Dead Equestria

After 20 minutes of napping, Thunderlane was released from the hospital. Nurse Redheart told him not to pressure his bones if he doesn't want to go back to the hospital like Rainbow Dash in the past.

Still, he went back to the Wonderbolts Academy along with Windy. She told him the babysitter had just become an official member as a replacement for Blue Blaze, another member who went back to Haytona to live with her family. He was kinda a little sad when he heard the news of a colleague resigning from the Wonderbolts but he knew it's the best for her to leave.

When they arrived at the academy, there were a lot of cadets and other Wonderbolts practicing while a few others were having conversations. Thunderlane looked to his right and saw the runway. The academy was bustling with activities. But what caught his attention is Spitfire and a mare. He couldn't tell what they were saying but he knew the team captain explaining the rules to the mare. By the looks of the unknown mare, she was nervous. Extremely nervous. Whoever that mare was, it's obvious she's Blue Blaze's replacement he thought.

“Hey, what are you waiting for?” he heard Windy call out for him.

“Okay, okay, I'm coming” he galloped towards her as they approached the barracks.

At the barracks, Thunderlane opens his locker, behind him, Windy is busy preening her left wing with her tongue. He got his own uniform and proceeded to dress.

Windy then stopped preening and spoke up “Hey, Thunderlane, do you think I could improve my flight skills?”

“Just practice, that's what I hear from the more 'grown-ups'” he lazily told her as he gets his goggles “But when it gets to our captain, Spitfire, she says that we should practice hard with all your strength to become a skillful flier”

“I heard that from her so many times in my lifetime,” she said “But she told me 'do not give up. Continue the fight'”

“How kind of her despite she had no problems yelling at us” he mocked as he finished wearing his flight goggles with a sharp snap.

“She's just doing her job. Even I need to yell at my colleagues when I'm a young weather manager back at my mother's hotel except shouting too loud” she said before preening her right wing.

Thunderlane audibly shut his locker and look at her “You're cute when you preen yourself” he complimented, earning a bashful look from the Wonderbolt “But despite that, you still look like a newbie, Newbie Breeze”

Windy quickly stopped preening her wing to glare at him “Hey!” Thunderlane just snickered at her violent reaction.

“Whoa, this uniform is so cool!” they heard an unfamiliar voice, followed by Spitfire's.

“And now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back outside to talk with Soarin”

Thunderlane quickly glanced at Windy “Hide!” he whispered. He and Windy quickly hide behind the lockers just in time for Spitfire to pass by. The two then peek their heads out the doorway to see Spitfire close the door.

“Ooh, this is so awesome, I get to officially become a Wonderbolt!” they heard a squeal behind from the full Wonderbolt barracks. Windy and Thunderlane stared at each other.

“Should we?” Windy asked.

Thunderlane nod in agreement “Sure”

The two slightly open the door of the dorm. Two pairs of eyes looked through the door to see a cheerful energetic mare pacing around the room with excitement and enthusiasm.

“Take that mom! I was right about the recruitment!” Thunderlane chuckled in amusement as the mare stopped in front of a shelf, only to squeal, again “Oh, my gosh, That's General Firefly's picture! Oh, my, that's General Flash's cap!”

“Who is she?” Thunderlane whispered to his friend.

“Oh, it's just Blue Wings”

“Blue Wings?” Thunderlane parroted.

“Yep, that's her, just take a look at her wingtips, it'll give you a hint” Thunderlane squinted and saw Blue Wings' wingtips are dodger blue instead of pale canary yellow.

“So that's how she got her name?”

“I'm not sure, maybe you should ask her,” Windy told him “I mean she wasn't busy right now”

“Maybe later, she's too enthusiastic right now,” Thunderlane said, eyeing Blue. She was looking at her new Wonderbolt uniform like a cat, her tail swishing as she turned around.

Thunderlane and Windy went out of the barracks and into the practice area. Surprise, and Silver Zoom, can be seen, chattering nearby.

“Mmm, Surprise and Silver Zoom are giving me deja vu” Windy mused. Thunderlane followed her gaze. She was staring at the two Wonderbolts.

“What makes you say that?” he asked.

“Remember the day when Rainbow Dash became a Wonderbolt?” Thunderlane's face was scrunched up with amusement. He will never forget the day when he found out, Rainbow is officially 'Rainbow Crash' “Surprise and Silver Zoom was chattering near the barracks when she almost got herself into a collision with Misty”

“I will never ever forget that” he chuckled and grinned evilly like a villain when their plan worked.

Windy smirked “I tried my best not to laugh at her when she went straight to a trash can. Her face is priceless and more hilarious than Ditzy's” she and Thunderlane laughed. It was so funny remembering Rainbow's antics on her first day as a Wonderbolt. Their laughter came to an end when they heard somepony walking behind them. It was Blue Wings, who had a look of excitement etched on her face, obviously not paying attention to where she is going. She was heading straight for the runway. It would be okay for Windy and Thunderlane when they heard someone flying not far away. They looked to see Misty Fly, and High Winds on the flying low but fast on the runway.

“Blue!” Windy yelled for the mare, but the latter ignores her. She glanced to see Misty and High Winds moving closer. Thunderlane immediately went for Blue and tackled her just in time for High Winds and Misty to zoom past them. Blue's tail managed to knock Misty's flight goggles, revealing the mare's look of surprise. Thunderlane and Blue tumbled to the other side, narrowly crashing into Surprise and Silver Zoom. When the duo came to a stop, Thunderlane lay on top of Blue, who's cheek turned red.

“Uhh...” the mare uttered.

Meanwhile, Misty came back to get her goggles “Looks like we have another 'Rainbow Crash' in our campus” she said before picking her goggles which lay on the runway with one of the lenses broken.

“Are you guys alright?” Surprise asked Thunderlane and Blue Wings as she, and Silver Zoom approach them followed by a concerned Windy, and Misty. Somehow, the incident attracted more attention as more ponies came to investigate the commotion.

“Yeah, nopony's hurt this time” Thunderlane then look at Blue, she was shaking the dust off her “Hey, are you alright?”

“I-I'm alright” Blue stuttered as she tried to avert her gaze away from him “Thank you for saving me”

“It's a Wonderbolt's job to save somepony from danger,” Thunderlane said. He got up just in time for Spitfire to arrive, had a look of disappointment directed at Blue Wings.

“Did you forget rule number 1 already, Newbie?” she chastised the newbie, Blue Wings, who began to tremble in fear and submission.

“I'm sorry, Captain Spitfire” Blue Wings said in a high pitched fragile voice. Windy felt bad, the mare looked like she's about to cry. Spitfire also noticed this and decided to change the volume of her voice, not wanting to make a newbie cry.

“Look, I'm not angry Blue, but always remember the rules, okay? You'll be prone to an accident like Newbie Breeze and Crash” Windy frowned upon mentioning her by her embarrassing title.

“I-I understand” Blue said.

Spitfire nodded “Always remember all the rules. Rule number 1…”

“Always check both ways before crossing the runway” Surprise, Silver Zoom, Misty Fly, and surprisingly, Fleetfoot said in unison. Windy, and Rainbow Dash, who just arrived didn't say a word.

Thunderlane lifted an eyebrow at the latter “Wait, how did you get here, Fleetfoot?”

“Because the plot told me to” Fleetfoot shrugged, much to everyone's confusion.

“Ignore Flatfoot, she's just trying become random” Misty casually told everyone.

Spitfire rolled her eyes “Alright, nopony got hurt and we got a lot to do, so let's forget about this and get flying!”

Everyone soared to the skies, except for Windy, Thunderlane, and Blue. Thunderlane helped Blue stand up to her hooves.

“Let's get going,” Windy told them. Blue let out nod before the took off.

Unknownst to all of them, a female cadet with a twisted neck stared at them. She let out a moan as she heard some cadets talking and walking nearby. She turns around and left.

2 Hours later.

Spitfire sat idly in her office, staring at the door. Blue Wings' abilities and her flying skills were not as bad as Rainbow Dash when the latter become a Wonderbolt for the first time but she needs to improve her social skills and lessen her anxiety.

She heard one of the cadets, Lilac Storm went missing after she accidentally crashed. She had never heard of cases of ponies going missing after an accident before, this made her very worried and concerned.

Nopony could just simply go missing after an accident she thought I had to prepare a letter to her family if she's not found she reach out a clean paper and ink and quill from under her desk and began writing when suddenly, the door open, the mail carrier, Parcent Post enters.

“I got a mail for you, Captain Spitfire,” he said, opening his saddlebags and pulling out a mail and giving it to Spitfire.

“Thanks, Mr. Parcent” Spitfire took the mail from his hoof and read “From Princess Celestia?”

“Yeah, I was curious about that too,” Parcent said “But I have no time, I got more mails to deliver, have a nice day, Spitfire” he turns tail and went out of the office, leaving Spitfire to read the letter.

Thunderlane flew through a loop before deciding to take a rest. He and the other Wonderbolts and the cadets had been practicing for hours. Windy was both practicing and teaching the new member, Blue Wings, who now earned an embarrassing nickname from Misty Fly.

Thunderlane watched as the other Wonderbolts, including Rainbow Dash, continue to practice along with some cadets. He felt proud to join the team, this squad was previously been known for defending Princess Celestia and all of Equestria from threats in the past but since war and violence had ceased, the Wonderbolts then turned into a squad of pegasus which performs acrobatics in aerial flight shows.

He someone talking. He looks to see Windy and Blue, approaching. Blue had a white blanket that hung on her neck while listening to what her instructor is saying.

“-most importantly, don't be nervous when performing more dangerous stunts but at the same time, don't lift your head too high, those will the cause of losing your focus”

“O-Okay, Miss Breeze,” Blue said.

“Just call me, Windy okay? Formalities are not needed here unless Wind Rider came to ruin my day” Windy joked. However, Blue wasn't amused by her joke and decided not to say anything. Windy noticed Thunderlane “Hey Thunderlane, tired already?”

“Yeah, I'm full of sweats now,” he said, “How about you?”

“I'm going to get some hay sandwich for Bluey over here” she pats Blue behind her neck, making her stumble.

“A-Actually, I said I want to buy a clubhouse sandwich” Blue shyly corrected her instructor.

“I mean clubhouse sandwich,” Windy said.

“I hope you guys are lucky. I just heard High Winds, whining about her favorite dish had run out” Windy and Blue turn at each other, sharing worried looks before turning their gazes back at him.

“Thanks for telling us” Windy smiled before she and Blue left, leaving Thunderlane to rest.

The letter fell from her hooves, her eyes wide as dinner plates.

“N-No” Spitfire slowly shook her head “They couldn't contain it? It's spreading throughout Equestria? No, no, no, no they could do better than that. Why evacuate the Wonderbolts when they're needed for this?” she then picked up the letter and found the other set of words she didn't see when she was reading the letter earlier.

I know you will deny my orders, Captain Spitfire, But do you want to put the Wonderbolts and their families at risk? What about your mother?

“M-Mom!” Spitfire spread and her wings and flew out of the office, knocking down her desk and it's contents. Didn't even care the fact she opened the door by hitting it with her head.

“Soarin! Soarin!”

Thunderlane opens his eyes and glance at the sky to see Spitfire, landing in front of Soarin. He decided to listen to their conversations by hiding behind a nearby tree.

“Whoa, Spitfire, calm down!” Soarin told her.

“Soarin, I want you to tell every Wonderbolt and cadets to gather up at the runway, we got an important meeting!” she told Soarin, who was confused by her behavior

“Spitfire, can you tell me what's going on?” he demanded. However, Spitfire didn't seem to have the mood to answer his questions.

“Just do what I said, NOW!” Spitfire yelled at the poor stallion, who couldn't do anything but salute.

“Yes, ma'am” he took to the skies, probably going for Misty and Blaze first, who are nearby.

Thunderlane had a hard time to decide whether he sneak out or approach Spitfire. Thankfully, Spitfire left as well, flying towards the other practice area where most cadets are in.

I need to tell Windy about this he unfolds his wings and flew to the direction of the mess hall

At the mess hall, Blue ate her food along with Windy, who decided to get her own food out of jealousy and the occasional rumbling of her stomach. She had ordered a slice of blueberry pie, to her surprise, it was the only blueberry pie left. After getting her glass of water she went and sat on Blue's table, facing each other. Blue was happy to eat her favorite food that she didn't notice she was eating it in a messy way.

“Whoa, slow down, Blue, you might probably eat somepony” she teased.

Blue stop eating her sandwich, looking away shyly and uttering a “Sorry” under der breath. She took a large chunk of her food before looking at Windy “So you don't originally live in Ponyville?” she spoke up in a high pitched tone.

“Yeah” Windy confirmed “I was born in a town that no longer exists, raised by a family living there” Blue raised an eyebrow for using the words 'no longer exist'

“What do you mean 'no longer exist'?” she asked, curious to know what happened to her instructor's town.

“The town was swallowed by a giant wall of water,” Windy said as she ate a small part of her pie “at least that's what my adoptive mother said. And all of those who live there? gone. All gone. Just spared me for some reason”

“I'm sorry to hear that” Blue sympathized “It's very painful to lose your entire family to a horrific tragedy”

“You don't need to feel sad for my loss, Blue. I only just found out when I'm still in my teenage years. It's more painful to find out your adoptive mother decided to keep my biological family a secret than finding out they have passed away for so many years” silence reigned the mess hall, only the sounds of the wind can be heard. The silence was broken when Blue spoke up.

“So, what is it like to live in Ponyville?” she asked and decided to eat the remains of her sandwich while she listens to her instructor.

“The day I took the first step to Ponyville, I thought everypony living there are weird and insane,” she said “But I got used to it and decided to play along the townsponies”

“That's what ponies from another place describe our town: Weird, rich, too kind, too sweet, too generous,” Blue said “but it's normal for everypony to be zealous to foreigners, and to make sure everypony stays in that way, our mayor made a motto for the town”

“And what it would be?” Windy asked.

“Never took pride in your possessions. Open your heart to everypony, and give the needy what they need” Windy smiled, happy to hear that pleasant motto reach her ears.

“What a nice motto” Windy complimented, just in time for the entrance door for open followed by someone calling them.

“Windy Breeze, Blue Wings” It was Thunderlane.

“What is it, Thunderlane?” Windy asked, “Do you come here to buy food?”

“I'm not here for the food,” he told her nicely “But listen, Captain Spitfire is holding a meeting at the runway, I think it's very important”

“Whether it is, I think we should attend this meeting you are talking around, Mr...” Blue trailed.

“It's Thunderlane,” Thunderlane told her.

Windy stood up “If the meeting is important, we should go now” she and Thunderlane were about to leave the mess hall when Blue stopped them.

“W-Wait!” she said, halting the two Wonderbolts.

“What is it, Blue? ” Windy asked.

“We should tell the cooks about the meeting too,” she told them, “I think this meeting is meant for all of the ponies here in the academy”

Thunderlane, Windy Breeze, Blue Wings, and the 7 staffs working at the mess hall arrived at the runway, which was filled with Wonderbolts, cadets, and some of the staff members, including Whiplash and Fast Clip, most of the ponies are confused, having no idea why a sudden meeting was announced.

“Thunderlane, Windy Breeze, Blue Wings, you're all here now!” Midnight Strike, one of the cadets greeted them “Do you guys have any idea what's going on here?”

“Sorry, Midnight, I just overheard a bit of Spitfire and Soarin's conversation while Windy and Blue are at the mess hall” Thunderlane replied.

“Can you tell us what you heard, Thunderlane, please, please, please, please?” she begged, their muzzles dangerously close to each other.

“Yes, please tell us what's going on, sir. I and my fellow cooks have no idea what's going on” added the lead cook, Dish Exquisite.

“I'm sorry, everypony, I just heard Spitfire, urging Soarin to gather us here,” Thunderlane said, much to everyone's disappointment.

“Spitfire's coming!” Surprise yelled. Everyone looks at the sky to see Spitfire, approaching. She lands in front of the crowd of cadets and Wonderbolts and spoke up.

“Everypony, I'm afraid I have some bad news for all of us” Spitfire said “By the order of Princess Celestia, the Wonderbolts Academy was ordered to be shut down because of suspected cases of an outbreak here in Cloudsdale” ponies gasped at the news. Spitfire noticed Rainbow Dash wanting to say something but the latter shut her mouth when she noticed her captain looking at her “I'm too surprised by this news but the princess did this for everypony's 'protection', Celestia also suggested all of us to move to the north far away from the epidemic”

“Oh, my” Thunderlane heard someone gasp nearby. It was Blue Wings, who was slack-jawed at the announcement, who happens to be hailed from the town which is the epicenter of the outbreak now was already going out of the academy on her first day as an official Wonderbolt. Thunderlane felt bad for her.

In the small crowd of cadets, one hoof was raised “Yes, Midnight Strike?” Spitfire said.

“When will the academy open?” the mare by the name of Midnight Strike boldly asked.

“I guess when the outbreak is over, or when the Princesses allows the academy to reopen” she shrugged “Any more questions?” one hoof was raised, this time belonging in the team “Yes, Crash?”

“How many cases does Cloudsdale have?” Rainbow asked.

“Well, I don't know. The princess didn't tell me the number of cases in the city. Any more questions?” Spitfire looked around the crowd before saying “Okay. All of you are dismissed. Upon saying this, everyone began in the direction of the barracks. Spitfire then approach Blue, who was looking down at the ground in sadness “I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to return you to your town”

“You don't need to apologize, ma'am. I have friends” Blue said, referring to Thunderlane and Windy

“Yeah. I know” Spitfire glanced at Windy “Windy told me you're going to work for Thunderlane as his little brother's foalsitter. I heard that job is going to be rough” "

Blue gulped, which earned a smile from Thunderlane “Don't worry about him. He's not a troublemaker so you will be fine”

“I wasn't worried about that,” she said “I was worried because he might probably become too attached to me. Most foals I babysit the last 4 years loved me so much that they didn't want me to leave”

Spitfire smirked “Well, well, well… look do we have here?” she walk around Blue “We have a newbie who is loved by the little ones”

Blue blushed “Oh uh, I blame my charm, ma'am,” she said, earning a giggle from her captain.

“You and Firestreak will going to get along” Spitfire then proceed towards Windy, her casual look going back into one that shows concern “Be safe, Windy,” she said softly”

“I will Spitfire,” Windy said “and you too”

Spitfire turned her backs at them and took off. The only ponies who are still at the runway are Soarin, Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, Blue Wings, and Windy Breeze herself.

“We should go back to our homes too,” Soarin said.

“Yeah, but I have to check on my parents first. I don't want them to get the disease, Spitfire is talking about” Rainbow agreed.

Spitfire sighed as she flew through Cloudsdale, getting a few looks from ponies she passed.

Why do I have to make that announcement? Spitfire didn't also want the Wonderbolts Academy to be shut down but disobeying the princesses is more questionable. Wonderbolts are very loyal to royalty for years, unlike the Shadowbolts who are loyal to one of Equestria's greatest enemies: Nightmare Moon.

But her mother.

She was going back to her mother to take her somewhere safe away from the outbreak. She cares more about her mother than all the ponies she met, her mother was the pony she had in her family.

Also Windy, a pony she had met when she was just a young Wonderbolt. She was also worried about her best friend. Windy has faced so many hardships in her life and now she made her sad.

Her thoughts are interrupted when someone called her.

“Spitfire!” a mare approached her.

“What is it? Be quick okay” Spitfire told her.

“Y-Your mother, she-”

“So this is Ponyville?” Blue Wings said, looking down at the town below them “it reminds me of my town but in a flat land” Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

“Wait, you're saying that your town wasn't built on a plateau?”

“Yeah, the town was also built in plateau but a part of it is built on a hillside” Blue explained “the original settlers of town build their houses on the hillside, I guess”

“Wow, your town does have an interesting history, besides being so isolated for years with the other nearby cities” Windy commented.

“Yeah, I was pretty... amazed too,” Blue said as they land on the plaza “We didn't even know Equestria existed, we only been found the cities of Maneponia and Creekside, that's when Kingdom of Enótita ippoeidón rose”

“I assume it's just short-lived nation since Equestria finally got to notice your kingdom's isolation?” Thunderlane said.

“Yep, and it happens to be an adventurer... or maybe an archeologist who is well known here in Equestria” Blue Wings mused. “I forgot her name but I think it starts with D and ends with an O”

“That reminds me of somepony” Thunderlane voiced his thoughts, looking at the sky “Looks like we still have enough time to introduce you to some of the well-known locals here, Blue Wings”

“Well... That's good” Blue said in a whispered voice, lowering her head. She looks back at her two companions “so who are the first ponies I'm going to meet?”

“Um, probably-”

“HI, Thunderlane! Hi Windy Breeze!” a pink pony suddenly appeared in front of them, surprising Windy and Thunderlane, and in Blue Wings' case, scaring her so bad she shirked, rear up and almost kicking the pink mare with her front hooves. “and hello-” the mare we all known, Pinkie Pie gasped at the sight of pony she didn't see before. Before any of the Wonderbolts could say a word, Pinkie zoomed away, even faster than Rainbow Dash.

“W-What was that all about?” Blue asked her companions. Windy and Thunderlane both shrugged.

“That was Pinkie Pie,” Thunderlane said “and it looks like she's going to prepare a party for you”

“A party?” Blue lifted an eyebrow “But my birthday is 5 months away”

“It's a welcome-to-Ponyville party, Blue Wings. Pinkie always gives newcomers a party” Windy said.

“That seems so kind and... creepy” Blue muttered the last word. Pinkie reminds her of 'the baker'.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Oh, nothing Thunderlane” she glanced back at her path. She took notice of the path which leads to Sweet Apple Acres, the path was surrounded by fences and apple trees “Whoever grew this orchard is very hard working” she said.

Thunderlane smiled “That would be Applejack and her previous generations. Her previous generations are the first settlers of Ponyville”

Their trek was very uneventful. Blue would smile at the apple trees as they grow denser as they near their destination.

After a few minutes of walking (flying in Windy's case. Her hooves get easily tired for some reason), the farm came into view.

“Huh, why do they need a gate?” Blue looks at a small gate which was the entrance to the farm “Are there security problems in Ponyville?”

“I don't know but there are hardly any crimes in town,” Thunderlane said as he opens the gate “except when a magician became a mayor and turned the whole town into slave labor town”

Blue's ears flattened “that's terrible... w-why would somepony ever do that?”

“Out of envy, I guess” he replied, closing the gate behind him “Or maybe because she claims herself to be 'great and powerful' and views Princess Twilight her rival”

When they arrived, Thunderlane was sure the apple family was busy. But wasn't right, they could see Applejack, walking alongside her brother, Big Macintosh. They were talking to each other about the farm.

“Look what our hard work made our farm now, Big Mac? It's better than when Twilight first entered Ponyville!” she said out loud with pride, earning a gentle smile from her brother.

“Eeyup”

Thunderlane decided to yell to caught their attention “Applejack, Big Mac!” the duo turned to look at them.

“What are ya'll doing here?” Applejack and her brother didn't notice Blue Wings yet, as they were all focused at Thunderlane and Windy Breeze.

“Eh, we decided to take a trip to your farm, oh, and also an outsider”

“An outsider?” Applejack looks behind them and finally saw Blue Wings, who was standing behind Windy, the latter no longer flying. Applejack glanced at her brother, who was smiling at the said outsider.

“Eeyup”

“Well howdy there!” Applejack said enthusiastically, approaching the mare and offering her a hoof “Mah name is Applejack! What's your name?”

“I'm Blue Wings... nice to meet you, Miss Applejack”

“Formalities not needed, Blue Wings” Applejack said “and there's no need to be shy when somepony's gonna treat you like a long lost cousin!” she turn at Big Mac “Big Mac, prepare the table and all the apple pies, apple fritters, apple cider, apple cake, apple cinnamon, apple juice, apple sauce, apple jelly, apple salad, apple candy, and apple-flavored ice cream!”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac turn tail and ran into the farmhouse.

After hearing all the foods they've prepared for her, Blue Wings finally realized what Windy said earlier when they are walking on the path earlier.

“Do you want any assistance, Bluey?” Windy whispered to her ear “Me and Thunderlane are pleased to help you”

Turns out, Blue actually says yes.

Blue Wings did manage to eat a lot of food but just to please the Applejack, Big Mac, and surprisingly Granny Smith, who apparently mistook her as Rainbow Dash.

Eating the last zap apple pie, Blue Wings fell from her seat, moaning in satisfaction, holding her enlarged stomach as she stared at the sky with her half-shut eyes (Thunderlane found that very attractive).

“You want some more, missy” Granny Smith asked.

“No, I'm fully satisfied with all the food I ate” she declined. She was very glad her two fellow Wonderbolts helped her eat a few desserts, most notably the cake and the ice cream.

Thunderlane laughed at the sight of his food-pregnant friend “Blue Wings, you look ridiculous!” Windy stifled a laughter while Blue actually smiled and chuckled. Applejack concealed her face with her stetson.

“So what brings you here, Blue Wings?”

“Um... a motel?” She said, unsure of what she's going to say.

“Blue Wings, our town has no motel and the only one was closed some time ago,” Applejack told her.

“How about you can stay in my house” Thunderlane stepped in “Windy hired you as the foalsitter right? I must let you live with me so you don't have to walk”

“That seems a good idea, Thunderlane!” Blue agreed.

“Thunderlane, I think you should look up at the sky and get Rumble,” Windy said. Thunderlane looks up and saw the sky was now bright red. Realizing it was now evening, Thunderlane spread his wings zoomed towards Ponyville.

“SORRYGOTTAGONOWBYE!” Applejack chuckled. She turned to Windy and Blue

“So what about you girls?”

“I'm new to this town and... I don't know where Thunderlane's house is” Blue replied. Windy remember something, something important so she decided to 'help' Blue.

“How about we'll wait for him at a bakery called Sugarcube Corner?”

When Thunderlane arrived, schooltime was already over and there are several fillies and coats outside the school with some parents. As he was searching for Rumble, a mare gallop past him, breathing heavily. He glances behind him to look at her, only to see the mare already gone. He then bumps to another mare “Ow, sorry!” he said, holding his forehead.

“It's okay, I wasn't looking I was going,” the said the mare, Cherilee.

“Oh, hi Ms. Cherilee, do you know where my little Rumble went?” he asked.

“I think he's at the playground, talking with Sweet Tomato,” she told him.

“Thank you,” he said.

“No-” a cough interrupted her “No problem” he nodded and walks past her.

“Oh my, what happened to you Ms. Cherilee?” he heard somepony gasped. He looks behind to see Cherilee, talking with a mare.

“I'm fine, Ms. Bitterwords”

“But you're limping, does that sound like fine? I'm afraid not!” Bitterwords said, “did you... did you-”

“I'm not sick, I'm fine, I just... sprained myself earlier,” she said, “Look, you don't have to worry about me, okay?”

“Okay, take care” Bitter words turned to her colt while Cherilee leaves. As she leaves Thunderlane noticed she was limping instead of normally walking, he also noticed her left hindlegs wrapped with a white bandage. He also took note of how rasp her voice is, and how forced the friendliness tone is.

I wonder how she got that herself injured? he thought as he enters the playground, there he saw Rumble and Sweet Tomato, talking to each other. Rumble looked a little down while Sweet put her hoof on his back as she seemed to be consoling him.

“I hope my brother's okay, his friend told me he was at the hospital,” Rumble said to his friend “I heard he wasn't that badly injured but I'm worried if it was his wing”

“Now, now, you do remember he's A Wonderbolt right?” Sweet said with a soft smile “Wonderbolts do exercises and I heard they sometimes practice so hard one of them turned into a spiraling wind!” she made gestures with her hooves, imitating the movements of a ferocious tornado all while making sounds using her mouth “They would 'whoosh' and 'swoosh', then they go barreling down into the ground, then 'bam!' two yellow chicks fly over her head!” this made Rumble let out a low chuckle while Thunderlane smiled at Sweet's humor. He finally decided to announce his presence.

“Did somepony say I'm still at the hospital, Rumble?” Sweet glanced at him and let out a tiny gasp, while Rumble slowly looks up at him with eyes that held surprise, and relief “Hey there, Rumble!” Thunderlane said casually, finally breaking the silence which took over for a few seconds.

“Brother!” Rumble jumped to his big brother's body and softly squeezing the chest with a soft hug.

“Whoa! Hahahaha, it looks like you miss my guts!” Thunderlane said in an excited tone as he looks down at his little brother, the one and only colt who almost started a group with an opposite version of Cutie Mark Crusaders a few years ago at a Cutie Mark Day camp.

“I'm so glad to see you, Mr. Thunderlane” Sweet said as she slowly approaches him, having recovered from her shock.

“I've been released early by the doctors because my injuries aren't that worse,” he said “I just need to take some rest and not stress my bones too much” he then looked at Rumble, then at the filly's faces “Now, that school is over, how about we buy some cupcakes for each of us?” Rumble and Sweet squealed in joy.

“yes, brother!”

“Yes, please, Mr. Thunderlane” Thunderlane couldn't help but snicker. Rumble and Sweet are so excited that they hugged each other.

“Brother, do you know that pony with Windy?”

Thunderlane, Rumble, and Sweet Tomato arrived just in time to see Blue Wings enter the Sugarcube Corner with Windy Breeze walking alongside her.

“Rumble, Sweet, let's not intrude them yet” Sweet looked at him with a raised eyebrow and said something under her breath “Let's watch how this will turn out” he smirked as Windy opens the door for Blue, who hesitated when she saw the bakery eerily dark from the inside. However Windy pushed her inside while saying something about 'the cakes forgot to light up their bakery'.

A few minutes after the door was closed, Sugarcube Corner lit up like forest fire and the trio heard a bunch of ponies from the inside along with Blue's shriek.

When they went inside, they found Windy, patting Blue's back, the latter hyperventilating. Among the crowd, Princess Twilight comes out of the crowd with a look of concern.

“I think we've gone too far,” she said.

It took several minutes to calm Blue Wings. Ponies inside the bakery are either talking to each or eating, some dancing thanks to Vinyl Scratch, playing one of her most favorited music.

Thunderlane, Rumble, Sweet Tomato, Windy Breeze, and Blue Wings, the guest of honor of the party sat by a table.

“What do you think of the party?” Thunderlane spoke up.

“Pinkie asked me the same question,” Blue told them, sipping a raspberry juice. She stops sipping to talk “and I guess the party is nice... but a bit crowded”

“Pinkie always invites most of the ponies in town for every party” Thunderlane replied.

“Oh” Blue looks down at the table and mutters “Maybe you should try telling her to invite only a few ponies sometimes”

Before anyone could ask her what she said, Twilight approaches with Spike, riding on her party “Hello, Blue Wings” Blue took note of the fact the lavender mare has a pair of wings and a horn too seriously.

“Hello, your high- Oomph!” tried to bow, only to forget that there was a table in front of her.

“Are you okay?” Twilight went to her side.

“I-I'm okay, princess” Blue said, clutching her jaw.

“She's okay, Twilight trust me, Wonderbolts have the strongest jaws than any normal ponies had” Windy joked.

“I can agree with that” Spike laughed but Twilight shushed him with a frown.

“Spike!”

“I'm okay, princess” Blue said, giving Twilight a grin that surely hides the looks of someone in pain.

“Just call me Twilight,” she said, her worried expression coming “Are you sure you're okay? I could cast a healing spell for you”

“No, you don't have to, I'm really okay” Blue assured.

Twilight didn't seem convinced but decided to not go further into the situation “Okay?” she then levitates a quill and a parchment with her magic “So, you are from Richville?”

“Yes,” Blue replied. Thunderlane noticed she didn't seem to see Twilight's obvious expression, which was one of the only few warnings that she is about to go into full-blown egghead mode. He decided to give her a clue by whispering into her ear.

“Turn back now or else, she'll going ask you a lot of questions and you won't escape” Blue lifted an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“Can you tell me the history of the whole town!?” grinned Twilight. She gave Blue a lively excited look. When she grinned, it was followed by a faint squeal. Blue frowned and turned to Thunderlane, only to see him slowly backing away.

“Good luck, Blue Wings” he winked at her before galloping away, leaving Blue to her fate as Twilight moved her head closer to hers, their muzzles now touching each other.

“What are you waiting for, Blue?” Blue looked to where she last saw Windy to beg for help, only to see no sign of her friend.

“Twilight, didn't you see you obviously scared her,” said Spike.

Thunderlane let out a chuckle as Twilight chastised Spike for calling her 'scary' as Blue stood there like a statue. He feels bad for leaving Blue to die from an explanation to the 'princess of egghead'. He also found out Windy also left her trainee so she wouldn't be swept away by currents of words that could possibly come out of Twilight if Blue ever asked her something which requires a long explanation.

“Hey, there, Thunderlane” he heard a feminine voice. He looked to see a pegasus mare that he could recognize.

“Oh, hey, Blossomforth” he casually waved at her “enjoying the party?”

“Definitely” she replied “I heard you got into an accident of some sort”

“Don't worry. I'm fine now” he told her “no headaches, no wing stiffness, no nausea, nothing unless you wanted me to get sick” he received a frown from the mare.

“Don't make jokes like that. You are just lucky to spend only a few hours in Ponyville Hospital” she frowned. Her smile returned again when she grabs some of the cupcakes from a nearby food table and offers it to Thunderlane “Want a cupcake?”

“Sure” he took the cupcake from her and took a bite “Mmm... Is this blueberry?”

“Yep. Better watch out for Windy” she and Thunderlane laughed in unison.

“I will make sure I will remember that,” Thunderlane said, “So, how are you?”

“I'm fine but Cloudchaser isn't” Thunderlane lifted an eyebrow.

“What's wrong with her?” he asked.

“She caught the feather flu” she replied “Flitter is at Cloudsdale, sorting clouds at the weather factory so I had to take care of her sister until she comes back” she sighed.

“Why don't you ask for help from others so they could give you their assistance?” Thunderlane gave her a worried look.

“Many ponies are sick today,” she told him.

“Is that so? Well, good luck taking care of her”

“Thanks” she then took note of Blue, who was still talking to Twilight with discomfort “So, that's Blue Wings, the new pony in town. Looks like she's already buried under the princess Twilight's tsunami of words”

“Poor girl” at this point, Blue fell on her rump as Twilight move closer to her, nervousness evident in her eyes. Blossom turned to Thunderlane “So, are you going to help her?”

“She doesn't need my help” he replied, “besides, there goes her savior” he watched as an alabaster unicorn approach the two mares. It was Rarity, and she was looking at Blue with sympathy before putting a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. Thunderlane spoke to Blossom “So, what do you want to do?”

Blossom thought of that for a moment “I think I want to play the pin the tail on the pony” she turned to look at a small crowd of ponies watching a stallion trying to pin a tail to a paper pony on the wall “Do you want to join me?”

“Sure!” he followed Blossom to the game. The stallion who was currently playing was disappointed to see he put the tail on the mouth of the paper pony, much to the other's amusement.

“Okay, who's neeeeeeext?” said Pinkie, who appeared beside a dark blue unicorn mare, surprising the latter.

“Me!” Blossom said, raising one hoof.

“Oh, goodie! Now, close your eyes and let me put the blindfold” Blossom nodded and closed her eyes. Thunderlane watches as Pinkie put a white blindfold on Blossomforth's head, covering her eyes. Pinkie opened the latter's mouth using her pink hoof and put the paper tail before closing her mouth “Now pin the tail on the pony!” Pinkie bubbly told her.

“Alright, I can do this” Blossom whispered to herself as she began to walk slowly to what she assumed to where the paper pony is. She heard Pinkie, whispering to someone but she ignored it.

“Blossom, you are going to a wrong place!” she recognizes that voice. It was Thunderlane, he was going to help her. Strange, Pinkie didn't seem to stop him “turn left- wait! Turn right!” Blossom smiled. She was being helped by Thunderlane to win the game. This is going to be easy as pie.

“turn left!”

“turn right!

“turn left!

“turn right! There, go straight. You're about to pin the tail on the pony!” Thunderlane declared. She felt the paper ponytail on her mouth press against the paper. She did it! She's going to win!

Then, she pinned the tail on the pony.

“Uwah!?”

huh? Did the paper pony just talk she swore she heard that voice right?in front.of.her. She could hear giggles and whispers around them. Curious about what was going on, she removed her blindfold.

Only to meet the eyes of an angry Lilac Links.

Blossom gulped. She took a step back from the angry earth pony mare. Laughter erupted behind her. She turns around to see ponies laughing at her, including Thunderlane. Blossomforth's face contorted into a frown.

“Thunderlane, you troll” she growled.

“You are so gullible, Blossomforth,” Thunderlane said “Do you think I was leading you to the paper pony?” he stopped laughing as he saw the mare going into a fighting stance. Thunderlane turnaround, immediately spread his wings to get away from the angry mare.

“COME BACK HERE, YOU TROLL!!” shouted Blossomforth as she chased Thunderlane.

“Oh, look. We have a cat and a mouse!” Pinkie said, “Come here everypony and watch the chase!”

...

“...and that's how our adventure started!” Twilight ended her explanation while Blue stared at her in awe and wonder.

“Woooow... that is a great start, Princess” she commented “Not only you become friends with five ponies but you get to defeat a big bad villain and own the elements of harmony” at first, she thought the princess is weird, and a little too much of a bookworm and 'historian investigator' but she was actually happy to talk with her when it comes to the princess' personal life.

“Oh, it's nothing,” Twilight said.

“So, where are Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash?” Blue asked, not mentioning Pinkie since she knew the latter is the local party pony. She actually met Rainbow Dash at the Wonderbolts Academy and also heard that the latter went to check her parents, but she's curious where the latter went after that. She

“Oh, Applejack and Rarity are here. But Fluttershy is still at her cottage. I don't know where Rainbow Dash went” Twilight then realized something “Oh, I should have introduced you to my friends. Come on, I'll lead you to them!” Blue nodded her head. Just as Twilight is about to led the newcomer to one of her best friends, she heard a shout.

“Did you heard that, Princess?” Blue said. Her answer came in a form of a colt approaching her through the crowd of ponies “Oh, hi there young colt”

To her dismay, the colt ran pass her to approach Twilight “Princess Twilight. It's my brother!”

“Thunderlane? What kind of trouble has he found himself into?” Twilight asked.

“I don't know, but Blossomforth is so angry with him” as if a cue, two pegasi dashed above them. Twilights respond to this by putting a hoof to her face.

“They should stop right now before they could hurt somepony”

“Or outright destroy the party” Blue added.

It was easy for Twilight to calm down Blossomforth not because of Luck, but because of her very presence. No one was injured by her and Thunderlane's chase, except for Windy, whose face is now covered in the muck of what used to be a blueberry cheesecake. Rarity decided to clean the mare's face.

Meanwhile, Twilight introduced Blue to more of her friends after talking to Thunderlane about the incident. She told the new Wonderbolt about Starlight Glimmer and some of her friends.

“So, Starlight was the principal and the School of Friendship, which happens to be built beside your castle?” Twilight nodded “and you're the founder, right?”

“Yep,” Twilight replied.

“YOU'RE SO AWESOME, PRINCESS!!!” Blue unconsciously said out loud. Upon realization, she made herself small as she became the center of attention “Oops”

“Don't mind us everypony” Twilight told the crowd. On the other hoof, Rarity has finally taken every piece of cake mush from Windy's face.

“How do you feel, darling?”

“I'm alright Rarity” smiles Windy “Thanks for taking the mess off my face”

“My pleasure, Windy. I didn't want some icky stuff on your face, besides, who wants their face to be covered in cake?” behind Rarity, Pinkie put her head inside a cake, making Windy laugh “What's so funny?”

“Oh, it's just Pinkie, trying to tell you that some ponies literally want to put their heads inside cakes” Rarity turned to look behind, only to see no Pinkie. Windy knew why the pink mare disappeared and she won't tell how the latter vanished into thin air. Rarity just shrugged, thinking Pinkie is just being Pinkie before looking back at Windy “How was the dress I gave you yesterday?”

“Its great, Rarity” the alabaster unicorn's eye sparkled in excitement of hearing such praise “I should probably use on the next Galloping Gala”

“That's great, darling. How about I give you a tril hat?” Rarity offered but Windy frowned.

“Uh, no thank you. Hats aren't really my thing” she then noticed Rumble, who was at the food table, speaking to Twist. She looked around “Where's Sweetie Belle?”

“She's at Sweet Apple Acres with Applebloom and Scootaloo. Let's say they're having a tea party with a new friend”

“I swear even before she becomes a teacher, she would already have a lot of friends” Windy mused.

...

“I would have bucked you to next week if you tried that on me,” Applejack said. After the incident, she decided to have a little chat with Thunderlane and Rumble.

“Oh, thank you for reminding me, Applejack,” he said, “So, how's the farm?”

“Everythin's doin' great!” Applejack declared “With the help of your friend, Windy, the farm is moving smoothly, though I and Big Mac have to expand the part of the orchard since we are running out of space for the new apple trees. While the Apple Family do like apples, we don't want a forest of apples otherwise, we probably won't ever see Princess Celestia's sun, and the cows don't appreciate that”

“I see,” he said, “So, what do you think of Blue Wings?” Applejack turned to look at Blue, who was still talking to Twilight.

“Well, she kinda looks like a young mare, younger than Fluttershy based on her looks,” she said “But honestly, she's as shy like my friend despite her looks, but she can easily talk to other ponies once she found somethin' good in them” Thunderlane how Applejack's honesty strike a heart of a pony like an arrow when she compared Fluttershy to Blue. He was glad she toned down her description.

“That mare had been a Wonderbolt trainee for five months. Guess what? She became a Wonderbolt. Most of the ponies who become a Wonderbolt took several years of training to become on” he said with a smile. Applejack didn't seem impressed.

“I bet she could beat Rainbow in the running of the leaves” she chuckled.

“Is that so? Then, why was she crying at the academy?” Thunderlane and Applejack who was the owner of a feminine yet brash voice with a hint of cockiness they heard behind them. They turned to see a smirking Rainbow Dash.

“You finally went back to Ponyville. Where have you been this entire time?” Applejack asked.

“I came to visit my parents at Cloudsdale after the closure of the Academy” Rainbow said “I'm a little worried about an outbreak. I couldn't just leave Cloudsdale without knowing what happened to my parents” Thunderlane and Applejack frowned. Even Rainbow Dash was getting a little paranoid?

“So, are they okay?” Thunderlane asked.

“Yep, mom and dad are fine!” Rainbow Dash replied “But I think it doesn't settle the same for Spitfire”

“What happened to Spitfire, Rainbow Dash?” Thunderlane was worried. Even though he doesn't like their captain that much, she was the reason why the Wonderbolts keep going.

“She and her mother were attacked” Rainbow become solemn “They are sent to a hospital in Canterlot. Grr, whoever done that to them, they will receive a thousand bucks from me!”

Thunderlane smiled. Before he could say anything, a bubbly voice interrupted him “Dashie, you're here!” a pink blur pass the grey pegasus. Rainbow Dash suddenly finds herself within Pinkie's hug.

“Where have you been, Rainbow?” Thunderlane noticed Twilight, Blue, Rarity, and Windy are now approaching them, most likely to talk to Rainbow Dash.

“Where have you been, Rainbow Dash? Rarity asked.

“I went to my parents to check on them to see if they're okay,” Rainbow told her. She took notice of Blue, who walk beside Twilight “So, you and egghead get together so easily. Twilight did you gave her questions to submission?” she teased them and let out a chuckle.

Twilight rolled her eyes “Very funny, Rainbow” Rainbow winked at her before turning to Blue.

“So, what do you think of Ponyville?” she asked.

Blue smiled shyly “Everypony here is... nice” she replied “A little weird but... nice nonetheless” everyone smiled at her, glad to know she likes the town.

“That reminds of Twilight when she first arrives here” Applejack mused, looking at the lavender alicorn.

“Have you guys seen Fluttershy?” Rainbow spoke up “I haven't seen her at the party tonight”

“She stayed at her cottage to tend the animals, darling. She told me when i and Applejack went to give her the invitation letter” Rarity told her “Besides, we have been looking all of Ponyville to find you. At least there's a good reason why”

It took a few hours before the party came to an end. Ponies began to leave one by one with a smile on their faces. Soon, only the Mane Six, Thunderlane, Blue Wings, Windy Breeze, And Sweet Tomato are left.

“It is so dark tonight,” Windy said, taking note of the town “This reminds me of the time when we pranked Rainbow Dash”

“Maybe everypony went to sleep early” Rarity yawned “I also need a peaceful sleep. I'm so tired”

“Me...too...” Spike said before he slumps on Twilight's back, the latter standing beside Blue. Thunderlane heard them talking about the stars which are a total nonsense to him. Blue noticed the baby dragon now asleep.

“Um, looks like your assistant slept,” she said.

“Yeah. It looks like its time to say goodbye. I'm looking forward to knowing you better, Blue Wings”

“I'm looking forward to knowing you better as well, princess” Blue bowed, ignoring the fact Twilight doesn't want to be treated like a princess “See you tomorrow, your highness”

“Just call me Twilight,” she told her. In the purple flash of light, the princess and her assistant are gone, having used her remaining energy to cast a teleportation spell.

“See ya tomorrow, everypony! ”
Pinkie said in a cheerful tone, waving her hoof at them before closing the door of the Sugarcube Corner.

“Goodnight, Pinkie” everyone except Blue and Sweet said in unison. Thunderlane heard Sweet yawn.

“Looks like I have to take her to her house,” Windy told him.

“Sure, Windy” hearing this, the Wonderbolt approached the earth pony filly.

“Climb into my back, Sweet” Windy lowered herself, allowing sweet to climb up to her back. Windy smirked. She spread her wings, producing one flap sound

“Yes, Ms. Cherilee” Sweet mumbled in her sleep, receiving a chuckle from the Wonderbolt.

Windy turned to her friends and said “Goodnight. See you, tomorrow guys”

“See you tomorrow, Windy” Windy flew and disappeared into the shadows. Thunderlane turns to Blue Wings and. Rumble “We should go now,” he told them.

Windy landed on the ground. It took her a few minutes before exhaustion took toll of her but luckily, she landed just four blocks away from Sweet's house. She could hear Sweet's snoring. Letting out a quiet snicker, she walked forward towards her destination, unaware of the eyes watching her and the filly from the shadows.

“We're here, home sweetie home” Thunderlane opened the door for Blue Wings and Rumble“Foals and mares first”

“So this is your house?” Blue said, examining the interior of the living room “It's... lovely”

“Thank you for the comment, Blue, but this is just a normal cottage,” he told her “So where are you going to sleep? We only have two bedrooms” Blue pondered, thinking where she should sleep.

“Maybe I should sleep with... R-Rumble”

“Huh?” Rumble stared at her, Blue blushed.

“It's not like we're in r-relationships or anything, just-”

“I understand, Blue” Thunderlane smiled “Since you're the babysitter, then that means you have to be near my brother”

“Brother, Blue, I'm going to bed now, okay?” Rumble said, going to his bedroom which is on the second floor of the house.

“Okay, but this time, Blue is going to be the storyteller this time while I'm going to get some cookies, okay?”

“Sure, brother”

Thunderlane went downstairs and open one of the shelves which contains a box of milk. He poured it on a glass before going to the fridge to get a plate with 7 cookies on top of it. He put the glass of milk and the cookies on a tray and went back upstairs. When he got inside, Blue was busy reading a storybook for Rumble. He put the tray on the bed beside Rumble, who smiled “Here is your cookies, Rumble”

“Thanks, brother” Rumble thanked. Blue gave them a smile and continued reading the story like a mother would do to their foals. Thunderlane silently watched them from the open doorway, until he heard some voices outside. He went downstairs and slightly pushed aside the curtains from a window to see two mares, one unicorn, and one earth pony. They were arguing.

“what about the others? What about Berry-” he heard the earth pony say before she found herself encased in the white magic aura of her unicorn companion.

“Just forget about everypony. Lets go to Canterlot before everypony realizes what's going on!” the unicorn ran away, dragging her friend behind her until they are out of sight. Thunderlane let out a sigh. They're probably going to Canterlot without letting anyone see them. He went back to his little brother's bedroom to his the latter sleeping, while Blue takes her Wonderbolt uniform off and putting it inside the cabinet, exposing her yellow coat. She looks back at Thunderlane with a smile “He fell asleep a few minutes after you went out of the room”

“Good. you should take some sleep too” he told her.

“You know,” Blue glance at Rumble before returning her gaze at him “Rumble is kinda cute when he sleeps”

Thunderlane smiled “Goodnight, Blue”

Blue let out a yawn before saying “Goodnight, Thunderlane” Thunderlane closed the door and went to his room. There, lay on his bed, his mind slowly shutting down to rest.

“Tomorrow is going to be a brand new day” he uttered before falling into a deep sleep.