Everyone had a full stomach and was thrilled, especially Kakashi, to see this new world. After a tour around Ponyville, stopping only for Celestia and Luna to yell at The Flim Flam brothers for making fun of Twilight. Especially since Twilight was now an Alicorn, it made them even madder. Everypony bowed to Twilight, but she gave them the same speech she gave her friends at the library, to which everypony apologized. "That was fun, especially seeing them brothers run like scared little foals" Rock Lee said, "So where are we going now?"
Twilight smiled. "The home of all the pegasi, Cloudsdale." This put a bright smile on the muzzles of Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, for they took off quicker than you can say "Princess Luna".
"Come on slowpokes, time to show you how awesome the place I, excuse me Pinkie, we live is." Dash said as they speed off. Twilight gave Rarity and Applejack some Gossamer butterfly wings, since they promised not to fly too close to the sun, and gave them a spell which enabled them to walk on the clouds for 24 hours. When they finally caught up with Dash and Pinkie, the ninja were stunned.
"Wow, this place is awesome!" Sakura remarked, "I do have a question, how are we able to walk on the clouds instead of falling straight through them?"
"You silly filly," Pinkie said, "it is the special ability all Pegasi have. We can walk, or as my Dashie likes to do, sleep on clouds. Everything here is made of them, the streets, Wonderbolt Coliseum, the businesses, houses, everything."
"Speaking of which, we need to see about moving your things to our house." Dash commented, "We are now engaged afterall."
"Okie Dokie Loki, we will do that soon" Pinkie beamed with a smile that threatened to tear her face in half.
"I'm curious, did you say you can sleep on clouds?" Killer B asked trotting up by Pinkie.
"Yes I did, once you sleep on a dream cloud, you will want to do it all the time. It is the most comfortable pillow there is and I guarantee that it will be the best nights rest you will ever have, unless you tick off Luna, then you will have nightmares all night long since she is over dreams as well." Pinkie's response made Luna smile and caused all the ninja to agree to never get on Luna's bad side, they didn't want to have nightmares.
"So what is that building in the distance?" Might Guy asked after the tour was completed, raising a hoof at a building that stood by itself and had rainbows coming out of it.
"That my friends," Dash coolly said, "is where I work and Pinkie does from time to time. That is the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation and I am the manager. We are responsible for all of Equestria's weather. Since all of you are my closest friends, I am going to tell you what us at the factory call it...we call it the "Rainbow Factory". Also, since all of you are Pegasi, you are gonna have to take the flight exam, and for the love of God," tears started forming in her eyes, "please...don't...fail... Those that fail have never been seen around Ponyville ever again." Just then, a wagon flew over their heads heading for the factory.
"Looks like some more failures are arriving, right on schedule.." Dash, and even Pinkie, thought to themselves.
"Can we go visit? Since you are the manger, you can give us a full tour." Naruto asked not knowing the perdictiment he just put the mare in.
"I really don't want them to go there, there is a reason why Pinkie and the princesses are the only ponies outside of the factory to know the truth. This is an unexpected stop, but if I say no then they will suspect that I am hiding something." Dash thought to herself before answering. "Umm...well...ok, but only the lower factory, the upper floor is off limits to anypony who is not a worker, even the Princesses are not allowed in." She told the others.
"Unless we get a search warrant in the event we hear something illegal is going on." Luna replied.
Dash then pulled Luna away from the group and got close to Luna's ear and talked in such a low whisper that only she could hear."You know the rule, and we control the weather, keep that in mind before all of Ponyville gets buried in a blizzard this winter. Are we clear?"
"Yeah Dash we are." Luna said knowing she didn't stand a chance when it came to weather.
"Good, remember, remove the horn off an Alicorn and you are left looking at a Pegasus... and what happens to the failures?" Dash added reiterating her point.
"Oh...I know" The navy alicorn then slightly dropped her head admitting defeat. Once they rejoined the group, they went to the factory. They all stood there in awe at the glistening walls and floors, which were also clouds. At the entrance above the reception desk was a giant version of the CWC logo. After showing them the lower floor, Dash wanted her friends to see her office since this was their first visit there, besides Pinkie and the princesses, and that was with good reason, but it was on the Upper Floor.
"Want to see my office?" Dash asked.
"Sure" The others replied in unison.
"Follow me then, but first I got to get something, stay here." She went into a side room in the lobby and after a few minutes reemerged wearing a white lab coat and some black rimmed safety goggles, which were designed like her flight goggles. On the lab coat was a badge with her picture and the words "Rainbow Dash: Manager." Her new look gave everypony an uneasy feeling.
"Sorry, but when workers go to the Upper Floor we have to wear safety goggles, but since you are my guests, you don't have to since we should only be up there for a few minutes. Now would you all stay together as a group and follow me, and no wondering off, you could get hurt." Dash told them. They walked down a corridor and reached the elevator. After doing a body and badge scan of Dash, the doors opened and they all went inside. The ride took 10 minutes and when the doors opened, the workers were terrified at the sight of the Princesses. After explaining why they were there, the workers calmed down. They walked down a dark and muggy corridor until they reached a door. On it was the words that were on Dash's badge, the door slowly opened and the light from inside the room lit up the corridor. Once inside, she shut the door and made sure they all were accounted for. The size of the office was massive, measuring 30 feet square. The walls were lined with pictures, bookshelves, and blueprints. There was a good sized desk and chair in the middle of the room with a computer screen on it and the back wall was one large window overlooking Cloudsdale. After looking around a bit, Twilight found the orientation book, she opened the cover and read out loud:
"Now a Rainbow's tale isn't quite as nice;
as the story we know of sugar and spice
It's really quite easy once you get to know it,
with the help of the magic of our Pegasus Device
Now let's delve deeper into Rainbow philosophy;
far beyond that of Cloudsdale's mythology
It's easy to misjudge this floating city,
with it's alluring decor and social psychology
But with all great things come a great responsibility,
that of Cloudsdale's being weather stability
How, you ask, are we up to the task?
To which the answer is in this simple facility
In the Rainbow Factory, where your fears and horrors come true
In the Rainbow Factory, where not a single soul gets through
For they have proven to themselves and to all of us
they are not meant to fly like a Pegasus
They don't deserve those wings they bear
When they stand beside a legend they don't even compare
All the failures help to fuel success
In the bloody and visceral game of chess
And since they disappointed they must pay the price
And accept their fate and die in the Pegasus Device
In the Rainbow Factory, where your fears and horrors come true
In the Rainbow Factory, where not a single soul gets through
In the Rainbow Factory, where failures pay their toll
Now that I've awoken, I'm taking back control"
"What does this mean Dash?" Twi asked.
Dash immediately looked scared, she was trapped and had no way to escape. She knew she had to tell the truth. "Well...you see.." Before she could explain, a young pegasus mare bust through the door out of breath.
"Um, boss.." It said, the mare had an orange coat and purple mane. When Applejack and Rarity recognized who it was, they both felt ill.
"What is it Scootaloo? I have guests here, you better make it quick." Dash said in an authoritve tone.
"You see, we have a situation. The next batch of raw materials got delayed due to a broken wheel, but they just arrived." Scootaloo said while slightly trembling.
"Good, I will be there in a minute sis." Scootaloo then left the room before Dash continued to talk. "Fine, I'm gonna show you what that song in the book meant, but you have to not tell another soul. This is the reason I begged you not to fail y'all's fight exams."