The Walk

Strawberry’s eyes shoot open, her heart pounding against her chest feeling like it is going to explode. She shoots up right, immediately falling out of the bed. Her momentum of sitting up causes her to become dizzy, which was the reason for her falling out of the bed. As she tries to steady herself, she hits the floor; this causes a large bang which scares her, making her heart seem to skip a beat out of fear.

She looks round her small little room, confused as to why she is there and not tied down to that small table. She thought to herself “It can’t be a dream-it was too real to be just a dream. The feeling of his touch and the want… no, the need I felt for him after he brought me so close…. It can’t be a dream…………………….. but...I hope it was.”

She sighs as she rests her head on one of her fore hoof. Strangely to her as she opened and closed her jaw a small twinge of pain came from it. It felt as if she had helped it open too wide to bite into some meat, or to inject her venom into a rather large stallion. She shrugs, putting it down to sleeping funny.

After massaging her jaw a little, her ears flicker around, catching the noise of approaching hooves. She sits up as best as she can as she waits for the large metallic click and the opening of the door.

Augustus opens the door slowly, seeming as if he was struggling with something in his mouth. Unable to get a better look Strawberry stays put in her sitting position, which resembles that of a dog. After awkwardly opening the door and putting a tray down, Augustus does not say a word to Strawberry. He simply leaves the tray on the side before walking away.

On the tray was a large apple omelette and a large glass of water to accompany it. It is a slightly larger dinner than her usual meals with Augustus. She smiles up to him, although he is unable to see it as he is making his way out of the room.

Augustus smiles down to her as he leaves the room and turns before he leaves the room completely “You deserve this for yesterday.”

She looks up confused and she thinks to herself “Yesterday… did he mean agreeing to his demands of me becoming his pet… or was it that room.” She doesn't know, all she can think of is the food, her belly rumbles a little as she has no eaten for what she knows is at least two days.

She quickly dives into the plate, nearly pushing the entire omelette into her muzzle and washing it down with the water. If Augustus had seen, he did not react to her terrible manners. She smiles as the food hit her belly and she lets out a small moan of appreciation for the delicious omelette.

Augustus turns around hearing her soft moan and he smiles to her as he speaks, “Pet we are going out for a walk today. I want you to stay in your pony form for obvious reasons. If you don’t you will be killed by the guards on site and I will just play dumb saying you tricked me as Shinning Armour was.”

Strawberry reluctantly nods her head but does not speak. She walks over to him hinting for the collar to come off. Augustus grins looking to her “No, the collar stays on. It's to show that I own you and you are mine.” Strawberry lets out a small whimper, as she nodded slowly once more.

As Augustus and Strawberry walk through town Augustus smiles and greets ponies he knows, he seems happy and kind as he meets them. However, Berry stays silent- not wanting to make any connection with any pony, and due to her being consumed with the thought of the previous night and whether it was real or a dream. When a pony did come over to her she gave a very weak smile and said "hi" before she backing away behind Augustus, scared of making him mad and receiving punishment like in her dream.

“Strawberry” Her ears twitch and she turns to him as this was the first time he had spoken to her directly since they left the house. She looked over to him, his face back to an emotionless mask.

“Your job will be to serve me in any and everything I command, you will not question my commands. If you do, you will be punished. If I have guests over you will either stay in your room or you will help serve them as well. Understand this, you belong to me now. Your body and mind is mine to command and you only live to serve, as soon as you try to break away from serving me... your life will end.”

“Oh look here guards I found a changeling, oh what should I do? Should I just end her miserable life as a good Equestrian should, or should I hand her over? I dunno what to do with such a disobedient little runt !” He grips her collar once more, slamming her back against the wall he holds her against it. Her breath is hard but shallow, the cold grip of fear freezing her body like a statue. The fear mixing with her magic causes her to loose her pony form.

“No!” She began to beg once more “I beg you please don’t do this to me Augustus, I have not done anything wrong, please I-I will obey I will please…. just let me leave, please.” Tears run down her face as her eyes beg him for mercy, she wiggles under his gasp as she tries hard to get more air.

Augustus grins evily once more, he is not going to release her but he simply leans in so he can whisper to her, his muzzle only an inch away from hers. “You belong to me now, your place is below me and any who approach you. You are dirt…. no even dirt is above you, learn your place, do a good job and you will earn more luxuries. For now you are nothing, you have nothing, and you are mine. Your life before this was just a dream, forget it since there is no way you are going back!” With his last words he shouts in her face bringing the hoof which holds her back, taking her away from the wall before he drives his hoof back, slamming her against the wall.

Augustus laughs at her squeals of pain. He grips her collar forcing her up onto her feet as she cries from the pain. Putting her on her feet he forces her to change, still holding her collar so she can barely breath. After near enough dragging her through town, he throws her into her small room, he stops seeming normal for a few moments to make sure she is ok. As if he had seen a reflection, he slams the door shut leaving her without food and water for another night.

She curls in the corner broken, her howls of fear and upset easily heard through the walls- but Augustus seems not to be able to hear as he goes about his own business. She stays in the corner, wishing to go back to her homeland and the life she had before. She howls again as she breaks down in tears wanting her new master to at least be as kind as he had been when they had first met. She curls into a small ball in the corner, pulling a blanket over her she falls into the blackness of sleep, unable to dream. She is only able to focus on how they met and how he had saved her, even in her dreams the lie continues. She awakens looking round, she closes her eyes quickly trying to hide in her dreams once more. She can only think one thing “How did this happen to me…… and why me?”