Chapter 36: Distant Drums
Back at Canterlot Academy, the Harmonizers were tucked inside Dorm 49, riding out Aule in style. Twilight noticed that Applejack was already inside the academy. The distant thunder of the storm merely gave them the spooks, as so did the other students, not less with Jorge and Hogarth. Smurfette and Vexy were watching from the window, thousands of droplets splattered onto the glass as it if were a shield. Lola was standing outside the 5th dorm building, spectating from close-up. No lightning strike came toward the courtyard however, only the flashes of lightning of a pre-winter storm to fill the void. She held her arm out to the open, feeling the water drop onto her hand. The bunny went back inside into Dorm 49 and closed the door, everybody minus Applejack to occupy the space.
"It's getting pretty bad out there". Lola started to speak. "Who knew such a storm could hit Nevada. The remnants must have been blown from Mexico with the strong winds of another storm".
"A powerful pressure intensifying in the Pacific". Twilight added. "Mother Nature is yet to unleash true potential on us for reaking havoc on the environment".
"If anything, you should stop using technology for our sins". Sticks answered.
"No, it's not that". Sunset replied. "We're pumping emission into our atmosphere for goods such as appliances and stuff".
"I don't know how long it will last". The bunny sat on her single bed.
"You're worried it might be another one?". The studious asked her.
"No...".
"It's not stopping any time soon". Smurfette was watching the rain with her sister. "It's gradually getting more persistent by the minutes".
"I just felt the speed of the storm. Nothing is slowing down and or speeding up".
"I really hope Applejack doesn't get blown away". Vexy was worried. "To lose a friend in the midst of a storm is heart-breaking".
"I know right".
"I can assure you Applejack isn't going away from us". Twilight eased on the situation, but it still wasn't enough to convince them.
"When will she be back? I'm getting kinda worried mourning for the loss of one member can deflate an entire group".
"I'm going out there". Vexy turned her back from the window and opened the dorm door.
"Are you sure it's safe out there?". Vanellope questioned.
"Trust me. I have been in worse than storms. I'll be looking over Applejack once I'm out".
She smiled as she left the dorm, letting herself brave in the storm as far as the courtyard canopy that overhung the entrances to the academy. Vexy's hair and hat were immediatly swaying violently as she stepped out, the smurf having a tight grip on her woolly accessory to avoid losing her signiture hat. She looked up, rain falling faster than what she could imagine from an early winter storm. No sign of Applejack, just swarms of violent debris slamming against the walls of the academy. Vexy gulped and hoped for the Element of Honesty to return from her grudge. That exactly came whithin a few minutes of hopeful watching the storm wreck havoc on the city. The southern farm girl ran to her, apparently fearing for her safety.
"Vexy! What in tarnation are you doin' out here?!".
"I was waiting for you from out front because I feared you was going to blow away".
"You could've waited for me from Dorm 49, but seeing how you care for me...".
"How long will this storm last?". The smurf asked, as they were going back inside.
"You're asking a really good question, there, Vex!".
As the two made it back to Dorm 49, a loud roaring of thunder could be heard as lightining struck close to them. This, in turn, made Smurfette and Fluttershy flinch as Vexy and Applejack closed the door.
"How did it go?". Lola asked the farm girl.
"It was a pretty simple match against my brother. He wanted to me to test skills at table tennis before he qualified for the nationals. Nothing like sibling rivalry in the midst of Aule!".
"I don't think this storm is passing any time soon". Sticks told her. "I could wait out this in my sleep and never get tired".
"We have time to go back to the academy before the late hours come". Applejack walked toward the closet to dry her hair, as she never went under the canopy. She walked past a docile Sticks leaning against the wall between the closet and the bathroom.
"If that's the case, what do you suppose we do?". Rainbow gave the question.
"What you wanna' do?".
"Nah...Daring Do: Rescue Organization is airing. I can't miss the finale".
She picked up the remote and turned from a black screen to the Daring Do cartoon. She dropped the remote onto Pinkie's lower bunk.
"Oooh!".
"Hey Pinks, wanna join me?".
"If anything to ride out the storm!".
And so, Rainbow, Pinkie and possibly Twilight stared at the TV showing Daring Do: Rescue Organization, and episode where Daring Do traverses through a jungle filled with booby traps. Sticks never minded her friends using her greatest fear, on the contray that made them happy. She sighed and left the door, hoping to ride out the storm in Dorm 23.
That's the end of this chapter. The girls riding out the storm in Dorm 49, with Applejack having came back from settling a grudge with Big Macintosh. What will happen next? Read on to find out. Please review.