“End recording eight.” An all cloud white unicorn said into an old looking recorder. His guard a blue earth pony gave a gruff snort of approval. They didn’t like having to be in my idyllic little cell longer than they had too.

They trotted out of the cell in a timely fashion slamming my lovely door with no care. “I hate being near that thing. It gives me the fucking creeps.” Came the hoarse voice of the guard. Despite all the bindings they had on me they still were wary of me.

“Not hard to scare your pansy ass!” I called.

But seriously he was right to be afraid too. I was slowly learning how to control my body. I couldn’t practice much in here without setting off many alarms, but I could still practice under the surface. They also took me out a couple times to fight more mutants. Normally heavily deformed Minotaurs, but hey I wasn’t complaining. Every time I killed one I felt myself get a power boost.

I let out a gravely wracking cough which sent me forward in a fit, thinking of jokes I could have hurled at the guard. I slowly fell back relaxing my frayed body. Apparently hurting me was such a big part of my “conditioning” that they made some formula which forced my nerves to sense pain. Nothing quite like have your ribcage cracked open while your still conscious, vomited when it happened but all the came up was black goo. I let out another weak laugh at the memory of a pony in a hazmat suit screamed when it got on him.

I didn’t know how long I’d been down here, at least several weeks. But it’d given me enough to work with. This was actually MLP, or at least some world of it. I’d figured that out from the occasional conversations of patrolling guards. I’d also heard they were taking me for another combat test today.

With a somewhat wicked smirk I closed my eyes, and held my head against the cold metal, as if trying to sleep. Time of silence like this were some of the short times of solace I had. Hours passed and eventually I heard the clippity clop of hooves against stone. There was a pause and then a slow whispering hiss filled the room. They’d started gassing the chamber. But this time it had no effect on me. Over the past times they used it on me I’d learned how to absorb it, and even break it down. The clamps over my wrists and ankles would automatically let go after the minute was up. When they did I fell like a sack of bricks to the ground. The vents reversed sucking up the leftovers, and a click came from the door when they finished. I heard the clack of their hooves against the floor till they were practically standing over me.

With not much time to waste I shot out several tendrils, a little stronger than iron, out of my back. I retraced them back into me and after several tense moments heard two thumps onto the ground. I dragged myself up and turned around to see the results. A guard pony splayed out still on the floor, blood pooling around him from several large holes in him, including one in his head. To my surprise the scientist, the same white unicorn from earlier, was still alive. Despite the two gaping holes in his chest. He crawled weakly towards the door.

I stood over him as I let out an amazed breath. “Wow, sorry. I know exactly how that feels.” I told him flashing back to my own death. “Fortunately you tortured me a lot so I don’t feel particularly bad for this.” I turned one of my arms into the black skeletal fist I used on the Minotaur. Bringing it down with surprising force I pulped his torso and began absorbing him.

Flashes of his life began to fill my mind. Wanted or not they entered my head overwhelming me, causing me to claw at my head. I stood at the threshold to preschool hiding behind my mother, too afraid to go in. I tried to stop them but they continued. I saw my face slammed into a locker by my middle school bully Iron Heart. The memories went by faster, and faster. I collapsed to the floor.

One last memory playing itself. I took a shaky breath and entered the main office of the Manehattan, located near the top floor. A bile green unicorn with an azure mane looked up from some files to his right. “Ah! Mister White, just on time. Now I’m sure you’re curious why I called you here. Am I correct?”

“Y-yes!” I said shakily sounding a little more scared than I intended. Of course it was hard not to be afraid he could send me off to some facility as an experiment, or just dump my carcass in the dump.

But the CEO was kind enough to ignore it and continued on. “Now we’ve been looking for a scientist of your... caliber to overlook the combat training of a new bio-weapon experiment we’re testing.” CEO Creed brought his hoof to his chin in a fake gesture of thought. “Ah!” He exclaimed as if suddenly remembering something. Reaching into one of the drawers of his desk he pulled out a file. Speaking as he opened it. “I believe you were there for the Rip Tide incident. An accidental misfire of the weapon that killed all twenty seven scientist on the team…” Creed paused for a moment pulling the file closer. “Except you and two guards? Says here thanks to your quick thinking you managed to teleport yourself and two guards out in time.” He startles me as he throws the file down on the desk in a violent manner. “That! That is what we need. We need more with those survival instincts. Which is why we’re putting you on such an important project.”

“Wait… So I’m not being fired.” A weak smile graced my lips hoping it was true.

“Fired!” He shouted holding his chest looking to the ceiling theatrically. “Why you graduated with a masters at age sixteen. You’re only nineteen and proven yourself an invaluable asset. No my goodman! This is a promotion. What you’ll be working on is called Project: Blacklight. A very important offshoot of Operation: Eclipse.”

I’d heard of eclipse. All the staff at various facilities had heard of it through whispers. A plan to kill the diarchy. To be placed on the teams working for it was one of the highest honors, and guaranteed a very high position in a better world if successful. “I won’t disappoint sir!”

“Oh I certainly hope not!” His ever present smile left leaving a piercing glare that sent chills down my… no not mine, Stark’s spine. “I’d hate it if you proved to be a liability!” He threw a folder from his desk at me. “There's a airship waiting on the roof, it’ll take you to the facility. Everything you need to know is in there.” With a polite nod I left the office behind.

Returning to the current world I pulled in lungfuls of air. Pulling myself off the cold concrete floor. For a… I don’t know how long I was stuck in the memories of the pony I’d consumed. Looking at my reflection in the door I confirmed I was actually Stark White, or at least looked like him.

I stood in awe of my own reflection till a small radio on the guard started to crackle. “You’re five minutes overdue! Where in tartarus are you!” The radio yelled through the static. I stood unsure what to do. “NOW!”

I licked my lips nervously and used magic for the first time, drawing from the experience of Stark White it all comes naturally as if my own. The radio is yanked from the vest of the guard and levitated over to me in my magical grasp. “Stark here…” I pause remembering the name of the guard. “Mire is dead. The experiment has escaped and is heading towards test arena. Lock down the section, I’ll report to command.” I said in my best calm and collected voice.

The radio remained silent. I was afraid they saw through my lie but suddenly it boomed back to life. “Understood. Good luck with command.” His voice ending with pity for my likely lost job, and by extension life.

I was about to leave my prison when I remember the guard I killed. Well I wouldn’t want his death to be in vain now would I? A new tendril extended from my side and sucked up the body, mopping up the leftover blood when done.

I gave my neck a crack as I felt my body continue to change. In the surface of the door I watched as my muscles grew, becoming more apparent and tone, I became a few inches taller, my bones became more intense. I could even feel my organs, which were pretty much vestigial, grow stronger. Admiring my reflection for a few seconds I said. “Earth pony magic is a hell of a drug.” I wondered why I didn’t gain knowledge from him but figured it was because he was already dead… also the massive hole in his head.

I closed the cell and followed my memories through the hallways to where the higher ups monitored the rest of the facility. As I made it to the entranceway four heavily armed guards nodded to me, which I returned. Two huge reinforced steel doors automatically opened ushering me into the command center. More guard ponies patrolled an elevated walkway which went on every wall expect the one opposite the entrance, which had a large screen, in the octagon shaped room. I walked down a couple stairs where the walkway dropped down to the real floor. Several dozen ponies typed away at illuminated screens, some monitoring the facility, others going over reports, a couple relaying communications. From what I knew Equestria had recently adopted computing technology from the Minotaurs that was roughly on par with early nineties technology; but what was here could pass for late two thousands tech.

Out of the corner of my eye Lemon Range approached me, the third highest person on the totem pole here after Golden Genes and Frayed Ends. “Stark, you’re looking good.” She said appraising me. “Fortunately for you you’re too valuable to can for your little blunder. The higher ups believe you still have your uses. We’ve already sent a team to collect Agis, and locked the area down.”

“It’s not like Golden Genes to let a blunder like this slide?” I responded with a raised eyebrow. Golden Genes was in charge of the biological division of this facility and wasn’t know for her calm attitude. Not that I cared much this place won’t be standing much longer if I have my way.

“You’re right. But it wasn’t her it was Frayed Ends that made the decision.” Makes sense Frayed was in charge of the mechanical division and was much more level headed. “Golden left for a conference in Manehattan a few hours ago, and Frayed Ends just left. Till he can cool her down he’s placed you on his team so you’re suppose to report to level nine to work on the Eclipse machine.”

I gave her a nod and made my way to the elevator. After a short couple of minutes of mind numbing make you want to rip your ears off elevator music I arrived on the ninth floor. The lowest level of the facility. I walked steadily towards the room which contained the eclipse machine trying my best to blend in. The floor was also the most secure level, every couple minutes I passed a large patrol of heavily armed guards. The doors to the Eclipse chamber were also guarded. As I stepped inside there were thankfully no guards, or staff as everyone was on break.

I took a step back and gave an appreciative whistle as I laid my own eyes on the machine. Twenty feet tall, cylindrical, bigger at the base before tapering down at the top where four metal claws held a diamond shaped crystal bigger than my head. Around the base where several more purple crystals, all meant to serve as conduits for dark magic. Since Celestia and Luna drew power from their respective celestial bodies this machine was meant to cut off their connections.

Problem was without unicorns channeling magic into it needed power to remain stable. A very bad flaw to leave unattended. I walked over to one of the built in consoles covering it in my tendrils letting them snake deep into the circuitry, slowly one by one undoing the built in failsafes. “Now kids don’t try this at home!” I said cranking a few dials all the way up. The machine let out a piercing whir, purple lighting sparked from some of the crystals. “You’ll want to set your doomsday machine to bake for five minutes.” I joked crushing a couple nobs and circuit boards with my tendrils.

A screen in the panel flashed. [WARNING: ENERGY BUILD UP DETECTED. ESTIMATED TIME TO OVERCHARGE: FIVE MINUTES] Perfect should be just enough time to leave. I thought breaking the built in alarm meant to broadcast and warn command. With a merry jaunt I exited the room and made my way to the elevator.

Four minutes passed by peacefully before the lights flickered turning red as the elevator violently jerked to stop. I recognized what was happening as my ears picked out the muted blaring of a siren on some floor. Someone had discovered the overload and initiated the emergency alarm.

I quickly tried to think how much time had passed, probably four minutes. Shit! I really don’t have time for this. Ditching my pony disguise I reverted to my human form. Letting my arms and legs take their more powerful skeletal like muscle mass forms I ripped through the roof of the elevator. As fast as I could push myself I leaped from wall to wall up the elevator shaft. When I reached the top I curled on the wall opposite of the doors and launched myself at them, tearing them apart.

Concrete ripped from the ground as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me down the sterile corridors. Finally I burst into the entrance of the facility which resembled a massive hangar where several prototype airships were. Filling the place where about three dozen guards. As my spectacular entrance drew their attention they opened fire on me with some basic automatic firearms. “We’ve got Agis he’s on the first floor!” One said into a radio.

“I DON’T FUCKING HAVE TIME FOR THIS!” I yelled jumping through the hangar, bouncing off airships which were more like jets and sending them into guards.

The door to the outside was a three foot thick; sixty by eighty foot tilted reinforced concrete bay door which slid into ground. Right now thanks to the lockdown it was up. I slammed into it with all my might, punching over and over again as bullets bit into my back. Cracks webbed out from where I punched. It’ll have to do! I shrunk down into as many small tendrils as I could, snaking my way through the cracks to the outside.

I reformed as soon as I could on the outside already running as my other parts flowed into me. I only made it a couple feet before I felt the ground beneath my feet shudder. I felt my eardrums blow as the blast shattered the area and the shock wave sent me flying fifty feet through the air.

Landing in the grass I moved my head back to see the entire underground facility was nothing but a giant crater of flames and concrete. “Good riddance you bastards!” I said triumphantly. Now I got to get on the move. I thought as I pushed myself up only to faceplant as my broken body gave out.

You know what on second thought I think I’ll just slip into a nice recovery coma for a couple hours.

Author's Note

Two chapter from me in one month!?! This is madness!!!