//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - The Unicorn of the Sky // Story: Violet Skies // by Fluttersnake31 //------------------------------// The Unicorn of the Sky In recent news, the strange hooded pony still on the loose. Will his vigilante actions be stopped soon, or has Canterlot really lost control of it's crime? Continued on Pg 3... Last week's Gala was as eventful as ever, with Princess Flurry Heart arriving and causing a ruckus with her aunt. Is Princess Twilight a bad aunt, letting Pinkie Pie watch the filly alicorn?... Cloudsdale hires new assistant manager.... 'Ugh, there's never anything good in these anymore. ' A lavender colored mare thought to herself as she sat in a bus chariot. She set the newspaper down onto the empty seat beside her and glanced over the side. It was just another day, heading back to work. The weekend was over, so she was returning to Cloudsdale from her home in Canterlot. Sure, she really didn't like having to travel back and forth every weekend just to see her father, but at least the Weather Corporation paid for her flights. It's now close to her three month mark with her new job and she was starting to get bored with it. All her life, she wanted to build clouds to put in the sky. It was always odd, being a unicorn with such a dream, but she never really cared about what other ponies had to say. Already proficient in crafting simple clouds, she went to a specialized school for weather inclined ground ponies. Now, she was never top of her class or anything like that, but she still passed with honors and immediately was granted a job at the factory. Her first day on the job was rather upsetting though, as she was assigned to a dead branch of weather research: Aerial Weaponry. There were only two other ponies in the department; a green pegasus that smelled like he bathed in applesauce, and a tall skinny teal mare that had an unkempt blue mane that looked like she'd cut several strands, making the ends distinctly uneven. Neither of the two really ever did anything except sleep, so she never really worked on anything real yet. Although, she did suggest adding a taser to the individual weather suits, to protect them from Everfree monsters. However, her manager, a large white stallion that always wore shades, just seemed to laugh and walk away. She swore she'd seen him write that down in his notebook though... With a gentle bounce, she felt the long chariot land in front of the factory. Reaching into her saddlebag, she pulled out a small bottle of little tablets. Spilling out one onto her hoof, she swallowed the pill and slowly headed to the back of the chariot where everypony was stepping off. Her body began to feel lighter as the tablet's effects kicked in. She never needed magic to walk on clouds with those little things. They were issued to all non pegasus employees, even if they were a unicorn. Apparently they thought cloud walking spells were too complicated for just anyone to use. Stepping onto the cloud she began to head to the side door that led straight to her department's bay. Supposedly there was a CEO inspection today, so nopony was allowed to enter the main doors. The door was cold as usual, leading into the dimly lit bay where her co-workers sat at a table, surprisingly both being awake. It was a bit earlier than normal, she'd figure they would be asleep. "'Ello Vi'let. Ya' need to sweep up the bay b'fore the big boss gets ta' us." the green pegasus said, sitting up. He was groggy and had bags under his eyes. Violet sighed. She'd figured neither of them would get up, so she levitated the broom over to herself and began to sweep. "So, Gat, Morri, how were your guys' weekends?" she asked politely. Morri just sort of turned in her chair, ignoring the question and staring at a mirror that hung on the wall. Gat just shrugged and watched Violet sweep. "I was up all night." was all he'd say. "Well, must be exciting. Why were you up all night? Partying with your friends?" Violet didn't think he had friends outside of this place, but she was giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he had a crazy social life? It'd explain all his sleeping. "No, I was thinking. Why 'ern't we paid as much as them fancy cloud-makers? We always sittin' here n' doing nothing. I'm s'pposed to be makin' fightin' things to protect ponies. They don' give us any stuff ta' build things with. Can't build with no ideas or material." Gat said, staring straight at Violet. That's probably the most intelligent thing she's ever heard him say, although, he doesn't talk much as it is. Violet finished sweeping the dirt into a pile. "Wow, you couldn't sleep cause of that? I've only been here a few months, and I understand. It's boring, not doing anything. I'm not even sure if they can really have me in this position. I'm not qualified in making weapons. I make clouds, but their positions are full. I just have to hope that a spot opens up soon." Gat just rolled his eyes. "Well ain't you lucky. There's nothin' down here for us two, an' it's drivin' me insane. If ah' could just tell off that jerk, Cloudy Blitz. He don' care bout this job, an' he ain't even here half the time." Violet chuckled, "Well, why don't we tell the CEO? I know she probably doesn't care about making weapons, but surely she'll give us something to do. She's the Princess's friend, right? I bet she's nice." As if a light turned on above his head, Gat jumped up. "Perfect! She'll be comin' here too! I'm gonna tell her!" Just then, there was a bell from the elevator that led to the more busier second floor, where the majority of the major departments worked. The doors slid open and the rainbow maned mare stepped out. Rainbow's mane was a short cut, somewhat similiar to the wonderbolt Spitfire, and she wore a tie. Two pegasai on each of her sides wore full tuxes though. The older mare still never really cared to be super formal. She smiled and entered the bay. Morri stood and Violet set the broom against the wall. "I apologize, Ms.-" Violet started. "Dash. Rainbow Dash. You can call me by my name. So where's all the cool weapons and stuff? There's literally nothing in here. Unless that dust pile is like some kinda' magic laser dust. That'd be so cool!" the CEO interrupted. Violet glanced at the dust pile and back at Dash. "Um, well. We don't really have any weapons. Or anything really. I did suggest adding a taser to the field suits though." Rainbow stared at her. Wasn't a weapons department supposed to... Make weapons? Not that she really wanted to make any, but Rainbow was hoping for something exciting to end her inspection with. "So, you're telling me that we haven't made anything? At all? Where is Cloud Blitz? Isn't he in charge of you three?" she said, getting rather upset. Morri replied this time, still staring blankly at Rainbow Dash. "Ma'am, Blitz isn't here. He's at home. He doesn't work on Mondays." Rainbow's brow furrowed. She would have to talk to him when he returned, with the new assistant manager starting soon, everything had to look good. This department was a mess! "Alright, when was your last real project? I can't have a department committed to," she glanced around the room, unsure of what they would even do all day, "committed to doing nothing. You, you're new right?" she pointed at Violet. The mare in question nodded. "Yes, I'm Violet Dawn. I specialize in making clouds. I was sent here because the cloud department was full. And because I never took the Everfree Anomalies classes, which would've at least let me be an apprentice to the cloud experimenters." Rainbow's expression softened a little as she began to think. "So, if you're good at making clouds, why don't you make a cloud related weapon? I just need you three to make something before my assistant makes her inspection in a month. If you come up empty hooved, I'm just going to get rid of this department. Anyways, Equestria doesn't need any weapons right now anyways, so if you three want to keep your job, you might want to make something cool enough to catch my attention." she turned around, heading for the exit but was stopped by Gat. "Ms. Dash, we ain't got no stuff to make things with. How's we gonna make something without machines n' stuff like the other departm'nts?" he said quickly, standing between her group and the elevator. Rainbow smiled. "Well, I suppose I can send some extra stuff down here. Alright, take the next three days off and try and come up with some ideas. I'll have everything you need here when you come back. I'll even cater to your talents. Now, I must be going, I'm visiting a friend today." And with that, Gat stepped out of the way, smiling more than Violet has ever seen him do before. Rainbow left with a smile, giving Violet a little hope that their CEO was leaving on a good note. Gat excitedly ran to the break room to grab his things and flew out the door, heading home. Morri sighed, turning to Violet. "So, we're going to lose our jobs unless you can make something. Good luck with that." Violet glared. "Hey, at least we'll be doing something now. I'm not the only one who can make things, I don't know a thing about weapons, so you have to help to." "Yeah. Just don't get Gat's hopes up to much. If you let him down, he'll probably kill you. He's been here a long, long time with nothing to do. I'm sure he's not going to be stable if you fail him." Morri said coldly as she turned to leave. Violet frowned. She never really liked Morri to begin with. That mare's negativity could drive a pony crazy. "Well, we won't fail. Even if we don't get your help, we'll figure something out. I bet he's coming up with plans right now, and I'm going to come up with stuff too. I won't be the reason Gat loses his job!" she'd say with a bit of anger towards the end, but Morri had already left. Sighing, she turned and left too, heading to wait for a ride back to Canterlot. 'Well, if I'm going to be making weapons, it might help to go see my father. Three days to come up with something shouldn't be too hard. I'm sure dad's seen lots of crazy things in Canterlot, he is a cop after all.' she'd think to herself as she waited for her ride.