R.E.D.

"Why in Tartarus is that stupid thing so slow?" Complained Gilda.

She was flying just above the tree line of the Everfree forest, looking out for any of the more dangerous resident creatures that may threaten the convoy which she was leading. The timber wolves had been trouble enough, without another creature ambushing them.

She hated the Everfree. The place was nothing like what she was used to, it was way too natural, if there was such a thing. Back in the Gryphon colonies where she hailed from, everything was straightforward and simple. There was day, there was night and there was prey. that was all anyone had too worry about, apart from the occasional thunderstorm.

Here though, nothing could be taken for granted. One section of the forest could be calm at one point, while a few meters away another could be consumed by the most terrible lightning storm. The place was saturated with a type of sorcery that even the most powerful magic users feared, and rightly so.

However, the discomfort she was feeling was nothing compared to the fear that the two earth ponies below her were. The majority Equestria had no natural cycles, as their entire ecosystem was tended by the equine residents themselves. the Running of the leaves, Winter wrap up, all of these things were essential for for the survival of the largest nation of the known world.

The idea of it raining without a weather team scheduling it was way too alien for them, so when it began to spit lightly as they trotted down the forgotten track they almost jumped out of their skins.

"Calm down, you cowards, it's just rain"

"Yeah, but its raining all by itself!" cried the white one.

Behind the two ponies was the large metal box that they had been operating within just a day ago, monitoring the entire 'best of the best' competition from inside it, hidden by a large marquee during the event and sneaked out during the night. She knew the purpose of the competition was something to do with the Benefactors plans, but what those plans were, she had no clue, apart from that they almost definatley augured ill for the citizens of Ponyville.

'Ponyville'

She snorted in disgust.

Large rubber tank treads protruded from the sides of the 'tank', on which the machine moved slowly down the muddy track. While others may have looked at the machine in wonder, imagining what kind of magic or technology allowed it to move on its own locomotion, Gilda could only think about how painstakingly slow it was creeping along. Slow wasn't her style.

She pondered on why she was doing this again. Why was she working for some weirdo who refused to show his face even to his own henchmen?  Why did she spend all of yesterday watching a bunch of lame ponies take part in some pathetic contest? And why was she traveling up this track, supervising a couple of morons and a big metal lump on wheels traveling at the grand old speed of 'Snails pace'?

Oh yeah.

To get back at Rainbow Dash and her stupid friends.

Ever since they humiliated her at her own party, Gilda had brooded and festered, imagining all of the horrible ways she could get back at her. It had taken all of her reserve to prevent herself from lashing out at the cyan Pegasus yesterday.

At first she had contemplated killing her in her sleep. 'Too nice'.

How about torturing her in the most painful ways imaginable, before turning her into grotesque cupcakes and feeding them too her friends? 'Close'

How about putting her friends in said situation and letting her know that it was all her fault. That it had only been possible due to her own pride?

'Perfect'

A couple of years ago, Gilda would have been disgusted about having such thoughts about her old friend. She would have called herself mad and taken some time to examine her mind, maybe even booking herself in for 'Griffon therapy'.

But she was a different Griffon now, and she knew exactly what she wanted. She'd had a long time to think this over. A long time indeed.

"There, up ahead!"

Gilda snapped out of her pleasant daydream to see the silhouette of castle Whiterun loom up ahead. An old castle that had origins that could be traced back to the time of the 3 tribes, before the union of the Earth ponies, the Pegasi, and the Unicorns had taken affect to birth modern Equestaria as it was known today. What the castle had been used for, and which of the pansy-pony tribes owned it, was anybody's guess.

Sprouting from the castle were large antenna and steel drainage pipes. Wires trailed from the open windows, crackling blue energy running down them like a waterfall of electricity. A stark contrast with the original Gothic architecture.

The castle itself sat upon a steep mound, supposedly to tire out wingless attackers trying to assault the grand structure.

"Oh, great"

2 hours later and they had finally reached the castle. A pretty impressive time, considering the lumbering metal monstrosity had halved its speed when it began to scale the mound. Gilda wasn't even sure that it was going to make it at some points, what with all the coughing and spluttering noises, and the great gouts of smoke that it occasionally belched out.

Gilda strode up to the castle doors and knocked three times in quick succession. After a minute, a rusty voice came through the intercom.

"Who goes there?"

"It's me, Gilda, open up"

"What's the password?"

Gilda groaned. Why was everyone around these parts complete morons?

"There is no password! Now quit fooling around and open these doors!"

A chuckle came over the intercom, then a wheezing cough. Then another minute of silence. Finally, the voice answered.

"Proceed"

The huge ominous doors to the castle swung open, loudly creaking as they did so. revealing the dark interior of the castle foyer. A swarm of bats left the relative safety of the foyer, screeching loudly as they escaped into the rain.

'Touche'

Gilda rushed quickly into the castle, momentarily abandoning her two colleagues and the metal box, which still maintained its sluggish speed despite the lack of incline. It wasn't exactly warm in there, but it was a stark improvement on the Everfree forest. Although to be fair, what wasn't?

She shook herself like a dog, dispelling the rainwater that had drenched her beautiful feathers.

"If I ever get my hands on that old fool, I swear to any nearby gods that I will rip his throat out, eat it, and I will ENJOY IT"

She turned back to the convoy, which was now waiting behind the her, ready for her next instructions. The two Herbivorous ponies had looks of distaste and horror on their faces.

"Come on! we've wasted enough time already!" said Gilda obliviously.

The group marched (and trundled) down the long hallway. The floor was covered with a huge, dirty red carpet, which was in turn covered in caterpillar tracks and countless hoof-prints. The walls were along one side were covered in huge portraits, each one easily the size of a small shed. The paint on them was cracked and worn, and a few had large red curtains drawn across them. They obviously belonged to a line of noble, but now forgotten unicorns. Some were big, some small, some fat, some thin.

But one trait that they all shared, was that they all sported a silvery, grey mane.

Other than the portraits, the castle was completely undecorated and boring, and very run down. Along the other wall was a line of doors, each leading to a different area of the castle. Titles such as 'Testing', 'Manufacture', 'Digital operations' and 'Staff toilet' were printed across the front in bold lettering.

They came to a garage door with the words 'T4N-K Storage' printed on it. Gilda nodded to the white pony.

"Bolt, go park the tank"

Bolt nodded and trotted over too the door. He keyed in the code with his hoof and led the T4N-K into the garage.

Gilda and the Green earth pony continued down the long corridor. Overhead, a huge flock, of what must of been at least a hundred strange metallic orbs skittered from one rafter to another, their purpose unknown even to the most senior employees

Finally they reached the end of the corridor, which had been becoming narrower and narrower the further they went on. it also became much darker, and by the time they had reached the end the only light source was a dying light bulb just above the black door against the end wall. Here, the walls were in much better shape than they were at the start of the corridor. They were smooth and crisp as apposed to cracked and crumbling.

The door had two words written on it in gold, Coppergate gothic font:

'Dr. Grey-Manne: CEO'

Gilda approached the door. Without warning, it beeped and opened slowly.

Automatic doors.

'I'll never get used to this guy's gadgets'

"Gilda, my dear" came a voice. It was the voice of somepony who had complete confidence in their own authority. The voice of somepony of who demanded respect and fear, without even needing to raise their tone.

"Do come in"

Gilda entered the office. It was relatively empty, apart from a small desk that was covered in scrap paper. Some pieces had intricate diagrams on them, others were completely covered in complex equations that hurt Gilda's head if she stared at them to long.

Grey-Manne sat at the desk, his pale blue eyes boring into Gilda's very soul. Like the rest of his family, he had a dark, silvery, grey mane, which was well groomed and waxed. his fur colour was also grey, this time a very light shade and he wore a pair of round-rimmed spectacles. His cutie-mark was that of two screwdrivers, crossed over.

Along the back wall were hundreds of monitors. You could see every major city and town in the kingdom from these screens. Ponyvillie, Stallionrad, Manehattan, even Canterlot. There really was nopony beyond Grey-Manne's cold, calculating gaze.

"Crate Cracker, you may leave us" said Grey-Mane monotonously, his stern face not revealing a single emotion.

The green earth pony handed Gilda the camera that was handing around his neck. He then turned to his master and nodded dutifully as he left the room, The door closing automatically behind him. Grey-Manne dropped the quill he was holding with his telekinesis and relaxed, leaning back in his chair. He smiled at Gilda.

"You're the only one of my employees that I fully trust, Gilda"

He got up from his seat.

"Not because you have done what I have asked without question, on demand"

He walked over to Gilda, who was staring straight ahead, the same way a attentional guardspony on duty does.

"Not because you are easily the most capable creature here, who's track record in the field of operations speaks for itself"

He drew his muzzle close to her ear, breathing heavily. Gilda shifted uncomfortably. She hoped this wasn't going where she thought it was going.

"But because of your passion for hate"

Gilda raised her eyebrow. This wasn't what she was expecting.

"You see, I posses a rather special talent" Grey-Manne took the camera from Gilda's claw with his magic. It always gave her the heeby-jeebies when a unicorn used there magic near her. It made her feel uncomfortable, as her natural strength was nothing to it.

"I come from a long line of mind-readers, a closely guarded secret, of course. My family used this skill to take advantage of society, pulling strings as we see fit. What do ponies want? What are they feeling?"

He looked straight into her eyes again.

"What are their dreams?"

He laughed.

"We became the best politicians and entrepreneurs. We made the right friends in the right places. We made the most bits. And when we reached the top, we threw the best parties too. I myself became an inventor. I used my talent to scan the minds of geniuses and bring their knowledge together in perfect, glorious, mechanical harmony. I created things to amaze ponies. To help ponies" His eyes had glazed over. He was completely immersed in his memories.

"I felt none of the greed that my ancestors felt. I didn't want money or power. I wanted to be loved by everypony. Gray-Manne, the greatest inventor in all of Equestaria!" he threw his legs into a dramatic position. Gilda yawned, but Grey paid no attention.

"But then it happened. they abandoned me. called me a 'cold-hearted monster' because of one silly little accident. One accident! They chased me straight out of town, and smashed up my beautiful inventions as if they were cursed. It was then I realized"

He snapped out of his daydream, directly addressing Gilda this time.

"Ponies are weak creatures, and I am ashamed to call myself one. They lack the drive to do what is necessary to advance, too evolve. Is it worth it? Is it worth to never advance, to continue to live in ignorance, just because it is the safe path? of course not. It is a crime against science and progress to do otherwise"

He snarled dramatically.

"They will pay for what they did to me..."

"And that is why you trust me" said Gilda.

Grey-Manne smiled so subtlety that Gilda didn't notice. This was what he had been waiting for. Drama school really did pay off eventually.

"I know what its like to suffer humiliation at the hands of ponies, to suffer at the hands of your supposed 'friends." Gilda was staring at the ground. She didn't particularly like to allow that memory that memory to surface at the best of times. A tear dropped from her eye to the floor. It was rare to see the proud Griffon let her emotions get the better of her. How could she let those stupid ponies comprise her like this?

Grey-Manne patted Gilda on the back. Gilda looked up. She knew in her heart she had blown it. She had let herself get swept up in her memories, and now it would cost her job, and her only chance to get back at Rainbow Dash.

Gone from his face was the hatred and the anger. Instead, it had been replaced with the expression a father might give to comfort his daughter.

"Ive acted like one of them sir, Ive let myself down"

Gray-Manne laughed.

"You really think you can hide your emotions from me with a straight face and a toneless voice? You crack me up Gilda, you really do. Take the rest of the day off, it looks like you've earned it"  He said as he hungrily eyed the camera floating in front of his face.