Rainbows and choices

20

I turned back to my friends. It looks like Silverstream couldn't stand the blood, because she was vomiting. 'That's what will happen to us?' Sandbar asked with a weak voice. As I tried to say before, the procedure says that we should give you the same treatment as the failures, but after much negotiation and argumentation, I got Rainbow Dash to take a different way.' I said. I expected them to be happy that this was not their destiny, but they all looked at me more confused. 'Rainbow Dash?' Smolder asked confused. 'Oh yeah, I forgot to say that. Rainbow Dash is the manager here. She's my boss.' I said. My friends only looked at me in shock and disbelief. 'Like I said.' I continued while ignoring their shocked reaction. 'I found a way out for you. Rainbow Dash and I have decided not to throw you in the pegasus device and instead let you work here with me. You will first have to walk in for a year just like I did, but you will be together and as soon as you have proven yourself you may also be allowed back.' I said. Again, they did not seem so happy that their lives were being spared.

'Forget it! You can ask a lot from me to save my life, but this is none of it. I'd rather end up in that thing myself than throw in others.' Shouted Smolder. The others muttered in agreement. I was surprised. 'Failures will say anything to save their lives. Then why don't you do everything to save your life? I know a lot of failures that would kill others to not get into the pegasus device.' I said. 'We're not failures. We're your friends.' Silverstream said. 'Yeah, something like this, you don't do that to your friends.' Gallus said. 'Indeed, that's why I give you the chance to do this job.' I said frustrated. 'How can pony do this?' Asked Yona. 'Real friends would never hurt each other.' Said Sandbar. 'Last chance.' I said. They were shocked by the cold in my voice. 'You would never hurt us.' Sandbar said confidently. I thought about it. I wanted to give them another chance to change their minds. My eye fell on the decoration on the wall. The various cutie marks that I had cut off myself, including those from Snow Star. 'Do you see this?' I asked and I flew to Snow Stars cutie mark. They all nodded uncertainly. 'This is Snow Stars. That is what we do with those who contradict us too much. Let me prove that I'm sirious about this.' I said and I ducked to the floor. I detached Sandbar from the others and dragged him along. After I chained him, I grabbed a knife. 'Last chance to change your mind before you lose them.' I said. 'Never!' He cried. I sighed. Apparently he thought I was bluffing. Slowly I started to cut his cutie mark loose. He screamed and screamed while my hooves were red again. When I was done, I did a bandage around his flanks and I attached him to the others.

Sandbar lay huddled on the floor. Too weak from pain. 'Last chance before people die!' I shouted without showing any emotion. This time it was hard. If I lost them, I would only have Devo. He represented most of my sanity, but it would still be difficult to lose all five. 'Yona won't do it. Yona will never kill ponies to save Yona's life.' Yona said. 'That goes for me too!' Shouted Smolder. Silverstream and Gallus nodded in agreement. 'And you Sandbar?' I asked. Sandbar stood up. His hooves were shaking with effort and pain. 'I'll never bow to a place like this.' He said in a weak voice. That confirmed their fate. I swallowed the lump in my throat. 'Start with the yak.' I said to the two workers who were also in the room, trying to make my voice sound as stable as possible. The workers lifted Yona with great difficulty and hung her on the machine. 'Last chance.' I said with the some effort. It was hard to hold back my tears. I had never been so weak in this space. But I would lose everybody but one. Yona shook her head. I gathered some courage. 'Do you have any last words?' I asked. I should have seen it coming when Scootaloo's voice echoed through my head again. "You have beautiful eyes". 'Yona now sees why pony had changed so much when pony returned. Pony never came back. Pony turned into a monster.' Yona said. 'You'd be surprised if you knew how many creatures called me a monster in the recent weeks.' I said and pulled the lever. The chains started to spin. They wrung Yona like a towel and the only thing that drowned out the sound of breaking bones was the sound of Yona's screams.I turned to the others. Silverstream and Sandbar were crying. 'Who wants to go next?' I asked. I felt a little better now that one had already been done. 'I only have one thing to say. RUN!' Shouted Smolder. For a moment I laughed softly. They were hanging on the pole. They couldn't leave. I was roughly torn from that assumption when I saw that she was running away. The chains lay on the ground with the ends red hot and melted. Of course, Smolders fire. I ran towards them. Smolder burned open the door lock. 'Go without me!' Sandbar called and turned to me and the workers. 'What? No!' Gallus called back. 'I'm too weak to run a lot. I'm just slowing you down. The pain is too much. Go! I'll hold them of as long as possible!' Said Sandbar. 'Goodbye, dear friend.' Said Smolder and she, Gallus and Silverstream ran into the corridor. I landed befor Sandbar. 'Grab the other!' I called to the workers and pushed Sandbar aside so that they could continue. Sandbar looked into my eyes and I laughed sadistically. He knew what was coming.