Storming Hearts

         It was a windy day in Ponyville, and Twilight Sparkle was out for a walk. The town’s weather patrol had scheduled a storm for today, and the rain was going to be coming soon. She had left Spike at home because she didn't want him out in this horrible weather. Pulling out her calendar she looked for the day, wanting to see if anything special was going on.

"How could I forget!?" she screamed. "It's Princess Celestia's birthday today!" She rushed home and woke Spike up. After waiting a few minutes listening to Spike groan about being woken up, Twilight grabbed some bits and left. She looked to her right and noticed an alicorn. The alicorn had a crown and necklace on. Was there a princess Twilight didn’t know about?

"Hello?" Twilight cautiously asked. "Are you a princess?" The white pony nodded. Twilight noticed a few tears had trickled down her cheek. "Why are you crying?"

"Oh, it's just that...I'm the unknown sister of Tia and Luna. I'm Princess Starline," she replied. "I light up the stars and moon, making them shine. I also make the sun brighter in the spring and summer and duller in fall and winter." Starline shook her black and yellow mane and sighed.

"Oh, well, are you looking for a present for the princess?"

"Yes." Before Twilight could reply, Starline had trotted off. Twilight shrugged and began walking around the stores looking for the perfect present. What could she possibly find that was good enough for the princess?

"Hi Twilight!" Applejack was calling from the other end of the street. "You lookin' fer a present to the princess?"

"Yes I am, Applejack," she replied. "What did you get her?"

"Ah got her this golden apple! I've kept it here with me fer this very occasion!" She held up a shiny golden apple to show Twilight.

"Wow!" she said. "That’s amazing! Well I better get going, too!" Twilight galloped off, wondering what she was going to get for her mentor.

"Hey Twi!" It was Rainbow Dash. "Check out what I got for the Princess!" She held up two silver wing covers.

“Wow, Rainbow, those look great!" Twilight cheerily replied. On the inside, however, she started panicking. Everypony was getting such nice things for Celestia! Twilight began to worry about what she would get for her lifelong mentor.

Before she could worry about it too much though, the horns blew, signifying the arrival of the princess. At that moment, the rain, which had been a light drizzle before, began in earnest, bringing with it the unmistakable sound of thunder. Despite this, Twilight and her friends all lined up and bowed, their presents in front of them, under one of Twilight’s protection spells. The Princess's cart flew down, and she gave them a friendly nod.

"Hello, my little ponies." Celestia said. "You did not have to get me presents! Your presence and safety is enough for me."

"Oh no, no, no, Princess!" Pinkie replied "You’re the princess, which means you should get a lot of presents!" Celestia chuckled and said, “either way, let’s get out of this storm before we do anything else.

The group made their way into Sugarcube Corner and Celestia began opening her presents.

Before she opened more than a few, though, everypony focused on a very loud crack and watched as a building across the street collapsed, likely from the howling wind. It wasn’t long, however, until another sound reached their ears.

"H-HELP!" A small, cracking voice sounded from the wreckage. "P-please! H-help!" The princess’ eyes widened as she realized what was happening. A small filly was stuck under a piece of the building.

"Hang on, small pony!" Celestia sprinted through the door and began pulling the small pony out of the tight space. A large crack sounded, and she threw the filly to safety.

"CELESTIA!" Twilight's call came too late. A large tree had been struck with lightning, and its heavy bark was on top of Celestia. They heard a crackling noise, and Rainbow Dash flew up.

"Emergency!" She shouted, "Emergency ponies, come, please! T-the princess!" Fluttershy squeaked as three white pegasi approached.

"Celestia?" Twilight whispered as she gingerly approached her mentor's limp body. "Celestia, please answer...." Twilight snapped inside, and began rushing to dig Celestia out from under the tree. "Princess, you’re going to be ok! Stay awake, stay awake!"

"T...T...Twilight....I'm....I'm slipping....into....darkness..." The rasping voice of the princess sounded.

"Stay awake!" Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew in next to their frantic friend. Dash flew forward, and placed her hooves on the tree. Fluttershy grasped the other end, crying with fear. Pinkie raced to help Twilight as Rarity began attempting to move the heavy object off of their beloved princess. Applejack bucked at the tree that DARED harm her princess.

"Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash! Pull the tree up! Flap your wings!" Twilight cried. The pegasi nodded and struggled to lift the tree. Applejack bucked harder, screaming at the wind, cursing and sobbing. Pinkie was mumbling something incomprehensible as she dug and dug. Rarity cried and screamed that she was dreaming, and that she would wake up soon. Suddenly, the tree moved, and the princess lay limp on the ground. "Princess?" Twilight whispered.

But no voice returned to her plea.

The events of the day came back to Twilight in pieces as she followed the emergency workers to the hospital. The large crack, Twilight's call, and the frantic work of her friends to free the princess from under the tree. Twilight found herself sitting beside her mentor's hospital bed with only a depressed Luna for company. Celestia was unconscious, how she came.

"Princess...." she choked, "Princess, I don't know if you can hear me but, in case.....in case you go away.....remember, we...we're family. You, me, and my friends....we’re family....we-we always will be!" Twilight sobbed. "Do-do you hear me! W-we love you Celestia! D...don't go!"

"Sister....please....hang on...." Luna put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "I know you can! Hang on, sister! Hang on forever!"

Twilight looked at the night colored pony with sad eyes. She sobbed into her mane and kept muttering.

"Do you think she’ll be ok, Twilight?" Luna asked without looking at her.

"I'm not sure..."

"I...I...I hope she had fun. I mean, on her birthday." Luna placed a doll that looked like an older version of Celestia by her sister's side. The duo gasped when Celestia fluttered open her eyes.

"T-Twilight?" Celestia's weak voice said. "Luna...." The two ponies looked at her with tear stricken eyes. "I...I...I love you all....please remember that....please...."

And then a long ring was heard.

"Rest well, sister." Luna choked. "Rest well and easy."

"No...." Twilight said softly. "NO! Y-you promised forever! You promised you would always be there! Y-you promised!" She yelled as she began kicking the walls.

"Twi! Twi, stop!" Rainbow yelled, running into the room after the sudden noises of screaming, along with the rest of her friends. She held the purple pony's hooves back. "Stop! She's gone! Stop this!"

"I...I...I..." Twilight cried. "It's all my fault!"

"Wha-what? It wasn't your fault Twilight!" Pinkie said.

"My call came too late!" She replied. "I could’ve saved her!"

"No, you couldn't have," Fluttershy said quietly. "But it's mine. I'm a pegasus. I could’ve told the whether ponies to delay the storm...."

"Fluttershy, I AM a whether pony." Rainbow sobbed. "It's my fault!"

"STOP!" Luna shouted. "It's nopony's fault! Stop making this harder than it already is!"

"Twilight...." A small voice came from the doorway. It was Sweetie Belle. "Is the Princess gonna be ok?" The other members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders surrounded her with hopeful eyes. Innocent eyes. Eyes that meant they didn't know yet the tragedy that had come.

And then Twilight broke.

She broke when Scootaloo gave her a get well card addressed to the princess. One that said:

" Dear Princess,

The CMC really hopes you feel better! We all do! And when you are better we can celebrate your birthday! We'll wait for you to get better before we try to find our cutie marks again!

Love, the CMC. "

"Oh, Scootaloo. The princess won't be better for a long time," Twilight told her, trying not to burst out in tears.

"I...I don't understand...." Scootaloo replied.

"Scootaloo, the princess isn't going to be back." Rainbow Dash whispered.

"But...w...where did she go?"

"Somewhere safe." Pinkie cried.

"Yo...you don't...you don't mean....." Scootaloo faltered. "I don't believe you! You’re lying! Your.....your...n..not..."

"Scootaloo." Applebloom looked at her. "She's gone."

"I know!" Scootaloo threw herself on the ground. "I know, I know! I know!" She kept screaming those two words, her eyes no longer innocent. "I know!" Rainbow approached the orange filly and smiled at her.

"It'll be ok, I promise." She told her and wiped her tears.

"R-really....you mean that?"

"Course I do squirt." Scootaloo looked up and smiled back.

"Thanks Rainbow Dash."

"Anytime."

All the ponies made their way home, except Twilight. Twilight stayed, crying on the princess's bedside, eventually falling asleep there.