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

You squeeze your friend as hard as you can. It takes a moment but she wraps her forehooves around you and return the favor, burying her chin in the crook of your neck.

"I'm so sorry Rarity. I didn't know."

"*Sniff* It's alright. I made peace with it long ago, this just brought up some old memories." She gently pushes you away and wipes an eye with her hoof.

"This isn't a world a foal should be brought into Twilight. If you'd just seen the things I've seen you would understand. Having a foal should be a wonderful experience full of happiness and joy, not terror as it's torn from your hooves. They deserve to grow up happy and free, not slaving away by day and brainwashed by night."

"But still it's wrong to decide that for ponies! What about when slavery ends? This isn't something you can undo!"

Sighing Rarity turns to look out the window at the city below. "This isn't ending darling. As much as we might want it to, this is here to stay. You would know better than me how little is left of the Equestria we knew."

She's right about that. You'd run for years before they'd caught you. You'd seen the ruins that remain, and it's not much to go back to.

"Even if that's true, just because things can't go back doesn't mean things can't get better..."

She turns to brush your cheek with a hoof and a sad smile. "You're an optimist Twilight, but sometimes you need to be a realist as well. I don't doubt sometime in the future this might all be an ugly blotch on history, but not in our lifetime. The few humans who care about our rights don't even bother fighting for freedom yet. Right now they push for laws to ensure more human treatment, babysteps as it were."

She's right about that too and even those groups are small and insignificant.

"You just need to find someplace safe darling. Come be mine. If we can convince Anon to give you up you'll be part of my personal stock. I've bought all my personal mares from the company so it was too late for them; but there no reason for you to be fixed if you come straight to me. I can protect you."

You want to say yes. You really really want to be part of Rarity's 'stock' and that gave you a lot of conflicting feelings. If what she's saying is true you wouldn't even have to face your newly found fear. You'd never thought about foals in a place like this, but you don't want the opportunity taken from you either.

Would Anon give you up though? He'd said you could discuss it if you were still unhappy, but only if Rarity offered a reasonable price.

Price, if she wanted you so bad now then why had she tried so little the first time? You don't consider yourself prideful but it kinda hurt a little remembering how little she'd been willing to offer. Was that why it had upset you so much? Because it seemed she didn't care? Like she didn't value you.

"I... I'm not sure. It would never be like old times would it?"

"No, no it wouldn't. I'm a different mare than the one you knew Twilight; changes both physical and mental mean things will never be quite the same."

That's true actually. The lack of the estrogen she used to possess could have considerable consequences to her personality. Biology isn't exactly your chosen field, but you think that might also explain her lack of empathy and intense mood swings.

"I do want to help you, but you're correct, I'd have expectations as well."

Oh boy here it comes.

"We're still friends darling I promise you that, but if I come into possession of you it's not going to be like Ponyville. We can still have fun when appropriate, but I will expect obedience from you. Probably more than Anon ever demanded. No backtalk, no dilly dallying, no disrespect and no 'Rarity'. It really will have to be mistress." Leaning into a nuzzle she breathes the last part quietly.

"But i'll still love you like always." She pulls back with a genuine smile. "I really have missed you, but I want the choice to be yours. Think about it."

That's a lot to think about...

"Now if you'll excuse me, my makeup is a mess! Ugh, I have a meeting in 30 minutes, and I'm back to square one! Azalea will be about to escort you to the labs. I'll check in on you soon, I'm confident it's nothing you can't handle! Ta ta for now!"

You watch as your friend canters in a panic searching for someone named 'Lilly' to help her with her makeup disaster.

She's still there. When you'd seen the element you were convinced that the the mare you knew was gone; but you were wrong. She's still there, battered bruised and changed but she's still Rarity. Damaged and twisted like her element, but maybe just in need of a helping hoof. You still didn't agree with her on a few matters, and her new strict and explosive personality scared you a little, but that was no reason to give up.

A true true friend helps a friend in need after all.

With the big mare gone you take a moment to poke around the penthouse. The views from all the gigantic windows are amazing, you can only imagine waking up to the city stretched out beneath you every morning!

It actually reminds you of the royal palace, but that's something you don't need to think about right now.

Turning another corner brings you snout to snout with Azalea. The two of you exchange the usual greetings and soon enough your riding the elevators back down to the labs. You're much less nervous about the about work now than you were last night. Rarity knows your magic better than most, so you're sure she wouldn't put you up to anything you couldn't handle.

"So how was breakfast with the big boss?" Sounds like Azalea's curious.

"It was good, that cherry mare is a great cook."

"Her food's great, but the rumor is you made mistress cry!"
Did Cherry hear and tell the others? You're pretty sure Rarity wouldn't appreciate knowing rumors were spread behind her back, but should you tell her? She's just so *shudder* strict.

Either way you aren't sure how much the other mares know of Rarity's past and you don't plan on telling them without her permission.

"It was just some personal stuff. Nothing important."

The other mare doesn't want to take 'no' for an answer. "Aw come on we never get gossip about mistress. I can't remember ever seeing her cry!"

"I'm sorry, I really don't think it's my place to talk about."

"Fine but the rumors are gonna spread. There's finally someone that can get through her rocky exterior."

The elevator dings for your floor and Azalea escorts you down a few halls to a lab.

Oh sweet celestia what a lab it is! Look at all that equipment! Earth and equestrian tech litter the lab in abundance, it's beautiful! Your enthusiasm is sadly short lived as the researchers are eager to start.

All in all it goes even better than you'd expected.

They took off your normal horn ring first, anon must have transferred control from his phone to Rarity's at some point. After that it was a simple matter of putting on a ring and being told to try and break it. You were nervous at first, but after destroying the 4th one in a row feel quite a bit more confident. Some of the researchers start to give you a strange look so that's gratifying too.

You wonder if they're worried about containment should you go on a magical rampage. You wonder if you should. Lucky for them fighting and running lost their spark for you years ago so you play nice.

Before you know it you're already done for the day. With the last test complete you trot past the blast proof glass to find not Azalea waiting for you but Rarity. "I told you you would knock their socks off dear. They'll have enough data to analyze for some time. What do you say to some dinner?"

Magic does work up an appetite.

Riding back up, Rarity gives you a lopsided smile. "I apologize in advance. I wish we could go somewhere nice, but I've found most places are a bit pony averse. Not to worry though Cherry is sure to whip us up something tasty."

Well She not wrong about that! The daffodil soup is amazing! It reminded you of happier simpler times.

"Rarity there is no way any human restaurant has food like that."

"Well I'm quite glad you enjoyed it. Speaking of humans though, have you given any more thought to what we discussed this morning?"

"Uhh, a little."

She giggles a little. "You know I have to give you back soon darling. As much as I'd love to keep you forever, if you want this then you need to decide ."

"I know I know. Can I just sleep on it?"

"Of course, I still have you till the day after tomorrow even though you actually finished all the testing today. Everyone was most impressed by the way."

That makes you smile! Compliments were hard to come by nowadays!

"I tell you what, why don't we just hang out tonight? just the two of us, we can watch a movie."

You giggle, "I did kind of want to see that giant TV in action."

"Wonderful I'll even let you pick it, come along."

You ended up watching some sci fi movie called 'Arrival'. It's kinda funny that the movie's about how humans would peacefully interact with aliens when when reality turned out so much different. Then again in the movie they were the weaker species...

Nevertheless it's a good movie, you found yourself imagining how you'd have reacted in the same situation. Rarity seems... less into sci-fi. She spent half the movie asking you questions because she'd zone out, but you didn't mind. It felt like old times, snuggled up against your friend just hanging out.

By the time the movie ends though your eyelids are heavy. Work must have taken more out of you than you realized.

"Uh oh, is my little pony sleepy?"

"No no, I'm up I'm up..."

Poking your downed head with her muzzle, she challenges the truth of the statement. "Yes clearly you're wide awake, come here."

She picks you up in her magic. Why does everyone always insist on picking you up? You're too tired to protest though, you instead curl in on yourself and close your tired eyes.

"Did you have a good day Twilight?"

"mhmmm."

"What about Azalea, was she nice to you?"

"mhmmm. asked about this morning... me and you..." So sleepy...

"Oh gossiping about my little breakdown this morning hmm?"

"mhmmm.

"I see..."

Holy crap the bed is soft! The size alone tell you this this isn't the same one you spent last night in. A weight beside you gives you hint of just who's it might be.

Wrapping her forehooves around you Rarity pulls her little spoon closer.Back when you girls had sleepovers rarity somehow always ended up being the big spoon to your little. The few extra inches she has on you on you result in a good comfy fit you have to admit.

ZZZ ponies shouldn't be made out of bananas ZZZ Discord will never fit into that dress ZZZ

SMACK!

Ugh. awake. no. why. The warm forelegs are gone, why are the warm forelegs gone?

"Going to do it again, hmmm?!" Is someone yelling?

"If you girls want to spread rumors then I'll give you something to gossip about!"

"Mistress I'm sorry, please!"

Buck!
You're in Rarity's room but she's not! There's yelling coming from the other side of the building where Azalea and the other mares rooms are.

Crap crap crap is this your fault? You'd told her about what Azalea said in your sleep deprived state! The more you listen the more your heart sinks!

CRACK!

You know the sound of something meeting pony flesh all too well! It's not frenzied or insanely loud like your lessons tend to be, but it doesn't sound fun either.

"You're lucky! I'm in! a good! mood!"

"Ow ow ow, I'm sorry mistress I'm sorry!"

I-is everyone going hate you now? No one likes a rat.

"As you should be! Off to bed with you, now! I expect everypony to remember this lesson! Do you all hear?! No spying, no gossiping and no lollygagging!"

WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK!

"Yes mistress!"

No wonder Rarity was glad to hear how Anon handled you. She's the exact same way! You aren't exactly sure you'd call what you're heard a true beating, you're pretty sure you've had worse, but you still feel awful!

You didn't want to get anyone in trouble! Now you're the favorite and the tattletale!

Your ear twitches as hoof steps approach the bedroom.

"Bunch of immature little fillies..."

Was she trying to hide their discipline from you? She did wait until you went to bed. You'd rather not test your luck, so you do your best to pretend to be asleep as she slips back into the room.

You try to act casual as she once again claims you as her little spoon. You just barely hear her whisper to herself as she tucks your head beneath her chin. "At least someone's still asleep..."

Yeah asleep, totally. Don't panic don't panic; just relax and pretend be asleep.

If you aren't will you be in trouble too? No, that's silly, but any feelings of from safety from earlier are now replaced with ones of fear. She'd just beat a pony with these hooves and now they are wrapped around you in a tight embrace. Just what would it take to set her off to turn those hooves on you? Just how safe were you? She'd promised to protect you but does that include from her self? It's a long uneasy night.