//------------------------------// // 10 - Brawl // Story: Far is the Star Called Sol // by Omnicron25 //------------------------------// Far is the Star Called Sol Chapter 10: Brawl Spike the Dragon was nervously pacing back and forth as Twilight Sparkle and her son, Shining Star, watched on in confusion. The slightly taller kid dragon— who was now slightly shorter than Big Macintosh— had been pacing since they had forced Lumen Sparkle back to bed a little over an hour ago. "Were there any surges, Twilight? I know you tend to over-look common stuff, but we literally have nothing? I mean nothing at all?" finally asked the young dragon— his voice the same as it had been when they first came to Ponyville all those years ago. His former position as the librarian unicorn's assistant for so many years made it natural for him to urge small bits of information to come together. He was hoping this was just one of those minor over-looks that Twilight tended to have that could make all the difference. Twilight brought out a tome with her telekinesis saying at length, "Well… we found this laying off to the side of the bed. It's Scholar's personal copy of the first volume of the The Legend of Jason Nalick series, I believe." She glanced at the book worriedly before turning her eyes back to Spike. The kid dragon's eyes had grown to narrow slits as he read the title over and processed what Twilight had just said. This was exactly what he had been looking for. "Spike…? What's wrong…?" Shining asked groggily, his voice heavily laden with worry. "Was Astral Plane really in contact with that book, Twi?" the drake asked thoughtfully and sounding almost dazed as a claw absently scratched his chin. His friend and sister-like figure nodded. "Yes, Spike. It was the last object in the library she touched. Why is that so important? You look as if the book is going to eat you." She immediately regretted how harsh her voice sounded, but she was tired and wanted answers now. Spike took his wary gaze off the book and blinked at the lavender mare as if recognizing her for the first time. That's right. She wouldn't remember, would she? Only a few of us were exempt from that spell… He shook his head and quickly recomposed himself before saying, "Twi, that book may have clues to where Astral is now. It is the last thing in the library she touched, right?" It was a risk, but he would take any consequences that would fall upon him in stride. The realization hit Twilight like a landslide of boulders. How could I not have seen that?! Stupid, Twilight! Stupid! This could be the whole key! she mentally lashed herself before quickly standing and grasping her brother-like figure in a tight hug— and almost knocking out both Shining and Spike out with the telekinesis-held book in the process— saying, "Thanks, Spike! You're absolutely correct! There was a reason you were always my number one assistant!" There was a huge smile on her muzzle and that old knowledge-hungry look in her eyes. For the time being, the student part of herself had returned. Then, as quickly as she had hugged him, she was heading upstairs— nearly knocking the drake out with the tome again— at a full gallop toward the study where she now kept her personal collection since her old room had been renovated into the foal's section leaving a very surprised dragon and a very confused, as well as half-asleep, colt behind in the kitchen. They slowly traded a wary look before Shining hesitantly asked, "Hey… Spike… what's so important about Mr. Quill's book?" Then, a realization hit him, and his voice dropped to a self-indulgent grumble, "Wait… I don't remember Mr. Quill giving her that book…" The young dragon gave the maroon colt a questioning look. "So, do you think she took the book from Sir Quill without asking?" He crossed his arms to appear more authoritative, but the small amount of baby fat he had left ruined the attempt and just made him look frustrated instead. The young pony hesitantly nodded. He knew he was not in trouble, but he did not want to get Astra in any more trouble than she was already either. He racked his groggy brain for a way to salvage the situation for Astra and decided the bare truth was the best route to take. "Well… if she doesn't want to admit something, she will always try to hide it the best she can… even if that means taking something without permission for fear of embarrassing herself. It's happened before…" Then, he realized he might be making it worse and quickly amended with a few defensive waves of his forehooves, "But she'll return it! She always does!" Spike nodded sagely, internally smiling— he knew how that was like— and ruffed up the colt's purple mane saying, "Go to bed, Shine. It's late. I'll clean up the shelves tonight." He glanced upstairs. "Knowing Twilight, it's going to be a long night…" Shining Star nodded and made a yawn that would definitely have made his father proud. He was naturally worried about his cousin and would usually put a fuss about his library duties being infringed upon, but keeping up with Pinkie Pie for the entire day searching for Astra— yielding nothing but a lot of sugary treats and time with his idol— and knowing the library was in good claws, he departed upstairs without a word. With the colt sent upstairs and time now alone to dwell on his thoughts, Spike crossed his arms. He recalled the mess of a library he had walked into nearly six hours ago now. It had both shocked and disturbed him since he had not seen the family so upset in such a long time. Curse that contract! Everypony has a right to know! he fumed with claws now clutched and a puff of green flame flaring from his nostrils. "There's no way around it. I have to talk to Lumen and Sir Quill about this," the purple drake told himself followed by a smoke-laced sigh. Lumen was the most readily available and probably doing something to keep himself awake anyhow. So, the younger, though very ill, stallion would be the first to talk to. Being as stealthy as his clawed feet would allow, the kid dragon made his way upstairs making sure Twilight was in the study and Shining was asleep before entering the room. The sight he saw as he gently closed door behind him was a melancholy one. Even in the low lighting, the once proud, brilliant, and cheery Lumen Bright Sparkle was a mere husk of his former self. Laying on his back, his frame showed considerable weight-loss— even through the covers. His eyes were sunken with darkened bags under them, and his coat had now dulled to a rust red while his mane and tail were now a sickly looking green-brown— a dying stallion… the living dead. Spike shook his head sadly, but that sadness quickly sharpened to anger as he thought, He's fading… A hero of Equestria… no… a hero of all of Equus itself is fading away, and we can't do anything to help him?! We can only hope he can do it himself?! He's sacrificed so much and done all this for us, and yet, we can't help him when he needs our help?! The thought, he knew, had turned angry and bitter, but he could not help it. As much as he understood the reasoning and decisions made… the purple kid dragon found them and the reality before him hard to accept. As he stared at the slumbering stallion, he could not help remembering that day again in his mind. -X-X-X- It had been an unusually warm summer, not uncomfortable, but more like the way the summers used to be. The Summer Sun Celebration had come again, and this year it was being hosted in Canterlot, the royal city of the Principality of Equestria. "I can't believe this is the first Summer Sun Celebration Princess Celestia will be hosting herself in five years!" yelled a still baby Spike with boundless enthusiasm. "I've never seen it myself, but I heard it was something spectacular to watch!" spoke up a younger Lumen Sparkle, who was also quite ecstatic, taking in all the sights of the holiday festivities. "Did you see Luna and Apollo earlier?! I never thought I'd see the day either of them would get married, and yet here we are at the Summer Sun Celebration the day after their Royal Honeymoon!" He gave a chuckle. "I still remember Princess Luna's confusion over what a 'honeymoon' was! The look on her face was priceless!" A younger Twilight Sparkle gave her husband a jab in the side. "She missed out on a thousand years of cultural evolution, Lumen. Give her a break!" The bright metallic green eyed maroon stallion with a suavely brushed back forest green mane shot his wife a mischievous smirk. "Well, she seems to have loosened up a lot since Apollo got to her. A lot more than another mare I know all too well." Twilight shot him a dark look asking, "What's that supposed to mean?!" Lumen only chuckled as he reached out with his telekinesis to grab one of the punch cups, only to have his horn start to give off sparks and small explosions like firecrackers had been wrapped around his horn and lit. He yelled out in pain as he fell to the ground and the light show continued, making him writhe in agony on the ground. "GAH!!! What… in Tartarus… is happening?!" Twilight and Spike could only watch in horror as Rainbow Dash quickly flew over demanding, "What the hay is going?! Why's he doing that?!" "Quick! Get my brother, Scholar, Arty, and the others! We need to keep the other ponies calm! We need to contain this!" quickly ordered Twilight keeping her cool in the face of the near panic around her. "I'll see what I can do to help Lumen!" "I'm on it, Twilight!" acknowledged Rainbow Dash with a salute as she disappeared in a blur of prismatic color leaving Twilight to concentrate on the problem-at-hoof. "What is going on, Twi?!" yelled Spike as he dismounted to let his sister-like figure concentrate. "What's wrong with him?!" Twilight was about to answer when the sparking from the maroon unicorn suddenly halted as did his cries of pain. Spike could see the tears beginning to well-up in Twilight's eyes as the crowd fell silent for a moment as everypony watched the seemingly unbreathing stallion for what seemed like an eternity before he took a ragged breath and shakily stood up rasping, "What… in Celestia's name… was that?!" Twilight galloped up and hugged him crying as the stress overcame her suddenly, "Thank the Princesses you're alright!" Spike watched the sight as the others arrived. It looked as if Lumen had been electrocuted with his fur standing on end and several burnt patches, but the worst was yet to come. As the day went on, it became painfully obvious the 'event' was not a one-time thing. It seemed to happen anytime Lumen tried to use magic, no matter how small the amount, and by the end of the day, the brilliant celebration had darkened to a tragedy as it became clear Lumen was not regaining any magical energy either— a possibly lethal scenario for a highly magical being such as a unicorn. Eventually, the others convinced the lavender unicorn enough to go to the perpetually busy Princess Celestia to try to diagnose her ailing husband of three years after confounding the best doctors in Canterlot— and even some of the visiting ones. "Please, Princess! I don't want to bother you, but I don't know where else to turn! No pony seems to know what's wrong with him and I can't find anything that matches it either! Please! Please! At least look him over…!" Spike— along with Scholar Quill, Arty Workinstable, Shining Armor, and the other Element Bearers— watched this go on for several minutes until the Solar Princess was able to sooth the fretting unicorn enough to walk into the Canterlot Castle guest bedroom alone where the sleeping stallion was being kept and closed the door behind her. Spike remembered the tension that built-up over those several minutes that became nearly suffocating, but eventually, Princess Celestia opened the door with her telekinesis saying, "Come in… everypony. I believe all of you need to know what I have discovered." Her voice sounded hollow and sad, nowhere near the usual regal tone. Spike slowly followed the ponies into the room, afraid of what the Princess might have discovered. His gut intuition was, unfortunately, correct once again with the ponies gathered around the Princess who stood in front the pained unicorn stallion with her wings unfurled blocking their view of him. Her usually calm, regal and collected veneer broken into one of sheer sorrow and dismay Spike could not help but swallow as she began, "My little ponies, I have grave news. Lumen Bright Sparkle has advanced-stage Horn's disease, and while not a danger to any other pony, it has no cure. I am sorry." She closed her eyes and seemed as if she was blaming herself for the fate of the maroon stallion behind her. The shock hit the room like a tactical sonic rainbomb in force and like a tomb in silence. "So… it's not contagious…? Good," said Lumen's raspy voice behind her which made the deity's eyes grow wide in surprise and withdraw her wings to her side revealing the exhausted-looking stallion. That was when Spike saw Twilight break down completely. "No! No! That can't be right! Celestia! Please! Try again! That just…" she cried breaking down into uncontrollable sobs. "No! I—It can't be true! Why?!" The sudden outburst shocked the entire room beside the Solar deity who just put a comforting wing around her protégé with a sad, matriarchal expression on her muzzle. Lumen forced himself up and staggered over to Twilight putting a shaky forehoof lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes saying gently, "Twi? What exactly is going on? We can find a way to fix this if we try." He looked up to Princess Celestia slowly. "Can't we?" "Lumen, I…" began the Solar Princess before being cut-short by Twilight suddenly hugging Lumen tightly. "You idiot! You can't die on me now! Not after I found you again! Not after all we've been through! Not af—!" She broke down further squeezing tighter and burying her face into his chest sobbing. The stallion's eyes widened as did Rarity and Fluttershy's. An unspoken truth had just been revealed. "Tw—Twi? Y—You're pregnant, aren't you?" asked Lumen with trepidation. She stopped crying for a moment and pulled away a little to look into his eyes. A look that said it all. Tears formed in his eyes as well, and he hugged her back. "I…" He was at a loss for words. While the rest of the ponies were on the verge of tears, crying or simply too shocked by all the revelations to know what to do first, Spike found himself simply confused asking, "Uh… Can't we just find a cure for this 'horn's' thing? I mean it's not able to spread, right?" The ponies, of course, ignore the baby dragon with the exception of the time and travel wizened Scholar Quill who turned answering, "Young dragon, he has what my clan calls Aber-Nori-Mu. In common tongue, Natural Curse of Magic Eating. Curable, it is not. Only Starswirl's apprentice, Clover the Clever, ever found a cure, and killed she was before it was recorded." He glanced to Princess Celestia. "She knows not either. No pony does. The secret, Clover carried to her doom they say. I know not why." Spike's eyes began to water as well, and he ran out of the room. He had heard enough! There had to be more! -X-X-X- Spike opened his eyes, staring at the wilted form in front of him. "Indeed," Spike muttered grimly. There had been more. After two years of searching, they had found Clover the Clever's hidden workshop, and Jason Nalick's haunting words of 'some things are better off not known' had come to light once more. Those words still haunted Spike to this day even more than the original reason Jason said them to start with. The horrors in that black magic infested workshop had struck home that truth better than any war. They showed how even the best of intentions could creep into untold darkness and cruelty. Spike looked at his right claw angrily and clinched it. It was true they found what they had been looking for, but at a horrible cost. The spell itself called for the darkest of magics: blood magic— also known as hæmomancy. That itself was not what had caused the complete halt to the research though. It was the amount of blood required: the entirety of blood from another unicorn of equal to or greater power— one life for another in the arte of equivalent exchange. The drake's eyes narrowed as he remembered the outrage Lumen possessed at the corrupt knowledge and how it must have been obtained. He had not understood back then, but he did now. Spike understood why Lumen used the ancient human arcane megaspell to turn every trace of the dig site to ash, destroying all the research and the site itself. The last act of magic the stallion ever truly performed. He closed his eyes and shook his head as he heard the dismayed voice of Twilight demanding of Lumen what he had done, and the chanted response of "Some things are better off not known," that was constantly uttered by Lumen as he watched the site burn. This made Spike shake his head harder as he fought of the unwanted resurgence of the memory. He understood now why they had all resolved to let Lumen live out the remainder of his life without a cure eight years ago. That did not mean he had to like it. It made a fire burn in him— a violent destructive fire that he was scared to unleash. That was when realized he was hearing something stir in the room. The something, he realized, was Lumen, and he realized he had no idea how long he had been standing there. Had it only been minutes? Hours? Lumen Sparkle opened his glazed eyes. "You're troubled, bud. So, have they figured it out yet? Should we tell them?" Spike shook his head. "You know we can't do that, Lumen. Twilight may remember soon, but I'm sure the others won't." He gave Lumen a meaning look. "Jason once told me that some things are better off not known…" The sickly unicorn wheezed a laugh. "…But others must be revealed," finished his raspy voice. "I know those words, bud." He paused for a moment before continuing in a business-like manner as he propped himself up on one foreleg. "I have to go to Canterlot soon. I have to drop-off something… an artifact. I would've preferred to go all the way to the Southern Empire myself, but… with the aerowing* under maintenance and my health… Canterlot will have to do." The stallion's eyes were troubled now. "Artifact? What artifact?" asked Spike before catching himself. "No! I am not letting you go! If you try, I'll be forced to stop you!" He crossed his arms again, but— again— not achieving the desired effect. Lumen sneered. "Spike, bud, you do remember who I am, right?" The purple dragon's green eyes narrowed to slits. "That's enough, Lumen! You should not use magic in your condition! It could kill you!" The stallion frowned seriously. "Bud, I'm sorry, but a promise is a promise. The Luna-forsaken thing is too dangerous to leave laying around anyway." Now, Spike the Dragon was concerned. Lumen had just invoked one of the Princesses' names. He never did that. "What is it?" Lumen's eyes gained their old intensity as for a moment as he said, "The only thing from that Celestia-damned workshop that could not be destroyed!" Spike immediately understood. "How about I take it for you then? I'm naturally magic resistant, remember?" The stallion snorted. "If it were that easy, it wouldn't be here." He paused, waiting for a a comment, before continuing, "It has a series of hyper-dense, multi-level wards that only allow a unicorn to carry it, even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna cannot touch it." "Well, how about Twi—" "NO!!!" cut-off Lumen in a harsh, but hushed, yell. This caused the dragon to raise a brow, and the stallion laid back on the mattress with a sigh. "Spike, I have to be the one to do this. I have to finish what I started, but I won't say no if you want to accompany me." Spike noticed the signs. The lucid moment was almost over. "I'll think about it." Lumen lamely smiled saying, "I'd like that, bud." Then, unconsciousness took the Hero of Equus once again in its dark grip. Spike sighed thinking, How stubborn can he get? He's on his deathbed and wants to transport a dangerous artifact? I think he just rocketed passed past AJ in the stubbornness department. Then, he slowly crept out of the room backwards being careful to not wake up Lumen. "So, how is he?" The drake froze in place. Then, slowly turning around, he saw Twilight right behind him with a concerned expression. He flashed her a sheepish smile and quickly closed the door the rest of the way. "Uh… how long were you standing there?" The mare sighed. "I heard enough to know he still insists on going." Some annoyance had crept into her voice as they started toward the study. He sighed in relief, though she did not seem to notice it for what it was, and tried to calm his former mentor down, "Look, Twilight, I don't like this any better than you do. He's just too sick, but we can't really stop him either. He is on royal order… I mean, this is a matter between the Southern Empire and Equestria, and he is the ambassador between the two after all. We really can't interfere, Twi…" Twilight flashed him a mischievous smile. "Then, do you want to help me with my plan so he won't have to?" Spike hesitated a moment, and they halted just outside the study. That smile… he could not place why, but something about that smile made him worry. "Sure… Twi—" "Great!" chirped the lavender mare as they stepped into the study, and she closed the door behind them. "Here's what we do…" "Oh! What are we going to do?!" panicked Twilight Sparkle as she and her friend Applejack ran through the backstreets of the lavish east side of Ponyville. Applejack halted, and the skittish unicorn was forced to follow suit. The cowpony knew the signs of her friends 'Panic Mode' and knew she needed to head it off right quick. "Twi! It's only been an hour by mah reckonin'. Let's calm down 'n' see our options." "We have no clues, Applejack! We've been searching for clues for an hour and four minutes! We don't have time to calm down! We have no options!" yelled Twilight hysterically. "We don't have time to waste! We need to find Jason and that filly!" She started galloping off again but was halted by a pony grabbing her tail and pulling her back. She whipped around ready to lecture her friend, only to get an apple shoved into her mouth for the trouble. "Now, wait just an apple-pickin' minute, Twilight! Ah understand yer worked-up 'bout Jay and that filly, but what the hay is really goin' on wit'ya? Ah can rightly say ah don't reckon Jay would hurt that little filly, and ah know ya think the same. So, what's really goin' on here, Twi?" demanded Applejack with a weighty stare. Twilight finally caved as she spat out the apple. "We have to find them, Applejack! If Storm finds Jason before we do under these circumstances, he'll injure him! Maybe even… kill him." Her voice was low and panicked now. "W—We have to find him! We have to find Jason!" The farm pony adjusted her stetson. "That's what ah's been figurin' on, Twi. Ah can't honestly say ah rightly trust that Thunder-fella mahself, old friend o' yers or not. No offence." Twilight was about to say something in Storm's defense when the excited yammers of Pinkie Pie sounded nearby. The mares looked at each other. An excited Pinkie could mean anything— literally anything. However, having zero in the clues department, the Bearers of Honesty and Magic galloped toward the location of the pink enigma hoping she had found something relevant to the task-at-hoof. Upon arrival of the excited yammering, her friends found having the 'doozy' Pinkie Sense twitch. Then, their jaws dropped as Princess Luna, Jason Nalick and Astral Plane stepped out of the shadow right next to the now-not-twitching enigma. While Honesty and Magic were floored, Laughter started jumping around the trio. "I found them! I found them! Oh! You guys are good! It took me a whole hour to find you! How did you do that shadow-thingy?! I can't do that shadow-thingy! Oh! Princess Luna is here too! Hi, Princess! Can you teach me that shadow-thingy?! You two are the second best hiders I've ever met!" "Yes, yes! You found us, Pinkie!" answered Jason with a chuckle and a mock 'I surrender' gesture. "Why are you searching for us anyway?" Pinkie was about to answer when Twilight and Applejack galloped up distracting her. "Hi guys! You just missed it! My Pinkie Sense said there was going to be a doozy here, and I found out it was Astra and Jay-Jay! They did this cool shadow-thingy and showed-up from nowhere! It was really neat! Oh! And Princess Luna did the cool shadow-thingy with them too! Jay and Astra are now the second best hiders I'ver met! The bestest is…!" "PINKIE PIE!!! This is not a game!" screamed out Twilight from both losing her patience with the party pony and the immense stress of finding Jason starting to release. Jason sneered in amusement as Pinkie's antics continued though he said nothing and the humor seemed lost to everypony else. "Of course it was a game, silly! If it wasn't a game, it wouldn't of been as fun!" cheered the pink baker. Twilight opened her mouth, but the Princess of the Night intervened before the lecture could begin, "We… er… I was the reason for the disappearance of Jason Nalick and Astral Plane…" She never got to finish though as Twilight went into full 'Panic Mode'— even biting her hooves— as she blurted, "I—It was a test! I f—failed! I'm going to be banished for sure this time! I…!" She suddenly felt a reassuring hoof on her wither and glanced up to see Applejack with a strong, reassuring smile on her muzzle. "Come on, Sugarcube. Ya know the Princess wouldn't do that. Ya know'er better that." The farmer then discreetly gave the alicorn a questioning look. The Lunar Princess gave the fretting protégé her own reassuring smile. "There was no test, Twilight Sparkle. Cheer, We… I give no threat nor intent of banishing th… you." Then, her expression grew serious making the entire group— including Pinkie Pie— tense. "However, We… I do wish to know if there was truly a letter as Mr. Nalick indicated." The three Elements collectively gave their diarch a confused stare, and Jason crossed his arms, impatiently waiting for an answer, while Astra simply scowled. Applejack was the first to break the silence. "Why'd ya say that, Princess? Ya already talked ta Sentinel earlier 'bout it, ah thought." Then, without warning, Twilight's horn flared sending a ball of purple energy rocketing toward the diarch. Both Jason and Astra moved to intervene, but Luna simply halted them by half-spreading her wings and let the sphere impact her… only for nothing to happen. The lavender unicorn immediately kneeled with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Princess Luna! I thought you might have been a changeling! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I deserve any punishment you give me! I…!" She stopped noticing there was a large wing folded around her comfortingly. She then looked up as the wing retreated to Luna's side. "Rise, Twilight," said the deity understandingly yet firmly. "I commend you for your action and quick-thinking for I would have done the same." Then, her voice grew more proper and instructor-like as she continued, "However, the casting-time needeth improvement, and a flash-bolt— rather than a sphere— would hath been more effective. Both Mr. Nalick and Astral Plane could have halted it, had We not intervened, or We could have simply dodged." She paused for a moment. "We take it thou made the spell thyself?" Twilight— now sheepishly grinning— answered, "Y—yes, Luna. I had some help from Rarity though. I don't deserve all the credit." Luna raised a brow. "We see. Nevertheless, We… I find your caution well placed. There is nothing to forgive." "Well, I say we find this impostor and take her down! Nothing imposes as m—our Princess Luna and gets away with it!" demanded the earth pony filly known as Astral Plane with surprising venom for one so young. "I second that motion," calmly stated Jason with an icy tone and body language to match. "Yeah! That faker-meanie won't know what hit her!" enthused the pink earth pony in a martial arts fighting stance. "Ah reckon y'all can count me in too!" agreed Applejack. "Bucky McGillycuddy 'n' Kicks McGee are itchin' ta buck'em ta Appleloosa 'n' back!" She bucked her self-named, respectively, hind hooves in the air— narrowly missing Pinkie— to emphasize her point. The alicorn nodded. "We shall leave this task to you, thenceforth. We have business to attend to in Canterlot. If aid is needed, you need only inquire. We shall have a detachment ready post-haste!" announced Luna as she took off into the late afternoon sky leaving the organization of the party to the next pony in the unspoken chain-of-command. "Alright, Jason, Pinkie, escort Astral Plane back to the library; everypony will meet up there. Blur and Blare should already be there. We don't know whether the threat toward Astral is real or not, but I don't want to take any chances," ordered Twilight in rushed, yet practiced, ease. This earned a silent scowl from Astra, a snap to attention and salute from Jason, and a serious salute from Pinkie Pie in suit. Turning to Applejack, Twilight continued, "AJ, you and I are going to gather the others starting with Thunderstorm and Rainbow Dash. They should be the easiest to spot and can help us find the others faster." "Don't hav'ta tell me twice," agreed the farmer giving her unicorn friend a meaningful look. Jason caught the look immediately, but decided to leave it for later asking, "We all set?" The ponies all gave determined nods and the group split going their separate ways. The hunt for the fake moon had begun -X-X-X- It took Rainbow Dash several minutes to track down the old friend of Twilight Sparkle's known as Lieutenant Thunderstorm. He had gotten a bit farther than she had expected, for that she gave him credit, but he was still no match for her— two leagues lower at least. Also, there was something about that stallion rubbed her coat the wrong way. "Hey, Thunderstorm! What's your sore dock** with Nalick anyway! Why should I even trust you?!" the cyan pegasus called out making Storm stop in his flight path. Hmph, he thought to himself. Arrogant little brat, always has been. He gazed around finding himself over the shadier west side of Ponyville. He had never set hoof in this town until a few days ago, but if you have seen one shady neighborhood, you have seen them all. "I suggest we try not to make a public scene of this," he half-growled as he ducked down into a nearby alley and made a landing. Rainbow Dash's challenge-seeking ego could not pass up this opportunity so she banked hard, pulling a few stunts in the process, before landing in front of the scarred stallion with an arrogant, but hard, glare. "You better give me some answers now, Lieutenant!" Her glare hardened further. "So, spill it!" Lieutenant Thunderstorm's eyes narrowed and a smirk formed on his muzzle. He had waited a long time for this moment, and now, it was time to act. Suddenly, he pinned her to the wall— superior weight and raw strength preventing her from escaping. "I've been waiting a long time for this…" A familiarity in his eyes frightened Dash. She had once known this pony. "Let me go, you creep! Don't make me thrash you!" Her tone now held more fear than her usual brashness, but only a hint. The stallion's narrowed further as he searched her eyes and frowned. "You still don't recognize me? Well…" That was when Sentinel Heart and Rarity appeared at one end of the alleyway in response to Dash's earlier outcry. "What in Tartarus do you think you're doing, Lieutenant?!" growled the quicksilver-maned stallion in a dangerously level tone. Rarity on the other hoof was too shocked by the perceived situation and thus was rendered paralyzed and mute. "Storm, let me go!" repeated the cyan pegasus for the third time with her eyes fixed on the eldest Heart brother… no brashness remained in her voice now, only concern and fear. The night guard ignored her again— his eyes locked with Sentinel's for the moment. "Buzz-off! The both of you! Me and the Element of Loyalty have business to attend to." His tone was cold and menacing since was sick and tired of interruptions when he was so close. So, Storm— thinking the Element of Generosity and the security chief got the memo— turned back to the mare he was still pinning. However, she was not looking at him, but fixed onto one of the ponies to the left with fear growing with each passing moment. Instinct and training immediately kicked in as Storm bit her mane and threw Dash to safety before flipping himself over the charging pony's back in a standard charge control tactic. This gave the lieutenant a moment to study the pony that had attacked him. He was unsurprised to see it was the security chief. However, what surprised the night guard was the pinpoints that had seemed to have replaced the usual grey irises. Thunderstorm's own eyes narrowed. Those are Berserker's eyes! That unicorn has Berserker's eyes! I need to stop this now before he kills somepony by accident! he quickly thought before shuffling his wings to create a static charge. Now, the completely berserked Sentinel— often known by the locals as the Hydra Smasher for his utter mutilation of a fully grown hydra while berserked— charged again with amazing speed giving the battle-hardened guard mere moments to react. The Thunderstorm Striker made an extended jump using his wings for extra jump-height, intending for the berserked pony to merely pass under, and sent some of the stored electrical energy in his body— via natural and fine-tuned pegasus abilities— to his left hoof prepared to strike. Sentinel, however, surprised his foe for a second time as he jumped instead aiming for a midair tackle. The action, only barely compensated for by the guard, clipped the pegasus's body enough to make him miss his target— the crown of the head— and hitting the unicorn in mid-back right on the spinal column with an uncontrolled burst of electricity. The 'clip' from the Berserker, however, broke three of Storm's ribs and fractured his right wing as the uncontrolled tackle smashed him into the wall. Sentinel Heart was now aware of his surroundings, but did not remember how he had gotten on the ground or why he could not move his hind legs. However, his mind barely registered the frighteningly intense expression of the incoming Lieutenant in time to put up one his strongest fast-cast barriers before another electrified hoof fell striking it. Both ponies were surprised b the outcome. Large cracks had formed in the shield— which surprised Sentinel greatly— but the fact the speed of which the shield spell was cast to start with and that the barrier still held afterwards surprised Storm. His attack was not an intended shield crusher, but high-voltage electricity had a nasty tendency of eating through magic shields. However, this also gave the lieutenant the signs necessary to know the unicorn was no longer berserked and was aware of his surroundings again. That was when a prismatic blur tackled the night guard, who rolled with the sudden attack and used several pressure point jabs on the cyan assaulter in a standard crowd control technique which momentarily paralyzed her. Then, he stood and brushed himself off. Finally, that little fiasco's over, thought the lieutenant tiredly as he turned back to simply judge the security chief's injuries ignoring the growing crowd. "No worse for wear, I suppose. You gave me a scare, officer," he said as he offered Sentinel a hoof. -X-X-X- Running towards the source of the fighting, Twilight and Applejack ran through the heart of the shady west side only to encounter a crowd at the end of an alley. Applejack quickly took point, using her superior strength to easily clear a path through the crowd. At the center, they find a stunned Rarity— mouth still agape— and the three combatants. AJ quickly shook the white unicorn's shoulder demanding, "Confound it, Rarity! What the buck's goin' on 'round here?!" while Twilight watched the scene unfold with a pit in her stomach as Storm rolled over the charging Sentinel. The fashionista seemed to snap out of her daze blurting suddenly, "It was horrible! Sent and I heard Rainbow yell. So, we came as fast as we could one to find that dashing guard attempting to have his way with her! He even had the nerve to te—!" Rarity was interrupted by a blinding flash and a clap of thunder, and Twilight's dumbstruck gaze— which had not diverted from the fight the entire time— was broken. Anger started to inside the lavender magician now. That had been one of Storm's more powerful moves— Twilight knew. Not only that, but her old friend had tried to rape Dash! She just could not wrap her mind around it. "Are ya sure that's what ya saw, Rares?" the farmer beside her asked in a dangerous tone looking ready to charge in herself. Another flash and thunder clap erupted as the night guard's hoof slammed brilliantly into the fallen unicorn's shield. As the shield cracked, Twilight found herself holding her breath, hoping the barrier would hold and finding herself paralyzed in… fear? She almost cheered— though she had heard AJ give a 'whoop'— as Rainbow Dash tackled her old friend, but it died in her throat as Thunderstorm gave her several light hits dispatching her. In the back of her mind, Twilight realized he had only hit pressure points thought that did not seem to register, but when Rainbow Dash did not move, she feared the worst, and when her old friend turned to Sentinel Heart, the crowd fell silent. Something snapped in the heart and mind of Twilight Sparkle. Unnatural flames started to catch on the ends of her mane and tail. Then, her coat began to turn hot ember white, starting from the tip of her horn and hooves and slowly creeping toward her center, and then, she blinked. Gone were the purple orbs, replaced by the purest blood reds. She felt overwhelming, ever-flowing power running through her core. The power frightened her, but then, she blinked again— her eyelashes catching flame as well. Twilight Sparkle decided she liked the power. Twilight's, now red, magic captured her one-time friend in a telekinetic grasp as he offered a hoof to Sentinel to help him up and threw Thunderstorm into the opposite wall. He did not get back up, but the malevolent red glow of her horn continued to intensify instead of extinguishing as she readied another blow. Rainbow Dash— who had been fully aware the entire time— had recovered enough motor function to try to stop Twilight from killing him. This, however, only made the enraged unicorn turn on her and continue to charge a telekinetic blast— a lethal strength one. "Twilight! What are you doing?! We're your friends!" yelled Dash as she stumbled to put herself in between Twilight and the broken pegasus. "You chose your side!" hissed the once lavender unicorn that was now completely white— her voice oozing with power. "Now, I will deal with you!" The crowd gasped in surprise as an opaque barrier of red encircled the brawl area. "What are ya doin', Twilight!" yelled Applejack in shock as she quickly tried to buck the barrier only to fly away with equal force sending several ponies flying as she slammed into a cart full of carrots. "Oh my! Applejack! Are you alright?!" yelled Rarity as she galloped to her dazed friend. "I'm fine, Rares," said Applejack shakily and with worry as she stood and straightened her hat staring at the barrier. "Ah jus hope Twi knows what she's doin'." Back in the barrier, Sentinel was barely conscious of the exchange between Rainbow and Twilight moments before, his consciousness fading fast, but he knew— unlike with the lieutenant— Dash was in mortal danger. "Only for you, Dashie!" the unicorn stallion whispered as he dredged up the last few vestiges of power and concentration and fired a glyph of magic sealing— the second highest level spell he knew— at the flaming unicorn. I pray to the Princesses it's enough… She howled in pain as it struck her in the cutie mark. The sudden lapse of concentration making her lose a quarter of the magic she had already gathered. Unable to obtain anymore, the flaming unicorn split the power into two blasts. One hit Dash into a wall only hard enough to knock her out. The other slammed into the now defenseless Sentinel Heart, causing a small crater form around him. "Hmph, puny glyph," grumbled the unicorn as she began to overcharge the powerful restraint glyph. In her moment of concentration, however, she failed to notice Thunderstorm had risen again and in a three-legged charge until he shouted, "ENOUGH!!!" and bashed her in the side of the horn with his good forehoof, making her return to normal and go unconscious in that one blow. Sparky… What has happened to you…? Panting above his old friend in shocked horror of what almost happened, he only had time to slowly look up, seeing two orange hooves, before the world went black again. * 'Aerowing' is the Equestrian vernacular for 'airplane' and is not a name ** 'Sore dock' is a ponism of 'butt hurt'