The Service- 4 geldings experience liberation from Sombra

>Shattered Shard awoke, finding himself sprawled on the floor of the main room of the special barracks 
>him and his companions occupied. He seemed to be covered in a light layer of dust, which was odd.
>The last thing he remembered was a hellish battle between the princesses and his king, Sombra,
>occurring in the center of the city. Not being a part of the fighting force proper, he and his companions
>had taken shelter. There seemed to be a lull in the action, the thunderous crashes had stopped.
>Picking himself up onto four legs, the dull lavender pegasus approached the closed front door cautiously.
>The light in the room seemed wrong for the time of day. It had been afternoon when he'd passed out,
>or whatever had happened. He noted that he was being watched by Soft Point, who was dusting himself
>off where he sat on the sofa. They locked eyes, a mutual gaze of confusion passing between them.

>Slowly opening the door, Shard peeked out. It was late morning, just reaching full daylight.
>Some massive spell must have been expended to have thrown time out of whack. He noted a few
>other pony faces gazing from doors and windows around the base. "What's going on?" 
>asked Point, the teal unicorn now sitting upright and shuffling his hind hooves against the 
>floor. Shard couldn't help the usual pang of regret, seeing the bareness where his friend should
>have sported a hearty pair. It was a psychic pain that none of them would probably ever outgrow.
>But they were the lucky ones. Most of those who had stood up against Sombra's rise to power 
>had not only been rendered sexless, but also sent into the crystal mines to toil endlessly
>for the crystals that powered their kingdom's economy. Shard and his friends, however, had 
>instead been shunted into the military, either as cooks or... Companionship for lonely troops.
>Shard was the latter. He remembered bitterly being chosen for his lithe, aerodynamic build-
>Apparently pegasi were particularly loved. And he had been particularly loved. Often.

>Point's horn, which he'd fortunately been allowed to keep, nonetheless sported the ugly black
>crystals their king used to stunt the magic of those deemed untrustworthy. Noting that Point 
>was beginning to narrow his eyes at Shard for staring too long, Shard tore his gaze back to
>the door. "It's suddenly morning. And there's no fight going on." he replied. He heard 
>Point's hoofsteps approaching as the unicorn shoved his head through the gap also, looking
>outside. The two took in the scene. Most of the base had been deployed into the battle.
>Those remaining were mostly clerical and service ponies, such as themselves, though they were
>as prone to be serviced as to serve. "Do you think it's over?" asked Point. "I'm not setting
>hoof outside until I hear an all clear. You know what it was like. It could begin again."
>Point looked a little indistinct as he drew his head in. "Honestly, I can barely remember
>anything. I feel like I've got a bad hangover." "I can, but I have a bitch of a headache."
>Shard replied. "And if the fight starts up again... You know alot of that dust out there
>was the last unit deploying. They got hit with a bolt, and just puffed into ash."
>"Shit. Now I remember that much. Sargent Turgid Ruby was leading them. My ass sure won't
>miss that one." 

>"Horrible but true. He only took me once, but I was sore for a week. He yanked out some
>flight feathers, too, the fucker. I can't imagine what it must have been like for you,
>he had a particular thing for unicorns." Shard said, "It's because our horns don't pull
>out, I think. He near snapped mine off biting it." Point replied. "I wonder who else we
>won't be seeing again." Shard mused. "You're morbid. I like it." Point replied. Suddenly 
>there was a shout from the kitchen. "What the hell's happened to all my supplies!" came 
>Cookie Dough's high pitched voice, followed by a horrified whinny. "It's ROTTEN!"
>The plump, tan earth pony cook came storming out of the kitchen doorway, holding out two
>shrivelled, unidentifiable once-citrus fruits in a hoof. Shard noticed Point's eyes roll 
>up just before the unicorn collapsed with a thud onto the floor. "Cookie! Be more careful!
>You know he's got PTSD!" Shard admonished, carefully checking Point to make sure no bones
>were broken. Only slightly mollified, the cook replied, "Everything in the kitchen looks
>just like this, though! Dry, rotten! We're down to canned goods, if even those can be 
>trusted." "Fine, I'm sure we'll live, just get those damn... Whatevers-" "Oranges."
>"Oranges the fuck away before Point wakes up!"

>Verifying that Point's legs were OK, Shard moved around to Point's back where he was safe
>from kicking hooves. He began patting Point's cheek, saying "It's OK, Point, wake up, you're
>safe, it's OK..." Point's eye flashed open and his mouth began working spasmodically, legs
>flailing. Shard kept talking quietly until Point came fully to his senses. "It's OK, you're 
>safe." "I am gonna take whatever the fuck those things were and cram them directly up Cookie's-"
>Point began, gathering his hooves beneath himself and standing. "Ear?" Shard suggested.
>"Yeah, ear, sure that's it." Point grumped, cynically. Sombra had apparently given Point an even
>worse experience than the rest of them, and he was too sensitive about the subject to discuss it.
>But everybody knew what happened whenever he was unexpectedly exposed to, well, certain items.
>Cutlery was also something that required a delicate introduction, as were chains and some 
>various hardware items. As bad as things had been for Shard, at moments like this he felt 
>almost lucky. "You guys OK with some mushroom soup? It smells alright." Came Cookie's voice.
>Point looked angry, so Shard quickly said, "Sure, that'll be fine!" before Point could reply.

>It wasn't too long before Cookie came trundling out dragging a card-table in his mouth, which
>he quickly set up, then returned to his makeshift kitchen. 
>He practiced and tested dishes on the other members of his "division", before making larger 
>batches for the service at large.
>He returned with a stack of items on his back, quickly dealing out the bowls and, with a careful
>eye on Point, the spoons.
>"Somebody wake up Tender Opal." he said. 
>"I'll get him." Shard replied, pacing down the short row of cots until he found one with a lump in it. 
>"Wakey wakey, hoof off snakey." he said, shaking the mass under the blanket. It folded down and a 
>pair of glazed but perky green eyes peered up. 
>"Oh man. Morning already?" the grey pegasus asked. 
>"You actually slept through that?" 
>"Through what?" 
>Shard groaned at this. "Anyhow. It's aftern- Uh, I guess it IS morning, come to think. Time for, 
>er, food." 
>"Well, I can't get out of bed with you standing there." Opal said, sounding serious. 
>"Why not?" 
>"This damn morning wood!"
>Shard looked shocked, before Opal released a series of bell-like peals of laughter, rolling
>himself out of the cot. 
>"Had you, didn't I! Man if there's one thing I don't miss, it's that."
>recovering somewhat, Shard managed a halfhearted "Uh. Yeah."

>Following Opal back to the card table, Shard couldn't help but admire the other pegasus'
>ability to adjust to this life. Opal was a bit younger though, and perhaps more mentally
>resiliant. Despite hating Sombra as much as the rest of them though, Opal really enjoyed
>his new lot in life, and was a favorite with the troops. 
>Sometimes they'd find odd little tokens of affection left anonymously by soldiers. 
>Most were addressed to Opal. Shard would have been jealous except that Opal's cheery outlook 
>made it impossible to dislike him.
>The soup, as it turned out, was alright as promised. There was some table discussion on the
>relative wisdom of going out and checking up on the status of the base, but seeing a group
>of fighting ponies turned to dust had rather dampened any urge to leave before they had to.
>The next day, a purple shield enveloped the entire city, further dampening the urge to explore.
>Time passed, the supply of canned goods dwindling.
>There had even been one more "Point Incident" when Cookie broke out a jar of pickled eggs.
>Largely though things were relatively uneventful, if somewhat stressed due to the lack of news.

>Shard stood in the doorway, peering out. 
>"The shield's wavering more than usual, today."
>"It's massive, I wouldn't be surprised if the circle of unicorns keeping that thing up isn't
>exhausted by now." Point replied.
>"Whose side do you think they're on?"
>"Who else? Gotta be Sombra, keeping the princesses' forces at bay."
>"That would make sense except for the tactic. When have you ever known that evil piece of shit
>to shield anything? He'd be all "Charrrge!" and stuff, not this."
>"Well why don't you go out and ask, then."
>Drawing back inside, Shard closed the door. "I want to remain alive, thank you very much."
>"Some life."
>"Beats the alternative."
>"True that, I guess."
>The walls of the barracks shuddered from a distant blast, then another.
>"Fuck. Looks like it's happening again." Shard said.
>"If the city gets levelled let's just hope they get him, too."
>"If they capture him", Opal piped up, "I want first crack at him."
>All four sat in pleasant contemplation of the idea, even as another distant blast rocked them.

>The four more or less huddled as the commotion reached a creschendo, until one last huge blast shook the building. 
>A rainbow wave passed through the place, rendering all of the inhabitants translucent and blasting the horrid black crust of crystals off Point's horn.
>"I guess this means the princesses won!" remarked Shard, almost afraid to believe it.
>They opened the door and emerged into a party atmosphere, Sombra's Service uniforms being shed or torn to ribbons.
>Point actually seemed to be crying. The magical pathways set into the paving of the city were alight though, and tendrils of color rode the air above the castle.
>Opal broke free of the group and vanished down an alley. 
>"It's the heart. Someone found the heart!" Point said, kneeling down and applying his horn to the pavement. Shard and Cookie followed suit, adding their joy.
>Smilingly, the three arose again. 
>"Let's run to the castle, I want to see who did this!" Cookie said.
>Just then, Opal arrived, winded but grinning.
>"Do I even want to know?" Shard asked, knowing that look all too well.
>"Tell ya later." Opal replied.
>The group of four set off for the city center.

>The party of four watched with interest as posters of Sombra's face were torn down as they passed, celebrating ponies doing anything they could to erase bad memories.
>"I'm shivering, this is too good!" Cookie commented, as a crystal statue shattered on the pavement ahead of them, shimmering ponies stomping the fragments.
>"I think I can see them! Look, the white unicorn and... Is that a pink alicorn?" Opal asked, shading his eyes and squinting up at the palace balcony.
>"She looks a bit like the old queen. A southerner, but close." Shard commented.
>The press of bodies was pretty bad, but they made it up to the edge of the heart chamber. Sure enough, there it was, rotating and gleaming.
>"Never thought I'd see that again." Point said.
>"We have to let them know about the mine ponies." Opal said, pressing onward through the disorganized mass.
>They headed into the lower level of the palace, soon running into a group of crystalized, yet obviously southern ponies. 
>Cookie spotted another alicorn, this one purple, amongst them.
>"Hello? We need to speak with the new royals about an important matter." Opal said.
>"Hi! I'm sure they'd love to speak to you, but they're a bit tired right now." she said, "Can it wait until morning?"
>The service ponies confabbed, Opal finally speaking up, "I guess, but it should be early tomorrow."
>"Rainbow, can you find them rooms for the night?" Twilight asked a teal pegasus, who was gone in a colorful streak.
>Soon they were escorted to some opulant suites, and bedded down for the night.

>Morning arrived, Cookie being the first to awaken, thumped on the doors of the others until all four were gathered in the hall.
>"I didn't like leaving the miners down there even one more night." Opal stated.
>"We don't know those southerners from boo, this needs to be handled from the top or we could just be handing the reins over to another slaver." Shard replied.
>"I know, but still." Opal said, getting nods from the other two.
>A yellow pegasus approached them, softly saying "Um, I don't want to interrupt, but Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor will see you now."
>They followed her up far more flights of steps than should really have been necessary until reaching an opulant throne room. The single throne had two ponies 
>standing by the foot of it. The yellow pegasus retreated, leaving them alone with the pair.
>The four fell to a knee. 
>"Your hignesses." Opal stated.
>"Rise, friends. What brings you to us this morning?" Cadance asked.
>"We come to plead for the release of the ponies laboring in the mines, Princess. Evil King Sombra had them imprisoned below ground, to dig for crystals.
>"The entrance to the mines is to the north, at the base of-"
>"Oh!" Said Cadance, "I got a report on those already! Their guards released them with the fall of the old king. Nonetheless, I shall verify that they recieve proper housing and care."
>"Thank you, your majesty."
>Cadance approached them, peering closely at each in turn. Shard got the uncomfortable sensation that he was being scanned somehow. 
>"He ill used you ponies, too, didn't he." she asked, softly.

>"Yes, your majesty." Shard spoke up, "We were political dissidents, as were those sent to the mines."
>"Yet you were not sent into the mines." she observed.
>"No, your highness. Our talents lie elsewhere."
>"Shining." Cadance called. The white unicorn, who had been watching in a somewhat tired way, paced over.
>"Do you notice anything odd about these ponies?" she asked, with a strange expression.
>The prince looked them over in turn, finally saying, "They look like pretty but ordinary mares to me, my precious."
>Cadance broke into a momentary grin at this, until noticing the mortified expressions on the four guests.
>"Forgive us, please. Shining, please entertain them while I go... Check the status of those mine ponies."
>She walked serenely past them, giving Shard a playful brush with her tail and a wink. He blushed furiously.
>The prince noticed also. "So. Cadance obviously approves of you four. She's the princess of love, you know."
>"That's quite a responsibility." Point observed.
>"Yes, and she's got a special eye for relationships. You aren't spoken for, are you?" Shining continued, giving each of them a closer look.
>Then the prince licked his lips and waggled an eyebrow. Shard wasn't sure if he should feel uncomfortable or honored. "No, your highness."
>"I, I think I would prefer to serve your majesty as a chef, if you'd be willing." said Cookie. The prince actually looked a bit put out.
>"Could you consider... Chef with benefits?" Shining asked. Blushing furously the tan pony answered "I might."
>"Good. Consider yourself hired, and if you would, run along and make us something good."
>Cookie, surprisingly bashful, skittered out, the door closing behind him.
>"He'll come around." Opal stated. The prince smiled. "I hope so. I don't mind a bit of meat on the rack."
>Point suffered a momentary coughing fit.

>Introductions were quickly gotten out of the way, Shining smiling as he put names to faces.
>Then Prince Shining paced back to the base of the throne, mounting it and leaning back luxuriously, his muscular thighs relaxing wide open.
>There was a collective gulp as the remaining three took in the sight. The prince was, not to put too fine a point on it, well equipped.
>Not to mention devilishly handsome, and obviously liked them. Yet he seemed gentle, quite the opposite of Sombra.
>"So." the prince continued, "You said that your talents lie elsewhere?"
>Opal, mouth agape, walked forward as if in a trance. "Yes, your majesty!"
>Point and Shard exchaged a glance, smiling. The prince, although in for a surprise, was also in for a treat!
>Opal continued until his muzzle was resting on the cushion directly in front of Shining's plump orbs. He gazed at them closely, the soft, lightly velvet covered
>pink skin being warmed by his breath, then peered up into the prince's eyes. Shining gave a small nod, smiling.
>His eyes focusing on the masculine smorgasbord before him, Opal slid his head forward.

>Opal began mouthing and lapping at the prince, not just his stallionlly pouch, but also along the innermost of his inner thighs. Shining sighed, his
>shaft beginning to pour forth from his sheath like a snake charmer's pet from it's basket. Opal licked and nuzzled his way up and along the thickening
>member until it stood at full mast. Point swept Shining's hair back and kissed him, as Shard took Opal's former position pleasuring the tightly 
>stretched skin of his new prince's sack. Opal mouthed Shining's tip, and began suckling, his soft hooves gently stroking his shaft just above the base.
>Shard could see what a good job Opal was doing by how the prince's heavy testes kept tugging tighter and tighter to the base of his cock. It wouldn't be long.
>"Mmmf!" Shining mumbled into Point's mouth. They disengaged, the prince looking confused. "Did Opal say "HE'll come around" about Cookie?" 
>Point smiled, saying, "Don't you give that another thought." and resumed kissing him. Shining's face relaxed, and he quickly seemed to forget his concern.
>Shard managed to mouth both of the prince's testicles just as they tensed up, his muzzle against the base of Shining's cock, as the throbbing orgasm overwhelmed
>the prince's senses, strong muscular throbs accompanying the subtle twitching of his plump balls. Shard loved this, it reminded him of old times, even 
>if lived vicariously through another. 
>At last it was over, and they got comfortable cuddling on the throne.

>"Husband! Is this how you honor your vows?" came Cadance's voice from the doorway. 
>Shining's head snapped up, quickly saying "I thought you-"
>"I'm joking of course, dear Shining. I trust that you treated our new guests right?"
>"And then some, my dear." he replied. "There is something you should know about them." Cadance said, conspiratorily.
>Then she leaned down and whispered in his ear. Shard, sitting on the oppposite arm of the throne, felt Shining tense momentarily and watched his eyes widen.
>"They DO that?" he asked, in wonder and horror. 
>More whispering ensued, Shining nodding. Then he gazed at each of their worried faces, smiling. "You must have been the bravest ponies of them all."
>A collective sigh of relief rang out.
>"Further, my good wife wants you to live with us. Here, in the palace."
>Shard noted the smiles on Opal and Point's faces, smiling back at them and the royals.
>"I have a surprise of my own." Cadance said, producing a necklace with a pair of facetted crystals dangling from it, "This will allow the wearer to perform as a >complete male, although with no possibility of offspring. Who wants to test it first?"
>Point, face frozen in amazement, held out a hoof. 
>Opal spoke up. "If there are going to be penetrations going on, let me show you all a surprise of my own."
>He got down off the other arm of the throne. "I used the armory's grind-stone to smooth it." He bit his lip, and with a wooden-sounding clatter, something hit 
>the floor behind him. Holding it up, he proudly displayed Sombra's horn to the shocked onlookers. "Behold! Our new buttplug!" Opal announced.
>"I get it next." Shard said.

**FIN**