“Isn’t there anything you can do?” Night Light asked softly, his wife next to him as they stared at the mirror where Princess Celestia claimed was a magical portal that was open once every thirty moons and was now closed once again for the duration. He didn’t blame his wife for being angry either, Night Light was mad at all of them including their son who had apparently hurt Twilight the most according to what they have heard so far. If only they made it to the rehearsal as they planned.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know how. The only pony who ever knew how the portal worked was Starswirl the Bearded as I hired him to create it.” Celestia sighed, “At the time it was a good thing, but now I wish I had it destroyed long ago.”

“You bucking well should have! My daughter is who knows where because you thought it would be a good idea to leave it mostly unguarded!” Velvet screamed at the Princess, Night Light having to hold her back to keep her from attacking Celestia. Not that he wasn’t feeling the same, but attacking the Princess would only make things worse for them.

“Do you think I don’t know what it’s like to lose a daughter?” Celestia hissed, her calm demeanor crumbling as she turned toward Velvet. To be fair he expected it much sooner as he saw the signs when they first arrived. Not that he had ever seen Celestia snap like this before, but her agitation was pointing towards something happening sooner or later.

“Twilight isn’t your daughter!” Velvet screamed towards Celestia who turned to avoid the enraged mare’s eyes while trying to calm herself.

“Who said I was speaking of Twilight.” Celestia sighed, “It’s true I loved Twilight like a daughter, but do you honestly think I haven’t had foals of my own. I’m over a thousand years old.”

“Look you all, why don’t we just try and calm down and talk this over?” Applejack asked in her southern twang earning a glare from the distraught mother.

“Oh, so now you want to talk?” Velvet snarled as she turned her hurt and anger on the Element of Honesty. “Where was your talk when your friend needed you the most?”

“Honey, please, this isn’t helping.” Night Light sighed, getting a glare from his wife who turned her attention to him.

“Don’t you care that they broke our little girl’s heart?” Velvet sobbed out, a look of betrayal in her eyes.

“Of course I care honey, but fighting among ourselves isn’t going to help.” Night Light said nuzzling his wife, “They are the only ponies who know about what happened. If we want to have any chance of getting Twily back sooner, then we need to let the Princess and the Elements look into circumventing the timer on the portal’s spell matrix.”

“You think it’s possible?” Twilight Velvet asked, feeling hope as she pleadingly looked into her husband’s eyes.

“I know it is.” Night Light assured her, though he wasn’t going to forgive the Princess or these girls so easily.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“I’m fine, Twilight, just sore.” Sunset said softly as she cradled the girl in her lap, stroking her hair. It was funny in a way, Sunset had went through hell the night before, yet she was the one being strong comforting Twilight. She knew Twilight had strength to her, but it was pretty much buried under the fear that knowing in a few hours she was going to be sold to the highest bidder for the night.

“I’m so sorry; I didn’t know you were going to get hurt because of me.” Twilight sniffed once again, finally settling down. She had tackled Sunset as soon as she woke up and apologized, over and over, for causing what had happened. She could still hear Sunset’s screams ringing through her ears as those men had tortured her, beating her and who knew what else.

“Twilight, this is going to keep happening unless you understand that we have no choice. If we don’t do what they want us to do, we get punished.” Sunset sighed, regretting having to tell Twilight this. She needed to learn the cold hard truth or things would get much worse for them. It was something hard to accept; Sunset knew that better than anyone else as unlike the others she didn’t have the drugs to lean on as an excuse for wanting to do these things. At least not until now that they were starting to finally effect her as the last of the magic in her system was draining out.

This was her last chance to go home, being the second time the portal had opened and closed since coming to this world. Shortly all of her magic would be gone and she would be fully human locking her forever in this world. She would never see the pony that she had learned was her mother despite being treated as nothing more than a student. It was something she never understood as she knew she was in an orphanage until just before she turned five. Yet finding those journals in her mother’s room, she had found entries pointing to her being put up for adoption in order to protect her. In her mind that was bullshit because her mother came back and took her as a student and treated her only as a student. Her mother didn’t want her, that was all there was to it. She threw herself in her studies when she found out, trying to show her mother she was worthy of being called daughter, yet it was never good enough. Nothing was ever good enough for the Princess…

“Sunset, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked as she finally settled down and sat up noticing the girl shaking.

“It’s nothing.” Sunset said, shaking her head. She had never confronted her mother about learning the truth which always left the possibility that she misunderstood everything. She was sure she was right though, not that it mattered any longer. “Come on, we need to get you ready.”

“I really don’t want to do this.” Twilight whimpered, making Sunset slump her shoulders. She didn’t want Twilight to have to do this either, but she had no other choice. Thankfully Mac had agreed to do everything in his power to win Twilight tonight.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mac sighed as he leaned against the fence, his button up shirt tied around his waist as his white tanktop stuck to his sweat covered body. It had been another hard day at work on the farm since Braeburn had to go see his parents. He would be glad when his cousin and best friend returned home to help pick up some of the slack. Not that Applejack and Applebloom didn’t try to help, but they shouldn’t even have to. The farm was his responsibility ever since their parents died.

Despite being dead on his feet, he couldn’t help thinking about Lotus. He didn’t like her request of buying her friend as he didn’t want to be unfaithful to Lotus. Sure he knew that the girl wasn’t faithful to him doing what she did, but he kept hope that someday she would give it up and see that he could provide her a happy life away from that. Yet here she was asking him to cheat on her by being with her friend. It just didn’t sit right with her, not that paying her to be with him did either. At least he could tell himself he was helping her by giving her money that apparently she must have needed or she wouldn’t be working in a place like that.

What was he supposed to do though, he had promised Lotus he would do anything he could for her. Yet could he actually do this, the only thing she had ever asked him for? It was something that had been in his thoughts constantly the last few days and had him questioning his position with the girl who he cared deeply for. Did she really even care for him at all, or was it all just an act to get more money out of him. Not that it was his money, or money he could use for anything other than at the Lotus Blossom as it was a prepaid account like a gift card. In all honesty, as much as he felt he loved Lotus he would have used the money for the farm if he could have gotten to it. Well, most of it he supposed as he doubted he would be able to stay away from Lotus like this.

“You got that girl on your head again, don’t you big brother.” Applejack teased him, her hat providing her some shade as she chewed on a piece of grass while sitting on the fence next to him. “Didn’t even hear me come up to you.”

“Maybe a little, but I have a lot on my mind besides that.” Mac admitted, hanging his head a little. A part of him wanted to ask for advice from either Applejack or Granny Smith as they both seemed to be the most level headed in their family always with helpful advice ready to be given. Only how was he supposed to talk to either of them about what was expected of him tonight?

“She must be a great gal, Mac. When are you going to bring her home to meet us?” Applejack asked smiling as Mac blushed deeply. Truthfully he would love to bring Lotus home to introduce her to his family and maybe show her that he could take care of her. He may not be able to give her fancy things, but he could give her his love and give her everything she needed. She didn’t have to sell herself for money.

“Maybe someday soon.” Mac sighed, wishing he could see Lotus away from the Lotus Blossom. Thinking about that, he realized he had never seen her away from the place. He couldn’t help wondering if maybe she lived there also, but that couldn’t be as there wasn’t anything in the room she used there except for some makeup and lingerie he noticed.

“Are you eating here with us tonight or waiting for your date?” Applejack asked, taking her hat off and brushing some dirt off it before shooting Mac a hopeful look.

“Sorry, AJ, but I have a date set up tonight so I’ll be waiting until then.” Mac said, “In fact, I better get ready for it.”

“Have fun then, just try to be back in before one this time. Granny was worried sick when you came in so late last time.” Applejack said, kicking her feet a little while looking down to hide the red tinge on her cheeks. She was never able to lie well, and she was lying this time. Granny had been asleep with Applejack being the only one who was still up and worried as she always did since their parents died in a car crash.

“I’ll try little sis, but no promises.” Mac laughed as he headed to the house.

It was a few hours later when he parked his truck a few blocks from the Lotus Blossom, wearing one of his father’s old suits. He was nervous about tonight as he couldn’t help the feeling that something was a little off about Lotus’s request. And it wasn’t just the feeling that he was betraying her, but an actual gut feeling that something was wrong. And every Apple knew to follow your gut.

Trying to ignore the feeling though, he made his way to the front entrance and was about to open it when a large man next to it grunted. “We’re closed tonight, only VIP’s are allowed.” The man said, eyeing him critically until Mac waved his hand with the black ring on his finger. Snorting in disgust the man waved him on.

The inside of the club didn’t look different other than a lot less people being present. He was a little late thanks to the truck not wanting to start at first. Thankfully he made it just in time apparently as he noticed a beautiful girl, though not as beautiful as Lotus, fidgeting back and forth as the man Mac knew was named Sombra was looking around the room with a grin like a shark.

“Do I hear twenty thousand?” Sombra called out, the dark haired girl almost jumping out of her skin at the sudden sound as a man at one of the tables surrounded by several empty glasses raised his hand. Mac knew the guy a little from several run ins with him at the club and knew he was an asshole. And if some of the things he had overheard him bragging about to his friends were true, Mac could see why Lotus had begged him to win her friend.

“Do I hear twenty five thousand?” Sombra called out, as yet another of the man’s friends raised his hand getting a Sombra to grin even more. “How about thirty thousand?”

“I’ll pay fifty thousand.” Mac called, wincing as he knew that was going to eat a lot of his current balance up. It was worth it though if he could get the girl away from these bastards as she apparently didn’t know what she was getting into with them. He would have to make sure she talked to Lotus more about this as she didn’t look like she was cut out for doing this. Seeing Sombra give her a dirty look made Mac bristle a little, but he quickly quelled it.

“Any challenges to the big spender?” Sombra chuckled, a chorus of negatives washing throughout the room. Mac couldn’t help sighing in relief as he realized how close he was to being too late, but thankfully he wasn’t. “Well then, come on down and get your prize young man.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Mac said through gritted teeth at the disrespect Sombra was showing the girl which only seemed to amuse him. Mac pulled out his card and showed it to the man who nodded, taking it.

“You can pick it back up on your way out.” Sombra said, handing it to another man that came up behind him. “I trust you know what happens if there isn’t enough money on there.”

“Uhh, yes, Sir.” Mac said, not really understanding what he was getting at though he had a bad feeling of what it could be.

“Go on, Violet, show him a good time.” Sombra said shoving the girl to Mac who caught her before she fell.

“Yes, S-Sir.” Violet hiccupped as she refused to look up into Mac’s eyes as she took his hand pulling him behind her. Looking the girl up and down as she pulled Mac behind her, he had to admit she was very beautiful. Maybe more so that his first impression, but the confidence and fire just wasn’t there like it was in Lotus. She seemed as if she was scared of something.

Watching her closely as they went down a flight of stairs to what he was told was the ‘extra service’ rooms; he couldn’t help looking longingly at the door he knew belonged to Lotus. He gasped seeing her peeking out of it, a nasty looking bruise on her face which worried him even more. He almost said something, but she quickly shut the door when she noticed he was looking at her.

“This is my room, Sir.” Violet said, her shoulders shaking as she refused to look at him. She hesitated before opening the door, hurrying inside as he followed, closing it behind him.

“Are you okay?” Mac asked as the girl hugged herself, shaking a little while looking at the floor. He couldn’t help feeling ice flood into his veins as this wasn’t a girl being nervous about what they were about to do, she was terrified. Seeing a couple tears actually drop he also realized she was crying.

“Hey, there’s no need to cry. If you don’t want to do this we don’t have to. I can tell them we did and you can keep the money still.” Mac said softly, gently tilting her head up, cupping her cheeks letting his thumbs wipe away her tears. He felt like a monster scaring her to death like this, but he was happy that he was the one here with her instead of those bastards out there as they wouldn’t care about her feelings

“I have to or they’ll hurt her again.” Violet sobbed out, shaking violently as she tried to advert her eyes, but he gently kept her looking up at him.

“Hurt who?” Mac asked, shocked at what she was saying. He dropped his hands taking a step back as she hugged herself tighter.

“My friend, she’s the only person I have here.” Violet whispered, “Please can we just get this over with?”

“Are you talking about Lotus?” Mac asked remembering the bruise ha had just seen on the fiery girl’s face that was peeking out through the door just moments ago. “What’s going on? No, tell me later, we’re leaving here now.”

“No! I can’t! They’ll hurt her again and we can’t leave. These won’t let us.” Violet trembled as she traced a finger over the golden circlet that was identical to the one Lotus wore. “They cause very bad shocks if we leave.”

“Are you saying that somebody is forcing you girls to do this?” Mac asked in horror at the realization of what he had been really doing with Lotus. The girl had been forced to be with him as this girl was being forced to. He had raped Lotus! He was just as big a monster as the bastards who were running this place if this was true.

“Please just drop it!’ Violet sobbed, “I’ll do anything to stop her from being hurt anymore!”

“No. Oh no. I hurt her. Oh Lord I raped her.” Mac kept repeating, starting to hyperventilate as the realization of what this place was. This place was keeping these girls as sex slaves, not running a brothel with willing girls. How many people here knew the truth? Did that old man who gave him his ring know the truth?

“Please, just do it.” Violet sobbed, shaking as she started to slide the robe off her shoulders making Mac’s eyes go wide in horror. He quickly spun around and rushed out of the building. He didn’t stop to get his card as he didn’t think he would be coming back.

XXXXXXX

Twilight collapsed to her knees, cursing herself for not being able to hold it together as the man turned and fled from her. She didn’t really understand what was going on as he had paid to be with her, didn’t he? Why was he fleeing then before he made her do anything?

“Are you okay? I kind of figured he would have stayed longer.” Sunset said as she came into the room and kneeled down pulling Twilight into her arms. “I know he was reluctant, but I didn’t think he would just do it and run.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked earning a heavy sigh from Sunset.

“I asked him to try and win your auction because I know he’s gentle and I expected him to talk to you so maybe you wouldn’t be so scared when it came to do it.” Sunset explained, a spike of anger surging through Twilight at the admission.

“How could you?” Twilight gasped in shock as she pulled away to look up at Sunset feeling betrayed.

“Somebody was going to win the auction, Twilight. I know Mac, he’s one of the few decent guys who actually come through here and I thought he would be gentle with you instead of some of those monsters.” Sunset admitted sadly, “I’d rather know that he was with you for tonight instead of one of those bastards.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Twilight asked, settling down a little as she could see what Sunset was trying to do, though it still hurt a little.

“In case he didn’t do it or he didn’t come.” Sunset said looking away, “Out of all the guys who’s been here with me, he has been the only one who actually cared.”

“What do you mean cared?” Twilight sniffed, feeling a little jealous of Sunset actually liking one of the guys who she had been forced to be with. She tried to push it back down though as she didn’t understand why she was feeling jealous of it as it was something neither of them could help. They were going to be forced to do things here and there was nothing they could do about it.

“I mean he actually cared. He talked to me and just held me for a long time. He made me feel like a person and not the object all of the others make me feel like.” Sunset said, trying to explain though it was obvious she was having trouble with coming up with the right words.

“I don’t think you’re an object.” Twilight sniffed making Sunset smile as she pulled the girl back into a hug again.

“And I don’t think you are either.” Sunset whispered into her hair while wishing she knew what Twilight actually was to her. She knew she was a friend, but she couldn’t help feeling more for her, the same things she felt when she used to stalk her before coming to this world. Even when hating Twilight, Sunset still saw something in her making her crush on the darker colored unicorn turned girl.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“You’re home early.” Granny said from her recliner in the living room as she muted the news on the television, looking over to Mac as he tried to sneak by her.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Mac said grumpily as he turned to go, but stopped when Granny snapped at him.

“You sit your but down because we have some things to talk about young man!” Granny snapped, her voice taking on an edge of steel. “Gala called earlier and let me know she saw the strangest thing.”

“What did she tell you?” Mac asked, dropping into the couch before resting his arms on his knees and leaned forward. He really didn’t feel like talking right now, but he had a bad feeling that he was busted.

“That you were going into the Lotus Blossom. How could you go to a place like that? Didn’t I raise you better than that, young man?” Granny demanded as she glared at him with a look of disappointment etched on her face.

“I won’t be going back, Granny, you don’t have to worry.” Mac choked out making Granny’s look of anger and disappointment to be replaced with one of worry.

“What happened, Big Mac?” Granny asked softly, reaching out to put a hand on his.

“I loved Lotus, Granny. I met her when I rescued that man a few years ago.” Mac explained, gritting his teeth. “He bought me a night with her and set up a prepaid account for me to be able to visit her whenever I wanted. I raped her, Granny. Oh Lord, I didn’t know they were being held captive there. I didn’t know, Granny!”

“Tell me everything.” Granny said narrowing her eyes as Mac started sobbing, a look of horror and self hatred filling his eyes.

“I don’t know what to do!” Mac growled out, rubbing his face with his hands.

“We can figure that out together.” Granny explained.

Author's Note

Thanks to everyone who has upvoted and favorited the story. The first Arc will be coming to a close soon and hope everyone enjoys it. Also, thanks to BiomasterM2 for all of the help fixing up my stories.