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// Light in the Storm 
// Story: Songs Amongst The Trees 
// by Jhoira 
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Pinkie Pie smiled as her parents and sisters got dressed up to go to town. It was the harvest festival, and as one of the town elders it was expected that Igneous Rock Pie and his family would attend. Well, his family, minus the strange pink daughter he had. Igneous Rock Pie gave his pink daughter one last, long look, who waved it off. With a sigh he departed with the rest of the family as Pinkie Pie waved at them from the door way. 

Pinkie Pie knew her father only wanted the best for her, but he was mistaken. Her father had always wanted her to attend events with the family. He saw only the unfailing politeness that the town treated her with. He missed that no one in town was friendly to her. Always polite, always proper, but never kind. Pinkie Pie didn't like it, she didn't think it was fair, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. She had taken to letting the town be and strangely enough they had come to be a little kinder. Not by much, but her bringing her strange pinkness around only when she had too predisposed then to taking her visits seriously, helping her quickly and getting her back out to the farm. Perhaps kindness wasn't the right word but Pinkie Pie tried to think the best of others.

None of that was important a the moment though, as Pinkie Pie hopped out of the house and towards the forest. She grinned as she saw the exotic creature waiting for her at the tree line. She grinned and bowed lowly to the strange unicorn with an antler for her horn. Autumn Blaze gave her that magnificent smile and magicked out from the trees a harp. Pinkie Pie closed her eyes as the strange pony started to play, bouncing her head gently as she herself started to sing.

The two enjoyed each other's company for quite a while as the evening grew late. Pinkie Pie finished her last song and smiled again, nodding her farewell to her harper. Autumn Blaze made a motion with her head towards the trees, raising her eyebrows at the pink pony. Pinkie Pie knew the question was coming and was always glad of the invitation but shook her head as always. She couldn't just leave her family, her parents would want her to be happy, but she also had her duty to her family, she couldn't just disappear in the night without repaying them.





It was a full blown snow storm. One could barely see three feet in front of them and most of the village was out in it. It was insanity, save for one fact, the Pie elders were missing. Most of the town had turned out to search despite the biting cold, or perhaps because of it. There wasn't much time to find the two before it would almost assuredly spell their death. The sudden storm caught everyone off guard, and the two were returning with a new rock shipment. 

Pinkie Pie was out in the snow as well, though she was one of the last. It was getting to dangerous, and losing more for the sake of two was foolish to the village. Pinkie Pie though trudged on through the snow, seeking her parents despite the risk. Knowing in her heart they'd have already told her to turn back that didn't matter, they weren't here to tell her. But she could only give herself another few minutes, then even she'd have to give up.

Pinkie Pie blinked as she saw... Something. It wasn't a pony, it wasn't even a person, she thought. It was like one of those lights you sometimes saw at night, the kind that might lead you off trails, but they didn't show up in the middle of snow storms. She frowned and moved towards it. In doing so she, almost, tripped over her own parents. Cold, but up, and alive, moving as the three saw each other. Pinkie Pie started to lead the two home, certain of her internal compass she smiled as she saw that strange light bobbing ahead of her, leading the way as well.

When she got home the door was thrown open and the Pie family rejoiced at the safe return of its elders. Pinkie Pie stopped to wave at that light that had guided her through the snows. She froze with her hoof up as she heard a faint sound over the snow. A harp that cut through the wind of the storm and her eyes widened as she knew what it was that had helped her. She grinned a little, and called to her father.

After a short argument she grinned up at him as he sighed. There were hugs all around the family before a widely smiling Pinkie Pie bound out into the snow storm, chasing after that light that led her in a very familiar direction.





Igneous Rock Pie lead his family up a small hill near the forest. They set out their meal that they'd taken. Little ones played on the hill, his wife, daughters and their mates all around him, minus one daughter. He smiled as he watched the foals play. They didn't know why the family came out here once a week, but the rest of the family knew. They enjoyed their meal, watched the kids play, then everyone quieted down.

Lilting out of the trees it came. The music of a harp played, and accompanying it a voice long absent from the Pie homestead. The family listened for hours, until the music stopped, and they packed up, to head home. With a final look Igneous Rock Pie doffed his hat to the trees before turning to depart. He was happy his daughter had found a place to be happy. Even if he couldn't understand why the town didn't work for Pinkie Pie, he accepted it. After a bit of coaxing from his wife of course.