Rainbows and choices

25

Devo ran up the bank and looked around. 'We have to tell Headmare Sparkle about this. This is a clue about their disappearance. I'm sure.' Devo said. 'It was like this here when we arrived yesterday. It has nothing to do with them.' I made up quickly. Devo picked up a stone. There was a little blood on it. Someone had probably fallen on it. I knew that Devo looked up to the great Princess Twilight Sparkle. He couldn't match her magic level, but I knew what he could do. Among other things DNA analysis. It could ruin everything. 'Maybe they fell into the water and drowned.' Devo said. He dropped the stone and walked to the edge of the lake. Then he turned again. 'No no no. The lake is not that deep and Silverstream can always turn into a seapony.' He muttered and picked up the stone again. I came flying next to him and didn't know what to say. How could I convince him that this was not important? How could I be so stupid to forget that this was all here? How could I be so stupid as not to realize that we were walking here?

In the reflection in the water I saw something that could be my salvation. Rainbow Dash approached. She apparently realized that Devo was close to answers and that I needed help. She flew towards us. 'Hey guys, are you okay?' She asked. 'Professor Dash! How lucky you are here! I have a clue about my friends. They were last seen here and it looks like there was serious fighting here and I found this stone with blood. I'm sure it's from my friends or the perpetrator.' Devo said enthusiastically. Me and Dash exchanged a glance. 'It's been like this for days. And the blood is probably from some injured animal. I'm sure it's not theirs.' Said Dash. 'It's worth analyzing the blood. And how are you so sure it's not theirs?' Asked Devo. 'I saw them return to the bedrooms last night.' Lye Dash. 'You see, there's no problem.' I said and I smashed the stone from Devo's magic grip. The stone splashed in the water and sank to the bottom as the blood washed off. 'Then why didn't you tell the others?' And why do you act so lightly about something so serious? Both of you, by the way.' Asked Devo. It was quiet for a moment. 'What are you accusing us of now?' After a while, Rainbow Dash asked in a threatening tone. 'They were also my friends, Devo. How can you think I'm not taking this seriously?' I said. It sounded like I could burst into tears at any moment. Devo turned to explain to me. He clearly thought he had hurt my feelings. Fast as Rainbow Dash, she grabbed a big rock and hit Devo's head hard. Before Devo could have said something, he fell unconscious on the floor.

'What was that good for?' I asked in shock. 'That gives us a little more time to think about what to do.' Said Rainbow Dash. 'Okay, and you had to knock him down for that?' I asked a bit angry. 'Hmmm, what shall we do with him?' Rainbow Dash said questionably. 'Do you even hear what I'm saying?' I asked. 'Yes Yes! But we don't have time to bicker like foals. That kid is smart. It is just like a little Twilight. We can put him on the wrong paths as much as we want, he will find out anyway. Sooner or later.' Said Dash. 'So what are we doing?' I asked carefully. 'What we have to do. We have to get rid of him.' Said Dash. 'NO, please. He's the last one I have left! He hasn't failed a test!' I said worriedly. 'This is one of the moments when you have to choose your loyalty. I gave my own sister to the Rainbow factory. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good. You didn't seem to have a problem with the others? What are you going to do? Disappoint me or show that you are worthy of my protection?' Asked Dash. I sighed and picked up Devo. 'Let's go.' I said without any emotion. 'You've become an increasingly better actress, by the way.' Said Dash. I ignored that comment.

Devo woke up on the pegasus device. 'What is this? Where am I?' He asked in a panic. 'You're at the Rainbow factory.' I answered briefly. Only then did Devo see me and he seemed relieved. 'Black Blue! What happened? Why am I hanging here?' He asked. 'Because you came too close.' I said. I didn't look at him and my ears lay flat on my head. 'Too close to what?' Asked Devo. 'The others. The failures. They all came here. They all hang on that thing. And they all had the same fate.' I said. 'What fate?' Devo asked anxiously. 'They helped us make rainbows. Rainbows are made from spectra. Pure color. You cannot separate color from an object. The pegasus device can do that. Just not with everything. They must be living things.' I explained. 'So they're all here, but just ... gray?' Devo asked confused. 'Devo,' I said, and finally I looked into his eyes. 'You don't survive the pegasus device.' Devo looked as if he had seen a ghost. 'They're dead? This is how rainbows are made? YOU MUST FLEE, FAST! IF THEY ARE DONE WITH ME, THEY ALSO HANG YOU HERE! ' He cried. 'Devo, they're not going to throw me in the pegasus device. I- Iwork here. I'm the one who throws others in the pegasus device. Normally only failures, but sometimes also those who come too close to the truth.' I said. 'You killed them?' Devo asked in disbelieve. 'It's what I've been doing for a year. I'm so sorry. I had no choice. I want this to be over soon. It's going to hurt. The machine works better when the ribs are broken.' Devo remained silent. Too shocked and confused to feel any other emotions. For a moment I doubted. 'Do you have any last words?' I asked. I hated last words, but I couldn't just let him go. I took off and went flying right in front of him. I was too embarrassed and looked at the floor. 'Look at me.' Devo said. My eyes slowly moved upwards until they looked into his. I saw no anger, sadness or fear. He smiled and then said, 'You have beautiful eyes.'

For a moment I didn't realize that he had said it. It kept repeating itself in my mind along with the voice of Scootaloo. I no longer knew what to do, think or say. Finally I turned around and flew back down. 'Goodbye, Devo!' I said cold. I pulled the lever and turned around. I didn't want to see it. I had seen it so many times, but now I just couldn't. Behind me I heard the rattling of the chains and then the screams of Devo as the machine wrung him like a wet towel. I heard the chains let go of him. Instinct took over and I rose faster than I had ever done. My wings carried me just above the ground and my hooves closed around Devo's pulverized chest. I caught him just before he disappeared into the machine and carefully placed it on the ground. My brain was in full panic mode. He was lying there on the floor with a few ribs sticking through his side. He was fatally injured. 'Oh my god, oh my god, oh, my god! What should I do? I can't take you to the Rainbow factory hospital because that's only for workers!' I said in a panic. 'Leave me here. Go tell what happens here. It only takes 1 voice to bring it to one of the princesses.' Devo said. 'I DON'T LEAVE YOU! I can't take you to Cloudsdale Hospital either, because unicorns can't walk on clouds, I'll fly very quickly and take you to Ponyville.' I said. 'Leave me behind and go. They will stop you if you try to take me. Trust me and go without me.' I was shocked at how weak Devo already sounded. 'NO! I just hide you in my sports bag. It is certainly large enough, but it will not be that comfortable. You just have to keep quiet until we're outside.' I said. 'Go without me, now.' Devo said weaker than I had ever heard him. 'NO! This is the perfect plan! You survive and I can tell what happens here. The Rainbow factory is closed and Rainbow Dash is arrested. I'm going to get my sports bag quickly.' I said and I looked at Devo again. He didn't move. His eyes were staring glassily in front of him without blinking. 'Devo?' I asked carefully. He didn't answer. I slowly put an ear to his bloody chest in an attempt to listen to his heartbeat. I didn't hear anything. I stood up. There were no tears in my eyes. I lifted Devo's dead body and threw it in the pegasus device. I didn't even look when his beautiful blue colors were pumped through the Pipe's of the machine.