Chapter one: Smile
"Open Wide~"

Drip … Drip … Drip.

“Ugh… What the hell is that noise?”

I suddenly asked as the darkness slowly faded from my vision, revealing a source of light through the blurry, wet, foggy liquid that coated my eyes like a morning mist. Only that single ray of light wasn’t coming from morning sunlight, it was coming from something just outside my…room???

“Wait what?”

Once again asking myself as I sat up onto what felt like a mattress frame, only without the mattress. Rubbing my eyes with the sides of my hoof, I finally was able to see slightly clearer, yet was still struggling with the constant abyss that circled me. Letting my eyes adjust for a moment, I began noticing minor details of where the fuck I was, like the fact the room I was currently in was extremely small and padded with what looked like miniature pillows all along the wall and ceiling… or at least what was left of the ceiling. The ceiling looked warn and brown from what looked like years of leaking, and no one to fix it. Rolling over off the mattress frame, I began to feel the aching pain that so generously cursed me all along my neck, shoulder, and lower back. Sleeping on metal and springs was obviously not the best way to get your full eight hours, but better yet… how did I even get here? Where was I? What day, month, or even fucking YEAR was it!? I obviously wasn’t the kind of pony who took extreme confusion likely; wait…now that I think about it… who the fuck… WAS I?!?
“Sweet Celestia! What the fuck is going on?!”

I was NOT handling whatever was going on very good. The very thought of ANYTHING like this was nearly, to borderline, impossible.
Quickly looking down, I examined myself. Okay, what exactly did I know? Um, I was wearing something, a long, white sweater with buckles running along the sleeves, was it... a Straitjacket? Why the hell was I in it?

Struggling to remove it, I found myself trapped in it, no zipper, or at least none that I could see, and it apparently wasn’t a slide on, slide off suit. Struggling with annoyance, I decided to just leave it until I could discover another means of escaping its grasp. What else besides this damned suit did I know about myself?

Okay, um I have this weird, thick watch on my wrist marked…

“Hmm… Pip Buck 2000.”

I stood there, reading the title for a good two minutes.

“What the fuck is a Pip Buck 2000!? What the hell is going on!?”

I was so confused, if not downright stupid, or at least I felt stupid. Trying to think of anything to help me soon lead to a minor headache. Well… I was most likely forcing myself to try and place things that didn’t make sense. Who was I? Where was I? WHEN was I? And what the hell was all this?

I sat down rubbing my hooves on each side of my head for a bit, trying to go over every stressful THING that has happened to me in the past 4 minutes. “OKAY, I was a grey… or white...pink… I DON’T CARE, stallion! For all I know I was fucking purple and couldn’t see it. I woke up here in this… pillow room?... only to find out I don’t know anything about ANY of this. Now… I could go ahead, and sit here playing "Guess Who?" or I can get a little bit more out of leaving this place. There we go, thinking like a champ now, alright let’s get the hell out of here.” I said to myself just before standing up on all four and slowly making my way to the door.

To be honest, I was slightly surprised to find it unlocked, but then again… why would it be locked…?
Slowly opening it, I began sticking my head out. If anything was dangerous out here, at least it would be easier to yank my head in and shut the door, unless whatever was out here quickly sliced my head clean… “wooooow” what pleasant thoughts to be thinking in the position I’m in; “Great… Dumb and negative, the perfect couple.”

Proceeding to stick the rest of my body out, I then began examining my surroundings. Geez… Talk about ominous as hell... When stepping out, I found myself in what looked like a hallway filed with doors lined up along each wall each-side had about 7 doors along except none were open, except for mine.

“Um… Hello?”

I called out, only to have it echo back at me. Above me was a single ceiling lamp... swinging side to side? There was no wind blowing in, and no pony was here… or at least I think so, so what the hell made this thing move like that?
Boom… Boom… Boom.

Each step I took along the broken tiled floor echoed throughout the entire hall, and probably the whole damn building, but it couldn’t be avoided. I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for whatever put me here to come back. “Wait…how, did I know someone or something put me here…”

“Grrr!”

Why couldn’t I remember anything?! Why was I making all these assumptions that… well; could I really blame myself, it WAS all I could do at the moment, just guess and well, guess some more! I better figure things out fast, I was on the verge of going crazy. I know I’m supposed to know at least something, but I−.

I was suddenly interrupted by the rapid click, click, click, that seemed to be coming from my “Pip Buck.”

Looking down at it, I then lifted a fore hoof to examine it. I was then greeted with a small, lightly green screen that revealed some kind of meter bar and a miniature arrow, slowly growing; to my view, I also notice that right above were the words “Radiation Meter.” Uh Oh, I may not have known my name, but I sure as hell knew what radiation was for some reason. Why would I be getting radiated? Did someone spill a barrel of toxic waste in this dump? They should really call some pony… But then again who, or what, was going to call them? it’s been over 6 minutes and not a single word, or even sign of life was seen throughout this… building. Looking down, I then noticed it slowly clicking faster and faster as I approached the last door to the right of the hall. Nothing waited for me at the end of the hall except for a set of stairs going down and to my right, was what I would guess, the source of the radiation. What could be causing it? Was I willing to open the door; take a peak, and let curiosity get the best of me? All for what, possibly an un-curable sickness? “NOPE!” Now quickly passing by the door and down the stairs, I began noticing the sounds of my Pip Buck’s clicking slowly decreasing to a sudden stop. Huh, this was a strange little device around my wrist, how did it even get on my wrist? Hell, what makes me think this thing wasn’t already on me, and I just can’t remem−. Aaaah! There I go again, over thinking stuff I know nothing about, damn I have a vivid imagination.

While walking down the 3 floors of steps, and giving my Pip Buck a closer examination, I was able to find some curious, yet possibly useful things. Like an inventory section, something about skills, something about limbs, a mini radar that was able to identify hostile and non-hostile things, and… Heeeey, a Pip Buck light attachment? Don’t mind if I do!

Flipping it on I was now able to get a… well... a fair view I suppose. The entire rest of the building still seemed dark but the light covered my surroundings like a personal bubble. and... wow this whole building looked like it was coming apart. How long has this been here, and why the hell would I be in it? At the top floor to be exact even. Wasn’t it wonderful? Having all these stupid questions, only to be answered by ME and my imagination, to try and fit pictures of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING there to connect the dots? This whole thing was just a damn time bomb, ready to break me. I literally felt like an arrow was going to pop out of my head and point at me with the exact words “I’m with stupid!”

This entire hall was filled with nothing but rooms, rooms, rooms, ROOMS! Yet to my ideal thought, exactly WHAT else was I hoping to find? Roaming through the floor below my own room I found that every door I passed was locked, yet somehow I had ended up the lucky one to find my door unlocked? Yeah right. Coming to a stop I then noticed a single door at the long line of doors, which lined up along the wall, like the first floor; was open…

Skittering my way over, I then paused to the hear sound of something breathing heavily right inside it. Was this really the best idea ever…? Sadly, it was the only idea I had. Pressing forward, I then placed a single hoof on the door and opened it, ever so slightly so that I could peak in.

CREEEEEEEEEEAAK~

So much for stealth... The large rusted door looked to be about 200 years old, the fuck was I thinking? Assuming that the damn thing would just open peacefully? Pulling it back more I then flinched to another loud clang of the steel door coming to a stop. Years of rust had sealed its hinges up to a point, forcing it never to be opened to its full reach.

My heart raced, pumping faster than I could manage skipping possibly not one, not two, but three beats, almost seeming as if my heart was going to explode in my very chest. I think I was having a panic attack from all this sneaking in the dark, making noise that echoed through dark ruined halls. Worst of all, the breathing from inside the room had come to a stop. Whatever was in there was now aware of ME, as much as I was aware of IT! Stepping forward as quickly as I could I stared into the room, praying that it was only my imagination. I… Was… Wrong…
Inside was another dark room, with another rusted mattress frame. The interior of the room was also the padded, except stained with a dark, blackened crimson. What the fuck was going on in here?! Suddenly, in the corner of the room sat a dark red figure, camouflaged and almost blended with the dark crimson that soaked the padded walls. The figure itself wasn’t very large nor different from anything but a pony, except I don’t think ponies twitched and trembled the way it did....did they? Watching it frightened me, and what frightened me the most, was that I KNEW it sensed my presence.

“U-uh h-hello?”

There was a moment of complete silence, before this pony began to slowly turn around. It seemed like almost an eternity for that head to crack and spin, but when it did, it was the most terrifying thing I have ever fucking seen. There sat a pony with its mouth pealed exposing a massive smile of just teeth. It's hooves seemed to have been chewed to nothing but bones and into points, and it's eyes… oh Celestia, those fucking eyes! Bloodshot and held wide open by some kind of speculum eye tools.

“You’re not supposed to be heeeeere~”

A sudden psychotic voice spoke out. It sounded like it was mixed with that of a happy child and a growling dog.

“Oh geez! Perhaps um, you’re right. Just let me close this for you~”

I said in a very frightened tone, suddenly panicking as the door seemed to have jammed from all the rust. God damn it! Why now of all times!? I asked myself, attempting to push it harder and harder.

“You’re. Not. Supposed. To be heeeeeere!!”

A blood thirsty yell called out that would send a shiver down any spine. Whatever this thing was, it was sure as hell no pony, and was a fucking psycho! It only took a second before it quickly began moving out towards me, stabbing its pointed hooves forward, preparing to use them as a weapon.

“Buck the door!”

I said just before taking off into a sprint down the hall, looking over my shoulder, to see that the… THING had picked up speed and was on the chase. I must have been the most stupid pony in the world to keep watching, because just before turning around to see ahead, a set of stairs kindly greeted me. Oh wait, that was the fourth step that was about to greet my face as I fell down the stairs to be exact.
Thump, Thump, Crash!

There I laid, broken and dazed from what had happened. No, go away little birds! There was no time for playing, there was a damn… MONSTER chasing me. Shaking my head, I found myself laying in a pile of old surplus gear that had been piled up. Buckets, duffle bags, lamps, and a single tactical shovel and right above the stairs, was the monster coming around the corner into view.
“Come heeeere~ let me peel a smile on your face!”

It menacingly offered. No way are you coming anywhere near my face! Searching around, I thought of the only thing that could be used as self-defense, the tactical shovel. Chomping down on the long handle, I quickly noticed that while every part of the shovel was bladed for digging, one side of it had saw teeth, possibly used for sawing… I guess... survival digging saw? I DON’T KNOW! All I knew was that this thing was the only thing that looked remotely capable of protecting me. I turned around, and was kindly greeted with the same blood shot eyes I had saw before… only uncomfortably close.

“Everypony needs to just smile, heh… heh… AND NOT BE HEEEEERE!!!”

It yelled straight in my face, just before lifting its hoof and positioned it in a way that seemed to be targeted towards my head. Oh shit! I thought last minute just before swinging my head to the side, slicing the shovel straight across the monsters head leaving a massive gap running along its face and skull. It didn’t take a lot of effort either that or this shovel was super sharp for some reason, but… the monster was dead, having fallen to the side in a slump bloody mess, that made me instantly drop the shovel and crawl backwards in fear…

“Oh god, I just… killed a pony… or a thing… OR SOMEONE! What have I done!?”

I don’t know how long I sat there, a minute, five minutes, perhaps ten. The only thought going through my head, and at a mile a minute too, was "I had just killed another living thing, whether it was a monster or pony, I killed it…" I had never felt so sick in my entire life, or at least in the past fifteen minutes that had passed since my escape. What the hell was going on? Locked in an abandoned building, with monsters… Everything was quiet, so quiet that it annoyed the hell out of me. I mean, what the hell was I supposed to do? I wake up all alone, with no memory of anything, my name, who I am, what I look like, it was all a blank… The only thing I have to help was this Pip buck something, and this gosh forsaken straitjacket, it was rather itchy to… What was going to happen to me? Was I really going to stay and sit here till the end of time? A part of me knew, I don’t know how, but it knew, that no one was coming to help, or save me, and I sure wasn’t going to stick around to find out.

I stood up and dusted the patches of dust off of my straitjacket, only to notice blood stains along it as well.

“Geez… what a mess, I’m going to assume a shower wasn’t too much to ask for?”

Wishful thinking I guess, but if I did run into anypony, I don’t think it would be suiting to chat along with them covered in blood. I needed to hide this, somehow…

Scavenging around the pile of old forgotten things. I found a few things of use. A screwdriver, the tactical shovel, and a large charred overcoat that was perfect for having over the straitjacket. At least it would keep things hidden, all with the perks of increased heating temperature. Setting the screwdriver in one of the coat pockets, I then took hold of the shovel, chomping down on the handle and lifting it. What an interesting yet useful tool, not only for killing… but, made for outdoor survival I assumed. Saw, shovel, and extended handle if I ever needed it longer, but out from the corner of my eye I saw something, scratching, or an engraving to be exact.
To my dear brother Rumbles, may you always dig your way out of any situation.

Charming, this pony’s brother obviously had a sense of humor, but obviously it wasn’t working for me… Being in this area all alone, lost and confused, was everything else but funny… what the hell could have happened that made me forget everything? I didn’t forget Celestia, but I forgot everything else, wait… Who exactly was Celestia? I know the name, it comes off as familiar to life as anything else, but I don’t know anything about her either.

“grrrr… god damn it! This is getting ridiculous!”

I stated just before making my way down the hall. Hell, I was even talking to myself, perhaps I was just dreaming this, and perhaps just crazy, crazy ponies wear straitjackets, right? Oh great, now I’m having a two way conversation with myself asking myself dumb questions, I’m fucking nuts… I know it.

Zap, zip, zip, zip, zap, zip!

"What the hell was that?" I told myself just before staring down the end of the hall. There seemed to be some flashing blue lights off in the distance, sounds coming from them...sounds of distortion and static to be exact. I also noticed two sets of open doors as well. I will admit, there was a moment of hesitation, but what other choice did I have? It was either forward, or back the way I came. Biting hard on the shovel handle, I began to slowly make my way down the hall, the echoing sound of hoofsteps still cursing me with every step, but at least every step I made was more cautious and stealthy… I think.

When I finally reached the two set of open doors, I quickly placed my back against the wall, right next to the opening, suddenly pausing and even holding my breath as I noticed that there was the sound of a soft tone being played. Some kind of lullaby or music box having been left open. Yet in this time and place, it was super ominous, if not downright terrifying.
Thump, thump, thump.

My heat was racing, beating faster and faster with every passing second I waited by that door. The tone itself burning its way into my head, permanently burying itself deep in my mind. I will admit, the tone was catchy… but not something I wanted to remember, especially from a place like this, and the worst part about it was that every time I closed my eyes, and heard that song, I could see his face. Bright, bloodshot eyes, with a grim blood smile that was enough to keep any pony from sleeping for months. That monster would have killed me, but what did he mean by saying I wasn’t supposed to be there, and to smile? Hmmm, perhaps he was just crazy from being in there so long, but back to the matter at hoof. Okay, we’re going to do this, and we’re going to be okay. I Promise.

“One… two … three…”

Footnote: level up!

New Perk: Slayer - The speed of all your melee and unarmed attacks is increased by 30%.

Author's Note

Thank you Kkat for your inspiration, creating a world that i both love and want to add to.

Minor editing done by Mokais! Thank you!

Heh work in progress~