A Little Thunder (Anon x Twi, Cute)

>Autumn Evening in Equestria.
>You and Twilight are sitting in your house, looking through star maps.
>A recent turn of cold and rainy weather has disrupted your weekly stargazing session with Twilight.
>So, as usual, the two of you turn to star maps.
>You're missing the real deal, and that does kinda suck.
>But being inside allows better reading, letting you and Twilight learn about the constellations and their history more.
>And anyway, the night was supposed to be clear soon, so you still might get a chance.
>”The Raging Bull was a constellation of the Minotaur Tribes.” Twilight reads off, as you examine the traced figure in question on the chart.
>The shape was of a side-cut bull, in a vague charge stance. A single bright star would be the horn's tip.
>”In minotaur customs, rage was thought of as an emotion of drive and will, rather than anger or hate.” She continues.
>“A minotaur enraged would be very compassionate about it's goal.”
“So it was seen as a good thing?” You glance back to her. “A bit odd, I think.”
>”Minotaurs are known for their hotheadedness and high self-esteem.” Twilight looks off in thought. “But actually getting one angry is pretty hard.”
“So they're flashy, yet in control?” Sounds like a certain muscled up blond character from a show you watched back on earth.
>The sudden knocking at your door ends your train of thought. You glance at Twilight for a second before looking back.
“I wonder who that could be...” You ask as you start to get up.


>”You don't think Spike decided to come over from Rarity's, do you?” Your fellow stargazer calls from behind.
“Are you kidding? Almost nothing could get that little guy from her willingly.”
>A quick few steps from the table to the door reveals Rainbow Dash behind.
“Evening, Dash. Whats up?” You back up to allow her entry, if she so wanted to.
>Instead, the sky-blue mare does what you assume is hopping between feet in pony form.
>”Hey Anon, I -uh” She begins, seemingly trying to find the words. “I got good news, and bad news.”
“Alright,” you begin. “what's going on?”
>”Well, we have this big storm planned, but /somepony/ added a bit too much warning lightning and now its out of control.” Rainbow rants off.
“And the good news?” You've taken to leaning against the open door.
>”We have a plan!”
>You stand there, looking at Dash in a triumphant pose.
“...Well?”
>”Well...um” She grins sheepishly again. “You know how you insisted on installing that lightning rod?”
“You mean the same one you told me a thousand times I would never need?”
>She laughs awkwardly. “Yeah, that one. It's sort of the only lightning rod nearby, so we plan to place the storm over Ponyvill and let it sort itself out.”
>You sigh audibly. “Guess that's an end to the planned clear night tomorrow, then.”
>”Yeah, sorry big guy. But hey!” She flies up, floating in front of your face. “We think can do extra clear skies next weekend after all the rain from this one.”
>You were a bit bummed, but there's not much to do about it. You give Dash a shrug in defeat.
“Go ahead and use the rod, I guess. Just try not to burn anything down.


>Rainbow gives a quick salute, before dropping. “You got it. I need to help warn the rest of town.” She shoots off with a “Thanks Anon” echoing behind.
The door shuts as you turn back to Twilight. “Looks like the stargazing session is cancl-” You stop when you see her face.
>She's looking down, but almost seems to be staring through the table.
“Twilight?” She shakes out of her trance at the mention of her name. “You alright?”
>”...Yeah. Never better.” The purple mare focuses back on the book while adjusting herself in the cushion-stool she sat on.
>”Since we can't go outside, would you like to continue with the constellations?”
You sit back down in your own chair. “Absolutely. A little rain can't stop us, right?”
>The smile she gives you is unsure, but Twilight nods nevertheless.
>”Let's see.” She starts, looking for her place in the text. “The Raging Bull was thought to be the source of all Minotaur rage, both helpful and misguided.”
>”Warriors would often pray to the idol for the strength and power the emotion was said to carry, while others would occasionally curse the bull when facing the effects of a blind rage.”
>A sudden flash of lightning lit up the room through the windows. As the thunder hit, you heard a small yelp from Twilight's direction.
>She glances at you, before clearing her voice. “It just...surprised me. That's all”.
>You give her a small laugh before nodding.
>Getting up and walking around behind her to see the book better, you glance at some of the images. One shows a wooden amulet with a bull depicted, burning in a fire.


“So even though the Raging Bull was considered some sort of idol, minotaurs would openly scorn it?
>Twilight opens her mouth to speak, but a second flash of lightning, and an even quicker and louder thunder boom, reduces her words to a squeak.
>”Y-y-yes. They would hold ceremonies that-” This time you interrupt her with a hand placed on her shoulder.
“Twilight,” you start, gently. “Are you afraid of the lightning?”
>”Of course not.” You catch her eyes rolling. “Lighting is just the transfer of electrons from one medium to another at high levels. Thunder is just the shock wave from the sudden burst of energy and-”
>She flinches as another one hits, and you feel a few shakes in her back before she manages to pull herself together, looking up at you with an embarrassed gaze, ears flat. “And maybe I have a small phobia of lightning...”
>You can hear the wind blowing against your windows outside. With the diminishing delay between flashes and sound effects, it seems like the storm is getting closer. Which would make sense, what with your house being the target.
>Of course, you know that the wind is being created by the pegasi to move the storm closer, but just the sound of it makes you feel colder.
“Hey, Twilight, what do you say we pack up the maps for now? Let's get a fire going, maybe warm up a bit.”
>The mare gives a small smile. “That sounds nice.” You pat her back lightly before standing up.
“Alright then.” You move around the couch and towards the fireplace. “Lets see if I can't get the flint to work.”


>Matches were a luxury you no longer had, and haven't had for a long time. But still, you got by.
>Or, at least, tried to. Magically-enhanced flint was a common fire starter, but you still often had trouble using it.
>With a few logs from the pile, you set up what should make a cozy little fire, and grab the flint stick and it's striker.
>A few strikes and you get some sparks, but nothing really big enough to ignite anything.
>Twilight sits down next to you, watching as you fight the small tool.
>A few more tries, and you simply offer the set to her with a sigh. The striker and flint stick float up and move against each other.
>This time, the result is a shower of sparks, of all colors, falling onto the firewood.
>The mare to your left looks back up and smiles. “I'm sure you'll get it eventually-”
>A horribly-timed lighting strike cracks outside, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. The magic flint she was levitating has fallen to the ground and is now in pieces.
>That last one was especially loud. Twilight is full-on shaking now. You comfort her with a few back rubs, and she calms down once more.
>After a few long breathes, she speaks up again. “Thanks, Anon.” The mess of flint shards begin to pick themselves off your wooden floor. “I'm sorry about your flint.”
You shake your head. “Don't worry about it, the stuff is cheap.”
>The floating pile deposits itself neatly in the corner of the fire pit. “I feel like such a little filly.” Twilight sighs. “Just look at me. Student of Princess Celestia, afraid of a few charged clouds.”


You give her a smile and a small scratch behind her ears. “Come on, if you'll grab a few blankets, I'll make us some hot coco.”
>Her face warms back up a bit and she nods. As the mare trots off to your closet, you glance back to the fireplace.
>The colorful sparks had caught easily, and a small flame is rapidly growing.
>Pleased with the end result, despite your lack of ability to create it, you stand up and move into your kitchen.
>At least the stove is easy to work. It may be magic-based too, but the end result is something similar to an electric burner. Kinda.
>With the stove heating up, you fill your teakettle with water from the sink, and place it above.
>A small flash occurs through the kitchen window, and a likewise quieter rumble. You don't hear anything from the living room, though, so you instead return to the stove.
>You grab two of the mugs hanging above the stove, as well as a can of coco mix that Pinkie gave you. A few spoon fulls in each cup and the can goes back to the cupboard.
>Once the outside of the kettle has started fogging up, you disable the stove. Don't need it too hot, after all.
>After giving each mug a generous amount of warm water, you place the kettle back on the burner and grab each mug by the handle.
>As you enter your living room, Twilight seems to be missing. The closet door is still ajar, which is odd for that particular mare to leave.
>It isn't until you pass by the couch that you notice a bundle of blankets in a pile on one side. As you ponder the collection, it starts to move and you catch a hint of purple face.


You kneel down to roughly eye-level and chuckle lightly. “Twilight, what are you doing?”
>”I just...” The mare shifts a bit in her blanket-fort. Another round of thunder and lightning hit, loud and bright once again.
>”It makes me feel safe.” She finally finishes.
“Alright, alright.” You lift up a mug to where she can see it. “By the way, here's your hot coco.”
>The mug lifts up and floats nearby her small view port.
>Going back up again, and carrying your own mug, you move to the other side of the couch. A few more blankets sit on the middle cushion, folded up neatly.
>With the mug on the side table, you sit down onto the comfy side seat and pull the top quilt over yourself.
>The effect is immediate, you suddenly feel much warmer, and allow yourself to sink into the corner of the couch with a sigh.
>Another large bolt hits, you hear an audible 'Eep' from the bundle of cloth. Looks like her security blanket doesn't always work.
>Security blanket. Man, you're horrible.
>Oh, right. Coco.
>Regretfully, you pull an arm out of the warm confines to grab your mug.
>As a second thought, before grabbing the mug, you put out the lantern sitting on the side table. Hopefully the cozy fire light will help calm Twilight's nerves.
>A small trail of steam rises from the coco, but with a small tap of the rim to your chin reveals that the liquid is not as hot as it looks.
>You take a tiny sip nonetheless to be sure, and find that your water heating skills are as impeccable as ever; the coco is just the right temperature.
>With a glance over at Twilight, you see her starting to abandon her fort a bit. It's certainly hard to get a drink otherwise, you're sure.
>As her head pops out, you can see her visibly shaking once more. Poor girl, seems this storm is taking its toll on her nerves.


>Had you known that she was this afraid of lightning, you would have walked back to the library with her. Being right under the strikes probably make things so much worse.
>Twilight manages to take a small sip, and that alone seems to quell her jittering. She sighs quietly, and takes a bigger drink.
>”Hey, Anon?” Her face turns to you. “Thanks for being so understanding.”
“It's the least I could do.” You take quick sip as well. “You put up with my girly screams when around bees all summer.”
>After a short pause, Twilight grins, before giggling a bit. It wasn't much, but it was still a genuine happy laugh.
>You glance at the window. It's been awhile since the last strike. Maybe the lightning is done?
>Twilight seems to have the same idea. After rising a bit out of the blankets, she lifts up her mug again.
>Out of nowhere, the brightest flash you'd seen all night lights up the room, followed quickly by a crack so loud it almost seems to shake the house.
>Twilight flinches backwards, yelping in fear. You blink a few times to restore your eyes from the near-blinding flash.
>The purple mare sits wide-eyed, breathing heavily, and shaking in earnest. The mug hangs loosely in the air, and the fur around her neck and down her front is matted down with the drink.
>After a few seconds, her breaths slow and she looks down, staring at the stained blankets.
“Twilight...” You try to begin, but it doesn't help. She just sits there. Her head hangs with her ears low in what you assume is a mix of fear and shame. The mug drops to the floor.


>You don't hear it, but a few tears form that say enough. She's reached her breaking point, that much is obvious. A moment later, it turns into silent sobs.
>Not knowing what else to do, you set down your cup on the side table and scoot across to sit next to her.
“Hey, hey, come on, now.” Your hand brushes against her mane.
>Twilight's mouth opens, but she can't seem make any words. Finally, she just turns away.
>You can't think of anything to say without sounding cheesy. Instead, you just pick her up with both hands and bring her into a hug.
>For a short while, she doesn't react, but eventually returns the embrace. The two of you sit still for a few moments, before you pull her back out, leaving her to sit on your lap.
>Her face is still wet, but it seems like her tears have stopped flowing. “Anon...I...”
You give her a smile as you reach for a dry blanket from the mound. “Everyone has their fears, Twilight. Its nothing to be ashamed about”
>You hold up the blanket you grabbed, a soft fuzzy quilt. It floats itself up to the mare's face to dry her eyes. Once finished, it drops back down onto the couch, and Twilight finally looks up at you.
>”I feel like such a foal. I can't even handle a lightning storm without becoming a sticky, blubbering mess. Princess Celestia's student, can't sit through a few flashes and loud noises.”
Words of encouragement, words of encouragement...”What would Celestia say if she was here right now.”
>Twilght swallows roughly and looks at her hooves again.
“Don't give me that.” You rub your hand along her back. “You know Celestia. She's way more understanding than you give her credit for.”


>”...She would say that if my friends were true, they would support me in times of need.”
“And we will.” Your hand moves up along her head. “And so will you.”
>Twilight glances back up and adopts a small smile, despite everything. “Because everypony has their fears.”
Your hand ruffles her mane as you grin back. “Exactly. Now come here.”
>You lift her back up a bit and turn yourself to lay on the couch, using her crumbled fort as a pillow.
>Twilight lays down on your chest, and you bring your blanket over the two of you.
>She takes a deep breath, and sighs slowly. “Thanks for bringing me to my senses.”
>Another round of lightning hits, several flashes along with their rumbles.
>Your fellow stargazer shrinks away slightly, but relaxes once you place a hand on her back.
>You place your arms around her, mostly because fire be damned, you're still kinda cold.
>The action causes the mare to smile contently, though, so you assume she doesn't mind.
>...You really didn't plan on falling asleep here. You were going to walk her home after the storm.
>But that same damn fire lighting is making you sleepy now. Not to mention Twilight's calming presence and the sound of rain hitting the window.
>The next round of lightning hits, and Twilight doesn't even flinch this time.
>Yeah, looks like you're staying here for the night.