The Facility

"Well, yes I was aware that they were capturing the ones causing these disturbances."

"Yes, Princess I know, but I'm asking if you knew that they were capturing without question. I mean, that doppelganger of mine seemed almost harmless and they just hogtied her and took her away!" Twilight was getting worked up over this occurrence.

"I'm not very well aware of how things are ran in there these days. You see, I handed this responsibility down to my finest guard when The Facility was first built." Twilight was confused.

"What responsibility? And when?" The princess sighed.

"The responsibility of preserving the peace. It was given to my finest guard, Stainless Shield. He was the best of any of my guards before or after him. Ever..." Twilight was engrossed in her tutor's words. "He had someway of always knowing where the problem would occur. He was always the first one at the scene of every crime and was always the one to apprehend every criminal."

Twilight commented.

"Well, if he was so good at his work, why was the facility even made then?" The princess gathered her thoughts.

"Strange things began happening about ten or so years later. These, portals... They appeared in random areas all around Equestria. They released things. Things not from our world." Twilight's eyes widened.

"What kind of things, exactly?" She asked.

"Most of them appeared as normal ponies. Most, not wanting anything more than peace. But there were a few that.... Had other intentions. Some wanted control over this world. Some wanted money, and some of a more maniacal nature, only wanted to see blood spilled." This was some more... Disturbing history of Equestria.

"These ponies were locked away, the harmless ones were let go. But after more and more appearing, and some only acting as if they had pure intentions. We had to do something to stop the chaos. As always, the best of ideas came from Stainless. He spoke of a prison. He would be in charge of all designs and security."

"So that's why they broke into my house." Twilight was understanding now.

"Precisely. It is mandatory for them to do a full examination of everything that comes through those portals." The princess sat back in thought for a moment or two.

"Well, thank you for clearing this up for me. I'm glad that we had this talk." She turned to leave the room.

"Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight stopped in her tracks. "Although I know the history of The Facility's construction, I know almost nothing of the condition within the building itself. It's been centuries since I've visited The Facility." A smile broke out across Twilight's face.

"Would you like me to do an inspection?" She tried her hardest to hide the excitement in her voice.

"I would greatly appreciate it." Twilight almost cheered. Being sent out to do private work for the princess! How exciting!

"I'll get my things!" She turned to leave but was again stopped by the princess.

"You may also want to take some friends with you. The workers are not the kindest around outsiders."

"Even around the Princess's private student?" Twilight batted her eyelashes.

"Sadly, yes."

"Oh... Well, I'll make sure you still get a full inspection of all that goes on inside!" The princess smiled.

"Thank you. Have a wonderful day."

Rainbow Dash was spending the day teaching Scootaloo some of her more challenging tricks. Scootaloo was developing nicely as a flier and was ready for something more challenging. Or... so she said.

CRASH!!

"OOF!" Scootaloo crashed to the ground from a failed corkscrew. The wind was knocked out of her.

"You okay, Scoots?!" Rainbow rushed over to the dizzy Scootaloo.

"Y-Yeah... I'm fine. Let's try it again! I almost had it!" Rainbow Dash chuckled at the enthusiasm.

"Alright. I'll fly up ahead and do it again. You try to do the same, alright?" Scootaloo nodded and Rainbow Dash took off. She rose high in the air and hovered for a moment.

"Like this!" She shouted down to her student. Her wings were pressed tightly too her sides as she let herself fall through the air. About half way to the ground, she spun herself rapidly, wings still pressed to her sides. Scootaloo watched, eyes wide and mouth agape.

Mere seconds before hitting the ground, Rainbow spread her wings and twisted them. She slowed and was pulled upward, her legs barely missing the ground. A perfect landing finished it all off. Applause was Scootaloo's response.

"That just gets better every time I see it!"

"Well, let's see if you can do that." Scootaloo smiled and ran out to the center of the field.

"Okay...GO!" Rainbow shouted. The younger Pegasus took to the sky.

Twilight was on her way home, when she noticed this practice.

"Hey, Rainbow!" She shouted.

"Oh, hey Twilight. What's up?" Rainbow asked, still watching Scootaloo.

"I was just talking to the Princess earlier. She wanted me to check up on something."

"Yeahthat'sgreat. LOOKING GOOD SCOOTALOO!!" Rainbow was only half listening to Twilight.

"You know about The Facility, right?" Scootaloo was spinning at this point.

"Thatsoundsgood. GOOD!! YOU'RE DOING GOOD!"

It seemed that nothing was getting through to her. Twilight grunted. She opened her mouth to say something but was stopped by

"Howdy Twalight!" AppleJack had been watching the air show for a few minutes, but Twilight hadn't seen her.

"Oh. Hello, AppleJack. How are you?"

"Pretty good. I was just on my way over ta yer place ta drop off some things for ya. AppleBloom wanted to bring ya a pie she got ta make on her own. She said she'd bring it over when it was done."

"Well, that sounds nice. I'm trying to tell Rainbow about a task the princess assigned me. She really has selective hearing when it comes to flying." AppleJack let out a chuckle.

"Yeah, I know how she can be. But, uh, what was that task?" Twilight smiled again. She was still very exited about carrying out a personal task for the princess!

"You know of the facility, right? Well the princess asked me to do an inspection of the condition of the security and other things."

"Sounds important." AppleJack seemed interested.

"It is! She also said to bring some friends with me. Just for protection. Would you be interested?"

"Well, sure. But, uh, I gotta watch AppleBloom till Big Mac get back. Could she go with us?" Twilight thought for a moment.

"If we were to get enough ponies to go with us then, yes."

AppleJack nodded.

"Well, alright then!"

"Twalight!" AppleBloom was heard from afar. She was seen running towards the two.

"Hey AppleBloom! How are you?"

"I'm great! I made a Zap Apple pie on my own for the first time!" AppleJack looked to Twilight.

"It's harder to make than it sounds." Twilight giggled.

"Well, that sounds good." Scootaloo landed and Rainbow Dash ran over to her cheering.

"That was perfect! You got everything down!"

"Thanks Rainbow!" Twilight called Rainbow Dash's attention.

"Rainbow! Would you like to come with us?"

"Yeah, where?" Twilight sighed.

"The Facility. Like I said earlier. Scootaloo can come too."

"Alright! Why are we going?"

"(sigh).... I have to do an inspection. Like I said earlier." Twilight grunted. Rainbow thought for a moment.

"Who else is coming?"

"Well, I guess we could bring the rest of the girls too."

As the group sat at the carriage stop, they talked of what they might encounter during their visit.

"So what's in The Facility?" Rainbow Dash asked. Twilight pulled an marked book from her saddlebag.

"Not much is known about it. It houses unnatural things that pop up around Equestria. That's all it really says here." Rainbow frowned.

"So we're going in there not knowing what we'll see or whether it's dangerous or not?"

"Ha! Well, Rainbow, I don't think that the princess would send me in there if she knew it was dangerous." Fluttershy looked up.

"What if she didn't know?"

"Girls it'll be fine. We're going to go in there, give an inspection, and leave. That's all. Even if there was something even remotely dangerous in The Facility, we won't be there long enough to even see it." That seemed to give the group some reassuring. They lightened up some. Sweetie Belle spoke up.

"What are we inspecting?" Twilight read through some files.

"The security, the condition of those kept in The Facility, and how skilled the workers are."

A carriage swooped down and landed at the sign.

"Well, here's our carriage." Rarity hopped onto the carriage with a get-it-done attitude. Once everyone was sat and ready to go, an informant stood at the front of the carriage. He had a dark black mane and was grey furred. He began to speak.

"Hello. During your ride today, I will be answering all of your questions about The Facility." AppleBloom rose her hoof.

"What's yer name?" The colt chuckled.

"Info. What's yours?"

"AppleBloom!"

"Well, it's nice to meet you AppleBloom." She smiled. Scootaloo decided to ask a question.

"Hey, Info. What's in The Facility?" The colt was slow to answer. He was hesitant.

"Many... Things. Things that some ponies wouldn't understand. We put them in The Facility to keep things in order. So things don't get chaotic." Scootaloo recoiled a bit.The group was quiet for a few moments. Info looked back and forth between the ponies before him.

"Is that all?" He asked. Twilight pulled another file or two from her saddle bag.

"Are there any precautions we should take when entering? Or will you be guiding us?" The colt shook his head.

"I am only with you for your ride. And, if there are any precautions needing to be taken, then your guide will inform you." Twilight nodded and put her things away.

The ride lasted around ten minutes more before they arrived. The Facility sat in the middle of a large lake and other than the building, there was a small landing port for the carriage. The Facility was very large. Larger than that of Canterlot Castle.  Though it had very little features. A large brick sitting in the middle of the water. Info was the first to step out of the ride. He pointed his hoof at a large gate.

"You'll continue through those doors and into the next room. You should be met by the manager. He will give you the main outlook on The Facility's faculty and security." The rest of the group left the carriage and passed through the doors. They were let into a small dark space. The only light was that from the open doors behind them, until they closed. A small bulb came on over a pad on the ground.

"Please step forward." A loud voice boomed at them from seemingly every direction. The nine of them stepped onto the pad.

"The expunging formula will be applied as protection from The Facility and of anything there in. Please stand still." Two bionic arms lowered from the ceiling and began misting the group with a quick drying liquid of some sort. It glowed for a moment, but once it dried the glowing subsided.

"Ugh! This tastes terrible!" Rarity complained. She had apparently had her mouth open when the misting began.

"Please do not ingest any of the formula." Once the misting had stopped, the arms raised back up and disappeared into the darkness above.

"In a few moments, you will be let into th-" SLAM! It sounded as if a door had been swung open. The speaker was left on.

"WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?!?" Another pony was in the same room as the speaker.

"Professor! Uh, they were sent by the princess."

"WHO APPROVED THEIR VISITATION?!?"

"Uh... Contagion did, sir..."

"IDIOT!!! THIS IS BEYOND THEIR COMPREHENSION!! CIVILIANS THAT HAVE ENTERED HERE HAVE BEEN DRIVEN INSANE!! THERE WILL BE PUNISHMENT ENFORCED!! I SWEAR THAT HE IS GOING TO REGRET EVER-" SLAM! He had left the room.

"Uhh... Sorry, just ignore that. Please exit through the door to your left.

A door to the group's side opened and light was let into the small, desolate room. The group departed. Once out of the shade of the poorly lit room, the doors closed. They were in a large area with many corridors stretching on for what seemed like forever. Moments later, a large colt rounded the corner and stood in front of the group. He seemed angry.

"Good afternoon. My name is Professor Laceration. Welcome to The Facility."