//------------------------------// // Limitless // Story: If Freedom is a State of Mind // by Ripcord //------------------------------// I ran through the building, flames and burning rubble dotted the area. Bodies of workers and rebels alike were scattered and buried under flame and hate. I watched unmoved by the horrific sight in front of me. How this was consider a terrible act of freedom doesn't make sense. It was freedom to me and that’s all I cared about. Although I wanted to bring Subject 6 with me, the thought of her dead was different. Yet I continued to run, grabbing a sword off a dead rebel as I went by. It was covered in ash and blood but it was still sharp, I swung it a few times and it felt right. Soon I entered a corridor, it looked like all the smoke was coming from the entrance. This indicted to me that I was higher up since smoke rises but soon breathing became harder. I ran down the hall, the smoke was fogging the corridor impairing my sight. I pushed my way through the smoke and emerged in a wide open area, there were trees and grass in it. The roof was glass allowing the sun to shine through, a sign on the wall labeled the area as a "Commons Area". "This place would be beautiful if it wasn't for all this violence," I said to myself again. I looked down and saw that it was a story high drop. I hopped up to the ledge and dropped off, my landing was hard and shook the plants. Looking around I saw no one but soon the sounds of fighting filled the air. I ran over to the window, It overlooked a large pad. The rebels were fighting the workers again, I looked down and a thought pounded my head. "Should I help or run. *sigh* I don't want to kill anyone, the thought feels wrong for some reason. It must be a morality thing so I won't kill, it feels wrong to do so," I said coming to a conclusion. I threw the sword at the window, it shattered with the force from it. I walked back a few steps and bolted forward, leaping out the window. I fell two stories this time and hit the ground harder then last time. The metal pad warped under me. The rebels and workers looked at me, they looked confused at how I landed unharmed. The fall would injure a normal pony, but I'm not normal. I've never truly been normal, especially after those experiments. I looked at all of them and smiled before taking off between them. The workers and rebels saw this and the fighting started for a different reason. One side wanted me dead, and the other wanted me to live. I ran through the crowd, blood and weapons flew at me from every direction. I didn't stop anything and I dodge the workers as best I could but one finally got me. A spear was sent into my back, the world began to slow down as I fell. Everything became hazy and I hit the ground. The worker came over and pulled the spear out of my back, he was about to send it through again but a rebel stopped him. I laid on the ground watching the battle rage on, both sides weren't giving any ground up. I felt dizzy and I was about to through up but something kicked in. My pain went away and I wasn't dizzy anymore. The blood stopped rushing out and I began to rise and everything became clearer. The adrenaline in the changeling blood must have kicked in and I began to run again. The rebels began to cheer and the workers had the same expression like always. I rushed through the fighting again and pushed my way to the exit. I could see everything coming at me and dodged it all with ease and continued on. Soon I broke through but I didn't stop, I couldn't stop. I've never ran this fast before and I couldn't compensate properly enough to stop. The drop off came up quickly, I dropped my flank and slid over the edge. The fall was immense and I couldn't see the bottom of the mountain. My heart stopped and my mind raced in the fact of my immanent death. I closed my eyes and soon I hit a led, the impact was so hard I was knocked out cold. "*crack* oh Celestia my back," I said groaning. I slowly rose, every joint hurt and the adrenaline wore off. My wound ached and was reopened from the fall. I sat up and looked over the edge then looked back up. I was a far fall, I should be maimed or have some broken bones. Still I wasn't about to question a good thing and I got up. I looked around and saw the lift they used to get up and down. I limped over to it and inspected it for a while. "Looks like the panel is fried and a magnetic cuff link is busted on the back rails," I said to myself yet again. I hoped into it and it jolted , dropping a few feet. One of the cuff links must be working and keeping the elevator up. I limped over and ripped the panel off, I thought if I could remove the energy from the cuff link the elevator would drop. I inspected the wiring carefully and pulled out a few, the elevator moaned under the pressure and soon dropped. It sent my into the ceiling, it was plummeting to the ground a few thousand feet below. I didn't worry because I left enough power for the emergency systems to kick in. A few hundred feet the emergency system kicked in and sent me flying into the floor. The cuff links broke from the rapid stop and broke sending the elevator flying off. I was knocked around in the elevator as it fell, I couldn't get my bearings and inevitably it hit the ground. I was sent flying, breaking through the glass and flying into a field. I hit the ground and rolled a few times before stopping. This time I didn't get up, instead I laid on the wheat. The feeling of this golden plant tickled my mane. I rolled over and began to laugh as it made my under belly tingle. This sensation was remarkable, the coolness of the dirt and the gentle touch of wheat. I kissed the ground and lay there continuing to laugh. The wheat’s feel began to go from a tingle to a soft, welcoming feeling. I yawned and curled into a ball, drifting away in this magical place. Someone began to shake me awake, I opened my eyes slightly to see a blurred image. I quickly came to my senses and jumped back but the pony came closer. I couldn't make out what it looked like, I could only see a violet blur. "Hey are you ok?" The pony asked cautiously. "Um yeah, yeah I'm good. Just a long day," I smiled at my one statement. The pony came closer and rubbed her arm on my forehead. "Are you sure, most ponies don't bleed green blood," She stated. "Ah sorry about that, I'm not exactly like o-oth-other p-ponies," I stammered my words. The blood loss and injuries finally caught up. I collapsed and the other pony rushed over. "Oh Celestia, hang on I'll get help," She said hurriedly. "Y-yeah sou..." I passed out. I awoke in a place, it wasn't my cell so I didn't get to worried. I looked around and saw other ponies moaning in agony. It must be hospital because I wasn't dead or in a lab. I sat up and threw my legs off the bed. I pulled the IV out of my arm and walked off. "Sir, sir you can't leave your still hurt," a nurse said worriedly. "Ha, don't worry I'll be better in no time at all," I said enthusiastically. I continued on my way, doctors and nurses were carefully working on their patients. It was a hurried place but small and peaceful. I walked off down the stairs but lost my footing. I toppled over myself as I fell down them. I hit the bottom and the few nurses down here rushed to me along with that purple pony from before. I pushed them away and hopped up, my wound on my back ached at the motion. I winced and looked back to see it was bandaged along with my left leg and forehead. I quickly looked back and saw a worried face in front of me. "You seem to have a habit of falling," the purple pony happily. She was a unicorn, like Subject 6. This pony had violet hair with a pink stripe down the middle and a purple mane. She looked at me carefully and then backed up slowly. "Yeah it seems that way," I laughed back. "Well since your I think it's time we told each other our names. My name is Twilight Sparkle and your name is?" She asked. "Oh I'm Subject 7," I replied. "No, that not a name," "But it's the only one I have," "You can't tell me your parents never gave you a name," She said sarcastically. I looked down and let a tear fall, she didn't know. Twilight saw this and moved closer and hugged me. "You poor thing," She said sweetly. I hugged her back and let another tear escape. "I-I think we should leave," I said quietly. "Yes that sounds like a good idea. You can come to my place and relax until you get your bearings," She said happily. I nodded and followed her out the door. we walked out of a two story house with a big red cross protruding from the main entrance. I looked at Twilight and smiled, a nice pony, a kind pony. This is so new to me, I was in a place and no test were done on me. The ponies I've met don't sedate or beat me. I was enjoying my newfound freedom with Twilight sparkle. I followed her to her house with was only a block away. She opened the door and allowed me in first. I walked in and was dumbstruck, A house. No it was a library, I've never seen this before. I took off and inspected everything, Twilight walked in and laughed. She thought how I was acting was strange and she soon came up to me. "So 7 why don't you sit down and we can chat," Twilight said floating two chairs over. I happily obliged and planted myself down. She had a table in front of her with ink and a quill. "So tell me your life story," She said awkwardly. "Ha not much to tell, the only bit of my life I know is from a Bio report. I have no name, age, parents or siblings. I shouldn't be alive truthfully but here I am. Anyways I was found in a library, apparently I was full grown colt when the doctors found me. I never had contact with anyone or anything for my whole life. Soon I was taken into a testing facility on top of a mountain and for the past 3 years the did experiments on me," I said. "That would explain the green blood. Though I am sorry no friends or family must be tough," She said softly. "Friends?" I asked. "Yeah friends, you can't tell me you never heard of this?" "No what is a "friend" anyways," "You poor thing, a friend is someone who wants to be with you and do stuff with you. They help you and make you feel good about yourself," "A friend sounds lovely to have. Hey Twilight, are we friends," I asked her. She smiled and put her quill down. "Yes 7, were friends," She said. My heart raced at the sound of having a "Friend". I ran over to her and hugged her, she squeaked from how tight it was. I didn't let go, I was so happy I was crying. "Oh 7 your crying," Twilight said worriedly. "NO it's fine, I like this feeling, it's wonderful," I said still holding on. She slipped down a little and hugged me too. I was so happy, this feeling of bliss was so mystical. I felt wonderful, I felt limitless.