An Unwanted Past

by shirotora

Rating: teen
Tags: Non-consensual, Violence, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 5473

Gina, the Griffin, tells how she was rescued from a life of slavery as the pet of a flesh dealer.

This story was commissioned by viken666. Gina, Fire Wing, Burning Trail, and Shadow Veil are all his OCs.

Gina was a beautiful, young griffiness known for her shy demeanour. Few ponies knew much beyond this short of her best friend, the princesses, and the Royal Guard unit that freed her.

Born into a life of slavery, Gina grew up as the personal pet of her master. Now, an adult, she tries not to remember her harrowing childhood, even claiming to others that she doesn’t remember.

However, Fire Wing, her best and only friend, and son of the solder that found her, could see through that. He heard the pained, frightful moanings of her nightmares. It tore him up inside to see her suffering and so, after much effort on his part, he finally convinced her to speak to a therapist about her awful youth.

If you like this, please concider buying me a shot https://www.patreon.com/Shirotora

Published 2018-07-10 18:50:07 UTC
Last updated 2018-07-10 18:50:07 UTC

Opening Up

Author's Note

It took me a while, but my first commission is finished. I must admit, I really like Gina. She's a very interesting character and was a lot of fun to write. She's a tortured soul but still manages to be a wonderful one.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy. If you like this, please consider fueling my ~~alcoholism~~ creativity with Patreon; https://www.patreon.com/Shirotora

Opening Up

Opening up

A beautiful young griffiness paced nervously, her tail whipping back and forth in agitation. She was a beauty, to be sure, with pristine white fur and feathers with light gray stripes, even when her face was contorted with worry.

“Would you calm down, Gina,” Said a bright red pegasus stallion. “You’re going to be fine, trust me.”

“B-but... I don’t know this guy,” Gina replied.

“Well, you know me, and I’ll be right here the whole time,” the pegasus assured. “That’s a promise, and Fire Wing always keeps his promises.”

“But... But... I don’t remember anything from back then,” Gina tried.

Fire Wing gave her a flat stare. “You really think that I, your best friend in all Equestria and the guy that knows you better than anyone else could ever hope to, would ever believe that? We went over this already. I’ve heard you when I’d stay over, and when you stayed with us over Hearth’s Warming. You have nightmares about it, and I can’t stand seeing you like that.”

“What if I scare him away?” Gina continued.

“He’s the doctor that helped the other rescued griffins, and dad said a few of his old pals from the guard saw him, too. He’s heard about what it was like for the others, so I think he can handle it.” Fire Wing walked over to her and put a comforting foreleg around her shoulder.

“Look, I don’t know what happened there, and you won’t tell me because you think it’ll scare me. Now, it hurts that you think it’ll scare me of all ponies, but it hurts worse that you won’t talk about it. This guy’s heard it all, so you have no excuse to not talk about it.”

A knock sounded from the door, ending their conversation.

Gina looked at Fire Wing, her blue eye still filled with worry, but the confidence radiating from the smile he offered rubbed off on her enough to go to the door and open it.

She was greeted by the warm smile of a light yellow stallion with a gray mane and grass green eyes. “Hello, you must be Gina. I’m Doctor Healing Heart, I believe we have an appointment.”

“Y-yes...” Gina said, moving to one side to allow the doctor inside.

“Thanks for coming, doc,” Fire Wing greeted.

“No need, Mister Wing,” Doctor Heart said. “I want to help.”

“S-so... How...” Gina started, taking a seat on the couch.

“How do we begin?” Doctor Heart finished for her. “Well, how about we get to know each other a little, first?”

The doctor took a seat on the chair next to the couch. “My name Healing Heart. I live in Canterlot, not far from the palace. I specialize in clients who’ve had particularly traumatic experiences.

“I have a wife, Ivory Melody. She plays for the Canterlot Royal Orchestra. Our daughters are seven and ten, both of whom are prone to cause all sorts of trouble, but they’re still my little princesses.”

The doctor gave Gina a warm smile. “Would you like to tell me a little about yourself? What do you like to do?”

Gina rubbed her forearm absentmindedly. “Um...I like flying... and gymnastics.”

“Oh? I have a few friends that are interested in gymnastics,” Doctor Heart said. “In fact, most of my griffin friends enjoy gymnastics. I wonder if it’s a social or biological drive?”

“You have griffin friends?” Gina asked, a little more confidently than before.

“Yes, I do. I have quite a few non-pony friends,” Doctor Heart said. “I know many ponies can be shallow minded, but we’re starting to wake up. Did you know a dragon is even the national hero of the Crystal Empire?”

“Really? A dragon? But, I thought they were all big and mean?” Gina said.

“You should meet Dragon Lord Ember, then,” Doctor Heart said. “I might even be able to arrange it. She’s still learning how to socialize with non-dragons, and I’m sure she’d welcome the chance to meet a griffin like yourself.”

“Why?”

Doctor Heart smile grew, “Because dragons respect strength, but Dragon Lord Ember respects strength of heart and mind the most. The fact that you survived what you went through, she would have nothing but respect for you.”

“R-really?” Gina blushed slightly.

“I’ve spoken to other survivors that were pulled from that place,” The doctor said. “The things they told me, both in the house and in the mines... I love and respect every one of them. The horrors they endured yet they still have the resolve to press on. I’ll be honest, it would have broken me, but they carry on.

“I understand, though, that your situation was... unique.”

Gina winced, glancing at Fire Wing.

The look didn’t escape Fire Wing’s notice. As much as it irritated him that she actually thought he couldn’t handle a story, this was for her, so he decided to give them space.

“Who wants tea?” he asked, excusing himself and going into the kitchen.

Left alone, the two were silent for several long seconds. Eventually, Gina began, “I wasn’t like the others. I couldn’t work, because my eye.” Gina pointed to her left eye, gray and clouded. “I’m not sure how I got it, but I think I was born with it. Anyway, I’m not sure why they didn’t... get rid of me, but I figure it was because I have a very rare coat. Whatever the reason, I was kept as pet for my master, the owner’s son. For thirteen years, his cats were my family, and I actually thought I was one, too.

Gina stretched and yawned as the morning sun filtered through her eyelids. As she did, a half dozen cats jumped off her, having used her as a bed for the night. She didn’t mind that they did, in truth she liked it. They were her family, of sorts, and she was happy to provide them with warmth.

She sometimes wondered why she was so much bigger than her brothers and sisters, but she just figured she was like the big, scary cat at the other end of the room. She knew she wasn’t like other cats, even the bigger ones. None of them had the big fluffy things on their back, or hard muzzle.

There was always a small part of her that knew she wasn’t a cat, but for some reason she pushed that voice away. Maybe it was easier to be somepony’s if she was a cat, or maybe it was because she needed some kind familial bond and the cats were the only ones that accepted her as an equal.

She just started bathing herself, licking her talons and brushing then across herself like any other cat, when the door opened. In walked another of her master’s servants, one she saw regularly, though not one of the ones that look like her. She was an older pony with a light brown coat and teal mane.

There were two of them, one of them was always nice, smiling while she gave her food. Then there was the one that just walked in. She always sneered at the sight of Gina, throwing her food at her if she gave it to her at all.

Gina didn’t know why that one hated her so much, but every time she came in, Gina would make herself as small as possible in hopes that the food giver would look over her. It never worked, but at least this time she just threw the food at Gina instead of anything else.

Gina quickly tore into the meaty chunks alongside the others. She had to eat quick in the morning, because she never knew when her master would come. Sure enough, shortly after she ate, the door opened, and in walked her master.

Her master was a white unicorn stallion with a red mane and a symbol on his flank of a cracking whip.

“Hello, Gina, did you sleep well?” he said.

Gina smiled up at him, nodding her head. Despite being able to understand them, Gina was forbidden from actually speaking. The only time she ever did in her master’s presence, she was beaten, her master telling her, “Pet’s do not speak.”

Gina was excited to see him reach out with his magic and grab a leash from the wall. The leash laced through the cage and attached to her collar before the cage door swung open and Gina leaped out.

“Come along,” he commanded.

Gina always loved being able to spend time with her master. While the place she slept with the rest of the cats wasn’t at all cold, the rest of the house felt warmer and overall more comfortable.

She followed her master into his study. Usually, this meant he would be meeting with another pony.

As soon as he let the her off her leash, she bounded to her cushion in the corner beside her master’s desk.

Her master pressed a little button on a box and spoke into it, “Miss Note, please send in my nine o’clock.”

“Of course, sir,” said the voice from within.

Shortly after, a rotund pony stepped inside. “Hello, Master Bulion. I trust you’ve been well.”

“Of course,” Gina’s master said. “I’m sorry my father couldn’t see you.”

“Oh, nonsense,” the fat pony replied. “If your father trusts you with his business, so do I.”

From there, the conversation became confusing to Gina, so she just tuned it out, only paying enough attention to hear her name, if called.

After some time, she couldn’t say how much exactly, she noticed they were talking about her.

“... except for the eye, she’s quite the specimen,” the fat one said. “You should breed her. I have a tom that I feel would pair well with her. She is of breeding age, yes?”

“Thirteen, yes. I’ll have to consider it,” her master said.

She tilted her head at that. She’d heard the word ‘breed’ before, but couldn’t remember what it meant. She remembered them speaking about it some time before that other big, scary cat was brought over and put with the one that lived there.

The sounds they made frightened Gina. The roaring and growling made her think they were trying to hurt each other.

Was that going to happen to her? Was she going to be hurt, too? No, her master wouldn’t do that to her. Her master only ever hurt her when she misbehaved, and she hadn’t misbehaved.

She shook her head. Her master said he would ‘consider it’, which she was pretty sure meant it probably wasn’t going to happen.

“Well, let me know when you decide,” the fat pony said. “It has been a pleasure. Give your father my regards, and make sure he knows I plan on utterly decimating him on the green Tuesday.”

Mater laughed. “I’m sure he will expect nothing less. I’ll see you out.” He got up to escort his guest out. “Come along, Gina.”

She jumped up at her master’s command, eagerly bounding to his side.

They made their way to the door, passing several of the beings that looked like Gina. She looked at them curiously, as she always did, wondering why her master never let her around them.

When her master’s guest was gone, he turned to Gina with a smile, an appraising look in his eyes as he led her through the halls.

He hadn’t looked at her like that for a long time, but it always made her nervous.

“Perhaps I should consider his offer,” her master said, more to himself than to her as they entered his rooms. “It would certainly be profitable, especially if we can get that coat of yours.”

Gina tilted her head in confusion. Get my coat? But, I already have my coat.

He gave her an unsettling grin. “Then again, why would I give up my favorite toy?”

She knew the tone and knew what was coming, even before his hoof brushed across her rear. Gina tensed, briefly, before being led to her master’s bed.

She wouldn’t be sleeping that night.

“You... don’t have to continue if you feel uncomfortable,” assured the doctor.

“No, no, it’s good for me to talk about it,” Gina replied. “It might help me sort out my... unusual sexual urges.”

“Unusual, how?”

Gina was silent for a time, gathering her thoughts as well as nerve. “I always hated when my master would... do things to me.

“The memories of those moments are the worst of all of them, yet...” Gina winced, brushing her foreleg with her talon. “I look for ponies to do the same thing, even paying for it, sometimes. I pay stallions to hit me, press my face into the bed, and fuck me the same way that bastard used to.”

The doctor nodded with a sad, yet knowing frown. “It’s a common response for beings that are subjected to such long term abuse to be drawn to something familiar, as that abuse becomes their ‘normal’. Seeing as the sexual abuse you suffered was the most prominent of the bad memories, it makes sense that you would be drawn to something similar.”

The doctor gave Gina a small, warm smile, “It’s not as unhealthy as you may think. There are many groups and clubs in the city that explore this kind of relationship. Perhaps you may want to consider joining one? You could explore your sexual urges while, hopefully, helping to show you such relationships can be loving.”

“Really? Do... do you happen to know any groups that would accept me?” Gina asked, hopefully.

“Not personally,” Doctor Heart replied, “but I know somepony that may. I’ll ask them about it and let you know, if you’d like.”

“Thank you,” Gina said. “Um, I guess I should continue?”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“Give me a moment, please,” Gina requested. “It’s hard to talk about what he did.”

“I understand.”

“It helps to think Tirek is doing to him what he did to me.” Gina sneered.

Gina lay curled up at the foot of her master’s bed after her master finally finished, still covered in their various fluids. The sound of water barely registered as she wallowed in shame. It was a strange feeling for her. She couldn’t say why she always felt that way after... whatever that actually was, but she did all the same.

Still, it was a familiar routine. It was the same every time this happened. However, something caught her attention, this time.

The large, open window stood with its curtain pulled wide open, as usual. The countryside was bathed in the soft colors of twilight.

However, she could have sworn she saw something glimmer in the fading light, like the waves of heat that rise from the stone in summer, only in a shape.

The door to the bathroom opened, taking her attention as her master walked back in.

“Go wash yourself,” he said. “I don’t want a cum stained who-”

He never could finish what he was going to say, as the picture window beside him exploded, glass spraying around them.

In a blur of motion, figures darted in. A flurry of feathers and fur was all Gina saw as her master was slammed into the wall. All she could do was cower and shrink in on herself in hopes they wouldn’t see her.

“Secure the griffin,” someone ordered.

One of the figures moved toward her. The dark figure loomed over her. In her fear fueled panic, she lashed out, talons swiping at the dark monster.

The creature reeled back and Gina took the opportunity to make a break for it. She rushed for the door, ripping it open and tearing into the hall before the monsters could respond.

All around, the sounds of shouting and breaking could be heard. More of those dark creatures swarmed the halls, tackling her master’s servants and workers.

“Hey!” the creature shouted, still chasing her.

She quickly darted around a corner and slammed into the nearest door. The ground gave way and she found the world spinning as she tumbled down some stairs.

She hit the ground, but didn’t stop, bouncing into a gate not unlike the one in her kennel, breaking it inward.

As her senses slowly came back to her, she heard a strange sound. It was like a low, deep... growling.

Her eyes shot open to see one of her masters other pets glaring down from its perch. Its orange fur and black stripes made it a beautiful creature, yet she already knew how scary they could really be.

Its haunches tensed but before it could pounce, a bolt of green slapped into its side, causing it to flench before its attention was quickly drawn behind her.

Gina looked to see the monster from before, pointing something at the striped cat.

“Stay down, kid,” the black monster commanded.

The big cat rushed past Gina, shrugging off another bolt from the device in the black monsters grip.

The black one tried to leap out of the way, but the cat’s jaws clamped down on its shoulders and began shaking it around until it ripped the flesh from its body, sending the monster flying.

Gina could only watch in terror as the cat spat out the monster’s black hide and turned back toward her.

It stalked toward her, only to be stopped again by a rage filled battlecry as the monster launched itself at the cat, hooves flying, striking at its head and face.

“Leave her alone!” the monster cried.

The cat turned back to the monster, claws swinging, catching it along the head, knocking its head clean off.

Gina flinched, not wanting to see, but another cry from the monster had her look anyway. Instead of the mangled, headless corpse she expected, she saw the head of a pony quickly ducking under another swipe.

Gina gawked at the sight. The monster that attacked her was a pony... and he was protecting her?

Another swipe of the cat’s claw tore away the rest of the black flesh of its body to reveal red fur beneath. The force knocked the pony off balance. There was no way for him to avoid the next attack.

A powerful swipe from the massive cat tore a gouge across the pony’s barrel. Gina flinched as her face was splashed with drops of blood.

The cat stood over its vanquished foe, ready to deliver the final blow, when a barrage of green bolts slammed into it, sending it flying into the wall and crumpling to the floor, unconscious.

Gina looked up as three more monsters rushed down the stairs, ripping off their not-heads, her heart still pounding in her chest.

“Medic!” One of the yelled. “Burning Trail’s down! Get someone here, now!”

One of the others ran to Gina’s side. “Are you okay? Look at me. Take deep, slow breaths.”

Despite his words, Gina felt like she couldn’t breath.

“She’s hyperventilating! Calm her down before...”

Gina didn’t hear the rest as the world fell away.

Gina’s mind was a maelstrom of thought, trying to piece together what has happened just the night before and this morning.

First, ponies dressed as monsters attacked her master and his servants, then they saved her, then they took her from her home, then they treated her injuries.

In all, she didn’t know what to think about them, but according to the pony in the white hat, someone would be coming soon to speak to her. She would find out what they had in store for her when they did.

It wasn’t a comforting thought.

Sure enough, a pony came in, a mare with a lime green coat and light brown mane.

“Hello, I’m Mellow Spring,” the pony introduced herself. “And what’s your name?”

Gina looked at the mare in confusion. Why was she speaking to her like a pony? Did she actually expect Gina to speak?”

“Can you tell me your name?” the mare asked.

Gina swallowed. She was asking her to speak, but that wasn’t allowed. She would get beat if she did. But, no one ever asked her to speak, so maybe it was okay.

“G... Gina,” Gina said and winced, bracing for a blow.

“Why did you flinch?” the mare asked. “Were you expecting me to yell at you?”

Gina shook her head.

“Hit you?”

Gina slowly nodded.

Mellow looked sad at that. “You have nothing to fear. No one will hit you here.”

Gina looked at the mare in confusion. “Pets... don’t talk.”

Gina noticed a strange look cross the pony’s face for just the briefest of moments. It was too quick to be sure, but Gina almost thought it looked like anger.

“But you aren’t a pet, you’re a griffin,” the mare said.

Gina cocked her head, the word mulling about. “Griffin?”

She’d heard the word before. Was that really what she was?

“Yes, a griffin,” the mare repeated. “Griffins aren’t pets, they’re people, just like ponies.”

Gina, once again, just looked at the mare in confusion. Was she really suggesting she was the same as her master? That was impossible. Her master was everything. He was her entire reason for existing.

Which posed the question...

“Wh-where is... Master?” Gina asked.

The pony gave Gina a sympathetic look. “Your... master isn’t going to hurt you anymore. You’re safe with us.”

Gina’s brow furrowed in confusion. “B-but... Master is... everything.”

The pony frowned slightly. “Everything will be explained in due time. Right now, I was hoping you could tell me about your daily life. What do you normally do, every day?”

And so, Gina happily explained how her master gave her own pin, though the cats still got in, and even a cushion to sleep on, and how he’d walk her, and pet her, and sometimes give her a biscuit. She couldn’t figure out why the pony seemed more and more uncomfortable as she told told her how great her master was.

When she told her about her master using her body some nights, though, she seemed particularly disturbed. She didn’t exactly enjoy those moments, but her master did, and that made it fine.

So, why was this pony upset.

“Gina, dear,” Mellow began, speaking for the first time since Gina started telling her story. “I’m sorry, but that isn’t how a griffin is supposed to be treated.”

So, that was it. The pony was upset because Gina was being treated nicer than the other griffins.

“Don’t you worry, dear,” the pony said, getting to her hooves, “we’re going to set you up with a proper home.”

Gina, once again, found the pony’s words confusing. They just took her from a proper home. Now they were sending her back? Or were they sending her to a different one?

Gina spent two weeks in that place they called a ‘hospital’. According to the ponies it was where the sick and hurt went to get better, like a bigger version of her master’s... former master’s clinic. That had confused her, though, as she wasn’t sick or hurt, so why was she even there?

Eventually, she learned the reason was because she had to wait for her new master to heal. At least, she figured he was to be her new master.

When she finally saw who it was that was taking her, she understood why. It was the monster-pony that fought that big cat. He fought for her, so it only made sense that he would get her.

They said his name was Burning Trail and that was going to ‘foster’ her. She didn’t know what that meant, but by the way the nurse said it, it couldn’t have been bad. Or, at least, she hoped not.

Finally, though, after those two weeks, she was heading to her new master’s home.

“How are you feeling, Gina?” her new master asked, still sporting a bandage across his barrel.

“F-fine,” Gina replied.

She was still getting used to speaking. Heck, she was still getting used to the idea that her new master actually wanted her to speak. Still, she had to admit, it felt nice.

“Are you nervous?”

“For what?” Gina asked, cocking her head.

“Well, you’re about to meet my wife and son,” he said. “They’ve been excited, ever since I told them about you.”

Gina dwelled on this as she turned to look out the window of their carriage. ‘Wife’ and ‘son’ were words she was only slightly familiar with. She had heard some of her former master’s friends mentioning they had those, and even saw one of them refer to another pony as their ‘wife’. They also would brag about their ‘son’s’ accomplishments, so she figured they were ponies. She wasn’t quite sure what it really was, though. She figured a ‘wife’ was some kind of very close friend, and a ‘son’ was an apprentice of some sort.

So, he had a very close friend and an apprentice he wanted to show her off to. That would be easy enough.

As she gazed out the window, she took in the remarkable view. Even seeing them outside the window in her room for the past two weeks, the size and number of the buildings was mind boggling. But nothing compared to what came next.

As they came around a building, Gina’s eyes widened and her beak went slack as she laid eyes on the most wondrous sight she had ever seen.

Burning Trail smirked at her reaction. “Yeah, the palace has the effect on everyone the first time they see it. That’s where my wife works. She’s a secretary for the princess.”

‘Princess’. Another word she was familiar with but wasn’t sure what it meant. Whatever it was, her former master had hated it. If Burning Trail’s wife worked for this ‘princess’, maybe they were rivals.

Another thing to figure out later.

After a short while longer, they came to a stop in front of a rather small house. Well, small compared to her former master’s house. Compared to the houses she had seen on the way up, it was actually on the larger side.

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, a small form streaked out of the house with a cry of, “Dad!”

“Fire Wing!” shouted another voice, bringing the streak to a stop. “Your father is still recovering.”

“Oh, right, sorry.” Now that it was standing still, Gina could see that it was a small pony, slightly smaller than her; a ‘foal’ according to the nurse at the hospital.

“That’s okay,” Burning Trail said. “Now, come on, I have someone to introduce you to.”

He waved Gina over, and Gina took that as her cue. She walked toward them, head held high, strutting just as her former master taught her.

“What’s she doing?” the foal asked in confusion, causing Gina to stumble slightly.

“Gina, you don’t have to put on a show,” Burning Trail said, his tone taking on that strange worried, sad tone they take when she does something her master taught her that they want her to stop. “You don’t need to impress any of us. Just be yourself.”

The mare took a step forward, a smile on her face. “Well, aren’t you just the prettiest young griffin I’ve ever seen. My name is Shadow Veil, and this little ball of energy is our son, Fire Wing.”

Gina took a breath to settle her nerves and replied, “I-I’m Gina.”

Gina remembered seeing those two at the hospital. They were there almost every day. Still, regardless of what the nurse told her about thestrals, the mare’s fangs and eyes made her nervous.

“Why don’t you give her a tour while I finish up supper?” the thestral asked Burning Trail.

“Good idea, Wing, help your mother,” Burning Trail replied.

“Aww, but I want to give her a tour, too,” Fire Wind complained.

“You can get to know each other later,” Shadow Veil said. “Come on, you can set the table... and we can talk about a few things.”

He led Gina into the house. He showed her the living room, and the small reading room/library (he learned she didn’t know how to read and promised to fix that). They skipped the kitchen and dining room, for the moment, and went upstairs where he pointed out his and Shadow Viel’s room, their shared study, Fire Wing’s room, and the guest room.

Finally, they stopped in front of one last door. “And finally, you can guess who’s room this is.”

He opened the door to a small, sparsely decorated bedroom with a large bed by the far wall.

Burning Trail gave her a smile and said, “Well, go ahead, hop up on the bed.”

Gina staggered, slightly. It was time for that, again. She had to admit, a part of her had hoped she wouldn’t have to ever again, but she should have known better.

She steeled herself, hopped up on the bed, and presented herself for her new master.

“Wh-What are you doing?!” Burning Trail shouted in shock.

Gina whipped around, trembling slightly. What had she done wrong?”

Burning Trail groaned, swiping a hoof down his face, “Right, of course, the...” He looked up at her and sighed. “I’m sorry, I forgot... what you’ve been through. Look, I’m not going to force you to do that. No pony here will.”

Gina looked at him in confusion. “W-why tell me to... get on the bed?”

“Because it’s yours,” Burning Trail said.

Gina looked down at the bed, surprize clear on her face. “My... My bed? Th-thank you, master.”

Burning Trail recoiled, as if struck. “G-Gina, I’m not your master.”

Gina flinched. “Oh, I am sorry. Is Shadow Veil my master?”

“Of course not. No pony...” He sighed. “Look, you want to see your master? Follow me.”

Gina jumped down. She was really confused, now. She had been under the impression that he was her master.

She was even more confused when he led her into an empty bathroom attached to her bedroom.

“There she is,” Burning Trail said.

Gina looked confused as she looked at the mirror he was pointing at. “I don’t... understand.”

“Gina, your only master, now, is yourself,” Burning Trail explained. “Shadow and I will be here to help guide you, and teach you, but ultimately, you are your own master. You aren’t a pet, or a toy. You aren’t a slave. You are Gina, the young, beautiful griffin, and no one will ever be your master, but you.”

Gina could only stare at herself as his words sank in. Could it really be true? Was it even possible? But, if she had no master, how would she know what to do?

He already answered that last one, though. He would teach her.

He was letter her live there, to feed her, and teach her things even though he wasn’t her master?

That kind of kindness and generosity actually existed?

Was she really always meant to be their equal? Was she never meant to be a pet? But, that would mean everything her master said and did...

She didn’t know when the tears started, or when she grabbed onto Burning Trail.

What she did know, what that he stayed with her, letting her cry into his fur for as long as she wanted.

Gina wiped away a tear. “I could never put into words how grateful I am to Burning Trail. He... He didn’t just save my life, he gave me my life. I could live a thousand years and still would never even come close to repaying what he gave me.”

Doctor Heart smiled. “Yes, many beings owe him. However, I think seeing you take that life he gave you and make the most of it will be all the payment he could ever want.”

“Thanks, doctor,” Gena replied.

“Well, unfortunately, it seems our time is up,” Doctor Heart said, putting away his notepad.

“Oh, I guess it is,” Gina said, seeing that they had really gone over it by quite a few minutes. “Do... do you think we could meet again?”

The doctor nodded, “Of course. It would be my pleasure. Perhaps we can talk about how you adjusted to life in Equestria?”

“I would like that,” Gina said.

“Oh, and Miss Gina,” the doctor said, pausing momentarily. “Have you ever thought about writing an autobiography?”

“Not a chance, Doc,” Gina said with a chuckle.