The Best Night Ever (Private with The_Pariah)

A gentle breeze is blowing across Canterlot today, rustling Paladin's mane and tail gently. Storm clouds, however, begin to gather above, as pegasi assemble the weather in preparation for a downpour.

The side road leading up to Canterlot is deserted today, quite possibly because of the scheduled thunderstorm. Paladin stands alone.

He glances at the sky with a chuckle, before dropping his eyes again. "What the hell is wrong with me?!" He shouted at the sky

Nopony replied, the wind itself offering only a hollow howl as it picked up in speed.

((Sorry, can't reply that quickly or often, I'm doing this on my phone.))

[Okay]

He growled, his horn starting to glow with a blue-white light. "Damn it. Answer me!"

As if in response, the wind accelerates further. The first few small drops of rain begin to descend upon him.

"Answer me!" He roared, his horn exploding in white light.

The rain began in earnest now, the little drops of a drizzle intensifying to a heavy downpour, soaking Paladin's mane and tail.

His horn flickered and died out. He collapsed, shaking his head in silence.

A flash of lightning split the sky, accompanied shortly by the loud boom of thunder.

A series of hoofsteps sound out behind him.

He doesn't look up, staring over te cliff and brooding.

The hoofsteps grow louder as whoever it was approaches. A rustle of fabric was heard, and then a hooded cloak drops to the ground beside him.

"Take it." Quimia's voice comes. "Why are you out here by yourself in the storm?"

"Eh, trying to cure a case of magical overload..." He pulled the coat on, one eye still glowing. "I've failed I think."

"Mm." Quimia sits down beside him, her hood pulled over her head. "A mental unlocking of powers beyond your comprehension. I may have a potion to ease its effects."

"Well, if it stops my head exploding..." He chuckled dryly. "Are you any good at helping ponies?"

"Ailments of the body are my expertise." Quimia rummages in the saddlebags hidden under her cloak. "Ailments of the heart... I try." She looks at him curiously. "Why do you ask?"

"I dun goofed. I love my marefriend, but I love another mare as well, and when I admitted it... She rejected me. But... I can't let go..."

"Ah. Love." Quimia stares forward through the pouring rain. "I think your problem is simply that you cannot let go. At times, there are things that cannot be changed, and we must learn to let it go, no matter how painful it might be." She sighs. "Nonetheless, it is easier said than done. I cannot attest to much."

Paladin sighed. "I think I'll go home... See harmony again." He stumbled forward, his eye still glowing.

"Dry yourself off." Quimia tossed him the hooded cloak. "And stay dry, please."

He pulled it round his shoulders and smiled at her, staggering back towards the city, an idea forming in his head.

The streets were empty, small rivers of water flowing through them as the rain poured down heavily on all of Canterlot.

He staggered up to his door, knocking on it gently.

"Coming!" came Harmony's sing-song voice. The door swung open. "Paladin! Are you alright? What happened last night? Why didn't you come back?" She stopped. "Just... just come in first." She held the door open for him.

"I'm... Not great. A lot has happened..." He staggered inside and hugged her.

"Gosh, dear, you look terrible." Harmony kissed him gently. "What happened to your hoof? It looks like somepony's been biting it. And are those bandages on your shoulders?"