The Storm Factoryby Rarity BelleChaptersChapter 1Chapter 3Chapter 2Chapter 1Cloudsdale, Pegasi capital and the place where the weather of Equestria is made Yet not all weather is made in there One kind is kept far away of Cloudsdale The sun rose back from its slumber once more, letting the night be changed to the day. Not a single dark cloud dared to fill the sky, revealing a cloudless sky. It an overall normal, late spring or early summer day. But somewhere in a cloud palace near Ponyville, there was one very light cerulean coated, light, medium and deep blue maned and tailed, young pegasus mare who was vast asleep. One who didn’t have a plan of waking up. At least, not yet. “Shooting Star Dash, wake up!” a female voice shouted. The pegasus shocked up from her sleep and jumped out of her bed. Only to fall face flat on the floor which showed her cutie mark. One that was in the form of a shooting star. After the fall did her tail land in her mane. She moaned a little uncomfortable before rising back up before she made her reply. “Yes mom, I am coming...” Star muttered a little in herself while she made her way to the bathroom in order to refresh herself. But on her way towards it, she realized something. The young mare realized what day it was. Shooting Star went into turbo-drive and did everything faster than normal after which she flew downstairs. “Morning mom, morning dad,” she said with a smile on her face. Before her stood a cerulean pegasus mare with mane and tail colored as the rainbow and behind the table sat a cornflower blue coated, dark blue maned stallion. “Morning Star, you know what day it is today?” the stallion asked of her. Rainbow Dash let go a light chuckle as she came out the kitchen. “She knows that, honey. Otherwise she wouldn't be here right now and still be busy in the bathroom.” “That’s right, mom. Say, where is Twist?” asked Star with a light confusion in her tone. Not a few moments later a set of hoof steps clattered down the cloud stairs of the palace. Another cerulean coated pegasus entered the room, her mane looking like those of her mother but where Rainbow had the colors going from top to bottom, Twist her coloring went from left to right as on her hips a rainbow whirlwind cutie mark could be seen. “Was it really necessary to yell that loud, mom?” she asked under a loud yawn. “You know your mother, girls, she always want you to be on time, though she never was,” chuckled Soarin’ before he shook his head a bit. --- The four of them had their breakfast but soon after it Star began to make herself ready for school back up in her room. Though when she was packing her saddlebag Rainbow appeared in the doorway with a warm smile. “Star, you will succeed today. You will pass your test. You learned so hard for it all. I am sure of it,” said Rainbow to her with a confident tone. Shooting Star smiled back to her mother while she rest her eyes on her. “I know mom, but I am just a little nervous, I learned hard for it, I just hope I don’t fall shut.” The final book was placed in the bag and the lid was closed. The young pegasus let out a deep sigh before standing up and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, after which she continued her way through the hallway and down the stairs again. “Good luck, Star,” said Soarin’ while he also received a kiss from her. “Sis, good luck today,” added Rainbow Twist. Star smiled as she waved them all goodbye before taking off to school, for the test. Rainbow took her time while her eyes slowly gazed through the room. Only before letting out a sigh herself. After that did she began to walk back down the stairs. “Our little foal, is starting to grow up... Soon, we have to leave her, Soarin’,” the mare said while a little tear began to form in her eye. It was hard for her to let her foals go, but she knew she had to in the end. “I know Dashie, but small fillies become mares eventually,” replied the stallion with his kind voice. He wrapped a foreleg around her body and pulled her closer for a hug. “You know mom, dad has a point there,” said Twist while she ate her cornflakes. The mare gave him a kiss on his cheek before making her reply. “I know... But it just happened so fast...” Twist finished her breakfast as well and made herself ready to go to school. As she eventually left, only Soarin' and Rainbow were left in the house. The stallion sighed but it turned soon enough into a smile. “We have two wonderful foals, our lives are good and we have wonderful friends Dashie.” “I know Soarin’ and I am happy for that,” said Rainbow just before she kissed him on his lips. --- Shooting Star raced from cloud to cloud. In the distance did Cloudsdale itself become more and more visible to her eyes. She turned her speed up a notch. Which resulted in her flying even faster towards the city of pride. She entered the cloud-build city and flew through the many streets towards her school. All in the hope that she would still be on time. It didn't took that long before she landed by the door and galloped inside the school building to her classroom. When she arrived did her eyes shot open. The motions were followed by a couple blinks, for only her teacher was sitting behind the desk. “Morning Shooting Star, you are early today,” the teacher spoke after she noticed the young mare through her glasses in the door opening. “Morning miss Whiteboard. Well, today is the big day right? I wouldn't miss it for anything,” replied Star with a smile. “I see what you mean. Take place and look through your notes if you want, we begin in half an hour,” replied miss Whiteboard before she pointed to the empty classroom. Shooting Star took place on her usual table while placing her saddlebag aside and began to dig in it looking for notes she had made. It didn't took long before many notes covered her table as formulas, explanations and name it all were written on them. Miss Whiteboard looked to her student and a small smile formed itself upon her face. “You really did your homework for this, didn't you?” The young mare let go a light giggle before giving her the answer. “I indeed did. It has cost me some nights, but it is all worth it.” The teacher chuckled a little and more pegasi entered the classroom, all taking their place. --- After a while was the whole class filled with other pegasi as miss Whiteboard started to call their names and marked them who were there as present. “Anypony seen Feathers today?” she asked all the sudden. “I went by yesterday and her mother said she was sick, she has a very bad flu,” answered Star. Just the thought of it made Star already sick to the stomach. “Thank you for sharing this, miss Dash. I shall contact her mother about today and reschedule her test,” replied miss Whiteboard before she crossed the name. Miss Whiteboard then stood up and began to hover through the classroom dropping pieces of paper by each student. “I hope you all studied good for this. Because this test, decides your future here in Cloudsdale. You came to this school to work in the weather facilities. To be taught, the ways of making the weather in Equestria. Now it is time, to prove it. Pegasi, good luck. You have until five in the afternoon.” Star just gazed upon the bookwork given to her. There was a smile which began to appear on her face. She took her quill and answered the questions the best she could. --- The minutes slowly turned into hours as the first student was done. The young stallion placed his things back in his bag before giving his work to the teacher and left the classroom. Every face in the room stared at him and utter confusion but then turned back to their work. Star herself was the only pony who didn't look up but kept working. She was too far gone in her mind to notice her surrounding for it was her, her mind and the test. Time progressed further and more pegasi left the classroom with their tests completed but Star was still deeply busy with her test. A smirk had appeared on her face before she mumbled some soft words to herself. “Now that is, answer B.” The more time she spend on the test, the more she lost the grasp of reality but was shocked back as she read through the final question. “Hmm... Tough one,” she mumbled in herself while she dropped her quill and wiped her eyes clean with her hooves as her head pounded the question. But after long thinking, she finally filled in an answer. The young mare went back to the very beginning of the test and began to read every question and given answer again to check it all one last time. As she slowly reached the final question, a bright and proud smile occupied her face. Star packed her saddlebag again, looking for the first time to the empty classroom before leaving her desk and making her way over to Miss Whiteboard. “Did everypony else left while I was working?” Star asked. “Everypony indeed did. But it was a big test. You still had an hour left,” said miss Whiteboard under a nod and a friendly smile. “Go home, Star, your parents will be waiting for you. I only need you to sign here, as proof that you made the test.” The young mare smiled back as she signed the piece of paper. “I will, miss Whiteboard. See you in a couple days when the results are in.” The pegasus left the classroom and trotted through the deserted school halls. Years had she spent here together with her friend. Having wonderful memories of those times. A bright smile came to her face as the trip down memory lane only got better the more she thought. When she finally did stand outside, Star stretched herself a little bit and the bones in her wings cracked a little bit because they haven’t moved in hours. Her eyes fell on the warm and overall lovely afternoon sun as she decided to bath a little in it letting her muzzle coat in it under closed eyes. “Hmm, perfect...” Her eyes closed she began to relive a day so long ago. The very first day Feathers and herself walked through the gates of the school. The terrified pinkish purple maned, grayish gold coated Pegasus nearly cowering behind her as they both entered and the comforting words she spoke. ‘It is alright Feathy, I am with you, remember.’ A small tear of joy left her eyes as they slowly opened itself again and she opened her wings to take off. With a small charge and a correctly timed jump Shooting Star honored her name and shot off back into the skies as she made her way out of the city and back to her home. Back to her family and probably a wonderful cooked dinner. --- “Hey mom,” said Star before her hooves wrapped themselves around Rainbow what resulted in a tight hug. A warm and tight hug as only a mother and daughter could give it. “Welcome back honey, how did it go?” asked her mother while wrapping her hooves around her daughter. “It went great. I knew every answer they game me,” replied Star with a smile on her face. Rainbow smiled back under a light wink. “Let’s keep it a little secret for when your father comes home. Tell it by dinner.” “I will, mom,” said Star giggling. The young mare then went up to her room where she dropped her saddlebag in the usual corner and just plopped down on the bed, making herself comfortable on it. But the more she stayed on it, the more Star began to drift away into her dream world. That was until Rainbow called her for dinner. A thing resulted in the same scenery as that very morning. Shooting Star removed her face from the floor and began to make her way downstairs as the scent of the dinner made its way into her nose. When the young mare took place behind the table as she waited for her father and sister to come and soon enough they did arrive. The both of them took place and Rainbow came in and served up the dinner for them all after which she took place herself. “Star, it has come to my ears, you wanted to say something,” said Rainbow while filling up her plate with a bit of a smirk. “I indeed do. I am certain I passed my test. I had every question correct in my eyes,” she said with pride. As soon as the word entered the ears of both Soarin’ and Twist, their eyes became big and turned to the young mare. “That is wonderful, honey!” spoke the stallion with joy. “Well done sis!” replied Twist with a gleeful smile. “Now, I only have to wait, for the results. Which will come in a couple days,” said Star before she started to enjoy her dinner. All of them told about their day as the evening slowly ventured forward into the night, meaning it was bedtime for the children. Shooting Star made herself ready to hit the hay and dropped herself on the bed where she fell asleep like a rose with her head buried in the pillow, yet still managed to breath. --- The days slowly passed by. Yet Star made good use of the time she had to work around the house and spending time by Feathers, who was slowly recovering from her flu. Then came the day it was time. The time was there to hear the results. The young mare was making herself ready to go to school again as she flew down to the front door. “Mom, I am off to school. I will be back in about an hour or two.” Star said as she waved to her mother. “Alright dear. See you soon again,” replied Rainbow. The pegasus was still doing some chores and waved back before returning to them. Shooting Star flew off to her school by using her usual route and waited in the canteen of the school until miss Whiteboard called her. “Miss Dash? Would you follow me please,” the teacher asked of her. Without any form of hesitation did she follow. The young mare stood up from her seat and followed her into the teachers’ lounge where they took place. Miss Whiteboard released a soft sigh before allowing her eyes to rest upon her student. “Shooting Star Dash, your test was far better than that of anypony else. Most ponies just learn a little and just take a guess. But you, you studied nights for this. Your score was almost a hundred. And it is the highest we have gotten this year. But, you will not be going to any of the weather factories... Words from higher authorities have insisted that you go somewhere else. Star, you are going to the Storm Department.” When those two words entered her ears, the cerulean pegasus sat almost defeated in the chair. She couldn't wrap her head around it. She had worked so hard for it yet would end up in the place where the worst weather is made in the whole of Equestria. Her world began to collapse slowly around herself. Her eyes only made a blinking move as miss Whiteboard gave her the paper on which it all stood and slowly guided the confused pegasus back outside, back into the fresh air as tears filled the eyes of Shooting Star. “Thank you miss Whiteboard, for everything,” she said before taking off quicker than normal and began the trip back to her home. --- When she did reach the house again, she entered it but didn't say a word. She just placed the letter on the table. Star flew to her room while fighting off the tears. She made a landing on her bed where she began to cry like a foal. Rainbow Dash was working in the kitchen when she heard the door opening and closing but never got any sound from the pony entering and went to the living room to inspect it, only to find the letter. “Now what is this?” she questioned herself and gently opened it and her eyes began to read it word by word. She shook her head a couple times for the words seemed so unreal. Her daughter, her sweet daughter had to go the Storm Department. Rainbow fell to the ground only to burst out in tears, she stayed there, crying all the time until Soarin' came back from his work. “Honey, I am home,” he said but then heard the sobbing and saw Rainbow, he sat down next to her and ever so gently allowed the question to roll off of his mind. “Honey, what is it?” “It is Shooting Star... She has... She has... She has to go to the Storm Department,” said Rainbow through her sobbing. “What..? No, not our sweetie,” he replied in utter disbelief. Rainbow gave him the letter and he couldn't believe it. “And she to depart... In three days?! Like it wasn't bad enough,” the stallion said while tears collected in his eyes. Star looked up from her pillow after a while as the crying of her parents reached her ears finally. She sniffed a couple times and then went downstairs, where her parents hugged her tightly. Rainbow wiped away her own tears as she cuddled her daughter deeply. Soarin’ hugged the both of them deeply and caring. “I’m sorry mom... I’m sorry...” said Star through her tears. “Shh... Shh... Don’t be Star, you never knew this would happen, none of us did,” her mother spoke through her own soft sobbing. All three of them sat there, for the rest of the night, comforting each other over the terrible news. In the end, there was only one thing they could be doing. They had to accept it for what it was. They couldn't do anything else for her. She had to go. Nothing could be brought in against it to great sadness of the family. --- The days crawled by even slower, Shooting Star began to say her goodbyes to her friends and family. But above all, had one last talk with her best friend Feathers as Fluttershy sat in the living room, comforting Rainbow and Soarin’. Not much time was left for the cerulean pegasus as she began to pack her things as Feathers watched. “So... This is it then, isn't it, Starry?” “It, it is Feathy...” replied Star. “Tomorrow I have to leave.” Feathers gave her friend an understanding nod. “I will do my best to be there tomorrow for you, if my mother can get it in her heart to come.” “I, I am sure auntie Fluttershy will come, even though it will hurt her... She will do it for my mother and me,” said Star with a sad tone. She had packed the last things and closed her bags. “Can we at least, hug one more time, Feathy?” Feathers gave a nod to the question and opened her forelegs for a hug. Shooting Star hugged her best friend tight back as a couple tears left her eyes and the sun slowly descended. It would be signaling the beginning of the final night. The day turned into the night both young mares kept hugging each other like there was no tomorrow. Except it was for real, there would be no tomorrow, no real free tomorrow. Fluttershy carefully walked up the stairs to look how her daughter was doing only to find the two of them hugging each other even in their sleep. The light yellow pegasus softly closed the door before making her return from the stairs, looking to Rainbow. The eyes told the cyan pegasus more than enough as she let go a deep sigh. Chapter 3One weather factory as a prison The storm factory, the best prison known to the pegasus race But as any prison, there is a way out for those who look Being defeated by the terrible news of everything, Star had called herself sick for the coming couple of days. She was completely out of her doing because of it. The young mare didn't leave her bed for most of the day and only got out to get her dinner which she ate up back in her room. Many more rumors of incidents did their turn as the breaking of a fan for a hurricane claimed the another life. As another rumor spoke of a pegasus being drowned in the water basins. The young mare was mentally through, her mind couldn't take it much more before she was on the point of no return, the depressions hit her harder every time as many tears left her eyes every day. One night, on a bright, cloudless full moon night, she was staring at the rock as she recalled the story her mother once told over her friends and the Elements of Harmony, how the six of them defeated Nightmare Moon. It succeeded because they had hope and friendship together. She let go a deep sigh while starting to humble in herself. “Friends, I don’t have here... And hope I am close to give up...” The young mare dropped back on her bed and tried to get some form of sleep. --- Later that night was Star still sobbing in her bed. She had almost missed the fact that somepony knocked on her door. The young mare didn't respond at first for she wanted to be alone, but then her ears perked as a familiar voice did its turn. “Shooting Star? Are you awake?” the voice said in nothing but a whisper. The young mare remembered the voice and stood up to open the door only to be met by a face of remembrance. “Thunder? What are you doing here at this hour?” she asked quietly. “Helping you escape, maybe redeem my soul a little, if it is not washed away by the tears of the broken... I, overheard, your conversation with Atmosphere a couple days ago, sorry for that. Do not ask why I did, but you need to get out of here, now,” said Thunder quietly. “Please, trust me Shooting Star. I have a plan, and you need to follow me in every hoof step of it.” Star was faced with a choice in that moment. She could either stay in what has become a factory of terrible weather and death. Or she could heed Thunder’s call and try to escape. The decision however was made after a short time of thinking. Without hesitation she began to grab her saddlebags and fill them up with her belongings, which luckily wasn't that much, and she went with Thunder outside. --- The stallion swiftly guided her to the entrance of the factory but none of the employees looked up strange for they were just normal workers of the night shift. The only part where they had to be careful was hallway leading up to the front and thus final door. The moonlight shone through the entrance making it seem so easy to just fly away. Thunder made Star stop walking. “As soon as we go through that door, you need to fly, fly like never before. Now, go. No questions, just fly. Fly away from here with all your might.” Before Star could say anything had the stallion turned into a galloping pace and she followed him a couple hooves behind. Thunder burst through the door setting off an alarm but they both kept galloping until the end of the cloud the factory was placed on came in sight and the pegasi opened their wings and took off at full speed. When the alarm were wailing in Blackheart's ears, he knew enough and galloped from his office to the outside of the factory as the unicorn mare teleported herself to the location. The mare landed on the clouds and was able to stand on them due to a cloud walking spell as her eyes peeked into the darkness looking for the two figures. Not much later had Blackheart himself stormed on the cloud as well spotting them almost right away through his glasses in the cloudless skies. “Unicorn, shoot them out of the skies, now!” “Which one of them?” the unicorn asked as she charged up her horn slowly. “The both of them of course! You imbecile!” demanded Blackheart in a moment of fury. “I can only shoot one! They are too far away already for two blasts!” Those words made the stallion wanting to kick the mare of the cloud and to her grave, but didn't do it because he needed her badly. The stallion looked back into the darkness of the night and tried to identify Shooting Star out of the two. “The right one!” said Blackheart and the unicorn released a powerful blast towards the right pegasus. Both of the fleeing pegasi heard the releasing sounds of the blast. Star prepared herself for the impact of it but the impact never came. She looked over to Thunder who began to fall down, down to the ground. In the mind of the mare a war was raging on, either go in and try to save Thunder, or keep flying away. But she took too much time to think as not much later there was the sound of something hitting into the ground that echoed through the skies and Star just made sure she got away. When Blackheart finally made it to the spot and tried to identify the remains he shook his head. “Unicorn, write a message to Atmosphere. I need him here, tomorrow. And make sure, every prisoner get to see, what happens, if you try to escape. There is no other option.” “But what about the other?” asked the unicorn mare. “There is no other,” said Blackheart while he glanced over the remains of Thunder Dasher. --- Every single pegasus was gathered in the canteen of the factory and they all wondered why they were either woken up or taken away from work. It didn't took long before all their questions got answered as the gray stallion entered and stood on a table, making himself clearly visible to them. “You all probably ask yourself why you are here right? Well, because of one thing. To forget you to make attempt to escape. You are free to try, but then you end up, as mister Dasher here.” Slowly the remains of Thunder were levitated with the help of the unicorn. “So you all just forget that plan of coming out of here. Because there is no way out. And now, back to your stations prisoners!” he said in a stern tone and all the prisoners slowly went back to their rooms or departments. “Professor, doctor Atmosphere is here for you,” said the unicorn just after she had the remains of the stallion. Even her tone spoke in a surprised one. “Faster than I expected, I will see him right away,” replied Blackheart as he made his way to the entrance of the facility. It took him a small walk, but eventually he stood face to face. Right in front of the stallion he hated most. “Good that you could come so fast Atmosphere.” he said in a deep and serious tone. But Atmosphere interrupted him by shouting almost directly in his ears. “You big idiot that you are!” “Excuse me,” answered the gray stallion. “Before we continue, my office, now.” Atmosphere gave him a nod before he followed Blackheart up to his personal office. But on their way, both of the stallions were boiling in utter rage for each other. Blackheart opened the door as they reached it and Atmosphere walked in. He took place in a chair place before the desk as the gray stallion took place in his chair behind the desk. “Now, there is one pegasi on the run and let it just be miss Dash. You failed me again, professor. This is the last chance I give you before I replace you with somepony who can do this job,” spoke the visitor with an unusual calm in his voice. He wanted to say something but decided to keep his mouth shut as Atmosphere spoke again. “And just how do you want to cover this up. You do not, she will be replaced. I must thank you for this as well, you big idiot, now I must fill in a replacement file for her so she doesn't have to return.” “Oh, so now it is all my fault, isn't it, Atmosphere? You know, I am just about done with you. Do what you have to do and leave this place. Next time, I will be coming to you directly,” said Blackheart in an angry tone. He was having more than enough of the other stallion. “Just place a sign here and we don’t have to see each other again for a long time,” answered Atmosphere. He gave over a piece of paper to the other one, thinking the same. The grey stallion read it through and eventually signed it. Atmosphere nodded to him and parted his ways with the gray stallion, out of the factory and flew away, to his own office. “I hate him so much... Raise the tempo again. We have a big storm waiting for Manehatten. And I want to see that place shiver in true fear,” said Blackheart to the unicorn as he leaned back in his chair. He stretched his right wing only to feel the sharp pain going through it and mumbled something to himself. “I will get you back for breaking my wing Atmosphere... On my word... I will...” --- Meanwhile had Star began to recognize the air she found herself flying through. It was still far from home, but she flew as hard as she could. The young mare flew through the depths of night and as the sun rose back up so was still flying at her top speed but was starting to wear down. Over the cause of the day she became slower and slower and as the sun began to descend once more, she knew she had to find a place to sleep. Barely being able to keep her eyes open she noticed a big barn and began to descend for it as she swiftly made her way inside in found the haystacks where she just plummet herself in and almost right away fall asleep in. The next morning Star slowly woke up from a voice, a sweet and southern voice. “Sugarcube, are ya alright?” the voice asked. She slowly opened her eyes and stared straight into Applejack’s green irises. “A-Aunt Applejack?” asked Star with a sleepy tone in her voice. “Yes, that is me, Star, but what are ya doin’ here?” the cowgirl asked. Shooting Star told her the story but leaving out the details which nopony else may know, “And after such a long time of flying I just couldn't help it, and fell asleep here. You aren't angry at me?” she said a little scared. “Not at all sugarcube. But Ah advise ya to go now, since yar mother will be up by now and Ah think she is dying to see you,” said Applejack with a smile on her face. Star smiled back just before she walked out of the barn and greeted Granny Smith while she took off. To home, to her family. --- With a short trip later Star landed by the door of her house and knocked on it. Not much later Rainbow opened it and thought her eyes were lying to her. “Shooting, Star? Is, is that really you?” she asked while looking at the still beat up Star. The young mare nodded and Rainbow hugged her tight while bringing her inside, where Soarin’ and Twist couldn't believe what they saw. Shooting Star had returned to them all. They all gathered in the living room where she told the whole story, not a single detail was spared. Her family listened in awe and after Star was done, they all hugged her and all four of them burst out in tears. --- In just a matter of days the young mare was her old self again and didn't receive any word from the factory. Her eyes had regained their color again, her smile returned and her manes and tail were finally coal dust and soot free. The normal day routine had returned in the Dash residence. Though one morning there was somepony who stood knocking on the door. Somepony who would change everything one last time. “I will go, mom,” said Star and she flew off to the door. The mare opened it and was shocked at the sight before her and let go a loud gulping sound. “Afternoon, Shooting Star. May I come in for a minute?” asked the stallion in the door opening. She moved a little aside to let the visitor come in and it made use of the opportunity to do so. Whatever the visitor came for, Star was praying for the best yet already preparing for the worst. Everypony looked up at the voice they heard and went to the living room taking seats. The visitor was revealed to be a stallion who did the same and looked at the Dash family and smiled. “You remember me, don’t you?” he asked. “Doctor Atmosphere, how could I forget your face?” answered Star after she had walked over. The young mare took place next to her mother who wrapped her hooves around her daughter. Atmosphere gave her a simple nod as confirmation. “Indeed, Shooting Star, there has been an enormous mistake made with your test results. You were never meant to go to the storm factory. And I am only here to give you this.” He dropped a closed envelope on the table. After that did he stood back up again. “I am sorry for this short visit, but my main priority was that you would get the letter, delivered personally to avoid any misunderstandings.” He began to make his way back through the front door and closed it again, his eyes falling in the sunlight. “Wow... The doctor Atmosphere, in our house,” said Twist a little shaking. “Sis, open it and read it!” All three of them had their attention turned pinned on Star as she slowly reached over for the envelope and opened it, pulling out a letter. Dear Shooting Star, I want to apologize first for something has gone wrong with your test. You never should have been sent to the Storm Factory in the first place. Based on the results of your test we place you, in the weather patrol of Ponyville. Your first day of work will be in two months. We hope to have made you a little happier and enjoy your vacation. With kind regard, Dr. Atmosphere, head Cloudsdale Weather Corporation. None of the Dashes could believe the words written down but they were true and all of them jumped on Shooting Star and began to hug and cuddle her deeply. She had left the Storm Factory forever and tears of joy began to build up in the eyes of the young mare. Rainbow Dash broke the hug ever so gently and went outside in the vague hope to find Atmosphere. The stallion was luckily still stretching his wings in order to take off as she spoke to him. “Doctor, I want to thank you. For doing this for my daughter. I thank you with my whole heart for it,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Do not think my generosity goes deeper than this. You are still part of an untold chapter in pegasi history, miss Dash,” said Atmosphere before he turned himself towards Rainbow. “A chapter, that may never see the light of day. I hope you understand that.” “I understand that, but still, thank you,” said Rainbow as she watched him take off. She trotted back to her cloud palace and continued to cuddle her beloved daughter. Her daughter had returned and would stay with her and her family. Chapter 2Heavy storms and hurricanes, are not made in Cloudsdale Making them inside the city is far too dangerous No, storms are made, far out of the city’s reach The sun rose back from its slumber while the weather had changed drastically from the day before. Instead of another warm and sunny day, there were dark clouds that occupied the skies. Hinting to a heavy –if not massive– upcoming storm. Yet both Star and Feathers slowly woke up in each other’s hooves. The blue eyes of Shooting Star gazed outside into the eye of the storm. None spoke a word, as they had said their goodbyes over and over. And when the time was there that the young mare would go without hesitation or struggling, no matter how hard that would become for any of them. When the clock hit noon a bright flash filled the skies soon to be followed by a heavy roll of thunder as a chariot made its way from the clouds and began to flew over to the cloud palace. It didn't took long before the chariot had reached their house and came to a hold nearly before the door. Both Star and Feathers had made their way over to the window to inspect it and patiently awaited who, or what, would come out it. The pegasus who was pulling it made its way over to the door and opened it under a light bow. Out of the chariot appeared a pleasantly grey coated stallion with black mane, a deep blue coloring in his eyes and missing the tip of his ear. The stallion gave a nod to the pegasus before making his way over to the door of the house and knocked three times on it. Star let go a deep sigh and moved away from the window only to grab her bags. Feathers silently turned herself to her friend and tried her best not to shed a tear. Rainbow slowly opened the door as her eyes met those of the stallion. One that spoke in a kind voice. “Afternoon, miss Dash. The name is professor Blackheart, manager of the Storm Department. I am here for Shooting Star.” He couldn't help it but too take note of the sadness in the eyes of the pegasus. “I know this is hard for you, for all of you. But that are the rules, miss Dash.” “I know... Let me get her, okay?” replied Rainbow. She turned herself around and began to make way to the bedroom of her daughter. “Star honey, they are here for you.” said the mare as she slowly opened the door of the bedroom. The time had come to make the departure. “I know mom... I will miss you... All of you,” sighed Star as she hugged her mother for probably the last time. Then her attention turned to Feathers who also received a last hug. “Feathy, I will miss you the most.” Both her mother and her best of friend returned the hug tightly before Star took her saddlebags and slowly began to make her way down the stairs. Blackheart had taken the opportunity to invite himself into their residence and stood in the living room. He was listening to the soft hoof steps coming down. “You are, Shooting Star I assume. The name is Blackheart,” he said while Star stood on the floor. She walked over to him and stood there. The stallion raised out his hoof to shake it. Star simply shook it with a sad smile. “That is correct, I am Shooting Star. A pleasure to meet you.” There wasn’t much else that she could be saying in the moment. “Shall we go?” Blackheart asked under a nod. The young mare let go an even deeper sigh as she gave him a nod. The stallion turned himself back around and walked back to the door as Star had one last look at her family and close friend while a small tear ran down her face. “Goodbye.” --- With an uncomfortable feeling did she made her way over to the chariot. There where the stallion was waiting for her and she entered it. Only to be followed by him. The door fell shut as the pegasus moved back to the front where it slowly began to pull the chariot again, slowly lifting it off of the ground. Star had a final glimpse to her mother, her father, her sister and her friend with her mother as they all were tearing up. While the chariot got further away, she couldn't help herself. Her own eyes began to tear up as well. It just wasn’t true in her eyes. Back in the house, Rainbow couldn't believe it. Her foal, was taken away. “No... No... Soarin’, please, tell me this is all a dream, that I wake up soon in the middle of the night,” she said in a confused, scared voice. “I wish it was honey, but she is gone...” replied Soarin’ as he couldn't hold his tears anymore and hugged his wife tightly. “My, my sister... Gone... No,” said Twist while she shook her head. But she was truly gone. Fluttershy couldn't hold yourself either anymore and many tears left her eyes as Feathers tried to comfort her mother but only to tear up herself. Shooting Star was taken away from them, to work in the Storm Department. They couldn't do anything against it, except accept that fact. No matter how hard it is. --- In the chariot was the young mare sobbing quiet and to herself. Yet Blackheart tried his best to comfort her. It was a little thing that didn't really work. “I know this is hard for you Shooting Star, but the rules are the rules. You will be able to see them, you are allowed to go to them, but only in vacations,” said Blackheart in a caring tone. One of his hooves was wrapped around her and gently stroking her shoulder in a comfortable manner. “I, I should be happy, right? I mean, I am going to work in one of the weather factories... Right?” said Star before she wiped her tears away. The stallion nodded before making his reply. “The things you answered on the questions about storms, were all perfect answers, Star. You are made for the Department.” She looked him in the eyes as he spoke those words and could see they were true. She could only accept her fate. A fate of working in the Storm Factory. --- Eventually did the chariot came to a standstill and Star gathered her guts to take a peek outside. She wanted to look where exactly she had been brought. Her eyes fell through the window of the chariot and she saw the factory. The place where she would be working in. A tall and wide building that was created out of dark, storm clouds as lightning shot up from the roof to nearly everywhere in Equestria. It penetrated the atmosphere and disappeared out of sight. Out of the many chimneys on the side of the building where more black clouds left and were either brought or floated to their needed locations. Yet its overall design looked very familiar to all the other factories she had been and read about. The stallion opened the door and left the chariot as the young mare slowly followed him outside. Her eyes opened themselves widely as she now saw the place in its full glory, if you can call it that. “Don’t let the looks fool you too much, Star. She’s a beauty on the inside,” said Blackheart. He held the door open for her like she was some kind of royal. Shooting Star smiled a little at him and followed him closely after getting her saddlebags again. They both entered the building the stallion let her wait in the hall for a little bit of time. “I will show you your room first and then give you a tour through the Factory. Your first official work day will be tomorrow then.” He then proceeded the walk and she followed him a couple hooves behind. Her eyes were glancing over at the interior. Which awkwardly enough was rather nice compared to the products it had been producing for so long already. From the entrance they walked through a long hallway before turning themselves to their left and up a set of stairs before entering a door on the level they needed to be. As she looked in the new hallway many numbered doors could be seen and the stallion walks over to one door specifically. “Here we go. Through here is your room, miss Dash,” said Blackheart while he stood before a door. The stallion opened it before he gave her the key to it, “It is not much, but the things necessary are there. Place your saddlebags on the couch and follow me again, please.” The young mare gave a nod and did what he said. After that would she be going with him on a tour through the Factory. She would be visiting all of the departments. They walked passed the room filled with Tesla-coils which created the lightning and ventured on to the basins for water for the rain. From there, they went to the boiler room where the clouds were created and in the department next to it the fans for the hurricanes stood. By each department Blackheart told what happened there as Star listened carefully. Finally he guided her back to her room and as they were in the hallway leading to it. “Tomorrow, you will start by the cloud department. Report by the foreman, a stallion with a hat on, and he will tell you what to do. For now, take a good night rest. You will need it.” “I will. Thank you, professor,” said Star before she went to her room and closed the door. She made herself ready to go to bed and dropped herself on it. “My new home. Let’s make the best out of it, now shall we?” Star mumbled just before her eyes closed themselves. She began to slowly drift off to the worlds of her dreams. She had to make the best out of it all, not just for herself, but her family as well. --- Blackheart on the other end went to his office. There he stretched his wings a little bit along the way. Only to feel a sharp pain in his right one. It was scarred from an old wound that never fully healed, one he had gotten from an old foe. “Ugh...I still need to return him that favor one day,” he mumbled as he continued on his way. Eventually he plopped down in his chair. The file of Star laid on his desk and he began to read it through his glasses which were on every minute he was in the factory itself. “Out of all the foals who could have ended up here, I got the Dash... I need to talk with somepony, soon. Otherwise, things, will not turn out good. History repeats itself, they say.” He closed and placed the file aside while turning the chair to the window looking over the lightning department and watched the many coils do their job, having both a grin of pleasure and a look of uncertainty on his face. --- As the night slowly made way for the morning the young prepared herself for her first workday and refreshed herself in the small bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and gave a slight smile. After that she would be making her way out of her room and trying to remember where the Cloud Department was. While she made her way through the factory, Star ended up in a massive boiler room. There where the only light visible came from the lambs above and the fire of the boilers themselves. Her eyes spotted a stallion with a hat and the words of Blackheart echoed through her head, knowing she was in the place. “Shooting Star Dash, I assume?” said the foreman with a deep voice. The young mare gave him a nod and perked her ears to his upcoming words. He began to explain how the clouds were made. That feeding the boilers with coals kept the fires raging on, which would heat the water inside, resulting in the powerful steam which was used for clouds. But only if the pressure valve was released on time. The darker the cloud needed to be, the more coal there would have been used. Star understood the manner of working and began by taking a shovel on her front hooves and dug it through the pile of coal she stood before. Before feeding it into the ever raging fires of the boilers. Her first couple attempts were all failures which was much to the annoyance of the foreman. Though as her mind began to make the calculations, the clouds became better and better over time. Light white clouds, pure white clouds, dark clouds and black clouds all left the boiler as ordered and at this remarkable presentation the jaw of the foreman dropped. Star had managed to get everything as it should. She began to work harder than anypony else in the department and her clouds that were already good, became perfect in the foreman’s eyes. --- After a couple hours of working the horn sounded indicating it was lunchtime and Star made her way over to the canteen where she took place on a chair behind a table where she sat alone, looking at the many other ponies who were running the day shift. The young mare wanted to bring her sandwich to her mouth before the foreman of the Cloud Department took place against her. “You know, miss Dash, your clouds, were just perfect in size, shape and color. I have never, ever seen anypony who made that much process in such a short time. The name is Cloudchaser by the way, Storm Cloudchaser, in fact,” the stallion said before he stuck out his hoof to shake it. Star shook it and smiled in return. “A pleasure to meet you, Storm, and thank you. I have studied quite a lot about making weather.” “Hm, something most of us could learn from,” said Storm before he swallowed a piece of sandwich. The both of them talked a little about each other before the horn signaled that they all had to work again. The young mare went back to work where she made again perfect clouds. The longer time would have passed by, she felt herself more home in the factory then she originally thought. With Storm being kinder to her then the rest, Star didn't want to leave the department. She really enjoyed it there. Eventually the final horn did its way through the Factory letting everypony know the day shift was over and the mare flew to her room where she fell on her bed with a smile on her face. --- Dinner would be served soon enough and she tried to get some rest by taking a small nap. But that plan was shattered as somepony knocked on the door of her room. “It is open,” said Star before she opened her eyes again. She wanted to see who her mysterious visitor would be. The door slowly opened and in the opening stood the grey coated stallion who began to walk into the room, taking place on the chair as he looked over to the young mare. “I heard you did well in the cloud department. But you still have three other departments to go. Tomorrow, you will be standing by the drivers for the hurricanes,” he said while his blue irises pierced through the glasses. Star listened to his words after which she nodded and he went away just as mysterious as he came. But by the time he was done and gone, it happened to be dinner time. Star made her way again to the canteen but noticed how Blackheart went to his office and winced in pain. He had spread his wing a little bit before retracting it. Star didn't really pay much attention to it as she took her plate and sat down behind a table and just wanted to enjoy a great cooked dinner. --- “I do not care if he can’t come to me, then I go to him! We need to solve this, otherwise she will find it out sooner or later. You know what? Drop it, drop the disguise, there is no way for her to leave and sooner or later she would found it out herself!” said Blackheart angry. Though a unicorn mare wrote a letter. She was writing everything down that he spoke to her. Though the mare looked up to him with a nervous glance. “Are you sure about this, professor? I mean, dropping it for her, might cause her to go, you know,” she brought forth, scared. Blackheart stood up from his desk and walked toward the unicorn. He pressed his face against hers. “I pay you to do what I say. I never wanted to hear questions from you! So stop asking them or you might end up in one of the lighting coils. Now send that message, please,” he said to her in a tone that was filled with anger. The unicorn gulped loudly before doing what he asked of her. The letter got rolled up and the seal of the storm factory was placed on it. After which it dissolved into small particles and disappeared out of sight. The unicorn then moved over the middle of the room. There where she would have raised on her hind legs and charged up her horn a bit further. It didn't took long before the horn was humming with even more power. Blackheart had taken place behind his desk once more, having his eyes peeled on her. All the sudden a beam left the horn and created a shield around the Factory for a moment before it died down again, at first glance nothing had changed. But the changes, were there. The stallion looked as the mare discharged her horn. “Good, unicorn, now leave me alone.” “Well excuse me, but I have a name,” the mare replied as she lowered again on all four of her hooves. “I said leave, unicorn.” She didn't want to anger him even more than he was and let the matter to rest as she removed herself from the office. But while the events happened in the office, Shooting Star had made herself comfortable in the warm bed and was deep asleep and only stirred a little as the shield was created around the factory. “Why do I have to get ending up with her. Can’t she work in his precious factory like her mother?” mumbled Blackheart angry as he slammed his hoof in the desk, cracking the wood a little. The stallion turned himself around and his eyes gazed upon the many Tesla-coils that were visible through the window and he signaled that all of them had to be fired up as he slowly got a mad stallion look in his eyes before slowly removing his glasses to watch the scenery. Soon the dozens of coils were all sparkling with lightning. The employees removed themselves from the room as it was too dangerous to be near a coil as it charged up. And without any warning, the stored energy released itself into one lightning bolt that shot right up into the atmosphere and far beyond that, not having any plan nor sign it would ever come down again. But what it did create was an odd shooting star that made its way through space. All of the coils slowly died off as their energy was released and smoke left them as on the ground laid something, a smoking and smoldering hump of something. The deep blue eyes of the grey stallion fell on it and immediately turned away not willing to look further at it and returned to the place behind his desk. The buzzing sound of an intercom did its turn through the room as he sighed deeply and answered the incoming call. “Professor Blackheart, we have a casualty. Foreman Cloudchaser, he flew into a coil...” He let go a deep sigh before saying his words. “You know what to do.” “Yes professor,” said the voice and the call ended. --- Meanwhile at the Dash residence Rainbow was moving a little through the room of Star, cleaning a couple things here and there as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Our baby girl... She has become a mare now,” she said under a sniffle. After some time of gazing she closed the door behind her and slowly walked down the stairs only to plop down on the sofa where she began to cry softly. The taking of her daughter left a bigger scar than anypony originally imagined but there was the small hope she would come back from time to time. Rainbow released one of the biggest sighs of her life followed up by a couple more sniffles as she tried to accept the facts. Something her husband and other daughter already had, or at least made it look that way. Rainbow got up and without a warning she just flew away. She would be flying her way through the skies and clouds while she tried to forget it. Though no matter what she did, she couldn't forget her little Shooting Star. Later that night as they all sat on the couch, the tension was to cut between Rainbow, Soarin’ and Twist. “Mom, is, is it really as bad, as the stories tell?” asked Twist after hearing some rumors about the place at her school. Rainbow sighed deeply and tried her best not to cry, “Yes... Yes it is Twist...” Soarin’ let go a deep sigh upon the answer and so did Twist. They could only hope now. Hope for the best. --- Back in the factory had the sun began to rise again and Star woke up with quite the headache. As her eyes opened themselves she took notice of the new looks the Factory had gotten, or better said: the look it always had. She blinked a couple times in utter disbelief. The warm and friendly look got traded in for a cold and dead one. She refreshed herself and sat on the edge of her bed as her thoughts wandered back to her home, thinking about her family and friends she had left not too long ago. But her thoughts were disturbed by the sound of somepony rampaging into her room. Star shocked up from the suddenness and stared into the deep blue eyes of Blackheart whose tone had turned into one filled with anger. “Miss Dash! Before you ask, this is how the factory really looks like. There is no escape from this place, you may never even leave this place! You want to know why? Because it is a prison! I save you the trouble from finding it out yourself and thus nosing around on places you shouldn’t be. But I have a plan for you. You will work on the Lighting Department from now on. Make yourself ready and report by the foreman.” After he said those words, Blackheart turned himself around again and left by closing the door again. Star was hit by surprise from this sudden revelation. Why would he have told it to her in the first place? Though she made her way over to the canteen a little stunned. She wandered through the cold steel hallways before entering it and took her breakfast. While she walked over to a table, words caught her ears over what happened during the night shift. “Sorry but, is it true?” she asked. The stallion nodded for confirmation. “He flew against a charging coil, dead on the spot. A shame, Storm was a good stallion.” The young mare couldn't believe this and her appetite was just gone as she went to another table for she didn't wanted to bother the stallions more than she would, but not before asking one last question. “Is this a prison?” Now it was another stallion who nodded. “Aye, worst of the worst are placed here... Lifelong work to create the most severe weather in Equestria... Tis a good deed, might redeem yar soul a little, not much, but hey, every bit counts right?” As those words entered her ears it was her courage was dropped as a whole. --- As the horn sounded once more she made her way over to the Lightning Department and searched for the foreman. “Oh no,” was all Star could bring out upon the sight of him. For it was nopony else then professor Blackheart himself. “Miss Dash. I placed you here, so that I can keep an eye on you. I need you to coordinate the lightning bolts with precise aim,” he said and pointed to one of the many desks with a radar screen of Equestria. “Take place and send a bolt to this location.” He gave her a piece of paper and she carefully took place behind the desk. She would be typing in the coordinates and pushed the button to fire a bolt. After a small wait did one of the coils began to charge up and hum from the stored energy before it released everything, causing a powerful bolt and roll over to the city of Los Pegasus where the Factory had been floating to overnight. “Good miss Dash. You know what to do. Soon, more colleagues will come, but they may not speak to each other, thus you included. You may not speak to them. One pony not paying attention and we get, nasty, accidents,” said Blackheart before he went back to his office. Star just sat there, waiting for the next order with patience. Though the order luckily came fast. The bolt she released for practise, was the starting sign of a heavy storm over Los Pegasus. With the stallion standing in his office he connected his intercom to every speaker in the factory and soon enough, the infamous chant of the factory would be doing its turn through it once more. “No joyful sound shall be heard! Nopony shall look to the clouds with hope. For this day be cursed, by we who dare to release... The might of the storms!” He spoke the chant the whole factory burst out in a shout of the employees but on the lightning department everything was a silent as the grave as his booming voice did its turn once again. “Fire up the turbines, make the darkest clouds and fill them until they nearly explode! Charge up the coils to the given locations!” Everypony began to work their flanks off, for this truly was a big storm they had to produce all the sudden. “Professor, coils are charging up and should be ready to be released soon enough as the coordinates are filled in. The rest will be soon enough,” said a stallion over the intercom to him. And indeed, soon enough all the coils were ready to be fired as more and more clouds began to block the sunlight over the city. “We shall topple Los Pegasus into the worst storm in years! On my mark... Fire!” Blackheart spoke up with a demanding tone. On his mark all the stored energy was released as countless lightning bolts shot up and made their way down to the city. But the roaring sound of the thunder was more than enough for the clouds to release their content as the stored rain began to pour out of them. None of the departments could take a break as this storm would rage on for the rest of the day if not night. --- All day Star was busy coordinating the bolts and making the coils ready to fire. Eventually the signal was given that the storm had to die down and she was happy the day had ended after so many speechless hours. The young mare had her dinner and went to bed early afterwards. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't fall to sleep. The thoughts of never be able to leave this place, kept haunting her and hearing about these ‘accidents’. It only made her get the shivers all over her body. Shooting Star knew she was in for a sleepless night. Something she couldn't have while working on the lightning department. Nonetheless she did her best to sleep but wasn't granted any. --- Meanwhile in his office, Blackheart was sitting there while his eyes gazed upon the coils. One by one they came by, some still firing a bolt in the air. A smirk appeared on his face while he watched the sight before him but was interrupted by somepony walking into his office. He turned around, only to see the unicorn mare that was his assistant. “Professor, doctor Atmosphere is here to see you,” said the unicorn mare. “Bring him to the conference room, I will come shortly,” the stallion replied. He turned back around to enjoy the lightning show. The mare gave a nod before turning herself back around. “As you wish.” After a minute he too went to the conference room. He greeted Atmosphere with a cocky smile. “It is so nice to finally have you here again, Atmosphere. Tell me, was it hard for you to drag yourself to here?” he said chuckling. “Spare me your jokes and speak up, you big idiot,” spoke Atmosphere angry. “Straight down to business, as usual... Anyway, it is about miss Dash. She doesn't belong in this hell hole, Atmosphere, and you know it!” said Blackheart in the same tone. “Now all the sudden you care for a prisoner of yours? What has happened to you? Gone soft?” answered Atmosphere. “I wonder what caused that.” “She is a Dash and she is not supposed to be here! Her mother worked in your precious factory remember, on the rainbow department for crying out loud!” replied Blackheart as he slammed his hoof on the table. “I know that. Thank you for pointing out the obvious again,” said Atmosphere annoyed. “But why did she had to go here?” asked the other stallion. “Because she will look into things. Things never meant for her. Never meant for her family.” “And that is why you drop her here? She is smart, she could go anyplace better!” said Blackheart as he took place in a chair against the other stallion. "Oh, is that so? Did you really think, I placed her, under your command, just because she was smart? No, I placed her, under your command, so she wouldn't find out what happened to her mother!" spoke Atmosphere with even more anger to the stallion. “Oh right, your precious rainbow factory... That is why? That is the whole reason why she is here? I am sorry, Atmosphere, but I am not buying that, you are holding something back here.” Atmosphere couldn't control his anger anymore. Without a single warning did he flew up to Blackheart and dragged him out of the chair. Ending up into a wall where he was lifted by Atmosphere’s foreleg against his throat. The glasses fell off of his nose as he tried to get the leg away from him. “There are things in pegasi history, we never may speak about and that Department is one of them!” spoke Atmosphere. “And what if I tell her anyway? Are you going to kill me for it? Go ahead then! You already broke my wing, what stops you from doing the rest, eh?” said the stallion in a taunting tone under his breath. “You and I both know, that nopony else, can run this place.” Atmosphere let the stallion go and made his way over to the exit of the room. “One more of these jokes, and I will find a replacement for you Blackheart.” The grey stallion laid on the ground catching up with his breath as he gave a death stare to his boss as he reached for his glasses. --- In the following days did life got much harder in the factory. The work got heavier and the safety priorities would be lowered under Blackheart's personal command. If there was a casualty, it was its own fault, said the gray stallion who ruled with an iron hoof by that point. The life of Shooting Star got worse by the day for she was placed all over the factory. Shifting between departments each couple of days. The young mare couldn't take it anymore and the dozens of accidents that happened every day and heard about didn't really help either. It was all getting too much for her mind. She needed to escape that horrid place. She knew one thing for sure. Doctor Atmosphere might be her only way out of the hole she got in. She had to get an audience with him. Star was trying her best to keep up with the raising tempo but kept making mistakes. She couldn't keep up with it. A problem the whole factory had though. Her whole appearance had changed drastically as cuts and bruises all over her body and her normally friendly and life full eyes, were now nothing more than dim and near colorless. Her smile was gone. He coat, manes and tail, under the dust soot of the coals. Hairs rose due to the static electricity since the coils were always running now, always charging up and ready to release their lethal cargo. --- Though on one day did she saw her chance. While in the lightning department, she noticed the figure of Atmosphere standing in front of the window of Blackheart’s office before returning to her work. Finally the horn did its job again and Star removed herself out of the spot she had been in and opened her wings a little, flapping them lightly before taking off. “Are you insane!” said a stallion who pulled Star down to the ground. “You almost flew against a fully charged coil! Do you have a death wish or something, foal?” “Huh, what... Did, thank you,” said Star while looking dead tired and confused. “I see, you are tired as well. The name is Thunder Dasher,” he said in a kinder tone. He would have offered his hoof to pull Star back up. “Thank you, Thunder, the name is Shooting Star Dash,” the mare replied as she took his hoof and got back up. Star inspected the stallion. A young pegasus with a white coat, purple manes, having brown eyes and wearing a red sweatband. “Pleasure meeting you Shooting Star, but I have to go now,” said Thunder. Before even one more word could be said, he was gone. Star looked a little confused but focused her attention on Atmosphere. She would speak to him. One way, or the other. “Doctor Atmosphere, may I speak to you for a minute?” asked Star as the stallion left Blackheart’s office once more. “What is your name child?” he asked with his stern voice as he kept moving towards the exit. “Shooting Star Dash.” Atmosphere froze in his tracks and turned himself around. “Speak the words you have to say,” he said to her. Obviously, her name had sparked something within his mind. A terrible thing. “Is, is there, is there a way I can get out of this place?” she asked in a gentle voice. “There is no escape from the storm factory. It is the best guarded prison known to the pegasus race. Only the worst of the worst end up here. Might I ask, what have you done to end up in here?” Atmosphere replied before he rose an eyebrow. He wanted to know why she was there, even though he knew that fact all too well himself. “Well, I did nothing wrong, all I did was making the test and the results said I should work here. I didn't even know it was a prison,” replied Star a little scared. “Nopony who enters, leaves, my child. I am sorry,” said Atmosphere in a stone cold tone. After that would have made his way to the exit of the factory. He still didn't want to replace her because of an incident that happened so long ago. As much as it was true her mother worked in the rainbow department and had witnessed and executed its many horrors, she had vowed to never speak about it ever since she left it for her husband and children. But records of the place still existed and were hidden deep in the factory itself. A part only Atmosphere could enter, but didn't want to take the risk of the rumors becoming true. Blackheart often had called him paranoid about it and was probably right about it. Star sighed deep and defeated while she looked after the stallion leaving the factory. With a couple tears build up in her eyes did she saw how he left her. She slowly began on the way back to her room. She laid down on her bed and began to sob softly for the rest of the day and night.
Chapter 1Cloudsdale, Pegasi capital and the place where the weather of Equestria is made Yet not all weather is made in there One kind is kept far away of Cloudsdale The sun rose back from its slumber once more, letting the night be changed to the day. Not a single dark cloud dared to fill the sky, revealing a cloudless sky. It an overall normal, late spring or early summer day. But somewhere in a cloud palace near Ponyville, there was one very light cerulean coated, light, medium and deep blue maned and tailed, young pegasus mare who was vast asleep. One who didn’t have a plan of waking up. At least, not yet. “Shooting Star Dash, wake up!” a female voice shouted. The pegasus shocked up from her sleep and jumped out of her bed. Only to fall face flat on the floor which showed her cutie mark. One that was in the form of a shooting star. After the fall did her tail land in her mane. She moaned a little uncomfortable before rising back up before she made her reply. “Yes mom, I am coming...” Star muttered a little in herself while she made her way to the bathroom in order to refresh herself. But on her way towards it, she realized something. The young mare realized what day it was. Shooting Star went into turbo-drive and did everything faster than normal after which she flew downstairs. “Morning mom, morning dad,” she said with a smile on her face. Before her stood a cerulean pegasus mare with mane and tail colored as the rainbow and behind the table sat a cornflower blue coated, dark blue maned stallion. “Morning Star, you know what day it is today?” the stallion asked of her. Rainbow Dash let go a light chuckle as she came out the kitchen. “She knows that, honey. Otherwise she wouldn't be here right now and still be busy in the bathroom.” “That’s right, mom. Say, where is Twist?” asked Star with a light confusion in her tone. Not a few moments later a set of hoof steps clattered down the cloud stairs of the palace. Another cerulean coated pegasus entered the room, her mane looking like those of her mother but where Rainbow had the colors going from top to bottom, Twist her coloring went from left to right as on her hips a rainbow whirlwind cutie mark could be seen. “Was it really necessary to yell that loud, mom?” she asked under a loud yawn. “You know your mother, girls, she always want you to be on time, though she never was,” chuckled Soarin’ before he shook his head a bit. --- The four of them had their breakfast but soon after it Star began to make herself ready for school back up in her room. Though when she was packing her saddlebag Rainbow appeared in the doorway with a warm smile. “Star, you will succeed today. You will pass your test. You learned so hard for it all. I am sure of it,” said Rainbow to her with a confident tone. Shooting Star smiled back to her mother while she rest her eyes on her. “I know mom, but I am just a little nervous, I learned hard for it, I just hope I don’t fall shut.” The final book was placed in the bag and the lid was closed. The young pegasus let out a deep sigh before standing up and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, after which she continued her way through the hallway and down the stairs again. “Good luck, Star,” said Soarin’ while he also received a kiss from her. “Sis, good luck today,” added Rainbow Twist. Star smiled as she waved them all goodbye before taking off to school, for the test. Rainbow took her time while her eyes slowly gazed through the room. Only before letting out a sigh herself. After that did she began to walk back down the stairs. “Our little foal, is starting to grow up... Soon, we have to leave her, Soarin’,” the mare said while a little tear began to form in her eye. It was hard for her to let her foals go, but she knew she had to in the end. “I know Dashie, but small fillies become mares eventually,” replied the stallion with his kind voice. He wrapped a foreleg around her body and pulled her closer for a hug. “You know mom, dad has a point there,” said Twist while she ate her cornflakes. The mare gave him a kiss on his cheek before making her reply. “I know... But it just happened so fast...” Twist finished her breakfast as well and made herself ready to go to school. As she eventually left, only Soarin' and Rainbow were left in the house. The stallion sighed but it turned soon enough into a smile. “We have two wonderful foals, our lives are good and we have wonderful friends Dashie.” “I know Soarin’ and I am happy for that,” said Rainbow just before she kissed him on his lips. --- Shooting Star raced from cloud to cloud. In the distance did Cloudsdale itself become more and more visible to her eyes. She turned her speed up a notch. Which resulted in her flying even faster towards the city of pride. She entered the cloud-build city and flew through the many streets towards her school. All in the hope that she would still be on time. It didn't took that long before she landed by the door and galloped inside the school building to her classroom. When she arrived did her eyes shot open. The motions were followed by a couple blinks, for only her teacher was sitting behind the desk. “Morning Shooting Star, you are early today,” the teacher spoke after she noticed the young mare through her glasses in the door opening. “Morning miss Whiteboard. Well, today is the big day right? I wouldn't miss it for anything,” replied Star with a smile. “I see what you mean. Take place and look through your notes if you want, we begin in half an hour,” replied miss Whiteboard before she pointed to the empty classroom. Shooting Star took place on her usual table while placing her saddlebag aside and began to dig in it looking for notes she had made. It didn't took long before many notes covered her table as formulas, explanations and name it all were written on them. Miss Whiteboard looked to her student and a small smile formed itself upon her face. “You really did your homework for this, didn't you?” The young mare let go a light giggle before giving her the answer. “I indeed did. It has cost me some nights, but it is all worth it.” The teacher chuckled a little and more pegasi entered the classroom, all taking their place. --- After a while was the whole class filled with other pegasi as miss Whiteboard started to call their names and marked them who were there as present. “Anypony seen Feathers today?” she asked all the sudden. “I went by yesterday and her mother said she was sick, she has a very bad flu,” answered Star. Just the thought of it made Star already sick to the stomach. “Thank you for sharing this, miss Dash. I shall contact her mother about today and reschedule her test,” replied miss Whiteboard before she crossed the name. Miss Whiteboard then stood up and began to hover through the classroom dropping pieces of paper by each student. “I hope you all studied good for this. Because this test, decides your future here in Cloudsdale. You came to this school to work in the weather facilities. To be taught, the ways of making the weather in Equestria. Now it is time, to prove it. Pegasi, good luck. You have until five in the afternoon.” Star just gazed upon the bookwork given to her. There was a smile which began to appear on her face. She took her quill and answered the questions the best she could. --- The minutes slowly turned into hours as the first student was done. The young stallion placed his things back in his bag before giving his work to the teacher and left the classroom. Every face in the room stared at him and utter confusion but then turned back to their work. Star herself was the only pony who didn't look up but kept working. She was too far gone in her mind to notice her surrounding for it was her, her mind and the test. Time progressed further and more pegasi left the classroom with their tests completed but Star was still deeply busy with her test. A smirk had appeared on her face before she mumbled some soft words to herself. “Now that is, answer B.” The more time she spend on the test, the more she lost the grasp of reality but was shocked back as she read through the final question. “Hmm... Tough one,” she mumbled in herself while she dropped her quill and wiped her eyes clean with her hooves as her head pounded the question. But after long thinking, she finally filled in an answer. The young mare went back to the very beginning of the test and began to read every question and given answer again to check it all one last time. As she slowly reached the final question, a bright and proud smile occupied her face. Star packed her saddlebag again, looking for the first time to the empty classroom before leaving her desk and making her way over to Miss Whiteboard. “Did everypony else left while I was working?” Star asked. “Everypony indeed did. But it was a big test. You still had an hour left,” said miss Whiteboard under a nod and a friendly smile. “Go home, Star, your parents will be waiting for you. I only need you to sign here, as proof that you made the test.” The young mare smiled back as she signed the piece of paper. “I will, miss Whiteboard. See you in a couple days when the results are in.” The pegasus left the classroom and trotted through the deserted school halls. Years had she spent here together with her friend. Having wonderful memories of those times. A bright smile came to her face as the trip down memory lane only got better the more she thought. When she finally did stand outside, Star stretched herself a little bit and the bones in her wings cracked a little bit because they haven’t moved in hours. Her eyes fell on the warm and overall lovely afternoon sun as she decided to bath a little in it letting her muzzle coat in it under closed eyes. “Hmm, perfect...” Her eyes closed she began to relive a day so long ago. The very first day Feathers and herself walked through the gates of the school. The terrified pinkish purple maned, grayish gold coated Pegasus nearly cowering behind her as they both entered and the comforting words she spoke. ‘It is alright Feathy, I am with you, remember.’ A small tear of joy left her eyes as they slowly opened itself again and she opened her wings to take off. With a small charge and a correctly timed jump Shooting Star honored her name and shot off back into the skies as she made her way out of the city and back to her home. Back to her family and probably a wonderful cooked dinner. --- “Hey mom,” said Star before her hooves wrapped themselves around Rainbow what resulted in a tight hug. A warm and tight hug as only a mother and daughter could give it. “Welcome back honey, how did it go?” asked her mother while wrapping her hooves around her daughter. “It went great. I knew every answer they game me,” replied Star with a smile on her face. Rainbow smiled back under a light wink. “Let’s keep it a little secret for when your father comes home. Tell it by dinner.” “I will, mom,” said Star giggling. The young mare then went up to her room where she dropped her saddlebag in the usual corner and just plopped down on the bed, making herself comfortable on it. But the more she stayed on it, the more Star began to drift away into her dream world. That was until Rainbow called her for dinner. A thing resulted in the same scenery as that very morning. Shooting Star removed her face from the floor and began to make her way downstairs as the scent of the dinner made its way into her nose. When the young mare took place behind the table as she waited for her father and sister to come and soon enough they did arrive. The both of them took place and Rainbow came in and served up the dinner for them all after which she took place herself. “Star, it has come to my ears, you wanted to say something,” said Rainbow while filling up her plate with a bit of a smirk. “I indeed do. I am certain I passed my test. I had every question correct in my eyes,” she said with pride. As soon as the word entered the ears of both Soarin’ and Twist, their eyes became big and turned to the young mare. “That is wonderful, honey!” spoke the stallion with joy. “Well done sis!” replied Twist with a gleeful smile. “Now, I only have to wait, for the results. Which will come in a couple days,” said Star before she started to enjoy her dinner. All of them told about their day as the evening slowly ventured forward into the night, meaning it was bedtime for the children. Shooting Star made herself ready to hit the hay and dropped herself on the bed where she fell asleep like a rose with her head buried in the pillow, yet still managed to breath. --- The days slowly passed by. Yet Star made good use of the time she had to work around the house and spending time by Feathers, who was slowly recovering from her flu. Then came the day it was time. The time was there to hear the results. The young mare was making herself ready to go to school again as she flew down to the front door. “Mom, I am off to school. I will be back in about an hour or two.” Star said as she waved to her mother. “Alright dear. See you soon again,” replied Rainbow. The pegasus was still doing some chores and waved back before returning to them. Shooting Star flew off to her school by using her usual route and waited in the canteen of the school until miss Whiteboard called her. “Miss Dash? Would you follow me please,” the teacher asked of her. Without any form of hesitation did she follow. The young mare stood up from her seat and followed her into the teachers’ lounge where they took place. Miss Whiteboard released a soft sigh before allowing her eyes to rest upon her student. “Shooting Star Dash, your test was far better than that of anypony else. Most ponies just learn a little and just take a guess. But you, you studied nights for this. Your score was almost a hundred. And it is the highest we have gotten this year. But, you will not be going to any of the weather factories... Words from higher authorities have insisted that you go somewhere else. Star, you are going to the Storm Department.” When those two words entered her ears, the cerulean pegasus sat almost defeated in the chair. She couldn't wrap her head around it. She had worked so hard for it yet would end up in the place where the worst weather is made in the whole of Equestria. Her world began to collapse slowly around herself. Her eyes only made a blinking move as miss Whiteboard gave her the paper on which it all stood and slowly guided the confused pegasus back outside, back into the fresh air as tears filled the eyes of Shooting Star. “Thank you miss Whiteboard, for everything,” she said before taking off quicker than normal and began the trip back to her home. --- When she did reach the house again, she entered it but didn't say a word. She just placed the letter on the table. Star flew to her room while fighting off the tears. She made a landing on her bed where she began to cry like a foal. Rainbow Dash was working in the kitchen when she heard the door opening and closing but never got any sound from the pony entering and went to the living room to inspect it, only to find the letter. “Now what is this?” she questioned herself and gently opened it and her eyes began to read it word by word. She shook her head a couple times for the words seemed so unreal. Her daughter, her sweet daughter had to go the Storm Department. Rainbow fell to the ground only to burst out in tears, she stayed there, crying all the time until Soarin' came back from his work. “Honey, I am home,” he said but then heard the sobbing and saw Rainbow, he sat down next to her and ever so gently allowed the question to roll off of his mind. “Honey, what is it?” “It is Shooting Star... She has... She has... She has to go to the Storm Department,” said Rainbow through her sobbing. “What..? No, not our sweetie,” he replied in utter disbelief. Rainbow gave him the letter and he couldn't believe it. “And she to depart... In three days?! Like it wasn't bad enough,” the stallion said while tears collected in his eyes. Star looked up from her pillow after a while as the crying of her parents reached her ears finally. She sniffed a couple times and then went downstairs, where her parents hugged her tightly. Rainbow wiped away her own tears as she cuddled her daughter deeply. Soarin’ hugged the both of them deeply and caring. “I’m sorry mom... I’m sorry...” said Star through her tears. “Shh... Shh... Don’t be Star, you never knew this would happen, none of us did,” her mother spoke through her own soft sobbing. All three of them sat there, for the rest of the night, comforting each other over the terrible news. In the end, there was only one thing they could be doing. They had to accept it for what it was. They couldn't do anything else for her. She had to go. Nothing could be brought in against it to great sadness of the family. --- The days crawled by even slower, Shooting Star began to say her goodbyes to her friends and family. But above all, had one last talk with her best friend Feathers as Fluttershy sat in the living room, comforting Rainbow and Soarin’. Not much time was left for the cerulean pegasus as she began to pack her things as Feathers watched. “So... This is it then, isn't it, Starry?” “It, it is Feathy...” replied Star. “Tomorrow I have to leave.” Feathers gave her friend an understanding nod. “I will do my best to be there tomorrow for you, if my mother can get it in her heart to come.” “I, I am sure auntie Fluttershy will come, even though it will hurt her... She will do it for my mother and me,” said Star with a sad tone. She had packed the last things and closed her bags. “Can we at least, hug one more time, Feathy?” Feathers gave a nod to the question and opened her forelegs for a hug. Shooting Star hugged her best friend tight back as a couple tears left her eyes and the sun slowly descended. It would be signaling the beginning of the final night. The day turned into the night both young mares kept hugging each other like there was no tomorrow. Except it was for real, there would be no tomorrow, no real free tomorrow. Fluttershy carefully walked up the stairs to look how her daughter was doing only to find the two of them hugging each other even in their sleep. The light yellow pegasus softly closed the door before making her return from the stairs, looking to Rainbow. The eyes told the cyan pegasus more than enough as she let go a deep sigh.
Chapter 3One weather factory as a prison The storm factory, the best prison known to the pegasus race But as any prison, there is a way out for those who look Being defeated by the terrible news of everything, Star had called herself sick for the coming couple of days. She was completely out of her doing because of it. The young mare didn't leave her bed for most of the day and only got out to get her dinner which she ate up back in her room. Many more rumors of incidents did their turn as the breaking of a fan for a hurricane claimed the another life. As another rumor spoke of a pegasus being drowned in the water basins. The young mare was mentally through, her mind couldn't take it much more before she was on the point of no return, the depressions hit her harder every time as many tears left her eyes every day. One night, on a bright, cloudless full moon night, she was staring at the rock as she recalled the story her mother once told over her friends and the Elements of Harmony, how the six of them defeated Nightmare Moon. It succeeded because they had hope and friendship together. She let go a deep sigh while starting to humble in herself. “Friends, I don’t have here... And hope I am close to give up...” The young mare dropped back on her bed and tried to get some form of sleep. --- Later that night was Star still sobbing in her bed. She had almost missed the fact that somepony knocked on her door. The young mare didn't respond at first for she wanted to be alone, but then her ears perked as a familiar voice did its turn. “Shooting Star? Are you awake?” the voice said in nothing but a whisper. The young mare remembered the voice and stood up to open the door only to be met by a face of remembrance. “Thunder? What are you doing here at this hour?” she asked quietly. “Helping you escape, maybe redeem my soul a little, if it is not washed away by the tears of the broken... I, overheard, your conversation with Atmosphere a couple days ago, sorry for that. Do not ask why I did, but you need to get out of here, now,” said Thunder quietly. “Please, trust me Shooting Star. I have a plan, and you need to follow me in every hoof step of it.” Star was faced with a choice in that moment. She could either stay in what has become a factory of terrible weather and death. Or she could heed Thunder’s call and try to escape. The decision however was made after a short time of thinking. Without hesitation she began to grab her saddlebags and fill them up with her belongings, which luckily wasn't that much, and she went with Thunder outside. --- The stallion swiftly guided her to the entrance of the factory but none of the employees looked up strange for they were just normal workers of the night shift. The only part where they had to be careful was hallway leading up to the front and thus final door. The moonlight shone through the entrance making it seem so easy to just fly away. Thunder made Star stop walking. “As soon as we go through that door, you need to fly, fly like never before. Now, go. No questions, just fly. Fly away from here with all your might.” Before Star could say anything had the stallion turned into a galloping pace and she followed him a couple hooves behind. Thunder burst through the door setting off an alarm but they both kept galloping until the end of the cloud the factory was placed on came in sight and the pegasi opened their wings and took off at full speed. When the alarm were wailing in Blackheart's ears, he knew enough and galloped from his office to the outside of the factory as the unicorn mare teleported herself to the location. The mare landed on the clouds and was able to stand on them due to a cloud walking spell as her eyes peeked into the darkness looking for the two figures. Not much later had Blackheart himself stormed on the cloud as well spotting them almost right away through his glasses in the cloudless skies. “Unicorn, shoot them out of the skies, now!” “Which one of them?” the unicorn asked as she charged up her horn slowly. “The both of them of course! You imbecile!” demanded Blackheart in a moment of fury. “I can only shoot one! They are too far away already for two blasts!” Those words made the stallion wanting to kick the mare of the cloud and to her grave, but didn't do it because he needed her badly. The stallion looked back into the darkness of the night and tried to identify Shooting Star out of the two. “The right one!” said Blackheart and the unicorn released a powerful blast towards the right pegasus. Both of the fleeing pegasi heard the releasing sounds of the blast. Star prepared herself for the impact of it but the impact never came. She looked over to Thunder who began to fall down, down to the ground. In the mind of the mare a war was raging on, either go in and try to save Thunder, or keep flying away. But she took too much time to think as not much later there was the sound of something hitting into the ground that echoed through the skies and Star just made sure she got away. When Blackheart finally made it to the spot and tried to identify the remains he shook his head. “Unicorn, write a message to Atmosphere. I need him here, tomorrow. And make sure, every prisoner get to see, what happens, if you try to escape. There is no other option.” “But what about the other?” asked the unicorn mare. “There is no other,” said Blackheart while he glanced over the remains of Thunder Dasher. --- Every single pegasus was gathered in the canteen of the factory and they all wondered why they were either woken up or taken away from work. It didn't took long before all their questions got answered as the gray stallion entered and stood on a table, making himself clearly visible to them. “You all probably ask yourself why you are here right? Well, because of one thing. To forget you to make attempt to escape. You are free to try, but then you end up, as mister Dasher here.” Slowly the remains of Thunder were levitated with the help of the unicorn. “So you all just forget that plan of coming out of here. Because there is no way out. And now, back to your stations prisoners!” he said in a stern tone and all the prisoners slowly went back to their rooms or departments. “Professor, doctor Atmosphere is here for you,” said the unicorn just after she had the remains of the stallion. Even her tone spoke in a surprised one. “Faster than I expected, I will see him right away,” replied Blackheart as he made his way to the entrance of the facility. It took him a small walk, but eventually he stood face to face. Right in front of the stallion he hated most. “Good that you could come so fast Atmosphere.” he said in a deep and serious tone. But Atmosphere interrupted him by shouting almost directly in his ears. “You big idiot that you are!” “Excuse me,” answered the gray stallion. “Before we continue, my office, now.” Atmosphere gave him a nod before he followed Blackheart up to his personal office. But on their way, both of the stallions were boiling in utter rage for each other. Blackheart opened the door as they reached it and Atmosphere walked in. He took place in a chair place before the desk as the gray stallion took place in his chair behind the desk. “Now, there is one pegasi on the run and let it just be miss Dash. You failed me again, professor. This is the last chance I give you before I replace you with somepony who can do this job,” spoke the visitor with an unusual calm in his voice. He wanted to say something but decided to keep his mouth shut as Atmosphere spoke again. “And just how do you want to cover this up. You do not, she will be replaced. I must thank you for this as well, you big idiot, now I must fill in a replacement file for her so she doesn't have to return.” “Oh, so now it is all my fault, isn't it, Atmosphere? You know, I am just about done with you. Do what you have to do and leave this place. Next time, I will be coming to you directly,” said Blackheart in an angry tone. He was having more than enough of the other stallion. “Just place a sign here and we don’t have to see each other again for a long time,” answered Atmosphere. He gave over a piece of paper to the other one, thinking the same. The grey stallion read it through and eventually signed it. Atmosphere nodded to him and parted his ways with the gray stallion, out of the factory and flew away, to his own office. “I hate him so much... Raise the tempo again. We have a big storm waiting for Manehatten. And I want to see that place shiver in true fear,” said Blackheart to the unicorn as he leaned back in his chair. He stretched his right wing only to feel the sharp pain going through it and mumbled something to himself. “I will get you back for breaking my wing Atmosphere... On my word... I will...” --- Meanwhile had Star began to recognize the air she found herself flying through. It was still far from home, but she flew as hard as she could. The young mare flew through the depths of night and as the sun rose back up so was still flying at her top speed but was starting to wear down. Over the cause of the day she became slower and slower and as the sun began to descend once more, she knew she had to find a place to sleep. Barely being able to keep her eyes open she noticed a big barn and began to descend for it as she swiftly made her way inside in found the haystacks where she just plummet herself in and almost right away fall asleep in. The next morning Star slowly woke up from a voice, a sweet and southern voice. “Sugarcube, are ya alright?” the voice asked. She slowly opened her eyes and stared straight into Applejack’s green irises. “A-Aunt Applejack?” asked Star with a sleepy tone in her voice. “Yes, that is me, Star, but what are ya doin’ here?” the cowgirl asked. Shooting Star told her the story but leaving out the details which nopony else may know, “And after such a long time of flying I just couldn't help it, and fell asleep here. You aren't angry at me?” she said a little scared. “Not at all sugarcube. But Ah advise ya to go now, since yar mother will be up by now and Ah think she is dying to see you,” said Applejack with a smile on her face. Star smiled back just before she walked out of the barn and greeted Granny Smith while she took off. To home, to her family. --- With a short trip later Star landed by the door of her house and knocked on it. Not much later Rainbow opened it and thought her eyes were lying to her. “Shooting, Star? Is, is that really you?” she asked while looking at the still beat up Star. The young mare nodded and Rainbow hugged her tight while bringing her inside, where Soarin’ and Twist couldn't believe what they saw. Shooting Star had returned to them all. They all gathered in the living room where she told the whole story, not a single detail was spared. Her family listened in awe and after Star was done, they all hugged her and all four of them burst out in tears. --- In just a matter of days the young mare was her old self again and didn't receive any word from the factory. Her eyes had regained their color again, her smile returned and her manes and tail were finally coal dust and soot free. The normal day routine had returned in the Dash residence. Though one morning there was somepony who stood knocking on the door. Somepony who would change everything one last time. “I will go, mom,” said Star and she flew off to the door. The mare opened it and was shocked at the sight before her and let go a loud gulping sound. “Afternoon, Shooting Star. May I come in for a minute?” asked the stallion in the door opening. She moved a little aside to let the visitor come in and it made use of the opportunity to do so. Whatever the visitor came for, Star was praying for the best yet already preparing for the worst. Everypony looked up at the voice they heard and went to the living room taking seats. The visitor was revealed to be a stallion who did the same and looked at the Dash family and smiled. “You remember me, don’t you?” he asked. “Doctor Atmosphere, how could I forget your face?” answered Star after she had walked over. The young mare took place next to her mother who wrapped her hooves around her daughter. Atmosphere gave her a simple nod as confirmation. “Indeed, Shooting Star, there has been an enormous mistake made with your test results. You were never meant to go to the storm factory. And I am only here to give you this.” He dropped a closed envelope on the table. After that did he stood back up again. “I am sorry for this short visit, but my main priority was that you would get the letter, delivered personally to avoid any misunderstandings.” He began to make his way back through the front door and closed it again, his eyes falling in the sunlight. “Wow... The doctor Atmosphere, in our house,” said Twist a little shaking. “Sis, open it and read it!” All three of them had their attention turned pinned on Star as she slowly reached over for the envelope and opened it, pulling out a letter. Dear Shooting Star, I want to apologize first for something has gone wrong with your test. You never should have been sent to the Storm Factory in the first place. Based on the results of your test we place you, in the weather patrol of Ponyville. Your first day of work will be in two months. We hope to have made you a little happier and enjoy your vacation. With kind regard, Dr. Atmosphere, head Cloudsdale Weather Corporation. None of the Dashes could believe the words written down but they were true and all of them jumped on Shooting Star and began to hug and cuddle her deeply. She had left the Storm Factory forever and tears of joy began to build up in the eyes of the young mare. Rainbow Dash broke the hug ever so gently and went outside in the vague hope to find Atmosphere. The stallion was luckily still stretching his wings in order to take off as she spoke to him. “Doctor, I want to thank you. For doing this for my daughter. I thank you with my whole heart for it,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Do not think my generosity goes deeper than this. You are still part of an untold chapter in pegasi history, miss Dash,” said Atmosphere before he turned himself towards Rainbow. “A chapter, that may never see the light of day. I hope you understand that.” “I understand that, but still, thank you,” said Rainbow as she watched him take off. She trotted back to her cloud palace and continued to cuddle her beloved daughter. Her daughter had returned and would stay with her and her family.
Chapter 2Heavy storms and hurricanes, are not made in Cloudsdale Making them inside the city is far too dangerous No, storms are made, far out of the city’s reach The sun rose back from its slumber while the weather had changed drastically from the day before. Instead of another warm and sunny day, there were dark clouds that occupied the skies. Hinting to a heavy –if not massive– upcoming storm. Yet both Star and Feathers slowly woke up in each other’s hooves. The blue eyes of Shooting Star gazed outside into the eye of the storm. None spoke a word, as they had said their goodbyes over and over. And when the time was there that the young mare would go without hesitation or struggling, no matter how hard that would become for any of them. When the clock hit noon a bright flash filled the skies soon to be followed by a heavy roll of thunder as a chariot made its way from the clouds and began to flew over to the cloud palace. It didn't took long before the chariot had reached their house and came to a hold nearly before the door. Both Star and Feathers had made their way over to the window to inspect it and patiently awaited who, or what, would come out it. The pegasus who was pulling it made its way over to the door and opened it under a light bow. Out of the chariot appeared a pleasantly grey coated stallion with black mane, a deep blue coloring in his eyes and missing the tip of his ear. The stallion gave a nod to the pegasus before making his way over to the door of the house and knocked three times on it. Star let go a deep sigh and moved away from the window only to grab her bags. Feathers silently turned herself to her friend and tried her best not to shed a tear. Rainbow slowly opened the door as her eyes met those of the stallion. One that spoke in a kind voice. “Afternoon, miss Dash. The name is professor Blackheart, manager of the Storm Department. I am here for Shooting Star.” He couldn't help it but too take note of the sadness in the eyes of the pegasus. “I know this is hard for you, for all of you. But that are the rules, miss Dash.” “I know... Let me get her, okay?” replied Rainbow. She turned herself around and began to make way to the bedroom of her daughter. “Star honey, they are here for you.” said the mare as she slowly opened the door of the bedroom. The time had come to make the departure. “I know mom... I will miss you... All of you,” sighed Star as she hugged her mother for probably the last time. Then her attention turned to Feathers who also received a last hug. “Feathy, I will miss you the most.” Both her mother and her best of friend returned the hug tightly before Star took her saddlebags and slowly began to make her way down the stairs. Blackheart had taken the opportunity to invite himself into their residence and stood in the living room. He was listening to the soft hoof steps coming down. “You are, Shooting Star I assume. The name is Blackheart,” he said while Star stood on the floor. She walked over to him and stood there. The stallion raised out his hoof to shake it. Star simply shook it with a sad smile. “That is correct, I am Shooting Star. A pleasure to meet you.” There wasn’t much else that she could be saying in the moment. “Shall we go?” Blackheart asked under a nod. The young mare let go an even deeper sigh as she gave him a nod. The stallion turned himself back around and walked back to the door as Star had one last look at her family and close friend while a small tear ran down her face. “Goodbye.” --- With an uncomfortable feeling did she made her way over to the chariot. There where the stallion was waiting for her and she entered it. Only to be followed by him. The door fell shut as the pegasus moved back to the front where it slowly began to pull the chariot again, slowly lifting it off of the ground. Star had a final glimpse to her mother, her father, her sister and her friend with her mother as they all were tearing up. While the chariot got further away, she couldn't help herself. Her own eyes began to tear up as well. It just wasn’t true in her eyes. Back in the house, Rainbow couldn't believe it. Her foal, was taken away. “No... No... Soarin’, please, tell me this is all a dream, that I wake up soon in the middle of the night,” she said in a confused, scared voice. “I wish it was honey, but she is gone...” replied Soarin’ as he couldn't hold his tears anymore and hugged his wife tightly. “My, my sister... Gone... No,” said Twist while she shook her head. But she was truly gone. Fluttershy couldn't hold yourself either anymore and many tears left her eyes as Feathers tried to comfort her mother but only to tear up herself. Shooting Star was taken away from them, to work in the Storm Department. They couldn't do anything against it, except accept that fact. No matter how hard it is. --- In the chariot was the young mare sobbing quiet and to herself. Yet Blackheart tried his best to comfort her. It was a little thing that didn't really work. “I know this is hard for you Shooting Star, but the rules are the rules. You will be able to see them, you are allowed to go to them, but only in vacations,” said Blackheart in a caring tone. One of his hooves was wrapped around her and gently stroking her shoulder in a comfortable manner. “I, I should be happy, right? I mean, I am going to work in one of the weather factories... Right?” said Star before she wiped her tears away. The stallion nodded before making his reply. “The things you answered on the questions about storms, were all perfect answers, Star. You are made for the Department.” She looked him in the eyes as he spoke those words and could see they were true. She could only accept her fate. A fate of working in the Storm Factory. --- Eventually did the chariot came to a standstill and Star gathered her guts to take a peek outside. She wanted to look where exactly she had been brought. Her eyes fell through the window of the chariot and she saw the factory. The place where she would be working in. A tall and wide building that was created out of dark, storm clouds as lightning shot up from the roof to nearly everywhere in Equestria. It penetrated the atmosphere and disappeared out of sight. Out of the many chimneys on the side of the building where more black clouds left and were either brought or floated to their needed locations. Yet its overall design looked very familiar to all the other factories she had been and read about. The stallion opened the door and left the chariot as the young mare slowly followed him outside. Her eyes opened themselves widely as she now saw the place in its full glory, if you can call it that. “Don’t let the looks fool you too much, Star. She’s a beauty on the inside,” said Blackheart. He held the door open for her like she was some kind of royal. Shooting Star smiled a little at him and followed him closely after getting her saddlebags again. They both entered the building the stallion let her wait in the hall for a little bit of time. “I will show you your room first and then give you a tour through the Factory. Your first official work day will be tomorrow then.” He then proceeded the walk and she followed him a couple hooves behind. Her eyes were glancing over at the interior. Which awkwardly enough was rather nice compared to the products it had been producing for so long already. From the entrance they walked through a long hallway before turning themselves to their left and up a set of stairs before entering a door on the level they needed to be. As she looked in the new hallway many numbered doors could be seen and the stallion walks over to one door specifically. “Here we go. Through here is your room, miss Dash,” said Blackheart while he stood before a door. The stallion opened it before he gave her the key to it, “It is not much, but the things necessary are there. Place your saddlebags on the couch and follow me again, please.” The young mare gave a nod and did what he said. After that would she be going with him on a tour through the Factory. She would be visiting all of the departments. They walked passed the room filled with Tesla-coils which created the lightning and ventured on to the basins for water for the rain. From there, they went to the boiler room where the clouds were created and in the department next to it the fans for the hurricanes stood. By each department Blackheart told what happened there as Star listened carefully. Finally he guided her back to her room and as they were in the hallway leading to it. “Tomorrow, you will start by the cloud department. Report by the foreman, a stallion with a hat on, and he will tell you what to do. For now, take a good night rest. You will need it.” “I will. Thank you, professor,” said Star before she went to her room and closed the door. She made herself ready to go to bed and dropped herself on it. “My new home. Let’s make the best out of it, now shall we?” Star mumbled just before her eyes closed themselves. She began to slowly drift off to the worlds of her dreams. She had to make the best out of it all, not just for herself, but her family as well. --- Blackheart on the other end went to his office. There he stretched his wings a little bit along the way. Only to feel a sharp pain in his right one. It was scarred from an old wound that never fully healed, one he had gotten from an old foe. “Ugh...I still need to return him that favor one day,” he mumbled as he continued on his way. Eventually he plopped down in his chair. The file of Star laid on his desk and he began to read it through his glasses which were on every minute he was in the factory itself. “Out of all the foals who could have ended up here, I got the Dash... I need to talk with somepony, soon. Otherwise, things, will not turn out good. History repeats itself, they say.” He closed and placed the file aside while turning the chair to the window looking over the lightning department and watched the many coils do their job, having both a grin of pleasure and a look of uncertainty on his face. --- As the night slowly made way for the morning the young prepared herself for her first workday and refreshed herself in the small bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and gave a slight smile. After that she would be making her way out of her room and trying to remember where the Cloud Department was. While she made her way through the factory, Star ended up in a massive boiler room. There where the only light visible came from the lambs above and the fire of the boilers themselves. Her eyes spotted a stallion with a hat and the words of Blackheart echoed through her head, knowing she was in the place. “Shooting Star Dash, I assume?” said the foreman with a deep voice. The young mare gave him a nod and perked her ears to his upcoming words. He began to explain how the clouds were made. That feeding the boilers with coals kept the fires raging on, which would heat the water inside, resulting in the powerful steam which was used for clouds. But only if the pressure valve was released on time. The darker the cloud needed to be, the more coal there would have been used. Star understood the manner of working and began by taking a shovel on her front hooves and dug it through the pile of coal she stood before. Before feeding it into the ever raging fires of the boilers. Her first couple attempts were all failures which was much to the annoyance of the foreman. Though as her mind began to make the calculations, the clouds became better and better over time. Light white clouds, pure white clouds, dark clouds and black clouds all left the boiler as ordered and at this remarkable presentation the jaw of the foreman dropped. Star had managed to get everything as it should. She began to work harder than anypony else in the department and her clouds that were already good, became perfect in the foreman’s eyes. --- After a couple hours of working the horn sounded indicating it was lunchtime and Star made her way over to the canteen where she took place on a chair behind a table where she sat alone, looking at the many other ponies who were running the day shift. The young mare wanted to bring her sandwich to her mouth before the foreman of the Cloud Department took place against her. “You know, miss Dash, your clouds, were just perfect in size, shape and color. I have never, ever seen anypony who made that much process in such a short time. The name is Cloudchaser by the way, Storm Cloudchaser, in fact,” the stallion said before he stuck out his hoof to shake it. Star shook it and smiled in return. “A pleasure to meet you, Storm, and thank you. I have studied quite a lot about making weather.” “Hm, something most of us could learn from,” said Storm before he swallowed a piece of sandwich. The both of them talked a little about each other before the horn signaled that they all had to work again. The young mare went back to work where she made again perfect clouds. The longer time would have passed by, she felt herself more home in the factory then she originally thought. With Storm being kinder to her then the rest, Star didn't want to leave the department. She really enjoyed it there. Eventually the final horn did its way through the Factory letting everypony know the day shift was over and the mare flew to her room where she fell on her bed with a smile on her face. --- Dinner would be served soon enough and she tried to get some rest by taking a small nap. But that plan was shattered as somepony knocked on the door of her room. “It is open,” said Star before she opened her eyes again. She wanted to see who her mysterious visitor would be. The door slowly opened and in the opening stood the grey coated stallion who began to walk into the room, taking place on the chair as he looked over to the young mare. “I heard you did well in the cloud department. But you still have three other departments to go. Tomorrow, you will be standing by the drivers for the hurricanes,” he said while his blue irises pierced through the glasses. Star listened to his words after which she nodded and he went away just as mysterious as he came. But by the time he was done and gone, it happened to be dinner time. Star made her way again to the canteen but noticed how Blackheart went to his office and winced in pain. He had spread his wing a little bit before retracting it. Star didn't really pay much attention to it as she took her plate and sat down behind a table and just wanted to enjoy a great cooked dinner. --- “I do not care if he can’t come to me, then I go to him! We need to solve this, otherwise she will find it out sooner or later. You know what? Drop it, drop the disguise, there is no way for her to leave and sooner or later she would found it out herself!” said Blackheart angry. Though a unicorn mare wrote a letter. She was writing everything down that he spoke to her. Though the mare looked up to him with a nervous glance. “Are you sure about this, professor? I mean, dropping it for her, might cause her to go, you know,” she brought forth, scared. Blackheart stood up from his desk and walked toward the unicorn. He pressed his face against hers. “I pay you to do what I say. I never wanted to hear questions from you! So stop asking them or you might end up in one of the lighting coils. Now send that message, please,” he said to her in a tone that was filled with anger. The unicorn gulped loudly before doing what he asked of her. The letter got rolled up and the seal of the storm factory was placed on it. After which it dissolved into small particles and disappeared out of sight. The unicorn then moved over the middle of the room. There where she would have raised on her hind legs and charged up her horn a bit further. It didn't took long before the horn was humming with even more power. Blackheart had taken place behind his desk once more, having his eyes peeled on her. All the sudden a beam left the horn and created a shield around the Factory for a moment before it died down again, at first glance nothing had changed. But the changes, were there. The stallion looked as the mare discharged her horn. “Good, unicorn, now leave me alone.” “Well excuse me, but I have a name,” the mare replied as she lowered again on all four of her hooves. “I said leave, unicorn.” She didn't want to anger him even more than he was and let the matter to rest as she removed herself from the office. But while the events happened in the office, Shooting Star had made herself comfortable in the warm bed and was deep asleep and only stirred a little as the shield was created around the factory. “Why do I have to get ending up with her. Can’t she work in his precious factory like her mother?” mumbled Blackheart angry as he slammed his hoof in the desk, cracking the wood a little. The stallion turned himself around and his eyes gazed upon the many Tesla-coils that were visible through the window and he signaled that all of them had to be fired up as he slowly got a mad stallion look in his eyes before slowly removing his glasses to watch the scenery. Soon the dozens of coils were all sparkling with lightning. The employees removed themselves from the room as it was too dangerous to be near a coil as it charged up. And without any warning, the stored energy released itself into one lightning bolt that shot right up into the atmosphere and far beyond that, not having any plan nor sign it would ever come down again. But what it did create was an odd shooting star that made its way through space. All of the coils slowly died off as their energy was released and smoke left them as on the ground laid something, a smoking and smoldering hump of something. The deep blue eyes of the grey stallion fell on it and immediately turned away not willing to look further at it and returned to the place behind his desk. The buzzing sound of an intercom did its turn through the room as he sighed deeply and answered the incoming call. “Professor Blackheart, we have a casualty. Foreman Cloudchaser, he flew into a coil...” He let go a deep sigh before saying his words. “You know what to do.” “Yes professor,” said the voice and the call ended. --- Meanwhile at the Dash residence Rainbow was moving a little through the room of Star, cleaning a couple things here and there as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Our baby girl... She has become a mare now,” she said under a sniffle. After some time of gazing she closed the door behind her and slowly walked down the stairs only to plop down on the sofa where she began to cry softly. The taking of her daughter left a bigger scar than anypony originally imagined but there was the small hope she would come back from time to time. Rainbow released one of the biggest sighs of her life followed up by a couple more sniffles as she tried to accept the facts. Something her husband and other daughter already had, or at least made it look that way. Rainbow got up and without a warning she just flew away. She would be flying her way through the skies and clouds while she tried to forget it. Though no matter what she did, she couldn't forget her little Shooting Star. Later that night as they all sat on the couch, the tension was to cut between Rainbow, Soarin’ and Twist. “Mom, is, is it really as bad, as the stories tell?” asked Twist after hearing some rumors about the place at her school. Rainbow sighed deeply and tried her best not to cry, “Yes... Yes it is Twist...” Soarin’ let go a deep sigh upon the answer and so did Twist. They could only hope now. Hope for the best. --- Back in the factory had the sun began to rise again and Star woke up with quite the headache. As her eyes opened themselves she took notice of the new looks the Factory had gotten, or better said: the look it always had. She blinked a couple times in utter disbelief. The warm and friendly look got traded in for a cold and dead one. She refreshed herself and sat on the edge of her bed as her thoughts wandered back to her home, thinking about her family and friends she had left not too long ago. But her thoughts were disturbed by the sound of somepony rampaging into her room. Star shocked up from the suddenness and stared into the deep blue eyes of Blackheart whose tone had turned into one filled with anger. “Miss Dash! Before you ask, this is how the factory really looks like. There is no escape from this place, you may never even leave this place! You want to know why? Because it is a prison! I save you the trouble from finding it out yourself and thus nosing around on places you shouldn’t be. But I have a plan for you. You will work on the Lighting Department from now on. Make yourself ready and report by the foreman.” After he said those words, Blackheart turned himself around again and left by closing the door again. Star was hit by surprise from this sudden revelation. Why would he have told it to her in the first place? Though she made her way over to the canteen a little stunned. She wandered through the cold steel hallways before entering it and took her breakfast. While she walked over to a table, words caught her ears over what happened during the night shift. “Sorry but, is it true?” she asked. The stallion nodded for confirmation. “He flew against a charging coil, dead on the spot. A shame, Storm was a good stallion.” The young mare couldn't believe this and her appetite was just gone as she went to another table for she didn't wanted to bother the stallions more than she would, but not before asking one last question. “Is this a prison?” Now it was another stallion who nodded. “Aye, worst of the worst are placed here... Lifelong work to create the most severe weather in Equestria... Tis a good deed, might redeem yar soul a little, not much, but hey, every bit counts right?” As those words entered her ears it was her courage was dropped as a whole. --- As the horn sounded once more she made her way over to the Lightning Department and searched for the foreman. “Oh no,” was all Star could bring out upon the sight of him. For it was nopony else then professor Blackheart himself. “Miss Dash. I placed you here, so that I can keep an eye on you. I need you to coordinate the lightning bolts with precise aim,” he said and pointed to one of the many desks with a radar screen of Equestria. “Take place and send a bolt to this location.” He gave her a piece of paper and she carefully took place behind the desk. She would be typing in the coordinates and pushed the button to fire a bolt. After a small wait did one of the coils began to charge up and hum from the stored energy before it released everything, causing a powerful bolt and roll over to the city of Los Pegasus where the Factory had been floating to overnight. “Good miss Dash. You know what to do. Soon, more colleagues will come, but they may not speak to each other, thus you included. You may not speak to them. One pony not paying attention and we get, nasty, accidents,” said Blackheart before he went back to his office. Star just sat there, waiting for the next order with patience. Though the order luckily came fast. The bolt she released for practise, was the starting sign of a heavy storm over Los Pegasus. With the stallion standing in his office he connected his intercom to every speaker in the factory and soon enough, the infamous chant of the factory would be doing its turn through it once more. “No joyful sound shall be heard! Nopony shall look to the clouds with hope. For this day be cursed, by we who dare to release... The might of the storms!” He spoke the chant the whole factory burst out in a shout of the employees but on the lightning department everything was a silent as the grave as his booming voice did its turn once again. “Fire up the turbines, make the darkest clouds and fill them until they nearly explode! Charge up the coils to the given locations!” Everypony began to work their flanks off, for this truly was a big storm they had to produce all the sudden. “Professor, coils are charging up and should be ready to be released soon enough as the coordinates are filled in. The rest will be soon enough,” said a stallion over the intercom to him. And indeed, soon enough all the coils were ready to be fired as more and more clouds began to block the sunlight over the city. “We shall topple Los Pegasus into the worst storm in years! On my mark... Fire!” Blackheart spoke up with a demanding tone. On his mark all the stored energy was released as countless lightning bolts shot up and made their way down to the city. But the roaring sound of the thunder was more than enough for the clouds to release their content as the stored rain began to pour out of them. None of the departments could take a break as this storm would rage on for the rest of the day if not night. --- All day Star was busy coordinating the bolts and making the coils ready to fire. Eventually the signal was given that the storm had to die down and she was happy the day had ended after so many speechless hours. The young mare had her dinner and went to bed early afterwards. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't fall to sleep. The thoughts of never be able to leave this place, kept haunting her and hearing about these ‘accidents’. It only made her get the shivers all over her body. Shooting Star knew she was in for a sleepless night. Something she couldn't have while working on the lightning department. Nonetheless she did her best to sleep but wasn't granted any. --- Meanwhile in his office, Blackheart was sitting there while his eyes gazed upon the coils. One by one they came by, some still firing a bolt in the air. A smirk appeared on his face while he watched the sight before him but was interrupted by somepony walking into his office. He turned around, only to see the unicorn mare that was his assistant. “Professor, doctor Atmosphere is here to see you,” said the unicorn mare. “Bring him to the conference room, I will come shortly,” the stallion replied. He turned back around to enjoy the lightning show. The mare gave a nod before turning herself back around. “As you wish.” After a minute he too went to the conference room. He greeted Atmosphere with a cocky smile. “It is so nice to finally have you here again, Atmosphere. Tell me, was it hard for you to drag yourself to here?” he said chuckling. “Spare me your jokes and speak up, you big idiot,” spoke Atmosphere angry. “Straight down to business, as usual... Anyway, it is about miss Dash. She doesn't belong in this hell hole, Atmosphere, and you know it!” said Blackheart in the same tone. “Now all the sudden you care for a prisoner of yours? What has happened to you? Gone soft?” answered Atmosphere. “I wonder what caused that.” “She is a Dash and she is not supposed to be here! Her mother worked in your precious factory remember, on the rainbow department for crying out loud!” replied Blackheart as he slammed his hoof on the table. “I know that. Thank you for pointing out the obvious again,” said Atmosphere annoyed. “But why did she had to go here?” asked the other stallion. “Because she will look into things. Things never meant for her. Never meant for her family.” “And that is why you drop her here? She is smart, she could go anyplace better!” said Blackheart as he took place in a chair against the other stallion. "Oh, is that so? Did you really think, I placed her, under your command, just because she was smart? No, I placed her, under your command, so she wouldn't find out what happened to her mother!" spoke Atmosphere with even more anger to the stallion. “Oh right, your precious rainbow factory... That is why? That is the whole reason why she is here? I am sorry, Atmosphere, but I am not buying that, you are holding something back here.” Atmosphere couldn't control his anger anymore. Without a single warning did he flew up to Blackheart and dragged him out of the chair. Ending up into a wall where he was lifted by Atmosphere’s foreleg against his throat. The glasses fell off of his nose as he tried to get the leg away from him. “There are things in pegasi history, we never may speak about and that Department is one of them!” spoke Atmosphere. “And what if I tell her anyway? Are you going to kill me for it? Go ahead then! You already broke my wing, what stops you from doing the rest, eh?” said the stallion in a taunting tone under his breath. “You and I both know, that nopony else, can run this place.” Atmosphere let the stallion go and made his way over to the exit of the room. “One more of these jokes, and I will find a replacement for you Blackheart.” The grey stallion laid on the ground catching up with his breath as he gave a death stare to his boss as he reached for his glasses. --- In the following days did life got much harder in the factory. The work got heavier and the safety priorities would be lowered under Blackheart's personal command. If there was a casualty, it was its own fault, said the gray stallion who ruled with an iron hoof by that point. The life of Shooting Star got worse by the day for she was placed all over the factory. Shifting between departments each couple of days. The young mare couldn't take it anymore and the dozens of accidents that happened every day and heard about didn't really help either. It was all getting too much for her mind. She needed to escape that horrid place. She knew one thing for sure. Doctor Atmosphere might be her only way out of the hole she got in. She had to get an audience with him. Star was trying her best to keep up with the raising tempo but kept making mistakes. She couldn't keep up with it. A problem the whole factory had though. Her whole appearance had changed drastically as cuts and bruises all over her body and her normally friendly and life full eyes, were now nothing more than dim and near colorless. Her smile was gone. He coat, manes and tail, under the dust soot of the coals. Hairs rose due to the static electricity since the coils were always running now, always charging up and ready to release their lethal cargo. --- Though on one day did she saw her chance. While in the lightning department, she noticed the figure of Atmosphere standing in front of the window of Blackheart’s office before returning to her work. Finally the horn did its job again and Star removed herself out of the spot she had been in and opened her wings a little, flapping them lightly before taking off. “Are you insane!” said a stallion who pulled Star down to the ground. “You almost flew against a fully charged coil! Do you have a death wish or something, foal?” “Huh, what... Did, thank you,” said Star while looking dead tired and confused. “I see, you are tired as well. The name is Thunder Dasher,” he said in a kinder tone. He would have offered his hoof to pull Star back up. “Thank you, Thunder, the name is Shooting Star Dash,” the mare replied as she took his hoof and got back up. Star inspected the stallion. A young pegasus with a white coat, purple manes, having brown eyes and wearing a red sweatband. “Pleasure meeting you Shooting Star, but I have to go now,” said Thunder. Before even one more word could be said, he was gone. Star looked a little confused but focused her attention on Atmosphere. She would speak to him. One way, or the other. “Doctor Atmosphere, may I speak to you for a minute?” asked Star as the stallion left Blackheart’s office once more. “What is your name child?” he asked with his stern voice as he kept moving towards the exit. “Shooting Star Dash.” Atmosphere froze in his tracks and turned himself around. “Speak the words you have to say,” he said to her. Obviously, her name had sparked something within his mind. A terrible thing. “Is, is there, is there a way I can get out of this place?” she asked in a gentle voice. “There is no escape from the storm factory. It is the best guarded prison known to the pegasus race. Only the worst of the worst end up here. Might I ask, what have you done to end up in here?” Atmosphere replied before he rose an eyebrow. He wanted to know why she was there, even though he knew that fact all too well himself. “Well, I did nothing wrong, all I did was making the test and the results said I should work here. I didn't even know it was a prison,” replied Star a little scared. “Nopony who enters, leaves, my child. I am sorry,” said Atmosphere in a stone cold tone. After that would have made his way to the exit of the factory. He still didn't want to replace her because of an incident that happened so long ago. As much as it was true her mother worked in the rainbow department and had witnessed and executed its many horrors, she had vowed to never speak about it ever since she left it for her husband and children. But records of the place still existed and were hidden deep in the factory itself. A part only Atmosphere could enter, but didn't want to take the risk of the rumors becoming true. Blackheart often had called him paranoid about it and was probably right about it. Star sighed deep and defeated while she looked after the stallion leaving the factory. With a couple tears build up in her eyes did she saw how he left her. She slowly began on the way back to her room. She laid down on her bed and began to sob softly for the rest of the day and night.
