Issue 3:

Meanwhile at Cloudsdale, the former Pegasi Kingdom was shining bright from the sun, despite there not being any Pegasi, it is still a beautiful place, but it wasn't completely abandoned, it was infested with Arkan Sonneys, pegasi hedgehog creatures that roam the deserted city as they shriek and flew around.

In an alleyway, a group of Arkan Sonneys flew off as Pipp peeked out from a corner. "Okay, girls, the coast is clear." She informed as the rest of the mares, Sunny, Sunset, Twilight, and Zipp rushed off while Sunny was still in her Alicorn form.

"These things are all over Cloudsdale." Twilight said with a frown. "And they travel in packs and are hard to get by."

"And we don't have time to deal with these hedgehogs." Sunset said with a serious look. "The more we wait, the more storms the Weather Factory makes."

"The only sure way to get around the Arkan Sonney is to split up." Zipp said to them seriously. "That way if they chase or bite one of us, the others can slip away to the Weather Factory!" She stated.

"Got it." Sunny nodded.

"Great plan." Sunset added.

"A very logical one." Twilight finished with a nod.

"Once we get to the factory, we can stop the storm and save our city!" Zipp declared with determination.

"Then mares, split up!" Sunset declared as the five mares spread out into five different locations.

Pipp kept running in a corner, but then she heard some Arkan Sonneys coming this way as she looked around and she quickly hid behind some trash bins as the Arkan Sonneys flew by her, which she sighs in relief before she turns and notices the trash bins are still filled with garbage.

"Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!" Pipp quietly said in disgust since she can smell the stench of the garbage for who knows how long it's been there since Cloudsdale was abandoned.

With Sunny, she was hiding behind some clouds as some Arkan Sonneys were standing by before she picked up a rock and tossed it in a direction, which made the two critters scurried away. "Phew." Sunny said in relief while wiping her brow.

With Sunset, she was rushing around while staying out of sight as she saw some Arkan Sonneys moving by as she then flew up beside a corner as she stood quiet as the critters scurried away as Sunset sighs in relief. "These things are just as bad as Parasprites and old rats." Sunset muttered in annoyance. "Why couldn't they just be flying bunnies?" She muttered as she kept going.

With Twilight, she was looking through an alleyway and used her magic to cloak herself from the Arkan Sonneys that went by her as she quickly took to the air while keeping a low profile, seeing that Cloudsdale hadn't changed much, she knew her way around and noticed the perfect hiding spot.

"I always wondered if any other part of Equestria remained the same, but with fewer pests to deal with. Not even Canterlot has those kinds of infestations like these flying hedgehogs." Twilight muttered to herself while she kept making her way to the Weather Factory while remaining out of sight.

In another part of Cloudsdale, some Arkan Sonneys are shrieking while looking around, what they didn't see was Zipp was traveling on the rooftop right above the Arkan Sonneys as she looked down at them. "That's it, keep not looking up, little Arkan Sonney." Zipp whispered. "Zipp's just gonna walk right-" She trailed off before she saw the clouds above moving and showing the sun. "Uh-oh." She muttered.

On the ground, Zipp's shadow was showing, which got the Arkan Sonneys attention as they turn and looked up and saw Zipp on the roof. "Oh great." Zipp muttered as she then took off running as the Arkan Sonneys as Zipp ran as fast as she could. "Somepony help m-" She was cut off when a purple blurr tackled her. "Oof!" She grunted as she crash into some trash, which made the Arkan Sonneys stop in surprise while Zipp rubbed her head. "What just…"

"You know, they say that music soothes the savage beast." Pipp's voice spoke up, which made Zipp turned and saw her sister in front of her. "Well, you're in luck!" She then pulled out her microphone and started signing. "Because you got the siiiiiiiiingingest princess in all Equestria! I saw this in a nature documentary. I hope this works!~" She sang before she gave a nervous smile while turning to her sister. "Go! You got this!" She whispered to her sister.

"Be careful." Zipp said to her sister before she trotted off. "Alright, time to get to that Weather Factory so we can stop the storm and save Zephyr Heights!" She declared.

"Heads up!" Sunny's voice yelled out.

"Coming through!" Sunset yelled out.

"Look out!" Twilight yelled out as they ran beside Zipp.

"Whoa!" Zipp yelped when the three Alicorns went beside her.

"These cute little pincushions are everywhere!" Sunny cried out.

"They're really are a lot of them! And they have good aim!" Sunset added.

"Keep going! We're only a few more blocks to the factory!" Twilight yelled out, seeing how close they were to the Weather Factory. "Now hurry!"

"Wait, where's Pipp?!" Sunny asked, seeing one Pegasi missing as the four ponies turned a corner and out of the alley.

"She rescued me by singing to a bunch of the Arkan Sonney." Zipp answered. "Seems like they love music."

"No surprise there! Some reason, a lot of critters love Pipp's singing!" Sunset stated, knowing how Pipp music can affect a lot of creatures.

"Good to know. You got any songs in them?" Sunny asked them as they kept running.

"Come on, Sunny. I can sing, but I'm not my sister." Zipp pointed out. "I can't just make these things up on my own." She stated.

"I may have been in a band, but I hardly knew anything to soothe an Arkan Sonney." Sunset added.

"And I'm a bit rusty with songs." Twilight finished as Sunny skidded to a stop with a frighten look.

"Well, it would be a great time to start." Sunny said to them as the rest of the three mares skidded to a stop when they see a group of Arkan Sonneys in front of them.

"Shoot!" Zipp exclaimed.

"Oh, come on!" Sunset exclaimed in annoyance.

"Just how many of these critters are there?!" Twilight questioned as the Arkan Sonneys growled at them.

"Uuhhh, girls…" Sunny said to them as they slowly backed away from the feral hedgehogs. "I have an idea, but it might not work." She said to them.

"Well, anything that might not end with us pulling spines out of our rumps sounds like an improvement right now." Zipp said to her.

"Same." Sunset nodded.

"Agreed." Twilight added as Sunny then turned around.

"Stay here and keep them distracted!" Sunny called out as she trotted off.

"Wait, what?!" Sunset called out.

"Sunny, wait!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Where are you-" Zipp trailed off as she, Sunset, and Twilight looked at the Arkan Sonneys surrounding them while giving growls as the three mares gave nervous looks. "Hey, do you guys like jokes? Oh, that's okay. I can't think of any anyway." She nervously said.

"Uh, Twilight, do you have anything?" Sunset muttered through her teeth.

"Well, aside from magic blasts, nothing much." Twilight muttered as well.

"Oh creatures!" Sunny's voice yelled out as they turned and saw Sunny was in Flock'litt Shoppe. "Come and get your smoothies! Nice cold smoothies!" She announced.

"How?!" Zipp exclaimed in shock, wondering how can the food be still good from how Cloudsdale been abandoned as the Arkan Sonneys rushed up to Sunny, who waved with a smile as Zipp turned to Sunset and Twilight, wanting explanations as the two Alicorns raised their hooves to answer, but Zipp spoke up. "You know what, I'm not gonna question it."

"Good call." Sunset nodded as she turned to Sunny. "Stall them as long as you can, Sunny!" She called out.

"I will, you three get going!" Sunny yelled out with a nod.

"Okay, let's go!" Twilight yelled as they followed her as they are then crossing a long bridge.

"We gotta get to that factory before it's too late." Zipp said, knowing that Zephyr Heights won't last long.

"We get that, and we don't know how long Pipp and Sunny will keep those hedgehogs off our backs." Sunset said in concern.

"Lucky for us, the factory is just up ahead." Twilight said as they got closer with the Weather Factory just in front of them as it continued to make the storm.

Back in Zephyr Heights, the storm was getting worse and stronger as the castle was being buried in more snow while some started entering the smoke chimneys as the wind blew into it.

Inside the palace, the ponies of Zephyr Heights are trying to stay warm while some are wearing snow gear while the fireplace is still lit. "The storm sounds scary, mommy." The filly said to her mother.

"It's okay, my darling." The mother said with a smile. "The princesses and their friends are out protecting us from the storm right now." But then, the strong wind blew through the fireplace, causing the fire to go out and cover some of the ponies in soot.

"Oh no, mommy! The fire! What do we do?!" The filly cried out in fear.

"I don't know, honey. Stay close." The mother said as she held her daughter close.

Just then Hitch came into the room with two royal guards behind him. "Everypony, stay calm. We're getting you out of here! We're gathering everyone down at the station." He informed as he guided the group out of the room as he yelled out. "I think that's the last of them! Let's get everyone downstairs and hope Misty, Izzy, and Cloud have gotten that zeppelin running! This way!" He called out as everyone was then guided down the palace to where the station was.

At the station below, ponies are gathered around while the Zeppelin is near completion as Hitch goes up to Cloud. "This is everypony. Where are Misty and Izzy?" Hitch asked him.

"They're in the ship, Hitch." Cloud said to him. "I've been busy trying to get the ponies to settle down, so, you might want to go on in." He advised as Hitch nodded and rushed up to the zeppelin.

"The storm blew out all the fireplaces." Hitch said to the two mares. "We can't keep ponies in the castle any longer. I'm hoping you've got some-" He trailed off when he saw the parts are still scattered while Izzy is hammering a nail and Misty is welding some parts together. "Oh no! This looks worse than when I left! These pieces were all together! Now they're all over the place! This is a-"

"Hold on!" Misty called out as she moved her mask up and went to Hitch with a smile. "I'm sorry, little sheriff friend. There is engineering going on over here, so…" She then gave a paper back to Hitch. "...If you're gonna have a panic attack, you can just do it right over here?" She suggested as Hitch turn a corner and started breathing in the bag. "Okay, Izzy, grab that blow torch. I think we're about ready!" She called out.

"I'm gonna be frozen here. They're gonna have to chip me out of an iceberg." Hitch muttered in panic while still breathing in the paper bag frantically.

Then Misty started using her magic to move the pieces around. "Okay, now this is a lot of pieces for me to hold in place. And we need them just right so…" Misty tried to say.

"I'll be quick!" Izzy assured as she lowered her mask and ready her blow torch as Misty moved some parts around.

"There! I've got it! Izzy, you're on!" Misty called out as she then held the pieces in place.

"This is what I nwas born for! Crafting for our lives!" Izzy called as she quickly moved around the part of the engine as fast as she could while welding the parts in place.

"Can't hold it much longer…" Misty strained as she focused her magic as hard she could.

"Almost there!" Izzy yelled out as Hitch watched in anxiety, when suddenly the engine started whirling to life as the zeppelin then started to take off.

"Woohoo!/Yeah!/Lift off!/Whoo!" The crowd cheered at seeing the Zeppelin finally taking off.

The two unicorns then wipe their foreheads with a smile, glad they got the zeppelin working as Hitch then grabbed Izzy and Misty in a hug and huge relief. "You did it! You did it!" Misty, I don't understand how you did it, but you did it!" Hitch cried in joy as some tears fell.

Misty then gestured to the engine. "I mean, it's pretty simple when you get right down to it. The chronoton manifold was overloading the flux capacitor, so I had to invert the polarity of the power coupling allowing it to synchronize with the wankel kkm cycle and-" She stated while she stopped while seeing Hitch's brain going dizzy from the smart talk. "You look lost…" She commented.

"Um… will it fly?" Hitch asked while trying to process what Misty just said.

"Probably!" Misty cheered with a hoof raised.

"Close enough!" Hitch smiled at the simple answer he was giving. "Let's get ready for takeoff!"

Back at Cloudsdale, Sunny was still at the smoothie stand while making a lot of smoothies to the Arkan Sonneys with the fruits that were still edible and fresh in the shop. "And here you go, sir. One cloudberry smoothie just as requested." Sunny said with a smile as she gave a smoothie to said critter. "Now, I'm gonna take a short break to-"

Sunny was cut off when an Arkan Sonney shrieked while gesturing to the one happily sipping its smoothie, telling Sunney that he wants his now. "Fine! I won't take a break!" Sunny exclaimed a bit fearfully as she gave a nervous smile. "Hopefully Pipp, Zipp, Sunset and Twilight have got this under control." She muttered, hoping the others were having better luck.

With Pipp, she has just finished singing another song as the Arkan Sonneys all clapped to her. "Thank you, Cloudsdale! You're such a wonderful audience." Pipp said with a smile before her phone started ringing as she gave a nervous one. "Now here's my new hit single, 'Calling my Sister'." She declared as she answered the phone.

"Hey, Zipp. Well it seems like forever, since you went away. I'm struggling but doing my best here. Hope you've got something to say!" Pipp sang while the Arkan Sonneys held up their phones and snapped pictures of Pipp.

With Zipp, she, Sunset, and Twilight made it inside the Weather Factory before the two Alicorns stood frozen as they saw something in front of them while Zipp talk to her sister. "Hey, sis. Twilight, Sunset and I made it to the factory. And we definitely found the problem. We just don't know how to deal with it without getting cooked." Zipp explained.

"Cooked, you mean electrocuted." Sunset muttered while in front of them was a giant blue bird creature that is shooting lighting around the factory while it's birdies are close to it.

"There's some sort of lightning bird up here, and it built a nest on the Weather Machine." Zipp added to Pipp on her phone.

"It must've settled down here when Cloudsdale was abandoned. And at the worst spot I say." Twilight added.

"Giving it on top of the machine that we need to shut down, yep." Sunset nodded.

"We need to get it off, but there are baby birds and it's not going to let us get close without getting shocked." Zipp continued.

"And given the fact that if we attack it, it will make things worse." Twilight added, while knowing that fighting it will only make things much worse.

Pipp started dancing around as she sang while trying to talk. "Well, we need to get it shut off, so you better say please. If we don't fix the weather, then our homes is gonna freeze." She sang.

"Wait, Pipp, that's it!" Zipp called as the electric bird lowered down and calmed down with the baby birds as well. "Your singing is calming the mama bird down. You've gotta keep singing." She urged.

"Songs somehow soothe the beast." Twilight commented with a smile.

"It really does, everytime." Sunset added with a smirk.

With Pipp, she kept dancing around. "You three say that like it's easy. And I know I make it look that way. But it's not so easy rhyming everything I gotta say." Pipp sang as her hind hoof accidentally hit one of the Arkan Sonney.

"You sang on a daily routine, Pipp. It's hard to tell if you make it easy." Sunset said with a brow.

"But true, making songs can be a bit hard." Twilight said, knowing how hard it was to write a song, especially a magical counterspell song when she and the Rainbooms faced the Sirens.

The electric bird and its baby birds started to fall asleep. "Okay, good birds. Just stay calm and don't electrocute us." Zipp said calmly as she and her two alicorn friends slowly walked towards them. "We're just gonna pick up the whole nest and move you all together."

"But we're gonna keep those birdies calm. Don't wanna hit a note wrong." Pipp sang through the phone.

"So please stay happy little birds. And I'll keep finding rhyming words." Pipp sang before the Akan Sonney that she accidentally kicked shriek and fired a quill, which pierced through her phone. "Ahhh!" She screamed in fright.

At the same time, Zipp, Sunset, and Twilight flinched when they heard the pierce through the phone as the call ended. "Pipp? Pipp, did you stop singing?" Zipp asked while trying to reach her sister while she, Sunset, and Twilight were carrying the nest.

"I don't think that was it." Sunset said in worried.

"I think her phone must've got pierced. And at a worse possible time." Twilight said with a cringe.

"Come on, girls. They can't wake up right now. We'll be shocked for sure." Zipp said in fear as the electric birds slowly started to wake up and look at the three ponies as the adult one gave a squawk. "No, no. Everything's fine, just go back to sleep." She nervously said.

But the adult electric bird gave a loud and angry squawk as it produced electricity. "I don't think it's in the mood to sleep right now!" Twilight exclaimed in panic.

"Zipp, try and sing something to calm it down!" Sunset exclaimed in panic.

"I'm too nervous to think up anything to sing!" Zipp exclaimed in panic.

"Well, unless we find a way to keep these birds still and not get shocked, we're never gonna shut down the factory!" Sunset exclaimed, which made Zipp realize something.

"...Stay still…" Zipp muttered before she remembered a specific song. "Wait! I do know the perfect song!" She called as she turned to the birds. "Don't move."

"What?" Twilight and Sunset asked what she meant by that as Zipp began to sing.

"It's easy to smile with you by my side." Zipp began to sing the song she and her mother and sister sang on Portrait Day, which made the electric birds stop making electricity as Sunset and Twilight looked surprised as they began to rush out of the factory. "Don't blink. Big smile. Just being with you, my heart opens wiiide." She continued as the electric birds began to fall asleep, which Sunset and Twilight noticed as they smiled as they nodded to Zipp, telling her it's working as they come up to the weather exhaust port of the factory.

"As it all comes clear to me. You're my best friend, my family. I wanna capture this moment as hit our stride. With you by my side." Zipp sang as she, Sunset, and Twilight gently placed their nest on the side corner as the electric birds slept peacefully. "There! You're safe!" She said with a smile.

"And away from sight and important equipment." Sunset said with a smile.

"Nopony will bug you here." Twilight added before the three ponies then flew off.

"Okay! Now to get this thing shut off!" Zipp called out as she turned to Sunset and Twilight. "Twilight, Sunset, is there an off switch somewhere?!" She asked.

"I never been to the Weather Factory that often, so I don't know!" Sunset said with a shrug. "Twilight, you know Rainbow used to work here, so you must know how to shut it off!"

"Well, there is an off lever! It's in the main factory room!" Twilight called out.

"Then let's shut it off!" Zipp declared as they flew back into the factory as they saw a big lever in the middle of the room.

"There it is!" Twilight confirmed while pointing at the lever.

"Then let's shut this factory down!" Sunset declared as she went up to the lever and tried to pull it, but it wouldn't move as she grunted. "It's stuck!"

"All together!" Twilight called as she, Zipp, and Sunset then pulled together to pull the lever. "Yes of no usages, old gears got stuck!"

"We can tell!" Sunset grunted as they pulled harder.

"Come on, you big stuck lever! Move!" Zipp exclaimed as the three ponies then pulled the lever completely, successfully shutting down the weather factory as the machines powered down.

Outside, the Weather Factory shut down as the machine stopped making the uncontrolled weather as the Arkan Sonneys noticed this and turned their attention to it while Pipp and Sunny used this as their chance to sneak away from the flying hedgehogs and meet up with their three friends.

Soon, Pipp Sunny met up with Zipp, Sunset, and Twilight at the entrance of the Weather Factory as they look over the reeling. "You all did it!" Pipp cheered.

"You three saved Zephyr Heights!" Sunny cheered next, but the three ponies weren't celebrating.

"I don't think so. Look." Zipp said as she pointed down as they saw the storm still going below rhythm. "The factory stopped making more clouds, but the storm is already so big it's still going."

"Get enough of clouds and that weather won't stop until it's used up." Twilight stated in worry.

"Which is why we had Pegasi help control them or get rid of them." Sunset added.

"Yeah, but it has to blow itself out soon, right?" Pipp asked them.

"Not soon enough! Look!" Sunny pointed out as the five ponies looked down and saw the zeppelin in the middle of the storm.

"Okay, lookie here! We're airborne!" Hitch yelled out at the controls while holding the speaker with Cloud and the ponies onboard behind him. "I always wondered what it would be like to fly!"

"Hitch! Focus here!" Cloud exclaimed while gesturing to the area they were in.

"Right, sorry." Hitch said before he got back on track. "The winds are too strong. I can't get the engine to push us the right way! Misty, I need more power!"

"I'm giving you all she's got, captain!" Misty exclaimed as she kept working on the engine to keep it together and give it more power.

"This is about to be a bumpy ride!" Hitch exclaimed as he try to get control of the ship as thunder clashed, which made the zeppelin to move around. "Everpony hold on!" He exclaimed as Misty then fell from the engine room and into the control room while she was on the ceiling as the ship was upside down while Cloud kept flight to stablize himself.. "Misty, what do I do?!" He panick asked.

"Well, first, I would say try to get us right side up. And maybe steer with the storm and might be able to build enough speed to break through." Misty fearfully said before the ship got right side up as Misty was about to fall, but Cloud caught her and gently put her back down.

"Okay, I will try. Any other pointers?" Hitch asked.

"Yes! Try not to let that lightning hit us!" Misty called while gesturing to the lightning outside. "If we get hit by lightning, we'll probably crash!"

"More like it will be!" Cloud exclaimed as the zeppelin shook a bit. "Oh, I hope Zipp and your friends are having better luck then we are!"

Back at Cloudsdale, Zipp was looking through a periscope that was next to the factory that she used after putting two bits in it as she saw the zeppelin at a distance. "Oh no! This is all my fault!" Zipp cried out hopelessly.

"Are you kidding me?!" Pipp exclaimed in exasperation. "You've been working your flank off to help everypony! This is bad luck, but you can't possibly think it's your fault!"

"The zeppelin was my idea. Coming up here was my idea." Zipp said in despair before Pipp started shaking her sister.

"And if you hadn't had those ideas, we'd just be a bunch of ponysicles down there!" Pipp stated.

"And from the amount of clouds that the factory has made, the storm won't stop anytime soon." Twilight added.

"And I doubt anypony in that zeppelin can control that thing." Sunset added while looking at the zeppelin. "It's ancient and from our time. No one knows how to work it."

"Like this is any better?" Zipp questioned as she covered her eyes. "Now we get to watch a ship full of all our friends crash into the city?!"

"Zipp, you gotta snap out of it!" Sunny called out with determination. "You can't take the blame for everything that happens.

"I can and I will! A queen supposed to know what to do!" Zipp called as she gave a serious look as she gave a huff. "I just wish somepony would give me some sort of…" She then trailed off as she remembered something. "Wait…" She muttered as she trotted off, which surprised the four mares.

"What was that about?" Sunny asked her friends about what just happened.

"I don't know! Our whole lives, whenever she gets a big idea, she just rushes off like that." Pipp said with a dull look, knowing how her sister can be.

"Sometimes Twilight can be like that." Sunset said with a shrug as Twilight gave her a brow. "Oh, you know it's true. Even during your princess training."

Twilight gave a defeated sigh. "Point taken." She muttered before turning to Zipp. "We should go after her."

The others agreed as they chased after Zipp. "Zipp, wait up!" Pipp called out.

"We're coming to help you!" Sunny added.

"So try and slow down!" Sunset yelled out before Zipp came to a stop, which the others noticed as they saw Zipp was looking at something in awed. "Uh, Zipp?"

"What is that? What are you staring at?" Sunny asked.

"A sign. I got a sign." Zipp muttered, which made them look up, and what they saw was the Wonderbolt poster, which Sunset and Twilight recognized as they gave a small gasp.

"That's very literal. Like, it's an actual sign." Pipp commented.

"Uh, not just the sign, but what's on it." Sunset said as she and Twilight turned a corner and their eyes widened at what they saw.

"You ponies need to see this." Twilight added, while the rest of the mares turn, what they saw surprise them as it was a giant building that said 'Wonderbolt Hall of Fame' with a lightning bolt with wings icon symbol showing. "This is the Wonderbolt's Hall of Fame building!"

"Whoa!" Sunny exclaimed in amazement.

"What's a Wonderbolt?" Pipp asked, not knowing what a Wonderbolt is.

"The Wonderbolts were the most talented fliers in Equestria! The elite squad of Pegasi who perform aerial acrobatics and demonstrations!" Twilight exclaimed with a smile. "My friend Rainbow Dash was one of them!"

"Sounds like my kind of ponies." Zipp commented with a smirk.

"You have no idea, Zipp. The Wonderbolts were like, so awesome! They were known to everypony in Equestria!" Sunset added. "This museum might have info about them!"

"Well, how about we find out more unless you two want to explain it?" Zipp suggested with a smirk.

"Let's get into the museum." Both Sunset and Twilight said, wanting them to see it to believe it as they entered the building.

"This is neat but… why are we here?" Pipp asked in confusion.

"That poster of the Wonderbolts Twilight and Sunset talked about is the same poster from the station. The poster that made me want to learn to fly." Zipp explained as they saw statues, pictures, and items that represent the Wonderbolts. "That poster is what made me help Sunset rescue Sunny and Izz from the dungeon. What brought us all together. And those Pegasi on that poster, they're the wonders, I guess. Are they?" She asked Sunset and Twilight.

"They most certainly are." Twilight answered with a nod.

"Same color scheme, uniform, yep, it's them alright." Sunset nodded as they searched around for more.

They soon found a history portrait of the past Wonderbolts, including Soarin in the end, but before him was a blank space. "Mmm, this display says prominent Wonderbolts in history. But I can't read any of these descriptions." Sunny noted.

"The times of non proper care has caused the words to fade, it's hard to read them." Twilight stated.

"And not to mention some of these are missing a few history. There's a picture mission before the last one." Sunset added while seeing a few of the Wonderbolts' history were missing.

Pipp then looks at the masks. "Well, they had style, I'll give them that. It says this uniform was designed by somepony named Flair D'mare." She noted.

"That doesn't help me! I don't need to know who made a costume!" Zipp yelled out in frustration. "All I want to know is who the Wonderbolts are!"

"That's a very cool question, but I'll bet you the answer is at least twenty percent cooler." A very familiar voice spoke up, which made Sunset and Twilight get stiff as their eyes widened.

"I know that voice anywhere." Sunset muttered.

"I-Is that…" Twilight stammered before they slowly turned before they saw that it was a projection that was showing a familiar rainbow-maned blue pegasus that they knew very well.

"That projection-That's Rainbow Dash!" Zipp exclaimed in shock while shaking her sister as they all looked in shock at seeing the legendary Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, part/leader of the Wonderbolts, member of the Guardian of Harmony, and friend of Twilight Sparkle.

"Rainbow?" Twilight muttered as she and Sunset were more stunned to see Rainbow Dash in projection form as the projection began to tell history.

"I wanted to be Wonderbolt from the first time I saw one. They were so cool!" Rainbow's projection started out with Rainbow Dash getting promoted. "And I made it! I made it big time. I became the Commander of the Wonderbolts and opened this hall of fame!" It then showed Celestia and Luna overseeing the Wonderbolts in the sky. "A long time ago, the Earth, Unicorn, and Pegasus guard was created to protect the princess and keep the peace. And part of that was an elite pegasus flying force made up of only the fastest and strongest fliers." She then picks up a dust cloud on her hoof. "All around you are the stories and pictures of the greatest wonderbolts to ever fly the skies. We protect Equestria. We deliver messages at the speed of light. Heck, we even control the weather."

"Wait! Tell me more about that part! Tell me about the 'controlling the weather'!" Zipp frantically said to the Rainbow projector as her friends noticed dull looks. "What? I know you told us," She said to Twilight and Sunset. "But I just wanted to be sure."

"You wanna learn more about weather controlling? Yeah, I can tell you about that!" Rainbow's projection said while continuing. "The thing is, any Pegasus with enough speed can help control the weather, but the Wonderbolts are the best!" The screen then showed three other of Twilight's friends, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy, the two former are screaming while falling through their respective clouds while Fluttershy slept peacefully on hers, much to Twilight's embarrassment when she saw that. "While Earth Ponies and Unicorns just fall through clouds, Pegasus magic allows us to interact with clouds in special ways. Alicorns can even do it as well since they're part Pegasus. We can sleep on clouds, ride a rogue storm cloud… heck, you even walked on clouds to get here."

The screen then changes to a Pegasus about to hit a storm cloud. "But if you wanna get clear skies for a festival or a game, you gotta learn how to cloudburst. You have to focus and concentrate your pegasus magic not to land on but to push right through the cloud." She explained as the Pegasus on the screen got rid of the cloud. "Because they're solid to us, instead of just falling through, when we concentrate, we can do a cloud burst. And there you go, clear skies. Isn't it neat?"

"And that's how you control the weather." Twilight finished after the information video had finished.

"Now you get why I was confused about how the weather is changing on its own the first time?" Sunset asked Sunny and Pipp about that delta.

"Yeah, now we get it." Sunny said with a nod, now understanding why Sunset asked about that the first time when first seeing how Equestria has changed.

"But that's it, Zipp! That's how we-" Pipp tried to say before noticing her sister was gone as they searched around. "Zipp?"

"Where'd she go?" Twilight asked.

"And uh, where wasn't there a Wonderbolt uniform on display earlier?" Sunny asked while seeing the wonderbolts' uniforms on display, but seeing that one of them was missing.

"Oh no. She's gonna do something stupid." Sunset muttered while placing a hoof on her head.

With Zipp, she was rushing out of the museum with the old Wonderbolt uniform she took on display as she took off as fast as she could. "Concentrate your pegasus magic and push right through." She muttered to herself as she hastily started to put on the Wonderbolt uniform. "Come on, Zephyrina, this is it. Be a Wonderbolt. Save the day. Concentrate your pegasus magic…" She then finished putting on the goggles as she gave a serious look and took off into the air. "AND PUSH RIGHT THROUGH!" She yelled with determination as she took off to where the zeppelin was.

With the zeppelin, it was taken many damages by the storm as lightning clashed and hit some parts of the zeppelin as one hit the side wall. "Hitch, straighten out! It's coming apart!" Misty cried out as she, Izzy, Hitch, and Cloud were at the controls.

"I'm trying! With the side ripped open, it's hard to tell it to go anywhere!" Hitch cried out in panic.

"We're barely holding onto this thing as it is! And this airship is old, so yeah, it's coming apart bad!" Cloud exclaimed.

"Izzy, do you think you can patch that rip?" Misty asked Izzy.

"Crafting to save the day?! You betcha!" Izzy saluted as she then took out her glue gun and started gluing the side hole.

"Uh, ponies, the autopilot is flailing!" Cloud called while looking at the monitor that showed the autopilot was failing as the pilot balloon deflated, which made them fear even more. "Okay, things just got worse!"

"How can it get any worse?!" Hitch cried out in fear.

Izzy then saw something through the hole as she poke her head out. "Umm… You ponies aren't gonna believe this. But there's somepony else out there. Look!" She called as she pointed out, showing to be none other than Zipp as she flew around and flew through some of the clouds and took out a few around the zeppelin.

The ponies inside saw her. "Is that… Zipp?" Misty asked in surprise.

"Whoa, she just uncycled that cloud!" Izzy cheered in amazement.

"And is wearing a cool suit." Cloud said while eyeing Zipp's Wonderbolt suit.

"She's amazing!" Hitch called out in surprise.

Zipp kept flying around while taking out more clouds. "Push on through! Push on through! Push on through!" She said to herself before she heard something else. "What's that sound?" She asked before she stopped when she heard hearing from the zeppelin.

"Queen Zipp! Queen Zipp! Queen Zipp! Queen Zipp! Queen Zipp! Queen Zipp!" Zipp's friends and all the other ponies on the zeppelin cheered after seeing her taken out the clouds.

Zipp gave a heartfelt smile. "They're cheering for me! I can't let them down!" She declared as she then flew around the storm, channeling her inner Pegasus magic and taking out the clouds as a lightning strike nearly hit her by the tip of her mane. "Yikes!" She called before she then took out another cloud in front of the zeppelin. "Gotcha!" She declared.

However, Zipp then stopped when she saw that there were more clouds than she could handle. "There are too many! I can't keep up! If one of these lighting bolts hit the zeppelin-" She tried to say.

"Maybe we can help!" Pipp's voice called out as Zipp turned and saw her, Sunny, Sunset, and Twilight in Wonderbolt suits. "Cadet Pipp Petals, reporting for duty." She said with a smile.

"Cadet Sunny Starscout, reporting for duty!" Sunny said with a smile.

"Cadet Sunset Shimmer, reporting for duty!" Sunset added with a smirk and a salute.

"Cadet Twilight Sparkle, reporting for duty!" Twilight finished with a smirk as well. "There's a reason why the Wonderbolts work as a team, Zipp."

"So if you go, we all go. Wonderbolt style!" Sunset declared with a smirk.

Zipp looked at them with a tearful smile. "I love you guys." She said to them as they smiled as they then took off. "Come on, let's go save our friends and our city!" She declared as five flyers then flew around while focusing their magic to take out the clouds.

"I always wanted to know how a Wonderbolt feels! And now I do and it's amazing!" Sunset called out with a smirk as she took out a couple of clouds with a few kicks.

"I'm starting to see why Rainbow Dash was so determined to become one!" Twilight added with a smile, still finding it amazing that she is acting like a Wonderbolt.

"I gotta admit, I was a little nervous this wouldn't work for me, But I guess I have plenty of Pegasus Magic after all!" Sunny called with a smile as she flew around.

"You're not the only one who was worried." Pipp said as she gracefully flew around. "I'm not exactly a high-speed flier like my sister. I think I'm mostly bursting these clouds with vibe."

"No, that's pure Pegasus Magic, Pipp! Alicorns also have that ability! They can control the weather if they want to!" Sunset added with a smile.

"We just don't use it when the other Pegasi were doing that job!" Twilight added as she took out another cloud.

"I can see that!" Sunny added with a smile.

"Yeah, that's true." Pipp said with a smile.

"I think we're going to do this!" Zipp called as she took out another cloud. "The storm is calm enough now, they should be able to-" She was cut off when lightning struck, which shocked the five mares as they looked in horror as a lightning bolt hit the zeppelin.

At the controls, Hitch held the wheel as it broke while he was covered in soot while his mane was sticking out. "Uh-oh." Hitch muttered.

"That's not good." Cloud said while seeing the power going out.

Misty was in the engine room as she saw the engine breaking apart. "The engine is gone! We're going down!" She exclaimed.

The five mares outside heard it. "There's no engine to keep that ship in flight! It's gonna crash into the city!" Twilight exclaimed.

"No! Save them! Stop them!" Zipp yelled out.

"You heard her, ponies! Let's go!" Sunset yelled out as the five mares flew down to the zeppelin while Zipp was a bit behind as they saw how close they are to the town.

"I'm never gonna make it!" ZIpp exclaimed in worry.

Pipp then went up to the right side wing of the zeppelin. "I've got this side. Sunny, Sunset, Twilight, can either of you-" She tried to say.

"I got the top front!" Sunset called out as she got to the tip point of the balloon.

"I got the top back!" Twilight yelled while at the rear end of the balloon.

"I'm here!" Sunny yelled as she was at the left side of the balloon wing. "Maybe if we fly up…" She called as they tried to lift the zeppelin up. "It's too heavy!"

"There's not enough of us!" Sunset yelled out.

"And we're going too fast!" Twilight added.

"Zipp is too far away! She can't get here in time!" Pipp exclaimed.

Zipp flew as fast as she could as she was getting closer to the lower end of the zeppelin but was still pretty far. "I have to go faster! I have to go faster! Everypony's depending on me!" She called with a serious and determined look as she then glowed, going into her Rainbow Form as she then pulled off a Sonic Rainboom with a yell to the zeppelin.

With the other four mares holding the zeppelin, they yelped when they felt the zeppelin being straightened out. "Whoa, we straightened out! How did that-" Pipp tried to ask.

"We still have to slow it down!" Zipp called out as her friends looked down and saw Zipp at the bottom of the zeppelin. "Push up and back as much as you can, but get away before it hits the ground!" She called.

"Zipp, we're getting close! You have to get out from under there!" Pipp exclaimed.

"Even you can't handle that impact!" Sunset yelled out.

"Just need to slow it down a little more!" Zipp grunted as she held the zeppelin back with all her straight before she skidded on the ground once got close enough before she was flung out as the zeppelin landed, but Zipp skidded across the ground as her Rainbow Form faded as she stopped as everything went black for her.

"Get me more pillows! I want her to have the finest pillows in the kingdom! I don't care if she has 25 pillows already, my baby deserves more!" A voice called out as Zipp groaned as she started to come too before she saw her mother's face.

"Mom?" Zipp groaned, which got Haven's attention.

"My baby! My darling! Zephyrina, how are you feeling?" Haven asked in concern for her daughter.

"I'm fine. How did you get here?" Zipp asked, while seeing she was in the medical room of the castle while her head is bandaged up while in a hospital clothing.

"You've been out for a week, dear. I came back as soon as I heard about the storm." Haven answered, which made Zipp look in shock.

"A week?!" Zipp exclaimed as she hastily got out of the hospitable bed. "The zeppelin! The storm! Is Pipp okay?! What about Sunny, Sunset, Twilight, and the others?!" She cried out before Haven quickly picked up Zipp over her head.

"Your friends are fine. In fact, other than a few snowball bruises, everybody in the kingdom is fine." Haven said to her daughter with a firm look. "You literally put this whole kingdom on your back, my dear. That wasn't very safe, even in your Rainbow Form." She explained before tossing her daughter back in bed.

"I just did what I knew you would do mom. Just, you know, faster." Zipp said with frown as Queen Haven gave a smile as she continued.

"Your sister, Sunny, Sunset, and Twilight went looking for a way to keep the cloud city in place. Which, thanks to Twilight, they know how thanks to her knowledge of it inside and out." Haven spoke up to her daughter while at Cloudsdale, Pipp, Sunset, Sunny, and Twilight were there while they were working on the controls to keep Cloudsdale in place so it wouldn't go anywhere. "They even planned on getting it back on the map and repopulating it, while also planning on making some restriction areas like that Weather Factory so that no one would mess with it until they figure things out.

Sunny then pulled a lever that says 'Emergency Cloudsdale Air to Ground Anchor' while Sunset, Twilight, and Pipp were at the controls after moving Cloudsdale as an anchor fell from Cloudsdale and kept it secure. "I'm glad I insisted they fly it away from town first because… well, you'll see." Haven said as the anchor hit the ground while a bunny close to it flinched.

'Well, there goes the neighborhood.' The bunny thought to itself.

At Zephyr Heights, Misty was with a construction working team to help make repairs of the zeppelin, knowing it will come in handy in the future. "Your other friends have been working on that big balloon ship of yours. It's very impressive, but it's causing a lot of traffic jams right now." Haven stated.

Around Zephyr Heights, the ponies are enjoying their time in the sun after the storm subsided and the snow melted away. "The snow and ice melted after a couple of days. Because of you, everypony in Zephyr Heights has been able to get back to normal." Haven finished.

"Back to normal, eh?" Zipp asked her mother.

"Well, as normal as anything ever is these days." Haven said with a shrug, knowing something interesting or surprising always happens around Equestria while Zipp gave a thought.

"Excuse me, Mom, I gotta go check on one thing." Zipp said to her mother.

Later on, Pipp, Sunset, and Twilight were looking around Cloudsdale after hearing that Zipp was gone as they searched the Wonderbolts' Hall of Fame. "Zipp?! Are you here?!" Pipp called out.

"Come on out, Zipp!" Twilight called next.

"We know you're here!" Sunset finished.

"How'd you three find me?" Zipp asked while in the other room.

"Mom said you came up here. She's worried about you, ya know." Pipp said as they walk up to Zipp.

"She doesn't have to be." Zipp assured them with a smile as they noticed that Zipp was in front of the history section of Rainbow Dash.

"We see that Rainbow Dash has caught your eyes." Twilight said with a smile at seeing a statue of her old friend.

"Yeah, she just sorta, came to me." Zipp said with a shrug.

"Rainbow usually does." Sunset said with a chuckle.

"Zipp, you just slept for a week after crash-landing with a whole city full of ponies on your back." Pipp said to her. "And that's not even mentioning that you flew so fast, you made the Sonic Rainboom appear again while in your rainbow form."

"Yeah, Zipp. I think you need to get some rest after that little adventure." Sunset said to her.

"Even royalties know their limits when to step down and recover." Twilight added, knowing from experience. "Trust me."

"I know. I also remember that you two told me that Rainbow Dash once tried it." Zipp said while gesturing to the history board. "You think she and I could be related?"

"Well, one thing for sure, you do have her attitude and love for flight." Twilight said. "And the Sonic Rainboom is another."

"Which also got me to wonder, Pipp, do you know the family tree?" Sunset asked.

"Well, I've never seen the family tree go down that far for generations. And the Sonic rainbow was pretty scary at times." Pipp said in concern. "I'm worried about you, too, ya know? You should rest." She said to her sister.

"I will. I just…" Zipp then gestured to the hologram buttons of Rainbow Dash's history. "This place has the answer I've been looking for for years. And I found one message I could get to. But I think I got it now!" She then pressed a button.

The hologram screen then showed Rainbow Dash, a bit older as Twilight remembered when she used to rule Equestria as Rainbow gave a slight sad look. "I don't know why I'm doing this. This is silly, it's just… this place… the Wonderbolts… this was my whole life for years." Rainbow Dash said with a frown, which Twilight and Sunset rarely see this side of her before. "These days I spend more time at Sweet Apple Acres than here, but this still hurts. Twilight is sealing all the magic today. Which means I'm gonna lose my flight and… I don't know how I can live with that." She continued as the sun began to set as tears began to fall.

"It's not just magic for me. It's freedom, it's who I am. It's my home here in Cloudsdale. It's my life as a Wonderbolt. What does it mean to be a Pegasus if your wings don't work." Rainbow continued tearfully.

Twilight gave a sad look from hearing this. "Rainbow." She muttered with slight tears coming out, feeling guilty for coming up with that decision to seal magic into the crystals to keep Equestria safe, since she never realizes how her friends would feel about it like how Rainbow felt when she couldn't fly anymore.

"We don't know what will happen to Cloudsdale when the magic goes away, but I do know that someday the magic will be back." Rainbow continued while trying to keep herself together. "So I'm recording this message for the next Pegasi who can fly. The next Pegasi who can find this city. This museum."

Rainbow then faced forward. "It's your turn now. Bring back the Wonderbolts. You don't have to call them that. But what we did was important. The world needs us. Whoever you are. It's your turn to be awesome, okay?" She asked as the four mares looked moved by Rainbow's words.

"Okay, I think I can handle that." Zipp said with an encouraging smile and a wink.
"And Twilight, if you're watching this right now, since I know you might still be around trying to keep Equestria going, since you know, Alicorn and all." Rainbow said, which surprised them as they listened carefully while Twilight was the most careful. "I understand why you have to do it, for the sake of Equestria, and the magic. That is why me and the others never really argue with you, because you always find a way to make things better, even at the worst or impossible times, even if you plan your plans in a triplet." She joked with a soft chuckle, which the four mares shared.

"Well, she's not wrong there." Sunset joked as Twilight just smiled as they continued.

"And, while things might not be the same, I know, and the others do as well, that things will work out like they always do. Because you are Twilight Sparkles, Princess of Friendship, Element of Magic, you always planned things well." Rainbow added as she continued. "And I just wanted to sat, I'm sorry I can't be there for you anymore, but I hope that some other, though probably not as awesome as me…" She bragged a bit, which caused them to share a small laugh with her. "...Pegasus that is leaving you hanging. And know that no matter how many moons you go to, just remember, I, as well as our friends will always be with you." She said with a warm smile.

Twilight kept watching with Sunset, Zipp, and Pipp behind her as they felt touched by Rainbow's words to Twilight. "And always remember, that no matter what changes, Equestria will always be the place we knew. And be sure to relay this history and teachings to the new generation." Rainbow started before she gave a sigh and gave a brave look. "This is the last recording of Rainbow Dash, leader of the Wonderbolts, Element of Loyalty, a member of the Guardian of Harmony, a member Council of Friendship, bestest friend of Princess Twilight Sparkle. I was there to help my friends when they were having trouble, even when things got tough, and I will cherish those memories I have with them, I have no regrets. And remember, friendship is magic, always." She finished as the message finished.

Soon, the four mares stood there as they had some tears falling from their eyes from that touching message, while Twilight was the hardest as she whimpered as her wings fell as she tried to be strong, but failed. "Rainbow…" She weeped sadly as Sunset, Zipp, and Pipp gave her a comforting hug as she cried out her emotions as they stood that way for a moment until they calmed down and separated.

"That was so touching of your friend, Twilight." Pipp said while wiping her eyes a bit.

Zipp wiped a single tear from her eyes as she tried to act tough. "Yeah, it was, great." She managed to say.

"That was the most emotional speech Rainbow has ever given." Sunset sniffled as she wiped her nose.

"She felt sad that I had to seal the magic away." Twilight sobbed a bit as she wiped her eyes with her wings. "I-I-I wouldn't have done it if I had known how my friends felt about that idea. I-I s-should've discussed it more with them instead of taking away the very thing that made them who they are." She whimpered.

"Don't even think about blaming yourself, Twilight." Sunset said with a calm look. "You did what you thought was best for Equestria after what Opaline did. This is not on you."

"Yeah, Opaline forced your hooves. You were only trying to keep Equestria safe." Pipp added with a comforting smile.

"And what did my friends feel about it?" Twilight asked with a guilty look. "I could've found another way. I should've prevented that from happening!" She cried out as she lowered her head in shame.

Zipp then walked forward and placed a hoof on Twilight's chin. "Twilight, Rainbow Dash and possibly the rest of your friends knew the risk you made when you sealed magic into the crystals. And they didn't stop you from trying, did they?" She asked as Twilight gave a thought.

"N-No?" Twilight answered.

"Exactly." Zipp said with a smile. "While it was a risky move and a sacrifice to make, they knew that it would turn out okay, and it did. I mean look around, magic is back, ponykind is united, and we even brought back two ancient cities of your and Sunset's time." She added.

"Yeah, the Crystal Empire, and now Cloudsdale." Sunset said while gesturing around. "This is a sign of good deeds from that choice you made, Twi."

"Yeah, I mean, if there was another alternative, Opaline would've gone her way." Pipp added with a smile. "And this, this is better."

"So don't ever think of it as a bad thing. Think of it as a miracle that you manage to help keep our homes safe and even leave behind its legacy to carry on, for the most part at first." Zipp said with a smirk.

"And we can still keep Rainbow's and the rest of the girls' memories alive, if we help carry on those times we had with them, and help keep their history alive." Sunset said with an encouraging smile. "For them, for all of Equestria, wouldn't you agree?"

Twilight looked at them for a moment, feeling a bit better for what they just said to her as she gave a smile as she brought them in a warm hug, which they returned. "You ponies sure know to keep me going with joy." She said with a smile as they separated the hug.

"Well, we have our moments." Pipp bragged with a smirk.

"So, what do we do now?" Zipp wondered with a smirk.

"Like Rainbow said, we help carry on the old Pegasi tradition and rebuild what was lost." Sunset said while gesturing to the museum of the Wonderbolts. "It will take some time, but I know we will pull it off."

"I agree. Rainbow would want that." Twilight said with a determined smile.

"Then let's get started." Zipp declared with a smirk as Pipp nodded as the four mares walked off, ready to help get Cloudsdale back on track and honor Rainbow's last wish to carry on the ancient Pegasi ways.

The End.