Rainbows and choices

17

The absence of Ocellus was clearly noticeable. Not only were our friends in mourning, it was also true that every time a teacher asked a question, no light blue hoof shot into the air with the answer. The week flew by and before I knew it my wings carried me back to Cloudsdale. 'Did I miss something?' I asked River Wing when I flew through the gate. 'Most gossip doesn't come here. If you want to hear the latest gossip then you should go and talk to Rainbow Cloud.' Said River Wing. Rainbow Cloud was active throughout the whole factory and was responsible for the failures. I had to go to her anyway for the list of names with the order of the failures.

'Did I miss something?' I asked Rainbow Cloud. 'An almost successful escape attempt by a set of failures.' Rainbow Cloud said while giving me the list of failures. 'Escape attempts are not rare, but it was those 2 changelings and that pizza pony. Dash said that with heavy escape attempts and when they change shape, heavy punishment must be done, so we cut off their wings.' Said Rainbow Cloud. I almost dropped my list. We often threatened to cut off wings, but we never did it. Most of the time they were scared enough if you threatened. It was an incredible shame to cut off wings. And especially. They were Ocellus' wings. I looked at the list and decided to go to work.

I opened Ocellus' cell and walked inside. Ocellus had a bandage around her waist, where normally her wings should be. The bandage came just below the leather strap that we used to hang failures with chains and to make sure that those with wings couldn't fly. 'Are you coming to pick me up to finish me off?' Ocellus asked in an icy, cold and hostile tone. 'I want to talk with you.' I said. 'What can you say?' Asked Ocellus. 'I'm sorry, Ocellus. You just have to know ... the Rainbow factory is for the greater good.' I said softly.

'Sounds like you've been telling yourself that for a while now.'

'It's true! I regret the fact that I've seen my friend, brother and sister disappear in that machine. But it had to happen. Otherwise there were no rainbows in Equestria. "

'Equestria can live without rainbows.'

'The Rainbow factory is for the greater good! Just understand that. That's why I did it.'

'That's what you tell yourself.' Ocellus stood before me and pushed my head up so that I looked into her eyes. 'Why are you really doing this?' She asked. 'I have no choice.' I said. That was not what I wanted to say. I didn't want to be weak. 'If I refuse, I will end up in the pegasus device myself. I'd rather give up 1 life than 2.' I said. 'You remember that time we told you about how we had defeated Cozy Glow. When one of us was stuck in that magic whatever it was, we all risked our lives to save that one. And it all ended well.' Said Ocellus. 'That is different. Things don't work that way here. Even more, if I now refused, then Snow Star, Spitfire and Cloud Walker died for nothing. Now they have given me freedom and saved my life. The Rainbow factory is for the greater good! ' I said and I did my best to look as sure as possible.

'They didn't save your life. They saved your body. I don't see my good, dear friend Black Blue anymore. I only see this monster that has taken over her. Come back to me, Black Blue. We can still get out of this. Together.' Said Ocellus. 'Failures will say anything to save their lives.' I said. More to convince myself than to use it as an argument. 'That's true. But I'm not just a failure. I'm your friend. Would I lie to you?' She said. 'Failures will say anything to save their lives. Failures will say anything to save their lives. Failures will say anything to save their lives.' I said while flipping slightly. Ocellus put her hoof on my shoulder. 'It will be all right.' She said reassuringly. 'NO!' I shouted and grabbed the chain attached to the leather strap around her waist. 'You and Nasus are the first on the list.' I said cold.

I attached Ocellus' chain to a pole and dragged Nasus to the pegasus device. I hung him and removed the leather strap. He too had a bandage around his waist. I was glad that they were on the top of the list. It's a shame to remove wings and now they had to suffer less. I turned on the machine and watched with a sadistic smile how Nasus was torn to pieces. Then I turned around. Ocellus had moved as far back as the chain allowed. 'Come forward!' I said with still a sadistic smile on my face. Ocellus didn't move. 'Come!' I said and I gave the chain a short jerk. Ocellus gave a short cry of pain. The leather band was just over the wounds of her severed wings. Slowly she walked forward. Until she was right in front of me. I grinned and released the chain from the pole. At first she tried to flee, but I just dragged her behind me and after a while she saved herself from the pain of the leather band pushing into her wounds.I stuck her to the machine. I had consciously let Nasus go first and let Ocellus look. I could clearly see the increased fear in her eyes. 'Do you have any last words?' I asked. Ocellus took a deep breath. 'I was wrong when I said Black Blue could come back. That I didn't see her anymore. Your life is not spared. Black Bleu is dead. I don't see her in your eyes. Your eyes are no longer kind and sweet.' She said. "You have beautiful eyes." It sounded through my mind, but it were not the words of Ocellus. 'Prove me I'm wrong. Prove me it's not true.' She said imploringly. I laughed. 'You know, Ocellus. You're the smartest. You're always right.' I said and pulled the lever. I looked into Ocellus' eyes until the last second.