The weather team worked tirelessly on the massive storm front, their perfect execution as much a product of their own skill as that of their captain’s insistence on perfection. It was, truly, a grand display of their prowess, magnificent in color, quality, and size. It would be a grand downpour, and filled with some bursts of lightning, but it would not be an overly vicious affair.
The populace of the town knew of the coming storm, but they didn’t allow that to deter them from enjoying the day until it came. A pair of ponies, one well known in the town, the other not, walked through the bustling market as the ponies of the town made their final purchases before the various merchants closed up to get home.
The pair didn’t make a single purchase, but they did enjoy time spent with friends, and acquaintances. It was a great time to catch up on all the buzz about time, and they didn’t skip out on visiting one pony that either of them knew. Somehow, though, without spending a bit, they found themselves in possession of a pair of delicious apples. Not wanting to seem ungrateful, they took the time to enjoy them with their benefactor, shooting the breeze before moving along.
Not long after that, they were accosted by an energetic mare, who demanded very little of their time, but still managed to keep them from all the nothing they had planned for. They did not begrudge the mare, though, as it was time well spent, and they came out of the experience happier, and loaded down with a cupcake, each.
As the day wore on, the pair began heading for the edge of town, unwilling to continue spending time with others, only wishing to be around each other. They found their wish to come true as they crossed a bridge and came to a series of open fields. For a time they simply walked through the grass, companionable silence being sufficient to keep them both occupied.
Before long, though, they began talking of days come and gone, and their hopes and aims for the future. While differing, their ideas for the future were broad enough to mingle together, forming a future both could see themselves a part of. As the topic ran dry, they plunged into another silence, this one slightly less pleasant than the last.
Abruptly, the first figure prodded the second, and began running away, laughing wildly at the ludicrously immature act. It brought a smile to the second figure’s face, and soon the pair were running wildly about the field, chasing each other in turn, laughing wildly each time one caught the other, or managed a narrow escape.
Eventually, the chasing turned into searching, as the grass grew taller as they grew further from the town. It did little to diminish their time, though, as they had fun regardless. That, too, grew tiresome, eventually, and soon they started heading back for town, eyes flicking skyward every few moments.
The first figure noticed something odd, and after just a moment, the figure burst into a run before coming to a stop, and declaring a new game. The second figure took a moment, but then understood, and a new game began.
The two figures frolicked in the field, going from pool of light to pool of light as beams of sunlight, well defined against the slowly darkening skies, created blotches of illuminated grass. They both knew what was coming, but for too long they’d been cooped up inside, unable to go out and enjoy what time they had together. With bouts of laughter, they made for the cover of some nearby trees, several drops of rain heralding more of what was to come. Both were panting softly as they sought to catch their breaths after their sprint.
A distant rumble caused both to jump, slightly, and they looked off into the distance, in awe of the coming wall of rain. The wingless and hornless figure took a seat beneath the tree, leaning back against it, and patting the ground. The other looked to the rain for a moment longer, and then took the offered position, sidling a bit closer to the first one.
Eyes fixed on the gentle giant of a storm, neither seemed to notice as they gradually grew closer to each other. As their fur intermingled, they became aware of the closing distance, but neither made a move to change what was, seemingly content to leave it be. Hesitantly, the first one moved a hoof to the other’s, tentatively brushing against it. With surprising deftness, their hooves met, and soon they held each other as the drops of water ended their descent around the pair.
Despite the warm weather, the water lent a mild chill to the air, and the pair pulled each other closer, sharing warmth as much as company. A second rumble, closer than the first, broke their silent enjoyment of the weather, and with a gentle pull, the first figure motioned towards the distant town. Before they could go anywhere, though, another bolt of lightning struck, much closer than the others.
As the first figure recovered their wits from the flash of bright light they saw that they were alone. Oddly, the crashing detonation arrived moments later despite the proximity of the bolt of lightning.
And with a startled gasp, the figure sat up in bed, breaths coming in quick and shallow gasps. Fumbling for a moment, the pony fell out of bed, and staggered to the bathroom, splashing some water around, and getting a quick drink. After staring into the mirror for a moment, the figure returned to the bedroom, and was filled with boundless relief when they saw that their mate was still present.
As gently as possible, they returned to the bed, and climbed in, slowly sidling up beside the still sleeping pony. Wrapping a hoof around them, the first figure pulled their bedmate a bit closer, happy more for the company than the warmth provided.
A gentle hooting sounded out, and not another sound was heard till morning in the house.