While the weather in Ponyville continued to be a beautiful, cloudless day, the Mane Six decided to take advantage of such to spend the day together. Saving Equestria so often usually meant that peaceful, uneventful gatherings would come more few and far between, but it would also mean they would mean more when their get togethers happened.
And by Celestia, nothing was going to put a damper on today's fun. But nothing could be done without having a hardy meal first, so the girls chose to go to the newest breakfast stable in town, "The Poniful Pancake". Serving up pancakes, haycakes, flapjacks, and many other treats that could almost give Sugarcube Corner a trot for their bit. These gatherings also allowed all of them to realize just how far all of them were coming not just as friends, but in their everyday lives. Twilight was further endeavoring her royal role as "The Princess of Friendship". She also had the pleasure of tutoring a new pupil of friendship in one Starlight Glimmer. Rainbow Dash had fulfilled her dream becoming the newest addition to The Wonderbolts, Rarity had recently opened her beautiful "Rarity For U" boutique to her ever expanding business, among all the efforts from the others.
As the group seated, they were about as excited as they were hungry to check out to see if the rave reviews of the new breakfast stable were worth it. Twilight's royal title would give them all perks of being served and quickness along with quality food was something that came with it. Twilight certainly didn't care about that, but certainly a few others in the group loved the perks. After ordering their respective meals and brief conversations, the main wait stallion emerged with the girls' requested meals.
"Here ya go, three orders of five pancakes." Was announced, giving the trio of meals to Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy. "Two orders of six pancakes." The next duel of plates went to Twilight and Pinkie...who was practically slobbering at the tongue at the dish before her. The stallion turned around to the final order. "And one order of "The Holy Equestria That's A lot of Pancakes" Pancake Meal." Which was then followed by three waitress ponies bringing a dozen pancakes a piece to set next to the rainbow haired mare.
"Awesome!" Came the excited cheer from it's chosen pony, who began tying a napkin around her neck with her hooves. Needless to say, the massive meal was quickly followed by some bug eyed looks from the accompanying table. At least Rarity could respect wearing the napkin though: "If you're gonna eat like a pig, show some manners at least." was a rule to live by. Some though lived by it looser than other ponies. As the staff proceeded to allow the party of six to enjoy their meals, only one at first was doing so. Dash would take three flat cakes at a time to indulge upon, quickly doing away with them, not even aware that her friends were just mesmerized at what they were witnessing. "Um Twilight...can you pass the syrup?" She muffled with a mouth still half stuffed.
"Of...course." Came the slow unsure response from her friend. "Regular, Blueberry, or Strawberry?" Following up floating them with her levitation magic, giving a forced sarcastic grin.
"Sure!" Came the answer from Rainbow Dash who proceeded to take all three and in a flash poured a dab of each on one separate cake a piece, and then chowed down on those just as quick.
"Oh wow." Fluttershy replied to feat of eating of her friend.
"Umm, I think "barf" is a more accurate word darling." Rarity spoke up, levitating a napkin to her mouth to wipe down any sticky syrup left over. "Dashie dear, you're not really going to eat all those are you?"
"Of course I am, I didn't order them just to stare at them." The mare answered with a chuckle, all while stacking another cake onto another. When she finished talking, down went the helping.
"Holy Hootin' Nanny Rainbow. You're eatin' like a mare possessed." Applejack said smacking her hoof on Rainbow's back, making the recipient start coughing to catch her breath. "You sure you ain't been put under some spell?"
Rainbow Dash laughed at the question though, it was clear the others didn't understand.
"No no, since I joined The Wonderbolts, this is become a regular breakfast for me."
"You...can not be serious?" Rarity gasped at the response, holding a hoof to her mouth on the verge of throwing up.
"No really." Dash said, ready to explain. "If you saw the intense practice and training we do at Wonderbolts sessions, you'd understand. Practice is super tough, super long, and super draining. Like you wouldn't last an hour with that meek amount of food." Her statement made the company look down at their portions in somewhat amazement. Amazement on the fact that they knew Rainbow meant it. "Then if I have to be on Weatherpony duty, there's the potential to do extensive cloud travel on top of it all. So bottom line, doing all that requires energy...tons of it. So..." Dash's speech was concluded with another hoof full of pancakes in mouth, not caring in the slightest what the perception may be.
"Well, I could eat that many too." Pinkie Pie rebutted. "...but I don't anypony to think I'm weird."
"More syrup?" Came the waitress with an additional pitcher of maple syrup in it, filled to the brim.
"Sure!" Pinkie cheered, who then just ate the syrup on the spot. Glass pitcher and all, ...so Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie, with the mare employee backing away in a bit of fear. "Mmm, not the worst I've had." Pinkie finished licking her lips, as if to imply syrup with shards of glass one upped pervious food experiences. The look garnered a couple of rolling eyes and sighs as well.
"Forgive me Rainbow Dash, but eating like that just doesn't appear normal." Rarity pointed out, having finished her meal, and was waiting for her friends to conclude theirs. Pinkie though put a hoof to the glamour pony to ask her a question. "What are talking about Rarity? I eat that much chocolate and cake all the time, what makes that normal?"
"I never said that was normal either darling..." Quickly came a response from Rarity.
"What!? NOOOO!!!" The shocked horror from Pinkie filled the room with laughter and glee. It was no wonder they were all such good of friends, even despite all their differences in personality they all care deeply for each other, as well as every pony in Ponyville. And they felt that nothing could ever change that.
After an enjoyable meal together, the group of mares took their leave getting their share. Some more full than others.
"I have to say, that surely was a scrumptious pancake meal. Easily a three horseshoe rating." Rarity admitted, receiving an agreement of nods.
"Only thing that would have made it better would have been an apple fritter, with apple cider, and a side of apple cobbler." Applejack concurred, which was quickly followed up by the party pony popping up out of nowhere.
"AND CAKE!!! GOTTA HAVE CAKE!!!" She screamed, squishing AJ's cheeks together in the process. Both giggling afterward.
"Oh, I don't think I could even think about food now." The Princess decreed followed by a yawn. "I'm stuffed, plus I have to prepare for a meeting with the Princesses."
"And what matters do you think they wish to discuss darling?" Came a question from Rarity. "I'm not really sure, they didn't get into any specifics. It's quite unusual for them." Was the answer, and quite an interesting one at that.
The Royal Princesses were always very open and upfront with Twilight Sparkle on matters. It was rare they skimped on important details that would make the Princess of Friendship go into one of her infamously known worry spells. But while Twilight often thought the worst of the matters, her friends were regularly there to assure her that all was fine.
"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about Twilight." Fluttershy spoke out in her usual peaceful tone.
"I'm sure too Fluttershy, it's just no planning or preparation isn't really my thing. It drives me crazy when they just wing and hoof it." Twilight replied with a chuckle, but the comment made Rainbow Dash scoff; proceeding to swirl over top the group acrobatically.
"Oh please Twilight, wing and hoofing it is the most awesome way to do things. Like, why do you think I do it all the time?" She commented with a grin, getting a stern look from all present pony company.
"Because you lack planning skills?" Said Twilight Sparkle.
"Because there's no work involved." Rarity next to speak.
"Because you're lazy?" Finally AJ commented with a monotone voice and raised eyebrow.
"Sorry, the answer was...because I'm awesome." The rainbow mare chuckled response came hovering over the group. Which was then followed by a dramatic scream from Ponyville's Party Pony.
"Drat, that was going to be my twenty-second guess..." Pinkie's over-the-top remark made the group laugh out loud. But Rainbow Dash wasn't going to let the moment go, she still wanted to get the final word on her feats of awesome.
"I've started to get even faster busting clouds. I'm so awesome in fact, I bet now I could do it in five seconds flat!"
The statement was quickly followed by Applejack's signature chuckle that came with a light nose snort. AJ and Dash always picked on one another about what the other could do. All in good fun of course, but usually the other would need to prove to the other of the insanely ridiculous feats one claimed.
"Oh come on Dash, I know you're fast, but that's just plum pickin' crazy." Came the expected response from the apple mare. The two knew each other long enough to know that when a statement like that was given, it was more or less a challenge. It had gone on for so long in fact that even the other mares had picked up on this, so when a said "challenge" was made, the other ponies would await what would transpire. Unfortunately, this was a type of challenge that couldn't just be done.
"Well, I would prove it to you if there were any clouds, but we've called for clear skies for the rest of the week." Dash's answer made the group look up to the horizon above, but Dash continued while they observed. "Why, you might not even recognize what a cloud is by the time you see one again."
But Pinkie was quick to interject. "Oh course we could silly. There's one right there."
Upon the statement, the five other mares looked behind them to see that what was once a perfectly clear blue sky, suddenly half the horizon had turned a darkish red by a heavy band of cloud cover. What was also odd was the coverage in the sky looked to be one single cloud; it also flowed through the sky strangely fast, almost accumulating to the eye, growing larger as it flowed.
"Great heavens! Where in Equestria did that cloud come from? It wasn't there just a second ago." Rarity cried out in a troubling voice. The question seemed to be aimed more at the rainbow mare before them who was a usual weather pony. So if anypony among them knew the answer, she would. But she seemed more confused rather than more sure to the surprise of the others.
"And Cloudsdale's clear on the other side of the land. How did it get there?" Rainbow wondered aloud. Which brought concern to the others. If Rainbow Dash couldn't figure out the unusual weather, then who would?
Out of the corner of the ponies' eyes on the ground, a multitude of pegasus ponies began flying towards the giant cloud in the sky. The weather called for clear skies so it was customary that any cloud that got loose needed to be removed, and this was no exception. The sheer size of this cloud also made it more necessary for more pegesi to work together to remove it. Before long, about twenty to thirty pegasus ponies were on hoof, some giving slight orders and directions to where to lead the cloud away, but the cloud began to swirl violently in almost a fit of rage.
Suddenly, without warning, a huge lightning strike came down in the middle of the fleet of pegasi. Careening them into scattering directions. Pegasi not as affected by the direct bolt flew to help and assist those in trouble. The sight put more worry into the ponies on the ground.
"Gracious! It's like that cloud has a mind of it's own." Fluttershy trembled in intimidation, hoping that nothing else bad would happen. But Rainbow Dash brushed off her worry.
"Oh please Fluttershy, what do you expect it to do? Start talking?"
Dash's comment was meant to be a joke...but still a serious statement. But something followed that was not expected...
"AH HA HA HA HA HA!!!"
An evil laughter came from above. But not just from anywhere above, but from where this red dark cloud hovered from. The laughter was so loud it caused a rumble and shake to the surface below, almost as if Ponyville was having an earthquake.
"No! Just to start laughing...VERY EVIL!" Pinkie spoke up answering Rainbow as the laughter grew louder and louder.
The once peaceful day with a cloudless sky changed in an instant. The cloudlike entity was dark and red and continued to enlarge and cover the blue horizon until all was a swirling dark sight. The cloud figure above appeared to lower itself further down to the land. The wind blew violently, and the weather turned unpredictable even for any Pegasi to controll.
"What is going on!?!" Princess Twilight called out, hoping that any answer would come, but suddenly a familiar voice was heard behind the Mane Six.
"Twilight! Thank goodness we found you!"
The Royal Princesses of Canterlot flew from a far at a speedy pace to meet the heroes of Ponyville. Whatever this thing was, the princesses certainly knew about it and wasted no time to arrive.
"Princess Celestia, Luna? What is this thing?" Twilight yelled out with the wind blowing so hard it became hard to speak even to the pony next to them. A voice was then heard, not from the royals present though, rather from the colossal figure that hovered above.
"I can be the answer of that little ponies!"
The gathered ponies slowly looked up to the sky. It was clear that this was no ordinary cloud, but was in fact an actual being of life. The girls saw a mouth beginning to form at it's base and then without warning, the cloud figure opened it's eyes. But...how could a cloud have eyes?
It clearly did though, glowing bright blue to go along with it's dark reddish color, continuing to laugh maniacally.
"Sister...is that who I fear it is?" Celestia loudly asked her younger sister. The Mane Six were confused, what was Celestia talking about?
"Who? Want do you mean "who"?" Twilight logically assumed. "It's a cloud!"
But everytime it seemed something was questioned about the dark figure's existence over Equestria, the rumbling and laughter from only grew.
"Allow me to introduce myself my pathetic pony!" It spoke again, now with more venom and seething in tone. "I am the Elemental Entity of Enternal Darkness, destined and created to destroy this land called Equestria...but you may simply know me as...RAINDOOM!"