> The Pink Mile
>  by SolidStone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Introduction
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Twilight Sparkle, you have been condemned to die by a jury of your peers, sentence imposed by a judge in good standing in this state. Electricity shall be passed through your body until you are dead, in accordance with state law.
Celestia have mercy on your soul. Do you have anything to say before the sentence is carried out?"
It wasn't my first show on Block E, but if I knew of the acts we would be participating in this evening, I would have resigned ahead of time. 
My name is Captain  Pinkamena Diane Pie, and I'm the superior officer of Canterlot Federal Penitentary, Block E. I know what you must be thinking, that I am a hard ass soulless coward who enjoys nothing but seeing criminal men with sealed fates squirm like worms. 
I assure you, this is not the spirit of Block E, nor is it the spirit of my fellow officers. Sargeant Rainbow "Brutul" Dash, Liuetenant Rarity "Perkins" Menowitz, Captain Jacqueline Appleline, and a new addition to our fine staff, not because our budget would allow, because Heaven forbid Warden Cake would allow such a thing on his dime, but through a connection with some "royal family" Ensign Trixie Yamaguchi. 

See, we here at Block E, just don't deal with the typical everyday garden variety kind of criminal. Block E is where ponies come to die, the evilest of evils reside in these pink walls, and its my honest belief, alongside my staff, that these ponies lives have already ended. No need to make it harder on them. 

Things were causal on Block E, we never held more than 5 inmates at a time, we simply grew accustomed to coming and passing of new visitors. However, there was this one incident, back in 1947 that still haunts me to this day. An incident that would forever change the halls of the Pink Mile.

> Monday Morning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1: 
It was a typical morning at the Mile, I worked with Dash in the day shift, while Jacquilene and Perkins worked the evenings. We never really needed that many bodies on the Mile, because we never really had that many occupants at one given time. At the time, we only had a small fragile girl with a heavy french accent, and a shaman who barely spoke. 
I nodded to Dash, who returned my gesture as I picked myself up from behind the oak wood table that served as our post. 
You see, to the normal eye it would seem a regular table, polished although showing signs of its age, ruffled with paperwork and scattered knickknacks. However to the staff on the Mile, and its occupants, it served as a physical line between the Ethereal and Living plane, where judgement was held. For when the time came, the inmates knew that crossing that visible border, it was a farewell to one realm. 
It was a normal morning, and as always 08:30 rolled around and I made my tour to the lavatory. I positioned myself above the porcelin recepticle as I struggled to release the tiniest of flows. The internal struggle felt as if daggers were being dragged across my insides, as I began grunting and sweating, in the sheer agony of nature course. 
08:45. 
I exited the lavatory, and wiped my brow. I could hear a voice from one of the cells. 
"Hey Boss, you dont look so well, maybe you should take the day off mon amie?" 
I wiped my hooves on my uniform, and replied back. "That's plenty enough Ms Fluttershy, I'll be fine." She chuckled and went back to her silence. 
I returned to the oak desk as Dash looked at me with concern. I drew my glasses and began writing on manuscript about the events that were going to occur later that week. 
I could feel the look of concern and I stopped writing my notes mid sentance. 
"Now don't you go worrying on me too Dash. It's just nature taking its course."
"Nature isn't supposed to be so cruel there Captain. Now, I know I'm not you, lord knows I've got more color in my hair than you, but as your friend. I would get it checked out." Dash stated as she put her hoof on my shoulder. 
I rolled my eyes, and went back to my manuscript. "Duly noted, The Doctor says its only an UTI, It'll pass its course. Thank you Sargeant." 
"Did you get the post from the Warden last evening?" Dash asked, almost as she was despearate to leave the previous topic and to keep my mind occupied on something rather than the endless armada of sharp crystals destroying my reproductive systems. 
I shuffled through the endless wasteland of papers on the desk, trying to find that damned sheet. You see, here at the Mile, budgets are extremely tight, not because of any misdeed I or my staff had done, but rather because of levies and taxations on the Equestrian forefront. I don't want, or need to explain the situation to you, just know that because of a couple of rich crooks decide that they want a bigger slice of the money pie, we get stuck in a position where we can't even afford a filing cabinet. 
Dash reached into her interior coat pocket and pulled out a piece of script. 
"Here you are Boss, I know things are a bit cluttered around here." 
"Thank you Dash, when is that damn budget approval ever going to go through with the Warden?" I murmered as I read over the note. 
"Well, Hell seems pretty cold lately Pinkie, I'm thinking its going to be any day now." 
I snorted a little as Dash's smile grew a little larger, knowing she had defeated my sense of momentary dread of nature's course. 
"Says here that we'll have a new visitor today," I put the note down and swiveled toward Dash. "Well that sure isn't any different than any other 3rd Monday Brutal." 
Dash leaned against the wall and began lighting a cigarette, not that I was pleased, but when you've worked 9 years on the Mile with someone, you grow to accept their little flaws.
"Did you read the bottom half there Boss?" Dash coyly remarked as she took a long drag from her Lucky Strike. 
I returned my gaze to the manuscript and continued to view over it. "Well tan my hide Brutal, looks like Hell is getting real chilly lately."
"Maybe I need to bring a manteau Boss, I don't like the cold, leaves me with all sorts of chills." We heard Ms Fluttershy note from her cell. 
Dash got up from her perch and shouted back. "Yeah, we'll get you a big heavy one Melacreux, one with big shiny buttons and a ruffled collar." 
I did my best to contain my snortles. 
"Maybe a cane and a chapeau mon ami?" Ms Fluttershy retorted. Dash looked over to me with a smirk on her face as I yelled back. 
"Of course, only the finest for you Ms Fluttershy." 
Dash and I both snickered as Ms Fluttershy chuckled along with us. 
You see here at the Mile, we believe that even those these ponies are condemned to death, that life doesn't need to be anymore difficult for them. Now I cannot say that we are on friendly terms, for I do not wish to muster the ideas of turning my back on our guests. However, pleasant conversation keeps the Mile from unneeded tension. 
Dash pulled out a pocketwatch from her jacket and closed it with a sudden snap. 
"Nine thirty Boss." 
"Very well Ms Dash." I pulled back from the desk, and went over to the coatrack where Ms Perkins and Ms Jacquilines uniforms were already hanging. I grabbed my cover, and situated it upon my head. 
"Going to welcome a neu amie Boss?" I heard Ms Fluttershy comment from down the hall. 
"Nothing gets past you Ms Fluttershy. Now you don't anywhere." 
"Moi? Non non, Je suis beau mon Capietan!" Dash and I chuckle as we opened the iron door to Block E, and welcome the bright sunlight to our eyes. 
It was prisoner intake day.

Chapter 2: 
Prisoner intake day was a special day for the staff at Block E. It meant that the two shifts would combine to work on the transportation of our new occupant, and it meant the readying for the departure of another. Like nature following its course, we lived this cycle every 3rd Monday of every month. 
"Bright day out today eh Boss?" Dash said as she covered her eyes from the glaring sun. 
"Not bright enough it seems." I plainly stated as we both made glances toward the other Blocks. The fences were lined with prisoners crowding and pushing to see the newest occupant of Block E. You see, Block E occupants have a bit of notiority around the Penetentary, and I dare not call it popularity. I'm not sure what the appeal or image is, but I think its a helpful reminder, and perhaps a glimmer of hope to these men. That here we stand, as the reapers of justice, awaiting a new damned soul, and what divides them and us, is that fence. I'd like to think its hope, that they can redeem themselves from sin, and never worry about crossing the treshold into our world. 
"There they come now Boss." Dash stated breaking me away from my inner monoluge, as I fixed my gaze upon the long stretch of empty road. Sure as sugar, the familiar sight of the Prison Transport made its appearance and grew closer to its destination. 
If I would've known the occupants, and the events that would've taken place that would have occured from that moment on, I would've seen it turn around and never come back. I would've drawn my firearm and disable the vehicle, I would've done something to prevent such atrocity against the good of the world, but alas. We were following the cycle, we were part of natures course. 
The prisoners in the other Blocks began clamoring as the Prison Transport came to a halt, hoping to get a good look at the newest occupant of Block E. The driver door opened up as Perkins and Jacquiline stepped out, and on the other side a new face appeared.
Dash and I, still at parade rest motion to one another. 
"Must be the new guy." I whisper to Dash. 
"I heard she's from a fancy silver spoon fed family." Dash whispered back.
I readjusted my posture and smiled. "Well, I certainly hope she can adjust to the fine luxaries of the Mile." 
Dash chuckled as we both readjusted our postures and returned to parade rest. Its only fitting after all, for although the Mile seems like a place of fine discussion, we take our occupation incredibly serious, for the weight of a pony's soul lies within our hooves. 
Perkins and Jacquiline walked over to the end of the Transport and unlocked it, this was the moment. Perkins fiddled with the lock as Jacquiline lifted the heavy support bar. 
The new face walked into the back and disappeared. 
"Classic mistake. Wonder if she'll make it out?" Dash grunted. 
Ahh, such greenery, I had experienced too on my first tour of the Mile. My superior at the time and I were transporting an inmate to the Mile, and I had done the same when we had arrived. Now I dont think I have to explain the desperation of a pony that has nothing to live for. I walked up to the inmate and asked him if he was ready to walk the Mile. What I didn't know is that in desperation, anything and I mean anything can become an escape. I quickly became entangled on his wrist chains as I felt my air slowly receding. I remember kicking and struggling against the work of nature, and I remember that I was losing. My vision grew dark, as I began seeing stars. All of the sudden a thunderclap broke through the darkness, and the light was coming back to my eyes. I stood up, gasping for air, as I saw a young mare, with a stern look in her eyes, shaking her hooves with a pistol in her hands. It was the shortest term any inmate had ever served on the Mile, and if it wasn't for her, I would not be standing next to her this day.
10 seconds of silence commenced, but to all of us on Block E, it felt like an eternity. 
Our sense of uneasiness was met with a loud cry of "DEAD MARE WALKING!" "DEAD MARE WALKING HERE!" 
The new guard exited the transport, and following her, is what I can only describe as a wonder of the natural world. I could not believe my eyes, and although I did not turn my gaze, I knew Dash shared in my sentiment. This was nothing the Mile has seen before, or has seen since. A purple pony, with a muttered mane, stepped off the transport, legs in chains, wings clipped, and a cuff on her horn. We had a bonafide alicorn at the Mile that day. 
Jacquile and Perkins walked alongside the prisoner as the new face directed her further, all the while hollering. "DEAD MARE HERE, DEAD MARE WALKING!" 
"What in the hell is she blabbering on about?" Dash said disgruntingly.
"I dont know, but it sure is causing a ruckus behind the fence." I replied as I looked onward. Sure as molasses, the prisoners were nearly clawing their way to see the rare sight, to the point of actual uproar and fist fight. Now, I can't say much of the other Blocks, other than I work in the same building, but they can do their job done quickly. A loud thunderclap of bullets, and the uproar was over, as the clamour died to a murmer. Quite the welcome for our newest occupant. 
The entourage stopped in front of Dash and I as Jacquiline and Perkins both saluted at me. I returned the gesture and saluted the new recruit. She chuckled and gave a half hearted salute back. I could feel the gnashing of Dash's molars next to me. 
I turned my gaze upon the alicorn inmate and I saluted her as well as I began my traditional welcome.
"Welcome to Block E of the Canterlot Federal Penentary. You have been sentenced here by a group of your peers, under a court of law to live out your remaining days here, until it is deemed time to carry out your sentence. My name is Captain Pinkamena Diane Pie, this is Sergaent Rainbow Dash, the two fine ladies beside you are Lietenant Rarity Menowitz, and Captain Jacqueline Appline. We also have a new member of our esteemed staff today who we would also like to introduce today. Please, Ms..." 
I gestured to our newest guard,
"Trixie Yamaguchi." 
"Ms Yamaguchi, could you perhaps introduce yourself to our newest occupant?" I replied, hoping that the new guard could pick up on the calm airs that we keep on the Mile. 
Trixie turned toward the inmate, whose face was still facing the ground, for whatever reasons she must have had. At the time I thought it was guilt, or perhaps dread. Its only normal for someone to feel that way knowing that they are entering the maw of their grave. At the time, I knew nothing, and I had no idea how wrong I really was. 
"I bet your brains are going to fry like a deep fried battered chicken, ya mutant!" Trixie snarled at the alicorn. 
Perkins, and Jacquilines jaws dropped as Dash in shock stepped out of parade rest, and I, although sharing the sentiments of our staff only dilated my pupils in shock. 
"Now, Ms Yamaguchi..." I began. 
"Trixie is fine, you can call me Trixie, since I'll be staying here for a while." 
"Over my dead fucking body." I heard Dash grit through her teeth. I tapped Dash's hindlegs with mine as I stared at her. She understood the message. 
"Here at Block E, we try to make the occupants feel at ease, they already know what they've done, and whats to be done. The least we can do is to make them feel at ease, and treat them with respect. We don't need trouble, so we don't need any sort of stress. Stress creates fear, fear creates desperation, desperation creates trouble. Understood MS. Yamaguchi?"
Trixie slid her hooves into her uniform pockets and leaned back. 
"I was only playing, c'mon you know I was playing with ya big fellow!" 
She smacked the inmate with her front hoof, to which the inmate did nothing. 
"This rookie is going to get herself KILLED." Dash whispered under her breath. 
I was in agreement with that conclusion, Trixie and I would need to have a discussion that evening. 
Feeling the need to no longer drag on this tense moment of uneasiness, I concluded my welcome to the inmate. 
"And I hereby welcome you to your new place of residence, and I sincerely hope that your stay will be comfortable as it is expedite. Welcome to the Mile." 
With that I saluted the inmate, as Dash and I nodded to one another, and we began escorting the alicorn into the Mile. 
Other than a few bumps due to novice attitudes, everything had been going normal and smoothly. It was going to be a normal day, just as nature intended. Little did I know, that nature had something else planned that day, a little bit of chaos that would change the hearts, and walls of the Pink Mile. 

"My name is Twilight Sparkle."

Chapter 3: 
Dash and I stopped in our tracks, as did Jacque, Perkins and Trixie. I turned around slowly and looked at our escort and asked"Excuse me, would you care to ellaborate?"
My name is Twilight Sparkle, you introduced yourselves, so I'm doing the same." 
Jacque and Perkins looked at one another with raised eyebrows as Dash and I looked in confusion to one another. Never, in the history of the Mile, has someone been so open to guards on their first day. Sure, Ms Fluttershy seems talkative, but thats only by the 2nd Thursday she arrived, some of us wishing that she would've kept quiet. 
"I just wanted to say thank you, all of you for being so welcoming. I promise you that no trouble will be had from me, I'll keep you safe and that everything is going to be fine." 
Now talk about a weird scenario, its as if the sky would suddenly turn orange with purple clouds sort of queernis. Here we stand, as the escorts of the damned, being reaffirmed by one of our inmates, that we'll be okay. 
"This is a special kind of inmate" I thought to myself, thinking that she must have been taken from Canterlot's Asylum for The Insane Gambler. I was right, and oh was I wrong at the same time. She was indeed special, but not the way I had thought. 
"Thank you Ms Sparkle. If you would be as kind to..." I motioned with my head toward the door.
"Oh yes! Of course! Please lead the way Pinkie!" 
Dash, Jacque, Perkins and Trixie all shot me a glance. I motioned my head even harder at the door, and they followed suit. 
We escorted Ms Sparkle down to her cell, with some commentary from Ms Fluttershy. "Oh! Bonjour Mon Neue Amie! Allo! Allo! Welcome!" 
Ms. Sparkle giggled and waved back. "Hi there new friend!" 
"Oh! She called me friend! UN AIME! TRES BIEN!!!" Ms Fluttershy excitedly rambled.
Before any of us could stop the situation, Trixie stamped her way to Ms Fluttershys cell. Trixie raised her bullstick, as Jacque looked back and hollered. "WAIT JUST A MINUTE THERE PARDNER!" 
But it was too late, Trixie slammed the thick club onto Ms Fluttershy's forelegs, shattering her hoofs. 
"Aiya! Mes sabots délicats, Oh oh oh oh oh oh.... it hurts..... it hurts so much." She shrieked as she pulled back into her cell, rolling into a little ball. Trixie stood there with a shit eating grin of satisfaction on her face. The paitence I had left inside my being had fled as I felt righteous rage fill my mind, although some of us already lost their paitence minutes ago. 
"Dash wait!" I tried to pull at Dash, but it was for naught. Dash stormed forward and grabbed Trixie by her sleeves and slammed her against the prison bars. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM NEW GUY?" 
"M-my problem? My problem is that I got some meat head holding me against a cell wall!" 
"Your damn lucky she didn't throw you into one!" Jacque replied with her forelegs crossed, looking just as upset. 
"Oh I get it, Initiation, well I understand. But let me tell you this, all of you. My aunt is the wife of ROYALTY. And if you dont put me down, I think you wont be able to staff even one guard in this shithole." Trixie snarled as she sneered at Rainbow. "Capiche?" 
Dash gritted her teeth as she let go of Trixie, Perkins shook her head as Jacque returned to help me escort Ms Sparkle, who all the while kept quiet with her head down. Trixie brushed herself off, and put on that same shit eating grin.
I looked to Jacque and Perkins, who nodded their heads. 
"Ms. Yamaguchi, please escort Ms Fluttershy to the infirmary." Her grin was wiped clean. "And WHY should I do that?" 
"Well, you caused this, so its only natural that you see it to the end." Ms Fluttershy was whimpering in pain. "Non non...not her...please Boss..."
"Sergaent Dash will accompany you." Dash threw me a dirty look, but I kept my stern face on. She understood what was being asked, and that Ms Yamaguchi needed an eye kept on, and that Dash needed some air to calm down." 
"Understood. Captain." Dash pushed aside Trixie and unlocked the Ms Fluttershy's cell.
"C'mon girl, up and at im." She said as she picked up Ms Fluttershy and dropped her on Trixie's back. "UF. WHY THE HELL SHOULD I CARRY THIS DEGENERATE ON MY SHOULDERS?"
"Why, you want her to walk? She wouldn't be able to anyway, since you took that away from her." Dash chuckled. She looked back at me, and nodded. I knew that everything was going to be okay. 
Trixie, Ms Fluttershy and Dash began leaving as Twilight suddenly called out. "I'm sorry. I didn't protect you. Please forgive me." 
There it was, that queer feeling of silence again over the halls of the Mile. "C'est n'probleme mon amie. Adieu, for now." Ms Fluttershy weakly stated as Dash bumped Trixie to get moving. Jacque, Perkins and I looked at each other dumbfounded. 
"C'mon Ms Sparkle. Lets get you home." Perkins said nudging Ms Sparkle. We three escorted Ms Sparkle to her cell, as she sat on her cot and looked at the three of us.
"Thank you for being so cooperative with us, in this very odd day." I noted as I turned to leave the cell. 
"Ms Pinkie? Can I ask a favor of you?" I turned back, as if this day couldnt get any queerer. 
"Yes Ms. Sparkle?"
"Could you leave a light on at night? I'm afraid of the dark, and I can't sleep in it." 
Jacque, Perkins and I look at each other, and then Perkins spoke up. 
"Well we always keep a light on in the hall at night. I'm no fan of the dark myself." 
"And ah certainly can't see my own two hooves if it was dark in this place so don't you worry your pretty little head Missy!" 
Jacque chimed in.
Those two didn't know it, but I saw the biggest smiles on their faces. 
"Thank you friends." Twilight smiled as she curled up, and fell asleep.
I shook my head at the sight, it was like a little puppy dog curled up in wings, as if a little bit of innocence had found its way into the Pink Mile. "Ah don't think she could even hurt a fly." Jacque slipped out. 
"Now, Jaucqey, don't be reading too much into this. If you known what she's in her for, it would make your blood boil." I responded frankly. I didn't mean to be so frank, but Perkins and Jaque didn't read the report, and even when I did, I felt a tinge of disgust in my stomach. All the more while it feels so utterly strange that THIS was the face, and the personality behind the report. THIS was the mare who kidnapped brutally sodomized, butchered, mutilated, burned and dismembered three school fillies? It didn't seem right, but nothing ever does in this world of ours. She was here for a reason, and we can't ever let that escape our heads, for any reason, no matter how friendly she seems. 
"Whatever do you mean Pinkie? Honestly, she is like a little puppy all curled up in there." Perkins blurted out.
"Just....read the report Rarity." I shook my head as I walked away from the cell. I trotted my way back to the work desk, and put my hooves to my head. What a weird day, and it was only the beginning to even stranger days.

Chapter 4: 
Monday 23rd, June, 1947 15:00. 

I slammed my hooves on the lavatory door, as I grunted in pain. Sweat pouring off my brow like a thawing crick in the spring, a flow more fluid than anything I could produce below. With great frustration I painfully stand up, and turn around to wash my hooves in the sink, and my stomach sank like it was full of lead. 
Nothing but red... not even a glimmer of white porcelin in the bowl. I slam down on the handle and flush my frustration away. 
I threw cold water on my face, as I breathed heavily. Three months now, three months of nothing but pain and frustration. I honestly want to believe my doctor, that this is just normal, and that nature will take its course, but I feel as if its for nothing. 
Lord knows I've paid for it in other ways, and somedays I can't even look my husband in the eyes. He knew about my 'problem', and its been highly unfair to him as well. Just because I feel no sensation other than pain and swelling, doesn't mean he should go without. 
I'm glad I'm married to a saint, because he's been understanding this whole time. Yeah, I need to go to the doctor and get an update soon, for both our sakes. 
I exited the lavatory, and saw what could be considered one of greatest wonders that ever happened in the Mile. At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but when I leaned over to look more clearly I could see it. It was a mouse. 
"Well, I'll be damned." I murmured to myself. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small cracker, and threw it toward the little fellow. Sure as syrup, the little fellow sniffed around and began nibbling on the cracker. 
I began chuckling as I kneeled closer to the mouse. It was a rare moment of unprofessionalism, but suddenly a moment of childness ran over me. 
"Whats your name little fellow?" I asked as I went to pet it. 
"Uhh... Boss? What are you doing?" I heard behind me. 
I jolted up in surprise and saw Dash with a smirk on her face.
"A new guest of The Mile there Boss?" Dash said crossing her forelegs. 
I stood up and brushed myself off, "Yeah, no idea what this little fellow is doing here, never seen a mouse in all the years I've worked here. What about your Brutal?" 
Dash shook her head. "Can't say that I have Boss. Give me some of that cracker." 
I broke up the cracker in my hoof and handed it to Dash, with the same childishness running through her eyes as well. She bent over and tossed the cracker bits, and I swear by almighty heaven I almost heard a ghost of a giddy giggle come from her as the mouse began nibbling on the cracker. 
"How's Ms Fluttershy and Ms Yamaguchi?" 
Dash's grin quickly faded, "Melacreux is fine, she'll be spending the night at infirmary. As for Dicksie..." Dash held the cracker bits in her hoof this time, and sure as saccurin, the mouse went to her hoof and began eating from her hoof. "I decided to drop her off in the warden's office, for a quick occupational review." 
I chuckled, as I took some cracker bits from Dash's hoof and tossed them towards the mouse. "You know, our budget is going to go down the shitter if we mess with that girl." 
"Yeah. I know, but there's a certain of respect that a pony should have and she has none." Dash grunted as she threw a cracker bit very far away, and the mouse ran after it. 
"You know what I overheard from Jacque and Rarity? Turns out that Dicksie was offered a job at The Equestrian Insane Asylum as a head supervisor." 
"Doesn't surprise me Dash. Girl has powerful connections, wonder why she would take a job at The Mile, not nearly the same pay..." 
"You know what I think Pinkie? I think she wants to see one fry. I think she gets off on all of this." 
My stomach sank, since it was intake today, we all knew what tomorrow would be. "Well. She'll get her chance then."
I wiped my hooves clean of the cracker bits. Suddenly the mouse ran back to both Dash and I, and she shrugged. "Sorry little fellow, no more." 
"No wait... mother of Celestia Dash...look!" 
The mouse had returned the cracker bit that Dash had previousally thrown. 
"Well... clip my wings and called me a mud horse. No offense Boss." 
"None taken." We both knelt down and took a long look at the little wonder. 
"We've got all sorts here at the Mile don't we Brutal?" 
"Yeah, no kidding, you are sure one special little mouse." 
"Shame though Brutal, we can't exactly have vermin in with the guests, they'll start complaining." I said with a sigh. 
Dash looked at me with a forlorn look on her face, "Yeah. I know. It would've seemed nice to have something to perk us up." 
"Well, we have Ms Fluttershy to lighten the mood up, and of course Perkins." 
"Ugh. No thanks to either, Rarity is just too Perky for me, and Melacreux... its not like its permanent you know." 
We both felt a tinge of sadness through our hearts, an odd sensation that we usually never felt about our guests. Nine years of working The Mile, and not once had we the same kind of emotion that we were having now. Was it the mouse, or was it a reminder of our humanity, and that we too are ponies with emotions? It felt extremely off, and we needed to cut it short. We are ponies who hold the lives of others in our hands, and we take them away. We guide them to their rightful place of judgement, The Mile is no place for empathy. 
"C'mon Brutal. Let's get rid of the mouse." 
"Right Boss." 
Dash went for her bullstick, but as if the mouse could read our minds, it jolted off and ran into the restraint room down the hall. 
We could hear a voice we never heard before. "If my eyes didn't lie, I saw a mouse in this house."
Dash and I looked at each other, so the shaman can speak! 
We walk toward the restraint room, and pass as we see the Zebra in deep meditation with one eye open. 
Its as if really Hell had frozen over, for four weeks, not one of the staff of E block had heard this mysterious shaman speak a single word, and the first time she does, its about a mouse, which is a first in the long history of The Mile. 
"Is it okay if we talk after I get this mouse thing straightened out Ms?" 
"Is no problem of mine, even though short, I do have some time." The Shaman said as she fell back into a meditative state. I shook my head, this day has been queerer and queerer by the hour. Dash pulled me back and pointed to the restraint room. Great gadzooks, I can't even remember the last time this thing was in use, we've been using it as a storage room for the heaps of extra paperwork we've had for the past 5 years. I gulped at the thought of all the potential paper slivers as I checked with Dash. 
"Are you really sure you want to look for this critter, I mean with all the paperwork in there, it could've made a labrynth already." I uneasily asked
"Well, maybe its got a mansion in there, so it won't be too hard to spot." Dash said with the same amount of doubt in her voice. 
" Well... then. Age before beauty then Brutal." 
"You're older than me Pinkie." Rainbow flatly said.
"By 3 weeks. But I'm alot prettier." 
"WHO SAYS? JUST BECAUSE I DONT HAVE A HUSBAND DOESNT MEAN..." 
"No, I mean look at my cute face, I don't think I could afford a mouse attack. 
"Yeah, but you have a husband. One that loves you no matter what. I have to look my best for potential suitors Pinkie. So after you Grandma." 
Damn. She got me. 
With a heavy gulp I opened the restraint room door, and my eyes shrunk as did my confidence in this search. There were mountains of paperwork as if they were recreations of the snow covered Alps. 
"Well... let's start looking." Dash said, gulping in shared dismay
Chapter 5
It took two full bodied mares two hours to clear out that restraint room of our lackadaisically stored reports. It was completely empty of paperwork, and of wonder mice. Just two frustrated and tired mares, feeling incredibly foolish that a mouse of all things had tricked them. 
"You let it get past you Pinkie." Dash insulted as she wiped sweat off her brow. 
"Now, I did no such thing. I would've seen the damn thing." I retorted back in anger. Huh. Anger, something else I haven't felt in ages, why now all of sudden?
"Are you sure Grandma? I know eyesight is usually the first thing to go with age." Dash snorted as she giggled. 
This time it was no trick of the ears, Dash actually giggled. The stern faced officer, who has personally stood by and watched ponies leave into the next world as the commencer of executions, A woman nicknamed "Brutal" for her sheer ability to take 3 stallions down twice her size, was giggling like a young filly. I couldn't help it, I began giggling too, like I was a little girl again. Our laughter echoed up and down The Mile as we heard a small chuckle from The Shaman. 
What is happening on my Mile?
"Well, consider that our end day project Brutal..." I said wiping the tears from my eyes. 
Rainbow held my collar and said,"Hey Boss. Call me Dashie." 
"Okay, Dashie. You go clock out, I'm going to sit down with our not so silent guest." 
"Roger Pinkie, I'll see you tomorrow?" 
"Yeah, you bet!" I happily said as Dash walked down The Mile, and maybe my eyesight was getting worn down in the years, but I could almost see a skip to her step. I shook my head, and wiped my emotional slate clean, there was serious talking to be done. I walked over to The Shaman's cell, and I tapped on the bars. 
"Is it okay if I come in?" I asked professionally.
"Are you sure thats wise? I have taken lives. Do you trust me so? This I must know." The Shaman said, eyes still closed. Every nerve in my body was telling me no, I could feel my neck twitching in response. My body was telling me not to forget, and my mind was screaming in response.
"Of course, I havent had any reason to mistrust you. I'd like to sit down and talk with you." My hooves shaking and twitching in disapproval. 
"If thats what you feeling, please come in, mind the low ceiling."
I rustled my key set and opened the cell door. Every nerve in my body on fire, anticipating being strangled to death by a mad shaman. However, The Shaman remained solidarity in her pose. I nervousally made my way and sat down on the chair in the cell. What is this feeling? I've been in plenty of prisoner cells, to either escort them to judgement, or to instruct them on daily events, but never have I sat this close, just to talk to one. 
"Miss Pinkamena, how kind of your soul, to come inside of my gaol. You wish to speak? Please, feel free, may I offer you tea?" 
The Shaman got out of her meditative state and pulled out a box that had two tiny teacups, and leaves. She went over to the sink and filled the cups with hot water and dropped the leaves in, offering one to me. 
My instincts told me to refuse this, it could've been poison, or narcotics, but I felt something tingling at my soul, something that told me it was going to be alright. That everything would be alright. 
"Thank you, Ms... I'm sorry, I dont even know your name." 
"Zecora Allibaster Mayaaz is my name, and arson was my fame." 
"Thank you Ms Zecora, yes I barely read over your report, but I do know the nature of your crime." I said as I sipped from the tiny tea cup. 
"Then you'll know, that 20 ponies died though. Up into heavens their spirits went, and down into Hell mine will be sent." Zecora rhymed sadly, as she sipped from her teacup.
"So you know that tomorrow is?" I asked, continuing to sip from my teacup. The flavour is... how to put it, almost a rosemary with honey. A sort of calming, relaxing sensation settling my over twitching nerves. 
"Indeed I do, my time draws soon." Zecora said looking sadly into her teacup. "Did you know, that long ago, I had a man, and he was my life plan? Up in the woods, where eye could not see, every night he'd make love to me. That is when I was happiest, to feel the man I love near my chest." 
I began feeling a welling of sorrow build in my heart, something I shouldn't, but I could. I understood what that sort of happiness was, and even though the past three months have been rough, I know what that sort of love entails. 
"Miss Pinkamena. I wish to drop rhyme and ask you serious at this time." 
Zecora grabbed my hooves and stared me right in the eyes. "Do you believe that if a woman repents enough for what she done wrong, than she'll get to go back to the time that was happiest for her and live there forever? Could that be what heaven's like?" 
Tears began welling up in my eyes, as the barriers around my heart began crumbling away like sand in the tide. 
"Y-yes. O-o-of course Zecora." I said barely maintaining my professionalism, but it was hard to fight back the tears, as Zecora began letting them fall too. 
"T-thank you. Thank you so much for setting my heart at ease. You may go if you please." she sobbed. 
"No, thank you Zecora. I wish we could've talked a long time before this." I said getting up and wiping my tears away. 
"And I, you. That statement is sadly true." Zecora said, putting back the tea cups into her cigar box. 
I turned my back to Zecora to exit, when I suddenly felt something sharp poke into my back.
My mind screamed, "THIS IS IT, YOU FAILED, YOU TURNED YOUR BACK AND TRUSTED A CRIMINAL." 
I gulped and accepted my fate, but then I felt the poke again, it wasn't painful, it was like a nudge if anything. I turned around, albeit with nerves very shot. 
"Y-yes Ms Zecora?" I stammered. 
"For you dear, may it keep your mind and body clear." Zecora held out her cigar box with the tea cups and tea leaves inside and placed it into my hooves. 
"Oh no... Zecora, I can't possibly..." I began to state. 
"Nonsense, I have no need anymore. Keep it, it is yours. Thank you." Zecora said as she wiped the final tears in her eyes and went back to meditating. With the cigar box in hand, I exited Zecora's cell. I rattled the keys on my key ring, and I paused for a moment. I was having second thoughts on shutting the door, this feeling of empathy in my heart, I truly felt sorry for Zecora, I shook my head. No, this is my job, and we all have our roles to play in this cycle. I'm sorry Zecora, I truly am. I closed the cell and I held the cigar box in my hooves, feeling my heart well up once more. Enough, I've got business to take care of so I can go home to my loving husband. As I walked The Mile to get my desk to write my report of the day, I could hear Twilight call from her cell. 
"Miss Pinkie?" it was like a sweet kitten meowing.
"Yes Ms Sparkle? Is there something I can help you with?" 
"I want to talk with you Miss Pinkie. Please come over here." Twilight continued to ask sweetly. 
"Now's not a good time Ms Sparkle, can it wait until tomorrow?" I asked, knowing I really wanted to get home. 
"Sorry, but its important Ms Pinkie." Twilight stated, I sighed and I walked over to Ms Sparkles cell.
"Yes Ms. Sparkle?" I asked, trying not to sound annoyed. 
"What you did with Ms Zecora was very kind." Twilight said as she stretched on her cot, huh she is just like a cat! 
"And, I want you to know, that feeling you have inside you. It's okay. That's a good feeling. It's called Friendship." Twilight said as she got up from her cot and got close to my face. I couldn't even begin to register the whole being face to face to a prisoner because of the bombshell that was slammed onto my soul. Friendship? Me and Zecora? I clenched the cigar box in my hooves, and felt that same welling my heart again. We're friends? 
If I hadn't been distracted, then maybe I would've noticed that Ms Sparkle had undone her horn restraint, and maybe I would've noticed her grabbing my hooves and lifting them to my chest. Maybe I could've prevented what happened next, but if I had, well the story wouldn't be as near as interesting as it is.

Chapter 7 
"That's something you should always protect, and I'll help protect that with you." She said as her horn began glowing, and she laid her horn upon my hooves. 
"MS SPARKLE, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" I shouted, as Zecora out of character began yelling. "HELP HELP, MY FRIEND IS UNDER DURESS! PLEASE OH PLEASE SOS!"
I felt a wave washing over my heart shattering all my concrete barriers I had placed in my soul. For the time, I began crying directly from my soul, I could feel all my pain and all my distrust escape in my tears. Then I suddenly heard voices coming from The Mile, "PINKIE! ARE YOU OKAY? PINKIE!" 
It was Jacque and Perkins! I could feel their hooves around me, trying to pull me away from what they thought was a threat to my life. Perkins screamed at Twilight, "LET GO OF HER THIS INSTANT YOU BRUTE, RIGHT NOW, LET GO OF OUR FRIEND!" 
"YER AIN'T GONNA TAKE AWAY OUR FRIEND" Jacque screeched as she pulled at my uniform 
Twilight let go of me and smiled. "Yes. Protect that friendship". She curled up, and went back to sleep.
I fell back and looked at Jacque and Perkins, tears still running down my face. I embraced them both as they both looked at each other and returned the embrace. We were all happy to be together, and we were happy as all candy sweets to be there in each others arms. I wiped the tears from my eyes, not even noticing that they were blacker than midnight. 
On the evening of Monday the 23rd, June, 1947, at 18:30 something magical happened on The Mile. 
That magic I knew at the time was that the ponies that I have worked with, and the ponies that I have seen on The Mile, were not just facets of a Pink Hallway to keep minor discussion amongst morbid environments, they were my friends, and when I opened my heart, I could see it as such. I was never alone on The Mile, but now I know for certain, no one else will ever be. 
That magic followed me home that evening as well. I did my natural business, and to my surprise, there was no pain, no frustration! Just nature, taking its course. I woke my husband up in the middle of the night, and I bit his lip. I won't get personal, but we relived Honolulu three times that night, I was finally free, from my pain in my body, and my heart. 

I thought that was the only magic encountered that night on The Mile, but little did any of us know what events would happen that very same evening that would reveal to us, a much deeper magic, and a higher force at work within our Mile. It was only Monday, but it was the oddest Monday I have ever had. 

END OF DAY SHIFT. MONDAY, JUNE 23RD, 1947.
> Monday Evening
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8
Now, I want to tell y'all here a story about an experience I had back in the summer of 47. Those were tough years, back when folk didn't have too much to their name other than a farm and some family to keep em company. 
I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself to y'all! The name is Jacqueline Jean-Claduette Appleline, but y'all can call me Jacky for short. Now where was I? Oh right, the summer of '47, dems where hard times indeed, back before I really found myself in the world. I was working a night time shift for about 2 1/2 years at the ol' Equestrian Federal Penitentary E Block. Now those of who know the place had a special name for that place. The Pink Mile. Not because it was the length of a mile, lord no, t'were it only be about 500 ft in length from back to front. We called it a Mile, because to those guests of our humble little office, our halls felt like eternity. A final stretch before a final breath.The Pink comes from the pink color of the wall, never really understood that part of the deco. Now, ah can assume you already know what mah business was on The Mile, and what me and my other colleauges had done. We executed criminals using a vile chair that would send an electric jolt throughout their bodies. Different times back then, much different times. 
You see, back in the 40's, ponies didn't really care much about the sake of other ponies, even if they weren't criminals. None of us really cared what was our own personal circle of comfort, and it was much simpler. Men were men, women were women, work was kept at work, and home stayed at home. We kept our hearts tied up, and our emotions stoic, especially all of us at The Mile. We'd conversate every now and then, but we always kept it simple. Those inmates needed no less stress in what remained in their lives, as did we the ones who escort them. 
That was the name of the game on The Mile. Keep it simple
But howdy, did one night change alla dat. I remember it like it was still yesterday
Sunday, June 22nd, 1947. 08:00
It was a particulary hot Sunday morning, dry swealting heat that cut down to yer very core hot. For a long time, my family and I were members at the Evangelatist Church of Celestia, and I didn't ever really see it coming to pass that we wouldn't. I even got introduced into The Mile through the church, as one of my co-workers also attends. You may notice her, she's the one in the fancy hat with the thousands of color feathers. Yup, that's her all right, Rarity "Perkins" Menowitz. Sounds Jewish? Nah, she just got married to one, thats all. I remember that day, because of certain events that would happen to take place off of a very key actions on Rarity and I's behalf. Lord knows if we had known what we were getting into, maybe we would've locked ourselves in our homes, and kept life simple. But that wasn't the case, it wasn't the case tat all. 
"--For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Princess Celestia our Lord and saviour, praise be to Celestia." The elderly pastor droned on in a raspy voice. 
"AMEN." responded the congregation, myself included. 
"All please rise for the Eurcharist." the pastor echoed with his rattly old voice. 
The rest of us all got to our feet, exceptin for one little filly who was being a lazy bones. 
"C'mon Applebloom, ya gotta stand for the Eurcharist." 
"I dun wanna, Jacky, its way too darn hot to be standing and praying, and my dress is way too hot, the stockins are stickin to my legs, and I gotta wedgie the size of Montana goin on!" 
I chuckled nervousally, looking around, everyone seemed busy with their own circle of attention. I got quick and gritted through mah teeth.
"Don't you talk about stockins sticking or wedgies little lady, I'm putting up with it, so you better put up with it." 
"I DUN WANNA!" Applebloom shouted, causing our older brother Francis Macintosh Appleline to give us a dirty look. 
"Mac, you wanna help here?" I pleaded to him, trying not to lose my temper at the hollowed house of worship. He grunted and smacked Applebloom on the back of the rear. "Mind your behaviour in the house of the Lord, Abigail Bloom Appleline." he snarked at her.
"But Big Mac I-!" Applebloom began to say before I cut her off. "Not another word. Ya got it?" 
"Yes'm," Applebloom sadly responded as she got to her hooves and stood with the rest of us. That's right, there we all were. A family, just like everyone else, doing the same thing, following the rules, keeping the faith. Keeping it simple. 
I forgot to mention how long and drawn out eurcharists can be, especially when your preacher keeps on forgetting his line half the time. I look back on that day, and I wonder if I had listened to my little sister, maybe things may have been different, maybe I wouldn't be here today to tell you this story. 
Applebloom swayed back and forth like a drunken sailor as the pastor continued to drone on. "And in the name of...The mother, and the Football Association, and of the Holy....holy...holy?" 
I rolled my eyes, this was gonna take forever. I heard a loud "Phaaaaaawwwww" next to me, coupled with loud thud. Me and Mac both had the same thought, as we looked over. "ABIGAIL!" we shouted. 
"Holy MOLY!" The pastor responded as the eurcharist was broken into two. Mac and I knelt down to fan off the little filly, but she was out like a light.
"Anyone, please anyone in the church a doctor?" I cried out. There was a small murmur of voices from the crowd as ponies started looking on. "Don't just stand there gawking! HELP!" Mac was fanning like crazy, if he had gone any faster, he'd pass out too with all that sweat coming off his brow.
"Move aside please! Oof! Watch it! Not the hat! Pardon moi! WATCH YOUR HOOVES MISTER!" I could hear amongst the crowded congregation of ponies. Ah knew that voice anywhere, and I was sure glad she decided to come along today. 
Rarity made her way into our pew and readjusted her hat. "Did someone ask for a doctor?" she beamed. 
Now I know what you are thinkin. 'How in thunderations is a doctor working somewhere as drab and morbid as The Mile?' Well, maybe I should clarify upon that. Ya see, Rarity isn't a doctor per se, well not at all really. She's got a doctorate in psychology, more of a mind doctor. 
Now that probably raises even more questions on why a successful woman of the psychological arts is working as a prison guard for death row inmates. Well to be honest, I don't much of the details, but I believe that to be the fault of her husband of 2 years. He's a doctor, an actual medical doctor and has an ego to boot. Now remind y'allselves that these were different times, some men back then had troubles with women being more successful then them, and Lemmy Menowitz was one of dem men. Rarity, being the upstart she is, took a full time job to keep up with him, but what I'm thinking, it was to get away. I never asked, I kept it simple. 
"First let's get that garish gown off of her." Rarity stated as she pushed me and Mac aside. She loosed Appleblooms blouse as some mothers covered their childrens eyes. Don't figure why, we're mostly nude most ta time. 
AND DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK. Those were different times!
"Right, Francis be a dear and grab some water will you?" Rarity chirped as she began fanning Applebloom off. 
"R-r-ight." Mac stammered as he ran up to the pastor, and took the Eurcharist chalice right from the pastors hooves with many a gasp from the congregation, myself included.
"Very good, now gently give her some to drink. Carefully." Rarity opened Applebloom's mouth, as Mac slowly poured the holy water down. 
"Well I never! I can't believe this heresy! Those Applelines and their constant bickering..." I felt myself hearing more and more of the crowd turn against us in Mac unwittingly stupid, but life saving move. The pastor was still looking around for the Chalice, thinking he had misplaced it. 
We certainly weren't keeping it simple, my brow began to sweat, and the stockings on my legs were swamped to the bone. Damn, damn damn it all! Why the hell are all these ponies staring daggers at us? Its not like it couldn't happen to any of y'all!
The crowd of whispers became venomous relatively quickly. "You know what I think? I think its retribution. You DO know what she does right? I heard she fries them and then fries them again. Don't even get me started on their 'sister'." 
At it was right there, in that single moment that everything from there on out that everything changed. Ah look back, and I still chuckle about it, of course its funny now, but back then...hoh...was I serious.
"FUCK YOU!" I screamed. The entire congregation fell to a sudden shocked silence, Big Mac dropped the chalice in shock, which lead to its inevitable cracking on the cold floor. Rarity, however was still humming along as she was fanning Applebloom. 
"FUCK YOUR RUMORS." I ripped my blouse off, "FUCK YOUR TIGHT WAD STUCK UP WAYS!" I tore my stockings from my legs. "AND FUCK THIS CHURCH!" I erupted out of my skirt and tossed them into the crowd. Many lady ponies fainted, and I heard the buzz of many angry voices. "GET DEM OUTTA HERE! THERE'S NO ROOM FOR SINNERS! GET YOUR DIRTY SINFUL FAMILY AWAY YOU MURDERER!"
"C'mon Mac, We're leaving!" I grabbed my brother by the collar."
"B-b-but Jacky, A-b-b-bigail..." Mac choked through my stranglehold on him. Shit, that's right. I let go of Mac, who gladly gasped for air, as I ran back to Rarity. "How is she?" I asked. 
"Fit as a fiddle, aren't you dear?" Rarity happily chimed as she helped Applebloom to her hooves. "Y-yeah. Ah'm okay sis." she whispered weakly as she swayed back and forth. 
"Good. Let's go." I picked Applebloom and put her on my shoulders, as Mac and I walked out of the church to a chorus of boos. We slammed both doors, and never looked back. 
Chapter 9
Sunday, June 22nd, 1947. 09:30
It was a long awkward ride back home, I tried my best to keep the conversation at a stand still, hell I wasn't even really sure what to say. I mean, I just single handedly damned our entire family to eternity in the fire bowls of Hell with my stunt there. I tightened up the reigns of the cattle, as I felt the cool breeze start running. You know what? Damn that to hell, I actually feel pretty free right now, and its a beautiful Sunday morning, I've got my family, and Applebloom seems to be doing just fine, poor thing has said a word though. 
"Jacky,Mac... Ah'm-." Applebloom begin to say before I interupted her. 
"Don't be lil sis." I looked back and motioned her to sit with Mac and me. "In fact, Ah should be sorry, it mah fault that I acted so angry." 
"Naw, it was mah fault for taking the Chalice out of the pastors hooves." Mac interluded. 
The quiet silence fell over us again, as we all felt a pang of guilt strike at our hearts. 
"Ah guess we'll all be burning in Hell naw, huh?" Applebloom broke through. 
That little filly, Ah tell you what I dont know where she gets it from, but she speaks her mind no matter who the company is. 
"Well, at least we'll be there together right Mac?" I chuckled. 
"Eyup." he nodded as he began loosening his jacket. We all began laughing as I took us back to the farm. We felt free.
I pulled back on the reigns as Mac and Applebloom swayed forward a little bit. I smiled at them and embraced them with as much strength as I could. "Now run inside y'all, we'll be making Sunday brunch!" I hollered as Applebloom and Mac both cheered and jumped off the cart. I chuckled a bit as I led the cattle back into the barn. I walked forward a bit and found a nice haybale to sit on, I lowered my caboose and took a load of my feet, and before I knew it tears started running down my face. 
It ain't right. It just ain't right. All those ponies staring and judging, instead of helping poor little Applebloom. People of faith, my left hoof! If it weren't for Rarity, lord knows what would've happened to her! I beat down on the haybale as my tears turned from sadness to anger. How the fuck can anyone call themselves Eqhrsitan and leave a pony to sod off and die? How could....how could I been so deaf to my little sister? This was my fault, it was all my fault. 
"Nice day isn't it dear?" I heard from the barn door. 
I quickly jolted up and wiped away my tears. "Y-yeah, but ya going to stand there and leave the door open? What were ya raised in? A barn?" I replied.
"Oh HAR HAR Jacqueline." Rarity sarcastically remarked as she made her way towards me and my haybale.
"Want to take a load off?" I scooched over giving her room to take a seat. 
"Yes, thank you Jacqueline." Rarity said to me as she sat down like some dainty little princess. 
"I hope you don't mind, YOUR highness, but this throne is a little prickly for your tastes." I snickered, nudging her side. 
"Well, just because SOME of us cannot act like a PROPER lady, doesn't mean I don't have to." Rarity replied as she pulled out a mirror and began fixing her mane. 
Ow, I felt that, right in the guilt trip. I chuckled nervousally and rubbed my hoof in shame. "Yeah...ya got me there." 
"Sorry, too soon. That was rude of me." Rarity said as she snapped her mirror close.
"What are ya doing here anyway Rarity? Ain't you supposed to be home right now?" I asked, with very good cause. You see, Rarity was one of those, get everything done at the right time, kind of ladies. She had a schedule and she always kept it, I've seen her many times out in town looking rattled and overworn, especially when she with her husband of hers. She barely would even look my direction without looking jumpier than a jackrabbit in a snake pit. So for her breaking a schedule, was like Hell freezing over. 
"Oh, I don't mind, I wanted to see if Applebloom was okay after her terrible ordeal, and how you were after your outburst. Luckily I was able to explain to the congregation that the summer devils had possessed you, causing you to go raving mad." Rarity chuckled. 
I began chuckling in return, "Did...they buy it?" 
"Yeah, and I told them... I told them that it was Princess Celestia's fault for making the day so hot." Rarity began bursting with laughter
"You didn't...." I couldn't believe my ears, did she really just blaspheme in a house of worship?
"And....and...THEY ALL STARTED PRAYING TO KEEP THE HEAT DOWN! AHAHAHAHAHA!" Rarity began slamming the haybale right before she fell right off the haybale and knocked the bucket of water right on her face. 
I couldn't help it, the sight and the story made me burst out in laughter too. I knelt toward Rarity and extended my hoof to help her up. "So you and your family are welcome back, AS LONG AS YOU DONT BRING ANY SUMMER DEMONS WITH YOU AHAHAHAHA!" Rarity continued to guffaw as I helped her up. I opened my eyes to get a breath before I keeled over from laughter, and thats when I saw it. Rarity still continued to hold her sides in laughter, as her make up began running. A very obvious black bruise underneath her eye appeared, and glared in my direction. My laughter stopped dead in its tracks. So, that's why shes been so free spirited lately, I always had an inkling, but I dared not speak it out loud.
The water ran down her face like tears, mixing with the white coverup, Rarity was still laughing, but to me, it looked like someone crying out and desperate for help. Rarity noticed my forlorn stare, and raised her eyebrow. 
"What? Its as if you never seen me laugh before Jacqueline!" Rarity noted as she stuck her tongue out. 
"Y-yeah, its just been...a while, a long while actually." I decided to break the ice, and now when I look back at it, I wish I hadn't. If I would've known what would've happened the next evening, I would've left it go, and never spoke of it again. I would let that bastard beat her over and over again, if it were to stop that terrible incident that happened just one night later. If I went and kept my mouth shut, maybe we wouldn't have, well, I'll guess I tell you as it comes.
"Two years to be exact." I flat out stated, my face growing stern as I began feeling that same rage inside of me, like some kind of maggot crawling within the insides of my soul. A fowl creature, tearing away at my insides and causing my blood to boil. 
"Jacqueline, whatever do you mean? I-, I've never been happier in all my years since I was married." Rarity broke away and slapped my hoof away as she turned her head. 
I sighed and reached into her saddlebag, I rustled around a bit and pulled out her make up mirror. I'm so sorry Rarity, but I've got to do this. 
"Your makeup is running Rarity." I said as I handed her the mirror. Rarity gasped as she quickly grabbed it and moaned. She quickly reapplied the coverup to her black eye, and turned back to me. 
"Very well, Thank you Jacqueline. Let's not speak of this again." She quickly rattled off as she held her head up high. 
My heart began swelling up, as a woman I know the sort of longing to not be alone, but this level of abuse, its not worth anything, especially not to a strong girl like you. "Rarity... how long has he been..." I began inquiring before Rarity began shushing me. 
"Ah! Not another word. What goes on in my household, is my problem, and my problem alone." She opened her eyes and gave the fakest smile anyone could ever give. "And be-s-i-i-i-i-ides, he's my husband! AND he's a doctor! Whatever he is doing must be for the best!" Her head cocked as small tears began welling in her eyes. "And its not like.... he... means...it..." 
I couldn't help it anymore, that rage inside me frothed over like hot cider on the kettle. I took wrapped my arms around her and held on so tightly, I thought I was going to suffocate her. I heard her muffled sobs, as I felt her tears running on my back.
"Every day Jacqueline, every day since the honeymoon...even the honeymoon too..." she was breaking through her sobs. I felt the fluid rage inside me turn into a solid mass of blackness in my heart, a tumor full of bubbling hate. "At first I thought it was just an accident, but then it happened again...and again...and again..." Rarity cried deeper and deeper into my shoulder,
"But he wouldn't stop, he just kept getting angrier and angrier every time, did you know I was going to leave The Mile once I earned my Doctorate? I thought it was going to be the happiest day of my life!".
Rarity pulled away and looked me right in the eyes, tears overflowing and running down her chin. 
"Jacqueline, you must promise that these words that are coming out of my mouth will never leave this barn." 
Now at this moment I had enough rage in me to poison several crops over, I stared back into her eyes and I got up. I made my way to the barn door and slammed it shut. I slowly went to my denim jacket and I pulled out a small knife. 
"Jacqueline? What on earth are you doing?" 
I walked over and lowered my seat right next to Rarity as I gripped the handle of blade. 
I didn't think much of it at the time, but what I did I did with compassion.
Chapter 10
I grabbed one of her hooves, and I ran the blade softly, causing a small slit to appear as it began leaking blood. 
"Jacqueline....why?" Rarity whimpered, I said nothing, as I took the blade to my own hoof and did the same. Sure, it definately hurt, but what I was doing, I was doing with my core. 
I took my bleeding hoof, and I grasped her bleeding hoof with it. I stared at her with what was my most serious look I had ever given. 
"Its a blood promise, no matter what, I'll always have your back Rarity." I muttered as I embraced her once more. 
I felt the tears running down my spine again, "Thank you..." I could hear through a soft whimper. 
"That night... I came home to tell him the big news. I had finally made it in this big world, and I was one of the very few women in the entire world to actually earn a Doctorates! He... didn't take it too kindly. He began roaring about how I thought I was better than he was, and that I was bringing in the big money now, that I was the master of the household..."
Rarity paused for a moment, and I could sense the dread in her voice. "He...tore the frame from my hooves, and hit me over and over again with it." She began clenching my shoulders tighter as her manner of speaking began speeding faster and faster. "Every blow followed by another one, over and over again, 'YOU THINK YOUR BETTER THAN ME BITCH?' 'NO WOMAN WILL BE BETTER THAN ME' 'GET ON YOUR FUCKING KNEES'". Suddenly her voice changed, and her grasp became cold. It was like ice had been poured through her veins. 
"When he finished his assault, he told me...he told me...to...get on my knees. He forced...himself into my mouth...my bottom...and my..." she began cracking under the memory. 
"Enough Rarity. I get the picture." I couldn't bear it anymore, nor could my heart. 
"Jacqueline, I'm sorry I never told you, I just..." she began.
"Was trying to keep it simple?" I finished as it patted her back. 
"Yeah."
We sat there for what seemed hours, holding each other and crying it out. In that barn I found out that the coworker that I had been running night shifts with, had been physically, verbally, emotional, and sexually abused by her husband for two years, and I didn't even know. All because of keeping it simple, and keeping work at work, and home at home. If things weren't the way they were...maybe, we could've have prevented it. But that was the age we lived in, but from that moment on, It was a rule that we sought to break at every given opprotunity. Thats the plain and simple truth, but wouldn't cha know it, life ain't that simple. There's a little thing called chaos in this world, and it takes a simple matter and complicates the living daylights out of it, maybe it was a force of a higher power, or maybe it was the sheer complexity of chance, but we weren't the only ones who decided to break that rule. 
I stood up and opened the barn door, as the sun began shining through. "Your welcome to stay as long as you want Rarity." I smiled despite my dried red eyes. 
"Honestly Jacqueline? You would take me in?" Rarity said slowly making her way by my side as we trotted back into the house. "Of course, besides, it'll make the carpool to The Mile alot quicker." Rarity chuckled as I poked her in the side, "There ya are, there's that smile." Rarity laughed even harder as I poked her again and again. 
"Now come on in and eat, we've got a heck of a supper to plan." I said as I walked up the crickety steps, and held the front door open for her. Rarity embraced me once more, and whispered. "Thank you Jacky."
I patted her head and replied. "No problem, sister." We both smiled, as we walked inside, leaving the entire world behind us. At that moment we felt free.
Supper was alot more talkative that evening, as Rarity meshed really well with Mac and Applebloom. We all enjoyed a hearty dinner and soul freedom, our family may have gotten a bit more complicated, but it seemed pretty simple in the end. I remember all of us in that quiet moment of normality, and it felt simple enough for me. 

I pulled away from the table, belching in the process. "Whoo wee I haven't eaten that much since the Catfish fry!" 
"Now ain't that the one were you ripped your best dress and got ketchups stains on your boots?" Mac said tears of laughter running down his face.
"THE ONE AND ONLY!" I proudly stated as I jutted my hoof into my chest, "And I took home the blue ribbon for it too!" 
Mac, Rarity and Applebloom all burst into laughter as I began walking around the table collecting their plates. Rarity got up and picked up Mac's plate as she looked at me. "Here, let me help, its only fair seeing on how gracious you've been to me this evening." 
"Of course Ms Rarity, thank you for dining with us this fine evening" Mac said happily as he handed his plate to her. 
"And we'd be plum happy if ya could do it again! Your like an auntie of sorts, cept your not old, wait are you old?" Applebloom began ranting, before I hurridly ran over and covered her big mouth. 
"Well, ya see Applebloom, Ms Rarity is going to..." I began explaining. 
"I would like very much little filly, in fact I'll be here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, well dinner on weekends of course, a girls gotta work right?" Rarity concluded while giving me a nod. 
"ITS LIKE I GOT A NEW SISTER! OR AN AUNT, I DONT KNOW BUT I LOVE IT! STAY AS LONG AS YA WANT AUNTIE RARITY!" 
" I may just do that Applebloom, now off to bed, little fillies need their sleep." 
Applebloom looked at me and raised her eyebrow. " Seriously?" she asked me. I nodded in agreement, as I chuckled at Rarity. "C'mon lets go do the dishes, Mac, I can trust you to tuck Applebloom in right?" 
"Eyup."
Rarity and I made out way into the kitchen as I dumped the dishes into the sink with a thud. I went for the faucet, but Rarity had already turned it on with her magic. Right, I forgot that Unicorns can manipulate everyday objects like a secondary nature, and that Rarity was a Unicorn. 
She began levitating the dishes and washing them without getting a single hoof wet with soap. I decided to voice my opinion on the matter, "Rarity, I have never seen you use your magic before, hell I almost forgot that you're a unicorn!" 
"Well... Jacky, I always had to play the lesser one to my husband, and he does not posses such skill..."
I slipped on my current dish and got my hoof soaking wet in surprise. "Wait, you married an Earth pony?" 
"That I did Jack, that I did." Rarity happily chimed as she had finished 3 dishes, to my not even clean 1 dish. 
"You could've done alot better than an Earth pony Rarity..." I said spitting on the plate and rubbing my hoof to make it shine. 
"I agree and disagree, I could've done alot better... but..." she peered her head back to see Mac walking down the hallway, taking his time to stretch before heading off to his room for the night, 
"Earth ponies aren't so bad..." 
"Hohohoho wait a minute there sugerlump" I began to insinuate, 
"Not another word! After all, I got the dishes done faster!" Rarity quipped. 
"I didn't know it was a contest!" I sputtered, trying to keep an image I didnt want to think about out of my mind. 
"Well it was, and I win. So there. Nyah." Rarity stuck her tongue out at me. We laughed for a bit, as we set the dishes into the cabinet to dry. 
"You know Rarity, tomorrow is Inmate intake day." I said, just remembering it myself. 
"I know, so I guess its off to bed with us?" Rarity questioned curiously. 
"Right, we got a bright and early morning ahead of us, so get plenty of sleep!" I said as I walked upstairs and led Rarity to the guest room across from my bedroom.
I felt the sandman punch me right in the eyes, as I yawned loudly. "G'night Sis. Welcome to the family." Rarity ran over to me and gave me the tightest hug I could imagine. "Again. Thank you, so much." 
"No problem, thats what family does. Plain and simple." Rarity welled up with tears in her eyes again, and bid me goodnight. I made my way into my bedroom and into my sheets. Tomorrow began a new day for the Appleline family, and for Rarity and I. I felt my eyes shut, slowly nodding off to sleep. Now, our house is old and has its creaks every now and then, the old groans when the door would blow open from a breeze. Rarity's room had it the worst, seriously, it was the oldest room in the house, it belonged to our Granny before she passed away four summers ago. The groans and creaks in that room were definately 10 times as worse than any part of the house, and it must've been a particulary windy night, but maybe thats just my way of putting it.

Chapter 11:
Monday, June 23rd, 1947. 19:00

Today has been weird. Like really weird, well hell, even yesterday was a big turn from normalcy. But at least, the night shift is here, and things can go back to a sense of simplicity. I adjusted my uniform and made my rounds for the evening. 
I tipped my hat at The Shaman, who noticed me and nodded in return. Huh, that's odd... I've never seen her actually move. I shrugged it off as I continued to make my rounds, not like there was much to walk on The Mile. As I walk past Ms Sparkles cell, I see a sudden flash of moment, her ear twitches and she jolts up straight. She turns around and stares at me with her eyes, my God, they were like dinner plates, staring directly into my soul. 
"You keep to yourself now ya here? No more causing trouble for you Ms Sparkle." I pointed my bullstick in her direction, she said nothing and continued to track me with those huge glaring eyes of hers. For whatever reason, I felt a shiver of fear run down my spine. "I'd best be off, got to make sure someone runs the Mile at night." 
I began to continue my round when suddenly I feel my tail being held back. My body began filling with that same rage again, like some hot molten lava raging through my veins. "LET GO CONSARN IT!" 
"Someone's coming Ms Jacky. Someone awful is coming. Please, be careful." 
"THE LORD WILL BE COMING FOR YA IF YA DON'T LET GO OF MY TAIL!" I felt my chest beating with absolute rage, a feeling like a steam engine running inside my body. 
Suddenly, I pull forward and trip. I guess she let go, I turned back and grunted at Ms Sparkle, who curled into a corner, yet still would not stop staring at me with those huge eerie eyes of hers. 
.I brushed myself off, and made my way back to the bureau where Rarity was busy scribbling down on some manuscript. 
"Careful of that Sparkle one Sis, uh-I mean Ms Rarity. She's a grabber." I said, quickly recovering from my mistake. 
"Oh I know! I still have no idea what she had done to make Pinkie cry like that. Never in all my years knowing that girl have I ever seen her ever leak even one tear. But tonight..." 
"Yeah.... it's like, normalcy is being flipped on its head huh?" I finished Rarity's statement. 
How right that statement was, normalcy had completly flown the coop and decided to die in Albequercque. What we didn't know that in losing our normalcy, that we had opened the door to a great chaos, and a great magic that would change these walls forever. 

Monday, June 23rd, 1947. 20:30
There was a knock on the iron door of The Mile. I looked up from the bureau and looked at Rarity as she looked back in a state of confusion. I got up and walked over to the door and pulled open the door hatch. "Who is it? Its way too late to have visitors you know?" I said through the peephole. 
"Infirmary ma'am, I have a report for one of your guards." the voice behind the door said. Ah! That must be for Ms Fluttershy! I hope she is feeling better the poor thing. "Right then, I'll let you in". I began fustling with the door locks and the heavy handle. If my ears had been sensitive enough I could of heard Ms Sparkle whimpering in her cell. "Don't do it...please don't open that door." 
"Howdy pardner!" 
A thunderclap rang forth, and suddenly my vision became dark.

Chapter 12:
My ears began ringing like crazy as I began to hear screaming. My vision still incredibly hazy, I feel around. Oh god, it feels like....I'm going to vomit....I can't help it. 
Wait...is that...blood? Am I vomiting blood? I feel my stomach and pull my hooves to my face...no... I'm bleeding...I've been shot.
My vision still incredibly hazy and my mind in clamor I could hear screams and yells in The Mile. "YOU FUCKING WHORE, HOW DARE YOU DISOBEY ME!" 
"GET THE FUCK AWAY YOU BASTARD! I'M DONE WITH YOU!" 
I begin crawling, stumbling trying to get on my hooves and do something. "ITS THAT FRANCIS ISN'T IT? YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN AFTER THAT INBRED HICK!" 
"DON'T YOU DARE CALL HIM THAT YOU PATHETIC WHELP!" 
"DON'T. YOU. EVER. CALL. ME. WHELP!" 
I found my pistol in front of me and I grabbed it with my hooves. I could see him, I could see that bastard, I saw him raise his hoof to Sis. 
Another thunderclap struck and he fell to the ground. "Ah......YOU SHOT ME! YOU FUCKING BITCH! YOU FUCKING SHOT ME!" 
"Damn....I missed...the kill." 
My vision began grower darker, as my rage subsided, sorry Sis. Looks like, I couldn't get your back...
I guess this is the end of my story, well, maybe in one way. I'm not particular about the fancy sciences of life and death, nor am I particular about esotheric beliefs of afterlives, but what I do know, is that I was dead, yet I continued to see, and I continued to hear. 
"JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKK!" Rarity screamed as ran to my body, "Jack? WHO THE FUCK IS JACK?" her husband screamed bleeding on the floor. Lucky bastard, if I hadn't been bleeding out, I would've nailed him right in the head.
Rarity knelt down and began sobbing, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I shoud've never let it get this far." 
"Ms Rarity, I can fix it. Ms Rarity." Ms Sparkle said from her cell. 
"DAMN IT SPARKLE SHE'S DEAD! MY SISTER IS DEAD! YOU CAN'T FIX THAT" she screamed through tears. 
"I can Ms Rarity. But we have to be fast, I can take it back, but we have to do this now." Ms Sparkle said, pacing in her cell. 
Compelled by either tragedy, desperation, or lunacy, Rarity picked up my body, and carried it over to Ms Sparkles cell. At this time, I still can't tell you what my body went through at that time, all I know is the sight was miraclous, and horrifying at the same time. I saw my body floating in mid air, and a beam of light being shot into my stomach. My body began convulsing and twitching, and black worms began digging their way out of my bullet wound. Terrible, awful worms with dagger like teeth, and monstrous screams, they screeched when hit with the light of her magic, and faded away like ashes from a flame.

I felt something soft on my shoulder, hey...I can actually feel! I look down at my hooves, my god! I'm ALIVE! I'M ALIVE! PRAISE CELESTIA I'M ALIVE! 
"Its a miracle." Rarity said in stupor.
"Cough.....that's fucking great. Now can someone please help the MAN WHO HAS BEEN FUCKING SHOT ON THE FLOOR?" 
No, not this fucking time. I trot over and point my pistol right at the bastards head. I could feel it, I could feel that tumor of hate beating against my once more living heart! The pure seething anger of revenge and hate. I could hear all their voices in my head, "MURDERER, SINNER, HICK, HERETIC". I cocked the pistol and forced it into his mouth. "On your knees bitch." I whispered. 
"What the fuck did you say to me woman?" he mumbled through the pistol.
"I SAID ON YOUR FUCKING KNEES." I pulled the gun out of his mouth and shot it right next to his head, telling him I was fucking serious. He slowly got up and got on his knees. "Hooves above your head." He complied, as he began crying. 
"What...are you going to do?" 
"I'm going to kill you. But first you are going to apologize." I coldly stated as I pointed the gun right at his forehead. 
"What?" 
"APOLOGIZE!" I fired directly next to him again, causing a puddle of urine to sprout forth underneath him. 
"APOLOGIZE FOR ABUSING HER."
"I-i-i'm sorry for abusing you..."
"APOLOGIZE FOR RAPING HER." 
"I-i-i'm sorry for raping you...." 
"APOLOGIZE FOR BEING THE FAT SACK OF SHIT YOU ARE."
I-i-i'm..."
"SAY IT!" I cocked the pistol 
"I-i-i'm...." 
"SAY IT!" The fire in my heart felt like a thousand suns waiting to erupt in a fiery blaze of bullet smoke. My finger twitched on the trigger, and I began to pull.
Suddenly, I could feel something that I didn't think I could feel. Oh... it...feels...so light...
like, a weight has been lifted off my heart. I fell to my knees and dropped the pistol, as I started crying my eyes out, I don't know why, but I couldn't stop crying.
"I forgive you." 
That. Those words came out of my mouth, I don't know why, or how they ever escaped my mouth but they did. I felt something at time was amazing, like I had been touched with the power of heaven itself, and in this, the hatred, the rage, and all I had inside my heart had faded away into nothingness. I turned around and smiled at my Sister, both of them, Rarity and Ms Sparkle, as they both smiled back at me, tears running down their faces. Suddenly, I felt a heavy jab right at my throat, and the air being cut to my brain. 
"FUCKING BITCH, YOU THINK YOU CAN FUCK AROUND AND FORGIVE ME? WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" 
"Ngggrh....can't.....breathe...!" 
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I see it. A horrible black tumor with 20 legs and awful gnashed daggers for teeth dashing toward my attacker. He couldn't have seen it, but I sure did, It stabbed him in the hindleg, and continued to stab him again and again. 
"OH GOD WHAT OH MY GOD! OW! OW! FUCKING OW!" 
The black tumor monster crawled across his chest and threw itself into his mouth. 
Suddenly, the husband starts lifting the pistol while screaming. "What...what the fuck is going on?" He held it to his own head...." SOMEONE SAVE ME!" A thunderclap fell, and so did he. The black tumor monster crawled out of his mouth and looked up at me. I swear as much as my spine tingled, I almost saw a smile before it faded away like ashes in the air.
I got to my feet as I tried to contemplate what in the world just happened. I walked over, and yeah... that's definately a dead body... blew his brains out all over The Mile. Rarity came up behind me and began sobbing madly. "Jack...oh Jack... I can't believe it... " 
I quickly stomped over to Ms Sparkles cell and I slammed on the bars.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TWILIGHT SPARKLE? WHAT DID YOU DO?" 
"I took it away Boss, I gave it back, and then I took it away. Go to your sister Applejack, she needs you, and she needs your friendship. Protect that, and I'll protect it too. Feeling tired boss, feeling real tired. Twilight Sparkle stretched her wings and curled up in her cot. 
I walked over to Rarity and we cried together in a small huddle. Even when the other guards from the other blocks came in and cleared the scene, we stayed huddled together, crying out eyes out. 

Tonight, At 21:00 on Monday the 23rd of June, 1947 at The Pink Mile, something amazing and terrible happened. A life was given and a life was taken. Two ponies found themselves truly free, and found solace in themselves and in one another. It had been a first of many things on that Monday, and it only got stranger from there.


END OF NIGHT SHIFT. MONDAY JUNE 23rd, 1947.
	
> My First Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 13
So you want to hear a story from good ol' Rainbow Dash you youngster? I guess I've got some spare time nowadays to tell you some old tales. Maybe you'd like to hear how me and a gal pal of mine ran down to Bodega with these two stallions, let me tell you the things we...oh, uh... we had plenty of nice conversation and we hugged alot. Yeah, thats all. 
I've got plenty of adventure underneath my tail, kid. You want to hear about The Mile? Well, shoot, pull up a chair and listen on in. 
I had worked on The Mile for 9 long years, wait, are you dozing off? Sit straight younging! Anyways, The Mile was a kind of place where damned men came to die, that's right. I worked at the E Block of the Equestrian Federal Penetentary, and I was the commencing officer for 351 of the executions that took place in my 9 year run. 
Don't give me that look, its not like I enjoyed it or anything, it was just hard times back then and I had to make ends meet. Yeah, it was a heavy burden to carry, but I knew how to make a living. Back then, that was life, work until you drop, sleep, and then work until you drop. I guess you can say I wasn't really living at all, but that was life, and that was The Mile. You see, we called it The Mile, because thats how the inmates there used to view that long stretch of hallway. For them it was sitting, waiting, sleeping, waiting for that mile to end. It wasn't really living, because they knew when it was their time to walk, it would be their last. 
I still remember my first day on The Mile, it was as rocky as a sailboat on the turgid sea. But in no way shape or form could it ever compare to the summer of 1947, the summer when I ended my term on The Mile. 

Do you believe in magic kid? Not the sort of, pull a rabbit out of a hat, sawing a pony in two variety, but honest to God, unnatural force that moves through space and time itself to make its way be done magic? Well, maybe I'll just tell you. 
Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. 08:00
It was an unusually bitter Monday morning, like someone took intravenous tubes and pumped my body with ice water. I remember shivering my newly primmed uniform, as the cold winter wind slashed right through my peacoat. It was the first morning of my new occupation, and one that I had been relieved, yet at the moment thinking twice about. The snow beneath my hooves came up around 2 and a half feet, the prize winning record from a record setting snow storm. 
I blew into my hooves to try to keep the cold from stealing my breath. Every heave of my chest, was met with a sensation that I can only describe as frosting of my inner linings. It was -28 Fahrenheit that day, and it was a hell of a way to launch my new career. 

"D-d-d-damn. Its s-s-s-s-o cold." I nustled my muzzle deeper into my peacoat, trying to maintain any sort of warmth I could keep. "I-i-i-is it always this c-c-cold in the winter time?" 
I felt a heavy hand slap me on the back followed by hearty laughter. "Come on now Ms Dash! You've GOT to toughen up! Its only a little bit of sub arctic weather! You've got to learn to puff your chest out and push through these things as a MAN!" 
"I'm a woman, Trottski. We're a little bit more fragile than that." 
NONSENSE! Women from my homeland would gladly bear their bosoms to such tempatures!" The brute of a stallion guffawed as his beard bobbed up and down. 
"Duly noted, I'm sure the women from your home country have alot more fur too." I snarked rubbing my hooves together trying to muster any sort of heat. 
"Well, as brother Stallin once said 'A mare kept warm, is a mare worth home'" Trottski murmered as he lit a match against his foreleg stubble, and dropped it into his tobacco pipe. 
Cough cough. Ugh. I hate tobacco, waving the smell of smoke away from my face, I managed to get one more quip in. "Goes to show how many bare bosoms you Ruskies have seen then."
Trottski guffawed once more as he slapped my back again, as I chuckled in repose
That was Vladmir Olaf Trottski, a Russian immigrant working at the Equestrian Federal Penitentary E block, and my superior officer. I didn't know it at the time, but good ol' Vlad had been a rarity in those days on The Mile, a sort of incorruptable and young spirit that emitted from a pony in his late 60's. What I also didn't know at the time, is that Vlad fled from his home country due to, political misunderstandings, and found himself working The Mile, due to some, political negotiations. To this day, I still knew the man as Vladimir, the stallion who lived life to its fullest. 

"So, Rookie. Are you not the least bit excited for your first day on The Mile?" He said emuding trails of ashy smoke that for whatever reason, decided to pool around my head. 
Coughing and sputtering, I wheezed out my words, " Yeah...could be a lot warmer though. Do you HAVE to smoke right next to me?" 
Vlad tipped his pipe and let some ashes descend into the canvas of the white blanket. The ashes sizzled, and faded, leaving no trace of their existence. 
"Конечно немного капусты!" Trottski stated as he continued to ventilate his pipe, sending a column of smoke high into the snowy sky. 
"I'm sorry, I don't speak Ruskie there Vlad." I said rolling my eyes. 
"Izvinite, what my words meant were, 'But of course'. How else am I going to stay warm in this freezer box of weather?" 
"Now here I thought you were a manly man Vlad, 'MANLY MAN PUFF OUT YOUR CHEST, AND BEAR YOUR BOSOM TO THE FRIGID'" I mimicked as I rubbed my chest mocking him and shaking my rump. 
"Ohohohoho. Very good nemnogo kapusty, you have certainly shown me. By the way, I think you have fans with that dance routine of yours." He said as he motioned his head behind us. 
I heard whistling and cat calling from the inmates behind the fence, as my face flushed red. Damn, outsmarted by the Ruskie. However to be honest, the embaressment did warm me up a little, but not in the way I had hoped.
Now, you are probably wondering why I am bringing all of this up, which is a very good question indeed. Well, I had a nickname a long time ago on The Mile. Ponies used to call me 'Brutal'. Sounds out of character right? A dainty little flower such as myself, being compared to a muscley brute. Well, on my first day on The Mile, I had experienced something that took away that notion of daitiness, and forever solidified that way of living as a Brute. God, if I known what would've happened on that day beforehand, I never would've left my old occupation... I would still... 
Well...
How to put it. 
You youngins nowadays dont really have a concept of what sexuality is. I mean you call it a different name nowadays, with all the kids running off and getting married, and having kids of their own, sending each other pictures of each others fancy parts, and having public displays of affection. Don't you groan at me, I know these things that you youngsters do! 
Well, back then, things were a bit different, they weren't so public. If a fellow wanted a good time, he certainly couldn't go out and ask for one in a crowd. People back then were more reserved in that sort of nature, and don't even get me started on the womens needs. 
Being a woman in those times were extremely hard, you had to act a certain, and keep a certain air about yourself, and well... I never really knew how to play ball with the notion. 
There was a small community of entrepenurial ladies that followed the same philosophy, and well, it was business. I knew my skills, and I lived my trade, but it did not make me feel alive. 
Thats why I took the offer to apply for The Mile, to step outside the boundries of what a woman's limitations were at the time, and to find more to life, than just empty night by night work.

Chapter 14

I don't mean to prattle on youngster, its just, *sniff* I miss him, I honestly do. Eh? It's not obvious to you? Well it should be, the whole fact that I'm speaking past term about a stallion and what not. How did he die? Now, hold your horses, I'll get to that part of the story. Eh? What does my first day at The Mile and my relationship with a Ruskie that I had just met have anything to do with the events that occurred in June 1947?  Jeez, you sure are brash kid. Haven't your elders taught you anything of paitence? It's a virtue you know! Just because your young bones have all that youthful energy in them, doesn't mean you can't stop and sit down while listening to a lady's storytelling. You'll never settle yourself a mare if you can't even stop to take in the weight of the world sonny.   
Now where was I? Oh yes, so there I was, shivering in the frigid freezerbox of a first day on The Mile, next to a man I had just met. As you can assume from the bits and pieces that I told you, that Vlad was, well, different than other stallions I had known. Something about that posture, that broad chest and shoulders. A manly essence that seemed to radiate from his being, a sort of aura that I felt inspired to, definately different than the men I had previousally dealt with in my life. 

The smoky trail of the tobacco lifted high into the seemlessly eternal horizon, I shifted onto my honches and groaned. 
"Now that is a lovely shade to your cheeks kaputsy." Vlad guffawed as he pulled out a gold pocketwatch and began twirling it around. 
"S-shut up. Are you always this friendly to the ladies Mr Trottski? What would Mrs Trottski say?" 
Suddenly, I felt it, something that maybe shouldn't have even crossed my mind. I thought I could play a little flirty, you know, the whole power in being a woman and all. I was still young, and I was bound to make youthful mistakes, but God have mercy on my tongue, and what lashes it gave out in those ignorant days of my youth. 
The pocket watch descended in a free fall, and buried itself within the tundra of fluffy snow. 
"Uh, Vlad, your watch..." I began to motion as I went to pick it up for him. His face was motionless, with a glare in his afixed on some long distance wonder that my eyes could not perceive. 
"Hello? Vlaaaaaaaaaad? You in there?" I said waving my hoof in front of him. 
"Yes....what would she say... if I could only know..." Vlad began whimpering behind his veil of manliness, I could swear I could see something of a tear descend from his eye. Nah, must be just the snow melting on his face. 
"Vlad? Hello? Hey!" I yelled as I slammed my hoof into his back. 
"OH!" Vlad jumped out of his stupor, "Ms Dash!" Vlad gritted his teeth at me as a fierce scowl manifested on his worn face. 
Yikes, maybe I shouldn't have done that either. 
Rage ran across his face, as his eyes began moving back and forth, as if in search. 
"My watch....where is it?" He began to panickly state. 
"I uh, It fell in the snow!" I began to say before getting shoved out the way by his massive stride. 
"Nyet...nyet...where is it?" Vlad began digging at the ground, desparetly clawing for the keepsake. 
Now with Vlad's eyes glued to the incomprehendible haystack that lay before him, and my sight on his struggle, we had both lost track of the surrounding, and what we were actually there to do.

Chapter 15
"Well, this isn't the most welcoming sight, but I suppose its nice to see both of you."
The voice came to a surprise to both of us, as I jolted into parade rest, as did Vlad. 
"C-c-c-c-captain Cake! My deepest apologies for my unrofessionalism..." Vlad stuttered giving a quick salute despite his face running ragged with sweat. I followed suit, feeling abashed on top of my previous shame. 
"Nonsense Lieutenant Trottski! I'm just glad you decided to come in today, despite today's peculiar weather." the frail pony in front of me spoke. 
This man was the head officer of Equestria's Federal Penentary E Block, and the superior to my superior. Captain Eustace Mortimer Cake, a skinny fellow with not much to talk about to him. His uniform, although lined with a fine sheen of cleanliness and order, seemed to hang off his being. I could not even begin to imagine how he hadn't frozen with taking one step into this tundra. 
"My my, and we have another new face here today! What's your name young missy?" 
"I---I'm Rainbow Henrietta Dash, It's a pleasure to meet you Captain Cake!" 
He chuckled slightly as he crossed his front hooves. 
"Now now, no need to be so formal Ms Dash. Please, call me Eustace."
"A---affirmative Captain Eustace!" I spat out, nearly spitting out my nervousness. Nice going, great first impression there. 
Eustace chuckled some more as he shook his head. "It's okay, first day jitters. We all had them once, right Vlad?" 
Vlad guffawed as he held his broad shoulders back. "I never have any sort of jitters! I'm a proud Russian statue of bravery! AHAWHAWHAW" 
Wow, that was kind of amazing how he was able to do a complete 360 with his emotions right there, but I think I understood the shift.
You see, there are faces we all must wear in our life times. Facsimillies of our true selves, and of our true emotions, a kind of mask if you will. Now ponies do this for a number of reasons, some of us do it because we simply can't stand who we are behind that mask, while others do it to hide weaknesses that they do not want to be seen. Other times, its just good for business, God knows how many times I've had to fake smiles, and tell somepony that you care for him. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to show my pure disgust, especially when someone climbs in between you, and tells you that your the moon to his night sky. 
I knew that feeling, and I knew that mask. What pondered in my head, is what laid underneath that lie that Vlad had quickly adorned on his being? 
"So, are you ready to meet your new co-worker Ms Dash?" Eustace broke through my self musing about what inner mysteries lie within the proud statue of a bravery that was Vladimir Olaf Trottski. 
"Uh, yes sir! Is he in the van?" I said trying to keep all of my nervous energy behind my stride, desperately trying to follow Vlad's example of putting on a fake face. 
"Well, yes and no Ms Dash." Eustace said with a bit of a chuckle. "He is indeed in the back of the Van, but SHE is in the passenger's side taking a few good deep breaths before she actually meets all of you." Eustace chuckled a bit rolling his eyes. "Interesting one that girl, when I interviewed her on the position, she was just a ball of energy, not unlike yourself Ms Dash, or so I've heard." 
Yeah, my interview was... well, hopefully my co-worker didn't have the same kind of energy I had. I mean I interview well, but there is always some sort of deal sealer to these things, thats just how life is you know? The interviewer was none other than our beloved Warden Augustus Blueblood, nephew to Princess Celestia herself. Yeah, I'll say it before you even think it, Nepotism up and down the board.
Well, I don't think I have to remind you what my talents are a mastery of, or what the rumors are about the Warden are about. Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to be frank. 
I fucked him, right there in his office. The interview was more fucking than it really was getting to know what The Mile was, or what I had to bring to the table. I laid myself out like a pin up girl and let him get to know me as much as he wanted to. All the while, forcing a smile on my face, even through all the violent shouts of "Take it you slut! Take my fucking royal seed you disease ridden whore!" 
Yeah, I certainly had energy, but I did what had to be done. 

"I think you two will get along just fine, you are awfully alot like each other you know." Eustace came in with his wrecking ball of monolog destruction. 
"PRIVATE PIE? ARE YOU READY TO BEGIN YOUR DUTIES?" Eustace shouted begin his shoulder. The passenger side door opened, as a Pink pony, jumped out and trotted to the back of the inmate transport veichle as began fumbling with heavy locks. 
Eustace rubbed his hooves in nervousness, "Don't mind her, she's just a bit shy." 
*THUD CLANK* the doors of the transport swung openly loudly, as the prisoners behind the fence began clawing to catch a glimpse of the newest condemned soul, and of the freshest mare scent other than yours truly. 
The Pink pony jumped into the back of the transport, and an eerie silence fell over all of us. 
Something felt wrong, like life as I knew it was about to change.
Chapter 16
"P-private Pie?" Eustace stammered as seemed to be standing on pins and needles. My stomach sank, something was wrong. I could feel something run through my veins, an iciness different than what I felt on my skin. I twitched in worry, as Vlad began reaching toward his holster, as did Eustace. 
"Comrade Pie? Are you okay?" Vlad slowly muttered as his hoof descended to his firearm. 
Now I want to be honest with you kiddo, what happened next is the God's honest truth, a moment that changed my life forever, and to this day still leaves me with a scar on my soul. My hooves still shake talking about it, look! Look at them shaking, and no, that's not arthritis smart ass! 

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" 
The queer uneasiness of silence had erupted into a pure moment of panic as Vlad and Eustace drawn their firearms and dashed to the open back of the transport. 
Shit! SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT! I reached for my firearm and followed after them, not really knowing what to expect when I did. Vlad and Eustace stood firmly, firearms drawn at the seemingly dark void of the transport back. I squinted, but I could see it. The Pink pony was kicking and struggling for her life, against the chains around her throat. The inmate was at least three times her size, and he smirked with every twitch she gave, as if he loved every second of it. 
My hooves shook, I could feel that iciness run through my veins as I stared at his glaring wickedness there in the complete darkness. 
He seemed to detect me, as he shot me a stare that pierced me right through my soul. 
I swear...I swear I could hear it. 
"Take it. You slut." 
I slammed my eyes shut as I felt the rush of frozen shame run through my body like an avalanche of torrid rapids. My heart was on the verge of explosion, and I could not bear it no longer. 

I....pulled the trigger.
I don't remember all the details after that, but everything seemed like it was in slow motion. I remember the smoking gun falling into the snow, as Eustace ran towards the pink pony, holding her in his hooves. I stood frozen, hooves shaking in shock, as the blood in my body began to solidify in what I had just done. I remember Vlad grabbing and shaking me to try to break me out of my trance. His lips moved, but nothing came out, I couldn't hear him....
Oh God, what....have I done? I knew...well, I knew I would be an executioner, but...not, not like this...oh god. 
I could feel my head spinning out of control, as if I felt the very hands of Hell dragging me into an eternal grief for my crime. 
"STICK OUT YOUR CHEST NEMOGO KAPUSTY! BURY YOUR AGONY! I IMPLORE YOU RIGHT THIS SECOND!" 
Those words...it was like a mighty hammer smashing through all my insecurities and woes, like if the word of God almighty had cast away the longing grip of Hell's emissaries. 
"V-vlad?" I weakly whimpered through my shock. 
"Da, you are okay. It's all okay." I felt a hoof around my shoulders as warmth came over me. 
"COMRADE CAKE! SHE IS OKAY! HOW IS COMRADE PIE?" Vlad shouted to Eustace.
"She's fine, a bit shaken, but she's fine." He responded, as he helped the Pink pony out of the transport. She was coughing and holding her neck. It was swollen and bloody, definately going to leave a scar on her, both on her body and her mind. 
She swayed slightly, and stumbled her way in the snow, blood noting her trail. I do remember that sight, those wide open eyes like something had shattered in her mind, a kind of tragedy that can't really be described, but I knew it. I definately knew it. 
As she stumbled by Vlad and I, I could her see her smile a bit at me. 
"T-thank you, I wouldn't have....well...you know." she weakly whimpered in pain. 
"Y-yeah... no problem... Ms.." I replied with the same weakness to my voice. 
"Pinkie....call me Pinkie. What's your name?"
Now at this point, you would think that a normal person would just respond to such a simple question with a simple response. 'What's your name mister? Well, my name is Bobby and you?' 
I can tell you, for whatever reason there was on this world, I simply could not find that answer in my mind. Its as if a fissure had erupted within my soul, splitting me right down the middle, and right through my core. 
I can't really give you a viewpoint, but I could definately give you a description. Now keep in mind, this didn't magically happen in some random dimension or something, it's just a way to artisically describe the fissure inside my mind at the point. 

It was as if I stood on the precipace of a mountain top, one side engulfed in a wintery blizzard, with winds gnashing away at the foundation of the structure. The other side, a sea of molten rock fire, and hellish geysers of magma jutting from every crevice as fissured carved through the landscape. 
I looked down at the wintery storm side, and I could see this hulking behemoth striding its way to the peak where I stood. It did not roar, it did not stumble, it simply made its way to the peak. 
I stumbled aback on my footing, and nearly fell into the hot magma of the other side as I felt the rush of hot air blow through my core. I could see in the endless wasteland a wicked monstrosity of a beast made of flames pounce and dash its way to the peak of the mountain as well,both horrors, with the same climax, me.

I felt a cold wind slash right through me, as I turned around and stood before an icy golem 40 feet high. 
The icy titan glared down at me, and held its hoof around me, as if wanting to pick me up. Before I could struggle, the monstrosity made out of flame leapt towards the titan, fangs bore and claws aflame. The battle was short, with a mighty back hand of its arm, the flame mostrosity was flung into the cold barren winter, tumbling and screeching with every impact.
The Frozen Golem resumed its glare at me, as it lifted me up into the air, roaring in victory. Its chest began opening like a fissure thawing out to summers heat. I could feel myself being lowered into that crevice, as I tried clawing at any sort of escape. It felt cramped, and horrible as I could feel icicles began piercing my soul, and I began screaming in agony. 
My prison closed, leaving me in complete darkness. 
".....Brutal. My name is Brutal." The words escaped my lips, not even thinking about it beforehand. 
"It's nice to meet you Brutal..." Pinkie whimpered before her eyes rolled back, and she passed out. 
Eustace quickly grabbed her and began walking her away. The warmth around my honches had disappeared, as I no longer felt anything. 
"Are you okay Ms Dash?" I could hear his voice, but it seemed so distant to me. I looked away and stared into the distance of the canvas of white. 
"It's just a mask isn't it Vlad?" I said coldly as I began trotting away. "Just like yours." 
*CRUNCH* I raised my hoof and looked down. Vlad's pocketwatch, smashed in two underneath my hooves. I picked up the ruined keepsake and felt nothing as I gave it to him. 
"Sorry." I apologized with the fakest sincerity possible. 
"Nyet. Is no trouble. Come, let us go inside comrade." Vlad said from under his facisimille of manliness, hiding his obvious pain at the sight. 
Chapter 17
It was by that time the remaining prison staff had arrived and did what they needed to, to our recently introcdrinated and departed guest to The Mile. I looked behind my shoulder and saw a stretcher covered with a white blanket being rolled out of the transport, and I felt the iciness grab a hold of my heart again. 
Good. 
Vlad fumbled with the iron door handle, and swung it open. 
He and I walked in, and slammed the door behind us. 

It was my first execution on The Mile, and it was the shortest recorded duration of any inmate, before and after that day.
However, I did not know it at the time, that on the day of Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938, there would be two executions at The Mile by my hooves. 

Do be a dear sonny, care to fetch me a box of tissues for this next part of my story, because it is a far more sorrowful tale that what I have just told you. Yes, more sorrowful than creating a seperate version of myself to hide my grief, and watching my innocence die at my own hooves. 
Yes, they're in the cabinet on the left. Oh, why do I have so many boxes of tissues? Well, I haven't told you all of the story quite yet, about the events in the summer of 1947 and I seem to need all of them when I do. 

But for this part, one will suffice.
So came to pass my first morning on The Mile. A hell of an introduction to be made right? I know I know, you are waiting for the good part, just settle on down and hold onto your box of tissues, pass me one along too dearie. I can feel the tears already leaking through when I remember this part...

Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. 11:00
"Why the hell should I have to see him about this?" I lashed out slamming my hooves on the oak office table, panting heavily in an abnormal rage. God, what is...happening to me? First I feel nothing, and now...I feel this flood of emotion running through my skin like I'm ablaze with fury. Sweat dripping off my brow, I glare daggers into Vlad's eyes, or at least his crop top, since he was busily scribbling down on a piece of manuscript. 
"Private Dash. Although your actions were quick, decisive, and saved the life of Private Pie, you still acted rashly." He looked up and gave me the sternest glare anyone could ever muster. "You have took the life of a man, with your own two hooves."
"SO WHAT?" I slammed my hooves on finely polished and spotless table. "HE WAS GOING TO DIE ANYWAY. WHY SHOULD I GIVE A DAMN ABOUT A MURDERER?" 
My slamming was met with more slamming as Vlad stood up angrily. "PRIVATE DASH, DO NOT YOU UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF LIFE?" 
The blaze under my skin was roasting my innards, I could feel rage boiling from underneath my eyeballs and I could not stop my lashing tongue. 
"WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT ITS VALUE TO MEN WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT IT AT ALL?" 
*SLAM* 
An akward silence echoed through the halls of The Mile. Its as if the hand of God himself came crashing down on that office desk, and silenced even the bacteria living on it. 
Vlad continued to say nothing as he began reaching through the drawers in search of something that would bring his arguement to a close. To my surprise, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and held it in my direction. 

"Do you smoke Comrade?"
"No, I absolutely don't. It's a horrid habit, and kills you from the inside out." 
Vlad smirked a bit, as he threw the pack at me. Naturally, being quick with my hooves, I grabbed it before it even hit my chest. 
"Maybe that's the point da?" he said as he reached into his pocket, and retrieved his tobacco pipe. With a quick flick, he nestled a flame of a match between his hooves and dipped it into the toxic bowl of cancerous spew. 
With a quick vent, the trails of smoke began to rise once again, leaving my head and stomach nauseated. 
"Cough....kaff.... so what's....kaff.... what's the deal with the pipe? You honestly are telling me you want to die?" 
Vlad turned and faced the single window overlooking the prison yard. Kind of cliche if you ask me, but this is coming from an execution wing of a Federal Penitentary that colored Pink. PINK FOR GOD'S SAKE! 

"Private Dash." I could hear him say, as if not to me, but for some unseen person miles away, a certain solemness to his voice. Looks like the mask of manliness is off. " For reasons that I bound from saying, I can not tell you all the events that led my being here." 
Chapter 18
He turned around and glanced deeply into my eyes. It was a good 17 feet away, the distance between Vlad and I, but that stare, it felt like we were face to face, and soul to soul. "However, I can allow you to know some things." 
"As you know of the current world events, Russia has gone through some major changes in the past few years. Many ponies died, many of whom I knew personally. My comrades, my friends. Sometimes in wide spread fire, sometimes one by one as they slept in their homes at night."
Vlad continued puffing away at his pipe, the stench of tobacco filling up The Mile. 
"Soon, the blood became too much for my family and I, we began fearing for our own lives. So, with some, comrades, in Canterlot to rely on, My wife, daughter and I had planned on escaping the turmoil."
I could feel the squirm of rage and anger creep up my spine, like some viscous fluid, sentient and alive with malice. My ears awaited each word, and every word fueled this growing urge, I longed for climax. 
"My wife....Odessa, and my daughter Anayssa... we were supposed to meet at the Kalkidrinhoof Station. I had already boarded our escape." His hooves began shaking as the trail of smoke started turning into rapid puffs of emotion. If there were any Injins around, I'm quite sure they'd be wondering what in the hell he was communicating. 
"What I wasn't expecting was a station checkpoint. When I went through the station just 10 minutes earlier, I had no trouble. I was to forge on ahead, and make sure there were no government dogs watching the station. I thought they would be safe. 
Vlad reached for the shattered pocketwatch, and held it close to his chest. 
"I watched as my wife and daughter stepped onto the platform and I watched in horror as Soviet guards surrounded them." 
The puffs of smoke began turning into firey red ashes, as it an inferno began raging within Vlad's pipe.
"NYET! I stood up and began racing for the exit. I was stopped in the aisle by, well... I can't say whom, but they stopped me despite my raging spirit. 'NYET MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER!' I screamed at them."
Vlads hooves quaked mightly as tears began streaming down his face. 
"'There's no time, I'm sorry sorry. THE TRAIN NEEDS TO GO NOW!' I felt the train slowly begin to churn as he slowly made our way off. NYET NYET ODESSA! ANAYSSA! I tackled through my obstacle and sprinted to the train exit. I bashed the door over and over again, screaming out their names, but it was to no avail. The door had been fortified with some magic unknown to me. I looked out the window and saw them... for the last time.
Vlad's tears ended, as his face fell downward. 
"They were on their knees, with their hooves behind their head. As the train moved onward... I heard it. I could hear my nemnogo kapusty cry out. 'Papa'. The train whistle sounded, deafening the loud thunderclap of gunfire."
Vlad sat back down in the single office chair as he tipped his pipe, emptying it of all its contents onto the floor of The Mile. 
"I alone, escaped Mother Russia. I couldn't save my beloved, and I couldn't save the daughter that we had raised for 20 years"
With another flick of his hoof, another match was lit up, and he began puffing away once more on his pipe. "You know Private Dash, I used to hate smoking too. Nowadays, I can't seem to get enough of it in my system." 
It was at that point the fissure in my heart began cracking even more, I was torn in my emotions, and how to react to this. Sure, a normal pony would be bawling their eyes out, but for me at that moment, I didn't know what to feel. The inferno of rage, the bitterness of reality, and the whirling tide of sadness, it was all too much. I quickly shook my head and let the chilly frost of callousness take over me. 
"I see." I could actually feel my words turn to mist as I spoke them. "So you work here now to keep a low profile?" 
"Da. Maybe... its self retribution, after all this place..." 
Vlad said as he began staring off into the halls of The Mile, as if taking in a sort of solemn interlude. 
"Where murderous and monsters of men come to die....It suits me." Vlad flatly stated, as he puffed into his pipe. 
God, I wanted to hold him and cry in his shoulders. I just wanted him to know that it wasn't his fault, and that I emphasized with him. I just... shouldn't have been so cold to him. If there was anything I could've done different that day, it would've been that moment, right there.
Vlad trotted back to the bureau, and began jotting down onto that same manuscript once more. I could tell by the tense air of depression and sorrow, that our conversation had ended. God, I felt sick, like someone took a heated blade and sliced right through my insides with it. The sort of churning in my stomach, added by knots of twitching flesh, it was enough to make any mortal mare vomit. 
I walked over to the iron door, might as well get to the Warden's office and explain this whole mess of a dead inmate, and an unconscious new hire. Ugh, I am not looking forward to this, especially on my first day. 
Before I put my hoof on that seemingly gigantic iron studded door, I looked back at Vlad, and as if something unknown had seized control of my tongue, I blurted out. 
"Hey Lieutenant Trottski!" 
Vlad poked his head up from his manuscript and turned in my direction. 
"Yes Private Dash?" he asked in repose. 
"My name is Brutal. Don't ever forget that." At that moment, I could see the metaphorical dagger spit from my mouth and stab him right in his chest. I didn't look at what expression he had, nor did I care to, I opened the iron door in front of me, and I slammed it behind me. 

Chapter 19
I really don't know who was the building engineer for the Penitentary, but I really would've like to known what in world he was thinking by placing the Warden's office in block A. 
I'm sorry sonny, I'm describing things without giving them proper description. Well, did you know that the Equestrian Federal Penitentary also had a nickname? Yeah! I bet you thought it was only E Block! Nope, every block had a nickname and so did the whole complex. Now before you get your panties into a bind, I will tell you all you want to know about it.
You see, The entire complex was called "Alighieri Infernus", after that one book that you may know, because we worked a lot like different circles. A Block was for sexual offenders, "The Abyss". B Block was for thieves and crooks, "The Den". C Block was for the petty crook, those who did not warrant a long sentence,"The River". D Block was for money and business crimes, strange folk there, heard talk awhile back about an inmate doing guard's income taxes, "The Swamp". Finally, there was us, E Block, where ponies who murder, and dissidents to the throne of Canterlot were condemned to die. "The Mile." 

I was not particulary fond of walking through The Abyss, especially since ponies known for molestation and rape lay only an inch and three quarters of iron away from them and you. It was like some sort of haunted house, arms reaching out from the bars, moaning and grunting. 
"Hey pretty lady, why don't you stop on by....I'll treat you to a good time heheheh..." 
I threw my shoulders back and made my way onwards, avoiding the grabby hooves of the lustful inmates. 
"HEY SLUT!" 
It froze me right in my tracks, as if it was an electric shock right to my core. 
"Yeah you, you heard me. Slut. Get yer pretty little ass over here." 
I could feel it again, that viscous thump of anger crawling its way up and down my spine, as if directed by some primodial urge, I trotted over, nostrils flaring and tail flicking at unimaginable speeds. 
"WHAT." 
Yeah, that's right. Go make me a fried chicken dinner with gravy on the taters, I want to shit in your mouth, and have you sit on my face, because I am one horny motherfucker!" he snaked out as he pulled his...well, man parts and shoved it through the bars, twitching it at me. 
God as my witness, I am truly apologetic now for what I did in the days of my youth. 
I reached back and grabbed my bullystick, and cracked the vile member right in the middle. I heard him scream, and oh it felt good.
I did it again and again, every blow hitting across twitching flesh. Every cry of his anguish only fueling my rage even further. Over and over, I bashed that...thing until it began leaking fluid. Oh God....he really wasn't....
A crimson creme color oozed on the floor in front of me, I just....did he just? 
"Yeah. Hurts so good. Slut." He whimpered in agony. 
The uproar in The Abyss became insane, as I heard the other inmates cheering for their fellow man. "YEAH SHE TOTALLY WAS INTO YOU MAN!" "SHIT! SHE JACKED HIM OFF! SHE JACKED HIM OFF! OFFICER SLUTSKI HERE!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" 
The inmate who I had inadvertingly popularized began to slink back into his cell, I could see that smug look of success on his face as he threw me a wink. 
"Not yet." I quietly uttered. 
"Huh? Speak up slut. Can't hear you over your whore mouth!" 
" I SAID NOT YET!" I quickly grabbed his bleeding, uh...thing. 
"H-hey! Get off me bitch! I'm done already!" 
"Not yet you fucking bastard, you ain't done yet!" I hissed as I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my utility knife. 
"You like pain freak?" 
The inmate shook his head violently in disapproval, struggling against the bars as he trying to pull back from my coup de grace. I plunged the tip of the blade into my target, and the scream I could hear seemed to echo throughout The Abyss, silencing all who stood within. 
I let go and threw the knife at his cellmate, who all the while was motioning in a thrusting motion with his hooves towards his nethers. 

Finally the guards from A Block arrived and quickly pushed me aside. A grey pegasus looked me right in the eyes, well, one did, the other seemed to glare out the window. 
"What happened here?" she asked angrily, as her coworker ran to get the medic. 
"I was walking by, and these two got in a fight about who was going to plow me first. This freak stabs this queer in the dick, open and shut."
She glares at me and the window intensely, as if contemplating the amount of bullshit I just had given here.She pushes me aside and looks over to the inmate crawled up in his cell crying like a baby, holding his nethers. 
"Guess karma runs deep,Panzram. At least you won't be sodomizing anything else in your pathetic excuse of a life except for a cast. 
"F-f-fuck you retarded bitch!" Panzram welped behind his tears of agony. The grey pegasus looked back at me and cocked her head as if asking permission for something. I nodded my head, and turned away. 
It was really an icy day out, snow covered the yard and the road. Honestly, there was so much white out there, I bet not even the squrills would be able to see anything if front of them. 
The wind must have been pretty wicked too to cut through the window of The Abyss I was looking at. It certainly pounded against the brick walls, like it was wailing in agony and woe. 
"Fwaaaaah. Much better." I heard behind me, I knew that was my cue to turn back around. 
My God.... 
"Yeah, looks like your right, but you left a teensy little detail about how terrible the fight was. I thought think either of them are ever going to walk again." She wiped her blouse and cocked her head at me. 
"Men can be so violent at times." she said sticking her tongue in play. 
I...I, this isn't what I wanted...I just wanted to see him squirm. I could see Panzarm trying to utter something through his swollen broken face, hoof grasping at my direction. 
"Oh! Looks like he broke his hoof in the fight too!" The grey pegasus said as she reached trough the bars, dragged his front hooves out, and smashed them underneath her own with the wickedess look upon her face.
"S-stop it! You've done enough" I blurted out, pulling her away from the cell. 
"No I haven't, he's still breathing..." she pulled her head out and yelled past me. "YEAH I CAN HEAR YOU SOBBING FREAK." 
"You can't do this...he's still..." I found myself stuttering. 
"What? A Pony? HAH! Don't make me laugh, he's a FREAK, and a CRIMINAL. Ponies like him don't have value, I'm just finally glad I could get the courage to do what I did." 
Wait, what? 
"You inspired me, I knew his cellmate didn't stab him, we here at Block A have a daily cell check, just to make sure we don't have weapons." 
Oh sweet merciful Celestia...
"I'm not dumb sweetie, that FUCKER probably did something to you that really ticked you off, and you finally did the right did that all of us ladies here at Block A have wanted to do for a loooooooong time."
No, it can't be, I....
"Now, we have nothing to fear. YOU HEAR THAT YOU SICK FUCKS? WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF YOU. SO KEEP YOUR BITCH MOUTHS SHUT, OR WE'LL CUT ALA YOUR DICKS OFF!" 
The halls of The Abyss stood silent, in either shock, fear, or dismay. In my first day as an officer of The Mile, I had infected my rage against men to my fellow women. 
I don't understand why the Warden would have all the women guards pooled here in The Abyss, seems kind of self defeating of the notion of it being the block for sexual offenders. I can't imagine the daily lives of these women, being eyed up like they are moving prey, but... the thing I have unleashed upon them, this spirit of rage. 
I...
"So that's what happened right? I'll cover you, and you'll cover me, when I tell the other girls about it, they'll definately cover you too." 
"I...uh... well... I won't go around telling this story, but you can't either." I said desparetly trying to fan off the flames I had lit. 
"Why not? Finally we can fight back against our aggressors! Why didn't I see it before? We are the law here, we can dish out anything we want!"
I slammed my hoof right next to her head as she gave a small yelp. "They are still ponies, they are still living beings, yeah...they are FREAKS... but they still are living beings. You shouldn't treat your enemy as they would treat you."
She shook, as if anticipating retribution from me, and I sighed.
"Look. It's not that I don't feel you, it's just... maybe threatening to cut off their dicks in the middle of the night is a little much."
"W-wha...what do we do then?" she shook as her eyes shrank in desperation of falling back into being prey. 
I looked at my hooves, and I looked at the wall I had slammed, damn...I cracked the tile with the amount of force. 
"Tell them... they'll get a visit from Brutal if they act up." 
"W-who's Brutal?" 
"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself." I turned around and boasted on the top of my lungs. "MY NAME IS RAINBOW BRUTAL DASH, AND IF YOU ACT UP TOWARDS MY FELLOW OFFICERS, YOU WILL HAVE A PERSONAL APPOINTMENT BY ME, AND IT'LL BE A NIGHT YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!" 
I heard one whoop from a cell before a loud smack and a pony scolding the other. "You idiot, she means she'll cut your dick off." 
I turned back to the Grey Pegasus, and smiled. "There, I'll take the burden, let me know if anything happens alright? I work over at The Mile, well... at least I hope so still, considering everything that has happened in the past few hours." 
" Oh, I heard about that. So that was you huh?" 
I felt my eyes glaze over slightly, and that twinge of iciness tug at my heart. 
"Yeah, that was me." I shook my head and the feeling off. "Hey, the Warden's office is up these stairs right?" 
"Uh, yeah, just be careful alright?" The grey pegasus said as she watched me trot off. 
"I don't know who is worse. The inmates or him." She finished saying, as I flicked my tail and made my way towards my destination.
Chapter 20
I want to warn you ahead of time sonny, this part of the story isn't a fun one. There is nothing entertaining about the words I am about the utter from my lips, there is nothing but anguish and the absolute worse of evils that will be said in these very words. 

Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. 13:00
I stood in front of the Cherry wood door of the Warden's office, not really sure what to expect. I ran the events through my head again and again, hoping to find some way to come out of this clean. 
Nope, I was fucked, by every definition of the phrase, I was definately going to lose my job. I could feel my teeth grind away, how the hell am I going to make things work out now? I began pacing, and swallowed my thoughts. Yeah, that that iciness flow through me again, so what? 
I can just pick up and start all over again, it doesn't matter to me. 
Whooooooooooooo alright Rainbow, let's do this. 
I grabbed the handle, and made my way inside. The Warden's office was still just as it was the first time I came in. Pictures of Augustus Blueblood in countless photo ops, numerous commendations of his service to the public, and of course, the coat of ars, right above his Cherrywood bureau, the very same bureau that gave me my employment at The Mile. 
"Ah, Ms Dash, excellent. Please, do sit down." Warden Blueblood stated as he pulled his head up from some paperwork. 
I trotted over and sat down in front of him, only the table of shame keeping us apart. 
"Now. As I have heard from around the blocks, you executed an inmate at 09:10, with a single gunshot, while he was strangling one of your fellow guards. Is this correct?" 
"Y-yes sir." 
He spun around in his crimson padded office chair and faced out toward the window overlooking the complex.
"I dare say, you've managed to break a new record. One and a half minute of a duration until execution on Block E. I must say I am impressed..." He paused for a moment as he raised his hoof. "Yet, I am oh so very disappointed at the same time."
He turned back around and held his hooves together, as if comtemplating some sort of reasonable punishment for my transactions. For whatever reason, I felt a bit of nausea kick in, alongside the iciness underneath my skin, and blaze creeping up my spine. 
"You see, I have to explain this to my aunt. The Princess of Equestria, you know her." He began pushing some of the piles of paperwork aside on his desk. 
"Celestia. Ruler and Sovereign of all the nations, God herself in the flesh?" I could feel my stomach knotting upon itself over and over, the queer mixture of fury and coldness running through my mind and soul. What...is...my body trying to tell me?
"Now, I run a nice little shift, I get things done. Everything is in order, and I keep it that way. So when a little....pissant goes and ruins the schedule..." 
He begins reaching into his drawer, all the while my senses overloading at the fury of battle inside my being. 
"It brings up questions. Questions that really don't need to be asked Ms Dash. Questions like, 'Why did you put a woman in Block E?' 'Why are all the women in Block A?' 'What exactly are your hiring procedures Warden Blueblood?'
He began chuckling, as he stopped in mid sentence. 
"You know why you got the position in Block E right?"
I fidgeted in my seat a little. "Because... equal opprotunity right?"
"BAHAHAHA, No." He guffawed as he threw his bangs to the side. 
"You got the position in Block E, because I didn't want to see your peasant face. I didn't want to hear your fucking voice, and I sure as fuck did not need to be reminded that you fucking exist. You got the position for being a fucking slut, someone so disgusting that I wouldn't even want to look at. "
He threw his arms behind his head. "Sure, I was going to put you in Block A with all my other bitches, but just something about you...disgusted me. You took it like a whore, a complete trashy whore." 
At this point, my body was raging with tutulumous amount of mixed emotions, ranging from a blazing fury, to an icy solemness. I can't believe this mother fucker. 
"So what?" I blurted out. "Yeah, I'm a whore, what are you going to do about it? How are you really going to stop me from going to anyone about this? What you've just said is pretty damning as it is." I said with a confident smirk on my face. 
Blueblood started pounding on his desk in severe laughter. What the hell was so funny?
"Ms Dash. You are in the Abyss, where ponies sent to live out the remainder of their days for SEXUAL crimes against them. I'm just going to say you were raped to death by one of the inmates and no one is going to question it."
Wait...what? 
Before I knew it I felt a jolt to my throat as I was slammed onto the hard cherrywood table. I could feel my spine crack from of the impact. I tried flapping my wings to escape, but it was to no avail... its as if they were binded...oh God. 
Warden Augustus Blueblood was a Unicorn, and Unicorns know magic. Blueblood crept on top of the Cherrywood desk and bent down near my face. "Now doesn't this seem familiar Ms Dash? It seems only two weeks ago, we were in this same scenario...but this time, its your resignation." I could feel his heated breath on my neck, Oh sweet merciful Celestia, please no. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no. 
I felt him squat his honches as he inched closer and closer to me. "GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME YOU FREAK!" I threw out my hoof and struck his jaw. Blueblood took the blow and chuckled. "Yeah, fight back. That's how I like it." 
I tried with all my might to clench my legs together, but his damn magic, I could feel my hope diminishing with every pry of my thighs. 
Someone. Anyone. Help.
Chapter 21
I closed my eyes, and awaited the inevitable. Suddenly, I could feel the weight lifted from on top of me as I heard a loud cry. 
"ублюдок!!!!!!!!!!!" I quickly opened my eyes and saw Blueblood huddled over in pain, clutching his horn in pain and Vlad standing with rage fueled eyes. 
"Trottski....wait, I can explain!!!!!! AAAAAAACK" Blueblood began to state before he was cut short from Vlad's hoof being driven into his chest, knocking all the wind from his being. 
"You....you....SLANDEROUS CUR!!!! HOW COULD I EVER LET A HORRIBLE WORM AS YOURSELF YOU GET IN THE WAY OF RESCUING MY FAMILY?" Vlad stated as he picked up Warden Blueblood by his coatsleeves and slammed his face into the back of the chair I was sitting on. 
"WAS ALL THIS YOUR DOING TOO? KEEPING ME LOCKED HERE SO THAT I COULD MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE SOME SAINT?" Vlad continued to beat down on Blueblood, rage fueling every blow. Vlad...please, stop. 
"AND NOW YOU ARE RAPING MY COWORKER? HOW MANY LIVES HAVE YOU DESTROYED YOU PATHETIC MAN?" Vlad slammed his hooves into Bluebloods ribs, cracking them as he screamed out in agony. 
Vlad pulled back his hoof for a finishing blow, but at that moment I grabbed his hoof. In the midst of the pummling Blueblood's binding wore off on me, allowing me this freedom. 
"Don't... he's....a living being too." The magnitude of emotional turmoil within my heart was reaching a horrible climax, and every word I spoke starting revealing how insane I really was. I mean really, how insane is it that I am telling my saviour, to spare my aggressor, because they are a living being? 
"Comrade... there's more to this than just that, please... let me honor my wife and daughter by disposing of the filth that rid them of me." He said as tears began streaking down his face. 
"Honor them by sparing him. Don't do this Vlad. Please." I said, taking him into my arms, and helping him lower his. I felt his arms wrap around me, as tears fell upon my head.
"I'm so sorry....I'm so sorry nemnogo kapusty...please...forgive Papa." I could hear Vlad whimper as he petted my mane, tears rushing down his face. 
I pulled my face away from his chest and stared up at his streaking face, "Thank yo-" 
Suddenly a white horn burst through Vlad's chest, as blood began pooling around the wound. 
"VLAD!" I screamed out, as his heavy body crumpled to the floor. Blueblood smirked as he wiped the blood from his horn, standing over his fallen foe. 
"You just don't get it do you Trottski? Since you don't have long, I might as well spill all my secrets. I tipped off the guards, and had your family executed, all the while gaining the public appeal factor for rescuing a Russian refugee from the oppressive holds of a tyrannical government, who executed his own family right in front of him. 
Blueblood limped over and kicked Vlad in the ribs. "Don't you get it ' Butcher General of The Red Army?' I BECAME A FUCKING PUBLIC HERO BECAUSE OF YOU. All of this around you?" Blueblood motioned to all his commendations and awards, "It's all because of you, so this is my way of saying thanks. Murderer." 
Blueblood levitated Vlad's pistol and held it point blank at his forehead. 
"Now that you've been useful, it's only fair you go out the same way your wife and daughter did. Not like you won't die anyway...." 
A loud thunderclap silenced the office.
My hooves trembled as I lowered my pistol, the quake of emotional turmoil I felt inside me subsided as only a wave of grief poured over my soul. 
"You....shot...me. You...whore." A pool of blood began dripping from Warden Blueblood's nethers as he backed away in pain. Stumbling over his hooves, I saw him begging to the numerous guards outside the office who had appairently been watching ever since Vlad busted down the door. 
"Anyone....someone...help." He weakly muttered, I saw the grey pegasus walk up to him and spit in his face. Warden Blueblood stumbled backwards over in shock, unknowing of the rails behind him. I saw him trip, and I heard a loud scream, followed by a terrible crashing sound, like bones being shattered, followed by a silence that seemed to echo through The Abyss. 
Chapter 22
"Nemnogo....kapusty..." I heard a weak whimper from beside me. 
"Vlad! Oh God, stay with me Vlad. Please don't die on me, you bastard." 
"Do....you smoke....Comrade?" 
"Y--yeah." I pulled out the pack of cigarettes and drew a cigarette for him. With a quick flick of my hooves, I held the lit cigarette to his mouth as he smiled. 
"You...look just like her." Vlad smiled softly as he shoved his pocketwatch into my hooves. 
I opened to pocketwatch, and felt my soul heave with a tidal wave of grief as I looked at the picture in the top portion. There was Vlad, Odessa and Anayssa, all standing together, smiling together. He's right...it's like looking into a mirror of myself. 
"Stay...strong... my little cabbage... for Papa."
"Vlad? No! VLAD! DON'T YOU DIE ON ME!" I slammed my hooves down on his chest, trying to give what little I could. 
The cigarette fell from his mouth, and his eyes closed. Vladmir Olaf Trottski, The General of The Red Army, My Superior Officer, and...my saviour had gone.
I wanted to cry, I honestly wanted to burst with tears and push away every guard that came in and tried to take me away from him, but I couldn't...I had to stay strong , for Vlad. It was at that moment, every single emotion I held was sealed away behind that mask. I had to remain strong, for Vlad, for the women in The Abyss, and for myself. 
Inside my soul, I felt that mountain crumble, and the winter encompass all sides. I became one with that frozen titan, and through its eyes I began to see. 

I picked up the cigarette and held it to my lips. I took a heavy drag inward, hoping that something would melt behind my frigid exterior. It was the first of many, but none could ever succeed. 
As I was escorted by The Abyss guards out of the office, I looked over the guard rails. There was the corpse of Warden Blueblood, neck broken, laying in a pool of his own blood. 

It was my first day working The Mile, and already I had taken two lives.

Chapter 22
Some major changes happened after the events that took place on Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. The official story was taught Vlad and Warden Blueblood had gotten into a quarrel over Vlad's rescue from Russia, and that it turned deadly for the both of them. Vlad fired a shot as he was gored by Blueblood, Blueblood stumbled over from the blow and fell to his death. I remember the questioning, and it was hard to lie about it. Rest assured, everyone on Block A had my back covered, but still. It felt so wrong placing the blame on the man who saved my life. 
I decided to keep my job at Block E, and grew relatively close with Pinkie, we even became something like friends, or at least amiable co-workers. Eustace was chosen to take up the title of Warden, and he immediately opened the doors to all Blocks for the female guards to pursue if they chose so. Many of them took him up on the offer, while others remained in The Abyss. 
Since Eustace was now Warden Cake, and Vlad, God rest his soul, was taken from us, we were certainly understaffed at The Mile. It didn't stop us from doing our God given ability, but it sure made the days creep. I didn't let it phase me one bit, everyday I wore that proud, unbreakable spirit, that would not allow even a smile to creep through on my face. It wasn't until June of 1940 when we had some help come in, and wouldn't you know it? Two females, one a chipper unicorn with the happiest of attitudes, and the other, some cowgirl hick with a thick attitude problem. 
I even got the pocketwatch fixed! It wasn't that hard, just picking up some parts and tinkering around in my spare time. I keep it on me at all times, to remind me that I must remain strong. Always, no matter how frigid I must become. A woman such as myself should be able to bear my chest against such colds, and be strong for the sake of others. 

That was my belief, and that was my tribute to Vlad. 

It would take nine years to show how really wrong I was.
	
> Tuesday Morning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 23
Tuesday, June 24th, 1947. 07:30
I decided to come a little early to work this morning, I don't know particularly why but I felt a kind of youthful spirit in my stride. Yesterday was a hell of a day, meeting that weird Alicorn girl, getting outsmarted...by a mouse of all things, venting my frustrations out on the new girl, and I'm pretty sure I made a joke. Yeah, weird right? 
I walked down the hall of Block A, and was greeted with cheerful smiles. "Morning Ms Brutal! Lovely day isn't it?" "Hey! It's our favourite E Block officer paying us a visit!" "Well gosh Howdy Ms Brutal!" 
I chuckled a little, "Now settle on down boys, and mind your manners." The inmates chuckled in response, how...queer. Here I was making light talk with the very same folk that I was the living embodiment of a nightmare to for the past nine years. Seriously, I became a legend in The Abyss, 'The Brutal Goddess who swept in and punished evildoers with a mighty sense of justice.' Sounds catchy right? I never really fed into it, but now when I think about it, it feels...nice. 
"Well Good Morning Lieutenant Dash!" I heard a perky voice cry out from Block A. 
"And Good Morning to you Captain Muerelle Derpowitz!" I replied. Yup. That same grey eyed pegasus from nine years ago? She's the Commanding Officer of A Block. 
"Well, this is a strange sight," she said as her eyes googigly bounced around in her head. "I swear I can almost see a smile on your face!" 
"Nonsense Captain! Don't you know? I'm Brutal!" 
"Yeah yeah, The stuff of Prisoners nightmares. I know." She cocked her head and stuck her tongue out at me. 
"How goes everything?" I say stretching my wings with a mighty yawn. This time, it was no trick of the mind or the googly eyes. I actually was showing emotion, and even Derpowitz could see that. 
"Well, alls wells that is well I suppose Brutal." She said patting my back. 
"Hey Derpowitz?"
"Yeah Brutal?" 
"Call me Dash."
Derpowitz drew back in a bit of shock, but then quickly smiled. "Okay, Ms Dash. I've got my rounds to do, but maybe if you want we can take lunch together?" 
"Yeah, that sounds great. Looking forward to it." 
She giggled and flew off to do her rounds. Now I knew something was up with me, I haven't talked to Derpowitz since that day nine years ago, why now all of a sudden? Why is it that I'm breaking my facade, and having the ice melt from around my heart? Did I forget my promise to Vlad? Or maybe... maybe, I was just forgetting him as time went on. No. I won't let that happen. 
I held the pocketwatch in my coat as I steeled my being with a fresh coat of ice, and made my way to The Mile.

Tuesday, June 24th, 1947. 07:45

Huh, that's weird. The Mile is completely empty, save of course for the two inmates. Ms Sparkle, and Ms, I dont know her name because she rarely speaks. Normally Rarity and Jacquiline are here to wrap up the events of the previous night, and hand it over to Pinkie and me. Strange. 
I took off my hat and jacket and hung them on the coat rack. I made my way over to the chipped and worn bureau and pulled out a cigarette as I sat down. Oh well, might as well get started. 

"Ms Dash?" I could hear a voice mewing through The Mile. 
"Yes Ms Sparkle? How can I help you?" I replied, trying my best not to sound interested. 
"Ms Dash, I need to tell you something. Please come here." Ms Sparkle quietly said as she invited me over. 
"Roger Ms Sparkle, I'll be right there." I lit my cigarette, and made my way down The Mile towards her cell. 
There she was, curled up like a kitten on her mattress, staring at me with those big dinnerplate eyes of hers. 
"Yes, Ms Sparkle? How can I help you this morning?" 
"There are ghosts here." She whispered quietly. 
"Come again?" I said in bewilderment, she can't be serious right? 
"You can't see them boss, but there's so many ghosts here... I'm afraid boss."
Sigh, really? I have to reassure that not only the lights are kept on at night, but now the boogeymen won't come and take her away?
"Don't you worry now Ms Sparkle. I'll chase 'em away. I am Rainbow Brutal Dash after all. I'll beat up any ghost who tries to take you away!" 
"I ain't afraid for me Boss. I'm afraid for you." She said with a tearful look in her eye before curling up and falling asleep. Afraid for me? Pshaw. This girl is definately some sort of wacky, I chuckled and made my way back to the bureau, today was going to be a tough day for all of us at The Mile. 
It was the day after prisoner intake day, meaning that Today was Prisoner Execution day. I took a deep drag from my cigarette and watched the smoke trail up toward the ceiling of The Mile. 

I wish I had the kind of eyes that Ms Sparkle had. The kind of vision that allowed you to see right down to the very core of a pony, and see the things not meant for mortal eyes to be seen. Maybe if I did, I would've taken her warning more seriously, than just some kooky tale. I can tell you this now, the events that happened on Tuesday, June 24th, 1947 would solidify my belief in the afterworld, and of the denizens who reside there. 

Lord knows, I should of listened. 
DAY 2 BEGINNING OF MORNING SHIFT
Chapter 24: 
Tuesday, June 24th, 1947. 08:00

Huh, it was unusual for the Captain to be late, I thought to myself as I puttered on the oak table, biding my time for some decent conversation. For whatever reason, I felt a little bit excited today, like if I was anticipating some sort of cheerful celebration in the small company of ourselves. 
"Erggggggggggggg, I'm so bored!" I found myself blurting out, quickly holding my hooves to my mouth in sudden shock. Whats this all of a sudden? Me? Rainbow "Brutal" Dash, actually letting out whats on my mind? Agh, what in the flying blue hell is going on? 
Tapping my hooves on the table even more rapidly I took out my pocketwatch and glared at it, as if hoping I had attained some sort of time warping capabilities within the nighttime. No such luck, the minute hand remained adamant at the single tick past Twelve, as if mocking my impaitence and unbeknowst enthusiam I had crawling underneath my skin. 
"DAMN IT ALL." I snapped the pocketwatch firmly and shoved it back into my coatpocket, unknowingly scattering bits of foodstuffs unceremoniosly buried from within the entrails of my coat onto the cold pink tiles. 
I sit down with a mighty sore attitude as I cross my forelegs. Shit. 
As the proverbial thundercloud of an emotional metaphor began brewing above my head, I heard a familiar sound. A sort of pitter patter, reminiscent of a light drizzle on a hot tin roof. I pull away from the oak bureau and directed my glance downward. 

"Well I'll be a sonofabitch." I whispered, hiding my childish awe quite terribly. 
There he was again, nibbling away at my discarded pocket fillings. That damn disappearing wonder mouse.
I felt a small bit of a jump from within my belly, not unlike the same sensation when you happen across your favourite pony, or when you get the taste of your favourite ice cream on your taste buds during a simmering summer heat. 

For austerity's sake, I would like to say that I definately sat back down at that bureau and acted in a manner of clear professionalism, as I let our uninvited guest partake in the given breakfast banquet, but I suppose that would be a great fib I would be telling. I walked over to the ravenous little stowaway gingerly, hoping that my thunderous hooves would not give chase to the only company I had at the time. It would seem that not a single shred of worry crossed his little mind, brass balls this tiny guest must have. In comparison to him, or her; not really good at determining the genders of lesser beings without the whole, well... inspection thing, I stood as a towering behemoth of anxiousness and quivering excitability. 
I crouched down and drew my face close to the blissfully unaware mouse, as I drew a grin that I could feel stretch from one ear to another. 
"Hey there little fella." I whispered, as if in fear that my sheer size would assault the tiny guy with a gale. I stretched out my hoof, and lowered it slowly to its head.
Now here you are thinking, given the situation of the previous day, that this was some sort of coup de grace for the sheer blase a blah demeanor of simply walking into The Mile on his own terms. I may be many things there lad, but heartless I am not. 
I lowered my hoof down and began petting the wonder mouse as he continued to nibble away at the various moonpie crumbles scattered about. Now my ears haven't always been the best, sometimes I wouldn't be even be able to hear what the Captain has to say unless she spoke with a louder inclination to her voice, but I shit you not sonny, I heard two things at that time, and there was also one thing I should've heard.
I heard myself leak out the tiniest of girlish giggles, and I heard the faintest sound of something I would like to think was a coo, or maybe a purr of contentment from the mouse. Here I was, laying on my belly like a giddy filly, petting a mouse right on his pretty little head, as if he was some sort of family pet. Certainly, I was happy that I was alone, or I would lose any sort of creditibility to my namesake. 

Now you may have noticed earlier that I said something along the lines of not hearing that I should've heard, well, sometimes when we focus on whats in front of us, we lose sight of the world around us. More often than not, those things around us are something that would see to break that focus, or even harm you, I honestly wish I had heard that damn door unlocking, and the patter of two ponies trotting into The Mile. I honestly wish I would've heard Ms Melacruex whisper "Oh non! Look out Boss!". I wish I would've heard Ms Trixie Yamaguchi stomping her way over to my side, but I suppose the events that followed would not have been as fantastic as they were if they hadn't. I was in my little world, and that little world was soon to crumble with the loud thunderclap and ground quaking. 

*CRUNCH* 

Chapter 25: 
It happened before I could even realize what had just occurred. For one second I was happily petting the head of a happy glutton, and then the next I am staring at a blue stalk of a foreleg, grinding itself into a pile of blood and white fur. 
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed drawing back from the sight and getting to my hooves. Trixie remained stomping on the no longer living tenant of The Mile, her mane twirling as swear drenched down her sneering face. 

At that moment, I felt something within my sinew that I had swore I haven't felt in nearly a decade. Simple, seething, squirming, slithering, steaming rage charging through my veins at the speed of a stampede.

Trixie finished pummelting the blood stained tile she was practicing her river dance on and slowly drew her hoof upward, sinew and flesh slowly ascending along with it, and she looked back at me with the biggest of shit eating grins on her face. 
"God damn it I hate vermin, don't you Boss?" she slithered out of her vile mouth, as she began wiping her hoof on her uniform. Her hoof quickly flew behind her head as did her other, but that sort of thing happens when you tackle a pony. With a great slam, I tackled her right into the bars of a vacant cell, feeling my arteries throb with some sort of primal anger seething through my being. 
"I'm going to wipe that shit eating grin off of your rich little face you heartless monster!" I hissed at her. 
"Try me, you'll be sacked even before you get the first punch in." Trixie muttered, struggling to get out of the hold I had placed her in. 
I drew my hoof toward my bullstick.
"Yeah yeah, been there, done that." as I drew back for a blow. Trixie's pupils dilated as she knew my current course of action, and tried desparelty to shield her visiage from my righteous strike. I drew down, and felt myself caught from delivering, someone was holding me back, Lord knows it wasn't some sort of second thought on my behalf, I was whole heartedily willing to accept a pink slip just to bash in a tooth or two on this punks face. 
"Now Dashie, I am not clear on the situation whatsoever, however assaulting your fellow officer of The Mile is frowned upon, especially this early in the morning. Why don't you take a second, and breathe in this wonderful morning day?" 
My grip was weakening on my bullstick of rightful vengence, as was my voice in between fits of emotions clashing within my soul. Rage, sadness, rage, sadness, it was a scenario that clearly made itself evident in my voice. 
"SHE KILLED HIM. THAT DAMN MOUSE. SHE STOMPED THE LIFE OUTTA THAT CUTE LITTLE THING." I gasped in between cues of clashing emotion.
Keeping my tear filled glares of laser heated anger directed at Ms Trixie the entire time, if I couldn't assault her physicially, maybe if I thought it enough she would end up with some sort of damage. 
I felt the grip on my hoof tighten as I let go of my bullstick in frustration. "FUCK!" I loosed my grip on Trixie's neck as she slid down to cold tiled floor of The Mile, trying to regain composure along with oxygen. I turned around and directed my weaponized glare at Pinkie, who in returned my gaze with a ludricrous smile on her face, and a handful of delicious smelling corn bread in her hoof. I couldn't help it, I smiled too, and I fell down to the pink coloured tiles laughing. 
"Damn it Grandma, do you have any idea how stupid you look right now?" I chuckled as the raging torrent of emotional discord within my heart began colliding with an impervious tide of enjoyment. 
"Well, I can't help it. It's how I was born Dashie." She said offering a hoof to help me up, to which I graciousally accepted. I raised myself and my smile quickly fell as I glanced toward the blood stained tile in the hall. The impervious wall of laughter had been substituted with a cacophony of despair and anger. Pinkie seemed to read my sudden change of air as she followed my gaze and her smile dimmed a little as well. 
"Well, is this true Ms Yamaguchi? Did you indeed kill the wonder mouse?" 
Trixie, slowly getting to her hooves, brushing her uniform off, and coughing. It seems I did a number on the gal, good. 
"Damn right Captain, I sure did. Can't have vermin walking around The Mile, you know, it'll upset the inmates, and heavens know you don't want them to be upset or anything. RIGHT INMATE?" She hissed at Ms Melacruex, still shivering in the door, albeit obiedantly complying considering the situation before her, and even behind her, it seems the iron entrance of The Mile had been open the entire time. 
"....Is just un petite mousey B-boss..."
"WHAT WAS THAT WHELP?" Trixie howled back at Ms Melacreux, who simply meeped in repose, limping slightly at her bandaged hoof. 
Trixie returned her scowl back to Pinkie and I, as she flicked her hoof at her collar. "See? Even the inmates agree." 
Pinkie stared at the blood soaked tile, and shook her head in disapproval. "Well, do you think you got him for sure? I'm not honestly sure you made enough an impact."
"That fucker is dead. Look, I got his smashed little brains on my hoof!" She said hissing at the idea of being insulted. I felt my intestines curl at the statement, but with a quick glance from Pinkie, my rage subsided. 
"Well then Ms Yamaguchi, I believe a promotion is in order." Pinkie said as she trotted over to the bureau, setting down the basket of corn bread and began writing down on a piece of manuscript. 
"I-is that right?" Trixie and I stammered, as if not expecting the response. 
"Indeed." Pinkie looked up from her manuscript and lifted her glasses. "You are now The Head Mouse Executioner of The Mile. Now please go grab a mop, and finish what you started." A quick roar of laughter exploded out of my chest as Trixie's face quickly flushed with a shade of crimson. I don't care if it was embaressment or rage, it was a wonderful colour to my eyes. 
"Surely you can't be serious." She began to state before being cut off quite quickly.
"Indeed I am, but my name is Pinkie. Now go. Now." Pinkie said with a serious tone to her voice. 
Trixie huffed in frustration as she shot me a glare that I could feel right down to my gut. Luckily, it was only for a brief moment befor e she turned her snout upward, and trotted off to the cleaning closet, but not before stomping on Ms Melacruex's bad hoof once more. 
"Oh merde! Mon hoof! Aiya!" she whimpered in pain, still akwardly standing in front of the open Mile door. 
"TRIXIE!" I began dashing after her in fury. 
"What? Just an accident." She scoffed as she threw a dangerous scowl at Ms Melacruex
"C'mon Ms Melacreux, let's get you back to your cell." I said, still glaring into the distance at Trixie. 
"Oui oui...merci." She whimpered slightly as she limped alongside me to her cell. Poor girl, she's already been through so much with that damn heartless bitch, and now she's continuing to suffer because of my little tiff. Erg...what am I thinking? I could feel the spikes of doubt etch across my heart, why am I feeling sympathy for a woman who turned an entire city block into smoldering ash because her husband had cheated on her? Why am I feeling empathy for somepony who killed 37 ponies, 14 of them being orphans unfortuneant to be housed directly adjacent to the flash point of the blaze? The ebbs and flows of my inner self began crashing upon one another, I felt incredibly naeusos from the internal dueling of mental states. Oh god...yeah...I'm going to vomit. 
"Here...take the keys, lock yourself up." I ripped the keyset from my belt and threw them on the tiles. "Throw the keys back out of the cell when you are done. I hurridly said as the growing catastrophe of internal fluid began crawling its way up my trachea. 
"Umm....tres bon...?" Ms Melacruex confusingly, and with good reason, stated as she picked up the set of keys and proceeded into her cell. With growing panic and nausea growing within my gut I sprint over to the lavatory, and burst in, barely capable of holding anything back, I sputtered slightly as bile began falling from my lips. 
"Wroaaaaaaaa......." 
I threw back the lid and buried my muzzle right into the liquid. The tides and waves were cascaded into a violent torrent that splashed back into my own face. I whimpered slightly as the acidic bile burned away at my throat, and the every now and then occurance of splash into my eyes. All my raging emotions seemed to find themselves freed as the oceans of my internals settled, I panted heavily and drew my face away from my gushing shame and my heart sank 

It was all stained red

Chapter 26:
I drew back and hit my flank on the door as my hoof quivered to my lips. It can't be...blood? Am I dying? I licked my lips and my pupils dilated as my fear was realized. 
I just vomited a half gallon of blood. 
Cold sweat poured off my brow as my heart beat out of control in panic. Okay...calm down... just, calm down.... every beat made my panic even worse. I've... okay. Just calm down Rainbow. 
I slowly walked over to the sink, and turned on the facuet, slowly comtemplating my current health situation. So what, its only blood, maybe I had gotten an ulcer from all of this self internalization or maybe it was from dealing with Trixie's bullshit, either ways, it doesn't seem too good. 
The sound of a slow trickle of water was like heaven's blessing unto my ears, I quickly splashed my hooves into the cold stream and bathed my face in its cleaning power. Haaaaaaa......nothing, and I mean nothing is like the feeling of cold water on your skin. 
I pull my gaze toward the mirror seated above the glorious fountain of stress relief and I swear, for a moment, I could see something scitter across my eyes, as if I had some type of tenant scurrying within my own head. Urgh.....enough. I slammed on the sink, and I silenced the slow trickle that gave me temporary relief from my previous shock. 
I wiped my muzzle, and stared intensilely into my own eyes, hoping to glance a peek at what I had thought to be a mirage brought on due to stress related incidences. 
I stared for what seemed ages, but nothing but the racing movements of my own pupils were to be found. With a hefty sigh I exited the lavatory, and slammed the door shut behind me. 
I looked toward Pinkie at the bureau but found no one in sight, I trotted forward and felt a slight squelch beneath me. 
"Oh...." I lifted my hoof slightly, and saw the mangled mess of what used to be Mr Wonder Mouse beneath my hoof.
Now... here's the thing sonny. Nowadays, psychology has advanced to such a degree where a pony can diagnose, and cure you of whatever ailment you have with some perscriptions. In my old age, they've got a pill for just about anything, bad knees, bad eyes, bad libido...although the latter I really don't need. DON'T YOU GIVE ME THAT LOOK YOUNG MAN! Ol' Rainbow Dash may be... well, a lady never tells her age, but you sure as sugar better bet that my oven is still good for cooking. Er....where was I? Oh right. A psychologist nowadays would call the situation as a "Psyche Shattering Trauma coupled with Dissociative Personality Disorder." Sounds complicated? Well let me simplify that for you kiddo, a doc would tell me that I was so shocked by what happened back on my first day, that I had grown a second personality to cope with my trauma. Sounds logical right? Oh can you pass me one of my cigarettes? Thank you. Well, I would agree with that sort of diagnosis, however there is something that we are neglecting to mention with the whole scenario, It was The Mile. Logic and rationality on The Mile doesn't really apply, I would say, and don't you laugh at me, because I don't even want to really believe it myself, but a sort of deep magic. A dark magic that had imbued itself in the pink walls of The Mile, something that haunted, stenched my soul in a sort of a cold grip of a reminder of loss, of anger and hatred. 
You still don't believe me? 
Well... I guess I'll continue on with my story, maybe it'll change your mind. 
I lifted my hoof slightly, and saw the mangled mess of what used to be Mr Wonder Mouse beneath my hoof, and I felt nothing. There was no joy, there was no grief, just the emptiness of a calm ocean iced over in an arctic freeze. 
I stared at the mess of bloody mouse at my hooves, and I felt nothing whatsoever, I honestly wanted to, even just a single tear. But there was no sadness to be felt, only icy emptiness running underneath my skin.
"Ms Brutal?" I could hear a mew of a soft voice call out from The Mile. Go figure, its Ms. Sparkle again, what in the world does this fraidy cat want now? Fluff her pillows and read her a bedtime story?" 
"Yes Ms Sparkle?" I coldly replied. 
"I needs to see you the mouse Boss. It's important." she meowed slightly. 
"The mouse is gone Ms Sparkle. You don't really want to see that." I said feeling the prison of my icicle filled cavern closing around my heart once more. 
"Not yet Boss. I can take it back, but we have to do it right now." She whimpered slightly, as her hoof emerged from her cell, and beckoned to me. 
In that moment, I wasn't really thinking anything, nor was I feeling anything, but for whatever reason, I complied. I bent down and scooped the messy remains of Mr Wonder Mouse into my hooves, and trotted over to Ms Sparkle's cell. 
She was standing right at the bars, with those eerie giant pupils staring right through and through my soul, as if I stood in the gaze of God himself. 
"Give him to me Boss. I can take it back." She calmly whispered as she held both hooves out to receive Mr Wonder Mouse. As if directed by the angels in Heaven themselves, I carefully placed the mashed mouse into her hooves, and watched with a curious sense of dread growing. 
Ms Sparkle looked down at the bloody mess in her hooves. Her giant eyes shimmered, as a soft smile grew on her face, "Don't look Boss, it ain't meant for your eyes to see." She said as she cupped her hooves together. 
I complied and turned around, wondering what in God's green earth she was going to do with a pulpy mouse carcess. I began hearing a crackling sound, and felt a warm breeze blow through the halls of The Mile. The lights began dimming, not just one...but all of them, all at once. I dropped my bullstick as the lights began growing brighter and brighter, until they shone like miniature suns hanging from the ceiling.
Even Ms Melacreux, still leery from the events that had happened the day before and this morning had gotten to her cell bars and was in awe of the lightshow taking place.
"Ooooh! Oooh! C'est like Karnival Boss non?" She said excitedly through her cell bars, trotting in place excitedly. 
"Ms Melacreux, please, sit back down, please don't look!" I yelled back, as the glowing suns grew brighter and brighter, before shattering one after one another. 
"Pourque Ms...........................OH MON DIEUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ms Melacruex cried out before her eyes began glowing with the same intensity as the glowing suns, and her body began to convulse intensely. 
"MELACRUEX! I screamed out in concern, I turned around and I began to direct my anger at Ms Sparkle. 
"MS SPARKLE WHAT ARE YO..............." 
and in that moment, my vision faded. What I could say I saw, well... it was like viewing the brilliance of the Lord's kingdom, in all of its magnificence. It was...magical. 

In that moment of blindness and overwhelming wave of light, I could swear I saw my own shadow escaping from beneath my hooves, and trying to escape from the radiance of the almighty majesty of holiness emenanting from in front of me. I'm not sure what I saw... but I think it ran off in the direction of the execution chamber...but I may be wrong... 
The light filled my heart as the oceans of ice melted away and grew into lush tropics, the iciness within my veins, bubbled and boiled, then cooled, and felt like tepid spring water cascading down a mountian side. 
The ice behemoth stood adamant above my being roaring in anger at my escape from within its belly, and reached forward me once more. But that holy light, that radiant sun, turned the great prison keeper into nothingness by its magnificence. The mountain I had been built upon, winter on one side, and volcanic wasteland on the other crumbled beneath my hooves, crumbling into a lush land tropic, I had been freed.
Chapter 28:
I awoke to the soft pitter pattering of tiny feet scurrying across my face, my eyes sprung open and I was still chasing away the dazzling sparkles away from my eyesight. 
"Wha....what in the hell just happened?" I asked stumbling to find my footing. 
I felt a small tickle across my cheek, my eyes darted right to the spot where I felt the sensation, and my heart jumped out of its ribcage. Sure enough, it was Mr Wonder Mouse, in the flesh, rubbing his nose against my cheek as if welcoming me back from my unconsciousness. 
"By...Celestia's...beard..." I had to make sure, I tore off a button on my coat and threw it down the hall, and sure as sugar, the Wonder Mouse ran to it, and returned the button right into my hoof. It really was him! He's alive! I can't believe it! My wings carried me up into the air as I hugged the little fellow gingerly. The amount of joy I had in my heart washed over the islands of contentess I had within me, it was an honest to God miracle. 

I fluttered back toward the ground and placed the little fellow into my coat pocket right next to my pack of cigarettes, and my pocketwatch. I looked back to Ms Sparkle, who was panting heavily in her cell, her normally eerie eyes, back down to the size of a normal pony's, and she began stretching her wings. 
"Ms Sparkle...thank you." I began to say before I was cut off.
"You peeked Boss. You weren't supposed to peek." She said with a minor tone of annoyance in her voice. 
"I'm sorry... I was just concerned, because of Ms Melacruex.....OH GOD MS MELACRUEX!!" I just remembered in mid sentence, I went to rush over to her cell before I was held back against Ms Sparkle's cell. 
"She's okay Boss. She gonna be okay, I'm worried bout you though."She said with a grim sounding concern. 
"What do you mean Ms Sparkle?" I replied in minor confusion.
"I took it back Boss..." she motioned her head to my pocket where Mr Wonder Mouse was being kept. "but I took something else....something terrible Boss." She grabbed my hooves, and stared me deeply into my eyes, her eyes growing to those same eerie dinner plate size. 
"I don't know if I can take it back Boss." she whimpered, clearly in great concern. I smiled at her and puffed my chest out. "Don't worry, I'm Rainbow Brutal Dash! If there is anything out there that wants a fight, I'm ready to take em on!" I proudly stated and I stuck my hoof into my chest. 
"No....you ain't Boss." Ms Sparkle said as she sadly dropped her head, and walked over to her bed. 
"Feeling real tired Boss. Feeling real tired. Give your regards to Brutal for me Boss." She said as she curled up, closing her wings around her body. 
"But....I'm Brutal Ms Sparkle..." I said in confusion. 
"Not no more Ms Dash. Not no more." she softly whispered as she dozed off into a slumber. 
I stood there in a moment of awe, trying to really digest what in the world has been said, and what has been done in the past...wait, how long has it been? I reached into my coatpocket, trying not to injure Mr Wonder Mouse, and pulled out my pocketwatch. 
The hour hand remained frozen on 8 o clock, the minute hand somewhere 38/39 minutes, and the second hand moving backwards, for whatever reason. This is queer, ever since I fixed the watch, it had never broken down, froze, or moved backward! Grunting in frustration, I shoved the pocketwatch back into my pocket and pulled out my pack of cigarettes. I drew a single one out and lit my terrible habit, to which Mr Wonder Mouse seemed to take an immediate disliking to as he jumped out of my pocket and ran down The Mile hall. 
"Wait! Mr Wonder Mouse! Wait! Don't leave!" I said as I chased after my newly revived friend, but I couldn't catch him, Lord knows I could, but it felt like he was on a different plane than I was, as if he ran with the speed of angels.
Mr Wonder Mouse quickly side scurried into Ms Melacruex's cell, I sighed and prepped myself to handle the situation, however akward it were to be. I trotted over to Ms Melacruex's cell and I knocked on the bars.
"Ms Melacruex... you wouldn't happen to see a mouse run in here have you?" 
My inquiry was met with a soft giggle and muttering along the lines of "Ohh... oui... tu est un bon mousey non monsieur Mortimer?"
"Ms Melacruex... did a mouse...." I began again before Ms Melacruex laid her back to the cell bars. 
"Oui, there is un mousey here Boss, oh yes, look at him, he's so cute yes you are Mr Mortimer!" 
I felt a tinge of jealously run through my skin, followed by a sobering sense of acceptance. This is the choice he made, I suppose its for the better. 
"You aren't bothered by it?" I asked softly. 
"Oh non non! He's my new best friend! Aren't you Mortimer? Yes you are! Yes you are mon petit chaffluer!" she said excitedly, raising her hoof, and dropping it repeatedly. 
"Very well Ms Melacruex..." I turned away from the cell, trying to keep my tears within myself. I stopped mid walk and turned back around toward the cell 
"Hey." 
"Oui?"
"He seems to like Moon Pies. Treat him well okay Ms Melacreux?"
"Oui! Oui! I will!" 
I reached into my coatpocket and pulled out some more Moon Pie crumbles and dropped it into Ms Melacruex's hooves. 
"Oh, tu aime la gateau Luna? Oh look, you're such a hungry little guy!" She giggled excitedly, causing me to giggle as well. 
"Yeah he is, he certainly is." We shared that brief moment of wonder and amazement as that mouse happily gorged himself on Moon Pie crumbles. 
It would've lasted longer if we hadn't been interuppted by a familiar voice.
"I GODDAMN KNEW IT!" the shrill voice echoed throughout The Mile, as well did the stomping hoofsteps that followed immediately afterwards.
"YOU'RE BRINGING GODDAMN VERMIN INTO THIS PRISON YOU FUCKING FILTH!" Trixie shrieked as she violently reached into Ms Melacruex's cell trying to rip Mortimer from her trembling hooves. Ms Melacruex quickly darted back and held Mortimer close to her chest as she starting whipsering and petting him slowly. 
"YOU GODDAMN FILTHY PUNK, I'LL FUCKING BEAT YOU INTO PASTE, YOU AND THAT FUCKING OTHER MOUSE." 
She began rattling at the keyring on her belt, as Ms Melacruex sat trembling on her bed in fear of the thought. 
"What other mouse Ms Yamaguchi?" I slowly said as I grabbed her keyring with my bullstick and held it away from her. 
"What do you mean what other mouse Ms Yamaguchi" she replied with a mocking tone to her voice, "I done killed the other one, I smushed him right good." 
"Yeah about that... take a good look at Mr Mortimer right there. Go ahead Ms Melacruex, show him your mousey." 
She complied as she opened her hooves and showed Trixie and I the mouse inbetween them. 
"Thats...no...there's no goddamn way..." Trixie began stuttering in disbelief. 
"Turns out you can't even kill mice right Mouse Executioner." I cockily snorted in her face.
"I'll just kill him again, and make sure I do this time!" She said grabbing the keyring from my bullstick and slamming the key into the cell door. 
I slammed my bullstick right into her fore hooves, hearing an evident cracking of bone while doing so. 
"No you won't. You see Trixie, I know you, I know you come from a nice family, who has lots of eyes and ears... well I've got eyes and ears too. Don't you know me? My name is Rainbow Brutal Dash!" 
Trixie shook her head in confusion as she grasped her hooves in pain, sobbing her eyes out. 
"Well, let me tell you a story then." I went on for about two hours, detailing all the events that occurred on my first day at The Mile, making sure I kept slapping her broken hooves repeatedly.
"Now that you know who I am, you'll do as I say right?" I said finishing up my last cigarette. 
"Y-y-yeah." She nodded silently, still grasping on her broken hooves. 
"So no going near Mr Mortimer or Ms Melacruex, or you'll have a full set of hooves to be tended to. Is that understood?" I said threatenly. Trixie refused to say anything, and murmered something along the lines of "When my aunt hears of this..." "I said is that understood Ms Yamaguchi?" as I put out my smoldering cigarette on her left broken hoof. 
"Y-YES! UNDERSTOOD!" She screamed in pain. 
"Good. Now go to medical and get your hooves checked. Careful not to trip like you did the first time." I said kicking my legs on top of the bureau, as I glared daggers into her mind. She knew exactly what the message was, it was "You tripped and fell." 
She nodded, and limped out the iron door, passing by Pinkie, who looked at her in some confusion. Trixie said nothing, and continued to limp off to medical. 
Pinkie trotted in and sighed. 
"What was all of that about?" she said raising her eyebrow. She heard Ms Melacreux giggling and the flash of white fur from her cell. 
"What's that all about?"
A great smile erupted on my face as I began laughing and hugging my best friend in the world. 
"And what's this all about?" She said in shock. 
"I've got a story you won't believe Pinkie." I began to explain.
"Sparkle." She flatly stated, I drew back from my embrace and looked at her in disbelief. Her flat flat began to grow into a massive smile, as tears of joy ran down her face. 
"You don't need to tell me. I understand." She drew me in closer and returned my embrace tenfold, and I in turn followed suit. Something was discovered on The Mile, I found freedom, of mind and soul and a magic to behold here, a wonderous magic. And also a terrible, dark magic we would discover that night.

Tuesday, June 24th, 1947. 
END OF MORNING SHIFT
	
> Tuesday Afternoon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Let me tell you a solemn truth about third Tuesdays, I'm not too particulary fond of them. Its the kind of day where you wake up and expect the worst sort of news, its neither a joyous occasion, nor is it anything to look forward to in my occupation. My personal opinions on the matter aside, I understand that Third Tuesdays are the reason why I and my fellow officers are employed at The Mile, and it is a practice that we grimly have become extremely professional and expedite in. When I left the side of my dearest husband this morning and donned my uniform, I knew I was in for a long day, Third Tuesdays were the kind of day where once again, Day and Night shifts would be merged into enacting an event on The Mile. I knew it to be a long haul in front of me, as are every Third Tuesday, but today I didn't want to leave the comforting arms of my beloved husband. I didn't want to go into work and carry out the righteous act as directed by law. I did not want to murder someone I had just became friends with. If I had known what events would take place that night, and of the events that happened the night before, I would've scheduled a hearing with the governor to postpone the execution, until at least another 3 weeks had past. And...maybe another 3 weeks...perhaps...maybe more? If I would've known of the dark magics that would arise on that evening, I would've opened the cells immediately and let loose all tenants, telling them to be free from the horrors of The Mile, and of the Equestrian Federal Penitentary. Alas, I didn't know, how could I know? I was just a powerless young fool, believing she was doing the right thing. God...oh god...was I wrong... 
Tuesday, June 24th, 1947. 06:30
The alarm bell went off louder than usual, a sort of cacophony of clamour between those two buzzers and that hammer. My husband, bless his soul and his wisdom, slammed down on the morning interloper and yawned with groggy eyes to me.
"Morning Sugarplum." he sleepingly muttered, stroking my mane gently and caressing my fetters. 
"Morning Honeybunches." I drew him in close and awarded the both of us with a long drawn out smooch that seemed more dynamic than the cup of warm Columbra brew I would soon be ingesting. 
"Pinkie... we haven't had... that much...activity since Honululu." he whispered, rubbing his hoof up and down my belly from underneath our downy sheets. I really wish he wouldn't, after our... exercises of the evening, I fear that I may have to allocate the budget to purchase a newer, let us say, cleaner, pair of bed dressings. 
"I know Enahn, I honestly can not say what had overcome me last evening, I just.." I could feel my body tingle, in non descriptive terms that I don't feel needs to be mentioned to a nice young man like yourself. 
His hoof met my lips as our eyes locked with one another. "The doctor must've given you really good advice Pinkie." 
I felt my lungs exhale with the heaviest of sighs, and I rolled my head to look at the spackled ceiling of our master bedroom. "That's the thing... it wasn't Dr Menowitz's advice Enahn..." 
I rolled over and took his wonderous face into my hooves, and I stared right into those green colored pools of handsomeness. "Enahn, what I am about to tell you, is the right hoof to God honest truth." 
My husband listened sincerely to my tale of reconciliation, urinary tract miracles, and personal bonding with the calmest look of acceptance on his face. Even at the part where I said that Ms Sparkle laid her horn upon my chest, and freed me from my souls pain, he refused to surrender that look of acceptance on his grizzled face. I thank Celestia every day that I had married that man, Enahn Edgar Pie, surname Mousse.
"And that's when I came home, and saw you cleaning the dishes in your apron, and I was overcome with this great need to... well, you know." I implied pointing my head downward toward the sheets.
"What are your personal thoughts on the matter Enahn?" I said, slowly making my way into his warm fuzzy chest. Ah, the scent of a man, how wonderous. 
My face lifted from his heavy sigh, I could honestly tell he was pondering very hard at the line of debate I had posed to him. Not to be blamed or anything, any other sane man would be questioning the mental stability of the person who would knit such yarn. 
"To be honest Pinkie..." Enahn took my chin and I could feel him lift my gaze towards his. His eyes shone with a sense of seriousness and confidence as if what he was about to speak was a God's honest truth as well. "I think you may have one of God's angels held up at The Mile." 
Oh lord, I tried to contain my laughter, but a little wisp of a giggle escaped my lips. Enahn, he wasn't the brightest of ponies, but he sure wasn't a dim one either, and with good ears to boot as well. 
"And what's so funny bout that idea Missy?" Enahn grumpingly stated, puffing his cheeks out. 
"It's just...that can't be right. God wouldn't send one of his angels to The Mile, Enahn. God doesn't condemn his servants to death." I could feel myself rambling on about. In those years, I really thought I understood theology and the basic decision makings that omnipotentant other worldly beings would make. They were callous, ignorant days of brash youthfulness. 
Enahn rolled over and lifted the bedspread from ontop of us, and he stretched motioning his posterior in my direction. 
"Well, you know what they say Sugarplum, God works in mysterious ways." He murmured as he yawned mightly into the sunrise. 
I felt my jaw fall in response and I nuzzled myself back into the downy bedsheet. 
"Hey Enahn?" 
"Yeah Pinkie?"
"Can we go for round seven?" 
"Pinkie I am not from Havana baby! Now get your fine little patooty out of that bed and get dressed. Its the Third Tuesday after all." He said, descending upon me, with a violent possessed tickle hoof. 
"Yeah.... I guess it is."
My hooves wriggled around slightly underneath the downy bedsheet as I struggled against the extremely effiecient hooves of dear Enahn, "Okay, okay I'll get up! Just stop with your grabby hooves." 
I leapt off the bed and landed squarely on my hooves with a bit of tremble. You see, women are a bit different men in, certain well... ways. Whereas Enahn can stand proudly in front of the vestibule, I had a sensation relative to his infamous Jell-o salad to my knees. I made my way to the nightstand with the grace of a drunken ballerina, and plopped my bottom on the cushioned stool that he and I fashioned out of drift wood back when we were just young ponies, back when money didn't come so easy. 
With a heavy yawn, I started removing the curlers in my mane, everyone catching themselves on a bit of a knot, sending a twitch down my neck when I removed them. 
It was certainly Tuesday, but a Tuesday I didn't want to wake up for. I have to execute Ms Zecora this evening, and to be honest, I don't think my newly healed soul was this ready to be scarred once more. 
I felt hooves dipping from behind my neck as a light kiss sent a quick tingle right down to my forelegs. "When you're done, come on down to the kitchen Sugarplum, I'll make something special for you girls The Mile." 
And with that my husband slowly turned round, and brushed his tail against my face, and headed down to the kitchen. I felt a soft giggle escape from my lips, as I began combing my mane. Maybe today won't be so terrible, at least I have my Enahn to rely and invest my hope in. No matter how dark, or how rough a day is, he is always there, with loving arms to comfort me. 
and I thank God for that.
The wafting aroma of sweet Columbra made its way sneakily to my snout, beckoning further downstairs....

Young man, I want to ask you something very personal. Up to this point, I have been very, withholding in my storytelling to you, and I wanted to know if its any trouble if I... well, would be more open with you. What do I mean with that son? Well, an old mare like me doesn't have many secrets left in her beating heart, so its best that I come and tell you my tale with all its weights and brevity that it holds on my heart. Please, do forgive me if it is too much for you to bear, I will immediately draw back if it becomes too much. 
The kitchen was aloft with the scents of coffee, baked sweets, pastries, and of course, a pungent Eue d' Guchi, a rather expensive, but familiar and welcoming scent to my nostrils. I reached forward and pulled out a chair for my husband and I. Hmm... bacon, eggs, sweet peach tea...nothing out of the regular for a morning such as today. Oh how do I know? Well, the sound of sizzling bacon kind of gives it away, the smell of slightly crisping egg is a dead giveaway as well, and for the sweet peach tea? Well, to be honest I just saw that. 
With a smile of contentment over my face, I trotted over to the meshed porch door. The door creaked slightly as I made way and retrieved the 'Derry Chronicle', a simple little 12 page newspaper for a simple little town of 1200 ponies. Sure, we may not have as many ponies or stories as Jacky or Perkins have over in Ludlow; or Dashy who lived yonder in Castle Rock, but we manage to put together 12 pages of news every morning. Even if its just classified and stories about Mable Meriums cats scratching around in the forests and giving people the spooks. I trotted back indoors and sat at the kitchen table, right as Enahn laid a plate of bacon and eggs before me, and poured me a glass of sweet peach tea.
Not to dwelve away from the story lad, but I saw one of her cats on my normal drive to The Mile, this was a couple of weeks before, well the incident occurred. At first I didn't even think it to be a cat, I thought it was some mange ridden rat, I remember something though son. Its eyes, they were as big as dinner plates they were, as if...well, as if it was unearthly. Now being the young mare that I was I thought the poor thing had been attacked by some coyote, and I reached into the back of my Plymouth Fury, it was an early model of an automobile that was gifted to Enahn and I, by Warden Cake ,who had a friend by the name of Mr White, who was celebrating his daughter's birth, for outstanding service at The Mile, and I drew my shotgun to put the poor thing out of its misery. I can tell you young man, I don't know what I saw in that critters eyes, but I was certainly not able to hold the firearm straight let alone pull the trigger. Its eyes gave a sort of gleam, reminsicent of the eyes I've seen at The Mile, those same hungry violent eyes of the desperate. 
I'm sorry, I rambled too much in something that isn't really that important. 
I opened the newspaper, not really much of news going on this morning. Seems like Mable's cats have gone spooked the Sheriff again, looks like they were carrying, some sort of...car battery? Hah. That ol' drunk of a sheriff must have been drinking again. I lifted my breakfast to my eager lips as I continued reading, seems like the Dellinger boys went missing down by the crick, along with Mears girls as well. The parents seem real upset in the interview, delusional even, something about balloons. 
I sipped a bit of my peach tea, and turned the page. Suddenly I dropped my fork, as I felt the peach tea stick in my throat. 
"Sugerplum what's wrong?" Enahn asked looking up from his home brewed cup of Comubra. 
"I have to go." I dropped the paper, and quickly ran to the telephone, dialing the rotary with an anxious fury.
My heart beating furiously, as well as my hooves tapping relentlessly on the wooden floor, I waited for my call to go through. 
Enahn got up from the kitchen table, and collected my unfinished meal, throwing a glance of loving concern my way. I'm sorry Enahn, the food was delicious, but this is alot more important.
"Hello? Who the hay is callin' this early in the marning? I told y'all I ain't interested in no damn interview, now sully off!" 
"JACQUILINE APPLELINE!" I found myself screaming through the receiver. "HOW DARE YOU NOT CALL ME IMMEDIATELY!" Enahn dropped his hooful of dishes, breaking the silence that had fell between Jacky and I. He slowly picked them up, and sighed as he left the kitchen. 
"Pinkie... Rarity and I have been trying our damndest just to keep everything as mum as possible." 
"Well obviousally it hasn't worked. I read it in the Derry Chronicle. The dinky little 12 page newspaper I have here in this small town, so you bet your hindquarters the rest of Equestria already knows what happened." 
A long moment of silence occurred, I could hear a bit of anxiety in her breathing, despite my anger maybe I should hold back just a little bit. 
"I'm... sigh, I'm just mad that you didn't call me at once. Are you two okay?" 
"Yeah, Rarity's going to be staying with us here at the farm for awhile." 
"...what of Dr Menowitz?" I asked gingerly, knowing the situation was still rather fresh. 
"...He's gone Pinkie. He was declared dead at the scene." Jacquiline forlornly stated. 
"Jacquiline, I have to ask you, as your friend and as your superior officer... did you murder..." 
"NO I DID NOT PINKIE!" I was met with immediately. A long silence drew afterwards, followed by mellow sobbing.
"I wanted to Pinkie. I really wanted to. I wanted to blow his fucking brains all over The Mile, but I couldn't...I just,well..." she paused for a moment. 
" Jacquiline?" 
"Pinkie, something happened last night something I'm not really able to explain."
"Pinkie... what I'm telling you is the God's honest truth. Last night I di---"
"Wait." I abruptly interupted Jacquiline, cutting her off. 
"Would any of last nights events happen to involve a certain alicorn?" I asked hestitatingly, as if dreading the obvious answer. 
"...yeah." 
My stomach fell as a sense of new found confidence raised in my throat. "Very well. Dashy and I will meet you and Perkins at the usual spot for lunch then." 
"The Black Tower bar?" 
"The very same. We need to discuss some things, some...inmate things." 
"Understood Pinkie. Ah'm gonna head back to bed, big night ahead of us you know."
"Yeah... Third Tuesday, I know." 
"Listen Pinkie, I dont know why I feel the need to say this, but..."
"Everything is going to be fine?" I quickly stated.
"Yeah. Everything is going to be just fine, don't let Warden Cake rip you too hard."
"Tell me about it, I know I'm his only niece, but I swear when that man gets angry, whoo nelly does he gets angry." 
"Maybe Rarity and I will hear it from Ludlow, that'll be a hell of a wake up. You take care Pinkie." 
"You too Jacky." The line went dead, and I returned the phone into its cradle. Not even 07:00 yet, and this day has already turned into something stranger than the previous. I trotted back to the kitchen table and plopped down, muzzle in my hooves. 
What the hell is going on in the state of Mane? 
I felt Enahn's forelegs dipping over my neck and the scent of his Eue D' Guchi permenating my nostrils. 
"Everything okay Sugarplum?"
"Yeah... everything is going to be just fine Enahn." 
"I made you something special today, a kind of thank you, to you and to the angel." 
I froze when he spoke that word, he didn't know what happened last night, I'll tell him later after I talk to the girls at lunch, but for now he doesn't really need to know. I crumbled the newspaper into my uniform pocket, and continued to follow my adoring husband to the stovetop.
"Yeah? Did you bake something special?" I asked, feeling the warm heat from the iron furnance. and reeling in comfy hunger from the delicious scent within. 
"Yeah, I made cornbread. Haven't really tried out this recipe before, but I think..." he gingerly sliced through and lifted a square of the sweetbread to my mouth. 
"That you'll really love it!" he finished, slapping my muzzle down. Oh god it was delicious! My mouth permiating with saliva over the sweet sugary morsel. 
"That is amazing Enahn! I'll make sure that the gals have a piece of it too!" Enahn stumbled a little while picking up the hot baking pan. 
"O-okay dear. Just make sure that the angel gets some as well. And don't you hog it all missy!" 
"I won't silly billy! Geez, who do you think I am?"
"You're the woman I married, I KNOW you." 
"Well... you got me there." 
Enahn gave me a quick peck to the cheek, and threw my overcoat on top of my honches. 
"Now hurry along Pinkie, get your business done so you can come home quicker." he said with a bit of a naughty chuckle. 
"Y-yeah. I'll... try to make it as quick as possible." I felt my tone falling with every word that came out of my mouth. 
I trotted out the back porch, and jumped into Chryssy, its the name Enahn chose for the Plymouth. I set the transmission into reverse and backed up, nearly running over Mr Claredon's massive St Bernard. The damn thing was just standing there, glaring daggers at the bumper of my car. 
"Caju! CAJU! Move yer fat butt you big galoot!"I yelled out from my window. Caju growled slightly, huh that's weird. Normally that dog is as passive as a baby with a bottle. I honked my horn, but Caju refused to move whatsoever. Ergh, I'll just drive around him, I tried reversing to the left, but he moved along with the car and sat down. 
"CAJU!" I screamed in frustration as I tried reversing to the right, and he followed in suit. 
"Oh when I get my hooves on you..."
Suddenly one of Mrs. Mable's mangy cats jumped from the brushes and hissed at who I thought to be Caju. If I hadn't have been so frustrated, I would've noticed its dinner plate sized green eyes were directed at me. Caju quickly got to his paws and chased after the mangy cat. 
"Finally!" I huffed, as I backed away from 112263 Joyland Dr, and made my way to The Mile. 

As I pulled away, I could almost hear a faint yelp of pain in the distance.


Now something that I am not entirely keen on, especially when the ol pickle barrel of a brain is running at full speed to keep the gears grinding, is memory. Its not just because I'm an older lady, young man. I had the same sort of troubles when I was in the prime of my youth, but could you honestly blame me?

Two of my friends have had a terrible, nightmarish scenario revolving what I'd liked to think at the time was just a fatal misunderstanding of martial troubles. Not only that, but the same pony who incited the event, happened to be my personal doctor as well, and I do say although I felt sprier than a spring chicken from the release of my, nether chains... I was still concerned about the health of myself, and my dear Enahn!

Also lets not forget the purple elephant sitting in The Mile, Twilight Sparkle. How in all of Equestria can I even begin to focus when I've got a bonafied force of heavenly nature sealed away behind an inch and three quarters of steel, condemned to die by my own two hooves?

Of course I couldn't focus, let alone remember that my dear Enahn had made a basket of sweet cornbread. I suppose it wasn't aware of the issue until something, well, I guess I'll reminence on the event.

The drive to The Mile wasn't particularly long, nor was it particularly interesting. Derry didn't have much to speak of as per town culture or attraction. Just the typical three street burough out in the sticks, I suppose if anything we are popular among the reclusive and the elderly.

Heck, even most of the roads aren't paven, and with my fine taste of land purchasing, I happened to be the sole driver of the dustiest, and least cared for road in all of Mane, but you have to do what you have to do, especially these days when the times are rough.

I putted my hoof on the steering wheel as my mind raced through the events of the previous day, and how I would be able to explain any of it to Warden Cake, and in that focus unfocusing, I felt the bumper slam

I felt my stomach descend as quickly as my hooves did on the brake pedal. Oh God, oh sweet Lord I think I may have hit something! Scrambling with my seatbelt, sweat torrenting off my brow, I hurried out of Chryssy to inspect my ungodly act of ignorance.

Sure as molasses, Chryssy had a bit of dent on her bumper, and I could my skin crawl at the sight, not of the bumper of course, but what the bumper happened to hit. Lying in fetal stance, blood dripping from his muzzle, interior nescessities open to the cold morning fog, wheezing in extreme expression of discomfort lay Caju, The Saint Bernard I had just reprised not longer than fifteen minutes ago.
"Caju...Caju... I'm so sorry." I knelt down to pet the poor thing, and was met with almost immediate gnashing of his teeth in my direction.
I drew my hoof back instinctively, feeling abashed for my stupidity to try to comfort a dying animal.
I knelt down once more and looked Caju in his forlorn, pained eyes. I could feel a cacophony of brevity with that canine's eyes, anger, fear, sadness, the same eyes I've seen on inmates from behind their cells. A spiteful look, as if you were the bane of their very existence, however there was something else I saw in his eyes. I saw that same green wide eyed look of savagery, the famished ravenous eyes of the murderous barbarian, not unlike those mangy cats that have been prowling about. Caju's eyes seemed unearthly with that sheen, and I found myself at a point where I knew that such a thing was not meant to kept in such a state.
"Shh... shh... I'll end it Caju. Just...stay there." I whispered, petting his stained fur. The whimper of a growl I believed to be his acceptance of my following action, or at least thats what I'd like to think. I trotted back to Chryssy, and reached into the back seat for my shotgun. I cocked the chamber and loaded a single shell into the barrel, the whole process of it was not unfamiliar to me.
With the amount of near death wildlife I encounter here in Derry, I suppose I had taken a bit of The Mile home with me. A sort of duty I felt nescessary in life, I was an executioner, at home and at work.

With a heavy sigh, I crawled back out, shotgun in hoof. I suppose I would need to go through two duties on this third Tuesday, and two lambashings. I can't imagine what Mr Claredon will think when I have to tell him that I had to put down his beloved St Benard, the two have been inseperable since he was just a puppy.

Shaking my head of the idea, I trotted back to the front bumper of Chryssy, and what I saw in that brief moment of time, still haunts me to this day. Where there used to be a sorrowful sight of a dying dog, laid a trail of blood, feces, and fur... and a tuft of a tail being dragged into the brush, by not one, not two, but twenty, TWENTY mangy cats, all with those unearthly green dinner plate eyes. I felt a thunderbolt strike through from the top of my brow right down to my hooves, as I dropped my shotgun and stumbled sideways onto the hood of Chryssy. The sudden announcement of my shock seemed to give away my being to the gaggle of...and please don't laugh young man... evil creatures, causing all fourty dinner plates to afix upon my being. An horrid cowl, which I could only describe as demonic pierced my ears, as one by one, the green eyes disappeared into the brush, taking the barely breathing figure of Caju along with them.

I can't...oh god...I can't breathe. What...what...what in the living daylights is going on? My heart was running rampart against my ribcage, adrenal pumping through my veins,
"I can't...I can't be here. Enahn....ENAHN!!!" I panted in fear as I dropped my shotgun and scurried into the drivers seat. I quickly shifted into reverse and slammed my hoof on the gas pedal. I have to get home, this was a sign, this definately had to be a sign from God. My jaw grinding against my tongue I sped away like a bat out of hell.
I wasn't sure how quickly I was traveling, but I knew whatever speed I was, I wasn't going fast enough. My hooves clenched on the steering wheel, I kept my eyes on the passing landscape in front of me. My god...its everywhere. That Green, those horrendous green dinner plate eyes, from behind every stump, from every ditch, those same alien like eyes glaring into my soul, accusing, ravenous, murderous awful eyes!
"Have to get home....I have to get home..." I barely mutter under the duress of panic, my bladder on the brink of bursting in terror. There, right there! Our black little cottage, at the end of the dusty road! My hoof slammed on the brake pedal as if were made of lead, and slammed the transmission into park. I didn't even wait to turn the motor off, before I fell out of the Buick, stumbling to find my own hooves.
"Enahn.....ENAHN!!!!!!!" my words falling empty on the fog layered morning. Quickly stumbling up the porch doors, I burst through the screen door into the kitchen, slamming it behind me.

The smell of bacon, egg, peach tea Eue de Guchi and sweet Columbra still permiated the small room, relieving me if only for a moment of my sheer terror. With a heavy sigh I fell to the wooden floor, I'm safe. I'm finally safe from those horrible eyes.
"Enahn? Enahn sweety are you home?" I murmured slightly behind a thin veil of confidence. I crept to my hooves and walked over to the table where I had noticed the cornbread sitting pretty at my chair with a note on top of the cloth covering it. With a bit of hesitation, I pick up the yellow manuscript and began reading.
"It's a good thing we've been married for so long Pinkie, or I would've been insulted. Luckily, if I know anything about you, you'll be back soon to pick up the cornbread. I'll be headed down the crick by the time your back, to help with the Dellinger boy search party." My voice whobbling at bit at the final part, "I will always love you sugar plum."
I sniffled away my remaining panic, as I wiped my eyes with the note. Thank God I'm married to that stallion. Feeling a bit hungry from my lack of breakfast, and my not so flattering tendancy to eat sweets, I pulled off the cloth to the sweet cornbread. Ahh... still warm... still oh so sweet. However something did catch my eye other than the glistening glow of martial baked goods, a rosary and yet another note from my dearest Enahn. Curious in the gesture, I decided to read this one as well.
"Pinkie, I've been doing some thinking, and I know I ain't much one for thinking, but please take me seriously when you read this. I do believe that you have an angel of God at The Mile, which makes me think if such a thing were possible, maybe the opposite of such could be as well. This rosary was my Granny's Pinkie,she did always use to say prayers to St Michael, patron saint of truth and justice. I know we ain't much into the faith nowadays, but I suppose a little bit of it never hurt now and then. Please, take it with you when you see the angel again, and please from the very bottom of my soul, know that everything will be okay. Love, Enahn E. Pie, surname Mousse"

I looked at Enahn's letter and I stared at the rosary with an intense confusion upon my face. I could feel as if the motion of events were being manipulated by some warring outside forces beyond my tiny comprehension. On one side sat a terrible unknown force of paranormality right outside my doorstep, and the other an almighty presence that is seemingly reminding that its going to be okay. Not being the one to really stand against either, I picked up the rosary, and slipped it into my coat pocket. I threw the cloth back over the cornbread and threw it on my back. The sun shone right through the window of the tiny kitchen and I couldn't help it, I smiled.

It was a third Tuesday, but I felt like everything was going to be just fine.
I turned around and trotted through past the screen door leading to the backyard. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, yeah. Everything is going to be just fine.

Which then at that moment my calm was met with that ungodly howl of a cat call. My eyes slammed open, and sure as sugar there they were! Not twenty...not fourty... I couldn't even count how many of them there were. Those green eyes piercing right through my soul once more, clawing its visage right into my brain.
I shook anxiousally as I raised my hoof, and began walking through the yard, surrounded by countless eyes of the wicked creatures, the cacophony grunting and hisses swarming all around me. My voice quivered, as I shook in place.

"I'm not afraid of you. I'm not afraid of any of you, so you can just go up and get. There's nothing worth spooking around here ya flea bitten idjits!"

I wasn't really sure if it would work, but it didn't matter. I had the sort of grin on my face that felt invinicible to the terror around me. I made my way into Chryssy, who was still idling in the yard, and put the car into reverse. The eyes watched all in unison as I pulled away and made my way down the dusty road. Whatever I did, it must have worked, because from that moment on, I never did another one of those horrible beasts again, I guess maybe Enahn was right about the Rosary, maybe it was good to have a little faith that everything was going to be alright. I lifted the cloth off of the cornbread, and helped myself to a small smidgeon. Everything was going to be fine.

Or at least I thought.