Sister Slaves (Built Upon Dreams, Paid in Blood)

Sitting at his desk, Nightingale looks towards the horizon, watching the sun slowly rise over the distant eastern mountains. With a hum, he turns a red colored dial to the right, sirens that tower high over the camp, roar out their song. He lets them run for thirty seconds before shutting them off. With a satisfied hum, he looks at his clock and reads the time. “Five o’clock in the morning… Right on time, as always.”

The booming bass of the sirens reverberates across the camp, shaking it to its core. Sleeping guards and prisoners, quickly get up from their cots, stretching to a new day. However, the new batch of prisoners slowly gets up, their minds still hazy from the previous night. “PRISONERS, FOOD WILL BE SERVED AT FIVE-HUNDRED-AND-FIFTY HOURS… GET YOUR ASSES UP AND STAND AT YOUR CELL DOORS!” A voice shouts over the loudspeakers.

Pinkie slowly rises from her cot, her body shivers from the cold. Looking at her cell’s window, she sees the early morning sun shining through the cell block windows, casting its yellow glow upon the land. Clenching her shivering teeth, she looks down at her twin and gives her a shake. ‘Marble… Wake up.”

“What?” Marble stirs under the sheet, her eyes heavy.

“it’s time to get up…”

BANG!

“Prisoners! Are you at your door!” A guard yells. The twins jump in fright and huddle close to each other. “Are you deaf? Answer or you’ll get whipped!”

“Yes!” They shout as they bolt from the cot, running to the door.

The guard hums as she slides the cell’s door’s viewing latch. Glaring into the cell, she sees the twins standing side by side in front of the door, eyes wide with fear. “Good.” She shuts the latch and unlocks the cell door. It slides open with a high pitch squeak. “Both of you line up, single file facing this way!” She points at the end of the hall to her left. The twins obey and stand in their spot, their tails tucking in-between their legs.

“Wake up!” 1245 shouts “5188 its time to wake up!” Octavia wakes with a groan. Her eyes open to 1245 hovering over her, smiling creepily. “Come, we must stand by the door!” She jumps from the cot, her tail wagging happily.

Octavia stares at the filly concerned for her mental state. ‘Is that going to happen to me?’ She sits up and slowly walks up to the cell door. “What’s happening?”

1245 giggles. “We eat then we work!” She smiles like it’s the best thing in the world. Octavia gives a nervous grin as she turns her attention to the door. A guard opens the viewing latch and peeks inside. Seeing the two of them, he gives a hum and opens the door.

Limestone stirs in her sleep as the sirens’ call rings in her ears. “Are you at your door prisoner?” A guard calls out. She groans, throwing the sheets over her head. “Prisoner, Answer me now!”

“Err…” Limestone frowns. “Five more minutes…”

The guard opens the viewing latch and stares at the sleeping filly. “Colts, we got one!” The door slides open allowing three guards to pour into her cell, throwing the sheets off the cot, startling her.

They grab her limbs and drag her out of the cell. “OW! HELP!” She tries to fight back. “YOU’RE HURTING ME!” They throw her to the floor, landing on her right side with a thud. One of the guards kicks her in the stomach. She clutches her belly, curling into the fetal position.

Her sisters look back at the scene scared for her wellbeing. “Face forward prisoners!” A shiver runs down their spines as they whip their heads back into position.

The guard who kicked her bends down and holds her head up by her mane. “You’re one of the newcomers, aren’t you?” He smiles, jerking her head around, Limestone grits her teeth, trying to dull her pain. She stares up at the stallion with teary eyes. “Now listen to what I have to say.” He brings her head closer to his, their snouts touching. “You’re new here, so to be nice, I’ll let you off the hook, just this once. But if you fail to obey our commands again, it’s solitary… Understand?” Limestone nods, “Good, now stand up and face forward!” Limestone quickly gets on her hooves and stares at the back of the heads of the prisoners in front of her.

Hearing the commotion her sister is in, Maud gets up from the cot, guiding Ruby to the door. “What’s going on?”

“We have to stand by the door.” Maud runs her fingers through Ruby’s mane, fixing it. “Breakfast is soon.

“I want to see my Ma?” Ruby begins to cry.

“We’ll see her soon…”

“Prisoners are you by the door?” Their cell door shakes as someone pounds on it.

Maud looks at the door with a frown as she pulls Ruby close to her. “Yes… Sir.”

The viewing latch opens, revealing a pair of eyes. The eyes blink before the latch closes. Hearing a heavy deadbolt unlock itself, Maud watches as the door slides open. “Stand here in a single file line, facing forward.”

The prisoner’s mess-hall is a long brick constructed building, with large two-story windows lining the front facing wall. Within the building, two wire-mesh walls, rising to the ceiling, splits the interior into thirds, creating a stallion section, a mare section, and a children section, each with their own entrances, tables, and cafeterias.

Getting their meals, Pinkie and Marble worm their way through the mass of bodies, looking for an open table. Finding a table in the corner by the window, they sit next to each other, facing the mare side of the mess hall. They nervously search for their mother. “What are you looking for?” They jerk from the voice, huddling close to one another, they look to their left. A colt with a wild blonde mane and dark-forest-green fur stares at them with his bright yellow eyes. “Are you two okay?”

“Y-Yes… Just looking for our ma.” Pinkie replies. Marble returns her attention back to wire-mesh wall, scanning over the mares.

The colt gives a flat frown. “You shouldn’t be doing that.” He sits in front of them, placing his tray down. “You need to eat fast and get ready to leave for morning call.” He takes a bite of his cornmeal.

Pinkie looks at the colt with a confused frown. “But I want to see my ma!” She pounds her fists on the table. “I want to hear her voice…”

“And do you want to be thrown into solitary!” He growls, pointing his broken fork at her. “Eat and keep your eyes off that side… But if you do see her, stay seated and eat…” He takes another bite as he looks up watching a guard walk along the balcony walkway, fifteen-feet above the floor of the mess hall.

The twins look up at the guard and eyes his rifle in his hands. Looking at each other, their lips scowl as they turn their attention to their meals, taking a bite. Their meals held some flavor, but the cornmeal is chalky, and the fruits that make up their fruit bowls are mushy.

Struggling to swallow, Pinkie tilts her head back. Getting her bite down, she stares up at the bulky metal cone lamps hanging from the rafters. The halogen bulbs humming a numbing tune. With a groan, she stares at her meal with teary eyes. Hearing hoof-steps behind her, she looks over her shoulder, she sees her sisters, Ruby, and another filly making their way to her table. “Maud!”

“Shh!” The colt hisses, pounding the table. “Voices down, eat, your family will sit soon!” The colt frowns. Pinkie frowns back as she resumes her meal. Marble looks at them with a raised brow as she slowly chews.

“Pinkie! Mable! Oh, thank God you’re okay.” Maud sighs in relief as she paces her tray down on the table, hugging her sisters.

“SHH!” 1245 places her fingers over her lips. “Can’t use names only numbers… Oh hi, 1188!” She waves to the colt before sitting next to him and Octavia.

Maud, Limestone, Pinkie, Marble and Ruby look at the filly in confusion. “It’s okay, I’ll explain,” Octavia replies, seeing their expressions. “Take your seat.” Maud sits in-between Pinkie and Marble while Limestone and Ruby sits next to Octavia.

“How come we can’t use our names, Octavia?” She gives her sister a raised brow while tilting her head.

“No! No names!” 1245 frowns, “Only numb…!”

Octavia places her hand on the filly’s lips. She gives her a stern glare, causing her to cower. “1245 told me that the guards discourage the use of our names. If we’re caught using them too often, then they’ll punish us.” She scratches the back of 1245’s right ear. A chill runs down her spine at the affection, which calms her.

Limestone frowns a bit as she sulks her in her seat, running a finger across her dog-tag. “But I can’t read Unicorpian…”

1245 huffs a sigh and gets up from her seat. “1245, sit back down and eat!” 1188 hisses glaring at the filly.

“What are you going to do? Whip me?” She giggles at 1188. Smiling she kneels down next to Limestone and runs her fingers along the symbols of her dog-tag. “5182!” She kneels next to Ruby. “5184.” She kneels next to Marble. “5179.” She kneels in-between Pinkie and Maud. “5178 and 5180.”

“And I’m 5188.” Octavia smiles half-heartily, playing with her meal.

“Oh goodie, the family’s back together, now eat!” 1188 spits, taking an aggressive bite out of his fork-full of fruit.

Pinkie, her sisters, Ruby, 1188, 1245 and the other fillies and colts of the camp, stand before the gate that leads to the ore processing warehouse, copper refinery, shipment yard and the dirt road to the copper mine. Maud and Ruby look over towards the group of stallions and stare at Obsidian, who stands beside Igneous. They smile at one another with soft eyes, their chests heavy with wanting.

Igneous eyes his daughters and Ruby. His eyes are tired, and his heart is heavy with regret. His wife stands with the mares. She looks at her daughters, pain comes to her chest as she eyes the dog-tags hanging from their ears. Limestone, Pinkie, Marble, and Octavia stare at their parents, the same feeling overwhelms them.

1245 and 1188 see the sisters’ expressions and give a sigh. “The more you think about it, the worse it gets…”

Limestone whips her head around. “No, it won’t!”

He stares her down. “Don’t make the same mistake I made filly!”

1245 stares down at the gravel with crazed eyes. Her hands behind her back as she rocks on her hooves.

Moonlight sits in a chair by the window looking at the crowds of prisoners and guards by the gate. “How many prisoners do you have now?” He sips his overly creamed and sugared coffee.

“Well, if we add the fifty-five you brought to the total… this camp has three-hundred-and-sixty-nine prisoners.” Nightingale replies, not looking up from his paper.

“If I keep bringing prisoners at the same pace I’ve been going at, you’ll beat Red Birch Gorge P.O.W camp in no time.” Moonlight chuckles, standing up and walking out onto the watchtower’s balcony.

Nightingale sighs. “If Canterlot and Marie slave traders stop buying from my camp, I would’ve been there ages ago!” He sets his papers down and stands next to the captain, lighting a cigarette. They both watch the last of the prisoners leave the mess-hall.

“SIR!” A voice comes over the intercom on his desk.

With a grunt, he walks up to his desk and flips a switch on the intercom’s interface. “Yes, private Knox?”

“They are ready for you, sir!”

Nightingale gives a hum. “Will be down there asap.” He flips the switch and leans on his desk.

“Good luck.” Moonlight comments with a smirk as he keeps his gaze on the prisoners. Nightingale nods, heading down the stairs.

Standing on the guard shack’s concrete foundation, by the gate, Nightingale studies his prisoners. Several of his guards are rearranging them in smaller groups, eight in total. Finding satisfaction in their work, he steps forward and places his hands behind his back. “Prisoners of White Hills, good morning!”

The prisoners look at their foreman with mixed emotions.

Finding some disappointment with their expressions, he sighs. “My stallions have split you up into eight groups. You have been selected to perform a task, based on your age and sex.” He puffs on his cigarette. “I know some of you veterans are wondering if you’ll keep your old tasks? Well, to lift the burden of worry off your shoulders, a vast majority of you are, while some of you aren’t, so if you want, blame the newcomers.” He points to the crowd. Many of the senior and junior prisoners look at the newbies, some giving harsh glares.

Many of the newcomers keep their heads down, ignoring the stares the best they can.

Stepping into the guard shack, he places a hand on the gate’s operator’s shoulder. “Follow my guards’ commands, and you’ll be just fine.” The gate opens with a loud hiss.

Fifteen oval shaped conveyor belts hum along at a slow and steady pace as five-pound copper ingots slide down metal cutes from the refinery next door. Limestone and Octavia work alongside each other by one of the conveyor belts. Grabbing one of the ingots, Octavia places it into a large wooden-crate, with a carrying weight of two-hundred-and-fifty pounds. Limestone copies her sister, putting her own in the crate.

Filling the crate within several minutes, they place its lid on it. A colt and a stallion walk up to them and hammers the lid shut. With a huff, they lift the crate onto a cart and haul it over to one of several putter-wagons awaiting their cargo and the loading docks.

Rubbing her irritated eyes, Limestone gets back to work. Her ears twitch from the humming of the conveyor belts. She stares at the belt running pass her. Each rubber section of the belt, different and unique enough to act as a moving picture to her vision.

Picking up an ingot, Octavia studies it, running her fingers along its smooth surface, she traces the Unicorpian symbols etched into it. With a sigh, she places it in the crate.

“Damn… your first day here and you’ve already completed your first batch of paperwork… Within an hour and a half?” The sisters look up at the balcony office and see a guard looking over Cheerilee’s work. “And the same goes for you?” He points at their mother. “What did the two of you do before your capture?”

Cheerilee stares into her lap, too prideful to speak. The guard sees her expression and frowns. “We were teachers… Sir! I retired and her three years into her carrier…” Cloudy Quartz replies before he can hit Cheerilee across the face.

The guard looks down at the two with a smile. “Well shit, if you keep this up you’re gonna cause this department to run out of work to do…” he rubs his beard. “Private Star Dust, look through those boxes!” The mares watch the guard walk into a room to Cloudy Quartz’s left.

Feeling a pair of eyes staring at them, they turn their attention to the gazers and see Octavia and Limestone staring at them, with small smiles. Cloudy Quartz returns their affection with her own as she looks down at her daughters with soft eyes.

Cheerilee looks at the sisters with a smile of her own until her attention is drawn to the children working in the shipping yard. She sees some of the children from her hometown, they stick out like a sore thumb from the others who’ve been here for an extended period of time. She stares at the veteran children of the camp and sees their thin, scared bodies. She can tell they look better than the veteran adults, but not by much.

Seeing her teary eyes, Cloudy Quartz reaches out a hand, holding her hand in hers. “Be strong and pray a psalm.” Cheerilee smiles softly at her. “We have to be strong for the little ones.” She rubs her hand.

The guard comes back and places a stack of papers in front of them. “We found some more work for you.” He claps his hands, before walking away. “Like the pace,you're going at, but could you cut it back just a tiny bit.”

Pinkie, Marble, and Ruby stand next to one of six runoff-sluices connected to one of four massive mechanical-sluices within a large warehouse, a few yards from the copper mine. The walls of the warehouse are made of corrugated sheet metal, thick red-painted wood and steel beams hold up the sheet metal. Large orange-painted industrial pendant lights hang from the wooden cross beams. Small two-feet by two-feet windows dot the upper floors.

Standing on the other side of their runoff-sluice is 1245, a colt with the number 3390 and a filly with the number 2266.

Pinkie looks at the new faces. 3390 seems to be around twelve years old. His brown fur hides his bruises and the grime that clings to him. Her black mane is long, while his tail is short. 2266 on the other hand, looks to be fourteen. Her white fur, pink mane, and tail exposes all the dirt, grime, and scars that adore her form. Her bright blue eyes stare madly at the small copper nuggets and flakes flowing down the sluice.

Looking past them, she sees several other fillies and colts standing around the other runoff-sluices, plucking copper nuggets that pass through the filters of the larger mechanical-sluice.

With a sigh, Pinkie dips her hands into the water, scooping up as many nuggets as she can from the pebbles. Having a handful, she tosses the coppers into her tin-bucket. Looking into the bucket she gives a frown, she barely has enough copper to cover the bottom. She groans, rubbing her ears, glaring at the large mechanical-sluice, the deep-bassy rumbles of its pistons, hurts her ears.

A guard near her and her group watches them with eagle eyes. “Sargent, Scarlet! How are the prisoners doing on ‘Main Sluice-One’?”

Scarlet turns her attention to her superior. “So far, so… hold on…” She steps off the metal-gridline platform and up to Pinkie. Feeling a menacing presence hovering over her, Pinkie keeps her eyes glued to her work. Scarlet watches her shiver in fear, her pace random and slow. With a frown, she tilts her head and reads her dog-tag. “5178, are you having trouble with your task?” Pinkie keeps to task as tears flood her eyes. “5178!”

Pinkie jerks, dropping her copper nuggets into the water, her hips bumping her bucket on the stool next to her. It wobbles back n’ forth before falling onto the floor. Metal crashing against metal as her ore bounce across the warehouse.

Scarlet watches the nuggets bounce around like jumping beans. Their shiny surface reflecting the harsh white light of the halogen bulbs above. “Damn, someone’s jumpy.” She whistles, smirking to herself. Pinkie feels a chill run down her spine. “I don’t know what we’re going to do with you? I know you’re new here, but that doesn’t mean you get a free pass.”

Tears fall from Pinkie’s eyes as she drops to the floor. “I’m sorry, I will work faster… Please… I… ma and pa taught me to be good…” She starts picking up her dropped ore, throwing them into her bucket.

“Aw, what’s the matter?” Scarlet chuckles. “Missing mommy and daddy?” Pinkie lets out a sob at her words. “Oh, did I strike a nerve?” Four of her fellow guards look on with devilish grins. Seven prisoners by the minecart dumping docks, look on with concern.

Marble and Ruby stare at the two, worry coating their hearts. 1245, 2266 and 3390 give a quick glance but quickly return to their task.

Seeing that Pinkie is throwing a temper, Scarlet places her left hoof on her bucket. Pinkie clutches her copper as she stares at her bucket. “Looks like you need someone to give you some motivation…” She kicks the bucket behind her. Pinkie watches in horror as it rolls down the metal steps, bumping against a small concrete ledge, spilling what copper remained. “Let me be the one to give you that motivation…” Scarlet activates her magic and picks Pinkie up by her collar, throwing her against the wall to her right.

“NO!” Marble runs up to Scarlet. “Don’t hurt my sister!” She shouts, kicking her shins. Scarlet looks down with a frown and kicks Marble in the stomach, sending her to the ground. A fellow guard grabs Marble by her neck and arms with his magic, pinning her to the ground. “NO… mffth…” His aura covers her mouth. Ruby cowers against the sluice, as she watches the scene in horror.

Pinkie clutches her stomach as her diaphragm spasms from the impact. Her eyes stare at her sister, tears flood her vision as she fights to breathe. “Shit! I already knocked the wind out of you?” Scarlet kneels down and lifts Pinkie’s head with her hand, pinching her cheeks. “Damn little filly, you’re in for a rude awaking…” She looks over at two stallions standing by the exit, nodding to them, they return a nod and open the door. Smirking, she gazes down at Pinkie, who looks back at her in fear. “A rude awakening…”

Deep within the copper mine, about seventy-feet underground, Obsidian, Igneous and several other stallions and colts work in the hot, musty, humid tunnels. Their pickaxes chip away at the large chunks of basalt rock that surrounds them. The copper veins and nugget chunks glisten in the dim light of the butane lanterns.

With a grunt, Obsidian strikes a bulging chunk of basalt, the tip of his pickaxe burrowing deep into the soft rock. Sucking in air, he pulls on his pickaxe’s handle, ripping the rock free from the earth, sending it rolling onto the ground. Swinging his pickaxe over his head, he strikes it, breaking it into several smaller chunks.

Setting his pickaxe down, Igneous picks up a shovel and begins shoveling the loose basalt into a minecart behind them. Obsidian helps the older stallion. Quickly filling up the rest of the cart, they push it up the gradual incline of the tunnel to the main elevator shaft. Entering the central cavity of the mine, they load the cart onto the elevator. With a nod, the guard sends the minecart up to the surface. With frowns, Igneous and Obsidian grab an empty minecart and heads back into the tunnels.

Standing next to the elevator shaft’s gate Maud and a stallion wait for the elevator car to ascend to the top. Hearing the breaks of the pulley system kicking in, they get into position. The elevator car comes to a sharp stop, its metal frame shaking as the breaks kick in. With a huff, a colt pulls the gate open. Quickly, Maud and the stallion grab the cart and push it along its rails to the ore processing warehouse.

Nearing their destination, Maud looks at the smokestacks of both the warehouse and the copper refinery. “Impressive, aren’t they?”

Maud looks at the stallion, giving him a small nod. “Nothing like the coal refinery in Ashmore.”

“You’re from Ashmore?”The stallion asks.

“Yes.” She looks at the stallion with a raised brow.

The stallion looks down at his hooves, watching the gravel move under his weight. “Damn, Unicorpia is that far inland…”

Maud looks at the stallion in wonder. “Where were you from?”

The stallion gives a small smile. “I use to live in Buckington… That was two years ago… It feels like a lifetime.” Maud dips her head at the mention of the years he’s lived in the camp.

“PLEASE STOP!”

Maud feels a chill run up her spine as she turns her attention to the main entrance of the warehouse. She sees several guards surrounding her sister, Pinkie.

“Please stop? But we haven’t done anything!” Scarlet chuckles, her laugh echoing out over the camp. Prisoners and guards who are working the grounds turn their attention from their work and watch with varying levels of interest. “Shit stallions looks like she wants to throw in the towel already.” She puts her hands on her hips.

“Please, I’ll do better… AH!” One of the guards cracks his whip on Pinkie’s back, sending her to the ground in pain.

“Oh, it’s not that bad… Get up!” Scarlet yells. Pinkie places her hands over her head, burying her face in the gravel. “Private Wright, whip her!” She points with a scowl. Wright nods and whips her again. Pinkie screams, searing pain radiates out across her back. Jumping up from the ground, she runs towards the gate. With a frown, Scarlet uses her magic and yanks on her collar, sending her to the ground. “Get back here!”

“NO! I’M SORRY!” Pinkie holds onto her collar as Scarlet drags her along the ground. “PLEASE!”

Dragging her to her hooves, Scarlet bends down and gives a sly smirk. “Colts get the whips ready…” She lifts Pinkie two feet into the air by her collar. “Let her have it!” The stallions crack their whips. Pinkie chokes out her cries as painful stings rack her body.

Maud feels herself going numb. She grinds her teeth, clenching her fists. A snarl leaves her lips as she runs to her sister. “Filly what are you doing?” The stallion reaches out, but he’s too late to stop her. “Oh shit!” He whispers.

The world around her fades as her focus hones in on her sister and Scarlet. Numbness coats her body, anger fills her mind. What feels like hours to her, only last seconds as she slams into the guard, causing her to drop her magic. Pinkie falls to the ground, hard, her elbows and knees scraping the gravel. Tackling Scarlet to the ground, Maud pins her down and gives her a solid punch to the face.

Scarlet’s fellow guards activate their horns and drag Maud off their comrade. “Down prisoner!” They shout whipping her.

“Aw shit…” Scarlet lifts her head, holding her jaw in her hand. She glares at Maud. “You little bitch!” She gets up, unholstering her revolver. “If it weren’t for Sombra’s laws, I would put a bullet in your skull!” She places the barrel against Maud’s brow.

Maud looks at it the weapon in fear, the numbness her body feels leaves as her adrenaline dies down. Looking at the mare, she swallows. “What’s stopping you?” She feels her stomach roll itself into knots at her words.

Scarlet raises a brow. “What’s stopping me?” She looks at her fellow guards with a perplexed stare. They give her the same look. “What’s stopping me? It’s Sombra and his soft spot for the enemy!” She strikes Maud across the face with the butt of her pistol. “For unevolved filth!” She leans in and spits in her face.

Maud looks up and the mare, her left cheek just below the eye, swollen from the hit. “Hasn’t stop you horned freaks from killing the innocent!” She glances at Pinkie. Her sister stares teary eyed, horrified by her wound.

Scarlet tilts her head. “What?” She growls, cocking back the hammer on her revolver. “Don’t you call me a…” She sees her looking at Pinkie. Looking between the two a sly smirk comes across her lips. “Shit… Wright, Granger, keep whipping the pink one!”

The stallions obey as they hold Pinkie down with their magic. “OW! STOP! STOP!” Pinkie cries.

“STOP!” Maud shouts.

Scarlet growls. “A prisoner keeps their mouth shut!” She kicks her in the stomach. Maud doubles over onto the ground.

Holding her stomach, she groans as a stupid thought swims through her mind. ‘I can’t say that…’ The screams of pain her sister shouts assault her mind. “And…” She lets out a hiss. “A real soldier picks on someone their own size!”

Scarlet glares at her. “What was that?”

Maud knows there is no turning back. “You heard me… but I guess you don’t have the balls…” She smirks… “That’s right you have none… But that’s what happens when a mare tries’s to do a stallion's job.”

Scarlet’s cheeks redden with embarrassment. “You little bitch!” She presses the barrel of her revolver firmly against Maud’s brow. “You think you're more of a mare than me!” She places her finger on the trigger.

Wright stops whipping Pinkie and looks at his comrade wide-eyed. “Scarlet calm yourself…”

“PRIVATE SCARLET!” Nightingale’s voice booms out over the camp’s loudspeakers. Scarlet pulls her revolver away and looks up at the loudspeaker by the gate. Pinkie and Maud, as well as the rest of the camp look at their respective speakers. “Would you and your posse, bring yourselves and the two prisoners you’re scuffling with up to my office? Thank you.”

With a sigh, Scarlet puts her revolver away and looks back at the sisters with a scowl.

“Sir…”

“Silence!” Nightingale shuts Scarlet up. He writes down some notes onto a sheet of paper with predefined marks. “Now, let me get this straight, you were punishing this filly… 5178 for her slow pace on one of the runoff-sluices. Am I correct?”

Scarlet sighs. “Yes, sir.” She puts her hands behind her back.

“And then this prisoner… 5180 came in a tackled you to the ground, and the both of you got into a scuffle?”

“Yes, sir.” She sighs again. Nightingale nods and writes some more notes. “Sir, please…” She sighs stepping up to his desk. “Why are I and my men here? Clearly, these prisoners are in the wrong and need to be thrown into solitary…”

“I know that!” He gives her a stern glare. “But I’m already on thin ice with that stallion over there!” He points to Moonlight. The stallion growls at him, giving him a backward peace sign.

Scarlet looks at Moonlight and puts Maud’s words and Nightingale’s together. With a frown, she steps away from his desk. “Sorry, for my tone, sir.”

“Apology accepted Private.” He sets down his papers and looks at the sisters. “5180, is 5178 your sister?” Maud nods her head. Nightingale nods. “So, you were protecting your sister from one of my guards?” Maud nods again. “Speak!”

“Yes!” Maud stutters.

He sighs looking at Pinkie. “Is that what you saw 5178?” Pinkie’s body shakes, she can barely get her words out. Rubbing his eyes, he leans back in his chair. “I have to say, since I've became foreman of this camp three years ago, nothing like this has ever happened under my watch.” He sips his glass of wine. “I thought I had a lid on that, but I guess there’s always time for firsts.” He leans forward, resting his chin on his clasped hands. “Take 5178 to solitary. I say six days will be good for her.”

“But shouldn’t she be getting solitary?” Scarlet asks, pointing at Maud.

“No…” He pulls a cigarette from its packaging. “I have a feeling solitary will do very little to her and her stubbornness.” He opens a blue vanilla folder and looks through the papers within. “She has several other sisters here in this camp, I think her seeing them take her punishments will do the trick.”

Scarlet nods and grabs Pinkie with her magic. “What shall we do with 5180 then?” She glares at Maud.

Nightingale stares at her, eyeing her stature, lusting over her curvature. He smiles as a warm feeling overcomes him. “I think I’ll take her as my slave.” He activates his magic, grabbing Maud’s collar, pulling her closer to his desk. Maud grabs onto her collar as she digs her hooves into floor trying to stop herself. “I’ve been needing a slave for a while. Maybe not being able to see her sisters during meals and work will add to her punishment.” He smirks at her.

Scarlet nods. “Should I let the guards know?”

“Naw, I’ll let them know of her new title." He looks at Scarlet. "You may leave."

Maud looks back in horror as her sister is lead down the steps. Pinkie panics and extends her arms out. “MAUD…!” Wright covers her mouth and holds her tight.

Scarlet activates her horn and holds her hooves in the air. “Don’t worry little filly, we’re taking you to someplace that’s’ fun!” She giggles to herself.

“Now then…” Maud turns her attention back to the foreman. “Let’s me show you, your new living quarters,” Nightingale smirks.

With a hum, Scarlet and her posse carry Pinkie pass the prisoner processing building towards the hill on the west side of the camp. Climbing the small incline, they near ten, four by four concrete cells sitting at the base of the mountain along the gravel path. Nearing one of the cells, they throw Pinkie to the ground.

Shaking, Pinkie sits on her hands and knees and stares at the cell standing menacingly before her. The outside of the cell is dull, no windows adore its shell, only a solid iron door.

Turing the large five spoke handle, Granger pulls the door open. “Say hello to your new home for the next six days!” Scarlet chuckles, picking Pinkie up by her gown and tossing her in. Pinkie tumbles along the concrete floor, landing on her back, her legs resting against the back wall. “Hope you’re afraid of the dark!” Granger shuts the door, locking it.

Bathed in complete darkness and with the outside world cut off, the smells of the cell start attacking her senses. “Blah!” Pinkie jumps up from the ground and kneels down by the door, breathing what fresh air seeps in from the small crack at the bottom. Even with the outside air, the foul, pungent, decaying smells of past occupants and age overwhelms her. “BERALH!” She vomits onto the floor and the lower half of the door. Her body shakes as she pounds on the door. “LET ME OUT PLEASE!” She stands up, her fists hitting the door as hard as she can swing them. “PLEASE I’M SORRY!” She feels bile in the back of her throat. “ERR!” She vomits again. Crumbling to the floor, she curls up into the fetal position. “I want… t-to see m-my family…”

“Well, here you are, your new home.” Nightingale hums holding the door.

Maud looks at the interior of the room skeptically. The place is bland, the walls are painted white, a twin bed and a nightstand sits in the left corner of the room. An archway to her on the back wall leads to the restroom. A desk sits near the entrance of the room. A single ceiling fan rotates slowly.

“If you prove your worth, I’ll award you with pencils and books to keep yourself occupied.” He places his hand on her butt, giving it a soft pat. Maud goes stiff. “Freshen up, and don’t redress in that prison-dress, one of my guards will bring you a lingerie piece that'll better suit you.”

Maud glares at the foreman, swatting his hand off her rump. “Let my sister out! I should take the…” he grabs her neck, choking her.

“I decide who’s punished and how!” Nightingale states calmly, pinning her against the door. “I’ve chosen your punishment and your fate, slave!” He throws her into her room. “I’m your master now, you’ll obey my every command without a fuss or your sisters will live out a miserable existence as long as they call this camp home!” He grabs the door. “Now freshen up! I have something in store for you!” He shuts the door.

Alone, Maud feels a pain shoot through her stomach. Her body goes numb as she crawls to the door. Seeing no handle, only a flat bronze plate, she leans against it. “No!” She cries. “Let my sister out!” She pounds on the door. She slides against it falling to the floor, laying on the cold tile of her room. Tears rolling down her cheeks.

Heading to the mess hall after a long day of grueling work, Octavia carries Marble in her arms while Limestone helps Ruby. 1245 walks beside them as she fidgets with her mane. 1188 keeps his hands behind his back, his eyes locked on the entrance.

“Where are Pinkie and Maud?” Limestone asks. “Did they take them to solitary?”

Marble begins to cry. Octavia runs her hand along her back. “I hope not…”

“You three, come here, NOW!” A guard shouts behind them. The sisters look back staring at him in confusion. “NOW!” Shivering, they stand out of line and walk along the wire-mesh fence. Standing before him the guard looks them over with a harsh glare. “The foreman would like to see you?” The sisters look at each other with worry. Waving his hand, they follow the guard.

Ruby looks on with fear, “Wait don’t…” 1245 grabs her right forearm, holding her back. Looking over her shoulder, Ruby sees her give her a stern glare.

Stepping into the main office of the watchtower. The sisters see Maud standing behind the foreman. They stare at her white silk dress in confusion. “Welcome prisoners.” Nightingale smiles. “Stand here, please.

Octavia, Limestone, and Marble stand in place, staring at the duo.

“Now I know you’re wondering why your eldest sister is not wearing the same outfit as you are.” He puffs on his cigarette. “As well you’re probably wondering where your other sister is, the pink one? Pinkie is her name if I’m correct.” He draws in a deep breath, the end of the cigarette burning closer to its butt. “Your sister here,” he points at Maud. “Did a no, no, and attacked one of my guards, who happened to be punishing Pinkie.” He puts out his cigarette. Marble closes her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks.

He pulls out another cigarette. “Now as punishment, Pinkie will be in solitary.” Octavia and Limestone glare at him. He raises his brow, not liking their reactions. “Her punishment,” He points at Maud. “is a simple one. She’s now my slave and can no longer interact with you ever again.” Three guards activate their horns, grabbing the sisters’ collars, they panic as they look at him with fear. “And every rule she breaks, the punishment will be passed on to you?” They send a powerful spell to the sisters’ collars. A wave of electricity passes through them, sending them into a seizure.

Maud watches in horror.

Seeing her clenching her fists, Nightingale grabs her by the waist and sits her on his lap. Maud’s body tenses as he places his hand on her groin. She grabs his arm, pushing it away, but he holds it firmly in place, making her uncomfortable. “Look at your sisters!” He grabs her chin with his magic, forcing her to watch. “Every time you disobey me, this will happen to them!” He hums in a dull tone. “Every time.” Maud watches as her sisters convulse on the ground. Tears flooding her vision.