You reached out and gently patted the head of Careful Study, which made her jump in surprise. "O-oh! That... You like me?"

You blinked at her response. You explained she seemed like a nice enough mare. You were going to get something to eat, actually. Maybe she'd like to come along?

She looked left and right. "Have you... selected a mare?"

You had, and saw no reason to lie about it.

She gave a rather resolute nod. "A-alright then. If you just want company." A smile crept onto her snout. "I'm exhausted. Maybe some food will help clear my head." She moved to walk past you and lead the way out of the research area. "If you... wanted to breed me, I would be obligated to accept, being so intimately bound with the studding program." Her cheeks warmed as she approached the last door. "I would... hope you would be gentle, and..." She seemed to freeze, unable to speak the rest.

Curiosity burned in you. So many things needed answers. You gently prompted her to continue, assuring her it was alright.

She pressed her snout against one of your hands. "I would like any stud of mine to be a friend as well. Just... using you as a foal maker seems... I don't agree with the princesses about that one little thing. No pony, two-legged or not, deserves to be just a foal maker." She turned away instantly and shoved open the doors heading out to the hallway with the guards. "We're going to the cafeteria."

Both nodded in agreement and didn't prevent either of you from advancing.

After a few hallways, some with ponies that peered at you with varying levels of interest, you arrived in a dining hall. The large table there was already set with food. The smells that came from it were great, and put your belly into overdrive with reminding you how much you wanted everything there.

Careful seemed to notice this and smiled as she trotted up and hopped into a seat before patting the spot beside herself. "As a member of the stud program, you're free to eat here whenever you desire." She glanced away. "I have a question."

An opportunity? You offered to provide an answer if she did as well. You sat down and grabbed what looked like a bell pepper but smelled like a lot of good things. Sinking your teeth into it revealed it was stuffed, without being cut open. Your tongue sang songs of pure bliss.

Careful seemed to watch you eat with great curiosity before she nodded a little. "If I can answer..."

That felt as good a promise as you were likely to get. You invited her to continue as you tried some wiggly jello that somehow tasted of an entire bag of Skittles.

She pointed at you. "Did you have any idea what the stud program was before you were taken here?"

That you did not. You gave a brief summary of how Luna approached and just asked if you wanted to visit Equestria.

Careful looked guilty, ears sagging. "I'm so sorry..."

Well, it wasn't as if you didn't want to visit Equestria! You just didn't expect it to have such a... peculiar issue.

She flashed a nervous smile. "Are you angry with us?"

That was two questions, you reminded her. You were chowing down on something that looked like a hamburger but didn't taste quite like one as you asked what happens to the expended studs.

Her tongue ran over her lips. "I'm really not supposed to say. If the... If they know, I could get into big trouble."

You raised a brow. Ponies didn't seem the vindictive type. How bad could the trouble be?

Her horn glowed as she gently lifted a bit of food for herself and got to gently nibbling, offering no reply.

"Is the Stud bothering you?" came Luna's voice as she entered the room and walked up, sitting down next to you opposite of Careful Study. "I thought he might be a clever one."

Well, shoot. That wasn't what you had in mind. You could see Careful bottle right up. She wasn't going to blab the secret with Luna right there.

Luna tapped you on the shoulder. "We see you have chosen to cover yourself. That isn't required. Nudity is not a taboo in this land, but if it makes you feel comfortable, there is no harm in it either."

You explained that, yes, it did feel better to have some clothes on.

She nodded. "And you are a curious one." She leaned in close. "Trying to play coy will only make you ask more questions until you find a pony that will give the answer. Come then, Stud. We owe you honesty at least. What is your question?"

Was it that easy? Heart lifted with hope, you asked about the expended studs.

She let out a weary sigh that sounded anything but good. "Some select a life of a pony, joining us with our blessings. It is the least we can do for their sacrifice. They are given a place to live and a modest stipend to make a life for themselves, as mare or stallion."

And the others?

Her eyes darted off. "It depends... Some grow quite agitated when they are expended. When we tell them they are no longer a stud, some will fly into a rage. Our offers fall on deaf ears and the idea of being rendered sterile drives them into a dangerous place... We have little choice but to... remove them, for the safety of others."

Why not just send them home?

"Would that it were so easy."

Careful gasped with alarm.

Luna reached over you and set a hoof on Careful's withers. "You deserve to know this as well. We cannot return the studs to their homes. Tuning into particular emotions in the dream world lets me find them, as a dream. I can draw them to me, but sending them back... I have no reference, and the power required would be quite significant, though I would do it, were I able."

It was a good thing you had been stuffing yourself, since your appetite dried up as the news hit you. No going home at all?

"It is impossible," spoke Luna in sad tones. "We have portals to other worlds, but all the worlds we can reach with them have males that are not compatible. The world Twilight had visited was our first guess. While those there became ponies naturally on arrival, they were sterile to begin with, at least as ponies. Every universe had some flaw... Yours seems to have what we need. Just... imagine the odds of finding a species whose script matches our own? It's staggering to even consider."

Careful sagged much like you felt like doing. "They're trapped here? And you don't even warn them? How can that be right?"

Luna scowled a little. "It isn't... But it's a matter of our entire species' survival. It is wrong." She moved that hoof to your shoulder. "If you hate me, I understand. I understand and accept it. Despite that, I ask, nay, plead that you participate in the stud program. Equestria needs you, even if you are furious with me."

Your emotions were a bit of a mess. How did you feel about this?

Author's Note

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-8B39PHNN/

Your hunger has gotten the best of you. Questions or not, you need something to eat! Secondary to that, you do want some answers. Maybe you can combine these needs...

Luna drops a bomb on the whole thing. You're not hungry anymore, at least. How DO you feel about this, at least so far as Luna is concerned?

1) Violently Angry
2) Angry
3) Understanding
4) That's it, you're totally getting bred after Applejack
5) I need to sleep on this...
6) Let's talk rewards...
7) You need to tell everyone the truth!
8) Forget Luna, Careful looks like she's ready to fall apart. She needs a supporting hand.