> Into the Storm > by Asherion > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Into the Storm > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- An Erie glow forms around a small quiet grassland, Luna's clear blue moon slowly engulfed in sheets of dark clouds, cutting off most of its light to the land. Winds began to pick up weaving themselves into larger more destructive forces of nature. They lash out at their surroundings, they whipped back and forth tearing the earth apart grain by grain till everything was consumed by them, picking up even trees, uprooting them from their very foundations. the winds began to spiral, a storm was brewing. A lone Pegasus sat just a mile or so away, waiting. as the storm picked up in fury and grew in size, even from his distance he could feel the winds lashing him, trying to cut him apart. he began to unfurl his wings catching more and more wind as he opened them, feeling the wind's torment increase, pain shooting through every part of his wings. The fear and soon adrenaline began to flood his mind and body "This was it, this is what he lived for" and with adrenaline surging through every pore of his body he took off towards the growing behemoth in front of him. The winds picked up spiraling upward at even faster rates, causing the behemoth to inhale even more, to grow larger with every twist and turn. It's hunger knows no bounds as it moved closer and closer uprooting trees, and removing large chunks of earth. all the pegasus thought was "This is gonna be fun". The Pegasus entered the storm dodging debris at every turn, and almost being hit by some of it, narrowly escaping a large tree and almost taking a large bolder to the head. He looked around, the world around him was chaos, this was chaos, and all he could think of was just how awesome it was. Even with all the winds attempts to tear him apart, all the pain he felt in his body, nothing could beat this, the most dangerous sport, riding storms. As he continued to fly through the storm, he didn't take notice of the storm changing color turning from a muted grey to a darker bluish black or towards the fact that the air was becoming charged. the only thing he noticed was the storm's intensity increasing, the wind crashing harder the debris flying faster, thats all he could notice. And then from a distance a flash covered the skies followed shortly by a BOOM!!!, as he turned to see it, a smile smile stretched across his face, it was lightning. he ascended higher and higher accepting the storm's challenge, feeling the charge in the air once again build. As the charge increased he closed his wings and took a sharp turn downward spiraling like a bullet, then opening one wing at the very last second for a very sharp corkscrew turn through the air narrowly dodging the light that appeared, but not the sound that followed disorientating him slightly, he shook it off and opened his other wing catching the air with both stopping his fall mere feet from the ground, he then began to ascend again while dodging the debris. this was to much fun. After the third or fourth time he got slightly cocky. on his fifth attempt to dodge the lightning he opened his wing to late and just as it was completely open was stuck. at first all he smelled was burning feathers but that was shortly followed by a searing pain shooting through his body, before he could catch himself again another flash, and even more pain shot through his body, he'd been hit again. His vision doubled, tripled and slowly started to fade as all he could see was the ground growing closer and closer. "Game over, huh?" and with that his sight faded completely into darkness, his mind still barley awake. The sensation of falling left his body and a voice became audible over the storm, or at least he thought it was a voice "Hold on, don't go into the light" it cried as he felt himself move not down but away from the wind, and then his mind faded. The owner of the voice carried him to a small town called Ponyville. there he was sent straight towards the hospital. > Meet and Greet > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- His vision slowly returned as he woke up, seeing at first only white but soon the color took shape and tiles appeared, he looked around, he was in a room, it smelled like cleaning solution "If im in heaven, i think im in the wrong heaven". just then another thought came to him, there was a voice he heard before he passed out, he was almost sure, but who's was it, and did they save him? His idea that he died quickly vanished as he tried to move, nothing moved, the only thing he gained was new pain and the sudden increase in the beeping noise next to him. Nurse ponies dashed in and started giving him medication and the pain melted away, "okay" he thought "must be a hospital". After the nurses left the room, a brown earth pony walks in wearing a white jacket came in "You gave us quite the scare there, you've managed to incinerate your wing's feathers almost completely, your wings make take weeks to heal, maybe even months" the earth pony then just continued, he toned him out "I hate doctors...and hospitals" is all that he could think. The doctor must have noticed because he changed the subject slightly "Your lucky to be alive kid, if it wasn't for a certain rainbow pegasus you would've surely died back there. She saved your life" and with that the doctor left. "Rainbow pegasus?" he thought "I don't know any..." his thoughts were cut short when a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail came in. "heya!, names Rainbow Dash, best flier in Equestria" she didn't seem to notice his astonishment in the fact that there could be a pony with that many colors in their mane. her eyes connected with his "So... whats your name?" she finished. Startled at first he didn't know what to say, but then focused "My names Storm Caller" then he remembered "Was it you who saved me after i got hit?" if this mare did save him he owed her his life. "Yup, and man i gotta say your crazy, why'd you even try to ride that storm, only the best can do it?. I mean i could easily, but its a good thing i saw you falling there or else something bad could've happened" she moved closer, behind her other ponies began to come in "oh, and i brought some of my friends to help cheer you up" The first one was an orange earth pony with a yellow mane tied with a ribbon and a stetson hat on, the next was a lavender unicorn with a dark purple mane with a streak of light purple in it, followed by another another unicorn this one was white with a curly purple mane, and the next was being pushed in??? a yellow pegasus with a pink mane seemed resistant to the idea of coming inside the room, only to be forcefully pushed in by the pink earth pony behind her. as soon as the pink pony got the yellow one through the door, her eyes widened then...poof, she vanished leaving... streamers??? "What the hay" thought Storm but in seconds the pink pony returned but now was inches from his face. "Its soooo great to have a new pony in town" bouncing happily "My names Pinkie Pie, and i love PARTIES!!!" with that she jumped so high Storm actually thought she might be a pegasus and not an earth pony. Suddenly a lasso came from nowhere and snared Pinkie dragging her mid-flight towards the group. "Simmer down Pinkie, he looks in rough shape. Ah don't think he needs you jumpin on him" the owner of the lasso soon stepped forward, it was the orange earth pony "Howdy, names Applejack, nice to meetcha" she then glanced back at Pinkie and then looked back at Storm "Sorry bout Pinkie, she can be....abit of a handful" and with that she stepped back to make sure Pinkie was held in line. The lavender unicorn started to move "Hello my name is Twilight Sparkle, lets be friends" Next was The white unicorn who's eyes seemed to trace over Storm's body "Hello darling, my name is Rarity..." she paused for a second "whatever have you done to your mane you look like you've been struck by lightning" "I was struck by lightning..." spoke Storm bluntly, he now assumed Rainbow Dash didn't tell her friends what he had done. "Oh you poor thing, i can get you fixed up whenever you like, just come visit my boutique" she turned then rejoined her friends. "That must be all her friends" Storm thought, but wait wasn't there another pegasus in the group, he scanned the room but couldn't spot the yellow mare. he then spotted a pink tail slightly peeking out behind the group of friends, and on que all the friends took a step to the side leaving the cowering mare in the open. "Fluttershy, he wont bite, i don't think he can even move yet..." Rainbow Dash immediately then took the yellow mare and dragged her towards the bed. Then in a whisper almost inaudible to the ear "Hello... my name is...F-Fluttershy" and with that Fluttershy ran threw the door, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity took pursuit. "Well ah guess this musta of been one heck of a day for you, we should let ya get some rest" Applejack turned to leave about to drag Pinkie Pie with her "when you get better, we HAVE to throw you a PARTY!!!, with streamers and..." Pinkie pie trailing off as she was dragged through the door and down the hallway, "...BALLOONS!!!" echoed through the corridors of the hospital. "Alright you could probably use the rest, hospitals are lame, and i've been stuck in them before as well" Rainbow Dash turned and left "Cya!" "Okay...that was allot to absorb. Im kinda scared of Pinkie Pie and Rarity, but the rest don't seem to bad" and as he let his mind slip away, his dreams began to take over, sending him into a deep sleep. > Release > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It has been roughly one week since Storm Caller had the 'accident', he he was now currently able to move except for his wings which were tightly wrapped in gauze and inside casts. Throughout his week in the hospital, the only saving grace for him was his new friends visiting him. Rainbow Dash had brought over her 'Daring Doo' collection stating that they had helped her during her last prolonged stay, and in truth they did help him pass the time, but they also gave him many new ideas for many new stunts. One stunt in-particular consisted of him finding an ancient ruin and trying to narrowly avoid all traps at top speed. Twilight had brought books as well, but they were confusing and had little to no pictures in them to hold his interest. Rarity had visited as well, only her visit was discomforting for Storm, Rarity wants to dress him up and make him into a 'gentlecolt', "Not happening" is all he can think "No fru fru for me...". Fluttershy was perhaps the only pony to visit him with the sole intention to check on his well being and take care of him, her actions made him feel warm. Pinkie.. Pie... Pinkie Pie's visit was during his last day in the hospital, and it was the craziest day he had during his stay, and most fun... During Pinkie Pie's visit, Storm had noticed two unused wheelchairs outside his room, a thought came to his mind, as a smile stretched across his face. "Hey Pinkie, wana race?" The pink mare feverishly shook her head "A race sounds like a great idea, and by great i mean really great, are we gonna run, im fast at running, oh oh oh or maybe bounce, I love bouncing" *gasp* her eyes grew wide "Ormaybewererunningandbouncingthatwouldbesomuchfun..." Storm walked up to Pinkie Pie "Pinkie!" he said as he gripped her shoulders "Were going to race in those" as he said that he let go with a hoof and pointed it towards the wheel chairs. her eyes following his hoof towards the wheelchairs. "Whats the prize?" Pinkie Pie questioned. "Im not sure, maybe..." Storm finds himself cut off by Pinkie Pie's sudden reaction *gasp* "Oh Oh Oh i know winner gets a PARTY!, I just love Parties,..." she trails off again, Storm facehoofs. "Oh Pinkie Pie, ever heard of breathing?" his question goes unanswered by the pink mare still talking to herself. "Pinkie Pie!!!" she stops talking, she looks around, Storm had vanished, "Hey over here!" she turns and sees him in one of the wheelchairs... "ready to race?" nodding her head vigorously she runs towards the other unused wheel chair, a squeak went through the air as she got in the chair, her motions brimming with excitement. "On your mark..." Storm looks towards Pinkie Pie, she is now bouncing in her chair, Storm cant help but let out a small chuckle, he turns to the front... "...Get set..." he looks again, this time she has half her tongue out and what appears to be a serious face for her on, to him it looks just ridiculous, shaking his head, holding back even more chuckles he looks to the front again... "...." Adrenaline rising, his hooves gliding over the wheels just waiting for the signal, waiting for the moment when they can burn rubber. "...GO!!!" In milliseconds both are off, screaming through the corridors narrowly avoiding very surprised ponies. Storm is in the lead, pushing his legs harder and harder as he leans into sharp turns, feeling the wheels give way as the G's pull him, trying to make him crash. and then from a distance Storm hears... squeaking??? from behind him and closing in fast, he turns just as a flash of pink flies by him leaving...streamers??? in its wake, Pinkie took the lead. "Really..."Storm thinks to himself "where does she keep all the streamers...", immediately he orders his legs to push harder and harder slowly making him accelerate, a pink blur in the distance, closing in. "I've got you now..." just as he said that Pinkie spun around and... stopped??? "why did she stop" he thought as he closed in. suddenly an orange pony appeared in front of him... "oh no..." "Howdy Pinkie Pie,why are you in a wheelchai...." Storm hit the brakes as hard as he could, trying desperately to slow down, the tires created smoke as they painted the floors black with their efforts, but to no avail, the orange pony turned and Storm recognized the pony to be Applejack just as her face turned to complete horror. *BOOM* The sound echoed through the hospital as the wheelchair and mare collided, tearing apart the chair and sending the two ponies flying, landing just feet away. No movement Ponies stuck their heads out of their rooms to see what was happening as nurses began to run frantic around every corridor trying to figure out what happened, everypony froze, mouths agape when they spotted the crash site. Two parallel black lines stretched almost 3 rooms across ending abruptly with pieces of wheelchair scattered around, a few feet away two ponies could be seen, a dark grayish blue pegasus in casts and an orange earth pony. Storm shakes his head, trying to collect his thoughts "Note to self, never race wheelchairs again..." He looks at his surroundings "Wow, i think im getting a little too good at crashing.." his eyes catch Applejack, she lay their motionless. "A-Applejack?... you okay?" no reply, desperation seeping into his voice. "Applejack..." silence, he gives her a desperate nudge with his hoof, nothing. Tears now forming, he begins to shake her "Applejack!!, please wake up, im sorry" She stirs slightly releasing a yawn "I dun wanna get up Big Macintosh... Apples can wai.." He shakes he harder "Applejack!!!" "...huh, wha... what happen....ow" a bolt of pain strikes through her head, resulting in her massaging her temples. She looks around then looks at Storm slightly confused "Storm... mind tellin me why ah got dis..." she winced "Whopping headache?" Storm stared blankly for a second "W-well uhm y-you kinda fell and hit your head..." he tries to keep from eye contact, knowing its his fault. "Ah... fell?" she looks around some more, her brain slowly piecing together what happened, suddenly she turns her head straight towards Storm giving him a glare "Wait now ah remember, i was on ma way here to visit ya when..." she trails off, anger rising " You crashed into me.. with a wheel chair..." her voice laced with agitation, Storm was now cowering, fearing for his life. "You better have on hay of a good excu...se" she suddenly stops, just looking at Storm. Storm just sat there, his ears low his head even lower, tears running down his face, collecting into little drops of water on his muzzle before they quietly dropped, he looked completely distraught, he glanced up making eye contact quickly with Applejack before he looked down again, his eye were large, their crystal blue covered in a thin glaze of tears, "Im r-really s-sorry, I didn't m-mean to h-hurt you..." he glanced up again, more tears were forming, Applejack felt a pain in her heart, "I-I didn't..." he slowly trailed off. Applejack slowly walked up to him and gave him a warm and loving embrace, one much like a mother to her foal, "Ah know sugarcube, ah know" she slowly started to run her hoof through his mane, stroking it softly while lacing her words with a mother's love "Ah know ya didn't mean it sugarcube, and ah'm not mad at ya..." he just sat silently while she continued to comfort him. Storm shuffled slightly, moving back to make eye contact, his eyes growing bigger, "Y-your not m-mad at m-me?" through muted sniffles. Applejack just gave a warm smile "Ah know ya didn't mean it, and as long as you promise me you'll never do it again, we can forget that this ever happened" she pulled him into a tighter hug, sharing in each others warmth. Applejack gently releases him and holds his shoulders "Now ah bet your mighty hungry", Storm's ears perk up "Just so happens i brought some of ma families apples with me, wouldja like afew?" Storm's stomach decides to answer for him making a loud gurgling noise, causing him to blush from embarrassment "Well ah guess that answers it" she says as she looks for her basket but then stops when the nurses start to move, the apples would have to wait. The crowd surrounding the crash site just watched the whole even unfurl with tears in their eyes, and when it was over they were quickly rushed towards their respective rooms, while the nurses rushed towards Applejack and Storm, checking their wounds. ________ Back into his white room, Storm waited alongside Applejack for the doctor, happy that Applejack wasn't hurt too bad and that it had just been a couple scratches, he really didn't want to see any of his new friends hurt or even worse, especially by something he did. The doctor entered, immediately glaring daggers into Storm, Storm lowered his eyes "Well well, we've had a busy morning haven't we? mr. Storm?" making sure to weave thick layers of displeasure and sarcasm into his voice while continuing the onslaught with his eyes, Applejack returned his glare with a glare of her own. "He said he was sorry!" "Did he now, did he say he was sorry to those patients he ruefully woken hope, or the ones he nearly ran over,..." he layered even more sadistic sarcasm into his voice "..Did you say sorry to our poor floors for burning them, did you?" Storm just looked down and kicked at the ground with his hoof "...no..." his will was not ready for this onslaught immediately after what had just happened... "And I fear you forgot to say sorry to the one that was injured most... that poor old wheel chair you... killed..." with this he gave a small evil smile as he watched the horror wrap around Storm's face. "Well enough of that, I have good news and I have bad news..." The doctor's eyes moved, scanning the room, "First good news, your free to go" he waited before he continued, waiting till he saw just the slightest bit of hope in the pegasus, " The bad news im afraid..." he paused adding for dramatic effect, " you cannot fly for one month, if you do you will risk Never being able to fly again" the smile returned as he watch all hope slip from Storm. Storm now completely heartbroken didn't know what to do, "i cant fly for a whole month..." he thought, they might as well told him he died, how was he gonna get home?, where was he gonna stay while he was 'grounded'? Applejack seemed to sense her friend's dismay, she turned to him, her eyes meeting his, she laced her words with kindness "Ya could always stay at ma families farm, we got plenty o' room" "It wouldn't...be a bother that im there?" "Nope we love company, and best part were never short on food" Storm's new ray of hope helped him remember, there was another pony in his act... Pinkie Pie, where did she go, he turned to the doctor "Hey doc, wasn't there a pink pony by us, you know uhm she's a little weird, hairs poofy and kinda bounces instead of walks?" The doctor looked confused for a second "Now that you mention it there was an empty wheelchair by the 'accident', but no i don't believe anypony was there, why do you ask?" his eyes begging to find out who else messed with his hospital. "Oh no nothing, just was wondering", storm started to head out the door with Applejack leading the way. "I don't want to see you in here again!" the doctor shouted as he waved, once they vanished from sight he stopped his wave and muttered "No really i Don't want to see you here again" End Chapter 3 Author's note: Okay so i did a few things different this time for this chapter while i wrote it, first would be i wrote this completely before i posted and second would be i actually did a thorough scan of my roughs again before posting. man this takes some time, but i hope you all enjoyed the chapter.