It Came From The Factory

Ever since the closing of the old factory just outside of Ponyville's limits, ponies have started spreading rumors of what happened that caused it's closing and what now dwells within. Former workers claim that a pony's work stress got the better of him and he committed suicide inside the factory, and they say that his ghost now haunts the place. On the other hoof, many say it wasn't suicide. Some ponies say that that stallions death was caused by another pony, the one who now guards the factory. Some simply say that a demon guards it, and those who believe in its existence claim that it's a super powerful alicorn that stands ten feet tall and abducts all who dare come near the factory, and brutally murders those who can't escape. Nopony has ever seen it to believe it or lived to tell the tale. Now, many of these rumors are false, though some are not far off, but there is one pony who knows the truth about the factory and it's horrible story.

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It was a bright, pleasant, mid-summer day in Equestria. Ponyville was abuzz with ponies out for a stroll, doing some shopping, or just all in all enjoying the weather. Thunder Tail, a tall, young, white pegasus, was walking through the town looking at different displays and stands here and there. He stopped for a moment and pushed some of his black mane out of the way of his face with a hoof. He let out a long breath and continued walking. He spotted a stand about ten yards to his left and trotted over to it. Looking from left to right looking at the various objects that were for sale at the stand, he noticed a watch that was only thirty bits.

"Can I help you?"

The voice of a mare greeted him warmly. He looked up to see a rose red pony with a purple mane on the other side of the stand. She smiled at him and Thunder Tail smiled back.

"Um, yes actually, this watch looks nice."

The mare looked at the watch that Thunder had pointed a hoof at and nodded.

"Alright, that'll be thirty bits sir."

"Ok."

Thunder put the required amount of bits on the stand and the mare pushed a box that now contained the watch in front of him. He opened the box and carefully slipped on the watch, examining it after he did so.

"Cool."

"It looks good on you."

"You think so?"

"I certainly do."

Both ponies smiled at each other, and Thunder Tail looked at his new watch and decided to continue the conversation.

"Hey, does this have the right time?"

"It might, you may have to check when you get home."

"Alright, that shouldn't be a problem. Thank you."

"My pleasure."

The two ponies smiled again, and Thunder Tail decided to make his move.

"Hey, if your not busy later, I was wondering if, well, you'd maybe like to, I don't know, go have some dinner together or something?"

The mare was quite surprised with Thunder's haste, but smiled at him none the less.

"Actually, I don't get off work till later, I was going to eat here. But, if you wouldn't mind coming back at around nine I wouldn't mind some company on the walk home."

Thunder smiled as did the mare before him, and he nodded awkwardly.

"I think that would be nice. I'm Thunder by the way. Thunder Tail."

"I'm Amethyst Rose. Lovely to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise."

Amethyst held out a hoof towards Thunder and it was soon met by his own. The two nodded at each other, and Thunder turned to leave. He kicked off into the sky, leaving behind nothing more than a cloud of dust and a starstruck earth pony. Amethyst Rose brushed a fluff of purple mane out of the way of her face and giggled to herself.

"Well, he seemed nice. Kinda cute too. I don't remember seeing him around town, maybe he just moved."

She stopped talking to herself when another pony walked up to the stand.

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It was darker out now, as the clock had just struck nine. Amethyst Rose was closing up her stand and packing stuff into assorted bags to carry back to her house. She looked up at the moon and sighed softly, then hung her head down again and continued packing. She did this action again minutes later, and was about to do it again when suddenly a gust of wind and the sound of hooves on ground came from behind her. She smiled before turning around, and was met with the face she was hoping for.

"Hello Thunder Tail."

Thunder Tail smiled back at Amethyst Rose, then nodded as he responded.

"Good to see you again."

"Ditto."

"Need some help with your stuff?"

"Oh, yes thank you. If you could grab those two bags right there that would be much appreciated."

"No problem."

The two smiled at each other once more as Thunder Tail trotted over to the pile of luggage and put the two bags on his back.

"Well, shall we be on our way then?"

"Sure, my house isn't too far from here, maybe a ten minute walk or so."

"Alrighty, onwards then."

The two began their trek, and as they left a cold air blew through the night, and Thunder Tail disregarded his eyes fluttering briefly.

——————————————————————-

"You're joking. He had a chance at being on the Wonderbolts and turned it down?"

"Well, turned it down, failed the drug test, whatever you wanna call it."

The two ponies burst into laughter at the statement, Thunder Tail knowing very well of its truth. They had started telling each other about themselves, and the conversation had drifted into an old friend of Thunder.

"Yep, Ol' Bolt sure was something. Jeez, he'd take any dare you'd throw at him. This one time in Vanhoover, me and this pony we met up with, forget their name, we dared Mickey to dive into North Luna Ocean and yell that a princess was trying to drown him."

Amethyst nearly fell to the ground laughing at this point, and as she recollected herself she looked up to see Thunder Tail chuckling.

"That's not all is it?"

"Nope. There was some huge party going on. We were invited but Bolt just wanted to blow it and get wasted, so we decided to get kicked out. You know, have some fun with it. So once ponies started noticing what he was doing and the fact that me and the other pony were with him they, um, well, they called security and we ran."

This time there was no holding back her laughter, and Amethyst Rose was soon on the ground rolling around and laughing like a little filly. Her bags had fallen to her side when she fell, and some of the various items had fallen out.

"Oh, oh my. Good lord that's funny. What did you do then?"

Thunder walked over and put the spilled goods back into their respective places, giving Amethyst a chance to collect herself.

"Well, we had to stay at the other pony's house for that night, we got hammered and played twister. A combination I am avoiding for the rest of my life."

"I bet."

The two still giggled as they walked, and Amethyst didn't even notice when Thunder had stopped and put a hoof to his head. Amethyst stopped when she noticed his absence, and turned to see where he was. She saw that he was just standing still holding his forehead with a hoof.

"Thunder? Is something wrong?"

Thunder Tail's eyes flutter as he looked up and fluttered again as he put his hoof down.

"Um, y-yeah, just a little headache. Happens all the time, I've put meaning to get that checked out."

"Well not to play doctor but I think I might know what to do, I have some stuff inside my house if you'd like me to try?"

Thunder looked up to see a quite clearly blushing Amethyst Rose.

"Wow, you're not very subtle are you?"

The blush increased with Thunder's joke, and the red pony hung her head. Thunder walked up to her and lifted her head, parting some of her mane with a hoof.

"It's alright."

Both ponies turned red, and Amethyst turned to continue the walk. She trotted on, and Thunder Tail followed until another headache stopped his movement. Amethyst stopped after no longer feeling his presence by her side. She looked back to see the still pegasus once again clutching his head.

"Thunder? Are you alright?"

Thunder Tail's eyes fluttered open, then closed, then open again. He looked at the mare to his side and then his eyes fluttered again. He kicked off into the sky and shot out of sight in seconds, leaving nothing but a trail of dust and a befuddled mare.

"Now what the hell was that all about?"

Amethyst Rose stood staring at the sky for a moment, wondering about the stallion. She eventually shook it off and continued her walk home after re-packing her things.

"I mean, maybe it's just some sort of mood swing. Maybe he got nervous. Either way."

Amethyst Rose reached her house and quickly got inside. She discarded the bags at the door and walked down the hall to her bedroom. She flopped on the bed and look out the window. The wind had picked up.

"What a day."

She stood up and quickly stretched before climbing in under the covers. She let out a long sigh as she got comfortable for the night. Watching through the window was a sky blue pegasus sitting on a tree branch.

Now fool! Now is the time! Strike quick, or else we will retaliate!

"No, no no no. It's wrong!"

There is no wrong. Just knock. One...Two...Three.

"But, but."

Now!

The Pegasus's eyes fluttered and shot open as he leapt from the tree branch and landed at the front door of Amethyst Rose's house. He knocked three times and waited. Amethyst Rose wasn't in a very deep sleep and was awoken by the knocks at the door.

"Who in the hell? It's like midnight for Celestia's sake."

She stood up and walked over to the door, but when she opened it, nopony was there.

"Alright, if this is some sort of prank I ain't havin' it!"

She slammed the door and turned around only to receive a sickening blow to the head with a blunt object. She fell to the floor and with blurred vision she could make out the dim figure of a pegasus.

Amethyst Rose awoke in a dim lit room, head pounding. She was lying on what felt like a smooth floor, staring at the ceiling.

"Ugh, what the hell?"

She tried to move her hooves but to her surprise they were strapped down to the table she was on.

"The fuck? Okay, this is not right."

She tried to move her head, also strapped down, and she started becoming frantic.

"Anypony! Can anyone hear me!?"

The light above her flicked on, as did a few others, lighting up the room around her. It took her until now to take in the smell. It smelled of cleaning supplies and chemicals, which was slightly unnerving to her.

"H-hello?"

Her voice was weak and fearful. She could out move her head on the sideways axis, and she only saw the two walls and the ceiling that were made out of concrete.

Is this some sort of bunker?

"Is anypony there?"

A door behind a section of darkness creaked open, filling the room with light. The figure of a pegasus was standing in the doorway, head facing the floor.

"H-hello?"

The figure looked up, but the face was covered by darkness. It walked into the room, closing the door and shutting out more light.

"Hello?"

"Hello there Rose."

This pony's voice was a little high but very grim. It was a voice that was almost familiar to Amethyst Rose, but at the same it sent a sickening chill through her body.

"H-how do you know my name."

"Oh, I think you need not worry about that. I thought you would worry more about why you're tied down, but I guess I'm just different."

"What the hell is this?"

The figure walked around to the back of the table. Amethyst could feel it's presence, and heard it struggling with something.

"Damn, this fucking lever."

The table suddenly thrust upwards and angled forwards, keeping Amethyst at about a forty-five degree angle.

"There was go, jeez."

Amethyst Rose's heart was pounding, who was this pony? Where was she? Why were they doing this?

"Who are you?"

"Could you, not? Please? It makes this whole thing so much easier if you are silent."

"But-"

"Atatatatatata! Silence."

Amethyst gulped. This pony was clearly insane. That or this was the best prank anyone had ever pulled on her.

"Have you seen my scalpel? I also lose it for fucks sake."

"S-scalpel?"

"Yeah, you know, little knife-ish thing, real sharp, perfect for, oh, say, dissection."

"Dissection!?"

"Yeah, I dabble. Oh! I probably left it in the storage room, silly me, excuse me!"

The figure trotted out of the room and the door slammed behind it. Amethyst Rose's breathing started becoming heavy, and she started frantically trying to escape her straps.

"Fuck, fuck, come on, I gotta get the fuck out of here before-"

"What was that?"

The mares sentence was cut off when the figure entered the room again. He seemed to be pushing a medical cart of some sort.

"Alright, everything seems to be in order here. Scalpel, hammer, spikes.."

The pegasus continued his list, and every word made Amethyst panic even more. She again tried at breaking herself free from the straps, but once more to no avail.

"Hey hey hey! Don't try to get out, you may damage those, I worked hard on those. The best way to do this is just to relax, just breathe."

"How the fuck do you expect me to relax!?"

"Shshshshhhhh. Quiet. Relax."

The figure used his wing to pick up a hammer and walked towards the table.

"Hmm, where should we start? Ah, I know."

The pegasus twirled the hammer as he walked back to the cart and pushed it over right beside the mares side.

"The kidneys sounds like a good place, does it not?"

"Kidneys!?"

"Yeah, you know, waste filtering organ, ya have two for Celestia's sake, I'm sure you can spare one."

Amethyst Rose starting crying softly as the realization that this was no prank and that she was most likely going to be brutally dissected by this maniac hit her.

"Aw, c'mon, don't cry. Here, I'll give you a shot so that it doesn't hurt. That sound good?"

Amethyst just looked the opposite way and continued crying. The figure shrugged and grabbed a needle with his other wing.

"Since I'm feeling nice today I'll give you the shot, mmkay? Mmkay."

The pegasus stabbed the needle into Amethysts side and she yelped from the pain.

"There were go. Now, I'm going to need you on your back to get to where I need, which means I'm gonna need to loosen these here."

The figure started loosening the straps, starting with the back hooves and moving up.

"Don't go running away on me now."

The figure chuckled as he loosened the head strap. Amethyst quickly backhoofed the figure and flopped off the table. She got to her hooves and ran out the door. She found herself in a long hallway, and she quickly ran left. The hallway was well lit and reminded her of a hospital.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Amethyst turned her head but saw nothing. She ran into something and fell onto her back. She looked up to see a white coated pegasus standing over her.

"Th-thunder?"

"Was that your attempt at an escape?"

Thunder Tail raised a hoof and brought it down across Amethysts face, knocking her out.

______________________________

Amethyst Rose awoke with a small scream. There was a large tingling in her side, and she tried to move but was strapped down again. The lights were now on fully, and the door opened and Thunder Tail walked in.

"No point in hiding myself, you ruined the suspense by tring to escape. I just killed the last pony who tried that stunt. You should consider yourself lucky, now you can spend more time with me! How fun! Oh, by the way, I already took your kidney. Only the one, figured I'd let you keep the other."

The pegasus grinned and then laughed as he walked back to the cart.

"Now. Watch this."

He picked up the hammer and walked over with a spike in his mouth.

"Thish ish only going to hurt a lot."

He transferred the spike to his wing and held it above Amethysts left front hoof. He raised the hammer and drove the spike through the limb and straight into the table. Amethyst screamed in pain and Thunder just laughed.

"Now, look here."

He loosened the strap and took it completely off. He waved it in front of the panting mare.

"Look, see?"

Amethyst simply closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. She just wanted this whole thing to be over. She just wanted to either get out or be killed painlessly.

"Why are you doing this? Why?"

"Why? Hell, I don't know. I'm just doing as I'm told."

"Wh-what?"

"Ah you'd never understand. Next spike!"

The pegasus drove the second spike through Amethysts right front hoof and again she cried out in pain.

"Alright. I think two should be fine. You really won't be going anywhere."

The pony laughed to himself as he walked back to the back of the table and set it to a one hundred and eighty degree angle again.

"Okay. I'll do the removal of the cutie mark later-"

"What?!"

"Hey, it's rude to interrupt! Jeez. Anyways, yes. Removal of the cutie mark. But first, I think I'll go with some good old fashioned-"

"What is the point of this Thunder? How could you be so innocent one moment and then be like this the next? Why the torture?"

The mare spoke through tears of pain and lack of understanding. Thunder frowned and walked over to the table.

"Ya know, I thought this could've been a nice, jolly old time, but you just have to complain. Jeez, if I wanted this much bitching I wouldn't have killed that last pony, good gosh they wouldn't shut up. But you, I guess I'll just do something else with you."

The pony angrily walked back to the table with a roll of duct tape in his wing. He pulled a large portion off the roll and held it above Amethysts mouth.

"Don't wanna be tortured? Fine. Not my problem."

"B-but I w-was j-"

The tape was placed over her mouth, restricting her speech. Thunder Tail smiled as he took in a deep breath.

"Ah, silence. I missed ya. Now. What I'm going to do is a little more unorthodox. We're going to play a game! Isn't that nice? Yeah, alright, so, I'm gonna just push you over there, I'm gonna be over here, and, well you'll see."

The pony flipped a lever on the wheels of the table and pushed it up against the wall opposite of the door. He pulled the back lever and set the table so that it sat almost at a ninety degree angle. Thunder Tail walked back to the cart and rummaged around for a bit.

"Ah, here they are."

He set a few small axes on top of the cart and Amethysts eyes shot open. Thunder Tail picked up an axe and twirled it as he walked to a place about three metres directly in front of Amethyst.

"Well, so sorry it had to end like this Amethyst, just know that I did like you."

He chuckled grimly as he raised his wing and chucked the axe towards the mare. Amethyst closed her eyes and looked to the side. The axe hit the table beside her left rear hoof, just barely missing her. She looked forwards at the disappointed stallion.

"Damn, a little off."

He picked up another axe and aimed higher, letting the axe leave his grasp once more. This time he was closer. The axe hit Amethysts right front hoof, and she tried to cry out but the tape stopped a lot of noise from escaping. The sound of the bone cracking and splitting was gut wrenching, and she could now feel the blood running down her body and looked to see it dripping onto the floor.

"Ah dammit, I forgot the damn trough. Fuck, now I'm gonna have a mess to clean up. Whatever, let's just end this."

Thunder Tail picked up the third and final axe, and he aimed for a long moment before throwing the axe at Amethyst Rose for the last time. The axe impaled itself deep into Amethyst chest, but her body was in too much shock for her to feel the pain. She could barely breath and her eyes started flickering open and closed.

"Finally."

Thunder Tail walked over and looked the mare in the eyes. He sighed for a second and ripped the axe out of her body. Blood shot up and onto his face, wings, and hooves.

"Well, it was nice having you here. But alas, your time is up."

Blood now covered the floor around the two, and Amethyst Rose was hardly even awake. Thunder Tail raised the axe, the blood shimmering on the blade.

"Goodbye Rose."

He cruelly brought the axe down on the mares skull, ending her life at last. He stood back and admired what he had done.

"Gosh, I wish she would've had the guts to stick around longer. Oh well. If I'm gonna move her to the incinerator I'm gonna need to put a trough on there."

He looked at the body for another moment and thought. He suddenly perked up as a wicked idea struck him. He grimly chuckled as he walked back over to the table.

"I think it's about time we begin a new tradition. Maybe we deserve a little recognition? I'm a big fan of getting what I deserve."

He took the bottom straps off, as well as the head strap, and he walked back to the cart and took a large crowbar.

"Anda one."

He stabbed the crowbar in between the spike and Amethysts left front hoof, and he pulled back on it and freed the hoof from the table. The weight of the body mixed with the impaled axe caused her other front hoof to rip apart and her body crumpled to the floor. Thunder Tail burst into a maniacal laughter and fell onto his back laughing.

"You stupid freaking pony. Oh gosh that was funny."

He stood up from the puddle of blood he had laid in and picked the body up with his wings. He dragged it through the factory to the outside. The night air was crisp, and the gentle breeze blew his mane into his face.

"Hey, stop it."

He ran a hoof through his mane, the blood patting it down and staining it faintly. He flew over to the town hall and to the nearest outside light post. He let out a sigh as he heaved the body upwards and strapped it by the neck to the post, using the straps from the table.

"I'll have to get new straps but I can get those real easy. Alrighty, lookin' good. Just one more thing."

______________________________

Lyra woke up and stretched briefly before walking out to the living room where Bon-Bon was already awake.

"Good morning sleepyhead."

"Morning. Anything interesting happen?"

"No, nothing yet."

"Good, I just wanna have a norma-"

Suddenly, Vinyl Scratch burst through the door and stood panting slightly in the doorway. The other two mares quickly looked towards the door to see what was happening.

"Vinyl? What the hell?"

"You gotta come see this. Like, now."

Lyra and Bon-Bon looked at each other for a second and shrugged. Lyra yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"Alright fine, but let's not take too long, kay?"

"Trust me, this is something you'll want to see."

The three ponies quickly galloped towards town hall, Vinyl leading. Lyra could see that a large crowd was formed around one of the streetlights near it, and she could hear shouting.

"Over here!"

Vinyl waved them over to a rock that had a view over the crowd. The three climbed it and at the top was Octavia with a pair of binoculars.

"Hey Tav, I got Lyra and Bon-Bon."

"Excellent. You two have to see this. It's insane."

"What is it? Everypony sure seems excited."

"See for yourself."

Octavia passed the binoculars to Bon-Bon, who laid down and looked at the crowd through them.

"Umm, I don't see anything."

"Look up."

"Ok. Umm, I still don't-"

Bon-Bon gasped before dropping the binoculars. Lyra's eyes opened and she quickly levitated the binoculars to her face and looked where Bon-Bon had been looking. She soon found what the others were talking about.

"Oh, oh my-"

"Isn't that absolutely insane? I mean somepony was murdered!"

Vinyl took the binoculars in her magic and looked at the sight again. A red earth pony with a purple mane strapped by the neck to a post. The handle of the axe the was embedded in her head read
Careless love
It was written in what she assumed was the mutilated pony's blood. She lowered the binoculars and looked to Octavia.

"I really hope that they catch whoever did this."

"I know. I can't believe that there's a murderer loose in Ponyville."

"Me neither."

Octavia looked to her right to see Lyra hugging a weeping Bon-Bon and stroking her mane. Octavia stood up and faced the group collectively.

"I'm sure we have nothing to worry about. We'll all be fine."

"Yeah, yeah she's right."

Lyra looked Bon-Bon in the eyes and held her still.

"We're gonna be OK sweetie."

"We are?"

"I'm sure of it."

The two hugged again and Octavia whispered something in Vinyl's ear. Vinyl nodded and cleared her throat.

"Hey, if you gals would like to come over, Tavi and I were planning a little party for tonight."

The two mares shot Vinyl a look and she quickly fixed her statement.

"Oh, we had planned it before we knew about this, don't worry. You in or out?"

Lyra and Bon-Bon looked at each other again before smiling and turning back.

"We're in."
To Be Continued