//------------------------------// // A Little Detour part 4 // Story: The Legend of Lightning Ace: Childhood // by LightningAce7 //------------------------------// The group left the comforts of the hotel to make their way to the Royal Canterlot Library. It was a long but uneventful trip, considering how safe Canterlot is. After nearly getting lost three times, they finally had the library in sight. And it was definately a sight to behold. It was a large tower in the middle of a statue garden, replete with a small winding pond with a bridge over it. there were also a few shady trees around the area as well. All together it made for a very tranquil scene. The group then proceeded inside to find a mountain of books. Also there was the sound of magic nearby. "Maybe it's the librarian...I'm gonna ask if they can help us find the book." Lightning said. Lightning then trotted up to the mountain of books. "Umm...excuse me, but I was wondering if you could help me find a specific book." The magic noise persisted for another few seconds then ended. Coming around the mountain of books was not an adult librarian, but a filly, no older than himself or Applejack. She had a lavender coat with a purple mane and tail with bright magenta highlights. On her flank was a magenta six pointed star with sparkles around it. She then just stood there, like she were studying them. "Oh, I'" Lightning said. The filly studied him for a moment. "Hello, um...the librarian is out right now...but maybe I can help you!" The filly excitedly. "My name is Twilight Sparkle. How can I help?" "I'm Lightning Ace. This is Applejack and Flash Firestorm." Lightning said. "Howdy, Twilight." Applejack greeted. "Yo." Flash said. "Anyway, I'm looking for a book called 'Mare in the Moon'. Is there a copy here?" Lightning knew it was a dumb question. "Of coarse, Lightning. It's on the top shelf next to the window." Twilight said. "Thanks Twilight...uhh...why so professional?" Lightning asked. "I just got into the magic school for gifted unicorns! Isn't it amazing!?" Twilight said, getting more excited. "Err...congratulations..." Lightning said. "YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!" Twilight exclaimed as she bounced around the room. The display of joy lasted for another moment before finally calming down. "We'll anyway, about that book." Lightning said as he lined up the shelf ladder with the shelf that contains the book in question. He climbed up to it's shelf and started looking for it. Meanwhile Twilight had already left, and the librarian herself had returned. Lightning had then found the book he had come all this way for. "What is this book anyway Lightning?" Applejack asked. "Are you familiar with The Mare in the Moon?" Lightning asked, returning to the floor off the ladder. "That's an old mare's tale y'all, how's it gonna help us?" Applejack said, raising an eyebrow. "Well, it's one of very few books that reference the Thunderstorm tribe." Lightning said. "It involves the accounts of surviving members of the bloodline." "What does Nightmare Moon have to do with the Thunderstorm tribe?" Flash asked. "I thought they were wiped out by Commander Hurricane during the rule of Pegasopholus." "Let's see..." Lightning said as he started flipping through pages. "Hmm...well, it seems that Hurricane wasn't able to hunt all of them after all. The rule of the Princesses ensured that Hurricane couldn't finish what he started. After the Windigos froze most of his army to death, he tried for years to hunt the remaining tribes ponies down, but he couldn't find anymore. Chances are the Princesses granted the survivers sanctuary within what is now old Canterlot in the Everfree forest. When Hurricane returned the Princesses sentenced him to life in prison for mass murder. As far as the tribe's connection to Nightmare Moon goes, apparently when Luna and Celestia went to war with one another, Luna convinced the leader, Thundara, to side with her." "Wait, who's Thundara?" Flash asked. "Thundara was the final leader of the Thunderstorm Tribe. She was an alicorn like our Rulers, only she could control more than just weather without clouds. She had also found a way to control elements as well, like fire. It says she had many foals, many of qhich were taught how to control said elements." Lightning said. "So I could be a decendant of this 'Thundara'?" Flash asked. "Maybe. But it isn't something to be proud of, after all she did sid with Nightmare Moon." Lightning said. Lightning then trotted over to the Librarian, who had been cleaning Twilight's book mess. "Excuse me ma'am but may I borrow this book?" Lightning asked, holding up 'The Mare in the Moon'. "I don't mind, in fact you'd be doing me a royal favor actually. I've been ordered by Princess Celestia herself to see that a copy of that book be made availible in ponyville. You may borrow it if you bring it to the owner of the library of Ponyville, Mr. Knight. He has a son your age actually, who is a budding scholar. If I remember right his name was Moonlight." The Librarian said. "I'll do it!" Lightning said. "I have one more question though." Lightning said to the Librarian. "What would that be?" The Librarian asked. "Any idea wjat this is?" Lightning asked as he showed her the metal clasp. "Hmmm..." The Librarian hummed as she looked it over. "Cant say it's anything I've seen before...but Mr. Knight in Ponyville is a scholar of some reknown, Im sure he can help." "Well, y'all have yer book, let's get to mah hometown! A've got sooo much to show yall!" Applejack excitedly said. With that the group left the library with the book in a protective case and made for the train depot. Though they were not alone. to be continued...