Strong as a Stone (a muffins fanfic fanfic)

Chapter 8

The stairway was dark except for the few candles that illuminated the stairway, it was completely silent except for the hoof steps and the occasional giggle. Once Coal Dust reached the bottom of the stairs the room was pitch black, except for an inch of floor; but there was a red liquid on the floor. Minkie moved to the wall and flipped the switch, the room was immediately illuminated to reveal the scene that caused Coal to stand in fear. 

There were bodies, taxidermy, mutilated to the point they weren't even recognizable. There were cutie marks stitched together, horns that hung from string, wings sewn to the dresses made crudely. Coal Dust stood from shock, her little legs trembling. She turned to face Minkie who simply nodded, "This is what happens in the basement, do you want to know something?" Coal Dust nodded her head nervously inside holding that morbid curiosity. 

"There is a special ingredient in our cupcakes that we can only get from ponies. This is where we harvest for the special ingredient." Derpy chuckled and picked up a hacksaw "This is where we can teach you the fun of harvesting! Minkie has this special game and everything! We can hurt other ponies! I-" Minkie turned to Minkie "Thats if she decides she wants to be a part of it. We don't want to force her to do something she doesn't want to." Derpy nodded as Applebloom approached Coal and wrapped her hoof around Coal dust. 

"What do ya' say Coal? We'd love for another team member!" offering Coal a scalpel. Coal Dust looked at the tool for a long while before Pinkie jumped in "You don't have to decide right now! you can decide later! c'mon let's go have some Cupcakes!" leaving but not before winking at Coal, hinting that she should. 

As the rest of the bakers went upstairs Coal sat for a long time staring at the tool, the tol used to take other lives. Coal wasn't sure if she should be a part of it, she didn't like where this was going.