Rainbow Factory: The Next Generation
She had always been fascinated with the Rainbow Factory. But Midnight was also a fantastic flyer. She always thought she would get a cutie mark in flying. It felt so right. But this was not Midnight's destiny...
*****
She stood poised, wings open. Midnight breathed in and out. It was time to fly. She took off! Round the bend, threw the hoops, twisting, turning, soaring, Midnight was by far the best of all. She was Rainbow Dash’s granddaughter after all. Her mother, Raincloud, was Rainbow Dash’s daughter. Midnight never got to meet Rainbow Dash though. She died young. Soon, Midnight landed neatly on the “Finish” platform.
“So, how did I do?” she asked Red Velvet.
“Very well, very well.” said Mrs. Velvet. “In fact, you could have almost any job in Cloudsdale with that flying!”
“Wonderful,” said Midnight. “Because I know exactly what I want to do.”
******
Midnight wanted to be a Wonderbolt, like Rainbow Dash always wanted. What could be better than racing around in the sky, feeling the air in your wings? After all, Mrs. Velvet had said that she could do anything she wanted to with her extraordinary flying. But deep down inside, Midnight still secretly yearned to go inside the Rainbow Factory and learn its secrets…
*****
On the day of the auditions, a strange letter arrived. It was addressed to Midnight, and Midnight alone, so her mother didn’t question it. It read;
Dear Midnight,
Your presence is requested at the Rainbow Factory at 3:00 pm. on June 21st for a job interview. Don’t be late.
Sincerely,
Greyhound
Midnight was astonished! That was the exact time of the auditions for the Wonderbolts! But somewhere deep down, in her gut, she knew she had to go. When she arrived at the Factory, a Pegasus named Cherry Plum took her into a room with a desk and chairs. She assumes this is the interviewing room, and sits down to wait. Suddenly, a Pegasus appears.
“I am Greyhound,” the grey male Pegasus announces. “Now,” He continues. “I understand you are interested in a job, yes?”
“Yeah, I am,” says Midnight. “And I know what I would like to do.”
“You do, don’t you?” Greyhound laughs.
“I want to work in the Factory where you make the Spectra!” Midnight announced proudly.
“Hmm, are you sure?” Greyhound raised an eyebrow. “That’s an awful important job young lady.”
“Yes. I am sure,” says Midnight confidently.
“Well then,” says Greyhound thoughtfully. “Follow me.”
Greyhound leads Midnight up a winding steel staircase, into another small, metal room. This one had a crimson and black rug, and an oak desk. A dark Pegasus sat at the desk, obscured in shadows. A light lavender Pegasus stood beside her. “I am Shadow Heart,” announces the dark pony, which now Midnight realizes is the color of the rug.
“If you would like to work in the upper factory, you must recite an oath of secrecy, and never leave the premises. Is this clear?” says Shadow Heart.
Never leave the premises? Oath of secrecy? What was this all about? But unlike most ponies, Midnight felt this was right.
“Yes madam, that’s clear.” says Midnight, without flinching.
“Now then, let’s move on. Time for you to recite the oath. If you break it, you will be severely punished.” Shadow Heart began.
“I will always be loyal to the Factory, and follow all rules. I will never stray from the Factory. I will follow all orders, and not object to them. The Rainbow Factory is my home, my only home. I will never abandon orders, even to protect those from my past life.” Shadow Heart finished.
Midnight took a deep breath, and recited the oath that would change her life forever.
“I will always be loyal to the Factory, and follow all rules. I will never stray from the Factory. I will follow all orders, and not object to them. The Rainbow Factory is my home, my only home. I will never abandon orders, even to protect those from my past life.” Midnight repeated solemnly and flawlessly.
“Wonderful,” Shadow Heart cackled. “Let us begin.”
******
Midnight had never in her life seen such a vile place. Every Pegasus she saw was lifeless, uncaring, and unfeeling. But soon ambition and desire led to Midnight’s ultimate corruption. Somehow, killing the pegasi that failed their flight tests felt right. It gave her power. Shadow Heart knew she was loyal, and wanted it to stay that way. Soon she was given a chance to test Midnight’s unwavering loyalty to the Factory.
Limen, a nice young Pegasus who had been recruited almost a year ago, was acting strange. Soon Shadow Heart found out that he and an alicorn named Turquoise Gems had had a filly, and were planning to escape. She sent Blueblood and Violet after them. As Violet chased Turquoise, who was carrying her young filly, Sunshine, Midnight came face to face with Limen. She had always kind of liked him, and thought he was nice. But now the circumstances were different.
“Midnight, please,” Limen pleaded. “Come with us, and escape this place!”
Midnight cackled wildly. “We kill these pegasi for a reason, Limen. We must make rainbows, because Celestia doesn’t have time. And we must also rid Cloudsdale of these hideous flyers,” Midnight grinned evilly, showing her bloodstained teeth.
“You’ve gone too far to be brought back anyway.” Limen whispered.
He was right, nothing could bring back Midnight for the dark abyss in which she had fallen. Suddenly, she reached for the dagger she always kept in her belt, and shoved it into Limen’s unprotected chest. Limen dropped to the floor, blood spewing out of his fatal wound.
“Midnight, no...” blood started flowing from Limen’s mouth, and he was dead. Then, Violet came back.
“They got away!” she growled wildly. Then her eyes went to Midnight’s flank, which had been blank since forever. Violet cracked a smile.
“Looks like you got something there, Midnight.”
Midnight’s bloodshot eyes trailed downward to her flank. There, where it had been blank for so long, was a dagger, dripping with blood, just like the one Midnight clenched between her reddish teeth. As it turns out, Midnight’s special talent was killing pegasi who had all the right to live. And in every way, she was just like Rainbow Dash...
