//------------------------------// // Season 2 Episode 6 // Story: Cyclonestorm // by Sweetlilkitten //------------------------------// Lyra drinks beers over and over again, until Bonbon walks to her. “Hey there.” Bonbon says. “I.. knew I’d find you at our preferred bar.” “Hello.” Says Lyra. “I remember the time we first kissed.” Bonbon tells. “You were so shy and so unsure it was right we were in love together.” Lyra tries to stay tough but she can’t, eventually she have tears. “I wrote you a poem and sung it to you on your birthday party.” Lyra says. “To this day I still don’t know how I managed to ask you to follow me to the tree.” “A good thing we heard about Bright Mac and Pear Butter’s story at the time.” Bonbon says. “We also had to hide ourselves for a time. Not quite the same reason yet.” She smirks. “So glad Twilight accepted to be upfront with this.” Lyra says. “Without her numerous decrees and laws she’d done we would still not be as much protected as we are today.” “Maybe Rainbow Dash and Applejack helped on that field too after all.” Bonbon says. “Honey. I’m sorry for what I could say and all. I didn’t meant to hurt... I was just, so tired..” Lyra says. “It’s okay. We all have bad days. But it’s been some time since I did see you. I’d like to have you by my side again... I miss you.” Bonbon says. Aurora Sunshine walks in Ponyville, she suddenly perceive waiting in a line of people in front of a stand, an earth mare, wearing timid and cozy cloth like to hide herself. After eventually reaching to her waving at ponies to tell she isn’t willing to steal their pace, she waves at the mare. “Hi there! What’s your name?” Aurora asks. A bit surprised that a princess talks to her, the mare only can mumble something. “I’m Papering Zeal...” is the shy answer she gives her. “What are you doing here? Are you going to participate to the event?” Aurora asks. “The Ponyville Kart Cup?” The mare says. “I’d like to. If ever I had friends or like. A kart.” “You don’t?” Aurora asks. “I have a kart, but its just not going to win or anything.” Aurora have a rainbow shining in her eyes for a second. Her wings unfold and she gets all excited. “We could be a team together! I have good friends I’m sure they will be happy to help!” Aurora bounces up and down. “Are you sure? You are willing to do this? I’m not sure I can repay a princess enough...” The earth pony Papering replies. “Shh.” Aurora smiles to her. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad to help.” After going to a place slightly hidden in the woods, the earth mare shows her her kart. “This is what I made yet...” Papering says. “It is... Interesting!” Aurora says. The kart looks made of wood and barely able to hold in place. Some bands and tapes and lots of stuff seems harshly stuck with themselves. A blue magic aura opens the door, while the people inside looks at who’s coming in. Aurora opens the door and have a big smile. “Hello there!” Aurora says. “Hi honey!” Twinklesprite smiles and waves at her. “Who’s ready for a new adventure for all of us?” Aurora says. “I’m always ready for new adventures!” Flowercorn says. “No adventure is ready enough for me, tho!” Suncream smiles while Flowercorn smirks at her. “What, it’s true!” She adds, playfully. “We are going to submit to the yearly Ponyville Kart Cup!” Aurora smiles. “What?” Flowercorn says. They all was seemingly happy, then Aurora spawns the kart inside the mansion. “What are we going to what?” Sparkling Glow asks. Aurora glances outside the mansion and wave at the mare. “Come-on Papering, you can join me you know?” Aurora says. “Hey...” The shy mare timidly waves after stepping in the door frame. Aurora’s horns shines and she levitate the discreet mare unto the seat of the kart. Papering blushes as everyone’s attention is drawn to her. “Papering Zeal here is skilled and enthusiast about racing and cars. But she don’t know anyone nor can’t succeed in making an efficient kart all alone.” Aurora tells. “So, because I know you are my very best friends... I thought you could help me helping her living her dreams!” “You can call me Paper..” The mare says. “So you like racing huh?” Suncream smirks. “And you like cars too?” Flowercorn smiles. “Mhm! I always watched racecars thrilling along the track and urging to the finish line.. Yeah, that’s my thing.” Paper says. “What are we waiting for then?” Aurora Sunshine have a big smile and grabs in her magic splash a notepad and a pen, to start listing what they’ll work on. Glowstone is laid in a hospital bed. After having check everything, the nurses gives her the baby. At that moment, Esperanza, Twilight, and Flurry Heart enters the room. “She’s. Beautiful!” Glowstone says. “Hello there! Welcome to the world, little sister!” Esperanza smiles. The baby stays eyes closed like often, just sleeping, as the whole world is waiting for her to discover it. Her head is smooth and her sides have wings, she is a pegasi. Her tiny bit of mane are pink, more clear than the purple of Esperanza’s and her coat is clear gray too, like her. “Mother can we try to show her to Obsi?” Esperanza asks. “Yes, go for it.” Glowstone smiles. Seconds after that, in another room, Flurry Heart holds the baby, which Esperanza levitates to her mother Obsidianna, while Twilight remains aside of her. Obsidianna comes to the force of opening her eyes eventually, very weakly. “Mommy look, I have a little sister!” Esperanza says. Grabbing the pegasi in her hooves the old princess alicorn have unholdable tears flowing her cheeks. The baby smiles to her too. “She is wonderful...” Obsidianna mumbles. “I’m so proud of us...” She wanted to add, but couldn’t gather the force. Instead, Obsidianna closes her eyes slowly, as the baby does too in her hooves, and they both seems peacefully starting to sleep. Some thing happens at that moment, briefly, and no one seems to be able to notice it. But a sort of sparkle or a fragment of light or shining magic or something, passes from the great mother to the daughter in her hooves. Twilight protect the baby in a quiet bubble as the machines around the mother is now beeping and flashing. Esperanza worries and panics. “Mommy what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Flurry Heart retain Esperanza as doctors urges in the place to try to reanimate the mother. “Mother, wake up!” Esperanza cries. “Please no, fight more!” Twilight tries to calm her too, as they all exit the room to let the medical competent people work on it. “Esperanza, please... Stay calm...” “Don’t go away Obsi, I need you!” Esperanza sobs. “Stay with us! Stay with me, mother!” The royals are here, all dressed in black robes, the sky is full of clouds and the rain pours on the tomb. “With every little services and efforts put into Equideer and Equestria, throughout the help with the alliance and with every single one around, Obsidianna was indubitably one very kind and great princess.” Twilight says, with tears. Esperanza sobs and Glowstone cries. Esperanza blow in a tissue while Glowstone tries to hold her tears, and pat the shoulder of her daughter. Esperanza’s sister cries, as does the foals of herself too, even safe from the rain under umbrellas, the tragedy of the scene still hits them. A bit after that, Aurora reaches to Esperanza. “You aren’t angry on me?” Aurora says shyly when Esperanza glance at her coming by. “Why would I.” Esperanza sighs. “I’m sorry I’ve reacted badly last time. I was just so stressed out. Now I’m just sad. Deeply, deeply hurt.” “Don’t be.” Aurora snuggles with her. “You have your sister and your kids to raise. You’ll have to be strong for them...” “I know right. I’ll do everything for them. I’m just so disappointed in myself I couldn’t save my mother.” Esperanza says. “Sometimes... Destiny is harsh, we don’t really know why.” Aurora looks down for a second. “What’s important is to stand up after a fall.” She says in a calm and respectful way. “Yeah, sure. I mean if you have a solution to not be hurt by the saddest day of your life, I’m up for it.” Esperanza says wiping a tear away. “I don’t, unfortunately... We are sometimes immutable to the tough future...” Aurora sighs. Starlight walks down the stairs levitating few fruits around her. Four guards walks by her side, while two are in front of the cells. “Dinner.” Starlight sighs. She levitates the plates to the small opening there is at the bottom of the metal fences. The feline fling the plate away with an angry noise. “Urgh, why can’t I get what I asked for?!” The feline asks. “I don’t know? Maybe because lingotas are capable of eating only vegetables to survive.” Starlight says. “It is forbid to eat animals at Equestria.” “Hm.” Sombra says when he thinks. “What if we weren’t stuck in here. We could eat whatever we want.” “I want to get out of here!” The winged lion strikes the ground. “No way.” Starlight says. “You still have 183 years of imprisonment to go through.” “I did nothing wrong!” Symfora argues. “Besides causing the most deadly war ever? Yeah, pretty much nothing.” Starlight says, climbing up the stairs again with the guards. “I will get my revenge one day!!” Sombra adds. A door sounds closing, while the two sighs in boredom. Ambiset and Discord are walking aside of Fluttershy and Eris. Around them, nothing is here much, or all sorts of things are, actually. It’s hard to tell. “What a lovely day to visit chaosdom.” Fluttershy says. “I always wander where did you found that much power, Ambiset.” Discord says. “Without taking it from the chaos realm.” “I founded my own self. My rage was the only power needed for it to work.” Ambiset says. “At least I can replace it with friendship now.” “Where does the Nightmares comes from anyway?” Fluttershy asks. “I don’t know.” Ambiset says. “I think I found them or thought of them throughout the years I’ve been harassed because I was different. I just dreamed of a revenge so much I made true actual nightmares.” “Hopefully these are far away now.” Eris says. “When I think about it, they really are scary.” Aurora raises her head from a blueprint and seems lost. “Isn't the bolts supposed to be there instead of there?” She points out directions. The friends are trying to build a bought model with premade pieces, but everyone stay vaguely interested in the project. “Aurora.” Papering says, embarrassed when she sees the group failing to work together. “I think I won't be competing.” “What?” Aurora is surprised. Getting together outside, Papering tries to be comfortable enough to tell her. “I see your group isn't working at its best right now, plus, I'm really busy trying to find a job and like, a life..” Papering Zeal says. “Why? Aren't we helping you? I thought you'd need it.” Aurora says. “That isn't help, that's slowing me even more.” Paper says. “If I don't train enough before the event starts, then I'm sure I won't be on the podium at all.” “No, come-on, let's try again!!” Aurora feels confident about herself and friends. She grabs the earth pony with her levitation and they join inside again. After some hours of work, the kart looks upgraded, but still look like a bunch of stuff have been put altogether in whatever manner. Some plants hangs here and there, some flames and decals randomly around, some precious stones, all of the kart looks like it have been invested by every pony as themselves and not as a team working on it together. “That's it. We finished!” Aurora smiles. She concentrate for a moment, and in a flash she teleports the vehicle outside, when everyone are here, she levitates Paper and place them in the seat. Papering Zeal turns the keys in the latch, and the car seems trying to start but fails. The process repeats a few times before the vehicle eventually collapses in all the shambles it is on the ground, leaving Paper falls into dirtiness. She reach out of the shambles and looks at Aurora. “We.. Didn't placed the bolt at the right place?” Aurora grins falsely confident. “You are making me losing my time!” Paper says, the usual shyness of hers disappears, as maybe her hope for a successful kart is vanished; she strikes the ground out of anger. “Why are you forcing me into joining your group if you see it have no sense to be a thing in the first place? You all just so grumpy, what's wrong with you? I should have worked better on my own kart, it would be better right now, better than this for sure!” She points the shambles of the failed kart. “W-what?” Aurora kind of have her peaceful perfect dream of this day broken in pieces. “But we all worked on it and had fun building it. It isn't the success that matters, we had a lot of fun doing it right?” “Fun?” She walks to her again, the dirtiness of hers from the shambles making her mane scattered and her fur uncombed. “I'm not here to have fun! You would have learned it if you'd pay attention to me! I needed to win that cup because I have to earn money! Next years' it will be too late! I will never sustain before that!” Paper turns around and walks away, her size slowly decreasing as she reaches background alleys where an Equideer town is settled. “Wait what? You need money? We could surely help you on that!” Aurora tries running in her direction. She tries to jumps and glide with her wings towards the earth pony but she is quite fast, even just walking. “Wait for me! I didn't wanted to hurt you!” Reaching her Paper turns around and they both stare at themselves in their eyes, deeply, for some time. “You could have thought of that sooner. Now I'm going to fail everything.” “Wait. You need a car, right?” Aurora wanders. “I needed. Now it is too late for anything, probably. I have to get back to ponyville now, if you'll let me.” “Wait!” Aurora begs her one more time. “Please trust me once more! I just had an idea... Please just give me one more chance.” “Urgh, okay...” Paper says, as she doesn't have anything to lose anyway. Aurora and her friends, with Papering Zeal too, are in front of Twilight, in a warehouse. “Dear teacher Twilight.” Aurora asks. “Oh please, call me Twilight.” She smiles. “We'd like to ask you if we could work on a kart all together to let my new friend Papering Zeal here participate the Ponyville Kart Cup!” Aurora trembles on spot. “Well that seems interesting, why not.” Twilight says. “I-” Papering tries to say, but Aurora cuts her. “Yes! I'm so glad you accepts Twilight thank you thank you thank you!” She says. “I'm so happy you are okay with it!” Cadence and Ethan are relaxing in a royal looking SPA of the crystal empire. The ponies are massaging their backs as they face each other, their heads laid on pillows. “Thank you so much for this nice access, Princess Cadence.” Ethan sighs. “I really needed that.” “It's nothing.” Cadence smiles. “I see you really needed it.” “Heck yeah. Esperanza is one tough mare these times.” Ethan says, doing a face. “I know she just lost her mother but like. The kids. The palace. The country. She takes big pauses in everything and says she needs a break. And when she come back days after she's super mean and make me responsible of everything that isn't in place.” “Leading a state of crystal ponies might not be easy with how different we are from Equestria, but leading both deers, ponies, and little ponies in the same place must be really hard thing to do isn't it?” Cadence says. “It sure is. At first I thought it was going to be literally impossible. She's so equalist! I don't understand how economy could even function in Equifrancia at the time. How social aimed their society is, it is really something. But after a time you see that when people can heal themselves properly, they like, not die. So, they can work, and produce more things, help more around, all of stuff.” He explains. “Seems true.” Cadence says. “But even in our couple. She's quite absent these weeks.” Ethan admits. “The triplets will go on their first birthday soon, and I'm not even sure I can count on her to stay there when I'd need her.” “Wait. Are your kids alicorns?” Cadence asks. “No. But the Unity magic is making them like so, somehow.” Ethan says. “Well I might like to babysit them!” Cadence proposes. “Sure. You'll be an angel doing that.” Ethan says. Cadence draws a big smile to him which makes him blush, surprised of that subline of events. “You can ask me anything. I'm glad to help.” Cadence smiles. Twilight waves at the group of friends. She levitate the kart and show it to the friends that did worked much more on it the end of the day. “And here it is, the Papering Kart!” Twilight smiles. “Absolutely wonderful isn't it?” “It's so cool!” Papering Zeal is astonished. “Admirable~~” Sparkle Glow sings. “So, do you like it?” Aurora asks her new friend. “Yes yes yes!” Paper trembles on spot, rarely that happy. Papering hugs Aurora and her friends, then she kisses her new princess friend on the cheek. “Thank you so much Princess Sunshine! You are the best pony ever!” She grins. Aurora blushes immensely. She runs at the kart and stare at every aspects of it. She just love it as it is better now, the group being leaded by Twilight's knowledge of physics and maths really helped upgrading the vehicle, while Aurora's creativity and a touch from every of her friend is still recognizable on the kart. “We need to urge to ponyville now!” Paper sees the sun setting the night. “I'll book a private cargo truck and a carriage for all of you.” Twilight says, warmly, sounding like a kind mother for an instant. “Don't worry about anything. You all need to rest, even more you, Papering. I'll take care of you all.” A female pony, purple coated and pink maned, dressed in a checked outfit waves at everyone. “Welcome everypony and every fabulous creatures!” Cheerilee welcomes every beings sat in the benches and upstairs, and the few competitors in the cars and their teammates. “To this year's Ponyville Kart Cup! Will the best racer wins!” She draws a green flag and the cars roars like one big crowd, before they all starts rolling throughout the track when she moves it downwards. Now sat in a cabin with Sparkle Glow, they see on a screen from a camera that is wielded by a pink pony in hovering in the air at some distance, which can track down all the cars from their distance. “What a tremendous start they all done, right Cheerilee?” Sparkle says. The race goes on and Papering wins by far. “What a victory!” Papering says, galloping to her. “It only is yours.” Aurora hugs her. “What?” Papering giggles. “You built up the kart. I couldn't done it without you and your friends.” “Our friends.” Aurora smiles to her. “You are part of the team now.” Cheerilee walks to them and gesture at all the ponies that lost. “It was good to see you two participate, however, could we not have Princess budget karts running against wooden soapboxes?” She says. At that moment, Aurora have a rainbow circling her pupils. Papering have same, and when they see in each other's eyes they smiles. “That's it!” Aurora says. “We need to make a big, national event! Wouldn't that be epic?” “Oh yes it would! I'm so excited to take part in it already!” Papering says. Aurora was lost in books and simple stories, when Princess Esperanza enters the room. They are in a library place, probably the big one of Equideer's capital, Trotetia. “Aurora.” Esperanza asks her attention. Her tone is somewhat of monotone or sad, nothing surprising. “Oh, hi Espy, I'm glad to see you!” She smiles, kindly. “You were seeking me for something??” “I was wandering if you ever wrote down the spell you used when you...” She take a pause. “Sacrificed.” Aurora is surprised of that question firstly but surely replies honestly. “Um. I'm not sure. I think I used a common energy-channeling into my most desired wish. To see Equestria at peace again.” “Oh okay. Well.. Anyway I'd like us to work on magic like when we tried to save my mother.” Esperanza confess. “I'd never thought I'd ever like to study anything throughoutly but something's up with you and you make things so interesting and fun to do. I really like the way you can create magic just by being yourself. Creative.” “Thank you so much. I usually don't know for sure if I have my spot deserved as a princess. People like you will help me understand I do, eventually. You're so kind. And I admire you. I'll surely work with you for sure.” Aurora grabs a book, it is a buffy one that looks like shambles of things thightly stuck together but still colorful and cutely designed. It is, in fact, the book of her cutie-mark. “Hey Aurora. What is that book?” Esperanza recognizes the cutie-mark she seen when it was landing on the ground, the moment of her ascension. “This book? Oh, pretty much nothing.” Aurora denies its importance. “At first it started as a tale gathering book for my writings. Then when I studied magic I added spellsheets at the end. After a while I kept updating, reorganizing it and making it betterly made, added summaries, and done few general stuff in overall upgrade. Otherwise it is my most special book I ever wrote into. In the end it's not much.” “Aurora. Do you even know what you saying?” Esperanza points her cutie mark. “This book is the most important thing in your life! It's your destiny! You are meant to write it for ever!” “Well. I hope so. For now I took a pause in magic and writing. There was so much happening. Building the Mansion of Friendship, helping Equideer and Equestria, making my friends group not fall appart because of the crush they have on me...” Aurora says. “Well let's write!” Esperanza says. They both sit at a table and think for a moment. After a while of brainstorming together, Aurora add another reply to their discussion. “Starswirl's Energy-Channeling spell is different than Twilight's Friendship-powering casting. The one uses ones innate energy, the other the friendship around multiple people.” Aurora tells. “While it seems at first sight. Friendship isn't an infinite power.” Esperanza says. “Maybe trying to scale it would help understand what exact power is require to do such a thing.” After more and more intense brainstorming. They eventually come by something. “Let me write it, now.” Aurora says. She seize the pen with her magic and writes as she says. “As myself I am lightful. In the world I want light. Rough energy from my body is right. My sacrifice will cease world's mournful.” “That's.” Esperanza have a tear. “Wonderful.” They both hug.