The words “fake Little” rang in Cindy’s ears as Madison walked back into the room. The term, often tossed around by teens when a Little refused to accept their new reality, cut deep. Cindy struggled to grasp how Madison and Krysi, who had known her and Greg their entire lives, could so easily dismiss their history. They weren’t like the other Littles—they were her parents. There were pictures all over the house showing her at her normal size, living a normal life. How could they ignore that?
As Madison entered, her eyes lit up with excitement. She turned to Krysi with a bright, friendly tone that Cindy hadn’t heard directed at her or Greg in what felt like forever. “You got her to sit, Krysi? That’s amazing!” Madison exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable. The praise felt like a twisted reward for something that shouldn’t have happened at all.
Cindy’s heart sank further as Madison shifted her gaze down to her, her voice dripping with faux encouragement. “That’s so good, Mom,” Madison said, the condescending sweetness in her tone only making it worse. “Just remember, when you’re told to sit, you need to focus on that form. Your back needs to be a bit straighter, but hey, this is a great first try.”
The words felt like a slap. Madison, her daughter, was now critiquing her posture like she was some kind of pet in training. “You can practice that posture in the habitat,” Madison added, her voice laced with condescension as she spoke down to her mother.
Cindy’s mind raced as she fought to hold back the tears. The surrealness of it all was overwhelming—her daughter, once someone she guided and nurtured, now saw her as no more than a Little in need of correction. The weight of the collar around her neck was nothing compared to the crushing realization that Madison and Krysi no longer saw her as the person she used to be. How could they ignore the life they’d shared, the years of being a family, and reduce her to this?
But as much as Cindy wanted to scream, to shout that she wasn’t a Little, that she wasn’t just some “fake Little” in denial, the words caught in her throat. The threat of the collar tightening again held her in check. She knew that any defiance, any attempt to assert her former identity, would only make things worse.
So, she stayed silent, swallowing her pride and her pain, knowing that this was only the beginning of a long and humiliating journey. The person she had been was slipping away, and no matter how hard she tried to cling to her humanity, it was becoming increasingly clear that Madison and Krysi had already moved on.
Cindy wanted to scream. The absurdity of being praised by her daughter for something as simple as sitting was almost too much to bear. Before she could even process the humiliation, she felt Madison’s finger gently patting her head, sliding slowly down her back. The realization of what was happening hit her like a ton of bricks—Madison was petting her.
She knew exactly what this was. Cindy had taught this very concept, explaining how Littles found comfort in being petted by their guardians. It was a mix of pressure points, nerves, and conditioned responses, all aligning along the spine. When a guardian petted a Little, it sent pleasure signals to the brain, relaxing them and reinforcing the bond. But now, being on the receiving end, with Madison doing this to her—especially in front of Krysi—was utterly humiliating.
Cindy wanted to resist, to keep her body rigid and defiant, but her body betrayed her. As Madison’s fingers moved down her back, a wave of relaxation washed over her. Muscles that had been tense for years, joints that had ached with age, all seemed to loosen under Madison’s touch. It was a level of comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time, and it made her feel sick with shame. How could her body betray her like this? How could something so degrading feel so physically soothing?
Madison pulled her hand away, a smug grin tugging at the corners of her lips. The satisfaction was clear in her eyes—she knew exactly what she was doing, and she relished the power she held. “Stand,” she commanded, her voice laced with authority.
Cindy’s heart sank even further. She knew what was expected of her, knew how her own body would respond. Even if her mind rebelled, her body was at the mercy of the rules she had once taught so fervently. Despite every fiber of her being wanting to resist, to defy this demeaning command, her body moved on its own. She obediently stood up, feeling her dignity crumble with each passing second.
Madison’s smile widened, a clear expression of triumph. Watching her mother obey, seeing how easily Cindy’s body betrayed her, was a victory in itself. She knew her mother didn’t fully believe she was a Little, but actions spoke louder than words. Every time Cindy’s body responded to Madison’s commands, it was proof—proof that the old Cindy was gone, replaced by a Little who, whether she liked it or not, was susceptible to Madison’s influence.
The humiliation was complete. Cindy stood there, feeling utterly defeated, as Madison and Krysi looked on with satisfaction. The person she once was felt like a distant memory, buried beneath layers of conditioning and the harsh reality of her new existence.
“Now, sit,” Madison ordered, her tone dripping with condescension, clearly relishing the control she held over her mother.
Cindy opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to protest. “Madison, I—” she started but stopped herself. She had been about to say she didn’t see the point of this, but as she looked into Madison’s eyes, the truth hit her like a wave. She understood perfectly what Madison was doing. This wasn’t about the action of sitting; it was about breaking her, about reinforcing Madison’s newfound authority and making Cindy submit.
She glanced over at Krysi, who had already demonstrated her own version of “help.” If Madison had mentioned the possibility of taking her to obedience classes, she wasn’t bluffing. The thought of being subjected to that kind of training, of sitting through lessons designed to condition Littles to obey, was horrifying. The idea of being trained and tested like some common Little—especially by one of her friends, who would likely coach Madison on how to handle her—filled Cindy with dread.
Cindy knew she had to avoid that level of humiliation at all costs. The thought of seeing anyone who knew her in this state was unbearable. She had to appeal to Madison’s better nature, if there was any left. She had to show that she could be obedient, that she could comply without needing to be “trained.”
Swallowing her pride, Cindy knelt down, assuming the position Krysi had forced her into earlier. Her movements were stiff, every fiber of her being screaming against the act of submission, but she knew it was necessary. She couldn’t afford to let things escalate to the point where obedience school became a reality. As she settled into the position, she felt a deep sense of defeat, but also a grim determination to navigate this nightmare as best she could.
Madison’s smirk grew as she watched her mother comply. This was what she wanted—to see her mother submit, to know that she had the power to make it happen. It was a twisted version of the power dynamics that had always existed between them, but now the roles were reversed. And Madison was clearly enjoying every second of it.
Madison tossed her hair back, looking down at her mother with a smug expression. “Hmph, good job,” she said, feigning surprise as if she hadn’t expected Cindy to comply. “Maybe there’s hope for you after all. I guess we can put off that obedience school idea for now, but only if you keep acting like a proper Little and do exactly what I say. When I tell you something, it’s not a suggestion, and it’s definitely not a debate. Is that clear?” she demanded, her voice dripping with arrogance, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
Cindy felt her entire being resist the urge to comply, to say “Yes, Madison,” like a meek little thing. She refused to give her daughter that satisfaction. Instead, she nodded, lowering her head to avoid seeing the triumph in Madison’s and Krysi’s eyes. The humiliation burned deep, but she knew that open defiance would only make things worse. The thought of slapping the smugness off Madison’s face was tempting, but she was powerless to act on it. All she could do was sink back down to her knees, making sure her back was straighter this time, just as Madison had instructed.
As she heard Madison and Krysi laugh, the sound was like nails on a chalkboard to her soul. Cindy’s mind raced, desperately searching for some way out of this nightmare. The only glimmer of hope she could cling to was the idea that the novelty of this situation might wear off for Madison. Maybe, just maybe, her daughter would grow tired of playing the role of a domineering guardian.
But even as she tried to hold on to that hope, Cindy found herself unable to fully complete the thought. Accepting that Madison might lose interest in this role meant acknowledging, on some level, that she was indeed a Little now, and that wasn’t something Cindy could ever allow herself to believe. This was a setback, a mistake—a cruel twist of fate that had thrust her into this absurd position.
There was no world where her fourteen-year-old daughter was her guardian, where she was reduced to some kind of invalid, forced to accept Madison’s rules and control. Cindy clung to that belief with everything she had, refusing to let go of the life and identity she had known. This wasn’t the end; it couldn’t be. But for now, she was trapped in this humiliating reality, doing whatever it took to avoid further degradation while holding onto the belief that somehow, this nightmare would end.
Madison crossed her arms and looked down at her mother with a commanding gaze, her posture radiating authority that Cindy had never seen from her before. “Oh, and Mom, let’s get one thing straight. Krysi is my best friend, so if she tells you to do something, you’d better treat it like it’s coming from me. I shouldn’t have to explain that to you, but I wanted it to be crystal clear,” she said, her voice dripping with a new-found dominance—a tone she would have never dared to use on her mother just a few days ago.
Cindy’s heart sank even further as she absorbed Madison’s words. The idea of Krysi, a mere teenager and her daughter’s friend, having that kind of power over her was almost too much to bear. But the cold, harsh reality was that Madison wasn’t just speaking hypothetically—this was her new life.
Madison continued, her voice cold and condescending, leaving no room for argument. “If someone else tells you to do something, you check with me first. If I’m not around, you check with Krysi. And if you have a problem? You can bring it to me, or you can bring it to Krysi. No one else needs to hear your LITTLE problems. Understood?”
The word “LITTLE” hung in the air like a heavy weight, and Cindy could do nothing but nod, her head bowed in a gesture of reluctant submission. She didn’t trust her voice to respond, knowing that any attempt to speak would only expose the fragility of her resolve. The reality of her situation was sinking in deeper with every command, every condescending word from her daughter. She was trapped, and the walls of her new reality were closing in around her.
Madison’s gaze lingered on her mother for a moment longer, as if savoring the complete shift in their relationship.
“Yes, Madison,” Cindy replied, doing her best to hide the irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “I will always be sure to check with you, Krysi, or McKenzie.” The words left her mouth before she could fully consider the implications, her mind already yearning for the time before Madison had come home and turned her world upside down.
Madison’s reaction was immediate and unforgiving. “I’m sorry, what?” she snapped, her tone sharp as a knife. She narrowed her eyes at her mother, a look of displeasure darkening her expression. “When did I say my little could add people to the list? I don’t recall mentioning anyone beyond me or Krysi. Did you hear anyone else, Krysi?” Madison turned to her friend, who chuckled smugly before replying, “Nope.”
“That’s what I thought,” Madison continued, her voice dripping with disdain. “You listen to us, you check with us, and you bring your concerns to us. If your LITTLE brain even dares to think you might need to talk to someone else, guess what? YOU don’t. You bring your concerns to us, and if we need to talk to McKenzie, we will. And if you need to know anything, you’ll be told—just like any other little. Got it?”
Cindy felt the sting of Madison’s words, each one driving home just how much power her daughter now wielded over her. The icy tone left no room for misunderstanding—she was firmly being put in her place, with no hope of asserting her former authority.
“Mrs. W—I mean, Cindy,” Krysi corrected herself, realizing the old habit would be difficult to break. “It’ll get easier. You just need to wrap your head around the fact that you’re a Little now. After a few good nights of rest, you’ll remember everything you taught us and all the work you did in Little education for people. No one knows a Little’s place better than you. You get to be Madison’s Little. In time, you’ll be a great team—supporting Madison, helping out where you can. Who knows, you might even get to go to school with her or join us when we all hang out. But those kinds of rewards are for Littles who understand their place and work toward supporting their guardian. You’re on Team Madison now. You’re basically teammates. It’s like softball—you’re only successful when everyone accepts the vision, buys in, and executes.”
Krysi’s words were meant to be encouraging, but to Cindy, they were a bitter pill to swallow. She couldn’t believe how easily Krysi had accepted this new reality, how she could talk about her former authority with such casual condescension. The gentle pat on the head that Krysi gave her felt like the final insult, a mockery of the support Cindy used to offer in her former life.
Cindy’s mind reeled as she tried to process everything. The idea of being on “Team Madison,” of working toward the “vision” her daughter now imposed, was nauseating. But as much as she wanted to rebel, to scream that she wasn’t a Little, that she wasn’t like the others, she knew deep down that resistance would only bring more humiliation. She had to survive this, and if that meant playing along for now, so be it. But she vowed to herself that she would never truly accept this, no matter how much they tried to condition her otherwise.
All the stages of grief and this is it. She’s on bargaining now. Not directly but she’s hoping that if she can hold out she’ll be ok. Honestly though she’s almost over the edge. When the novelty does wear off I wonder what will happen. One point Cindy makes is that there is history. Imagine someone you’ve known so long becoming a different person because YOU broke them. At that point there should be two funerals. The loss of parents and the loss of children. Hopefully they will have a relationship more like Kayla and her sister. But until then we shall see. Otherwise it’s gonna be a long and rough 150 years.
Madison also hasn’t been introduced to the possibility of anything like Kayla and Kelli have. She does have to find her own way to some degree. The most differently thinking person she knows is her sister McKenzie and McKenzie’s belief structure is still not at Kayla and Kelli level as even McKenzie doesn’t think of littles and people as completely equal.
I’m increasingly convinced that Madison is worse than Dayton.
Dayton seems to have a healthier relationship with Thomas than Maddie with her own mom.
I don’t know how Dayton would react if her mother became a little, though.
Thomas isn’t Dayton’s little though, he’s a training little, that’d affect how Dayton treats him because he could potentially tank her chances at getting licenced. Like how you drive more carefully in the driving test than you would normally.
I’m not saying Madison isn’t worse than Dayton, I hadn’t really thought about it, but if Dayton had her own little I’d imagine her treatment of said little would be more like how she treated Jordan minus the blackmailing.
Dayton getting a little she knew prior could change things though.
Dayton hands down. I think even if she got a little she knew personally, unless it was Sarah or someone that was extremely close to her, she would have no issues with how she treats them at this point in time. Madison we at least see that she’s really having a hard time with what her mom believed vs what Kenzie believes. Dayton only has her mom’s opinions to go off of and barely even cares what sara’s are from how I read things
We do see alot more Madison then we do Dayton. You are correct Madison has shown she is working through everything.
Dayton is smart and very aware of her surroundings for the most part. So i do agree with you. There is a degree of her crossing her t’s and dotting her i’s. SHe wants to graduate.
I do think if Dayton had a little she respected she would treat them differently. Like if Sara was Dayton’s little she would probably treat Sara differently then someone else.
Yeah, that was my thinking, she’d be more reserved and polite, but even still she has moments for rudeness and being mean to him.
I think that’s actually true of most guardians, that they’d be better guardians to littles they had a good relationship with prior to infection. I was thinking more Nicole than Sara, but that works too, though for Sara to be Dayton’s little she’d need to go through: Ellie, Chloe, Gavin (he’s immune and trained in this hypothetical), Mal, and Steph first in that order.
I haven’t really thought of the characters in that way as which is worse. Its also not apples to apples as they are at different places in the timeline.
Madison has years of littles being around. Systems in place, education in place. Where Dayton was on the bleeding edge of a major outbreak that really brought littles in a real way to Americans.
I do agree a bit with Lethal that Thomas is being paid by generitech to do a job and he just happened to be paired with Dayton. They aren’t really in a same relationship situation that Madison and greg and cindy are or even Sara and JOrdan.
We haven’t really seen dayton with her own little. So its possible he could be different.
Madison does have a very controlling style but that is also how she is taught and educated to train littles. We have seen Madison showing some doubt towards the methods she was taught. But she also doesn’t know different.
1) oh, that’s what Kysi’s bio meant when is said she disliked fake littles.
2) Cindy’s wondering how her past with the girls could just stop mattering like she’s not the one who taught them that it shouldn’t.
3) “it was becoming increasingly clear that Madison and Krysi had already moved on” Madison is still struggling a fair bit, and Krysi isn’t fully there yet either
4) Cindy’s body betraying her like that seemed rough, normally when a little’s body has betrayed then its just relaxed when they wanted to stay tense, this is another level.
5.1) Madison actively trying to brake her mother seemed cruel.
5.2) Cindy desperately avoiding little training was a sad thought.
6) Cindy’s still cling in on to dear life at the belief she isn’t really a little.
7) So Cindy can talk to Madison or Kryif she has an issue, not McKenzie? Sounds almost like Madison is trying to avoid being held accountable for something she might do to Cindy.
8.1) Krysi trying to comfort Cindy at the end was a nice change of pace for this chapter.
8.2) “No one knows a Little’s place better than you” her comfort however seemed to just be pointing oylut Cindy’s misguided lessons, which would have the opposite effect.
1) yes, fake little behavior is frowned upon by Krysi.
2) That is a little ironic. She is lacking the recognition that she taught them this.
3) Cindy’s perspective and reality can sometimes not be congruent.
4) This is different then prior iterations of betrayal. It is most unfortunate for Cindy.
5.1) When I wrote it I wasn’t fully intending her to be trying to break her here. She more just got carried away over her mother following her directions as it was a novelty for her. But I do agree it has that affect as well for cindy who would feel powerless.
5.2) She is terrified of her friends seeing her as a little. So its mostly pride as she was a very proud woman and that’s just the last vestige of pride she still has. Being brought to her friends training class would be a new level of humiliation.
6) She really is. Denial can be strong though.
7)Madison doesn’t want her littles circumventing her authority. As she had to share with McKenzie because she knew she could never handle this all on her own and plus it was there parents. But she still wants to be lead guardian as far as they are concerned.
8.1) I wanted to illustrate that they are good people. They just feel about littles how they feel about littles. But they aren’t monsters who just want to dominate or dehumanize everyone around them or anything. I still want them to be layered well rounded characters.
8.2) Well its not so much as pointing out but that’s what they know. THats how they are educated and there understanding of littles. So the intent was to comfort her by familiarity. Bringin up her own teachings and messages.
So while it is taken a bit like rubbing cindy’s face in it. The intent wasn’t necessarily to be as harsh as it came off.
2) ironic, hypocritical, definitely not a great showing for Cingy.
3) that makes sense, in her emotional state she’s bound to miss a few things.
5.1) I can see, that Madison seems like the type that would get easily carried away with this type of thing.
5.2) Pride cometh before the fall, and in Cindy’s case, apparently stcks around after.
But I also kind of get it, she’s spent the better part of the current decade preaching how littles are lesser and unworthy of respect, maybe her friends agreed, maybe some had little relatives and were disgusted, either way, facing them now would be excruciating.
6) Denial is strong, especially since it’s her only form of hope.
7) Man I hope McKenzie finds out about this, goes off at Maddie and let’s her parents know they can come to her with their issues, especially their Madison issues, then gets them new collars with cameras (and no choker features) so she can keep a better eye on Maddie.
8.1) I see, I doubt I’ll ever see them aa good people, but I respect that they seem well rounded and aren’t pure evil. I also acknowledge that these are mislead children.
8.2) I fully believe she was sincerely trying to make her feel better, her words intended as encouragement like “you can do it” and “look Maddie’s Mummy, just like you taught us”, genuinely not realising why she hates it.
8.2) 100% you are right. As to them the training she gave isn’t wrong or misguided. As while Cindy may have a understanding that she was misguided as she walked a mile in a littles shoes. All of them have not. So they don’t have the advantage of the knowledge Cindy has recently gained.
So to her it would be encouraging kind of reminding her of what is “right”
8.1) Well i meant more good relatively speaking. Like if you remove the beliefs on littles and just met them on street. You wouldn’t think they are dementedly evil or anything. Which based on your comments seems to be achieved as you do view them as well rounded people which is all i really wanted as a creator.
7) That would be ideal. Although McKenzie while not having fully bought in from what we kknwo of her in season 1. She also isn’t chloe levels of beliefs either. She would still be partially a byproduct of Cindy’s teachings and Methods.
6) She almost has to deny it to some level just provide her hope.
5.2) Plus while it wasn’t fully made clear in season 1. She did teach other people outside the home and did do lectures and talks. Which is what led to the fundraising and political work which aligned with her stances and beliefs. So there is a contingent in the country who she would have directly educated and prescribe to her beliefs.
5.1) Yes there was definitely a bit of this is cool she is siting because i said so and now shes standing because i said so energy that wasn’t from her perspective meant to break her. Just more like playing with a new toy.
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Honestly, I advise the author of the stories on this site and the readers to watch, if they haven’t already, the movie Dead Poets Society to perhaps help open your eyes. Otherwise, I am very afraid that this site will become just a stronghold of sympathizers of eugenicist ideas and ideologies under the guise of specific stories about giants.
Out of all the out of pocket comments on this website, including my own, this has to be the wildest.
I think you are taking this too seriously my friend. We’re all very invested but this is fiction and I doubt any of us truly feel that way. This is just an online book club. No harm nor sickening thoughts present.
Really cant add anything to waht Lethal and Lee have said. This is meant to be fiction and expected to be taken as such.
I am not trying to deliver any kind of social message, or speak on mental illness, slavery, racism, or any other theme touched upon in this story. It is intended to be just a work fiction. Where each day I am honored that anyone wants to comment. I look forward to the discussions and opinions everyone brings.
I hope you enjoy the story but I think you may be reading to much into this.