"One...two...three...four..."
>Thunder crashed overhead, and Twilight Sparkle yelped.
>Curling up in her blankets, the filly began counting again.
"One...two...three..."
>An ear-splitting boom again announced the storm's presence, and the lavender filly curled up in fear.
"Go away go away go away go away..."
>Twilight hated thunderstorms.
>They were loud, they were dark, they were scary...
>Like Shining's room sometimes, but more unpredictable.
>She knew that she'd be safe inside her home.
>She wasn't stupid.
>Just a chain of loose electrons heading for a spot with a strong positive charge.
>The filly knew that.
>Didn't stop the storm from being mind-numbingly terrifying.
>The lightning cracked across the sky again and the filly held her doll, Smarty Pants, closer.
>This time, the tears started.
>The filly cried quietly into her doll, too proud to let anypony else hear her.
>Somepony did anyway.
>Hooves clopped quietly across the floorboards, and a weight made the bed sink a little.
>"Shh, shh...calm down, Twily..." Shining Armor consoled, wrapping his hooves around his terrified sister.
>The filly sniffled.
"I hate thunderstorms."
>"I know you do, I know."
>Thunder boomed again, and the lavender unicorn yelped.
>The colt began humming softly, like he always would when Twilight was scared.
>Nothing complicated or complex, just a simple, easy tune.
>Twilight's sniffling eventually stopped as she fell asleep, not waking when the thunder cracked again.
>Shining didn't leave the room until the storm stopped entirely.
===
>Lightning cracked the sky, and Twilight Sparkle jumped.
"I-I'm a big mare now, I shouldn't be ju-jumping at things like t-this..."
>The storm raged on, the most intense one in over a decade.
>The mare, now an adult unicorn, was hiding in her room.
>Smarty Pants was in grabbing distance, and Spike was just downstairs if she really needed him...
>Thunder boomed again, and she whimpered.
>She couldn't even dispel the storm if she wanted to.
>Ponyville needed the rain, and heavy rain was usually accompanied by thunder and lightning.
>Warning signs had been put up days ago, just to forewarn ponies like her to find cover.
>Rain she didn't mind. Rain she liked.
>Thunder and lightning were her bane.
>The storm was directly overhead, judging by both the sound and the fact that the lightning rod on the top of the tree was audibly being struck.
"Gr-great, not only is there a storm, it's targeting ME!" She whined, sounding insulted to counter the sheer terror of the close-range lightning.
>The wind was howling, wailing against the window port as rain lashed out at it.
>Twilight pulled her aging and tattered stuffed animal closer, eyes clenched shut.
>The mare HAD discovered a muting spell some time ago, but it had no effect on lightning...unless she had the reflexes and aim to hit every single bolt before it split the sky.
>She never was quick enough. If Twilight was faster than lightning at any point, there was a serious problem with physics.
>Twilight had also contemplated teleporting to Canterlot to wait the storm out, but tossed that aside when she figured there would be no room left.
>A Minotaur diplomatic meet-n-greet was in progress, and the castle was full to bursting.
>No, Twilight was on her own, facing one of her worst fears.
>"I'm laughin' at clouds, so dark up above~! The sun's in my heart, and I'm ready for love~!"
"H-huh?"
>Was somepony outside...singing?
>The singing stopped abruptly.
>"What was the next part...uh..."
>Curiosity got the better of her, and Twilight looked outside.
>There, with an umbrella over his head, was Anon. That strange 'human' that she had found 'surviving' in the Everfree less than a year ago.
>He was walking by the library, singing loudly at intermittent periods.
>The mare pulled back from the window when lightning flashed, but the human outside didn't react much aside from putting a hand to his chin.
>"Dammit, I knew the lines before I stepped outside. Oh well."
>He then started humming a tune, which was carrying clear over the heavy thunderstorm.
>"Ah! I walk down the lane, with a happy refrain! That's the line!"
>Twilight arched an eyebrow. What a...strange being.
>Still, that tune sounded a bit familiar.
>The mare watched incredulously as he folded the umbrella up, watching the storm with a small smile.
>His face and clothing were getting absolutely soaked, but he appeared to not care.
>He took cover under the library's branches after a few moments, chuckling to himself.
>The human then started humming again, that same maddeningly familiar tune.
>It was...actually starting to put Twilight to sleep.
>Twilight moved to her bed, covering herself over with her quilt while still keeping both ears pointed at the window, where the human's humming was coming through loud and clear.
>She didn't hear the next crash of thunder, nor the next dozen after that.
===
>The mare awoke to a bright and sunny sky, the storm having dispersed while she was napping.
>Anon was gone, likely at his home.
>She'd have to thank him when she next saw him.
>The mare giggled to herself, stepping outside and bounding into a crystal-clear puddle.
>Yeah, she liked the rain.
>With Anon's help, she might just adapt to thunderstorms too.