//------------------------------// // Ladybug, Chapter 26: What are you willing to pay? // Story: Rag Doll // by No one is home //------------------------------// “Do you wish you were young again?” The ragdoll laughed as it rode on the old mares withers.  “I could have so much fun with that… but Ghost Train, and reality anchors.  The sky is the limit… literally that is as far as your universe goes… if it goes that far.  Wish away, wish away, but just what will you pay?  Sorry, I gotta rhyme every time… you know, for gloomy.” “I don’t know what you’re prattling on about, doll.” The pegasus nag with the prune-colored fur, who didn’t even have a horn.  “And I don’t want to know how your doing that.  But you’ve given away your game.  All I have to do is lock you away.  A simple change in the paperwork and Little Miss Ladybird never had a doll.  She had a wad of unsanitary rags and debris her mind convinced her was a magical talking doll that helped her escape the tunnels.” “Wow, OC has a hella lot of documented backstory in this fragment.” The doll chuckled and shook his head with it’s passive smile.  “Girl actually has plot armor.  Ya know what, yeah, just lock me in a box and see how this works out for you.  One more shot at being reasonable.  Return me and the cell phone to Ocelia, or ‘Ladybird’? I guess is her pegasus name?” “Or else what?  You twist my every wish?  I don’t have to ask for anything.” The foul mare sneered, knowing fully well what the universe thought of her.  “In this one moment, I am the winner.  I have all the power, and all the magic is mine to take.  Honestly, what more could you give me?” “Besides the sweet release of nothing at all?”  The doll chuckled through it obligatory smile.  “The good news is you passed the interview.  Have you ever had to teach a dog to know when it’s okay to bite?  It’s hard, cause they’re good boys and don’t wanna think like that.  So we’re clear, you’re gonna lock me in a box.  And she’s gonna take me back over whatever is left of you.  Just remember I gave you a chance.” The mare swore for a moment that the doll’s button eyes winked as she closed the box. -=-=-=-=- “It’s how Head Nurse Opaline rules this fragment.”  The ghostly pink filly floated aimlessly about the room as she explained.  “She catches other ponies as they pass through and she locks them up and takes their stuff.  There’s not much to this fragment, really, it’s just the hospital, a few little bubbles of locations that logistically have to exist, and that’s pretty much it.  Good news, it should only take about 3 or four days in our-time to pass out of the fragment.  Bad news, yeah Opaline stole our magic.  That is how she do…” “I have to get my cel phone back.  It’s the only text record of my family that the still exists.”  The ladybug cast a baleful glance at a camera she knew clear as day was being watched.  “I am Ocelia Ladybug Pastel, the Crowned Mother Bucking Princess of Cuddle Muffins.  And I am asking very nicely that you return my cel phone.  You can play with my doll, if you really wanna… Until I call it back.” “Girl! Do you know what you even picked a fight with?”  Lilly squee’d and rolled everything but her head in place.  “I either got your back, or never met you before in my life.  I can’t decide!” “I’ve already lost what the Ragdoll will take from you to get back to it’s bearer.  This is kindness.”  The princess smiled as the tears ran.