A Storm's Lullaby
An ongoing Fan Webcomic drawn and written by dSana, creator of The Shadow Shard, based off My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and My Little Pony: The Movie (2017).
The Storm King has been defeated, Equestria is magically restored and Tempest Shadow has set off for a journey to share what she’s learned about friendship. But when she meets two ponies whose lives have been irreversibly changed by the invasion, it’s up to her to fix what the Staff of Sacanus could not.
The comic can be read here
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A Storm's Lullaby provides examples of:
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Empathic and kind Thistle falls for the stoic, silent and seemingly cold Tempest with a tragic, dark past.
- Affectionate Nickname: Thistle calls Lullaby "Lulu" while Lullaby calls Tempest - whose real name is Fizzlepop - "Fizzy".
- After-Action Patch-Up: Thistle puts a patch on Tempest's cheek after an encounter with a Timberwolf.
- Ancient Artifact: Thunderstone found by Fireweed in the ancient Dragon Hoard.
- Armor-Piercing Question: While Tempest is beating the crap out of Rusty in front of Lullaby.Rusty: Hahaha... I wonder if she grows up to be... just like YOU?
- Arrow Catch: Tempest catches a bolt in her teeth.
- Badass and Child Duo: Tempest, one of the most badass characters in the entire MLP:FIM franchise, helps an orphaned filly.
- Badass Normal: Tempest Shadow has no control over her magic and can't cast any spells, so her power comes from muscle strength, agility and ruthlessness.
- Battle in the Rain - it starts to rain when Tempest faces vangeful Fireweed in the battle.
- The Big Damn Kiss: Thistle and Tempest, although it doesn't lead to Relationship Upgrade.
- Brutal Honesty: Tempest has a bad habit of doing this. She blunty states her feelings and facts while doing little to soften the blow. Examples of this include her rejecting Thistle's love and telling her it won't work between them and telling Lullaby she can't be her mother.
- Bullying a Dragon: A trio of lumberjacks recognize Tempest and throw insults at her. At first Tempest remains stoic, but then Lullaby starts crying. Instead of backing off, the lumberjacks draw their weapons, telling her that she’s just one pony and not even a real spell caster. Tempest proceeds to beat them up without breaking a sweat.
- Children Are Innocent: Lullaby innocently states that she thought Tempest and Thistle were going to get married, since they are living together now and she has seen the two of them kiss a lot.
- Clip Its Wings: One of Lullaby's wings was fractured and didn't heal properly. Rust Wing had both of his wings crushed by Tempest in cold blood.
- Covered with Scars: Tempest body is covered with scars, including her cutie mark.
- Christmas Episode: The comic had a Christmas side story started in the 2022 holiday season, started here
- Cynicism Catalyst: In My Little Pony: The Movie (2017), Tempest explains how her worldview was changed after she lost her horn and her friends abandoned her, leading her to believe being alone is the best way to survive.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Losing her horn and ability to control magic made Tempest Shadow an outcast who sided with Equestria's enemy.
- Dragon Hoard: Mentioned throught the story as a source of the Weather Dissonance.
- Determinator: For better or worse, Lullaby Dusk doesn't give up easily and can be very determined.
- Embarrassing Damp Sheets: Lullaby wets her blanket during a nightmare.
- Eyepatch of Power: After Lullaby looked through some of Thistle's old picture books, she took a liking to pirates and had one of her eyes covered by gauze (though both of her eyes are uninjured).
- Family-Unfriendly Violence: Lullaby is so afraid of Rust Wing, she jumps out of the window, cutting and bruising herself. His only reaction is being impressed by her "guts".
- Follow in My Footsteps: Thistle’s father wanted her to become a farmer like himself and strongly disapproved of her interest in potion making. Because of this, their relationship got so stained that he sent her away to live with her grandfather, instead.
- Forceful Kiss: Thistle reveals her feelings for Tempest by surprising her with a kiss on the lips. Though surprised by this, Tempest quickly kisses her back, turning it into an Official Kiss between them. Tempest still shoves Thistle away from her shortly after returning the kiss though, and tells her it won’t work between them.
- Forgiven, but Not Forgotten: This is Thistle's response when Tempest questions how she could possibly have a crush on her after everything she has done.
- Friends with Benefits: Thistle and Tempest become these soon after reaching Thistle's cottage.
- Gray Rain of Depression: It begins raining after Tempest tells Lullaby she can't be her mother and that once she is home she will never see her again. It continues for several pages afterwards with Tempest and Thistle arguing over what she said and what is best for Lullaby. It finally ends when Tempest and Thistle share their second kiss.
- Happily Adopted: Lullaby Dusk gets pretty much adopted by Thistle and Tempest and gradually starts to address them both as "mommy" and "mom".
- I Gave My Word: When Tempest and Thistle argue over what is best for Lullaby, Tempest says she will help anyway Thistle wants, except being part of their family. Thistle tells Tempest to kiss her, and Tempest complies since she said she would do anything.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Thistle told Tempest (while the latter is Brainwashed and Crazy) that she wants Tempest to be happy as she really is, with or without her.
- Lesbian Romance: Thistledown is attracted to Tempest Shadow, the latter jokes about wanting to date Twilight.
- Mama Bear: Tempest can became one if somepony or something threatens Lullaby's wellbeing.
- The Medic: Thistledown makes remedies and acts like the medic to the group.
- Moment Killer: Tempest and Thistle share an Official Kiss together, with both of them clearly enjoying it. Tempest, however, breaks it by shoving Thistle away from her and telling her that things won't work between them, breaking Thistle's heart.
- Mouthy Kid: Lullaby, when she's being told to do something she doesn't want to do and when someone is hostile towards Tempest.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Tempest upon realising she has traumatized Lullaby and is responsible for Thistle's Papa - Winter Rye's death.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Tempest lands one on Rust Wing after he kidnaps Lullaby.
- Official Kiss: Thistle reveals her feelings to Tempest by kissing her, which Tempest quickly returns. Despite this though, Tempest still rejects Thistle’s feelings due to believing that she has done too much wrong to deserve being with someone like Thistle.
- Paper Cutting: Tempest does not flinch when she gets cut on the cheek.
- Parental Abandonment: Lullaby's parents are both deceased.
- Parental Substitute: Both Thistledown and Tempest act a lot like parents to Lullaby Dusk.
- Plot-Sensitive Snooping Skills: Tempest is oblivious to the fact that Thistle is spying on her.
- Plucky Girl: Lullaby Dusk, who remains optimistic and energetic despite the neglect and abuse she suffered.
- Print Bonus: The eBook and hardopy editions have extra pages and bonus art.
- Reformed, but Not Tamed: Tempest Shadow is no longer a villain, but retains her darker side.
- Relationship Upgrade: Subverted after their Official Kiss ends up with Tempest rejecting Thistle.
- The Reliable One: Thistledown looks out for Tempest and Lullaby.
- Security Cling: Lullaby clings to Tempest during the storm and when the group is harassed by lumberjacks.
- Ship Sinking: Thistle falls in love with Tempest Shadow, and eventually confesses her feelings to her with a kiss. Though Tempest briefly returns the kiss, she bluntly tells Thistle it won't work and to keep her distance from her for her own sake.
- Sexy Discretion Shot: After Tempest and Thistle put Lulu to bed, the two of them go into another room and begin making out with each other, both heavily blushing. Once Tempest starts to kiss Thistle on the neck, only their outlines are shown, implying the two are doing more together.
- The Sociopath: Rust "Rusty" Wing, Thistle and Fireweed's cousin who seems to be lacking empathy and remorse (altought was genuinely attached to Thistle's father, Winter Rye).
- Solitary Sorceress: Thistledown lives by herself in the mountains.
- Still Sucks Thumb: Despite being 6-7 years old, Lullaby still sucks her hoof when she's under stress and sometimes in her sleep.
- The Stoic: Tempest Shadow, who displays emotions only in highly emotional situations.
- Shut Up, Kirk!: When Tempest tries to end her relationship with Thistle, stating what she is seeing now is the real her, Thistle tries to assure her she has changed and tells her the crystal she is wearing is just influencing her. Tempest silences her with a brief kiss and tells her the crystal didn't make her do that, she is making her own choices.
- "Shut Up" Kiss: When Thistle tries to tell Tempest the crystal she is wearing is influencing her and isn't really her, Tempest walks forward and kisses her, silencing her, and stating it was her own choice to do so.
- Tantrum Throwing: Lullaby Dusk has a short fuse. In Thistle's words, she simply doesn't know how to cope with her emotions.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: Tempest Shadow, a stoic warrior who loves fighting, is travelling together with the empathic Thistledown, who very openly expresses her emotions and feelings.
- Truth Serums: Making one is Thistle's main talent.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: Even after an Official Kiss takes place between Tempest and Thistle, the tension remains unresolved until much later.
- Weather Dissonance: The weather is erratic and can change from blizzard to sunny day or storm thanks to the Thunderstone.
- Would Hurt a Child: Rust’s Establishing Character Moment has him threaten to beat up Lullaby simply because he thought she was lying about being lost. And later, after Thistle betrays Rust and throws a bottle of poison into his face, he threatens Lullaby with a knife if she doesn't bring him the antidote.
