3 months earlier...
I've always liked kicking back in the skies. The cool calm winds felt nice when they breezed against my coat. I was resting on a cloud which my boss would kill me if I was caught having it overlooked when it was suppose to be a clear day. From here, there was a nice view of Ponyville. I could see all the ponies going through their daily lives. Something normal like doing some shopping at the local market where all the vendors would sell their junk, kids playing happily at the open field while being supervised by their parents, and even seeing the quills and sofas guy being ignored by passing ponies. Heh, I always have found that funny for some strange reason. I then looked around at the near end of Ponyville, just near the entrance of Whitetail Woods. I would never have expect finding her. She was walking on her own, actually she was limping for her life. Damn, whatever have caused it must have been terrible. It was hard to see from up here so I decided to fly down there to check it out.
She had small scratches across her body, even some bruises. Blood, few patches of blood coated her body and some of her face. Looking past the blood, she was a sight. Her cyan coat was partially illuminated by the setting sun. That long and colorful mane draping from her forehead and trailing out at her neck. Her slender body, she looked well built for a girl. Not to mention these eyes, these shimmering magenta eyes staring back at me. Just staring it long enough could leave anypony hypnotized. She didn't look too happy to see me though. As a matter of fact, she was slowly backing away from me, in fear.
"Uhm... why are you covered in blood?" I asked her. Looking back now, it was really strange how I didn't freaked out. Then again, watching tons of scary movies could help develop an immunity.
"I... I-I don't know. Please... can you please help me?" Her voice sounded desperate. Could I really say no to her? From all I knew, she could've been in a struggle, coming out with wounds that could need some medical attention.
"Well, the way to the hospital isn't that far away. Maybe I could-" Just like that, she snapped at me. Her expression changed from fear to downright anger. I could've sworn those magenta eyes turned red.
"NO! I don't want any doctors! I just... I just..." She began to calm down. Good, the girl looked like she was ready to attack me. It was never smart to fight a cornered wounded animal, as some would say. "I just... need a place to stay. I'll worry about patching myself later. It's not as bad as it looks."
"Don't you have a place of your own?" I asked her. I was trying to be careful with my words to not provoke that hostility from her again. Damn...
"I can't go back there. You could say I..." she paused for a moment. "I got ran out of town."
"But why though? What did you do?" By then, I was beginning to wonder if she really was the victim here. She then turned her back on me. I could see her eyes starting to swell up with tears.
"I knew you wouldn't help me..." The mysterious mare started to walk away from me. As if by instinct, I stopped her by placing a hoof on her shoulder. It definitely caught her attention. I could see her face being filled with hope when she looked back at me. Dammit, I was such a sucker for mares.
Letting out a sigh, I continued. "Look, I have a place where you can crash. If it really helps, I'll even lend you some bits to help get things together until you can do it on your own. Sounds fair?"
"Really... you would do this for me?" Her voice sounded soft and humble. It was really weird how she could be from loud and ready-to-kill then to soft and scared. Bi-polar I guess?
"I could have it all for myself, but you know... what the hell." Giving a playful shrug, she suddenly latched onto me with a smile. The grip felt firm and warm. Her rainbow mane tickling down on my shoulder. I could feel some of blood drenching my white coat.
I let out a chuckle. "We should definite not let the ponies see us like this out here. I know a route where we shouldn't be spotted."
Apparently, her name was Rainbow Dash. She told me that before whatever the fuck happened, she was a manager to a certain part of the weather factory. Dash was even kind of enough to offer me a promotion knowing that I was just a rookie in the weather team after the whole thing blows over. It was cool of her to do that for me, I bet the pay will be even better. You would say I hit the jackpot, right? If you believe so, let me tell you now. You're dead wrong.
She grew used to living with me in that small dump I called home. It is as basic as it could get. A large living room and a small bedroom. A comfy couch, along with a pile of magazines I subscribed too. Even a mini fridge stocked with some fresh cold cider, something she just happened to find irresistible to drink. Better than renting an apartment in Ponyville, that's for sure. Atleast I had an air conditioner and my own space. Though, I don't mind having her company. She would tell stories she had gone through with her five friends. Some were pretty impressive. I mean come on, name somepony else who kicked a dragon square in its face. Dash then told me that at some point she grew apart from them. At the time, I didn't knew why. I didn't bother questioning it since she would just try to change the subject.
She then told me the news that I could officially start my promoted job in the next three days. Dash was finally able to move out of my house after she told me she was ready to live on her own. I'll miss having her here. I kinda grew attached with her during her stay which seemed pretty normal. I could probably catch her at work when the time comes.
Before she left the door, her eyes locked into my own with a smile looking somewhat... malicious. "I hope you'll enjoy making rainbows with me~"
Immortality, Power and Reputation
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?"
