//------------------------------// // (13) Night Time Fears // Story: Cold // by Script Singer //------------------------------// Twilight was exhausted from her first day of training, and she had struggled to do a whole lot since she had been out of commission for so long. She was sound asleep in her room with her niece sleeping beside her. Suddenly, Flurry Heart woke up screaming at the top of her lungs. Twilight jumped out of her bed startled by the young filly's sob. Twilight looked up at her bed, finding the young filly trembling with fear. Flurry sobbed under the blanket, curling into a ball. Twilight slowly climbed back into the bed to help calm the young filly. When she felt the shifting on the bedding, Flurry clasped herself onto her aunt. Ever since the war with the changelings started, she would have bad dreams of things that would happen, which was part of the reason why she wanted her Aunt to sleep with her in her room. "Do you want to talk about what happened this time?" Twilight whispered, trying to ease the young filly. Flurry shook her head furiously, still trembling. Twilight held her in a tight embrace, allowing her fears to settle. "It's alright, nothing will hurt you as long as I'm around, sweetie." Flurry let out a sniffle, pulling her face out of her aunt's coat slowly, and rested her head. Twilight picked her up into her hooves, gently stroking her mane. "I dreamed... that the changelings... they... they..." Flurry explained shakily, still frightened slightly. "fed off of my love... and then... I saw you and mommy... they..." Flurry sobbed, unable to explain another word. Twilight hushed the young filly, gently swaying herself side to side. "It's okay, Flurry Heart. It was just a dream." "It was just a dream, I will never let that happen to you, Spike." Twilight thought, remembering her promise to Spike. --- "Mommy...?" Spike whispered, gently poking Twilight on the side. Twilight mumbled to herself in her sleep but was roused when she felt a claw jabbing her. She turned around, finding Spike clutching his blanket, letting out a few sniffs. "Spike...?" Twilight muttered, still half asleep. "Is something wrong?" "I... I had another bad dream..." Spike sniffed. "Could I come and sleep with you tonight...?" Twilight smiled as she lifted her blanket off the bed allowing the young dragon to come sleep next to her. She put her hoof around him, pulling him closer to herself, and gently wrapped him in his blanket. She then kissed his forehead before he fell fast asleep. --- Flurry felt a tear fall onto her head, causing her to look up at her aunt, her face covered with tears. "Auntie Twilight, what's wrong?" Twilight sat her niece back down on the bed, rubbing her tears off of her face. "I promised myself that I wouldn't be such a crybaby in front of you..." she sobbed. "I guess that I just can't help it..." Flurry coiled her hooves around her aunt, holding her. "It's okay Auntie Twilight, grownups can cry too." "I guess that I just miss my friend, that's all..." Twilight sighed. Flurry's ears dropped down, as a small tear streamed down her face. "Auntie Twilight...?" Flurry asked. "Could you sing me a lullaby...?" Twilight smiled at her niece, pulling her close to herself again as she pulled the blankets over the two of them and hummed Flurry a tune, allowing her to doze off slightly. You're my little one, now and forevermore... My little one, I'm here for you, Always... Twilight gently kissed Flurry's forehead as she gently rocked her to sleep. The door suddenly swung open, revealing Cadence alarmed, but was hushed when she saw Twilight holding Flurry humming a tune. Cadence slowly walked toward her sister. "Another one?" She whispered. Twilight nodded in response. "I see you have it all under control, I'll let you be." She said walking out the door. Twilight stared out of the window, staring over at the battlefield, imagining what it would be like if her brother was fighting with her, along with her friends. So much had changed since she had been gone, and she wondered how all so much could change in all that time. Changelings were on the constant hunt for Flurry and other ponies, many ponies would die in battle, and nopony would know if they would be alive to see the light of tomorrow. Twilight let out a sigh, knowing the answer to her question. "One thing's for sure... I can't give up on all these ponies..." Twilight thought aloud. "But it's not like I know how to lead them in this war, or where it's going..." Shock then filled her mind, realizing she would have to help lead the ponies through this war, which was something she had no idea how to do so... Her thoughts soon caused her fatigue to show. She soon fell asleep. --- Twilight opened her eyes, finding herself in her garden filled with flowers. Tears came into her mind, reminding her of the last time she visited this place. She sat on the ground, sobbing into her hooves. Suddenly, she felt a hoof stroke her mane, causing her to look up. She stared at the pony in front of her, which felt like forever. Finally, she clung onto the pony, embracing him as he gently stroked her mane. "Shining Armor..." Twilight muttered. "I..." Her words wouldn't come out through her sobs. Shining Armor hushed her and continued stroking her mane. "You have to lead the ponies, even if you aren't ready. Think about other ponies who are like Flurry. Could they be scared that they'll lose their family too?" Shining whispered. "If you don't help them, their fears can come true. You have to be brave, Twilie..." "But... I don't have enough strength..." Twilight said, looking into her brother's eyes. Shining Armor smiled. "Knowing you, you'll figure out a way, you never give up on your family when they need you. I should know. Flurry needs you, Twilight," Twilight hugged her brother once more, crying into his coat. A soft wind blew through her mane, as if saying everything would be alright, but she couldn't see how it would.