
Following Dash’s lead I descended on the waterfall fog link in my Equestria dreamscape. We adjusted our glide slope until we were less than a yard from the surface of the fog, then we cupped our wings and extended our legs and began cloud walking. In an instant we went from no longer flying so much as skiing down a mountain of fog. By keeping just enough lift from our wings and leaning forward we could maintain our momentum. Great rooster tails of mist swirled in our wake. Now I have done cloud sliding before but never have been able to do it for so long and so fast. This was great!
All around me other pegasi were joining the fun, soon there were dozens of ponies laughing, whooping, and hollering as they plummeted down the fog mountain. When you got to the bottom of the cloud/fog bank if you timed it right you could use your forward momentum to you help climb back up into the early evening sky. Then it was just a matter of flying back to the top of the slope and repeating the process. Some pegasi were intensely focused on their runs trying to obtain the maximum speed possible out their runs. Other ponies were like aerial ballerinas as they performing great sweeping turns, leaps and pirouettes as they glided down the clouds. Still other pegasi seemed to be having a grand time just plummeting down cloud slope on their bellies or backs, laughing the whole time.
Ponies from both Ponyville and Hoofington partook of the festivities and for the next few hours the cloud sliding continued. Celestia great orb dipped below the horizon and the vanguard stars of Luna’s night had begun their march across the darkening skies. Suddenly from a nearby cumulus cloud a volley skyrockets went tearing across the sky until they exploded in a flurry of brilliant colors. Then a fanfare of trumpets came echoing across the valley. RD who was flying alongside me shouted in glee.
“All right! Food is ready! Come on Brick let’s eat!” She then banked toward source of fireworks and music.
“Oh, I packed a dinner for myself.” I said sheepishly, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
“Well save it for lunch tomorrow or something because I guarantee that the grub on that cloud will beat your sandwich all hollow!”
As we approached the cumulus cloud I could see more brilliant flashes, at first I thought ponies were setting off more fireworks but then I realized it was lightning flashes from pegasi cooking on top the cloud. 4,000ft above the valley floor a group of pegasus ponies had assembled a temporary cloud kitchen. Stay-there totems anchored the cloud to specific location in the sky and a temporary platform of structural clouds had been erected so cooking crews could prepare food for hungry ponies. Also it gave them a place to park several sky chariots they had used to transport food and equipment.
Ponies were busily working away preparing food as we landed on the cloud. Severe Clear the head weather pony from Hoofington was already chilling on the cloud with a bottle Old Shoe Brown Ale a local favorite in Hoofington. The sunset pink stallion reached into large wicker basket and tossed us each a bottle as we landed.
“Well done Ms. Dash!” Exclaimed Severe Clear with his heavy Hoofington accent. “I do believe this has been the most successful operation we’ve had in years! And as always Ponyville definitely knows how to throw a party!” The stallion looked over at me. “I say chap, I don’t believe we’ve met before? I saw you arrive at the start of the operation. Severe Clear is my name. Who might you be?” The Hoofington stallion extended his right front hoof.
“Sky Brush is my name.” I said shaking the stallion’s extended hoof. “I just moved to Ponyville last year from Manehattan so I’m new to the area. It’s been a pleasure working with your team sir.”
With introductions completed I clutched the bottle of ale between the inside of my left front hoof and pastern. Then hooking the bottle cap on the edge of my lightweight aluminum horseshoe on my right front hoof I popped the cap off and took a long pull of the ale. Mmmm, that hit the spot!
Rainbow Dash finished taking a swig from her bottle and grinned at Severe Clear.
“Well with awesome ale like this and excellent cloud sliding to do all night I see no reason to not get the job done right the first time so we don’t have to fuss about it all night!” Dash looked around and spotted the food. “Oh, yeah there’s the good stuff! Come on Brick; let’s get ourselves grub! Weather working makes a pony hungry!”
Soon Dash and I had assembled a couple plates of food. At 4,000ft the local pegasi had created the pony equivalent of a tailgate party. Several of the local lightning experts were working their special magic to make this evening so much fun and tasty.
Finding a nice place to settle down Rainbow Dash and I tore into our meals. One team was roasting potatoes and then slathering them with butter and sour cream or stuffing them with melted cheese and grilled vegetables.
To drink a couple of industrious pegasi had spent the last couple days making dozens of giant carafes of sun tea. With honey and mint it they were great thirst quenchers. Along with the tea there were bottles of root beer, more brown ale from Hoofington, and bottles of Ponyville’s finest hard cider to satisfy thirsty ponies.
Another team of pegasi was grilling up patties made of mashed black beans, egg, cooked barley, grilled onions, and corn. The mixture was spiced with cumin, coriander, paprika and this chipotle-style pepper sauce that gave the patties some real heat. When the patties were piping hot thick slices of smoked Gouda cheese were melted on them and they served on toasted whole-wheat rolls with garlic mayonnaise, slices of sweet hothouse tomatoes from Southern Equestria and diced dill pickles. As side dish we enjoyed fresh potato chips that had been cooked up that afternoon.
Homemade vanilla ice cream with sliced strawberries and chocolate sauce finished out the meal.
Once the food had been eaten and enjoyed, we hung out for a while before dropping our panniers off at a holding site; then we headed out for another round of cloud sliding. Luna’s moon was waning but still it provided enough illumination to give the fog slopes a soft glow. Above the waterfall fog the skies were clear and full of brilliant stars that hung like sparkling gems in the indigo blue sky. Some pegasi had lightning lanterns like the ones we had used in Cloudsdale. From a distance they looked like bobbing Will-o-wisps as they slid along.
As the night progressed and as Dash and I got more proficient at our cloud sliding we started getting more elaborate with our runs down the fog. Soon we were weaving back and forth in a zigzag fashion. As we became more confident our formation became tighter and tighter.
We had started another run when it happened. Either I didn’t zig at the right moment or Dash forgot to zag but suddenly we collided and down we went. Fortunately falling on a cloud doesn’t really hurt, you just bounce and slide along until you stop. However tumbling along with another pony can leave you with boo-boos. Suddenly my world was a series of jumbled images.
When the world finally stopped spinning I found I was lying with my back on the cloud staring up at the stars, I tried to get up but discovered there was something weighing me down. I looked down and discovered that Rainbow Dash was sprawled across my chest and I had my front hoofs wrapped around her. My boss looked a bit groggy too but besides that she seemed to be okay.
“Dash, are you all right?” I asked while checking to make certain my wings were okay. My boss shook her head a couple times before speaking.
“Oh I’ve had far worse!” Replied the prismatic mane mare. “Trust me slamming into a cloud is nothing compared to crashing into a tree!” Having done that myself I could relate to her last statement. link
We both laughed for a moment as we lay there upon cloud. Finally RD spoke up.
“Brick what do you call that last maneuver back there? Your turned in front of me and cut me off!”
I glared at her. “I cut you off? Pffft! You’re the one swerved into me!”
“Did not!” Said RD.
“Did to!” I replied.
“I did not!” She countered.
“Yes you did!” I declared. Dash was about to speak when another voice called out.
“Are you two ponies okay?” Unnoticed by Dash or I, Derpy had slid to a stop a few yards away. Around her neck was miniature version of a lightning lantern. The cross-eyed mare stared at us for several seconds speaking before again.
“Um, Rainbow Dash why are you on top of Sky Brush?” Derpy looked confused.
“Because I always end up on top!” Replied my boss triumphantly. “Thanks for checking that we’re okay Derpy, we’re just having some fun here. You have great time cloud sliding okay!”
“Okay…” Said the gray mail-mare. “But maybe you two should get a room if you’re going to have anymore “fun”. Good night!” Then Derpy continued down the slope.
Dash did not move for several seconds, then Derpy’s final comment sunk in and her eyes went wide. The light cerulean blue mare quickly pushed away from me and sat down on the cloud next to me. I looked over at her.
“Are you okay RD?”
“Ha ha! I’m okay Brick!” RD gave a forced laugh. “Well, it’s getting late and we both have to work tomorrow so I think it’s time to call it a night. See you in the morning Brick!”
Then Dash rocketed off into the night. I thought of following her but I’ve learned that once Dash gets a lead I have no chance of catching her. I shook my head and took off to retrieve my panniers and headed for home.
To be continued.
All around me other pegasi were joining the fun, soon there were dozens of ponies laughing, whooping, and hollering as they plummeted down the fog mountain. When you got to the bottom of the cloud/fog bank if you timed it right you could use your forward momentum to you help climb back up into the early evening sky. Then it was just a matter of flying back to the top of the slope and repeating the process. Some pegasi were intensely focused on their runs trying to obtain the maximum speed possible out their runs. Other ponies were like aerial ballerinas as they performing great sweeping turns, leaps and pirouettes as they glided down the clouds. Still other pegasi seemed to be having a grand time just plummeting down cloud slope on their bellies or backs, laughing the whole time.
Ponies from both Ponyville and Hoofington partook of the festivities and for the next few hours the cloud sliding continued. Celestia great orb dipped below the horizon and the vanguard stars of Luna’s night had begun their march across the darkening skies. Suddenly from a nearby cumulus cloud a volley skyrockets went tearing across the sky until they exploded in a flurry of brilliant colors. Then a fanfare of trumpets came echoing across the valley. RD who was flying alongside me shouted in glee.
“All right! Food is ready! Come on Brick let’s eat!” She then banked toward source of fireworks and music.
“Oh, I packed a dinner for myself.” I said sheepishly, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
“Well save it for lunch tomorrow or something because I guarantee that the grub on that cloud will beat your sandwich all hollow!”
As we approached the cumulus cloud I could see more brilliant flashes, at first I thought ponies were setting off more fireworks but then I realized it was lightning flashes from pegasi cooking on top the cloud. 4,000ft above the valley floor a group of pegasus ponies had assembled a temporary cloud kitchen. Stay-there totems anchored the cloud to specific location in the sky and a temporary platform of structural clouds had been erected so cooking crews could prepare food for hungry ponies. Also it gave them a place to park several sky chariots they had used to transport food and equipment.
Ponies were busily working away preparing food as we landed on the cloud. Severe Clear the head weather pony from Hoofington was already chilling on the cloud with a bottle Old Shoe Brown Ale a local favorite in Hoofington. The sunset pink stallion reached into large wicker basket and tossed us each a bottle as we landed.
“Well done Ms. Dash!” Exclaimed Severe Clear with his heavy Hoofington accent. “I do believe this has been the most successful operation we’ve had in years! And as always Ponyville definitely knows how to throw a party!” The stallion looked over at me. “I say chap, I don’t believe we’ve met before? I saw you arrive at the start of the operation. Severe Clear is my name. Who might you be?” The Hoofington stallion extended his right front hoof.
“Sky Brush is my name.” I said shaking the stallion’s extended hoof. “I just moved to Ponyville last year from Manehattan so I’m new to the area. It’s been a pleasure working with your team sir.”
With introductions completed I clutched the bottle of ale between the inside of my left front hoof and pastern. Then hooking the bottle cap on the edge of my lightweight aluminum horseshoe on my right front hoof I popped the cap off and took a long pull of the ale. Mmmm, that hit the spot!
Rainbow Dash finished taking a swig from her bottle and grinned at Severe Clear.
“Well with awesome ale like this and excellent cloud sliding to do all night I see no reason to not get the job done right the first time so we don’t have to fuss about it all night!” Dash looked around and spotted the food. “Oh, yeah there’s the good stuff! Come on Brick; let’s get ourselves grub! Weather working makes a pony hungry!”
Soon Dash and I had assembled a couple plates of food. At 4,000ft the local pegasi had created the pony equivalent of a tailgate party. Several of the local lightning experts were working their special magic to make this evening so much fun and tasty.
Finding a nice place to settle down Rainbow Dash and I tore into our meals. One team was roasting potatoes and then slathering them with butter and sour cream or stuffing them with melted cheese and grilled vegetables.
To drink a couple of industrious pegasi had spent the last couple days making dozens of giant carafes of sun tea. With honey and mint it they were great thirst quenchers. Along with the tea there were bottles of root beer, more brown ale from Hoofington, and bottles of Ponyville’s finest hard cider to satisfy thirsty ponies.
Another team of pegasi was grilling up patties made of mashed black beans, egg, cooked barley, grilled onions, and corn. The mixture was spiced with cumin, coriander, paprika and this chipotle-style pepper sauce that gave the patties some real heat. When the patties were piping hot thick slices of smoked Gouda cheese were melted on them and they served on toasted whole-wheat rolls with garlic mayonnaise, slices of sweet hothouse tomatoes from Southern Equestria and diced dill pickles. As side dish we enjoyed fresh potato chips that had been cooked up that afternoon.
Homemade vanilla ice cream with sliced strawberries and chocolate sauce finished out the meal.
Once the food had been eaten and enjoyed, we hung out for a while before dropping our panniers off at a holding site; then we headed out for another round of cloud sliding. Luna’s moon was waning but still it provided enough illumination to give the fog slopes a soft glow. Above the waterfall fog the skies were clear and full of brilliant stars that hung like sparkling gems in the indigo blue sky. Some pegasi had lightning lanterns like the ones we had used in Cloudsdale. From a distance they looked like bobbing Will-o-wisps as they slid along.
As the night progressed and as Dash and I got more proficient at our cloud sliding we started getting more elaborate with our runs down the fog. Soon we were weaving back and forth in a zigzag fashion. As we became more confident our formation became tighter and tighter.
We had started another run when it happened. Either I didn’t zig at the right moment or Dash forgot to zag but suddenly we collided and down we went. Fortunately falling on a cloud doesn’t really hurt, you just bounce and slide along until you stop. However tumbling along with another pony can leave you with boo-boos. Suddenly my world was a series of jumbled images.
When the world finally stopped spinning I found I was lying with my back on the cloud staring up at the stars, I tried to get up but discovered there was something weighing me down. I looked down and discovered that Rainbow Dash was sprawled across my chest and I had my front hoofs wrapped around her. My boss looked a bit groggy too but besides that she seemed to be okay.
“Dash, are you all right?” I asked while checking to make certain my wings were okay. My boss shook her head a couple times before speaking.
“Oh I’ve had far worse!” Replied the prismatic mane mare. “Trust me slamming into a cloud is nothing compared to crashing into a tree!” Having done that myself I could relate to her last statement. link
We both laughed for a moment as we lay there upon cloud. Finally RD spoke up.
“Brick what do you call that last maneuver back there? Your turned in front of me and cut me off!”
I glared at her. “I cut you off? Pffft! You’re the one swerved into me!”
“Did not!” Said RD.
“Did to!” I replied.
“I did not!” She countered.
“Yes you did!” I declared. Dash was about to speak when another voice called out.
“Are you two ponies okay?” Unnoticed by Dash or I, Derpy had slid to a stop a few yards away. Around her neck was miniature version of a lightning lantern. The cross-eyed mare stared at us for several seconds speaking before again.
“Um, Rainbow Dash why are you on top of Sky Brush?” Derpy looked confused.
“Because I always end up on top!” Replied my boss triumphantly. “Thanks for checking that we’re okay Derpy, we’re just having some fun here. You have great time cloud sliding okay!”
“Okay…” Said the gray mail-mare. “But maybe you two should get a room if you’re going to have anymore “fun”. Good night!” Then Derpy continued down the slope.
Dash did not move for several seconds, then Derpy’s final comment sunk in and her eyes went wide. The light cerulean blue mare quickly pushed away from me and sat down on the cloud next to me. I looked over at her.
“Are you okay RD?”
“Ha ha! I’m okay Brick!” RD gave a forced laugh. “Well, it’s getting late and we both have to work tomorrow so I think it’s time to call it a night. See you in the morning Brick!”
Then Dash rocketed off into the night. I thought of following her but I’ve learned that once Dash gets a lead I have no chance of catching her. I shook my head and took off to retrieve my panniers and headed for home.
To be continued.
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So obviously the result was basically a big "sledding" party for pegasi. (Were there any griffons or other non-ponies involved? If Twilight hadn't found that cloud-walking spell, I doubt any unicorns or earth ponies were involved -- not that it would be all that safe to go sliding toward a potential drop without wings.)
No "over-watch" to respond to emergencies?
Dash is definitely going through a lot of things that are making her think lately.
No "over-watch" to respond to emergencies?
Dash is definitely going through a lot of things that are making her think lately.
"So obviously the result was basically a big "sledding" party for pegasi. (Were there any griffons or other non-ponies involved? If Twilight hadn't found that cloud-walking spell, I doubt any unicorns or earth ponies were involved -- not that it would be all that safe to go sliding toward a potential drop without wings.)"
Nah this was an all pegasi party.
"No "over-watch" to respond to emergencies?"
Nope this is much more like the 19th century when folks were much more cavalier about things like safety and liability.
Nah this was an all pegasi party.
"No "over-watch" to respond to emergencies?"
Nope this is much more like the 19th century when folks were much more cavalier about things like safety and liability.
Nope this is much more like the 19th century when folks were much more cavalier about things like safety and liability.
IMO, less "cavalier" and more "responsible." You didn't usually need a court to hold you responsible for what you did, although there were those who delighted in litigation... You haven't run into one of those, have you?
IMO, less "cavalier" and more "responsible." You didn't usually need a court to hold you responsible for what you did, although there were those who delighted in litigation... You haven't run into one of those, have you?
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