//------------------------------// // To subjugate another is to subjugate oneself. // Story: What Defines A Soul? // by The Joeker //------------------------------// -The Abyss- I opened my eyes and I was... in a spectral plane... was I dead? "No, you are not dead." came a voice, I turned around to reveal a white Alicorn, with a dark blue mane at the top that trailed into peach coloured, it was very glittery and she had a swirling circle on her flank and her wing looked as if it were made of flame... then there was the one who spoke, a dark blue, almost black Alicorn with a mane of light purple that had a center of dark purple, and his wings were.. odd, parts of them floating. "You are simply dreaming." said the mare. "Just fantastic, who are you again?" I asked. "King Cosmos." "Queen Galaxia." they greeted. "Fox, Grey Fox." I introduced and held my hand out, they glanced at each other and began laughing, and it was contagious because I joined in! I wasn't a cyborg anymore either... "We just told you we are King and Queen and you held your hand out! for a shake!" laughed Cosmos. "Oh, that was good, most of the time when we introduced ourselves our ponies used to grovel at our feet... we just wished to fit in..." said Galaxia. "Sorry your highnesses." I said and did a fake bow. "So you were the right choice." said Cosmos. "Pardon your maje-" I started. "You can call us by our first names, you saved our babies after all." said Galaxia. "Although they are not little anymore." said Cosmos. "Princess Celestia and Luna?" I asked. "Yes, Tia and Lulu." said Galaxia sadly. "We cannot enter their dreams, we used to guide them and advise them sometimes, but now we can't, and we have no idea why." said Cosmos. "They do not even need it anymore, we just wish to say goodbye." said Galaxia. "Which is why you were the correct choice." Cosmos stated. "Choice? choice for what?" I asked. "They are lonely... both of them... more than they care to admit." said Galaxia. "Yes, they are..." confirmed Cosmos. "You will find out eventually, we fear the next part of your life will be... trying." said Galaxia. "Yes, we wish we could help you... but alas we cannot." said Cosmos. "Thanks, I guess." I said. "We must go now, good luck Grey Fox..." -3 months later Grey Fox's POV- As I woke up I noticed something rather strange... I was in a bed... a poster bed... was I back- ahh! Goddamnit everything hurts! I sat up and I saw a mare walk in with a picture of soap on her flank... I remembered they could talk... but not much else... Discord, I remember that... two others helped me... who were they? the face to the name... hell even the name is hard to remember. "Excuse me miss, could I get some water?" I asked, I noticed my normal clothes on a side table, a black hoodie, a beanie gray hat, Slazenger trainers, black Nike trackies and under my hoodie a plain black top. She gasped and ran out, I got up and tried to get my armor, but it was damaged. A second later she came back in with a... posh pony? is that possible? She held a tray in her mouth and I took the water, mouthing a thank you and I drank. "Ah, good, our guest is awake, come downstairs when you're ready." said the posh pony. I finished my water and dressed myself, I opened my bedroom door to reveal a massive interior, there must be about 10 bedrooms! I headed to the stairs and holy shit... It was amazing! I headed to the library, where the maids directed me to. Even the library was grand! I saw the posh pony sitting on a chair that looked fit for humans and I sat down by him. "Mares, get us some refreshments." said the posh pony. They complied and walked out. "This is a very nice house." I said. "It is, isn't it? my name is Gilded Cage but it's Mr. Gilded to you." he said. "G-" I stopped. "Jaeger, Frank Jaeger" I replied. The maids brought our refreshments in and quickly left. I had some cake and tea. "Enjoying yourself?" asked Gilded. "Yes." I said. "Good, I cannot wait to parade my new pet in front of the others." he said- wait what? "I ain't a pe-" I stopped as his horn flared and he zapped me with a jolt of painful electricity, suddenly a collar appeared on me! a shock collar. "Ahhh!" I yelled and fell to the floor on my knees. "Save your bowing for the Princesses, the Gala is coming up in a week or two, and I want you tamed before then, lets begin, up." he said. "Fuck- ahhhh!" I yelled as he zapped me. "That word was dangerously close to 'buck' so shall we try that again? get up." he demanded and I refused. He zapped me again and I yelled out. "Get... up." he said. "No." I said. "How dare you disobey me?! I am Gilded Cage! I am distantly related to Starswirl the Bearded! you are a bucking animal! fit and bred for nothing other than obeying!" he said and continued to zap me. He got me in a magic bubble, which tired him out and he threw me at a wall, which spun into a secret ro- oh fuck... It was a torture room! He came in after me and put me in a newly designed rack, obviously made for me specifically. because the bonds were damned near impossible to break, even for me. "You should be thankful! I dragged you out of that forest and healed you!" he said and got a knife ready, and got my top off, neatly at least. He cut into my side and I never made a sound. "Ah, I see you're resilient." he said and picked up what looked like something that goes around your neck, except he clamped it around my head and activated electricity. "Mmmmmm." I groaned rather than yelled. "Hmm, very resilient." he said and punched me with a hoof, to my satisfaction is hurt him as well. "Ahh, you're made of strong stuff." he said and grinned evilly. He picked up a... cattle brand? "This will signify you are my property!" he said and seared my chest. This time I let out an: "Ow! fuck!" and he hit me in the face with the hot part of the brand. "Ahh ahh ahh... no swearing." he said and waved the tool like a finger in the 'no' fashion. "Fuck you!" I said. "We will continue tomorrow, oh, and don't try to sleep, each time you do, you will be zapped, good day." he said cheerily and walked out. -7 hours later- As I struggled to keep my consciousness I saw the wall open and a maid walked in. I then write against my bonds. "It's ok, I;m not here to hurt you, just clean you up, the master wants you clean for his session in a few minutes." she said. I ceased struggling and resigned to the cleaning. "I'm sorry, you don't deserve this." she said. "How did you end up in his service?" I asked. "He bought me from a different noble, promised I would be safe..." she muttered. "I'm sorry." I said. "It's fine, the bastard will get what he deserves one day." said the maid. "What is your name?" I asked. "Bright Spot, kind of out of place." she chuckled. "You should run away Bright Spot, go." I said. "I can't, he has these collars on us as well, some of the other girls have had it worse than me, I take solace in that, but maybe that's because I'm not as old as the others." she said. "How old are you?" I asked. "13, going on 14." she said. "Holy fuck..." I aid and was zapped as Gilded walked in. "Remember what I said... ah good, you cleaned him, back to your duties." said Gilded to Bright Spot who bowed and quickly left, throwing me a sympathetic look. "Lets start again, how was your night?" asked Gilded. "Sleepless." I growled. "Excellent!" he said and let me down, I lunged for him but apparently if I ame within a certain proximity of him the collar set off and I fell to the floor grabbing at it. "If you tamper with it, it will make it tighter." he grinned. I stopped and he led me out of the room, we went back to the foyer and he put a leash on me... a fucking leash! I started toward him but the collar set off again. "You'd think an animal would learn." he said condescendingly and walked out of the house, dragging me along, after a minute he let me stand and walk. We walked the street of what I assumed to be a grand city, honestly, I didn't care. I held my head up proudly as I walked and he stopped at a stall. "Hello Fresh Fruit! do you have my order?" asked Gilded. "Yes, I do, what is that?" asked Fruit, referring to me. I was about to speak but he did it for me. "Thi is my new pet." he said. "I can speak for myself..." I said and he zapped me. "You refer to me as Master, got it?" he asked. I begrudgingly complied. "Animals should learn their place." said Fruit and turned away, he pulled me along to some of his stuck up friends. "I say, what is that old bean?" asked a pony with a monocle. "This is my new pet, I found him in the forest, I have been trying to tame him." said Gilded, that was it! I charged at him and the collar activated and I fell. "You see? he is kept in line." he said, but I got up and this time I resisted the shock, I kept moving toward him. "Stop! I command you! stop!" he said, he turned the voltage higher. I kept moving toward him, he was backed into a wall. "You will obey!" he yelled and allowed me to pass out, which I did...