Not quite what you expected, horse, part 2 of 2

The bell rang and the music ended with a menacing crescendo. Then the sound came to a halt. The spotlights found him again. Johnny looked around, his sentries were still there.
He was still on the stage, sitting on a chair.
He was still cuffed and gagged.
He was still on a leash.
He was still trapped in that jinxed pony costume.
*Click. All of a sudden his shackles were open. He could stand up and move around, at least as far as the merciless leash was allowing him to move. His sentries were still emotionless, judging from the dead stare of their animal masks. It was a creepshow for sure, and him being in the middle.
There must be anyone with a little rest of sense in that room. What was going on?
“Are you finished?” the announcer reminded him where the show was.
Johnny nodded and shrugged his plushy shoulders. The warmth of the stage light turned more unpleasent with every passing minute. There was no way out, he was their victim, an object without any rights or ways to speak. Looking to the entertainment-hungry crowd one last time, the plush horse nodded and moved to the middle of the stage.
The announcer had prepared several questions on his little stack of index cards and in the middle were three platforms with the digits 1, 2 or 3, numbered from left to right. It was a quiz show apparently.
The announcer made a gesture for plush-pony-Johnny to take a seat in the middle, before the three platforms and he did as he was ordered. He had no other option left anyway. From the corner of his meshed eyes he could see the goons scattering to each and every corner of the stage, ready to stop him if he dared to make any attempt to escape. At that moment, Johnny was having other thoughts anyway. Through his plush head it was very hard to understand any clear words but it didn't matter. The spotlights burned down on him, signalling the show to start. The audience went silent all of a sudden.
“Took you long enough, stallion, or mare? I am not sure...” the announcer joked and scratched his chin. “Anyway, since you are here, let's roll the cart, shouldn't we?”
Johnny was in no mood to laugh, it wouldn't be hearable anyway. That stupid horse prison. He still hoped it was a strange dream or a nightmare and his alarm clock would wake him up any minute. He just needed to wake up. Simple as that, right?
“The rules are simple, even for plush-brains like yours.”
Johnny protestet against his gag.
“I hear no objections whatsoever, splendid. Everyone can attest we are having an agreement today. That's good.” The plush raccooned tormentor mused knowing all too well about the limited possibilities of of the just 'convinced' guest.
Johnny mumbled some curses into his gag, loudly enough for any witness to hear the faked game he was tricked into. But noone reacted. Instead, they all sat neatly at their places, having drinks, eating snacks and enjoyed him being humiliated and tortured while they were content with just watching the absurd scenario and having a good time on top of that. Great.
The announcer leaned over to him: “Just for the record: The game starts when you stop being such a whiner and without you we can't start at all. The longer you take to play along, the longer you will stay in your soft situation. I can wait all day, but I doubt you can. It must be very warm by now in that, I assume. So you are better off playing along. Got it?”
Hesitatingly Johnny nodded and relaxed, fixating his anger filled eyes to the nearest person, the announcer, the misleadingly innocent looking raccoon dressed psychopath.
“Our wild breed has relaxed. No more jokes about assumed genders, I swear. As I said, the rules are as follows: I have a stack of nine questions in total. If you manage to answer one correctly, the horse is free to go.” The oversized raccoon pulled a golden object from his desk and let it dangle from a chain, THE KEY. He was waving it around mockingly and after a few seconds put it back in a drawer under his desk. Drawer... with hooves... it was a tease.
The announcer continued: “One of my assistants is ready to help the poor soul out when it happens. But...”
The audience exhaled in a loud manner and all plush costumed spectators were covering their plush faces to express their excitement.
“When this cutie here.” He gently caressed the mane of Johnnys plush prison.
“Fails at one question, it is my duty to show him the pony way. For that, I have some tools to teach him how a good plush horse behaves, pony equipment you might say.” He fished a wooden box with some tools out from a space under his standing desk. Through the mesh eyes and against the blinding stage lights, it was impossible to make out anything. Johnny wasn't eager to find out what any of those tools was, nor was he interested in being their test subject for that matter. The sooner he got out of his plushy prison, the better. But something was still bugging him.
Johnny raised his hoof to point out his protest.
“If you have a question you are free to speak.” the announcer mocked with a smirk.
Johnny sighed in his gag and hectically pointed with his plush hoof directly to his his pony muzzle, shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. The announcer winked at him in response, it was all a set up.
“You are a shy one, aren't you? Don't worry, we got you covered. Do you see the three plattforms in front of you? One platform means one answer possibility. Simple as that. Even a donkey could do that. No offense.”
From the distance, a humane voiced ee-ore sound could be heard. Someone was taking it very personally as it seemed. There was still no help in sight.
Johnny was all on his own. “Fine, let's play your stupid game then.” Johnny thought and waited for the first question.
A large scarlet banner unrolled at the end of the hall with the sparkling silver writing: “Who's gonna be the plush today?”
The giant raccoon-man unfolded his first card and read it out loud:
“Fine good horsie, here is your first question: What is another name for a horses?
Option A: the platform to your left - odd-toed ungulates
Option B: the platform in the middle – even-toed ungulates
Option C: the platform to your right - round-toed ungulates.

Choose wisely, you have 30 seconds. Now move your horseshoes!”

Johnny didn't need another invitation to run up the stairs. He didn't know much about horses in general, it was an antique predecessor of modern plows and cars, nothing more. But that question was familiar to him. Maybe from school. He knew the answer was A. As he sprinted up the three stairs Johnny tripped over the last step and fell. The clock was ticking and that mane made it impossible for Johnny to find out on which field he had landed. The old problem returned. His plush hooves slipped on the mirroring floor as the time mercilessly was running out.
The audience cheered and counted down: 3... 2... 1...
BEEEWWWWW
What a horrible sound. That was a bad sign for sure.
“I am sorry, horsie. I am afraid you and me a going to enjoy eachothers company a little while longer. Your answer was wrong as you might have ass-umed. Therefore you will receive your first gift.”
The audience roared and shouted: “11.11 percent pony.”
Before Johnny had a chance to react, one of the goons, the badger, had already caught one of his hooves and opened the zipper. The fox joined the party and put a small black object inside the opening and closed the bag again. Then they gently escorted Johnny back to his seat.
What a great start. How was he supposed to win when even moving around in that thing was a challenge? Johnny's thoughts were promptly interrupted when the badger let go of his arm. A heavy force was pulling Johnny's right hoofed side down and it took him some effort to stand up straight. It was a weight. This was making movement even harder. Johnny groaned into his gagged plush muzzle. He cursed his stupidity, the stairs, that crazy freakshow and the responsible one for all this madness, Anna.
“Ah, I see you finally are able to comprehend the heavy burden of being a horse. Yes, the guilt of your failure weighs heavily. But don't fear, you do have 8 rounds to shine left, still.”
Luckily the announcer couldn't see Johnny's angered stare. If eyes could kill, phew. Good for him that it wasn't possible, yet. Johnny decided to rest his handicapped side on the table in front of him. Without any sign of empathy the guards dragged the confused plush pony back to its personal seat to be prepared for the next round.
“Let's go for the next question, shall we? I don't see any objections so we better start. Here it is. Listen up closely this time. And watch your step, clumsy horse:
How is the latin name for a horse?
Answer number A: Equinus
B: Equus
Or C: Cosinus
30 seconds to go. Get your hooves moving!”
Johnny was never paying any attention during his latin classes back then but Anna did. If he only had a joker or something to use. This time he went slowlier than before, not just because of the heavy weight on one of his arms but to have a chance to be able to pick the right answer this time.
No wonder he fell before. The tail on his suit was longer than his legs and it all too easily got entangled in them, especially because of the longer fur on the feet section, if he wouldn't pay enough attention.
The correct answer still remained a well kept mystery though. Johnny had no clue what to pick. He tried to remember every single option: Cosinus.. no way. Sinus? Sinus was for maths... or was it? Was it equinus? Damn, the soft fur is so distracting... 10 seconds. Pick something dammit. B sounded strange and C was for a mathematical function. It had to be A. Johnny stepped on that platform.
BEEEEWWWWW
Wrong option, obviously. To hell with that damn game.
Another time the badger caught Johnny, this time the left arm. And again the fox came to his aid. Another weight. Now both of plush horseys' arms were restricted. Johnny couldn't lift any of his arms higher than a few centimeters. The weights on both sides were forcing his body to the ground. It was hard to walk upright. The embarassment was too much for him to bear. With all his might he tried to break free- but again: it was useless. The plush horse was shoved backwards and fell. Johnny tried to stand up but he was too exhausted. His only option was to stay on all fours. Angrily, he shouted against his gagged plush head hoping to reach anyone with at least a bit of human sense. As expected they only saw the costume. The person who was trapped inside was degraded to just stuffing, a passenger of the suit.
“I see you are getting used to that feeling. Yes, horses have a lot to beat, day after day. But still they show everyone that they enjoy themselves.”
“22.22 percent pony!” someone from the audience shouted.
Although Johnny's horse head was showing an everlasting smile to the masses, Johnny himself had no reason to be happy anymore. That game went too far. Sunken in deep thoughts he returned to his seat. There had to be something he could do.
“Don't worry. We have seven questions left. You can still do it horsie. Show us what you are made of. There must be more than just fuzz in your brain, we know it.”
Johnny had to use all of his strength to stand upright but those weighs were a severe challenge. The arms hung down to his side like numb limbs.
“Let's pick the next card then, we don't want to let the poor pony wait longer.”
A monitor showed the infamous 'applause' sign.
The audience clapped, obeying perfectly.

The showmaster waited a for a few seconds and then he stepped forward.
“I am getting the slight feeling that you act like this intentionally.”
Johnny shouted his worst imaginable curses back at him, sadly, they were all defused by the stubborn gag in his mouth. This all couldn't be happening. It had to be a nightmare. There was no other explanation to think of.
“Don't look at me like that, I feel your death stare reaching to me through all that fur. Your face looks cute and nothing you can do will change that.” the raccoon suited man patted Johnny's neck and played with the long plush mane of the suit.
“You still have a few opportunities left, I placed my money on your fuzzy butt. Don't disappoint me and become a full-pony, you here me?” he whispered in one of Johnny's plushy pony ears.
Johnny for his part wanted nothing to do with anyone inside. He doubted that he could find any trustworthy person inside that maniac mall.
“Ready or not, here comes round three!” the raccoon unpolitely drew Johnny's attention back to the stage. He took a deep breath to overcome the increasing background noise. Then he shouted louder than before into the dark hall, drawing any distracted visitor's attention back to the show where the main event was going on.
“Judging from your looks, it must be a walk in the park to answer at least one of my questions correctly. They are all about horses. Well, how does that sound? We treat you well and I still don't recognize any enthusiasm in you, not even a happy dance or just a tiny tail sway? What a pity”.
Johnny had no idea about the subject horse-theme, having to wear a massive plush pony suit didn't implement any horse related knowledge inside his synapses less it could improvve anything about his limited knowledge. Nevertheless, that pony would show them how to endure even the must humiliating torture. He would never give up. With all his might he embraced his stance and stood up straight despite the heavy weight on both of his hoofed arms.
“The question is as follows: how old does an average horse become before it passes away unde usual circumstances?
Is it A: twenty-five to thirty years, B: forty to sixty years or C: ten to fifteen years. Focus pony, the clock is ticking.”
Third time takes the cake, Johnny had to make it. Thinking logically in that unpleasant plush prison was easier being said than done. Thanks for the giant screen he could at least read out the question and think about the choices. A, B or C. Fighting against the flustering, the rising blood pressure and the endless waves of sweat, how would he be able to think straight, especially when he wasn't able to walk freely on his legs anymore? The next fail would guaranteed be another weight adding to the gravy ensemble and he was in no way allowing that issue to prolong this embarassment. “Think, John, think!”
Johnny tried his best to move forward despite the clumsy plush hoofed feet he was forced to drag along. The audience was divided. One faction was against him and the other was on his side. It's interesting how far people would go for the mere purpose of entertainment. Or was it the greed for a quick buck when they put their money on- or against him? This farce had to end, sooner or later, even if he had to gnaw himself through that thing.
Reaching the stage, Johnny was blinded by the stagelights again. And the correct answer was a well hidden secret. No joker whatsoever. For the first time he wished Anna to help him, despite all her crazy mischief, she would know for sure which field to stand on. Fifteen or fifty... or was it? He couldn't remember. In his mind Johnny threw a coin and it landed on... C.
As expected, the answer was wrong and that whole scenario was repeating itself. Another weight decided to join the party, his left leg had drastically been handicapped. Running was impossible with that suit. Not that they would let the horse go anyway.
Round after round Johnny received more weights until he wasn't able to get up from his four hoofed stance.
How the hell should he know how much of liquid a horse needs per day? The fourth question was a failure and the fourth weight joined in to the party.
His hopes were being buried under yet another weight as his answer of thirty degree circumvision concerning horse eyes (question number five) was, quite expectedly, yet wrong again. Another weight accompanied to the four from before, this time in the middle of his plush tail, making it, of course even harder to move. Johnny couldn't fight and pretend any longer. The horse suit changed his movement, his concentration and his situation, to worse, with every following question that is. “Four-legged stance, here I come...” Johnny sighed and regretted knowing nothing about all what this show was about.

“Now I am sure you are getting a satisfaction from this, don't cha?” the showmaster nudged at Johnny's side who was hanging his over the time becoming really heavy head in shame.
That show was far from being over.

It was far away from being fun and games. Johnny's vision began to fade and his view was enclosed in a dark circle. His ears went numb and his legs gave in. In the last moment, his sentries prevented the almost unconscious body from falling to the floor.
With the utmost care, the fox, the badger and the wolf were bringing the almost lifeless plush horse back to the destined seat. “If death provides me a way to escape this mess... so be it. I lived my life for what was possible, at least I tried.” Johnny fantasized into his gag.

Without any warning, the head was pried open, the gag was being removed and before Johnny had a chance to react, a bottle with ice-cold temperatured water was shoved into his dry mouth. He swallowed, gulped, and shed one or two drops in the process.
“I won't let you kick the bucket during my show, you have my word. You almost gave me a heart attack. Why didn't you say you need something to drink? Don't do that again, please.”
The raccoon-suited microphone wielder appealed to the swaying and still groggy plush horse. Johnny's fuzzy vision began to refind its focus.
Johnny came back to his senses but before he could utter any sound to show his dissatisfaction, the gag welcomed his just-about-to-complaining mouth, merciless as ever. The shouts of protests were dulled and, yet again, buried under the massive plush head.

“You finished now? Can we continue? I know this is hard for you, your fur is far thicker than ours but the sooner you comply the sooner we can go seperate ways. Give me your best shot and show me you are not a stupid horse but a distinct equine.” The announcer nudged him into the side.
The raccoon decided to ignore former Johnny, now being turned into a against-his-own will-turned-pony and fetched another card from the stack of humility.
“This one might be easy for you, pony.” he said and began to read the card as loud as he could so that everyone of the spectators could follow the spectacle better.
“Question number six. We can still make it, pony. Now listen up closely: which one of the following is a word of a means of pacing for horses? Is it A- trot, B- flop or C- clop?”
“Johnny was about to 'clopper' up that cheeky raccoon for good if that game was continuing any longer. The only problem was: the horse suit was preventing him from raising his limbs more than a ridiculously small amount of centimeters. The weights were a pain in his butt, especially that one in the tail.
Again, the clock was ticking menacingly. Through the all-presentive mane it was hard to see. Johnny had no idea where he was going to land on but his will was still unbroken. He hurled his exhausted and tormented plush body on all fours up the stairs, almost hit the right anwer but slided right onto the second panel. The failing sound was an unwelcomed surprise.
“That can't be... Someone help me!” Johnny panicked into his gag but it was already too late. The wolf-guy, the badger and the fox had already taken him as a prisoner of their sick game again.
A leather saddle was forced onto the poor, despairing plush pony. Even if Johnny somehow found a way to fumble a finger out of the, damn warm, plush hooves, the saddle would protect the zipper totally from any manipulation. From now on he was totally helpless, their gameball, their victim to play with.
“You are looking so adorable with it and it matches perfectly with your natural fur colour, splendid.”
The raccoon laughed and progressed with the next question.
“Okay now, lazy hoof, this is next chance to show us that you are not a brainless plush but something else. I don't have to remark that your escape-routes are scarce? Get ready for it!”
Johnny's muscles were tensing, he must make it. But how? The questions came faster than he could get used to the suit- it was a fools game. How was he even be talked into all this anyway?
“Seven: Plush-topic: how do plushies nurture themselves? Is it A- not at all, B- with much love or C- with their wearer?”
They didn't even grant Johnny the opportunity to return to his seat this time. Good for him because the three plattforms were being located just two steps away. More time to choose and move wisely, as wisely as a plush horse would be able to present itself, that is. The mane weighed heavily on his plush head and the strands were dragged along with every step. Everyhting about this suit was turning even the easiest task into a real challenge, even walking or thinking straight.
But this time, Johnny sensed that it didn't matter what answer he would give. It would be wrong anyway because the whole question didn't sound like a sincere one. Not wasting any other thought, Johnny put his left foot hoof on the only logically sounding possibility: A
As if Johnny knew what was coming, the unpleasant sound of his failure returned. For that, the horse was treated with a plush teddy bear in cowboy attire. To make it all worse, the bear had a string with a plastic ring connected to its body, making it a wind-up doll and to demonstrate, the raccon pulled at the string and out came: an ear-piercing, high pitched 'yeehaw' recorded sound sample, most probably one of even more sentences to deal with.
That aforementioned bear was being sewn onto the saddle. Even the tiniest of movements provoked the bear to utter one of its aggrevating voice-lines.
Johnny hung his plush head in shame and was instantly commented by his new 'rider' with a 'good girl' and another yeehaw in return.

The showmaster almost unnoticed shook his head and felt a bit of mercy but he knew what the plan was and he wasn't the person to spoil the whole show. So he continued with the conumdrum inducing show of plush-pony-producing. He read out his next question without mercy. The plush pony could hardly follow the situation. From that moment on, Johnny could only guess what the right answer was and hope that he landed on the right one. Just once it must work, hopefully.

Though, Johnny was somehow curious about the eighth question. “Bring it on” he thought and gathered all of his remaining strength to find a inner calmness. “Don't let them get you. You are a human. You have your dignity. Keep your focus. You can do it!”
“When are plush-ponies allowed to move around by their own when they have surpassed the tallness of 50cm? Is it A- when they are hungry, B- when the sun goes down or C-when the handler orders it directly? Come on, hoof-boy, we believe in you!”
It was harder to keep focus with every passing second. It would have been sufficient as a means of torture to keep him in this mascot suit. The warmth was tough but bearable.
The most irritating part was that the suit was plush-furred, soft plush furred from the outside and the inside as well. Every move let the suit rub on his bare skin, it was like the constant gentle and careful touch of a loving women- that was more than Johnny could stand. He needed to get out- IMMEDIATELY!
One last time he forced himself to stand upright and shouted for help- one last time his muffled screams fell on deaf ears, one last time the weights forced him down to earth. The mane fell deeper in his vision field. It was impossible to see anything through all faux pony hair. His last chance was wasted.
The sound of failure didn't come unexpected. Johnny didn't count on anyone trying to help him apart from the raccon-man offering a gulp of water to him from time to time. He was their show pony and the show had to go on.
The sentries reacted at once. Because of another failed question they forced his pony head open, ignored his protests and complaints filled with diverse insult variations and plugged some devices into Johnny's ear shells, just before they forced the pony head back onto him without having to think twice. Their payment must have been so high that even the conscience was obeying that whole scheme. Another tear escaped and was absorbed somewhere in his plush prison.
'Good pony, don't fight it. You are cute. You belong on all fours. You need a handler. Just lay down and relax.'
What was that voice? The plugs were a transceiver. They were trying to manipulate him. He didn't want to surrender. He would never surrender. No matter how cute... concentrate.
The voice kept repeating over and over again. Pushing against his plush pony ears showed no effect. It seemed that the voice was intensifying with every passing second. It become louder and louder. Johnny's power was almost exhausted. How long would this whole game take? How many tools had they still up their sleeves?

'Good pony...'
Johnny only wished that this voice would stop. Wait a second... it sounded like... it was Anna's voice. Yes he was quite sure it was hers.

'Don't fight.'

The plush pony was shaking to remove the plugs but it was useless. They didn't move an inch and the more he fought against his situation the louder it hammered into his helpless ears. There was no way to escape this infernal contraption.


“That was a fluke, my dear pony, I am afraid, perhaps my advisors are right about you after all and you are just a pony trying to act as a human but failing to do so? I am not a hundred percent convinced, yet. You still have a few tries left. Come on, you can do it!”
That raccoon guy was hard to read. Did he really intend to help Johnny on his own strange and deceisive way?

'You need a handler'

Johnny couldn't trust anyone. He was all alone. His only ally was the prison he was wearing, what a joke. At least the plugs allowed him to ignore the annoying yeehaw shoutings from his miniature cowboy wannabe Teddy-bear riding endlessly happily on his back.

'You are doing great, just a little bit. Just obey. Respect your new self. Accept your new self. You ARE the PONY.'

Johnny wished so direly that this damn thing would shut up. Just once was a bit of quiet useful.

Because of the plugs Johhny couldn't hear what the raccoon was reading but at least he managed to move the pony mane away, for enough seconds to read the question for himself right before the mane fell back onto its place.
“Question number... ah yes, nine: What for do ponies need blinkers?”
A- To avoid being distracted
B- to avoid bein hurt
C- because they are cute.

“Cute... must pick... damn... hard to concentrate...” Johnny's concentration was running dawn the drainage pipe.
'Cute pony...'
Johnny picked the answer C.
“Damn, I didn't want to- Freaking voice, please shut the hell up!” Johnny prayed in his mind. He was desperate and awaited his next 'treat'. Of course it were blinkers, what a surprise.
Now it was even harder to see anything. How was the comparative of impossible again?

The raccoon tapped on pony's plushy shoulder. He pointed with his plush paw to the screen.
“Bonus question because I still have trust in you: What do plushies need locks for?”
The mane kept falling back and because of the blinkers he couldn't reach it with his hooves anymore he had to tilt his head to see at least for a bit.
“.A-..storing..
B- prote... against.. around
C- don't … locks”
It was impossible to make sense about the partial text of the answers. Johnnny couldn't see a thing which only meant one thing for sure: he was done for, totally, completlely and inevitably.
To be honest he forgot about the question as soon as the mane fell back into place, yet again blocking his vision. The heat inside was unbearable and the soft material constantly touching his bare skin with even the slightest movement wasn't making it any easier.
The audience was cheering and clapping and with every yeehaw of the rider the some of them joined the mood with a laola wave as a reaction.

Meanwhile somewhere on the upper ranks. A pastel pink plush pony leaned back in its seat.
“I didn't expect this one to fail so certainly. He didn't know even the most basic of things- no sense for general knowledge”. The skunk suited neighbour on the left seat was shaking his head. He mourned about all the lost dollars. What a tragic day, he was so sure the pony would make it like catching a fish in a barrel. So much for his luck.
“Come on, mate, the best part is about to start soon. I won this time and I invite you to the next round and the charming pink lady can join us, too. If she liked that is.” a rabbit costumed person on the right began to place his arm around her shoulders. A gesture she wasn't keen to oblige.
“Sorry, boys, I got my own plans for today. Maybe next time.” the pink plush pony replied and sipped on her drink. The soda was delicious.
“Other plans? Now you got me interested.” the skunk boy joined the conversation and squeezed himself between the two.
“That's none of your business- just that: I have a lot of money to be spend on.” she hinted and smirked.
The rabbit boy slapped himself on his forehead with his paw.
“Don't tell me you bet exactly how long that poor guy would last that would mean... jeez, I guess you can invite the whole room then.”
“Sorry, again, guys, I have only a table for two. Today is my engagement day.” the pink pony announced whispering.
“Oh yeah, who is the lucky one?”
“You are going to find that out very soon, just be patient.”
In that moment the skunk boy glimpsed a pair of handcuffs in the bag of the pink pony through a gap In the half closed handbag.
“You are a mean one, pink-lady. Don't do anything that would get all of us into trouble.
“Something like that wouldn't occur, I can assure you, it is just picking a bone between him and me. The less you know the better for all of us.” She leaned back, put both of her plush hoof feat on the rim of the seat in front of her and ended the strange intermezzo with an exclamation mark.
“Have it your way then, lady.” the rabbit concluded, snacked some of his popcorn and returned with his attention back to the stage. Better she would be left alone, he was having a bad feeling in his guts.

Back in the middle of the action.
Johnny slumped on the ground, falling on his plush bottom. Finally it was over. Finally he would be set free.
But nothing happened.

After a few minutes, an enranged Johnny-pony tried to confront the ravaging raccoon but the sentries were well prepared and brought him back to his seat. Then they chained him firm so that he couldn't run anywhere. Were they really going to continue with even worse things to come?

Indeed, they were.

The raccon man shook his head.
“Buddy, I have had so high hopes on you. The stakes were great and because of you people like me lost a lot of money.” then he brought his attention back to the waiting crowd. He spreaded his arms.

“Deer vistors, distinguished wildlife animals, hoofers, felines, bovines, cavines, avians and everyone else. I have to apologize: this plush horse here failed to prove it is a human being. That only leads us to one conclusion: it is a plush pony indeed. You, all of you know what that means.”
'Good pony...'
Johnny felt that something was about to happen with him. He couldn't see or hear anything but the excitement of the announcer. He swallowed a large chunk. The boulder in his throat didn't want to leave anytime soon. He couldn't speak anyway. See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil, just feel the evil, on very step of the way.
Johnny squirmed and fought with all of his remaining willpower but the situation wasn't about to change anytime soon. He could do nothing but wait, wait for the next vital part of this crazy show.
'Ponies need a handler'

The host of the show continued: “That means this is a real plush pony. A plush pony without a handler. We can't allow a plush creature to stray around without someone willing to take care of it. Considering its bad vision, bad sense of direction and bad judgement skills, I think we will begin with a low price category.”
Johnny had no idea was happening. But what happened at that moment showed him what his fate would develop into.
The raccoon flipped the screen and the title changed from “Who is gonna be the plush today” to 'Grand plush auction' and grabbed a tiny hammer, put an old-fashioned cliché wig on his head and a coat over his plushy body and returned to his seat.
The members of the audience on the other hand were pulling out all their tiny reflecting signs with numbers written on it.
There was no doubt: Johnny was the thing what was chosen to be the main attraction of this auction. He would be sold to the highest bidder and he couldn't do anything to avoid it.

The heat was too much, Johnny's vision went blurry and he collapsed. In a nick of time his sentries reacted, built up a paravent and opened his mask to allow him to drink. The auction wasn't over and the horse should by no means lose its value. That meaned it had to seem healthy, life and kicking, no matter what. But the audience wasn't allowed to see the human underneath. It was for privacy reasons. Maybe he didn't notice it the first time, at least this is what came into his mind when he thought about telling me about everything that happened.
Anyway, here is the rest of the story he was willing to admit to me later.
Johnny came back to his senses, hoped it was a dream but then he noticed the plushy frame his face was still stuck in. The anthro-animal trio waited for a few seconds to make sure John was fully back and broadcasting before they mercilessly closed the head yet again. The gag was cutting of any possibly word of objection and the horse returned. The human yet again degraded to just obedient stuffing.

One last time he begged to the audience to be let out, gestured with his clumsy hooves, rubbed on his plushy torso to operate an invisible zipper. As expected, the audience ignored him, completely.
“I suppose our pretty prancing pony does have a wish. Ah yes, we haven't named it yet. What is a plushy without a fitting name, don't you agree?” the raccoon nudged the pony in the side with the elbow.
The audience applauded and the announcer continued. From his drawer he fetched three cards with curvy, female styled, pink lettered names on it. He browsed through the options.
“For the records we have three names to pick: Creampuff, Sweet Butterfly, or Windchaser.”
The audience raised signs with the names up in the air and the staff transmitted the exact numbers via his headpiece. He nodded and shouted in the microphone.
“That's seventy four votes for Sweet Butterfly, a hundred for Windchaser and an amazingly high two hundred and fourty two votes for Creampuff. So Creampuff it is. Congratulations.”
He patted John's resignated shoulder as an act of praisement.
“Creampuff? That is humiliating and outstanding, they can't do this to me. I am a human being. I can't- I WON'T let this happen!”
John put all of his remaining strength in his body and forced himself to stand up. The announcer hugged him.
“Let's all say what we have here.” he raised his arms with a swift motion and forced John's arm to a winning pose. John on the other hoof tried to pry his head open but the situation was still the same. Pony stays pony- his earpiece made sure he wouldn't forget about it, ever.
Was it Anna who was the culprit behind the voice? Somehow it seemed familiar but he still wasn't sure. He blamed the heat for his lack of voice recognition skills.
“So, dear friends what or who is he?”
The plushy crowd responded without hesatation and cheerfully and in unison: “Creampuff, the plush pony!”
John's power was exhausted and he fell back on all fours. There was no hope in sight. All he could do was wait and hope to wake up from that plushy night-mare. The sooner the better.

During the process of the auction there were many interested bidders but only one, a distinct and noticable pink plush unicorn was always in the front seat. Whatever they demanded the pink unicorn outbid even that.
One after another the other 'animals' were losing the interest and the chances for the pink unicorn were raising with every round.
The last bid was twenty billion of dollars but just before that candidate was asked to pay the price the raccoon changed the rules and turned his attention directly to the heavily breathing brown plush pony, former known as John:
“This is an exception, just for you, pretty pony. I am going to offer this one chance just for you: either you pay for that poor pink unicorn, twenty billion bucks in cash or...”
John raised his head, eager to find out what that strange offer would be.
“Or you just accept to go with her for free, you pay with your liberty for her, bond together for all eternity as an act of selflessness.”
Wait a second, wasn't the bidder supposed to pay the price? Why was he all of a sudden...?
However you put it, John agreed to the last offer.
“Don't be sad. I have a consolation prize, just for you.”
The raccoon took a large wreath and placed it neatly on John's and the pink unicorn's shoulders.
“See? It isn't so bad. You are always welcome as our honoured guests or as staff additions if you like.”
The pink unicorn thanked him for everything by shaking his hand and made an defensive gesture.
“Fine, maybe next time. Recommend our show to your friends if you like and don't forget. What happens in this hall, stays in this hall.”
The pink unicorn nodded and ventured to the black van which was parked outside, waiting with open doors for the journey to come.


The sentries didn't waste any minute and connected the new pair with a fancy red sparkling rope what they knotted on both of their hips. To make it all worse they trapped his right hoofed hand and her left hand in a pair of handcuffs.
“...Not to forget the lifelong support of haystacks for... private use.”
Johnny rolled his eyes and felt a bit ashamed. They were really thinking he was a pony. He couldn't believe it.

“Let's wish the happy couple a happy time and a 'they lived happily ever after'.”
The raccon suited man helped them to enter the van and closed the door.

As the doors were closed the pink unicorn didn't make any sound at all. Like a robot it fastened poor Johnny-pony in the van, chained him tightly and took a place at the front seat. To have a better vision she took off her pink unicorn head.
IT WAS ANNA
Of course it was her. Johnny tried his best to fight the chains, the suit and the weights but all he succeeded in was losing his energy.
“Don't worry, Creampuff, take a nap and let it happen. I promise I will care for you ALWAYS.”
Anna looked back over her shoulder and patted his plushy and anger eaten head.
HOW COULD SHE DO THIS TO HIM?

The sun began to set and the exhaustion was already kicking in. Johnny or rather 'Creampuff' finally gave in and embraced 'her' fate. Wasn't it morning when the whole thing started? Had it really taken that long? No wonder his stomach was growling since a while. Creampuff was sunken in a deep slumber. Chuckling, Anna was trying her best not to interrupt the overdue sleep. John should be rested to the fulliest when they arrived and it was a long drive being ahead of them still.
It took some effort for Anna to drag the cumberfull and rather heavy plush pony to her summer estate. Carefully she placed the sleeping heap of plush on her most comforting chair but not without making sure the pony wouldn't go too far. Without producing to much noise she closed the locks on his, pardon, her chair. That pony wouldn't go anywhere soon without her permission.
Smiling over both cheeks Anna decided to call it a day and made herself ready to bed but not without caressing the soft fur of her newest addition. It was really soft and she couldn't wait for John to wake up the next day.

The next morning arrived far too soon for John for comfort and instead of waking up in his own room, in his own bed he found himself stuck in a strange bondage chair. The suit was still on. He was still trapped in that accursed costume.
Looking around he noticed the dainty steps of someone approaching.

“I see you got acquainted with your new surroundings, sugar. Well, I guarantee, this is your home from now on.” With those words she neatly took a seat in his plushy lap and dug her face inside his plushy torso. Not that Johnny couldn't do anything to avoid that encounter.
What was she planning?
“I know you are upset, darling but I have a proposition for you.”
The head of the plush horse raised in an instant.
“You wanna hear it?”
John nodded frantically.
“Well, I WILL let you out, but only under one condition.”
Of course there had to be a catch. She was holding all the threads in her hands after all and him being her playful plush toy, whether he could deal with it or not, was her most delicate conquest and a soft experience.
Again the plush horse nodded but much slowlier this time.
She pushed away his head to see in his real eyes. The fabric was already forcing its way back to its original place but Anna was holding it firmly. She released him of the chair and pulled him to stand before her. For a brief moment their both eyes met. Did she care for him after all?
“I will let you out if you promise to...”
Johnny couldn't wait to hear about her crazy proposition. For a short tiny moment, in his mind he was catching a glimpse of a sparkling rainbow, a ray hope breaking through the rainclouds
“..marry me!”
The plush pony fell on its plushy butt. I don't blame Johnny for that reaction. He was completely caught off guard and was supposed to trait the cuffs of slavery in for the rings of responsibility and bonding. What would you have done being in his position instead? No matter what, freedom without a price wasn't a logical option anymore.

“Well...” Anna began, finally showing her old self again, the shy and timid spreckled nerdy girl, now finally grown up to a mind-crazed woman. What an achievement to be proud of.
“I was always in deep love with you. I know you never noticed me watching you all day, dreaming about our mutual future, our eternal relationship until one of us demised. I don't know why I had a crush for you but I found something at you that always attracted me to you. That's the reason why I tolerated even your most silly pranks, your most abusive insults and even your most painful beatings. I knew there was something good in you. That was the one and only reason why I invited you to my party, to talk to you in private. Having a little chat, getting to know eachother. Well, we both know how that turned out.”
She pinched him in the side of his plushy cheek and took place directly in front of him, right on his plushy lap which was comfortable she had to admit. There was no way to run from that point on. It was hardly doable to push her away and somehow make it to the outside of the house, not to mention finding the way back from her place, wherever that was.
“This time, dear you are at my mercy, my dear, soft and lovable plush pony to play with so don't even think about leaving this place. Your reins are in my hands, sweety, literally. I can and will do with you whatever, wherever and whenever I want.” John shuddered as he heard those words, despite the earplugs humming their phrases into his ears endlessly, almost drowning out any other noises completely.
John wanted to say something but it was useless anyway, the gag, remember?
Anna continued, more and more treating him like a naughty child, raising her voice volume increasingly: “Do you have any idea how I felt back then?! How dad found me?! Or how painful it was to get rid of that nasty sticky stuff and the costume? Let alone how long I had to wait until someone arrived?” she waited and John began to regret his misdemeaning behaviour of the past but he couldn't turn the clock back anyway. This whole idea was childish but both of them weren't children anymore, at least that was what Johnny was hoping for, but considering the absurd situation he right now was finding himself had indeed rooted some seeds of doubt in his mind. Of course it was irrational, they were kids for christ sakes but holding a grudge that long was, in John's perspective, laughable. Would you believe this or fall for this whole game? I for my part are holding my share of this story back, yet.
Johnny shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. Anna stared angrily through the mesh of the plush eyes right into his soul and grabbed the snout, coming a few inches closer.
“Of course you haven't, what did I expect? And that, my love, is the reason why I decided to pimp the rules up a bit. Just for you. We are both in this soft situation: both united forever and ever until the end of time, or just until someone finds your carcass in this suit.”
Johnny wiggled and tried to break free, that woman was crazy, he shouted against the gag, stomped with the back of his feet to send out a desperate call for help. But considering her sitting on him, the head dulling almost all sounds and the plush hooves dampening even the tiniest of thuds, the whole thing was futile.
Being rather unimpressed, Anna rose to speak again.
“I am not sure what you prefer but I for my part vote for the more humane solution.”
Out from her pocket, she fetched two golden rings, both of them were ornated with two engraved horses, showing their deep affection to eachother by touching eachothers neck. The scene was rather cute he had to admit.
“Your final choice now, pony. Either you say yes, you haven't lost your memory how nodding works I suppose, or you stay my cute little plush pony. From all perspectives, as much as you spectate it, you are mine, forever.”
Johnny nodded frantically. He didn't intend to stay in that plushy prison and at that point he was more than willing to trade even his soul for his humanity.
“Mmmmphh!”
“I see we have an agreement and just to remind you that there are rules, even for your kind...” Anna interrupted her speech and waved around with her smartphone just to show him the dreaded pictures of his easily misinterpretable bonding picture. Who would believe him anyway?
“...you dare to break these, swoop, one morning you are sure to find yourself back in mane and tail and before you ask how I am going to accomplish all those goals: firstly, I know how to pick locks, I am rather deftly with those tiny mechanisms and secondly I know all locksmiths very well. Ah yes, I almost forgot about one thing: if you ever tell anyone about our little secret, that person will also add up to my little petting zoo. So you are better off behaving, do you understand?”
John nodded slowly, this was it.

Two months later
When I found Anna and John holding hands I didn't count on seeing my friend again. First he vanished without a trace for one whole weekend and now was everything nifty and fine? Visiting a shopping mall we began a little conversation about their future plans, their wedding, their honeymoon and all the other romantic crap.
I waited until Anna was gone for a while before I shot my overdue questions at him, where he was and what the hell happened. At first he was reluctant, told me to forget about all that but I couldn't let it stay that way.
Then he told me about an interesting auction for a designated crowd, taking place in an abandoned area where no trespassors were welcome. Anna was away for longer than I first expected and I dug further. Then, finally I pierced through the surface, but not without a warning which I ignored anyway. He told me almost everything and I was left speechless.
Right at that moment his fiancé returned and Johnny exchanged glances with her.With a begging facial expression he tried to communicate with her but she shook her head in response. Whatever was going on felt strange. Really strange.

Present

Up until today Johnny and Anna are visiting the auction from time to time just to see what the cat dragged in, sometimes even literally. As it seems both of them are enjoying there unique relationship. Happily ever after.

You want to know what happened next? Aw, come on, give me a break...

You still here?

Nothing to see here, go away.

It is for your own sake, believe me!







Fine, but I warned you...

First, yes, I admit, I gave up smoking after that fateful evening, for good.
Second... I guess it is better if I just bring you back into the poker room.

The day after we met John sent a tex message to me: “Poker event this evening, I got backup this time and maybe someone for you as well. Anna would be very disappointed if you didn't show up. Especially her friend Susan would like to see you in person. John P.”
As far as I know John didn't have a surname starting with the letter P and I that Susan who was apparently more than eager to meet me was fishy. Having nothing else to do and because the first evening was funny in comparison, despite all the little accidents and rule alterations.
Of course I agreed, I was more than ready to have another girlfriend. Perhaps that was my big chance.
Susan was a curly brunette haired woman, middle sized, fashionately dressed and had a soft voice, intelligent, humurous, energetic. My type exactly.
Charlie was in as well and us five were having a great time together. But then, suddenly Anna whispered something to John, kicked him into the shinbone with her pumps and both of them were leaving. I blamed my good share of cards which I was having for five rounds straight and didn't pay any necessary attention to it, not to mention her hands caressing mine since three rounds. I have to admit there were worse choices for company than her and it was a pleasant surprise when she touched my thighs with her feet as well, phewieee. At that moment I was having severe problems with my concentration. Charlie raised his brow, noticed Susan and me desiring more private time and went to bed without a word.
Susan and me were alone. Like Anna earlier she was changing the rules. Just like John I was in over my head before I noticed the trap and Susan had me. The next morning she picked me up and the inevitable happened. She was having nothing else to offer than a personal secret favour, an unforgettable experience and I did the same in return. The last round counted.
.
Later, John told my why he was smiling before he said goodbye: What they hadn't told me was the fact that Susan was a professional poker player and pretended to be a beginner until she had me in her claws.
Of course I lost and I was drawn in that messy situation like my friend back then.

Okay, okay, for all you who can't sit still anymore: no, I was not an embarassing plush pony for my part. I was... how should I explain it... I think it is for the best if I just use Susan's inimitable choice of words. I looked “mootiful”. Yes, I was dressed as a black and white blotched plush cow and therefore I had to answer cow respectively plush cow based questions.
As you can think I lost that game and I was auctioned to Susan. I have to admit we indeed looked cute as a bovine pair of soon-to-be married individuals. In contrast to John I didn't hesitate to agree in the terms of being Susan's husband. Even I was not such a dumb cow to be honest, ha, ha.

As far as my information goes, both, Anna and Susan were cheating during the game.

After that little incident Charlie asked both of us, Johnny and me about what happened that weekend. I tried to warn him, Johnny kept his mouth shut but I wasn't as 'trained' yet.

Present time
Here we are, for the third time. Anna and John are not really letting their eyes off eachother and Susan's touches are more distracting than ever. Susan for her part introduced us to a close friend of hers, one of her poker pal-ines, Meredith. As far as I can forsee the whole situation, Charlie already has taken the bait and made the first contact already. Anna winks over to us and we know what we got to do. It is time to leave the couple alone.
In the meantime we overhear Merry asking Charlie if he tried to turn the hazard-ometer a tad further. Chuckling quietly we are looking back for one last time and looking at the well hidden suit in the trunk of Meredith's car. Charlie's outfit for this weekend most probably.
I hope he likes curly tails.


A few weeks later somewhere else:

Anna leads the pony in her bedroom, she binds it on her bed post, takes off her blouse, her bra sinks down.
Johnny tries to flee but the shackles are reckless.
“Forever together, now our love is perfect.” Anna whispers as she closes the door.