The Pink Mile

Chapter 13

So you want to hear a story from good ol' Rainbow Dash you youngster? I guess I've got some spare time nowadays to tell you some old tales. Maybe you'd like to hear how me and a gal pal of mine ran down to Bodega with these two stallions, let me tell you the things we...oh, uh... we had plenty of nice conversation and we hugged alot. Yeah, thats all.

I've got plenty of adventure underneath my tail, kid. You want to hear about The Mile? Well, shoot, pull up a chair and listen on in.

I had worked on The Mile for 9 long years, wait, are you dozing off? Sit straight younging! Anyways, The Mile was a kind of place where damned men came to die, that's right. I worked at the E Block of the Equestrian Federal Penetentary, and I was the commencing officer for 351 of the executions that took place in my 9 year run.

Don't give me that look, its not like I enjoyed it or anything, it was just hard times back then and I had to make ends meet. Yeah, it was a heavy burden to carry, but I knew how to make a living. Back then, that was life, work until you drop, sleep, and then work until you drop. I guess you can say I wasn't really living at all, but that was life, and that was The Mile. You see, we called it The Mile, because thats how the inmates there used to view that long stretch of hallway. For them it was sitting, waiting, sleeping, waiting for that mile to end. It wasn't really living, because they knew when it was their time to walk, it would be their last.

I still remember my first day on The Mile, it was as rocky as a sailboat on the turgid sea. But in no way shape or form could it ever compare to the summer of 1947, the summer when I ended my term on The Mile.

Do you believe in magic kid? Not the sort of, pull a rabbit out of a hat, sawing a pony in two variety, but honest to God, unnatural force that moves through space and time itself to make its way be done magic? Well, maybe I'll just tell you.

Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. 08:00

It was an unusually bitter Monday morning, like someone took intravenous tubes and pumped my body with ice water. I remember shivering my newly primmed uniform, as the cold winter wind slashed right through my peacoat. It was the first morning of my new occupation, and one that I had been relieved, yet at the moment thinking twice about. The snow beneath my hooves came up around 2 and a half feet, the prize winning record from a record setting snow storm.

I blew into my hooves to try to keep the cold from stealing my breath. Every heave of my chest, was met with a sensation that I can only describe as frosting of my inner linings. It was -28 Fahrenheit that day, and it was a hell of a way to launch my new career.

"D-d-d-damn. Its s-s-s-s-o cold." I nustled my muzzle deeper into my peacoat, trying to maintain any sort of warmth I could keep. "I-i-i-is it always this c-c-cold in the winter time?"

I felt a heavy hand slap me on the back followed by hearty laughter. "Come on now Ms Dash! You've GOT to toughen up! Its only a little bit of sub arctic weather! You've got to learn to puff your chest out and push through these things as a MAN!"

"I'm a woman, Trottski. We're a little bit more fragile than that."

NONSENSE! Women from my homeland would gladly bear their bosoms to such tempatures!" The brute of a stallion guffawed as his beard bobbed up and down.

"Duly noted, I'm sure the women from your home country have alot more fur too." I snarked rubbing my hooves together trying to muster any sort of heat.

"Well, as brother Stallin once said 'A mare kept warm, is a mare worth home'" Trottski murmered as he lit a match against his foreleg stubble, and dropped it into his tobacco pipe.

Cough cough. Ugh. I hate tobacco, waving the smell of smoke away from my face, I managed to get one more quip in. "Goes to show how many bare bosoms you Ruskies have seen then."

Trottski guffawed once more as he slapped my back again, as I chuckled in repose

That was Vladmir Olaf Trottski, a Russian immigrant working at the Equestrian Federal Penitentary E block, and my superior officer. I didn't know it at the time, but good ol' Vlad had been a rarity in those days on The Mile, a sort of incorruptable and young spirit that emitted from a pony in his late 60's. What I also didn't know at the time, is that Vlad fled from his home country due to, political misunderstandings, and found himself working The Mile, due to some, political negotiations. To this day, I still knew the man as Vladimir, the stallion who lived life to its fullest.

"So, Rookie. Are you not the least bit excited for your first day on The Mile?" He said emuding trails of ashy smoke that for whatever reason, decided to pool around my head.

Coughing and sputtering, I wheezed out my words, " Yeah...could be a lot warmer though. Do you HAVE to smoke right next to me?"

Vlad tipped his pipe and let some ashes descend into the canvas of the white blanket. The ashes sizzled, and faded, leaving no trace of their existence.

"Конечно немного капусты!" Trottski stated as he continued to ventilate his pipe, sending a column of smoke high into the snowy sky.

"I'm sorry, I don't speak Ruskie there Vlad." I said rolling my eyes.

"Izvinite, what my words meant were, 'But of course'. How else am I going to stay warm in this freezer box of weather?"

"Now here I thought you were a manly man Vlad, 'MANLY MAN PUFF OUT YOUR CHEST, AND BEAR YOUR BOSOM TO THE FRIGID'" I mimicked as I rubbed my chest mocking him and shaking my rump.

"Ohohohoho. Very good nemnogo kapusty, you have certainly shown me. By the way, I think you have fans with that dance routine of yours." He said as he motioned his head behind us.

I heard whistling and cat calling from the inmates behind the fence, as my face flushed red. Damn, outsmarted by the Ruskie. However to be honest, the embaressment did warm me up a little, but not in the way I had hoped.

Now, you are probably wondering why I am bringing all of this up, which is a very good question indeed. Well, I had a nickname a long time ago on The Mile. Ponies used to call me 'Brutal'. Sounds out of character right? A dainty little flower such as myself, being compared to a muscley brute. Well, on my first day on The Mile, I had experienced something that took away that notion of daitiness, and forever solidified that way of living as a Brute. God, if I known what would've happened on that day beforehand, I never would've left my old occupation... I would still...

Well...

How to put it.

You youngins nowadays dont really have a concept of what sexuality is. I mean you call it a different name nowadays, with all the kids running off and getting married, and having kids of their own, sending each other pictures of each others fancy parts, and having public displays of affection. Don't you groan at me, I know these things that you youngsters do!

Well, back then, things were a bit different, they weren't so public. If a fellow wanted a good time, he certainly couldn't go out and ask for one in a crowd. People back then were more reserved in that sort of nature, and don't even get me started on the womens needs.

Being a woman in those times were extremely hard, you had to act a certain, and keep a certain air about yourself, and well... I never really knew how to play ball with the notion.

There was a small community of entrepenurial ladies that followed the same philosophy, and well, it was business. I knew my skills, and I lived my trade, but it did not make me feel alive.

Thats why I took the offer to apply for The Mile, to step outside the boundries of what a woman's limitations were at the time, and to find more to life, than just empty night by night work.

Chapter 14

I don't mean to prattle on youngster, its just, *sniff* I miss him, I honestly do. Eh? It's not obvious to you? Well it should be, the whole fact that I'm speaking past term about a stallion and what not. How did he die? Now, hold your horses, I'll get to that part of the story. Eh? What does my first day at The Mile and my relationship with a Ruskie that I had just met have anything to do with the events that occurred in June 1947? Jeez, you sure are brash kid. Haven't your elders taught you anything of paitence? It's a virtue you know! Just because your young bones have all that youthful energy in them, doesn't mean you can't stop and sit down while listening to a lady's storytelling. You'll never settle yourself a mare if you can't even stop to take in the weight of the world sonny.

Now where was I? Oh yes, so there I was, shivering in the frigid freezerbox of a first day on The Mile, next to a man I had just met. As you can assume from the bits and pieces that I told you, that Vlad was, well, different than other stallions I had known. Something about that posture, that broad chest and shoulders. A manly essence that seemed to radiate from his being, a sort of aura that I felt inspired to, definately different than the men I had previousally dealt with in my life.

The smoky trail of the tobacco lifted high into the seemlessly eternal horizon, I shifted onto my honches and groaned.

"Now that is a lovely shade to your cheeks kaputsy." Vlad guffawed as he pulled out a gold pocketwatch and began twirling it around.

"S-shut up. Are you always this friendly to the ladies Mr Trottski? What would Mrs Trottski say?"

Suddenly, I felt it, something that maybe shouldn't have even crossed my mind. I thought I could play a little flirty, you know, the whole power in being a woman and all. I was still young, and I was bound to make youthful mistakes, but God have mercy on my tongue, and what lashes it gave out in those ignorant days of my youth.

The pocket watch descended in a free fall, and buried itself within the tundra of fluffy snow.

"Uh, Vlad, your watch..." I began to motion as I went to pick it up for him. His face was motionless, with a glare in his afixed on some long distance wonder that my eyes could not perceive.

"Hello? Vlaaaaaaaaaad? You in there?" I said waving my hoof in front of him.

"Yes....what would she say... if I could only know..." Vlad began whimpering behind his veil of manliness, I could swear I could see something of a tear descend from his eye. Nah, must be just the snow melting on his face.

"Vlad? Hello? Hey!" I yelled as I slammed my hoof into his back.

"OH!" Vlad jumped out of his stupor, "Ms Dash!" Vlad gritted his teeth at me as a fierce scowl manifested on his worn face.

Yikes, maybe I shouldn't have done that either.

Rage ran across his face, as his eyes began moving back and forth, as if in search.

"My watch....where is it?" He began to panickly state.

"I uh, It fell in the snow!" I began to say before getting shoved out the way by his massive stride.

"Nyet...nyet...where is it?" Vlad began digging at the ground, desparetly clawing for the keepsake.

Now with Vlad's eyes glued to the incomprehendible haystack that lay before him, and my sight on his struggle, we had both lost track of the surrounding, and what we were actually there to do.

Chapter 15

"Well, this isn't the most welcoming sight, but I suppose its nice to see both of you."

The voice came to a surprise to both of us, as I jolted into parade rest, as did Vlad.

"C-c-c-c-captain Cake! My deepest apologies for my unrofessionalism..." Vlad stuttered giving a quick salute despite his face running ragged with sweat. I followed suit, feeling abashed on top of my previous shame.

"Nonsense Lieutenant Trottski! I'm just glad you decided to come in today, despite today's peculiar weather." the frail pony in front of me spoke.

This man was the head officer of Equestria's Federal Penentary E Block, and the superior to my superior. Captain Eustace Mortimer Cake, a skinny fellow with not much to talk about to him. His uniform, although lined with a fine sheen of cleanliness and order, seemed to hang off his being. I could not even begin to imagine how he hadn't frozen with taking one step into this tundra.

"My my, and we have another new face here today! What's your name young missy?"

"I---I'm Rainbow Henrietta Dash, It's a pleasure to meet you Captain Cake!"

He chuckled slightly as he crossed his front hooves.

"Now now, no need to be so formal Ms Dash. Please, call me Eustace."

"A---affirmative Captain Eustace!" I spat out, nearly spitting out my nervousness. Nice going, great first impression there.

Eustace chuckled some more as he shook his head. "It's okay, first day jitters. We all had them once, right Vlad?"

Vlad guffawed as he held his broad shoulders back. "I never have any sort of jitters! I'm a proud Russian statue of bravery! AHAWHAWHAW"

Wow, that was kind of amazing how he was able to do a complete 360 with his emotions right there, but I think I understood the shift.

You see, there are faces we all must wear in our life times. Facsimillies of our true selves, and of our true emotions, a kind of mask if you will. Now ponies do this for a number of reasons, some of us do it because we simply can't stand who we are behind that mask, while others do it to hide weaknesses that they do not want to be seen. Other times, its just good for business, God knows how many times I've had to fake smiles, and tell somepony that you care for him. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to show my pure disgust, especially when someone climbs in between you, and tells you that your the moon to his night sky.

I knew that feeling, and I knew that mask. What pondered in my head, is what laid underneath that lie that Vlad had quickly adorned on his being?

"So, are you ready to meet your new co-worker Ms Dash?" Eustace broke through my self musing about what inner mysteries lie within the proud statue of a bravery that was Vladimir Olaf Trottski.

"Uh, yes sir! Is he in the van?" I said trying to keep all of my nervous energy behind my stride, desperately trying to follow Vlad's example of putting on a fake face.

"Well, yes and no Ms Dash." Eustace said with a bit of a chuckle. "He is indeed in the back of the Van, but SHE is in the passenger's side taking a few good deep breaths before she actually meets all of you." Eustace chuckled a bit rolling his eyes. "Interesting one that girl, when I interviewed her on the position, she was just a ball of energy, not unlike yourself Ms Dash, or so I've heard."

Yeah, my interview was... well, hopefully my co-worker didn't have the same kind of energy I had. I mean I interview well, but there is always some sort of deal sealer to these things, thats just how life is you know? The interviewer was none other than our beloved Warden Augustus Blueblood, nephew to Princess Celestia herself. Yeah, I'll say it before you even think it, Nepotism up and down the board.

Well, I don't think I have to remind you what my talents are a mastery of, or what the rumors are about the Warden are about. Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to be frank.

I fucked him, right there in his office. The interview was more fucking than it really was getting to know what The Mile was, or what I had to bring to the table. I laid myself out like a pin up girl and let him get to know me as much as he wanted to. All the while, forcing a smile on my face, even through all the violent shouts of "Take it you slut! Take my fucking royal seed you disease ridden whore!"

Yeah, I certainly had energy, but I did what had to be done.

"I think you two will get along just fine, you are awfully alot like each other you know." Eustace came in with his wrecking ball of monolog destruction.

"PRIVATE PIE? ARE YOU READY TO BEGIN YOUR DUTIES?" Eustace shouted begin his shoulder. The passenger side door opened, as a Pink pony, jumped out and trotted to the back of the inmate transport veichle as began fumbling with heavy locks.

Eustace rubbed his hooves in nervousness, "Don't mind her, she's just a bit shy."

*THUD CLANK* the doors of the transport swung openly loudly, as the prisoners behind the fence began clawing to catch a glimpse of the newest condemned soul, and of the freshest mare scent other than yours truly.

The Pink pony jumped into the back of the transport, and an eerie silence fell over all of us.

Something felt wrong, like life as I knew it was about to change.

Chapter 16

"P-private Pie?" Eustace stammered as seemed to be standing on pins and needles. My stomach sank, something was wrong. I could feel something run through my veins, an iciness different than what I felt on my skin. I twitched in worry, as Vlad began reaching toward his holster, as did Eustace.

"Comrade Pie? Are you okay?" Vlad slowly muttered as his hoof descended to his firearm.

Now I want to be honest with you kiddo, what happened next is the God's honest truth, a moment that changed my life forever, and to this day still leaves me with a scar on my soul. My hooves still shake talking about it, look! Look at them shaking, and no, that's not arthritis smart ass!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

The queer uneasiness of silence had erupted into a pure moment of panic as Vlad and Eustace drawn their firearms and dashed to the open back of the transport.

Shit! SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT! I reached for my firearm and followed after them, not really knowing what to expect when I did. Vlad and Eustace stood firmly, firearms drawn at the seemingly dark void of the transport back. I squinted, but I could see it. The Pink pony was kicking and struggling for her life, against the chains around her throat. The inmate was at least three times her size, and he smirked with every twitch she gave, as if he loved every second of it.

My hooves shook, I could feel that iciness run through my veins as I stared at his glaring wickedness there in the complete darkness.

He seemed to detect me, as he shot me a stare that pierced me right through my soul.

I swear...I swear I could hear it.

"Take it. You slut."

I slammed my eyes shut as I felt the rush of frozen shame run through my body like an avalanche of torrid rapids. My heart was on the verge of explosion, and I could not bear it no longer.

I....pulled the trigger.

I don't remember all the details after that, but everything seemed like it was in slow motion. I remember the smoking gun falling into the snow, as Eustace ran towards the pink pony, holding her in his hooves. I stood frozen, hooves shaking in shock, as the blood in my body began to solidify in what I had just done. I remember Vlad grabbing and shaking me to try to break me out of my trance. His lips moved, but nothing came out, I couldn't hear him....

Oh God, what....have I done? I knew...well, I knew I would be an executioner, but...not, not like this...oh god.

I could feel my head spinning out of control, as if I felt the very hands of Hell dragging me into an eternal grief for my crime.

"STICK OUT YOUR CHEST NEMOGO KAPUSTY! BURY YOUR AGONY! I IMPLORE YOU RIGHT THIS SECOND!"

Those words...it was like a mighty hammer smashing through all my insecurities and woes, like if the word of God almighty had cast away the longing grip of Hell's emissaries.

"V-vlad?" I weakly whimpered through my shock.

"Da, you are okay. It's all okay." I felt a hoof around my shoulders as warmth came over me.

"COMRADE CAKE! SHE IS OKAY! HOW IS COMRADE PIE?" Vlad shouted to Eustace.

"She's fine, a bit shaken, but she's fine." He responded, as he helped the Pink pony out of the transport. She was coughing and holding her neck. It was swollen and bloody, definately going to leave a scar on her, both on her body and her mind.

She swayed slightly, and stumbled her way in the snow, blood noting her trail. I do remember that sight, those wide open eyes like something had shattered in her mind, a kind of tragedy that can't really be described, but I knew it. I definately knew it.

As she stumbled by Vlad and I, I could her see her smile a bit at me.

"T-thank you, I wouldn't have....well...you know." she weakly whimpered in pain.

"Y-yeah... no problem... Ms.." I replied with the same weakness to my voice.

"Pinkie....call me Pinkie. What's your name?"

Now at this point, you would think that a normal person would just respond to such a simple question with a simple response. 'What's your name mister? Well, my name is Bobby and you?'

I can tell you, for whatever reason there was on this world, I simply could not find that answer in my mind. Its as if a fissure had erupted within my soul, splitting me right down the middle, and right through my core.

I can't really give you a viewpoint, but I could definately give you a description. Now keep in mind, this didn't magically happen in some random dimension or something, it's just a way to artisically describe the fissure inside my mind at the point.

It was as if I stood on the precipace of a mountain top, one side engulfed in a wintery blizzard, with winds gnashing away at the foundation of the structure. The other side, a sea of molten rock fire, and hellish geysers of magma jutting from every crevice as fissured carved through the landscape.

I looked down at the wintery storm side, and I could see this hulking behemoth striding its way to the peak where I stood. It did not roar, it did not stumble, it simply made its way to the peak.

I stumbled aback on my footing, and nearly fell into the hot magma of the other side as I felt the rush of hot air blow through my core. I could see in the endless wasteland a wicked monstrosity of a beast made of flames pounce and dash its way to the peak of the mountain as well,both horrors, with the same climax, me.

I felt a cold wind slash right through me, as I turned around and stood before an icy golem 40 feet high.

The icy titan glared down at me, and held its hoof around me, as if wanting to pick me up. Before I could struggle, the monstrosity made out of flame leapt towards the titan, fangs bore and claws aflame. The battle was short, with a mighty back hand of its arm, the flame mostrosity was flung into the cold barren winter, tumbling and screeching with every impact.

The Frozen Golem resumed its glare at me, as it lifted me up into the air, roaring in victory. Its chest began opening like a fissure thawing out to summers heat. I could feel myself being lowered into that crevice, as I tried clawing at any sort of escape. It felt cramped, and horrible as I could feel icicles began piercing my soul, and I began screaming in agony.

My prison closed, leaving me in complete darkness.

".....Brutal. My name is Brutal." The words escaped my lips, not even thinking about it beforehand.

"It's nice to meet you Brutal..." Pinkie whimpered before her eyes rolled back, and she passed out.

Eustace quickly grabbed her and began walking her away. The warmth around my honches had disappeared, as I no longer felt anything.

"Are you okay Ms Dash?" I could hear his voice, but it seemed so distant to me. I looked away and stared into the distance of the canvas of white.

"It's just a mask isn't it Vlad?" I said coldly as I began trotting away. "Just like yours."

*CRUNCH* I raised my hoof and looked down. Vlad's pocketwatch, smashed in two underneath my hooves. I picked up the ruined keepsake and felt nothing as I gave it to him.

"Sorry." I apologized with the fakest sincerity possible.

"Nyet. Is no trouble. Come, let us go inside comrade." Vlad said from under his facisimille of manliness, hiding his obvious pain at the sight.

Chapter 17

It was by that time the remaining prison staff had arrived and did what they needed to, to our recently introcdrinated and departed guest to The Mile. I looked behind my shoulder and saw a stretcher covered with a white blanket being rolled out of the transport, and I felt the iciness grab a hold of my heart again.

Good.

Vlad fumbled with the iron door handle, and swung it open.

He and I walked in, and slammed the door behind us.

It was my first execution on The Mile, and it was the shortest recorded duration of any inmate, before and after that day.

However, I did not know it at the time, that on the day of Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938, there would be two executions at The Mile by my hooves.

Do be a dear sonny, care to fetch me a box of tissues for this next part of my story, because it is a far more sorrowful tale that what I have just told you. Yes, more sorrowful than creating a seperate version of myself to hide my grief, and watching my innocence die at my own hooves.

Yes, they're in the cabinet on the left. Oh, why do I have so many boxes of tissues? Well, I haven't told you all of the story quite yet, about the events in the summer of 1947 and I seem to need all of them when I do.

But for this part, one will suffice.

So came to pass my first morning on The Mile. A hell of an introduction to be made right? I know I know, you are waiting for the good part, just settle on down and hold onto your box of tissues, pass me one along too dearie. I can feel the tears already leaking through when I remember this part...

Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. 11:00

"Why the hell should I have to see him about this?" I lashed out slamming my hooves on the oak office table, panting heavily in an abnormal rage. God, what is...happening to me? First I feel nothing, and now...I feel this flood of emotion running through my skin like I'm ablaze with fury. Sweat dripping off my brow, I glare daggers into Vlad's eyes, or at least his crop top, since he was busily scribbling down on a piece of manuscript.

"Private Dash. Although your actions were quick, decisive, and saved the life of Private Pie, you still acted rashly." He looked up and gave me the sternest glare anyone could ever muster. "You have took the life of a man, with your own two hooves."

"SO WHAT?" I slammed my hooves on finely polished and spotless table. "HE WAS GOING TO DIE ANYWAY. WHY SHOULD I GIVE A DAMN ABOUT A MURDERER?"

My slamming was met with more slamming as Vlad stood up angrily. "PRIVATE DASH, DO NOT YOU UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF LIFE?"

The blaze under my skin was roasting my innards, I could feel rage boiling from underneath my eyeballs and I could not stop my lashing tongue.

"WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT ITS VALUE TO MEN WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT IT AT ALL?"

*SLAM*

An akward silence echoed through the halls of The Mile. Its as if the hand of God himself came crashing down on that office desk, and silenced even the bacteria living on it.

Vlad continued to say nothing as he began reaching through the drawers in search of something that would bring his arguement to a close. To my surprise, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and held it in my direction.

"Do you smoke Comrade?"

"No, I absolutely don't. It's a horrid habit, and kills you from the inside out."

Vlad smirked a bit, as he threw the pack at me. Naturally, being quick with my hooves, I grabbed it before it even hit my chest.

"Maybe that's the point da?" he said as he reached into his pocket, and retrieved his tobacco pipe. With a quick flick, he nestled a flame of a match between his hooves and dipped it into the toxic bowl of cancerous spew.

With a quick vent, the trails of smoke began to rise once again, leaving my head and stomach nauseated.

"Cough....kaff.... so what's....kaff.... what's the deal with the pipe? You honestly are telling me you want to die?"

Vlad turned and faced the single window overlooking the prison yard. Kind of cliche if you ask me, but this is coming from an execution wing of a Federal Penitentary that colored Pink. PINK FOR GOD'S SAKE!

"Private Dash." I could hear him say, as if not to me, but for some unseen person miles away, a certain solemness to his voice. Looks like the mask of manliness is off. " For reasons that I bound from saying, I can not tell you all the events that led my being here."

Chapter 18

He turned around and glanced deeply into my eyes. It was a good 17 feet away, the distance between Vlad and I, but that stare, it felt like we were face to face, and soul to soul. "However, I can allow you to know some things."

"As you know of the current world events, Russia has gone through some major changes in the past few years. Many ponies died, many of whom I knew personally. My comrades, my friends. Sometimes in wide spread fire, sometimes one by one as they slept in their homes at night."

Vlad continued puffing away at his pipe, the stench of tobacco filling up The Mile.

"Soon, the blood became too much for my family and I, we began fearing for our own lives. So, with some, comrades, in Canterlot to rely on, My wife, daughter and I had planned on escaping the turmoil."

I could feel the squirm of rage and anger creep up my spine, like some viscous fluid, sentient and alive with malice. My ears awaited each word, and every word fueled this growing urge, I longed for climax.

"My wife....Odessa, and my daughter Anayssa... we were supposed to meet at the Kalkidrinhoof Station. I had already boarded our escape." His hooves began shaking as the trail of smoke started turning into rapid puffs of emotion. If there were any Injins around, I'm quite sure they'd be wondering what in the hell he was communicating.

"What I wasn't expecting was a station checkpoint. When I went through the station just 10 minutes earlier, I had no trouble. I was to forge on ahead, and make sure there were no government dogs watching the station. I thought they would be safe.

Vlad reached for the shattered pocketwatch, and held it close to his chest.

"I watched as my wife and daughter stepped onto the platform and I watched in horror as Soviet guards surrounded them."

The puffs of smoke began turning into firey red ashes, as it an inferno began raging within Vlad's pipe.

"NYET! I stood up and began racing for the exit. I was stopped in the aisle by, well... I can't say whom, but they stopped me despite my raging spirit. 'NYET MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER!' I screamed at them."

Vlads hooves quaked mightly as tears began streaming down his face.

"'There's no time, I'm sorry sorry. THE TRAIN NEEDS TO GO NOW!' I felt the train slowly begin to churn as he slowly made our way off. NYET NYET ODESSA! ANAYSSA! I tackled through my obstacle and sprinted to the train exit. I bashed the door over and over again, screaming out their names, but it was to no avail. The door had been fortified with some magic unknown to me. I looked out the window and saw them... for the last time.

Vlad's tears ended, as his face fell downward.

"They were on their knees, with their hooves behind their head. As the train moved onward... I heard it. I could hear my nemnogo kapusty cry out. 'Papa'. The train whistle sounded, deafening the loud thunderclap of gunfire."

Vlad sat back down in the single office chair as he tipped his pipe, emptying it of all its contents onto the floor of The Mile.

"I alone, escaped Mother Russia. I couldn't save my beloved, and I couldn't save the daughter that we had raised for 20 years"

With another flick of his hoof, another match was lit up, and he began puffing away once more on his pipe. "You know Private Dash, I used to hate smoking too. Nowadays, I can't seem to get enough of it in my system."

It was at that point the fissure in my heart began cracking even more, I was torn in my emotions, and how to react to this. Sure, a normal pony would be bawling their eyes out, but for me at that moment, I didn't know what to feel. The inferno of rage, the bitterness of reality, and the whirling tide of sadness, it was all too much. I quickly shook my head and let the chilly frost of callousness take over me.

"I see." I could actually feel my words turn to mist as I spoke them. "So you work here now to keep a low profile?"

"Da. Maybe... its self retribution, after all this place..."

Vlad said as he began staring off into the halls of The Mile, as if taking in a sort of solemn interlude.

"Where murderous and monsters of men come to die....It suits me." Vlad flatly stated, as he puffed into his pipe.

God, I wanted to hold him and cry in his shoulders. I just wanted him to know that it wasn't his fault, and that I emphasized with him. I just... shouldn't have been so cold to him. If there was anything I could've done different that day, it would've been that moment, right there.

Vlad trotted back to the bureau, and began jotting down onto that same manuscript once more. I could tell by the tense air of depression and sorrow, that our conversation had ended. God, I felt sick, like someone took a heated blade and sliced right through my insides with it. The sort of churning in my stomach, added by knots of twitching flesh, it was enough to make any mortal mare vomit.

I walked over to the iron door, might as well get to the Warden's office and explain this whole mess of a dead inmate, and an unconscious new hire. Ugh, I am not looking forward to this, especially on my first day.

Before I put my hoof on that seemingly gigantic iron studded door, I looked back at Vlad, and as if something unknown had seized control of my tongue, I blurted out.

"Hey Lieutenant Trottski!"

Vlad poked his head up from his manuscript and turned in my direction.

"Yes Private Dash?" he asked in repose.

"My name is Brutal. Don't ever forget that." At that moment, I could see the metaphorical dagger spit from my mouth and stab him right in his chest. I didn't look at what expression he had, nor did I care to, I opened the iron door in front of me, and I slammed it behind me.

Chapter 19

I really don't know who was the building engineer for the Penitentary, but I really would've like to known what in world he was thinking by placing the Warden's office in block A.

I'm sorry sonny, I'm describing things without giving them proper description. Well, did you know that the Equestrian Federal Penitentary also had a nickname? Yeah! I bet you thought it was only E Block! Nope, every block had a nickname and so did the whole complex. Now before you get your panties into a bind, I will tell you all you want to know about it.

You see, The entire complex was called "Alighieri Infernus", after that one book that you may know, because we worked a lot like different circles. A Block was for sexual offenders, "The Abyss". B Block was for thieves and crooks, "The Den". C Block was for the petty crook, those who did not warrant a long sentence,"The River". D Block was for money and business crimes, strange folk there, heard talk awhile back about an inmate doing guard's income taxes, "The Swamp". Finally, there was us, E Block, where ponies who murder, and dissidents to the throne of Canterlot were condemned to die. "The Mile."

I was not particulary fond of walking through The Abyss, especially since ponies known for molestation and rape lay only an inch and three quarters of iron away from them and you. It was like some sort of haunted house, arms reaching out from the bars, moaning and grunting.

"Hey pretty lady, why don't you stop on by....I'll treat you to a good time heheheh..."

I threw my shoulders back and made my way onwards, avoiding the grabby hooves of the lustful inmates.

"HEY SLUT!"

It froze me right in my tracks, as if it was an electric shock right to my core.

"Yeah you, you heard me. Slut. Get yer pretty little ass over here."

I could feel it again, that viscous thump of anger crawling its way up and down my spine, as if directed by some primodial urge, I trotted over, nostrils flaring and tail flicking at unimaginable speeds.

"WHAT."

Yeah, that's right. Go make me a fried chicken dinner with gravy on the taters, I want to shit in your mouth, and have you sit on my face, because I am one horny motherfucker!" he snaked out as he pulled his...well, man parts and shoved it through the bars, twitching it at me.

God as my witness, I am truly apologetic now for what I did in the days of my youth.

I reached back and grabbed my bullystick, and cracked the vile member right in the middle. I heard him scream, and oh it felt good.

I did it again and again, every blow hitting across twitching flesh. Every cry of his anguish only fueling my rage even further. Over and over, I bashed that...thing until it began leaking fluid. Oh God....he really wasn't....

A crimson creme color oozed on the floor in front of me, I just....did he just?

"Yeah. Hurts so good. Slut." He whimpered in agony.

The uproar in The Abyss became insane, as I heard the other inmates cheering for their fellow man. "YEAH SHE TOTALLY WAS INTO YOU MAN!" "SHIT! SHE JACKED HIM OFF! SHE JACKED HIM OFF! OFFICER SLUTSKI HERE!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

The inmate who I had inadvertingly popularized began to slink back into his cell, I could see that smug look of success on his face as he threw me a wink.

"Not yet." I quietly uttered.

"Huh? Speak up slut. Can't hear you over your whore mouth!"

" I SAID NOT YET!" I quickly grabbed his bleeding, uh...thing.

"H-hey! Get off me bitch! I'm done already!"

"Not yet you fucking bastard, you ain't done yet!" I hissed as I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my utility knife.

"You like pain freak?"

The inmate shook his head violently in disapproval, struggling against the bars as he trying to pull back from my coup de grace. I plunged the tip of the blade into my target, and the scream I could hear seemed to echo throughout The Abyss, silencing all who stood within.

I let go and threw the knife at his cellmate, who all the while was motioning in a thrusting motion with his hooves towards his nethers.

Finally the guards from A Block arrived and quickly pushed me aside. A grey pegasus looked me right in the eyes, well, one did, the other seemed to glare out the window.

"What happened here?" she asked angrily, as her coworker ran to get the medic.

"I was walking by, and these two got in a fight about who was going to plow me first. This freak stabs this queer in the dick, open and shut."

She glares at me and the window intensely, as if contemplating the amount of bullshit I just had given here.She pushes me aside and looks over to the inmate crawled up in his cell crying like a baby, holding his nethers.

"Guess karma runs deep,Panzram. At least you won't be sodomizing anything else in your pathetic excuse of a life except for a cast.

"F-f-fuck you retarded bitch!" Panzram welped behind his tears of agony. The grey pegasus looked back at me and cocked her head as if asking permission for something. I nodded my head, and turned away.

It was really an icy day out, snow covered the yard and the road. Honestly, there was so much white out there, I bet not even the squrills would be able to see anything if front of them.

The wind must have been pretty wicked too to cut through the window of The Abyss I was looking at. It certainly pounded against the brick walls, like it was wailing in agony and woe.

"Fwaaaaah. Much better." I heard behind me, I knew that was my cue to turn back around.

My God....

"Yeah, looks like your right, but you left a teensy little detail about how terrible the fight was. I thought think either of them are ever going to walk again." She wiped her blouse and cocked her head at me.

"Men can be so violent at times." she said sticking her tongue in play.

I...I, this isn't what I wanted...I just wanted to see him squirm. I could see Panzarm trying to utter something through his swollen broken face, hoof grasping at my direction.

"Oh! Looks like he broke his hoof in the fight too!" The grey pegasus said as she reached trough the bars, dragged his front hooves out, and smashed them underneath her own with the wickedess look upon her face.

"S-stop it! You've done enough" I blurted out, pulling her away from the cell.

"No I haven't, he's still breathing..." she pulled her head out and yelled past me. "YEAH I CAN HEAR YOU SOBBING FREAK."

"You can't do this...he's still..." I found myself stuttering.

"What? A Pony? HAH! Don't make me laugh, he's a FREAK, and a CRIMINAL. Ponies like him don't have value, I'm just finally glad I could get the courage to do what I did."

Wait, what?

"You inspired me, I knew his cellmate didn't stab him, we here at Block A have a daily cell check, just to make sure we don't have weapons."

Oh sweet merciful Celestia...

"I'm not dumb sweetie, that FUCKER probably did something to you that really ticked you off, and you finally did the right did that all of us ladies here at Block A have wanted to do for a loooooooong time."

No, it can't be, I....

"Now, we have nothing to fear. YOU HEAR THAT YOU SICK FUCKS? WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF YOU. SO KEEP YOUR BITCH MOUTHS SHUT, OR WE'LL CUT ALA YOUR DICKS OFF!"

The halls of The Abyss stood silent, in either shock, fear, or dismay. In my first day as an officer of The Mile, I had infected my rage against men to my fellow women.

I don't understand why the Warden would have all the women guards pooled here in The Abyss, seems kind of self defeating of the notion of it being the block for sexual offenders. I can't imagine the daily lives of these women, being eyed up like they are moving prey, but... the thing I have unleashed upon them, this spirit of rage.

I...

"So that's what happened right? I'll cover you, and you'll cover me, when I tell the other girls about it, they'll definately cover you too."

"I...uh... well... I won't go around telling this story, but you can't either." I said desparetly trying to fan off the flames I had lit.

"Why not? Finally we can fight back against our aggressors! Why didn't I see it before? We are the law here, we can dish out anything we want!"

I slammed my hoof right next to her head as she gave a small yelp. "They are still ponies, they are still living beings, yeah...they are FREAKS... but they still are living beings. You shouldn't treat your enemy as they would treat you."

She shook, as if anticipating retribution from me, and I sighed.

"Look. It's not that I don't feel you, it's just... maybe threatening to cut off their dicks in the middle of the night is a little much."

"W-wha...what do we do then?" she shook as her eyes shrank in desperation of falling back into being prey.

I looked at my hooves, and I looked at the wall I had slammed, damn...I cracked the tile with the amount of force.

"Tell them... they'll get a visit from Brutal if they act up."

"W-who's Brutal?"

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself." I turned around and boasted on the top of my lungs. "MY NAME IS RAINBOW BRUTAL DASH, AND IF YOU ACT UP TOWARDS MY FELLOW OFFICERS, YOU WILL HAVE A PERSONAL APPOINTMENT BY ME, AND IT'LL BE A NIGHT YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!"

I heard one whoop from a cell before a loud smack and a pony scolding the other. "You idiot, she means she'll cut your dick off."

I turned back to the Grey Pegasus, and smiled. "There, I'll take the burden, let me know if anything happens alright? I work over at The Mile, well... at least I hope so still, considering everything that has happened in the past few hours."

" Oh, I heard about that. So that was you huh?"

I felt my eyes glaze over slightly, and that twinge of iciness tug at my heart.

"Yeah, that was me." I shook my head and the feeling off. "Hey, the Warden's office is up these stairs right?"

"Uh, yeah, just be careful alright?" The grey pegasus said as she watched me trot off.

"I don't know who is worse. The inmates or him." She finished saying, as I flicked my tail and made my way towards my destination.

Chapter 20

I want to warn you ahead of time sonny, this part of the story isn't a fun one. There is nothing entertaining about the words I am about the utter from my lips, there is nothing but anguish and the absolute worse of evils that will be said in these very words.

Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. 13:00

I stood in front of the Cherry wood door of the Warden's office, not really sure what to expect. I ran the events through my head again and again, hoping to find some way to come out of this clean.

Nope, I was fucked, by every definition of the phrase, I was definately going to lose my job. I could feel my teeth grind away, how the hell am I going to make things work out now? I began pacing, and swallowed my thoughts. Yeah, that that iciness flow through me again, so what?

I can just pick up and start all over again, it doesn't matter to me.

Whooooooooooooo alright Rainbow, let's do this.

I grabbed the handle, and made my way inside. The Warden's office was still just as it was the first time I came in. Pictures of Augustus Blueblood in countless photo ops, numerous commendations of his service to the public, and of course, the coat of ars, right above his Cherrywood bureau, the very same bureau that gave me my employment at The Mile.

"Ah, Ms Dash, excellent. Please, do sit down." Warden Blueblood stated as he pulled his head up from some paperwork.

I trotted over and sat down in front of him, only the table of shame keeping us apart.

"Now. As I have heard from around the blocks, you executed an inmate at 09:10, with a single gunshot, while he was strangling one of your fellow guards. Is this correct?"

"Y-yes sir."

He spun around in his crimson padded office chair and faced out toward the window overlooking the complex.

"I dare say, you've managed to break a new record. One and a half minute of a duration until execution on Block E. I must say I am impressed..." He paused for a moment as he raised his hoof. "Yet, I am oh so very disappointed at the same time."

He turned back around and held his hooves together, as if comtemplating some sort of reasonable punishment for my transactions. For whatever reason, I felt a bit of nausea kick in, alongside the iciness underneath my skin, and blaze creeping up my spine.

"You see, I have to explain this to my aunt. The Princess of Equestria, you know her." He began pushing some of the piles of paperwork aside on his desk.

"Celestia. Ruler and Sovereign of all the nations, God herself in the flesh?" I could feel my stomach knotting upon itself over and over, the queer mixture of fury and coldness running through my mind and soul. What...is...my body trying to tell me?

"Now, I run a nice little shift, I get things done. Everything is in order, and I keep it that way. So when a little....pissant goes and ruins the schedule..."

He begins reaching into his drawer, all the while my senses overloading at the fury of battle inside my being.

"It brings up questions. Questions that really don't need to be asked Ms Dash. Questions like, 'Why did you put a woman in Block E?' 'Why are all the women in Block A?' 'What exactly are your hiring procedures Warden Blueblood?'

He began chuckling, as he stopped in mid sentence.

"You know why you got the position in Block E right?"

I fidgeted in my seat a little. "Because... equal opprotunity right?"

"BAHAHAHA, No." He guffawed as he threw his bangs to the side.

"You got the position in Block E, because I didn't want to see your peasant face. I didn't want to hear your fucking voice, and I sure as fuck did not need to be reminded that you fucking exist. You got the position for being a fucking slut, someone so disgusting that I wouldn't even want to look at. "

He threw his arms behind his head. "Sure, I was going to put you in Block A with all my other bitches, but just something about you...disgusted me. You took it like a whore, a complete trashy whore."

At this point, my body was raging with tutulumous amount of mixed emotions, ranging from a blazing fury, to an icy solemness. I can't believe this mother fucker.

"So what?" I blurted out. "Yeah, I'm a whore, what are you going to do about it? How are you really going to stop me from going to anyone about this? What you've just said is pretty damning as it is." I said with a confident smirk on my face.

Blueblood started pounding on his desk in severe laughter. What the hell was so funny?

"Ms Dash. You are in the Abyss, where ponies sent to live out the remainder of their days for SEXUAL crimes against them. I'm just going to say you were raped to death by one of the inmates and no one is going to question it."

Wait...what?

Before I knew it I felt a jolt to my throat as I was slammed onto the hard cherrywood table. I could feel my spine crack from of the impact. I tried flapping my wings to escape, but it was to no avail... its as if they were binded...oh God.

Warden Augustus Blueblood was a Unicorn, and Unicorns know magic. Blueblood crept on top of the Cherrywood desk and bent down near my face. "Now doesn't this seem familiar Ms Dash? It seems only two weeks ago, we were in this same scenario...but this time, its your resignation." I could feel his heated breath on my neck, Oh sweet merciful Celestia, please no. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no.

I felt him squat his honches as he inched closer and closer to me. "GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME YOU FREAK!" I threw out my hoof and struck his jaw. Blueblood took the blow and chuckled. "Yeah, fight back. That's how I like it."

I tried with all my might to clench my legs together, but his damn magic, I could feel my hope diminishing with every pry of my thighs.

Someone. Anyone. Help.

Chapter 21

I closed my eyes, and awaited the inevitable. Suddenly, I could feel the weight lifted from on top of me as I heard a loud cry.

"ублюдок!!!!!!!!!!!" I quickly opened my eyes and saw Blueblood huddled over in pain, clutching his horn in pain and Vlad standing with rage fueled eyes.

"Trottski....wait, I can explain!!!!!! AAAAAAACK" Blueblood began to state before he was cut short from Vlad's hoof being driven into his chest, knocking all the wind from his being.

"You....you....SLANDEROUS CUR!!!! HOW COULD I EVER LET A HORRIBLE WORM AS YOURSELF YOU GET IN THE WAY OF RESCUING MY FAMILY?" Vlad stated as he picked up Warden Blueblood by his coatsleeves and slammed his face into the back of the chair I was sitting on.

"WAS ALL THIS YOUR DOING TOO? KEEPING ME LOCKED HERE SO THAT I COULD MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE SOME SAINT?" Vlad continued to beat down on Blueblood, rage fueling every blow. Vlad...please, stop.

"AND NOW YOU ARE RAPING MY COWORKER? HOW MANY LIVES HAVE YOU DESTROYED YOU PATHETIC MAN?" Vlad slammed his hooves into Bluebloods ribs, cracking them as he screamed out in agony.

Vlad pulled back his hoof for a finishing blow, but at that moment I grabbed his hoof. In the midst of the pummling Blueblood's binding wore off on me, allowing me this freedom.

"Don't... he's....a living being too." The magnitude of emotional turmoil within my heart was reaching a horrible climax, and every word I spoke starting revealing how insane I really was. I mean really, how insane is it that I am telling my saviour, to spare my aggressor, because they are a living being?

"Comrade... there's more to this than just that, please... let me honor my wife and daughter by disposing of the filth that rid them of me." He said as tears began streaking down his face.

"Honor them by sparing him. Don't do this Vlad. Please." I said, taking him into my arms, and helping him lower his. I felt his arms wrap around me, as tears fell upon my head.

"I'm so sorry....I'm so sorry nemnogo kapusty...please...forgive Papa." I could hear Vlad whimper as he petted my mane, tears rushing down his face.

I pulled my face away from his chest and stared up at his streaking face, "Thank yo-"

Suddenly a white horn burst through Vlad's chest, as blood began pooling around the wound.

"VLAD!" I screamed out, as his heavy body crumpled to the floor. Blueblood smirked as he wiped the blood from his horn, standing over his fallen foe.

"You just don't get it do you Trottski? Since you don't have long, I might as well spill all my secrets. I tipped off the guards, and had your family executed, all the while gaining the public appeal factor for rescuing a Russian refugee from the oppressive holds of a tyrannical government, who executed his own family right in front of him.

Blueblood limped over and kicked Vlad in the ribs. "Don't you get it ' Butcher General of The Red Army?' I BECAME A FUCKING PUBLIC HERO BECAUSE OF YOU. All of this around you?" Blueblood motioned to all his commendations and awards, "It's all because of you, so this is my way of saying thanks. Murderer."

Blueblood levitated Vlad's pistol and held it point blank at his forehead.

"Now that you've been useful, it's only fair you go out the same way your wife and daughter did. Not like you won't die anyway...."

A loud thunderclap silenced the office.

My hooves trembled as I lowered my pistol, the quake of emotional turmoil I felt inside me subsided as only a wave of grief poured over my soul.

"You....shot...me. You...whore." A pool of blood began dripping from Warden Blueblood's nethers as he backed away in pain. Stumbling over his hooves, I saw him begging to the numerous guards outside the office who had appairently been watching ever since Vlad busted down the door.

"Anyone....someone...help." He weakly muttered, I saw the grey pegasus walk up to him and spit in his face. Warden Blueblood stumbled backwards over in shock, unknowing of the rails behind him. I saw him trip, and I heard a loud scream, followed by a terrible crashing sound, like bones being shattered, followed by a silence that seemed to echo through The Abyss.

Chapter 22

"Nemnogo....kapusty..." I heard a weak whimper from beside me.

"Vlad! Oh God, stay with me Vlad. Please don't die on me, you bastard."

"Do....you smoke....Comrade?"

"Y--yeah." I pulled out the pack of cigarettes and drew a cigarette for him. With a quick flick of my hooves, I held the lit cigarette to his mouth as he smiled.

"You...look just like her." Vlad smiled softly as he shoved his pocketwatch into my hooves.

I opened to pocketwatch, and felt my soul heave with a tidal wave of grief as I looked at the picture in the top portion. There was Vlad, Odessa and Anayssa, all standing together, smiling together. He's right...it's like looking into a mirror of myself.

"Stay...strong... my little cabbage... for Papa."

"Vlad? No! VLAD! DON'T YOU DIE ON ME!" I slammed my hooves down on his chest, trying to give what little I could.

The cigarette fell from his mouth, and his eyes closed. Vladmir Olaf Trottski, The General of The Red Army, My Superior Officer, and...my saviour had gone.

I wanted to cry, I honestly wanted to burst with tears and push away every guard that came in and tried to take me away from him, but I couldn't...I had to stay strong , for Vlad. It was at that moment, every single emotion I held was sealed away behind that mask. I had to remain strong, for Vlad, for the women in The Abyss, and for myself.

Inside my soul, I felt that mountain crumble, and the winter encompass all sides. I became one with that frozen titan, and through its eyes I began to see.

I picked up the cigarette and held it to my lips. I took a heavy drag inward, hoping that something would melt behind my frigid exterior. It was the first of many, but none could ever succeed.

As I was escorted by The Abyss guards out of the office, I looked over the guard rails. There was the corpse of Warden Blueblood, neck broken, laying in a pool of his own blood.

It was my first day working The Mile, and already I had taken two lives.

Chapter 22

Some major changes happened after the events that took place on Monday, Feburary 16th, 1938. The official story was taught Vlad and Warden Blueblood had gotten into a quarrel over Vlad's rescue from Russia, and that it turned deadly for the both of them. Vlad fired a shot as he was gored by Blueblood, Blueblood stumbled over from the blow and fell to his death. I remember the questioning, and it was hard to lie about it. Rest assured, everyone on Block A had my back covered, but still. It felt so wrong placing the blame on the man who saved my life.

I decided to keep my job at Block E, and grew relatively close with Pinkie, we even became something like friends, or at least amiable co-workers. Eustace was chosen to take up the title of Warden, and he immediately opened the doors to all Blocks for the female guards to pursue if they chose so. Many of them took him up on the offer, while others remained in The Abyss.

Since Eustace was now Warden Cake, and Vlad, God rest his soul, was taken from us, we were certainly understaffed at The Mile. It didn't stop us from doing our God given ability, but it sure made the days creep. I didn't let it phase me one bit, everyday I wore that proud, unbreakable spirit, that would not allow even a smile to creep through on my face. It wasn't until June of 1940 when we had some help come in, and wouldn't you know it? Two females, one a chipper unicorn with the happiest of attitudes, and the other, some cowgirl hick with a thick attitude problem.

I even got the pocketwatch fixed! It wasn't that hard, just picking up some parts and tinkering around in my spare time. I keep it on me at all times, to remind me that I must remain strong. Always, no matter how frigid I must become. A woman such as myself should be able to bear my chest against such colds, and be strong for the sake of others.

That was my belief, and that was my tribute to Vlad.

It would take nine years to show how really wrong I was.