My Cousin Apple Storm

by Neoraichu

This story takes place after the events of 'The Saga of the Great Kingdom'.

...

Rainbow Dash flew over Sweet Apple Acres, flying low to stay below the ominous cloud cover. A light rain caressed her as she made her way just over the tree tops. She knew where to go to find who she had to talk to. All she had to do was head towards the tornado in the center of the farm. While the top was rather wide, it tapered to a rather narrow point on the ground.

With her Pegasus sight, she soon caught sight of the suspects. It was Applejack and her sixth cousin, Apple Storm. Applejack seemed rather amused as the tornado danced over and around the trees without damaging more than a few leaves on any of them. The ground was torn where it was touched though, removing the grass, weeds, loose dirt and small rocks into a cloud at the base of the tornado. Apple Storm seemed rather focused as she spun her magically hammer over her head by the leather strap that hung off the end.

Dash landed about a hundred yards or so away from the tornado and walked in the rest of the way. Neither member of the Apple Clan seemed to notice her until she was practically right on top of them.

"Stop the tornado, cousin," shouted Applejack as she finally saw Dash, "We gots ourselves some company now!"

Within a matter of seconds, the mighty tornado climbed back into the sky to vanish in the gentle rain falling from the boiling black clouds. The mystic hammer slowly stopped its spin, and then just hung itself around Apple Storm's neck.

"What can I does fer y'all?" asked Applejack of Dash.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," began Dash, "but the other Pegasi from Cloudsdale asked me to speak to you and your cousin." She walked closer to Applejack.

"Well what the hay is their problem?"

"Their problem is your cousin, Apple Storm."

"Well I don't see no problems," answered Applejack, "Princess Celestia made her a right and proper Minor Thunder Goddess, and she ain't done nothing that ain't in her perview as such."

"While it seems fine to you, the Pegasi of Cloudsdale see things a little different. They can see the effects of Apple Storm's weather control powers well beyond the boundaries of Sweet Apple Acres. She can't just bend the weather to make it good for growing apples all around Ponyville."

"So we just ruffled some feathers in Cloudsdale, huh?"

"Well, I guess you can look at it that way..."

"Well until I hears a complaint from Princess Celestia herself, I don't think we need to do anything about this."

"But they can make life... uncomfortable for me..."

"Is something wrong, Cousin Applejack?" asked Apple Storm as she walked in closer.

"We ruffled some feathers in Cloudsdale," said Applejack in a matter of fact sort of way, "I don't think y'all need to worry about them."

"Has I caused a problem?"

"Oh no," she replied, "You ain't done nuthin wrong."

"I am relieved to hear that."

"Princess Celestia made you an official-type Minor Thunder Goddess, and she's the only one who can take that away from you."

"Ah, she is so wise and beautiful, ain't she?"

"Well yes," said Dash awkwardly, "but it's not as simple as Applejack is making it sound."

"It ain't?"

"No, it is not."

"Really," answered Applejack, "It is that simple."

"I don't wanna cause no troubles," said Apple Storm quietly.

"And you ain't causin no troubles, sweet cousin, I promise."

"Then why does your close friend Rainbow Dash seem so upset?"

"Upset?" she giggled, "She ain't really upset. Dash is just bringing us a message from the hoy-paloy way up there in Cloudsdale. Y'all just upset they's perfect order a smidgen. They don't hold no authority over you nor me."

"Oh, I see," Apple Storm said with a breath of relief.

"But," sniffed Dash, "You can't just keep the weather perfect for growing apples and just ignore the rest of the needs of Ponyville. That's what they have the 'Big Plan' for."

"Big Plan?"

"Yeah, the weather of Ponyville is made according to a master plan. It's all planned for about 5 years in advance. The Plan worked well until Celestia installed Apple Storm as a Minor Thunder Goddess. They see Asgardians like her as lacking... a certain discipline."

"Well if they has such a problem with us," sniffed Applejack, "then they all can come down here and tell us about it themselves, can't they? Do they always get you to do their dirty work for them all?"

"I don't have much tenure or power in Cloudsdale, so yes they would send a peon like me as their messenger."

"Don't look down on yourself. You as good as any of them. You're still they only one in their whole lot who can do the Sonic Rainboom after all."

"Yeah," chimed in Apple Storm, "Y'all is about the coolest Pegasus I all ever did see."

Dash blushed a bit from the forcefully sincere praise that Apple Storm gave her, and Applejack just sported a silly grin on her face.

"Well I guess we's about done here," said Applejack evenly, "maybe y'all wanna drop by the house and join us all fer dinner?"

"Sure," answered Dash, "That would be just swell."