//------------------------------// // Enclosure or Closure: 18 // Story: Tentative Pet Pony // by Ponyess //------------------------------// As happy as I had been to be excused from school, this was never the way I had wanted it to happen, just the same, I had not wanted to come back and parade who and what I had turned into. Yet, fate conspired against me and Diamond Tiara. Even if it was in the name of Filthy Rich. Whatever he had in mind. Early in the morning, he had simply walked out to me and snapped the leach to my collar, before he continued to round Diamond Tiara, Snips and Snails up, as if we had been a herd of stray pets. I am sure he had had his time, enjoying his breakfast. Why would he forswear it, even if it is for but an hour and just this one day. I have no idea, but it isn't what I had expected out of him. Once we were all securely rounded up and gathered neatly, he walked out towards the street, leading us to the park, even if we stay here, for but half an hour, as much as I had loved and enjoyed the time there, each and every time we had gone there. I don't know why or what it was, though I know I had enjoyed it. He had resolutely marched us along the road, carefully choosing the path that avoided to have any of us on the street as much as possible, even if it had merely been for his comfort since it meant he could avoid walking on the rough pavement as well. Apparently, it had been very uncomfortable to him, just as it was to us and me. Only in the end, I realised he had still managed to take us right back to school and it is apparently not class. Resession was it called, right? I am not sure I care and now I need not know it. As a pet and Pony, it isn't my problem anymore, for which I am actually thankful. I'm not that ungrateful, even if some wanted to paint the picture that way. I know I had been mean to them, maybe I had asked for it. “Wait, I think you will enjoy staying here for a while!” Filthy had proclaimed as he leads us through the gate and into the yard surrounding school where Cherilee has her classes. “Snips and Snails made several excited neighs and whinnies as they trotted out on the grasses, making it impossible for the fillies and colts to ignore us. I wanted to tell them to just ignore me, but managed nothing more than a few indignant whinnies. If I couldn't run off, could I at least be permitted to sink through the earth or become invisible. Yet, since I am not a Unicorn, I could do no such things. I couldn't even as the two colts to do it for me. At least, not yet. Trying my best to hide behind Diamond Tiara is as far as I could stretch my limited abilities, which is exactly what she tried to. Just that both Snips and Snails made it hard to impossible to hide since they drew the attention towards themselves with their rambunctious behaviour. True to themselves, Snips and Snails moved about, trotting madly in any and all directions at once. I guess I had to hoof it to my grand old man, my owner did manage to stay one step ahead of each and every move, while keeping both me and my friend; Silver Spoon safe and out of harm's way, as well as out of the way of these to colts. I have no idea as to exactly how long I was to endure this. Yet, if this was prolonged much further, I would simply collapse on the ground of the school where I once had considered myself the more or less unquestioned Queen. Now a mere pet, not even a lowly servant. “Greetings, Cherilee!” Filthy greeted my former teacher. “Welcome, Filthy Rich. What a lovely surprise to see you on such a perfectly sunny day like this!” she responded. “This is a lovely day, indeed. Celestia and her weather patrols be blessed!” he spoke. As an hour to the day, the school yard had been fenced in securely, leaving only the gate open for the next pony to enter. “Her sun is truly blessing us. I am pleased to see you are quite well. I take it your transfer of the fillies and colts went well on your end. I hope they are going to learn everything they need to learn, now as I have no hoof in their education!” Cherilee pondered. “Thanks for mentioning. Yes, I am doing quite well. I am arranging for a new private teacher for them to be here within a few days. They will learn all they need to flourish. I take it your classes are quiet and enjoyable, the way you wanted them now?” he enquired. ”Even if not every pony love you, we need you and your talents. Besides, you have never bothered me, I have no cause of concern or contempt towards you. I am merely glad to hear they are getting the education they deserve. It may be earlier then customary, but if you feel they would do better learning from another teacher, one who can give them what they need, who am I to protest?” she pointed out. “The gate is securely closed, Cherilee!” Scootaloo informed her teacher after she had noticed the situation. “Then I could allow the colts a moment of freedom on the school grounds?” Filthy enquired. “Yes, certainly!” Cherilee responded with a nod. With the confirmation, he reeled in both the colts and released them from their respective leaches, only to see them burst of and spread out on the field, happy to be free to roam for a moment. “Would you please lead the fillies in, into the quiet confinement of the school building?” Filthy extended, indicated for Scootaloo to help his fillies since they were clearly distressed in the open. “Sure, why not. They seem to be manageable. I hope they are more comfortable inside, out of sight!” Scootaloo responded, accepting the two leaches and walked the pets inside. “I had never expected this to happen. He is quite a sophisticate, nice stallion if you don't have to compete with him. He has fine taste in pets, too!” Scootaloo though as she closed the door behind the pets, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “I fear they require more peace and quiet than the yard currently can provide. I may not be the expert like Fluttershy, but that doesn't make me a brute to my pets either. I like to enjoy the moments with my pets in ways you don't have in any other company!” he confided. “I think you should be quite safe in here!” Scootaloo pronounced, just after closing the door. I merely let out a slight whinny in relief upon hearing the words, it seems quiet and out of sight in here, after all. “How could it possibly come to this? The filly I had love to tease, now giving me sanctuary?” I thought quietly, incapable to voice the solitary thought as it hit me. As I sat down, Scootaloo pulled the leach from the collar, letting it hang from the back of her chair. I noticed she placed my leach to the right, while she placed Silver Spoon's to the left of the back of her chair. Not sure if there is any relevance or significance to the detail, or not. I just chose to take it the best possible way for my personal state of mind's sake. It made me feel more special, this way. “You are such a cute and adorable little pet pony!” she then spoke, in the manner one addressed one's pet. I couldn't reply, but I guess I could nod in response. I did know and understand what she said. There is nothing that prevented me to act upon what I was told. Then I noticed that my old chair and desk had been removed from the room already. For a moment I wanted to cry, but something stopped me. Was it something in his conditioning of me, or was it my pride, still as strong as ever. I knew I was proud and I did never hide this, why hide it now? “You are too small for me to ride, yet you are a perfectly adorable pet. Maybe I should ask my parents for a pet, just like you?” Scootaloo enquired. “Yes, maybe you should!” I thought, merely nodding in response, pondering just who would be pushed into the service as her pet. I could have laughed at the situation, had I not been the pet that made her say these words. Of course I couldn't laugh in the manner I used to, the way I would have, if she had said this, while I still was the girl in her class. Maybe she wouldn't even realise how I had laughed at the idea, or why. The mere notion did make me feel. Maybe not quite the joy I used to have in teasing her, back in the day, but still. Since I am a pony, I did not feel particularly inclined towards sitting or lying on the floor, the way a puppy would have. Besides, I can't really sit on a chair, my own or otherwise. With that, I just stand before her, looking quizzically at her as if it was something I wanted to ask her, something I wanted for her to do for me. Yet, I couldn't ask or make the point. I had to wait for her to choose to do, what I wanted her to do. This is when I realised, just what my tiara had meant all along; I am a show pony, even if it does look very much like the crown a Princess would wear, only not with the special sign of her position. Besides, I am an earth pony, not an Alicorn. I could never be a Princess as an Earth pony, as much as I may have resented it. --- --- ---