//------------------------------// // Hurricane At Twilight // Story: Those Rose Eyes // by EpicGuy //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle lifted the dried page of the diary to reveal the next one, filled with odd diagrams that a very young Rainbow had written. She was curled in front of her massive library, seated on her favorite plush chair, with a dim lantern lighting the way for her eyes and a steaming cup of hot chocolate by her side. “So fascinating...” She mused. The diagrams and short summaries of the day that Rainbow Dash had provided were very interesting indeed. On this page was a simple drawing of the pegasus herself, with huge eyes and a fluffy tail, and a type of scale flying outwards from her eye, showing her sight range. A complex equation was below, adding up and dividing to find the average of all the results. Twilight Sparkle had no idea how complex this seemingly simple talent was. Even magic was easier than this. Next to her was also a scroll and quill, which wrote down some particularly interesting points as presented in Rainbow’s diary. It was almost full from all the facts. “I’ll have no trouble writing my report now!” Twilight laughed. She wasn’t even halfway through the diary yet. Reluctantly the unicorn decided sleep was as important as studies, as it was almost midnight already. “How time flies whilst reading.” She joked. Twilight Sparkle then yawned, and in a single swipe of magic blew out the lantern, drank the hot chocolate and placed the diary and scroll on her carved oak table. Tomorrow there would plenty of time to write the report, which was due sometime during the week. A dull thump and the soft rustle of covers signaled that Twilight had dug into her soft bed and was already dreaming. The next day, Twilight Sparkle found herself stuck inside by a foul storm that had struck Ponyville with an iron fist. Rain was whipped in the wind and hit the windows violently, and she decided that she would have to be productive inside while the storm passed. She flew to the diary and began reading once more when there was a loud knocking at her door, followed by a mumbled and garbled scream. It didn’t sound like anyone she knew, but nonetheless she opened the door and let the pony in. Surprisingly, it was Rainbow Dash, wings shivering and mane disheveled. “Twilight!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Wow, you don’t know I happy I am to see a friendly face!” “Whatever do you mean?” Twilight asked. She shut the door and fetched a towel for Rainbow’s dripping fur. “And what in the name of Celestia were you doing out in a storm like this?” The pegasus shrugged the towel off at first, but when Twilight insisted on at least keeping it hanging on herself she let it stay on her. “Well, I was sitting outside, on my little cloud, when the storm started up. I imagined that little filly on the thundercloud yet again, but this time the vision looked so... Real. Like I could reach out and touch her.” “Where is this going, exactly?” “Just wait. So I was looking at this figment of my imagination that looked completely real, when out of the corner of my eye I see these shadows. At first they look like blobs, but then they look like ponies. Then they get these really devilish eyes and creepy smiles, and some get horns and some get wings. The shadows grew and tried to cover my eyes....” She lowered her head and shivered. The pegasus moaned slightly. Then in a quick burst of energy, she flung the towel off and her wings snapped to attention. “GAHH! I’M TIRED OF THIS!” Rainbow Dash took to taking a few of Twilight’s books from their shelves and throwing them on the ground. The unicorn made no move to stop her; she was utterly confused. “I’M TIRED OF THESE WEIRD VISIONS, AND THESE STUPID AURAS, AND ALL THE PAIN THEY PUT ME THROUGH! I WANT THEM TO ALL GO AWAY!” Rainbow Dash collapsed in her pile of books, crying softly. Twilight Sparkle winced at her tense words. She didn’t know whether to help her friend or let Rainbow find the answer herself. In the end her heart couldn’t take it and she went over to see her. “What is it that you don’t like about them?” She cooed, gently massaging Rainbow Dash’s shoulder blades. “Everything about everything- it just doesn’t make any sense. Why do I have to see these things? Why not Celestia, or Luna, or even Carrot Top? What did I do for this cruel and unusual punishment?” Rainbow Dash asked to nobody in particular. “Maybe because you’re special.” Twilight murmured. “What’s so special about me, then?” She raised her head. “I’m just a pegasus who happens to be an Element of Harmony.” Twilight Sparkle felt her heart skip a beat. She had imagined this scene many-a-time in her head, but never dreamed it would come so soon. She gulped and nuzzled her friend affectionately, quickly finding the phrase that fit the situation. “You’re special to me.” Twilight Sparkle whispered. Rainbow Dash lifted her head in confusion, and a few new tears sprang into her eyes. Twilight put her head on top of Rainbow’s, lowering it to their hooves, but she didn’t mind. “It’ll all be alright, in the end.” She pronounced. “No matter what happens to you or me, or the town, for that matter, everything’ll be alright.” The pegasus accepted that answer, her breathing slowing to a deep inhale every few moments. “That’s better.” Twilight gently licked Rainbow Dash’s ear. “Just relax...” Rainbow Dash was too far asleep to notice- or was too happy to say anything. She seemed to smile from her spot on the floor. Twilight watched her eagerly until her flank almost didn’t move and she was sure she was in a deep sleep phase. Carefully, as not to wake her, she moved her head to her ear and sang, not said, a single word. “...Dashie.” The word caressed her ears like velvet and made her feel like she was on top of Equestria. Rainbow Dash’s ear twitched, but the smile still shine as bright as the sun on her face. With the storm pounding loudly in the background, Twilight Sparkle got herself comfortable by her friend and fell asleep as well, their flanks rising in time with one another. A misty, foggy day greeted the two mares once they awoke. “At least it’s not raining.” Rainbow Dash commented. Since it was not the best weather for heavy travelling, the pegasus decided to stay, at least until the danger of another storm like that approaching. While Twilight went into another section of her massive library. Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but snoop around her friend’s home. But as she looked, nothing really interested her- just books. The next Daring-Do book, the one she didn’t own yet, caught her eye, but as she was about to pluck it from the rest of the series she stopped abruptly. Another gem had won her attention, but she recognized this; her faithful Wonderbolts diary. “‘Wonder what Twilight’s read already.” She mused as she grabbed the portal to her childhood memories. The studious unicorn had stuck sticky notes onto pages she deemed astonishing or amazing, with a comment to boot. The first was located on the very first page, where Rainbow had first written her story about the filly on the thundercloud. Twilight’s handwriting was graceful and gorgeous compared to hers, which was almost all capitals and many misspelled words. It read “Rainbow Dash was such a cute filly!” At this the pegasus raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t she using this for a report?” She thought. The next note, bright green, was located on a page with a small picture of herself with a diagram of her pupils and irises. This one read “Her eyes were huge! So adorable!” Rainbow Dash flipped through the rest of the notes, which all said something about her being cute or a glimpse of Twilight’s fantasy. Both were quite confusing, even a little horrifying. “Twilight!” She yelled into the other room. “Yes?” She called back. “Come over here! We’ve got something to talk about.” Her voice dripped with mixed emotions towards the unicorn. Twilight galloped over to her, eyes as wide as a filly Rainbow Dash’s. “Whatever do we need to talk about?” She asked innocently. “Is somepony still scared of the auras?” She stepped closer. The rainbow-maned mare took a step back. “No, Twilight. In fact, that’s just what I was going to talk about.” Her eyes blazed and Twilight shuddered. “You told me you were using this for your report! Not to dot on me!” She snarled. Twilight took another cautious step towards Rainbow Dash. “No no no, that’s not what I meant at all-” “Yes, it is!” Rainbow shot back. She grabbed the diary and flipped to the eye diagram. “‘Huge eyes? Such a cute filly? Dashie is adorable!?’” The pegasus slammed the diary on the floor. When she looked up her magenta eyes were filled to the brim with disgust and confusion. “This is what your report is about?!” Twilight Sparkle narrowed her eyes to cover her hurt. “I didn‘t mean it like that, Rainbow... Honest...” “I told you my entire story, cover to cover! I gave you my diary, which nopony has ever seen or even known of before! This...” She picked up the accursed diary again, still opened to the diagram. “Is how you repay me? With messages like ‘Me and Dashie should go to Canterlot and get married and live happily ever after in Celestia’s castle?!’” Before Twilight could defend herself Rainbow Dash turned so that her back faced the poor pony. “I thought you really cared...” She sniffed and held back the tears. Her head swung back one final time. “...But I was so wrong.” With her words stinging the air the pegasus left, taking the diary with her. Twilight Sparkle simply stood there, her mouth opened. She blinked once, twice, trying to comprehend the situation. “I never meant it like that, Dashie...” Rainbow Dash sat in Sugarcube Corner with her eyes fixated on the happy earth pony behind the counter. Her warm aura of turquoise and dots of yellow swam around her in cheerful flames, creating a marvelous effect. She sighed blissfully. “Whatcha doin’, Dashie?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Did I forget to brush my mane again?” The pegasus snapped out of it and smiled warmly. “No, Pinkie,” she replied, “it looks great.” “Why thank you, Dashie!” Pinkie exclaimed. “This calls for a cupcake!” From behind her she grabbed two cupcakes, both bright pink like her mane. The mare slipped a sign that read “On break” over the cash register and hopped over the counter to lead Rainbow to an empty table. “It’s such a cloudy day outside,” Pinkie said, “I can’t even see Twilight’s library!” The mention of that name made Rainbow Dash grimace, but she didn’t say anything. She took a bite out of the moist cupcake. “Yeah, did you see that storm yesterday? I saw a tree that fell on my way here.” “Yeah, it was a doozy!” Pinkie Pie laughed. Creamy pink frosting covered her face. The two laughed, taking slow bites of the cupcake. Rainbow Dash stopped first, lowering her head into her cupcake. “What’s wrong, Dashie?” The magenta mare asked. “It’s just... Twilight. She’s been... Getting on my nerves lately.” “Really? Twi would never do that! All she does is read books all day!” “I don’t know... But it’s just been on my mind all day.” “Maybe I can help! A party, perhaps! With pink streamers, and balloons, and punch...” “Sorry Pinkie, I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” Pinkie Pie looked hurt. She sniffed and licked some frosting from her nose. “Sorry Dashie... I just want to help. I don’t like it when my friends are sad.” Her mane seemed to deflate a little. Dashie smiled and ruffled Pinkie’s mane. “It’s okay, Pinkster, but I don’t know what you can do. It’s kinda a one-on-one thing; you know what I mean, right?” The earth pony’s mane poofed back into its usual form and she giggled. “I know what you can do to help me, Dashie!” “And what is that?” Pinkie Pie raised a hoof in the air. “Cupcake eating contest!” She dropped her head into the treat and began to gobble it up with her hooves behind her back. Rainbow Dash laughed and did the same, although in her head she knew Pinkie would win. Indeed she did. Two minutes after Pinkie Pie finished (she even ate the crumbs and frosting that had fallen off) Rainbow Dash finally did, with most of her cupcake smeared across her face. The duo got up from their seats, and Pinkie Pie ran back to the cash register upon seeing a huge line forming. Rainbow Dash decided it was about time for her to head out as well, so she began to make her way towards the door. She yelled a thank you to Pinkie Pie, who was busy serving fresh muffins to the early risers of Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle looked at the blank scroll with determination. A bright red quill hovered alongside it. Should she apologize? Or victimize? Hide and wait? Watch and paint? The visions in her head? Filled with hope and dread? She did not know. Twilight Sparkle felt something tug at her heartstrings, then pull violently. If Rainbow was hurt, she had to help. It was in her nature. The unicorn dashed off to find her friend, in high hopes that she could help. She found her under the stone bridge, skipping rocks and watching the patterns. “Hello, Rainbow Dash.” She greeted. “What do you want?” Rainbow asked flatly, not turning around. “I want to apologize.” “You’ll make more trouble then there already is.” “Rainbow Dash, I’m sorry.” “Do you really think that clears everything up?” “I’m sorry. What more do you want?” Rainbow whipped her next rock so hard it reached the middle of the river. “A lot more, Twilight. I told you everything about me; nopony else knows that information. I thought I was helping you with a report for Celestia, not supplying you my deepest secrets so you could dot on me even more.” “You were helping me.” Twilight sat down beside her. She too grabbed a stone and flicked it, but it only landed a little ways from her farthest hoof. “With what? Your creepy obsession?” “No.” Rainbow flicked another stone. She was silent for a moment. “You could have just told me.” “Told you what?” “That you like me.” “I like everypony.” “Me more so.” Twilight sheepishly lowered her head. “I couldn’t.” “I wouldn’t have judged you. You know I wouldn’t.” “I just thought-” “Twilight, don’t you ever think that you can’t tell us something; whether it be just me or the rest of our little circle of friends. I’m the Element of Loyalty, remember?” Twilight Sparkle winced. “Okay.” “Do you understand?” The unicorn took a deep breath and skipped another stone. “Yes. We shouldn’t have these secrets contained to just one pony.” “Exactly.” Rainbow whipped a new stone across the water, counting four skips across the gorgeous water. “Now let’s skip some stones.” The two got themselves comfortable and skipped stones of different shapes and sizes for hours, enjoying one another’s company as the sun began to go down. Suddenly Rainbow Dash gasped and pointed up at the sky. “Do you see it?” Twilight shook her head. “There’s nothing there, Rainbow Dash.” “No, it’s there; just wait.” As the sun touched the water, a grand explosion of mist came up from the river, in shades of orange, yellow, light pink, and deep red. The tendrils curled around the bridge and their bodies, tickling their noses. “That is what an aura looks like.” Rainbow whispered. Twilight sucked in some air as the smoke curled around them, showing different colors than those that were originally there. Rainbow Dash looked proud as red shone on her body like a wispy dress and yellow and turquoise dots, like fireflies, flew around her. The faint outline of a yellow halo appeared on her head, shimmering in the fading daylight. She looked down at herself to see faint patches of turquoise and yellow swirling around her, and even (very) faintly some pink dots. It was absolutely beautiful, and brought a salty tear to her eye. She wore a dress of purple clouds, a little darker than her coat, and a tint of blue within. “It’s... Stunning.” She managed to say. The sun disappeared and both Rainbow and Twilight’s colors faded into the normal color of the sky, which was a pale black. Twilight sniffled, wishing they would come back. Rainbow Dash smiled and pulled her closer. “You’re still beautiful.” She whispered. It was getting cold, so Twilight was thankful of Rainbow’s warmth. She yawned. “Tired?” Rainbow asked. “Very. It’s been a long day.” “What are you waiting for?” Twilight snuggled closer. “You.” Rainbow Dash did the same, and the two watched the moon climb into the sky. Constellations, shining brightly, followed. “Goodnight, Twi.” “Goodnight, Dashie.”