Tightening of the screw

by MidnightFMare

Rating: teen
Tags: Sex, Gore, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad, Other, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 7828

Ever wondered what is in those big white buildings outside of town that no one wants to admit knowing what their for? Or what about those mysterious and silent white vans and trucks that feed into it? Well, this is what dwells within...

Ever wondered what is in those big white buildings outside of town that no one wants to admit knowing what their for?
Or what about those mysterious and silent white vans and trucks that feed into it? Well, this is what dwells within...
This is a story about what or rather, who the monsters are, and a single mare's flight to freedom.

Published 2014-03-30 20:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-06-26 15:19:44 UTC

session 01

TIGHTENING OF THE SCREW

By MidnightFMare

AKA: Midnight Felinus Mare

AKA: kuronekoking

AKA: Mutsumi Youkai

“Do you think she’s dead?” one voice asks, followed by a kick in my side

“If she is, then we’re screwed. We can’t afford another dead patient; the boss will have our jobs outsourced to janitorial” another voice says, prodding me

Apparently they saw my chuckle and the familiar hum of the shock prods fills the air as it is hefted up to shock me in the neck

I tense up for the familiar pain and electricity coursing through my veins

It never came
“What the- Who are you?!” the first voice says

“Wait! I think he’s the-“ the second voice warns, cut off by the first voice’s grunt of pain

A dull thud lands next to me as the cream, buzz-cut sporting unicorn lands next to me, his face contorted in pain

“I am the new pharmaceuticals director and chief of punishment. Now, if you two ignorant fools will step aside, I have work to do” a third voice commands, full of something I can’t place

Heavy, labored hoofsteps move farther away, followed by the door being locked “Now then, how are you Miss Loose?” the third voice asks, as his hoofsteps walk around my body

I play dead. That’s what dogs do right? And I’m a dog

“Well, sometimes yes, but I believe that possums have that trick under their belts naturally” he says, sitting down

“Rrrrrrrr…” I growl at his presence, trying to scare him off

“Now now, I mean you no harm… I am on your side and only want to help” he says, stroking my back

They’ve done this before and I know what happens next, they… hurt me

I turn on him and bear my teeth, growling at him

“This is why I am a cat person… Ah well, shake or whatever” he extends a hoof, the grey nearly invisible with the white padded floor

I sniff his hand and I smell blood and something… “Sweet” I think that’s the word the nice mare that comes here sometimes calls the hard food things she gives me. I lick his hoof, tasting the blood and the sweetness

“I would love it if you would talk to me” he says, smiling

I look up and cock my head, his words lost in the haze of my mind

“Let’s see your file… oh my, no wonder they’re keeping you here. You’re under heavy medication and hypnotic suggestion! This will not do; here, try this, it should clear your mind” He hands me a funny smelling flat biscuit thing

I take it in my mouth and eat it when he moves to my back

Oh no, he’s going to hurt me- what?

The leg holders are undone and he starts to rub my sore spots “Honestly, why did they restrain you? Ponies who do this are among the worst… there we go, better?” he asks as I finish the biscuit

Then everything goes hazy and black

Not… again… I was tricked and now he’s hurt me…

Wait… I can move… how?

I look around, sniffing the air but instead of the “hurt” smell, I smell…something new

Something… “Nice” ? I think that’s the word for it…

“Hello Ms. Loose; how are you feeling?” the new voice asks, the big white sky disc shines on him, the gray color shimmering

Wings…

He has wings

He can escape and fly away like the birds

I can’t fly. Dogs don’t fly

“Do you like the moonlight? I personally prefer the night over the day. Come on, feel free to speak if you want” he says, smiling at me

Nopony smiles at me unless they want to hurt me

But he doesn’t hurt me

And he’s smiling at me

“Can you speak?” he asks, looking…

… “Worried”?

“…Yes” My throat feels weird making that word

“Yes; you can speak or yes; you like the moon?”

“…Both” the weird feeling returns

“Good! I see the antidote has taken effect” He smiles again and trots closer “Could you tell me your name?”

I try and think of an answer, because if I don’t, he might be disappointed and leave with his “Nice” feeling and his smiles. And then I’ll be alone

I don’t want to be alone

“Dog” I reply, hazy memories of what the not “Nice” ponies call me

He seems to frown a little and I fear that he may leave

He smiles again “We’ll work on it. So, do you feel better now?”

“… Yes” talking is getting easier and the feeling is going away

“Do you want water or food or something?” he asks, the “Worried” look fading

“Yes” I reply, not having to think all that much anymore

He turns around to the door and I whimper “…No…”

He smiles “I’m only going to get food and water. I’ll be back” the door closes softly

I curl into a ball and wait

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: Loose, Screw

Condition: Delusions of being a canine

Doctor: ~~Wrangler~~ Alka Hest

Notes: She appears to have an adverse reaction to abandonment and is very shy. Has dulled eyes from over-use of sedatives. Currently in antidotal therapy via wafers; not soylent green, that would be wrong in so many ways. Understands abstract and concrete ideas and responds in monosyllabic answers and has basic understanding of grammer.

Side notes: In my opinion, I suggest having her moved to the top of the “Recovering” list and given daily check-ins by myself. I find her to be a shining example of how to apply my methods; but there appears to be several minor wounds as well as signs of being restrained while physical punishment or pain was caused for the amusement of workers.

Physical appearance: as noted before, her eyes are dull and mostly lifeless. Several small lacerations on her rear and hind legs probably caused by whippings from the guards. Her mane appears to be very oily and unkempt. I will have to clean her myself when she regains more basic faculties. Several paired burn marks on the neck and above the spine caused by use of electric cattle prods on her person; install working cameras on a closed circuit feed directly to me then to be copied and mailed to Princess Luna every week or unless otherwise noted. She also has a very strong empathic field; manifesting elemental connection? Need to get Midnight to evaluate next time he comes for these reports.

I sigh and write my name on the paper, then look out to Luna’s brilliant moon “Why must these beautiful individuals need to suffer?”

session 02

I sit up in my hospital-issued bed, a thin sheet having been discarded in my sleep and a flat pillow stuck under one of my hind legs. But strangely enough, one of the most restful sleeps in the past week, this day being my first full day of work here. I stretch on the bed, my joints popping as they set back in from my usually active sleep and I look in the small mirror on the back of my door.

I notice several feathers out of place, but my hair is as unkempt as usual so I fix my wings, yawn, and head out

"Lesse... First stop..."

Name: Image, Mirror AKA: Narcissus

Condition: Murderous desires towards anything not an exact replica or likeness of herself

Doctor: ~~Wrangler~~ Alka Hest

"... What?"

Background: A mare born with a twin sister, they did everything together in perfect sync. When her sister, Mirror Reflection, died from accidental food poisoning; It shattered her psyche to the point that she ordered a whole room made of mirrors be made. this was shortly after she maimed and disfigured the chef who prepared the fatal meal into a similar likeness of herself.

I turn the page and gag. There were photos of the scene. Several large blood spatters, smashed dishes, crushed food and bloody, twisted cutlery adorned a few, ending with a super-imposed image of the chef and herself, the similarities between the bloody mess and the frowning patient's picture are subtle but the crudely broken bones and torn tendons are similar to her own at the time according to this report

Swallowing my rising bile, I read the next page

The chef was alive when her parents, having been notified that she had been seen going to the resturaunt while they were attending to funeral arrangements. A nearby psychiatrist gave her a mirror after she started to talk about how she had her sister back to the disfigured chef. His notes are included below:

The young filly has apparently undergone a perfection-searching psychosis. When her sister died, she completely lost all mental restraint and desires to have her sister back. As I have spoken to her by using the mirror I gave her and a reflection control spell, she has agreed that she be placed in a mirror-room like the fabled mad mare "Narcissus".

While the doctor was correct, she has attacked anypony who enters her room so the building engineer decided to have a similar room built underground with basic ammenities. This has worked out, along with the magical transportation of food and a call buzzer in case she is in need of anything. She refuses all medication and thus it is put in her food to keep her docile

"Ooooohhhh... I don't think I can take this everyday..." I throw my trash down the trash chute and head for the stairs

(Several minutes later)

"Hello?" I call into the microphone, looking through the one-way glass mirror

Something shuffles under the covers of the bed, when a perfectly-groomed light pink mare with scarlet eyes and a long, red, pink, and crimson mane sits up, and looks at me (well, the mirror)

"Good morning" she yawns, trotting to the center of the room after smiling at herself in the mirror "Are you new?"

"First full day here" I reply, finding this to be easier than expected

"Hm... Do you like mirrors?" she asks yawning again

"Honestly? I do not trust them; I beleive that if you spend too much time looking in a mirror, the mirror image will come out of it and push you into the mirror in it's place. Or it kills you" I reply, settling down

"Then what does that make me?" she smirks, when then I sense a murderous vibe from her

I shrug "I don't know. You appear to be symetric and this is the first time I've seen you"

She smirks without the vibe "I like you, you seem to know all the right answers. Reading from the notes?"

"No, making my own" I reply, knowing what she is about to say

"Oh? That's different. Wrangler seemed to like trying to dissect my mind, but always gave up after a few questions" she shivers

"Cold?" I ask, trying to find a thermostat

"A little, yes, but I find the cold staves off the effects of the drugs" she replies, wrapping a sheet around herself

"Well, don't worry, From what I've seen, you do not need them... except the vitamin D and C supplements for being underground" I say, making a note

"Really? Are sure the medicine isn't why I am acting this way?" she chuckles, stepping closer to the window

"Yes, I can see it in your eyes that while it may be unlikely I will be able to release you for your and everyponyelse's safety. The medication is making you miserable and I can't stand that" I reply

"... I almost beleive you, but, we're too smart for that, aren't we sis?" she looks at the mirror and motions for me to leave

(Back aboveground)

Notes: Very kind, if cold (litterally and figuratively) and not very trusting. Remove the medication from her diet and attempt to speak to her again later. Overall evaluation: In need of a friend along with her sister's company

I sigh and go to eat breakfast (hopefully once today)

(Later in the centeral ward)

"Might as well check up on Screw- By luna's craters!" I gasp, my wings flaring up

A guard looks up from pinning her onto her back "Oh, are you the new med guy? Sorry but you need to wait your tur-UNGH!" I punch the guard in the face and he falls over, while Screwloose cowers behind me, sniffling

"WHAT THE BUCK?! If you couldn't wait you could've ask- GRAH!" I punch his gut, the cloth bite armor doing nothing but hinder his movements

"I will tell you this once, and only once; You touch any of the patients here and I swear on Luna's crown I will hunt each and everyone of you bits of bacteria down and annihilate each and every one of you. Now go tell your colleagues this and do it fast. Go. NOW" I command, the stallion limping away "MOVE IT!!"

I look down at Screwloose and she shrinks away, obviously frightened

Sighing, I leave to buy some items of importance

"What a day... What a bucking day..."

Author's Note

sorry for all of you who had to read all about mirror image. She came to me in a dream while I was writing this and she will be back

Session 03

I return from the hardware store and the chemist's and sigh again

I turn to look at the early morning sun, and speak out loud "I seem to be sighing a lot these days... well, got to get to work"

(In front of Screwloose's room)

"Final lock set and... Perfect" I swipe a key card through the reader and the door opens with an audible ping

On the floor is Screwloose cowering from my intrusion "Hello cher... how are you doing?" I ask, my prench accent more pronounced

She whimpers and scurries away from me

I sit down and try to look non-threatening (Which, in my opinion, is very hard with my red and blue eyes) "I put a lock on the outside of the door; they can't get in unless I let them. I won't though, you can get out from inside though" I stand and leave, the door priming as it closes

Creeeeaaaak...

I turn around and see a blue hoof outside the door "Ms. Loose? Are you okay?"

"...Lonely..." she whispers, her hoof retreating

I enter and close the door, having returned to her side of the room, I lay on the other side, facing the window "I wonder why they even bother with windows, no air gets in here and it's only letting glimmers of light in during noon... of course moonlight seems to get in pretty well" I think to myself, "And why bother with a single cross-bar? It can't be hard for an earth pony to break with the help of a pegasus... of course this place is on a mountain side so... huh, cutting corners while using nature to their advantage. Kinda reminds me of that island prison Alcatrotz-huh?" I turn and next to me is Screwloose, sleeping

"She was brutally violated not 3 hours ago, avoided me when I helped her, and now she's sleeping next to me? She either has gotten used to this or she has a very damaged sense of self-preservation" I muse, then I smile and drape one of my wings over her

She opens an eye, looks at my wing and bites on one of them, pulling it closer "Oww..." I wince

She sighs and falls asleep again

"Something just occurred to me... I can't leave without waking her... and I still have another patient to look at" I sigh (I seriously wonder why I'm sighing so much) and open the patient file

Name: Cone, Mach

Condition: Incapable of stillness*

"Restlessness? What the-"

* Uncontollable super-speed and atomic vibrations resulting in the inability to not pass through most solid objects (Exceptions: Wood, vibranium, ice, etc.)

"O...kay then... super-speed... that's... new..." I say out loud, causing Screwloose to snort

Background: A pegasus with vestigial wings, he somehow gained the ability to run/ fly at impossible speeds and pass through matter. While able to have some control over what he has called "Speed attacks" or sudden bursts in his abilities, he lived a moderately hampered life.

Until his first sexual experiance-

"I do not like where this is going" I think to myself, turning the page

When he reached climax, he lost complete control over his speed and the resulting vibrations "gelatinized" his lover to the point that she became a bloody flesh-bag of pulverized internal organs, bones, and muscles (Teeth and other means of identification were either "gelatinized" or destroyed. The only means of identification was her cutie mark and coat coloration

I scramble out of the cell and to the closest bathroom and hurl up my breakfast and lunch "By Luna's starry mane... I'm gonna need new teeth by the end of the week if this becomes a daily thing... WHY DO THEY EVEN HAVE PICTURES?! SERIOUSLY, WHY?!" I yell into the bowl, flushing it "This... is so not worth it..."

Returning to the cell, Screwloose is looking at me with fear in her eyes "Why... scream?" she asks, obviously trying to mimic speech

"Sorry, It's just... some of the things in this place are... horrible" I reply, wanting to curl up in my room and sleep until this place falls to ruins. But I can't

I sit down next to her and continue reading

In the course of his voluntary stay we have tried every known mix of depressants to quell his powers to a point he will be safe enough to live a productive life; unfortunately, nothing has worked.

The closest thing we have come up with is an enchanted, underwater spherical cell so that he can run all he needs to stay still. He is fed through teleportation and breathes due to an enchantment in the cell. He remains optimistic despite all this and is possibly the most well-behaved and amiable patients I have ever seen.
Another abnormality I have noticed is that in the 50 years he has

"50 years? According to this he was 23 when he was admitted. H-how can you stay positive after being here for 50 years? Wait..."

In the 50 years he has been here he has seemingly aged only 5 years physically

I reread this line several times before stopping "He has only aged a fraction of half a century? That's not an abnormality, that's bordering on a medical impossibility"

Screwloose looks at me "What?"

"N-nothing, I just have another patient I need to get to" I say, trying to silence my excitement

She seems to have picked up on it and starts wagging her tail (Which, in all honesty, is kinda cute)

I close the door, and trot to the underwater cell

____________________________

I pick up the microphone and headset and a sudden panting fills my head "Hello? Are you okay?"

"Huh? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine just... I've been here trying to- ah finish for the past few... you wouldn't happen to have the- ah time would you?" A young, masculine voice answers, followed by more panting

"Uh... 4 pm" I check my watch

"Okay... 3 days and- ah 5 hours... so uh... unless you want to hear me moan in less than an- ah! hour..." the panting heavies and I suddenly recoil

"That's it, I'm clocking out" I say, flying up the steps to my room

Author's Note

sorry, the whole inceredibly long hangtime thing came from nowhere so... yeah

session 04

I am awoken by a loud pounding on my door "Hey! Pill pony! get up!"

I rise and open the door "I am not a 'Pill pony' I am a pharmasuticals specialist and-"

"Don't care! Narcisus got out!" the voice says, my eyes still closed from sleep

"...Wait... WHAT?! How in Luna's name did she escape?!"

The pony looks at me "A newbe let her out. Said she was too beautiful to be caged up. Luckily he survived because the darkness in the outer cell blinded her for a minute"

"Wonderful... I know how to stop her but... Wait!" I dig through my files for a certain one "AH-HA!"

Name: Mimic

Condition: mimicry without a time lag

Background: the last living member of a dead hive, the singular hive mind has degressed into an eradication of identity

It mimics the shape and movement of anypony it sees, as if a mirror image because of its ability to know what its target's next moves are. It is kept in the non-pony chambers in the second building. side note: it survives like a pony does and not feed on love unless there is more than enough ambient love

"Okay, I'll need a little time. Activate shut-down procedures in this building and do not confront her. Go!" I command, the pony running away into a hall

"No time to stretch..." I open the window above my bed and jump out, spreading my wings to slow my descent With my velocity coupled with the prevailing wind... which is blowing towards the second building... a little turn and it should carry me to it... I think in my head, letting the wind guide me towards a wall-door (A door on the side of the outer walls of all of the buildings, an emergency way for pegasi to get in and out in case there's a riot)

Landing inside, I gallop down the halls, looking for the right door "AHA! Here we are... 'Mimic'" I press the release button, a click echoing throughout the hall as the door opens.

"Are you in there?" My voice comes out in stereo "The acoustics in here must be great or- Gah! Not the time for this!" I trot in and bump into a grey Pegasus

Or rather... myself

"Okay... this is a bit strange..." We say at the same time "Follow me!"

"No, Follow me! Me! ME!" I pause and walk out the door, me following until I hit a wall, still walking into the wall until we are side-by-side

We nod and run down the hall to the door Sure hope mimic can fly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We land in the near a number of unicorns running away "Hey, can any of you coneheads create a black dome?"

They look up and their eyes shrink to pinpricks "You let ANOTHER patient loose?!"

"Just answer the question" We say in stereo, causing them to wince "Yeah, we can, but why?"

"I have a way to fix two problems at once, but I need you to isolate Narcissus and Mimic here. Then when Mimic takes on Narcissus' image, that will end her mutilating rampage for perfection. Trust me, I'm a doctor*"

They look unsure but then nod "Okay, we can do that, but first we need to get her still long enough to put up the dome"

"How long do you need?" We ask, and we shiver

"About 20 seconds"

We nod and head towards the conflict

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mirror!" we yell, running up to her

She looks over her shoulder, her long triple-red mane down over her shoulder, her hooves showing spots of blood and her crimson eyes looking at me with a bored yet raging fire. She drops her victim, the heavier of the two who attacked Screwloose a few days ago "I am guessing you are the one whom I talked to a scant 48 hours ago, yes? I did not know that you had a twin"

She kicks the groaning guard in the gut "Filthy little monster... he tried to overpower me... so I thought a little punishment was in order, he'll live; just... not without a fitting disfiguration" she smirks and trots closer "I do like you doctor... My apologies, I never caught your name"

"Alka Hest" we reply "Mirror, one of us is a changeling that can mimic you perfectly, but in order for it to work, we need you to hold still and trust me"

She snorts and kicks the guard "Why should I trust you? You could be like that boorish oaf"

I look at her "I don't know why you should trust me, but if you keep on this path, the others are going to try and kill you. I do not want that to happen to you... so I beseech you to trust me" we bow to her

"Raise your head, I trust you" I turn to the unicorns and nod, a black circle surrounds us and rises into a dome and I step out "Okay, I think it worked"

The dome dissolves and facing each other are two Mirror Images. They smile and nuzzle the other, hooves raising into a hug "Now I can hold you..." they whimper, and Narcissus raises her head, tears starting to run down her face "Thank you... Alka Hest... you've... given me a panacea of divine proportions... now I won't be alone..." they trot over to me and kiss my cheeks, making me blush despite myself and, in perfect synchronization, they trot back to the basement room

One of the unicorns taps my shoulder "Uh... mission accomplished?"

I nod "Yes, mission accomplished... now if you'll excuse me, I have to combine two files and re-lock the door. By the way... what's today's date?"

"The 25th of Mayre, why?"

"... Merde... Princess Luna is coming here tonight!" I remember her letter from when I first got here

The unicorns scramble to move the heavy guard but I stop them "Just put him in a closet or something, she was right when she said that he was a monster. And see if you can rouse some of the custodials to clean up the mess, attend to any other injured personnel and go about your duties as you would usually" they nod slowly and mutter amongst themselves down the hall

I look at the grunting form of the guard and smirk "You know, there's a saying, how does it go...? Ah yes, 'Karma is a bitch'" I raise a leg and kick him in the jewels, relishing his moan of anguish "Now, whenever you think about harming a patient or anyponyelse, I want you to remember this feeling. Now, let's get you to the medical bay"

Author's Note

* all whovians want to say this at some point in their lives or in the case of DerpyI'm a nurse

Session 05

Near silent wing beats cut through the still night air of the building, a signal that the princess has arrived

I squint to look at the slender alicorn, the stars in her mane glimmering like the sky behind her "Welcome Princess Luna"

She touches down along with her usual escort, Midnight "Hello Doctor Hest, how have you been?" she asks, walking towards the entrance of the building

"Fine, we had an incident earlier today but I think I found a permanent solution to... are you familiar with the story of Mirror Image?" she nods "I read it along with your reports"

"A new member of the staff let her out. Luckily no one was killed, but now we have a free room" Midnight nods "It was Mimic?"

I had long since gotten used to his ability to know things without being told "Yes, I think that in a little time, it will be safe to release them into the world... provided I get your permission" I look at the princess and she smiles "One of the most severe cases being the first released? That would be excellent"

Midnight coughs "And what about this patient you said might be an element?"

"Right this way"

[center~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~]I open the door and staring at the moon is Screw Loose; she turns her head and jumps, crouching low "These are friend's-" "Pr...in...cess..." she mutters, attempting to speak

"I... wow!" I gasp, approaching her "Are you bowing?"

She looks at me "Yes"

Luna chuckles "I am pleased to meet you Screw loose. May I pet you?" I jerk up, ready to correct her when Screw Loose nods "Yes" Luna approaches slowly before sitting in her line of sight, extending a hoof

"P-princess, how did you-" I stutter and she raises her head "Back in the first few wars against the griffons and dragons there were warriors known for their primal fighting and fierce loyalty, they were known as-" "Berserkers, from the old norse term meaning 'Bear-heart'. The story goes that a warrior was ran through by a spear, through his heart, and it imbedded in a tree. Realizing that he was in the same position of one of his gods, he called to him, the king of the Aesir, Odin. The god appeared and called forth a father bear whom had been passing by, he asked for the bear's heart to save the warrior. The bear agreed but on the condition that the god protect his family

"The warrior returned to battle with the primal fury and strength of a beast, mowing his enemies down with nary a thought. His descendants also had this power and thus the legend of the Berserker began" He pauses "At least that's how it goes to my recollection"

Luna nods "Yes, that is true, my sister couldn't speak to them, but I could, given my animal empathy and our fighting was quite similar. So I was made their general, 'Luna the Berserker lord' I was called by both friend and enemy... I have tried to locate any descendants but apparently they all scattered after my banishment. I think that she may be one" Screw Loose raises her head as Midnight approaches "Let's see if any of the elements rea-" A loud shine emanates from his jacket

ELEMENT OF EMPATHY DETECTED. BIO-MERGE STARTING

The glow exits his pocket and touches Screw Loose's forehead, seeming to narrow and disappear "What just happened?" Midnight asks aloud, looking around

"I... I think the element manifested inside of her... has that happened before?" I ask, looking Screw Loose over

"N-Not to my knowledge, no" He touches her forehead "... Oh... that does make sense" he turns to us "You were right; The element's physical and spiritual formes are present within her... according to what it told me, it is what's called an immaterial element, one you can't see without being the user and willing it to become visible, or an X-ray. it is situated, or more accurately, fused to her skull, hippocampus, and the right hemisphere of her brain. Basically it magnifies her natural mental powers, emotional awareness and physical abilities. At least, until it starts growing" she looks at me and frowns "Sad"

I look at Midnight "She can sense your fear, apprehension, and confusion, think of happy things"

My home back in Prance, her growth, Mirror's stabilized mind... I repeat these things in my head and when I open my eyes, she is smiling

"So... is she stuck with the element in her head?" Luna asks, petting Screw Loose's mane

"Unless the element rejects her, she dies, or the element is destroyed, yes. You may want to keep her isolated from large groups for a while, until she gets used to her element... and mild migraine medication for any pain, if it lasts for more than a week, send for me"

I nod numbly "She's really an element..."

Luna stands, setting Screw Loose down "Show us Ms. Image"

"Hello Doctor Hest, how are you?" they say in sync, sending a chill down my spine "F-fine... this is Princess Luna and her companion Midnight"

They bow and Midnight approaches one "You are Mimic aren't you?"

They cock their heads "She was, but now she's my sister"

"You can tell the difference?" Luna asks, looking at them both

"Yeah, I can see through the illusion... but her true image is blurry... like the reception is off a little; or like a smudged mirror" he steps back "I can usually see right through them but her... it's like trying to focus a camera on the wings of a bee or... when I'm in a picture, always a little blurry to the point you can't discern details but clear enough to know someone's there..."

"Like a perception filter or a see-me-not spell?" I ask

"Yes... but not exactly... it's like her true form is on a slightly different wavelength, like on AM radio" He walks over to Princess Luna "What's your take on them?"

The princess ponders and sighs "They have hive-minded. It appears to be mutually beneficial" she looks at them "Do you think you could be released back into society?"

They look at each other and nod "Yes, we think we can, so long as we have each other" they bow

Princess Luna looks at me "How long until they can be discharged?"

I check my file "A week to make sure this isn't temporary and a month of probation and monitoring"

"There you go girls. Now, About Mach cone..."

Author's Note

I have no idea where most of this came from but... I find it engaging

Session 06

I pass a headset to Princess Luna and Midnight before adorning my own "Good evening Mach, how are you?" I ask

"Good as I can be Doc, you know, this would really suck if I was claustrophobic; I mean, I've been in here for... how long again?" I look at
my partners' expressions, Princess Luna is calm and Midnight looks amused "51 years this November"

"Thanks. Or Afraid of the dark... what's that called?"

"Nyctophobia"

"So, who's your friend?" he asks and I jump "Y-you can see them?!"

He seems to stop and think "Well... not 'see' so much as hear his or her heartbeat... and what do you mean, 'them'?"

Midnight takes his headset off "No heart, remember?" he whispers

Out of all of the impossibilities that make up this stallion, one of the hardest to understand is why he lacks a complete cardio-vascular system "Th-that's amazing! You can hear our heartbeats through metal, wood and water?! How is that possible?"

"Well, when the body is deprived of one sense, the other senses sharpen equally as a result. The water must act like an amplifier for sounds coming in. I suspect that inside of the metal vessel is covered with sound outputs, like a speaker for a microphone. The inside must have a receiver for these sounds or the wood's resonance lets the sound through" Midnight shrugs "At least, that's what I think"

Princess Luna nods "Tell me about yourself"

"Well, I've been here for nearly 51 years... I have nearly uncontrollable speed and stamina... and I like round mares"

Midnight bursts out laughing "He likes 'em big and chunky" Princess Luna chuckles

"I don't get it" Mach says, sounding confused

"Ignore him, he's missing all of his sense and most of his mind" I sigh and turn to Princess Luna "You are in luck, it is the day that we repair any scuff marks inside the sphere" I push in the ten keys that make up the water mechanism, the box draining and Mach yelps in response.

"Such a simple construct... it's almost as if- OH BLOODY CHAOS!! What is that smell?!" Midnight's face turns green and Princess Luna shivers "It's mildew... wet wood, year-old spooge that leaked into the wood and body odor" I say, strapping on my gas mask

Midnight grabs Luna's mane and exhales "I have no idea how this works, but it does"

Luna sighs "You wouldn't happen to have a second mask would you?"

I hoof her one and she nods "Thank you"

"Uhhhh... I can't open the ball from the inside doc" Mach says

I nod and pull out a key "Wait a second..." turning it, the sphere opens and out walks a very disheveled and hairy red stallion with featherless wings

He squints "Sorry, kinda bright in here"

Midnight coughs "So, you are the resident speedster?"

Mach nods "That I am"

I nod "I shouldn't be too long, I just need to check for any cracks and scuffs" I enter the sphere and slip on something foul "Tell me... what did I just slip on?"

"I believe the year-old spooge you were talking about" Midnight says, obviously smiling

Mach appears next to me "I'm so sorry doc! I just never noticed it!" I grunt "It's okay, I literally walked into that..."

"Maybe you should wear galoshes" Luna suggests

I sigh and pull out a flashlight "I will remember that"

Mach coughs "Um... who are you?"

Luna bows "I am princess Luna"

Midnight coughs "I am Midnight"

Mach bows to Luna "I-I'm sorry! I didn't know you were a princess! I heard about you from the guards a year or two ago but I never thought that-"

Luna laughs, though it's muffled by the gas mask "That's fine, I do not like being bowed to though"

He shoots up, his mane thrown back over his shoulders

"It looks okay from my standpoint" I say, and return to the room, grabbing a pair of scissors but he shakes his head, mane covering his
eyes "I'm good, no point in cutting my mane if I'm just going to- sorry,gottarun,justgivemeamomentortwo" he suddenly starts running, turning into a red streak, his words starting to run together

Luna jumps and takes flight, Midnight gagging "OH GODDESS! THE SMELL!!"

Mach stops suddenly and rubs the back of his neck "I'm so sorry about that doc..."

I clap "That was incredible but-" "PRINCESS! GET DOWN HERE!" Midnight yells, and the princess crosses her legs "What are the magic words?"

"I will make you?" he replies, covering his nose with a foreleg

She shrugs "Nevermind" she flies down and Midnight grabs her mane, coughing for several seconds before sighing "Thanks
princess"

Mach shivers "How can you talk to a princess like that?"

I shrug "He manages to get away with it"

"And I'm not bothered by it, he just..." she shrugs "I don't know what he does"

"I help her with life in general and she puts up with me" Midnight says, shrugging

"So Mach, You've always had this incredible speed?" Princess Luna asks, sitting on the floor

"Yeah. ever since I was little. I always thought that the other pegasi were just holding back because I had small wings but I found out that they were trying to catch me. That was when I knew that I was special, I wanted to use my speed to help ponies, like rescuing or something, like in the comic books" he sighs "Then I... killed Sky... I didn't want to have sex with her but she insisted and..." his voice cracks "l-lost control..."

Princess Luna wraps a wing around him "There there... I know that it was an accident. I am actually surprised you stayed with her. Most would be scared and run away, but you stayed... that is loyalty if I have ever seen it" she smiles "I would like to ask if you want a job?"

I choke on my spittle "Wh-what?! He is a self-admitted patient, yes, but his longevity and abilities are virtually undocumented by science! Not to be rude, but we know near nothing about him!"

Midnight sighs "I have seen something like this before in my travels... but I need to check" walking over, he rests his forehead on Mach's "I need you to think back to the earliest thing you can remember"

Mach nods and closes his eyes, and Midnight removes his forehead a few seconds later

"Not speed force, but magic. He has an incredible amount of magic in him, which means he isn't a speedster, he is more akin to someone with tactile telekinesis, or super strength. Except he can only release this magic through running or flying, which means...?"

Luna thinks for a moment "He is throwing himself forward with incredible strength?"

Midnight nods "And because of his narrow features, there is less friction with the air as a result" he turns to Mach "Do you follow what we're saying?"

Mach nods "Yeah, I'm not fast, I'm strong and aerodynamic"

Midnight smiles "Exactly. Meaning you could really help ponies, like you've always wanted. I know someone who can make you a special costume if that's your thing"

"Can I have tights?!"

Luna shrugs "I don't see why not. Tights are cool"

Mach smiles, jumping to the top of the room, his wings shooting him around like a marble in a centrifuge

I walk over to Princess Luna "I don't think this is advisable. He may be able to help others but he's been in here for more than 50 years. I don't think that he's capable of adjusting to society as easily as you think"

Luna nods "I am aware, but I was removed from society for 1000 years and with the help of my friends, I've acclimated quite nicely"

"You're a princess, I think that means you're more resilient than most" I say

She looks down at me "I am not, I am still battling what overtook me every time I feel pain or guilt, or loneliness. But I have friends that
will help me in this fight. I think that he just needs friends to truly heal"

I nod "I suppose... but as his doctor, I will help however I can"

"You can still be his doctor, we can work out a way to do scheduled mental health check-ups"

"Hey guys!" Midnight yells, standing on top of the wooden sphere "Look! Log dancing!" He stands on his hind legs and starts walking on the ball, it rolling with him on top of it, guiding it "I am the log dancing master!"

Luna laughs, holding her side "St-stop that! I can't breathe!"

Midnight shrugs and jumps off the ball which crashes through the wall

He stares at it "You saw that right? I was nowhere near it! Not my fault!"

After fixing the wall, the asylum's hygienist gives Mach a utilitarian mane and tail cut after washing him for several hours

Midnight, however wandered off, Princess Luna assuring me that he senses something and he won't cause trouble

Mach steps out, no loner smelling like... well, how he smelled "How do I look?"

"Like a pony right out of college" I say, and then something catches my eye "Why are you missing the skin on your wings?"

He looks at them, spreading the bony fingers "Always been like that, I have to keep them clean so that scar tissue doesn't grow over them, that's really uncomfortable. I mean, when they're like this, I feel fine"

I nod and measure the wings, taking notes absent mindedly "Well, there are... Nerves?" I press one and he winces "I felt that"

"... Could these be connected to your longevity somehow?"

Princess Luna places a hoof on my shoulder "A question for another day. Let's just-"

"I made a friend!" Midnight announces, a grey mare with a snow-white mane and tail following him, her eyes closed

I walk over to him "Why did you let someone out?"

"I wasn't in one of the rooms. I am the Psychotherapist of this facility, My name is Cecilia Philharmonica"

"'Philharmonica'? Any relation to Octavia Philharmonica?" Princess Luna asks

"I do not believe so..." she responds, her eyes still closed

I look her over, a small necklace with a gold ring set with a lapis eye, her cutie mark an open eye surrounded by purple waves "And
before you ask, My special talent is not Psychotherapy, I am a mind reader. Like right now you are wondering how big of an immature fool
Midnight is"

I stare at her, a thin smile on her face "And as to how, I just can"

Midnight smiles "I knew that you were special! A psychic, Luna! I didn't know that were any in Equestria... except those few kirins I met in Saddle Arabia"

Princess Luna looks down at her "You are Octavia's older twin sister, aren't you?"

"I have no idea who 'Octavia' is, I had a brother at one time, but haven't seen him since I was about six"

Midnight nods and whispers into Princess Luna's ear

She nods in understanding "I will check that later, So, I am also assuming that you live here too?"

"Yes, I live here as do most of the staff" she turns to me, her eyes still closed "You were the one that let Mirror Image and Mimic out, yes?"

I nod "That was me, yes. I figured that I could kill two birds with one stone, using their own psychoses' to make them whole. I admit, I hadn't planned it, it was spur of the moment, and I wasn't entirely sure it would work"

She nods, turning back to Midnight "... I just want to check up on our long-living friend here"

"If you mean Mach, he's over there stuffing his face. One downside to his condition as with all people imbued with speed is an increased metabolism... or so I've found"

She walks over to Mach, sitting herself across from him "Hello"

He looks up from his meal "Greetings"

"I want you to tell me why you wish to leave here. I am aware that you admitted yourself years ago, but why the sudden desire to leave?"

Mach swallows "I want to help ponies, and learn how to control my powers. I don't want to rot in here because I'm afraid of my ability, because if Sky were still here, she'd slap me for being so foolish..."

Cecilia nods "I understand. that is a very good reason but how will you support yourself? Any skills you possessed 50 years ago might not be of use now."

"I was actually a delivery pony for the mail service and a part-time royal scout. I think that the former is still available and in demand?"

"Of course... I see no reason why you cannot leave." Cecilia slides down from her chair and walks over to me "I suggest you keep minimal watch over him and try to minimize culture shock if at all possible."

Midnight nods "Of course. Now! how about we finish the paperwork and skedaddle back to... where are you from?"

"Heartsdale, a little town in the centere of a mountain range north of Ponyville" Mach replies, finishing his meal.

I watch them leave, three distinct shadows on the horizon I hope that Mach finds his niche and lives a better life than the one he left behind.

I sigh and re-enter the building, tiredness overcoming my desire to stay awake.

Author's Note

sorry, I couldn't resist putting the chunky ref in there