BaronEngel
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Heat
🕑 Added 2019-10-26 01:41:32 +0000 UTCIf there is one thing you can usually count on in Equestria it is the weather. Unlike in our world where the weather is beyond our immediate control in Equestria it is something that often scheduled out months in advance. There will often be slight adjustments for when certain events will occur but this information is printed in the local papers several days in advance.
Just as there were a few days of scheduled extreme cold last winter in my Equestria dreamscape so there is three days of extreme heat planned in the late spring around Ponyville. These hot days are created to help with the final ripening of certain early crops before their harvests begin. Then cooler weather is moved in to help farmers pick under more pleasant conditions. A few more sets of these hot days were also scheduled for the summer and autumn.
During these days of intense heat most work grinds to a halt by the late morning and does not resume until after the Celestia’s sun has set below the horizon. Even then it doesn't cool off much during the night and the air is very still with no wind. At least it is not that humid during this period. Fortunately all of our preparations for our Ft. Trotterdale trip were done.
Anypony who can usually finds some reason to get some place that is cooler; even if this just means sitting in the shade of a tree and drinking lemonade. However by far the favorite place to escape the blazing heat was Heron Lake just outside of Ponyville. With lots of shady trees, sandy beaches and several great places for diving Heron Lake was practically made for picnics and outings.
One perk during the heat wave was the lack of little weather activity. The forecast called for severe clear conditions so the skies were completely clear of clouds. Only a small standby team was assigned to keep tabs on the Everfree Forest or any other unregulated weather that might spawn. Therefore most of the Ponyville weather service found itself trying to stay cool out at Heron Lake. Only a few lucky pegasus ponies like Rainbow Dash had actual cloud dwellings where they could retreat up from the blistering heat on the valley floor.
It was in the morning when my roommates and I arrived at the lake and began laying out a large picnic cloth under the shade of a great walnut tree. Carousel had insisted in pulling her little cart out to the lake. In the back of the cart were a large picnic basket and a sturdy chest that had its interior lined with straw and burlap. Nestled inside were several large chunks of ice that was keeping a large fruit salad, several carafes of iced teas and lemonade, along with a tub of pesto potato salad and a tray of individual mushroom and cheese quiches nicely chilled. In the picnic basket were the components for making sandwiches. Along with sandwich fixings was a jar of pickled eggs and another of pickled vegetables. Chocolate chip cookies I’d baked the day before rounded out our snack supplies.
Soon more ponies began arriving and staking out the shadiest areas to set up for the day. Some ponies had brought small pavilions that they erected on the spot. Within a couple hours the lakeshore looked like a carnival had suddenly sprung up on the shores of the Lake. Some of the more industrious ponies actually began digging fire pits, and soon the air was filled with the sweet smell of ears of corn roasting in the embers. Other ponies had pots of beans, pans of sticky buns and great urns of blackberry cobblers buried in their fire pits; in a few hours they would be ready eating.
With our base camp established we turned our attention toward the main task of the day, soaking in the lake. Soon we were joined by an ever-growing herd of soggy ponies who were swimming, soaking, splashing, and in general having a grand time.
About half and hour after we started soaking the Apple family arrived along with the rest of the Mane Six. Even Zecora came moseying in around 11:30, apparently even the gloomy, dark, Everfree Forest was too hot and muggy for the zebra alchemist. Soon we were laughing and sharing food, drink and good times with our neighbors.
I was sitting in water under the shade of a tree with eyes closed when Rainbow Dash came paddling over to me. “Hey there Brick! Chilling under the tree are you? Well how would you like to learn an awesome flying trick and stay cool at the same time?”
“Not interested. Not moving. I’m going to sit here until that blast furnace of a sun sets in the West!” To illustrate this point I sank further down in lake until only nose poked above the surface of the water.
Dash has never been very good at taking hints; she’s dense that way. When it became apparent I was not budging she reached down with her front hoofs and yanked whole head above the lake surface.
“Brick!” Said my boss. “As your flight instructor appointed by none other than Princess Celestia herself; I hereby insist you learn this important maneuver of pegasi awesomeness!”
I looked into her claret colored eyes and sighed. “Can I assume that my saying no will not stop you from pestering me about this will it?” Element of Loyalty grinned back at me.
“Yep!” Grinned the prismatic mane mare. “So drag your waterlogged hide out of the water and lets get this lesson a rolling!”
After much protesting from me, Dash finally succeeded in dragging my wet body out of the lake. A few minutes of half-hearted drying on my part and Dash declared me somewhat airworthy.
“How about we just discuss the principles of this maneuver while sitting in the shade of this nice tree?” I muttered “Then later after I’ve had the a chance to dwell on your lecture we can apply it in the field? How’s that sound?” I smiled hopefully.
“Awful!” Replied the light cerulean blue mare. “Look Brick I know you want to get back in this lake but that’s the whole point of this maneuver!”
“If the whole is to get into the lake why did you drag me out of it?” I asked somewhat plaintively. “I was already in it!”
“Yeah, yeah, but this is how a pegasi can get into the lake and look awesome! So follow me!” Then my boss, neighbor, friend, and partner, launched herself into the early afternoon sky. Reluctantly I followed.
The sun was painfully bright, and I had left my goggles back on the lakeshore. With the combination of heat and slips stream from following RD at about 60 knots it was like flying inside a giant hair dryer. As we made a lazy orbit of the lake Dash started explaining the maneuver.
“Okay Brick, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to coming in on a southwestern approach across the lake. That way we can take advantage of what little headwind there is. We’re going to adopt a very shallow glide slope at about 40 knots. When we’re about a 100 yards from the approaching shoreline and just above the surface of the lake we’ll cup our wings and cancel most of our flight magic. Then we’ll extend our hind legs until they touch the water. If you do it right you make these awesome rooster tails of water! Then you slowly extend your front legs; if you do it correct you end up skating across the lake until you airspeed and lift run out and you settle into the lake.”
“And if you do it wrong?” I asked. Dash looked over at me and grinned.
“Wellllll,” she said slowly. “If you cancel your flight magic before you reach the correct height or if your glide slope is too steep you’ll either stall out over the water and drop butt first into the lake, or you’ll do a spectacular belly flop into it!”
Dash lined us up around for our first attempt. “If you extend your front legs first or don’t wait until your airspeed diminishes then you’ll usually pitch forward into the lake and end up with a couple gallons of it rammed up your nose!” Dash looked over at me. “And instead of looking awesome you end up looking lame! So try not to look lame okay.”
I muttered something under my breath as we began our first approach. Following RD’s glide slope I tried my best to match her approach. Dash gave the cue and I cupped my wings and killed my flight magic. Unfortunately I weighed more than her so I needed stay on the flight magic for just a second longer. Instead of long gracefully slide across the lake I went ass over end in a giant BLOOSH! This would take some practice.
To be continued.
Comments
Baron Engel
Yeah but her way sounds more awesome!
McClaw
So it's just a skimming water landing. At least RD knows how to talk up a maneuver.
Cult of Dust
I can't imagine you mind!
Baron Engel
Also Dash prefers that her wingpony stays less than one wingspan away from her.
Baron Engel
Pros make it look easy only because they've practiced it for hours before doing it for the public.
Sky Shatter
Thursday, 08. November 2012 22:36 Sky Shatter pulls up and loops back, slowing and skimming just above the water's surface. In the moonlight, he can be seen attempting to brace all four hooves agains the lake, and the light surrounding him disappears. A roostertail kicks up, but is shortly replaced by broken bursts of water being thrown into the air, along with the faint sound of random shouts of discomfort, ending in a single large spray being thrown up and forward. (( Yeah...it can take a little practice ^^; ))
Vet
You did good! Nothing broke. That’s a good landing. Just mind those legs. Your’s were in ground position...ready to run on touchdown. RD legs were set in drag. Like a roping horse pulling back on a steer. RD does have a habit of assuming one knows what to do when doing something new. It’s good. I myself will be happy ground pounding.
Baron Engel
Now, now. Cut me some slack I still only had about a year and some change of flying under my belt. Something that RD is prone to forget.
Baron Engel
The trip to Ft. Trotterdale is a nice step away from the ongoing political intrigue. Although there it will pop up a few times during the trip.
Baron Engel
I bet they spent lots of time practicing for that scene, and the outtakes are probably spectacular.
Louis Richards
They made it look so easy in Fantasia.
Cult of Dust
Following a bit closely, eh? :p And it's nice to see nice little interactions like this!
MishaFox
Brick needs to maintain his reputation as terrible crashes and smashes!
Vet
Tuck and roll!!! Mind those wings. You got to get that wing flare timing down. Think of it like a touch and go landing practice..... just on water not land.............that was an awesome splash down......well worthy of Brick legend.
