimmer runs into the room
>She takes a glance towards you and Lightning, standing huddled in the corner and dripping blood, then at the mages cornering you with combat spells still glowing on their fingertips
>You smile to yourself
>Not hard to see who was the aggressor here
>”What… what’s going on here?” she says, clearly shaken
>She looks to her fellow mages first, then to you
>The captain of the guard follows her gaze as well, and both women look to you to answer first

>You wink at Starlight, and mouth the word “payback”
>Then you turn to the captain and tell her everything that happened in the last five minutes
>Though maybe you exaggerate Starlight’s touchy-feely magic a little, and use that as the excuse for why you ended up riding Lightning’s face in the middle of the club
“I just lost control of myself, ma’am,” you say, finishing your story.  “Sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.  I didn’t hurt anyone, at least.  Just broke a couple skellies.”
>You gesture to the shattered bones piled around your feet
>The captain of the guard nods, her face impassive
>You get the vague sense this is far from the weirdest scene she’s dealt with
>When you’ve finished, she turns to Starlight
>”Is this true?”
>Starlight gulps, nervous sweat starting to pour down her face
>”It was, I mean… some of it, but… I didn’t meant for things to…”
>She hangs her head
>”Yes.  It’s true,” she says
>The crowd of mages turns towards her, all staring with a mixture of disappointment and disgust
>You hear murmurs of “disrespectful,” and “it’s just not right…” amongst them
>Starlight looks like she’s practically in tears now
>”I’m sorry, Gleaming.”
>”When my sister chose you as her student, I thought I could trust you.  Maybe my trust was misplaced.”
>She waves to the other mages still standing around
>”Leave us.  I’d like to speak to these three alone.  We’ll discuss what should be done next.”
>Gleaming points to you and Lightning
>”Wait for me upstairs, in a private room.  Starlight will show you which one,” she says, then heads over to the bar to grab herself a drink
>The entourage of knights with Gleaming also head out, probably returning to their patrols

>The private room is cramped, but lavish
>It contains a single mahogany table, flanked on either side by a plush sofa, and a table laden with crystalline glassware sits in the corner
>At the far end of the room, the wall is replaced by a stone balcony, overlooked a darkened stage beneath
>You and Lightning sit together, with Starlight across from you
>She stares at you, her face set with hatred
>”You humiliated me.”
“Yeah.  Guess so.”
>”This isn’t over.  I could be in a lot of trouble because of you.”
“You’re the one who wanted trouble so bad.”
>Starlight glares
>You lock eyes with her
>Lightning, meanwhile, watches all of this like it’s a particularly interesting stage play
>The moment is interrupted when the door is kicked in
>Gleaming steps into the room, her armor clanking
>Even you feel a cold wave of fear sweep over you in her presence
>She just exudes the stoic, calm but threatening vibe of a true knight, the kind of warrior you could only ever aspire to—
>”Ah, man!  Glad that’s finally over!” Gleaming cheers
>She starts unbuckling her armor, letting each piece drop to the floor, until she’s dressed only in a cloth tunic and a pair of what look suspiciously like pink, heart-patterned panties
>”Move over, Glimglam.  I need to lie down for a bit.  Work has been fucking *brutal* today, man, you have no idea.”
>Starlight obediently shuffles to one side of the couch, and Gleaming flops down next to her, resting her bare feet up on the table
>”What?” she asks, taking in your shocked exprsession.  “Did you think I was did whole ‘serious, noble knight’ shtick all the time?  No way, brah.  That’d get exhausting.”
>She reaches into a leather satchel attached to her armor and pulls out a few glass bottles of something frothy and pink
>”Here ya go.  Drink up,” Gleaming says, passing one bottle to you, one to Starlight, and one to Lightning
>You crack yours open and take a swig; it’s tangy and strong, and makes you feel weirdly giddy after a few sips
>Gleaming gulps hers down in about five seconds, then whips out some snacks from the same pack, wolfing them down
>”I’m tellin’ ya, you have *no* idea how hungry you get during patrol.  Walking all day, dealing with everyone’s inane bullshit, having to break up Starlight Glimmer’s sexual escapades…”
>Starlight glares
>”I’m kidding, bro!  Relax.”
>She pats Starlight’s shoulders
>”Anyway, we should talk business.  You two ain’t bad in a fight, I noticed,” she says to you and Lightning
“Guess not.  They weren’t exactly hitting us with much.”
>”Sure, sure.  But most people would get more than a few scratches after being jumped by a pack of skeletons.  So, look.”
>Lightning crosses her legs, giving you a full view of her weirdly childish underwear choice in the process
>She doesn’t seem particularly worried about flashing you, and continues on
>”Glimglam here fucked up.  If you want, we can settle this with a few thousand gold and you go on your way.  If not, I’ve got a bit of a proposal for ya.  See, my sister’s only been a princess for about a year now.  I don’t think she gets how dangerous it is yet.  She’s got this whole big plan about how she wants to start teaching about friendship all over Equestria, and probably doesn’t realize how easily she’d get killed on the road.  Now do’t get me wrong, she’s a great mage.  Maybe even one of the best ever.  But I worry about her, y’know?  Big sis stuff.  And I can’t be watching over her all the time.  So, ramble ramble, you interested in a bit of bodyguard work?”
“You’d trust someone you just met to guard your sister?”
>Gleaming grins
>”I’ll figure out of I can trust you later.  I’m just asking if you’re interested.  If not, I’ll let you walk away with a thousand gold in your pocket.  Each.  Or maybe there’s something else you’d like?”

“A royal guard?  Me?”
>Gleaming nods
>”If you prove you’re up to it.”
>You take a moment to process that
>If you’re under the direct command of a princess, that’d be even more prestigious than serving as a member of the Wonderbolt Knights
>This is the kinda thing that young you could only dream about
>Slowly, a doofy grin starts to spread across your face, but you try your best to hide it
“Yeah.  I’d be down for that,” you say, trying to look unimpressed
>Gleaming’s already noticed your excitement, but she doesn’t seem like she wants to make fun of you for it
>In fact, she sits up and claps you on the arm
>”That’s what I like to hear!” she says, smiling just as much as you are.  “Of course, you’re gonna have a few trials to face first.  They can be pretty brutal too.  So if you’re not cool with that…”
>You wink at her
“Bring it on.”
>”Aww man, I love this chick!  Where’d you find her, Glimmy?”
>”She just wandered in,” Starlight says, still clearly not enthused.  “And honestly, I really don’t think it’s safe to trust Princess Twilight’s safety to a random—“
>”Ah, you worry too much.  If I can trust you to be around her, I can trust anybody.”
>”W-what’s that supposed to mean?” Starlight asks, glaring
>”Just saying.  Village enslavement and all that.  Pretty nasty stuff.”
>Starlight folds her arms over her chest, grumbling as she sinks into the couch
>”So you’re in!  Man, I’m so pumped about this.  Meet me at the royal barracks tomorrow and we’ll start your training, alright?”
“Right.”
>Gleaming gives you a thumbs up, then sprawls on the couch to stretch
>The soft, muscular curvature of her body is evident even in her baggy tunic
>You can’t resist pushing your luck just a little
“Y’know, up north, we’ve got a custom for sealing a deal,” you say
>”Yeah?  If it involves booze, I’m totally down,” Gleaming replies
“A bit of booze.  And a bit of, y’know…”
>You make a “V” shape with each hand and jam them together, wiggling your eyebrows as you do so
“Just a bit of fun between both parties.  To make sure we’re on good terms.”
>Gleaming hollers with laughter at that
>”I got a wife, brah!  And she ain’t down with me fooling around, unless she’s there to watch.”
“Dammit  Worth a try, at least.”
>She crosses her hands over her stomach, laughing so hard that Starlight actually looks somewhat uncomfortable
>”Ha!  Oh man, can’t argue with you there,” Gleaming says, wiping tears from her eyes.  “I dig your style, I really do.”
“Same to you.  Hope this training is all you’re hyping it up to be.”
>”If you survive, you can get back to me on that.”
>Gleaming is still chuckling as she turns to Starlight
>”By the way, Glimglam, where’s your girl?  Didn’t she have a show or something going on today?”
>Starlight’s eyes go wide
>”Oh, by the princesses.  I got so mixed up in everything, I totally forgot—“
>Just then, the door to the private room flies open, banging as it slams into the wall
>Silhouetted in the doorway stands a tall, busty, silver-haired mage, dressed in a tight-fitting corset and stockings that accent her body far more than they cover it
>She’s furious, but obvious streaks of makeup down her cheeks show she was crying just a minute ago
>”What happened to the show?  Trixie practiced for weeks, and now everybody’s gone!”
>She tries to sound angry, but a single, pathetic sob bubbles up through her lips
>You, Lightning, Gleaming, and Starlight all glance at each other, trying to figure out how to explain this

“It was a real shit crowd,” you tell Trixie.  “Me and Lightning tried out a bit of a show ourselves.  But they flipped out on us, thought we were getting a bit too close.  So we fought ‘em off as best we could.  Probably woulda trashed the place and hurt us all pretty bad, if Captain Gleaming hadn’t shown up.”
>You wink at Gleaming, and she beams
>Trixie stares at you, then at Starlight
>”Is that true?”
>Starlight tugs at the collar of her shirt, her mouth scrunching up slightly when she responds
>”Y-yeah, it’s true.  We’re lucky.  It was a real messy situation.”
>Man, she’s a terrible liar
>You meet Starlight’s eyes for a bit, and find her expression unreadable
>Trixie flops down onto the couch between Gleaming and Starlight, letting out a defeated sigh
>”Thank you for keeping Trixie safe.  Still… she was really looking forward to that show.  Stupid Trixie and her stupid bad luck…”
>Before you can stop her, Lightning sits bolt upright
>”We can find you a new show!” she blurts out
>Trixie immediately perks up
>”You can!?”
>”I think so.  There’s this tavern not far from here.  We met the owner, she’s crazy nice.”
“And a freak in bed,” you mumble
>”Her place was packed!  I bet she’d love some extra entertainment.”
>”Hmph.  A meager tavern is a bit below Trixie’s incredibly exacting standards…”
>”You’d probably get free cider—“
>”Trixie is in!”
>She jumps up from the table and pulls Lightning into a hug
>Lightning’s face goes bright red, and she looks slightly dazed as her head comes to rest against Trixie’s massive knockers
>The hug lasts a few seconds, then Trixie breaks away and holds Lightning at arm’s length
>”You look familiar.  Has Trixie met you before?”
>”Uh, yeah.  I’m Lightning Dust.  I used to… work for you.”
>”Aha!  Of course, you were one of Trixie’s skilled minions!  Clearly Trixie’s natural good luck led you back to her.”
>She pats Lightning’s head
>Lightning lets out a girlish, slightly embarrassing giggle, while Starlight avoids looking at the two of them
>”If you can find an audience worthy of Trixie’s talents, she will owe you a truly great and powerful favor!  How would you like to work for Trixie again?  She is currently a vassal of the princesses themselves, and is in search of powerful, capable warriors to guard her, who—”
>Lightning’s eyes are practically glowing with admiration and excitement, but then Gleaming interrupts Trixie by nudging her with her foot
>”I already told ‘em, Trix.  They’re in.”
>Trixie scowls
>”But Trixie had an extremely inspiring speech about joining her cause!”
>Gleaming laughs at that
>”I ain’t gonna stop you, bro!  Give ‘em the speech.  Just saying, I think they’re in already.”
>Both you and Lightning nod
“Yeah.  This just sounds better and better.”
>”Trixie is happy, but not surprised, to see she’s impressed you.  Now!  Take Trixie to this tavern, Lightning.  The desire to perform runs hot through Trixie’s blood!”
>Lightning balks
>”R-right now?”
>”Of course!  The world shouldn’t be made to wait for Trixie’s performance, let us away!”

>And that’s how you ended up marching back across Canterlot in a rag-tag group of aggressively gay women
>Gleaming is dressed in her armor, once against looking stern and impassive as she leads you through the city streets
>It’s almost hard to imagine she’s the same person as the goofy girl you just watched drinking beer in her underwear
>Trixie follows close behind her, loudly hyping up how amazing her show is going to be
>”Trixie has developed an immersive, illusion-based artform.  You probably haven’t seen anything like it before.”
>Lightning Trails close behind Trixie, staring at her in awe
>It’s kinda cute, she looks almost like a little girl
>Starlight’s hanging back towards the rear of the group, not too far from you
>She’s still sulky from earlier, but it’s hard to tell if she has any hard feelings or not

>You walk closer to Starlight and bump your shoulder against hers
>Unfortunately, the size difference between the two of you sends you stumbling
>She nearly topples over, but you grab ahold of her arm and hold her steady
“Sorry about that.”
>”It’s nothing.”
>The two of you continue walking, though you stay a few feet back from the rest of the group
>”I… I noticed you didn’t tell Trixie what I did to you, back there.”
“Eh.  Figured you’d suffered enough.  Plus, it kinda seems like you two are a thing.”
>Starlight’s eyes widen
>”W-what?  No we’re not.  We’re just really, really good friends!”
“You really can’t lie for shit, can you?”
>Starlight bites her lip, obvious beads of sweat forming on her forehead
>”I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Gotcha.  So it’s cool if I tell her you were telekinetically knuckle-deep in my—“
>”It’s absolutely not cool!”
>Starlight holds her hand to her forehead, then scoots a little closer to you
>”Look, things between me and Trixie are… complicated, okay?” she whispers
“So you’re not a thing?  Gleaming straight-up called her your girl.”
>”Well… that’s because she knows a lot that she shouldn’t.”
“Oof.  Secret crush?”
>”It’s not a crush!  I’m an adult woman, for princesses’ sake.  It’s just a simple bit of unrequited secret affection.”
“So it’s a crush.”
>Starlight glares
“If you’re such an ‘adult woman,’ why not just tell her how you feel?”
>”Because it’s not that simple.  Trixie is… she’s pretty much the only person I’m close to.  And I’m pretty good at turning things into a steaming mess, as I’m sure you’ve realized.”
“Yeah, I mighta picked up on that.”
>”I’d rather not lose the only person I can talk to like a human being.”
“What about the princess?”
>Starlight awkwardly chuckles
>”Twilight’s fantastic.  She really is.  But, um, personal communication isn’t exactly her strong-suit…”
“Oof.”
>”Trixie gets me.  She really does.  But… I don’t think things would ever work between us.  She needs affection, a *lot* of affection.  And I kinda have a few jealousy issues.  And some bad problems with anger.  And a tendency to repress everything…” Starlight says, rubbing her arm.  “I’m kinda a basket case.”
>Up ahead, you can see the yawning entrance to Canterlot Mountain, lit up with flickering torchlight from the buildings beyond it
>Pinkie’s tavern is probably only a few minutes away now
“Yeah, you’re definitely a weird motherfucker.”
>”Thanks,” Starlight replies sarcastically
“But hey.  If you want my opinion, so is she,” you say, pointing to Trixie.  
“And her,” you say, you pointing to Gleaming this time
“Her too,” pointing to Lightning this time
“And, let’s face it, me.”
>You thump your chest
“So hey, you’re in good company, at the very least.  And believe me, I don’t think Trixie’s the kinda person who’ll be put off by you liking her *too* much.”
>Starlight chuckles
>”That’s a pretty good point.  She definitely doesn’t mind your clingy friend,” she says, gesturing to Lightning
>The rogue is walking beside Trixie, wide-eyed and enraptured as she listens to the illusionist ramble
>Trixie basks in Lightning’s attention, and struts more than she walks, occasionally even striking these dynamic little poses as she hypes the upcoming show
>”Doesn’t that bother you?” Starlight asks.  “It seemed like you two were together.”
“Nah.  Who’s with who, or whatever, ain’t a big deal.  If someone’s into me, they’re into me.”
>”Princesses, I wish things were that simple…” Starlight says with a sigh

>When you reach Pinkie’s tavern, it’s already well into the night, and the party is in full swing
>Twangy lute music and warm, fuzzy torchlight fill the place, and everything is underscored with the citrusy smell of cider and the chaotic motion of dancing bodies
>Pinkie is making her rounds through her customers, taking and fulfilling drink orders
>Maud is seated near the dancing crowd, sitting so still she seems almost as if she’s in a trance
>A miniature tower of empty flagons sit next to her; goddamn, that girl’s a tank
>Trixie whistles in approval as she surveys the party
>”It might not meet Trixie’s extremely high standards, but she thinks this place will do!”
>Gleaming, meanwhile, stares stoically at the drinking, dancing, and debauchery currently going down
>Her eye twitches, and you can tell she wants nothing more than to join in
>But she's gotta play the part of a royal knight...
>Pinkie looks over when she hears Trixie, and skips excitedly towards your group when she recognizes you and Lightning
>She waves and calls your names, and her entire body seem to jiggle alluringly as she sprints over
>Glancing to the side, you notice Maud is watching you as well, though she looks significantly less excited to see you than her sister

>Pinkie, being the absolutely amazing host she is, somehow isn’t fazed at all by the sudden one-woman show dropping into her tavern
>In fact, she sounds fucking stoked
>”A magic show?  For free?  Best!  Night!  Ever!”
>She squeals with delight and pulls Lightning and Trixie into a hug
>Lightning looks so happy she could die
>You clap Pinkie on the back, then head over towards her sister
>Maud is seated cross-legged atop a wooden table, surrounded by empty flagons
>She’s barefoot and dressed in tattered, simple robes marked with symbols in a language you’re entirely unfamiliar with
>An unpolished, ordinary stone hangs on a chain around her neck
>As you approach, she beckons for you to sit on the empty section of table next to her
>You do, removing your boots and trying to get into the same perfect lotus position as her
>Turns out, you’re not as flexible as you thought, but you think you’re close enough
>”Welcome back,” Maud says after a few moments of silence
“Good to be back.  Is your sister’s place always like this?”
>”On most nights.”
“Pinkie’s pretty dedicated, huh.”
>”She’s uniquely suited to this sort of environment.  Anyone else would have burned out a long time ago.”
“And you?”
>”What about me?”
“How do you feel about all this?  Hardly seems zen, or whatever.”
>”I carry my inner peace with me,” she says, lightly touching a hand to the rock the lies against her breast.  “This place is no different than a quiet granite quarry.”
>Maud falls silent for a bit
>”Well, I suppose it’s not as pretty.”
>She falls silent again
>You’re not sure if she’s going to continue speaking, so you awkwardly wait in silence next to her, watching the party
>After a few minutes of sitting like this, you start to twitch
>”There is much on your mind.”
“You can say that again.  Today’s been a total mess.”
>”I notice you found the illusionist.”
“I did.  Or she found us.  Not really sure yet.  You work for her?”
>”I work as my spirit stone guides me to work.  It happens to have placed me in alliance with Princess Twilight, her student, and the illusionist.”
“Sounds like everyone’s getting wrapped up with the new princess these days.”
>”Her crowning was a very important event.”
“Huh, guess so.  I wasn’t here for it.”
>Maud nods
>”She is idealistic in a way the royal sisters are not.  She hopes to foster new unity across Equestria.”
“What does that even mean?”
>”I am not sure.  But my stone tells me her path is worth following.”
“It’ll take a bit more than a rock to convince me.”
>Maud turns, finally looking you in the eye
>”You pursue glory.  And sex.  And money,” Maud says
>There’s no judgement in her voice, it’s just a statement of fact
“Damn right I do.”
>”The princesses are powerful and don’t lack for gold.  You’ll find plenty of what you seek in their company.  And it doesn’t seem as if sex is ever far from your reach.”
“You’re right about that too,” you say with a wink
>Maud stays completely passive, though you swear you see the slightest hint of blush on her cheeks
>Could just be the torchlight though
“You’re makin’ a good case for this whole thing.  Gleaming mentioned some kinda trial, though.”
>Maud nods
>”You’ll face tests by myself and some of the others, likely.  To ensure we can trust you.”
“Can you tell me anything about what sort of tests?”
>”I could.”
>Maud says nothing more, and goes back to watching the party
“Will you?”
>She just shrugs

“Alright, alright.  I get what you’re doing here.”
>You nudge Maud’s shoulder, which is somewhat akin to elbowing a stone wall
“Tell ya what.  I’ll fight you for it.”
>Maud raises an eyebrow
“A little one-on-one.  I win, you tell me what to expect tomorrow.  You win, I, uh…”
>She continues to stare
“I’ll… find you a nice, rare stone.  Or whatever else you’d want.”
>”This is an incredibly poor idea.  You are intimidatingly strong.  But bare-knuckle combat is my forte.  One or both of us could be seriously injured.”
“Eh, it’s nothing a little beer won’t fix.”
>”I think you’re overestimating the healing properties of alcohol.”
“We’ll be fine!  C’mon, I haven’t had a good one-on-one since I got to the Crystal Empire.”
>Maud frowns, then uncrosses her legs and steps gingerly off the table
>”If I win, I expect you to find me something suitably impressive,” she says, her silhouette lit up by the torchlight behind her
“Sure, sure.  But I wouldn’t worry about that,” you reply, cracking your knuckles.  “Where we gonna do this?”
>”Outside.  I wouldn’t want to upstage the show,” Maud says, gesturing towards the opposite end of the bar
>Already, throngs of club-goers are jostling together around an impromptu stage constructed from stacked tables
“Good idea.”
>You clap Maud on the back, which again feels more like slapping the shoulders of a marble statue

>She leads you out back, behind the tavern, where a few wooden crates and garbage cans are lined up in a roughly circular perimeter around an area of flat, rough stone
>You step to one side and Maud steps to the other
>She runs through a few basic stretches, and you unstrap your weapons and lay them and your boots at the edge of the ring, next to a half-full barrel of brandy
>The floor of the cave is treacherously uneven beneath your feet, but years of fighting in wild forests have prepared you for such a disadvantage
>Maud steps forward as well, and the two of you circle each other as you approach the center of the makeshift ring
>Your eyes lock onto her body, watching the sway of her arms and the positioning of her feet for any indication as to when she’ll attack
>Her right foot twists, only slightly, and she raises up on her toes
>You jump backwards, arms raised to protect your face and your midsection, but it was a feint
>Maud pivots instead and sweeps her leg into the back of yours, knocking you off balance
>”I’m sorry,” she says in her usual monotone
>She pressed her advantage and, as you try to regain your balance, slams her open palm into your chest
>It feels like getting shot by a cannon
>The impact jars your entire body and drives the wind from your lungs
>”My [GRANITE PALM: STUNNING STRIKE] technique can be extremely painful to experience.  But I don’t want to take any chances with this fight.”
>You stagger backwards, gritting your teeth
>[TOUGHER THAN NAILS] activates!
>You straighten back up and forcibly pull air back into your spasming chest
>Maud blinks in surprise
“You’re gonna have to hit a lot harder than that…” you wheeze, grinning at her.  “Now it’s my turn.”
>Unlike her, you don’t bother with any fancy technique
>You just barrel into Maud, throwing haymaker punches that make the air whistle around your fists
>She dodges nimbly away, fading out of range of each blow as she edges back towards the arena
>For a moment, you let your arm fall just enough to give her a false opening, and she takes it
>Maud aims a kick at your ribs, but you grab ahold of her leg and toss her into the wall
>She smashes an empty barrel into splinters, then pulls herself back to her feet
>”Ow.”
“Giving up?”
>”No.”
>And then she attacks again
>You raise your arms to protect your face, and find yourself barraged by punches that pour down on you like rain
>They come so fast that Maud looks more like a blur than a woman, and even your endurance starts to wain as she batters you down
>You grit your teeth and try to push back, but her cascade of blows washes over you, knocking you back towards the wall
>There’s no way you’re overcoming this
>So instead, you drop your guard and let her hit you
>Holy FUCK does it hurt
>In the span of about a half second, five or six punches impact your chest, each of them feeling vaguely like getting kicked by a horse
>You grab ahold of Maud’s shoulders, snarling in pain, and then drop to the ground and pull her down with you
>The impact jars you a bit, but it’s nothing compared to what this monk has hit you with
>You land on your back and pull Maud against your chest
>She doesn’t react; you’ve surprised her enough to get a single hit in
>So you wrap your legs around her midsection and start to squeeze, letting your thighs pinch like a vice around her waist
>Maud grits her teeth, her blank expression flickering into a dull, pained grimace
>”You fight… well…” Maud 
“I know…” you growl back
>”But there’s a few… tricks… you don’t know…”
>Before you can react, Maud taps a finger three times against your chest, then once against your temple
>Immediately, something far different than pain –almost an electrical, convulsive sensation– courses through you
>Blackness begins to creep in at the edge of your vision as your entire body starts to go numb
“What the fuck…”
>You try to squeeze her tighter, but your legs are already starting to slip away from your control
>Maud falls against your chest, resting her head on your shoulder as she too tries to stay conscious
>A dribble of blood leads from between her lips
>”Not bad…”
“Same to you…”
>”I look forward to… fighting you again…” Maud grunts
“Hell yeah…”
>Your eyes meet hers, and the two of you share a nod of mutual respect before you pass out

>When you awaken, you find yourself sprawled out in a bed, somewhere in a private room of Pinkie’s tavern
>You try to sit up, but your entire body protests as a shock of pain runs through you
>With a muttered curse, you flop back against the bed, only to realize someone is lying next to you
>After a moment of temporary panic, you realize it’s Maud
>She’s still asleep, looking almost statuesque in the nearly dark room
>You try to look around the room without moving too much
>It’s pretty basic; just a bed, a glowing stove, and a wooden nightstand
>Atop the nightstand are two glass bottles full of a cherry-red liquid, with a note beneath them
>Squinting, you’re just barely able to read it

>“You’re both idiots.  You could have horribly injured each other, etc.  Seriously though, I can’t believe you didn’t let me watch that fight.  Drink these then come find me!”
>-Captain Gleaming Shield

>You reach over to grab the bottles, your movements slow and dulled by pain
>It feels like you got hit by a stampede, then they backed over you just to run you over a second time
>That monk really can fight, you think to yourself
>The liquid inside the vial has a surprisingly bitter taste, but your pain immediately begins to recede once you choke it down
>An unpleasant itching spreads from your abdomen to the tips of your fingers and toes as your body knits itself back together
>It passes after a few seconds though, leaving you feeling fine, if pretty exhausted
>[HP restored!]
>You reach over and shake Maud awake
>Her eyes open the second you touch her, and they lock onto you
>”Oh.  You’re still alive.”
>With her flat tone of voice, you can’t tell if she’s annoyed or relieved
“Takes a lot more than a few pokes to kill me.  But damn, what in Tartarus was that?”
>”Hidden techniques from my temple.  Not something I’m at liberty to explain.”
>Maud tries to sit up, but can’t
>Her eyes squeeze shut in pain
>”You’ve sufficiently damaged by abdomen.  I’m impressed.”
“Sorry about that.  Gleaming left us these.”
>You pass her a potion, and she drinks gulps it down, holding her eyes shut until it’s finished taking effect
>Then she sits up and pats her freshly healed stomach
>”I should thank you for the fight.  I don’t get the opportunity to spar no-holds-barred very often.”
“I don’t either.  We should go at it again, sometime.”
>Maud nods
>”I would like that.  We need a tie-breaker, I suppose.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” you say, patting her on the back

>The two of you finally manage to roll out of bed, both stumbling slightly from fatigue, and wander down the hall to Gleaming’s room
>On the way, you pass Starlight Glimmer, who looks like she hasn’t slept at all
>Dark bags lurk under her eyes, and she runs her hands through her disheveled hair as she mumbles to herself
>”Can’t believe it… after everything I’ve done with her… some random girl she barely knows…” are the only bits you manage to catch
“Glimmer?  Something wrong?”
>Starlight shakes her head, then covers her face and runs back to her room
>You and Maud share a look, and she shrugs
>”I think it’s better not to get involved.”
“I dunno…” you say, watching where she went
>You knock on Gleaming’s door, and you hear her sit up in bed
>”Come in,” she says, her voice groggy
>You and Maud head in and nearly trip over Gleaming’s armor, which is piled on the floor right next to the door
>”Sorry about the mess,” Gleaming mumbles.  “Was tired and drunk.  ”
>She stretches her arms behind her as she yawns, then kicks the blanket off of herself, revealing she’s naked underneath
>Gleaming looks slightly surprised, as if she forgot that detail herself, then shrugs
>”Broke out the ol’ royal guard sleep uniform, I guess.”
“I don’t think either of us mind.”
>Maud nods in agreement
>”Hah, course you don’t.  You ain’t the kinda people who would.”
>Gleaming pauses stretching, then winks at you
>”If your eyes wanna wander a little, that’s totally cool.”
>She stands up and resumes her stretching 
>And your eyes do, in fact, wander
>Gleaming’s breasts are slim and perky, like accents on her muscled chest
>Her legs are longer than yours, and far more slender, built more for agility-based fighting than your powerhouse tactics, and her butt is taught and shapely
>When she finishes stretching, Gleaming pulls on her tunic and her heart-patterned panties, then sits on the bed as she sips from a waterskin
>”Well, I’m too tired to think of shit.  You’ll learn all about the trials soon, I promise.  In the meantime, what’s up with you girls?”

“About what you’d think.  Nearly killed each other, missed out on all the fun.”
>Gleaming chuckles at that, causing a little water to dribble out of the side of her mouth
>”Fun’s one word for it.  Woulda been a lot more fun if I coulda actually had something to drink.  Being on duty sucks,” she says with a sigh
“There’s always tonight.”
>That gets a grin out of her
>”That’s the spirit.”
“So, what happened?  I haven’t seen Lightning or Trixie.  And Starlight looked kinda… bleh.”
>”Oof.  Poor girl’s not taking it well, I guess.  You can guess what happened.”
“I can.”
>”The performance was a total hit, though.  As much of a fuckup as Trixie is, she can really put on a show.  It was like this crazy, magical stage-play, but all of the actors were illusions, except Lightning.  There were a ton of sword-fights, a bunch of people shouting, lighting flying everywhere, gratuitous tits… shit was intense.  And Lightning was in the middle of it all, doing these crazy stunts and flipping over tables while she fought back against an army of magical fuckery.  It was honestly hard to keep a straight face.  I wanted to geek out so bad.”
“And then?”
>”Everyone loved it.  Really loved it, everyone was cheering.  Pinkie was beside herself, she was having so much fun.  And Lightning and Trixie had great chemistry together onstage.  Everything Trixie conjured, Lighting had some kinda stunt to answer it.  Starlight was trying her best to help out too, but she was… kinda not even there, really.  She kept trying to pretend the whole thing was a big annoyance to her, or something.  And then Lightning acted like it was the coolest thing she’d ever seen.  So, when Trixie decided to share a room for the night…”
“She made the obvious choice.  Poor Glimmer.”
>”She was a wreck.  Was just waiting on a bench for Trixie to come back, her hands shaking while she stared at the wall.  Think she might have staid there all night.”
“Brutal.  Think I should talk to her?”
>Gleaming shrugs
>”Give it a shot.  But I dunno if it’ll do too much good.  She’s beat up.  Plus you two weren’t exactly best friends.”
“Eh.  Things were getting better.”
>”Yeah?  Hey, give it a shot, if you can.  If you could pull her outta this funk, that’d be pretty great.  We’re gonna have a pretty major item hunt coming up after your trials.  We’ll need everyone we can get.”
“I’ll figure something out.”
>Gleaming gives you a joking salute, then flops back into bed
>You head out of Gleaming’s room, with Maud close behind you
“You following me now?”
>”I’d prefer ‘observing,’ but yes.”
“Whatever you say.”
>You head down the hall to Starlight’s room, finding her door slightly ajar
>You nudge the door inward to find Starlight sprawled out on her bed, staring up at the ceiling
>”Please go away,” she says in a weak, hollow voice

“Relax.  I’m here to make sure you’re okay.”
>Starlight rolls over on the bed, facing away from you
>”I’m fine.”
“Princesses, you’re a shit liar.”
>You sit on the edge of Starlight’s bed, but Maud hangs back near the door, watching the scene unfold with her characteristic passivity
“Look, I… I heard what happened with Trixie,” you say, your voice slightly softer than usual
>”Nothing happened.  She’s free to spend the night with whoever she wants.”
“True.  But it still hurts.  I know it does.”
>Starlight pulls the blankets up over her face
>You reach over and place a hand on her shoulder all the same
“I had to give up on a pretty girl too.  This adorable mage, back in the Crystal Empire.  But she found a girl for her, and she’s happy.  I went off with my own girl, and I’m happy.  It happens.”
>It’s not exactly the most comforting speech, you realize
>But something about it must have reached Starlight, because she slowly sits up
>She still doesn’t look over at you, though
>”I don’t have someone else, though.  That’s the part you’re forgetting.”
>Starlight rubs her eyes, and her voice begins to waver as she continues
>”She’s the only one who… who got me.  And she was annoying, and a total headache a lot of the time.  But she was always someone I could confide in.  And I let her down.  I wasn’t… I wasn’t good enough for her.”
>You punch Starlight in the face
>Not hard, obviously, that would probably kill her
>There’s just enough force behind your knuckles to knock her flat on the bed, stunning her for a second
>Immediately, her face twists in fury and she raises her right hand, violet energy crackling in her palm
>”What was that for!?”
“For saying stupid shit!  And if you say it again, I’ll hit you for real!”
>Starlight grits her teeth in fury, and the magic in her palm begins to glow brighter, crackling as it fills the room with the bitter stench of ozone
>She advances on you until you two are nose to nose, and you drop your voice to a near whisper
“You’re the princess’s student.  You’re friends with the captain of the royal guard.  You’re one hell of a mage.  If you say any more lame-ass bullshit about not being ‘good enough’ for one random girl, I’m going to hit you so fucking hard that all the magic in Equestria won’t save your pretty face.”
>[ALPHA CHICK activates]
>For a moment, Starlight looks like she’s about ready to turn you into a particularly horny toad, or whatever it is that mages actually do
>But then the magic fades from her hand, and she lets herself rest against you
>Her head ends up on your shoulder, and you somewhat awkwardly reach up to pat her back
>”I don’t know what I’ll do without her.  I’m not close to anyone else.”
>”That seems like something you should work on,” says Maud from the corner
“Thanks.  You’re helping a ton.”
>”I try,” she replies, then goes back to watching
>Starlight sniffles, though you’re somewhat surprised to see she’s not crying
>”She has a point though.  Even Twilight, my mentor, I’m not… I’m not *close* to her, or anything.  Without Trixie, I don’t feel like I have anybody…”

“Maybe it’s time to open up a bit.”
>”It’s not that simple,” Starlight says, sounding mildly annoyed.  “Trust me, you’re not the first person to give me that advice.  Twilight’s practically tattoo’d it to my forehead by now.”
“If the princess is telling you the same thing, it’s probably some good advice.”
>”I told you, it doesn’t work like that.”
“It does for me.”
>”Well, you’re… the way you are.  I’m different.”
“Well maybe you should be a little more like that.”
>”Hmph.”
>Starlight sighs
>”You know, I know you’re joking.  But if I could, I would love to.”
“Yeah?”
>”Your life seems simple.  It’s like you just see what you want, and take it.”
“You’re right.  But it ain’t simple.”
>You scoot a little closer to Starlight, then twist around to show her the scars along your arms and across your stomach
“Living like that has its drawbacks.”
>For a moment, Starlight reaches out a shaky hand towards your scars
>But she withdraws it before her fingers make contact with your skin, holding that same trembling hand against her chest, and she turns away from you
“You gotta take your hits, and there’s a lotta hits to take.  But it gets easier.”
>Starlight’s voice drops almost to a whisper
>”Could… could you teach me?”
>That’s so unexpected that it even catches you off guard
“Teach you?”
>”Yeah.  It doesn’t have to be a lot.  Just how to do what you said, how to actually take the things I want.  Not just… be this,” she says, gesturing to her exhausted, sad-looking self
“There’s no trick to it.  You just do it.”
>You lean back on the bed and spread your legs, giving Starlight a glimpse into the long-lasting barbarian tradition of forsaking underwear
“For example…”
>Immediately, bit of pink blush begins to color her cheeks
>”You… is sex all you think about?”
“Nah.  I also think about killing shit.”
>”You’re insane.  You’re just trying to take advantage of me, since I’m vulnerable.”
“Nah, I’m just following my own advice.”
>”That’s not any better!  Besides, you’re the last person I want right now.”
“So?  Just close your eyes and pretend I’m Trixie.”
>Starlight balks
>You flash a grin at her
“Besides, seemed like you wanted me pretty bad yesterday.”
>”I did not.  I was establishing a little dominance.”
“Yeah?  Maybe it’s time to finish the job.”
>Starlight bites her tongue, and you can plainly see the effort she’s putting in to avoid taking another peek at your crotch
>Her hands clench together in her lap as she tries to keep them from twitching
>”You’re pure evil, you know that?  This is wrong.  You’re using me because I’m hurt.”
>Even as she says this, she’s already beginning to undo the clasp of her robes, and begins to peel them layer by layer away from her body
“You got it backwards.  I’m letting you use me.”
>”It’s the same thing.”
“Hardly.  You need this way more than I do.”
>”…just shut up.”
>After her robes are off, Starlight is dressed in only a silk tunic that ends right above her knees
>She lifts it up and over her head, and tosses it aside
>Naked, she crawls towards you across the bed, her eyes closing shut
>”Mmmm…”
>She coos to herself as she lowers herself onto your thigh, the moist lips of her sex lightly kissing your thigh and leaving a warm, wet trail as her hips begin to gyrate
“See?  Not bad, huh?”
>”Don’t talk,” Starlight replies
>She bites her lower lip as a shudder runs through her body
>”Mmmf… Trixie…”
>A low, lusty moan escapes her lips
>”Trixie… Princesses, you’re so good to me…”
>Starlight slips a finger into her own mouth, and her saliva dribbles down her chin as she moans Trixie’s name, lapping greedily at the digit
>She rubs herself faster and faster against you, and pink blush in her cheeks deepens into a deep crimson
>”Trixie… oh, Trixie… I’m going to… Trixie, I’m going to…”
>A warm stream of Starlight’s arousal flows down your leg and stains the sheets
>Her back arches, and Starlight slips another finger into her own mouth as she nears her climax
>”You’re gonna make me… oh, Trixie!”
>”Call upon the great Trixie, and she shall appear!”
>The aforementioned illusionist kicks (literally) the door open and barges in, with Lightning hanging on her arm
>”Starlight!  We gotta go get some brunch!  After last night, Trixie needs to eat her own weight in waffles—“
>Both girls freeze, their eyes drinking in the image before them
>And what an image it must be: you’re sprawled out on the bed with your skirt hiked up over your stomach, and Starlight’s naked and straddling your thigh, just having masturbated herself to completion against your muscled flesh

>For a long, pregnant moment, all anyone can do is stare
“So, uh… wanna join in?” you ask, not even bothering to cover yourself
>”Kinda, yeah,” Lightning says, clutching her hands over her probably-bleeding nose
>”Absolutely not!” Trixie says, turning up her nose.  “A session of great and powerful lovemaking is an honor that must be earned!  Trixie doesn’t engage in one-night stands with any woman she meets.”
“Uh huh.  So what happened with Lightning was…?”
>”That was different,” Trixie insists.  “Lightning Dust just happened to show interest in Trixie’s favorite card game: MagicMight!   It’s not Trixie’s fault that her own house rules say anyone who loses to her has to eat her out.  And it’s also *definitely* not Trixie’s fault that Trixie decided to fold on the game because she felt bad for her guest.  Trixie most certainly did not lose, she just surrendered out of politeness!  And, all things being fair, she kept her end of the deal.  Hmph.”
>You your knuckles out to fist-bump Lightning
“Smooth.”
>”Hell yeah,” she replies
>Lightning still has the spaced-out look of someone who just woke up from a *really* good night
>During this entire rant, Starlight slowly clambers off you and wraps a sheet around herself, trying to preserve what little remains of her modesty
>She keeps her eyes focused on the floor, looking like she’s trying very hard to maintain a blank, uninterested expression
>Trixie glances around the room again, tapping her foot impatiently
>”Well, are we going to get brunch or not?  Trixie’s starving!”
“I’m down.”
>”Same,” Lightning chimes in
>”I’ve trained myself to subsist on nothing but raw stone,” Maud says.  “But I wouldn’t object to a change of pace.”
>”Perfect!” Trixie cheers.  “C’mon, Starlight!  Trixie needs her brunch partner-in-crime!”
>”Just go without me,” Starlight says.  “I’m not hungry.”
>As if on cue, her stomach rumbles
>”Ha!  Nobody can hide their need for breakfast food from Trixie!  Let’s go!”
>Before Starlight can protest –or even get a chance to dress herself– Trixie grabs her by the arm and hauls her out of the room, then the five of you head down towards the inn’s common area

>The rich, mellow aromas of sizzling bacon and butter-slathered waffles hit your nose almost immediately
>Trixie plunks down at a table in the center of the room, and the rest of you pile in around her
>Lightning and Starlight sit on either side of Trixie, and Lightning’s even bold enough to rest her head on Trixie’s shoulder
>Starlight keeps her eyes on the ground, her face burning with embarrassment as she desperately clutches at the sheet wrapped around her body, trying to make sure she doesn’t accidentally expose anything
>Before long, Pinkie comes bustling over, wearing a grease-spattered apron, and sets steaming platters of bacon, sunny-side eggs, several stacks of waffles, and a solid block of butter in front of each of you
>Your stomach feels like it just somersaulted 
>”Mornin’, girls!  You all look like you had a super awesome night!”
>”All thanks to Trixie, of course.”
>Pinkie giggle-snorts
>”Can’t argue with ya there!  That was the second-coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life!”
>Trixie raises an eyebrow, suddenly deathly serious
>”What was the first-coolest?”
>Pinkie just disappears back into the kitchen
>”Answer Trixie!” Trixie calls out after her

>You positively devour your food, along with finishing most of Lightning’s
>After breakfast, you lean back in your chair, contentedly patting your belly
>Starlight has only taken a few morose bites, and continues to avoid looking at Trixie, who’s positively basking in Lighting’s affection as the latter makes doe eyes up at her
>Maud is, well, Maud; she’s kinda just sitting there
>You figure Gleaming will be down soon, whenever she’s ready, and she’ll take you to your trials
>But you’ve got a bit of time until then…

>You scoot down the table towards Maud
>But, as you do so, you “accidentally” stomp on the hem of the sheet wrapped around Starlight’s body, tugging it down around her
>She yelps and catches it before it’s completely pulled away, but her left breast still spills out
>Red-faced, she adjusts the sheet back over her chest, glaring at you
>You just wink
“Play her game,” you whisper to Starlight, then nod at Trixie
>Starlight shakes her head
>”I’m gonna get her for real,” she whispers back
“Whatever.”
>You stomp on the sheet again, but Starlight is ready for you this time; she hugs it tightly against herself and preserves the shreds of decency she has
>The raw fury on her face could probably kill a troll, you reckon
>You just stick your tongue out at her, then turn to your monk friend
>Maud has been watching this entire exchange, her facial expression as flat as ever
>You do get the vague sense she’s amused though
>Maud finishes her breakfast with slow, thoughtful bites of pancake
>Occasionally, she touches the Spirit Stone around her neck against her waffles, as if feeding it
>You… decide not to ask about that
>”You relationship to Starlight is very unusual,” Maud says after a long stretch of silence.  “I can’t tell if the two of you hate each other or desperately want to copulate.”
“With me, they’re not two different things.”
>Maud nods
>”I’ve started to get that feeling.”
“What about you?”
>She blinks
>”I don’t understand the question.”
“I dunno, what gets you off.  I noticed you didn’t leave the room when me and Starlight started rocking the bed.”
>”Why would I?  The pleasure of others is something to rejoice in.”
“So… you’re a voyeur?”
>”I wouldn’t put it in such base terms.”
>Maud takes a long sip of water
>”Though I did reach a climax during the course of events.”
“Really?  Holy shit, I didn’t even see you moving.”
>”One achieves impressive control over their body after seventeen years of meditation.”
>You whistle
“Definitely sounds impressive.  Could you teach me?”
>”You wouldn’t have the patience.”
“Got me there.  You must get to see a lot, living with Pinkie.”
>”I’ve seen acts that would curdle the soul.”
“That’s pretty fuckin’ ominous.”
>”On the contrary.  They were quite enjoyable to witness.  I only wish my sister would cease asking me to join in.”
>As if on cue, Pinkie comes bustling through
>”Hey, favorite customers!” she says.  “Hey, favorite sister!”
>She plants a fat kiss on Maud’s head, leaves a few drinks on the table, then runs off
“Huh.  I feel like that should freak me out, but I’m not really surprised.”
>”Pinkie isn’t exactly concerned about social stigma.”
>You both watch the bubbly girl disappear back into the kitchen, then you reach your arms back behind your head to stretch
“So.  My trials are today, huh?”
>”According to Gleaming.  Are you nervous?”
“Not really.  She can’t throw much at me that I haven’t already seen.”
>”You’d be surprised.”
>Maud takes a mug of tea that Pinkie left for her and stirs it contemplatively
>”Though you will be allowed to have a partner.  The trials would likely kill anyone acting alone.  It would be boastful to recommend myself, but I think I would be quite useful.  Otherwise, you have the pick from any of us.”

“I only get one?  Out of all of you?”
>Maud nods
>”If you fought by yourself, even you would probably die.  But too many partners obscures the purpose of a personal trial.  Ergo, only one.”
>You drum your fingers against your jaw, thinking
“You’d probably be the best option.  But hey, let’s face it.  You fight really well.  You might even show me up,” you say to Maud with a wink
>She blinks twice, which you think you can interpret as blushing
>At least that’s probably as close to blushing as she gets
>”That would never be my intent.  But I suppose some of my techniques can be somewhat flashy.”
“Then there’s Trixie.  She’s cool, but…”
>You glance over at Trixie, who’s arranging the blueberries atop her waffle so that they spell out her name
“…yeah, not gonna take her into battle.  Lightning’s got my back, but I don’t wanna break up their thing.  Is Gleaming an option?”
>”Unfortunately not, though I’m sure she’s appreciate your interest.  But she fights on a level way above us.  It wouldn’t be fair.”
“Then that leaves Glimmy.  Perfect,” you say just loud enough for Starlight to hear you
>She glances up from her breakfast, which she’s mostly finished; there’s just a giant plate of crumbs and maple syrup left in front of her
>Since she was eating, she’s now precariously holding the sheet in place with only one hand
>”What about me?” she asks, still chewing a bite of waffle
“This.”
>You’re still barefoot, so you pinch the hem of her blanket between your toes and yank
>Starlight yelps as the blanket is pulled totally away from her chest, and her breasts spill out to hang loose and naked for the whole table to see
>Embarrassed, Starlight clumsily tries to snatch the blanket back up, but inadvertently bends a little too far forward
>With a squelch, her tits dip into the plate full of syrup
>”Ack!” Starlight cries, immediately straightening back up
>The plate stays stuck to her chest, then slowly slides back down until it drops onto the table, leaving a gooey sheen of syrup behind over the poor mage’s breasts
>A single globby droplet hangs from her right nipple, and it slowly drips off as Starlight’s face turns redder and redder
“Maud did it.”
>”I sincerely hope you die in your trials,” Starlight hisses as she cups her hands over her sticky chest
“Huh.  Funny you should mention that…”
>”Huh?  What do you mean— no.  You didn’t,” Starlight says, her embarrassment turning to confusion, then to simmering anger
“I think I kinda did.”
>”You’ve been toying with me all morning!”
“Yeah, as payback for yesterday.”
>”That… that was…”
>Starlight groans
>”I can’t believe this.”
“Neither can I, honestly.  Didn’t think it’d work so well,” you say, gesturing to her half-naked body
>”That’s not what I’m talking about!”
“Yeah?  Well, hey, we’re even.”
>”Hmph.  Fine, if this is what it takes.  I’ll forget this, you forget what happened yesterday.  But I’m still not agreeing to fight with you.  I still don’t feel like I can trust you.”
“That’s fair.”
>Starlight looks somewhat surprised at your reasonable response
“But I think I’ve got something that’ll change your mind.”

>Starlight raises an eyebrow
>”This better be good,” she says, then glances around at the nearby tables
>Several patrons of the inn are staring at her, and more than a few of them are snickering under their breath
>Starlight sighs, the blush fading from her cheeks as she surrenders to her humiliation
>”Could we talk about this somewhere else?”

>You follow Starlight into the women’s washroom, where she lets the blanket drop and lowers herself into a basing of steaming water
>It’s been a decent chunk of time since your last bath, so you disrobe as well and lower yourself into a basin opposite Starlight’s
>After the thrashing last night, hot water feels *amazing*
>Starlight turns her back to you, and sinks low into the water as she scrubs the syrup from her chest
>”So, how do you plan to win me over, exactly?”
“Easy.  I’m gonna train you.”
>”What, to be a chaotic meathead all the time?”
“Pretty much.  And how to weaponize that.”
>”You have to be joking.”
“For once, I’m not.”
>You splash a little water at her
“Think about it.  You learn how to throw your weight around a little.  How to really let loose with your power and not care what anyone else thinks.”
>Starlight sighs, and sinks into the water until only her head is sticking out
>”I can’t.  I was already like that, once.  I don’t wanna be that version of me again.”
“Oh?  I’m sensing there’s some backstory you haven’t told me.”
>”It’s nothing good.  I… I used to use my magic for some pretty awful stuff.”
“Worse than fingering someone under a bar table?”
>”Way worse.”
“Impressive.”
>”It wasn’t.  I was pure evil.  And I hate myself for it.  I won’t let myself be like that again.”
“You realize there’s something between being an insecure good-girl and a psychopath, right?  I saw that side of you yesterday.  Hell, I *felt* it.”
>Starlight doesn’t say anything
“There’s a really powerful mage inside of you, Glimmer.  I wanna help you bring her out.  And I guarantee you, seeing that side of you would soak Trixie’s panties like nothing else.”
>”Hmph.”
>Starlight stands up and walks to the other end of the washroom, grabbing a towel for herself
>”Alright,” she says.  “I’ll fight with you.  And then I’ll listen to your ‘teachings,’ but I’m not expecting much.  I’m gonna need a little more than that.”
>You stretch out in the basin, resting your feet up on the side
“Gotcha.  You can get me back for everything I’ve done to you.  Embarrass me however you want.”
>A wicked glint enters Starlight’s eye, similar to the what you saw in the Untamed Unicorn last night
>”I like the sound of that.  I’ll see you in your trials, then.”
“See you on the battlefield, sister.”

>After your bath, you towel off and pull your clothes back on
>When you head back into the common room, Gleaming is there too, looking radiant and totally badass in her glittering plate armor
>Every time she speaks, heads turn and the room grows quiet
>It’s crazy to think that there’s a lazy, beer-loving girl under all that majesty
>She nods when she sees you descending the stairs
>”Ah, here she is,” Gleaming says, her voice silencing the room.  “I hope you’re prepared to face your trial, wandering warrior.”
>You shrug
“Ready as I’ll get.”
>”And who have you chosen as your partner?”
>Starlight walks down the stairs behind you, almost on cue
>She’s dressed in her scholar’s robes, and you notice she has her hood up to hide her face
>Probably doesn’t want to be referred to as “the girl with syrup tits” in front of Gleaming
>”I will,” she says, and Gleaming looks slightly surprised
>”I see.  Trixie and Lightning have gone ahead already.  They must have some… ‘business’ to attend to.”
>Gleaming’s mouth quivers, and you can tell she’s trying really hard not to smile
>”Anyway, l-let us be off,” she says, straining not to burst out laughing

>The four of you travel in style across Canterlot, riding in the back of a gilded ivory carriage, complete with a pair of knights flanking you
>As you emerge from inside the mountain, you shield your eyes against the sun
>Canterlot’s streets are alive with chattering nobles, sleek-dressed merchants, and small knots of common folk milling about the city
>They all part when Gleaming’s carriage draws near, respectfully letting you pass
>Your destination, as it turns out, is close to the center of Canterlot
>Here, towers of alabaster and sapphire stretch hundreds of feet above your head, almost blinding in the afternoon sun
>Nestled between the towers lies a circular structure carved of a silvery, sturdy rock, nearly half a mile wide
>Maud bows her head in appreciation as you draw near, and guards at the building’s entrance raise their halberds to let you pass
>The carriage parks inside a low-ceilinged room, and the four of you continue inside on foot, moving through several narrow, torchlit hallways flanked with glowing pink stones
>Then, at the end of the hallway, you pass through a steel portcullis and into a flat, dusty dirt circle
>The stands of the coliseum are empty, aside from Lightning and Trixie, who are making out in the nosebleed section
>Lightning has her hand up Trixie’s skirt, and doesn’t remove it even when she notices you’re here
>”Nice of you guys to join us!” she calls out
“Didn’t mean to interrupt!” you yell back.  “Just pretend we’re not here!”
>Gleaming lays her hand on your shoulder
>”Ignore her!  Trixie, get down here!  We need your magic!”
>”But the Great and Powerful Trixie was so close!” she complains, then reluctantly leaves Lightning behind and makes her way down towards you
>Starlight steps a bit closer to you, her face unreadable
>The faint smell of ozone touches your nose, and a weird tingling sensation slips down your spine
“Keep your cool,” you whisper to her
>Starlight doesn’t respond
>Trixie jumps down to the ground, stopping in front of Gleaming
>”So?  What do you need Trixie for?”
>”Gilda’s trial,” Gleaming responds.  “I need an illusion of my sister, for her to rescue.”
>Trixie balks
>”Trixie refuses to make any images of that THOT Twilight—“
>Gleaming hits her with a glare that even you would wither in front of
>”W-would you like Trixie to make her extra perfect for you?” Trixie stammers out
>”She just needs to be functional,” Gleaming says, then turns to you.  “Your job is gonna be to keep her safe.  No matter what happens to you, got it?  I don’t care how hard you get, don’t let a single scratch fall on that Twilight.”
“That’s it?  Shit, I thought this would be hard.”
>Gleaming chuckles
>”I love the attitude.  But no, seriously, this is gonna hurt.  So take care of yourself.  And take extra good care of Glim.”
>”I won’t need it,” Starlight says
>Her voice is uncharacteristically *dark*, and you feel another twinge touch your body when you hear her speak
>Did… did you awaken something bad?
>Eh, forget that, you’ve got bigger problems right now
>Gleaming pats Trixie’s shoulder
>”I think we’re ready to begin,” she says
>Trixie nods, then she touches her fingers to her temples, her eyes shutting in concentration
>A breeze stirs the dirt floor of the coliseum, and a shimmering figure appears in the center: a tall, slender woman, well-built, though somewhat awkward, as if she just suddenly woke up with a bombshell body and didn’t know what to do with it
>Her hair is purple-and-blue, and she’s clad only in a pair of simple robes
>The woman-image of Princess Twilight kneels on the ground, helpless
>Gleaming nods in approval
>”Uncanny.  You’ve got some real talent.”
>”Trixie knows,” says Trixie
>Then Gleaming cups her hands around her mouth and calls out: “Okay, Flutters!  We’re ready!”
>Nobody responds, but a slight trembling ripples through the coliseum’s dirt
>Gleaming slaps you on the back
>”Well, don’t just stand around.  My sis needs help!  Go rescue her!”
>Out ahead of you, the coliseum looks empty
>But the earth ripples again, as if something were just below the surface…

>You turn to Starlight
“Got anything that’ll keep me alive?”
>”Unfortunately, yes.”
>Starlight taps a finger against your sternum as she mutters an incantation under her breath
>From the place she touched, a shimmering field of purple light spreads out across your body, coalescing into the rough shape of a suit of plate armor
>”Mage Armor.  It’s nothing fancy, but it can take a few hits.  Just don’t get cocky.  You’re not invincible.”
“Cocky?  Since when have I ever gotten cocky?” you ask as you wrap an arm around Starlight’s waist
>”H-hey!  What are you doing?”
“Do you have a spell that can stop yourself from dying when you hit the ground?”
>”Of course, that’s pretty basic— wait, no!”
“Sorry, too late,” you say as you lift Starlight up
>”I’m not okay with thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!” Starlight cries as you launch her into the air
>She sails towards the illusion-Twilight, still screaming even as she casts protective spells onto herself
>The air beneath Starlight shimmers with a protective cushion of magic, then she floats neatly down to the ground, landing at illusion-Twilight’s side
>She places her arms beneath Twilight, and lifts the image up in a bridal carry
>You see the ripple in the earth turn and streak towards her
“Well,” you say to Gleaming as you take your greataxe in your hands.  “See you on the other side.”
>Then you drop low and charge towards the ripple

>The entire world seems to streamline and focus in on your target; the ripple changes direction, immediately streaking towards you
>As it approaches, you can feel the ground quaking beneath your feet
>Once the ripple is about twenty paces from you, the ground erupts in a spray of dust, and a huge, tubular black shape lunges forth from underground
>It resembles a worm, but grown to proportions that would dwarf even the towers of Canterlot
>The creature’s body is nearly fifteen feet in diameter, and its maw opens to reveal row upon row of glistening white teeth, all of them trailing downwards into a dark gullet
>Said dark gullet opens up, ready to swallow you whole
>You stand your ground as the creature lunges towards you, then dodge aside at the last minute, swinging your axe into its side
>The blade strikes true, digging into the worm’s hide
>But the creature’s thick hide absorbs the blow like soft rubber, and your silver-edged axe succeeds only in scarring the worm’s leathery outer skin; not even a single drop of blood spills
>The worm dives back beneath the earth, disappearing in a spray of dust and dirt
>You back up towards Starlight
“Glimmer!  You got any bright ideas!”
>”It moves by sensing vibrations in the earth!”
“Great, great.  How do I kill it!?”
>”You’re supposed to be the monster killer here!  I thought you would know!”
>The ground beneath you begins to rumble as the worm prepares to attack again
“Agh, you’re no help!” you snarl, then leap aside
>The worm surfaces again, and turns the toothy ring of its maw towards you
>This time, instead of trying to swallow you, the worm slams its bulky into you
>The impact jars your whole body and sends you flying across the arena
>You slam against the stone wall hard enough to leave a Gilda-sized crater [-4 HP]
>The armor absorbs most of the blow, but you still have to crack your neck as you stand back up
“Alright.  That was kinda cool.  But I’m still gonna kill you for it,” you mutter under your breath
>The worm slithers across the ground towards you, its maw gaping

“Starlight!”
>”What?”
“I’m gonna do something stupid!  On my mark, hit it with a fucking lightning bolt or something!”
>”Can do!  Just don’t get too close, or your ass will get fried too!”
“Thanks for the warning!” you shout back
>You dig your hands into the cracked stone wall and wait, occasionally slamming a kick against the ground to drive the worm into a frenzy
>The creature lets out a low, rumbling howl as it barrels towards you, the muscles of its gullet flexing as they prepare to swallow you whole…
>At the last minute, you haul yourself up and over the wall, landing in the stone bleachers
>The worm careens directly into the spot you were just in, and its massive, fleshy body slams against the stone with a thunderous SPLAT
>Massive cracks split the surrounding bleachers and dust rains from the nosebleed section above
>The worm recoils, dazed, and sluggishly tries to disappear back underground
>Starlight doesn’t even need your signal
>She keeps her right arm wrapped around the illusionary Twilight, then extends her left towards the worm, pointing at it with her index finger
>”Bye-bye,” is all she says
>An ear-splitting crack of thunder shatters the air, and a brief, white-hot flash of electricity streaks from Starlight’s finger and splashes against the worm’s hide
>The creature shrieks in pain and coils in on itself, its leathery carapace sizzling and smoking
>But it doesn’t look hurt
>Starlight looks over at you
“Hit it again!”
>”It’s not working, you idiot!”
”Use something else!  A fireball, or whatever!”
>The worm lifts its head, waiting almost statue-still for more vibrations to pursue
>”That won’t work either!  Heat can’t kill it!  I need to drown it!”
“Great!  I’ll just keep it busy while you find a lake,” you shout back sarcastically
>”Just get its mouth pointed at me and I’ll conjure water!”
“Got it!”
>You jump down onto the arena floor, and the worm immediately lunges in your direction
“Perfect.  Why do I always gotta do the dangerous shit…”
>You sprint towards Glimmer, pumping your legs wildly as the worm bares down on you, its dark gullet stretching wide…
“Glimmer!  Now!”
>Starlight nods, then extends her palm
>”Flow free!” she cries
>A jet of crystal clear water fountains from her palm, and you throw yourself onto the ground to avoid being hit
>It splashes into the worm’s mouth and disappears down its throat
>Immediately, the creature begins to thrash violently, gurgling and howling as it drowns
“Holy shit!  You were right!”
>”I know!  Now get down!”
>You throw yourself on top of Starlight and the Twilight image, sheltering them with your body
>The worm’s thrashing coils ram against your back, nearly crushing you against the girl and girl-image beneath you
>But you hold strong, even as the massive, dying beast threatens to crush you flat [-2 HP]
>And then, with one final gasp, the worm falls to the ground, its reddish-black body coiled and limp on the arena’s dirt floor
>You stand up, shake a little dust off your glowing Mage Armor, and step towards the worm to make sure it’s dead
>But before you can touch it, the creature’s body begins to glow a shimmering, vibrant green
>With a flash of blinding, lime-colored light, the beast’s form fades away
>Now, in the middle of the arena, there stands only a single young woman
>She’s tall, nearly a head taller than you, but willow-thin, with pale, slender limbs
>Her hair is a gentle pink, and she’s dressed in a plain gown of tattered, dirty cloth
>Small trinkets –bits of dried plant, precious stones, and small wood carvings– hang on pieces of twine from her garments, and antlers are lashed to each of her arms with chords
>The woman gives you a small, nervous smile; half of her face is hidden by her hair
>”Oh, wow.  I didn’t think you’d defeat my sandworm form so easily.  I really underestimated you.  You’re doing great, though!”
>The girl looks at the ground, awkwardly tracing circles in the ground with her right foot
>”I’m, um, going to have to make things a bit more difficult, now.  I’m really sorry.  I’ll t-try really hard not to kill you though, I promise!”
>The girl sighs
>Then she closes her eyes, clasps her hands in front of her chest, and surrounds herself with a cocoon of green magic
>Before your eyes, her shape changes to that of a sleek, canine form, made of living wood and rock
>Her paws are made from razor-sharp stone, and her eyes are green magical flame
“Starlight?  Any bright ideas?”
>”That thing’ll shred me and Twilight alive.  Just keep it off us, and I’ll do my best to support you!”
“Great.  Look like I’m the one getting chewed up again…”

>Instead of charging right towards the wolf, you match its circling, keeping yourself just out of pouncing distance as the beast closes in
>Sunlight glitters along the silver blade of your axe as you heft it up, letting your enemy see just how sharp it is
“Yo, Glim.”
>”Don’t call me that.  What?”
“That thing’s made of wood.  You can shoot fireballs.”
>”I’m well aware.  And what happens if it charges as you while it’s on fire?”
“That would hurt a bit, you got a point.”
>You take a step toward the Timberwolf and it retreats, if only slightly, keeping itself poised and ready to spring
“Alright, new plan.  You can distract this thing or something, right?”
>”Can do.”
“Perfect.  Keep it from killing me, and I’ll handle the dirty work.  Now!”
>On your cue, Starlight stretches out her palm
>”Burn!”
>Pillars of fire erupt next to the Timberwolf, and it instinctively dodges away
>You take advantage of its distract and swing, cutting a gash into it with your axe
>The creature howls as bright-green sap spills down its side
>Before you can react it spins around and slashes at you with its claws
>The armor absorbs most of the blow, which would have shredded your rib cage otherwise, but you still suffer a nasty scratch along your abdomen [-3 HP]
“Glimmer!  I thought you said no fire!”
>”It was just to spook it!  This is the real plan!”
>Starlight twirls in place, then curls her fingers in the Timberwolf’s direction
>”By iron be bound!”
>Chains spring forth from the ground, attempting to wrap themselves around the beast
>It snarls and struggles, snapping free from several of the bonds
>You charge in and swing towards its head, intending to crush it all at once
>The wolf realizes your plan just in time and raises a paw over its face; your axe cleaves deep into its wrist, nearly severing its fore-claw
>Unfortunately, your attack has put you in close enough range that the creature fixes its jaws around your leg, biting harder and harder until your Mage Armor shatters into fragments of violet light [AC reduced!]
>You expected this, and dodge away just in time, though the beast’s teeth still graze your leg [-1 HP]
“Glimmer!  Any weapon buffs?”
>”Plenty!  Try this one!”
>She extends two fingers towards your axe, and cries out: “Sunder!”
>Your greataxe begins to thrum with ethereal power, and violet flames begin to glow around its blade
“Aww yeah.  I fuckin’ love you!”
>”Noted,” Starlight mumbles
>You heft your axe over your head, and bring it down on the Timberwolf’s neck with one fiendish chop
>The blade connects, but just before it can sever the monster’s neck, the Timberwolf disappears in another flash of green light
>In its place, the female druid kneels on the ground, her slender body wrapped in Starlight’s chains
>Despite this, she smiles encouragingly at you
>”You guys are doing really well.  Keep up the great work!  You even gave me a little nick there.”
>She tilts her head to show you her neck, where a thin cut oozes stray drops of blood
>”I’m going to make this last one extra difficult, okay?  Just keep your doing your best, and I’m sure you’ll make it through!” she says in a deceptively tender voice.  “Here goes!”
>The druid snaps her fingers, and Starlight’s chains explode into shimmering flower petals
>Freed, the young woman stands up and spreads her arms
>Streams of green light swirl around her, and her form shifts into something leathery and billowing that immediately streaks into the sky
>You can see it circling above, flapping huge, bat-like wings
>Then, with a screech, it folds its wings and streaks back towards the ground
>You only get a brief glimpse at it, but there’s no mistaking it: the druid’s turned herself into a drake, and she’s swooping towards Starlight, and the Twilight-image she carries, with outstretched claws
>You’ve got maybe two seconds to react before they’re snatched up!

>There isn’t any time to waste in bravado or fancy technique
>You just drop low and sprint to the other girls as quickly as you can
>Just before the drake can grab them, you throw yourself in front of Starlight and Twilight, holding your axe in front of yourself for protecting
>The blade deflects the drake’s claws, but a stray talon still tears a painful gash through your left shoulder [-5 HP]
>You grunt in pain, then swing at the drake as it flies away again, succeeding in cutting a jagged line across its flank
>With a screech of pain, the creature wheels into the air again, circling as it prepares to swoop again
“Glimmer?”
>”Already on it.”
>Starlight sucks in her breath, and you realize her face is drenched in sweat
>All the magic she’s expending must be taking its toll on her
>Starlight extends her palm towards the heavens, pointing it in the direction of the drake
>”I summon thee, frozen vortex!”
>From her outstretched palm, a swirling torrent of freezing air and ice crystals blasts towards the drake
>It barrel-rolls to one side, but still gets caught in the cone’s outer reaches
>Immediately, thick patches of ice form on its wings and across its hide, and the creature plummets towards the ground
>It lands on its hind legs, and uses its half-frozen wings to begin crawling towards you
>You glance back at Starlight
“Take Twilight and stay out of range.”
>”Right.”
>Glimmer backs up, holding the illusionary Twilight under one arm
>You position yourself between her and the drake and drop into a combat stance
>The creature’s head snaps toward you, razor-sharp teeth trying to close around your arm
>You elbow its head away, then retaliate with a broad, sweeping swing of your axe
>The blade carves a gash into the side of the drake’s head, and thick, ichorous blood dribbles down between its teeth
>Snarling, the creature whips its tail into your belly
>The impact sends you stumbling backwards, but most of the pain is already fading away [-2 HP]
>”Duck!” is all you hear Starlight say behind you, and you immediately obey
>Three glowing violet missiles streak over your head and impact the drake’s chest, exploding on contact
>It hisses and tries to lunge at Starlight, but you’re already in its way, and smack the creature’s face with the side of your axe, causing it to recoil
>Blood is running down the left side of your body now, flowing freely from the gash in your arm
>It hurts, but you can ignore the pain for the time being
>The drake is moving sluggishly now as it begins to succumb to its wounds
>The two of you slowly circle each other, each daring the other to attack with subtle, flicking motions of your bodies
>It’s the drake’s patience that breaks first
>The monster beats its wings, stirring dirt into your eyes
>You shield then with one hand, and the beast uses the opportunity to attack
>Razor teeth close around your abdomen, and the beast tries to lift you into the sky [-6 HP]
>You cry out in pain, dropping your greataxe
>It thuds into the coliseum floor
>The drake snarls, craning its neck as it prepares to hurl you into the air
>Before it can, you unsheathe your dagger and bury it into the monster’s eye
>For a moment, the entire battlefield is still
>Then the drake gurgles in pain as it drops to the ground, letting your battered body roll out of its mouth
>Starlight rushes to your side, but you stand on your own
>The drake writhes on the ground for a moment, then disappears into a shimmer of green light like the other beasts before it
>In its place, the young female druid is sitting cross-legged in the dirt
>Her side is badly scratched, but her hair covers the eye you stabbed the dagger into
>Despite all this, she beams
>”Wow!  You guys did a really great job,” she says in a high, breathy voice.  “I’m sure Captain Shield was really proud of you.”
>You hear the sound of sabatons stepping in the dirt behind you
>”I think I made the right decision.  I’ll say that much,” Gleaming says
>You turn to look at Gleaming; she’s still wearing the “I’m a really serious knight” expression on her face, but you can tell by the slight twitch in her eye that she’s desperate to geek out about the fight with you
>”Fluttershy, heal her please.  Then bring her to the castle.  I’d like to introduce her to my sister.”
>Fluttershy bows
>”Of course, my lady.  I’ll have her good as new.  Should I find her something to wear as well?”
>”Rarity will handle that,” Gleaming says
>She reaches over and pats your shoulder, the barest hint of a smile on her face.  “You survived.  But your real trial is about to begin.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
>A little of Gleaming’s mischievous true self glimmers in her eye
>”You’ll see soon enough.  For now, follow her,” she says, gesturing to Fluttershy
>”And me?” Starlight asks
>”You should stay with her as well,” Gleaming replies.  “You two fought well together.  I’m sure there is much you need to discuss.”
>With that, Gleaming departs
>Fluttershy stoops down and gathers some dirt in her hands
>As soon as she touches it, it begins to glow with tendrils of shimmering green magic
>She places a little dirt against the scratch on her side, and it knits together nicely
>Then she places a handful up under her hair, against her hidden eye
>”Don’t be alarmed.  It’s painless.”
“The pain wasn’t what alarmed me.”
>”Oh.  I’m sorry if my methods are strange.”
>She hangs her head, looking genuinely upset
“W-whoa, no!  Not strange, just haven’t seen that kinda magic before.  Honestly, I wouldn’t say no to healing right now, and you look like you know your stuff…”
>Fluttershy gives you a small smile
>”Then please, follow me.”

>She leads you and Starlight –who no longer carries the illusionary Twilight, as it faded after the trials were over– down a stone passage and into a room beneath the coliseum
>It’s low-ceilinged and built from featureless stone, but the room is naturally cool due to being below the earth
>Soft, blue light colors the place, thanks to several glowing stones held in alcoves on the walls
>A stream of flowing water cuts through the center of the room, perfect for bathing, and stone benches criss-cross the floor, along with the occasional wooden chest
>All in all, it looks like the kind of place arena athletes could relax after a match
>Fluttershy has you lie down on a bench, then carefully spreads handfuls of fine arena dirt across your wounds
>Though the dirt is rough and dry, Fluttershy’s hands are motherly and almost impossibly soft
>You find yourself squirming a little in delight at her touch
>The healing process is weirdly itchy, but it’s over quickly, leaving you feeling good as new, if completely exhausted [HP restored!]
>Fluttershy straightens up and gives you a gentle smile
>”I’ll leave you two here to rest, okay?  When you’re ready to head to the castle, there’s a stable out back, for these adorable little warhorses,” she says, wringing her hands in delight.  “I’ll, um, be tending to them until you’re ready.”
>She bows again, then leaves you and Starlight alone

>You slowly sit up from the bench, testing your restored body by flexing a little
>Instead of the usual post-healing hangover, you actually feel pretty damn good, if exhausted
>Your muscles in particular feel taught and steely, giving you the vague impression that you could tear one of these benches right outta the ground, if you wanted to
>The sound of shuffling cloth catches your ear, and you glance over to see Starlight sitting up as well, staring at you
>A tiny bit of blush colors her cheeks
>Immediately, she looks away, but the damage is done
>You gingerly get to your feet and slink up behind her
“Enjoying the view?”
>”Cut it out.  Is there any situation where you won’t immediately resort to flirting?”
“I haven’t found one yet.”
>You place your hands on Starlight’s small, soft shoulders and begin to press the tips of your fingers the squishy muscles near her neck
>She closes her eyes, and a tiny sigh of pleasure escapes her lips
“You did great, Glimmer.  I actually don’t know if I coulda won without you.  Probably not.”
>”Thanks, I guess.”
“I didn’t get a chance to look into the audience.  But I’ll bet you that Trixie was wet enough to drown a sandworm.  That was some top-tier spellcastin’.”
>”It was alright.  Nothing terribly advanced.  Then again, combat magic never is.  Oh…”
>Starlight sighs as you begin to work your hands further down her back, pressing your knuckles into the gentle lines of muscle that run parallel to her spine
>”You really think I impressed her?”
“Wouldn’t doubt it.”
>Starlight sighs
>”Thanks, Gilda.”
>She smirks
>”Waaaait a minute.  You’re not trying to get on my good side now, are you?”
“…maybe.”
>”I still remember what you promised.  No matter how embarrassing, I get to do whatever I want to you.”
“Yeah, yeah.  Any chance you wanna get it out of your system now?”
>”Hmmm…”
>Starlight raises her hand, and a nimbus of glowing magic begins to spread out from her palm
>”Maybe a little.”
>Ethereal fingers begin to trace a line up your thigh, and then you feel a strong, firm hand grab your butt
>”It was so much fun, watching a big, strong girl like you squirm.  I wonder how much you’d squirm…”
>The mage hand gives your ass a gentle smack
>Then you feel a finger prodding up between your buttocks, teasing the sensitive hole between them
>”…for this?”
>In spite of yourself, you let out a low, lusty grunt
“Aah…”
>”Oh, you like that?”
“I can handle it.”
>Starlight giggles
>”Well, then…”
>You can feel the finger grow slippery, and you grit your teeth as it begins to press its way up inside you…
>And then, suddenly, the mage hand vanishes
>”…I think I’ll wait until later.”
“H-huh?  Hey!  Finish me off!”
>”Nah.  I’m tired,” Starlight says, feigning a yawn
“You bitch!  You can’t pull the same trick on me twice!”
>You grab for her, but an invisible wall of force knocks you backwards
>”There’s no point teasing you if it’s just us.  I think I’ll wait until later.  Unless… you want to beg for it?”

“Beg?  Are you out of your mind?”
>You sneer at Starlight, who only grows more smug when she sees you reaction
>Internally, you tell yourself to keep it together
“You seriously think that’s how you’re gonna get Trixie?” you ask, folding your arms across your chest
>Starlight’s smug grin falters for a second
>”Who said this is about Trixie?”
“Uh, you did.  She’s all you’ve been thinking about since I’ve known you.”
>Starlight looks away for a second, her cheeks pink
>”That’s not entirely true.”
“Well…”
>You take a few steps toward her
>Close-up, you tower over Starlight, and you puff out your chest a bit for good measure
“THE GREAT AND RAVENOUS GILDA THINKS YOU SHOULD QUIT PLAYING YOUR LITTLE GAMES AND FINALLY TAKE SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF!” you announce in your best Trixie impression
>Starlight looks up at you, her eyes wide…
>And then she bursts out laughing
>”Your impression of her is terrible!”
>You put on the exact same petulant, overly dramatic tone that Trixie uses when she gets upset
“THE GREAT GILDA’S IMPRESSIONS ARE ALWAYS PERFECT!  HOW DARE YOU MOCK HER, KNAVE!?”
>Starlight flops backwards on the bench, laughing so hard she has to clutch her sides
>”S-stop!  I can’t take it!”
“THAT’S WHAT GILDA WISHES SHE WERE SAYING RIGHT NOW!”
>Starlight sits up, wiping tears from her eyes
>Then, in a move you didn’t expect, she throws her arms around your legs, hugging herself against your midsection
>”I think I’ve made up my mind, now.  You’re pretty alright, Gilda.”
“GILDA WOULD LIKE TO THANK— I mean, thanks, Glim.“
>You pat her on the back of the head
>Then you feel the electrifying sensation of Starlight’s mage hand teasing its fingers along the back of your leg
>”I think I wouldn’t mind playing with you a bit…”
“I’m sure Trixie would want you to use your real hands.”
>”And what would Gilda want?”
“Your mouth.”
>Starlight snickers
>”You haven’t earned that yet, you big lug,” Starlight says as she slips her hand beneath your combat skirt.  “Maybe if I’m drunk enough, though…”
>Her delicate, tender fingers grip your buttocks and give you a little squeeze
>”Princesses, how are you this strong everywhere…”
“Some really fucked-up training.”
>”Mmm.  You’ll have to tell me about that, sometime.”
>Starlight caresses the smooth curve of your flesh right where your upper thigh meets your buttock, and her eyes flutter shut
>Her slender finger starts to prod between your cheeks, gently toying with the hole between them
“Mmmf…”
>”Is that good?”
“It’d be better if you’d just put it in.”
>”I like to take my time,” Starlight says in a whisper.  “Plus, I’ll need a little of this.”
>Her hand buzzes slightly as her magic surrounds it, and when it dissipates, you can feel a thin layer of warm, slippery oil coating her fingers
>”Take a deep breath,” Starlight says with a wink
“Bitch please.  I’ve taken bigger than your scrawny fingers.”
>Starlight giggles
>”I don’t doubt that.  I don’t doubt that at all…”
>On the word “all,” she slowly slides her finger up inside your ass
>You sigh, your body tightening for a brief second, then going slack as it welcomes Starlight inside
“More.”
>”With pleasure~.”
>A second finger joins the first, and little *shlurk* sounds fill the room as Starlight very slowly begins to stroke them in and out of your taught, delicate hole
>You can’t help but groan, and you bury your fingers in her hair for good measure
>Starlight laughs
>”I wonder how much you can take.”
“Try your whole hand.  I dare you.”
>”Oh, that’s not exactly what I had in mind…”
>Starlight with draws her hand, making your thighs tremble as her slimy fingers slip out of your body
>”I was thinking more along the lines of, if I were to conjure one of these…”
>Starlight snaps her fingers, and a shimmering, phallic plug made of an ethereal violet glass materializes in her palm
>”…and leave it inside you for the rest of your night, how long would your powerful warrior spirit last?”
>Starlight smiles, and that familiar wicked gleam returns to her eyes
>”Want to find out?  Remember, you *did* say I could embarrass you however I wanted…”

“Hmm.”
>”What’s the matter?” Starlight teases.  “After everything we fought, is a tiny little plug enough to scare you?”
“Of course not.  I was thinking of ways to make this interesting.”
>Starlight’s eye twitches
>”Having a toy up your ass in the princess’s own court isn’t interesting?”
>You shrug
“It’s kinky as hell, I’ll give you that.  But it’ll get old.  You gotta spice things up somehow, Glimglam.”
>”Don’t call me that.  And if you ask me, things are plenty spicy already,” Starlight says, twirling the glass plug around between her fingers.  “How exactly am I supposed to make things any spicier without us both getting arrested?”
“Involve Trixie.”
>That actually catches Starlight off guard
>”Trixie?  Are you crazy?  She’d—“
“She’d what?”
>”I don’t know.  There’s no way that could go well.”
>You roll your eyes
“That’s the whole point!  Come on, what happened to the crazy psycho-dom you were just ten seconds ago?”
>”It’s different.  I can do that stuff with you.  Not with her.”
>Starlight averts her eyes and fidgets nervously with the plug
“Why not?”
>”Because… I don’t know, what if she’s not into it?”
“Then you stop and move on.  But sitting around waiting for her to notice you hasn’t worked too well either, yeah?”
>Starlight shrugs
>”I guess not.”
“So go for it.  Try out those frisky magic hands.  Hell, use me to show off, if you want,” you say with a wink
>Starlight blushes
>”That’s… mildly tempting, I’ll admit.”
“There ya go.  You gotta impress that girl, Glimmy—”
>”Don’t call me that either.”
“—and you’re gonna need some freaky magic for it.  So be brave!  Be tough!  Be the alpha bitch!”
>Starlight chuckles slightly, holding her hand over her mouth
>”You know, I should be saying the same thing to you.  About bravery, that is.  You didn’t forget your end of the deal, right?”
>Starlight holds up the plug
>Maybe it’s your imagination, but it’s looking a fair bit bigger than before
“Hah, of course not!” you say, feeling a bead of sweat roll down the back of your neck
>Did she seriously make that thing expand when you weren’t looking?
>This chick scares you sometimes
>Starlight giggles, then cups her palm against your butt, giving it a firm, commanding squeeze
>”Well, then.  I think the appropriate phrase is *bend over*…”

***

>”Um, Ms. Gilda?  I’m sorry if this is a weird question, but, um… are you okay?” Fluttershy asks
>You and Starlight are following her out of the arena, and you’re taking very ginger steps, for obvious reasons
"Yeah, oof…” you say through gritted teeth.  “I’m totally okay.”
>”Oh, alright.  Sorry for asking.  You’re just walking a little funny.  I didn’t know if your legs were hurt during the fight.”
“Hah, nope.  Just a little, uh, sore.”
>Starlight snorts, and has to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from breaking out laughing
>Fluttershy gives you an innocent smile
>”That’s definitely understandable.  You know, I’ve made some herbal ointments that are very good for easing sore muscles.  I could administer them, if that’s what you’d want…”
>Starlight looks like she’s about to cry, she’s trying so hard not to laugh
>”You should *heheh* ask her to examine you again.  Maybe she *heh* missed something the first time,” Starlight says
“Uh, no thanks.  Administering ointments, please.  And no examinations.”
>You resist the urge to smack Starlight upside the head, then close your eyes as sweat rolls down your forehead
>Sweet Celestia, walking with this thing inside you is torture
>Each time your foot hits the ground, it shifts a little inside you, either sending a twinge of pain or pleasure (or sometimes both) through your body

>Fortunately, you end up taking a carriage to the princess’s palace
>Which is much easier than walking, though sitting on a wooden bench presses the plug even deeper inside you, where it squishes up against your insides
>Whenever the wheels hit a bump, the entire vehicle rocks, making you wince
>Starlight eyes you keenly the whole time, her tongue held between her teeth and her eyes glittering with sadistic glee

>Princess Twilight’s palace –or at least, her home in Canterlot; apparently she has an even more opulent home in nearby Ponyville, but that’s not particularly important to you right now– consists of a single tower of violet crystal, surrounded by squat, boxy buildings constructed from a shimmering silvery stone
>The coach drops you off at the gates, where a small squadron of royal guard stand watch, supported by towering golems built from iron and held together with ethereal purple light
>Past the gates, a stone path leads up to a flight of steps, which turn out to be a lot harder than you’d anticipated
>Raising your leg too far causes the plug to nearly slip out of you, and you can’t help but let out a tiny gasp as Starlight’s magic shoves it back in
“G-guh…”
>”Aww, you okay?” Starlight asks, feigning sincerity.  “Want me to help you?”
>She holds out her hand, but you wave her away
“Nah, I’m good.  You’ll need your hands free, here soon.”
>Starlight smiles
>”I’m sure I’ll find plenty of use for them.”
>Fluttershy looks between the two of you, her face full of confused innocence
>”Anyway, um, the rest of Princess Twilight’s court should have arrived by now.  If you’ll follow me inside…”
>Fluttershy scurries between a set of double doors engraved with murals of the royal sisters, and you follow her in

>The outside of the palace was opulent, sure, but it’s nothing compared to this
>The floor is adorned with plush red carpet, and the place is constructed from blocks of an alabaster stone that seems to cast its own light, with no need for torches
>Each wall has a new piece of art pretty much every twenty feet, ranging from portraits of Canterlot nobles, to sacred scrollwork dedicated to the princesses, to antique armor and sets of weapons that you desperately want to get your hands on
>Occasionally you’ll run across a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf as well, stocked with books that, though valuable, are dog-eared and have clearly been read many times each
“Huh.  So this is how a princess lives.”
>”Much to her chagrin,” Starlight mutters.  “If it were up to her, it’d be nothing but books and junk food.”
“Sounds like my kinda girl,” you say.  “Minus the books part.”
>Near the end of the hall, a silver door swings open, and a young woman comes sprinting towards you
>She’s dressed in a flowing evening gown of shimmering blue-and-purple silk, with gems laced expertly around the hem and at the sleeves
>Her hair is a vibrant purple, and curls in intricate swoops around her head
>”Fluttershy, darling!  You’re back!  Oh, dear, you have no idea how worried I get when Gleaming pulls you into those dreadful trials!  What if you’d been hurt?”
>The woman throws her arms around Fluttershy, nuzzling the druid close
>”Oh, it’s r-really not a big deal, Rarity,” Fluttershy mumbles, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.  “I really am a lot tougher than I look…”
>”I suppose I can’t argue with that,” Rarity muses, then lets go of Fluttershy after one final squeeze
>She turns to Starlight next, and gives her a quick bow
>”It’s good to see you again, Starlight.”
>”You too,” Starlight resonds
>Though you don’t sense any unfriendliness, you get the impression that these two aren’t exactly close
>Then, finally, Rarity turns to you
>”And this must be our new recruit!  Splendid to meet you, darling!  My, you certainly do look the part,” she says, placing a hand against your bicep.  “Oh my, I certianly feel safer already!”
“Uh, thanks,” you manage to get out
>”My, you seem so stiff.  Please do relax.  You’re around friends, after all,” Rarity coos, running her hand down her arm
>Behind her, a second woman steps into view
>She’s taller than Rarity by nearly a foot, and built like an ox
>She might be the only woman you’ve ever met who you think could beat you at armwresting
>Muscles bulge out along her arms and at her thighs, and what you can see of her skin is colored with a deep farmer’s tan
>She’s not wearing anything fancy, just simple leather armor like yours, with nearly a dozen different blades hung in sheathes at strategic locations around her body
>Her hair is bleached blonde from the sun, and her face stares at you with an intensity that clearly says “that there is my girl, and if you touch her, each of these weapons is gonna end up buried somewhere inside you”
>Rarity, oblivious to the farm-girl standing right behind her, tugs at the hem of your combat skirt
>”Princesses, these are filthy!  I simply must find something more appropriate for you to wear if you’re to attend the princess’s court!  I know you warrior types despise dresses, but please, let me at least stitch you up something a little more presentable!”

“Sounds great!” you say
>Immediately, the blade-clad warrior watching you from the other end of the hallway narrows her eyes into a stare that promises death
“But you should probably bring your friend there, too.  She looks a little angry.”
>”Ah’m not angry, just concerned,” the warrior says.  “Strange gals talkin’ to my lady put me on edge, that’s all.”
>Rarity chuckles
>”Oh, Applejack.  It really is adorable, how protective you get.  But you should know by now I can handle myself.  Even if our new friend is rather impressive, isn’t she?”
>Applejack frowns, blushing
>”Ah’ve seen better.”
>Rarity turns back to you and wraps her delicate hands around your arm
>”Do follow me, darling.  Applejack, you as well, if our guest insists.”
>”Hmph,” is all Applejack has to reply with
“Glim?  You want in on this?”
>You wink, and then subtly wiggle your hips to remind her of what’s currently lodged inside your body
>Starlight grins
>”Oh, I wouldn’t miss it.  Lead the way, Rarity.”

>And lead you Rarity does, down a series of side-corridors and into a wide, circular room full of racks of gowns, stacks of fabric bolts, and floor-to-ceiling mirrors
>As soon as you step inside, there’s a palpable shift of power in the air
>No matter how strong you might be, in here, Rarity’s in charge
>She nudges you towards the center of the room, already busying herself with various fabrics that lay neatly folded inside various wooden chests
>”Stand there for me, if you would.  This won’t take more than a second.”
>Applejack follows you, standing just a few feet behind
>While Rarity bustles about the room gathering her supplies and Starlight finds herself a seat with a proper view, Applejack whispers just loud enough for you, and only you, to hear
>”Listen, partner.  I don’t really know what you’re tryin’ to pull here.”
“Nothing.  If I were gonna pull something, I wouldn’t bring you here.”
>”That’s… that’s a good point.”
“Of all the people here, you’re the last one I’d wanna fight.”
>”You’re a bit smarter than ya look, then.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
>”Don’t mention it.  But that gal’s taken, ya hear?”
“Of course.  Trust me, I got my hands full already.”
>”Show-off.”
“What can I say, I get around.  If Rarity’s yours, I ain’t gonna make a move.”
>”I’ll hold ya to that.  Ya seem like an honorable gal, I don’t wanna start trouble where I don’t have to.”
“Me neither.  I hate starting trouble.”
>Rarity finally scurries back up to your side, a measuring tape in her hands and several lengths of glossy white fabric slung over her back
>”Alright, darling!  I need your measurements, now.  Strip down for me, if you wouldn’t mind.”
>You can feel AJ’s eyes burrowing into your back
>But hey, the lady asked, right?
>Obediently, you shrug off your armor and let it drop to the floor, alongside your weapons
>Naked, you stand in the center of Rarity’s workshop, surrounded by dozens of mirrors that reflect your own body back at you
>Rarity’s eyes trail professionally down your body, until they reach your buttocks where, of course, Starlight’s plug is plainly visible
>Her face flushes a deep crimson, and you hear a soft clattering of metal as Applejack pats a few of her many blades
>”D-Darling,” Rarity says, fanning herself as she tries to maintain her composure, “I’m all in favor of, um, ‘accessorizing,’ but this is a but, much, don’t you think?”

“What’s so weird about it?” you ask, your voice casual.  “It’s just part of my long-running BDSM relationship with Starlight.”
>Rarity gasps
>”Goodness.  She made you put that ghastly thing in there?”
>Rarity turns to Starlight, staring at her in disbelief
>”I did not!” Starlight protests, her face red.  “I mean, okay, I *did*, but she was okay with it!”
>”Wait.  You let her do this to you?” Rarity asks
>She turns back to you now, holding her hand over her mouth
>”Darling, that’s rather… intense, isn’t it?  You’re so much bigger, so much stronger than her, and you just… you just let her control you like that?”
“Sure do.  I can’t take it out until my mistress says so.”
>Starlight hides her face in her hands when she hears the word ‘mistress’
>Rarity, on the other hand, licks her lips
>”Your mistress?” she asks, breathless.  “You let her humiliate you like that in front of all of us?  That’s so very lewd…”
“Pretty much.  We’re both super into it.”
>Starlight sinks down in her chair, as if wishing she could melt through the floor
>She mumbles something into her palms that sounds vaguely like “kill me”
“According to Starlight,” you whisper, “there’s no better feeling than making a strong lady squirm.”
>”Oh, yes.  I can imagine that…” Rarity says
>She turns slowly to face Applejack, a wide, predatory grin spreading across her face
>Applejack takes a few steps back
>”Rares, I don’t like that look yer givin’ me.”
>”I have no idea what you’re talking about, AJ dear.”
>Rarity’s eyes have a glossy, sadistic glint to them as she takes a few steps towards the farmgirl
>”Why don’t you undress for me?  I’ve just had a fantastic idea.”
>”Nope!  Nope, not likin’ this at all!”
>Applejack tries to run, but Rarity crosses the room towards her with several nimble steps and lays her hand on the warrior’s shoulder
>”AJ, please, you’re not afraid of harmless little Rarity, right?  A big, strong lady like you?”
>”Not gonna lie to ya, Rares, I’m borderin’ on terrified at the moment.”
>”Ooooooh~” Rarity coos, her eye twitching as a shudder of pleasure runs through her.  “I could get used to this.”
>”No, no!  Stop gettin’ used to it!”
>Applejack points a finger at you
>”And you, quit givin’ her ideas!”
“I was just being honest.”
>Applejack’s eye twitches
>Rarity clutches herself against Applejack’s side
>”Please, darling.  Let me try this out.  I need it so, so badly.  I want to watch my strong, lovely Applejack squirm.”
>”Can’t we do that later?”  Applejack asks
>”I’m sorry, dear, but I need this *now*.  If you submit to me, I’ll let you…”
>Rarity stands on her tiptoes and whispers something into Applejack’s ear, which immediately makes the cowgirl’s face go bright red
>”Y-you will?” she stammers
>”Cross my heart,” Rarity answers
>Applejack hangs her head
>”Alright, alright.  I’ll do it.  For you, Rares.  But if I hear one crack outta her…”
“My crack’s now the one you should be worrying about…” you say just loud enough for her to hear you
>Applejack looks like she’s about to strangle her, but Rarity calms her by stroking her face
>Then her hand gradually trails down AJ’s body, until it reaches the belt holding up her leather trousers
>”Now, dear.  If you wouldn’t mind…”
>Applejack sighs, and begins to undress

>She avoids looking at you, Starlight, or anyone else the entire time, and just methodically pulls off her armor and weapons then tosses them aside
>Her body is broad and strong, with pale, delicate skin around her chest and upper thighs and a deep, freckle-spattered tan everywhere else
>Rarity runs her hands down Applejack’s body, delighted
>”This is the best this room has ever looked, I can guarantee that.  Oh, Applejack, I love you so much, darling.”
>”Why do you only ever say that when yer about to violate me?”
>”Because that’s when I love you the most.  Now, let’s get you warmed up…”
>She sticks a finger in her mouth, wetting it with her saliva, then presses it up between Applejack’s buttocks
>”Hnng…”
>”Is that already too much?”
>”Ah’m fine,” Applejack grunts
>Rarity begins working her finger in and out of Applejack’s ass, making Applejack shudder with each thrust
>With each tiny squeak of pain Applejack lets out, the sadistic aura emanating from Rarity intensifies, until eventually she stands
>”I think you’re quite ready now, darling.  Bend over for me, if you would.”
>She gives Applejack’s booty a quick pat, and the warrior obediently bends down
>You can’t help but smile
“Don’t worry.  It ain’t so bad once it’s in.”
>”Can it.  I bet yours is only the size of a toothpick.”
“Wanna compare?”
>”Nah.  Make mine twice as big as hers,” Applejack commands to Starlight
>”Uh, you sure about that?  Hers was actually kinda—“
>”Just do it!” Applejack barks
>”Oooh, she’s eager,” Rarity coos.  “Starlight, please be a dear and make me one of your toys.”
>Rarity holds out her hand, and Starlight conjures another plug, this one about the size of your clenched fist and shimmering with a layer of grease
>Just looking at it makes your cheeks tremble
>Applejack gets a look at it too, and her face goes pale as she realizes what a bad idea this was
>”W-wait.  Hold on a minute.  Maybe I could—“
>But her voice trails off when Rarity places the plug’s tip against her waiting hole, and Applejack sucks in her breath in response
>”Rares?” she manages to squeak out
>”Yes, darling?”
>”Please be gentle.”
>Rarity giggles
>”No.”
>Then she shoves the plug inside Applejack with a loud, painful squelch
>Applejack grits her teeth and tries to stay stoically silent, but can’t help but let out a long, undulating moan
>”Hnnngaah… ah… hnn…”
>Little gasps of pain continue to escape her lips as she straightens out
>Rarity, meanwhile, is practically drooling at the sight
>”Oh my.  Isn’t it beautiful, Starlight?  Look at how precious she is.  So powerful, yet she let me ruin her like this…”
>Rarity strokes her hands down Applejack’s body, then clenches her fingers into her ass
>”Such a good girl…”
>Applejack finally catches her breath
>”Rares, I’ll be straight with ya, I don’t think I can keep this monster in me all night.”
>”That’s too bad, darling,” Rarity says with a vicious titter in her voice.  “You’ll keep it in until I give you permission.  If you’re good, maybe I’ll let it come out early.  Maybe.”
>She giggles again and gives Applejack’s ass a playful slap
>”Oh, Starlight, I can see why you like this so much!”
>Starlight doesn’t say anything
>She’s just staring at the ground, looking like she’s probably wondering how her life so consistently spirals out of control
>”Now, you two need your outfits!” Rarity says, clapping her hands together in delight.  “What would you cute little pets like?  Maybe something showy, for us to parade you around in?  Or maybe something nice and *tight*, so you can feel the toys inside you.  Or maybe…”
>Rarity’s face lights up
>”Something adorably girly!  That’s a fantastic idea, wouldn’t you agree, Starlight darling?”
>Starlight sits up, looks at Rarity, then looks at you
>Slowly, the embarrassment fades from her face, replaced by a devious grin as she realizes her chance to one-up you
>”You know, I like the sound of that.”


>You lock eyes with Starlight, returning her smile with just as much devious intent, if not more
“Y’know what?  I think I’m all for it to.”
>Starlight blinks
>”H-huh?”
“Wearing the same armor all the time does get a little boring,” you say, flexing your naked body in front of the two of them
>Rarity begins fanning her face
“Do your worst.  Make me fuckin’ *sparkle*.”
>At that, Rarity twirls before flopping in Starlight’s lap, looking like she’s nearly fainted
>”Oh, darling, you are absolutely speaking my language!”
>Applejack goes pale
>”Hol’ up now!  I didn’t agree to any of this!”
>Rarity stands up and sashays over to her lady, wrapping her arms around Applejack’s shoulders
>”I’m sorry, dear.  But you’re hardly in the position to argue with me now, aren’t you?”
>She reaches down and pats Applejack’s butt
>”Especially not when I’m in the position to make you wear one of these as long as I wish, ‘mm?”
>Applejack glances at Rarity, terrified, then looks over at you
>”Y’all’ve created a monster.”
>You just chuckle
“I’ve handled worse.  Bring it on.”

>Rarity bustles about the room, piling your and Applejack’s clothes into a chest and locking it, leaving the two of you with nothing to wear
>Both of you stand back-to-back in the center of the room, your buttocks just barely touching, while Rarity buzzes about taking your measurements
>She does Applejack first, occasionally planting flirty pecks on the other girl’s cheek
>When she gets to you, her face flushes as she drags her hands along your skin
>”Oh.. oh my…” she huffs as she wraps the tape around your bicep, which leaves the back of her hand resting against your breast
>”Rares?” Applejack asks.  “I don’t much appreciate that thottish breathin’ of yours.”
>”It’s n-nothing, darling.  Just *very* engrossed in my work.” Rarity replies
>”That’s what I’m worried about…”

>When the measurements are complete, Rarity gets to work
>Unsurprisingly, you realize she has some magic of her own; it kinda seems like you attract these types of girls to yourself, really
>Her fingers flex over rolls of cloth, and they split themselves into ribbons and dancing through the air, weaving together and stitching themselves into complex frilly
>Starlight watches, impressed
>”Make Gilda a tutu,” she mutters
“Do it.  I’ll rock that shit.”
>Starlight’s eye twitches
>Rarity, of course, is happy to oblige
>The fabric beneath her control begins to twist itself into a pair of poofy, frilly pink dresses, complete with a ruffled tutus and a bows at the lower back
>”What do you think?” she asks, batting her eyelids at you and Applejack
>”Rares, I ain’t gonna lie to you.  I absolutely hate it.  And that’s skirt’s barely half a foot long!  It ain’t gonna cover anythin’!  How am I gonna keep everyone from seein’ that I got a, y’know… that I got some equipment inside me?”
>Rarity giggles
>”Well, that’s the idea, darling.”
>Applejack’s eyes widen in pure horror as Rarity drops the dresses into both of your hands
>”Now, don’t be shy.  Put them off!  We’ve still got to meet the princess!”

>You don’t waste any time, and slip right into the pink dress
>Even though she took your measurement’s, Rarity’s work is stretched taught by your massive frame
>The tutu just manages to cover your buttocks, but not by much; bending over even slightly is gonna give the whole room one hell of a show
>But hey, that’s not exactly something you’ve ever been shy of
>As the four of you head out, Rarity loops her arms through Applejack’s arm, clinging tightly to her girl and nuzzling her face against Applejack’s shoulder
>Applejack tries to continue looking intimidating, but the plug makes all of her movements stiff, pained, and incredibly awkward
>Which, of course, just makes Rarity all the wetter; you can practically hear her dripping from several paces behind
>Starlight slinks along beside you as the four of you head towards Princess Twilight’s chambers, muttering to herself
>”I’m going to get you.  Swear to the princesses, I’ll find a way to beat you.”
“Sure ya will.  Maybe in a few years.”
>With a wink, you loop your arm through Starlight’s, then the four of you enter Twilight’s sanctum
>The room is dazzlingly lit, with walls of reflectively blue crystal catching and returning the light from lamps placed liberally along the walls
>A vaulted ceiling stretches high overhead, accessible by a staircase that spirals along the wall, and eventually reaches what looks like a small observatory, with tall windows, telescopes, and several complex instruments
>In the center of the room lies a six-sided table constructed from a violet topaz and littered with books, maps, and quills that have been ground down almost to nubs
>Across the room from you, flanked by the druid Fluttershy and that awesome bartender Pinkie, is princess Twilight herself
>She’s not nearly as intimidating as you’d expect; she’s actually a bit skinny, looking a fair bit like your typical nerdy mage
>But an aura of raw magical power seems to radiate from her, making every hair on your body stand on end and sending a tremor through your core when you look at her
>She gives you a small, nervous smile, but the staggering intelligence behind her purple eyes speaks to a vast pool of magical knowledge, to the point where she could probably vaporize you on the spot with only a well-chosen word
>And that’s pretty fucking hot
>This is what it’s like to stand before a princess…

>Normally, you’re not one to be struck speechless
>But for a moment, you fall silent as you scramble to find the right words
>”Twilight, darling,” Rarity says, “may I present to you—“
“Gilda,” you finish, surprised to find a tiny bit of blush coloring your cheeks.  “I have no family name, my lady.  But I’ve completed the trials, and your sister has invited me to join the royal guard.  It would be my honor to serve you.”
>You bow to heroth Rarity and Starlight give you approving looks
>In front of Twilight, you strike a pose, bending your arms above your head and letting your muscles ripple and strain the dress’s shimmering pink fabric
>Twilight gasps, covering her mouth with her hands
>”S-sugoi…”
“I know my own power cannot rival a princess.  But, if by my life or death I can protect you, I will.”
>With that, you finish
>Twilight’s eyes glitter with delight
>”I accept your oath!” she belts out, jumping up from her chair
>She stumbles slightly on the shimmering folds of her royal gown as she rushes over towards you
>”One one condition, I mean!  Could you teach me?  I mean, to pose like this?”
“Uh… sure, I guess.”
>”Yes!” she cheers, pumping her fist.  “I’ve always wanted to strike mortal terror into the hearts of my enemies!  How does this look?”
>She tries to replicate your pose, but her skinny frame doesn’t quite have the same effect as yours
“It, uh… it’s looking great!  But you might wanna raise your arms a bit, and turn a little like this…”
>Without thinking, you reach out and touch the princess’s arms, putting them into the proper position
>Tension immediately courses through the room as Twilight’s friends stare at you
>You ignore them, though immediately grabbing the princess probably wasn’t the smoothest of moves…
>Twilight, however, doesn’t seem to mind
>”Perfect!” she says, flexing her skinny little arms
>Then she turns to you, and returns your bow
>”My name is Princess Twilight, by the way.  I mean, you already knew that.  But it feels weird not to introduce myself back.  Sorry, I’m rambling.  Anyway, take a seat!  Actually, wait, no, you’re supposed to stand near me, right?  Since you’re my bodyguard now?  Hah, wow, this feels so over-blown.  I’ve never had a bodyguard before.”
>Twilight drums her fingers against her chin
>”According to Prince Regalia’s Guide to Royal Etiquette, you’re supposed to be near me at all times.  But that’s a little much, right?  I mean I’m not in *that* much danger.  But the book did suggest it…”
>Twilight begins pacing circles round the table, muttering to herself
“It would be an honor to be around you as much as possible, my lady.”
>Somewhere behind you, you can physically feel Starlight rolling her eyes
>Twilight giggles, blushing slightly
>”Oh, come on.  Flattery wasn’t in the job description.”
“I mean it.  Your presence has already brightened my day.  I’m lucky to have a chance to serve someone as beautiful as you.”
>Twilight collapses into her seat, her face turning a brilliant scarlet
>”Oh, well… in that case, I think I’d better keep you close as often as I can… heheh…”
>She squirms in her chair, giggling like a schoolgirl
>Rarity, meanwhile, clears her throat
>”Twilight, darling.  I believe we have matters to discuss, do we not?”
>”Oh, right!” Twilight says, snapping back to attention.  “I, um… I suppose you’ve met everyone?” she asks, gesturing to the rest of the room
“Pretty much,” you say, scanning the familiar faces around the room
>Pinkie gives you a wink and a tiny wave when you look at her
>”Great!” Twilight says.  “You still have to meet Rainbow, I guess.  But she’ll be here before long.”
“Rainbow… Dash?”
>Twilight raises her eyebrows, surprised
>”You know her?”
“We, uh… yeah, we used to know each other.”
>”That’s great!  I love reuniting old friends!  How long has it been since you two saw each other?”
“A while.”
>Rarity leans toward Twilight
>”Darling, I think that’s a bit of a sore subject for her,” she says
>”Oh.  Oh!” Twilight yelps, blushing.  “I’m so sorry!  I didn’t know.  I, um… I think she’ll still show up, though.  I’m really sorry.”
“It’s not a big deal.  Really.”
>Twilight reaches out and pats your arm
>”You can totally talk to me if you need to!  I’m a great listener.  All my friends tell me that.”
>Rarity and Applejack share a look
>”Anyway, I’m totally getting ahead of myself, aren’t I.  There’s so much to talk about!  Take a seat, and you can ask us anything you want!”
>You adjust your footing a bit, feeling the plug rubbing against your tender insides
“I think I’ll stand.”
>Starlight covers her mouth, trying not to laugh
>Aside from you, Applejack is the only other one standing
>The two of you share a quick look of commiseration; she’s blushing heavily, and beads of pain-induced sweat are rolling down her face
>Rarity, meanwhile, is just sitting there with her legs crossed, watching the two of you with an expression of utmost delight
>”Gilda?” Twilight asks, giving you a worried look.  “Are you okay?  I’m really sorry if I said something wrong.”

“Wrong?  No, no.  Just… a little overwhelmed, I guess.”
>Twilight can’t help but laugh at that
>”Overwhelmed?  By me?”
>She brushes a hand through her hair, looking a bit taken aback herself
>”Hah, wow.  I’ve never had that affect on my subjects before.”
>The word “subjects” sounds absolutely bizarre coming from her
>You bow your head nonetheless
“My lady, would it be okay if spoke privately, like you mentioned?”
>Twilight’s eyes light up
>”C-certainly!  My chambers are just through here!”
>She stands up and begins heading for the door, but Applejack calls out to her
>”Twi, wait!  Is this really a good idea, runnin’ off with a woman we all barely know?”
>Rarity pats Applejack’s arm
>”You’re too paranoid, darling.  Besides, Twilight can handle herself, if the need arises.”
>”Yeah, but…”
>Applejack glances at you, her cheeks pink, and curls her fists at her side
>She mumbles something under her breath that sounds vaguely like “no fair,” then fidgets with the hem of her tutu, trying to make sure it’s still covering her
>Pinkie giggles, then flashes you a thumbs up
>”Go for it, G!  Just call us if ya need us!”
>You nod, then head out the door, placing your hand protectively against Twilight’s back
>Just before you leave, you turn and wink at a worried-looking Starlight

>Twilight’s room is up a narrow flight of stairs lit with dancing lights that hang just a few inches beneath the ceiling
>”I’m sorry if the royal courts are a bit overwhelming.  It must be so different from what you’re used to.”
“Just about as different as you can get.  You rarely talk to anyone up in the wilderness of Yakyakistan, especially not a princess.”
>”Yakyakistan?” Twilight asks, beaming.  “I’ve always wanted to go!  I’ve read so much about it, but I’ve never had the chance.  They have such a rich lineage of tradition, so different than what we have here in Equestria.  I’d love to visit, one day.”
>Twilight unlocks a door with a quick flash of glowing green magic and leads you into her bedroom
>For a princess, it’s a lot simpler than you’d expect: just a single four-poster bed, a desk, and wall-to-wall bookshelves, all of them packed to the point of overflowing
>”I haven’t seen much of Equestria, outside the palace.  My friends go on all these fantastic adventures, but I’m usually stuck here.”
“Eh, you’re not missing too much.  Canterlot’s got everything.  Most of the outside world is monsters and cultists.”
>Twilight’s eyes shimmer
>”That sounds so cool!”
>She flops down on the bed, and motions for you to sit next to her
>”Tell me everything!”
“Oh, well…”
>You’re surprised to find yourself blushing
“It’s nothing that interesting.  I guess there’s that time I knocked down an entire Temple of the Moon…”
>You launch into your story with Twilight paying close attention
>As you speak, she gradually scoots closer and closer to you, until her arm is gingerly resting against yours
>A warm, electrifying sensation spreads out from where she touches you; it must be the amount of raw magic inside her
>Your face continues to flush, and you find it hard to look away from Twilight’s eyes, though your story continues tumbling from between your lips
>”Wow…” she whispers when you finish.  “You’ve done so much cool stuff!  I’m really, really jealous.”
“Eh.  It’s not that big a deal.  You’re a princess, that’s way more than anything I can say.”
>Twilight shrugs
>”I guess.  But I feel like that’s all I am now, since Celestia crowned me.  Just a princess.  No more adventure for me now, and it’s almost impossible to make new friends.  There’s so much you’ve done that I’ll probably never get to experience.”
“Like what?”
>Twilight laughs, embarrassed
>”You probably won’t believe this, but… I’ve never even been kissed.  Or done any of that stuff.”
>She folds her hands in her lap, and drops her gaze so that her eyes are focused solely on her intertwined fingers
>”Pretty embarrassing for a princess, right?”

“It’s not embarrassing.  First kisses aren’t as big of a deal as you’d think.”
>”Maybe not.  But, for a girl my age, it’s probably a little too late.”
“Too late?”
>You scoff
“You could that kiss whenever you wanted.  Right now, even.  You know, if that’s what you want,” you tell her, scratching awkwardly at the back of your head
>Twilight’s face lights up
>”R-right now?  Like… with you?”
“Uh, yeah.  If you want.”
>Twilight nods so hard that her carefully tied hair starts coming loose
>”I really would!  You just have to, um, promise not to tell my big sis.  Heheh.  She’d probably kill you.”
“Yeah, yeah, no worries.  You sure you’re cool with this?”
>”A hundred percent!  More than a hundred percent, if that were mathematically possible.”
>Twilight grins, licking her lips
>”So… h-how do we start?”
“Like this, I guess.”
>You gingerly place your hand against the back of Twilight’s head and bring your mouth to hers
>She meets you not with the stiff, awkward lips you expected, but with a warm, wet, delicately romantic kiss
>A shiver runs through your body, and you feel slightly out of breath when the two of you part
“Whoa.  You’re… you’re actually really good.”
>Twilight giggles, batting her eyelids at you
>You find it impossible to look away from those brilliant purple orbs
>It feels almost as if you’re sinking into them as she leans in for another kiss
>”I know I am…” she whispers
>This time, Twilight grabs you, holding your head between her palms as her lips dance against yours
>The shiver intensifies; you’re feeling almost palpably cold now
>Something in the back of your mind reminds you that this isn’t normal
>But her kiss is addicting; it has a berry-sweet flavor to it, leaving you starved to taste her lips again
“Twilight…” you murmur, feeling your head start to grow foggy
>Twilight grins, and her irises flash a momentary, iridescent green
“You…”
>”Shhhh…” Twilight coos, placing a finger to your lips.  “Kiss me again, please…”
>Before you can stop her, she brings her mouth to yours
>When you try to pull away, Twilight’s tongue flicks into your mouth
>Her saliva is icy and sweet, and it seeps into your body like a chilling, electrifying aphrodisiac
>Though you try to will your body to resist, it refuses to obey, and you find yourself stretching out along the bed as Twilight runs a hand down your body, cupping your butt in her palm as she trails kisses along your cheek
>Each one leaves an icy imprint of her lips
>When she reaches your neck, Twilight inhales deeply, as if savoring your scent
“Stop…” you try to say, but your voice disappears in a gasp of ecstasy as Twilight’s tongue laps at your neck.  “You’re not… this isn’t…”
>”Please let me enjoy this, my love.  I’ve been so terribly hungry…”
>Two sharp, agonizing fangs slip into your neck, and immediately the cold wracking your body is replaced with a rush of back-arching, heavenly warmth
>In spite of yourself, you groan in ecstasy even as Twilight drains the life from your body
>She groans with you, but hers is the hungry, triumphant moan of a satisfied predator
>Her nimble fingers find Starlight’s plug and press it in as deep as it can go, making your eyes roll back in your head as juices spill down your thighs
“Ah… agh, fuck…”
>The shock of pain from the plug is enough to jar you into a moment of lucidity
>You’re too weak to wield your weapons, but there’s a single window in the room, and Twilight’s friends aren’t too far away…

>The thing wearing Twilight’s shape senses you struggling, and she coos gently as her hand strokes your nether regions
>Your thighs quiver as a palpable, warm sensation of delight courses through you; it would be so easy just to give in, to let your life end in a haze of pure bliss…
>…
>…but that ain’t how you’re going out
>Especially not while you’re wearing a fucking tutu!
>You force your mouth to open, pull in what little air you can with your weak lungs, and cry out:
“Trixie!”
>Princesses only know why you’d call for her, of all people
>But something tells you that, if Twilight’s close friends were to burst in on the scene, the creature draining you would easily find a way to beguile them
>The creature removes her fangs from your next just long enough to whisper into your ear
>”Don’t struggle, my dear.  There’s nobody to hear you, anyway…”
>”That’s where you’re wrong!” a triumphant voice calls from right outside
>Suddenly, purple boots smash through the window!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je_8A5hurSY

>Trixie herself swings into the room by a rope, combat rolls across the floor... then flops right on her face at the foot of the bed
>Twilight lets go of you, staring in dumb shock at the magician lying sprawled on the floor
>Trixie jumps to her feet, looking almost angelic as she stands silhouetted in a sunbeam, though the bruise on her forehead does dampen that a little
>She strikes a pose, extending a finger towards Twilight
>”Trixie will always come when her friends have need of her!  And this totally has nothing whatsoever to do with her spying on Twilight from outside her window.”
>The creature wearing Twilight’s shape hisses, leaping from the bed with inhuman agility and backing into the corner
>Her eyes flare up with a fiendish emerald light, and they flick between you and Trixie as she assesses the situation before her
>You struggle to your feet as well, dizzy and weak from blood loss, and stagger to stand next to Trixie

>[Condition: Exhausted (3)]

“Thanks, Trix…”
>”No need to thank Trixie.  This is what she does best!”
“Where’s Lightning?”
>”Who do you think was holding the rope?” Trixie says with a wink
>The Twilight-creature, meanwhile, chuckles to herself
>She laps the remainder of your blood up from around her mouth, then speaks in a sultry, slithering voice quite different from Twilight’s own
>”The princess’s allies are more resourceful than I expected.  Or luckier.”
>”Trixie is both of those things and significantly many more!” Trixie responds, puffing out her chest.  “And she knows exactly what you are!  Eat sunlight, you vampiric cur!”
>Trixie pulls out one of the many mirrors she carries on her person and uses it to reflect a beam of light directly into Twilight’s face
>…
>Nothing happens; the creature doesn’t even blink
>Trixie drops the mirror, her face growing pale
>”Oh.  Trixie, um… that went much cooler in Trixie’s head,” she says with a nervous giggle
>A fiendish grin stretches across Twilight’s face, showing off her gleaming fangs
>”You take me for a common creature of the night?  Oh, you would be so lucky.  I’m something far, far worse.”
>Twilight steps calmly around the bed, and you and Trixie reflexively back away as she move towards you
>Coils of sizzling toxic-looking light emanate from her figure, stretching across the room and sealing off both the window and the room’s only door with a layer of pale slime
>”I hoped to cocoon you peacefully, Gilda.  But I’m afraid your end will be far less pleasant, now…”
>Twilight raises her hands above her head, and a second pair of slender purple arms materializes from her back
>In unison, each hands snaps its fingers, and a blossom of magic forms from the palm and grows into a shimmering scimitar
>Each blade crackles with eldritch energies, and lines of toxic smoke coil upwards from its tip
>Trixie nudges you with her foot
>”Hey, uh… I don’t think she’s really a vampire,” she whispers
"Thanks."
>"So..."
>Trixie glances between you and the monster advancing towards you
>"Trixie hates to bug, but do you *do* have a plan, right?"

“Yeah. The plan is: call for help, and try really hard not to get yourself killed.”
>”Trixie is usually a fan of plans that don’t involve her death, but she has some doubts.”
“Well quit doubting and do something! She’s gonna kill us!”
>The creature advancing towards you licks her lips 
>”Kill you? Oh, my dears, I intend to do much, *much* worse.”
>She scrapes the blades of her summoned scimitars together, resulting in an insectoid hissing that sets your nerves on edge 
>Trixie freezes in fear, and you whirl towards her and yell to snap her out of it 
“Trixie! Do something! Make another Trixie to go get help, or something.”
>Suddenly, Trixie’s face brightens
“Trixie can make many Trixies!”
>With a flourish of her wrist and a bold incantation, smoke explodes out of Trixie’s palm, blanketing the room 
>When it clears, there’s a solid three dozen Trixies standing throughout the room, surrounding Twilight 
>The changeling balks, her sinister expression momentarily flickering into one of intense bewilderment
>One of the Trixies, the real one you suppose, winks at you
>Then the other thirty draw katanas out of seemingly nowhere and charge the changeling, flipping and pirouetting around her as they confuse her with phantom strikes
>The changeling swats at them furiously with her four blades, but they pass right through the illusionary girls
>One of the illusions, meanwhile, slips through the goo-coated door and sprints away
>Trixie folds her arms over her chest, looking smug 
>”All in a day’s work for me, the real, not-an-illusion Trixie!”
>Hearing that, the changeling turns toward real-Trixie

>”Ha! I’ve found you!”
>Trixie screams and takes cover behind Twilight’s desk
>The changeling launches herself towards Trixie with a blood-curdling hiss, but you throw yourself between the two of them at the last moment
>Though your arms are shaking with exhaustion, you raise your axe and deflect the Twilight-creature’s attacks
>She’s immensely strong, far stronger than you expected, and the impact jars your arms all the way to your shoulders
>The changeling recoils, hissing I’m surprise, and you pour all the strength you can muster into your next swing, catching the bug in the chest and sending her flying across the room
>She smashes into Twilight’s bed, pulverizing it
>That blow would have sliced any normal person in half, but the changeling stands from the splintered remains with barely a scratch
>She bares her fangs, the smile gone from her face
>Great; you only pissed her off
>”Maybe you should hit her harder next time?” Trixie says, unhelpfully
“Thanks, I’ll try my best. Don’t you have anything else helpful you can do?”
>”Just this.”
>She claps her hands, and the room suddenly explodes with blinding spheres of light
>Both you and the changeling recoil, howling in pain and clutching your eyes 
“Agh, fuck! Warn me first, you blue menace!”
>”Trixie seized the opportunity! She will not apologize!”
>You blindly grope around the room, seeing nothing but stars
>The changeling chitters and hisses in fury, stalking around the room and blindly swinging her weapons
>You’ve just barely started to see movement again when the door to Twilight’s room is smashed open
>Something huge and shaggy bounds in, snarling and shaking its head
>Fluttershy’s voice suddenly forces its way into your head
>She sounds pissed, which might be even more terrifying than the murderous changeling 
>”WHO WAS STOMPING ON CUTE LITTLE MICE!? I’LL SWALLOW YOUR SPINE WHOLE!”
>The changeling blinks in shock, tears of pain streaming down her face
>Then she glances between the three of you, and the smirk returns to her face 
>”The princess has capable friends. I will not underestimate when you see me next. And see me you will. For I can take the appearance of any one of you I please. I look forward to tasting more of your sweet blood, my dear,” she says with a cackle, targeting you specifically with the last segment
>”The Kingdom of Equestria shall fall! And my starving, exhaled subjects will feast on your bloated bodies! Queen Chrysalis promises, this is what I’ll do to the princess and her friends! Ha! Hahaha—“
>You yoink Starlight’s plug out of your keister and throw it in the queen’s face
>Her eyes go wide with shock and disgust
>”Ack! Agh! Bleh! Does the degeneracy of humans know no bounds! Agh!” she cries out, clawing at her face
>Then, in a flash of green fire, she vanishes 
>Fluttershy sniffs around the room, still bristling with anger
>”Where are the mice!?”
“Trixie saved them. Portaled then into the, uh, woods.”
>That seems to calm her down slightly, and Fluttershy morphs back into her human form
>Still, she looks worried
>”That thing was Twilight, and none of us realized! She could still be in the palace, and we wouldn’t even know! And the real Twilight must be here too! We have to do something!”

>The rest of Princess Twilight’s friends pour in through the door, gaping at the wreckage strewn across the room
>Rarity nearly faints, and she leans heavily on Applejack’s shoulder for support
>Despite her pink getup, the farm girl look looks absolutely furious, and she jabs a finger you 
>”Y’all were supposed to keep Twilight safe! I knew we couldn’t trust ya!”
“Relax. That changeling was disguised as her before I even got here.”
>Applejack frowns 
>”Be that as it may, you’re still sworn to her service. Ya best think of something to do right quick.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do!” you snap
>Applejack looks like she’s about to start a fight, but Rarity whispers in her ear, soothing her
“Alright. We gotta make sure nobody enters the palace. Anyone could be that bug in disguise. You,” you say, pointing to Applejack. “You’re the big gal, that’ll be your job.”
>Rarity clings tightly to Applejack
>”I’m not leaving my darling little ruffian alone when there are monsters stalking the tower.”
“Right. Best we stay in pairs too. Starlight?”
>The mage pokes her head in; she looks pale and exhausted with worry
“You take Trixie. Research everything you can about changelings. If you can find a way to detect them, great. If you find a way to kill one, even better.”
>Starlight nods, looking grim
>Trixie, meanwhile, skips over and grabs Starlight’s hand
>”Trixie cannot wait to show you her magnificent magical acumen in action~”
>You’re too busy planning to figure out if that was a double entendre or not
“Pinkie, take Maud and head into town. You know everyone. Recruit whoever you think has the best shot at helping us save Twilight.”
>Pinkie snickers 
>”Oh, I’ve got a few good ideas.”
“And as for me. Fluttershy. Come with me. We’re finding the princess.”
>Fluttershy gulps, and a brief flash of nervousness flickers over her face
>”R-right! I won’t let you down!”
>She gives you a mildly dorky salute
>You clap her affectionately on the back, and then the group splits up

>Just as you’re starting down the hallway, however, stained-glass window clicks open and Lightning Dust shimmies into to palace
>She lands nimbly on her feet, then stands up, pointing finger guns at you
>”Eyy, long time no see! Sounds like you’ve had your hands full. Not to brag, but I’ve had mine a bit full too. If you know what I mean~”
>She mimes squeezing a truly massive pair of breasts
>”So, what’s the newest clusterfuck you’re in the middle of, eh?”
>You’re about to tell her when Fluttershy rugs at the hem of your tutu 
>”Um, Gilda? We haven’t seen Lightning since this morning. She could be a c-h-a-n-g-e-l-i-n-g.”
>Lightning scowls
>”I can spell, you know. I’m not a fucking idiot.”
“I dunno, that’s pretty suspicious. The Lightning I know is definitely a fucking idiot.”
>Lightning looks like she’s about ready to smack you in the face
>She definitely seems like the real deal, but so did Twilight; can you trust that this is the real Lightning? 

>”Are you serious? I’m not a damn changeling! I was waiting on the roof for the last twenty minutes!”
“Sounds like something a changeling that got the real Lightning would say. Flutters?”
>Fluttershy closes her eyes and sniffs the air
>”She smells a little strange. Though, um, she might have just not bathed in a while...”
>”Hey!” Lightning yelps, indignant
>She looks about ready to strangle Fluttershy and knife you, but you hold up a hand, quieting her
“Hold on. I got a way we can prove she’s the real thing.” 
>Lightning rolls her eyes
>”Let me guess: it’s gonna involve me humiliating myself?”
“Nah, never. You just gotta demonstrate, for dear Fluttershy here, how we met,” you say, patting your Druid pal on the back
>”How we met? What are you... oh. You absolute bitch.”
>Lightning sighs
>”At this point, I’m starting to get used to this.”
>She hardly even blushes as she strips out of her leather armor, peeling it off in a single skintight piece and letting it fall on the floor
>Her body looks as good as ever; lithe and slightly muscled, with skin damp from sweating in a skintight suit
>And, girl after your own heart, she’s not wearing any underwear to speak of
>You’re so proud
>”O-oh my...” Fluttershy gasps, coveting her mouth with her hands
>Her face is a brilliant shade of crimson, and her eyes trail up and down Lightning’s body
>”She really... r-right in front of us... so lewd...”
>A tiny trickle of blood leaks from her nose and dribbles between her knuckles
>Lightning just shrugs
>”Trust me, it happens all the time when she’s around. Can I get dressed again?”
“One sec.”
>You reach out and tweak Lightning’s nipple, making her hiss in pain
>Fluttershy wobbles on her feet, looking like she’s about to pass out
>”I’m going to get you back for this. One day. And by the princesses, I’m gonna enjoy it.”
“Yeah, you’ll have to get in line. Now listen, we actually do need your help...”
>As Lightning gets dressed again, you explain the situation, and ask her to find Gleaming Shield
>”What, the princess’s hot sister? I saw her like twenty minutes ago.”
“What!? Where?”
>”She was wandering around the tower. I just happened to see her heading into the catacombs. Not that I was snooping, or anything,” she says with a wink. “She has a weird look in her eye. All blank, like she was possessed. You know, come to think of it, that’s probably not good...”
“Damn straight it isn’t. Either she’s a changeling or she’s hooked on that bug, somehow.”
>Fluttershy squeaks to get your attention, then speaks up 
>”I, um, could track her, if we need to. Gleaming smells pretty familiar, and it’ll be easy to sniff her out in those dry, dusty catacombs. But, um... I don’t think Twilight ever did deal with the ghoul infestation down there...”
“Great. Legit great. I’m glad we’ve got you, Flutters.”
>You pat the Druid’s head, and she beams
“So we can find Gleaming. Any ideas on Twilight?”
>Fluttershy looks concerned
>”We might be able to spot her magical aura if we travel on the feywilds. But, um... that would put us at a lot of risk. Changelings travel easily there too.”
>She traces nervous circles on the ground with her bare toe
>”I’ll leave it up to you two to decide. Whatever you pick, I p-promise I’ll have your back!”


“We’re hitting the catacombs.  If we don’t have Gleaming on our side, I don’t feel too good about our chances.”
>You gesture for Fluttershy to lead the way, and she obliges, though you notice she’s white-knuckling her staff pretty hard
“Nervous?”
>She nods, blushing slightly
>”I, um… I d-don’t really like undead.  They really creep me out…”
“That’s the sign of a healthy mind.  And don’t worry.  If they come after us, we can always just give them Lightning and escape.”
>”Hey!”
>Lightning, who’s walking a few feet behind you, slams her foot into your ass
>You snicker; with pain tolerance like yours, you hardly even felt it

>Fluttershy leads you to the base of Twilight’s palace, where the opulent rooms gradually give way to cobblestone corridors as you head below ground
>The air down here is bitterly cold, and it’s dry enough to make you cough
>At the end of a low-ceilinged, winding hallway, you come to a door made from reinforced steel and sealed with silver chains and enchanted scrolls
>Fluttershy gulps, steadying her nerves, then places her hand against the chains
>Beneath her palm, they slither away like snakes and the door swings open
>A blast of fetid air immediately hits you in the face, reeking of death and decades of neglect
>This time, you take the lead, heading through the door with the thief and the druid right behind you
>In contrast to the halls of the palace, the catacombs are rough and chaotic, much more like natural caves than anything man-made
>Alcoves are drilled into the cave walls, many of them holding moldy coffins or long-rusted relics
>Bones– most of them belonging to rats, but some of them terrifyingly human-looking, litter the floor and crunch beneath your boots
>Fluttershy whimpers a little when a foul breeze rustles over the ground
“Smell anything?” you ask her, reaching back to pat her arm for support
>”I do, but… it’s n-nothing good.”
“I can imagine.  Any idea where Gleaming is?”
>Fluttershy closes her eyes, a faint aura of verdant magic radiating from her as she sniffs the air
>”She’s ahead, somewhere deeper in.”
“Great.  You two stay behind me.  Flutters, keep that nose up.  I don’t wanna lose her.”
>”C-can do!” Fluttershy says, trying to sound brave
>”Whatever,” Lightning grumbles
>The two of you walk in silence for a bit, each of you up on your toes and flinching at the slightest moaning of the wind
>”You look ridiculous, by the way,” Lightning mutters
“Oh please.  You know I can feel you ogling my ass, right?”
>”W-what?  You can?”
>Lightning pauses
>”Wait.  Fuck.”
“For a thief, you’re *really* bad about just walking into traps.”
>”But I’m good at stabbing shit in the back.  So you should watch your smart mouth.”
“If you stab me in the back, then you’ll be up front, dumbass.  And I love to see how you’d handle a pack of—“
>You’re cut off by a low, hideous gargle emanating from the darkness before you
>A single creature shambles down the tunnel; it’s hairless and pale, with a scrawny frame splattered with dried viscera
>Its eyes burn like coals, and a tooth-filled maw snarls as the ghoul advances
>Behind it, half a dozen more of the creatures pull themselves out from tombs dug into the walls, their hideous, clawed feet dragging on the ground as they stalk towards you
“…yeah,  a pack of those.”
>Fluttershy shivers in terror behind you, but she doesn’t run
>Lightning drops into a combat stance, drawing her twin daggers from her back
>You whip out your axe, squaring up against the pack of ghouls advances
>Disgusting, bloody saliva drips from their jaws and onto their scrawny chests, and they reach towards you and the other girls with serrated, blood-encrusted talons
>You glance around for any strategic advantage, but don’t find much
>There’s nothing behind you, so you *could* run, but that would hardly help things
>However, a small glint in one of the catacombs does catch your eye…
>You’re not sure if you’ll have time to explore it, though; the undead are closing in fast!

>You realize that pursuing treasure would leave Fluttershy and Lightning open, and you can’t risk either them getting swarmed by monsters
>If anyone here is up to handling a pack of the undead, it’s your ballerina-looking self
>You spring forward towards the ghouls with an undulating warcry, pouring all the steely might of your arms into a single swing of your greataxe
“Back to hell, dweebs!”
>You land on one leg between a trio of three monsters, and the momentum of your axe spins you in a vicious, dizzying circle
>Normally, your heavy self would have fallen right on your ass, trying something like this
>But as soon as you begin to spin, a circlet of glowing magic forms around the dress, holding you perfectly balanced atop your toes as you whirl through your foes
>The axe cleaves straight through two of the ghouls, chopping them neatly in half
>The third raises its arms to defend itself, but the blade scythes right through them, and the ghoul retreats with a gurgling screech, the stumps of its arms smoking as the touch of silver corrodes its flesh
>Your spin-attack ends with you standing between the four remaining monsters, dizzy and out of breath
>In spite of that, though, you grin like an idiot
“I can’t believe that worked!”
>Fluttershy is staring at you, her eyes gleaming
>”Oh, w-wow…”
>”I think I just came,” Lightning adds in
>At once, the four uninjured ghouls that remain throw themselves at you
>You whirl around again, this time beheading one of the monsters
>One of them dodges behind you, then sinks its fangs painfully into your right bicep [-6 HP; Condition: Poisoned]
>You suck your breath in, then shake the creature loose
>Before it can bite you again, Fluttershy pounces on top of it in the form of a dire wolf, then tears out the ghouls’ throat with one neat, savage bite
>Lighting, meanwhile, rolls up behind the ghoul missing its arms and neatly slips a knife into its lower back
>It dies with a silent grimace on its face
>The last two split up, and one throws itself at you while the other pounces on Lightning
>The creature manages to draw a thin scratch along your belly with its claws [-3 HP], then you and Fluttershy tear the thing apart
>Lightning, meanwhile, ducks nimbly away from the ghoul’s reach, blending into the natural shadows of the catacombs
>It scrabbles along the walls, trying to grab at her, but she stays just out of its reach until she senses an opening
>When she does, she neatly buries her second knife into its skull, and the monster drops
>The catacombs fall silent again, and the three of you stand surrounded by the mutilated corpses of seven ghouls
>With a flash of emerald light, Fluttershy morphs back into her human form, and stares in horror at the bite wound on your arm
>”Oh, no.  No no no.  I should have w-warned you!”
“What’s wrong?  You think I’ve never been bitten by a monster before?”
>”A ghoul’s bite is toxic!  It’s already starting to take effect!”
>The gestures to the wound, which is already turning a hideous shade of purple
>The longer you stare at it, the more it starts to hurt, until even your impressive pain tolerance isn’t enough to block it out
“Oh.  Huh.  Well that explains a lot.”
>You sink to the ground, suddenly growing dizzy
“Yeah, that’s poison alright.  Fuuuuuck.  I don’t wanna die while Lightning’s still a virgin.”
>”I’m not a virgin!”
“Oh, right.  That’s my fault, isn’t it,” you say with a pained smile
>Fluttershy drops to her knees next to you, fussing with the wound
>”This is b-bad.  This is really bad.  I’m so sorry.”
“Can’t you fix it?”
>”I, um… I’ve never cured something this potent, but…”
>Fluttershy gulps
>She raises her shaking hands, then curls them into fists
>”I can do it!  Just, um, lay back for me, o-okay?”
“Don’t have much choice.”
>You fall backwards, staring up at the ceiling
>Fluttershy sucks in her breath, and extends her palms over the wound
>She begins to whisper the incantation, and as she does so, vines of glimmering green light coil around your arm, soothing the pain
>”Blessed be mother Gaia.  Please, um, if it’s not too much trouble, purify the tainted blood of this woman.  And in return, let her be nourished by m-my, um…”
>Fluttershy bows her head, her cheeks pink
>”I’m sorry.  To n-neutralize the poison, you’re going to have to d-drink some of my, um… body fluids.”
“Oh, sweet princesses.”
>”If it makes you f-feel any better, you can, um… choose…”
>Fluttershy hides her eyes behind her hair, but you can tell she’s blushing furiously

>The words have barely finished passing her lips when you blurt out:
“Milk.”
>Your quick answer makes Fluttershy cover her mouth in surprise
>”O-oh my.  If that’s what you really want.  I, um…”
>Fluttershy lets out a nervous squeak as she places her hands against the claps holding her robes together
>Her ample chest quivers beneath the swell of green fabric, and you find it hard to take your eyes off them as Fluttershy scoots closer
>”Are… are you r-really sure this is what you want?”
“Yes.”
>Fluttershy hesitates, her hands pausing halfway through undoing the clasp
>The magic pulses around your arm, keeping the pain at bay, even if you can still feel the disease spreading through you in a dull, abstract way
>An involuntary shudder passes through your body
“Flutters?  I really hate to rush you, but I kinda don’t wanna die…”
>”R-right!  Sorry.  I just, um… don’t show myself to other people v-very often… I’m really sorry…”
>She squeezes her eyes shut and, with a demure little squeal of embarrassment, yanks the front of her gown apart
>Full, round breasts spill out from the confines of the fabric, hanging swollen and trembling against her pale skin
>Her delicate nipples, colored a light, rosy pink almost like her hair, are already half-erect from the catacomb’s chilly air
>Fluttershy’s hands twitch, fluttering towards her chest for a moment as if to cover it
>”Okay, um… o-open your mouth, please…”
>She still hasn’t managed to open her eyes
>Her face shines a brilliant shade of crimson, the sheer, humiliated trembling passing through her is enough to make her breasts sway pendulously above your face as Fluttershy bends over you
>Obediently, you part your lips as her left breast finds itself drooping over your face
>You lightly flick your tongue out to taste her nipple, and Fluttershy gasps
>She places an arm on either side of your head to steady herself, and stays bent over you, trembling furiously as you take the tip of her breast between your lips
“Mmm…”
>You can’t help but let out tiny grunt as the first saccharine dribbles leak out and run down your tongue
>Even if the healing magic doesn’t work, you’re pretty sure you can die happy now
>You clamp your lips around her tender nipple and take a long drag of the sweet, warm fluid that quickly gushes into your mouth
>The plump flesh of Fluttershy’s breasts jiggle as she shudders, crying out in mixed pleasure and agony
>”Not so… ah~… hard… p-please…” she forces out between clenched teeth
>As the milk slips down the back of your throat, a rejuvenating warmth quickly spreads throughout your body
>The hideous cold wracking you begins to recede, replaced instead by a buoyant, soothing warmth
>It feels good enough that you start to get greedy
>Your teeth lightly graze Fluttershy’s areola as your mouth sucks furiously at her succulent flesh
>Fluttershy’s arms quiver as she struggles to hold herself up
>”It… it hurts… nnng~”
>And beneath her breath, she mutters:–
>”P-please don’t stop…”
>Your mouth fills again with the trembling druid’s creamy fluids, and you can feel the poison in your veins dissipating as you swallow
>With an adorably effete little gasp, Fluttershy pulls her breast out of your mouth; a few cloudy strands of your saliva still connect your lips to her slickly wet nipple
>Then she presses the other into your face
>”D-drink more… p-please.”
>She smushes it up against your mouth, practically forcing her nipple against your tongue
>”If that’s alright with you, I mean.  Heh.”
>You definitely don’t have to be asked
>You try to tell her as much, but it kinda just comes out as muffled mumbling, seeing how your mouth is currently full of boob
>This time, you try to tease her a little first, flicking your tongue against the sensitive point of flesh between your teeth
>Fluttershy groans, falling flat against your body as she shudders
>A hot, tiny stream of her milk spurts out preemptively, coating the back of your throat
>The taste is almost overwhelmingly rich
>Even without druidic magic, you’re pretty sure the concentrated sweetness alone would rid you of the poison
>Eager for more, you press your tongue against the other girl’s dainty skin
>You hardly have to apply any pressure this time; the fluids flow at the slightest pressure of your tongue, and each mouthful you gulp down is quickly refilled
>Her other breast, somewhat lonely without any attention, finds itself cradled in the palm of your good hand
>At your touch, more of the druid’s milk flows freely across your hand and down your wrist, wasted on the dungeon floor
>Fluttershy is trying very, very hard to stay quiet, but sharp, embarrassed squeals of delight escape her lips
>Her face is a mess of glowing blush and sweat, and the only words she can force out are “more,” and “p-please…”
>When you’ve finally drained her dry, she goes limp against you, her breasts squished up against your neck and her body shaking
>Somewhere against the tunnel’s wall, Lightning is sitting slack-jawed with her hand down her leggings, but you’re not really paying attention to her
>You sit up while still holding Fluttershy, happy to find that your arm, though it still hurts, no longer blazes with the agony of a ghoul’s bite

>[Condition: Poison has been removed!]

“Princesses, that was fuckin’ delicious.  Is this some kinda special druid thing?”
>Fluttershy coos in appreciation, letting one eye show from behind her curtain of hair
>”N-not that I know of.  I guess I’m a s-special case, heheh…”
>She lets out a little giggle
>”I’m not going to make any promises, but um, if you ever get poisoned again… or even if you don’t… f-feel free to ask for more.”
>Just the act of getting that sentence out causes her to collapse back into an embarrassed mess, and Fluttershy twists her hair between her hands as you help her stand back up
>Lightning stands up too, trying to casually wipe her right hand in the dust of a nearby tomb
“Not gonna lie, that was a pretty awesome little detour,” you say, smacking your lips.  “Not gonna lie, I might take you up on that offer.”
>You pat the druid on the back
>She hangs her head, but not before you notice the bashful smile on her face
“Anyway, we still got a princess to rescue and her hot sister to… un-bewitch, I guess.  So let’s get a move on, ladies.”
>”Oh please,” Lighting says, trying to look casually cool while she adjusts the rear area of her leggings– seriously those things must cause an apocalyptic wedgie. ”I’m ready for anything.”

“Yeah?” you ask with a wink.  “How would you feel about shoving your hand inside a tight, dark space?”
>Lightning blinks
>”H-huh?”
“You know, just shoving your fingers right into a wet, deep hole.  As far as they’ll go.”
>Lightning tries to look casual, but sweat pours down her brow as an uneasy grin spreads across her face
>”Oh, y-y’know, I’m always down for a little, uh…”
“And Fluttershy’s gonna watch.  Maybe she can learn a little bit from your technique.”
>Fluttershy yelps
>”O-oh my…” she mutters, staring intently at the two of you as she tucks her breasts back inside her robe
>You sling an arm around her, then one around Lightning, pulling both girls’ slender bodies against your significantly sturdier frame
“And maybe, just maybe, I can share a little reward with the two of you afterwards…”
>Lightning is practically panting now
>”Y-yeah?  When are we gonna do this?” she asks, her smug demeanor trembling as lusty sweat pours down her face
“Right now.”
>”Now?  You mean… right here?”
“Yep.”
>”On top of all these c-corpses too.  S-so lewd…” Fluttershy whispers.  And then, even softer than that, “Please… oh m-my…”
>Lightning scoffs
>”W-well what are you waiting for?  We’d better get to it.”
“Oh, I agree,” you say, bending close to Lightning’s face, so close that your breath washes over her cheeks
>She closes her eyes in ecstasy
>Fluttershy, meanwhile, wraps her arms tightly around your waist, impatient for her turn…
>Then you turn around and nudge Lightning towards the glittering tomb
“Well, you’d better get to it.”
>”H-huh?” she asks, her expression a beautiful mashup of horny confusion
“I saw something promising in there earlier.  I need you to shove your hand in and check for traps, while Flutters and I wait back here.  What did you think I was talking about?”
>”Y-y-you… you… you giant tease!” Lightning sputters.  “I’ll kill you!”
>She balls her hands into fists and charges at you
“There might be gold in there.  I’ll let you have half of it.”
>”Oh.”
>Lightning stops dead in her tracks, and the anger immediately drains out of her face
>”Well why didn’t you say so?  Just lemme have a look at this…”
>She practically sprints over to the tomb you mentioned, tightening the gloves around her hands
>”Oh, heheheh, v-very good joke, heheheh,” Fluttershy whispers, untangling herself from your embrace.  “I t-totally knew you were just joking and stuff, there’s no way I actually wanted us to, y-y’know… havesexinsideafilthydungeonfullofcorpsesandthereekofdeathhahahahathat’snotmyfetishoranything…”
“What was that?”
>”N-nothing!”
>She pulls her her hood, conveniently hiding her face
>Lightning, meanwhile, grabs up a bone from the floor and shoves it into the entrance of the tomb
>Immediately, a fine silver blade unfold’s from the tomb’s walls and slices through the bone, cutting it neatly in half
>”Oof.  Good think ya had me check.  This woulda taken off that arm Flutters just nursed back to health.”
>Lightning chuckles
>”Get it?  Nursed?”
“Just disarm it.”
>”Fine, fine.  You’re no fun.”
>Lightning’s fingers scrabble around the outer edge of the tomb, until she finds a small, gear-shaped piece of metal lodged in the stone
>”And there’s your trigger.  Bam.”
>She tosses the gear aside and shoves her arm into the tomb; nothing happens
>”Princesses, I’m good.  You want this, by the way?” she asks, neatly disassembling the trap’s apparatus and holding out the silver blade
“Nah, you take it.  I’m good on weapons,” you say, patting your axe
>”Right.  Now let’s see what we got here…”
>Lightning crawls halfway in the tomb, until just her ass and legs are sticking out
>You are so, *so* glad you decided to buy her the skintight leather armor
>Both you and Fluttershy get your share of staring at the thief’s booty as she scrapes out all the treasure she can find
>When Lightning reemerges, she’s covered in cobwebs and a fair bit of dust, but she’s beaming
>In her arms, she’s got a golden circlet inlaid with jewels, along with several bracers made of a shimmering white metal
>”That’s adamantium, ladies.  Most expensive metal you’re gonna find.”
>Lightning plunks the circlet on top of her head
>”I expect to be referred to as ‘your majesty’ from now on, if you would,” she says, striking a regal pose
>”M-more like ‘y-you’re a travesty,’ am I right?” Fluttershy says
“Damn!”
>You clap her on the back, and she smiles bashfully
>”Um, sorry if that was too mean.”
“Nah, nothing is too mean for Dusty.  Now c’mon, your majesty.  We still got a princess to save.”
>You take Fluttershy’s hand and lead herforward, patting Lighting’s butt on the way

>The three of you head further into the catacombs; what few monsters you encounter now scurry away
>You’re not sure if they’re scared of you, or something that came by earlier…
>Regardless, you press on until you reach a large, open stone chamber
>Statues of famous royal guardsmen of ages past stand flanking the tombs of high-ranking Equestrian nobility, though it’s hard to note much of their features, as much of the room is covered in a thin layer of pulsating green slime
>The substance is splattered over the statues, the tombs, and the floor, and it glows with an eerie light
>You take the first steps inside, your dainty shoes squishing in the goo, and examine your surroundings a bit more closely
>There’s two doorways leading out of the chamber, and in the center of the floor, a ten-foot wide pit stretches down into the darkness
>The slim continues on down the pit, illuminating it faintly and showing that it ends about 200 feet down
>It’s coagulated and thick, and you think you could probably use it for handholds if you were to climb down
>Fluttershy and Dusty appear on either side of you, clinging tightly against your body in this dreary place
“Flutters?  Smell anything?”
>Fluttershy sniffs the air, then inclines her head to stare down the pit
>”S-she’s down there.”
“Of course she is.”

>You take hold of Lightning’s and Fluttershy’s hands and pull them away from the pit
>When you speak, you keep your voice low, feeling increasingly paranoid beneath the slime’s cloying green light
“Alright.  Listen.  Gleaming’s down there, and she’s probably not in her right mind.  If she fights us, we might be able to win, but there’s a good chance someone’ll die.  I don’t want to lose a person I care about.  Or Lightning.”
>You feel Lighting’s boot thwack you in the shin
“You two head back to the palace.  Find whoever Pinkie’s bringing here and bring her down.”
>”W-what about you?” Fluttershy stammers
“I’ll keep the Good Captain in one place for as long as I can.  Something tells me she’ll slip away if we don’t watch her.”
>Lightning and Fluttershy share a worried look
“I’ll be fine, you two, relax.”
>”And if this turns into a fight?” Lightning asks you
“I still got one or two secret techniques left,” you say with a wink
>”Does one of those techniques involve running the fuck away?”
“Both do.  But one of them also has me scream like a little girl.”
>You pat both girls’ shoulders
“We’re gonna get through this, ladies.  And afterwards, we’ll find the rankest, darkest, most corpse-filled part of this dungeon for a little…”
>You tap three of your fingers together
>”O-oh.  Yes please…” Fluttershy squeaks out
>”Yeah, that’s assuming you don’t run through,” Lighting says
>She reaches out and grabs ahold of your forearm, giving it a firm squeeze
>”Take care of yourself down there, you crazy savage.”
“You too, you scrawny hoodlum.”
>With that, the other two girls depart down the tunnel, leaving you alone on the edge of the pit
>You watch them until they vanish out of sight, then adjust the straps on your axe and begin the climb down the pit
>The slime is thick and congealed almost to the point of solidity beneath your fingers, making for ideal handholds
>As you go down further, the air grows warmer and more humid, until it feels like you’re breathing through a wet cloth
>When you reach the bottom of the pit, the dainty shoes that accompanied your dress are ruined with slime, so you kick them off and proceed in only your filthy stockings
>Several tunnels stretch radially out from where you stand, though one is coated in the same glowing goo
>Footprints show plainly on the floor, along with flat gouges in the surface of the sludge, as if something had been dragged through here
>You start down the tunnel, and the back of your neck starts to prickle as you grow closer to the end

>The slime glows brighter the further you go in, until you’re fully illuminated in a sheen of green light
>At the end of the tunnel, you emerge into a high-ceilinged chamber, with a floor etched in circles of arcane runes
>A pedestal sits in the room’s center, holding a white, glimmering crystal
>The chamber’s walls are slathered with more of the gooey substance that’s surrounded you, only it’s different here
>Three cocoons of translucent ooze lie within the walls of slime, and inside each one lies a person in the garb of Canterlot nobility
>Two are older, looking about middle aged: one man and woman woman
>But the figure between them is unmistakably a child, with fair, purple hair and a small silver crown nestled on your brow
>Your skin crawls at the sight
>You run forward, hoping to save the girl and her parents, but the sound of footsteps on the stone floor brings you to a halt
>”Eyy, big G!  Awesome to see you again!”
>You turn, finding yourself facing Gleaming Shield
>She’s wearing her plate armor, and walks slowly towards you as if in a daze
“Hey, Gleaming,” you respond, backing up as she advances and circles around you.  “What brings you down here?”
>”Oh, nothing important.  Cady asked me to come down.  You know I’d do anything for her, right?”
>A hollow smile spreads across Gleaming’s face, and her eyes stare at you with a blind, emotionless cruelty
>For a moment, you could swear her irises flash green
“Cady?” you ask, stalling
>”My wife.  Man, I love her sooooo much.  She said nobody gets in here except me.  So you gotta leave, big girl.”
>Gleaming’s hand slowly moves to rest upon the hilt of her sword
“There’s people in these, Gleaming.  I gotta get ‘em out.”
>Gleaming laughs, but it’s not her normal, infectiously fun-loving laugh
>It’s just a few empty bursts of air
>”Haha, I’m really sorry bro.  But I gotta do what Cady tells me.  I love that girl, y’know.  I’d kill for her.”
“Yeah… you’re either possessed, or you’re one scary level of pussy-whipped.”
>Dreaming draws her sword and presses her mouth against it, passionately french-kissing her own distorted reflection in the polished metal
“Guess that answers that.”

>You take a cautious step towards the cocoons, but Gleaming pauses in her creepy sword-makeout as soon as she hears your foot squish against the ground
>”Bruh… please don’t make me kill ya, G.  I really liked you.”
>She holds her blade outstretched, its tip pointed directly towards your sternum
>”But Cady comes first.”
“Oh?  She must be pretty great, then.”
>”She’s a goddess, man.”
>A dreamy look crosses Gleaming’s face
>”Doesn’t get much better than that.  Pure love, walking around in human form, with *killer* fucking hips too, oh my god…”
>Gleaming giggles, sounding almost like a schoolgirl describing her first crush
“And she’s all yours?  You’re a lucky girl.”
>”More than you can believe.  I can’t lose her, man.  Even if it means—“
“Yeah, even if it means killing me.  We sure do keep coming back to that.”
>You casually kneel down and dip your hand into the green goo coating the chamber’s surface
“So, as much as I’d like to keep talking about your probably awesome wife…”
>You scoop up a glob of the filth
“…I don’t really feel like we’re getting anywhere.  Sorry, Gleaming.”
>You wind up and pitch the slime right into the captain’s face
>Without even blinking, she slashes her sword through the glob of goo, but only succeeds in splattering it into a shower of fine droplets
>The substance splats against Gleaming’s face, and she recoils with a yelp of disgust
>”Ack!  Hey!”
>She claws at her eyes and stumbles backwards, while you turn on your heel and sprints toward the cocoons
>There’s no way you can save all three of these people at once, but you can at least get the kid
>You pull out the knife at your hip and drag its blade through the cocoon’s gooey surface
>It peels apart easily, oozing a torrent of sticky sludge as the girl’s limp body falls out into your arms
>You sling her over your shoulder and sprint out of the room, careening down the tunnel and back towards the pit you entered from
>Running away isn’t your style, but if it’s to save a kid, you think a retreat can be forgiven, even for the bravest warrior
>Behind you, you can hear the thud of Gleaming’s armored boots on the stone floor
>”Gilda…”
>A thin, metallic note splits the air as Gleaming swings her sword in a wide, vicious arc in front of her body
>Immediately, a wave of pressurized air blasts down the tunnel towards you
>You clutch the girl against your chest, protecting her with your body as the wave slams into you
>You’re lifted off your feet and tossed a good twenty feet down the hallway, where you land with a painful crunch [-2 HP]
>Fortunately, the girl is still relatively unharmed, if maybe a little bruised
>But she’s starting to stir now, shaken awake by the attack
>You jump up and continue running, ducking into a side-passage near the bottom of the pit you first entered from
>Gleaming strides towards you, casually swinging her sword to send further waves of force roaring down the tunnel
>Each one brings with it a wave of howling wind and causes slabs of rock to rain from the ceiling
>You back deeper into the darkness; wondering if you could hide from her long enough for help to arrive
>The girl, meanwhile, finally opens her eyes
>They flicker between you and the walls of the tunnel
>”W-where am I?” she asks, her voice small and terrified, but undeniably noble
>Her eyes focus on you finally
>”Help me!”
>Surprisingly, she doesn’t beg for your help in the way you’d expect a child to
>Instead, her words are harsh and commanding, with the definitive quality of someone who’s used to being obeyed
>You briefly consider just letting Gleaming have her
“Listen kid,” you whisper through gritted teeth, “you and I are in some deep shit here.  I’m about to die and you’re about to get tossed back in that cocoon.”
>The girl’s lip curls
>”If someone is threatening us, let me speak to them!  My father will—“
>As if to shut the girl up, Gleaming sends another wall of force scything through the catacombs
>The girl clings tightly to you as the fierce winds roll down the tunnel, the sheer wave of pressure threatening to shatter both your eardrums
>Is Gleaming seriously just toying with you?
>Her power is unbelievable!
>You sink deeper into the dark, knowing you can’t hide here for long
>”I don’t want to die in a place like this,” the girl says
>Her voice is half demanding and half pleading
“You won’t.  Listen.  I’m going to do… something.  No matter what happens to me, you run.”
>You stand up as silently as possible, gripping your axe tightly
>Gleaming is only a few paces away from the entrance to your tunnel now; maybe, if you got the drop on her…
>”Absolutely not!” Diamond whispers angrily.  “I won’t flee in the face of some marauder!  Let me help you!  I guarantee, you’ll need it.”

“Kid, that’s more than just some marauder.  That’s the captain of the royal guard!”
>Diamond furrows her brow in confusion
>”And I’m Diamond of House Tiara!  Pure-blooded nobility!  She should be protecting me!  Why is she—“
“No time to explain.  Here’s how you can help: a bunch of the princess’s friends should be showing up soon.  Tell them where I am.  Help them find me, if I’m still alive.”
>Diamond balks
>”Still alive?  What are you talking about?”
“I told you, no time to explain.  Can you do that?”
>”Of course I can, but I really think— gah!”
>She yelps as you sling her over your shoulders again, then sprint out of your hiding place and down the main tunnel
>Behind you, you hear Gleaming cackle
>”Hey, you’re finally done hiding!  I’m so fuckin’ PROUD!”
>She sends another blast of pressurized wind after you, and you just barely manage to duck behind a chunk of rock
>The force of the wind tears at your hair and at Diamond’s clothes, and then you take off again
>”Nowhere to run to, G!  There’s no way your heavy ass can get outta that pit!”
“Maybe not.  But she can.”
>”Huh?” Diamond asks?  “What do you— wait, no.  Don’t you dare!”
“Sorry kid.  I said I’d protect you, didn’t say it would be a smooth ride.  Try to land on your feet!”
>You wrap an arm around Diamond’s waist, then crouch low, letting that red-hot, seething rage that lurks in the core of your body begin to bubble up into your chest
>It seeps down into your arms and legs, and they tense and throb as raw, focused strength pours into them
>”I absolutely do not consent to this!  This is against my— AAAH!”
>Before she can finish, you swing Diamond in a circle and then toss her straight up overhead
>She screams, but more in fury than in terror, the entire way up to the top of the pit, where she lands in a head at the top of the tunnel
>For a moment, you’re worried you might have killed her, but then you see her shaking her tiny fist at you and insisting her father will hear about this mistreatment of her person
>You’ve never been so happy to be scolded by a child before
>That happiness vanishes in an instant when you hear Gleaming’s boots squish against the floor directly behind you
>”That wasn’t cool, man.”
>You turn, hefting your axe, only to get immediately slammed by a barrage of force that sends you flying into the wall of the pit
>You smash into it hard enough to leave a Gilda-sized crater, and only your own ridiculous endurance saves you from being knocked out cold [-6 HP]
>”Cady really, really wanted that girl.  She’s gotta get what she wants.  And you are not…”
>She swings her sword, sending a pressure wave towards you
>You dodge out of your crater just in time, rolling across the ground as the stone shatters behind you
>”…gonna take…”
>Another wave screeches just over your head, slicing a horizontal gash into the wall of rock
>You sprint down the tunnel, trying to pull Gleaming away from where she could potentially hurt Diamond
>”…anything away from her,” Gleaming finishes
>She takes the bait, calmly following you as you lead her back into the heigh-ceilinged main tunnel
>”G, you’re gonna die.  It’s what Cady wants, and there’s no changing that.  At least make this interesting for me,” Gleaming says, her eyes now glowing a permanent, dull shade of green
“If you insist,” you say through gritted teeth
>You turn around and launch yourself at Gleaming, pouring all your RAGE fueled strength into a single blow of your axe
>She blocks it easily, but the sheer momentum of your swing slams her against the wall
>Stone cracks beneath her body, a single line of blood leaks down Gleaming’s face
>”Not bad,” Gleaming grunts.  “My turn.”
>She slams the but of her sword into your stomach, and a smaller, concentrated ball of force erupts from the pommel, sending you staggering backwards as you try really, really hard not to puke [-4 HP]
>Gleaming presses her advantage, raining blows down on you with her sword’s shimmering silver blade
>You deflect a few, but a single wall-aimed swipe of her sword tears a ragged bash along your cheek and down your chest [-7 HP]
>Blood obscures your vision, but the pain serves only to stoke the bubbling rage inside you
>You whirl around and slam your axe into Gleaming’s side
>Her armor buckles beneath the blow, and the force of it sends her reeling
>She coughs up a thin stream of blood and saliva, her face contorting into a half-grimace, half-smile
>”You’re as hard to kill as you look.”
“And you’re a fucking nightmare.”
>”Oh, that was nothing.”
>Gleaming switches her sword from her right hand to her left
>”Lemme know how *this* feels.”
>A genuine smile stretches across Gleaming’s face as the thrill of battle overtakes her
>She slashes her sword through the air, the blade moving so fast that looks like nothing more than a shimmering silver blur
>The resulting wall of wind smashes you against the well, then hurls you twenty feet down the tall, digging a Gilda-sized furrow in the hard stone [-13 HP]
>You drop to the ground, your body shaking; the dress Rarity so lovingly made for you is in tatters now, and little lines of blue magic are leaking out from its ripped seams
>Gritting your teeth against the pain of what feels like several broken bones, you stagger to your feet, wobbling slightly
>Gleaming struts towards you, laughing under her breath
>Another line of blood dribbles out of her mouth, splattering onto her armor
>”You’re still… *cough*… standing?  Shit, man… *cough, cough*… I almost wish I didn’t have to end this.  It’s been so much fun.”
“I wish I coulda fought you when you weren’t a possessed psycho.  But hey, we can’t get everything we want…”
>You take a few uneasy steps toward Gleaming, and she moves forward to meet you
>”Damn right about that.  Now, how you wanna die?  Quick beheading?  Impaled through the chest?”
“Shove it up your ass.”
>You grin, drawing upon the last reserves of your strength
“You’re not the only one with some shitty ‘ultimate move.’”
>Gleaming chuckles
>”Yeah?  C’mon then, hit me.”
>She spreads her arms wide, leaving her chest unprotected
“That wasn’t the plan, exactly.”
>You spring forward and sail right past gleaming
>When you land, just like before, you use all your momentum to twirl about your leg in a graceful, yet vicious pirouette
>The last vestiges of Rarity’s magic form a disc of runes around your waist, holding you steady as your axe bites into the walls and supporting stone columns of the tunnel
>When your momentum begins to lessen, you raise the weapon over your head and slam it against the ground
>Fissures spread out from the axe’s blade, traveling up the walls and crumbling the ceiling that Gleaming already weakened
>”W-what are you doing!?” Gleaming cries out, horrified
“Picking how I wanna die.”
>Chunks of rock the side of horses slam down around the two of you, along with a cloud of thick, choking dust
>Gleaming turns toward you, dumbstruck
>”You idiot!  Now we’re both going to—“
>A chunk of fist-sized rocks falls and clonks her right on the head
>Gleaming blinks in confusion, the green suddenly gone from her eyes
>”Whoa, wha… where am I?”
“We’ll have a looong talk about that later.  Right now, run!”
>You grab Gleaming by the arm and drag her towards the tunnel’s exit
>She hauls ass after you, nimbly avoiding the smaller rocks that crash to the ground around you
>You don’t even bother dodging; so much adrenaline is running through you now that you can’t even feel the smaller chunks pelting your back
>Beneath your and Gleaming’s fight, the ground shudders as massive cracks split the tunnel’s ceiling
>It looks like you only have a few seconds before the whole thing comes down, the exit seems almost impossibly far away
>There are smaller side-passaged on either side of you, or you could hide back inside the chamber from earlier
>Nothing seems safe, and you don’t have a lot of time to think!

“Follow me!” you yell to Gleaming, then turn and sprint back towards the chamber that held Diamond’s cocoon and the glowing crystal
>You pull Gleaming along by the arm, but she quickly regains her composure and runs after you
>With a screech and the awful, cacophonous scrape of rock on rock, the tunnel splits apart
>Gleaming places a hand on your shoulder and throws you forward in to the chamber, then dives in after you, just as waves of rock crush the spot you were just standing in
>Dust spills into the chamber, and you and Gleaming shield your faces and cough until it settles
>When it does, you find yourselves faced with a wall of boulders almost as big as you are
>The chamber is mostly undamaged, aside from a few fissures across its vaulted ceiling
>In the center of the room, the white crystal still floats atop its pedestal, surrounded by etched circles of runes
>The cocoons loom high above you, two of them still occupied
>On the left, you see a woman who looks to be about in her forties, with a pinched, sour expression and tightly combed violet hair
>To the right, a man dressed in the sleek coat and trousers of a Canterlot noble slumbers in his pod, his hair slicked back and a trimmed mustache gracing his face
>”Uh… any idea who they are?”
“I thought you’d know.”
>”Bruh I don’t even know how the fuck I got here.  I need you to be real with me, G…”
>Gleaming rests her hand on your arm, looking deeply into your ears
>”…how much did I drink last night?”
“Not enough.  You got your ass hypnotized.”
>”Oh.  Well, fuck.”
>Gleaming stretches out on the ground, looking surprisingly chill despite the bomb you just dropped on her
>”I didn’t kill anyone, did I?  Oh Princesses, I didn’t, like… do it with another woman, right?”
“You didn’t kill anyone.  Er, you almost did.  But I’m a bit too tough for that.”
>You grin, feeling a little blood dribble down your face from the slash across your cheek
>Gleaming goes pale
>”I’m so, so sorry, man.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
>”That’s not the point.  I hurt a friend.  That’s… that’s unforgivable, man.”
>Gleaming taps her finger against her cheek
>”Give me one back.  As hard as you want.”
“Are you crazy?”
>”I mean it!  It’s only fair.  C’mon man, please.  I’ll feel like shit if you don’t.”
>You roll your eyes, then gently tap your finger against Gleaming’s face
“There.  You said as hard as I want.”
>”But…”
“I need you if we’re gonna get outta this.  I’m not about to spill anymore blood than we’ve already lost.  Besides…”
>You gesture to Gleaming’s ribs, where her armor is still caved in from your axe blow
“I’d say I got you pretty good.”
>She looks down, then laughs
>You stagger to your feet, then hold out your hand to help Gleaming stand as well
>The two of you look around, both a little dazed from the intensity of your fight

>[Condition: Exhausted 2]

“Any idea what this place is?”
>”Of course I do.  It’s a Wardstone.  Creates a protective field over all of Canterlot that prevents anything from gating in.”
“Gating?”
>”Opening a portal to bring your buddies in from some other plane.  Lots of creeps know how to do it.  Slaads, devils, changelings…”
>Gleaming notices the look on your face when she says “changelings”
>”What?” she asks
“Well, uh, funny thing about changelings…”
>You explain the situation to Gleaming, and when you finish, she looks about ready to claw her way out of the tunnel with rage
>”That four-armed freak is impersonating my sister!?  And making her look like a total thot?!?  FUCK!”
>Gleaming turns and slams her sword into the ground in rage, burying it almost to the hilt
>”And now we’re stuck down here!  Agh!  We need to get out so I can kill her!  Nobody mocks Twily but me!  Nobody!”
>She descends into furious rambling
“Hey, hey.  Chill, big girl.”
>”I can’t chill!  Not while that cold-blooded skank has my sister!  Princesses, that makes me wanna just… gah!”
>Gleaming wrings her hands, glaring furiously off into the distance
“I promise, we’re gonna get her.  Just gotta find our way outta here first.”
>”Yeah.  Right, yeah.  Let’s focus on that.”
>Gleaming takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself, though her eye is still twitching violently
“Let’s free the two in the cocoons, then we can figure out what to do next.”
>Gleaming nods, and the two of you get to work, slicing through the pods and removing the nobles trapped within
>You take Diamond’s mom, holding the slime-coated woman in your arms as you walk her over to a dry patch on the floor and set her down
>Her dress is plastered to her amble body, and it’s turned nearly transparent from the slime
>”So?” Gleaming asks, setting Diamond’s dad down next to his wife.  “What now?”

>You shrug
“Not much we can do, unless one of us wants to try punching through walls.”
>Gleaming agrees, then takes a seat atop a fallen chunk of rock
>You join her, finding a nice bed of crushed gravel and smaller stones to stretch out on
>Now that you get a chance to lie back, the eerie glow of the slime feels a little like mood lighting
>If Gleaming weren’t a married woman, you’d be pretty tempted right about now
>Even if she wasn’t, though, you’re not crass enough to try something at a time like this; even though Gleaming is trying her best to look calm, her body is rigid and twitchy, and you can easily see that a warrior’s rage is smoldering just below the surface
>You reach over and pat her on the back
“Hey, try not to worry too much, alright?  We’re gonna get Twi back.”
>”I know.  But I can’t stop thinkin’ about her, man.  Out there, probably alone.  Probably scared.”
>Gleaming clenches her fists
“Twi ain’t scared.  I mean, I never met her, but you don’t get to be a princess by being a wimp.  She’s probably conjured herself up some snack food and books and is just waiting for us to bail her out of… wherever she is.”
>A tiny smile crosses Gleaming’s face
>”Hey, your probably right.  That’d be some classic Twily.”
>She lets out a peal of nervous laughter as she runs her hands through her hair
>”Not sure how I’m gonna handle all this sittin’ around doing nothing, though.”
“Do you have anything to pass the time?  Games, or whatever?”
>Gleaming gives you a sly smile, laughing under her breath
>”Do I have any games?  Me?”
>Gleaming pulls off her left boot and turns it over
>Several dozen colorful playing cards spill out onto the floor
>Then she pulls off the other boot and tips it, spilling a few more cards on top of the first pile
>Each of the cards is adorned with a hand-drawn picture of some sort of demon or knight, with a row of carefully-inscribed numbers and runes beneath them
“This look, uh, kinda complicated.”
>”Nah, nah.  Here, lemme explain…”
>Gleaming brightens up a lot as she rambles about the absurdly complex rules of the game; you, however, understand practically none of it
>Something about attack values, trap cards, she explains something called Pot of Greed like fifty times and you still don’t get what it does…
>Yeah, this game isn’t gonna be your thing
>But it gets Gleaming talking again, and the two of you end up chatting more than you do playing the actual game which, of course, she trounces you at
“You were talking a lot about someone named Cady.  I’m guessing that’s your wife?”
>”Huh?  Oh, yeah, that’s what I call Cadance,” Gleaming says, blushing slightly.  “She’s absolutely amazing.”
“I can tell.”
>”What do you mean?”
“Nothing, nothing.  Go on.”
>”You really don’t wanna get me started on her.  Trust me, I could ramble all day.”
“Pretty sure we got all day.  Or night.  I don’t really know what it is, right now.”
>”Heh, well… I mean, to start off, lemme just say that she is hot as *fuck*.  I know that’s super crude, or whatever, but *damn*.  You don’t get to be a princess of love if you’re not a total bombshell.”
“Princess of love?”
>”Oh, you didn’t know?”
“Fuck no I didn’t.  You’re married to a princess?”
>”Mi Amore Cadenza.  The one and only.”
>You whistle
“Even for you, that’s impressive.”
>”Hell yeah it is.”
>The two of you fistbump
>”But there’s sooo much more to Cady than just a good body.  She just has this… *gets* you, no matter who you are.  Even if you’re a goofball jock who can barely string two words together and spends all her time playing card games, she could make you feel like really, I dunno man, really loved.”
>Gleaming trails off, looking a little embarrassed
>”Oh, uh… speaking of games, you just lost again.”
“Huh.  Guess I did.”
>You scoop up your cards, then stretch out on your pile o’ rocks, staring up at the veins of glowing slime trailing across the ceiling
“You know, I never got to meet your sister.  Just the changeling version.”
>”Oof.  You’d love Twily, man.  She’s like all the best parts of me, but made a hundred times more adorable.  Total nerd.  Scary smart.  Purest heart of any girl I know, even if she’s a total weirdo.”
“You’re makin’ me wanna bust outta here so we can rescue her right now.”
>”Now you know how I feel!  And man, I bet she’ll like you a lot.”
“You do?”
>”Course I do.  Because you’ll remind her of me,” Gleaming says with a wink
“Anything I should do to make sure I’m on her good side?” you ask, trying to sound like you don’t have half a dozen ulterior motives
>Gleaming considers for a second, giving
>”If you can listen to her rants about advanced arcane theory without passing out, you’re immediately one of her best friends.”
>She gives you look that clearly says she knows you’re up to something
>”But… if you really want on her good side, that girl loves a good massage. Twily’s a little ball of stress, and if you can help her handle that, you’re golden.”
“Noted.”
>”Eyy.  But you better take good care of her, ya hear?  Because if you fuck up, I swear to my goddess wife, I’ll do to you what you did to that tunnel.”
“You know, that’s the first older-sibling threat that’s actually ever scared me.”
>”You’re damn right.  Anyway…”
>Gleaming yawns, and flops onto her back
>”That was a hell of a fight, G.  I need a solid nap.”
>Before you even get a chance to respond, she’s out like a light

>You finally manage to catch a bit of a nap too, though you don’t sink into such an easy sleep as Gleaming’s
>Instead, you find yourself pleasantly dozing as the tension of the day starts to drain out of your body, and a few of your wounds begin the healing process [+9 HP; Exhaustion 2 removed]
>Eventually, you’re stirred from your rest by a low droning sound reverberating through the rock
>It quickly begins to grow louder, and the vibrations send dust sprinkling from the ceiling
“Yo, Gleaming?”
>”I’m up, I’m up!” Gleaming yelps, jumping to her feat.  “What the hell is that?”
“Whatever it is, it’s getting closer.  Guess we’re about to find out.”
>You both lift up your weapons, moving to stand by the still unconscious forms of Diamond’s parents
>The droning grows almost ear-splittingly loud, and then a thunderous CRACK reverberates through the chamber as one of the boulders blocking the exit shatters
>Through the dusty and rubble steps a familiar, blank-faced monk
>Maud’s fists are bleeding, and her entire body is caked with pulverized rock
>”Hey,” she says, nonchalant as ever
>For a moment, you can only stare at her, dumbstruck
>Then you run forward and wrap the monk in your arms, clapping her firmly on the back
“I’ve never been so happy to see you in my life!”
>”You’ve only known me for three days.  But I’ll choose to take that as a compliment.”
>She returns your hug, though she’s a little stiff about the whole thing, then breaks off
>”I really hate to interrupt the moment.  But we have a guest who’d really like to speak with the two of you,” Maud says
“No rest for the weary, eh?” you say, nudging Gleaming in the ribs
>She flashes you a grim smile, then the two of you head down the tunnel after Maud

>Together, the two of you carry Diamond’s parents back out of the catacombs, and find a place for them to rest and recover inside one of the palace’s many spare bedrooms
>After so much time in near-darkness, the glare of light refracting through crystal makes your eyes water
“So,” you ask Maud after the two slime-coated nobles are safe on a double bed, “any news on the big bug?”
>Maud shakes her head
>”Hiding is what her kind does best.  However, Starlight thinks she’s worked out a potion that could reveal the changeling’s disguise.”
“That girl’s scary smart.”
>Maud nods in agreement
>”Trixie also claims to have invented a Changeling Slayer blade.  But I somewhat suspect she just learned to set weapons on fire.”
“That… still might be useful.  Bugs hate fire.”
>”Most things do.”
>Maud leads you upwards into the private sectors of the palace, towards the council chamber where you first met “Twilight”
“Oh, any sign of Lightning and Flutters?”
>”They emerged a few hours ago.  Fluttershy has been curiously obsessed with finding oats and flaxseed.”
“Uh… why?”
>”I’m unsure.  They’re foods commonly recommended to nursing mothers.  Perhaps one of her animal companions has given birth.”
“Oh, uh, yeah.  That’s definitely the reason,” you say, trying your best to look innocent
“And what about the girl we found.  Diamond?”
>”She’s been entrusted to Rarity and Applejack’s care.”
“Thank the princesses.  I was worried you’d have let Trixie babysit.”
>”I don’t bear enough of a grudge against the child for that.  Not yet, at least.”
>The two of you reach the door to Twilight’s council chamber, and Maud pauses with her hand against it
>”I’ll inform Sunset you’re back.  She’s an expert fey hunter, and apparently a long-time friend of Princess Twilight.  The two of you should get along perfectly.  Or maybe you’ll try to kill each other.  It’s difficult to tell with you.”
>Maud, as usual, is so deadpan that you can’t quite tell if she’s being sarcastic or not
>She pushes the door open, then turns to you when she’s halfway in
>”I’ll arrange for her to meet you in an hour.  Until then, you may take time to catch up with your friends.  And I’d recommend a bath.  You smell like death and changeling drool.”
“Thanks for the tip, Maud.”

>She nods and departs, and Gleaming heads off to swap into some undamaged armor, leaving you to wander around the palace
>The more you wander around, though, the more you also realize that you have absolutely no idea where you’re going
>And there’s still a changeling somewhere around…
>She could be wearing anyone’s shape, you think to yourself
>As you round a corner, your ears pick up on the sound of Rarity’s melodic, lilting voice coming from a chamber up ahead
>You poke your head in through the door, and find the seamstress fussing about the room, with Diamond Tiara seated in the center of it
>The girl’s been cleaned recently, it looks like; her hair is dripping wet and she’s wearing only a towel
>She notices you, and a momentary smile of relief flutters across her face
>However, she quickly covers the look with a scowl, and when she speaks, her voice has the practiced chill of nobility
>”You made it out alive, I see.”
“Yep.  And all in one piece too.”
>Rarity looks over, noticing you’ve returned
>”Ah!  My favorite new model!  Tell me, darling, how did the new dress perform?”
“Great, actually.  Didn’t know you could stitch magic into fabric like that.”
>”Ah, it takes a *very* practiced hand.  Do come in, I want to know if I should make any adjustments.”
“Uh… you’re gonna have to make a lot of ‘em, I think.”
>You step into the room, letting Rarity see the ruins of her dress hanging in slimy tatters from your body
>Her face goes pale, then almost immediately rises to a boiling, angry red
>”You ruined it!  I entrusted you with my work, and you ruined it!”
“I got thrown into a wall!  Look what happened to the rest of me!” you retort, showing her the massive bruises and abrasions covering most of your body
>”Hmph.  Bodies heal!  Dresses most certainly do not!”
>Rarity drops to her knees in front of you, cradling the thin scraps of your tutu in her hands as if they were the body of her child
>”I can’t believe you.  I would have thought you’d show a little more restraint!”
>You and Diamond share an “is she serious?” type of look
>Rarity finally stands up, wiping tears from her eyes
>”I can repair this for you, certainly.  But I’m no longer sure if I should!  You’ve proven yourself to be a brutish and unpredictable!”
“Uh, yeah.  I though you already knew that.”
>Rarity hmph’s again
>”Well, I do now!”
>She angrily goes back to her work, sewing a new Diamond Tiara-sized dress with reckless, mildly terrifying stabs her needle
>You don’t even say anything, but she finally relents
>”Agh, fine, I’ll do it!  I’ll fix those dreadful rags, but you had best be singing my praises after every fight my work bails you out of.  Do you hear me?  Every fight!”
>A very huffy Rarity tosses a robe at you, and you obediently strip out of your ruined dress
>She wrinkles her nose as she tucks the ruins of your dress into a box, then sets it on her desk next to her current project

>You sigh, then slip on your robe and go over to stand behind Diamond
>She gags at the smell of you, but otherwise doesn’t seem bothered by your presence
>”You’re handling all of this fabulously, it would seem.”
“Oh, shut up.  If it weren’t for me, you and your parents would still be wrapped in that cocoon.”
>Diamond looks relieved, but she drops her eyes to the ground
>”We would.  And I do owe you my thanks for that.  You were truly brave.”
“Yeah I was pretty cool.  You managed to make it out all by yourself, too.  Not bad.”
>”I wanted to help you,” Diamond says
>You can tell she’s trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice, but it still seeps in
>”I’m more useful than I seem.  I know I could have done something.  Maybe you wouldn’t have… have ended up like this, if it weren’t for me.”
“Like what?  Oh, this?  This is nothing.  Trust me, I’ve been through worse.”
>Diamond still looks a little guilty
>She pulls the towel closer around herself, and her feet fidget beneath the chair
>”I… I want to do something to repay you.  I’m sure my parents will reward you with plenty of money, but I’d like to do something as well.  I don’t have much to offer, aside from this.”
>She holds out her little hand; there, on her finger, is a single silver ring with a violet gemstone inlaid in it
>”It’s not much.  But it was given to me by a very close… friend,” she says, her eyes shifting to the side.  “The magic in it is subtle, but strong.  It’ll help keep you a little bit safer.”

>You reach out, take Diamond Tiara’s hand, and slowly close her fingers back around her ring
“Thanks.  But I can’t take this from you.”
>You drop the normal rasp from your voice, letting an unusually compassionate, almost motherly tone seep into it
“Your friend’s probably really worried about you, right?  You should keep her present close.  And besides, you probably need it more than I do,” you say with a wink
>Diamond sighs
>”You’re right.  I just wish there was something I could do for you.  I don’t want to feel like I’m a, you know… a burden.”
>You reach out and ruffle the girl’s hair
“You ain’t a burden, kid.  Trust me.  Saving you is one of the few worthwhile things my dumb ass has done since I left Yakyakistan.  But hey, if you *really* wanna do something…”
>You sly, faux-innocent smile stretches across your face
“…you wouldn’t happen to have any fancy, super-rare weapons around, would you?”
>Diamond brightens
>”Oh!  Yeah, I actually do have something!  Wait right here!”
>She jumps up from her chair, clutching her towel around her as she runs to Rarity’s desk, where her tattered outfit sits in a basket
>Diamond roots through the remains of her garments, then returns to you with a small knife, wrapped in a silk sheath
>It’s built so that it can easily be worn around the slender thigh of a young girl, and drawn with ease
>”It’s not much,” she says.  “Nothing compared to anything you fight with.  But it boasts more power than you’d think.  Watch!”
>She draws the dagger, revealing its blade is made from a transparent, glittering crystal
>Diamond taps her thumb twice against the pommel, and immediately vanishes from sight, leaving you staring at only her towel, which looks as if it were floating in midair
>Then she reappears again, beaming with pride
>”It was a small acquisition of my father’s.  He gave it to me for self-defense, but it’s hardly done much good.  I think it’d be better with you.”
>She presses the weapon into your hands
“Hey, now this I can’t refuse!  That bug bitch won’t even see me coming!”
>”Gilda!  Language!” Rarity scolds you from her desk
>Diamond, meanwhile, is laughing her ass off

>[Blade of Vanishing acquired!]
>[This weapon can turn itself and Gilda, though not anything else she's wearing or holding, invisible as long as she wields it.]

>You leave her feeling a lot better than before
>She’s a good kid, you’ve decided, definitely worth getting yourself thrown through a wall for
>Speaking of, you’re not normally one to say this, but you *really* need a bath
>After a bit of wandering about the palace, you find yourself in the princess’s own private bathhouse
>It’s nothing over-the-top, but the wealth can’t help but seep into the place, manifesting itself in marble basins, fancy lilac-scented soap, and steams of gossamer bubbles that float across the surface of the water
>You can’t imagine anyone ever getting used to this
>Eager to feel the water on your skin, you shrug off your robe and jump in, splashing sudsy water up onto the tile floor
>The water is as refreshing as it looks
>Its warmth quickly draws the tension from your muscles, and the delicate soap dissolves the grime away from your skin
>You sit curled up in the shallow end of the baths, sinking down until only your head sticks out
“Aaaah…”
>”Hey, Gilda!”
>Trixie pops out of the water next to you, wearing a diving mask complete with a snorkel
>And, seeing as it’s a bath, she’s not really wearing anything else
“Gah!”
>Even your nerves of steel can’t take a sudden Trixie-appearance
>You jump away from her, startled out of your wits
“Are you crazy?  There’s still a changeling wandering around!”
>”Well, Trixie will have you know she’s secured the baths.  No changelings hiding in the depths.”
>You calm down and laugh a little in spite of yourself
“You’re batshit, I swear.  I have no idea how Starlight puts up with you.”
>”Trixie has infinitely many redeeming qualities.  Like giving killer foot-rubs.  Or telling amazing jokes.”
“Noted.”
>Trixie splashes away from you, doggy-paddling idly around the bath with her bare, soapy ass occasionally poking up past the surface of the water
>You bite your lip, glad there’s nobody around to interrupt your ogling
>”Uh, hey.  Got room for one more?” an unfamiliar voice behind you asks
>Guess you spoke too soon
>You turn just in time to find yourself staring up at a— woman?
>She’s definitely female, but you’re not so sure she’s human
>Her skin is colored a deep red, and a pair of horns spiral up from her temples
>Curtains of red, orange, and yellow hair spill down behind her horns, falling in twisted rivulets over her shoulders
>She’s dressed in a silk robe, much like you wore earlier, but her curvy, muscled figure shows plainly beneath the garment
“Uh, yeah.  You bet there is.”
>You scoot to the side, and the woman drops her robe
>Her entire body is the same angry red color, and deep mauve nipples stick out from her ample breasts
>Thighs that could rival yours in terms of destructive capability flex invitingly as she lowers herself into the bath
>Weirdest and most enticing of all, a slender tail flicks playfully at the water, protruding from just above her butt
>”You know, it’s really not polite to stare,” the woman says in a surprisingly friendly tone
“Nobody’s ever accused me of being polite.”
>”Ha!  Wouldn’t expect that.  You’ve got a bit of a reputation, from what the others told me.”
“Oof.  I hope they didn’t tell you too much.”
>”I haven’t gotten the juicy details yet.  Maybe you could fill me in?”
>The demon lady sits about a foot away from you, though you can feel her tail swishing to and fro beneath the water

>Her tail flicks dangerously close to the fork of your legs, making you flinch, and a sly grin spreads across the demon lady’s face
>It’s not often you feel genuinely intimidated by another woman, but here you are
>You try your best not to let it show, and shrug before you answer her question
“Everything they told you, it’s probably true.  But the details would even make someone like you blush.”
>The woman chuckles
>”Someone like me?”
>Her tail playfully nudges the soft flesh just beneath your ribs
>It’s surprisingly strong and devilishly prehensile, it would seem
“Well, I don’t wanna sound rude.  But you’re pretty clearly not from around here.”
>”Oh, perceptive.  Did the horns tip you off?”
“Nah, you’ve just got a bit of an accent.”
>She chuckles at that
“You probably know more about me than anybody should have to.  Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”
>”Oh?”
>Beneath the water, you feel her hand come to rest atop your thigh
>Five razor-sharp claws press against your flesh, just shy of breaking your skin
>You’re no stranger to pain, but something about this woman’s touch is enough to send goosebumps crawling down your skin
>”Now, that’s a dangerous line of questioning,” she whispers, scooting closer to you
“Hey, I only think it’s fair we get to know each other,” you say, pouring all of your focus into maintaining a straight face.  “After all, we’ve got a princess to rescue.”
>The demon drags her impressively long, forked tongue across her lips
>You get just a brief glimpse of a pair of sharp, white fangs
>”You’ve got a point.  My name is Sunset Shimmer.  As for the horns–and the accent– a few hundred years ago, some desperate ancestor of mine entered a pact with Tirek, overlord of the hellish planes of Tartarus.  And my family pays for his mistake to this day.  Or we try to, at least”
“Huh.  And I thought *I* got up to some stupid shit.”
>Sunset’s claw flexes, making you wince
“Careful with those, girl.”
>”Oh, trust me.  I’m being way more careful than usual.”
>She gingerly drags her claws down to your knee, then back up your leg to your hip, where they pinch the ample flesh of your buttocks and send waves of mixed arousal and fear running through you
>Your teeth clamp down on your tongue, and you try *really* hard to stay nonchalant
>”For most of my life, I was foolish enough to surrender to my heritage.  I did some really awful things.  ‘The details would even make someone like you blush,’” Sunset ways with a wink.  “But Princess Twilight saved me from the dark path I’d set myself on.  I owe her more than my life: I owe her my soul.”
>She squeezes you hard enough to make you suck in your breath, then lets go, resting her arm on the wall of the bath, right behind your back
>”So, nothing is going to stop me from saving her.”
“…oh.”
>You sink a little deeper into the water, until only your head is sticking out
“I don’t even have a joke for that.  You seem like good company, Shimmer.  I’m glad the Princess has got someone like you looking out for her.”
>”Same to you,” Sunset says, clapping her clawed hand against your meaty shoulder.  “She’s as good as rescued.”
>”Hey!” Trixie yells, splashing over towards you.  “Why is nobody paying attention to Trixie!?”
“Sorry!” you respond, trying not to laugh.  “Why don’t you show us some of your redeeming qualities?”
>”Trixie has many to choose from!  Like doing killer backflips!  Watch!”
>Trixie hauls her naked self out of the bath and stands on the ledge, facing away from the water
>Suds drip down the plush, full curves of her body
>She squats down, not seeming to care that she’s currently flashing *everything* at Sunset and you, and then launches herself backwards, sailing through the air and rotating twice
>Drops of water fly away from her skin, glittering where they catch the light, and Trixie majestically completes her double-flip…
>…then belly-flops painfully back into the water
>Sunset gasps in horror, covering her mouth
>You laugh so hard you accidentally slip under the water, and you surface in time to see Sunset swimming over towards Trixie
>”Are you okay?  That looked like it hurt!”
>”H-ha!  Trixie isn’t hurt!  Trixie b-barely even felt that!  Trixie is invincible!”
>Trixie’s too shaky to swim, and she lets Sunset guide her to the corner of the bath, where she sits on the side, resting her feet in the water
>She is honestly hard to look away from; this might be the first time you’ve ever felt jealous of Lightning Dust, for having been able to get a bit of that
>You’re so busy watching her that you don’t even look up when you hear footsteps slapping against the tile behind you
>Before you can react, a figure sails over your head and splashes into the tub
>You and Sunset both jump up, hands flying to your hips to grab weapons you’re not even wearing
>The mysterious figure, hidden beneath the bubbles, surfaces with a splash
>She shakes water from her silver-blue hair, and crosses a hand over her amble chest, laughing
>”A-ha!  Nothing Trixie loves more than a nice bath after having to deal with that *bore* Starlight all day!  A-ha!  Yes, Trixie is the best.”
>You and Sunset stare, dumbfounded, between the newcomer Trixie and the one sitting on the side of the pool
>Both Trixies stare at each other for a few silent seconds, and then in unison say, “Whoa! She’s so hot!”

>You groan
“And I thought one was bad enough.”
>”Hey!” both Trixies shout.  “Trixie resents that!”
>The Trixie in the pool touches a finger to her chest
>”Well, as the original Trixie, *I* clearly resent it most of all.”
>”What?  No way!  I’m the original Trixie, and I’m way more offended than you are!”
>”Oh please.  A low-class imitation Trixie like you could never know the burden of a magician’s pride like moi.”
>The Trixie on the side of the pool grits her teeth
>”Trixie is full of bombastic, foolish pride, more than anyone who’s ever lived!  Just watch!”
>Trixie throws herself at… well, herself
>She tackles the other Trixie into the water, and the two identical girls roll over and over each other in the water
>When they reemerge, they’re locked in a clumsy, violent grapple, with their ample chests squashed together, their limbs entangled, and suds splattered over their naked skin
>Together, they splash through the shallow end of the baths, each trying to gain leverage on the other
>You glance over at Sunset, who just blinks in surprise
>”I, uh… I didn’t expect changeling would be this bold,” she says
“Guess she’s getting into character.”
>You stand up, water dripping from your skin as you flex
“I’ll restrain these two.  Go find Starlight.  If anyone can tell these two apart, it’d be her.”
>Sunset grins
>”You sly dog.  I wanted to be the one to wrestle them down.”
“Too late.  Got dibs.”
>”Can’t argue with that.  I’ll hurry back.”
>She leaps out of the water and grabs a towel, wrapping it around her midsection before sprinting out of the baths
>The Trixies, meanwhile, reach a turning point in their battle
>One of them wraps her arms around the other’s waist and lifts her up into the air, preparing to throw her against the wall
“Hey!”
>Your voice reverberates off the stone walls, and the Trixies freeze
“Why the hell are you two trying to kill each other?”
>”Because she insulted me!”
>”No, you insulted me, you false Trixie!”
“Seriously?  You’re both holding the hottest girl in the world, right?”
>Both Trixie’s blink, then glance at each other
>”Whoa.”
>”Trixie totally is.”
“Are you gonna waste this opportunity trying to kill each other?  You should at least see what the other has to offer first.”
>”Ha!  This imitation Trixie clearly will pale in comparison before the real thing.”
>”Big words coming from a Trixie who can barely even fight!”
>Trixie sets herself down, and both girls go nose-to-nose, their teeth gritted in hateful, yet paradoxically lusty grimaces
“Well, the real Trixie would know how to kiss, right?”
>”Of course!  Trixie is a face-sucking expert!”
>”More like a blood-sucking queen, you overgrown bug!”
>”Take that back!”
>”Never!”
>And then, just like that, they go from feverishly hurling insults at each other to kissing
>It’s definitely the most terrifying makeout session you’ve ever witnessed, and that’s a lot coming from you
>The Trixies mash their mouths together in a furious display of spit-swapping, lip-sucking anger
>Between their lips, both girls’ tongues wrestle to force their way into the other’s mouth
>You’re only slightly less distracted than they are, but you manage to creep close enough to lunge forward and wrap and arm around each Trixie’s waist
>You haul them both out of the water and end up cradling a single Trixie against both of your hips
>”H-hey!”
>”Let Trixie go!  She demands to finish this contest!”
>”Yes!  Trixie needs to taste the vile mouth of her imitator once again!”
>They try to struggle free, but it’s pretty apparent that neither Trixie is much for physical exercise
>Both of them are surprisingly heavy, with dense, plush figures
>Fortunately, you already here the sound of footsteps in the changing rooms, and Sunset and Starlight sprint into the room
>Starlight gets one look at you holding two naked Trixies, and nearly faints as blood dribbles from her nose
>Her legs go shaky and she ends up leaning heavily on the wall for support
>”Oh.  Oh, princesses…”
>”Aha!  Starlight, Trixie’s totally platonic best friend, will surely recognize the real her,” says the Trixie on your right
>”Platonic?  Starlight is Trixie’s one true love!  She’ll surely recognize I’m the real one,” says the Trixie on your left
>Starlight points to left-Trixie
>”Yeah, that’s the changeling,” she says, sounding more than a little depressed.  “But, uh, can we keep her?  I don’t really mind bugs…”
>Left-Trixie hisses
>”Of course you can keep me.  But first, I have to take care of a few loose ends…”
>Suddenly, the thing you’re holding in your left arm isn’t wearing Trixie’s shape anymore
>It erupts in green flame, and the force of its transformation sends you flying away from it, knocking you into the deeper middle section of the bath
>Trixie goes sailing out of your arms and lands right on top of Starlight Glimmer, knocking the mage to the ground
>Starlight ends up dazed beneath Trixie’s naked body, but the look on her face is one of pure bliss, not pain
>You stagger to your feet and brush your wet hair out of your eyes, finding yourself faced with your enemy’s true form
>Its body is lanky and insectoid, with wide opaque eyes and a mouth lined with dripping fangs
>A thick, chitinous hide covers every inch of it, reflecting a dark, shimmering black now that it’s wet
>Four arms unfold from its side, each pair holding a single lance constructed from ethereal, green flame
>Your own hands curl at your sides; your weapons, clothes, and everything else you own are stowed away in the locker room, and you’re not sure if you have time to run and get them
>With a low, chittering warcry, the changeling prepares to attack, leaving you hardly any time to strategize

>You mentally curse yourself for forgetting to wear that knife Diamond gave you; it’d be absolutely perfect right now!
>And getting to your axe would be too risky; a battle can go way, way south in the time it’d take you to run to the other room and back
>But you’ve got more than enough weapons on your naked self
“Hey, Shimmer?”
>”Yeah?”
“Any advice on how to kill these guys?”
>”Their armor’s weak around the stomach, and at their joints.”
“Perfect.”
>You drop into a low combat stance, letting the familiar hyper-focused haze of battle rush over you
>This time, it seems to manifest not only in the center of your chest, but in your arms as well
>You can feel lines of hot, electrifying power running down into the tips of your fingers, and small sparks flickering from your fingers when you curl them
>Across from you, the changeling takes a few cautious steps towards Starlight and Trixie
>It chitters with hunger as it prepares to feed from the easy target
“Hey!” you shout to it.  “Turning your back on me in a fight is a bad fuckin’ idea!”
>You grab a tiny dish of shampoo from the wall of the tub and wind up to chuck it towards the bug
>But, as soon as you release the dish, the power building in your arm surges outwards through your palm in the form of a gout of a greasy flame, which incinerates the dish and streaks towards the changeling
>It hisses in surprises and dives out of the way
>The fireball blasts a hall in the wall right behind where it was just standing
>”How long have you been able to do that!?” Sunset yells, dumbfounded
“I have no clue!  Wish I’d figured this out sooner!” you say, and let loose another fireball towards the bug
>This time, there’s nowhere for it to dodge to
>Instead, it crosses its twin lances in front of its face, and your spell explodes against the blades
>The force sends the creature flying backwards through the water, sending massive waves outwards on either side of it 
>”Nice work!  Now, try to keep up!” Sunset cheers
>She holds out her hand, and from her empty palm a glowing nimbus of crackling red magic swirls outwards, coalescing into the shape of a jagged, blazing sword
>Just as the changeling staggers back to its feet, Sunset pounces on it, swinging her summoned weapon in a vicious downward blow
>The bug tries to raise its blades to block, but Sunset whips off her towel and throws it in the monster’s face, blinding it
>It swings its lances wildly, trying to knock away her sword, but they miss entirely
>As if in slow motion, you watch Sunset’s naked body soar through the air as her blade cleaves neatly through one of the changeling’s arms, severing it at the elbow
>Assuming you survive, you’re definitely touching yourself tonight
>”AAAAAAAIIEEEE” the monster howls, skittering away from Sunset as its stump oozes green ichor
>Enraged, it stabs at her viciously
>Sunset blocks the first few thrusts of the creature’s lance, their blades meeting with sharp, metallic clangs
>But one lucky shot catches her in her naked abdomen, puncturing it and staining her crimson flesh with a dark, almost black blood [Critical hit!]
>”Little help!” she calls out
“On it!”
>You blast the creature backwards with a fireball, then throw yourself directly into melee with it
>Its free arm claws at your side, but succeeds only in scratching you [-2 HP]
>You, meanwhile, slam your fists into the creature’s bulbous, bug-eyed face, knocking it off balance
>It throws its arms wide as it begins to stagger, giving you the perfect opportunity to jump up and wrap your legs around its waist
>Your weight knocks the changeling onto its back, and the two of you end up in the shallow area of the baths
>And then you begin to squeeze
>The changeling arches its back, crying out in agony as thing cracks spiderweb along its chitinous torso-armor
>It drops its lance and plunges the claws of its remaining arms into your sides, raking viciously at your bare flesh [-5 HP; -5 HP; -5 HP]
“Okay… that kinda hurt…” you hiss through gritted teeth
>Your thighs quake and shudder as you pour the last ounces of your strength into them
>And then, with a sound like smashed ceramic, the changeling’s armor bursts open, revealing slimy green guts beneath it
>The sheer adrenaline-shock of pain courses through the creature, and it writhes furiously beneath you
>It hooks its claws into your chest and manages to toss you away from it
>You land with a splash in the water, your bleeding wounds clouding the pristine bath
>The changeling scrabbles out of the bath and lunges for the dazed forms of Starlight and Trixie, claws extended towards them
>Sunset throws herself between the girls and the monster, her summoned sword held high in defense
>Her free hand is pressed against her side, where blood is pouring between her fingers from the nasty wound the changeling inflicted
>Sunset swings, slicing off another of the creature’s arms
>It tries to scuttle away, but you leap from the water and wrap your arms around its torso, pinning it in place
“Sunny?” you grumble.  “Wanna do the honors?”
>”With pleasure,” she spits
>Sunset holds out her bloody hand with a single finger extended towards the creature
>”Burn black.”
>A brilliant ray of light streaks from her finger and blasts the changeling’s exposed guts
>Immediately, the slimy innards ignite, and the monster drops to the ground, silently gurgling as its insides burn to ash
>You and Sunset share a “nice work” look, and it’s plainly obvious to each of you how hyped up on adrenaline the other is

>The same idea runs through both your heads at the same time
>You wriggle your eyebrows at Sunset, but she holds up her hand
>”Yeah, not right now.  I don’t really want to bleed to death with your heavy ass on top of me.”
“Really?  I wouldn’t mind too much if the positions were reversed.”
>That gets a laugh out of Sunset
>”You’re totally crazy.  I like that a lot.  And hey, we’re still not done.  I wouldn’t be surprised if one of us got a chance to die beneath the other before all this is through.”
“Princesses, please.”
>You and Sunset throw an arm around each other’s shoulders, and you both support the other as you stagger back into the locker room
>Starlight finally regains her senses as well, and she helps lead a dazed Trixie out of the baths as well
>”T-Trixie gets the feeling she just had the single best experience of her life…”
>You and Sunset both slip on thin linen robes, which are immediately stained with crimson patches by the blood seeping from your combat injuries
>Starlight helps dress Trixie first, and you notice she’s taking her sweet time
>Sweat is pouring down her face, and you have a pretty good feeling that it has nothing to do with the steamy bathhouse air
>“We should find somewhere to get patched up,” Sunset says to you when she’s decent
“Agreed.  I know a pretty good druid who can help us.”
>You gather up your weapons under one arm and lurch out of locker room and into the halls, leaning heavily on the wall for support
>Sunset follows a few faces behind
>”Fluttershy?”
“Yep.”
>”That poor girl.  She’s fixed you up twice in as many days, and now you want to make it a full three times.”
“Wait, how’d you know about that?”
>”Well, while you’re finding a way to deflower every girl you meet, I prefer to talk to them,” Sunset says with a wink
“Heheh.  Sounds like we make a pretty good team, then.”
>”Let’s hope so.  For Twilight’s sake.”
>The reminder of the princess strengthens your resolve, and you pick up the pace somewhat as the four of you head towards the higher reaches of the tower

>Starlight eventually takes charge, and she leads you into her private study, where there’s a somewhat conspicuous spare bed
>Trixie flops onto that bed, and is immediately out like a light
>She nestles deep into the sheets, mumbling something about “For Trixie’s next grand illusion…”
>Starlight rolls her eyes, and motions for you both to lie on her bed
>”Just, um, try to keep the blood off the sheets,” she grumbles
“No promises.  There’s kinda a lot of it.”
>She just sighs, then heads off to grab your favorite druid
>Sunset gingerly lays on her back, still holding her hands to the nasty wound on her belly
>You flop onto the bed face-down, landing next to her
>The two of you are just close enough for your shoulders to touch
>Even after leaving the bath, Sunset’s skin radiates an unnatural, almost feverish heat
>It’s kinda nice, like lying within comfortable distance of a warm fire…
>You’re just starting to doze off when you hear one of Fluttershy’s terrified squeaks
>”Ah!  G-Gilda!  Sunset!  Are you two hurt?  That was a stupid question, of course you are.  I told you to be careful!  I’m s-so sorry.  How bad is it?  Another stupid question, sorry.  Oh dear…”
>She bustles around the two of you, nervously chewing on her nails
“We’ll make it through, Flutters.  Good to see you, by the way.”
>”Y-you too!  I was so worried, after that told us the tunnel collapsed.  But I knew you’d make it through!  Still though, I’m so r-relieved you’re okay.”
>She hugs her arms tightly against herself, blushing furiously
>”I, um, really did want to see you again…”
>You can tell there’s something else she’s trying to say, but can’t quite get the nerve
>So instead she switches her attention to the half-demon lying next to you
>”And, um, Sunset!  It’s b-been so long.  Glad you’re doing well,” Fluttershy says, fidgeting with the long pink locks of her own hair
>”Thanks, Flutters.  I’ve been better, though…”
>Fluttershy yelps
>”Ah, right!  S-sorry, I just got so carried away thinking about, uh, nothing in particular, heheh.”
>She gulps
>”Anyway, I should have just enough herbs to whip up some rejuvenating oil!  Just give me a minute…” she says
>Fluttershy looks relieved to finally have something to do with her twitchy hands, and sets to mixing various strips of leaves, stems, and even slivers of bone with a rough, stone pestle
>As she mixes them, she bends low and whispers soft prayers to Mother Gaia, the syllables of which seam to flow forth from between her lips, manifesting as thin vines of ethereal green light
>You watch closely, impressed
>After fifteen minutes or so, Fluttershy stands up, holding the mortar in her hands
>It’s now filled with a thick, gold-colored liquid
>The oil glows faintly, even in the dimly lit room, illuminating Fluttershy’s gentle face with a warm, friendly light
>”I, um, need to administer it now.  It has to be massaged directly into the skin to t-take full effect.  So, um… if you’d like, you can choose the place where I’ll be, um… rubbing you.”
>Despite Fluttershy’s nervousness, you see a tiny grin flash across her dainty lips when she glances at you

“Give it to us where we need it most,” you say as you roll onto your back. “Sunset’s guts are practically hanging out.”
>Sunset nods in agreement
>”You’ve definitely got some ulterior motives here. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a point…”
>Stoically, Sunset pulls her robe open, baring her chest and wounded stomach to Fluttershy
>You do the same, but don’t bother with Sunset’s modesty; you just pull the whole robe open
>Fluttershy gulps
>You get the vague feeling she’s seen Sunset naked before, probably in the baths or something, because her eyes are fixed far more on you
>They take a curious sweep from your feet all the way up to your face, and the druid coos in appreciation as she drinks in the sight of your chiseled muscles, the swell of your breasts, and, to your mild horror, the blood dripping down your ribs
>”You’ve r-really been through a lot today, haven’t you?” she asks
>She’s in healer-mode now, and her voice takes on a gentle, motherly tone as she kneels down on the bed between you and Sunset
“I’ve been through worse. Like, once, maybe.”
>Fluttershy nods
>”Which one of you wants to go first?” she asks
>”Could you get both of us at once?” Sunset asks. “We don’t have too much time to waste.”
>”O-oh, I certainly could. I suppose I do have two hands…”
>Fluttershy dips her palms into the oil and spreads the golden liquid between her fingers
>”I, um, will try my best to be gentle with your, um… softer areas.”
“Don’t bother. Be as rough as you want. Knock ‘em around a little, even.”
>You shake your chest, jiggling your breasts a bit for emphasis
>”O-oh my…” Fluttershy squeaks
>She clearly doesn’t need any more encouragement, though
>The girl grabs a big handful of both your and Sunset’s chests, sinking her fingers into the plush flesh of your tits
>Despite what you told her, she’s still insanely gentle
>Fluttershy gives both of you a very mild squeeze, feeling more like a mother squeezing her child’s hand than the proper *make your partner grit her teeth* kind of grip you’re more partial to
>It occurs to you that this might just be her best attempt at rough play, and that’s kinda adorable
>”D-do you like it like that?” Fluttershy whispers to you
>She tries to put a dominant edge in her voice, but… yeah, no, still just adorable
“You’re doing great,” you reply regardless
>She beams, blushing furiously
>Then Fluttershy closes her eyes, and gets to work really exploring the goodies beneath her palms
>Her thumbs circle over both yours and Sunset’s nipples
>”Is your skin always like this? It’s s-so warm…” she asks
>”Pretty much. Fiendish heritage has a few plusses, I guess.”
>”It m-makes me wanna just lie down on you… I-I mean, not like that! Just, um… ah…”
>Fluttershy trails off in embarrassment, and trails her hands further down both of your bodies
>Her fingers are impossibly delicate, feeling almost like being caressed by the petals of a warm, slightly damp flower, and they glide easily over your skin thanks to the healing oil, which leaves wet, shimmering trails along your skin
>It feels fantastic
>Next to you, Sunset lets out a barely audible groan of pleasure as Fluttershy reaches back up to cup her breasts
>She lets her palm do all the work now, gently bouncing the red pillows of Sunset’s chest
>With the last of her oil, she does the same to you, now with both her hands, and gently needs the last of the rejuvenating liquid into your skin
>When she’s finished, she gives your nipple the most gentle, dainty pinch it’s ever received
>”There’s m-more where that came from,” she mumbles, then gives you a nervous wink
“I’m looking forward to it.”

>Not long after the massage session, you and Sunset head off to dress yourselves in proper clothes
>You’re already feeling the effects of the healing oil, and the wounds on your sides are tender and pink as they rapidly stitch themselves back together [Healing temporarily doubled! +18 HP]
>Sunset’s getting along better now, though you can still see her wincing every time the two of you have to take a flight of stairs
>Eventually you find your way up to Rarity’s room, where the huffy seamstress is putting the finishing touches on your dress
>”Don’t you *dare* bring this one back to me in tatters!” she says, scowling, as she thrusts the dress into your arms
“I won’t, I won’t,” you promise, knowing full well that the garment is definitely gonna have a few holes put in it by the time this ordeal is over
>Rarity harumph’s
>”I ought to be charging you gold for this. Or asking for favors, or *something*.”
“You’re too generous for your own good, Rare.”
>”Believe me, darling, I know,” Rarity says with a sly grin
>She beckons you to the center of the room, and motions for you to try the dress on
>Fortunately, your wounds are healed enough that you won’t stain the fresh garment
>You drop your robe, and Rarity watches with a finger held between her teeth as you pull the several layers of pink, frilly fabric up over your body
>She’s even included some matching pink panties, but you throw those aside
>You’re holding onto that most sacred barbarian tradition until the day you die; you’re pretty sure you’d lose all your powers if you ever deigned to wear underwear
>On second thought, you store the panties in your pack; maybe you’ll get a chance to make Lightning wear them at some point…
“Oh, by the way,” you ask Rarity once you’re dressed. “Where’d Diamond go off to?”
>”She’s in my personal quarters, darling,” Rarity says, motioning to a door on the far side of the room. “The poor girl was exhausted. We’ll keep guard over her and her parents while you’re away.”
“Away?”
>”Yes. Hasn’t Sunset told you the plan?”
“Uh, no. We got a bit distracted.”
>”Well, you’re learn soon enough. She and the rest of Twilight’s friends will be meeting together in the council chamber, as soon as everyone is ready. But before you go, let me say, you do look absolutely *fetching* in that.”
>You do a little twirl in your new outfit, and Rarity squeals with delight

>Fully dressed, and with all your weapons back, you and Rarity make your way down to the council chamber, where most of the other girls are already waiting
>Applejack is slouched in one of the crystal chairs, and Rarity immediately heads over and plops down in the warrior’s lap
>Pinkie Pie and Maud are sharing a single chair as well, with Maud sitting normally and Pinkie sprawled across her lengthwise
>Starlight has her seat pulled up close to Trixie, who has Lightning snoozing on the floor next to her, and you notice that the mage’s arms are laden with various cloth-wrapped bundles
>Gleaming, of course, is seated in her sister’s spot, with a worried expression stretched across her face
>Fluttershy is sitting slightly outside the circle, munching on a bowl of oats
>Sunset’s got an open chair next to you, and she waves you over
>”Alright, I think that’s everybody, for now. So. There’s not much need to go over what we already know. The Changeling Queen has captured Princess Twilight, and has been among us in her form for an unknown amount of time. As long as the Wardstone remains active, she can’t gate in the rest of her army. But she’s been weakening it this whole time, using noble blood to damage the crystal’s integrity. And she’s been feeding as well, and growing more powerful because of it. So we need to act quickly. Our first priority is rescuing the princess. She’s the only one with enough magical knowledge to restore the Wardstone and keep it active. But finding her won’t be easy. The Queen wouldn’t keep her on this plane, I don’t think. We’re going to have to travel outside the material realm, and enter the Feywilds. The Changeling territory lies there, and it’s our best bet for finding the princess.”
>Everyone is silent for a moment after Sunset finishes
>You break that silence by thumping both your hands onto the table
“Then we’re wasting time just sitting there. Let’s go.”
>”One second,” Gleaming interrupts, in full-on knight-mode now. “We can’t send all of us at once. The palace has to be protected, or the Queen could take it easily. There are too many valuable here to leave the place undefended. And… unfortunately, defending the palace requires the royal guard, and they require me. I won’t be able to accompany you in rescuing Twilight.”
>Gleaming grits her teeth; you can only imagine how painful this must be for her
>”I’ve trusted you for several years now, Sunset. And Gilda, we haven’t known each other long, but you’ve proven yourself a capable warrior. I’m putting my faith in the two of you.”
“We’ll get her back, Gleaming.”
>Gleaming smiles at that
>”I believe you will.”
>She gestures to the rest of the girls next
>”I’ll need most of you help keep the palace secure. But I’m willing to spare two of you, to help ensure Gilda and Sunset don’t get themselves killed. Any volunteers?” Gleaming asks, then looks over at you. “Any preferences?”

>You scan the room-full of young women in front of you, somewhat surprised by the sudden question
>Each one of them, save Trixie, has proven themselves to be a capable fighter in their own right
>But, in a mysterious para-reality surrounded by Changelings, who can you really expect to have your back?
>Strangely enough, the first name comes to you almost immediately
“Starlight. We fought the trials together. She’s a pain in my ass—“
>”Hey!” Starlight protests
“…sometimes literally. But I admire what she can do. She’s one hell of a mage.”
>Starlight crosses her arms, trying not to look flattered
>”Well, I suppose I don’t have a choice. Sunset will need someone to keep you in line, anyway.”
>One of her hands disappears beneath the table, and you can just faintly feel ghostly fingers prodding your sensitive bits
“A-anyway,” you continue on, ignoring the urge to bite your lower lip. “Along with Starlight, I’d have to take…”
>Trixie not-so subtly points to herself
>A tempting choice, but you have the feeling you’d spend most of the mission trying to keep her from getting killed
>The girl’s decision-making processes might even be *worse* than yours, which is truly astounding to imagine
>Your eyes gradually drift onto the stoic, muscled monk who kicked your ass so thoroughly outside Pinkie’s Tavern
>If she can give and receive that level of beating, she’s definitely someone you’d want with you
“…Maud,” you announce
>Maud blinks once in surprise
>”That is… a choice I didn’t expect, but it’s one I’ll gladly accept,” Maud says, inclining her head in a subtle, dignified bow. “I look forward to fighting, and potentially dying, alongside you.”
>Pinkie giggle-snorts at that
>”That’s my Maudie, always morbid and vaguely ominous!”
>Maud shrugs
>”I’m sorry. I forget that not everybody is trained to accept death as part of life’s infinite, wise balance. Eventually, we all return to the earth…”
>She gives the stone floor beneath her feet an affectionate pat
>Gleaming claps her hands together
>”Then it’s settled!” she says, nodding to each of you in turn. “Good luck, girls. We’ll all be rooting for you.”
“Are we leaving right now?”
>”Just as soon as I can get the gate open,” Sunset says, standing up
>From one of the many pouches amongst her armor, she withdraws a scroll
>”Princess Twilight has practically a whole library of these. Unfortunately, the queen has a Wardstone of her own, so we won’t be able to gate directly into her castle.”
“Wouldn’t want things to get too easy.”
>Sunset grins
>”We get to kill a few more bugs, this way,” she says, then speaks aloud the incantation scrawled in Twilight’s impeccably neat handwriting across the parchment
>The syllables thrum through the air, and the air directly in front of Sunset begins to spasm, like heat-lines on a particularly hot day
>Then, gradually, reality itself draws aside like hastily opened curtains, leaving a pulsating, forest-green portal in the center of the room
“After you,” Sunset says
>With a smile, you adjust the straps on your weapons, then step through the gate
>The last thing you here from Equestria is Pinkie Pie calling after you
>”Bye-bye, girls! Have fun storming the castle!”
>And what a castle it is
>The four of you emerge into the blighted reaches of the Feywilds; in the distance, scraggly trees hundreds of feet high just into the air, their branches entangled to form a canopy of dark, leafy chaos
>Even from hundreds of feet away, you can see glimmering red eyes lurking in the dark recesses of the forest
>Immediately around you, though, there’s nothing but bare, khaki-colored earth bereft of any plantlife
>The ground rises up in sharp-peaked waves, providing plenty of spaces to hide
>Or to be ambushed
>Maud tests the ground beneath her bare feet, frowning
>”I don’t approve. It’s unfamiliar, cantankerous stone. Wild, even.”
“Guess that’s where the name comes from. So what’s the plan?”
>”We should find a vantage point,” Starlight suggests. “Scout out the castle first, then make a plan.”
>She gestures to the Changelings’ fortress, which sits directly in the middle of the blighted circle you find yourself standing on
>The structure rises up from the earth in a jagged collection of sharp-edged towers, all of them bored through with trypophobic holes
>Through the wholes, swarms of Changeling drones buzz through the air as they go about their bizarre duties
>From far away, they look only like black specks, but it’s tough to imagine fighting armies of them after the trouble just one gave you in the baths
>”I like the way she thinks,” Sunset responds, patting Starlight on the back
>Starlight beams
>”Just basic strategy.”
>”That rock over there should suffice,” Maud adds in, pointing to a large cleft of earth about a hundred feet to your right. “It will keep us out of sight, but it’s high up enough that we’ll see any enemies approaching.”
“Let’s get moving, then.”

>The four of you make a small camp behind the cleft, huddling in the muddy recesses of earth behind it
>[Rest: +18 HP]
>Maud sits down cross-legged to meditate, and Starlight begins busying herself studying a few travel-sized books of spells she’s stowed inside her robes
>Sunset ducks out just long enough to analyze the castle, and a frown stretches across her face
>”The princess has to be in there,” she says
“How can you tell?”
>”I just feel it.”
>”Plus,” Starlight adds. “I tried scrying her and it didn’t work. Wardstones are the only thing that could prevent scrying. She has to be here.”
“Those both sound like good reasons to me. So, what’s our plan?”
>All four of you exchange glances, and begin to think

I know I’m the last one who should be saying this, but we should probably be careful.”
>Starlight stares at you, shocked, and even Maud gives one of her characteristic surprised blinks
“What? I only act like an idiot when it’s my *own* life on the line.”
>”How noble,” Starlight says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “But… you do have a point. Even if we could fight our way through the queen’s entire army, there’d be no guaranteeing we’ll be able to save Twilight that way.”
“So we sneak in, right?”
>”That’s our best bet,” Sunset agrees. “Starlight, you got anything that’ll help us out?”
>”I always have a little something.”
>Starlight reaches into her robes and withdraws a small glob of thick, tacky gum
>”Gilda, hold still for a second.”
“Can do.”
>Starlight reaches her hand up, gently resting her palm against your cheek
“Aww, I love you too, Glimm— ow!”
>She yanks a few of your eyelashes out, then mushes them into the gum with her fingers
“Warn me first!”
>”And miss the look on your face?” Starlight asks with a sadistic smile. “Never.”
>She rolls the putty between her hands, whispering a subtle invocation as she does so
>Glowing lines of runes wind their way between her fingers as she does so, then she reaches out and touches Sunset’s forehead, letting the magic ripple across her reddish skin
>Immediately, the half-demon vanishes from view, armor and all
“Nice work,” you say, genuinely impressed
>”It’s nothing special. Should only last about an hour. Besides, I heard from Rarity you’ve got a knife that does something similar.”
“I do. But it’s not as... thorough.”
>”Princesses, I really hope that doesn’t mean what I think it means,” Starlight says as she taps a finger against your nose
>The last thing she sees before you vanish is you wriggling your eyebrows
>Maud politely holds out a hand, and Starlight touches her palm before using the spell on herself
>If any Changeling guards had passed by at that moment, they’d have seen only empty dirt and footprints

>The four of you trek single-file towards the castle, with you up front and Sunset right behind you
>Maud stays back with Starlight, keeping a protective watch over the fragile mage
>The Changelings’ fortress turns out to be further away then it looked, and it takes nearly fifteen minutes of trudging over the undulating, treacherous terrain of the Feywilds before you’re near the structure’s base
>Up close, the Changeling castle appears massive and labyrinthine, and the buzzing of patrolling drones overhead makes your teeth ache
>The four of you huddle together in the castle’s shadow, and you ask Maud where the best entrance would be, somewhat unnerved by the fact that you have to raise your voice above a whisper in order to be heard over the chatter of wings up above
>Maud considers that for a moment
>”The larger tunnels present a structural hazard when dug too deeply. They must terminate early on. We should find a smaller hole, close to the ground,” she says
“Can do.”
>You circle around the castle until you find a narrow passage, barely large enough for your mammoth hips to fit through, then head over to it and wriggle your way inside
>The other girls follow suit, and the whole team wriggles into a claustrophobia-inducing channel in the rock
>The tunnel winds sharply upwards almost immediately, and you find yourself gripping the sides tightly with your fingers as you haul your bulky self upwards
>Starlight grunts in frustration as her lack of athletic abilities become apparent; she barely gets five feet up before she starts slipping
>”H-hey…” she mumbles. “A little help?”
>”Don’t worry,” Maud answers from beneath her. “I can support you. Just please try not to step on my face.”
>”I can’t make any promises. Sorry.”
>Maud sighs, but doesn’t complain

>Gradually, with plenty of scrapes and bruises, the four of you shimmy your way up to the top of the tunnel
>It’s nearly vertical at the end, and a thin film of green slime covers the exit
>You unsheathe your knife and cut the film open, then stick your invisible head out to see where you’ve emerged
>The tunnel is near the far end of a large, circular chamber
>Slime coats the floor and hangs from the walls, pulsating with that same vile green light
>In the far corner of the room hang four cocoons, similar to the ones you rescued Diamond and her parents from
>Only these definitely don’t contain ordinary people
>Even through the film of the cocoons, their skin seems unnaturally radiant and pale, with a strange silvery tint to it
>Their hair is of a similar shade, all brilliant, flowing shades of white, aquamarine, and rose, almost metallic in its gleam
>You’re transfixed, for a moment, by their beauty
>So transfixed that you almost don’t notice the two Changeling guards prowling towards the cocoons, chittering as they whisper to each other
>”The queen has neglected to bring us food, once again” the first guard says
>”She obsesses over the princess. Thinks of nothing but conquest, while her subjects starve,” mutters the second
>”It’s only fair we take a little blood from her prisoners. I’ve heard tales of the richness of Aasimar blood.”
>Both creatures lick their mandibles with long, dripping tongues as they reach the cocoons, fangs glinting wickedly in the chamber’s faint light…