Hours later, as the sun was setting, the various volunteer fliers of Ponyville sat on a hilltop overlooking the northern edge of the Everfree Forest. An afternoon full of constant flight took the wind out of them, and most ponies relaxed by catching their breaths, fanning themselves, and sipping canteens of water while chatting amicably with the others in their groups.
Rainbow Dash was still flying counter-clockwise loops by the time that the Cloudsdale Commission's weather clerk strolled up, carrying a clipboard.
"Alright. I just got this team's results in for the first day's worth of practice. Uhm..." The mare squinted at her chart, then stared up at the circling pegasus. "Captain Rainbow Dash?"
"Uh huh?" She panted, still spinning circles with the greatest of ease. "Speaking."
"Where's your team leader vest?"
"Tossed it," Rainbow muttered. "Was too big on me."
The mare blinked, adjusting her glases. "Mmmm... yeah. Somehow, I'll buy that." Clearing her throat, the clerk flipped a sheet of paper and said, "Anyways, I've got your results in, based on the wingpower recordings."
At last, Rainbow braked in mid-air, panting. "Oh?"
"Bet you'd want to take a look at it." The mare slipped the sheet loose and held it out to Rainbow. "These are the recommended formations. Next meet-up is in a few days. The team can practice it in preparation for the actual tornado conjuring."
Rainbow grasped the sheet. Her eyes scanned it, and she immediately smirked at the name on the top. "Heh... looks like I'm at the base of the cyclone."
"Heh..." The clerk flitted off. "Real big surprise there, eh?"
"Hrmmm..." Rainbow looked at the other names listed in numerical order. She blinked, then glanced at the whole of her team sitting on the grassy hillside beneath her, catching their breaths. Biting her lip, she stared at the list again. "Awwwwwww Luna Poop..."
"Wow!" Stu Leaves grinned, wiping the sweat off his brow. "First tier!" He blinked at the sheet, then smirked at the other team members around him. "That'll put me right next to Wind Whistler and... and... well you, Rainbow Dash!"
"Hey, congrats, Stu!" Sharp Quill patted his shoulder. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I didn't know you had it in you!"
Stu Leaves shrugged. "I was just keeping a solid momentum, like our team captain said." He chuckled. "But... wow... didn't think it'd land me directly above the base of the tornado!"
"Hey, if you want it, have it!" Sharp Quill smirked. "I'm just fine at Third Tier. I've always considered myself something of a social flier anyways."
"Yeah well..." Rainbow paced before the team. "Don't get too relaxed, Sharpie," she said. "Even at Third Tier, I'll need every bit of your strength. Sharing the same windspace with a bunch of other ponies is no easy drift down Wind Street."
"Pfffft!" Stu giggle-snorted. "'Wind Street?' Where'd you get that from?"
The other pegasi giggled.
Rainbow sighed, glaring at the stallion. "And you, Mr. Leaves..." Her gaze drifted over. "And you, Miss Whistler... I'm gonna need the two of you to remain strong and steadfast in your circular flight, or else a pony like me won't be able to maintain the base of the tornado."
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" Wind Whistler saluted. "You can count on us!"
"Yeah!" Stu smirked. "Since there's only two of us!"
Wind Whistler giggled, then slapped Stu's wing. "I like my wingpony! Heeheehee! He's silly!"
"Mrmmfff... yes, well, chuckle all you want for the time being," Rainbow said. "In the next few days, when we meet up again, we're gonna take up the positions that the Commission has suggested for us. That's when the real grueling exercise begins!"
The pegasi all nodded and muttered in aggreement.
"I look forward to it!" Sharp Quill smirked. "Gruel with a capital G!"
"And make no mistake. It's still going to be a practice session," Rainbow Dash said, eyes firm. "If it turns out we can't maintain the tiers that have been assigned to us, then we'll have to change things." She cleared her throat. "Shake things up."
"Oh... I highly doubt that." Stu Leaves smirked. "If I've been assigned to Tier One, then I aim to maintain it!" He stood straight and tall with a proud tilt of his chin. "Heck, working that close to the team captain? No way I'm gonna let her down!"
Rainbow Dash was about to say something when—
"Whew-wee! Tier One? That sounds purdy darn spectacular!" A twangy voice rippled from below. "I mean... it is a good thang, right?"
Rainbow blinked.
Stu gasped. "AJ! Hah!" He turned around and glided towards the crest of the hill. "Fancy seeing you here! We just finished cyclone practice!"
"Cyclone shmyclone. Where's my darn apple cart?"
"Over there," Stu said, then cleared his throat. "Nice and empty."
"Holy hayseeds! You dun hoofed out all of the treats!"
"I did indeed!" Stu smirked. "And I hoofed out plenty of those fancy new business cards Fancy Pants made for you!"
"Well gollllly!" Applejack beamed in the setting sun. "Looks like y'all done bathed two pigeons with one bird bath today!"
"Eheheheh..." Stu Leaves fidgeted slightly. "Erm... AJ?" He leaned in, murmuring, "Ease up on the bird puns around so many pegasi..."
"Awww shucks. They all know I dun mean anythang bad by it."
"Heeheehee! You never know!"
"Hahahah..."
"... ... ... ... ..." Rainbow glared from a distance, her forelimbs folded.
"Erm..." Wind Whistler cleared her throat, leaning in. "Uhm... Team Captain? Are we... that is to say, is this all that—?"
"Dismissed," Rainbow droned.