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Post by ragglefraggle on Oct 23, 2011 14:04:53 GMT -5
The clock of the small chapel in Appleloosa struck twelve. Two pies were hurtled across the empty main street and collided in midair. Two disgruntled ponies trotted back into the bar, opting to settle their dispute sheltered from the scorching sun. Another duel, another noon, another golden tooth for the local baker. Barely anypony else was to be seen out in the streets of Appleloosa at this hot hour.
Meanwhile, in the desert north of the small settlement, a tumbleweed made its way over the sand dunes, rolling past the occasional cactus or small rock- and changed it's direction on the spot, moved by a sudden gust of wind. Only moments after the initial breeze, a gigantic wall of flying sand blotted out the sun and took the dried up plant with it. A huge sandstorm was moving straight towards Appleloosa, multiple times bigger than the kind of little cloud the town was used to. It wasn't long before a single loud cry of "SAAANDSTOORM!" was heard through Appleloosa and echoed back in the form of voices ranging from condescending to hysterical, the latter becoming more and more prevalent as ponies looked out their windows into the desert, where the storm was still growing. Window shutters were slammed, doors locked and nailed shut and the baker's golden teeth surely disappeared behind a worried frown by now. The barricades wouldn't hold. If the sandstorm hit the town, there'd be nothing but rubble left for the next traveling salespony to discover. But who would step up to stop this strangely sudden storm - and was it really a natural disaster?
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Post by applecider on Oct 23, 2011 14:54:22 GMT -5
Apple Cider was walking down the main street with a small wagon after delivering a keg of apple cider to the local salloon. She paused and brushed the hair from her eyes and the sweat from her forehead. Suddenly Apple Cider saw something in the distance, something large. "Oh mah stars! It's a sandstorm, an' a big one at that. I have ta help out, or else it's goodbye Appleoosa." She quickly moved the wagon out of the way so no pony trying to flee to their homes would crash into it. "Y'all better git out right away everypony," Apple Cider shouted as loud as she could. "There's a big storm comin' and we need every pony we gat get ta help!"
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Post by tunnelnexus on Oct 26, 2011 18:18:11 GMT -5
In a dark room of one of Appleloosa's inns, a gray mare's eyes opened slowly. There were shouts coming from outside, something about a sandstorm.
Fantastic. It's not like I was having a hard time adjusting to all this sunlight and dryness, or anything. Nope, not at all.
Of course; why didn't I see this coming? Because it's silly, that's why. Am I seriously talking to myself now? Shucks.
Grumbling, Nexus rolled over on the bed, pulling the pillow over her head.
I should go help them out, shouldn't I? Nah, I'm too tired.
Still, something kept nagging at her, so with an indignant snort Tunnel got up out of her bed and slipped on her sunglasses. The mare rambled around her room for a few minutes before she had finally gathered up a decent amount of equipment into her saddlebags. Satisfied, she mussed her mane with a hoof and trotted out into the streets of Appleloosa. Even through her sunglasses, Tunnel had to squint at the amount of sunlight that beat down on her.
"Alright, let's do this."
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Post by zipfyre on Oct 31, 2011 14:49:20 GMT -5
ZipFyre rolled a small stone between her front hooves, bored beyond reason. It was the slow hour, usually nothing to do but stare at the dirt and sip lemonade. Sometimes an occasional brawl would ensue between two tired, grumpy ponies, but the heat would be too much and a stern. "That's enough." from the Sheriff or Deputy-in-training would be enough to stop the fight. The almost non-existent breeze changed direction suddenly and intensified. At first, Zip welcomed the respite from the heat, but when the breeze picked up even more, something started to worry her. More to settle her nerves now than in desperation for something to do, ZipFyre stood from the Sheriff's porch and peered into the distance. That wasn't a...? Naw, it was too... ZipFyre gulped. Big. Panic seized Zipfyre's chest and, at first, she couldn't say anything. But everything was built up until she could hold it in no longer. "SAAANDSTOORM!" ZipFyre dashed into the Sheriff's office, questioning, then panicking voices heard behind her. "Sandstorm! A great bigun! Comin' this way, Sher!" Zip stared at the empty office. Oh yeah. Sheriff was on vacation. Worry constricted Zip's heart as she pranced about in indecision. What to do? She was in charge. WHAT TO DO??
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Post by tunnelnexus on Nov 3, 2011 19:04:56 GMT -5
(I'm just gonna post, I don't feel like waiting any longer for AC. Sorry.)
Deciding that the best place to go to offer her skills was the sheriff's office, Tunnel marched briskly towards it. Just as she arrived, she saw a red-and-yellow-striped pony that she recognized dash inside. Encouraged, she followed.
When she saw the same pony dancing in worry, she sighed.
"Calm down, Zip. We'll figure something out about this sandstorm. Just focus," said Nexus in a parental voice. She trotted over to the sheriff's desk and began rummaging through the drawers.
"Do you know where we might find a map? If we're going to do anything about this, we'll need to know everything about the area, plus anything else that you can think of that might help us."
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Post by applecider on Nov 3, 2011 20:03:07 GMT -5
(Um... ok then)
Apple Cider felt the only thing to do would be to go to the sherriff's office. That was usually the place to meet for disasters. "Howdy there Zip an' Tunnel. I saw the storm comin' and figured I need ta do somethin to save Appleoosa. We're gonna have ta think of somethin soon as bu the looks of how fast it's going, that storm will reach here in a few hours."
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Post by zipfyre on Nov 4, 2011 17:14:10 GMT -5
ZipFyre started to relax a little at the presence of the other two ponies. She felt a little sheepish, too, at having panicked. "AC's right, we need some kinda town protection first. Per'aps we cin modify th' barricades t'at least redirect th' worst of it. Nexus, what kinda magic cin ye perform? I cin prob'ly create a counter-wind, but I ain't very strong. Mebbe try redirectin' it? Th' pressure won't be as strong from th' side." ZipFyre pulled a large map from a trunk and spread it out on the Sheriff's desk. She hoped she sounded like she knew how to handle things, but, truth be told, she felt as if she was about to collapse under all the pressure. Some deputy she was turning out to be.
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Post by tunnelnexus on Nov 4, 2011 17:36:00 GMT -5
"Well, when it comes to magic, there isn't much I'll be able to do against a sandstorm... my skill set is for cave-diving. You know, lifting things, illumination, all that kind of stuff," blustered the gray mare. In truth, that was about all she could do with her magic, even though she'd made it seem like more.
Nexus began scanning over the map that Zipfire had brought out. "Alright, our primary concern should be to get the ponies somewhere safe; as long as there are ponies, the town can be rebuilt." Tunnel continued, whispering to herself. "There HAS to be some kind of cave or something around this town..."
Using the pressure, you say?" wondered the mare at Zipfire's comment about redirecting it. "I guess that could work, if we had all of the pegasi we could find help out." Once again, Nexus spoke as if she knew exactly what she were talking about. Tunnel was really thankful for her sunglasses, shielding her eyes not only from the sun but also from any suspicious glances.
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Post by applecider on Nov 5, 2011 10:42:22 GMT -5
Upon hearing the words of ZipFyre about redirecting the barricades and Tunnel Nexus about getting the ponies to safety. "I have a cider cellar under the mill that is used to keep the cider cool in barrels during hot summer days. That can hold about thirty ponies safely an' comfortably. As for the barricades, why not try to funnel the storm inta one of the streets. It may damage some of the buildings, but it at least won't flatten the whole town. But that's one pony's opinion."
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Post by zipfyre on Nov 5, 2011 17:56:37 GMT -5
Thirty poinies... It wasn't much, but it was a start. Maybe there were other cellars around the town... ZipFyre tapped her hoof against her chin in concentration. The storm was pretty wide, it would be a challenge getting it to cooperate. There weren't very many pegasi in Appleloosa. Her family came to mind, but that was only three since Flash was too young for such a dangerous task. "I dunno... That's a lotta wind control. What if we trahd splittin' it down th' middle? Then it'd go 'round th' place without killin' th' pegasi. I like th' cellar idea. Mebbe there be more cellars like AC's 'round here somewhere. But we're gonna need organization. Runnin' 'round in panic ain't gonna git us nowhere. Nexus, ya say ya cin light things up? It's gonna be mighty dark in that there storm, think ya got guts enough ta help th' pegasi see while we try 'n' redirect this thing? Then AC cin round up th' ponies an' git 'em ta safety?" Zip started feeling a little more confident now that she had her mind going. Knowing she wasn't alone helped a lot, too. She flexed her wings, eager to get started. They were going to have to catch this storm as soon as possible if they were going to be able to do anything with it.
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Post by tunnelnexus on Nov 5, 2011 20:20:32 GMT -5
"Uh, yeah, I can handle lighting up the sandstorm. Piece of cake," said Nexus. "So, are we going to funnel it or redirect it? I would think, though, that if the town and storm are too big for us to handle, that we could just try parting it down the middle, letting it pass us by on either side. It would require the least amount of energy, I think. Oh! Maybe if you pegasi whipped up a little tornado or something, right in the middle, it would split it?" suggested the gray mare uncertainly. She hated being wrong, but the idea just kind of formed itself as she spoke, so she couldn't take it back.
"Anyway, I think that's a pretty good plan, Zip. What do you say, Apple Cider?"
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Post by applecider on Nov 6, 2011 12:59:56 GMT -5
"Sounds like a plan," Apple Cider said. "You two think that ya can try an split that sandstorm? I'm gonna get as many ponies as I can to the cider cellar. Does that map say about any other properties that have cellars where ponies can wait out the storm? If so, I'll need a copy of that map so I can get them there quickly as those cellars will be their last resort."
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Post by zipfyre on Nov 6, 2011 21:16:45 GMT -5
ZipFyre glanced down at the map. "It don't say it on here, but I cin mark 'em down fer ye." She grabbed a marker and started to doing just that. "Nexus, ye wouldn't mind going ta mah house 'n' gettin' mah family ta come out here, would yeh? Flash cin stay with AC, but we're gonna need mah parents' help in splittin' this here storm. Unless'n any of ye know where more pegasi are, we're gonna have ta make do with three. I jist hope that's enough..."
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Post by tunnelnexus on Nov 6, 2011 21:35:11 GMT -5
"Yeah, I can go get your family, Zip," said Nexus in a less-than-enthusiastic voice. "And, um, lessee... there's Morrow Rose, the delivery pony. Besides that, I can't think of any other pegasi; I am still pretty new around here."
Without waiting for any response, Tunnel set off to find Zipfire's family and bring them to the Sheriff's office.
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Post by applecider on Nov 7, 2011 8:08:27 GMT -5
"Thanks ZipFyre. This will help greatly. I'm gonna start roudin up the ponies and gettin them ta shelter, startin with mah cider cellar and then moving to the rest. Once I get as many as I can find ta safety, I will come back to the sheriff's office." With that Apple Cider set off to find the ponies and bring them to safety.
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