[Manehattan] "...ain't exactly the Big Easy." [Closed]

[Apolline Allura]

A pair of blazing amber eyes glared back into her own, disapproving and disappointed. Though Lightning Dust figured it had to have been more of the former. It wasn't as if she was completely unaware of what they were doing. Spitfire's hooves-off approach had made it easier to get away with, she had thought. But of course, after Rainbow Dash put all their business out in the open, it wasn't hard for the captain of the Wonderbolts to track her down and remove her lead pony badge before directing the AP's to escort (read: shove) her away from the academy clouds.

Weeks had passed, while Lightning Dust remained in a serious funk over the whole thing. What was it she had done wrong? The Wonderbolts were about being the best! The fastest flyers in all of Equestria! How could she, who pushed herself harder than any of them, even Rainbow Dash, get tossed out on her flank like she was the one with a problem? The other ponies were just collateral. Accidents that wouldn't have happened if they had just been better at flying. But wasn't the Academy all about making them better flyers anyway? The rest of the cadets didn't have it made like Rainbow Dash and herself, full of pure talent and a handicap of being rather new to advanced flight techniques.

And so it had been a rather big surprise when she had been called into Spitfire's office the other day. Not an entirely unwelcome exercise, she felt, given that word had quickly spread about her failure, and hadn't received much in the way of work for her weather pony job.

Maybe she'd get put on again. Maybe the captain would give her one more chance. That was a great thought...

...that was quickly banished and put in a cage when she was handed the slip of temporary suspension. The estimated date of release being..."until further notice is given."

The drafts around Manehattan were unbelievably annoying. Either they were hotter than the sun, or colder than ice. At some point, Dust concluded that she had made a terrible mistake by taking the jobs few, if any pegasi wanted out in her area in the south. Manehattan was closeby to Southern Cloudsdale, and as such was deceptively easy for anypony who lived in the area to take care of.

The operating word being "deceptively".

Manehattan would often receive clouds in amounts that many would deem unreasonable, and while Lightning Dust would always be quick to challenge herself and her limits to the fullest, she would readily decline anything that would take as long as the day and a half spent up in the blistering heat or the freezing temperatures to get all of Manehattan clear by herself. With the reputation Manehattan had gotten as such a trouble spot though, the pay for clearing it was jacked up noticeably. Seventy bits to clear Manehattan? You'd walk away with a nice piece of change, that was for sure. Adding onto the non-commission pay from being employed and active during the course of a week? There was no bigger reason to suck it up and head out there.

Lightning Dust had taken it upon herself to claim the job, and do it solo at that. The aforementioned hot and cold fronts were colliding, high above the skyscrapers and massive structures that were strewn about the big city.

She timed herself to arrive in Chronos Square at exactly twelve am of the previous day, and went to work with nearly no breakfast, no drink and all her motivation.

Clearing the clouds around the heart of the place was actually pretty fun. From experiences she didn't wish to go into too much, Dust had managed to set off a more controlled version of her midair twister, pulling the clouds in whilst not interfering with the lower atmosphere, where it could and would land on the ground, and rampage through the city. She sat back on a leftover cloud far off while she watched her handiwork. At the very least, she had managed to get that under control. Of course, at this point, she had decided to take a break and shot down below for a bite to eat.

Time spent with her grandparents gave Lightning Dust a sense of direction and culture in this city. She could easily get from Chronos Square to Avenue D where her great-grandmother and grandfather lived and see every inch of the city while she was at it.

It didn't take long before she found a stand, and she tossed a few bits to the owner.[colour=#40e0d0] "One knish, mustard."[/colour]

One savory treat of potato pastry later, and she was back up in the air, dealing with new arrivals on the way to the cumulus conventions at the perimeter of the city. Dust considered clearing it all by shearing the edges and just going round and round until the middle was finished. It was a bit tedious. but she'd leave the prettying up of the city for when she was close to being finished. For now, she would set herself to autopilot.

Lightning Dust was in a steady bank to the left, mowing down the clouds from the edges inwards. Eventually, the cold had became only colder as she went, and this high up, she was having difficulty breathing or even staying awake at this point. Cutting thick clouds like these took time. Ordinarily, if scattered and all about, she'dve had this done in a few seconds, ten at the most. Here, with these snow clouds--

"Snow clouds?" she said aloud, eyes widening in alarm.

She should have known. Lightning Dust had experience with just about all weather conditions, but out of the ones that gave her the most difficulty, she despised snow storms passionately. Mostly in that they were much, much too difficult for her to control alone. Something her mother had warned her about working on when she had left home.

Was it a good idea to call for help?

[colour=#40e0d0]"Nah." [/colour]her pride simply disagreed with her. [colour=#40e0d0]"It'll take a while. I just need ten minutes break after this go round. It'll be fine."[/colour]

Lightning Dust continued her task, ignoring the frostbite nipping at her hooves and making her ears go numb. She sped up the process by keeping her wings extended before suddenly, she found herself unable to draw breath.

[colour=#40e0d0]'I spent too much time this high up! Ponyfeathers!'[/colour] Dust cursed herself, feeling the beginning of a descent toward ground.

Her left wing seized up and snapped to her side, and then the right! Lightning Dust cried out in exertion as she entered the lower atmosphere, struggling desperately to overcome her frostbite-ridden extremities to pull up--but to no avail.

[Ciraxis]

Manehattan - Blazing Fast News publishing company Main HQ Building.

Two ponies were walking through skys****er corridors. Their heated - if completely civil - exchange of words drawn attention of the office workers. That wasn't surprising at all, if one knew just who those two ponies were. One of them, very large earth pony with a orange coat, emerald coloured - short cut mane and toothbrush mustache was none other Hasty News - Equestria famous millionaire, press magnate and both founder and owner of Blazing Fast News company. The other pony, a smaller unicorn with identical colour shame, but with long ponytail kept mane, and wearing trench coat, sunglasses and a sword at his back was his only son, Swift Squall from Fillydelphia.

[colour=green]"I can't believe you called me from Filly just for this. You could ask in the letter you know."[/colour] said unicorn in a miffed tone.

"Come one son, you think I naive? We both know you wouldn't bother with answering too such message. And you are good at writing when you want too!" Hasty News answered with placatory voice before attempting to convince unicorn with praise.

[colour=green]"I ridiculously good at swinging this too..."[/colour] younger pony slightly unsheathed his sword with his magic, before he put it back. [colour=green]"...and I don't chop everything at my path. That 'Persistent Quill' was just one time gimmick. We determined that you will be the Voice while I would work in the field. I have other things to do the writing some review!"[/colour] Swift replied, still dissatisfied with his father arguments.

"You weren't saying this before I told you while I brought you here. I recall you say you were 'insanely bored' . And you have PhD in that area." older stallion noticed snidely.

[colour=green]"T-that not the point. I have to be there in case something happens after all!"[/colour]

"Right, right. The Count of Fillydelphia, responsibility and other things. Oh don't get me wrong, I don't criticize you but shouldn't that be REA job?"

[colour=green]"It is but they need help. For Celestia sake, they didn't had enough funds for proper winter gear this year! If I wouldn't donate them money for that, Fillydelphia Garrison soldiers would patrol streets in T-shirts in the middle of January!"[/colour] Squall said, agitated.

"Outrageous! Maybe some of my journalist should write about this?" Hasty News was quite shocked by the revelation.

[colour=green]"If they can, by all means make them do so Dad."[/colour] swordstallion pledged his parent. Swift and Hasty argued abut many things, but in the end they agreed at what had to be done. Both of them reached Hasty News office at the building top floor. Situated in the center of Manehattan, that ridiculously huge window, provided splendid look at city vista.

[colour=green]"Besides, my friend is getting married next two weeks. I have to prepare, can't leave Filly until just before the ceremony. And she will be there..."[/colour] unicorn piled on excuses, not really eager to to fulfill parent request.

"She?" his old men imminently peaked unusual tone in that single word.

[colour=green]"Well..."[/colour] Swift started hesitantly [colour=green]"She is...one of my friends...but I guess...I like her more then that..."[/colour]

"Ohh good news. Does she know?" now News curiosity was flared to the dangerous levels. Swift didn't answered for the while, trotting to the wall-large window before he opened mouth again.

[colour=green]"Nooooo...."[/colour] unicorn answered while hanging his head, with such misery both in his voice and look, that earth pony felt sudden urge to hug his child, just like the times when foal Swift was upset by something. Younger stallion continued before he could comply with that through.[colour=green]"It's...complicated Dad. You see...she used to like that other friend of mine - the very one who is getting married - but he just didn't noticed that. And Fire didn't took it well...and I can't bring myself to tell her yet. What if that hurt her more?"[/colour] swordstallion asked with anxiety

"....Son...for a pony that is quite 'tough', you can be pretty soft when it comes to things. So her name is Fire?"

[colour=green]"Yes....Pops?"[/colour] Swift asked while rising his eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

[colour=green]"It's just me...or is that mare is falling?!"[/colour] Swift pointed with his hoof at the mare in the sky. Indeed, the mare - unicorn noticed - was falling down like a meteor.

"By Celestia! You right! She will crash straight at the sidewalk under us!" Hasty News said, just as pegasus flashed beside the floor there were at. "We need..."

[colour=green]"They won't make it on time. Move aside pops..."[/colour] Swift noticed, while taking a room for a run-up.

"Swift...what are you doing?!"

[colour=green]"Something necessary and very stupid Dad."[/colour] unicorn said, before rushing forward and crashing through the window.

[Apolline Allura]

Terminal velocity wasn't really a thing for pegasi, being naturally attuned to the skies and all. Wind resistance and hard currents could tone the average pegasus well enough. Perhaps not to earth pony standards, but if there was a scale, Dust could label the innate durability as follows: Earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns. That said, being second on the scale didn't guarantee adamantium-like bones and skin like earth ponies had. It would hurt, but Lightning Dust was far from weak.

She twisted in the air, going into a spiral, and furiously working her shoulder and back muscles to get her wings free. As long as she was careful not to yank, the sea green pegasus would safely in the air, if not cutting it a bit close. Dust measured about...twenty, thirty feet from the ground before she'd be pulling up.

There was a loud noise--glass breaking--and she turned her head up only to raise her hooves to cover it from the falling debris. The ruins of a shattered window pane rained down upon her. One twitch. Two. Three. Four.

[colour=#40e0d0]"Rrrrraah!"[/colour] she cried, wings free at last before catching sight of a unicorn on his way to her.

The mare noted his brave, stupid and ballsy move, and flexed her wings a few times before twisting in the air one more time and swinging upwards, now ready to intercept him before she looked up and spotted a large shard of glass from the window coming straight for her.

[colour=#40e0d0]'Office windows! Couldn't be regular windows--had to be bucking office windows.'[/colour] she growled mentally as she swerved out of the way of the falling glass. Her eyes caught the unicorn again, and they were much too close for her to be able to dive in and save him, [colour=#40e0d0]'Sorry, pal.' [/colour]

Briefly, she was in front of Rainbow Dash once more, proud of their work. That tornado was the perfect move, and she and the other mare had came out unscathed. Yeah it had almost gotten her friends turned into ground past, and yeah it had also nearly did the same thing to the other pegasi training with them, but was it necessarily a bad thing if everypony came out of it alright in the end?

Not even her own voice could give her an answer this time as she watched the unicorn plummeting to his doom while she continued to ascend.

[Dio]

The hammer of hooves on pavement echoed the thunder of blood in Shining Armor’s veins. Every muscle in his body screamed as he threw every ounce of strength into hurling himself forward faster. Armor lacked the mathematical talents to say just how fast he had to move, but he knew enough about the laws of physics to know he couldn’t afford to slow down. His lungs seeing fit to explode, the captain closed the last few feet to his target.

The carthorse went wide-eyed and dove out of the way as Armor flipped his head to the side and threw his shoulder into the rear hatch. Shining Armor would have apologized immediately, but he was under tight time constraints. Rattling and creaking, the chocks broke loose and the cart lurched forward with the momentum of Armor’s strike. His hooves scrabbled against the pavement as he clambered onto the rear of hay cart.

Armor looked up as the cart barreled down the street at breakneck speed. A cloud of glittering dust hung in the air, shimmering in the midmorning sun like crystallized aether dust. Within the cloud of shards, a very wingless pony plummeted from the sky like a dropped stone. Maybe the pegasus would catch him. Maybe she wouldn’t. Armor wasn’t taking any chances.

A faint glow emanated from his horn as he grabbed a spare chock and threw it under the right front wheel of the cart. His ride lurched, nearly tipping over were it not for some clumsy gymnastics on Armor’s part to maintain balance. Wooden wheels screeched as the cart skidded sideways, finally grinding to a halt right where Armor needed it to.

[colour=#0000cd]“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon...”[/colour]

[Ciraxis]

[colour=green]"Well...I feel stupid now..."[/colour] unicorn thought as he felt past the pegasus. Sidewalk was closing in fast and Swift Squall needed to do something quickly if he wanted to avoid becoming the pancake. Swordstallion turned himself hooves down using telekinesis first, then he drawn his sword and grabbed the hilt with his mouth. Once more, using his magic he closed himself to the tall building wall. And then, he stabbed the wall with the full might of his neck muscles. The admantite blade cut through steel and concrete like butter, yet initial jolt was still hard enough to almost rip Swift Squall jaw from the sockets. Even with using the sword as the breaks, sworstallion still moved way to fast. Somehow Squall ignored the terrible air filling screech of cut metal, along with cascade of sparks, and used his magic to spread out the skirts of his duster. Swift slowed enough to realize that he probably will go through this with a few broken bones, but at least sworstallion will keep his life.

[colour=green]"I should excogitated this before I jumped..."[/colour] he thought...But whats this? Some fast thinking unicorn pulled the cart filled with...something just under him.

[colour=green]"I don't know who are you, but I owe you one."[/colour] said Swiftt aloud as he did a wall jump....or rather he attempted to, for his duster hooked against the nearby flagpole. The cloth ripped right away, but in effect - instead of graceful leap - Squall spun down in uncontrollable cartwheel.

[colour=green]"You got to be kidd..."[/colour] he managed to mutter before he pierced thin wooden roof of the cart.

[colour=green]"Owww...."[/colour] he growled in pain. His jaw seriously hurt, and the back didn't took the fall too kindly either. At last cart content was soft.

[colour=green]"Oh? What a coincidence...broccoli. Aghhh!"[/colour] he rolled to the side, to avoid being impaled by his own falling weapon.

[colour=green]"Once more, I have survived."[/colour] unicorn quoted classical play, as he sheathed his blade back. [colour=green]"This was...fourth most dangerous thing I ever done."[/colour] he pondered as he walked around the cart, to see pony thanks to, he avoided few weeks in the hospital.

[colour=green]"Looks like pegasus helped herself without me, being hero sucks. Thanks. I owe you one.....Shinning?"[/colour] Swift jaw dropped as he recognized old acquaintance from REA training. [colour=green]"Aghhhrr..."[/colour] he moaned in pain immediately after this - his mouth hurt now even more.

(OOC: Shining Armor would probably know Swift under the different name then his true one, with Swift being runaway colt and underage when he enlisted)

[Apolline Allura]

Lightning Dust looked down upon the spectacle after getting clear of the shower of glass. Onlookers ran for cover as a white stallion barreled in the direction of a hay cart miraculously untouched by the shattered pane splintering away as it collided with the back asphalt. The cart rocketed ahead in the direction of the falling unicorn, screeching when he came close--how'd he manage to slow it down? Underneath the cascading sparks, a piece of chalk was visible. And then, he had managed to lean his body back enough to keep it from flying end over end! Looking on from her hover in midair, Dust couldn't not be impressed. That bit of action was all it took to compel her to give the big guy his props.

And maybe give the tryhard rookie a badge for not dying or something. Theatrics upon theatrics involving a trench coat, sunglasses and a...sword after hopping out of a bucking window with no Plan B. It was more brave than stupid to have ran out like that, but Lightning Dust's philosophy on death-defying stunts usually dictated that they not involve the possibility of death unless one could defy it. She'd still congratulate him for trying. Sorta kinda. Maybe. If he was still around.

But jeez! The bigger unicorn was quick for his size, and strong enough to back it all up. Smart muscle, not dumb muscle.

[colour=#40e0d0]"Hey-"[/colour] she called out, touching down some few feet away and stepping carefully over some shards of glass and getting pricked by others,[colour=#40e0d0] "-big guy!"[/colour]

Lightning Dust came to a stop above the cart which contained two stallions. Clearing the the broken bits of wood, she came upon the two ponies, the one looking like Marepheus rather dazed.[colour=#40e0d0] "That. Was. Awesome!"[/colour] she said, poking at the white one to get his attention.

[colour=#40e0d0]"I've never seen anypony pull off a mount like that with a hay cart and not bust their flanks trying! You cleared that whole block in like what, eleven seconds?"[/colour]

[Dio]

(OOC: Unless they trained in exactly the same unit and deployed together, it would be highly unlikely that Armor would know Squall. I would rather treat this as a first meeting. I can work with him knowing Shining Armor’s name, however, as he is semi-famous as it is.)

Armor cast a minor barrier spell, the disc of magical force acting as an umbrella against the hard rain of glass shards. The captain squinted into the brightness of reflected sunlight as the unicorn continued to fall. His guesstimation had been spot on. He’d be able to catch... what was this?

The stallion attempted to arrest his fall with his blade, sliding down the side of the building with a spray of sparks. With a garish display of acrobatic prowess, or rather lack thereof, the stallion caught himself on a hanging flagpole, ending his ungainly impromptu flight with a faceplant in the hay. Were the situation not so dire, Shining Armor would have laughed out loud. A whistling noise brought his attention to the literal sword of Damocles plummeting blade-first. Armor scooted backwards, his mane and tail standing on end as he narrowly missed having his nose nipped by polished steel. The blade ended its flight stuck firmly in the floor of the cart.

It was a harrowing experience to be sure, but nopony seemed to be seriously hurt, so Armor was plenty happy. The adrenaline high finally crashed and Armor was left only with shortness of breath, a soapy taste in his mouth, and a parched throat screaming for hydration. Where did I guy have to go to get water around here?

[colour=#006400]"Thanks. I owe you one.....Shining?"[/colour]

Well. It seemed Armor had a fan. Then again, after the rather high-profile wedding and the whole changeling incident, it wasn’t hard to know the face. It didn’t help that he was practically the poster child for REA recruitment this side of Greater Equestria.

[colour=#0000cd]“Guess you know me already,”[/colour] Armor chuckled between breaths. [colour=#0000cd]“Gimme a second to catch my breath and maybe I’ll be able to ask your name!”[/colour]

“Hey big guy!”

The voice came from none other than the falling pegasus. At least she was safe. Though curiously enough, she seemed to be unfazed... in fact, it appeared she was enjoying it!

"I've never seen anypony pull off a mount like that with a hay cart and not bust their flanks trying! You cleared that whole block in like what, eleven seconds?"

[colour=#0000cd]“I wasn’t counting,”[/colour] Armor panted. [colour=#0000cd]“Look, can we talk about this later? The paramedics and the local REA garrison probably want to check us out first...”[/colour]

As if on cue, an ambulance cart arrived on scene. The two ponies with blue EMT jackets unhitched themselves and a third dismounted and stepped towards the trio.

[colour=#0000cd]“I'm fine. Somepony needs to check out the daredevil over there...”[/colour] Armor waved the paramedics over. He patted Squall on the cheek. [colour=#0000cd]“Hey buddy, stay awake! EMS just got here!”[/colour]

[Ciraxis]

[colour=#0000cd]“I'm fine. Somepony needs to check out the daredevil over there...”[/colour] Armor waved the paramedics over. He patted Squall on the cheek. [colour=#0000cd]“Hey buddy, stay awake! EMS just got here!”[/colour]

[colour=green]"I am awake, no need for concern. They wasting their time then. The only thing that needs patching is the building."[/colour] sworstallion pointed with his hoof at the newspaper skyscraper, now with a visible scuff for about half of it's high.

[colour=green]"Sore jaw is nothing. More importantly..."[/colour] Squall tried to ask but then a cry came from the buildin entrence.

"Swift! You okay?!" asked Hasty News, rushing to his son side. Great...now they knew that he was famous press magnate son before he even intoruced himself. Swift Squall rolled his eyes, behind his sunglasses and turned around.

[colour=green]"I am fine Dad...You know, I do comparable things three times a week average. No need for worry."[/colour]

"Oh....if you say so. But not only you didn't caugh the girl, you damaged the Newstower as well,,," earth pony complained a little.

[colour=green]"Oh I am soooo sorry. You wanted to attend to a funeral I understand? No big deal, I can alway jump again."[/colour] unicorn snarked at his parent before returning his attention back to two ponies.

[colour=green]"Sorry for this. I am Squall....Swift Squall, swordstallion from Fillydelphia. This is my so-much-more-known father."[/colour]

[colour=green]"We happened to be at REA accademy at the same time. Always seen you at the tops of the various exam results. We were a different units but..."[/colour] unicorn expalined his familiarity with future Royal Guard Commander, before he shifted his attention to Lightning Dust. [colour=green]"Anyway....what happened?"[/colour] he asked the mare without any further delays.

[Apolline Allura]

[colour=#0000CD]“I wasn’t counting,”[/colour][colour=#282828] Armor panted. [/colour][colour=#0000CD]“Look, can we talk about this later? The paramedics and the local REA garrison probably want to check us out first...”[/colour]

[colour=#40e0d0]"Pffft. I'm fine." Which was more or less true. She had some feeling back in her wings, and the few scrapes accumulated from her proximity to the raining glass was negligible.[/colour]

[colour=#40e0d0]"What happened?" [/colour]Lightning Dust repeated incredulously. [colour=#40e0d0]"You're asking me when you're the one going hopping out of windows like you have wings or something?"[/colour] She scoffed at him, but as she had decided earlier, threw in a good word along with her lip service too. [colour=#40e0d0]"I just had a bit of...eh, turbulence. Nothing I couldn't handle. You coulda waited." [/colour]

Truthfully, she hadn't ever encountered a cold-induced drop like that before. The fact of the matter was that she had always had an instructor or partner with her for snowstorms of this magnitude. What she turned her head to look at was a ring of cumulus, slowly closing up in the hole she made in Chronos Square. If she didn't act soon, she'd never be done with this storm. By the time Dust would even come close to finishing this thing, it'd be well past the time she was paid to finish in. But her Plan A was a clear fail. And it came of the her assessment of the situation. Clear out the center, the eye with a small twister, and then shear off the edges around the ring. The problem lied in the temperature and her extended exposure to it.

What was next? What could she do alone to fix this by herself?

She huffed. This was just another test of her limits was all.

[colour=#40e0d0]'I've handled bigger.'[/colour] growled the mare in her mind, sneering up at the mass of grey and white. Which was true. Although it was also really only true in the case of rain clouds.

Lightning Dust looked back between the two stallions and muttered a quick[colour=#40e0d0] 'thanks'[/colour] before moving away from the disheveled pair. Heading to the nearest street corner, she stood on the curb and crouched. Rolling her shoulders, Dust began to unfurl her wings slowly. Things went smoothly until they were fully extended, and she felt a spasm of pain shoot through her left wing.

[colour=#40e0d0]"Grrrr, ponyfeathers!"[/colour] cursed Lightning Dust through gritted teeth.

This wasn't completely unexpected, but it just meant she needed some time to get the rest of the feeling back into her wing right? And it totally had nothing to do with the fact that maybe, just maybe, Dust was gonna have to ask for somepony's assistance in trying to get back up in the air to finish the job she had started hours ago.

Because that would be lame. Period. And she was better than that.

Lightning Dust ran forward, forcing her wings to flap a few times before getting airborne once more, a noticeable occasional drop in her height to the left as she continued to ascend.

[Dio]

[colour=#0000cd]“Standard operating procedure, buddy. Guard commander will want to talk to us to and fill out an incident report. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather the medics tell me you’re fine rather than you.”[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“Hello, sir,”[/colour] Shining Armor greeted the other stallion. [colour=#0000cd]“Don’t worry too much about things. Some kind soul called the medics and the Guard should be here any minute. I’m sure we’ll have this sorted...”[/colour]

[colour=#006400]“...Swift Squall from Fillydelphia. This is my so-much-more-known father. We happened to be at the REA academy at the same time. Always seen you at the tops of the various exam results. We were in different units but...”[/colour]

Armor raised an eyebrow. He was certainly making a big deal out of being in academy with him wasn’t he? For the life of him, Armor couldn’t remember who this guy was. In his defense, however, the academy passed a lot of cadets and Armor’s assignment to diplomatic security was something of a sea change in how he handled military matters. Some cadet who claimed to know him from academy wasn’t going to be terribly important when he was working with the Princess...

[colour=#00ffff]“Grrr ponyfeathers!”[/colour]

The epithet drew Shining Armor out of his own thoughts. His eyes snapped to the the pegasus that was doing her best to get airborne again. Snorting in exasperation, Armor dashed after her. What was it with everypony thinking they were macho stallions today? First the comic book superhero wannabe, now the death teaser herself; both seeming to think they were immortal or something.

[colour=#0000cd]“You, too?”[/colour] he shouted after her as he leaped, hoping to catch her tail in his teeth before she limped out of reach.

[Ciraxis]

[colour=#0000cd]“Standard operating procedure, buddy. Guard commander will want to talk to us to and fill out an incident report. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather the medics tell me you’re fine rather than you.”[/colour]

[colour=green]"...Fine. Never though that I will have to deal with this stuff again. Bureaucracy."[/colour] swordstallion reluctantly agreed, knowing that it was quicker road then arguing with the Captain. Although that reminded him one of the reasons, why he quit at the end of his Honor Guard training, instead of joining the formation.

[colour=#40e0d0]"Grrrr, ponyfeathers!"[/colour] cursed Lightning Dust through gritted teeth.

Swift Squall heard mare's profanity too. But while Shining Armor quickened to stop Dust directly, the other stallion jumped into direction of the flagpole, that a minute ago almost made him miss the cart. First slash of his sword cut a cord making flag drop down. A second shortened it to hoofable length. Picking up acquired piece of rope he rushed to the Prince aid, at the same time tying it up into lariat loop with his telekinesis.

[colour=#0000cd]“You, too?”[/colour] he shouted after her as he leaped, hoping to catch her tail in his teeth before she limped out of reach.

[colour=green]"Looks like it."[/colour] count snarked before he stopped in place. While Armor leaped upward to catch her, Swift wasn't taking any chances. Using his tail and magic to spin the self made lasso, stallion took an aim. Hoping for the best, he trowed it as good as he could. To his surprise reata flied just right, it's noose wrapping itself around pegasus waist. With a quick pull, rope tightened around the mare body.

[colour=green]"Whooaa!"[/colour] Squall blurted out, while mare managed to drag him for a few meters before he managed to stand more firmly.

[colour=green]"Listen girl...I have no idea why you are in such hurry, but I will not allow you to leave me alone with all that paperwork."[/colour] unicorn said while wrestling with her wing power. [colour=green]"First, you owe me - my help needed or not. Second, with your left wing like that, you asking for a death wish. It may sound wrong coming from me, but there is a differance between confidence and foolhardiness."[/colour] he muttered while slowly pulling her down towards the ground.

[Apolline Allura]

Lightning Dust knew her current actions were leaning more in the direction of serving her pride than pushing her limits. It was nothing if not insulting to herself and her own capabilities that she couldn't handle something like this alone, but even more painful so was the idea of having to look back to somepony else again for a little help. If she could pull herself out of that fall, then she could bust this punk cloud, couldn't she? The two stallions behind her certainly didn't think so, and Dust reasoned her lopsided aerial gait had something to do with it.

First it was the white stallion, managing to grab the tips of her tail with surprising strength. She jerked herself forward and managed to budge him an inch? A pebble had moved. That was progress.

Then the second one, the action movie hero ended up getting a rope around her whole waist. She bit back a growl, but jerked herself forward once more and found herself not able to get too far without the full use of her left wing.

And then Squall had to say something, and Lightning Dust went still and silent in the air for a moment.

[colour=#008000]"Listen girl...I have no idea why you are in such hurry, but I will [/colour]not[colour=#008000] allow you to leave me alone with all that paperwork."[/colour]

Much, much quicker than she had taken off and ignoring the pain exploding in the bones of her crippled wing, Lightning Dust was in Squall's face and almost butting heads with his.

[colour=#40e0d0]"Listen, pal,"[/colour] she sneered,[colour=#40e0d0] "I got a blizzard about to come down on this place like the wrath of Celestia out here, so if you think for one flippin' second that I'm gonna-"[/colour]

[colour=#008000]"First, you owe me - my help needed or not. Second, with your left wing like that, you asking for a death wish. It may sound wrong coming from me, but there is a differance between confidence and foolhardiness."[/colour]

[colour=#40e0d0]"I'll give you a hoof sandwich if you don't back off! Jeez! I got this alright?"[/colour] She pointed up at the sky.[colour=#40e0d0] "We already know you don't have wings, so you can stop pretending for pony's sake!"[/colour]

Exhaling exasperatedly, she looked in Shining Armor's direction. [colour=#40e0d0]"Yo, instead of messing around with me, maybe you could take this guy to the paramedics instead? I think some of that glass hit him on the head when he forgot his limits and almost became a Manehattan landmark!"[/colour]

[Dio]

Armor tightened his grip on Lightning Dust’s tail and put weight on his hooves, digging in as he was dragged the last bit before Dust’s momentum gave out. Suddenly, Armor felt something nick his ear. He dropped Dust’s tail in surprise as a lasso shot past his head and looped around Dusty’s midsection, finally yanking her to the ground. The captain backpedaled to avoid being struck in the face by hooves, rope, and wingtips.

[colour=#0000cd]“Is everypony in this town crazy?”[/colour] Armor muttered to himself.

[colour=#006400]"Listen girl...I have no idea why you are in such hurry, but I will not allow you to leave me alone with all that paperwork."[/colour]

[colour=#40e0d0]"Listen, pal, I got a blizzard about to come down on this place like the wrath of Celestia out here, so if you think for one flippin' second that I'm gonna-"[/colour]

Shining Armor gritted his teeth at the sudden explosion of venom from both parties. The pegasus was clearly injured. This... Swift Squall was clearly pretentious. A storm was brewing and it had nothing to do with the grey clouds swirling outside and the snowflakes beginning to fall upon the streets.

[colour=#0000cd]“Cut it out! Both of you!"[/colour] Armor shouldered his way between the two, pushing them apart with his front hooves. [colour=#0000cd]"You’re acting like foals!”[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“You!”[/colour] he said, [colour=#0000cd]“Squall, she doesn’t owe you anything. The only owing that’s happening here is you owing your old sire for breaking all the windows between here and the 18th floor! Paperwork is paperwork. When the watch commander gets here, we’re ALL filling out paperwork.”[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“And you!”[/colour] Armor whirled back around to face Lightning Dust, placing a hoof firmly on her back and pressing down until her hooves touched the ground. [colour=#0000cd]“Wrath of Celestia or not, you’re in no condition to fight this. I’ve seen enough training accidents in the army to know what an injury looks like and I’ve seen enough punks break themselves trying to walk it off to know not to let anypony else do it. Let the rest of the weather team handle it. And for Celestia’s sake let the medics look at that wing!”[/colour]

[Ciraxis]

“Cut it out! Both of you!" Armor shouldered his way between the two, pushing them apart with his front hooves. "You’re acting like foals!”

“You!” he said, “Squall, she doesn’t owe you anything. The only owing that’s happening here is you owing your old sire for breaking all the windows between here and the 18th floor! Paperwork is paperwork. When the watch commander gets here, we’re ALL filling out paperwork.”

Swift Squall wanted to throw insult right back at the mare, but sudden outburst from Shining Armor made so that he didn't even had a chance to open his mouth. He allowed his sunglasses to slide down on his muzzle, to look at Captain directly.

[colour=green]"....Yes Your Highness, you right..."[/colour] Unicorn admitted in apologetic tone looking at Shining with some new respect.

[colour=green]"I could say that adrenaline from was at fault...but I will not dodge the responsibility and I will pay for the damage. Like a mature pony should..."[/colour] Swift added putting emphasis on particular word, while glancing at the pegasus with the corner of his eye. Squall couldn't say that he liked this girl attitude - opposite in fact, her bravado started to make him livid - but featherbrain or not he will not allow her to take wing.

[colour=#0000cd]“And you!”[/colour] Armor whirled back around to face Lightning Dust, placing a hoof firmly on her back and pressing down until her hooves touched the ground. [colour=#0000cd]“Wrath of Celestia or not, you’re in no condition to fight this. I’ve seen enough training accidents in the army to know what an injury looks like and I’ve seen enough punks break themselves trying to walk it off to know not to let anypony else do it. Let the rest of the weather team handle it. And for Celestia’s sake let the medics look at that wing!”[/colour]

[colour=green]"If you don't want to heed my words then, at least listen to Shining... Or would you imply that Prince have something wrong with his head too?"[/colour] swordstallion sneered while turning around, facing away from the Dust. Snowfall started to be more dense. Squall looked up to take a glance of the mentioned blizzard. He wasn't a pegasus but...weren't the clouds growing a little too fast to be natural or normal? Must been his imagination...

[Apolline Allura]

The mouthy unicorn was really getting on her nerves. Lightning Dust had nowhere near as much a problem with Shining Armor, backing down and attempting to cool off as he interposed himself between herself and Swift Squall and then held her in place with surprising strength for a horn-head. (Lightning Dust had never thought much of unicorns physically.) But the suicidal moron who talked like he had a log jammed in his flank just wouldn't shut up for two seconds. Any respect she would have had for his bravery for attempting to save her was slowly evaporating away every time he tried to go back and forth with her.

Armor's advice was the most sound, and while she had no intention of doing any paperwork whatsoever, they had pulled her to the ground once. Lightning Dust didn't hesitate to think of what would happen if she tried to fly a second time on her borked wing. Squall's addendum gave her pause before she responded the white stallion, giving him a nasty glare.

[colour=#40e0d0]"Weather team?"[/colour] she turned back to the other pony, gently pushing his hoof off of her back.[colour=#40e0d0] "Pft. I'm the only pony who took this job. Also means I'm the only pony who's gonna finish it...after a check up or whatever it is you think I oughta do anyway."[/colour] she added hastily.

[Dio]

[colour=#0000cd]“Excuse me?”[/colour] Shining Armor rubbed his ear with a hoof. Had he heard that right? Was there debris caught in his ear? [colour=#0000cd]“Let me get this straight. You’re the weather team? As in the WHOLE weather team?”[/colour]

Of course Shining Armor already knew the answer. His hearing was as acute as ever and he was still in full control of his faculties. This pegasus WAS the weather team. THE weather team. As in only ONE pony doing the job of a half-dozen. So that logically meant that there was a rapidly developing snowstorm in the city -- one likely too big for a single pegasus to handle -- and no pegasus ponies to handle it. Great.

Armor didn’t know whether to yell at this filly or the bureaucrats who allowed this first. The captain glanced up at the rapidly darkening sky. What began as a few flakes lazily wafting down had rapidly escalated to a swirling mass of white. The street visibly dimmed as the combination of cloud cover and thick, falling snow occluded the sun. Not good. The captain cupped a hoof to his muzzle and shouted above the wind and snow.

[colour=#0000cd]“I need a runner! Get to the REA garrison and tell them we need a weather team out here! Everypony else, into the tower NOW!”[/colour]

A single earth pony stepped off the sidewalk, volunteering himself. Shining Armor waved in acknowledgement as he took off. The captain whirled back around, looking Lightning Dust right in the eye with a commanding glare, one normally reserved for ornery cadets and cooler denizens.

“That means you, too, crazy flank. You’ve got some explaining to do.”

[Ciraxis]

[colour=#0000cd]“Excuse me?”[/colour] Shining Armor rubbed his ear with a hoof. Had he heard that right? Was there debris caught in his ear? [colour=#0000cd]“Let me get this straight. You’re the weather team? As in the WHOLE weather team?”[/colour]

[colour=green]"Are you surprised Shining? Financial department tries to cut expanses everywhere it can for some time now." [/colour] Swift thrown his to cents into the issue, remembering his earlier talk with father. Unicorn saw the opportunity and decided to use it.

[colour=green]"For example, the REA garrison in Fillydelphia didn't had enough funds for proper winter gear. And there are more of shortcomings in other cities as well. It seems the renovations of Canterlot after changeling's invasion burned a lot of money. As well as that Ponyville....especially Ponyville. Some ever suggest that all attention this small town gets is developing into favoritism..."[/colour]

Just then the weather worsened even more. The ponies manes and tails was flapping on the furious wind, that almost muted any words the said. Such fierce blizzard was not normal. At least not in the Manhattan, Swift knew - after all he was born here.

[colour=#0000cd]“I need a runner! Get to the REA garrison and tell them we need a weather team out here! Everypony else, into the tower NOW!”[/colour]

[colour=green]"IT'S USELESS! HE WILL NEVER MAKE IT!"[/colour] swordstallion shouted over the howling wind that was getting stronger and stronger with each moment. He wrapped his trench coat tighter around himself before yelling some more. [colour=green]"AND AT SUCH CONDITIONS EVEN A DRAGON WOULD BE BLOWN AWAY! LOOK, RIME IS FORMING ON THE GLASS ALREADY!"[/colour]

Indeed, a thin layer of ice started to cover Blazing Fast News building. However the part of getting inside was sound - they had no alternative anyway, other then freezing to death that is.

“That means you, too, crazy flank. You’ve got some explaining to do.”

[colour=green]"Yes, explaining. But in the inside."[/colour] Swift wasn't yelling anymore, for he was just next to Lighting as he forced his way against the snowstorm. [colour=green]"And you will get inside, Deathwishmare!"[/colour] unicorn emphasized the statement by giving the Dust his most ferocious glare. It was the glare that he learned from the scummiest of the scum, toughest of the thought and the most wicked of the wicked that he meet during his sellsword carrier. It was practiced for years and he couldn't even look at mirror anymore while giving it. Compare to that, the strict stares of drill sergeants were the look of concern.

[Dio]

"Are you surprised Shining? Financial department tries to cut expanses everywhere it can for some time now." Swift thrown his to cents into the issue, remembering his earlier talk with father. Unicorn saw the opportunity and decided to use it. "For example, the REA garrison in Fillydelphia didn't had enough funds for proper winter gear. And there are more of shortcomings in other cities as well. It seems the renovations of Canterlot after changeling's invasion burned a lot of money. As well as that Ponyville....especially Ponyville. Some even suggest that all attention this small town gets is developing into favoritism..."

The captain growled under his breath as they made their way into the tower. True, Canterlot was a mess after the Changeling incident, but that was to be expected. The mention of Ponyville on the other hoof... Armor gritted his teeth. Well, it wasn’t so much what Squall said as the way he said it. Who did this guy think he was?

He didn’t give any indication of being a city official; by Tartarus from the looks of it he was just a rich kid trying to pull off the hardflank look while living off daddy newspony’s money. To say what he did so authoritatively really got under Armor’s skin. The hot button, of course, was Ponyville. His sister lived in Ponyville. Her friends were from Ponyville. His FAMILY was now Ponyville by proxy. The matter of fact dismissal of Ponyville was doing little to improve first impressions. He wasn’t being paid enough to foalsit a spoiled greaser AND a daredevil weather pony ego queen. Being belligerent would help nothing, however, so the captain held his tongue.

[colour=#006400]"IT'S USELESS! HE WILL NEVER MAKE IT!"[/colour] Squall was already shouting to be heard. [colour=#006400]“AND AT SUCH CONDITIONS EVEN A DRAGON WOULD BE BLOWN AWAY! LOOK, RIME IS FORMING ON THE GLASS ALREADY!"[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“He was ahead of the storm when he started. As long as he keeps moving he’ll make it!”[/colour] Armor countered. [colour=#0000cd]“We need to help everypony who’s still out here! C’mon! Move along! Everypony inside! We’ll shelter in place!”[/colour]

Ponies scrambled into the building from outside to escape from the impending chill. The blowing snow glittered in shimmering curtains before finally falling dark. Shining Armor suppressed a shiver as he continued to hold the door open and wave the sudden refugees into the tower’s lobby. Only after he was sure there was nopony else caught in the storm did Armor pull the door shut and seal the frame with a minor spell. A blast of frosty breath left little clouds of mist before his nostrils as he shook the snow out of his mane.

[colour=#0000cd]“All right everypony.”[/colour] Armor addressed the gathered crowd. [colour=#0000cd]“The Guard should be here in a bit to clear the snow and get us out. Have a seat, take a break, and wait for this to blow over. Mister Hasty News, I apologize for borrowing your building on such short notice but it appears we had little choice...”[/colour]

Armor slipped past the news mogul, more pressing matters than carrying conversation in mind. The captain trotted over to where Lightning Dust and the medics had managed to collect themselves.

[colour=#0000cd]“Relax, the medics won’t hurt you too bad!”[/colour] Armor said, attempting to inject some levity into an otherwise serious situation. Truth be told, it was just as much for himself as it was for the others. The freak blizzard was bad enough. Having LD and Squall at each others' throats wasn't helping. He extended a hoof to her. [colour=#0000cd]“Captain Shining Armor, Royal Equestrian Army. I don’t believe we got past keeping score and trying to explain why a six-pony job fell to one weather pony?”[/colour]

[colour=#000000][[ Allura will be going next. ]][/colour]

[Apolline Allura]

[colour=#40e0d0]"Deathwishmare?"[/colour] she mouthed, taken all the way around her spectrum of expressions from annoyed to angry to plain disbeliving.

How long was Squall gonna ride her tail over the whole thing? If anything, he could have just kept his sorry flank in the office where he belonged instead of trying to be a unicorn superhero like the big guy who brought the cart around to her. Her gratefulness was now exceeded by sheer dislike. Squall was gonna get a "swift" kick if he kept this up. The look he gave her was compeltely uncessary, but she'd restrain herself for the sake of the other unicorn they followed into the tower.

Shaking her head while the two stallions argued about the one that the authoritative one sent off for help, Lightning Dust walked over to the conviently cutie-marked nurse, her flank marked with a red cross over a band-aid. Trotting slowly, tiredly in her direction, the mare presented her stiff and frostbitten wing. The nurse simply nodded and beckoned her on over. Dust sat on her haunches as her wing was gently tested by the medical earth pony.

The job was a done deal. There was no way she could pull this thing out the sky. Not only would she hit the ground after maybe ten minutes up there, but she doubted either of her escorts would let her off so easy.

At last, the white stallion had properly introduced himself. Shining Armor? Nice. Fit his occupation. He seemed to take control of the situation rather quickly. Aaaaaaaaand then he began the questions.

[colour=#40e0d0]"Lightning Dust."[/colour] she said, returning the hoofshake while a part of her mind desperately wished she could add, 'Wonderbolt in training' as her occupation instead of--

[colour=#40e0d0]"Freelance weather pony. I go out and take jobs that weather teams aren't set to yet. I usually come in before things like this happen and make sure they don't happen..."[/colour]

The mare's face scrunched slightly when her bad wing was pushed a certain way, but she continued. [colour=#40e0d0]"It's too cold up there. And each time I try, it just kinda...gets stronger or something." [/colour]

Dust's other wing popped out and nearly knocked a passing pony away as a hot wrap was wound around her wing by the nimble hooves of the earth pony nurse, and she yelped and grimaced beside her before continuing.[colour=#40e0d0] "I don't work well with ponies who can't keep up, and I wasn't gonna ask for a team and risk getting saddled with some dead weight, wing-dings who couldn't fly out of a paper cup. I hope that's it for now, cuz I'm outta here after I get patched up, cap'n."[/colour]

[Ciraxis]

Now that they all were in the building Swift leaned against the wall and started to ponder over the source of this sudden weather breakdown. The dislike that he compelled within both Captain Commander and Weathermare didn't bothered him much. For Squall resolving the problem always came first. And if others would perceive him unfavorably in the aftermath? Well he helped to make others life a bit easier, not for glory - count was ready to pay such price. Right now both his mind and gut kept telling him that this blizzard was somewhat fishy...

[colour=#40e0d0]"Freelance weather pony. I go out and take jobs that weather teams aren't set to yet. I usually come in before things like this happen and make sure they don't happen..."[/colour]

[colour=green]"My apologizes but may I interrupt?"[/colour] unicorn asked from his spot in the corner [colour=green]"I don't believe that this snowstorm could be avoided...Neither with the full weather team nor with Miss Dust alone...and to be honest she almost makes up for one. Few fliers could avoid going splat from such cold induced dive."[/colour] he explained while adjusting his sunglasses [colour=green]"I will say more. No matter how much weather teams that runner would bring they will fail in dealing with it as well. Flight abilities have nothing to do with it. And that's because blizzard didn't happened just out off blue. It was made."[/colour] swordstallion put forward a seemingly wild hypothesis. Seeing a disbelieving expressions on gathered ponies he continued [colour=green]"Before all off you conclude that I got a brain freeze let me explain. First off Your Highness, know that I was born in this city. Big Apple always had short and soft winters - two months long at best, sometimes just one. Our benefactor is the warm ocean current from Unyasi that washes the shores of Gallapocus Islands. One off it's branches - the west one - ends in Seasaddle Bay while other mixes with cold current from north which gives Gallapocus so much rain clouds. Because off this the whole area is warm yet rainy. Otherwise it would be as dry as Dodge Junction or Appleoosa which are on the same longitude. The Fillydelphia is the exception because it is there were other cold current from the west meats dry air from over Pinto."[/colour] unicorn gave a lengthy explanation.

"Well son...now that you mention it, Manhattan never had a very nasty winter. More often rain then snow. And when it was snowing it wasn't a horror out off Stalliongrad!" Hasty News admitted and rest of redaction quickly followed, nodding their heads in agreement.

[colour=green]"Yes Dad...but it's not all. The rime on glass started to form about three to four minutes since the snow begun to fall. If I am not mistaken yesterday was 4 °C and today's morning 6 °C in the city. The drop of air temperature was too sharp in too short time. It couldn't happen on it's own. Somepony aided it..."[/colour] Squall paused to let his words sink in. After that he continued.

[colour=green]"If that is the case - And I can always be wrong - Then we can safely assume that it was not doing of the pegasus. Miss Lighting got muscle freeze before whole thing truly begun, which means any weather manipulation after that point are suicidal even with expert winter gear. Sky dragon is out off question as well. It would had to be really big and nopony even caught a glimpse of the reptile. Which leaves us with only one logical culprit left...."[/colour]. Swift Squall said, looking at Shining and Dust over his shades.

[colour=green]"Unicorn Magic......"[/colour]

[Dio]

[colour=#0000cd]“Lightning Dust,”[/colour] Armor repeated as a mnemonic.

Something about that name was vaguely familiar, though Armor couldn’t quite put his hoof on it. Was she in the running for Best Young Fliers? Twily couldn’t shut up about it after Rainbow Dash won the last year’s competition. Maybe a fresh Wonderbolt? He has some friends with the 45th out of Cloudsdale, so he supposed he could ask about her next time he was in town. But really that wasn’t terribly important, so Armor merely filed it away for later.

[colour=#0000cd]“I can’t recall ever seeing a freelancer in C-lot. Every weather pony these days is either subcontractor or palace crew. I guess Manehattan works a bit differently.”[/colour]

[colour=#006400]"My apologizes but may I interrupt?"[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“Something up with the civilians?”[/colour] They all looked fine to Armor, but if for some reason they told Squall something they wouldn’t tell him, he needed to know. The captain turned to Squall’s corner and lent him an ear.

[colour=#006400]"I don't believe that this snowstorm could be avoided...Neither with the full weather team nor with Miss Dust alone...and to be honest she almost makes up for one. Few fliers could avoid going splat from such cold induced dive..."[/colour]

Armor was as puzzled as he was curious. First he was raging about Lightning’s personal deathwish, now he was complimenting her performance? What was this guy up to?

[colour=#006400]"I will say more. No matter how much weather teams that runner would bring they will fail in dealing with it as well. Flight abilities have nothing to do with it. And that's because blizzard didn't happened just out off blue. It was made."[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“Of course it was made!”[/colour] Armor replied. [colour=#0000cd]“Most Equestrian cities south of Stalliongrad manufacture their own weather. In Canterlot, we occasionally have rainclouds shipped in from Cloudsdale, but for the most part we make our own. From what Major Sequoia told me back at the garrison, Manehattan is pretty much the same.”[/colour]

[colour=#006400]"Before all off you conclude that I got a brain freeze let me explain..."[/colour]

Armor listened to Squall’s lecture with a mixture of bemusement and utter incredulity. It sounded like something straight out of those pulp fiction novels Twilight wrote home about not too long ago. Her label probably described them and Squall’s speech the best: ‘big, dumb, fun.’

[colour=#006400]“... which leaves us with only one logical culprit left: Unicorn Magic.”[/colour]

It took a second for what Squall was saying to fully sink in. Was he suggesting that somepony had built a blizzard just to trash Manehattan? Like... a comic book supervillain? As much as that tickled Shining Armor's adventure fancy, from a practical standpoint, it was preposterous. Lightning Dust had said herself, she didn't handle cold weather well. It wasn't some mad magus, it was poor judgment. In any case, the weather ponies would have this under control soon enough and then he could grab some lunch and head back to the barracks for his layover before catching the train back to Canterlot the next day.

[colour=#0000cd]“If you’re implying what I think you’re implying, I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.”[/colour] The captain said flatly. [colour=#0000cd] “It looks to me like a weather control oversight. I’ve seen it in Filly and I’ve seen it in C-lot. Heck, I’ve even seen it in the ‘Grad, though to be fair, the Stallians seem to prefer their weather natural...”[/colour]

Armor cleared his throat and got himself back on track. [colour=#0000cd] “Anyway, my point is that all it takes is one weather team packing too much snow in their flurry clouds or too much ‘zap zap’ in their storm clouds or sending it over the wrong ley line and you have all sorts of ruined parades and rained out garden parties.”[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“Relax, Squall. I don’t think there’s anypony out to blow up Equestria today.”[/colour] The captain held a hoof out in a ‘calm down’ gesture. [colour=#0000cd]“And for the love of Celestia, please stop calling me ‘Your Highness’! They issued me a commission, not wings and a tiara!”[/colour]

[[ Just a note, I was assuming this bit is pre-coronation, so no alicorn Twilight. ]]

[colour=#40e0d0]"I don't work well with ponies who can't keep up, and I wasn't gonna ask for a team and risk getting saddled with some dead weight, wing-dings who couldn't fly out of a paper cup. I hope that's it for now, cuz I'm outta here after I get patched up, cap'n."[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“No offense, but I don’t think you’re flying your way out of here either, not with that bum wing.”[/colour] Turning back to Lightning Dust, the captain gestured with his muzzle. [colour=#0000cd]“And deadweight wing-dings? From what the major told me, Manehattan’s civil service crews are anything but.”[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“Call it a hunch, but I don’t think it’s the teams that are giving you trouble.”[/colour] The captain sat down, continuing to address Dust as the nurse finished up. [colour=#0000cd]“I’m going to be honest with you, Dusty. I’ve trained a lot of recruits in C-lot just like you. Like Squall said, you’re got skills, but it looks to me like you bit off a bit more than you could chew. You know it won’t kill you to ask for help, right? The weather service would probably be happy to see somepony use some initiative and take up a leadership role...”[/colour]

[Apolline Allura]

A leadership role.

Pacing excitedly, if not a bit self-importantly was Lightning Dust, just itching to tell her new best buddy about her new badge. She knew Rainbow would flip when she found out, but in a good way.

[colour=#40e0d0]"They made us a team!"[/colour] exclaimed the proud pegasus pony, making her way in the direction of her friend, [colour=#40e0d0]"Isn't that awesome?"[/colour]

[colour=#40E0D0]"I got a busted wing, the storm is in a frenzy, and you think I'm gonna do some good around here?" [/colour][colour=#000000]He had to have been a bit thick for coming up with that one. Really? Rely on the mare with the crippled wing? [/colour]

Then again, it simply could have been him believing in her.

[colour=#000000]She paced right up to Shining Armor, eyes glinting dangerously, as if she was daring him. [/colour][colour=#40e0d0]"I don't do leadership, cap'n. I'd still be a Wonderbolt if I did. If you're gonna take chances..."[/colour][colour=#000000] Dust turned away and sat back on her haunches,[/colour][colour=#40e0d0] "...bet on a winning team, for pony's sake."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]This would have been her moment. But Dust couldn't do it. Not like this. [/colour]

[Ciraxis]

[colour=green]"I well traveled as well Captain Commander. I dare to say equally to yourself."[/colour] Squall replayed dryly. It was obvious that Shining weren't taking him seriously. It seemed like Swift will have to took matters into his own hooves....again. And he didn't liked that...not at all. Yet he didn't quite given up on convincing the other stallion.

[colour=green]"Armor....you are amazing and well known warrior. As a fellow one I have nothing but respect for greatest shield mage that Equestria knows. But just I said you also soldier - forgive me for simplification - and that's left a mark."[/colour] swordstallion said and started to encircle both Shining and Dust.

[colour=green]"I know REA training out and trough. Most believe it just a physical ordeal along with listening to orders. But they wrong...it also an act of shaping a thought process of the new recruit into desirable shape. I been through it as well. I quit, so it didn't stick. And you..."[/colour] Squall shrugged his shoulders before stopping.

[colour=green]"What I trying to say is that you not used to foreseeing the problem of that kind we face now. It's the job for politician. Army itself is made to intercept the obvious dangers and maintain peace..." [colour=black]he paused before shaking his head.[colour=green]"Besides...shouldn't the pony that was mind controlled for more then a week, and who later faced what was essentially a shadowy remains of millennium old tyrant king should be a little less skeptical?"[/colour][colour=black] he sighted and lowered his head. But a second later he rose it up and continued. In his gaze over sunglasses was neither challenge nor disappointment, only concern. [/colour][colour=green]"I am not trying to belittle your experiences or dismiss you authority Captain. But you not only pony who's faced a dangers of this world."[colour=black] Swift moved the skirt of his trench coat to show harrowing scars on his back. Unicorn released his clothing to spare them anymore of this unpleasant sight.[/colour][/colour]

[colour=green]"I want you to be right Commander, too believe you. But I have a feeling that today that luxury will not be available."[/colour][colour=black] Swift turned around to face the door that led to upper floors.[/colour]

[colour=#40E0D0]"I got a busted wing, the storm is in a frenzy, and you think I'm gonna do some good around here?" [/colour][colour=#000000]He had to have been a bit thick for coming up with that one. Really? Rely on the mare with the crippled wing? [/colour]

[colour=green]"Maybe you will. Once in the while, on the savanna wilds, a lion cub with a sliver coat is born. The fur like this aberration that robs them from the natural camouflage at the very birth. One would assume that they doomed, yet they often later found as a leaders of the pack. And thats because...inability to hide encourages the other strengths. Your talent of acrobatic flight may be denied from you for now - but it isn't the only talent you have, isn't it...Dust?"[/colour][colour=black] he asked the mare before moving forward.[/colour]

"Swift...where are ya going?" [colour=black]Hasty News asked[/colour]

[colour=green]"To your office Dad. Something needs be done with that window, otherwise it will be ruined by the blizzard. At worst I will move the documents to the safe place. That...and I need to use the restroom."[colour=black] he replied. But second later he leaned to his father direction to speak in a whisper, so other ponies wouldn't hear him.[/colour][/colour]

[colour=green]"The little storeroom I build here...undisturbed? Key still where I left it?"[/colour][colour=black] unicorn asked.[/colour]

"Nope...no one been inside....Swift you aren't..." Hasty News was obviously started to get worried.[/colour]

"Don't worry Dad...I know what I am doing."[/colour] swordstallion reassured his parent before making his way to the elevator.

[Dio]

Shining Armor cocked his head to the side quizzically as Squall began with compliments.

[colour=#0000cd]“I’m not here to get into a cider-swilling contest, Squall, so I won’t.” [/colour]His response was blunt.

Being charmed by the changeling queen and getting stuck with horn creep after his first round against Sombra were not his proudest moments. The fact that Squall was using them to demean and delegitimatize his authority and experience was nothing short of infuriating. Scars or not, Armor did not take kindly to being insulted, however subtly or however truthful his claims were. It was probably good that he quit; if he didn’t DOR, the DIs would have ended up giving him the boot. Somepony needed to teach him a lesson in respect.

In an effort to remain diplomatic however, the Captain took a minute to choose his words carefully. [colour=#0000cd]“Look, this isn’t about you and it isn’t about me, much less who has the better understanding of what exactly is going on here.”[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“It’s not skepticism I’m fielding, it’s compassion. I know crazy horseapples happen. I’ve been in it.”[/colour] Shining Armor returned Squall’s gaze as the trench-coated unicorn continued to pace. [colour=#0000cd]“But if there’s one thing that I’ve learned from Twilight and her friends, it’s that nopony’s an island. We can’t lose faith in ponykind. The second we start assuming everypony else is out to hurt us is the second we become the villain. I know very well that it could be exactly as you say, but I choose to give the benefit of the doubt.”[/colour]

[colour=#006400]"I want you to be right Commander, too believe you. But I have a feeling that today that luxury will not be available."[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“You’re welcome to feel however you want, Squall,”[/colour] Armor replied. In spite of Squall’s condescension, Armor wasn’t about to lash out. That wasn’t how he did things. [colour=#0000cd]“But I’ve got a mare with a busted wing here and a building full of civilians bunkered down against the storm. I’m not leaving them behind to chase ghosts. Even if there was some evil enchantress out there, my job is to stay here and keep these ponies safe.”[/colour]

[colour=#40e0d0]"I got a busted wing, the storm is in a frenzy, and you think I'm gonna do some good around here? [/colour][colour=#40e0d0]I don't do leadership, cap'n. I'd still be a Wonderbolt if I did. If you're gonna take chances..."[/colour] Dust turned away and sat back on her haunches, [colour=#40e0d0]"...bet on a winning team, for pony's sake."[/colour]

An ex-Wonderbolt? Things were slowly starting to click for Armor. She was a bit young to be a full-on Wonderbolt, but Twilight did mention something in her letters about a certain cadet who had washed out of their trainee program-- a certain cadet named Lightning Dust.

[colour=#0000cd]“So you were the one who almost killed my sister,”[/colour] Armor said nonchalantly, but with sincerity. [colour=#0000cd]“Don’t worry, I’m not mad. If Twily can stare down the Lord of Chaos and a deranged Moon Goddess, I’d like to think something as mundane as a tornado wouldn’t be the thing to finish her. Horseapples happen.[/colour]

Shining Armor cocked an eyebrow at Squall’s speech of encouragement. Well, at least he was trying. As the other unicorn took his leave, Armor turned back to address Lightning Dust.

[colour=#0000cd]“Look at me, Dusty. They told us something very important in ROTC. Winners aren’t born, they’re made. It takes practice, persistence, and a lot of hard work to get there and stay there. The work never stops being hard, but the rewards are worth it. Yeah, we know this storm got out of hoof, but keying your worth off your failures isn’t going to get you anywhere in life.”[/colour]

[colour=#0000cd]“I mean look at me. I’m the Army’s poster boy!”[/colour] Armor pointed a hoof to himself as he began his anecdote. [colour=#0000cd]“But I’ll be the first to say I really blew it at Canterlot during the Changeling incident. I had it through my head that security meant loads of guards and magic barriers. I didn’t count on being outfoxed by the queen of the changelings! We all make bad decisions. What matters in the end is that we take responsibility for those decisions and support each other through the fallout.”[/colour]

[Apolline Allura]

[colour=#40e0d0]"Featherfrig it..." [/colour]

Shining Armor had to have been related to one of Rainbow Dash's friends. Why wouldn't he be? It wasn't as if Lightning hadn't made enough beds for herself to lie in. Her friendship, her dreams, and today, her wing almost. What was Armor getting at? This was the worst it could get.

[colour=#0000CD]“Look at me, Dusty. They told us something very important in ROTC. Winners aren’t born, they’re made. It takes practice, persistence, and a lot of hard work to get there and stay there. The work never stops being hard, but the rewards are worth it. Yeah, we know this storm got out of hoof, but keying your worth off your failures isn’t going to get you anywhere in life.”[/colour]

[colour=#000000]She was silent. These were things Lightning had known her whole life. They were how she stepped up to the plate when her parents had trained her and trained her until she had hit a hard spot. The defeatist attitude in Lightning Dust seemed to deflate as he spoke. [/colour]

[colour=#0000CD]“I mean look at me. I’m the Army’s poster boy!”[/colour][colour=#282828] Armor pointed a hoof to himself as he began his anecdote. [/colour][colour=#0000CD]“But I’ll be the first to say I really blew it at Canterlot during the Changeling incident. I had it through my head that security meant loads of guards and magic barriers. I didn’t count on being outfoxed by the queen of the changelings! We all make bad decisions. What matters in the end is that we take responsibility for those decisions and support each other through the fallout.”[/colour]

[colour=#000000]A few moments passed as the wing-wrecked pegasus let the captain's words sink in. Guilt sunk into her once more, reminding her that this was her fault, that she had ended up putting his sister in danger, and that it was her fault she wasn't a Wonderbolt anymore. His words, and even Squall, the son of a shoehorn; their words rang true in her ears. Lightning wasn't gonna put up a fight against any of it anymore. It was on her head, all of it.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]The fight was with the situation at hoof. [/colour][colour=#40e0d0]"You're right. This is my mess."[/colour][colour=#000000] [/colour][colour=#000000]She raised herself onto all four legs, standing tall at last. As tall as she could be in front of the bigger unicorn of course. A smile...(devilishly curved, a smirk maybe?) appeared on her face. [/colour]

[colour=#40e0d0]"Sir,"[/colour][colour=#000000] The rush was back. The feeling of proving herself against more than just Spitfire, or her fellow cadets was fresh in her mind now. It was a chance to prove she really could be a lead pony. Frig if she was gonna get this chance again now that it meant life or death. [/colour][colour=#40e0d0]"I'm gonna need as many weather ponies as possible to help shut this storm down. I'll also need your help and Swift Squall's too, cap'n." [/colour]

[colour=#000000]Lightning Dust raised a hoof in salute to Shining Armor, ready to perform her duty. She spoke with authority, and confidence. [/colour][colour=#40e0d0]"With all due respect, cap'n, let's rock."[/colour]