FOE: Harsh reality continuation

Chapter 6: Of price and cost
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My mind started to wander as I followed Albert down the dank and dark hallway. What is going on? Whats going to happen to me? All these thought raced as fast as my heartbeat as I considered what it meant to be ‘promoted’ around here.

I had said my goodbyes to the other slave mares. Three bit seemed particularly sad to see me go. Before I left with Albert, I hugged her.

And she whispered sadly to me.

“Don’t forget about us.”

I swore in my heart that I would help them no matter what happens to me.

Albert started to brief me on my new duties as First Mistress here in the Legionary stronghold.

“Let’s first start with the good news Miss Pip. As of this moment, you are second in status here in Castle Blackmire, with only the Master above you, obviously. You have command of all slaves and servants in this castle, save me.”

When I asked why that was the case, Albert shot me a suspicious look. “I am the master’s personal butler, as well as his second in command. My father served his father, and his father before that. And now it’s my turn. So you see Miss Pip, it’s not just a simple case of loyalty for me.”

I opened my mouth to inquire further, but was interrupted by Albert continuing his brief.

“You also have the authority to give guards simple orders and commands” Albert said. My heart leaped upon hearing that. This could be the key to my escape!

“However, only if those orders do not conflict with the Master’s orders. All the guards have been given explicit instruction to take orders first and foremost from the Master, so don’t get any ‘mischievous’ ideas.” Albert finished.

“Oh...” My spirit sank back into the gloomy hole in my heart. I continued to follow Albert on leaden hoofsteps.

Albert’s voice lowered to a whisper, “And if I may give a word of warning, the guards in this place also have orders from the Master to spy and keep an eye on you, besides their normal duties to protect. Especially your personal guards. They will no doubt have orders to report your every movement to the Master himself. In fact, they had been hoofpicked by him, so you would be VERY naïve and foalish to doubt their loyalty.”

That sent chills down my spine. So I was going to be watched round the clock?! Celestia fucking dammit. This would make any attempt to escape so much harder.

My spirit sank further down the abyss of depression, and I almost bumped into Albert when he suddenly stopped. I paused and looked at the cause of the interruption. We had reached a set of brass doors that seemed oddly familiar. On the top of the doors, the words “Dragon wing” was engraved. Recognition hit me like a steel hammer striking an anvil. This was the same wing in the castle that Blackheart resides in.

Cold fear gripped my heart as I thought Albert was bringing me to see him again. Albert noticed my pale expression and smiled reassuringly to me as he opened the doors. “Don’t worry Miss. You won’t be bunking with the master. Your new room is in the same wing as his, but further down the hallway. You can count that as a blessing, at least. As much as the Master loves to play with his toys, he values his privacy as well.”

I sighed in relief, but also felt a bit of resentment to Albert when he referred to me as a ‘toy’. Does everypony here simply see me as a prized toy of Blackheart?! Luna damn them all!

I also noted that Albert said room, and not a cell. That piqued my curiosity.

After ascending the same dreadful stairs that I went up just a few days ago, Albert and I reached a familiar carpeted hallway lit with torches. There was a set of gold brass doors at the end of the corridor that I had never seen before, flanked by two heavily armed and armored guards. As Albert and I trotted down the hallway, I tried my best to ignore the grand embroidered doors that lead to Blackheart’s room. But I still could not prevent the fear that crept down my neck and made my hairs stand on end.

When Albert and I approached, the guards snapped to attention. They were wearing power armor similar to the steel rangers, which made it impossible to see their expressions. As we drew closer I also noticed, with a pang of sadness and regret, that one of them was a unicorn, with the helmet configured to have a sheath for the horn.. Albert started the introductions.

“As of today Miss Pip, they will be your personal guards and escort. The stallion over here is Ironfist.” He gestured towards the larger of the two. He was huge, and made even more imposing by the power armor. He carried a grenade launcher as well as an assault rifle. I gulped. He could easily overpower me if I tried anything stupid.

“This mare over here is Dark Sky,” He pointed to the unicorn pony. She was smaller in stature, but no less imposing in that armor. She carried a 6 round, double action revolver that seemed similar to my own revolver, Little Macintosh. She also carried a first aid kit and a set of lethal looking throwing knives. I wondered if the reason she was so lightly armed was because her magic capabilities eliminated the need for much weapons.

“Hi” I squeaked timidly. They did not respond, simply staring ahead like stoic and disciplined soldiers. I sighed sadly inside. So much for trying to make allies and friends, I thought gloomily.

Albert rolled his eyes. “They are here to protect and escort you, Miss Pip. It’s not in their orders, or nature, to befriend you.” He took out a set of keys, and unlocked the brass doors. He opened them and extended a hoof to invite me inside.

“Welcome to your new home, First Mistress” He smiled.
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I gasped in shock. The room was beautiful! Almost as big and luxurious as one of the prime suites in Canterlot Castle before the war. The room was carpeted in some kind of white animal fur. Scented candles illuminated the room in a calming glow and aura, and a grand mahogany dressing table was to the side, made out of more drawers than I know what to do with. And don’t even get me started on the bed. It was so big it looked like 5 ponies could sleep side by side without falling off. Soft velvet pillows and a hoof sown quilt sat invitingly on it. Lavender drapes fluttered in the breeze that blew through the window. I noticed with annoyance that the window was still fitted with metal grills. But it certainly beats the small hole in my cell. I looked up and my jaw dropped in awe. There was even an electric chandelier in case better lighting was required. The controls were just beside the bed.

Albert trotted over to the other side of the room, towards an over sized walk in closet. He opened the sliding doors.

“These are your new outfits.” Albert said nonchalantly, gesturing inside.

My eyes widened. The dresses in the closet were of the same quality and make as the dress that I had found in the boutique during my early days on the wasteland! The same kind of dress that I had given Velvet remedy to wear. Elegant hoof shoes were aligned neatly in sets of four at the bottom rack, with a drawer dedicated to jewelry and gems. Dear Celestia there was even an entire rack dedicated to raunchy and naughty looking nightwear. I blushed in embarrassment when I imagined myself wearing those darn things.

Words failed me as I considered the worth of all of the valuables in this room. How on earth did these treasures come here?! And under Blackheart's possession no less! No doubt these outfits would fetch a hefty price out on the wasteland, and the caps can be used to feed some poor foals fighting to survive. But here they were wasted on me and my pathetic being.

I almost couldn’t comprehend the difference in the quality of living between slaves and masters here in the castle.

Albert looked at my shocked expression and sighed. “Nice isn’t it? Everything in here comes courtesy of the Master. They come at a price, however.”

I stared at Albert. Price? Does he expect me to pay for all this?!

“Which brings me to the bad news,” Albert said softly. “As head mistress, your duty is to provide services to the VIPs of our brothel, as well as whoever the master commands you to, such as his fellow warlords.”

I just looked at him gloomily. “Just like how I have been doing my previous jobs right?” Great, the only difference between then and now is that I am now a glorified piece of meat, I thought indignantly.

“Not quite,” Albert replied sadly. “While they are still bound by rules to not harm you, we do not enforce that with our guards and security like with regular customers. It’s based entirely on their honor to follow that rule. And I know for a fact that some of them have… ‘exquisite’ tastes, and some poor self-control.”

I looked at Albert in horror, knees weakening considerably from the fear. He can’t mean that! Does that mean I won’t have protection?! Why not just throw me naked into a den of manticores and dragons and be done with it?! Normally I would have better faith in my combat abilities, after all that I had accomplished on the wasteland. But that was when I still had my horn and the capability to perform my telekinesis. Now that point is moot. I only recently learned how to use my hooves and teeth to perform basic tasks, hoof to hoof combat was still far from my reach. Not to mention if I did anything in self-defense, I still had the wrath of Blackheart to suffer with.

“You can’t be serious! How about them? Isn’t it their job to protect me?” I squeaked and pointed at the two guards outside my door.

“Their job is to protect you, yes” Albert said carefully. “But they are under direct orders by the master to not intervene in your duties, unless he orders otherwise OR, more importantly, ONLY if your life is in direct danger.”

I sighed shakily and put my face in my hooves, holding back my cries. This could mean a fate worse than death, if the VIPs or warlords are anything like Blackheart.

“It’ll be fine,” Albert said, trying to reassure me. “Most of them won’t try to kill you. They know what happens if they cross Blackheart, and they value their hide more than their penises.”

Wow, what kind of stupid reassurance was that?! I angrily thought.

Before I could utter a retort, however, there was a soft knock on the door.
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I turned around. A yellow silver maned filly stood in the doorway. Maybe filly wasn’t the right word. She was small in stature, but seems more like a young mare instead of an oversized filly. She had a pair of intercrossed hairpins as a cutie mark.

“Um, excuse me sir, you summoned me?” She asked timidly, looking at Albert with frightened eyes.

“Ah! Good, you’re here!” Albert clapped his hooves together. “Miss Pip, this is Golden Pin, or just Pin, for short. She has a rare talent among our slaves that is essential to your new job. She does the make-up and does the dolling of our more senior work mares here. And if I may say so, she's quite an artist at it. She has been reassigned as your personal assistant and secretary. Besides serving you, she will also be coordinating with me and the master in case you have any work to do.”

I looked at her. She was kind of shy, almost as bad as Fluttershy. She kept looking at the ground, anywhere except meeting my gaze.

“Hi there. It’s nice to finally meet you.” I said.

“I-it’s an honor, ma’am.” She said quietly, still not looking at me.

Goddesses damn it. Why is it so hard to make friends in this Celestia forsaken place?! I grumbled in my heart.

Albert broke the awkward silence. “Alright then before I leave you two to acquaint yourselves with each other, I have a message from the Master for you, Miss Pip. You are to join him for supper tonight, in his quarters. You have about three hours to prepare yourself.” He pointed at a meticulously wrapped box lying on the bed with a black rose on it. “A gift from him. He asks that you wear it later.”

My eyes reduced to pinpricks upon hearing that, and my heart pounded so hard against my ribcage that it hurts. I turned around to protest, but Albert was already gone, the door clacking shut behind him.
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I hobbled unevenly to the bed and plopped down on my haunches. I felt like crying, but I’m already so emotionally drained that nothing came out. Instead I just settled for lying face down on the pillows and sobbing dryly, trying to calm my trembling body. Hopefully I’ll suffocate and this nightmare would finally be over.

Soft hoofsteps approached me and stopped by my side. A timid voice spoke.

“I’m sorry, Mistress. I know how cruel the Master can be. If you need anything please don’t hesitate to ask me. I’m always here to serve you.”

I composed myself, and sat back up, sniffling loudly. I looked at Pin.

“I’m alright. Thank you Pin.” I said. I turned to look at her. “So what’s your story? How did you end up here?” I asked.

Golden Pin just shuffled her hooves and said nothing.

“I’m sorry, Pin. I don’t want to offend you. You don’t have to tell me anything.” I smiled at her.

“No its ok.” Pin said, and continued in a low voice. “We are all slaves here, no matter where we sleep or what we eat. We all have to work with the threat of fear and pain that Blackheart gives us.”

I moved to one side and patted the spot beside me with a hoof, inviting her to sit down. Pin smiled gratefully and cautiously came over. She sat down beside me and started her story.

“I was just a filly when Blackheart and his men invaded my settlement. They were armed to the teeth. From what I remember, they came to abduct healthy fillies and colts to put into servitude under him. Those families that gave up willingly were rewarded with caps of their foal’s worth. As for the others… they suffered a much crueler end, and the foals were taken by force. My father was the only family I had, since my mother already passed away. They were ponies in the fashion business, having worked under the Ministry of trade and commerce. I’m sure you know the pony who is the head of that.” She smiled.

I remembered a glamorous white mare with an impeccably groomed mane, with diamonds on her butt.

“Rarity” I said.

Pin nodded in agreement. “After the war and the destruction of Equestria, my mom and dad had moved to a small settlement close to the now legion lands. Shortly after I was born, my mother died from advanced radiation poisoning. It was already a miracle she could live that long. My Dad only had minor poisoning that was easily cured. During my filly days I helped my father earn caps by running a mane styling salon in a settlement called Novmare. That was how I earned my cutie mark in make up and mane styling. When Blackheart came, I hid in the closet while my father tried to fend them off. He tried to lie to them that I did not exist. They did not buy it. They forced their way in and grabbed me. After that, they made an example of my father by cutting off his head in front of the town.”

I sat there quietly and listened to the sordid tale, not really surprised in the least. If anything, Pin’s story only served to erase any doubts I had that Blackheart needed to die. And in the most horrible way to pay for his sins. Pin looked up at me with tear filled eyes.

“I wish I had been as strong as you Mistress. I heard tales of you and the miracles you managed to do with the help of your friends. You saved innocent ponies from raiders, united the griffin mercenaries, and even killed a dragon! If only I was half as brave as you, maybe my dad wouldn’t need to die.” She sniffed quietly.

I put my hooves around her. “It’s okay Pin. Everyone has times of courage and cowardice. Even me. I’m sure your parents won’t want to see you suffer in this place.” I comforted her.

Pin wiped away a tear with a trembling hoof. “Thank you Mistress”

“I don’t like the idea of you calling me mistress or ma’am. Please, call me Littlepip.” I said.

Pin just wiped away more tears with a shaking hoof. “Okay, Miss Pip.”

She got up and faced me. “We are running out of time Miss Pip. We have little over an hour and a half to make you presentable for the Master. Shall I show you what I’m capable of?” She gestured at the box and smiled.
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After a quick shower to get rid of the grime on my hair and skin, we got down to business. Pin opened the box and gave an audible gasp. She reaches in and pulled out a dark blue dress adorned with sapphires and embroidered in gold. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen! Even more glamorous than the dress I nicked for Velvet. It had a gold embroidered collar that snugly fitted around my neck elegantly, and even has a thigh high cut to expose my legs. I blushed hotly as I imagined myself wearing something that provocative. Damn you Blackheart, making me wear something like this and knowing full well I was a lesbian. The accursed pony in my head just laughed cruelly. Was I though? I wasn’t so sure anymore.

What the hell was I thinking! I shook my head almost violently as I tried to dismiss those thoughts. Luna damn you Blackheart, making me doubt myself like that! I’ll NEVER fucking give in.

There was something distinctly familiar about that dress. I couldn’t quite put my hoof on it until I saw the snow white gloves for the forehooves that accompanied it. There was some very fancy gold and silver embroidery on it, but it unmistakably showed the number 2.

That BASTARD! He modeled this dress after my stable 2 uniform, making an admittedly pretty mockery of it! I ground my teeth in anger as I thought of what his motive for this could be. Was this an insult? Trying to tell me I should have stayed back in my stable instead of coming out to be a hero? Or was there something more to this?

In any case I had no choice but to wear it, and with Pin’s help, selected a matching pair of thigh high stockings and a pair of silver high hoof-shoes. I sighed in frustration as I put on this jumble of annoying fabrics. But I knew that I had a higher chance of coming out in one piece if I pleased him with my appearance, so rather than being sloppy, I followed Pin’s instructions and advice to the letter.

After Pin was done brushing and priming my mane into an elegant braid, she helped me with applying the mascara and blood red lipstick. Thank Celestia for Pin. If it wasn’t for her, I would have absolutely NO flipping idea of how to do any of these fashion feats. My attempts would probably end up with lipstick in my mane and my hairs getting ripped out.

With just 10 minutes to go, Pin was finally done. She stood back and whistled appreciatively.

“One of my better works! I’m really proud of this Miss Pip! You look absolutely stunning!” She cooed.

I took a look in the mirror and did a double take. The unbelievably beautiful looking mare in the mirror followed suit. Is that really me?!

As much as I hate to deny it, for the first time in my life, I looked like one of those mares that worked in those classy exclusive clubs in pre war Canterlot. I noted with a twinge of guilt and regret that my current appearance would no doubt make Velvet herself swoon over me in lust. Haha, oh how I missed them.

There was a knock on the door, and Ironfist poked his head in.

“Ma’am, it’s time to leave” He said in a blunt voice.

I nodded in grim acknowledgement and got up, trying not to let my mounting fear show.

Pin looked at me with concerned eyes and said quietly.

“Good luck Miss Pip.”

“Thanks, I’ll see you soon” I replied hoarsely. Goddesses knows I’m going to need all the luck I can get.

I trotted nervously out of the door and it solidly clicked shut behind me.