The next sunny day and Sweet Apple Acres, the home of the Apple family, was now the meeting point of many Ponyville ponies for the day of apples, harvesting and processing into the ponies' favorite apple juice, there were as many as three lines of patiently waiting ponies now talking on a variety of topics. from the usual everyday topics to the topics of the past days related to the matter of vanished chocolate and the strange black cloud that could devastate the friendship school, and of course one of the main topics of conversation was the man himself, because many of the ponies present expected Alex to appear on Apple's Day at Sweet Apple Acres.
A maroon unicorn mare with a red mane and a renewed horn stood in the line, listening to the ponies' conversations, alone wondering whether the man would actually visit the Apple family house today, Tempest Shadow, listening to the conversations, watched the ponies full of joy and Katrina's little yellow-gray minotaur walking around with the green Swift Max's red-mane pony, they both went about [watching each of the gathered, three queues, and another attraction, i.e. competitions in throwing to the target or a tournament for whoever eats the most apples, the tournament gathered two worthy competitors, i.e. Swift's father Max, Big Mac rivaling Katrina's father, the big green Minotaur, both entered the competition as always seriously ready for anything, but there was something strange about it all that focused Tempest Shadow's gaze on the two young men.
Usually Swift Max and Katrina loved to compete with each other, they always cheered on their fathers when they competed with each other, but on that day their attention went from pony to pony, from a small dragon to a small griffin, nothing mattered much to them, even two brothers to help Apple work with its apple juice production.
- they're up to something. Tempest Shadow said, focusing her full attention on the two young men, a normally maroon mare would never be interested in such a matter, trivial and prosaic, but she knew Swift Max and Katrina too well, she had heard and visually knew about their mutual love of competition.
- please, hey Tempest Shadow it's alright. Applejack asked, handing over a glass of apple juice.
- Eh what?, That's alright, yes, I'm wondering if Alex is going to visit us today. Said Tempest Shadow taking a glass of juice from the orange mares with a golden mane, cleverly concealing the truth of her main absence.
- and here it comes, well, you know nothing, maybe Alex will appear, maybe not, if it was a chocolate day, he would definitely show up right away. Applejack said, staring intently at the maroon unicorn mare.
- Tempest, I hope you got it out of your head, you know Alex and Twilight.
- Yes, I know, yet, eh, yes, I wonder if all people are like him, if it were true, I would probably leave this world and bring another one here or stay in the human world forever. Tempest Shadow said seriously, this time it was she who surprised the completely orange mare and the little sister, pale pink Apple Bloom with a caramel mane, approaching her.
- how, do you want to leave our world?. Shocked Apple Bloom asked, putting more glasses on the table.
- take it easy, I wasn't serious, I joked about it, and I think I finally found the only one. Tempest Shadow said winking at the two sisters to which Applejack and Apple Bloom jumped up.
- who, how, where. Apple Bloom asked trembling.
- a secret, and you run to deal with the customers. Tempest Shadow said as she walked away from the table.
Tempest Shadow, on the one hand, was joking, on the other hand, she was serious, the question was what was she joking about and what was she telling the truth about, it didn't matter to herself when two observed kids suddenly disappeared from her eyes, Tempest Shadow began to sneak through the crowd looking for two Swift Max and Katrina, passing the orange pegasus Scootaloo with pink and purple mane and the light gray unicorn mare Sweetie Belle with a curly lilac and pink mane, both ran through the crowd with baskets full accompanied by Sugar Belle, a pink unicorn mare with a navy blue mane, Big Mac's wife and Swift Max's mother walked with two baskets full of apples leading Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to the waiting two associates currently helping the Apple family.
Tempest Shadow saw the two unicorn brothers again, not believing with her eyes, seeing two twins in colorful uniforms, Flim & Flam, more surprisingly helping the Apple family to carry baskets and process apples with their great modernized machine, was like a thunderbolt for Tempest from the clear blue sky.
Flim and Flam were widely known as clever and cunning tricksters, usually their bags were created very quickly by various machines and their workmanship and the goods themselves were of rather dubious quality, both brothers also had their conflicts with the Apple family and today they both cooperated with the Apple family and together, they helped process apples into pure apple juice, and their machine was different from the front one, Zedreggg 5000, it operated completely differently from previous generations of this type, the pressing and squeezing machine was different, slower and more accurate.
- amazing is your new weight rail, it is a work of art. Scootaloo said as she helped two brothers load apples into the tank where the production process began.
- well after Alex helped us improve the mechanism, we are of the same opinion. Flim said.
- and the effect is simply amazing, Zedreggg 5000, not only squeezes the juice but adds the blended part of the fruit to the juice, that's amazing. Said Flam as he stroked the huge rotary motor of the revised juice-pressing work.
- soon Alex helped you to improve your machine ?. Sweetie Belle asked, looking at the two brothers impatiently waiting for confirmation.
- yes, Alex said he knew about this type of machine and he helped us improve. Flim said slapping Zedreggg 5000.
- but how did you find him. Sugar Belle asked, handing over the last basket of apples.
- actually he found us first, we were in Manehattan and he said he would be happy to help us improve our machine. Flam said, standing proudly in front of his machine, setting the whole mechanism in motion by pulling one lever.
- but the most important thing is what he taught us during the legion wars and now, sometimes it's worth stopping, sometimes it's worth doing something more for less, it's not worth rushing blindly for profit because it's a black hole, what it is and actually gave us it is very thought-provoking, because our defective weapon would lead to the tragedy at New Hive. Flim said, looking shamefully at the ground, as did his brother.
- it's really amazing how much has changed after our hero's actions. Sweetie Belle said looking at everything that might not currently exist.
Looking from the side at everything, Tempest Shadow smiled and looked at her corner because he knew very well how much truth was in the words of today reconciled and friendly ponies, but it did not change the fact that someone escaped her, two flowers, Swift Max and Katrina, Tempest Shadow quickly she returned to looking back as she walked forward and her inner instinct was still leading her towards the White Tail Woods, looking towards the forests Tempest had a strange feeling of shivering on her back as if something was calling her and on the other hand it wanted to stop her from entering the unknown, and yet all evil was defeated, so what made her feel a strange fear and it was she, confident and brave, not avoiding the fight and everything that the world was to bring.
- Hey Tempest, something happened. There was the familiar voice of a pink earth pony mare, who also stopped in front of the fence, looking out over the great woods with a strange fear.
- Pinkie Pie, what are you doing here, you're not in the fun, after all.
- I know what I should, but something worries me.
- you too?. Tempest Shadow asked, looking at Pinkie Pie and her full attention focused on the White Tail Woods.
- yes, I have a slight shiver, you know what that can mean, and this is just the beginning, something tells me that everything is focused right there. Pinkie Pie said, pointing to the woods in front of her.
- So there is something very disturbing about it, wait a minute, or maybe another storm is coming, a similar one from three days ago hardly devastated Ponyville and the friendship school. Tempest Shadow said.
- but not that, if another storm comes here, I'll be very angry with it, it's a beautiful day and I won't let you spoil another successful day, I'm fed up with spoiling my days, I haven't recovered from the legion wars and this, Akeron or whatever he was there. Said Pikie Pie, hitting the ground angrily.
Up to a certain point, the thoughts of the pink earth pony mare were focused on the unpleasant memories of the wars of the legions until the last words of the previous speaker remembered.
- Wait Tempest, you said you were worried about something?. Pinkie Pie asked, looking at the maroon unicorn mare with great curiosity.
- there's one thing I'm worried about, Swift Max and Katrina. Tempest Shadow said as her eyes saw footprints now leading into the forest.
- Swift Max and Katrina, what about them. Pinkie Pie asked, slightly nervous.
- today they were behaving very strangely, first of all, they were not interested in their parents' rivalry, and yet something like that was always interesting for them as mutual rivalry, and here today, they did not pay attention to it, they did not compete with each other, instead they were looking for someone and now, please their footsteps lead to White Tail Woods. Tempest Shadow said, revealing footprints leading straight into the forest where the unknown waited for them.
- please, not this one!. Pinkie Pie screamed as she suddenly shuddered.
Shocked, Pinkie Pie started backing up to the suburbs of the gathered and playing ponies to get everyone's attention, and worse, that was just the beginning.
- Pinkie what's going on. Applejack asked, reaching her friend.
- something big, this, this, this, me, aaaaa. Pinkie Pie said as her whole body trembled and from the west a strange black cloud began to rise in the sky, coming from beyond the horizon.
- not only not whether it is another storm, like a few days ago, what is happening here. Big Mac shouted, staring from Luxor at the oncoming strange cloud.
- ponies is even worse!. Tempest Shadow shouted, alerting and shocking everyone.
- how is it worse, what is happening. Sugar Belle asked, panicked, standing next to her husband, the red stallion Big Mac.
- that Swift Max and Katrina just went to White Tail Woods!. Screamed Tempest Shadow as she suddenly took off into a maddened run, dying to the endangered place where the pony children and the minotaur were probably.
- what, your son made problems again. Luxor said angrily.
- it's not your daughter who got my son into trouble again. Said Big Max, their luck or not luck was all interrupted by a great and powerful lightning bolt piercing the sky.
- oh no, it must be getting stronger. Sweetie Belle said.
- we must do something if this storm is just as dangerous. She asked Scootaloo, flapping her wings alone, they are on the verge of the decision whether to stand and look at the danger overcome by fear or fly and help her friends.
- if we do nothing, a tragedy may result, and please, Big Mac and Luxor, stop blaming yourself, something must be done and now, quickly. Apple bloom said, wanting to run, until she was suddenly stopped first by her older sister and then by something that was truly shocking.
The sky was hit by a great beam of strange green power, unlike anything known, even a man never showed anything cheap, but the two twins standing showed not a ray but what was after it, not the action was the most important for them and the reaction of the black clouds on a green ray.
- look at that this cloud is changing accounts, I think it's going north right now. Flim said pointing to a rushing black cloud.
- if this cloud was going so fast, it could hit Cloudsdale in four hours. Flam said rightly analyzing the movement of the black cloud.
- so what does it mean, someone has deliberately set a huge cloud in motion. Shocked Pinkie Pie asked, to which the two brothers nodded.
- exactly, someone deliberately set a huge cloud in motion and even created it, someone used alchemy and magic for it. Flam said.
- as you can also notice, this is one thing, this cloud was meant for us, I think, but someone probably made a mistake and now the cloud is racing north. Said Flim, scratching his chin like a well-known detective.
- but why, who would do it. Luxor asked.
- probably only to blame the accusation on man. Big Mac said rightly.
- Anyway, I'm not going to stand here, my baby is in danger there. Sugar Belle said as she ran straight towards White Tail Woods in pursuit of Tempest Shadow who had now disappeared somewhere in the thickets of a great forest.
Moments before breaking the power in White Tail Woods, Swift Max and Katrina were getting deeper and deeper following the only trail left in the forest litter, the trail that Luster Dawn left as she headed into the unknown, and with each passing meter, Swift Max and Katrina they felt a strange breeze on them, amplified by a strange sound beating it from the sky then from the west direction.
- Katrina, you hear it, it's like a purr of heaven. What's going on there. Swift Max said, lifting his head high to see something above the dense foliage.
There was no need, however, to look in front of the dense leaves, because the surroundings of the forest itself were getting darker, as if a great black thundercloud was born by something unknown to them, and the strange murmur and darkening of the sun indicated only one thing, someone repeats the creative process creating a great storm cloud and Sweet Apple Acres was the prime target of unknown conspirators, unknown except for Luster Dawn herself.
- Swift Max I see something that it will not be just any storm, and worse, everything will hit your house. Katrina said, nudging a green unicorn with a red mane.
- I can feel this wind, I can see this darkness, they do it again, I can't let my house be in danger soon, I guess we're close. Swift Max said and rushed forward to what could be called the epicenter of the problems, something that glowed a strange light for a moment.
- Katrina, you saw that. Swift Max said as the green glow lit up everything.
- it was strange, and why everything was racing to the sky.
- Katrina, I think it's them, they are getting big, they have to be stopped, quickly. Swift Max shouted as he ran straight to the familiar places the two detectives had been telling him and everyone else about.
There has always been an unusual place in White Tail Woods, a small clearing with a small log lying in the middle, it was here during the wars of the legions Diper and Zax found a man, here Alex rested for a few days at the beginning of great wars, and today this place was completely different, the eyes of the pony and the yellow-gray Minotaur hidden in dense bushes saw a strange and even grotesque sight, in the middle of a burnt clearing, a cauldron hung over a burning fire and a strange power oozing from the cauldron rose into the sky causing the power of a huge cloud to grow, alchemy and magic united in one cauldron transformed the once clear sky into an almost ready cloud to smash everything with a series of lightning and a powerful wind.
The most grotesque, however, were the three ponies dressed in black clothes completely covering their bodies, the only thing that could be said was that they were two adult ponies and one young pony, sewn in girls, including two unicorn mares and one earth pony mare, except one of the gathered ponies was completely unknown to the two spies watching everything from a thicket of bushes, only her voice was recognized at first glance.
- this is amazing, I never thought that alchemy combined with magic could create something so wonderful! that's amazing !, it is an honor for me to learn from you my ladies. Masked Luster Dawn said with her horn as well, adding some of her power as the masked Mistmane injected great amounts of magic and Meadowbrook added more essential ingredients from the usual roots and crystals to magic elixirs.
- remember to always maintain full balance in such processes, otherwise unwanted action may occur and the entire cloud will slip out of control. Meadowbrook said, twirling the big bucket in the cauldron, causing another magic beam to hit the black clouds giving them more and more power and an easterly direction.
- I still can't believe that something like storm clouds can be created with magic, you have really made a big leap in this day and age, Miss M. said Luster Dawn, calling Meadowbrook in cipher, just in case.
- but the most important thing is that the cloud is ready, now you just need to stir it and it's ready, the cloud will hit Sweet Apple Acres, a few minutes later, we have enough time to disappear and remember that each of us is running our way, we cannot afford to be caught us in one place. She said Mistmane hidden in a black suit rubbing her front hooves.
- they are crazy. Swift Max, utterly disgusted, said.
- and what do they do.
- they will say something quieter in a moment. Said Katrina, covering the little pony's mouth.
- and remember, when the storm is over, we will be there at intervals of five minutes, something like this no one will be able to overlook as concrete evidence against human. Meadowbrook said.
- we will finally discredit this dodger and he will finally reveal his true face to us!. Luster Dawn said in a raised voice.
Swift, sitting nearby, clenched his jaws tightly, not believing what he was hearing, for the mind of the little pony the plan of the conspirators was more abnormal and stupid than he could have imagined, on the one hand they were putting his house at risk, on the other hand their sick logic made them conduct such sick practices to accuse a man, to finally get some uncreated things out of him.
- dulcimer, I'll tell them. Swift Max said, trying to get out of the bushes but Katrina stopped him.
- Swift Max you're crazy, you want to go there, we must have a plan, first. Katrina said.
- what a plan, they won't do anything to us.
- Swift Max is not about us and about this cloud you have heard another shot of power and the cloud will move, you have to do something to stop this raging storm.
- what do you mean?. Asked Swift Max, looking at the yellow-gray Minotaur lost in thought, suddenly Katrina opened her eyes wide, snapped her friend's ear in the ear and pulled a red mushroom with white spots from under the bush.
- toadstools?. but they are poisonous. Help you. Swift Max asked.
- and if you think, we'll throw it into the cauldron and the balance will be upset, so if you like Swift Max you can throw it accurately. Katrina asked, winking at her friend and Swift Max quickly grabbed the second mushroom.
- Yes, of course.
- so throw, but first make a lot of fuss, shout, let it distract them and now attack. Katrina whispered as she led the central attack.
Suddenly everything was shaken, three masked mares jumped in place, first seeing a screaming pony and a Minotaur, then they saw two toadstools fall into the cauldron causing contradictory reactions and a sudden boil of the magic brew.
- just not that, toadstools, run away!. Meadowbrook shouted as she stepped back from beneath the cauldron.
- Luster Dawn, stay where you are. They both told Swift Max and Katrina at which one of the masked mare stopped in places to look back.
- how do you know. Luster Dawn asked, shocked, before she hadn't received a punch in the ear from Mistmane.
- Miss S, it's not the time, let's run, it'll blow up in a moment. Mistmane cried out, running her way into the forest thicket herself.
Masked Luster Dawn looked back for the last time as the cauldron tilted to the right and suddenly fired with the great power of a long green pole, turning the essence of a great storm into a more and more powerful cyclone heading for Cloudsdale, pegasus city, while Swift Max and Katrina in shock sitting on the ground watched into a great cloud gaining power and speed as they fortunately left the forest.
- what now. Katrina asked.
- I think we have problems and it's big. Said Swift Max feeling guilty that his actions had built up the dangerous power of a great storm now heading for the pegasus house.
- Katrina. The scream of the terrified Minotaur was interrupted by the momentary shock of the two children, Katrina and Swift Max looked back at the sight of the gathered ponies, a few dragons, griffins and a great gray Minotaur and ponies accompanying him, a red earth pony and accompanying a pink unicorn with a navy blue mane.
- Dad?. Katrina asked, surprised.
- mom. Swift Max said, tilting his head feeling guilty.
Before they both managed to explain to everyone, Katrina and Swift Max were hugged tightly by their parents.
- as I was afraid, don't do this to me anymore. Sugar Belle said.
- but mom, we have to do something, the mysterious ponies in disguise deliberately summoned the storms, and in order to stop them, we accidentally turned the storms into a cyclone headed straight for the pegasus house. Said Swift Max, looking at all gathered causing more shock to everyone's faces, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Flim and Flam all looked at the huge cloud and the cracked cauldron lying down, and the quivering Pinkie Pie suddenly stopped shaking which was equally surprising .
- girls, I think something will happen in a moment. Apple Bloom said.
- it has already happened, someone wanted to blame the man !. Applejack screamed angrily at the cracked cauldron.
-but who. Flim asked.
- someone for sure. Flam said.
- Quieter, can't you see, Pinkie suddenly stopped shivering, what that might mean. Scootaloo asked.
- Hey Pinkie is something wrong. Sweetie Belle asked.
- I think so, this is probably the end of our problems. Pinkie Pie, she said, shocked everyone again more than the knowledge their two home-grown investigators gave them.
- but how, it will all be over. Big Mac said as suddenly a portal opened in front of everyone and Alex came out rubbing his back.
- that's Alex, please don't tell him anything yet. Said Swift Max, not wanting the knowledge of the troublemakers to come out, lest Alex find out they are there and the ponies who don't like him.
- man, what a mess, wait, a cauldron, alchemy, storm cloud, do I think someone is making a mess here to make my back hurt?. Alex asked, stopping rubbing his back, grabbing the ice bow, soaking it with the power of thunder and red power.
- er, that, no, no, no, it's not really, it's pure coincidence, and we don't even know who did it. Katrina said.
- coincidence, ha, coincidence in my world you can get a brick in the head, or get a piano from the twentieth floor, but not that, it's a problem, and a mistake in magic and alchemy, and now the culprit has definitely escaped, or is among you, but no, it's not mine, this is. Alex said as he aimed his bow at the great storm surging, the great cyclone.
Sewn together with eyes wide open, they watched as Alex pulled the arrow, which began to grow in size to the size of twenty meters, the ice arrow glowing with the power of thunder and red power shone and pierced with its power beating great lightning, Alex released the string and fired the first big arrow after Alex pulled the second and third, all three shots with indescribable speed and precision cut the lightning air to finally hit the great cyclone, so there were three explosions one after the other, tearing a great black cloud into nothingness, sparkling lightning, the power of red and glistening shards of ice shot out from every direction covering the forests and the few dragons, griffins and Minotaurs watching all ponies with a delicate layer of snow, which was currently the greatest attraction of this great day.
- wonderful, snow, wonderful snow, attention. Screamed Katina, who started the laughter fight, hitting Swift Max and Big Mac first, which started a big snowball fight.
Nobody really controlled anything, everyone was throwing snowballs as long as they could and Alex standing aside waved about the boiler and storm with his hand joining the fun, all the fun arranged by katrina and Swift Max was actually aimed at escaping the touchy topic, and you didn't have to larger words so that everyone else would understand the desire to hide the truth that in their world there are also ponies that do not like humans.
- note down there. Alex said by throwing a series of snowballs, hitting the trees in front of the hiding ponies each time, and this day with the new attractions became a special event as well as the event related to falling snow.
Meanwhile, the border of the forest and the Lustr Dawn running through it all made of black strand to hide as soon as possible in the city of Ponyville, to leave traces behind and so that no one would find it, that was the foreground, but when the pink unicorn mare looked behind her, she was suddenly left behind stopped by a maroon mare standing in front of her on the edge of the forest.
- what !, but how !. Tempest. Said Luster Dawn in shock, realizing that she was completely captured by the power of levitation by the maroon mare and the power of her renewed horn.
- tell me how you could, why, why do you want to blame our hero, he did so much. Tempest Shadow said, looking closely into the eyes of the surprised unicorn mare until Luster Dawn glared angrily.
- you know why, this man took everything from me, I always thought that I would follow the way of our princess Twilight, I remind her so much, at first I was a bookworm like her, considering friendship as something unnecessary, then she opened my eyes like her mentor once did Princess Celestia, and now that I could become the heroines, he, the man, Alex took everything from me, and you blindly believe in his good intentions, you will see when the accusations do their thing, he will finally reveal his true face to us, you will see. Said Luster Dawn, and hearing her words Tempest Shadow first opened her eyes wide and then left the chained mare giving her freedom.
- so I will not stop you, but understand you are in a great mistake, and you act a bit like a Star Swirl, and even more so, you are afraid of him, I might even understand it, but you should never be jealous, because if none of us would not give advice in the fight against the scarlet legions, he saved our life, yours and your parents, without him nothing would be in his place, and he wants so little, I know what in a moment I'll hear that it's bloated, cheating and stuff, but I I believe, come on and I had a moment of doubt myself when he, Alex took away our fictional friends and family, but I understood how much I had hurt him by believing in his non-existent evil. Tempest Shadow said, turning away from Luster Dawn and walking away, which was already shocking for the young mare.
- Tempest, wait, you really, didn't believe in him?, You're really letting me go or. Dawn asked Luster.
- do not be afraid, I will not betray you, and as for Katrina and Swift Max, you are lucky, they only have words against you, but please stop it will not do any good, just here please and remember, you can be a hero always and for everyone , for the world as well as for single ponies and creatures of this world. Tempest Shadow said and she ran straight back to the Sweet Apple Acres.
- but I what for what. Luster Dawn resigned, watching as Tempest Shadow's brave heart first revealed her own mistakes to her, forgave her, and let her go by offering valuable advice on fame.
Luster Dawn squeezed her eyes tightly debating everything she heard, and finally she ran forward, but not to Ponyville, but to the castle to meet with the chief in charge of the entire operation as agreed.
- am I doing well. Said Luster Dawn.
L
another shock, another broken lie, an accusation, another truth, because truth is the only force that can overcome a lie and start the breaking of fear, but it takes more than that, dreams and madness.
22.12.2022 Peace on earth people,
and in the sky the silence of the stars,
angels play,
the world is sharing bread.
The world has a festive glow today.
Beautiful and joyful Christmas!.
Merry Christmas