"Thank you again for this." I gave Opal a slight bow. "I'll be back to get him once we're done with the transfer." I turned Peewee. "Now, you listen to Aunt Opal, and, if you behave, I might have a treat for you. Okay?"
"Kay!"
Opal nodded with a smile. "I'll see you when you're done." She hooked a paw around Peewee and carefully pulled him into the Boutique. I waved to the chick until the door closed.
With a sigh, I turned and began rushing to the reservoir. I really hope they haven't started yet. I thought as I bolted through town. I may not be adding- Oh, no, they haven't started yet. I glanced up to see several pegasi flying the same direction I was running. I barely slowed as I left the main town behind. Seeing where Rainbow was having the pegasi gather, I hurried over, skidding to a stop next to my mare.
Rainbow floated above the crowd. "Alright, listen up!" She shouted, gathering everypony's attention. "Spitfire will be here in about twenty minutes, and there's something that we need to go over! There some of you on the weather team that already know this, so you could help Twilight set up her machine. Go talk to Moon Dancer and Yomega to check in, then join the line." Those called out began to swarm the busy mare.
"The rest of you, I need you guys to know something!" Rainbow pointed at me. "Spitfire doesn't know about Leo or the Eevee's abilities, and Twilight doesn't want the average pony to know about those. Not until all of those abilities have been cataloged." She shrugged. "Or most of them, anyway. The point is, is that Twilight and Moon Dancer don't think these little fluff balls have shown us everything they can do yet. So, Leo won't be doing anything fancy today." She glanced down at me. "Right?"
<<I make as many guarantees as the government.>> I smiled and nodded.
"... Right." Rainbow sighed. "So don't go telling Spitfire, alright?" She waited out the chorused agreement. "Good. Now, we need everypony to line up and check in."
I spent my time waiting by checking the path I was planning on running for debris and tripping hazards. I had just finished my circuit when Spitfire flew in. Knowing that Rainbow could start fangirling, I sauntered over and poked her leg.
<<Hey.>> I waited until I could make eye contact with Rainbow. <<She's just a mare. Remain professional.>>
She nodded, settling her hat back onto her head. "Glad you could make it." Rainbow murmured back. "Who's watching the chick?"
<<Opal.>>
Rainbow started to say something, but shook her head instead and rose into the air. "Are we ready to do this?!" She yelled out over the winding line of ponies. She landed as the cheering died down. I folded my ears as I rushed to her side.
Unfortunately, just as Rainbow was breathing in to blow her whistle, Moon Dancer appeared next to her with a crack of displaced air. "We've got a problem." She pointed to Thunderlane's place on her list. "I just got back from Ponyville General, he's out with featherflu." She began flipping through her list. "Him and several others."
I watched Rainbow slightly deflate as Moon Dancer left to consult with Twilight. <<I'm sure it'll be okay.>> I reassured my mare. I cast our visitor a look. <<Should we at least let Spitfire know?>>
"Yeah." Rainbow floated towards the Wonderbolt. "I'm sorry, Spitfire, but several of our pegasi have come down with Featherflu. We're just crunching numbers to-"
"It's okay." Spitfire interrupted. "Just let me know if you need to send for some of Cloudsdale's."
I saw Rainbow flinch. It was very well suppressed, to the point that I'm sure Spitfire didn't notice. But, when you've spent enough time around someone, you learn a thing or four about them.
"Will do." Rainbow nodded and began floating over to the eggheads.
I rushed over to intercept her. <<What's wrong with getting some outside help?>>
"It's mostly the bad rep that would give us." Rainbow whispered, petting me to calm her own nerves. "Because of how important water transfers are, they are a major matter of pride. Even for smaller weather teams. Ponyville's one of those communities that are just small enough that we used to need the help, but enough pegasi moved here since the last transfer that we would've been fine.
"But, it would be even worse for us now." She groaned. "We've been breaking records since you've joined us, and having to call in help because of 'sick ponies' sounds like a cop-out." She gave me a final pat. "Or, at least, that's how other teams will see it." Rainbow started floating towards Twilight again.
I shook my fur out before following Rainbow. <<But if we do it without the help, then we might get an even better rep. Think of it!>> I ran ahead and started walking backwards. <<'They weren't at full wingpower, imagine what they could've done at full!'>> I gave out a fake gasp. <<'They would've broken the wingspeed record for sure!'>>
"Oh, no!" Twilight gasped, causing Rainbow to dash over me.
"Don't tell me that we won't have enough wingpower!"
"We may barely have enough." Twilight frowned, before glancing at me. "You wouldn't be able to make a whirlwind, would you?"
I shrugged.
Moon Dancer glanced at Rainbow. "What happened to the windspeed record?"
"I figured that would be a bust at this point." Rainbow glanced over the line of waiting ponies. "Not many pegasi here train physically, so..."
"Fair enough." Moon Dancer sighed.
"Are we going to pack up?" Twilight asked.
Determination crept over Rainbow's face, matching my own confident smirk. "No!" She declared. "Cloudsdale still needs water!" She rammed her flight goggles on and rushed over to the start of the line. "Okay, everypony! Let's give it all we've got! At the sound of the horn, we take off!" She looked over at the horn. "Ready when you are, Mac!"
I settled into a crouch, one ear twitching towards the silent stallion. With a droning buzz, the wind picked up as ponies as began flying overhead. I waited until Rainbow had flown overhead before racing along the reservoir shore. I started slow, so that I didn't burn myself out, but ramped up my speed as the the waterspout started to grow.
And then it happened.
I don't know who first fell out of position, but the chain reaction was quick. The tornado's cohesion was quickly lost, flinging pegasi everywhere. I didn't see where everypony landed, since I was too busy recovering from being Rainbow's landing site. She had curled up around me before we hit the tree, but taking a Rainbow to the face still hurts.
"Rainbow," I heard Twilight call out, "are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Rainbow uncurled from around me. "How's Leo?"
"Just let Conner do his work on her."
<<Joy?>> I gasped out.
"Yes?" Fluttershy asked as Conner got to work with his pink healing motes.
I wheezed <<Tell Rainbow... that she...>> I switched to a normal tone. <<Really needs to work on her landings. That last one had no form. Four outta ten, at best.>> I grinned at the snickers.
"Alright." Rainbow sighed, shaking herself as the chuckles died off. "How close were we?"
"Very." Moon Dancer sighed.
"Good!" I smiled as the other mares shared a confused look. "We've got to try again!" Rainbow declared, rushing off to rouse her pegasi.
"But you've pushed your crew to their limit already!" Twilight pulled Rainbow back. "If you break apart again, somepony could get hurt! You should quit, it's not safe!" She waved a hoof over the assemble ponies.
My mare slapped it away. "No! One more try! I got to know that we gave it our all! If I'm going down, I'm going down flying!" Rainbow rocketed off, catching everypony's attention. "Come on, ponies! Let's make this happen!"
My smile grew at the cheers the crowd gave off. Mac blew the horn again, and I bulled my way past Conner to rejoin the second attempt. Once again, we were able to get the water spout forming. I kept an eye on Fluttershy, and, while I couldn't hear anything, I saw her getting her motivational speech. The next time I was passing them, Twilight was holding goggles up to the timid mare, and Conner was whispering in her ear.
Fluttershy was in the tornado by the time I got halfway around the reservoir. If I could've spared the time, I would've kept an eye on her. Instead, I focused on the water spout. As the water rose higher, a smirk grew across my face.
"They're not going to make it."
What makes you say that?
"Water's stopped rising." I briefly slowed, focusing in on the top of the tornado. Sure enough, the water had stopped rising. I quickly glanced around, zeroing in on Fluttershy. My cocky grin slipped.
It looked like Fluttershy was already zipping around.
It's not enough. Why isn't it enough? I frowned. What's different?
"Maybe it's you?"
Arceus, I hope not. I glanced over at Spitfire. And with her there, I can't pull the same stunt I did with Zann. Maybe an agility would help? I sped back up as I contemplated. No, can't risk it. Pinkie could see it from her air balloon. Maybe...?
"Sorry I'm late!" I almost stumbled out of surprise. I looked around for the voice, spotting Zephyr and Scoots rushing up the road. Zephyr had a set of straps acting as a harness that Scootaloo was busy hooking herself into. With a final leap, the pair launched themselves into the tornado.
It took them a moment to stabilize themselves. Scootaloo held her wings outstretched, tilting them to cause the pair to drift side to side, and providing the pair additional lift. It seemed as if Zephyr provided the wing power.
I checked up on the other pegasi, noting that many were starting to falter. Must go faster! I thought, watching the spout begin creeping upwards again.
"Seven ninety nine point three!" I heard Twilight call out.
Don't need the fucking reminder stressing us OUT! I growled.
<<:Ready! Waiting your wing power!:>> The Ninjask screeched out. Scootaloo must've understood the bug because she started to flap. The duo shot forward, and the water exploded. I did my best to trace the water's path, noting the Cloudsdale's weather teams guiding the water to the factory.
With another droning buzz, Mac sounded the horn. I peeled away from the empty lake shore and made my way over Twilight and Conner. I flopped to a stop, panting heavily. <<Check up, doc?>> I wheezed. <<I wanna make sure I didn't tear anything.>>
Everypony began cheering for Fluttershy, even Scootaloo, as Conner's paws raced across me. <<Hmm...>> He cuffed me until I was standing again. <<You'll be fine. Just do some stretches so that you don't cramp up, and you'll be fine. A slow walk should do the trick.>> He pressed himself against my side, and gently pushed me after the procession heading back to town. <<Let's just enjoy the after party, yes?>>
<<Hey.>> I asked after a few steps. <<What'd ya tell Joy to get her into the tornado?>>
He mumbled something in reply. I just gave him a tired look until he spoke up. <<I asked her to do it for me.>>