The en-… No, not the end, the beginning.

The beginning of my life, my real life, not just existing, waiting for a rich earth pony to find me, but actually having it happen. I finally had an owner, a mistress (or master, I was too excited to care at this point) a ho-... sorry. A Home.

The selection process had been nerve-wracking, two incredibly wealthy ponies, a Lord and his Lady, had come to our home; Miss Collar’s Unicorn Emporium. We weren’t a very popular or large, only about twenty Horns in stock at a time; barely two Wings a year, and they never lasted long. But every once in a while, a rich family would come by for a few of us, usually for maid work or “companionship” but that was generally only for the older ones. These two though; even us Horns, without much knowledge outside of the usual duties we were trained for, would recognize the second most wealthy family on the continent, second only to the Apples.

The Philharmonicas.

As they strutted down the aisle, checking each foal about my age, just old enough to get a cutie mark, I could hear them asking about which one “She” would like, or whether or not they should have gone to a bigger home, tried to find a Wing. One passing comment from the Mare; a gorgeous black show-mare, with a stark white mane, almost like my own coat, mentioned something about noise, and whether or not one of us might try and speak back. I knew I never would, if only they would pick me. But the selection went on, slowly growing closer to me, and maybe my chance at success.

As they made their way towards my bunk, with it’s boring green blanket, and not-quite-soft-enough pillow, and a depressingly bare chest at the foot; the only thing I could think of was why they would even be here; The most average Hornhome in Equestria. Maybe it was the closest to their summer home? Or were they in a rush to find a new hoofmaid? But finally, they were at my neighbor’s cot, Heartstrings, cute filly, a bit odd at times, but a delicious snack after a long day, she did taste oddly like mint though.

“And what is your name?” The Stallion asked, stepping up to me. I tried to answer, my mouth opening, but no sound came. “I asked you a question, now answer me.” His tone left no question what would come if I didn’t. Thinking fast, I lit my horn to fetch a small writing pad from my chest, but he did not take kindly to my use of magic, slapping my horn, and causing me to drop to the floor in pain.

“Oh, I’m so sorry sir, this is number 35, her name is of course, entirely up to you. She meant no disrespect by her silence I’m sure… or, her, uhm…. Magic.” Pleaded the closest thing I’d had to a mother “She’s mute, you see. Born that way.” Looking back down at me, the Stallion with his hard purple eyes “Stand.” As I rose shakily to my hooves, head still ringing, he seemed to be appraising me, my every motion was under scrutiny. “No name. No voice. How about attitude? What has she been trained for?” He questioned. “She’s very well behaved, we’ve never had trouble out of her, even when we began her Escort lessons. Beyond that, she has been taught how to clean, obey, some cooking, and knows several tricks.” Miss Collar listed off many of my achievements, and entertainment skills to the hard orange stallion, but I was too busy being thoroughly studied by the Mare to truly pay attention.

Those eyes, piercing silver, staring at me. My every twitch filed, every shift in my posture catalogued, Every curve and cranny studied. Her expression gave nothing away, nothing but a sense of loathing for me. “She will do.” She finally said, to my utter disbelief. And so I was told to gather my things, say my goodbyes, and be ready to go within the hour.

I stood there, shocked and amazed, unable to move. I had been chosen! Me! The mute horn with no name! Even if I wasn’t mute I couldn’t have spoken. But in my state of disbelief, I didn’t notice Lyra coming up to me. “Looks like you were the lucky one today, Too bad they didn’t want two like the apples last time, I wonder how Dee and Spit are?” she said with enough melancholy to whither a tree, and snap me out of it "I'm going to miss you." As much as I would have loved to comfort her with words, tell her that she would find an owner someday. I couldn’t, I could only give her a pat on the shoulder, and smile at her. I was gonna miss this filly, her cute little squeaks and moans, and that odd hint of mint in her nectar.

But as I , I realized that my time was running short, and I hadn’t even started preparing. My horn fizzled to life once more, taking small articles from the desk or my chest and packing them carefully into the bag that had been left for me. An old book with worn edges; a few pictures of me and old bunkmates; my journal; an old stuffed toy with singed hair from my first magic surge. Bits and bobs from my past years here were lovingly packed together. My hooves shook as I zipped it up, my entire life could fit in this one small bundle, only two objects stayed outside of my memories; a small leather ribbon from Lyra, one that had seen quite a few nights around her tail. And a brand new Collar, with a golden plate reading “Philharmonica” and a space for my name after it. I would have a name! A real name!

And so I stopped by the rooms of friends, fuck buddies, and enemies. Hugged, Kissed, and beat the pulp out of respectively, and Finally made my way down to the front of the store. I had only ever been as far as the counter before, we weren’t allowed to use the front door which took up about a third of the wall, the rest being large windows. The room itself was bright and cheery, a place to have your child wait for you to take your pick or meet their new friend that you had just bought.

Slipping on my new collar over my head, and tying my hair back with Lyra’s gift before entering the room, I gave one last look at the hallway, the chipper paint of the front end slowly giving way to the grey-blue that had been my home for my entire life, my ruby eyes beginning to tear up. And then I stepped forward, my eyes low and posture submissive. “Obedient and punctual, She may be useful yet.” “But we may have to do something about that mane, look at that gaudy silver.” “We still have time, Her birthday isn’t for another day.” “Very well, come along, we need you properly cleaned before tomorrow” and with that, we left.

My world had ended, but in its place grew Theirs. And I couldn’t have been happier.

Author's Note

The next chapter has ribbons and hair dye (also, can you find a major inconsistency with previous chapters?)

So many edits to this author's note... I don't know what to tell you and what not to. Either way, I'll leave this to deep questions and not information about the universe, because that might spoil the story.