The Storm

     The grey sky faded to a deep pitch black, as clouds argued, shoving each other to get sunlight. A small opening through the darkness. Just one. One beam of light. One beam of hope. The air, though, was hot like the middle of August, fire and lava surrounding the town, but no. No, it wasn't the light barely shining through the black-hole of a sky, nor was it any fire or lava. It was a storm. A mighty storm.

      Rainbow's wings buzzed and her hooves became sore, as she and her alicorn friend heaved heavy clouds into the Weather Factory. Her tail was flowing in the wind, such as her mane. She looked over to her friend, Twilight, then sighed. An uncontrollable storm might start if no work was attempted. They might even have a chance of putting it off a bit.

   Ponyville was in Full Panic Mode, but the commotion stayed indoors, as pegasi, and one purple princess worked. Hours passed, and the half-ton clouds filled with more and more water. The heat now turned to a fierce chill, which ran against Rainbow's spine. Her wings burned, as some flesh cracked around her wing, some feathers falling off.

      Her vision weakened, only a blur being seen, and her friend, glowing in the darkness, a bright smile on her face. Rainbow's wings soon started to bleed, her body burning from intense heat and loss of blood.  She lay her head on the present cloud, still pushing it to the factory.

   Only three yards more... The rainbow mare's body faltered, her body hanging limp, wings still fluttering. Her hooves grasped the edges of the cloud, then she reached her climax. Two more yards more..... just two... Rainbow Dash caught a worried glare from Twilight, who let go of the cloud, one hoof still on it. One..... more.... yard... Then Rainbow gave up, letting her body take over.

      "I-I can't do anymore, Twi..." she mumbled, watching Twilight's whole body tremble. Her eyes flashed in the darkness in worry, letting go of her grasp on the cloud. Rainbow's eyes fluttered, as her wings stopped, silence filling the air. Twilight rushed over to her friend, hooves around her waist.

"Rainbow? Rainbow! Speak to me! Please!" The alicorn yelled. In her hooves lay an unconscious cyan mare.

    *SPLASH!* Rainbow's eyes shot open as she looked at her numb hooves. She lay on the grass, beneath a heavy, grey cloud, her friend standing on it. She smiled, flying down to the multi-colored pegasus. Twilight held her hoof in her's, picking her up off the blackened mud. Wilted grass spread around it, dotting the area.

     A few cottages and houses lined behind Rainbow Dash, who's head knocked into a metal pipe, nearly making her unconscious again. Twilight finally got her to stand, then without haste, she wrapped her hooves around, embracing her into a warm hug, one that blocked out the coldness forming in the air.

    A green line of smoke soon wriggled through the air, passing cloud by cloud, grabbing the working pegasi' attention. Soarin landed on a cloud, a hoof to his chin. Turning around to three other pegasi, he stood strait, his chest out, hooves spread, one hoof pointing to the pegasus group.

    "Find the Princesses, pronto! We've got a big one here!" he ordered, his voice barely audible through the howling of wind. Half of the winged ones headed east, towards Canterlot Castle, and others fought against the wind, roaring and howling like a wild beast. Which it was.

   Spitfire and Scootaloo trotted through the Canterlot hallways, approaching guards. She turned her head to the filly.

"Hey, you did... pretty well up there. I'll give ya that," she said. Scootaloo blushed, the thoughts of actually flying in the air like the WonderBolts, clearing clouds, preventing to storm from coming... It made her feel.... special.

    A grey-coated guard held out his spear, the other one accidentally poking his helmet.

"Who enters?" he asked, then looking to the wonderbolt uniform. He removed the spear, letting the two into the castle. Sat there was Princess Celestia, a golden encrusted crown upon her head, her mane gracefully blowing. She looked down, seeing the two pegasi bowing to her.

   "Please, come in," she says, the two nearing her. Scootaloo looked down to the carpet, shuffling her hooves, while Spitfire's whole body shook in fear. Horrible fear.

"What ever is the matter?" The princess asks, hearing Luna come in. The fierce pattering against the windows covered it with frost, the beam of light smaller than before. Luna looked to her sister worriedly, then nodded, her eyes closed in sorrow.

   "It may be too late, I am afraid," The younger alicorn whispered. She wiped a tear from her eye with a hoof, trotting into the kitchen. Celestia curiously stared at the hallway, a figure trotting through it.  It grew closer, then closer, stopping suddenly at the end of the hall.

   "Perhaps.... I can help." The voice asked. Celestia tilted her head in confusion. She stared at the shadow, only able to spot one yellow hoof under the hood which was over it's head- over it's whole body.

  Suddenly, the door burst open, a rush of ice and unbearable coldness rushed into the castle.

Apple Jack, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie stood there, followed by Rainbow Dash. The tip of her tail was frozen in pure ice and snow, water instantly dripping off the end. Celestia now stared more confused, but now mixed with blind fear.

"Please, I beg of you, tell me what the matter is!" Celestia asked, her voice just above anger, frustration, and fright. She lowered her head, trying to calm her heartbeat.

"It's... it's awful! A storm!" Rainbow said, holding her tail in her still-numb hooves. Celestia growled under her breath, then face-hoofed.

"May I politely ask, why would you call me for a storm?" Celestia asked, anger boiling in her heart. Twilight stepped forward, shaking her head.

"Not any storm. One I can't seem to-" A voice cut Twilight off. She stared at the yellow forehooves peaking out from the hoodie the pony was wearing.

"Twilight?" The voice asked, obviously a mare. Twilight trotted to the pony, a few feet away to be cautious. Her heart sensed something... different. Like she met this pony before. Then, one word seeped out between her lips.

                            "S-Sunset Shimmer?"