"Like to make a withdrawal."

The deep southern voice wakes the nearly dozed bank teller. She blinks her eyes and lifts her chin from her hoof to glance up at Crimson. Immediately, her front brightens with shock. "Ah-eeh?"

"A withdrawal, if you don't mind," the man repeats.

The Castle Treasury's teller scampers and stutters as she tries to get the proper papers in front of her. "I-I'm very sorry, I-I-- we can-- ..." She halts herself to regain her composure, clearing her throat and delivering a toothy smile. "Why of course, dear angel! Your account currently holds..." she shuffles through her documents briefly, "six-thousand four-hundred and fifty bits!"

"How much does a plate of food typically go for?" She tucks her chin in reservation. "Food. 'Bout how much does a plate go for."

"Oh, why, it depends, my angel. Some places around Canterlot will have you paying forty bits a plate."

"Assume I ain't splurgin'. Average meal."

"Average. ... My best guess would be around six to twelve bits."

"Gotcha. I'll take out seven hundred." Her eyes widen at the quantity. "Not all fer food, mind you."

The false congruency visibly registers. "Oho! Of course! Right away. Would you like a coin purse or do you have your own?"

"If you've got one, I'll take it."

"Unfortunately it is ten bits. Is that okay?"

"Ain't a bother."

She nods happily. "Today's withdrawal will be seven-hundred and ten bits. Is that correct?"

"Yuppers."

The mare hums her glee and hops off her chair. She moves past the cement and marble walls towards an unseen end of her office. Crimson idles for a moment, glancing at his back to note the two guards protecting him from the onlooking ponies. None of them actually want to use the Treasury, only waiting for an opportunity to strike the all-too suspecting human with their fantasies.

"Here you are! The strap is for your belt!"

Crimson returns his stare to the teller, watching as a dark grey leather clip purse with gold accents levitates his way in her cyan aura. It's nice and fat with golden coins, looks a little heavy, but is rather high quality. Won't be bursting on him any time soon. It indeed comes with a short strap with a clip of its own that would go great around his belt loop. Sadly for him, his sweat pants don't actually have loops. He takes it from her hold and shoves it in his pocket instead.

"If you could just sign right here," she hums while sliding a piece of paper towards him along with a quill. Crimson does as she asks and leans over to take the plume and sign his name. Once the teller takes it back and looks at it, her brows furrow at seeing an alien language.

"Appreciate yer help."

Her smile curls at the corners. "You are certainly welcome, my angel~"

He nods and trails off with the protection of the guards to the Canterlot train station.

‎

‎

Having caught an early train for an uncanny destination, he rides completely alone.

After he and Swirl made it back to Canterlot, the first thing he did was get some rest. The drunken duo definitely needed time to sober up, they hardly moved around the room. Their lack of energy made it easy for him to crash out in Swirl's living room soon after returning from Las Pegasus. At some point through out the night, both Strix and Bulletpoint plopped themselves on top of him to share the couch, causing what Swirl described as 'a comical pile-up'. In truth, it helped him sleep better.

Now rested and prepared for whatever the future holds, he travels towards his destination. He leans his head against the glass, watching the surrounding environment change from Canterlot's marble structure, to grassy plains, to hills of green and dirt, and finally, to the mountainous regions of north-west Equestria. Clouds have formed in the skies above, giving the ambiance a comfortable grey-ish hue. He only removes his gaze from the outside world when the car attendant asks him if he'd like anything.

The ride is peaceful throughout the duration, allowing him to keep to his thoughts. He first calls back to Swirl's little 'test'. The ideas behind her peculiar assessments didn't leave a clear impression on him, he isn't sure what exactly she was looking for. Whatever it is, he's confident in her ability to clearly explain things once the time comes.

Other than the results of said test, his track wanders back to his sister. Last night, before allowing himself to fall into deep sleep, he ventured into his Rift if only to catch up with Viola. She wasn't there.

He had plenty of time to be with her during his coma, but even so, not seeing her this one time is paining him greatly. He explained to her what was going on, what he had been through during his time out. She detested all of it. All of the harm coming his way she could hardly stand, but the piece de resistance was his reseeded apathy. The one thing she didn't want him to reattain.

Crimson did his best to assure her it was controlled and only temporary until the plagues of Equestria were dealt with, but of course, she didn't believe him. He couldn't blame her either, she has already witnessed him at his lowest. A sludge pit of disassociation that seemed impossible to claw out of, but she helped him out of it. She singlehandedly aided him back to a respectable mental state, one that allowed him to feel... normal again. Or, as normal as a man like him could be.

Crimson couldn't be sure if he'd fall back to such a low without Viola around, but as he repeated like a mantra, he can't succumb to weakness, to be burdened with his own problems. He needs to foist the toils of the world on his shoulders before his own, just as he knows he should. After all of this was spoken, Viola has not returned to his Rift.

"A glass of wine?"

The man directs his voice to the attendant, seeing the stallion there giving him a faint smile. Just then, Crimson realizes that his posture is stiff. He allows his body to relax and slumps back into the seat. "I'm good."

"Don't be shy now."

"Hmh, certainly ain't that."

"A sip would do nothing but favors. Need I tell you, you look tense?"

"Goes without sayin'."

"Seeing as there are no other clients around and our 'vent'ry is full this early... a bottle could go missing without anyone's knowledge."

"Couldn't thief you out."

"Nonsense, my angel. You board this train fairly regularly. Consider it... a favor for a familiar face."

Crimson sits up and inhales, giving the attendant a wry smirk. "You coaxed me into it."

"Splendid~ Cold or at-room?"

"Cold, please."

He nods with his same smile, turning promptly towards the far end of the cart. He disappears for a while, then to return with a chilled bottle of strawberry wine. "A glass?"

"Nah, just take the bottle."

The attendant gives a chuckle at his barbaric choice of consumption. He levitates a corkscrew out of his side pocket and caps off the bottle with a satisfying pop. A gentle ooze of cold air emanates from the neck before it is given over to its new master.

Crimson grips and tilts it for a cheer. "You're number one, Monty."

The attendant bows, "if there would be anything else, do ring your bell."

This final exchange of words marks the rest of the trail towards the mountain region of Whinneypeg. The less rigid Crimson is left alone with his thoughts and his bottle.

‎

---

‎

The man shivers slightly at the cold breeze of mountain winds rushing against his body. His sandals crunch moist dirt under, leaves blow past him as he walks. The clinking of his coin purse jingles in his pocket. He keeps his eyes lowered down to a makeshift map drawn on a sticky note, one that Lightheart made for him before departing Las Pegasus.

After coming off the train, he has followed this map across unmarked paths with little means of guidance. Most of the trail is walking up rock and dirt mountain, it hardly seems like any place that one would find someone living. Add Lightheart's skepticism to the mix, this little social visit is definitely stacking up against him in more than one way. Nevertheless, he combines his movement with quick glances to and from the map to make sure he arrives.

Being that this is the first time he is exploring Equestria all alone, he feels a subconscious nudge to be more careful than usual. Be it a random attack or some environmental haphazard like an anomaly, he knows to be ready for anything. He takes a glance backwards, getting a rather nice view of Equestria's plains due to the increasing elevation. He even sees Canterlot from here, unmistakable upon its throne of protruding earth.

He persists on his path. As he treks along, he feels something cool drip onto his shoulder. He doesn't need to glance at it to know it's the commencing of rainfall. Where ever this source of Lightheart's is, he needs to find them soon. He picks up the pace to a brisk jog, taking a rhythm to his breathing as he runs uphill.

Dirt, rocks, few and far between trees, but still no sign of a house. Though his pace doesn't waver as he notes an unnatural plateau coming up soon. It melds well with the environment, one wouldn't notice it if they were simply traveling along a lower point of the mountain.

The more he rises, the more obvious it becomes. Trees come into view, they surround this plateau like a fence of vegetation. Soon enough, he sees it clearly under the clouded sky. A log cabin surrounded by trees and shrubs just before a cliff edge. Along with the encompassing trees, an actual wooden fence is propped around the property. Just before the cabin, all sorts of vegetables are growing in tended ground, and the trees around the property appear to be fruit-bearers. A very self-sustaining home, he sighs in relief to having found it. And not a moment too soon, the rain has started to pick up. Already assuming they'd be kind enough to let him in, he doesn't want to track rain and mud into their abode.

Interestingly enough, there is no type of gate or fence to actually get into the property. Looks like he needs to hop over the fence, and he does just that. With so many trees surrounding the area, it hardly needs a porch. The rain ceases to hit him once inside the property thanks to the canopy of leaves above. Being careful to take note of the crops, he walks along the perimeter to avoid stepping on them.

Approaching now the cabin, he regards the windows. All of them have blinds over them, thick black curtains which do not allow vision in or out. The sketchiness of the situation is increasing drastically, and despite Lightheart's warnings, he stands at the door. Too late for regrets now, it's time to meet this hopefully interesting personality. The man wipes the rainwater from his face and reaches his left knuckles to knock on the solid wood.

Knock-knock-knock-knock

...

Nothing. He waits a few seconds before attempting again.

Knock... knock-knock-knock-knock

...

"...!?" Crimson darts his attention towards the window to his left. The curtain moved but he was far too slow to catch glimpse of whatever it was. Maybe it was the cabin's owner. This type might be very introverted. He'll need to speak up so they can understand his intentions and hopefully believe him. He clears his throat and fronts the friendliest voice he can muster. "Pardon the intrusion. Know a friend of yers by the name of Lightheart Trot. Told me you'd be here. I just had a few questions 'n was wonderin' if you could--" He now hears shuffling from the other side of the door. A lock is undone. And another. Another.

A silence passes after the locks are undone. The door clicks, it pries open very slightly... a dilated amber eye stares back at him through the crack. It trembles unsteadily.

The door opens in an instant, the earth mare who presents herself dawns a cheek-tearing smile, both of her pupils nearly expand to fill her eye sockets. Her mane is a light brown styled as pigtails, and her coat is a similar amber-red as her eyes.

"Howdy, ma'am. Name's--"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Crimson jumps back at her scream. "No. WAY! Nowaynowaynowaynoway!"

"Uuh..."

"Crimson! It's really you! YOU! Are HERE!" she barks ecstatically. Her voice is high-pitched and very girly. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The man recoils, both a her knowing of his name and the volume at which she speaks. He was ready for something weird... just... not this weird. Or loud. "... Ehe, yeah. Sorry to bother you, was hopin' you'd be able to entertain a curiosity of mine."

"Ahahahyeahyeahyeah! Anything! Anything at all! My names-- hehehe-- my name's Lippy! Lippy Snare! Come in, come in!" She speaks so fast that most of her words blend into one sound.

"... Appreciate it." Crimson puts up a wry smile to stave off his concern. The autumn-colored mare walks backwards to allow him entry and keep her eyes plastered on him at all times. The man steps in and closes the door, glancing around slyly to take in everything without rudely staring.

The first room of the cabin is a small dining area with four chairs and one round table in the middle. The room to the left is a standard low-tech kitchen and the room to the right is a cozy little living room with a stone chimney that burns wood. Opting to stay right near the door, he can't look into the kitchen or the living room completely. If any human is nearby, he can't see them. Still, nothing too out of the ordinary so far.

The home is lit with candles which are scattered in a stylistic fashion to balance symmetry and light. The walls are adorned with all sorts of memorabilia, paintings, pots, flowers, and articles of clothes like hats and shirts with Ponish text. Oddly enough, a lot of the clothes presented are for humans.

It becomes difficult to take in the environment with two unstable orbs piercing him. She has also started to hyperventilate. "So, uuh..." Crimson begins while scratching the back of his head, "like I was sayin'. I was wonderin' if you'd be able to let me in on a little curiosity."

"Aaaanyythiiiing~"

"..." He holds the back of his neck and purses his lips. "... Just, eh... a friend of yours. Lightheart Trot."

"Yeahyeah! Know her! Old friend, we go way back!"

"She told me that you, uh... owned a human?"

"Hoho! I sure do! She's in her room right now. Why? You wanna see her? Huh? Do ya'?"

"If it ain't a bother, sure. Prolly already guessed but I'm hopin' to get a better understandin' of 'em. Hear that you're real knowledgeable on the subject."

"Huhuuu! I sure, sure am! Very, very knowledgeable! I love humans! Love them! Studied them all my life! Heha! But shh! She's asleeeeep," she coos in a whisper, looming closer to Crimson. "She gets her beauty sleep early in the morning!" she barks just as loud as before, throwing her respectful caution out the window.

"Ah. Well, it'd do no good if I bothered her while she was nappin'."

"Hahayeah! She gets mad when you do that! -- Ghy-jhyo, come now, love! Don't stand so close to the door! Come in, come in!" She motions with her hoof. "My house-- hmhm-- is your house~"

"... Yeah. Pardon," he excuses himself with a bit of hesitation. Being called 'love' was not something he was expecting to hear. He'd be used to a cute nick like that seeing that it's a frequently Annabelle-type back home... but he safely assumes it was used literally.

He takes a few steps into the dining area, closer to Lippy. The further he walks in, the more of the kitchen and living room is exposed. Nothing of note in the kitchen, looks recently used. He scopes the living room briefly. His eyes are drawn to a proudly presented set of clothing in the far corner of her living room... almost looks like...

"..." Crimson's pupils shrink to grains of sand. "... What in the sam-hell!?"

"Hihihihii~" She laughs like a little school-filly, knowing exactly what he's looking at. There, on a t-stand post inside a box of glass with a light to shine on it, his original clothes are on display. The outfit he had when first waking up in Equestria, with the stitches that Viola had sown, the one that was sold off. It is presented like game.

"My clothes..."

Sniiiif! He recoils at hearing the insane pony waft his leg. "Oooo... you smell even better than I imagined~" Crimson presses his eyes at her. She trepidly giggles and twiddles one of her pigtails, before immediately dropping the shy act and moving close to him. She leaps up and places her hooves at his stomach, grinning wickedly. "You know... I loved you BEFORE everyone knew you were an angel~"

The man's brows profoundly furrow and his hands clench.

Lippy's smile slams into the ground, now looking utterly mortified. She catches his expression instantaneously, analyzing his eyebrows, the darting stare of his eyes, the lining of his lips, his clenched fists. The expression of an aggravated human. She comes off of him and steps backwards. "... You aren't mad, are you? You look angry. What's wrong?"

Crimson grits his teeth trying to hold his frustration in. "... I'd like my clothes back."

"But I bought them! I bought them fair and square! Two-thousand bits!"

The man nearly trips at hearing the amount a certain tomb raider got for his garbs. Still, he firmly shakes his head. "They weren't up for sale in the first place, they were taken from me. I could compensate you fer the cost, but I want my clothes back."

"B-But--! No! Nonono! They're mine now!" She backpedals again, her flank bumping a cabinet near the kitchen.

"It ain't up for debate," Crimson steps closer to her.

"But that's not fair!"

"Lots'a things in life ain't. Gotta deal with them as they come. Looks like it's yer turn right now."

"I can't give them up! They mean so much to me! YOU mean so much to me!"

"You hardly fuckin' know me. Don't know how much stalkin' you've done, but you'd be hard-pressed to know I won't let you have what's mine. Like I said, I'll get you yer money back. I want my damn clothes."

Lippy shakes her head and squeals dismally, appearing as if she might cry at any moment. "No!"

"Gonna run a fist through the glass display."

"Eek! Don't! No!"

Crimson raises his fist and begins to turn.

"WAIT!" Crimson does as she says and gawks at her. Lippy sinks, legs quivering like wet noodles. "... Okay... look, here. I-I have the key to open the glass case in this drawer, so you don't have to break it... I-I'll... give it to you." She rubs her foreleg with a pout, staring wobbly eyes to the ground.

Crimson sighs out some irritation enough to calm him down. He tries to be a little more patient due to her surrendering posture. "Thanks. Even though I hate to do this to you, you gotta understand where I'm comin' from. My clothes were taken from me and sold without my say-so."

"Oh, yes, I understand! Completely! S-So let me do the right thing and return them to you... I'm sorry." She turns around and skulks through the drawer.

"Forgive and forget," Crimson walks towards her again. "I'll get you yer money back."

"Mh... key's gotta be in here somewhere," she says as she shuffles some metallic-sounding objects around. "Is a piece of your outfit missing?"

Crimson turns his head to glance back at his clothes. He scans it from top to bottom. "Nope, everything seems--" Sprit! "--GHK!"

"Hah!" The conniving mare leaped up to blindside him as he returned his face forward. A puff of purple mist is shot through a small black spray bottle right into his front.

"Grk-- Mhrph, fk!" He claws at his face in reaction to the spited mist. It travels into his nostrils, he can feel it tingling his sinuses with the power of distortion. He enters a violent cough in protest to the wrenching substance.

It's all tilting sideways, his body feels heavy, his mind is fogging faster than it had before. He blinks unevenly. He falls onto his knees while his upper half hangs towards the left. He hits the ground with his shoulder, stargazing at the mare who leans down closer to him.

"Mmm-hmhmhmm, how'd I get so lucky~" she heatedly coos.

Her lips pucker as she looms in for a kiss. He closes his burning eyes and succumbs to the darkness, just in time to fade out her advance...

‎

‎

...

"Mmh... nh..."

His senses pool back into his body. His hearing emerges from a metaphorical water, his pupils capture the red light of his eyelids... and a terribly sour taste fills his mouth. The groggy mess that is his consciousness hardly recalls falling asleep. He can't remember what he was doing before knocking out.

Wherever he is, it's fairly comfortable. He lays on something soft and warm with an equally pleasant blanket to cover him. He wants to open his eyes, but it's a chore. Deciding to keep them closed for a moment longer, he opts to listen. Maybe he'll hear Swirl say something or Bulletpoint stammer around.

...

Great, there's a slight itch on his neck. Looks like he's forced to exert himself in order to scratch it and feel comfortable again. With slight protest, he moves his hand from under the sheets to scratch it.

Scratch, scratch... scratch, scratch, scratch

"Hnh," he grunts in annoyance at missing the itch. He tries scratching it again to no avail, serving to upset him further. "Mrrh... fhn!" He finally sits up and pries his eyelids apart and tries to scratch the impervious itch, only to find himself clawing at a brown leather collar with metal decals. Said collar is chained to the bed frame, allowing him maybe a few feet of wandering room.

His eyes dilate in unbelief. The temperature in his body skyrockets as he realizes where he is, but even though he wants to pique his anger, the lingering sedative in his body is preventing him from acting out in any way.

He throws his wary stare everywhere to analyze the bedroom he is in. It is decorated in the same fashion as the rest of the cabin. The light sources in the room spawn from a few lit candles, where all sunlight is blocked out by the thick black curtains over the room's two windows. Not that he assumes it's daytime, he has not the slightest idea how long he was out.

He looks down at himself next. He's grateful that he's still clothed, but this blasted constraint around his neck doesn't seem like it'll be easy to get off. He puts his weak, wobbly hands on it, feeling around. His fingers touch something protruding at the back, metal and cold, in the shape of... a keyhole?

His focus is flung towards the door as it clicks open. A certain mentally unstable being snakes in, but freezes once she notes she's being stared at. The man's brows furrow and his eyes squint. "Yoouu," Crimson slurs. Her expression morphs into a wicked smile.

The man holds his temple, suddenly becoming lightheaded. The more he attempts to be pissed, the dizzier he gets. He hangs his head and rubs his eyes, listening to the mare complete her entrance. She approaches him step by step, hooves lightly tapping the wooden flooring.

"Awake already? Perfect timing! How is my precious little boy doing?" Lippy yaws her head to the left with her ear-to-ear beam.

"... Fu'kyu..."

"Haaw! You're so cute when you're all loopy!" She moves to wipe off a trickle of drool from the side of his mouth using her free hoof. "I really am going to miss this part... but! Can't have you stargazing forever!" She then presents something in her other hoof, a tea cup with some sort of green liquid inside of it.

"Wass...?" he asks with a squint to the drink.

"Just a special little secret tea I made, just for you~ It'll kill the tranquilizing potions effects in a jiffy! You'll feel SO much better!"

"... Gimme." He reaches forward to take it, but it is pulled away.

"Ah-aah!" she shakes her head, "say 'pleeaaase'~"

"Gihve..."

"Mmm, doesn't sound like a 'please' to me!" He tries reaching for it again and miserably fails. Lippy giggles at his struggle and blinks lusciously. "Pretty please?"

"..." Crimson gawks at her with his mouth slightly agape. He can't even get himself out of bed due to the tranq's effects... but an ingenious plan strikes up in his foggy head. "... Pleah?"

"Ooo! Huhuhuu!" She wiggles in enjoyment. "Why of course, my love-boy! Here you are!" He doesn't actually move to accept the drink, so Lippy moves it towards his lips. Some of it spills at the corners of his mouth. Once his brain registers that he should be swallowing, he does exactly that and consumes the tea. As soon as the cup empties, she leaps backwards with a sinister smile.

A few seconds tick by with nothing happening.

Then like a surge of electricity, his body shivers. "Eegh!" The magical properties of the tea duel the potion in his body, achieving a quick victory to instantly stabilize his senses. His pried eyes stare at the ground, then the bed, and finally Lippy. Everything is clearing up. Along with his clarity, his rage. His vision tunnels directly to the mare that jilted him. Time to bat off his plan: punish her. "... You fuckin' snake," he utters as he flings the blankets off.

"Feel better, honey bunch?"

"I will after I put you in the ground." He leaps off the bed and channels his Arch-- "-- Hugrh!" His eyes had begun to glow golden as he lifted a powerful grasp towards the collar, but something is wrong. Terribly wrong. He wasn't jolted back by the collar's chain as there is still slack left, but his body feels weak. His very strength is being siphoned from his body even after the effects of the tranquillizer mostly subsided. But why? Why is this...? He glances down at himself. The collar around his neck. The metallic grooves that detail the collar are glowing with his golden essence. "Hnn, heeh," he falls to one knee and huffs, trying to get words out of his mouth, "the hell'd you do to me? What'n god's name is this thing?" He desperately tugs at the collar around his neck.

"The collar? Ehehe, oh, well, it's a nullifier collar! Can't have you hurting me now, Crimsy!"

"Get it OFF me!" he grits as he pulls on it.

"Weeell, even if I WANTED to... I can't! Hihihi! I don't have the key for it!"

The man's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. "What!? What the fuck do you mean you don't got the key for it!?"

"Don't! Simple as that! Collar was a gift, didn't include the key!" She laughs maniacally and wags her rear. "I mean, I cooould get the chain off, I have the key for that. Just not the collar! Can't break it either, it's magical! Fixes itself when it gets damaged! A bunch of wacky nerd stuff went into making it!"

"What in the world... why does somethin' like this exist!?"

"For humans, of course! Humans have a natural reception to magic, so we need these to make sure nothing crazy happens!"

Crimson's front stiffens at this revelation.

"It was my last nullifier collar too! Hohoh," she tilts her head with a vampiric grin, "I can't tell you how happy I am that it was on you, my lovely boy~"

"You're fuckin' insane."

"Mm, I love it when you're angry!~"

Crimson sucks in two harsh breaths in an attempt to control himself. He tries to channel his Arch again. "Heeeh," he huffs with squinting eyes, feeling as if his soul nearly escaped his body. It's not working. He can't force his power to wake. He lifts his gaze up towards her, his left eye shaded over by his messy hair. "If you don't got the key... how do I get this god-forsaken collar off?"

"Nope! Can't trust you with the details, honey bunch!~"

"I'll make sure to be as FAR away from you as possible when I get it off... just... tell me where I can get it done."

"Mm-mm!" she shakes her head, "you can just come back and find me! Can't really chance that, can we? Besides! I kinda sorta wanna keepyouforever, y'know?~"

"For the love of..." He plants his hand on the side of his head and drags it down his cheek, scratching his face with his nails.

"Think about it! You, me, forever! We can play together, I can knit you clothes, we harvest the crop together! Goodness, being your master is going to be SO much fun!"

"You call yerself my master again and I'm GONNA kill you."

"Mmff, you're such a baaad boy, Crimsy!~" She flings her tail side to side. "I wonder if this is how ALL humans start off when in captivity! But now, I get to HEAR what you're thinking! It's so amazing! C'mon, Crimsy, keep talking tough to me~ I wanna hear everything you're thinking!~"

Crimson's cheeks burn with anguish. There is nothing he can do. It's all a game to her, and he's unable to fight back. This feeling of being completely powerless is consuming him. He can hardly speak because of how furious he is.

"N'aaaaww!~ Look at cute you are when you cheeks blush!"

"Another bone broken. Break 'em one by one every time I hear your speak."

"Then hear every word I say~ Break all of my bones. Break me into bits. Break every. Single. One~" She leans in close... dangerously close... into grabbing distance...

... and Crimson takes the bait. He lunges forward in his fury and reaches to clasp her throat. "HRGH!" He is yanked back by the chain, failing to attain her while being flung onto his back. The bed hardly even felt the powerful yank of his entire body's forward-moving mass, as it is fixed to the floor.

"Ahahahaha! Dear me, what did I do to deserve this? Equestria's only talking human! In MY home! All to me! Dreams really DO come true! Oh-hohohoo, I'm going to enjoy every second!" She comes down to her haunches, lowering herself to gaze at the grounded man. "And soon, you will too, lovely boy. They all do... eventually~"

Crimson stares trembling eyes at the ceiling. His teeth clench so hard they might break. His whole body is on fire. His heart throbs in his ears. Despite his asperity, he can only lie on the ground, listening to a whip of thunder outside the cabin.

"You be good now, Crimsy. I have a few things to take care of, okay? Momma will be back real soon!"

"Choke on yer spit," he faintly mutters, eyes still plastered on the ceiling. With a maniacal giggle, she nudges the door open with her side and trots out, bothering not to close it behind her.

Crimson can hardly believe this - this humiliating position still hasn't fully set in... but he's going to have plenty of time to let it fester.

Next Chapter: I See Me Riding Off... Estimated time remaining: 17 Hours, 23 Minutes