//------------------------------//
// The Ruin part 4 
// Story: The Legend of Lightning Ace: Childhood 
// by LightningAce7 
//------------------------------//

           Only the little fillies were sleeping at the moment, Thunder keeping watch and Lightning unable to sleep. Lightning constantly found himself gazing into the ancient castle's ominous entry, as if the ruins were welcoming him. His legs were moving on there own, Lightning was drawn to the old castle, as if something was meant for him and him alone. Without anypony noticing, Lightning entered the ruin, determined to find out why he felt so compelled to go into the ruin in the first place. The floors and walls were a dark marble, as if they were once brighter but then tainted by some dark energy. None of the windows had glass in them anymore, and parts of the ceiling were collasped throughout the castle. Lightning cautiosly made his way across the main entryway chamber, closing the distance to the other side of the room. Upon reaching the other side he walked into a large stone object. He bounced backward on impact as overhead clouds cleared away, allowing the moon's light to illuminate the chamber. Lightning lost his breath as he beheld a sight that made him relive his dream in an instant. He realised then where he was, he was in the very temple from his dreams! A chill immediately went down his spine as he gazed upon the five giant marble spheres attached to the larger statue. He felt something within the spheres, or maybe in himself, it was hard to tell. He fluttered up to the statue and placed a hoof on a random sphere. He felt a strange tingly sensation as he ran his hoof across it. He also felt what he could of sworn was Rainbow Dash's presence, but he couldn't see her anywhere. Starting to get creeped out by the ruins, he started to hover away from the statue.

Unbeknown to Lightning, several sets of eyes were watching him. Lightning heard a weak noise and spun around, his senses completely on overdrive. A dark sillohette flashed by a window, followed by another two. Lightning was wheighing his options now, he could bolt to the exit or face whatever was in the room with him. It only took seconds to decide as he made a beeline for the door. Just as he was about to make it felt a violent tug on his tail followed by getting thrown nearly accross the room. He looked up to cone face to face with a dreadful Alpha Timberwolf. It beared knarly teeth as it swiped a wooden claw at him. He rolled out of the way and tried to get airborn, but was pounced upon by another, though lesser, member of the pack. He rolled for several feet then slid to a stop as the two ferocious beasts began to approach. Lightning looked for anything he could use around him. To his left was a long old spear, though it looked too heavy for his little foal forlegs to grasp. To his right was an ancient pony skeleton, which had a sheathed rusty dagger on it. Seizing  the opportunity, he dove for the skeleton, hoping to get the dagger. The wolves lunged, hoping to sink their wooden teeth into pony flesh. Lightning pulled the rusty blade out and thrust it out, it meeting the resistance of wood and twig. It was followed by a yelp of pain, then nothing as the beast convolsed to the floor, the dagger still through it's chest. Lightning's victory was short lived though, as the snarling noises reminded him that the Alpha was still alive. With no weapon he was truly helpless now. Backed into a corner and nowhere to run, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Thunder was half dozing when he heard the tell tale sound of wooden feet on the ground. Instinctively he drew his blade, he would defend the foals. No matter what. Several eyes started to appear around the camp. Too many. "I cut the bridge...why are they? No...the castle!" Thunder said, realising the likely point of their origin. On cue the wolves began their attack, as one by pne they lunged from the undergrowth. He met them with steel, as chunks of wood began to litter the camp. "Derpy, Dash, get up! We're under attack!" He yelled, followed by impailling one wolf then severing another's limb, spraying dark sap everywhere. The fillies snapped awake to find themselves under attack by a pack of Timberwolves.

After another five wolves killed the rest of the pack backed off. But just as Thunder was about to speak he heard a foal's scream coming from the ruins. "Is that!?" His eyes shrank. "Lightning!" Thunder took off and blazed into the ruin. To his horror was his son backed into a corner by a ferocious Alpha Timberwolf. "Hang on son!" Thunder yelled, blade extended.

"Dad!" Lightning yelled.

The beast lunged at Lightning, Lightning bracing for the worst. The beast was stopped by a hard kick to it's side, sending it through a window and over a cliff. "I'm so sorry Dad!" Lightning started to cry. The two embraced as Derpy and Dash watched. Thunder's eyes on the window, like his gut was telling him it wasn't over yet.

to be continued...