If you were to dig below the soil layer of Canterlot, past the diamond mines and ancient underground ruins, you would eventually hit a layer of magically-reenforced steel. Nopony, other than a select few, knew what lay beyond this steel plate. Some said it was the bottom of Equestria. Others said it was the top of something much bigger.Lifeshine stood in front of the new ponies, who all managed to pass the rigorous testing to get into this job. It was his job to show them around, Celestia knows why. He hated the dumb questions newcomers tended to ask. He pointed to the lockers that lined the glistening white walls. "You have all been assigned a letter and a number. Open the locker that matches your letter and number, and put on the uniform that's inside." He said robotically, as if they weren't even there.
*okay 3E, where is it. Oh here it is*. crystal thought to himself unlocking it with a key and grabbing the lab coat and stun-stick from the locker along with a notepad and pen. He then clipped his ID card to the jacket before turning to life shine. "Sir, I know you probably get annoyed by questions. I did when I worked as head of crystal research for the princesses. But when are the lunch/break hours".
Heartburn checked her number and looked around at the lockers. Hers was nearby, so she walked silently to it and prodded the lock a few times. She scrunched her face at the odd knob. What buffoon designed this thing, a griffin? she thought. Using her magic to turn it, she opened the locker and pulled out the bleached coat inside. She began to put it on, but she couldn't fit her hoof through the first opening. Heartburn groaned, magically levitating it up. "Would one of you dears kindly swap with me? Mine's too small, and I wouldn't want to cause any injury to myself trying to get it on."
Heartburn accepted the new coat gladly, but stomped her hooves in frustration when she tried it on. "This is a stallion's coat!" She whined. "Does anypony here have a coat for a mare like me? I can't use something that will make me look..." Heartburn tossed the new coat away with an 'ew' face. "Quite so ridiculous" she finished.
Sal pulled out his gun and started to check it"I think we're out of the mare lab coats"he said putting bullets into his 9mm.
Heartburn caught the coat flying in her direction and grinned at the pony, completely forgetting about her previous coat problem. "Thank you, dear. I suppose you'll be needing a coat too then..." She trailed off as she equipped her new coat and snuggled into it. Heartburn's sudden influx of happiness thinned whens he saw Sal's gun. "Um, do you really need to have that out right now..?" She whispered, gesturing to the object.
Sparrow nodded, her bangs falling over her eyes. Her eyebrows narrowed, and she blew them out of the way. "That's me!"
Crystal turned to talk to the scientists. "so which department are you guys in I'm in chemical. Oh, by the way the names Crystal burn".
Heartburn flicked her mane out of her face and turned to Crystal. "Heartburn. It's a pleasure." She smiled at him. "We're in the same department then. I suppose we'll be seeing much of each other."
"well, heartburn i guess ill see you there. oh and you two I didnt quite get your names. it helps knowing the name of security ponies. so i dont get a brute who ends up smashing delicate stuff. trust me I had that happen to me before. A pegasus called Snowflake but everyone called him Roidrage".
"Sparrow Rose." replied Sparrow. There was something about this pony. The others simply wanted to like her.
