It's just some normal science, in the Science Labs! Right? This will just be a hectic story themed around a secret lab of ponies up to some strange tests and practices in safety of these dark sterile rooms! (fetish themes and open to request)
This will hold characters from the show though POV might be like a generic oc (like a reader insert but not any of the "insert here" stuff) Also with some OCs as filler in some parts.
This is a science AU also, so... everything goin on is science lab related! Kinda a dark AU with a spin to all main cast. A darker spin :3 No one is cliche evil, just more morally ambiguous...
Likely random chapters and snippets just to write when I wanna, also I'll try to put tags at the top of each chapter so warnings wont likely apply to everything. This will have some fetish sorta themes, I don't plan on doing ANY explicit stuff beside maybe some gore but it will always be warned in the start. This is also open to suggestions and possible requests so feel free to ask!
I start work today, here at the science labs held in Ponyville, the town is small and most of the residents are either farm hooves or working at the facility. What I can't seem to understand is the dark clothing, we don't get white science or doctor lab coats like the usual attire of most medical professions. Instead we get this black, reflective silver lined gear and it's almost like the texture is a tightly wove fabric, at least enough to be smooth and water proof. With a sigh I lift my hoof to adjust the silver buckle of the thick neck piece holding the top firmly shut, as to keep anything from spilling down my front. When I zip it up said collar overlaps it and hides the pull tab from view. The sleeves are short as gloves are likely meant to be pulled on to cover what is exposed, there is reflective fabric around the cuff and two gray patches further up the sleeve on shoulder so signify the floor you are stationed on. The coat reaches just near my flank, a reflective band lining its bottom. On my back legs are these sleeves that ride up on my hips and hang down my legs over a pair of rubber non-slip black boots, the sleeves are held up by cinching around my thigh and ankle but by also a band that uncomfortably wraps up my rump and over the base of my tail like a halter neck some of the fancy mares wear... only its for my butt.
I tug on a pair of goggles before stepping from the changing rooms and into the slate gray and black hallway, there's a lot of dark hues in this building... The walls are a charcoal gray almost black and the floor is barely lighter than that with a shimmering sheen, the ceiling is just a pitch black void with bright lights spotting it all the way down the hall. The only color is the ponies walking to and fro and perhaps some blinking lights of the door authentication when someone swipes to enter a room. I lift the lanyard I bought to hold my ID and access card, it's yellow with mint dots and really stands out. I flush as I let it fall back to my chest and I begin to trot down the hall to my assigned lab.
"4034, 4036, 4038" -I slow to a stop as I reach a door just to the very edge of the hall- "Ah... Lab room 4040."
My muzzle twitches into a hesitant smile as swoop my head down and take my access card between my teeth and swipe it into the dark plastic coated card reader, it blinks green, the door makes a click and I push it open. Unlike the rest of the building this room is a glossy and clean white with soft yellow walls, the color surprises me and I see happy posters taped all about the room, motivational ones. My mood is lifted significantly at the sight and I smile before perking up to some movement catching my eye. I look too see a pegasus stallion waving a light orange hoof and beaming a wide toothy smile at me, I blink rapidly as I approach and glance to look at his ID to which he quickly raises it for a better view.
"Oh, Dr. PleasantHaze!" I stammer in surprise, I hadn't expected him to be a pegasus.
"That's me! So newbie, ready for your training?" The stallion exclaims, leaning in on his forehooves and fluttering his wings. I nod nervously and he chuckles before stretching a wing over my back and guiding me to the counter in the far corner with a small desk on wheels beside it stacked with pencils and paper on top.
"This will be your work station while you are starting out, when you've shown improvement or capability for some more responsibilities under your belt, you'll be moved to a larger work space." PleasantHaze explains, rocking side to side on his hooves, his messy yet maintained sandy mane sways with his movement. I try to disguise my disappointed expression, don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy to be working here but I expected something a bit bigger than a thirty by twenty something area of space.
I snap my head to look PleasantHaze in the face, he peers straight on at me and since he hadn't removed his wing from my back he is extremely close. He garners an unreadable expression, no smile, and thanks to his light pink reflective goggles I can't see quite where he is looking. I attempt to finally utter a thank you or an apology or something starting with a stutter but he simply starts grinning again before I do.
"Like I said, you'll get an upgraded work space in time, no need to look so glum!" he states, his tone flat only changing in the last sentence to a more joyful lilt, making me break into a nervous sweat. The last thing I want to do is seem ungrateful to a higher up and on the first day no less. I rapidly nod my head before he guides me through some of regulations such as what to do during an alarm emergency and shows me on the back of my access card it reads what I should do for each color of code alarms with my current clearance... a lot of them have me stay put or vacate the premise. Finally he shows me some files I should study, likely for the exam I needed to take to keep my licence to to even work here. Time seems to fly by as he explains details, he shows me where the equipment is and tells me that if I need something that isn't already here I can send in a request, though he says with my clearance I shouldn't get my hopes up as there shouldn't be anything I really NEED anyways.
"Well then, that sums up most of the important stuff more or less, the rest is up to you and how well you work! You should already have your schedule for your breaks and clock out right?" He turns from showing me the menial functions of the sink to inquire to which I perk up quickly and nod.
"I have them at home on the door and a copy in my locker."
"Good! good good..." He falls silent as he blankly stares at me for a moment, I glance around before going to speak when he cuts me off with a gasp.
"Oh! I nearly forgot! I should show you where the cafeteria is, we can stop by and grab some lunch and then you can get set up and clock-out, come on!" He quickly nudges me along with a wide grin. I fluster as I'm given no chance to respond, I would of liked to maybe look at my desk a bit more but food does sound good so I oblige by finally walking instead of having him shove me the whole way there. It doesn't take us long to get to the second floor and into the cafeteria, it is lighter tones but still baring no colors much like the hall. I'm swooped past the line straight up to the food bar with PleasantHaze and no one seems to protest as we get a tray and make our way to sit, there's a lot of ponies here and all seem to at least know one another a little, giving nods here and there. I feel really out of my element but the pegasus guiding me brings me comfort besides his odd demeanor. We sit and eat in silence, I half expected him to talk a lot but he doesn't utter a single word as he eats and just pony watches without removing his goggles. I shrug and eat my meal totally fine with the silence since I have nothing to say either, only when I'm taking the last bite of hayfries do I notice he is staring in my direction with a small smile. I turn to face him and he smiles slightly wider before asking if I'm finished, I nod awkwardly before he takes both our trays.
"You head on back to the lab and do your thing," he turns away "I have some work to tend to." The ominous yet nice pegasus gets lost in the crowd and I stand from the table and make my way back to the lab as instructed, I get lost only a moment as the crowd in that hall made it hard for me to see signs but I manage to return without too much trouble. I spend the rest of the day setting up my work space and memorizing where things are, I look around the room as I realize nopony else has visited the labs all day from what I'm aware of. I poke about other work desks and only find about three other spaces that look like they're in use, this revelation pisses me off quite a lot since one work space which appears to be in disuse is about TWICE the size of MY workspace. I huff before deciding to wander a bit till my clock-out, I doubt PleasantHaze is going to be coming back here so late to check on me.
With my plan settled I slip out of the room and slowly make my way down the vacant hall, I assume everyone is back at work and decide to keep myself at a quiet and slow pace as to not disturb anypony. Passing the elevator I decide to use the stairs instead, I push to enter the stairway and glance down, my brow wrinkles in confusion as I see the stairwell extending down well past the ground floor.
"I thought there were only five floors," I whisper in my confusion, I slowly trot my way down, picking up my pace the further I go, I get to the ground floor and peak out the window to see reception and the hall to the exit. I'm tempted to leave but deciding to at least sate my curiosity a little I turn away and descent further. The sign has no numbers but a B next to it, my ear flicks as I continue down and this one says C, there's not too many floors now but something stops me at the C door or whats on the sign under the C. The B had nothing written but under the C is are labels and one bullet with the words "in vivo" I tense up as that sinks in. Acting without thought as I open the door quietly, like I might be sucked into the dark of the ceiling if I make even the slightest of noise as I creep down the hall in search of said room.
I swallow and try to work saliva back into my dry mouth as I glance at rooms, they have no windows, not even tinted ones. I look up for cameras but the ceilings are so dark in contrast to the lights I doubt I could spot one if there was. I come upon an intersection in the hall and look to my left then my right before the familiar orange of PleasantHaze freezes me in the center of the hall. He's swiping his card into the authenticator which flashes yellow before he leans in lifting his goggles to reveal a dull green iris as a light shines from the machine over his eye. He blinks rapidly to clear his vision, his peripheral no longer obscured by the goggle he does a double take and turns his head to face me. We stand there for a moment, the machine flashing before blinking green and the door clicks. PleasantHaze gives me a quick once-over with and unreadable expression, before pressing the door open, casting me a sideways smirk and entering the room and leaving me alone, speaking to someone inside.
"I retrieved those files you wanted Miss Pie!" The door clicks shut just as a squeaky voice begins a response, the heavy metal cutting the sound off completely. I approach slowly, half expecting someone to step out and call me out for being where I'm not suppose to, or to nab me. My eyes wander and lock on the sign next to the door and I get close enough to read it. "In vivo" I wince, jaw going stiff as I back myself away. I take my path back to the stairwell and up into the ground floor before going to the changing room, I get undressed, grab my things and head out the door.
It's evening outside, the burning orange of the sun a pleasant contrast to the bright artificial light and frigid air conditioning. I'm seated in a small waiting room, separate from the entrance. It's just a room over with little cubbies to store anything you brought along when it's time for us to be called in. The ponies sitting with me are all here to be guinea pigs, or, as the flyer indicated, "participants in the advancement of pony kind!". It didn't state anything further than the needing volunteers for clinical testing, there was a good payment of bits if you signed up. Needing the extra bits to put some food on the table you decided, whats the harm? Though when a purple unicorn mare, dark indigo mane pulled into a tight professional bun led us into this little room and laid out wavers I started to get some cold hooves.
She has been gone for a good few hours, we had to fast before testing and to make sure we didn't eat or drink we were told to sit tight in the room, magazines and a muted TV our only means of entertainment. The chairs aren't even comfortable, the blue cushions are coated in a spill proof plastic making them crinkle and hiss with each shift, the chilly air thankfully keeping me from sweating against it's touch. The room was plain dark like the rest of the building save a tacky blue rug that lays mostly in the center to give the room a slight touch of color to match the chairs, like a desperate attempt at throwing some sort of theme into the room. It even looks like it was hoof made... Okay, tacky is a strong word for it, it's a really nice looking rug but given it's out of place pattern in the room it's a tad bit jarring. Like trying to glue rhinestones to a boulder. I filled out the papers, being the first done. I just skimmed through the lot of it, it mostly asked about health stuff and had the general "I consents" On the back page. I did give those a closer glance but they really just were saying you aren't liable to sue or whatever if they stab you with a needle or something whatever.
My ear turns to the door as it makes a click, all ponies in the room turning head in unison as a different purple unicorn mare enters. This one with a light purple mane and pinker fur, she smiles sweetly, small and tight with a slight tilt of the head. It's practiced you can tell.
"Hello! I know the wait has been long but we are almost ready, did you all get your forms read and signed?" She tilts her head even more with the question, baring her teeth with the same polite grin. She looks almost pained with the way her cheeks lift up to her eyes, to spare this mare further face strain we all end up nodding and sliding our individually paper clipped stacks towards her from the short table we all ended up setting them on.
"Great! I'll take theeeese..." Her horn glows a wonderful blue before all the stacks highlight as well and lift into a single stack and float to her side. She only glances her eyes as they settle before looking back at the room of ponies, theres a beat of silence before she inhales "Right this way!" She turns and exits the room, theres another pause before everyone collectively stands and follows. No one seems to decide on leaving, guess we've all waited enough to back out now. I turn to lock onto the mare leading us, she wears a professional get up. Blouse and skirt, yet a black lab coat seems to drape over her shoulders. The black is odd, isn't there a reason doctors and scientist wear white? In fact, as we walk deeper into the building and down what seems like a set of stairs we pass by some ponies who seem garbed in totally different gear. It's like some form of liquid proof black clothes, the silver strips here and there is odd enough. It seems like some personalized set of casual hazmat gear, feel like we are walking through some evil scientists lair and the goons are all wearing matching garbs. I can't help a snrk at the thought, the unicorn snaps her head slightly to the side to peer at me. Her smile still present but her eyes seem like shes calculating something before turning back to where shes going.
We end up in a hall with a few doors open, as many as there are ponies volunteering. The mare turns facing her side to us as she skims through our papers and the mini question sheet we answered. She pauses on one, my sheet. It's obviously mine as I had to write my natural fur, hair and eye colors.
"Okay, you each can just pick a room! Doesn't matter which, cept you!" She points a hoof at me "You'll be for something else we had in mind." I look around, hoping someone else would share the same concern I feel but instead everyone seems to ignore us and enter each room. There's a room at the end, furthest from the rest that no pony bothered to head for that the mare waves me towards. We approach, and I peer in to see a room with the dark tiles but bright white tiled walls. Everything is tiled or some sort of easy cleanable material, everything but the glittering tile seems to be stark white and thoroughly cleaned and the scent of cleaner wafts from the room like it's been deeply saturated in such.
"Go on in! She won't bite, promise. She'll take good care of you." The unicorn urges, likely wanting to leave, she makes a note not to touch me however and stands a good arms reach away. With a final glance at her and then the hall in which we arrived I take breath deep and enter the sterile room. The door quickly shuts and locks with a light buzzer like sound, making me flinch my hindquarters close.
"Don't mind the door, it's only closed for privacy sake." The familiar voice from earlier makes me turn, I see the purple mare with the indigo hair levitating a couple vials with a magenta aura. "I'm Doctor Sparkle, have a seat on the examination table, I won't be long." With that the magic grasps a paper roll at the top and pulls it expertly out across the plastic top and secures at the bottom. Chewing my lip I approach and carefully lift myself up onto the surface of the medical bed, table, thing. I plant myself firmly, awkwardly really, at the end of the table and wait. Her outfit changed, wearing something similar to the other unicorn she now wears the suit like everyone else. She also works quick, swishing around liquids and setting up her station. Putting different containers and vials onto a roll cart with some swabs and needles. The amount of needles is unnerving as I get a better look when she turns and scoots the cart closer, her lavender eyes meet mine then follow the gaze before lightly laughing.
"Don't worry, those are just back ups in case something happens to the ones I use. I really should only need one, better safe than sorry though." She reaches under and pulls out some gloves. "These are vinyl, I know you stated that you don't have a latex allergy but it's what I use regardless." I furrow my brow, I don't know how she'd of known that till I turn slightly and see a small screen to the side of the bed. It's thin and looks like it would be pretty fragile but on it I see a display of the info I'd written. The unicorn must of put me in a system.
A pressure on my shoulder snaps me back into focus, the mare placed a hoof on my shoulder and is urging me back. It was a light shock that she actually reached out and touched me, didn't even try asking me to adjust. I follow her motions without complaint and lay back onto the bed, a little more comfortable albeit exposed. She obviously has no care though as she lifts a mask over her muzzle and starts preparing a syringe. I swallow and run my tongue over my teeth, trying to form the question I have into words. My nerves making it hard to think.
"What is it you're going to be putting in me?" Oh dear Celestia I could of worded that better, she only flicks her eyes up to me, pulling the syringe from the vial. She squirts a bit of liquid out on a rag as she responds.
"A new sedative, more along the lines of an Antianxiety. It's been tested a few times don't worry, you are the first pony though." I try not to dwell on that last part, can't really as she taps my elbow and makes me stick my foreleg out. She moves some fur out of the way with an alcohol cloth before sticking me with the syringe. It's a lot of liquid and she slowly injects, massaging around the area before pulling it free and pressing a square strip of gauze to the spot. I cant help the grunt as I feel first a cool spread from my arm across my body before I start to feel warm, really, really warm. I huff from my nose and drop my head back suddenly, I'm glad she encouraged me to lay down else I probably would of hit down a lot harder. The ceiling is really high and dark, the only light is the hanging one blaring into my eyes. Said eyes feel sticky, heavy, I want to close them and keep them closed. I turn to look at the mare, my vision slow to lock on to her and the the peripheral seems dark. I attempt to speak but it doesn't really form into any real words, I don't even think I could think up a sentence in time for me to remember to say it. The mare seems to notice me taking to the drug quickly and lifts up a notepad and pen with break neck speed. I hum and lean my head back again to look at the ceiling, I wonder how long this will last.
"Can you hear me?" I fail to jump as the mare leans over me, brows furrowed. She must of been asking questions, damn I really am out of it. I try to tell her it's might be too strong or she gave me to much. I have to try a few times as I end up slurring and forgetting half the sentence. She seems to get it and nods.
"Disappointing." She mutters, my brow furrows, I can't help but focus on that word. Disappointing, a disappointment. I disappointed her. Shes disappointed in me, others are too. I mean I can barely feed myself that's why I took this offer in the first place. Let some strangers inject me with something that could potentially kill me. Just for a few bits? What's wrong with me? I'm an absolute disappointment. I feel something on my cheek and I look to see the mare giving me an odd look, furrowed brows. Is she agitated? Am I doing that bad? What's touching me? A tissue, I see a tissue, shes wiping my face with a tissue. I sloppily rub a hoof to my face, it's damp. My nose and eyes are practically steaming, I'm sobbing uncontrollably in front of this mare. Shaking and quivering like a foal as she dabs and cleans under my eyes and wipes my nose. She is speaking, I can't really grasp it as shes speaking so soft. Cooing like trying to comfort a child, I nod and flop to my side. I'm not really sure what I'm doing at this point, I feel my tears lighten up as I notice I'm no longer heaving oddly. I still quiver though.
I lay there, shaking and occasionally letting tears fall as the mare writes in her notepad. She did ask a question here and there, asking if I'm okay or if I need a drink. Usually when she does a massive wave of quilt washes over me and I start crying again, and she caught on rather quick. I close my eyes and realize as I focus on feeling that shes slowly brushing the back of my neck. Soothingly I thought but when all my hair was pulled back she starts to feel along my neck, doing a sort of hooves on vitals check. It's a bit relaxing and if I'm no longer a bother I allow her to do her thing. Not even protesting as she prods and l looks around other places across my body, even private places. She doesn't touch me in any unprofessional way I just don't really feel embarrassed or nervous. Almost desperate for each touch, some sort of physical contact. I'd give up absolutely everything for a hug. When she stops touching and lets me fall limp I end up letting out a choked whimper. She shooshes me and sets her notebook down before sitting me up and pulling a paper cup up and filling it in the sink. She helps me drink, fills it up another time for another drink before opening a cupboard and pulling out a few suckers. She unwraps and pops one in my mouth, I almost want to spit it out as it's very large and strangely flavored.
"Keep it in, a little nutrients will help flush it out of your system." I already felt the heavy torpor like feelings lifting before taking the candy but I nod and keep it in my mouth as she lifts up her notes and sits on a stool to read them. She glances up here and there, I notice her mane hasn't changed in the slightest, perfectly pulled up with straight cut bangs. I hiccup a bit and wipe my nose, I must look like a mess. I start to feel some heat to my cheeks, there it is, there's embarrassment. Barely any but it's starting to show back up. It's not long before she stands up and walks to the door, it pops open and I look at her confused. The unicorn waves me to follow, waiting for me to stand up and clamber down with a patient smile. I take my time as to not fall and bash my face before following obediently. I notice some lights are off, and the total silence. It must of been hours since I entered that room, the other volunteers have already left it seems. She leads me on, not to the stairs though but to an elevator. She barely needs to coax me on, I find myself just following along. I don't really know what to do anyways. I feel like a foal, sucking a lollipop and following aimlessly. I sway quite a lot, the drug still taking time to trickle from my system as I stand in the elevator. She presses a button and the doors shut, I try to read what she pressed but the box lurches up making me loose balance and stumble down to the floor. I end up curling my legs close, not wanting to force myself to stand and feeling dizzy from the movement. I glance up to the unicorn, she isn't even looking down to me. She's blank faced looking forward, did she even notice?
When the elevator stops moving and the door slide open with a ding she taps a hoof quickly to my shoulder without a glance and starts walking, she certainly was aware I had collapsed. I take a moment to try and stand, my shaky legs make it hard until I see magenta overtake my vision and am lifted to my hooves. I look up to see her peering over her shoulder again, with the same polite smile.
"This way" She then turns and trots off, I try to follow, she ends up needing to pause here and there. It seems like, even though the heavy feeling is gone, that just that much movement was enough to exhaust me completely. I can't wait to get home. She leads me into another room, using a card to open it and waving me in. I enter to see a room covered in blue hues, light blue tiles, slightly darker blue walls with a smooth plastic blue dresser with white drawers and a bed with a fat, round, safe bed post and still all blue sheets. I stare at the site a moment, blinking slowly, trying to pull the pieces together. I turn to the mare with a questioning look, she just keeps smiling.
"You should sleep, you'll need it for tomorrow." She then backs up and swipes her card again. The door shutting. It's silent, the only sound is the air conditioning barely making a soft hum. I end up flopping onto my haunches as I realize what she meant, I'm not going home tonight.
"Doctor Twilight?..." I say softly, as if she could maybe still hear me. Before standing up and slowly thumping a hoof against the door. "D-Doctor Twilight?" I call out a bit louder, It's a struggle to stand, I feel helpless. The door has no means to open, this isn't privacy, this is containment. I feel my eyes flutter, one is harder to open than the other. I'm so tired. I slowly trudge to the bed, I need to sleep this off. Maybe that's all this is, I need to sleep of the effects to make sure nothing is wrong and I can leave safely. I hum, deciding to believe that idea before slowly pulling myself up into the bed, my legs having started to fail me as I approached. I roll onto the cushy surface, it crinkles under me as I feel the liquid proof mattress underneath. Unfortunately as I doze in and out of consciousness I end up being thankful for the water proof mattress as I wake up having pissed myself. My muscles too lax to hold it in, I don't remember seeing a toilet with the initial glance of the room either. I end up attempting to deal with it by mopping the mess up with a sheet and kicking it off the bed before slumping and passing out once more. Hours later I find myself being slowly coaxed up by a hoof, I turn to see a light orange pegasus with pink tinted goggles. My ears feel like they're stuffed with cotton and my head swims as if with a fever. The stallion rubs my back and carefully guides me from the bed.
"Let's get you cleaned up." He smiles, it doesn't seem forced or practiced. It's wide and sort of comforting as I allow him to guide me. As we leave I step over the sucker I must of accidentally dropped in my mouth from shock, I'm glad I didn't fall asleep with it. He takes me to a room at the end of the hall, it's a bathroom, lined with two sorts of stalls. About six toilet stalls and three shower stalls. I get taken to the shower one almost immediately as we entered, I sit near the drain. I barely move as he helps wash me down. My cheeks burn with embarrassment but strangely enough I don't try to fight any of it. He doesn't soap me down heavily, just gets the urine and sweat from my fur and turns it off. I get handed a towel and he ends up helping with that too as I end up just staring at the fabric dumbly. When it's tossed in a chute he loops a wing over me and drags me along. Softly humming to himself with a chipper smile, I feel like we're too close but no one seems to pay any mind. There's only what seems to be worker meandering here and there, we enter an elevator again and he presses a set of buttons. something like floor one, floor one then floor two. When down the doors open the same hall I came from last night, we head down, I expected to be taken to that same examination room but instead I'm led even deeper.
He swipes his card through the lock of a lone door at the end of a far off hall and ushers me in. Inside is another examination room but with way more equipment, Doctor Twilight turns from her tools and smiles just as the door shuts behind me.
"Oh you are definitely looking better" I finally, shaking my head I gather my thoughts.
"Why am I still here? When do I get paid?" She blinks in surprise before levitating a tablet in front of me. On it shows my signature and the answers I checked off.
"You agreed to a long term and residential care, you'll be housed her and regularly dosed to see the effects of a prescription type medication" I stiffen at the realization, I look down and start really reading over the paper, while I do the mare seems to go back to organizing, seeming uncaring to my reaction. It take a few times of me looking over the wall of text before spotting it, one of my answers that I accepted instead of refusing. For continued payment I accepted to taking regularly dosed drug and facility residence until the trial period is over. I thought I feel like I should be panicking, though I do feel stressed I'm more calm than I think I'd normally be. The tablet is lifted from my hooves as I'm led over to the examination table and sat atop it without much reaction.
"I'm sorry, I didn't really think that would be an option. I don't think I could stay here for a long time, I have work." The mare nods as she prepares a syringe.
"It's quite alright, I'll give you some time to mull it over. At least you can try one more, smaller, dose before breakfast and you can decide then." I don't further complain as she sticks my arm and rubs around the spot. It doesn't seem that smaller of a dose but it does seem to hit me slower. I manage to keep myself upright and she seems to genuinely smile at this before writing in a notepad. After a little while she gives me a glass of water that I hesitantly drink, not wanting to have another accident, she doesn't offer more though. Helps me up off the table and leads me out, I notice a degree on the wall, displaying her name. This room must be her usual work space, we head out into the elevator once more and up a floor or two. The drug altering my perception again, it's still a little too strong. She guide me out down a short hallway into a room. Inside is what looks like a small break room with tables, a TV and a soft looking couch. She leads me to said couch and I happily flop down. She gives a giggle before entering the little kitchen nook. I start to space out, the TV flicks on to some random channel. Not long after I am gently being lifted into an upright position and there's a TV table sat in front of me with a plate of waffles and whip-cream. I drool at the sight of it and start digging in without much grace. I hear some snickers and I turn slightly to see a bright pink mare with a fluffy mane turning the waffle iron. She smiles wide when she sees me staring before waving a hoof.
I smile and wave before a shift in the cushions next to me make me turn and see Doctor Sparkle sitting next to me, levitating her own plate. She nods to my plate and winks with an amused hum, I about finished my plate in one go after all.
"You like them huh? Pinkie makes the best waffles!" The pony behind us snickers with a snort and I feel rather pleasant, I nod rapidly. So far, they honestly taste like the best waffles I've ever had. I start to shovel more in my mouth and slightly lean in to watch the TV. It's nice, so much different from last night.
"So, have you decided?" I turn slowly, giving a questioning hum. I feel a pain in my chest at the concerned look on Doctor Sparkled face. I feel myself shiver a bit and swallow the lump that had formed in my mouth. Her brow creases more and I jump to nodding.
"Yes. I can help, it's okay." The smile that encompassed her face was like euphoria for my soul. I almost sobbed at the relief I felt as she nods.
"We'll get you a proper room. Here, you can stay here and watch TV. I'll go get things ready." She stands and heads off with a trot, taking her food with her. I smile feeling like I did well, I made her happy and that makes me happy. I finish eating as I watch the colors on the TV move.
"It's alright little ones, we aren't doing anything more today. Shh shhh, It's okay~"
My ears twist in the direction of the soft breathy voice and see a yellow Pegasus mare cooing to the lab mice, gently calming them down and ushering them into sleep before changing out their nesting. I would of voiced my worry of them fleeing, but I know better. Fluttershy is one of the upper division scientists, she doesn't come around often and usually tries to stall the animal trials. When it finally comes to it and she can't make up anymore excuses, she is looming and ready to swoop in and coddle the animals. Though I admire that her morality and concern for the creatures remains intact given the years she's been here, it can get rather frustrating when she conditions the animals to fits.
"Miss Shy," She visibly flinches, I don't often see her socializing besides with the animals, I wonder if she'd be better suited to the pony trials "When do you think we should run the next tests? They serum should settle in a half hour or less."
I watch her glance about, trying to look anywhere but me, likely also fishing for an excuse to post pone the tests. I feel my lip stiffen with my mood, my patience has really thinned out. I'm no monster but I have a job to do, a job to keep and a filly to feed. Each time she post pones our tests she is wasting time, we can get it done with, see the results and then go back to the drawing board. But instead she insists on making this difficult.
"Maybe in the morning, they've been put under plenty of stress." Hardly. I take a breath and steady myself, I don't want to lose my job over this. Its been a long day pulling teeth with her, I just need a moment.
"With all do respect, the only stress they've been through is routine examination. If we wait too long we'll just have to do it again, then how long would we have to wait?" She flinches and looks down to the floor, scanning it's grooves. She looks so weak right now, what work does she accomplish to hold the kind of access she has. I do my work, I don't hold us back and she is here, a bleeding heart keeping us in a rut. At this point I cant help the snarl my lips curl, I stomp up close, looming over her as she shrinks into herself.
"We have a job to do, if you can't get over a few little rats, I'm taking this up top." Stiffening to a board with each and every word, she ducks her head down even further. I wait for a response but receive none, instead I turn to resume my work. But first, feeling a power high, I cast a final statement over my shoulder.
"We'll proceed with testing in an hour." After I pull my things together and start preparing for the tests. She barely makes a sound as she leaves, I have to pause and twist an ear to even hear her steps before the door opens and shuts. A triumphant smirk spreads across my muzzle as I take out my pager and alert my coworkers of the time, rubbing salt in the wound, I'll don't bother to exclude Fluttershy from the list as it sends out. I take my time as I put everything where it needs to be, wanting nothing to muddle further progress. I savor the feeling of hopefully getting on track, and about time too. I wonder why I was so worried, she may be above me on the ladder but she has no jurisdiction over this wing. She's hardly a back bone, I'm sure she's just as or even more terrified of the lead scientists than I am.
I end up leaving to have a late lunch, better make sure to eat. I really don't want to get light headed when making the injections. Entering the cafeteria I seem to be the only one late to eat, granted it's well into the evening, I decide I better head in back to get something fresh. What I didn't expect to see though, sitting at the island is none other than Fluttershy, along with Miss Diane Pie and Doctor Sparkle. My blood runs cold, maybe she did have the nerve to go to higher ups, in the kitchen though is a mystery. My jaw bounces uselessly as I try to form a sentence, Fluttershy barely looks up before ducking her head down. Doctor Sparkle and Miss Pie lock their gazes on me, giving a silent stare before the candy pink mare jumps up.
"Ooo, Hey there! You miss out on lunch, huh?" I tentatively nod before giving a firmer one as no one seemingly jumps to accusations.
"Yeah, been busy..." Fluttershy still doesn't move, Twilight Sparkle, the lead Doctor of this facility, gives a wave of her hoof.
"Well I'm sure you can help yourself, I miss out pretty often, not why I'm here though." She seems to cast a look at the bubbly pony who is now reaching around cupboards before finding plates. "Pinkie thought it would be a good idea to whip up some cupcakes." Now that she says it, over the scent of the cafeteria food I do smell the sweet sugary scent of cupcakes.
"Oh," I head to the fridge opening the large steel doors to reveal shelf after shelf of veggies. "I won't stay in your hair long then, heh." Oh Celestia, those cupcakes smell amazing. I hear a clack of metal on metal and pear out to see Miss Pie setting the cooked cupcakes up on the stove. From the corner of my eye I see Fluttershy, leaning in close to Doctor Sparkle who's head is tilted enough to obscure her eyes under the shadow of her perfectly cut bangs. She is saying something, far too quiet for me to hear over the clatter of drawers being opened. I slowly turn back to the fridge and pull out a left over salad mix and shut the doors. I head to go out when a voice stops me.
"Hey, why not eat in here with some company?" It's the level tone voice of Miss Sparkle, feeling my spine stiffen and a light sweat on my neck I turn and set the serving of mix on the counter. I look up to the unicorn giving me a friendly smile, in which I return timidly. I my eyes flick to Fluttershy, she is watching me, just barely through the split of her long mane. I brush off the strange raise of hair on the back of my neck as I start to eat, the only sound shared for a good while is he sound of the pink earth pony cleaning up her mess. But eventually Doctor Sparkle sits up straighter and speaks.
"Although I'd like to continue my work, I do enjoy taking a time to spend with my friends. I do value their happiness over some delayed progress after all." Her words seem lined with intent, it practically seething it. I swallow a thick bite of salad just as some of that processes, her friends. Is she and Fluttershy friends? Them three? Some things start to click, why I don't see Fluttershy in the cafeteria often, or at all unless Miss Pie is present. Or how she hasn't had any grief over her meddlings in a branch that's not even her specialty.
"Of c-course." I feel ill, any sort of power I felt earlier is completely ripped out from under me in this moment. Coupled in with the fact that I still feel Fluttershys gaze boring into me, I feel like a bug about to be stomped out. But if any further words were to come, they don't. It's just silent as I attempt to finish my meal before tossing it in the bin. I give a polite nod to my higher ups but as I'm turning to leave...
"You are starting your trails soon, correct?" I turn to face them, yet again, being polite. I wish I didn't though, all three are sitting at the counter again, staring me down. I barely manage a swallow, my mouth completely void of moisture at this point and nod.
"Good, I'd like to observe. A random supervision of sorts." My vision swims at the news, I manage a nod before being dismissed and I happily slip out. Frantically I go to one of the break spots and get a cup of water and sit. I always liked the spots they implemented. Little square spots in the middle of some halls on each floor, they have water coolers, a rug and plush seats. Nicer than the waiting room seats. I use this moment to gather my thoughts and steel my nerves. She must of told them, "random" inspections don't usually happen unless someone gets reported. Gulping down the water I wipe off my muzzle and head back to the lab. Inside are my coworkers, set up and ready to go. I give them a brief nod, before I can even warn them of the impending supervision the door beeps and slides open right behind me. I snap my head around to see said supervisor, Doctor Sparkle, standing just in the doorway. Having halted to keep herself from walking right into my rump. Her gaze locks on said offending obstacle, causing my cheeks to ignite with shame especially when I see Fluttershy looking in just past her... Friend. I'm quick to correct my stance, spinning around and back peddling out of the way. Meeting my beet red face to the unfazed and sober faces of my two superiors. Miss sparkle holds a small plastic container, it's blue and yellow with no means of seeing inside. She sets it on a clean paper desk, happening to be mine, before pulling free a pen and notepad.
We take this as our cue to get started and each crowd around the examination table, already we hear scribbles coming from the pen on paper. Making us slow slightly before snapping like a rubberband and getting into gear. I mutter a soft, "Just ignore her." to my peers before taking the first rat cage and opening it. The rodent nearly makes a break for it, just barely caught before going off the edge by a magenta glow. I glance up to see a rather unimpressed look to the purple unicorns features. Horn glowing, easily holding the pen and the rat. Someone else takes the critter from her magical grasp and I momentarily stew. I hadn't been paying attention and would of resulted in us losing a rat in the damn lab. I shake my head firmly before reaching for the syringe, I pause as I realize I need to pull up my mask, as my coworker across from me gestures in an attempt to be subtle. It doesn't slip past our superiors keen eye though, I know that for certain. Taking another breath I pull up my mask, secure the band to my nose and reach for the syringe once more.
The rest of the procedure goes well, we go rat by rat and nearly all have an initial fit but seem absolutely fine once we could quickly administer the shot. Not even once did Fluttershy move, strangely enough, she ended up pulling my seat up to watch. Occasionally looking over at my work which made me chew at my tongue, had I a pencil I'd been champing at it in frustration. Such things have personal musings, guess she found them interesting since for a good hour she had been poring over them, my hooves being full I couldn't just walk over and start cleaning off the sheets. Deciding to just internalize my agitation once more I focus on the task at hoof and finish up with the last rodent. Though, even if I try to ignore the brewing anger, it's still there, and I still make a mistake. I reach in at just the wrong moment, the rat makes a sudden freakish twist of it's body and sinks its little chompers right into the soft frog of my hoof. I let out a startled whinny before lurching onto my hind quarters, I look down to see the red of blood bubbling under my cheap blue latex glove.
"The rest of you, finish up." I frown to the stern tone the unicorn has, I shake my hoof, pained even by a little bite before carefully making my way around to the sink. I pull off my gloves and run it under some cold water trying to get the blood to stop beading out, it's a tad bit worse than I thought but still small regardless. The worst thing is the tender spot it had to nab, had a whole hoof and it hits the soft fleshy bit in back. I grimace, as I reach for soup but a clop of a yellow hoof striking my own makes me pull back. Fluttershy somehow made it to my side and is reaching around, her wings softly beating to hold her up just high enough to have easy access to my hoof and the cabinet up above. She holds it still, keeping me from pulling away as she rifles through some stock and pulls out a small personal medical kit we had shoved in back. How she new of that is beyond me. She lands and starts to guide me past the others to my desk and sits me down, not on the chair, on the floor. She takes the chair. My tail flicks but I'm more confused with her openly handling me to object.
I flinch as she swabs the wound with antiseptic, makes sense since who knows what that thing was nibbling on and soup can't wash everything off our hooves. The others end up getting cleaned in record time, putting away notes and packing up. By the time my hoof is being wrapped the last coworker of mine is giving Doctor Sparkle a nod and heading out the door. I am then left with the two mares. Both absolutely silent as I withdraw my hoof from Fluttershys grasp and look over the patch up job. It's clean and nice, not too tight or too lose and wrapped just right to use the least amount of gauze even with the tricky spot the bite was in. I focus suddenly on the plastic container as it lights up with a magenta hue and lifts off the desk. It quivers a bit before popping open, presenting a fresh, nicely frosted, cupcake. I nearly drool at the sight.
"Pinkie wanted us to bring you one, she said you seemed a little high strung." I go to reach for it but it raises just out of reach, arching overhead and making me turn to face the speaker directly. She is standing tall, like the superior she is. Fluttershy turns in the seat to get a better view, not ducking down in the slightest. I didn't even notice the lose bun she had pulled her mane into, using one of my pencils to hold it up. The cupcake starts to glow and raise separately from the platter, then easily splits into two shares. My brow furrows as one half floats over to Fluttershy, who takes it daintily in her hooves, and the other stays by Doctor Sparkle. Both mares watch me as I dumbly look from one to the other, confused and even a little offended before Fluttershy pointedly takes a bite just as I look her way again. They start to eat, Fluttershy taking bites and Miss Sparkle slowly breaking off small pieces.
"It... This some sort of joke?" I say, immediately regretting the stupid words as the two share a look.
"No joke, just sharing a treat with my friend. She's been very stressed by a little pest problem she's had. She thinks might be an aggressive sort of rat." The purple mare states, taking another bite. She smirks at the dumbfounded look on my face. Here it is, she did tell. Damn it. I feel my expression switch into a sour, resentful glare that I direct downward. I jump as in my site the platter gets dumped down as well as some left over cupcake soon after, not even all of it lands on the yellow plate.
"Go on, have your share." Her voice is happy, but it seethes contempt. I stiffen up, squaring my shoulder as my nose scrunches in concern. I'm about to pop a lid when Fluttershy finally utters her first words of the whole ordeal.
"You like it here, don't you?" I look up into her eyes, the somber look on her face is jarring. Much different than the weak timid one she usually has. "Don't you?" She asks again, making me jolt and nod. She turns to snout towards the plate, giving me a side glance. A wordless order. Shakily I lay my hoof down and use it to help myself scoot closer, I swallow down the bile that rises up when I think of all the contaminants that could be on the floor after we'd been tramping about. The cleaners usually only come in after initial working hours after all. I figure I can just eat whats on the plate and slowly, timidly do so. I feel their eyes watching me intently, my own misting up and getting blurry at the humiliation. Once I'd licked the platter clean I turn and almost bump my nose into a yellow hoof, holding out the rest of the partially eaten cupcake Fluttershy had. I feel a soft sob catch in my throat as I open my mouth and slowly start to consume that as well, right from her bare hoof. Lips and tongue barely brushing brushing the sole as I do.
"Feisty little rat's only deserve the scraps." I hear Doctor Sparkle mutter, a hoof brushes over the top of my head and down the back of my neck to smooth out my mane as I finish the cupcake. At this point trying to stifle short embarrassed hiccups and tears. When I sit up the hoof Fluttershy was using to bush my mane reaches up and pats my head. The mare looks sweet, a smug sort of sweet. Smiling in a way I'd only seen her give the damn lab rodent's.
"Maybe if you be a good little rat you can have some more next time." The pegasus coos before flapping her wings to lift up in the air to pull the cloth over the rat's and ruffles my head one more time before landing just at the door and stepping out. Twilight watches her go before turning to look down at me with a professional stare.
"Be sure to pack your things, Fluttershy and I agree that your work ethic could be useful elsewhere and Fluttershy herself seems most impressed." She turns for the door. "Starting tomorrow she will be your new supervisor, you'll be working in the lab directly under her care. I hope you'll keep showing promise, after seeing your work just now... I think you could learn a thing about patience." With that she's gone. Not even using the door just ZAP and she disappeared. I look at my desk to see a manila folder that wasn't there before... with three butterflies in the corner. Oh tartarus...