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x by azenanon
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>The otherwise dimly lit room is bathed in a soft glow, moving colors reflecting across every surface.
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>Ennio Morricone's tinny soundtrack pours from the speakers as the trio face each other at Sad Hill.
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>Ah television...
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>Of all the great modern luxuries, this is the one you miss the most during your trips to Equestria.
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>You've been back for several months now, but the renewed novelty still hasn't worn off.
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>Idly you reach down to pet the yellow pegasi who's head rests in your lap.
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>Fluttershy.
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>She flinches briefly as you make contact, but quickly relaxes, allowing you to run your hand down the length her back.
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>A smile forces itself across your face.
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>You have to give her credit, she really is trying.
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>Laying there so contently, she's truly adorable.
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>In time she'll make a lovely pet for one of your clients.
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>For now though she's all yours, and you can't help soaking it in.
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>The peaceful illusion is broken however as Blondie rides off into the distance.
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>Despite nothing in her former life preparing her for the wonders of television, she had quickly developed that same sense intuitive to most humans.
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>The movie was almost over.
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>Even before the credits start you can feel her body stiffening, her head shifting uncomfortably against your thigh.
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>”M-master, are we going to watch another one after this?”
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>Your hand brushes softly through her withers in an attempt to comfort her as you confirm her fears.
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“I'm afraid not my pet, it's already later than either of us should be awake.”
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>It's true, you'd forgotten how long this movie is.
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>You wait a few moments before reaching for the control, not looking forward to the inevitable nightly exchange.
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>As she climbs off your lap you can already see moistness forming in the corners of her eyes.
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“Alright Fluttershy, you know the routine, time for bed.”
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>She manages to follow obediently beside you for the entire length of the hallway, making it into the actual room this time.
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>”M-master..”
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>You grimace as the waterworks begin, her eyes fixing on the carpet as a sharp sniffle escapes her.
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>Kneeling down you place your hand gently on her shoulder.
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“Fluttershy?”
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>You wait patiently for her to compose herself a bit.
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>After a minute or so she finally looks up and manages to make eye contact.
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>”I-I've been good, haven't I?”
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>You manage an uncomfortable smile.
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“Yes Fluttershy, you're doing very well and I'm proud of you.”
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>She takes a stuttering breath.
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“Someday you'll be allowed to sleep in my bed, but not quite yet.”
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”Not until you've fully accepted your new life.”
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>”B-but I have, I-I'm your pet, I've done everything you've asked.”
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>”I-I don't u-understa..”
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>Her voice trails off to a gentle resigned sob.
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>You can't help letting out a muffled sigh.
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“I know you have, you've done nothing wrong, but these things just take time.”
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>With that you rise to your feet, signaling the end of the discussion.
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>She slowly makes her way to the small wooden box in the corner.
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>It's not too small of course, apparently that'll drive a pegasi completely insane.
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>No, there's plenty of room to move around, and it has a few blankets, and of course some discrete air holes.
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>It's about as comfortable as a wooden box can really be.
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>She always looks at you as you close the lid, right to the last moment, for comfort or maybe hoping for a reprieve.
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>Those eyes, it really does break your heart.
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“Goodnight Fluttershy.”
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>..
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>There's not a sane man out there who wouldn't call you irredeemably evil.
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>I mean you kidnap magical creatures from another world for a living.
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>You bring them here, brainwash them and then sell them.
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>Even the more messed up religions of the world send your ass straight to hell for that kinda shit.
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>But you'd be lying if you said sleep was easy.
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>Some bits of morality still clinging to life, and the sobs echoing through the room are chilling.
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>Inside that box you know what she must be going through.
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>Without the distractions of the day, without anything else to focus on, she's left only to her thoughts.
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>Thoughts of her former life.
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>She'd worked hard to push it all down, to be what you wanted her to be, but alone in that dark silence it would rise back to the surface.
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>What were her friends up to? Were they looking for her?
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>Who was taking care of Angel? Would he think she'd abandoned him?
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>As the sobs grow in intensity it takes restraint not to just let her out, to let her cling to your side for tonight as you share a good nights sleep, but you know she has to get over this.
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>Eventually the sobs do peter out as you both manage to drift off.
by grapenut