The Herd Life

The Herd Life

Chapter 4: There’s Always something lower.

It was a month after Süßer Sieg had assaulted the Equestrian Prince. News had spread throughout the National Socialist Party of Germaneigh. For all of her former authority and power Süßer Sieg was more able to defend herself from the massive fallout than a unicorn foal might defend themselves from a massive explosion by creating a weak shield around themselves. She had long since been brought before the Führer, Weicher Kampf.

She had believed that stallions being considered lesser than the fact one stallion wasn’t even worth the sweat from a mare’s taint would be her salvation. What she found was an entire nation angered at her actions. An entire nation prepared to accept change, to move forward, and she was caught in a situation where there was no escape. She would have to face the charges before her, and it wasn’t only the prince that had laid her actions at her feet. No, there was a list nearly sixteen ponies long full of names of stallions had felt the need to step forward.

The Führer, Weicher Kampf, had apologized on behalf of all Germaneigh and stated that such actions would not be tolerated. At first Süßer Sieg had expected to be beheaded. It would make sense. Her actions had been an embarrassment for the nation. Instead she was informed that according to the Equestrians’ ancient laws she was instead stripped of her nationality, stripped of her ranks and titles, and finally she was to be given as a servant to the House of Hurricane. From her understanding that meant that she was now under the rule of an Equestrian Noble house that was founded by bird ponies. She felt sick. As such, she sat quietly aboard the airship. Her clothes that she was sent with was a simple utility suit that was given to the stallions who worked as facility maintenance.

Her caramel colored fur was matted, her black mane, which had long and luxurious, was now cropped short, and her crystal blue eyes were dull and listless. She was a mere shell of who she had been before. The door to the room she occupied opened, and she expected to be greeted with cruelty. It was what she deserved. Part of her still believed that she was well within her right. She had been a powerful member of the Germaneigh National Socalist Party, as such her will was the Party’s will, but now she was lower than a stallion.

She looked ahead and saw not Luna, who she had expected, but instead she saw Aryanne. The white Earth Pony mare studied her, her blue eyes calculating what should be done, but a moment later another three forms stepped forward. The charcoal gray Earth Pony mare that was the Alpha, a plumb colored Earth Pony mare that looked exceptionally endowed, and Bumble.

She sighed, her mind already prepared for whatever depraved punishment he would visit upon her. She resided to the fact that he would be her lord and master, and she would have no say in the matter. Instead he cleared his throat, looked at her, and then he stood silent and still for a few moments as if he was trying to formulate the words. His mares didn’t separate from him, they didn’t leave him to wander the vast wasteland that was a troubled mind alone, and instead they stood near him. He steadied himself, studied her, and then shook his head.

“Süßer Sieg, I have considered what it meant for you to be a servant to the House of Hurricane. Luna had ideas that seemed a bit dark for me,” he said, “Surprisingly Celestia wasn’t against them, and she actually suggested some potentially darker things to be included in on them.”

She felt herself shiver in fear at what the Princesses of Equestria wanted her to experience.

“With what you did… There’s part of me that feels what they suggested should be done,” he shook his head, “But that wouldn’t be right, and it wouldn’t be something my mother would want,” he looked at his mares, “Instead we’ve determined that what needs to happen is that you need to learn. I’ve discussed things with Princess Twilight Sparkle. She’s agreed that you would do well learning what it means to serve others, to attempt to learn about putting others before yourself, and as such she has agreed that a magical compulsion would work best.”

She sighed, “I am to lose myself?”

Aryanne growled at her, “No, despite my own suggestion that you be torn down and forced to be given a more submissive personality,” she growled before she looked away from her. She looked at Aryanne, then back at the Equestrian Prince. There was evidence in his eyes that he had considered this as well.

“That wouldn’t be right. You will keep who you are, but there will be a spell, a geass, placed upon you that will prevent you from using your talent to harm others. You will only be able to use it in service of others, and only to help them.”

She closed her eyes, “It would be far more kind to end my life.”

He neared her, and for the first time she saw the anger that was hiding behind his eyes, “This is more kindness than several of us believe you deserve. You owe this chance to my mother, my sisters, and my mothers in law. This is a chance to heal what you became, and give you a chance to become somepony better.”

She looked at the ground, “Am I to remain a… possession?”

He shook his head, “No. But I’m uncertain of what to do with you specifically. Princess Twilight said that this was my responsibility, but that I could delegate it. I thought about asking Barley Hopps. He did place a majority of the nobility that was brought in under the House of Hurricane.”

She had heard of the upset, and she knew that this Barley Hopps was a unicorn. That meant that she would have considered him lower than an Earth Pony stallion. Of course the same could have been said about the Prince, but he had fought, diligently, against her talent. He had a will of iron, and even when she made his body betray himself she could tell he was fighting.

She saw a young unicorn before her, but what she gleaned was that inside he was an Earth Pony, proud, strong, and willful. She looked at her hooves, “What would Barley Hopps do?”

The plum Earth Pony mare neared her, “He’d hear what you did, decide that good old fashion backbreaking Earth Pony work wouldn’t do a bit of good, so you wouldn’t get sent to the Shetland Isles,” she looked at the mare speaking to her, “Instead I’m pretty sure he’d arrange for you to work at his brewery. Having you act as the receptionist. Letting you deal with the public without using your talent. Trying to placate their worries, dealing with anger, and doing all of it with a smile on your face.”

She looked at the mare, “Is that what must happen?”

The Prince shook his head, “No. What must happen is that you learn why what you’ve done is bad. So, after talking to all of my wives, we decided that you are to assist the hospitals. You will work with patients that are there because of trauma, specifically those who have suffered rapes,” he looked at her, his anger still present, “and at my suggestion you will have another part added to your spell. It will allow you to sense what those mares and stallions are going through.”

Her eyes widened, “Would it not be better to simply use me as a servant?!”

He shook his head, “No, because then you will have learned nothing.”

She watched them leave, and she felt the final wall of her pride break. She would be subjected to what she had done. There was nothing lower for her. She was on the same level as a worthless stallion. Were the ability to do so present she would hang herself and be done with it; however, they had removed all ties, ropes, and even sheets from the bed. She understood why now. It wasn’t to make things uncomfortable for her. No, it was to ensure that she didn’t attempt to escape her punishment.

Beyond the door to her room Bumble walked and he felt Honeypot hold him close. He shook, the nerves finally overtaking him, and she silently shushed him as he gave into the impending panic attack that had been brewing ever since they had decided what to do with Süßer Sieg. He felt more bodies surround him, and slowly the beast that was his panic and fear was slain by the love that was given to him freely.

“W...we’re doing the right thing, right?” he asked.

Aryanne nodded, “Ja, what she must suffer now… it will be a lesson long needed.”