From Farmer to Wizard

Sapience, it is defined by, "Awareness of Mind and Magic". It is universally agreed on, that all "truly Sapient" creatures have some kind of magic.

Ponies, Griffins, even Diamond Dogs, they all had magic coursing through them. Unicorns and Pegasi were the most obvious, but the races from all the other kingdoms, had some kind of magical potential as well.

Although, most of them couldn't tap into it, without use of a wand. Basically anything that could use a wand was considered "Sapient"... and there was a wand right there.

It was battered up, with more then a few bite marks on the handle, but there it was... a wand...

There were even a bunch of beginner spell books, for sale on how to use it. One for each of the 7 schools of spell casting, even some on magical crafts.

Rune and Enchantments would be good books to get, with the spell books. Oh! They even had a bunch of different books for potions (Novice level to Mastery). Applebloom would love those! It could be something they could do together, for years to come.

Big Mac grinned eagerly. He always loved it when the Saddle Aarabian merchants came into town. They had parked their small wagon in the middle of the market district and were encouraging ponies to look around inside. The thing had an impressive extension charm on it. Making the inside, the size of a warehouse despite the wagon's limited dimensions.

OOOOOOOO!!!! There was a scroll on how to make things bigger on the inside to!

Big Mac eagerly shoved the books, and a number of scrolls, into his metal shopping cart. Then gingerly put the chewed up wand on the seat.

Since he was a small colt, Big Mac had always wanted to learn magic. He had been saving for this for years. Now, thanks to his cut of this years Cider sales, he finally had enough money to get into the art of spell casting.

Sure it was a second hoof wand, but that just meant he could get more books for it... though the books were kinda beat up themselves... which meant he still had enough left over... for a familiar...

He grinned eagerly, as he pushed his cart towards the "Exotic Pet" aisle. There were all kinds of amazing creatures down this section. He didn't know which to pick!

These were all classified as "Intelligent Creatures". While not as intelligent as ponies, they are capable of basic reasoning skills. However, their Intelligence is actually a detriment.

They are not smart enough to build tools of their own, but their intelligence does cause them to constantly question their base instincts. This results in them not truly being able to fend for themselves. As such, the pony race has taken it on themselves, to care for them.

Most animals in Equestria are listed as "Intelligent Creatures".

"Lower Animals", such as fish and most bugs, are far too stupid to be considered "Intelligent creatures". As such they are often used as food for carnivores.

Even Pegasus are known to enjoy the occasional fish with no moral questioning. The winged ponies do need the extra protein from flying around all the time. It's not like Pegasi have an Earth Pony's magically enhanced endurance.

Big Mac suddenly frowned, as he saw a cow in this section.

Cows are tricky. Well they are capable of speech, they are listed as "Intelligent Creatures" and not actually any smarter then the rest of them. It's more of a "morally grey" area, but cows have proven in the past, that without Pony intervention, they could very well go extinct.

Then... then there were humans... Humans were brilliant. If anything they were actually smarter then ponies. However, as they had no magical abilities, they were listed as "Intelligent Creatures"... ponies tended to round them up, force them to breed, and take their children away to be sold as pets.

The humans that escaped this, lived in independent "tribes". Where they crafted weapons that were a match for pony magic... they were actually the race that invented "Firearms", which were almost immediately banned by Princess Celestia... not that the humans cared, and really who could blame them.

Humans needed their guns, to protect themselves from pony slavers... cause that's what the ponies who traded them were. Humans were too bucking smart for it to be anything other then slavery. The fact human "pets" were often used for sex (and various kinks no mare would agree to) hardly helped that image.

Now there weren't many humans in Equestria, just an occasional pack here or there. They only lived for 150 years at best, and that was only with the aid of pony medicine. Compared to a pony's 500 year lifespan, plus a hoof full of decades, they really were short lived creatures.

Ponies couldn't even bind them as a familiar, which allowed most "Intelligent Creatures" to live in their prime until their owner died (then the critter just dropped dead). The fact ponies couldn't do this with humans was further proof they were more then simple animals.

There were ancient fossils and relics, dating back millions of years, which suggested humans were once the dominant species on the planet (long before the pony tribes evolved). Regardless, because there were so few humans now, nopony thought there was a need to change the definition of "Sapient" just for them. They also wouldn't create a new category to classify them... nor even pass laws to protect them.

Nopony thought of how they were treated... not even Big Mac, truth be told... not until it affected him...

The red Stallion looked in one of the cages, at a barely grown "man". The human had very pale peach skin, a few freckles on his nose and cheeks, jet black hair (an uncommon color in ponies), and small bright blue eyes. He was quite the pretty boy, and "boy" was definitely a better word to describe him.

The sign said he was of a "ripe" age of 18... ponies weren't even considered adults until they were 30... yet this boy was tied up in bondage gear, with a ball gag in his mouth that was dripping with drool (indicating it had been in there for a long time), a chastity device on his small dick (at least compared to ponies. Big Mac wasn't sure if it was average for humans), and a plug up his flank.

The bondage forced the boy into an embarrassing position, which let Big Mac see EVERYTHING.

But even that wasn't the most disturbing thing... the boy had bruises... a lot of bruises and welts all over his body... even on his balls...

Big Mac gulped looking at this poor pitiful creature... he would probably be kept like this for the rest of his life. Used more as a sex toy, that can cry, then an actual pet... Big Mac continued to stare into the cage... and made a decision...

•

"Tarnation Big Mac!" Applejack exclaimed, as she saw him coming up the road of Sweet Apple Acres.

Big Mac was busy himself, harnessed into the wooden family cart, and pulling it to the nearby farm house.

He glared when AJ stopped him. She was just gaping over the near over flowing cart. It was absolutely filled with books, scrolls, cauldrons, crystals, and various other things he needed to start learning magic.

"You buy the whole store!" Applejack gaped.

Applebloom, who was out here tending her own garden by the corn, giggled a bit as well. After Applebloom got her cutie mark (a potion bottle with an apple coming out of the vapors) Grannie had set up a small patch of land for the filly to grow her magical plants. That way she could practice her talent of brewing potions. Grannie also hired Zecora as the filly's mentor, in exchange for some of the potion ingredients instead of bits.

Ignoring all that, Big Mac rolled his eyes at AJ, "Nope," he adamantly dismissed her 'wit'. He really wasn't in the mood.

Applebloom trotted over, so she could snoop into his stuff, "What's with all the dog toys?" She took note of the various chew toys, then spotted the giant bag of kibble... and then the large square box with a blanket on it.

The filly laughed, "Grannie is going to have your hide, when she learns you bought a pet, without asking her."

Big Mac immediately stopped, his eyes slowly widening until the open air stung them. GRANNIE, how could he have forgotten about Grannie!? She was going to be seriously peeved, when she learned, not only did Big Mac get a pet, but he brought a bucking human into her house, all without asking!

"What's this about a pet?" Grannie suddenly appeared, as if summoned by some dark god that liked bucking with Big Mac.

Truthfully she was just bringing snacks out to AJ, as the younger mare had skipped lunch to work out in the field... again... honestly Grannie's grandchildren needed to start taking better care of themselves. Grannie wasn't going to be around forever, to look after them.

Big Mac, unaware of Grannie's mental rant, gulped.

Grannie looked over at the cart, full of stuff, and sighed. Before sending a glare of utter disapproval at her grandson, "How much of your savings did you end up wasting on this new hobby?" she asked.

Big Mac couldn't help but fidget, feeling like a naughty colt that just spent his entire allowance on candy, "A lot..." he admitted.

Grannie sighed, her colt wasting his money like this, did nothing to smooth her concerns. "We'll circle back to that later," she promised, "Fur now let's take a look at this critter you got."

Big Mac hesitantly nodded. He unstrapped himself from the cart, and circled around to the back of it. He tenderly picked up the large "box", only needing one of his hooves. He was careful not to shake it, as he trotted back over to Grannie. Finally he put the box on the ground, in front of the family Apple Matriarch, before removing the blanket.

Grannie stared at the large box, and realized it was actually a much too small cage. The occupant had to curl itself in the fetal position, hugging it's legs, in order to fit.

The creature wasn't bound in bondage gear anymore, but he didn't need to be, with what little room he had in the traveling cage. The gag had also been removed... but the critter hadn't said a word, not since Big Mac bought him, and the Horses stuffed the boy in the tiny cage.

Applejack exclaimed, "YOU GOT A HUMAN!!!" completely missing the point.

Grannie didn't, "Looks like the critter has had it rough." she made note of all the bruises and welts. Then, the old Mare's eyes went to studying Big Mac.

The barely grown Stallion shifted uncomfortably, "I..." He tried to force himself to say, "I couldn't leave him there,"

Grannie continued to stare for a moment, then sighed. The colt really was so much like his mother, "such a bleeding heart," she muttered under her breath, before opening the cage door.

The human flinched, clearly feeling safer in the cage. They would have to buy a bigger one, that he actually fit in. That way the human could have his own 'Safe space' he could go if he was feeling stressed.

"Come on out little critter, let's have a look at ya," Grannie encouraged.

The human struggled a bit to move, but he obviously had lots of practice getting out of this tiny cage. When he stood in front of them, Big Mac was able to note that he was just a little smaller then AJ. The mare only had a few inches on him.

Grannie took note of the chastity cage on the human's dick, and said to Big Mac, "If yu'r gonna keep that on him, which ah highly suggest ya do, ya better milk his prostate at least once a week to relieve the build up."

Big Mac blushed, but nodded his understanding, "The horses gave me a bunch of stuff for his care." That stuff was actually a mandatory part of the purchase.

The horses said they couldn't legally sell exotic pets, without including a book on their care, as well as maintenance equipment (which humans had a lot of).

Big Mac had to buy the toys himself though. He let the human pick out a few he liked. Although the critter had just pointed at them, and not said anything then either. Big Mac was beginning to wonder if he was mute.

"Why you got to keep that metal thing on his wiener?" Applebloom innocently asked.

Grannie explained, "Humans have an over active libido. It's just unseemly to see them walking around with erections all the time."

The human continued to stand there at attention. Although he did break out into a blush, as that little tidbit was explained to the foal.

"We best do something about these bruises," Grannie frowned, "Wouldn't do for folks to think WE put him through that." She looked over at Applebloom, "You got any potions that will help?"

The barely teenage filly shook her head, "Potions don't work like that. The reason all magical beings can use them, is because they work with a creature's own internal magic, to effect their biology. Humans don't have magic, so they don't do anything, just taste bad...

"I can try an ointment, I guess. Those cause direct healing through chemical changes in the body, instead of through the magical pathways... but they aren't very effective.

"It will take 13 hours to fully heal all the bruises, plus an hour just to make it. I got the ingredients but I don't keep any of the actual ointments on hoof,"

"You best start," Grannie advised, "We need first aid supplies in case he gets hurt or sick,"

Applebloom sighed, "That's easier said then done, Grannie. Each ointment needs to be tuned directly to the species it's used for. I'll need to collect a lot of his blood, so I can add a drop to each batch."

The human stiffened.

Applebloom immediately assured, "It won't hurt. It's no different then donating blood at a blood bank."

Big Mac rolled his eyes, like a domesticated human would ever have been put through that. "We best take him to the vet for that."

"Tomorrow," Grannie insisted. "After he's healed up."

"On it!" Applebloom saluted, then galloped back over to her garden, to gather the ingredients.

Grannie rolled her eyes, at the fillies antics. Before looking back at Big Mac. "I'll go into town and make an appointment with the vet. We need to have him fully checked out and add him to their files... did you buy him a bed?"

"I got two for larger dogs, and figured that will work," Big Mac shrugged.

Grannie blinked, "Why two?"

"One for the living room and one for my room," Big Mac shrugged again.

Grannie nodded, "Good thinking, but he'll probably want to sleep in your bed, once he gets used to ya." She looked back at the cart, "Unpack all your magic stuff in the upper floor of the barn. You can share Applebloom's lab."

"Thanks Grannie," Big Mac smiled, this would be a perfect way to bond with Applebloom.

Grannie waved it off, "If ya need bookcases, or furniture, just take 'em out of the shed out back. Be careful with it, most of that stuff was yer Great Grandfathers."

"Eeyup," Big Mac nodded his understanding.

Grannie's eyes turned back at the human, still standing at attention. "Don't you talk?"

The human flushed, "Yes Mistress, but-" he instantly stopped, looking worried.

Grannie raised an eyebrow, "But what?"

"I'm only supposed to answer direct questions, Mistress," He spoke clearly, but somehow his voice sounded overly shy, submissive?

"Call me Grannie. Ma'am or Apple Matriarch, if yu'r feeling more formal," Grannie corrected, "Mistress makes me sound like Ahm some kind of sex deviant,"

"Yes Mis- Apple Matriarch," The boy quickly corrected himself.

Grannie smiled, and ruffled his hair with a hoof. "Good boy" the kid looked absolutely ecstatic at the small praise. Grannie went on, "Ya know all those rules ya were trained with."

"Yes Apple Matriarch!" The boy practically swore by them.

"Forget them," Grannie informed.

The human tilted his head and gave a VERY confused look.

"We're your owners now, right?"

The boy adamantly nodded, "Yes Apple Matriarch,"

"So that means we make the rules, right?"

A more hesitant nod from the human, "Y-yes A-Apple Matriarch..."

Grannie gave a nod of her own, "One of your new rules is, if ya want to say something ya say it, unless specifically told to be quiet. Ya won't be punished unless yer comments are rude, disrespectful, or use bad language. That sound fair?"

The boy gulped, clearly not knowing what to say.

Grannie sighed, "Ahm not trying to trick ya. This ain't some kind of test. Ahm 517 years old. Ah've raised dozens of foals over the centuries. Ahm used to constant chatter going on throughout the house. A quiet and meek boy, too scared to speak, is something Ah don't know how to deal with. Think ya can help an old mare out?"

The boy hesitantly nodded, "Y-yes Ma'am."

"Good boy," She ruffled his mane again.

The boy blushed again, but however uncertain, he looked he still leaned his head in, to accept the pets.

"We'll go over the other rules, once Ah get back," Grannie smiled. "For now, help your new Master unpack his magic gear, and put yer new stuff in a corner in the kitchen."

Big Mac tilted his head, "Kitchen?"

Grannie dismissed, "We're in there more often then the living room. It would help him feel more like family,"

All of a sudden, the old mare glared at Big Mac, and spoke with stern authority. "Humans are a lot weaker then ponies. Weaker even then unicorns. DO NOT STRAIN HIM. If he looks like he is struggling to carry something, don't let him carry it. He will hurt himself.

"Encourage him to take breaks every hour, and spray him down with the hose, when your finished moving everything into the lab.

"Humans have something called 'Sweat Glands'. Which makes stinky water leak out of their pours, when they exert themselves, or get hot. I don't want him in the house when he's like that... and keep him off the furniture. Don't need him sweating on the couch," ... that sounded... pretty gross...

"Eeyup," Big Mac nodded his understanding.

"You get a tag for him?" Grannie asked, "Name him yet?"

"eeee- nope," Big Mac shook his head, "Got a collar, with a tag, but that just says our address."

Grannie nodded, "Unpack his stuff first and put the collar on him. We'll have a family meeting to discuss names later. "As she turned she called, "Come along Applejack. I'll need your help in town," as the old mare began to walk off.

"Sure thing, Grannie!" AJ called. The younger mare took a moment to ruffle the boy's mane, before heading off herself.

Big Mac gave the human an affectionate nudge, "Come on little guy. We need to get everything unpacked before Grannie gets back."