//------------------------------// // Weather You Like it or Not // Story: Princess Twilight's Aether-Corps // by joetraincool2 //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle and her friends waved as the airship flew off, the sunrise behind them gleamed off the steel hull. It was sad to see their new friends leave, but adventure was the siren call of the swashbuckling treasure hunters and their new feline compatriot. "Oh, I hope they stay out of trouble," said Fluttershy. "Not likely," argued Rainbow Dash, "They're way too awesome to play it safe. I bet they'll have a super cool adventure by the end of the week." The group shared a laugh and began walking away from the courtyard. It was nearly time to leave for Ponyville, but Pony Joe's donuts and coffee were waiting for them just down the street. The chilly air of the early morning did nothing to dampen their spirits. It had been awkward, at first, for Fizzlepop. She had largely avoided Capper and the pirates at the party, but that morning Twilight had insisted she come along for 'Official Princess Business'. Falling into her new role as the princess's guardian was easy; apologizing to Captain Celaeno, her crew, and Capper proved to be much more difficult. The captain had been none too pleased at Fizzlepop's destruction of their ship, and she voiced her frustrations boisterously. In the end, she came around, and everyone forgave Fizzlepop. One of the crew mentioned it was bad luck to leave bad blood behind. Fizzlepop was walking beside Twilight at the front of the group, her keen eyes wary of any trouble. She was annoyed, however, at the obscenely peaceful streets of early morning Canterlot. Does the Princess even need a bodyguard? There were no shady characters, no dark alleyways, no mercenary gangs, no slavers. After all this time living abroad, how could she acclimate to peaceful Equestria? Not like I have a choice, she ruminated. After all, this was still a far better option than whatever punishment the court had planned for her. The group arrived at Pony Joe's unaccosted, and Twilight led them to a large table in the center of the restaurant. They greeted Joe as they walked by the counter, and Joe replied warmly. He turned from his fryer, and his eyes went wide peering at the heavily armored mare sitting with them. Nearing the table, he asked, "Hey Twilight, you gonna introduce me to your friend here?" "Oh, of course," she replied, "Joe, this is Fizzlepop Berrytwist, the Captain of my newly established honor guard. Fizzlepop, this is Pony Joe, owner and proprietor of Pony Joe's." "Hey, nice ta meetcha," greeted Joe as they shook hooves, "Nice ta hear Twilight has somepony protectin' her now, what with all the badies that seem ta be after her. Why, with an outfit like that, I bet you could take on a whole army of those mooks what invaded Canterlot!" The table shared a laugh, and Fizzlepop chuckled nervously. As they ordered their breakfast in turns, Pinkie Pie couldn't help notice Fizzlepop staring intently at the menu. "What's your fix, Fizzlepop? Can't pick just one?" "Sort of," Fizzlepop replied, "I guess I'm not sure what to get. I've never had a donut before." The whole table, and Pony Joe, gasped. Twilight was quick to console, however. "Now girls, remember Fizzlepop left Equestria when she was just a filly. I'm sure there are lots of things she's missed out on. Let's not give her a hard time." This seemed to calm everyone, and Pinkie decided Fizzlepop should start out with a tried and true plain-glazed donut. As Joe left to fulfill the order, Pinkie asked, "Well, if you haven't had donuts, what other delectable delicacies have you missed out on? Pie? Eclairs? Ice cream? Milkshakes? Cookies? Brownies? Pie? Cobbler? Marshmallows? Muffins? Pie?" "Uh, Pinkie Pie, I think you said pie, like, three times," Rainbow Dash interjected. Fizzlepop had shook her head against every treat Pinkie Pie had listed. "Well, what did you eat while you were gone?" Pinkie Pie shouted. "Mostly rations, hardtack, wild flowers and grasses. Most of the lands outside Equestria are carnivorous, or at least omnivorous, so finding cooked equine food can be difficult. I was never bad off enough to try meat, though." Twilight's eyes shifted as she giggled nervously. Her friends looked at her concernedly. "It was one time! It's a long story," she defended. "Fizzlepop," Rarity interjected, "It occurs to me we know very little about your time outside of Equestria. In fact, I believe this adventure was the first time most of us had left as well. Would you care to regale us of your adventures?" "I guess I wouldn't mind," Fizzlepop replied, "but you know, I wasn't at my best in the past. Looking back, I was pretty awful most of the time, and the lands outside of Equestria are rough places. Most of my stories aren't fun. Are you sure you want to hear them?" The six ponies glanced at each other, then nodded at Fizzlepop. "Of course, darling," Rarity assured, "We all have things we're not proud of, and we know that losing your horn was traumatic. You can confide in us, because we're your friends." A wall was crumbling. As they enjoyed their breakfast, Fizzlepop recalled her experiences outside of Equestria. The reactions of her audience were as varied as their color palettes: tales of daring and combat elicited excited expressions from Rainbow Dash, but frightened Fluttershy; tragic stories brought tears to Rarity's eyes, and her few tales of true success brought out warm smiles from Twilight. She was regaling her introduction to the Storm King when Twilight interrupted, "Girls, we need to get to the city gates, everypony is going to be waiting for us if we don't hurry." The group quickly cleaned up, said their goodbyes to Pony Joe, and cantered down the street. From their vantage at the crest of a hill, they could see the crowd of Ponyville citizens loitering around the gate. Hundreds of ponies and their belongings, loaded into carts, were at the ready for the march back home. Twilight took this opportunity to separate from her friends and flew up above the crowd. Perching on a guard tower above the gate, Twilight addressed the crowd, "Good Morning, Ponyvillians." "Good Morning, Princess Twilight," shouted the crowd, threatening to knock Twilight off her perch. She began her speech, "Alright, everypony. Soon we will begin our march back to Ponyville. I know that most of you have been informed by representatives of the crown, but for those not in the know, Ponyville came under attack by the Storm King's forces while we were here. Nopony was hurt, but I've been told that there may be some property damage. Not to worry, though, because no matter what, we've got this together!" "Together!" cried the crowd. As the ponies marched slowly through the gate, Twilight maintained her perch. She furrowed her brow, searching for a pony in particular. Not seeing her, she swooped down towards the gate, where a violet unicorn was directing traffic. "Good morning, Amethyst," she called, "is everypony accounted for?" "Morning, Princess," she replied. She looked at her clipboard and said, "Everything looks good so far, but I haven't seen Starlight Glimmer or Trixie Lulamoon yet." "That's worrying, I didn't see them at the party either. Well, I'll go look for them. Keep up the good work." Before Amethyst could respond, Twilight took off, soaring high above Canterlot. She saw the rest of her friends at the back of the crowd, standing around the Apple Family wagon. She landed next to them, and asked if they had seen the two missing unicorns. "Sorry, Twi," Applejack answered, "Ah don't think they've shown up yet. But Ah wouldn't worry about 'em. They're adults, they can get back to Ponyville." "That's not what I'm worried about. What if something happened to them during the invasion? Last I saw they were-" "We're here!" Starlight galloped towards them, with Trixie held in her telekinesis, floating behind her. Their manes were disheveled, their coats covered in dust, and Starlight had heavy bags under her eyes. She deposited Trixie in the back of the wagon, then dropped down, exhausted. "Starlight, what happened to you and Trixie?" Twilight asked frantically. Starlight was still trying to catch her breath. Fluttershy hoofed her a canteen of water. She drank of it greedily, and after regaining her composure, answered, "It's a long story," she stood, "Trixie and I had just entered the courtyard when the airships showed up. I assumed there was trouble, and tried to get to you, but those monsters jumped us! I brought three of them down, but one of their friends had captured Trixie. Before I could prepare a spell, Trixie bucked the monster in its face, and it dropped her." She became increasingly animated as her tale continued, gesticulating wildly. "So, then, me and Trixie ran away, and I saw you and the girls running across a bridge. You did some sort of spell, but fell into the river! Oh, I'm so glad you're safe." She drew Twilight into a hug before continuing. "I tried to get to you, but Trixie wanted to hide, but I wanted to save you. As I was trying to make a plan, an airship knocked over a whole tower, and it nearly fell on us! The tower caused a freaking sinkhole right there in the street, and of course we fell right in. So there we were, stuck under Canterlot wandering around the Crystal Caves for what felt like days. We just managed to escape! You know, I could really use some food." And then she collapsed. Nurse Redheart had completed her evaluation. Trixie and Starlight were completely exhausted from their adventure in the Crystal Caves. She explained to Twilight that with some rest, and some food, they would be right as rain. Twilight's relief was palpable. Starlight and Trixie were asleep in the back of the Apple Family Wagon, and the group started walking towards the gate. Twilight and her friends walked beside the wagon, chatting idly. "I just can't believe they fell through the cracks like that," Twilight said. "Literally!" cried Pinkie Pie. "You know what I mean, Pinkie. We've been back in Canterlot for a full day, how did nopony notice they were missing?" "Don't beat yerself up, sugarcube. There were over a thousand ponies in attendance fer the Friendship Festival, it's no wonder they got lost in the crowd." "I know, but this is a big deal. They were lucky they escaped at all. When Cadence and I were trapped there by Queen Chrysalis, it took hours to make our way back to the castle, and that was only because Cadence could fly. I'll have to talk to Princess Celestia about this; we can't have ponies getting lost in those caverns. Perhaps a ward system to alert the guards when ponies enter could work." "Well, I'm sure you will think of something," assured Rarity, "but what matters is that they're safe, and there's no use fretting about it now, hmm?" "You're right Rarity. I can't get worked up, especially when we have so much work to do back in Ponyville. Oh, I hope the damage isn't too bad." "Don't sweat it, Twi. Ponyville's been through worse, Ah reckon. Everythin' will be just fine." "This is a total disaster!" Twilight cried. It was late afternoon when the crowd arrived outside of the town. Standing atop a bald hill at the edge of Whitetail Woods, the ponies could do nothing but gawk at the destruction. Half of Ponyville nearest to the castle had burned down, and many other buildings were caving in on themselves. Flowerbeds were upturned, windows smashed, awnings knocked down, and detritus was everywhere. An airship sized hole had appeared in the center of Rainbow Dash's cloud home, and many of her belongings lay smashed on the ground below. On the edge of town below them, the Royal Guard had erected a tent city in preparation for the returning townsfolk. Twilight hovered above the crowd, surveying the damage. "Listen up, everypony," she shouted, "I know you all are tired from our trip home, but we cannot let this destruction stand. Report to the Royal Guard, get something to eat, and begin itemizing damages and lost property. I expect everypony to be ready to work in two hours. Mayor Mare, Amethyst Star, report to me immediately. On my honor as a Princess, we will get through this." The crowd shifted down the hill, and Twilight returned to the ground. She ordered Amethyst to maintain a headcount. Turning to Mayor Mare, she ordered her and her assistants to report to the town hall as soon as they had eaten. Rainbow Dash was to alert the Royal Guard of the incoming mob of disgruntled ponies, and the Apple family to aid the Guard in supplying food. She grabbed Spike and Fizzlepop, and teleported straight to the Friendship Castle. The Castle showed no outwardly damage, but Twilight was too far in the zone to assess. She galloped through the front door, and paused. The foyer was in complete disarray, with furniture scattered everywhere. A unicorn guard was attempting to break through the mess, a table held in his magic grasp, but was startled by Twilight's sudden entrance. "Your Highness, thank goodness you are back. I'm assuming you return with the rest of the Ponyville citizenry?" "Yes, that's right," Twilight responded distractedly, "It looks like a tornado went through here. Is the rest of the castle this bad?" The guard was quick to shake his head, "Negative, your Highness. The remaining townsponies who valiantly defended themselves here used your furniture as barricades to block the doors and windows. Except for some misplaced tables and beds, the spare rooms, the master suite, the throne room, and the library are all untouched. Now, I believe we have a reconstruction effort to set underway." "Absolutely," Twilight replied resolutely, "For now, the citizens are at the tent city resting, but I have work to do. Please assign me a courier to fly between my office upstairs and Town Hall. It's easier for a Pegasus to get to the balcony than through the front door." "Right away, your Highness." The guard ran out the door, and Twilight flew up the stairs. Spike and Fizzlepop were left in her wake. "Well, let's go. She's gonna need our help," Spike commented. Fizzlepop nodded, and the two ascended the stairs. "Normally I'd show you around the castle, it can be pretty easy to get turned around in here, but I know Twilight's going to need a letter mailed any second now." "Spike, where are you?" Twilight called, as if on cue. "Told ya." He ran down the hall to answer Twilight. Fizzlepop smirked, and cantered to keep up with him. "There you are, Spike. Go ahead and send this off, then you and Fizzlepop head to the kitchen and get something to eat. I know you're tired too. Oh, and bring me some tea please." As she spoke, Spike enveloped the letter in green flame, and turned to walk out the door. Fizzlepop followed behind, but stole a glance at Twilight. The princess was in her element, scribbling letters out as fast as she could. Fizzlepop left her to work. As they entered the kitchen, Spike frowned. "Looks like they had their way with our food stores while they were here, though I guess I can't really blame them." He took inventory, then set the kettle to boil. He was able to scrounge up just enough food to make the trio some dandelion sandwiches, and a gemstone for himself. In time, the kettle hissed, and they returned to Twilight's office. Twilight was addressing a pegasus guard, "Tell the mayor I've declared Ponyville in a State of Emergency. I've already alerted Princess Celestia, and as we speak the Royal Guard is requisitioning the railway for the relief effort. I'll be writing orders for raw materials for the next few hours. After you relate that information... Who's in charge down at the camp?" "That would be Sergeant Keen Edge, your Highness." "Thank you. Communicate to the Sergeant that he is to pick five guards to scour the city and mark each house with paint: Red for total loss, orange for condemned, and green if it's habitable. They can get paint and maps of the town from Town Hall. Let's get some of these ponies back home." "As you order, your Highness." The Pegasus cantered out the office door, and disappeared down the hall. Twilight, not acknowledging Spike or Fizzlepop, continued writing furiously. "Twilight, I know you're in a hurry, but you need to eat something. All you've had today are donuts." "I understand, Spike, but I have to get these done as soon as possible, Ponyville is counting on-" Her stomach interrupted her with a growl. Blushing, she said, "Okay, maybe I can take a few minutes." Spike chuckled as he finished setting the nearby table, and the three enjoyed their meal. Between bites, Twilight was still voicing her plans, "Fizzlepop, what do you know about your airships?" "I know how to operate, maintain, and pilot them." "Perfect, I have a special job for you two then. Spike, when we're done here, I need you to grab two of our large banners and hang them off the sides of one of the airships. They're moored off the balcony; you can't miss them. And try to hide any Storm King iconography. "Fizzlepop, in thirty minutes I want you to go down to the camp and collect a crew. None of those ponies have experience operating airships as far as I know, so it'll be up to you to train them. I'm going to count on you two to travel to Manehatten and contact a few industries there. With that armor on they won't question your authority, but all of my orders have my seal as well. If they ask questions, tell them they will be compensated by the crown at a later date. "After you deliver these manifests, I need you to head to this specific hardware warehouse and give them this order. They'll load the airship, and you will return here. I expect you back just past nightfall, as long as there isn't trouble." The two voiced their understanding, and Spike ran off to start his task. "I'll need to do a pre-flight check on the airship now." Fizzlepop rose, her armor buckling audibly, and left. The large balcony stretched out in front of Fizzlepop. The railings were being used as bollards for the airships; their mooring ropes swayed in the breeze. The afternoon heat made Fizzlepop uncomfortable in her armor, and she quickly set to work. In no time at all she had chosen an airship to make the trip. Functionally, they were identical, but her experience told her all she needed to discern which one had been maintained better. Spike was out of breath as he entered the balcony. In his claws was a rolled up, lavender tapestry. He trundled up the gangplank into the airships hull, and Fizzlepop pointed him towards the staircase to the deck. Soon they had the tapestry attached to the port side railing and unrolled it, proclaiming its new ownership. They repeated the process for the starboard just in time for Fizzlepop to leave for the camp. She instructed Spike to watch over the engine room while she was gone. She knew it would take time for the boiler to warm. She cantered her way through the crowds of displaced ponies, all enjoying some sort of stew. She arrived at the front of the food line, where a number of guards and Apples were serving the last few ponies. Looking around, she saw Big Mac gathering pots and pans for cleaning. She paused for a moment to come up with a way to address him, then set to work. “Stallion, the Princess Twilight requires you for a special mission, will you comply?” Yes, I’m certain this is how Twilight would want her Captain to carry herself: Absolutely no nonsense. Big Mac chuckled deeply, then responded with a hearty “Eeyup.” “Excellent. First, we need to gather up seven more strong ponies, a lookout and an engineer. Uh, you wouldn’t happen to know anypony that has experience working on steam engines, do you?” Big Mac nodded his head, and led the way. As they made their way down the impromptu road, lined on both sides by white tents, Rainbow Dash intercepted them. “Hey there Fizzlepop, Big Mac, whatcha up to?” “I’m gathering an airship crew for an emergency trip to Manehatten,” replied Fizzlepop. She thought for a moment. “Rainbow Dash, you seem like a skilled Pegasus; do you have a keen eye? We need a lookout.” “Are you kidding, that would be awesome! I’d love to help. Let me finish up here, and I’ll meet you all at the castle.” And she disappeared in a rainbow blur. Big Mac stopped, and pointed a hoof. Fizzlepop looked where he was pointing and saw an orange unicorn mare with a spanner for a cutie mark. She nodded and Big Mac, and the two walked up to the mare. “Excuse me,” Fizzlepop got the mare’s attention, “Do you have experience operating steam engines?” “Oh sure,” replied Silver Spanner, “I maintain the boilers around Ponyville, and before that I did maintenance on shunting locomotives down in Baltimare. How can I help?” “The Princess requires an engineer to operate an airship for an emergency trip to Manehatten. Will you comply?” “Oh wow, never worked on an Airship before. Sounds like fun. Of course I’ll help,” Silver Spanner replied cheerfully. “Excellent, report to the Castle immediately.” In no time at all, Big Mac and Fizzlepop filled out the rest of the crew, and the group returned to the castle. Silver Spanner was certifiably lost. She had galloped ahead to get to work on the airship engines, barely able to contain her excitement. She had only been to the castle once, and didn’t know the inside, but she was too eager for the new experience to worry. Now she was worried. “I feel like I’ve passed this set of doors 3 times now, like I’m going in circles.” Sure enough, she was repeatedly looping the circular hall on the second floor, and couldn’t find her way back to the stairs. “I saw the balcony from the outside, it should have been easy. All these doors look the same!” Frustrated, she started opening doors at random. The first was a broom closet, and its contents spilled out on top of her. She yelped, more in surprise than in injury. A few more doors yielded similar results: Most led to guest bedrooms or bathrooms. She slammed the door of her most recent attempt, only to hear another door open. “Is somepony there?” a nervous voice called. “Hello?” called Silver Spanner. Twilight rounded the hall to see Silver Spanner, which was a surprise. Not quite as surprising as the feather duster on her head, though. “Hello, Spanner. Are you here to help with the airship?” “Yes, Princess. I ran ahead to examine the engine, but I got lost in this hallway. Why do all the doors look the same?” The Princess frowned, recalling her own attempts to learn how to navigate the Friendship Castle. “It just takes some getting used to,” she said, “I’ll lead you to the airship, and then I’ll probably need to help Fizzlepop and the rest. She hasn’t been in the castle very long either.” She led the way towards the balcony. They entered the balcony just as Rainbow Dash landed. “Hey Twilight,” called Rainbow Dash. “Hi, Rainbow. Are you here to help with the operation too?” “Yep, Fizzlepop asked me to be lookout. Oh man, what if it’s just like that scene in Daring Do and the Griffon’s Goblet?” “Well, I doubt a horde of brainwashed griffons are going to attack you with fireballs while you’re on your way to Manehattan, but I’m sure it will be an adventure in its own right. Also, Rainbow, I need a favor.” “Sure, Twilight, whatsup?” “I expect Fizzlepop to go full tilt while on this mission, so I want you to race the airship at least once. I need to see-” Rainbow cut her off, placing a hoof on her muzzle, “Shh, you had me at race.” Twilight giggled, and teleported to the atrium. Silver Spanner had already entered the airship, and Rainbow followed suit. Fizzlepop and the crew she had gathered had just entered the Castle’s atrium when Twilight teleported in. For a brief moment, the whole room as awash in a bright light. “Ah, Fizzlepop, perfect timing. Silver Spanner got lost in the castle on her way up to the balcony, so I figured I should lead you all up there. Eventually I’ll give you a proper tour of the place.” She turned and walked up the stairs, with the group of ponies following behind her. The trip up to the balcony was uneventful, and Fizzlepop led the crew up the gangplank. She ordered them onto the deck, but before ascending herself, she decided to check the engine room. She saw Spanner, and Spanner turned and held a hoof up to her muzzle, letting out a quiet hiss. Concerned, Fizzlepop quietly cantered over to Spanner. “Look,” Spanner whispered, pointing a hoof at the open firebox door, “I was about to stoke the fire, but Spike must have climbed in while you were gone. He’s asleep in there. Isn’t that too cute?” Fizzlepop’s jaw dropped. Sure enough, Spike was napping in the firebox, comfortable as a cat in the 1000° heat. “How are we supposed to get him out? We’ve got work to do.” “Well, we could ask Twilight, but I’m not sure what she could do either. Can’t use my magic, that’d hurt. I’d hate to wake him up.” The though clicked in Fizzlepop’s mind. Why was she wasting time with this? “Spike, wake up!” she called into the firebox. “Huh, wuh?” Spike mumbled, “Woah, guess I fell asleep, huh?” “Ya, time to get to work.” Spike crawled out of the firebox door, and Spanner set back to work prepping the engine. “Man, that was great! That was one of the best naps I’ve ever had.” “You were supposed to be watching the engine, not napping,” Fizzlepop said sternly. “Well, nothing bad happened, did it?” She passed Spike a dirty look as they walked towards the stairs to the deck. He reminds me too much of Grubber. Princess Celestia wasn’t sure what to do. The other storm guards seem to understand what it meant to be a Prisoner of War, and had maintained themselves in the old guard barracks under lock and key. This small one, however, kept escaping. And he would not stop asking for cake. He doesn’t seem to be trying anything, other than getting cake. Celestia figured that, since sending the guards after him wasn’t working, she might as well pacify him. “Alright, Grubber, I have a moment now that Day Court is over, we’ll go get some cake.” “Sthounds great, Princeth.” He started rambling about all the different confections he had had since his arrival in Canterlot. Though she did not show it, Celestia was absolutely losing her mind. I have got to get rid of him. Fizzlepop lined up her impromptu crew on the deck of the airship. She debriefed them on their mission as Twilight had explained, and gave them a crash course on the operation of the airship: Basic nautical terms, rigging, communication standards, and even some pointers on the onboard weapons. She was sure they wouldn’t be needed. Most of her time had been spent with Spanner going over some of the mechanical minutia of the airship’s engines and controls. She could tell that Spanner was a skilled engineer, and had taken to her job like a fish to water. Satisfied that they were ready, Fizzlepop sent Rainbow to tell Twilight they were ready to cast off. Rainbow had only been gone a matter of seconds when Twilight teleported onto the deck behind Fizzlepop. I’m really going to have to get used to that. “Excellent timing, Captain. I just finished the last of the orders. By the time you arrive in Manehatten, your contacts should be ready for you. That, or you’ll beat the Pegasus couriers I sent.” “That sounds like a challenge, Princess.” Rainbow arrived, “You bet it is. And I’ll be putting this tub through its paces on the way there, so don’t hold back, Fizzlepop.” Twilight smiled while throwing a pair of binoculars around Rainbow Dash’s neck. Then, she floated a parcel to Spike, and a checklist to Fizzlepop. “Hit your stops in that order, and all the necessary requisitions are in that package. Good luck, and have a safe trip. Ponyville’s counting on you all. Now, I need to go help organize the demolition teams. Wish me luck.” Twilight vaulted off the deck and flew towards town. “Alright, ponies,” called Fizzlepop, “Let’s cast off!” Rainbow undid the mooring, and Fizzlepop set the reverser. Satisfied that the ship was maintaining gyroscopic stability, she massaged the throttle forward. Rainbow called their distance from the balcony, and Fizzlepop carefully shifted the ballast to list the airship left. Turning another control, rudders shifted, and the accelerating airship turned skyward. “Everything’s looking good so far, Captain,” called the disembodied voice of Spanner from the engine room. Loud hissing emanated from the rear as the cylinders blew excess condensation for a few moments, then stopped. A grin of satisfaction creeped on Fizzlepop’s features; rarely did she ever get to run a rig at full tilt. She slammed the throttle forward, and the ship bucked slightly as the props kicked into gear. Even Rainbow Dash was impressed, “Heh, no wonder you found us so quick the other day, this boat’s pretty quick!” “Well, that rainbow was the real giveaway.” “Heh heh, ya,” chuckled Rainbow Dash, nervously. Silence passed for a few moments as the airship gradually increased in speed. Rainbow chose this as a good opportunity to stretch in preparation for the race. Flapping her wings hard, she vaulted off the deck in a blur, quickly leaving the airship in the metaphorical dust. Fizzlepop was not deterred. Eyeing the gauges, she called for the fireponies to increase their rate. Soon coal was flying into the firebox, monitored by Spanner. The engine’s governor spun out further and further, and white steam billowed out from the aft’s exhaust. She adjusted the reverser more, gaining precision from the machine. Calling out to the crew, she had them adjust the rigging to aid streamlining, improving the ship’s air resistance. Rainbow Dash was merely a dot on the horizon, but that dot was getting bigger. Rainbow Dash barreled through the sky, goggles misting from the humidity. She had already put a massive amount of distance between her and Fizzlepop, and she knew she could maintain it. Her endurance wouldn’t get her all the way to Manehatten, but staying far enough ahead for long enough would prove her ability against the machine. She dared not look back; nothing was going to slow her down. At speeds any other Pegasus would hit at a sprint, she was pacing herself. Eyeing her charts, Fizzlepop estimated their arrival in Manehatten around six o’clock, putting their flight time at just under two hours. Spike was leaning against the railing, looking down. They were thousands of hooves in the air, and he was mesmerized by the quickly scrolling forests down below. “Wow, Fizzlepop,” he called, “this is amazing! And you get to do this all the time?” “Uh, not all the time. Only when I went on missions for the Storm King. It was no vacation.” “Oh, right.” Spike returned to his sightseeing. Everything was going well. Rainbow Dash was getting closer, and the engines hissed with a steady rhythm. Her gauges read well, and no callouts had been made by the crew. The sleepy countryside passed beneath them, and white clouds floated by. Fizzlepop knew the engines were going to top out soon, but Rainbow Dash was nearly in her grasp. Rainbow Dash was having a blast. The sun was just beginning its descent, casting shadows across the countryside below. She couldn’t remember the last time she had pushed herself this far for this long; it was exhilarating. Judging by the landscape, she figured they were a little over a quarter of the way to Manehatten. In her peripheral, she could see the Canterhorn, with Canterlot shining like a jewel in the early evening sun. Focus, Rainbow. She noted her altitude. At this altitude, we’re way higher than any pegasi would normally fly, and we’re above most Equestrian airship routes too, so no traffic to worry about. Just over the horizon she could see the first glimpse of Manehatten. “Aww ya, this race is as good as mine!” she called out. Something caught her ear, and she looked down. Not twenty hooves below her was the airship’s balloon, just creeping on her. She quickly accelerated, putting herself in front of the airship, then slowed down just enough to land on the deck, matching the speed of the airship as best she could. “I had a feeling you would catch up eventually, but not that quickly!” she whined, “This airship is really fast.” Fizzlepop nodded and said, “Well, I really pushed it; both for the thrill, and because I needed my spotter back.” “Heh, I guess that is a good reason. Well, I can report that I spotted no other airships or pegasi in the area.” Fizzlepop realized she had been more worried about pirates than traffic, and she chuckled. Thanking Rainbow Dash, she adjusted the controls again to bring the ship to a more reasonable speed. Communicating to the engine room, she ordered the fireponies to slow down. In the engine room, the two ponies collapsed, grateful for the rest after half an hour of constant shoveling. Spanner laughed. Shadows lengthened as they reached the halfway point of their trip. Canterlot was well behind them in the distance, and Manehatten was growing on the horizon. The crew had settled in for the trip, only making small changes to the trimming when necessary. Rainbow Dash was circling the airship in swift but loose barrel rolls. Spike was bothering Spanner in the engine room, desperate to get out of the cold air and take another nap in the fire. It was all she could do to keep him out of there, so he settled by stretching himself over the boiler. Fizzlepop was making use of her time studying charts. A grand map of Equestria stretched over the nearby table, held in place with clips. We must be over the Hollow Shades right now. She cantered to the railing, but below there were only deep forests. Must not be visible from the air. She returned to her post at the helm. Big Mac walked up beside her, copying Fizzlepop’s gaze over the bow of the ship. They stood in silence for a couple of minutes, and Fizzlepop began to feel awkward. She broke the silence, saying, “So, it’s pretty cold up here.” “Eeyup.” “Doesn’t bother you?” “Nnope.” “That’s good, I guess.” Moments passed. “So, you’re Applejack’s brother?” “Eeyup.” “Ah. She seems like a good pony. Well, I guess all of Twilight’s friends are good ponies.” “Eeyup.” “I guess; I don’t know. I really appreciate what Princess Twilight’s doing for me, but I know it’s not going to be easy to make up for what I did.” “Eeyup.” “And I know everypony knows what I did, and even with the Princess backing me and advocating for me, I know I’m going to get a lot of hate from them. Even today I could see the dirty looks, and I probably deserved every one.” Big Mac was silent. “I guess, in the end, I’m just going to have to keep doing right things, to make up for what I did. I don’t know if I really can make up for it, but hopefully everypony will forgive me in time.” “Eeyup.” “Thanks, Big Mac. I feel a lot better about this whole thing. We should talk again sometime.” “Eeyup,” said Big Mac, and he walked off. Moments later, Fizzlepop’s eyes went wide as she realized what she had just admitted to; and to a total stranger no less. I do feel better, though. The cleanup efforts in Ponyville were going well so far, in Twilight’s opinion. Ponies marched up and down the streets, salvaging belongings and materials where they could, and loading detritus into carts for the burn pile. Twilight hovered above, using her telekinetic abilities to pick up more than her fair share, loading multiple carts at a time. Not everything was going perfect. Guards were needed to keep ponies from entering their ruined homes. It was just too dangerous to retrieve their belongings, Twilight had reasoned. Most unicorns couldn’t create shields strong enough to protect them if the homes caved in; it wasn’t worth the risk. All they could do was be as judicious as possible during the demolition, in hopes that surviving belongings could be saved afterward. So many are going to have to start from scratch. Twilight finished dismantling another ruin, and flew towards the train station. A group of ponies had gathered, at the ready for the next project. A trio of earth pony stallions were carting lumber and construction hardware carefully across the tracks from the depot. Another group had finished leveling a large section of grassy field in preparation for the construction project. “Alright, ponies, listen up!” Twilight called, “We’ve only have a few hours before the first shipment of lumber arrives from Manehatten, so we need these woodsheds and the new station platform up asap. I know you all can do it.” A hearty “Yes ma’am!” rang out from the assembled team, and they set to work. Twilight flew off towards the camp, but noticed Starlight Glimmer dismantling a condemned cottage. She touched down nearby. “Starlight, I’m glad to see you’re up.” She said cheerfully, and embraced her friend in a quick hug, “Are you okay to be working?” “Ya, I’m doing a lot better. Those Apples make a mean stew. Thanks for checking up on me. Anything else I can do to help?” Twilight though for a moment, “No, keep at it. If something comes up, I’ll let you know.” And she flew off. She arrived at the camp and saw Miss Cheerilee and Trixie entertaining a crowd of foals. Twilight was glad to see Trixie up and about, and desired to hear her side of her and Starlight’s adventure, but thought it would be rude to interrupt their storytelling. She returned to the town, knowing that there was still a lot of work to do before evening. Manehatten was well within their sight. Fizzlepop could see the long stretch of industries on Manehatten’s westward edge. Smokestacks billowed white exhaust, creating a light cloud cover in front of the city’s tallest buildings. As they neared, she could see trains milling about rail yards, pushing freight cars back and forth in what could only be organized chaos. She ordered the airship slower still, further dropping their altitude gradually. Matching Twilight’s checklist with her navigation charts, quickly locating their first destination. She reasoned Twilight had picked Tough as Nail’s Lumber due to its central location and the empty lot next door; perfect to moor the airship. Gathering the crew on deck, she barked orders. The ponies adjusted the rigging to aid the ship in its descent. It would take precision to land the ship vertically over the lot. She adjusted the reverser and lowered the throttle, letting the engines stall for just a few moments. The airship drifted forward, quickly losing speed as the ambient air worked against it. She pulled a chord with her hoof, and a long toning whistle bellowed out of the machine. Opening the reverser once more, and opening the throttle, she reversed the airship’s props, quickly slowing the ship down with a slight lurch. Rainbow Dash was calling out their distance to the lot as they slowly drifted into position. She massaged the throttle, and the airship slowed, slowed, and stopped. The ship hovered in place above the empty lot as ponies, who had noticed the whistle blast, began circling on the ground around the incoming craft. Fizzlepop adjusted the ballast, and the airship began sinking. Rainbow Dash vaulted off the deck, and called out the ships now narrowing altitude, and Fizzlepop matched it to the altimeter’s approximations. Two pegasi from the crew grabbed mooring ropes, and hovered beside the ship as it neared the ground. Minutes passed as the ship moved into position. Finally, the ship halted a mere two pony’s height above the stone lot. Adjusting the controls, she locked down the ship, and the safety valve at the aft of the ship let out a large plume of steam. Fizzlepop announced to the crew that Spanner was in charge, and she and Spike exited the deck into the hull. Big Mac cantered up and down the deck, throwing mooring ropes to the ponies down below. They secured the ends to whatever weighty detritus was available, and the airship was finally secured. The gangplank slowly cranked down, revealing Fizzlepop, still in her gleaming lavender armor, and Spike, who was on her back, holding the parcel full of orders. He attached the parcel to her side, and pulled out the map of the area. They descended the gangplank, and met Rainbow Dash on the ground. “Wow, never thought I could add ‘landing an airship’ to my list of accomplishments,” Rainbow Commented, wiping sweat from her brow, “that’s a lot of work.” Fizzlepop nodded and said, “Well, at least you didn’t have to do it in wartime conditions; When I opened the gangplank the other day and saw all four Princesses standing there, I was sure I was about to meet a fiery, laser induced end.” “Heh, hadn’t thought of that.” Rainbow Dash looked away awkwardly. “Anyway, let’s get going,” Spike said, “We have a lot of ponies to talk to, and some of these companies are a decent trot away.” The trio cantered down the cobblestone street, evening settling in around them. Sunlight glinted off warehouse windows, and workponies milled around, going about their business. Steam whistles sounded all around from various industries and locomotives, and plumes of exhaust sailed overhead. As they neared the lumberyard, they could hear the loud whine of buzz saws working. The trio entered the main entrance to Tough as Nail’s Lumber, Fizzlepop leading the way. The small waiting room was largely unfinished, sporting a cobblestone floor and no immediate ceiling. Spike looked straight up at the ironwork arches holding up the massive roof to the warehouse. The right wall was dominated by filing cabinets, and in front was a secretary mare at a small wood desk. Without looking up, the secretary said pointedly, “If you’re here for a pick up move your cart to the north dock entrance.” Fizzlepop cantered up and cleared her throat. Spike presented the order. “Actually,” Fizzlepop declared, “We are representatives of Princess Twilight. We need this order fulfilled immediately, exactly as it reads.” The secretary grabbed the order in her hooves and looked it over, her eyes growing wide. “Uh, give me a moment. Boss!” she galloped out of the waiting room into the warehouse. In moments she returned behind a large, muscular earth pony stallion. He maneuvered behind the desk, and eyed Fizzlepop up and down. Extending a hoof, he introduced himself, “Name’s Tough as Nails, owner and manager of Tough as Nails.” “Captain Berrytwist, of Princess Twilight’s honor guard.” They shook. “Hmm, well you look official enough. Let’s look at this here.” The secretary set the order down on the desk and he read it over. “This is quite the order, and she wants it now? Did somethin’ happen?” “Ponyville burned down,” she replied plainly. “Yeesh, no kiddin’? Alright, I’ll have the team get to work on fulfillin’ this order. And we’ll have the railroads full cooperation?” “Yes, the Royal Guard is taking charge of the operation, just follow the instructions in the order. And you will be compensated by the crown, of course.” “We’ll get on it. Pleasure doin’ business with da Princess.” He cantered out of the waiting room and began shouting orders at the employees, and the trio exited the building. Stepping out onto the street, Spike pulled out the map and directed them to the next stop. Fizzlepop trotted down the street, Rainbow Dash hovering beside her. Minutes later they were at their next destination: another lumber yard. They quickly repeated their performance successfully, and left. “Two down, four to go,” remarked Rainbow Dash, now hovering over Spike’s shoulder as they read the map. “Looks like our next stop is a steel supplier of some sort,” said Spike, “Kinda wish we had stuff like this in Ponyville, then we wouldn’t have to fly halfway across Equestria just to get building materials.” It took some time to travel to the next industry, and once again they were successful. Ponies seemed eager to accept orders from a Princess, and any potential conflict disappeared when Ponyville’s dire situation was mentioned. The promise of compensation didn’t hurt, either. As sunset arrived, only two industries stood in their way from returning to Ponyville. “Jack Hammer’s Construction,” read Spike aloud. So far, they had placed orders for lumber, steel, thaumic wire, plumbing materials, and had even rented construction vehicles. All that was left was to contract a construction crew to aid in the rebuilding effort. “So let me get this straight. You want me to call back all my operators and two of my teams that are already in the field working other projects, load them onto a train, and send ‘em off ta Ponyville for the next week to build some cottages?” “I want you to follow the instructions on that document,” Fizzlepop replied curtly. So far, negotiations were not going well. When they first arrived, the secretary ignored them. Contractors, apparently, did not cater to walk ins. When Fizzlepop mentioned the Princess, the secretary finally relented and fetched her boss. He was less than impressed by the situation. “Well, that’s what this document says. A full crew of vehicle operators and two teams of construction ponies. And I’m supposed to send them now.” “Then do it,” Fizzlepop was losing her patience. “That is not how this industry works. The companies my teams are doing work for right now scheduled months in advance, and I don’t see the urgency in a little housing project.” “Can’t you read? This is not a housing project, half of Ponyville burned down. We have hundreds of displaced ponies in need of housing; it says so right there.” “I don’t buy it. How could any fire spread that bad, anyway? How do I know any of this is legit? And I certainly don’t see any bits on you.” “They were attacked by the Storm King’s army.” “Who?” “What do you mean ‘who’? The Storm King’s army attacked Ponyville and Canterlot just the other day, captured three of the Princesses, and were defeated by Princess Twilight. Their army sacked Ponyville looking for her. How have you not heard of this?” “Meh, I can’t keep track of every evil magician and demigod that attacks Equestria every Tuesday, and I’m losing my patience with this nonsense,” He pushed the order back across the desk at Fizzlepop, “Take your order and get out of my office.” Fizzlepop snapped, “Listen, I am a representative of the crown, and the Royal Guard is going to be here this evening expecting to load a bunch of ponies onto a train,” she stood up, bracing her front hooves on the desk, “You will follow these orders to the letter,” she grabbed the pony’s tie in her hoof, pulling him close, “or you will regret it. Do we have an understanding?” Under her stern gaze, the manager finally relented. “Fine. Now get out of my office, and you can bet the Princess is gonna hear about this.” The trio exited the building, and after moments of silence, Rainbow Dash commented, “Uh, Fizzlepop? Don’t you think that was kinda harsh?” “I did what I had to,” she snapped, before cantering off back towards the airship. Rainbow Dash and Spike shared a look before speeding up to catch up with her. They arrived back at the airship, where ponies of all sorts were milling around. Foals stood wide-eyed at the craft, while craftsponies and workers chatted with the airship crew. A few Royal Guard pegasi were standing near the gangplank, talking to one of the crewponies. Seeing Fizzlepop and Rainbow Dash, they cantered up. “Captain Fizzlepop. Princess Twilight sent us to assist with the project, but it appears you have already completed your mission. We’ll remain to help administrate rail transport for the materials. Are you scheduled to return to Ponyville?” “Princess Twilight ordered us to pick up hardware at a nearby industry, then return to Ponyville,” Fizzlepop responded. “Understood,” was all the Pegasus guard said, then they flew off towards the rail yard. The hiss and chuffs of shunter locomotives echoed across the lot. Fizzlepop gathered up her crew and ordered them back onto the ship. On deck, Fizzlepop did a headcount. “Where’s Thunderlane?” “He went to go get us dinner. He said Manehatten hotdogs were second to none.” Fizzlepop wasn't impressed. "What? We have a schedule to maintain. This isn't a pleasure cruise." The crew withered under her glare until Rainbow Dash intervened, "Come on, Fizzy, lighten up. They're not your Storm Guards, they're civilian volunteers." Sighing exasperatedly, Fizzlepop gave in, "Fine, we'll hold here until after dinner, then it's back to work. And we are going to talk about that nickname you've given me, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow grinned. Twilight was in high spirits as she exited the guest bedroom into the hallway. It was nearly sunset, and thanks to everypony's cooperation and hospitality, over eighty percent of the town had somewhere to stay that night that wasn't a small tent. Ponies whose homes had survived opened their doors to their friends and family, and the few hotels were waving their rates thanks to the promise of an eventual tax credit. Town Hall was full, and even Twilight's castle was to play host. She had promised the many guest bedrooms to as many as she could make room for, and she, Spike, Starlight, Fizzlepop, and Rainbow Dash would have to bunk in the Master Bedroom. Oh, it'll be just like a sleepover! She had spent the last forty minutes working dutifully to prepare the rooms for her guests. It was no mean feat to carry all the displaced furniture from the foyer up the spiral staircase, even with her telekinesis. Only one guest room remained. Through the door from the stairs, Twilight slowly walked into the circular hallway, angling the bed just so to fit through the doorway. Around the hall she went, nearing the furthest room. As she got close, a sound caught her ear. Suddenly, a deafening growl emanated from the guestroom. Twilight jumped straight up and dropped the bed with a loud thunk. "What in the hay is that? It sounds like a manticore! Or, maybe a Storm Guard is in there." Bolstering herself, she quietly and carefully walked toward the door, and slowly opened it just enough to peak inside. Nothing appeared out of sorts, so she slowly opened the door, all the while the 'growling' continued. She peered at the bed, noticing a pony sized lump under the bed sheets. "Hello, is somepony there?" She neared the bed, slowly. She placed a hoof on the lump and gently shook. "Ah!" There was a yell, and the bed sheets exploded up, encompassing Twilight and tripping her as she tried to back away. "Who goes there? Show yourselves, fiends!" said a stallion. "Wah, who's there?" Twilight flailed around, unable to escape the sheets. "Princess Twilight, is that you?" The unknown voiced ripped the sheets off Twilight, and she looked up. "Flash Magnus? What are you doing here?" Flash donned his armor as he spoke. "Good morrow, Princess. I apologize for staying in your castle uninvited, but I was exhausted after the siege the other day, and because I sought your audience." I am definitely going to install some locks in this place. "Oh, that's fine, Flash. I'm surprised to see you here, though. I thought you were in Cloudsdale?" Flash looked sullen for a moment. "Indeed I was, your Highness. In fact, that is partially what I wanted to talk to you about." Twilight had just finished remaking the bed. "Of course. Let me go brew some tea, and we'll talk in the throne room." Twilight opened the double door to the throne room, carefully floating the tea set behind her. Flash was, arguably, the Pillar of Equestria she had spent the least amount of time with, and knew the least about. Before he had joined Stygian and the rest to defeat the Sirens, he had been a staple member and leader in Cloudsdale's Royal Legion, keeping the newly founded Equestria safe from Griffon invaders and Dragon looters. Flash was standing at attention in front of the large table in the center of the throne room, and turned when Twilight entered. "Oh, um... go ahead and take Applejack's seat there." She pointed at the throne next to hers. Flash nodded and, flapping his wings, carefully touched down in the seat. Twilight set the table, unloading the tray of its contents, and sat down. "So, how can I help you, Flash?" "Well, I think it would be wise to start after the Knighting Ceremony." Flash sipped his tea, then stared at it as he recalled the past few weeks. "As you know, we were very grateful for the awards and title Princess Celestia granted us as knights in her name, both for our actions in the past and for saving Stygian. Although to be honest, that was mostly you and Starlight's doing." Twilight blushed at the compliment. "After you and your friends returned to Ponyville, we said our goodbyes too. It seemed everypony was quick to return to their homes to see what has become of them over time, but Rockhoof was hesitant. The day after the ceremony, he and I remained in Canterlot. We had the opportunity to watch the guards train at the Castle barracks. I hate to admit this, but I was not impressed." Twilight gave him a quizzical look, so he elaborated, "As we watched, a castle servant taught me the history of the Royal Guard. Even after unification, Equestria had no formal military. Many large towns had militias, but the Royal Legion of Cloudsdale was by far the largest, most organized force. When the E.U.P. was founded, Cloudsdale gave up its military independence, but founded the Wonderbolts. I have seen them perform recently, they are truly skilled in acrobatics. "Over time, as it was explained to me, the E.U.P. slowly fell to the wayside, as Canterlot's Royal Guard, under the leadership of Princess Celestia, took control. "They have the zealousness and fervor, but, to be honest, they are completely lacking in might and skill. The Pegasus guards are not swift, and the unicorns do not use their magic as far as I have seen. Rockhoof even sparred a few willing, and defeated them utterly. "My visit to Cloudsdale was similar. Don't misunderstand, I was welcomed as a hero. They threw a great celebration that first night in my honor. And the improvements they have made to the weather factory are truly something to behold! But as I wandered about the city over the next few days I saw first-hoof how much it has changed. Not a single street remains the same as it did in my time, it is a totally alien city. The great headquarters of the Royal Legion is totally gone, and even the Colosseum is vastly different." "I'm sorry to hear that." Twilight offered him more tea. "I can't even imagine what it must be like to be displaced in time like that, and I'm sure all of the Pillars are struggling. I don't even know if Rockhoof knows his ancestral city is an archeological site now." "He will find out soon, if he does not. He is traveling there as we speak." "Oh dear. Does he have anyone with him?" "I do no believe so. Do not worry, he is a mighty stallion, both in strength and in wisdom. He will mourn, as I am, and dedicate himself to the protection of Equestria." Twilight's eyes widened in concern, "...Mourn?" "Yes. I visited Cloudsdale's Mausoleum during my visit. Pegasi have always been cremated, and our names are interred there on plaques. I... missed out. My two children were young when we entered limbo, and for Equestria's sake I lost the opportunity to raise them. My son followed in my hoofsteps, joining the Royal Legion and becoming an accomplished warrior in his own right. My daughter was a medic, tending to those injured in the line of battle protecting Equestria. I could not be more proud. "My lineage now spans Equestria, over nearly fifty generations. There are thousands living with me in their ancestry, and even Rainbow Dash is a part of my lineage. The chronicler showed me that from my son I have an unbroken line of first-born males that have all dedicated themselves to Equestria's defense in some form, culminating in a young colt named Flash Sentry. He shares my colors, my namesake, and military heritage. I think... I would like to meet him, and maybe even some others that share my family tree. But there are so many, I wouldn't even know where to begin." He chuckled mirthlessly. "Oh wow, that's amazing! You have to tell Rainbow Dash, she'll be beside herself. And meeting your existing family will be a challenge, but I know where you can start. I've actually met Flash Sentry, he's currently stationed as a palace guard in the Crystal Empire. He, uh, seems nice..." She trailed off, blushing slightly. "Indeed?" He laughed heartily. "Then I believe I will fret over this no longer. But that leaves... another problem." Twilight tilted her head inquisitively. "I am unsure of what to do with myself now that I am back. The Royal Guard does not seem to have a place for me, and I certainly cannot return to the Legion. My only desire is to dedicate my efforts to protecting Equestria, as I have done in the past. So, I turn to you. I have studied your accomplishments, Princess, and you are currently the penultimate defender of Equestria, having saved it from so many enemies. Please-" He stood up from the chair and, facing Twilight, bowed. "Give me a place. Grant me another opportunity to put my skills to work for Equestria's defense." Twilight stood up. "Rise, Flash Magnus. I'm very glad you came to me; Equestria does require your service. I can't get into all the details right now, but there is a threat to Equestria that I am working to deal with. I am preparing an army, and I will need all the experienced ponies I can get. I invite you to stay in the castle for the time being, and tomorrow I will get you up to speed on what's been going on." Flash saluted. "Thank you, Princess, I will not let you down." Thunder sounded in the distance. The sun was nearly past the horizon as the last crate was shoved up the gangplank. Fizzlepop supervised impatiently as the team pushed and pulled the heavy hardware into place with the rest. Flying an airship at night was difficult enough, she did not want to takeoff in the dark as well. Rainbow Dash touched down next to her, facing the airship. "Well, the wind's picked up a bit, shouldn't affect takeoff. It'll give us a nice tailwind, though." Fizzlepop had already made adjustments to the airship's ballast to compensate for the cargo's immense weight, and was mentally going through her pre-flight checklist. Spanner had prepped the engines, the crew was double-checking the security of the cargo, and they had just finished taking on water to fuel the boiler. Traffic wouldn't be an issue, even in busy Manehatten, and the Royal Guard was taking care of everything else. Touching down near the Ponyville Station at night would probably be the hardest part, she thought. On deck, Fizzlepop mustered the crew, "All hooves!" There was a thundering of hooves, and then the quiet clacking of Spike's claws as he tried to catch up. With a quick order, the line of ponies dispersed to their stations, and Fizzlepop returned to the helm. Spike grumbled as he returned to the warmth of the boiler, wondering why he needed to be present. Rainbow Dash fluttered alongside the slowly rising airship, zipping back and forth as she gathered the loose mooring ropes. Soon the craft was up, up, and away, soaring high above the Manehatten industrial sector in the waning sunlight. With a great chuff and a plume of white steam, the airship sped back to Ponyville. Twilight exited the shower, finally clean after a hard days work. The dust and detritus from the demolitions had left her grimy, and she was prepared for a good nights rest before work picked up again tomorrow. Her bedroom was ready for her 'sleepover', and all she needed to do was prepare for the incoming shipments and guide in Fizzlepop. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. The ponies of Ponyville had surpassed her expectations. All of the demolition work was done, and the new woodsheds and warehouse had been completed across from the railroad station. Every filly and mare had found lodging, treating this horrible situation as a big sleepover, celebrating the opportunity instead of giving into despair. Everyone capable had worked so hard, and were prepared to work just as hard the following day. The Ponyville restoration project, which would have taken months via conventional means, in her estimation, would be completed in a couple of weeks. And Ponyville would be stronger for it. Twilight meandered into her bedroom, grabbing a book in her magic as she laid down on the bed. Fizzlepop would arrive in less than two hours, and the first train would show up at least a couple hours after that. All she could do now was wait, so she dove into her literature. "Ahhh," she sighed, "Nothing is better than reading in bed with a cup of coffee while listening to the rain. Wait, rain?" She leapt out of bed and pressed her face against the window. Sure enough, the sky had gone dark, and rain was steadily coming down. She raced out of her bedroom, down the hall, flew down the spiral staircase, and vaulted into the foyer. "What is going on? You-" she pointed at the nearest Pegasus guard, "find out why the weather plan was changed. Hurry." With a quick Yes Ma'am he sprung into action and swung open the front door, only to collide head first into another pony. Twilight, hearing their helmets collide, turned around and galloped to the door to survey the damage. Outside was a soaking wet pegasus mare in a lab coat and hardhat, nursing a darkening bruise on her forehead. Twilight held out a hoof and helped the pony up. "Oh dear, are you alright? Come inside, out of the weather." Twilight closed the door, teleported, and returned back with two cups of coffee. "Thank you, Princess Twilight," the mare said, "I'm a representative from Cloudsdale's Weather Factory. Well, what do you think?" She grinned and pointed a hoof as if presenting something. CRACKOW Twilight was confused, "What do I think about what?" "Why, the storm, of course. The other day, we received a request from Ponyville for the 'King of all Storms'. Can't imagine why, though. But you asked, and we delivered. Took a full day 'round the clock to make, too." Twilight scowled, "I never requested any storm! Ponyville and Canterlot came under attack by the forces of the Storm King, and they laid waste to half the town. I have nearly a hundred ponies sleeping in tents tonight. I can't even begin to imagine how many things must have gone wrong to lead to this. Why wasn't I told ahead of time?" The mare withered under her stare, "I-I don't know, your Highness, I wasn't in charge. Uh, but don't worry, the storm will expand naturally and end in about seven hours. Anywaythanksforthecoffeegottagobye!" She panicked and flew out the door. Twilight could only stand there, dumbfounded.