Octavia let out a loud, pleasure filled scream of climax, filling the dark room she occupied with the sounds of her unwanted desire. She had been bound, forced into a less than pleasant position while an eager tongue lovingly licked her sensitive pussy to orgasm for hours on end.

Her head laid sideways on the ground, the ring on her collar attached to a metal loop on the floor by a single pad lock, while her wrists were likewise attached to the stone floor on either side her her breasts, which were pressed against the cold rock. Her hips were raised pleasantly in the air, forced to that position as her waist rested inside a small metal beam that curved around her body, the beam itself held up by a solid metal rod. Lastly her legs, which were made to be separate by a small spreader bar attached to her thigh, were fixed to the ground much like her neck and arms except that they were given small chains to allow them freedom of movement, albeit small. Bound as she was it gave her the appearance of submissively bowing before the stallion sitting in front of her.

"Forty-six." Said Fancy Pants as he watched the helpless mare. He had been there since the very start, keeping a count of how many times Octavia had cum. "Miss Pommel, it is time to swap."

Coco Pommel lifted her head up above the horizon of the grey mare's presenting rump, her mouth agape as her tongue hung out from it, numb from having to constantly lap at Octavia's exposed mound for a long time. "Yeth shur, uh undursland." The smaller earth pony said, slurring her words as she got up onto her hooves.

Stepping away from the bound mare Coco headed to a set of chairs at the back end of the room, passing by a pegasus who was about to take her place. The replacement mare was Flitter, who like Coco had once been part of Octavia's inner circle. Since she had aided Octavia in her escape attempt there had been little mercy towards her. While Schorl herself hadn't punished Flitter beyond what she had done on stage the rest of the Society never forgave the mare.

Day in and day out Flitter was ordered by ponies to be used sexually as well as acting as whipping girl, usually in a literal way. It didn't take long for her to finally give in under the constant pressure and beg to be allowed to perform the Crystal Heart Ritual in the idea that if she did it her life would become easier. Schorl, in order to reward the pegasus, had Flitter transferred to lounge duty to act as a serving girl. Today was the first time she had to serve a member's desires in a while.

Flitter crouched down behind Octavia, opening her mouth wide as she grabbed the earth mare by the hips. Pressing her muzzle against the soaked, vulnerable pussy and stuck her tongue inside it, pressing hard against the wet inner walls as she slid it in and out of her former friend.

Octavia's moans started anew. Even if her resolve to refuse submission was still strong she couldn't resist the feelings flowing through her body. It had been this way for a while, her time outside of her cage being spent alternating between the cruelest torture and the greatest pleasure. This balancing act between heaven and hell was taking its toll and even if her mind knew it was wrong her body couldn't help but crave stimulation when it was given to her. Within moments the fresh tongue sent her into another screaming orgasm, the spasms having long since become painful under the stress of over exertion.

"Forty-seven." Fancy pants said, keeping his count. "Are you ready to give in yet Octavia? I promise that things will be better if you simply surrender yourself to me."

Octavia's thoughts were hazy, but she could still make out the stallion's voice. Coming down from her most recent rush of endorphins she gave her reply through labored breaths. "Nev...er... you... prick..."

A disappointed sigh escaped Fancy Pants' mouth. He was at his wit's end with the mare before him. What could've been avoided long ago with the simple acceptance of his job offer had now become months of unsuccessful training. While he could feel Octavia's will crumbling his patience was likewise becoming thin. Far too much time had been invested into this one mare and at this point she was becoming something he didn't even want. Today had to be the day, otherwise he would have to cut his losses. The only thing that had prevented him from doing so already was how much he desire to have earth pony as his.

"That's enough, let her relax Miss Flitter." Said the stallion.

Flitter came to a stop at the unicorn's command. "But sir, I've barely started up again... and she still hasn't submitted to your will."

"I know, but there will be no further need for that. It is about time for my last attempt to reach her." Said the stallion as he looked to his watch. "And I at least want her to be well rested before we go."

Octavia was glad to have the pegasus stop, even if her flesh still quivered and begged for more. The break gave her the time she needed to regain her wits and think clearly. She wondered though, what did the stallion mean by "last attempt". What would happen if she still refused to co-operate? Would he let someone else have their shot at taming her, or would he get rid of her in a more permanent manner? Either way she was equally satisfied that she managed to defeat the bastard and afraid of what would happen to her.

Minutes passed in near silence until the door to the room opened, allowing a pure white female unicorn with a long, wavy pink mane to enter. The mare walked over to where Fancy Pants was sitting and gave him a light peck on the cheek. "My darling." She said addressing the stallion.

"Yes Fleur?" He replied. "Has it started?"

"Yes, the first of the slaves just went on stage when I left. You should have plenty of time to get there for what you wanted." Fleur answered going over to Octavia. "The girl hasn't given in yet, I take it."

"You are correct, I'm afraid..." Said the stallion.

Fleur went over to a leash and a set of wrist stocks that were laying on the floor and had been used to bring Octavia into the room. "Pity, we could just skip this if she submitted." Octavia watched as the unicorn mare picked up the items as Fancy Pants got out of his seat. The two converged on her and, pulling out a set of keys, the stallion began releasing Octavia from her bonds.

Before long she was on her hooves, hands in front of her trapped within the wrist stocks, with the leash attached to her collar. She had hardly put up a fight, she was far too tired and the two unicorns could easily overpower her with their magic even if she wasn't. The effort to try to resist would be a lesson in futility that she had learned a dozen times over by this point.

Taking the leash loop into his hand Fancy Pants gave the thin strip of leather a couple of light tugs. "Come on Miss Melody."

Octavia stayed the stallion closely, making sure that the leash wouldn't go taut as he walked her around the room to stretch out her legs a bit. While she was given her exercise the three other mares gazed at her glistening, sweat covered form, admiring the earth pony's naturally swaying hips and the way her breasts bounced pleasantly with each step. The whole thing was more than bit demeaning, but she was far beyond the point where the shame of the situation phased her. All she was doing was going through the motions until Fancy Pants grew bored.

Eventually the stallion stopped, which in turn made the earth mare cease walking as well. "I just don't understand it..." He said looking Octavia in the eye. "You've come so far in your training, yet you refuse to give yourself to me. Why is that?"

Octavia knew the question was rhetorical, but that didn't stop from the mare from giving her snide reply. "Perhaps you just aren't worthy of being my master."

Fancy Pants tugged the leash in his hand hard, causing the defiant mare to lurch forward momentarily. "You've had enough exercise. We have some place to be." The stallion sent a glance in the direction of his wife, seeing that she had found entertainment in the form of fondling Flitters' breasts. "My dearest, feel free to have fun with Miss Pommel and Miss Flitter while I'm gone."

Fleur pinched the pegasus' nipples, inciting a cute moan from the girl as well as causing her wings to flap uncontrollably from the slightly painful pleasure."Don't worry, I will." She said back to her husband. With that Fancy Pants exited the room and left Fleur to her own devices.

Once more Octavia found herself walking down the halls of the Society. She had been lead through them back and forth so many times at this point that the ornate decor had lost its luster. What used to impress despite her poor situation now held no sway over her. It was all just a pretty disguise for a dungeon anyways and that fact only tarnished the finery further.

"Miss Melody." Said Fancy Pants, breaking the silence. "Despite what you might think I never wanted you to be here. All I wanted was for you to work for me, to play your lovely music."

"To be your windup toy you mean." Octavia scoffed. "To perform on command whenever you felt like turning my key."

"Ahem!" The unicorn didn't appreciate the earth mare's tone. "What I am trying to say is all the training, all the sexual torture, it all could've been avoided if you just accepted my offer. I don't want a sex slave, I want a musician. The only thing that holds you here is your own stubborn pride."

"Fancy Pants... I'm never going to be your musician." Said the mare, assured in her statement. "There is nothing that you could do to ever change my mind after what you have done to me."

"We will see about that Miss Melody." The unicorn said taking hold of the handle of a velvet blue door. "I still have one last trick up my sleeve and perhaps, my dear, it will have you changing your tune."

Opening this new door the stallion and the earth mare entered inside and were greeted by the loud voices of the ponies yelling out seemingly random numbers. The room, which was brightly lit and had a similar layout to the Society's lounge, was filled tables and chairs which were likewise filled with the organization's members, all of which had their eyes fixed to the stage that was placed on the opposite end of the room from the entrance. Unlike the lounge's stage this one wasn't a circular one that resembled the kind that you would find in a erotic club. Instead it was more like one that would be used for theater. As the two ponies made their way to an empty table the mare sent her attention to the stage herself, knowing that whatever was happening on it was the reason she was there. What she saw wasn't very unusual considering the normal activities of the Society.

Standing in clear view was a brown maned, pink coated earth pony mare. As Octavia would've expected of a pony being put on display for the Society's members the mare was wearing nothing except the standard leather slave collar, restraints that bound her arms behind her back and kept her legs from going more than a foot apart, and was giving an expression from behind a ball gag that matched Octavia's own feelings of being held against her will. Next to her was a minotaur, at least twice the size of the earth pony, holding a length of rope connected to her collar. The overbearing creature had his hand placed menacingly around the back of the poor girl's neck, holding her in place with his massive strength.

Getting to an open table Fancy pants pulled out a seat, giving a small gesture with his head to indicate that he had done so as a courtesy for Octavia. "Still trying to make me think your a gentlecolt?" Octavia said, placing herself in the chair. She didn't like the stallion's act at being charming, as if he could honestly had some semblance of respect for someone he saw as something to own. It was sickening and if he was going to be an arrogant prick she wished he would drop the pretense.

"I'm just trying to make you more comfortable Miss Melody. It is the least I can do for what I'm about to put you through." With his captive now seated he grabbed the other chair at the table and sat himself down as well.

Octavia rolled her eyes at his response and returned her thoughts to the stage. It was odd, aside from the general embarrassment of being in front of the other ponies naked the earth mare wasn't being violated or humiliated in any way. No whips, no sex toys, no bondage devices save for ones that limited movement. For a show it was pretty tame. Searching the stage more to see if there was something more to this she noticed two things.

First was what was waiting just out of view for most of the ponies. If she wasn't at sitting at the angle from the stage that she was she wouldn't have seen it herself, but just backstage was a lineup of mares that were hobbled together and under the watch of gryphon and a pony she could just hardly make out. The mare at the front of the line, a cream colored pegasus with purple and green striped hair, was one that she recognized from her time working as a drink girl. She didn't remember her name, but she did recall that the girl was very fidgety and nervous all the time and she seemed to be displaying that trait as she waited for her turn.

The second thing she saw that was out of place was an earth pony stallion standing behind a podium, looking out and pointing to the pony's in the crowd as they continued to call out the numbers. The scene seemed strangely familiar, yet at the same time wrong. Like this was something that normal ponies would do, but under different circumstances. She thought hard trying to place what this was suppose to be, that was until the room went quiet and the earth pony behind the podium slammed down a gavel.

"Sold!" The stallion yelled. "And ownership of Peachy Cream goes to Miss Whiplash!"

The crowd made light applause as the minotaur dragged the unwilling mare down a set of steps to the side of the stage and presented her to a female member that Octavia had personal experience with. "Celestia help us...." Octavia said under her breath. "It's a slave auction." The grey mare didn't know why the act phased her so much. She had seen and had been forced to do so many things, the idea of a pony being bought and sold in such a manner should have come as no surprise. Yet still the sight of such a blatant display of disrespect for fellow ponies brought a new-found feeling of disgust to the earth mare.

"Now for our next item." The auctioneer on stage said, drawing Octavia back to the stage. The white pegasus in the lineup was un-hobbled and brought out in front of everyone, the gryphon from backstage leading her by a rope on her collar like the minotaur had done with the previous girl. Unlike the previous mare though the pegasus wasn't bound in any way aside from her collar. It seemed they didn't find the shaking, nervous pony any risk of trying to escape or disrupt the event.

As the gryphon escorted the frightened mare around the stage, showing her off in front of the ponies that would soon be tossing out offers for her ownership, the auctioneer continued. "This little filly should be familiar to everyone here. Sweet Berry, the cute and clumsy pegasus serving girl, has now been put up for purchase by our gracious founder."

The pegasus had a difficult time following the gryphon guiding her around, stumbling over her own two unhindered hooves despite the gryphon only going at a brisk walking pace. Octavia wondered if that was natural for the mare or if it was a by product of what the Society had done to her. Whatever it was Berry didn't seem too pleased being presented before the ponies watching her.

"She has been extensively used by the Society." The auctioneer continued. "But she is still very eager to serve a master or mistress. She has even prepared a few words for her future owner." Hearing the cue the gryphon brought Berry up front and turned her around so her back faced the audience. Octavia could see the gryphon give a few commands to her and once he was done the mare complied to them with little protest.

Slowly the pegasus mare got to her hands and knees, quivering in fear and hanging her head as she did. Once in position she used one of her hands to reach underneath her body and, using her middle and index finger, spread her labia apart to show everyone there the inside of her vagina. "T-thank you all for all that you have taught me about being a good slave. I hope that I can use what I have learned to better serve whoever purchases me. I am foreve-" The pegasus made a slight sob, interrupting the obviously forced speech. "Forever indebted to the Society and all its members."

"Isn't she precious folks? Now how about we start the bidding at one-hundred bits!" As soon as the auctioneer gave the do ahead the bidding began.

"One-hundred!" Called out Whiplash from across the room, not content with just one new mare to play with.

"One-ten!" Yelled a stallion to outbid the sadistic pegasus.

"One-twenty!" Called another stallion.

The room became alive with action, so much so that Octavia couldn't keep up with who was bidding what. Seeing it fruitless to try she focused in on Sweet Berry, who was having trouble staying in her submissive pose while she became the center of attention. From her seat Octavia could see that Berry's face was turning an ever deepening shade of red and that tears were slowing seeping from her clenched eyes. The way she was reacting, crying and trembling like a leaf in the wind, it was like at any moment she could collapse from sheer humiliation. It was a pitiful display, but one the grey mare knew the Society reveled in.

The bidding was over in a matter of minutes, which was perhaps a mercy for the seemingly glossophobic pony. As the gradually increasing offers began to peter out a brown maned, white male unicorn sitting at the table next to the one she was sitting at made one final offer. "Four-hundred bits!" Hearing what the unicorn was willing to pay for the girl the others took a moment to think about if a slave of her stature was worth it. As they looked to the curly maned stallion it didn't seem that he was going to stop anytime soon, glaring at the girl with fixed eyes as if to say "She will be mine". Sensing his determination the others graciously bowed out and allowed him his prize.

"Sold to Indigo Surprise for the amount of four-hundred bits!" The auctioneer called out and with a pound of the gavel Sweet Berry's fate was sealed. Octavia slumped back in her seat, a bit drained from the ordeal. Four-hundred bits... that was the price of a pony's freedom, of their self respect, of their very lives. She had never thought about it in the past, but now she wondered how much did Fancy Pants pay for her capture. What price was put on her head when he sent a group of gryphons to abduct her from her apartment? Just how little did he value the rights of other ponies?

Having heard the finalization of the bid the gryphon holding Berry's rope gave it a tug, pulling her along still on her hands and knees to go and meet her master. Once there the pegasus' new owner removed the rope from her collar. "Hello Berry. You miss me?" The unicorn stallion asked her, getting a weak nod in return. "Good, now stand up for me and let's get you taken care of, hm?" Indigo reached out to steady the shaking frightened mare as she got to her hooves. Pulling out a handkerchief from his suit pocket the stallion gently dabbed her tear stained cheeks while doing his best to brush her side to calm the mare as if she was a frightened dog. "No more exhibitions for you, sweet girl," He said tenderly to her to ward off her stage fright. Once her tears were wiped away he stuffed the kerchief back into his coat pocket. "Now watch and obey."

Indigo leveled his legs and patted his lap. It took a few seconds for Berry to catch on, but when she did she quickly took a sat down where her master indicated. with the girl's rear now carefully planted on his legs he choose to exercise his authority over his new slave on the spot. "Relax, let your master pleasure you." He said in a calm tone as he used his hands to gently spread her legs apart.

"I-I'll try master..." Said the pegasus, doing her best to obey but finding it difficult to cease her nervous shakes.

Having opened the path to Berry's sensitive area the stallion slipped a hand between her thigh and tenderly rubbed the lips of her soft pussy. "No more bar duty, I think you've earned being a type three... Nopony else is going to bother you." Indigo said as he brought his other hand to one of her breast, caressing it and causing a few light coos from the pegasus' muzzle. In mere seconds the mare had become putty in his skilled hands.

Octavia looked away, the sight of another mare allowing herself to become some stallion's plaything was too much. She could see a bit of Fancy Pants' tactics in the way he treated the girl, catching more flies with honey than with vinegar. To try and tyne out the girl's ever growing sounds of passion she looked up at the stage again seeing that the next girl had already been brought out, gasping when he realized what she was looking at.

Now on the stage were two female bat ponies, one naked and unbound like Berry had been while the other one, which Octavia figured was the pony she could hardly see before, had taken the role of presenter as the minotaur and gryphon had done before her. The unrestrained slave mare didn't seem unnerved like Sweet Berry was, in fact it seemed like just the opposite. Being in front of a crowd seemed to invigorate the grey coated mare with a black, white striped mane as she showed her pearly whites and ran her hands over her figure seductively. It would seem that the bat mare was one of the willing, trustee slaves.

"Next up we have a rare treat." Said the auctioneer. "A lovely and lusty thestral."

Octavia had heard the word "thestral" before, as it was the proper name for a bat pony. In actually calling them "bat pony" was almost considered a slur amongst their people, the name brought on by the divide between the ponies during the battle of the two princesses so long ago. The thestral, for the most part, had sided with Luna during the short lived war and for it they were shunned and ostracized, despite how much Celestia pleaded with her subjects to not judge them harshly for doing what they felt was right. The result is a millennium long prejudice on both sides that even to this day was hard to overlook. Octavia herself could help but feel a bit of fear while looking at the thestral's dark, almost demonic visages. However her fear slowly faded as she watched the greyish-blue bat pony guide around her fellow brood, the nude girl never once giving any signs of not wanting to be there.

"As you can see our newly inducted thestral member, Miss Violet, has brought out one of her respectable race to be purchased by a kind and loving owner." The auctioneer started to give a few details about the mare, trying to add further spice to the slave's resume. "This mare, who calls herself Grayson, was once a street thief. She was kindly picked up by our organization and given an actual purpose in life aside from stealing what she needed to get by, the purpose of servitude. She gladly accepted her new role and has become the ideal sexual servant. Eager, willing and a bit on the masochistic side. After all the poor girl did to get to this point it would be a shame to not start the bidding at three hundred bits."

The moment a price was given the room lit up with bids, each pony there wanting to have this rare acquisition as part of their collection. It was much more chaotic that what had gone on during the bidding on Berry. Even so Octavia noticed that Fancy Pants was being very quiet, not once placing a bid on either mare. She wondered why, so much so that she had to ask. "Aren't you interested in that girl?" She said plainly, getting straight to the point.

"I told you, I don't want a sex slave." The stallion replied. "She might be a exquisite creature, but her personality is unappealing to me. I'm not here to buy a new slave anyways, just to show you something. So please, Miss Melody, just sit and watch."

Octavia huffed in response. She had already determined for herself what this was about. Fancy Pants had moved away from his subtle punishments to threats. Bringing her here was him basically telling her that if she didn't straighten up and fly right she would become the one on the auction block. She wasn't worried about that, the mare had already been raped by Schorl's personal bodyguard and didn't think that any of the members could do worse than him.

Finally the bidding for the thestral came to a close and the highest bid ended at eight-hundred and fifty bits. The thestral known as Violet escorted the leashed mare to the couple that had won her. "Not to tell you how to treat your property..." Violet said handing the stallion of the couple the rope. "But I don't want to hear about you abusing her, understood?"

"Oh come on." Said Grayson as she took her place at the couple's side. "Don't act all 'big sisterly'. It wouldn't be any fun if they didn't make it hurt. Just mind your own business and let my owners do what they want with me." Violet gave the slave a cold glare before leaving the table and going out Octavia's sight.

"Now without further ado" Said the earth pony behind the podium. "Let's go onto our last mare before moving onto the stallion portion of the auction."

"I've seen enough." Octavia said getting out of her seat. "I don't know what you expected from all this, but whatever it was it didn't work. Just take back to my cage, or sell me, or whatever. I'm do-"

"Please feast your eyes upon tonight's mare of honor, Vinyl Scratch!" Octavia's heart skipped a beat. The auctioneer couldn't have said what she just heard. It had to be a mistake, a pony with a similar name, maybe the same name as odd as that was in pony Society. What she saw on the stage however dispelled any delusions she was attempting to form.

It was without a doubt her old roommate, the beamed note cutie mark on her rear was proof enough for that. "No..." Octavia weakly said as she slumped back into her seat, shock overcoming her. "It can't be..." Her friend had become a slave of Society, just like herself. A minotaur was pulling her out onto the stage as she kicked and screamed uselessly. A leather blindfold covered her eyes, arms bound behind her back in an arm binder, her mouth was forced open with a ring gag and her horn had one of those abominable magic negating rings on it.

Fancy Pants placed his hand over Octavia's. "I'm sorry my dear, but I thought that seeing this would open your eyes."

Octavia hastily pulled her hand away from the stallion. "Did you do this?!"

"No... it wasn't me." Fancy Pants said with a shake of his head. "It was Lady Tourmaline. She learned of your friend and felt that capturing her might teach you the consequences of disobedience. She was going to ask her new owner if they would let you and her perform on stage together, an attempt to shock and humiliate the both of you, I'm sure. I felt it would be better if you knew now."

The room suddenly livened up again, Octavia had completely missed the auctioneer's introduction of her friend, now Vinyl's fate was in the hands of the Society and there was nothing Octavia could do except watch it play out. She could feel herself start hyperventilating, panic setting in. She felt the stallion next to her place a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it to try to comfort her in some way. "There, there, my dear. It'll be fine. Like all punishments it will hurt for just a moment and then you will be able to walk away from this, hopefully a little wiser."

"Fancy Pants!" The earth mare said, grabbing the stallion by the arm. "You have to buy Vinyl!" It was a desperate plea, but if Fancy Pants was Vinyl's owner then it was very likely that Vinyl would have an easier time than if she was owned by most of the other members.

Looking into Octavia's frantic eyes Fancy Pants did feel sorry for the girl, but he also had to stand his ground with the mare who had till this point only shown him defiance. "I told you Miss Melody, I'm not here to purchase new slaves. You are just going to have to take responsibility for your actions."

"I will!" Octavia yelled, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'll take whatever punishment you want to give me. I'll do anything you want." Taking his hand in her own she brought it to her lips and kissed it in a sign of submission. "I'll be your musician, just don't let them hurt Vinyl. Please... master"

The stallion conscience wouldn't let him ignore the mare begging him for mercy. He had heard the last bid stop at eight-hundred and fifty, which was quite a bit to pay for a slave he didn't need, even if it was a lovely pure white unicorn. She would need to be trained too, which would make the purchase even more costly. Then again the mare came with Octavia's obedience and happiness, which were two things he greatly desired. He had to make a decision if the cost would be worth the gain.

The auctioneer lifted his gavel up and was prepared to end the bids, but then Fancy Pants stood up and lifted his hand. "One thousand bits!" The crowd made a slight gasp at the bid, it was fairly high even for a slave of Vinyl's caliber. Then again that was the point. It was a safe bid, no one would go against it.

"One-thousand, one-hundred." A blue earth pony stallion said nonchalantly just a few tables away.

Fancy pants' mouth went agape. He hadn't expected that from anyone, never the less he refused to be out bid. "One-thousand, two-hundred!"

"One-thousand, three-hundred." The stallion said again, sending Fancy Pants a smirk.

Fancy Pants couldn't believe that someone had actually went into a bidding war with him over the mare currently on stage. If this continued the price was going to become far too much, even for Octavia's sake. He had to get the earth pony stallion to stop and there seemed to be only one way. It would be in poor form, but he would have to directly confront the other member. He handed Octavia her leash, trusting her not to try and run off, and headed straight for the other bidder as he raised his own bid another two-hundred bits.

"Sir!" He said, attempting be both polite and show his authority. "I apologize for asking you this, but I need you to let me have this mare."

The blue stallion quickly raised his bid once more before addressing Fancy Pants. "No way. Me and that girl have some history together. I've been wanting to make that bitch my cock sleeve for years."

"Fine" Fancy Pants responded before raising his bid to one-thousand, six-hundred. "How about a compromise then. You let me get ownership on the unicorn and I'll let you have open access to her during her training." Fancy Pants didn't like the idea of having one of his slaves abused by some other pony, but this deal was the only way he was going to win this battle.

The earth pony thought about it for a moment. "No restraints right? I mean I'll abide by Society rules, but that mare owes me a lot."

"Yes, yes, I'll tell Miss Tourmaline personally that you can make use her as you see fit. So do we have a deal?" Fancy Pants asked.

The stallion looked at Vinyl, still flailing and yelling hopelessly on stage, and the back the the unicorn in front of him. "I guess she really isn't worth that much... And if I can use her for a while... Fine, take the bitch."

The auctioneer finally slammed down his gavel, declaring Fancy Pants to be the winner. As with the slaves before her Vinyl was brought directly to her new owner, being picked up off the ground by the minotaur holding her rope so she wouldn't hurt herself in the midst of her thrashing. Placing the girl next to the unicorn stallion Fancy Pants took the rope and headed to the exit.

"Octavia, come. We have much to discuss." Vinyl's head perked up. While she couldn't see she could still hear clearly.

Seeing her friend react to her name Octavia got up right behind her. "Stay calm Vinyl. Don't resist, at least not now. If you try to fight now you'll just waste your energy." Vinyl gave her friend a nod in reply. Honestly she was just happy to hear her voice once again and she hoped that the compliance she was showing wasn't a sign that she had given up on freedom.

The three exited the auction hall just as the first stallion was being brought out, but as soon as the left the room they came to an immediate stop, Vinyl being brought to a halt by Octavia. "Oh! Lady Tourmaline." Said Fancy Pants, greeting the crystal unicorn waiting in the hall right outside the door with her minotaur bodyguard. "Here to watch the auctions?"

Schorl crossed her arms and gave the stallion a miffed look. "I came because I heard that you had brought your rebellious little slave to watch the show. I had thought that this might happen. You have always been a bit too kind Fancy, which is why I had spared you from having to personally train your... servants. To think you would go behind my back and undermine my methods to punish Octavia." Looking over to the grey mare and spotted something else that upset her. "Why is she holding her own leash? You should know better."

"Lady Tourmaline please, allow me to explain." The unicorn gave Schorl a brief explanation of what happened, mostly describing how Octavia threw herself at his mercy for her friend. Octavia noticed Vinyl's body tremble just a bit as the story was retold. She knew why, as it would've been the same thing for her if their roles were reversed.

Vinyl was furious at herself for causing her friend to have to sacrifice herself to save her. "It's ok. We will figure out something. I haven't given up yet."

"Fancy Pants! Your mares are talking while we are having a conversation." Schorl said angrily. "This is exactly what I am talking about."

"I'm sorry." Fancy Pants apologized. "But now that Octavia has given herself to me we should be able to correct that with the crystal heart ritual."

Schorl's horn begun to glow and Octavia watched as the crystal mare glare at her with such intensity that it seemed like she was peering into her very soul. "Hmm... Sartek, please take Fancy Pants' new pet to the kennels. He and I need to talk about Octavia's future."

Octavia found herself in Schorl's office a short time later, sitting on her knees next to Fancy Pants as he sat in front of the crystal mare's desk. It hadn't been too long since she snuck into this room with the help of Golden Touch, that she discovered Schorl's plot to kidnap the elements, and that the Society had some sort of escape plan that involved some place called Minotropis. She didn't really ever expect to ever be in this room again and remembering what came of that night she found it a bit intimidating.

Schorl, who was sitting across the desk from the stallion, still didn't look too pleased at either of the ponies in front of her. While Fancy Pants was one of the Society's most respected members his actions went against her. While she wasn't one to meddle in the affairs of a member and their slave the unicorn had proven incapable of taming a single mare with his light handed approach. "Let me just put in simple terms. Despite what you think Octavia is not ready to perform the ritual."

"What? Why not?" Fancy Pants asked. "She would be willing to do it for the sake of her friend. It's the same reasoning as with Miss Pommel and it worked for her."

Octavia looked to the floor. She really didn't want to go through the ritual, she had seen the results of it too many times. If it meant Vinyl's safety though she would do it, she had promised to do anything and she feared what would happen to her friend if she went back on her word. "He's right Lady Tourmaline. I'll do it."

Schorl shook her head. "I'm afraid it isn't that simple. The reason it worked for Coco is because she was actually a submissive, a natural one at that. My magic deals with taking a pony's personality and amplifying it. The dominant or submissive will of a pony is a large part of pony's personality and while a dominant can be turned into a submissive with extensive training you are still too willful a pony. Believe me, I can see it." For a moment Schorl's eyes lit up in a magical glow. "Quite literally in fact. If we were to try and do the ritual, to take a submissive will that isn't there the spell would fail, or worse it could try to leech your life force as a substitute and possible kill you. The risk is not worth it."

Fancy Pants' tone turned grim. "I see.... so we'll have to continue her training."

"Well that is the problem." Said Schorl. "We are reaching a point where I fear if she isn't sent back into the general populous soon her eventual return would bring up too many questions. We already have one pony who was willing to believe at a moment's notice that she was abducted. We either have to send her out now or keep her here and fake her death."

"My death?!" The last thing she wanted was to be trapped in the Society's walls for the rest of her life.

"Yes, there are enough dangerous creatures that live in Equestria that it would be easy to blame your disappearance on them." Schorl explained. "Something as easy as smashing your cello and putting it next to a swamp would be enough to stave off suspicion to our organization."

"Lady Tourmaline, I really don't think we need to go that far." Fancy Pants said, not wanting to keep Octavia imprisoned for more than necessary.

"And yet we cannot trust her to keep our secret if we let her go." Schorl replied.

Fancy Pants dwelled on the dilemma, trying to think of an answer. "What if I kept constant vigil on her. Stay by her side, lock her in a room at night, have my servants watch her to make sure that she doesn't try to escape or leave notes."

"That would be a start.... but then she could still just blurt out the Society's existence in a crowded area. I need to think of the safety of our members." Opening a drawer in the desk she pulled out a couple items, one being a pitch black crystal and the other being a decorative leather choker with a smaller black crystal in the center of it. She placed the choker before the stallion while keeping the crystal for herself. "And so I have."

Fancy Pants picked up the leather item, noticing quickly that the clasp on it had a sturdy looking lock. "What is this?"

"Aside for my magic over will I was taught long how to cast spells to manipulate crystal in certain ways. One way is to link two together to act as a window." Looking into the gem in her hand the crystal pony could see Fancy Pants in it from the point of view of the gem embedded in the neck piece. "With this I'll be able to keep an eye on things personally, watching and listening in to Octavia's every move. Should she decide to go rogue I'll be able to warn everypony and then initiate my backup plan."

Fancy Pants looked over the choker. He was not too enthused in having Schorl poke her nose in his private life via one of his servants, but he understood the reasoning and if it would allow him to take Octavia home he would accept it. "Well Octavia.... I will let you decide."

It was a hard decision. If she left she would be leaving Vinyl alone to suffer the same things that the earth mare had when she first arrived. Still there was nothing that she could do to help from inside these walls. Even if she was watched constantly it would still be possible to do something. "I'll wear it. I'll obey. As long as Vinyl stays safe."

"Very well. While her training is up to your master I will personally keep her from any undue suffering as long as you are a good girl." Schorl grabbed a key off her desk and went over to the mare. "But if you dare reveal our secrets I also promise that you will never see Vinyl ever again. As for you Fancy Pants..." She said as she removed the collar from Octavia. "You are responsible for her behavior. If she leaks knowledge of the Society don't expect anypony to come and save you and your wife."

"I understand Lady Tourmaline." Said the stallion, placing the choker around the earth pony's freshly exposed neck. Schorl assisted the unicorn, lifting Octavia's hair as he brought the clasp together, the neck piece hugging tightly. Once it was on properly Schorl used her key to lock the choker and assure that it would not be easily removed.

Octavia touched the new leather gripping her throat. In the end it was just another collar, just one that would be more socially acceptable. "It looks lovely on her." Fancy Pants commented, looking at the pretty piece of neckwear.

"I had Miss Suri make it. She has become quite the designer since Coco has submitted to her will. The girl is obviously her inspiration." Said Schorl. "But I had to of course put the enchantments on it myself. The viewing spell as well as this." Holding up the crystal in her hand the crystal mare made her horn glow, enveloping the stone in her magic.

"Ow!" Octavia yelped, feeling a small shock from the collar.

"Just a way to remind you that you're being watched if I feel you are slipping girl, as well as... well I think you can assume what will happen if you act up too much." She placed the stone down and leaned against the desk. "Aside from that this is an experimental method of returning a pony back to the public. There will be rules."

As the crystal mare listed off her rules and regulations for the earth pony's release Octavia found herself unable to pay attention to them. She was too busy thinking of ways to get past the problem she was now in. There had to be some way to get past the issues the choker presented. Hopefully, if she thought long enough, she would figure it out. Till then she just had to do what she had been doing all along, bide her time and wait for an opportunity to present itself.

Author's Note

Today's guest background character is Peachy Cream.

Guest OCs include Sweet Berry (owned by herself), Indigo Surprise (owned by himself), Violet (owned by Generic-Violet) and Grayson Graywing (Donated by a fan who wishes to remain anonymous).

So... Writing a slave auction. It was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. I guess the real problem was finding similar, yet unique, ways of writing the same process of events. Slave comes out, slave gets show off and then slave gets bought. By the end of it I might of rushed it a bit, maybe could've had Fancy Pants and the unnamed stallion negotiate terms a bit more, but in the end the results are the same.

Now to talk a bit about something that is part of the story, had always been intended to be part of the story, but now that I actually wrote it I see that it was kind of a mistake, but is necessary to get the semi-ironic ending that will be in the epilogue.

That would be how Octavia is being allowed back into the public. Honestly the way that I wrote her, as a strong willed, intelligent pony, she would probably figure out some way to tell someone despite being locked in Fancy Pants' mansion under constant watch by him, Fleur, the help and possibly surveillance from Society members in the area. However it is not Octavia's destiny to be the reason the Society falls (if it does get destroyed).

Now while it would be possible that Octavia would think Vinyl's safety, as well as her own and the other ponies enslaved by the Society, outweighs all the potential victims of the Society (as she will in this story) it is probably more likely that she would make a B-line to the castle to inform the princesses. She could be stopped by the guards that were in the Society's pocket or simply some of the members, but that would just place her back in the Society's dungeon and I don't want her to be stuck there.

For now she is obeying in the hopes of finding a way to inform someone without alerting the Society and causing them to flee, which would cause many of the slave ponies to become lost. It is a bit ham handed, I'll admit, but I will also state that I am an amateur writer and I'm admitting my mistakes in hopes that I can learn from them and write better in futures chapters.

Now for those that are wanting to see a bit more of the ponies that can stop the villains of this story (still not telling if the ending will be good or not, but I like to keep up hope) I will be featuring a little bit of the forces that actually oppose and are trying to figure out the schemes of the Society in the Rarirty arc. I promise that before I go into the arc after that one you will have someone to root for, that is unless you are the type that want to see the Society succeed. Who knows, perhaps Octavia will have the opportunity to help them from inside her master's mansion.