//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Return to Cloudsdale Saga: All According to Plan // by TheFailedBrony //------------------------------// “And here is Ponyville's lovely cliff side.” “Interesting location for an earth pony town. So very steep...” Mayor Mare was continuing her tour for Talon Bold; the pegasus commander of the Wonderbolts. They duo was mostly alone with most of Ponyville at the pre-show appearance. One pegasus did watch them closely however. “Finally, they're here”, whispered Rainbow Dash from here hiding spot atop Sudden-drop hill. “Now, just have to wait for some pony to go hurling uncontrollable towards the cliffside.” “Again.” The Pegasus began her wait for some unfortunate pony. “Just got to wait” She waited. “A little bit more” and waited “A little...” and waited... “Oh for Pete's sake,” “where is every pony?” “Oh, right the air show....” The pegasus stared at her recent hoof drawn watch. “Its already been,” gasp. “5 MINUTES.” “Why can't some pony just go hurling towards their near doom already?” Suddenly, a cart came to a quick safe stop atop the hill. Rainbow Dash noticed the earth pony owner of Flower & Soil had just parked his cart outside. The cart filled with todays stock of freshly picked goods. The business savvy colt, unconcerned with frivolous pegasi air shows, went inside to record stock. He wasn't the kind of pony to ever go tumbling down Sudden-drop. His cart however... With a mischievous grin Dash trotted over to the defenseless cart. “Oh no, an out of control cart”, she said softly while giving the cart a slight kick. It didn't budge. “I said, oh no an out of control cart.” The cart didn't budge with the second, more solid, kick. Rainbow Dash glared down at the cart that dared challenge the Dash, snorted and... “I s a i d...” A dust trail shot down Sudden-drop hill leaving in its way a fragrant scent. Then, a flash. A rainbow bolt of color soared towards the cart. What head start Rainbow Dash had given vanished. They were neck and wheel. Rainbow shot the inanimate object a glance of victory before she pulled ahead, slammed her hooves down, and ground the cart to a instant halt right as they reached the hill's ramped end. Unfortunately for Rainbow Dash, though the cart had stopped, its cargo hadn't. Flowers pulled by their continuing momentum flew into the sky, and rained down upon the two just now onlooking ponies. The soil's flight however was much shorter lived. It soon slammed into an unfortunate pegasus; submerging her. “An interesting... welcome”, said Talon below Sudden-drop hill's infamous ramp as he stared up at the falling flower petals. “Oh, must have just been another cart crashing off Sudden-drop hill,” said Mayor Mare nonchalantly. “Another!?, some pony could have been hurt.” “oOoh...” mumbled the dirt pile. “Why in the name of Celestia have such road?” asked Talon. “Well, that's quite easy to explain. You see....” began Mayor Mare voice as it echoed into the distance for Rainbow Dash. However, hoofs could be heard coming closer as Rainbow Dash started raising herself from the dirt restraints while trying to push away the image in her head of Pinkie Pie bringing up the fact Dash had soiled herself. However the pony that arrived was not concerned over such trivial humor. “You crash it, you buy it,” “Your sold out!”, echoed Fluttershy's voice. “but its still so early.” The earth pony grinned as he counted his pile of coins again. “I'm afraid today's flower stock just flew off the shelves.” “Well, rolled.” Everyfree Forest stretched on before an annoyed pegasus. Her frustration easing what fears she had as she entered its gloomy depths. Leafless branches seemingly reaching out to grab her. Shady eyes glanced from the darkness, but Rainbow kept on moving as it was the only place to find what she was looking for. “Great, 1st I fail to even be seen by Talon, and now I have to miss the next several Wonderbolts shows.” “Stupid flowers.” Rainbow Dash moved further into the dark forest diligently looking for her prey. “But it doesn't matter. After all the one and only Rainbow Dash will soon fly with them,” She searched high and low for the winged menace, but their cute large eyes were no where to be seen. Ponyville's fortune deepened on Rainbow's misfortune at finding the creatures. “Not here either,” exasperated the mare. Then she heard it. The distinct flapping of thousands of tiny wings. Wasting no time Dash jolted towards the source. Tree branch after tree branch slammed her in the face. Her mane becoming what rarity would call a travesty. but that didn't slow her in the slightest until she was flung into an open field. A field, stretching into the distance filled with glowing flowers & Everfree forest moths. The pegasus's expression turned sour, “ great. Just great.” “Where in Equestria a swarming plague when I need one!”, Dash yelled as she took flight to vent her frustration before quickly falling back to the ground depression hit, “Fluttershy just walked in and found one. What do I find,” “MOTHS!” “How am I supposed to work with that?” Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, Twilight and Apple Jack trotted back through the main entrance. Pinkie Pie & Rarity came into view as they met back up with Twilight & Apple Jack. “Where in Equestria is Rainbow Dash, she was the one sooo exited for the Wonderbolt's coming” “Your guess as good as mine sugar cube.” “Well, she's certainly not at Fluttershy's ,or Fluttershy for that matter”, Rarity informed Twilight. “Great, now we have two missing pegasi.” “Oh oh oh, maybe today's lesson we learn is how to play hide and seek,” Pinkie Pie said while hopping circles around every pony else. “Fluttershy's always been good at hiding” “Pinkie, lessons in friendship don't happen every day.” “I know, its every episode.” An awkward post Pinkie pause followed. “... Anyyy wayyy....”, Twilight began with a perplexed look. “The only thing we need to learn is the whereabouts of Rainbow Dash, “ “and apparently Flutterhy.” “Still, nothing bad happened today, so there's nothing to worry about...” “RUN!”, screamed small group of ponies who came charging into town screaming in panic. Their clothes being in shambles to Rarity's dismay. One tripped in front of Twilight and company. “There coming. There coming”, whispered the fallen pony. “The swarm, it's coming” “Parasprites, AGAIN”, Twilight jumping into action. No. Not Parasprites.” THEN WHAT?!” “m,... mo... moths...” “Moths, its only moths!” “NOTHING!”, yelled the once fallen pony as sprang up. “They ate the literal clothes off our backs, along with all my freshly bought Canterlott fabricss.” “NO!”screamed Rarity. “THIS CRIME AGAINST FASHION SHALL NOT GO UNPUNISHED” “Now's my chance.” And it was her chance. With luck, determination, and some bait borrowed from Rarity's fabric collection, Rainbow Dash had lured a swarm of Everfree forest moths into Ponyville. Any fabric or cloth vanished when they past over. Now, they were heading for Ponyville's shopping district. “Lets see, what did AJ say about herding...” “ahh that right; a firm yet gently push from all sides, then turn-um”. “Sounds easy enough.” With screaming speed Rainbow dash spiraled around the mass of moths knocking everyone in her way back into the swarm. However, for every moth knocked into place two more popped out. Again and again Dash circled and whacked, but the the swarm just grew and grew. A town full of cloth proved too alluring to the swarm of moths. “Fine, time for some more firm”, gasped Dash. Rainbow Dash then soared above the moth swarm in preparation. “ You guys hungry, then taste some Dash!”, she yelled when she flying kicked her way into the grey mass. “Take some of these”, screamed the voice inside the swarm. “Want some more?, how bought these.” “And a pair of these” “and some more of ...” BAM! The moth swarm went silent, with only the soft beat of their wings as they flew closer to the shopping district. Soon they left the “Welcome to Ponyville sign” behind. The sign with a recently added pegasus to its design. “But mommy, I don't want read anymore”, said Rainbow Dash with her eyes spinning and her head smashed through the sign. “And here is Ponyville's shopping district”, announced Mayor Mare. “recently remodeled.” “hmm”, mumbled Talon Bold as they entered the new section of town. A falcon's cah roared from the sky as the bird soared down to Talon, and landed on his front right hoof. A message was bound to its leg. Talon removed and read the letter as Mayor Mare, and any ponies too busy for the air show, stared. “Good, job”, Talon said to the proud falcon before he sent him back, and then noticed the unwanted attention. “My messenger” he explained to surrounding eyes. “Is anything the matter?” asked Mayor Mare with concern over yet another disaster. “It's the storm isn't it? Its course back to Ponyville,” she continued as several ponies gasped. “No. All's on schedule and as planed. Including the storm's new course,” replied Talon as several ponies breathed sighs of relief. “The Wonderbolts should be leaving for their last practice flights as we speak,” “but I can't spend more than another hour with you, unfortunately” “Well thats plenty of time”, boasted the mayor. “As long as nothing goes wrong....” Our two groups had just arrived at that very moment. Twilight and company arrived at the north side, while the cloth devouring swarm the south. The store owning ponies ran to their shops prepared to once again protect their livelihood from a a carnivorous swarm. “We're too late” said Twilight as they rushed towards the menace. “NEVER!”, screamed a strangely enthusiastic Rarity. “We shall stop those fashion fiends” “once, and, FOR ALL!” They never got a chance. Another pony had already stepped forward to deal with the swarm; stepped to the left to be precise. “Why do these things always happen when I'm around”, said Talon Bold now in the swarm's path. Without flinching or loosing sight of the rushing swarm, Talon had removed his black cloak and held it in front of him. His cutie mark of 3 falcon's flying in tight formation being revealed for the first time, while in Ponyville. Talon waved the worn cloth in front of the swarm. Taunting them with every flick of its fabric. Taunting, and alluring them. The moth swarm charged the cloak, only to have it yanked away at the last second by Bold agilely spinning out of their path. Again, and again the swarm lunged at the cloak, only to miss it every time. Faster and faster they charged all the while getting tighter and tighter; till Talon had them charging right were he wanted. “Toro, Toro”, he heard some pink pony scream. Finally Talon released his grip, sending his cloak tumbling in the wind created by the flap of his wings. The swarm kept charging forward, towards their prize as it flew away. Both went flying down the road away from the shopping district. A crowd of shop owning ponies & their customers surrounded Talon and cheered him on. “As Mayor I must offer my deepest thanks to you and your sacrificed cape, surly we must repay...” “No, please don't pay no mind. I already have a pony sowing another new one.” “And unfortunately not every shop was spared. There's one down that road still in their path.” “Hopefully that carousel building lacks any fabric, clothes, or dresses.” A distinct, “NOOO!” could be heard from the back of crowd. “Don't worry Angel, I'm sure Rarity will have a nice dress available today for...” Fluttershy paused as she entered Carousel Boutique, only to find the place in ruins. Well actually the store was fine, but all the rows of dresses were gone with the only few remaining filled with holes. “I'm ru-in-ed”, cried Rarity as she dramatically fell onto her couch cushion, only to be bounced to the floor by its freshly exposed springs. “Oh fiddle sticks,” Fluttershy said before going to comfort Rarity. “No speed, no agility. Great, how am I ever going to impress my way into the Wonderbolts now”, Rainbow Dash depressingly said atop a roof. A tear almost went down her eye, but at that moment she turned and saw a glass window reflection. The pegasus proceeded to pose in front of the make shift mirror. “No, That's loser talk Dash”, she said while showing off her muscles. “A pony as amazing as myself can impress the Wonderbolts commander with only one heroic stunt.” She started strolling in though atop the roof. “However it has to be a rather big stunt. Stopping the run of the mill rouge storm cloud won't do. It has to be something large, dangerous,” “ and flashy.” “Where am I going to find a storm like that at this hou...” Dash paused as she finally took notice of the lighting flashes passing around Ponyville in the distance. Lighting crackled from the massive pitch black clouds. “I can work with that, “ she whispered to herself with a grin. One pegasus still remained depressed as she walked through Ponyville's partially filed streets. Fluttershy sighed. “Rarity won't have dresses for days Angel.” “Now I know I'm going be disappointing.” The rabbit riding on her back, pattered her shoulder. “But wait, punctuality impressive.” she blurted out “If we make it to the cafe on time I'm sure I won't be completely disappointing.” “And that should be easy enough to dooooo.....”, Fluttershy muttered as she looked ahead with the winds finally hitting her. Before her the air had started to screech. Winds blew at unbearable speeds and sent flying parts of trees. The cloud ahead was darker than Nightmare moon, and only lit by its frequent lightning. Attached at its bottom was a howling twister, wider and spinning faster than any Fluttershy had ever seen. Finally, with all her strength and courage she managed to squeak out, “no”