//------------------------------// // The Storm Beckons // Story: The Same Night // by LimeAttack //------------------------------// The Storm Beckons ~~ Nato glanced about, frantically searching for detail in the completely white area he floated in. As he continued to focus, he felt solid ground beneath his hooves and a scene formed around him, slowly at first but quickly closing in on him. Grass tickled his legs as an orange sun warmed his coat. Looking up, he noticed a pony much taller than him smiling down. After gazing at the gargantuan pony for almost a full minute, Nato's eyes traveled down to meet those of a … filly? As he stared at those entrancing, young, yellow eyes, her mouth turned up in a warm smile. It then dawned on him that because she met his eyes on level, he must be the size of a colt. Immediately after this realization the scene dissolved into vapor before his eyes and began swirling around him, transforming into a hole that he promptly dropped into. He noticed a floor rapidly approaching, and braced himself for the inevitable – But it never came. As he blinked open his eyes, Nato's vision blurred, and he noticed what seemed to be a mare, laying on the floor, and … So much red. Shakily standing, he carefully tread over to her body, shaking all the way, and quickly noticed a mortal wound before turning away and nearly emptying his stomach. The door to the room nearly flew off its hinges as a blurred form stood in the frame. Once more the scene vanished before his eyes, and Nato collapsed. ~~ Rainbow Dash careened towards Ponyville, now only a minute or two away from the library. Before she put on an extra burst of speed, Drizzle, a pony from the weather team, struggled up to the cyan speed demon with sweat bursting from her sides. "Rainbow... Dash..." she gasped, and motioned for a slight slow down. Rainbow didn't enjoy the concept of slowing down, but the look on her teammate's face didn't spell 'casual talk.' "Heh... thanks." Drizzle caught her breath before continuing. "You remember the storm scheduled soon for the Whitetail Wood?" Rainbow nodded her head in acknowledgment. "Well, it got a little too big. Nothing major, but Ponyville's going to get a bit of unscheduled rain, and maybe some lightning." After looking over to the horizon, Rainbow Dash nodded once more. "I'll make sure to let everypony know." She then blasted ahead at a breakneck pace, now altering her first stop in the cozy town. Mayor Mare sifted through the last of her paperwork for the day. She absolutely loved every aspect of being mayor, especially the frequent visits by Princess Celestia. Ever since Twilight Sparkle, the Princess' prized pupil, had taken up residence in the library, visits from royalty skyrocketed and the small town even received mentions in the national news, with headlines from "Brave 6 from Small Town Stop National Threat" to "Equestria's Heroes Crash Gala?" When she heard a knock at her door, she quickly tidied up her desk and cleared her throat. "Come in!" Rainbow Dash practically burst into the room. "Miss Mayor?" "Yes?" The pegasus dropped down to the ground before stepping up to the desk. "Ponyville's about to get some unexpected rain, in about an hour. It's not too much, but I wouldn't want to be out in it." The eminent earth pony nodded quietly and shooed Rainbow out of the town hall as she turned on the town's PA system. "Fillies and gentlecolts," she boomed in a well-practiced voice, "We are due to receive some unexpected rain in the next hour. It is expected to be a medium to heavy rain, so bring in anything that would be in danger of damage. Thank you." As soon as she finished, the mayor opened her windows and pulled her potted plants inside before retiring for the night. Twilight finished cleaning the last of Nato's scrapes. There were surprisingly more than she first thought, but none were any more than shallow. Just as she set the rag aside to be washed, there was a light knock at the door. "Um, can I come in please?" No sooner had Twilight opened the door than Fluttershy zipped over to the stallion and began to disinfect and bandage the wounds. She took this opportunity to turn to Applejack. "So, what do you know of our little punching bag?" Applejack scratched her head. "Well, I know his name's Nato... And he seemed really friendly and all..." "But?" Twilight cut in. "But there's just something off about him. I honestly don't think he's a bad pony, I'm just... unsure about the whole situation. He just appears plum out of nowhere, don't even mention where he's from, and to top it all off Fluttershy took to him like caramel on a candy apple. I'm not certain of how she found him, but I know that she wouldn't be that comfortable around a pony she just met. Unless..." Twilight jumped forward. "Unless what?" The cowpony chuckled. "Nevermind. It was just a thought, that's all." Spike strolled out of the kitchen with a tray of sandwiches. "Anypony want one? They're daffodil and dandelion." Applejack's stomach grumbled and she gave a nervous smile. "Aheh, I guess I will..." "I'll take one too, I suppose," Twilight conceded, remembering how long it had been since she last ate. Soon after the ponies finished their impromptu meal, the door rocketed open with an unexpected BANG as Rainbow Dash careened into the room. "Okay, first, there's a storm coming. It won't be really bad, just rain and maybe some lightning. Second, where's that guy? Is he okay?" Her voice nearly tripped over itself as she rushed to say it all at once. Fluttershy was still on the ground, wings locked up in shock, and Twilight just stood there, staring at Dash. Applejack, however, advanced on the pegasus. "'Is he okay?' What, are you wanting to know so you can interrogate him? Do a follow up on the number you pulled earlier? I appreciate that you were just trying to protect us, but you didn't have to go overboard!" The cyan pegasus flinched. "Look, Applejack, I – " "Don't you 'look, Applejack' me! I know for a fact that your gonna apologize to Nato over there," she stamped her hoof to indicate that it was more of a command, "But don't forget the rest of us. You hurt us all with this one, maybe not a whole lot, but at least some." "I know, I just thought that I... that I – " "It's all about YOU, innit?" Applejack took a step forward every 'you,' eventually ending in Rainbow's face. "YOU were flying down here, thinkin' about making sure that people didn't think less of YOU for what YOU did in YOUR ignorance!" Rainbow Dash, already visibly shaking, shrunk to the floor under the weight of her friend's anger, voice cracking as she spoke. "I know, I thought that I... had hurt him, really bad, and I just wanted to make sure he was okay. I couldn't stand knowing an innocent pony was hurting bad... because of me." The orange earth pony softened her tone as she sat down next to her friend, putting a hoof around her shoulders. "Look, sugarcube, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me, but I just exploded. I know you didn't mean it, it's just... sometimes, you don't think. And I guess I'm a bit vulnerable to that too." She chuckled, patting Rainbow on the back and rising to her hooves. "Now go on, do what you came here ta do in the first place." The pegasus walked up to Fluttershy, voice low as she looked down, and then into her eyes. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy, I just thought that he was gonna hurt you and I snapped." She looked down again. "I did pretty crappy at slowing down." Fluttershy nuzzled her friend warmly. "I understand, Rainbow Dash. And I'm really happy that you're so devoted to us." She quickly turned her attention back to Nato. Rainbow turned around, toward Twilight and Applejack. "And I'm sorry to both of you. Twilight, for knocking a pony unconscious in your front yard and just flying away, and Applejack, for mindlessly attacking someone you thought was a friend." "Just make sure and ask next time, 'kay sugarcube?" "It's fine, really. Besides," Twilight chuckled, "I'm not the one that's going to hate you when he wakes up. Speaking of..." She glanced over her friend's shoulder at the other unicorn. "Ugh..." groaned Nato as he attempted to roll over before being stopped by Fluttershy. "What happened... I feel like I was hit by a train." Rainbow went a little pale, pupils shrinking to the size of a bit. She rubbed the back of her neck after turning around. "Uh, aheh, see, funny story..." Applejack took over bluntly. "Rainbow Dash here flew into you faster than a stampeding cow and beat you senseless because she thought you were a creep trying to hurt me and Fluttershy." A sly grin seeped onto her face as Rainbow grew even paler. Nato looked over at Applejack, then back to Rainbow Dash. He busted out laughing as hard as he could without hurting himself. Seeing the confused reactions, he quickly spoke up. "I just think it's funny that I'm so good at passing out that just being speed tackled was enough to do it. Honestly, I'm just a little sore now and in the good hooves of four – well I guess three – lovely mares." He chuckled at his own joke, but noticed the blank looks all around. "What, not even a smile? Wow, I guess I'm drier than I thought. Anyway, I see no point in getting my horn in a knot over something that happened while I was down for the count." Rainbow Dash struggled to find words, still shocked at how well he took it. "You know, I'm still really sorry about what I did. I mean, if there's anything I can do – " Nato cut her off by raising a hoof, then grimacing when he realized that it was a really bad idea. "What you can do is to accept my apology and not frazzle your feathers over it. And maybe a nice cup of tea, that'd really help..." Twilight butted in. "Not to put her down or anything, but Rainbow Dash isn't the best in a kitchen. I'll get Spike to make it for you." Her assistant took the message and ran off to the kitchen to start the water. Looking over at Twilight, the stallion did his best to smile through the pain. He had lied a tiny bit to make Rainbow Dash feel better. "I'm Nato. I would offer a hoof, but I've seen that's a bad idea." The lavender unicorn giggled. "No worries. I'm Twilight Sparkle. It's wonderful to meet you, although it could have been on better terms..." Nato nodded as Rainbow intently studied her hooves. "It is a pleasure. Only a day here and I've already met five lovely ponies, been beaten unconscious, and nursed back to health. That's what I call a good time. Minus the soreness, but it's not that bad." Applejack decided to act on her doubts. "So, uh, Nato, where're you from?" Nopony could have predicted what happened next. The unicorn stallion's eyes went wide, then his head sunk as he inspected the floor. The truth stuck out at him, but he shoved it down for a little fabrication instead. "I... I don't remember. I just remember that it's... really far away." Everypony in the room stood agape, completely speechless. Fluttershy was, unexpectedly, the first to speak. "Oh, you poor thing. You must be so sad, being this far away from home." "Well, I don't even remember much at all about the place. I'm kinda... uh..." His vision began to swim as the ponies rushed up to him. He felt a soft hoof on his forehead and Fluttershy mentioning something about a fever before he fell back to unconsciousness. Twilight gazed down at the once again blacked out pony. "Well, I suppose I could move him to my second bed. That way we can – " None of those present had noticed the rain that had started a few minutes ago until a crack of thunder interrupted Twilight. Fluttershy shrieked and hid behind Rainbow, before squeaking and moving halfway back into the open. The rain became a downpour within seconds. The rainbow maned pegasus sighed. "Guess that storm got a bit bigger than it was before. I don't think any of us are getting home until this lets up." Twilight nodded and once again enlisted Applejack to move Nato, this time to the extra bed in her room. "Well," the shy pegasus began, "We could always play the quiet game. I'm the champion, you know." Rainbow Dash facehoofed. "Somehow... that doesn't surprise me." ~~ "You know Nato, I really miss Mom." Nato's sister looked up at him, tears shining under the full moon in the corners of her deep yellow eyes. The field behind their house swayed in the wind as he pulled her close and held her. "I know. I miss her too." The image, like the ones that came before, dissipated into smoke. Another image pulled itself together, much more slowly than the rest, almost as if it was struggling, being held back. His father, with a coat of forest green and a mane of pure white, stared into the fire of his study. "When I first found you in that room, with your mother... " The stallion choked at the memory, but pushed on. "At first I thought the worst. But then after the investigation..." He turned to Nato, tears brimming in his eyes. "Few have been happier than that moment. For a ruler to discover that he didn't have to sentence his own son to exile, or death... There's no other feeling like it." Nato gazed back upon his father, tears coming to his own eyes as he walked up to him. "I know, Father." The imposing king bent down and nuzzled Nato. "My son, I can say that I am proud of the stallion you have become. And to be a unicorn, no less. My heart swells every day that I remember that you are my son." Tears flowed freely from both pairs of eyes as the scene slowly dissolved, first around the edges and finally, the entire image. ~~ Twilight chuckled ever so softly as she tucked Spike into his bed. As hardworking as he was, he's still a baby dragon. She softly stepped over to where Fluttershy tended to Nato, watching her friend place a fresh rag on his forehead. The fever wasn't dangerously high, but that didn't stop him from breaking out into cold sweats now and again. When she could, the caretaker would get him to drink some water. Twilight smiled at the scene and walked downstairs to where Applejack and Rainbow Dash were staring out the window at the storm. "BAHAHAHAHA! Oh, that was a good one, Applejack! Ya gotta tell Twi that!" Rainbow fell over on the floor, laughing like a maniac. "I suppose..." AJ turned around to see the unicorn standing right there. "Oh, howdy Twilight." The lavender pony blinked. "Tell me what?" "Oh, heh, well it was a joke, but I'm not sure you'll like it." Twilight took a step forward. "I like a good joke now and again." Her eyes eagerly focused in on the cowpony. Rainbow was now grinning wickedly as Applejack shrugged. "I suppose. Okay. What did the pony masseuse say to the throat doctor?" A blank look from Twilight and a stifled chuckle from the pegasus signaled her to go on. "She said, 'I've been feeling a little hoarse recently!'" Rainbow busted out laughing as Twilight stared agape. "A-Applejack... That joke's a little, uh, inappropriate, don't you think?" "Oh, boy howdy Twi. I don't think it is, but maybe that's because my mind ain't in the gutter." The cowpony busted out laughing at that point, while Twilight just turned red in the face and took a few steps backward. "Heh, yeah, I guess it really isn't... if you don't think the wrong way." The studious unicorn zipped over to the shelves and pulled out a book she had become familiar with: Embarrassment 101: All the questions about being embarrassed you wanted to ask but didn't know what others would think. Both ponies redoubled their laughing once they read the first part of the title. Based on other books, like her guide to slumber parties, they could fairly well guess the rest. After Twilight had read a selection in the book, she started to laugh with them. Just a chuckle at first, but soon the entire room was filled with the joyous sounds of three ponies laughing. At that moment, a brilliant flash came through the window followed shortly by a thunderclap that rattled the entire library. Everypony there suddenly became quiet as they looked back out at the storm. The first to speak was Applejack. "Gosh. This storm's whipped up something furious. I just hope nopony gets hurt." Rainbow Dash sounded a little nervous when she spoke, setting the others on edge. "This just isn't supposed to happen. Even when we make storms a little too big the carryover isn't like this... It's like the storm moved or grew on its own." Her eyes shot wide even as she said it. "T-Twilight? You don't think that it could do that. Right?" "Well, I'm sure there's some other reason. It could be that we all just misread the size, or – " The unicorn hung her head and sighed. "I read that in early history, before Equestria was even here, before the pegasi controlled the weather in this area, before Harmony came to the land, nature worked a good deal like it does today in the Everfree Forest. Clouds moved and formed on their own. Remember Discord?" All present shuddered at the memory. "Well, his magic created clouds that acted on their own. And since magic can make clouds revert to their original state," her voice fell as she riddled it out, "That means that some powerful, primal force of magic must have caused these clouds to act differently." She gazed back into the gaping, thundering maw. "I only hope this is a one-time occurrence." Applejack stepped toward her. "Twilight, I think you need to write the Princess about this." Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. "Yes, I suppose you're right," Twilight conceded, and began to take down a letter. Dear Princess Celestia, After studying the strange development of an unexpected storm over Ponyville, I have come to believe that a powerful, primal magic has caused the clouds in this storm to act on their own. I will continue to research the matter and await your response. Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle After preparing it to be sent, Twilight tread up the wooden steps, gently nudging Spike as he slept. "Spike, I'm really sorry to bother you, but – " Her voice was interrupted by another boom of rolling thunder, and the baby dragon, just barely coming out of a deep slumber, shot up and latched onto her neck. As Spike dropped down slowly, cheeks reddening, the unicorn looked over to where Fluttershy had been tending Nato previously. Their 'patient' snoozed peacefully, while 'Nurse Fluttershy' – Twilight chuckled at the thought – hid under a desk. "Fluttershy, why don't you come downstairs with us? There's been an awful lot of lightning recently and I have a bad feeling that it may only get worse." The pegasus, trembling all the way, slowly stepped out from her hiding place and then stepped up to Twilight. "I-I-I'll manage. B-besides, who knows about his fever? " She gestured over to the snoozing, bruised stallion. "It may suddenly shoot up and, um, I'll need to be there. Bad fevers can... can... you know." Fluttershy looked like she might tear up at the dreadful thought. "You know what? How about I get Rainbow and AJ up here instead? That way we can be comfortable and at least rest." Twilight placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder and nodded for good measure before trotting back down the stairs to fetch the competitive athletes. Spike pouted halfheartedly. "All that waking up business and she doesn't even tell me what it's for!" "Who?" Spike turned around to find none other than Owlowicious staring back at him. "You know, Twilight." "Who?" "The unicorn that we help run this place." "Who?" Spike made to retort again, but stopped himself. "You know what? Nevermind." Just as he began to drum his claws on the floor, the voices of three ponies floated up the staircase. As Twilight and the others entered the area, a sealed scroll floated in front of Spike's face. "I need you to send this to Princess Celestia." Spike nodded and took a deep breath, then sent the paper on its way in a burst of green flames. Just above a flooding meadow, thunderheads roiled. A tiny, pinprick sized hole blacker than black sat inside the middle of a cloud. At just the right moment, two bolts of lightning discharged and met each other at that precise point, which grew ever so slightly in response. Piles of letters reached dangerously teetering heights on a small study table as Princess Celestia read through them, word for word, and responded to each one. Most of her court simply rushed through their mail, despite getting much less than she, but with no family that needed going home to the ruler could ponder every one of the hundreds she got every day. Besides, the seemingly mundane task of answering letters gave Celestia a small delight, for each letter she opened reminded her of just how many ponies she watched over. Equestria's peace and harmony maintained itself, yet its borders shunned many ponies to preserve that peace. Violent crimes took place so rarely that one could literally live their entire life without hearing of them. While she contemplated the current statute of punishment for various crimes and how it could be amended, a roiling cloud of smoke brought in a letter from her student, marked URGENT in bright red ink. After reading through the message, sent in the dark of night, she understood both the late hour and the extra care in making sure her eyes fell on it the moment it arrived. Celestia gazed out toward Ponyville, currently shrouded in pitch storm clouds and briefly illuminated by streaks of lightning. Coupled with the strange magical disturbance she noted early in the morning, this freak storm drew her attention. Writing materials magically floated over as the princess penned a response. My dearest student, I thank you for bringing this to my attention. It appears that I have noticed other things which may be related to your observations. I request that you gather your friends in the library after the storm has passed. I will be arriving there shortly after daybreak in order to discuss this in person. However, I wish this visit to be as discreet as possible, and ceremony or a formal receiving will only delay the delivery important information. As always, Princess Celestia She closed her eyes and sent the letter on its way, hoping quite dearly that her ideas were both right and wrong.