Rainbow Factory Revisitedby TheMasterBronyDoctorGuy
Chapters
- Prologue
- Chapter 1: The Meetings
- Chapter 2: Time will Tell
- Chapter 3: The Wait is Over
- Chapter 4: A Long Night
Prologue
She looked at the controls to the machine. Continuing to smile and giggling those last words, In the Rainbow Factory where no soul makes it through. She was so tempted to flip that switch and drop herself into the machine. She reached out to hit the switch, the switch she used to kill so many foals only a few days ago, and about to be used to kill herself. The tip of her hoof touched it and she shivered. It was cold like a block of ice. Then she thought about what she was about to do. She was about to turn on a machine that made such a loud noise Celestia would hear it. Fly up to the top of the machine and just drop herself into the cavernous mouth. Just because of a small amount of words, what was she thinking. She pulled her hoof away from the switch. She pondered a bit about what she could do to use this machine once more. Then it hit her. This could become a way to rid the world of any evil pony. She could make spectra out of executed ponies, if Celestia gave the okay. She couldn't believe she had almost done it, she had almost killed herself. But she didn't she just couldn't, it would have been a terrible end. She had been given time to go through the factory one last time before they closed it for good. That time was almost up. She had spent most of it deciding wether to kill herself or let herself live. Well she had decided and she wouldn't kill herself. She wouldn't let the machine slice her limbs off, smash here body, and use every last drop of blood that spilled out and turn it into spectra. She trotted out the door of the room for the last time her head hung low with a smile on her face. Celestia sat in the other room waiting for Rainbow Dash. Her stern face gone, replaced with a quizzical look.
"And what are you so happy about Rainbow Dash," Celestia asked. Rainbow finally realized she was still smiling. She shook her head to get rid of the thought she had
"Oh um sorry. I was just remembering something I had thought of," she knew that was basically it.
"So you were smiling about what you had done in that room," Celestia became even more confused.
"Basically yeah," Rainbow said," I mean no," she turned away from Celestia and started talking to herself. Hooves on her head.
You mean yes, you were smiling about what you had done in there, she said to herself.
No you want to lie and say you had smiled about something else. she responded back to herself. Celestia just bent her neck sideways trying to get a look at Rainbow. Rainbow suddenly turned around and nearly smacked her head against a passing stallion.
"Rainbow, I understand what you are suffering from. Your time in there killing thousands of poor innocent foals has driven you mad," Celestia said putting a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder," you just need to let that time pass and move on." Rainbow just stood there as if she had heard absolutely nothing Celestia had said, and she hadn't. She had gone into a sudden deep thinking phase. She kept hearing the voice of that mare that drenched herself in the liquid thunder. The voice kept saying,
I'm the failure you wanted to kill, and the sister you never wanted to harm. And I am the pony who is about to take both away from you.
Then she had drenched herself in the liquid thunder, melted straight through the floor, and was gone. She had even whispered her name after she had failed to save that mare.
"Scootaloo," she whispered.
"What was that," Celestia said " you just said somepony's name who was it."
"No one that matters to you," Rainbow said with more anger than she had wanted," it only matters to me." Celestia was shocked at this sudden hostility and stepped back a few steps.
"Rainbow please don't start a fight," Celestia said. Her kind face now showed a bit of worry for the mare in front of her. Rainbow seemed to shrink in the realization she had yelled at Celestia.
"I'm sorry princess I just want to keep the name secret from the public." She showed the slightest tears in her eyes. Crying had been something Rainbow usually only did on the inside, but remembering losing Scootaloo had brought tears to her eyes.
"I understand Rainbow Dash," Celestia said reshaping her surprised look into an understanding one. They started off to the door to the elevator when Rainbow made her proposal.
"What about bad ponies," She asked looking up at Celestia. Celestia was caught off guard by this new question. Her response was as surprising.
"Maybe Rainbow, maybe," Celestia said as they entered the elevator. Rainbow thought she saw a glint of hate in Celestia's eyes. As Rainbow turned around she got her last look at the devices closed doors for quite some time. The next time she would see them she would rejoice, more than that she would make so much spectra for Cloudsdale the machine wouldn't need to run for days. But she needed to find more engineers and workers. And she knew exactly where to start. A bar outside of ponyville or maybe find Atmosphere and Hide and get them in the same building along with Gauge and talk about hiring ponies into the new, safe, and innocent foal free Rainbow Factory. She wouldn't need to work to hard to convince Gauge. Atmosphere may be questionable and Hide may need a lot of persuasion. But she knew that if they could use bad ponies instead of innocent ponies they could still make spectra from ponies and feed this urge inside Rainbow. This urge that she needed to continue to feed the machine.
Chapter 1: The Meetings
Rainbow Dash sat in a chair her hooves crossed. She was waiting for Celestia. The alicorn princess had called her to Canterlot for a special meeting. It had been a few months since she had heard about her proposal from Celestia. Those few months were helpful to her. She had already talked to Atmosphere about it and he had said that if it is allowed he'll come back and work at the Rainbow Factory. Gauge had been missing for some time after Rainbow had talked to her last. She had heard some rumors of Gauge getting drunk and dropping off the edge of Cloudsdale. But that wasn't the truth she had gone into hiding believing that all Rainbow Factory personnel were to be executed when found. Boy would she be surprised to hear Rainbow Dash on the Equestrian News station. Contrail on the other hoof, declined immediately saying that he would prefer to have a job that didn't involve death of any way. She knew that in time Contrail would come to. Then there was a knocking and the door behind Rainbow opened. In came what she had expected, Princess Celestia sat down on the other side of the table. In here golden magic aura was a large stack of papers. On the top it said effective immediately stamped across the top, and under it a long amount of typing and then under all that, were signatures. Rainbow knew what was about to happen. "As of today Rainbow Dash," she began," you have been given custody of the Pegasus Device and all personnel who sign up to work there. These papers are the signature of every single pony who has committed a crime that would usually get them life in prison. Now it gives you complete power over their life and when it is," she cleared her throat," their time to go." Rainbow was quite happy to hear this not only would she continue to make rainbows and use the Pegasus Device. She would also be ridding Equestria of criminals.
"Thank you Celestia," Rainbow bowed her head. Then she noticed Celestia pull out a small slip. She put it down in front of Rainbow Dash It read:
As of today Rainbow Dash has complete control over the Pegasus Device and over the lives of the criminals who will be dealt with immediately. If Rainbow Dash breaks rules such as to put anything other than criminal ponies in the Pegasus Device. These ponies could be any of the following, innocent bystanders , foals, or fillies. The Rainbow Factory will be shut down and the Pegasus Device destroyed. When Rainbow Dash signs this contract he/she will also be executed for treason under alicorn law if she breaks these rules.
Authorized by: Princess Celestia
Sign:________________________________
Rainbow read over it a few times looking for any loopholes out of a sticky situation. She found none and signed. The only time she would need it is if just in case a parent decides to bring a child along who somehow finds a way up to the catwalk onto the conveyor belt and into the mouth of the machine which she knows would never happen. Even then, she couldn't bear to see one more innocent foal or filly or even mare die in front of her eyes again. When she finished signing Celestia took the contract and put the signatures of every criminal who would never see another day in front of her. Rainbow didn't have a saddle bag to put the large amount of papers into.
"Um I don't have a saddle bag," she said looking at Celestia. Celestia nodded and put the papers back on the table.
"Of course well i'll make sure somepony gets you one," Celestia said. She rose and went to the door," oh and Rainbow Dash," she looked back at Rainbow," don't make me have to end up executing you." Celestia trotted out the door leaving Rainbow alone once more. She would need to get in touch with Atmosphere after she got a saddlebag for all the signatures. She picked one up and noticed that the prisoners were never told why they were signing. It wouldn't matter anyways, they were bound to die in the end after all. She set the paper back on the stack and ran her hoof through her vibrant rainbow mane. She started thinking of all the places she could go to find Gauge. Her secret basement she had constructed would be the best place to start after Celestia cuts the ribbon for the grand reopening of the Rainbow Factory. The news would either bring Gauge out of hiding or at least get Gauge a message saying that Rainbow wasn't dead and that it was safe to leave her hiding place. Hide would obviously be shocked to hear about this news but who wouldn't after the terrible things that happened there. The terrible things she had been a part of. The terrible things that ended up getting Scootaloo killed. That mare was there for 20 years. 20 years waiting for Rainbow to let her free. She hadn't and those three foals had helped her become free. Then she killed herself, Scootaloo killed herself to help Rainbow out of the problem she was having. To help Rainbow out of self conflict. If only she had gotten to say goodbye to Scootaloo. The door opened again and a lavender unicorn stepped in her mane a dark purple with lighter purple stripes. She looked quite young and beautiful for her age. She looked surprised to see Rainbow for the first time.
"Oh um is this the wrong room," her voice was so soft and yet it showed some sort of authority.
"Depends what are you doing," Rainbow asked.
"Finding a room with a pegasus who needs a saddle bag," the unicorn answered. Rainbow spread her wings with all the crooked and missing feathers.
"Oh sorry the way you were positioned just didn't give the sudden thought you were a pegasus," she said as she entered the room. She placed the saddle bag on the table and moved the papers into it. "So um what's your name," the unicorn asked.
"Rainbow Dash," she said," I was the manager of the Rainbow Factory before it was closed. And you are?"
"Twilight Sparkle," the unicorn said," i'm Princess Celestia's student. And I remember you, you were the pegasus who killed thousands of innocent foals to make rainbows." Rainbow just sat there allowing her presence to finally make Twilight realize why Rainbow was here. "Oh you're here for the reopening of the Rainbow Factory aren't you."
"Yes I am," Rainbow said. She got up and went over to Twilight," and that is why I needed the saddle bag." Twilight latched it around Rainbow's side.
"Oh of course," she said," well glad to know you've turned over a new leaf." Rainbow instantly became irritated as this was the first time anyone had said she had done it all on purpose. It was a mistake she wished she could have fixed. A mistake caused by years of technology advancements that never came until then.
"Nice, real nice Twilight," Rainbow said shoving Twilight's shoulder. She was quite surprised how firm Twilight's stance was. Twilight's face instantly became apologetic at the realization she had hurt Rainbow.
"Oh, i'm sorry I didn't know that you-" she was cut off by Rainbow who covered her mouth with one hoof.
"No I get it," Rainbow said," be the jerk. I'm trying to be the nice pony here and fix what I broke." She removed her hoof from Twilight's mouth. Twilight just turned around and trotted out the door. Rainbow soon did the same and went off towards Cloudsdale.
"Now time to talk to Atmosphere about this new development," she said to herself. All the way there she smiled. She was going back to the Rainbow Factory soon.
The bar was quiet that day, ever since she walked in the bar had been silent. She had sat down in the back of the place and was waiting for Atmosphere. He had promised to meet her here. Then through the door walked a stallion his mane graying, his coat was a dark red, and most obviously he was a pegasus. He sat down across from Rainbow and began speaking. "So it was allowed then," he asked.
"Yes Hide, yes it was," Rainbow said she put her hooves behind her head.
"Are you even sure you want to go back there," he asked.
"Yes Hide, i'm sure that I want to go back," she said," but this time we won't be killing the innocent."Hide nodded at this. It was obvious to him Rainbow wanted to go back, perhaps she really had thought this out well enough. She had found a way to make the spectra without killing the innocent and be loyal to Cloudsdale and the rest of Equestria.
"When is the grand reopening," Hide asked.
"A few months from now," she said," but we need workers. I need you to get propaganda going. A few posters advertising the new cause would be nice." Once again Hide nodded. She really was being careful with how she was dealing with this. Slowly and carefully.
"And what about Contrail and Gauge," Hide asked.
"Gauge will be listening to the radio. I know she will. Contrail doesn't want to help with this though. But I know he will eventually."
"What do I put on these propaganda posters though," Hide asked.
"Rainbow Factory grand reopening," she started with an announcer voice," manager looking for brave souls who will come work in the Rainbow Factory. Contact the following for more information. Then under it you put Rainbow Dash, Hide Atmosphere, and Gauge."
"Anything else," he asked.
"And on the back put a description of what will be new about what will be happening in the building," Rainbow added. Hide nodded and looked around.
"Weren't you expecting anypony else," he asked.
"No, like I said Gauge is in hiding and Contrail will not be helping us as of now," she answered sternly.
"Of course sorry Rainbow Dash. I didn't think I was the only one you were going to have here," he said.
"Please Hide just call me Ms. Dash," she said.
"Already,Rainbow you aren't my boss anymore," he said shaking his head.
"As of now, yes I am Hide," she said as she brought her hooves from behind her head," and you will call me Ms. Dash. That is until I get married."
"That is if you get married," he said. Rainbow suddenly had the realization that no one would marry an insane mare like her and then she smacked Hide across the face. She hit him so hard a drop of blood came out his left nostril.
"Oh, i'm so sorry Hide I didn't mean to make you bleed," she said grabbing a napkin from the holder.
"No it was my fault Dash," he said placing it against his nose," I shouldn't have said you wouldn't get married. Perhaps during the reopening of the new and improved Rainbow Factory you'll meet your special somepony."
"Yeah right Hide, as if anypony would want to marry a mad mare," she said tapping the side of her head with her hoof.
"I'm sure there are plenty of stallions out there who would love an interesting mare like yourself," Hide said," you just need to find that stallion."
"Alright Hide I get it," she said getting up," I need to go. There are so many more things to do before the reopening."
"Alright see you soon, Dash," Hide said as Rainbow trotted off. Hide didn't quite understand why Rainbow Dash was so glad but he just rolled with it. "What could go wrong with a plan like hers," Hide said to himself. He then got up and trotted out the door.
Chapter 2: Time will Tell
Rainbow Dash opened her front door. Only a few weeks ago she had bought this house. Before she bought it she had been living in Cloudsdale. Now she had moved to a town called Ponyville. The residents were nice, but she really didn't like a completely pink mare. Her voice was so high pitched and her view on life, just awkward. The only way she knew she could get away from that pony was in a house made of what earth ponies couldn't stand on, clouds. She was wrong. The moment she opened the door she saw her. in the middle of the isle there was the pink mare using balloons as a way to stay afloat. Behind her were pegasi. Lots of pegasi.
"Surprise," yelled the pegasi. The pink mare floated over to Rainbow.
"Hi my name is Pinkie Pie," she said holding out her hoof a smile across her face.
"How did all of you get in my house," Rainbow yelled returning a frown
"Simple, you didn't lock your door silly," Pinkie said pointing at the door.
"Well get out," Rainbow yelled trying to contain the urge to hit Pinkie. Pinkie still sat there so she decided that instead she'd start popping the balloons Pinkie was using. She popped a balloon and then another.
"Hey what are you doing," Pinkie asked. She was slowly descending. Her hooves started moving through the floor.
"Getting you out of my house," Rainbow smiled. There was enough balloons to get her to drop fast enough that she wouldn't need to pop all of then. Her thoughts raced thinking of what she should say.
"Well this isn't the way to treat a friend," Pinkie said with a confused look.
"You aren't my friend Pinkie, you are the most annoying and stupid earth pony I have ever met," Rainbow yelled. Pinkie had been raising her head above the cloud floor. Her hair deflated at those words.
"Oh okay," she said," it's not like I was expecting to be friends anyways." She let her head drop below the cloud floor. There were only two balloons left tied to Pinkie. Rainbow didn't pop them though. As if something would seem so familiar if she did that. The rest of the pegasi just stared at Rainbow with fear.
"What are you waiting for get out of my house," she yelled. The pegasi started leaving one by one. Each chattering about what had just happened. As the final pegasi left she slammed her door. She trotted to the kitchen. When she entered she saw a large cake. Each layer a different color of the rainbow. She trotted over to it and just slid it over to get it off her table. She would put it outside when the mail pony comes. That way she would have some help. She wasn't to happy with what had just happened. She had just witnessed an earth pony enter her house without her permission with 30 or more pegasi. Then gave an excuse why it was okay to do it. Now she really did hate that pony. Rainbow opened one of her cabinets and pulled out a glass. She flew over and opened her fridge. Not much was inside besides a gallon of water and a few fruits and veggies. She pulled the gallon of water out of the fridge and flew over to the counter. She opened the gallon and poured herself a drink. She put the gallon back in the fridge and flew over to her room. There wasn't very many decorations in it. Just a poster of the wonderbolts and a few photos of her with her family. She set the water on her night stand and laid down. The house was large. There were so many rooms. She knew since she was a pegasus she could renovate the rooms combining them and separating others. She was glad to finally have a home she could live in peacefully. Especially now that Pinkie knew Rainbow wasn't one of the kindest mares out there. Now she couldn't wait, a few months from now. Only a few months and she would see that device once again. She started thinking of all the rules that needed to change. The first rule that that would need to be changed was, not being able to keep the ponies in the building for the rest of their lives. She would need to also have a night shift and a day shift. So that the machine would make spectra day and night and so that workers could go home and rest. Another rule that needed to be tweaked was the no talking about what goes on in there, and one last rule she needed to add just in case. No fillies in the facility. This would ensure no accidents happen involving innocent children. She looked out the window to her left and looked at Ponyville. The town looked so peaceful during the day. She then got off her bed and trotted to her front door. She thought getting to know ponies in Ponyville would be smarter than sitting in her house all day.
The first stop she thought would be helpful to her was the market place. She was right there were stands full of foods and decorations, but one really caught her eye. An apple cart that looked dull and plain. That was why it stood out so much. She trotted over to the stand and no one was there. It seemed that the owner was on break. Then out of no where a yellow coated mare with a red mane trotted up behind the stand.
"Hello can I help ya," she said with a slight western accent.
"Yes, um I would like some apples," Rainbow said putting a few bits on the table.
"Of course," the mare said picking up some apples and putting them in a bag. "You chose the right stand," the mare said handing her the bag," please come again."
"Thank you, maybe I will," Rainbow said. She turned around and trotted off. Next stop the best places to meet people in town. She was also in search of places where pegasi enter frequently. Then she would put the new job offerings on the walls outside the door and inside just in case. She saw a nice place to start. A store that looked like a giant gingerbread house covered with frosting. It looked like any pony with a sweet tooth would want to be there. So she walked up to the front step and opened the door. Inside was a small bakery on the right and on the left were seats and tables to sit at. At the sound of the door opening a yellow, tall, and scrawny stallion walked out of the back room. He wore an apron which was freshly covered with some red frosting. To Rainbow it looked like blood, but she knew it wasn't. His mane was roughed up and the color was fading. He looked a bit old about mid 50's-60's it was obvious he had been under stress as his muscles looked tense. He was an earth pony and when he spoke it sounded a bit silly. As if saying, hey Pinkie Pie and I are related.
"Hello there what can I getcha," the stallion asked.
"Oh no i'm here for something else," Rainbow said pulling out a piece of paper. It was the one of the first batch of posters that had been printed. At the sight of the top words the earth pony jumped.
"And where did you get that," he said pointing at the slip.
"My colleague made it," Rainbow said," we're proudly announcing the reopening of the Rainbow Factory and I would li-," she was cut off by the stallion galloping into the back room. Soon reappearing with a handkerchief. When the stallion had stopped wiping his brow Rainbow continued," and I would like to put a poster advertising jobs for the factory."
"Well, I usually don't let ponies who have anything to do with that wretched place advertise in my store," he said with a little sarcasm making it seem that someone had done it before.
"Yes I understand that you are quite uncomfortable with this question but please hear me out," Rainbow said. The stallion took a deep breath and indicated Rainbow to continue. "My name is Rainbow Dash," she started," and i'm here under the name of management for the Rainbow Factory. I would like to advertise the new foal slaughter free reopening Rainbow Factory." The stallion nodded and took the slip from her. He looked at it from top to bottom. Then handed it back.
"Are you even sure anypony will sign up after the history that place has," the stallion asked.
"When they hear that Celestia herself will be at the ceremony and has authorized the reopening they'll know we aren't lying," Rainbow said.
"If Celestia has give permission and there won't be any opposition from the government of Equestria. Then yes you can advertise," the stallion said," but you need to pay some bits that is going to give my store a bad reputation if I let that go up, and I will need money," he said holding out his hoof. Rainbow went into her saddle bag and placed ten bits on the table. The stallion inspected them and then took them.
"So I want to put them on the inside door wall and the outside door wall," she said pulling out a contract," but first you need to sign this contract tk ensure you don't take the advertisement down until told otherwise." The stallion pulled out a pen and signed his name. Rainbow took the the contract and slipped it back into her saddle bag. She then pulled out two advertisements and a roll of tape. She took pieces of tape and place them on the back of the paper. She then put it on the wall and added tape to the corners. Then she went outside and did the same. She returned and thanked the stallion. She trotted out the door and down the street. She then stopped back at the market. She had forgotten to talk to the stand owner about the slip. She trotted up to the stand, but behind it was an orange mare her mane blond and she wore a light brown stetson hat. Her eyes were emerald green. She looked at Rainbow Dash and smiled.
"Howdy pardner," the mare said. "Mah names Applejack and ah run this here apple stand. Ah don't think ah've seen ya around these here parts."
"No i'm not from around here," she said," i'm from Cloudsdale. I moved here to get away from the bustling place."
"Ah didn't quite get yer name Ms. um," Applejack said holding the final syllable in her sentence waiting for Rainbow to give Applejack her name.
"Dash, Rainbow Dash," she said.
"Nice tah meet ya Rainbow Dash," Applejack said holding out a hoof. Then Applejack finally realized who she was talking to. She backed away from the cart very slowly.
"No don't worry it's okay really," Rainbow said trying to assure Applejack everything was okay.
"No you're that pegasus who killed thousands including my sisters friend Scootaloo," Apllejack said. When Rainbow heard Scootaloo's name she stopped. Why did so many ponies know about Scootaloo and her death.
"No i'm not here to kill you," Rainbow said sitting down.
"Then why are ya here," Applejack said walking over to Rainbow. Being cautious and keeping her distance.
"I came to talk about putting an advertisement on your stand," Rainbow said watching Apllejack approach.
"What kind of advertisement," Applejack asked.
"About the grand reopening of the foal slaughter free Rainbow Factory," she said holding out a slip. Applejack read it and then crumpled up and tossed it.
"Ah don't like to be the bad mare at times, but right now that place don't even deserve such a reopening to be considered grand. It deserves to be split open and destroyed. Along with any employees like ya," Applejack said pointing at Rainbow.
"Oh okay that's perfectly fine," Rainbow said as she got up," I understand you'd prefer that I were dead right now. Fine by me. It's all your choice i'm not forcing you to." She started off towards the next best place to go. The dress shop of the apparently amazing Rarity Belle. From behind she heard Applejack yell over the crowd.
"And don't come back you bucking murderer." Rainbow rolled her eyes. She was persistent to get on Rainbow's nerves very persistent indeed. Then she felt an object hit the back of her head. It had been an apple. She looked back over at Applejack and saw her ready to throw another one. Why was she throwing apples anyways. Rainbow hadn't done anything to provoke such need of violence. She continued a few steps before the next apple smacked the back of her head. She just kept walking. She could feel the anger bubbling. She kept moving before being hit repeatedly by apples. This time a red stallion had started chucking them. They hurt worse than Applejack's throws. Then when she turned her head an apple smacked her straight in the muzzle. Blood started dripping out of her nose and her mouth showed blood on her teeth. She grabbed her muzzle and looked over at the person who threw it. The stallion covered his mouth at the sudden realization who he had been throwing the apples at. Rainbow trotted back over to the stand picked up an apple and stomped on it. Showing sure signs of anger. Then she started smashing apples on the stand. When she had destroyed what was the rest of the apples she trotted off.
In time she'll regret doing that, Rainbow said to herself. She had more important things to do than sit and smack some hoof into Applejacks muzzle a few times. She needed to get to the dress shop. So she could get her advertisement out to the public. One building wasn't going to be enough. She needed a few to get the attention going. She just hoped Hide had found more people who would be interested in working in the Rainbow Factory in Cloudsdale.
Rainbow Dash approached the entrance to the home and work place of Rarity, as she was known. She knocked on the door and heard a kind sounding voice yell.
"Just a minute please." At that Rainbow stood there looking around trying to occupy herself. Then the door opened and there stood a whit mare. Her mane curled and long, along with the deepest colored purple Rainbow had ever seen. She had a pair of glasses on. In her magic she held a pin cushion. "Can I help you," she asked looking at Rainbow in disgust.
"Hello, my name is Rainbow Dash and I would like to advertise job applications in the area of your work place," Rainbow said trying to hide her bleeding teeth.
"Please come inside I need you to help me with something, if you do you can advertise as much as you want within my work place," Rarity stepped aside to allow Rainbow in. Rainbow walked in and was surprised to see so many colors in one place. The only other place that had this many colors was Cloudsdale. She turned around to see Rarity picking up a dress with her magic. Rainbow realized to late what was happening. Rarity slipped the dress onto Rainbow. The dress was very uncomfortable for Rainbow and she had said it multiple times and Rarity just kept working.
"So darling I've finally realized what kind of dress would look wonderful on a mad mare such as you," Rarity had said it. She had finally said she knew who Rainbow was.
"Really," Rainbow asked with boredom hinted so much in the word.
"Yes," she went and retrieved a black dress with rainbow stripes. It was a nice fit on Rainbow. It had come with a litlle necklace. In the necklace was a rainbow colored stone. "You look stunning Rainbow," she said," all the stallions will love you. They'll look at you and say, wow look at that beautiful mare."
"That's nice and all but how much is this going to cost me because I know store owners," Rainbow said.
"Not a bit," Rarity said," after all you are a true mare of wonders." Rarity said. She got the dress off Rainbow and put it in a box folded neatly.
"So now I can advertise, right" Rainbow asked.
"Of course Rainbow Dash, put out your advertisement where ever looks necessary," Rarity said. Rainbow looked around and found a few spots. She taped the papers to the wall and returned to take the box with her dress inside. She would've needed something for the reopening anyways. So she said goodbye to Rarity and left. Only a few months to get all the workers she needed for the Rainbow Factory. A few months of boring stuff. A few months of the daily routine. Only time will tell what will happen next
Chapter 3: The Wait is Over
The streets were crowded with the curious ponies and radio teams. Waiting to hear about the reopening. Rainbow looked out a window at the crowd. So many ponies all came here for the same reason. The Rainbow Factory, and what was to change. Of course they would know but at least it was safer than hiding it all away. Celestia knocked on the door and poked her head in. "We are ready to start," Celestia said.
"Yeah I know," Rainbow said. She smiled knowing that the first drops of spectra from that machine was soon. She turned around and trotted out the door. This would be her first public speech in a long time. She had written everything down on a piece of paper she had set on the announcement podium. That way just in case she forgot something she could look at the paper. As the front doors to the castle opened every noise was drowned out by the cheering of thousands. At the podium's side were two guard ponies. At the stairs leading to the podium were two other alicorns and Twilight Sparkle. One of the alicorns had a deep purple coat, with a mane that looked like the starry night sky. She was smaller than Celestia but her stature showed she was an alicorn you wish to not mess with. Rainbow knew that alicorn to well. Luna, the pony who had haunted Rainbow's dreams for months now. The other alicorn had a pink coat. Her mane was a mixture of bright vibrant colors. One stripe was yellow then the next a pink then to a purple. Her feathers had purple tips and she looked quite young. Rainbow didn't know the alicorns name. She would ask after the announcement. Celestia walked up the steps with Rainbow following behind. Rainbow heard booing as she became visible. They had probably thought the Rainbow Factory would be getting a new manager.
"Please calm down," Celestia said in her royal announcing voice. Even at it's loudest Celestia's voice was still soothing. "I understand some of you are upset knowing that Rainbow Dash will be taking control of the Rainbow Factory once more, but I have made a deal with Rainbow Dash involving the criminals of Equestria. It may sound bad but trust me. Even all of you make deals to rid your mind of something. Well I want to get rid of any criminal sentenced to life in prison. That way we will continue to have room in our prisons. I promise you we have a contract that ensures that your children and you all are safe." Celestia backed away and nodded to Rainbow to walk to the podium. Rainbow put her hooves on the podium and spoke.
"When I had been chosen for the job as manager we already had been doing what was revealed such a long time. Now I have made a small proposal to Celestia. I will not be using innocent ponies young or old. Only criminals all over Equestria."
"Then why aren't you killing yourself yet," a voice yelled from the crowd. Then the rest of the crowd started thinking the same.
"Well, because Celestia never had me sign anything. I read the contract very thoroughly nothing in there about it. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. I want to think of this as the start of a new era for the Rainbow Factory. No more loved ones dying. I hope that in time you can forgive me." Rainbow stepped down from the podium. Celestia moved back to the podium.
"The cutting of the ribbon will take place outside the weather facility. If you are interested do arrive there in the next hour. Good day to all of you." Celestia dismissed the two guards and walked down from the podium. The crowd started to dissolve into an everyday time in Canterlot. Celestia signaled for Rainbow to come over by her and the other alicorns. Rainbow approached and the pink one spoke first.
"Hello my name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. But you can call me Cadence," the alicorn said holding out her hoof. Rainbow carefully raised her hoof and grabbed Cadence's. The Cadence shook her hoof ever so slightly to indicate a hoofshake. Rainbow followed through and they shook hooves. Twilight stood there playing with her mane waiting for the alicorns to finish talking to Rainbow.
"My names Rainbow Dash," Rainbow said.
"Yes I know i've heard quite the terrible stories about what you've done. Thankfully you found another way. And a more justifying way. I think," Cadence said with a questioning look on her face.
"Well I think it is smart knowing she could help herself to such a plentiful resource. I hope that spectra isn't changed by the behavior of the pegasi, because then I think the rainbows would look darker than usual," Luna said making her presence more noticeable.
"Yes it really is quite interesting how a pegasus who locked herself away for 25 whole years watching as foal after foal died in that machine came up with such an idea," Twilight said cutting in. With haste she tried her best to make it look like she had just blurted it out and had not tried to make it sound so harsh.
"Twilight?! Why would you say something like that," Celestia said giving Twilight a stern look.
"I'm sorry princess," Twilight bowed her head and went back to playing with her mane.
"I hope to see you at the ribbon cutting Rainbow Dash," Celestia said. She then spread her wings and followed by Cadence and Luna flew off towards the weather facility. It was finally the day, today was the first day of a new beginning in the Rainbow Factory. Rainbow soon followed suit. She knew she wanted to get a look at the machine before the ribbon cutting.
Rainbow looked at the machine. It had been months since she had touched it. The boards were freshly dusted thanks to Hide coming and cleaning up for the occasion. She thought about all the different pony colors she would find in batch one. Possibly quite the selection of colors. Everyone had a different color of spectra inside. She rubbed her hoof on the status screen. She would be using this quite soon, so soon. She turned around and trotted out the door and back into the elevator. She hit the button and the door closed. When the elevator doors opened again she trotted forward and out the entrance of the weather facility. Very few pegasi had shown up. Most of them being reporters. As Celestia looked around she nodded to Spitfire and the Wonderbolts went off to prepare for the ribbon cutting fly over. Celestia waited a few minutes before speaking.
"Thank you all for coming to this prestigious event. From this day forth the Rainbow Factory is now open to the public." And at that the Wonderbolts flew over head and Celestia cut the ribbon. For those few months Rainbow was waiting excitedly. At this the reporters wrote down their perspective and flew off. The event wasn't as big, but she knew that the celebration with her new employees would make up for that. Rainbow walked back inside and headed towards the elevator to take her back up. She needed to make sure the Pegasus Device stilled functioned properly. The elevator door opened and she went over to the controls. She flipped a switch and the Pegasus Device sputtered to life. The loud banging of pistons and the wind flowing through the pumps sending nothing to the spectra delivery system. When that first delivery truck arrived with the prisoners the first few drops of spectra from the machine would be made. She had waited so long and now the wait was over.
Chapter 4: A Long Night
Not much happened that night, other than the fact they all had quite the celebration. With the few new employees they had received and Hide. Gauge had arrived some time later that afternoon to hug Rainbow well that was at least Gauge's reason. Hide had said Gauge was just happy to see Rainbow and Rainbow had returned the hug, for Gauge's sake. One of the employees had talked to Rainbow who went by the name of Sound Board. She had thought that was a weird name, but it did explain the microphone cutie mark. He said he was intrigued by the way blood could be turned into spectra. He really did want to see it first hand. Well he was going to get the chance, on the first work day.
The batch had been sent in that afternoon. With about fifty pegasi and surprisingly earth ponies and unicorns. The unicorns and earth ponies had been wearing make shift electronic wings to move over the clouds. Rainbow knew that no one out of the batch would be getting any sleep that night. She landed at her front door and saw a note she opened it up. It was from the apple family.
Dear Ms. Rainbow Dash,
I am very sorry for my granddaughters and grandsons actions. If we need to pay any medical bills or such things please stop by Sweet Apple Acres.
Sincerely,
Granny Apple Smith, owner of Sweet Apple Acres.
At least some of the apple family understood the pointless apple throwing that had occurred months ago. Oddly enough they were only sending this now. Or maybe they had sent it but their mail pegasus. What was her name, Ditzy Doo just wasn't looking at the mail right. Ditzy was a great mail pony but sometimes she messed up with delivery and once and a while had forgotten letters in her bag. No matter her muzzle had healed nicely no need for surgery or amputation. Why would you even need to amputate a muzzle anyways. She opened her door and trotted in. The place was a bit dark at night, but she liked it that way. She entered her room and put her coat against her stand. She laid her head down and looked at the ceiling. Tomorrow would be wonderful for her. Tomorrow was day one of the new Rainbow Factory. She closed her eyes and was soon off to sleep.
She woke up with a jump. It sounded like something was hitting the walls in the hall. She slowly got out of bed and went to her door. She looked around the corner of her door way and saw the most horrifying thing she had seen in a long time. A bloody, smiling carcass sat on the wall its head tilted. It's coat was orange and its mane was purple both matted down with thick blotches of blood. The eyes were missing and the muzzle had been bent awkwardly. The stomach showed decay and the legs were bent in so many terrible ways. She finally realized who's carcass she was seeing, it was Scootaloo's. With no thought whatsoever she threw a cup she had picked up from a table next to her. It flew right through the carcass. And then it faded away. But not without it whispering a sentence with words that sent shivers up Rainbow's spine.
"You have beautiful eyes," it said," now let me show you how blind you are." Then she was beginning to fall through the floor. She looked down to see the ground getting closer and closer. At the bottom were hundred of ponies staring up with the same bloody smile as Scootaloo, their hooves reaching up towards her. Rainbow tried to fly but her wings wouldn't open. She struck the group of ponies with a loud crack. They began to close around her. Bloody smiles getting closer and closer. They chanted the same thing over and over again," Mommy, Daddy, Big Brother, Big Sister, Grandma, Grandpa, save us." Out of the chanting one became distinct.
"Rainbow Dash save me," Rainbow turned around to see Scootaloo's carcass again. Except it wasn't just covered in blood, it was draining from her mouth from small waterfalls. It began to get closer reaching out to touch her," Rainbow Dash let me save you."
Rainbow jolted awake, her forehead sweating and her head throbbing. Her wings flipping open at the sudden jolt of fear. It was only a dream, she thought Thank Celestia it was only a dream, a horrifying dream. She looked out the window, to see that it was still late at night or maybe early in the morning. It was hard to tell with no sight of the moon from where the window looked out. She finally realized she had been holding her breath. She let out a long sigh, then she heard it. Hoof steps on the floor outside her room. She got out of bed and opened her door a bit. She saw a pegasus with a hood pulled over its head. Its back was turned towards her and it was looking at another pegasus. The other one had a hood over its head as well. The only thing visible was the coat on the legs of the pegasus. Then she realized what was about to happen. They were pegasi sent here to "get rid" of her but by who. She silently closed the door again. She flew over the door and waited for it to open.
Seconds later it did and the two pegasi trotted in. She got her first look at the first pony, which was a stallion, It was obvious due to his build. His coat a deep brown in this lighting. He looked strong but that was obviously due to the sweatshirt he was wearing. The other had concealed itself in the sweatshirt quite well. The only thing that was visible was its feathers on its wings. They looked purple in the dark lighting but they might actually have been a deep blue. The pegasi looked around for Rainbow. Then they looked up and saw her. The blue one instantly took to the air. Rainbow drove her front hooves forward smacking the pegasus right in the face. The cracking of bone was heard and the blue pegasus became dazed blood started dripping from inside the hood. Rainbow flew out her bedroom door, followed by the other two pegasi. Rainbow quickly flew to her front door, she began to fumble over the lock a bit. She eventually got it unlocked and was just opening the door when the brown pegasus tackled her. She kicked him in the stomach and hee fell off her his back striking the edge of the doorway. She quickly got up and flew off towards Ponyville.
She knew she could lose them in there. When she got to Ponyville she ducked into an alleyway and out on the other side then she went back in. They'd be expecting her on that side. She exited out the way she had entered and headed back. She was only half way home before they were on her tail again. She tried shaking them off. Flying up and down, in and out of clouds. It wasn't until she started raising in altitude that the two pegasi stopped. She noticed that these pegasi must not be used to high altitude flying and rose higher. As long as she could get some distance she could think of a plan. "Why don't you two just fly on home," Rainbow yelled at them. They both shook their heads and the stallion spoke.
"We aren't going to have that wretched place become a slaughter house for children again," he said. His voice was deep, really deep.
"What are you talking about," Rainbow asked," i'm not going to do that."
"We don't believe you," the blue one yelled. It was a mare. Her voice sounded like she was a leader of some sort.
"I'm telling the truth," Rainbow yelled back," I promise." Rainbow stopped flying up. She thought she'd gained enough distance between the two pegasi.
"Yeah right," the stallion yelled, "like we'd believe that."
"Just leave me alone. I'm not lying. Of course if you do decide to continue I can wait until morning and then we'll see how well you can conceal your face. Leave me alone now and I won't have to bother the police or something." The two ponies looked at each other for a few seconds. Rainbow hoped what she said would work.
"Fine. But we've got our eyes on you," the stallion said as the two flew off. Rainbow let out a sigh of relief and flew back to her home. She checked behind her before she entered her house, closed, and locked the door. She must have forgotten to before, because how else had they gotten in? It didn't matter tomorrow was a new dawn. She was more than excited for it.