The Second Chance

by Dark Sparkle

1: The Whole Truth

H8 Seed, closing his eyes from the bright sun, stepped carefully along the soft grass. A light breeze fluttered his darkened yellow mane and H8 Seed pretty spread his wings. Feeling of indescribable joy came over him from head to toe. He got out. He did it. The terrible Rainbow Factory left behind. He will never come back thither.

H8 Seed sighed with relief, and then stopped and looked around. He widely opened his eyes. It was so beautiful here. The grass, the trees, the clouds, the birds were singing. How long has he not seen it all.

H8 Seed looked back. There was visible far Rainbow Factory. He quickly turned away, not wanting to know more of this place. There, he saw only dark walls and heard the terrible operating sound of mechanisms. H8 Seed shook his head, driving away bad memories. He knew that Glaze will be looking for him, therefore he needed as soon as possible to get away from this place. Need to hide.

And H8 Seed ran. He was running so fast that it was impossible him to follow. The leaves rustled under his hooves, expansion in different directions, and a strong wind fluttered mane.

At last H8 Seed stopped to rest. Veil blanketed his eyes, he would collapse down from fatigue, but he forced himself with an effort to look back. Factory was no longer visible. He closed his eyes with relief. Now to Glaze will be difficult to find him. As long as he's safe. But something told to H8 Seed, that this not for long. Only now he realized that he was very tired. He lay down and fell asleep.

H8 Seed woke up, because he heard the noise of the wings. He opened his eyes and looked around. To him landed a stranger white pegasus. Loud flapping wings, he carefully sank to the ground. H8 Seed in all eyes stared at him. Stranger is friendly nodded for him and held out a hoof. H8 Seed recoiled in embarrassment, but then held out his own. So they stood silently, staring at each other until the stranger at last broke the silence:

- " Hello! " - He greeted, shaking hoof of H8 Seed. - " Who are you and whence? You looks .... - A stranger thought, searching the right word. - Strange. " - He finally said.
- " I have never seen you before. Where do you live? Are you from Cloudsdale? Of course whence could you be if you are pegasus and we are now in this place. "
- " Do you have friends? If not, then I can be your friend. Adore new friends! "
- " Can you fly well? I am very. If not, I can teach you. You have such weird wings, are you can fly on them? "
- " And where is your tail? Are you tailless? " - The stranger laughed, but when he saw formidable glance of H8 Seed, directed at him, stopped.

H8 Seed was shocked from such a large number of questions. To him nobody never asked so many of them. Meanwhile, unfamiliar pegasus still went on talking, and asking questions. H8 Seed realized that this pony is very cheerful and sociable, and though now he is very annoying, H8 Seed liked it. Maybe they will become friends?

" I never had friends! " - He thought with horror, but decided not to say it out loud.

H8 Seed could answer any question of stranger, it was not difficult, but the last question forced H8 Seed to jump in place:
- " And do you have a job? Where do you work? "
H8 Seed shuddered and swallowed excruciatingly. He said nothing, and continued to look at the stranger.
" But you know the answer! " - Mentally, he told himself.
The one with surprise looked at H8 Seed, but said nothing, but H8 Seed understood that pegasus guessed that something was wrong.

- " Well," - said at last pegasus. - " Enough questions with you! Perhaps you already tired of my questions, do you? "
H8 Seed sighed with relief. At last! He was about to answer, that yes, you're already sick of, stop asking questions, but did not dare to offend him. They can become friends. H8 Seed smiled and said:
- " No, of course not. It's okay. Of course we can be friends. Yes, I'm from Cloudsdale, and I know how to fly, do not hesitate. Not worse than you! "
- " Then will arrange sometime flight competition! " - A fun shouted stranger and jumped, making upheaval in the air. H8 Seed opened his mouth in surprise, and pegasus smiled joyfully.

- " By the way, I forgot to introduce myself! " - He waved his tail shyly and proudly said: - " My name is A Blu Skittle, but my friends usually call me just Skittle. I am considered one of the best fliers in Cloudsdale. Everyone knows me. This is so cool to be known. So many fans, and all of them love you and respected. But do not think I'm bragging, I'm just really happy. And what's your name? "

- " I? I'm H8 Seed. " - He squeezed out of himself. He did not know why, but he did not want to call his name to Skittle.
- " H8 Seed? " - Surprised Skittle. - " The strange name! Well it does not matter! " - He smiled. - " So you have a job or not? " - He asked again.

H8 Seed knew that Skittle will ask him that question. He knew he must say. All ponies must learn about the horrors of the Rainbow Factory. The only way to put an end to this madness. One he can not cope.

H8 Seed knew it will be not easy, because all the ponies think that Rainbow Factory - nice and kind place where with magical unknown way is produced ​​a rainbow. If they only knew what is really going on in the walls of this Factory!

H8 Seed did ​​a deep breath and looking at Skittle, said calmly:
- " I'm from the Rainbow Factory, " - then he added quietly: - " Ran away. " And H8 Seed confusedly looked at Skittle.
Skittle opened his mouth in surprise. He stood and looked at H8 Seed and his smile with every second, more and more increasing. Point he gleefully blurted:
- " You're from the Rainbow Factory? Cool! It's the most famous place in Cloudsdale. Glaze together with his assistants produces the best rainbow. And you worked there! " - Skittle hopped in place of joy.
- " How does it feel - to make a rainbow? Perhaps this is a complicated process? "

H8 Seed did not want to overshadow a good mood of his new friend, but he knew that he must tell the truth. Skittle should know. If he will believe, then there is still hope for a win.
- " Skittle you do not know the truth. " - He said sadly. - " Rainbow Factory - is an eerie place. "
- " What? " - From surprise Skittle even sat down.
- " Yes, " - continued H8 Seed. - " Wicked merciless place. We kill ponies, and from their colors make a rainbow! It's just a nightmare! " - H8 Seed shuddered from eerie memories, but continued:
- " Here, look at my robe, it splattered with the blood of innocent ponies! I'm so tired of all this, that I decided to escape. Now Glaze looking for me, I can not stay here. I know I'm already far from the Factory, but Glaze will not rest until he finds me. "
- " Now you know everything. " - He finished sadly.

Skittle look at H8 Seed with surprise. It seemed he just could not believe all that is heard. H8 Seed thought with horror that his new friend may find him crazy and run away from him, but Skittle not budge. Finally he blurted out awkwardly, stroking his mane:
- " So that's why, when I saw you, you seemed strange to me. You were a little ... " - He thought. - " Dirty! "
Having seen that H8 Seed displeased narrowed his eyes, Skittle shyly mumbled:
- " No offense. It was just a joke. I did not mean to offend you. "
- " Fact that you told me is true? You do not fool me, right? " - Asked hopefully Skittle.

H8 Seed was standing and sadly looked at his new friend. Did he not believe him? What to do now? It's over, he has no more hope of winning over the Rainbow Factory. One he will never manage. He needs help.
- " I would not deceive you, " - whispered H8 Seed, closing his eyes. - " You're my only friend, the other I have ever had. "
Skittle quietly gasped in surprise, and H8 Seed continued:
- " I thought you were believe me and help me, because one I can not handle with the Rainbow Factory. I want to help all the ponies, to save them from death. I just want peace and joy in Cloudsdale and at last return to normal life. Live like the rest of the ponies. This is my dream. "
- " Okay, " - H8 Seed turned and went the other way. - " I need to find someone else or to try yourself. "
Staring at outgoing friend Skittle seems understood all. His touched words of H8 Seed and how sad he was talking about it. Skittle knew that he must help him. He knew - H8 Seed told the truth.

Skittle caught up with H8 Seed. The one looked uncomprehendingly at him.
- " Wait, do not go away! " - Skittle asked for pleadingly. - " Where are you going? I believe you, really! I will help you! " - And he handed H8 Seed his hoof.
H8 Seed looked long at Skittle. He believed! He will help! H8 Seed was so happy as he has not been ever. He held out his hoof to Skittle and gratefully said:
- " Thank you! "
Skittle gleefully jumped up and said cheerfully:
- " Friends should always help. Besides, to you now need help. We have to save all the ponies, but one we can not cope. "
- " And what should we do now? " - Asked H8 Seed. - " Who else can we tell about this, that this story did not scare other ponies, causing panic, but rather encouraged them to battle? Who in the Cloudsdale not afraid of anything and is willing to go to any war? Who lead the rest of us? "

Skittle smiled enigmatically and whispered:
- " There is one. Impossible not to know him. He is the most daring and fearless in Cloudsdale. And wars by the way he loves. The more, the better. Strange one. Who likes to fight? Well, but if he will believe us, we will be able to get rid of the Rainbow factory! "
- " Well, who is it? " - Asked uncomprehendingly H8 Seed, screwing up his eyes.
- " Do not you know? " - Surprised Skittle. - " Well, " - he smiled cheerfully. - " You have not been in Cloudsdale for long, so you did not see him. This is our main pony - Fearless Whirlwind. He definitely will help us. But he's pretty stubborn, can not immediately believe it. Will be difficult to persuade him, though it regards wars. "
- " It does not matter! " - Waved away H8 Seed. - " We will can! We go to him rather, " - and H8 Seed ran, but turning round, he saw that Skittle did not run after him, and remained standing.

.- " What happened? " - Asked anxiously H8 Seed.
- " Um, you're running the wrong way, " - said Skittle awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot. - " This is there! " - And he waved his tail in the opposite direction.
- " Oh, I'm sorry! " - Confused H8 Seed, turning to the side, which showed Skittle. He felt that now burn down with shame.
- " Nothing terrible, do not apologize! " - Fun smiled Skittle. - " You do not know the way, to the same, you're tired. Just follow me, - and he went ahead, calling with his tail H8 Seed to follow him. H8 Seed smiled cheerfully and went with his friend, forward, to the Fearless Whirlwind, to their last hope for victory.

- " You have failed me! " - In furiousness screamed Glaze, loudly stamping his foot, and throwing all around. He all was just seething from anger. It seemed that from his anger now will crack walls of the factory. He had never been so angry.

In the opposite side, on the floor, was lying Joe - one of the best workers of the Rainbow Factory. Curled up, he crawled away closer to the wall, and with fear in his eyes looked at Glaze, directing to him.