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>You wake to the loud overhead buzzer and blinking red light of your room.
>Sleep, when you are allowed it is fitful and not overly restful to say the least.
>Fortunately one of your prodigious birth does not require sleep as frequently as a regular pony.
>It is both a blessing and a curse.
>The buzzer suddenly cuts off and is replaced by the voice of the director.
>“Specimen A-3 stand back from the door and await further instructions, a handler will be by shortly”
>You comply mutely standing at attention and backing up until your rear hits the cold white wall of your cage.
>After a short while the buzzer sounds again and the door slides open.
>In walks one of the researchers, you don’t remember her name, human names are strange.
>“Lower your head A-3”
>Your head lowers and she begins to attach the secondary magical dampener to your horn. 
>The second dampener is more robust than the one you wear during your “off hours”.
>By now you would have thought you were used to the sensation of having your magic suppressed, but the sudden dulling of your magical senses is disturbing every time.
>Like suddenly not being able to hear, and the whole world going silent.
>It was rather unsettling to say the least.
>Once it’s secured she nods her head in apparent satisfaction.
“Please follow me to Test Area C.”
>Test Area C, that was medical, which meant today’s test would be painful or boring. 
>Honestly you didn’t care which one.
>Pain and boredom were about equal in their ability to increase your suffering. 
>You follow the researcher down the pristine white hallway to the test area.
>As always you are flanked by two guards in aluminum armor.
>Like you could have escaped anyway.
>The collar around your neck feels heavy.
>With just a push of a button anyone in here could instantly immobilize you.
>Raw magic power isn’t enough to overcome this.
>Not when the whole facility was designed to keep you in.
>It was your new castle, designed just for you by your enemies.
>...
>After a short escort you arrive at Area C
“Here we are, you’ll need to be disinfected before we can proceed with today’s test,”
>She leads you over to the rooms built in wash station.
>The guards follow close behind you.
>Your eyes do a quick scan of the room
>The room looks like you remember it.
>Polished gleaming white, just like the whole facility, well illuminated, and with fancy human technology everywhere.
>A large silver surgical table sits in the center of the room, a tray of various medical instruments (all aluminium) set directly to its side.
>“Stand here please.”
>You comply.
>The researcher pulls a little lever and lukewarm water erupts from the floor soaking your belly and legs.
>Sweet Celestia that feels good.
>You would go so far as to say it’s the best thing about your day.
>Not that it happens every day, and never for very long.
>As quick as they came the jets of water stops and the brushing begins.
>One time you overheard the guards talking about how all researchers assigned here had to know basic animal handling skills.
>This was rather hard for you to believe as the “handling” you received was often quite abrasive.
>They would scrub you vigorously and with very little care for you during the process.
>Not this one though.
>She’d definitely paid attention during her training.
>The brush caressed your sore body and worked deep knots of tension right out of your coat.
>The sensation of the warm water and careful ministrations of the brush felt so good.
>Maybe a little too good.
>A blush crept up to your cheeks.
>Goddess was this researcher getting you aroused?!
>It certainly felt that way.
>You felt like you should feel shame, but…
>It had been a while since you’d felt such a pleasant touch.
>And the sensations certainly were stimulating.
>The way her hand would gently glide over your matted fur.
>The way the warm, wet, soapy, brush would scratch that itch in just the right way.
>Well it was all a little erotic.
>Especially for a pony who hadn’t had any delicate attention like it in a long time.
>In fact the last time you think you felt like this was…
>Oh
>What are you doing, getting aroused by some, some pet groomer.
>You are a married mare!
>A devious part of you mind crept its way in.
>Why not just enjoy it?
>You clearly were before you remembered him.
>Isn’t your life so difficult, where’s the harm in a little carnality?
>No it isn’t fair, not to…
>Just let go, he’s probably not even-
>A blast of cold water hits you making you yelp and washing away the soap and the rapidly dying embers of your lust.
>Before you can do anything about the sudden assault a refreshing warm blast of air quickly dries your coat and leaves you feeling refreshed.
>“Alright, all done.”

>Several minutes later you lay strapped down to the medical table your horn fastened and your wings secured.
>The researcher is busy preparing her tools for today’s tests, and judging from the large black case you don’t like the looks of them.
>“Alright A-3, today we’re drawing some blood and also going to be retrieving a sample from the core of your horn.”
>You feel the blood drain away from your face.
“I’ve been told that this procedure can be extremely painful for your kind, so I’ve been authorized to adminstor a painkiller.”
>She fills a syringe with a yellow liquid and inserts it into your IV line.
>It must have been the look in your eyes or something because she felt the need to continue.
>“Don’t worry it’s Duranzicorn, and while it’s never been used on an alicorn, it’s been used on unicorns many many times with almost no documented side effects.”
>Yeah, that’s not what you were worried about, although that last part was a little worrying as well.
“Let’s begin then.”
>Opening up the intimidating black case, she reveals a wicked looking device.
>It looks like a miniature saw attached to a black tube. The tips of the saw blade itself sparkles in the light of the room.
>She pressed a switch on the saw and a green light snaps on. The blade spins making a whirring noise.
>You flinch, or you try to, you actually can’t move your body at, all restrained as it may be.
>A rising panic starts to spread throughout your body and you begin to hyperventilate.
>“Ah yes, forgot to mention, Duranzicorn is also a paralytic, don’t want to cause any permanent damage if you flail around.”
>The saw draws nearer to your horn, and you close your eyes hoping, praying that the painkiller is strong enough.
>It wasn’t.
>Blinding excruciating pain bursts forth, screaming into your head.
>It feels as if your burning, standing in boiling water as your flesh melts away.
>No being should be able to endure this.
>You should be dead.
>You wish you were dead.
>Anything to stop the pain, please!
>The pain stops.
>“Alright just a little more, I’ve cut through to the core, just need a small little sample.”
>The saw revs again, and you descended into hell.
>The pain is electric and alive, and spreads through every nerve in your body.
>Your brain is desperately screaming at you. “YOU’RE DYING”
>Then please let me die.
>The pain does not ebb or slow it continues, increasing more and more until.
>nothing.

>You awake.
>You’re alive, you think.
>If you were dead you wouldn’t hurt this bad.
>The surroundings are familiar to you, back in your room it would seem.
>Your horn throbs with pain, but after what you experienced it doesn’t even seem to register.
>Reaching up you touch your horn. 
>A spike of pain runs through your already pain wracked body, but you push through it, you need to feel.
>Sure enough you feel a section of your horn has been shaved away.
>Touching almost causes you to black out a second time, and to be honest you might have.
>How did this happen?
>How did it ever get this bad?
>Never in your wildest nightmares had you imagined an existence so pitiable and awful.
>But, that was back then.
>It wasn’t good for you to think too much about back then.
>You did it quite often anyway.
>Back, before, you had been so busy, had so many responsibilities.
>Ruling an empire and having a family were no easy tasks, and you sometimes felt overburdened.
>Your husband was busy too, and you didn’t see each other as often as either of you would have liked.
>Your Aunts, and sister in law, your fellow rulers of Equestria were always so grand and accomplished, you struggled to keep up with their incredible pace. 
>You wanted to show them that you were a princess too, that they could count on you.
>and your subjects, well sometimes they would drive you a bit off the walls.
>But you were loved, they loved you, and you loved all of them.
>Ponies had depended on you, that was especially true during the war, but now…
>Now you were nothing.
>A slave.
>A glorified lab rat.
>But worst of all was the solitude, you hadn’t seen another pony years.
>You missed your subjects.
>You missed your friends.
>You missed your aunts.
>You missed your sister-in-law.
>You missed Shining.
>...
>You missed your daughter.
>No
>Don’t think about it.
>You need to be strong, to endure for…
>For what?
>More pain? More humiliation? More Suffering?
>There was no one left to protect, no one was coming for you.
>They were probably all dea-
>NO
>You will NOT give up on them EVER
>No matter what happens, you must stay strong for them.
>One day you will see them all again.
>Just have to take it one day at a time.
>You reach up and feel where your horn was brutally and casually mutilated.
>It gets harder every day.


THREE WEEKS LATER

>The buzzer brings you back from another dreamless sleep.
>Time to greet the new day.
>“Specimen A-3 stand back from the door and prepare to receive instructions”
>You wait.
>And wait.
>And keep waiting.
>You wait so long you start to suspect that perhaps this is the new round of tests, when suddenly your door slides open.
>No guards enter, no handlers either.
>Expectantly, you look up at the intercom awaiting instructions.
>None come.
>Hesitantly, you begin to creep over to the door.
>Poking your head out the door, you peer to the right, and then to the left.
>Standing off to the side is a lone human, completely untethered from the omnipresent guards that flank all of the researchers.
>This human is entirely unfamiliar to you and he’s not wearing the normal staff uniform.
>“Hello, how are you today?”
>This was not the normal procedure, you did not like this one bit.
>A change in procedure meant that something had been changed, which meant this was a new test, which usually meant… pain.
>He advances toward you slowly with his hand outstretched.
>Your instinct is to run, not to let the strange human touch you, but you remain frozen in place, unsure if this is just some new elaborate test.
>He’s right in front of you now, his hand right in front of your face.
>He reaches down and runs his hand through your mane.
>A burst of sudden searing electric pain courses through your body, emanating from the collar around your neck.
>As quickly as it came it goes.
>The buzzer sounds and the director's voice booms down at you.
>“A-3, you know the procedures, no unauthorized contact with the staff, Anonymous here is a new researcher here. Dr. Anonymous could you please try to stick with the procedure?”
>The man, Anonymous, looks to be quite angry.
>“Director please, don’t shock the poor girl, I was the one that touched her after all.”
>The intercom falls silent.
>“Er, that came out wrong, but you know what I mean, I need to establish a rapport with her, and how could I resist petting such a cute little thing.”
>“Dr. Anonymous, while I appreciate the need for your, expertise, I must remind you that you are a GUEST researcher, and that our rules and regulations are in place for your safety as much as the subjects.”
>He opens his mouth to reply, but is interrupted.
“If you must, we may discuss and special clearances you may need later, for now I suggest you get to work, the other subject will only be available for the next four hours.”
>Other subject?
>The Intercom clicks off with a burst of static and Dr. Anonymous turns back to look at you.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean, I mean… sorry about that”
>He looks over at you with, guilt? Embarrassment? Compassion?
>You are immediately suspicious to say the least, after all he is one of them.
>“I’m Dr. Anonymous, but I guess you already know that, what’s your name?”
>What sort of question is that? He knows your name. It’s best to answer the Doctor’s questions though, lest you want another zap.
“Specimen A-3.”
>He chuckles slightly,
>“No not that, I meant like, your name, before you were uh, you know.”
>Oh
>Your real name. 
>It feels like forever since anyone ever wanted to know your original name.
>That pony and the pony you are now feel like two distinct personalities within you.
>Maybe you took too long to reply, but for whatever reason Dr. Anonymous stands and says.
>“Forget it, you don’t have to tell me your name if you don’t want to.”
>“Welp looks like you're good to go, I’ll lead you to the lab.”
>He leads you out of your cell and down the wide hallway.
>Walking slightly behind him you start to think.
>Is this part of the test? Sometimes they wouldn’t tell you what they were going to do, sometimes they would, sometimes they would lie. 
>And what was that the director said about other subjects?
>As a result you were always on edge, just slightly anxious, never sure what to expect.
>Dr. Anonymous so far seemed inexperienced, the director certainly didn’t seem too impressed, which meant he was dangerous but not necessarily malicious.
>Maliciousness you understand and could somewhat plan around, but incompetence was volatile and unpredictable.
>Plus he had already gotten you punished within seconds, and while you doubted it was intentional, it definitely soured your opinion of him.
>While Dr. Anonymous appeared straightforward you did not want to make assumptions like that. 
>Not in here.
>As you near the usual testing chamber, you begin to relax.
>Room D meant that whatever tests they wanted to perform would not be invasive, Room D was basically a glorified auditorium.
>A minuscule smile touches the corners of your lips despite yourself.
>It’s just been a long time since you’ve gotten a chance to exercise.
>As the door slides open, your mouth falls open in shock.
>There’s a violet unicorn mare with a purple mane in the room sitting next to a female researcher.
>The mare turns to see who has entered and when she catches a glimpse of you her eyes go wide and her mouth gapes.
>“Alright A-3 this is U-140, you will be performing a cooperative exercise with her today.”
>This can’t be real can it? Another pony!
>Excitement begins to bubble up in your chest at the prospect of meeting her.
>Your eyes flick to her haunches. 
>A triple diamond cutie mark.
>You wonder what did she do before this?
>No, don’t think about it.
>That’s not important now
>Dr. Anonymous leads you over to the pony.
>As you approach the mare seems to become bashful looking off to the side.
>“Why don’t you two say hello?”
>Say hello?
>You’re unsure you can manage it.
>The mare squeaks out “H-hello, Princess, it is nice to meet you.”
>Princess
>Wow
>It’s been some time since you’ve been called that.
“Hello”
>The word feels unfamiliar in your own mouth, but the mare does not care or notice.
>She looks down at her hooves, her eyes flicking over to the Doctor
>“I seem to be in the way, tell you what, I’ll go stand over here let you girls have some time to yourselves, how’s that sound?”
>The mare nods her head and you quickly do the same.
>Anonymous smiles.
>“I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”
>He makes a motion with his hand and the female researcher follows him out of the room.
>Was he really going to leave you on your own with another pony?
>Perhaps on your own wasn’t accurate, they had eyes everywhere. 
>Even if you couldn’t see them, they could see you.
>But, still.
>Totally alone.
>With another pony.
>For the first time in years.
>What do you say?
>There are a lot of things you want to say, to ask, you feel completely overwhelmed!
>Say something!
“I, uh, really like your mane.”
>She just stares at you.
>Then she smiles, her smile widens and continues to do so until she is laughing.
>The laughter is infectious and you soon find yourself laughing as well.
>You’re both laughing so much it’s a little creepy and not really an appropriate reaction, but you don’t even care.
>Relief, joy, wonder, happiness, these emotions and many more subtle ones swirl around you bursting out in the form of uproarious laughter.
>The emotional whiplash is too much almost and you can feel yourself beginning to cry tears.
>But, for the first time in a long time, they are tears of joy.
>The laughter begins to peter out and slow down.
>You look at the mare and she looks at you.
>It appears she needed this interaction just as much as you did.
>The mare clears her throat.
>“I already know who you are,” she says in between giggles, “so allow me to introduce myself.”
>She extends her hoof for you to shake.
>“My name is Amethyst Star, it’s nice to meet you.”
>Reaching out you touch her hoof, and give a little shake.
“I’m Cadence, it is nice to meet you Amethyst Star.”
>You smile.

>You frown.
>This is not how you imagined your new job would go.
>When you had been selected to be on this researcher team you were ecstatic.
>Having a chance to personalize help study an alicorn in person?
>It seemed like an absolute dream come true!
>Not only that but with a team of awesome coworkers all experts in their respective fields you would be working on research that could potentially benefit all mankind!
>Plus the money was pretty nice too.
>But, what happens first day on the job?
>You blow it, that’s what you fucking do.
>Your overeagerness at meeting A-3 causes you to fuck up procedure getting her punished.
>This, on the first five minutes of your job!
>You should have been able to see that she was not receptive to human contact, she’s clearly and OBVIOUSLY suffered at least SOME trauma, what were you thinking?
>Some psychologist you are.
>“Dr. Anonymous!”
>Your head whips around.
>Oh shit, it’s the site director.
“Yes ma’am!”
>You give a salute.
>She slaps your hand away from your forehead.
>“Knock that shit off, this isn’t the military for chrissake.”
“Sorry ma’am!”
>She pinches the bridge of her nose and lets out a deep sigh.
>“Listen Anonymous, I know that the government is paying a lot of money for the use of my subject, but what in the hell are you doing with her?”
“Uh, what”
>“Letting her interact with another pony, leaving her unsupervised during testing, asking her what her NAME is? What are you trying to do, undermine all my work? She took a lot of time before she became this compliant, and now it looks like your trying to undo it all!”
>This chick is pissing you off, she’s being paid a lot of money for the use of A-3 so what’s her fucking problem?
“While I can’t tell you, exactly, what our research entails, I can tell you that A-3’s emotional well being is very important to our goals. And if that means undoing some of your conditioning, then, well, sorry about that.”
>She scowls at you.
>“Make no mistake, she is still my property, and if you do anything that jeopardizes my future work, I will sue your ass personally, sorry about that!”
>Giving you a little smirk and a pat on the cheek she saunters off down the hallway.
>Jesus she’s a bitch.
>But, kinda in a sexy way.
>You’re a little aroused.
>Damnit Anon, no!
>Do not fuck crazy science chicks!
>Never again.
>“Hey Anon, how did the initial test go?”
“Oh hey Chad. It’s actually still in progress.”
>“Well, uh where is she then?”
>You point down through the one way glass, the subjects seem to be getting along well enough.
“She’s down there, I feel I was being disruptive to her therapy.”
>He simply shrugs “You’re the expert.”
>“So I know the test is ongoing, but do you think she can give us what we need?”
“Um, Yeah, I think it will take some work, but I think she should be able to perform.”
>His face visibly relaxes, “That is a relief, I  don’t know what we’d do without her, being as she’s the only Alicorn available.”
>You nod.
>“Well,” he slaps you on the shoulder, “keep up the good work, and remember, that mare is gonna help us change everything.”
>He to departs off down the hallway.
>Looking down at A-3 you can’t help but smile a little.
>Yes
>She is.