I woke with the heavy weight of loss and confinement stepping on my back . The air around me was stale and stank of animals. It smelled like fear, confusion, and the loss of all hope...
Well, that sucks! I thought I was supposed to be writing a comedy? No, screw that intro. I’ve got a better one.
My eyes opened and I immediately recoiled at the foul odor that assaulted my nostrils. It was like sticking your nose in a cellar with fermenting cheese wrapped in piss soaked towels! Yuck!
I clamped my hooves over my nose and sat up, as I nearly choked on the thick foul air. “Ugh, who died?” I moaned and took a moment to let my eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Bouncing slivers of light cut across the darkness and revealed my new prison... The back of an Animal Control van. I was also in a dog cage on another cage below me. Actually, there were cages from one side of the van to the other in a tight wall. Most of the other cages were empty, except for the sleeping pitbull that was in the cage below me.
Well, that figures, I thought, huffing a laugh. I’m not sure why I found this situation funny, but... I’ll figure it out later. The first thought that struck me was getting out of this cage. Then sticking a twelve foot pole up the ass of the person who put me in here.
“Well, first things first.” I mumbled and stared at the latch that kept the cage closed. Did someone really think that would keep me in here? I shook my head and nearly laughed again. Seriously, what’s so funny?
The familiar blue glow of magic emanating off my horn illuminated the van for a moment as I took hold of the lock with my magical grip. But I stopped and held the lock upright for a moment, staring at the shapeless form of magic that surrounded it. It was blue, as I could remember, but flecks of green were swirled into it as well. Talk about trippy! It crossed my mind as absurd and unimaginable. I let the latch drop and pulled the glob of magic back into the cage for a closer inspection. Sure enough, the natural blueish color of the magic faded into a half and half of emerald green and sapphire blue. I sat there, dumbfounded by the amazing discovery.
I half-smiled and poked the waving form of solid magic, then proceeded to unlock the cage with a newfound sense of optimism and hope... Which was slowly popped by the van hitting a bump and I was knocked out of the cage and landed on my ass on the floor.
Despite the pain in my rear end I wobbly started standing up on my hooves. Although the constant jarring of the van threw my off my balance, I was able to stand for about twenty seconds before I landed on my chin, then matched eyes with a sad looking pitbull whom rested his head on his paws. A dog tag in the shape of a bullet hung of his neck slightly off to the side. The named “Cojack” was etched into the metal.
Naturally, I was somewhat intimidated by the dog, but soon felt a strong sense of empathy for him. He was trapped, just like I was... And didn’t look very happy. I bet if he were me, he’d let me out...
And so I made the first stupid decision of my waking hour.
KA-CHIK!
The latch opened and I soon found being nearly ran over by sixty pounds of big scary dog. The impact was hard enough to knock the breath out of my lungs. So, I just stared up at the dog, breathless and afraid... But fear gave way to the feeling of being challenged. Truth be told, I felt a number of conflicting emotions. Fear, for one was colliding with my feeling that I should fight back. Not just lay here and wait to become a meal.
The burning sensation of conflict was welling up inside my chest as I matched glares with the snarling dog. I grit my teeth and furrowed my brow, then did the one thing that came naturally when dealing with something like this... I
I flicked the dog on his nose with the tip of my hoof.
“Bad dog!” I yelled in a commanding voice and before I could stop myself, “Sit!”
I’m such a genius sometimes...
Now, I know what you’re thinking. That I’m a huge idiot and I’m SO dead right now. But I’m not. So sit back down and take a sip of that delicious beverage you keep nearby and relax. Or, ya know, you can go get a snack and come back... I’ll be waiting.
No, seriously, go ahead, I’ll be here.
Back?
Okay.
Cojack, who was a very big and mean looking dog, stopped snarling and retreated almost instantly. I sat up and stared at him for a second before he sat his scared heiney down.
Huh... Well, that’s much better!
As I climbed back onto my hooves, I stared at Cojack curiously. The fact he sat at my command showed some sort of training... And hearing it from a little quadruped probably scared the hell out of him. I’d be scared too if a crazy little pony was yelling at me.
“Lay down.” I said cautiously and pointed a hoof to the floor, seeing if my command over canines would last.
He did lay down, to my surprise. He stared back up at me as if he were waiting for another command.
“Good boy... Cojack.” I mumbled and rubbed his head. He replied with a loud happy bark which brought a smile to my face. Here I was expecting to get into a mad dash for survival against a dog of all things, but this turnout was a lot nicer. The moment of peace I held as I pet the massive dog and he rubbed his head against my hoof was something I planned on keeping in the old memory vault for months to come.
Minutes flew by as I sat in the back of a bouncing animal control van, petting and befriending the large dog. My mind wasn’t where it should be and I couldn’t have been more off topic at the time. I probably should’ve spent more time finding out where I was, and not teaching a dog how to give high-fives... Oh well.
The van screeched to a halt and the engine cut off. My heart lurched forward and I quickly ushered Cojack back into his kennel before anything else. I jumped back into mine and locked the cage shut with magic. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I was afraid. Ready to fight as well, but also very afraid.
“Got the new PAPA guard dog?” A voice outside of the backdoor said, sounding greedily happy to be there.
“Yeah, and the you-know-what.” Said another male voice. The jingling of keys could be heard and the door was flung open. Light flooded in and blinded me...
^v^v^v^
Five Hours Ago...
“Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit...” Payton paced around in circles, glancing at the one thing that had ruined his shift at work. A pony in the back with the sweaters! A pony of all things! His mind was racing and he was rubbing his temples, trying to think of a solution. He didn’t want to be a part of this epidemic that was sweeping across the world. It’s bad enough that he works for a pony!
“Okay... Stay cool. Just...” He reached into his pocket and looked at his phone. He had connections that would make this go away. Make the little white, blue and green eyed pony go away.
Several numbers were dialed and he took in a breath. “I found one.” He says quietly, whispering to the silent listener on the phone. “You know where I am... Just get it out of here.” He hung up and closed the door to his delivery van, leaving the pony locked inside.
Not even an hour later, a large man dressed in all black and wearing tinted shades came around. He arrived in an old Cadillac, but Payton wasn’t very interested in what the man was driving. He was more interested in the empty burlap sack he was carrying with him.
“Payton Gilligan.” He said in a monotone voice. “Your services for the PAPA are greatly appreciated.”
No more than five minutes later, Payton watched as the man stuffed the limp and unmoving pony into the bag. There was a pang of guilt in his chest as he saw her face with a few strands of purple with gold-highlighted hair fall over her closed eyes. He shoved it away and waited for the man to leave.
Payton thought he had made the right choice in doing so. The pony couldn’t have been someone important. No way in hell. She was just a white pony with green and blue eyes, purple and gold hair and she had a horn. Didn’t sound like anyone important to him, so he finally felt satisfied as the car drove away. With the pony. Out of his life.
v^v^v^v
My eyes shot open and I gasped for air. The last thing I could recall from the animal control van was getting shot... By a gun. But I’m still alive! Yeah! Eat that, Cosmos! You just can’t kill me!
As I moved to sit up and congratulate myself, I found my hooves being stuck together... Someone had hog-tied me! And I hate to say this, but this isn’t the first time it has happened.. To make it worse, I was laying on a cold bed of concrete...
I grunted and moved my limbs, hoping to find some slack in the ropes that were digging into my hooves. To no avail, I was getting a little angry... Then I mentally face palmed. I’m a unicorn! I’ve got telekinesis for a reason!
The ropes slid off my hooves with ease after I pulled the knot out. I sat up and looked around. Wherever I was, it wasn’t any better than any of the other places I’ve been... For one, this place actually had big iron bars keeping me in a cell! Well, this sucks.
I took a look to my left and met the stare of a mare in the cell with me. She looked so surprised to see me. Hell, I was surprised to see her. I opened my mouth to say something, but just as I did, she looked as though she were going speak... And being the polite pony that I am, I waited for her to say something. Yet she paused just as I did.
This shit’s getting real annoying.
“Okay, if you’re gonna say something just say it.” The words left my lips and I found myself shocked to realize that the mare I was staring at? Wasn’t another mare. It was my reflection in a mirror. I hadn’t even recognized myself...
My mane, which I could’ve sworn was curly and completely purple at one point in time was now straightened out and highlighted gold. My eyes, oh, it’s my eyes that really caught me off guard. On my right was a perfectly normal sapphire blue eye. On the left was a dark emerald green one. You can imagine my surprise.
I was well aware that I was the combination of two minds. Rarity and Tony. I was... Raritony, I supposed you could say... But I was expecting to be in the intact body of Rarity Belle! Not this mish-mash of colors!
Although... I can’t say I don’t like the colors. It’s like I’m a completely different pony!
Which I am...
I tear my view from the mirror and stare at the bars in thought. I don’t look like Rarity... I smile and manipulate my mane into a shambled together bun on my head and take off my hoodie. I then tie it around my shoulders, completing my transformation...
Look out world. Here comes... Gold Belle. That sounds right. Right? No... That’s a bit lame... Nevermind. Just call me Raritony.