> Heir of the Storm
>  by Bishibosh the Shaman
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: A Stormy Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Prologue



Just as the storm clouds vanish away,
Another maelstrom blasting to stay,
Leaving only a boy to pray.


For every story, there is a beginning. A well known fact yes? This story begins in a dark night with the patting of rain on an old house. Every few seconds, the rolling clouds are revealed in a bright flash with a sudden crack of lightning. The winds howl with the trees, ripping branches and trunks from their homes. The cracking of wood can be heard only barely under the rolling thunder and the blasting lightning.

Inside the house, a young mare, filly, and a massive stallion huddle around a roaring fire. An elderly mare rocked silently in her chair, listening to the wind whipping against the house. Granny Smith let out a soft chuckle as the youngest filly flew into the air in fear at a clash of lighting, her lungs squealing as she shot up. The other two ponies with her also chuckled.

"Hey! It's not funny! Ya'll know Ah get scared in thunderstorms!" The young filly shouted in retaliation.

"Aw shucks Apple Bloom, we's just given ya ah hard time. Get yer rear back over 'ere and enjoy the fire," The young mare smiled softly. "And don't ya worry bout some storm, ya got a big brother to watch over ya!"

"Eeyup," The big stallion smirked as he watched Apple Bloom slowly cuddle up next to him.

"Ah still don't like storms..." Apple Bloom mumbled.

The four ponies sat in silence, watching the fire and listening to the storm. Every now and then, Apple Bloom would still jump a little at the lightning but her brother Big Mac would squeeze around her when she did, calming her down. The young filly was even about to fall asleep when...

Thump!
Thump!
Thump!

Woosh...
Woosh...

"What in tar-nation was that!" Applejack shouted, standing up from her spot.

"It sounded like somepony was at the door, should... should we open it?" Apple Bloom stood behind Big Mac, legs quivering in shock.

"Well, Ah s'pose it coulda just been a tree limb. But if somepony is out in that storm... Ah'm gonna go check the door." Applejack left the room towards the front door.

The earth mare stood in front of the door, waiting for a second set of knocks to ensure she wasn't risking her hide opening the door. Moments ticked by in silence, she was just about to turn around when she heard... crying? The sound froze the strong mares legs, and raced her heart. Some pony was out in that storm, but if they were crying... they must be hurt! Applejack broke her fear based paralysis and ran for the door, slamming the door open expecting a grown pony to rush in. Instead, she found something worse. A basket with a note, and two black feathers tied to the blanket inside. Now the earth mares heart froze as she thought of what she was looking at, the crying resounding from the basket.

"Aw buck... MACINTOSH! C'MERE!"





"Are you sure they can care for him?" A worried feminine voice sounded in the dark howling wind.

"I'm certain. Remember, I watched them myself for many months." A stronger, masculine voice spoke this time.

"But he's only a foal, OUR foal!" The female voice worried.

"I... I know, but we knew from the beginning that this would happen..."

"Our... son... Please forgive us Sky... It was the best we could give you..."





"Dear Apples, please take care of our Sky Shard. I wish we could explain but that would only endanger you as well. You don't need to know who we are... What ah crock. Some pony has a foal and can't care fer the thing and what do they do? Drop it off on some farm and let em be somepony else's problem that's what!" Applejack was fuming as she read the letter to her brother.

She had carried the basket indoors by now and had just read the note to her brother, also sporting an aggressive scowl.

"Well, what do ya reckon we do bout it? Can't just leave the little colt can we?" Big Mac spoke with concern.

"No, this little guy deserves better... better than those good fer nuttin... ugh... Can we take care of a foal here? Ah mean we got the space right?"

"Eeyup."

"Well... Ah s'pose we should see what Granny has ta say bout all this... come one little guy, let's introduce ya to the family."

Sky Shard finally calmed down enough to watch the mare smiling at him. The young pegasus gasped at the smiling mare, confused as to what was happening. Applejack felt the rage inside her die down as she watched the young colt curiously look around.

"Heh... Cute little guy arn't ya..."





"Twi, I told you already. This is not a scheduled storm!" A rainbow hued pegasus shouted towards her unicorn friend.

"So this is just a random storm, randomly coming from out of nowhere!?" The lavender unicorn shouted back.

"YES! I don't know how to explain it any better! All I know is that there are no scheduled storms until next month!"

"Rainbow, pegasi control the weather in Ponyville. Are you trying to tell me it happens randomly now!? Last time I checked, we don't live in the Everfree!" The unicorn began to fume.

"Twilight, I know every pegasus in Ponyville. I would know if they were going to make a thunderstorm this bad!" Rainbow Dash finally shouted at the top of her lungs, her wings flaring.

The two of them argued for hours on end, endlessly they threw remarks back at each other. The argument finally settled when Rainbow charged Twilight with a hoof. The hoof hit a magic barrier, and the pegasus flew back across the floor of Twilight's library. Rainbow shot up from the floor ready to charge again, but stopped as she saw her friend. Twilight was hiding her head in the ground and making the most pathetic weeping noise Rainbow had ever heard. The pegasus sunk her own head with a sigh as she trotted up to the weeping unicorn and sat down beside her.

"Come on Twi, I'm sorry I tried to hit you... You know how I get right?" Rainbow rubbed a hoof up Twilight's back.

"I... I could... I could have hurt you..." Rainbow could hear the pain in Twilight's voice.

"Nah, I'm alright! See? Better than ever!" Rainbow tried to cheer her up but to no avail. "Come on Twi, I forgive you."

"R-really?"

"Really, it was a stupid fight anyways..."

"Yeah... it was pretty dumb... " Twilight smiled at her friend as the storm raged on.
> Chapter One: Growing Up - Part One
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of The Storm
Chapter One


Three weeks after the largest storm Ponyville had experienced, the Apple family was back in business. The whole family was supposed to be out in the orchards, replanting fallen trees and cleaning up the debris. Big Mac was the only one who stayed behind, as Applejack had left for Twilight's for help with their... delicate gift. Apple Bloom however was organizing a secret meeting with her friends, to which nopony knew besides her and a special somepony she was about to introduce.

"Come on Apple! What's the big secret!?" Scootaloo asked impatiently as she followed Apple Bloom to the tree house.

"Now what's tha point of tellin ya when it's s'posed to be ah surprise!?" Apple Bloom smiled, both of her friends suspected her giddiness but had no idea what she was about to say.

"Is it really that great? You are like... super excited!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, almost as excited about the big secret.

"Yeah! It is like... tha best thing to happen ever! But ya'll are gonna have ta wait till we get there 'till I tell ya." Apple Bloom winked.

"Ugh... well, lets hurry up then! Race ya there!" Scootaloo rushed ahead of her two friends on her scooter.

"Hey! That ain't no fair!" Apple Bloom shouted as the orange pegasus rocketed down the path.

"Come on Apple Bloom! The sooner we get there, the sooner we get to see this secret of yours!"

The two fillies chased after their pegasus friend as fast as they could, laughing as the distance grew. Finally the two of them slowed to a walking pace and giggled as they imagined Scootaloo waiting at the clubhouse. Sharing a couple laughs between each other, they both took to a gallop again to catch up.





Applejack slowly approached Twilight's door, carefully thinking over in her head how she would explain her... delicate situation to her friend. She had considered not telling her, but that would of just been down right dishonest. She didn't know what to expect from her friend, she knew she didn't want it going around town. Not yet at least, she knocked on the door.

*silence*

Applejack stood for several minutes before knocking again, again being rewarded with silence. She was about to beat on the door again, knowing Twilight was home. She almost never left the library, usually buried chest high in books... not including the ones in her magic. As she raised a hoof to knock again, she heard a subtle clopping approach from behind the door. Continuing to knock anyways, her persistence was rewarded with grumbling. Finally the locking mechanism jingled around and the door opened, revealing a messy Twilight.

"Uh... Twi, you don't... look so good, is this ah bad time?" Applejack noted the ragged mane of her friend, like she had been up late.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine," The unicorn let out a lengthy yawn. "I just... uh... woke up."

"Rough night sugar?" The blonde earth mare regretted the question as she continued to grind the gears in her head.

"No, just the bad storm kept me awake is all," Twilight forced a smile through a yawn. "What can I do for you?"

"Ah was... uh... lookin for some books-n-such... on raisin foals..." Applejack now blushed as she realized what she just implied.

"Wait... why would you... APPLEJACK ARE YOU PREGNANT!?" The unicorn snapped, Applejack could see the veins pop behind her forehead.

"NO! Ah mean.. no Twi, Ah'm not pregnant. Jeeze, Ah don't have time to go foolin around like that... I need em cause... Can ya keep a secret sugar?"

"Yeah, of course," Twilight sighed with relief, wiping the sweat off her brow. "What is it?"

"Well, ya see..."

Applejack went into great depth describing the events of that stormy night, each detail being recorded by Twilight's notebook of a mind. Twilight was actually interested in hearing everything she could about the storm, especially since it was unscheduled and completely random. Applejack made it to the part about the knocking on the door, and the sounds of wings flapping.

"Ah guess it could 'ave just been the wind but... Ah opened the door and found, well... a pegasus colt... young fella too. Maybe a couple years younger than Apple Bloom," Applejack took a moment to breath. "He was still a lil' too young to speak, and he don't seem ta remember much-a anythin."

"He was just... abandoned there? By who!? The nerve! Why... I should inform the princess of this imm-"

"No, no no no no sugar cube. It's quite alright, we decided to raise em' our selves. The Apple way, but I kinda need them books to figure out how ta care for the youngin," The earth mare interrupted.

"Well, I should still inform Pri-"

"Just wait Twi, maybe tha parents'll come back for the little guy. They left em a name and a couple keepsakes, we let em keep tha name but the feathers... Well we got them put away for when he get's a lil' older," Applejack interrupted once again.

"You sure Aj? This is... well... a really big responsibility," Twilight sounded really concerned, especially considering how Applejack got.

"You sayin Ah can't raise a foal?" Applejack's gaze grew stern at Twilight's suggestion.

"I'm just saying... you know..." Twilight shut her mouth when she caught Applejack's gaze once again, but with a final burst of courage (or madness, she has yet to decide) "Are you certain you can give him what he needs? You are still pretty young."

"Twilight, jus' cause two lousy good fer nuthins can't raise their own foal doesn't mean he deserves to be abandoned. Ah ain't about to ruin that colts life and Ah sure as hell ain't about to send em anyplace else!"

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't..." Twilight felt a cool breeze come in from the open door, but she thought the chill down her back was something else completely.

"It's... It's fine sugar, just let me have any books you can spare. Promise Ah'll get em back to ya all pristine like" Applejack sighed, slapping herself mentally for letting the situation get so personal to her.

"Aj, just keep them. I think you're going to need them," Twilight forced a smile as she brought the books across the library in her magic. "So... Care to tell me about him? Name?"

"The note said 'is name was Sky Shard. We jus' call em Sky. Cutest little fella ya ever did see, got these deep blue eyes and a slick black coat. Down right gorgeous wings too might Ah say. Yupp, He'll be tha envy of everypony in town!" Applejack beamed with pride, like it was her own child. Twilight smiled, a little better seeing her friend take pride in the foal.

"You said he was a little younger that your sister? Are you going to get him in school soon?" Twilight asked, her turn to seem stern.

"Ya think Ah'm that bad off huh?" The mare laughed, "Course he'll get into school. Ain't lettin em get by that easily. Gonna wait till the fella starts talkin, was actually gonna go meet with Cheerilee this afternoon. Explain to her what all's goin on and maybe get an idea on how to start this..."

"Yeah, ready to be a mom?" Twilight giggled as she saw Applejack twist around, the scowl returning to her face.

"Ah ain't gonna be a ma Twi, Jus' gonna take care of the fella till he can take care of 'imself!" Applejack turned her head back out to leave, just before shutting the door behind her she poked her head back in the door. "And uh... thanks... ya know, fer listnin."

"Anytime Aj, Just let me know if you need a baby sitter!" Twilight smiled at the thought.

"No offense Twi, but I don't want Rainbow's bad influence on 'im," Applejack smiled as she knew the rainbow mare liked to read in Twilight's library. "She has a tendency to be, ah whats the word?"

"Reckless, brash, blunt, need I go on?" Twilight answered.

"Oh no, Ah think ya got em all! Well Ah'll be outa yer hair Twi. See ya around!"

Twilight watched as her friend trotted down the road, books in her saddlebag. After she was gone from sight she turned her head and close the door. Looking up the stairs, she caught a glimpse of the rainbow mane she woke up to.

"Hey Twi..." The cyan pegasus yawned. "Was that Applejack?"

"Yeah, she came by for a few books. Nothing too important. Sleep well?" Twilight smiled as she asked.

"Yeah, yeah. Hey thanks again for letting me stay the night."

"Not a problem!" Twilight grinned.





"Get ready everypony!" Apple Bloom shouted as she held the door to the clubhouse shut. "Friends, Ah want to introduce you to the newset addition to the CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!"

The small earth pony threw the door open to reveal an empty room. Both of her friends looked inside, skeptical and confused.

"Apple Bloom, you sure you haven't lost it? The club house is as empty as it always is," Scootaloo questioned, almost immediately getting a response from the defensive earth filly.

"Ah still have it, thank ya Scoot..." The earth filly scoffed. "Why ain't he here!? Ah told em to sit still while Ah got you both!"

"Umm, who is it Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle asked with a slight squeak.

"Ma little brother!"

"WHAT!?"
"WHAT!?"

"We just got em a few days ago! Ma sister said that stork thing brought em here for us to take care of."

"Uh... right... So Apple, what does your brother look like?" Scootaloo asked, peering out the window. "Cause I'm pretty sure your family is all earth ponies right?"

"Yeah, Ah think anyways. Why ya ask?" The young earth filly asked.

"Your big brother has a young pegasus riding on his back" Scootaloo remarked smartly.

Both fillies watched as Sweetie Belle shot out the door towards the large red stallion. They both peered out the window in awe as the unicorn caught up with the large stallion in seconds. The two of them exchanged looks then sighed as they turned out the door.

"Oh my gosh he is soooo cute!" Sweetie Belle was fawning over the colt who was just barely smaller than her. "I love his coat! My sister would love to have a black so pri... pris... clean!"

"Eeyup, he's quite the looker ain't he," Big Mac smiled as he let Sky down off his back.

The small pegasus steadied himself and wandered around the grass, watching Sweetie carefully. Big Mac thought to himself that the age difference was so... small, joking in his head he wondered how Rarity would react to this scene. Sky Shard paced around Sweetie who just watched and smiled. After a few laps around, the pegasus made a feint 'eep' noise as he smiled. By this time Apple Bloom and Scootaloo joined up, but the shy young pegasus took notice and shot back behind Big Mac's massive legs.

"Aww, ain't nuttin to be afraid of Sky! These are ma friends! Ah told ya about them, and our little group ya was gonna be a part of!"

The pegasus colt watched from behind the stallions legs, still too shy to come all the way out. Sweetie Belle closed in on him with a smile and an extended hoof. Sky watched her carefully, clearly suspicious of the new ponies around him. Just as he was about to cower more behind his older brothers leg, the massive leg moved out away from him exposing his pure black coat. Sky shot his head back and forth trying to find where his cover had gone, but soon found himself in between the three fillies around him in a massive hug. When the three of them pulled away, he stared at his older sister and a small smile opened his mouth.

"F...fr... friends?"
> Chapter Two: Growing Up - Part Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Chapter Two


A few years later

Twas a normal enough day at Sweet Apple Acres. The summer season had just begun, allowing for the whole Apple Household to spend time in the orchard together. Big Macintosh spent the morning plowing a new field for future use, while Applejack took Apple Bloom and Sky Shard to a far end of the orchard for some apple bucking. Sky actually just brought the baskets to Applejack for her to fill, the same job Apple Bloom used to have until she began her 'training' as Applejack had put it.

Every day for the last few months, Sky found enjoyment in this part of the day but also found a deep disdain for himself. He had watched every pegasus his age, with exception to Scootaloo, learn to fly. Even if it was just a slight hover over the ground. The black pegasus colt with blue tipped wings grew envious of his class mates as they hovered in the air around him while his wings remained glued to his back. He could stretch them ever so slightly, but he could never fully extend them out like his friends.

His family watched with fake smiles as he practiced and stretched his wings, in his youth he was sharp and could tell that they were concerned. Even working in the orchards, he would attempt to expand his wings. Just to see them unfolded across his body, that alone would be enough to satisfy his yearning. As he stretched out the non-responsive wings, he caught the blonde earth mares attention.

"Still tryin ta earn yer wings?" Applejack forced a smile at the young colt. "Jus keep practicin and Ah'm sure ya'll be soarin through the air in no time!"

Sky looked up at the blonde mare, her concerned smile revealing what she really thought. The young colt sighed as he turned his back to grab another basket for his sister. Applejack exchanged her smile for a concerned frown as he turned his back. Poor fella, Ah wish there was sumthin Ah could do... A thought rang in her head with the force of a gong, an idea that flipped her frown into a beaming smile.

"Apple Bloom! Keep up the good work, Ah'm gonna run Sky inta town with me," Applejack shouted to the earth filly in the distance who shot her head up and smiled back.

"Alright! Ah bet if Ah buck every tree here Ah'll get ma cutie mark fer sure!"

Applejack smiled at her sisters enthusiasm, and turned to the young colt returning with an empty basket.

"Hey there Sky, wanna run to town with me? Ah got somepony for ya ta meet."

Sky nervously looked up to Applejack, but after a moment of consideration he nodded. Applejack had to fight back another concerned frown, she had hoped he would finally start talking to her. Apple Bloom can get him to talk, even if it's just barely and She had heard him herself a couple times in the past few years. The earth mare remembered several nights where her dreams haunted her, dreams about finding out Sky was actually mentally ill. She had long since dismissed those thoughts as he seemed sharper than a manticores tail in the field. The two of them left the orchard towards Ponyville, towards a certain home in particular.





Rainbow drifted lazily from her bed, not even bothering to glance at the clock. She knew it was past afternoon. Still, she managed to fight her way out of the bed covers. Dragging herself into the washroom, she fiddled with the shower knobs for a few short seconds until the water came pouring out of the faucet. As usual, the rainbow mare sat on the outer edge of her tub as she ran her hoof in and out of the running water. After it reached the desired temperature, she then slowly placed each leg into the scalding hot water.

Not the type for pampering herself, Rainbow did enjoy a hot bath every day. The way the hot water relaxed her wings and left them soft and smooth. She felt as though she could lay in the tub for hours, and would have too if it weren't for...

"RAINBOW! HEY RAINBOW!" The loud southern voice rang through the house, almost making Rainbow slop out of the tub in a minor panic.

"Gah... freakin... can't even enjoy a hot bath around here without getting..." Rainbow muttered as she pulled herself out of the tub.

"HEY! RAINBOW!"

"Oh I hear ya... ugh..." Rainbow managed to quickly dry herself off before departing the washroom for her front door.

"RAINBOW! YA THERE!?" Applejack shouted once more, almost ready to give up when she heard the door open and close. Soon after, the cyan pegasus descended down to the ground. "Ah jus' hope this works..."

Applejack dreaded asking her pegasus friend for help with Sky, especially since she was known to be so reckless... But over the last few years, the farm pony decided that there would be no better teacher, to fly anyways.

"Yeah, I heard you the first time Aj. Hey there Sky!" Rainbow smiled at the little pegasus. Sky slowly retreated back behind Applejack, but responded with a feint smile. "Still gettin over that huh?"

"Ya, ya won't believe how hard it is gettin 'em to talk!" Applejack smirked as she planted a hoof on Sky's head and ruffled his mane.

"I bet, so what did you need? Awful early to be trekking up here isn't it?" Rainbow asked, Applejack could almost catch a hint of agitation in her voice.

"Well, Sky here needs some help and Ah figure that maybe the fastest flier in all of Ponyville may be able to lend a helpin hoof?" Applejack smiled as she pulled Sky out from behind her. "He wants ta learn to fly, but Ah don't know what to teach 'em."

"So you want me to... what, school him on how to fly?" Rainbow asked.

"Ah want ya to help him learn, yeah. If it means jus' bein ah good role model then Ah'de sure appreciate it."

"Role model, huh? How bout it kiddo? Wanna learn to fly under my wing?" Rainbow cocked a grin at the young pegasus, who now was sitting eagerly nodding his head in excitement.

"Alright, if you say so... but... I have to warn you, I can be pretty awesome sometimes. So you think you can handle that?" Rainbow held her smirk and stroke a heroic pose.

Again, Sky nodded furiously. Eager to fly and to be like the other pegasi in the town, he wanted nothing more than to be like his friends.

"Great! Well, when can I start with him? I'm assuming you will still need him back on the farm." Rainbow asked.

"Nah, Ah'll use him when ya ain't Rainbow. Just make sure he stays safe ya hear?"

"Safe!? Girl I am the deff-"

"Don't even finish that comment of yers Miss Wreck into the orchard" Applejack interrupted with a laugh as Rainbow turned a light red with embarrassment.

After organizing a schedule for Rainbow to train Sky, Applejack seemed to feel much better. Her and Sky returned back to the farm to check up on Apple Bloom as Rainbow flew back up to her home. All three of them ready to start their new challenge. Teaching a grounded colt to fly...
> Chapter Three: Growing Up - Part Three
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Chapter Three


The light tingles from the tips of his fingers,
Static flows into his veins.
His hair stands up as he basks in this sense
Of feeling new life sparked in the boy.

One month later

The city of Ponyville was gifted a sunny day, clear skies, and more importantly cool winds. Rainbow Dash felt that this was the day she got the little runt off the ground and in the air. The last month having little to no progress, any normal pony would have given up. Rainbow is not a normal pony however. Bound and determined to get this pegasus in the air, she concocted the perfect day to due so. Now all that was to do was get Sky's wings opened and in the air.

"Aight squirt, today you are getting in the air. No ifs. No ands. And no Buts! We clear?" Rainbow put off a stern voice, but relaxed enough to give Sky the slightest bit of comfort. The pegasus only nodded, faking a smile.

"Still not talking? Jeeze... Well here's my plan. First off, wing stretches! Get those babies out and lets see them move!" Rainbow shouted again, trying to sound cheerful. 

Sky watched as she stretched her wings out and admired the cyan wings outstretched into the wind. His mind drifted a second as a small gust picked up and rustled her feathers for a short second. His attention was caught when the rainbow maned instructor coughed aloud and fluttered her wings to emphasize what she wanted.

The same thing Sky tried day after day, flexing the base of his wings just to get them to unfold, still proved impossible to the colt. He could spread them barely an inch away from his back before they would seize up and collapse back down on him. Each time this happened, the cyan pegasus had to fight the urge to facehoof.

This kid has got to be the MOST pathetic pegasus I worked with... and he will probably be on my weather crew.... ugh...  Rainbow thought in her head, outwardly sighing.

Sky heard the sigh, and sunk his head as figured his instructors thoughts. His flank hit the ground and he sat there, silently sulking as he thought about his lacking abilities. He wondered why he couldn't fly, maybe it was because his family was a bunch of earth ponies. But he had to have a pegasus somewhere in there right? Why else would he be one? Maybe it's a bad gene in the blood, maybe he was born a failure. His thoughts were stopped in their tracks as he felt soft wings lift him up from the ground and a hoof bring his head up.

"Sorry kid, I didn't mean for you to hear that... Pretty dumb of me... Listen, I told your sister I would get you in the air and that is exactly what I intend to do!" Rainbow smirked.

Sky felt his hooves leave the ground slowly, for several seconds he had no idea what was happening and panicked at the new sensation of flying. Rainbow could barely keep her hooves around the squirming colt but managed to lock her grip and flew up to a nearby cloud. Sky's hooves rested down on the softness of the cloud, his eyes growing as he realized where he was. Rainbow soon landed next to him and smiled.

"You know how birds learn to fly kiddo?" Rainbow asked, her mouth twisting into a malicious grin.

After a silent shake of his head, Sky peeked over the edge of the cloud. Noticing just how high they were, he felt a warm rush run through his veins. As he watched the ground beneath him move, he noted the small dots on the ground. Assuming them to be ponies, he felt a smile creep across his lips at his new found love of the sky. His joy was cut a little short when his instructor shouted in his ear.

"They DROP THEM!" Rainbow shouted as she pushed the pegasus colt off the cloud. She marveled for a moment as the colt didn't even scream, but she giggled as she heard the slightest 'Eep' as he fell.

Sky shot towards the ground like a rocket, but instead of fear he felt a certain euphoria as the wind whipped across his face. For the first few seconds, he didn't even care if he was falling to his potential death. As soon as the thought crossed his mind though...

Once again, the young pegasus tried to unfold his wings and yet again they remained glued to his back. He continued to strain his back trying to force them open but to no avail. Trying his hardest not to look at the incoming ground, he still felt his heart race in his chest. Now it raced in fear rather than euphoria. Several seconds lasted forever for Sky, still failing to unfold his wings and at least glide down the the ground. His heart racing, Sky knew that if he was to save himself he would need to calm down. His older sister beat the importance of remaining calm into his head all the time.

As Rainbow watched the colt plummet to the ground, her smirk of confidence soon became a look of worry as she noticed the black spec get smaller and smaller. After not too much longer, the cyan pegasus leaped from the cloud and shot to the ground after Sky, who seemed too far to reach. Rainbow knew she wouldn't catch up conventionally, and she only had one option. She just hoped Applejack wasn't watching some how. Last thing she needed was to be scolded about dropping her family off clouds...

Sky finally relaxed enough to focus. He closed his eyes and tried to envision his wings flapping in the wind. Focusing on the idea of flight and the wind rushing past his face, he watched in his head as the long black wings unfolded off his back. Using his mind, he watched them fold out into long gliders to gently land him on the ground. The wind was still ripping at his face and mane, but he began to think he had relaxed enough to finally do it.

BOOM!

The shock of the loud noise blocked all thought process in the pegasus' mind. Without his mental guidance, Sky just went with the motion and tried to unfold his wings. As he envisioned his wings expanding out on both his sides, he felt the wind let off his face, like he was drifting upward. Another large grin crossed his lips as he felt the wind slowly glide through his mane and coat. This was flying, he was doing it. He could actually fly! Until he opened his eyes.

Rainbow looked down at her package, only to see the pegasus smiling with a wide grin and his eyes closed. She sighed silently as she knew what he was thinking. She watched his eyes open, and after his eyes wandered around for a bit they finally locked on her, and that adorable grin sunk into the ground. Rainbow felt her own heart sink as well.

The two pegasi landed, Rainbow dropping Sky off and then landing beside him. The colt just sunk into the ground, almost burying his face in the dirt. Rainbow couldn't help but frown as she approached Sky.

"Hey, don't be like that. That was totally what was supposed to happen!" Rainbow lied. "It was, well... to get you used to the sky! Yeah! Next week we will deff get you up there by yourself!"

"No..."

"Sky?" Rainbow's frown returned.

"No... I'm... just not good enough..." Sky pouted into the earth.

"Hey... Don't say that."

"Why? It's true! Ma sister can't fly either! These wings don't mean nuthin!" Rainbow could hear the sobs in his voice.

Rainbow remained silent for a moment.

"Everypony Ah know in ma family is stuck on the ground... None of em' got wings like me! So what makes me so special, huh!?"

"I don't know, I thought it was something... but I guess not..." Rainbow scowled.

"Huh?" Sky looked up at his instructor.

"I thought you were special, I thought you would never give up. Yeah, so your family is a bunch of earth ponies. So what? That means you will never learn to fly? Not if you give up!" Rainbow's voice grew sterner and sterner with every word. "I'll tell you what. No Apple I know ever gave up. Even when whatever it was seemed impossible, they always managed to get it done! Are you an Apple!?"

"Ah... uh... but..."

"No buts!! Are you an Apple!?" Rainbow yelled.

"Y-yeah?"

"You don't sound like one! Get up! Tell me you are an Apple!"

Sky felt a warm rush coarse through his veins again. Standing up, he felt his voice begins to rasp as he shouted.

"Ah'm an Apple!"

"Can't hear you!"

"AH'M AN APPLE!"

"And are you going to give up!?"

"NO!"

"THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! GET UP THERE AND FLY!"

Sky felt a whole new kind of confidence build in him as he stepped up past his instructor. Steadying his hooves on the ground, he tried to stretch out his wings to the best of his ability. Several minutes went by as he stretched and stretched, feeling no more different than before. The fire inside his chest was still burning however and he pressed on to get his wings. After another grueling session of flexing and stretching, he finally felt some lift off his back. Wanting to look back, he fought the urge back as he pressed on more.

Rainbow watched with a hard pressed look as the wings rose, slowly but surely. Her eyes grew with her smile as the wings slowly unfolded out. She watched Sky's face turn different shades as he forced himself to unfold his wings. At the sight of his face, her smile shifted into concern. She ran up to him to stop his over exertion but before she could make it, the colt dropped to the earth.





Darkness surrounded the colt, he was standing on a cloud. The familiar feeling of softness was unforgettable to him. The cloud beneath him however was pitch black, and stepping on it caused bursts of energy to cackle up in volts of lightning. Sky looked up from the storm cloud to see two tall, yet regal, figures standing on a further cloud before him. They were masked in the darkness of the storm, but he could see the long elegant wing span of both. The lightning cracked behind them with a loud burst of energy, briefly lighting up the air around them. Sky saw the dark coats of both and deep blue feathers on ones wings.

"Hey! Wake up Sky!"





Sky awoke to the sight of his youngest sisters big red bow and Rainbow's bright mane. His sister wore a concerned frown while Rainbow looked almost proud. The young colt picked himself up off the ground slowly, gaining his balance as he could. He looked back up to his instructor.

"Did... did Ah do it?" He nervously asked, almost sure he didn't want the answer.

"Take a look yourself kid" Rainbow smirked.

Sky turned his head, and his eyes grew wide. Both wings were half unfolded out and gently fluttering in the wind. It wasn't fully out, but it was a start. Both mares could see the grin forming on his face, but none of them explected what came next.

"yeeeeeeeeAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! Yes yes yes yes yes YES! Ah did it!" The normally shy colt bounced around on the ground, fluttering his wings as he did so, in an almost rhythmic dance. Apple Bloom just smiled as she held out a hoof to stop her brother.

"Ah'm real proud of ya Sky, Ya'll be soaring like a bird in no time!" She chirped.

"Ah can't wait! Thank you sooooooooooooooooooo much Rainbow! You're the best!" Sky shouted as he wrapped his hooves around the pegasus' neck.

"Hey watch it now! I don't get into this sappy stuff, buuuuuuutttttt I guess I'll let this one slide. You know, cause I'm the best." Rainbow winked.

"Hey Sky! We gotta go show the girls! Come on! They are at the club house!" Apple Bloom shouted in excitement.

"Yeah! Wait... Rainbow, can I? Or do you still want me to train?" Sky asked his instructor, who simply laughed with a smile.

"Sky, you just passed out trying to get this far. Go take a break and be back here tomorrow. Same time." Rainbow smirked.

"Yes Ma'am!"

Rainbow watched the two of them run off towards the farm, and a feeling of warmth overcame her. She knew about Sky being adopted, and kind of felt bad about the whole Apple speech. But what the hay, he was an Apple. Through and through. He earned the name sake.





The two young ponies approached the club house, still laughing and chatting about earlier events. Sky had gotten into occasional arguments with her sister, but when it came to the Cutie Mark Crusaders he dropped the squabbles and got down to business. Even though he was less concerned with his cutie mark and more concerned about his wings, he knew it was important to Apple Bloom and her friends. Especially that Sweetie Belle.

Sky had to admit, the young unicorn was really attractive to him. He couldn't really say why, but every time he saw her and her seemingly innocent nature he couldn't help but smile. That and he loved to hear her squeak. He found it hilariously cute. The two ponies climbed the ramp to the club house, only to find it empty. Apple Bloom looked annoyed as Sky felt a little confused.

"Ah told em to wait here! Ah wasn't gone that long! Ugh... I s'pose we gotta find em..." Apple Bloom sighed.

"Where could they have gotten to sis?" Sky asked.

"Couldn't 'ave gotten too far... They were s'posed to wait on us before headin out to... oh horse apples..."

"What?" Sky asked, noticing his sisters concerned face.

"We were gonna try Cutie Mark Crusader explorers... in the Everfree... But Ah told em to wait on us!"

Like clockwork, as soon as she was done speaking the air was shot with a loud roar followed by two loud screams. Both ponies looked at each other, eyes filled with fear they both ran out the door towards the sounds of the roaring. Apple Bloom was ahead several yards, but Sky was keeping pace with the earth mare. He felt the wind slide off his coat and cut at the touch of his wings. In his hurry, he barely noticed that they began to unfold fully as the wind rushed past them.

Several moments and a few roars later, Apple Bloom and Sky Shard found both their friends unharmed, but cornered against a tree by a large raging manticore.

"Ah! Sky! Look the girls! And they got a big friend!" Apple Bloom yelped, but barely finished her statement as wind blasted past her face. Double taking, she found the air was thick with static and she saw what looked like a bolt of lighting flying ahead of her. Before she could yelp again, a loud clap of thunder rolled ahead of her as well.





Sky saw the giant beast swiping its claws at his friends. His thoughts filled with images he wanted to forget, he pushed his legs even harder to run but it did no good. Closing his eyes as he ran, he remembered the two dark figures. The rolling thunder, and the crackling lightning. The soft storm clouds beneath his feet. Opening his eyes, he saw nothing but white lighting rushing through his vision.





Sweetie Belle had closed her eyes, in a vain attempt to hide from the raging beast threatening them. Scootaloo was shaking her hooves as she stood and stared the beast. Her bravery was wavering at every roar however, and every swipe lowered her to the ground little by little. This was it, the end. They were both going to bite the dust before even earning their cutie marks. The thought alone kept the brave pegasus standing. Sweetie Belle managed to peek open an eye, and saw her friend standing before the giant beast.

The manticore rose a giant claw, finally bored with the annoying ponies threatening its territory. It began to slam its claw down on the orange filly before him when...

A blast of thunder cracked behind it, causing the beast to turn towards the noise. The bolt of lightning jabbed into the beasts stomach. After a half second of resistance, the beast was finally lifted into the air by the bolt of lightning and hurled into the forest from an electric explosion. The manticore rolled several times in the brush of the forest before coming to a stop. The black scorch mark on its stomach was evidence enough that it needed to leave, the three fillies watched as the beast retreated beyond the forest tree line.

Scootaloo was in sheer awe at the display, and for several moments was completely unaware of what exactly happened. Sweetie Belle had cowered her eyes in the ground again, still not sure if the explosion was a good or bad thing. Apple Bloom however rushed to the side of a collapsed pegasus laying on the ground before her.

Sky Shard was still blinded by the static storm in his head, his eye sight only showing currents of white power rushing through his nerves. He felt a touch at his stomach, and heard a muffled voice that sounded like his sister. The prodding continued until he raised a hoof to show he was still alive. Silence followed for several minutes, his hearing coming back along with his vision.

"Sky! You saved us!" His eye sight restored just soon enough to catch the snow white unicorn tackling him in a hug, but she immediately pulled off with a loud "Youch! You shocked me!"

"Yeah! He did! Look Sweetie!" Scootaloo shouted in excitement.

"Oh my gosh! He got it! Apple Bloom! He got it!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, causing Sky to inwardly laugh.

"Got what!? Whats ma brother go-" Apple Bloom stopped as soon as she pushed through the two fillies. "You got yer cutie mark!"

Sky stood up at the sound of those words, still shaking from the excess energy releasing from his body. He managed to turn his head to find the mark his sister was talking about, and there it was. A blue shield with a lightning bolt struck across the middle of it. Sky laughed aloud as he considered what his special talent could be, the three fillies joining in on the laughter.
> Chapter Four: Growing Up - Part Four
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Chapter Four


Several years later

The cool air stung Sky's face as he was perched on a cloud. An early morning with the east winds blowing his mane back was the best part of his morning. He watched over the orchard where his sisters and brother would be working in a few short hours, he had rushed through breakfast and shot into the air with a clumsy hover filled with anticipation. He was getting so close to being able to actually fly, all he had to endure now was the wait for his ever graceful instructor. Of whom he was certain was napping still. Yet he awaited her in the sky, lazily enjoying the plush, softness of the cloud. His hooves would press into the white fluff and they would darken with magic. He was aware of his gift to make storms, but still underwhelmed with his lacking flight abilities.

He had spoken to Twilight, now Princess Twilight ever since some spell mishap he hardly remembered, who in turn explained to him what exactly his special talent seemed to be.

"It's not unheard of, being able to make storm clouds by yourself. What is strange is that you can do it at such a young age... hmmmm..." Sky remembered the conversation like it happened yesterday, although it was just shortly after receiving his cutie mark.

"So... I'm some kind of... weather maker?" The youthful Sky asked, slightly put down at the prospect.

"Perhaps not, you still have problems flying right? But when you put these clouds together then you fly like any other pegasus. There are many ways such a talent could be used," Sky recalled the unicorn chuckle with her next thought. "Maybe I'll tell my brother I found another guard for him."

That thought stuck in Sky's mind ever since that day, being a guard. He could protect those who couldn't protect themselves, he could make a difference. Sure he could do a lot on the orchard, but lately his sister Apple Jack seemed distant from him. He wondered if she somehow found out about his thoughts on joining the guard. The farm and orchard is everything to her, and they were always short on help. Even with Sky around, there was very little he could do besides pick up and sort out the bad apples. He let out a soft sigh, barely aware of the bright orange presence behind him.

"Heya Sky! No sign of Rainbow yet?" The orange pegasus landed next to him, folding her long wings into her sides as she landed.

"Not yet Scoot, shes probably napping someplace. Always the one ta be late." Sky chuckled as he lay down next to his friend.

"Yeah, true. So hows the flying? Still need those wicked powers of yours to take off?" Scootaloo poked a hoof at his cutie mark, feeling the static zap at her she quickly retreated her hoof back.

"Yeah, Ah can hover but ain't no way Ah'm gonna be flyin without em. Don't much matter to me, Ah'm just happy to be in the air." Sky beamed a smile towards the orange pegasus, who returned a half smile, half scowl at his toothy grin.

"You can say that again, so anyways..." Scootaloo trailed off as she turned her head around as if looking for anypony. "Have ya talked to Sweetie Belle yet?"

"Ah'm pretty sure we talked 'bout this Scoot..." Sky's smile faded into a grimace.

"Yupp, I just decided to keep at it. Come on, even I can see you like her. If you don't get on it, somepony else may get to her first." Scootaloo teased as she rolled her eyes with a goofy smile.

"Ah... Just... drop it Scoot, Ah'm not worried 'bout somepony else takin her firs- ugh! Just stop bothering me about it!" Sky shouted as he buried his face into the cloud. 

The moisture in the cloud helped to cool his nerves as her words sunk in. In truth, he had quite the crush on the young mare. Had it since he first saw her he guessed. Just something about how cheery she was in her youth and how... refined she seemed to be now, like some of her older sister rubbed off over the years. Not to mention, he was a sucker for her singing voice. He fondly remembered standing next to her in many school plays and silently listening to her voice, then questioning why she never got into singing. At least until that musical note appeared on her flank, then it was all she could think about doing.

"Sky? Skkkkkkyyyyyyyyyyyy!" Sky snapped back to reality as he pulled his head from the cloud, not before noticing the dark moisture let behind.

"Huh? Wha..."

"Is that really the best I can expect? Seeing you sleep in later than me!?" The cyan pegasus cocked a grin on her mouth as Scootaloo floated beside her smiling back at her friend.

"Oh, OH!" Sky shot into the air, which crackled with energy as the streaks of energy flared around his wings.

The rest of the day for Sky and Scootaloo consisted in some training but ended up with Rainbow showing off in front of the two. They all shared sweat and laughs as the day went on.





Two strong hooves lifted into the air, ready to thrust themselves into a nearby tree. Muscles tense for a short second, then release. The two hooves cut through the air, ready to smack into the tree. Both hooves strike the air, causing the blonde mare to lose her balance and fall flat on her stomach. The large red stallion took notice, and with a silent sigh trotted towards his sister.

"Con-founded tree..." Applejack mumbled under her breath as she stood back up. This marked the seventh time this happened today, and too many other times this week.

"Why don't ya go lay down a bit." The ever calm stallion suggested.

"And leave all this to ya and Apple Bloom? Ain't no way," Applejack spat on the ground as she picked herself up from the ground. "Just stupid stuff is all this is..."

"It ain't 'stupid stuff' sister, Ah hear ya mumblin to yourself. He's old enough ta know. Don't ya think?" Big Mac stepped up to his sister, still standing up.

"Jus'... What if he wants ta leave? What if he wants ta go find his parents? What if-"

"What if he does Applejack, what are we gonna do 'bout it? Nuttin, Sky's growin up." The large stallion interrupted. "Even if he wants ta leave, Ah think he will be alright."

"Ah guess... Ya think we should tell Sky then..." Applejack sighed, then turned around to head for the house. "Ah'm gonna go take that rest... Ah think Ah'm gonna need it..."





After a long day of flying, Sky felt his wing muscles burning intensely.  Rainbow told him the burn was a good thing, but all he heard was his inner voice letting him know that bed time was very near. Scootaloo had really given him a run for his bits, Sky was uncertain he would even manage to keep pace with her strong wings. The thought of her speeding ahead of him put a sense of envy in his soul.

Sky landed several yards from his home, his older brother was just stepping outside. The large red stallion had a look of concern across his face. Drawing in a deep breath, Sky was almost worried he had upset Big Mac. The large stallion let out a gentle sigh before speaking.

"Sky, there's something we need ta tell ya." Big Mac looked up from his sigh.

"We? Is the whole family over again? Ah didn't know there wa-"

"No Sky, me and yer sister Applejack. Come on."

Sky stepped into the house, almost fearful. His family had never pulled him in like this for anything, Sky felt his legs shake as he entered the room with Applejack sitting by the table. Her eyes were bloodshot and her fur around them was matted. Had she been crying? When she saw Sky enter the room, one of her hooves was lifted onto the table. She laid down on the table two long black feathers tied together. She coughed to clear her throat.

"Ya know what these are Sky?" The blonde mare asked as she looked at the long feathers.

"They look like pegasus feathers sis, what 'bout em?" Sky was really worried now, but he looked at the feathers. They looked just like his, and yet he could feel a certain... tingling in the air as he focused on them.

"Yupp, but do ya know where they came from?" Applejack's gaze never left the feathers.

"Ah- if Ah shed um and left em someplace Ah'm sorr-" Sky tried to apologize but a stronger voice stopped him.

"Ain't no need for that, these ain't yours. They are..."

Big Macs voice seemed to choke up, the silence extended for a few seconds. The pegasus felt the tension in the air rise as he stood there before his older siblings.

"They are yer parents." Applejack shattered the silence, but it was only followed by a deeper silence. One that seemed to deafen the world itself.

Sky stepped towards the table, his sight now stuck on the pair of feathers. The gentle hue of blue resting on the tip of one, the other solid black except for the base which faded to grey. He felt the tingling sensation again, like static pins and needles washing over him. The chill rushed down his back and into his legs, freezing him in place.

"I thought..."

"Sky, do ya want to know how you came about bein with us?" Applejack stopped his train of thought. Sky's confused look was enough of an answer. "Well ok then. Ya better sit down then."

The great majority of the night was spent as Sky listened to his sister tell the story. She left no part unspoken, even about her own thoughts about the 'lousy good fer nuthin parents' of his. Sky felt a little ashamed hearing her speak of his parents like that, but after seeing his face she quickly apologized, telling him that he was nothing like them. Always willing to help out as much as he could, even if he couldn't.

"So... we decided that ya should become a part of the family, Ah'm sorry we didn't tell ya sooner. Ah was just so worried ya would want ta go find yer real parents... And if ya do want ta... Ah guess ya have every right." Applejack finished, almost on the verge of tears.

Sky watched Applejack as she seemed to lurch down, and he was overcome with emotion. He managed to move over to her side and wrapped a wing around her back along with both of his forelegs. Applejack was shocked at first, but then turned to embrace Sky who was also getting really teary eyed. She pulled back and was about to speak, but Sky beat her to it.

"Applejack, Big Mac, you two and Apple Bloom are my family. Ain't nopony gonna change that, Ah don't quite know why ya had to keep this away from me but Ah guess ya had yer reasons. As far as my parents..." Sky pulled away and reached a hoof for the feathers. Pulling them towards him and getting a closer look, he said "These are really all they left behind? Not much to go lookin for..."

Sky sighed as he held the feathers up. Now that he was actually touching them, the static energy within them was much more potent. Like they had been stored within all this time wating... waiting for him.

"Ah'll just keep these and hope for the best. Till then... can we still be a family?"

There was no need for an answer, Applejack tackling Sky into the ground in a hug was all the answer he needed. As he fought the mass of orange fur for breath, he still thought...

If they are out there... maybe they'll find me?
> Chapter Five: Planning for the Future
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Chapter Five


The last few weeks seemed to drift by for Sky Shard, now knowing he has real parents out there somewhere filled his head with a swirling pool of thoughts. He wore both feathers around his neck, despite his mixed feelings about their owners. Perched on his black storm cloud awaiting his teacher and Scootaloo, Sky held the feathers up from the dangling leather strap they rested on. His vision ran white with static and his hearing dulled to nothing. He did this often while waiting on Rainbow, the energy stored in the feathers filled the pegasus with a warmth so foreign yet so familiar.

Sky let go of the twin feathers and let the drift down to his chest. The slight shock made him jump the first few times he let them touch him, but now he felt nothing as they rested. His thoughts ran on for several minutes longer when his attention was drawn to a soft gentle voice from beneath him.

"Sky! Are you up there?" Sky leaned his head out, spotting the pink and purple mane below. The black pegasus took a look around the sky, searching for his teacher once more before dropping down from his cloud. He spread his wings and glided down. He felt good he could at least glide without his clouds. He landed a few yards away from the white mare, then turned around to face her. His blackened perch returning to a white fluffy cloud it had been before.

"What's up Sweetie?" Sky approached the mare, completely aware of his stomach churning in anxiety.

"You were, for a moment anyways," Sweetie smiled as she stepped closer herself. "Rainbow and Scoots not here yet?"

"Nope, not yet anyways. Ah've been here all mornin waitin on the two of em." Sky shrugged as he tucked in his wings.

"Good, I was hoping to talk with you before they got here," Sweetie began, sending an anxious twitch through Sky's body. "You don't mind do you?"

"Uh... No, not at all. What did ya want ta talk 'bout?" Sky felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had spent some nights imagining this event, had even planned his reaction to every question Sweetie could have asked. Unlike what he had planned however...

"It's about how you talk."

"Of course! ah kn- uh... how ah... talk?" Sky exploded in excitement before pausing and pulling back on himself.

"Yeah, it was cute when we were younger but now... It's just maybe if you refined your accent a little..." Sweetie seemed hesitant to keep going.

"What's wrong with ma accent? Apple Bloom talks the same way." Sky stepped forward a bit.

"Noth- er... That is... I just think you would sound more... Nevermind." The unicorn mare was obviously struggling to get her point across.

"Ya think ah would sound better if ah talked like you and your sis," Sky commented.

"Yeah, I guess. Rarity has this crazy idea in her head, she wanted me to try and help you talk better."

"Ah... Well, between the farm and ma flyin lessons... Got time this afternoon?" Sky knew how his older sisters would react if they knew about Rarity's scheme, whatever it was, but he wasn't about to pass up spending time with Sweetie over it.

"Yeah! I mean. Yeah, this afternoon works for me." The mare smiled as she averted her gaze down the road. "Hey, isn't that Twilight?"

Sky turned his head to see his royal friend walking down the road towards him and Sweetie Belle. Beside her was the rainbow mane of her teacher. The black pegasus wondered why Rainbow had been so late, she must have been busy with Twilight. Once they came within talking distance, Sky ran up to his friend and his teacher.

"Sup kid, get any practice in?" Rainbow smirked as she trotted ahead of Twilight.

"Ah little, Ah-er..." Sky turned his head back towards Sweetie Belle. "Ah mean, I wanted ta wait for you and Scoots."

Twilight peeked her head around and caught Sweetie's smile towards Sky. She let out a smile of her own as she pulled ahead of her friend. She remained silent for now.

"Well, I guess it's fine. We may not have caught you if you were up there practicing. We got something to show you anyways," Rainbow explained as she motioned for him to join her and Twilight. "You are going to love this."

"Uh, ok. See ya later Sweetie!" Sky waved as he followed the older mares ahead of him, wondering what surprise they had for him.

Sky followed into town and towards the big tree that Twilight called home. He could hear Twilight and Rainbow snickering ahead of him, they must have had something either really malicious or very interesting in mind. After a relaxing walk into town, the thee of them made it to the door. Sky could hear soft humming behind the door, but Twilight kept the door shut for now. Instead both her and Rainbow twisted around revealing twin smiles. It actually creeped Sky out a little, both mares were acting weird the whole trip.

"Ready for the surprise kid?" Rainbow was about to explode in excitement. Twilight was also barely containing herself.

"Ah guess, The two of ya are acting... strange..." Sky admitted to the mares. Twilight jolted her head back, shocked at the comment but maintained her smile.

"Says the living battery, come on. It should be all polished and ready for you." Rainbow Winked as the door opened for her.

Sky followed behind the swishing tail of color, curious as to what was inside. Looking around the library, the only items of notice were the wooden centerpiece and what looked like a cloth cover. Sky chuckled inside himself, all the fuss and they didn't even put a bow on it. Twilight stepped around the centerpiece, almost skipping in her excitement, and blocked Sky's view of the covered surprise.

"Sky, you know my brother used to be Captain of the Guard right?" The princess asked the pegasi, fondly remembering this day for a young colt she loved to this day.

"Yeah, I guess. Why?" Sky wondered why Twilight mentioned her brother.

"When Prince Shining first told our mother he wanted to join the royal guard, well... Let's just say he was met with mixed views," Twilight sheepishly grinned as she recalled the memory. "Mother was a little less than pleased, Our father on the other hand was beaming with pride."

Twilight had began pacing around Sky, fluttering her wings at highlights of her story. Sky listened for several minutes, genuinely interested at first. The story began to drag on however, and Sky had to fight just to keep standing. He took a few quick glances at Rainbow, who looked just about as bored as he did. Finally Twilight coughed, grabbing both Sky's and Rainbows attention.

"You two really are a pair..." Twilight sighed. "Have you even been listening Sky?"

"Y-yes! I mean, a little..." Sky felt the blood rush to his face, knowing the oncoming storm.

"I knew it! Ugh! What's the point in trying to tell a story when nopony bothers to listen to it!?" Twilight fumed for a moment before sighing. "I guess... you can't be blamed. You are Rainbow's student after all..."

"Hey what's that supposed to mean!?" The rainbow hued pegasus blurted out.

"That you prefer action over anything else..." Twilight smirked as her friend. "Well... Lets get to the best part. Sky?"

Sky Shard turned his attention to Twilight, magic already enveloping the robed anomaly holding Sky's curiosity. The hairs in Sky's mane began to stiffen as he awaited his surprise. The robed object sort of held a ponies figure, but the head seemed much too tall. Sky figured he would just have to wait, which he hoped wouldn't be much longer. His wings were beginning to itch, eager to stretch themselves. Finally the veil was lifted, and at that moment every thought the young pegasus had was lost.

Sky was staring at a manikin, clad in bright golden armor. It was an older style than the traditional royal guard uniform, instead of plates covering the flank of the body it was reinforced towards the front. The armor was designed for pushing attacks Sky thought, issued during a time of war and worn by the bravest of ponies. One plate extended across the spine, Sky assumed for protection from slashing attacks. This left the vulnerable to piercing blows, especially if the soldier within was breaking a fortified line. Sky admired the silver trimming, and how the precious material glistened in the light. Questions filled the colts mind.

"This is... from the war, isn't it Twilight?" Sky asked, now watching his his reflection shimmer in the shaped metal. "Ah- I mean... I can tell from the design."

A curious smirk grew on the princess' face. "And you know armor designs how?"

"I... don't know? I saw the royal guard a few times here, and this armor looks different," Sky began to explain. "It looks more, fierce like. Kinda like it's meant to protect the front."

"That's... Very good Sky. You must have read that in one of my books!" Twilight was becoming more excited by the moment. "I knew I liked you Sky."

"Heh, yeah." Sky rubbed the back of his head. He knew he had never read about armor before, and he only knew of the war from stories Applejack told about their grandfather. Not his grandfather, although Sky hoped the old stallion would have been just as accepting as his family. "So... Can I try it on?"

"I thought you'de never ask!" Rainbow piped in, eager to actually do something. "Let's get you suited up like a REAL knight Sky! Heh"





Sweetie Belle had just returned to the boutique, after her talk with Sky she felt like she needed a rest. Ever since Rarity found her diary, things have been absolute chaos here. The young unicorn couldn't count how many times she had scolded her older sister for invading her privacy like that. One section calling Sky decent and it's the end of the world...

"Oh this is simply Marvelous! Sweetie Belle, do you know what this means!?"

"Will you just forget about it!? It's none of your business!"

"But it IS my business Sweetie! My dear sister is finally becoming a mare!"

"Am not! I mean... So what!?"

"Oh but this simply won't work, yet anyways... We must make preparations!"

Preparations... Sweetie Belle wished she had never asked what her sister meant by that. Sweetie now lay in her bed, she reached a hoof under her pillow and pulled out a folder. Flipping it open, she pulled out a single sheet of paper. Chicken scratch writing filled the middle of the page. She ran a hoof half way down the page before stopping.

"The clouds more shadow over the sky... Guess I should throw together a lesson plan..." Sweetie sighed as she twisted over in her bed. She intended to get a nap before Sky came over, but like most of her plans...

"Oh Sweetie Belle! May I borrow you for a moment?" Her sisters voice rang through her floor. With a grunt and a sigh, Sweetie crawled back out of bed and made her way down the stairs.

Sweetie stepped through the archway into her sisters domain. The room was littered with every color of cloth. Sweetie could hardly stand the mess, no matter what Rarity called it. After wading through the ocean of fabric, Sweetie found her sister sprawled over the top of an overly done (In her opinion anyways) dress.

"Oh Sweetie, can you please hold this ribbon for me? Right there if you would," Rarity pulled herself off the dress so that Sweetie could help. "There you go, this is much appreciated I assure you."

"Oh, it's not like I had anything else planned today..." Sweetie groaned.

"Soooo?" Rarity asked with sparkling eyes.

"So what?"

"Soooo how did it go with Sky?"

Sweetie felt the urge to facehoof, and would have had her hoof not been tied to the dress with ribbons. "He is coming over this afternoon so I can help with his accent."

"This afternoon? But the Boutique is a mess! This simply will not do. Not at all!" Rarity laced up the ribbon and was now trotting towards the other end of the room. "And where is Sky Shard at? Probably out training with Rainbow Dash..."

"Actually, I think he went with Rainbow and Twilight to the library. They mentioned a surprise for him."

"Then it is to Twilight's I go! Sweetie, clean yourself up and head to the Sugar Cube Corner! Rarity shall take care of everything!" The fashionista shouted as she charged to the door, stopping momentarily to pick out a floral hat.

"Oh... ok... great..." Sweetie Belle groaned as she went back to her room.





"Spike, what's takin so long?" Rainbow grew impatient, especially since she wanted to help put the armor on. Sky insisted that he put it on in private, only asking for Spike's aid on the more awkward pieces.

"Uh, hang on! U'mm... put this piece... here?" The dragons muffled voice hollered out the door.

"Ouch! Watch it Spike, that spot's tend'er-er-er ER!" Sky's voice shouted out the door. "Spike..."

"I'll just... get out of here then..." The door opened as the teenage dragon squeezed out the door, face burning red in embarrassment. "Uh... He is almost done."

Sky remained in the restroom for several more minutes, leaving Twilight and Rainbow waiting. Finally he finished with the armor. A quick glance into the mirror and he noticed his parents feathers laying on the sink. He wrapped a hoof around the leather strap they hung on and lowered his head.

"Ugh... That's it, Sky I'm comin in!" Rainbow made to charge the door, but stopped when the door exploded with crackling energy. Rainbow stopped as the door swung open, then slowly backed out of the doorway. "Wow..."

"What Rainbow? What's wro-" Twilight stopped as well looking into the restroom. "Wow..."

Sky strutted out in the gleaming armor, but the gold and silver hues were now replaced with sapphire blue plating trimmed with lightning styled edging. The feather necklace hung over a crest embedded on the chest plate. The emblem only showed a talon grasping a bolt of lightning. Sky felt a new energy surge through his body, one that made his wings twitch as jolting sparks flew to either side.

"Sky... What happened?" Twilight asked in a hushed tone, almost resembling reverence.

"I... I don't know." Sky's voice echoed through the room. "The armor seemed normal, until I placed my necklace over it. Then... well you saw."

"Your necklace?" Twilight slowly approached the gleaming pegasus. "Oh wow, it's definitely radiating a lot of magical energy..."

"So what then? Those feathers changed his armor to look all... like that?" Rainbow was as dumbfounded as she was impressed.

"Quite possibly... The energy in those feathers may have altered the magic in the armor, changing its appearance..." Twilight theorized. "Sky, where did you get that necklace?"

"It... well... Applejack said they were left with me... I think they are my parents feathers." Silence filled the room, until a stray bolt of lightning cracked causing a small fire. "Perhaps I should... remove your armor Twilight..."

"Yes... Preferably before you burn my house down... and Sky" Twilight paused as Sky began to shed the armor. "The armor is yours. Why do you think we brought you here?"

"Oh, well then... Thanks Twilight!" Sky shouted as he continued to remove the armor.

Twilight and Rainbow spent the next several minutes cleaning up the small mess from Sky's show. The mess was just about cleaned up when a knock came at the door. Rainbow volunteered to continue cleaning the mess, allowing Twilight to answer the door. She was greeted with a bright assortment of flowers resting on the head of her dear friend.

"Twilight darling! You look simply... Well, messy. Have you and Rainbow Dash been practicing again?" Rarity asked as she entered the tree house. "Nevermind that, perhaps you can tell me where the young Sky Shard is?"
> Chapter Six: Call of Thunder - Part One
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Chapter Six


The air within the Carousel Boutique was light for Sweetie Belle, much different than the first few days Sky began his tutoring sessions with her. Now several weeks had went by. Sweetie felt as though Sky was making good progress. Sky could at least keep a full conversation when he felt needed. She figured with a lot of practice he would be speaking in a normal accent in no time at all.

For Sky, the atmosphere was completely different. Weeks of preparation all waiting on one moment, one very precious moment. Sky recently had a 'talk' with Applejack, hoping for some help with his feelings. He remembered it took him nearly ten minutes just to ask his older sister his question.

"You gonna spit it out Sky, or just stand there flappin yer jaw with no noise comin out?" Applejack raised an eyebrow at her brother.

"Yeah, ah... I just wanted to... know...." Sky mumbled worse as the sentence drug on.

"Go on sugar cube."

"HowdoIaskamareout?" Sky blurted out as fast as he could, hoping to get this matter over with.

"Ask a, what? You want ta go askin some mare out on a date?" Applejack stepped back with a mild slack jaw. Her memory was fresh with the argument she had with Apple Bloom after catching her in town with a colt.

"Yeah, I want to... I want to ask Sweetie Belle out but I don't know how to talk ta mares."

Applejack took a moment to regain her composure, and then another to clear her thoughts. With a deep breath, she began.

"Well, ah don't know much when it comes ta talkin to mares... But Ah'd like a colt ta be honest, ta me and 'imself. He ain't no good if he ain't."

"So... I should just be honest?" Sky asked, glad this talk wasn't a repeat incident like Apple Bloom's talk.

"Be sweet sugar cube, but be honest too. Ah know ya ain't got a problem with bein sweet," Applejack winked as she nudged Sky's shoulder. 

Be sweet, but honest too, Sky thought. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Him and Sweetie had a lot of fun over the years, now that they were growing up it just seemed natural to go for this. Sweetie was just finishing up her lesson, so the moment was close at hand.

"Now did you get all that Sky?" Sweetie asked with a soothing smile.

"Uh yeah! Definitely, uh... Can you repeat that last part?" Sky gave a smirk as Sweetie nudged him in the gut. "Oof! Ouch, that one hurt Sweetie!"

"Oh get over it!" Sweetie laughed as she leaned back into her seated position.

"Consider me over it then," Sky smiled. "So is the lesson done for the day?"

"I think so, I'm getting a little tired." Sweetie let out a small yawn, which drove Sky even closer to asking his question.

"Yeah, hey Sweetie..." Sky began saying a personal prayer.

"What is it Sky?"

Sky took a good long look at her soft green eyes. He already felt the beading sweat dripping down his forehead. The silence of the moment drug on for, what seemed like minutes. Long minutes of pure agony as he imagined every way this moment could go wrong. Finally he opened his mouth.

"Sweetie, I don't really know what to say here but... I'm going to be honest with you," Sky began but was stopped when Sweetie raised her hoof at him.

"Sky..." Sweetie sighed. "I know... I know how you feel, but..."

Sky felt the weight of a thousand words drop from his tongue and pile on his rear. His heart rate began to rise, well skyrocket would be a better word.

"This whole... thing... My sister... ugh..." Sweetie Belle took a deep breath. "My sister misread an entry in my diary. She took a comment way out of context... I'm so sorry Sky, but I don't feel the same way for you. You're my friend and I don't want to mess that up..."

Sweetie Belle held still for a moment, feeling her own weight lifted from her shoulders. She felt a subtle zap that made her jump, and shot her head around. Nopony was there, and the window was open wide. Thunder rolled across Ponyville's sky.

"Sky..."





The darkening sky around Ponyville hid the distraught pegasus. Sky wanted to fly away as far and as fast as he could. The static trail behind him dissipated into the dark clouds above. In moments he was out of Ponyville, and away from the boutique, yet he kept flying. He barely noticed the orchard beneath him when he started screaming. Incoherent shouts of despair were silenced by the booming thunder and the crackling lightning.

Sky Shard felt his chest sucking in and out, he had finally burnt all his energy, yet there was still emotions he had to shed.  He found a dead apple tree, barren of any fruit or leaves, and perched on the hardened branches. There he broke down and wept, the rain dripping down his unfolded wings. Lightning struck the ground near the tree, briefly illuminating the pegasus' face. He made a half smirk as he thought, 'at least they can't see me cry'.







"C'mon Big Mac! That storm's brewin up somethin nasty!" Applejack shouted at her brother pulling in the last wagon of apples they bucked today.

Once Big Macintosh had the last wagon brought in, the two of them closed up the large door. After tossing several bales of hay on the door to keep it from bowing inward, Applejack plopped herself in piles of straw next to Apple Bloom. The young earth pony was quivering at every strike of lightning. Applejack patted her sister on the back which, much to her humor, made the young mare jump in surprise.

"Now now Apple Bloom, it's just a storm. Rainbow must'ave gotten a late memo or somethin." 'She better 'ave other wise there's a talk in her future', Applejack thought to herself.

"Ah know, ah know... Ah just don't like storms..." Apple Bloom
mumbled with her head buried in the straw.

"Ah know sugar cube, don't you worry."

Applejack wished she could stop her worrying. Even though she was certain Sky was over at Rarity's, she couldn't help but worry. Storms and Sky do go together after all. She pushed the thought back, as there was nothing she could do for him at this moment. For now, the three of them had each other to worry about.






The weak pegasus opens his eyes to a dark sky. The storm has subsided but the surrounding clouds still looked ready to erupt at any moment. A subtle rumbling in the sky hinted at more thunder, but there was no crack of lightning. Just the low rumbling. The clouds began to split open, revealing the darker horizon. A fury of black and white.

From the opening in the clouds, a long slender creature descended. The subtle rumble suddenly became a loud roar, filling the air with dense static. Sky felt the energy hit him, and without a thought rose from the tree and landed on the soaked ground. Absentmindedly, Sky flapped both wings hard. Water flew from the pristine feathers, showering the ground around him. Both wings folded in, Sky wandered towards the border of the Everfree.

The loud roar of the creature guided the mindless pony deeper into the forest. Plant and animal alike turned away from the black pegasus as he slowly trekked the path ahead. The storm settled overhead, yet the creature continued to roar further down the path.

Sky spent much time wandering the forest, but his trek was at an end. The mindless pony came upon a clearing, the creature lay in a coil before him. The beast had a long slender body, covered in scales. Each scale seemed to arc lightning, as well as the talons. The beast opened its mouth, revealing row after row of sharp teeth. Its eyes closed as its roar broke the spell on Sky.

A quick look around, filled with confusion, and Sky was ready to ask every question he could think of. Yet every word he could have said fell silent once he found his host. The beasts head lay on the wet grass. Its eyes were shut, and its breath lifted the long whiskers from its snout. Sky felt the need to retreat, to back away from this dragon like creature. His hooves remained still however, and the beast opened its bead like eyes.

Every arc of lightning from the beast danced across the body towards the head and into the eyes. Soon there was nothing but two bright lights flaring from the beasts eyes. Sky felt reality around him bend as a heavy mist enveloped around him.





The storm was now clearing over Ponyville partly revealing the blue sky, only the soft patter of rain drops remained. The streets were empty and the city was silent. In the distance, six robed figures approached. Nopony was out to greet these new comers, they simply entered on their own whim. The strangers did not knock on any doors, nor did they pause at curious eyes from the windows overhead. Finally they found their destination, the large home in a tree.

One figure stepped ahead towards the house, and with a nod of his head scattered his followers. They each rose into the air with great speed and split off into different directions.

Once they arrived at the library, the leader of the six raised a leathery claw towards the door. Pressing the claw on the door, it opened wide. The figure entered the room, and with a look around found naught what he was looking for. With a grunt, the leader turned towards the door. It was shut now before him.

"May I help you find a book?" The feminine voice spoke from up the stair well. The figure remained silent. "I guess not. Then may I ask why you have intruded in my home past closing hours? It's impolite to intrude on a princess, especially in her own realm..."

"The storm child... Tell me where he is..." The voice was rough and old.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." Princess Twilight Sparkle appeared at the base of the steps now. "Perhaps you may find this child elsewhere."

"I was not asking..." The voice crowed as a claw wretched out, revealing sharp talons.

"Neither was I" Twilight growled back, horn glowing.

The two stared off at each other, waiting the first move. Twilight could hear the figure making a growling noise. She also caught the orange extension escaping the figures hood. 'What would griffons want with the storm child... and what exactly is the storm child?', Twilight thought. She would need to do some reading once this situation was dealt with. She opened her mouth to ask, but the griffon was quick to leap across the centerpiece. Its talons spread as the griffon flew towards Twilight's neck.

The princess' quick reflexes saved her with a teleportation spell, but the griffon also shared these reflexes. He clawed into the bookshelf, tearing through a number of books. Then with his hind legs pushed himself towards the alicorn, leaving a trail of shredded paper behind him. Once again the princess' skill saved her as she created a force field to protect herself.

The griffon impacted the shield and rolled away. Twilight took the chance and exchanged the shield spell for a magical missile. As she charged the magical bolt, the griffon froze. He looked down to see his feet encased in ice and a fading white scribble beneath him. 'Gotchya', Twilight thought to herself as she readied the magical blast. Just as she was about to fire the bolt, the front door opened. The young orange mare trotted into the house.

"Hey Twi! Have you seen Sk- Uhmmm..." Scootaloo exchanged looks between Twilight and the griffon.

Seeing the magical blast in Twilights control and the griffon with talons pulled, she did what anypony would expect. She tried to run. The griffon took the chance to surprise Twilight, as his frozen bindings shattered and an electrical nova erupted through the room. The alicorn launched her magical blast but it was too late. The griffon flipped over the centerpiece once more and in a moment had the young mare in his grip.

"Whaaaa! Twi! Help!"

"Stop! Put her down!" Twilight shouted in fear.

"The storm child... Bring him to the castle ruins by nightfall, or this one dies in his stead..."

With that said, the griffon launched into the air and was gone before Twilight could react. The princess smashed her hoof into the floor, leaving an inch deep print behind.





The pattering rain faded on Fluttershy's edge of the city, allowing the timid pegasus to leave her cottage and check on her animals. After her first steps, she immediately saw something was wrong. Her chicken cage has a huge hole ripped out, and half of her chickens are missing. Her teeth clench in fear as she rushes to the pen. After a head count, she counted only three of her chickens are actually missing. She was still worried, as each of her animals are precious to her. Like her own children.

After assigning some of her other animals to keep the remaining chickens cooped up, she hesitantly made her way into the forest. She quickly caught the chickens tracks, but something about them seemed... off. She continued into the forest with great care. Hovering just above the ground to avoid leaving tracks herself, she followed the strange chicken prints. She was unsure why, but the tracks seemed... forced...

Several minutes of wandering the forest, Fluttershy finally spotted one of her chickens. It was peacefully pecking at the ground, completely oblivious to the mares presence. Fluttershy landed and took a step towards the chicken only to freeze at what she saw by her foot. White feathers, and...

"Bl-bloo... oh no..." Was all the mare could say before a tree limb snapped from above.

Fluttershy tried to escape the trap, but the netting was falling fast and she was frozen in fear. The net hit her with great force, all she saw were grey paws before everything went black...





Sky's vision dimmed as the thick mist surrounded him. Any attempts of navigation through the mist failed, he had no choice but to wait. The mist wanted him see something, something important.

The mist cleared, and Sky was hovering above a war torn field. The land was scarred from magical burns and bloodshed. On each side of the field were armies. On one end stood the equestrian ponies, side by side with griffon soldiers clad in golden battle armor. Behind their ranks stood two tall ponies. One stood tall and radiant in her midnight hued battle vestments. Her dark wings spread across her ranks like a blanket.

The other was also a pegasus, slightly taller than his mate. He was adorned in the royal armor of old, the very same style Sky had sitting at his home. He reared up and flared his wings as he pulled his blade. With a shout of valor, the lines of equestrian and griffon defenders raised their shields in an impenetrable shield wall.

Ont the opposing side of the battlefield stood vast numbers of griffon hordes. These griffons seemed wrong however, they lacked color. It was as if they had dyed their fur and feathers into a bland grey. Some had vicious red war paint on their faces. Standing in the front of all the grey griffons stood another griffon. One who stood three times taller than any other in his army. Beside him was a familiar sight, one of the sky serpents. It was huge, and looked to be over charged with lightning. A flaming chain bound it to its master.

Chain in one hand and battle axe in the other, the massive griffon gave the order to charge. The endless horde of grey charged the equstrian lines, then  everything faded to mist again.

Sky waited for the mist to clear once more, which it did. Only now he stood in a courtyard of sorts. The tall pegasus mare stood before him, wearing royal adornments. She flared her wings, and folded one towards the front of her. The feathers were pure black save for the grey base. Sky felt a feeling of familiarity as he raised a hoof to his chest, grasping his feathers.

A short moment later, the pegasus felt his eyes water as he realized who stood before him. The figure itself even began to shed tears, but she remained regal even with the slivers of water shining on her face. Before the mist came again, Sky saw her mouth move. With no sound, he still caught what she said.

Stop the Thunder Lord...





"Twi! I can't find Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash shouted upon returning to the library. "Her cottage is empty, and her chicken fence was broke. I checked the Everfree but couldn't find anything!"

Rainbow was on the verge of a panic attack. She had sent Scootaloo to Twilights, she thought it was her fault the young mare was captured. Despite Twilights best efforts, Rainbow would not be convinced. Now Fluttershy was missing. They were down an element, and she had no clue what this 'storm child' Twilight was mumbling about was.

"Ok....ok.... Storm child.... No Fluttershy.... Can't use the elements... Gah!" Twilight raged at herself. "How did he break out of my frost rune!? That's like... advanced magic! Griffons are NOT magic resistant! UGH!"

Twilight paced back and forth outside her house waiting for the other elements to arrive. Her mind was full of questions, and they were driving her insane. 'None of this makes sense! Storm child? What the buck is that! And for that matter, why would a griffon even care!? What were griffons doing attacking her in her library? And why in tartarus were they so... grey?' 

"Twilight! Darling!" Rarity's voice pulled Twilight from her mental meltdown, of which she would thank Rarity for later. "Twilight, where is Sky!?"

"Rarity, I thought Sky was supposed to be with you? Didn't Sweetie Belle and him have something planned?" Twilight asked, still waiting on Applejack and Pinkie Pie.

"Yes! But something must have happened and he left, no warning or anything! And my dear Sweetie Belle thinks he is responsible for that dreadful weather we had. Ruined one of my favorite hats you know." Rarity scoffed.

"Oh Rarity, I thought the storm was super fun-tastic!" Came the ecstatic party mares voice from behind Rarity.

"Wait wait wait. Sky caused that storm? Sky. As in Sky.... Oh...." Twilight felt the need to facehoof immensely. "We need to get to Applejack. Now..."

"Ain't a problem Twi, Ah'm right here. Brought Sky along with me as well. Found the little guy up in a dead tree shiverin like a barn cat in a waterin trough." The country mare finally piped in as she rounded the corner of the library.

"Great! You brought Sky! And he's out cold... great..." Twilight sighed. "Scootaloo gets foulnapped, Fluttershy goes missing, and the closest thing I have to answers is passed out on your back..."

"Wait, Scootaloo? And Fluttershy? Twi, what exactly happened!?" Applejack was more than concerned now.

"Long story short girls... We got a big problem..." Twilight sighed. "Come on, we need to get to the castle ruins before sundown!"

With that, the five mares and unconscious pegasus started their pursuit after the griffon foulnappers.
> Chapter Seven: Call of Thunder - Part Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Chapter Seven


'Stop the Thunder Lord...' was all Sky remembered as he drifted through the black. The breeze flowed through his mane and he felt as though the winds were carrying him away. The sudden buck in the air jolted his eyes open. The sky was orange in twilight. The pegasus dropped to the ground with a resounding thud, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

Sky raised his head and glanced around. He was in a thin layer of woods, the ground blanketed with yellow and red leaves. Finally his eyes locked on the orange coat of his older sister trotting towards him. Her eyes carried a dread Sky felt he knew.

"Ah'm sorry Sky! Didn't mean ta throw ya that high!" Applejack slowed to a halt as she neared Sky's limp form.

"It's... fine sis... Ugh, I was having a strange dream..." Sky raised a hoof to his head, rubbing his temples.

"That dream didn't happen to involve griffons did it?" Rainbow descended upon the two ponies with a furl in her brow. "Cause we gotta hurry if we're going to save everypony!"

"Wait... What?" Was all Sky could say as he continued to rub his head.

"Sky..." Twilight let out a heavy sigh. "Earlier today, I was attacked by a griffon."

Sky's gaze was locked on Twilight as she explained and as the story went on, the pegasus felt his body grow heavy. He let down his head as Twilight mentioned Scootaloo, which caused the pegasus to jerk his head up.

"What!? They have Scoots!?" The black pegasus felt his legs tremble in anger. "Then we have to save her!"

"Sky, it's not gonna be that easy..." Applejack rested a hoof on her brothers shoulder.

"Yes Sky, if we simply charge in like brutes why... I fear the costs may be much too dire." Rarity chimed in.

"Besides Sky, the griffon who attacked me was powerful. He held his own against not only an alicorn, but one whose special talent is magic!" Twilight twisted her body, showing her cutie mark. "And that was only one of them. There are at least six."
"Well... at least there are six of you..." Sky sunk his head, listening to reason.

"Nope! Count again forgetty forgetterson!" Pinkie jumped into Sky's face with an angry face. "How could you not see Fluttershy's not there!"

"Wait... Flutter..." Sky took a moment to carefully think about what Pinkie had just said. "Oh buck..."

"Yeah... We are down an element and royally boned if we can't figure this out..." Rainbow Dash added before taking flight. "We need to get going girls."

"I agree, come on. We have ponies to save." Twilight stepped ahead of the group to lead them.

Sky followed behind, still dizzy from his vision and still fighting back his emotions. Falling behind the five mares and fighting his eyes to stay open, the young pegasus gave in. Collapsing on the ground, Sky felt drained of any energy. His fall caught the attention of Applejack and Rainbow Dash as they both turned to see him way behind laying in the shaded ground.

"Sky!" Applejack rushed to her brothers side. Rolling the pegasus over, the sound of snoring filled her ears. "Ya gotta be kiddin me..."

"Well, he did just wake up from a rather... troublesome night," Rarity coughed as she finished the statement. "At least that's what Sweetie told me when he left."

"Ugh... Go on ahead girls. I'll let him nap a few minutes and catch up with you." Rainbow sighed, waving a hoof.

"Ya sure sugar? Ah can stay behind if ya want me to," Applejack offered as she approached.

"It's fine, besides I can just fly ahead with Sky and meet you all there," Rainbow landed next to Sky and sat down. Her friends giving her worrisome looks. "It's fine girls, go. Scootaloo needs help, and Fluttershy too most likely. I'll be right behind you soon."

Still not content with Rainbow's offer, Twilight knew time was against them. She nodded at the pegasus and turned away to continue towards the ruins. Rarity and Pinkie followed after.

"You take good care of 'im Rainbow. If ya don't..." Applejack warned Rainbow, her mind running circles in her head. Seeing Rainbow's nod, she turned around and left to catch up Twilight.





'Sky Shard...'

The forest was quiet, save for the voice echoing from the trees. Sky stood in silent awe as he listened. Slowly the beast appeared, the same from his previous vision. Now the serpent was chained, forced to the ground and scarred. The pegasus approached the beaten serpent as it struggled to move. The voice echoed into the confines of Sky's mind.

'The storm... is coming...'

The serpent coughed a puddle of blood before Sky. As Sky approached to check the serpent, it breathed a breath of blue energy to halt him.

'The Thunder Lord... He knows you are here.'

"Why are you telling me this? What's so special about me?" Sky stomped a hoof, turning his head to find the source of the voice. "Where are you?"

'My time... is almost spent, you must be ready. Everything will make sense... in time...'

The air in the forest grew dense with a heavy mist, but as the mist grew thick he saw one last image. A griffon shoving two mares into their cells. One a gentle yellow, the other battered and bruised but orange none the less.

"Bastards! What did you do!?"

'Incentive, storm child. Come, face the wrath of the storm!' A dark voice growled through the mist, the language was different yet Sky understood it.

Sky shot up from the ground, lags shaking in anger. Drenched in his own sweat, he could barely feel the hoof pressed into his side. He turned his head, ready to attack his intruder. His hoof pulled back eager to slam into his victim, but halted at the bright blue face of his teacher.

"Woah Sky, friendly here, you can put the hoof down," Rainbow barely flinched at the close call. Sky's eyes squinted and Rainbow could see his cheeks tighten as his teeth clenched.

Rainbow pulled her hoof back from Sky's belly, her concern for his squirming replaced with new concern for his excessive sweating. She stood back up, lifting a hoof to help Sky up as well. Sky picked himself up and stepped forward.

"We have to get going Rainbow... I think Scoots is hurt," There was a coldness to Sky's voice that Rainbow had never heard before.

"Scoots? Then lets go, we need to hurry!" Rainbow shot up into the air.

Sky followed the blue pegasus, as she decided to fly low to the ground. Sky had heard she had a griffon friend before, so he trusted her judgement. Plus it made sense, fly low and they can't see you from above. At least, Sky thought so. Rainbow barely made it into the treeline when she was dropped to the ground. Sky broke his flight too late as two griffons dropped from the tree line.

The pegasus was surrounded in mid air. Where griffons had not been, the trees were too thick to escape. One of the huge warriors bashed Sky across his face, knocking him to the ground. It was there he saw Rainbow caught underneath a thick bound net. It pained him to see her struggle against the heavy rope, but the pain was minimal to the shocking blast that followed.

The griffon pulled out a long metal rod, it buzzed as he brought it around. The rod shoved itself into Sky's flank. For the next few seconds Sky only felt searing pain, after which followed a numbing sensation. Then Sky blacked out.

Rainbow struggled against the net, making little to no progress of escape. The rope pressed her wings to the ground and her hooves were trapped under her belly. One of the griffon warriors approached, the other had Sky bound up. The griffon cracked a malicious grin as he closed in on the snared pegasus.

"You better let us go, cause once I get out of here you are in fo- Gah!" A leathery claw pressed down on the nape of Rainbow neck, the talons gripping around her throat.

The blue pegasus struggled for air as the griffon clenched his grip around her. She felt the warmth of her own blood drip down her chest, still fighting for breath. Closing her eyes, Rainbow was hoping for some kind of miracle. Some kind of opening to turn the tables in her favor. As dire as the fight seemed, her miracle was given. Her vision began to black out and her hearing dimmed, but the last image she saw was a pillar of smoke. The claw lifted from her neck.

"Xiang! Leave the prey be and help me with him!" the griffon guard shouted in his foreign tongue. "The child is pulsing!"

Xiang lifted his claw from the struggling pegasus, certain that if she were not dead she would be soon. Lifting his heavy body in the air, he glided over to his brother. As he approached the bound pegasus released a super charged nova, igniting the air around the other griffon. As the smoke cleared, Xiang could make out his brothers shape through the black haze. Seeing the griffons feathered body scorched and singed caused Xiang to roar with amused laughter.

"What's the matter Qiang? The little colt giving a seasoned warrior trouble?" Xiang bawked in laughter, mocking his brother. 

"You should know not to joke about his power foolish brother! Now HELP ME!" Qiang roared in anger.

"Bah, fine... Rainbow Spunk should consider herself lucky, heh..." Xiang mused as he pulled out his conductor rod.

The shock novas shortened in power and force as Xiang held out the long silver rod. The electric energy floating in the air absorbed into the silver orb at the tip of the conductor rod. Confident that all the access energy had been absorbed, Xiang pressed the conductor rod to the ground. The ground immediately reacted as plant life stiffened, arcing small volts of lighting safely into the air.

Xiang briefly considered returning to finish the blue pegasus, but Qiang was already in the air headed for their camp. With a disappointed grunt, he followed his brother back into the air. His disdain was quickly replaced as he entertained thoughts of his goal. The empire would return, and he would aid in its return.





The four remaining mares stood on the cliff side overlooking the castle ruins. 'The Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters' Twilight thought to herself. Where everything began so to speak. The Princess of Magic kicked a small stone off the cliff as she observed the castle in the distance. Last time she stood here, Rainbow Dash saved her for the second time as well as proved her loyalty. Now she was not here and Twilight grew concerned.

She wanted to wait for her friend and Sky, but she couldn't help but feel like it would only waste more time. As if to confirm he fears, two shadows swooped over head. Too fast for any normal pony to make out, but Twilight had magic. Thinking fast she cast a time distortion spell, slowing the passage of time to get a better view. Both shadows were griffon, and one held a prisoner.

Small compared to his captures, Sky was easily made out from his black coat against the light grey feathers. Twilight's heart sank to her stomach, Sky was captured and Rainbow was missing as well as Fluttershy. Resisting the urge to breakdown, she forced down her emotions and turned to her friends.

"Ok girls, things are bad." Twilight began, pausing as her heart raced. "That was Sky... I don't know what happened, but they got him..."

"WHAT!?" Rarity barked as she pressed through Applejack and Pinkie Pie. "If those dirty birds lay one filthy claw on his adorable head... "

"Ya sure Twi? Ah mean, how could they 'ave gotten passed Rainbow?" Applejack stepped up next to the fuming Rarity. "As much as Ah hate to admit it, she is the fiercest one of us."

"I don't know Aj, I hope she is alright though..." Twilight closed her eyes. "But it doesn't matter right now, if she is ok she will catch up. Right now there are ponies we know are in trouble and they need to take priority!"

"Besides, Rainbow can't miss out on this much fun!" Pinkie Pie bounced into a nearby bush, only moments later to burst out in full stealth mission attire. "It's like a secret mission!"

"Pinkie darling, where did that... suit... come from?" Rarity backed away a step, expecting anything.

"Oh this thing? I keep emergency jumpsuits everywhere for any situation!" Pinkie smiled.

"Bu- Ho- Wh- Ugh... Nevermind..." Rarity sighed in defeat. " So Twilight, how exactly will we go about this... secret mission."

"Ah! I'm glad you asked Rarity! Because... I haven't figured just how yet." Twilight gave a sheepish smile.

"Well ya'll better hurry and think of sumthin. Those griffons are flightier than... Uh Twilight..." Applejack's voice dropped, almost in disbelief.

As Twilight turned towards her friend, the tree branches above exploded in sound. One of the griffons burst through the leaves and branches, screaming in pain and shouting foreign curses. The griffon crashed into the ground, rolling several feet before stopping. Twilight was about to approach when a massive swarm of wasps attacked the grounded griffon.

Painful screams muffled as the wasps brutally attacked the griffon. Twilight watched as his body went from fighting to struggling, then twitching. Finally the swarm of wasps rose from the still twitching body and dispersed into the forest. Twilight approached slowly, legs twitching in anticipation. She thought the griffon to be dead. None of the mares noticed the gentle pegasus floating down behind them.

"Oh my... I didn't want them to be too... mean..." Fluttershy landed behind her friends, happy to see them.

"FLUTTERSHY!" All four mares shouted in excitement, blowing the shy pegasus' mane and tail back.

"Fluttershy, what happened!? Where were you? What was with the wasps?" Twilight's mouth ran faster than she could ever remember it moving, Fluttershy could barely keep up with her questions.

"Oh... Maybe I can tell you girls later? It's still... fresh..." Fluttershy's legs began to tremble, giving Twilight all the signal she needed.

"That's fine Fluttershy, you can tell us when you're ready. For now, I'm just glad you're ok." Twilight smiled, finally things were going her way.

"What's going on? What did those... griffons want with me?" Fluttershy spoke softly, still under the stress of past events.

"Well... We don't have time to go over everything, so here's the short story..." Twilight began to recap everything that had happened. 





The old wooden doors opened before Sky Shard, he had just long enough to gaze through the throne room before a rough kick sent him rolling across the floor.Picking himself up, Sky looked up at the throne before him. A thick string of blood trailed off his muzzle, but he ignored it as the massive griffon sitting before him spoke.

"Young storm child..." The griffon spoke in a broken equestrian. "You, thorn in masters side... too long..."

The griffon stood from the platform throne, standing taller than both griffons that captured him. His grey feathers rested down his chest, and the long feathers of his wings flared as he approached. His face was scarred immensely, the only thing drawing attention from them being his blood red face paint.

"Bah... I hate using that inferior tongue..." The griffon now spoke in his own language, to which Sky somehow understood. His questioning face drew the griffons attention. "You can... Well, I should not be surprised."

Sky opened his mouth to speak, only to be lifted in the air and slammed down on the stone floor. Lifting his head, Sky spat out a mix of blood and saliva. From that point on, he decided silence was his best option. The griffon leader barked at his guards.

"Xiang! Qiang! Leave me..." The griffon stretched his wings out further.

"I... am Hei Feng. In your equestrian tongue it means the Black Wind." Hei lifted a claw to his chest as his wings lifted him in the air. "I command these soldiers for the Thunder Lord, the TRUE ruler of your land."

Hei Feng slowly drifted back down to the ground. In silence, he stepped down from the throne and circled around Sky Shard.

"Do you know why you are so special storm child?" Sky shook his head, expecting another blow. None came. "Really... I suppose it should be expected. Your parents pulled a fast one on us, leaving you behind like that..."

The pegasus' head shot up at the mention of his parents, Hei Feng made notice of Sky's attention. Hei rested a talon on a knife blade in his belt.

"We never expected her to part with her little piece of the sky. Her love for you surpassed my love of war..." Hei Feng spat in disgust. "When we learned that her and your father left you behind... My master was less than pleased. He gave me this for delivering the bad news."

The large griffon ran a talon through an obvious scar running just underneath his eye. His other talon gripped the knife handle and pulled the blade. One swift slash later Sky was grasping his cheek in pain. The blade of the knife dripped thin blood.

"You are lucky my master need's you alive... I would take great pleasure in gutting you myself..." Hei Feng stepped back up to the throne, dripping the blood from his blade into a small vial. "Guards! Take him away..."

Leathery claws gripped around Sky's forelegs, dragging him out of the throne room. He closed his eyes briefly, or it felt briefly. Soon he felt the cool night air blow through his wings, and the hot sting in his face. Opening his eyes he saw the last thing he expected. A long serpent creature chained to the ground, the very one from his vision. As he passed, it groaned in pain, or out to him.

Soon they approached another small building. It looked like a door and a small stone hut. Entering the structure, the Xiang and Qiang drug him down with barely enough time to keep up on the steps. The air grew dense and moldy the deeper they descended. Finally the griffon brothers stopped, allowing Sky a brief moment to breath before tossing him into a cell.

Sky groaned as he picked himself up off the wet stone floor. Stretching his wings, the pegasus looked around his cell. A pile of moldy bedding in one corner, one solid wall with a small window, Sky wondered how deep underground they were if the window showed the sky. The other three walls were barred, to one side was an empty cell and the other. A cough from the other cell put a smile on the aching ponys face. The orange pile of fur shuffled from her bed.

"Scoots! You're alright!" Sky ran over to the cell wall, although his smile diminished when the bruised pegasus stood with her own smile.

"Sky, you have no idea how good it is to see you... Well... Not good to see you here." Scootaloo changed to a half frown. "You're hurt."

"Huh? Oh... this... don't worry about it. I'll be fine." Sky tried to comfort his friend, but she remained concerned. Sky forced a smile as he watched her come closer to the cell.

"You won't be fine stupid, It'll get infected. Come here," Scootaloo stopped at the barred wall and motioned Sky over.

"I'm fine, really." Sky got closer to the wall. "Twilight and them will be here soon and save us, so there's no need to wo- er. Scoots, what are you doing?"

Squeezing her head through the bars, Scootaloo began licking Sky's wound. As much as he wanted to pull away, he had to admit. The feel of her warm tongue running across the wound did sooth the pain.

"Cleaning, we don't have anything else so I'm doing it the old way." Scootaloo said between licks. "And I know they will be here, I just don't want you getting sick."

Sky felt a smile build on his face, it felt good having someone caring for him.





Rainbow Dash struggled with the weighted net, irate that the griffons caught her off guard. After pushing away her angry thoughts, she began to crawl her way to the edge of the net. As she reached the edge of the net, one of her hooves brushed a cold metal object. She sharp contrast of hot sore muscle against the cold weight made her jerk her hoof away just as the weight unfolded. 

Rainbow Dash fought with the weighted net, struggling as the heavy rope pressed down on her wings. Slowly she reached the edge, eager to get in the air and after the jerks who did this to her. In her rush, her hoof brushed against one of the cold weights. Rainbow jerked her leg back from the weight and with a breath continued to fight the net.

A feint whirling noise caught the ponys attention as she turned her head back towards the weight. The top had unfolded unveiling a strange spinning object. It reminded the pegasus of the weird stuff Twilight kept around for science. Rainbow inched her hoof towards the weight, ready to pull back. As her hoof got closer the strange object released a small arc of lightning, striking the pegasus' leg.

"Youch! What was that!?" Rainbow hissed as she jerked her leg back. The numbing feeling setting in, Rainbow shifted to her other hoof.

Her good hoof rubbed against another hard object, and Rainbow shot away from the object expecting a shock. When none came, she inspected the object. A grin cross her face as she pulled the rock from the ground. It was already jagged, perfect for cutting. Not wanting to waste time, Rainbow hurried to cut her way though the rope.

Once Rainbow was free, she launched into the air ready to catch up with her friends. She halted mid air however as a grin crossed her lips. She floated back down to the torn net, grabbing the rock in her good hoof once more.





Twilight watched over the cliff, still planning there move on the castle. She had taken a lot into consideration, being discovered the worst. These griffons would out fight her and her friends several times over. Especially without Rainbow, they couldn't even use the elements should they need.

Every second she spent thinking was a moment ponies could be hurt, or worse. The weight pressed on her mind. At least they had some answers for later with their 'prisoner'. The alicorn princess flinched as the thought stuck in her head. We have a prisoner... Can't say I saw that coming. 

"Uh Twi, Ah think the griffon's comin 'round. What do ya want me to do?" Applejack broke Twilight's thoughts.

"Just... Knock him in the head. We don't have time to deal with him yet..." Applejack flinched at her friends suggestion. Twilight turned to see the country mares baffled face. "What?"

"Uh... nothing Twi." Applejack replied as she trotted over to the bound griffon.

The griffon groaned through his puffy swollen face. His eyes slowly began to open to an orange and blonde blur. Coughing another groan the griffon was struck by immense pain to his jaw. His vision blacked out as his head fell.

"Aight Twilight. Griffon's out colder than ah mug of cider in the winter snow. What now?" Applejack stepped back, wearing a content smile.

"Now... I don't know..." Twilight still stared towards the ruins.

"Come on egghead! You can't think of something?" The voice brought Twilight's head around as a satchel dropped in front of her. Looking at the satchel, then up at where it dropped from, the rainbow maned pegasus floated down from the tree line.

"Rai- Rainbow!?" The five mares shouted together.
> Chapter Eight: Call of Thunder - Part Three
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heir of the Storm
Chapter Eight


"So, whats the plan Twi? How are we gonna save my best two students?" Rainbow asked as she floated above the ground, her leather satchel swaying under her wings.

"I... We are still working on that one." Twilight gave a faint smile.

"What's it look like in there?" Rainbow landed, Twilight noticed the pegasus stumble as she landed. "Ouch... I thought the numbness would wear off by now..."

"Numbness?" Twilight began but Rainbow's glare snapped her back to her question. "Well, the griffons are holding up in the old castle hall it seems. Whether or not they actually got far in I don't know. Seems unlikely, all the traps would keep them close to the entrance."

"Yeah... Those..." Rainbow tried to forget her night in that old castle. "And what about Sky and Scoots?"

"I saw a couple griffons dragging Sky across the courtyard. It was only for a moment, and I sadly did not see where they took him." Twilight sighed. "The time we spent searching would only give the griffons time to attack us from our blind side, and I'll be honest. I don't think we stand much of a chance against all of them."

"By ourselves, with nothing but our hooves and magic... No, I mean I could definitely take one or two of them on but- Oof!" Rainbow recoiled from the hoof strike to her chest. "Alright, anyways my point is I may have an edge for us."

Twilight watched her friend drop the satchel on the ground. Rainbow dipped her nose into the bag and shuffled around a bit. Once she was finished, she lifted out three strands of rope. Each rope had a small metal object laced into the rope. Twilight gave her friend a confused stare.

"I don't quite know how these work but whenever somepony, or some griffon, gets too close they zap em hard. My hoof is still numb from just a small zap and that happened like... an hour ago." Rainbow tossed the devices on the ground before her. "Maybe if we can hit the griffons just right, these babies will stun em pretty bad."

"Maybe..." 

Twilight lifted one of the devices in her magic. After rotating the device around, she turned towards the swollen griffon prisoner. He began to groan as he regained consciousness. Twilight switched her gaze between the griffon and the device a couple times before shifting the device towards the griffon. With a thought, the small metal shaft shot towards the griffon prisoner. Her eyes opened wide as the device opened out into three prongs that stabbed into the griffons thick coat. Bright blue light erupted out of the device and wrapped around the prisoner. The only sound to escape was the soft buzzing of electricity, then the griffon fell silent.

"Fluttershy, can you check his pulse?" Twilight turned towards the gentle pegasus. Hesitantly the mare stepped towards the griffon. His body smelled of smoke.

Raising her hoof towards the griffon, Fluttershy bent her hoof inward to press against the smokey body. She felt nothing for a moment, then a slight beating. It was slow but there. She let a slight smile creep across her face glad the griffon was still alive, despite his previous actions.

"He is fine, but I wouldn't use one of those on him again." The gentle mare smiled.

"Good, we need him alive if we are going to get any answers." Twilight turned back to Rainbow. "So these things work on griffons pretty well, at least the smaller ones. I wouldn't try to use it on the bigger one. I still can't understand how he was using magic..."

"Well now that we have our advantage, can we get ta saving ma brother and Scootaloo?" Applejack asked as she picked up a couple devices.

"Lets get everypony together Aj, I think I may have a plan." Twilight finally began to light up.





Sky Shard awoke to darkness. The moon had risen, dimly lighting his room. He took a  moment to recognize just how glad he was to have the little light he did have. One silver beam shining across his cell, resting on the dark purple mane across the bars from him. The moon light made the sleeping mare glisten. Sky stared for several moments at how the light seemed to bounce off Scootaloo's mane and into his eyes. He made a mental note to thank Princess Luna for the light, should he ever get the chance to meet her.

The young pegasus raised his hooves to his eyes, rubbing the itchy feeling away. As his hooves wiped at his eyes, he felt the matted fur of his cheek. The memory returned to him as he slid his hoof down the cut. It had closed, but it must have been deep. He still felt the stinging pain of the dagger. Dropping his hoof down to the ground, a sudden sensation from the floor widened his eyes.

At the base of the bars was a small square panel attached to the bar by welding. On each of the four corners was a small stud. Sky raised an eyebrow as questions filled his mind. 
Prison cells should be built secure, shouldn't they? Sky thought. The bars should be further down in the stone...

Sky stood as he thought harder on this. He looked around the cell block, and several things came to notice. The first thing was that there was only three cells. One for him, Scootaloo, and one other. the next was the walls. Inside the castle seemed so dusty and old, but there were also banners and the like. In this room Sky noticed the darker spots of dust free wall, shaped in a banner-esk way.

 Banners in a cell room? Sky thought once more.

Realization came to the pegasus all at once as his face began to glow with hope. This was no cell, at least not before. The griffons must have scrapped together the makings for a cell block. Sky tried to push against the bars, and to no surprise but to much pleasure the cell began to give. It was only a little bit, but he felt the bars flex against the ground.

"Hey Scoots!" Sky whispered in excitement. The mare across from him only shuffled in response. "Scoots! Wake up!"

Scootaloo shifted about, but remained asleep. Sky walked towards the bars and softly nudged Scootaloo with his hoof. Finally the young mare gave in and lifted her head. Her eyes opened halfway and her mouth sagged down, revealing the red blotted tongue she used to clean Sky's wound.

"Wha- what is it Sky..." She lazily asked as she stood.

"I think I found a way out!" Sky whispered again, seeing an immediate response from his friend. Her eyes grew in disbelief.

"Really? How is that?"

"The bars, they are just nailed down. Nailed or something, they aren't held fast!" Sky glowed with excitement. "If we both push, I bet we can bust loose!"

"But what if the guards notice?" Scootaloo's face filled with worry.

"I don't see any guards, I think it's safe." Sky turned his back towards the end of the cell. "You in?"

"I... I guess, lets do this." Scootaloo also rose to her hooves and backed towards the cell.

"Ok. On the count of three, aim for the bars that have welding on the bottom. Those will be the easiest to bust out." Sky braced his body, as did Scootaloo across from him.

"One," both pegasi flared their wings.

"Two..." Scootaloo felt a bead of sweat drip down her forehead.

"THREE!" Both ponies lifted their hind legs and bucked at their cells. The cell shifted as the bars bent at their force, but the cell remained whole. "Ok, once more. These bars will give in. One..." Sky began again as he re-positioned his body.

"Two..."

"THREE!" Both ponies bucked once more, this time busting the welded bars out from each of their cells. The gap created allowed both of them to escape. "Scoots! We did it!"

"Yeah! We did! Alright Sky, lets get out of he-"

The lock on the door before them began to jingle, sending a sinking feeling down each of the ponies chests. There was a rough growling from behind the door as the lock finally clicked and the door opened. The tall and menacing griffon stepped in and stared down both ponies with a sadistic grin.

"Birds try to fly coop?" The griffon asked in a broken Equestrian. "Xiang will punish..."





The six ponies broke their huddle and began to take their positions. Each pony carried two of the strange devices, Twilight took to calling them darts. Her plan seemed smooth, and if everything went together then they wouldn't have to raise a hoof. Rarity and Applejack led Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy across the bridge. Twilight felt bad about using them as bait, but she promised no harm would come to them. She waited on the far end of the cliff side, watching for the griffons to strike. Rainbow waited opposite of her, ready for the worst.

Twilight grinned as she noticed the shuffling bushes across the valley. Just as she suspected, two griffons sprung from the bushes. Each with talons out and wings spread. Rarity ignited her horn, catching both griffons mid air. Twilight felt relief that these griffons did not share the leaders magic resistance. While they both hung suspended in air, both her and Rainbow sprung their own surprise attack.

Two darts shot from their hiding places, each hitting their marks on the griffon soldiers exposed bellies. The same blue flash of lightning from before erupting over their bodies. Rarity released her spell, dropping the stunned griffons down into the valley. Unsure of whether they would survive the fall, the ponies continued across the bridge. Twilight and Rainbow followed behind.

"I can't believe that worked, that was..." Twilight began as she followed Rainbow in the air.

"Awesome!? Because that's what I would call it!" Rainbow blurted as she grinned.

"Yes, quite." Twilight smiled back at her friend. "Now, lets go find Sky and Scootaloo!"

The six ponies gathered in the courtyard. The air was alive with energy, but everything was silent. Twilight began to feel uneasy.

"Ok, so we took out two of them on the bridge. Then there's the one we left tied to the tree. The leader is probably in the castle, so that leaves at least two more. Be on the lookout girls, I got a feeling this isn't over yet." Twilight spoke as she spanned her gaze around the yard.

A chilling scream filled the air, as well as a roar of agony from the opposite direction. Both sounded bad and demanded attention. Twilight quickly decided what to do.

"Applejack, take Rainbow and check out that scream. It sounded like a pony, maybe Sky is there." Applejack and Rainbow saluted as the took off towards the ear piercing scream. "Pinkie, come with me. I want to find the leader and end this and your Pinkie Sense may just come in handy."

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie Pie bounced in excitement.

"Fluttershy, take Rarity and investigate that roar. If it's an animal maybe you can help it?"

"Oh, well... I can try. What... What if there are more... griffons..."

"That's why Rarity is going with. She can hold them while you hit them with a dart." Twilight stepped up to the cowering mare. "Fluttershy, I know you can do this."

Fluttershy responded with a weak smile as she nodded her head.

"Ok everypony, meet up back here once you are done. Lets go!"






Applejack followed close behind Rainbow Dash, eager to find her brother and be certain he is safe. Rainbow however held concern over both him but more for Scootaloo. She held Scootaloo especially close to her heart, after all she was her honorary sister. Rainbow never liked getting into the sappy feelings, but she enjoyed having a little sister. She decided a long time ago that she would risk anything to ensure her safety.

Soon the two mares approached a small stone building. It was a short distance away fro the castle, and the ground was lightly splattered with a trail of blood. Their hearts froze as implications arose in their heads. The next scream broke them out of their trance as they rushed into the building. Voices could be heard from within.

"Little ponies, why you fight? I... Stronger..." A deep voice bellowed through the stone walls.

"You leave her alone! So help me, I will stop you!" Applejack's ears perked up at the familiar voice. She shoved past Rainbow towards the voice.





"This is my last warning, you don't want me to warn you again!" Sky threw his hollow threats at the overwhelming griffon.

The griffon bawked laughter as he slowly approached the two pegasi.

"No creature has stood... None are stronger..." Xiang grinned through his leathery beak.

"I... I warned you..." Sky grasped his necklace, ready to release it's power on Xiang. He felt the power pulsing through his body, ready to explode forth.

"Cute... You think you... use storm!?" Xiang mocked. "I show you stor- HUR-GRRK-GRRK"

The massive griffon stood in silence for several moments before lazily twitching as he fell to the ground. Behind him was a pool of smoke.

"Sky... Did you do that?" Scootaloo asked, eye struck and jaw dropped.

"I... I don't think so..." Sky also stood, jaw dropped at the beast falling.

"None of ya did it!" A familiar voice shot through the smoke, a voice that birthed a smile across Sky's face as the orange mare stepped through the smoke.

"Sister!" Sky Shard tackled Applejack, but she caught him in her fore hooves and squeezed him into her grasp. "Sister! You have no idea how glad I am to see you!"

"Probably as glad as I am to see you!" Applejack also smiled as she lifted Sky Shard and spun around in the air. Sky nearly stood as tall as the farm mare as his hooves drug on the floor behind him.

"How is everypony els- RAINBOW!" Sky shouted in sheer glee as the brightly colored mane entered the room. He was about to leave his sisters grasp when a flash of orange and purple beat him to Rainbow.

"Rainbow Dash! You're alright! I'm so glad you're alright!" Scootaloo was on the verge of tears. Sky figured he should have expected it, he knew of their relationship. For now, he was just glad to see a friendly face.





The roars of agony subsided, but were now replaced by a humming of energy. The air was dense with static, causing both Fluttershy's and Rarity's hair to stand on end. Within the energy though, Fluttershy felt a presence behind it all. One in such agony that it disguised the pain. Fluttershy could not tell how she knew this, other than a gut feeling.

Rarity on the other hoof was on the verge of nervous breakdown. Every second she spent in this static storm was another strand of hair misplaced in her beautiful mane. She felt sheer terror at the though of a mirror. She persevered through her panic however, certain that everything would be well in the end.

Another loud roar shattered the silent humming, and the energy in the air diminished. The roar was close, too close. The two mares rounded a corner and immediately spotted the source of the roaring sound. A sight that placed a dark fear in Fluttershy's  stomach. The long slender creature lay in the dirt, chained and grounded.

"Dra- Dra- DRA-" A hoof muffled Fluttershy's scream as Rarity twisted her friends head towards her. Raising her own hoof to her mouth, Rarity pointed towards the griffon standing over the slender creature.

"You need to be quiet darling, I would certainly hate to garner unwanted atten-" Rarity fell silent as she caught glimpse of a polished stone in the wall beside her. Her face became that of pure terror as she stared at the mess of purple and white reflecting in her eyes. "MY BEAUTIFUL HAIR! O-OH oh-ho woe is me..."

Fluttershy's eye grew huge as she heard the grunt of the griffon. She released a silent whimper as he shouted in his strange tongue. Rarity also heard and immediately covered her mouth. Realizing it was too late and that she already blew their cover, she stepped out into vision. The griffon simply stared at her, then he grunted in disgust.

"I... Do not... Want... Kill... Leave and I shall... Spare." Rarity understood him, but only barely.

"I'm sorry, but you kidnapped some of our friends. Leaving is not an option." Rarity declared, legs trembling as she charged her horn. "Psst, Fluttershy. Get ready okay?"

Fluttershy remained in her cowering form, fearful of both the dragon and the griffon. Rarity sighed as she knew what this meant. She pulled out both of her darts with her magic and prepared to take aim. She didn't have the magical prowess of Twilight, but she could still levitate and throw. All she had to do was get lucky...

"Well... Here we go..." Rarity sighed.

The griffon charged Rarity, talons out and ready to rend. Rarity fired one of the darts, but it missed. The griffon was right on her and ready to strike, but a quick roll later Rarity was safely out of the way. She shook off the dirt, disgusted at the mess the griffon was putting her through. She readied her last dart.

The griffon charged once more, this time faster and much more fierce. Soon the griffon was upon her again. Rarity quickly pulled the dart and ducked. The griffon flew over head and landed behind her. The unicorn twisted around to find an abnormally large target dangling in the wind. She resisted the urge to blush as she took aim with her dart.

Well, a lady has to defend herself... Right? She thought as she launched the dart. It flew true and pierced it's target.

An ear splitting shout of pure pain and anguish filled the night sky as the griffon fell. He twitched as he rolled around on the ground, grasping his under regions. Rarity suppressed a giggle as she slowly trotted over to the convulsing griffon. He spat curses at her as she turned her rear towards him. His eyes grew wide as the two white hooves made forceful contact with his skull.

The griffon's eyes lolled about in their sockets as his heavy head dropped to the dirt. Rarity flipped her electrified mane, in hopes of it returning to it's former glory. The unicorn paced around the limp body, unsure if she killed the griffon or just knocked him out. She was certain he was down for the count, Rarity turned to her cowering friend.

"Fluttershy, everything is alright now. It's safe to come out." Rarity smiled until she saw her friend hiding. "Fluttershy, whats wrong? That nasty griffon is down for the count."

"It's n-n-not... The griffon..." The gentle pegasus mumbled into her fore leg. "It's... the... the... Dragon..."

"Oh Fluttershy, the dragon is ch-" Rarity's voice ran silent as a thick fog clouded Fluttershy's vision. She could barely make out her friends lips moving before she saw nothing.

Gentle one, please do not fear me. I am not as I seem...

"Wha- Who-" Fluttershy lipped but no sound escaped her.

I hurt, gentle caretaker. My wounds are deep, and my blood runs thin...

Fluttershy raised her head as the voice filled the foggy air. She saw the serpent, battered and beaten before her. The fear she held emptied, and now she was filled with sorrow and worry. The serpent lifted it's head at Fluttershy's approach and it breathed a sigh of relief.

Mourn not my passing... Fate did not choose me for this blessing... But you, you may complete my... Quest...

The serpent lifted it's body, the chains creaked as the serpent resisted it's pull. Beneath the serpent, the fog gathered. Once again Rarity came into view, a confused stare on her face. The serpent roared one last time as the fog coalesced into a small ball beneath it. A bright burst of lightning arced from the serpents body, striking the ball of fog. the lightning absorbed into the fog and molded withing the swirling orb. The orb soon grew solid leaving Fluttershy staring at a large, crackling egg. The serpents body fell to the ground, with one final breath.

Huo...lon... My kin... find the... storm child...

"Fluttershy, what... What happened? The fog, the dragon, and that egg?" Rarity stepped towards her friend and the egg. The energy arcing from the egg entranced her.

"Huolon, that's a strange name... Well, don't you worry one bit. I'm going to take good care of you and help you find your friend." Fluttershy smiled as she reached for the egg.

The soft hum of energy filled the air once again as Fluttershy nestled the egg in her grasp. She immediately felt the warmth of life within. She turned to Rarity as she held the egg.

"A dusty old castle is no place for a dragon egg! Rarity, I need to get this little guy someplace warm. I'm sure Twilight will understand!" Fluttershy said as she flew away, egg in hoof. "Storm child, maybe in Twilight's library?"





The castle hall was empty and the silence began to drive Twilight mad. She had her last dart on hoof and ready, but no griffons stood in their path. Pinkie was being surprisingly calm, although her constant bouncing would test the nerves of the strongest will. Twilight appreciated her enthusiasm however, in their darkest hours that pink mare could raise spirits unlike any other.

The two mares approached a giant door. The door was covered in carvings of both sun and moon. Twilight approached cautiously. She slowly cracked the door open to reveal an illuminated room, In the middle sat the same griffon who attacked her before. He could easily match the height of two ponies on all fours. She was about to shut the door when the loud voice bellowed through the room.

"Enter princess and maiden."

Twilight gulped, knowing he meant the two of them. She turned to Pinkie who stared at her with a confused look. With a deep breath, Twilight entered the room. The large griffon made no movements against her and Pinkie, he remained seated with his back turned to them. Twilight rose her head to speak. A talon raised as if to silence her.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle... I am Hei Feng." The griffon slowly stood, caressing a vial within his talons. "You are... expected."

Twilight knew the language Feng spoke, she studied ancient griffon mythology in magic school. She even learned some of the ancient tongue. This particular one was more eastern, towards the Quillen Dynasty. Feng twisted around to face the two ponies, his face was masked in red paint. Twilight prepared for an attack, but none came. The griffon approached slowly.

"You can understand me, can't you. Should be no surprise, you are a scholar of sorts after all." Feng stopped several steps from Twilight and Pinkie. "You are here to stop me, and you think because you almost caught me before then bringing a friend would help. You are wrong."

Feng flared his wings wide as he charged the mares, talons pulled. Twilight quickly reacted with a shield spell, absorbing the blow. It was strong however, cracking the magical bubble. With a flash of her horn, the princess triggered the shield outward with the force needed to throw Feng in the air.

"Pinkie!" Twilight shouted as Feng dived, now aiming for the bright pink mare.

The party pony immediately reacted by bouncing away from the point of impact, and countering with a raspberry at Feng. He scowled as he recognized the taunt, charging once again. Pinkie dodged the second attack with ease, reacting with a buck to the griffons ribs. She continued to blow raspberries as she giggled.

"Tricky little gnat... How about this!?" Feng lifted into the air with great speed and dove.

Pinkie readied herself to dodge the blow, but a twitch in her rear leg sent a gasp through her lips. She twisted once more to buck, smashing into the materializing face of Feng. Pinkie growled at the howling griffon leader.

"Hey! That was cheating! How do you expect me to play if you're not going to be fair!?" The party mare roared in anger.

"Play? You think I'm PLAYING!?" Feng enraged at the taunt.

The griffon charged once more, trying his vanishing trick once more. He once again met with the pair of pink, pony, pegs called hooves. His face swelled in anger at the shenanigans of Pinkie Pie.

"Very well trickster..." Feng pulled out a blood filled vial. "Forgive me master, for this taste of your power..."

Hei Feng popped the cork from the vial and took a single drip of the flowing red fluid inside. He stood still afterwards, as nothing seemed to happen. Moments later the air grew dense as black clouds enveloped the ceiling. Twilight grew worried at the display.

"Pinkie, go! Get the others out of here!" Twilight shouted as rain began to pour from the clouds above.

"What!? No way I'm leaving you with grouchy McCheater pants!" Pinkie retorted. "Hehe, that rhymes with snorted."

"PINKIE! GO!" Twilight shouted louder, thunder cracking behind her adding emphasis.

With that, the pink party mare gave in. She ran to the door and bucked it open. The rain and wind blew throughout the castle as she ran.

"NOW LITTLE PONY! BEHOLD THE POWER OF A TRUE GOD!" Feng's voice echoed from within. Twilight swallowed hard at the display of power.