//------------------------------// // Bright Mornings // Story: Storm Vine // by zalla661 //------------------------------// Late in the afternoon, Tempest awoke with a loud yawn. She stretched her arms and legs out feeling the bones and joints in them crack loose. Her movements startled Berry Pinch awake who nearly jumped feeling the mare nearly roll over her again. Pinch grumbled and glared up at Tempest. “You almost sat on me again!” She pouted. “Why do you sleep on such a small bed anyways?” Tempest, now fully awake glanced down at the filly from the corner of her eye. “It’s my old bed from when I was your age. It fits me still and If you don’t like it you can sleep on the floor,” She suggested with a joking tone. Pinch gasped at Tempest. “But the floors hard, and cold! Why would you make me do that?” She asked standing on her back legs and shook the older mare. “Yeah, you’re right. That'd be a waste,” Tempest said tapping. She then rolled over and grabbed hold of Pinch, who tried to turn to run away but was scooped up. The poor filly then felt Tempest lay her chin on her back using her as a small pillow. Pinch kicked and flailed her arms and legs trying to get free. Her face was scrunched up and her eyes shut tightly as her vain struggle continued. Tempest chuckled and “fluffed” her pillow making Pinch squeal. In her panic Berry Pinch magically lifted a pillow over Tempest and tried hitting her with it. The pillow uselessly bounced off Tempest, much to her amusement. She loved watching the filly struggle to break free. Feeling like the filly struggled enough Tempest set her free, and the poor filly dashed away with her freedom and fled out of the door. She followed Pinch out the door as they went downstairs together. Pinch  rode on Tempest's back as they descended. Once down they were met with many morning greetings. Tempest was relieved to see that Trixie wasn’t here, but neither was Starlight or Maud. Truthfully she wanted to see Maud again to gage her in a normal conversation, but at the same time she didn’t want to see Trixie. It was a win-lose situation no matter how she looked at it. Then again that also meant she didn’t have to deal with the annoying mare. Thankfully she didn’t have to worry about that until much later in the day. Berry Punch took Pinch off Tempest and placed the now fully awake filly on the ground. Chardonnay and Merlot walked over to her and nuzzled her from each side. “Morning mom, Dad,” Tempest greeted them. “Morning kiddo,” Merlot replied. “Morning honey,” Chardonnay added. “Oh, I hope you’re hungry! I made pancakes and croissants.” Tempest suddenly felt her mouth water, and her stomach growl. Indeed the thought of buttered croissants was quite enticing to her. She loved to smother things in butter, and her mother’s sweetened croissants went best with a layer of butter. “Mmmmmm. I can’t wait!” Tempest chirped happily, trotting into the dining room with her family close behind. Even Pinch was scampering like an excited dog. She wiggled her rump and tail as she leaped into her seat, picking a spot near Tempest and her mother. Tempest, of course, didn’t mind. She liked her niece for her energetic and playful personality. She was cute too, so that was a bonus. Tempest found it growingly harder and harder to say no to Pinch. Especially when she put on her secret weapon, the bug-eyed puppy dog pout. The scent of breakfast soon overcame her and she was entranced by the aroma of the food. She sniffed the air following a plate full of food as her mother placed it in the center of the table. Tempest wiped her jaw quickly before she drooled on the table. There sitting before her was the golden brown buttery goodness she craved. Brown sugar croissants. Her mother's special recipe, and one she’d been looking forward to since she got back home. Tempest’s first instinct was to reach for the croissants, but she steadied her hoof. She quickly pulled back as her aunt and mother eyed her. She chuckled nervously as her father tried his luck while the two mares were distracted. His hoof was intercepted by his wife's hoof with a force swat. Chardonnay and Berry Punch both glared at him then back at Tempest. “You are definitely your father’s daughter,” Chardonnay said to Tempest, before glancing back at Merlot. The poor stallion whistled innocently like he did nothing wrong. Both he and Tempest lowered their heads submissive to the two mares, while Pinch chuckled and waited. A minute later he family gave a prayer and the food was served. It wasn’t long into breakfast that Berry Punch and Chardonnay noticed Tempest wasn’t eating as much as they expected. The younger mare was tenderly nursing her food with tiny nibbles here and there. “Is something wrong with the food sweetie?” Chardonnay asked looking at her daughter’s plate. Tempest shook her head eating a small bite of hay bacon. “No, mother. The foods great but I’m gonna eat lunch with my friends. I wasn’t expecting to sleep in this late,” She said softly. “In fact, if you don’t mind I’m gonna leave now and go meet them. Sorry, mom.” “Oh, Fizzlepop-” “Mom, please? My name is Tempest now.” Chardonnay rolled her eyes waving for Tempest to come closer. She did. Chardonnay reached over and hugged her daughter and kissed her cheek lovingly before releasing her. “Don’t stay out too late this time. Dinner is at seven.” Tempest silently nodded and leaned over to kiss her mother’s cheek. She felt her cheeks burn over the show of affection, but her mother didn’t seem to mind. She walked over and did the same with her father, and nuzzled Pinch. The filly giggled and that left only Berry Punch who had remained still the whole time. The two met eye to eye and there was a long awkward pause. Berry Punch eventually smiled and gestured with her head for Tempest to go. It wasn’t a hostile gesture like, ‘get out of here’, but more like a, ‘I understand you’re embarrassed’ kind of way. Tempest felt relieved that her aunt understood, but she still leaned down and kissed her aunt's cheek before turning to go upstairs to shower. “Don’t you dare wear that armor of yours to lunch young lady!” Her mother called up. “Ugh, yes mother! Fricking tyrant. . .” She muttered lowly to not be heard. “I heard that! Remember this tyrant owns the house!” Tempest heard her mother says in her sing-song voice. Tempest then decided to keep quiet as she struts to the bathroom. She took a long ten-minute shower feeling relaxed in the hot water. She took a bottle of shampoo and really worked the soap into her fur. She didn't want to look like a slob when she went to meet her friends. It was so odd thinking of them as friends. She hated Trixie, she at least respected Maud, and Starlight seems alright. Though she really thought of them more as acquaintances at best. Still, she hoped today would prove to be more relaxing than the previous night. Feeling sufficiently clean Tempest turned off the shower and reached out the door to grab her towel. After drying herself she got out and prepared her mane, which took her a minute. Her mane was surprisingly stiff when dry and always stood up on its own. No gel required. It was something she liked about her mane, although she did need to trim it down a bit. That could wait for now she had to decide what to wear. To her dismay, her mother was already inside her room picking outfit after outfit from her own wardrobe for Tempest to wear. Never had Tempest seen so many gaudy, girl, and outright disturbing things. The first thing she saw her mother holding was a cheerleader outfit. She didn’t remember her mother ever having that before. The middle-aged mare was inspecting several pieces of clothing the likes of which Tempest would never wear. There were parkas of all colors, boots, dress shirts, ties, and many frilly dresses of all shapes and sizes. Some were small sleek and petite, while others were large to the point of absurdity. When she realized her mother stopped in a pink frilly dress she immediately stepped beside her mother and gave a flat stare. “Absolutely not.” “Oh, come on sweetie! You need to get in touch with your feminine side! Besides its cute! You want to impress the stallions don’t you?” Chardonnay added seductively and wiggling her rump slightly. Tempest suddenly felt glad she didn’t eat much. “Ugh, mom!” “What?” “Just, no! First off I’m not hooking up! Second, my friends are mares!” Chardonnay tilted her head slightly placing the dress on the bed. “So? Aren’t you trying to impress one of them?” She asked bluntly. “ Dad! Make mom go away!!” Of course, Merlot didn’t respond, nor did he come to his daughter's aid. Instead, Chardonnay simply sighs and slouched over the clothing she selected. “Oh, sweetie, why don’t you want to look nice for once?” She asked Tempest. “I went through a lot of trouble to get these all out and washed for you. You could at least wear something other than that drab armor.” Her mother did her best to show off a pout hoping Tempest would feel bad. Now, Tempest wasn’t one to let others decide things for her. She was an independent mare, but her mother's wide eyes and the fact she ran away from home made her feel slightly bad for what she’d said. Resigning to her fate she lifted one of the “Okay, fine I’ll wear this! To make you stop.” Immediately Chardonnay perked up and squeed. She was pleased to see that Tempest picked a dress, albeit an old and plain grey one, but a dress no less. Tempest slipped the dress on and looked herself over in the mirror. The dress was simple enough for her. Sleek, hung over one shoulder by a strap, hung low on the back and had three layers to it with a calico frill near the bottom of each layer. It wasn’t something that matched with Tempest well, but it would suffice. She turned to her mother, who had a twinkle in her eyes. “Don’t get used to it,” Tempest said leaving the room. She ignored the flashes of light indicating her mother was taking photos of her again. She just allowed the photos to be taken while her father chided her mother. ‘Leave her alone honey’ she heard him say. ‘But she never wore anything like that as a filly either!’ Her mother replied to her father. She loved them so dearly but family was a piece of work. “Are you going to see Maud again?” “Huh?” Tempest nearly jumped out of her skin when a high squeaky voice called up to her. She glanced down to find Pinch. The filly was so small she was walking between Tempest's hooves and she didn’t even notice. “Yes, I’m going to see Maud, and Starlight and the bit-I mean Trixie!” “Oh! Can I come too?!” Pinch asked excitedly hopping around. Berry Punch walked behind Pinch and lifted her up with two hooves. “Sorry kiddo but you can’t. You’re grounded still.” “Awww!” With Pinch on her back, Berry Punch nuzzled Tempest affectionate. Tempest hesitated at first but eventually found the courage to nuzzle her aunt back. Tempest said goodbye and was off to the town. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*In Town a few minutes later*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tempest walked down a long street through the center of town. She went to the shopping area which was side by side with the town farmers market. She glanced around to see many more cobblestone buildings had been built since she left. All of them built like spiders with odd curves in the roofs. Ponies frolicked around, and fillies and colts played in the streets. She was passing by her old school when she heard the lunch bell ring. A stampede of colts and fillies rushed out of the schoolhouse and into the playground. Some immediately went to play, others sat in small groups and ate. It surprised her to see that no one sat alone Unlike she did growing up. She thought back to the day she first met Trixie back in school and how much things had changed. Back in her early foal hood, Tempest was a small petite pony even by foal standards. She was born underweight very early, almost two months early. The doctors didn’t expect her to survive but she did. In fact, she thrived. That didn’t stop her from being bullied. Though very skilled with magic, she never got her cutie mark in magic. Even now here she was a blank flank longer than anyone in the whole town. She watched the young ponies go about during their lunch break when an old mare popped out form the schoolhouse. She was a middle-aged mare, light tan with white hooves and a white snout, offset by her dark orange and brown mane. Her mane was tied up into two buns and her bangs were long and hung off her face. Her name was Amber Spirits. She was a Saddle Arabian pony, not to be confused with a Arabian horse though she shared similar traits. She was tall but far thicker than her full-blooded Saddle Arabian counterparts; and though she was well over forty she still managed to look no older than thirty, despite being a little pudgy in the belly. Tempest was jealous of her. She had no doubt that mare would no doubt still look very attractive well into her sixties. Amber Spirits noticed Tempest and waved to her before turning back to the children. She then did a double take and glanced at Tempest. She squinted her eyes as if trying to scan Tempest to her finest detail. It wasn’t long before she placed her hooves over her mouth and gasped. She then rushed towards Tempest barely missing the foals around her as she ran straight up to the mare and lifted her into a bear hug around her petite waist. Tempest gasped feeling her stomach and spine near their breaking points. She fought back the instinct to zap Amber Spirits, but still kicked and flailed in her arms. “Fizzlepop! Oh, I thought it was you! Where have you been?!” She asked swirling Tempest around. “Gah! Spirit’s put me down this instant!” “Oh, you! You’re such a grouch! But enough of that! Where have you been all this time? How are you? Why did you come back after all this time without sending word?” “Spirits! Calm down!” Hearing Tempest yell at her brought Amber Spirits out of her happy gushing. She put the mare down and gave her a sheepish apology. “Heh, sorry dear. It’s just so good to see you again. When you disappeared your family and I was so worried!” Tempest couldn’t help but smile at Amber Spirit’s infectious glee. “Yeah, a lot happened and I wasn’t really thinking. I’m just glad to be home again,” Tempest said to Amber Spirits. “How’s Cynthia doing?” Ember Spirit’s mood suddenly turned sour as she groaned loudly, and slouched forward a bit. “Ugh, that mate of mine is ridiculous! She spends all her free time with the DJ PON-3 from Ponyville and barely spends time with me anymore. I swear she likes them young.” “I’m sorry, what was that?’ Tempest twitched her ear not hearing the last part. Amber Spirits, blushed realizing she’d just said that out loud. She quickly tried to come up with something, but failed to do so without making it obvious she was trying to cover up what she said. Tempest could tell. The mare had certain twitches, she stroked her bangs, her bun tail twitched, and her jaw was clenched on the left side. As much as Tempest wanted to continue to tease her old teacher she had to find her friends. “Amber Spirits, it was good to see you again, but by chance have you seen Boysenberry around?” Tempest asked the question not even realizing she’d called Trixie by her original name. “Oh? You and Boysenberry made up? That’s great news! I actually saw her and her friends going to that StarBucks place down the street. It’s good she’s back. You know, when you disappeared she left to go find you!” Amber Spirits said cheerfully. That made Tempest pause. “She went looking for me? Why?” Amber Spirits gave her the oddest look like she missed the most obvious thing in the world. She crossed her left leg over her right and leaned against a nearby wooden fence that surrounded the playground. “Because she thought you were friends?” Amber Spirits hinted. That was something she didn’t expect to hear. From what Tempest had gathered she thought Trixie had left town to pursue her career as a stage magician. Her parents seemed to think so. Were they wrong? No, that wasn’t possible. Trixie thought only of Trixie and nothing in the universe could change that. It changed you. Stupid conscience trying to tell me how to live my life. Tempest hated it when her brain worked against her with logic. She knew it was true though. She went from an evil right hand of a tyrant king, to where she was now. If she could change then shouldn't Trixie be able to change too? “I guess you’re right,” She mumbled to herself. “Of course I’m right! I raised you two in my class after all. I know you two better than most!” Amber Spirits said with a cheerful smile. Tempest smiled back still feeling a bit uneasy. She couldn’t help but cling to the past and what Trixie had done to her. Yet, she couldn’t deny Amber or her minds logic. If she could change then Trixie could. It was that simple. Then it struck her she vaguely remembered the name Starlight in a conversation with Princess Twilight and how she used to do bad things, but she couldn't for the life of her remember what it was. The ringing of the recess bell startled her from her thoughts as the children, without being told, lined up outside the door to the schoolhouse. Amber Spirits locked onto the children with pride. Tempest chuckled at the single file line, forgetting her woes. “Still holding the class with an iron hoof, Amber?” Tempest asked casually looking over the line. Amber Spirits giggled nervously at Tempest’s jab. “You know it! Come along class! Back inside today we’re learning long division!” A collective series of groans and complaining ensued to which the mare herded the class back inside, never losing her smile in the slightest. Tempest shook her head, that mare no matter how old she was never lost her youthful spring in her step. Her marefriend Cynthia was far worse though. That mare was the same age as Amber Spirits but had far more in common with a twenty-year-old stallion. Not that it was a bad thing entirely. Having some diversity and occasional conflict was supposedly healthy for a stable relationship. As long as all parties listened and tried to understand one another. Which brought Tempest her current dilemma. How should she handle Trixie? The mare nearly got her killed, she lost her horn and magic because of her negligence, and it destroyed their friendship. What should she do? Trixie made no attempt to apologize, so why should she? Then she remembered Twilight gave her some advice, or rather a hint to how to deal with situations like this. ‘It takes a big pony to admit they’re wrong, it takes an even bigger pony to apologize first especially when they weren’t in the wrong.’ Had the Princess somehow foreseen this meeting? Was she some all-powerful magic wielding Princess that could see into the future with a wave of her magic? Tempest wasn’t sure of it, but the advice and how it lined up with Trixie was too coincidental. She had to have had some foresight. Tempest thought. “She truly is the Princess of Friendship.” Yes, that was it. She was just that good at what she did. Student of friendship graduated and became Princess of friendship. Yes, that was it. Twilight was just that good. She stared up at the sky allowing the thoughts to drift onto the purple Princess. Oh, Tempest! I’m so glad you made up with Trixie!” Twilight gleefully skipped like a deer up to Tempest, nuzzling her. “Yeah, I am pretty amazing, forgiving, and generous, but I wouldn’t have gotten there if it weren’t for you, Princess,” Tempest said softly caressing Twilight’s cheek. Both mares stared deeply into each other's eyes. Their cheeks blushing as their hooves slowly rubbed against one another. Twilight looked longingly into Tempest Shadow’s large teal eyes. They called to her and desired her immensely. They slowly leaned closer and closer until their noses touched. “Fizzlepop.” Twilight whispered. “Yes, say it again? I like it when you say my name,’ Tempest asked rubbing her cheek to Twilights. “Fizzlepop.” Fizzlepop.’ ‘Fizzlepop!” *POKE* “GYAH!!!! MY EYE!” Tempest felt a sudden sharp pain in her left eye as her dreamlike fantasy was shattered before her. She fell on her back and squirmed as she covers her eyeball only catching a glimpse of her attacker. When she finally settled down, and quit cursing profanity, she glared up at her attacker. Four azure blue hooves and a familiar white and silver mane attached to the smuggest grin she’d seen to date. “Boysenberry,” Tempest snarled at the mare. Trixie giggled obnoxiously at Tempest but a swift swat from both sides of her head made her reconsider her position. Starlight and Maud, most Starlight, were starting their friend down. Trixie lowered herself submissively not wanting to invoke her friends anymore. Maud then went to help Tempest up. She reached down with her hoof offering assistance to Tempest. With what grace and dignity she had left Tempest allowed the earth pony to assist her up. Maud once again proved to be the more physically superior pony by practically lifting Tempest on her own. Surprisingly though it looked like she was about to dislodge Tempest's arm but there was no pain as she was nearly ragdolled into the air and to her hooves. There was a certain gentleness to Maud’s strength. She was truly skilled with her hooves. It made Tempest wonder what else she was good at. “Sorry about Trixie. She’s a bit socially awkward,” Maud said. “Hey!” “Trixie, you sush!” “I can see that,” Tempest replied to Maud with a kind tine. “Thank you, and if I may, you’re a very strong pony. I admire your strength.” Maud blushed slightly, Starlight giggled as Trixie silently fumed in the background. “Thank you,” Maud said looking way turning slightly red-faced. “Dawww!” “Blegh, Starlight, now that we found her can we eat? Trixie’s hungry!” “Alright, alright, Trix, we can. Maud, Tempest? Where should we go?” Starlight asked not knowing where to go. “I think I know just the place,” Tempest said leading the way. Starlight, Trixie, and Maud followed close behind. Maud, however, took a few faster paces to get side by side with Tempest, with Trixie glaring at her from behind. Maud then leaned closer and whispered into Tempest Shadow’s ear, “I love your dress. It suits you.”