What followed after the events of the rehearsal were down to a minimum. We got a larger lunch, barely, but still larger. Costumes were delivered supposedly for the performers, we were only allowed to see our individual clothes, so I saw nothing new. Other than that we went off to bed. The only thing out of ordinary from that days rest were the scars on #20429’s jawline. I wish he hadn’t been smiling, but he couldn’t help it. I don’t think the Overseer knew, as this emotion, what I believe to be happiness, hadn’t been shown to him before. It was a law never broken because only those who could break it knew how to hide it. It was like being the only living being amongst an army of dead.

When we awoke the next day, the day of our first ever performance for the Carnival, they didn’t wake us with the usual siren that destroyed much of our eardrum, they awoke us to something they had never done before, silence. It was and always shall be the most powerful noise. The nights were always quiet, yes, but there was always something to be heard, sometimes this noise let us know that we were safe, that as long as that noise went uninterrupted, we would wake up to another normal day, but the noise stopped, it has never stopped before, it died within the coming of a storm. We were all so used to this indescribable, little noise that once the silence started, we awoke to muffled screams. All together, one by one, and off into a routine that had finally changed after many long years.

We got in the showers and stayed as stone for the entirety, only to get out and into our lockers as usual. I couldn’t stop glaring back at #20429’s scars. The watchers didn’t seem to notice, but they didn’t when I was maimed last week, so why would they with his jawline cuts?

Taskmaster was waiting for us when we finished in the lockerroom. He seemed a little more pleasant today. He was still a violent and powerful pony, but today was a test for not just us, but for him. Today he would realize if he failed at his job or not. I hated the stallion, but even I wanted him to succeed at this. He gave a few words, most to intimidate us to do well, and then forced us on our way to prepare. I didn’t have a job today, neither did #20429, as we were just backstage maintenance and slop dumpers. We could watch the show, but it wasn’t entertaining for us. We were different, that was clear to us since the start.

We went straight for our usual area, a place where, even on days such as this with so many ponies, we would never be disturbed. The animals were a bit more rowdy today in their cages, but nothing too harsh. We talked for a bit, but never anything too… happy… I was afraid to make him smile. I was afraid to feel how he felt. I always dreamed of change, but now that we emotionally have change, I fear it more than anything. I like this pony, I do, but in our world we cannot be how we want, so it is better not to be at all.

He tried to get closer to me, not physically, but he wanted to know more about me. There wasn’t much to tell. My mind is blank majority of the time, even though I wish to pretend it’s some sort of mess, even though I lie to myself and others, the truth is always there. You can live in a fantasy world your entire life, believe that it is perfect in every way possible and hate anypony who says differently, but reality is a hard lie that we all see differently. I kept pondering away from our conversation whenever he tried to know a bit too much. I was reserved, we were supposed to be reserved, we weren’t supposed to be conscious beings, we were supposed to be soulless bodies that worked as machines for public entertainment, but we weren’t, at least we didn’t want to be. We wanted to be our own kind, not slaves, I wish there was a word for it, there probably was a word for it, but I don’t know it, nopony does anymore.

Our conversation spanned for a few hours, making us miss most of the show. We didn’t care. One of the overseers came by and we silenced ourselves. He simply told us we would need to sweep the hay that had spread out backstage. There was no argument given, nor allowed, so we went off with our brooms towards the area we were directed towards. We made it to the obvious spot and started sweeping. We were near the part of the tent that had almost burnt down. There had been no repairs done, not even an attempt to make it look prettier. Since the fire, the tent had not been touched. I remembered the door that it tried to hide, none of the details about the door, because a door isn’t special, and yet it is the most amazing thing in the world. The door could be just a silly little place in the wall that can’t be opened, or it could be a way to escape or a portal to the past, maybe even another universe but I would never know unless I opened it. If I had a chance, I’d take it.

I kept thinking about the door as we swept the floor. They started bringing out the medium-sized animals, the elephants, the adult phoenixes, and a few other creatures. The crowds weren’t totally pleased, they weren’t chanting or yelling in delight or amazement, but it was more like they were studying us. We were separate species in a way, knowing little to nothing about the other, even if it was just a cultural difference, we were far from the same beings. One of the elephants reared a little too much. He toppled over onto his handler, presumably squashing him to death. A few tried to fix what had happened, though it was too late, and through the commotion I took my chances. I bolted towards the door, thinking nopony had saw me.

The ashes had settled in the tent, but they were still light enough to where I would leave imprints where I stepped if I wasn’t too light. I carefully walked over to the door, making sure I stayed close to the sides of the tent, where the least amount of ash was, and when I made it to this mysterious door, I just stood there for a moment.

I was afraid. But more than anything, I was something else, brave.

Author's Note

I didn't want to end it here, but it was the best possible cliffhanger. TIME TO WRITE THE CHAPTER I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO WRITE!