Conversion Bureau: Taken to the Sea
*Dream*
The full moon shines over the water as it crashes violently against the rocks of the cliffs. The water sprays its mist upon my skin, sending me welcoming chills. I close my eyes to listen to the waves, I hear singing coming from under the water, beckoning me to dive in and meet them.
I take the leap of faith and dive into the water, swimming deeper and following the voices. The water is cold, but not freezing. The darkness grows, making it hard to see where I am going, but I follow the singing voices through the darkness, they are my guide.
A city. The voices lead me to the ruins of an underwater city. The citizens of this city are aquatic in nature, adapted to the harsh, cold and dark environment of the abyss. I open my eyes to sing along with the voices. The citizens swim alongside me, deeper into the darkness.
'llll or'azath syha'hnahh n'ghftephai n'gha ahornah ah'mglw'nafh...'
*Dream End*
I woke up with a small moan to the sound of knocking on my door. I opened my eyes to find myself back in the blank whiteness of my bedroom within the Conversion Bureau. The knocking came again.
I sat up from my bed and stretched my arms over my head with a quiet yawn. I rubbed my eyes and called to the door, "Who is it?"
"It's Dr. Umbridge." A young female voice answered the other side of the door, "It's 8:30 in the morning. Time for your treatment."
My eyes widened as anxiety made my heart beat faster than normal and my breathing shallow and dry.
I was hoping my treatment would be ready next week, but this was too soon. I've only been here for a month and they told me my treatment won't be ready until another month! I'm not ready for this!!
Luckily, a nice person from my past taught me a breathing exercise to help keep my nerves calm and my anxiety low.
I closed my eyes, placed my hand over my heart, and took a deep breath. I held my breath for two seconds, then exhaled, moving my hand away from my heart.
With that, my nerves were calm, and I was brave enough to face my treatment. I picked myself from my bed and walked over to the door. I twisted the doorknob and pulled the door open.
Standing on the other side of the doorway was a Caucasian human female in a doctor's uniform. Her wavy, shoulder-length hair was a chestnut brunette, and her eyes were a hazel color. This was Dr. Umbridge.
Dr. Umbridge looked at me from her pager and asked me in a genuine tone, "Are you ready, Miss Carter?"
I swallowed a lump of nerves in my throat and answered, "As I'll ever be." Then I asked, "I thought my treatment was not for another month. Why so soon?"
Dr. Umbridge beckoned me to follow her down the hallway. I did so, and she began to explain the situation.
"You are a special case, Miss. Carter. Most of our volunteers and residents were not exposed to Equestrian magic before conversion." She checked her clipboard, "While still dangerous and lethal to humans, we wish to test how your level of exposure affects your conversion. We gave you two months to see how you will adjust, but your life signs have been dropping an alarming rate. So we decided now or never."
I lowered my head and uttered an "Oh" before covering my mouth and giving out a small cough.
I followed Dr. Umbridge down the corridor and turned a few corners. We took an elevator to the fourth floor of the facility, and took a few more turns until we entered a large room with a twin sized bed with light blue bed sheets and comforter, a large window that looks over the facility grounds and the mountains, a desk with a computer and desk chair, and a video camera sitting next to the computer.
Standing at the other side of the room, looking over a table of medical tools, was a tall and lean-built male with short blonde hair and wore a nurse uniform. The nurse turned around, holding a syringe and a tube of glowing deep turquoise liquid. I was able to see his green eyes and name tag on his lapel. 'Nurse James Buitt'.
Nurse James turned to Dr. Umbridge and I and gave us a genuine smile, "Ah. Dr. Umbridge and Miss. Cater. I was just getting everything ready for the treatment." He turned to me and asked, "Nervous?"
I looked at Nurse James and sunk my head into my shoulders with a small nod. Nurse James smiled and assured, "It's okay to be nervous. This is my first time giving this treatment."
Dr. Umbridge cleared her throat and led me toward the desk and computer. She sat me down on the desk chair and started connecting the camera to the computer.
"What's with the camera and computer?" I asked curiously.
"The P.E.R. likes for our residents to keep a video journal of their progress with their conversion." Nurse James explained, "Helps keep some level of sanity. Personally, I think it's unnecessary."
"You're not paid to give your opinions, Mr. Buitt." Dr. Umbridge pointed out. Then she turned to me and nodded, "He is right, though. This is to check on the progress and help keep your sanity. We ask you to do these journal entries at least weekly."
I sighed and looked at the camera. The computer switched on, and the red light at the bottom of the camera lens switched on. The computer screen showed the image of a young human female with ghostly pale skin, dark ginger pixie-cut hair, and hazel eyes. She looked dreadfully ill and nearly at Death's door. The girl was me.
"Okay, Miss. Carter." Dr. Umbridge began, "When the record light turns green, you may begin."
I took a deep breath and kept an eye on the red light on the camera. After two seconds, the light turned green. I collected myself and looked at the camera.
"Journal Entry #1.
Log Date: February 2nd, 2012.
Resident ID: XLR-73257.
Hello people and ponies of the world. My name is Eleanor May Carter, I'm 19 years old, and I am currently going under treatment in the Coversion Bureau in Alberta, Canada. As you can tell, I am human at the moment, but I won't stay that way for long.
This all began two years ago when a large island, inhabited by magical, pastel-colored, talking ponies, appeared in the Pacific Ocean. Not being used to change this drastic, we humans were not sure how to react. But the ponies proved to be peaceful and accepted Earth as their new home. Unfortunately, the elements of magic started growing with the ponies, and we humans found it was lethal for us.
So, to help save the human race, a government movement called the Ponification for Earth's Rebirth found facilities around the world that convert the human race into ponies. I know it sounds like a load of nonsense, but it's better than the alternative, in my opinion.
How did I end up here? Unlike the other residents in this facility, I was exposed to the magic of Equestria and found the hard way how bad it is to humans. Two months ago, I fell terribly ill, and the doctors found that I was slowly dying from exposure to the magic. I don't hate my pony friend for accidently doing this to me. She didn't know.
So... Ginger Spice? If you find this recording, I forgive you for the accident. And we can still be friends.
Okay. I believe I've held up enough time for this entry. I'll see you next week and see how this conversion goes.
Bye."
With that, Dr. Umbridge finished the recording and disconnected the camera from the computer, "Very good, Miss. Carter. Very calm and professional. Most residents start panicking and screaming. But you showed no fear. Well done."
"The serum is ready." Nurse James called from the twin sized bed.
I swallowed my nerves and took a breath. I stood up from the desk chair and walked over to the bed. I sat on the bed and rolled up my sleeve. Nurse James filled the syringe with the fluid and flicked the needle a few times to get the air bubbles out.
Dr. Umbridge took hold of my hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. Nurse James wiped my upper arm with a damp cotton ball and brought the syringe toward my arm. I closed my eyes and braced myself for what might happen next.
Finally, I felt a small pinch in my upper arm, and after a few seconds, the pinch was gone. Dr. Umbridge let out a small sigh of relief. I opened my eyes and looked at Nurse James, as he moved away from me with an empty syringe.
Dr. Umbridge smiled and patted me on the back, "Well done, Miss. Carter. Very brave."
"Now all we have to do is wait for the serum to take effect." Nurse James spoke up, as he put the syringe on the table, "Should take a couple of days. But we'll be checking on you for any early changes."
I nodded in understanding. Then Dr. Umbridge placed her hand over my shoulder. I looked at her, and she informed, "This will be your room from now on. So you will have access to a computer and record your journal entries."
I nodded again, and Dr. Umbridge stood from the bed and dusted herself off.
Nurse James turned to me, "Head to the cafeteria and get something to eat. It might help."
With that, Dr. Umbridge and Nurse James left my new bedroom, leaving to recollect on what just happened and think about my next move for the day.
I looked out the window and saw a group of residents playing basketball. Maybe I should go outside and get some fresh air. But right now, I'm getting hungry...
Conversion Bureau: Taken to the Sea
~Eleanor May Carter's POV~
It has been a week since Dr. Umbridge and Nurse James gave me my treatment, and I'm already undergoing some changes in my physiology. But I'll explain that a little later on.
Right now, it was lunchtime, and today's menu was tuna salad sandwiches. I grabbed my tray and moved along the line alongside the other residents. I was able to grab a packet of two sandwiches, a red gala apple, a candy bar, and a can of ice tea. Once I had my food on my tray, I looked around the cafeteria for somewhere to sit. I noticed a lonely table on the other side of the room and decided to sit there.
I took a seat at the table, rested my tray on top of it, and unwrapped the sandwiches from their film wrap. I grabbed one sandwich and took a bite. It was delicious. The tuna was fresh. Good amount of mayonnaise. Salt and pepper to taste. Cucumbers were fresh. And not too much dillweed. My compliments to the chef.
As I was eating my food, a shadow cast over me. I looked up and found the shadow belonged to a resident who had already been converted. She was female, judging by her lean figure. Her mane and tail were a dark brunette color. Her eyes were an emerald green and seemed to glow from the pupils. Her coat was an apricot color, and she bared a beauty mark on her left cheek, in the shape of a star. She wore the same uniform as I was; a bluish-white polo shirt and matching pants. She also had a dark travel bag over her shoulder.
She looked at me and smiled. Her teeth were sharp, almost like a shark, which made me a little nervous meeting her.
She leaned over to me slightly and asked, "Is this seat taken?"
I politely shook my head and gestured her to take a seat since my mouth was full. The resident smiled again and sat across from me. She removed the bag from her shoulder and placed it under the table. Once she was close enough, my heightened sense of smell was able to pick up her scent. The resident smelled like sea water. But that's not possible. The pool was filled with regular pool water, and the ocean was across the province in British Columbia. Is she hiding something?
We sat in complete silence. I was still eating my tuna sandwich, while the resident just sat across from me, staring and smiling at me. It was making uncomfortable, and I wasn't very fond of being stared at while I ate.
Once I was finished with my sandwich, I looked at her and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something in my hair? Do I have something in my teeth?"
The resident leaned closer to me and closed her eyes. She took a deep inhale through the nose. She smiled, opened her eyes, and looked at me, "You haven't fully converted yet, and you already smell like one of us."
I tilted my head slightly in confusion. Then I heard a shuffle under the table and something brushed against my leg. I looked under the table and noticed the resident moved the bag closer to me with her brown hoof. I noticed something was moving inside the bag.
I looked at the resident and raised a brow. She leaned closer to me and whispered, "Once you have converted, the facility will release you. Come to Ponyville and choose the house with vines. Everything will be clear."
I blinked in confusion. The resident stood up from the table and walked out of the cafeteria. I tilted my head as I watched her leave. Once she was gone, I returned to my food. I tried to ignore my encounter with the resident, but her words stuck in my mind like glue. Curious, I lifted my left arm and smelled my armpit. She was right, I smelled like sea water. Is this a side effect of the serum? No. I remember smelling like sea water since I was born. It's not a bad smell. It's actually calming.
After an hour and a half, lunchtime was over, and it was time for everyone to return to their rooms. I sat on my bed and looked at the computer and camera. Better now than never to record another journal entry.
I picked myself up and walked over to the desk. I connected the camera to the computer and switched the computer on. The camera's light was red for a moment before it finally turned green. It's time to speak my mind.
"Journal Entry #2.
Log Date: February 9th, 2012.
Resident ID: XLR-73257.
Okay. Hi, it's me again. It's been a week since my previous entry, and the serum was injected into my bloodstream. I have already noticed some changes in my body since the treatment, and I'm a little nervous about what might happen next.
My sense of smell and hearing have increased dramatically. My strength has improved. And my natural speed has increased. But that's not what I'm here to talk about.
I met someone during lunch today. She's a resident in this facility, just like me, and her conversion appears almost complete. She told me that once my conversion is complete, I will be discharged and ready to venture into Equestria without worry of the magic affecting me. She also gave me a bag with something inside it. I'm worried about what it might be. But it hasn't harmed me yet. I think I'll wait until my conversion is complete and I leave this facility.
I wonder if I'm going to meet this resident again. When I do, I need to ask her some questions. She's a mysterious one, that's for sure. But I have a habit of keeping certain things cryptic as well. Maybe I found a kindred spirit in this resident and she wants to help me...?
Anyway, that's all I could say right now. I'll keep you posted on future journal entries on my conversion and meeting this resident.
See you next week."
I clicked the camera off and powered down the computer. I took a breath and I walked back to my bed. I sat in thoughtful silence for a few moments until I reached over my bedside table and grabbed a book. It was a very interesting book by H.P Lovecraft. I opened the book and there was a note where my bookmark was.
I picked up the note and noticed a familiar seal. I opened the note and looked at the contents. It was written in a foreign and weird language. But it was a familiar language.
'Cahf ah nafl mglw'nafh hh' ahor syha'h ah'legeth, ng llll or'azath syha'hnahh n'ghftephai n'gha ahornah ah'mglw'nafh...'
