Astraphobia

by Silverwings Productions

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Romance, Princess Luna
Length: 1052

Twilight has a hidden fear.

Twilight has a fear. One that has stuck with her since foalhood. And it's terrible tonight.

Published 2020-07-24 05:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2020-07-24 05:00:00 UTC

Fears

CRACK!

The sky lit up as bright as day once more, rattling me from my book. I glanced back down at it, and soon I found myself interrupted once more by a terrifying boom. The unexpected noise, though simply thunder, sent me shaking violently. Slowly I tried to return myself to my book in order to calm my mind, only to be startled once more by the noise that rattled me before. As the rain pours down and lightning flashes, I manage to shakily make my way across the floor to find the weather report I had pinned to the wall. After studying it a moment, I see that, much to my dismay, that thunderstorms were in fact scheduled for tonight. It must have changed recently, for the last time I checked it was supposed to be a clear night.

Maybe I can sleep through the storm.

I retreat to the bed Luna and I share, turning out the light and burying myself under the soft duvet. But the thunder keeps on coming, rattling the windows with every clap, the distance and time between lighting and thunder growing ever closer. I grab one of the pillows and put it over my head, trying to drown out all the racket of the storm, my fear along with it. It helps slightly, but claustrophobia soon sets in and I'm once more scrambling for the top of the covers. At this point, utter fear has blurred the line between rational thought and instinct, and right now my instincts tell me that I must escape this storm at all costs.

More thunder. It begins to grow louder, and soon lighting flashes light up the room. I glance over at the clock, which reads 23:50. Luna will be here soon. She usually joins me at midnight. I just need to hold out for ten more minutes. Shakily I slip off the bed and begin to pace around the room, each clap of thunder and flash of lightning sending me further into madness. Shakily I continue to pace back and forth, my hooves making a pattern on the floor. Sweat pours down my brow. Just when I think I can't take any more of this, the ornate wooden doors to the room burst open, and in trots Luna. Upon seeing me in my catatonic state, she practically tackles me to the bed in surprise. "Twilight! What's going on? Talk to me!"

Her hooves pin me to the bed, and there's a concerned look in her eyes. "I... I... A-a-astra-" I stutter, trying to break through my panic-riddled, now surprised state of mind. Thunder sounds once more and I completely lose it. I'm panicking and I can't think straight. I soon find myself crying into the covers as she gently releases her hold, the bed shifts as she joins me. She pulls me in close and I'm now sobbing into her chest fluff, my body spasming and shaking out of pure fear. Why does this happen to me? Why do I panic? Am I really that sensitive? A million thoughts flood my mind, not helping me recover at all.

Luna's downy wings are now completely encasing me in their love and warmth, and I feel her breath as she leans down and whispers in my ear. "Sssshhh, Twilight, it's okay..."

All I can do is stutter in reply, fear having completely taken over. At least I can be more open with her than I can with the others; she knows that I have cried in her hooves more than twice. Which in my mind is a shame. I'm royalty, for Celestia's sake! I shouldn't be like this! Luna's stroking my back now, which is helping me to calm down. Once there's a lull in the storm and my mind clears enough to think straight, I sit up, Luna protectively keeping a wing around me.

"I-I'm sorry, Lulu," I mutter between gasps of breath. "I know I shouldn't be this s-sensitive. Thunderstorms just... really rattle me."

Her wing pulls me closer to her, now stroking my side affectionately. "Love, are you sensitive to loud noises? Or perhaps afraid of thunder explicitly?"

I nod in reply. "I read about my condition," I said. "I think I'm astraphobic. I have been since I was a foal. I had a bad experience during- eep!"

A flash and another thunderclap nearly sends me back into panic, but thankfully Luna is there to hold me again. "It won't hurt you, Twily. May I ask you about this fear? When did it start?"

"I was a just a foal when it happened," I began. "We went on a cruise, and the captain sailed us right into a storm. It was awful; the ship was r-rocking back and forth... and the thunder! It made the whole affair terrifying. I never got over it. I'm still afraid of it now." A shudder runs through me, and I lean into Luna's side. "I'm so sorry, Luna. I know I shouldn't be this fragile."

"Everypony has their fears and anxieties," she replies. "I am no different. Neither is anypony else. It's okay, Twilight." She rubs my back with a wing, and I extend my own around her.

"Do you have any fears?" I ask.

Luna smiles at me. "We are a strong and courageous mare," she practically sing-songs, "We fear no pony or creature, but spiders..." Her voice drops to a whisper. "They scare me."

I smile back, shakily at first. "You're so adorable, you know that?"

She blushes. "You are too."

Suddenly I feel overwhelmed by exhaustion, as if I have been hit by a train of sleepiness. I must have yawned, for soon Luna is laying beside me on the bed, watching me as I begin to drift off. The last I see before falling asleep is the smile on her face before her wings pull me in tighter, comforting me and protecting me from the fearsome thunder. Soon I am in the dream realm, and the first pony to greet me is none other than the alicorn whom I love so much.

And I owe a lot to her.

Author's Note

Next TwiLuna.
I know it isn't as good as the previous ones, but more to come after the completion of Everfree House.