Rainbows and choices

26

My name is Music Shine. I was a student at the school of friendship. Life was quiet here at school. It was now 3 years since Yona, Silverstream, Gallus, Sandbar, Smolder and Devo had disappeared. I was very nervous. I walked through the corridors of the school. This afternoon I had to go to Cloudsdale for my flight test. I could only think of my friend from the past. Fleur Flowers. If I failed, I could live with her wherever it was that the failures went. But I knew she wouldn't want me to fail on purpose. She would wish I succeeded. In the meantime I already had some new friends. It was impossible for them to replace Fleur, but it was nice to have somepony. I also didn't want to lose them by being sent away. I knocked on the open door of Professor Pie's classroom. The pink pony looked up and signaled that I could come in. The room was empty and she had been busy refilling her confetti canons. 'Come in, Music Shine. How can I help you?' Asked Pinkie Pie. 'Sorry for disturbing Professor Pie, I was just looking for someone who could help me. I'm quite nervous about my flight test.' I said. 'I would like to help you, but don't you think that you could use some of Rainbow Dash's tips better?' Asked Pinkie. 'I've already heard her tips, I'm just so nervous. I need a way to calm down and be a little more optimistic. Who better to help with that than the element of laughter?' I said. Pinkie was about to answer when there was a voice behind us. 'Don't fail your test!' I turned around. Black Blue stood in the doorway. Professor Pie came to stand before me, protecting me. 'What are you doing here?' She asked Black Blue. 'Oh, I'm not here for you. I just heard your conversation.' Said Black Blue. 'You know that Twilight has banished you from the school grounds. You are a danger to the students. Even after you were expelled from school.' Said Pinkie Pie. 'You really can't stand anything.' Said Black Blue bored. 'You have kicked several students into the hospital. We tried to help you as well as possible with your aggression problems, but you were even proud of it. And after you were expelled from school, you still came back to beat up students. Twilight had no choice. You are a danger to the ponies around you. Be glad you haven't been arrested yet.' Pinkie said. Black Blue sighed irritably. 'I didn't come all the way here for a whole sermon. To be honest, I don't even know why I'm talking to you anymore.' She said. She turned and left the room. Pinkie Pie ran after her and I followed them. 'Where do you think you're going?' Pinkie asked when we were in the hallway. 'I need to speak to Rainbow Dash.' Said Black Blue without turning around. 'I don't think so! You aren't welcome at the school grounds. If you want to speak to Rainbow Dash, just do it somewhere else!' Pinkie said and she ran after Black Blue. Black Blue kicked Pinkie with her rear hooves. Pinkie flew back a some feet and landed just in front of my hooves. Black Blue looked back again. 'Don't fail for your test!' She said cold before she turned again and walked away.

I lay on the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks. How could this have happened? I had done my best. Yet I failed my test. Now I was here with all the other failures. In this cold, ominous room in the Rainbow factory. There were 3 ponies on a small stage. The pony who was talking now clearly was in charge. She kept saying what kind of losers we were. How worthless and horrible we were and how we should be ashamed to even be born. I felt terrible anyway that I had failed, but now I just burst into tears. I was not the only one. Suddenly the pony took off her mask. I knew the light blue pony with the rainbow mane all too well. I couldn't believe it. Rainbow Dash. Professor Dash. Nothing sounded logical in my head. This couldn't be true. She told us how Princess Celestia had given pegasi the responsibility for rainbows. And how the machine could extract the colors from living ponies. Out of the blue she pointed at me with a hoof. 'Her! Take her as an example!' She cried. Before I realized it, I was dragged by a couple of workers. I tried to break free, but it was of no use. I had never been that strong. They hung me on the machine. One of the other ponies on the stage flew towards me. She put her hoof on the handle and looked at me. She pulled off her mask and grinned sadistically. It was Black Blue. No wonder she'd become cold. This place must have done that to her. 'Come on, I was your friend Fleur's best friend. Do you remember? You can't just do this.' I said imploringly. 'What do you think I did with Fleur myself and even with my other friends?' Said Black Blue. I just couldn't understand the truth. Not that I got a lot of time for that. Black Blue pulled the lever and I felt the chains start to wring me. I was briefly blinded by the pain when my back and ribs broke. I screamed. The chains rolled back. I vaguely saw a few ribs sticking through my side. My throat ached from screaming, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. The machine let go of me and I fell down. Pain is the only word I can use to describe that moment. I looked up and the last thing I saw was Black Blue. She laughed sadistically and shouted, 'I told you not to fail.' Before she just continued laughing . Then everything went black.