//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: The Birth of a Hero 
// Story: Fires of Friendship and Ice of Hatred 
// by Super Ponyman 
//------------------------------//

(Twilight's Castle, Map Room)

The Friendship Map, a magical artifact that can secrecy friendship problems across the whole of Equestria, it had been broken a few times, but it still was usable. 

And now, it was receiving an upgrade from Prince Eclipsio, as he felt it was best considering all the chaos that had ensued in the past decade. 

Once the enchantment was complete, the map could also display a radar identifying any potential threats to Equestria's safety, it worked by analyzing a pony's past actions, their history, and other things.

Twilight Sparkle sat in her chair along with the rest of her friends, they were watching with bated breath as Eclipsio carved glyphs on the floor, they were necessary to the spells completion. 

Rainbow Dash, Captain of the New Wonderbolts, asked Eclipsio an important question, "How long is this going to take?"

Eclipsio shot her an annoyed glare, "As long as is needed. I don't want to make any mistakes while preforming this spell... if I had Burning Star here he could help me with this."

Twilight got up and walked towards the dark gray Alicorn, saying "Hey, I'm an Alicorn as well. Can I lend a hoof?"

Prince Eclipsio looked at her and said, "Fine. But be careful, Twilight Sparkle. This spell is extremely complex and requires an extraordinary amount of skill..."

Twilight ignited her horn and activated the glyphs, then blasted the friendship map, which transformed into its upgraded form. Now, there were hoof pads that could filter through the various locations across the kingdom, a holographic projector gem, and plenty of other things to play around with. 

Eclipsio stood back in shock, "But... I thought I said this would take an extraordinary amount of skill. You just breezed through that like it was nothing. How?" 

Twilight Sparkle smiled, "I looked up the spell before you came over, also has to do with the fact that I'm the Element of Magic!" 

Applejack chuckled, "Yeah, Sugarcube had been practicing all day for that, she's pretty gud, ain't she?" 

Rarity rolled her eyes, "Yes, Yes, we all know how long Twilight has been practicing the spell, I was up since dawn helping her! My mane is a wreck..." 

Fluttershy softly said, "Yeah, S-she had help from all of us. We all have been practicing our talents." 

Pinkie bounced in, saying "Yeah! I been expanding my book of jokes, see?" 

Pinkie Pie somehow pulled a giant tome out of her hair and dropped it on the table, it made a loud thud noise. 

Eclipsio asked Rainbow an important question, "Hold on, Where is Burning Star?" 

Rainbow shrugged, "I heard he is heading out to Shadow Armor's home, apparently they are heading back to his old village in the Everfree Forest. He took Shining Armor and his brother Thunder Fury with him. Don't know what he's going back there for, but he took the black container in the basement."

Twilight Sparkle went wide-eyed, "Which black container, Dashie?" 

Rainbow answered, "The one with the red top to it. What's wrong, Twi?" 

Twilight Sparkle panicked, "That's the container holding the Alicorn Amulet! We have to get it back from him, come on everypony!"

Within seconds, everypony rushed out the front door of Twilight's castle, in hot pursuit of the Fire Alicorn...

(Outskirts of Everfree Forest, Shadow Armor's Home)

Burning Star felt a knot in his stomach, he was heading back to his former home, which was in ruins because of him. 

He thought to himself, "The villagers will probably think I'm a monster, they'll drive me away just like they did all those years ago..."

Thunder Fury hovered above his brother, he poked him on the top of his head, "Hey, Bro? You ok?"

Burning Star shook himself out of thought, "I'm a little nervous about going back to our former home, how are you so calm?" 

Thunder Fury smirked and combed back his yellow spiky mane, "I'm not! I'm just as scared as you are. So don't think you are alone in this, Burning Star."

Shining Armor looked at Thunder Fury, trying to figure out why he isn't an Alicorn like Burning Star... I mean they are brothers, after all.

He thought to himself, "Maybe Burning Star was once a Unicorn and he ascended to Alicornhood like Twily did? Maybe Thunder Fury didn't achieve that yet?" 

Shining Armor knew little about Alicorns, despite being married to one and having a Alicorn for a daughter. 

Shining Armor was glad that Cadence was back in the Crystal Empire, she was taking care of Flurry Heart and Burning Star's twin children, Ash Mane, the male, and Star Tail, the female. 

The trio arrived at Shadow Armor's home and Burning Star knocked on the door, saying "Hello? Shady, You home?" 

They all heard a pair of voices. one was Shadow Armor, the other was unknown, but it sounded female. 

Shadow Armor unlocked the door and said, "Come in. I thought you would be coming to get me later..." 

Thunder Fury rushed inside, while Burning Star and Shining Armor walked inside to see that the place was well kept, with a nice couch and lounge chair, various photos of Burning Star and his friends hung on the walls. 

The White Pegasus said as he darted around, "Nice home, Shady. I like the colors on the outside. Black, Red, and Green. Really fits your whole edgelord vibe."

The black knight facehoofed and shook his head, "Will you stop rummaging around in my stuff?"

Burning Star grabbed his hyperactive brother with his magic and pinned him to the floor. He then said, "Shadow Armor, I've come to ask a favor of you, I need to go back to my home of Firebrand Village, there is something there that I need to retrieve and it requires two experts in Dark Magic." 

Shining Armor looked at the black Alicorn with concern, "Dark Magic! That's what King Sombra uses, I don't want you to turn into somepony like him."

Shadow Armor smirked and said, "What's the matter Shining? Afraid you STILL aren't strong enough to take him on? Didn't I train you to defend yourself better?"

Shining Armor nodded, "You did, but this is King Sombra we are talking about here. Not some rouge unicorn with some moderate dark magic experience, that stallion is the undisputed master of it. I'm just glad he's gone..." 

Burning Star swallowed hard, "Yeah, but if he could survive being blasted apart by the Crystal Heart. I think a plasma beam through the heart isn't going to do much. So there is a possibility that his soul is still floating around."

Thunder Fury snarled, "I hope that black hearted stallion never comes back! I did not enjoy the effects of dark magic, especially if his Dark Magic is so much stronger than Burning Star's Dark Magic." 

Shadow Armor sighed, "I am also glad he has left this world. I couldn't bear his voice in my head anymore." 

Thunder Fury noticed that there was a pony-shaped mass on the couch, hidden underneath a blanket. Thunder Fury zipped over and ripped the blanket off, revealing the pony.

A female voice came from the pony, who was now exposed. "Hey! What was that about?"

Thunder Fury looked on with confusion, then turned to the black knight and said, "Shadow Armor, who is this?"

Tempest Shadow stood up and introduced herself, "I am Tempest Shadow, ex-commander of the Storm Kings Army..."

Burning Star put a hoof over her mouth, "We don't have time for your life story, Tempest. We got to get going, now."

The Black Alicorn turned towards the door, before saying to Tempest, "You want to come?"

Tempest looked puzzled, then said "You have just met me and your letting me come with you? Why so trusting of somepony you've just met?" 

Burning Star just snickered, "Because I've got a feeling that you can prove useful to me."

He then pointed towards Tempest Shadow's shattered horn, "Also, you won't be able to injure me without your horn, Tempest." 

Tempest snorted, "I can still beat you to a pulp with my hooves, Alicorn."

Burning Star stopped, then suddenly turned around and swept Tempest's hooves out from underneath her, then he pinned her underneath his hooves. He stared down into her light blue eyes with his deep blue ones. 

"Trust Me, you cannot touch me." Burning Star said, before lifting off Tempest and running out the door. 

Thunder Fury, Shining Armor and Shadow Armor rushed out the door. Tempest hesitated, then ran after them. 

She had no idea where they were going, but it was most definitely more interesting than that Shadow Armor guy's home. 

(Firebrand Village, Town Square)

After a three hour long run, the five ponies arrived at the village once known as Firebrand Village. 

Both Shining Armor and Shadow Armor looked on in shock. 

There were ruined homes and shops, all of which had some sort of burn or fire mark on it, some were burned down to their foundations. Any buildings that were still standing were covered in vines and weeds, crumbling stone walls surrounded a large stone brick home, The air was still thick with the stench of smoke and brimstone. 

Whatever Burning Star did here to destroy the changelings that Attacked his home, he left his mark for over 15 years... 

Tempest was the first to speak, "In the name of Faust... what happened here? Everything is just... burned and seared." 

She turned to Burning Star, "So you did ALL of this?"

Burning Star sighed in regret, "Yes, but it was unintentional. I unleashed a blast of fire so strong that it altered the weather over Equestria, it was the equivalent of me firing off the energy of a small star..."

Thunder Fury closed his eyes, before saying, "The Pegasus living in the village tried to put the fire out, but not even the strongest rainstorm we could create could douse the fireball that had engulfed the town, within hours our home was nothing but ashes." 

The group began to walk through the broken streets of the ruined village, Shining Armor then said to Burning Star, "You did what you thought would stop the changelings. It did, but it destroyed your home. I'm sorry that Canterlot didn't send help, it was the duty of the military to help defend anyopony in need." 

Shadow Armor cut in, "But the princesses refused to act, and left your home to burn. Now I am sure we all understand why you were so mad at Celestia and Luna, they left you to burn when they could have stopped it any time they wanted to... but they didn't." 

Tempest Shadow looked at the crumbling stone building in front of them, "Quick Question, what are we all doing here? I don't have to be a genius to know that somepony would come out to a bunch of ruins just to sightsee. What are you planning Alicorn?"

Suddenly, the five ponies heard a familiar voice from behind them. Burning Star turned around to see Twilight Sparkle, Prince Eclipsio, and Twilight's friends rushing up to them. 

Twilight Sparkle lunged at Burning Star, tackling him to the ground and knocking a black and red box out of his bag. The box broke open, revealing the infamous Alicorn Amulet. 

Twilight Sparkle was flung off by Burning Star unveiling his massive wings, the two took a battle stance and ignited their horns. 

Twilight Sparkle half-shouted at her Fire Alicorn partner. "What is wrong with you?! You know how dangerous the Alicorn Amulet is, why in Celestia's name did you take it?!"

Burning Star roared, "Because I have a plan for it. I need it to bring back somepony close to me! You would do the same thing if you were in my position, Twilight!"

Shadow Armor rushed to collect the Alicorn Amulet from the ground, but was stopped by Shining Armor's blue shield. 

Shining Armor snorted at Shadow Armor, "You aren't getting your hooves on this, Shads. I had a suspicion that Burning Star was up to no good. I guess I was right!"

Shadow Armor snarled and took a battle stance, summoning a black energy club covered in spikes. He charged down the white knight saying, "Burning Star needs that for his ritual. He is going to bring back a legend from the dead, but apparently you haven't heard about the stirrings in the Frozen North." 

Tempest Shadow looked down to see the curious piece of jewelry and leaned down to pick it up, it was quickly snatched away by Rainbow Dash. 

Rainbow Dash just recognized who was trying to pick it up, "Girls! It's Tempest Shadow, the pony who imprisoned Twilight! We finally found you, now I'll get you good!"

Tempest Shadow lunged at the cyan Pegasus and landed a kick to her face, sending her into the side of a ruined building, causing it to crumble on top of her, she was protected by a shield from Rarity. 

Tempest Shadow glared at the rest of the Elements of Harmony, then said, "Well... Well... we meet again, you annoying Ponies. I didn't expect to see you again, how fortunate for me to find all of you together, that way I can kill you all at once."

Twilight Sparkle paused her battle with her Fire Alicorn opponent to say, "Wait a sec, I thought you reformed! Why are you attacking us?"

Burning Star blasted Twilight with a stream of fire, "Best pay attention, Twilight." 

Tempest walked over to Rainbow Dash's body and picked up the Alicorn Amulet, "I needed a way to get back at you, did you really think I would just suddenly turn good? If you all did then you're even more naive then I thought." 

She picked it up and raised it over her head, "With this Amulet, I will be able to gain magical powers beyond even you, Twilight Sparkle. I will regrow my Horn, and then use its power to wipe you and your stupid friends out!"

With that, Tempest inserted the Amulet into the hole where her horn once was, and she began to glow with red and black electricity. The amulet disappeared into thin air as her body was wrapped in a cocoon of red electricity. 

Everypony stopped fighting and stepped back as the cocoon exploded, revealing Tempest Shadow in her new form, now having a long, curved, blade like horn and the Alicorn Amulet hanging from her neck. 

Then, something incredibly weird happened. Tempest Shadow glowed bright white as she was engulfed in a bright white ball of energy. 

When the blinding light disappeared, Tempest Shadow stood before them, eyes not full of hatred, but full of kindness. 

She looked up and saw her horn had returned, and her body had undergone a drastic change.

Her previously maroon fur had become bright shining silver, and her mane and tail turned from red to golden brown. Her eyes had remained the same, but the two scars underneath them had disappeared. 

Tempest Shadow said in a kind tone, "Finally, my horn has returned to me. Now I can finally redeem myself and become the greatest unicorn warrior of all time..."

Burning Star asked Tempest Shadow, "So, are you a good pony now? Or is this just another ruse?"

Tempest Shadow nodded, "I got what I wanted, so yes... from now on call me, White Storm." 

Shadow Armor looked on with suspicion as he and Shining stood at his side. 

Shadow Armor said to his original version, "This seems all too easy, but we need all the help we can get if we are going to go up against the terror in the Frozen North."

Shining raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about, Shadow Armor?"

Shadow Armor said to him in a unnaturally worried tone. 

"The Windigos are coming..."