Iris woke first. Her companions slowly woke up as well. They greeted each other, then suddenly all came to the same horrible realization: they knew their names were different as humans. But they couldn't remember those names! It would be incredibly difficult to communicate and convince an ally of their true identities without knowing their true names! The mares panicked, stomping their hooves and whinnying loudly. The breeder rushed into the stable.
"Calm down! Iris, Glory, Saffron, Citrine, Nightingale, calm!" he commanded. The mares did so, and were horrified anew that they felt compelled to obey. "Good. I cannot have you five scaring yourselves and losing those foals I worked so hard to have you conceive." He sighed. "Luckily, you will be going to a much calmer location now that my stallions did their work. This farm is too close to the Capitol; there are skirmishes and threats of Royalists attacking every day." A farmhand came in.
"The riders are ready to escort the mares," the man said.
"Excellent."
"And three new Witch's Ponies were brought to us from the same riding school these five came from. Two stallions and a mare." The mares exchanged worried looks. No doubt those Witch's Ponies were Gelvin, Rain, and Thunder. And those three were about to be subjected to the same treatment they had been. The breeder clapped his hands.
"Marvelous news! My stallions will have impregnated half the stock of Witch's Pony mares and a quarter of the stock of Witch's Pony stallions at this rate. Inform the riders taking these lovely ladies that they are all with foal and will obey their new names." The farmhand nodded. He put the mares on a long connected lead. As they were brought out of the stable, unable to resist, they spotted Gelvin, Rain, and Thunder being brought in in their places. Despite what the three had done, the mares felt bad for what was to come to the others.
The mares were saddled up and mounted by rebel riders. The riders used their names, compelling them to travel where commanded. In this case, they were headed for...