02 - Parties Become Horrors
The bright light of Celestia's sun shined in and glistened on Spectra's mane. She sat up in her plush bed and yawned lazily. Her back cried in pain as Spectra stretched. Nothing had happened that night. Thank Luna for that... Spectra thought to herself. She brushed the thoughts away and got out of bed, did the usual daily morning routines. Examining herself in the bedroom mirror on her vanity, Spectra took a look at her forehead. The scar from a few months back was still there... She ignored it.
"That's right. Pinkie's and Gummy's party is today..." Spectra said to herself as she ran a brush through her mane. She ended up just shaking her mane out afterwards. "Forget fashion..." Spectra muttered to herself. She felt different today. Besides being incredibly tired, for some odd reason, the green pegasus didn't feel like herself. She couldn't put her hoof on it.
"Talking to yourself there Spec?" Rainbow had said from the doorway, chuckling at her cousin.
"Just a little." Spectra said, downing a pill of some back ache remedy stuff Fluttershy had given her. She choked a little as it went down, "Eck. I hate taking pills."
"Look a the bright side, it will make yourself feel better." Dash declared.
"Yeah yeah. I know. So! Anything planned before the party?"
"Not that I know of..." Dash pondered, tapping her hoof on her chin, "I think you can just go relax or something Spec. I have the other pegasi doing the daily work today."
"Sounds good to me. What are you going to be up to?"
"Probably meeting with AJ before we head to Sugarcube Corner."
"Of course." Spectra said with a sly wink.
"Whatever." Rainbow replied, returning a smile, "What about you?"
"Eh... I might go meet with Twi and see what she has planned for the party."
"Cool. Then I'll meet you and the girls at Sugarcube Corner?"
"Of course!"
Spectra placed her brush back in the drawer of her vanity, threw on her saddlebag, and flew out the Cloudominium. "See you there." She called back to Dash.
**********
Spectra walked into the library. Seeing as Twilight seemed to stress the fact of Spectra 'making herself at home.' She did just that. Spike was inside, picking up books laying around the floor.
"Oh hey Spectra!" The baby dragon greeted.
"Hiya Spike. What's up?"
"Twilight had another 'big night if reading.'" He replied, sighing.
"Would you like a hoof with that?" The caring pegasus offered.
"Thanks Spec!" Spike thanked graciously.
"No problem." Spectra scooped a few books here and there with her wing, piling them onto her back. The baby dragon climbed onto a shelf ladder and began replacing the books into their rightful places.
"Hey, Spec? Can I set these on top just so I can finish putting them away?" Spike asked Spectra nervously.
"Sure Spike. Just stack them on top." She responded with a wide smile.
Spectra soon realized this wasn't the best idea as she had reached her limit. She collapsed to the floor as her back seared with pain, "Agh!"
"Oh my! Spectra! Are you okay?" Spike asked frantically, hopping to the floor next to the collapsed pony.
With struggle, Spectra managed to stand up wearily. Her back was on fire and her hooves ached.
"Spike?! What was that? Are you alright?" Spectra heard somepony call from the stairwell downstairs.
Twilight appeared at the top of the stairwell. She was wearing a white lab coat. "Yeah Twi. It was Spectra." Spike replied to the alicorn.
"Spike!" Twilight galloped to Spectra's side, "Spectra's injured! You shouldn't have anypony else doing your chores!" Twilight scolded.
Spectra butted in to protect the scolded dragon, "No, Twi. It's fine, I offered. And I'm fine too. I just sorta reached my limits. One hundred percent, my fault."
Twilight looked are her friend and sighed, "Okay Spectra... Be more easy on yourself though. I don't want to see you get hurt."
Spectra's cheeks burned at Twilight's statement, "Thanks Twi. I'll be more careful." She shook the heat out of her face, "I came to see about the party. When are we going to be there?"
"Well I think it's a surprise party... But I'm not sure if Pinkie already knows about it. Fluttershy is distracting her for the day."
"Alright..."
"I'll finish cleaning here." Spike cut in, going back to pick up the dropped books.
Twilight nodded to the dragon and continued, "Apparently Pinkie may know about it. So we are going to switch it up a bit."
"Hmm?" The sore mare questioned, rubbing her back.
"Well... We wanna move it. We are, instead, having an outdoor party. Rainbow offered underneath her Cloudominium. So will you be able to help me, Spike, and Rarity move the supplies?"
"Of course Twi! But hey, I think I have an even better idea." Spectra exclaimed.
"What is it?"
"How about, instead of UNDER the Cloudominium, we have it IN the Cloudominium?" The pegasus offered, throwing her idea into the air.
Twilight thought for a moment, "Hmm..." She pondered the idea, "I suppose I could use a Cloud Walking spell on Pinkie and Applejack... I like that idea! Pinkie surely won't expect that."
"Alrighty then!" Spike butted in, "I finished, how about we head out to meet Rarity?"
Spectra threw a mischievous smile at the dragon, "Do you wanna see Rarity for the party arranging? Or to go all gaga over her?"
He blushed, "Maybe a little of both."
Twilight and Spectra broke into laughter, Spike joined in, and the three departed the library.
**********
They arrived at Carousel Boutique to find Rarity exiting.
"Hey Rare!" Spectra greeted.
"Hello darling. How are you? Twilight had told me about your back pains lately."
"I fine Rare. Thanks." Spectra replied with a reassuring smile.
"Is that the supplies, Rarity?" Twilight asked the elegant unicorn.
"Yes, well of course it is. This party is going to be absolutely wonderful. I think Pinkie will love it. We are still throwing it under the Cloudominium, correct?"
"Well, Spectra suggested to have it elsewhere."The princess stated, pointing to Spectra.
"Oh. Do tell." Rarity inquired.
Spectra cleared her throat, "Well I think Pinkie would be more surprised if we had her party inside the Cloudominium instead."
Rarity's smiled at the idea, "That would be perfect! Such a plot twist. Pinkie will never see it coming."
"Let's go then!" Twilight exclaimed, trotting off with the other two. Spike following shortly behind Rarity.
**********
Back at the Cloudominium, they four were met by Applejack and Rainbow. They were lounging in a plot of grass on the hillside.
"What are you two doing here so early?" Spectra asked sarcastically, "I coulda swore you would've been longer at the acres. Getting all mushy and stuff."
Applejack laughed, along with Rainbow who kicked some dirt at Spectra, "Whatever Spec. You say what you want. Just wait until you find a marefriend- Or stallion. Depending which you're into. Not my business though."
Spectra just rolled her eyes at her cousin's statement, "Let's get started on the party. Pinkie will be back soon."
Applejack stood up from the ground, "So. Where are we all startin'?"
"Well, we have a slight change in plans."
"What'll that be then?"
"Instead of down here. Spectra suggested inside." The alicorn looked to the cyan pegasus, "If that's okay with you, Rainbow?"
"Yeah! That's cool. I don't think any of you really been in our house yet."
"Not that I can really think of. You're right. Pinkie will love it." Twilight replied.
"Even if she didn't allow it. I live here too. It would've been find." Spectra stated with a chuckle. Rainbow just stuck a tongue out at her in defense.
"So Ah suppose ya'll be usin' some sorta cloud walking spell like you did when we went to the Best Young Flyer's competition, Twilight?" The cowpony asked.
"Yes. I'll be using it on you and Rarity for now." Twilight replied, "Let's get started, shall we?" The alicorn's horn began to glow a bright lavender color as she engulfed the two mares in a purple haze. Suddenly, the haze left. Nothing seemed to happen. At least, Spectra didn't notice anything...
"That it?" Spectra questioned, confused.
"Yes. Now these two are able to walk on clouds like a natural pegasus. Or alicorn." Twilight stated, proudly.
"Okay then, how shall we get up there darling?" Rarity asked.
"Well, I can flash you two up." Twilight said.
"I can take AJ up." Rainbow stated as she rested a wing on Applejack's back.
"Alright then, Rarity. Ready?"
"Of course." Twilight's horn began to glow again and this time, the two mares vanished. 'Man that was cool.' Spectra thought to herself. She then noticed Rainbow trying to get Applejack onto her back.
"Rainbow, ya know Ah don't like this. Why'd ya offer?" The earth pony asked, uneasily.
"Come on AJ. It's like twenty feet up. It's not that bad." Dash argued.
"Fine. Ya'll owe me tonight though." Applejack said with a wink.
"Sounds good to me." Rainbow exclaimed. She then lifted her marefriend onto her cyan back and flew up to the Cloudominium. Spectra followed the love birds up.
Having heard of the Cloud Walking spell from Twilight before, the pegasus was quite astonished at how Rarity and Applejack were walking on the clouds as if they were pegasi themselves. 'I guess that's why she's a princess.' Spectra chuckled at her thought. She jolted when Twilight snapped her out it, "Wanna hang the decor?"
"Wha-?"
Twilight giggled, "Want to hang the decorations? You probably know the best of where to put them."
"Oh. Sure." Spectra took the box of party decor out of Twilight's magical grasp.
She began hanging different things here and there. Blowing up balloons, hanging streamers. A whole bunch of Pinkie stuff. Spectra lifted off the floor to hang the long, 'Happy Birthday Pinkie and Gummy!' banner. As she tied the one end, Spectra was washed over by a sudden dizziness.
"Whoa..." Spectra muttered. What was that? She just shrugged it off as a random dizzy spell. No big deal. Right?
"Hey ya'll! Fluttershy and Pinkie are coming down the road now." Applejack warned.
Spectra could here the gentle pony, along with the hyper birthday mare, "So... Now we are on our last stop of this... Um... Trip."
"Why did you take me all over Ponyville Fluttershy? It was fun! And you know I love fun! But it is really random? Not like my hot-sauce-on-cupcakes random. But like, not-a-Fluttershy-thing-to-do random. You know? It doesn't matter though! I had fun! Why are we a Dashie's house though? We should probably get back for mine and Gummy's party!" Pinkie Pie rambled on. That caused Spectra to laugh.
"I'll meet them down there." Twilight offered as she flashed out of the cloud home.
"Hey Twilight! What are you doing here?"
"Close your eyes." Spectra was surprised she could hear them almost perfectly. Pinkie Pie? Yeah. But even Fluttershy?
"Okay!" Spectra assumed Pinkie did as Twilight ordered.
In an instant, Spectra heard Twilight's magic and then she saw the three in the middle of the room. Well... Four if you count Gummy, hanging from Pinkie's tail.
"Ready?" Twilight mouthed to everypony in the room. Everpony nodded, "Open your eyes."
The pink pony opened her eyes as told, "SURPRISE!" Everypony shouted in unison.
"Oh my goodness!" Pinkie exclaimed, "Dashie and Spectra cloud party?! This is amazing!!!" She began bouncing up and down.
"Do you like the change in scenery darling?" Rarity asked the bouncing Pinkie Pie.
"Absol-tutely-lutely! I love it! And Gummy does too!" She looked to her mute gator.
Spectra began to have another dizzy spell... Her vision got all blurry... For a pegasus with perfect vision, that's not too normal for her. Within moments, everypony seemed to be having fun. Partying like any other party with Pinkie. Except Spectra. She could barely keep her balance. Twilight walked up to her, she was speaking, but Spectra couldn't make out what her friend was saying.
Oh my... The dizzy pegasus thought to herself, What's going on...?
Finally, Spectra gave into her dizziness. She couldn't keep her balance any longer. She collapsed. Spectra was out cold. Last thing she could make out, was Twilight's voice, "Spectra?!"
**********
Dark, damp, cold... Three words to describe the green mare's surroundings. She surely wasn't in a hospital of any sorts. Not that she really goes to hospitals in the first place. Is that where she was? No, it can't be.
Spectra stood from the floor, chains were wrapped and locked around her back hooves. Curios, Spectra followed the chains. They lead to a rusty hook in the floor. Clearly she was helpless locked up like this. She examined the hook.
Looks like I can break it... Spectra pondered. She then reared up and gave the rusty hook a good buck. It snapped instantaneously. The chains were still around her hooves though. At least she was free.
Spectra looked around the room as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Pipes lined up and down the walls, hard metal used for both the floor and walls around her. There was a door at the far corner of the room. Looked to be a heavy steel door. It's worth a shot...
Spectra trotted up the the door and gave it a push. Time for plan B. Same as the hook, she reared up and went to buck the door. Before making contact, the door flung open, leaving Spectra to miss and fall flat.
"Ow..." Spectra moaned.
"Just where do you think you're going?" She heard a stern, yet familiar voice ask. Looking up, she noticed the friendly face of her cousin.
"Dash! Where are we? What's going on?" The half-excited, half-scared pegasus asked.
"Don't call me by that name. If you want to live here, you will work. Make spectrum, dispose of the waste, and repeat. Got it?" Dash said, almost as if she droned it out. As if she had gone over this many times before.
"What?" Spectra chuckled, thinking this was some prank by her cousin, "Yeah yeah, Dash. What's going on?"
Rainbow's face became a face of anger as she spoke more firmly, "Do not. Call me by that name. Got it? I'm being kind here. Disobey me again and its off to the Extractor for you."
Spectra examined her cousin. She had never seen Rainbow so fierce before. With a closer look in the dark, Spectra could make out a dark cloak Rainbow was wearing. Something red splotched onto it.
"Yes... Ma'am...?" Spectra acknowledged, unsurely.
"Very good. You learn fast." Rainbow stated, straitening her expression firmly, "Bring prisoner B-3087 as well." She commanded to somepony, "It's their time."
Two other pegasi came into the room behind Rainbow. They trotted right over to the corner of the room and picked up another pegasus. She was scrawny and looked like she was starving. Was that pony there before? Spectra must not have noticed her, she couldn't have been any older than a younger filly. She groaned in pain as the guards ripped her out of the chains. When the chains came off, the filly screeched in pain. Spectra covered her ears at the noise. Rainbow just watched in her firm glare.
Then Spectra noticed why the filly was in pain. She could barely keep from throwing up at the vulgar sight. The filly's back-right leg had been torn right of. Spectra covered her mouth to stop the gags. The guards left, carrying the crying filly. Her missing limb was left behind.
Spectra turned to Dash, "What was that about? She lost her limb from being so frail. Why'd you do that?"
Rainbow's only response was, "She won't need it where she's going. Let's go." She began walking out of the room.
Spectra's mouth fell agape. What in Equestria is this place?! That's when it hit her. All the labor. She was never in the lower parts of the facility. The torture chambers. The death room. The crematories. All these places of hell. Spectra had never experienced that. She only heard rumors of it from the other workers. Was this the lower level of the Rainbow Factory...?
Spectra trotted quickly to keep up with her cousin. The splotches of red must either be left-over red spectrum, or blood. Either way, it was gruesome to think of, "Um... Where am I working today Da- Er... Ma'am?"
"You will be starting you're first day on the Extractor. Extractor 17 to be specific. It's simple really. Make the quotas, you get to live." Rainbow responded, "Disobey, and well... You know the deal." She turned to give Spectra an evil grin.
"Understood..." Spectra was unsure what was going on. Why was Dash acting like that...
**********
"DON'T YOU GET IT?!" Spectra backed down at the pegasus's explosion, "Do you know what those damn pegasi did to me there?!"
"They got you too-?"
"YES!" Rainbow cut her off again, "They took me in there and brainwashed me to lead the operations!"
**********
Oh... Right. Spectra followed close. Her cousin trotted down the hallways. Left, right, right, left. She tried her best to keep up with the stern cyan pegasus. Spectra still couldn't wrap her head around that Dash was really a head supervisor here. Of all places! Didn't she say she was brainwashed?
The two rainbow-maned pegasi arrived at a much larger room. A factory floor of sorts. There were machines moving and doing all different things. The Spectral Sorter, Grinders, Limb Breakers. Then the two arrived at the worst in Spectra's opinion, The Spectrum Extractor. This machine, was probably the worst. Sucking the soul, along with he colors of all its victims. Ponies and foals alike. Mostly pegasi, but they've had their occasional earth ponies and unicorns.
Spectra was always reminded of this machine. It was her that took most of the innocent lives. Put on the main unit. But for some reason, she wasn't this time. Extractor 17. Wasn't 17 retired after that one pegasus rebelled and broke the machinery?
Spectra walked up the the control panel and giant lever that controlled he basis, "Stay here. When a specimen is prepared, hit these buttons and the switch that lever. The machine will do the rest." Rainbow Dash ordered.
"Bu-"
"Any problems with the machine, report to one if the officials immediately. Problems with yourself? Suck it up. Or jump into the extractor willingly. Either way, it will help production."
"But-" It was too late. Dash had trotted off.
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2553140
He took a rainbow dash vector and recolored it. Not really that difficult.
Hm... I say keep with the facility. It's getting intersting.