November 15th, 993 Domina Solaria

“Good morning, Ponyville,” Mayor Mare announces from the stage outside the town hall. The tan earth pony flicks her gray streaked pink mane as the crowd shouts back their own greeting. It’s subdued, as befitting the somber mood. “As you all know, today is the day we wrap up Fall!”

At the back of the restless crowd of ponies crouches Doug and the rest of the Apple herd. Despite autumn’s chill nipping at his ears he tugs uncomfortably at his light blue jacket. He’s in the vexing position where having the jacket on means he’s too hot, while taking it off means he’s too cold. The heat isn’t entirely the fabric’s fault, though, or that of the four mares crowding around him. He shifts in place, occasionally rubbing at the tan armband around his bicep or glancing up at the thick mass of black storm clouds. Another jolt of dread and excitement shoots through him, at long last getting to see the results of a month’s careful calculations.

“It is my fervent hope,” Mayor Mare continues in a rehearsed tone that tries to be happy but reveals the concession behind the words, “that we will finish before the snow starts.” She fixes a certain gray pegasus with a harsh stare for a brief second, and it’s enough to get her to sheepishly shy down.

“She doesn’t mean to,” Rainbow Dash mutters under her breath. She crosses her forelegs as she hovers behind Doug, joining a number of her fellow pegasi in glaring at the mayor. Except she feels a pang of sympathy for whichever pegasus got drafted to be weather team lead this year. Half of her wishes her blue jacket had the armband designating her as such, while the other half is glad she won’t be the one catching the blame for mistakes out of her control. She’ll be plenty busy making sure the first snowfall of the season is all set exactly to Doug’s specifications.

“And with that in mind,” Mayor Mare says with a sweeping motion to the three ponies on stage, “let us welcome this year’s team leaders Shoeshine, Clear Skies, and Amethyst Star!”

A blue earth pony, pink pegasus, and pink unicorn step onto the stage, spread out as much as they can. They briefly wave the foreleg with their team leader band before settling back and focusing on the mayor.

“You all know which team you are on thanks to the tireless efforts of our very own Rarity.” Mayor Mare tilts her head up as everypony turns to give the fashionista a cheerful grin, hoofstomps ringing through the staging area.

Rarity is already standing on her hind legs, one hoof steadying herself on Doug while the other raises. She looks dashing, even as she unconsciously hides her belly behind her stallion, clad in a brown animal vest and a poofy light green hat that conceals most of her mane but leaves her horn clear. She primly rotates a darker green boot lined with the same light green material, a measured smile in return. She drops back down as everypony turns back to the mayor, nuzzling Doug in thanks for his use as a hoofstool. He gives her chin a quick rub, enticing her to stay there and press her head against his side.

“So, with no further ado, it’s time to Wrap Up Fall!” Mayor Mare shouts as ponies surge towards the stage. “Make sure to check in with your team lead if you don’t know what you’re doing!”

“Sad you’re not up there?” Doug asks Rainbow Dash as Applejack nuzzles him. He gives his lead mare a quick kiss before the green vested earth pony ambles off to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Eh,” Rainbow Dash says noncommittally. “It’d be nice, I guess.” She lands despite the pegasi beginning to circle above, ignoring how they are clearly waiting for her. She hates that the real reason is that she would have difficulty keeping up with both her duties as head weathermare, especially with Doug’s new version, and coordinating all the other changes going on like sending off the birds. She asks in a hushed whisper, “Did you really have to go all out like this?”

“I wanted to see if it works,” Doug replies quietly, rubbing at her mane before giving her a light kiss. Rainbow huffs at the affectionate display, trying to pull away, but Doug continues, “plus, if it messes up, I can blame it on first time jitters. Getting into my groove.”

“Yeah, or, they can take this away from you and make me do the work again.” Rainbow Dash huffs at her outburst. She hates leaving her stallion after an accusation that she didn’t really mean, but taking it back would make her look worse. “I gotta go. Stay warm.”

“Sure,” Doug says as Rainbow Dash takes off. He turns to Rarity and Fluttershy. Both sport a tan animal vest, Fluttershy a light blue hat and boots that match his jacket, and eagerly await him joining them. The three trot to the south, crossing the bridge to the piles and piles of crates that make up the distribution center.

Doug strips the jacket off, leaving him in a light purple tee-shirt, but pulls out a pair of orange gloves and a white hat before tying the jacket around his waist. He gazes down at his yellow pants and pink boots. If it wasn’t Rarity’s hoofwork the whole ensemble would clash worse than his rainbow pimp bard, but the mare has a knack for picking shades that complement each other superbly.

What isn’t complementing the other is the towering clouds above the Everfree Forest. Some days he can almost forget about the perennial threat. Other times it looms what feels like inches away from his carefully crafted plans and threatens to invade like a pillaging army.

Amethyst Star trots along with a long train of unicorns with a few earth ponies and pegasi mixed in. “Alright, everypony,” the pink unicorn commands, proudly parading around the crates with her tan armband on full display, “you all know the drill. Rarity and…” she gives Doug a hard gaze, her muzzle pursing briefly, “her stallion Doug will be on checklists. They’re easy to spot, so make sure you go to them when you have your delivery ready.”

Rarity and Doug wave to the gathered ponies.

“Everypony else,” Amethyst Star continues, “will need to find an order sheet and complete the order.” She indicates a tall stack of papers next to her. “Fluttershy, you got the… specials?”

“Mhm,” Fluttershy affirms through a tightly clenched muzzle and a terse nod. Most of the other ponies nearby her slowly back away, as if they are afraid of contaminating themselves with her side of the work. Fluttershy goes to a separate section of crates, many of which have air holes. The pegasi leave to gather up the southern birds for migration while everypony else gathers the winter stores for the animals in and around Ponyville.

“Derpy,” Amethyst Star grunts out as the blue vested pegasus lands next to her. “What are you doing here?”

“I have a hard time telling the thickness of the clouds,” Derpy explains with a resigned sigh. “...I can’t just eyeball it like everypony else.”

“...Fine,” Amethyst Star says, obviously biting her tongue. “Go help Doug.”

Doug glances up as the wall-eyed mare approaches. “Hey, Ms. Hooves.”

“It’s Derpy,” the tan pegasus corrects. She cocks her head sideways to look at the marker in his hand. It doesn’t seem to help. “What’cha doing?”

“Waiting for everypony to get ready, then we mark down where the supplies go.” Doug frowns as she squints. The boxes are quite cramped and tightly spaced, and a missed meal would mean an animal might starve if their homes get buried under the snow and they can’t get out. Hopefully the animals can alert Fluttershy or somepony before the snow hits, but if not? He tries to distract her by asking, “What’s your normal method of figuring out a cloud’s thickness?”

“I jump on it, and how far I go lets me know how much cloud is left.” Derpy nods, one of her eyes drifting upwards.

“But,” Doug says, scratching at his head and trying not to stare, “isn’t that how you normally activate a cloud?”

“Mmhmm,” Derpy says with a fervent nod and smile.

Doug stares at her for a long second. “Maybe a different method would be better? Like, say, a measuring stick?”

“I, um.” Derpy looks around for a suitable stick. Her eyes light up as she finds one. “Let me check!”

Doug watches as Derpy wrenches a stick from a tree and then flies into the air.

“I hate checklists,” Rarity mutters to Doug as they wait for the quickest and simplest orders, such as seeds and nuts for the squirrels.

“Because they’re long and tedious?” Doug offers as the first pony arrives, and he marks off the first of several hundred boxes. High above, Derpy Hooves begins pushing her stick through a cloud. “Or because you hate that little dopamine hit from getting something done?”

Rarity rolls her eyes. “Because they’re so standardized. It’s always the same thing over and over; I’d much rather be free to create my own dazzling creations than follow some sew-by-the-numbers pattern.”

“And I’m guessing filling boxes with food doesn’t count as creative,” Doug says as ponies begin swarming around them.

“Heavens no,” Rarity says, a hoof holding a marker while her other hoof supports her weight on one of the crates. She envies Doug’s ability to hold things and remain seated; the position puts too much of a strain on her back to do so, and she thinks she looks frumpy. “The only reason I can lay claim to this job is because of my work with the uniforms.”

“They’re very snazzy,” Doug compliments, the mass of ponies thinning out as they trot to their destinations.

“Thank you, darling,” Rarity says with a smile. She looks around at the dearth of remaining ponies, then pulls out a sketchbook from her hat. “I much prefer Winter Wrap Up, where I can put my talent to use in making nests for the returning birds.”

“I’m surprised that’s nestessary,” Doug quips, earning himself a swift kick in the rump. He laughs as he hops up, winking at his grinning mare. He busies himself preparing more of the outgoing supplies when Rainbow Dash lands next to him.

“Mind telling me why Derpy is beating my clouds with a stick?” she asks pointedly.

“Because I didn’t want her messing things up near me?” Doug responds callously.

“Jeez,” Rainbow Dash deadpans back, “if that wasn’t why I sent her down here, I might be madder.” She sighs. “Just, try to keep an eye on her, okay? She tries, she really does.”

“Alright,” Doug says, scanning the skies. He spots Derpy Hooves in the air, waving wildly. “What’s she want?”

Rainbow Dash peers up, then staggers a step backwards.

The storm clouds over Ponyville are coming dangerously close to the storm clouds over the Everfree. And then, with a shudder that ripples through the air, they touch.

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