Lullaby For A Pegasus
Book One in "The End Of The Rainbow Factory" Trilogy
(Author’s Note: The main characters such as Time Roll, Timed Attack, and Fallen Star are all CANNON ponies; however, be aware that they are fan named, see MLP episode “Sonic Rainboom” for reference guide.)
He did it! After years of careful practice and study, all his hard work had finally paid off. He was showing off now, flipping backwards, doing swirls and half gator rolls with a corkscrew in the most amazing and happiest victory flight any pony could have ever mastered. The judges were impressed, who knows, thought the pony, maybe one day he will get to be a wonderbolt and preform all over Equestria even though the Wonderbolts only usually preformed in Canterlot, but that didn’t matter for nothing could ruin this day. His name was Time Roll, for like his hourglass shaped cutie mark suggested time seemed to roll into the span of an eternity when he took the skies allowing him to feel the rush of freedom in such a way that no aerial move was too quick for him to perform with the most accurate precision and grace of that of a dancer for the world slowed down while he was in the skies. The judges watched and commented to one another on how they had seen this pegasus before in last year’s Cloudsdale’s Young Flier’s Competition as contestant number two. The brown pegasus continued his wind dance in the open blue thinking of nothing but of his victory, Time Roll never thought anything in the whole world could ever make him feel happier than he did right then in this victorious sky ballet between him and the open sovereignty of the vast ocean of cerulean heaven above.
Unfortunately, the ecstasy and unconditional love Time Roll felt in how the wind blew and coursed over and through his mane, tail and contours of his body were cut far too short for his liking as the supervisors of the graduating pegasus exams ushered him into a landing and herded him into the group of ponies who had also passed their exam. There was a second group of ponies who didn’t pass their exam, but Time Roll didn’t think much of it. Most pegasus who knew they were going to fail anyway typically dropped out of flight school and got minimum wage jobs in other places in Equestria, but those who drop out and fail to take their exam are not allowed back into Cloudsdale; of course, there are exceptions in some cases, but for the most part those who left Cloudsdale left for good only to be let in for special occasions and were barred from being allowed to hold in any jobs inside of Cloudsdale. Part of that was due to the fact that in Cloudsdale, unlike the rest of Equestria, the hierarchy of The Pegasusi United Representatives for the Union of a Pegasusi Utopia, or P.U.R.U.P. as many political representatives of Cloudsdale like to shorten it, chooses what jobs a pegasus will get to have based on their test scores and physical fitness.
Time Roll didn’t know what happened to pegasusi who failed the physical exam, but he always just assumed they were sent away from Cloudsdale just like the dropouts were. Oh well, thought Time Roll, it didn’t matter: He was here and they were there and that’s all that truly mattered. The exam was finally finished with and the losers were taken away and Time Roll and his fellow peers who passed were ushered into a waiting room where all the pegasusi who passed their exam waited in fear and anticipation as the judges went over their past school records and decided their future careers and where they would be best suited in the greater good of Cloudsdale. Time Roll still riding off from the energy of his successful passing of his exam sat shivering and shaking with the biggest smile on his face almost wanting to break out into a victory song, but decided against it as to not make a judge think that he wanted to be a singer instead of a wonderbolt and give him a job in the liberal arts.
“Hello there, why-don’t you look chipper.” came a happy sing-song voice. Time Roll looked up, she was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on and in that moment all the shaking and breath had withdrawn itself from him. Time Roll stared and could only reply softly, “Yeah…” The young mare giggled at him as she responded, “What’s wrong? You look like you just ate something bad, are you alright?”
“Yes-No-I mean, uh, nothing-I-” Time Roll started blabbering. The mare giggled at Time Roll’s silly chatter and said, “You’re funny, my name is Fallen Star. I recognize you from somewhere, were you in the Best Young Flier’s Competition in Cloudsdale last year?”
“Yeah,” Time Roll replied, “Uh-well, I mean, I was contestant number two. My name is Time Roll, by the way.”
“It’s nice to meet you Time Roll.” she said pleasantly as though she were tasting the sound of his name in her mouth.
“So, what about you?” asked Time Roll, “Were you at the Best Young Flier’s Competition last year?”
“Oh, yes,” she said meekly, “I was contestant number ten. I am sorry; I’m not typically the spectacular type that amazes crowds or anything. I really just joined to help build up my confidence, a whole lot of good that did.”
“Hey, “Time Roll said gently, “It’s alright, not all of us can pull off a sonic rainboom-I most certainly didn’t; so, forget about it. Rainbow or no rainbow, I bet if I had sat in the audience instead of being in the competition I would have cheered you on-loud enough to drown out all the cheers for the sonic rainboom.” The mare stared at him in silence for a moment as though she were thinking about responding but then didn’t. Time Roll, in attempt to break the growing uncomfortable silence, spoke up, “So yeah,” Time Roll said, “I hoping to become a wonderbolt; I just hope my past physical exams are good enough to be considered for that position. What about you?”
“Oh,” Fallen Star said gently, “Oh, I don’t know about being a wonderbolt, I think that whatever helps gives me sense a purpose is enough for me…” Time Roll looked at her with curious look, “Don’t you already know what your special purpose is?” he asked.
“…No…” she responded. Time Roll became intrigued by this and asked, “What about your Cutie Mark? Don’t you know remember how you got it?” Fallen Star looked away from him, “Look, not every pony who gets their Cutie Mark automatically knows what their special talent is.” She remarked fairly irritated by the question.
“But you didn’t answer my question: don’t you know how you got your Cutie Mark?” pressed Time Roll. Fallen Star avoided his eyes and after a moment of thought, gave her explanation, “…It just happened, okay? I went to school one day when I was a filly, a blank flank like every other pony, and by the time I got home I had a falling star for my Cutie Mark. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary; I went to class, talked to some friends, learned some stuff and went straight home.” Her explanation sounded strained and rehearsed like she had said a hundred different times to a hundred different ponies. Time Roll was confounded by Fallen Star’s reaction to his question and even more so her story on how she got her Cutie Mark. He knew she had to be lying, but what puzzled Time Roll even more was why some pony would lie about their Cutie Mark in the first place. She seemed like she was in an uncomfortable situation and eager to change the subject.
“So,” she said, “You want to become a wonderbolt?”
“Yeah,” Time Roll perked up with a smile, “There’s nothing like the freedom of the open skies to make a pegasus forget all their troubles and just be…one…with it all, ya know?” She smiled at his explanation and said, “You must really love to fly to be able to talk about it like that-more so than other pegasusi, I mean. You must have been some flyer at the competition then, yeah?”
“Actually,” Time Roll laughed, “I did pretty terrible. I was late to the competition so I was eating breakfast while waiting for my turn to go, but then I went out before finishing eating and I just felt awful… It’s strange, because when I got my badge I was sure it said that I would be the fifth to go out; so, I figured I had time to quickly eat before going out, but then it turned out I had gotten badge two somehow. I guess I just misread it… somehow.”
“That’s funny,” said Fallen Star, “That happened to just about everyone that year-the misreading of badges I mean.”
“Yeah, I think it even happened to my younger brother too.” laughed Time Roll.
“You have a little brother?” asked Fallen Star.
“Yeah, he was contestant seven- you know, the more beige-orange pegasus with light green eyes and a blond mane? He managed to do fifteen barrel rolls in a row?” asked Time Roll.
“Wow, that’s pretty impressive for a younger pony.” commented Fallen Star.
“Yeah, he’s only a year younger than me and I will probably never hear the end of how much better he did than me. You would really like him, his name is Timed Attack.” Time Roll said with a smile. The bell sounded, it was time for every pony to line up and receive their fate from the judges. Time Roll tried to keep up with the white mare with a blue mane and tail, but the crowd separated them as every pony rushed forward and eagerly awaited for the judges to assign them to their futures. There were many older ponies there trying to keep the masses in some kind of organization in the midst of the chaos and failing miserably to do so as they repeated called for pegasusi to wait their turn in line and to kindly not shove others who were also waiting in line. Ponies were receiving thick packets with large amounts of papers with instructions on them on how to conduct their new jobs and new rules and guidelines on how they were allowed to conduct their new social lives as newly accepted adults in pegasusi society. Time Roll knew they weren’t really adults but in Cloudsdale it is the law that when a pony is old enough to receive their career that they will from then on be represented as adults in pegasusi court of law. Time Roll got more and more anxious and excited as he stepped closer and closer to his fate. Many ponies who had already opened their packets had a wide range of reactions: some ponies were rejoicing, others seemed satisfied with what they had, and others…well, the truth be told, other ponies were crying their little pony eyes out from disappointment. Time Roll had even overheard some conversations about some poor pony who had studied their whole life on being a ballerina and was now going to work as a garbage detail pony from now on. Time Roll shivered with fear, he hoped that he would not be chosen to become a garbage pony. The time of a reckoning finally came and Time Roll stepped forward to receive his packet.
“Full Name.” drowned the mare judge.
“Time Roll.” Time Roll responded cheerfully.
“Exam Number.” The judge spoke even more unenthused.
“Oh, 46-776.” He recalled as quickly as he could. The mare judge rolled her eyes and let out a sigh as went through the large stack of packets looking for Time Roll’s packet. After several long minutes of waiting and having other ponies kick and shove behind him, the mare judge came back with Time Roll’s packet. Time Roll looked down at his thin packet; there was barely anything in it-that is if there was anything in it Time Roll pondered.
“Um, Miss?” Time Roll asked the judge kindly, “I think there has been a mistake. There’s almost nothing in my packet.”
“Look, kid” the judge snapped, “I haven’t got all day to deal with of numb skulls like you! There are about a hundred or so or more pegasusi waiting to get their packet, ‘k’?”
“But-”
“Ya name Time Roll?”
“Yes, but-”
“Exam 46-776?”
“Yeah, but I-”
“Then it’s your packet,” the judge interrupted him a third time, “Now go take your sorry packet and move out of the way or I will have security escort you out. If you have a problem with your packet then maybe you should have studied harder in school, but your packet ain’t my problem. Now get!” Time Roll moved out of the crowd in more shock of the judge’s rudeness than in his overall disappointment. Maybe there aren’t as many rules for wonderbolts like there are for other pony professions, Time Roll thought to himself, I mean, how many rules could there possibly be for performing? Time Roll carefully opened his packet in the vain that maybe it was a packet on how to be a wonderbolt. He held his breath and pulled out a single paper. That’s it?, thought Time Roll, there’s only one sheet of paper? He held it out and began to read it. On it was written the following:
Full Legal Name: Time Roll Hooves
Occupation Chosen: PKF Assistant 7
Occupation Instruction: Report to The Rainbow Factory at 9:00 a.m. Monday Morning.
New Social Rules Allowed:
Full Mating privileges denied.
Full Privacy privileges revoked.
Full Residence and Citizenship privileges revoked.
May no longer have contact with other citizens of Cloudsdale without expressed consent of the Chief Executive Manager, Dr. Atmosphere, of The Rainbow Factory after the following 9:00 a.m. Monday Morning report in. (This includes family and friends.)
Is allowed to lie in Pegasusi Court of Law, in the special case that the expressed pony above is called to court, in which case the said expressed pony is required to voice the ideals and directives of the expressed company, The Rainbow Factory, and not said pony individual.
Is allowed to lie in personal interactions with Cloudsdale citizens with first having received expressed permission from the Chief Executive Manager for the initial personal contact with Cloudsdale citizens. (This also includes family and friends.)
Time Roll was both confused and bewildered at his slip of paper. Just what in the world did all of this mean?, pondered Time Roll. Before long, Time Roll heard a voice call him.
“Hey, uh, do you know what is going on with the packets this year?” came a male voice from a dark colored orange looking pegasus. He looked about Time Roll’s age; he had a similar mane cut only his mane colors were of the most striking neo yellow and blue. The unsteady and clearly nervous pegasus approached him looking right at Time Roll with his bright emerald green eyes.
“Uh, no, I am sorry. I don’t know, I just got a slip of paper in my packet telling me to report in to The Rainbow Factory.” Time Roll replied.
“Yeah, that’s what I mean,” said the pegasus, “I just talked with a whole bunch of other ponies and almost every pony’s packet this year says something or other just like that.”
“Really?” asked Time Roll.
“Yeah, some years there are shortages of certain types of workers in Cloudsdale; so, sometimes the judges are biased in the selection of who-gets-what to help fill the void. Or at least, that’s what my dad says; he wanted to be an engineer but ended up in accounting because there was a shortage of them that year. Ya know, for the greater good of Cloudsdale and all…” the pegasus finished trying to smile but was clearly upset.
“So…” the pegasus continued trying to keep the conversation going, “Where did you end up?” Time Roll glanced back down at his sheet and responded, “Let’s see, um, it says that I am a PKF Assistant number 7, at The Rainbow Factory.”
“For real!?” asked the pegasus picking up in his level of excitement.
“Well, yeah,” replied Time Roll, “That’s really nothing to get excited over, why do you ask?” The round faced pegasus smiled and said, “Well, because I ended up there too, almost exactly-except I am Assistant number 8. We could, ya know- stick together and all that stuff.” Time Roll liked the sound of that, after all, he had no idea what was going to be in store in his new place of the Greater Collective Cloudsdale Community. The job description paper barely had anything written on it, better he find out what’s in store for the future with a friend at his side.
“Sure, “ Time Roll said after thinking about it, “Let’s stick together.” The orange-brown colored pegasus beamed and pranced in place. Time Roll figured that from the way this pegasus was acting that he didn’t have very many friends and was probably unused to social interaction. Time Roll introduced himself and after the pegasus replied, “Time Roll? That’s such a really cool name! I wish I had a name like that.”
“Why, what’s your name?” asked Time Roll.
“ThunderBlitz.” He said simply.
“Well, ThunderBlitz,” said Time Roll, “I don’t know much about names, but I do know that it is what is on the inside of a pony that counts.” ThunderBlitz seemed to lighten up at that. He put his hoof on Time Roll’s shoulder and said, “You know what, Time Roll? I reckon that you are right about that.”
The next few days were full of sadness and excitement. Like most of the other young pegasusi, This was Time Roll’s first time leaving his parents. It was hard having to break the news to his parents about not becoming a wonderbolt, especially after all the years of dedication his parents spent on helping him to try to achieve his dream. At first his parents were shocked that he didn’t make it, then angry at why he didn’t make it, and finally sad at realizing that their eldest son would not only never be able to chase his dreams, but there was a chance that it may be a very long time before they would see him again after reading the slip of paper from Time Roll’s packet. During these days of intense family drama, stress, and emotional drain Time Roll would go out on his own, flying freely in the skies above him with ThunderBlitz. As the sun was beginning its set Time Roll causally turned to ThunderBlitz and said, “You would not believe how upset my family is.”
“Ummm…” was all ThunderBlitz hummed not really responding.
“I think though, it has been hardest my younger brother Timed Attack.” Time Roll continued to vent, “He has always looked up to me; I haven’t always been the greatest role model, but I think he is having a hard time accepting that I am not always going to be there anymore. What about you, Thunder’? How did your family take the news?” ThunderBlitz went still as though he had been asked something forbidden. He looked away and then back at Time Roll; he looked as though he were debating in his mind on whether or not he wanted to say something or not. Finally, he spoke, carefully and cautiously, “I …I don’t have a family anymore.”
“Oh.” said Time Roll gently. ThunderBlitz took a deep breath and began his explanation, “Do you remember when we were all taught in government class how P.U.R.U.P. regulates population growth? Well, back when my parents were deciding on whether or not they wanted their own baby pony there was a huge population growth that year that caused Cloudsdale to triple in population size.”
“Oh! I remember learning about that,” Time Roll interrupted, “That happened three years before I was born.” ThunderBlitz nodded silently and continued, “At that time, P.U.R.U.P. took immediate action by making laws that confined any new families from having more than one pony. I was born the year that law was enacted. The following year a severe strain of the Feather Flu broke out and naturally every pony rushed their newborns to the hospital for the vaccinations. Over the next two years countless ponies died of the Feather Flu. P.U.R.U.P. had distributed blank vaccines to countless hospitals in Cloudsdale to help offset the giant population growth which in turn killed thousands of pegasusi. My parents did a good job of keeping me from getting infected but ended up getting infected themselves. At the end of the third year the Feather Flu strain vanished as mysteriously as it broke out, along with the lives of my mom and dad. And, the population had dropped down within P.U.R.U.P.’s believed sustainable ranges.”
Time Roll listened intently to ThunderBlitz’s story about how he grew up in foster care, bounced home from home until he graduated and how that, now he had no one to call family. At first, Time Roll didn’t know how to react upon hearing about ThunderBlitz’s childhood. He was then moved with great pity and compassion towards his new friend, who could possibly befriend such a pony without first knowing who he was and where he came from? Ponies must have assumed the worst of ThunderBlitz’s odd behavior, thinking him an unacceptable member of the civilized world, having never known his painful past thought Time Roll. Thinking this made Time Roll give ThunderBlitz a great amount of respect, only a very strong willed pony with great amounts of patience and tolerance towards those who did not understand him could have withstood the years of mistreatment without giving in to the hatred of those that blindly spewed it at him. This time, Time Roll put his hoof out on ThunderBlitz’s shoulder and said, “Thunder’, if ever need any pony’s help know that you can count on me; I am your family now, okay? And, brothers look out for one another.” Time Roll and ThunderBlitz then spent the last few hours of their freedom flying in the open skies for the next day would be the day everything changed for them forever; tomorrow would report in to The Rainbow Factory.
Eight fifty-six a.m. Monday morning came too soon for Time Roll as he rushed through breakfast and dashed downstairs to say goodbye to his family one last time. He hugged his mom one more time and grabbed his things and was beginning to run out the door.
“Wait!” called his mother, “Did you remember to pack your toothbrush?”
“Yes, mom, I gotta go-”
“Fresh underwear?”
“Mom!” Time Roll practically yelled, “I am not a little colt anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” she said with a sad smile, “I just-I just want you to be ready and be the best you can be.”
“Well, I am not going to be able to do that if I make a bad impression on my boss by being late on the first day.” Time Roll complained out of his frustration of being held up; he was a live wire with excitement ready to take on his new place in society. He was finally truly happy for himself even though he knew would never become a wonderbolt, no matter what now he and ThunderBlitz would support each other through every obstacle the world could throw at them.
“Oh, yes, yes I suppose you are right…” his mother said gently, “Prove yourself to management and work your up the business latter as they say.” Timed Attack still stuck in his sour and depressive state made an appearance as he made his way into the kitchen looking through the icebox and opening cabinets acting like he were looking for something and then slamming them only to walk away disappointed.
“Oh, Timed dear,” his mother called, “come say goodbye to your brother quickly. You won’t want him to leave without first saying goodbye, do you?” her voice wavered as she spoke as though she were trying to keep calm. Time Roll wanted to leave again and badly. He would not be able to handle the intense emotions if his mother started crying again. Timed Attack looked at Time Roll out of the corner of his angry eyes, “I don’t understand why you have to go. Can’t anything be done, do you even care enough to try?” he growled.
“Timed Attack,” Time Roll tried to explain to his younger again, “There’s nothing that can be done-”
“THE HORSE SOMETHING CAN’T BE DONE!” Time Attack screamed at him, “You could have tried harder on that clopping exam!” his voice cracked at the end, his eyes filling up with tears.
“Language mister!” his mother yelled disapprovingly, but Timed Attack screamed on, “We were going to be wonderbolts-together!” that’s when the tears really began to fall, “We’re brothers… What am I going to do? Who’s gonna be there to go fly with me or help me master a new trick or be there for me!?”
“Timed Attack-” Time Roll tried to console him.
“Just-Just shut the HORSE UP!” he screamed louder, “You don’t even care! You didn’t even try to change anything! I need you; we need you and you JUST FLEW AWAY so wouldn’t have to see how sad we all were for you-when everyone was upset and crying for you! …and now? And now, you are going away for forever and you just want me to be okay with it!?”
Time Roll looked down at the sobbing, angry little brother of his and said, “Look, this is the way it is; it has always been this way whether you knew about it or not and it will always be this way, it hurts but that is the way it must be. So, why are you so upset about it?” Timed Attack looked at him angrily and said in a calmer voice, “What I don’t understand is why every pony isn’t as angry and upset as I am at how wrong this all is. How can you just stand there and say that?”
“Look,” Time Roll replied trying his best to get away from the situation, “I will be back as soon as I can. I am sure I can get permission to come back around the holiday time from Dr. Atmosphere, easily. I’ll be back before you know it and I will be there to fly with you and help you become a wonderbolt just like always. Just because things didn’t quite work out for me doesn’t mean you have to give up your dreams just yet; after you get used to me not being here all the time it will get easier. It will be just like old times before you know it, you’ll see.” Time Roll spoke caringly and with a smile. His words seemed to diffuse Timed Attack’s concentrated sadness and anger. The younger pegasus could hardly take it anymore and embraced Time Roll and sobbed, “Swear to me, swear to me that you’ll come back and we’ll fly together just like old times.”
“I swear…” Time Roll swore to his brother as he held him for the last time before slowly making his way out the door and flew off in the direction of The Rainbow Factory not once looking back at his family out of fear of crying himself. He never liked showing his emotions and did his best to hide his own sadness whenever he could. After some time he cleared his thoughts and kept the emotions from getting to him. He made it to The Rainbow Factory. The front help desk looked busy with a whole bunch of young ponies just like him trying to figure out where to go.
“Hey. Hey!” came ThunderBlitz’s voice from within the crowd of ponies, “Time Roll, Time Roll, over here!” Time Roll saw ThunderBlitz jumping up and down in the crowd with a big smile on his face as he made his way through the crowd.
“You do realize that you could have just flown above the crowd over to me instead of having to shove your way through the crowd, right?” asked Time Roll.
“Oh,” ThunderBlitz said as though he just now realized that, but then quickly regained his composure, “Uh, anyway, since I figured we are going to the same place I told the information mare at the help desk what the jobs we have were and she gave me the map for the area we’re supposed to go.”
“Awesome.” replied Time Roll as the two pegasusi set off for the deeper areas of the factory. As they traveled deeper and deeper into the factory the walls, flooring, and lighting became less and less hospitable. Everything seemed to get darker, dirtier, and had the look about it that seemed to give off the impression that ponies had not walked down this area of the factory in a very long time. There were hoof prints, scratches, and signs of wear and tear all over the walls and ceiling all covered in a substance that Time Roll dared not even describe. It wasn’t until Time Roll smelled it that he reached out for ThunderBlitz and ThunderBlitz likewise. As they walked farther and farther down the long corridors the smell became more rank: The smell of rotting flesh. At this point, both pegasusi were beyond terrified and holding on to one another out of the sheer terror of the thought of having to walk down the dark halls alone.
“You think maybe,” Time Roll squeaked in fear, “Maybe- maybe we went the wrong way?”
“The map says to keep going this way.” was all ThunderBlitz could weakly respond, “We should be at the report in area at just the end of this hallway.” The two colts were as still as two frighten, shivering ponies could be in a dark run down hallway. For a full minute one could hear nothing but panicked heavy breathing and rustling of pegasusi feathers until Time Roll finally spoke, “We…we should just keep going. If it is just at the end of this hallway then the sooner we get there the sooner we don’t have to be here in this, uh, hallway… I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for the mess.” He finished speaking without even being able to convince himself of the last part. ThunderBlitz, too scared to even speak at this point, simply nodded his head.
They continued on together at a more hurried pace until they came to the end of the hallway where they stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the hallway doors. All across the walls and double doors were the hoof written words ‘Walk Away From Omelas NOW’ written in a black tar like substance. The two pegasusi were stood in silence with wide open eyes.
“What’s Omelas?” asked ThunderBlitz timidly.
“It’s an old literary piece, I believe.” answered Time Roll, “It’s called ‘The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas’-but I don’t really remember what it’s about other than a few things…”
“Like what?” asked ThunderBlitz.
“Well,” began Time Roll, “It’s kind of about a beautiful paradise where everything was perfect called Omelas.” ThunderBlitz fell silent for a moment before asking, “If it was a paradise, why would someone leave?”
“I don’t know.” said Time Roll.
“Perhaps, people of Omelas realized the futility of their paradise- or at least, the ones who walked away might have.” Shot a voice from the dark scaring both the colts nearly out of their skins. The voice laughed at their frightened reaction as it approached them from out of the darkness, “I see our new PKF Assistants have decided to show up. You really shouldn’t be down here.” It said. ThunderBlitz was shaking when Time Roll looked at him; he realized that he would have to be the one to speak up.
“The information mare told us to come down here.” Time Roll feebly gave an explanation. A face began to appear in the darkness. It gave Time Roll and ThunderBlitz a most wicked smile and laughed, “Well, I guess, I can’t blame them for wanting to have a little fun. Their jobs are so boring.”
“A little fun? Who-just who are you!?” Time Roll practically squeaked. He looked over, poor ThunderBlitz looked ready to faint at any moment.
“Oh, how rude of me,” the face finally came close enough for both Time Roll and ThunderBlitz to clearly see the mysterious pegasus, “Allow me to introduce myself, I… am Dr. Atmosphere.” Before Time Roll could ask any questions Dr. Atmosphere pushed him and ThunderBlitz along through the double doors. Time Roll and ThunderBlitz found themselves looking over a great balcony. ThunderBlitz almost immediately threw up upon looking over. Time Roll, still getting his bearings, looked over and realized what caused ThunderBlitz to vomit. They were everywhere; hundreds of little ponies being into a machine many of them were ponies he recognized as those who had failed the exam a few days prior. Time Roll felt his own stomach grow thick and lurch as the realization dawned on him: He was standing in a slaughter house.
Dr. Atmosphere waited patiently for the two colts to finish and then they were finally emptied he spoke directly to them in a very cold and concise manner, “This is the heart of The Rainbow Factory. Normally, we don’t reveal this secret to a new recruit until after they have worked here at least one full year doing laundry, fetching equipment, or other small tasks so that when we do they are acclimated to the work environment and give us little opposition. But since you two have seen the truth right off bat and are likely to try and run off now, that gives us a problem doesn’t it?” Time Roll, dizzy from having lost his guts, was now in fear of where Dr. Atmosphere was going with this conversation.
“There’s no escape. Guards block every door, and if you disobey me then I will have no choice but to enforce serious disciplinary measures, understand?” Dr. Atmosphere continued, “No one will stand with you if you are planning to start a riot in the factory. These souls were broken too long of a time ago to be foolish enough to do something like that. No pony will come looking for you either; there is no help coming to your aid. The factory has been dealing with those kinds of situations for a long time; your friends and family will be informed of your untimely demise and will be handsomely compensated as to insure that no one comes snooping around for anything.”
Time Roll began to feel his head reel and his whole world begin to spin. What had he just gotten to? A minute ago he was in beautiful Cloudsdale and the now he was swimming in a sea of confusion and fear in a place that was hot with machines and pipes, wet from all the different substances oozing from the machines and pipes, and loud from all the grinders, pounders, and screams of terror. And finally, what Time Roll dreaded to hear but somehow knew was coming before Dr. Atmosphere said it, “But… just to make sure you two don’t get any foolish ideas…” Dr. Atmosphere clapped his hooves together in two short raps and in an instant Time Roll and ThunderBlitz suddenly found themselves surrounded by a large group of factory workers who looked only a little older than they. Dr. Atmosphere backed up slowly before saying, “Let’s teach our new recruits the valuable lesson of loyalty and the consequences of disloyalty should they ever entertain such a silly idea in their silly little heads.” The workers rushed Time Roll and ThunderBlitz in a flash beating them to the ground. They were kicked, stomped, choked, cut, in the brawl of roughly thirty to two. The ponies who continued the on slaughter laughed hysterically as though this were all some kind of harmless hazing or club initiation. Time Roll couldn’t move after it had ended, but that didn’t matter for the pony workers had decided that they weren’t through just yet as they picked up his limp body and threw him into a shallow vat of freshly made neo rainbow still spewing out of the machine. At this point Time Roll was in so much pain that his body shut down and he fell unconscious hoping, with what he believed at that was his last breath, that this was all a dream: some horrid nasty dream and when he awoke he would be back in his bed and everything would be back to normal.
When he did finally awake, Time Roll found himself in a corner still covered in rainbow which has now dried up and now was beginning to fester in his matting coat. As he got up onto his feet, he felt sharp pains sting all over his body. He was in so much pain he could barely move but forced himself to. He had to find out what happened to ThunderBlitz. As he walked along the interior of The Rainbow Factory he saw the horrors it held. There was no reason for Time Roll to describe the rusted out machines covered in what was left of ponies who were fed into it which not only covered the machines but spattered all over the walls and anything within range, or the sadistic laughing of the workers as they carried out their work that echoed through the factory in spite of the loud machine work, or the constant steady pounding of the grinders that never ceased; it was all as bad as one could possibly imagine. He came across a giant steel crate that held hundreds of ponies; unable to keep himself standing he threw his whole body weight against the crate just to hold himself up. The ponies gathered towards him on the other side of the steel bars.
“Are you here to save us?” came the voice of a tiny purple pegasus on the other side of the bars. She was so small and fragile that Time Roll could have easily carried her in his hooves. There were many little pegasusi as well as older ones. They all at once began to cry and beg to be saved as Time Roll leaned against the crate. Time Roll, at the end of his rope, reached through the bars and began to gently stroke the tiny purple pegasus’s mane.
“I’m sorry,” Time Roll choked, unable to keep tears from his eyes as he tried to keep his voice steady, “I’m not strong enough to get you out of here… there’s nothing I can do.” The purple filly stared up at him with wide, teary eyes as she began to sob and cry. Time Roll gently tried to wipe away the tiny filly’s tears.
“Shhhh...” Time Roll hushed her softly, “it’s okay to cry-” he choked on his own words for a moment, “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
“Then,” the little filly managed to say as she swallowed back sobs, “Can I see my mommy one more time? I want to see her again and be tucked into bed with my favorite blanket one more time… She used to snuggle up with me when I had a bad dream and sing me a lullaby to make it go away.” Time Roll found he couldn’t help but cry as she continued to speak, “So, can you let me see my mommy one more time? I-I just want to see her so she can sing me a lullaby and make this all-all go away.” Time Roll couldn’t stop the tears from flowing even as he tried his hardest to keep a brave face for the filly.
“I’m-” Time Roll paused to catch his breath, “I’m afraid you can’t see her right now...” The little purple filly looked at him with desperate eyes that seemed to pierce him all the way through.
“It’s gonna be alright, okay?” he let himself drop down eye level with the filly, “I’m gonna get you outta here- all of you.” The ponies began to jump and bounce at the idea that would get free soon. The little filly kept her eyes on him, “I thought you weren’t strong to save us?” she asked quietly. Time Roll licked the inside of his dry mouth to keep the skin inside from cracking as spoke, “I will find the strength to save you. I don’t know how yet, but I swear to you- I will find the strength to save all of you.”
“How can you ever achieve such a task when you don’t ever have the strength to stand up?” came a wicked snarl from above. Time Roll whipped his in the direction of the voice, above him was a balcony and just looking over it was none other than the white mare whom he had met that day of the exam. Fallen Star looked down at him with distaste and disgust; she no longer looked like the majestic, angelic snow mare, but was dirty with soaked red in her mane, tail and lab coat. Her Mane was no longer the lightest baby blue but dark and heavy with sweat, and grease that made it hang short instead of its natural light fluffiness.
“Fallen Star!” Time Roll called in shock.
“Shocked?” she responded boredly, “I guess that’s to be expected from such a naïve colt.” Time Roll found himself at a loss for words, “Fallen Star… how-how-why are you here?” he stammered.
“Isn’t it obvious?” she asked as she rolled her eyes, “I work here.”
“But-but how could you!?” Time Roll yelled.
“Do what?” she asked genuinely confused by Time Roll’s emotional blabbering.
“How can you just ignore all the suffering going on here and let this happen?” Time Roll yelled, finally growing angry.
“Look, this is the way it is; it has always been this way whether you knew about it or not and it will always be this way, it hurts but that is the way it must be. So, why are you so upset about it?” Fallen Star said as though this was all normal.
“What I don’t understand is why every pony isn’t as angry and upset as I am at how wrong this all is. How can you just stand there and say that?” Time Roll yelled; he felt himself fill with such fury that he found the strength to get up in spite of the tremendous amounts of pain that weighed him down and kept him from charging the balcony despite his now burning desire to do so. Fallen Star laughed, “Wow, what a hero! You can barely stand without shaking; truly, the condemned pegasusi have found themselves a mighty warrior to fight on their behalf.” She smiled as she mocked him.
“I may be weak…” Time Roll scrambled for something to say, “… but I still have ThunderBlitz. You may have me now, but no pony can stop me and Thunder when we work together.” Fallen Star, no- laugh wouldn’t be the right word, Fallen Star humiliated Time Roll with the weight of her mocking chorus.
“Oh, BlunderBitz?” Fallen Star smiled down knowingly at Time Roll, “You forget, you two were beaten to a pulp. You have been out cold for a week now. What makes you think you can win in another fight when you almost didn’t live through the first?”
A week!?, thought Time Roll. The revelation came as a blow to him as he looked down at himself more closely this time. Much of him had indeed atrophied; it was only at this time the Time Roll realized his hunger over his physical pains.
“Besides, “ Fallen Star interrupted his thoughts, “Blunder won’t be doing anything of the sort…anymore.”
Time Roll snapped to attention, “You LIE!” he yelled.
“Oh, do I?” she asked. Time Roll felt the rage hit its peak as he released a neigh that echoed through the factory that embodied his righteous wrath as he pulled back onto a full war horse’s charge only to have his legs collapse against his will from under him. The crash to the floor did nothing to deter Time Roll’s will as roared as he struggled in unimaginable pain to regain his standing position. Get up, Get Up, GET UP!, Time Roll yelled at himself, This isn’t over yet! Time Roll snorted as wet fluids drained out of his cracked and dried up nostrils. He was breathing heavy; he just about down for the count, but he wasn’t ready to give up just yet. Maybe there’s another way to win this, thought Time Roll as his legs shook threateningly to give way once again as he recovered his standing position.
“So, why did you enter into the Cloudsdale’s Young Flyer Competition if you aren’t any good at flying?” Time Roll asked bluntly. The question took Fallen Star by surprise and remained silent.
“I mean,” Time Roll pressed, “Why bother, right? It’s not you have dreams of flight.”
“You want to know why I entered?” she asked as though Time Roll had just spat poison at her.
“Yeah.” He said.
“Very well, it’s not like it matters,” she hissed, “I entered to change my fate. I didn’t choose my special talent it just came to me and I wanted something different for my life!”
“I thought you said that you didn’t know how you got your Cutie Mark!” Time Roll shot back.
“I LIED!” she screamed, “I lied to everyone about it because I couldn’t live with the fact that I-I- My life’s chosen destiny was to bring pain and suffering into this world!” she finished with a mournful cry while still giving Time Roll a nasty look.
“I don’t understand, what in the world do you mean? How can any pony’s Cutie Mark be of evil; what would that even look like?” Time Roll was pulsating with questions.
“You want to know how a pony’s Cutie Mark can be one of evil? Well, then I will let you know. I was just a little filly. I was the most beautiful filly in not just my school, but in all of Cloudsdale. I won every pageant I entered without even trying. Every pony loved me and commented on how beautiful I was and how it was such a great shame my parents named me ‘Fallen Star’ instead of Angel as to match my angelic beauty. Like every pony else, I also believed my special talent would be in beauty, but time passed and it never came. I went from being the most loved pony to the most laughed at pony in all of Cloudsdale. I had to do something, I had to find my special talent. So, I took up flying. Most pegasusi have a mark for some kind of flying. I tried everything, and then I became one of the most graceful flyers in my class. Every pony loved me again, until… that-that Rainbow Dash character! I hate her, I hate her; I want her to die! I hate her! She couldn’t even fly when she was hanging around that nasty griffon Gilda and she pulled off a sonic rainboom and every pony loved her instead of me! People laughed at me again and she come to my aid when I was bullied? No, she went to the aid of that stupid, worthless, pathetic excuse of pegasus-Fluttershy! I so angry that the next pony who laughed at me when I went to school the next day- I beat them into the worthless pulp that they were! Then the mark appeared because then I knew my true special talent and what gave me my solace, the feeling of powerful vengeance. I truly am a fallen star; I once stood at the height of beauty only to fall from it and take out my retaliation on you low-lifes.”
“Retaliation for what?” asked Time Roll.
“For every time I was laughed and made a fool of by society and since every pony is a part of the society that tortured me, then every pony deserves nothing less than the torture of my wrath.” Fallen Star growled and seethe with visible aggression.
“You have no one to blame for the pain you feel other than yourself!” Time Roll yelled, “From what I can see, you’ve never been anything but a selfish, jealous little pony your entire life! Do you honestly believe destroying the lives of other ponies and the lives of their families whom they will never see again is going to help overcome your fear and self-hatred, Fallen Star!?”
“How dare you address me by that name!” Fallen Star screeched, “It’s Mrs. Atmosphere from now on, Time Scum!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Time Roll blurted out without even really thinking.
“Is that so hard to believe?” rang the voice of the infamous Dr. Atmosphere as he stepped into view. Time Roll knew there was no point in fighting Dr. Atmosphere on a verbal level, he wouldn’t win. So, with that in mind Time Roll did the only thing he knew to do, “What do you want!?” he barked at Dr. Atmosphere.
“What I want is for you to get to work.” Dr. Atmosphere said calmly and casually. A pair of stallions flew down to where Time Roll stood. Time Roll knew he was in no shape to fight, yet. He let himself be carried away and found relief in not having to stand on his weary hooves anymore. Time Roll knew that even he had the battle for now it would not be the end of the war; he was going to find ThunderBlitz and together they would free the condemned pegasusi and finally, escape The Rainbow Factory together. Time Roll was placed on a balcony in a different quartered area in the factory. When he was placed on the ground Time Roll slowly lifted his head to get a good look at his surroundings. There were many workers taking control of the different control panels and levers. They must be the new workers here, thought Time Roll, many of the workers were either silently crying, vomiting, and nearly jumping out of their skins every time another innocent pony was fed into the machines or doing a combination of all the above. After a moment some pony caught his eye, it was ThunderBlitz!
“Thunder!” Time Roll called, feeling joy for the first time since entering the factory, “Thunder! It’s me, Time Roll!” said Time Roll staggering as he tried his hardest to stand up on his wobbling legs while he continued to call for ThunderBlitz. ThunderBlitz came to Time Roll’s side; Time Roll was so overwhelmed by the sight of his friend he used up his strength to lunge forward and embrace his friend.
“Oh my God, ThunderBlitz, I thought you were dead!” Time Roll spoke as held on to ThunderBlitz. Something felt wrong to Time Roll; he realized just then that ThunderBlitz, a normally happy and perky pegasus, remained completely silent as Time Roll held him and made no move to return the embrace.
“Thunder?” Time Roll asked gently as he opened his eyes and looked at friend to only then see the red stained lab coat he was wearing, “Oh, Thunder…. Thunder, no, no; You didn’t, did you Thunder?” ThunderBlitz looked at him with a stone cold face that held the sadness and guilt of the world in his eyes.
“I am sorry,” said ThunderBlitz, “It was their lives or mine and I choose to save mine…”
“Thunder, You don’t have to go through this alone, we can fight-” Time Roll tried to convince ThunderBlitz.
“Look,” ThunderBlitz said move forcefully this time, “You weren’t there for me when I needed you. I can’t fight them on my own.”
“But I am here now; I am here with you now, we are brothers and brothers look out for each other.” Time Roll pleaded. ThunderBlitz looked away from Time Roll’s gaze, “I’m truly sorry,” he said, “But it’s too late for you to save me now. There’s an unguarded exist on the Second Elevated Evaluation Deck, if you go now you can go get help and hopefully put a stop to all this- I doubt any of the new recruits here would stop you.”
“If there’s an exit then why didn’t you run away sooner?” Time Roll asked bewildered.
“Look, there’s not a lot of time here Time Roll.” complained ThunderBlitz.
“Thunder, I am not leaving without you unless you give me an explanation; so, why didn’t you run when had the chance?” asked Time Roll.
“I can’t explain it to you,” ThunderBlitz simply replied, “How can one describe what it feels like to take an innocent purely because they are too cowardly to lay down their own life so that the innocent may live? I can’t return to Cloudsdale or anywhere in Equestria… ever again. How can I go back to living an innocent and happy life when I know the truth of this place? How can I live with the guilt; what would my family think of me if they were alive today? And… what pony in the right mind would ever accept me back into society after learning of the horrors I have committed?” Time Roll stood silently, realizing that his friend was right to much extend.
“Thunder,” Time Roll said gently as he carefully put his hoof on ThunderBlitz’s shoulder just like he did when he first told ThunderBlitz that he was family, which now felt like so very long ago to both Time Roll and ThunderBlitz, “I’m coming back for you. I’m gonna get you the best help I can find out there, okay?” ThunderBlitz just simply nodded at his friend.
“Roll call!” came a shout from a supervisor.
“I have to go now.” said Time Roll. ThunderBlitz just stood there silent as Time Roll backed away.
“I will be back for you, I swear!” Time Roll called as he began to run through the halls leaving ThunderBlitz there on the balcony looking after him until Time Roll finally faded from sight. At this point, Time Roll was running on pure adrenaline, limping as he ran.
Time Roll ducked and hid when he could as made his made to the Secondary Elevated Evaluation Deck. His legs and feet were starting to go numb they had been in pain for so long. It didn’t take him as long as he thought it would to get to the exit. Time Roll glanced and peered all around suspiciously almost afraid that at the moment he would try to pass through some pony would thwart him. This did not happen; however, as soon as Time Roll went out the door he saw the pathway dropped off just a few after a few feet. This brought up a small, but crucial detail in Time Roll’s mind that he had previously forgotten completely about: His wings. He hadn’t even tried to stretch them out yet, and as he began to he found that they were practically glued to his sides from all the rainbow dried up in his coat. Time Roll tried and tried over and over to free his wings. He didn’t know how much time he had before some pony would realize that he was gone so this was it; it was now or never.
“Come on, come on!” Time Roll yelled at himself in desperation. Then he felt a tear and all at once the wings broke free. Time Roll didn’t need to look at his wings to know that they were in bad shape; he felt it- all of it. Many of his feathers were either torn or were ripped out, still stuck to the sides of his coat. If flying wasn’t out of the question before Time Roll freed his wings it most certainly was now. There was no way he would be able to make a safe descent with his wings in the current shape they were in. Time Roll cursed under his breath, “What now?” he asked himself. He leaned over the ledge to get a better look. That’s when Time Roll noticed something, something that just might save his currently failing escape. Clouds, lots and lots of clouds far below him a in spattered arrangement leading at into the heart of Cloudsdale. Normally, jumping would have been a piece of cake for Time Roll, but now that his wings were out of commission he felt a strong sense of vertigo overtake him. The clouds were far apart from each other both in height and distance, if Time Roll didn’t jump with the most accurate precision it could mean plummeting to his death.
Time Roll took a deep breath, it was this or going back into The Rainbow Factory to face off with both Dr. Atmosphere and his loyal henchmen which Time Roll knew he was in no shape to fight against in his current condition. He felt a cold shiver go up his legs,
“Please legs, don’t give out on me just yet…” Time Roll quietly said to himself. And with that said, Time Roll jumped. Time Roll held out his wings; though he could not fly, he could still use them to help stabilize his rapid descent. With each successive jump Time Roll felt his heart nearly give out from the constant fear that he would miss the cloud below. He took a deep breath and continued his free fall onto the next cloud praying that this next jump would not be his last. As he went into free fall he would line up his body in the most perfect vertical line his agonizing joints would allow so to create the best aim he could for the next tiny cloud he would land on. Again, again, and again he made the jump until Time Roll could clearly see normal ponies going about their day in the heart of Cloudsdale from upon the cloud he stood on.
“Just a few more jumps down.” Time Roll whispered to himself, “I can do this.” On the final jump, Time Roll tripped causing him to spin out of control in the air like a rag doll being tossed into the wind.
In the moment in the descent Time Roll felt time slow down just as he always did when he would fly. Realizing that these might very well be his last thoughts, Time Roll closed his eyes and took in the beauty of the descent: The wind caressing his sores and brushing through his mane and tail, he felt as though he had not felt the joy of the open sky in years. In the last few moments of the free fall, all of these feelings of joy and peace brought the thoughts and memories of his family before his now open eyes. Time Roll, in the span of just a few moments, relived an entire lifetime in his mind. Every fight, love, heart ache, and time he had spent together with his mother, father, and younger brother all replayed before him. It was in this moment that Time Roll realized how much nothing else matter, not Cloudsdale, The Rainbow Factory, or the whole damn corrupt system in which he lived and grew up in. Nothing matter more than making sure that his family knew that he loved them. He realized, only then, how little time he had actually spent with them in the fourteen years he had been alive. If only he could somehow change that, he thought, if only I had shown my love for them more often and taken them for granted less. His thoughts turned to Timed Attack, his younger brother, just right before was about to hit the ground. He remembered all the good times and the bad and finally, Time Roll remembered the last words he had spoken to Timed Attack and how they parted. His mind, weirdly, foresaw a future in which Timed Attack passed his exam just as Time Roll did. And that’s when Time Roll’s peace of mind stopped, his heart froze with fear.
…Timed Attack still needs me to be there for him!
Time Roll turned to face the ground and held out his hooves as his made impact. He wasn’t giving up without a fight, it wasn’t over yet. Time Roll knew his legs would break holding them out in front of him to embrace the impact, but the force of the impact would be absorbed by the bending of the bones increasing his chances of survival. If you have to choose between breaking your back and neck or all your legs, then you choose your legs.
“Watch out!” some pony called out. Time Roll closed his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see his legs break. Suddenly, Time Roll was body slammed into from the side. Whoever the pony was, the change in velocity decreased the force of impact quite literary saving Time Roll’s life and limbs. He opened his eyes to see a grey mare on top of him with a bright, yellow colored mane looking down at him with just as equally brightly yellow colored crossed eyes.
“I-I-I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to run into you like that, I didn’t even see you there! Are you alright mister?” she said in a frazzled and panicked state. Time Roll was so stunned, he was speechless. This pony just practically saved his life and she didn’t even mean to; not to mention, she was the one apologizing to him. She continued to speak, but it was lost on Time Roll’s ears. He mindlessly got up onto his feet not taking his eyes off the strange mare. She stood up as well and paused for a moment from speaking realizing that her pony companion remained silent. She stepped back a moment to look at the colt.
“Um, Mister? Why are you all covered in colors? Did you fall into some paint? You should really take a bath after playing with paints or it will ruin your coat, you know.” She prattled on. Time Roll was shocked back into reality at her pointed questions. He jumped forward and grabbed her shoulders, “What time and day is it!?” Time Roll asked coarse and more forcefully than he intended. The mare looked frighten and taken back by Time Roll’s sudden aggression.
“Why do you need to know what time it is? Are you sure I can’t get you help?” she asked confused and startled.
“Just tell me what time and day it is!” Time Roll yelled, “Look, I’m sorry to act this way- especially after you just saved my life, but it is very important that you tell me what time and day it is RIGHT NOW!” The poor mare was even more frightened and looked as though she was about to cry. Time Roll felt bad about yelling at her; she looked like the of kind and gentle mare, that under normal circumstances, Time Roll would have loved to have gotten to know but right now there was something more important he needed to do.
“It’s Thursday,” she said timidly, “and about three o’clock-”
“Good!” Time Roll interrupted, “Good, good, good!” Time Roll spoke to no one in particular as he began to limp off.
“Wait! Mister! Are you sure you don’t need any help? Mister, where are you going?” the mare called.
“To go see my family!” Time Roll called back. The mare stared off into the distance puzzled by the strange colt until finally shaking her head and going off on her usual day.
* * * * *
It was the end of the school day and everyone was out playing in the front of the school yard. Timed Attack was busy playing with the other pegasusi until he heard some pony calling his name. He turned and saw his older brother Time Roll crossing the school yard. He was about to race up to him when he noticed his brother limping, covered in bruises and bright paint like colors. Timed Attack was immediately afraid and approached Time Roll cautiously.
“Time Roll?” he asked gently, “Are you okay? What happened to you?”
“Timed Attack,” Time Roll spoke in a rushed, quieted voice, “You have to get outta here. You are in danger here. I went by the house to look for mom and dad, but there weren’t there.”
“Time Roll,” Timed Attack spoke trying to get bearings on what was going on, “What are you talking about? Cloudsdale is one of the safest places a pegasus could be. Mom and dad weren’t home because they’re at work. Time Roll- what’s wrong?”
“I have to get you out of here! Don’t you understand what I am telling you!? Every pegasusi here is in grave danger.” Time Roll began blurting out.
“Time Roll,” Time Attack replied trying to get out of his brother’s grasp, “You’re scaring me.”
“Just stop squirming and pay attention!” Time Roll growled, “There isn’t a lot of time left! They are going to be chasing me, but they won’t catch me. There’s something important I have to tell you-just in case they do. They are going to tell you that I am a liar and probably I am crazy, but I have something I secretly put away for you to have if I get caught that can prove I am telling the truth!” It was all too much at one time, “Time Roll,” Timed Attack spoke more forcefully as he wrenched himself away from his brother, “I don’t know what you are talking about, but I am not leaving Cloudsdale- no pony is! What is the matter with you!? Why can’t you just tell me what’s wrong? We’re brothers, right? Aren’t you the one who originally told me that brothers look out for each other?”
“Stop that pony!” came the voice of a security pony. A crowd was gathering to look upon the strange scene. Blossom Forth, the school teacher, and a couple of other security ponies had gathered together in the front of the school yard staring right at Time Roll and one of the guards even pointed at him.
“It’s too late.” Time Roll said, “I took too long up at the house that I didn’t have time to get you out of here too.”
“Time Roll, what are you talking about?” asked Timed Attack the guards came to take his brother away.
“Wait!” shouted Timed Attack, “Where are you taking him!?”
* * * * *
It wasn’t long before Time Roll was taken to a facility and tossed into a white padded cell. He had no idea where he was, but there a double paned window on the wall across from him. It was too high up for him to try and jump to but then he saw his mom go across the room on the other side of the window. From what Time Roll could see it looked like some kind of waiting slash observation room. He then saw Dr. Atmosphere enter the room with his mom with a whole bunch of other doctors and begin to say something to her. Time Roll didn’t know what he could possibly saying to his mother, but whatever it was it began to make her cry. His mom would occasionally glanced over at him through the window as Dr. Atmosphere spoke, but this only made it worse. Time Roll began to feel a sickness grow from within his stomach as he watched his mom break down in a fashion he had never seen in his whole life. Not long after his father also appeared. He embraced his mother and looked as though he were doing his best to comfort her. He looked up from his grieving wife to Time Roll. Time Roll froze as he saw the look of putrid hatred glisten from his eyes as almost if say, ‘how could you do this?’
Time Roll suddenly felt a cold chill rise up around his neck. What could have Dr. Atmosphere possibly said to his parents to make them react the way they were? His answer would come sooner than he realized as two doctors came into the cell.
“What do you want?” asked Time Roll.
“It’s alright,” cooed the first doctor as though she were talking to a little pony, “We’re here to take you to see your mother and father.” She held out her hoof gently and looked as though she were trying to take him under her wing like one would with a frightened or lost pony.
“I’m not a child.” Time Roll stated.
“Of course not.” She said sweetly not even deterred by Time Roll’s blunt nature. The two doctors escort Time Roll out into the hall and into the observation room. At a quick glance, Time Roll noticed how big the room was and that there was much of the room he couldn’t see from his viewpoint in the cell. Mainly, behind his mother and father there were long rows of chairs that went all the way back to the wall. His brother was sitting a few feet back looking distressed, not even bringing his gaze off the floor.
“Mom.” Time Roll said as he tried to step forward but was instantly blocked by his father who simply said, “I think you have done enough.” As his mom managed to regain control of herself and lessen her sobs she spoke, “I just wanna know… I just want to hear the truth from you Time Roll, okay?”
“Okay.” Time Roll agreed despite being confused on what was going on.
“You get one chance.” His father said sternly, “So, you had better not lie.”
“Just tell us what happened in The Rainbow Factory.” His mother said gently as tears began to re-pour down her cheeks.
“Shhh, shh...” His father softly hushed his mother trying to ease her crying. Time Roll swallowed and looked around, other than Dr. Atmosphere there were about six other doctors watching him. Time Roll then took a deep breath and told them everything. Everything from the dark hallway, the feeding of ponies into the machines, the cruelty, hazing, the small purple filly, and most of all, most of all ThunderBlitz. He talked about how ThunderBlitz was still in the factory and how Time Roll had sworn to him that he would go find help and free Thunder from the tortures of the factory. The whole time while giving his explanation Time Roll would glance over at Dr. Atmosphere almost expecting him to try to stop him from talking about the factory, but he never did. When Time Roll finished giving his explanation the whole room remained silent until Dr. Atmosphere broke the ice.
“As you can clearly see, your son, Time Roll is completely delusional; Which is why I recommended the more radical, experimental treatment we have been perfecting for some time. Mind you, is doesn’t work for everyone, but our current results for extreme cases like your son are showing promising results.”
“Wait, what!?” yelled Time Roll as Dr. Atmosphere continued talking.
“NO!” yelled Time Roll. He almost charged directly at Dr. Atmosphere had not four of the six other doctors seized Time Roll at the moment of his outburst. Time Roll screamed in panic, “He’s the liar! I’m telling you he’s the liar! I am not crazy! What about ThunderBlitz!? ThunderBlitz is still in the factory! I swore to find help after I escaped! I swore! I swore!”
“Who is this ThunderBlitz he keeps talking about?” Time Roll’s mother asked.
“He’s my friend!” exclaimed Time Roll, “He was the pegasus I went to go hang out with when I wasn’t him before going to the rainbow factory.”
“And you say, this ‘ThunderBlitz’ went into the factory with you?” questioned Dr. Atmosphere.
“You know who the horse I am talking about!” Time Roll growled at Dr. Atmosphere.
“What are you even doing here anyway?” asked Time Roll, “Isn’t The Rainbow Factory a big enough job for you?”
“Well, I am a doctor Mr. Time Roll.” Dr. Atmosphere replied casually and then went on to provide an alternate explanation about ThunderBlitz, “The pegasus your son refers to as ‘ThunderBlitz’ is a split persona of his which he acts out under duress to fit in with the rest of society and plays out his more violent and sexually explicit desires. This other pegasus, quite frankly, doesn’t exist except in Time Roll’s mind.”
“What!?” Time Rolled shouted completely stunned by the accusation, “I am not violent or have sexually explicit hobbies! Mom and Dad, this proves he’s a liar! You know me-”
“It proves nothing except that you are sick, twisted pegasus that should have never been born!” countered Time Roll’s father.
“What… what are you talking about?” Time Roll asked as though all the air had just been sucked out of him. His mother broke down into tears once again.
“Now please, Mr. Time.” Dr. Atmosphere spoke, “This isn’t your son’s fault, he’s just very sick and is in desperate need for serious psychiatric care.” Time Roll knew that Dr. Atmosphere was making the situation worse, but he hadn’t the slightest clue on how to fix it. It was at this time when Time Roll’s younger got up and provided an explanation on to what in the world was going on.
“They found the pictures and stuff on your computer, Time Roll.” Timed Attack spoke quietly, but the whole room seemed to hush suddenly at Time Attack’s voice.
“The security ponies from The Rainbow Factory came to the house,” Timed Attack explained, “They said they had to conduct a search in your room for evidence.”
“What do you mean?” asked Time Roll, “Evidence for what?”
“You know good and well what you did!” yelled his father, “If you ask me, I say he’s making the insanity drama all up! He seems perfectly healthy to me!”
“Time Dear, please!” pleaded his mother. His father quieted down long enough to allow Timed Attack to continue.
“They say there was an… accident up at the factory. Some ponies were hurt, really badly.” Time Attack said, “When they went through your room they… they found pictures-of-ponies hurting each other graphically. They found things that they said are used to torture and… love another pony with at the same time and…and-and they found the fanfics you wrote of ponies grinding each other into rainbows and others of making ponies into cupcakes.” There was a long silence, and then Time Roll looked directly into the eyes of his brother, “Time Attack,” Time Roll spoke carefully and steadily, “I am being used as a scapegoat. In all the years we have known each other, have I ever done anything anywhere near the explicit nature of which Dr. Atmosphere accuses me of?”
The room had gone silent. It all came down to this moment, either Time Roll would be saved by his brother by the answering of this question right now or everything Time Roll was fighting for would end right here and right now. Timed Attack paused and then carefully began to respond, “I think, no matter how crazy it sounds, but I think you are telling the tr-”
“I am afraid that’s enough now.” Interrupted Dr. Atmosphere.
“No! Get out of the way, let him finish what he was going say!” shouted Time Roll.
“No, I am afraid that’s as far as I am going to let this delusion go.” Responded Dr. Atmosphere, “Mr. and Mrs. Time, allow me, if we indulge in letting your son continue in his insanity he will never make any progress in getting better. It is best to just ignore him when he goes off on a tangent otherwise you yourselves may become infected by his compulsory lying ways.”
Poor Mrs. Time, knowing nothing of such mental disorders, grabbed her youngest son, Timed Attack, and drew him back into her hooves. “You mean this can spread?” asked Time Roll’s mother.
“Oh, yes,” said Dr. Atmosphere, “We have proven in many clinical trials that those who hang around the mentally disturbed eventually become influenced by them and thus, become mentally disturbed as well. In fact, the very fact that the youngest can so easily fall for his antics shows me that he has had too much contact already. I recommend taking him to see a special psychiatrist before you leave today.”
“No!” protested Time Roll, “You leave him alone! He hasn’t done anything wrong except tell the truth.”
“You shut the horse up!” his father yelled back, “You have hurt this family enough already!”
“Really!?” argued Time Roll, “Because from my viewpoint, I am the only trying to save this family!”
“Only thing this family is being saved from is a homicidal, psychopathic like you!” His father screamed with such intensity that his dark coat and face went from red to purple in a matter of seconds.
“So, that’s it, is it?” asked Time Roll calmly, “You just believe whatever some stranger, whom have never even seen before, tells you about your eldest son because the truth is too much to bear?” There was a long pause of silence and then his father shook his head and looked Time Roll right in the eyes as he spoke, “I have only one son now.”
“Come darling, let’s go. Timed Attack?”
“Yes Father?”
“I forbid you from speaking to that… freak ever again.”
“Because it’s such a regret to have raised an elder son.” Time Roll Trolled. His Father stopped in his tracks, but did not turn to face Time Roll a second time as he replied, “The only regret is knowing that I could have raised such a monster…” with that, his family made their way out and Time Roll was dragged off against his will to another cell and strapped down to a padded table. Doctors began sticking cold pads with wires attached to them onto Time Roll’s flesh. He heard a mock clapping and then, “Well done. I must say, well done Time Roll. You have saved the day.”
“What do you want?” asked Time Roll looking up at the blank celling.
“We did a little digging.” Dr. Atmosphere said.
“Oh joy.” Mocked Time Roll. Dr. Atmosphere made a hoof motion and shock waves of electricity went coursing through Time Roll’s body and then it stopped.
“Enjoy that did we?” asked Dr. Atmosphere coldly, “I just want the truth from you and then you can go free to live the rest of your miserable life in the asylum.”
“You mean the same way you wanted the truth in front of my family?” snarled Time Roll. Dr. Atmosphere motioned for the electrocution once again and continued speaking, “You see Time Roll, I am not in the mood for games right now. So, what did you do in the fifteen minute gap between escaping the factory and meeting your brother?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Said Time Roll. Dr. Atmosphere motioned once again and spoke, “A young grey mare said she saw you in the heart of Cloudsdale at about three o’clock, but we know for a fact that you didn’t meet up with your brother until twenty-five minutes after. Your brother told us you stopped by the house first. A casual walk from the heart of Cloudsdale to your house is about fives and from the house to the school is another five. That only accounts for ten minutes, you see? So, for the last time, where did you go and what did you do in those unaccounted fifteen minutes!?”
“I don’t see why any of this matters to you.” Said Time Roll.
“Your brother told us that you claimed to have evidence in your possession; however, when we confiscated your belongings and went through them-we found no such evidence.” Explained Dr. Atmosphere harshly.
“Then what makes you think that I wasn’t just lying?” asked Time Roll.
“Nice try, but we will extract the truth.” Replied Dr. Atmosphere, “One way or another.”
Days passed by like this, Time Roll was forced to live in a dark, dirty cell in between being tortured by electro-shock therapy ‘treatments’. They hadn’t even allowed him to wash off the dried rainbow in his coat. Dr. Atmosphere proved to be more brutal in getting his desired information than Time Roll first realized, but he held out: He would not tell Dr. Atmosphere a single thing even if it killed him.
“Aren’t you tired of playing this game?” asked Dr. Atmosphere as the doctors were strapping Time Roll once again to the table for his daily treatments of shock therapy, “Or at least afraid that one of these times that I really will kill you? I can make this all end if you cooperate.” Time Roll looked right at Dr. Atmosphere and said, “Beat me down and I shall rise, beat me down and I shall fly, eternity is calling me, the open sky is my sea, watch me leap like gazelle and run like deer, I am freedom and I have no fear.”
“So be it.” Said Dr. Atmosphere, “Nurse, up the wattage by fifty volts this time. Perhaps this will persuade our poetically inclined fool…”
* * * * *
Timed Attack, against his father’s wishes, snuck out to go visit his older brother in the asylum. There was just so much he needed to know. Who was ThunderBlitz, really? And, what did Time Roll have that could prove he was telling the truth? He went in and waited until visiting hours started. Timed Attack was lead back down the plain, white tiled halls to his brother’s padded cell. Nothing could have prepared Timed Attack for next shock: He knew instantly by the way Time Roll couldn’t hold up his head and was drooling over himself that he had become brain damaged. What shocked Timed Attack even more was his appearance. Time Attack couldn’t hold back his hysteria as he blurted out, “My God, my God, What have they done to him!?” He rushed over to his side. Time Roll was dressed up with a sloppy, blue tie and had blush and thick lipstick smeared all over his lower face. His hair was parted and combed a different way; he looked almost like a deranged pony clown wearing a tie.
“Time Roll. Time Roll, brother!” Timed Attack tried to desperately get his brother’s attention, “Can you hear me? What did they do to you? Please, say something!” His brother drooled and began to mumble something quietly.
“What? What is it?” Timed Attack asked gently. He lowered his ear down closer to Time Roll and heard his faint whispers,
“…In The Rainbow Factory…
…where you fears and horrors come true…
…in The Rainbow Factory…
…where not a single soul gets through…
…and if you ever escape The Rainbow Factory…
…know that they will come after you…
…in The Rainbow Factory…
…in The Rainbow Factory…
…in The Rain…bow Fac…tory…” Time Roll gasped as his eyes rolled back and all his breath went out of his body. Time Roll was no more.
* * * * *
Months had passed since Time Roll’s death. Timed Attack never learned what it was that his brother had stashed away. He remembered the letter that arrived in the mail the very next day after Timed Attack had secretly gone to visit his brother that informed the family of Time Roll’s passing and compensated the family handsomely for their loss. The nostalgia brought Timed Attack to once again gaze into the empty room in the house that used to belong to his older brother. He remembered that day at the asylum and how things might have gone differently if he had somehow did or said something differently. Timed Attack largely blamed himself for his brother’s death.
“I just wish my brother was here for me now, is that so wrong!?” Timed Attack yelled at himself and in the heat of his frustration bucked the wall behind him. He heard a crack and a swing of a metal door. He looked and saw a secret little door swing open in the place of the wall just right above where the bed and desk used to be. A small piece of paper flew out and fell freely onto the floor. Timed attack picked it up, on it was a photo of a strange pony he had never seen before and some scribbled writing that read:
“To whoever finds this photo: You
are holding the last existing
piece of evidence that proves
that the pegasus ‘ThunderBlitz’ is
real. If you find this, know that
you are humanity’s last hope
in stopping the horrors of
THE RAINBOW FACTORY.
Good luck!
P.S. Sing a Lullaby for a purple pegasus 4 me.
TO BE CONTINUED…. the horror continues in the next story titled, "Awoken" and the epic conclusion...
...In the final book entitled “Long Live Princess Celestia”
