Synthetic Discord (a Rainbow Factory retake)

Chapters

A Call to Cloudsdale
Fluttershy
Twilight
Rarity
Pinkie Pie
Apple Jack
Rainbow Dash

A Call to Cloudsdale

It had been three months since the Discord incident; the pegusai had called a meeting to order in Cloudsdale. That's where I was going; I knew what I had to do. I grabbed my schematics and took a look in the mirror, my rainbow colored mane ruffled as usual. I had studied on the effects of how Equestria ran ever since Discord arrived. It seemed I was the only pony who questioned why Discord suddenly broke free, everypony else just accepted it.

It turned out that in olden times every year ponies would sacrifice a small bit of happiness or something special to them to the god Discord. He would feed off the joy it brought them. Then he would allow them to be safe another year. Celestia did not approve of this she and Luna trapped Discord in his stone imprisonment.

After that ponies stopped making sacrifices, but as it turned out Discord not only caused disharmony, he also controlled harmony. Without him, magic gradually became weaker; the disharmony he caused created a balanced in the natural flow of magic in Equestria. Without it magic in Equestria slowly withered away.

I had been designing this machine over these three months; it had to be presented to the council. They had to know that this is how to keep Discord away, forever. As I flew I prepared my speech. I entered through the large cloud doors of the chamber. Inside sat every adult pegusai in Equestria. I took my seat and awaited the elders to begin the council.

Finally it began, I felt light and giddy feeling as I thought about my moment. The elders started.

"Let the meeting be called to order," The old Pegasus began, "For centuries, it has been the wise and powerful pegusi who have protected this land of Equestria even under the muzzle if Celestia."

All the ponies nodded, the elder continued.

"But for the first time, the elders do not have a solution to the problem at hoof; Discord the god of Disharmony was released once who's to say that in the future he will not release himself again."

Apparently I hadn't been the only one who questioned it, that shortened some explanation time.

"So we must turn to you young foals for an answer." The elder finished, everypony looked confused, and they had come to hear the plan not come up with one.

I broke the silence.

"I have been working on a solution." I stood everypony was surprised to hear that I already knew about the subject

I began by telling them the tale of olden times of Discords rule, how the ponies would make a small sacrifice of happiness to the god so that they could keep themselves safe, and then how it was Celestia who threw the world of balance by eliminating Discord.

"My plan is to build a 'synthetic Discord' if you will, or at least something to a controllable equivalent." I explained.

I pulled out my blue print and opened it.

"Machines that will extract a small amount of happiness from each volunteer, and–in the form of a rainbow– release it into the sky, therefore keeping Equestria safe and Discord in his prison." I finished, all the pegusai stomped their hooves.

"It seems that everypony agrees," The elder thought for a minute, "then let construction on your facility begins immediately."

I grinned, not because I had my way but because I had fooled them all. My machine wouldn't just take a small amount of a subjects happiness, no. That wasn't enough, I needed more, and I wanted to keep Equestria safe for millenniums to come. Happiness, it was an unlimited supply, as long as there were creatures walking there was happiness. I would be known as the most loyal of all ponies in Equestria, my name would be bigger than Celestia. This was my legacy, this was my Rainbow Factory.

Three weeks later my machines had a factory to operate in. I walked through the doors; my engineers already had the very first test subject. A small white bunny, it had needles and probes pricked around its body. It looked terrified, I went over to it. I smiled he seemed to calm down.

"It's ok Angel Bunny," I told him, my smile turned into a grimace it seemed to cause it discomfort, "it'll all be over soon. Let the extraction begin!" I told them.

One of the engineers turned a dial a bit and prepared to pull the lever.

"What do you think you’re doing?" I rushed over.

"Umm, making the extraction?" He replied.

I turned the dial to full power, "B-but you said it would me a small amount?" The engineer stuttered.

"So what, you don't want everypony in Equestria to be safe?" I challenged, "This facility is our duty and if any of you refuse you'll be offered too. This is what we have to do."

Some looked scared others looked stern I took mental note of the ones who would most likely be loyal, and of the ones who would most likely be next. They understood that this was what we had to do.

"Now!" I started; I put my hoof on the lever and pulled it down.

Angel opened her mouth to scream, but my design stopped the speech part of the brain per the cranial needles. I couldn't have anypony hearing the screams. I watched as the probes absorbed the purple haze coming from Angel’s body. I watched as it was mixed with rainbow juice and formed into a pool on the other side of the room.

The color drained as her happiness faded. Her head fell, then she looked up at my, her eyes looked tired.

"There's still more." I said.

"But Rainbow Dash, this is your best friends pet." The engineer argued.

"Fluttershy has plenty of pets, she won't miss her." I pulled one of the probes out and grabbed a scalpel.

All the engineers were shocked now at what I did next. I cut into his chest, it made no movement as if she couldn't even feel it. His eyes just looked up at the ceiling, empty. His guts spilled to the floor, the colorful organs and blood. I knew it had so much life still left.

I probed all of the organs. I saw him, still looking up at the ceiling, still lifelessly. I stuck a probe in each eye, still color. I didn't want him looking at me. I went over and flipped the lever, even more haze. The colors of the rainbow poured into the pool. The color drained from Angels' organs and from her blood. His eyes closed and his head fell. This was it, I had it all. But I still wanted more... we needed more tests.

Fluttershy

I had seen many creatures die at the metal of my great device that day after Angel. Yes, this machine would keep Equestria safe for a very, very long time. I watched as the brown earth pony squirmed underneath his bondages. I laughed, after a few weeks we were able to move up our operation a bit, thanks to the funding of Cloudsdale. We soundproofed the walls, added more operation tables, oh and leather bondages strong enough to hold Bulk Biceps. Everything was machine operated now.

Snowflake wasn't too bright, and nopony was really friends with him due to his attitude. So he was the perfect candidate to test the strength of the bindings.

As the new subject squirmed he tried to scream. I laughed again.

"PLEASE SOMEPONY, ANYPONY HELP MEEEE!!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!!" He yelled.

"Don't worry Thunderhoof; it'll all be over soon." I told him comfortingly.

That had become my thing to tell my subjects now he seemed to relax, as the table went flat he tensed. "Besides it's not like anypony can hear you, you don't think we would have gagged you?" His eyes widened.

"Rainbow my daughter looks up to you" He told me.

"Well I am the fastest Pegasus there is there's not a single pony who doesn't have to strain their necks to see me." I replied sarcastically.

I cackled at my own sick humor.

"Now, let the extraction begin." I always liked saying that.

The one hearing it would cringe as the dial was turned up. I smiled menacingly as the lever was pulled, and the pony would let out a bloodcurdling scream, the mouth would foam. They would void their bowls as well as their bladder, we also had a clean-up crew now, it was a dirty job but it had to be done. It basically consisted of all the workers we had that used to do the machine work.

I did after all like a clean work environment. Thunderhoof was the last extraction of the day, after this we would pack up let off a new rainbow and leave for the day. After extracting from his entrails, we cleaned up the days mess, threw the bodies in the incinerator and left.

As I flew home I noticed Fluttershy out of her cottage. I stopped, what was she doing out so late I thought she was afraid of the dark. I flew down to check out how she was doing. She looked frantic as she greeted me.

"Oh, hello Rainbow, say have you seen Angel? I haven't seen her in weeks; I'm really getting worried about her."

I looked at my friend, the light pink colorful mane flowing as she trotted calling out Angels name. I grinned, one more extraction....

"Say Fluttershy, why don't you come to Cloudsdale with me," I began, she looked at me curiously, "I mean come on this is no way to look for her, we can print up some flyers, and ask some other pegusai to keep a look out for her." I smiled trying to look as friendly as I could. It worked.

"Ok Rainbow, that sounds like a swell idea."

We took off and I smiled thinking about it, and we had learned something interesting after one of my workers brought in a young colt and one of my other workers try to stop it.

"That's my son," he called.

I made him do the extraction; I told him that if he didn't do it he'd join the little colt. He had after all, seen too much. I told him that if he wasn't going to do it then we would, either way the sacrifice would be made. He pleaded but my mind was made up, with tears in both of their eyes his father apologized to his son and pulled the lever. We got so much more juice than before. Interestingly enough if it's a loved one, you get more out of the extraction. We still weren't sure why but I wasn't going to question an increase in supply.

We got to Cloudsdale and went straight to the Rainbow Factory. Fluttershy eyed the building suspiciously, she hadn't attended the meeting in Cloudsdale. I told her we have a printing press here. She continued to follow; she entered through the iron clad doors. I closed the doors and locked them behind us. Fluttershy turned around to look at me she was holding her nose.

"Uhh, Dash it smells terrible in here," she quipped, of course it did, "Dashie what's going on?" She asked, beginning on the verge of fright. I hadn't turned around yet; I began to chuckle, then all out hysterical laughter.

"Rainbow, what's so funny?" Fluttershy asked, I pulled myself up with her long pink mane, "Ow, Dashie that hurts"

"Oh there will be much more pain little Fluttershy." I told her, she had begun to back away from me.

She bumped into the metal table now upright from the day’s closing. Her ears down, she cowered in fear.

"Rainbow, please, please let me go I promise not to tell anypony." she pleaded.

"No," I told her, "this, Fluttershy, this is for Equestria, you have to understand." I tilted my head and showed her that I was sincere.

She looked at me questioningly; I put on an angry face and slapped her. Tears were in her eyes now.

"So you don't believe me?" I asked, "You will when you get to become a part of it." I told her I shoved her onto the table which went flat at the sudden impact I pinned down her arms and strapped her in.

I then strapped each one of her kicking legs; she tried desperately to break free. When she was secure I pushed the probes into various parts of her body. I went over to the dial.

"Why?" Fluttershy asked tears running down her face.

I told her smiling as I pulled the lever.

For once Fluttershy let out a scream that could shatter a window, the high pitched squealing hurt my ears but I didn't take my eyes off of her. I smiled as her color and voice began to fade. When all her color was gone I went over with the scalpel. I laid the table flat and opened her up, although she was lifeless she moved her head, her eyes looked at me pleadingly. Still blue, I smiled and petted her forehead with my hoof. I placed the scalpel to her chest, she watched as it cut into her flesh. Not even flinching when it broke her skin, just like all the others. I pulled out the various organs and set them aside a still beating heart was all that remained inside, which I pierced with a probe. I did the same with all the others too. Then I went back to the switch on the wall, her head followed me. I looked at my friend one last time.

I pulled the lever, the color faded from the organs.

As I watched her eyes, they faded last. There was the look of betrayal in them before they went out. This by far was the best extraction I had done yet. The feeling that I could get them to come here willingly, to see my friends eyes fade with the look of betrayal I felt good. I smiled; I looked at my hooves covered in grey blood. I laughed once more, it was better than the other times, I wanted more of it. But who would I get as my next victim, so many choices, and such riches a plenty. HA, not a bad problem to have if I asked me?

I laughed silently to myself.

Twilight

I wanted to find my next victem, but who would it be. Rarity would be an easy target, but getting her there would be a whole different task. As a matter of fact, getting anypony at least took any of her workers and another pony to get just one unicorn or earth pony to Cloudsdale. Then it came to me, an assistant who would do anything I said, somepony who adored me more than any other of my fans.

Scootaloo would make a great assistant.

I found her in the field with her two friends of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom. I landed in the field next to them, Scootaloo saw me and immediately rushed me.

"Rainbow Dash, how've ya been?" She asked excitedly.

"Great," I faked a smile, "hey Scootaloo, I ran into trouble a little. I was wondering if you could help me out, maybe you can get your cutie mark in the process." I enticed.

She smiled but then looked at her friends.

"Uh, sorry girls," I told them, "it's up in Cloudsdale, you won't be able to come."

"Well, Scootaloo looks like this is a mission just for you." Sweetie Bell told her Apple Bloom nodded.

Scootaloo hugged her two friends and we took off.

"Ok, Rainbow so what are we gunna do?" Scootaloo asked eager to get started.

"Well," I told her, I couldn't just trust her, I had to make sure she wouldn't squeel before I could take my next victem, "first I have to explain what I need help with, I have to take you to Cloudsdale."

We flew to my floating home town, we flew right up to the gates of my factory.

"What is this place?" Scootaloo asked warily.

"This Scoot, is the Rainbow Factory, I run this place." I told her proudly.

"Wow, so I get to earn my cutie mark in rainbow crafting?" she asked excitedly her wings fluttering.

"Ha, you'll be doing alot more than that." I told her.

I opened the door and let her inside.

My engineers were already working on extracting the next six ponies. Scootaloo looked mortified, I slammed the door shut before she could run out.

"Rainbow please I don't want to die, I swear I won't tell anypony." She pleaded.

"That's exactly what Fluttershy said," I mumbled.

"What?" she looked up at me tears in her eyes, I smiled.

"Rainbow, if your going to have her extracted, then let's get her secured." Said the brown pegasus in the white lab coat by the lever.

His name was Toggle, he was the only one I bothered to remember the name of, he seemed to enjoy this as much as I did.

"No, Toggle this one isn't up for extraction," I told him.

He raised his eyebrow as he went around making incisions in the chest cavities of each pony, so did Scootaloo.

"Nope, she's here for an interview as my new assistant, I found a new supply that may as well keep Equestria safe for an extra millenia." Toggle seemed interested but didn't press.

"Well, whatever you say Rainbow, your the boss."

I turned to the little filly.

"You see Scootaloo, this may seem like a dark process to you," I began to explain, "but it's the only way to keep Discord in imprisonment, you understand?" I got down to eye lever with her, she nodded.

"We have a very important job here at the Rainbow Factory, and it's not to maintain weather stability, or make rainbows, that's only part of it. You see the unicorns protect Equestria with magic, the earth pony's do it by providing food. You remember when I played Commander Hurricane in the Hearths Warming play remember?" Again she nodded. "Ya, well there's really no need for warriors anymore, so the pegusai had to find a new way to be helpful, so I designed this factory to give us a job to do. Supposedly we just maintain the weather but this is what we really do." I told her then staring into her eyes. "To keep Equestria safe, you get it?"

She looked serious now, she nodded, I smiled, "good, because "I want you to play a big part of it, you get to help me bring the single largest supply of power."

Scootaloo looked at me for a bit then said, "Well, let's get started, how do I help." I grinned.

As we flew over the skies we searched for our next victem, it seemed as if all my friends were inside. But then I spotted her, Twilight snooping around Fluttershy's shed. I signaled to Scootaloo who was struggling to keep up, she nodded and we dropped into a clearing in the field near Twilight.

"Oh hey Rainbow," she said, "uh, what are you doing with Scootaloo?" She asked.

"Oh, uh..." I had to lie fast.

"Oh she's just showing me some of her sweet moves, then she saw you down here and said she wanted to get the next book in the Daring Doo series." I looked at Scootaloo, where did she learn to lie like that.

She winked.

"Oh, well ok, but right now I have to find Fluttershy I haven't seen her all day were supposed to go to the spa with Rarity today." She explained to us.

"Um, I think she said somthing about going to visit her folks in Manehattan." I lied.

"Well ok," Twilight accepted it, "then let's go get you that book." She said.

As she turned around I hoofbumped Scootaloo.

When we reached her library and went in she asked me which one I had read, she went over to her collection.

"Um," I said looking for something to knock her out with, "I was on the Dash from Desert Dingo's I think." I saw what I would use the wooden horse head she kept as her centerpiece of the library.

I grabbed it and flew up over her.

"Well the next one in the series is the Sinister Silver Spider." She pulled out the green book with her magic.

That's when something unexpected happened, a pile of books fell to my left and Spike shouted.

"Dash what are you doing!?"

Twilight spun around but too late, I whacked her in the head with the head, THWACK.

Spike tried to run but Scootaloo blocked the door and tackled him, the blow knocked the wind out of him. Then she hit him in the head as head as she could. It knocked him out cold. I looked at Twilight, there was blood dribbling out of the base of her horn which was slightly askew. We cleaned the blood, then shoved the bodies into a burlap bag we found.

As we left Scootaloo checked to see if the coast was clear, she switched the sign to closed. Good thinking. We flew up into the sky to continue our dastardly plan.

When we got to the factory we strapped in Twilight. This would be the last extraction of the day, after all she would fill up the pool. We waited for her and Spike to wake up. They immediately panicked, like all do.

"What's going on?" They asked.

It was always the same question.

Twilight tried to use her magic to break the leather, but it didn't seem to work. The damage to her horn seemed to disable it. I would keep that in mind for Rarity along with any other unicorns.

"Let the extraction begin." I said I turned up the dial. I let Scootaloo pull the lever, she watched the whole process from start to finish. This was great not only was I making history, I had gotten a lacky to do my bidding, maybe I'd get her to bring her little cutie mark friends too. As I probed the organs of Twilight she stared into my eyes, lifelessly. Why did they do that? Nopony else did. They just stared at the celing, even Spike just stared blankly up. I pushed the thought away as I extracted the last of her.

The day was once again finished, I could go home again satisfied, but who would be next?

Rarity

As the day proceeded the extractions continued as scheduled. But I was busy trying to find an excuse to get Apple Jack to go to a secluded field where Scoot and I could mug her and bring her to Cloudsdale. Scootaloo and I were scouring the skies discussing it when out of the corner of my eye, who should I see but little miss Rarity.

She was snooping around Fluttershys cottage. I watched as she knocked on the door several times, and then tried opening it. Good thing Scootaloo thought to go back and lock it after I told her who had been extracted before Twilight. I patted her on the head, she smiled. Rarity tried to go to Twilight's library, but found it too was locked. She sighed and went back to her boutique.

I wondered if the Rainbow Factory would be drawing too much attention to itself, perhaps the recent disappearances would coincide with the opening of my workshop and somepony would put the two together. I brushed the thought aside and continued to stalk Rarity as if she were my prey.

"We have to find a way to get her out of there." I told Scootaloo.

"Already got that covered." she reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a small vial of clear liquid.

"What the hay it that?" I asked looking at the small vial.

"Zecrora made it for me; I just told her I had been having trouble sleeping so she whipped me up a potion for sleep." She said.

She tried to pass it as a lie to Zecrora but I could see her puffy eyes. I immediately became a little suspicious of the little Pegasus, but I didn't really have any other choice at the moment.

"Yup just one whiff of this and she'll be out cold." Scootaloo said with a growl in her voice.

My trust was immediately restored. So what if there was a little truth to her lie, I had been having a bit of trouble with sleep myself. I kept dreaming that Twilight and Fluttershy were floating in darkness, suspended in a fetal position eyes closed. I didn't know why it frightened me so much to wake up, but it did.

We swooped down and entered the boutique with no prepared dialogue, uh-oh I hadn't thought of that. Scootaloo had already taken over, she was turning out to be quite the assistant, maybe I'd let her take over the Factory.

"Hey, Rarity." Scootaloo called. Rarity turned around.

"Oh, hello Scootaloo, and uh... Rainbow Dash what are you doing here?" Rarity asked. I never came to her shop willingly, unless I had to. This was where Scootaloo took over.

"Weeell, you know the big Wonderbolts tryouts that are coming up Rarity?" Scootaloo asked eyes wide and grinning madly.

She lied really well, even though the Wonderbolts were having tryouts I hadn't even bothered to enter. After all I had bigger plans to worry about.

"Well, Dash here was wondering if you can sew her up an awesome looking cape to show off when she does her performance." Scootaloo said zipping around.

"It shouldn't be a problem, darling." Rarity said happily, she turned her back and headed towards her fabric rack, I grabbed a rag and placed it in my hoof, Scootaloo dabbed it with the sleeping liquid. "By the way Rainbow have you seen Fluttershy or Twilight have you? They were supposed to join me yesterday at the spa for our weekly get together, but oddly neither of them showed. Do you have any idea where they could be?" Rarity turned around.

I was in front of her with the rag an evil grin on my face. She had the fabric hovering with her magic. She immediately became nervous, as she should be.

"Um... Rainbow? Are you alright dear?" She asked a nervous shake in her voice.

"Oh, I'm fine," I said, "and don't worry, you'll see Twilight and Fluttershy soon." I pressed the rag to her face she began to scream but it was immediately stifled as she fell to the floor, out cold.

I grabbed one of her tapestry hammers and repeatedly smashed her horn until it shattered. No more unicorns to worry about. Scootaloo and I stuffed her into the bag.

We flew to Cloudsdale and hooked her up to the extraction table. Again we waited for her to wake up. When she finally did she was whining about the terrible pain in her head and the terrible stench. Then she opened her eyes and she became frantic. Writhing around like a worm, I wanted this one over quick, she was so annoying. I turned the dial up and pulled the lever. She screamed an ear shattering shriek that could have broken glass. The extraction went smoothly, nothing to back us up this time. But once again her eyes lingered on me, as if trying to say something she couldn't, why did only my friends do that? I shook it off again, I didn't have time for thoughts like this not while I was in pursuit of fame.

That night as I drifted off to sleep I couldn't stop thinking about Rarity. Just like Twilight and Fluttershy she looked at me her eyes fixed on me. Everypony else always stared at the ceiling, why were they different, what was special about them that they could still move. I don't know how long I stayed up thinking about it, but eventually I drifted off to sleep.

I was walking down a long dark tunnel; I didn't know where it leads. Hay, I didn't even know why I was walking down such a creepy tunnel anyway. I stopped; a small light glowed behind me. Three ponies hovered in place behind me. All of their eyes were closed, I walked up to them. They seemed to be sleeping. I tapped Twilight and was immediately zapped. It didn't hurt; it was more of a warning shock. I didn't speak; when I tried I found that I couldn't. Why were they here anyways, I killed them. And for that matter what was this place, what significance was this place to the extraction of my friends.

I looked at their faces, each one in the order I had mutilated them in.

Fluttershy looked kind of sad.

Than to Twilight, who looked as if she were silently sleeping.

Then finally at Rarity, who looked like she was posing for the cover of a magazine.

Then something happened, a pink aura drifted from the shadows and touched Fluttershy, it surrounded and consumed her. A purple mist came and did the same with Twilight. And a baby blue ribbon came and wrapped itself around Rarity until it covered her. The three floated there with the auras around them. The auras dissipated as if they were absorbed.

All three ponies opened their eyes, they glared at me angrily, and I was suddenly frightened. Then they looked as if they fell back into sleep mode, the auras reemerged and went back to recede into the shadowy darkness around me.

I felt myself being pulled somewhere. I woke with a sudden jolt. I was sweating, I wiped my forehead. What was that? Why was it so terrifying? But most of all, what did it mean? They were questions I had that I thought would never get an answer, but I was wrong.

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie was easy to trick, all I did was send her a fake letter telling her she was invited to a party for a new mare in town. I waited in the dark room for her. Mallet in mouth, Scootaloo was right beside me. As I waited I thought about my dream last night. Why were they there, suspended in the air like dolls not moving or talking? And what was that glow that made them come to life. As I remembered the dream the image came to mind, the eyes, they looked so dark and cold.

Unforgiving, had I really betrayed my friends for a simple taste of fame that may not even come? This was the first time I questioned my actions. My loyalty was it fading with every passing friend. I shook the thoughts aside as I heard Pinkie hopping up to the door.

She opened it. "Hellooooo!"

She was expecting the party to be there already, but instead saw a dark room with the lights turned off. I was beside the door; the sudden burst of light hurt my eyes. But I had to stay focused. Pinkie continued.

"Oh, are we still hiding are we gonna pop out and yell 'SURPRISE' when she arrives?" She squealed in her high pitched voice, then, no response.

I laughed behind her, and then turned on the lights. It blinded the both of us, I recovered first.

"Surprise." I said and swung the big wooden mallet.

"Dashie–" She began but was cut off by a THWACK!

Scootaloo and I shoved her into the brown burlap bag. Once again we had successfully captured another bearer of the Elements of Harmony, I laughed in her face just to be sarcastic of her element. When we got to my factory, I strapped her in and let the fun begin. Pinkie Pie was a prankster, I wanted to get her back for the pranks she pulled on me. Her mane lay flat as she hung her head.

When she woke up I was looking her straight in the eyes, smiling widely. She cheered up a bit her mane proofing up again.

"Oh thank goodness Rainbow." She began. "I had a terrible nightmare that I was invited to a party. And when I got there nopony was there and the room was so dark. Then you were there and you hit me in the head." Suddenly she twitched as if remembering the pain. "Ow, I guess my head still hurts, ha-ha." She tried to move her hoof to hold her head, but found it secured in place.

I continued to smile, only blinking as she looked me in the eyes.

"Dashie what's going on?" She sounded scared now, they always sounded scared, her mane deflated.

My smile turned to a grimace as I put on a more serious face for the very occasion.

"Oh, well don't you know Pinkie," I began, "you are at the party, surprise!" I laughed sarcastically and then burst into laughter.

Pinkie looked confused

"It's your party Pinkie you should be happy, nopony in Equestria will ever get to see you again, instead your happiness gets to be spread all over making the world safe." I explained, Pinkie continued looking dumbfounded. I thought this was going to be fun; I walked over to the dial.

"It'll all make sense soon enough." I told her turning the dial.

"Dash?" Pinkie whispered as I had my hoof on the lever, I looked over to her staring at the ceiling; she had tears in her eyes. "I may not know what's going on Dashie, but you've been my friend for so long," she sniffed, "so I trust you." She said with a smile her mane puffing up.

I smiled, and pulled the lever. I watched as my pink friend writhed in agony and let out her last scream, the color drained from her coat and mane. I watched it fade, and then walked over to her as the machines cut her open and prodded the organs inside. I looked at her; the eyes which were locked on me, her tounge lay limply out of her mouth.

The machine cut, and continued the motions of my operation. I went back to the switch. I pulled it. Again the color drained from the pony. I began to think, was this really worth it? Had I betrayed my friends, as well as my Element of Loyalty? All that was left was my friend Apple Jack. It was too late to turn back now I would have to finish this. But after this extraction I would shut down the Rainbow Factory, I couldn't take this anymore. I thought at first I was doing something great for Equestria, but lately I was questioning my decision. All this did now was bring me pain, lost friends... and nightmares.

I looked over to the once happy, colorful pink mare whose head was turned to me. Her eyes completely blank, if I had to guess the last thing she saw was me.

That night the same horrible nightmare plagued my dream. I walked down the familiar dark tunnel, and even though I knew what awaited me I continued to walk. I wanted to stop and turn around but my hooves kept taking me to the dark destination. I reached the place where my friends hovered, silent. This time they were already awake, staring at me cold, and dark... judgmental. Even Pinkie, who said she trusted me, it was as if when she passed she had seen why I did it. She seemed to take back her trust, I had betrayed our friendship. They each stared at me judgmentally, silent like the other times. I pleaded silently looking from one to the other.

They each shook their heads and turned around, one by one. Fluttershy, then Twilight, Rarity, and finally Pinkie Pie, who glared the longest finally shook her head and turned her back on me. The glow faded from them and the auras once again receded into the shadows. I awoke again in a cold sweat; I was beginning to become fearful of sleep now. I had to finish though; tomorrow I would take Apple Jack. I wasn't going to sleep, I couldn't

My last friend, and my last extraction. I could no longer continue this; I had founded the Rainbow Factory, but could no longer manage the operations. Tomorrow after Apple Jack was finished I would tell Toggle that we were shutting down. He would nod, as he didn't speak much anyways, and we would cease anymore operations at the facility.

I had no idea of the impending disaster. I thought that Equestria was going to remember the Rainbow Factory as the facility that kept balance in the world. But instead I now saw that it was a disease. It had to be stopped, I created it, but even I saw the evil it could become. How the power to hold the switch to another ponies life had made me like this. I would not allow this to happen to anypony else. I had done enough damage. Ponies all over the world were missing now, posters of colts, mares, and foals, all missing because of me. I could no longer continue this, it caused them pain and now, it had caused me pain too.

Soon it would be over… or so I thought.

Apple Jack

Apple Jack was last, I had to make this quick. I went to Sweet Apple Acres to tell her that the rest of the girls wanted to have an important meeting. She kept asking what it was but I told her that she would find out when we got there. Scootaloo was going to be waiting there to help me ambush her. She was talking the entire time, it was starting to remind me of Pinkie every time she started yammering on about some random thing nopony listened to. I tuned out her incessant blabbering. As we reached the clearing on the edge of the farm where Scootaloo hid I stopped and sighed. I knew it had to be done; I couldn't take it back now.

"Everythin' all right sugar cube?" AJ asked.

I looked at her sincerely, but with sadness behind my stare, and smiled.

"Ya," I told her, "everything’s fine."

Out of all of my friends, I'd have to say that AJ was my best friend. She above all the others understood what it meant to me to be the best. How it wasn't me being stubborn, it was just me trying to prove to not only myself but to everypony else that I wasn't a pushover. That's why I saved Apple Jack for last. I wanted to see her happy for one last time before I shut down the factory. We entered the clearing and immediately Scootaloo jumped on Apple Jacks back and pulled her hair.

Apple Jack bucked and riled yelling with surprise.

"What the hay is goin' on here," she yelled, "Rainbow get this crazy foal off uh mah back."

"Sorry AJ," I said darkly and quietly, "it has to be done."

She stopped and looked at me with the mad filly still struggling to take her down.

"Now Scoot." I said, Scootaloo took a rag and the vial out and pressed it to AJ's mouth.

She gasped in surprise she breathed in the rank smell of the potion and she was out. I walked over to the orange pony, one who like all my other friends would never trust me in death. Scootaloo and I stuffed the body into the bag and proceeded to Cloudsdale. All the way there Scootaloo kept looking around as if looking for somepony. I stopped and the sudden jolt shocked Scootaloo.

"What are you looking for?" I asked.

"Oh... uh nothing, just making sure nopony is following us." She said innocently enough.

I glared at the filly accusingly, she had worried about that kind of thing before, then again she was becoming more and more paranoid. I accepted her excuse, after today I wouldn't put her or anypony else through this.

We got to Cloudsdale, strapped AJ in and waited for her to wake up. When she did she groaned, she took one look at me and came too immediately.

"What are you doin' Rainbow," she asked, it sent sparks of anger into my stomach, "why haven't ah seen any of our friends in a week now?"

"Because AJ," I said turning to look her in the eyes, "I killed them." I stared at her intimidatingly, it worked, and she cowered behind her emerald eyes. She could only utter one word.

"Why?"

"Why?" I repeated, "WHY?! WHY?!?! I'll tell you 'why', to keep Equestria safe that’s 'why'. Don't you see AJ this is what will keep Equestria safe, we have to do this? You all die, and the world moves on." My voice was becoming softer throughout my speech. "With the sacrifice of your happiness and the rest of my friends, Discord won't return... ever!"

"Rainbow," AJ said looking at me tears welling in her eyes, "what has gotten in to you, that doesn't make any sense."

"Don't worry AJ it will," I told her, "it will soon enough." I said turning up the dial.

"Let the extraction begin." I took one last look at my friend, she had turned her head and had her eyes closed, she didn't even want to look at me. This once again filled me with anger. I didn't pull the switch yet.

"Toggle!" I yelled.

Toggle snapped into attention, so did Apple Jack, peeking to see what was going on. The extraction wouldn't be as powerful if she didn't see me.

I yelled to Toggle to pull the lever when I gave the signal. I grabbed a head vice and went over to Apple Jack, placing it in between her shoulders. She looked at me with terror in her eyes.

"I want you to see me when you die." I whispered.

She shut her eyes.

"Never!" She said.

"That's how you want to play huh?" I reached over to the table and grabbed a scalpel; I pulled one of her long eye lashes on her right eye.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" She screamed terrified.

I cut into her eyelid the blood dribble into her eye, she wasn't able to close it though, and she screamed and howled in pain. She had brought this upon herself. I repeated the process with the other this time something hard came up and whacked me in the eye. I looked; Apple Jack had freed one hoof and punched me. I felt blood dribble down my face.

"I might die today Rainbow," she said staring at me with her lidless eyes, "but ah ain't goin' down without a fight."

And indeed she didn't my other engineers struggled to rescuer the strap. When it was done I climbed back to my position on top of her and stared her in the eyes. Her blood had irritated her eyes, making them even more bloodshot. She was unable to blink it away.

I took one last look into her eyes, the blood seeping from my cut dripping on her face.

"No one escapes the Rainbow Factory!" I whispered.

I looked to Toggle and nodded, he pulled the lever.

I watched as my friend let out a painful scream, the blood vessels in her eyes popping, making them entirely red. Color faded from her coat, but the blood remained the same luxurious red color. When it was over her coat was a dull, drab gray.

The machines cut her up and probed her insides. I climbed back on top and watched as the color faded from her organs. I watched as her blood red eyes showed one last emotion: betrayal. I looked at the faded friend; there was still red blood, all over her face. I noticed it was mine; I looked in the mirror to see one long gash over my eye.

I knew that for the rest of my life this would be the one reminder of my terrible past. Every morning from then on when I got up to ruffle my mane, I would see this scar and be reminded of my biggest mistake. This factory was now closed, we began clean up.

I had no idea that it wasn't the end just yet.

Rainbow Dash

I had no idea at the time; my world would be thrust into an eternal everlasting pit of silence. My dream would come true, not any of the good ones either. I was still cleaning up at the factory; it was just Toggle, Scootaloo and I. We all said nothing since AJ's death; it was only a few hours ago.

The silence was nothing new for Toggle after all, he never said much. Suddenly I heard the eerie creaking of the doors of the Rainbow Factory opening. I shuddered at both the cold breeze and the fact that somepony had wandered in on this terrible dark secret. But my blood ran colder when I saw who it really was. Two gallant alicorns stood in the doorway. Both Luna and Celestia stared at me with determined looks. I watched as they both entered simultaneous hoof steps. I shuddered and backed down, but both Scootaloo and Toggle stepped away from me to stand by the two princesses.

"What... what's going on?" I asked terrified.

"Rainbow Dash," Celestia scolded, "I could ask you the very same question. You in cold blood murdered both my star pupil and her best friends."

I cowered in the corner, I knew something terrible would happen, but I was questionable as to why Scootaloo and Toggle were on the Princesses' side.

"Scoot?" I looked at her.

"I'm sorry Rainbow..." She looked down; I saw a bruise on her left cheek, had Celestia known what was going on. Had she beaten the answer out of Scootaloo?

"Oh," Celestia said noticing that I saw the little filly, "yes she was very cooperative, after being roughed up a little." Celestia laughed.

Luna looked stern.

"But why?" I looked at Celestia.

"The very same reason you opened this facility, Rainbow." Celestia began, "You see after your first murder, I felt a slight disturbance in the magical field that only an alicorn can feel. I took the question up with my sister," Luna nodded, "she agreed that something was indeed amiss."

Luna then took over the speech, "For every member of your friends you killed, you also released their element into the magical field, which was brought back to its original guardians." Luna explained, "You see Rainbow, you gave the elements back to us, and now that we can wield them, there is nothing in Equestria that can pose a threat to us." She said.

Celestia took it back over, it was a relay of the two sisters, "So now, there is no need for your factory..."

"Oh, good because I was shutting it down today," I laughed trying to find a way out, "I can go now right?"

Celestia stared me down, "No," she said, "you see there is one more thing missing, Miss Dash."

I gulped I knew what was coming next, "And that is?" I hoped with all my being I didn't get the answer I knew was coming.

"You see Rainbow," Celestia continued, "for all of the Elements of Harmony to continue to live on forever, they must be in the possession of those who can outlast the test of time."

Once again the explanation of the story switched back to Luna, "So miss Dash, we also must release your element of loyalty."

The two princesses grabbed me and strapped me down. I couldn't fight it, there was no point. They dug in the probes which was an unbearable pain. I was going to pass out by the time they were done. I looked over to see Toggle tuning up the dial.

"Toggle, don't do it," he looked at me, "please" I pleaded.

He just smiled and nodded to the filly by the lever. I looked over at Scootaloo who looked at me with tears in her eyes. I gazed at her pleading her not to do it; she turned away and began to cry as she pulled the switch. Immediately the pain was excruciating, I let out a scream that rang through the open doors of the factory. I felt as all of my happiness faded, all of my memories were being drained. But I still could remember.

Luna and Celestia came over to me, I gazed at them and noticed small red and gold orbs floated up from my body and into their horns.

I listened to them.

"Hmmm," Luna said, "the circle is complete."

"The elements are ours." Celestia said.

I was still alive, they threw my body in the incinerator, I felt nothing though, I watched as my coat and skin caught the flames. I charred away and eventually died.

I was in the dream again, only this time I was not walking. I was caught in the fetal position just like my friends. I couldn't move. I merely only floated silently through the air. As I drifted I thought about all the things I had done, I thought about my friends. How at one point we would laugh and play, and then I betrayed and murdered them. All of it chasing in pursuit of a little fame, fame that would never be known or heard of now.

I stopped; I looked up and saw that my friends were all staring at me, angry. I pleaded with them with my eyes, just as I had done in my dreams. One by one, just as I did in my dreams, they all denied my pleas for forgiveness.

Fluttershy, who I had killed first, gave me her cold stare and turned her back on me.

Twilight, gazed at me shook her head and also turned her back.

Rarity, who I thought would forgive me, looked down and turned her back.

Pinkie Pie, who had trusted me, her usually fluffy mane laid flat now, sadness in her eyes as she also turned her back on me.

Apple Jack, who had been my best friend, looked at me; she did the same as I did to her. She turned her back.

I looked at my five friends, they all lost faith in me. And because of this silent realm, this limbo of darkness, they would never know how sorry I was. Forever we would remain here, suspended, unable to talk or make even a single sound. I had done this; all of this was because of me. My friends would never forgive me, and I could never tell them I was sorry.

Never again would we laugh again, play, or know the happiness each had brought into all of our lives. I had trapped them here in this eternal slumber where nopony would ever find us. I wanted to cry for the rest of eternity, but apparently bodily functions did not work here. It made me sad, thinking that I could only portray emotions to my friends with facial expressions. But I knew that my friends wouldn't even look at me.

I looked up, I watched as each one faded out. Now I wouldn't even have their company, as bad as having them here felt, not having them here would be worse. Now and forever, I would be alone by myself, with nothing to have but my memories, and the constant guilt of my terrible crime.

The End