Equestria Girls: The Witching Hour

As Storm walked into the boutique that Rarity worked in the silver bell over the door rang and the warm air of the shop instantly thawed his badly chilled body. It occurred to him that the cold was indeed very unseasonable but he thought no more of it than that.

Storm scanned the room several girls from school and older women stared at him. After all he was not the target clientele nor had been he seen here before. He walked through the store as the whispers started box under his arm, and rang the bell on the counter.

Sweetie Belle came up from behind the counter holding some scissors and a pin cushion. "Oh hi Storm." Sweetie squeaked "Are looking for Rarity?" She asked while pushing a plastic bin back under the counter.

"Yes I am. You're Sweetie Belle her little sister I take it? I believe we have a class together. A-day first period Art if my memory is correct. By the way how long was Scootaloo given detention for?" said Storm

"Yep." Sweetie chirped "Scoots only got a couple of days this time. Vice Principal Luna was kind of mad that she did that, but not too mad." Sweetie shook her head "Anyway Rarity is in the back right now and she'll be out in a few minutes. I've got to take this stuff to her so I'll tell her that you're here." She started to turn to leave and then stopped "Oh! Why are you here?" Sweetie queried showing a bit of cluelessness.

"The E.V.D for your sister is finished, so I figured I would bring it to her here to field test and if need be make on sight adjustments. Also need to configure it to her phone." He said holding out the small box.

"E.V.D.?" Sweetie questioned "Oh! Right, the glasses." said Sweetie with a giggle "I'll go and get her for you since it's important, just wait right here okay Storm."

Storm waited by the counter as many of the customers went back to shopping but keeping a prying eye and ear on Storm.

Rarity came out of the back room and lit up when she saw her friend. "Storm darling!" She said as she hugged him "However have you been today? I trust that things are well considering you aren't as distracted when I saw you lunch today dear. Oh I know let's go into the work room and discuss it there darling. That way we can make any adjustments that are needed on our special little project while we do." Rarity squealed.

Inside Storm revealed the new glasses the frame was a inch thicker and had little dots in it that where the infrared lasers. The frames were now a soft dark blue.

"Storm darling that's simply amazing!" Rarity said upon seeing them. "Alright Sweetie Belle would you be a dear and help us test this device out?" Said Rarity while turning to her sister.

When Storm saw Sweetie he felt a little bit bad, she was standing there in place with an incomplete outfit on being used as a living mannequin. "Hi again Storm." she said with some hesitation, her cheeks were stained pink with embarrassment.

"If it is any consolation my elder brothers had me test their invention when they were still living at home. Remind me to tell you about the one that left a two foot burn scar on my chest." He said smiling at her as he synced Rarity's phone. "Okay Rarity it's software is set up. It has a standard charger port and can be shut of by phone or manually by holding the power button on the right. Give it a go."

Sweetie Belle gave Storm a horrified look and squeaked out "No thanks Storm, I'm good. I'd much rather hear about some of the really cool things you've made. Like this E.V.D. thing you made for Rarity."

Rarity gave a smile at seeing her younger sister getting along with Storm, it warmed her heart to see the sometimes awkward girl making a new friend. "Alright Sweetie Belle now I need you to stand perfectly still while we perform the test." Said Rarity as he put on the glasses and began the scan.

"And don't worry if they do malfunction the only one at risk of burns is Rarity, and that's only if they overload and combust." Said Storm with a cheeky grin to Sweetie Belle, but he sounded completely serious.

Sweetie only partially suppressed a giggle at Storms antics and gave an incredibly sweet smile.

The E.V.D came on highlighting Sweetie in red and quickly filling with info as well as highlighting anything Rarity looked at reacting to her eye movement listing measuring and naming what she saw it was almost overwhelming amount of information. Then she looked at Storm for a split second and it highlights him and points out his E.V.D. At that moment she realized this is in a way how Storm sees the world all day long. "How is it working?" he asked

"It's a little overwhelming dear, it is quite remarkable that you spend every waking moment seeing the entire world like this." Rarity said breathlessly. "It's so amazing and the device seems to be working quite well. I'll just need to train myself to deal with this vast pool of information that I will have to work with from now on." Rarity smiled at Storm. "You dear are amazing!"

"Not really. My family despite owning a brewery are very analytical minded. It helps a lot with processing what my E.V.D. shows me quickly. Is it accurate if it's off I can adjust the settings now." He said with shrug.

"Well I think you are amazing Storm." Sweetie squeaked

"I agree little sister." Rarity said switching off the E.V.D. "So your family owns a brewery? Which one darling? I don't remember there being any around here."

"It's not in town. But my family named it after our ancestor who's hat I wear. It um is named for Captain Morgan, after the Emarecan privateer Captain Rum Morgan, who the raided Bitish shipping during the revolution. That is until his crew mutinied and actually made him walk the plank. A band did a song about him called Captain Morgan's Revenge. The truth about the curse is he survived walking the plank when a dolphin saved him and carried him for three days to the shore, afterwards he tracked down and helped kill or hang every last traitorous dog. But believing him dead they thought he was a ghost from Tartarus come to for them and that lead to the story of a curse. It was all in his journal. But the myth and song help sell rum so we play it up my father even plays the captain in the commercials. My mother dose the books. So they are rarely home. On a side note if we ever need some drinks for a party I have a good access to some of top shelf rum." He smiles as he told the story hinting that hating be called a pirate himself he loved pirate stories and rum.

"That's so cool!' Sweetie squeaked "You're descended from a real pirate!"

"Oh my darling. " Rarity replied "That is quite the family story to be sure, but dear we are responsible with our parties and never engage in underage drinking. That leads to all kinds of problems."

"Like that drunk driver that killed Brianna's parents." Said Sweetie sadly.

Rarity nodded "Yes dear like that drunk driver." Rarity said in agreement.

"Brianna was orphaned by a drunk driver?" His steady tone had ring of concern in his voice never heard before. "My family has always advocated safe drinking since that became a issue after all our company got started as a um, a bootlegging operation in the prohibition era. Not for profit mind but they felt that the act was unconstitutional. How long ago did it happen? I certainly hope the driver was not drinking any of my family's or any Apple family brands." Storm was concerned, but he stayed collected. It was obvious that he was worried not just about his friend, but if his family was in some way the cause.

"It was five years ago." Rarity replied "On the night of Megan and Brianna's shared birthday and one week before their first anniversary as a couple. From what I understand they had to spend it in the hospital due to Brianna's injuries. As for what the driver was drinking that night, well no one knows darling. His car was so thoroughly destroyed that any evidence of what it had been would have been destroyed right a long with the car. That and no one that I know of questioned the bar tender at the club he'd been drinking at, that part was an oversight I think."

"Actually they moved away after it happened." Said Sweetie as Rarity and Storm looked at her. "I heard Vinyl talking about to Octavia last week. The guy working the bar that night was working for Vinyl's mom at that club or something."

"I see Rum and hard ciders were not popular club drinks then, so it was probably some cheap vodka. That's a small relief, but my family's work my cause some tension later." said Storm

Rarity moved to Storm's side and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Oh no darling you completely misunderstand her. Brianna would never blame the careless actions of any thoughtless and selfish individual on your family nor anyone else's. You did absolutely nothing wrong by your family providing any form of alcohol, it was that one person alone that choose to get drunk and then drive. And as if those decisions weren't bad enough he alone made the decision to run from the police when they pulled him over to try and safeguard the rest of us from his bad judgment."

Sweetie rushed across the work room and hugged Storm "Yeah Brianna won't even get mad at you for that Storm, she is much too nice for that." Sweetie squeaked reassuringly.

"That is somewhat comforting but many do blame the brewers for those kind of things." He said returning the hug.

Sweetie broke the hug "I don't know why, it's not like you force people to make dumb decisions."

"Indeed Sweetie Belle, you are right little sister. I could never understand such things either." Rarity gave Storm a warm smile "We are your friends Storm and we shall be here for you. Now shall we finish up what we're doing?"

"Yes let's I have many other matter to attend to. Plus it is my turn for the random choice of bring in three songs that mean something to you in music. Mister Theramen likes to keep class interesting." said Storm

Rarity and Sweetie nodded in agreement and they returned to what they were doing.

Across town at the pizza place...

"Hey Megan, Brianna! Over here!" Called Sunset.

"Oh! There you are Sunset." Brianna said after getting out of Megan's truck.

Megan closed and locked the driver's side door and walked over to where Sunset and Twilight were standing "So are you two ready?" Asked Megan as Brianna joined her.

"Yeah let's have some fun!" Said Sunset pulling Twilight in tight with an arm around her waist making the more reserved girl blush. "She's so cute when she dose that." teased Sunset

Megan giggled "She sure is." Causing Twilight's blush to deepen.

Brianna just smiled as she locked her fingers together with Megan's "Well let's go in I want to see this place."

The pizza place was at one time a kid's restaurant with stage show. Now it is a dinner theater with an actual animatonic band playing music live on stage with real instruments.

"Okay," Brianna said "those things kinda creep me out."

Megan smiled at Brianna "Maybe you should stop playing that video game on your laptop then."

"Well it's really good, and quite original Megan. it's kind of hard to believe that it is an independent game sometimes." Brianna replied

"You know they are making a movie of it right?" said Twilight

"No I hadn't heard that until now." Brianna said "Maybe we'll go and see it, I'm not sure yet though."

Megan shook her head "Brianna the last thing I need is for you to have nightmares again."

"Aww, but it's so sweet the way you take care of me when I have nightmares." Brianna said while pouting.

"I'd take her..." said a voice from the table behind them. At the table Was Gilda and Greta. Both are older girls with reputation for trouble.

"Yeah and if she gets scared she is welcome to cling to us." said Greta.

Megan gave both girls a sharp glare.

Brianna just looked at the two of them and said. "So not interested." As she snuggled up to Megan as they went to another table across the room with their friends.

"I can't believe those two." Megan huffed "Those girls are just asking for trouble with that kind of behavior." Megan looked at Sunset and sighed. "I just don't get it."

"Some people just go after what they want." said Sunset

Brianna scowled "They need to leave it alone when someone is not interested. Especially when they are already with someone."

Megan nodded "So what kind of pizza should we get?"

"Veggie lovers with extra cheese." Said Twilight and Sunset in unison.

Megan giggled "That's not a very balanced choice girls, but I think we should try it."

"Sure!" Brianna chirped "We can also some other stuff to help it all balance out." She said eyeing some of the stuff on the menu.

"No meat for us thanks." said Sunset

"Definitely have you seen what's in the stuff they feed live stock?" said Twilight

Megan scowled a little "Not everyone does that girls."

"Yeah," said Brianna "and not everyplace uses that stuff either. You just have to ask about it."

"We checked vegetables and dairy are good but the meat is from a company that is not known for being eco-friendly." said Twilight

Megan smiled "I can never get used to how forward thinking you two are."

Brianna snickered "Says the uncrowned queen of forward thinking." She looked to their friends "Anyway I have looked over this pizza and it sounds good."

"Twilight is the queen of checklists." Teased Sunset hugging the girl. "She had triple checked her list before we came here tonight."

"Suuunnnseet." Groaned Twilight as she blushed and hid her face.

Brianna and Megan laughed "Oh come on Twilight it was very helpful tonight. I think we'll need you to do the research before any other double dates we do from now on." Brianna said with a smile somewhat shocking her long time friends and girlfriend.

Megan placed her hand on Brianna's "I'm glad you're getting better still Brianna." Megan was smiling and her eyes shone a little bit.

The waitress chose that moment to appear and asked "Okay what can I get the two young couples?"

"We want a veggie loves with extra cheese." said Sunset

"Okay." The waitress replied "Will there be anything else?"

"Two waters." Added Twilight she and Sunset looked at Megan and Brianna.

"You two getting anything? Or have you finally figured out how to live on love?" joked Sunset

Megan smiled "Some water for us too." Said Megan as Brianna nodded.

"What you're not hungry? Twilight can eat half that pizza herself you know." said Sunset

"You're one to talk, the fat on your curves comes from something after all." Said Twilight getting her own jab in and finally causing Sunset to smile.

Brianna and Megan laughed at this "I think one will be enough for all of us." Brianna said "Besides I stopped stress eating a while ago and don't wanna start back up again."

Megan spoke "How about we get some garden salads too."

"Oh yeah that'll work." said Brianna

"Okay got it, if that's all I'll get the order to the kitchen." Said the pink skinned girl brightly "Oh! Excuse me. I am your waitress Sunshine Smiles." She said sheepishly.

"Must be her first day." said Sunset

"Or she is a little forgetful." Brianna mused as they watched her walk away. "Are those two still staring at me?" Brianna asked Megan.

Megan sighed "Yes they are, I have a feeling they are going to cause problems tonight."

"Maybe it's them or the fact they are drinking." Said Sunset as she pointed out their drinks discreetly.

Brianna shook her head sadly "They are going to kill someone one day because of that."

"Brianna remember to breathe." said Sunset

Megan tensed up, she was not happy with what she was seeing.

Brianna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Megan said

"What and start a fight by having them checked again? If we make waves they will wait for us outside." said Sunset

"I need to go to the restroom. Twilight will you come with me please?" Said Brianna as she stood.

"Ah sure I guess..." Said Twilight following her from the table.

"You know if those two try something Twilight might not be able to stop them." Whispers Sunset to Megan.

Megan whispered back "We'll just keep an eye on them and trust our girls to take care of themselves. Besides Brianna needs a few moments and it's actually better for her to be with Twilight right now, rather than either of us Sunset. You and I are a little protective of her and that's not what she needs right now. Instead she needs Twilight to talk to her and remind her of her more reasonable behavior."

Brianna walked through the bathroom door and went to the sink and turned on the water. Her shoulders slumped "Twilight," said Brianna "I know not everyone is so stupid or irresponsible with it but I still can't stand to see anyone drinking." Brianna splashed her face with cold water trying to keep her composure.

"Do you dislike alcohol itself? Two of our friends do have family involved with it after all." Said Twilight concerned.

"No." Brianna replied "I'm not really sure why I react so badly honestly. I just... am I ever going to work through this Twilight?"

"That's not for me to say." said Twilight

Brianna smiled weakly "So even a big brain like you doesn't have the answer then? I'm not surprised, I just want Megan to be proud of and show her that this doesn't run my life." Then she looked at Twilight "Wait, who else do we know that has their family involved in brewing alcohol? I know the Apples have their hard cider but who else is there?"

"I did some digging after Storm mentioned all the tech things he and his brothers do. Their family owns Captain Morgan's Rum. They have been in the alcohol business going back to the prohibition era. At least that's what it said online." answers Twilight

Brianna laughed a little "Is there anything you can't find with a computer Twilight? Anyway we should get back before Sunset and Megan start fantasizing about what's happening in here." She said with a smile "Thanks for listening by the way. It's hard for me to believe that we only met a year ago. You're a good friend Twilight."

"Any time Brianna." Said Twilight as they turned to leave the restroom.

At that moment is When Greta walked in. "Look what we have here. Isn't it the little cutie?" She said as she stopped and leaned on the door.

Brianna facepalmed "Move aside please Greta. I said I wasn't interested and that isn't going to change. Besides aren't you in enough trouble for drinking underage anyway? I mean you don't want to face possible charges of attempted sexual assault and sexual harassment do you? Because if you keep this up you and Gilda will be facing one or both of those. So I'll ask you this, is it really worth being labeled as a sex offender?"

"Oh, touchy." She walks by her hips bumping Brianna's. "See you in school." She whispers.

Brianna's glare could melt Titanium. "Don't push your luck Greta, I will not hesitate to have you both arrested for harassing me or my friends. No means no, remember that. Let's go Twilight, this spot had become too creepy for my tastes all of the sudden." She said leaving the restroom.

"Y-yeah."Said Twilight as she followed Brianna out.

Brianna was quiet as they went back to their table. When they returned and took their seats Sunset and Megan broke from their conversation and noticed right away each girl's now very sullen mood. Megan looked at Sunset and then asked the obvious question. "What happened you two?"

Brianna gave a one word answer "Greta." She said under her breath.

"Gilda's friend... what did she do?"asked Sunset

"She cornered us in the restroom and starting hitting on Brianna. Brianna shut her down by telling her that she'd have her charged and arrested for sexual harassment if she didn't stop." Twilight replied

"I'm worried. They are not the most honest people." said Sunset

Megan nodded "That's what will trip them up though. With their reputations they can only land in real trouble at this rate." said Megan as Sunny returned with the water and the salads.

"Your pizza will be here in just a few minutes." She said brightly "is there anything else you need?"

"Thank you but no." Sunset said

"Okay have a nice evening." Said Sunny as she left to tend to another table.

The rest of the meal went smoothly as Gilda and Greta soon left blowing kisses at Brianna on the way out.

Brianna shook her head. Their antics might be amusing, even charming or flattering if those two weren't such troublemakers. Brianna knew she she should be the better person and she wanted to be, but another part of her really wanted to hurt those girls and make an example out of them.

After dinner they were off to the movie, which was a sappy romantic comedy that made Sunset wince until Twilight snuggled up to her. Megan and Brianna were cuddling the whole time during the movie doing their best to remove the earlier events surrounding Gilda and Greta from their minds. The girls bid each other good night as they left the movie theater and returned home. The next day Megan and Brianna joined the rest of the girls and Big Macintosh at Storm's place to help him with his truck after Brianna's archery practice was complete.

The barn behind his house looked like part way like a shop junk yard and part way mad scientist's lab. The oldest truck any of them ever seen in person was on lock jacks inside. The back wall was all work benches with tools and more powerful tools hung on self-retracting cords from a chandelier looking tool carousel. In a glass case there was a spread of strange devices with labels on peg hooks.

"Welcome ladies and gentleman, to my brother's former and my current lab. Rainbow, Pinkie, Apple Bloom. Don't touch anything in the case or the power tools." He said stopping the three with their hands inches away from the tool rack or case door. "I don't want to have to explain to the emergency services why five city blocks and several of my friends are now atomized." He added looking at them.

Brianna looked at Storm "I doubt you'd be explaining anything Storm considering you'd be atomized right along with us on account of you being right here a ground zero and all."

Megan giggled "Anyway what exactly do we need to do and where do you need us?" She asked looking at both Twilight and Storm.

"Megan I need you to keep the nosy ones from the case those are my brother abandoned but completed experiments back when they built weapons together. Short version of why they don't anymore is they have different ideas of how to maintain war machines. Blast oils them, Wave feeds them needless to say I picked up a little from both. Hence the E.V.D and my pets. Rainbow, Pinkie you will be on part detail with Macintosh, Apple Bloom and Fluttershy your on tools. Rarity um, I've got that you're good with needle and thread so you see what you can do with the old bench seat and liner. The rest of you are going to get greasy with me putting the pieces in to place and adjusting what don't fit. I hope none of you are wearing your good clothes." He said before grabbing side of a engine mounting and rolling it to the desk light the revealing a engine half built and looking more experimental then legal. He picked up a tool. "Oh and full disclosure many tools and parts are scratch built and nothing in the case and some of the stuff lying around are not entirely legal, so ask before you grab something you don't recognize. Oh and if you see a weird ball with lights on it let me know. Still can't understand stand how one looses an armed bomb." said Storm

"Okay everyone," said Megan "let's get to what we need to do here."

"Yeah..." Brianna replied "Am I the only one nervous about the armed bomb that's maybe floating around loose in here?"

"It's been in here for seven years so it's not on a timer. Just don't knock anything over or drop something." Said Storm. This was punctuated by a loud crash and everyone looking at Pinkie holding a basket ball sized orb with lights on it.

"Sorry I saw a shiny ball now what where you saying?" Said Pinkie as she played with the 'ball'.

"Um Pinkie, that's not something you should play with." Megan said moving to Pinkie "Okay Pinkie just hand that to me and we can have Storm deal with it in a way so that no one gets hurt." Said Megan gently as she took the 'ball' from Pinkie and handed the 'ball' off to Storm.

"Oh how nice she activated it." Storm deadpanned "Let's see how was this to be disarmed? Oh yes." He then grabbed hammer and smashed the blue light the device let out rapid beeping and then... Nothing, it went dead no lights no sound. "I'll give this to them next time I see them. I am curious if the singularity bomb would actually work on not. But it's there project not mine." Said Storm casually.

There was a collective sigh of relief and then Megan just took Pinkie to a more neutral spot. The crisis averted everyone went about their assigned tasks.

The truck was almost done buy the end of the day the new hammer forged hood sat cooling the wheels still missing the engine was in with cables and stuff sticking out the grill and going in the sides the gauges where in place as was the peddles wiring even the fifth wheel was set in Rarity had gotten dirty polishing the chrome trimming even the soon to be placed hub caps shone on the wall. Everyone had some amount of grease and grime on them.

Storm sighs "Now just one last test." He climbed in and started it the ideal thumping loudly reverberating in there chests. He revved the engine making Fluttershy hide behind the others as it got loud enough to drown out the radio sounding like angered beast. "Ok!" he said after cutting the engine "The rest is waiting or finding the missing parts. Does anyone know a shop that still carries white walls?"

Rarity smiled "Oh don't worry darling my auntie Heart Throb is working on that part of it for us. She knows a gentleman in Trottingham who can give us a great deal on them. So they should be along soon dear."

"Wait, wait wait. Your aunt is dating my mother?" Brianna said sounding shocked.

"Oh my." Rarity replied "I knew my auntie was with some fine lady but I didn't know it was Ribbon darling."

Brianna could only stand there shocked and slack-jawed with nothing she could say.

"He he he. If it goes well then that would make you cousins. Like the Apples and Pinkie's families are." Said Storm as he relaxed in the seat turning up the country playing on the radio.

"Well," Applejack began "we're not exactly sure about that just yet sugarcube. We're still waiting on some of that fancy D.N.A. testing to be done before we know for sure."

"Yeah. Pinkie said "I still think it'll be right though." Pinkie said brightly.

Brianna gave a long look at Rarity. "You haven't been discussing my measurements with Heart Throb have you Rarity?"

"Well no dear." Rarity replied "She is aware of that information however, it is her boutique after all."

"O-okay." said Brianna

Apple Bloom slid up next to Storm and leaned in on him. "Speaking of relationships. Are you seeing anybody Storm?"

"Not yet, but I seem to have developed feelings for Aria Blaze. Although I have yet to find the proper way to engage her in conversation." said Storm

Apple Bloom seems to wilt slightly. "Oh! I hope you have luck with that. All bad so we can have you." she mumbles the last part under her breath.

Rarity looked at Brianna as Storm and Apple Bloom had their little conversation "Brianna darling I still don't see why you're so self-conscious about it all."

"I'd rather not talk about it right now Rarity." said Brianna "I'm not ready to talk about it."

Before Rarity or anyone else could say anymore on the issue Pinkie spoke up. "Come on girls it's not nice to try and make her talk about it. It's making her uncomfortable and we just need to wait until she's ready to talk about it."

This brought a general agreement between the girls on the matter and for the time being it was brought to a close. Brianna looked at Pinkie and silently thanked her.

Storm nodded." So who wants to meet my pets?"

"Oh that would be nice." said Fluttershy

Brianna shuffled uncomfortably "I don't know, I've never been big on spiders and bugs." Said Brianna prompting Rainbow to stare at Brianna.

What came next caught no one by surprise "Since when are you so girly Brianna?" Quipped Rainbow earning a collect groan from everyone save Storm.

"Seriously Rainbow?" Twilight replied

"Come on Brianna." said Megan "It won't be so bad."

"O-okay." Brianna said nervously.

He led them inside where his grandmother was asleep in front of the t.v. and into his room.
On a table to either side of his computer monitor was two extra large terrariums both had bugs in them bigger then anything the girls had seen the spider was the size of a serving plate in the bigger tank and the Mantis was almost foot long in the other. Under the desk was the four computers networked together.

Brianna gave a soft "Eeeep." and jumped behind Megan "T-t-t-t-that spider is huge!" She exclaimed quietly.

"It certainly is big." Megan responded

"Wowza." said Pinkie

Twilight simply adjusted her glasses and got closer to look at the rather impressive specimen. "Wow Storm both the Tarantula and the Mantis are exceedingly well cared for and healthy.

"Mmm hmm." Fluttershy said with a nod.

Apple Bloom was wide-eyed and Applejack chuckled a bit "Didn't know that came that big did ya A.B.?" To which Apple Bloom just nodded.

"Actually they have been bred for size. I am waiting on a mate for the spider to be delivered. Her suitor is a Amazonian bird eater. Though it's only his seed that is being delivered do to size I can't have either mate properly so I have to have my big brothers help by sedating them and doing it artificially. The reason the I need to do it with the Mantis is well I dumped thirty males in there this morning. As you can she she ate all of them. So who wants to hold one?" He asked the girls.

"Nope! Nope! Nope!" Brianna said backing up into the hallway and pressing her back into the wall behind her. This caused Megan to sigh and shake her head.

"Okay what the heck is that?" asked Rainbow "I have never seen Brianna freak out about anything before. And now all of the sudden she is totally losing it."

"She's probably Arachnophobic." Fluttershy said

"Arachno what now?" Rainbow replied

Twilight adjusted her glasses and recited "Arachnophobia, a fear of arachnids that commonly manifests in the form of a fear of spiders, but can also extend to scorpions, ticks and any other arachnids."

Fluttershy nodded "And Brianna has got it pretty bad by the looks of it."

Megan looked to Storm "I think it's best that I take Brianna home now. She could have a panic attack if I don't take her somewhere so she can calm down."

"Okay how can we not know that about her? We're her friends for Pete's sake!" Said Rainbow angrily.

Applejack spoke up in that moment. "Some people don't like to talk about their fears sugarcube."

"Yes I mean would you guess I have Hydrophobia?" asked Storm

"Huh?" Rainbow said blankly.

Sunset sighed "He means he is afraid of the water Rainbow. It is a pretty unusual phobia but some people do have it."

Megan moved to Brianna in the hallway and embraced her. "Shh, shh. It's gonna be okay Brianna just calm down alright?"

Brianna's breathing was fast and ragged and she was shaking very badly. "Brianna." Megan said "Look at me." Brianna looked at Megan. "Just focus on me and calm down. I'm here for you, so just relax and breath Brianna." Brianna started to breath normally as Megan held her. After a few minutes Brianna was breathing more normally and had stopped shaking. Megan turned to the others "I'm taking her home to get her settled now. We'll see you all at school on Monday." Said Megan as she led Brianna back to her truck. A moment later they heard the truck's engine start and the truck pull away.

"Well that didn't turn out too badly, all things considered." Rarity said

Storm walked up next to her holding the massive spider on his arm petting it like a cat. "Yes. Though I still find it hard to see how any one can be scared of either of these cuties." The Mantis was actually nuzzling his hair as it sat on his shoulder.

"Well Storm dear I am not as smart as you are but I do understand that phobias are irrational by nature. They're not supposed to make sense darling. There are people that are afraid of cats and dogs as well. I will admit that I am not fond of spiders or insects myself, but I certainly won't have the reaction poor Brianna just did."

Rainbow's right eye twitched "Seriously Rares? People are afraid of cats and dogs?"

"Actually," Sunset began "there are people that suffer from a phobia called Agoraphobia. It's commonly called a fear of public places, but it's really deeper and more complicated than that. Suffice it to to say that sufferers of Agoraphobia can have panic attack if they are placed in situations that they feel are dangerous. This can happen in the middle of a mall for example." Sunset finished

"Yeah I don't get it." Rainbow replied causing Sunset to facepalm.

"Well some people just find them to be creepy Storm." said Fluttershy "Besides Rarity is right, phobias aren't rational."

Twilight, Applejack, and Apple Bloom just nodded in agreement and Big Mac just replied with an "Eeyup."

"That's true. So who wants to hold one?" He said with a smile.

Apple Bloom was the first to volunteer, she thought the spider was kind of cool. Rarity naturally declined, but Fluttershy was amenable as were Twilight and Sunset. While he kept a bit of distance Big Mac did seem fascinated by both the spider and the mantis. Rainbow also held both the spider and the mantis saying that there were quote "So awesome."

"Yes they are." Said Storm as he put them away. "You see why I study there movements for possibility of use in my mechs."

"I've actually seen footage online of someone that has built a spider walker. So it does in fact work." said Twilight

"Really?" Said Rarity as Twilight and Sunset nodded. "Oh how fascinating, but I do wish to address the proverbial elephant in the room. Just how do intend to talk to Brianna about you family's business Storm?"

"Oh she already knows." Twilight replied "I told her about when we were out together on our double date Friday night. She didn't have much of a response to be honest. I don't think it bothers her, but you should probably talk to her about anyway Storm."

Yes, a brewers son is friends with the daughter of parents killed by a drunk driver. How did line go? The universe just loves its ironies. I believe it is probably laughing itself silly." Said Storm as he booted up his computer network. "Also that spider walker from Sidney is the most primitive mech out there. The Kuratas is a wheeled piloted mech on open market from Neighpon and a company here in the states has developed a two seater battle mech on treads. They are scheduled to have a dual to see which is better. My money is on the Kuratas. Speed and mobility plus a modular weapons system." He pulled up actual blueprints of the mechs. "What I'm building well make both of these toys look like Erector sets." There was that mad man grin again. That look only true mad scientist could pull off.

"Yeah I've seen that one out of Neighpon." Sunset replied while examining Storm's designs. "These are substantially more advanced more advanced though."

"Yes and sadly with that advancement comes at a massively advanced price tag. Just to get minimal performance from the V.T.O.L air craft body. And atmospheric flight capabilities while still maintaining a stable bipedal stance in land combat mode will require a small fusion reactor. that is the problem however as no one has created stable fusion reactors yet. Much less ones the size of a small car."

Rainbow Dash, Rarity and the Apple siblings looked confused. "Can you repeat that in English?" Said AJ

"Better yet can someone explain it in small words?" Added Rainbow causing Storm to facepalm.

Sunset sighed "What Storm means is that the amount of power required to run all of these systems can only come from a Nuclear Fusion engine that has to be at least the size of a small car."

"Which is something that doesn't exist yet because they are currently impossible to build." Twilight said finishing for Sunset.

"Why didn't he just say so?" Said Apple Bloom

"That's is what I said." said Storm "Regardless it's getting late, unless you want to stay in the guest room tonight and risk creating who knows how much gossip you should get going."

"Come ya'll." said Applejack "We have things we need to do tomorrow anyway so let's get going." The others agreed and bid Storm goodbye as they took their leave to return home.