It was a warm morning in Ponyville. A bit too warm actually, and the humidity made the new day uncomfortable right off the bat. Sunlight gently streamed through the porthole shaped window of a certain ponies bedroom. She stirred, the sheets uncomfortably sticking to her as she moved. She stretched her wings out, pulling the sheets off of her in the process.
The mare quietly got out of bed, not wanting to wake the small sleeping dragon by her bed.
we had a long night. She thought to herself, looking fondly at him. He can sleep in today, after all we are on vacation. As she thought this Spike stirred slightly, rolling onto his back he began snoring lightly. Twilight laughed to herself softly before proceeding downstairs to the library with a smile on her face.
“Today is going to be a good day.” She affirmed to with a light nod.
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Rainbow Dash lazily flew low over the just waking town, yawning deeply every so often. She hated being up early, and this was way too early for the fastest flier in Equestria. Giving a slightly dramatic sigh she picked up the pace.
Only a few minutes after sunrise, she had been jolted from her comfortable sleep by a knock at her door. It had been from the weather team. Some emergency about a weird heat wave from the Everfree forest, updrafts and something about the possibility of an out of control tornado. Half asleep at the time, she hardly remembered anything specific, but she didn’t care, after all she was the toughest, fastest flier in Equestria! So she continued her flight towards the Everfree forest, just wanting to get it over with.
"Why does weird stuff always happen when Twilight is around?” She grumbled to herself as she sighted the tree house library the princess was staying in. She's only going to be able to stay for a week this time before going back to her “royal duties.” The pegasus rolled her eyes as she quoted her friend. She slowed down a bit as she reached the library, leisurely dropping her elevation to see if the alicorn in question would be up at this hour. Sure enough, Twilight was not in her bedroom. As she passed the library she looked back through the window and noticed that her “number one assistant” was still fast asleep. Dash chuckled to herself as she passed the library.
“She's probably getting some early morning studying in before Pinkie Pie's party”. She snickered while she picked up her pace. Now feeling slightly more awake knowing her friend was awake as well.
“Got to make sure today is a good day.” With those encouraging words, she was off.
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She rocketed through town, toward the forest, passing a few of her friends' places. Most notably, Sugar Cube corner, which was lively despite how early it was. Pinkie Pie was setting up for Twilight's party, excitedly bouncing around outside the shop setting up decorations and wheeling around a cannon. As she passed by the shop the pink pony took notice of the rainbow blur and waved to her vigorously.
“Hi Rainbow Dash!” The enthusiastic pony shouted before quickly covering her mouth realizing that some ponies were still sleeping. One even glaring at her from his balcony.
Smiling, Rainbow Dash shook her head. Pinkie Pie, you are so random.
She was almost there; the edge of the Everfree forest. Dash was coming up on her oldest friends' cabin.
However, much to her surprise the shy pink pegasus was awake and standing in front of a tree. Curious, Dash descended towards her friend.
Fluttershy turned towards Rainbow dash. Her mane was unkempt, as though she had woken up and come outside in a hurry. This, coupled with the news of something going on in the forest caused her to worry.
“Oh Dashie, I’m so glad your here.” The ever present concern in her voice was much more potent than usual.
Rainbow Dash became increasingly concerned upon hearing her friends voice. “Whats wrong Fluttershy?” She said trying to keep her voice from sounding worried so as not to cause greater concern to the panic prone pony.
“Its the animals, they are acting strange. They all ran out of the forest and are hiding. I'm doing my best to keep them from going into town but it only seems to be getting worse, I just don't know how long I can keep them calm. Even Angel is frightened!”
Now Dash was fighting to keep her cool, but Fluttershy knew animals, and could calm down an angry manticore. Something must have been seriously wrong. She shook her head, attempting to overcome her growing sense of distress. She needed to know everything she could before going into the forest.
“Shy, have you noticed anything else strange? Anything at all?” The Rainbow Dash pressed her friend for information.
Fluttershy looked down at the ground, avoiding her Dash's gaze so she could think. After a moment she looked back up at Rainbow Dash. “Well, my well seems to running dry, in fact steam was rising out of it earlier. Also, the river is running low.”
Dash turned her head. She hadn’t noticed it when she flew in but she definitely saw it now, the river was low and also the air had been getting warmer the closer she had gotten to the forest. Something was definitely up. She brought her attention back to her friend, who's face had gone from concern to fear. I cant let her see that I’m worried, but I don’t think I can let her stay here any longer. She forced her expression into a light smile.
“Ay Fluttershy!” Dash quickly darted over to her friends side.
“Y-yes?”
“I saw Pinkie setting up for Twilight's party down at Sugar Cube Corner. I'm sure she could use a hoof, why don’t you head on over there and help her out?” She was a bad actor and she knew it, but she hoped it was enough to convince Fluttershy.
“Y-you mean right now?” Fluttershy wasn’t fooled. She didn’t know why everypony thought she was so gullible. Dash was was worried about whatever was going on and was trying to protect her, but she just couldn’t leave her animals.
“Sorry Dashie, I would love to go and help set up the party but the animals need me right now.”
Dash paused. She wanted to try to coerce her friend to leave but she knew it was no use, she would never leave her animals behind. If she kept pressing then Shy would know something was up.
I don’t even know whats going on. She thought to herself. Deciding that it would be worse to make her friend panic, Dash simply shrugged her shoulders.
“Suit yourself then.” She said trying to be as nonchalant as possible before taking off again leaving a rainbow trail in her wake.
Fluttershy looked up as her friend flew off towards the Everfree forest, wondering if she should have stopped her from leaving. It was too late, she would never catch up to her now. She turned back to the tree to calm the terrified family of squirrels hiding on a high branch.
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Rainbow Dash zoomed over the forest, but it was too vast to fly low. She shot upwards to get the best view, but what she saw stopped her in her tracks, Her wings nearly locking up. There in the Everfree forest were two dark spots, about a kilometer wide each, made up of dead trees. Water vapor was rising off the ground all over the forest and if her wings had locked up she would have been held up by the powerful updrafts. Hovering there for more than a few minutes, staring in disbelief, she noticed the most frightening part. The circles of dead trees, they were growing!
“I have to tell Twilight.” Dash whispered to herself. She turned around back to Ponyville, Back to her friends, Nearly breaking the sound barrier in the process.