I Am Alone

Several days had drifted by, each marked by Grim's unwavering presence by my side. It wasn't just a mere act of companionship; he had brought his paperwork into my cell, ensuring he never strayed too far. Yet, beneath this apparent dedication, a veil of secrecy lingered, shrouding Grim's true intentions. My attempts to unravel the mystery proved futile; each probing question was met with a skillful evasion, locking away the enigma that surrounded him.

In a gesture of unexpected kindness, Grim had also procured a blanket for me. Its warmth provided a small solace in the restless nights that haunted my attempts at sleep. Even when slumber did manage to claim me, bizarre visions invaded my dreams. An expansive canvas of clouds stretched endlessly, forming an unlikely platform, and a distant figure on the horizon. It felt as though someone, or something, sought to connect with me from afar. Night after night, this spectral presence persisted, my feeble attempts to reach out met with silence, leaving me alone in the surreal landscape of my dreams.

Names and faces, stricken through with black marker. Who were they?

A variety of meals found their way into my routine, though eating every day wasn't a necessity. I figured it was Grim’s way of apologizing or making up for the traumatic experience. In the passing days, it seemed like I was chipping away at Grim's hard exterior. He even started putting up with my touch more, a surprise considering his usual stoic demeanor. I'd casually lean and lounge around him, attempting a bold move by snuggling up against his leg once. It felt awkward, so I decided not to repeat that experiment. Amidst my time here, peculiar emotions lingered like a subtle identity crisis, even though my gender identity was an obvious ‘girl’. That mental journey led me to ponder my sexuality. Attracted to girls, I recalled the appropriate term was ‘lesbian’. The word surfaced from the depths of my mind, familiar yet perplexing. Why then did I act so familiar with Grim, then? Was it a simple longing for physical contact, perhaps?

I had always been like this.

Between my grilling sessions with Grim and the occasional behavioral therapy, now under Grim's watchful eye, I found moments to spare. One curious venture involved trying to communicate with the chaos-infused mare, Screwball. I called out to her once, only to receive the cryptic response, "Turkey ham sandwich." Enlightening, to say the least.

Through my ongoing conversations with my steadfast guardian, I dedicated myself to refining my speech. While I swiftly grasped the basics and standard sentence structures of Equestrian, an intriguing nuance surfaced—my accent, peculiar and noteworthy, accompanied by a subtle speech impediment. It felt like my brain was working overtime, causing the words I spoke aloud to struggle to keep pace. Frustration once boiled over, leading me to punch myself in the head. Grim has become adept at recognizing the signs, offering a simple remedy: stop, take a breath, and try again.

I had always had a speech impediment.

I did not know the day, but it had been nearly two and half weeks since I’d arrived at EQUINE. Long gone were the days of living in the forest with a manticore as my only instance of maternal affection.

There was nothing before.

I was an orphan, recovering at the Ponyville General Hospital from injuries sustained in a misadventure in the forest, until I was taken in by the ponies at EQUINE.

I was never anything else.

They saved me.

I was never a prisoner.

They helped me. One of the doctors was mean though. Test Chambers, the white one. He took me away and hurt me.

Please, don’t.

I woke with a jolt, as if there had been a massive clap of thunder. My red eyes scanned from side to side, searching for danger. Looking up, I saw Grim Reminder standing over me protectively. In front of him was the very doctor I feared, his grin cutting through the air with the same precision as his scalpel. Flanked by his lackeys, I recognized the more brutish one as Iron Hoof.

“I did warn you, Mister Reminder.” Test Chambers remarked, his voice ominous and commanding.

Please, don’t.

As Iron Hoof took a step toward us, Grim backed into me, ever protective. His fetlock outstretched to the side, blocking anyone's access to me. "Stay back," he warned, his voice wavering for only a split second. We were in danger here.

"Now, now. That's no way to speak to a superior." The doctor's eyes were like pinpricks, his attitude feverish. "After all, I'm not the one in the wrong here. If I recall correctly, Section Twelve, Paragraph Eleven-dash-Aitch of your non-disclosure agreement clearly states that the disclosure of proprietary information to external parties is strictly prohibited, carrying the consequence of termination."

Test Chambers almost seemed ecstatic in delivering this news. Had he planned for this?

Test Chambers' mad scientist grin widened as he reveled in the unfolding drama. "You see, my little subject, it's quite simple. Your big strong protector here," he gestured dismissively towards Grim Reminder, "has violated the sanctity of our non-disclosure agreement, jeopardizing the delicate ecosystem of classified information within EQUINE."

Grim tightened his stance, a mix of concern and anger etched on his face. I clung to the side of his foreleg, my eyes darting between Test Chambers and Grim, the air thick with tension.

"Now, according to the subsection three of the confidentiality protocol," Test Chambers continued, relishing every word, "any breach of this agreement is met with severe consequences, including but not limited to termination of life, but of course i’m willing to be lenient."

I felt Grim's body tense, the weight of the situation settling on him. Test Chambers, in his twisted delight, pressed on, weaving legal jargon like a spider spins its web. "Mister Reminder, you are guilty of aiding and abetting unauthorized communication. The evidence is clear – you've been engaging in unauthorized conversations with our little project here," he pointed disdainfully at me.

Grim's jaw clenched, his gaze never leaving Test Chambers. I could feel the anger radiating from him, but he maintained his composure, aware of the trap laid before him.

“She should count as company property so your point is null and void,” Grim countered. Although hurtful I appreciated the sentiment.

“Is she an employee, Mister Reminder?” With a raised eyebrow, the doctor posed the question that needed no answer.

"As I’m sure you were well aware of," Test Chambers continued, pacing around with an air of superiority, "our research relies on a delicate balance of secrecy and controlled experimentation. Your breach has the potential to compromise not only the safety of our staff but also the integrity of our groundbreaking work."

I couldn't comprehend all the technical details, but the weight of Test Chambers' words hung heavy in the air. Grim's stoic expression remained, but I could sense the turmoil beneath the surface.

"In addition," Test Chambers sneered, "there have been reports of you sharing unauthorized information about our subjects, particularly Subject numbers Dee-E-Eight-Three-E-Four and Eff-Aye-Bee-Three-Dee-One. Such indiscretions, Grim, are unacceptable and jeopardize the very foundation of EQUINE's mission."

Grim's eyes flickered with a mix of frustration and defiance, but he remained silent, choosing his battles wisely.

"Now, I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for your termination," Test Chambers mocked sympathy, "but rules are rules. The sanctity of our work must be preserved. You're a liability, Mister Reminder, and it's time for you to face the consequences."

As Test Chambers revelled in his perceived victory, the room echoed with the ominous implications of his words.

Please don’t.

Test Chambers' cruel laughter echoed in the metallic confines of the facility as he gestured to his henchmen in a silently ordered command to attack.

Chaos erupted as the lackeys lunged forward, their movements synchronized in a macabre dance of violence. Grim Reminder, the stalwart guardian, seemed to be a trained fighter in some sort of martial art.

His hooves moved with precision, punching one assailant in the throat, followed by a headbutt that brought him crumpling to the ground. He spun around the second and bucked him with his back legs, making him trip over the disabled body of his comrade. He seemed to have met his match: Iron Hoof. Grim swung a right hook at him but the hoof on the brute’s face neither caused him to budge, nor even bother him as Grim took a left hook to the other side of his face. Iron Hoof simply waved his foreleg, like he was swatting away a pest, and knocked Grim into the wall against his back.

He struggled to get up but was still conscious.

Caught in the whirlwind of aggression and a burning desire to help, I leaped at two of the other attackers. My predatory teeth ripped into the front kneecaps of two of them sending them down with pained yelps and howls. My teeth sank into Test Chambers' nose next with a feral determination. Clenching down on soft tissue I bit down further until I reached flesh and tore, completely destroying his septum. He let out a yell as the metallic taste of flesh and blood filled my mouth, but my victory was short-lived. Iron Hoof's massive form loomed over me, and with a swift motion, he grabbed me and slammed me to the unforgiving floor.

All the breath that was in my body left at the motion. My lungs burned. Pinned down by the brute strength of Iron Hoof, I struggled against his unyielding grip. My attempts to break free proved futile, the weight of his presence too much for my weakened state. I even spat blood in his face; he didn’t even register it at all.

Test Chambers, holding what remained of his nose together, voiced his disappointment with a sinister calmness.

"Grim Reminder, how disappointing. Such a waste of potential. It seems I overestimated you."

He leaned down to Grim’s level and whispered, “And I had many high hopes for you.”

Grim, though battered and bruised, shot a defiant glare at Test Chambers, refusing to yield to the psychological assault.

As the skirmish subsided, Iron Hoof effortlessly lifted me off the ground, holding me in place. My struggles intensified, a desperate attempt to break free from the vice-like grip. However, Iron Hoof's strength was unassailable. Test Chambers had called for security and they took Grim away. He tried struggling to reach me. He tried telling me he’d come back for me. He tried fighting more; in response, the security personnel beat and tased him until he stopped moving.

In a move that felt like a cruel punishment, I was forcible fitted into a restrictive straight jacket. After a brief struggle, the threat of a broken leg made I resigned myself to it. The cold, unyielding fabric constricted my movements, a stark reminder of my vulnerability. To add to the humiliation, a clear plastic muzzle was placed over my mouth, stifling any attempts to speak or bite.

Shatter. The picture fractured.

The room, once filled with the chaotic sounds of battle, fell into an eerie silence. The injured EQUINE guards were collected by their allies. Grim Reminder, defeated and battered, was led away, leaving me restrained and silenced. The metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth as I lay there, a captive in this heartless facility.