Equestria Girls: The Witching Hour

Later that same night after Megan had returned Brianna home and spent considerable effort helping her calm down after her severe phobic reaction to Storm's spider the two sat together in the bathtub. Both girls were quiet at that moment having said very little the whole time. Brianna finally spoke up as Megan was washing her hair. "I can't believe I freaked out like that made made such a fool out of myself Megan."

Megan embraced Brianna from behind and held her. "It was a pretty bad reaction Brianna, but no one could have seen that coming either. You've never had that bad of a reaction before today and we can't really do anything about it." Megan said trying to reassure her girlfriend.

Brianna sighed "At least I didn't hit Storm like I did Danny last summer."

"Well," Megan began "Danny was aware that you are afraid of spiders and he did drop that big rubber spider right in your lap Brianna. He kind of brought that one on himself." She replied while resuming washing Brianna's hair.

"I don't know." Brianna replied as Megan tilted her head back and started to rinse the shampoo out of her hair. "I mean I gave him a bloody nose when I hit him. It was not a nice thing to do but I still shouldn't have hit him."

"Oh Brianna you're so sweet. Still Danny knew better and did it anyway, and mom gave him quite the lecture while she was cleaning that up that bloody nose you gave him. Danny is lucky though, you could have inflicted much more serious damage than a bloody nose. So he got off easy really."

Brianna said nothing as Megan finished washing her hair for her. Brianna's thoughts began to turn stray for a few moments as she realized that her hair had gotten longer than she had meant for it to and she remembered that it was time to get a trim done. She just relaxed as the warm bathwater soothed her body almost as much as Megan's embrace did. After finishing in the bath the two of them got ready for bed and passed the rest of the weekend without much going on save studying for some upcoming tests that week.

Monday lunch period...

Storm was eating at his normal table he was as he often is the first to arrive and how that is the case the girls never figured out. The truth is that looking scary makes people step aside if they think you're in a hurry. His spot gave him his favorite view of Aria. Today he saw something or rather someone new at her table. Marble Pie Pinkie's fraternal twin, sitting or more exactly snuggling with Sonata the youngest of the three sisters. When he heard the girls sit down. He discreetly pointed with his fork. "Pinkie it seems your sister has made a move for us in our plans of getting to know the Dazzlings, though it was probably a play for her own gain rather than to aid mine." He said with a mischievous grin. He loved to see how people react to the unexpected.

Pinkie gasped "Wow!" When did my cute little baby sister decide to start dating?" Pinkie then turned thoughtful.

Brianna however squealed with delight "There are sooooo cute together."

Twilight cocked her head and looked at Brianna, the rest of the girls who had know Brianna for much longer just smiled. This is something that Brianna had done in healthier and happier days and they were glad to see it.

"Okay this calls for a party for my sweet little sister and her new girlfriend." Pinkie said standing up.

"Whoa there sugarcube." Applejack said sitting Pinkie back down. "Let's finish lunch and let those two have some time together before we start planning a party for them alright?"

Pinkie nodded and staring eating.

"Oh yeah Storm could you help me with my bike after school?" said Rainbow "It started acting up after last week's practice session."

"You mean when you ground the frame in the dirt passing Aria on a turn in the time trial and clogged the air intake with dirt?" Said Storm smiling having been there to watch Aria and saw how Dash and Lightning Dust abuse there bikes. Aria and Sunset are rough on theirs too, but Dash and Dust looked like they wanted to brake them. "You know you two are to hard on the school's bikes in those runs and your own. Both you and Lightning Dust are going to hurt yourselves." He added.

"Lightning Dust is the one that gonna get someone hurt." Rainbow replied "That girl is way too cocky and has almost been thrown out of the club like five times." Said Rainbow citing Lightning's rough reputation. While it wasn't as bad as Gilda and Greta's was she still had a habit of causing trouble for those around her too.

"I'm kinda surprised it's almost still considering how she nearly wiped out that girl Sugarcoat at the last interscholastic race that was held." Said Brianna shaking her head. The other girls merely nodded in agreement.

"Yes and that gave me an hour's worth of work to banging dents out of the frame from that and having to rechain the drive chain. Remember I had mandatory duty as a engineering student, to fix the bikes" said Storm crossing his arms. "The one reason I did not sign up already. I've seen what your school puts other's bikes through I have a idea of what to expect when we go in there today after classes. And I don't look forward to that mess." His eye seemed to be trying to burn a hole in Rainbow and Sunset as the group's motocross members as while Sunset was not reckless or taking stupid risks, she still has trashed a bike or two. And Sunset knows that she and the rest of the team are in for a dress down when Storm sees the shop.

"Hey!" Rainbow squeaked "We're not going out of our way to cause problems Storm, well Lightning Dust doesn't care but the rest of us aren't trying to make trouble okay!" Said Rainbow returning the glare with equal intensity.

"Calm down you two." Megan said softly before turning to Storm. "Motocross is a very rough sport Storm and things do happen by accident." She then tuned to Rainbow "And you are a little hard on your equipment Rainbow. I honestly worry about the risks you're willing to take sometimes." Megan held up her hand to forestall any of Rainbow's protests. "I know that you are as good as you say, but there is no need to do some of the things you do Rainbow. Just how many times have Fluttershy and I had to patch you up even though you're wearing that body armor and motocross suit?"

Rainbow rubbed the back of neck nervously "Alright Megan I get it." She said sullenly.

"Being hard is half of it some of the bikes showed signs of neglected maintenance. Like the cracked bodies before a race even starts and the rough idle tell me how many mechanics are in the club verses riders?" asked Storm

"Umm. There's total of four member's we all sorta take turns with the shop work." Said a now blushing Sunset.

"I'm not going to be happy with the club's work shop am I?" asked Storm

"Aria dose the best work with bikes and I try to help and clean up but," she looked at Dash then over to where Lightning was setting with her friends. "Dust just wants to ride and Dash um, can't clean the shop without losing things." She gave Dash sorry I ratted you out look.

"Why are the girls so mean to their bikes all the time?" Said Storm as his head hit the table.

Brianna reached over and patted Storm on the back "It's okay Storm they aren't being mean to their bikes, it's just that Sunset was the best mechanic in the club until this year when Aria joined. And Megan and Applejack do their best to help out along with Big Mac, but they can only do that when they aren't busy at the Apple farm on Megan's family's ranch. I help out too when I can, but we can't do very much very often so it's just been Sunset mostly."

"Okay!" Pinkie said "Now we need to talk to my sister and plan a nice little party for her and Sonata. Annnnd maybe we can invite Aria to the party to give Storm a chance to talk to her about their shared love of mechanical thingies too." Pinkie said with a squee. The noise caught Storm's attention because a human shouldn't be able to make such a sound.

"After prolonged observation I have deduced that Pinkie is not actually human, but some kind of alien or other worldly construct built on our D.N.A. structure and planted in her mother while she was pregnant with Pinkie's twin. Many of her actions and vocalizations have not been physically possible for a human to do or make." Said Storm in his I have made a analysis scientific voice tone.

The girls laughed at Storm's observation. "Wow Storm." Rainbow said as she cackled. "She's not an alien she's just being Pinkie Pie."

"Yeah sugarcube, that's a good one." Applejack chuckled "I've known Pinkie for a real long time and she ain't nothin' but human."

Twilight adjusted her glasses "Storm even I find that assertion to be completely inaccurate. There is absolutely no evidence for it."

Megan just looked at Storm "As entertaining as that idea is Storm there is no way it can be true."

Brianna just patted Storm on the shoulder. "Let's go I wanna see how this turns out. Aaannd you can get a chance to try and talk to Aria this way." She said moving behind Storm and placing both of her hands on his arms and pushing him forward.

Storm glares over his shoulder "Pushy today. Is this payback for showing you my pets?"

"Nope." Brianna replied. "You just can't make a good impression by staring at her from across the room like some kind of creep is all." The rest of the girls nodded in assent.

"Brianna is right darling. You'll never hit a home run if you don't swing at the ball, as Rainbow would say." said Rarity

"That's right." Rainbow acknowledged

"You also will never strike out..." Storm countered in a mumble.

"You will also stay right where you are and not accomplish anything that way Storm. Is that what you want?" Replied Brianna shattering any chance of Storm arguing the point farther.

Storm yielded at this. "Hello ladies. Aria, Sonata, Adagio, Marble. I say though it's none of my business I must ask how and when did Sonata and Marble start dating?" Said Storm as he and Brianna joined a rambling Pinkie who was hugging her sister

"Yeah," Brianna said "I mean you barely talk to anyone Marble, and now this? Though you two are soooo cute together." Brianna squealed.

Marble just blushed and Sonata spoke up. "Well, we got to talking after class some last week and things just kind of fell into place from there. Then we went to Sugar Cube Corner and spent some time studying on Saturday night." Sonata said with a blush of her own.

"That is adorable!" Brianna squealed once more.

The rest of the girls were smiling and that's when Pinkie broke in. "And you know what that calls for?" She said looking at Marble who had a deeper blush that before. "A party!" Pinkie squealed with a burst of glee, confetti, and streamers leaving Storm further confused by her antics.

"Oh That sounds like so much fun!" Sonata replied "We could have a nice little party with our friends, and our sisters. It'll be great!" Sonata squeaked as she and Pinkie began planning the details.

Adagio was thoughtful for a moment. "That does sound like fun actually." She said casually "I think it's a good idea and maybe we can find someone who'll finally be able to put up with that bad attitude of yours Aria." Adagio finished with a sly smirk.

"Well." Megan said "Maybe Aria and Storm could talk about their shared love of mechanics at the party."

"Engineering really. My life goal is to is to build space flight craft capable of conventional takeoff and landing and transforming in to giant piloted mechs. I also rebuilt my great grandfathers truck from scrap." He said coldly.

"Oh so you're some kind of big shot then?" Aria smirked "Or at least you think you are, but you're not." Aria said venomously. This caused a chorus of facempalms from the rest of the girls Marble included.

"Smooth one Storm." Rainbow muttered under her breath.

"No I was just stating my dream. And referencing of my mechanical skill. The big shots are my elder brothers. One is weapon maker banned in four states the other is a maverick geneticist who has skirted the law and public morality for three years now. I'm just a grease monkey wing nut. Nothing special like your singing." Storm matched Aria's bored tone with cold condescending one. But what he said was what was important he seems to minimize his own skills by sighting his brothers but then praised Aria's singing yet still sounding like he was retaliating.

"So, your brothers belong in jail and you sound like a wimp because you won't own what you can do." Aria shot back coldly. The escalating situation caused everyone even Adagio to back away.

"Do we, you know do something?" asked Rainbow

"I don't think there's anything we can do." Applejack replied

"This is going well." Brianna whispered to Megan.

"At least they are not getting into a fist fight." Megan replied

"And you're so afraid of being hurt by someone that you try to push people away by being mean and grouchy." He shot back.

"So you think you know me huh?" Aria laughed in Storm's face "You go ahead and keep telling yourself that and maybe one day you'll actually believe it." She got up in his face and flicked his nose. "You don't know a thing about me small fry."

He lifted his eye patch, "Neither do you know a thing about me."

Aria didn't even flinch. "So, all you've done is bark like some obnoxious little dog trying to be a Pit Bull when he's not. You think having only one eye makes you different or something? Because I've got news for you, it doesn't." She developed a smirk. "You have to prove you're different before I'll buy it." She said strutting away leaving Storm surprised.

Brianna blinked "Well that was unexpected."

"Wow." Pinkie said quietly "She didn't even blink."

"I agree darling." replied Rarity "I don't think Storm has even encountered someone who didn't at least blink at his condition. Not that he has told me of anyway."

Adagio shook her head. "It's crazy to think that those two might actually be perfect for each other."

"She is so amazing." He sighs

Storm's response left everyone shocked, save Pinkie who just remarked "Yup they're perfect for each other alright."

"And people call me dramatic at times." said Rarity after recovering from her shock

The rest of the girls just nodded in agreement.

"You think she'd like a shotgun that fires lasers or beam knuckles?" Asked Storm thinking out loud.

"I have no idea." said Sonata "She might like both knowing her."

"Anyway," Adagio said "when should we do this party?"

"Well the weekend is going to be the best time for all of us anyway, so that is our best bet." Twilight said finally having recovered from her shock. "The real question is what do we do with Storm and Aria? They might enjoy the friction but I sure didn't."

Storm was just standing there smiling.

"Storm, Storm, Storm!" Brianna said clapping her hands in front of this face and getting no response. She looked to Megan "I think we've lost him Megan." That was the moment the end of the lunch period bell rang signaling the time to return to classes.

The bell snapped him out of it and he quickly gathered his things for his next class.

Later as the Dazzlings were walking home after school...

"Soooooo?" asked Sonata

"So what?" snarked Aria

"He's cute, even with the missing eye, smart, is not afraid of you and can actually match you in a verbal sparring match." listed Adagio.

"Your point?" asked Aria

"He's perfect for you." Said Sonata with a twirl so she was now walking backwards while looking at Aria.

"What? That's crazy, he obviously hates me. We were this close to hitting each other?" Said Aria showing her thumb and pointer finger millimeters apart.

"Yeah he is head over heels in love with you." says Adagio

Sonata giggled "Yeah he's got real bad Ari. I mean like real bad. You know like Megan and Brianna or Marble and I." Sonata said with big, bright smile and a deep red blush.

"Yeah, I mean I didn't know if you where going to kiss him or hit him at the end before you ran away." said Adagio

Aria was now growling and blushing. "I was not going to kiss him and I didn't run. I just don't want to get kicked out of the motocross club for fighting." She said clearly annoyed by her sisters.

"Weeeell afterward he said that you were so amazing Ari." Sonata said brightly. "I'm not messing with you or anything, just ask Dagi she heard it too."

"Yeah I swear you must have hypnotized him. He watched you walk out and didn't move till the bell rang." Said Adagio who grinned as Aria got redder.

"Yup." Sonata said with another pirouette and she starting walking towards their home. "I've never seen somebody so gone before." Sonata giggled.

"Gone?" asked Aria

Adagio facepalmed "Lost in love as the saying goes Aria. He seems to have a really bad case if infatuation and some people say that someone is gone when that happens." Said Adagio making air quotes at the word gone.

Sonata just nodded in agreement. "Yup that's how I understand it."

"So your saying I have him wrapped around my little finger and all I have to do is give him a command and he would do it?" Aria clearly had gears turning in her head.

Adagio was thoughtful "Probably, but I wouldn't push it too far if I were you. He is very smart and you never know when you might cross a line."

"Please, like that geek has it in him to be tough. That was all show to impress me." snarked Aria

"I don't know," Sonata said brightly "people can surprise you Ari."

"Definitely." Adagio agreed

"Whatever." said Aria

"Don't be such a downer Ari." Sonata said "I have my Marble and it is wonderful. You just need to give the little guy an honest chance and I bet he can make you happy Ari." Sonata then charged through the gate and into the front yard before flinging open the door to their house and shouting "Hi mom!"

Adagio laughed at Sonata's antics as she followed her youngest sister inside.

"Is that my sweet little Son-son I hear!" Called their mother from up stairs her foot steps soon follow as she comes running down the stairs.

"Mommy!" Sonata squealed as she hurled herself in her mother's direction and wrapped her up in a tight hug. "Something really interesting happened at school today." Sonata leaned in close and whispered "We found out a boy likes Aria."

"My little Ari has a admirer. Oh how wonderful. When will the young boy be coming over for supper?" She said looking to Aria.

"Never. The feelings are not mutual." Said Aria before sulking off to her room.

Adagio just shrugged and looked at their mother. "She has been even more moody that usual since they had their little argument at lunch today."

"Oh dear was it serous?" Asked their mother.

"Well, maybe." Sonata replied "You see they got into an argument like Dagi said, but after Ari walked away that guy Storm said that Aria was amazing. So I don't know if it was serious or not."

Adagio nodded. "It is very difficult to tell if it was serious mother. Aria is certainly acting like it was but Storm didn't seem to think so." Adagio shrugged showing she wasn't anymore sure than Sonata what to think.

"I see I guess I'll just have to have a talk with her. After all any boy that can argue with her and still smile at her is worth keeping. She has too much of her father in her." Said their mother

"I do think that Storm is worth keeping." said Adagio "Aria however is really stubborn mother so I don't expect you'll be able to get through to her easily if at all."

Sonata nodded in agreement "Yeah, and that's too bad too because Storm seems like a nice guy. And he's really strong too cause not many boys can stand up to Ari like that."

Wavedancer smiles "Maybe I should meet this boy."

"Well we are having a party this weekend to celebrate Sonata and Mable dating so that would be good time to do it mother." Adagio said

"Yeah!" Sonata squeaked "I think you'll like Storm he is a nice guy, although he does get kinda down on himself a little."

"A party! Oh I insist on having it here so we can use the pool out back while it's still warm! I can even have your father sing. He may be retired but he is still can wow them." She said practically giggling.

Both girls smiled at their mother's antics. This was the side of her they loved, that happy, sweet, fun loving side that just took life in stride and went with the flow.

"Sure thing," Sonata replied "I'll just text Pinkie the updates and we'll get some more ideas ready at lunch tomorrow."

Adagio looked thoughtful however. "Yes but how do we get miss cactus to go along with it mother?"

"Yeah and I wanna know one thing." said Sonata "Why did it get warm again after being so cold for the last two weeks?"

"Well it's warm for our pool the green house over it and new heaters where installed today. Can't let a little cold snap stop my daughters and myself from enjoying a good swim or getting a tan. As to Aria. When has she or any of you turned down a reason to spend the day pool side?" Their mother said.

"Oh yeah." Sonata said "I forgot."

Adagio laughed at her sister's antics " I just hope that Storm can handle all the hot girls running around in their swimwear. He seems a little delicate sometimes. As for Aria, you're right mother we never really pass up a chance to get wet or catch some rays." Adagio finished. It was one of many traits that she and her sisters had inherited from their mother. Their singing voices and love of song however they got from their father.

"Oh I can't wait this is going to be so much fun" Wavedancer said with a giggle as she hurried of to call her husband.

"Dagi, you do realize we just toats set up our sister and Storm for mommy's match making attempts right?" Said Sonata when their mother was out of ear shot.

"Oh totally, but as long as she focused on helping Aria land a nice love she won't be on about how I haven't had one. At least not anytime soon." Said Adagio with a smirk.

"Dagi you're a terrible person." Sonata replied with a giggle.

"I know." Said Adagio before walking off with confident sway in her hips.

Day fades into night bringing an unease that slowly begins to effect the residents of Canterlot. While many simply feel a strange sense of discomfort, other have fallen into odd nightmares that effect their sleep. In one bedroom in Canterlot city that is being shared by one young couple there is the specter of one such nightmare.

Megan has awoken to discover her girlfriend Brianna in the throws of one of the many nightmares now afflicting the city tonight. Megan shakes Brianna trying to get her to wake up, it is of no use so far Brianna has not awakened. Instead she lies in the bed next to Megan trembling and crying calling Megan's name in her sleep and looking as if she trying to escape from something. Megan finally pulls Brianna close to and rests Brianna's head against her chest. Megan then caresses Brianna's cheek as she has done before during Brianna's past nightmares.

Brianna stops trembling and crying and slowly begins to wake due to the familiar warmth of Megan's touch and body. Megan looked Brianna. "Are you alright Brianna? You've had nightmares before but not ones this bad. I am really worried about you right now." Megan's voice was warm and full of concern.

"I, I was in another place." Brianna replied in a shaky voice. "it was different and full of monsters. Th-th-they were chasing me and I couldn't hurt them. So, so I ran and hid until you came and got me Megan."

"Still you did try to stand up for yourself Brianna." Megan said lovingly "And I am very proud of you for that." She continued prompting Brianna to blush. "So what happened?"

"I was hiding and you came in just as they found me. And you were there with some other girl I didn't know, I think she was a friend of yours." Brianna said as she continued to be calmed by Megan.

"Oh?" said Megan "What did this girl look like?"

"She was tall and had red hair, I don't remember ever seeing her before. Anyway you and this other girl beat those monsters with a..." Brianna hesitated as if she didn't know what to say.

"With what Brianna?" Megan prodded gently.

"With a rainbow." Brianna replied simply.

"A rainbow?" asked Megan sounding shocked.

Brianna nodded. "Y-yeah the red haired girl did something and then you let the rainbow out of a red locket and then the monsters were gone and that's when I woke up."

Megan stroked Brianna's cheek and smiled. "That's one heck of an adventure for my girl to be on. I'm just glad you're okay now Brianna, but I don't want you on that game anymore for a while. I think it cause this."

Brianna nodded and close her eyes to go back to sleep. Neither she nor Megan payed the incident not much mind, it was just a dream after all. Wasn't it?