"Staying out of trouble" ~ A helpful guide by Twilight Sparkle

Okkkkay, 'Don't cross mistress', that's not dramatic in the least.

"I wasn't really planning on crossing her... Is it really that bad here?"

Rolling upright, the mare scratches her chin with a spare hoof. "I guess it depends. Mistress isn't outright cruel or sadistic like a lot of humans. But the trouble for most starts when they expect her to be a pony first and a master second."

That's pretty in line with your experience so far. You'd expected your friend, and that wasn't totally gone. But what you'd found was much much more.

Does she feel she has to earn her place among the humans by displaying a firm hoof? Is this simply what she experienced herself in the past so she's emulating it? From what you knew of her last master he seemed kind. Must be since he freed her at the end; but for all you knew she had others masters before him that were different.

"I'll try to remember that. We already had a slight uh disagreement..."

That gets Azalea's ears perked. "Oh crap, I hope it wasn't bad!"

"I'm just not so good with doctors..."

"Wait she went with you for your exam?"

Oh yeah that's probably not the norm for a random new hire. No real way to explaining that away without just telling her your past relationship with Rarity. What would it really hurt anyway? "Yeah I actually know her from back in equestria. We were pretty close."

No need to make it a big deal, don't want to paint a target on your back.

"Oh. Maybe she'll cut you some slack then? You said you were just here temporarily right?"

"Yeah she said something about some high end horn ring testing?" he wince and ears flattening she gives you is far from encouraging. "Oh gosh don't do that? Is it bad?"

Shit now you're worried! She can't make you do something that could hurt you right. Technically you aren't hers to put at risk.

"Well I'm no unicorn, but they say it's beyond exhausting. They keep going through powerful ones because it wears them out sooner or later..." Ok a little ominous, but you've got a lot of magic. Trying to push a lesser unicorns to their limit for too long will definitely do that. Not to brag, but it's probably something you don't have to worry about with your mana reserves.

"I see. I think it's just a day or two though so I should be fine." You hope.

"Oh for that little yeah. That's really really short for a rental though."

"She's trying to buy, but he said no. I think it's just a babysteps kind of thing. Speaking of which what about the whole 'don't stay here' thing?"

"What they didn't mention it at your medical check up? Unless you've had it done already."

Oh. That. You must have suppressed that. It's got that whole 'being too horrible too imagine' thing going on for it. "I was kinda hoping I'd imagined that..."

"No it's way way too real. Everypony that works here has it. It's supposed to make us more manageable; less hormones or something and no down time for estrus. But in the end it's just the icing on the cake, taking away any chance for future happiness..."

Buck how could anyone do that? Because it wasn't enough to take your present freedom, we have to take your future freedoms as well. You're sure there some rationale about your future belonging to your owner too but that's bullshit.

"I... I'm really sorry to hear that. I can't even imagine."

"Thanks but I never wanted foals anyway, it hits some a lot worse. Life here isn't bad if you stay in line, but for most, your future is a horrible price to pay."

Well shit now you're even more depressed just imagining the anguish that must have caused. Rarity had insisted she didn't want to do it, that it was the price of keeping them 'safe'. You knew there were places worse than this a pony could end up in. Some places work ponies in insanely dangerous or cruel conditions, by comparison the actual work here isn't awful. It just comes with that one small price.

A beep on Azalea's hoof phone interrupts the conversation. "Sorry duty calls. I hate to leave you when you're just getting settled in, but what can I do."

Trotting over to you she throws a hoof over your shoulder, and starts pointing around the room. "Bathroom's there. Kitchen's there, help yourself. TV there, plenty of channels. And your bed there."

Simple enough. The room is basically a mini condo with fairly nice furnishings. It's got nothing on Rarity's immaculate interior decorating in her place, but it's nice nonetheless.

You offer Azalea your thanks and she flies out the door. Literally. Some owners are strict on pegasus, but you guess the high end collar she wore makes it ok.

You poke around the room for a bit checking everything out. You know what? That bed looks great actually. Further testing proves you to be correct. Despite the crazy early hour you find yourself unable to get up out of the soft comforter.

Still a little tired from the fight you put up at the check up, and a little sore, you soon pass out into a graceful pile of limbs.

ZZZZZZ...

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Holy shit turn that off. Commence wild limb waving around.exe. After a minute you remember you don't have an alarm that isn't named Anon, and that this alarm is across the room at another ponies bed.

She finally turns it off and rolls out of her bed towards the bathroom, one shower later and she's poking you. Why does everyone feel the need to poke you to wake you up? Can't they use words or something?

"mup emup, i'm up..."

"Sorry, but mistress usually gets an early start so you'll want to get ready." Hearing ponies call Rarity 'mistress' is hella weird, but she's right. You manage to drag yourself to the shower after only a few more minutes procrastinating.

When you return you find Azalea is gone and Rarity sitting on the couch in her place.

"I see your sleeping habits haven't changed much over the years. I'm glad Azalea got you moving I half expected to have to come in here and shake you awake myself."

You pop your neck and yawn, "I'm sorry, we aren't late are we?"

"Oh no no, I came to wake you up so we're actually early. Come along, we have time for an extra long breakfast now."

The two of you head out the door and back into Rarity's ridiculously luxurious loft. The expensive looking decor extends to the dining area she leads you to. Already covering the glass table is a wide selection of food ranging from fruits, to pastries, to various type of strudels.

Compared to your usual bowl of cereal it looks absolutely amazing! Floating an apple strudel that looks straight out of Sweet Apple Acres over you, open your muzzle wide for a much needed bite, only to catch Rarity watching you with a raised eyebrow.

It's a trap! She doesn't say anything, but you can tell she's judging your manners.

"Uhhh, may I?" She's still looking at you... "Mistress?"

She smiles and lightly pinches your cheek. "There's a good girl! You may!"

Always with the patronizing. Do you have a 'treat me like a foal' sign on your back somewhere? Whatever, foods good so you choose to not let it bother you. You've only manage to stuff one and a half apple based confectioneries in your muzzle what you didn't have dinner last night before a middle aged earth pony mare appears from the kitchen.

Holy crap is that pancakes?!?! Your eyes shine enough to make Rarity snicker. "I remembered how much you love pancakes, so I had Cherry Sweets whip you up a few."

The mare slides the plate off her back and in front of you with practised ease. "Ohhh thank you both!"

You're starving so you're sure no one judges you as you cram your face like crazy. You heard Rarity thank the mare as well but otherwise she silent as you inhaled the food. How long had it been since you'd had a good pancake? You're way too lazy to cook them yourselves so basically forever.

Leaning back in your seat after you'd finish you notice Rarity trying to hide her smirk behind a half eaten peach. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Cherry really is a marvelous cook."

"I haven't had pancakes that good since, well since spike..." Great there goes the good mood, hers too by the look of it.

"Yes I figured as much... The truth is I wanted to make yesterday up to you. I have high expectations, but it's not fair for me to push those on you so soon."

Which means it's just a matter of time until it is fair.

"I usually don't get involved with new hires, so I suppose I forgot how jarring things can be for the untrained."

untrained... That along gave you the shivers.

"But no harm was done. You passed your exam so we can get you started today as planned. I do apologize for yelling at you though."

"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to be difficult I just really don't like humans touching me like that."

"You really are a lucky filly Twilight. Many mares never got much of a choice in that matter."

"I guess I have been... But um just one question. Spaying?"

She visibly winces and looks the other way. "Yes I was afraid you'd pick up on that. The insurance insists on it. It's cost saving in the long run when you run the numbers vs the price of prenatal care combined with other contraceptive methods; and it has the added benefit of making the workforce more manageable. It's not... It's not pretty though."

"Rarity that's still monstrous, come on! You can't just let them take away ponies future joy!"

Her head snaps back towards you in an instant and you can tell she's not happy with the backtalk. "You think I don't know that? I'd love an alternative, but a more expensive insurance plan reduce the number of ponies I could keep here by a severe amount! You don't even know how bad it is out there in the seeder areas Twilight! Ever seen a breeder's facilities? Or worse yet a filly brothel? We try to pick up ponies that have already had it done as a cost saving measure on paper, but the reality is I am trying to protect them Twilight!"

Every voice in your head says to back away and bow your head but you have to remain strong this time!

"But but what about those who haven't had it done already? I can't even imagine how it must feel?"

"Oh you can't imagine?! I've worked here from the ground up Twilight! I wasn't always in charge, I started as a seamstress and let me promise you the policy hasn't changed since then!"

Policy hasn't changed? Oh no.

"Rarity did... did they...?"

She'd turned away from you to pace around the room during her speech but now her eyes snap back to yours.

She's crying.

"Yes Twilight I understand their pain very well! Do you want to see the scars? They're hard to see but they are there I assure you!"

What can you do?

What can you do but hug your crying friend.