Cold Beginnings

I. Cold Beginnings

The mare sat slouched over her desk. Papers scattered across the oak surface, files of a particular stallion. A black marker lay uncapped on the desk beside an empty mug, the brown ring stained in the bottom of the cup from the coffee consumed hours ago.

The mare's gaze was flat, lifeless and cold. Staring down at the one sentence unmarked by black. The one last piece of sensitive information of the file. The name of the young stallion. All other data erased, dates, doctors, places. All that was left were the dwindling two words, 'Reace Faust.'

The mare let a small sigh escape her mouth as the marker levitated into the air with a soft glow of blue magic. The marker pressed against the name, permanently erasing it from the file.

"Be gone." The mare cooed softly to herself, a pleasing smile creeping along her cheeks as she looked at the sheet of paper.

The mare's deep crimson eyes darted along the rows of words, her smile growing at each bracket of black, every last piece of important information wiped from every file. All expect the small insignia marked at the bottom of the page.

RKF.

With a gentle twitch of the mare's ear, her head shot up in an instant. Looking to the door to her office. The mare scowled lightly as a there was a small knocking at the door.

"What is it." The mare asked as the door opened slowly, the head of a young mare peeking through the small crack.

"Uh... Uh... There's someone here to see you, Ma'm..." The young mare stuttered before slipping back behind the door, only to be opened further by an armored solider.

The mare's scowl hardened as she cocked a brow.

"And what is this..." The mare questioned with a teasing tone.

"I was requested to come see you, ma'm." The armored stallion responded, standing up straight as the mare stood up from her desk, pushing the black framed glasses further up the bridge of her muzzle.

"Ah yes." The mare paused, shuffling the papers around her desk into one, neat pile. "You must be Vagabond." The mare didn't bother to look up at the stallion for verification instead the stallion replied. "Yes, Ma'm."

Slowly the mare's gaze lifted back to the stallion. Short, neatly combed back rusty mane, dark slate eyes and a dark coat. "Hm." The mare started, looking over the rims of her glasses. "Short, simple answer. No background nonsense, no playing around. Perfect." The mare straightened her posture as she stepped out from behind the desk, towering over the young stallion.

"Now tell me, do you know why I have requested you." The mare asked bluntly. The stallion didn't look away from the mare, a hint of a familiar yet pleasing look in his eyes. Fear.

"No Ma'm. I was simply told to-" The stallion was cut off once the mare raised a hoof, signalling enough was said.

"Then I shall elaborate." The mare turned back to the desk, the pile of papers lifting towards her with the aid of magic.

The mare turned back to Vagabond, holding the files out to him. Gingerly the stallion reached out a hoof, taking hold of the small pile, a puzzled look on his face. "You are aware of what research is conducted in this facility, yes?" The mare asked, letting the stallion have more than a two worded response.

"Yes... Ma'm." The stallion started, looking down at the files. "Medicinal experimentation, Ma'm." The stallion gave his final response as the mare nodded, closing her eyes briefly.

"Yes, indeed. And I have requested you to guard a certain subject in one of these said experiments." The mare's eyes flashed at the stallion as they opened.

"A live experiment? On another pony?" The stallion's pitch grew higher with concern. The mare nodded as the cover to the files flew open, revealing a page with scribbled notes of dialog and in big, black, blotched letters 'Experiment Two-Forty-Two.'

The stallions eyes grew wider as his mouth hung agape. "M-ma'm..." The stallion stuttered, looking from the file to the mare.

The mare let no more of a response come forth. "You will simply be guarding said subject, Vagabond. You have a unique set of training, as well as skills." The mare turned back to her desk, slowly walking back to her seat.

"You have been chosen to accompany Doctor Hignstaph, more formally known as The Director." The mare spun on the ball of her hoof, turning back to the shocked stallion.

"You will also be the one to exterminate said subject by it's expiration date, in seven months time." The mare said bluntly.

The stallion stood still in fear, not saying a single word. The mare sat down in her chair, looking over the frame of her glasses to the stallion. "You are dismissed."

With that, the stallion shakily nodded his head and turned towards the door to the office, clutching the file at his side. Once the door closed with a light 'click' the mare let out a long sigh, gazing up at the plain ceiling.

"Oh my brother, for what is to come." The mare cooed softly to herself, a wide grin forming along her pale cheeks.

Author's Note

Now, pardon myself for the formatting if it isn't all too fit. If anything, it would have remained large slabs of walls. I do welcome questions, but the answers will remain spoiler free if they are about the story itself.
Happy readings.
-The Faust.