//------------------------------// // Part 2: Not Fun // Story: Twilight & her Foalsitter // by Dangerous_Creature //------------------------------// Part 2 Three young stallions dashed from doorway to awning, trying their best to avoid the storm. "This is not a night to be out on the town!' laughed Wind Twister, a Pegasus. He intentionally jumped into a puddle, splashing his two friends. "Well, I have an idea" ventured Bouncer Bell, an Earth pony and the prankster of the group, "we're really close to Shining's house...and his folks are out at that fancy University gala all night. What do ya say we invite over some fillies and..." "Trash my parents house?" growled Shining Armor, "No thanks." "Aww come on," teased Bouncer, "I had a party when my parents were out of town. You didn't see me crying in my cider when the house got a little wrecked." Shining Armor rolled his eyes. "Well that party was your idea, and you did most of the wrecking." "Totally worth it" sighed the Earth pony, "I got to second base with Buttercup Blossom that night." "Well then why don't you go trash her house?" Shining Armor suggested. With a laugh, Bouncer replied "Because her dad already wants to eviscerate me with his horn." "Besides" Shining Armor put any ideas of a party to rest, "I don't want you numbskulls waking up my little sister." "That's our Shining" chuckled Wind Twister, "such a good brother." "Wait a minute..." Bouncer Bell interrupted, "...your sister is too young to be home alone by herself. Does that mean fine-ass Cadance is over there foal-sitting right now?" "I guess it does" grumbled Shining Armor. "Dude!" exclaimed Twister, hopping up and hovering in front of his Unicorn friend, "Why in Tartarus are you hanging out with us tonight? Get your rump over there! You know that filly is totally into you!" "We're just good friends..." Shining tried to convince them, if only to stop the ribbing, "...hey, shut up you two. Do you hear something?" Both of the other young stallions did, but they could not make it out. Ignoring the rain Wind Twister leapt up into the air, hoping to hear where the noise was coming from. "It sounds like a foal. It's yelling for help...Shining, it's coming from over by your house!" "Cut it out, that's nothing to joke about!" Shining Armor snapped, but he was already running toward home with Bouncer Bell close behind. Battling unpredictable gusts, Wind Twister pushed himself higher to get a view over the roof tops. What he saw confirmed his worst fears. "Shining, it's your sister! Your sister is on on your roof!" "She's where!?" "Stay right there kid! I'm coming!" Twister pushed off a roof and tried to reach Twilight, but the storm was too strong. Before he could get to her one powerful blast of wind sent him straight into the side of Shining Armor's house and tumbling to the street below. Gritting his teeth, Wind Twister gave it another try, but this attempt failed even more dramatically. The wind flipped him upside down and for a second time the young pegasus was smashed into hard cobblestones below. "Hang on kid!" he yelled, struggling to his hooves for a third attempt, but his two friends stopped him. "No! The storm is too strong, you'll just get hurt and we'll have two problems instead of one!" admonished Shining Armor, "I'll go up there and get her...can you still run?" "I've just got the wind knocked outta me" panted Twister, "yeah I can run." "Then get to Weather Control Headquarters and get the weather ponies to shut down this storm! Tell them it's an emergency!" "What do you need me to do?" asked Bouncer Bell. Shining pointed down the avenue leading to Canterlot Castle. "Get to the Royal Ballroom! Find my parents and tell them what's going on!" Each of his friends gave a nod to confirm they wouldn't let him down before galloping off to their tasks. Shining Armor opened his front door with magic and bolted for the staircase...running straight past the dozing Cadance, who was awakened by a rush of cold, rainy air into the living room. "What? What's going on?" The colt did not pause; he sprinted straight up the stairs to the top floor and found the glass door leading to the widow's-walk balcony unlocked. He tossed it open, only to be knocked back by unexpectedly fierce wind & rain. His friend Wind Twister had been a courageous fool to try to fly in such a maelstrom...it would take an experienced member of the Wonderbolts to navigate this safely. But his little sister was out there so Shining Armor had no choice. Lashed by stinging rain he stepped outside and yelled for her. "Twily! Where are you?" "Shiny, help!" replied a weak & terrified voice. He looked down to see her clinging to the roof shingles. Her kite was tangled in the weather-vane. "Shiny I'm scared! I don't want to fall!" He called down to her; "Hang on tight and press yourself low against the roof! I'm coming to get you!" The white unicorn squeezed in-between the guard-rail bars and lowered himself as far as he could, rump first. "Twily, can you reach my tail?" "I don't know! I can't let go!" she cried. "You have to try!" he told her "let go with just one hoof and reach! Use your magic if you can!" But she could not. Twilight was too terrified to concentrate, and even if she had been focused enough Shining doubted his little sister was powerful enough to levitate herself yet. She did force herself to let go of the slippery shingles with one hoof and reach for his tail, but she was nowhere near close enough. Shining Armor let go of his safe hold on the guard rail and lowered himself a few more inches, but to no avail; it was not possible to reach her physically and time was running out. The terrified filly could not hold on much longer. "Twily...I have to leave you for just a minute...don't be scared!" "NOOOO!" she wailed, "Please don't leave me here!" "I've got to get a rope" he told her "I can't reach you without one. Hang on, I'll be right back!" The colt pulled himself back up onto the widow's walk and called back to his sister one last time; "Twilight I'll be right back, I promise...stay low and hold on as tight as you can. I'll be back before you can count to sixty, just like hide-and-seek, okay?" "Hurry...please!" Shining Armor dashed inside again and looked around. There might be some rope in the basement but he had no time to go all the way down there. Instead he grabbed the expensive velvet drapes in his mouth and tore them right off their curtain-rod. He was in a state of near panic, but Shining managed to concentrate enough to twist it into a crude rope...not perfect but it would have to do. Outside, Twilight Sparkle did anything she could to keep her mind off the stinging rain, howling wind and terrifying thunder claps that were now booming all around her. "49...50...51...52..." she whimpered, wishing with all her might that when she reached sixty she could just open her eyes and the horrifying ordeal would all be over. But before she reached that number her big brother returned. "Twily, I'm here...hang on just a little longer, I'm coming!" He secured his drapery rope to the guard-rail and slid down the roof, hanging on for both of their lives. This time he managed to reach her, and in an instant had his little sister tucked up against his chest, holding her tight with both his left arm and his magic. His arrival came not an instant too soon. Twilight's kite, still flying high with its string fouled on the weather vane, was a massive, towering lightning rod and at last it attracted the inevitable bolt. Both of them felt their manes tingle with static charge but only Shining realized what it was. "GET DOWN!" he yelled, shielding Twilight's face just as a huge blast of electricity struck the metal weather vane, blowing it into a thousand red hot pieces. The colt was struck by a few, but he'd kept both he & his sister's faces protected. "Hold onto me, we're almost there!" Shining called out as he pulled himself up the improvised rope, but his sister was beyond understanding...she just bawled in unmitigated terror. Soaking wet and shivering, he dragged himself and Twilight onto the balcony and wasted no time getting inside. Shining set his sister down, which made her scream and scramble to hang onto him, but the big glass doors had to be closed. With surreal suddenness, the cacophony of wind, rain & thunder was muffled...at last they were safe. It took Twilight a few seconds to realize this. She was traumatized by fear, and held onto her brother like her life was still depending on it...crying uncontrollably and unable to speak. Panting, shivering, and still coming to grips himself with what had just happened, Shining Armor hugged her close and stroked his sister's wet mane. "It's alright, kiddo...we made it." Up the stairs Cadance rushed, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief when she saw Shining Armor holding Twilight...both safe & sound. She ran to them, "Oh thank Celest..." but the white colt's reaction stopped the words in her throat and her hoofs dead in their tracks. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" he shouted, baring his teeth and stomping a hoof on the carpet. Shocked, Cadance took a few steps back, which was absolutely the right thing to do...filled with adrenaline & rage as he was Shining Armor might have killed her on the spot had she come a step closer. "Shiny...I...I..." stammered the pink filly. "Don't you call me that, you have no right! You were supposed to be watching her!" he snarled, "You were supposed to be protecting her! What in Tartarus was she doing outside on the roof in a damned thunderstorm?" Horrified by her beloved brother's reaction, Twilight cried "Shiny, please don't blame Cadance...it was all my fault!" "Twily, you don't understand" he snapped, "she was supposed to be responsible for you and you were almost...I don't even want to say it!" Guilty tears streamed from Cadance's eyes. "You're right...I'm so sorry..." "I don't want to hear it! Get out of my sight!" She had no words to reply. There was no excuse she could provide...he was absolutely right to hate her. Cadance turned around and fled down the stairs without another word. ______________________________ By this time a small crowd had gathered in front of the house. Pegasus ponies from the Department of Weather Control got a quick handle on the storm and dissipated it safely. Just as they drifted down to the street a royal carriage, escorted by a detail of the Canterlot Royal Guard came racing down the wet cobblestones...carrying Night Light & Twilight Velvet. The terrified parents rushed inside and found to their immense relief both of their offspring alive and uninjured. Once everypony had calmed down the pieces of the story fell into place. Cadance tearfully admitted failing in her capacity as foal-sitter by falling asleep on the job...Shining Armor told what he had found upon arriving at the house (giving great credit to his two friends who had run for help), and Twilight's sobbing confession filled in the blanks. Satisfied that their work was done the weather ponies departed, soon followed by the Royal Guard ponies, who had to return the carriage graciously loaned by Princess Celestia when she heard what was going on. Just before they left the Watch Officer of the Guard spoke privately with the colt who had apparently saved the day. "That was impressive work, lad. What's your name?" "Shining Armor, Lieutenant, sir." "Hmm...you know your military ranks as well" muttered the impressed officer, "your name sounds familiar." "I've made an application to the Corp of Cadets, Sir" Shining replied "I'd like to attend the Equestria Military Academy next semester." "Oh that's right," the Lieutenant said with a nod, "I saw your name on a list of applicants. The Academy usually selects the sons & daughters of established military officers first but our Captain has friends on the admissions committee and might be able to pull some strings for a worthy prospect. Come visit me at Royal Guard Headquarters after you're done with school on Monday and we'll talk." "I will, Sir...thank you Sir" answered Shining Armor, struck nearly speechless by his good luck. With no military pedigree in his family aside from one uncle, Shining had known his dream of attending the Academy was a long shot, but the twists & turns of this crazy night had somehow delivered a golden opportunity right into his hooves. But he would have to find time to revel in his good fortune later; things were still a bit too hectic at the moment. It was a good thing that Shining Armor was temporarily occupied speaking to the Lieutenant, as it afforded his parents a few minutes to speak with Cadance, free of their son's angry input. "Professor Velvet, Professor Night Light...I can't even begin to tell you how ashamed I am." "As well you should be" growled Twilight Velvet, "I understand that you were tired...so why didn't you get Mrs. Tea Rose as we discussed?" "I...I...didn't want to bother her" muttered the humiliated teenager, "and I'd promised Twily that she could stay up and read a little later." Night Light scolded her next; "Tea Rose was your contingency...your backup. It was absolutely foolish of you not to call on her for help. She knew the situation." Overcome by tears, Cadance could no longer make excuses. "I'm so sorry. I failed miserably, but please know I would never put Twilight Sparkle in danger intentionally." The older mare shook her head. "Be that as it may; Twilight Sparkle was still placed in terrible danger tonight...intentionally or not the result was the same." "Mommy, Daddy" whined Twilight, "please don't blame Cadance. It was my fault...I promised to stay inside and read while she rested her eyes, and I broke my promise." Both parents turned a chilling gaze on their daughter which made her cringe. "You just be quiet, young filly" growled her mother, "it will be your turn soon enough." "Please, ma'am," implored Cadance "I know I have no right to ask after the way I let you down, but please don't be hard on Twily. I couldn't bear it if she was punished for my failure. I really do love her like a sister." "You have no idea what it means to have a sister" hissed Shining Armor, joining the conversation. He was still furious with her, and Cadance's legs trembled as he stared her down. "Some nerve you've got claiming you love her. She could have been killed tonight while you slept on the sofa..." "Shining...son...please..." interrupted Night Light, "let us handle this." But the young stallion continued his verbal barrage on the other teenager; "If I had my way I'd put you out there and lock the door...let you know how she felt out there!" "Shiny! Please don't be so mean!" wailed his little sister, but even that didn't stop him. "...and you wouldn't get a bit of help from me either..." "SHINING ARMOR, ENOUGH!" boomed his father's voice. "You are not helping this situation! Now go to your room...or go back out with your friends...go anywhere but here because you're just making things more difficult!" It was rare that Night Light ever rose his voice to his son. Chastened by the rebuke Shining finally shut up. He turned around without a word and walked to the stairs with as much dignity & composure as he could muster under the circumstances. Night Light immediately felt guilty for yelling at him. Turning to his wife he said "Dear, I hate to leave this in your hooves alone, but..." "It's okay," Twilight Velvet assured him she had the two errant fillies well in hoof, "you go talk to him." "Thank you. Son...wait!" Father & son adjourned to Night Light's study. "I'm sorry to have yelled at you" he confessed, "you didn't deserve it. What you did tonight was spectacularly heroic. It hasn't even fully sunk in yet...but if you hadn't been there I am certain we'd have lost your sister tonight." "I didn't do anything special, Dad" muttered Shining in a more subdued tone, "I was just so terrified of losing her that...I...I really don't think I can talk about it right now." "I understand, Son." Night Light was rummaging through his desk drawer, unable to find what he was looking for. "Where is that key?" he wondered out loud, but at last gave up. "Oh well, magic works too." He used his horn to open a locked cabinet, from which he levitated a bottle of aged whisky from Shetland, along with two cut crystal glasses. "Here, a bit of this will steady your nerves." Shining Armor was surprised. He knew his father did not object to him having a glass of wine at dinner parties, and normally pretended not to notice the smell of cider on his breath when he came home from a night with his friends...but he'd never been offered hard liquor before. "Dad, I'm only sixteen." Night Light poured and levitated the glass to him anyway. "True I suppose, but considering the way you performed tonight there isn't a stallion in all of Equestria that I'd rather share a drink with." Shining took a novice gulp, and unaccustomed as he was to whisky he coughed a bit. With an indulgent grin his father instructed "It's best if you sip it slowly...hold it in your mouth a moment and just let it drift down the back of your tongue." The younger stallion took his sire's advice to heart and enjoyed his next sip much more. Night Light continued in a sage tone; "I'm sorry if I embarrass you, son, but I dare say there isn't a father in Canterlot with as much reason to be proud as I have. You know what a gossip-mill this city is...and by tomorrow word of this will have spread. I confess I'm going to enjoy being the envy of every father in Canterlot. But please indulge me and let me impart a bit of advice, Shining." "Dad, I'll always want your advice" replied the colt, "even when I'm old & gray." Night Light chuckled at that. "Well, I'll be old and gray long before you...I can only hope my advice ages better than I do." He returned to his serious tone. "You are already brave, smart & resourceful, and could lead a good life on those virtues alone. But one of the hardest lessons for a young stallion to learn is to be forgiving. You know what I'm referring to." There was a long pause before Shining Armor responded. "I know Dad. I know that's what I should do but it's just so hard right now." He took another long sip from his glass, and Night Light determined that he needed a refill. Shining continued "When I snatched up Twily from that roof she was so scared it was like she wasn't even my sister anymore. It was like she was reduced to animal instincts...screaming & completely helpless. But even when I had her...she wasn't safe. I had her in my arms, I was holding her with my magic...but when that lightning bolt hit the weather vane I couldn't guarantee that she'd be okay. I did my best, but if that bolt had hit just a few feet closer that wouldn't have mattered one bit. I was only able to protect her by dumb luck." He was shaking now, and a single tear ran down his cheek. The post-traumatic stress was beginning to take hold. "You got scared, son" said Night Light softly, "and there's nothing wrong with that. I'd be more worried for you if you hadn't been scared. It's a horrible feeling, I know because I felt it tonight too, at the moment when your friend Bouncer Bell barged into the University Gala and told us what was happening." He laughed again and admitted "I shoved my department head...my boss...out of the way and spilled wine all over his dinner jacket trying to get to that coach, and to be honest I don't give a buck. I was so scared that I was going to lose both Twily and you that I'd have shoved Princess Celestia out of the way. "But I am humbled by the undeniable fact that I didn't face a tenth of the fear you did tonight. I'll never know how you felt on that rooftop, shielding your sister with your own body and not knowing if it would be enough to protect her. I can only imagine how horrible it felt. But this is the important part; son, you can not make that horrible feeling go away by staying angry at Cadance. Yes...she made a terrible mistake tonight and I'm furious with her too, but we have to move on from that point. You and Cadance are friends...and friendship is the most powerful magic holding this land together. If you don't believe me as your father believe me as a professor who has spent his life studying and teaching this! Tonight you were hurt by fear and I can see it's still hurting you. Please recognize that the thing which caused that fear was an accident...just a stupid mistake. Are you going to let that ruin your friendship...ruin the most powerful force we have going for us here in Equestria?" Still trembling all over, Shining Armor looked up at his father and said "I can understand what you're saying but how do you do it? Is it some kind of magic I haven't learned yet? How do you get rid of the fear and the anger it's causing me?" "No magic, son" sighed Night Light. "Only strength can see you through this. Anger...fear...hatred...they're all powerful forces, almost as powerful as friendship, love & harmony. In the past wicked unicorns have used those forces to enslave and control ponies. You've been shot in the heart with a poison arrow, Shining, and you can't expect such an injury to go away by wishing." "Does it get easier with time Dad?" "No." answered Night Light firmly, "You get better at it." Shining lifted his head and faced his father with a new resolve. "Then I have to work through it. Take it one day at a time and learn to force out the poison that's hurting me. And I will do it." "I have no doubt, son" Night Light replied, "and when it gets difficult remember the first thing your mother & I ever taught you and Twily about magic." Remembering that was a comfort to the young stallion. "There is no magic in Equestria or the world which can not be made stronger by sharing yourself and accepting the help of others." "That means your mother & I will always be here to help you" promised the father, "always."