Captive

With the bright rays of light from the window shining upon you, you come awake mere seconds before your ‘mistress’ does.

Her snoot is almost touching your nose and you can feel her warm breath on your lips. The very first second before you realize what is happening, you almost smile. But merely a short look into each other's eyes snaps you both into reality while reminding you of what happened yesterday. ...And all the days before.

Needless to say, the initial comfort is gone in less than a blink.

In expectation of getting punched in the face, you cautiously pull away from the pegasus. The shock collar is still around her neck and the remote device is somewhere under the bed but you wouldn't try to use it anyway, even if she attacked you right now. ...You realize what you’ve done yesterday is way over the line as it is and you don’t want to make it any worse so you’re ready for some kind of punishment.

Yet instead of an attack, your mistress reacts the very same way you did the last time, when she pretty much raped you. She just timidly backs away on the other side of the bed.

The leash is still clipped to the collar and it’s hanging down from her neck. Instinctively, her hoof traces it to the connecting point to unclip it but it's locked with the 4 digit code, which she can't see without a mirror. So the blue hoof slides back down on the mattress

Then there’s silence.

It can be less than 10 seconds but the heaviness of the atmosphere is making it feel like a whole eternity before any of you moves any further. ...Eventually, it's her that starts cautiously picking herself up from the bed. And without a word, she rushes out of the bedroom, leaving you alone in the ravaged and stained bed. In a room with a broken window and glass shards all over the floor.

After a very short while of not being able to decide what to do, you hurry after her.

"Miss Dash!-..." you yell.

But all you find is an empty collar in the bathroom. The bright blue mare nowhere to be found around the house…

***

Throughout the whole day, she doesn’t return. Not even to get some lunch.

It’s making you expect something real bad to happen when she comes back. You're either getting sold away for real this time, or straight up put down...heard it happened to some humans before.

….But for some reason you're feeling freer than ever.

You can let the death or whatever is coming your way approach, you don't even care anymore. And you wouldn't even hate anypony for it. ...Not even her. As if a chapter in your life closed, as if something heavy fell from your chest. The feeling of spite you've been carrying inside you the whole time... It’s gone.

You might not be straight up proud about what happened, - it was the dirtiest, nastiest and most perverse side of you that manifested. One which you didn’t even know that existed.

But as if it was no longer needed now, the debt was cleared on both sides, and you’re in peace. A way you didn’t feel as long as you can remember.

Nothing is eating up from the inside anymore. No more hatred or feelings of revenge. Like starting anew. Even if it was shortly before the end.

Yet,.. you still can't stop thinking about how the mare's feeling right now.

Because as much as you needed to do that to her before, now when all the anger is gone,.. maybe you actually care...

In a way, that is.

***

In the end, you've spent the day wandering around the house, staring out the window and drawing even more pictures. This time it was a completely different topic from what you used to draw though. Things that always felt too mundane to even consider trying to recreate their essence on paper: Trees, flowers, birds,.. Yet, you still felt like you have to make another sketch of the blue mare as well. - The only drawing of her that you didn’t hate making.

And since the day felt long, you took the time to tidy up the bedroom, as well as the rest of the house: Got rid of all the broken glass, cleaned the few bloodstains from the ground and replaced all the dirty bed sheets… also, prepared your pillow on the couch because that's where you're obviously sleeping.

By the evening, when the sun setted you were ready to face the blue pegasus and whatever comes next.

***

When you can hear her coming home, it’s late but not as late as the days before. This time she even goes through the front door.

...You can’t exactly tell what to expect from this but you don’t want to run away from the encounter. You’re gonna face it because you’re no longer afraid of the future, whatever it might hold.

And you wait for your mistress in the main corridor to know it.

"Miss Dash,.."

"...Hey." she stops when she notices you.

You really are ready for pretty much anything right now.

But the mare just gives you a very faint smile and continues straight to her bedroom… Something inside you doesn't dare to follow her.

...

What just happened is certainly something different from what you expected. But since she doesn’t seem to be laying any judgement upon you yet, all you can do is to make your way to the couch in the living room so you can have a night’s rest as well.

Surprisingly enough, the calmness inside you still remains, letting you fall asleep without rolling around for hours.

“Good night Anon.” you wish yourself shortly before drifting off.

...

..

***

Suddenly you’re awakened by a pony hoof, gently pushing your chest.

"Hey, hey, wake up..."

Even before opening your eyes, you can tell it’s your mistress. Even if her voice wasn’t so distinct, there’s only two of you in the house, unless somepony broke in. So it isn’t too surprising.

What is surprising though, is a fact that she’s waking you up in the middle of a night. The sky is still dark, illuminated only by a sea of stars. A new moon hasn’t come out yet.

"....Miss Dash,.. what's happening?" you squint your eyes at the silhouette of the mare.

"Get your things and hurry. It's almost time." she says.

Her tone isn't firm or commanding though. Rather soft, almost... sad.

"...Time for what?"

"For you to go... don't forget your toothbrush."

“I see…”

That’s enough for you to stop asking questions. You're getting sold away. ...And you understand why.

Your mistress just softly pats your shoulder, giving you the same faint smile she gave yesterday and leaves you to it.

Soon you’ve got everything ready in a backpack that Rarity made for you: Your clothes, a few clean papers, as well as a pen, eraser and a sharpener,.. and that might be it.

Only one thing left.

You pick up the collar with a leash, both laying on the same place she dropped them yesterday. The only things you didn’t even touch while cleaning the house.

Now you can even see the opening code. ...It's: "369 / ♥"

Funny...

You can’t help but to wonder how many things would change if you knew this about a week or two sooner… but there's no reason to think about it now. Your new owner is going to change it for sure. You just put the collar on and go meet your mistress, waiting for you by the main door. When you give her the leash, she gives you a funny look before hesitantly taking it. Then you head straight to the balloon.

On the way down, you're both completely quiet. You’re just staring at the immensely dark sky with bright spots of light, glittering like silent, still fireworks. They’re not bright enough to fully illuminate the lands underneath.

You kinda wish you could see it as well, for the last time, so you could remember it. Despite everything, it was always such a pretty sight...

But all of these melancholic thoughts dissolve as soon as the basket touches the ground and in the faint light, you can see an older stallion with a tiny cart. Life's probably gonna be a farm work for you in the future…

You’ve already made your peace with the boring future but when you make your first step out of the basket, your soon-to-be ex-mistress stops you. Not by pulling the leash, not forcefully in any kind of way. It’s merely a soft touch on your shoulder to make you turn around so she can be face to face with you.

"You won't be needing this anymore..." she unclips the collar from your neck. The thing falls down on the ground with a thud.

Needless to say, her actions are a little surprising to you. And by “little surprising” is meant a whole lot.

"...What do you mean?" your jaw slightly drops.

“Look Anon…” the mare's chest puffs up in a deep inhale and a slow exhale.

You know her enough to know she’s nervous about what she's going to say. She always does that.

“... I know things between us didn't turn out the best way. Or the way I hoped they would. ..It was kind of foolish of me to think so, when I look back. I know I've hurt and humiliated you in many ways,. even enjoyed it sometimes... I just want you to know I'm sorry."

"I... probably could have been better too." you admit. The words are suddenly easy to say.

But the pegasus just faintly smiles in disagreement: "No, you couldn't,.. because you were never meant to be like this. Wasn't freedom what you always wanted?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Then go. I already arranged you an escort to a human refugee camp. Far, far in the woods behind Everfree, where nopony lives. You can be with your own kind again..."

"...You're serious?"

"Yes... You're a free man now..."

"And there's a human refugee camp? In Equestria..? Ponies know about it?"

"A few,... believe it or not, there are those who feel it was wrong to take over Earth. I just had to find them and... I think I understand why they might be right."

What she’s saying is so shocking it’s hard to believe but as much as you try to find any traces of deception in her eyes, you can't.

She's absolutely sincere right now.

"I don't know what to say..." you hold your breath.

"You don't have to say anything. But I wanted to ask you for one last thing. "Ask" that is, not order,.. you're free to refuse."

"What is it..?"

".....Can I have a goodbye kiss? One you'd actually give willingly... I always wanted it, but,. I understand I never really deserved it."

A kiss that is...

You didn't exactly expect that… Didn't expect any of this.

After all this time spent thinking you know her, you didn't know her at all. She seemed always so full of herself, overconfident, smug, possessive and bossy. As if that was all that is to her.

Only now when she's setting you free, treating you like an equal,.. you’re seeing there’s so much more to this tomboy pegasus.

In realization of how wrongly you judged her, you’re too stunned to say or do anything at all.

"...."

"That's okay..." she forces a smile and awkwardly bites her lip "You have every reason to hate me and I-Hmpf!!!" you hush her with a kiss.

This time you aren’t going to miss your opportunity to set things straight.

The suddenness of your actions surprised the mare too much to do anything at all. At first, she rather freezes in your arms as you fondly nibble on her hot lips with tenderness of a lover. Yet the next second, she’s already kissing you back. Fondly and eagerly.

You’re savouring every step of your tongues progressing further into each other's mouth to meet there and dance together in a twirl. You’re savouring the taste of your salivas mixing into one as you explore each corner of her mouth. But most of all you’re savouring the way you're clutching her body to your chest like the daintiest flower in the whole wide universe, while caressing her head with your other hand.

...Back then you’d never think you might voluntarily find yourself in this position with her, feeling the way you do. And it feels that more special, almost as if it was your first kiss ever.

This time you aren't imagining anyone else in her place, you're sincerely happy it's her.

Your mistress, your slaver, your worst enemy.

Your caretaker, your twisted pleasure giver and.... your best friend.

...

After the moment ends, you glance into each other's eyes to smile and hug once more. For the last time.

Everything is forgiven.

The karmic circle is closed.

The past is gone,..

and you're standing here, free of the invisible bonds that used to tie you together.

Yet, you don't want to stop holding her.

…

"...Thank you… and I’m sorry. You're a good person." you whisper into her ear before your grip softens.

"No,.. I'm not..." she smiles a little sadly now "...It was really nice,.. to have you around. But it's time to let you go..."

Your escort is impatiently waiting behind you.

"One last thing,.. can I have this?" you point at the emblem with your name, still on the collar "As a reminder..."

"That..? Oh,.. sure, I guess I won't be needing it anymore." Rainbow Dash hands it to you, her expression faintly brightening.

"I'll keep it close." you smile back… And start slowly backing up to the stallion, without taking your eyes off her.

"Goodbye Anon..."

"Goodbye, mistress."

You thought it would be somewhat funny to call her that way one last time, to lighten up the mood, yet you can't seem to bring yourself to smile very convincingly. It might have made it worse.

The pegasus smiles back, pretty much the same, forced way you do.

And she's watching you go, disappear into the darkness of the night forest.

Far, far away from her.

***

After almost a day of traveling with your escort, he sends you alone for the rest of your journey. The stallion was kind enough to carry you on his cart a few miles when you were tired or when you were about to bump into another pony, to make sure nopony knew which way you left but now it's him who shouldn't be seen.

The humans from the forest supposedly don't know they're occasionally being "helped" and they might think you're suspicious if you arrived with a pony by your side. So after thanking him and saying goodbye, you travel the last hour by foot.

The directions are pretty clear: through the open plains and then into the forest with beech trees. He said you can't possibly miss it and as soon as you enter, you should meet them.

But as you walk through the woods, there aren't exactly any signs of humans anywhere. At least until there’s suddenly a primitively made spear, right in front of your face.

"Who goes there?!"

The business end of the weapon is holding a man in his 30's, with a short, unkept beard.

"Hey, easy fella. I'm just looking for a refuge." you show your empty hands.

"You're awfully well kept for an escapee... Are you a horse spy?"

"Jeez, no... Some of them already know where this place is, they're supposedly letting you exist here."

"What are you saying?!" the spear gets even closer to your neck.

"I'm not an escapee, alright? I was let go... They led me here."

"Let go?! They never let anyone go! I don't believe you!"

"Well,.. she let me..." your head hangs down.

You should be looking happy now but the very last memory feels just too bitter.

"...Huh?.. Are you one of those tamed ones...? Were you like,.. thrown out or something?" the man puts his spear down.

"...I guess something like that."

"Brother, you're so far the saddest case we've got here." he chuckles, patting your shoulder "My name's Peter, come with me."

...

You're being led through the trees, to a settlement up in the branches, almost blending in with the rest of the forest. When you look closer, there's at least 50 people up there, men, women, even kids.

"We've got everything here. It's not like the good old days but it's freedom. Guess we're returning to tradition.... Hey everyone! We got a new member!"

Hearing him, the people gather around, or at least stop what they're doing, and look your way.

"Anon here is historically the first tamed pony pet that got thrown out, and he's not even past his expiry date!" Peter laughs "Look at how young they throw them away!"

And the people roar with laughter. Yet the next second, they're silenced by a harsh, intimidating voice.

"Silence!!!"

From one of the huts emerges another man. He’s tall, about 40 years old and dressed as a chieftain. Once all the voices quiet down, his tone softens, but it's still invoking respect.

"Every human is welcome here in these harsh times. Any single one of you could have met similar fate and I expect you to not judge what others had to do to survive.... We welcome you Anon."

***

That night, the whole “tribe” gathers around a fire. Everyone's talking over each other and they’re drinking some kind of brew, made from local fruit and plants that tastes like shit.

You, being new here, already created a wild discussion about how everyone actually escaped or what they were made do. And of course, everyone wants to know your story the most. Preferably with all the nasty highlights, since they shared theirs too.

"...Look mate, I worked in a focking mine, 24/7, but I was never forced to swallow my own nut." you're being patted on your back "I feel with ya."

"Bruh, what a nasty bitch." some other guy spits.

"She was the one who let me go though... Funnily enough, she even apologized for everything. Even after all that happened, I can't bring myself to hate her now." you stare into the fire.

"How she fucked with your mind might be the worst thing she's done to you so far. But don't worry, you'll return to your senses in time..."

"Yeah man, don't worry." a hand from behind you offers a piece of grilled meat. It’s probably something they managed to hunt in the forest or the plains around but it isn’t a lot.

"Thanks..." you take it while the debate moves on, with another guy boasting about how he managed to punch a griffon slave trader, right after he sold him and even got away with it.

A hilarious story you would probably enjoy under normal circumstances but now you're just blankly staring into the fire, the piece of meat still in your hand.

Funny, haven't had that in such a long time...

The tiny steak is even visibly spiced with some herbs they picked up and it smells really good. So you take a small bite, just wallowing it in your mouth.

Thought this should feel glorious,..

...but the truth is, you can't say you even like the taste anymore.

Will you have to re-learn this as well?

The more you think about it, the less hungry you feel, so you pass the rest of the meat to a drunk guy sitting next to you, one that's happy to munch on it without any questions.

This is what you wanted, where you wanted to be.

You should feel happy.

...Then why can't you..?

“...”

***

Throughout the first few days, you’re spending your time by learning the tribe's ways to find your place in it. You're pretty nifty, so you can do almost anything you're asked. Should it be building stuff, carving bowls, even weave and a lot of other stuff. You enjoy being useful for a good purpose.

Of all the things you tried, you especially like the bow shooting. Though, you can't be assigned as a hunter, because you won't kill anything, so it's just a hobby.

All of that is helping you concentrate on forgetting your past and creating a new future. But even after a week passed,.. you still miss seeing the colorful mare each morning. Just to hear her say "Hello" would feel nice. Or even back then, when she'd occasionally wake you up by stroking your hair...

You're very aware the memories are tinted in pink now, because you constantly fought with her through those days. But it’s making you smile nonetheless.

...You can still smell her scent from your clothing too. Especially from the poncho that you’re been using as a pillow each night because it’s still the softest fabric in the whole camp.

***

The smell of the blue pegasus eventually faded. And with it, the hurt of thinking whether you made the right decision. Most of the traces of your mistress are gone now.

The local “tailor”, if he can be called that way, even made you new clothes to fit in the forest without being too suspicious. They’re not as pretty or comfortable but they’re practical and it won’t make you angry if you tear them, so they replaced the ones from Rarity - now stashed under your bed.

One last thing you still constantly kept in your pocket was the tag Rainbow Dash gave you. One you asked her to give you and promised to keep it close.

...But it fell through a hole in your pants once and you never found it again. As if the last material tie was severed.

Then you became a "normal human" once more. The most humany human in the tribe.

Soon you earned respect from others as they saw you're capable and the women started taking interest in you too. You’re one of the youngest and more handsome members after all.

The truth is,.. you never really felt anything towards any of the females there. Sure, some of them were pretty to look at, some even nice to talk to, but… there never was any "fire" or a "spark" from your side, so it never ended up with more than a kiss.

All of that is why you earned a nickname "Monk".

With your name gone and hair cut shorter for practical purposes, there’s hardly anything left. Not just from your life as a pet though,.. but from your Earthly life as well.

Sometimes you wonder whether your complete transformation to a tribesman is a good thing… but that’s only until you find another task to keep yourself busy...

***

It might have been a few weeks as well as a few months, you stopped counting the days. All you know about time is that you shaved your facial hair at least three times already.

You're a human, a free human that is.

Free to do whatever he wants, to go wherever he wants,.. yet it feels as if you were forgetting about something important...

....

It's morning and the bright rays of light are shining through the trees, sun-litting the forest in its glory and warmness. You’re on your routine early walk. Alone, before else would even want to join you.

You prefer it that way.

Taking a deep breath of fresh oxygen, you pat a tree trunk of a big, ancient beech standing next to you. That’s when you notice a glimmer on the ground behind it, something that’s reflecting the sunshine from up above. So you walk closer to it, picking it up in your hand.

It has a shape of a cloud with lighting striking down from it and an inscription: "Anon."

And when you wipe the mud off, it continues: "I belong to Rainbow Dash"

‘Anon…’

You remember, it was your name, some time ago… it probably isn't even as long as it feels. Although it feels like ages.

You also remember how much it hurts to think about the past, that's why you were so quick to forget it... So you throw the emblem away with all of your force.

Except the thing bounces off a tree, back your direction, hitting you straight in the head.

"Fuck! Ow, that hurt..." you almost fall on the ground in shock and angrily stomp the tag, laying next to you.

...But then you take a deep breath to calm yourself down, close your eyes for a little while and move your foot away to have another look at the piece of metal that hit you.

And as the pain and anger slowly fades, the repressed emotions and memories from the past begin to float back to the surface. Flooding your head.

There was always something special about her. Something distinctive that you could never put a finger on. It made you hate her.

But maybe if you tried to understand, that hate could have become a different emotion of the same intensity. The one that you got merely a little taste of, before you parted. If only it wasn’t too late...

"I'll keep it close." you said back then. And you repeat it out loud for yourself once again with a tear, rolling down your cheek.

Just who are you right now...?

A Monk...?

Did you really give up everything to find freedom? Or to escape from this feeling haunting you?

Could it be the real freedom was a choice the whole time..?

...

‘....Is it really too late to turn back..?’ you clutch the emblem tightly in your hand ‘One will never know until he tries..!’

As if a new target was now set in your head, filling you with relentless determination. You rush back to your hut, pick up all your old things, shave your slowly growing mustache away, put on your poncho, pants too, and set out the same way you once came here.

...

"...Hey Monk.? Where are you going dressed like that buddy?" a familiar voice stops you on the outskirts of the tree village.

"It's Anon, not Monk. And I’m sorry Peter, I have to go..."

"-What?"

"Say bye to others. Tell them I wish them the best and I appreciate all of you taking me in. But this isn't where I belong." you give him a gleeful smile before turning around.

And you're off.

Peter makes a few steps to follow you, but then he stops.

"Well fuck me, the horses got you good..." he chuckles in disbelief, but then he grins your way "Still,... good luck finding her."

***

You don’t remember the way in every detail, it was dark back then, the path was long and you weren’t even paying enough attention. Yet as if you knew subconsciously where to go. Each time you stumble upon something familiar that assures you the course is right.

It might be your good sense of orientation or it might be something else.

The way is taking a lot longer than it did before though, you didn’t have to hide from occasional ponies and take longer routes to avoid their settlements.

Until at last, you find yourself on the far edge of Ponyville. It might be dark already but you know this place too well to confuse it. It's just now that you’re standing here, so close to your destination… The doubts are popping out of nowhere.

It's been some time… does she even want to see you again..? Maybe she really just wanted to get rid of you. What happened that night-... what if you made it all up in your head?

The bittersweet goodbyes, the last kiss, maybe it never even happened or you just remember it differently from how it really was. Maybe you got it all wrong?

‘No…’

You’re already here, can’t just chicken out. You have to give it a shot, nothing in life is taken for granted.

‘Courage Anon!’

...And if you should fail or if she forgot, then you'll know that you've tried. So you take another step towards the sleeping Ponyville.

Where will you start searching though? Should you steal a balloon and fly up to her?

‘That actually sounds like a good idea. A crazy one, but a good one. ‘

You even still have the cloudwalking ring, it was in the poncho's pocket the whole time. So you stick your hand into the pocket, about to put it on… When you suddenly hear a female pony voice somewhere behind you:

"Oh my GOSH! A human on the loose!!"

"Stay back darling, I'll take care of him..." some stallion replies bravely.

And before you turn around, there's a magical aura around your body, preventing you from moving.

And then blackness...

....

...

..

***

The next thing you feel is your head hurting. Again… A few more good hits like that and you'll be retarded for life.

As your eyes open and you pick your head up from the hardwood ground, you see you're locked in a steel cage, set in a more or less empty room.

Judging from the light shining through the windows and sounds from the outside of the house, it must be morning already. ...Or even noon.

But you don’t have a lot of time to think about it, because you suddenly hear a male pony voice behind the wall:

"So that's him, ma'am."

The door to the room opens and a pegasus mare is standing there. The bright sun behind her is letting you see only a dark shape of her silhouette so you swiftly stand up straight, trying to see better.

"Miss Dash?"

The pegasus steps away from the sunlight, letting you recognize the six colours of her mane and a bright blue coat. She looks exactly the same as you remember her.

"Anon..? I-... didn't think I'd ever see you again." her voice rings in your ears. The one that you couldn’t stand back then but now you’re so happy to hear it once again.

You almost didn't notice the stallion entering with her, handing her the tag from your collar:

"We found this on him so we called you right away..."

The mare takes your tag in her hoof and glances at it, then back at you:

"You came back... because of me?"

And there's so incredibly much you want to say:

“I love you.”

“I'm sorry.”

“I should have never left.”

But instead you just nod.

"Open the cage please..." Rainbow Dash says to the stallion without taking her eyes off you.

"But ma'am, he isn't leashed and you don't know-"

"I said: open the cage,.. okay?" she frowns at him, sternly enough to tell she isn’t asking.

"Right away..." the lock turns, setting you free if you wanted to run. But you're patiently waiting inside.

"Thank you,.. can you give us a minute now?"

"Sure..." the stallion reluctantly turns around.

And when the door shuts behind him, your mistress enters the cage with you.

...

Silence is now filling the void of the bars around you.

And you're a little afraid of looking her straight in the eyes, as much as you'd want to. But the pegasus suddenly seems unusually timid as well, now that there’s only two of you.

"...So....... how have you been?" she speaks eventually.

"Good, good, I was-..... I wasn't doing that good actually. I mean,.. it was exactly what I hoped for all those months, but..."

"But..?"

"I uhh,.. well, how have YOU been?"

"Okay,.. I guess... I tried cooking. I thought I learned a little bit from you except... I-...didn't." Rainbow chuckles very softly under her breath "Who knew pancakes can burn so easily..."

...

Seeing her smile, even for a short second, lightens you up a little too, giving you both some confidence to look at each other. And only when you glance into her eyes, you're slowly finding the right words:

"...Miss Dash, what I really meant to say was: that freedom was good, but I experienced something far better than that."

"What was it?" she almost stutters, blowing away an orange strand of mane from her face, that she was nervously hiding behind till now.

You slowly kneel down to be at the same height level with her and take a deep breath:

"Your presence... I missed you..."

"I-....never in my life I thought I'd hear you say that..." the mare takes a single step back.

...

...It's loud and lively outside, ponies speaking and laughing on the market, yet through those eternally long two second she pauses for, it feels as if the room was drowning in utter stillness.

...

"...But I missed you too Anon..." her hooves suddenly wrap around your body.

You could never sense her hugs coming, it always irritated you but now you're so happy to hug her back, burying your face into her fluffy mane. Smelling her sweet scent, one you so desperately wanted to forget.

"...I couldn't believe it when I was told to pick you up here."

"I'm so sorry it took me this long to realize that I should have never left...... But I'll do anything you want me to now. Just please forgive me, take me back..."

"Anything you say...?"

...Hearing her say that makes you hesitate for a split second, wondering again whether you're doing the right thing, but… she's the sole reason why you abandoned the tribe and your freedom. Because you love her. Even if it meant, having to take on the role of her pet again:

"Anything, my mistress..."

"Then I have but one request for starters..." she whispers into your ear with evident amusement.

"..What is it?" you swallow the saliva in your mouth and look her in the eyes, partly letting go of the hug. You're prepared for whatever the test she has for you.

But the pegasus just chuckles over your determined expression:

"...Would you stop calling me ‘mistress’, Anon?" her hoof softly touches your face, booping your nose "We left each other as equals."

"Y-you really mean that..?"

"I do, because..." she smiles excitedly, taking a deep breath,.. but then she hugs you again instead: "..nevermind, I'll tell you everything later. Now I'm just so happy to have you back."

"I'm happy to be back." you smile too, enjoying her warmth and that lovely feeling around your heart "....How should I call you then?"

"However you want, doesn't matter to me..." she chuckles upon glancing into your eyes once more.

"So I can still call you "mistress" sometimes...?" you snicker back and poke her fluffy chest.

"I can't believe you'd end up being into that, you're such a dumbass Anon,..." Rainbow Dash giggles, impishly grinning "But hey, can’t say that it wasn’t fun sometimes."

"In that case, do I have permission to kiss you now, my mistress?" a wide grin forms on your face.

"No,.. you have a straight up order to do so." her expression reflects the same, frisky amusement.

And she doesn't need to say twice.

Before she gasps, you already press your lips against hers.

But as eagerly as you start, the slower you progress to relish the moment, until you become almost still, merely exchanging breaths. Then you open your eyes to gaze into those mesmerising magenta circles and deep black pupils that she's watching you with. It's as if they were pulling your very soul in, to lose yourself with her and dance above the clouds together.

...Does she even have any idea how she's making you feel?

Although maybe she does, because she kisses you again, hungrily moistening your lips with her saliva as you're both about to take it a little further.

First you get a feel of her teeth with your tongue, tracing each one of them before they let you through. But it's Dash, who follows with even greater desire by slipping deep into your mouth and twisting the appendages together.

She tastes the same she did on the day you kissed her goodbye, except everything else is completely different this time. She was gentle and almost cautious back then, now this mare is full of desire, knowing there's nothing to fear.

It was so bittersweet before, because you both knew that the more you'd allow yourself to enjoy it, the more will it hurt in your memory. But now it's the sweetest, most sincere moment you've had together so far. One that you dare to indulge in with your whole being.

Your hands are fondling and caressing the pegasus, tracing all of her elegant curves, every little detail you never appreciated until now. Her body was exciting you before only for the purpose of dominating it but now you're loving it's peculiar beauty. She feels so dainty and fragile in your arms in this moment, while other times so bold and even stronger than you, it's all so confusing but all so wonderful at the same time.

And you're standing together yet again, not as a master and a slave,..

...a mistress and a pet,

...or a pegasus and a human.

But as two lovers,

...two equals.

And it never felt so right to be here…

...

Then your lips part but you remain so close to each other that your noses still touch. Her eyes, prettier than all of the human girls back in the refuge, playfully gaze into yours.

"...What will happen now, mistress?" you smirk.

"I'm taking you home of course.~" the mare smirks right back but then her smirk fades a little "...But seriously Anon, things will never be the same they used to be."

"...Better?" your hand fondles her shoulder.

"Yeah..." she smiles, although she couldn't hide her worries behind it "Definitely better. I just... don't know what to tell ponies when they ask..."

"About me, is that it..."

"Not just you,.. Gosh Anon, why am I so scared suddenly?..." her heartbeat rises.

"It's okay... Tell them whatever you want, I can still pretend to be your pet in front of them."

"Not only I don't want to but I literally can't do that now... I love you and-"

"I love you too." you softly interrupt her with a short kiss "...I'll do anything to not be a burden to you."

And with a look into her eyes, you can feel the tenseness in her slowly softening down into a smile.

"...I know.... And you won't. Everything will be okay."

"....So what can I do?"

"Nothing right now-... unless..."

"Tell me, anything."

"You could help me out with those pancakes I messed up before. Make sure I won't burn my kitchen down again." she chuckles under her hoof.

"You want me to teach you how to cook?"

"Something like that."

"You have no idea how gladly." you laugh "...You know I used to be so frustrated about you, watching me behind my back. At least the first days. ...Were you really just trying to pick up some knowledge? Why didn't you just ask?"

"I dunno, I guess I just liked watching you. And you didn't really look like you wanted an apprentice." Rainbow smirks and stands up from the ground, eyeing at your body "...Thinking back of the days. I might have another "thing" you could help me out with.~"

"Sure. What will it be?"

“Do you really have to ask?” the mare just flickers her tail from side to side, biting her lip with an impish simper on her face:

"Oh, I see..." you grin, standing up as well "I take it as an order."

"Not here though... Let's get you home first."

"Of course. I wasn't thinking-"

"But I was." she laughs, cutting you off and nodding her head towards the door, already taking a first step out of the cage "Come on, I can't wait..."

...

You follow the colorful pegasus to the room she came here through just before. There's a big window, letting in an almost blinding amount of light from the noon sun, and in front of it is a desk with the same stallion that gave your "mistress" the tag back. He's dressed in what seems to be some kind of uniform, probably some local law authority. But since the ponies don't exactly commit too many crimes, he surely must have a lot of time on his hooves and he's likely dealing only with some small things. Like lost pets for instance. Which must be why he's so eager to know about what's going on.

"So you're going ma'am? Spent quite a time in there, I was just gonna check on ya, in case he might have attacked you or something."

"Oh, yeah. I can't thank you enough for finding me Anon again." Rainbow Dash smiles his way, then yours, softly biting her lip "But we'll be going now."

"You might want to put that leash in your saddlebag on him though... Wouldn't want him running around the Ponyville and scaring ponies in case he flees once more."

"Hey sherrifferino, I can assure you I'm not planning any fleeing." you smirk his way

But the stallion just frowns at you, not exactly pleased you're answering instead of your owner:

"Yea as if,.. I know you humans, only mouthful of lies and-."

"Not this one.. Come on, let's go Anon." Rainbow Dash quickly cuts him off and pushes you outside the door before he protests any further.

...

You remember how this treatment used to upset you, but it doesn't anymore. Had a lot of time to realize that the mare was just so used to having to do this with her tortoise, she was just automatically treating you the same. ...And she still hasn't completely stopped with this bad habit. Except now it's easy to forgive her, knowing there was always a good intention in what she's done. ...At least most of the time that is, not always. But you love her exactly the way she is.

And you're really proud to walk right next to her through the busy Ponyville, while getting all the looks from ponies because you don't have a leash, nor a collar.

It doesn’t take long until you bump into a first familiar face:

"DASHIE YOU GOT YOUR HUMAN BACK!!1!1!" a pink tornado called Pinkie Pie bounces up the two of you "HI ANOON!! SO HAPPY YOU'VE DECIDED TO RETURN!"

"How did-"

But before you even get to ask, she stuffs a cupcake into your mouth. One that she must have pulled out of another dimension because you can swear you didn’t notice any pockets on her.

"Hey, Pinkie..." Rainbow Dash smiles and coyly scratches her head "I'm happy too! I just didn't think-"

Too late, the pegasus has a mouthful of cupcake, whether she likes it or not.

"I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL EVERYPONY! especially Twilight! She was so UPSET about him leaving, but now he's back! WOHEEEE!!! BYEEEEEEEEE, YOU TWO!!!"

And she's gone again, before you get to realize what exactly is going on. Leaving you there, chewing on the 4d cupcake.

...

"....Twilight was upset about me, leaving?" you glance at Rainbow Dash after swallowing the sweet pastry.

"...I may have told ponies you simply ran away,... I mean, I couldn't tell them I set you free, plus I thought I'd never see you again. So yeah, Twilight was pretty angry at you."

"Does that mean I'm getting murdered now?"

"Nah, relax." the colorful mare chuckles "It's just Twilight. She's cool."

"Oh yeah..." you cringe both internaly and externaly over your inevitable "talk" with the purple magic nazi.

"Hey don't be afraid of her, okay?"

"I'm not afrai-... okay, maybe I am. You have no idea how scary unicorn magic is when it's used against you."

"Don't worry, I'll explain you've returned on your own and I certainly won't let you stay alone in a room with her again." she pats your thigh with a little grin before she starts walking the direction to the good old balloon platform.

"Okay, hope that'll be enough....."

...

Once you get there and everything’s ready for an ascension towards the cloud city, you lean over the basket edge, watching the ground slowly shrinking under you. It’s one of the sights you almost always enjoyed before.

Dash knows about it, so she doesn’t interrupt you, she’s merely quietly observing with you. That is, until you break the silence yourself at some point:

"How does it feel..? To fly."

"Completely amazing..! Like, the wind flowing around and everything..! It's actually really hard to describe without actually letting you feel it yourself..."

"I thought so..." you grin "...I always really admired it."

"Flying?"

"Yeah, I think it's beautiful... Do you think I could see you once, when you have that show of yours? ..With Thunderbolts?"

"Wonderbolts.." she laughs and affectionately leans a little closer, so that your bodies touch "I'd love to take you there one day... I would have done that sooner, I just had no idea you'd actually care to see it."

"Well I do now." you smile and seemingly randomly bump her nose with yours ".....There's a lot more things I kinda care about, but never really admitted."

"That reminds me... I found all your drawings Anon."

"Y-you did?" your face goes all red as you awkwardly pull away from kissing her.

When you left them there, you didn't think you'd see the day you'll be confronted with their contents again.

"Of course I did, it wasn't hidden or anything. ...You draw real good." Dash says almost casually.

"Thanks..."

...You expected more of a reaction over the many pictures of herself. It’s actually better this way though because-

"...But I had no idea I was SUCH an inspiration to you back then." the pegasus suddenly snorts in an undisguised amusement "I thought you hated me."

"I thought so as well..." you sheepishly scratch your hair "Because I couldn't get you out of my head. Ever since we met."

"Well,.. you stayed in mine too, I couldn't explain that to myself either.... It began when I looked closer into your eyes. You remember that moment too, do you?"

"I do." your chin rests onto the basket edge, your eyes staring into the sky "...Maybe if we met each other under better circumstances, we could have skipped those months of fighting, straight to something like this..."

"Yeah...." Rainbow wonderingly leans her head right next to yours, looking the same direction.

"...But that would take all the fun away." you smirk her way.

"Definitely..." she snickers.