Labeling Theory

Meadley rolled onto the other side of the bed, hoping the shift would relieve his headache. He was hung over, and the change was just more agitation for his stomach-churning vertigo. He had to admit, he didn't always get hung over, but when he did, he couldn't remember anything that he did the night before. The young stallion had really outdone himself this time. For the most part his drunken misadventures were limited to maybe fight or two and a big bruise he wouldn't feel until the day after, most of the time courtesy of his smart mouth.

But this time was different. He'd signed a contract, one binding him for life to one specific job. If he'd known what he would have to do for the rest of his days he would have hurled himself from a window at the closest opportunity, but in his still inebriated state he couldn't think that far ahead. So when Celestia went into his new room and prodded his drunken arse in the side, he did little more than look up at her and drawl one very stupid question.

"Did we rut?" He asked.

The princess, at first, looked furious that he would even suggest a peasant like him be in any sort of relationship with her. But her look softened when she saw his eye's blood vessels shot to the core and some burst wide open, dyeing the whites of his eyes a light red. She shook her head and went over to the window of the tower suite, smiling. With a flick, she threw back the curtains, letting magma-hot sunlight burn in and sear the young stallion's corneas.

"Gah! Are you trying to kill me!" He buried his head in a pillow, hiding his fragile eyes from the sun. "Jeez!"

"No, we did not rut, and if you use that word again in my presence I will banish you to the surface of my sun and let you burn." She blinked at him sweetly. "Don't even suggest to one of your friends that you are in any sort of relationship with me other than master and my servant."

"Hey, mare, I ain't nopony's servant. I don't do whips and stuff like that."

"Oh, I would never punish you like that." She mused, striding over to him. He was much, much smaller than the alicorn, by at least two heads and a horn. "On the other hoof, starvation is always a good way to go. Or maybe...." She reached out for his flask on the bedside. "Your precious alcohol."

The princess made the receptacle disappear, prompting Meadley to panic; that was his favorite flask.

"Okay, okay. What do you want me to do? No need to get all crazy, now."

"Firstly, I can tell you don't remember last night. You swore yourself into fealty to me to feed you habit. Go and look on the wall. Don't even bother to try and break the glass and tear the contract up; it is magically reinforced."

The young stallion peered at the ink on parchment, his eyes widening in horror as he recognized his handwriting at the bottom. It was his, in all his oddly neat calligraphy, signature in all capital letters.

"Umm... there must be some sort of mistake lass I-"

"No mistake, you hired yourself and now you're going to go and make me a sandwich."

Meadley had a vein sticking out on his temple and an eye tic acting up. He couldn't believe he'd doomed himself. No more parties, no more alcohol, just this mare for the rest of his life. The only thing he had to look forward to now was the day she tore that piece of paper up herself or his cozy coffin.

"I ain't no pony’s sandwich boy!" He barked.

"Than why are you going to do it?" She smiled, fluttering her eyelashes in the most sickly sweet manner.

"I'm no-"

No sooner did he move to protest did he start to go do it. He didn't know why, but for some reason his body was making her a perfect sandwich, complete with a toothpick and olive in the center. The worst, most pride-biting part was that he knelt to give it to her, feeding her sense of ego with a low, obedient bow. He grated his teeth and bit his tongue, wanting to leap up and strike her. The ruler saw him and released him from her spell, mercifully.

"You can't just make me do that! It's not legal!" He protested.

"Oh, but I can, and it is legal. You signed your life away. I'm sorry, I can only imagine how it must feel, but I need you to come to terms with it as soon as possible. You will be my servant, assistant, and companion for the next... oh, seventy years, give or take a few. I did that to make a point. I say 'Jump' and you say 'How high'. That is how this works, the sooner you come to terms with that the easier it will be and the happier you'll be."

She got up and began to leave the room, but on her way out a pang of pity echoed in her heart. She turned to the young stallion and sighed, trying to think of anything she could say. She really was sorry about this, but she couldn't just go back now.

"Meadley, I know that it feels like you just threw your life away, but try to look at it this way. I need a servant, and I know you'll be a good one. Anything you need, I can get it for you if you just ask. Of course I will expect you to behave as an associate of royalty, but other than that you can still be happy."

"How? I just sold my life to you for nothing." He sighed. "And of all the fuck-ups I have under my belt this one outdoes them all. How could I sell my soul to you?! You're a she-devil and I can tell."

Celestia shrugged. "Just try to remember that I tried to make you feel better."

Meanwhile.....

Cadence hadn't found a servant for herself, as both Luna and Celestia had left before she'd made her choice. So now she was stuck, again, with doing court paperwork. Words didn't even describe how much she loathed signing her name over and over again, deciding what sentences to carry out and which should have further evidence, which should be processed and which could spend to be pushed back another month, ect. ect. She loathed it with all her being, and she wished that she had an right-hand pony to shove all her work off onto.

But being third fiddle to the most important sisters in Equestria was making her both jealous and angry at the same time; she didn't have as many privileges and she was always trotting in their shadow. Especially Celestia's. That meant that she would have to find a servant herself, and worry about Luna and Celestia's permission later. The mare slammed down her pen and left, leaving a large pile of paperwork for somepony else to do....

No sooner had Cadence left her post did she bump into Luna, who looked at the smaller alicorn in distaste. the princess looked like she'd just got done with her late-night activities in the dungeon. Blood coated her front and she carried a few choice instruments of torture with her. There was one rather scary instrument that was used for gelding roosters in her saddlebag, and it was still caked in blood.

Luna stared down at her with wild eyes, her horn sparking with unspent sadism.

"What are you doing out  here this early?"

Cadence stuttered to answer, taken off guard by the princess' sudden appearance. Luna brought iron hoof down on the pink mare's rather delicate shoe, breaking the delicate follicle under her supernatural strength.

"Did I stutter?" She hissed down at the mare.

"Um, I was just taking a small break, that's all." Cadence smiled, secretly terrified of her mother. "So what are you doing out this late? I suppose it's early, but..."

"I was trying to get a prisoner to talk... but he was rather resistant. He was so quiet... he didn't even scream when I neutered him. I'll break him soon, I just need time to starve him further."

Luna continued down the hall, her bloody hoof-prints staining the carpet....

And there's another chapter. I think I'll start this fic back up again. Expect more updates by Wednesday.