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	If it wasn’t the constantly low supply of chips then it had to be the music. Of course, neither were exactly irritating or even close to frustrating. It just felt that the pony took advantage of the fact both were at her disposal freely. Then again, you didn’t exactly feel like taking away the luxuries from her especially when she never seemed to cause an issue.
	Tempest Shadow wasn’t quite the one to ask for assistance on things, though she never refused. She seemed more sure of herself one way or another, even if her snootle got stuck in a can once or twice. All she had to do was casually stride over, plop down in front of you and just wait. Her teal eyes never once had a moment of panic in them but rather a calm and sure nature swirling behind them. They were honestly very alluring.
	When you managed to pop the chip can free, the flavored dust was sprinkled lightly on the end of her muzzle. Instead of letting you wipe it away, her tongue slipped out to lap away the flavor before she would turn around and settle near you.
	“Thank you,” she would simply mention, though you did notice she leaned a bit closer than usual afterwards.
	Her mane was as alert as she was, standing tall as if there were no way to let her guard down. Well, at times. The small pony had certainly let her guard down a handful of times you could remember, but they all made you smile. It was still fun to pet her mane and head slowly and just watch the hair spring back up. You knew it annoyed her slightly but she seemed quiet about it so long as you didn’t purposely keep doing it.
	She didn’t seem incapable with her broken horn but quite the opposite. More driven to accomplish things she possibly may have taken for granted. It was interesting to watch her move or pick up things with her mouth or even adjust them with her head or hooves. Helping her a few times seemed to upset her but she quickly learned you meant no foul and adjusted fast.
	One day, while she was busy pushing a beanbag chair into her favorite spot, you had taken the opportunity to quickly drag it over. The plum colored unicorn watched in shock for a moment, possibly thinking it had developed a mind of its own, before seeing you walking with it. Her bewilderment turned to anger for a moment as her face scowled and those ears lowered.
	“Hey!” she shouted, bottom lip pouting.
	The moment you let go she trotted over and looked down at the beanbag, almost judging it. Her eyes glanced around the room then back to the bag before she slowly sauntered around it and studied every angle. Without another word, Tempest hopping onto the cushioned seat and nestled in before her face went neutral. She seemed content.
	Trying to pet her after resulted in her sitting perfectly still before you saw her muscles relax. She did seem a bit tense at times but you guessed it was mostly to keep her appearance dominant and sure of herself. At least she wasn’t truly mad at you seeing as how she plopped into the seat just fine and let you give her the loving pets.
	Even if she had been mad, you knew she would eventually come around. She always saw the goodness in your heart. As much as she tried to hide it, she did care about you quite a bit. Those evenings when you had a long day and passed out on the sofa or the armchair but woke up with a blanket over you. You also noticed Tempest’s beanbag chair moved closer to you each time.
	Perhaps she was guarding you as you did take care of her to the best of your ability. You knew she would state that as well. You also knew she did like you. Love, actually. It was clear but unspoken, and as strong as any bond you two had. A bit of an all knowing truth that neither of you mentioned much but clearly let it be shown.
	During scary movies she seemed inclined to act a bit tough. Or at least until something did manage to spook her. One of the rare instances she has been caught off-guard before. Whether it was a jump scare or even just an eerie tone, the plum colored pony did seem to get into the movie enough to either jump or let out a startled gasp. You couldn’t help but smile in the darkened room at times when it came close to a yelp once.
	Never once did you goad her about it. That would promptly ask for a stern kick into some sensitive places, or at least you could only assume. Wasn’t worth the risk then. Since then, she had seemed more at ease about light-hearted jokes or teases. It was nice to know she had got more comfortable in the house and with you.
	It never occurred to you that she would go against the standard she had set in the house when you were sleeping one night. It had been another long day and you just didn’t have the energy to spare with much else. Food, shower, sleep. That seemed to be all you were capable of before collapsing in your bed for the evening and wishing Tempest her deserved share of good dreams.
	The only reason you woke up was the light jostling upon your mattress. Four hooves carefully managed their way along the sheets before you felt a warm body settle in behind you. The pony had seen your long day and probably guessed it to be a rough one. Her body scooted in as close as she could, thinking you were still sound asleep, as she cuddled up and gently let her head rest against your neck. You couldn’t remember the last time you had ever felt so at ease and woke up feeling far more refreshed.
	The morning after was quite the turn around. When you rolled over to hug her close, Tempest seemed more inclined to get up and nose at your cheek. When you purposely didn’t stir, her insistence grew as a hoof lightly bat at your shoulder and she looked you over.
	“Okay now. Get up,” she urged, the pony with the broken horn giving you a patient look.
	When you did finally open your eyes, those calming teal orbs were looking back as she stood on the bed. Her head was craned down to your face, probably watching closely to make sure you didn’t pull any tricks. You did have a habit of sleeping in if you got the chance.
	“Up,” she said again and you could almost see a smile break her stoic expression when you feigned a snore.
	The pony gave your shoulder a good shove with her hoof before walking over to the edge of the bed and hopping off. Her mane had an odd curve to one side in the back due to the odd angle she may have turned in her sleep. You’d make sure to help her out with it later.
	As much you did enjoy having the comfort of a warm body against you that night, it didn’t quite become the norm. Instead, it was a rare occasion that such a thing would happen. It just took a while to have her get a bit more comfortable with such a thing but it did slowly occur more often.
	She may have acted tough and more than likely could kick with a vengeance, but she did have a softer side. She understood affection even though she seldom showed it herself. At least you could read her and knew your own limits to what she allowed and didn’t. The only thing between you two would be time and there was plenty of that. It would just take a bit for her to understand it was okay to enjoy simple things as that.
	Other moments of seeing cracks along that stone wall were just as magical. Being able to rub her neck and give a few scratches just to see her close her eyes and one of those hind legs lift a little. Might even see it kick for a moment before she feels that’s enough. She also seemed to find ways to tease you.
	Sometimes, when you least expected it, that plum colored pony would casually trot in front of you if you just so happened to be leaning forward while sitting down. Her mane would graze your own chin and she might even flick her head just a tad to let it brush against your neck. All before she ended up moving on without a look back that is. Then again, she didn’t look back only when starting to do it.
	It was cute to see her sashay her way around. She acted as if she owned the house and you were merely allowed to be there to entertain her. That wouldn’t be too far from the truth if you didn’t have the papers to say otherwise. Her confidence was something to be admired. Strong and sure of herself in nearly anything she chose to do.
	There were a few times you did try offering her some belly rubs. More times than you could count, she refused. That didn’t seem to stop you when you found her taking an afternoon nap. Sneaking over and kneeling down beside her on the sofa. It was a surprising moment that nearly gave you more than a chuckle. The second your hand started giving her belly a light rub, Tempest had snapped out of her nap and jerked her head up to stare you down.
	The surprise and light shock was clear on those big eyes but also a hint of confusion. Instead of telling you to stop or make a light threat she simply stayed that way for a bit until she slowly started to lay her head back down. Even though it was hard for her, the unicorn didn’t seem to let her eyes leave you for a while. When you made a comment to her about how she liked it, there was a bit of silence until those eyes finally closed.
	“So you say,” she replied with no effort to remove your hand.
	It was a little troublesome trying to find moments to do so again, but they came along with her change to get used to things. More often than not, you did find your supply of chips at a low. Perhaps her comfort made her a bit more hungry or at least tend to snack more. It was rather cute seeing her help herself.
	One time, you did manage to look for the missing bag of chips from the kitchen. They weren’t anywhere you looked and you knew where you had placed them last. Once you walked out into the living room, you saw Tempest in her beanbag chair, bag of chips nestled between her forelegs and opened up. Your presence merely distracted her for a second before she resumed watching the television and leaned down to stuff her snootle into the bag.
	If it wasn’t for the various munching noises you would have guessed she just liked the smell of the flavor. Her eyes stayed glued to the moving pictures on screen as she ate until her head lifted and those cheeks puffed with the tasty snack. Must be all the salt that enticed her. Upon asking if she intended to share, Tempest merely gave you a glance from the side.
	“If you can get them before I finish the bag,” the pony announced smugly. Did she smirk?
	When you tried get a few from the bag, one of her hooves placed casually over the opening, crinkling the bag down. Instead of saying anything, she gave you that same complacent look and waited. Reaching again only made her hoof playfully bat your hand away. She did seem to have a playful side.
	Try as she might, the unicorn could only hide so much of her smile at the repeated attempts you made. Her hoof would keep lightly batting your hand down and even let her muzzle push a few times. When she did finally let you get a few, you took what you could get and settled nearby to snack on them. The last couple in your hand you offered back as compensation.
	The confused look she gave you was adorable before she understood and dipped her muzzle into your palm. Her soft lips caressed your palm as she gently took the offering and ate. When her tongue ran over your skin, covered in the salt, it tickled plenty. It was also pretty cute seeing her trust you enough to eat from your hand.
	The pony didn’t seem to pull away when you ran your fingers through her mane and watched it spring back up. Once you rubbed an ear she softly tilted her head in that direction. It was nice to have her seem so at ease for a moment.
	As soon as she finished the treat, Tempest pulled her head away and resumed snacking on the rest of the contents in the bag. Soon enough, the empty trash was set aside and she resumed her mild fascination of watching what was on the TV.
	Nothing could really compare to the moment you caught her off-guard entirely. If you hadn’t introduced her to music constantly available then it may not have happened at all. To think that it all started because you were humming to yourself one day and she asked what you were doing. It was a nice day and you often found yourself either singing softly or just humming a tune.
	You explained to her it was just a tune stuck in your head and you liked singing it or even just humming in rhythm. Tempest seemed a bit confused at the fact but never questioned it. She probably thought you were just being a silly human doing silly human things. Eventually, you let her listen to the song itself on your stereo in the bedroom.
	If you hadn’t known any better, you could have sworn you saw her restraining the notion to either tap her hoof or bob her head. Her eyes seemed full of wonder though. The small pony had taken an interest for sure, yet she didn’t seem inclined to show it. That is, until one day.
	Getting back home early sure did treat you with something you never expected. Upon opening the front door, you could hear the muffled sounds of music coming from your room. It was a bit strange seeing as you knew you had turned off your stereo before leaving. The puzzle pieces were quickly coming together when you managed to notice your pony nowhere in sight.
	Instead of calling out, you sneaked around and quickly closed the door behind you. Making sure to stay quiet, you went to the source of the noise. Your bedroom door was slightly ajar, possibly to keep as much noise from getting out as possible. A peek inside through the crack made it hard not to smile.
	Tempest was singing her little heart out and enjoying the music far more than she let on. Her hooves were sliding against the floor beneath her as she walked in place to strut or let her flank give a small wiggle here or there. The unicorn was loving it all and enjoying herself immensely. The small sparks from her broken horn popped and fizzled before her as she sang out.
	It took a second for you to register that she was singing to Katy Perry’s Firework and grooving with the beat. You could have watched her all day. Her body seemed far more at ease than you were used to seeing. Those teal eyes stayed hidden as she kept them closed and let her lovely voice ring out in the house.
	“'Cause baby, you’re a fiiiirework!” she sang out, smiling as she held her head high, her own little fireworks popping from her horn.
	Without thinking, you quickly stepped into the room to follow up the next lyric. The look of shock and her sudden jump at the surprise nearly had you laughing. It was when you saw her ears lower and a blush spread across her muzzle that you knelt down and rubbed her cheeks softly. With the song still playing over it all, she eventually looked away but never pulled from your hands.
	“Jerk,” she mumbled before letting her eyes look back up to you and unable to keep herself from smiling once again.
	It was probably the first hug she leaned into and even hopped up on her hind legs to try and wrap her forelegs around your own neck. You assured her that you wouldn’t tell a soul and commented on her voice, praising it. It could have been the sunlight through the window, but you were sure you saw her blush even further when she pulled away.
	That wasn’t the only time you caught her dancing and singing. She seemed to enjoy Dark Horse by the same artist as well. It was awfully cute seeing her enjoy herself and lowering that mask. When you joined in at times she did sometimes stop but also did enjoy continuing with you. Her tail would even give a little swish if she knew you were about to join in with her.
	You learned a fun fact during various singing sessions too. Socks go great with the kitchen floor just as well as her hooves do. The decreased friction to move around as you two sang made for a fun time. Sliding past each other or alongside and doing small dances as both of you went through songs certainly sparked up the life in the house.
	It wasn’t until recently that she had agreed to sleep in the bed with you more often. You could only guess she liked the cuddling that could happen as well as just the simple comfort. Perhaps she rested just as well as you while there. Whatever the case, you were grateful for it.
	That night she agreed was also the same night you gave her a nickname she said only you can call her. You even made her smile from it. Laying in bed and having her settled in nearby as her forelegs were resting over your chest, she seemed more calm and less like she had something to prove. Hardly acting as tough but still sure of herself.
	Your hand raised and a single finger softly booped her snootle before you gave her the nickname. Her blush you had come to familiarize yourself with showed up once again as she bit her lower lip and smiled coyly.
	“Alright, Tiger. Bedtime,” she teased and leaned in to give your brow a soft kiss.
	That wasn’t something you got used to yet. Although, there was plenty of time to. You knew you were going to enjoy your dear pony forever and love her with all your heart. Once you turned out the light you returned the favor to her nose and saw the light sparks pop for a second in the dark. She was yours as much as you were hers.
	Your little Firework.