//------------------------------// // Foreshadow // Story: Alone // by Quill of Filth //------------------------------// The sound of the lonely wind perturbed Tempest as she continued through the empire. It was the dead of night, and there wasn't a soul in sight, but there was an underlying feeling as if she was being watched. Or hunted. Her eyes searched around for the potential threat when she heard a scuffle somewhere. It validated her feeling, meaning that someone or something was around. "Hello?" As soon as it left her lips she scolded herself. She had not no idea why she opened her mouth. It gave away her position and emotion. But it felt like she didn't have control saying it. Her eyes continued to scan when she saw it. In one of the black alleyways was crimson red eyes staring at her. Looking through them, she saw rage, despair, and evil.  She wanted to get prepared to fight but her body remained still. She attempted to move or charge the force but her body did not move. Paralyzed and anchored, fear began to rack her body.  The eyes seemed to glow more as the tracings grew longer and moved like a red smoke away from the eyes. But fear transfused into anger. She bared her teeth as the influx of energy began to well in her. She attempted to use all her amplified power to move, her horn beginning to spark. The eyes grew in intensity, almost like a fire. But she was still frozen, her horn beginning to arc and discharge.  Surrounding her, a dark chuckle reverberated the entire space. Somehow she gathered that it wasn't from the shadow standing before her. Something darker was lurking. And it was just born or awakened. Tempest's eyes shot open. The first thing that greeted her was something in the darkness rising up and down rhythmically with a loud sound assaulting her ears. Looking further up, she saw Starlight's face pointed up, mouth open, snoring into the air as her hooves held the blanket she was also under.  Wanting to get up, she found her foreleg was wrapped around Starlight. She lifted and withdrew it as quickly and quietly as possible, before scooting away and out of the warmth of the bed. Her hooves touching the floor, she heard a bit of stirring but it ceased as Starlight's snoring continued. The room was bathed and coated in a faint blue moonlight coming through the balcony. She approached it, passing through the curtains feeling the cold night air vanquish any residual warmth leftover  from the blanket. It was still late at night, with little to no commotion happening in the city. Tempest felt the chilling breeze pass her before she looked to the sky. She saw the void of space but sprinkled around were  bright stars. But what most would view with hope, beauty, or awe, led to remnants of hurt for Tempest. Repressed old memories. And now a new pain that accentuated it. The weight was almost unbearable. She gazed at the moon. It's silver and white surface gave off a feeling of purity and enlightenment despite the darkness. Despite the beauty of the night, Tempest found herself contemplating the enigma of the dream that was crystal clear in mind. She presumed it was just memories coming back and nothing more. She just hoped they wouldn't continue.  "Hello?" Internally startled, Tempest turned to the voice. It was Trixie with heavy bags under her eyes. "What are you doing out here?" Trixie asked, itching under her eye. "I could ask the same," Tempest replied, looking back out at the city. "I'm out here because you are." Tempest conceded the point. "Fresh air," She said simply. "Fresh air? In the middle of the night?" "... sorry that I woke you," Tempest replied. "It's fine. Starlight's been waking me up on and off anyway with her loud snoring. I usually make her wear a face mask but it's magically locked in the wagon. I don't know why she can't use a spell or something to magically shut herself up." Tempest couldn't help but chuckle. "There's probably laws preventing that." "Silencing yourself?" "Well if you wanted to interrogate someone and they magically silenced themselves then yes." "Couldn't they just find a spell to undo it?" Tempest couldn't think of a rebuttal. She knew little about complex magic, with a few exceptions. She had no idea about it's boundaries. "I wouldn't know. I don't know a lot about magic." A silence began and lengthened between them.  Tempest mused about the wizard they met earlier. He seemed very knowledgeable in magic. Perhaps he would know. She wondered if he could help her with her own problem. "What happened when you and Starlight went up the mountain?" Tempest figured Trixie was somewhat observant. But she didn't think they appeared to act different. "What do you mean?" "You and Starlight sort of acted differently and she was wearing your scarf." Looking down at her chest, Tempest noticed the scarf was missing. She heavily debated whether she should share what happened. She already exposed herself deeply to Starlight. She sighed. "I found a strange mirror in the mountain which led to an occurrence. She helped me out." "A mirror?" She asked, awaiting a response. "Do you think it's what Twilight wanted you to find?" "I don't know," she answered again. "Did the mirror do something?" "It showed me things. And I couldn't handle it," Tempest said lightly. She attempted to discard the slew of thoughts, not wanting to think about it. Trixie's eyes fell to the ground in thought for a few moments before she looked up. "So Starlight and you are good now?" "Well, we're sleeping in the same bed aren't we?" Trixie laughed. "True. I mean, would you sleep outside if you hated her?" "Depends." "That's some dedication." Tempest's ears flicked upon the sound of a distant scream. "You heard that, right?" Tempest didn't respond as she continued to listen. The pony continued to scream and she could faintly hear a select few words like "run". A few more screams took place while some yelling began to occur. Tempest turned and trotted past Trixie and through the curtains. Looking for her scarf, she saw it laying at the side of the bed. She began to put it on. Trixie went to Starlight's side and shook her while yelling in a whisper. "Hey. Starlight. Get up." "Wha-? Kites?" Starlight asked in her sleepy stupor as she squinted. "Something's happening in the Empire." Starlight's eyes eased open as she porcessed what was said before immediately attempting to get out of bed. Tempest opened the door and left in a hurry with Trixie and Starlight shortly following after.