It was just another normal night for Daybreak. He was going for a walk, enjoying the cool, crisp air that the night would bring. Looking up at the starry night to enjoy the beauty of it. It was all going great until he heard what sounded like a faint crying. He walked towards the noise, to see if he could help, and noticed a burnt-orange Pegasus filly with a light pink mane siting alone and against a wall. She looked half starved and was very dirty. Tears were falling down her face and dripping over a half-burnt picture she was holding. Daybreak walked over to her trying his best to comfort the little filly.
“What seems to be wrong?” He asked.
”I’m alone...And it’s my fault...”
“What happened?”
“Celestia damn me why!!” the little filly said, yelling at the sky.
“What happened?” He said again, trying to get an answer from her.
“They’re dead!...In a fire I…I,” She cries harder.
“A…A fire?!”
The little filly continued to cry with coughing mixed in.
“You look like you’re hurt bad. Let me take you to the hospital.”
“No i-i-ill be fine.”
“I'm sorry but I can't leave you in such bad condition.”
“Why I’m *coughing fit* n-n-no. I wont go. I’m fi…”
She collapses to the ground, each breath getting heavier, still holding onto the photo.
He acts fast, “That's it...You need to go to the hospital. Now.” picks her up, places her on his back, and carries her to the hospital.
“Please…I’m…I’m*cough*fine.”
“Everything will be better soon. Just stay with me. Do you have a name?”
“Name? I’m*cough* Ashes.”
“Okay Ashes, my name is Da…”
The filly interrupts, “Daddy. You came back.”
Daybreak stops. “What?”
Ashes slowly moved her hooves around and hugged Daybreak’s neck.
“You came*cough* back for me. *cough* I knew you would”
“She’s getting weaker, getting delusional. I need to hurry,” He thought and started to walk faster. She won’t let go as she starts to shiver wildly.
Daybreak arrives at the hospital. Nurses ask what happened and he tells them what happened. They then take her for medical attention while he waited. She struggles with her meager strength to hold on but can’t.
“No, *cough* Da…”
“Everything will be fine, Trust me.”
It felt like hours pass until a doctor walks the doors and towards him.
“So how is she doctor? Will she be alright?”
“Nothing too major. Just some minor burn marks here and there. The cough is nothing too serious.”
“Thank Celestia.” He said in a sigh of relief.
"There is one thing we noticed though; She is much smaller and lighter than a pony her age should be. We assume she hasn’t eaten in several days. We brought in food for her to eat but she won’t even touch it and keeps asking for her dad. Are you the father?”
“No, I just found here and brought her here. She was a little delusional and though I was here dad on the way over here.”
"Well…as unfortunate as that sounds, she is asking for her father and you were the only pony with here when she came in. I highly recommend that you go see here and maybe convince her to eat.”
“Not sure how much I can do but I’ll try to help.”
They both walk to the room Ashes is kept in. A nurse is near the bed trying to feed Ashes but she keeps pushing the food away.
“I don’t want *cough* any food. I want my daddy.”
The nurse replied, “Dearie, you need to eat so you can gain your strength back. It will make you feel better.”
"Nurse, back up," the doctor ordered.
Daybreak walked in towards her. He motions to the doctor and nurses to leave. They do and shut the door.
“Please eat something.”
She sees him and puts a little smile on her face. “Daddy, you’re here.” She tries to crawl across the bed towards him. Daybreak moves close to the filly. She squirms as she tries to hug him. He gives a hug back and hears Ashes start to cry again.
“Shhh…Everything will be okay now.”
“You…you came looking for me just like you said. I-I’m sorry for everything.”
“Nothing is your fault dear. Now please, eat.”
“O…Okay.”
With his help, she slowly starts to eat the food that was there. It takes her a while; Still weak. After a while, she finishes and gets sleepy. She tugs at Daybreak to hop on the bed. He does and she snuggles up to him.
”I’m glad you’re back dad.”
I’m just glad you’re safe,” he replied while pulling the blanket over her as she shivers. She slowly dozes off.
“This sure has been one interesting and long day,” He thought as he yawns. “I should…get back…home.” He says as he himself starts to doze off.
Daybreak wakes up as the sun starts to shine over the mountains and through the window. He looks down and sees Ashes still asleep. He is able to get loose from her grip and get off the bed without waking the filly, thankfully. She starts to shiver a little so he wrapped her up in the blankets to keep her warm. He stretches his legs and looks around the room. The doctor comes into the room.
"Good morning sir. Hope you slept well."
"Good morning doctor. And sorry about that."
"It's quite alright sir. With the events that happened to you last night, I don't blame you."
"Thanks for letting me stay the night."
"She didn't want you to go."
Daybreak looks at the sleeping filly.
"Well...I just hope she gets better. I just wonder what happened to her."
"Sadly, she hasn't said much. Just wanting her dad, or in this case, you."
"Yea. I still find it weird that she thinks i'm her father."
"The photo she had may explain a lot." the doctor replies as he points at the photo.
He sees the photo she had with her last night laying on the table next to the bed. He goes over to look at the photo. It shows Ashes with her mother and father. The parents are smiling and holding up Ashes in the middle, who has a look of joy on her face. They all seem happy.
As he is looking over the photo, He notices something weird. “Wait a minute…” he said while examining the photo; Looking at the father. “That can’t be."
"You look just like her father in the photo. That's why she calls you dad"
"But that's not me."
"He sure looks like you."
"That's because the pony in the photo is my brother,... Night-breeze."
“So…you and the father in the picture are brothers I take it?”
“Yes…well, more like twins. You see, we were always different from each other, like day and night, hence the names.”
“I see. Well, do you know where he is then?”
Daybreak looks at the doctor with a sadden look on his face.
“Unfortunately no. I haven’t talked to him since his wedding. He moved to Cloudsdale so we would always keep in touch by writing letters to each other. Until one day, when the letters stopped. I tried writing to him, but received no reply. The last letter he sent me, said that he was going on vacation to a small cabin in the woods with his wife.”
“Did you go visit?”
“I never asked him where it was. I knew the stress of work gets to him, being on the weather control team an all, so I didn’t want to bother.”
“Now the real question, when are you going to tell her?”
Both ponies look over at the sleeping filly. Daybreak is unsure what to do for a moment.
“I’m…I’m not sure. I don’t want to put more pain on here than she has already endured. This could devastate her.”
“I know what you mean but she needs to know.”
At that moment, Ashes wakes up from her sleep, eyes still a little drowsy. She looks around until she sees Daybreak looks at him with a smile on her face. The doctor looks over at him and motions for him to walk towards her. The doctor then leaves the room.
“Ashes, I…I got something to tell you.”
“Yes daddy?” She looks at him with an expression of happiness, the same look she had in the photo.
“Well…It’s about that. I’m,” he pauses for a moment, “I’m not your father.”
“Wh-what?” She looks at him with disbelief but returns the smile on her face. “Oh daddy, you sure like to joke around.”
“I’m not joking. I’m not your father…your father is my brother. Twin brother. I’m your uncle.”
“You…you’re not joking?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
She becomes devastated after hearing this. Tears forming and falling down the sides of her face.
“Then…then where is my dad at?”
“That I don’t know. I need help finding him. Can you help?”
Still crying, “How…how can I help?”
“Where was the last place you saw him?”
"Well...there was this place he had in the woods before...the fire."
“Well, You may not like this, but we need to go back.”
Fear. After hearing this, fear was all Ashes felt. She started to shake violently and began to cry, as if she was reliving that terrible event over again. She never wanted to feel that type of pain again. Not again.
“I don’t want to go back. They will find me; take me away,” she yelled.
“Do you not want to find your father or know where he is at?!”
The response silenced her for a moment. “Daddy,” she said, calming down.
“I promise that everything will be fine,” Daybreak said, moving towards her, comforting her. “We will find him. You two will be back together, as a family.”
“You sure?”
“I guarantee it.”
He could see a smile beginning to form on her face.
“Thank you.” She gave him a big hug.
“That’s what family is for” Commotion was heard outside the door.
“You’re not allowed in there.”
“Who gave you permission to be back here”
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“You are holding somepony here who shouldn’t be here. We were sent to get that pony. Once our job is done, we will leave.”
“Sir, you can’t…”
The door swings open and two Pegasus with suits were at the doorway. They look at the bed.
“We found her.”
Ashes begin to scream. “It’s them.”
They then look at Daybreak. They were confused.
“What the…How did you escape?” The first Pegasus says.
“Escape?” Daybreak says back.
The second one says, “We can worry bout that later, get them.”
The two Pegasus began to move forward; One heading to Ashes and the other towards Daybreak.
Daybreak remembered that the window was open.
“Ashes, hold on”
He quickly grabs Ashes from the bed and bolts out the window. Flying through the air, they were safe but it didn't take long for the two pegasus to catch up to Daybreak and Ashes, who is holding on the best she can.
*Come on think, think Daybreak. How can I lose them?*
"The forest! I'll lose them in the forest. Ashes, hold on tight now."
"O-okay," she replied, tightening her grip.
He dashes into the forest, determined to lose them within the dense foliage. Zooming past trees, he was able to increase the distance between them and the pegasus chasing them. Soon, Daybreak lost sight of them. They took shelter inside of a nearby cave hoping the two would fly by. It gave Daybreak a time to rest. Suddenly, he heard them approach and stopped outside of the cave entrance.
"Crap, we lost them."
"This isn't good."
We got to find them. We cant screw up again. We already let the little one get away the first time. We can't lose her again."
"We have to split up. They could be anywhere by now."
"Agreed. I don't want to go back emptyhoof."
"Okay. Remember: Be quick. Be silent."
"Got it."
The pegasus sped off, each going in a different direction. Daybreak observed the entire conversation from the safety of the cave and came to a decision.
"Ashes?"
"Yes?"
We are going to stay here for a short while. At least, until it is safe to leave."
"Okay."
A few hours pass with no activity seen outside of the cave. He took this chance to scout around to make sure it as safe.
"Wait right here."
He take a few steps from the mouth of the cave and takes a quick look. Nothing so far. A few more steps. Listening for any noise. Anything...out of place. The noise he hears is that of the woodland creatures running around and the wind blowing through the trees. Nothing else. He takes one last look around. Nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe they gave up the search. Daybreak turns around and heads back into the cave to get Ashes.
"Ashes?"
"Yes," she replied, awakening from her nap.
"It's safe for us to go now. They haven't been back for a while."
*Yawns*"Okay."
"Quick, hop on."
She hops onto Daybreaks back and he begins to exit the cave. He is still cautious when leaving so he does one last look around before taking off. He takes off into the and files slowly, still able to watch his surroundings.
"Ashes, I have a question for you."
"Yes?"
"You may not like this but, what do you remember about...the fire...that happened."
"Um...," That painful memory returns to her. "I was there with my daddy, on vacation. It was always a lovely whenever we would go. He was acting weird though, always checking the windows every now and again, and saying we are not allowed outside for a while. But then, I saw a couple of pegasuses standing outside the cabin and a fire started. It started to consume the house. He told me that I needed to get out and run. I pleaded with him to come with me but he just repeated that everything would be okay. The fire started to get bad and I was scared, so I did as he told me and ran. The last thing I heard him say to me was...I love you." She pauses to wipe some tears away. "I ran. Had no Idea where where I was going or if I was going to end up somewhere. I just kept running. I had to get away from the fire and the bad pegasuses. I ran for what seemed like forever. I had no idea where I was going. I was scared, lost, and started to get delusional and, somehow, ended up in that alley where you found me."
"And...how long ago do this event take place?"
"It seemed like it was a couple of days ago."
"A couple days ago?"
"Yes, I believe so. Why?"
"Hold on."
Ashes held on as Daybreak flew above the tree line.
"What are we doing up here?"
"Based of of your memory, you said this happened no less than a couple of days ago. If that is true, there should still be a sign."
"What sign?"
Daybreak scanned the horizon, looking for anything that could help. Just then, off in the distance, he sees smoke. It's faint, but there.
"There! It's a few of miles out, but it's there."
He flies off towards the smoke. This is the best bet he has so far. Upon arriving at the source of the smoke, both Daybreak and Ashes laid their eyes on the charred remains of what used to be a house, a cabin. Daybreak couldn't believe what he was looking at. This seemed like an event that happened recently.
"Ashes, is...is this where it happened?"
"Ye...yes."
"I know you don't want to be here but there has to be something here telling us where he is at."
"How...how do you know he's not...gone?"
"Back at the hospital, one of them thought I looked like your father and said something about escaping. That means they are holding him somewhere. He may have left us something here to tell us where."
"So daddy is ok?"
"I'm sure he's fine. Now we have to start looking."
"Okay."
Both of them start to search the cabin or, at least, what's left of it. There really wasn't much searching they could do. Ashes looked around a little bit while Daybreak looked around the remains of a desk. One touch though, and the desk fell into a pile of burnt wood and ash. He noticed something in the pile. Something grey. As he pushes the debris away, he uncovers a small, stone box. It survived the fire. Genius. Daybreak removes the top lid and looks inside. All that is in there is a note.
I know I haven't written to you in a while but I figure now would be better than nothing. I wish this could have been under better circumstances. I think it's time you knew what I do. I am a part of the weather control team but that is just a cover job. You remember the stories and legends we were told as fillies about the Rainbow Factory? They weren't stories. Everything we were told, It's true. I was forced to sign a contract where I could not tell anyone about this but what goes on in there...it's horrible. I couldn't believe it. The worst part was that they were using the pegasus who didn't pass the flight test. Our school friends were there. Pegasus we never saw again. I broke my contract when I found out that my own daughter, Ashes, didn't pass the test. I took her away when they tried to take her. We needed to hid, but I fear they will find us soon. If worst goes to worst, I will send her to you. If it comes down to that, please take care of here and protect her. I...I have to tell someone. I need you to get the word out. Pleas tell the others about this horrible place. They will more than likely take me away so don't worry about me, just be there for Ashes. Take care of her. Protect her. This may be the last letter i'll send to you. Please, tell Ashes that I love her. Tell her, that even though I may not be there with here, I will be watching over her.
He couldn't believe it. Those stories. How could they be true? And worst, his brother was involved. He had to go rescue him.
"Ashes, you won't believe what I found. It's a letter."
He looks around. Ashes is out of his line of sight. He starts to search the cabin.
"Ashes?...Ashes!. Where did that little filly go?"
He though she just went outside so he walks out from the burnt wreckage of the cabin. The minute he did though, he was immediately surrounded by a group of pegasuses, along with the two that were following them earlier.
"You can't escape us. I will give you credit, we did lose you for a while. You may outrun us, but you can't escape."
"What is it you monsters want?!" Daybreak yelled at them, his body filling up with anger.
"Monsters? How are we monsters?"
"I know all about that you do, your operations in the Rainbow Factory."
"We are no monsters. We merely provide...a service."
"How is what you do considered a service?!"
"We weed out the weak in our society. We don't want any weaklings tarnishing the Pegasus name. And plus, we make rainbows that all ponies, unicorns, and even pegasus can enjoy."
"That doesn't excuse what you do or your methods!!"
"Well...someone sure is angry."
"You damn well better believe I am."
"Well, let me tell you what's going to happen. You are going to come with us, along with the little filly you've been helping out."
"Now why would I go along with this!?"
"Oh, we are not asking for your co-operation."
Suddenly, a metal neck brace was attached to Daybreaks neck. A sudden pulse of electricity went through his body.
"AAAHHHH. What is this?!?"
"That's just to make sure you don't run off on us again."
"You monsters."
He then hear a faint whimper. a whimper that sounded like Ashes. He looks over and sees two of the pegasus holding her. He charges at them. The electric pulse went through his body again, more intense than before.
"Ah ah ah, I would't do that if I was you."
"Let.Her.Go." He charges again. The pulse knocked him to the ground. He was out cold.
"He just doesn't learn, does he. You two, pick him up. We got a factory quota to meet."
They picked up Daybreak and they all flew off to the Rainbow Factory.
Daybreak awakens to a blank, empty area, devoid of light.
". . . Why is it so dark?. . ."
Suddenly, it sounded as if there was a million voices talking around him. Whispering. "Is it worth it..."
"Wh. . What?"
"Everything you've gone through for this filly, whom you barely know."
"Ashes?"
"And a brother who's absence has led you to this abyss . And yet, here you are. Why?"
"They… I need to help them. They need my help."
"And look where your help has gotten you. A wanted pony. Got both you and that filly captured. And now, here. "
". . . Where is here?"
There was a long pause before a response could be heard.
''The Rainbow Factory." A distant, metallic, pounding could be heard along with the grinding of gears. " The place where any pegasus deemed unworthy are put to use."
"Oh no…" Daybreak was remembering all the stories his Grandfather told him. If those tales of a rambling pony were true, then his brother and Ashes were in trouble.
Pleading with the voice, "Please, you must help me. You know already that my family is trapped here. All that I want is to free them. There must be something you can do. I'm willing to do anything in return."
". . . Anything. . . for their freedom?"
"Ye..Yea. I'm willing to do anything to get them out of this place." He was contemplating thee answer he just gave. Every single outcome came to mind.
". . . If that's what you want, then so be it."
Daybreak gave out a sigh of relief.
i]"Come find me and I shall help."
"Wait. Find you? How."
"The highest part of this factory is a door labeled with an O. That is where you can find me. But you must be quick. Once you go, they will be looking for you. So wake up."
"…What?"
As if there was somepony standing right next to him, there was a small subtle wiser in his ear.
"…Wake up!"
.
.
.
"Ahh!!"
Daybreak awakens inside a jail cell. His eyes were a bit fuzzy and adjusting to the lack of light. The room was surrounded by blank walls covered in mold, rusting pipes jetting across the ceiling with water dripping. As he tries to stand up to get a better understanding of his surrounding, he felt a weight around his neck. He takes a hoof to his neck and feels a cold, metallic object surrounding his neck. He remembers what happened that night; His brother's burned house, the ambush, Ashes being taken, the collar placed around his neck, the shock.
"That bastard. He'll pay. But first, I need to find a way out of here."
The entrance to this cell had a sturdy, metal door with a window with bars over it, letting in some light. Peering out of this opening, he notices that the lock had a good coat of rust on it and seemed easy enough to break.
"Okay, just one good hit."
He steps back some. Being in a small area didn't give him much room to work with. He tries to build up momentum running and hits the door.
*bang*
"Ouch…Okay. Again."
Steps back and tries again.
*Bang* The door jingles a bit.
"One more."
As he steps back a third time, he raises his wings. This time when he runs, he pushes his wings down and builds up momentum.
*CRASH!!*
That last push breaks the lock and the door swings open and he goes crashing on the floor and slides to a wall. Looking around quickly to see if there was anypony that heard the noise. He heard nothing but didn't want to stick around to see if a guard would show up. He closes the door, sweeps the rusty, broken lock out of sight, and makes his escape. Which direction to go was a different story. Daybreak just looked down each hallway with confusion.
"Okay. So the voice said, um, highest part of the factory. Something with a label. A sign on a door? Doesn't matter right now. Just got to go up. Now, um, What's down here?" And he goes letdown a corridor and comes up to a corner. He peers around the corners to see if the guards were alerted to his breakout.
"I could have sworn I heard something"
"Could have been your imagination. Being down here for long periods of time will do that to ya."
"Uh-oh" Daybreak thought as two guards were trotting down the hallway. He turns around, wings extended, and bolts away. The other way lead to a dead-end and he was still visible.
"I'm telling you, something's not right."
"Will you just calm down. Nothing ever happens down here."
"But what if…"
"But nothing. All we do is hold captured prisoners till the Warden tells us what to do with them."
They were getting closer.
"Crap, crap. Gotta hide. Where, where." Daybreak is looking franticly and notices a ventilation shaft over head. In one swift motion, he reached up to open vent, jumps inside, and closes it. He stays frozen not moving a single muscle, till they were gone.
They turn the corner and start to to walk closer. They stop right below Daybreak.
"See, nothing down here. You're hearing stuff again."
"But I could have sworn…"
"This section of the factory is old and makes a lot of noises. It happens to all of us."
"Hmph… Guess it really was nothing."
As they began to walk back, Daybreak shifted a bit in the vent, causing a low creaking noise.
"Wait…What was that?.."
"Like I said, it was nothing. Now let's go. This place is creepy as Tartarus. "
Both guards left.
He looked at the options presented to him. On one hoof, he could traverse the hallways, avoiding guards and other obstacles that could be lurking in this factory. There is a higher risk of capture and that was not part of the plan. Option #2: Crawl through the ventilation system to his destination. It is the path lest difficult. Like the guards said, this is the old section of the factory and it makes a lot of noise.
"Well... Not much of a choice, but I am up here already so, the vents it is."
He began his journey through this metal maze before him, praying that it will lead him to his destination, and to that mysterious pony.