Acting like Foals
Skye blinked and rubbed his eyes. "I can't see anything."
The click of a switch was heard and parts of the large warehouse illuminated one chunk at a time. Skye and Forecast were standing behind a huge pane of glass, which peered into an even larger room. The darkness was fully vanquished. Skye eagerly flew forward, but Forecast stomped a hoof down on his tail causing Skye to face-plant into the floor.
"Not so fast, young pony! You can't simply barge in there." Forecast declared with a stern tone. "This is Cloudsdale's newest structure where we can actually simulate weather effects without having to worry about causing problems for Equestria. It's a training facility of sorts."
Skye yanked his tail from under Forecast's hoof and rolled into the glass. A loud thud echoed through the warehouse. "Then why did you bother taking me here?" He rubbed his bruised head, but remained on the ground.
"This building is a sign of the friendship shared between the pegasi and the unicorns. We actually had some of the best and brightest from Canterlot fly up to Cloudsdale to work on this project. It was completed a few weeks ago, but we still haven't tried any experiments in here. We're debating on who will have the honor of the inaugural test." Forecast trotted past Skye into the mostly empty room.
Skye hopped to his feet and studied the work benches and machines placed around the perimeter. "So you could simulate any kind of weather in here, sir?" He flapped his wings and hovered off the ground. "I don't really get why you'd need something like this place."
"Simple! We have the space for large-scale weather reproduction and the magic to control it all within these walls!" Forecast reached his forehooves out. "The walls are refined from clouds, but have a magical current flowing through them that will absorb any weather effect that touches them! The outside world is safe, and now our rookies can learn to control the weather more efficiently!" His voice boomed triumphantly.
Skye rubbed his hoof over the flat cloud wall and pushed his head forward. The wall was giving off a soft blue glow. "Interesting…" He turned his head and saw the machines to make clouds, the tables for snowflake inspection, and even a few rainbow pools at the far end of the bunker. He flew back to Forecast's side and followed the old stallion's gaze to the large fans on the sides of the walls.
"These are what really excite me!" Forecast excitedly muffled through the hooves covering his mouth. "We can even simulate the forces of wind now! Tornadoes, air currents, trajectories of clouds…" He trailed off and noticed the unimpressed Skye sitting on his hindquarters. "This… doesn't excite you, lad?"
"It's not that… I guess I just need to see this place in action. Right now it's just a big empty room with lots of… potential." Skye blinked.
Forecast sat on the ground next to Skye and sighed. He looked down on the polished marble floor. The old stallion's eyes were tired. He massaged his eye sockets and kept his forehooves over each eye. "When I was your age, places like this weren't even in my wildest of dreams. I can't say for sure how this facility will be used, but I know in my heart that our weather team will make excellent use of it."
Skye sat quietly and tried to show interest in Forecast's speech. His flank was going numb from sitting on the cold flooring. A large control panel caught his eye for a moment. "Hmmm…"
"Pegasi control the weather and do a very good job of it, but we've never really had a place to train weather ponies safely. Equestria needs the best ponies in the sky. Cloudsdale needs to keep that level of quality consistent. Ponies like you weren't born here and certainly don't understand the finer points of weather manipulation." Forecast stopped after he realized the harshness of his words.
Skye narrowed his eyes and looked away. His hoof slammed onto the ground. "I may not have been born in Cloudsdale, but I've been keeping New Jockey safe way before Cloudsdale ever recognized my talents."
"Skye, I'm sorry. I didn't me-" Forecast begged.
"I learned everything I had to know about weather when I was still a colt; when I had to save an entire village from being wiped off the map because somepony else in the sky made a mistake!" He growled, pushed his body off the ground, and flew into the air. "So excuse me if I don't care about some 'magical room' that can simulate weather. I'm not interested in watching ponies play around with something that almost had me killed!" He zipped out of the room and left only a few stray feathers with Forecast.
"I really should have chosen my words more carefully." Forecast lowered his head and sat alone in the empty shell of the training facility.
. . . . . .
Skye fluffed the cloud under his head and wriggled his body a bit. His eyes were shut tightly to block out the sunshine all around him. He felt a chill go down his spine and opened his eyes.
"Hiya." Rainbow Dash was nose-to-nose with him. Her hooves were propping her chin up as she stared at the sleeping stallion.
Skye shouted and rolled off the cloud. After a few seconds, he flapped back up to his makeshift bed and landed. "Rainbow! You almost gave me a heart attack!" He blushed and looked away. "Not to mention you were definitely invading my personal space."
She laughed and slapped her hoof onto the cloud. "Easy, flyboy, don't go getting any funny ideas! I'm only here to get some info outta ya!" She shifted her head to each side and flew closer to Skye. "Rumor has it that some ponies saw you flying to the new weather facility with Forecast! Now, I'm not one to snoop,-"
"Uh huh…"
"- but if you were there, you gotta take me! Do it for your pal, Rainbow Dash!" She winked and held her hoof out for a bump. "Come on, you could hoof bump the one and only me! That's worth, like, ten autographs!"
"Rainbow…"
"Yes?" She grinned.
"Even if I was there…"
Her smile grew larger.
"I'm not going back." He plopped back onto the cloud and rolled away from her intense gaze. "Nothing against you; I just don't want to go back. End of story."
She flew over Skye's curled up body and landed in front of his face. "Wha-at?! This is me we're talking about though! I'm not just some weather mare trying to bug you. We're pals!"
"I can count all of our conversations on one hoof!"
"But if you take me to the weather facility you'll be able to count on two hooves!" She squeed.
Skye rolled away again and groaned. "I just want to take a nap. Come back later."
She nudged him and protested. "Come on! I'll take you out for a round of cider if you just show me where it is! You don't even have to come in. Free cider… with me!" she boastfully reminded him.
He opened his eyes all the way. New Jockey was in that direction. He placed a hoof on his stomach. It had been awhile since he shared a mug of fresh apple cider with a friend. Skye was beginning to doubt whether or not he truly belonged in Cloudsdale. It might be good for him to actually make a friend here; especially after Chase lectured him on being a loner all the time.
Rainbow watched as Skye pushed his body up and hovered into the air. "Sooooo?"
"You're buying me dinner too, Dash." He smirked.
. . . . . .
Rainbow Dash slammed her hoof on the hard floor and winced a bit. "It's not made of clouds?"
"If it's anything like the walls, it's some sort of artificially created material made from clouds and unicorn magic. Neat, huh? Can we go now?" Skye tapped his hoof impatiently.
"Sheesh. Listen to you getting all 'booky' on me." She stood on her hind legs and marched around the room mocking Skye. "This floor is made of a special blah blah blah, and if you carry the two you can find the square root of me as a nerd!" Rainbow fell to the ground and laughed.
Skye rolled his eyes and grunted at the teasing mare. "You're a real riot. Now can we go?"
Dash stopped rolling on the floor and stared at Skye's stern face. Her body rolled over and with a quick flap of her wings she was by his side. The beating of her wings cut through the awkward silence. "What's the hurry? I figured we could – ya know – check this place out a bit! It does simulate weather after all! It could be fun!"
Skye turned and trotted away. His face looked empty. No thoughts of fun were present in his eyes. The mare he wanted to spend more time with was finally next to him and all he could think of was running away. The idea of reliving another storm like the nightmare in New Jockey was too much. The storm that nopony talked about anymore. Skye almost lost his best friend and couldn't bear to entertain the idea of simulating it again just for fun.
"Afraid you'll lose to me, flyboy?" Dash landed and narrowed her eyes.
"What did you say?" Skye glared. It was obvious Rainbow had pushed the correct button to get him fired up.
"Ya heard me! You know who I am and just the thought of going wing-to-wing with me scares you."
"That's not it…"
"Then I guess I won't be seeing you at the Cloudsdale Rumble, huh?"
The words tore through one ear and burst out the other. Skye's mouth dropped open as he faced away from Dash. The Cloudsdale Rumble; the most dangerous event a pegasus had come up with. She could get hurt. Or worse. No… Skye turned around and stared at Rainbow with a beating heart; her cocky white grin shining through the dark room.
"That's a real sha-" She started.
"Rainbow." He interrupted. "I don't know if you should enter -"
She glared back and stomped a foreleg. "Oh, what a shocker! Another stallion telling me I shouldn't enter because I'm some kinda 'delicate flower' or something. You stallions really need to shut up when it comes to judging other ponies by their looks! I'm the best in the skies around here! Nopony is taking me out when it comes to weather or flying."
The sound of hooves grew closer to Rainbow. Within seconds, Skye was face-to-face with her holding a hoof out. "I don't know if you should enter without a partner." His voice wasn't very convincing, but he was trying to win her over.
She slapped his hoof away and scowled. "I've never even seen you in action. I'm not agreeing to anything!"
Both pegasi stared at each other. This wasn't so much a rivalry, but rather two thick-headed ponies not quite understanding the subtleties of teamwork and budding friendships. Granted, no pegasus pony would so quickly offer their services to another without good reason.
"Fine. Then we'll fly right here, right now, Dash!" Skye trotted over to a large contraption and waved a hoof. "I noticed this earlier while Forecast was talking. You can simulate pretty much any type of weather. I'm guessing you just mess with the levers and switches to adjust what you want and the magic does the rest."
"Thunderstorm it is!" Rainbow zipped over and slammed her foreleg down on the rain lever. "We'll need rain, some gusty winds, not to mention some noise!" She eagerly pulled the lever down for thunder clouds. "You're a weather pony, so this will be a cake walk for you! The real fun will be trying to stop me from taking you out!" Dash pulled one final switch for wind and listened as the room rumbled.
Green lines of magic moved across grooves on the wall. The floor, walls, and ceiling were filled by the gridlines until the whole room had an eerie green glow. The floor shifted and the workstations for paperwork and quality control were locked away beneath the tiles. The water-filled cloud machines started to produce very ominous looking storm clouds.
The wind began to blow.
Rain started to fall.
Dash couldn't be more excited.
"This is awesome! We can make anything happen in here! It's like a-"
"-game." Skye interrupted. "It's the same magic Role Play used… Dark Magic… Does Forecast even know about this? "
"What are you muttering about over there? You don't even look excited!" Dash exclaimed.
"Somepony already has the knowledge to create an entire room like this… Then that means that there really are other ponies manipulating Dark Magic spells other than Role!" Skye's eyes darted to the grey clouds. "I have to tell him…"
Dash was hovering next to a cloud and punched her hoof into the dark mass. A lightning bolt shot toward Skye. "Are we doing this or what?" she shouted through the thunder.
Skye noticed the bolt and strained his wings to twirl out of harm's way. The electric spark fizzled out and was absorbed into the magical floor. He reached his wings out and closed his eyes. "I know I can fly up here. I just need to get used to these conditions. This isn't like New Jockey anymore. Gotta focus!"
He opened his eyes and saw another incoming lightning bolt. Dash had perfect aim. Another flap of his wings and a twist of his body sent Skye barreling toward Dash. The rain was picking up in intensity. So far the large fans were still inactive.
"Like the moves! At this rate you'll be having dinner with me and joining the Cloudsdale Rumble as my partner. Can't say I'm not jealous of you." She sneered.
Skye looked around as he flew. "Clouds are pretty high, so it looks like about seventy-five percent of the room will be exposed to the elements. Those fans are aimed directly under the clouds too. That means when the wind does pick up it'll be impossible to see anything with the rain hitting my face. Now how am I going to out-maneuver the best flier in Equestria?" he sighed and looked back at the entrance of the room. "I didn't even want to come in here…"
"Heads up, flyboy!" Dash flew above the clouds and quickly spiraled downward. Her body ripped through the cloud and caused a burst of lightning in all directions. Her smile was growing by the second.
"Can't dodge them all!" Skye yelped as a bolt struck his wing and caused him to tumble out of the air. His rain-battered body skidded across the floor before he rolled back onto his feet. He pushed off into the air at an angle and dodged an incoming jab from Dash.
"Nice recovery! I almost gave you a hoof to the face though!" She laughed hardily.
"I'm pretty sturdy! You'll have to do better!" Skye launched into the clouds and waited. He tilted his head back just in time as a rainbow streak skimmed over his wet chest fur.
For a split second, Dash and Skye's eyes met.
Her mane was soaked and hanging down over her face. There was also a good chance her cheeks were sore from smiling so much. Skye on the other hand had the same cold expression on his face as always. Never one to let his opponents read him, the stallion was determined to continue the fight.
Skye back-flipped to safety and landed atop a cloud as Dash continued her assault.
Then the wind began.
"No…" Skye's eyes widened with worry. "I can't let her see me fail in the wind!"
The fan blades rotated faster as the magical aura surrounded them. Soon the torrential rain was blowing in all directions. Lightning crackled through the artificial sky as the thunder boomed in response. The noise was deafening. Even if Skye would shout for surrender, Dash wouldn't hear him until he was pummeled to the ground.
Standing behind the glass pane, Forecast was watching the illegal scene unfold before him. "Now this is interesting…"
"Come out, come out, Skye! The fun is just starting! Hope ya like some strong gusts! This weather pony is calling for a one hundred percent chance of kicking your flank!" Dash triumphantly declared.
Skye was safely using the clouds as cover and considering his options. "I can't change the precipitation, can I? Maybe I could make hail, but what good would that even do? Just something else for me to slip on." He yelled and popped out from the clouds.
Dash locked on and flew after him. She quickly caught up and wrapped her hooves around Skye. "Having fun, flyboy?" Her hoof rubbed down his back slowly.
"D-Dash…" He trembled.
She let go of him and flapped away. "Don't get the wrong idea!" She snickered mischievously.
Thunder boomed and Skye was caught in an explosion. As he fell to the ground he felt a piece of a cloud stuck on his back. A smile crept onto his face before he slammed into the ground. He shakily stood up and slowly flapped into a hovering stance.
"I know, I know; that was low of me taking advantage of you and planting a thunder cloud." Rainbow crossed her arms. "But you gotta be ready for anything in the real competition!"
Skye rubbed his aching head and looked upward. "Looks like now I have to fly into that wind no matter what. It's like she knocked me down here on purpose!" He fired into the air and felt the gusts shoot over his injured wing.
The pain was excruciating. Blades of wind cut through his feathers and jabbed at the tender flesh. Skye bit his lip and continued to focus on steadying his body. He struggled to gain control and sped closer to his opponent.
"Can't… give up now!" Skye flapped faster. His wings were shaking and his flight path was becoming erratic. Both eyes were barely open as the wind and rain irritated his face
"Are you even trying anymore? This is getting embarrassing for you!" Dash took note of the way his muzzle was scrunched in discomfort. "What's wrong with his eyes?"
Her hooves kicked off the air and she flew directly at Skye. At the last moment she changed her trajectory and kicked away once again, but this time her back hooves had been planted on Skye's back.
A bolt of lightning struck the ground below as Skye felt his head turn fuzzy. He watched as Rainbow got further away. The rain was stinging his eyes. Each drop pushing him toward the floor faster. Finally, he made friends with the ground. His body was sprawled out. He had been defeated. Rainbow Dash was too fast. The wind was too strong. His careless mistake with a lightning bolt early on cost him the entire match.
His vision started to cut out. The rain was still coming down on his face. Then it stopped. Dash was shaking his body and shouting at him. Skye couldn't hear anything. The blow to the head had scrambled his senses for the time being. The rain was trickling down Dash's chin and dripping on his forehead. Skye knew she was trying to shelter him from the elements, but he was having trouble speaking.
He could tell that his body was in bad shape.
Skye reached a hoof up to Dash's face and placed it gently on her cheek. "Are we still getting that cider?" he coughed before passing out.
Rainbow hugged his face against her chest and waited for the storm cycle to end.
. . . . . .
The room was silent again. How many hours had gone by? Skye blinked and touched a hoof to his forehead. He was still in once piece. Still sore and still the loser of the match. Rainbow was gone. Somepony cleared their throat nearby.
"Skye Shot. I didn't show you this facility so that you'd come back and use it for your own enjoyment. Even though this is an extension of the weather factory, you are trespassing right now by entering without my permission." Forecast's voice was angry. No sign of remorse from his old lips.
Skye rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself up slowly. After a few failed attempts he was back on all fours flexing his wings. "I'm sorry."
"Is that all you have to say? Why did you come back in the first place?"
No sign of Rainbow anywhere. Could he still blame the mischievous mare for his bad judgment call?
"I came back to see how everything worked. I didn't like the idea of this place existing, but I just had to see it work with my own eyes."
"Why was Miss Dash with you?" Forecast cut directly to the point.
"Rainbow…" Skye said with a sad face. He couldn't bring himself to blame her. His eyes looked back into the large empty room. "She was so happy. So… full of life in there." He whispered.
"Why was Miss Dash with you?" Forecast repeated.
"I brought her with me, sir. I told her that if she helped me sneak in I'd let her try out a weather scenario." Skye lowered his head in defeat.
Down the hall, Rainbow was pressing her back against a wall and listening to the conversation. It was impossible to miss a word with the loud echoes. "He's lying…" She frowned as her ear flicked.
"Skye Shot, for your intrusion onto this property without anypony's consent and for potential endangerment of another flier's life, I am stripping you of your title as weather pony."
Skye's head lifted as his heart stopped beating.
Rainbow Dash covered her mouth and slid down the wall slowly.
"Is what I should say." Forecast continued with a smile. "You're a terrible liar and even worse opponent for Miss Dash. I'd say you two should team up so that she can show you how to manage simple maneuvers under pressure."
"Sir…" Skye bowed in respect.
"I told you before I hate the idea of the Cloudsdale Rumble. It's a sick game to pit pegasus against pegasus, but… watching you two out there was refreshing for me. Maybe if there are more competitors like you and Rainbow Dash I can rest easy about the future of you youngsters. That is all. You are dismissed."
. . . . . .
Skye was slowly flying alongside Rainbow Dash as they headed back to Cloudsdale. A look of irritation was displayed on his dark blue muzzle.
"You should have seen your face! That first bolt really got you good – your wing looks terrible! Then you hit the ground and rolled like an old muffin!"
"Rainbow…" Skye muttered.
"The cloud grenade was genius, right? I did feel bad for a little bit, but come on, I knew you'd be fine!"
"Rainbow." His voice grew louder.
"It was an admirable battle, but once again Rainbow Dash comes out on top! Best flier ever? Oh yeah!"
"Rainbow!" Skye shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Yes?" she tilted her head and squeed like a filly.
Skye's cold expression melted a bit as he stared at her. "Where are we going to eat?
She flew ahead and placed a hoof over her forehead as she scanned the city in front of her.
"Chimney's Cloud Café? The Horizon Diner? Old Sky Pub? Hmmm…" She wondered while Skye slowly flew past her.
"Somewhere we can have a nice pitcher or two of apple cider, please?" He sighed and winced in pain at his wing.
"Sure, sure. Loser gets to pick!" She quickly zipped toward Cloudsdale and left Skye spinning around in the air.
Skye shook his head and followed the rainbow colored blur across the night sky. "She's going to be a real handful, isn't she?" he said with smile.
/) To Be Continued (\