//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Echo // by Valley Fjord //------------------------------// Spike had dug his claws deep into Rainbow Dash's mane for warmth, the second leg of the trios flight was taking them farther north then any of them have ever been. The winds they flew into were even colder then what came from the emergency storm. All the shielding the three had from the cold was the closeness of their own bodies. For Dash, the feeling of Twilight lowered down on top of her back sent a blistering heat into her cheeks and wings. In one instance she felt her mind sway away from what she was doing and towards the idea of how close they were, it caused her wings miss a beat and all of them feel several feet. The tracking of her thoughts jumped back before they fall out of the sky completely and when a hard hoof pressed into her side and she slowed to find out why she was being kicked. “Dash!” Twilight Sparkle yelled out over the still speeding wind, “What happened, do you need to land?!” Rainbow Dash only shook her head as hard as she could without messing up her flight path. “Just – just a head rush. I'm fine!” she quickly picked up her pace, going even faster then she did when leaving Ponyville causing the two on her back to wheel in protest from the wind. The northern edge of Equestria passed below them unseen as the three looked on at a new storm looming ahead. With only a glance at it Twilight went through everything she remembered from her maps and books about the outer lands. 'We're over the wilds now,' she thought to herself. A cold buffet of wind rose and knocked into them, forcing Twilight to consider how far they've gone. 'That means we should be at our next stop just inside those clouds.' Twilight leaned forward, pressing into Spike and moving her muzzle as close to Rainbow Dash's ear. “Rainbow Dash, land before the storm!” Rainbow Dash pulled up, slowing almost to a stop. “I though the next stop was farther then that?” “It is, but the side of the storm is close enough that it won't ruin our time.” was Twilight's replay. With an unsatisfied nod, Dash angled downward and aimed for the ground just outside the storm clouds. Circling the nearby expanses revealed little more the a pond of half frozen snow melt. All three agreed it was the best they could find and they landed swiftly. The pond, though too cold to drink comfortably, was quickly brought up in temperature by an all to proud Spike. His green flames burned a puddle into the ice and a small patch into the dirt for them to sit on. “Is there anything else I can do?” Spike asked with all the pride he could muster into his voice. The two mares laughed in unison at his boasting. By the state of the sun above them it wasn't quite noon yet, but staying here for an hour would push them too far if the didn't eat now so Twilight lifted the books from the saddle pack and reached her magic in farther for the food, pulling some pieces out and setting up for a small simple lunch. Rainbow Dash gave no hesitation at the sight of the apples and hay pucks, she dived into them with glee. “Rainbow, I need to ask you something.” Twilight started as her friend forced an apple into her mouth. Dash stoped to lift her head up, eyes looking onto Twilight's. “That storm is close enough that I can almost tell it is likely going to turn into a blizzard deeper in, and I'm wandering what is the difference between flying thought it versus going over it. Would it be safer to go up?” “Well, it'll be cold either way but going up will make it harder to breath and we won't know where it's safe to land-” Rainbow Dash paused to look underneath the dark clouds. “and those clouds are outside of Equestria so I might not be able to do much to them other then fall through and hit one of those mountains.” Twilight gave a quick nod, understanding that going high would do nothing but make them lost and blind to everything on the ground. “Then we'll have to go slower then we have been.” Rainbow Dash groaned at the thought of going slower but at the same time she nodded, the feeling that they were still on time and thinking that since they were they wouldn't be late if they get through the storm alright. “If we're going slower, can I take out the packing blanket and cover myself with it?” Spike asked with a hint of desperation. “If I get any colder I'm going to pass out before we get half way there.” “If Rainbow is alright with the drag it will cause then I don't see why not.” “Of course I'm fine with it, a little drag won't stop me!” Rainbow Dash shouts before she stuffed another apple into her mouth. “The real problem will be if I get my wings caught in it,” she looked over to Twilight and smiles “but you'll keep an eye on my wings right Twi?” a flush of heat slammed into Dash's chest the instant she realized what she said. The second bag that hung off of the saddle was pulled open and Twilight carefully unwraps a green blanket from a small number of metal and nylon contraptions. She also pulled up a small first-aid kit, popping it open for a roll of gauze that she then spun around the equipment until the roll ran out. When their hour of rest finally came to an end the three packed up and strap themselves back together, the green blanket now covering all but Spikes head and half of Twilight's body. Rainbow Dash stood resolute before the storm, looking for a path along the ground that she could use if the sky was just to hard to move through. “Just focus on flying stable and I'll do my best to keep the snow and wind from knocking you out of the sky.” Twilight said with her horn glowing. A conjured sphere of purple magic wrapped around them with hope that it would block all but the most persistent strength of the storm they were about to fly into.