> Tornado Destroyer of Worlds > by timeblitz > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 The Attic > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 The Attic It was a cold and unforgiving night. Manehatten has seen some bad weather but this was among the worst. Rain was pounding the hard cold stone paths and fog swirled around every corner. It was unfit for anypony to be out, but there was one small family huddling together. Tornado a Pegasus with a messy blue mane and white coat had her wing stretched protectively over a small blue and yellow colt. She was pulling a wagon behind her and although the process was slow she and the blue colt were making their way towards shelter. In their old but sturdy wagon was a huge bird cage meant for a large adult phoenix, some canned goods, and a few ragged blankets. Inside the phoenix cage sat a raccoon. It was just a normal raccoon, nothing special at all. In fact the only reason the family had this raccoon was to cover up their trail. The shelter was just up ahead. The two pegasi went through some thinly spread out bushes. Tornado sat her child on her back and flew to the window of the house in front of them. She unhooked the latch keeping it shut then landed inside. Without a word the colt went over to a small portable oven. When they came to this attic it was stored up here, forgotten. He turned the stove top on then chose a small green pan from the various mismatched cooking utensils. Tornado flew through the window once more and landed with a soft thud. She went over to her son and set down the canned goods. She then went through the window to gather more supplies. She wasn't wasting any time. The blue colt who's name was Whirlwind picked up a can opener. He always had trouble with this part and when his mother came back in and set down the newly acquired blankets she came over and opened it for him before going to get the coon. Whirlwind poured the canned beans into the pan. He made sure to stir it every few minutes to prevent their supper from burning. His mother had brought in the coon and had hid the wagon in one of the many untrimmed bushes. She came over and got out two bowls, one which was chipped and cracked but could still hold food, and two spoons. Whirlwind turned off the oven and poured the beans into the bowls. He and his mother gathered around a small heat giving lantern they had received from a care package back when they lived in an apartment. Back when Tornado had a job. Back when they didn't need to scavenge the streets in hopes of finding food or warmth. Back when Whirlwind had been able to go to school and make friends. That was all over though. No matter how much they wished they just couldn't go back. Tornado had once worked as part of the royal guard. She was once an assassin. She wasn't too efficient in her job though and when she had injured her wing they had been more than happy to replace her. Even though the injury would heal. This job was were she had received her nickname "Tornado Destroyer of Worlds". She hadn't gotten this name as a friendly joke like how two good friends might give each other. No, she had received this nickname for being clumsy and "destroying" most of what appeared on the field of her work. With the lack of work she and her son quickly lost their apartment. They had been cast out with nowhere to go. They had soon found shelter in an old mare's house.This elderly pony was Miss Penniesworth. She worked as a banker and her cutie mark was of several bits. Her husband had died several years ago, making her a widow. He was caught in an ally way at the wrong time. A gang of rowdy ponies called this ally their home and seeing him there made them mad. They beat him up and left him laying there. It had been two hours after his death when the police had found him. Miss Penniesworth was a kind old mare who unfortunately had hearing problems. This made her the perfect pony to have owned this house. Well at least to Tornado and her son. Every time a loud noise came from her sealed off attic she assumed it was raccoons or rats. This is where their caged coon came in. Every now and then they would release the coon so that Miss Penniesworth would see him around her yard making her believe her coon theory more. When Tornado wanted him back she would put nuts or berries in the cage so when he got hungry he would return. However today they would not pull this trick because of the rain. Sometimes the coon would refuse to return to his cage and Whirlwind would chase him hours on end to get him back. Both Whirlwind and his mother couldn't afford to get sick because then they would only have one pony searching for provisions. True this was a harsh life but they made the best of it. After all, the important thing was to survive. Plus if one thought about it, this could have been a lot worse. Every time Tornado looked at ponies who couldn't find shelter she silently thanked Celestia. > Chapter 2 The First Flight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 The First Flight Tornado stepped out on to the mushy water soaked ground. Miss Penniesworth had just left for work and the rain had stopped a few hours ago. It was the perfect time for a flying lesson. Whirlwind jumped off his mothers back excitedly, he get get it right this time for sure! He had been practicing. "Okay. The first step in flying is to get that running start." Tornado said "Of course once your wings get stronger it won't be necessary.". "I know mom. You told me last time." Whirlwind replied with a sarcastic tone. He took a few steps back then started to run as fast as he could. His hooves sunk into the muddy ground but he didn't care. Not if it helped him to fly. After a few yards Whirlwind's outstretched wings started to flap. He jumped off the ground and hovered close to the earth for a few minutes before his wings failed him. He fell to the ground and lay there for a while huffing and puffing from exhaust. He slowly stood up and looked to his mother. What he saw was a proud look along with an encouraging nod. He had flown for a few seconds before crashing to earth. Still, he had done it! Even if it was a short run. His mother trotted over and nudged him onto her back. Today they wouldn't scavenge or hunt or whatever ponies called it. Instead they would celebrate Whirlwind's little flight. She flew him up to their camp then tucked him into his sleeping space. The young Pegasus didn't resist, instead nestled into the blankets and fell asleep from exhaustion. Tornado went down into Miss Penniesworth's kitchen. Even though the attic was blocked off from the rest of the house Tornado knew where the spare key was. She unlocked the door then went inside. Once in she took a few canned goods she knew wouldn't be missed and a package of cookies. Chocolate drizzled hay-nut cookies. Tornado was quiet found of these kind. She remembered her mother making these all the time. They held sentimental value to her. As a filly Tornado had few friends. She didn't need them though, she was too busy being clumsy. In fact her cutie mark was a tornado for being so good at taking things apart. She had gotten it after taking apart her mother's favorite bag. She had found the thread remover from her mom's sewing kit along with a pair of scissors. Tornado was lucky she had taken it apart so neatly. her mother could sew it back to get her. After lecturing her on asking permission she had baked cookies to celebrate her cutie mark. Tornado stepped outside locking the door behind her. She put the key back under the garden gnome. She flew back to her son and started making their supper of celery soup. She had taken this soup earlier and was now adding some old seasonings she had found in the back of the cupboard. Whirlwind felt someone nudging his side. He slowly opened his eyes and got up. It was his mother and supper was done. She handed him a bowl of celery soup. This was one of his favorite of the limited soups they could obtain. He slowly drained the bowl enjoying every slurp. After Whirlwind finished his bowl he took it over to a big bucket full of water. This was for washing the dishes and other things that may need to be cleaned. He picked up an old grimy sponge he had found awhile back. He started to scrub this and last nights bowls. He dried them all off then put them away. His mother had started up the lantern and was holding something behind his back. When he sat down she handed him a weird round crumbly thing. It was drizzled in what he knew was chocolate and smelled delicious. "It's a cookie!" Tornado said happily. "Go on, take a bite." Whirlwind took a small nibble of the treat. His eyes widened and he took a larger chomp. "I got these to celebrate your first flight." she said grinning as Whirlwind finished his cookie. She handed him another one saying it would be his last for awhile. After their cookie filled moment Whirlwind let out a big yawn. Tornado tucked him into his pile of blankets and said good night. > Chapter 3 Roses > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 Roses Tornado and Whirlwind were slowly walking down the street. They didn't have to go slow but they wanted to. They were enjoying the scenery even if it was just buildings and roads. These two must have looked strange. They were dirty and their manes weren't very fancy either. Every other pony on the this bustling Manehatten road were either wearing fancy designer saddles or at least looked like they had just taken a bath. They were walking past a street vendor when a noise drew Tornado's attention away from were she was going. She bumped into a pony with a red mane carrying roses. Tornado fell with a thud. She looked up to she the red maned pony's face full of concern. "Are you alright?" the mare asked putting out a hoof to help her up. "Ya. Thanks." Tornado said getting back on her hooves. Whirlwind sat and watched the exchange between this mare and his mother. "I'm Roseluck." The mare said with a smile. "I'm actually from Ponyville but I came to visit my cousin." "I'm Tornado and this is my son." Tornado relied pointing to Whirlwind. "Well I'll be on my way." said Roseluck turning to leave. She suddenly stopped mid turn. "I know!" she exclaimed. "Here!' She held out a rose to Tornado. Tornado stood still for a moment then took the rose. "Thanks." said Tornado a smile forming on her face."You too." said Roseluck handing one to Whirlwind. Then without another word turned and left leaving the two ponies dumbfounded. When Tornado and Whirlwind got home they placed their roses in a single cup filled with rain water. They went about their normal routine eating supper, washing the dishes, then sleeping. But one thing was different. That one thing was the smile on Tornado's face as she drifted to sleep. > Chapter 4 New Beginings > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4 New Beginings Whirlwind woke up to his mother fluttering through the window. Lots of things were missing from their home and Tornado kept taking more and more valuables. "Mom, what are you doing?" he asked confused. "I've decided that we are going to start over. We're going to get a better life and you'll get an education." she hastily replied before flying out the window with some dishes. Whirlwind poked his out the window to see that many things were packed tightly into their small wagon. Food, blankets, the lantern, and the small portable oven were all squeezed inside. Whirlwind saw some old dusty saddle bags, their straps almost broken sitting to the side bulging with supplies. Tornado flew up to her son then gently lowered him down to the ground. "We're moving to Ponyville. I've heard so many nice things about that town and Roseluck convinced me this was the right choice." she said flying up to the window. She returned carrying an almost empty box of chocolate drizzled hay nut cookies. She handed one to him and said "It's time we moved on." She trotted behind a bush and pulled out their raccoon. "It's about time he did too." Tornado said opening the little door to the cage. She set a cookie on the ground in front of the coon. He grabbed it then scurried off. Tornado put on the saddle bags, put her son on her back, and grabbed the wagon. They were going to Ponyville for a new life and nothing would stop them.