Chapters High in the sky is a building that many look up to. Often, it is looked at as 'the savior of machines', and Pegasi from all over have dreams of working for the building's managers. It is Aviation Industries's head quarters, and when someone applies for work there, they often don't regret it.
Inside, a new group of workers who were just accepted into the business are brought to a room with a fancy TV on the wall. It is their first day and many realize this as the screen flicks on. A Pegasus who is wearing the trade marked blue and white outfit with the logo on the right front side looks at the camera and begins to speak. "Hello everyone, you are watching this because you have expectations for a bigger and brighter future for Equestria. This will be your history lesson for Aviation Industries. You see, back a thousand years ago, the ponies of Equestria realized that the world was changing, evolving with new inventions, such as the makeshift cloud generators, artificial sunlight boxes, and the infamous rain producer made out of nothing but wood and dirt. But as time went on, they realized that us Pegasi would eventually rule the skies and have complete control over everything that happens to the Earth ponies. And if the two races worked together, the unicorns would follow as well. Thus started a project that would take them many decades, and at the head if it was our own Princess Celestia. With the combined raw power of her majesty, her council StarSwirl the Bearded, and an Earth Pony known only as The Excavator, Aviation Industries was born. The point of Aviation Industries you ask? To bring fellow Pegasi the newest and most helpful technology available. And when no pre-made technology is available, we make it. We have been making technology for over eight hundred years, and every year we get better and better at it. This is where you come in. You, the regular worker bee, shall now have a chance to give back to your fellow Pegasi. To give back to the World, and make a difference. With your help, Aviation Industries won't only survive another thousand years, but thrive. Aviation industries, the Sky's the Limit." The screen flashes off and a pony in a white coat walks into the room.
"Alright! I want this to go orderly and quickly! When I call your name, walk to the screen. If I don't call your name, walk to the table in the right hand corner! QuickDraw! Race Cloud! Split Second!" As the pony listed off names, Twilight kept thinking about how exactly she got here. The more she thought, the more confused she became. "Twilight Sparkle!" She looks at him, staying still. He stops. "Move to the screen!" She trots over. "Alright, that's the list, anyone at the screen, you're lucky. You're going to be testers for any and all technology we create. All of the rest of you, you're not fit enough to test. You're going to be regular, everyday technicians. You will help make the products. Ok, testers, go down this hall and to the left. Others, to the right. Are we clear of what to do?" No one talks. "Good, now move!" Everyone bumps past Twilight as she stands there, lost in thought.
A colt couldn't get by and eventually tried to fly above her. He couldn't. "Hey, hey lady, come on move it." Twilight shook her head and began walking. "If you stand in my way like that again, working will be the last of your problems." He trots ahead of her. She let's out a sigh, giving up hope of any sort of bailing out.
Once at the end of the hallway, the pony in front stops. "Ok, I want those who were by the screen to the right! Others to the left!" They do as he says. Twilight can't help but wonder why she, of all ponies, is a tester. She can barley keep in the air, let alone long enough to test anything.
"Hello everypony!" Twilight looks up, losing her breath. "Mah' name is Applejack, welcome to the testing facility! As y'all can see, I was hoof chosen to test these artificial wings. Thankfully they work, and you're going to make them better! By testing out various mechanical parts, these wings will be even better than your organic ones, and the parts that go into these will also be able to be attached to you Pegasi for a better flight!" Everyone begins hoof bumping each other and cheering. Applejack opens her wings and glides down towards Twilight. Her wings are a transparent blue with bright blue wires that are constantly flickering, running through the wings and into her.
"Hey Twi! What brings you here?"
"Oh, hi Applejack. Well, after Ponyville's library was destroyed, I needed to get a job to start making bits to buy a bunch of replacement books. I'm not entirely sure where I'll put the replacement library, but for now I just need to get some money."
"Well that's mighty kind of ya' Twilight. If you need anything, just let me know and I'll come a runnin'." Twilight nods and Applejack walks over to the stand where she was earlier.
"Twilight!" She turns around, but nopony is there. "Twilight! Please, he-"
"Hello?" She looks at the others, and sneaks out back into the hallway. "Hello? Is anyone there?" No response. She walks a little bit more, and a feather falls in front of her. "What the?" Above her is a hoof. She pulls on it, and Fluttershy falls from the celling. "Fluttershy?!"
"Please." Twilight drags her into a nearby closet and lights the room up with her horn.
"Fluttershy, what are you doing here?"
"I, I don't know. Applejack told me that you needed help at your new place but when I got there, it was empty. Then I blacked out."
"Ok, do you have a job here?"
"Yes, but as a worker, not a tester."
Twilight sighs. "Alright, just go with the flow. I'll figure out what's going on, I promise."
"Twilight Sparkle?! Where are you?" A voice comes from the hallway.
"Go." Twilight opens the door and pushes Fluttershy across the hallway. "I'm right here sir. Sorry, I thought I was told to go to the right."
"You were, not the closet though. Get back there you puny Alicorn." Twilight does as told. Once back in the room, she bumps into Applejack again.
"Applejack, we need to talk."
"Sure thing Twilight, what's up?"
"You see, I-" She stops. Maybe telling Applejack isn't the best decision. If there is some sort of plot, she could put both herself and Fluttershy in great risk. "I was going to say that I, forgot when my shift starts. When is it again?"
"Oh, it starts at five in the morning tomorrow. See ya' then." She walks away. Twilight looks at the clock, it's ten at night. She walks to her bed and lies in it, but can't get to sleep. Why was Fluttershy tricked into working here? What use is she to them? She pushes these thoughts out of her head, and slowly drifts off to sleep.
"Twilight! What are you doing? Please stop, you can't make us do this!"
"I can and I will! No respect, no forgiveness, no morels and no values! It ends today!"
"Just think about it! You're doing something that will change everything forever, please just consider what you are doing!"
"I re-considered my life ever since my new job, and it always ends up the same. Sorry, but it's time for a change of management!"
"Twilight!" Twilight opens her eyes, breathing heavily. Her eyes hurt and she is shaking. "It's four, we work in an hour. Are you ok?"Fluttershy asks.
"Y-yeah, just a bad dream."
"Need to talk about it?" Fluttershy asks, concerned.
"No, I'm good, thanks. I'll see you in an hour." Fluttershy nods and walks out. Twilight sits there for another half hour in complete silence. She finally gets up, and walks to her first job.
A huge colt walks into the room, wearing the same outfit as the one from the video. The insignia of the goggles and sky behind it is on his front right shoulder. "Hello everyone, welcome to Aviation Industries."
Twilight backs up, her wings heavier than normal and closed. The device on her wings is called the ET-42, which stands for Extreme Turbulence model 42. She runs forward and jumps off the side of the building. The wind from falling makes her tear up, and makes it hard to breathe. At fifty feet from the ground, the device glows red. It expands, pushing a rod onto her spine. The rod pushes out four blocks, and forces Twilight's wings open. She then safely glides to the ground. "Job well done Ms. Sparkle." A colt says, flying down to her.
"Yeah, if you ignore the fact that I could have just died." Twilight says, struggling to remove the device.
"Come now, do you really think we'd let a princess die? Also, the ET-42 has a button on the side for a convenient removal." He walks up to her, pressing the button. It falls off of her. "Now then, are you ready for model 43?" She sighs.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Nope." He then flies back up to the building.
"How did I get stuck into this?" She flies into the air, but is tugged back to the ground.
"Because Tirek blew up your house." Pinkie Pie says, happy as always.
"Yeah, that's right." Twilight breathes out.
"Oh come on Twilight, you have a Castle! Sure your house is gone and your books destroyed, but you still have all of us! Your friends!" Twilight forced a smile, Pinkie was right. "I'll see you later Twilight, I need to go see Mr. and Mrs. Cake, they are having a baking sale and need me to bake. Bye!" Twilight waves as pinkie heads back to the bakery.
"Alright, come on Twilight, you can do this." Twilight says to herself, trying to muster up enough courage to head back to work. She flies into the air again, and slowly heads back.
Once at her bedroom and ready for her ten minute lunch, see sees a box on the ground. She opens it up, and in it is a contraption of some sort. "Let's see, directions. 'Attach to left wing and let it sit for the night. The results will be very promising. From, Princess Celestia.' Princess Celestia? Why would she give me this?" She puts the paper back in the box and holds the device. It is a half sphere, but not too big. The flat side has straps on it, most likely to put the wing in. Twilight puts on the device, waiting. Nothing. She just shrugs and heads back to work with the device on her back.
"Oh, hi Twilight. Have you figured anything out?" Fluttershy asks, bumping into her.
"Oh, well no I haven't. I'm sorry. I'll keep trying thou- AHHHHHHH." The device on Twilight's back begins sparking and glowing a deep orange. "Get it off!" Fluttershy grabs onto it, but is immediately shocked.
"Hold on." Fluttershy goes running down the hall. Twilight falls, her pain now becoming numb. Her vision starts to fade away, the light being blackened from the corners in. "Ok, here we go." Twilight's numbness goes back to extreme pain as feathers are pulled out of their place and electricity hits the exposed skin. Fluttershy finally manages to pull the machine off of twilight. The straps had disintegrated during the electrocution and the device itself had molded to Twilight's back. "Are you ok?" Fluttershy asks, taking the rubber gloves off. Twilight is unresponsive.
The colt from the first room they were in walks up to them. "Hey, she's the one from the closet. What happened here?"
"I-I don't know, this thing on her back malfunctioned and she went under." The colt looks at the machine.
"It's a part of the WE, or Wing Expansion series, ID number 57-224. But, this number is only used for code blue situations, what is she doing with it? She's just a... a puny Alicorn. Code blue. Code blue! Code blue!" The colt goes screaming this through the facility.
"Wait! She needs help! Oh no. Ok, come on Twilight." She picks her up and throws her onto her back. "You'll be ok, I promise."
"My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I will rule!"
"But Ms. Sparkle, please reconsider, you don't know what you're doing or even thinking. They-"
"They showed me the truth! You are all the players and we are just the pawns! You've had you're position too long, I think you deserve this early retirement."
Fluttershy paces back and forth, wanting to go in and check on her even thoguh she can't. "Fluttershy!"
"Applejack?"
"Is everything alright? I heard what happened, will she be ok?" Applejack asks, severely out of breath.
"She'll be fine. The doctor says it'll only be an hour until she is released. Oh, and applejack, why did you want me to-"
"I've got to go, sorry. Tell me when she wakes up though." Applejack trots off, heading down the hallway.
Fluttershy sighs, "Oh, ok. Bye." She begins to walk away, but is stopped by one of the nurses.
"Are you Fluttershy?" The mare asks.
"Y-yes, is there something I-"
"Please come with me."
"But, may I ask why?" The mare just looks at her. "Ok."
Once at a set of two doors, the mare stops. "In here please." She steps aside, bows, and walks away. Confused, Fluttershy opens the doors.
A chair spins to face her. In it is Spitfire, the leader of the Wonderbolts. "Hello once again my dear Fluttershy. Please, have a seat." Fluttershy sits across from Spitfire. "Now, I'm sure you're confused by multiple things, so let me clear the air a bit. We, the Wonderbolts, are the head of Aviation Industries, and naturally the boss of the leaders is the overall ruler of the company. Next, ever since you helped make that hurricane, we've been watching you. You are here to leave your mark on history my dear Fluttershy. You just have to be willing to do it, and I think you'll pick the right decision."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Funny you ask, I was just about to show you." Spitfire presses a red button on top of the desk. The room goes black. The walls, floor, and celling flash. An image pops up, surrounding her, as if they're outside. The sky is red and the ground is on fire. Fluttershy cringes in her chair. "You see Fluttershy, this is the future. There are ponies running and screaming, robbing stores and fighting eachother with bats. Fire has engulfed Ponyville and animals are rampaging throughout the town. Chaos, despair, brutality, this is what may become of our beloved Equestria Ms. Shy. But you can help stop it."
"Me?! How? I'm nothing noteworthy, I'm not even able to meet the regular wing power. I-I can't-"
"Twilight."
Fluttershy stops, confused. "T-Twilight? What about her?"
"Let me explain."
Twilight opens her eyes, clearing them and squinting the light out of her sight. "About time you're awake." A voice quietly says from the corner of the room. A rhythmic bouncing noise is coming from there.
Twilight forces her eyes open. "Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?" Twilight struggles to ask, watching the ball ounce onto the floor, to the wall, and back into Dash's hoof.
"What I'm doing doesn't matter. But you, you're more than just a tester Twilight."
"I-I don't understand."
"You will. But for now, don't let your sanity go. It'll change from your best asset, to your worst nightmare in an instant." With that, Rainbow Dash leaves. Twilight tries to stop her, but can't.
A minute later, a nurse walks in. "Ms. Sparkle? You're clear for release." Twilight nods, and follows her to her room. She pulls out her testing suite. Against everything in her gut saying to put it back, she puts it on and goes to work with it fit and snug.
"I, I didn't think that we need to do this." Twilight says, standing on the edge of a cloud.
"Well, we don't have to, but as a tester it is your job. Any questions?" Twilight is silent. "In that case, get to it." Twilight breathes in deep, closes her eyes, and falls forward. As she plummets towards the ground, she opens her wings. The device on her back kicks into action, grappling onto her wings. They begin to control where she goes. She flies around the buildings on the ground, through two clouds, and back onto the floor of where she started. "See? Now was that so bad?"
"Thank you for not killing me." Twilight says, annoyed.
"You are welcome." The colt walks away, leaving Twilight to herself. Twilight gets up, but falls over. Her back is sparking with blue electricity, just like when she had the device from the princess on her. She tries to get to a doctor, but falls and rolls off the edge of the floor she was on. Suddenly, she feels something push her.
"I've got ya' Twi'." Applejack says, flying with the artificial wings. They land on the same ledge, but this time farther in. "Are you ok?" Twilight doesn't respond, unable to. Applejack runs to the room near them, and grabs a set of defibrillators. "One, two, three!" The defibrillators go off, and Twilight stops moving. "One, two, three!" They go off again. Her body jumps, but nothing else. "Come on Twi', stay with me. One, two, three!" She jumps again, gasping for air. "Twilight! I thought ah' lost ya'."
"What happened?"
"Well, n-nothing sugar cube. Ya' just had a quick pain, that's all. Come on, let's go back to your room." Applejack walks Twilight down, and heads to Spitfire's office. "She's in more danger now."
"Do you think I don't know that?" Spitfire asks, playing chess with herself.
"No, you don't understand. What we want to happen is going to do more damage than good. I mean, it's not like she is immortal."
Spitfire gets up, sighing. "The mind, Applejack, is a precious thing. It can be the strongest part of a pony. It could be more fragile than glass being thrown. It could also be like any other part of the body, it could take some beating before it breaks. What we are doing with A1-"
"Her name is Twilight." Applejack interrupts.
"Right, Twilight, is nothing that Clestia wouldn't want us to do. We are doing everyone a favor, and if you can't handle that then get out."
"Have you ever seen a pony be in agony Spitfire? Look into their soul as it is torn from their every fiber of being? They plead for help, yell for someone to bring justice to the wrong they've been given, and you know you can't do anything. And just as you realize this, the room goes silent. Have you ever done that, Ms. Fire?" Spitfire is silent. "Then don't make me do it again. What ever it is you want to happen, do it. But be careful, everyone, even Alicorns, have a breaking point." Applejack bows, and walks out the door. Spitfire sits there, looking at her chess board.
"Breaking points?" She moves a pawn to face the king. "Checkmate."
Twilight wakes up to yelling and commotion from outside her door. "We demand an explanation!" One pony yells.
"She is one of us, not an animal!" A second one supports. Twilight steps outside to meet up with Applejack.
"What's going on here?"
"Oh, hey sugar cube. Well, unfortunately none of the guards will listen to a word ah' say! So they took Fluttershy into custody."
"What?! Why?"
"Well, turns out she isn't who we thought she was. She works with them
"Them? And who exactly is them?" Twilight asks, mad that Applejack is supporting this.
"They are the ones who want Aviation Industries to die. They are called The Movers. Rallying behind the beliefs of a pony called The Excavator, they believe that the sky has no rulers. That nature itself is it's own leader, and that the Pegasi have no right changing the course of weather. So what better way to prove this than to go after the one company specifically for the Pegasi? Twi', if Fluttershy is found guilty, she will be put in jail for thirty years." Twilight just stares at Applejack. "I'll, leave you to think."
"You wanted this, didn't you?" She asks, stopping Applejack.
"What?"
"You want her to be in jail. I mean, it only makes sense. She almost ruined your orchard, disagreed with you in winter wrap up, made you kill your award winning apple, and you will stand here and tell me that you feel bad for her?"
"What are you suggesting sugar cube?"
"I'm suggesting that want her gone. You want revenge simply because she is different from you."
"With all due respect princess, you couldn't be more wrong." Applejack walks up to her. "And if you think that I am behind what they are doing because of a couple of arguments, then you don't belong here."
"Don't I? Because if I remember correctly, you asked her to go to my house where she was knocked out and brought here."
"I asked her to go to your house because I thought you needed help!"
"Don't give me excuses Applejack! You and the rest of the company never even wanted me here, yet here I am. Fluttershy was to just get information I bet, and you don't even have the courage to stand behind your own words."
"You don't know what I've been through! From the deaths to the sacrifices to the dark ponies, it eventually piles up! Say what you want Twilight, but right now, I don't think you can afford to loose a friend." Applejack stares at her, then walks away. Twilight, not believing anything Applejack said, walks back to her bedroom.
"Ms. Fire, I-"
"Shut up." Spitfire hisses. Applejack does as told. "We need her to crack, not think. You retaliating with anger isn't helping, it only gives her more reason to think she is right. Be her friend, and once this is over, kill her for all I care. But right now, we need her. And weather you like it or not, if it wasn't for her we wouldn't even be where we are."
"You are all the same."
"Excuse me?"
"You, Discord, and all the rest of you immortals. We sit here, year after year, decade after decade, century after century! And none of you ever consider our time, our lives, our damned business! If you need help, fine, drag me in here. If you need assurance, tell me, I'll be the first one to answer. But if you think for one second that you can hurt the ones I care for, then consider this a resignation talk. I, quite." Applejack storms out the room, slamming the door behind her. Spitfire watches outside as she sees the blue wings glide down to the ground.
"Should we go after her Ms. Fire?" A guard asks.
"No. She is too unstable, knows too much. If she tells even a single soul what we do up here, it's all over. I'll deal with her myself."
Spitfire knocks on the Apple family's barn doors. It swings open, just to reveal an Applejack drinking cider. "May I come in?" Applejack kicks a chair closer to Spitfire. The moonlight shines on the chair, making it shine with cider. "How are you holding up?"
"Ah', ah' could be be*hic *etter." Applejack says, swaying her cup on the counter top.
"Applejack, are you drunk?"
"Ah' have a stash of spiked cider in the cellar. Would ya' like *hic * some?" Applejack asks with a crooked smile.
"I'm good, thanks. But I'll gladly stay for a visit."
"Be my *hic * guest." Applejack breathes out. Spitfire sits next to her. "Ya' sure you don't want any? It's free."
"Fine, but only a little." Spitfire watches as Applejack happily gets up, swaying and stumbling. She pours the cider into a cup, though mostly onto the floor, and gives it to Spitfire. She takes a sip. "Gah, that's strong."
"Twenty years it's been sittin'."
"Twenty years? It's as old as you are Jackie."
"Haven't heard ya' call me that in a long *hic * time. Mind if I call ya' mom again?" Applejack smiles.
"Be my guest." They sit, drinking in their thoughts.
"Tell me again how ya' found me." Applejack pleads. Spitfire looks at her, smiling.
"Fine, but only this once. It was a quiet moonlit night, the birds were chirping, the bunnies were hopping, and the water was making the most beautiful crashing noise. It was just after Celestia made me immortal, I finally convinced her, with help from Luna, that it was the smart thing to do for a powerful pony like me. Then as I'm walking in the night, I see this basket. In it was the most beautiful, peaceful, happy foal in all of the land. I asked around everywhere, but no one knew who you were. I knew I couldn't take care of a baby all by myself and unless I had asked out Soarin I had to give it away. So I found a family willing to take you in, the Apple family. Thankfully you're special talent is bucking apple trees so that worked out nicely." She stops herself. "Hey, I'd like to show you something. Get on my back." Applejack hops onto Spitfire's back, pushing her down a bit. "Ok, hold on." She starts walking. "You know Jackie, I was always proud of you. All your life I looked after you, made sure you were happy."
"Ah' *hic * appreciate it, ma'." Applejack says. The up and down motion of the walking mesmerizes Applejack, putting her into a deep sleep.
"I'm glad. I tried to provide the best I could for you, but it's tough. I only ever wanted you to be the perfect mare, to be the one that colts wanted to marry. When I saw you in that basket, I knew I needed to make you happy. I'm sorry the weekend visits stopped,but when I became immortal I couldn't do anything to be a normal citizen again. Being both immortal and the captain of the Wonderbolts made it nearly impossible for me to see not just you, but anyone. Since I became head director of Aviation Industries though, I've finally been able to see you again, working for me. Here we are." Spitfire enters the generator room of Aviation Industry's ground base HQ. Though mostly electrical, there is a separate room of oil-based generators. Spitfire enters, and sets Applejack down. She coughs from the smoke, waking Applejack up. She looks at her, those green, emerald eyes staring at her. Spitfire remembers her as a foal, those green eyes haven't changed a bit. Still drunk, applejack smiles.
"Goodnight mommy, I love you." She rests her head on the ground.
"Goodnight Applejack, I love you too." Tears roll down Spitfire's cheeks, only to be swept away. Spitfire walks out of the room, looking back. She shuts the door, locks it, and maximizes the generators and their power. She looks for a last time at Applejack, and walks away.
Twilight takes another tissue, still watching the news. Fluttershy walks into the room. "Twilight, please don't do this to yourself. She did it to herself because she was unstable. None of this is your-"
"Yes it is!" Twilight snaps. Fluttershy just looks at the tv. "I-I'm sorry, that was wrong of me. But I know for a fact that I made her do it. It isn't coincidental that we had an argument just hours prior, the first argument that we've had in a very long time. I just, I wish I didn't even come here." She take another tissue, and the box along with it. "Stupid thing." She throws the empty box. Fluttershy retrieves another tissue box from the closet. "Thanks."
"Listen, I don't know why she did it, and I don't know why Spitfire pardoned me of the charges, but we can't change the past. She wouldn't want you to morn her like this. She'd want you to keep working and get back your library." Twilight looks at Fluttershy, her eyes red and tired. "Come on, let's go to work. It'll keep our minds off of it." Twilight nods, and follows Fluttershy out of her room. Suddenly, a colt walks in front of them.
"We are sorry Ms. Shy and Ms. Sparkle, but we are having a lock down. We ask you to please stay inside your offices until the lockdown is lifted."
"Ok, thank you." She leads Twilight back in. "I'm sorry Twilight."
"No, it's fine. These things usually last about an hour, so make yourself at home." She flops into bed, trying to go to sleep. Fluttershy goes to sit, but hears something from the kitchen. She walks in and almost falls. "R-Rainbow?"
"Close the door please." Fluttershy does so. "Listen Flutters, I know why Applejack died."
"You do?"
"Yes, and you do too." Rainbow Dash smirks. "Look, I know how complicated things are right now, and-"
"Do you?! Do you really? What me and Twilight have been through would put any other pony on their hooves and knees, begging for the opportunity to just leave. But we have-"
"Have been doing exactly that. Fluttershy, don't try to fool me or yourself here, we both know what Spitfire said to you. We both know what your trying to do. Aviation Industries isn't just here to make new technology, they have a different plan in mind and you've helped them with anything and everything they need. Don't mistaken them Fluttershy, they will shake your hoof with their right hoof, and hold a rock in their left. Don't let them get the rock, otherwise it's all over." Rainbow Dash walks over to a wall, and punches a hole in it.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"I'll be back, but until then, don't make the same mistake I did. It'll save your life." She flies out of the hole, closing it back up as she flies. Twilight walks in.
"Is everything alright Fluttershy?" Fluttershy looks back at the wall.
"Everything's fine. Come on, let's get some rest."
"Soarin!" Spitfire calls. Soarin, bruised and bloody, stumbles into her office.
"Y-yes?" He asks, afraid.
"What you hear in the next few hours, we never speak of."
"Understood mam." He stares at the knife on her desk, used specifically to open mail.
Spitfire notices this and holds it up. "You want out, don't you?" He stands there, looking back and forth between her and the knife. "You know Soarin, we are a company. We work together, for each other. If you were gone, I'm not sure what I'd do. That, and my debt still isn't paid."
"No mam, I-I don't want out, it's just, everyone thinks I'm dead. The only reason that I'm here is because of you, and I'm very thankful for it, but I just, I don't want to be hurt anymore, and-"
"Shhhh." Spitfire goes up to him, holding the knife against his wing. "You won't be. Just as long as you're a nice, cooperative, understanding worker. Is that understood?"
"Completely." She takes away the knife, throwing it away from them.
"Good. Now then, code blue is still active. She is still much too stable, too happy. If our plan is going to work, then we need to break her. This isn't a simple chess game with a bunch of diamond dice in our corner anymore, it's now a war. Find out what her worst nightmare is, and report it back to me. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that there is no such thing as a bad asset, or liability." Soarin bows, and stumbles out of the office. Spitfire looks at a picture of her and Soarin at the grand galloping Galla. "I wish I hadn't saved you, then at least I'd be able to kill Jackie without remorse." She stares at it more, her anger building until she eventually throws it off of her desk.
"Is everything ok mam?" A guard asks, rushing in.
"Yes, yes everything is ok. Thank you." He nods and closes the door. "Stupid glass."
"Twilight, stop or I will banish you to-"
"Oh stop it princess, it's not like you'd do that a second time, and besides, if you truly cared about us then you would have saved Applejack."
"You are going to regret this!"
"Maybe, maybe not. But first, let me take Equestria off your hooves."
"AH!" Twilight sits up, gasping for air. "It just nightmares. Why are they getting worse?"
"Twilight?" Fluttershy sits up, concerned.
"Oh, you're still here. I think the lockdown is lifted, you can go home now." Twilight lays back in bed. Fluttershy stands up, and walks out of the room. She walks down the hallway, but is pushed through the wall. She struggles to open her wings, and realizes that Soarin is on top of her. She bucks him off and flies onto a nearby cloud. He regains control and lands near her.
"You told me that you'd have this figured out by now." He says though his teeth.
"I told you that I'd do my best, sorry if I can't make the princess of friendship go completely insane!"
"We don't need her insane, just worried. Like how I am with you not getting this done." He walks up to her, making her lean against the edge. "If you are starting to prove useless, then listen very, closely. I have no patience for useless things." He flies off, heading back to the factory. Fluttershy sighs, and follows. She meets Twilight again.
"So, Twilight, want to go to breakfast?" She asks, feeling horrible.
"Sure, let's go." Once there, Fluttershy swallows her pride and begins asking.
"So, what did you dream of last night?" She asks, trying to be as normal as possible.
"Well, between you and me, and don't tell anyone else, but I've been having these dreams lately. I'm beginning to think that they're some sort of visions, but according to my psychiatrist it's just my brain going through healing. It's always the same thing, I'm yelling at Princess Celestia and trying to, well..." She trails off.
"I'm always here for you Twilight." Fluttershy smiles, although a fake, forced smile, it gives Twilight some comfort. Fluttershy tries talking, but chokes on her words. Tears start rolling down her cheeks, and her hooves shake.
"Are you alright Fluttershy?"
"I-I am so sorry Twilight, I'm just, I'm sorry." She gets up, and trots down the hall and into the restroom. The door opens, and Spitfire forces Fluttershy out of the stall.
"Now you listen, when we made an agreement you said that you'd have no feelings of sympathy. I need you to stay strong, and tell me what she said."
"O-ok, she said that she is dreaming of overthrowing the p-princess." Spitfire backs up.
"I didn't plan for this. That's my mistake, we need a counter action. She will figure it out before we break her, we need to re-think our strategy."
"Can't you do this yourselves?" Fluttershy asks, calmed down. "I don't want to be the messenger for you anymore, to betray my friends."
"Oh, honey, you don't need to be. Here, go to Twilight's library tonight. We will talk this out. Ok?" Fluttershy nods. "Ok, go on now." She sends Fluttershy back to work, and heads back to her office, having Soarin follow. "Do you realize that a random civilian did more in a day then you have in an entire year?"
"Ms. Fire, I-"
"No. I want her gone, she is too close just like Jackie was. You need to get rid of her. She'll be at Twilight's library in ten minutes, you better get going." Soarin bows, and flies to the library.
"Fluttershy?" He walks into the house, looking for the yellow mare. "Fluttershy!"
"Fluttershy isn't here." He turns.
"Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?"
"Exactly what you're doing here, trying to protect Fluttershy. Except my methods don't include killing her." They stare at eachother, and Rainbow Dash begins to walk around him. "You know Soarin, you can end it all. The pain, the suffering, the fear, it can all go away. All you need to do is-"
"No! I will not betray her."
"But yet you'll betray the ones that look up to you at her command." He looks down. "You can end it, forget all of the things that she has taught you, but you have to be willing. I can't make you do it."
"I don't want it to end though, I help her fix the broken world we live in."
"Is it really broken? Or are you breaking it?" He avoids complete eye contact, and Rainbow Dash holds his head up. "Break it all you want, but it's a lost cause. Because there will always be those who pick up the pieces and puts them back together. You're just delaying the future, but you can help it speed up."
"I, I don't, we can't-"
"Shhhh, I think that I can trust you to do the right thing. Have fun." She flies out of the house, leaving Soarin alone.
He gets up, but is immediately pushed back down. Streaks of purple begin flashing in front of him.
"You know Soarin, I thought you were dead. But no, no you're not."
"T-Twilight?" He tries to get up, but realizes that he is tied to the chair. "Twilight, I can explain what happened. We had a stable relationship, but-"
"No, no we didn't. Don't try to lie yourself out of this one like you do with everything we talk about, you're just a sad excuse for a pony! You don't deserve the things you have!" She pulls on the rope, constricting him. "I bet Spitfire wouldn't even miss you."
"She saved me from you, she will do it again."
"Will she?" Twilight pulls as hard as she can. "I didn't think so."
The sun brightens the room. Twilight opens her eyes, looking around. Her hooves are tied and she is in an orange suite. Spitfire walks in. "Hello Ms. Sparkle."
"Why am I here?"
"Simple, you killed Soarin." Twilight freezes. "Don't worry, I was torturing him after all so you're forgiven. Now, I have an assignment for you. You'll be breaking a few laws but it'll be well worth it."
"But, but I killed a pony." Twilight says through tears.
"A pony who pretended to be dead, broke your heart, and was forced to be tortured by me just so I could figure out why he turned evil. My dear, don't be sad that it happened, be mad he ever even existed." Twilight stares at her. For the first time, Spitfire feels sorry for the mare. She can feel her sorrow, her frustration, her fear. Spitfire grins. "The workers here have been working on a helmet. It's designed to go on the head and have attachable wings. This will be your final test, then you'll be given the bits to remake the library. Deal?" Twilight stares, but reaches out a hoof.
"D-deal."
The Rose Colored Rainbow (Finale)
Twilight puts the helmet on. It is a band with a middle circle and three straps connecting it to the band. There is a wire going from the circle to the edge of the band. She backs up one last time, and jumps off the edge of the cloud. She nosedives towards the ground and gains speed. Suddenly, her wings are forced open. She is zapped by the wire, which causes her to be unconscious. A mini box pops out of the band, and her wings are pointed in a certain direction. Opening her eyes, she realizes she isn't able to control her own wings. She picks up speed heading directly for Canterlot. "Spitfire, I think something is wrong with these."
A radio turns on that is inside the band. "You killed a pony Twilight, you strangled him, made him suffer. Remember that feeling, it'll get you through this." Spitfire pushes a button, and the box on the band fires six mini pellets. They fly faster than Twilight, hitting the royal castle. "Knock knock." The pellets explode, leaving a hole in the side of the wall. Twilight lands in the royal room, bent over and crying.
"Princess! Help me-" she is zapped once again. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna look over, their eyes wide. Royal guards swarm the room.
"Princesses, get to the back room, we'll take care of this." Before any of them could move though, Twilight flies into the air and fires six more pellets. They explode on contact, clearing the room of any guards. Celestia flies into the air, casting a spell that shocks the band. It does nothing however, and the box fired a net. The net is made of Kevlar, so it pushes Celestia against the wall. Luna darkens the room, making it so Spitfire can't see them through the camera. The box fires six rods. The rods stun the closest thing to them, that being Princess Luna.
Shining Armor runs into the room. "Twilight! What are you doing!? This is wrong! Please, stand down!" Twilight opens her eyes, waking up. She tries to use a spell, but the band is made out of an anti-magic material.
"Shining! Please, this isn't me, I can't control what-" the box cuts her off, firing one electrical spear into Shining Armor's horn. He is knocked out cold from the impact. "Shining!" She tries to rip the band off, but the times that she was zapped were the wires digging into her body. Celestia finally manages to get the netting off, and trots to Luna.
"Twilight, I can not believe what you are doing. By law of Equestria, and my own disappointment, you are banished from-" Twilight flies into her, cutting her off. She begins punching constantly, unable to stop. Celestia levitates her, and throws her out the hole that was made from the original attack. She runs over to Luna, who is now regaining consciousness. "Lulu, please, we have to take her out."
"But sister, it's not Twilight. Somepony else is controlling her, one that has a reason to hate us." The two princesses stare at eachother, shouting the same thing. "Aviation Industries!"
"It has to be them, they wanted to take the throne a thousand years ago in the beginning of their corporation. We need to stop this now, let's-" Twilight hits into Celestia, knocking her onto her back. The box fires six pellets, and Twilight flies away.
"Sis-!" They explode. Luna runs over, unable to find Celestia. "You. You did this. Aviation Industries or not, you have killed the ruler of Equestria! You will die!" She chases Twilight through the castle, knocking over decor and furniture. Twilight takes a sharp corner and backtracks over her path. Luna slows down, trying to keep awake. The hitting is making her dizzy and unresponsive to some of the turns. She finally stops, focusing on hearing where Twilight is. She turns around, firing a laser. It hits Twilight, knocking her on the ground. Luna walks over, locked onto Twilight's eyes. "You killed Celestia. Now you will feel the same pain!" Her horn glows, but Twilight fires a beam from her horn that pushes Luna out of the castle, and into the atmosphere.
Twikight stands, shocked and emotionless. "Well well well, I appreciate it very much Ms. Sparkle." She turns around, almost scared.
"Rainbow Dash?" Twilight becomes light headed.
"Please, don't call me that. I prefer Excavator."
"It was you. You hired Spitfire to lead Aviation Industries, you worked us all into a way where you get what you want."
"I know, I'm a genius, you don't need to reconfirm that." Excavator walks up to the half-present throne, and sits. "I believe that you are supposed to bow to your ruler."
"I will never bow to you." But a wire in her legs makes her do so.
"That's better. Spitfire! If you can hear me, execute plan-" Spitfire flies into the castle.
"Excuse me mam, but don't you think that I deserve some sort of reward?"
"Why? All you did was make Twilight go insane enough to kill someone and put in a head band. How is that reward worthy?" Spitfire stares at Excavator.
"I killed my daughter because of you, I-"
"Adopted daughter Ms. Fire. And don't forget your place, you know what I put into you."
"Do it, I dare you. It'd be a better fate than serving you."
"So be it." Excavator pulls out a remote control from the seat. "I planted this here when Celestia was just being put into power. Make sure to say hi to her." She presses the one button, and Spitfire is flung out of the castle. The band molds itself to Twilight's head, and there are two explosions in the distance.
"What did you just do?"
"I got rid of the evidence. Aviation Industries never existed, I was the ruler from the beginning, and you were my servant." She walks up to twilight and pushes her down to the ground. "Good servant."
"You won't get away with this." Twilight snarls.
"How so? I'm Rainbow Dash, Excavator, and now Princess. No, Queen! What can you do to stop me?!" She yells, mad. "All of the times that you have pretended to care about me, you just wanted Princess ship for yourself! You never once cared about friendship or trust, only power. I've been playing that game for a thousand years Twolight, get used to the pain because there will be more where this came from."
"Not if we can help it!" They both turn to see Applejack, Rarity, PinkiePie and Fluttershy at the door.
"What?! I thought I killed you Fluttershy, and you died Applejack, how are either of you alive?!"
"Spitfire put a key next to me I case I woke up, and I did!" Applejack yells, wanting nothing more than revenge.
"And my animal friends helped me after you drowned me! In a pond!" Fluttershy yells.
"And Pinkie and I have been planning on how to bring down Aviation Industries by ourselves, but you did that for us. I wanted it gone simply because the children of the leaders picked on Sweetie Belle."
"And I wanted them gone because they were evil!" Pinkie shouts.
"Hmph, well no matter. I've been here for a thousand years, and I won't be brought down by a few maniacs." Rainbow picks up the controller Spitfire dropped. "Die!" She uses it to attack them with Twilight. The box fires eighteen pellets, only to be stopped by Rarity and her shield. Applejack runs at Excavator, and pushes her to the ground. She smashes the remote control, causing the wires in Twilight to begin sparking. Applejack does her best but can't subdue her and is thrown to the ground.
Rarity tries to use her magic on Excavator, but to no avail. "Please, do you really think it's that easy to take me out? I'm a thou-" Pinkie runs into her, punching and wailing with all her might.
"I will kill you! Do you hear me?! You made Gummy feel scared and tried to kill my friends, I'll turn you into cupcakes and eat you!" Pinkie throws her against the wall.
"Alright. No more funny business." Excavator flies into the air, creating a mini tornado. She then pushes Twilight into a hole with water in the damaged castle floor, and uses the wind to knock Fluttershy into it with her.
"Fluttershy!" Rarity picks up a pot and has Excavator fly right into it. Shinning Armor, just waking up, walks over and knocks her out. Rarity uses her magic to take out Fluttershy and Twilight, and manages to take the wires out of her.
"Twily! Are you ok? Can you hear me?" Twilight continues twitching, but smiles at him. He puts her on his back and runs to the hospital. The other three run over to check on Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy?" Rarity asks, poking her. "She isn't responding, we need to get her to a hospital."
"Y'all go ahead, I need to take care of RD first." They nod and run to the hospital, leaving Applejack. She walks over to Excavator. "You shouldn't have done all of this."
"I, I had to. They were going to kill me otherwise." She says, badly beaten.
"What? Who?"
She stops breathing. Applejack puts her hat on Rainbow's chest, and walks to the hospital to meet up with the others.
"How are they?" Applejack asks, running up behind Rarity. She turns around, holding Angle and tears in her eyes.
"T-Twilight will be ok, but Fluttershy, she..."
"Oh. I see. How though? Twilight had wires in her, and she was only shocked."
"Well, the doctor said that it was because she never fully recovered from the attempted drowning. She was lucky to live as long as she did afterward."
"So she is already, gone?" Rarity nods. Applejack walks into Twilight's room.
"Hey Applejack." Twilight says, happy to see her.
"Howdy Twi'. I uh, wanted to tell you that Fluttershy and Rainbow, well, they didn't make it."
"Oh. Ok, thanks Applejack." Twilight looks at a picture of all six of them after she had just arrived at Ponyville.
"Don't blame yourself sugarcube, they were both good friends of yours before everything happened."
"I know, it's just, why Fluttershy? I mean, I'd rather go than have her go. I'm definitely more qualified." Silence fills the room. "Thanks Applejack, I appreciate you telling me."
"You're welcome your highness." Applejack bows, and heads to the door.
"Wait, what? I'm not your-"
"Cadence has publicly said that you are to take full princess duties before her. Congratulations Ms. Sparkle." Applejack smiles, and exits the room. Twilight lies there, looking at the picture. She rests her head on the pillow, having the first full night of sleep since she lost her library. "See you soon Fluttershy."
