Clouded Mind

I tried to look as well dressed as possible. Dash told me that she was hosting a meeting about her return and also the regulated evaluation of the factory's status. All the employees at that sector had to come and must look as formal as possible. Never would I ever expect what was behind that metal door. The door itself was a major contrast at the main part of the Weather factory. Inside from there, it looked all grimy and dark compared to the colorful and cheerful interior I was used to. All the pipelines on the walls were long and would extend all across the large interior, leading somewhere deep within the facility. I couldn't let that distract me. Being late for my meeting would totally hurt my first impression.

To my surprise I was pretty early. I was actually the first pony to enter inside Dash's office. Her behavior there was stern instead her usual happy and lenient self. Something I wasn't used to. I felt nervous there. This was my first day and I didn't knew what I was up for at the time.

"You could leave the room to get a cup of water," her calm voice broke the silence in the room. "The fountain is right at your left in the hallway."

"I'm... I'm fine. Thanks anyway." I let out a sigh. Can't believed I lost my cool there. Soon, more workers were showing up. They all wore these black masks. Each of them wore a white blouse with a ultility belt wrapped around them. From the looks of it, the workers appeared quite sinister looking. Was this normal here?

"I like to inform that I have returned to the Rainbow Factory and will have it back running at its prime to get over the setback I had to go through," she announced. I was left shocked. It was hard for me to digest that this was the place where all the rainbows were being made. It made me wondered why I haven't heard about this place before and how come the place looked very creepy. "And I couldn't have done it without a certain pegasus who will now be joining us. For that, he'll get his salary doubled at the very start."

It was great news at the time, I ended up jumping in air with a stupid smile on my face, letting out a happy cheer. I swear, everypony there watched me which made me shrunk back to down. She was looking back at me. Instead of scolding which I have been expecting, she out let a chuckle.

"Heheh, I'll let it slide. Now, onto business. How is the factory's status standing?"

"Everything is following according to plan." One of the workers approached at the front desk. She had a blue coat, dark mane and a scar across her right eye. Not to mention, she was the only one without a mask. "Though, there were a few hiccups along at the production rate. Nothing too severe."

"Fair enough," Dash said with her hooves resting under her muzzle. "How are the stocks?"

The worker looked hesitant for a second. "...E-everything is all counted for."

A frown spread on her face. Dash then leaned over from her desk, giving some sort of death stare at the worker. "Ms Skywind... I hope you know that I don't like being lied to." Her face was menacing. She looked like she was about to pounce her. Gulping, the scarred worker continued.

"...O-one is missing... b-but the Watchers will surely fi-" A slam with a hoof at the desk was made as Dash screamed no. I'd shudder on even thinking what Dash would ever do to me if I pissed her off.

"You will find that FUCKING FOAL right now before I'll cut your-!" The door flew open which have interupted her rant. What rushed through was a large gray stallion. His spikey long mane was blonde and slicked back. Unlike the others, he was wearing a lab coat.

"Mein chef, pardon me for me being ever so late for your grand meeting," the other worker pleaded. "But I have a reason for zhis terrible delay."

"Explain yourself." I could tell she was still steamed about the news.

"Of course. As I was saying, in zhe lobby, I came across zhis troublesome filly running freely from zhe stockade. Oooh, her scream filled me with such joy along zhe way of dragging her back zhere." The stallion let out a dark chuckle before continuing. "I will reassure you zhat I didn't recklessly wasted our property. A mere blunt to her little head was sufficient to silence her. It was getting annoying overtime."

"I hope it will teach the idiot think twice before trying to escape," Rainbow Dash grinned. "You have redeemed yourself, Dr Tod... Flu?"

"Flügel," the worker corrected her. "Tod Flügel. Ah, I see we have a newcomer among us." The stallion turned his focus on me. Geez, he was way taller than me. "Are you sure he can be trusted, Ms Dash?"

"With my life," she winked at me. "Alright, the rest of you. Get back to your stations, double time! Except for you, Cloud Speed." The workers then left the office, leaving only me and this other guy with Rainbow Dash.

"Dr Tod Flügel," she called out to him. "Would you come over here for a minute." The doctor obediently went over to Dash and she was whispering something to his ear. I saw him nodding a few times and occasionally whispering back to her.

"With pleasure, Ms Dash." The doctor then headed for the exit of the office before calling me out. "Come along, Mr Speed. I'll reassure you that you will learn to love our wonderful facility in time, mein friend."

"We all have a common goal on why we worked here, Mr Speed." As he spoke, the doctor was giving me the grand tour of this hellhole. I couldn't believe what they were doing to these poor kids. This was insanity! All because they failed some stupid test?! They would put them in some sorta machine and have their bodies ripped apart, just to get content for the rainbows. Part of me wanted to get out here, but.... I felt something... something making me want to stay here.

"A-and that is?" I nervously asked.

"To acheive immortality," the doctor ominously told me. "Immortality for Cloudsdale."

"Come again?" I initially thought I misheard him, but he was actually being serious about this.

"In order to gain immortality for our glorious land, Cloudsdale, it needed power. Power comes from reputation. However, its reputation is being tainted by zhese worthless. Unreliable. Disgraceful members of zhe flock! It's completely unacceptable to have zhem flying freely over our prideful city." His laughter was echoing across the factory. Laughter that can only be produced by a sick, psychotic pony. "All thanks to our grand, glorious führer, Dr. Atmosphere, we were able to pluck out zhe weak from our flock without ever being noticed! Isn't zhis wunderbar?!" His cackling continued. It was nerve wracking to see somepony like this.

At the time, I felt he was shitting me. This couldn't be true. What the FUCK have I gotten myself into. I thought I couldn't take it anymore. The way back to the lobby was close by. I could get the hell out of here through there. Out of this place. Away from this madness! Almost as if he could read my thoughts, the doctor placed a hoof on my shoulder. Looking back at him, I felt my heart was ready to jump. His face was downright frightening. It wasn't the look you'd expect from a deranged lunatic. Instead, my eyes met a stone, cold, emotionless face.

"Now you know our purpose here, Mr Speed. Normally, any workers here are not given a choice to whether to leave zhe facility or not. However, Ms Dash found something special about you. She has offered you a choice if you wish to continue working here on your own free will. Should you choose no, you will be stripped away from your bonus salary, demoted back to your lowly employee status, and continue on with your life as if zhis was a bizarre nightmare. Keep in mind, Ms Dash will be disappointed if you come down choosing that decision. You wouldn't want to upset her, would you?"

By then, I finally understood that feeling. I didn't want to leave Rainbow Dash behind. I grown too attached for her. The idea wanting to make her upset made me sick to my stomach. Then again, the guilt of me causing all these poor kids to suffer wouldn't be ignored. Was it all worth it?

With a reluctant sigh, I turned around to the leering doctor before giving my answer.

"Where do I start?"