//------------------------------// // 55 The Coming Storm, Part Three // Story: Continuity Disrupted // by Doug Graves //------------------------------// August 16th, 1000 Domina Solaria Rainbow Dash arcs high above Sweet Apple Acres, stifling a yawn. She has been hard at work all day making sure her quadrant of Ponyville is ready for the Lightning Storm. The thick, black storm clouds above her crackle with charged electricity. And not the kind of lightning bolts the thunderheads that she normally pushes around spits out. But some super-charged version those eggheads in Canterlot cooked up that would stun, if not seriously injure, anypony caught outside of the designated safe zones. At least, that’s what the literature they’ve been passing out for the last two months says, but Rainbow Dash knows it’s a lot closer to the dreaded k-word than most ponies are comfortable admitting. In some places the work is still ongoing. Like directly underneath her, where she can see Big Mac and Doug setting up the last of the pylons to protect the various apple trees. None of the other fields merited such an expenditure, and hopefully they are going to be done real soon. She has to give the all-clear any minute now, or risk delaying the Storm. She can already see some of the bulges in the clouds threatening to spill out, and once that happens there’s no going back. It’s either scrap it and lose everything, and have to redo the whole test another time. And they’d still have to run a normal end-of-summer storm to clear the air, and they didn’t have the clouds for that on hoof. Better to just get everything done right the first time, and be done with it. It is a point of pride for Rainbow Dash that Ponyville was chosen for the first ‘live’ test. She had witnessed the proof of concept two years ago, when Princess Celestia had asked about some sort of airspace-denial system, like she was afraid of a horde of griffons attacking or some nonsense. Like a bunch of flying creatures would just up and invade Equestria. Who does that? But, back to business. Doug and Big Mac are cantering back towards the two farmhouses, and they are the last of the stragglers. She casts a nervous glance towards the north end of Ponyville; it isn’t her quadrant, but Applejack, Rarity, and Trixie are supposed to be securing the last few trees in that area before they head back home. Rainbow would be heading to her cloud house to test how it weathers the storm, something they hadn’t done enough of in their previous tests. It is now parked as low to the ground as possible just outside the Everfree Forest. She nervously rubs a hoof along the amulet that is supposed to help protect against the lightning strikes. But she had seen the results of those tests, too. Rainbow does a quick scan of the entirety of her sector. Nopony visible. Which is worrisome, since Applejack and Trixie at the very least should be heading back home. Maybe they already made it, and she missed them? Rainbow scoffs at the thought; there’s no way she let something like that slip under her watchful eye. She heads towards the center of town regardless, mindful of the four sets of eyes drilling into her. She glances down one last time, spotting Trixie’s blue form shooting a yellow flare into the air as she races towards Sweet Apple Acres. Thunder peals above her, sporadic rain showers starting and drowning everything in a dull haze. That’s their signal. But where are Applejack and Rarity? Cloudchaser, Open Skies, and Clear Skies round out the four most senior of Ponyville’s weather force. They all are waiting for her above the center of town at the designated meet up spot for when their areas are clear. Fast Clip, normally one of the Wonderbolt instructors but commandeered for this training exercise, is holding a clipboard with two large red check marks corresponding to the east and south parts of Ponyville. Cloudchaser watches Trixie’s retreating form, saying, “That’s the last signal we’re waiting for. And… that’s my quadrant clear.” She glances over to Rainbow Dash, “Another two minutes, I’d guess, and we’re all set.” She grimaces at the static clinging to every drop of rain, continued flight becoming more and more uncomfortable. “Yup,” Rainbow Dash agrees, nervously looking to the north. “I did want to check one more thing, though.” She shivers, trying to lower herself away from the threatening skies; one bolt from those clouds could knock a pony silly, and flying this high could do some serious damage if you weren’t caught. The storm’s insidious design, though, was that a shocked pony would transfer that shock to any would-be rescuers not specifically protected. Her hoof rubs up against the amulet again, hoping she wouldn’t need to use it. “We don’t have time for this,” Fast Clip states, huffing at the continued delays. Sheesh, he should be here during Winter Wrap Up. “Is your sector clear or not?” He holds the clipboard closer to himself, waiting on filling in that last red box, his neutral gaze suppressing his frustration at these civilians. Rainbow Dash sighs, watching Trixie disappear into the Carrot House. “Yup. All clear.” Fast Clip nods, “Okay, then, excellent job. Right on schedule. You each have five minutes to do any last checks, then we’re pressing the button.” The key around his neck jingles back and forth as the wind around them starts picking up, the prelude to the coming storm. Rainbow Dash nods, a rainbow contrail behind her as she speeds first to the north part of town. Rain deluges everything, passing over park benches and trees that quickly turn to muddy pits. Nothing! She turns to the west, now passing over Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow moans in frustration as she pulls up to the Carrot House. Even if she doesn’t make it in time to return to her cloud house, she can calm her worried thoughts and make sure those two are okay. One quick glance towards Fast Clip shows him and Whiplash both with their keys locked into some big box. Watching her as one hoof hovers over a large red button. That is blinking. Ominously. Maybe she should get inside. Rainbow Dash zips inside the Carrot House as the button depresses, the darkness around turning to day as the lightning strikes increase tenfold. * Trixie and Rarity both ‘ooh’ at Rarity’s latest attempt, the leaves on the tree now a brilliant gamboge. “That’s good for a single color,” Trixie says, nodding with a smile, “But most leaves have many different shades. Observe the creative and artistic Trixie in action!” Rarity’s eyes shine white, the main side effect of a magical analysis spell, as she watches Trixie’s horn light, a neutral gaze on the white unicorn’s muzzle. A beam of magenta shoots towards the tree, the leaves now a brilliant rainbow of yellows and oranges, almost exactly like the leaves during Autumn and following the Running of the Leaves. Trixie smirks, her smile more than a little full of herself, “The patient and understanding Trixie will gladly demonstrate again if Rarity desires.” She rips the branch down, adding it to the growing pile of slightly and majorly off color branches. Rarity’s horn shoots a beam of light blue, the branches and leaves not only turning a range of reds and pinks but also shaping themselves to small figurines of two ponies prancing, an exact likeness of the Ponyville flag. Trixie gawks as Rarity smirks, “Might need to keep your boasting in check there, Trix.” Both yelp as a rope lassoes the multicolored branch, ripping the dead wood from the tree and dragging it to the ground. A southern accent rings out, “And both’a y’all need to stop foaling around and help me finish this work! Ah thought’d be going faster with two unicorns helping, but it seems like Ah’m the one doing all the work!” “Sorry, Applejack,” the two unicorns chorus, obviously not the first time they’ve had to apologize for slacking off on their assigned duties. Not every tree could afford to be protected, and to help with the potential damage the gale force winds could cause they are stripping the trees of the loose and dead branches, the kindling to be kept inside until the test is over. Trixie whispers to Rarity, “Well, I thought your last attempt was very good. A combination of a multi-hued recolor and reshaping? It’s like you’re a natural!” Rarity winks back at Trixie, “Why, thank you! Honest magic is my specialty after all, even if I don’t use Deceit as frequently.” She grins, “You aren’t so bad yourself. Your colors look far better than mine, much closer to the natural shade of an autumn leaf.” “I’ve… Trixie has spent many a night practicing to make her deceptions as close to reality as possible.” Trixie sighs, a dull glance back towards her wagon, now parked directly underneath the Carrot House. At some point she would need to make a decision, she’s put it off for far too long. “Lonely nights, I presume,” Rarity says back, sympathetically rubbing a hoof along Trixie’s withers. “Yes, and-” “And both a y’all better quit your talking and help! Ah know you don’t need to use your mouths to light your horns! We’re nearly out of time!” Applejack glances up at the roiling black clouds above, the occasional lightning strike illuminating the green trees just north of Ponyville. She grits her teeth before grabbing her rope again, pulling down another few branches. She glances around, inspecting the various trees and giving a satisfied huff. “That’s the last of ‘em. No thanks to you two.” “Sorry if we were focusing on more important things,” Rarity says, slightly turning her nose up. “After all, you got the job done just in time, right?” Applejack snorts, shaking her head as she drags the main bundle of kindling towards the nearest house. Trixie levitates the remaining smaller pieces as they fall off, putting them back on the pile. The door to the house opens, an only somewhat irate earth pony taking the branches inside. “You did a… a great job, Applejack,” Trixie says, glancing up at the clouds threatening to spill forth any second now. “Perhaps we should head back? Trixie does not fancy getting drenched.” “Yeah, you and Rares both,” Applejack snorts, shaking her head at the white unicorn still testing the recolor spell. “At least you can help every now and then instead of just getting in the way.” “While Trixie would not presume to know another’s intentions, she thinks Rarity is just a little excited with her new spell, like a foal on Hearth’s Warming.” Trixie smirks as Applejack chuckles, “But we do need to head back.” The clouds above boom, rain starting to come down in buckets. Applejack nervously glances up at the four pegasi hovering in the middle of town, hoping they haven’t started yet. They are missing Rainbow, though, and they wouldn’t be up there if it was starting. “Wow, it ain’t me being the responsible one? Color me impressed.” “Is that a gold? Or a royal blue? I hear midnight is making a comeback,” Trixie smirks as Applejack shakes her head. “You just head on back. Go ahead and give ‘em the signal, we’ll catch up with ya.” Applejack gallops over to where Rarity is cowering under an awning. Trixie grimaces, not wanting to leave the two behind, but neither does she want to stay in the rain any longer than she has to. She canters down the streets of Ponyville, her horn shooting a yellow flare into the dark sky. Applejack huffs, half ready to pull the recalcitrant unicorn by her mane all the way back to Sweet Apple Acres if she has to. The rain on her back tingles, an odd and unexpected sensation for the farmpony used to working in the rain. “Come on, Rarity,” she grunts out, leveling a stare. “It’s just water. Just think of it like you’re taking a shower.” “But my hair!” Rarity says, motioning to her purple curls. Many strands are starting to peel off, what is normally straight hair when wet instead turning extremely frizzy, even though it is still dry. “The rain is going to ruin my hair!” “It’ll ruin a lot more than just your hair if we stay here! It ain’t safe!” Applejack stops halfway from biting Rarity’s tail - she mostly reserves that for Rainbow’s unruly trap of a tail. “Come on!” A rainbow blur speeds by above, barely noticeable from their hidden spot. “But Applejack,” Rarity complains, “why didn’t we bring an umbrella?” As if to prove why, the winds pick up to a point that would rip an umbrella from hoof, mouth or horn. “You need to quit yer belly-achin’ and go!” Applejack’s mouth inches closer to Rarity’s tail, giving the unicorn a firm push in the flank. “Come on!” “Fine!” Rarity says, taking two steps into the rain. She does make sure to avoid the quickly growing puddles; even if she is going to get drenched she still has standards. “There, that ain’t so bad!” Applejack says, trotting through the muck before a gigantic thunderbolt sends both of them scurrying to the nearest source of cover. “Applejack! Rarity!” comes a voice from one of the nearby houses. Both of them turn, trying to spot the source while lightning crashes and thunder peals around them. “Applejack! Rarity!” The two locate Twilight Sparkle, her eyes glowing white while waving to them from the cover of The Golden Oaks Library. Applejack and Rarity gallop over, yelping as the lightning above increases ten-fold. They skid to a stop just outside, both muddy from their quick jaunt through the street. “Thank ya kindly, Twilight,” Applejack says, though she is stopped as she tries to walk inside. Curious as to what is holding her back she sees a muddy white hoof pressing against her barrel. Rarity motions with her head to the garden hose outside, “Ah ah, Applejack, we should be polite houseguests and wash up before we enter.” “Out in a lightning storm?” asks Twilight Sparkle incredulously, her white eyes still monitoring the storm outside. “You can use my bathroom, I don’t mind.” “And just how are we supposed to get there without tracking mud all over?” says Applejack, glancing to her own muddy hooves. Twilight Sparkle’s horn lights, both Applejack and Rarity lifted off the ground. “No problem!” Twilight Sparkle says as she grins, the two quickly finding themselves deposited into the bathtub, which is barely large enough for both of them to fit inside, much less maneuver around. “Ah don’t suppose you have a way of getting us home,” Applejack snorts out as she turns the water on. She starts rinsing her muddy hooves off as she continues, “‘Cause, Ah know you don’t mind missing a night with Doug, but Ah do.” “Relax, Applejack, he’ll be fine. I’m sure he can go one night by himself. Even if there is a small storm raging outside.” The thunder above rings out, loud despite the solid oak walls. Rarity flinches, trying to push past Applejack to wash her own hooves off, “Okay, maybe I wish he was with me.” Her ears lay flat against her head as another wave of thunder rolls off the library, the tree house swaying in the wind.