Chapter 8: Heavy Storm
Dusk Shine eventually got over his cold. Twilight Sparkle made sure he got plenty of medicine and food. Dusk was already better. When he went downstairs, he saw that Twilight was boarding up the windows around the library.
"Twilight?" Dusk asked. "What are you doing?"
"According to Rainbow Dash, there is a huge Everfree Storm coming towards Ponyville," said Twilight. "Rainbow Dash said that there hasn't been a storm this powerful in 30 years. So we might as well be prepared for the storm."
Dusk looked around for Spike and asked, "Where's Spike?"
"He's in Canterlot for an important meeting with Princess Celestia," Twilight responded. She then rolled her eyes and said, "He's probably doing it so he doesn't have to do any hard work."
"What about your parents?" asked Dusk.
"They're taking an entire weekend in a spa resort," said Twilight. "Now, we need to get the library sealed up to block out the storm." Then somepony was knocking at the door. Twilight walked over towards the door and opened it. Outside, there was Rarity and Sweetie Belle.
"Rarity? Sweetie Belle?" Twilight asked. "What are you two doing here?"
"We were heading towards my boutique, but when we saw the storm coming, we had to try to run back home," said Rarity.
"But the boutique is on the other side of Ponyville," said Sweetie Belle. "The storm is about to start."
"Do you mind if we stay here until the storm ends?" Rarity asked.
"Of course," said Twilight. "I sure hope you got your home boarded up."
"Big McIntosh volunteered to help board up the boutique when I was helping the other ponies prepare for the storm," said Rarity.
Sweetie Belle looked over at Dusk and smiled. She then walked over towards Dusk and said, "Hi, Dusk!"
"Oh... Hi, Sweetie Belle," Dusk said.
"I see that you're feeling better," said Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah," said Dusk. "I had to get a lot of rest and medicine."
"And, of course, I had to undo all of the random spells that Dusk fired when he sneezed," said Twilight. "Most of them involved things from fictional things from his world."
"It would make sense," said Rarity. "Anyway, we might as well get comfortable here." Twilight looked out the door to see if there were any other ponies outside.
"Well, looks like everypony's found shelter," said Twilight. "Let's lock up the place for the storm." She then locked the door and then put an enchantment barrier to block out all the heaviest parts of the storm.
Rarity saw it and said, "That is amazing, Twilight. A heavy blocking barrier. Is there a possibility that I could learn this spell so I can put it at my boutique?"
"Sorry, Rarity," said Twilight. "But this spell is extremely complicated. Not only does this spell take a level 7 magic user, but to keep the spell going, the pony casting the spell must stay inside the barrier for it to keep going."
"Oh, that's too bad," said Rarity. "It's too bad I'm just a level 5 magic user."
"Yeah," said Twilight. "Anyway, let's get dinner started."
They all finished up dinner while the storm was getting rougher outside. A lot of debris was hitting the barrier. Dusk was looking out the window, seeing everything fly past the library. Barrels, balloons, dumpsters, two fisher ponies on a boat, and even a taxi cart being pulled by a pony. Even had customers in the cart.
"Wow!" said Dusk. "That is one tough storm! It's starting to look like the beginning of "The Wizard of Oz" out there!" That made Twilight, Rarity and Sweetie Belle raise an eyebrow in confusion. "It's an old movie. Older than my grandparents."
"Wow," said Twilight. "So what was that movie about?"
"A girl and her dog ended up in a completely different world and is wanting to get help from an all powerful wizard to get herself home, and had to get some help from a good witch, a brain wanting scarecrow, a heart wanting tin man, and a cowardly lion who wants some courage, and they also have to stop a wicked witch who can't get wet or she'll burn up."
"Wow," said Twilight. "That is some movie."
"It was based on a book," said Dusk. "Some movies are based on story books."
"Makes sense," said Twilight. "Now, how about we get ready for bed? It's gonna be a long night."
"Okay, Twilight," Dusk. He then headed upstairs.
"Hang on, Dusk," Twilight said, making Dusk stop right at the bottom of the stairs. "You should let Sweetie Belle stay with you in your room. Just until the storm blows over."
"Wh-what?" Dusk asked.
Sweetie Belle rushed towards Dusk with a big grin. Twilight then said, "It'll be fine. I'll bring up an inflatable mattress for her to sleep in so you two won't be sharing the bed."
"I... guess it'll be okay," said Dusk.
"Of course it will!" said Sweetie Belle. "Now, let's get going upstairs." She then pulled Dusk upstairs. Twilight and Rarity smiled.
"Sweetie Belle seems to be taking a liking to Dusk, isn't she?" Twilight asked Rarity.
Rarity replied with, "Oh, it certainly seems that way. How has Dusk been taking it while he was here?"
"He's been doing fine," said Twilight. "Although, he misses his parents from his old life very badly. Dusk misses them very much."
"I would too if I was stripped from my dimension and forced to live with an entirely different family," said Rarity. "Plus, let's not forget that Dusk, as Henry, had a terrible aunt and cousin that treated him like their own personal slave. No child should ever be treated like that in their life."
"I agree, Rarity," Twilight said. "He may be fragile minded, but he still needs a better life. And he's starting to get one here. He's actually getting closer to me. Sure, he hasn't started calling me 'Mom' yet, but it's his choice whenever he wants to start calling me that or not."
"I guess I can't argue with that," said Rarity. "I'm surprised that certain fillies haven't found him a little bit cute."
"Actually, I'm glad you brought that up, Rarity," Twilight said, pulling out the love note that was given to Dusk. "According to my parents, somepony in Dusk's class snuck this love poem into Dusk's saddlebags." She then showed the love poem to Rarity. "Dusk still doesn't know who written it. But I'm sure that he'll figure it out one day."
Rarity was too busy reading the love poem, inspecting the writing. She then smiled and said, "Twilight. This... this note. I recognize the writing on it."
"Wait. You do?!" Twilight asked, surprised.
"Yes," said Rarity. "This writing... it's Sweetie Belle's writing."
Twilight investigated the writing, over and over and over again. She then smiled and said, "I guess it was just dumb luck that Dusk's secret admirer was in the same building now during the heavy storm."
"I guess so," said Rarity. She then yawned and asked, "You mind if I use your washroom to freshen up? I must get cleaned up before I head to bed."
"Of course, Rarity," said Twilight. "You go on ahead. I'll set up the guest bed in my room and the inflatable mattress in Dusk's room." Rarity nodded, and then headed upstairs to use the bathroom. Twilight smiled, and then she headed towards a storage room to bring up the guest bed and the inflatable mattress.
"I can't believe that it was Sweetie Belle that wrote that poem for Dusk," Twilight thought in her head. "Although, it might be good for Dusk to get some closure on that mystery. I just hope that he's ready to handle young love at his age."
In Dusk's room, Dusk was looking out the window, seeing how bad the storm outside was. It wasn't lightening up anytime soon.
"Wow," Dusk said. "That storm is really big."
"Yes it is," Sweetie Belle said, agreeing with Dusk. She then looked towards him and asked, "So, what do you wanna do?"
"I... I don't know," said Dusk. "I've never even been to a sleepover. Nor ever hosted one."
"Yeah, I get it," said Sweetie Belle. "In fact, this is my first sleepover with a boy. You must feel a little weird that your first sleepover is with a girl, right?"
"A little bit," said Dusk. But then, there was a knocking at the door. "Come in."
The door opened and Twilight came in with an inflatable mattress, all filled up. She then said, "Here's the mattress where you'll be sleeping on, Sweetie Belle. So, how's it going in here?"
"It's going alright," said Dusk. He then sighed and looked out the window. Twilight felt bad for Dusk and walked towards him.
"Are you okay, Dusk?" Twilight asked.
"I wish I knew what was going on with my mom and dad back on Earth," Dusk said. "I... I miss them."
Twilight pulled him in for a hug and said, "I know. But there's nothing you can do. All you can do is accept your new life. You should enjoy your new life instead of worrying about your old life."
"I know," said Dusk.
Sweetie Belle walked up to Dusk and said, "Dusk, it doesn't matter where you came from. What matters is that there are ponies who care about you."
"You think so?" Dusk asked. Sweetie replied with some nodding. "I guess you're right. I do have some ponies that care about me." He then sighed. "Although, I'm wondering about something."
"And that is?" Twilight asked.
"I wonder who left that poem in my saddlebags that one day," Dusk said. Sweetie Belle smiled at that and looked away from Dusk. Dusk looked at her in confusion. "Is something wrong, Sweetie Belle?"
"Actually, Dusk," Twilight said, "Rarity and I have found out who wrote that poem. It was Sweetie Belle who wrote it."
Dusk went wide eyed and looked at Sweetie Belle and asked, "Is it true?"
Sweetie Belle took a deep breath and said, "Your face I'll always remember... You'll warm me up in September... You help me through the fire... You are the one I truly desire..."
"It was you?" Dusk asked.
"Yep," Sweetie Belle. "You are so attractive to the fillies in class, I just thought that you might want somepony special to hang out with you. A lot."
"Well... I guess I can," said Dusk. "But, I don't want to start dating immediately."
"We can wait a while before we do anything," said Sweetie Belle. Then the sound of howling wind came from outside. Sweetie Belle then said, "We should probably get to sleep."
"Good idea," said Twilight. "You two should probably get some shut eye. I hope that tomorrow, everything will start to calm down."
Twilight headed out of Dusk's room while Dusk and Sweetie Belle started getting into bed. As soon as they got into bed, Twilight turned off the light and closed the door.