My Little Pony: Stormbreaker

Record 07: Fire in the Sky

A bay coloured Unicorn laid over a still Changeling, his nearly crimson coat appeared like a stain of blood over the champion of the War against King Sombra and Queen Chrysalis. Mystic Tome had not left the side of Dust Jacket since his arrival in the hospital, where he has remained in a coma following the expenditure of power he displayed in defeating the wicked Queen of his people. Even before the deceleration by both the rulers of the Crystal Empire, no pony dared to speak against the Changeling in natural form taking a deserved rest in the bed.

Slowly, with a weakness one had from resting too long, Dust began to awake. His first sight, although hazy, was the blue mane of the pony who had given him the power to stand against Chrysalis. He was nearly lost in the sight of his love, thinking it was no more than a normal day, as the coma had briefly left him without the memories of the last time he was awake. “Tome” He attempted. “Tome!” He tried again. “Oh dear, is that a book out of place?”

Eyes snapping open, Mystic sat up, though not as quickly as his eyes had moved. “Wha-?” He began groggy, then realized who had stirred him and clung back to the Changeling, not able to keep back his tears. “You’re awake!”

Still unaware, Dust was confused. “Yeah?” He said slowly, then got a whiff of something. “Pew, why do you smell so bad?” Taking a few more smells, discerning the source. “Is that me?” He looked around, feeling more was amiss.

“Sorry to offend” Mystic sat up, wearing a sour face. “I have only been at your side for over a week”

Whipping his head to look at the Unicorn, Dust then scanned the room. He took in the equipment, and the type of room it was, then became aware of his form. “Week?!” He tried to change form, but he was still very weak from everything he was slowly recalling. “What happened?” He strained, still trying to regain the pony form he preferred. “Why can’t a transform? What if somepony sees?!”

“I believe that particular cat, is of no further concern” Mystic responded, not yet aware of Dust’s situation. “Wait… do you not recall what happened? Do you not remember your fight with Chrysalis?”

“Uh… what?!” He nearly laughed at the idea, then was interrupted by the sound of hooffalls. “Oh no, somepony is coming!” He pulled the covers over his head to hide, as the pony entered and stopped just inside the room. “I-it’s not what it looks like… it’s a costume!”

Coming to the edge of the bed, Prince Shining Armor looked at the covered creature in puzzlement. “Dust Jacket… we all know that you are a Changeling, moreover, a savior of the Empire”

Attempting to fill in some gaps, Mystic offered. “I believe the event of topic, has left him with an acute sense of amnesia, your highness”

Pulling down the covers quickly, looking at both of them. “Wait… So that wasn’t a dream? I-I actually fought Queen Chrysalis?”

“That is a gross understatement” Shining responded. “That implies that she had a chance, from what we saw, you completely overpowered and crushed her” This struck Dust hard, and he looked almost paralyzed in bed with a blank stare. “Thanks to your, and the efforts of Empress Morphosia, the Crystal Empire has begun to accept Changelings, and let go of the predigest form from your people’s time under Chrysalis’ reign”

“This can’t be real…” Dust exhaled hard. “All the things I have desired finally came true? I feel this is still a dream”

******

In the Changeling Quarters, no longer under a barrier that sealed off the newest creatures of the Empire from the rest of it, the starved people shuffled around without a means to truly end their hunger. Empress Morphosia had used all she had taken from Countess Trixie to feed her people, but it was not the a real source for her kind to live, and though it held the pain at bey for a time, hunger lingered as the last bits of the syphoned magick was given. She had given all she could to her broodkin, and she had nothing to refill herself. Spending more of herself for the good of hers, left the fresh ruler worse than most. To their credit, none of the Changelings had made any attempts to fool any pony into feeding them in a way they were more accustomed, but without alternatives, it would not be long before something would happen. Even as other Unicorns offered some magick to keep the Changelings going, it was a poor comparison to the passion and emotional energy they lived on.

Although there was no longer the restriction of coming or going, neither pony or Changeling seemed willing to cross the invisible line. There were guards stationed, but they served as protection, not enforcement. When a small, bold filly decided to make her move, the guards took notice. She was a Crystal Pony, with the gem-like coat of the native ponies, a teal hue, and mane of shimmering sea foam. As she crossed the line, one of the guards went to move, as the other held them back. “We can’t stop ponies or Changelings from crossing. Our job is to keep peace, not be border patrol” The halted guard gave them a look, receiving “Let’s see how this plays out” for their concern.

The filly trotted through looking at all the Changelings, who were mostly keeping to themselves, until she approached one who seemed ready to pass out. “Hi” She said with a volume that children often use, and it startled the Changeling, not helping their state.

Looking down at this sudden noise, the Changeling was curious and surprised to find a pony in their quarters, even more so that she was so young. “Hello?” He responded with weariness and uncertainty.

“You’re a Change-wing?” He nodded, slightly confused by her pronunciation. “Mommy says you’re scawy,” This caused him to look away. “But you don’t scare me” Most might find this a challenge, but she was not trying to be tough, only being bluntly honest as children tend to be. “You look like daddy when he got sick. Are you sick?”

Not truly looking at her still, he hesitantly answered. “No… just hungry”

“Why don’t you eat then?” Her innocence was cute, but also painful for the Changeling.

“There’s nothing for us to eat, nothing that fills us… nothing we can really have anyways…” He took notice of the attention he was getting, and was not enjoying it very much.

“I’ll get you a muffin! There’s a funny Pegasus who makes wheelie good ones”

Shaking his head, this situation only became worse for him. “Sorry, Changelings don’t eat pony food”

“Oh?” She was unshakable. “Are you like woofs, or kitties? Daddy says they are pwedators, and they eat other cweatures”

“Eh… not quite… but kinda, and what we did prey on, we can’t and don’t want to anymore” He did his best to avoid the true source, not wanting to scare off the pony who was only trying to understand.

Looking down, finally defeated in her attempts, she looked clearly sad in failing. “I’m sowwy… maybe a hug will help?” She did not give him a chance to reply, and quickly embraced him. “When I feel bad, mommy and daddy give me hugs, and I’m all better!”

At first, the Changeling wanted to fight this, but the sensation was pleasant. He felt something he had never before. “Thank you, but-” He started, then stopped when he felt something change. He was losing the feeling of hunger, and moreover, feeling better than he could recall ever feeling. “What in the hive?” He realized what was happening, and broke the hold, much to her shock. “Are you okay?” He looked her over.

She cocked her head, confused by that question, completely unaware of the cause. She then giggled, and poked his nose. “Silly, you were the one feeling bad”

“Uh… yeah… but do you feel tired or weak? Do you feel different?” He was frantic now, as more attention was being drawn.

She sat, ever more puzzled by his questions. “I feel… happier! Cause now you look better! See how great hugs are?” She threw her fore hooves up in excitement. “I helped a new fwiend”

The guards made their way toward them, intrigued by what was going on. “Is everything alright over here?”

“Of course!” The filly said fast, looking at the pair. “My fwiend is all better!” She smiled wide. The guards regarded this clearly different appearance in the Changeling.

Not feeling as at ease as she was, the Changeling now felt he did something really wrong with the guards investigating. “I-I don’t know what happened… Is she okay? I didn’t mean to-”

Empress Morphosia, looking as tired and worn as the rest of her broodkin, trotted up to them. “What is going on?” She tried her best not to sound as drained as she was. “Has something happened?” Doing his best to explain to her, the Changeling was terrified he had done something wrong, yet no harm seemed to have befell the filly. The guards were keeping her back, but she was trying to get close to him again. Taking this all in, Morphosia could only observe. “This is very strange… You are well, and she is no worse for it? I wonder if this is anything like what Dust Jacket discovered in Mystic Tome?”

***

The situation, as little as it was, brought together Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor, and Empress Morphosia to speak with the crystal filly and her parents, along with the Changeling she had befriended. To give some light on alternative sources, Dust Jacket was summoned to meet as well. The gathering was kept quiet, in hopes to avoid any unneeded rumors or trouble. All the Leaders sat together, the Crystal family was also collected in another part of the room, and the Changeling was opposite, looking still very upset by the events.

Dust trotted in, back in his Pegasus form. This was curious to the trio of leaders, and Morphosia questioned it. “You disguise yourself, yet there is no need anymore, especially to one who is regarded as a hero”

“I’m no hero,” Dust responded, as he stood near the other Changeling. “I did what I needed to keep the one I love safe” He looked at Mystic, who had joined him. “Besides that, I prefer this form. I’ve worn it for many years now, and it is who I want to be”

Accepting this, Morphosia moved past it, and explained the situation. “-so this is why we summoned you here, because of the unique love you found, and the power it has given to you” She looked at the other two rulers, then back at Dust. “You have lived in the Empire for many years, and Canterlot before that, and it seems you have survived on something besides what all other Changelings need to survive. You have lived off Mystic Tome’s love, but unlike others, he doesn’t seem to be dying or any worse for the years together. Even the strongest love a… source has for the form a Changelings takes to gain it, could not last for so many years. I can only conclude that whatever you two have, this Changeling and that Filly have found as well; or near to it”

“I will be honest, I don’t fully understand it myself” Dust replied, looking a bit uneasy. “All I had ever known was that we steal love, and drain those who give it. I admit, at first, that is how I was living” This surprised the council. “After that first attack Queen Chrysalis made on Canterlot, so many years ago, I was left behind, somehow spared the attack that had sent the rest of us away. I was starved, but not feeling controlled, though I knew no other way to live, so I did as we had for so long. I took a few forms to feed, but I never lingered to do major damage. Somehow being free of her control, I actually felt bad for tricking others. So, in hopes of changing tactics, I made this form, and that is when I found Mystic. He fell in love with me, not some illusion of somepony he knew, but a pony I had made myself into. It felt different, more… pure, the love he gave me” He sniffled, not realizing he had started to cry at the memories. He was speaking with a breaking voice. “I loved him back… It wasn’t another meal, it was so much more. Even when I showed him my true form, he still loved me… and that made the love even purer. I never felt so good, so full”

Taking this in, the council and others could not help in feeling moved. Morphosia had a job to do, and she felt duty bound to press on. “Mystic Tome?” She addressed the Unicorn, who was pressing against his love, also fondly remembering their early days together. “Have you ever felt drained, or weak around Dust? Did you ever feel like you were empty or dying?”

“I felt empty before meeting Dust” He responded, lovingly. “Apart from some dumb fights couples have now and then, I have never felt like I was being attacked. He never forced himself on me…” He lingered on the thought, however with a child present, he pushed it away with a blush. “Even before he exposed his true form, never did he attempt to use me like that. Knowing after, I gave the subject some thought, and the conclusion I always seem to come too, was that in my willingness to give my love, as I would any other pony, was not the same as it being stolen from me through a ruse. Knowingly sharing it, has no negative side effects”

Morphosia nodded, and processed the information. She turned to the Empire rulers, and asked their thoughts. “How do you take all of this, your majesties?”

Prince Shining Armor was first to respond. “I would very much like to accept this” He began. “I have made it my personal mission to find a way for all of our people to live harmoniously, and help you and the rest of the Changelings find a new life. It has been a terrible mark, not being able to provide a solution to those in my care”

Princess Cadence agreed, adding. “As the Princess of Love, I am all about sharing and making it stronger. In our broken world, it is harder and harder to find friendships, and bonds between different species. Dust Jacket and Mystic Tome are a unique situation. They love one another, like any couple. They can exchange love, however I do not know how we can do this for all Changelings. It is not as if we can start pairing off Changelings and Ponies”

“Well, your highness” The mother, a line green mare, spoke to this. “Our daughter is too young to have those kinds of feelings, and yet she has seem to give the same kind of energy to it-him” She looked over at the Changeling, who was still clearly very unsettled. “She seems fine, no worse for it. We are not very comfortable with what happened, but the fact remains that all that anyone saw was her hugging him. We are still concerned that there was a deliberate attempt made though”

“I wouldn’t!” The Changeling finally spoke, and cried out against that allegation. “I wouldn’t do that, not to her, not to anypony. I just want to live peacefully… I don’t want to live like we did under Chrysalis…”

Standing fast, not as level headed as his wife, the gray stallion shouted. “How can we be sure?! Maybe you all are trying to lure us into a false sense of security, and would have passed her around like… like candy or something, if the guards hadn’t intervened!”

“Mr. Starcut, please!” Princess Cadence cut in. “It has been nearly five weeks without the borders in place, and we have had no incidents. The Changelings have done nothing but suffer their starvation as we fail to rectify it. They could have easily escaped our notice to do far worse before being caught, if they were so desperate, so why would they now risk an situation in broad daylight, over a filly?” She looked around the room, taking in the mood of each present. “We have had dealings with the Changelings of the past, under the rule of Queen Chrysalis, and I can appreciate the concerns from those times, however these are not the same personalities that were under her control. I can only rule that this was not a deliberate attack, but an accident, one that we have come here in hopes of learning from to maybe save us all from further issues”

Standing with her husband, and grabbing her child, now both parents were annoyed by the tone of the meeting. Though she seemed more understanding, she was also displeased that it was not about their grievances. They went to leave, but the filly fought against it. “Wait! I wanna play with my fwiend more!”

“No! You are to stay away from them” The mother scolded.

“But why? He was so nice, and I just wanted to help him!” She fought, but was not able to beat the hold of an adult pony. “What did I do bad? Why can’t I see my fwiend? Mommy, why can’t we pway?”

The room was heavy, as the others tried not to listen to the confused cries of a child too young to understand what was happening here. The Changeling, however, could not ignore the filly that had shown him something new. “Listen to your mother Crystalline… don’t worry about us… we’ll be fine… be good for your parents”

Stopping, the mother wanted to turn and be angry with him for speaking to her daughter, but she saw the look in his eyes. It did not matter if you were pony or Changeling, there was something to be read in eyes, and his told of the pain he was feeling, and his tears were only further telling. “Y-you really care about her? Why?”

Trying to fight back the foreign feelings he was now going through, he nodded slowly. “That brief moment… She showed me friendship… I finally understood why ponies can feel like they do, not just feed on it… in that moment, I knew what it was like to be care about, and not the illusion”

Taking this in, the mother lost her hold, Crystalline took notice and rushed to the Changeling. The room fell away, as the filly embraced him again. He bore an expression of such happiness, one mirrored by her.

“Geoda?” Mr. Starcut looked at his wife in shock. “What are you doing?”

“Look at her, Art… look at them… he doesn’t want to hurt her, and she really likes him” She looked to her husband. “Can we really be responsible for tearing her away from another friend?” He looked at his daughter, then back to his wife, recalling the attacks. “She hasn’t seemed this happy since those we had to leave behind”

“Can I call you Switch-A-Roo?” Crystalline asked him. “Cause you can switch into stuff, right?”

He smiled more, finding himself to be named even more enjoyable than he imagined. “Of course”

The rest of the room changed, more positive and happy, as a major step was taken today. Morphosia, ever on duty was taking a deeper appreciation of what was happening. She could read the energies being exchanged. When a Changeling fed upon a victim, the process was much more like what Countess Trixie or Tirek would do. Between the two, and even at that moment between Dust and Mystic, the energies came out, and mingled together. It was no different than body heat, but it provided so much more for both parties. “Fascinating,” She said softly.

******

The Crystal Empire felt like a different place, since the last few months with the incident with the filly and the Changeling. Discovering a new way for the Changelings to live, even thrive, that did no harm to any other, allowed them to now spread through the Empire. Acceptance was slow at first, it did become common through the last Pony city.

Given the Changelings lack for need of food like that which the Ponies ate, they could help in ways to build the Empire without putting a strain on the resources some even helped cultivate. The damage from the battles with the Umbrum was erased, and new homes were made for the refugees saved by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Even the farms and fields were expanded to turn up a greater yield for all the mouths that needed it. Though not every Changeling found a bound like Crystalline and Switch-A-Roo, the welcome feeling and small friendships they formed with ponies through the Empire seemed enough to sustain them just as well. Some ponies that acknowledged these transactions joked with their new friends that it was like “snacking throughout the day”

The outlook of the citizens of the Crystal Empire was greatly changed, and they no longer feared the endless storm beyond as they once did, not with their heroes standing against it. A name was circulating for the champions, something to identify Prince Shining Armor, Empress Morphosia, Dust Jack, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom…

“Stormbreakers” Apple Bloom nearly laughed, as she read the papers. “I feel bad Princess Cadence didn’t make the cut”

Sweetie Belle was trotting about the lavish room that was set up for the pair to work, barely paying much attention to her friend. She was growing frustrated by the lack of a plan in the months since Sombra’s fall, and she knew the longer that they waited the more the other villains would be ready. It just did not seem possible to find a means to reach Cloudsdale alone without being caught, let alone getting to the Rainbow Factory and shutting it down. Their numbers were too small, even if the Changelings joined them to lay siege on the Aerial Nation, any attempt in sneaking into the factory would require a knowledge that only a select few had; each being of Rainbow Death’s highest, likely loyalest, ranks.

Watching her friend growing ever more distraught, Apple Bloom took a seat and leaned back in it. She had no idea what to do either, it was uncharted territory for her being an Earth pony, she knew nothing of the clouds. “Too bad we ain’t Changelings, they’re pretty good at get’n into places”

Sweetie took a seat, put her fore hooves to her head in defeat. “I could use a spell that Dust taught me that could change us, but to maintain it as well as a Cloud Trotter spell, so we can even be on the clouds, would be far too much effort for me” She slammed her hooves to the desk before her soon followed by her head, becoming buried in papers.

With her one good eye, Bloom looked at her friend in concern, though with a bit of amusement. She recalled a filly who was easily frustrated, and it seemed that the mare had not fully grown out of it. It was understandable, given how much time she has worked on this mission, but the facts remained. “If’n we only had a pony on the inside, someone who could create a distraction to get us in”

Sweetie did not lift her head, so she was muffled by the pages and forcing her friend to strain in hearing her. “None of the Pegasi here will go back, being marked as traitors, and we have no way to even reach somepony up there who might be a sympathizer or a friend before…”

“Maybe we can get a Changeling in?”

Sitting up in annoyance, Sweetie regarded this repeat topic. “What’s with all this Changeling talk? Besides Dust, how can we really be sure of any of them?”

Bloom was a bit surprised that the Zebracorn was still not accepting of the new members of their growing resistance. “Landsakes, it's been like four months now since Cadence and Morphosia made the announcement of the dismantling of the Changeling Quarts, and since they’ve gone to live through the Empire. There ain’t been any problems, and they have been might good po-bu… critters. How can y’all still be so closed to em?”

Sighing, Sweetie looked away. “I guess I’m just too focused on all this failed planning to see what has been happening out there… If Dust can be good, I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised that the rest of his people can be too” She glanced back at Bloom. “Still, what is to say they would help us?”

***

“Help the Stormbreakers?!” A Changeling nearly jumped out of their shell when asked by Sweetie and Bloom. They were excited just to be talking to them, but to be of help was beyond their wildest dreams. Sweetie did not understand the name, another matter she missed, and Bloom just waved it off to be explained later. “Of course we would help” Another heard what was being discussed, and joined with the first, as did a couple more. “We are citizens of Equestria now, and if our home needs us, we will answer the call!” The rest of the group nodded in agreement.

Sweetie looked at Bloom, who wore a knowing grin. “Okay, so they will help us, but what are we going to do with their help?”

Thinking a little bit on it, Apple Bloom had an idea come to mind, not much different from what she had been saying all along. “They can do what they did best before and find a Pegasus or two to switch with, then they go back to the Clouds, maybe slip in a couple more in disguises and get work in the factory where they can start mess’n the place up, and then eventually let us get in to find Scootaloo, or info, and we can take the place down fer good”

“Did I hear correct,” Another voice came from behind the mares, causing both to jump in place. “You wish to incite that my broodkin act on their old ways?” Empress Morphosia wore a deeply concerned look.

Turning to face her, Bloom attempted to explain things. “It’s fer a good cause. They wouldn’t be hurt’n nopony, least none not worth a bit of feather ruffle’n”

Narrowing her slitted eyes, the ruler was still not very pleased in this course for her people. “Putting my brood at risk for the sake of one pony, who may not even be there?” She returned sternly. “I understand friendship, and even the effects it can have over others, however the greater good must be served first. I cannot put my kind at risk for some chance rescue and pranks”

“I’ll volunteer, Empress!” The first Changeling stepped up, much to her surprise. “Befriending ponies has been such an amazing experience, and I can’t imagine going back or loosing the friends I have. These two have lost their friend and want to try to find her, and I want to help them!”

“Plus,” Apple Bloom chimed back in. “It’s fer the greater good too, cause if’n we can get in close enough to find our friend, and the Changelings can make a mess of that factory, we can try to take it down and put an end to Rainbow Death…” The weight of that thought struck her finally. Stopping Sombra and Chrysalis was one thing, they were always villains, but Rainbow was a friend, once. “We can try to reach her, but… I won’t risk so much if’n none of them can be turned back” She said to herself.

Morphosia watched as a few more of her brood joined the first in wanting to join this cause, and as much as she was proud they would fight for the ponies, she was also upset that they were to be put into harm’s way. She knew this would come sooner or later, but the later might not be on their terms, or as calculable. “Very well,” She agreed, much to the excitement of the group. “Those who wish to join in their endeavor meet in the main hall tomorrow at noon. For now, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, join me so we may fully plan this out to the best possible course. You may have a plan, but where as my Brood is concerned, I must sure up all details to my liking. We will assure success, and cut down the harm to our ranks” She turned to the first Changeling and instructed them to speak to either, or both, Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor on this matter.

******

The dim lit corridors and cramped facilities of the older parts of the Rainbow Factory, over run by the constant relying and redirection of pipes, wires, and tubes, as well as the discarded and broken machines left in the wake of progress, were the sanctum to the highest levels of the grim machine. A red Pegasus, dressed in an old, stained, and worn lab coat that reflected these halls, was now trotting purposefully through them. He had helped revive this monster, and continues to keep it breathing its wicked, labored breaths. A few outranked him in Her Madness’ Aerial Nation, but none outranked Dr. Hide Atmosphere in the Rainbow Factory.

As the one figure feared as equally as Rainbow Death herself moved about, others cowered or simply pretended not to see him, occupied by their duties here in the lurching heart of the beast. They all did their best to avoid his attention, for it was rarely a good thing to be addressed by the Doctor of Death. He was not nearly as crazed as the supreme, and inglorious leader of the Third Flock, but he did not tolerate failure any less, nor did he find mercy for those shirking duty.

Entering a room, with tubes and wires going in and out like a nerve cluster, he stopped just behind a console and the single occupant at it. He cleared his throat, calling the light green mare’s attention. She turned to see who it was, at first looking like she was going to lecture the intruder, then saw who it was and changed her approach. Unlike the rest, she did not give him any signs of fear. “Need Something Hide?” She spoke as casually as a friend would, and though she was young for it, she had earned the respect and honour of his friendship, as well as a spot in the very select group of his Core of Top Engineers.

“How are the systems Gentle?” He looked around the monitors and readouts with his eyes alone, then turned his head sharply to an empty seat. “Where is Gauge?”

She turned back to the displays and switches at her station, a vest control that ran nearly every inch of the factory. “All is sufficient, given our low number of resources, and the fact Her Madness won’t let us shut down long enough to clean up this mess of reworked and abandoned arteries” She pushed away some discarded wires from some attempts made to organize the chaos, then scanned over some readouts before answering the second question. “As for my partner in efficiency, he is getting better acquainted with the toilets. Seems he was foolish enough to trust Contrail’s coffee”

After rolling his eyes, the old Pegasus continued to take in the many monitors and points of information that covered a vast majority of the factory as he spoke. “A genius in many respects, yet logic fails him at times” His locked onto something that seemed out of sorts to one who knew this place better than any other. “What is this?” He pointed to a fluctuation in the charts, noting a subtle but repeating pattern.

Gentle took a look, and searched through the back logs to see how long it had been a curing. “Definitely not normal, one of the regulators must be failing. It is only a couple days old, by the first sign of the pattern as it is, but does show it was developing over time” She activated the intercom to the troubled area. “Sector 7G Zone 9, we are are tracking an issue with one of the regulators, run a full diagnostic and find the problem”

“You are usually more attentive than this. We are not slipping, are we?” Dr. Hide asked, cryptidly.

“Yes, I am attentive” She returned, defensively. “I also usually have a partner to help when I do detailed inspections of such things” Hide raised a brow at this excuse, and Gentle knew what he was going to say. “Contrails’ coffee is a purge, that has been cleaning Gauge our for nearly a week now” She scoffed. “Good until the last drop”

Tisking at this, Hide turned to leave. “His mistake and yours compounded. Now let’s all hope these are the only ones we have for awhile” He trotted away, leaving her to sigh in frustration.

“It’s a living…” She muttered as she started back at the logs for anything else that might have arisen in these troubling past few days.

******

Over the course of three weeks, the Changelings had worked their way through the Rainbow Factory, placing themselves in areas that allowed them to move and work on the plan to bring the factory down. It would have been too obvious to strike where they were placed, so they would make moves in adjacent areas or further, with some doing damage where they were placed to keep the pattern seemingly random to any who might be tracking the system failures, shut downs, crashes, and breakdowns. It was fairly easy to cause “random” destruction, as the factory was clearly stressed to a point of nearly failing on its own. This also allowed for the big move to be possible, where a massive failure in one of the generators caused an explosion that drew much of the staff to focus on it. In the chaos, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were able to sneak into the factory, with several informants placed around so they would find what they needed.

Inside the Rainbow Factory was unlike anything the mares were accustomed too, being industrious and cold, showing no sign of joy or freedom. It was a dark and grim place, for something that wore the title of “rainbow”, it was far more factory. There was a flashing of red lights, indicators of the troubles and hemorrhaging of the complex, still being attended to by the engineers. The eerie silence, and flashing crimson hue, only added to the oppressive feel.

The pair kept off any main paths as much as possible, which were luckily abandoned thanks to the trouble elsewhere, they still kept to the twisting and winding service tunnels and areas, where it would be as empty even on a normal day. The deeper they went, the more the air filled with a thickness unsettling. Though silence, there seemed to be a sound that played at the edges of their hearing. It was like a wind, but as they delve further, it sounds more like wailing and suffering of souls in relentless torment. It came from nowhere, yet was all around, and all the pair could think was “haunted”

They eventually found an area that was the worst part they had seen so far, where all the imagined agony became reality. A holding area, with cages that filled the room, much of which were empty. The conditions here were appealing, with a heaviness in the air of rot and decay, that took all they had to suppress the urge to cough it from their lungs. It was a pungent mixture of death, and bodily waste from those left to soil themselves before their executions, and it was clear no effort was made to clean anything here. Those poor souls still alive in here, did not even look to be, no more living than some of the corpses left where they died before serving their dark purpose. It was clear that all hope was gone from their dead eyes, barely even breathing.

“We should free em” Apple Bloom whispered.

“Remember our goal,” Sweetie Belle returned. “We have only so much time to get through this place, and if we can accomplish our mission, they will ALL be saved” It was clear the mare was in a focused mood, with only their purpose here in mind. Despite her words though, she was still clinging to the hope of finding Scootaloo in one of these rooms and saving her. “If we freed them now, it would alert the place to us. The hunt would be on for us, and anything that leads to the destruction here. It would put everything at risk, and our friends who risked so much to get in here. I hate it, but we need the element of surprise right now. We have to leave them behind”

“Yeah… okay…” Bloom steeled herself, and pushed the sight around them away. She knew all about sucking up and moving on, but it never became any easier to do so. The pair were off again, leaving the wretched souls, hopefully to be rescued in time.

Not long after the holding room the infiltrators became lost, with the twists and turns of the place becoming increasingly hard to keep track of. Despite the advice and guidance, it was clear the depths of the factory were not well designed. It felt more like someone took ruins, and built on top of it, then that was destroyed and more was built over that over and over, never taking time to organize or clean up what remained. It was truly a miracle that it was a working factory, when maintenance seemed impossible. It felt more like Discord’s idea of art, than a functioning place.

After too long, they came across some kind of landmark that would allow the Changeling intel to be of use again, only it was not what they had hoped it would be. The door was large, covered in grime and scratches, with a once fancy and proud plaque that read “Pegasus Device Mk. 5” that was purposefully placed. Another sign, much less care given to it, read “Decommissioned”

The sound of hooves and conversation alerted the two mares, and soon choice was thrust upon them, between remaining out here or going into the room. The haunted place of an old Pegasus Device was not the first choice, but the alternative was far worse, and so they set to work at moving the old door that seemed to give a lot easier than they thought it would have, given how old the area around it looked, like it had been ages since any were down here. With it closed behind them, they now had to regroup to plan their next moves.

Apple Bloom faced the door, expecting ponies to come through, where as Sweetie Belle pressed her back to it and slid to the ground. The clouds here were hard, and solid. “Strange” She observed, feeling them and noting that she did not need to use her Cloud Trotter Spell here. “These feel solid, like flooring. Some give, like a cloud, but more like soft earth”

Curiosity peaked, Bloom tapped her hoof, testing the surface, and was amazed that it did feel different than anywhere else in this madhouse. She then tested the walls, finding the same strength and hardness. “Probably so no pony gets out” She grimly observed.

All the ghostly voices washed away into one solid sound. “No, no, it goes' ‘where not a single soul gets through'’” There was someone else in the room, and they were correcting the two on what neither knew what it referred to. “That is orientation day 1!” The new voice was sounding annoyed by this explanation, and the two inflitratiors took defensive positions, ready to fight who ever had discovered them. Their guards were shaken, when the figure came into the small stream of light that was piercing the room. The faded, ragged orange coat, covered in marks and scars improperly healed and reopened, and a mane of purple that was wild and unkempt. She was older, and looked like she was pulled from one of the devices last second, it was clearly Scootaloo. She did not share in the recognition, and studied the mares. “What are you doing here? You’re not Pegasi, and you don’t look like you are ready to be fed to the machines, even this old one… who are you?”

That simple question shattered their hope, and Sweetie Belle hung her head as sorrow was setting in. Bloom was not so easily crushed, and became angry instead. “Scootaloo, it’s us!” She snapped. “What in Hades are y’all do’n here?!”

“Hades I’ve heard of, a place you ground-bound filth often refer to when speaking about the worst place to be” She gave a brief, cruel grin, as she cocked her head. “We like to say Equestria up here” Her grin faded. “Scootaloo is a new one”

“That’s y’all!” Bloom stressed. “Can’t ya remember even that?”

“I don’t know your Grounder slang, or care to learn it. It doesn’t matter, because you two are going into the Pegasus Device, and being of actual use to the superior species!”

Stepping back in horror, Apple Bloom could not believe that this was what became over their friend. She lacked anything that was once Scootaloo. “Who are y’all?! Y’all look like our old friend, but ain’t no way, even that stubborn pony, could’ve become another twisted Pegasus in Rainbow Death’s Flock. Yer some Changeling or somethin’ trying to trick us?”

Looking at the Earth mare in puzzlement, the Pegasus distantly responded. “I look like myself, as I have always looked. Maybe I got a few new scars, but they are badges of my efforts to be the best Pegasus I can be, and that is what I am. Pegasus, and fucking proud!” She grew angry, at being called anything else. “I don’t give a shit about who you think I look like, but don’t you dare call me anything else but Pegasus! I’ll personally shove you into this old model, if you insult me again” She took a couple proud, challenging steps. “I’m Vice President Absentia, second only to the glorious Rainbow Death, and proud member of the Aerial Nation! I think I might start up this old machine, just because you’ve pissed me off. Rainbow Death said I could use it”

“Y’all are right, you ain’t our friend!” Bloom shot back. “She was from Ponyville, and a proud member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She might have been a might bit reckless, and Rainbow Dash’s shadow, but she was her own pony, and didn’t enjoy hurt’n others”

“Sounds like a waste, and another primed for the Pegasus Device. She’s probably already been fed to one of them. Anypony who don’t understand the glory of the Flock, and would choose anything else, don’t deserve to live” She moved closer, now going nose to nose with Bloom. “You and your sniveling friend are nothing but spectra to be harvested. Now accept your fate and die in the Pegasus Device”

Apple Bloom slapped the mare, and sent her crashing to the oddly solid ground. “Damnit Scoot, I know it’s you. Yer as stubborn as a mule in mud, and whatever brainwashing’ got ya to forget about yer past, sure didn’t clear up that. Yer damned obsession with Rainbow Dash has led you all the way to be this husk of yer former self. Y’all joined her in committing some of the worst horrors of the Shatter Storm, and are blinded by that demon!”

Growling and standing fast, Absentia was ready for blood now. “This machine has been silent for years, but it’s going to scream to life as it rips you apart! No Pegasus will ignore the screams, or think twice, as I feed you to the Pegasus Device!”

“Where the fuck are y’all get’n this shit from?” Bloom was forced to stand her ground, as the mare was at her. Soon they became a mess of flying hooves and gnashing teeth.

Sweetie Belle could only back away, going into the shadows as she was horrified by what was playing out, and seeing her fears coming to life. She was now wishing that Scootaloo had just been killed, and not this broken, twisted pony that was now fighting her other friend. “It’s just like Twilight, just like them all… They’ve been changed into wicked, and cruel ponies…” She huddled into herself, not able to watch as her friends fought. She remembered the old days when the two of them would get into it, but this was not friends blowing off steam, this was bloodsport. The Zebracorn could only sob, trying to escape into her mind, but the violence of their fighting was too loud to ignore.

Out of the depths of her mind, an idea came, a memory from something she had read and heard about after the Discord incident. Though it was never able to save Fluttershy, the spell Twilight had used to turn her friends back from when Discord twisted them might be what could save Scootaloo. “Apple Bloom!” Sweetie stood, pushing back her tears. “Pin her!”

The Earth mare heard this and quickly took her rope out, and with the skill she had mastered over her lifetime, lassoed Absentia easily as a calf. As Bloom shored up the bindes, Sweetie came over with her horn already alight.

Struggling against the rope, the Pegasus was almost foaming in her anger. “Let me go!” She roared. “I’m Absentia, Vice-” She was cut off as Bloom bound her muzzle.

Sweetie moved closer, and put horn to the Pegasus’ forehead, and her eyes went wide as the spell passed into her. Memories came flooding back, and after a few moments, she closed them, though not tight enough to hold back the tears from all she had done and seen. She shook in her sorrow, as Bloom undid the binding. Scootaloo cried harder, as everything became clearer to her, and knowing what she had done as Absentia.

The two friends knew their friend was restored, and embraced her to try and get her through. They were all crying out for mixed reasons, given all that they had gone through, alone, together, and now.

After some time had passed, and Scootaloo could speak, she filled in her long lost friends on all the horrors and acts committed by and around her, all the abuse she faced, until she was broken and remade into Absentia. She recalled every scream, and cry for help from the innocent souls fed to the machine, that she played a role in delivering, all while her “sister” watched in contempt and growing distance. She no longer showed the mare the same love they had before all went wrong, only cruelty. “Rainbow Dash… is gone… longer than I wanted to admit… She broke me, made me become a monster like her, but she was planning this for much longer than that. When she was in the hospital with a broken wing, she took to reading, and one book was a history that told of the Flock. It inspired her, and when Dr. Atmosphere and Dr. Gruber came to give her a new solution, she was gone… She pushed herself, and the entire Pegasus nation, and pushed those who stood in her way, and too weak to serve. ‘the Failures would suffer’”

“It’s about the same with Rarity” Sweetie Belle came in. “She was feeling depressed and torn by what was going on, losing Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie, Rainbow out of commission, and Twilight busy, she did what she always did, delve into a project. I don’t know what all happened, as I was also finding myself with Zecora, but I know she went to the ruins of the castle in Everfree, probably some project to restore the lost art there, or something, but she was consumed by the same thing that had taken Princess Luna, and now she is Nightmare Rarity, and no longer my sister…”

“Applejack was taken’ from me,” Apple Bloom started. “but she died doing what she had always done, being a proud and strong Apple, so I can’t say I know just how y’all feel… I do know we all lost our families, and managed to get through the Shatter storm. We ain’t fillies no more, and the cutie marks ain’t much of a goal right now, but we’re still on a crusade. Together, we’re gonna make sure to put an end to all the suffering and make sure no pony has to know what it’s like to lose a sister or family again like we did!”

The other two were skeptical at first, but they started to come around to the idea. “So what, we’re gonna be some ‘Sisterhood Association’ or something?” Scootaloo asked.

“Maybe not some clever name like that, but we’re still gonna go at it with the same passion as when we were the Crusaders”

Sweetie Belle sighed. “I miss those days…” They could all agree on that. “Now we have to fight our sisters, or what was… at least Scootaloo and I”

Bloom took offense to that, and snapped. “Hey, they were like family to me too!”

“Yes, but you didn’t help your sister become a monster” Scootaloo returned. “If I hadn’t agreed with her, and volunteered to be experimented on to get new wings, cost another pony their life on top of that, Rainbow might not have ever gone through with it!”

“If I hadn’t run off, maybe Rarity wouldn’t have sought comfort in restoring the castle, and wouldn’t have been attacked by the Nightmare entity…” Sweetie Belle sighed.

“If’n I was stronger, maybe I could have saved my sister!” Apple Bloom shot back. “We can go all over how we fucked up in the past, but that ain’t do’n anything to fix things now. None of us could’ve known where things were go’n” She was making sense to them, though they would not entirely be happy with it. “I don’t like it any more than y’all that I have to try and kill ponies who were once our friends and family… even if I ain’t like I got guilt over their turn’n, I still got some fond memories of them too- Wait, memories” Bloom turned her focus around. “That spell you used on Scootaloo brought her memories back, y’all think it might work on them too?”

Thinking about it, Sweetie concluded. “The idea has merit, but it’s a long shot. Maybe!” She thought a bit more. “Maybe if she remembers who she was, it can make her stop going on with what she has been doing? Maybe if it works on Rainbow, I can try to use it on Rarity too?” Scootaloo had a fleeting hope, but she had been with Rainbow nearly the whole time, and did not think good memories would undo much.

“If you have some way to maybe alter her memories,” Scootaloo started. “Not sure reminding her of her past is going to be enough here”

“It’s worth a shot” Sweetie replied, with shaking confidence. “If we can work together, we might be able to hold her down and I can cast the spell. Worse case… we at least have her trapped…” She said, with a bit of shame in the only other option to them.

“One problem” A voice traveled down to them, drawing their attention up to a catwalk that hung over the machine in a way that allowed any there to watch it work. The figure leaned over the railing, wearing a dark grin that the few traces of light in the room made look even more deranged. “You dweebs ain’t going to get the chance to even see Rainbow” The Gryphon laughed, her talons gripping the old bar so hard that it creaked. “G, you’re gonna eat good tonight”

Record 07: Fire in the Sky

End

Author's Note

It was all going so well...