Oceans of Deceit

Oceans of Deceit

Chapter 2: A Sudden Change of... Weather?

The waves grew larger as the sky darkened prematurely. Racing Waves paid no mind to the growing anger of the sea and sky as she flew over the water. The constant churning of the water below her helped her clear her thoughts. She flew as fast as she dared, the city lights in the distance blinking out at whatever lie behind her.

She didn’t care. The wind whipping her mane around her helped calm her, helped her forget. Each ‘thwack’ of her mane hitting her sides slowly tore her attention from the painful memories that battered at her much like the driving rain that now fell. The water poured down in sheets and stung her skin under her thin fur as she flew along.

Her feathers grew heavy with the weight of the water despite her having flown in storms many times before. Nevertheless, Racing Waves pushed on. She performed flips and barrel rolls over the waves, skimming the crests with her wingtips. Lost among her thoughts, the snow-white pegasus didn’t see the swirling clouds gathering in her wake until it was too late.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

In semi-consciousness, Racing Waves only felt the wind whipping her mane and tail around her furiously and pulling on her wings that were still outstretched behind her. She tried desperately to fold them to her sides. With all the strength left in her worn out body, she struggled against the wind. Her wings snapped to her sides just as everything faded to black.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Earlier that day in Los Pegasus...

“Did I really have to come along, Rainbow?” Fluttershy whimpered. “You know I don’t like crowds.”

“Yeah, I know. But I really need someone to watch Scoots here, who just insisted on coming along to my first show as a Wonderbolt.” Rainbow Dash replied, ruffling said filly’s mane with her hoof.

“What about the other girls?” whispered the shy yellow mare, hiding behind her mane.

“They were all busy.” said the cyan pegasus, groaning. “I thought we went over this. It’s Applebuck season, so Applejack has to be at the farm. Pinkie Pie is busy helping out the Cakes like always and is probably planning a party as we speak for my return to Ponyville. Rarity is just as busy as ever with her fashion, plus she probably needs a break from Cutie Mark Crusaders after their last sleepover at the boutique.

“And then there’s Twilight. She’s always so busy with her studies and other egghead stuff. The only time she pulls her nose out of those dusty books is when the Princess needs us to wield the Elements.”

“Rainbow, that’s not true. Twilight always helps us out when we need her. She’s gotten better about always studying and you know it.”

Fluttershy’s head shot up and her wings flared in anger. She wasn’t usually one to get angry, but her assertiveness lessons from Iron Will had taught her to stand up for herself and her friends. Scootaloo craned her neck to look back at Fluttershy. The pegasus simply ‘meeped’ and hid behind her mane again. She didn’t want to set a bad example.

“It’s okay.” Scootaloo put in.

“I think I’d rather be with Fluttershy than Twilight or Rarity. I mean, Applejack would be a little cooler. But Fluttershy's still great!” the filly caught herself quickly.

A small smile teased at the corner’s of Fluttershy’s mouth and she lifted her head slightly to see a large stadium looming above them. “Wow. Are you really going to perform there? With all those ponies watching you?”

“Yep! Isn’t it awesome?”

The cyan wonderbolt leapt into the air to get a look from above. Her rainbow trail billowed out behind her as she flew overhead. Eyes wide with excitement and (even though she would never admit it) nerves, she made one final lap before going into a dive towards the ground. Mere seconds before impact, she pulled up. The pegasus’s hooves landed one by one on the cobblestone path leading towards the huge stadium.

“So, who wants to see the inside?”

“I do, I do!” cried Scootaloo, wings buzzing rapidly in excitement. Fluttershy just nodded, her light pink mane hiding over half of her face.

“Alright, then. Let’s go!”

Rainbow turned towards the stadium, her hoofsteps echoing on the cobblestone. Scootaloo hopped along behind her idol, wings lifting her a few extra inches off the path. Fluttershy simply followed along behind meekly, eyes squeezed shut against the crowd. The shy pegasus did her best to go unnoticed by anyone, until the wind suddenly picked up. What had started out as a gentle sea-breeze was now quickly turning into gale-force winds.

Fluttershy’s head shot up in panic, her pupils pinpricks among her teal irises. Ahead of her, Rainbow had a wing draped over a shaking Scootaloo. Never before had the winds changed so suddenly in Ponyville, and none of them were used to it. Sure, the strong wind was something they were sort of familiar with, but such a sudden change in the wind scared even the locals.

All around the three pegasi, ponies were galloping to the nearest shelter to hide from the wind. Store doors were slammed shut as they filled to capacity. Homes were filling up just as fast. The closest place for the trio that they could guarantee shelter in was the stadium. Fluttershy galloped over to Rainbow and came to a screeching halt. “We need to get to the stadium!” she shouted over the winds.

Rainbow nodded and lifted the frightened filly onto her back. Wings outstretched, she launched herself into the air and bolted towards the stadium with Fluttershy close behind. Mere seconds after Rainbow had landed and set Scootaloo down, she was almost bowled over by the frantic buttercream mare.

“Rainbow, do you have any idea what’s causing this?” Fluttershy shouted, picking herself up from her rough landing.

“Not a clue. Just follow me.” replied the cyan mare, ducking into one of the stadium's passageways.