Bigger, Meaner, Faster.
From either the birth of this planet we walk on now, to present day. Mother Nature can be pretty calm when it comes to weather conditions such as a sunny day without a single cloud in sight where the birds are singing happily. Everyone having a great time outside as the sun beams down on them. It’s a day that could never, ever get ruined.
However, there are also times where Mother Nature can also through a curve ball at all of us. Let’s say perhaps maybe a rainstorm where everyone stays inside. Nobody likes that, right? It’s one of those days that many people can prefer after a hard day at work. Staying at home, relaxing and watching some daytime television, but can be depressing to those who wish to be outside. Unless if they’re not afraid to “melt” in said rain.
But it’s not just rain that she can throw at us. There are much worse conditions then just rain. As long as history has been written, humankind has encountered numerous disasters that can date back centuries. However, more detailed information can be found from maybe as far back as two hundred years.
From wildfires, to thunderstorms, to deadly hurricanes striking the cost. Mother Nature has continued to throw such things to mankind for hundreds, if not thousands of years. And she will still continue to do so as long as mankind stands on its feet.
However, there is one certain storm that may be feared the most. Or maybe an equal amount as hurricanes. It may not be as deadly as hurricanes, but this has a wind speed that can reach way out of the hurricane’s limit if it gets fueled enough by warmer climate.
A storm so powerful, yet extremely unpredictable. But instead of happening in the ocean most of the time. This can happen in the further Great Plains. Where the land is almost perfectly flat, and the conditions are just right.
This storm, or should we say wind, is enough to toss your car hundreds of feet into the air. Its width can be from one to two hundred feet across if it’s a weak one to where it can last in minutes. To a mile wide if it becomes powerful enough to where it can last for an hour.
This storm can strike without warning and as soon as it strikes. You can only have so much time to get to your safest place in your house.
This violent storm, and violent wind is well known as…
Tornado.
~*~
June 8th. 9:00 PM.
It has been a long few days. Equestria has never, ever seen any type of weather like this in a long time. The biggest tornado outrbreak everyone has ever seen in their lives. The more tornadoes head east, the bigger and stronger they are. So far, the highest rating has been an EF-4, and nothing else. That was south of Canterlot. Except somewhere in that town was just hit by an EF-3 days earlier.
Looks like whichever town was below them got hammered bad by the four, and it just seems things are only getting worse as the storm flees east back out to sea. Luckily, a big chunk of it is left until it heads out, and this will all be over. For a good while, hopefully.
Trixie Lulamoon, the great and powerful magician is just sitting in her bedroom laying on her bed just on her phone. So far it’s a calm, peaceful night. However, storm clouds are just about rolling in, and Trixie is seeing it as an ordinary storm.
That’s all you can do, right? You see storm clouds, you see it as an ordinary storm? You can never, ever tell what’s really hiding in those clouds. Trixie is just laying in her bed with her lamp on, watching some television. As well as texting her friends.
Lyra and Bon Bon seem to be free. Hey, why not message one of them?
“Let’s see…” Trixie mumbles as she goes to Bon Bon, and begins to send her a text. “Hey girl, wut u up 2?”
Trixie waits patiently as she sets her phone down, sits up on the bed and resumes to watch TV. One of her all time favorite shows is on which is about some magician performing his magic trick on stage.
Trixie’s phone goes off as she gets a message back from Bon Bon. “Hey girl. Lyra and I just headed to the movie theater to see a movie.” She messaged back.
“Nice. What movie you guys seeing?” Trixie texts back.
“Shark infest. It’s something to get our minds off of what happened at Lyra’s the other night. You doing ok?” Bon Bon texts.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Yeah, I’m doing ok. I’m about to get a storm though. I hear thunder. Lol.”
“Yeah, we have a storm down here too at the movies. Be careful Trixie. ;)”
“U 2 girl! U and Lyra stay safe!” Trixie reply’s before setting her phone down and just continue to enjoy her TV. She lays back with her hands behind her head as it rests on the pillows. Ah, nothing can’t ever beat a nice magician TV show at this time of night.
Plus, school’s finally out for the summer. So she can’t complain. Although with what’s going on in times like these. One could only wonder if Canterlot High has even been touched by those horrible tornadoes.
Trixie looks outside her window as she sees lightning flashing in the sky followed by a roar of thunder. She stands up, walks straight to her window, and just looks outside and rests her arms on the open window sill.
She can just see the clouds moving in as rumbles of thunder can be heard. Followed by a streak of lighting across the sky along with yet another clap of thunder.
Trixie decides to close her window and take a deep breath. “I really hope everyone’s ok with what’s been going on.” She says to herself.
She grabs her phone and decides to head downstairs for a refreshing meal. “Let’s see what we got.” She mumbles as she heads into the kitchen and searches in the fridge. Some leftover pizza from the other night can’t help. “Perfect.”
Trixie gets out the box, and puts two slices on a plate as well as a soda can near it. She looks through social media just before she puts her food in the microwave.
All she can see is pictures from the west side of Equestria to what looks like several more miles near her. Damage and debris piled up all over the place. Donations being accepted as well as military, and the Red Cross being involved. All from this one tornado outbreak that’s happening right now. “Gosh, this is…really heartbreaking.” She mumbles to herself as she looks out her kitchen window and sees lightning flash in the sky.
She takes a deep breath. “Please don’t let my neighborhood be next.” She whispered to herself as she closes the microwave, and press a button. Hopefully some delicious pizza will get her mind off things.
~*~
Now that feels much better. Munching on some left over pizza while drinking some soda, and now enjoying cartoons? This night couldn’t be more relaxing. Trixie sits on her bed, and just enjoys herself with the pizza, and an old cartoon favorite from her childhood. Why not, eh? It’s at least nice to enjoy some cartoons every once in a while. Especially the classic ones. This is perfect.
Trixie’s phone begins to go off on an amber alert. Ugh! Which car got stolen this time? Let alone, who’s been kidnapped? It’s absolutely annoying that this continues. It’s glad that information is out there, but would it kill to leave your phone from that in piece? “Dang amber alerts.” Trixie mumbles as she picks up her phone and takes a look.
“-sigh- Let’s see what it is…” Trixie pauses as she reads it. Oh no. This time, no one’s car got stolen. Let alone no one ever got kidnapped. Which is great, but what isn’t… “You’re joking.” Trixie mumbles in fear as the alert reads her area is under a tornado watch.
“Tornado watch in your local area until midnight. Keep a sharp lookout.” was what the amber alert reads. Trixie can only look out her window once she reads that. Not thirty seconds pass as a flash of lightning nearly blinds her followed by a very loud roar of thunder.
That is not all. Another alert pops up saying a big tornado has just struck a drive in movie theater. Could that be the one Lyra and Bon Bon went to? “Oh my gosh!” Trixie begins to feel worried, and begins to call Bon Bon on speed dial. Oh please pick up.
~*~
9:15 PM
Lyra and Bon Bon are just driving back to the house after a massive tornado just hit the drive in theater. The two best friends have no idea what to think about all this.
This system keeps getting worse and worse. Lyra and Bon Bon are listening to the radio as they keep driving.
“This storm is almost over. However, at the same time, it’s far from over. A massive EF-4 has just struck a drive in theater that’s east of Canterlot. There were no injuries as far as we’re aware. However, we’re now tracking another system much further up north. This one is getting severely stronger. It’s producing a system unlike anything we have ever seen. Looks like this one may spawn a tornado that could be stronger. An EF-5 has been spotted further up north towards Cloudsdale and is heading straight for the city. If you are above ground, you need to get underground right away. Chances of survival will be extremely low. So please! We urge you to take cover!” The weather man on the radio speaks.
“Man, this is bad.” Bon Bon mumbled as the two can only stay quite after what they’ve just gone through back there, and an even stronger tornado further up north. Is this system going to hit every town they can possibly think of?
Bon Bon’s phone starts ringing. It’s Trixie calling her. “Hello?” Bon Bon answers as she puts it on speaker.
“Oh thank god!” Trixie comes in. “Are you two ok? I just got notified a tornado struck the movie theater!”
“We’re fine, Trixie.” Lyra comes in. “We’re just…shaken up by it is all. Are you ok?”
“I’m ok, I just wanted to make sure you two are safe.” Trixie replies. “What happened?”
“Well that tornado that struck the place was huge. Oh my god was it huge.” Lyra describes. “I have never in my life seen anything as big as that.”
“They said it was half a mile wide too.” Bon Bon pops in.
“I’m glad you two are alright. I’m ok myself. I just have a minor storm above me, and it looks like it’s about to get bad. I just got notified that I’m under a tornado watch.” Trixie explains. Lyra and Bon Bon looked at each other.
“Ok, listen, Trixie. Be careful, ok? This storm is just getting worse and worse. You stay safe out there, and do your best to keep a look out. Tornadoes are striking everywhere, so do your best to hide if one happens, ok?” Lyra tells her.
“I’ll do that. You girls be careful.” Trixie tells them. They both said their goodbyes for now as they hung up.
“I really can’t believe everything that’s going on right now.” Bon Bon comes in.
“Yeah, me too. I hope we’ll all recover from all this. I think with all this climate change going on. It’s just gonna get worse.” Said Lyra.
Bon Bon just stays quiet after what Lyra has to say. She’s not wrong though. Global warming has been a thing for centuries now, and it’s something that really has been effecting Earth’s climate slowly but surely. Which can be the reason why tornadoes have now been striking almost every town so far, and the further east they go, the worse it gets.
~*~
A few minutes of silence pass as the two now drive in rain. Luckily, the rain they’re in is not bad, at all. A rain storm is way better than being in a violent tornado.
The street lights happily guide their way as Lyra has her eyes focused on the road. They continue to listen to the radio as they continue to drive home.
“Wait, hang on. I’m getting a report. It appears we have yet another system in Ponyville!” The news man says. “We have just been reported that there is yet another tornado on the ground in Ponyville. I am now on the phone with a citizen. Go ahead, you’re on line six.”
Lyra and Bon Bon stayed silent as they continue to listen.
“Hi, yes! This tornado is in Ponyville right now! This thing is massive! It just missed my family’s farm house, luckily! It looks like it’s an F5 or something! I’m not joking! This thing is an absolute monster! It looks like it’s traveling further north!” A familiar female voice says over the phone that has a southern like accent. Lyra and Bon Bon look at each other. This cannot be good. In the background it sounds like another younger female along with a male in the background. “Applejack! Get back inside! Hurry!” A younger female calls for her in the background.
“Is that Applejack?” Lyra asks. But Bon Bon remains silent after hearing that question.
“Ok, ok. Can you see where it’s headed? Do you know, or is it too dark for you to see?” The man in the radio asks.
“I can only just see it with lightning flashing around it! It just took out some of my trees! That thing was awfully close to my house! It looks like it’s just heading north! I can’t really see anything else!” The lady who they can assume is Applejack over the phone.
“Ok, so it looks like this tornado is possibly a four. Maybe even higher, and it looks like it’s literally in Ponyville.” Says the weatherman in the radio. “If you live in Ponyville right now and if you are above ground. Get to lower ground immediately! This tornado is strong enough to level your house! Possibly even level a concrete building! Caller, can you describe how wide it is, if possible? I know it’s dark, but can you see?”
“Uh, Lightning’s flashing all over it! I can see it clear as day! It looks like it’s literally a mile wide!”
“Ok, I can see it on the radar. Yes! This tornado has been confirmed on the ground! It’s just surpassed a mile wide, and is heading northeast what looks like it’s traveling at fifty miles an hour.”
Lyra and Bon Bon continue to listen until they think of something that sounds absolutely terrifying to them. “Wait a minute. Lyra? Doesn’t Trixie live in Ponyville?”
Lyra’s mind starts to race. Then her foot slams on the breaks. Making the car come to a stop as it skids on the wet roads. “Oh my god! You’re right! This tornado is…”
They both looked at each other.
“IT’S HITTING TRIXIE’S HOUSE!” The two say together as Lyra turns the car right around and begins to drive where Ponyville is.
“Bon Bon! Can you call Trixie? Make sure she’s ok?” Lyra asks as she brings the car as fast as she can possibly get it in this rainstorm.
Bon Bon wastes no time. She calls Trixie on speed dial, but the line drops. “Dang it! No answer!” Bon Bon replies.
“Oh god! She’s alright! She’s got to be alright! How far are we away from Ponyville?” Lyra asks, now shaking in fear of a horrifying possibility that Trixie may not make it in this.
Bon Bon pulls up a map on her phone. “We’re only thirty minutes away.”
“She’s gotta be okay! Oh please!” Lyra says in tears as she drives as fast as she can to save a friend in need.
~*~
9:15 PM
“Ok, listen Trixie. Be careful, ok? This storm is just getting worse and worse. You stay safe out there, and do your best to keep a look out. Tornadoes are striking everywhere, so do your best to hide if one happens, ok?” Lyra tells Trixie over the phone.
“I’ll do that. You girls be careful.” Trixie tells them. They both said their goodbyes for now as they hung up.
Trixie places her phone back on the bed next to her as she continues to watch some tv. Looking outside the window every few seconds as her mind wonders back and forth.
She then stands up, and begins to open her window and just continues to watch the storm for a little bit. She can only just see the shape of the clouds moving as very light flickers of lightning flash above her with the tiniest rumble of thunder.
It’s just…quiet. Too quiet. Something may not be right here. Trixie then grabs her empty plate and soda can from her bed as she walks down stairs to throw it away, then heads back upstairs to enjoy some more TV for the night while this slight storm continues on.
Maybe it’ll blow over before she knows it? Besides, no rain, very little thunder and lightning, very quiet and peaceful outside. But only time will tell with a storm as light as this. Or so she thinks.
~*~
9:30 PM
Fifteen minutes have passed as Trixie continues to watch more television on her bed. However, the silent storm outside showed no signs of weakening, or stopping. It still kept doing like it’s been doing since it pretty much arrived.
On the corner of Trixie’s eye, her curtains begin to gently wave around as she feels a slight breeze coming from her open window.
Not a cold breeze, obviously. But a breeze from the warm, humid outside world. The curtains start to wave just a hair bit roughly. Lightning begins to flash brighter, and thunder starts to roar louder.
Trixie, feeling a bit nervous, stands up and nervously walks to her open window. She can feel the wind that was coming from outside picking up more rapidly, and violently.
Lighting becoming even brighter with a harsh white light, and thunder clapping loud enough to where it could make someone jump out of their skin.
Trees start to wave around violently. Flags in people’s yards wave around, brutally. Something’s not right. “What’s happening?” Trixie asks herself. Her phone goes off. An amber alert has been issued again.
Trixie picks up her phone to look at the screen. That look on her face is now of fright. “Tornado Warning in Ponyville! This is not a drill! Take cover immediately!” Was what the notification read.
Sirens have been signaled. Making Trixie jump out of her skin. Now feeling very scared. She closes her window and can only just hear the warning sirens signaling as she rushes downstairs all while her phone continues to blow up with tornado warnings, and worse of all. Tornado emergencies.
She opens up her utility closet door. Panting out of fear as the sirens scream from outside as the sound travels through her closed windows as she searches for the materials she needs. A flashlight, helmet, anything she can get her shaky hands on.
Helmet? Got it. Flashlight? Defiantly. Trixie keeps searching for everything she could think of. However, she immediately stops as she hears the terrifying beeping noise from the weather alert radio. The slow, and eerie beeps along with a tone that goes off after that for what feels like an eternity.
Trixie does not move a single muscle, nor does she dare to turn her head, nor her body around. She is completely frozen as she hears the alert. “Tornado emergency for Ponyville. The national weather service has issued a tornado warning for Ponyville, Canterlot, and ten miles south of the crystal prep academy until 10:30 PM central standard time. A tornado has been confirmed on the ground about ten miles west of Ponyville, traveling at fifty-five miles per hour. This storm is extremely dangerous and life threatening. If you are in the path. Take shelter, immediately. Repeating. A large, violent tornado has been spotted on the ground heading directly to Ponyville at fifty-five miles an hour. We encourage everyone to take cover, now.” Trixie’s breathing becomes heavy, and she is now shivering in fear. Still not moving a single muscle. Trixie becomes more scared than she has ever been once that haunting computer voice floods her ears with the winds, and the sirens roaring outside.
The windows blow open due to the force of the wind. Making Trixie scream in fear as glass flew all over the place and into her living room. Luckily, her utility closet is facing away from the living room where the windows blew open, and she’s not hurt, but very brutal winds have now entered her house.
She looks out the now broken windows as she steps out of her closet. Her shoes stepping on countless pieces of broken glass and takes a peak as she can see what looks like a monster tornado from a distance. Only seeing it with countless flashes of lighting flashing around it.
“Oh…my…GOD!” Trixie screams as she is now feeling terrified. This tornado formed very fast, and without warning and is heading straight towards her very fast. Trixie can only just hear the sirens through the screaming winds as the tornado gets dangerously close.
It rips open a section of her living room wall as the winds get stronger, and stronger. Trixie hurries as fast as she can to her basement as she can only be distracted by that huge tornado. The width of it is unbelievable.
Trixie only just manages to open the door through the brutal winds. Leaving that to slam the door shut as the power flickers out. Trixie turns on her flashlight, and runs down the stairs to the basement.
She finds a place to hide with a bicycle helmet on. The roaring sounds and the screaming winds heard from outside. Tears of fear flow down her cheeks as she just sits there. Listening…and waiting.
The winds begins to bang on the basement door as Trixie lets out another scream of fear. Her heart starts to race as she fears she may get sucked into the funnel cloud of this very violent tornado.
The door, and the wall gets torn open. Leaving wind, debris, and harsh flashes of lighting flashing every less than a single second to light up the basement. Trixie holds onto anything she could for dear life as she screams from the top of her lungs. Hoping this will be all over soon.
She manages to get under a table. Until the house eventually crumbles down all over her.
~*~
10:00 PM
Luckily, both the table, and the bicycle helmet saved her life. But has suffered cuts and bruises. The wind have stopped, and Trixie is trapped under a pile of rubble.
She still shakes in fear. She doesn’t want to move. She doesn’t want to see if that huge tornado is still out there. But after ten minutes of being motionless while shaking in fear. Trixie can hear voices.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” A male voice comes in that sounds unfamiliar.
“I’m in here!” Trixie screams as best as she can. “I’m in here! Please help me!”
“Over here!” A man says as debris begins to be lifted up by multiple people. Not long after a hole is made for Trixie to climb out, it’s firefighters and police. Help has arrived. “Ma’am, you alright?” A police officer asks as they help her out of the pile of debris.
“Yes, yes I’m ok.” Trixie answers. The storm clouds flicker with lightning and rumbles of thunder can be heard. Trixie’s jaw drops as she looks around the neighborhood.
Every…single…house…leveled.
Trixie turns around, and all that’s left is nothing but a pile of wood and debris what use to be her house. All that remains is the concrete base with a basement. This one tornado alone not just leveled everyone else’s home. Hers included.
Trixie stands there in awe as she is blown away that her house is no longer standing. The officer and firefighter trying to snap her out of it, but Trixie could only just stare at the pile.
~*~
10:15 PM.
“Are we there yet?” Bon Bon asks Lyra as they begin to pass some half collapsed houses.
“We’re almost there.” Lyra says to Bon Bon. “These houses look really bad. Oh please don’t tell me Trixie’s neighborhood is hit.” Lyra says as she enters the town of Ponyville.
Buildings and structures have been partly, and completely collapsed. Even town hall suffered major damage. Families hugging each other close, children holding their favorite toys, cars flung into trees, the list just goes on.
Lyra and Bon Bon pass through a power line that’s down. Luckily, it’s not on the road but they did read a sign that reads “Welcome to Ponyville” as sparks from the damaged power line fly pass the sign as they keep driving. Without a doubt, a tornado has hit this place.
“This is just…unbelievable.” Bon Bon mumbles as they find Trixie’s neighborhood. Every single house has been leveled. Everyone outside the homes hugging and crying as police, firefighters, and ambulances do their best to comfort the victims of the tornado disaster.
“Look! There she is!” Bon Bon points at Trixie sitting on a sidewalk with a blanket covering her as a paramedic treats her small wounds.
Lyra and Bon Bon get out of the car and run straight towards Trixie. Trixie looks up, and sees her friends run straight towards her. She stands up, and all three of them hug each other ever so tightly and start crying.
“We thought we lost you!” Bon Bon said to her, crying on Trixie’s shoulder.
“We thought we’d never find you! Ponyville’s destroyed! We thought you were a goner!” Lyra said, in tears as well.
“I thought I was a goner, too!” Trixie said as she sobs on her friends shoulders the most. “Warnings were going off like crazy and sirens were going off. I was getting the stuff I need out of my utility closet until the windows literally blew open!” Trixie says as she rests her head on Lyra’s shoulder while Lyra hugs her friend close. “I got a look at it before I went to the basement. That…tornado…was HUGE. I-I..I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never been in anything like this in my life. Ever. Those winds…I can still hear them screaming!” Trixie sobs as she lets it all out on Lyra’s shoulder.
Bon Bon pats her on the back and hugs Trixie. “It’s ok, Trixie. We’re so glad you’re ok.” Bon Bon says.
“Me too. I don’t know how I’m alive right now. The house came crumbling down on top of me.” Trixie says as Lyra and Bon Bon look at Trixie’s house as it is completely leveled with nothing left but the concrete base with a basement. The same thing applies to all the other houses around them in the neighborhood.
“Wait, Trixie. Where’s your car?” Bon Bon asks. Trixie looks at her driveway. It’s not there. Just broken pieces of woods from either her house, or possibly from someone else’s. She looks all around her. With the police, fire trucks, and ambulance lights lighting up the whole area. Her car is nowhere to be seen.
“Oh my go-…” Trixie couldn’t finish her sentence. She almost loses her balance at the thought of her car disappearing into thin air. Where exactly is it? Could the tornado may have picked it up and tossed it somewhere else? “My car’s gone.” Trixie mumbles as she does her best to collect herself.
“Ma’am, if your car’s nowhere to be seen. I’m afraid you have survived and EF-5 tornado.” The paramedic said.
“That’s what came through here?” Lyra asked him.
“I’m afraid so. Every house in this neighborhood’s leveled. A wind detecter from a storm chaser just reported to me he captured winds up to three hundred miles an hour. That’s pretty dang fast if you ask me.” The paramedic finished as he walks to Trixie. “But it is true, ma’am. You’re a survivor of an EF-5 tornado.”
“Oh my god.” Was all Trixie could mutter as she collects herself. “I can’t believe it.”
“Well Trixie. You’re more than welcome to stay at my grandmother’s house till your place gets fixed.” Lyra suggested. Leaving Trixie to hug her friend close, and cry on her shoulder.
“Lyra! Thank you…so much! For everything, really. I really do appreciate it. I do have parents that live further east towards the beach. Can we stop by there and you can drop me off?” Trixie asks her.
“Yes. Yes, of course we can, Trixie. You can stay the night at my grandmas. We’ll drop you off to your parents house.” Lyra said to Trixie.
All three friends look up at the sky. No moon to be seen, but thick clouds roll pass them. Luckily, no a flash of lightning is seen and not a roar of thunder is heard. Not a breath of wind in sight.
All three friends can only hope that the worst is over. Little do they know, this is only just the beginning.
