Rainbow Dash always [verb]s in style

[elementofloyalty]

Okay, ponies, listen up! The name's Rainbow Dash! There's... probably at least one more of me out there, but that doesn't change the facts. Fact number one: I'm Ponyville's weatherpony, and that means I need a roll call from all you pegasi out there! There's a lot of responsibilities you have that you need to be aware of, so listen up! First of all: DO NOT CHANGE THE WEATHER. We are on a schedule here, people. A one-cloud rainstorm, fine. Deciding you want a sunny day when we've got downpour slated, not fine.

Second: Do not harass the flying tortoise. I'm serious. You do not want to mess with that little guy, he'll end you. Oh yeah, that goes for all you OTHER ponies too, if he's near the ground. He may or may not be a trained combat pet at this point. I'm not sure. But even if he's not, still, do not give that guy grief. Attention and respect is cool though.

Third of all, do not just make homes on clouds. Napping is fine, that's practically what they're there for, but they're not homes. Use a sensible house like a normal pony. If you need help constructing a cloud home, I'm sure Twilight has plenty of books in the library that she'd be happy to loan you.

Fourth, if you think you're fast, you're not, and I'm taking all challengers to prove it. [Rainbow winks broadly at the scroll.]

Oh yeah, and uh, if anypony shows up named...

[Rainbow stops, considers, then shakes her head.]

...Nah. Never mind.

Comments

[Audio]

[surpriserainbows]

[Wow. You actually sound like...you're capable of getting things done. Surprise has to admit she's impressed by this point, considering the Rainbow Dash she knew.]

Hey, I'm here! I guess you knew that because you already talked to me but you wanted a count so I dunno! I guess I responded!

[It's really overwhelming. She'd gotten so used to berating or correcting her Rainbow Dash that she's at a loss of what to actually say.]

So do you need help here, or should I get on back to Cloudsdale and the Weather Factory?

[elementofloyalty]

[Hmm, that's a good question. Rainbow Dash thinks for a moment.]

Probably better to stay here for now. Cloudsdale should be getting along fine, and Ponyville seems to be the source of this disturbance. Better if we have as many pegasi here as possible in case of dragon attack or something. That one dragon is friendly, right?

[surpriserainbows]

Okay so there's a dragon here too! That's news to me but alright that's just great on top of everything else! Does it plan to just stay here in town or is it staying on the outskirts or what?

If we have to worry about a dragon attack it'd probably bet better to set up some kind of evacuation plan than anything else. You know, making sure the new ponies don't just run right into the thing.

[elementofloyalty]

If I know dragons, then if it wasn't attacking when we saw it, it won't be without a reason. They're generally not patient or subtle enough to just sit around. I'm wondering if we're going to get one that ISN'T tolerant.

[surpriserainbows]

We should be prepared to.

[Pessimism was pretty much the rule for Surprise's pattern of thought.]

I mean look boss. We're going to get all types here, right? Eventually any good luck we have is gonna run out.

[tinkertytonk]

[Bertie's impressed by the sheer amount of color in this girl's mane. She also sounds like she might know what she's on about.]

What ho, Ms. Dash! I'm Bertram Wooster. Or Bertie, if you'd like. Still getting the a handle on this flying whatsit. It's brilliant you lot flitting about like that Grecian fellow Hercules tamed! I'm helping out Ms. Trixie with her performance and Vantas with his farm, but I'd be happy to help however I can.

[elementofloyalty]

Okay, I'm going to assume none of that stuff I didn't understand was relevant.

Anyway, you're free to do whatever you want for the most part, but since only pegasi can control the weather, we have responsibilities you might be called up for.

[tinkertytonk]

Ms. Star mentioned that, as well. Do you really control the weather? That seems very odd. On Earth, it all just gets on by itself. The weather, I mean. Do you have to push clouds around or some such?

[elementofloyalty]

Yep.

[Obligingly, Rainbow grabs a nearby cloud, pulls into into view, then shoves it back and forth.]

[tinkertytonk]

Oh, that's just amazing, Ms. Dash! The real Tabasco! I haven't managed to get up to any of the clouds yet, but by Jove, if you can all but juggle them that's solid incentive.

Can only pegasus...es...? Pegasi? Pegapods? Well, whatever the plural may be, are you really the only ones who can do that? Seems a dashed shame for the non-winged among the ranks.

[Visual]

[ponymechanic]

[And he's the first of, most likely, confused newly-turned pegasi.] So the weather here need to be controlled and it doesn't move on it's own? And you can sleep on clouds?

Oh, I shouldn't be rude. I'm Tails. Nice to meet you.

[elementofloyalty]

Yes and yes again.

[Rainbow grabs a cloud that's drifting nearby and tugs it over for a demonstration.]

This takes practice and skill, but a pegasus can whack the moisture out of a cloud, or even lightning if it's the right kind.

[She gives the cloud a bump with her rear hoof, causing it to pour out water for a few seconds.]

Weatherponies distribute the clouds from Cloudsdale properly, then clear them out when they're no longer needed.

[ponymechanic]

[He watches with interest. He's seen many weird things so while he isn't exactly in awe, it's certainly the first time he's seen something of this kind.] Interesting. So what's this Cloudsdale place like?

[elementofloyalty]

Home sweet home! Cloudsdale's a pegasus city, because it's made entirely of clouds. It's responsible for most of Equestria's weather production... Clouds, snowflakes, rainbows...

[ponymechanic]

Sounds pretty interesting. I might visit if we don't get home soon.

[selfmadespeedster]

Uh. Hi? Rainbow Dash was it? I'm Wally. I guess I'm a pegasus too but you don't really need to worry about me doing things to your local weather. I don't know how to fly so...

<sub>[Not that he was planning on sticking around much longer. Surely they'd be out of this place soon. Right?

When she mentions being fast his mouth opens to reply out of habit but he stops himself short. "Hold on Man," he thinks to himself, "Now isn't the time for that." He closes his mouth again and gives his best, "I swear I wasn't going to say any thing else." smile.]</sub>

[elementofloyalty]

It's easy. Want a lesson? You probably just need to kick the ol' instincts into gear.

[selfmadespeedster]

<sub>[As much as Wally was bothered by how all he had been taught about physics was being broken and twisted in this world he couldn't deny a very basic and common human desire- the idea of being able to fly. He didn't dare breathe a word of it to any one, but in the past when he had first gotten his super speed powers, he had attempted to flap his arms fast enough to get off the ground. Sadly, he still couldn't do it fast enough. Maybe Uncle Barry could pull it off, but Wally had been too embarrassed to ask.

His enthusiasm burst through. He grinned instantly.]</sub>

Oh yeah! That would be sweet! Teach me how to fly!

[elementofloyalty]

Ha ha, you got it. Where ya at?

[selfmadespeedster]

I'm in the Town Square right now.

Uh. See you soon?

[stormbroken]

Another reason to stay grounded, I suppose. Not that it was too different back in my Equestria.

Flare Star, reporting for census. Just give me a heads-up for any heavy weather so I know I can stay with four hooves on the ground. Weather and I... don't get along very well.

Added in as an afterthought

[stormbroken]

Oh, and I'm going to have to take an inactive support role for hurricane season - like I said, weather and I don't get along. Once they kicked me off the pegasus squad in Fillydelphia, windspeed tripled. Not exactly sure why, but obviously I was the cause.

[elementofloyalty]

We're pretty clear for a while now, I think. Ponyville got the Cloudsdale water funneling job pretty recently, so we won't be on for that again for a while.

[stormbroken]

Fair enough. I'm not so good with the creating weather, but if you need it cleared I can do that well enough in a pinch. Mom was a weatherpony, so I at least know the protocol, even if I didn't get a lick of talent from her.

[elementofloyalty]

Glad you know the ropes, it'll make this easier to have more ponies around that do. I'm a little worried about everypony who wasn't a pony to start with causing trouble. The more of us who can tell them to knock it off if they do something dumb, the better.