IA: Ari Finds Gabby - a Ponygirl?

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Ari walked closer, her footsteps carrying her closer to the heart of this bewildering scene. As she approached, her presence caught Sam's attention, prompting the young woman to pause in her task of bathing Gabby. Ari offered Sam a warm smile, trying to maintain a friendly demeanor despite the troubling circumstances. "Hello, you must be Sam," Ari greeted her.

Sam returned the smile, nodding in acknowledgment. Her eyes held a mix of curiosity and a hint of wariness as she responded, "Yes, that's me. And you are...?"

Just as Ari and Sam exchanged pleasantries, a sudden movement caught her eye. Gabby, who had been standing with her eyes closed in the embrace of Sam's gentle ministrations, abruptly opened her eyes. Startled and disoriented, she looked around, her gaze finally settling on Ari's familiar face.

In that moment, a rush of emotions swept over Gabby, overwhelming her. A glimmer of recognition lit up her green eyes, and her heart leaped with a mixture of surprise, disbelief, and hope. She pushed Sam aside with a gentle urgency, a desperate need to reach Ari. With unspoken longing in her eyes, Gabby rushed forward, attempting to throw herself into Ari's embrace as if seeking solace in her presence. But the unforgiving leash around her neck abruptly halted her, pulling her up short with an unexpected jerk.

The sudden restraint threw Gabby off balance, and she stumbled, struggling to regain her footing. Ari instinctively moved forward, a surge of empathy and love welling up within her. She understood the limitations of Gabby's leash, but she was determined to bridge the gap between them. As Gabby nuzzled against her, Ari felt her heart swell with tenderness and affection, a deep, emotional connection rekindled after the long separation.

Ari's arms wrapped tightly around Gabby's naked and soaked form, holding her close as if protecting her from the harsh reality that surrounded them. She could feel the rapid, uneven rhythm of Gabby's breathing, mirroring her own turbulent emotions. Ari's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice trembling with a mixture of sorrow, anger, and love as she whispered, "Oh, Gabby." Her voice broke, and she choked back a sob as she continued to hold her tightly. "What are they doing to you?"

In that moment, Ari's heart ached with the weight of the situation, and the flood of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She knew they had limited time to reconnect and find a way out of this nightmare, but in this stolen moment, all that mattered was the profound bond she shared with Gabby and the shared pain of their reunion in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

Sam stepped aside, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity as she observed the emotional reunion unfolding before her. She wisely chose not to interrupt, sensing the significance of the moment. Gabby, still trembling with a mix of emotions, appeared overjoyed to be in Ari's comforting embrace.

However, what happened next took Ari by surprise, leaving her momentarily bewildered. Gabby, amidst her relief and happiness, emitted a whinnying sound akin to that of a horse. This peculiar behavior caught Sam's attention, and she approached the pair with a gentle demeanor, seemingly unphased by Gabby's equine vocalization.

With an understanding smile, Sam reached out and tenderly patted Gabby's hand, her soothing words carrying a hint of reassurance. "Strawberry, it's okay. You can talk. I won't tell anyone." Her comforting tone aimed to ease Gabby's apparent anxiety.

Ari arched an eyebrow at Sam's statement, unable to conceal her disbelief. As Sam continued to explain the strange rules imposed by the goblins, Ari's expression flickered between shock, outrage, and compassion. The absurdity and cruelty of such dehumanizing restrictions left her appalled, but she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the relief of having found Gabby.

In response to Sam's kindness, Gabby flexed her jaw, ready to speak like a person once more. She addressed Sam with gratitude, "Thank you, Miss Sam." Gently extricating herself from Ari's embrace, Gabby turned her attention to Ari, her green eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. "Oh, Ari, I am so glad to see you. I never thought I would see you again," she confessed, her voice quivering with emotion.

Gabby suddenly became aware of her exposed state, her hands moving instinctively to cover herself. A deep crimson flush colored her cheeks as she stammered an apology, "I am so sorry, Ari, that you had to see me in this condition."

Sam, playfully tapping Gabby's buttocks with a cane, offered a mock admonishment, "Strawberry, silly pony, you cannot cover yourself. If the Goblins see I am letting you do it, I will be in trouble. Also, please make it quick. Someone may come in at any minute."

Ari's heart ached at the sight of Gabby's embarrassment and vulnerability. The humiliation she was enduring was palpable, and Ari couldn't fathom the depths of cruelty the goblin had subjected her to. In response, she stepped forward, embracing Gabby once more. Her voice was soft and comforting as she reassured her, "It's okay, Gabby. Why are you apologizing as if it's your fault? I am just so relieved that I finally found you. I was worried sick." Ari's embrace conveyed her unwavering support and determination to protect Gabby from the horrors of their current predicament.

Gabby did not resist and hugged Ari back. Gabby said to Sam "You are right Miss Sam. We will make it quick.". Turning to Ari she says "Ari, I know how this looks like but I am a pony girl now. It may sound strange but I really don't want to leave this life".

"What?" Ari asks, clearly taken aback by Gabby's words. She's not sure what to say. How could Gabby just accept her life like this? It makes no sense to Ari. How can she live like this?

Ari watches Gabby's face, trying to understand her point of view... but she just can't fathom how Gabby could just resign herself to this kind of life. "Why would you ever want this? How could you possibly be happy here?" Ari's voice is full of a mixture of confusion and horror. "This is... it's not right."

Gabby speaks with conviction "Please Ari, let me finish and then you can ask me anything if we have time." Ari nods in understanding, then turns her attention back to Gabby. "Of course," she says, "I'm sorry. Please, go on.". Ari watches Gabby, eager to hear what she has to say. She's curious to know how Gabby can possibly find happiness in this kind of life. And yet, Ari is skeptical. How can someone just accept being treated like this? Not even treated like human.

Sam picks up a seemingly random saddle and starts "working" on it, running her finger over the material with a frown. The saddle doesn't seem to actually need any repairs - it's clearly just an excuse to listen in on the conversation between Ari and Gabby.

Gabby continues "Ari, you would be right to question my sanity. When I was first captured by the Goblins, stripped of my clothes, bound and kept in isolation with a blindfold, ear plugs and a bit in my mouth depriving me of any senses and my humanity, I was planning hard on different ways in which I would kill those little green bastards. Do you know that they are very methodical in breaking a free woman to a well trained pony? They even have a phrase which roughly translates to 'breaking a wild filly'." Gabby chuckles wryly as she continues "After about a week of sensory deprivation, they started training me in earnest. Without the use of my eyes, ears and with a bit in my mouth, the whips and canes were all I could rely on for walking in right direction. After god knows how many days, they used to remove the blindfolds and ear plugs if I was "good pony". The punishment for being a "bad pony" was severe. I was realizing what they were doing - methodically breaking me. But I could not resist any longer as my body was building reflexes to touch of their whips and canes. I actually started to crave the small mercies they would show when I behaved according to their expectations. One solace in this horrible time was a teenage goblin girl. She would sneak in to my stall and give me treats and talk to me about her day. I began looking forward to her arrivals every evening."

Ari's eyes widen as she hears Gabby's account of these horrible things. Ari gives a slight nod to show Gabby that she is listening, and she waits for her to go on.

Gabby paused to take a deep breath before continuing with her story. Her voice held a mix of resignation and a hint of nostalgia as she delved into the painful memories of her time as a captive.

"I'm guessing here, but probably after three or four months--though it's difficult to tell, as I had no calendar, so I'm relying solely on the change of seasons--they considered me ready for the next phase of my training," Gabby explained. Her eyes flickered with a distant look as she recalled those trying times. "I had grown fond of a teenage Goblin girl who would treat me with kindness. Mind you, it wasn't that she thought I shouldn't be a pony. The kindness was akin to how one shows affection to a beloved pet. She would take me on long walks and would even remove the bit to let me talk."

Gabby's gaze shifted toward Ari, and she continued, "She told me that I was to be sold at an auction in a couple of days. Throughout all this, I was always looking for an opportunity to escape. However, those little bastards were thorough. My hands were always bound behind my back, and even when they were freed for a couple of hours for me to exercise, my palms were put in mittens without thumbs, making them useless. The Goblins had wolf-like creatures that they had trained to corral human ponies, like sheepdogs herding sheep. They called them Wargs. These Wargs were terrifying. Anyway, my point is that it was almost impossible to escape. I was, of course, worried about the auction, being sold like some dumb animal--that was beyond humiliating."

A shadow crossed Gabby's face as she continued, "The only saving grace was that there were at least 40 other human females like me who were supposed to be Goblin ponies, and the buyers would be Goblins or Orcs. I wasn't sure who my new owner would be or where he/she would take me. The human mind is an amazing thing; it learns to cope in extreme situations. So, it didn't come as a surprise when I was extremely happy that my new owner turned out to be that teenage girl's father. That meant I could spend more time with her. She really cared for me."

Gabby's tone softened as she remembered the relative comfort of her new owner's house. "My life wasn't bad in my new owner's house. Yes, I was still treated inhumanly like a horse, but they were clinical about it. They would feed me regularly, bathe and groom me. I carried my owner around, and that was the only work I did. It used to get boring being tied by my leash to a pole while my owner did his day-to-day chores. His wife, too, was fond of me. She wanted to call me 'Red,' but her teenage daughter prevailed, and thus, I was named Strawberry. I learned that my owner was the Goblin chief. They owned dozens of other human ponies, Wargs, and other beasts. However, even I could see that I was treated specially. Some of the other human ponies were jealous of me, but that's a story for another day."

Gabby finished her narrative, her eyes weary from revisiting these painful memories, and she looked at Ari, unsure of how she would react to this revelation about her life as a Goblin pony.

Ari listens closely as Gabby tells her story. What she's describing is shocking - it's inhuman, barbaric. Ari is silent for a moment after the story has ended, clearly moved and horrified by what she's just heard. She doesn't know what to say. She has so many questions, but she doesn't know where to begin. Ari takes a deep breath. "That's a lot... to process." She says quietly, trying to find the right words to express what she's feeling. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. But it still doesn't explain why you want to continue this horrible life."

Ari watches Gabby think carefully about the question, waiting for her to come up with an answer. The silence drags on for a while as Gabby gives the question serious consideration. Finally, she opens her mouth to speak. "Because..." Gabby swallows hard as she begins, clearly not finding the words easily. "Because..." She sighs, then tries again. "Because... in a way.... I do not have to worry about any assignments or deadlines. I don't have to think Ari. Just follow the whip or cane. Life is so simple"

Ari is flabbergasted that Gabby's response. She hold her hands in her and start "Gabby, I would rescue.." Ari's words are filled with determination and compassion as she starts to voice her intent to rescue Gabby. Her heart aches at the thought of her friend enduring such a degrading existence.

But before Ari can finish her sentence, Gabby gently places a finger on her lips, silencing her. She looks into Ari's eyes with a mix of gratitude and a hint of sadness. "Ari, please," Gabby implores softly, "I know you mean well, and I appreciate your concern more than words can express. But it's not that simple. You don't understand..."

Gabby hesitates, struggling to find the right words to convey her complex feelings. "Being a Goblin pony is... strangely liberating in some ways. It's hard to explain. Yes, it's degrading, humiliating, and inhumane, but it's also... uncomplicated. I don't have to worry about the complexities of life as a human anymore. I don't have to make choices or face responsibilities. I'm just... a pony. It's like a twisted escape from the burdens of being a person."

Tears glisten in Gabby's eyes as she continues, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know it sounds insane, Ari, but in some weird, twisted way, I've found a sort of peace here. I've come to accept my fate, and it's become my reality. I don't know how to explain it better."

Ari is torn between understanding Gabby's perspective and her strong desire to rescue her friend from this nightmarish existence. She takes a moment to process Gabby's words, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions.

Sam, cuts off Ari mid-sentence and warns "Please miss, I don't know who you are or what you are here for but you should not say that word. We cannot let you take Strawberry away. She belongs to the Goblin. The punishment for stealing Goblin property is different for men and women. For men it is death and for women it is permanent enslavement. I do not wish that fate on you"

Sam's words hang heavily in the air, casting a somber pall over Ari and Gabby's conversation. Ari can hardly believe her ears as Sam refers to Gabby as "Goblin property." It's a gut-wrenching reminder of the dehumanizing reality Gabby faces every day.

Ari's voice trembles with outrage as she counters, "You cannot be serious. Gabby is a person... not some horse or dog that can be owned. This is beyond cruel."

Sam's response is a mix of empathy and resignation. "I have all the sympathy for her," she begins, her voice filled with genuine compassion. "Whenever such pony girls come to our stables, we treat them well. You can ask Strawberry to confirm." She looks at Gabby, whose face flushes crimson at the mention of her pony name. Unable to speak, Gabby simply nods her head in agreement with Sam.

Ari is not surprised to hear that the stable hands have been kind to Gabby. Still, it does little to ease the weight of the situation. She holds Gabby close, her heart heavy with determination and frustration. "Sam, you are right," Ari concedes, her voice tinged with sadness. "No use arguing with you. I will talk to the village elders and try to convince them. If that fails, I will find some other way."

Ari's resolve is unwavering, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to free Gabby from this nightmarish existence, even if it means challenging the deeply ingrained customs of the village.

Turning to Gabby she says "Gabby, can you hold on for a few more days? I will free you even if I have to give my life for it". Gabby sighs insisting "Ari, it was horrible at the start. I wished I had died all the time. But now I am not so sure Ari. Gorlm is not a bad owner. His kids are adorable. It is ironic but in these shackles I am more free than what I was when I was a free woman."

Sam walks over and gently pulls Gabby away from now stunned Ari. She says soothingly to the girl "Strawberry, can I finish your cleaning and grooming? I have to take care of other ponies too before I leave for the day". Gabby nods and moves back to the post.

Ari stares at Gabby, clearly devastated by what she's hearing. She's stunned by Sam's words - the idea that this kind of existence could be considered more "free" is so strange and alien to her. She can't even fathom it. What kind of horrific things has Gabby been through that this seems normal to her? Ari's heart breaks for the poor girl.

Ari watches quietly as Gabby is led away, her face filled with an emotion she can't even name. It's like a mixture of heartbreak, confusion and anger all mixed together into an unrecognizable emotion. She's angry at the goblins and the villagers and everyone else who has allowed this to happen. Ari is confused as she had expected Gabby to react differently. She'd figured that Gabby would want nothing more than to be free and to have her life and her identity back. But instead, Gabby seems content in her servitude. And she's heartbroken at the idea that these beautiful women could be reduced to nothing more than animals with no rights or dignity is just... it's beyond imagination.

Ari's mind is a whirlwind of emotions as she watches Gabby being led away. She's devastated by Gabby's words and the realization that her friend has come to accept this nightmarish existence as a twisted form of freedom. It's a reality Ari can hardly comprehend, and it leaves her feeling helpless and frustrated.

As Gabby moves back to the post, Ari is left alone with her thoughts, trying to make sense of everything she's witnessed. The sight of these women being treated like animals, the village's compliance with the goblins, and Gabby's unexpected response weigh heavily on her.

Sam diligently continues her work, using water and soap to gently cleanse every inch of Strawberry's dusty coat. With care and precision, she works on Strawberry's vibrant ginger hair, applying shampoo and ensuring a thorough cleaning. Then, she reaches for a bottle of oil, her skilled hands starting a soothing massage on Gabby's tired legs. As she works her magic, she softly coos to the girl, offering words of comfort and reassurance.

"Good girl, sweet Strawberry," Sam murmurs tenderly. "Your legs must be feeling so weary after all that running. I'll give you a massage, and you'll be in perfect shape to accompany your master home. Such a good girl."

Gabby lets out a contented sigh as the tension in her muscles gradually melts away under Sam's expert touch. She gazes over at Ari, her eyes filled with a melancholic expression. She speaks softly, her words carrying a hint of resignation and acceptance.

"Ari, I understand it's difficult for you to grasp, but in a strange way, I've found a sort of happiness here," Gabby says, her voice gentle. "Just look at how well they care for me."

Sam playfully spanks Gabby's ass and addresses her with affectionation, reinforcing the role.

"That's right, Strawberry," Sam says with a grin. "You're such a good girl, aren't you, Strawberry?"

Ari observed the peculiar scene before her, struggling to comprehend the bizarre situation that had unfolded. It was clear that something was profoundly amiss here. The notion that being treated like a horse or a dog could bring someone happiness was utterly perplexing to Ari. It defied reason and logic, leaving her in a state of bewilderment. The entire scenario was dehumanizing and humiliating, and it was painfully evident that Gabby had been indoctrinated into accepting this peculiar way of life.