Fifteen years ago...

The solid clopping sounds on the linoleum floor echoed throughout the hall. Aside from the young mare, the building was practically abandoned. She slowly walked to her assigned office, conscious of the noise she was making.

The Pegasus hummed softly to distract herself. As she entered the room, her ears drooped to see that it was empty save for one other pony. The stallion looked over his shoulder, staring up when he saw her.

"Hey, Firefly."

Firefly smiled, trotting over to her Flight School sweetheart. "Hey, Blaze." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Is Dash safe?"

Rainbow Blaze nodded, his messy mane shaking. "I dropped her off with a foalsitter in Canterlot." He gave a look around the empty room. "Where are the rest of the emergency weather responders?"

Firefly sighed in frustration. "I don't know." She snorted. "I want to be angry with them, but I know most of them have family along the coast."

Rainbow Blaze frowned hesitantly. "I can’t push back an entire storm on my own."

"You won't," Firefly asserted as she trotted to a locker. "I'm going with you."

"Are you sure? It's gonna be nasty."

"It's my job as a supervisor to ensure the safety and well-being of my employees," Firefly insisted, tugging on a flight suit. "And to be able to fill in any position when understaffed."

"We're still short three pairs of wings." Rainbow pointed out.

"I'll telegraph the weather station in Las Pegasus. Maybe they can send a team."

Rainbow Blaze shook his head, smiling. "You never back down from anything, do you?"

Firefly grinned, slamming the locker shut. "And you love me for it."

Rainbow Blaze laughed, fitting on his goggles. "Alright, let's get this oversized grumpy marshmallow under control. I want to get home and finish my dinner!"

~~~

The roaring booms of thunder grew increasingly louder. Firefly could hardly see. The droplets of rain stung her face, like thousands of tiny whips. Every now and then she saw a spectral blur zipping by, signaling Rainbow Blaze coralling the looming mass.

Firefly flapped furiously, pushing the storm clouds with every ounce of strength she had. Occasionally the world lit up with a white light, followed by the cracks of thunder and smell of singed hair. Firefly groaned, heaving the mighty beast forward, into the ocean.

Rainbow Blaze circled continuously, keeping it away from the city and trying his best not to create a tornado. Firefly panted, feeling the inside of her suit lining with sweat.

"Come on, you stupid puffball! Buck off!" Firefly screamed with effort as she pushed, her muscles burning. With one final push, the storm seeped out over the ocean. Firefly laughed incredulously.

They had just made history! She and Rainbow Blaze had pushed an entire Class 4 thunderstorm safely off-course! She turned around in midair to find Rainbow. He was still circling lightly, slowing his trajectory. He sure looked rattled.

I am gonna tell this story to Rainbow Dash so many times!

Firefly smiled, her throbbing wings carrying her closer. All of a sudden, a giant invisible hoof punched Firefly backwards. She yelped as the after-current shoved her across the shoreline, straight towards the dangerous storm she had worked so hard to disable.

Firefly could faintly hear Rainbow Blaze screaming her name as she was tossed into the heart of the storm, which was still on a smooth path farther out into the ocean. Heart beating rapidly, Firefly struggled to regain her composure. It was okay, just simple spin-out corrections should do it.

She twisted upright, letting the wind carry her. Firefly found herself flying in circles. She scanned the walls of the storm, looking for a break in the clouds. Wait, walls?

Firefly stole a look upward. Her fears were confirmed as she gazed up into the opening of a funnel-like structure. She was in a tornado.

Panic creeping in, Firefly continued her search for an escape. All she needed was one tiny little window. Her eyes landed on a small gap. It wouldn't be there long. Firefly bolted for it. She practically made it.

Then her face was splashed by an airborne puddle of seawater.

"No!"

Firefly shrieked in terror as her wings were soaked, dragging her down further into the hungry tornado.

I love you, Blaze. I love you, Dash. Firefly's eyes began watering underneath her goggles.

I tried.

~~~

Firefly blinked. She was floating aimlessly on her back. She paddled to get upright, trying to move her wings. Firefly winced at the movement. Casting a look over both shoulders, Firefly realized with a pang that her wings were dislocated. One of them might even be broken.

Firefly sighed, rolling back onto her back. So, this was it. By starvation, dehydration, exhaustion, or simply being eaten, it was clear: Firefly would forever be lost to the elements.

Twice the sun came down. Twice it came back up. Firefly strained to keep herself afloat the whole time. She knew she was just delaying the inevitable. Surely Rainbow Blaze had a search team looking for her. If they couldn't find her by now, then she was probably miles from the coast.

Her lips were cracked, and her stomach felt like a row of rusty knifes was carving it up. Firefly wished sorely for it to end. When she felt something tugging at her from above, her first thought was that vultures had discovered her, vulnerable. Then she heard a voice.

"Kahuna, help! I think she's alive!"

"Watch it, watch it. Set her down carefully."

"...She's definitely breathing. Let me see some water."

A trickle of cool water fell into her mouth.

"Hey, you with me? Try not to swallow just yet."

Firefly cracked an eye open. All she saw was an orange blur.

"Don't worry, you're gonna be okay. My name is Torch. Can you tell me yours?"

~~~

Rainbow Dash gazed off into space. Her ear twitched occasionally. Twilight leaned over to whisper in Firefly's ear, "She's just processing everything."

Firefly rubbed Rainbow Dash's shoulder. "This must come as a shock to you. I'm sorry to thrust all of this on you all at once."

Rainbow Dash licked her lips. "I... m-my brother?" She cleared her throat. "I have a half-brother?"

"Three, actually." Firefly added quietly.

"Three brothers. That's very interesting." Twilight said when Rainbow Dash fell silent again. "What are their names?"

"You've already met Bug and Bean. They were the ones who came and got me when you first arrived." Torch answered.

Firefly nodded. "You'll love them. They're such sweet boys." Her gaze fell, her smile dissipating.

"But, there's something wrong with our oldest son, Starswirl."