//------------------------------//
// Interregnum: Clouds and a Storm 
// Story: The Watchful Eye 
// by Mr Anomalous 
//------------------------------//


Interregnum:


Clouds and a Storm


The sky was a clear blue, deep and majestic. Every mile or so sported a large, white and beautiful cloud. The breeze was just perfect, in both terms of temperature and speed. A perfect day for flying.

There was once a time when Rainbow Dash would fly as fast as she could, catching air and doing complex tricks in the deep blue sky that stretched infinitely. But not any more. Rainbow Dash flew slowly, gently. Not because she was unhappy, no, quite the opposite. 

Why? Because she was carrying something, something delicate. Not a material object, but a foal. An extremely young, pegasus foul. His mane and tail were a deep, deep blue, and his coat a lighter blue. His name was Breeze, and Rainbow Dash was his mother.

So, indeed, Rainbow Dash was not flying slowly out of sadness, rather, out of consideration for her young son. She may have been brash and somewhat at one point in her lifetime, but even the talented pegasus knew how to care for a foal properly. Most of the time.

As the cyan pegasus gazed lovingly at her young foal, he yawned cutely and opened his eyes, proceeding to smile brightly towards the gentle, caring face of his mother. Rainbow Dash, the most talented flyer in Equestria, infamous for being a massive tomboy, shed a single tear of joy at the sight. This experience had changed her. It had been difficult so far, but it had been worth it.

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash felt a bit colder. Shivering, the pegasus looked around in an attempt to source the chill, but to no avail. It was beginning to get dark, and Rainbow needed to get home soon.

Then, just as suddenly as the chill, Rainbow Dash felt a raindrop spatter across the back of her head. Alarmed, she looked up. Her vision was filled with an angry storm cloud.

"Oh-"

But it was too late. Breeze began to weep, and Rainbow Dash was swept up in a storm that she had failed to noticed. That's when it happened. Rainbow's most prized position was torn from her grasp as the merciless gale assaulted her. He was gone, lost in the wind.


 


"No!"

Rainbow sat up as quickly as she could and began to whip her head around, searching for her lost son. When reality sank in, the cyan pegasus went limp and began to sob.

"Dash...did you have that dream again?" asked a soft, masculine voice, hidden in the shadows and under the covers.

No answer came save for more hopeless sobs. The blankets were pushed aside and a stallion was revealed. He scooted over to the weeping pony and hugged her from behind, whispering encouraging thoughts into her ear.

"Shhh, shhh Dashie, it's all right. It wasn't your fault.... It wasn't your fault..."