Rarity quickly came over to the bedside. She looked me over, then at the tank on my back. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she let out a hard breath. Calming down, she knew she didn’t want the answer, but she needed to know why I was being given oxygen.

“What happened?” she asked, clearing her throat.

“Master cut me open and played with my organs a little. Don’t worry; he didn’t do any damage.” She bit her lip. I paused. I sounded really dead. “You need to look at the letters.” She picked them up and peered at their contents. “The CU letter.” She opened and read it, then froze in shock.

“No, no, no, this isn’t good.” She sat down, as if the breath was knocked out of her. The letter fell out of her shaking hoof.

“I figured that’s what you’d say. I’m guessing it’s not good.” She looked at me as tears washed down her face. She tried to clear her eyes with her hoof, but she couldn’t. “I’m guessing the plan won’t work without me being in Ponyville.”

“No, actually.” She cleared her throat. “We just need him here. That way, Rainbow Dash and the others can help. Otherwise, he could just run or claim any number of things. He could flee to another country, and if that happen, then I don’t know if we could stop him. You could get fillynapped at any point in your life. The plan is about killing him, not about having him arrested.” Her body trembled. “That way, he won’t be able to escape or buy his way out. This is really bad.”

“Then what?” She stared at me trying to search her mind.

“If you go to Canterlot again…” she looked down. “I’m not going to sugar coat it: he basically wins. You won’t get out of this alive, or at the least the chance of you escaping would be so slim. You’d be his for the rest of your life.” She looked down, and we stayed quiet for a little. Tears ran down my face onto the bed. “But if you fail the test, then by the time you’re given…”

“I won’t fail.” I interrupted, and she froze for a second.

“Why not!?” she asked, closing in on my face making me flinch.

“Do you really think he’ll let me fail? I have a feeling that once he finds out, he’ll put things on the line. I know he knows just as much as you or I what it means for me to pass this test. I'll go to Canterlot, and that’s it. I lost.” She got up, and her tears went away. She set the letter down. A look of stern determination went across her face.

“No, he’s not won!” She stomped her hoof angrily. “This isn’t time to be crying; it’s a time for planning and preparing! We have eleven days. That means just… No, by then…” She panicked a little. “I need to talk to Rainbow Dash. This, this is too big. We need to think through this and figure something out. We’ll figure this out! Don’t lose hope. Never lose hope!” She ran out of my room, scaring my mom. I smiled slightly.

“Is everything alright?” My mom asked, walking into the room. I smiled as tears went down my face.

“Will you, will you.” I turned over and started to sob into my pillow; my mom came over to the bed and hugged me. I sobbed on her shoulder. I cried into her for a long time, and my father waited in the doorway staring at the floor.

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” She pulled me closer.

“I’m done.” She paused. “I’m giving up mom. I thought… I thought for a second there was a way th-that I might be able to escape. But it’s over. I’m his, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“No, I can still kill him.” My dad said and we looked at him.

“And get put to death!?” I shouted at him and he stared at me. “He won’t kill you both. You’re all I have left at this point. I can’t afford to lose either of you.”

“Also, it wouldn’t stop there.” my mom said as we looked at her. “Other charges could be brought against me. There are many other laws. Killing a royal doesn’t just affect the killer; it affects anyone they’re related to. It would be costly. They would remove Scootaloo’s wings, and I would be lamed.”

“But Celestia wouldn’t allow that right?” My dad asked, and my mom looked down at me staring at her.

“She’s done it before, it was a long time ago, but it’s been done. She may seem kind, but she doesn’t let it go without punishment. Royals are there to keep relationships with other countries. That means they can get away with things; their deaths aren’t taken lightly. Killing one is considered a sin too many.”

“Will you get my books mom?” She nodded, getting them and letting me study. Sethi came over a while later and checked on me. Then Twilight came later with more books. She didn’t ask no matter how much it pained her not to. The hours passed like a fly in the air, gone before you can even do a double take to see it. The day came and went, letting me fall asleep.

“Please come back.” I begged in the darkness of my dream. The darkness surrounded and choked me.

“Hello?” I looked around at Luna’s voice. “Whose dream is this?” She called out into the darkness. “Answer me; who are you?! Where are you? What is this darkness?”

“I’m here.” I tried shouting, but the dark took my voice. “I’m here. Why can’t you hear me!?” Tears ran down my face.

“Because your mine.” Master’s voice said, and my eyes shot open. I looked up and then at the air tank. I had gotten used to not needing to breathe on my own.

“Scootaloo.” I looked at Master holding the letter from CU. He was grinning so widely. If he could, his mouth would go off his face. It was nighttime now.

“Master.” I said without getting up.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m completely healthy, Master.” He frowned and looked at the tank. He pulled off my mask. I panicked a little, but I enjoyed not having to breathe. My body panicked needing to suddenly figure out how to breathe again. I started to cough, and he put it back on as I gasped a little.

“I think you just lied to me.”

“I-I.” I started to panic.

“Not only that, but you wet the bed.” I looked down. I wasn’t sleeping well anymore; in fact, it was now worse. Everything in my body was straining to stay afloat. I was extremely tired even while asleep.

“I need you, Master, please. I can’t sleep without you.” He set the letter down.

“Oh, is that before or after you betrayed me?”

“What?” I asked confused.

“You told Rarity didn’t you?” I stared at him.

“This again; I told you I didn’t tell anypony.”

“Tell me, and I spare her life.” I got up tired, but it looked like I was weak from something else. Though by now I was perfectly fine; everything felt better than it had in a long time. But at the same time, I was about ready to pass out from not sleeping. I looked at him dead in the eyes and took off the mask.

“I didn’t tell her.” I growled and started to cough. He put the mask to my mouth, making me breathe again. Holding the mask tightly, I fell onto my pillow, shaking a little. It was going to be hard to get off the air. I couldn’t just take the mask off and *BAM* do it. He frowned a little.

“I can’t believe you can’t even stand, and you still can’t breathe on your own.”

“Yes I…” He took off my mask, and I snatched it from him, putting it back on and moving away from him. “I’m fine, I’m fine. See; I’m fine.”

“A whole bucking month! I can’t believe it; this is by far the worse idea I ever had in my life!” He sighed. “It’s fine. I'll take you to school. I’m sure we can work something out if we explain that you were hurt.” I took off the mask and started coughing. “What do you think you’re doing?” He snapped as he pushed it back onto me. “Keep that on. You’re coughing because your lungs aren’t ready to move on their own.”

“Yes, Master.” He changed out the sheets with his magic and joined me on the bed, hugging me close to him. I thought for a moment as he held me softly. Something was off about him today. “What’s wrong, Master?” He looked at me.

“Aspious died on this day a few years ago. Seeing you like this reminded me of her when she was sick. I need to stop hurting you. I need to make you happy and want you to be with me. Just one more day and then you’ll be with me forever.” I sat up and kissed him, removing my mask.

“Master, I don’t understand.” He put back on my mask.

“About what?”

“Wasn’t I going to be with you forever before? I mean, when you found me, wasn’t I yours forever then?”

“No, I made promises I didn’t know I would keep. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep you alive or if I was just going to kill you. Anyway, first, let’s clean you up, then we’ll have Sethi check you out to make sure you won’t die. I'll let you rest, and we’ll have to hope you’ll be ready in time for the test.”

“Yes Master.” We teleported to his house’s bathroom. He gave me a nice bath, scrubbing me so softly with brushes he controlled with his magic. It felt great. He got in after I was clean and laid me on top of him. He kept scrubbing me. He turned me over and started scrubbing my belly, making me relax completely.

“You seem to be enjoying this.” I nodded.

I no longer had hope. As much as I wanted to believe in Rarity, the chance of her failing was too high to consider anything else. It was also moments like this that made me want to believe I wanted to be with him, love him, and be his pet forever. Though I could no longer afford to simply be on the sidelines hoping, it was over. I was his; whether or not Rarity won the battle, I lost the war.

“Master.” I turned over.

“Yes?” I took off the mask and he paused.

“I need to get used…” I coughed hard. He tried to put on the mask and I pushed it away. I gasped and started to breathe on my own. He stared at me shocked. “Used to breathing.” I said breathlessly.

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry, but it feels good... not to need to breathe. I’m sorry I lied to you. I’m just extremely tired is all; that’s why I seem so sick and weak. My chest healed just fine.”

“That’s good.” He kept scrubbing me.

“Also, I didn’t tell Rarity.” He stopped as tears went down my face. “But she saw my marks a while ago, and she saw the shirt you gave me at one point, I think. She hasn’t talked to me, so I don’t think she knows. But I haven’t told her. I’m sorry about hiding it, but please, don’t kill her.” He chuckled.

“Okay. That explains so much now.”

“What?”

“Well, I thought you had told her. If you hadn’t come clean by the end of the day, I was going to have her killed.” His smile faded slightly. “It would’ve caused me some trouble, I'll admit, but manageable.”

“Please don’t kill her.”

“Since you didn’t tell her, I won’t kill her. It would cause more of a headache than it would be worth at this point.”

“Thank you, Master.” I buried my face into his chest, and he hugged me. “I’m so grateful that you’re mine.” I kissed him as he enjoyed tasting my tears.

“Well, it’s time to get out.” I nodded, getting out. I yawned as we dried off. I went to his bed and sat down. After going downstairs, Master returned with Sethi. She went over to me and checked up on me again.

“How is she?” Master asked.

“Good; just needs to sleep. Though with her nightmares, I hardly find that possible.” Sethi said, frowning. I thought for a moment. I don’t remember telling her. Then again it might be common for this type of situation.

“That’s odd.” Master said.

“What?” Sethi asked eyeing him.

“Why hasn’t Luna cured her of them?” She paused, thinking for a few seconds. “She helps in nightmares. Why isn’t she helping her?” I looked at him.

“Master, she’s tried.” I said, lying down on the bed.

“What happened?”

“You can’t help if you can’t see what you’re helping. In my dreams, I’m made of darkness. She turns on the light, and I evaporate with it, waking up. She’s tried calling out to me, but I can’t find her, and she me. She couldn’t tell if it was my dreams, so she couldn’t come see me in person.”

“I'll see if I can arrange a meeting once we get to Canterlot.”

“Thank you Master.”

“Well, let’s sleep for a now.” I nodded, moving the sheets for him. Sethi went downstairs as Master joined me, holding me close. “I’m glad you’re feeling well.” I nodded, and he hugged me close, letting me fall asleep.

“Where are you!?” Luna’s voice shouted as I looked around in the warm darkness. I paused confused. I never had bad dreams when I slept with Master. “Where are you, my friend? I’m here, but I can’t find you. Speak,” Luna said, choking on tears. “Please, whose dream is this? Why are you alone and in so much darkness?”

“I’m here.”

“I hear you!” I looked up and looked around. “Speak little filly! Shout it!”

“I’m here!” I shouted. “I’m here!” I cried. “Please find me!”

“She can’t help you,” Master’s voice said. “Nothing can save a worthless whore; no one cares for you.” His laughter chained me to the ground choking me.

“Master, no. I can’t breathe.”

“You think I care?”

“Who is this!? Tell me your name, little one!” Luna shouted, crying heavily. “Please, I can help save you!”

“It’s…” I opened my eyes, looking at Master. He was standing next to the bed with a frown on his face and a hoof on my shoulder. “It’s Scootaloo.” I whispered. He gave me an odd look as I looked down. I had wet the bed, but it was morning.

“I went to get a drink for a few minutes, and you were having a nightmare.” I picked myself up, walking to the shower as he exchanged the sheets. I looked at him with a sad expression as he came into the bathroom. “At least it’s morning.” I nodded.

“I’m sorry Master.”

“It’s fine.” I took a shower. Once I was clean, he lifted me with his magic and set me on the bed. He started to brush me. I spread my wings as he started brushing them. “Wow! Your wings are quite beautiful.” I looked at them for a few seconds. They were much longer than I remembered. My feathers had grown back larger and better with a much larger wingspan than average for my age.

“Thank you.” I blushed as he smiled, getting onto the bed and brushing my wings wonderfully. “Master, do you want me to do anything for you?” He brushed harder, and I nuzzled him, feeling really good.

“Nope; just enjoy it.” I nodded.

“What did I do to get so much praising, Master?”

“Nothing. I just felt like it.” I smiled. He pulled me close, hugging me. We stayed like that for some time. “You should go to school and make sure everything’s ready before tomorrow.” I nodded. “But first.” He turned me over, kissing my belly. I smiled as his large tongue rubbed my skin. He nuzzled me, and I giggled, making him chuckle. “I love that you’re a filly.” I paused.

“I’m glad that makes you happy, Master.”

“That probably makes little to no sense to you. Right now, I like that you’re a filly; reminds me of my daughter. I used to do this with her almost every day. She loved it so much. I miss it.”

“It feels like you're brushing me with love.” He stopped and stared at me. I looked up and he shook his head, then continued brushing me. “Master do you love me?” He stopped again and I looked at him. “I'll be anything you want, a wife or a daughter, but just tell me so I know how to act.”

“I want you to be you, Scootaloo. I fell in love with you not because you looked like my daughter or that you act like my wife in so many ways. While those things punched me in the face and made me look at you, it was your overall soul that made me love you, fall for you, and want you. Nothing else.”

“So then, I can do this.” I pushed him onto his back, surprising him. I kissed him, and he hugged me tightly, pulling me up.

“Yes, you can do that.” He smiled as I licked his neck.

“Can I have some morning fun?” He chuckled lightly.

“No, not right now; you should get to school.” He teleported me back to my room. I landed softly onto my bed. I got dressed and put on the air mask, breathing a little hard. The pressurized air did wonders, but I didn’t want to let it go just yet.

Afterwards, I stopped and went into the living room. My parents were eating silently. I joined them; they had a plate ready for me. My mom set a few papers down and looked at me then my dad.

“So?” I looked at the letter on the table from Rarity. “Anything you want to tell us?” My mom asked. I tossed up an apple slice and ate it.

“Master was happy this morning. He brushed me for a long time. It felt really nice.”

“About Rarity?” My dad asked.

“If I had something to tell you…” I stared at my plate.

“Yes?” My mom said, and I paused.

“What were we talking about?”

“Rarity.” My dad said.

“What about her?”

“This letter.” I looked at it.

“What about it?”

“She wrote it right? I mean, you had her come over for a reason, didn’t you? This has to be from her. You two are planning something.” My dad said, leaning forward.

“If we were, it ended when the date for testing was moved up.” They stared at me silently, then looked at each other. “Now I have nothing left but Master. He’s so kind to me and loves me so much.”

“You should go to school.” My mom said. I nodded, getting up and going to the door, I looked at my scooter. I wouldn’t need it today. I went outside and stretched my wings out. I flew into the air. I moved faster through the air than I ever thought possible. The wind brushed against me, and then I slowed down as I slowly leveled out high in the sky.

I looked down, then around. I could see so far: Ponyville, Canterlot, Cloudsdale, and all of the Everfree Forest. Everything was so small, and even with my pain, it went on. Nothing was stopping for me. Each moment was passing and it didn’t matter. I stopped flapping and let myself fall.

A whistling in my ears relaxed me as the air whipped at my hair. The wind was going deep inside me. I closed my eyes, feeling everything pass around me. My cares and fears washed through me.

“WAKE UP!” Luna’s voice screamed, snapping me awake. I didn’t bother turning over to see the ground coming. I knew it was, and that’s what I wanted so badly to feel: something to finally cradle me in peace forever.

Two pair of hooves wrapped around me and I opened my eyes as I slowed considerably. I looked at my dad and Dash, flapping as hard as they could and slowing us down completely. We landed roughly as they fell down breathing hard. I smacked the ground a little, but it didn’t hurt.

Neither of them talked. Both of them were breathing too hard, and I knew both of them were ready to rip me a new one. It was nice that they cared, but they shouldn’t have caught me. I was falling, and they couldn’t save me.

“Why did you catch me?” I asked whispering, and their eyes went wide.

“What happened!?” Master shouted, running over to us. He checked me over, and I got up, looking at him.

“My wings locked up. I haven’t been flying in a few days, and I forgot.” He gritted his teeth.

“Scootaloo, go to school now.” He growled madly and frowned as I took to the air, flying toward school. The look on his face almost made me think he would shoot me down for that. I landed at school and looked around. I wasn’t late, but no one was here. I went inside, and I noticed Cheerilee was looking over some papers.

“Ah, Scootaloo.” I looked around. No one was in class.

“Am I late or something?”

“No, you’re on time. I had everyone go home for the day. I needed to get you ready for tomorrow and make sure you know how important this is for you. CU is coming to see you, and you haven’t been to class at all.” I went to the front and sat on a chair in front of her desk. I smiled a little, and she sighed. “You’re always so unfocused.”

“I know, but what did you want to talk about?”

“Do you think you’re ready? The testing will be much harder than the one I gave you last week. You can’t go running out or anything like that.”

“I won’t fail.” I smiled.

“That doesn’t reassure me much.”

“I can’t afford not to pass.” She looked through a few papers and passed me a sheet of paper. “Test prep?” I asked.

“Yes, things likely to be on the tests. It’ll take hours to complete, but these are the subjects you’ll need to know.” I looked over the list. I knew all of them fine. Twilight had taught me plenty of this, in fact, more than all of it.

“Yeah I know it.”

“Good, then I would like you to study till the test; review and go over everything.” I looked at the paper for a few seconds. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, I'll make sure to go over it.”

“Right, well, you’re already far ahead of anything I can teach you. I couldn’t even pass the test when I applied.” I smiled. If she couldn’t pass the test, then why was she giving me guidelines that she couldn’t have used herself? I got off my chair.

“Well I’m off to the library.” She nodded as I left. I went over to a tree and sat down under the shade. It felt good to relax and feel the wind. My wings stretched out, feeling the wind blow between my feathers.

“Enjoying the breeze?” a voice asked. I looked around startled. No one was around. I looked up the tree, but it was empty.

Author's Note

also special thanks to Midnight Legend for editing!