Captive

...

Suddenly you're awakened from your slumber by a screech of the old door opening. Some pony entered with another human to leash him in, two more ponies came to retrieve theirs… and then there's your colorful, not exactly ladylike, mistress.

"We're here?" you raise your head.

"Nope. But Fluttershy bought you a ticket to a regular wagon for the rest of a ride, so that you won't have to stink in here."

Which attracted the attention of a few humans around you that weren’t too chatty before:

"Ponyboy...."

"Converted..." one of them even spits your direction.

At first you wanted to defend yourself, tell them that it’s not the way it looks like or just tell them to fuck off. But you swallowed the words in the end. Sometimes the silence is golden.

To be completely honest with yourself, you’re actually kinda glad that you won't have to "stink in there", with the others. They’re probably assholes anyway.

Upon entering the new wagon, you're given a few equally negative looks from ponies inside. None of them said a thing though. Even if they did, it wouldn’t really trouble you. Couldn’t care less about their opinion.

Rainbow Dash that led you here eventually sits down on one of the benches, next to the window. Fluttershy is sitting on the opposite one, leaning on the glass on her left.

"Hey there..." she murmurs, barely awake.

"Um, hi...."

For a second you're wondering where you should sit, whether next to her, or the mare that has you on a leash. To be honest, you'd prefer the sleepy yellow one, but..

"..Come sit here." you're feeling a soft pull on your collar, just when you were about to choose. So you reluctantly sit with Rainbow Dash instead.

"So..." you cough.

"We're about halfway there."

"And where is it, this ‘there’."

"Oh you'll see." she chuckles "I'm sure you'll like it. Can't imagine anypony who wouldn't."

"I'm not exactly a pony to begin with."

"Yeap, right. Any creature that is." she yawns, giving you an unusually goodhearted smile before slouching in her seat and closing her eyes.

In less than a minute, she’s dozing off next to you, only occasionally humming something to herself in her sleep… The mare may not have been showing it before but she must be really tired, same if not more than her friend. She's still tightly holding the leash in her hooves though, trying to leave would wake her up. But it's not as if you had anywhere to run on the moving train anyway.

So you're just sitting there in silence, thinking and watching the land outside. It feels like you’ve slept enough already.

...It's still a little surprising they let you in here though. If you really did turn out to be a violent one, you could just snap her neck right now, grab that strange bat from her baggage and go on a rampage on the relatively defenseless ponies around. Surely none of them are soldiers.

Except... things like that aren’t exactly in your nature. You didn't even kill the wasp that flew into your cage last week.

It feels like the yellow one maybe really could tell that from you,.. maybe she's smarter than she looks… or not. Maybe she’s just really naive, thinking you’re actually a "tamed specimen", ready to be shaped by his masters. It would make your escape a lot easier.

At some point, Rainbow's head falls over the headrest behind her as the sleep took her over completely. ...And she's starting to snore, thanks to this position

Jeez...

It’s even loud enough to wake Fluttershy up, sitting opposite of her and you.

The pegasus very softly clicks her tongue upon opening her eyes, blinking and sleepily looking around a few times. She lets out a gentle chuckle when she sees the cause of her disturbance. Then her eyes focus on you.

"Such a well behaved boy..."

Can’t say for sure where exactly ponies got the idea of treating you like animals in the first place. But the thing is,... a lot of people you've seen already were like animals inside their heads long before that. Maybe what happened was just the last little nudge.

When you forcefully whisk a “modern” person out of his consumer lifestyle, strip him of his made up place he had in the failing society, take his false pride and humiliate his ego… the monky emerges. Just like it sometimes did with you, back at the Goldbeak’s shop.

Can’t help but wonder just how many literally went nuts because of this...

"What is it?" Fluttershy notices you chuckling over your own thoughts.

"Um, nothing.... But uh,... hey I wanted to say thanks for letting me here." you somewhat meekly eye away from her, watching the mountains behind the window glass while pretending that you can’t even see the snoring pegasus next to you.

"...What do you mean?"

"Well,.. you bought me a seat here, didn't you?"

"I didn't.... I mean, I don't mind you here at all. But I didn't buy the seat. Dashie did. She said it looks way worse than she thought it would be in the wagon for humans."

"She..?" you indicate with your head towards the rainbow slumberer, right now making sounds resembling a heavy impact drill from very far away "...She doesn't really seem like a type that would care about that... or anything else besides herself."

"Oh, but she does care!.. Even if she doesn't always have a way to show it." Fluttershy smiles empathically towards her friend ".....She's the best friend anycreature could ask for."

"Wish I could see that too." you scoff.

"I'm sure you will." she smiles again but then her cheery expression fades a little "...Poor Dash didn't take her loss too well. She gets lonely at home now."

"What kind of loss?"

"Her pet tortoise..."

".....Seriously...? I am a replacement,.. for a turtle?"

"Tortoise.” Fluttershy corrects you with an important frown “And I know it sounds strange when you put it this way.... But she really did love him and now the house just feels empty for her."

"Yeah, but there's a little difference between a human and a turtl-ehm, tortoise. We aren't exactly a pet material, just because we get sold like one. Can’t tame a man that easily."

"I...kind of think she likes that about you."

"So she's really a closet dominatrix...."

"T-that's not what I meant. O-of course there are stories about human s-sexual e-endurance but she's just looking for a new friend..."

Uh huh, so she does know about humans being used this way, even though she pretended not to have a slightest idea before.

Wonder what more did they lie to you about. Your stomach suddenly feels a little heavy…

You have to get away from these horses as soon as possible. Otherwise the rainbow one's gonna take delight in breaking you.

"Are you okay..? You look a little pale right now. Do you want some water?" Fluttershy notices your sudden change of colour.

And as much as you hate to, you take the bottle she's offering to have a few gulps. Hopefully it’ll help a bit.

"Better?"

No.

"Yeah I'm okay..." you're forcing a smile that probably looks more crooked than you’d like it to be.

"Are you sure? Do you need anything?"

Right now, you need a fucking zeppellin and GTFO outta here. That or a nice round hole in the head.

"Nah, that's fine."

But at the same time, your eyes land on an unfinished cheese baguette in Fluttershy's opened saddlebag, laying next to her.

"Oh you must be hungry! Do you like these things?"

To be honest, nowadays you like anything that's edible and isn't pre-digested.

"You can have that.” she's already handing it to you “Come on, don't be shy."

...Says the right one.

But you don’t really hesitate to take it and start stuffing yourself.

"There there,.." the mare is chuckling, seeing your appetite.

You don't even care that you look like an animal right now, munching fiercely on your snack. It’s almost making you forget about your fears for a while, as well about the snoring horse next to you.

You haven't had proper food for as long as you were locked up and this is fucking delicious, better than any baguette you had in the peak of a human civilisation.

"Thank you Lord." you groan once you're done with it.

There's only a paper wrap left in your hands, which you throw away in the bin.

"Wow! I didn't think you're this civilized."

Can’t say whether you should feel good about a compliment or get insulted by the human standards falling so low. But you end up not commenting on either.

For a moment the stress is gone, letting you think clearly about your hopes for the future. Maybe there's some miracle chance you'll make it out. As long as you breathe, there’s a chance.

In the meanwhile, when Fluttershy sees you're doing better, she slowly closes her eyes, about to take another nap.

You might as well do the same thing, it’s not as if there’s anything else to do on this train and you had enough of landscapes for the time being. So you shut your eyelids, about to relax...

....

...But the damn snoring next to you is really hard to ignore.

For a few minutes you're trying to pretend you can't hear it but the more you try, the louder it feels. Eventually, you open your eyes again, blankly staring out the window.

You can feel a disdain, slowly building up inside you towards the mare on your left, wishing you could just slap her awake and tell her she’s worse than a damn V8 engine…

Suddenly the train takes a sharp turn in higher speed than usual, making her body roll over onto yours and out of nowhere, her snoring just magically stops, turning into mere gentle and calm breaths

...What a turnaround, honestly.

She still seems to be asleep when her hooves automatically wrap around you, giving you a soft hug while her nose nuzzles into your chest, spawning a content smile on her face.

And you… you aren't exactly sure how to feel about this.

For some reason it's a lot harder to utterly hate her right now, even if you feel like you should. It's actually pretty comfy and… you can't remember the last time you've actually been hugged by anyone this sincerely.

So you allow yourself to close your eyes once more, immersing in the comfiness while imagining there's someone you really like and care about beside you.

...

Good night Anon. Again.

...

.....

….

"Hey, hey wake up." you’re suddenly awakened.

"Huh?"

"Wake up! We're here!"

Those first few seconds left you a little dazed and confused about your surroundings. The blue mare is already awake and at the safe distance in her seat, shaking with you to snap you to back your senses

"W-were here?" Fluttershy wakes up as well.

"Yes! Come on! We don't have much time!"

Before you know it, you're being pulled out of the wagon.

A first thing that hits your eyes after opening the door is a sign "Station Ponyville"

Alright. That's a normal name to name a city. Or village, or whatever. Surely had a lot of Humanvilles back in the days too...

In the meanwhile, Fluttershy finally steps out of the train as well and soon after that, it departs again.

"Almost thought I'll have to return for you." chuckles Rainbow Dash towards her friend.

"I was just making sure I didn't forget anything.."

"Ha! No worries! If you did, I'd just catch up with the train and bring it." she laughs, nudging the yellow mare "Anyway, what a trip huh?"

"I know! Such an interesting place and so many cute creatures. Such a shame we couldn't get to know them all better..."

"I'm good with this one." you're being slapped with a wing from behind while you're gazing at the late noon sun.

You did your best to pretend that it didn’t happen.

"Are you coming with us to the platform or are you flying straight home?" you owner's attention is turned back at her friend.

Platform?

"I think I’ll go with you two. You know I’m not a fan of flying when I’m not in a hurry." smiles Fluttershy.

"Okay, let's roll then!" you'd be pulled by your collar again if you weren't listening. This time you're quick enough to follow their hoofsteps.

It's only now that you've realized that this place looks nothing like Earth at all. Sure, the landscapes behind the window on your way here did look almost unearthly pretty. And it’s not as if your homecity resembled any big marks of the past, human civilisation… but this feels even more different than that. Strange, foreign, alien... As this wasn’t even Earth to begin with.

"Hey uhh, so, where are we?" you ask Fluttershy on your right to disprove your worries.

"That would be Ponyville, Equestria." grins Rainbow Dash on your left, faster not only in movements, but responses as well

"EQUESTRIA?!"

"Um,.. we travelled through a portal while you slept."

Fuck fuck fuck.

You're in the enemy territory now.

"....Are you okay?" you're being very softly tugged by your leash, merely to get your attention.

"I uh,.." is all you’re able to produce.

"It must be some kind of travel sickness..." Fluttershy caringly glances at you.

"We're not travelling anymore though." Rainbow Dash states the obvious.

"Then it might have caught up with him from before."

"I know you're good with animals Fluttershy but let him tell us what's wrong.. ...What is it boy?"

Now both of their looks are fixed onto you.

"Look, are you seriously telling me we are on a different planet right now?"

“...”

"Was that the problem?.. Ha! Of course we are!" you owner laughs.

"The train went through a portal while you were asleep..." Fluttershy adds.

"Oh God..."

"Don't worry!" the blue mare punches your thigh, hard enough to feel it "You'll totally love it here!"

"I don't really think so..." you're murmuring to yourself so that they won't hear you when you're pulled forward again as if nothing ever happened.

…

It's less than 20 minutes of walk through a relatively small pony settlement, full of little houses and grass almost everywhere you step. If you weren't consumed by your thoughts of how fucked you are right now, you might even appreciate the picturesque architecture and pretty sight of the well kept village.

But instead you're just contemplating your options, trying to find hope in the reddish globe in the sky.

It’s strange… the thing up above looks so familiar, but still different from your old Sun. The sun you've been seeing everyday, your whole life. Something about it always seemed to calm you down when you gazed into it… But you might never see it again.

Will this new one be able to substitute it?

“…”

No way, you should never abandon hope. You will get back home from this place, no matter the cost...

...

At the end of your walk, you find yourself in front of a couple small hot air balloons. The two mares seem to be telling each other goodbyes, meaning this is where their ways part. This must be the platform she spoke about.

Just where the hell are we going to fly with it?

"And bye bye to you too!" Fluttershy is waving her hoof at you "I really hope you'll like your new home!"

You only reservedly wave back, still taking all of this in. And then she's gone, leaving you all alone with your “mistress”.

...Now that you're thinking about it, you're a little afraid of her. Even if she’s pretty small.

"Yo, come closer!" she's pulling you to a unicorn pony standing beside the balloon "Now stand still for a second."

"W-what are you going to do to me?" a cold drip of sweat is running down your face when you see the unicorn charging her horn. You've seen what these things can do.

"No!!!" you shield yourself in fear and anticipation of hurt.

And then, a flash of light.

...Are you dead?

"Oh sorry, I didn't know he was so scared of magic..?" you can hear the unicorn apologizing.

"Me neither. Who would have thought, he’s such a big guy...... Hey fella, it's alright. You're fine..."

There's a hoof caressing your hair.

What. How.

Upon opening your eyes, there's Rainbow Dash's face right in front of yours and it's her, trying to pet you into calmness.

...Almost forgot she’s able to soar so good.

"...What did she do to me?" you ask hesitantly.

"Your body was enchanted so it can walk on clouds of course!" chirps the servicemare.

"W-walk on clouds? ....How?....Why?"

"So many questions! You'll see in a few minutes. But I promise you, it'll be absolutely awesome." giggles your owner, pushing you towards the balloon's basket.

"Happy flight!" the unicorn wishes and before you know it, you're ascending. Higher and higher...

Rainbow Dash isn't exactly in the basket with you though, just her stuff. She's soaring around, navigating the balloon’s direction and impatiently helping it rise even faster by pulling it up.

"Where are we going?!" you yell when the ground starts shrinking so much that Ponyville is resembling merely a small ant city. But the mare can't hear you over the wind and balloon noises.

Oh god, just where the fuck am I going right now.

It’s almost making you wish you were back at Goldbeak's cage. At least you knew what to expect there.

…

Eventually, the basket gets so high you're rising above the clouds, revealing there's actually a… white city in the sky?

There are all kinds of structures and buildings made almost entirely out of thickened clouds, decorated by rainbows. Small family houses, big mansions and tall towers reaching even further into the sky, all under the burning sun that feels closer than ever before.

...Never before have you seen anything like it. A sight so stunning and gorgeous it’s almost taking your breath away. Finally you understand what the spell was for.

On the other hand, this means… that there’s no possible escape for you anymore. You can't possibly run away from a fucking cloud.

You're trapped.

Goodbye freedom.

You're a pet from now on… Might as well jump down now and save yourself the converting process.

Your hands are tightly gripping onto the basket's edge but can you really do it? You already know the answer.

...No.

You can’t do it. You don't have the guts to end yourself...

...But maybe it isn't a weakness. Deep inside you still feel hope that you can figure out a way to escape from this, somehow. As long as you breathe, there’s always hope.

...

By the time you’re almost at the landing spot you're still a little shaken but she can’t possibly see you like that, so you compose yourself as if nothing.

"So what do you think?! Wasn't this the most awesome sight you've ever seen?" the excited mare is chirping while tying the balloon so that it won't fly away.

"Oh yeah the sight was.... amazing." you're hardly trying to sound enthusiastic.

"That doesn't sound too convincing.. Are you scared of heights or something?"

"Maybe a little." you lie.

"I'm sure you'll get over it. I thought I got myself a big scary man! All of this is completely safe, trust me. Come on out, boy!" she pulls on that damn leash again.

It may always be only a soft nudge but it's a constant reminder of your role here. And that hurts your ego a lot more than being beaten physically…

‘I hate you…’ You’re thinking while slowly climbing out of the basket.

...

Your first steps on the bouncy clouds are very cautious but once your mind is sure you really won't fall through, you stand up normally. Even let go of the balloon.

Needled to say that your owner is really amused by the sight of you.

"See?! It's completely safe. Clouds are the best thing ever! Right after the speed of course." she grins, slapping you again to hurry it up.

Then she picks her filled saddlebags from the basket, about to haul it onto your back but she stops. Seeing that you're still not quite okay, she puts the weight onto herself instead.

"It's just around the corner.. This way."

This time there wasn’t even a pull on the leash, she waited for you to come by yourself.

Can’t say for sure why, but something about that gesture made you follow her willingly this time. Then again, it's not as if you had a better choice right now..

...

Soon you're finding yourself in front of a relatively big double door of an equally big house, fitting even for a human such as you. Can’t help but wonder whether she had a human before or if it’s just for show to have a massive door like that.

If she did, she must have disposed of him really quick. It isn't that long since your kind is so easily available to ponies.

Needless to say, the inside of her house feels just as spacy as the door and you can tell this pony isn’t exactly "broke". Quite the opposite. It isn't a straight up castle, but it certainly is pretty luxurious… So you guess the door probably really was just for show.

And when the lock turns behind you, the leash is getting untied from behind. You almost didn't notice her soaring up like that again.

On the first look you're pretty sure you could punch or dig through the wall if you really wanted to but since there's nowhere to run, it would be pointless. Though,.. it's good to remember that in case you've found some miraculous plan to escape. The balloons are too slow to fly away from a pegasus but if you manage to sneak away when she's sleeping… we'll see what the future brings...

"Hey look,.. do you have a name?" the mare notices your hopeful smile, thinking it's a chance to strike up a conversation. She has no idea how much you despise her.

".....You're asking me now about my name?"

"Yes. Do you have one?"

"It's Anon....But why now of all times..?"

"I uhh,..." she smiles a little nervously "Didn't want to get too attached before I make up my mind about keeping you. ....Plus I thought I might give you a new one but,... Anon feels pretty cool I guess. It's.. fitting."

"...."

"A-anyway, this is your home now." you could clearly hear her stutte, right before she's returning to her overly self confident tone "Feel free to roam around. Just don't break stuff, okay? ...Or come with me! I'll show you around."

And before you know it, you're being led around the house or rather pulled by your hand. There are all the usual rooms a human home would have except… except for a trophy room, that’s new.

"...Where did you get all these?" you hesitantly ask, just when the mare's about to close the door.

"Do you like them?!" she squees in excitement with the stars in her eyes.

"They're....shiny."

"Well, they're from all kinds of sports. I'm an athlete you know! A flier in the most amazing, the most breathtaking stunt squad there is! The WON-DER-BOLTS!" the pegasus raises her hooves up as if she was praising something holy.

"Uhh,.."

"You don't know them, of course..." she chuckles upon closing the door completely "But you will! They were my childhood idols and now I'm one of them! One day, I'm gonna tell you aaall about it.~"

“I can’t wait.” you whisper to yourself sarcastically.

...

The next room you’re presented is the bedroom.

"...Anyway, I don't have a bed for you... yet. I didn't expect to bring a pet from my trip..."

But while silently glancing around the room, your eyes land on a small pet's bed, laying next to the big double bed your owner must be sleeping on.

"That! Oh, that's a little too small for you I guess. Plus,.. it shouldn't be here anymore." she's already stuffing it into some drawer, out of your sight.

"...Did that belong to the tortoise?"

The question makes her freeze in front of you for a second.

".....How do you know about Tank?"

"Fluttershy told me."

"Oh...." the mare cringes, then her expression softens "Well, yeah. So you know you're a replacement pet..."

"Why me..? Why a human?"

"I don't know... It just felt like fate to me when I saw you up close. Plus you were cheap, have all teeth and humans are known for..... occasionally having talents that other pets,.. don't exactly have."

Fuck, so it's true after all she’s hiding something.

She's gonna ask you about "it". You'd rather work on a rock farm than having to-

"...You don't happen to know how to cook,.. do you?"

"Uh,..cook?"

"Yeah. I may be the fastest and coolest flier around here but... I can't exactly cook for myself..."

"I uh- of course I can cook!" a big stone just fell from your chest.

Oof.

"You’re serious, you actually can..?"

"Nothing special but I can cook well enough I guess."

"That's amazing! You must be worth like 10 or 20 times more than what I bought you for! Oh I'm so happy, you have no idea." she licks her lips over the thought of a homemade food "...But speaking of food, I totally forgot you haven't eaten anything at all!"

"I did eat though. Fluttershy gave me half of her baguette... About two or three hours ago."

"But that's a pretty long time, you must be hungry again! We'll feed you something boy, come with me!"

...And the last room of your house tour is a kitchen. There's pretty much all the equipment you might need, except it was probably never used. The storages are stocked with instant foods, soups or premade lunches just for reheating. She'll probably have to buy you some stuff to cook out of first.

"So what do you usually eat?"

Meat?

"Anything goes I guess."

It feels strange that now when she's alone with you, she's actually behaving almost nice. Within the limits of her character of course.

Her voice though, that’s something harder to get used to. It's squeakily raspy, like being ordered around by a 12 year old boy. “Pretty annoying” is a moderate term to you. It might take a bit longer to get over it.

"So! There's some pasta with a tomato sauce here,.. I think I'll be having that. Want it too?"

"Um, sure, thanks."

With a grin, the mare stuffs the two portions into what seems to be an Equestrian version of a microwave or just some kind of oven. Now it's time to wait.

.....

“...”

An awkward silence is filling the house. Just some very distant chatter somewhere outside, hearable through an opened window. You’re somewhat still standing in the doorframe, just looking around and pretending you aren’t here. Your “master” is sitting at the dinner table, nervously clopping her hoof on the ground, hoping she can speed up the heating process with it.

"...You can come inside, you know?" she closes the window eventually.

So you quietly sit on the opposite side of the table, giving her a little awkward, half forced smile. It would almost feel like being a guest here, if it wasn’t for that collar to remind you of your real purpose… Thinking about it, your finger involuntarily slides underneath its leather to let some air on your skin.

"...Is that too tight?"

Why does she suddenly care so much?

Is it just because you said you can cook? ...Or is there something else to it?

"Yeah... The old Goldbeakstein wanted to make sure it won't slip down under any circumstance."

"I can loosen it up then." your “mistress” stands up.

It's almost funny, being a pet to a creature half your size.

The mare actually has to rear up again to be high enough for a comfortable reach, even while you're sitting. And she does loosen it up quite a lot actually. ...To a point it's barely touching your skin but not enough for you to pull it over your head.

"That's better, isn't it?"

"It is... thanks."

"You're welcome."

“...”

"But, um hey, couldn't it go all the way down? ...Since it's almost loose enough."

"Um, no. Not yet, sorry."

She isn’t really sorry though. ...You wanted to ask what is the difference but instead you just frown.

"........Look, you won't have to wear that inside forever. But it has to stay for a few days. Until I decide I can take it off, okay?"

"Hm, okay...... But does that mean I still couldn't go outside without it?"

"Well, ponies don't like seeing humans roaming too freely. They still see you as a threat after ehh..."

"Yeah, the war......... And do you-..?"

"What?"

"Do you see me as a threat?"

"Me?... I guess not."

"Why..?"

"Because I can take you on." the mare laughs amusedly, looking all smug.

Except you sure as hell won't believe her such a thing.

"With, all due respect,.. I'd doubt it." you smirk at her in an obviously mocking manner.

"Well, you may be big but size isn't everything." she grins back ".........Come on, try to pin me on the ground."

"Um,. sorry?"

"Try to pin me on the ground." your overconfident mistress stands up from the table, taking a stance in the spacy room.

"Okay then!" you do the same, without too much hesitation

Finally a chance to strike her ego a little lower.

"I won't kick or bite you, so I'm expecting you to play fair. Unless you like it rough~... So can we?"

"Ready."

"Bring it then!" she rears up "Come at me!"

Bad move girl.

With a swift movement, you're up close, about to undercut her legs. This'll be fast and easy.

But suddenly-

"Whoa!"

With a help of her wings, she somewhat twirled around you, faster than you would possibly expect. Before you could turn around her to direction again, she's tangled around your legs, making you trip over her and fall down on your back. Once you’re on the ground, she's already pinning your right hand on the ground.

You've still got your left one though so you use it in an attempt to push her away with all your might-... but she angles her body for your palm to slip over her silky sleek fur.

Before you realize your mistake, both of your hands are locked by her hooves.

"Hhhggg!" you're trying to break free but she's holding you tight.

How is this even possible?

"Done yet?" the mare scoffs.

"Not yet!"

You slide your knees between the two of you and push her away with your legs, making her ease up on your grip...

But before you get a chance to lift yourself up from your palms, she regains her composure with only two quick flaps of her wings and pushes your head back down, this time pinning your legs as well.

She might be lighter than you, but her hooves are pressing into very strategic spots to prevent you from overpowering her.

"Heh, nice one..." she inhales deeply to calm herself from the quick adrenaline rush, exhaling the air pretty much into your face, mere inches away from her smug muzzle "Give up yet?"

"Aaargh!" you're trying to break free but you can't move.

...Did she, a two times smaller rainbow horse, seriously defeat you?

In your anger, you headbutt her muzzle, enough to make her let you go and fall on her own rump.

"Playing dirty huh?!" she yells, wiping a drop of blood from her nose.

The next second, you're feeling an intense, painful sting all around your neck and then your whole body. It catches you so off guard you fall right back on the floor, squirming like a worm.

"Aaahg! Ow, fuck!"

...But it lasts only for a few, short moments.

Then you're left there heavily breathing while she somewhat proudly walks around, stuffing a piece of a tissue into her nostril to stop the little bleeding.

"Heh, good try,.. but you'll need to learn to play nice..." your mistress stops above your face.

"W-what was that?"

"That was a reason why you might need to wear that thing a little longer." she opens her left wing, revealing to you a little device, strapped to her side "See, I don't really want to use it, I'd like us to be friends but you still need to learn some discipline."

"I don't think that this is how you make friends..." you attempt to stand up but her hoof pushes you back down.

"Well,.. headbutting isn't either." she chuckles as lightheartedly as if nothing ever happened. Then she lets go, throwing away the tissue and offering you the same hoof to help you stand up.

...Which you take, but only after a second of hesitation. Gotta say, she did take it quite sportily. But now you’re a little more afraid of her.

"You know, I can't say that I don't like you Anon." your mistress grins once you're up, nudging your thigh "You're my kind of material."

".....Did you wrestle with the tortoise the same?"

"No.... Tank was the sweetest and most loyal kind of guy I could ask for.... But he's gone and I don't want anything about my new companion to remind me of him." her expression changes.

Can't exactly if she's sad or angry right now but you definitely must have hit a soft spot here.

But the next second she grins your direction as if nothing and sits back to the table.

It was surely a way to pass the time but it didn’t exactly make things any better for you. Now you know there is an actual reason why you subconsciously feared her before. Not only is she a much more considerate opponent than you thought but you had no idea the collar they gave you was a stun one.

You're pretty much fucked, unless you can outsmart her somehow. But your inner contemplation is interrupted by the oven ringing, alerting it has finished its job.

"Oh yes! The pasta!" your mistress dashes away to bring the two portions of food for each of you to the table "There you go!"

You hesitantly sit there and glance at the steaming plate. It seems to be some kind of vegetarian lasagna. So you sniff it as well.

You’re wishing you could proudly refuse it but it looks and smells so damn good there's no possible way to resist it. Even if it’s just a premade food.

Fuck, this is the second time they "bought" you with food.

Having no other choice but to listen to your stomach, you very slowly pick up the fork and a knife, about to accept your defeat.

"...You know how to use cutlery, right?"

"Well,.. I can cook, so I can use cutlery."

"I was just making sure... Enjoy." the mare chuckles before digging in first.

"Y-you too." you follow up right after her.

It’s just as delicious as it smells like. It could be partly because you haven’t had anything good in a few months but even the lowest quality food in Equestria is somehow better than most of what you remember eating back on Earth.

Needless to say that you're done with your dinner very soon, while the mare on the other side of the table is eating a lot slower.

"By Celestia, I'm full." she eventually pushes her plate away and pats her belly, leaving about 1/5 of her portion uneaten.

Still hungry, your eyes instinctively land on the rest of her food.

"....You want that?"

"I uh..."

You totally do… but you don't want to say it out loud. It feels demeaning.

"I can just throw it away if you don't, no biggie." the pegasus is about to stand up from the table and dump the contents of her plate into a trash bin.

"Wait!"

"Yes..?"

"I...I do want to finish that." you admit shamefully "...Would be a waste...."

"Here you go then" you're then given a half smile, while the partly warm lasagna is being handed in front of you.

And the smile is staying on your mistress's face the whole time she's watching you stuff yourself with it. It almost feels like she's taking pleasure in this demeanor… Or are you just paranoid..?

Can't tell anymore....

"I almost forgot,.. until I get you some bed of your own,.. you can sleep on the side of mine, it's pretty big." she mentions once you're done, putting your plate into the sink.

"...Really?"

"Y-yeah, sure. Or there's a couch too, but the bed is fine with me. T-tank used to sleep there as well." she stutters again in her three seconds of weak moment before regaining her pose "But I'm gonna have to wash you first, okay? I'm not letting you on a cushion like this."

"You want to wash me...?"

"Of course, I don't know how many days you haven't been washed but from our up close encounter, I'm guessing it might as well be at least.. half a week?."

Which is a surprisingly accurate guess.

"I meant to say that I can do it myself."

"Aren't you saying that just to avoid the water?" she chuckles "I heard how some of you hate getting wet."

"Well, if it's freezing cold water, straight from a hose, soaking your clothes, I can imagine." you grumble.

“...So you promise to wash yourself properly, if I let you go alone?"

"Promise."

"Hmm, okay then. This way." she stands up from the table, leading the way to the bathroom.

...

"This is how you turn the water on, here's soap and some shampoo." your mistress shows you everything, even prepare a towel.

"Thanks..."

"Don't thank me. I mean, it's not like I'd want you on my bed if you were this dirty." she chuckles while you're disappearing behind the curtain "By the way, don't worry about the collar, it's waterproof."

Soon after throwing the dirty clothes over the shower curtain, you can hear her leaving the room.

Finally some time alone. It feels good to not be under anyone's surveillance for at least a few minutes. And the warm water is even better

...It’s just what she said about you in her bed is pretty unsettling. You’d prefer the couch.

But you’re trying not to ruin this moment with thoughts like that, this shower is literally like a heaven on Earth,.. except it isn't Earth, nor heaven. Still though, God, how you've missed this.

After scrubbing every last piece of filth from your body, you rub one out as well, pretty much for the sake that you can, without anyone watching you and to relieve some stress… Which seems to work wonders, along with the hot water and a full belly.

For a moment, you're almost happy.

You don't ever want to open the curtain again but eventually,.... you’ll have to. As lovely as it sounds, can't stay here forever.

Upon stepping outside, there’s one thing you immediately notice. The clothing is gone

She took it.

It may have been filthy but it was your only clothing. You can't walk around like this for God's sake.

Where is it?!!!

Come on Anon, breathe, calm down… she left you a big towel here, you can use that.

…

After recovering from the mini panic attack, you wrap yourself in the towel and have a glance at yourself in the big mirror. Haven't seen your own reflection since… well you can't even remember. Probably since the better times...

Right now you're hairy, somewhat skinny but at least it’s still you. Plus, you're squeaky clean.

Then there’s the collar… Can't even look at yourself without being reminded of your forced allegiance.

But you're still staring at your own reflection for a few minutes longer, trying to find something to like.

... Your hair actually doesn't look that bad when it's this long.

And if you shaved, you'd almost be a handsome young man again.

Maybe the mistress will buy me a razor...

“...”

Can't believe you just formed this sentence in your head

“...”

No matter how well kept I’d be, I’m still a damn property.

The sentence left you so disgusted that you had to look away from the mirror and leave the room. Once outside, you're cautiously checking if the rainbow mare is around somewhere. Not because you’d want to see her but you need her to return your clothes, even if they're dirty. You can wash them in the sink for yourself.

And eventually, you stumble upon her in the living room.

"There you are! So how was the shower? Let me see."

"..See what?"

"Well if you're clean! Drop that towel."

"I uh.. rather not to." you freeze.

"That's an order though." she says firmly

"..."

...Are you going to resist now? What if she's gonna press that button again?

You still remember how bad it stung before.

"....Come on, I want to have a proper look at what I bought!" the pegasus with a device to control you giggles, grabbing the towel with her teeth and forcefully pulls it down.

“Hey!!!” her sudden, swift movement caught you so off guard, that you didn't really have time to fight it.

You're just standing there in shame, covering your crotch with your hands, feeling completely exposed to her and her mercy. Stripped of your clothes, of your pride, of your rights and most of all, your dignity

"....."

This is so far certainly the worst thing to happen today, right after the best one.

"Well what do you say! You really were profound with the cleaning." the mare grins, walking in circles around you and checking your body out from all angles "....You humans are curiously built."

You wish you could just run away, but there's nowhere to run.

You're frozen in shame and fear like an animal.

So you at least shut your eyelids, trying to ignore what’s happening.

"........"

".....What’s wrong, why are you so embarrassed?" you can suddenly feel a soft boop on your nose.

Upon opening your eyes once again, you see her soaring dangerously close to your face, curiously smiling.

…Does she not have a slightest idea of how's all this making you feel? Do you really have to explain?

"...You've just literally forced me to expose myself in front of you."

"Heh, but you don't have anything to be embarrassed about." she grins, sliding her hoof along your torso to have a feel of your skin, inspecting your chest muscles "...are all humans like that?"

"I guess I'm averagely built...." you look away, clenching your jaw.

"No I mean,.. are all humans this shy?" your mistress chuckles in a visible amusement.

"...We don't ever go around without clothes. C-can I have my old ones back now?"

"Nope... I already threw them away."

"B-but-!"

"I can get you something new tomorrow, if you're so persistent about it." the mare laughs, patting your shoulder before landing back on the ground next to you, about to sit on her couch.

“......”

"What is it?" she eyes at you again after a few seconds, through which you didn't move a single inch "You don't have to be embarrassed around me, ...I don't bite."

"I- I can't..." you're almost whimpering in your predicament "..be like this until tomorrow."

“...”

"Okay..." a sigh escapes her nostrils "Do you want to wrap yourself in something until then?"

To which you nod of course

"Alright, let me see what we have." she disappears in the bedroom, soon to be back with a thin white bedsheet. "Will this do?"

"Yes! Give it!" you hastily grab after the fabric.

But she softly slaps your fingers, pulling away "What do we say?"

"Um,. thank you, m-mistress."

"Thank you" would have been enough." she chuckles, handing the sheet to you "But you're a good boy."

Which only makes your face go even redder. Thank fuck that no one else is seeing you like this. Not even your stupid ass boss at work could ever mentally put you this much down on your knees… Not even the old kike bird. Can't say you've ever been lower in your life.

But it's all just temporary, you WILL find your way out of this. As long as you breathe…

…

After a few minutes of trying to remember how to tie a Greek toga, while your mistress returns back on her couch to lay there with a book, you’ve finally figured it out.

"Hey, neat. That looks pretty rad." she notices, looking up.

"Thank you." you say with self-surprising humbleness.

"No probs.... Do you like adventure stories?"

"I guess... Everyone does."

"Then come here." the rainbow mare pats a place next to her on the couch.

"Is that an order...?"

"No,.." she grins "I just thought you’re looking a little down. I could read you something to cheer you up. Come on, you'll like it."

...You're still a little afraid of saying no. But,.. it feels like you can’t stay in here a second longer.

"I'm sorry but can I have some time alone..? Please..?"

"Um, yeah.. Sure!" your mistress smiles, a little disappointedly "...You can crash at my bed, as long as you leave me enough space later."

"Thank you..." you’re already disappearing, running to the bedroom, straight onto the bed… to curl up and cry.

What she made you do was the last straw, pulled by the series of events you had to go through before. Everything was bottling up in you for months.

You didn't cry when you lost your family and friends. You didn’t cry when the Goldbeak's thugs beat you senseless and captured you. Not a tear, even after all those days, spent in a cage.

But now it all caught up, when it feels like there’s nothing left to take from you... Your pride was the last thing.

And you're crying until you're feeling almost comfortably numb. Numb to everything that happened.

It’s almost funny, what a human mind is able to endure and what it is willing to lose, just to save itself.

You're feeling… alone.

Alone in this room.

Alone in this crazy world.

There's only her, the next door. The cause of your mental suffering... And your only company.

You can't tell for whatever reason you're drawn to her now.

Is this the "breaking" process?

....

After a while, you stand up and go check on your mistress.

She's still sitting on her couch in the living room, reading the same book with just a tiny lamp nearby to see the words.

"Hmm?" her eyes land on you, standing in the doorframe.

"Does… does the offer still stand?"

"Of course it does! Come here boy!" she puts away whatever she was reading uptil now and pats the place next to her.

And you cautiously sit, keeping a safe distance.

But the mare flies away to the bookshelf, returning with a different title. She sits back a lot closer to you, eliminating your personal space and shoving the book into your face to see.

There's a colorful image of a sand coloured pegasus mare with a gray mane, swinging on some kind of wine, away from danger. It says "Daring Do." and looks a little like a B rated movie poster.

"This is like the first book I've ever read on my own! Which.....isn't actually that many years back, I wasn't always a big reader." you almost wouldn't recognize her with that sincere, excited smile, so eager to share this with you "I hope you'll like it as much as I did! I mean, you probably won't , because I liked it a whole big lot but I still hope you'll like it at least 50% because that would still mean you really liked it....."

Can’t say you’ve seen her acting this fangirly about anything yet,.. besides the wondercolts or whatever was the stunt group called.

Without giving you too much time to think about it, she pulls your head on her lap like a pillow. Her hoof rests on your hair which she’s softly stroking for you while she reads.

It's so embarrassing.

But you aren’t moving away.

Partly because you’re a little scared to do so, partly because it’s somewhat comfy and you're feeling.... "protected" in a way.

So you close your eyes, trying to enjoy the calm at least a little bit. Thinking too much hurts.

...

Can't say you're too thrilled by the book right from the start but the way your mistress is narrating it is actually making the whole thing a little more amusing. She's even changing her voice for each character and her tone, depending on the intensity of the story to make it more dynamic.

Over time,.. you're even getting a little more used to her weird, raspy voice.

Instead of the pegasus main protagonist, you’re imagining just a human girl with wings on her back so that you can sympathize with her better. It's... somewhat working so far.

For a moment you're almost forgetting that the fuzzy creature reading that book just for you is actually your enemy.

After all, she's your only company now. You might as well try to not spite her completely. As much as you hate to say it,.. she really does care,.. in a way.

But you aren’t friends, you’ll never be. She’s the enemy, don't you ever forget that, Anon....

Don't you ever forget-...

“Good night Anon.” you’re hearing a raspy voice before falling asleep.

......

....

......

..