Stormy Nights 2: In the Cloudsby Void ChickenChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1Stormy Nights 2: In the Clouds The moon shone down upon the small cloud bank. Above it hovered Stormy Nights. She dove down under her clouds, wind blowing through her mane. Thick rain soaked Stormy’s hair as her wings drove her beneath the dark clouds. She flew out of the downpour, climbing away from the patch of fluffy blackness. Water sprayed off of the pegasus as Stormy turned for another pass. She descended again, skirting the underside of the clouds. Lightning leaped around her to the water below. Thunder played its electric symphony, drowning out the cheers and stomping of the pink pony watching. The cloud sounded its applause as well as Stormy flew away. Stormy landed in front of her friend. “Amazing as always, Stormy!” Strawberry Blossom said as the water rained back into the town’s reservoir. “Only because I’m the only pony you’ve ever seen do that. But I think it’s time to head home for the night. I might be old enough to not have to go to school any more, but you aren’t.” The two had just started to walk away when they heard the sound of hooves on the metal plating behind them. They turned and saw a mailmare, who pulled an envelope out of one of her saddlebags. “Stormy Nights? I have a letter for you.” “Yeah, that’s me.” Stormy shook off the water coating her. “Uh, thanks.” Stormy took the letter from the mailmare. “I wonder who it’s from,” she said. “Special delivery from the Weather Department,” the mailmare responded as she turned. “Excuse me, I’m in a hurry. I need to be out of the desert before sunrise.” She jumped off the side of the reservoir, spread her wings, and flew off. Stormy stared at the figure receding into the night. Only the sound of her rain filled the air. Strawberry finally broke the silence: “Hah! Look at that! She had wings like you do! I knew you weren’t the only pegasus in Equestria!” “I... I don’t believe it...” “Don’t tell me you really thought you were the only pegasus alive.” “Of course not! It’s just... actually seeing one.” “She did come all this way to bring you that letter. Go on, read it!” “Oh yeah.” Stormy opened the envelope, careful not to get the parchment wet. “It’s about that letter to the Weather Department that you made me write.” She skimmed the document. “There’s a shortage of rough-weather ponies... and there’s an opening in a place called Whinnypeg. And they want me to go there to be a weatherpony!” “Told you that letter would do you good.” Strawberry turned towards the reservoir's exit, motioning for Stormy to follow her. “Well... I might be able to help...” “Sure you will!” “There’s so much I don’t know about weather...” “You’ll learn a lot faster from other pegasi than from some book!” “I’d have to move away.” “You’ll never be shaking sand out from between your feathers again!” “I’d have to leave you.” Strawberry paused, turning to face her friend. “But you can’t stay. You’re wasting your time here in the desert. And that letter said that Equestria needs more ponies like you.” “I guess...” “Besides, we can still write to each other. Tell you what: when I’m out of school, I’ll move to Whinnypeg or Canterlot or wherever you end up by then! And you can use your awesome rain skills to keep my crops watered enough to make watermelons the size of your house!” Stormy chuckled as they approached the waiting wagon outside. “I don’t think I’ll be working in Canterlot anytime soon.” Strawberry hopped into her wagon as Stormy jumped in the back. The two put on their helmets and the full-grown pegasus propelled the vehicle down the road. “Do you have everything, Stormy?” “Yes, Mom.” “Did you make the list of everything you want the movers to get?” “On the fridge, Mom.” “Are your wings all right? You checked every feather?” “Only if you let go of me, Mom.” “Are you okay flying at night? It’s awfully cold out.” “I’ve flown at night my whole life, Mom.” “Do you need a blanket to keep you warm?” “I’ve flown at night without a blanket my whole life, Mom.” “Did you pack everything you need for the trip?” “You already asked me that. I’m going to be late.” Stormy, her mother, and Strawberry stood outside the moonlit house. “Fly safe, sweetie. Be careful.” Stormy’s mother kissed her on the forehead, letting a few teardrops fall. “I will. Oh and Mom? Thank you, for everything.” “I love you, Stormy.” Stormy spread her wings. “I love you too, Mom.” “Remember to write!” Strawberry called as Stormy took off. Stormy had been flying for several hours when she saw a bank of stratocumulus clouds ahead. Surrounding it were what appeared to be several cloud structures. Below the clouds was a small town, surrounded by rolling green hills. A tiny figure sat on the edge of the cloud bank. Another pegasus! As Stormy approached, the pegasus turned to look at her and began waving. Stormy landed in front of the pony. “Hi!” the pale blue pony shouted. “Welcome to Upper Whinnypeg! My name’s Silver Lining, but everypony calls me Wobbler! I’m the head of the weather team! Who are you?” “Stormy Nights. I got a letter from the Weather Department and—” Wobbler tilted her head. “Weather Department? Wait. They sent me a rainpony?” “Um, I guess I am—” “THEY SENT ME A RAINPONY! WHOO-HOOOOOO!” Wobbler jumped into the air, half-flipped, and landed on her side. “Um...” Stormy started as Wobbler rolled to her feet. “Are, uh... we... that rare?” Wobbler pushed her grey mane out of her face. “Not really, but those pencil-pushers in the Department always send them to the big cities. Us little towns only get the dregs. I like sunshine and rainbows as much as the next pony, but Whinnypeg’s a new town, and the crops really need the water.” Wobbler paused. “Huh? What are you looking at? There something on my wing?” She turned to look at her back, spun in a circle, and fell over. “Oh. I’m sorry. It’s just... I’ve never really seen a pegasus before.” “Never seen a pegasus?” Wobbler giggled as she got to her feet again. “There aren’t any mirrors where you come from?” Stormy paused. “I mean, I’ve never really gotten a good look at another pegasus.” “So...” Wobbler pointed her dark blue eyes down, as if she was trying to figure something out. She looked back up at Stormy. “Okey dokey! Go ahead and get started on your cloudhome so you can drop your luggage off.” “‘Cloudhome’? You live in the clouds?” “Well, duh we- oooh did you live on the ground too? Yeah you get to make your very own house up here! It’s awesome! Come on, I’ll help you get started!” Wobbler took to the air and, true to her nickname, swayed back and forth as she hovered. “I’m sure you’re busy with whatever it was you were doing...” “Nah, I was just coming up with next month’s weather patterns. I’d love to help my newest employee get settled in! Come on!” Wobbler darted away in a corkscrewing path. Wobbler flew circles around Stormy on their way across town. “So, Starry,” Wobbler started. “It’s Stormy.” Wobbler giggled. “Oh yeah that’s right! So, Stormy, nopony ever told you how to make a cloudhome? It’s an important life skill, you know. My mom taught me how; I had this little cloud-bedroom above my house until I moved out! Oh hey, we’re here!” The two pegasi approached a small cumulus humilis cloud floating at the outskirts of town, painted in the new day’s light. Stormy landed on top of it. Wobbler caught a hoof, tripped, and plowed her face into the cloud. She somersaulted forwards, ending in a sitting position with a grin on her face. “We’re here! Welcome home!” Stormy pawed at the cloud. “This thing?” “Yup! You’ll be living in your very own custom-made house in no time! As big as you want! The grounders will be so jealous!” Stormy smiled. “I guess so.” “Let’s get started! I like to start from the top and fill the roof in afterwards, but most ponies do the front door first. You’re really not digging or carving your cloud. More like molding...” Stormy Nights walked around the only room so far in her home, kneading the lumps out of the floor. Sunlight streamed in through a window that Wobbler had insisted that Stormy add. A few dark splotches adorned the walls. Where is Wobbler, anyways? Stormy wondered. I haven’t seen her for— a voice outside interrupted her train of thought. “Hey Starry! Come on out for a minute!” Stormy walked out her front door, then shrunk back. Wobbler had brought about a dozen other pegasi with her. Some were hovering, while others chose to stand on the clouds outside. “Oh, um, hi.” “Say hello to the Whinnypeg weather team! Fillies and colts, this is our new rainpony, Starry Isles!” “It’s Stormy Nights.” “Yes, that’s her name! Stormy’s good at rain and wind and stuff and her special talent’s... um... what was your talent again?” “Lightning.” “Lightning! Ooh, I’ve never met a lightning pony before. Stormy here’s going to be a great help with next week’s downpour!” “It’s going to rain next week?” “That’s right! The new crops need lots and lots of water, and you’re going to be the one to make it happen! With the help of everypony else here!” Wobbler continued, “This is Cirrus and Stratus Sky, and that’s Suncream, and that’s...” She tilted her head. “Are you okay, Stormy?” Stormy was surrounded by pegasi, a rainstorm was happening soon, and it was still cool during the daytime. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Yes... yes I’m fine.” Chapter 2Stormy sat in what was destined to be her bedroom, eyeing the north wall. Hmm... another yard out? Or would the roof cave in? Could I put in a support column? It’d be annoying to have one. Maybe the wall can stay where it is; I’ll only ever need a twin-size bed after all. A knocking echoed up from the room below. Stormy poked her head downstairs to find a letter at her front doorstep. She looked at the name on the return address: Strawberry Blossom. Did she write this as soon as I left? Stormy opened the letter. Hi Stormy! I miss you already! I can just imagine you soaring all over the sky where you are, surrounded by your new friends all flying around and making weather magic and stuff! Make sure you show them how amazing you are! And write me back! -Strawberry If I don’t write her back, Stormy thought, she’ll think I died or something, I’m sure. Quill... She looked around her house. Quill... quill... do I even have one? Stormy looked at her wing. I’d still need ink and paper. She grabbed a saddlebag and took off over the town. Through the now-cleared sky Stormy got her first good view of Whinnypeg. Many buildings were incomplete, and three-quarters of a clock tower stood in the town square. Around them, the unicorns and earth ponies went about their daily business. A pale blue blur passed under her. “Hey Starry, can you help me move a nimbus... what are you looking for?” Wobbler asked. “You lose your glasses?” “It’s Stormy. Wait, I don’t wear... never mind. I’m just looking for somewhere to get a quill and some ink.” “Pssh, you don’t have to go down there; we have our own store up here in the clouds!” “Why?” “See that big cloud formation over there? Technically it’s the town’s warehouse. See, since Whinnypeg’s really new, they don’t have the brick and wood and stuff to hold all the stuff they have and all the town’s food. But since clouds are just water, hey! We get to store it all up here! Come on, I can show you.” “Well, if you insist, I guess...” “Let’s go!” Wobbler took off erratically in the direction of the warehouse. “Good morning, you two,” Mister Sky said. “Hi Cirrus! Starry needs some—” “Stormy.” “Stormy needs some writing stuff.” Stormy elaborated, “Some paper and ink, and a quill or two unless I’m supposed to pull out one of my feathers.” “Hehehe you don’t use your own feather to write with,” Wobbler said as Cirrus flew to the top of a nearby shelf. “If I had to pull out a feather every time I needed to write something, I’d never fly right!” So does she or— Stormy’s thought was interrupted by Cirrus’s return. “Here you go, Miss Nights, was it? That will be five bits.” Wobbler chimed in, “I can just remember it and take it off your pay, if you want!” She tapped her forehead. “Mind like a steel trap.” Stormy stared at her for a second. “I... I can pay cash.” “Hehe, if you say so. I don’t need anything from here today so I’ll see you around!” “Um, wasn’t there a nimbus you wanted moved?” “Oh yeah! It’s over on the other end of town! Come on!” “Here’s the clo—” Wobbler ran into it. “Here’s the cloud!” She giggled. “Nice and soft! Grab a chunk and follow me!” Wobbler peeled off a piece of the cloud and flew in an arc over the town. Stormy pushed down on the top of the cloud, splitting off the largest portion that she thought she could manage. She clamped onto the top of her piece and began dragging it across the sky. Stormy arrived at the other end of town, where Wobbler was waiting. “Wow-ee that’s a big one! Even my mom couldn’t move that much cloud at once! Where were you when we were putting together Upper Whinnypeg? Maybe you’re half earth pony!” “Half unicorn, actually.” “Unicorn? Really? Are you sure?” Stormy narrowed her eyes. “I’m sure.” A voice that Stormy didn’t recognize called up from below, “Miss Silver Lining! Excuse me, may I have a word with you for a moment?” “Oops,” Wobbler said, “the mayor wants to talk to me. Go ahead and bring the rest of the cloud over; this usually takes a while.” Wobbler spun down towards the ground. Stormy flew off to finish moving the cloud. Stormy rested on top of the reassembled nimbus, idly rubbing a piece of cloud the size of her hoof against the larger mass, watching the sparks jump between them. Wobbler and the mayor were discussing something below, but Stormy had learned to tune out arguments a long time ago, as one-sided as the one below sounded. Soon, Wobbler came back up. “Sorry about that. She sure likes to talk a lot.” “What did the mayor want?” “Oh, she says this cloud’s blocking her view of some mountain or another. But I think it’s just because she doesn’t like me.” “Should we move it again?” “No way! There’s a reason I’m the head of the weather team and not her.” “Because she’s an earth pony?” “Because I’m the best weatherpony in Equestria! This is my sky up here, and I know more about the right way to work the weather than anypony else! And one day, I’m going to be organizing the sky over Canterlot.” “Canterlot, huh? I hope you won’t forget us little ponies when you make it big.” “Of course not! I’ll still remember everypony here, Starry.” “Stormy.” Stormy finally returned home, tossing her saddlebags aside. She noticed that Strawberry’s letter was still laying on the floor. Oh, that’s right. Stormy fished the writing supplies out of her saddlebags. Dear Strawberry, I only just got here so I haven’t had much of a chance to show the team anything. But I’ve been doing fine. I’ve even gotten my own cloudhome up here. Stormy thought for a second. More of a cloudcave, really, but I’m working on it. My boss, Wobbler, is kind of funny; you’d like her. Anyways, she says there’s going to be a big storm soon that I can help with. I think She paused again. I think hope I can do it. Sincerely, Stormy Stormy tossed and turned in her bed. She squinted at the moonlight coming into her bedroom, trying to figure out what time it was. Have I even slept? Ugh. It’s only a little... a big storm... There was a dull thud and her cloudhouse swayed slightly. Stormy sat up in bed. A pale blue foreleg hooked itself around her window frame, and Wobbler pulled herself up. “Oh hey, you’re up!” “What’s the matter?” “The matter? It’s time to start your big storm, silly!” Stormy stood up. “What? Already?” “Well yeah! I planned your storm to start in the morning, and we need to get it put together early!” “Oh... okay. Just give me a minute or two to get ready.” “All righty! We’ll be waiting for you at the north edge of town!” Wobbler dropped out of sight. Stormy made her way to the bathroom and splashed some water from the sink onto her face. I can do this. It’s only a bunch of dark clouds. I’m good at dark clouds. Just a lot more than I’ve ever made, with the whole town watching. And the whole reason I’m here. What have I gotten myself into? Stormy was the last pegasus to arrive at the lake. The far shore was barely visible, even at altitude, and wilderness surrounded the area. Stormy panted lightly. It’s too cold out to be sweating like this. How in Equestria can all those other ponies move that quick? “There you are!” Wobbler called out. “I thought a pony with lightning on her rump would be fast!” “Sorry. I went as fast as I could.” “That’s okay! So what’s your big plan?” Wobbler looked expectantly at her. “Plan? What plan?” “Yeah! This is your big storm, so I’m letting you plan it all out!” “Oh... uh... I didn’t really have a plan...” “Oooh, you’re going to wing it! I’ve never seen an ad-lib storm before! Go on,” Wobbler said, nudging Stormy towards the lake, “get started!” Stormy looked out over the lake. All right, I can do this. I’ve done this plenty of times at the reservoir. Stormy flew just over the surface, pulling the water into the air behind her, and made a tight left turn. How can Wobbler turn so much tighter than I can? How can every other pegasus I’ve seen turn tighter than I can? What’s wrong with me? “Hey!” Wobbler had flown up beside her. “Are you all right? You’re not making many clouds.” Stormy looked behind her. The other pegasi on the team were gathering up the thin ribbon of clouds that she had made. “Oh. You, uh, need more?” “Well yeah!” Wobbler turned upside-down. “We have to cover the whole sky! We’ll be here all month at the rate you’re going. And we have the whole lake to play with, so go ahead and fly out there!” “I’ll try.” Stormy swallowed. Lots of clouds, pull lots of water up. As much as I can. She flew low, just above the water, concentrating on making her clouds. Stormy could feel the water beneath her being pulled up into the air. This feels pretty good, actually. Stormy’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice next to her. “Starry!” “St—” “What are you doing?!” Wobbler wasn’t smiling any more. “Look behind you!” Stormy turned around. She had indeed made an impressive amount of cloud mass behind her, but her creations floated far too low to the water. The pegasi that had been trailing Stormy struggled to get the clouds up before they drifted down into the lake’s surface below. Many were already melting back into the lake from whence they came. Stratus Sky tried to pull her husband out of the water that one of Stormy’s clouds had knocked him into, while avoiding the sparks that they were producing. “Didn’t anypony ever teach you the proper altitude for cloud creation?!” Wobbler jabbed a hoof at Stormy. “Starry, when you look bad, it makes ME look bad. I scheduled a storm this morning, and now it’s going to be late!” “I’m... I’m sorry...” Wobbler groaned and put her hoof on her face. “I don’t want apologies! I want clouds!” She rose several feet. “You need to be up here!” Her bobbing and swaying made it hard to tell where exactly she meant. “Now do it again and do it right!” “Sor—” Stormy caught herself. “I mean, all right, I’ll try.” Stormy flew over the lake again, higher this time. After half an hour’s work collecting clouds, a faint glow appeared on the eastern horizon. “Starry!” Wobbler’s voice called. “Hey Starry, come over here!” Stormy made her way back to the flock, where many of the pegasi were gingerly handling the inky black clouds. “Am I doing it wrong again?” “No way, you did great! Look at that lake!” Stormy saw that, despite its size, the lake’s water level had dropped noticeably. Wow. Pegasus magic, indeed. Stormy had long studied the mechanics behind cloud formation, but seeing it in action, on this scale... She couldn’t help but be moved. Wobbler continued, “This is the first time I’ve ever seen a pony make clouds faster than the rest of the team can put them together! Though that might be because...” Wobbler flipped over to face towards the weather team, “...SOME ponies are afraid of a little voltage!” She turned back to Stormy and grinned. “Looks like you’ll be helping to put it together, too.” Stormy smiled. “Fine with me, I love working with this stuff!” She flew forwards, closed her wings, and belly-flopped onto a large cloud. It crackled and flickered satisfyingly from the impact. Stormy then opened her wings and drove her cloud into the sky. Wobbler laughed and called to the rest of the flock, “Everypony grab a cloud and start putting together that storm! Let’s make some rain!” The growing light shining through Whinnypeg faded as the storm slid into position above the town, gently pushing the smaller cloud structures out of its way. The weather team hovered above the sheet of cumulus arcus, with Stormy and Wobbler standing atop the solitary cumulonimbus incus in the center. “All right, Starry!” “Stormy.” “All right, Stormy! Give the signal!” Stormy reared up, then slammed both front hooves into the cloud’s top. Bolts of electricity shot down the height of the anvil cloud and fanned out across the width of the storm. A wonderful harmony of booms echoed up and past the pegasus. As the sound faded, the weather team jumped onto the cloud sheet, sending a torrent of rain down into Whinnypeg. “So...” Stormy started, pacing back and forth on top of the cloud and ruffling her wings. “Anything else that needs to be done?” “Hmm...” Wobbler scratched her chin. “Just to keep an eye on it until it’s time to take the storm apart on Monday.” “So I have some free time then, to, say, head underneath?” Stormy peered over the edge of the cloud top, wings open. “Well sure, though I don’t see what’s so interesting under the cloud, Starry.” Wobbler paused for a few seconds, then looked around, but she found herself alone. “Starry?” Chapter 3The rainwater ran down Stormy’s back and streamed off of her tail as it flapped in the wind. The wind beat against the pegasus, but two dark purple wings beat back. The deluge of water soaked Stormy to her skin, and she loved every second of it. Stormy could feel the ebb and flow of the electric power just above her in the black clouds. She flew up, and banked a turn, letting her wingtip skim the clouds’ surface. As she dove, a bolt flashed down behind her, arching to some house’s lightning rod. This is incredible! Stormy thought. This is almost as powerful as that storm back home! ...I think. Having my wings nearly ripped off kind of limited my flying then. Stormy locked her wings, letting the storm blow her across town, then pushed herself back towards the center. But this storm is mine. I made this. She flapped her wings, driving her body back up to the cloud layer to let loose another lightning strike. How could I have not known that this is what I’m capable of? Stormy flew for several more minutes before she heard a vaguely familiar voice. “Excuse me! Ma’am? You, in the air!” Stormy flew down and hovered in front of the yellow earth pony, who was standing in the doorway of the largest building in town. “Me?” “Yes, may I ask you to get me Miss Silver Lining?” “Silver... oh, you mean Wobbler?” “Quite. Miss Lining and I have something to... discuss.” She spoke the last word through gritted teeth. “Sure, I’ll go get her. Be right back.” Stormy flew out to the edge of the storm and over the clouds. “Maybe the mayor was sunbathing.” Wobbler giggled. “She sounded pretty upset.” The two pegasi flew down to the outskirts of town, where the rain was only a gentle drizzle. Wobbler carefully hovered above the ground, then lurched forwards and landed face first in a mud puddle. She jumped up onto her hooves with a smile under her new mud mask. Wobbler trotted through town as Stormy hovered alongside. It was a very strange sight to see Wobbler moving in a straight line for once, even if it was on foot. “Wow,” Wobbler said, “you can really fly in this stuff?” The two were nearing the center of the storm, situated around city hall. Stormy looked down at her. “You can’t?” “Heck no! I didn’t know of anypony who could before you! You rainponies are really something else!” The pair reached the front door of city hall. “You should come along, too,” Wobbler said, knocking on the door. “This is your storm after all.” The door opened. “Good morning Mayor Honey!” Wobbler said with a big smile, rain pouring down her sides. “You wanted to see me?” Mayor Honey cleared her throat. “Yes, do come in.” Inside, the mayor began talking. “I couldn’t help but notice a rather sudden shift in the weather patterns this morning. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this, Miss Silver Lining?” “Oh yes! My rainmare Starry Isles here got this whole thing going!” Wobbler said. “She’s great I tell you!” She put a foreleg around Stormy’s neck. “It ran a little late, but Starry pulled through!” The mayor glared at Stormy. “So it was your idea to ruin the first annual Whinnypeg Flower Festival?” Stormy shifted backwards. “Flower Festival?” Mayor Honey looked up. “The Whinnypeg Flower Festival is our town’s unique holiday. Every year, the ponies cultivate the most beautiful, most impressive, or simply the most bizarre flowers they can grow. The streets are lined with flowers of all varieties and their petals cover the streets, filling the town with the sweetest smells. It will attract ponies from across Equestria, giving our local businesses valuable tourism revenue.” Mayor Honey looked directly at Stormy again. “Or it would, except our first Flower Festival has just been rained out!” A lightning bolt outside accentuated her point. Stormy stuttered. “I... I, uh... I didn’t...” Wobbler cut in. “Hey, don’t go yelling at my rainpony! She put the storm together just like I told her to!” Mayor Honey looked over at Wobbler. “I should have known you were behind this, Silver Lining. If I recall correctly, I informed you of the Flower Festival’s date four months in advance.” “You did?” “I clearly remember you smiling and acknowledging it before flying away.” “Maybe that was before I started writing that stuff down. Anyways, you could have just told me to move the storm.” “Perhaps I would have, if you had informed me that you were planning one.” “I do tell you! I send you the forecasts two weeks before they happen.” Wobbler pointed at a sheet of paper on the mayor’s desk. “See, there it is.” The three ponies looked at the report. Indeed, it was a very detailed forecast. It laid out exact wind speeds and directions at the various times of day, visibility, cloud types, opacity and coverage, high and low temperatures, barometric pressures, exact amounts of precipitation, even the dew point. On today’s line was the little ‘SVA’ acronym indicating a severe thunderstorm, although the start time was two hours off. “You mean this pile of numbers? I’m not a weatherpony; I can’t read this.” “Well it does say that there’s a storm today. You never told me you couldn’t read it. But we can finish the storm up early and have the rest of it next weekend!” Wobbler smiled as lightning flashed outside. “It’s too late now. Might as well just let it pour at this point.” “Will do! Come on, Starry, we got a volleyball game going on top of the cloud layer!” Wobbler began to trot out. Stormy hesitantly followed. The mayor opened her mouth to say something, then simply heaved a sigh and turned away. Outside, Stormy stepped in a shallow puddle. Looking down, she saw that it was filled with petals. There were planters lining the streets, their flowers now drooping in the unrelenting rain. A large banner dangled into the thoroughfare, hanging by one end. A lightning flash briefly illuminated it, but its text was illegible from its colors running. Stormy looked at the sky. This is my storm, she thought. I made this. This is what I’m capable of. Hey Stormy! I waited a few days after I got your letter so I think that storm of yours should be going by the time you get this. You’re one lucky pony, able to make all the rain you want while I have to work the irrigation pipes to water my plants. Hope you’re nice and cool in all that rain. I’ve had to sit in a hot classroom all day learning what I already know about crop rotation. Boring! Say hi to your friends for me! -Strawberry Several beams of sunlight shone into Whinnypeg. The storm had exhausted its power and several diligent weather ponies were exercising their talents to bring the sunshine in. The rainpony laid on one of the remaining clouds, looking down over the edge. Many of the earth ponies and unicorns below were cleaning up the remains of the failed Flower Festival. “Whatcha looking at, Starry?” “Stormy. Just all the ponies down there, cleaning up my mess. Mind if I head down and help?” “I don’t see why, but sure thing! Ooh, and give the mayor this week’s weather on the way.” Wobbler passed a sheet of paper to Stormy. “Thanks.” Stormy took the page and flew down. Below, the mayor was busy giving a unicorn a pushbroom to telekinetically pick wet petals off of when Stormy landed. “Good morning, Miss Starry Isles. What brings an illustrious weatherpony like yourself down to our humble town?” “That’s Stormy Nights, miss mayor.” “But Silver Lining said...” the mayor paused, then gave a frustrated grunt. “Um, yeah. I uh, brought the forecast for you.” “Oh just place it on the pile,” the mayor said, pointing at a pile of wet leaves, “with the rest of the trash. I don’t know why she bothers sending reports I can’t understand.” Stormy unfolded the page and began to read. “Well, looks like the storm clouds will be cleared out by late tonight, and it will warm up a little over the week, with light clouds for a few days. And some scattered showers next Thursday.” The mayor’s face softened. “Thank you. It’s refreshing to meet a pony who can explain these things for a change. Although... rain next Thursday? Miss Lining scheduled rain for the Princess’s visit?” Stormy started. “Princess Celestia is coming here?” “Yes, she likes to check up on new towns like ours... at least that disaster of a storm that you made isn’t going to happen then.” Stormy winced. “Um, I’m really sorry about the storm. Is there anything I can do to help clean up?” “A weatherpony wants to help down here? Of course, we could use a pegasus to move some of the debris that we’ve gathered to the bonfire.” “There’s going to be a bonfire?” “Yes, at the end of the Flower Festival we were going to make a bonfire out of the old flowers. The scent would waft through the town for days afterwards... weather permitting. I asked the townsponies and they decided to have the fire despite the festival’s cancellation.” Stormy grabbed a net and began hovering. “All right, what do I do?” The sun set on an exhausted pegasus returning to her home, a black mass of hollowed out clouds that flickered every so often. Another pegasus was waiting for her there. “There you are, Starry! What’ve you been doing all day?” “Stormy. I was making things right. Speaking of, did you know that Princess Celestia is going to be visiting next Thursday?” “Yup!” “And you planned on a quarter inch of precipitation then?” “Yup!” “Isn’t it a little inappropriate to rain on the Princess?” “Why? I’m sure it rains in Canterlot too.” “Um...” Stormy pondered. “Maybe Princess Celestia goes on trips to get out of Canterlot’s rain? I’m sure she would appreciate some sunny weather out here.” “Huh. Never thought of that. Sure, I can move the shower to Saturday. I hope the mayor won’t mind the change of forecast.” “I don’t think she will. One more thing, on Wednesday can we please have a wind of three knots out of bearing 085 for two days? Call it a personal favor.” “Hm, I don’t see why. But I don’t see why not either, since I’m already changing my forecasts!” “Thanks a lot. The ponies below are really going to appreciate it when I tell them tomorrow.” Wobbler tilted her head. “You’re going down there again? I mean I won’t need you until next Thursday... I mean Saturday.” She giggled. “Just don’t break a wing or anything; I can’t have my rainpony out of action.” Stormy smiled and stuck out her left wing. “Been there, done that.” “Ha ha, really? What happened?” “I woke up one day in a hospital bed with a broken wing and a skull fracture. Day it happened is a total blank. But I was a pretty clumsy filly back then.” “Broke mine too, believe it or not! I was in the living room playing with my toys when the funniest thing happened.” Wobbler grinned. “The ceiling just fell down on me! Me under this big old pile of wood! Wing got smashed into lots of itty-bitty pieces! Hehe it hurt a whole lot. Mom and Dad dug me out and Mom flew me to the hospital. Silly doctors said I’d never be able to fly, but I sure showed them, didn’t I?” Wobbler opened her wings. Stormy realized that she had never gotten a good look at them before. There was a break in the line of the primary feathers on her right wing, only two of her secondary feathers sat right, and her right wing was slightly smaller than her left. It even curved differently. “I... I had no idea...” Stormy said. “I’m so sorry.” Wobbler just grinned back. “Hehehe, I don’t mind. It only hurts some of the time nowadays.” She took off, and began swaying in the air as she always had. “I’ll make sure to change the forecast like you said, Stormy. Good night and be safe down there!” Stormy watched Wobbler corkscrew away. “Yeah... good night.” Chapter 4A few days’ work had set what remained of the Flower Festival in a pile outside of town with whatever wood could be scrounged up. A faint breeze blew through, sending the scent of the flowers across the town. The only pegasus in attendance stood near the front of the small crowd. “Even though our first annual Flower Festival did not quite go as planned,” the mayor said as Stormy cringed, “I am still pleased to be able to close the Festival with our soon-to-be-traditional bonfire!” The stars hung above the ponies’ heads. The faint glow of the new dawn adorned the horizon behind the pile of debris. Mayor Honey continued, “Because of the great help she has been in the cleanup, I would like to ask Miss Stormy Nights to light this year’s bonfire.” The mayor held out a small lit torch. Stormy didn’t take it. She opened her wings and took off. Ahead, Stormy spotted the small black cloud that she had hidden earlier. As she reached it, Stormy banked around, the tip of a primary feather just brushing the mass. Four laps around the cloud charged it to Stormy’s satisfaction. She dove back down towards the pile. Halfway to the ground, a bolt of lightning shot out of the cloud, past the pegasus, and struck the tinder at its base. Only then did Stormy notice that three ponies had wandered close to the debris. Stormy rushed down and landed next to the newborn fire. “I’m sorry... I didn’t see... you moved... are you okay?” One of the earth ponies turned to Stormy with wide eyes. “I-I-I just wanted to get a better... better look... and...” A second pony was trying to clear her ears out with her hoof. Stormy looked at the rest of the crowd. In the growing light of the dawn she could see faces in varying states of surprise and wariness. Mayor Honey muttered something under her breath, then cleared her throat. “Stormy, would you do me a favor and ask Miss Silver Lining to visit me in my office? I’d like to speak with her. Alone this time.” Stormy laid on her back on her bed, staring at the black ceiling. A knock at her front door grabbed her attention. She opened the door to find Wobbler standing outside. “Hi Stormy.” “Sto—” She blinked. “You... I mean, what happened? What’d the mayor say?” “Weeeell... she was kinda sorta really upset. I guess I shoulda told her about you and that lightning of yours. And the storm. And, uh, forecasts. And a little-or-a-lot of other things over the past few months. And something about attitude I don’t remember.” “Oh, I’m sorry. But you’ll remember next time, at least. Right?” “Stormy, you silly pony. There isn’t going to be a next time.” Wobbler forced a smile. “I’m not your boss anymore!” “I... I’m sorry.” “Nah, it’s okay! I’ll find a new job and work my way up to Canterlot...” Wobbler’s wing twitched. “Somehow.” Her voice began to choke up. “I-I better go pack my things. See you around, Stormy. It was great knowing you!” Wobbler turned and corkscrewed away. Stormy slowly closed the door. They were afraid of me. Is this all I can do? Make townspeople fear me and ruin lives? How do I fix this? Celestia, I don’t know what to DO! Stormy flopped onto the black cloud floor. A thunderbolt boomed below. The blood drained from Stormy’s face. She rushed outside and frantically searched below her cloudhome. The bolt had struck a tree and shattered part of its trunk, but there were no ponies nearby. Stormy landed on what was left of the tree and stared at the debris on the ground. Nopony here... but there could have been. She looked up at her home, the black mass looming overhead, ready to destroy whatever, or whoever, was unlucky enough to wander below. There could have been. Strawberry, I’ve done something wrong. I can’t come back to Coltumbus. I’m sorry, you weren’t safe near me. Nopony is. I’m not safe to be around. I’ve figured out what to do, though. Sorry I won’t get to see you again. I’ll miss you. -Stormy Stormy noticed the nervous glances she got as she flew across the town. As she landed in front of City Hall, a pair of ponies exited, avoiding eye contact and giving her a wide berth. Stormy tapped on the door and stuck her head in. “Um, Miss Mayor?” Mayor Honey lifted her head out of her hooves. “Oh it’s you. Come in.” Stormy entered, being careful to keep her distance. “I was just thinking... about what happened.” “And I’ve been talked to about it by every pony in town. But I’ve heard everypony else’s opinion; I might as well hear yours.” “I know the entire town’s afraid of me.” “No, actually. Many ponies support you, believe it or not. The two ponies who just left, for instance.” Stormy recalled the couple’s expressions. “I see. But... I have an idea that will make everypony happy. I’m leaving town. Nopony will argue over how dangerous I am if I go. I’ve already packed.” Stormy’s saddlebags hung at her sides. The mayor thought for a moment. “I can’t tell you what to do. You should do what you think is best, Stormy. Where are you going to go?” Stormy turned to leave. “I don’t know. I’ll figure things out, somehow. I’m sorry, Mayor Honey, for putting your town through this.” Stormy Nights left the building, opened her wings, and flew away.
Chapter 1Stormy Nights 2: In the Clouds The moon shone down upon the small cloud bank. Above it hovered Stormy Nights. She dove down under her clouds, wind blowing through her mane. Thick rain soaked Stormy’s hair as her wings drove her beneath the dark clouds. She flew out of the downpour, climbing away from the patch of fluffy blackness. Water sprayed off of the pegasus as Stormy turned for another pass. She descended again, skirting the underside of the clouds. Lightning leaped around her to the water below. Thunder played its electric symphony, drowning out the cheers and stomping of the pink pony watching. The cloud sounded its applause as well as Stormy flew away. Stormy landed in front of her friend. “Amazing as always, Stormy!” Strawberry Blossom said as the water rained back into the town’s reservoir. “Only because I’m the only pony you’ve ever seen do that. But I think it’s time to head home for the night. I might be old enough to not have to go to school any more, but you aren’t.” The two had just started to walk away when they heard the sound of hooves on the metal plating behind them. They turned and saw a mailmare, who pulled an envelope out of one of her saddlebags. “Stormy Nights? I have a letter for you.” “Yeah, that’s me.” Stormy shook off the water coating her. “Uh, thanks.” Stormy took the letter from the mailmare. “I wonder who it’s from,” she said. “Special delivery from the Weather Department,” the mailmare responded as she turned. “Excuse me, I’m in a hurry. I need to be out of the desert before sunrise.” She jumped off the side of the reservoir, spread her wings, and flew off. Stormy stared at the figure receding into the night. Only the sound of her rain filled the air. Strawberry finally broke the silence: “Hah! Look at that! She had wings like you do! I knew you weren’t the only pegasus in Equestria!” “I... I don’t believe it...” “Don’t tell me you really thought you were the only pegasus alive.” “Of course not! It’s just... actually seeing one.” “She did come all this way to bring you that letter. Go on, read it!” “Oh yeah.” Stormy opened the envelope, careful not to get the parchment wet. “It’s about that letter to the Weather Department that you made me write.” She skimmed the document. “There’s a shortage of rough-weather ponies... and there’s an opening in a place called Whinnypeg. And they want me to go there to be a weatherpony!” “Told you that letter would do you good.” Strawberry turned towards the reservoir's exit, motioning for Stormy to follow her. “Well... I might be able to help...” “Sure you will!” “There’s so much I don’t know about weather...” “You’ll learn a lot faster from other pegasi than from some book!” “I’d have to move away.” “You’ll never be shaking sand out from between your feathers again!” “I’d have to leave you.” Strawberry paused, turning to face her friend. “But you can’t stay. You’re wasting your time here in the desert. And that letter said that Equestria needs more ponies like you.” “I guess...” “Besides, we can still write to each other. Tell you what: when I’m out of school, I’ll move to Whinnypeg or Canterlot or wherever you end up by then! And you can use your awesome rain skills to keep my crops watered enough to make watermelons the size of your house!” Stormy chuckled as they approached the waiting wagon outside. “I don’t think I’ll be working in Canterlot anytime soon.” Strawberry hopped into her wagon as Stormy jumped in the back. The two put on their helmets and the full-grown pegasus propelled the vehicle down the road. “Do you have everything, Stormy?” “Yes, Mom.” “Did you make the list of everything you want the movers to get?” “On the fridge, Mom.” “Are your wings all right? You checked every feather?” “Only if you let go of me, Mom.” “Are you okay flying at night? It’s awfully cold out.” “I’ve flown at night my whole life, Mom.” “Do you need a blanket to keep you warm?” “I’ve flown at night without a blanket my whole life, Mom.” “Did you pack everything you need for the trip?” “You already asked me that. I’m going to be late.” Stormy, her mother, and Strawberry stood outside the moonlit house. “Fly safe, sweetie. Be careful.” Stormy’s mother kissed her on the forehead, letting a few teardrops fall. “I will. Oh and Mom? Thank you, for everything.” “I love you, Stormy.” Stormy spread her wings. “I love you too, Mom.” “Remember to write!” Strawberry called as Stormy took off. Stormy had been flying for several hours when she saw a bank of stratocumulus clouds ahead. Surrounding it were what appeared to be several cloud structures. Below the clouds was a small town, surrounded by rolling green hills. A tiny figure sat on the edge of the cloud bank. Another pegasus! As Stormy approached, the pegasus turned to look at her and began waving. Stormy landed in front of the pony. “Hi!” the pale blue pony shouted. “Welcome to Upper Whinnypeg! My name’s Silver Lining, but everypony calls me Wobbler! I’m the head of the weather team! Who are you?” “Stormy Nights. I got a letter from the Weather Department and—” Wobbler tilted her head. “Weather Department? Wait. They sent me a rainpony?” “Um, I guess I am—” “THEY SENT ME A RAINPONY! WHOO-HOOOOOO!” Wobbler jumped into the air, half-flipped, and landed on her side. “Um...” Stormy started as Wobbler rolled to her feet. “Are, uh... we... that rare?” Wobbler pushed her grey mane out of her face. “Not really, but those pencil-pushers in the Department always send them to the big cities. Us little towns only get the dregs. I like sunshine and rainbows as much as the next pony, but Whinnypeg’s a new town, and the crops really need the water.” Wobbler paused. “Huh? What are you looking at? There something on my wing?” She turned to look at her back, spun in a circle, and fell over. “Oh. I’m sorry. It’s just... I’ve never really seen a pegasus before.” “Never seen a pegasus?” Wobbler giggled as she got to her feet again. “There aren’t any mirrors where you come from?” Stormy paused. “I mean, I’ve never really gotten a good look at another pegasus.” “So...” Wobbler pointed her dark blue eyes down, as if she was trying to figure something out. She looked back up at Stormy. “Okey dokey! Go ahead and get started on your cloudhome so you can drop your luggage off.” “‘Cloudhome’? You live in the clouds?” “Well, duh we- oooh did you live on the ground too? Yeah you get to make your very own house up here! It’s awesome! Come on, I’ll help you get started!” Wobbler took to the air and, true to her nickname, swayed back and forth as she hovered. “I’m sure you’re busy with whatever it was you were doing...” “Nah, I was just coming up with next month’s weather patterns. I’d love to help my newest employee get settled in! Come on!” Wobbler darted away in a corkscrewing path. Wobbler flew circles around Stormy on their way across town. “So, Starry,” Wobbler started. “It’s Stormy.” Wobbler giggled. “Oh yeah that’s right! So, Stormy, nopony ever told you how to make a cloudhome? It’s an important life skill, you know. My mom taught me how; I had this little cloud-bedroom above my house until I moved out! Oh hey, we’re here!” The two pegasi approached a small cumulus humilis cloud floating at the outskirts of town, painted in the new day’s light. Stormy landed on top of it. Wobbler caught a hoof, tripped, and plowed her face into the cloud. She somersaulted forwards, ending in a sitting position with a grin on her face. “We’re here! Welcome home!” Stormy pawed at the cloud. “This thing?” “Yup! You’ll be living in your very own custom-made house in no time! As big as you want! The grounders will be so jealous!” Stormy smiled. “I guess so.” “Let’s get started! I like to start from the top and fill the roof in afterwards, but most ponies do the front door first. You’re really not digging or carving your cloud. More like molding...” Stormy Nights walked around the only room so far in her home, kneading the lumps out of the floor. Sunlight streamed in through a window that Wobbler had insisted that Stormy add. A few dark splotches adorned the walls. Where is Wobbler, anyways? Stormy wondered. I haven’t seen her for— a voice outside interrupted her train of thought. “Hey Starry! Come on out for a minute!” Stormy walked out her front door, then shrunk back. Wobbler had brought about a dozen other pegasi with her. Some were hovering, while others chose to stand on the clouds outside. “Oh, um, hi.” “Say hello to the Whinnypeg weather team! Fillies and colts, this is our new rainpony, Starry Isles!” “It’s Stormy Nights.” “Yes, that’s her name! Stormy’s good at rain and wind and stuff and her special talent’s... um... what was your talent again?” “Lightning.” “Lightning! Ooh, I’ve never met a lightning pony before. Stormy here’s going to be a great help with next week’s downpour!” “It’s going to rain next week?” “That’s right! The new crops need lots and lots of water, and you’re going to be the one to make it happen! With the help of everypony else here!” Wobbler continued, “This is Cirrus and Stratus Sky, and that’s Suncream, and that’s...” She tilted her head. “Are you okay, Stormy?” Stormy was surrounded by pegasi, a rainstorm was happening soon, and it was still cool during the daytime. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Yes... yes I’m fine.”
Chapter 2Stormy sat in what was destined to be her bedroom, eyeing the north wall. Hmm... another yard out? Or would the roof cave in? Could I put in a support column? It’d be annoying to have one. Maybe the wall can stay where it is; I’ll only ever need a twin-size bed after all. A knocking echoed up from the room below. Stormy poked her head downstairs to find a letter at her front doorstep. She looked at the name on the return address: Strawberry Blossom. Did she write this as soon as I left? Stormy opened the letter. Hi Stormy! I miss you already! I can just imagine you soaring all over the sky where you are, surrounded by your new friends all flying around and making weather magic and stuff! Make sure you show them how amazing you are! And write me back! -Strawberry If I don’t write her back, Stormy thought, she’ll think I died or something, I’m sure. Quill... She looked around her house. Quill... quill... do I even have one? Stormy looked at her wing. I’d still need ink and paper. She grabbed a saddlebag and took off over the town. Through the now-cleared sky Stormy got her first good view of Whinnypeg. Many buildings were incomplete, and three-quarters of a clock tower stood in the town square. Around them, the unicorns and earth ponies went about their daily business. A pale blue blur passed under her. “Hey Starry, can you help me move a nimbus... what are you looking for?” Wobbler asked. “You lose your glasses?” “It’s Stormy. Wait, I don’t wear... never mind. I’m just looking for somewhere to get a quill and some ink.” “Pssh, you don’t have to go down there; we have our own store up here in the clouds!” “Why?” “See that big cloud formation over there? Technically it’s the town’s warehouse. See, since Whinnypeg’s really new, they don’t have the brick and wood and stuff to hold all the stuff they have and all the town’s food. But since clouds are just water, hey! We get to store it all up here! Come on, I can show you.” “Well, if you insist, I guess...” “Let’s go!” Wobbler took off erratically in the direction of the warehouse. “Good morning, you two,” Mister Sky said. “Hi Cirrus! Starry needs some—” “Stormy.” “Stormy needs some writing stuff.” Stormy elaborated, “Some paper and ink, and a quill or two unless I’m supposed to pull out one of my feathers.” “Hehehe you don’t use your own feather to write with,” Wobbler said as Cirrus flew to the top of a nearby shelf. “If I had to pull out a feather every time I needed to write something, I’d never fly right!” So does she or— Stormy’s thought was interrupted by Cirrus’s return. “Here you go, Miss Nights, was it? That will be five bits.” Wobbler chimed in, “I can just remember it and take it off your pay, if you want!” She tapped her forehead. “Mind like a steel trap.” Stormy stared at her for a second. “I... I can pay cash.” “Hehe, if you say so. I don’t need anything from here today so I’ll see you around!” “Um, wasn’t there a nimbus you wanted moved?” “Oh yeah! It’s over on the other end of town! Come on!” “Here’s the clo—” Wobbler ran into it. “Here’s the cloud!” She giggled. “Nice and soft! Grab a chunk and follow me!” Wobbler peeled off a piece of the cloud and flew in an arc over the town. Stormy pushed down on the top of the cloud, splitting off the largest portion that she thought she could manage. She clamped onto the top of her piece and began dragging it across the sky. Stormy arrived at the other end of town, where Wobbler was waiting. “Wow-ee that’s a big one! Even my mom couldn’t move that much cloud at once! Where were you when we were putting together Upper Whinnypeg? Maybe you’re half earth pony!” “Half unicorn, actually.” “Unicorn? Really? Are you sure?” Stormy narrowed her eyes. “I’m sure.” A voice that Stormy didn’t recognize called up from below, “Miss Silver Lining! Excuse me, may I have a word with you for a moment?” “Oops,” Wobbler said, “the mayor wants to talk to me. Go ahead and bring the rest of the cloud over; this usually takes a while.” Wobbler spun down towards the ground. Stormy flew off to finish moving the cloud. Stormy rested on top of the reassembled nimbus, idly rubbing a piece of cloud the size of her hoof against the larger mass, watching the sparks jump between them. Wobbler and the mayor were discussing something below, but Stormy had learned to tune out arguments a long time ago, as one-sided as the one below sounded. Soon, Wobbler came back up. “Sorry about that. She sure likes to talk a lot.” “What did the mayor want?” “Oh, she says this cloud’s blocking her view of some mountain or another. But I think it’s just because she doesn’t like me.” “Should we move it again?” “No way! There’s a reason I’m the head of the weather team and not her.” “Because she’s an earth pony?” “Because I’m the best weatherpony in Equestria! This is my sky up here, and I know more about the right way to work the weather than anypony else! And one day, I’m going to be organizing the sky over Canterlot.” “Canterlot, huh? I hope you won’t forget us little ponies when you make it big.” “Of course not! I’ll still remember everypony here, Starry.” “Stormy.” Stormy finally returned home, tossing her saddlebags aside. She noticed that Strawberry’s letter was still laying on the floor. Oh, that’s right. Stormy fished the writing supplies out of her saddlebags. Dear Strawberry, I only just got here so I haven’t had much of a chance to show the team anything. But I’ve been doing fine. I’ve even gotten my own cloudhome up here. Stormy thought for a second. More of a cloudcave, really, but I’m working on it. My boss, Wobbler, is kind of funny; you’d like her. Anyways, she says there’s going to be a big storm soon that I can help with. I think She paused again. I think hope I can do it. Sincerely, Stormy Stormy tossed and turned in her bed. She squinted at the moonlight coming into her bedroom, trying to figure out what time it was. Have I even slept? Ugh. It’s only a little... a big storm... There was a dull thud and her cloudhouse swayed slightly. Stormy sat up in bed. A pale blue foreleg hooked itself around her window frame, and Wobbler pulled herself up. “Oh hey, you’re up!” “What’s the matter?” “The matter? It’s time to start your big storm, silly!” Stormy stood up. “What? Already?” “Well yeah! I planned your storm to start in the morning, and we need to get it put together early!” “Oh... okay. Just give me a minute or two to get ready.” “All righty! We’ll be waiting for you at the north edge of town!” Wobbler dropped out of sight. Stormy made her way to the bathroom and splashed some water from the sink onto her face. I can do this. It’s only a bunch of dark clouds. I’m good at dark clouds. Just a lot more than I’ve ever made, with the whole town watching. And the whole reason I’m here. What have I gotten myself into? Stormy was the last pegasus to arrive at the lake. The far shore was barely visible, even at altitude, and wilderness surrounded the area. Stormy panted lightly. It’s too cold out to be sweating like this. How in Equestria can all those other ponies move that quick? “There you are!” Wobbler called out. “I thought a pony with lightning on her rump would be fast!” “Sorry. I went as fast as I could.” “That’s okay! So what’s your big plan?” Wobbler looked expectantly at her. “Plan? What plan?” “Yeah! This is your big storm, so I’m letting you plan it all out!” “Oh... uh... I didn’t really have a plan...” “Oooh, you’re going to wing it! I’ve never seen an ad-lib storm before! Go on,” Wobbler said, nudging Stormy towards the lake, “get started!” Stormy looked out over the lake. All right, I can do this. I’ve done this plenty of times at the reservoir. Stormy flew just over the surface, pulling the water into the air behind her, and made a tight left turn. How can Wobbler turn so much tighter than I can? How can every other pegasus I’ve seen turn tighter than I can? What’s wrong with me? “Hey!” Wobbler had flown up beside her. “Are you all right? You’re not making many clouds.” Stormy looked behind her. The other pegasi on the team were gathering up the thin ribbon of clouds that she had made. “Oh. You, uh, need more?” “Well yeah!” Wobbler turned upside-down. “We have to cover the whole sky! We’ll be here all month at the rate you’re going. And we have the whole lake to play with, so go ahead and fly out there!” “I’ll try.” Stormy swallowed. Lots of clouds, pull lots of water up. As much as I can. She flew low, just above the water, concentrating on making her clouds. Stormy could feel the water beneath her being pulled up into the air. This feels pretty good, actually. Stormy’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice next to her. “Starry!” “St—” “What are you doing?!” Wobbler wasn’t smiling any more. “Look behind you!” Stormy turned around. She had indeed made an impressive amount of cloud mass behind her, but her creations floated far too low to the water. The pegasi that had been trailing Stormy struggled to get the clouds up before they drifted down into the lake’s surface below. Many were already melting back into the lake from whence they came. Stratus Sky tried to pull her husband out of the water that one of Stormy’s clouds had knocked him into, while avoiding the sparks that they were producing. “Didn’t anypony ever teach you the proper altitude for cloud creation?!” Wobbler jabbed a hoof at Stormy. “Starry, when you look bad, it makes ME look bad. I scheduled a storm this morning, and now it’s going to be late!” “I’m... I’m sorry...” Wobbler groaned and put her hoof on her face. “I don’t want apologies! I want clouds!” She rose several feet. “You need to be up here!” Her bobbing and swaying made it hard to tell where exactly she meant. “Now do it again and do it right!” “Sor—” Stormy caught herself. “I mean, all right, I’ll try.” Stormy flew over the lake again, higher this time. After half an hour’s work collecting clouds, a faint glow appeared on the eastern horizon. “Starry!” Wobbler’s voice called. “Hey Starry, come over here!” Stormy made her way back to the flock, where many of the pegasi were gingerly handling the inky black clouds. “Am I doing it wrong again?” “No way, you did great! Look at that lake!” Stormy saw that, despite its size, the lake’s water level had dropped noticeably. Wow. Pegasus magic, indeed. Stormy had long studied the mechanics behind cloud formation, but seeing it in action, on this scale... She couldn’t help but be moved. Wobbler continued, “This is the first time I’ve ever seen a pony make clouds faster than the rest of the team can put them together! Though that might be because...” Wobbler flipped over to face towards the weather team, “...SOME ponies are afraid of a little voltage!” She turned back to Stormy and grinned. “Looks like you’ll be helping to put it together, too.” Stormy smiled. “Fine with me, I love working with this stuff!” She flew forwards, closed her wings, and belly-flopped onto a large cloud. It crackled and flickered satisfyingly from the impact. Stormy then opened her wings and drove her cloud into the sky. Wobbler laughed and called to the rest of the flock, “Everypony grab a cloud and start putting together that storm! Let’s make some rain!” The growing light shining through Whinnypeg faded as the storm slid into position above the town, gently pushing the smaller cloud structures out of its way. The weather team hovered above the sheet of cumulus arcus, with Stormy and Wobbler standing atop the solitary cumulonimbus incus in the center. “All right, Starry!” “Stormy.” “All right, Stormy! Give the signal!” Stormy reared up, then slammed both front hooves into the cloud’s top. Bolts of electricity shot down the height of the anvil cloud and fanned out across the width of the storm. A wonderful harmony of booms echoed up and past the pegasus. As the sound faded, the weather team jumped onto the cloud sheet, sending a torrent of rain down into Whinnypeg. “So...” Stormy started, pacing back and forth on top of the cloud and ruffling her wings. “Anything else that needs to be done?” “Hmm...” Wobbler scratched her chin. “Just to keep an eye on it until it’s time to take the storm apart on Monday.” “So I have some free time then, to, say, head underneath?” Stormy peered over the edge of the cloud top, wings open. “Well sure, though I don’t see what’s so interesting under the cloud, Starry.” Wobbler paused for a few seconds, then looked around, but she found herself alone. “Starry?”
Chapter 3The rainwater ran down Stormy’s back and streamed off of her tail as it flapped in the wind. The wind beat against the pegasus, but two dark purple wings beat back. The deluge of water soaked Stormy to her skin, and she loved every second of it. Stormy could feel the ebb and flow of the electric power just above her in the black clouds. She flew up, and banked a turn, letting her wingtip skim the clouds’ surface. As she dove, a bolt flashed down behind her, arching to some house’s lightning rod. This is incredible! Stormy thought. This is almost as powerful as that storm back home! ...I think. Having my wings nearly ripped off kind of limited my flying then. Stormy locked her wings, letting the storm blow her across town, then pushed herself back towards the center. But this storm is mine. I made this. She flapped her wings, driving her body back up to the cloud layer to let loose another lightning strike. How could I have not known that this is what I’m capable of? Stormy flew for several more minutes before she heard a vaguely familiar voice. “Excuse me! Ma’am? You, in the air!” Stormy flew down and hovered in front of the yellow earth pony, who was standing in the doorway of the largest building in town. “Me?” “Yes, may I ask you to get me Miss Silver Lining?” “Silver... oh, you mean Wobbler?” “Quite. Miss Lining and I have something to... discuss.” She spoke the last word through gritted teeth. “Sure, I’ll go get her. Be right back.” Stormy flew out to the edge of the storm and over the clouds. “Maybe the mayor was sunbathing.” Wobbler giggled. “She sounded pretty upset.” The two pegasi flew down to the outskirts of town, where the rain was only a gentle drizzle. Wobbler carefully hovered above the ground, then lurched forwards and landed face first in a mud puddle. She jumped up onto her hooves with a smile under her new mud mask. Wobbler trotted through town as Stormy hovered alongside. It was a very strange sight to see Wobbler moving in a straight line for once, even if it was on foot. “Wow,” Wobbler said, “you can really fly in this stuff?” The two were nearing the center of the storm, situated around city hall. Stormy looked down at her. “You can’t?” “Heck no! I didn’t know of anypony who could before you! You rainponies are really something else!” The pair reached the front door of city hall. “You should come along, too,” Wobbler said, knocking on the door. “This is your storm after all.” The door opened. “Good morning Mayor Honey!” Wobbler said with a big smile, rain pouring down her sides. “You wanted to see me?” Mayor Honey cleared her throat. “Yes, do come in.” Inside, the mayor began talking. “I couldn’t help but notice a rather sudden shift in the weather patterns this morning. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this, Miss Silver Lining?” “Oh yes! My rainmare Starry Isles here got this whole thing going!” Wobbler said. “She’s great I tell you!” She put a foreleg around Stormy’s neck. “It ran a little late, but Starry pulled through!” The mayor glared at Stormy. “So it was your idea to ruin the first annual Whinnypeg Flower Festival?” Stormy shifted backwards. “Flower Festival?” Mayor Honey looked up. “The Whinnypeg Flower Festival is our town’s unique holiday. Every year, the ponies cultivate the most beautiful, most impressive, or simply the most bizarre flowers they can grow. The streets are lined with flowers of all varieties and their petals cover the streets, filling the town with the sweetest smells. It will attract ponies from across Equestria, giving our local businesses valuable tourism revenue.” Mayor Honey looked directly at Stormy again. “Or it would, except our first Flower Festival has just been rained out!” A lightning bolt outside accentuated her point. Stormy stuttered. “I... I, uh... I didn’t...” Wobbler cut in. “Hey, don’t go yelling at my rainpony! She put the storm together just like I told her to!” Mayor Honey looked over at Wobbler. “I should have known you were behind this, Silver Lining. If I recall correctly, I informed you of the Flower Festival’s date four months in advance.” “You did?” “I clearly remember you smiling and acknowledging it before flying away.” “Maybe that was before I started writing that stuff down. Anyways, you could have just told me to move the storm.” “Perhaps I would have, if you had informed me that you were planning one.” “I do tell you! I send you the forecasts two weeks before they happen.” Wobbler pointed at a sheet of paper on the mayor’s desk. “See, there it is.” The three ponies looked at the report. Indeed, it was a very detailed forecast. It laid out exact wind speeds and directions at the various times of day, visibility, cloud types, opacity and coverage, high and low temperatures, barometric pressures, exact amounts of precipitation, even the dew point. On today’s line was the little ‘SVA’ acronym indicating a severe thunderstorm, although the start time was two hours off. “You mean this pile of numbers? I’m not a weatherpony; I can’t read this.” “Well it does say that there’s a storm today. You never told me you couldn’t read it. But we can finish the storm up early and have the rest of it next weekend!” Wobbler smiled as lightning flashed outside. “It’s too late now. Might as well just let it pour at this point.” “Will do! Come on, Starry, we got a volleyball game going on top of the cloud layer!” Wobbler began to trot out. Stormy hesitantly followed. The mayor opened her mouth to say something, then simply heaved a sigh and turned away. Outside, Stormy stepped in a shallow puddle. Looking down, she saw that it was filled with petals. There were planters lining the streets, their flowers now drooping in the unrelenting rain. A large banner dangled into the thoroughfare, hanging by one end. A lightning flash briefly illuminated it, but its text was illegible from its colors running. Stormy looked at the sky. This is my storm, she thought. I made this. This is what I’m capable of. Hey Stormy! I waited a few days after I got your letter so I think that storm of yours should be going by the time you get this. You’re one lucky pony, able to make all the rain you want while I have to work the irrigation pipes to water my plants. Hope you’re nice and cool in all that rain. I’ve had to sit in a hot classroom all day learning what I already know about crop rotation. Boring! Say hi to your friends for me! -Strawberry Several beams of sunlight shone into Whinnypeg. The storm had exhausted its power and several diligent weather ponies were exercising their talents to bring the sunshine in. The rainpony laid on one of the remaining clouds, looking down over the edge. Many of the earth ponies and unicorns below were cleaning up the remains of the failed Flower Festival. “Whatcha looking at, Starry?” “Stormy. Just all the ponies down there, cleaning up my mess. Mind if I head down and help?” “I don’t see why, but sure thing! Ooh, and give the mayor this week’s weather on the way.” Wobbler passed a sheet of paper to Stormy. “Thanks.” Stormy took the page and flew down. Below, the mayor was busy giving a unicorn a pushbroom to telekinetically pick wet petals off of when Stormy landed. “Good morning, Miss Starry Isles. What brings an illustrious weatherpony like yourself down to our humble town?” “That’s Stormy Nights, miss mayor.” “But Silver Lining said...” the mayor paused, then gave a frustrated grunt. “Um, yeah. I uh, brought the forecast for you.” “Oh just place it on the pile,” the mayor said, pointing at a pile of wet leaves, “with the rest of the trash. I don’t know why she bothers sending reports I can’t understand.” Stormy unfolded the page and began to read. “Well, looks like the storm clouds will be cleared out by late tonight, and it will warm up a little over the week, with light clouds for a few days. And some scattered showers next Thursday.” The mayor’s face softened. “Thank you. It’s refreshing to meet a pony who can explain these things for a change. Although... rain next Thursday? Miss Lining scheduled rain for the Princess’s visit?” Stormy started. “Princess Celestia is coming here?” “Yes, she likes to check up on new towns like ours... at least that disaster of a storm that you made isn’t going to happen then.” Stormy winced. “Um, I’m really sorry about the storm. Is there anything I can do to help clean up?” “A weatherpony wants to help down here? Of course, we could use a pegasus to move some of the debris that we’ve gathered to the bonfire.” “There’s going to be a bonfire?” “Yes, at the end of the Flower Festival we were going to make a bonfire out of the old flowers. The scent would waft through the town for days afterwards... weather permitting. I asked the townsponies and they decided to have the fire despite the festival’s cancellation.” Stormy grabbed a net and began hovering. “All right, what do I do?” The sun set on an exhausted pegasus returning to her home, a black mass of hollowed out clouds that flickered every so often. Another pegasus was waiting for her there. “There you are, Starry! What’ve you been doing all day?” “Stormy. I was making things right. Speaking of, did you know that Princess Celestia is going to be visiting next Thursday?” “Yup!” “And you planned on a quarter inch of precipitation then?” “Yup!” “Isn’t it a little inappropriate to rain on the Princess?” “Why? I’m sure it rains in Canterlot too.” “Um...” Stormy pondered. “Maybe Princess Celestia goes on trips to get out of Canterlot’s rain? I’m sure she would appreciate some sunny weather out here.” “Huh. Never thought of that. Sure, I can move the shower to Saturday. I hope the mayor won’t mind the change of forecast.” “I don’t think she will. One more thing, on Wednesday can we please have a wind of three knots out of bearing 085 for two days? Call it a personal favor.” “Hm, I don’t see why. But I don’t see why not either, since I’m already changing my forecasts!” “Thanks a lot. The ponies below are really going to appreciate it when I tell them tomorrow.” Wobbler tilted her head. “You’re going down there again? I mean I won’t need you until next Thursday... I mean Saturday.” She giggled. “Just don’t break a wing or anything; I can’t have my rainpony out of action.” Stormy smiled and stuck out her left wing. “Been there, done that.” “Ha ha, really? What happened?” “I woke up one day in a hospital bed with a broken wing and a skull fracture. Day it happened is a total blank. But I was a pretty clumsy filly back then.” “Broke mine too, believe it or not! I was in the living room playing with my toys when the funniest thing happened.” Wobbler grinned. “The ceiling just fell down on me! Me under this big old pile of wood! Wing got smashed into lots of itty-bitty pieces! Hehe it hurt a whole lot. Mom and Dad dug me out and Mom flew me to the hospital. Silly doctors said I’d never be able to fly, but I sure showed them, didn’t I?” Wobbler opened her wings. Stormy realized that she had never gotten a good look at them before. There was a break in the line of the primary feathers on her right wing, only two of her secondary feathers sat right, and her right wing was slightly smaller than her left. It even curved differently. “I... I had no idea...” Stormy said. “I’m so sorry.” Wobbler just grinned back. “Hehehe, I don’t mind. It only hurts some of the time nowadays.” She took off, and began swaying in the air as she always had. “I’ll make sure to change the forecast like you said, Stormy. Good night and be safe down there!” Stormy watched Wobbler corkscrew away. “Yeah... good night.”
Chapter 4A few days’ work had set what remained of the Flower Festival in a pile outside of town with whatever wood could be scrounged up. A faint breeze blew through, sending the scent of the flowers across the town. The only pegasus in attendance stood near the front of the small crowd. “Even though our first annual Flower Festival did not quite go as planned,” the mayor said as Stormy cringed, “I am still pleased to be able to close the Festival with our soon-to-be-traditional bonfire!” The stars hung above the ponies’ heads. The faint glow of the new dawn adorned the horizon behind the pile of debris. Mayor Honey continued, “Because of the great help she has been in the cleanup, I would like to ask Miss Stormy Nights to light this year’s bonfire.” The mayor held out a small lit torch. Stormy didn’t take it. She opened her wings and took off. Ahead, Stormy spotted the small black cloud that she had hidden earlier. As she reached it, Stormy banked around, the tip of a primary feather just brushing the mass. Four laps around the cloud charged it to Stormy’s satisfaction. She dove back down towards the pile. Halfway to the ground, a bolt of lightning shot out of the cloud, past the pegasus, and struck the tinder at its base. Only then did Stormy notice that three ponies had wandered close to the debris. Stormy rushed down and landed next to the newborn fire. “I’m sorry... I didn’t see... you moved... are you okay?” One of the earth ponies turned to Stormy with wide eyes. “I-I-I just wanted to get a better... better look... and...” A second pony was trying to clear her ears out with her hoof. Stormy looked at the rest of the crowd. In the growing light of the dawn she could see faces in varying states of surprise and wariness. Mayor Honey muttered something under her breath, then cleared her throat. “Stormy, would you do me a favor and ask Miss Silver Lining to visit me in my office? I’d like to speak with her. Alone this time.” Stormy laid on her back on her bed, staring at the black ceiling. A knock at her front door grabbed her attention. She opened the door to find Wobbler standing outside. “Hi Stormy.” “Sto—” She blinked. “You... I mean, what happened? What’d the mayor say?” “Weeeell... she was kinda sorta really upset. I guess I shoulda told her about you and that lightning of yours. And the storm. And, uh, forecasts. And a little-or-a-lot of other things over the past few months. And something about attitude I don’t remember.” “Oh, I’m sorry. But you’ll remember next time, at least. Right?” “Stormy, you silly pony. There isn’t going to be a next time.” Wobbler forced a smile. “I’m not your boss anymore!” “I... I’m sorry.” “Nah, it’s okay! I’ll find a new job and work my way up to Canterlot...” Wobbler’s wing twitched. “Somehow.” Her voice began to choke up. “I-I better go pack my things. See you around, Stormy. It was great knowing you!” Wobbler turned and corkscrewed away. Stormy slowly closed the door. They were afraid of me. Is this all I can do? Make townspeople fear me and ruin lives? How do I fix this? Celestia, I don’t know what to DO! Stormy flopped onto the black cloud floor. A thunderbolt boomed below. The blood drained from Stormy’s face. She rushed outside and frantically searched below her cloudhome. The bolt had struck a tree and shattered part of its trunk, but there were no ponies nearby. Stormy landed on what was left of the tree and stared at the debris on the ground. Nopony here... but there could have been. She looked up at her home, the black mass looming overhead, ready to destroy whatever, or whoever, was unlucky enough to wander below. There could have been. Strawberry, I’ve done something wrong. I can’t come back to Coltumbus. I’m sorry, you weren’t safe near me. Nopony is. I’m not safe to be around. I’ve figured out what to do, though. Sorry I won’t get to see you again. I’ll miss you. -Stormy Stormy noticed the nervous glances she got as she flew across the town. As she landed in front of City Hall, a pair of ponies exited, avoiding eye contact and giving her a wide berth. Stormy tapped on the door and stuck her head in. “Um, Miss Mayor?” Mayor Honey lifted her head out of her hooves. “Oh it’s you. Come in.” Stormy entered, being careful to keep her distance. “I was just thinking... about what happened.” “And I’ve been talked to about it by every pony in town. But I’ve heard everypony else’s opinion; I might as well hear yours.” “I know the entire town’s afraid of me.” “No, actually. Many ponies support you, believe it or not. The two ponies who just left, for instance.” Stormy recalled the couple’s expressions. “I see. But... I have an idea that will make everypony happy. I’m leaving town. Nopony will argue over how dangerous I am if I go. I’ve already packed.” Stormy’s saddlebags hung at her sides. The mayor thought for a moment. “I can’t tell you what to do. You should do what you think is best, Stormy. Where are you going to go?” Stormy turned to leave. “I don’t know. I’ll figure things out, somehow. I’m sorry, Mayor Honey, for putting your town through this.” Stormy Nights left the building, opened her wings, and flew away.
