Rainbow sighed, pacing around the town as she thought about what was to come. Absentia had been a problem in the past, but she never thought she would have to deal with one she knew. Especially not Scootaloo.

She reviewed what she had studied about the Absentia before she had begun her work at the factory. They were the spirits of the dead, she knew that much. Those few fillies and colts who were strong enough would come back. Each Absentia was different: some would scream and go insane; some would wander silently behind their prey before doing the deed; the only similarity between them all was the way they killed.

The heart. Every Absentia crushed the heart of their victim. Rainbow shuddered lightly as she remembered the reports. One pony, in the past, had seen an Absentia claim a soul. It was grisly to read; she couldn't imagine sitting through it, just powerlessly watching.

But watch they did. The pony in question, Windy Hearts, had witnessed an Absentia feed. The spirit reportedly reached into the chest of the victim and tore out a shining light. Windy could only describe it as their soul. It had been a shining, rainbow spark, according to reports. After that, the pony would die, their chest open as though split apart in the middle. The Absentia would then absorb the soul and be sated until the next murder.

Windy has witnessed the death of her husband, Cloudy Daze. A day after the Absentia was exterminated, the higher ups reported that Windy had 'retired'. No one questioned it. No one wanted to 'retire' next.

Rainbow took a deep breath. No sense dwelling on the past. They knew how to dispose of the Absentia. It would just be normal procedure until then. No rainbows today. She glanced up at the sky. There were no clouds in sight. A single, clear blue day… How many of those had she spent with the dead… with Scootaloo?...

"Rainbow Dash!" She jumped and turned as she saw Applebloom run up to her excitedly. Oh, horseapples... The filly skidded to a stop, panting. "Hi, Rainbow Dash!"

"Hey, kiddo."

"Any uh... Any word from Scootaloo yet?" Her eyes were full of hope.

She winced, trying to mask her expression from Applebloom. “Er… No. Sorry, Applebloom.” She bit the inside of her cheek, rubbing her hoof softly. “Haven’t heard anything from the kid.”

The little filly seemed to wilt in her place. “Oh… It’s just been a while is all. Almost a whole month…”

“She’s probably just excited to have moved to Cloudsdale, Bloom.”

“But she didn’t even tell us she was leaving!” Applebloom shut her eyes tightly. “She was me and Sweetie’s best friend, and then she jus’ suddenly… wasn’t anymore…” Rainbow opened her mouth to say something to make it better, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. Applebloom sighed and stood once more, turning. “Thanks anyways, Rainbow Dash. Ah’ll see y’around. Tell me if you hear anythin’, alright?”

“Will do, kiddo.” Rainbow watched Applebloom walk away. “Dang it…” She took off, groaning to herself. How was she supposed to tell her that Scootaloo was dead? That she had been killed to make rainbows because of some old rules made long ago? She wasn’t about to say all that. Not yet. She wasn’t good with that sort of thing.

She landed on a cloud that overlooked all of Ponyville, one of the only ones in the sky. The town was smaller than most would imagine. Home to 6 Elements of Harmony, the town sounded as though it would be grander than it was. In reality, it was just a small dot on the world map. This is where Rainbow lived and had lived for a long time now.

The job at the Rainbow Factory had never bothered her as much as it did now, though. Not since Scoot’s death.

She’d been approached after her second Rainboom. After saving Rarity’s life. The Wonderbolts had been the ones to introduce her to the… the real way rainbows were made. There was something… elegant about the process. Something about the way rainbows were made - they existed inside the very souls of ponies, where magic and blood ran together freely. To harvest that and spread joy across Equestria? It was truly beautiful.

And those of the Flock that were too weak to fly just seemed practical when it was first explained to her. If they couldn’t finish a simple exam, then they were now useful in another way. They were sacrificing their lives for the morale of all others. Without rainbows, the ponies become discouraged, and when they become discouraged… When the first laws were made and Celestia handed rainbow making duties to the Pegasi, it was explained that without rainbows, the magic of the world was lessened, which could spell danger with Nightmare Moon on the rise. Now? Well, there were enough threats in the world without adding a lack of magic to them all.

But thinking it over now, there were so many flaws to the plan. Pegasi going missing with no explanation… Too many questions being asked by reporters with too few answers… With Luna back, surely Celestia could simply make the rainbows herself, but the duties from 1,000 years ago had been long forgotten by now, surely. And how would they even begin to admit how many had died for ‘efficiency’? For ‘morale’? Rainbow felt disgusted suddenly.

Why had none of these questions even occurred to her before?

She shook her head. “I… I need to head home and plan out the day tomorrow. It’ll be hell to clean up Sc… The Absentia’s mess.” She hunched down before taking out, her hooves kicking back and destroying the lone cloud in the sky. She left behind a single rainbow trail, left behind by her colored tail.

That, too, faded from the sky, leaving nothing left to disrupt the simple beauty of blue.

Author's Note

Unedited so I can eat with my sister's roomate on time. ^u^ FINALLY DID SOMETHING FOR A FANFICTION AND UPDATED OMG I AM SO HAPPY! :)