Chapter 7: Food for the Soul
Riley high stepped her way back to her stall led by Alexis. She loved how she felt after the work Luna had done on her hair and nails. She was starving. "I could eat a horse" she thought, the joke not lost on her. She wanted to say it to Alexis but new she should keep quiet the tight @Posture Collar was acting as a good reminder for the rules.
Alexis led her to a small dining area where a large bowl of sweet smelling porridge sat on the table, a bottle of water and a cloth napkin were laid beside it. In the other corner of the room there were two large cushions, one with a soft blanket draped over it. Riley looked back at the bowl of porridge on the table and looked puzzled. How was she supposed to eat this? "I'm going to tie your hair back Riley." Alexis said as she pulled a hair tie from her pocket.
Riley stood still, allowing her to gather her long blonde hair into a high ponytail. The collar around her neck prevented her from looking down, so she watched Alexis's reflection in the full-length mirror across the room. Again she blushed as the fully clothed Alexis only emphasised her nakedness.
She felt a wave of embarrassment as she watched Alexis bend down, her buttocks accentuated by her tight leggings. Riley bit her lip, feeling her body react as she watched Alexis move, her long hair swaying with each movement.
Alexis finished tying Riley's hair back into a ponytail and stepped back to admire her handiwork. "There, that's better," she said, satisfaction in her voice. "Now, let's get you fed. Remember, ponies eat from their hooves, so use your hands to scoop up the porridge." Alexis instructed, gesturing towards the bowl.
Riley hesitated for a moment, the idea of eating like an animal seemed strange and degrading. But she saw the expectation in Alexis's eyes and knew that she had to follow the rules if she wanted to please her trainer. She took a deep breath and stepped up to the table, her hands hovering over the bowl.
The porridge smelled delicious, sweet and creamy, with a hint of cinnamon. She scooped up a handful and brought it to her mouth, the action feeling weirdly liberating. "Move closer to the bowl Riley and you must finish the whole thing."
Riley felt a presence nearby and looked around to smile at Alexis but instead so Starbeam. Victoria clipped Starbeams leash to the bowl so her face was practically in the porridge. "Eat!" Victoria barked at Starbeam.
"Look at her, Alexis. She's a mess. Her nails are a disgrace, and her hair is a tangled rat's nest. You need to do better with your ponies." Victoria's voice was sharp and cold, like ice against Riley's hot cheeks.
"What are you talking about Victoria!" Alexis snapped. "Riley is fucking gorgeous." Alexis countered, her voice laced with annoyance. "And I'll have you know, she's been groomed by the best in the business."
Victoria scoffed. "Luna? Please. She's a relic from the past, like your mother. The ponies these days want something more... modern." She smirked, her eyes flicking over Riley appreciatively. "I could show you a thing or two, if you're interested."
Riley's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the two women argue over her like she was a piece of property.
She felt a pang of humiliation and anger, but she knew better than to interrupt. She was just a pony, after all, and ponies didn't speak unless spoken to.
Victoria sneered at Alexis, her eyes flashing with malice. "You're pathetic, Alexis. You always were. You think you can just waltz in here and take over? You can't even train a pony properly. You're a disgrace to our family name."
Victoria slapped Starbeams bare bottom making her yelp. This was her signal that she could begin eating. Her hands moved into the bowl of gloopy porridge and started to eat. Riley, trying to avoid any confrontation also focused on eating her meal. She watched how Starbeam ate and saw she had a good technique of cupping her fingers. Riley mimicked her and indeed it was easier. She wanted to show she could be a good Pony Girl for Alexis, especially in front of Victoria.
Riley was determined to prove her worth and show that Alexis had made the right choice in taking her on. Despite the tension between the two trainers, Riley found herself enjoying the task at hand. The porridge was creamy and sweet, with just the right amount of cinnamon to make it interesting. As she ate, she felt her body responding to the sensation, her nipples hardening and her breath coming in short gasps. It was strange how something as simple as eating could be so erotic in this setting.
Alexis watched Riley with pride and took a seat in one of the cushions. "Riley! Just whinny when you are finished."
Victoria took a seat on the other cushion next to Victoria. "You let your Pony tell you when she is done?" Victoria tutted. "I tell Starbeam when she is done. I can see this competition is going to be won easily by me if that's the kind of freedom you give your Pony this early in her training."
Victoria said, her voice dripping with condescension. Alexis bristled at the insult, her eyes flashing with anger. "I'll have you know, Riley is a quick learner and a natural. She doesn't need to be treated like a mindless animal. I believe in rewarding good behavior and encouraging growth." Alexis's voice was laced with pride and determination. "Encouraging growth? You mean pampering. A Pony should be obedient and submissive, not entitled. You're too soft on her, Alexis.
You'll never train a proper pony that way," Victoria scoffed, her eyes never leaving Riley as she continued to devour her porridge.
Riley felt a surge of anger at Victoria's words, but she remembered her place and kept her head bowed, focusing on finishing her meal. She could feel Alexis's eyes on her, watching her every move. The thought of pleasing her friend, of proving Victoria wrong, spurred her on.
She scooped up the last of the porridge, bringing her hands to her mouth and licking them clean.
She whinnied softly, signaling that she was finished. Alexis nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Very good, Riley. You've done well today. Be good and wait there."
Victoria rolled her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief. "You actually let her decide when she's done? She's going to be a spoiled brat if you keep this up. Ponies don't deserve choices, Alexis. They deserve discipline."
"Watch this." Victoria continued. "Starbeam! Stop gorging yourself you greedy Pony!" Starbeam's hands immediately left the bowl and snapped to her side.
Riley stared at the ground, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She felt like a failure, like she had done something wrong. She had let Alexis down, and now Victoria was making her pay for it. She could feel the humiliation welling up inside of her, threatening to spill over into tears. But she held them back, determined not to show any weakness in front of these two powerful women.
"That's how you maintain a disciplined Pony Girl. Look at her poise, look at how quickly she responded to my command. Is it Riley who is training you?!" Victoria continued to snap at Alexis.
Alexis stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Enough, Victoria. Riley has done nothing wrong. She followed the rules that I set for her, and she did an excellent job.
I won't have you belittle her like that." Alexis's voice was sharp, her eyes flashing with anger. She stepped protectively in front of Riley, shielding her from Victoria's harsh gaze.
Victoria scoffed and stood up as well, her tall frame towering over Alexis. "You're making a fool of yourself, Alexis. A real trainer wouldn't be so soft on their pony. You're going to fail miserably in this competition if you keep this up."
Alexis took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "It's not about being soft, Victoria.
It's about respect and compassion. Something you seem to lack." Alexis's voice was steady and strong, despite the storm brewing in her eyes.
Riley looked up at Alexis, her heart swelling with gratitude. She had known Alexis was kind, but seeing her stand up for her like this, against someone as formidable as Victoria, was truly touching.
Victoria sneered, her lip curling in disgust. "Respect? Compassion? Those are for humans, Alexis. Ponies are nothing but beasts, meant to be broken and controlled.
You'll see how wrong you are when I win this competition. Your little pet will be cowering at my feet." Victoria spat, her voice laced with venom.
Riley flinched at the harsh words, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a tear slip down her cheek, but she kept her head bowed, determined not to let them see her cry.
Alexis's grip on Riley's shoulder tightened, her voice steady and firm. "You will not speak to her like that. Not while I'm here."
Victoria chuckled, a cold and cruel sound. "You think you can protect her?
You're just a little girl playing dress up in your mother's shoes. You have no idea what you're doing," Victoria sneered, her eyes glinting with malice.
"You're right, I am young," Alexis replied, her voice soft but her eyes blazing with determination. "But I have something you don't. I have heart, and I have compassion. And that makes me stronger than you'll ever be."
Victoria laughed, a sound like glass shattering. "Heart and compassion? That won't get you anywhere in this world.
Not with ponies. They respond to strength, to dominance. You're weak, Alexis. You always have been," Victoria sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.
Riley felt a new emotion surge through her, anger. She was tired of being talked about like she wasn't in the room, like she was some kind of property to be fought over. She looked up at Victoria, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"I'm not weak," Riley snapped, her voice filled with venom. "And I'm not some mindless animal to be controlled.
I choose to be here, and I choose to follow Alexis. Because she's kind, and she's fair, and she cares about me." Riley's voice shook with emotion, but her eyes never left Victoria's.
A tense silence filled the room, the only sound the soft rustling of fabric as Alexis stepped back, giving Riley space to speak her mind. Victoria's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth open slightly as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Victoria smirked as she calmly unclipped Starbeams leash attached to the table.
Starbeam immediately stood and stepped back into position.
"Starbeam, you have permission to speak." Victoria spoke as she stood behind her Pony Girl. "What would I do to you if you spoke to someone without permission." Victoria purred into Starbeam's ear.
Starbeam's shoulders slumped as she spoke. "I would be whipped, ma'am. I would expect nothing less."
Alexis's eyes widened at Starbeam's response, her grip on Riley's shoulder tightening. Riley felt a pang of sympathy for the other pony girl, but she knew better than to interrupt.
"See, Alexis?" Victoria taunted, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "That's how you train a pony. With discipline and strict obedience. And since I can't punish Riley." Victoria reached for a whip that hung on the wall. "I'll have to punish Starbeam for your Ponies disobedience." Victoria's voice was like ice, her eyes never leaving Riley as she spoke.
Riley's heart pounded in her chest as she watched Victoria pick up the whip, her body tensing in anticipation of what was to come. She knew that Starbeam had done nothing wrong, that she had only spoken because Victoria had provoked her. But she also knew that Victoria was seeking to make a point, to assert her dominance and to humiliate Alexis.
Alexis's grip on Riley's shoulder tightened, her voice sharp and urgent. "Victoria, no! That's not necessary.
Starbeam didn't do anything wrong," Alexis interjected, her voice firm. "You're just trying to make a point, and it's not going to work. I won't let you use Starbeam to punish Riley."
Victoria chuckled, the sound cold and cruel. "Oh, Alexis, always the optimist. But you see, that's where you're wrong. Starbeam is going to be punished, but not for Riley's disobedience.
She's going to be punished for your leniency, Alexis. For your soft heart and your naive ways." Victoria's voice was like venom, dripping with malice as she cracked the whip, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot.
Riley's heart leaped into her throat as she watched Victoria raise the whip, her eyes locked onto Starbeam's frightened form. She could see the panic in Starbeam's eyes, the way her body trembled as she braced herself for the inevitable pain.
"Please, no," Riley whispered, her voice barely above a whimper.
She tried to step forward, to intervene, but Alexis's grip on her shoulder tightened, holding her back.
"Stay back, Riley," Alexis warned, her voice tight with tension. "I won't let you get hurt trying to protect Starbeam."
Victoria smirked, enjoying the sight of the two ponies squirming in fear and discomfort. "Aww, how touching. The little ponies are trying to protect each other. Isn't that sweet?" she cooed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
She brought the whip down with a sharp crack, the leather licking against Starbeam's exposed back. Starbeam let out a strangled cry, her body jerking in pain. Riley felt a wave of nausea wash over her, her stomach churning as she watched the red welts form on Starbeam's skin.
"Stop it!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. She pulled against Alexis's grip, desperate to reach Starbeam and soothe her wounds. "You're hurting her! Stop it!"
Alexis held her back, her arms wrapped around Riley's waist, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Riley, no! You can't save her. You can only get yourself hurt."
Riley struggled against her, her tears blinding her. "She didn't do anything wrong!"
Victoria chuckled, the sound like ice cracking. "I know she didn't, you did." She brought the whip down again, the crack of the leather against flesh making Riley wince.
She felt helpless as she watched Victoria continue to lash out at Starbeam, the once pristine skin now marred with angry red welts. The scent of ointment filled the air, a pungent reminder of the pain that was being inflicted.
Alexis struggled to hold Riley back, her own expression a mix of anger and desperation. "Victoria, enough!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the stables. "You're proving nothing but your cruelty. Stop this now!"
Victoria paused, the whip still raised, her eyes locked onto Riley's. "I see determination in you, Riley. I think you could be exceptional. Look at Starbeam. In agony but takes the pain and punishment like a strong, perfect, Pony Girl." Victoria put the whip back on the wall. "I could do that for you Riley, why not come and be trained by the best. It would be tough but just look at what you could become with my training!" Victoria held out her hand to Riley, beckoning her to come to her.
Starbeam, her body still trembling from the punishment, looked up at Riley with pleading eyes. She mouthed the words, "Don't go," her voice barely audible.
Riley hesitated, her heart torn between the desire to help Starbeam and the allure of Victoria's offer. She looked into Victoria's eyes and saw the promise of power and control that lay within them. But she also saw the fear and pain in Starbeam's eyes, and it reminded her of why she had chosen to follow Alexis in the first place.
Riley glared and stood as tall as she could, she stomped her foot twice on the floor as hard as she good and snorted loudly. She moved next to Alexis and nuzzled into her shoulder showing her devotion and love for her trainer.
Alexis stroked her hair and whispered in her ear, "Good girl, Riley. I'm so proud of you."
The gesture wasn't lost on Victoria. She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "You're making a mistake, Riley. You're throwing away your potential by sticking with Alexis. She's weak and she'll never make you into a true pony girl."
Riley kept nuzzling into Alexis ignoring Victoria completely.
Alexis gave a soft reassuring pat on Riley's back, a small smile playing on her lips. "Riley. I'm with you, I won't let you down."
Victoria scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You two are pathetic. You're going to lose this competition, Alexis. I can see it already and then she'll be mine anyway." She turned to Starbeam, her voice sharp. "Clean up this mess, Starbeam. We're leaving."
Starbeam nodded, her eyes glued to the ground as she began to clean up the spilled porridge with her hands, her back still red and welting from the whip.
Riley watched her, her heart aching for the other girl, but she knew better than to intervene.
Alexis guided Riley away from the scene, her hand still on Riley's back. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up and into your stall for the night. You've had quite the day."
Riley followed Alexis, her mind still racing with what had just happened. She had never seen anyone treated so cruelly before, and it made her blood boil. But she knew that now was not the time to confront Victoria. She needed to focus on healing and resting, so she could be strong enough to face whatever came her way tomorrow.
Riley was led back to her stall and Alexis opened the gate for her. Riley nodded as she was relieved to see the familiar sight of her stall. She felt safe in here, especially with Alexis present.
"Let me get that collar off you. I ssuggest going straight to sleep but this is your space." Alexis but Riley could hear the exhaustion in her voice.
Riley's body ached from the emotional turmoil of the day, but she was also strangely exhilarated. She had stood up for herself, and for Starbeam, and she had seen the pride in Alexis's eyes. That was enough for her to hold onto, to push through the pain and the fear.
Alexis unbuckled the posture collar from around Riley's neck, her fingers gentle but firm. Riley felt a wave of relief wash over her as the tight leather fell away, revealing the soft skin of her neck. She rolled her shoulders, feeling the tension release from her body.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse from all the screaming and crying.
Alexis nodded, running her hands through Riley's hair. "You're welcome, sweetheart. You did so well today. I'm really proud of you."
Riley smiled, leaning into Alexis's touch. "I tried my best. I want to make you proud."
Alexis chuckled softly, her fingers tangling in Riley's blonde locks. "You already do, Riley. You already do."
Riley felt a warmth spread through her at Alexis's words.
She looked up into her friend's eyes, her own filled with gratitude and affection. "I'm glad," she whispered.
Alexis smiled, her fingers still playing with Riley's hair. "I want you to get some rest now, okay? You've had a long day, and I don't want you pushing yourself too hard."
Riley nodded, her eyelids feeling heavy with fatigue. "Okay. I think I can sleep standing up if I have to."
Alexis laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "No, silly. You can lie down. There are some limits to how much of a real Pony you can be."
Riley laughed along with her friend, relieved to see the stress leave her expression. "Hey, I'm new to this!" Riley joked, trying to lighten the mood. She appreciated Alexis's concern, but she also wanted to reassure her that she was okay.
"I know, I know," Alexis sighed, her smile softening. "Just promise me you'll lie down. I don't want you standing all night."
Riley nodded, "I promise." She stepped into her stall, feeling the soft hay beneath her bare feet. The stall was warm and cozy, just like she imagined a real horse stall would be. She went straight for the small single bed she had napped on earlier and lay down, pulling the thin blanket over her. Despit ethe straw filled mattress and pillow the bed was soft and she closed her eyes imediately.
"Good Night, Riley." Alexis whispered and closed the gate to the stall locking it in place. "I'll see you in the morning."
.........................................
Riley shot awake and looked around her stall was in pitch darkness. Her eyes began to adjust to the low light and started to be able to make out her surroundings. She realised she really was in a stall, she smelt the hay and the leather around her and realise it hadn't been a dream. She was really here. She felt her muscles ache and ground as she turned onto her back. It was then she could here a soft crying in the darkness. "Hello?" Riley whispered.
She lifted her head a little and listened carefully. The sound was coming from the stall across from hers. She frowned, her concern growing. "Hello? Starbeam is that you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
She strained to hear any response, but the darkness remained silent. She waited a moment longer before deciding to investigate. She swung her legs out of the bed and stood up, her bare feet sinking slightly into the hay-covered floor. She took a step towards the door of her stall, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Starbeam?" she called out, her voice a little louder this time. She new she shouldn't but she fumbled in the darkness trying to open the gate to her stall.
She heard the latch click open and she gently pushed the gate open and stepped out into the dimly lit hallway that lead to other stalls. The hum of soft light from the stalls across from her own.
She followed the sound of the soft weeping and she found Starbeam's stall. She knocked softly on the door, "Starbeam?" she called out, her voice soft and concerned.
The weeping stopped and she heard a soft shuffle. "Riley!? You can't be out of your stall." Starbeam's voice was barely audible, barely a whisper through the gate. Riley could hear the pain and exhaustion in her voice, and her heart went out to the other pony girl.
"I know, I'm sorry," Riley whispered back, leaning against the gate. "I just heard you crying and I wanted to make sure you were okay."
There was a pause before Starbeam spoke again. "I'm fine, really. Just... just some old bruises acting up, that's all."
Riley sighed, her hand reaching up to rest on the gate. "You don't have to lie to me, Starbeam. The whipping you took I.....I've seen anyone hit like that." The softness of Riley's voice betrayed the fierce anger burning within her. "I wanted to help, but Alexis wouldn't let me. I'm so sorry, Starbeam. I wish there was something I could do."
Starbeam sighed, her body slumping against the gate. "There's nothing anyone can do, Riley. This is just the way it is. I've been through worse, trust me. Victoria loves to... demonstrate her skills with a whip." The bitterness in Starbeam's voice was palpable. "She's right when she says her ways make the best Pony Girls." Starbeam got up from her bed and walked into view.
The flickering light of a small lantern cast long shadows on her thin frame. Her auburn hair was disheveled, and her green eyes were red-rimmed and puffy from crying. Riley could see the bruises on her legs, some fresh and angry, others faded but still visible.
"I'm sorry, Starbeam," Riley choked out, her eyes filling with tears. "I didn't know... I never would have... I would never have spoken like that if I'd known she would punish you like that."
Riley's voice shook with emotion as she took in the sight of Starbeam's battered body.
Starbeam waved her hand dismissively, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's not your fault, Riley. You didn't know. And like I said, I've been through worse. Victoria is... intense, but she knows what she's doing."
Riley hugged herself, her eyes scanning the bruises on Starbeam's body. "I just... I can't believe she did that to you. And for what? Because I spoke?" She looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Listen Riley, I came here as someone who needed help, I got into a lot of trouble in my old trouble. I mean a lot of trouble. Victoria chose me for training and her discipline has helped me become more than I ever thought possible." Starbeam's voice was filled with a strange mixture of pride and resignation.
Riley shook her head, her heart aching for the other girl. "But that doesn't make it right. No one deserves to be treated like that, Starbeam. Especially not for something so stupid as speaking out of turn."
Starbeam's eyes flicked up to meet Riley's, and she gave a small shrug. "It's just the way things are, Riley. You'll learn that soon enough. This world isn't like the one outside the club. Here, ponies are meant to be seen and not heard. That's what she was trying to teach Miss Miller. I've seen a lot trainers go up against Miss Bryla and she has destroyed them." Starbeam was now stood right at the gate. "But the thing is I think, secretly, she wants your trainer to succeed." Starbeam said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Riley stared at Starbeam, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You think so?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Starbeam nodded, her eyes filled with a strange mix of fear and hope. "I do. By disciplining me in front of Miss Miller she was showing her what it takes to train a filly. She wants...."
Riley cut Starbeam off "She wants Alexis to be more like her that's what she wants." Riley's voice was low but determined. She had witnessed Victoria's cruelty first hand and she wasn't buying into Starbeam's theory.
Starbeam sighed, looking down at her dirty hands. "Maybe. But I've seen her with other trainers. She's always trying to prove she's the best. She does it with every new trainee, not just Miss Miller."
Riley hesitated, taking in Starbeam's words. She knew that Victoria was competitive, but she also knew that Alexis wasn't like the other trainers. She was kind and caring, and she genuinely wanted the best for her ponies. Starbeam continued "I've never seen her try and tell another trainer they should get their head in the game, to stop playing around, to take this seriously" She looked up at Riley "She did all that to your trainer today, and she hasn't done that before. So maybe, just maybe, she does want your trainer to succeed."
Riley's heart was torn. She wanted to believe Starbeam, she wanted to think that Victoria wasn't just a cruel woman who enjoyed inflicting pain. But she had seen the way Victoria had looked at her, the way she had whispered in her ear, offering her the chance to be trained by the best. She couldn't shake the feeling that Victoria was playing some kind of game, and she didn't want to be a pawn in it.
Starbeam moved away "I appreciate your concern but I wanted to be punished for your infraction earlier. I take this life seriously and to see a Pony Girl disrespect my trainer like you did and not get punished. It would have been shameful to the Country Club. Someone needed punished and if that had to be me then so be it." Riley stared at Starbeam, her heart pounding in her chest. "You wanted to be punished?" Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with disbelief.
"Yes!" Starbeam yelled. "This is my life, i've devoted my very soul to this lifestyle and you acted poorly and then Miss Miller looked like she was going to let you away with it." Starbeam snorted. "That offended me." Starbeam's voice shook with emotion, her eyes flashing in the dim light. "I didn't want that for you, Riley. You're new, you don't understand the rules yet. But you will. And when you do, you'll see why there had to be punishment."
Riley's eyes filled with tears. She hadn't realised that her actions that she thought were righteous were actually brining shame and disrespect to her and Alexis. It was in this moment that she understood Starbeam and where she was. "This....isn't just a game is it?" Riley whispered. "I'm sorry, Starbeam. I never meant to disrespect you or Alexis. I just... I thought I was standing up for us."
Starbeam sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know, Riley. And I appreciate it. But this world has different rules. Here, we follow the trainer's commands without question. It's what keeps us safe, what keeps us whole. This lifestyle is very important to me. I think it will become important to you too. I've seen a lot of new filly's and none have looked as promising as you." Starbeam leaned against the gate, her eyes searching Riley's face. "You've got the right figure, the right attitude, and you're eager. You could be something special, Riley. You just need to learn the ropes."
Riley felt a blush creep up her cheeks at the compliment. She knew she had a good body, but she had never thought of herself as exceptional. She looked down at her naked form, her heart swelling with pride.
"What do I need to do?" "To learn the ropes, I mean."
Starbeam smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Well, for starters, you need to forget everything you know about being a human. This isn't just about performing tasks or following orders, it's about becoming a different creature altogether. A pony is not a human in a costume, it's a whole new identity. You need to think like a pony, act like a pony, and eventually, become a pony in every sense of the word."
Riley nodded, her mind racing with questions. "But how do I do that? How do I become a pony?"
Starbeam chuckled, her voice soft and soothing. "It's a process, Riley.
A journey, if you will." Starbeam leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You'll learn to embrace the smells, the tastes, the sensations. You'll learn to embrace the posture collar, the leash, the whip. You'll learn to appreciate the discipline, the structure. And most importantly, you'll learn to love the connection with your trainer. That's what being a pony is all about."
Riley felt a shiver run down her spine at Starbeam's words. She had always been drawn to the idea of submission, of giving up control to someone she trusted.
"I wasn't upset about punished earlier, a Pony Girl sees punishment as a learning opportunity. Learning to process pain, thinking about the mistake that led to that moment. Do you know what I was thinking about as Victoria whipped me earlier?"
Riley shook her head. Starbeam reached out and from between the gate storked Riley's cheek. "I'd had an opportunity to talk to you earlier and didn't press the importance of this life on you, that was my failing, that's what I was being punished for." Starbeam said softly.
Riley felt her heart aching for Starbeam, her eyes searching for the right words to say. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise..." Riley trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper.
Starbeam smiled gently, her hand still cupping Riley's cheek. "It's okay, Riley. I understand. You're new to this, and it's a lot to take in. But I want you to understand, truly understand, what it means to be a pony girl. It's not just about the pain and the pleasure, it's about the connection. The trust.
The bond. The love. It's all intertwined, Riley. And when you have that, the pain and pleasure become just another part of the dance." Starbeam's eyes were soft, but her voice held a firmness that Riley found reassuring.
Riley nodded, her mind whirling with new insights. "I think I understand, Starbeam. Or at least, I'm starting to. I want to learn, to experience this life fully. I want to be the best pony girl I can be, for Alexis."
"One last thing. You should stop thinking of your trainer as, 'Alexis', you are a Pony Girl so she is Miss Miller. She is your trainer, your dominant, your world." Starbeam continued. "Pony Girls show nothing but humility and respect to them"
Riley looked serious in thought. "But Alexis is my friend though"
Starbeam shook her head "Alexis was friends with Riley the woman not Riley the Pony Girl."
Riley nodded. "I think I understand, I'm a new person, I mean animal now. The old Riley is gone."
Starbeam nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Good. That's the spirit. Now, please go back to your stall. If someone catches you out here then you will be in trouble." Starbeam gave Riley's cheek a soft pat and stepped back. "You need to go back to your stall now."
Riley nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "Thank you, Starbeam. For everything." She turned and made her way back to her stall, her heart heavy with new understanding and a sense of determination. She slipped back into her stall, shutting the gate behind her. She curled up on her bed, her mind racing with everything she had learned tonight.
She was startled out of her thoughts by a soft whinny coming from Starbeam . Riley smiled and whinnied loudly as a response.
She pulled the blanket up over her shoulders and settled back onto her pillow. The hay rustled softly beneath her as she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep with thoughts of her new journey to becoming a true pony girl spinning through her mind.