Reborn

The bell for lunch rang, causing me to jump in my anxious state of paranoia and fear. After the confrontation with the mare I hated most, I'd just returned to Absentia's room and thought about all that had happened that morning. The first thing I knew about the situation was that somepony was out to kill me, but had failed out of some sort of miracle that I had been spared just in time.

I may have survived for now, but when would they strike again, and, more importantly, why did they want me dead? Did they actually know who I was and saw me as a threat to Rainbow Dash? I hadn't expected this much to happen so fast, but it was clear that I wasn't safe here at any time.

The second thing I realized was that Absentia was not afraid of Rainbow Dash, given how she'd acted in response to Dash's outrage aimed at me. She hadn't even hesitated or questioned the potential consequences, and, judging by how my greatest enemy had reacted to Absentia's defense towards me, it was clear both mares had a good amount of trust in each other.

Therefore, making an alliance with Absentia had been a huge advantage in my mission, seeing she was the closest pony to Dash and knew almost everything about her. She was easily my best ally here and my best shot at getting close enough to Rainbow Dash to end her life once and for all, but it was clear my target had eyes watching me and that getting close enough to land the fatal blow wouldn't be easy.

It made sense, she was the Overmare and all of her workers were like pawns on a chessboard guarding the king. I'd just have to find a way around those pawns to checkmate the bitch into death, and that would take time and patience.

The door to the room opened, causing me to jump yet again, but my nerves calmed once I saw that it was just Absentia. I didn't say anything and just allowed her to talk, seeing it was clear just by her expression that she was here to say something important.

"Thought I'd find you back here," she started, continuing to hold the same expression as she continued. "Come on, Dash wants to speak with you about the events of this morning."

I didn't argue and just did as she said, feeling the pit of my stomach start to become unstable at the thought of Dash's verdict. Would she actually give Absentia and I a fair judgement and be truthful about the results of the footage, or would she just lie and kill both of us for free spectre? She was already delayed, so the latter seemed far more likely than what I hoped, but maybe Rainbow Factory Dash had some sense to her and actually gave a damn about her workers.

The answer was unclear to me, as we made our way to the factory floor via the elevator and met back up with Rainbow Dash by the machine that had nearly taken my life a second time. One glance at her, and immediately I could tell that she had calmed down from her demeanor in our last confrontation. Something that gave me hope as she met our company upon hearing our approach.

"I brought her, Dash," Absentia confirmed, leading the recipient to nodding her head.

"Excellent, you may go join the others for lunch, Absentia," Dash responded rather calm and strangely in a tone more close to the pegasus I'd once admired like a god.

Absentia took her leave, leaving me alone face to face with the monster I had a burning desire to kill. However, I knew this neither the right time or place to do so, so I just kept eye contact and continued to play my mirage of a factory worker.

"You wanted to see me, ma'am?" I stated, to which Dash nodded again.

"Affirmative, worker," she responded in that same harmless tone. "I received the footage results, and it turns out you're in the clear. Somepony did indeed trap you in the Pegasus Device, and increased the water pressure to intentionally drown you. Something I find disgusting and unacceptable in my factory."

I was relieved. I'd dodged a fatal bullet, but the fact still remained that somepony was out to kill me.

Dash practically read my mind, placing a hoof on my left shoulder.

"Unfortunately, our little rat is smart, seeing we couldn't identify them due to them being fully clothed in a full-body suit, but don't worry, worker. I recognize the severity of the situation and am willing to take any action necessary to prevent another murder attempt. I've already assigned guards to keep an eye on you within close vicinity, and, if anything happens, to take proper action to assure your safety."

My relief escalated, despite the fact that it was Rainbow Dash saying this. My emotions were a chaotic web that had become tangled by an accidental intrusion by some kind of force. This pony speaking to me didn't seem like the same mare as earlier that day, but more like the Rainbow Dash I once called my sibling, causing my thoughts to twist and converge like a raging tornado.

However, I knew I had to say something, so I just played along.

"Many thanks, ma'am," I responded with absolute loyalty.

"No need to thank me, I'm just playing my part in keeping this place in order. We'll catch this dirty rat in no time, even if we couldn't see their face on the cameras. We have means of finding them beyond just surveillance. Now, go off to lunch."

"Yes ma'am," I answered, watching as Rainbow Dash turned and walked off to elsewhere.

I had no idea where to go for lunch, and luckily Absentia had thought ahead, her steps echoing amongst the large room as she approached me.

"Well, considering you're still here and Dash's demeanor, I'm guessing your claims turned out true?" Absentia said, addressing me directly.

"Yeah. She actually investigated the situation, and it turns out there's definitely a pony out for my head," I clarified. "However, she's already taken proper action to avoid another situation like what happened earlier, so I shouldn't have any trouble going forward."

"Good, but I want you to remember one thing, Scoots. That mare is not here to protect anypony except herself. The only reason she said that was to make herself look good, and judging by your response just now, it worked."

Absentia's words made all of my initial relief disappear. She was right. How could I have let Rainbow Dash assure me of anything!? She doesn't care about anypony's safety or wellbeing; she'd rather see them die for free spectre.

Absentia recognized my anger of being manipulated by Dash so easily, and quickly worked to calm me down.

"Don't beat yourself up, kid," she started gently. "Dash is a master of manipulating the mind, so there was no doubt you'd believe her. I was the same, up until I learned through experience that anything she says is poisonous to the mind. Let this be your first lesson on figuring out how Dash works, and I do hope that it's one you won't easily forget."

"Don't worry, I won't," I assured.

"I'm glad to hear that, because I have something to show you. Something you aren't going to like, but it will set the tone for just how evil and heartless she is."

Absentia started back towards the elevator, to which I followed and watched as she selected a floor labelled as "B." I immediately guessed that it stood for the basement, feeling a chill slither up my spine as the elevator doors closed and we began our descent deeper into the bowels of the factory.

As we began to lower past the lowest floors of the building, it suddenly began to get cold. It wasn't cold enough to make my teeth chatter, but more like the type of breeze that blows right before a rainstorm. Something that told me we were deep underground in a secret area that only certain ponies knew of.

I didn't know what to expect, as the elevator came to a stop, and the doors slid open, revealing a dark damp room that carried the scent of mildew. The only light was the bright rays glowing from countless storage tubes of spectre littered all throughout the massive area, giving a rainbow-like hue to the entire vicinity.

Where the hell were we?

"What is this place?" I asked.

"The basement," clarified Absentia. "Also known as the spectre storage room."

The sight of the dimly lit room made my blood run cold. Here I was, in a room of victims to the Pegasus Device, now visible by only the radiant colors of their coats. There was an array of every color imaginable within locked cages containing the storage tubes, and the more I examined the room, the more I started to feel sick. I walked further into the room, admiring the countless colors and trying to keep my stomach at ease.

Five locked cages were lined up on both sides of the room, leading to the end of the room, where six streams of spectre glowed in six massive storage tubes. However, the spectre was not filled to the top, but only a quarter of the way full.

"Do you see it, Scoots?" Absentia asked.

"Yeah, the spectre tubes are low of their contents," I clarified.

"Exactly. Lower than they ever been in this factory's existence," added Absentia. "So, you must know what that means, right?"

I thought hard, then I jumped upon remembering the transmission earlier that morning, Rainbow Dash having mentioned that the amounts of spectre were dropping, and, as a solution, a meeting would be held.

The puzzle pieces assembled quickly, revealing a horrid realization that made every speck of my fur stand up straight.

"Sabotage," I responded in a frightened whisper.

"Dash is afraid that the factory is meeting its end, and I believe you and I both know what she's planning to do," stated Absentia.

"Exactly," confirmed Absentia. "I've seen this coming ever since the first day she threw one of our own workers into the machine, claiming he had died in a "factory accident" and did not want to waste his spectre. The real truth is that pegasi are starting to break the usual plan Dash assembled to keep spectre production going without a hitch.

The past three flying tests were passed with no failures, showing that pegasi are starting to be able to pass the flying exam without failure, breaking the stead that had kept spectre production on a consistent schedule. That raises issues that could lead to the factory being found out of its true nature, seeing if there's no rainbow after a scheduled storm, that's going to raise suspicion over time.

Dash got lucky that at the time of the decrease, the winter months had started, so she's had time to plan, and, without fresh pegasi to feed the machine, there's only one thing I can see her resorting to, and I truly think it's already happening. Workers have gone missing in the past two months, resulting in Dash only being able to make two rainbows in that time. She cloaked it to weather ponies as a "factory incident," but it's really just her stalling for time to collect enough of us to produce a rainbow.

However, that's not where the horror ends. She's also planning to rig the flying exam to assure failure, but that's still being worked on. Therefore, everypony in this place is a potential target, including you and me. Do you remember what she said earlier regarding arrivals?"

I thought back, immediately remembering that Dash had stated that arrivals would be here in two days, but, with this new information, it was clear she meant that workers would mysteriously end up deceased in two days time.

My stomach turned at the horrifying realization.

"So, to keep herself clear if what goes on in this place, she rather kill her own workers than face the consequences of her crimes…

"Exactly. Along with intentionally sabotaging innocent gifted flyers just to remain undiscovered," Absentia confirmed. "Now, do you understand just how twisted and malevolent that mare truly is?"

I was froze in place, but I nodded my head in full assurance of understanding the clear message she had brought me down here to deliver.

"Good, then let's get out of here. This place makes me si-

Suddenly, a sound from across the room made Absentia and I freeze. It was the sound of the elevator arriving.

Why was somepony here during lunchtime? I didn't have time to think further upon Absentia snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Quick! Hide!" commanded Absentia, rushing to the far side of the room and hiding in a darkened area..

I rushed to the other side of the room, hiding behind one of the spectre tubes where I couldn't be seen. Upon covering my muzzle to silence my breathing, I heard the elevator dock, following with the doors opening. Two sets of hooves echoed upon exiting the compact box, following shortly with a voice I recognized vividly.

"Clarify to me the current spectre levels," Rainbow Dash's voice commanded to the other pegasus.

Upon the other pony's response, it was clearly a male.

"Our current levels are 38.6% on average; nowhere close to what we need for a perfect rainbow, which is possible at around 75.8%"

Rainbow Dash grunted, clearly stressed and disappointed at the result.

"Urgh! Dammit!" she cussed. "I thought we could make that up in a week! The weather ponies upstairs won't accept another day for me to get what we need!"

She was in a major panic. It was clear she was out of options, and upon thinking further about the current situation, my blood froze.

This wasn't just a checkup on spectre levels, it was a setup for murder…

"Overmare, please calm down," the other pegasus attempted. "I believe that you will find a solution to this. For better clarification, we'd only need at most two pegasi to fill the gap, and I'm sure you can find two in time!"

Upon seeing Rainbow Dash's face, I knew my assumption was correct. Her eyes gleamed of malevolence and her lips were curved into a devious smile.

There was nothing I could do, so I did my best to find a happy place in the darkness of this factory.

"Hehe, two you say?" Dash asked in a more gentle tone.

"Affirmative, Overmare," he confirmed.

"Huh, that's actually not too hard to get, but let me ask you something first,"

She had paused briefly, stepping forward towards the giant tubes.

"Do you remember what I said to you when I made you a part of my factory?"

I could read between the lines. She was about to corner him with manipulation.

"Of course. I swore to obey you and do my duty until the day I die serving you."

That was the final nail in the coffin. Knowing what was coming, I tried to blank out the horror, but, no matter what I tried, the factory refused to spare me.

"Correct. So, if I were to ask you a simple favor, would you do it for me?" she cooed.

"Of course, ma'am."

Her smile extended, knowing she had him wrapped around her hoof.

"That's good," she answered, turning around and walking back toward the other worker. "Then you wouldn't mind dying for me, would you?"

The pegasus jumped and his face immediately turned pale. He'd signed his death certificate.

"O-overmare, f-forgive my questioning, but w-why?"

"As I recall, you said youd obey me no matter what, so will you keep your word or was your commitment just a lie all along?" she questioned, guilt-tripping him into submission.

The pegasus was trapped, and he knew that no matter what he chose, he was dead. I just kept my muzzle covered and continued to listen.

"I-I…

"You what?" Dash blamed, grabbing her defense knife from her belt.

She toyed with the blade, continuing to hold the same grin as she encroached toward the worker even closer.

"I-I…

A pause followed and I was expecting to hear the sound of flesh tearing and blood splatter, but my heart turned to ice upon hearing the next response.

"F-for the good of the factory and your success, I will humbly give my life for you, Overmare."

I was beyond bewildered. I never expected him to actually accept the request, but apparently that was the amount of control Dash had on these workers. I had to hold myself back from retching, awaiting the inevitable conclusion to this whole situation.

"I'm glad to hear that," Dash answered. "Your loyalty was tested and you remained true to your word, therefore, I'll be sure that your spectre shines bright in the sky after the settling of the next storm."

"Thank you, Overmare. I am glad to have served you!"

Dash chuckled, following with a response that felt like a reward for the stallion's services.

"You're cute."

Then the sudden sound of the blade piercing his flesh met the room, echoing in my ears like a hoof against a chalkboard. I shivered as I heard the stallion start to choke on his own blood and emit a gurgling sound that I can only describe as death rasp. I couldn't look and just closed eyes tight and covered my ears to spare myself of the horrid sounds, but they still broke through and permeated my skull like a hive of angry bees.

I knew that Dash wouldn't do too much damage, because she had to keep herself clean of any treason. My guess was that she had stabbed him in the neck and his cause of death would either be asphyxiation or blood loss.

It felt like eternity by the time I heard the stallion's body collapse and gurgling stop, finally opening my eyes again and watching as Dash approached the corpse with that same devilish grin.

"What an idiot. He actually thought I gave a damn for his services. All he's worth to me, is another successful save in my current struggle. Best get this guy upstairs before he loses every bit of his color."

Her words were so cold and careless, causing my anger to rise yet again. I couldn’t believe this was the same pegasus that I used to train with, and just thinking about the memories of her shaping me into the flier I became prior to this whole nightmare made me shed a tear.

As she'd said, she grabbed the husk and dragged it into the elevator, proceeding back up to the factory floor. Upon her exit, I finally let myself breathe again and cried.

Absentia quickly trotted to my position, putting her hooves on my shoulders as some sort of comfort.

"It's alright, let it out," Absentia said calmly. "I know how you feel. Death is no simple thing to experience."

I lunged into Absentia's chest and hugged her tightly, immediately surprising her, but she didn't push me away.

Instead, she wrapped her hooves around me and rubbed my back.

It was a feeling I hadn't felt in such a long time and Absentia knew it, allowing me to just weep in the room of several remains of innocent pegasi who had been taken out of this world for no reason.

My fit of letting my emotions out lasted for a long twenty minutes, and, upon pulling away from Absentia, she smiled for the first time since I'd met her the previous night. Apparently, she'd seen or felt something that struck a part of her that made her feel like her old regular self for just a moment in the space.

In return, I smiled as well, somewhat-proud that I gave Absentia the chance to feel like her old self again, even if it was only for just a second.

"The warmth of a hug is something I haven't felt in over a decade," she explained. "For just a moment, I remembered something; the last time I was ever embraced like that. I have a sister, and she hugged me before I left to take the exam…"

Her voice was full of melancholy and happiness. I tried to remember the last time I'd hugged a pony, and it didn't take long. I had last wrapped my hooves around Aurora before she'd faced her assured death, giving me time to find an escape.

Her hooves had been so warm and delicate like a mother's embrace to a foal. She had known the outcome of her act, but she'd given her life to save mine, a true act of friendship and loyalty.

The memory had erased the horrors that I had just witnessed for just a minute, but upon coming back to reality, I knew we had to leave before Dash would become aware of our absence above.

I turned back to Absentia, speaking some words to assure her to never forget that memory she'd recollected.

"That's right, you do have a sister outside of these walls somewhere, and I'm sure she's still searching for you," I encouraged. "Never let Dash take your memories away again. Hold onto that image of your sibling and never let it disappear."

A tear rolled down Absentia's left cheek, wrapping me in her hooves yet again.

"Thank you so much, Scoots," she said, sorrow in her voice. "I never thought I'd find a light in the darkness of this place, but you've given me hope that I can find a way out…"

I hugged her tightly, feeling my heart flutter in my chest.

"I'm glad I could help find the light," I stated, releasing her and pulling myself to my hooves. "Let's get out of here."

Absentia followed, getting up and nodding her head.

"I agree, let's go."

We carefully avoided any of the blood on the ground and made our way back to the elevator shaft, the floor of it clean of any crimson stains, meaning Dash hsd been careful to cover her tracks. Upon stepping in and Absentia pushing the proper button to the factory floor, the doors slid shut and the compact box began to ascend. In about twenty seconds, the elevator docked and opened to the sight of the Pegasus Device just off to the left, the factory floor dead and quiet to our relief.

Once again, there was no trace of Dash's act, and that made it clear to me that she had been killing pegasi long enough to know how to remain undetected. It was no wonder why she had been Overmare for so long, and a chill ran down my spine at the thought.

"Well kid, if you don't mind, I'm going to head for the showers to get any residue from those blades off of me," Absentia alerted.

"Not at all," I replied. "I'm just going to head back to the room. I'm exhausted after all that."

Absentia nodded.

"See ya in a few, Scoots," Absentia finalized, turning and heading for the showers.

With that said, I pushed the button for the second floor and started the trip back to Absentia's room. The doors closed again, and like earlier, the elevator began its ascent. The rooms were on the highest floor of the building on the far east side, so it was about a five minute walk. Upon the elevator meeting its stop, the doors slid open and began the walk down the long hall to the right.

As I walked, I got the feeling that I was being watched, but the hall was very dimly lit, so it always felt ominous. I arrived at Absentia's door after a minute of walking, and upon reaching for the knob, I froze.

A voice met my ears.

"Well, it looks like we meet again, worker," the voice Rainbow Dash spoke from the shadows. "Seems strange that our paths keep crossing, wouldn't you say so?"

"Affirmative, ma'am," I played. "Perhaps it's just a coincidence?"

"Hehehe, there's no such thing as coincidences, worker. There's only destiny and fate, and, I must say, both of those have really played a heavy part in the time you've been here. Why is that?"

I was absolutely lost on what she was saying, so I just kept playing along.

"I'm not sure, ma'am," I responded.

"Oh, I think you do, worker, or should I call you Scootaloo?"

My heart dropped. She knew.

I scrambled my thoughts on what to do, but it was as if I couldn't move an inch.

"Surprised? You really shouldn't be. You see, you were trapped in that machine for ten hours, and, unless you have gills or are not a living pony, you should've very well perished. Hehehe, so what are you? A ghost? A doppelganger possessed by her spirit? Whatever you are, it doesn't matter, because it's all gonna end the same as it did all those years ago.

You can come back however many times as you want, but it'll always end with you going through the blades of the Pegasus Device, Scoots. In fact, please do keep coming back; getting to see you die over and over is a sight I'd love to relive over and over."

She was just as cold as the first time with no sign of the Rainbow Dash I used to know. However, that wasn't important. I needed to focus on how I was going to counter and kill her, but my target was somewhere in the dark where I couldn't see her.

"What? No words for your sister? Don't you love me, Scoots?"

"No! How could I love somepony who killed me over selfishness and greed!?" I answered in rage.

"Selfishness and greed? I didn't do anything of such nature! In fact, I made sure you were the most beautiful rainbow Equestria had ever seen! Ponies admired you, Scoots! I carried on your legacy by marking you down in history as one of the most perfect rainbows ever produced!"

"At the cost of my life! You murdered me and my friends for your own pleasure, you bitch! You mentored me, taught me, and took me under your own wing as a sibling, and you repay me with cold-hearted betrayal and eternal darkness! What the fuck went wrong with you!? Why did you become such a heartless monster!?"

Tears began to flow, and my emotions were flooding out like a volcanic eruption.

Then a voice broke the temporary silence. A voice I didn't recognize.

"I can answer that, my dear."

The voice was deep and made every hair on my body stand stiff. Suddenly, my entire body was met with an electrifying sensation, dropping me instantly like a rock in water. My vision became fuzzy, unable to move or speak anything, then I saw a pony walk into the dim light of the hall.

They were tall and dressed in black, cloaking their identity and making me realize who they were. They were the pony that had shut the door of the Pegasus Device.

"I must admit that I am quite surprised to see your face again, Scootaloo, but, don't worry, you don't have to feel the pain of those blades again; we have plans for you, seeing killing you would be pointless. You'll just come back again, and we can't risk you interfering with our business.

No. Instead we plan to initiate you as one of the best Orchestrators this factory has ever seen, making your existence liable. Ms. Dash here was our first, and you'll be the second, so rejoice in your new reawakening. There will be pain, but only temporarily, so be a good girl, and go to sleep. When you open your eyes, you will be gifted a whole new life without the pain of your beloved sister betraying you."

I couldn't move or object. I wanted to run, analyze his statements, and find Absentia, but I was pinned. My vision grew blurry as my eyes closed from the exhaustion and pain singing my nerves.

Darkness drowned me, and all I remember before losing control over myself was the cool feeling of water slithering down my throat.

I'm sorry, everypony. I lost…