>You're passing through the halls of the Chateau d'Shackles, carrying a keyring given to you, and right now you can't stop yourself from laughing. Right smack in the middle of the usual grey and utilitarian chain of pins and keys is a soft, pink, ivory little thing. It's marked with little flowers and even has the word "dearest" engraved on the side. Did Mister have some kind of sweetheart secreted away all this time?
>You think you'll ask the ponyservant about it. Better off to get permission anyways before entering Shackles' sanctum, even it is yours for the time being. You jog your way through the great hall, making your way up to the central staircase.
>You seem to making something of a stir. The usual folks don't know what to think about the human being in charge. A half joked rumor is spreading among a few of the girls that an ape killed the owner and savagely threw on his clothes.
>"But how would he find a jacket that big?"
>You find yourself at Tenorhooves' door, and you knock three times firmly with the knocker.
>You wait, and then you wait a little longer, you wonder if perhaps Tenorhooves is busy on the job somewhere else when you hear a very noticeable stirring. Slow, lumbering hoofsteps make much more sound than they should and you are greeted to find- a very irritated looking minotaur shaking straw out of his fur. Behind you can notice a goat chewing on an overturned desk, and two others who seem to have very raggedly collapsed.
>"What is it you want with Iron Will?" He bombasts. You find yourself backing away a bit.
"Oh, I thought a Steward Tenorhooves could be found here."
>"Yeah, we got loudness complaints from some ponies up on floor 7, and they also criticized Iron Will's taste in girls, but before Iron Will could pulverize, the little butler pony was kind enough to offer up his room."
"Oh, is that so?"
>You don't hear much of his story, and instead just stare at the fact on of the collapsed goats is tied to the leg of a bed, and the other looks dangerously unhygienic.
>"Iron Will greatly appreciated his service, and would like send regards to the house. After a busy touring schedule this was exactly what he needed to clear his mind."
Well, it seems that for the next few days, I am the house.
>"Oh yeah, you're that Anonymal I keep hearing about. You're a bit smaller and lankier than they make you out to be. Anyways, congratulations on the job and best of luck. If you need anything, seminar appearances, autographs for the kids. Iron Will would be glad to help while he's here."
>The offer sounds tempting but, no.
"Err... no thank you?"
>"Is that how you're going to reject Iron Will's offer?!?!"
"Excuse me?"
>"Excuses are for losers! Attack the day! Tie your problems to the ground and plunge into their issue-hole! Be sure to lube up with tenacity juice!"
>He pauses for a second.
>"What do you think, good enough for my next speech?"
>You back up and try to leave the minotaur to his vigor.
"Definitely. Don't forget about the... tenacity juice."
>"Again, anything."
Iron Will fades into the distance as you turn around and end up face to face with Tenorhooves.
 
>"Oh hello Master Anonymous."
>Your head's starting to hurt.
"Don't call me that Stewie, I'm overstepping my bounds as it is."
>"Sure thing sir. Need anything Master Anonymous?"
"Yes, I would. On the keyring I was given, this small colored one. I'm unfamilar with it. Anypony I don't know of?"
>"I don't know about that. I assumed the master gave you access to all his chambers." You check your memory, you're pretty sure you checked every collar and wiped every vagoo in the building.
"I think so, but still something seems off."
>"Have this." He procures a long scroll of parchment from his side pocket, it seems to list every pony currently under disciplinary action, with dates and transgressions off to the side.
>It seems like they're all here. There's Black Beauty, Peachblossom, Artax, Rocinante. Here's Surprise, a repeat offender who has always remained easygoing and is reportedly way too "giving" for our clients. Sparkler is there, as is Posie, and the silly one, Applesauce was it? Also listed are the Seaponies. Barely sentient industrial accidents who despite being abhorrently freakish, are said to feel absolutely wonderful in bed. The matron Twinkle was always an odd one, so burdened and cynical, yet you never got why she remained so loyal to Shackles.
>That seems like everyone, until you stumble upon that one name. "Firefly" you mutter to yourself. The note on the side says "Resistant."
>"Oh yes, Firefly. One of our star... challenges of sorts."
>You look up at Steward.
"Challenges?"
>"Oh yes, we've put this mare under intensive study, and she's hit recorded airspeeds of mach 4. She's also very physically fit, and her manipulation of electricity very frankly scares us. We don't know what kind of enchantment or charm could have created this but it must have been strong. The patron is given a night with her, and they see if they can last. She's a very stubborn mare, and she hasn't let anyone take her. Anyone except-"
>You look at the key.
"Except for Mr. Shackles."
Hmmm.
>It seems like you'll be visiting the stables.
 
>You find yourself descending into Mister Shackles dungeon, and it looks like- just that. Everything from the dark colors to the stone floor is designed to be the polar opposite of the harem, a colorful Saddle Arabian bizarre of sorts of sorts filled with all kinds of plush and velvet.
>As you climb further down the rotating stair with Tenorhooves at your side you plan on slinking through unnoticed. Nothing to suspect, you'll just check up on the mare and discipline everypony later. You open the door as Steward proudly exclaims.
>"Make way, for the current Master. Anonymous!"
>Lit by candlelight, every pony eye looks at you through stable doors, shackles and a myriad of devices.
>"Egads, is that the stable boy? I thought-"
>"Is someone loggin' in your noggin? Shackles has always been-"
>"Gosh. Those pants look awfully tight around his ho-"
>"Anohnymus? He can't even wipe mah pooter whole."
>You sidestep through the throng, wading through hooves of ponies in chains and various other open air constraints. A seapony looks at you inquisitively, Glub glubbing all the while. Another is hanging upside down in it's tank.
"Nothing to worry about, Shackles is just away for a while. His punishment will be swift, know your place and, stuff."
>You're nearly down the end of the stalls, nopony other than the usuals, definitely not any Firefly. Suddenly a glow illuminates the room. Wrinkled and robed, speaking in the harsh provincial accent of an angry school nurse, and probably the only unicorn not wearing a horn brace, Twinkle marches sourly down the aisle.
>"Calm it down girls. I'll deal with this."
>The girls do a poor job calming it down. This makes Twinkle angry.
>"Cram it or I'll leave nary a plot unscathed. This is going into my weekly report."
>Staring disbelievingly Twinkle turns directly at you. Then at Tenorhooves, then back at you.
>"So apparently you fancy yourself master of the house, Checks out."
"Only for a few days, Shackles just sent me instill discipline."
>You're given a deadpan stare as the mare looks aside to the unruly chattel.
>"Is that so? Well you've done a damn good job at that. Now it's time to go back from where you came."
"Well, actually." Your words stumble over themselves. "I was hoping to see Firefly."
>A fire is stoked in her eyes. She says to you exhaustedly.
>"Follow me. And the eunuch goes upstairs."
>You do accordingly.
 
>Since the unicorn mare revealed a hidden entrance, you've been walking through a dark corridor for several minutes now. In awkward silence you walk down by the purple light of her horn. Better to break the ice Anonymous.
"Sooo. I see you're head mare of the dungeons."
>"Aye. Those crazy confounded ponies, if I could drink I'ld..."
"So how'd you get down here."
>She pauses for some solid seconds. She walks ahead of you and makes the clanking metal under her robe visible. She's got a full chastity belt going on down there. Lock and everything.
>"I-I had a kid. Master always had a sick sense of humor. Agreed to send her overseas, to a nice unicorn family and connections and the like. Since then I've been the head down here."
>She looks very pained as she says this. You really want to look into her eyes and say something but just can't. You notice a faint glimmer up ahead, and the two of you get on ahead towards it.
>As you reach the light coming out of the hinges on the final door, Twinkle turns to you.
>"Do what you've got to do. If anything happens I was taking a lunch break before you got here."
>You part ways as you prepare to enter the chambers.
 
>Making your way inside, the entire room is enormous. The grand door frame is made of mahogany and clouds float all around the lofty expanse. It's hard to see more than 6 inches in front of your face as you wade through pink curtains and pillows.
>You make each step slowly, as your body waits in anticipation. What can you say. You haven't been getting any all these years, and one of the strongest memories you have, was with this mare. So what you fantasized a little. You don't know whether you're going to talk or screw or what, but you don't want to be the bad guy. You could run away together, or have foals, or talk over old times. All you know is this pony is driving you crazy, and driving you out of the haze you've been in for years.
>You make it to the center, a bed is there, next to it a playful pile of whips. A phonograph is softly playing. Closer my Equestria to Thee. You can't for the life of you find where Firefly is. That is until you hear a rustling.
>You snap to attention. you check the curtains, is she flying around you? Ready to pounce? Nope, everything is still. You look up, and find floating above you, a cloud, bouncing from wall to wall, snoring pegasus atop it. You see a pink hoof hanging off the side, bottled crooked in it's leg. Almost aware of your presence, the cloud floats down to the bed, and dissolves as Firefly rests above the covers. Slowly waking up.
>She wakes, groggily. After eying you, she blinks, double takes. You can see the shock on her face, you can also see wrinkles. A lot of them. She can't be beyond her late twenties, or the pony equivalent, but she's hardened into her job. Right now she's laughing.
>"You-You've got to be kidding me. This is a joke."
>You stumble over yourself. Try to start something up.
"It's been so long. I've really meant to talk to you."
>She flies up and perches on a cumulus. Pointing her body aggressively.
>"No way. I've heard about you. You're going around fancying yourself Master or something. You're just an eager young colt, borrowing his dad's keys. You aren't a tenth of the pony Shackles is and you never will be.."
"I know Shackles. This isn't about that. I want..."
>"What do you know about Shackles? I'm suffering right now and he's the only one who knows what's best for me."
"Don't say that. You know-"
>She's flaring up now. Almost as if she's charging.
>"Say one more word and I swear."
"You've really got to-"
>"Twinkle, get him out of here. Before I fry this bucker."
>A call comes from deep in the outer hall.
>"Sure thing 'Fly. Sorry Anon."
>A flash and you're out.
 
>You've been hanging in the dungeon's center for a minute or two now. Twinkle levitates you a cup of bitter tea.
>"I see that went well. Had a talk with Firefly. She wanted to let you know she doesn't serve little foals."
>The tea stings as it goes down your throat. You don't know much about magic, but you know that teleportation, especially from someone in less than a Zen state of mind, can fry you up pretty well.
"I don't suppose she react that well to the Master."
>"I don't suppose she does. Inseparable the two are. She seems convinced that she was born some kind of criminal, and he's the only one who can show her the way."
"I can tell you don't generally fall for the horseshit. The orders they... we give you."
>"You're correct. And it's helped me this far." She sighs tiredly, you can still hear the rattle of her bound marehood.
>You grab her face and hold it ahead of your own.
>"You seem like you really see beyond all this. And it tires you."
>You reach into your pocket and pull out a crowned metal key.
>"I think you deserve a break. You're smart enough, you know to lock yourself back up when the Master comes back.
>An indescribable look of joy comes upon her face, as she enthusiastically hugs you. After that she grabs the key and runs. You hear the clank of metal and the puff of make-up as Twinkle dashes out into the hotel for a weekend of release. At least someone's getting what they want.