This isn't the life I wanted. This isn't the life I choose. The Factory chose me. I didn't choose the Factory.
The sounds of loud machinery filled the room I was in. The occasional scream came in from other rooms. I sat down on the cold, black cloud floor. And started to cry. I looked down at a picture of my friends and I. Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, Rarity, Flutter Shy and Twilight sparkle. I missed them all so much.
“Come on Dash. Why are you being all sentimental now! You've done this for twenty years. There is no going back!” I said to myself.
I wanted to though. I so desperately wanted to go back home, with my friends and forget any of this ever happened! But I can’t. They would never allow me back into Ponyville. They would find out what I've done! I would get thrown into Tartarus!
I stood up, and placed the picture of me and my friends on the stand. Maybe just one visit. Just to see how they are all doing. I am allowed to go into Ponyville, but I have to do it under a disguise, so no pony would recognise me. I wonder what every pony thinks what happened to me. I just imagine they thought I ran away. Or I'm dead. I wonder if my friends still live in Ponyville. I hope they do. I just want to see them again.
I opened the door to my room, and slowly walked out. My mind was filled with a thousand thoughts. What is they have moved away? What if they see me? What happened to the elements of harmony? What if they don’t work? What if they found a new barer of loyalty! What if Ponyville doesn’t exist anymore, because a massive monster tore it away, because my friends couldn’t use the elements to stop it! Okay…Maybe that last one was a bit far-fetched. But anything could happen.
I was going to take the long route round the factory. So I could have time to think this out.
My mind went over a million other thoughts. Then it stopped. Whatever happened to Scootaloo’s friends. Scootaloo. Tears sprung to my eyes just thinking of what happened. My legs went to jelly, and I fell to the cloud floor.
“I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! I didn't want to do that! I did love you! I do love you!” I cried out. Hoping no, one would hear.
My heart went into panic, as I heard a pony approaching. I couldn’t move. I just couldn’t. Let them find me like this. Maybe they will think I’ve finally lost it, and throw me out for good! The hooved came to a stop on the cloud floor. I could just see the bottom of their orange hooves.
“D-Dash?” Came a soft and familiar voice.
That voice. It’s female. We only have one female worker in the Factory, and it doesn’t sound anything like that. I can’t be.
“Rainbow Dash? Are…You okay?” Came the voice again.
It can’t be. It must be though. Every worker calls me Ms. Dash. I slowly lift me eyes up. It was.
“Sc-Sc-Scootaloo?” I ask. My mind in shock.
“Y-Yeah Um, It’s me Dash.” She said in her soft, caring voice.
I couldn’t help it. I cried again. It was a mixture of saddens and happiness.
“Dash, what’s wrong?” Scootaloo asked.
“I’m so sorry.” I cry. “I do love you Scoots! I'm so, so sorry!” I stood up and wrapped my hooves around her. She was a full grown mare now.
“Dash, I….” Scootaloo didn't finish her sentence. She couldn't. She burst into tears.
I broke the hug and wipe the tears away.
“I've spent so many years of my life doing what I thought was right. I was told it was right. So I believed it was. But now I see, murdering innocent files isn't right! They deserve life! Even if they do fail their test. They are still ponies.” I said as I sniffed.
Scootaloo just stared at me. She smiled.
“Thanks Dash…But now what?” She asked.
I raised and eye brow.
“Huh?”
“What do we do now. If you've come to realise this is bad, you can’t keep doing this!” She yelled.
She was right. She was so very right. The thought of just killing one more foal made me feel sick. I couldn't do this. So of course my mind hatched a crazy plan.
“Then we run away. We leave! We tell Celestia about this awful place…Even if it means I get thrown into Tartarus.” I sighed. But this Factory needs to end.
Scootaloo was shocked for words. Then she smiled and started to cry again.
“I can go home? Se-see my friends again?” She said as she fell to the ground in tears of happiness. “Thank you Dash! Thank you!”
“Okay, right. We need to- “Then my mind came into the first of many problems. “How did you leave the main theatre room?” I asked.
Scootaloo froze.
“Every few days, I get let out for a walk. But one of the workers follows close behind! He might find us soon!” She got up. Her happy expression was replaced by one of fear.
“It’s okay. I am the manager of this place! I can do anything I want!” I said giving Scoots a smile. “C’mon. This way!” I said as I waved a wing for her to follow.
We walked down a long corridor in silence. My mind was coming back to these horrible thoughts. I'm a monster. I've killed so many. Why should ponies allow me back into their lives!?
“Dash. What happens if someone finds us?” Scootaloo asked.
“They won’t. There isn't many staff working here any more. And If they do find us. I’ll tell them I'm just taking you on one of your walks.” I said smiling up to her.
Her worried look went away. And she nodded and smiled.
We continued to walk in silence again. Until Scootaloo broke it again.
“D-Don’t be mad as me Dash. But why did you kill all those innocent fillies?” She asked looking down, sad at me.
Why did that hurt so much.
“Because I was told that was the right thing to do. When I first got asked to work here. I didn't want to. I thought it was sick. But then they told me this was the right thing to do, that we were helping cloudsdale and all of Equestria. I just thought it was right. I thought I was helping. But I wasn't!” I said, letting a few tears drop down my face.
Scootaloo didn't say anything. She just placed a dirty wing around me.
“I want to make it right. I was to at least try and redeem myself. And I have an idea how.” I said determinately.
“And that is…” Scootaloo asked.
“There are about thirty or so failures, I mean fillies…Waiting to be used as spectra. I'm going to free them.” I smiled. This felt right.
“And how are you going to do that without getting caught? Even if you are the manager, they will think it’s strange you’re freeing the fillies, won’t they?”
Crap. She’s right. I haven’t thought this out.
“I can try. Even if it means I have to knock out…Or even kill the workers. I've got too much blood on my hooves now, a few more won’t hurt.” I sighed.
Scootaloo shot down an evil glare at me.
“Rainbow! No! You won’t to redeem yourself? Well killing more ponies isn't going to do that!” She frowned at me.
Again, she was right.
“Sorry. I just. I really want to make this work; I don’t want to fail these fillies.” I looked down to the cloud floor.
Scootaloo gave me a warming look.
“And you will. We will make this work. Those fillies will be free, and this place will get shut down!” Scootaloo smiled.
“Okay. If we are going to do this. We are going to need a plan.”
