Nox opened his eyes, yawning. A faint pain in his ear reminded him what was happened. Now he just had to figure out why he was on a bed instead that in the elevator debris. He raised his head, looking around: he was in a little room. He was on a bed, there was a furniture sealing the door, and on a green sofa there were Cobalt Rain and Silver Image, snoring slightly. The pegasus was opening his eyes too, raising his head and stretching his wings. Then he noticed Nox's gaze.
"We weren't doing anything!" the pegasus exclaimed, suddenly fully awake.
"Well, of course not." Stated Nox, raising an eyebrow. "There is only a bed, so it's obvious that you both used the sofa to sleep."
"Yes. Of course, there is no other reason we are sleeping next to each other!" exclaimed the pegasus, with a sheepish smile on his face. Silver Image chose that moment to yawn, open her eyes, raise her head, and kiss Cobalt's cheek, nuzzling his neck.
"Morning Coby…" she muttered, kissing him again.
The pegasus looked horrified as an enormous, devious grin appeared on the unicorn's muzzle. "Uh… hey Coby… I'll remember that…"
Cobalt huffed, parting from the mare and jumping to the floor. "I'm hungry. Is there a cafeteria on this level?" the pegasus asked to the mare, ignoring Nox's repressed laughter.
"Don't know. We get our food in our rooms. Maybe there is for the doctors, though." Answered the mare, sliding off from the sofa.
"Ok, we'll search it, but we'll not move deeper than this floor. Then we shall find a way to return to the others. Clear?"
"Okey." Smiled the mare, trotting towards the furniture and beginning to push it aside.
"Understood… Coby." Snickered the unicorn, and he had the satisfaction to see a blush on the pegasus face.
-oOo-
"I hate cold beans for breakfast." Grunted Moneybags, looking at the can in his hooves.
"Too bad honey, that's what there is." Grunted Smooth Heart from her bed, before taking a sniff of her can, making a disgusted face.
"They aren't the best." Admitted Broken Jinx, gulping a bite of beans. The only ones that seemed to enjoy the food were Gizmo Fidget and Blaze, both of whom were happily gulping the contents of their cans. The mare looked at them, half-amused half-disgusted.
"They surely have aan ppetite… or a bad sense of taste." Noted Twisted Soul, exiting from the surgery room. "McGash is stable and still asleep. I used only a simple hemostatic spell, since I don't want to risk worsening the situation. We have to get Nox back."
The mare nodded, gulping a bite of beans. "You're right… we have to find the others, I don't want to have any other deaths on my conscience. We'll move in an hour, and search for the others."
"Wait, what? We can't move McGash, it could be risky. And you will not be on your hooves for another day. You have to wait until that spell Nox used on you fixes all your bones."
"Actually sir, if it's necessary, I can take both the griffin and the pegasus on my back. I'm trained to carry the weight of two big adult earth ponies. They won't be a problem at all." stated Blaze, lowering his can of food. Smooth pointed at him while looking at Twisted Soul with a triumphant expression. The unicorn shrugged.
"Suit yourself." He grunted "Is there another can of food, perhaps?" Moneybags launched a closed can of food at the head of the unicorn.
After an argument between the two, that ended with the intervention of Broken Jinx and Gizmo Fidget to divide the pair, Smooth Heart was slipped over the alicorn's back, and over her was placed the sleeping body of McGash.
"Why can't I stay on top?" she groaned, pinned by the heavy griffin.
"It's better if we keep the griffin's wing free and without weight on it." Said Twisted, adjusting McGash's body on the alicorn's back. "You are ok, alicorn?" he asked then to Blaze, who just nodded.
"McGash could have come in handy right about now. He is supposed to be good at following tracks, after all." complained Gizmo Fidget, putting on his saddlebag, and following the Alicorn outside.
-oOo-
"I have to remember that trick, next time I'm without bits in front of a vending machine." Said Nox, laughing a little. Silver Image smiled, lowering the leg she had used to smash the machine to send a shower of snacks to the floor.
"I don't think your friends in the army would appreciate these tactics." Snickered Cobalt Rain, picking up a snack and beginning to eat it.
"What do you know Coby, maybe they will." Mocked the unicorn, while the mare giggled, biting into a sweet stick.
"Let's get going." growled the pegasus, while the mare leaned against his side, nuzzling his neck.
They walked silently for a bit, eventually reaching the end of the corridor, wich ended in a big, metallic, circular door.
"That reminds me off the door at the jail's office" stated Nox, looking at it.
"I sure hope so. At least, we could have a little bit of shelter." Agreed Cobalt, looking at the door before opening it with a grunt: the room they entered was indeed similar to the one they had seen at the jail's first level, even if in this one, there was a severed orange legs laying on the floor.
"Ok… well… at least there is only that…" gulped Nox, touching his ear. Silver Image moved away her gaze, while Cobalt just ignored it and looked around, finding what he was searching for: an intercom system.
"You know, that's reminds me of something I noticed…" stated the unicorn, lifting the leg in his magic grip and walking towards the incinerator tube. "Smooth Heart said that the prisoners killed the guards and the reserchers, right?"
"Yes, something like that." muttered Cobalt, tapping the console of the intercom.
"Then why didn't we cross any corpses?"
The pegasus turned towards the unicorn, a puzzled look on his face. "That's a good question… you are right, we were supposed to find ponies slaughtered everywhere… well, I'll ask Smooth that question, then… if this thing works…" There was a buzz, and suddenly the intercom was on, the text "[Jail Infirmary" displayed on the little screen.
"Hey there! Anypony? It's Cobalt Rain!" nearly shouted the pegasus in the little microphone. There was the sound of static, then a gruff voice replied:
"Is it really you kid? Man, you got lucky, we were about to leave."
"Moneybags, we are in the office on the first level of the asylum!" said Cobalt, looking at the intercon. There was a confused sound of voices, then the voice of Smooth Heart sounded through the device.
"Stay where you are, we are coming to get you. What the hay happened, anyway?"
"The shadow, it attacked and-"
"Okay, got the picture. Second question,: how the hay did you find a way to activate the intercon system? Why am I the only one saying that there was supposed to be no ener-" With a buzzing noise, the device died. The lights flickered, and some of them turned off.
"Fan-fucking-tastic." Growled the mare, looking around. "Does that mean that now there is no more energy? The hay!"
"I don't understand either…" grunted the pegasus, pressing a hoof on the dead device. "It's kinda like somepony powered off the area." Then his ears darted up: he could hear the faint sound of barking.
-oOo-
"Buck, it ran out of energy. Well, at least we know where to go." muttered Smooth Heart, patting the alicorn's back to signal to leave the room. Outside, the other ponies were waiting, looking nervously around.
"Problem, sir? You seem nervous." Asked Blaze, looking at Broken Jinx. The unicorn was biting his lip, darting around his gaze.
"Hounds. A lot, judging from the barking." He answered, looking around. "I really can't say how far away they are, though… they are so muffled… it seems almost as if they are below us..."
With an explosion of barking, two tiles flew into the air, followed by three little hounds that jumped out from a maintenance duct. They were different from the Doberman hounds that Gizmo had seen. These ones were a lot smaller, sturdier, and had a flat nose.
They landed on the floor and darted towards the group. Two of them leapt, but were pushed back by a golden globe of magic that surrounded the ponies, while the third one was hit on the nose by a flying kick from the green earth pony.
"Come on fuckers, there is enough Moneybags for all of you!" he growled, walking towards the hounds. The one he hit was still rolling on the ground, his clawed hands on his bleeding nose., while the other two howled and charged again, before they were pushed back again by the golden shield.
"Can't you just kill them?" asked Smooth, patting the alicorn's neck.
"I have been ordered by commander Broken Jinx to protect you and the griffin, ma'am. I cant use both my defensive and offensive spells at the same time. But while I'll use my shield spell, the others can use their offensive abilities. It's a basic military strategy." Answered Blaze, staying still with his glowing horn raised. "I can enlarge the shield to protect everypony. On the downisde, it'll be weaker to heavier blows."
"Well, these are scouting hounds, pitbull race if I'm not mistake. They won't be a problem." Stated Broken Jinx, pointing his horn and sending a bolt of energy into one of the hound's chest. The dog-like humanoid was pushed by the spell and hit the wall, before faing to the floor and laying still. Moneybags leapt again over the still rolling hound, hitting his chest with both hooves, smashing it against the wall. The third leapt again against the group, but stopped at mid-charge with a dull expression on his canine face, while looking into the multicolored, shining eyes of Twisted Soul. The hound turned and charged the hound that Moneybags was beating. The earth pony managed to get out of his way before the hound pierced his claws into the other's chest.
"Hey! Watch it!" Growled the earth pony, glaring at the unicorn.
"So sorry, you were kinda in the way." Answered Twisted, grinning, as the hound he had hypnotized cut his own throat.
"Now… you said that those were your scouting hounds?" asked Gizmo, looking at the corpses.
"Yup."
"Then, if they are going feral, and back to a pack formed society as Is logical to suppose… doesn't that mean that they were just scouting the area, before the large hunting pack arrived?"
"I suppose so. The diamond dogs are usually organized in packs, yes. And even if their brains have been cleaned by drugs and magic, they are surely still guided by istincts, so…" Twisted Soul began to answer, just before a wall was smashed to debris and a bigger group of hounds darted into the corridor. Just to prove Gizmo was right.
There were at last four Doberman-hounds, their fangs bared and drooling. They were accompanied by two much smaller hounds, with a chihuahua's head. They would seem a little comical, if it wasn't for the green , unhealthy-looking slime dripping out of their mouths. Behind the six hounds there was a seventh, enormous hound, that had to stay bent to not hit the ceiling. It was a terranova diamond dog, the only one without a ferocious face. It was kinda sad. But the ponies were more focused on the fact that it just smashed a wall with its enormous fists.
Blaze turned, enlarging his shield to the entire corridor's widht. The six smaller hounds leapt towards him, but were pushed back by the shining shield. The terranova hound began walking slowly behind his companions.
"At this rate, I'm afraid I can't sustain the shield for too long." Stated Blaze, flinching. Broken Jinx darted to his side, sending a spark of energy into one of the Doberman dogs: it was thrown against the wall, but was on its feet in seconds, darting again against the barrier.
"take caution with the small ones. They got poisonous fangs. Paralyzing, in case of jailbreak." Said the unicorn, sending another spark of energy against one of the two smaller hounds.
"That part didn't work really well, did it?" scoffed Moneybags.
"Their collars weren't supposed to go off." replied angrily the unicorn, blasting again. Twisted Soul stepped up beside the other unicorn, gazing towards one of the doberman hounds.
"I'm afraid to say this, but my shield is not going to hold much longer." Stated Blaze, walking slowly backwards with a frown on his face.
"A few weapons could come in hoof right now!" grunted Moneybags, glaring at the hounds.
"There is an armory on this level…and where the hay is my rifle!" shouted the mare, while Blaze stepped back a little, pushed back by the strength of the hounds assaults. "Gizmo, Moneybags and Broken Jinx, run towards the armory and grab whatever you need. Blaze will keep the way closed for as long as possible. Twisted, can you..-"
"What do you think am I doing, idiot?" shouted the unicorn, his eyes still shining and his face contracted in concentration, as one of the hounds tried to attack the others.
-oOo-
Another loud noise boomed through the office, as the hounds outside charged the door again. Cobalt Rain pressed his body agains the door, darting around his gaze.
"Buck! How in Equestria are we supposed to stay alive without weapons?" he shouted, as another smash hit the door.
"You are just a pussy." Growled Stained Reflex through Silver Image's mouth. "Get out of my way. I'll take care of them."
"Don't even think about that! I won't allow you to put Silver in danger!" exclaimed the pegasus, glaring at the mare.
"Idiot! At this rate we are just going to die anyway!" stated Stained in her cold voice. Cobalt ignored her, while Nox dragged some tables over to barricate the door with. From outside came the sound of howling.
"Well, we are fucked. At least big sis will not die a virgin." Stated Stained, yawning. Nox emitted a hysteric laugh, while Cobalt blushed furiously. Then a booming voice was heard outside the room.
"I WAS TRYING TO SLEEP, YOU BUCKING PIECES OF GARBAGE!" it cried through a strong accent; it was followed by a series of howls and the sound of something chopping.
"Wait a minute… I know that voice…" murmured Stained, walking towards the door. "Get out of the way, Cobalt." She ordered, looking at the pegasus.
"No way, Stained, you stay here!"
The mare looked at him, then suddenly punched him in the face, sending the pegasus flying towards a desk. The she turned towards the door, opening it. On the floor there was the headless body of a hound, laying in a puddle of blood. Three more hounds had their back to the office, looking at a deep green unicorn with a spiky red bloody mane with some black hair in it. He was looking at the hound with his scarlet eyes, while his horn was slowly lighting up with a green aura.
"Oh shithead, it really was your voice." Snickered the mare, while jumping on the back of one of the hound, trying to choke him. The hounds were distracted again, as the mare broke the neck of the diamond dog swiftly and suddenly. That permitted the unicorn to finish casting his spell. With a gushing sound, the head of another hound was cut off by a little spark of green magic.
The last hound looked around, darting his gaze between the mare and the green stallion. He didn't notice the shining scalpel that sliced towards his neck.
"So, are you in a bad mood, Midnight?" asked the mare to the green unicorn, ignoring the last hound falling to the ground, gurgling. The unicorn looked at her, huffing.
"Sort of. Those bastards woke me up, but is almost dusk, so is ok, I guess…" He moved his gaze towards the black unicorn cautiously leaving the office, followed by Cobalt Rain, , who was slowly massaging his head.
"Are you ok, Coby?" exclaimed the mare in Silver Image's sweet tone, running towards the pegasus.
"Yeah… a little argument with your… sister…" he blurted. "Who's your friend?" he asked, gesturing towards the green unicorn.
She looked at the unicorn, and smiled. "He is Midnight Shadow. He is a friend."
The unicorn nodded, walking towards them. "Da. We passed time together in same program of nocturnal psychological session. Who is your new friends, Silver Image?"
"He is Nox." She pointed at the black unicorn. "He is a doctor. And this is Cobalt Rain. He's my coltfriend."
"Your what now?" asked the pegasus, but the mare ignored him.
"They are from outside. With others. They are going to save us." Cheered the mare, smiling at the unicorn, but he only frowned.
"And what will be of us? To be sent to another asylum for rest of life? " he asked coldly. The smile on the mare's face disappeared, as Midnight Shadow lowered his horn. "If this is what is to happen, I shall prefer to leave alone... and without witnesses.."