Rarity was startled to find that she had managed to drift off after laying down on the strangely plasticy bed. The sheer exhaustion she felt had evidently hit her harder than she had anticipated, but now it was wearing off. The ache in her bones and pain at the back of her head remained, but they were smaller now.

It didn't feel as though she had been asleep for long, but it was also impossible to know for certain if that was true. There was no clock, no sun, no windows, just a white void, and the ever-present lights shining in on her cell. Accidentally staring into one of those blinding orbs immediately jolted Rarity into full wakefulness and caused her headache to flare.

“Do you think you could turn down the lights a little?” Rarity asked.

Her request went unheeded, and she sat up in the bed in order to glare down at where she thought she saw someone. Despite the power of her disapproving glare, nothing changed, and she fell back into her bed with an annoyed huff. No sooner had she closed her eyes and begun to pretend as though she was back home, when the speakers come to life, ruining the moment.

“Rise, subject thirty-two,” ordered the unpleasant voice Rarity associated with the spider-legged creature she had seen earlier.

Rarity groaned but did as was demanded of her, sitting upright in the bed. “Would it kill you to say please?”

“Extend forelimbs and await inspection,” stated the voice.

Rarity grumbled some more and raised her forelegs, holding them there impatiently.

She didn't have to wait long before the mechanical arms as well as the mass of machine eyeballs descended. One grabbed her right foreleg, while the other wrapped a tight strap around the limb. She was then subjected to several pokes, prods, and squeezes that continued no matter how much she complained.

When it was done, the pony retracted her limb and rubbed the fresh holes that had been punched into it. Though not much larger than a syringe, they hurt quite a bit and left behind a strange aching feeling.

“How uncouth. The least you could do is inform me of what you have planned,” Rarity remarked aloud.

“Subject consent is not required,” replied the unfeeling creature.

Rarity wanted to complain, to demand answers, or freedom, but for once, held back on that particular impulse. It felt like a wasted effort for some reason, but thankfully Rarity still had some hope that she would be able to be a free mare once more.

“I hope you’ve taken all the readings you require,” Rarity offered.

“Affirmative. Subject health within acceptable parameters,” replied the voice. “Commencing phase two.”

There was a brief pause, during which the mechanical creature stepped up to the glass, allowing Rarity to see its strange form more clearly.

“What is your species designation?” He asked.

“Pony, but I am from the unicorn tribe, as you may be able to tell from the horn,” Rarity answered, gesturing to the appendage on her head.

“What level is your cultural development? For example, do you organize primarily via family units?” pressed the creature.

“And so went over two and a half hours, broken only by awkward bathroom breaks taken in full view of everyone, of questions posited by that unfeeling beast,” Rarity exclaimed with disgust. “Fret not, however, I gave him no specifics or revealed any secrets I was asked to keep.”

“No wonder you don't like Twilight's questions,” Pinkie Pie offered.

“Yeah, I’m kinda feeling bad about that now,” Twilight murmured.

“You couldn't have known darling. Though I would appreciate it if you were a bit less enthusiastic when it comes to your curiosity. The memory of that emotionless ruffian is still a painful one,” Rarity added.

“What is the possibility that this tau empire will invade?” Luna questioned.

“Non-existent,” Rarity paused. “Or close to it anyway. Their sphere of influence, at least in the scale of the entire galaxy is fairly small.”

“That's a relief,” Fluttershy whispered.

“I don't know, they sound pretty cool to me,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Your opinion of them will change, I promise you,” Rarity replied.

“What do you mean?” Twilight pressed.

“You will see,” Rarity answered, pausing to clear her throat and sit a little straighter in her seat. “After I spent several long hours enduring endless questions on Equestria, and its people, we advanced to the next unfortunate stage.”

“For the last time, I don't know enough about magic to answer that question,” Rarity retorted with a groan. “I only know the more basic spells as I did not pursue study in the arcane at any higher level than high school.”

“To reiterate. The race you refer to as ponies, all have magical talents?” I-V S3I/H8T asked.

“Yes! I’ve told you that a thousand times! Earth ponies can make themselves tougher and grow things, pegasi can manipulate the weather, and we unicorns can externalize our aura in order to cast spells,” Rarity all but shouted, her voice cracking halfway through.

Holding up a hoof, the mare grabbed the cup of water on her bedside counter and gulped down its contents.

“Fascinating, an entire population of psykers that seem stable,” murmured the voice before it picked up suddenly. “You are certain you have never heard of anyone summoning terrible creatures or going mad during or after the use of these ‘spells’ as you call them?”

“Only once. Sweetie Belle had a minor magical flare but all she did was turn all the plates in the house green,” Rarity exclaimed, her voice hoarse and barely more than a croak.

“Subject vocal quality, dropping. Ending phase two,” the robotic voice of I-V S3I/H8T declared. “Initiate phase three.”

“Oh thank the stars,” Rarity muttered.

The mechanical arms hovering above the unicorn’s head collapsed and retracted back into the ceiling. They then reemerged, only this time, with five objects as well as a cage containing a rat that sported two large fanks, and a furry blue mane. The creature seemed confused, but was unharmed, running around its container squeaking. Turning her attention from the rather cute little critter, Rarity noted that the objects were just cubes of varied sizes, all stark white.

“Stand on the floor,” demanded I-V S3I/H8T.

Rarity stepped down from her bed, watching as the cubes and the rat was placed several feet away from her.

“What do you intend on doing with that furry little creature?” Rarity asked.

I-V S3I/H8T ignored the comment and continued. “Pick up the smallest cube without touching it.”

“Augh, fine,” Rarity murmured.

Lighting her horn, Rarity winced as she tugged on her pool of mana for the first time in a while. Her magic was sluggish, and still recovering from being expended so violently a week earlier. The metal creature was patient, for once, giving Rarity the time she needed to bring her telekinetic field to bear on the smallest cube. With a small amount of exertion, she lifted it into the air, where it hovered for several seconds before being dropped.

“I assume that is acceptable?” Rarity asked.

“Lift the bigger cube, and hold it aloft for ten seconds,” I-V S3I/H8T ordered.

“You could at least say please,” Rarity murmured.

Lighting her horn, Rarity repeated the same task once more, lifting the second one up, holding it, and then finally dropping it. She wasn't sure what it was made of, but the second cube had been twice as heavy as the first one. Thankfully they were still relatively light, with the last one having reached the weight of a particularly heavy book.

“Repeat the same task with the third cube,” demanded the unfeeling voice.

Rarity reluctantly did as was asked of her, stumbling only briefly as she adjusted her spell for the increased weight. This one was about the weight of her sewing machine but was only slightly larger than the second box.

“Let me guess, pick up the fourth one?” Rarity asked sarcastically.

“Affirmative.”

Rarity groaned once more, but knowing that there wasn't a way out of it, lit her horn once more. Wrapping it around the cube, she attempted to heft the thing into the air but found herself unable to do so. It was considerably heavier than the one that came before, reaching the weight of an entire wagon or maybe an anvil.

“Lift the fourth cube, and hold it aloft for ten seconds,” I-V S3I/H8T ordered.

“I’m trying, it's heavy and I’m still suffering from mana burn,” Rarity retorted angrily.

“Lift the fourth cube-”

“And hold it for ten seconds, I know!” Rarity snapped.

Growling angrily, the unicorn lit her horn and with a bit of effort, managed to heft the cube from the floor. Holding it about three feet above the ground, Rarity found that she was having to expend a considerable amount of power. She hadn't had to lift something this large in a very long time, and like an ill-used muscle, her horn struggled to keep up.

“-ten,” Rarity declared.

The moment the cube hit the ground, Rarity released a gasp, and nearly collapsed, her legs shaking. After a few calming breaths she stood back up and wiped the sweat from her brow, silently quite proud of herself.

“Lift, and hold the fifth cube aloft for ten seconds,” I-V S3I/H8T, or Hate as Rarity came to call them in her head, ordered.

“I know!” Rarity shouted. “What part of ‘I can’t do you not understand, you overgrown toaster?”

There was a short pause.

“Administering encouragement,” declared Hate.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “You aren't exactly encouraging you know? Maybe if you offered me the chance to use a shower have a decent meal or use a real toilet rather than a hole in the ground I’d- yowch!”

Rarity leaped forward and turned around to find that the mechanical arm had returned, only one of its fingers sported two prongs at the end. Between these metal spikes arced a series of tiny lightning bolts, each one just big enough to make a popping sound.

“What are you doing?” Rarity demanded.

“Lift and hold the fifth cube aloft for ten seconds,” Hate’s voice demanded.

“I told you I ca-owch stop that!” Rarity shouted, batting the metal arm after it prodded her again.

“Lift and hold-”

“I know what you want you stupid machine! I am trying to explain why I- hey don't come near me with that!” Rarity warned.

Backpedaling rapidly, Rarity avoided the arm right up until her butt hit the barrier of her cell. The moment this happened, the arm lurched forward and jabbed her in the midsection, sending thousands of volts into the pony’s body. Her hair stood up on end and her body convulsed, muscles unable to keep her standing.

“S-stop, p-please,” Rarity begged.

A moment later the arm retracted several feet.

“Lift and hold the fifth cube aloft for ten seconds,” Hate ordered.

“Alright, fine,” Rarity murmured.

Standing on shaky hooves, Rarity stumbled back over to the cube and lit her horn once more. Grasping the box, she immediately knew that it was heavier by far than anything she had tried to lift. The only approximation was maybe Tom, the stupid boulder that Discord had forced her to become infatuated with. She was about to give up when she heard the rapid pop of electricity a few feet behind her.

With a grunt, she hefted the thing into the air, her horn becoming almost painfully bright. The strain was immense, with Rarity able to feel what little reserves she had left quickly being burned. She tried to hold on, to keep what she had, but it was like grasping at sand, as it perpetually escaped her grasp.

Not wanting to get electrocuted again, she resisted the urge to quit and held the rock aloft. Counting down the seconds, Rarity could feel her horn growing hotter by the second. Sweat poured down her face, her legs began to shake, and a pounding headache furiously began assaulting her mind.

“Hnnngh, come on,” Rarity muttered to herself.

Seconds ticked by at a glacial pace, with each moment feeling like a short eternity. At the five-second mark she began to worry she might burn out a second time. Her aura began to flicker almost immediately after she began to consider that very real, and very uncomfortable possibility.

“Augh!” Rarity cried.

Her horn sparked, and her magic died, the pony hitting the ground at nearly the same time the cube did. Barely conscious, and breathing heavily, Rarity desperately resisted the urge to pass out.

“I… did… it,” she muttered.

“Negative. Subject held the cube for only eight point six five seconds,” Hate declared. “Administering encouragement.”

Rarity grit her teeth and waited for the bite of electricity. Only for the jolt to never arrive, leaving her confused.

“Recalibrating,” Hate stated, a second more distant voice whispering nearby. “Subject thirty-two’s performance within acceptable parameters. Tests concluded.”

Rarity blearily looked up, watching as the arms grabbed the cubes, as well as the rodent, and retracted into the ceiling. A moment later the lights went out, and the strange glass-like walls of her containment cell darkened until she couldn't see out of them.

“Testing will resume in nine hours,” Hate proclaimed.

A moment later, the speaker clicked, signaling that it had been disabled, at least for the moment.

“Yaay,” Rarity blearily muttered to herself.

The pony glanced over at her bed all the way across the room. Lifting a leg, she tried to drag herself in that direction but found herself unable to do so. Attempting a second time resulted in the same response, so with great reluctance, she gave up. Laying her head on the cold ground, she pushed the scent of burnt hair from her mind. Focusing instead on the faint feeling of pride, and the pleasant sensation of the cool floor, she swiftly drifted off into a dreamless slumber.

Author's Note

This is part of the 12 days of christmas, head over here to keep track of all the cool stuff coming down the pipes. If you want to ensure I can afford to keep doing stuff like this, consider backing me over on Subscribestar or Patreon.