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

Chapter 1: Storm of the Century - part 2

Horror.

A word normally associated with violence, blood, and gore; blade wielding lunatics hacking and slashing at their victims, disemboweling them with giddy glee and demented laughter. Panicked young maidens tied to sacrificial alters screaming in fear as they watched ancient monsters, fangs and maws glistening with venom and spit, ready to devour their meal, caring not for the feeble minded creatures that spat out strange chants and calls that were echoed in tune with drumbeats and shaking reeds.

To him, however, this was far from the tragedy he’d encountered.

Much, much worse.

A fallen tree pining his armored legs.

An outstretched hand, feebly, desperately trying to save.

The begging, pleading outcry that fell upon deaf audio receptors.

The chaotic laugh that permeated him to the core.

And the fire. The dreaded, all consuming fire.

Horror may have been just a word, but to him, there was no definition that describe the unimaginable display he’d been forced to watch.

*

Knightstride woke from his brief stasis, screaming; wailing. It was a dream; a nightmare. That nightmare. No matter how hard tried to shore it up, block it within the deepest parts of his cerebral cortex coding, it always surfaced. He hated it, loathed it with a passion, yet it always returned, bringing the visions and sounds within.

“What I wouldn’t give to just ‘data purge’ that...

Knightstride stopped mid sentence, still screaming and wailing...wait.

It wasn’t him, but the onboard tech trying to get his attention. Subconsciously he deactivated the alarms and brought the onboard system readouts upon the side viewscreen. His subroutines were still processing the data, a small side effect of short term stasis. Inwardly he’d wished his memory banks would take an electronic nap as well, shielding him from the constant vivid onslaught of Garrana 3's-

The swirling vortex of vivid prismatic color that presented itself upon the screen brought a pause; followed by a wave of dread. He was on collision course with a deep-space magnetic storm of immense magnitude. Wheeljack’s audio recordings shot through his mind.

Watch out for magnetic storms; especially those located far beyond Cybertron’s atmosphere. The really nasty ones can render a cybernetic organism inert. If by some reason you find yourself unable to avoid the storm, shut down all but the basic of life support systems and increase energon flow to system dampers and outer shielding. No telling what you might run into out in the voids of space.

There was just a small problem to Wheeljack’s warning: He wasn’t a Cybertronian; at least not the human part of his being. A fierce battle, a cheap Decepticon null-ray shot, and a whole lot of Autobot ingenuity, all lead to his second chance at life.(Though some times he’d call this a curse)

The wavy lines of static that began appearing upon the view screen and the subsequent pull of the invisible magnetic tentacles upon his outer body armor drew his attention out of the reverie of memories. Quickly, he began to shut his systems down, one by one, until only the bare basics of his internal circuitry and mechanics were still functioning. The storms pull upon him increased by magnitudes until the storm wretched his drifting carcass within it’s pulsating, gnashing maw. Nanoseconds before activating stasis mode he uttered one simple word:

“Scrap.”

*

Rainbow paced back and forth, her damp and muddle hooves clopping and squishing against the grey tiled floor. Outside the howling winds drove the torrential rain down upon the corrugated roof, causing a dull roar within the enclosed walls. Dash hated hospitals to begin with; even more-so when she was unable to do anything further to rectify the situation. She groaned irritably and walked forward away from the window over hangs towards the Check-in desk; approaching the young stallion situated behind the counter.

“Anything yet?” she asked, knowing pretty well what the answer would be. He simply shook his head.

“Not yet Miss Dash,” he answered, flipping a few pages on his clip board. “It says Cloudkicker only arrived in the O.R. just a few minutes ago.” The aid smiled assuredly at the prismatic pegasus. “I’ll keep you posted with any updates about her condition. There have been a lot of injured ponies come into the E.R. so please be patient with us.”

Rainbow let out an exasperated huff before turning, making a bee line towards on of the many benches that lined the sterile white walls. Patience was something she fiercely lacked. She glanced over at the small side table to her left, stocked with a few magazines. Picking one up with her hooves, she idly began skimming through it. Quickly losing interest, she hastily placed it back; looking up at the clock positioned directly above the check-in desk.

“Move faster, you time hoggin’ bastard!” She swore inwardly, wanting desperately to be at Cloudkickers side; assuring her everything would be fine. At the very least, back out with the remaining weather team, taking her frustration out raging storm that had caused the whole mess in the first place. Rainbow reflectively crossed her forelegs across her chest and ‘harumphed’, a mixture of anger, regret, guilt, and uselessness. In fact, Rainbow was so caught up in her emotions that she never noticed the volume of the weather quickly increase and decrease, nor the sounds of another pony entering the hospital lobby until her name was called.

“Rainbow Dash!” Cloudbuster called, rushing forward and embracing the sky blue pegasus in relief. “ Thank Celestia you’re alright!”

“C-cloudbuster?” Rainbow question, finally coming to her senses. “Why aren’t you out there with your team?”

Cloudbuster was a pegasus mare in her early 40's and the East weather patrols lead. Rainbow had been her student under basic weather management training in Cloudsdale. The red maned mare was by the book; a fact that Rainbow was made quickly aware of. Her hijinks were not tolerated and consequently landed her in more fog clearing duty than not. When a random lightning strike rendered Cloudbuster bed ridden, and possibly never able to fly again, Rainbow was there nearly everyday; bringing a bad joke, an ‘Over the Hill’ get well card, anything just to get her teacher out of her glum mood. Over the next few weeks, a friendship was formed and, despite Cloudbuster’s reassignment to Canterbury, the two remain close, writing to each other and visiting when time allowed. There were now grey streaks in her mane and more that a few battle scars upon her tan pelt, but she was as strong and determined as Rainbow remembered from her training days.

The tan mare released her hold of Dash, rested her haunches upon the bench, and turned her green eyes to meet Rainbow’s rose tinted iris’s. Dash noticed her eyes shift uneasily, her brow and lips furrowed into a concerned gaze. Dash knew the question that was about to escape Clouds’ lips, and steadied herself for the answer she would have to give, hoping her mentor and friend wouldn’t loathe and despise her afterwards.

“Dash...” Cloud began, her voice thick with anticipation. “What happened out there?”

*

(1 Hour earlier)

Cloudkicker shifted in her chair, trying to get comfortable while the rest of her flock idly chatted amongst themselves. This was it. Her first real storm corralling. Not only that; she’d been partnered with Rainbowdash. The Rainbowdash: the coolest, bravest, and fastest pegasus in all of Equestria.

Dash had been her teacher in basics, training her on the do’s and don’ts of the practice. To say having the coolest pony in the world as your trainer was ‘awesome’ was an understatement. Thanks to the tips and tricks of the trade the prismatic maned mare had learned over the years, Cloudkicker had graduated at the top of her class. But drills and class work were one thing. Being out in the field and dealing with a squall of the magnitude facing the team now... She was terrified. “What if I mess up out there?” she asked herself. “What if I get somepony injured or...”

She felt a nudge at her shoulder. “You nervous?” A familiar, yet compassionate, voice called. She snapped her head, coming face to face with a smile and a pair of rose tinted iris’. She didn’t speak, only nodding in response. It was a few, tense seconds before the young flier could muster her on voice. “A-are you?”

Dash shifted her eyes nervously, checking for any nosy pony that might be listening in, and leaned in close. “A little...” She quickly brought a hoof to her muzzle, clearing her throat before continuing. “Besides, I’m partnered with the highest scoring filly in her class. Piece ‘a cake.”

“B-but what about Ponyville? Don’t your friends need-“

”I’ve already informed Mayor Mare about the situation; flood preparations and the evacuation of everypony is already well under way.” Rainbow puffed out her chest proudly. “My friends can handle anything. I’m needed here.”

C.K. just nodded silently, avoiding Rainbow’s gaze. A playful, yet firm, prodding in her left side brought her head up, receiving a supportive smile from her ex-teacher.

“I know you’re scared and ‘ve never had any field experience, but believe me when I say these words: You. Can. Do. This. The is no doubt in my mind.”

Hearing this from the best flyer in Equestria made here fears subside and her bold and fearless attitude return in force. She nodded again, firmly this time, making Rainbow fully aware she’d give it her all.

The distant rumble of thunder, followed quickly by the flight director’s voice on the loud speaker commanding a prompt convergence to the flight station brought everypony to full attention.

“Look’s like they’re playing our song.” Rainbow commented. “Ready to kick some sorry storm’s flank?”

“Yeah,” Cloudkicker acknowledged boldly. “Let’s”

Together, the two pegusi quickly followed the rest of the storm team out of the cramped prep room. No turning back now.

(30 minutes earlier)

“Hang in there Cloudkicker!” Dash yelled over the storms’ roaring winds. “We’ll finish this bunch of flare-ups then head back!”

This storm was hell; Dash had never seen - never felt - anything this powerful before today and was pretty sure no pony in recent memory had either. The wind drove the frigid rain into her wings and coat with such force that she could feel the bruises forming upon her torso, despite the numbing effects of the storm. The humidity was horrid as well; immense pressure within her air passages almost forcing her to break formation. One forth of the team had to retreat, barring hypothermia or just plain crashing from exhaustion. The worst of it was the damned Everfree forests’ influece compounding the situation further. Every time she - or any other pair - would manage to dissipate any of the rain producing formations, the main cell above would suck in fresh moisture, reforming them as if they were never gone. If the team could get past the rain block, through the windscreen, and avoid the lightning layer, they might, might, have a chance of slowing, even destroying it before any more damage could be wrought upon Equestria. This was a big if, however, but on Rainbow was willing to take upon herself - Alone.

“Rainbow!” Cloudkicker called out, a mere whisper in the raging storm. “I can see a break in the clouds! I see the storm cell!”

Wiping the condensation from her goggles, she peered up into the ever darkening sky. Sure enough, an opening had presented itself, only it was too small, to risky, for Rainbow to even attempt at it.

“No can do!” Dash responded. “It’s too small to even...”
An grey and mint color streak whipped upwards, causing Dash’s eyes to go wide with fear.

“WHAT THE HAY ARE YOU DOING!” Rainbow wailed in fear, immediately engaging pursuit. “GET BACK HERE BEFORE YOU GET-“

The words never formed to leave her mouth. Her world slowed to a crawl and all she could do was watch in horror as a rogue bolt of lightning stuck outward from the opening. A binding flash caused Rainbow to pull her hooves to her eyes, wincing at the pain it brought. When her vision cleared, she saw Cloudkicker falling, that same grey and mint filly that had, just moments before, rush foolishly into danger, was now falling from the heavens, trailing wispy smoke from her wings; the horrid scent of burnt feathers and fur assaulting Dash’s olfactory nerves.

“CLOUDKICKER!” Dash screamed, shaking herself from what she’d just witnessed.

Dash hurled herself downward into the grey abyss, her personal safely the last thing on her mind. Brief seconds into her dive, her nose pick up the burning scent again, to which she forced herself not to vomit. A few more seconds, she saw her target; her body rapidly approaching the rain soaked rocks below. Despite her exhaustion, Dash hurled herself downward, rapidly increasing her speed. The Wonderbolts. Being the Element of Loyalty. Her friends and their adventures together. At this point none of it mattered. Only the injured falling pegasus did. Instinctively, she extended her fore legs, reaching outward.

“Almost there,” Rainbow spoke, straining through clenched teeth. “Just a little bit further...”

Just as the stones below were ready to claim their prize, Dash made contact with the falling mare, pulling her body towards her chest and angled her wings, forcing her and her passenger upwards away from danger.

Dodging the rain-slickened over hangs and crags, Dash finally found a clearing in which to land, setting down hastily. Depositing her package carefully on the grass, Dash rolled Cloudkicker upon her back and placed her head upon her friend’s chest, listening for a heartbeat. Nothing. No signs of life.

“NO!” Dash screamed, the tear of fear and terror finally releasing themselves from her eyes. “I Wont let you die!”