By the turn of the century, as the Age of Industry engulfs the nation, many ponies are inspired to test the physicality of reality; some even take it to extremes. Cloudsdale was no exception, in fact, in embraced it. Spanning from zeppelin liners to improved industry, which increase the pay raise of every pegasi worker within ten miles of the city, even as far as those living in different cities such as Ponyville and Baltimare. But there is one industrial marvel that would transform history for not just Cloudsdale’s own Weather Factory, but essentially the lives of those assigned to it and those who’ve laid eyes on it since.
“What is taking Mr. Keller so long with those transmitters?” Dr. Kohler said impatiently. The year was 1902, at the very height of the Industrial Revolution. Dr. Kohler was a red stallion Pegasus with a freshly cut brown mane and beard. His black suit with matching red tie was neatly pressed, fresh from the cleaners in town as he looked at the clock in the corridor inside the Cloudsdale Ministry, just outside his office. It was ten past the hour. He was about to storm out, to look for his young assistant when he rushed through the double doors, heavy breathing and swore wings. In his saddlebag were four large electronic devices; mostly power sources.
“Your ten minutes late Keller. Where were you?” Kohler demanded to know.
“I’m sorry sir, the guards outside detained me because my papers weren’t updated.” He panted, his black sleek mane was un-orderly, his white shirt and black vest were ruffled, his tie in disarray and parts of his forest green coat were ill maintained.
“It’s clearly obvious that you woke up late and in desperation to arrive on time, you rushed through several clouds to get the transmitters needed for the project, along with your impeccable timing as the guards where changing shifts. You also failed to update your papers the day before, otherwise you would have been three minutes late instead.” Dr. Kohler had a keen instinct in observation, having once served as a volunteer guard inspector during the war. It was almost second nature to him, hence his cutie mark being a magnifying glass. His tone of voice seemed deep, giving him proper authority over the young colt he called his assistant, almost fatherly to him. “I’ll let this go for now, but I suggest you correct your papers before you return home tonight.” He said in a lighter tone and gestured him into the office.
“Of course Doctor. So, what do we need these transmitters for?” Keller inquired, placing the saddlebag onto a nearby chair.
“As you are aware, Cloudsdale is expanding the weather factory; renovations and additions. As part of the Over watch Committee, I’ve be assigned to increase the production of rainbows, with Celestial Order 42 established, it has fallen to us to produce them.”
“Celestial Order 42?” Keller was confused. Kohler pulled out a copy of the order from his desk and adjusting his reading glasses, started to read.
“ ‘As decreed by her Majesty, Princess Celestia, all responsibility of weather control and production, including the production of rainbows, falls upon the citizens of Cloudsdale.’” He placed the order down and removed his glasses.
“With this order, production of everything aside from rainbows have increased with the latest industrial achievements, and yet we cannot keep up the demands for rainbows. The process is time consuming and antique, manually separating spectra needed to make a single mile. One day, I found this on my desk, left behind by an unknown source.” He soon pulled out a large blueprint bound together with a black ribbon. Laying it on the table, he unfurled the large roll until it nearly covered the entire table. Written on the blue field were schematics for a large machine; standing nearly five meters high with several large canisters, each for a different color vat. Large piston drives next to an opening near the top were exposed to show the simplicity yet complex mechanics of the device. Mathematical notes and diagrams flooded along the sides with a name at the top left corner, from his side anyway.
“ ‘The Pegasus Device’?” Keller pondered at the name. “Who sent this?”
“I’m not sure. It just appeared on my desk, along with a patent from the Royal Inventor’s Guild. It’s even has her majesty’s seal on it. Whoever sent it claims it would increase the Spectra separation, let alone rainbow production by ten fold. They, however failed to mention it’s material needed to produce it.” Kohler further explained. A machine that could solve their very problem of production quotas, but if only they knew what made it work.
“So is that the reason you wanted these transmitters?”
“Yes. I’ll explain it further on our way to the factory.” Kohler left his desk and trotted out the door, followed by the straining assistant and the heavy transmitters.
Cloudsdale was a buzz with life as pegasi went about their business, being almost as noble and sophisticated as its rival Canterlot. Its former shell of a militant city/state reminded its citizens of its glorious past, along with its grand architecture of ancient times. Wagons flew past as the duo traveled towards the west end of the city, where the factory was located, passing clusters of pegasi who have failed flight exams, medical complications or couldn’t find proper work.
“This problem has been increasing for the past two years; our reputation has become a mockery because of it. The city chair has tried everything to either help or remove them by means of work programs through out the country. No matter how we send, twice the number spring back up. Hopefully, this new addition to the factory will solve this.” Kohler looked upon one of the clusters. He couldn’t feel sorry for them, nor could he do anything about it. It wasn’t his place. The two continued to fly by as the local guards arrived to break up the cluster. The remainder of the trip was a quiet one, aside some small chatter about usual topics such as their life outside the Ministry and if they saw the latest performance by the Wonderbolts, now in their sixty-fourth year.
The Weather factory was in full swing, pumping out a collection of dark rain storms destined for Manehatten tomorrow afternoon, but the majority of the noise was coming from the construction of the Rainbow department as Kohler and Keller arrive to the main entrance. There to greet them was the supervisor of the factory, Mr. Gale. The white Pegasus with a blonde mane and tail was in his usual purple suit and top hat, but he wasn’t alone. Alongside him was his daughter Silver Lining; a young filly with matching coat and mane, but with a pinto spot over her left eye. She claims it was a special piece of her, but her father said it was a very rare birth defect from her mother’s side of the family.
“Good Morning Gale.” Kohler’s hooves landed with a thud on the factory cloud floor.
“Morning Doctor. Morning Mr. Keller.” Gale replied with a grin. “You remember your patient, Silver Lining, don’t you?” He turned to the filly.
“Of course. How’s my good girl today?” Kohler gave a comforting smile to the filly. She hid behind Gale’s hind legs. “She still a bit shy, isn’t she?” He chuckled.
“It’s all the construction. She’s worried that she’ll get hurt so she stays beside me when I do inspections.” Gale replied. He soon noticed the transmitters in Keller’s saddlebag. “Ah good, you got the transmitters. I’m sure the current production crews will find it useful. Come in, come in.” He gestured his guests into the factory, away from the loud construction occurring just several yards above them.
“Speaking of production, how is it coming?” Kohler inquired, preparing his response with the blueprints stashed away in his coat jacket.
“Terrible as usual.” Gale replied. Strange, he usually cusses his wings off about the rainbow situation, but with his daughter here, he had to tone it down. “No matter how many unicorn transmitters you send me, it’s still not enough to make a single rainbow, and we’re already months behind.” He stopped by a construction desk set up in the main lobby, littered with papers. “Look at this. This order was needed about five months ago. Five Months!” He lifted one of the papers. “And another ten weeks, five days ago, the list is endless! I’ve harmed my sweet little girl as a result from all the stress trying to make up these orders.” Gale almost seemed to burst into tears, but kept his composure.
“What if I can solve not just your problems, but the entirety of Cloudsdales.” Kohler moved to Gale, his right wing pulling the jacket back to reveal the blueprints.
“Mr. Keller. Come in, come in.” Dr. Kohler was seated behind his desk back at the Cloudsdale Ministry as Mr. Keller entered the room. The clock hanging on the south wall chimed seven at night, just a few days after their little trip to the Factory. The plans had been given to Mr. Gale and was presented to the City chair, which approved the idea and endorsed the entire project.
“How is progress at the factory?” Kohler had just finished a fine meal of wheat, oats and a cupcake for dessert; flown straight from Sugar Cube Corner.
“They just installed the base work for the Pegasus Device, or the Rainbow Machine by the workers, and they say it with high hopes of a larger paycheck in mind.” Keller replied, taking a seat at the desk. He seemed to be himself around Kohler, but kept a professional ideal to his title as the Rainbow Factory Over watch.
“Good, good. It’s quite an achievement, finally finding a solution to a seemingly endless problem, and yet its only a small victory. We still have to ponder on what to do with the increasing number of flight exam failures, medically unstable and good for nothing slackers that are tainting our city’s fine stature.” Kohler turned to face the window, looking past the city roofs to the weather factory. The construction had stopped for the night, but would resume by morning’s light.
“I’ve spoken with Mr. Gale today, and he’s still upset.”
“About production?”
“No. It’s his little girl. He’s worried that she’ll fail her flight exam this weekend, no matter how many times she’s learned. He doesn’t want her to suffer on the streets or random clouds alongside the other failures. I was wondering if I could do anything to help her, even if it means abandoning my post for the afternoon shift.” Keller implied. Kohler wanted to object, but he didn’t. Silver Lining felt like a niece to him and he’ll be damned if she failed, not to mention Gale was a close friend of his since they were in flight school and served as scouts during the war.
“Very well. I’ll let you take an afternoon off to help her train for the exam, and I’ll oversee the work.” He replied.
“Thank you sir. I’ll get there first thing in the morning to get it started.” Keller wanted to cheer, but again, his professionalism prevented him to. Kohler simply smiled as he took a bite out of the cupcake.
“I’m sure she’ll do grand at her exam.” He thought to himself.
The next morning, construction continued once again, with great progress. Steel pipes lead from the work sight into another chamber in the main facility, where the Spectra obtained from the Rainbow machine would be fused to make the rainbows. White thick walls slowly rose from the cloud basins as cranes lifted the heavy machinery piece by piece.
“Careful! If a single piece is damaged beyond simple repairs, it’s coming out of your pay!” A fore mare shouted through a megaphone. The work was long and gruesome, but in the end, it would all be worth it. In their minds, all they thought was the massive pay from the project and how they would spend it. Keller stood by, clipboard in hoof as he read through the reports. He turned to the fore mare as she continued to shout orders. Her cyan coat and deep blue mane glistened in the sun, and she was expecting.
“So, Mrs. Dash, when do expect the new addition to our fine city?” Keller asked. She turned to him.
“They say a few weeks, but I still believe a good five months or so. I still got plenty of work in me to keep this afloat.” She replied. Keller had known Sky Dash for some time now, and having lost her husband in the war, she was alone to raise two soon to be three young ponies. Both of them had passed the flight exams and had found work in Filidelphia and Manehatten, living the sweet life in hotel suites. She was a hard worker in the snow flake floor of the factory and was assigned as work chief during the construction.
“I can see that.”
“My answer is still no Mr. Keller.” She abruptly replied. For a good month now, Keller was trying to hit on Sky Dash to help raise the expected, but in reality, he just wanted to have his way with her, being lonely for fifteen years. “Besides, your not my type. I’ve dealt with ponies who’ve tried for me, only to end up with broken wings.”
“I do apologize for all my other attempts, just desperation that’s all.” he tried to cover his little ‘problem’ just as a shout came from the crew below. One of the canisters for the Spectra had come off its supports and crashed onto the base, killing a worker and injuring another.
“CRAP!” the injured Pegasus shouted, his left front leg had snapped into two from the shear weight of the canister, and the impact had broken in clean off. Blood stained the cloud floor as the two flew down to assets the situation.
“What happened?” Sky Dash asked.
“One of the bolts came loose and flew off, puncturing the support cables on the lift. Sent the whole thing down on me and Duster.” He explained. Duster was an old stallion, worked the factory for nearly fifty years and was going to retire in just three days. “Does this mean I’m off the team?” He asked. Pegasi on the construction team worked to get their pay. If they were injured on the job, they lost that pay or even their job. Work on the Rainbow floor was dangerous work, with the Device installment and pipe work leading throughout the factory.
“I’m sorry Butch, but your off the team. Best get your last check and get better soon. I’ll try and get you back on the hailstone team, if that’s fine with you.” Dash replied, lending a helping hoof.
“Thanks Sky. Keep the check, It should go into repairing that canister.” He looked to the fallen metal vat. No pony seemed to care about the dead pony underneath and continued on their work. By high noon, Kohler arrived to take over for Keller. Sky Dash seemed to distrust him, but he was her boss.
“Good afternoon Mrs. Dash. I trust your doing well.” Kohler gestured his hoof in a welcoming pose. She brushed him off with her wing and returned to work.
“Ever since I gave her the news about her husband, she’s been giving me that evil glare and it only got worse when I told her about her baby filly.” Kohler sighed in disbelief.
“Filly?”
“Yes. She’s expected you know.”
“Yes, I knew. We were once sweethearts but in our youth, but she wasn’t much for ‘my type’.” He mocked her voice to almost perfection. Kohler chuckled, then looked at his watch.
“Don’t you have a young student to teach?” He hinted.
“Oh, right. I promised Silver Lining I’d help her for her exam. Have a good day sir.” Keller took off in a dash, heading east towards the Cloudsdale coliseum.
“What kept you, Mr. Keller?” Silver asked, her voice as sweet as an angel. She was waiting at the steps of the west entrance, her father sitting nearby. Keller landed gracefully before her.
“Thank you so much for helping my little girl Mr. Keller.” Gale was grateful that he would have the rest of the afternoon to get some much needed rest. His eyes had bags under them, probably from little or no sleep and to the increasing amount of stress.
“Not a problem, Mr. Gale. I hope you’ll be in better condition for the test next weekend?”
“Yes.” He turned to his daughter. “Now be a good girl and listen to your mentor, alright? I’m going to get some much needed rest in Ponyville this afternoon.”
“Okay daddy. I love you.”
“I love you too sweet heart.” Gale kissed her on her cheek and took off to Ponyville, which was only a few hours away. The two waved him off until he disappeared over the cloud line, then Keller turned to her.
“Alright, before we start, could you remind me what you learned? It’s been a while since I took mine.” Keller asked. Silver explained everything she had learned, to the point as they entered the coliseum.
The day of the exam had arrived, and every pony from Silver’s school was there, including their families and friends. Before the factory, social event such as the young pegasi final exam was an important part to a family; it basically decided their fates in life and within their family connection. The exam was the basic routines for weather clearing, and was easy to remember, even later on in their lives to pass on to their children: ‘Clear, Fly, Fall, Complete.’ One by one, the young pegasi took the exams as their families watched with anticipation. Mr. Gale, Keller, Kohler and Sky Dash were there, supporting Silver as she approached the starting point.
“May Celestia guide her.” Gale murmured under his breath. Despite how many times Keller and Kohler assured him, he still worried. With the wave of a flag, Silver was off in perfect speed. Within seconds, she had cleared the first stage of the test, then the second, and finally third. Cheers from her classmates echoed, well those who had passed anyway. When she had finished, she landed before the judges and awaited their response to her performance.
“Excellent performance, Miss Silver Lining. I’m sure your father will be proud to know that you have passed with flying colors, and in record time to boot.” One of the judges replied, handing her a certificate.
“Mr. Gale. She passed.” Keller turned to the stallion, who had buried his head incase the worse was to come.
“She did?” He moved his right hoof aside, then gave a sigh of relief. Silver flew up to them, showing off her certificate with pride.
“Did you see that? They said I flew with flying colors, almost like a rainbow.” She smiled. Something in Gale’s mind snapped.
“Rainbows? The Factory!” He shouted, then rushed out in break-neck speed.
“Keller, stay with her. I’ll go after him.” Kohler replied, trying to comfort the suddenly startled filly. Sky Dash stayed with Keller as well as Kohler quickly gave chase. At the factory, disaster had struck. Large vats of Spectra had spilled all over the place from a freak accident, leaving Gale floating above the mess. Down trotted, Gale left the floor and into the lobby, where Kohler waited for him.
“It’s all gone. Ten months of hard work, gone in seconds. Ruined.” Gale sulked to the cloud floor. “ My life is ruined! I was to have a rainbow ready for Manehatten after the storm tomorrow morning, and now-” He paused, fearing the consequences.
“Perhaps its time we put the machine to the test, don’t you agree?” Kohler replied. The work on the factory at the time was almost completed; the device fully installed and ready to go, its vat pipes leading to the factory floor behind them. What made it different was the dark clouds forming the walls of the facility, separate from the rest of the white building.
“All volunteers are to report to the Rainbow Factory for a work opportunity!” A Cloudsdale guard shouted to the clusters of unemployed, failed and medically complicated pegasi. Hundreds rushed to the chance of work, mainly the failed and unemployed, Cloudsdale society was rough, but it wasn’t cruel to its medically challenged; Kohler believed the injured and medically unstable needed a second chance at life, wither they passed, failed, or never took the test.
“How much is the pay?” One asked, a young colt by the sound of his voice.
“Everything will be explained at the factory.” The guard replied.
“Are you absolutely sure this is correct?” Kohler was talking to one of the engineers before the built machine. Conveyer belts and chains dangled above the massive opening of the device, over several rows of sharp razor blade like screws. This seemed as a extreme safety hazard, even to Cloudsdale standards. They were standing on the scaffolding above the machine.
“We followed the design perfectly.” He explained. Keller shortly arrived. “Very well then, just don’t say this to a single soul. The last thing we need is a panic in our hooves, and you know how fast word spreads throughout the country.”
“Of course Doctor.” He saluted and flew off, leaving him to tend to Keller.
“What’s going on?”
“Keller. I’m afraid we’ve created the perfect solution.” Kohler replied.
“Afraid? I thought you’d be overjoyed. We’d finally take care of the increasing cluster problem, to save our reputation.”
“That’s just it. I had a little chat with the engineers and scientists who worked on the device, and-” He paused.
“And?”
“The only way to get Spectra, for the rainbows, is though ponies.” Kohler finished.
“That’s it?” Keller chuckled. “Sure, it goes through ponies. The unicorns use their magic to fill the transmitters with Spectra and we deliver it here.”
“You seem to be missing the point. The Machine uses ponies to separate it! It kills ponies!” Kohler shouted, but quietly so no one could here. Keller’s smile soon disappeared.
“And we’re going through with it!? We have to tell the City chair!”
“We can’t. They knew this long before the machine arrived.” Kohler said.
“What do you mean?” Keller inquired. Kohler took a deep breath.
“The plans came from the City chair. They told me to keep quiet about this until the time was right, and this is the time. Mr. Gale was fully aware of this, that’s why he was worried about his daughter failing the exam. Mrs. Dash was kept unaware to keep it quiet as well. They bribed her with a house over Ponyville, far away from here and she took it.” Kohler explained. Keller was speechless. He had helped create a death trap for hundreds of failures and unemployed and for what, to keep up rainbow productions. He turned to the door nearby and rushed towards it, in hopes of warning them.
“Keller, Stop!” Kohler said, the click of a gun hammer echoing the room. Keller froze above the machine opening, then slowly turned. A service pistol aimed at his head. “I’m sorry Keller. You were such a fine colt. You had such potential for something greater, and we can’t let you ruin our reputation.”
“….”
“It was either me or you. They entrusted me because of my experience during the war, I could handle death, I could handle the screams and agony of others. I’ve treated you like a son, but even children can’t keep quiet forever.” He turned his head and pulled the trigger.
“Daddy, why are we here in the factory. I thought I wasn’t suppose to be here.” Silver asked, her hoof being dragged by Gale’s. The duo entered the scaffolding above the machine, where Kohler was waiting for them. Silver screamed when she saw the body of Mr. Keller, blood dripping into the opening.
“What’s going on?! What happened to Uncle Keller?”
“Honey, What you will see and hear must never leave this theater, understand? Daddy has to do this.” Gale knelt before her, trying to calm her. Kohler stashed his pistol away and pulled out a bottle and a rag.
“Now, Doctor Kohler is going to put you to sleep, so you don’t have to witness this, alright? Just stay calm and still.” Gale said. Frighten, Silver shook her head in agreement and allowed Kohler to cover her muzzle with the rag. Within minutes, her eyes closed and she gently collapsed onto the scaffolding.
“It does contain Amnesia, correct?” Gale asked.
“Yes. She won’t remember anything, only her name, her age, and all memories prior to today. I use it on patients who want to forget certain events in their lives.” Kohler replied. Gale looked over the edge to the opening, then back to him.
“Take good care of her, Maxis.” Confused, Kohler watched as Gale approached the edge and keeping his wings shut, fell over into the opening. The Device roared to life just as he hit the screws head first. Kohler simply watched, first in horror then with no remorse whatsoever. He looked to the dead body of Keller and the sleeping Silver, and he knew what had to be done.
The volunteers flooded the theater before the giant machine, in curiosity and excitement. While this was happening, they never noticed the doors behind them being sealed shut and the sudden appearance of ponies in black uniforms and gasmasks armed with electric riot control rods. Kohler was now donning the attire of the guards, but without the masks as he approached a podium placed directly above the opening. He looked down upon the large group and began his speech.
“Mares and Colts, welcome to the Rainbow Factory. No doubt you know why you’re here; your going to help us make Rainbows…”