//------------------------------//
// The Coming Storm 
// Story: Kindness Secluded 
// by xXSilverLiningXx 
//------------------------------//

	Celestia stared at the moon, at its pure, unmarred face. The scars had long faded from its clean surface, but their memory would never leave her. If she focused, she could still see the faintest outline, a slight darkening in a sea of light. Maybe it was just her imagination. She would never know for sure.
Her gaze shifted elsewhere, to the stars. A curious sensation washed over her, as she felt her awareness expand. Details came into focus, revealing intricacies that her day could never match. She saw galaxies swirling around their centers. She saw the planets and moons and stars. She’d never had a memory for their orbits, not like her sister.
“‘Tis unhealthy to dwell on the past, dear sister.”
Celestia sighed. Even after a thousand years she can still sneak up on me.
“No, it isn’t,” she replied, “but one does need to review their errors. Could I get a second opinion, Lu?”
“Of course,” said Luna. “Nothing could make us happier.”
“Well, a thousand years ago, your actions inspired a cult. It wasn’t anything that you could’ve prevented—after all, how could you have known that denying a gryphon business would incite rebellion? The point is, I could have stopped them. I could have stopped them when they celebrated your Descent, when they used it as evidence towards their foalish cause.
“The problem is, had I stopped them, we would never have discovered many of the more advanced forms of magic. What should I have done? What could I have done? I tried to act against my anger, and yet I still feel it boiling within me. A century of rebellion in exchange for immeasurable advance; was that the right move?”
“Why do you ask?” her sister probed.
“Because I’ve seen that counterspell before.”





Pinkie loved it when it rained. It wasn’t the extra customers that tried to warm up, or the thunder that scared everypony. It wasn’t the water that gathered in the street, or the lightning that arced across the sky. No, the rain always seemed to bring energy into the world. It was as if life had a sugar rush, and that was something she could understand.
The pounding on the roof brought a steady rhythm to her work as she dashed around the kitchen. Have to go fast. They’re almost here.
And indeed they were. The others were on their way to meet her. Everypony was concerned, but with their new worry, they now had to work together. Something had to be done—first about Twilight, and then they could find Fluttershy.
A crack of thunder pealed through the air as Pinkie took her cupcakes out of the oven. As the wind whistled against the bakery, she found herself swaying with the trees. The drumming rain pounded a pulsating rhythm into her mind. A shiver ran down her spine as a gust brought in the moist, chill air.
We really ought to get that draught fixed, she thought.
A ringing came from the doorway, alerting Pinkie that one of her friends had arrived. She rushed from the kitchen to find that Spike was just inside, his purple scales glistening from the rain. She’d never noticed them being so shiny before! They looked like opals, like wet grapes, like... What do they look like? she thought. Is there a word for it?
Pinkie shook her head to clear these stray thoughts. Her mind had been all over the place lately, and while that seemed to reassure her friends, Pinkie couldn’t help but worry. What if she messed something up? What if Twilight got hurt even more?
Then she saw his eyes. The emerald orbs glistened with water—but not rain. The rest of his face was blank and expressionless, the easiest giveaway of somepony fighting back their tears. He was trying to be brave, to be strong. Why can’t he just be honest about it? she wondered. Does he think he has to be strong for us?
She gripped the dragon in a wordless embrace. At first Spike resisted, but then he melted in her warmth. Pinkie could feel him breaking down, giving into his sorrow. As the water soaked into her fur, the pink mare felt herself give a slight shiver, but she knew she had to stay. Something had to be done but this was the pain of Laughter: sometimes a joke can’t help.
“I simply detest this rain!” wailed Rarity as she walked through the door. “Why on earth must they schedule a storm this... Spike, darling, are you alright?”
Spike broke his grip on Pinkie, only to latch onto his love. By this point he was weeping openly. At least she can help him...
Pinkie felt her mane beginning to flatten out, and immediately searched for a distraction. Her gaze frantically swept the room, taking in all the details in swift succession. A cake lay on the table, a red balloon in the corner, a blue streamer hung from the ceiling. Wait, a red balloon? When did I put that there? Red doesn’t go with blue, silly Pinkie. Aw, but it’s such a shiny balloon, too. Maybe I should take out the ribbon. Hm... blue fits the theme, but red is shiny! Maybe I have a red ribbon? That could work.
“Don’t worry, Spikey-wikey. We’re going to fix everything,” Rarity cooed.
But why would I use yellow frosting? I hate yellow cakes! It’s so hard to match anything to it. I mean, you could do flowers, or dress it up like Fluttershy, but it just doesn’t look right. Yellow! What was I thinking? These colors are all over the place! Where’s the pattern? Where’s the thought?
“And I’m tellin’ ya, Dash, that ain’t gonna work without magic! We need Twi first, then we can help.”
Wait, when did they get here?
“Well what do you want me to say?” retorted Rainbow Dash. “It’s not like she—I don’t know—gave up her magic to try and get Flutters back. Are you saying we should just give up on that?”
The four others were gathered around the table. Applejack—apparently the most recent arrival—was dripping water onto the floor. The arguing pair both had their forehooves on the table as Spike shrank back in fear. Rarity’s eyes were bloodshot and pink, with tear stains in their corners.


“Then how do we find ‘er? All we got is Twi. She was in ‘er head, remember?”
“Stop!” wailed Rarity. “All of this nonsensical bickering is utterly pointless! What’s the point of arguing over something we don’t even know how to do?”
“I have an idea,” stated Pinkie, “but you won’t like it.”





A beautiful lake filled Twilight’s vision. The shining blue water stretched to the edges of the world. Unknown to her, it was the very same lake that Applejack had gone to for so many years.
The world was overcast with a bright white glow, yet not a star was in the dark night sky. The leaves whispered behind her, but when she turned to look, Twilight only saw an impenetrable fog. The mists swirled and condensed in an ever-shifting pattern. It called to her, beckoning in a language beyond language. As she stared, Twilight began to make out a shadow in the mist. Suddenly, the mists parted, and Fluttershy burst forth from within them.
She landed at the edge of the lake, retaining a dainty grace even in her frantic state. A light dust cloud billowed around her as she touched the ground. The pegasus collapsed to the ground, a hollow sob bursting from her throat. Tears made ripples on the ethereal surface of the water. Then she swiftly turned her head, revealing the empty pits that had replaced her eyes. They drilled into Twilight’s very soul, carving a deep pain into her. She felt a vast cavern open inside her soul, a void of emotion that drained the joy even from memory.
Those dark openings drew in light, casting a dark shadow around Fluttershy. The shadow could only be described as one thing: pain. Its very presence killed the plants around it. Yet in its steady presence, there seemed to be something else, the barest hint of light. It flickered like a candle, winking in and out of existence.
Twilight felt hope flutter in her chest as the pegasus opened her mouth to speak.
“The Beast is out,” her hollow voice echoed, “and someday the dream must end.”
“Why?” yelled Twilight. “Why does it need to end? Live the dream, if you think that’s what this is! Live the dream, because as long as we’re here, it’s a life worth dreaming!”
Fluttershy rose, repeating, “Someday the dream must end. Let me stop dreaming.” Then she began a solemn march into the water, slowly sinking into its depths.
“What do you mean?” the unicorn yelled, running after her friend. The distance, however, only seemed to increase.
“I’m so tired. Let me wake up,” she said, barely above a whisper. Then she disappeared into the water. Twilight screamed, trying to teleport to her friend, but instead she collapsed in a heap. Her magic was still gone. The fog began to close around her.

A loud crack woke Twilight as lightning flickered in the stormy skies. She sighed. Another dream about her. At least the last one was comforting, but this... What could it mean? That last one was so vivid, but this one was obvious. I suppose “the dream must end”. I feel like she was quoting somepony... I wonder who.