All Bold Tyranny could see immediately upon exiting his examination cell was the mass of morbidly abused, outcast ponies. It's where you go after you fail the Perfectionism. Bold Tyranny was recalling his failure because he was "too pastel". Nowadays, ponies that aren't brown, white, or black were used as gladiator entertainment or as slaves. He was put in a line, to be auctioned off to somepony that'll buy him for the purpose of watching him work, or maybe to see him get the very life beaten from his body. His earth pony strength could give him the edge in farming, but not much else.
While in his deep thoughts, he was struck by a purposeful hoof to the jaw. It tainted his two-toned blue fur with the crimson liquid that allows him life. As he regained his composure, he saw a sight that should be fiction. The pony that had struck him was currently butchering a poor pegasus filly. Her wings were slowly but forcibly being torn from her small body by a group of ruffian guard ponies. The poor little one wouldn't survive alone.
Bold Tyranny ran to the quickly fainting filly and threw her on his back. No pony would hurt this filly again. She whispered something to Bold before she fainted. He'd tell himself that he didn't catch it, but he wouldn't. He's not one to lie to himself. He told himself that he'd protect her life with his own. His minty colored mane must have tickled her because he felt the foreign spasms of a child's giggling. She climbed off as she awoke, leaving a dry, maroon puddle on Bold's back. She trotted next to him, keeping stride well he wasn't sure where he was taking them, as long as it was safe from the brutal warehouse of slaves to be. He asked the filly her name.
"Scootaloo" she said. It was a nice name. Her orange coat was near soaked at the flank. The blood of her wounds had streamed it's way down her back while she had slept. She was obviously weakened from the removal of her wings. No pony could truly remain strong after the torture she experienced. The destination to which they had been trotting was a simple one. Escape. This filly wouldn't be tormented any longer. This filly was now Bold's filly.
Bold led Scootaloo out of the flocking station, into what seemed to be some kind of dining area. He now got a better look at this filly, if she could actually still be called that. She was older, but just shy of being a full grown mare. She wasn't quite as short or as well upholstered as he previously thought. Bold found this filly, no this mare, to be rather beautiful.
Scootaloo and Bold decided to partake in sound food they found at a market stall. They decided to sit next to two black mares. one with a two-toned mane that appear to resemble cotton candy, and the other with a solid maroon mane. The two mares gave Bold the oddest looks when they saw him not only caked in blood, but also dining with a wingless pegasus. The mares finished their meals rather quickly and trotted off to get away from the odd duo of ponies.
"So, why'd you save me?" Scootaloo asked. The question caught Bold off guard and made him ponder the question. Why did he save this mare?
"I couldn't let anypony take advantage of you while you were out." was the smart ass retort Bold so cleverly came up with. They both just laughed it off. The two finished their food and Scootaloo decided they should find a safe place to sleep. Bold agreed due to it already being dark, and she needed the rest. Bold quickly found a hidden place in a secluded alley. They both settled down to sleep. Neither of them slept well with a night of tossing, turning, and nightmares of the days experiences.
Bold was the first to awaken. He looked over at Scootaloo's sleeping form. He bolted to awaken Scootaloo as fast as he could.
"Scootaloo! C'mon Scootaloo, you've got to get up!" Bold shouted. She was getting pale. She was in a pool of her own blood. They had forgotten to bandage her wounds. Bold had no clue on how they could have forgotten. It should've been done before they even got food.
She woke up, oblivious to the fact that she was near death from blood loss in her sleep. "Stay here, I'll come back with bandages!" Bold said as he ran for a nearby box of small bandages and gauze pads. He came back to her near unconscious body. "Hold still" he said as he rapped her wing nubs in gauze and bandage strips. her color very slowly returned with her strength as she slowly stood. "Uh, thanks" she replied with to the given situation.
"Well, how about breakfast?" Scootaloo asked as they walked to the market stall they had been to the night before. They got the same meals they had the night before. A salad made of old vegetables and brown, dying lettuce. It wasn't a meal for nobles like the Melody family, but it was food. They didn't enjoy the food. Primarily because of the taste, the awful salads tasted similar to the bark of a tree.
After they finished, they began searching for a way to leave the warehouse. To protect Scootaloo, Bold knew they couldn't remain in the cramped quarters of the place. Scootaloo was the first to notice it. An exterior air vent on the third floor of the warehouse. All she and Bold had to do was get to it. She would've flown them to it, but the ruffian guards tore her wings off. She and they were surprised that the pain alone didn't kill her.
They waited for it to turn dark before they searched for a way to the vent. When it was just the guards out at night, it became easier to skulk around. Scootaloo was the one to find a way up. She was much smaller and faster than Bold. She'd just have to signal to him when she got there.
Scootaloo slunk away from were Bold said he'd be hiding. She noticed the market stall and hid behind it as two guards passed. She thought about taking them out, but decided against it. she probably isn't even strong enough to handle one, let alone two. Once they were where they couldn't see her, she looked around for a way to the next floor. She saw a staircase on the opposite side of the warehouse. She got out from behind the stall and stealthily made her way to a nearby crate. it was slightly opened. She heard an entire troop of guards walking towards her. Without having to think it over, she jumped inside the crate. It contain the salvation of Her and Bold. It contained a pair of saddle bags and survival supplies. She struggled a little, but managed to get the saddle bags onto her back. She put The survival supplies in the bags and waited for the platoon to pass. When they did, she climbed out of the box and took alleyways rather than the main road. there were too many guards patrolling the roads. She got through three alleys, one of which she had a close call to plowing over a few guards by accident. She could see the stairway. It was a mere twenty meters away. There was only one problem when she got to the staircase. It was behind a corner. That means that there could be anything behind it. She thought about running back to Bold. To Bold and to a life of slavery. No. She took her chances. Cutting sharp around the corner throwing a hoof as she did. There was one guard. A mare. She was obviously staggered by the accidental blow. Scootaloo didn't hesitate to capitalize on the chance. She tripped the mare and took a dominant position on top of her, but failing to pass her guard. The mare wasn't dumb. She was trained. She caught a hoof Scootaloo threw towards her muzzle. She used the momentum to force Scootaloo to turn her back to the mare. She threw her fore legs around Scootaloo's neck and began to use a sort of Rear Naked Choke hold on the younger mare. Scootaloo could feel herself running low on the oxygen she so desperately needed. She thought about Just allowing the mare to kill her as her vision darkened. She refused to submit to this pony. Scootaloo bucked her hips towards the air and throwing her head backwards, colliding with and breaking the mare's muzzle. her face was instantly covered in blood when Scootaloo did so. The mare let go, allowing Scootaloo to regain a dominant fighting possition on top of the mare. Scootaloo then rained down hoof after hoof, smashing the mare's head and face into the cement floor below into a puddle of blood and torn flesh. Scootaloo knew this mare. She was the bitch that tore her wings off. She unleashed all of her rage and pinned up pain this mare caused. Scootaloo could only make out ther hairs of the mare's mane after the damage she had caused. it was two-toned. Purple and Pink. the memories came flooding back. she knew this mare well. The deed Scootaloo had just preformed on this mare would never leave her conscious. She ran up the stairs, not turning back. She had tears welling up in eyes. She couldn't believe what she had just done. She tried to force the identity of the mare out of her mind, but she couldn't. It was as if somepony branded the very image into her mind. She'd never forgive herself. She found the vent. She waved her hooves in the direction of Bold Tyranny. He saw her. He was on his way up.
Scootaloo took the time to contemplate on the devastating act she had preformed.
Scootaloo thought as she sobbed "How could I have killed her? She didn't deserve it. No. No, No. She did deserve it. That bitch caused me unbearable pain. She was in the wrong, not me. No, no. I did the right thing. I served her fucking justice!"
Scootaloo laughed at this. Wouldn't Applebloom have been terrified and heart broken if she had seen what Scootaloo had just done. Scootaloo thought it was a beautiful thing, the justice she had served to the sinner she knew as a filly.
Bold Tyranny came trotting up the stairs twenty minutes later. He couldn't believe his eyes. Scootaloo had built herself a nest out of the carcasses of the guards she took the lives of in the time it took him to reach her. It was grotesque and morbid. And so was her laugh mixed with the streams of tears running down her face. She saw him and trotted over, happily.
"Scootaloo, you rest while I get this grate off the vent."
"No, No. I've got this" She yelled as she bucked the grate into the vent.
They climbed up and onto the roof of the warehouse. It was nearing dawn. They looked down for a way of escape as Scootaloo noticed just how dirty and garbage-filled Manehattan had become. They looked and spotted their target. Then they jumped off.
Bold Tyranny and Scootaloo landed with a thud as they hit a pile of trash. How convenient. They trotted into an open street to collect their bearings. They saw many building, falling apart. They saw one well kept building in the distance. That's where they were heading. Due to all the burnings and factories that sprung up, the sky became an eerie gray. Scootaloo was still traumatized from what she had done to her ex-friend. She fought the urge to cry again. Now she was in the real world. She had to be strong. They cantered down a narrow alley. among the countless piles of trash lining the sides of said alley, was some grey thing. Scootaloo was shocked when a hoof connected with her jaw.
"Who the hell are you?!" the voice asked. It was feminine and accented. A mare's.
Scootaloo didn't respond with words, but with a hoof of her own. The two mares traded blow for blow until Bold stepped in near the start. "That's enough" he said, "Both of you apologize. Now." It wwas funny. he treated the two mares like fillies.
"ugh. I'm Scootaloo."
"I'm Octavia." said the mystery mare. Octavia had been completely alone.
"Octavia, tag along with us. You'll need the company."
"well, alright"
The three ponies headed out of the alley. They wandered around the same block for about an hour. They were lost. They decided to split up temporarily. Scootaloo headed down a few alley ways. She ended up meeting face to face with a concrete wall. A dead end. She heard slight laughter. It grew in volume as a duo of mares strode in front of the only exit. " My, my, my. It looks like we've got ourselves a pretty little filly." The Pink mare stated, "Silver Spoon, what do you say we do with this one?" she asked as Silver Spoon held a rope in her teeth. The duo began to approach Scootaloo when she charged them. he connected with Diamond's jaw, causing her to stumble. They were criminals, not morons. Diamond Tiara faked an attack so Scootaloo would bring her fore legs close enough to her face to be tied up by Silver Spoon. They were tied behind her back. they pushed her face to the ground. She was entirely exposed. Diamond said "You first, Silver" Silver was about to shove her horn into Scootaloo's backside when Octavia and Bold ran into the alley. Octavia sent a hind hoof bucking straight into the side of Silver's head while Bold sent a fore hoof into Diamond's stomach. Silver landed hard against the wall. She sat against it, dazed. While her guard was down, Octavia ran up to her and bucked hard. The younger mare's head crushed between the wall and Octavia's hooves. Blood smeared the wall. Bold Sent a fore hoof into Diamond's head as she doubled over from the pain of the hit to the abdomen. She was knocked unconscious. Not dead like her friend. Octavia and Bold untied Scootaloo and hugged her. She was almost violated by two psychotic mares. She couldn't help herself now. She let the tears well up and stream down her cheeks. "Let's go, Scoots" Bold said. "You guys start goin'. I'll catch up" Scootaloo said. The older mare and stallion started walking as Scootaloo stayed in the alley. The pink mare was still unconscious. There was a nearby street lamp. Scootaloo used the rope to hang Diamond Tiara. But, not around her throat. Scootaloo hanged the mare by her mouth with it set like a gag. Scootaloo wanted that bitch to feel the pain she endured upon Scootaloo all those years back in Ponyville. She had the rope set like that so it would slowly saw the mare's head in half with it's rough texture. She ran to catch up with her friends, but deep down, she had wanted to stay and watch Diamond Tiara's torture in action.
The trio trotted down the street when they heard Diamond's weak scream. They then heard a loud tear as the screaming grew louder. Scoots was satisfied with her work. They came upon an abandoned music shop. Out of curiosity for Scootaloo and Bold as well as excitement for Octavia. Inside were various instruments. To further excite the melodious mare, there was a Cello. Large and Black. Paired with the most beautiful bow that Octavia had seen. She had the hope that no pony was around aside from her sinfonietta of survival. She wanted to play the Cello, but she didn't know what to play. She thought. She began to play a piece known as the Cello Suite No. 2 IV-Sarabande by somepony named Bach. It was a piece she learned as a filly. It was quite a beautiful piece in Octavia's imagination. After she played, she went to find Scootaloo and Bold.
The trio left the music store and headed towards the building they saw in the distance. The cello piece had saddened Octavia and she needed some time alone. She told Bold that she'd take a detour from their path to think things over. They headed straight for the building, and she backtracked a little to the music shop so that she could examine it further. She had a passion for music. The building was known as "Cassical Wubs & Dubs". That would explain the various turntables among the Orchestral Instruments. She went back to that beautiful cello she admired. She couldn't believe that it was still beautiful after so long. She couldn't help herself. She encased it in a smooth wooden black case lined with stuffed silk pads. If the store was still in use, it would've cost her bits that she'd never be able too possess. She took the cello. The bow string was thin like a blade. She trotted towards her friends. She could still see them. two pastel dots in the distance. She managed to find a few pieces of sheet music in the store.
She caught up with her friends. They didn't seem to notice the large, black case rested upon her back. they were at the entrance of the building. atop the building was a damaged radio tower. They entered the building and found two guards inside. Bold was the quickest to react, sending a fore hoof into one guard and spinning around to send a hind hoof into the head of the next. they climbed the staircase up to the top floor. Inside was Noteworthy. Not a well known stallion, but he took over the Disk Jockey business in Manehattan after Vinyl Scratch left. Vinyl left about a month before the factories sprang up. She now resides in either Canterlot or Ponyville. None of the trio knew. Octavia knew Noteworthy only from a few musical socials.
"Oh, uh, hey Octa-" She threw her cello bow at the stallion. It struck him in the eye. His screams. His screams were so morbid that it shouldn't be able to come from a pony. She ran towards him and tore out the bow. She used it. Like a knife. Across his throat. She realized something. He had been on air. Everypony tuned in to this station just heard his death. Bold and Scootaloo knew one thing. What they were looking for wasn't there. But the guards were coming. They all hid. Bold took Scootaloo into an electronics closet. they hid. The guards burst through the door. there were four of them. They didn't seem to want to provide a thorough search. until the horrid happened. They found a cello case. They were dumb, but not too dumb to know that a cello didn't belong in a DJ studio strictly for electronic music. they dragged it and Octavia out from under the table. Scootaloo and Bold had no choice. They burst out of the closet and both strike a guard each. they fell. The two constraining Octavia let go of her to attack Scootaloo and Bold. Octavia sent her bow into the let hind leg of one guard. He fell. The sharp bow was embedded into his bone. Octavia jumped at him and sent a fore hoof into his head while he was pinned down with the other. She left a dent in his skull. Not deep enough to smash the organ inside, but deep enough to paralyze him. She retrieved her bowstring, straightened her bow tie, and rejoined her friends as they fled the scene.
They left the building to be greeted by a platoon of guards. The guards beat the trio to unconsciousness. They awoke in a lab. They now knew what happened inside of that warehouse.
Octavia Couldn't move anything but her eyes, but she could feel what was happening. She could feel small cuts in her limbs. She looked to her right. There laid Scootaloo. She was crying. Her underside was pinned open. It was as if she was being Dissected. She couldn't bear to look any longer. She looked to her right. There laid Bold Tyranny. He was able to move his neck, unlike Octavia and Scootaoo. Bold looked to his right. His face. Half of his fur and skin had been removed from his face. e was bleeding. and from the little skin Octavia could see between the muscle and fur was pale. too pale to be natural. She couldn't bear to see her friends tortured. she was even more fearful to see her own torture. She realized she couldn't feel any pain in her lower left leg. she looked at it. just a glimpse was too much. She had no skin there. She looked to the right once more. She got a better look at the autopsy of Scootaloo. The only organs remaining in her were her lungs and heart. Only those needed to temporarily keep her alive. She was incredibly pale. She was beyond close to death. they all were.
She could feel something. She could feel her left hind leg. But all it could feel was the cold tile floor of the lab and pain. She had no control of the eyes she was seeing through. But it looked towards her leg. It was her fur, skin, and cutie mark. But not her leg. That explained the pain. Her skin wasn't enough for this leg. Scootaloo could feel her organs, stretched to fit in where they should. It was beyond painful. she couldn't feel her eating, but she could feel the food touching the torn digestive organs. Bold could see, but couldn't control his eyes. they were too large for his sockets. Any movement of them would tear them.
A mirror was placed in the front of the united trio. It was a monstrous lab creation. Torn pink flesh of the left hemisphere of body was sewn to a two-toned blue head above the jaw and a white right hemisphere. a silver horn was sewn to the skull and orange wings were sewn to the grotesque, two-toned pink and white body. A rainbow mishmash of everypony's tails and manes. Everypony felt their body parts. Everypony felt the pain. A complete brain made of the portions of everypony's. Many souls shared one body. It was torture. A loudspeaker was heard being brought to life. The raspy voice of the infamous Spitfire could be heard. She lead the Wonderbolt Rebellion. The reason Celestia was imprisoned and Cadence, Twilight, and Luna were sentenced to death by Banishment to the sun.
"Good morning, Princess Patchwork Speckle. I hope you're ready to rule your new kingdom. You have a lot of work to do."
Patchwork Speckle could only cry. She cried as the loudspeaker died. The room was silent except for the sobs of Patchwork. She tried to take a step forward. There was a loud tear. Then a scream.
