He saw a shadow. He was used to seeing shadows, for he saw them all the time. But this one was different.
It was smaller then anypony he’d seen. And yet, it could not be a filly because the dimensions were not right. It was an odd thing, but he was not afraid. There were far worse things then shadows.
“Hello?” He called, staring at the shadow. It did not reply, but grew larger. It was coming closer.
It was not a pony at all. It had too much fur to be one. The head was not the correct shape. He was going to say something, but then it finally appeared.
A rather large brown tabby tom cat was standing before him. It had many scars all over its body, and had piercing yellow eyes.
“A cat?” He said, annoyed. How could he have not realized?
“Yes, a cat. And are you not a small horse?” The cat said. It had a low, harsh voice. The stallion’s eyes widened.
“You speak this language?” He asked, bending down to get a better look at the tom. He decided not to act frightened, he had been trained not to do so.
“Surprising, isn’t it? This world, it seems, has somehow given me the ability to communicate. All the better for me. By the way, what’s your name?” He said, sitting down on the floor.
“My name is Lightning Strike.” The stallion replied, standing up straight again. This cat was far too intelligent to be normal. It had, after all, just asked his name. Perhaps he was not from here. From another place…
“Nice name. It fits you,” the cat replied, gesturing to Lightning’s spiky blue mane.” My name is Tigerstar.”
A clap of thunder sounded outside the office room they were standing in. Tigerstar stared out the window.
“A storm will come soon. We must prepare for when it ends.” Lightning said, forgetting about the cat for a moment.
“What do you mean, prepare?” Tigerstar questioned.
“Rainbows come after the rain.” Lightning replied, not looking at him. He smiled slightly at the thought. Tigerstar tilted his head slightly to the side.
“What is a rainbow?” He asked, stepping closer to the stallion.
“An arch of colors formed in the sky in certain circumstances, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun's light by rain or other water droplets in the atmosphere.” Lightning recited.
“Yes… so I’m assuming you create these things?” He asked, thinking about what Lightning had said. He had never heard words like these before. Lightning nodded.
“Indeed we do. Care to see how?” He asked, smiling.” Although I will warn you, it is a rather… disturbing process.”
Tigerstar gasped. “This is it then. Why I have come. They talked about a place, a factory. A place where most terrible things happen.” He finished. If he was correct, then things back home would go excellently…
“I wouldn't call it terrible. We do what we must.” Lightning said. “Shall we go then?”
“Of course.” Tigerstar snarled, digging his claws into the wooden floor. He would see it now, the process that would make him a ruler in his own world.
Lightning led him out of the small office and into a dark corridor.
“You look nothing like the horses by the moor.” Tigerstar said randomly as they were walking. Lightning raised an eyebrow.
“I am a pony.” He said. “You are most definitely not from here, are you?”
“No. I come from a forest a long way from this place. A very long way indeed.” Tigerstar replied.
“Right. Just through this door now.” Lightning said, pushing open a metal door.
Before them was an assembly line. Four pegasi were watching it go by. There were… things on the line.
“Are those…” Tigerstar asked.
“Yes. Those pony parts get crushed to be mixed with the other colors to make them darker shades.” Lightning replied, giving an approving nod to the ponies working on the line.
Tigerstar watched, laughing wickedly. He imagined his former leader squealing as she was crushed by this assembly line. Hearing the bones crack, the cries of agony. Oh yes, that was the best sound.
“How do you get the main colors?” Tigerstar asked.
“We take the soul, the part that gives the ponies their colors.” Lightning said.
“Their souls?” Tigerstar repeated, intrigued. Was it really that easy to reach the inner most part of someone?
“Yes. I’m going to assume you want to learn this process?” Lightning said, looking down at him.
“Of course. I want to see if the process could be implemented into my own world. If you would allow me to. It must be strange, talking to a cat.” Tigerstar growled.
“You cannot be a cat. Not a normal one, that is. And I am used to seeing strange things.” Lightning replied, leading Tigerstar away from the line.
A few minutes later, they reached their destination. A large metal device was holding a small blue colt against a wall. A large needle appeared out of the device, and stabbed the colt in the chest. He screamed as all of his color was sucked out, and he was turned into a dull gray colt. The machine released him, and he collapsed upon the floor.
“Is it dead?” Tigerstar asked, examining the colt. Lightning shook his head.
“He is alive, but barely so. He is almost nothing now.” Lightning said, kicking the colt to the side. A red pegasus wearing a black uniform dragged the colt away, and nodded to Lightning.
“You are in charge, here?” Tigerstar asked. Lightning sighed, annoyed.
“Not quite yet. One could say I am second in command. But that’s not good enough.” Lightning said darkly. Tigerstar narrowed his eyes, remembering how he was still second as well.
“I know the feeling.” He said, looking at his sharp claws.
“Now then. You mentioned that you wanted to do this process in your world. I’ll show you, but you must promise me something.” Lightning said seriously.
“Yes?” Tigerstar asked.
“Never mention this to anyone in your world, or in this one. Understand, cat?” Lightning said.
“I understand.”
