1. The Dark Storm
The world always seemed safe, like that life was fine although its many flaws, it was always countered. Most would go and think that life isn't bad, sure there is crime, but I am fine. Everypony has greed and demons that hide inside of them. No one notices that most only care if they are fine, but what is that worth when others are dying? What is a hero?
Light grey clouds lined the sky and blocked out the sun. The wind blew it made the Fall weather even worst then before. The light was dim even though it was the afternoon in Ponyville. A young mare walked down the streets, She was denim colored and the tips of her ears were darker, her mane was navy and her eyes bright green. If you looked into her eyes you could see kindness and determination.
She was teenaged and her cutie mark was two wings, which already stated she was a pegasus. She sighed for she was late, she was foal-sitting today for three little fillies that a mare named Rarity needed her to watch well she worked. Frustration filled her, she had spent too much time packing a few toys into her saddle bag for them to maybe play with. Her hooves stung slightly from the cold and it wasn't becoming a great day.
She passed a shop, where a window was broken and police tape was around it, there was so much crime here. She paused to look and presumed that this was the reason Rarity wanted her to foal-sit. She gasped as she remembered about the job she was asked to do and she began to run though the streets, she had to get to the boutique. She huffed and dodged ponies who soon yelled at her for almost knocking them over.
"Sorry!" She huffed as she continued to move.
She soon saw the boutique and stopped in front of the doors, tapping them until her client opened it.
"Jade you're late, what happened?!" Rarity asked, sounding disappointed.
"Sorry, I lost track of time, I didn't mean to." Jade explained, in a nervous tone.
Rarity just smiled warmly at her, as though she already knew that Jade didn't mean to, besides no harm done.
"Its fine Jade, your a good foal-sitter. Besides I did call you last minute from this upcoming order I have to fill. The girls are in the living room." Rarity explained as she allowed Jade to walk into the room.
The boutique, it was always quite lovely with the decorations that were around. She walked down through the halls and into the living room where three fillies were. Jade knew them from school and they felt like little sisters to her. For a second they talked until Applebloom lifted her head and noticed Jade.
"Hiya Jade." The little filly exclaimed happily and they soon all turned there attention to the teenaged pony who had just walked in.
Jade felted welcomed and it made her feel warm and fuzzy inside to be with these three. They were creative, imaginative and sometimes a little crazy, but that was no bother, they were friends either way. She put down her saddle, honestly unsure of what she had grabbed from her home. All she knew was that she had gotten some of her old toys before she left.
"Hi girls," she greeted, smiling back at them.
Jade opened her saddle bag, there wasn't much, but there was one toy that she really liked when she was little. Although she had a feeling they would soon think of they would like to do to try and get there cutie marks. It was a small top, there were four, as she always made sure there was enough for everyone. She put them down and the fillies looked at the toys.
"What are they?" Sweetie Belle asked, cocking her head and looking at Jade.
"There tops. Just watch I will show you how to use them." Jade answered.
She crouched down, places her hooves on opposite and made a spinning action that made the tops spin and the girls seemed excited about these little toys. Although they were old it was fun to play with, a good distraction for young foals, but these fillies won't that young, they wouldn't be distracted long. Scootaloo looked at the toys and it was clear to Jade that she had an idea.
"Maybe our cutie marks are top spinning." She exclaimed, grabbing one of the tops.
She tried to do the same as Jade, but it was incorrect and the top didn't spin. She tried again, but still couldn't get it, they were all having difficulty trying to spin the tops. Jade smiled as she watched them, they were determined to make it spin.
"Here, let me show you, we can all do it at the same time." Jade said.
She took her top back, closer to her, and as she put her hooves down on the side, the girls did the same and then she did the spin affect and soon all the tops were spinning. They all smiled gleefully from the simple toy, it was more fun then they thought. However soon they got bored of the toys and Jade knew they wanted to do something else.
"Jade, can't you help us earn our cutie marks?" Applebloom asked.
"Sorry, but these things take time, you will get it eventually." Jade answered, giving them a warm smile.
"Why don't we play marbles?" Jade asked, it was a game the girls enjoyed a lot.
"Okay." They all answered in unison.
They played for hours, and Jade didn't win a single game, she had taught them well, too well and she even laughed at her own little joke. Scootaloo won the most rounds and soon Rarity came in, she had to have finished working.
"Jade you can go now." She said smiling.
The girls sighed sadly as Jade packed up the marbles and put them into her saddle. She put it onto her back and smiled as the girls seemed sad she was leaving.
"Don't worry, I will see you again." Jade said to cheer them up and with that she left the boutique.
She walked out into the cold Fall air, feeling it nip at her. There were dark clouds swirling about and she knew she had to get moving. She walked down the side walk, thinking of her mother who had been killed, now all she had was her father, but it stung, She had been there and saw it all, and she had been young, she needed therapy for a month, but there was no sense living in the past.
She smiled, knowing her mother was watching her. Soon it began to rain and it came down like cold needles. Jade began to run for home and lightning began to strike and someone had seen her.
"Come on, get in." A young dull red mare said.
Jade just nodded and walked inside and soon recognized the mare, it was her year older friend, Star. She looked strange with her dull red pelt and bright yellow mane, but either way she was a friend.
"Thanks," Jade said.
"Your welcome, but hey did you hear about the murders in the West side of Ponyville?" Star asked.
"No I haven't, what happened?" Jade asked, concerned.
"Some pony going by the name Thunder just committed a massacre, 15 were found dead. Terrible, I went to my nurse job and saw his victims, I almost wanted to vomit and I can take a lot of stuff like that." Star sighed.
Jade knew Star had a strong stomach and didn't vomit easily, it had to be bad and she didn't even want to think of it. So this was what Ponyville was coming to? It was simply terrible, but Jade didn't know what she could do, she was one pony, but maybe one only was all that was needed.