Broken

Broken: Chapter 2

"The Sad Truth"

He was shaking. Not the sort of shaking one does when they're cold, or a good song was playing, but being shaken. The world revealed itself to him sliver by sliver as he came around, and he realized there were hooves on him. Somepony was shaking him, and saying something.

"Lavender, wake up! There's someone at the door!"

"Fuck!" Sitting bolt upright, Lavender suddenly came to. The memory of all that had happened came rushing back to him, making his head swim. And along with those memories came the headache. Groaning inwardly, he clutched his hooves to his head, trying to stop the skull-splitting throbbing. It felt like there was a balloon inside of his cranium, and some indignant foal was blowing more and more air into it, trying to break him from the inside out.

"Erugh... Coffee..."

"Uum, there's some left over from breakfast..." Lily disappeared from beside him and re-appeared later, clutching a mug awkwardly in her hooves. Unable to focus on his own legs, let alone his horn, Lavender dove into the coffee muzzle-first. The infusion of caffeine cleared away the worst of the headache, stale and cold as it was. He finally got his bearings, looking around unevenly.

"Uum, Lily?"

"Yeah?"

"Why am I in the bed?"

"You collapsed when I showed you my horn. Eer, rather, what's left of my horn." She parted her mane again, showing off the stubby, flat base of her skull where any normal unicorn would be sporting a horn. Lavender ought to know, he had one of his own. His stomach churned at the sight, and he gingerly lifted her hooves away from her own head so the silver strands of her mane fell back around it.

"We'll talk more about that later. But how did you move me up onto the bed?"

"With my hooves, of course." Lily chuckled. "I may not look like it, but I'm actually strong. At least, that's what Master Ignatus used to tell me... He taught me to be strong."

"Ah huh. Enough about this Ignatus person-"

"Master Ignatus."

"Whatever. You said someone was at the door?"

"Well, yes, when I put you on the bed I let you sleep for a while... But now there's someone knocking at the door."

"By Luna's moony flank, you- UGH." He flung the cover aside and dashed out of the room, cursing himself and the circumstance all the way. For the second time, he flung the front door open to find a mare standing there, only this time it was a very disgruntled and angry-looking one. Silver stomped into the foyer, slamming the door shut behind her with a wingtip.

"You had better have a damn good reason for calling me over on vacation."

"Oh I think I've got a good enough reason, Silver." Lavender chuckled as he glanced up at the top of the stairs. "You're going to want to see this."

"My attention is caught and my interest is had, but only for the moment, Sky. You disappoint me, and so help me there isn't a hole deep enough for the things I have in mind." Silver Bolt was the editor-in-chief for the local newspaper, which Lavender lovingly held a daily column in. Granted, it took much manipulation and backstabbing to get to that illustrious spot, and he wouldn't have made it were it not for Silver's open way of handling business. If he made her bits, he kept his spot. If he didn't make her bits, his spot would go to the next best sob.

Had he have known he would be working under Silver, he might not have maneuvered himself in such a way. But as it stood, Silver was his one and only friend, even if it was a tenuous friendship. She was also incredibly knowledgeable about the goings-on of Trottingham at large, and would probably know the sort of circle Lily had come from. He knew from personal experience, however, Silver wouldn't be an active participant in said circle.

She was as non-sexual as a pony could be without losing their genitalia. Lavender had it on good authority (and one particularly painful personal experience) that the brash pegasus did not, nor had she ever, had a lover. She was almost grossly disinterested in romance, and preferred intellectual conversation to schmoozing and flowers. Lavender seemed to be one of the few who could offer her that, and while he had previously entertained thoughts of a romantic relationship with the Editor-In-Chief, he had been discouraged by one forceful hoof applied directly to his own genitalia.

Since then, the two had kept a mostly professional relationship, though Silver's love for conversation was second only to her love for chocolate, and Lavender just so happened to know the store she preferred most. Many of his paychecks had gone to that store over the past seven years of his employment at the paper, and he'd like to think he was in her good graces.

Then again, depending on how this whole ordeal went, he might just find himself on the business end of her hooves once more. "Look, upstairs, I have a mare-"

"You got a date?" Gone was the anger, replaced almost instantly by disbelief.

"N-not entirely," Lavender deadpanned, blushing once more. (Thank the moon for dark pigmentation.) I, uuh... Had a visitor late last night."

"A whore, then."

"What?! No! Well, actually, I shouldn't say no, I... Look, it's complicated, alright!"

"Oh my dear, sweet Sky..." Silver draped a wing over his back, pulling him close to her side. "If you've called me over here just to boast that you've popped your cherry, so help me, I'm-"

"No!" He slipped out of the embrace with a glower. "Look, just shut up and listen to me, okay?!"

"Tell me to shut up again and I'm going through with the whole 'deep, dark hole' thing."

"JUST LISTEN TO ME!" Lavender shouted. That seemed to shut Silver up, but it also had the unfortunate side-effect of drawing out his guest.

"Lavender?" Lily's thin voice carried from the top of the stairs. Silver's eyes immediately snapped up to the new mare, her nostrils flaring for a moment. Lavender could almost read the emotions as they passed across her eyes. First was shock and disbelief that Lavender, the backstabbing scourge of anypony with a better position than his, had managed to bring a mare into his home. Then, since Lavender knew her eyes to be incredibly keen, came the shock at seeing what remained of Lily's horn.

"By the stars." Silver's rump hit the foyer and her hooves rose to her mouth. Silence finally reigned as she saw what had happened to the poor mare.

"She showed up at my doorstep late last night, weak and tired. I took her in, fed her, and then... Then I learned about that."

"Lavender," She looked to him next, her eyes wide with a combination of shock and fear. "do you have any idea who she is? Where she comes from?"

"That's what I was hoping you could tell me." Lavender sighed.

"Okay, here's the skinny." Silver had gathered them in the guest bedroom, ignoring the ripped sheets and rumpled, double-blanketed bed. (Much to Lavender's thanks.) "She's a slave. Specifically, a sex slave."

"I'd gathered that much, thank you." Lavender deadpanned. "But what about the two she mentioned? Ignatus and Moonglow?"

"Master Ignatus and Mistress Moonglow." Lily chimed in.

"Whatever." Silver gleaned over her. "I don't recognize Ignatus-"

"Master Ignatus."

"But Moonglow is-"

"Mistress Moonglow."

"Why do you keep doing that?" Silver turned to Lily with a glare. "They're not my masters. I don't want to call them that."

"Everypony should call them Master! That's what they are!" Lily puffed up visibly, rising to her hooves. Lavender interjected, shooting Silver a sympathetic glare.

"Alright, Master Ignatus and Mistress Moonglow. We're sorry, Lily. Forgive us."

"Oh! No!" Lily's cheeks heated immediately, and she sunk back down to her haunches. "Please, forgive me! I didn't mean to interrupt! Please, punish me any way you see fit!"

"Woah." Silver's normally bull-headed attitude deflated almost immediately as Lily cowered before them. "Uuh... Hey, relax, it's okay. Master Ignatus, or whatever... Hey, does she do this normally?"

"I thought she was over it," Lavender mused. "but I guess not yet. Look, let's move on. You were saying...?"

"Right, I don't recognize Master Ignatus' name," she shot a quick look to Lily, who nodded at the inflection. "But I recognize this other mare. Mistress Moonglow is actually a nickname for the city planner, Pestle Stone."

"That surly city official who keeps sending us threatening letters?" Lavender perked up at the name.

"The same." Silver nodded. "I, aah... Had to do a little digging on her, to see if there was something we could use to get her off our back. I found a few shipping orders for some... shall we say, 'bedroom enhancements' signed 'Moonbeam.' Sorry, Mistress Moonbeam." She glanced at Lily. "It's a nickname of hers. Well, that information came along with a little something else... You see, she's also a member of the New Lunar Republic."

"That crazy clan everypony's been talking about? I thought it was just rumor."

"That 'crazy clan' is a lot bigger than you think it is, Lavender." Silver snapped at him. "They've got a lot more political pull than you think they do. And guess what, you remember Maroon Quill? Your predecesor?"

"How could I not- oh, don't tell me he's a member?"

"Only if you love coffee." Silver sniffed. "This New Lunar Republic is crazy, I don't deny that, but they're everywhere, Lavender. Here, Canterlot, Stalliongrad, Manehattan... You name it, they've got members in important positions in all those cities. Rumor has it, they founded Canterlot themselves. Granted, Celestia turns a blind eye to the name, but she's too busy trying to handle everything else now that she's alone. Look, say what you will about them, but they are everywhere, Lavender. They have sympathizers in every city. And apparently, here in Trottingham, they're stronger than most anywhere else. 'Mistress' Pestle Stone is the city planner, and her 'partner' is the Mayor. They meet at that old, abandoned cathedral off of Buckingham Way, and it isn't as 'abandoned' as everyone says it is. Apparently it's zoned for a business, and the deed is still in the mayor's name."

"That's... Wow..." Lavender sighed. "This goes a lot deeper than I thought it did."

"You and me both, Lavender. If they're trading sex slaves," she gestured to Lily empathetically. "then it's much bigger than any one pony can handle. My advice? Turn the girl over to the guard. Let Celestia handle this one."

Lavender had to sit on that one for a while. He mulled several thoughts over in his head, considering one option over another, debating, endlessly pulling side-to-side in his mind. In the end, he heaved a deep breath and leveled his gaze at Silver.

"No."

"What? Lavender, I guarantee you they're looking for her. You can't hide her for-"

"I'm not going to hide her." Lavender reached out to Lily, lifting her chin gingerly. "I'm going to buy her."

"WHAT?!"

"Are you going to be my new master?"

"HAVE YOU GONE FUCKING MENTAL?!"

"Calm down, both of you." Lavender raised his hooves to Silver, who was looking for all intents and purposes like a bull, her head lowered and one hoof pawing the carpet. "Silver, look, let's say I send a letter to her last 'master,' telling them that the girl arrived on my doorstep. We arrange to return her, but before I hand her over, I express interest in joining this 'New Lunar Republic' or whatever they're calling themselves. I admit to having, say, 'sampled' the goods, and I like the perks."

"Have you 'sampled the goods?'"

"Shut up. I ask how much he's willing to sell her for, and boom, she's mine."

"Oh yeah? Then what? You've got your own dirty little sex slave?"

"Silver..."

"Some lump of flesh for you to fuck whenever you want?! Huh?!"

"Silver!"

"Pathetic fucking colt like you can't even get a real date so you have to fucking buy your-"

"SILVER!" Lavender's horn blazed to life and he clamped her muzzle shut, pushing her backwards. "Shut. The buck. Up." He growled. "If I wanted some personal sex slave, I'd have gone in for this a long time ago. Would I have called you in if I ultimately wanted to own her? Would we be having this discussion right now?"

Some of the fire left Silver's eyes, and she calmed down enough that Lavender could release her muzzle.

"I want to know more about this New Lunar Republic. Here, I have the perfect way in. We turn this from a runaway situation into a new business acquisition. Then, once you have me on the inside..."

Realization dawned on Silver's face like a ton of bricks dawns on an unwitting pony after a fifty foot drop.

"Lavender Sky, you brilliant, sick little pony."

"See?"

"Alright." She sat on her haunches and held a hoof out towards Lavender. "I'm in. What do you need from me?"

"Well, I could use the capital-"

"I'll do some research, but I'm not offering more than two hundred bits." She glowered. "And that's a loan, mister. I expect every one of them back from you."

"Egh. Fine. With your two hundred and my savings, we could probably afford whatever price her master gives us." The two of them looked to Lily, who had been watching the entire back-and-forth like an interesting tennis match. She straightened up as they both laid eyes on her.

"Does this mean Lavender will own me?"

Silver face-hoofed.

"Alright. I'll go do a little research, and see what I can do about getting this guy's goons to stop looking for her. If they're looking for her at all."

"Oh they're looking for me, alright." Lily giggled. "I'm very expensive."

"How expensive are we talking?" Silver seemed to wilt a little.

"Well, I don't know how much it is, but what's a 'fuckton' of bits?"

"A fuckton." Silver deadpanned. "That's what you sold for?"

"That's what they tell me when they whip me with the-"

"AAH! Alright, enough!" Silver groaned and turned towards the front door. "I'll see if I can find out how much somepony like you might... I dunno, 'go' for. Lavender, can I trust her here with you?"

"Come on, now." Lavender glowered at her. "When have I ever been anything less than a gentlepony?"

"Whenever there's a promotion on the table. Oh, and guess what? The next spot up is mine. You'll work that spot when I'm cold and dead." She sniffed at him. "Just don't do anything I wouldn't do, okay? I know we're going to tell him we've 'sampled' the goods, but there's no point in actually doing that, right?"

"Right." Lavender nodded, thankful again for the dark pigmentation. "I'll not touch a hair on her head. Meanwhile, maybe I can teach her a little more about the real world."

"That's a good start. Stay safe, you two. I know this house is about as safe as they come, but if they find out where you went, Lily..."

"I know what happens when they find us." Lily paled a little, her posture changing almost immediately. "I don't want that to happen."

"Alright then. I'll see you tomorrow at work. Not a word of this to anypony else."

"Naturally. See you tomorrow."

Silver closed the door behind her, leaving silence in her wake. Lavender heaved a sigh, feeling the headache return in force. He had several decisions ahead of him, and depending on how deep this went, maybe even his life was at stake here.

Or worse.

His career.

"Can I sleep with you tonight, mast-Lavender?"

Okay, more than a few problems on his plate at the moment.

The next day dawned bright and sunny, though the light was doing little to help with Lavender's headache. The coffee was, but that was besides the point. He had had a sobering experience that morning, one that he'd just as soon not relive.

"Lily? What are you doing in my bed?"

"I've never slept without my master, eer, my owner... No, someone else. In my bed before."

"... Did you HAVE to sleep with your hooves around my waist?"

One bracingly-cold shower and a shameful bit of clopping later, Lavender had confronted Lily, setting some of the ground rules for this little setup, however long it might last. They stood in the kitchen now, with Lavender nursing a steaming cup of coffee.

"No more sleeping in my bed."

"No more sleeping in your bed." Lily echoed from her spot behind him.

"No more innuendo."

"What's an innuendo?"

"Remind me to teach you what an innuendo is when I get home tonight."

"Yes, mast-Lavender."

"Work on calling me just Lavender."

"Yes m-Lavender."

"You can just say 'okay.'"

"Okay. Hehe." She giggled, causing him to look at her over his withers. "S-sorry, I've never actually said 'okay' before. At least, not that I can remember. I used to be punished for it, I think."

"Ah huh. Oh!" A thought dawned on him, and he beamed at her. "Can you cook, Lily?"

"Uh huh!" She nodded enthusiastically. "I know how to cook very well!"

"Good! Can you have dinner ready for me when I get home?"

"Of course, master! Er, I mean, Lavender!" He groaned and covered his face with a hoof.

"That's asking a lot of you, but if you draw the curtains on the windows you should be safe. Can you read?"

"I can," She led into the sentence cautiously. "But I've only ever read basic books to learn... Do you have any of those?"

"I do not... But there are a lot of fantasy and romance books here. They're in the study, just across the foyer from here. Read any that you want. I can set out some recommendations, if you'd like."

"Okay. Is there anything you don't want me to do?" She asked cautiously. Lavender scrunched his muzzle.

"I honestly can't think of anything you could do that'd make me angry with you. Just don't call me master, and try not to come on to me so much, okay? I'm not... I don't want to... Egh, it's complicated, okay?!" He glowered at her. "It's not that I don't find you beautiful, I just don't want to... To have sex with you, okay?"

"Why not?" She asked, cocking her head to the side and fixing him with that intense look she seemed to have mastered. "Am I not pleasing?"

"I... Look, it's complicated!" His horn leapt to life as he dumped the coffee in the sink and turned towards the study. He pulled several books off of the shelf and set them on the cluttered desk. "Those are the books I mentioned. Read them, or do whatever, but just don't get seen, okay? We're trying to keep you safe."

"Okay." Lily smiled at him, despite his frustration. He wasn't sure if that made him joyous or even more angry. He settled on happy and turned towards the front door, grabbing his briefcase out of the foyer's closet.

"I'll be back in about eight hours, maybe a little more." He pointed at the clock. "Six P.M., okay?"

"Okay." She bowed low before him. "Have a good day, master... I mean Lavender!"

"UGH." He swung out of the front door, locking it behind him angrily.

The walk to work was uneventful, but his arrival was heart-stopping. Silver met him out front, looking as intent and angry as she did on any given Monday.

"Good morning, Silver." He beamed at her, acting uncharacteristically bubbly just to annoy her (another Monday custom.)

"Can it, Lav." She growled. "And look alive. We have visitors today."

"What?" He sobered immediately, looking around at the receptionist's area. "What do you mean, visitors?"

"I mean-"

"Ma'am?" Silver's secretary poked her head out of the Editor's office door. "They're ready for you two."

"You two?" Lavender arched an eyebrow at Silver. "What did I get myself into?"

"Right, thank you!" Silver smiled at her secretary and flung a wing over Lavender's back. "Play it cool." She hissed into his ear as they made their way into her office. Inside were her secretary and two other ponies, a mare and a stallion, that Lavender hadn't seen before. One of them was a portly unicorn with a slate-grey coat and mane, pulled back into a simple, yet tight bun. The stallion was a deep, rich, earthy brown, an Earth Pony by the looks of him. He was stocky and young-looking, but his eyes were a bright amber, and seemed to take all of Lavender in immediately.

"May I introduce our columnist who will be conducting the interview today. This is Lavender Sky." Silver nudged him forwards, though the strain in her voice was apparent.

"Lavender, if you'd please. It's nice to meet you." He offered a hoof, and just as the earth-colored stallion took it, Silver introduced them.

"Lavender, this is Ingot and Pestle Stone. The Mayor of Trottingham and the City Planner."