> Below Zero
>  by Foxes33
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter One - Awake
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	My face laid against the silvery metal examination table. I could already feel the heavy bags under my eyes as my eyes began to open. My mouth felt like dry and full of horrible tasting saliva. I could feel the hard table against me, and somehow I knew something was wrong. As though I was prey and heard the predator move, my eyes snapped open. My vision was slightly blurred from oversleeping, but soon adjusted to the dim lighting. It didn't hurt my eyes, even if I was once asleep. I could only hear my breathing as I stared blankly at the wall.

My ears stayed pricked, checking for any signs of life. I heard no movement and saw no movement, making me feel safer. My heart beat soothed and went into a rhythmic calm beat. I let out a breath of relief, but I did wish to know what was going on here. Yet, I calmed, perhaps this was simply just a hospital, but I had a feeling it was wrong. Why were the doctors here? Why was the room not lit better? I groaned, knowing something was up. I didn't want to know what was going on now. Most would be eager to know, but it was creepy and had more holes then I had thought.

Unfortunately I had no idea where I was, one moment I was asleep as usual, the next I was here. A place I didn't know about. Slowly I lifted my head and looked towards the door. I wanted to wait until I went through, maybe somepony would come and I could ask. I laid my head back down and just looked at the wall. As far as I knew, this wasn't a good day. I wish I had waken up in a my warm bed, but this place wasn't bad at all. Although the examination table was somewhat metallic, it certainly wasn't cold. I smiled, it felt almost pleasant, I didn't know why, but it comforted me.

A smile stretched across my face as I laid there. My mind began to click and I noticed, that this entire room was perfectly fine. I soon became curious and lightly touched the tile floor, it wasn't cold either. That was when I saw my fur, what was once bright red was now a dull blue that was nearly white. My breathing increased with the shock and fear. I instantly drew my hoof away from the white tile floor. I couldn't believe I didn't notice, I wasn't even sure anymore. I could only hope this was just one cruel joke. I wanted to know more, how different was I?

I wasn't even sure if this was some sort of magic and this wasn't me, but the most powerful magic was wielded by the Princesses. It was locked in the forbidden library, of which many ponies had heard about, so no pony could get their hooves on it. They say if those spells were to fall into the wrong hooves, bad things could happen, anything could happen! I could hear my heart beat louder, this was a bad thing. I soon remember my horn, my hooves quickly went up, touching where it was. Relief flooded over me as I felt my horn still there. I looked back at the door, it hadn't been wrong, but my instincts told me something was up.

My daddy had always told me, 'trust your instincts Liz, they are the best you have.' However I wasn't stupid either, I slowly got down from the table and stalked over to under a window.

"This can't be a hospital, they don't have windows unless they are showing other doctors something." I whined, "Oh I hope no pony is here."

I gulped, my fear trying to take a grip on my mind, but I knew I had to do this. I took a few minutes to breath slowly and calm myself for the reveal. I put my now dull blue hooves onto the windowsill and slowly lifted myself and gazed in. There were only chairs and nothing else, but the room was a lighter blue there and the walls were stained. I gazed at them and realized they were maroon colored, the kind of red that was blood. I gasped and fell back, sliding away from the window. I was terrified, this was real blood from an event that had happened here.

Something told me, my answers were certainly not coming yet. My heart was beating louder then ever, I had come across a gruesome massacre. I was up against the table, curling myself into the tiniest ball I could. I didn't dare look at the window, only at my blueish fur. My face felt hot as tears began to form under my tired eyes. Tiny whimpers escaped my mouth and as more tears came over me, I cried. The sounds of my weeping bounced off the walls. I was scared and alone, it isn't as easy as it seems to be near a blood splattered area.

I had no idea what to do, it was just so hard. I couldn't pull myself together and was still whimpering in the corner. Ten minutes passed until I thought of my family. My mom and dad, and my little brother, I missed them. I wasn't sure if I would ever see them again. Soon my mind pulled together as I thought of it all. I knew if I stayed in this room, I would die. I wanted to see my family again and although I was afraid I had to get out of there. I calmed a little and calmed myself.

"I have to, oh Celestia, why?" I whimpered.

I lifted myself back up and turned towards the door. I gasped when I saw streaks of maroon blood that had dripped under the door. I whimpered again, I was so frightened. I calmed my breathing and walked towards the door. When I got to the door, a terrible metallic odor came over me and I gagged. My stomach twisted in disgust from the odor. I began to step back, but soon it disappeared. My eyes opened and I saw ice covering over it.

"W-what's going on here?" I whimpered, flabbergasted,

I had never done magic at all, I didn't know any spells. I was shocked and I had no idea what happened, but the blood was frozen. I tried the door, but then I found I froze the bottom.

"Oh come on." I moaned in frustration.

I stared around the room, unsure of what to do now. I sighed and walked over to the window, I looked towards the door and noticed it wasn't frozen all the way. I just needed something to break it with and I could get through, but I didn't know what. I let out a sighed and walked over to the table beside the examination one. A silver tray laid on it, cover in all sorts of tools. To left were a few different sized scalpels, a saw and a few cutting tools that I didn't know the name of. I knew I could use the saw, but there could be something better. I looked at a separate tray that had needles on it.

Each needle was filled with different colors of liquid, which was utterly useless, but could contain answers. However they were mostly useless considering I had no idea what they contained. I just sighed and brushed it off, why waste my time on it? I walked away from the table and looked around the floors. The walls and floors had no crimson stains, perhaps my little room was the safest. I searched for a while, and soon lurked towards the window. I looked out it and found that the hammer that some medical facilities have, was outside of the white door.

"Dammit!" I shouted.

I was still scared, but my instincts were taking over my mind. I didn't know why, but they were oddly stronger then they used to be. My mind seemed to wonder and I walked towards the silvery table, grabbing the saw. I knew that I couldn't saw away the ice, but even hammering it away with the saw would maybe be fine. Teeth pointed downwards I hit down on the ice, little dust-like particles chipping away. As I did so, I didn't feel the cold that the ice should have been projecting, instead, it seem to hurt me to chip away at it.

I felt bad for doing it, and soon stopped, dropping the saw. The metal part landed on the hard ground with a ting, well I fell to my stomach. I looked at the ice and the crack I left in it. My head turned and I looked at all the tiny particles on the white floor. They all seemingly faded against the white floor.

"I am sorry," I whispered, not knowing why.

Hot tears came from my eyes, falling to the ground. I coughed well I cried for a few minutes, but soon it was as though the ice responded. A strange sense took over me and my head lifted, and I saw the ice draw back and dissipate. As though it understood. I was startled and clumsily fell back near the table, nearly hitting my head onto the silvery table. My heart raced with a surge of fear. I found myself breathing heavily from the sudden shock, and whipping former tears from my face.

"How? How? That's not possible! Nopony can control an element to that point. Nopony, nopony, nopony." I whispered in a panic.

I laid back down on the cold white floor, staring at my freedom, letting my mind settle. I could escape the facility, but even though the floors were stained with maroon markings, I felt safe here. It kept me away from the outer world, safety was nice. After a few hours, I calmed myself, and silently rose and walked over to the door, staring at it. On the other side was the stains of blood. What made me more nervous, was that I could already smell the terrible metallic odor that leaked through the door cracks. I stepped back, uncertain, but something told me it was safe.

It was like the warming smile of a mother and the encouraging glance of a father's love. My motivation came and my head lifted. I stared down the door and trotted closer and closer to it. With each step, it seemed like something was cheering me on. The handle came into my grasp and I opened the door, seeing the torn apart room. Although slightly nervous, I still felt my motivation and continued into the room that had haunted me moments ago. I took a slow deep breath and looked around the room. The bleachers were torn to shreds and claw marks cascaded the wall. Pony bodies laid mangled all over the room, dried blood on their wounds. As I looked, I realized that all the blood was dried, this happened a while ago.

I was quite shocked and soon wondered, how long was I really here? I felt a rush of fear return, and I knew, there was something I was missing. Slowly I walked into the bloody scene. The metallic smell was making me sick and I knew I couldn't stand this room. I hadn't been here for more then a minute, yet I wanted to leave. However before I left, something caught my eye. It was papers! I looked and I wondered if they had any answers? I quickly ran over and scooped them up, carrying them with my mouth. It was terrible, but I didn't care, this could be my answers. I moved through the bloody hallways and gazed into small windows.

I found another room and went inside. It had the least amount of blood, and I wanted away from the other room. I placed the papers in the corner and looked at the room. I would read them later, but this room felt cozy, although there was a little blood. I knew I would have to set something up for my living quarters until I found something out. Before I dared to begin making it into a suitable place, I began to move away broken desks, not caring about it. I worked slowly, and though about my family.

I wonder if Flare is okay, he is my little brother. Mom and dad, do they even know I gone, besides I don't even look like Liz. They wouldn't know who I am. I can't go home! I don't want to stir up trouble, besides I am lost. For now I need to camp and find out where I am. Just calm down Liz. I though, taking a deep breath.

I wondered how different did I look. If I was right, I could control ice. I was scarred, but I took a deep breath and made a clear sheet of ice. I looked into it, only to find out how bad it was.