One and a half years after the new princess took over, food in short supply, ponies are starved.
"I'm so hungry Pinkie, do you have any ideas on what I can eat?" Rainbow dash asked tried and skinny
"Nope! I probably would have eaten it all ready." She hopped in circles around the girls, her dirty pink tail bounced with her.
"I don't get how you can be so...um... energetic! That's the word I was looking for."
"It's not that hard silly." Pinkie laughed.
"With food at such high prices I think that we're all going to have to get jobs."
"YES! I know what job I'm going to do." Rainbow dash jumped up into a standing position. She spread her wings and with little jump she had took off to the dark sky and danced the clouds and stars.
"What's that all about?" Twilight asked.
"I think that she might take back her job in Cloudsdale." Rarity shifted slightly.
"Look at my mane, it's all...icky." Rarity covered her head with her hooves.
"No one cares about your mane Rarity." Rainbow dash told her finally landing " I'm gonna get my old job back! I'm so excited!"
* * * * *
"Who are you?" A pony asked as Rainbow dash entered the rainbow factory.
"I'm Rainbow dash. The manager..." The pony eyed her up and down.
"I'm sorry,but we can no longer make rainbows because of the night. You should know that if you are who you say."
The old brown pony looked down at his book. Rainbow dash stood there.
"Shoo." The pony waved his hove towards the door, then stared back down at his book.
Rainbow dash turned around and headed down and walked out the large doors. She got to the edge of Coludsdale and was about to take off as she came up with the greatest idea. To make dark rainbows. She didn't know how she would do it, but she would do anything just to get back into the rainbow factory. She smiled then turned around with her wings out stretched and walked right back in to where she came from. The old pony just looked up then back down to his book shaking his head.
"I thought I told you to leave." The pony said not looking up from his book.
"You did, but I came back." Rainbow dash stood her legs shoulder width apart, her back straight. She continued." I have come with a proposal."
He slammed his book.
"Look girl the rainbow factory is closed for good! There is no more bright blue skies that we can cast our bloody rainbows on. Get that into your head and do not return back to this place until the sun returns, when that happens come and talk to me, but until then leave!"
Rainbow dash stood her ground desperate for the pony to hear her proposal.
"GUARDS!" The old pony yelled after noticing the big doors did not slam. Immediately two guards in silver armor landed right behind Rainbow dash. Rainbow dash stood her ground as the guards grabbed her and started to pull her in the opposite direction. Finally caving in she pulled away from the guards grasp only for a few seconds to say" use the dark colors!" then the guards covered her mouth and started to pull her again.
"Stop!" the old pony yelled putting his hove in the air.
He stepped down from his tall pedestal and walked forward to her.
"What did you say?" His face close to hers
She shook free from the guards grasp.
"I said use the dark colors."
The old pony flicked his hove towards the guards. They took to the air and disappeared down the long hallway.
"Lets walk." He began walking, Rainbow dash followed.
"Do you know what would happen if we used the dark colors?"
Rainbow dash shook her head from side to side. The old pony continued.
"Exactly no pony does. We have never used any of the dark colors because they do not make a rainbow. That's why we get rid of it. And besides even if we did use it we would need twice the ponies to account for all the skinny, unhealthy ponies."
"I'll figure that part out don't you worry sir." Rainbow dashes smile went from cheek to cheek, her teeth showing a bit through her pale blue skin.
"I like you girl, What's your name?"
"It's Rainbow dash."
"Nice to meet you Rainbow dash, I'm Shillelous. You may call me Shill if you wish."
"Okay sir I mean Shill."
Shill laughed a bit as he started to walk again.
"You say that you where the manager here?"
Rainbow dash nodded in response.
"I am the owner of this place ever since we had to close down because of the forever darkness, but I still thought that some pony would come up with a great idea on what to do with this place. That's why I bought it. It would of been a decaying building in the clouds if it wasn't for me cleaning this place up."
"So do you think the machines still work?"
Shill looked at her for a second then smiled.
"I am positive that all of the machines work. I run them every day for a test, but the ponies that I use are to skinny. Their colors aren't as pretty as they used to be so I have been dumping it all."
"When do you think we can start making some rainbows?"
"We can start as soon as you get the machines ready for more then one pony."
Rainbow dashes red eyes sparkled as she flew into the machine room.
"What will you need!" Shill yelled after her.
"Some food for starters, then some tubes, some knives and a whole lot of ponies!" Rainbow dash yelled in return.
"I'll get right on that!"
A few days after that the ponies down in ponyville started to notice that one by one the ponies started to vanish and the night sky was filled by the dark glow of the new rainbows.
"Ahhh, I see the rainbow factory is working again. This is good, yes very good the ponies are now working through the night as like they were when my foolish sister was around. Oh and I see the colors are a lot darker then they used to be...how wonderful."
Nightmare moon walked back in to her room and laid down.
"I'll see what they did it in the morning." She laughed at the words that spilled out of her mouth."What morning?"
The guards by her chamber doors looked at one another as if they should have replied, but they never did because their old princess that they new, Luna, was no longer in side of the shell that became nightmare moon. There was no reasoning with a crazy person.
The clock in Ponyville struck 7 in the morning and the moon still shone among the stars.
"Rainbow dash!" Shill yelled waking her from her slumber."We need more ponies! I have just been informed the princess Lu-, I mean Nightmare moon is going to be coming to see how we modified the machines to allow more ponies to be used and how we are using the darker colors to make the new rainbows."
"What?" Rainbow dash yawned."What! Oh! " She flew up knocking of some books of her desk.
"Yes Rainbow dash. Are you ready?"
"Ummmm"
"Rainbow dash? Please tell me that your ready to show the princess on how we changed the machines to make the new more, efficient shall we say, rainbows."
"Ya, ya don't you worry. Just get me the ponies and I'll show you and the princess how it's done."
"Very well Rainbow dash. I'm counting on you to show how it is done. Without you this place would be covered in cobwebs and dust. A lot relies on you Rainbow dash if you don't do this your gonna become a real rainbow.'
Shill flew out. Rainbow dash was just left there with her mouth wide open and her eyes still heavy.
"So I hear that the rainbow factory is now 'back to life' shall I say." Nightmare moon said as she stepped out of her dark blue carriage.Her guards flew out and came down beside Rainbow dash, letting a cloud of dust and dirt rise from the ground under their feet.
"That's right Nightmare moon." Rainbow dash was stammering some of her words as she knew that if she did not make a good rainbow nightmare moon would have her in the machine and killed without hesitation. "I'll show you in."
Rainbow dash held open the door as the princess and her guards walked in without making any eye contact.
"I remember this place, how sad and dark it was." Nightmare moon looked at the place in disgust. She walked over to where the machines were and tipped her nose up in the air.
"What is that awful smell?" She covered her nose with her hove
"That would be the smell of decaying pony corpses" Rainbow dash said in reply
"Are you trying to be a smart ass? Because I don't like smart asses, in fact when ever I see one I have them killed on sight."
"I'm sorry your highness I was not trying to be a smart ass. Please forgive me." Rainbow dash bowed her head close to the bloody floor, so close that her cyan nose turned red in a pool of blood.
"Next time you won't be so lucky."
Nightmare moon walked over the bowing blue pony and over to the control panels.
"Show me how these machines work." She demanded
Rainbow dash got off the floor and rushed over to where the princess was. She grabbed the controls and immediately began to work. After pushing a few buttons the claw from the roof began to move. It swung side to side then was stuck.
"Opps hehe." Rainbow dash said looking up at the princess. She did not look pleased.
"Sorry your highness. One moment please. Some pony better get up there and fix the god dame machine or by all means when it's fixed your'll be the first ones I'll test it on!"
Two ponies took off in to flight and flew over to the machine. They fixed the problem that was causing the thing to jam and Rainbow dash went right back to work lurching the claw to the left and knocking one of the ponies that was sill flying to the ground. He laid there unconscious.
"Such sloppy work you do." Nightmare moon commented not losing her gaze." Use the one on the floor." She said not wasting any more time.
"But he's one of our best workers" Rainbow dash said in his defense.
"If he is such a good worker then what is he doing on the floor?"
"He's..."
"Young girl unless you want to be the one strapped into the belts I suggest you get on with it or I will have you and all the others killed." She gave Rainbow dash an icy stare. Rainbow dash swallowed hard.
"I'm sorry."
The claw on the roof moved right and hung over the motionless body that laid under it. Dropping the claw and picking up the pony he regained consciousness.
"Wha...what's going on?" He noticed that he was unable to move "Rainbow dash what is this!" He yelled towards her. The other workers stopped and was now watching everything go down.
"I'm sorry." She kept on repeating those words to herself as the pony before her got tied down to the slightly rusted platform. The blades hung in front like little unclean daggers, as the pony looked away so did everyone else. The knives sliced through the flesh and began to drain the colour and blood from his very skin its self. All that was heard though out the whole building was the roar of the machine, the blood curdling cries of the dying pony, and the sickening laughter that echoed from the princesses mouth.
The deed was done and the ponies corpse fell to the ground drained of his life and darkness. The ponies looked down at the corpse that used to be their friend.
"We...we need...need another." Rainbow dash stammered her lip still quivering a little bit.
"Then what are you waiting for?" The princess grabbed the controller away from Rainbow dash and began to maneuver the control stick in their direction.
"What are you doing?" Rainbow dash asked noticing the giant claw coming in her direction.
"We are a weak fool. You do sloppy work and can not even take a life with out tearing up your poor little red eyes. You are a jackass and pathetic and you never dare to stand before me and show me such a stupid little thing that's so simple. How dare you, HOW DARE YOU!"
The claw came over top of Rainbow dash, she tried to flee but there was no use the claw dropped down faster then she could fly.
"Of course running away when death stares you right in the face. Now it is time to meet the same fate that everyone else did. Good bye Rainbow dash."
Rainbow dash was strapped onto the table, her legs and arms were bound by leather belts, she could not move. The knives dropped down in front of her face even though they were old the were still very sharp.
"You'll never get away with this!" She cried
"And that is where you are wrong because you see I already have, and even if I hadn't who would even dare to try to stop me."
The machine began to roar into life and the knives started to come closer and closer towards her rapidly beating heart.Soon one by one the knives reached her and began to pierce through her cyan blue skin. She screamed in agony and pain as more and more knives cut through her chest. The two tubes that were attached to each of them began to suck the blood and the colour out of her body. She started to feel really light headed and almost passed out.
"Oh come on now Rainbow dash don't die yet, I know for a fact that some of the others lasted longer than you have. If you want to really be called tough you would stay alive 'till the end."
Nightmare moon sped up the knives and tubes laughing as though it was some kind of sick game.
Rainbow dash could feel the colour drain from her very body. All of the other ponies couldn't do anything but watch., the princess was right no one would ever dare to go against her word for fear of execution.
Nightmare moon grabbed rainbow dashes lifeless gray body with the claw.
"Any thing to say?" She laughed at the very though then looked at the ponies that were staring in disbelief "You ponies take this as a warning, if any of you ever disappoint me it would be you on the chopping block. Now somepony clean this mess up and make me my very own rainbow." She laughed as she walked out of the big metal doors, leaving only the slam of the doors and the echo of laughter in the empty hallways.
"No my sister! You mustn't! Think of what the world would be like if there was no sun!"
"Sun this, sun that it's all about you now isn't it? Why the world would be wonderful without sun dear sister of mine. Now do everyone a favour and disappear, this is the time for the moon to shine...FOREVER!"
"No sister please don't do this think about what's right for all the other ponies. It's not just about me, please sister think about it."
"To late Tia, you where in the lime light for to long."
An ominous glow came shooting out of nightmare moons horn and hit Celestia straight in the heart. Celestia collapsed as another hardy blow hit her. Nightmare moon spread her wings wide, her shadow covered her older sister in a dark hazy glow.
"Celestia I hear by banish you to the sun. Never return to the land and feel the burn of the suns real rain."
Nightmare moons horn began to glow again.
"Luna, dear Luna where is the younger sister I knew that loved to raise the moon and make the stars shine as bright as her eyes?"
"You will never call me Luna again. My new name is called Nightmare Moon. Now leave!"
Nightmare moon shot her sister in the head with her new found power of black magic. Celestia looked up wide eyed at the dear sister that she used to know and love.
"I will not fight you Luna!" Celestia panted.
"Well then this will be an easy victory." She sneered a sour grin downward at her fallen sister.
Celestia closed her eyes. A tear rolled down the side of her battered, white cheek. The tear slowly fell to the ground and that was all that was left of the older sister. The sky turned a dark blue and the sun was quickly engulfed by the dark night.
"All the ponies everywhere, all hale the new princess Nightmare moon!" She laughed in a high pitch tone. "There is no more sun, the night will last forever! Every pony bow to the night princess that will never be hidden behind the suns shadow ever again!"
The ponies around knelt down shaking in fear of their new princess.
"That's right bow!" She walked over to one of the ponies that remained standing.
"What are you doing still standing?"
"I will not bow down to any pony that puts themselves in charge."
"Is that so?"
She took her hoof and stepped on his head, pushing on his skull until it cracked against the cobble stone. She stood on top of his corps and looked out at her new peasants.
"Who else wants to question my leadership?" All the ponies pressed their foreheads against the cold stone trying to avoid any eye contact with her and trying not to be picked as the next demonstration.
"Well then, all is settled."
She walked away in the opposite direction her night tail trailing behind her as she walked leaving bloody foot prints each time she took a step.
"Now what will we do Twilight?" Rainbow dash asked in a low hush, trying not to be heard.
"I don't know Rainbow dash, I just don't know."
