Heat Lightning

Heat Lightning

Chapter 1: Stormy Night

Wind blew rain into the window. Loud rolls of thunder echoed amongst the pastel-colored houses of Ponyville.

It's times like these that make Bon Bon envy Lyra for being such a heavy sleeper, but that is not to say that most of Ponyville is kept awake by loud storms often.

"Usually the weather team keeps the storms quieter at night," Bon Bon muttered grumpily. She glanced at her roommate's sleeping form before standing up and walking over to the window. A bolt of lightning gave her the light she needed to look around.

To her surprise, ponies in raincoats were slowly but surely making an exodus from their homes in the dead of night.

"They look like they're heading for town square," mused Bon Bon.

At that moment, a tremendous crash of thunder sounded, reverberating through the house.

Lyra blinked sleepily. "What was that?" she asked.

"Oh, it was thunder."

Lyra sat up and got out of bed. "I know it was thunder, Bon Bon," she said, rolling her eyes a little. "But why was it so loud? Usually the weather team keeps it quiet."

Looking sideways at Bon Bon, she noticed the bags under her eyes and how tired her friend looked.

"Bon Bon, you've been up all night because of this storm, haven't you?"

Bon Bon looked at the clock. 2:14. "Yes," she groaned.

Lyra walked over to where she was looking out the window.

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

"Wait for the next flash of lightning," replied Bon Bon, her brow furrowed. Thunder rumbled, and almost immediately after, a bolt of lightning illuminated the street.

"Oh, the ponies are headed to town square!" said Lyra. She began to walk away.

Bon Bon looked over her shoulder at her friend. "Lyra, I know you're curious about what's going on, but I don't really want to go out in the storm..."

"That's fine, Bonnie! I'll just nip out and see what's happening, then come back and tell you!" Lyra called from the front room. With one fluid motion, her raincoat drifted over her and buttoned itself up.

"There," said Lyra. "I'll be back soon!" And she walked out into the storm, with the others.