Waking up was the easy part, trying to get up was another story. Every bone, every muscle felt like it had been sent through a shredder and ground to a fine dust. I see now why I wasn’t offered the painkillers. I don’t think I’m going to like Atmosphere for a while. Damn my stomach is killing me. I wince as I reach down to touch the puncture wound and find that a fresh sterile bandage had been applied.
“Good to see you’re up.” The mare from earlier, Atmospheres assistant, was standing over me with a blank look on her face. I can’t tell whether she was giving me a look of sympathy or just didn’t care. “You are to follow me until the work shift starts, so until then I don’t want you to leave my side. Understood?” I simply nodded.
She helped me to my hooves, my body feeling worse for every inch up I reached. “Don’t worry, it’ll pass.” She said reading my mind or the pained expression on my face. I try to bare the pain but fail miserably as I collapse to the ground after a few steps. “Come on recruit, I’ve seen stallions with broken legs tough out pain better than you.” I simply relaxed my muscles and let my body rest lying in a small pool of blood from the reopened wound. I wasn’t going to move until this pain subsided, Mist had other ideas though.
“If you’re not going to move I’ll just carry you myself.” With that she threw me on her back and caused me to land me my diaphragm sending me into a violent coughing fit. She ignored it and headed through the iron door I assume Dash went through earlier. Once we were through the door her face softened and she gently let me down.
“Sorry about that, can never be too careful in there. You never know who’s watching. If you can’t act the part you’ll be turned into product. It should be safe to talk here.” I couldn’t believe the personality changes these ponies went through so quickly. “Don’t talk much do you?” I kept to my silence. I mean these are the ponies that kidnaped me. I don’t owe them that much. “Anyway, I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Cool Mist, but you can just call me Mist… or Misty… hell I don’t care, call me what you want. Back to the business at hoof, I need to show you around the living quarters. You’ll be spending the rest of your life here so you should know every nook and cranny there is.” I simply nodded in approval. Maybe I can find a way out of this place.
“Let’s get started then. Right here is “The” hallway, where our ever so dear mistress likes to make her dramatic exits and provides easy access to the rest of the factory. Right now we have tour access so don’t think about using this hallway during normal work hours. Now let’s move to the dining area/ break area. This will be where you will spend most of your off time.” She started to trot down the long hallway, but I just stood there, fearing the great pain that every twitch reminded me of. “Oh right, I forgot to give you these.” She produced a couple of chalk white pills. “Mistress slipped me these when Atmosphere wasn’t looking. She must really like you if she is going against his pain induction. Atmosphere never really gives recruits pain pills from what I heard, just leaves them to wallow in agony. I should know. Worst day of my life.” I felt a pang of sympathy. She had been dragged into this mess and I doubt she was given the same warm welcome she is giving me. Damn I can’t let their stories get to me. I can’t put my trust in them yet. “Let’s get moving.” I nod and swallow the pills as we continue onward.
“This here is the break area.” It was a vast room with high ceilings. One end had what looked like a recreation area the other half had dozens of tables set up. “You will be spending most of your time here on your off hours. Everypony’s still asleep so I can’t introduce you to anyone yet. Hey, are you hungry? I know the process takes a lot out of you, but you are showing a surprising amount of energy. Better to keep it up then to let it die down. Anyway eating now will help you keep it down easier when you go through initiation tonight.” Ok, time to speak up. “What do mean by initiation?” “Huh, didn’t think you would talk. Anyway lunch is on me.” She’s dodging the question. What is she hiding? “I should probably explain our currency system while we’re here.” She proceeded to pull out what appeared to be an I.D. card. “This is your lifeline in the factory. It’s where your pay goes at the end of the day and what you use to get all the necessities. Around the living quarters and here in the break room are machines like the one behind me. You simply swipe your card, type in what you want, and then pick it up from behind the glass door.” She proceeded to do as she said and came back with two orders of hay sandwiches and tomato soup.
Lunch was a silent affair, neither one of us said a word to the other until after we finished and even then little was said. Mist took me around the rest of the factory showing me the purifier, color distributer, and many other heavy machines that handle the colors. Finally we reached the living quarters. “Well, this is it. Here’s where you’ll be living out the rest of your days. We11 1 6ue55 th15 15 600d8ye f0r n0w.” What the hell’s happening? I feel extremely tired and I can’t focus on anything she’s saying. Damn, was I drugged? I… I need to lie down. “Hey! 4re y0u 41ri6ht?” Using the last of my energy I stager into the room and lock the door behind me. Ugh, can’t see, head hurts, I think I’m going too…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
*Bang**Bang**Bang*
Ugh. Head, shut-up.
*Bang**Bang**Bang*
“Silent, are you in there? It’s time for your initiation.”
My eyes open focusing to the dim lighting of the room. I was sprawled out on the floor, head pulsating, eyes most likely bloodshot. I did not want to move, yet something compelled me to get to my legs. I don’t know if it was curiosity that was driving me or I was still being controlled by whatever the hell knocked me out. Walking was surprisingly easy. I didn’t have any pain from before and my mind was clearing up. Maybe I can get through whatever they have planned for me. Standing outside was Mist and to my surprise Doctor Atmosphere. “We don’t have all night. Let’s go.” Atmosphere was being persistent. I nodded and followed both of them down the many hallways that make up the factory. I had no idea where they were leading me. Mist hadn’t taken me down here during the tour. We eventually reached a large pair of darkened doors that I assumed lead to the work floor. “You are to report to Mistress on the other side of these doors and do as you are instructed.” Atmosphere said in a demanding tone. As I prepare to pass through the doors Mist trotted next to me and whispered, “Good luck” when Atmosphere wasn’t looking. Well this is it. Time to find out what exactly I was dragged here to do. I take a deep breath and go through the doors.
The room was lined with many ponies all dressed in the same black getup. My eyes wandered from one side of the room to the other. There were only two who weren’t in the ridicules outfit and my heart sunk when I saw who they were. One was Dash, proudly standing next to the same machine I was strapped to earlier. The other was a young filly who had looked like she had received the beating of a lifetime. She was strapped to the same machine I was on earlier. Tears slowly falling down her cheeks as she tried to scream through the duct tape that covered her mouth.
“Welcome to initiation, Newbie.”