I stared in amazement at the most perfectly pristine lab I had ever seen. The dilapidated shell I witnessed on the outside showed no hint of the scientific perfection beneath it.

The tiled floors were so clean that they had an almost mirror-like reflection. Fresh pale-blue paint coated the walls. The lights were a little too bright, and a little too numerous. Their collective glare forced me to wince away in pain.

A powerful antiseptic smell hit me before I even stepped inside. It was strong enough to leave my mind feeling fuzzy.

Glory winced as she stepped inside. “At least we know its clean.”

I looked around. “And you know, probably not owned by a serial killer.”

Half-a-dozen tables were scattered haphazardly across the room. Metal folding chairs sat against a far corner, not yet set out. Vials, flasks, and beakers were set on the tables, inside shelves and stacked atop each other within wire cages. Most were empty, though a few contained strange-colored fluids.

A few steel doors were built around the room. Unlike the rest of the lab, they didn't look clean or new. They were covered in dents and rust. One was missing a handle.

A thick tarp was thrown over something round that sat in the back of the building. A sign with the words 'A Better You!' hung from it, connected only by rope.

Machines lined the walls. Dozens of tiny lights blinked on and off across the front of them. I had no idea what they were supposed to be, or what they actually did, but I did note that they were oddly silent.

In fact, the whole lab was. I could have heard a pin drop.

There was no staff around. At all.

Glory cautiously walked forward. “Hello?”

“Was there a specific time we were supposed to show up?” I asked.

“Um.” She crossed her arms. “You know, I don't really remember. I don't think he said anything about it.”

A metallic crash came from nearby. I whipped to face the nearest metal door.

“Ow ow ow!” Someone yelled. “Gah!!”

Another metallic crash.

“OH G-”

A long metal screech followed, lasting the next few seconds before being cut off by a deafening bang. The entire building vibrated from the noise.

Glory and I glanced at each other.

“I-Is somebody there!?” It was a man's voice.

And a familiar one at that.

“owowowowowowowowowow”

Glory took a step back to the exit. I followed suit.

The nearest metal door flew open, smashing against a decidedly not-metal wall. I winced as a crack formed in the drywall.

“Hello!” A man stumbled out. He was a chubby, white-skinned fellow in a worn lab-coat. “Welcome strangers... to a better YOU!”

I raised a brow. “Didn't I see you at the school?”

He frowned at me. “No...”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“No. Definitely not.”

Glory and I shared a perplexed look before taking another step backwards.

“W-wait!” He forced a crooked smile. “you've likely heard all about 'A Better You' through one of our charming and handsome salespersons?”

“Yea-” Glory looked him up and down. “Kinda.”

“Fantastic!” He beamed at us. “Dr. Brighter, at your service.” He approached and offered his hand.

Glory and I both stared at it.

He kept holding it out, his smile unwavering.

“Uh...” Glory glanced nervously at me.

“Pass,” I said. “Thanks for the offer though.”

Dr. Brighter reluctantly withdrew his hand. Something shifted in his features, perhaps he was annoyed, but that smile still didn't vanish.

An awkward silence followed.

The three of us exchanged silent glances at one another.

Brighter to me. Glory to him. Me to Glory. Glory to me. Me back to Brighter.

“Well.” Glory cleared her throat. “It's been lovely, but my son and I should really get going.”

Dr. Brighter's smile vanished instantly. “Oh? But you've only just arrived.” he pointed to the round object concealed by the tarp. “And you haven't even seen my invention yet.”

Glory coughed nervously. “Well, it's just, um. We...”

I pointed a thumb behind me. “...left the house on fire.”

Both Glory and Dr. Brighter stared at me.

I maintained a stoic expression. “We should really get back to it.”

A light knocking came from the front doors.

“Hm? Another visitor!” Dr Brighter clasped his hands together. “I wonder who this could be.”

“Someone with a lethal lack of common sense?” I mumbled.

One of the doors creaked open.

“Um, hey?” A teenage girl with mostly red hair stepped through. Multiple locks were dyed blonde.

...Or was it the other way around?

She wore a black jacket on top of a purple top and orange skirt.

I tilted my head. “Sunset Shimmer?”

She stopped dead in her tracks, flinching at the sound of her own name.

“Really?” I smirked. “You're here?”

Glory leaned in closer, and whispered, “Is that one of your friends?”

Hardly ... was what I wanted to say; instead I just mumbled, “Not really.”

Sunset Shimmer approached us, glancing around the lab in awe. “Hey. We talked at school.”

“Did we?” Dr. Brighter gave a perplexed expression. “No, no. That was definitely just one of my many charming-”

“Okay.” I threw my hands up. “We're done here.” I spun around and marched to the door. “Have fun being Brighter's first victim, Shimmer.”

“Radiant!” Glory ran up and grabbed my arm. “We are not leaving that girl alone with that man.”

“I-”

She smacked he side of my head. “And don't say things like that.”

“Yeah. I hear what you're saying.” I frowned at her while rubbing the side of my head. “Or.” I pointed a thumb toward the exit. “We could just go.”

“Honey...”

“She'll be fine!”

“Honey.”

“She kinda has it coming anyways.”

“Honey!” Glory stomped her foot, practically snarling at me.

I tried to speak, but found my words dead in my throat.

“H-” She stopped, took a deep breath, and pointed to the nearest wall. “Stand over there with your friend for a moment.”

“She not-”

“Stand. Over. There.”

I quickly stepped aside, watching as she approached Dr. Brighter and led him a few feet away. Sunset Shimmer tried to follow, but Glory sent her back towards me.

I leaned against the wall, watching Glory be led closer to the tarp covered object.

Sunset Shimmer crossed her arms, watching the two as well.

I shot a few looks her way. She didn't take her eyes off Glory and Dr. Brighter. I could see something hidden in her expression though. She was doing the same thing I was doing.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

One of us had to say something eventually.

Dr. Brighter and Glory spoke, though I didn't pay any attention to their conversation.

“Be honest.” I smirked at her. “You hoped this place would somehow change things at school, didn't you?”

No response. Not even the slightest shift in her expression.

“Must be rough,” I said. “Knowing that everyone hates you.”

Barely even a twitch.

“'A better you'!” I laughed. “Is that what you were hoping for? You'd step in here and just change who you are?”

Her expression shifted. Finally. I could see anger seeping into her features.

“Oh, woe is me...” I clasped my hands together and brought them up to my my left cheek. “If only, if only, I could change myself from a hateful she-demon to a nice girl! Maybe then I'd have a friend.”

“I have-”

“Obviously those girls that take pity on you don't c-”

“Shut up.”

“Oh?” I asked. “What are you going to-”

She whipped around to face me, a snarl spread across her face. “Shut. Up.”

“There she is.” I laughed. “Now where's that Sunset Shimmer been? Haven't seen you around since-”

She took a step closer. For a second I thought she might actually punch me.

But she didn't. Surprisingly, she just closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned back around.

“And now!” Dr. Brighter grabbed the tarp. “My greatest invention!”

Glory and Brighter had gathered around the round object.

“Not to mention my only invention.”

“What?” Glory asked.

“Are you prepared!”

“Sir, I already told you.” Glory took several steps back toward us. “We're not interested. I wish you the best of luck with... whatever that is.”

“Uh.” Dr. Brighter looked back and forth between her and us. “Be- Be amazed!”

“Sir-”

He tore the tarp away, flinging it off to the side.

It was a... thing.

Author's Note

And we've got the second chapter out. And hey, more upvotes than downvotes! That's a victory in my book. Super excited about that, probably more excited than I should be, but they gives me the warm fuzzies.

As always, any criticism would be greatly appreciated, and I hope you enjoyed this.