Stronghold: New Beginnings.

Chapter 16:

FREE THEM!!!

“Now, why do you need rainbow?” Asked Rainbow Dash as she walked with me to the Rainbow Factory. She stayed in her Pony form while she was on Clouds-dale to prevent falling to her death. “I'm headed deep into the Everfree Forest on a rescue mission with Twilight Sparkle and Applejack. I need the little bit of rainbow to put in a jar so that I can see in the darkness.” “Oh. Well, that makes sense.”

“Exactly. Now, are you coming to talk with the boss or am I alone on this one?” “I'm coming. The manager of the Rainbow Factory hardly knows you. He'd assume you to be a threat, and send security to throw you out.” “Well, then...after you.” I said as I held the door. She laughed, and walked ahead, leaving me to close the door and follow.

“It's amazing in here.” “No, it's not.” said Rainbow Dash quickly as she lead me along the first floor. “Why not?” I asked.

“Because I've seen what goes on in here. You haven't.”

“Are you serious?” I asked. She just walked along, face showing all signs of sadness.

Yep. She was serious, alright.

So, finally, we reached the elevator. There were splashes of red paint on the elevator door. It gave it a star-burst effect. The elevator door opened, and she walked in, me following. She raised her hoof and pressed the button at the top of the buttons. After a few hours, the elevator stops, and the door opens. I walked out, Rainbow Dash ahead, and sitting at a mahogany desk was a short, pudgy Zebra with a short mane and tail. “Oh, nice to see you took some spare time to visit us. But, since you never really left us, you're back to stay.”

And just as he smiled, Colts in suits appeared, using their horn's magic to hold daggers. “I'm sorry you had to get caught in this, Mr. Stronghold. You can leave if you want. There are some...personal matters mingled in this situation.” I took out my emerald katanas, enraged by this ambush, and said “Nah, I think I'll stay.” Suddenly, the pudgy colt's eyes-whites and all-turned sapphire blue, pupils becoming slits. He morphed into a Changeling, whose legs matched their personality; Full of holes (In other words, they were conniving little suckers, who just didn't care).

“Damn it, you're a changeling? Well then, you're not going to like the news I'm packing for when I kill you.” I said as I got into fighting position. “Yes, I'm a changeling. And I already know of your act, Mr. Stronghold. I never really cared for my brethren. You know," he said. "I was really hoping I wouldn't have to kill you. The more ponies you protect, the more...subjects, we can extract the essence of the rainbow from."

And his smile faded as he said, "GET THEM!!!" I immediately turned and slashed one of the Colts in the face, then I stabbed him, katana blade going through his mouth. I took it out, and he fell, spread eagled, leaking blood through his mouth. I then sheathed my katanas and jumped over Rainbow Dash. I reached out and snapped the neck of the Colt nearest to me, and threw him out the window. I sommersaulted and kicked the Colt so hard his horn ripped off. The Colt screamed Bloody Murder until I stepped on his head. The last one moved like a ninja, so I thought I could trick him. I pulled out my guns and jerked my arms back, cocking the gun. I stood my ground, took my aim, then teleported behind him and shot him in the head. "Whoops, did I do that?" I asked in a cheap imitation of Steve Urkle. I then put my guns back in their holsters and walked towards the pudgy Changeling, watching as fear had erupted in his eyes.

"You know, since you're running short on 'subjects', how's about I 'help' you?" I said. I had clearly gone insane at this moment, because I realized the Rainbow Factory's purpose. They killed Ponies and dropped the remains in a special machine that turns them into colors of the rainbow. I conked him on the head with my good ol' rusty pipe, and he became unconscious. I dragged him by the horn and brought him to the Rainbow Room. I brought down the chains that ripped its victims into pieces small enough to go through the machine, then cuffed the ends around his fore and hind legs. I then waited for him to gain consciousness. When he woke up, he looked down, saw the machine beneath him, then looked towards the ledge 20 feet away form him. There I stood, hand on the lever that would rip him apart and send him down the same machine that will kill him as it had once served him.

"Any last words, before I perform this brutal kill?" I said, creepy smile on my face. "Yeah, I do. Fuck you!" "Whoa! Temper, temper! Now, this may hurt a lot! But soon, it will all be over with." I said, flexing my fingers. I pulled the lever so fast I broke it. "Whoops! I guess it won't matter anyway!" I yelled over the Changeling's screaming. He was being pulled and stretched, and before he ripped into six different parts, I flew over to him, Got in his face, and pulled out my gun from the right holster. I said "You sure were born with powerful lungs, weren't you?" and put the gun in his mouth. I pulled the trigger, and watched as he was ripped apart, guts and everything falling into the machine. I unlocked the chains and threw the fore and hind legs into the machine. It spewed out black and blue.

I then flew back to the ledge, and took some things out of my pockets. With them, I made a C4, and I pulled out a trigger. I plugged the trigger into the C4, and waited for the green signal that would indicate I could use the trigger wirelessly with that particular bomb. The C4 was about the size of 5 ponies lined up next to each other while lying down. I saw the green, then unplugged the C4. I grabbed Rainbow Dash by the forelegs and zoomed through the Rainbow Factory, gliding along with my wings. I grabbed a jar from the counter on one of the desks in the corridor, opened it, and when I reached the cauldron filled with Rainbow, I lowered my hand, and I didn't slow. Suddenly, the jar filled with rainbow. I lifted my hand up and closed the lid over the jar.

I then noticed that Rainbow Dash let go of my arm and was trying to catch up to me. I looked ahead of me and saw a window. I formed a energy shield around me and Rainbow Dash and crashed through the window. I removed the shield and Opened my wings sharply, stopping me where I was. Rainbow Dash halted and got onto the ground.

"Dashie?"

"Yes, Maxy-boy?"

"We need to talk."