private Deep Science 1x1 with Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

(OOC Thread)

It had been a rather normal day for Null and Void, for once they were beginning to feel, something, in this town of theirs. Acceptance, maybe a sense of belonging? Whatever it was, they finally felt like they didn't need to be so on the run anymore.

The two of them sat on a hill that overlooked the town at sunset, it was a truly tranquil moment. Void was peacefully asleep in the grass while Null was up, keeping watch, she thought to herself, an old habit from a time now further behind them.

Null found herself doing something she had not done in a very long time, smiling. It wasn't a big one to be certain, in fact anyone who didn't know her would never even know she was smiling, but she knew it in her heart.

 

It was at that very moment, the minuscule moment when she let her guard down, when it all went wrong.

Though honestly one can't exactly prepare for a large portal opening in front of them. Less for what they saw on the other side.

Through the portal was a room, so white it almost gleamed, though that was secondary to the all too familiar looking grey robed figures that dashed through it, and the pair of darts that struck the two of them. Void, having only barely been woken up by the portal quickly fell back asleep as the dart, a purely chemical rather than magical reaction, did it's job. Null did not fare much better as the Grey enforcers subdued her drugged form using her own weak points against her. Whoever had sent them clearly knew them well.

She was only vaguely aware that some sort of harness was strapped around her midsection, a powerful humming, then darkness.

...

A. Clave Bunsen scratched his small beard thoughtfully as he watched the enforcers drag his newest test subjects to the portal. He had heard of their rare abilities to nullify even the most powerful of magics, and knew the benefit it would bring to all of Equis if it could be replicated. The only problem was getting them to his lab. Which is where the portal came in, but bringing non magical creatures through a magical portal? That was what he was testing. The harnesses were designed as a counter, a shield specifically against anti-magic called the Re-Generator. And here was it's first test. Whether said field could contain the reversed field long enough to get them through?

As the enforcers dragged the limp bodies, now much heavier due to the harnesses, the portal seemed to shimmer as the field came near, in the center it started to waver rather drastically, but it held long enough before finally snapping closed.

Bunsen smiled as he looked down at the smoking harnesses around the two mares now in his lab. Sure it had bisected two of the enforcers and left another pair very deep in Equestrian territory, but he had his prize.

Some time later...

Null and Void wake up in another stark white room strapped down barrel up to exam tables with their legs, and wing in the case of Null spread out.

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

It was a strange feeling to be here, in Equestria. Like with every other foal, they had been told that it was a bad place, ruled by a princess that were not as innocent as she showed herself to be. Even their parents had thought that, and had only chosen this country to flee towards because it was the closest, with Null and Void soon after getting there deciding to sneak on a ship and head for another. Both because they feared what this country would do to ponies from Troy, and because they wanted to get as far from Troy as possible.

Yet here they now were. Nearly twenty years later and having seen most of the world to look for an accepting place, Equestria had drawn them in, and they had found that they weren't separated from everypony else here. Sure they still got strange looks and some ponies that didn't like to be around them, but the law protected them, and they had personally gotten asylum by Princess Celestia herself, when she were made aware of the sisters during a visit to Ponyville. She had been warm, kind, and welcomed them to her country, where they might finally find some level of peace from the hell that had followed them since Troy.

Null had not faced the princess with the greatest of attitudes when she came around at first, but even that she had seen past. Perhaps deep down, Celestia wasn't as flawless as she presented herself, but she genuinely seemed to care, and to have an open heart for everypony. Even ones like Null and Void, whose very existence were dangerous to a country build more on magic than science.

A few days had passed since then, and now, for the first time in... She couldn't even remember, Null felt a little okay. She wasn't magically calm and happy, as a little while like this couldn't erase nearly twenty years on the run, but for once she wasn't feeling like she wanted to kick everypony that got within twenty yards of them. And Void? She hadn't seen her willingly sleep out in the open like this in years.

Looking at the large earth pony just resting peacefully, brought an unintentional smile to her face. She had always protected her little sister as well as she could, ever since their parents were forced to send the sisters off on their own, but right now, in this moment, it felt like she didn't need to. For once, they were finally safe.

And then, it was all over.

Null were faced with the open portal with figured wrapped in clothes that were vividly coming forth from her memory, even after all these years, and she felt fear rising in her chest.

"Void! Get up and run..." *thud*

She hadn't the chance to do anything, as a sleep dart hit her and dragged her into unconsciousness nearly instantly. Void didn't fare much better, as she got roused by her sisters call, but didn't even get to blink once before she were down again, and the two were dragged off to the place where their nightmares had begun.

When they eventually woke up, Null were the first to pen her eyes and look up towards the pale ceiling in whatever hell hole they had been dragged off to. The table beneath her felt like they had laid on them for a while, and as she tried to escape, she found herself restrained and strapped down.

"W-What just h-happened?"

"Don't open your eye."

"W-Why? What w-wrong?"

Null could hear the panic rising in Void's voice, along with her quickened breath.

"Just... Don't look. Just try to breathe."

Void might not be able to tell much from a ceiling, but what else where Null going to say? They were strapped down tight with no idea what went on except for the fact that they had been kidnapped and dragged back to the festering toilet that were Troy, and she had no idea how they were going to get out of here. She needed time to think of a plan, which wasn't made easier as knowing where they were made her feel like beating every single being in whatever place they had them held up to a mushy red paste.

If only they had still had the cursed items on them, perhaps they would've been able to do something, but no. For once they had been left at home, under a newly plucked feather from Null. The only thing they had with them right now were within Void's false leg, and she had no idea if they had taken it. She couldn't really ask either, as then they would for sure.

So, they were back in Troy, stolen by the Grey, and strapped to a table with no immediate way of getting out... Right about now seemed like as good a time as ever to boil over with rage while wriggling around to go against her restraints and yelling at the heartless freak that run whatever place they were in. it wasn't going to help anything, but Null were a very aggressive pony when even small things went wrong. In a situation like this, it was a wonder she had been able to keep it away long enough to try and calm down Void.

"Get out here and show yourselves you rotten, immoral-"

From there and until somepony would show themselves would just be uninterrupted profanities, shouted at loudly as she could. Not all of them were in Equine, as she had learned some colorful phrases from Griffons and other beings from the times when the two of them got chased out of towns/settlements, or heard constantly before they decided to make a run for it themselves.

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

Should she look around, Null would see that while she was unable to move her legs or wing, she could still move her head around a bit, enough to look side to side, and with a bit of effort, lift it to look down her body to the wall closest to her hind legs. On which she saw a black metal door which strongly contrasted with the white room around her. On the door was a very strange symbol, one she couldn't remember ever having seen before.

 

She wasn't shouting profanities long before said door opened, sliding into the wall to reveal two creatures, clearly scientists by their lab coats.

The first was an Earth Pony, and despite being a scientist seemed very well built, his hoofsteps being almost louder than Nulls shouting had been. He had a graying brown coat as well as a graying yellow mane and tail. His eyes though... seemed to look at her with an almost manic obsession.

The second, by comparison, made almost no sound at all as she entered slowly behind the first, Null quickly recognized her as a deer, a doe actually, with short brown fur with white speckles and deep purple eyes. Null only caught a glimpse as the doe raised her hoof to walk, but the tips were coated in a sort of black rubber, likely the cause of her silent walking on the hard floor. She was holding a clip board and had a pen tucked behind her ear.

Null, had she been been distracted by the deer, would suddenly be made aware of the other pony's proximity when he spoke, almost directly in her ear. "You don't know why we brought you here, nor for that matter who We are nor where Here is." he chuckled softly, he acted as though he thought Void still asleep. "Well, I'm only going to answer one of those questions." He retrieved the clip board from the Doe. "For manifestation of anomalous properties you have been secured, we hope that by the next phases of research we will be able to comprehend your anomaly, and progress the world. You are now designated S-2113-1 and -2 respectively." he seemed to be reading that from the paper. "But if you are willing to cooperate, we can move you straight to group C. Trust me, it will only make this all much worse to resist."

The doe had moved over to Void, seeming to examine her prone form. Void would feel that she was being lightly prodded in various areas, as if with a rubber baton. The doe seemed surprised by the fake leg as she prodded it rather vigorously. "Mr. Bunsen? S-2113-2 has a false leg, it seems safe, made of wood actually, fascinating."

The scientist, now named Mr. Bunsen, looked over at the doe, "Keen observation Vale, but that was already noted in the paperwork."

The doe was clearly embarrassed, but did not say anything else.

"Now" the scientist said as he turned back to face Null, "Are you willing to cooperate? Or will I need to get my science the hard way?"

Edited October 4, 2018 by Illiad Easle

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

What the hay kind of lame symbol was that? The Grey didn't wear that back in the days, or at least not out in the open like this.

Yet this wasn't gonna make her think that it was anything else than those horrible, corrupt monsters.  It was just a symbol, while the clothes she had seen before had told her far more.

The so called *doctor* that arrived shortly after didn't make Null think so any less. He looked every bit as arrogant, self-centered, and rotten to the core as any of the filth that had kept the *order* in Void and hers old home.

And then there was That thing...

The glare that was sent towards the doe the second the freak got into sight were cold enough to almost sprout glaciers.

Null and Void had been in many places throughout the years, and in all countries they were able to get to, they met with at least one dominant species who were a bunch of horrible monsters. If not physically, then at least through their actions.

The deer had been one of those, somewhere up north-west from Equestria. They had been one of the most unwelcome, violent beings that Null had met in their travels, and that was even before they found out that the sisters could nullify magic.

They had trapped her and Void in nets, threatened them with spears to the nearest prison, and then prodded them with weapons every time they tried to move. The only reason the two managed to get away were that the deer took away the cursed items the sisters had with them, and they quickly began to wreck havoc on the village. Except for the one in Void's leg, which may well end up being their only way to escape this situation, even if the consequences were to let the mind-consuming thing potentially take over the entire country.

Quite frankly, the could have it. Troy were nothing but a collection of monsters that had no common sense, and indoctrinated the young from going someplace better with bogus allegations about Princess Celestia. They could all rot for all she cared.

Yet her eyes wasn't on the deer for long, as the disgusting creature wasn't worth her time as much as the flanksniffer that were going towards her, talking away like he were in charge and they were just some sort of pets, or as it turned out, lab rats. She lost it at about the point where he called them out as having number classification.

"Take your numbers and shove them so far up your flank that they pop out of your muzzle! We're not things, or freaking lab rats. We're ponies with names and rights. Not that you'd understand anything, because you and everypony else in this stinking, pestilence-filled mud hole have the brain of a bucking lima bean!

You're the monster here. You're the ones who stole us and think we're something you own, and then you dare to say that We are the anomalous ones? You work with a disgusting, flea-ridden, ogre-loving tree hippie, you bucking hypocrite!"

Somepony would've surely seen them being taken and would strike back at these freaks eventually, right? If not the guards then the weirdos that always kept looking at what went on around town, in case something happened, they were curious, or out of old fashioned boredom. They might not know who these freaks were, but anypony who knew about Troy would have some idea of the Grey, and Twilight were a book hoarding nerd. Surely she'd know, and would go look for them. They were citizens of Equestria now for Celestia's sake, they couldn't just be taken and left alone, right?

Void in the meantime, had opened her eyes and were looking with terror in her eye - the other were an impressive glass replica - at the deer who were poking to the wooden leg that Null had carved for her, out of some pieces of dark wood they had encountered during their travels. It had taken her big sister a while to get it right with adding some joints to make it easier to walk on, but she had managed as well as could be throughout the years, so when they had encountered the wood that matched Void's coat color closely, she were ready to make something that took from her experience.

It wasn't perfect though  as running would start to hurt rather quickly, yet it did well enough for everyday travel, and it doubled as a containment too for the most nasty thing Null and her had encountered: A 50 bit coin.

It didn't sound like much, but when the sisters had fallen over it, the thing had been at the center of a cult. Whatever they made it or found it Void had no idea, but they were bringing any being they could to it's near, as the closer you got the higher the chance were of being overtaken and bent to it's will, starting from fifty meters and getting basically guaranteed within one, though it may be that the range were somewhat dependent on how many subjects it had under it's control, considering the sort of things that it spouted off from all it's many hosts. There had been around a hundred at that point from the sounds of things, so it might be a half meter for each living body within the hive mind. That is, if the entity's gloating were truthful.

What exactly the wants and motivations of the entity were, Void also didn't know, but it had seemed to be a kind of malevolent hive mind that were focused on adding more bodies to it's presence. Null and Void's aura made them immune,  but the ones overtaken could still roam far and wide to grab others, as they had done to the siblings, and bring them in to be converted. It had only stopped once Null had been brought forth and instead of bending the knee, snatched the coin and ran away with Void, as the ones who had been taken fell on the floor. If they had reverted to how they were before, or if they were clinically brain dead after the episode... Void would prefer never to think about it normally.

The presence wouldn't like the sisters at this point, though it were the sheer magnitude of destruction this thing could cause that really made it dangerous, and the reason as to why they kept it the closest of all the things they had. The other things were dangerous, but usually not that far reaching. The coin was something different.

But at present point, Void wasn't thinking of that as much as the doe poking her, which took her already worried state into overdrive and gave her a panic attack, wailing from every poke and flinching like the doe held a sharp knife with every poke, amidst rapid breathing and her heartbeat racing away.

"What the hay do you think you're doing?! Leave my sister alone you bucking tree freak, or I'll beat you to a pulp like every last one of your disgusting kind deserves!"

The situation were not getting any better, and it wasn't going to be anything resembling calm before the doe were leaving. Void were too scared of her, and Null reacted as any overprotective big sister would to it: With fury and threats.

Though, the so called *doctor* should likely speak directly to Void if he wanted to get anywhere regardless. Null were unlikely to be one to listen to him with her anger issues, but she'd listen to her sister. The one weak point that could make the one winged pegasus complacent.

Edited October 5, 2018 by Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom (I apologize in advance if I controlled again, I'm working on it.)

The scientist seemed completely unfazed by Null's comments, in fact her complaints seemed to only make his smile wider. "You haven't the slightest idea what you've gotten yourselves into."

The Doe on the other hoof, actually looked very taken aback by Null's words, and Void would see that the deer now had a few, genuine looking, tears on her face. Once the Doe, who's name was apparently Vale, noticed that Void was flinching at her prodding, she stopped, deciding that a visual examination was a better idea.

The scientist chuckled again as he retrieved a pair of scissors from his lab coat as well as a pair of pliers. "I prefer the hard way anyway."

Slowly, almost delicately, he cut a few locks of hair from Null's mane, using his impressive earth pony strength to prevent any resistance Null may have offered. But getting a haircut wasn't all that bad right?

Then the manic smile came back to his face as he used the pliers to tear one of her primary flight feathers from her wing, the pain of which alone would usually ground a pegasus for at least a pair of hours.

He deposited the mane clippings and the feather in a bag that he passed off to Vale, who had concluded her visual examination, before turning back to Null. "I suggest you both get a good night's rest, as very soon the real testing will begin."

With that he marched confidently right out of the exam room, leaving the two sisters with Vale the deer, who took the scissors to cut a small portion from Void's tail, then mane. As she leaned in close to Vale's ear she whispered, almost too quiet for Void to even hear. "I know you don't trust me, but I promise you I'll get both of you out of here as soon as I can."

Without another word she put the hair trimmings in a separate bag, and also left the exam room.

The light's in the room dimmed ever so slightly, perhaps as a joke of it being night.

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

18 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The Doe on the other hoof, actually looked very taken aback by Null's words, and Void would see that the deer now had a few, genuine looking, tears on her face. Once the Doe, who's name was apparently Vale, noticed that Void was flinching at her prodding, she stopped, deciding that a visual examination was a better idea.

Void noticed the tears in the doe's eyes, but it didn't make a difference. With everything happening to them right now, and her panic soaring up, the small bit of potential pain the doe showed just couldn't register with her. She could only see the representation of a race that Null and her had a bad encounter with, and had done everything they could to avoid after that, in case the village had sent word to others about the sisters, which could bring them in grave danger.

Her head went from side to side, trying to find a way out of all of this, but all she could see were the bland, pale room, with the doe, her doctor/torturer boss, and Null, who were looking at the doctor as if her very rage could cause him to catch on fire. She had no doubts that if Null had been free to do anything,s he would have bit through a jugular or something when the doctor got in close enough to steal some hair, but she were too restrained, and he kept her down regardless. Null were a violent mare, but her body was small, and as a pegasus, her strength just couldn't match an earth pony in a pure physical confrontation. It was one of the reasons why she tended to attack from a distance, or use cheap shots.

18 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Then the manic smile came back to his face as he used the pliers to tear one of her primary flight feathers from her wing, the pain of which alone would usually ground a pegasus for at least a pair of hours.

Void had to avert her eye and glance in the other direction when the monster ripped one of Null's primary feathers out. What kind of sick being would do something like that? And with a smile on his face no less? This was wrong. This was all kinds of wrong.

With Void simply laying there and begging silently for this to all just be a horrible, horrible nightmare, Null instead kept her eyes on the doctor, and clenched her teeth through the pain. She felt a vague, coppery liquid spill from her gums as the pressure made her gums bleed, but she didn't care. She wasn't giving this son of a mule the satisfaction of hearing her scream.

19 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

He deposited the mane clippings and the feather in a bag that he passed off to Vale, who had concluded her visual examination, before turning back to Null. "I suggest you both get a good night's rest, as very soon the real testing will begin."

"Sooner or later, I am going to kill you. And I swear by Celestia that it will be as slow and painful as I can make it happen."

Her words dripped with poison, but of course, the mongrel just left with the parts he harvested from Null. He might not take her threat seriously right now, but she were going to make sure that he did, and that the last expression she would see on his face were unbridled fear, as she fulfilled her promise. Eventually, she'd have his blood on her hooves too, though unlike some of the others she had ended, she wasn't going to feel even the slightest sliver of regret over this one. He deserved as slow and painful an end as was realistically possible.

19 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Vale the deer, who took the scissors to cut a small portion from Void's tail, then mane. As she leaned in close to Vale's ear she whispered, almost too quiet for Void to even hear. "I know you don't trust me, but I promise you I'll get both of you out of here as soon as I can."

Void didn't just distrust the doe, she outright thought to her very core that Vale were lying about what she said. Just another false hope to crush, in this miserable life they had been dragged into.

Soon the lights were dimmed, and the two were left alone. Minutes passed by in silence before finally, Void's fearful voice broke through.

"We.. We're b-back in T-Troy, aren't we?"

The two met eye to eye as well as their positions allowed it, and Void knew the answer to the question she feared the most, even before Null gave her an answer. The pained expression on her big sisters face told too much to hide the truth.

"...Yes."

Tear streamed down Void's face, and Null struggled feebly against her bindings to try and get over to comfort her little sister.

"Shhh, don't cry. We'll get through this."

"H-How? They've s-stolen everything f-from u-us, and now when w-we were finally h-happy again... They t-took it away a-again."

Seeing her sister sobbing in pain like this caused far more pain to Null than getting one of her prime feathers pulled, but she couldn't let it show. Just like when they had left Troy nearly twenty years ago, she had to stay strong for Void's sake, and ignore whatever fear she had about being back here herself. Especially now, when it was the only thing Null could do for her.

"I promise you that I'll get you out of here. I don't care what it will take, you'll get away, and get back to Equestria. You'll have a normal life, just like you always wanted."

Null's voice were calm and soothing, trying as best she could to ease Void's fear.

"H-How can you p-promise that? Just l-look at-"

"Have I ever broken my promises to you, sis?"

"...N-No."

"Exactly, and I won't start breaking them now. It might take some time, but don't worry, okay? You'll get out."

"T-The doe said t-the same t-thing..."

"Difference is that I can be trusted, that creature can't. Try and get some sleep sis, okay? We're going to need our strength for whatever's to come."

Void nodded and closed her eyes, still looking towards Null. She were asleep soon after, though it took longer for Null, as she kept looking as her sister's tear-filled face, and praying that it wouldn't be long before she could get her out of here. It weren't going to be easy, but Void would have the life she always dreamed about when they grew up. That calm existence with a family of her own, in a peaceful town where nopony were going to harm her ever again.

It was all Null ever wanted for her sister, and she were going to get it. Even if... Even if she wouldn't make it out of here herself.

Null would fall asleep with that thought in mind around ten minutes later, and the two of them would still be turned face to face when eventually they'd be woken up.

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

(I was thinking of showing my character's actions outside the scene, but decided that this story was better made to be focused on Null and Void's perspectives.)

S-2113, Exam Log 1.

See S-2113 Capture Log for physical descriptions and first notice powers.

-1 is extremely violent, subject should only be tested unrestrained with expendable personnel.

-2 appears more docile, submissive. Test protocol recommends extreme caution with non expendable persons in the testing area, but it is not prohibited.

Examiner's note: The bond between -1 and -2 is very strong, likely -1 can be controlled through the use of -2 as a motivator, or deterrent.

Examiner's note: The false leg on -2 appears hollow, it may be containing something. Caution is advised, should -2 or -1 be found tampering with said leg, class c sedatives should be employed immediately, and administered until said secret is resolved.

Findings Summary:

The reported field they posess is very active, draining away at the magical energy of those around them. In the case of Dir. Bunsen it drained away at the inhibitions normally supported by his Earth Pony Constitution, causing him to act [DATA EXPUNGED]. On Miss. Conehger the effect was fairly unnoticeable, though it is to be expected as Does have very little active magic to notice. Miss Vale reported that she felt confused, attributing it to the blocking of her deer intuition and guiding abilities.

Samples recovered: Long hairs from -1 and -2, a feather from -1.

To: Test Admin Silver Sigma

From: O5-5

Subject: S-2113 Testing.

S-2113 has been authorized in cross testing with P-2106.

Samples from S-2113 have been authorized in cross testing with S-173.

At the successful conclusion of the test, S-2113 will be upgraded to C-2113.

Test 1: Range and effect of the aura given off by S-2113

Test 2: Range and effect of the aura given off by Samples from S-2113

Test 3: Effectiveness of samples on containing S-173. Class D Personnel only.

-O5-5

 

Silver Sigma sighed as he approached the containment cell. A pair of glowing things, looking like butterflies, were lazily following him as the only available source of energy, while a third was perched, charging, on his horn.

He scanned his specially etched shoe on the door panel to enter the containment cell of S-2113. The door sliding open to reveal a small test staging area as the antechamber of the containment area. There he placed the bag he had been carrying, causing some of the specially carved gems within to spill out on the table. He sat by the mic, and raised the lights in the containment area back to their normal amount while activating the view screen to see into the room.

"Good morning Subjects 2113, you have been in suspension for... 7 hours. Testing will begin shortly."

With that he grasped one of the now three active objects on his head, and attempted to teleport it into the room, close to one of the subjects, but the spell backfired, resulting in no teleport. Sigma noted the reaction, describing it as trying to throw something into the wind, then successfully teleported in the second, the first having been completely drained, right by the door, as it was the furthest point from the subjects.

------------

The combination of light and the volume of the morning announcement would be enough to wake most, but the testing would continue regardless of their actions.

If they awoke, they would notice when a pair of teleports happened in their room. The first one almost entered, less than a meter away from Null, before it was destroyed by her aura. The second was right by the door, and if they were awake, they would both see a pink colored glowing butterfly.

It flapped lazily in place for a second, before it turned towards the door to land on it, shifting ever so slightly on the door to be exactly as far as possible from them.

The glowing butterfly was then grasped in a silver light as it was forced towards Void, who would be able to see that it steadily lost it's glow as it approached. To the point where she would see that within a hoof's distance of her, it fizzled out and turned into a small, intricately carved, gemstone.

The test was repeated in similar fashion with Null, yielding the same results.

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

On 10/6/2018 at 5:14 PM, Illiad Easle said:

The combination of light and the volume of the morning announcement would be enough to wake most, but the testing would continue regardless of their actions.

Null opened her eyes straight away as the sound went on, and growled at the annoying procedure. Another thing she already hated about this place, and another thing she looked forward to ruining. They just needed a good time to give the coin over to some random schmuck.

Resting on things, she had a chance to calm down a little, and actually make sense mingle in with her rage about this place and everypony who worked here. She still wanted to brutally slaughter every single being in sight, except for Void,a but now she had the chance to think on how to do it. The simplest way would be the coin. Void's leg were hollow to some extend, as otherwise it would be too heavy and unwieldy for her to use it, since the black wood Null had used were of a rather sturdy and heavy kind, yet the room for the coin itself couldn't be far down the leg, just in case something would go wrong or the aura of the sisters abilities would fade. So it were in a small imprint for itself, about an inch under Void's stump, with just enough room for the coin, yet nothing else. It wouldn't be easy to find for anypony who didn't know about it, and searching the other hollow areas wouldn't reveal it, so it should be safe for now. Besides, if anypony took her leg off, they'd get it out of their aura, and then things would get on as it should. In case they had anti-magic of their own though, it were just to hope that they wouldn't be able to find the object. Null had worked hard to make sure it stayed hidden and safe, so hopefully it had not all been in vain.

Just imagine if this had happened a week later, when they were told they had to go see that officer pony in Manehattan that were going to unravel the curse magic on the items they had. A little addition to their citizenship, set up so that the dangerous objects they had gathered would finally be removed from existence for good, and leaving the siblings to not have to guard them constantly. If they had been to that appointment first, this small sliver of hope would be gone, though it was weird to think of this thing as a anything good. The consequences too would be huge, but that wouldn't be their problem. These motherless buffoons forced them back to Troy, so they had to deal with the consequences.

As for Void, she'd wake up soon after her sister, though as she realized that they were still here and that everything had in fact not been a nightmare, the color seemed to drain from her face a little. It soothed her a little that Null had not been taken away from her though. Long as she had Null, she'd be okay, one way or another.

On 10/6/2018 at 5:14 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"Good morning Subjects 2113, you have been in suspension for... 7 hours. Testing will begin shortly."

"And you have been a massive disappointment to your family for your entire life, loser."

She didn't care if perhaps nopony actually heard that, but it made Null feel better to answer the voice back who talked tot hem like that. If they wanted her to be nicer to them, they should take their numbers, and shove them sideways. The two of them had names, and Null weren't gonna let them dehumanize them like this and think she'd just comply. To Tartarus with that.

On 10/6/2018 at 5:14 PM, Illiad Easle said:

If they awoke, they would notice when a pair of teleports happened in their room. The first one almost entered, less than a meter away from Null, before it was destroyed by her aura. The second was right by the door, and if they were awake, they would both see a pink colored glowing butterfly.

It flapped lazily in place for a second, before it turned towards the door to land on it, shifting ever so slightly on the door to be exactly as far as possible from them.

The glowing butterfly was then grasped in a silver light as it was forced towards Void, who would be able to see that it steadily lost it's glow as it approached. To the point where she would see that within a hoof's distance of her, it fizzled out and turned into a small, intricately carved, gemstone.

The siblings would finally stop looking at one another and finally take notice of the portal, as well as the butterfly gems they were being targeted by. Or rather, that were forced towards them, and considering what happened, they were clearly magical in nature. others of their trapped beings, Nulls would wager.

"Are you getting your sick jollies from this already? Or are you just going to keep throwing your pets at us?"

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

Silver Sigma was taken aback by their response, and briefly considered breaking protocol to respond, but decided to continue with the scheduled testing.

His list said they were, unless further testing proved otherwise, normal ponies. Thus they would be fed the normal pony fare for test subjects in containment. While they may be a pseudo-legal organization, they weren't completely heartless.

At least I don't consider myself so.

------------

They would hear another pair of teleport pops as the butterflies turned gemstones were retrieved from containment.

With a surprising buzz, not that the sound itself would surprise anyone, but rather what immediately followed, their exam tables were lowered to the floor and their restraints were released. Their ankles would likely be a bit soar from the restraints, but now they at least had the liberty to move about the room. Simultaneously they were made aware, by the woosh of a moving door, that another door was at the opposite end of the room from the first they had noticed, which, due to the angle of their exam tables, they had not been able to see before.

Should they explore the new room, they would find it was a slightly smaller area, square like the first room, only it had two decent looking cots and a partitioned area that had the bare necessities of a bathroom, including a shower-head, sink, and toilet, Through there was only one knob on the wall to control the shower.

The voice came again. "Thank you for your cooperation. A servi-ton will arrive shortly to provide food. We strongly recommend that you take advantage of the services available to you as further testing will begin shortly."

(Have them do as they wish for a bit, about 15 minutes passes)

They were able to hear a ding, accompanied by the woosh of the front door to their containment. Should they be interested in inspecting or able to do so, they would see the following:

The "Servi-ton" was clearly a very well made and rune covered clay golom styled after a very thin minotaur. It was pushing a serving cart that had a pair of covered trays.

The door it came through led to a sort of airlock with the far door closed, meaning that even if they tried to push past the golom, they would have to try to force their way through the far door if they wanted to escape.

If they did not move to stop the golom, the which would not react to anything short of physical contact, the which would cause it to freeze given the fizzling of it's runic carvings, it would proceed to the center of the first room, uncover the trays, and try to leave the way it came.

Should the trays get uncovered, they would reveal a decently sized lunch for each of them, a daisy sandwich with hay-fries and about a liter of water for each of them in a bottle with a large top. It seemed they could refill this bottle in the sink.

(Sorry for the length of the hypotheticals, I just wanted to give you a bit to work with, if you make an action impossible you can consider all actions I stated afterwards, except the contents of the trays, to have not happened. I just considered this sequence of events probable, though if I misjudged do let me know. The next post of mine will be an end to the exposition, and the start of the actual story I have planned, which will definitely make these sisters livid.)

(If you have any SCPs you'd like to see that are not already part of the SCP containment breach game (Which I use to model how most act in a real life situation rather than interpreting their sheets) do mention them in the OOC and I'll try to work them into our story.)

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

7 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

With a surprising buzz, not that the sound itself would surprise anyone, but rather what immediately followed, their exam tables were lowered to the floor and their restraints were released. Their ankles would likely be a bit soar from the restraints, but now they at least had the liberty to move about the room. Simultaneously they were made aware, by the woosh of a moving door, that another door was at the opposite end of the room from the first they had noticed, which, due to the angle of their exam tables, they had not been able to see before.

Void didn't move at first, afraid that removing the restraints was just a trick by these horrid beings to strike at her, or slap them right back on to crush any sliver of hope she had in her.

She wouldn't budge because of this, before Null wandered over to her and dragged her up a little so that she could embrace her sister. Considering the size difference in Null being shorter than a regular pegasus, and Void being taller than the ordinary earth pony respectively, it looked somewhat like a daughter hugging her mother. Somethjng Null did not like getting pointed out to her, as she were the one who handled raising them, and not the other way around.

The tears of Void flowed down Null's cheek as her sister embraced her back. Neither of them could find words right now, but they didn't need to either. What was important were that they could be close again, and not strapped down and kept apart. It wasn't much, but it was something at least.

As Void got on her hooves  yet kept hugging her small sister, Null looked at what else went on behind Void. Her sister may need to cry this out, but Null had to get a sense of this place before something like a ball of teeth and hate rolled towards them.

It didn't seem like there were anypony else though. The room were empty, except for them, and what seemed like a bathroom of some sort. So this small space were their living quarters then? How imaginative... It was so sterile looking that Null frankly began to miss the hut she had made from some leftover parts after Ponyville's last attack. A place she had been happy to leave afterwards when an abandoned hovel were freshened up a little for them to use, but were still better than this place because it had some personality to it. Yeah it was leaky, with wind and rain getting through with ease, and too much rumbling nearby would cause parts to collapse, but it had still seemed like a home, and not the headapace of a nutter with OCD.

12 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The voice came again. "Thank you for your cooperation. A servi-ton will arrive shortly to provide food. We strongly recommend that you take advantage of the services available to you as further testing will begin shortly."

"How about you come down here and s-"

"P-Please, don't. They'll j-just take us a-apart if they g-get angry."

Null slowly shut her muzzle again without letting out the rest of her challenge to the annoying wannabe doctor.

They spend the next 15 minutes as predictably as you would assume. Drinking some water, Null washing her wing, and Void taking a full bath. She wasn't comfy not having the option to take off her false leg and properly care for the joints afterwards, but Null told her that the onlookers might just take it away if they saw how it could come off, so instead she handled that part, whilst Void had a real shower.

It reminded Null of many a time when she had stood and remade, reconfigured, or tried some nee design for Void's leg, which had originally been a simple peg leg on a flat piece of wood so that she wouldn't sink down into the sand. It had been uncomfortable, unwieldy, and hadn't made their escape from Troy any easier, so Null had spend a long time trying to do something better. This current iteration had been done around three years ago, and so far, Null hadn't come up eith something that would work better. Not in wood anyway, which were usually her only material to work with.

13 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

They were able to hear a ding, accompanied by the woosh of the front door to their containment. Should they be interested in inspecting or able to do so, they would see the following:

The "Servi-ton" was clearly a very well made and rune covered clay golom styled after a very thin minotaur. It was pushing a serving cart that had a pair of covered trays.

The door it came through led to a sort of airlock with the far door closed, meaning that even if they tried to push past the golom, they would have to try to force their way through the far door if they wanted to escape.

If they did not move to stop the golom, the which would not react to anything short of physical contact, the which would cause it to freeze given the fizzling of it's runic carvings, it would proceed to the center of the first room, uncover the trays, and try to leave the way it came.

Should the trays get uncovered, they would reveal a decently sized lunch for each of them, a daisy sandwich with hay-fries and about a liter of water for each of them in a bottle with a large top. It seemed they could refill this bottle in the sink.

Void had to hold her sister back from going over and kicking the golem on sight, as she knew well what would happen. They had dealt with rune magic far to many times to not know that it were also fizzled out when the two of them got near it, so if Null got over and touched it in any way, then the creature would end up being just a useless lump, and the monsters who ran this place were going to get angry. She hated them for stealing the teo of them away, but Void didn't want to make it worse by making them angry as well. Nothing good would come from that.

So it were allowed to do its thing in peace, and when it had left, they went over and examined what was on the tray. Seemed like a normal lunch sort of thing, though Void were hesitant to touch it. What if they had poisoned it? The two of them couldn't recieve magical remedies, so damages and ilnesses had to be treated the old slow way.

Yet, the two of them were hungry. They hadn't eaten since they awoke back in Equestria in Celestia knew how many hours ago, and it had been a light one. They needed to replendish their energy.

Null were the first to take a bite, and after slowly chewing it down, would wait for a minute and see if something happened. If nothing did, the two of them would finish this in silence, and take the bottles back to the room they had woken up in.

If something were wrong though... Well, it depended on how bad it would get, but the food would certainly be kicked away, and perhaps Void would have to sling Null over her back and get out of the small room.

It wasn't hard. The size difference were such that Null could quite easily stand on Void's back when they were wandering. It were comfortable for Void once in a whe, and Null felt like she could actually look out for danger better that way, so it wasn't a rare occurrence.

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

The sandwich wasn't the best, but it was pretty decent, at least to taste. They experienced no ill effects from the food nor the water.

It wasn't long after that the voice came again, "I hope you made good use of your break. The following isn't so much a test as it is... an opportunity... to help in the progress of science. The testing done on the samples recovered from the two of you revealed prime ways through which you can further the cause, help destroy harmful cursed items, and improve the lives of everyone in the world."

(As I am very certain that they would say at least something in response to this.)

When they were done with whatever response they had. "The door will open, and you will proceed, single file, into the hallway, where the guards will lead you to the testing area. No sudden movements."

Sure enough the door the Servi-ton came through opened, as well as the second door, revealing a pair of armored guards, both Diamond Dogs, though from the first look they seemed far more sophisticated than the ones they may have encountered in Equestria. These stood up straight, were lean yet still clearly strong, evenly proportioned between the arms and legs. each carried a short halberd, likely due to the area restraints in the facilities to not have a full sized one.

Should they follow instructions, as they passed between the doors they would find a small door and window to their left, through which they would be able to see a silver colored unicorn packing a small briefcase with papers.

Should they not follow instructions, the two guards would cautiously enter the chamber-lock and request, in their deep canine voice, that they follow them.

(Now things are going to get interesting.)

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

On 10/9/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

It wasn't long after that the voice came again, "I hope you made good use of your break. The following isn't so much a test as it is... an opportunity... to help in the progress of science. The testing done on the samples recovered from the two of you revealed prime ways through which you can further the cause, help destroy harmful cursed items, and improve the lives of everyone in the world."

"How dumb are you? We can't destroy cursed items you nitwit, only keep it down. What, did you draw your thinker in a gumball machine?"

Null were close to adding to that by insulting the doctor's intellect further, and had several sentences more ready to belittle his idiocy, but she held back her main insults because of Void. They'd probably get by now that the key to keeping her somewhat docile would be to use Void as leverage, but really, if they couldn't see that already, they were as blind as they were stupid.

Celestia helps anypony who would try to use Void though. They'd end in the pile of ponies Null wanted dead, and the more that were there, the more she wouldn't care about just letting out other things they had trapped, and leave this place in ruins. Or something else like that. She'd need time and some recon to figure out what to do here.

On 10/9/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"The door will open, and you will proceed, single file, into the hallway, where the guards will lead you to the testing area. No sudden movements."

I'll do some sudden movements on your face...

This one stayed in Null's head, but oh how she wished to make it a reality. Just to kick that self-righteous hillbilly in the kneecap, force him down, and then deliver blows to his face. She might not have the durability or strength of an earth pony, but she weren't a pipsqueak either. Twenty years of running had given her some good legs to kick with, and she had no issues doing that if she met somepony who deserved having their faces bludgeoned.

On 10/9/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

the door the Servi-ton came through opened, as well as the second door, revealing a pair of armored guards, both Diamond Dogs, though from the first look they seemed far more sophisticated than the ones they may have encountered in Equestria. These stood up straight, were lean yet still clearly strong, evenly proportioned between the arms and legs. each carried a short halberd, likely due to the area restraints in the facilities to not have a full sized one.

And now it was Diamond Dogs? What a bunch of bucking hypocrites that worked here. Null and Void were regular ponies who were only separate from somepony like that wretched doctor by them actually having a heart, as well as their unfortunate and involuntary effect on magic around them, and yet they were the ones who had to be locked down like wild beasts, while others - like the territorial Diamond Dogs or overzealous Deer - were free to roam around like the best of friends. What a joke...

Though honestly, she weren't sure that these overgrown pups even had any idea where they were either. Diamond Dogs were pretty stupid, and these monsters would likely had no moral problems with abducting some of them and train them like guard dogs.

Void and her had their interactions with these canine creatures before, but honestly, they were among the least problematic ones. Long as the two of them stayed out of their territory, things were usually pretty neutral.

Taking care of a cursed item among one group of them had actually given them a small bit of leeway a few years back, far to the north of Equestria, where the canines coats were thick to withstand the snow. Two weeks where the sisters could remain within the absolute outskirts of their territory, and as long as they did not attempt to get near their settlements, the two would have a short amount of peace to lick their wounds.

Of course, they weren't welcome there anymore, as handling the issue after they had originally been captured would only do so much, but it were among the longest periods of time they had to rest the last twenty years without illegally squatting somewhere without anypony knowing, or settle for a time far from civilization.

That being said, these creatures still did something for this place, so Null didn't trust them. She wasn't gonna yell at them though, which were a far better deal than the doe had gotten.

Although she did move towards them first, and pointed back at Void.

"Don't ever touch her, or you'll be sorry."

Just a small warning for now, as they then followed them without making a fuss, giving the pups no reason to touch either of them. Unless of course they wanted to have their kneecaps shattered.

On 10/9/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Should they follow instructions, as they passed between the doors they would find a small door and window to their left, through which they would be able to see a silver colored unicorn packing a small briefcase with papers.

"W-Who's that? W-What're gonna h-happen to us?"

Void didn't see anything scary through the window, but how could she trust anything here? It were run by cruel and horrid beings that would steal away innocent ponies in another country, just for their sick sense of what was right. Everything here were terrifying in some kind of way.

She had followed Null closely as they wandered along with the Diamond Dogs, neck bent and almost looking like she were attempting to hide behind her more strong-willed older sister, though the difference in mass made that impossible.

Edited October 10, 2018 by Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

One of the dogs took the lead, while the other took up the rear, both leading them down the hallway and potentially preventing their escape.

Just about all the hallways they passed through were the same blank white they had grown accustomed too, though some of the rooms seemed to be tinged with a bit of grey, possibly due to age. Every so often they would pass through a door marked with the same triangular symbol they had first seen in their own room. Though the odd thing was the utter lack of anyone else they encountered, the few they did encounter were other guards blocking off the wrong turns.

(Provided there are no incidents on this trip)

Soon enough they reach a larger room, as they passed through the door they could catch a glimpse of a sign that read: C-173, Euclid, Sentient & Violent. They may have wondered what the sign outside their own door might say.

They were brought to stand before a very large door, to their left was an elevated platform where a scientist, this one a thestral was watching them. His leathery wings were at his sides, and his amber slit pupils were fixed on the pair of them. Furthermore, another scientist, this time a rather well built minotaur, approached the door from the side, entering something on a keypad.

"The containment chamber is now opening, all personnel are to maintain eye contact with C-173 until C-2113 are brought into contact."

As the door slowly opened, it's contents were revealed, it looked like a golom, just like the Servi-ton that brought them food. This one, however, looked clearly evil, the runes glowed a deep red, indicating that it was powered by a blood charm, clearly it was designed to kill.

But for some reason it did not move, not one inch, it seemed perfectly frozen where it was.

"C-2113, please approach C-173 to begin testing."

The minotaur, despite clearly being very strong, looked particularly tense.

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

There wouldn't be any incidents on the way to the testing chamber, except for Null sneering at every door and guard they passed, seemingly out of spite.

This time around though  she were actually keeping track of things, and were trying to ascertaining what the different words on doors like this meant.

On 10/10/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Soon enough they reach a larger room, as they passed through the door they could catch a glimpse of a sign that read: C-173, Euclid, Sentient & Violent.

The number was obviously as dumb as anything here, and just a filling system for morons, but the rest could be useful, once she figured out what Euclid meant. That whatever was there were violent were a good start though, if they were going to go for a prison break eventually, that included letting out some of the other poor sods they had captured here.

Their own door probably said something too, and she'd need that to understand thongs more later in  but Null were frankly more in the mood to jump up and rip the thing from said door if she saw it. She hated being referred to as a number, and these head-injury cases that were blindly ruling this place, were going to have to deal with that. At least until Void and potentially herself got out, back to Equestria, and reported this stinking country for the kidnapping.

Abducting a legal citizen of Equestria were an act of war, or at the very least would cause an uproar that were going tk force Troy to answer. The two countries may not be on speaking terms, but Equestria were vast and after Twilight had gotten crowned, they had expanded their amount of allies exponentially, even beyond their borders. Troy wouldn't be able to win a war against them, like the propaganda she'd been fed as a foal proclaimed, and even if they could withstand a siege for a time, were they really going to sacrifice thousands of lives and risk a deep siege invasion for two ponies? Unless everypony leading this festering hole of a country were as idiotic as the ponies working here, then no, they wouldn't.

She bet they were just expecting to never be found out now, since they didn't think the siblings could escape, but they were going to be wrong. It was just a matter of time.

On 10/10/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

They were brought to stand before a very large door, to their left was an elevated platform where a scientist, this one a thestral was watching them. His leathery wings were at his sides, and his amber slit pupils were fixed on the pair of them.

The leathery night stalker got a glance in return that promises him quite the beating if he ever got close enough for her to touch him, and the words *I hope you get eaten* silently spoken, in case the sad excuse for a fruit bat with a growth spurt could read her lips.

On 10/10/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Furthermore, another scientist, this time a rather well built minotaur, approached the door from the side, entering something on a keypad.

And now a minotaur? This place really brought in all the freaks, didn't it?

Null had many harsh things to think of the last minotaur she met, prior to getting to Ponyville, but she didn't have more than that one individual to judge from, as for some reason, the siblings had only ever seen that singular one, before encountering one among the workers in Ponyville some days ago that they kept their distance to

As such, she didn't have much in the way of generalizing comments about these humanoid cows, though she gave him the same sneer she had the guards regardless. He clearly worked here, so he were as much a part of these horrid beings as the rest she had seen so far.

On 10/10/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

As the door slowly opened, it's contents were revealed, it looked like a golom, just like the Servi-ton that brought them food. This one, however, looked clearly evil, the runes glowed a deep red, indicating that it was powered by a blood charm, clearly it was designed to kill.

But for some reason it did not move, not one inch, it seemed perfectly frozen where it was.

Urgh, one of these things? How did these hill howlers even get a hold of something like this? It wasn't like blood magic was wide spread, in parts because it were generally about as forbidden as sacrificial magic. At least the places Null and Void had been and heard some things.

Well, whoever had made this had clearly not wanted good things, in case the use of blood magic hadn't already tipped that off, as this thing looked like it were literally built to kill. Was that was Euclid meant? Able to kill? What a dumb name.

It was pretty clear what they wanted out of this encounter. Null and/or Void were to go over, and their aura would destroy the charm keeping this thing running. It wasn't curse magic, so unless there were hidden something else there too, it should be depowered permanently instead of just suppressed.

On 10/10/2018 at 4:18 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"C-2113, please approach C-173 to begin testing."

Void took a step forward  but halted as Null puf her hoof out in front of her and glanced up towards where she had seen the thestral.

"No."

Void looked nervous as Null said this, not sure what would happen, but fearing the worst from what was going to come out of her muzzle next.

"If you want us to do something for you, you'll refer to us by name. We're Null and Void, and I know you're fully aware of that. So shove your numbers up where it makes you cry, and use our names, or this thing is gonna keep active. You might have us trapped, but we're not giving in to your dehumanizing drivel."

If they did what Null said - which were literally the least thing they could do - she'd keep her trap shut and walk over to the golem without delay, with Void following her closely. If they weren't, then they'd have to force her over there, because she certainly wasn't gonna do it when they couldn't even conjure up the two IQ points it took to say a name. No, 1 IQ point. Their names were really short.

Edited October 11, 2018 by Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

(A step back since she was paying attention.) The only thing of interest as they walked was that they passed a bank of windows, thick windows, that looked over a sort of cubicle farm, like one would see in an office building in Manehatten or thereabouts. Those working did not seem to notice that they were being watched.

(Now to the response)

Null's outburst surprised the other occupants of the room, drawing attention to her, rather than the contained golom. Only the minotaur, who had studied the specimen long enough to know its danger maintained eye contact, but even he couldn't hold off a blink for long.

And the blink of an eye is all the golom needed.

There was a sudden woosh of air as the golom crossed the chamber in an instant.

Void found herself with a very pointy limb just millimeters from her real eye.

The effect of her anti-magic was clearly shown on the golom. The tip of the limb had seemingly reverted to a hardened clay, a sickly black in color, though extending back up the arm to it's torso the color faded in a gradient until at the torso the color was normal again. The rune magic lines maintained their glow, albeit dimmed in the blackened area. A very clear indicator that while it's magic was drained by their field, it certainly wasn't destroyed.

At the motion the scientists returned their attention and eyes to the golom that had now fully exited it's containment cell. The minotaur looked visibly shaken by the ordeal, but took the opportunity to approach the golom with his notes, begining to catalog the runes that seemed most concentrated on the golom's back.

The thestral, given his eyes were now wholly trained on the golom, replied calmly to Null. "I think your demonstration has revealed to you just how little power you have here. I would be more careful if I were you, you wouldn't want to lose what little you have left." Well at least he was using a less generic pronoun? "Now, if you don't want her to suffer, I suggest you cooperate. If not, it will all be over for her much sooner rather than later."

(How's that? Secretly I hope she manages to turn this around. But don't let that influence you on what they would decide. Realism is much more important to good story telling.)

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

23 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Void found herself with a very pointy limb just millimeters from her real eye.

The effect of her anti-magic was clearly shown on the golom. The tip of the limb had seemingly reverted to a hardened clay, a sickly black in color, though extending back up the arm to it's torso the color faded in a gradient until at the torso the color was normal again. The rune magic lines maintained their glow, albeit dimmed in the blackened area. A very clear indicator that while it's magic was drained by their field, it certainly wasn't destroyed.

The ear-piercing scream that escaped Void's throat were loud enough that one might assume that a Banshee had gotten loose in the facility.

She jolted back, then uncharacteristically went forward and with closed eyes, tears streaming down her face and the sound of panicked sobbing, began to pound on the golem with her front hooves. Punch after punch, leaving dents and potentially cracks in the construction that had almost taken her last eye, until Null came over and dragged her back, out of her zone, and caused the large earth pony to crumble up into a fetal position on the floor.

Void were not a violent pony most of the time. Even if she had a weapon normally and knew how to use it, it was mainly just to fend off beasts and get them through walls. Her fighting were mainly self defense. She had never taken a life like Null had, and the thought alone about doing something like that horrified her.

Yet, everypony had a breaking point where it came down to fight or flight, and though Void cognitively would prefer to not be in a fight, her flight or flight response were apparent in this moment, when she had been faced with something so imminently dangerous that it had come down to her base instincts, and her physical prowess left room for dealing quite a lot of damage if need be. Running for all those years - and especially with a prosthesis - made her legs pretty strong from the constant stress, but unlike Null, she didn't have the restrictions of the pegasi's hollow bones to put a limit on how much she could strike through.

That was over now, however, as Null had brought her back to her senses, and the pile of fear that now ruled the landscape of her mind.

On 10/11/2018 at 10:46 PM, Illiad Easle said:

The thestral, given his eyes were now wholly trained on the golom, replied calmly to Null. "I think your demonstration has revealed to you just how little power you have here. I would be more careful if I were you, you wouldn't want to lose what little you have left." Well at least he was using a less generic pronoun? "Now, if you don't want her to suffer, I suggest you cooperate. If not, it will all be over for her much sooner rather than later."

"It's okay sis, you're safe. Just ignore them. The aborted fruit bat fetus with a brain deficiency will get what's coming to him soon enough."

Null didn't even dignify the thestral with a direst threat, although she had the urge to rip out the ribs of whoever was closest, use them to scale the wall, and make herself a batch of filet mignon out of the gnat. He wasn't worth it compared to keeping Void from losing it completely. Not now at least, although his time would come. Nopony insulted her sister and got away with it, and if this kept up, Null would be more than happy to not just leave this place in ruin, but doing whatever the closest she could realistically do to scorching the whole country and salting the earth.

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

(Realistic response, I like it.)

The minotaur flinched at the outburst by Void, but eye contact was successfully maintained between the two scientists as the minotaur backed away from the golom, holding his clipboard in front of him protectively, yet really ineffectually given what they saw this golom was capable of.

The thestral spoke into some sort of box he had on his shoulder, Null and Void could only pick out "2 class D".

Almost immediately the pair of guards that had brought them in came through the doors they had come in through, also maintaining eye contact with the statue which seemed to be maintaining it's own view on Void.

The minotaur fled rather rapidly through the door that the guards had come in through.

It seemed if they were going to try something, now would be the time.

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

21 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Almost immediately the pair of guards that had brought them in came through the doors they had come in through, also maintaining eye contact with the statue which seemed to be maintaining it's own view on Void.

The minotaur fled rather rapidly through the door that the guards had come in through.

There, an opening in their defenses. The guards would be too focused on this thing that needed to be watched constantly by the looks of it, and if they got a quick smack whilst the ponies went past, they'd lose that contact, and die. This thing might even get loose in the facility and kill some folks. Now wouldn't that be a sight for sore eyes right about now?

Another alternative were for Null to take advantage of her position on Void to pop out the coin, and throw it to one of the guards before the two of them made a run for it. The entity within would get itself a host or perhaps more, depending on how close-by others were to observe things - with the nervous minotaur, the distance would be the least of his trouble when it came to not be overtaken by the wider area of effect - and then while these stinking fools tried to contain that one, the two sisters would make a run for it, and look for an escape.

None of these were going to happen though. Void were currently in a whimpering state that she couldn't just snap out of like that, and Null would sooner die than to attempt to escape on her own,and leaving her sister behind. Void deserved a chance at a life, whilst Null had long since accepted that there wasn't anything else for her. She socialized poorly, got into fights, and being without the skies had always made her feel broken, and worthless. She put on the tough act for Void's sake, but the truth of the matter were that Null were a wreck. Unstable, and caught between great floods of rage and suppressed depression more often than not. Her only purpose in life were to make sure that Void got taken care of, and as soon as her sister had somepony who gave her the love and affection that she deserved... Null would cut the last weight that tied Void to their tormented past, and finally let her live the life free of burdens that she had always been promised.

After getting to this place, the option might also be that Null would trade herself for Void's freedom, one way or another, but it didn't change much. It would only make Null regret that she wouldn't be able to be there to ensure that Void found her happiness out in the big world, though at least she would go out on a high, like their parents once had.

In any case, they were staying here until further notice. Void had to be ready to flee with her before Null would try something, and regardless, they didn't know how this place were set up. They could be frantically trying to find an exit for hours before getting caught, and the punishment for an attempted breakout were likely harsh. They needed a little more information, or the option to truly cause chaos and potentially blow a wall down to make a door.

Still, if they were going to stay here, Null weren't taking chances.

Though Void tried to cling on to her, Null wriggled out of her sister's embrace, and rose up to the statue. She didn't flinch or blink, as she neared it and stretched her wing out. From it, she would pluck a single, small down, and either place it in the creatures mouth or nostril - if it have either - or in one of the dents/cracks Void left. One way or another, it would stay on the thing, and even if their aura didn't destroy this clay monstrosity for some reason, it still seemed to suppress it, so this should do the trick for a week's time. Be they big or be they small, Null's feathers all carried her aura for the same amount of time for some reason, which were another reason why it really got to her that the flesh-ripper from last had taken one of her big feathers. He could've just plucked a few downs and be done with it. They grew fast again, and didn't hurt to get out, since they were prone to fall out through preening anyway. Null usually picked them up and kept them with her when it were, but that was out there, in the free world. Not this kind of hell.

Well, to this or any other hell with him, she had better things to do.

With that thought, Null would return to her sister's eager hooves who flailed in her direction, looking for the one being that could bring her some degree of comfort.

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

She found a fairly sturdy looking crack in the statue's torso, right by where the arm connected to the main body, the clay hardening and darkening around the feather almost instantly, covering a decent amount of the runes controlling it.

By some stroke of luck, or unluck, it seemed to have an additional effect on the golom. It seemed that the anti-magic field covered deactivated enough of the runes that it slumped to the floor, the sudden visible motion of which startled the thestral enough for him to gasp. It hadn't deformed the creature, as the limbs were still as clearly defined as the runes, but whatever had held it in place while being watched had been deactivated, as well as whatever gave it movement. The head however still seemed focused on Null.

The guards tentatively approached to either side of Null and Void, still wary of the golom.

Not long after a pair of ponies, one a unicorn and the other an earth pony, both dressed in bright orange with a large black D on the back, arrived flanked by two more guards, this time one minotaur and a pegasus. These seemed to be the class D that the thestral had mentioned.

The new guards looked questioningly between the inert golom and the thestral, who waved them forward. "Get C-173 back into its containment cell, and get Dr. Barium back here, it seems we've just had a breakthrough."

The thestral then looked over at the guards by Null and Void, "Take them down to the Comedor, they've earned it." He seemed to have an idea as he retrieved a pair of discs from his coat and tossed them to one of their guards, who caught it deftly, "They are to test P-216, Open parameter, and tell the staff that Dr. Peric authorized their presence."

If Null were looking, and at all interested in the disks, she would have recognized them as a form of currency, and further that it was not Trojan, nor Equestrian in origin. These discs were small and silver, had a minotaur's head on one side, and a labyrinth on the other. (Given she mentioned only seeing one minotaur, I assumed she would not be familiar with minotaur currency. Plus they seemed the most likely to end up with that sort of SCP anyway.)

(Assuming they don't resist the guards)

The guards would then lead them, in the same formation as before, back into the labyrinth they had been in before, only there were two differences, first it was clear that they were taking a very different path than before. Second, there were very few other guards in these hallways, unlike before, where every wrong turn had a guard to block them, this time only like one in five had a guard patrolling. And there were actual scientists walking these halls, all absorbed in whatever they were doing, and in all the types and creatures they had ever seen before, including, on two occasions, a changeling with golden eyes, head fringe, tail, wings, and backplate. (All the creatures I mentioned in the OOC a bit ago are found here, if they haven't met any of those before please put a reaction to the new creatures, if they would actually react in any way.)

It wasn't long before they entered a large room which said Comedor on the door frame. It was set up like a cafeteria, long tables with benches in the middle, a place to get food set into the wall on the left, and a large metal box in the middle of the wall on the right. A small cubical was placed in the back right corner, the desk inside was covered in white cups that the scientist within, a smallish dragon, seemed to be studying.

It was only then that one of their guards spoke, in a deep, yet clearly refined voice. "Dr. Peric seems pleased with your work to give you such an honor, even we have never been allowed to use P-216." With that he gave each of them one of the disks he caught from the scientist. "To the left you can get whatever food you like, to the right... well that doctor over there can explain how P-216 works. We will wait here until you are ready to return to your quarters. This test is the last you will perform today."

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

17 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

She found a fairly sturdy looking crack in the statue's torso, right by where the arm connected to the main body, the clay hardening and darkening around the feather almost instantly, covering a decent amount of the runes controlling it.

By some stroke of luck, or unluck, it seemed to have an additional effect on the golom. It seemed that the anti-magic field covered deactivated enough of the runes that it slumped to the floor, the sudden visible motion of which startled the thestral enough for him to gasp. It hadn't deformed the creature, as the limbs were still as clearly defined as the runes, but whatever had held it in place while being watched had been deactivated, as well as whatever gave it movement. The head however still seemed focused on Null

Null didn't care enough to even stare at the thing herself. It weren't gonna go after Void or her when it couldn't move, so she could focus on consoling Void. She wouldn't have as much time as she would like unfortunately, but that were sadly the norm here she ventured.

17 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Not long after a pair of ponies, one a unicorn and the other an earth pony, both dressed in bright orange with a large black D on the back, arrived flanked by two more guards, this time one minotaur and a pegasus. These seemed to be the class D that the thestral had mentioned.

And true enough, here came the clowns. The good news were that at least Void had gotten to the point where she opened her eyes again and could look around, though she wasn't saying anything and she were still crying. Those last few things were the bad part, though hopefully it would be enough to get Void to walk with her at least.

Whoever these dingbats were, it appeared to be two other prisoners, and two guards by the looks of things. D likely stood for Detainee or something similar, so they were in kind of the same boat as the sisters, though Null would still break their legs for a good word. Just because they too were imprisoned, that didn't mean they were safe from her wrath.

17 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

he new guards looked questioningly between the inert golom and the thestral, who waved them forward. "Get C-173 back into its containment cell, and get Dr. Barium back here, it seems we've just had a breakthrough."

The thestral then looked over at the guards by Null and Void, "Take them down to the Comedor, they've earned it." He seemed to have an idea as he retrieved a pair of discs from his coat and tossed them to one of their guards, who caught it deftly, "They are to test P-216, Open parameter, and tell the staff that Dr. Peric authorized their presence."

Wait, when did the fruit bat get down here on their level? Urgh, who cared? This wasn't the time to make good of her want to gut him like a fish. That'd have to wait until another time, as she slowly managed to get Void back on her hooves, though the large earth pony refused to make eye contact with any of the inmates or jailers in this proverbial prison of future corpses.

Having to care for her sister now more than threaten the others, Null surprisingly didn't smack-talk anypony right now, though once again, one one movement, and she'd be upon them like the wrath of a thousand demons. Far more demons than she had ever actually seen, but Null had seen what even one demon's wrath could do, and what she'd do would pale compared to that.

17 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

If Null were looking, and at all interested in the disks, she would have recognized them as a form of currency, and further that it was not Trojan, nor Equestrian in origin. These discs were small and silver, had a minotaur's head on one side, and a labyrinth on the other.

And now they were throwing around monopoly money? What the hay was their problem? Were they all mental or something? No real coin had a minotaur and a labyrinth on them, except forgeries. What, did they use these to pay off the dogs or something? They'd be the only ones dumb enough to fall for it, surely. Or well, perhaps the minotaurs too, since this seemed to be a coin for their taste. Probably wasn't even worth the raw material it was made of.

To think that the fifty bit coin they had with them might make them the ones with the highest currency... What a joke.

Still, she didn't say anything for now, and would just follow, and spend the time consoling her sister, and in case anypony else tried to interfere, sneer at them in a way akin to a guard dog, who were about to go straight for the throat. So long as they didn't try anything, she wouldn't either.

19 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The guards would then lead them, in the same formation as before, back into the labyrinth they had been in before, only there were two differences, first it was clear that they were taking a very different path than before. Second, there were very few other guards in these hallways, unlike before, where every wrong turn had a guard to block them, this time only like one in five had a guard patrolling. And there were actual scientists walking these halls, all absorbed in whatever they were doing, and in all the types and creatures they had ever seen before, including, on two occasions, a changeling with golden eyes, head fringe, tail, wings, and backplate.

So this was clearly not the way they came in, but frankly, this was better. A lot of varied creatures they had seen before were here, along with more of the personnel/jailers, in rooms that Null at least doubted would all be protected from some kind of mimetic influence.

This would be a good place to let the coin out one of these days... And apparently, they got through this route long as they behaved well, and did the experiments? Much as she hated everypony here, Null may have to try and vocalize death upon them constantly so they could get here more. It's open up the perfect option for escape eventually.

It was a pity that they didn't see any sphinx, as having one of them would be brutal, but honestly, their minds were insanely strong. If any being could withstand the influence of the coin, it would likely be one of them.

THen again... Perhaps she just missed it, among all the other things? Even if they couldn't have a full grown one here in a normal cell, perhaps a small chick or an egg could've been found? She could just imagine they'd love nothing more than to raise one of those in this place, and indoctrinate them to their ideals, so that they could use the creature. They wouldn't gain the boundless power and intelligence of them, since far as she knew, that were only granted through living in their own country and sharing in untold ages of magical books and tales, but even an untrained sphinx could be strong. Void had been lost once and run into a stray, and it had taken what, four weeks of varied tasks before Null and her were allowed to leave? Something along those lines.

They had promptly left the country the same way they came in, in fear of running into the main town and become slaves for the rest of their lives, but some of the babbling exile's talk had stuck with the sisters. Perhaps it was just exaggerations from an old fool, but still, if even a sliver were true... They had no interest in getting anywhere near their High Council. With all their power, it'd be like an atom starring down a god.

20 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

It wasn't long before they entered a large room which said Comedor on the door frame. It was set up like a cafeteria, long tables with benches in the middle, a place to get food set into the wall on the left, and a large metal box in the middle of the wall on the right. A small cubical was placed in the back right corner, the desk inside was covered in white cups that the scientist within, a smallish dragon, seemed to be studying.

And then came the cafeteria. How tri- Oh come on! A dragon too? Seriously? What the hay was wrong with this place? *Sure, let's lock up the ponies who had never asked for doing what they could and just wanted to be left alone, but let's allow the fire-breathing lizards to work here!* Null even bet that it was one of those annoying ones who could do magic too, just to be an extra kick in the teeth.

Considering how small it were, she were definitely not thinking earth variety, as they were mostly large, but it could be any of the water, fire or wind leaning ones. And that was only if they came from Dragon Isle. Dragons outside Equestria had varied magics, with one they had run aground once, being masters of illusions and transformation magic. Man they had been miffed once the ponies that dispelled all kinds of magic came around...

But that was neither here, nor there. Doubly so when one of the irritating tin soldiers began yapping off like a dog on a leash.

20 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

"Dr. Peric seems pleased with your work to give you such an honor, even we have never been allowed to use P-216." With that he gave each of them one of the disks he caught from the scientist. "To the left you can get whatever food you like, to the right... well that doctor over there can explain how P-216 works. We will wait here until you are ready to return to your quarters. This test is the last you will perform today."

Null snatched the phony currency like she owned it, which technically, for the time being, she sort of did. Void on the other hoof, shakily took a hoof forth, but jerked her leg back three times before she finally took the coin, thinking that it'd be another test, and that all of a suddenly, either her or Null would explode.

"Whatever, Enjoy your miserable existence. Come on, sis."

Null more or less Dragged Void for some of the way towards the food area, where they'd get something from the vending machine, or whatever they called it in here.

Void would get a bowl of soup - root vegetable if possible, but otherwise any vegetarian sort - whilst Null would get a cup of water, and two lemons. Whilst Void usually cooked for them when they had the option, and had a fondness for hearty soups and stews that could really give you some energy, Null couldn't cook worth saving her life, and generally just ate whatever were near. She enjoyed what Void made, but she wouldn't eat the swill they'd mix together here, and so opted for going for the base things like what she did when she stood for their food. Void generally liked pears or dates if they could get to it, whilst Null had always had more of a thing for sour food. Regular apples frankly tasted revolting to her, and the only times she ate apples were when there either were no alternative, or they could get some green ones.

Yet, her favorite were lemons. Sour to the core, and to the core she ate them too, without flinching one bit, whilst standing next to Void who had decided to sit as far away from anypony else as possible at the tables and slowly eat the soup. It was bland and lacked taste, but what could you expect from prison food? They should frankly just be thankful that it wasn't poisonous.

When they were eventually done, they'd go to the next torturer in line for Null's *Deserved deaths* marathon later on, and stopped. Whatever he were talking to somepony else or not, Null would just say something, as she frankly didn't think she had any reason showing any of these respect, when they couldn't give it back. Yes, she'd comply so that they could keep coming in here, but that didn't mean this were service with a smile. If they wanted that, they'd let her shoot a few, starting with the sadist from the first encounter. She'd be happier then.

"Fine, we're here. Just show us whatever stupid little toy of yours you want us to poke and let's get it over with."

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

The dragon looked up from the white cups covering her desk, they could tell at this distance, and by her muttering voice, that the dragon was a she. She raised an eyebrow before pointing to the large metal box that the guard had indicated was P-216. "That is P 216. Short description, a vending machine that can dispense any liquid entered by name into the keyboard. Test, see if functionality is preserved despite presence of anti-magic field."

Should they look over at the machine, the top was a large image of cups of coffee, immediately below which there was an area that presumably dispensed their order and below that a largish keyboard to input their order on. Seemed simple enough to use.

"Enter your order, then insert the coin." The dragon herself muttered about minotaur money and how gems were more stable than that mess of disks, but she trailed off as she returned to looking at the white cups on her desk. It seemed like they had come from the machine.

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

At least this one didn't call them by numbers. Sure, it was still wildly impersonal and annoying, but if it came down to Null having to chose a few that wasn't going to meet their ends here, this one were the most agreeable so far. It could still change, but they'd see how far this went as Null stepped towards the machine with a little test of her own in mind.

"Any liquid? Okay then, how about this? H-Y-D-R-O-C-H-L-O-R-I-C A-C-I-D."

She spelled it out one letter at a time, though she didn't actually write that in, as tempting as it may be. She just padded down *Warm caramel tea*. Her intent if it did not jam or something from her presence, were to keep the cup in hoof, and just drink it as normal, unless whatever came out of it were clear. She knew enough about acidic substances to know she couldn't confuse it for caramel tea, as neither smell, color, or the fact that the cup should just dissolve on the spot, were exactly small clues.

Chances were though, that this weren't going to work. No, not the prank, but the machine in general. If it did something unnatural, chances are it were run by magic. And if it were run by magic, her presence would mess it up. If it for some reason didn't, Void would try to get some warm cocoa out of the machine, unless she were stopped, as the soup in the cafeteria had been lacking and she'd like to get the taste out of her muzzle.

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

(Sorry again for the delay)

Surprisingly enough, the machine, as far as Null could tell, was unaffected by her presence. Upon inserting the coin, a small white cup, exactly like the ones on the dragon's desk, dropped from within the machine to the dispensing area, where the familiar scent of caramel (I read camel the first time) tea quickly followed as the liquid filled the cup to the brim.

As she tried it, she was met by it tasting, exactly as she remembered it, if not even better than she last remembered it.

The same experience with Void, a warm cocoa dispensed at the perfect temperature, and the best she had ever tasted.

The dragon noted down the results with a slightly surprised expression. "Thank you, that will be all for today." She then turned dismissively back to the cups she had on her desk.

The guards looked up from their position at the door, awaiting the sisters to approach them to take them back to their quarters.

(Again, sorry for the delay, I'm generating the map for future reference.)

[Blitz Boom 4,578]

@Illiad Easle

 

10 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Surprisingly enough, the machine, as far as Null could tell, was unaffected by her presence. Upon inserting the coin, a small white cup, exactly like the ones on the dragon's desk, dropped from within the machine to the dispensing area, where the familiar scent of caramel tea quickly followed as the liquid filled the cup to the brim.

As she tried it, she was met by it tasting, exactly as she remembered it, if not even better than she last remembered it.

Okay, this were frankly unexpected. Were whatever magic this thing carried hidden somewhere below the surface or something? Usually their aura still messed with such things, but if it were deep and floated in mid air, it could... No, no it still didn't make sense.

Bah, she should've gone for the acid then. Perhaps she could've melted herself a way out that way, though with these small cup sizes? Something told Null that it wouldn't even get through a single wall, or at least not in a big enough way to make it so that either of the siblings could escape.

At least she had some caramel tea, so there was a single, shiny speck in the hourglass of darkness this rotten experience had been so far. And she'd give the machine that it tasted good  though if it were better or worse than the last time, she wasn't entirely sure. It had been a long, long time, and she had mostly forgotten the taste. This was just what she thought off the top of her head when she had to actually push a drink in.

10 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The same experience with Void, a warm cocoa dispensed at the perfect temperature, and the best she had ever tasted.

Void however, could remember the last time she had drunk what she picked, and as such could appreciate the superior taste. It didn't make her bleak outlook on their current lives any better, but the warm, rich taste of cocoa at least calmed her nerves a little. It was probably the best thing you could hope for here.

It was strange how the machine worked though. Like Null, she had assumed that the thing ran on magic and as such, they'd negate it. If it wasn't though, then what were this? Something... Something from another world? Were they only able to negate things that actually came from their world?

Perhaps it was best not to think about this too much, or she'd just end up getting paranoid about space magic.

11 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

The dragon noted down the results with a slightly surprised expression. "Thank you, that will be all for today." She then turned dismissively back to the cups she had on her desk.

The guards looked up from their position at the door, awaiting the sisters to approach them to take them back to their quarters.

The dragon gave the siblings another indifferent, slightly polite response to seeing that the machine worked, before dismissing them and ignoring the siblings in favor of examining the cups for some reason.

Null didn't care, and as soon as both Void and her were done drinking, she'd guide her sister over to the guards, a little less on edge, but still ready to go for the throat - or in the case of any minotaur, the shins - of anypony trying something. One doctor being less of a complete dungbettle didn't mean that magically, everything were okay and she'd be completely thrilled with being here. This were real life, not some sort of fairy tale.

"W-We're uhm... Ready."

[Illiad Easle 3,103]

@@Blitz Boom

(There's going to be a jump in this chapter, and a much larger jump really soon, just so you're aware.)

The lead dog guard nodded and began to lead them back to their room, the rear dog taking up his place as soon as he could.

It was an almost perfectly straight line back to where they began the day, with few additional things of note, They passed through two security checkpoints, as well as a pair of large gates that said Tesla Gate, though they seemed deactivated. They also could see, if they were paying attention, a plaque next to a closed door, C-12, Euclid, Cognitohazard. It had a picture of what looked like sheet music next to it.

Soon enough they were back in their room, and could notice, if they cared enough to look, that they too had a plaque, C-2113, Euclid, Anti-Magic(P). It had a depiction of their marks, it looked like both at the same time, depending on how one looked at it.

The dogs waited without until Null and Void had entered their chamber, then the door shut.

(Nothing on my side will happen too them until they go to sleep, so you can respond to both in one go (Given I highly doubt they'll try to not sleep))

Once they were both asleep, something entered. A ghostly image, visible only to those who had eyes for that sort of thing, hovered over them before extending what appeared to be fore hooves to each of their torsos.

Each were suddenly aware of being in a dream, and that dream now featured someone new. Whatever had been happening, if they were dreaming at all, paused, frozen in place, so that the new arrival could become, forcibly, the center of attention to each of them. They couldn't move, their voices seemed muted, they could only look.

He was a tallish earth pony stallion, thin but well built, dressed almost like an investigator from Manehatten. He beckoned, and they followed, not having control in this dream, through a small opening. They found themselves all three together, the two sisters seated on a park bench with an excellent view of Cloudsdale, the strange pony stood before them, the shadow of his hat hiding his eyes, except that those eyes seemed to glow.

"The end is coming, but at the same time has also passed. Them stealing you has started a chain of events that could end catastrophically."

As if to emphasize his point a loud roaring sound, like a firework being launched but a thousand times louder. A flaming tube passed over them, revealed to be the source of the sound, guided by a pair of large smooth planks extending from either side. In a moment it shrank into the distance, getting closer and closer to Cloudsdale until they could almost not hear it anymore, then it went silent, replaced with a large sickly purple sphere expanding to encompass almost all of Cloudsdale, causing the city to dissipate almost entirely.

As the sound of the explosion and wind rushed back passed them, the strange pony seemed unfazed. "This is what will happen if they continue their research into your gifts."

He looked directly at Null, "And this is how you will stop them. Cause them a problem, and they will stop their research on you, make it big. You only have one shot, make it count. If you do it right, neither of you will be harmed, you're both too valuable to Him to let you come to harm."

"And if you get the chance, tell Dr Bunsen that 990 sent you. Preferably over his dead body."

Then the dream ended suddenly.