My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Friendship from afar.

(Disclaimer:) All characters belong to HASBRO and Lauren Faust. I claim no ownership what-so-ever.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Friendship from afar

Chapter 1: Storm of the Century - part 1

Space: An inky black expanse peppered with the various colors of stars, either in the state of decomposition or birth, and the fragile, wispy fingers of galaxies that stretched far beyond what science could comprehend. These were nothing new to him; however, as he’d seen it all before, just with a different galactic quadrant. Different galaxies with different suns that warmed an untold number of planets, each with their own life and habitat.

“How long has it been?,” he mused to himself. “A few days? Weeks?”

Truth be told, he didn’t really know. Ever since. . . the ‘incident’ on Garrana 3, he’d been traveling, as it were, just to be anywhere but that forsaken rock.

“More like running away. . .” He shot at himself coldly. “Why must I always. . .” He shook the conversation from his data banks, refusing to continue the argument with himself. He knew the answer and had always know the answer, long before he became what he was now; subconsciously, even farther back the his earliest memories. He wasn’t the only one of his friends who’d had this happen. It just seemed he always took it the hardest. Even now, despite his best efforts, he could hear the explosions. . .hear the screams. No matter how hard he tried to purge the memory, it lingered on, a cold reminder of how twisted and cruel life could be. The most unbearable part, an icy shard of steel that penetrated into his very spark, was he’d survived. They didn’t. Growling inwardly, he drew his attention to the onboard radio and began adjusting the dials. Nothing but static. He growled again.

“Figures,” he mumbled in a synthesized tone. “Can’t even pick up a bottom 40 station out here.”

The dial quickly rotated left, giving a gentle ‘click’ as it was switched off. It was going to be a long journey.

*

Celestia’s sun peaked playfully amongst the leaves of the apple orchard know as ‘Sweet Apple Acres’, the early morning dew slowly dripping from the ready to harvest fruit. A sudden, dull thud violently shook the tree, sending apples tumbling down into a strategically placed wooden bucket; a small chilly spray of water landing on an orange mares face. Her body let out a small shiver, displacing the moisture from her muzzle.

“Tarnation!” Applejack spouted, a slight smile on her lips. “Ah swear that never gets old.”

Though it was barely six in the morning and most of Ponnyville, not to mention Equestria, was still in the latter stages of slumber, Applejack had been hard at work for a good hour solid. Being lazy was not something she was accustomed to, a fact the her friends played upon, usually at her expense. They meant no harm, of course, but always prodding that AJ should take a vacation now and again.

‘Nah how in the hay ‘m I ta’ take a vacation?” She muddled to her self. “Ah can’t afford ta’ leave all this to Big Mac.” AJ bucked the apple tree again, knocking the remaining fruit into the awaiting buckets. “Sides’, Ah never was much fer travlin’ an’ th’ like.” She shook the conversation from the depths of her psyche; loading the now full buckets upon the wagon. As she began to attach the yolk to her harness, she heard a voice call, traveling amongst the cool morning breeze.

“APPLEJACK!”

Applejack glanced over her shoulder upon hearing her name. She saw no pony.

“Up here silly,” the voice called again.

Glancing up, she saw the rainbow-maned, sky blue Pegasus, hovering a few feet above the orange-hued mare, her forelegs crossed.

Now this was a surprise. Not seeing Rainbow Dash, mind you, but at this time of morning? It was...well...weird.

“Uh, Pegasi to Earthpony...”, Rainbow called, waving her hoof in Applejack’s direction.

“Huh? Oh, sorry sugarcube,” AJ began, rubbing her forehoof along the back of her mane. “Just lost in thought for a sec. What brings ya’ out this time ah mornin’?” Applejack suddenly put her hoof to her lips, stifling a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Dash spat. She was not accustomed to being the butt of anypony’s joke, especially her friends.

“It’s nothin’,” Applejack began, forcing the laugh into submission. “Just never used ta’ seein’ ya’ up before the crack o’ noon is all.”

Dash just huffed, pouting her lips in disgust. She hated it when ponies called her lazy; double when it was her friends. So what if she slept in till lunch time? She was part -no - leader of the Northern Weather Patrol and ,as such, required lots and lots of planning to ensure her section of Equestria received its proper portion of rain without causing massive turmoil by interfering with the other quadrants set precipitation limits. Huffing again, the Pegasus spun 180 degrees. “You know what? Forget it A. J. I’ll help Fluttershy myself.”

As Dash spread her wings for a powerful flap, she felt something coarse snag her by the back legs. “What the hay?” She exclaimed, flapping her wings harder, trying to break free. As she struggled she momentarily furled her wings, causing her to plummet to the ground with a soft ‘thud’. Dash immediately rubbed at her flank, wincing a little as a sharp pain shot through it. “What’s the big deal, A. J.?” Rainbow seethed, flaring her nostrils in anger. It was bad enough Applejack laughed at her, but now she was trying to injure her as well? Not cool. So not cool.

“Ah’m sorry Dash,” Applejack replied as she let her rope fall from her mouth. “But ya’ really shouldn’t take my funnin’ the wrong way.” With a quick snap of her neck, the rope around Dash’s legs uncoiled and fell limp.

“Sorry A.J.,” Dash began, freeing herself from her previous confines, “but I’m here on important business and I really don’t have time for horseplay.”

Applejack looked at her fellow Element of Harmony, her features going from playful to downright concerned. This was no where near the fun loving- albeit some times stubborn and hard-headed - Dash that she’d know forever. ‘Up before sunrise and in a serious tone?’ She mused in her mind. ‘Yup. Definitely somethin’ off here.’ Stuffing the thought train back into the recesses of her mind, she eased forward and help her friend to her hoofs.

“Relax Dash,” the farm pony spoke warmly, placing her hoof on the Pegasus’ shoulder. “Nah what’s all this about helping Flutters?”

Rainbow sighed heavily, not really wanting to give a detailed reason for the emergency, but knowing that a brief description would leave her friend more confused than Twilight and a cluttered library. “Here’s the whole situation, A.J. : The Eastern weather patrol is overwhelmed with a massive storm that blew in from the Celestial Sea. Our quadrant has been dispatched to help dissipate the clouds before they became too serious. Unfortunately, the Ever Free forest is complicating things, causing the storm to flare up faster than we can stop it.”

Dash pointed out to her left, nodding her head; motioning A.J. to follow her gaze to the horizon. Applejack looked to the sky, seeing nothing at first. She narrowed her eyes and squinted, suddenly noticing a small puff of clouds with multiple grey specks slashing around it like a disturbed hornets nest. Even though the storm was miles away, she could feel the static beginning to lash out at her body. A.J. immediately swung her gaze back to Rainbow’s, matching her look of concern.

“So far our combined efforts have managed to keep the storm at bay, but. . .”

“I’m sorry sugarcube,” Applejack began, “but what’s all this ta’ do with Fluttershy?”

“This whole area is gonna be drenched in Celestia-only-knows how much rain. All the high areas in and around Ponyville should be okay, but the low lying places could be under 10 or more feet of flash flood. Shy’s house is. . .not designed to withstand such punishment. I need you to help sand-bagging while she evacuates her animal friends to safety. Twilight and the others are helping evacuate and secure the hot zones in and around Ponyville. As soon as the last of the citizens are loaded on the trains, they’ll be out to help you.”

“Are ya sure you’ll be alright, sugarcube? Sounds a ‘might dangerous.”

“Are you kidding?” Rainbow asked, bucking out her chest. “I’m the ‘Iron Pony’”.

Applejack just rolled her eyes playfully. “Just make sure ya come back in one piece, ya here?”

Rainbow nodded triumphantly, unfurled her wings, and launched herself to the sky, rustling the leaves as she rocketed into the distance. AJ watched until her friend became one of the specs in the distance before snapping to her senses, realizing her other Pegasus friend needed her as well. As she turned towards Sweet Apple Acres’ main entrance, she caught a glimpse of her brother walking out of the farm house.

“Big Mac!” She shouted, galloping towards him at full speed. “I need ta talk to ya’!”

“Hey there, sis.” Mac responded, watching as his younger sibling came running up to his side. “You’re up n’ about ah might early this mornin’ Couldn’t sleep cause of the weather?”

“How in tarnation did ya know about th’ weather Big Mac?”

“Granny Smith’s trick knee was a’ twitchin’ like no tomorrow. Ya’ always know what that means.”

“Yeah...” Applejack muttered absent mindedly. She shifted her position from her brothers side to directly in front of him and looked him directly in the eyes, her brow furrowed and her tone then shot to a more serious and up front demeanor. “Listen Mac, I want you get Granny and Applebloom; then head to the train depot and wait for me there.”

“Is somethin’ wrong sis? Ya seem ah little worked up.”

“There’s no time,” Applejack responded hastily. “Jus’ git tha’ two of ‘em tagether and go. I’ll be there as soon as ah can.”

With that, the orange mare turned and galloped off, leaving her brother in a bewildered state of being. As his sister disappeared from his view, he couldn’t help but wonder to himself: ‘What has my sis gotten herself into this time?’

*

Twilight stood in the center of Ponyville, head high, ready for the task at hand. Ever since Rainbow had contacted her earlier that morning, she’d only had a brief amount of time to which formulate a plan of action. In the roughly 30 minutes in which it took her to hastily scribble down the slight semblance of an idea, the entire town had been heightened to a frothing pot of panic and confusion. She inhaled deeply, closed her eyes, and let out a exasperated sigh.

“Rainbow never was able to put things mildly,” Twilight commented absently, placing a forehoof to her head. “Something’s never change.”
A slight snore caused her to snap back to the task at hand. Causally, the lavender unicorn glanced back over her should at the purple and green ball of scales, a small smile on the edge of her lips. She wiggled her back slightly, causing Spike to jolt from his nap.

“Gah!” Spike exclaimed, flailing his arms wildly, briefly unaware of his surroundings. Subconsciously, he reached out and grabbed Twilight’s mane to regain his balance, eliciting a painful yelp from her muzzle. He leapt down quickly to the cobblestone street of as Twilight shot him an aggravated scowl. “Sorry.” Spike replied, avoiding her gaze directly. As quickly as the scowl appeared, it vanished; Twilight sighing and returning her gaze to the chaos the encases their surroundings. Amongst the panicked clopping of hooves and wails of the young foals, she noticed the predicament that faced Ponyville; perhaps even greater than the storm.

Windows had been hastily boarded up using anything that had been within hoof’s reach; some had been abandoned all together. Varying size piles of sand and stone to be used for the sand bagging had been dumped hap-hazardly in town square, further hampering evacuation efforts. Even Ponyville’s mayor; normally calm and composed, now looked frazzled beyond repair.

“Aren’t Rarity and Pinkie Pie supposed to be here?” Spike asked, bringing Twilight back from her gaze.

“Well, I’m not sure if Rainbow-“

”Hi everypony!” Shouted a certain pink maned, hyperactive, party pony. “Why is everypony in town square? Is there a new pony in town? Ooh! Ooh! I know! Bring ‘em to Sugar Cube Corner and I’ll-“

“Pinkie!” Twilight snapped, trying to slow her heartbeat from Pinkie’s visceral surprise attack. “Did Rainbow Dash even talk with you? And where is Rarity?” Twilight didn’t even bother asking how her pink friend managed to appear from thin air, as it probably involved some random story that she neither wanted to hear, nor had time for.

“Oh silly,” Pinkie began, waving her fore-hoof playfully in Twilight’s direction. “Rarity’s right behind you.”

“Oh, Dahling. Of course Dash spoke to us earlier.” Rarity spoke, helping Twilight to her hooves. “Why if it wasn’t our friendship, not to mention our homes, I’d never be caught out in such a disaster.” The alabaster unicorn reached up with her hoof, adjusting one of the coiffeurs in her mane. “I mean, just look at my mane! All these panicked ponies running around has caused it such a mess!”

“Don’t worry Rarity,” Spike uttered as he approached her. “You’ll look like a million bits to me no matter what.”

“Oooooh!” Rarity cooed as she nuzzled against Spike’s cheek. “That’s my Spikey-wikey. Always such a gentle-dragon.”

Spike just blushed in response, kicking at the ground in response. Twilight just rolled her eyes in response while Pinkie hopped up and down in place; varieties of squeaks and squeals escaping her lips. Twilight cleared her throat, bringing the two mares and her number 1 assistant to full attention.

“As we all know, we have a major situation with our weather and Rainbow dash is out trying to rectify it with the both local and Eastern Weather patrol. In the event of that the combined efforts of both teams is unsuccessful, we are to help with flood preparations as well as evacuations.”

“How exactly are we gonna do that Twilight?” asked Spike, pointing to the frantic town square. “It’s not like anypony is listening, let alone paying attention to us.”

“Hmm...” Twilight mused, rubbing her forehoof against her chin. Suddenly a vision of brilliance ignited within her eyes. “Pinkie?” Twilight began, smiling broadly. “Get your ‘Party Cannon’ ready.”