ACT SEVEN
Lightning found himself in an ever expanding stretch of blackness and chained up, and Krysta was locked in a small cage right beside him “What’s going on? Where are we?” snapped Lightning.
“How should I know?” cried Krysta.
Then they heard the sound of a sinister snicker, and there she was. “We meet again, Lightning Dawn.”
“…Sapphira!”
“That’s Empress Sapphira to you.” she hissed “And you remember my son…”
Flash stepped out from the shadows wearing armor, a cape and holding a diamond-studded sword. Lightning tried to break free from his chains but they were just too strong. “You waste your time.” said Flash “Those chains are reinforced with Crystallite alloys and they don’t get much stronger.”
Krysta rattled the bars of her cage “What have you done with our friends?”
Sapphira laughed wickedly as behind her and Flash the others were seen chained in the darkness and struggling to break free. Lightning was at a loss for words. “Take a good long look…” hissed Flash, and he turned and poised his sword at them, a magically blasted them all into dust. “No!” shouted Lightning. “You monsters…!”
Sapphira approached Lightning and grabbed him by the neck “Don’t feel bad about it, little pony, for it’s your turn.” and she proceeded to skewer him…
…And he woke up with a frightful gasp to find he was at Grandruler’s manor and in his own bed. “Galloping Galaxies!” he panted, and felt very hot and sweaty “I’ve got to get some air.” He went to the window and opened it, letting the night breeze in. All this that he had found out the other day was starting to get to him. That woman was defiantly Sapphira, and Flash was defiantly working for her. “If only I had the Rainbow Rod, I could stop them and get out of here faster.”
At least it was somewhat comforting to know that they obviously didn’t know where the Rainbow Rod was, but were as desperate to find it as he was. Why else would they not have waged battle against him right then. He couldn’t let them find it, and he still had twenty seven days. He just hoped nothing else would go wrong to interfere with his mission. The last thing he needed now was more setbacks.
The next day, when he was dropped off at school and sent Krysta on her way to search for clues, he saw many of the students were huddled around at the bulletin boards in the main hall. Just as he promised, this was the day Professor Abra had chosen his cast for The Music Masters and was nearly ready to put up the list. Sunset waltzed in wearing a pair of dazzling movie star shades and a white frilly scarf. Lots of the boys in the halls thought she looked highly attractive, and for once she let them ogle her.
Then she waltzed over to Starla. “The part’s mine, Starla Shine. You may as well head off… now.”
Starla turned and ignored her and Lightning walked up to her. “I still believe in you, Starla.”
She turned and gazed at him and smiled, and they found they were gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. They’re cheeks turned red, and they looked away. Starla giggled and Lightning rubbed the back of his hair casually.
Soon, Professor Abra came out and fought his way past the crowd of students and put up the list. Of course, everyone practically stampeded by him to get a closer look, and it was there in black and white; Starla had landed the role of Michelle, much to Sunset’s dismay and horror. “What?!” she growled as she read over the list and she found that she was in the play too, but she’d be playing the nasty girl, Rita. “Professor, this is so not right!” Sunset complained. “Making decisions is never easy, Ms. Shimmer.” said Abra “Ms. Shine won the role fair and square, and my decision is final. You should accept your own role in the play and be thankful for it.”
Sunset stomped her foot and stormed away, but Lightning congratulated Starla “Way to go, Starla. You did it.” he stopped when she hugged him warmly. “You said I could do it if I believed, and you were right.”
Lightning hugged her back, and their friends came over and offered their congratulations to Starla, then they all proceeded to check out the rest of the list, Rhymey was in-- he landed the role of Cyrus; even if he spoke in rhyme, and Twilight Sparkle landed the role of Evelyn, Rita’s timid and bungling girl who becomes Cyrus’ love interest. No one seemed to mind that, but what shocked everyone, especially Lightning was that he himself was on the list too; cast as Dylan, the leading man! “What?!” he snapped “But… I… I… I didn’t even sign up.”
His friends were confused as well; they knew he was telling the truth. Professor Abra admitted that it was he who wanted Lightning in the play more than anything, as he was quite astounded by his dance skills the other day and by how he was showing great care towards others. Exactly was the character Dylan was supposed to be portrayed. “Please, Mr. Dawn. The very future of theater is at stake, with your skill and talent I just know this performance shall be greater than ever.”
Lightning was in a very tough spot, he knew that all of his spare time was to be devoted to his mission, but then again, he had never taken part in a theatrical musical before and he was good those sorts of things, plus some of his friends were all in it, but it also meant he’d be acting alongside Twilight, and worse, Sunset, but then again it would also be a chance for him to have an extra activity after school and such.
All those thoughts, so many pros, so many cons… “I’ll do it.” he suddenly said, and couldn’t believe he just did. Many of the students cheered for him already, and Krysta saw and heard everything from the window. “Lightning, what are you doing?!” she groaned under her breath.
Sunset was also peering from around the corner, still outraged she lost the leading role to Starla, but at least she got a chance to work with Lightning and thought maybe she could use this to her advantage; to get revenge on Starla and maybe even change Lightning’s mind about being a popular guy instead of getting revenge on him.
Then she noticed that her boyfriend wasn’t with her the whole time. “When I get my hands on Flash, he’ll be just as sorry as Starla will.”
Lightning went to his locker to get ready for first period, still unable to believe what he had just put himself into. He closed the door and was surprised to see Flash there. “Hello, Lieutenant.”
Lightning features hardened “You called me Lieutenant. You know who I really am.”
Flash nodded, and explained he was on to him right from the very start. He just needed proof to be absolutely certain. “Lightning Dawn, the Grand Ruler’s personal student. You’re slicker than I first gave you credit for.”
Lightning felt his anger rising. “If you know all that, then you know that I came here to stop you and your cursed mother.”
Flash sniggered softly “What are you going to do, expose us? I very much doubt the people will believe your story, just as much as anyone would believe my own.”
He explained how the REAL flash Sentry, whom he was impersonating; he and his mother were killed in a car-crash long ago that he and his mother had caused, and so... they both had assumed their forms. Flash even took upon himself to take Flash Sentry's name, identity, and all that came with it as part of his guise. "And it has worked oh-so-well." Flash snickered "No one suspects a thing, believing I am merely a popular, handsome earthling. Again, I submit that even if you tell your friends... will they believe you?"
Lightning was cornered there, but he also knew that Flash couldn’t do anything to him either at present. “Good luck Young Lightning. You’ll need it and more.” Flash said, and then he headed off to class. Lightning didn’t know what Flash was plotting, but realized now he’d have to keep his guard up more than ever.
Lightning found it hard to concentrate on all his assignments that day. He worried about what kind of things Flash was capable of, and he already had enough to worry about. Now that he was officially going to be in the school production. He had to meet after school with his cast mates to talk about rehearsals and other things.
At lunch, Lightning had hardly touched his food. The others merely dismissed that he was just nervous about being in the play, even though he protested that wasn’t it. He then saw Twilight up at the front just getting her lunch, when she bumped right into Flash. “Oh, sorry about that.” She said feeling so embarrassed, but simply smiled at her and said “No, I’m sorry.” and he bent down to help her clean up the mess.
Lightning didn’t trust Flash and already thought he was up to no good. “Lightning, are you okay?” asked Artie. “What’s wrong?”
Lightning thought of telling them, but remembering what Flash had told him that they wouldn’t believe him anyway, “It’s nothing.”
The others were not convinced.
“Something is wrong, that’s clear.
You seem to be fraught with fear.” said Rhymey.
“I think I know what’s wrong with him.” said Sunset as she came up to the table. “Who invited you here?” sneered Starla. Sunset ignored her and merely gazed at Lightning “You’re upset because you’ve never been in any theatrical play before, and you don’t think you have what to takes to be the leading man.”
Lightning blinked once, and then felt Sunset stroking his hand softly. “Don’t worry, I can show all there is to know about acting.”
“That’s… very kind of you.” Lightning said feeling a bit nervous the way she was staring at him. Starla didn’t like the way Sunset was behaving.
In actuality, Sunset was hoping Flash had seen her flirting with Lightning in hopes of making him jealous for all his ditching her, as well as making Starla mad. She looked up and hoped he saw her looking their way, but unfortunately he was still helping that girl, Twilight, clean up her mess. Then he got up and left, but gazed at her one last time and actually winked at her.
Sunset couldn’t believe it, and stomped off after him, but Lightning’s friends snickered cheekily. “It looks like they’re heading for splitsville.” said Dyno. “And about time too. I don’t know what that guy ever saw in her.” added Myte.
By the end of the day, Principal Celestia had called students to attend an assembly and announced the go ahead of The Music Masters play and that preparations were to begin immediately, but also to alert the athletics team of the grand basketball game at the end of the month, and that the inner gymnasium would be booked for teammates to practice after school, and the days would be marked on the calendar in the main hall. “If you still wish to join the team, you only have until the end of the week to sign up.”
Not many students seemed enthusiastic about it.
The lights dimmed out, and a small slideshow was shown showing pictures of past games against Crystal High. Lightning could see now why the students were all non-enthusiastic. Crystal High had some tough and mean looking players, but then the last slide was shown-- an image of the trophy that would be presented to the winner of the grand game. Lightning gasped hard, so did Krysta watching from the window. That trophy was indeed, the Rainbow Rod, but to everyone else it looked like the most beautiful trophy anyone had ever seen. Rarity’s eyes shimmered like the jewels she saw encrusted on the gold. “Why… I’ve never seen anything so… magnificent… in my life. The gold alone must be worth twenty-four karat.”
“This trophy is being held in a special place, for safe keeping and will only be presented to the winning team at the end of the grand game.” said Celestia “And this year… it’s going to be we who win!”
The students finally began showing some enthusiasm, especially the athletes, but Lightning couldn’t take his eyes off the picture, and neither could Flash. “So that’s what mother is after…” he thought to himself “But I still have no way of knowing where it is or how to get it.”
When the assembly had ended, school was out, and the students filed out, a lot of them talking about how amazing that trophy looked. Even Lightning’s friends couldn’t stop talking about it. “Did you see the jewels on that thing?” asked Buddy.
“I’ve seen all kinds of forgeries and carvings, and never seen anything like that.” said Artie.
Then, they all realized they had seen that object, or rather a likeness of it before; in Lightning’s art drawing, and for a brief moment, they were starting to feel that maybe Lightning was telling the truth about his story. Starla looked around “Where is Lightning?”
Lightning had dashed through the school and outside, to the end of the street where he met up with Krysta. “Lightning…!” she hollered as she flew towards him.
“You saw it?” he asked her.
“I did! We found it!”
“No, not yet we haven’t, but at least we have a great lead now, but you heard Celestia; I don’t know where to even start looking for it.” Neither of them had any ideas, but they knew they had to find it and get it before Sapphira or Flash did.
“Why not ask Grandruler? If anyone will know, he will.”
Lightning agreed, and there were payphones at the corner of the street, except he hadn’t quite learned how to use them yet, for he had only learned so much in three days. He picked up the receiver. “Hello? Hello…?” he clicked onto the trigger on the hook; nothing. Even Krysta didn’t know how it worked, but luckily they saw someone in the other booth next to theirs, putting money in the phone to make it work. Only, Lightning’s gold coins were too wide and got stuck in the slot, and even still he didn’t even know Grandruler’s number. “You don’t know his number?!” wailed Krysta.
Lightning resisted the urge to argue, and then remembered his friends knew Grandruler’s number. He ran back to the school almost running right past them as he got back. “Whoa! Whoa! Easy, amigo.” said Dyno. “What’s got you so riled up?” asked Myte.
“Artie!” cried Lightning “Quick, can you call Grandruler for me?”
Artie felt a little nervous the way he was acting “I could call him, but he’s in a huge meeting right now with the supreme school board council. He wouldn’t be free until later.”
“Oh, no! Of all the times.” groaned Lightning.
The others could tell he was really upset, but Starla reminded him that they both and Rhymey had to meet up with Professor Abra about the play.
“I can’t wait.
This’ll be great.” said Rhymey.
Realizing he was licked for the moment, Lightning decided to head in, which suddenly reminded him that Sunset and Twilight were in the group too.
They all met up in Abra’s D.A classroom and all took their seats. There weren’t a lot of chairs, but at least Lightning got to sit near Starla which made him feel more comfortable, but Twilight ended up sitting beside him. The two said nothing to each other and merely turned away acting like stubborn children, much to Rhymey and Starla’s confusion.
Sunset sat behind Lightning, but she didn’t look a bit happy. “What happened to you?” asked Twilight and she teased “Eat one too many lemons.”
Sunset gritted her teeth and growled furiously which made Twilight withdraw what she said. Starla softly nudged Lightning and told him that Flash Sentry dumped her. She and the others saw it as they left the assembly, almost everyone in school knew of it now. He had dumped her because he was tired of being bossed around and being part of her childish antics and putting up with her tantrums. “Plus, you’re just really annoying.” That’s what he said.
Lightning didn’t know why, but he felt a little sorry for Sunset, but really he felt more concerned for others. Just one look at Sunset and how steamed she looked, she was bound to be a dangerous one; no telling what she was capable of doing.
For now, Professor Abra got all their attention, and for an hour or so they just spent the session talking about rehearsal times after school for a couple of hours or so, and that they would have three weeks before the big performance which would happen at the end of the month, the very night before the day of the grand basketball game.
This disturbed Lightning, because according to the calendar Abra showed them, the big show was held on what would be day 28 of his mission, exactly two days before his time would be up.
“I expect you all to give your best.” said Abra “We begin after school tomorrow. Now, off you go then.”
Everyone got up and took their schedule sheets to remind them of practice times. Lightning was as lost in his thoughts as he walked, that he ran right into Twilight as he and she tried to walk out the door at the same time. “Watch it, will you?” he snapped at her.
“Maybe you should yourself!” growled Twilight “Look. I don’t know what your problem is with me, but you better start treating me with better respect, because we’re in this play, all of us, and I’m not letting the Professor down.” and then she stormed off.
Even Starla and Rhymey were getting a little tired of Lightning always barking at that girl, though they didn’t know much about her. They suggested he take it easy on her. Then they walked off too. Sunset was the last to leave the room. “Looks like I’m not the only one with troubles around here.” she said.
Lightning wasn’t sure what to say to her, as he had his own issues about Flash. “I’m sorry, Sunset.” he said. She looked at him and smiled weakly. “Thanks. Maybe we’re more alike than you think.”
Lightning suddenly felt sick inside, and then walked off, and then he passed by a freshly put up poster in the main hall which showed a picture of the trophy-- the Rainbow Rod--, and below it was a slogan of the basketball team calling out “We Want You To Join The Team. Sign up in main office.” He stared at for a moment or two, and then Grandruler came up behind him. “I already heard you made the cast list.” Lightning turned to face him and saw him smiling proudly, just like his master back at home. “You should be proud. Not many new students are lucky enough to make it where you have.”
Lightning felt flattered, but then he asked about the trophy. “Where did you get it? That’s what I’ve been looking for.”
Grandruler still couldn’t believe Lightning was still going about that space story of his, but explained that a member of the supreme council found it while out for his morning stroll; it was wedged in the mud under the pond in the park; he noticed it when the early morning sun shined so brightly on the water he could see clear through it and saw something shiny and gold.
This made Lightning feel shocked and slightly stupid. “All this time, it was right where I started?!” he muttered. “Where is it being kept?”
“Now, I can’t say that.” replied Grandruler “That trophy is locked up, and as Celestia must have mentioned, you won’t see it until it is presented to the winning team, which I’m really hoping is not Crystal High this year.”
Lightning tried to explain that it wasn’t a trophy, but Grandruler still disbelieved him, for his team of experts at the board, even Professor Brain had a look at it, and concluded it was just an ordinary piece of gold covered in jewels. “I’m sorry Lightning, but if you wish for Canterlot to have it, you may as well join the team.” Then he looked around and couldn’t see Lightning anywhere.
He dashed to the main-office, practically bursting through the door and startling VP Luna. “Um… can I help you, Mr. Dawn?”
Lightning took a moment to catch his breath. “I want to sign up for the team.”
“You mean the team for the grand game?” asked Luna.
“Certainty not!” snarled Celestia, who heard everything “You’ve just been assigned to the acting cast for the school play. You cannot and will not be able to handle both things at once.”
“Principal Celestia, you don’t understand; I have to join the team.” protested Lightning. Luna hated to admit it “She has a point, Lightning. The work would no doubt be difficult on you, and would have to spend longer hours practicing in both fields.”
“I tell you, I can do it! I have to do it! Let me do it!”
“Out of the question!” snarled Celestia “And unless you are willing to choose one over the other, my decision is final.”
“Celestia…!” Grandruler growled as he entered the office. A chill ran up Celestia’s spine “Celesto…” she said sounding a little nervous. “That’s Mr. Grandruler, or sir to you, and if Lightning wishes to do both, then let him.”
“What?!” snapped Celestia.
“Sir, are you certain this is right for him?” asked Luna. Grandruler nodded and being a businessman, millionaire, not to mention ex-astronaut, he knew more about hard work and struggle than the two sisters put together. “I realize what strains this could bring, but Lightning, you wish to challenge yourself. You’re not like other students I’ve met, but I believe in you just as you believe in yourself.”
That was pretty much all and Lightning was signed up for team tryouts. Before leaving, Grandruler gazed at Celestia, and warned her, “I’m getting tired of your outbursts and temper issues with the students. You are certainly not the woman I remember, but if you don’t start showing better improvement… I… I really don’t how I can let you continue to work here.” Then he left, but he stood outside the door, feeling rotten deep down, not just for bossing at her like that, even though she deserved it, he seemed a little sad. “What’s happened to you, Celestia? What’s happened to us?” he thought sadly to himself.
Celestia sat in her private office chair and hung her head in shame. She had been trying her best but in the end it was just no good. She hadn’t forgotten all the things that happened to her. She reached into her desk drawer pulling out some paperwork, but her eyes fell upon a picture identical to the one Grandruler had in his office at home of the two people and the horse behind them. She almost felt like crying.
Luna understood how she felt and only too well, and something told her Grandruler was feeling the same way, but she honestly didn’t know what to do about them feeling they had to work it out for themselves.