"My child is special."

Cinder rolled over on the cold stone floor. What a strange sensation it was, so be so stiff, but she stretched it out, and sat in the hard wooden chair, the only furniture in the basement. She stared at the wall, the darkness of the basement pressing in on her sides. The air felt heavy, hard to breathe, she needed oxygen, this house was melting, she swore it was. She could almost feel the walls and floor and even the chair melting into a puddle of ooze, drowning her in the weight of the locks and bars and curtains that kept her inside. She could hear the heartbeat.

tha-Thump. tha-Thump. tha-Thump.

She shook out of her daze, knowing that the house wasn't really melting, and the house didn't have a sickening heartbeat. She tasted the coppery flavor of blood in her mouth, and she realized she had bit her lip. She got off the chair, and started pacing, back and forth, back and forth. The only thing standing between her and salvation was a stupid door. She snorted angrily. The only time the door was unlocked was when Mother was down with her. Cinder felt the heartbeat of the house like a drum in her body. She couldn't stay here. She wasn't stupid. She knew this was wrong and terrifying, but she had torn herself from the reality of her situation, because she was just a helpless little girl. What could she do?

"Heh." Cinder let out a little giggle. The house was bleeding again. It liked to do that, it like whispering and screaming, but it like bleeding all over her, caking in her mane and tail until she couldn't breathe without the stench of blood. "Heh, hehe, hehehe!" She giggled harder, the sheer pressure rendering her helpless. She was helpless. She was alone. She wanted... she needed...

Mother opened the basement door. "Come, my dear, off the ground! It ISN'T DIGNIFIED! My child is special, and I won't have her laying about like some no good heathen." Cinder slowly stood. "N-no." She couldn't take this anymore, the house was beating so much faster-"WHAT?!" Mother sorted angrily. "So you want to be a no good heathen? FINE. But do it on your own time." She sweetened suddenly, a smile cracking her face in half. "Come on now, Mommy dearest wants to hear some music." She tugged the violin box off her back, and placed it in front of Cinder. It won't quite, it knows, it knows I want, I want.. Mother looked unamused as Cinder made no move to pick up and play the violin. "What? Come on now, if there's something wrong, tell your Mommy. I can't read minds!" Mother chuckled.

I...I WANT MY MOMMY!

Cinder looked up, furious and in tears. "YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER!"

Mother suddenly froze. Her voice was low, quiet, and dangerous. "What did you say?"

Cinder refused to let down. "You're not my real mommy! You're a bad, bad pony! My real mommy was kind, and loving, and you're just a two faced fraud!" Her young voice cracked from tears as she said it, and she zipped up into the air, using her wings to pull herself out of hoof's reach.

Mother let out a soft giggle, her hair shrouding her eyes. Magic suddenly closed around Cinder's throat, and she was thrown to the ground like a rag doll.

"And you...you aren't my child. I realize that now. You're a poor replacement. My child was perfect."

Mother stalked Cinder into a corner, Cinder cowering in fear. Mother smiled.

"My child was *SPECIAL."***