Equestrian Eeveelution.

by Symphonicdysonince

Weather Changing Training.

<<They seriously just gave you this?>> I asked Rainbow, both of us standing outside one of the Apple's rundown barns.

"Not quite." Rainbow shrugged, moving to open the door. "We all figured that this was out of the way enough to, uff," she struggled to push it open, "not need to, omf, worry about-"

<<Rainbow...>>

"Random weather changes, rmf!"

<<Rainbow.>>

"An' AJ says, mmf, that the trees here can handle it! Gah!" She slumped to her barrel, glaring at the door.

<<Rainbow, this is a pull door.>> I motioned at the hinges. <<You want me to dig under and open it?>>

"Go ahead, I'll catch my breath." She waved a hoof at me. I knelt down and began scooping dirt away from the door, trying to push my face through the growing gap every few minutes. Rainbow watched me do this for a while before she spoke up. "You're not very fast at that, huh?"

<<What do you mean?>> I asked, cheeks smushed between dirt and door.

"I mean that, during the fighting in Canterlot, Conner was moving faster underground than he was above it." Rainbow got up and started shoving the dirt pile out of the way. "What's up with that?"

<<Oh, uh...>> I winced as I scooped more dirt out. <<You, uh, remember all of Twilight's work with our Bite ability, and how it's different to us just biting something?>>

"Yeah..." Rainbow paused. "Oh, it's like that, huh? Conner has a Dig ability?"

<<Yup. He learned it, oh, a couple of months ago. About the same time you helped AJ destroy her other old barn. She must have a few of them if she's just letting us use this one... Anyways, he taught a few of us how to do it.>>

"Not you?"

<<I was a bit busy learning how to do Extreme Speeds.>> I finally managed to wedge my head under the door. I took a quick look around the barn. <<Sonova! Rainbow, there's an open side door around to the right.>>

"Wha- really?!" Rainbow grumbled as I pulled myself out. I shook the dirt off as she rounded the corner. "There is! Right, next time, we're looking around the dang thing."

Once inside, I took a proper look around. Half inch thick dust covered warping and cracked timbers, outlines of old tools showing what the Apples took to keep. <<So, we're testing weather moves?>> I glanced over at Rainbow. <<What's the plan?>>

"You're going to use, what do you call it, Rain Dance? Well, you're gonna use that while I'm outside." Rainbow waved a hoof back toward the door. "That way, we can see if being indoors can confine your weather abilities."

<<Awww,>> I sat down and held a paw to my chest, <<you know what "confine" means!>>

Rainbow smirked as she turned to leave. "There's the smartass I know..."

<<I'd rather be a smartass than a dumbass.>> My chuckle died out in a sigh. <<What's the signal? And are we keeping notes for Twilight and Moon Dancer?>>

"Nah, I'm just to tell them if it's possible. Turns out that there's some summons that can do that; if you can do it, then it's another point for you guys being naturalized summons." She hooked a hoof through the door's handle and began to pull it shut. "I'll knock on the wall, then you use Rain Dance, alright?" With my nod, she fully shut the door. Her knock came very quickly, and I began to dance. Soon enough, I could feel a light drizzle dampening my fur.

"Are you using your ability in there?" Rainbow's voice was muffled by the wall and rain.

<<Yup! You should come in, the waters nice.>>

Rainbow pushed the door open, poking her head in. "Okay, that's just weird... It's still sunny out here." She fully entered as she shook her head. "Alright, clear this up, please."

I nodded and fired a quick sunny day up, the little ball's light illuminating the rafters before it burst. The rain quickly cleared up, but I heard something off.

"Okay, now we just-" I cut Rainbow off with a raised tail. "What's up?" She whispered.

<<I heard something.>> My ears swiveled, hoping that the sound would happen again. Just when I thought I was hearing things, a quiet knocking sound, metal on wood, came from the back of the barn. I kept my voice low, but my ears were locked in that sound's direction. <<Back of the barn, by the old plow leaning against the wall.>>

Rainbow squinted at the farming implement. "I don't see anything, it's pretty dark. You got anything that can light it up?"

I knew that she was asking half in jest, but I still had something. I gathered a Sunny Day and started to creep forward Rainbow close behind me. The light spilling from my mouth pushed back the shadows and slowly illuminated the now rapidly shaking plow. Whatever it is, it has to be behind that thing.

"... Unless it is the thing!"

The thought came too late. The plow burst into flames and a changeling burst into flight. It buzzed us before buzzing out the nearest opening. Without a second thought, Rainbow took off after it. I fired my Sunny Day off and ran for the door, just managing to open it enough to squeeze through. My loyalty-dar told me that Rainbow was zipping back and forth along the edge of the Everfree.

<<It got away?>> I eyed the underbrush carefully.

Rainbow landed beside me, giving the forest the stink eye. "Darn thing flew behind a tree and vanished. Might've turned into something while I couldn't see it."

<<Likely.>> I sighed. <<You wanna let AJ know about this? She should know that her back forty might have Changelings in it.>>

My mare nodded. "Yeah, I'll meet you at the start of the path to Zecora's, let her know too." She took off towards the Apple's farmhouse as I bolted along the Everfree's edge.

Leveraging all of the speed I had gained, I was arriving at the trailhead at the same time as Rainbow. No words needed to be said, we both turned and blitzed into the woods. We both couldn't go as fast as we wanted, I couldn't see any of the dips in the trail until I was right on them, and the canopy pressed to close in for Rainbow. I swear that the damn forest is fighting us!

"That's... not impossible..."

<<Great...>> I grumbled under my breath. I caught Rainbow sparing me a glace, so I spoke up. <<I think they managed to get control of the forest! It feels like the Everfree itself is trying to slow us down!>>

"They have to be after Zecroa then!" Rainbow concluded, swooping down and scooping me up. "Hang on!"

With her holding me tight to her barrel, we were streamlined enough for her to juke around the worst of the branches. I still had to cross my front paws in front of my face, squinting as we blasted through tight formations of weakly connected twigs. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Zecora's home to come into view. With our well practiced maneuver, Rainbow dropped me as we blitzed through the clearing.

I hit the ground running, headbutting the door as Rainbow called out for Zecora. Instead of doing anything sane, I began to rapidly smack my head into the indent I had left so long ago now.

"Hey, continuity!"

Not now, brain! I frowned as Zecora opened her door, shaking off the slight stinging.

"Zecora!" Rainbow landed beside me. "We came to warn you, we just found a changeling at the edge of the forest. There might be more in it!"

Zecora gave us a warm smile. "While I appreciate that you're concerned, but their presence I've already discerned, and there are fewer things in the Everfree as dangerous as me."

Rainbow and I shared a confused look. <<I mean, she's not wrong...>> I shrugged up at her.

"So the guards already know?" Rainbow asked.

The zebra nodded. "The hive of the Everfree has been here far longer than me. As far as I can gather, they keep their peace, enforced by Merry Weather. I suggest you talk to her if you wish to know more. But I can safely say that the Changelings have nothing nefarious in store."

Rainbow kept her cautiously confused look on Zecora. "Nefarious?" She murmured under her breath.

<<Dark, evil, bad.>> I explained, shrugging. <<And... I think she's telling the truth, she still smells like Zecora at least.>>

"Alright, then..." Rainbow drew out. "But that still doesn't change the fact that we just found one in one of Applejack's old barns! Who knows if this Changeling is with the... Everfree hive?" Zecora and I nodded. "With them! Just... take care, just in case..."

Zecora placed a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "Thank you for taking the time and warning me, I'll take care when I'm out in the Everfree. This is news most concerning, if there is a rogue Changeling. I will talk to Merry Weather and see if we can visit the hive together. Shall we keep you informed, and have the other's warned?"

"I'll let the girls know, Applejack already does," Rainbow sighed, "but I think we should trust Merry Weather's judgment on this. C'mon, Leo. I guess we're done training for today."

Author's Note:

Hey all, hope everyone's been well! Giving people a heads up, but I've started coping EE over to Archive of Our Own. I am NOT moving EE over there, just going to post it on two sites from now on.

There may be some edits, some parts added or expanded upon, but I will make note of anything major over here.

As usual, Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Comments

[Joe Toon]

Yay, update

[Chrome Masquerade]

<< I was a bit busy learning how to do Extreme Speeds. >> I finally managed to wedge my head under the door. I took a quick look around the barn. << Sonova! Rainbow, there's an open side door around to the right. >>

"Wha- really?!" Rainbow grumbled as I pulled myself out. I shook the dirt off as she rounded the corner. "There is! Right, next time, we're looking around the dang thing."

[dapple26]

I missed this.

[Snow Storm1437]

Glad to see more I've missed this and love see a new update to the next one

[Black--Soul]

Nice chapter, see you next update

Snuggelbug alert?

[Akira Dragonborne]

NEW CHAPTER!!!! *GLOMP*

[Dark Feather]

"Hey, continuity!"

[Herald of Opera]

11755575
Mind you, we already have Fire & Steel for that sort of thing.

[shirotora]

11755851
Yes, but these are different snugglebugs

[Black--Soul]

11755851
Snuggeling Bugs... there are never enough if them.
11755926
The more snuggel bugs the more snuggling and cuddling

[shirotora]

11755982
But are they snuggling the way the dragonlings are ?

[Black--Soul]

11756032
Isn't snuggeling the best way to make friends that like to share their emotional bounty?

[Greenhorn]

"Are you using your ability in there?" Rainbow's voice was muffled by the wall and rain.

Wow, Leo could make her own biosphere with independent weather system.

[Master king]

This was a wildly interesting chapter I still really hope Chrysalis can be is or turns completely good.

[Symphonicdysonince]

11770238
Shirotora was still writing during my large gaps and got ahead in the timeline, and decided to pause while I caught up (Thank you, Shiro!) which I'm just about to do.