This is my first actually story in years, let alone a MLP story so please be kind. (grammar and spelling are not my strong point so highlight the parts and let me know, and i will fix it as soon as possible)
“Get these ponies to the town hall now!” Applejack shouted. Applejack was just a blur while running from building to building trying to get all the ponies together at the town Hall for their evacuation tasks. Here mane streaked with mud and the bow holding it together was frayed. Huge black clouds could be seen over the Everfree forest with a bright yellow glow glimmering at the base of the smoke. Rarity and Applejack were tasked with getting all the ponies in the west, together in the town hall for the evacuation. Heat from the fire washed all over the town, wilting flowers and bathing all ponies in a film of sweat. Applejack darted from left to right looking for Rarity, All she could see was shapes of colours from panicking ponies. She sighed as she felt the weight from her saddlebags full of personal items from her house. She opened her bag and looked at the huge photo album adorned with the Apple family crest. “I’m glad I got to keep this” she spoke to herself. As she looked up, she finally saw Rarity ushering ponies from a tall house. She threw the saddlebags onto her back and set off towards Rarity. As Applejack got closer she could tell the stress was getting to her. Rarities mane was an untidy nest of split ends and the colour dulled, her coat was covered in dust from horn to tail. Her saddlebags looked as full as hers were. As Applejack neared her, Rarity turned and spotted Applejack. “Hello Applejack, North west is cleared” Rarity called, her voice soft and confident but betrayed a hint of fear. Applejack looked into Rarity’s bright shining eyes and saw her own dirty face in the reflection. “IV cleared the south west and the fields, so all we need to do is round up all these ponies around here, and get our evacuation assignments”. Rarity looked up into her eyes, “Applejack you look terrible” she said with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. In spite of herself, Applejack grinned “Not as bad as you, I don’t suppose you have a comb in those saddlebags of yours”. Both friends started to laugh. “Come on, we need to get to the town hall”.
The sounds of beating wings, whimpering and crying was deafening to Twilight. From the stage where she stood, she could see families comforting foals. The back of the hall was lined with saddlebags full of possessions; Big Mac occasionally walked in and carried a few of the bags outside to be loaded into the carriages and wagons. The hall, once lively place for meetings and performance now had to cope with possibly being the last place they see of this town. Pegasus’s flying in and out of the tall open windows caught Twilight’s attention. “They must be relaying news to the mayor” she thought. She glanced over at the mayor. The mayor’s face was etched with stress. Huge black bags underneath her eyes dominated her face. Once the Pegasus ponies left the mayor, twilight trotted up to the mayor. “What’s the news Mrs Mayor?” she asked. “Not good Mrs Sparkle, not good at all” she sighed, “the fire has reached Zecora’s hut, she made it out, but not with her belongings”. Twilight hung her head at the news. “At least Zecora’s not hurt, where is she heading to?” “She told the Pegasus ponies she was going to stay with a relative in Manehatten, but they are both heading back to their home country”. Tears welled up in twilights eyes. “She never even said goodbye” she whispered. The mayor placed a hoof on her shoulder. “I’m sure she just wants to be with family at the moment, losing all your most treasured possessions is very hard on a pony……or zebra” the mayor spoke with a comforting voice. Twilight looked up into the mayors eyes and saw nothing but understanding and comfort. She smiled. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s it, and anyway, it means I will have to go to Manehatten to say goodbye”.
Rarity and Applejack were closing on the town hall. Applejack looked around to see the bedraggled Rarity dropping back. She slowed down to let her catch up. “Come on Sugarcube, were almost there”. Rarity looked around at Applejack, her mane looked even worse than before. “Thanks…for….slowing…..down…..Applejack…..but could……you carry…..me the……rest of the way” she panted. Applejack grinned “You wouldn’t be out of breath would you?” Rarity looked forward, ignoring the obvious question. Applejack smiled and turned forward again. Soon the huge building that was town hall loomed over the horizon. Carriages littered the square in front of the building. Various stallions were loading them with food and bags. As she looked around the wagons, she saw a very familiar huge red stallion helping load the biggest of the carriages. “Go on ahead Rarity; I need to talk to Big Mac for a sec”. Rarity nodded and continued to the main entrance. He heard the voices and turned to see Applejack running towards him. His coat was a mess from saving as many apples from Sweet Apple Acres, mud stained his flank and dirt was all over his face. “Eh AJ, you could use a bath”. Applejack looked at her brother. “I’d say you need it more than I do” she snickered. Big Mac looked at himself, he grinned at his sister “Eeeyup, but it will have to wait”. “True, I should be going to get my assignment from the mayor, See ya later Big Mac”. Big mac smiled “you too AJ” and he went back to loading the carriage.
The Mayor looked at the sheet on the podium; she took the quill and ticked off the last pony. Everyone was there. She then looked up into the crowd; they were all talking amongst themselves. The windows at the back had a faint glow from the not so far off fire in the Everfree forest. The light from the various lamps gave the hall an eerie glow. A faint smell of burning wood wafted through the open windows. The mayor sighed. She banged her gable on the podium, the hall went silent. All eyes turned to the mayor. She cleared her throat and spoke. “I have ordered the evacuation of Ponyville effective immediately”. As soon as she spoke those words, angry voices erupted from the four corners of the hall. The mayor held up her hoof silencing the hall again. “As you may know, a fire has erupted in the Everfree forest. Pegasus’s from Cloudsdale have tried to extinguish the fire but the fire still rages. Mrs Sparkle has sent a message to Princess Celestia but the response was not encouraging”. More angry voices came again. “SILENCE!” Every head turned towards the outburst. Twilight Sparkle strode forward and stood next to the Mayor. “The Princess has said that this is no ordinary fire, this is a magic fire”. The mayor observed the crowd; shock was etched across all the face she could see. “So…..does that mean it was deliberate” a pony asked. Twilight hung her head, “yes, and a very powerful spell that Princess Celestia has never seen anything like it before. She believes it is linked to the chaotic weather in Equestria. Thunderstorms in Manehatten, Floods in Trottington, and an earthquake are reported all across the distant lands. The weather ponies are not causing it; only a strong unicorn can befoul the weather in Equestria without the weather Pegasus’s being able to stop it”. She looked around again and could only see more shocked faces. “What is Princess Celestia doing about this” a different pony shouted out. Twilight looked at the voice. “She has gathered all the most powerful unicorns in Canterlot and is creating a fire smothering spell, she is hopeful to complete this before the fire reaches Ponyville, but we are to move out in case it doesn’t work.” Twilight stepped back and allowed the mayor to continue. The mayor cleared her throat, and glared in twilight’s direction. “Thank you Mrs Sparkle, now would every pony meet outside in the courtyard”
“Ok we need seven volunteers to help evacuate the town, two leaders, one middle, one rear, two for the wagon convoy and one to constantly check on the fire” the mayors voice full of unwavering authority. She looked around the pack courtyard to the ponies and filled wagons. All the ponies shuffled for hoof to hoof, not wanting to be in charge. The rest of them nervously looked away from the mayor and stared at rocks, wagons or high into the darkening sky. “Come on ponies, we only need seven volunteers, anyone?” No one spoke. The mayor sighed and hung her head. “I will Mrs Mayor” said a bubbly voice from ahead. The mayor looked up with a smile at the speaker. Her eyes met with a light grey Pegasus with a light yellow mane. On her back was a post satchel and only one of her eyes was looking at the mayor. “Err Mrs Doo, are you sure?” the mayor asked. Derpy smiled at the Mayor and shrugged. “If no one else wants to help, then sure, IL help”. The mayor looked away lost in thought. After a minute she looked back smiling. “Ok Mrs Doo, you can be the rear guard”. Derpy smiled widely and cheered. “But Mrs Mayor, she is going to get herself killed”. Rainbow Dash frowned. “Since she is the only volunteer, I can’t say no” the mayor glared at Rainbow. Rainbow took off and flew up to the mayor. “Fine, I volunteer too, can’t let her have all the glory” she grinned. “If she is, then we all are” chimed Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie. The mayor looked at the seven ponies in front of her. “And that makes seven, thank you girls”. The Mayor Beamed. “Will every mare and foal please stand together; you will make the first convoy”. A rush of ponies followed these words and saw a line of four across take shape in front of the mayor. The sounds of foals crying reached the mayors ears. “Don’t worry little ones, you will see your dad again very soon” she whispered. She looked up at the confused stallions. “now, all stallions, we need your help to pull the wagons in the second convoy”, they are heavy and need at least two per wagon” she glanced into the eyes of a few of the stallions and saw worry staring back. The mayor exhaled. “Please don’t worry, this is not a dangerous job and you will see your friends and mare friends again very soon”. The mayor stopped and listened again, she heard a few whispered goodbyes. But saw that every single wagon had two stallions. The mayor smiled softly, and then looked back at the seven volunteers. “Now Applejack and Rarity, since you to worked well together, you can take point, Twilight you can take middle, and Ditzy can take the rear”. The ponies nodded and took their respective positions in the convoy”. “Rainbow Dash, since you’re the fastest, I need you to check on the spread of the fire, let us know when it hits the town”. Rainbow Dash saluted “Yes Mayor” and took off in a flash of her rainbow tail. “That leaves Pinkie and Twilight to take the Wagon Convoy”. The two ponies took their position in the front wagon. The mayor looked on at the two convoys and felt nothing but pride at all their hard work. She trotted up to the front of the convoy and turned around to face the convoys. She beamed with pride at the two convoys she saw before her. Even foals carried determined faces. She then addressed the convoys. “Princess Celestia has arranged a clearing for us to stay while she tries to stop the fire. It is two clicks west of here, so just head towards Canterlot and you can’t miss it”. The mayor looked towards Applejack and Rarity and nodded, and with that, the convoy started to move.
Applejack glanced back and saw that she was losing the rest of the convoy, she moaned quietly “come on ya’ll we need to keep a smooth pace”. They were about a mile from Ponyville but the glow from the oncoming fire seemed closer than ever. Pegasus ponies flying overhead with buckets full of water to try to fight the fire. Some of it splashed onto her leaving her soaking wet. The smell of burning trees assaulted her nose, she cringed. The road they were trotting down was dusty and covered in ash. As they walked, it would stick to her wet coat. She looked backed again; she could only see about half of the convoy as the air was thick with black smoke. Rainbow was just coming back with the location of the fire as she stopped next to the mayor, she whispered into her ear. Applejack only heard a few phrases such as “town’s edge” and “cottage”. She glanced back at the mayor; sadness was etched across her features. She looked up and locked eyes with Applejack. She offered a reassuring smile but the Mayor didn’t smile back. A huge bang from overhead startled Applejack. Jets of white light brightened the darkened sky. As suddenly as they appeared, they disappeared, along with the glow from the fire. Applejack could hear the rapid conversation between the mayor and Rainbow dash, followed by the tell-tale sonic rainboom. Applejack felt worry boiling inside her. She wiped the sweat of her forehead and continued to lead the convoy forward.
Rainbow dash flying Mach 1 was heading to the back of the convoy, after telling Fluttershy to take the rear; she was to take Derpy back to Ponyville to see if the fire was completely put out. She was soon coming back to the rear and stopped just forward of Derpy. She looked on in pride. Derpy was comforting a lost light purple foal that had been separated from her mum. “Calm down little one, we will find your mum”. She saw Derpy take flight and saw Rainbow Dash. “Hey, Derpy we need to fly back to Ponyville ASAP, Mayors orders”. Rainbow called. Derpy nodded but continued to fly forward, foal in her arms. “Derpy what are you doing, Ponyville is that way.” Rainbow frowned, while pointing behind her. “I heard you rainbow dash, but you will have to wait, I promised to help sunspot find her mum and that’s what I’m going to do”. She looked back and called to a Light red mare with an orange mane. “Take care of the rear, IL be back soon”. Rainbow looked on in utter shock; she had not expected anyone to tell her to wait before, let alone it to come from Derpy. She shook her head sending her mane flying in all directions. She glanced along the convoy and saw Derpy smiling at a deep purple mare and handing her the lost foal. After this exchange, Derpy flew back towards rainbow dash. “Come on rainbow dash, mayors orders” Derpy called flying past her. Rainbow couldn’t do anything but smile. “I am really starting to like that pony” she whispered.
“Ponyville is just ahead, stay close”. Rainbow shouted to Derpy over the wind noise. “Ok dash” Derpy called back. As she neared the town, she braced herself for the sight she knew was coming. Ponyville was in chaos. The burnt out husk of Fluttershy’s cottage was the first she saw, the charred remains of the surrounding grass, and cindering trees were all that remained of the area. She looked over at Derpy she was flying off to where the fire was now destroying the remaining buildings in Ponyville. She took off at full speed to catch up with her. As she neared she looked at some of the buildings that were just shells of their former selves. Sugarcube corner, Cherilee’s school, twilight’s library, all reduced to rubble. Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered all the times she spent in each of the buildings. She wiped the tears on her fore leg and searched for Derpy, it didn’t take long. She was flying over what was left of her house. The windows were all gone, the roof was caved in and all the contents were gone. Derpy was shaking with sadness, tears falling into the rooms below. “Come on Derpy, IL help you rebuild when we are allowed back, but for now, we need to tell the mayor that the fire is out”. Derpy looked into her eyes, tears were still forming, but she could see that she was trying her hardest to hold them back with determination. Dash smiled and hugged her friend Derpy, but something in the distance caught her eye. Four multi coloured blurs were heading towards her. She broke the hug and span Derpy around. “What is that dash?” she asked. Dash shrugged “I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s heading right for us, we need to get out of here”. They took off together and headed away from the shapes. After a minute, she looked around, and saw the same shapes getting closer. She motioned to Derpy to make a sharp right turn. She looked back again and saw that the same shapes were following her. “Derpy, remember flight school training, about being followed?” Derpy nodded to dash. “Good, cause that’s what we need to do now!” they both entered a series of tight flips and spins, eventually ending up facing the blurs. The two ponies flew straight at the oncoming blurs, and at the last moment, flew above them and dipped down behind. But the shapes were fast. Suddenly, a hoof appeared out of a red and orange blur and hit square in the face of Rainbow Dash. “Oh you son of a……..” Another hoof appeared and grasped rainbow dashes tail. She looked at the blur of and saw the briefest of glimpse of the inside. “sweet Celestia, you’re a pony!” for the faintest of seconds, she thought she could see the blur grin. But before she could get a proper look, she was swung round and sent flying into the remains of the school house. She quickly got up and saw the most horrifying of images. Derpy caught between two of the blurs. She saw her look up at rainbow dash. “RUN DASH! NOW!” as she shouted at rainbow dash. A burst of water flew from a Blue blur and hit Derpy in the face. Then she could see a shape fall from the water and into the remains of the building. “DERPY” rainbow called, but only the sound of laughter from the blurs could be heard. Rainbow fought back tears and leapt to her feet. “I must go tell the mayor” she thought out loud. With breath taking speed, she flew towards the camp. But as she looked back she could see the blurs following her. “Oh no you don’t” she shouted, and performed aerobatics she has never tried before. She dived, swooped, and flew the highest she had ever flown before. As she flew high, she saw the blurs stop and turn away, heading back to Ponyville. Rainbow landed on the nearest cloud and wept.
The mayor giving instructions to stallions putting up tents became just background noise to Fluttershy. She sat on her beloved matt and held angel close. “Don’t worry angel, we will be back home really soon, I promise”. Angel just sat quietly in her arms. She looked over to see Big Mac and Applejack putting up her tent. She had wanted to help, but after trying to put it up herself ended in having to be cut free, she decided against it. Looking around at the makeshift camp, she reminded herself that this was the first time staying out of Ponyville for years. Twilight could be seen scurrying around with her patented clip board and quill, marking things off as they were unloaded from the wagons. She was startled by a load bang followed by a rainbow blur landing next to the Mayor. Rainbow dash looked bad. Her nose was mane was filthy and her wing feathers were out of shape. Rainbow was talking at the speed of sound to the mayor, but from the look on the mayor’s face, didn’t understand a word of it. Applejack trotted to the pair with a glass of water. Rainbow grabbed the glass and downed it all. The mayor then ushered her into her tent. She looked back at angel and saw he was awake. “I’m so sorry about that, would you like a carrot?” angel looked up and nodded slowly. “Ok we will see what applejack has”. She got up and slowly trotted up to applejack. After handing rainbow the glass, she went back to putting up Fluttershy’s tent. She saw Fluttershy approaching and smiled. “Your tent will be up real soon, eh Big Mac”. From behind the tent all she heard was an “Eeeyup”. Fluttershy smiled “Thank you applejack, as you saw, I couldn’t do it myself”. Applejack smiled back. “Ah was happy to help”. Fluttershy smile dropped as she remembered something, or lack of something. “Applejack, have you seen Ditzy doo? I didn’t see her come back with rainbow dash”. Applejack frowned. “Now that you mention it, I didn’t either”. They both thought in silence, but then Fluttershy remembered why she came over. “Oh applejack, do you have a spare carrot for angel, he woke up and is very hungry”. Applejack looked up and smiled. “Of course shy, my tent is over there, there is a barrel right by the entrance, open it and it’s full of carrots. Help yourself”. Fluttershy smiled back. “Thanks applejack, IL leave some bits on the matt inside”. “Don’t worry about that Fluttershy, Applebloom would only eat them”. They both shared a laugh and parted company.
She was heading to applejacks tent, when the mayor and rainbow dash exited their tent. Rainbow dash eyes were red where she had apparently been crying, her cheeks were wet and left streaks through the dirt. The mayor took to the mobile platform and looked at the gathered crowd. “Ponyville is…………..destroyed”. The mayor said sadly. Sounds of pain and emotions washed through the crowd like a flood. “The princesses spell worked, but the fire spread too quickly, but there is even sadder news, Ditzy Doo is missing”. Fluttershy stood, shocked and speechless, emotions welled up inside her. She didn’t know Derpy that much, but she knew she was such a nice pony, if a little clumsy. She looked around and saw that shock was mirrored on ever ponies face. The mayor wiped a tear from her eyes and addressed the crowd again. “Her and rainbow dash were attacked by strange coloured blurs, but rainbow dash managed to get away.” She could see the mayor look over her shoulder at rainbow dash who was cowering in a corner next to the mayor’s tent. The mayor quickly looked back. “Now is not the time to mourn, we must return to Ponyville as soon as it is safe, and rebuild again…….”. “Wait a minute here, we got to return to Ponyville now, to see if Derpy is…….” Applejack choked on her words, but soon recovered. “We must make sure she is d……d……still alive”. Twilight stepped forward next to applejack. “I agree. we must go check”. “I agree also” chimed in Rarity, who had quickly bathed as soon as she made camp. Pinkie pie bounced next to rarity, “me too” she sang. “Well then that’s settled, we go back to Ponyville now”. Applejack stated. “Aj” rainbow whispered, “I want to come with you, I owe it to Derpy”. Fluttershy looked on at the two ponies and saw Applejack smile. “Ah wouldn’t have it any other way Rainbow”. Fluttershy found herself moving to the pair. “Um, Applejack, would you like me to come too?” Applejack looked at Fluttershy and beamed. “Of course Fluttershy, why don’t you give Angel to spike to look after, I know they get on well together” applejack winked. Spike came from next to twilight and took angel off of Fluttershy. Twilight walked forward. “Ok girls, let’s go”. They all ran towards Ponyville two objectives: find Derpy, and find the strange blurs.
