>You... are Shimmer Light.
>Lucky you, the market was open, even in pouring rain.
>... On your current return trip, however, you are facing powerful winds.
>Your umbrella isn't faring well.
>By the feel of it, it could break at any moment.
>... You're surprised it hasn't broken already.
>Besides the umbrella, you'd be protected by the same set you wore the day Hexferry warned you.
>The rain, if it got past your umbrella, would easily soak through your layers.
>Then you'd be wearing drenched clothes.
>With howling winds.
>... You wouldn't last a moment.
>There are no moths on the streets.
>No one would save you.
>... Though, you don't want their help anyway.
>You'd rather die.
>... What a horrid way to go...
>Hypothermia...
>You can't feel the cold through your clothes, but you still feel the chill go down your spine at the thought of that dreaded word.
>Your boots are difficult to pull out of the dirt when they sink too far.
>The ground is like quicksand, but not in a boiling wonderland.
>... You're having difficulty pushing forward.
>The wind is getting worse.
>You don't fear death itself. Death is just a part of life.
>Even your life, perfect as it is.
>You do, however, fear how you die.
>The cold...
>You can't die this way.
>You are perfect, only imperfect beings die imperfect deaths.
>In the most likely case, you'll become too perfect for the world and combust.
>... Or maybe you'll combust from the heat.
>This planet will burn, someday.
>It's such a perfect way to go...
>You have to push forward.
>... Though, that's easier to say than to do.
>Certainly, you're nearly home by now.
>You hope.
>... Truthfully, you don't know.
>You can't see in any direction.
>It was much easier when you were on your way to the market; your sight was hardly impeded.
>Even your above-average sight does nothing to the assault of rain coming straight at you.
>Around you, the rain is so thick, you can hardly see five meters.
 
>... You're getting tired.
>You can't go much farther.
>Soon, you'll collapse.
>After that, it'll only be a matter of time...
>... You can see a faint glow.
>That, however, could just be your mind trying to will your home into existence.
>Unfortunately, you know that's not true.
>You turned your lights off before leaving.
>... Though, you may benefit from visiting the light.
>It seems to far away...
>You don't know if you can make it.
>Just...
>You hear a cracking sound.
>... Your heart drops.
>Quickly you look to your umbrella.
>Pieces seem to be missing from the metal rod you're holding.
>It'll break.
>... You're finished.
>You duck and you hear the snap of your once-great cover.
>... Did you hear something else?
>Something... distant...
>The umbrella hits you as the wind pushes it.
>Stunned, you recoil back.
>You aren't sure if the rain is hitting you yet, but you know the umbrella is out of your control.
>Your legs slide under you. The mud is too difficult to recover on.
>... This is it.
>You won't even know how close you made it.
>...
>Something catches your foreleg as you attempt to stabilize yourself.
>You can feel it pulling you up.
>... You plant your hooves.
>What saved you?
>No... who.
>You don't have good enough luck to be left alone.
>Even in death.
>... You aren't getting wet.
>You're still dry.
>Your breathing is heavy and labored.
>Cautiously, you look to the force keeping you up.
>... No...
>You should have known.
>"Shimmer, I'm so glad I got to you!"
>... Her.
>Of course it's Hexferry.
>"Are you okay?"
>... She pities you.
>Slowly, you continue your trek forward.
>Hexferry shifts herself to be at your side.
>Directly at your side.
>You can feel her, even through all of your layers.
>She has an umbrella, just like you did, but hers looks ghastly in comparison.
>An ugly umbrella for an ugly moth.
>She's pressing against you quite hard...
>Is she directing your path?
>You're going directly toward the light.
 
>... One of them, at least.
>There are three now. You're going toward the middle one.
>It's the smallest.
>... Upon closer inspection, it's a door.
>An open door.
>... Salvation.
>You won't die.
>... But at what cost?
>Hexferry will hold this over you.
>She won't let it go, you know it.
>You'll lose.
>... She'll win.
>You can't allow this...
>But...
>You're now next to the entrance to the door.
>... Or place.
>... Or something...
>You hear the same cracking sound.
>Hexferry shoves you inside.
>You stumble a few meters until you gain your balance.
>Hexferry yells something and you hear a loud snap.
>You turn around.
>... You can see the road outside, the rain, the door...
>No Hexferry.
>... No, wait, there she is.
>She rushes inside and slams the door shut.
>... She's wearing nothing at all.
>She's absolutely drenched.
>Hexferry moves her mane out of her eyes then staggers forward a few paces so she's closer to you.
>... Her eyes are filled with concern.
>... You're looking directly into her eyes.
>You're looking directly at her.
>... You really should do something about that.
>"You look exhausted..."
>... No you didn't.
>She's panting up a storm, and she says you're the tired one.
>... She doesn't look like she's panting.
>... Oh.
>You're the one panting.
>How long have you been doing that?
>You look to the floor.
>... It's quite nice.
>It looks comfy enough to sleep on.
>You just stare at it for a while...
>...
>"Shimmer?"
>You slowly look over.
>Hexferry is completely dry.
>... How did she do that?
>Wait, how long were you staring at the floor?
>You need to get home.
>Now.
>You move your foreleg to walk, but your other loses its support.
>Something catches you mid-fall.
>Hexferry, again.
>This time, however, she seems to be having a lot of trouble keeping you and herself up.
>You both topple over.
>She squeaks in surprise.
>Did you land on one of her forelegs?
>Your vision fades as you notice how comfy this floor really is.