New Winds on the Horizon

Hey guys!

Ok, before we start, I want to say something to the dislikers: I'm not here to please, I'm here to write. (pleasing is a bonus) So deal with it.

Sorry this chapter has taken so long to get out, I've been having a lot of technical difficulties lately.

Anyway! Onto the chapter! We're getting straight into it!

Enjoy!

~Cyclone speaks in these~

+Proton speaks in these+

/ I respond to them in these \

[These are author notes]

---------------------1 Month after the birth of the foals-------------------

"STAMPEDE!!!"

Rainbow Dash's cry caught the attention of the crowded street below, turning their pleasantly calm manner into that of undignified terror.

Flowerpots were knocked over and ignored, tables and chairs overturned in the blind panic for safety. The pegasi took to the skies. The unicorns teleported themselves away. The earth ponies just ran.

A cloud of dust rose over a hill near the town.

Everypony was running...all except a certain pink earth pony.

"H-e-y! T-h-i-s m-a-k-e-s m-y v-o-i-c-e s-o-u-n-d s-i-l-l-y!", Pinkie laughed

Twilight saw the careless party pony, "Pinkie Pie! Are you crazy?! RUN!!!"

"Everypony calm down!", the Mayor called to no avail, "There is no need to panic!"

Rarity ran up to the sand colored earth pony, "But Mayor! Whatever shall we do?!", she exclaimed with a hint of melodrama.

"Look there!", came Rainbow Dash's yell from above. She pointed in the direction of the cloud of dust as it came ever closer.

Next to the stampeding cows ran everyone's favorite orange cowpony.

"YEEHAW!!", AJ exclaimed, Winnona running alongside, "Other side Winnona!"

The dog barked in response and skirting in between the cows to the other side of the stampede.

"Herd 'em up girl!", at AJ's command the small dog turned into the cows, making them bunch closer as they neared the town.

Rarity looked away as opposed to Pinkie who watched with interest, "This is the best rodeo show I've ever seen!", she said before diving her head into a bag of popcorn...wait...where'd she get that?

"C'mon 'lil doggy!", AJ shouted at one of the lead cows, "Turn!"

When the cows failed to heed here warning, she whistled loudly.

"Winnona! Put 'em up!", Winonna obeyed, jumping upward on to the backs of the cows. AJ quickly followed, balancing carefully on the cow's back as they moved ever closer to the town. "Gotcha'!"

Pulling a rope from, I guess under her hat, she twirled it in a lasso and threw it over the lead cow's head. She jumped off the cow's back and resumed galloping alongside them.

She began to pull on the rope with all her might, turning the cows away from the town, not a moment too soon.

The crowd of ponies in the town cheered, Pinkie pulling a yellow flag with an apple embroidered onto it from thin air.

AJ removed the rope from the cow's head, "Phew. Now what was that all about?", she asked the lead cow.

"Mooo-", the cow cleared it's throat, "Oh my, begging your pardon Applejack, but Mooooriella here saw one of those nasty snakes!"

The herd of cows did a collective gasp.

"And it just gave us all the willies don't you know?", the cow continued.

"I completely understand.", AJ replied, "Just next time, try and steer clear of Ponyville."

"We certainly will Applejack.", the herd began to move off, "So long Winnona!"

Winnona gave a happy bark in reply.

AJ and Winnona made their way back into town accepting the praise gratefully.

I glided down from above, unaware of what had transpired.

"What's going on?", I asked walking over to Applejack.

Pinkie jumped in my field of view, "ATOM! Youshould'veseenit! ThegroundstartedvibratingandmademyvoicesoundsillyandthenApplejackwasnexttothecowsandjumpedononeandlassoed-"

She was cut off by a merciful hoof from Twilight.

"What Pinkie is trying to say is that AJ saved the town from a stampede.", Twi brow furrowed, "How did you not know? The whole town was shaking."

"I was trying to get Mistral and Gusty to sleep.", I looked pointedly at AJ, "On my own."

"I knew ya could handle it.", she joked.

"Very funny. Hey, where's Jet? Wasn't she with you?"

Applejack scratched her head, "I saw her at the orchard, but she went into the trees."

On cue the serpent slithered out from between 2 buildings and coiled herself comfortably around my middle.

"There you are girl. Where were you?", I asked.

"She just came from the direction the cows came from....", Rarity observed.

"Jet.", I said sternly, "Did you scare those cows?"

She smiled smugly giving me a look that said "'Cos I could."

"Seems legit."

We jumped as Blue's voice sounded from above.

He chuckled as I clutched my chest, "Where'd you come from?"

"I tend to pop out of the blue."

Everyone groaned simultaneously at his pun.

"I love making puns. Sue me.", Blue laughed.

"Even Dark only makes puns ever now and then."

"I bet they're shocking."

The group groaned louder.

"Please stop.", I begged.

"Ok. I'm done for now.", he said, chuckling still.

"So what's up?"

"Oh, I wanted to say I'm gonna be in Cloudsdale for a few days.", he said with a small hint of sadness.

"NO!!!", Pinkie exclaimed, throwing herself at the stallion and clinging onto him, "DON'T LEAVE US BREEZEY!!! DON'T LEAVE US!!!"

Blue extracted himself from Pinkie's embrace, "It's only for a few days Pinkie. I'll be back."

The pink party pony instantly livened up again, "Okie dokie lokie! I'll have a big party for you when you get back!"

"Sure thing.", Blue said.

"So why are you going to Cloudsdale?", I asked.

"Ugh. My parents need to talk to me. On the bright side they said they'd get me a ticket to the next Wonderbolts show to make up for it."

"DID SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE WONDERBOLTS?!"

/ I wonder who said that. \

~It was Rainbow Dash! Idiot.~

+He was being sarcastic...+

~Oh...~

/ That's what I thought. Now be quiet. \

Dash landed in front of us and zipped next to the group beaming.

"Uh, I did.", Blue said, answering her question, "I'm going to Cloudsdale for a bit, and while I'm there I'm going to see one of their shows."

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!", Dash exclaimed, "Me and Dark have been trying to earn enough money on the weather team, but we've still gotta' take care of Spectrum."

Blue rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, I'd pay for you guys gladly, but my parents only have enough for the one ticket. Sorry."

Rainbow looked saddened, but regained her usual cocky composure, "I-It's ok. We can go next time."

She shot off back into the sky, quickly disappearing as her coat camouflaged with the sky.

With that over, Blue resumed, "Anyway, I have to head off now. I'm late already. See you guys soon.", with not a word more he took off soaring toward Cloudsdale, us waving him off.

"So now what?", Twilight asked once Blue had vanished.

"Well, I think Applejack has once again earned the title of Prize Pony of Ponyville award.", the Mayor said peering over here glasses, "Pinkie Pie? Would you like to start organizing the-"

The party pony cut her off, "PARTY!!!"

------------------The Next Day------------------

Rarity hummed to herself as she adjusted a bow on the tree in front of her.

"Everything all set?", Twilight asked, walking up from behind. [Get your head out of the gutter sir!]

Rarity nodded, "Just one last thing.", her horn glowed as she lifted a huge banner with the same insignia that had been on Pinkie's flag from yesterday, hanging it on the front of the town hall.

Floating down from the cloud I'd been napping on, I looked around and landed next to the 2 mares.

"Wow guys. This is awesome.", I complimented.

"It was mostly Pinkie Pie.", Twilight said blushing slightly.

"It's just cool you helped out. Oh, have you seen AJ? She should have Mistral and Gusty with her.", I asked.

"She was in the town hall last time I saw.", Rarity said.

"Thanks. I'll see you later.", I called to them, already trotting away.

When I ascended the steps of the town hall, I quickly spotted the orange mare with the foals on her back.

"Hey!", I said walking over, "Where have you been?"

She smiled at me as I picked Mistral up and put her on my own back, where she began to play with my wings.

"Well, I have t' prepare in some way.", she answered.

I smirked, "I think your making excuses to get away from the crowd while you can."

AJ laughed a little, "That's some o' the reason.", she peered over my shoulder, "What's wrong with Jet?"

I turned to see Jet snaking [And you say Blue was bad.] up to us with quite a speed.

She wrapped herself around me, getting straight into my vision.

"What's up Jet?", I asked the most obvious question.

She pointed with her tail out toward the Everfree, where a large bunch of clouds tossed and turned.

"The clouds?", she nodded.

I took a closer look at the clouds. A flash of light signaled lightning, the clap of thunder following quickly.

As the flash occurred, my blood ran cold.

[AH SHEET!!! INCOMING!!!]

The silhouette of a huge tornado loomed, headed in the direction of Ponyville.

I sprang into action handing Mistral back to AJ, "Take the foals and get underground, somewhere safe!", I ran from the town hall without another word.

"TORNADO!!!", I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Everypony took a moment before another thunder clap drew their attention to the tornado as it drew closer. Pandemonium broke out as I ran head on to the tornado.

"Why did you choose to take a break now Blue?", I muttered to myself.

The tornado breached the edge of the Everfree as I neared the edge of town.

/ GUYS! \

~+On it!+~

I felt a rush of power as my wings shrouded over. Checking they were fully reformed, I slid to a halt.

The tornado rushed ever closer to the town.

Channeling the energy from my power into my wings, i spread them wide using them to grip the wind and take a hold of the swirling mass of air currents.

The tornado slowed, but only partly, still making it's destructive path towards Ponyville.

A determined scowl set across my face, I strained against the tornado as it pushed toward the town, me directly between the 2.

I began to slide backward against the force of the wind, my hooves digging into the dirt.

Growling, I pushed harder against the vortex, slowing it to a crawl.

Beads of sweat poured out on my forehead as the tornado grinded to a halt, still spinning and still picking up debris.

I allowed myself a small smile in victory.

"Atom look out!", a voice warned me all to late.

I looked to my left just as a nearby bench was picked up and thrown toward me like paper in a summer breeze.

The bench slammed into m side, knocking the wind from my lungs and sweeping me into the tornado with a cry for help.

With me out of the way the tornado continued on it's previously set course.

As I was thrown around inside the damn thing, pieces of debris collided with me, making me spin faster and leaving welts that would show up badly tomorrow morning.

A shrill cry reached my ears past the howling of the wind. It was Mistral's. I could never forget that cry.

The reminder my foals were in danger pulled me from the lull of pain and my senses re-fired, sharpened and became alive.

Twisting my wings, I shot into the eye of the tornado, removing the sword hilt from my hoof and charging the energy it needed.

The wind curled around the hilt, twisting and turning into a solid double helix. The Whispering Breeze fully formed, I angled myself down again, aiming for the center of the tornado.

From the outside of the tornado, a small wave of energy expelled from the destructive force as I landed, Breeze stabbed into the earth.

The tornado's own natural energy began to get drained into the sword, making it vibrate with the immense amount.

As more of the tornado began to disappear into the blade, the vibrations became more violent, making it harder to hold onto.

When the last of the tornado was absorbed into Breeze, I took the blade out of the ground seeing it glow with an intense white aura, like that of Blue's wings when he charged them with his ability.

Ponies began to trickle out of their houses seeing the threat under control, thanking and congratulating me.

The sword began to tremor uncontrollably, threatening to tear itself from my grasp.

The aura intensified and my eyes widened behind my shades.

"EVERYPONY GET DOWN!!!", I yelled.

On command everyone hit the deck as Breeze discharged and enormous amount of energy in a beam toward the Everfree twisting and winding it's way around the trees.

When Breeze stopped it's erratic shaking, I allowed the remaining energy to dissipate.

"What in the world was that?!", Twilight asked, galloping over.

"I have no clue...", I said. I studied Breeze looking for a hint to why it had blasted the energy away.

"Well it doesn't matter to me!", an old stallion yelled, grabbing everyone's attention, "I think Atom here deserves The Prize Pony of Ponyville Award for saving the town."

Lyra and Bon Bon nodded in a agreement, along with half of the crowd that surrounded the town hall.

"But what about AJ?", I asked.

Everyone's attention now fell to the Mayor as she held the most authority.

"Well Mayor?", a voice floated from somewhere in the crowd, "Who get's the the award?"

The earth pony stood still for a moment thinking, "I- I guess, since both Atom and Applejack have performed amazing feats in saving the town, we could hold a competition."

A roar of approval exploded from the crowd.

"A competition it is then.", the Mayor continued, "Atom's friends shall train him, and the other Elements shall train Applejack. You 2 shall compete in a series of events starting in 1 week!"

The crowd parted as Applejack made her way toward me.

"So.", she said, "Ya think ya can beat yer wife in a 'friendly' competition?", her tone was smug.

"Oh, it. Is! ON!", my eyes narrowed at her and I smiled confidently.

Behind all this there was a secret dread. My friends were going to be the ones training me? This is gonna be the most grueling week of my life.

Well, I finally got the chapter out!

Sorry again for the delay, but I have just started an entire new arc on this whole training and then the competition, so I will be trying my best to pump out chapters with more frequency.

I also see that this chapter is a bit sloppy, and I know, but I've been very stressed out lately. (Excuse) So you'll have to bear with me.

See ya!