All over Equestria every pony was preparing to sleep, so they could greet the sun. All was quiet...all but for the crack of a whip coming from Canterlot. Some would take notice of this, turning their heads in the general direction, not knowing what it was for, while others knew that the whipping was justified for whichever pony was receiving it, and if it was not, at least it was not them.

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“Come on, just tell us what we want to know and we can end this nonsense.” said the guard as he brought the whip down upon my chest. “As much as we love to beat you senseless day after day, we do have lives of our own.” My wings were spread out behind me, with nails pinning them to the board that I was strapped to. I could barely muster up a response. “H-H-Haven't I already told you buffoons before that I don’t know anything about the disappearance of those villagers? Their village was burned down before I got there, and no matter how much searching I did, I could not find hide nor hair of anypony.”

With a snarl they began to savagely kick my stomach, their kicks powerful enough to break a few of my ribs. I could tell this by the distinct snapping noise they made in my chest and the burning pain that followed. As the beating continued, darkness began to encroach upon my vision until all I could see was a pinpoint of light. As their hooves began to descend upon me once again the door to my cell creaked open and the Princess Celestia herself entered. “Now, my dear guards, I am sure our guest has had enough. You must learn to show a little compassion when dealing with ones such as him.” She said as she entered the cell.

At her words the guards halted their beating, but not before one of them spit in my eye. “Why must you be so difficult, my dear? You could have made this all stop if you simply told us what happened at that village. We know that you are a half-breed and that you are capable of that level of destruction.” Celestia walks slowly towards me while speaking until she is inches from my face. “Whatever will I do with you? There are so many options, but it seems my lovely little sister is getting lonely without her guards and needs somepony to keep her company.”

“Like hell I would willingly stay here! I want out of here now, or you will regret it.” As these words leave my mouth an extreme pressure presses down on my throat cutting off my ability to speak. Fear flowed through my body as I worked my mouth unable to get a word out, but I could make a growling noise...at least that's something. With a smile she continues. “Now, since you say that, it seems I will need to put some restrictions on what you can do, or now I will just take away your ability to speak. Don't fear, if you are a good 'pet' you can earn it back in the future. Just keep my little sister happy and out of my hair.” The princess releases a soft laugh as she canters a few paces away. “She will simply adore a half breed of your standard, its not often you see a pony that is half dragon.”

Straining against my restraints, all I could manage was cut into my own flesh with the bonds holding my legs and tear my wings on the nails in them. This was enough to push me over my limit, causing the blackness that was my life to fill my vision as Celestia’s laugh filled my ears. Silently spiraling in my mind, I could only think of how horrible my situation was; I had been separated from my family for two years, and all this time I had been searching, following their trail. That is...until I came to that village...or what had remained of it. My father always had a temper, but I could not believe he would do that kind of massive destruction to a village. Which is probably why I was so shocked that I had just sat there until some royal guards had shown up. They had come up right behind me without me noticing and beat me over the head.  Next thing I knew, I had awaken in that cell. It has been my home for the past two...three months...I don’t even know anymore -- I had given up on keeping track of time. Now all I want to do is sleep. But even that seems to elude me. That is until now...it seems...that I...can...finally...sleep...

As my mind slowly churns I feel like I am once again in the sky without a care in the world. That is, until the pain of my injuries forces me to abruptly wake up and face reality. With a groan, I open my eyes as slits to be greeted by a blinding light causing me to snap my eyes closed once more and roll over. To my surprise, my ribs did not pain me, and I gingerly brought a hoof up to massage my side...wait...I could move freely. With that notion, my head snaps up and I survey my surroundings, only to see that I am inside of a large dark room. The room is a deep black with small flecks of white reminding me of the night sky. Oh, yeah. I am now a pet to the royals. With a sigh I push myself up, only to be jerked back down by my neck. After a small coughing fit from the near-strangulation, I pull myself up into a sitting position and look at what almost killed me. It was a solid silver chain attached to a thick loop in the floor, which also attached to a thick metal collar around my neck.

Straining against this chain seemed to be futile. I sat down with a groan, my throat currently sore from my restraints. That's when I heard a ruckus approaching me. “Be civil, my dear...what do you mean you do not wish to have my gift?” That could only be two ponies, bracing myself I give myself the most adorable face hoping I would not scare her, who knows what will happen to me should my new 'owner' not want me? The door swings inward, slamming against the wall with a resounding thud. The two ponies standing in the doorway were silhouetted by the light coming from the hall, but I did not need to see them to know who they were. Walking into the room, the door slowly closes behind them as they approach me. “Art thou sure this is safe?” Luna said as she came to within feet of me and stared into my eyes. Celestia walks up behind her. “Do not fear I have made sure he can not harm you. If he even attempts to, he knows what will happen to him.”

With herself reassured by her sister's words, though not really believing her, she gets closer to the strange pony in front of her. On closer inspection, she sees that not only is he strange -- he appears to be part dragon from the leathery wings to the slit eyes -- but that he was a dark blue, with a darker blue mane with green stripe though it. Being an oddity, she can only imagine how he was treated by other ponies. He must have be shunned by many and feared by others for just being different and misunderstood. Knowing what that feels like, she did not want to bring anymore harm to the stallion before her. She knew just what her sister would most likely do to this one, and that thought alone made her shiver.

“Thou hath done me a great service mine sister. I will graciously accept your gift and treat it with the greatest of care.” Turning to her sister she continues. “Now, if you would please leave me alone with my new 'pet' so I can get acquainted with him.” With that, Celestia left the room, leaving me looking at Luna while she stares at the door. “I am sorry that you are here; I can hardly imagine what you have been through, but rest assured that as long as you are near me I will do all that is in my power to keep you safe.” She turns to me with a slight smile. “We are now friends as it would seem; so why not introduce ourselves? I am Princess Luna, and you are?” Opening my mouth to speak I attempt to answer her but all that comes out is a gurgled growl. With a concerned look she draws near. “Did mine sister take away your ability to speak?” Knowing words would not work, I simply nod my head in the hope that she would be able to restore my ability to speak.

At my acknowledgement of her assumption, a look of disdain shows itself, “She always did think highly of herself. Here; let me fix that for you.” With that, she dips her head forward, tapping the tip of her horn against my throat, resulting in the pressure from before to ease. As it went away, I attempted to speak, and slowly I could start to make words. This went on for a few more minutes until I was finally able to make understandable words and noises.

Part way through a coughing fit to clear my throat, I finally began to talk. “T-Thank you for not turning me down; I fear what would have happened to me should you not have accepted me.” With a smile she responds. “Thou hath nothing to fear, for I could never turn down a pony in need.” With that she walks behind me and unhooks the chain from the wall. “Hey,” I say, “where exactly are we? Is this even still in the castle?” With a slight laugh she looks me in the eyes. “Silly little pony, we are indeed still within the castle, and this is my room." Well now, don’t I feel silly; I should have guessed it would be too good to be outside the castle.

“So...this is my new home? I guess it will take some getting used to...but just so you know...I will be looking for chances to get out of here.”

All she does is respond with a knowing nod. “I hath already assumed thou would want to leave this place, but heed my warning: it will not be easy. It could be near impossible to escape from this place; so for the duration of your stay, please do try and enjoy yourself.”

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