//------------------------------// // Chapter Four, or "Rope Bondage Is (Mostly) Wrong To Use Against Fillies" // Story: Ponies Und Jaegers // by zakueins //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle woke up on Monday morning, tired and enthusiastic.  Tired was easy, she had spent most of Sunday with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom in Jagery testing.  A lot of it, it seemed, involved sitting very still while ponies strapped wires onto your body and asked you silly questions and to do silly things.  Which didn’t sound very tiring, unless you were doing it for about ten straight hours, with only breaks to pee and eat.  Then, it got very tiring. Well, at least the adults seemed happy.  It sounded like the Cutie Mark Crusaders would be a team-“high Drift compatibility” was one of the things said a lot around them.  And, from what she had read, that was a good thing.  So, there was her enthusiasm. Shower, brush out the hair, brush the teeth...and, look for Rarity. Almost always, Rarity was up before Sweetie Belle, making breakfast and wanting to talk with her before she left.  If she wasn’t up now-and her coat and scarf were on the coat rack-she was at home somewhere.  Rarity’s bed hadn’t been slept in, and that really left only one place.  So, carefully, Sweetie Belle went into Rarity’s Inspiration Room. After the last time that Sweetie Belle had...helped, her and Rarity had worked out a way to keep them both sane.  First thing was the “Worst!  Possible!  Thing!” trashcan that served several purposes, not the least was something for Sweetie Belle to toss when things in it started to smell bad.  Second, the agreement that certain things that were left out-pins, scissors, anything else sharp-could be put away as long as they went in their proper places.  Third, and most important, if Rarity was dead asleep having worked on some project in the middle of the night, there was a proper and suitable way of waking her up while she was in the Inspiration Room. So, first thing that Sweetie Belle did was to check on Rarity-whom had clearly fallen asleep in the middle of a project, her head resting on a pillow made by a thick sheath of satin fabric.  She was muttering in her sleep, “Usagi-chan, don’t worry, Rei isn’t one of those hetrosexuals that you hear about…,” which clearly meant that she was in the middle of an interesting dream. Of course, one of the other rules was that unless Rarity was sick or had previously left notice, she was to wake up with Sweetie Belle and see her off to school.  So, Sweetie Belle left for the kitchen to set up the proper and suitable way of waking Rarity up. Which was pouring a glass of ice water down Rarity’s back. She woke up sputtering, “Béni Saints!” and snapped fully over, falling onto her back.  “Sweetie Belle, dear, what…” “You were asleep on your work table,” Sweetie Belle said, carefully putting the glass down. “And, stressed out-you’re tossing French in again.” Even Rarity had to smile at that.  Early on in her fashion career, Rarity started to pepper her Manehattan vocabulary with French words.  And, since she didn’t want to get caught being unable to speak French if somebody tried to “quiz” her on it, she did one of those “Learning French While You Sleep” programs.  Which worked with one side effect-if she was tired enough, stressed out enough, or both, she’d start to pepper her sentences with French terms and phrases.  “Oh, dear,” Rarity said, thinking.  “Monday, right?” Sweetie Belle nodded. “Good,” Rarity yawned. “Didn’t miss getting you out the door to school. I saw Twilight Sparkle last night, and…,” she rummaged around her papers with her magic until she found the filled out permission form. “Got your permission for you, so you can do Jaegery. Signed and everything.” Sweetie Bell smiled and hugged Rarity.  “Thank you.”  She put the form in her saddle bag, and watched as Rarity walked into the kitchen.  “Are you going to make breakfast?” “Sure I am,” Rarity smiled.  “I promised I would.” Soon enough, Sweetie Belle was on her way to the Ponyville school. She had gotten Rarity to promise to get a nap in during the day (Monday was always a slow day at the boutique), and was heading off to school when she ran into Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “Rarity got my permission slip early!” Sweetie Belle giggled in glee. “We’ll get yours today and we’ll go talk to Michelle Bluebottle.” “Yea!” Apple Blossom smiled. Even Scootaloo was happy. Of the three during training, Scootaloo seemed to take it as a real challenge and worked hard to get the best possible score during training. “So, what happens next?” “Well…,” Scootaloo said.  “Did you finish the history paper that was due today?” Apple Blossom and Sweetie Belle stopped in their tracks. “Oh, no,” Apple Blossom said, in shock.  “I forgot!” “Me too!” Sweetie Bell said, shaking her head. “What…” “Well,” Scootaloo said, fishing through her saddle bags. “I do happen to have your reports here. You just need to sign them and turn them in…” “You wrote our reports?” Apple Blossom asked, curiously. “Typed them, actually,” Scootaloo replied.  “Blame it on having a chance to get access to a computer this weekend.”  She smiled.  “I knew you’d forget.” “You,” Apple Blossom said, taking the paper, “are a life saver.” “And,” Sweetie Belle smiled, “it looks like the spelling is even accurate.” “Hey!” The announcement was at 2:30 pm, when Cheerlee looked around the class and said, “Kids, I have some news.  Princess Twilight Sparkle has an announcement to make, which might mean we won’t have to close the Ponyville school.”  She stuck her head through the door, and said, “Princess, if you would come in, please.” Twilight Sparkle came in, and found her “speaking in public, without lecturing” setting.  “Hi there.  It turns out that Ponyville does have Jaegers, so we’re going to be putting together a Jaegery program and putting the team up against the other teams in our district this year.  Since we’ve only got a short period of time to get a team together, it’ll be a lot of hard training and work. “And,” she said, looking around the room.  “You won’t be allowed to slip on your classes for it!  I’ll be helping out with the training, and be assured you won’t miss any assignments.  Now, I have copies of the parental consent forms and everything you need to know about Jaegery.  I’ll also be here to answer questions as well.” As the students started to gather around Twilight Sparkle, to answer questions and get forms, one little blank-flanked filly started to shy off into a corner.  This little Earth pony had a short, well-kept mane of black and dark brown fur, and she was clearly trying to figure out a way that would get her to the door without anybody asking her if she wanted to be in Jaegery.  Her body was quivering slightly...in absolute terror. So, it spoke well of her that when the Cutie Mark Crusaders lept out and said, “Hello!”...there wasn’t a big brown stain on the floor. “Um, hello,” the little filly replied, carefully. “We’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Scootaloo said.  “I’m Scootaloo, and this is Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.  We’re helping Twilight Sparkle put together the Jaegery program.” “That’s...great,” the little filly said softly.  Maybe if she was really quiet and small, they would go away… “You’re Michelle Bluebottle, right?”  Sweetie Belle asked.  “Your aunt moved into town a few months ago and she sells Rarity the really high quality dyes?  Rarity loves them, says they’re some of the best dyes she has ever used.” “Yes…,” Michelle Bluebottle said, trying to make herself even smaller.  Perhaps she could squeeze herself even smaller and out of existence… “Well, while we were doing research, we’d found a magazine on Jaegery that had a photo last year that looked an awful lot like you, but was named Michelle Steelheart,” Apple Bloom asked.  “So, we wanted to ask…” It took her a second to realize that she was talking to thin air, as Michelle had clearly managed to leap at the nearest window, open it up, and start running away at top speed, in less than a second.  “Dang,” Apple Blossom said, in sheer amazement.  “Girl must be part unicorn, I think she teleported part of the way out of here.” “After her!”  Scootaloo yelled. Michelle...Bluebottle, that was her name now, it had to be her name now, was running hard.  The tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she could barely see out of her eyes.  The emotional blender inside of her was so full of contradictions she could barely make out what she should be feeling.  The first emotion was anger.  Anger because she had escaped.  For nearly eight months, she had made a new life, away from her mother, away from Jaegery, away from what happened in that battlefield barely a year ago.  But, her mother would never let her go.  Michelle had convinced her aunt to come to Ponyville.  It didn’t have a Jaegery program.  There was a market for what her aunt made.  And, for a few months...she was happy. And her mother had found her.  Had put the authorities on notice that Ponyville didn’t have a Jaegery program.  And, she had read her transfer notice-it was to Saint Megana.  She hadn’t escaped.  It was either go back to where she would be her again...or admit her mother was right. And that hurt more than any injury she could imagine. The next emotion was sadness.  She loved being in Jaegery.  She hated to give it up.  But, to be in it meant that mother would show up at some point.  That she would have to be involved in what happened last year.  She had made the right decision, everybody had said so...except mother.  Michelle had lost so much, and the pain from the psychic scar tissue she created and had ripped off was unbearable. The next emotion was frustration.  She had cut her mane and tail.  She liked her mane.  Michelle was very proud of it.  She changed how she combed her fur, how she wore her bags, how she talked.  And, she gave it up to blend in better.  To hide.  To… Mostly, to get hit in the side by Apple Blossom, whom knocked Michelle off her hooves and the two of them tumbled for a minute until Apple Bloom had managed to pin Michelle down.  “Stop running!” Apple Bloom yelled at Michelle. “No!” Michelle screamed back, trying to force Apple Blossom off her.  But, Apple Bloom was quite a bit bigger and heavier due to her work on the farm.  Her frame had a lot of solid muscle on it. “Michelle, if you will calm down, I will get off of you.  You were about to run into the Evergreen Forest!  There are things there that eat ponies that don’t look around,” Apple Bloom said, remembering what Big Macintosh had said about scared ponies-calm and cool and collected when you talk to them. “So?” Michelle yelled through her tears. “What do you care about that or me?” “I don’t want to see you hurt,” Apple Bloom said, still pinning down the struggling Michelle Bluebottle. “Nopony deserves what happens to them if something in the forest gets them.” “So?” Michelle was screaming now, her voice hoarse through the strain on her vocal cords.  “I’ll just run...run somewhere else!” Apple Bloom sighed.  This wasn’t going to end well.  But...she couldn’t let the little filly get hurt.  “Scootaloo,” she said, looking over at her friend. “Yea?” “Get a rope.” “Let me get this straight,” Twilight Sparkle said, after the Cutie Mark Crusaders had brought the bound up Michelle Bluebottle back to the school. “First, you ask her if she’s really Michelle Steelheart, then she runs out of the school.  After that, you chase her, knock her to the ground, and then tie her up to bring her back here.  The only thing that might keep all three of you from getting into serious trouble is that she was running towards the Evergreen Forest, and I could make it sound like you were trying to keep her from being harmed,” Twilight Sparkle facehoofed for a second and glared at the three Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Please, please don’t do this again. Okay?” “Sure, Twilight…,” Scootaloo said, nodding. “And, thank you.” “Okay...now,” Twilight Sparkle walked over and realized that Michelle was very completely tied up and gagged.  And, in a way that was so very well done that she could have been like that for hours without any harm.  “Apple Bloom, where did you learn how to do this?” “Sort of how we tie up hogs on the farm,” Apple Bloom said.  She started to look worried.  “Just made sense to do it this way.  Is there a problem?” “Other that a possible future career as a dominatrix,” Twilight Sparkle muttered under her breath so softly only she could hear.  She faced Michelle and said, “I’m going to take the gag off.  You do understand that you were about to run into somewhere that was very dangerous, right?” Michelle nodded.  “And, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were trying to help.  Right?” Michelle nodded again. “Okay…,” Twilight Sparkle took the gag off and took the ropes off as well. “How are you doing?” Michelle didn’t answer, got to her hooves, and shook her head.  “I’m...okay.  Not happy, but okay.  And...I’m not going to be in Jaegery.” “But…,” Sootaloo started to quiver.   “You’re Michelle Steelheart, I started to read up on you, you were one of the youngest Princepis Primus on record.  You were the reason why Saint Megana had such a great record the last three years and…” “SHUT UP!!!” Michelle screamed.  “I’m not Michelle Steelheart anymore.  I’m not...her anymore.  Just, please…” Everypony waited for a second.  Then, Michelle sat on her flanks and started to cry.  “I...gave it all up after last year.  My mother...she…,” Michelle sniffed.  “She didn’t understand why I did it.  When I tried to explain...please.  I don’t want to be in Jaegery again.  I’m...sorry...if the school is closed because of it, but I can’t.” “Michelle,” Twilight Sparkle asked, calmly, “please.  What happened last year?  If you want to leave…,” Twilight Sparkle’s horn flared slightly, opening the door to the school room.  “You can leave.  None of us will stop you.  If you want to tell us, we’ll listen.” Michelle looked at Twilight Sparkle-expression hopeful and warm.  The Cuite Mark Crusaders, brimming with enthusiasm. Then, she walked towards the door.  Walked part of the way through when, of all people...her sister’s words ran through her head. I won’t let fear dictate who I am. Those words made her stop as if she had run into a stone wall.  Even her sister had left her...but, those words, they mattered so much to her.  Michelle Steelheart had never let fear dictate who she was. And, Michelle Bluebottle couldn’t let fear dictate who she was, either. “I won’t let fear dictate who I am,” Michelle muttered under her breath.  Then, she turned around. “I won’t promise anything,” she said to Twilight Sparkle.  “And, please, for now, don’t ask me why I’m not back at Saint Megana.  Or why I’m out of Jaegery.  Please.  But...I will try.  If you will let me.” “Michelle,” Twilight Sparkle said gently.  “That is all I ask.  Nothing more.  When you get your permission form signed, we’ll start Jaegery training this weekend.” From the back, the Cuite Mark Crusaders let out the breath that they had been holding-and stopped turning slightly blue.  Then, with a wheezing pant, said, “Cuite Mark Crusaders, yay!” Twilight Sparkle had agreed to walk Michelle home.  The Cuite Mark Crusaders were more than willing to do so, but Twilight made the claim she had something to do on the way there.  That, and she genuinely expected that the CMC would drive her nuts and she’d refuse to go into Jaegery again.  And, Twilight Sparkle knew was the rule was for this situation. She kept the conversation light with Michelle.  Schoolwork, what her aunt did, and how long she had been in Ponyville.  Michelle answered her questions, mostly in simple “yes” or “no” answers, but the answers got longer as they walked along.  Eventually, Michelle asked Twilight Sparkle about being an alicorn.  About the spell she had discovered that lead her this far.  And, a few questions about Princess Celestia-Michelle clearly had a young foal crush on Celestia. And, Michelle clearly needed some distracting.  Twilight Sparkle deliberately kept her course so that they swung a little bit wide of the school and back into town to her house.  By the time they made it to the little house on the corner, Michelle was enthusiastically asking about the last time Twilight Sparkle had tea with Princess Celestia in Canterlot.  She was in the middle of a question when she saw her house.  “Oh, wow…,” Michelle said, a little embarrassed that she finally noticed she had gotten home.  “Thank you.  And, thank you for answering all my silly questions.” Twilight Sparkle tried on one of Princess Celestia’s “I’m glad you were asking” smiles, and it clearly worked for Michelle.  “They aren’t silly questions, they’re your questions, and you wanted to know more.  And, I’m always willing to help.” Michelle blushed so hard it almost looked like she was bruising her fur.  “Still...thank you,” Michelle replied, and walked to the door.  “When will training start for Jagery?” “We’ll have our first training session on Saturday-once you get your permission form in,” Twilight Sparkle nodded.  “And, thank you.” “Um…,” Michelle said, thinking hard.  “Thank you.  I...I’m sorry I did what I did back there.” Twilight Sparkle blushed slightly.  “You’re welcome.  I hope to talk with you again soon.” Michelle closed the door, and Twilight Sparkle smiled.  As she walked home, she felt oddly confident.  This Monday was turning out a lot better than Friday, when she didn’t have any hopes of helping the fillies of Ponyville.  The road ahead was rough, to be certain-but Twilight Sparkle had gotten her friends through worse. She walked home, a bit of a spring in her step and a happy expansion of her wings. Michelle stood inside her door, mildly shocked. “Princess Twilight Sparkle...likes me,” Michelle whispered, shocked. Then… “Princess Twilight Sparkle wants me to go back into Jaegery,” she said, a bit louder. A second later...then, “Sweet Faustia, Celestia, and Luna, I’m going back into JAEGERY!” she all but screamed into the air.  If she was back in Jaegery, that mean...she would run into her sister.  And her mother. She remembered her breathing exercises.  Getting yourself calm and in the right mental state for linking into the Drift was something that took calm-and if you could fake it for long enough, you could make it.  And, so, she made it. She was going to have to face it all again. She wasn’t going to let fear dictate who she was. So, that meant she had to win. A deep breath.  A stomp of her front left hoof. And, she went upstairs to bed.  It was going to be a long week. And an even longer school year this year.