The Storm Factory

by Rarity Belle

Chapter 1

The sun rose back from its slumber once more, letting the night be changed to the day. Not a single dark cloud dared to fill the sky, revealing a cloudless sky. It an overall normal, late spring or early summer day. But somewhere in a cloud palace near Ponyville, there was one very light cerulean coated, light, medium and deep blue maned and tailed, young pegasus mare who was vast asleep. One who didn’t have a plan of waking up. At least, not yet.

“Shooting Star Dash, wake up!” a female voice shouted. The pegasus shocked up from her sleep and jumped out of her bed. Only to fall face flat on the floor which showed her cutie mark. One that was in the form of a shooting star. After the fall did her tail land in her mane.

She moaned a little uncomfortable before rising back up before she made her reply. “Yes mom, I am coming...” Star muttered a little in herself while she made her way to the bathroom in order to refresh herself. But on her way towards it, she realized something. The young mare realized what day it was. Shooting Star went into turbo-drive and did everything faster than normal after which she flew downstairs.

“Morning mom, morning dad,” she said with a smile on her face.

Before her stood a cerulean pegasus mare with mane and tail colored as the rainbow and behind the table sat a cornflower blue coated, dark blue maned stallion. “Morning Star, you know what day it is today?” the stallion asked of her.

Rainbow Dash let go a light chuckle as she came out the kitchen. “She knows that, honey. Otherwise she wouldn't be here right now and still be busy in the bathroom.”

“That’s right, mom. Say, where is Twist?” asked Star with a light confusion in her tone.

Not a few moments later a set of hoof steps clattered down the cloud stairs of the palace. Another cerulean coated pegasus entered the room, her mane looking like those of her mother but where Rainbow had the colors going from top to bottom, Twist her coloring went from left to right as on her hips a rainbow whirlwind cutie mark could be seen. “Was it really necessary to yell that loud, mom?” she asked under a loud yawn.

“You know your mother, girls, she always want you to be on time, though she never was,” chuckled Soarin’ before he shook his head a bit.

 
The four of them had their breakfast but soon after it Star began to make herself ready for school back up in her room. Though when she was packing her saddlebag Rainbow appeared in the doorway with a warm smile. “Star, you will succeed today. You will pass your test. You learned so hard for it all. I am sure of it,” said Rainbow to her with a confident tone.

Shooting Star smiled back to her mother while she rest her eyes on her. “I know mom, but I am just a little nervous, I learned hard for it, I just hope I don’t fall shut.” The final book was placed in the bag and the lid was closed. The young pegasus let out a deep sigh before standing up and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, after which she continued her way through the hallway and down the stairs again.

“Good luck, Star,” said Soarin’ while he also received a kiss from her.

“Sis, good luck today,” added Rainbow Twist. Star smiled as she waved them all goodbye before taking off to school, for the test.

Rainbow took her time while her eyes slowly gazed through the room. Only before letting out a sigh herself. After that did she began to walk back down the stairs. “Our little foal, is starting to grow up... Soon, we have to leave her, Soarin’,” the mare said while a little tear began to form in her eye. It was hard for her to let her foals go, but she knew she had to in the end.

“I know Dashie, but small fillies become mares eventually,” replied the stallion with his kind voice. He wrapped a foreleg around her body and pulled her closer for a hug.

“You know mom, dad has a point there,” said Twist while she ate her cornflakes.

The mare gave him a kiss on his cheek before making her reply. “I know... But it just happened so fast...”

Twist finished her breakfast as well and made herself ready to go to school. As she eventually left, only Soarin' and Rainbow were left in the house.

The stallion sighed but it turned soon enough into a smile. “We have two wonderful foals, our lives are good and we have wonderful friends Dashie.”

“I know Soarin’ and I am happy for that,” said Rainbow just before she kissed him on his lips.

                    
Shooting Star raced from cloud to cloud. In the distance did Cloudsdale itself become more and more visible to her eyes. She turned her speed up a notch. Which resulted in her flying even faster towards the city of pride. She entered the cloud-build city and flew through the many streets towards her school. All in the hope that she would still be on time. It didn't took that long before she landed by the door and galloped inside the school building to her classroom.

When she arrived did her eyes shot open. The motions were followed by a couple blinks, for only her teacher was sitting behind the desk. “Morning Shooting Star, you are early today,” the teacher spoke after she noticed the young mare through her glasses in the door opening.

“Morning miss Whiteboard. Well, today is the big day right? I wouldn't miss it for anything,” replied Star with a smile.

“I see what you mean. Take place and look through your notes if you want, we begin in half an hour,” replied miss Whiteboard before she pointed to the empty classroom.

Shooting Star took place on her usual table while placing her saddlebag aside and began to dig in it looking for notes she had made. It didn't took long before many notes covered her table as formulas, explanations and name it all were written on them. Miss Whiteboard looked to her student and a small smile formed itself upon her face. “You really did your homework for this, didn't you?”

The young mare let go a light giggle before giving her the answer. “I indeed did. It has cost me some nights, but it is all worth it.” The teacher chuckled a little and more pegasi entered the classroom, all taking their place.

 
After a while was the whole class filled with other pegasi as miss Whiteboard started to call their names and marked them who were there as present. “Anypony seen Feathers today?” she asked all the sudden.

“I went by yesterday and her mother said she was sick, she has a very bad flu,” answered Star. Just the thought of it made Star already sick to the stomach.

“Thank you for sharing this, miss Dash. I shall contact her mother about today and reschedule her test,” replied miss Whiteboard before she crossed the name.

Miss Whiteboard then stood up and began to hover through the classroom dropping pieces of paper by each student. “I hope you all studied good for this. Because this test, decides your future here in Cloudsdale. You came to this school to work in the weather facilities. To be taught, the ways of making the weather in Equestria. Now it is time, to prove it. Pegasi, good luck. You have until five in the afternoon.” Star just gazed upon the bookwork given to her. There was a smile which began to appear on her face. She took her quill and answered the questions the best she could.

                    
The minutes slowly turned into hours as the first student was done. The young stallion placed his things back in his bag before giving his work to the teacher and left the classroom. Every face in the room stared at him and utter confusion but then turned back to their work.  Star herself was the only pony who didn't look up but kept working. She was too far gone in her mind to notice her surrounding for it was her, her mind and the test.

Time progressed further and more pegasi left the classroom with their tests completed but Star was still deeply busy with her test. A smirk had appeared on her face before she mumbled some soft words to herself. “Now that is, answer B.” The more time she spend on the test, the more she lost the grasp of reality but was shocked back as she read through the final question. “Hmm... Tough one,” she mumbled in herself while she dropped her quill and wiped her eyes clean with her hooves as her head pounded the question. But after long thinking, she finally filled in an answer.

The young mare went back to the very beginning of the test and began to read every question and given answer again to check it all one last time. As she slowly reached the final question, a bright and proud smile occupied her face. Star packed her saddlebag again, looking for the first time to the empty classroom before leaving her desk and making her way over to Miss Whiteboard.

“Did everypony else left while I was working?” Star asked.

“Everypony indeed did. But it was a big test. You still had an hour left,” said miss Whiteboard under a nod and a friendly smile. “Go home, Star, your parents will be waiting for you. I only need you to sign here, as proof that you made the test.”

The young mare smiled back as she signed the piece of paper. “I will, miss Whiteboard. See you in a couple days when the results are in.”

The pegasus left the classroom and trotted through the deserted school halls. Years had she spent here together with her friend. Having wonderful memories of those times. A bright smile came to her face as the trip down memory lane only got better the more she thought.

When she finally did stand outside, Star stretched herself a little bit and the bones in her wings cracked a little bit because they haven’t moved in hours. Her eyes fell on the warm and overall lovely afternoon sun as she decided to bath a little in it letting her muzzle coat in it under closed eyes. “Hmm, perfect...”

Her eyes closed she began to relive a day so long ago. The very first day Feathers and herself walked through the gates of the school. The terrified pinkish purple maned, grayish gold coated Pegasus nearly cowering behind her as they both entered and the comforting words she spoke. ‘It is alright Feathy, I am with you, remember.’ A small tear of joy left her eyes as they slowly opened itself again and she opened her wings to take off.

With a small charge and a correctly timed jump Shooting Star honored her name and shot off back into the skies as she made her way out of the city and back to her home. Back to her family and probably a wonderful cooked dinner.

 
“Hey mom,” said Star before her hooves wrapped themselves around Rainbow what resulted in a tight hug. A warm and tight hug as only a mother and daughter could give it.

“Welcome back honey, how did it go?” asked her mother while wrapping her hooves around her daughter.

“It went great. I knew every answer they game me,” replied Star with a smile on her face.

Rainbow smiled back under a light wink. “Let’s keep it a little secret for when your father comes home. Tell it by dinner.”

“I will, mom,” said Star giggling. The young mare then went up to her room where she dropped her saddlebag in the usual corner and just plopped down on the bed, making herself comfortable on it. But the more she stayed on it, the more Star began to drift away into her dream world.

That was until Rainbow called her for dinner. A thing resulted in the same scenery as that very morning. Shooting Star removed her face from the floor and began to make her way downstairs as the scent of the dinner made its way into her nose. When the young mare took place behind the table as she waited for her father and sister to come and soon enough they did arrive. The both of them took place and Rainbow came in and served up the dinner for them all after which she took place herself.

“Star, it has come to my ears, you wanted to say something,” said Rainbow while filling up her plate with a bit of a smirk.

“I indeed do. I am certain I passed my test. I had every question correct in my eyes,” she said with pride. As soon as the word entered the ears of both Soarin’ and Twist, their eyes became big and turned to the young mare.

“That is wonderful, honey!” spoke the stallion with joy.

“Well done sis!” replied Twist with a gleeful smile.

“Now, I only have to wait, for the results. Which will come in a couple days,” said Star before she started to enjoy her dinner.

All of them told about their day as the evening slowly ventured forward into the night, meaning it was bedtime for the children. Shooting Star made herself ready to hit the hay and dropped herself on the bed where she fell asleep like a rose with her head buried in the pillow, yet still managed to breath.

 
The days slowly passed by. Yet Star made good use of the time she had to work around the house and spending time by Feathers, who was slowly recovering from her flu. Then came the day it was time. The time was there to hear the results. The young mare was making herself ready to go to school again as she flew down to the front door. “Mom, I am off to school. I will be back in about an hour or two.” Star said as she waved to her mother.

“Alright dear. See you soon again,” replied Rainbow. The pegasus was still doing some chores and waved back before returning to them.

Shooting Star flew off to her school by using her usual route and waited in the canteen of the school until miss Whiteboard called her. “Miss Dash? Would you follow me please,” the teacher asked of her. Without any form of hesitation did she follow.

The young mare stood up from her seat and followed her into the teachers’ lounge where they took place. Miss Whiteboard released a soft sigh before allowing her eyes to rest upon her student. “Shooting Star Dash, your test was far better than that of anypony else. Most ponies just learn a little and just take a guess. But you, you studied nights for this. Your score was almost a hundred. And it is the highest we have gotten this year. But, you will not be going to any of the weather factories... Words from higher authorities have insisted that you go somewhere else. Star, you are going to the Storm Department.”

When those two words entered her ears, the cerulean pegasus sat almost defeated in the chair. She couldn't wrap her head around it. She had worked so hard for it yet would end up in the place where the worst weather is made in the whole of Equestria. Her world began to collapse slowly around herself.

Her eyes only made a blinking move as miss Whiteboard gave her the paper on which it all stood and slowly guided the confused pegasus back outside, back into the fresh air as tears filled the eyes of Shooting Star. “Thank you miss Whiteboard, for everything,” she said before taking off quicker than normal and began the trip back to her home.

                    
When she did reach the house again, she entered it but didn't say a word. She just placed the letter on the table. Star flew to her room while fighting off the tears. She made a landing on her bed where she began to cry like a foal. Rainbow Dash was working in the kitchen when she heard the door opening and closing but never got any sound from the pony entering and went to the living room to inspect it, only to find the letter. “Now what is this?” she questioned herself and gently opened it and her eyes began to read it word by word.

She shook her head a couple times for the words seemed so unreal. Her daughter, her sweet daughter had to go the Storm Department. Rainbow fell to the ground only to burst out in tears, she stayed there, crying all the time until Soarin' came back from his work. “Honey, I am home,” he said but then heard the sobbing and saw Rainbow, he sat down next to her and ever so gently allowed the question to roll off of his mind. “Honey, what is it?”

“It is Shooting Star... She has... She has... She has to go to the Storm Department,” said Rainbow through her sobbing.

“What..? No, not our sweetie,” he replied in utter disbelief.

Rainbow gave him the letter and he couldn't believe it. “And she to depart... In three days?! Like it wasn't bad enough,” the stallion said while tears collected in his eyes.

Star looked up from her pillow after a while as the crying of her parents reached her ears finally. She sniffed a couple times and then went downstairs, where her parents hugged her tightly. Rainbow wiped away her own tears as she cuddled her daughter deeply. Soarin’ hugged the both of them deeply and caring.

“I’m sorry mom... I’m sorry...” said Star through her tears.

“Shh... Shh... Don’t be Star, you never knew this would happen, none of us did,” her mother spoke through her own soft sobbing. All three of them sat there, for the rest of the night, comforting each other over the terrible news.

In the end, there was only one thing they could be doing. They had to accept it for what it was. They couldn't do anything else for her. She had to go. Nothing could be brought in against it to great sadness of the family.

 
The days crawled by even slower, Shooting Star began to say her goodbyes to her friends and family. But above all, had one last talk with her best friend Feathers as Fluttershy sat in the living room, comforting Rainbow and Soarin’.

Not much time was left for the cerulean pegasus as she began to pack her things as Feathers watched. “So... This is it then, isn't it, Starry?”

“It, it is Feathy...” replied Star. “Tomorrow I have to leave.”

Feathers gave her friend an understanding nod. “I will do my best to be there tomorrow for you, if my mother can get it in her heart to come.”

“I, I am sure auntie Fluttershy will come, even though it will hurt her... She will do it for my mother and me,” said Star with a sad tone. She had packed the last things and closed her bags. “Can we at least, hug one more time, Feathy?”

Feathers gave a nod to the question and opened her forelegs for a hug. Shooting Star hugged her best friend tight back as a couple tears left her eyes and the sun slowly descended. It would be signaling the beginning of the final night.

The day turned into the night both young mares kept hugging each other like there was no tomorrow. Except it was for real, there would be no tomorrow, no real free tomorrow.

Fluttershy carefully walked up the stairs to look how her daughter was doing only to find the two of them hugging each other even in their sleep. The light yellow pegasus softly closed the door before making her return from the stairs, looking to Rainbow. The eyes told the cyan pegasus more than enough as she let go a deep sigh.