Winter Wrap Up in the Everfree Forest

Twilight was with Applejack in the library when the skinny, tan mail-stallion knocked on the door. Twilight got up from a book called “Weather Spells: The Complete Compendium” and welcomed him inside and out of the snow. He was happy for the warmth of the hearth but seemed anxious to be on his way.

“I have a message from the Mayor. She wants a meeting with you,” then, looking at Applejack, “both of you. As well as your other four friends.”

“We’ll be right there,” Twilight told the messenger, “you can tell the Mayor to expect us in ten minutes.”

The stallion showed himself to the door and hurried off to find Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.

“Ya think she wants to talk to us ‘bout this here storm?” Applejack asked.

“Most probably yes. After all the weird weather above the Everfree Forest has spread to Ponyville and ruined our attempts at wrapping up winter.” Twilight said, although Applejack already knew this from her own experience. They had just finished snow-plowing the Sweet Apple Acres when the blizzard had blown into town and filled the fields with fresh snow.

“She probably wants us to help her find a solution, seeing how much help we were with Nightmare Moon, Discord, and the changelings.” Twilight stated proudly.

Applejack wasn’t so sure how much help any of them besides Rainbow would be with a sky full of storm clouds, but she let Twilight lead her out the door and placed her faith in the unicorn by her side. Twilight would have a plan.

***

The mayor was standing by a circular table, pretending she knew how to use a compass to chart distance. Subsequently, she set the silver two legged device down on the map that covered most of the table and turned to them.

“You six are the only ponies that have experience in the woods. I need you to get to the source of this snowstorm and stomp it out.” The mayor slammed her hoof onto the table for effect. The compass clattered on the table. Fluttershy looked nervous.

Twilight was a bit put off. She had thought that their heroism was the reason behind the summons, not their frequent trips to visit Zekora.

“But what will we do when we find the source?” Fluttershy inquired in a rapid manner not usual to her, “How do you know it’s even something we can see? Why can’t you send a troop of weather pegasi to get rid of the clouds? We have no experience in dealing with weather – well most of us, and we could be in danger! It’s cold and we could get stuck out overnight!” Fluttershy paused to catch her breath and Dash took the opportunity to interject.

“We’ve tried clearing the sky but the clouds just keep coming. There’s something that’s generating those clouds and it’s not our fault!”

Fluttershy’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry Rainbow Dash. I didn’t mean it like that.”

The rainbow-maned weather pony rolled her eyes and turned back to the mayor, who was still startled by Fluttershy’s outburst.

“Of course you don’t have to go, but all of Ponyville would really appreciate it if you did,” the mayor spoke to the group, “You could always stay back Fluttershy and let the others handle it…” The mayor looked as though she was under the impression that the six did everything together and it would be somehow wrong it the yellow pegasus didn’t go, but she tried to hide her feelings and be understanding and motherly.

“No, I’ll go,” Fluttershy said dejectedly.

Twilight remained concerned for a moment longer, looking at each of her five best friends individually, before shaking off any doubts she had about how the simple briefing had turned into a high strung environment so quickly. Fluttershy has always been a bundle of nerves, the purple mare thought, but she’s always pulled through. This time won’t be any different.

“Come on everypony! We’ve got a blizzard to stop.” Rarity and Fluttershy weren’t very enthusiastic, but they were about to head into a blizzard a face an unknown threat to Ponyville and maybe even Equestria at large. She couldn’t blame them.

Applejack stepped up to her friend, “We’ll fight by your side Twilight, like we always have,” she said. Then, seeing the Fluttershy’s expression, she added, “Not that we’ll be doin’ any actual fighting.”

“Of course we will! When was there ever any doubt?” Pinkie said. “About us doing this together, I mean. Not about us fighting. Don’t worry Fluttershy. It’ll be fun!”

The mayor opened the door for them and they walked into the snow. The six friends were off on an adventure again.

***

They stopped on the stone bridge that crosses the creek on the way to Fluttershy’s house and the Everfree Forest, and viewed the sky. There were no buildings to block their sight here.

“Rainbow, please be a dear and tell me those clouds are normally that color,” Rarity said softly.

She was talking about the ominous cumulonimbus clouds that were dark mountains, miles high beneath a quilt of grey altostratus. Blue electricity buzzed around the base of the nearest cloud.

“Sorry Rarity. I’ve never seen clouds like that before,” Rainbow Dash said. Rarity gulped.

The enormous cloud sent a bolt of blue lightning into a nearby tree. Fluttershy let out a choked scream and hid behind Twilight. She stayed there, crouched down, shivering, until Applejack attempted to comfort her by saying, “It’s alright Fluttershy. This wasn’t the first tree to ever get struck by lightning.” The orange mare put her hooves on Fluttershy’s shoulders and lifted her to her feet.

The conifer that had survived all winter without losing its fronds, which fillies and colts had decorated with strands of popcorn on Hearth’s Warming Eve, stood dead and bare in the cold wind. Twilight tried to think of something encouraging and inspirational to say, and failed. The best she could do was to give her friends a destination.

“Let’s go see Zecora. Maybe she’ll know what going on.” She tried to sound hopeful.