She sat there, in a strangers bed, acting as if she belonged there, as if she were always there. This new filly, she seemed uniquely indifferent. It was like she was the envisioned filly they always wanted there, in that specific place, and we were just the ‘imperfected’ to them.

Everyone got out of bed, a small delay this morning but nopony seemed to notice, or maybe they just didn’t care. I looked over towards #20429, his form challenging, yet unchanging. He seemed to glisten amongst these walking dead.

We went to the showers, to the lockers, all through the same routine as the day before, nothing really standing out. Soon we found ourselves back in the main tent, preparing for the Carnival in weeks time. All seemed usual, I got my supplies and fed the animals, this time I didn’t get my arm bit or cut. I made my rounds just kept taking a small peek towards #20429 as he worked on his cannon. Everything seemed fine until I made it to the phoenix cage.

“Hello, Abuela,” she was an old phoenix, hopefully going to ash by the time the Carnival was set up. Her feathers shagged off as she coughed something mean. I threw it a rat for her, she loved live rats.

“Fire!” Somepony screamed, “Get some water!” he continued. I looked back towards the backstage area. It wasn’t really a backstage though, it was like a tent within the main tent, as the stage was just a circle. They had a fire about three times a month back there, usually they just set the outside of the tent aflame. All I could see was a billow of smoke rising, eventually circling back down and spreading through the tent.

“Come on!” yelled #20429, grabbing an empty food bucket and ran off towards the flames. I did the same, taking Abuela’s bucket, heading towards the waterspout. It wasn’t far from the animal cages, we got to drink from it if we became thirsty. It was a rusted piece of junk that leaked more water than it gave out. #20429 started turning the pump on, collecting what he could in his bucket as the cracks leaked out their own little mini-storm. He took off towards the backstage tent as immediately as his bucket was filled.

“Hurry,” he yelled, disappearing into the billows.

I stuck my bucket under the spout, gathering up what it could hold. It filled slowly as there was a crack or two in it. I took off, with it only half-full, towards the tent. Ash heavy in the air, making it hard to breathe. This was bigger than the usual fire. The tent was somehow mostly intact, must’ve been magical cloth. I threw the water on, dousing a small portion of the fire.

20429 ran back, I ran with. The spout was shaking now, unused to such pressure expanding a minute in time. He stuck his bucket under a leak that had begun pouring out gallons, I did the same.

“Get back!” yelled somepony near the tent, pushing fillies and colts out of danger.

My bucket filled and I turned around, running towards it again. It seemed like nopony else was getting water for it other than me and #20429. We kept on towards the tent for a second time. And then I saw her...

Just a young earth filly, no more innocent than an infant, burning up. Her mane had caught on fire, singeing her body and melting her skin. It just started rolling off in small waves, dripping onto the ground as she ran in pain and fear. She screamed in agony and nopony batted an eye nor showed remorse or care. She was but an imaginary demon and all I did was watch, capable of saving her life yet unable to do so. She turned my way before dropping to the ground, dead. Her mask... it didn’t melt... it stuck on there more stubborn than anything I’ve ever seen. I just froze, watching the stitches disintegrated, separating the two finally. Time seemed to have slowed down, fillies and colts ran in panic at subtle speed. Then her face became existent, pale yellow face with beautiful orange eyes. Her mask just laid there beside her as the fire engulfed and ruined the rest of her perfection. It wouldn’t darken, it wouldn’t turn to ash, it just laid there, vibrantly still.

I continued staring for quite some time, watching the skin sizzle with the heat, crisping her body up. The others had put out the tent’s flame, yet I stayed here, sitting next to this surprisingly calm fire. Blackened bones and charred organs were left in wake, giving off a creepy delicious aroma.

Bang.

The big metal doors that lead to the nutritional halls slammed open, five ponies walking out. Three were wearing white medical coats, two wearing their starry masks, standing above us all. One stood out among them all, the Taskmaster. He was a light-gray pony with a partial mask, cutting off in an arch near his left cheek, designed with splatters of black, orange, and dark blue. He was our leader in a tone, our oppressor in our minds. He was the one who kept order, and who took away those who differed too much negatively.

The three medical-dressed ponies went off, two picking up the charred filly’s remains and placing them on this blue mat, wrapping her in it. The other went into the tent for who knows. The Taskmaster and the other star-marked pony talked for a bit in little whispers, cancelling of our senses.

“Alright, I’ll get right on it,” said the other pony as he ran off in the direction of the tent, treading lightfully.

“Listen up!” the Taskmaster yelled, fillies and colts dropping everything where they stood. “You are to retreat into your quarters for the rest of the night. There will be no food served tonight. I expect you to clean up what you can, get your tools back into your lockers, and sleep. Nothing more, nothing less.” He turned around, trotting off to his office.

Some of the ponies began picking up their tools, a few unicorns attempted to go in the tent, only for the medical and star pony to push them away. The medical one carried a few tools over at a time, making sure they stayed out of that area. It was strange, but they are always strange. Sometimes I wonder if it’s because we are different that we’re forced into this, but I know it’s not that.

I had all my tools already set and placed for tomorrow. It was the first day we opened up our carnival, all I had to do was keep the beasts in check with the earth ponies, other than that I guess it was some time with #20429, and to that, I was looking forward.

I kept my eyes on the tent, staring out of curiosity. The star pony walked back in, lifting up part of the tent that connected to the facility we lived in, it was just a wall there, or I think that’s all there was. Next thing I know the side of the tent rummaged a little bit, a small colt peeling his way out from the bottom, #20429.

The medical ponies had taken away the charred corpse by now, the stench didn’t leave with them. It was time for us to go, the star pony had us line up in our regular columns before departing. I fell a little short, dropping to the back of the line.

“What’s back there?” I whispered to my acquaintance, careful to keep my head stilled from his direction.

“Just a door.”

Author's Note

To the asshat with his subs playing for 6 hours straight near my house: I am slitting your tires tonight. Have Fun!

Rushed it a little at the end. Had to decide a few things and I decided I needed some backstory for one of the ideas to make total sense.