The rain poured, flattening the lavender pony's mane. At first sight, she was just a unicorn, but soon you could clearly see a pair of wings sitting calmly and gracefully on her sides, awaiting to be opened and to take flight. Twilight Sparkle needed alone time to think. About how soon her friends would depart on a journey in the afterlife, about how soon she would be depressed. She stepped gently and swiftly. No pony around could hear her, or maybe see her through the sheets of rain. But no pony was around, and Twilight was all alone. Or so she thought.
She hesitated when she reached the park. Usually, ponies chilled out there at night, with the same reason as her or for the reason of merely being there in existence. Twilight wanted to pass it, to move on. She wanted to leave, to get back to her castle, and to say hi to her friends along the way. If they were still awake. She stared at a beautiful pink cherry blossom tree. It beckoned her closer. Twilight studied the park sign, it's curvy letters, worn and washed a bit by rain. Cherry Blossom Public Park; Please do not feed the ducks. Twilight smiled. The park was near colonial, being around since the 1800s.
Twilight finally decided it wouldn't hurt to enter the park for a few minutes. Just a few, though. It was nearly midnight and she was getting tired. Twilight peeked into the park. There, on a lonely gray bench, was a single pony. She sat there, head down, and Twilight thought she saw raindrops pouring off her face. As Twilight approached, she realized they were teardrops. Twilight Sparkle was immediately worried, and she hoped she could help this pony feel better. Twilight slid onto the bench next to her.
Just then, Twilight realized who the pony was. It was none other than Lightning Dust, an old friend of Rainbow Dash. When Lightning Dust almost killed Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow's other friends, Rainbow turned down Lightning Dust and would not forgive her. Twilight felt kind of bad for the teal Pegasus, because she didn't really ever have a true friend. And here she was, a Cloudsdale pony, sitting on a Ponyville bench, crying.
Lightning Dust glanced up at the Alicorn sitting beside her. Twilight didn't really know what she was supposed to do, so she smiled a sheepish smile. Lightning glared at her. "Your that friend of Rainbow Dash, aren't you? What do YOU want? Aren't you gonna scowl and...and...and say mean things about me, like everyone else?" Lightning Dust said harshly. Her bloodshot eyes were enough to steal a few tears from Twilight's eyes. She quickly wiped the tears away so as not to make the Pegasus more afraid.
"Actually, I noticed you were crying. Is everything all right?" Twilight asked, putting an arm around Lightning. At first, Lightbing Dust hesitantly lifted the hood off of her neck, but quickly found it comforting and warm and put her arm around her shoulder. Lightning shivered from the cold and her sadness, and quickly moved closer to the Alicorn. Twilight pulled her into an awkward hug. She didn't really know Lightning Dust, but still decided to hug her anyways. She needed a friendly, loving hug.
"I saw her today. I told her she looked nice, and she yelled at me. She pushed me and hit me, and she said bad things about me. Everypony else in the park ran away from me. And...and..." Lightning Dust began to weep harder and fell back into the lavender Princess' embrace. It didn't take Twilight very long to realize that 'she' was actually Rainbow Dash. Twilight cursed at the rainbow-haired Pegasus in her mind, but she would deal with that later. Right now, she had a teal Pegasus with orange hair weeping over her. And she needed to stop her from weeping. If only Pinkie Pie was there...
"Well, I personally think you are an amazing pony. Even though you nearly killed me, I knew you were apologetic. Don't let them get you down. I'll talk to Dash later about this. As for now, keep your head up high and be yourself." Twilight said. She quickly let go of Lightning, who smiled sheepishly and wiped her red eyes. Lightning fell back onto Twilight, and Twilight wrapped her arms and wings around the shivering Pegasus. Lightning curled up like a baby. Twilight recalled an old song she was sung as a little foal to cheer her up. Twilight began to sing the song, her voice as blissful and beautiful as a mother singing to a child.
"Oh, little friend, don't get down.
Open your eyes, and lift up your chin.
Smile and say 'I'm happy, hooray!'
Don't let them get you down.
Because, my friend,
You are loved."
Twilight Sparkle began to get sleepy. Lightning smiled up at her, her eyes no longer bloodshot but full of cheer and love. "I can walk you home, if you'd like." Lightning offered. Twilight stared down at her, shock in her eyes, for she was just going to offer that as well. Twilight smiled, and stood up. Lightning flew up into the air, flipped, and landed. Twilight was amazed.
"That...that would be nice." Twilight answered. So Twilight Sparkle and Lightning Dust walked home together, talking about things they enjoyed and bonded over their differences. Twilight had never felt that much joy as she did that night in her life, helping Lightning Dust feel better. And to Twilight Sparkle, it was truly amazing.
