//------------------------------//
// Thunder, Quietly 
// Story: Crying in a Bottle 
// by Starlight_Flight 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Six: Thunder, Quietly

When the unicorn arrived at Harvest's house, there was another guest present, a Weather Patrol pegasus. She was standing outside, speaking with Harvest about the storm, and the story Trixie had told.

"And here's our mighty storyteller! This is Trixie, and I don't know how she knew that story, but she told it better than my grandmama could, with that magic of hers. Trixie, this is Thunder Star, she's an investigator with the Royal Weather Patrol, finds out how rogue storms develop and tries to stop 'em before they happen."

The dark-blue pegasus smiled to Trixie. "Do you know, that's one of my favorite stories? I've never found the Zephyr yet, but I'm sure that I'm on its trail right now." She shook out her sparkling violet mane. "Still, it's not like the Princesses could see it, either, until it came up and taunted them."

Trixie looked shocked. "Do you mean, the Zephyr isn't a story? My mother told me that one, and when I grew old enough to understand, I thought it was a myth!"

"Ah, no." Thunder Star shook her head, looking sad. "Tornados act so funny because the Zephyr has them partly under its control, and it doesn't care one way or the other about us. As far as I've seen, it wants to do the worst damage to the land itself, so we can't live on it. Ponies and buildings that get in the way are just frosting on the cake. Delicious frosting that it loves to destroy!"

Harvest walked around and started herding them both into the farmhouse. "Ah, now, it's after sundown, and we like to get up early around here and get things done before our guests start to haul out of bed. Miss Star, do you have a place to stay tonight?"

"Actually, I don't. Do you know of a place?"

"My house should be just fine. I've a pair of travelling colts in the barn, so I couldn't offer the hay loft. Though it seems to me with the way Bindlestick's recovering from his upset last week, he might be moving on soon. I'll prepare another spot out in the front room. Trixie, is that all right with you?"

Trixie nodded. "I'll be here at least another day."

"Good, then, it's settled. I'll make up a bed for each of you."

Trixie considered telling Mrs. Full about her experience just outside of town, but the presence of this stranger held her back. But I'll have to talk to somepony eventually, right? Just to make sure I'm not crazy.

As the two ponies got ready to sleep, Trixie looked around the front room. She realized she hadn't actually paid attention to the right side of the room, away from the fireplace. There were benches over there, and a record player, and an upright piano against the inside wall.

"Mrs. Full, do you play the piano," she asked.

"No, dear. My husband did, and I tried to learn a little after he died, to keep the music going. But I just never had time back then. I bring in a piano tuner once a year, just in case I ever learn, but that poor old thing hasn't made more than a few notes of music for almost ten years."

"How sad."

Harvest nodded, and they finished things up in silence.

"Goodnight, Mrs. Full," offered Thunder Star. Goodnights were offered around, and then Harvest snuffed the lantern and went upstairs.

After a couple of minutes of shuffling in the dark, Thunder spoke up. "Trixie, was it?"

"Yes?"

"I remember a foal named Trixie. I was at the Whole Equestria Talent Competition years ago, and for her age, that was the best stage magic I'd ever seen. Was that you?"

Trixie blinked. She remembers? Out loud, she said, "It was. I've been performing that show ever since, from a traveling wagon."

"Huh. The same show?"

"Nobody cares if it is. I've added a few tricks since then, though."

"I'd love to see them tomorrow, if you have time."

"I'll-" The thought caught in Trixie's mind. She couldn't just invite this Royal Investigator to see how she taunted and mocked other ponies, turning their tricks and claims against them in order to hide behind her own. "I'll try to find some time."

"Mm. Good to hear. Goodnight." Thunder settled in and became quiet. Trixie was left awake for another hour, thoughts jumbling together in her head as she tried to get some sleep.

Once she did, though, she dreamed of the show, fragmented, with images of that purple unicorn filly and her loudmouth friends, and that purple horn glowing with impossible power. The purple one was going to change Trixie into an Ursa Mini, and give her away to Nightmare Moon in exchange for Princess Luna. And Thunder Star was in on it, with her reversed colors making her a spy.

Somehow Trixie got enough sleep to wake well-rested when the rooster crowed at sunrise.