The rest of that day, and the night, became the most boring time I have had the pleasure of enduring through in my life. My arm was still sore, so I couldn't do most of the exercises I would have been doing, and the cage wasn't large enough for running to mean anything. Even the outdoor area was larger than this. As for an escape attempt, there wasn't even a lock. The door seemed to seamlessly flow into the bars, with no discernible way to open it, other than magic.

I ended up lying down on a pile of blankets in the corner, attempting to sleep. However, my body had other plans, namely reminding me of every bruise, ache, and pain I had. Separately, none of them were worth batting an eye at, but collectively they formed a cocoon of constant aches. It didn't hurt enough to warrant countermeasures, yet it was enough that it was hard to ignore.

At some point I turned, and began watching the rays of sunlight from the basement windows trace their way across the room, eventually plunging me into complete darkness.

I think the darkness is my ally! I thought to myself in my best internal Bane voice. It would hopefully help me to sleep.

Twenty minutes later, I was proven right.

Then next morning I was woken by Dr. Song's voice.

"Ulrich, Ulrich! Wake up! Breakfast!"

Ugghh.... Well, at least she's a talk-to-your-pet kinda person, I thought as I opened my eyes, Otherwise this would be quite a boring existence. My mind was surprisingly less groggy this morning than every other morning spent in ponyland. Maybe I was getting used to no coffee. Not something I was looking forward to.

I shook myself, standing up from the pile and walking over to Dr. Song. Inside the cage were my food and water bowls. Have I already stooped so low as to consider them mine? I thought to myself as I grabbed the water bowl and quaffed a large quantity. I was thirstier than I had originally thought. Exercise coupled with a period without anything to drink leads to an increase in thirst. Who knew?

"I'm sorry about not getting you dinner last night. I was still a bit frazzled, then the guards came asking questions." Dr. Song sighed. "At least I caught you. Eat up, I have to take you to the vet and get the papers sorted. I hope Softie's in today. If you're good maybe I'll even stop for more treats. What do you think, boy? A walk, then some treats?"

I gave her my best 'Are you fucking kidding me?' look. Which she pointedly ignored.

A half-hour later, A leash was latched to my collar and we were wandering Ponyville. Now that I had more of a chance to look around than a peephole in a crate or a brief, flashing glimpse as I ran past, I could see it was a rather beautiful town. We were walking down a small side-street, lined with a series of wooden houses. On one end was a small playground filled with children (foals?) while parents watched on in amusement. I could see a few humans standing around in apathy. Occasionally, a foal would walk up to one and jump at it's feet, or pet it or something. It was both creepy and amusing to watch.

We continued on, seeming to just wander through the town without purpose. Eventually, we reached a small, squat brick building. with the word 'VETERINARY' emblazoned above the doors in massive capslock. The large glass double doors slide open as we approached, which startled me for a moment. I could've sworn their technology was nowhere near that advanced.

"It's alright, Ulrich, it's just a magic door. Come on, now." Dr. Song said, tugging on my leash. She must've mistaken the reason I was startled.

At least it explains the technological absurdity of the door I thought as I was brought into a small waiting room. It was pretty much what one would expect in a veterinary, a line of uncomfortable seats with small endtables featuring (most likely) months-old magazines on pets and pet care. At one end was a desk with an attendant, and next to the desk was a large set of hospital doors.

Dr. Song walked right up to the desk and rang a small bell, pulling me along with her. The yellow-coated, green-maned pegasus mare looked up from her paperwork.

"Oh hello, Mel!" The mare said in a stereotypical 60s era accent, "I thought you were up in Canterlot for another two weeks? Didja forget something?"

"No no, nothing like that, Cherry." Dr. Song replied, "in fact, the princess let me leave early, on account of this fellow right here."

"My my, ain't he a big one. I suppose he's your next pet project." The mare, Cherry, replied.

"Well, you're half right. He is my new pet. I'm just here to satisfy the bureaucrats' 'regulations' on staff and their pets and get him checked out. Is Softie in?"

"Well, now. I was wondering when you'd get one of ya own. Sorry, sugar, Softie called in today. He came down with the flu or something. But Hummy's here, she'll be more than willing to give him a... checkup..." Cherry cast a predatory gaze upon me, which creeped me the fuck out. I really did not like what she was implying.

"Yes. I'm sure she will." Dr. Song sighed, "Alright, let's sign him in. I take it Hum is open right now?"

"Yea, just head right on through."

"Thanks, Cherry."

"No problem, Mel!"

I was lead through the doors and into a hallway, with a few large wooden doors on either side. We just walked past most of them until we reached the second-to-last door on the right. Dr. Song knocked on the door, a feminine 'Just a Minute' wafting out from inside.

A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing a light pink mare with an auburn mane. "Oh, hi Melody!" She said in a pleasant voice, "I wasn't expecting you to be back so soon!"

"Yes, well, I had to cut my trip short, Hum Well. In fact, that's why I'm here right now. You see, I got myself a human up in Canterlot, and, well, you know the 'regs.'" Dr. Song said, being surprisingly curt with the mare.

"Oh, how lovely. I take it this is the human?" Hum Well said, stepping out from the room and showing her ass-tat, which was of a gurney and a musical note. "Well well, I see you've chosen quite a specimen. It would be my pleasure to examine him for you."

I don't like that inflection there, pony girl. I thought to myself.

"I would warn you against trying anything, Hum." Dr. Song said in a dark voice. She apparently caught the inflection as well. OR just knew the mare that well. "He's been known to be violent when somepony tries something like that."

"Don't you worry, Melody. I always maintain a strictly professional approach when giving humans their check-ups." Hum Well responded with an overly-sweet voice.

Dr. Song just slumped darkly, turning around. Though I'm pretty sure I heard her mutter something along the lines of "And my left flank is the moon" as she left, but I couldn't ensure that.Besides, I was more worried about the sultry smile that Hum Well was giving me.

"Oh, I almost forgot!!" Dr. Song said over her shoulder, "Up in Canterlot I did some examinations myself. He's running a much higher temperature than your average human, as well as a low BPM and an abnormal blood pressure. I wouldn't be too worried about it."

"Alright, Melody." Hum Well replied, before opening the door and turning to me"Come right in here, big boy. It's time for your examination."

Have I mentioned how much I don't like her inflections? I thought as I was dragged inside.

The next few minutes were tense as she took off my clothes and started poking me with medical instruments. With the way she had been acting previously, I had expected to be jumped and raped the instant the door closed.

Maybe it was all an inside joke? I thought hopefully as the mare continued with the medical processes, Maybe she was just acting? It gave me hope.

After poking my forehead with a thermometer, she gasped. "Ninety-Eight degrees?!?! Melody said he was running high, but this?! I..." She looked at me while I gave her a 'I don't give a fuck' expression. She sighed. "You're not showing any symptoms that other humans would be showing. Alright." She calmed down after than.

Another couple of minutes passed, along with a few other gasps about certain biological normalcies, and I was actually starting to relax. Hum Well had left for a moment, leaving me in here on my own. A minute or too later she returned holding an apple.

"Alright, let's see how aggressive you are, hmm?" She said, holding the apple out to me. I looked at it. I saw an apple. I looked back at Hum Well, unimpressed. She then reached over and plucked the apple from my grasp. I gave her another unimpressed look.

"So far so good." She said more to herself than me. For a few more minutes she subjected me to more tests to determine my 'aggressiveness,' usually involving giving me something and taking it away. One involved a needle, and I nearly punched her for that, but I kept myself in check. Finally, she packed up her supplies and turned her gaze back on to me.

"Your as docile as a doormouse. I don't know where Dr. Song's comment came from. Now to see how aggressive you really are."

Please refer to my previous comments about your inflections I thought to myself, becoming increasingly uncomfortable while Hum Well advanced on me, a sultry look in her eyes.

"Come on, big boy, let's see how big you really get." She said as she turned around and flicked her tail to the side, exposing her 'delicate flower.' To my shame, my 'lil buddy' decided that the anatomical differences could be set aside and rose up to meet the 'lady.' Thankfully, I was far more intellectually superior to my desires and forced myself to look away, falling off the examination table in the process.

Sadly, Hum Well was unfazed, positioning herself over me. "I know you want it, beast, now let me have it." She said lustily. Inwardly, I smiled.

Poor choice of words I thought as I moved suddenly, my knee making a solid impact into her midsection as I twisted around, snagging my clothes and pushing myself to my feet. Before Hum Well had a chance to move, I rushed out the door, flying though the hallway until I discovered a small janitors closet with an open door.

I quickly rushed inside, closing the door and stuffing myself into my garb. A moment later I was back into the hallway, this time hightailing it into the lobby. I saw Dr. Song there, chatting with the red mare from earlier. I fled to her side, making sure to keep her between myself and the lust beast in the hallway. Said beast limped out of the hallway a few moments later.

"I take it from Ulrich's reactions it didn't go well?" Dr. Song deadpanned.

Hum Well took a moment to collect her thoughts, before answering Dr. Song. "Well... As far as I can tell he's fine, aside from the EXTREME deviations from normal human health patterns." She winced, rubbing her stomach with a forehoof "and I would not recommend trying to be active with him."

Dr. Song sighed. "You really need to change, Hum. I know most of the clients don't care about your 'fun' because you give them a discount, but please. At least show some decorum. Get yourself a human if you're that desperate."

"Yes, yes, Melody. Give me a moral compass later. I'll fill your paperwork tonight and send it in. You're free to go."

"Goodbye then." Dr. Song replied.

"See ya later, hun. I take it you'll be back to work on Monday?" Cherry said.

"Are you kidding?" Dr. Song replied. "I've still got two weeks off. I might as well enjoy them, especially since I'm getting paid for them."

"Oh, Alright. See ya in two weeks then!"

With that we left the building and turned right.

"Ugh. Why does the management even allow Hum Well to do that?" Dr. Song vented, "Well, I owe you a treat, don't I boy?"

I will only accept such a thing if it is bacon. I thought, sincerely wishing I could communicate with her. A few minutes later we were walking through the downtown section, largish buildings on either side displaying their wares. There was an ice-cream shop, a stationery store, that weird baked goods store that looked like a gingerbread house, a store that sold quills and sofas. ONLY quills and sofas. I think I saw that on my way in too, and a couple other buildings.

We stopped in front of one that was labeled simply Cross's Pet Health Store. On one side was a bench of sorts, upon which it looked like humans could sit. One was doing it now, at least. It was the same one from yesterday, though he looked deep in thought, staring at the ground.

"I'll be back in a jiffy, Ulrich!" Dr. Song said, magicking my leash over to the wall and prancing inside the store. I waited for her to enter the building before turning to the leash. Which was now melded seamlessly into the bricks of the building.

Wat.

No! NO NO NO!!! I pulled on the leash, trying to rip it from the wall, to no avail. After a few seconds of straining I released the leash and sighed. Slumping onto the bench and holding my head in my hands. A pair of feet appeared in my vision, connected to the human that was next to me.

I stood up quickly, startling the guy into taking a step back. Giving him a once-over, I could see that he was at least six feet tall, and about as thick as a toothpick. But he had a spark of intelligence in his eyes, and developing muscles on his visible arms and legs.

If humans here are anything like dogs at home, then one his size might be an 'alpha' or something. Especially with eyes as sharp as that. Better nip this in the bud before he sees me as trying to encroach on his territory or some BS like that. I'm not quite sure why I thought that, but given my limited experiences with other humans in the palace thingy, I wasn't going to take a chance. I got right in the guy's face, huffing out of my nose at him like the T-Rex from Jurrasic Park. Or was it the dragon from another movie? No matter. It had the desired affect, sending him reeling back. Though I could see a look of confusion flit across his face.

I didn't care, he was no longer going to bother me, so I sat back down.

It couldn't have been more than two minutes later when a blue blur rushed passed me and slammed into the other human hard enough to leave a solid, audible thump. The blur resolved itself into a blue-coated, rainbow-maned pegasus that seemed intent on hurting this guy in every way possible. I could see him fighting back weakly as they rolled around on the ground.

As much as I shouldn't, I'm not just going to stand here doing nothing. Why aren't any of the ponies doing anything? It was true, the ponies walked by, occasionally giving a glance of either disgust or concern towards the fight. When the duo got close enough to me, I took the matter into my own hands.

I reached down and literally threw the pegasus off of the guy. She was a lot lighter than she looked, no more than sixty pounds, tops. I swear I've picked up heavier teddy bears that size. I had been expecting something around a hundred, hundred and twenty pounds and so used a lot more than I needed and ended up tossing her across the street and into a vendor's stall. I winced as I saw the impact, watching her get buried under a pile of wood. Hopefully she wasn't hurt too bad.

Anyway, I turned back to the human to help him up, but was met with a hefty haymaker to my jaw. It had considerable force behind it, not quite enough to send me reeling, but enough to cut my cheek inside my mouth. I spat out some blood and slowly turned towards the guy, rage stoking itself in my chest.

I just HELPED you and you're going to just attack me for that? I thought, deriving satisfaction as I saw the color drain from his face. I needed to take this nice and slow and let the terror build up. I took a step forward, using my height to my advantage, seeming to tower over the other human. I think he just noticed exactly how big I really am, and I'm not talking height. I was built like a linebacker (or whatever the big guys in football are called. Never was into football), and was very tall to boot. Fighting in armor will do that to you.

I took another step and that seemed to trigger a reaction from the guy as he backed away as quickly as possible. I lunged forward, hoping to grab him and end it quickly. I, however, forgot one little detail. My leash snapped tight and clotheslined me. I fell right on my ass and got some semblance of reason knocked into me.

I shook my head and got up, giving a glare to the other human and flicking him off, before turning back to the leash and tugging as hard as I could. I barely even noticed as he rushed passed me and into the store itself, focused as I was.

Yet still the leash disobeyed my desires and stayed firmly inside the brick. I huffed, readying myself to try to pull the brick out of the wall, when something hit me from behind, hard, and knocked me into the wall. I felt my head connect, and the world got all spinny, I was dazed, but I was still there enough to know there was someone or something on my back, pounding away, spouting something. I shook myself, launching upwards and flipping over as best I could, landing heavily on whatever was on my back and succeeding in smacking my head against the dirt road.

YEEEOOOOOWWWWWWW! Was the only thought going through my battered mind as I struggled to get rid of the shell-shock-like affect. Something furry ramming into my midsection did the trick, the pain driving a lance through the fog and allowing me to focus. It was the pegasus I threw from before. She was on my stomach, driving her hooves into me. I flipped the tables consciously this time, effectively putting her in a body-lock in less than ten seconds flat. I put pressure with my knee in between her shoulder blades while she was spread-eagled (heh, puns) stomach down beneath me.

"RAINBOW!" I heard a voice scream before the pegasus and I were lifted into the air in a purple field. I saw the leash get severed from the wall in the same instant.

On the other end of the magic was the purple pegacorn from before. I saw Dr. Song and the human behind her, each giving one of us a concerned glance. I could also see a couple of guards come rushing up from somewhere.

"You two, take her to the hospital. I'll handle the human." The pegacorn said.

Fuck. Shit just got real.

"Princess, please!" Dr. Song begged when she heard this. "It-"

The pegacorn princess silenced her with a hoof, before turning to the human.

"You're sure?" She said. The human did another of those jigs and the pegacorn nodded. "Alright. Dr. Song, you need to come with us."

Oh fuck me sideways with a fiery ant hill. This won't end well. I thought as I was carried down the road.

We ended up at the tree-house-library, the short trip there being quick and silent. No one said a word. I was more preoccupied about the jig thing. It was obviously some sort of communication, but what could it mean. Were the humans slaves then? Forced under the guise of animals?

Thoughts and theories swirled in my mind as I was pulled inside. Once the door shut the magic cut out, and I dropped unceremoniously to the ground. I stood up, and looked around the surprisingly spacious room, the walls covered completely in bookshelves. My observations were cut short when Dr. Song began to speak.

"Uhh, Prin- I mean, Twilight. What... well, what are we doing here? If you don't mind me asking."

"Well, that's a good question. I think it would be best if Max answered it though." The pegacorn, Twilight, said. nodding towards the other human, presumably Max.

"What?" Dr. Song said. I however, saw Max reach into his clothing and pull out a notebook and a piece of charcoal and scribble something out before turning it to me. There, on the page were two words in big bold print.

We Know

Author's Notes:

Edited, partially, by MadMaxtheBlack

Almost there guys. I'll be back to writing new content soon.