Captivityby Party PopChaptersRagsCardboard shellAll by my lonesomeIt's not easyRagsOnce, in Manehattan, there lived a stallion named Starter Seed. Seed was a large, strong, powerful pegasus stallion, with a green coat, dappled with dark brown patches. His mane was flowing and dark green, just long enough to make the ladies swoon, but not long enough to look unprofessional or feminine. His piercing, jet black eyes looked as if they could cut through solid steel with just a glance if he pleased. He was proud, cold, and stern. He owned a successful, large business in the city, which consisted mainly of a peanut processing plant. He was very wealthy, and owned a decent-sized home in the downtown area. One thing many ponies did not know about him, mostly because he didn't much care to bring it up, was that he had a pet. But this wasn't just some turtle or dog, like a normal pony might have. This was a mare, who he had put his collar on and claimed as his own. Her name was Party Pop, and she was his pet kitten. Since he was a wealthy pony, you would think that she would live a life of ease and comfort, but this was not the case. He kept her in his basement to catch the rats that plagued it. If she couldn't catch one to eat, she didn't eat that day. Her collar was little more that a dirty rope, and it scratched at her neck horribly. He never took her on walks, or played with her, or even gave her any snuggle time. Her sole reason for living with him was to catch rats. Despite this, she adored her Master, and always tried her hardest to be a good girl for him, so that he might one day show her some affection. She even tried to use what little she had at her disposal to make herself beautiful for her Master, even though he never seemed to notice it. One day, however, things went horribly wrong. It started out innocently enough. Pop was trying extra-hard to be beautiful for her Master, because today was his birthday! She was going to bake a big, special cake for him, so that he could be happy on his birthday. Maybe, if she did this right, her Master would play with her a bit, and might even let her sleep in his bed with him! The thought of being allowed to have such a special treat made her quiver a little. She had to hurry, though. Her Master would be home soon, and she wanted everything to be perfect. She got out all of the ingredients she would need to make his favorite kind of cake, chocolate peanut-butter ice cream layer cake with mascarpone and whipped cream. Her mother was one of the best bakers in Equestria, and she had taught Pop most of her recipes when she was a little filly. She looked over the ingredients she had out, and realized she had forgotten one- flour! She scoffed at her own stupidity, and trotted over to where it was kept to get it. Unfortunately, Pop had something called tourettes syndrome, which caused her to experience small shivers and seizures, and it just so happened to hit her right as she grabbed the flour, causing her magic to short out, spilling flour all over herself and the floor, and making her fall over. And to make it worse, it was simply sheer bad luck that right next to this shelf was where Starter Seed kept his prized china collection. She cringed as plates, cups, teapots, and a few vases crashed on the floor around her, one of them slamming into the ingredients on the counter and sending them flying across the kitchen. Eggs splattered against the wall, peanut butter dripped from the ceiling, chocolate covered the counter, mascarpone was in the chandelier, and whipped cream covered the floor. She looked around at the mess, and wondered how she would clean it all up before her Master got home. Just then, she heard the key slide into the lock. He was home early, and the kitchen was a disaster! Starter Seed considered himself a reasonable stallion, one of logic and calm, collected intellect. However, when you come home, and see that your kitchen has become a war zone, and the dumb slut you keep to get rid of your pest problem laying on the floor like a lazy bum, all logic goes flying out the window. He took one look at the situation, then gave Pop a look that sent her into a cold sweat. His voice was calm and even, but it barely contained his impending rage. "Did you do this, bitch?" He asked, slightly emphasizing the last word, as he always did. "M... Master... I'm sor-" Pop said, before being cut off. "This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. I come home, after a hard day of work, and this is my reward? I give you a home, shelter from the elements, and the honor of being my pet, and this is how you thank me?" Seed said, slightly vibrating in pure rage. Pop could barely hold back her tears. "Master, please, I'm so sor-" she said, being cut off again. "GET OUT!!!" Seed screamed, unable to control himself any longer. He grabbed her tail with his teeth, dragging her to the door as she squirmed in terror. He flung it wide open, and roughly threw her outside. She landed on the pavement hard, cutting her chin, she looked up at him from where she sat, far below him from where he stood on the house's staircase. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Master, please don-" She sobbed, but he wouldn't let her finish. "I'm not your Master anymore, slut." He said coldly. Then, he slammed the door behind him, leaving Pop sitting in the rain, her heart broken. She curled up in front of the steps to her former home, and began to cry. Cardboard shellParty Pop sat in an alleyway, hiding in a cardboard box to keep warm. She had gathered some newspapers as a blanket, and had curled up in the box, covering herself with the newspapers to keep warm. It was raining hard, but she had her new box home. Unfortunately, Manehattan is not the safest place to be at night. She had nearly been caught by a few stray dogs twice now. She trembled slightly in the cold, feeling hungry and lonely. She could think of nothing but her old Master. She missed him so very, very much, and wished that she could go back to her warm, dry basement. Maybe, just maybe, she would be forgiven, and he would let her come home. Unbeknownst to her, she had already been replaced, and her old Master had all but forgotten her. She curled herself up tighter, trying her hardest to be brave, and to keep herself warm. Eventually, she fell asleep, dreaming of getting a chance to be loved by her old Master. While she slumbered, a young mare walked into the alleyway where she was, passing through to get some food at a nearby carrot dog stand. The only reason she stopped was because she heard Pop let out a tiny mew in her sleep. She looked into the box, and saw her curled up inside, with her old collar. Now, Carrot Top wasn't much for pets herself, but her friend Snails owned a pet shelter not too far away, and knew he would want to take a look at this abandoned pet she had found. She gently placed the mare on her back, and trotted over to the shelter. When she walked in, Snails looked up at her, and immediately noticed the mare on her back. His expression turned from one of cheerful, friendly welcome to one of concern almost immediately. He walked up to Carrot Top and levitated the mare on her back to a gurney. "What happened, Carrot? This little one seems to be in pretty poor condition." He said, assessing his new patient as he talked to his friend. Carrot shrugged. "I'm not sure, Snails. I found her in a box in some alleyway nearby. She was using newspapers to keep herself warm." Snails frowned, noticing the shoddy collar Pop had on. "I think someone abandoned her... Poor thing." He said, stroking her mane soothingly. "This poor baby has been through so much." His heart felt as if it would break when he heard Pop mew softly in her sleep, reaching a hoof out a little for her old Master. He grabbed a pair of scissors nearby and cut off the rope around her neck, revealing the red mark it had left after scratching away at her neck for so long. Snails gritted his teeth and mustered up the strength to not throw something. He calmly wheeled her away to the medical portion of his facility, so that he could soothe the pains her terrible old Master had caused, or at the very least try to. Pop didn't know it, but her life was about to become so much better. The next morning, when Party Pop awoke, she was quite surprised to find herself very warm, and dry, in a soft, warm bed. It wasn't much of a bed, but it was so much better than the basement floor she had slept upon for so long. She looked around, and saw that she was in a pet shelter, with a few other pets playing nearby. There was a white unicorn mare with a curly pink and lavender mane, who seemed to be a kitten, who was playing with a yellow mare with an apple red mane, who was very dog-like. Watching all of this from a perch was an orange mare with a purple mane who seemed to be... A chicken? There were even a few diamond dogs playing together. Pop got up and walked to the fenced-in yard they got to play in, and stood there, basking in the glorious sunshine beaming down from the heavens. The grass was still moist from the night before, and there was the coolness and scent that often comes after a good, hard rain. Pop breathed in the scent of damp earth as a cool post-rain breeze toyed with her mane. She looked down, and noticed a simple silk ribbon with a medallion upon it, which served as the shelter's special marker collar. She smiled, and realized that she was in for a very nice time. Snails stepped out of the building and walked up to his newest charge. She seemed much happier now that she had had a good night's sleep, and a good bath under sedation. She looked up at him, and he smiled. "Well, you seem to be feeling better now. The bath sure helped, didn't it?" He said, wanting to get to know the shelter's newest resident. Pop smiled, and looked up at him. "Oh, yes. I don't remember getting a bath, though." She said, happy but confused. "Oh, Dr. Snips put you under sedation and bathed you. He also put some medicine and bandages on that awful rash that rope you had on had given you. That must have been painful." Snails said, amused a bit by her perky demeanor. It was amazing how a pet could spring back after who knows what hardship. "I guess you don't realize how much something bugs you until it's gone." She said, laughing a little. "But it wasn't just a rope, that was the collar my old Master gave me." Snails frowned. That was her permanent collar, not a punishment one? If she had kept it on, she couldn't have been on the street for very long. The streets hadn't put her in such a poor condition, her old Master had. Snails had to find out who this horrible stallion was before he put another pet through the heartache and misery this one had been through. "What was his name, little one?" Snails asked, trying to hide his anger. He did so surprisingly well, and Pop didn't suspect a thing. She smiled, and perked up. "Starter Seed." She replied. Snails was shocked. Starter Seed was a highly successful, wealthy stallion. He had more than enough means to care for his pet well, but instead he had severely neglected and abandoned her. Snails could barely maintain his composure, but he put on a happy face for the sweet little kitten in front of him. He smiled, and petted her hair gently. "Well, I have some paperwork to fill out, so be a good little kitten while I'm gone, OK?" He said gently. Pop smiled and gave him a hug, glad to finally be getting some positive attention. "Ok." She replied, feeling content for the moment to just be wanted. Author's Note You guys demanded longer chapters, so here you go. All by my lonesomeLord Gold Soul was a pony much beloved by many ponies, a kind and caring stallion who did his best to make sure fair and just laws were passed by the Equestrian Parliament, where he worked, and to keep unfair ones from ever seeing the light of day. However, there was something missing in his life. This was the problem he was ruminating over right now, as he sat in his favorite chair. Something wasn't right, something needed to be there, something vital that he had missed before. He thought back to his friend, Candy Flower, who he had been forced to part ways with so long ago, since she did not have the lifespan of the fallen alicorn prince. As he thought this, the realization came over him. He wasn't missing something. He was missing somepony. Of course, this was what he needed so badly, the thing his career in parliament could not give him, the thing that, in the thousand years he had been trodding upon the lush world that bound him so coldly to his past, he had never had. A mare to cherish and adore him. He had never dared to love, as he knew that he would more likely than not outlive his mate. But maybe, just maybe, it was a risk he was now willing to take. But where could he find that special mare? Who would want him? He sighed, and picked up a magazine. Maybe he would find the answer to that question later. However, the answer came to him sooner than he ever suspected. As he turned the pages, an advertisement caught his eye. It was an advertisement for the Quilled Shell pet shelter, which wasn't too far. What Gold Soul had never realized, however, was that they offered pets of the more equine variety as well. The ad featured an adorable mare-kitten, with a soft, fluffy purple mane and snowy white fur. Her big blue eyes seemed to look directly at him from the page, as if to say "Please take me home, I need you." He blushed slightly, and put down the magazine, grabbing his wallet and heading for the door. Somehow, by hook or by crook, he would get himself a pet. that pet. Party Pop sat in the corner of the shelter, grooming her hooves with her tongue cutely. Several stallions, and even a few mares, had come to take a look at the pets being offered, but none of them had wanted her. Several of the other pets at the shelter had been adopted, but nobody wanted to give the "broken" kitten a chance. She sighed, curling up on the fluffy bed the shelter had provided her with. She liked it here, but something was missing... She wanted a stallion to hold her close and love her, to pet her mane and kiss her cheek, to nuzzle her gently and whisper in her ear that she was wanted, that she was needed... That she was loved. Suddenly, the door opened, and she looked over to see the most amazingly gorgeous stallion she could ever have imagined. His light gray fur made a perfect backdrop for his soft, flowing green mane, his big aqua eyes sent her heart aflutter, his powerful wings matched his massive, muscular body perfectly. He was obviously a powerful stallion, the kind that could command attention just by entering a room. Then she noticed that he had a horn... and wings. Had her prince come at last? It seemed too good to be true. He looked around, and the moment he set eye on her, his expression changed to one of complete adoration and love. Pop gasped slightly, her eyes snapping open wider. Was he going to take her home with him? Snails smiled at him, noticing his sudden fixation on the mare. "Ah, I see you've noticed Pop. She's quite a cutie, isn't she?" He said, walking up to the mare and helping her up. The alicorn stallion smiled upon her. "Yes, she's absolutely perfect. In fact, she is the exact reason I am here. I saw her in the shelter advertisement, and knew I simply had to have her. I am very lucky someone else hadn't adopted her first." He said, stroking her mane gently, and making Pop blush hard. Snails frowned a little. "If anything, she's the lucky one, your lordship. Nopony seems to want her, but I can't imagine why." He said, petting her gently. The alicorn stallion frowned as well. How had this sweet little kitten been left all alone? She was everything a stallion could want! "Nor can I, Dr. Snails. If it pleases you, I would like to take her home with me. Now, preferably." He said, making Pop's heart skip a beat. He was taking her home! She would be loved at last! At least, she hoped so. Her old master had seemed nice at first, but turned nasty soon, but this one... No. This stallion was different, and she knew it. He signed the papers in a flash, and payed for her room and board with ease, then wrapped his wings around her and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, my sweet little kitten. everything is going to be ok, now. I'll keep you safe." he said, looking into her big, sparkling blue eyes. Pop smiled, and hugged him, blushing happily, with only one thing on her mind. "I love you, Master." It's not easyGold Soul walked along a street in Manehattan, his new pet beside him. He had spared no expense at the local pet store, and he had bought her all sorts of lovely things. She smiled when he did, but something seemed off... Something about her eyes, he was sure of it. There was almost a look of... Fear? That was the last thing he wanted to make his pet feel, but he would take care of it soon enough. They were almost home, after all, and he was sure that she would be happier there. After a little while, he stopped in front of a building. Pop looked up, past the storefront at the bottom, to see a lovely apartment. It even had a decent-sized balcony, with a miniature garden on it! She gasped slightly at the sight of it. It wasn't her special talent, but she adored plants all the same. Her aunt, AppleJack, probably had something to do with that. Her new master noticed her expression and smiled. "Ah, yes. You noticed my garden, I see. That's just a small part of it. I used my magic to create a small pocket dimension up there, so it's actually much bigger than just that tiny patio space. It has all sorts of exotic plants, and lots of room for my sweet little kitten to play in!" he said, nuzzling her cheek gently as he wrapped a wing around her. She smiled, and scooted closer to him. "I think I'm going to like it here, Master." She said, nuzzling him back. She was still a little wary, but she wanted so badly to trust him. He had already shown her so much kindness and love, in such a short time... It seemed almost too good to be true. As they walked into his home, the sheer beauty of it took her breath away. Since Gold Soul made a lot of money working for the government, he could afford to have the very best, and he most certainly did. Even the carpet seemed luxurious enough to deserve a pedigree. In fact, the carpet was so lush and soft, that the first thing Pop did was to roll around on it, rubbing her body all over its plush, silky softness. Gold Soul laughed at the sight, putting his shopping bags to the side. "I buy you all manner of nice toys, treats, socks, blankets, and pillows, and the first thing you want to play with is the carpet?" He said, laughing. Pop sat up like a shot, her head down instinctively. "I'm sorry, Master. I didn't mean to ignore your generosity. You can choose what I may play with instead." She said, feeling terrible for ignoring his gifts. He had been generous enough to take her into his home, and buy her lots of nice things, and she had already screwed up. Why couldn't she just be a good girl? She was quite surprised to feel a gentle wing wrapped around her. "Hey, it's ok, Kitten. I wasn't upset at all! I just thought the way you rolled around on the carpet was very cute." He said, pulling her close to him and flooding her nostrils with his rich, warm musk. She nuzzled his chest gently, kneading on him with her little hooves. Gold smiled, happy to have put his kitten in a good mood. He let her go, grabbing some bags from the pile, and searching through them for something. Pop waited patiently, looking up into his gorgeous aqua eyes. Then, he pulled out something that she hadn't noticed him buying, and it took her breath away. It was a collar, but not just any collar. It was made of black silk, shimmering subtly under the light from the nearby window, and had a large silver bell on it. the edge was trimmed with a soft, slightly transparent pink fabric, which seemed to be something like taffeta, which was all ruffled up on the edge. It was the most beautiful collar she had ever seen. Gold Soul smiled, and looked into her eyes. Pop was barely able to speak from the love that she felt, making her chest want to burst. "Is that... My collar, Master?" She asked, almost in a whisper. He stroked her cheek lovingly. "Yes, it is. I want everyone to see how much I love my sweet, sweet kitten. I want to be able to take you on walks and have everypony know at a glance that you are the love of my life, my perfect treasure... My darling little kitten." He said, tears of love and joy sparkling in his eyes. Pop smiled, her eyes shining with loving tears of her own as he held up the collar, and gently tied it onto her neck, sealing their love forever with the knot as they looked into each other's eyes. Gold Soul hugged her close to him once more, kissing the top of her head gently, and thinking of how lucky he was to have this sweet little pet. And Pop couldn't help but feel the same for her new Master. For the first time on forever, Pop made a noise that she hadn't made for a very, very long time. It was small, but it meant the world to her new master, and showed to him quite clearly how she felt about him. She was purring.
RagsOnce, in Manehattan, there lived a stallion named Starter Seed. Seed was a large, strong, powerful pegasus stallion, with a green coat, dappled with dark brown patches. His mane was flowing and dark green, just long enough to make the ladies swoon, but not long enough to look unprofessional or feminine. His piercing, jet black eyes looked as if they could cut through solid steel with just a glance if he pleased. He was proud, cold, and stern. He owned a successful, large business in the city, which consisted mainly of a peanut processing plant. He was very wealthy, and owned a decent-sized home in the downtown area. One thing many ponies did not know about him, mostly because he didn't much care to bring it up, was that he had a pet. But this wasn't just some turtle or dog, like a normal pony might have. This was a mare, who he had put his collar on and claimed as his own. Her name was Party Pop, and she was his pet kitten. Since he was a wealthy pony, you would think that she would live a life of ease and comfort, but this was not the case. He kept her in his basement to catch the rats that plagued it. If she couldn't catch one to eat, she didn't eat that day. Her collar was little more that a dirty rope, and it scratched at her neck horribly. He never took her on walks, or played with her, or even gave her any snuggle time. Her sole reason for living with him was to catch rats. Despite this, she adored her Master, and always tried her hardest to be a good girl for him, so that he might one day show her some affection. She even tried to use what little she had at her disposal to make herself beautiful for her Master, even though he never seemed to notice it. One day, however, things went horribly wrong. It started out innocently enough. Pop was trying extra-hard to be beautiful for her Master, because today was his birthday! She was going to bake a big, special cake for him, so that he could be happy on his birthday. Maybe, if she did this right, her Master would play with her a bit, and might even let her sleep in his bed with him! The thought of being allowed to have such a special treat made her quiver a little. She had to hurry, though. Her Master would be home soon, and she wanted everything to be perfect. She got out all of the ingredients she would need to make his favorite kind of cake, chocolate peanut-butter ice cream layer cake with mascarpone and whipped cream. Her mother was one of the best bakers in Equestria, and she had taught Pop most of her recipes when she was a little filly. She looked over the ingredients she had out, and realized she had forgotten one- flour! She scoffed at her own stupidity, and trotted over to where it was kept to get it. Unfortunately, Pop had something called tourettes syndrome, which caused her to experience small shivers and seizures, and it just so happened to hit her right as she grabbed the flour, causing her magic to short out, spilling flour all over herself and the floor, and making her fall over. And to make it worse, it was simply sheer bad luck that right next to this shelf was where Starter Seed kept his prized china collection. She cringed as plates, cups, teapots, and a few vases crashed on the floor around her, one of them slamming into the ingredients on the counter and sending them flying across the kitchen. Eggs splattered against the wall, peanut butter dripped from the ceiling, chocolate covered the counter, mascarpone was in the chandelier, and whipped cream covered the floor. She looked around at the mess, and wondered how she would clean it all up before her Master got home. Just then, she heard the key slide into the lock. He was home early, and the kitchen was a disaster! Starter Seed considered himself a reasonable stallion, one of logic and calm, collected intellect. However, when you come home, and see that your kitchen has become a war zone, and the dumb slut you keep to get rid of your pest problem laying on the floor like a lazy bum, all logic goes flying out the window. He took one look at the situation, then gave Pop a look that sent her into a cold sweat. His voice was calm and even, but it barely contained his impending rage. "Did you do this, bitch?" He asked, slightly emphasizing the last word, as he always did. "M... Master... I'm sor-" Pop said, before being cut off. "This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. I come home, after a hard day of work, and this is my reward? I give you a home, shelter from the elements, and the honor of being my pet, and this is how you thank me?" Seed said, slightly vibrating in pure rage. Pop could barely hold back her tears. "Master, please, I'm so sor-" she said, being cut off again. "GET OUT!!!" Seed screamed, unable to control himself any longer. He grabbed her tail with his teeth, dragging her to the door as she squirmed in terror. He flung it wide open, and roughly threw her outside. She landed on the pavement hard, cutting her chin, she looked up at him from where she sat, far below him from where he stood on the house's staircase. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Master, please don-" She sobbed, but he wouldn't let her finish. "I'm not your Master anymore, slut." He said coldly. Then, he slammed the door behind him, leaving Pop sitting in the rain, her heart broken. She curled up in front of the steps to her former home, and began to cry.
Cardboard shellParty Pop sat in an alleyway, hiding in a cardboard box to keep warm. She had gathered some newspapers as a blanket, and had curled up in the box, covering herself with the newspapers to keep warm. It was raining hard, but she had her new box home. Unfortunately, Manehattan is not the safest place to be at night. She had nearly been caught by a few stray dogs twice now. She trembled slightly in the cold, feeling hungry and lonely. She could think of nothing but her old Master. She missed him so very, very much, and wished that she could go back to her warm, dry basement. Maybe, just maybe, she would be forgiven, and he would let her come home. Unbeknownst to her, she had already been replaced, and her old Master had all but forgotten her. She curled herself up tighter, trying her hardest to be brave, and to keep herself warm. Eventually, she fell asleep, dreaming of getting a chance to be loved by her old Master. While she slumbered, a young mare walked into the alleyway where she was, passing through to get some food at a nearby carrot dog stand. The only reason she stopped was because she heard Pop let out a tiny mew in her sleep. She looked into the box, and saw her curled up inside, with her old collar. Now, Carrot Top wasn't much for pets herself, but her friend Snails owned a pet shelter not too far away, and knew he would want to take a look at this abandoned pet she had found. She gently placed the mare on her back, and trotted over to the shelter. When she walked in, Snails looked up at her, and immediately noticed the mare on her back. His expression turned from one of cheerful, friendly welcome to one of concern almost immediately. He walked up to Carrot Top and levitated the mare on her back to a gurney. "What happened, Carrot? This little one seems to be in pretty poor condition." He said, assessing his new patient as he talked to his friend. Carrot shrugged. "I'm not sure, Snails. I found her in a box in some alleyway nearby. She was using newspapers to keep herself warm." Snails frowned, noticing the shoddy collar Pop had on. "I think someone abandoned her... Poor thing." He said, stroking her mane soothingly. "This poor baby has been through so much." His heart felt as if it would break when he heard Pop mew softly in her sleep, reaching a hoof out a little for her old Master. He grabbed a pair of scissors nearby and cut off the rope around her neck, revealing the red mark it had left after scratching away at her neck for so long. Snails gritted his teeth and mustered up the strength to not throw something. He calmly wheeled her away to the medical portion of his facility, so that he could soothe the pains her terrible old Master had caused, or at the very least try to. Pop didn't know it, but her life was about to become so much better. The next morning, when Party Pop awoke, she was quite surprised to find herself very warm, and dry, in a soft, warm bed. It wasn't much of a bed, but it was so much better than the basement floor she had slept upon for so long. She looked around, and saw that she was in a pet shelter, with a few other pets playing nearby. There was a white unicorn mare with a curly pink and lavender mane, who seemed to be a kitten, who was playing with a yellow mare with an apple red mane, who was very dog-like. Watching all of this from a perch was an orange mare with a purple mane who seemed to be... A chicken? There were even a few diamond dogs playing together. Pop got up and walked to the fenced-in yard they got to play in, and stood there, basking in the glorious sunshine beaming down from the heavens. The grass was still moist from the night before, and there was the coolness and scent that often comes after a good, hard rain. Pop breathed in the scent of damp earth as a cool post-rain breeze toyed with her mane. She looked down, and noticed a simple silk ribbon with a medallion upon it, which served as the shelter's special marker collar. She smiled, and realized that she was in for a very nice time. Snails stepped out of the building and walked up to his newest charge. She seemed much happier now that she had had a good night's sleep, and a good bath under sedation. She looked up at him, and he smiled. "Well, you seem to be feeling better now. The bath sure helped, didn't it?" He said, wanting to get to know the shelter's newest resident. Pop smiled, and looked up at him. "Oh, yes. I don't remember getting a bath, though." She said, happy but confused. "Oh, Dr. Snips put you under sedation and bathed you. He also put some medicine and bandages on that awful rash that rope you had on had given you. That must have been painful." Snails said, amused a bit by her perky demeanor. It was amazing how a pet could spring back after who knows what hardship. "I guess you don't realize how much something bugs you until it's gone." She said, laughing a little. "But it wasn't just a rope, that was the collar my old Master gave me." Snails frowned. That was her permanent collar, not a punishment one? If she had kept it on, she couldn't have been on the street for very long. The streets hadn't put her in such a poor condition, her old Master had. Snails had to find out who this horrible stallion was before he put another pet through the heartache and misery this one had been through. "What was his name, little one?" Snails asked, trying to hide his anger. He did so surprisingly well, and Pop didn't suspect a thing. She smiled, and perked up. "Starter Seed." She replied. Snails was shocked. Starter Seed was a highly successful, wealthy stallion. He had more than enough means to care for his pet well, but instead he had severely neglected and abandoned her. Snails could barely maintain his composure, but he put on a happy face for the sweet little kitten in front of him. He smiled, and petted her hair gently. "Well, I have some paperwork to fill out, so be a good little kitten while I'm gone, OK?" He said gently. Pop smiled and gave him a hug, glad to finally be getting some positive attention. "Ok." She replied, feeling content for the moment to just be wanted. Author's Note You guys demanded longer chapters, so here you go.
All by my lonesomeLord Gold Soul was a pony much beloved by many ponies, a kind and caring stallion who did his best to make sure fair and just laws were passed by the Equestrian Parliament, where he worked, and to keep unfair ones from ever seeing the light of day. However, there was something missing in his life. This was the problem he was ruminating over right now, as he sat in his favorite chair. Something wasn't right, something needed to be there, something vital that he had missed before. He thought back to his friend, Candy Flower, who he had been forced to part ways with so long ago, since she did not have the lifespan of the fallen alicorn prince. As he thought this, the realization came over him. He wasn't missing something. He was missing somepony. Of course, this was what he needed so badly, the thing his career in parliament could not give him, the thing that, in the thousand years he had been trodding upon the lush world that bound him so coldly to his past, he had never had. A mare to cherish and adore him. He had never dared to love, as he knew that he would more likely than not outlive his mate. But maybe, just maybe, it was a risk he was now willing to take. But where could he find that special mare? Who would want him? He sighed, and picked up a magazine. Maybe he would find the answer to that question later. However, the answer came to him sooner than he ever suspected. As he turned the pages, an advertisement caught his eye. It was an advertisement for the Quilled Shell pet shelter, which wasn't too far. What Gold Soul had never realized, however, was that they offered pets of the more equine variety as well. The ad featured an adorable mare-kitten, with a soft, fluffy purple mane and snowy white fur. Her big blue eyes seemed to look directly at him from the page, as if to say "Please take me home, I need you." He blushed slightly, and put down the magazine, grabbing his wallet and heading for the door. Somehow, by hook or by crook, he would get himself a pet. that pet. Party Pop sat in the corner of the shelter, grooming her hooves with her tongue cutely. Several stallions, and even a few mares, had come to take a look at the pets being offered, but none of them had wanted her. Several of the other pets at the shelter had been adopted, but nobody wanted to give the "broken" kitten a chance. She sighed, curling up on the fluffy bed the shelter had provided her with. She liked it here, but something was missing... She wanted a stallion to hold her close and love her, to pet her mane and kiss her cheek, to nuzzle her gently and whisper in her ear that she was wanted, that she was needed... That she was loved. Suddenly, the door opened, and she looked over to see the most amazingly gorgeous stallion she could ever have imagined. His light gray fur made a perfect backdrop for his soft, flowing green mane, his big aqua eyes sent her heart aflutter, his powerful wings matched his massive, muscular body perfectly. He was obviously a powerful stallion, the kind that could command attention just by entering a room. Then she noticed that he had a horn... and wings. Had her prince come at last? It seemed too good to be true. He looked around, and the moment he set eye on her, his expression changed to one of complete adoration and love. Pop gasped slightly, her eyes snapping open wider. Was he going to take her home with him? Snails smiled at him, noticing his sudden fixation on the mare. "Ah, I see you've noticed Pop. She's quite a cutie, isn't she?" He said, walking up to the mare and helping her up. The alicorn stallion smiled upon her. "Yes, she's absolutely perfect. In fact, she is the exact reason I am here. I saw her in the shelter advertisement, and knew I simply had to have her. I am very lucky someone else hadn't adopted her first." He said, stroking her mane gently, and making Pop blush hard. Snails frowned a little. "If anything, she's the lucky one, your lordship. Nopony seems to want her, but I can't imagine why." He said, petting her gently. The alicorn stallion frowned as well. How had this sweet little kitten been left all alone? She was everything a stallion could want! "Nor can I, Dr. Snails. If it pleases you, I would like to take her home with me. Now, preferably." He said, making Pop's heart skip a beat. He was taking her home! She would be loved at last! At least, she hoped so. Her old master had seemed nice at first, but turned nasty soon, but this one... No. This stallion was different, and she knew it. He signed the papers in a flash, and payed for her room and board with ease, then wrapped his wings around her and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, my sweet little kitten. everything is going to be ok, now. I'll keep you safe." he said, looking into her big, sparkling blue eyes. Pop smiled, and hugged him, blushing happily, with only one thing on her mind. "I love you, Master."
It's not easyGold Soul walked along a street in Manehattan, his new pet beside him. He had spared no expense at the local pet store, and he had bought her all sorts of lovely things. She smiled when he did, but something seemed off... Something about her eyes, he was sure of it. There was almost a look of... Fear? That was the last thing he wanted to make his pet feel, but he would take care of it soon enough. They were almost home, after all, and he was sure that she would be happier there. After a little while, he stopped in front of a building. Pop looked up, past the storefront at the bottom, to see a lovely apartment. It even had a decent-sized balcony, with a miniature garden on it! She gasped slightly at the sight of it. It wasn't her special talent, but she adored plants all the same. Her aunt, AppleJack, probably had something to do with that. Her new master noticed her expression and smiled. "Ah, yes. You noticed my garden, I see. That's just a small part of it. I used my magic to create a small pocket dimension up there, so it's actually much bigger than just that tiny patio space. It has all sorts of exotic plants, and lots of room for my sweet little kitten to play in!" he said, nuzzling her cheek gently as he wrapped a wing around her. She smiled, and scooted closer to him. "I think I'm going to like it here, Master." She said, nuzzling him back. She was still a little wary, but she wanted so badly to trust him. He had already shown her so much kindness and love, in such a short time... It seemed almost too good to be true. As they walked into his home, the sheer beauty of it took her breath away. Since Gold Soul made a lot of money working for the government, he could afford to have the very best, and he most certainly did. Even the carpet seemed luxurious enough to deserve a pedigree. In fact, the carpet was so lush and soft, that the first thing Pop did was to roll around on it, rubbing her body all over its plush, silky softness. Gold Soul laughed at the sight, putting his shopping bags to the side. "I buy you all manner of nice toys, treats, socks, blankets, and pillows, and the first thing you want to play with is the carpet?" He said, laughing. Pop sat up like a shot, her head down instinctively. "I'm sorry, Master. I didn't mean to ignore your generosity. You can choose what I may play with instead." She said, feeling terrible for ignoring his gifts. He had been generous enough to take her into his home, and buy her lots of nice things, and she had already screwed up. Why couldn't she just be a good girl? She was quite surprised to feel a gentle wing wrapped around her. "Hey, it's ok, Kitten. I wasn't upset at all! I just thought the way you rolled around on the carpet was very cute." He said, pulling her close to him and flooding her nostrils with his rich, warm musk. She nuzzled his chest gently, kneading on him with her little hooves. Gold smiled, happy to have put his kitten in a good mood. He let her go, grabbing some bags from the pile, and searching through them for something. Pop waited patiently, looking up into his gorgeous aqua eyes. Then, he pulled out something that she hadn't noticed him buying, and it took her breath away. It was a collar, but not just any collar. It was made of black silk, shimmering subtly under the light from the nearby window, and had a large silver bell on it. the edge was trimmed with a soft, slightly transparent pink fabric, which seemed to be something like taffeta, which was all ruffled up on the edge. It was the most beautiful collar she had ever seen. Gold Soul smiled, and looked into her eyes. Pop was barely able to speak from the love that she felt, making her chest want to burst. "Is that... My collar, Master?" She asked, almost in a whisper. He stroked her cheek lovingly. "Yes, it is. I want everyone to see how much I love my sweet, sweet kitten. I want to be able to take you on walks and have everypony know at a glance that you are the love of my life, my perfect treasure... My darling little kitten." He said, tears of love and joy sparkling in his eyes. Pop smiled, her eyes shining with loving tears of her own as he held up the collar, and gently tied it onto her neck, sealing their love forever with the knot as they looked into each other's eyes. Gold Soul hugged her close to him once more, kissing the top of her head gently, and thinking of how lucky he was to have this sweet little pet. And Pop couldn't help but feel the same for her new Master. For the first time on forever, Pop made a noise that she hadn't made for a very, very long time. It was small, but it meant the world to her new master, and showed to him quite clearly how she felt about him. She was purring.
