April and Bubble sat in concern as Doctor Hoofwell checked Lydia. They had called as soon as she had began screaming. Now she laid there, calmly and peacefully. Yet there was something that left a sense of unease between the two. But what?
"Lydia's fine," Doctor Hoofwell announced after what seemed an eternity.
"She seemed to suffer a seizure brought upon by a psychotic episode of overwhelming anxiety. Can happen to any pony. All she needs is some rest, relaxation, and intense care for a few days."
As the doctor left, the two ponies walked over to the bedside.
"Maybe it's just me," April said.
"But I feel like there's something missing to that. Or the doctor isn't telling us all that he knows."
"If we knew why she had so much anxiety," Bubbles added.
"Maybe we could figure out how to counteract it."
"Seems easier said than done."
The two gazed at Lydia.
"Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of hers," Bubbles pondered.
"She always seems to be thinking and creating. Perhaps that's why she had so much anxiety?"
"We can't rule that out, but it looks to be more serious. Much more serious."
Suddenly they both heard a voice call to them.
"April. Bubbles," it purred.
"Wha--? Who's there? Show yourself!" April shouted as she attempted to fly.
It gave an evil laugh.
"Oh, what fun. What mystery. You need not know much. Just that I am....a friend."
Suddenly a strange smoke began to overtake their vision, moving such that they could not look away.
"What? Tell us who.....you....are...." Bubbles started before giving in.
A moment of silence overtook them as the world of colored circles filled their minds and filled their nerves with a feeling of relaxing numbness.
"That's all you must know," it purred slowly.
"Understand? I am a friend. I am your friend."
"Our friend," the two droned in unison.
"I am your master."
"You are our master."
"All I tell you from now on is pure and true."
"Pure and true....."
"And you shall obey without question."
"Obey....without question."
"It pleases you to obey me."
"Pleases to....obey."
"To disobey me gives you a feeling of intense pain. Unbearable pain."
"Disobedience is pain."
"And it is only relieved by obedience to your master. It becomes pleasure to obey my every word."
"Obedience....is pleasure."
The voice laughed in villainous delight. He would enjoy using his new slaves. And because he had them, he would have what he wanted in the first place.