(A/N: First time in this fandom, so cut me a little slack while I get cozy. Critique appreciated, please point out if I go OOC, R&R)

Prologue

Twilight Sparkle's POV

I feel a nudge against my side. I roll over and pull my pillow over head in protest. "Come on Twilight! This is serious" Spike's voice floats into my fogged thoughts. This catches my attention. Spike always sleeps in, I always wake him up. I roll over taking my sheets with me. My unbalance and the blankets cause me to stumble and fall forward. Spike shoves me again "Get up! Hurry!" he urges. It's only then I realize the ear splitting ringing piercing the room. I shake my head and clumsily pull myself to my hooves. I trot down the stairs and stumble out of the library and into the street.

A moment later I feel a strong force dash into my side bowling me over. Pinkie Pie skids to a halt, whipping around she helps me up. "Sorry." She giggles.

"Pinkie Pie, what is going on?" I urge staring at her nervously.

"Oh, the dam is going to break, and we're heading for high ground" she says in a matter of fact tone.

Panic surges through me. I grasp Pinkie Pie's tail in my jaws and drag her a little way before she wiggles free and matches my pace. A shadow drags overhead as Fluttershy gropes with as many critters as she could possible manage. Rainbowdash assists her with just as many furry, scaled and feathered bundles. Applejack and Rarity join in soon after, Rarity flinching as mud clung to her coat. Suddenly, Applejack slams on the breaks, causing us to all stop and Fluttershy to almost drop Angel.

"I forgot to close up the barn, and Granny Smith, Big Mac and Applebloom are still sleeping. I'll be right back." She shoots spinning around.

"Wait" I say. Nervousness rips through me. Applejack waits her emerald eyes glitter with worry. "Be careful." I say slowly. She tips her hat and whips around, galloping toward Sweet Apple Acres.

Applejack's POV

I slide to a stop nearly crashing into the barn. " Get up every pony" I call speeding up the stairs. I kick open the door to Applebloom's room and pick her up by the bow. I half drag, half carry her down the stair before roughly plopping her into the cart we use to haul apples. I spin around to see Granny and Big Mac exiting the house. Granny feebly pulls herself into the cart. I turn to Big Mac "Take them to Chestnut hill, I have to close up the barn, I'll be right behind you.

"Eee-yup" he responds.

Applebloom now someone alert stares at me. "What is going on" she calls over the sirens.

I flinch nervously "It'll be fine" I say quickly spinning around. I can hear her wail in protest as Big Macintosh canters away.

I return to my duty, I didn't have much time. I sprung forward slamming my rear hooves into the lock, clicking it closed. I sprint around back and in through the back. I had to lock the hatch in the roof in the barn or all the apples would be destroyed or get carried away. I fling myself at a clump of apple crates. I scramble to the top and eye the hatch. I find a broom and lace it through the ring, my balance fails and me and the crate pile crumbles. I turn to get the back door but I feel my hoof catch. I look back ready to free myself.

Suddenly, I hear an earsplitting cracking that overpowers the sirens. My heart stops, the dam. I thrust my foreleg into the heavy crate, yanking at my hind leg. Dread rips up my spine angrily. I slam my foreleg again hard into the crate again. It splinters and pain shoots up my limb, but I pull free.

I whip around the corner and in one movement lock the back door. I look up only a second to see a massive wall of water racing though the dim light of the town. It foams at the mouth like a hungry bear. I turn around sprinting, my heart pounding.

Trees swish past my head as I dash forwards. The shadow of the wall rests on my back, I let my head swivel back for a moment, and it whips back. Adrenaline pounds through my veins giving me an extra burst of speed. I can see the two shelter hills silhouetted against the rising sun.

Twilight Sparkle's POV

I shuffle nervously nearly knocking Pinkie over. She giggles taking a step back. "Applejack should be here by now." I fret.

Rainbowdash rolls her eyes "She probably is already, it's a big crowd and we can't see every pony. If she isn't she's at the other hill. It's closer to Sweet Apple Acre's anyway."

I sigh, she was right, but I still couldn't ignore the dense pit of anxiety in my stomach.