Issue 5:
It is a dark stormy night the five of the Mane 6, Sunset, Sunny, Izzy, Zipp and Pipp, are in their raincoats while looking for Discord to get the Pegasus Crystal back, Hitch is not with them since he will keep searching in Maretime Bay so they can cover more grounds, but they are in a rough storm at night while walking towards a lighthouse for shelter, while Pipp is recording on her phone, with a mini umbrella over it to keep it from getting soaked in the rain.
“Pippsqueaks, our search for Discord has brought us way out to the coast. If I don’t check in soon or…” Pipp paused with a sheepish smile, not wanting to say the next part. “Heh. Anything weird happens, you know where to find me. I hope!” She said nervously on her phone to her followers.
Sunset then snatched Pipp’s phone while giving the pegasus a look. “Pipp. You gotta give your live streaming thing a break. We are on a mission to find Discord and get the Pegasus Crystal back to keep magic alive. And we need to stay focused.” She said while giving Pipp back her phone by putting it in her coat pocket.
“Yeah, Pipp.” Zipp said to her sister, in total agreement with Sunset. “You might wanna add a PSA* for your followers.” She suggested. “If you get a message inviting you to the scariest abandoned town you’ve ever seen for info on a missing draconequus… Say you're busy at night.” She advises her sister, stating that they are following what the message that Pipp receive earlier for a clue about Discord said after revealing to everypony about how she felt when everypony learned Pipp can’t fly, and Pipp thought it will be the best lead to find Discord after reading it when she told her friends.
“It’s fine. C’mon, follow me.” Pipp said with an assuring smile as she led her friends to the lighthouse the message led them to.
The girls made it to the lighthouse as they stopped at the front door. “Somepony needs to knock.” Sunny suggested, not wanting to knock since they don’t know if they are friendly or not.
“We don’t know if they are friendly.” Sunset pointed out, not trusting that sudden message Pipp received one bit.
“I’m freezing my flanks off.” Izzy called out that it’s cold out and the rain is making it colder. “Detective Zipp?” She asked Zipp to knock.
“I’m in observation mode.” Zipp countered, wanting to see how it goes since this is suspicious. “Pipp? This was your idea.” She said to her sister, seeing that this was Pipp’s idea to come here, she would knock.
“For hoofness sake--” Pipp groans at her friends not wanting to knock, but before she would continued or knock on the door, the lighthouse door opened, startling the girls as a earth pony stallion, who doat is light blue while wearing glasses and a raincoat came in view.
“Well now!” The stallion called out sternly before showing a smile. “Come on inside. Take your boots off an’ leave ‘em in the dooryard.” He said to them with a smile, inviting them inside and away from the storm.
Sometime later after coming into the lighthouse, the stallion gave the girls some hot chocolate as they sat in the living room with a fireplace in it to keep them warm with the stallion, now wearing a boat cap and scarf as his cutie mark is like a compass in the ocean. And inside the lighthouse, it has many boat theme decorations as Zipp looked around, suspicious about this guy and finding his place a little weird.
“Thanks for letting us in, mister.” Sunset thanked the stallion as she sipped her hot chocolate.
“No problem, Ms. Shimmer.” The stallion answered as he leaned next to his fireplace with a smile to the girls. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked you to haul hoof all the way here…” He said to them as the girls nodded their heads in ‘yes’, wanting to know why they were here. “Truth is, I don’t know how anypony uses those gizmos. Took me ages to write that message to ya, Pipp.” He revealed, saying that he’s not good with technology yet and is one of Pipp’s followers who has read her messages and videos about Discord as well.
Pipp brought out her phone as she read the message he sent. “Thanks for sending it--Wait!” She cried out after double checking the message. “You never told us your name!” She pointed out as the message said, ‘Have some information on the whereabouts of a certain lord of chaos. Meet me. Signed, A Friend.’ That’s all it said as it never said the name on the messenger.
“I’m Lightning Rod.” The stallion named Lightning Rod revealed. “And this here’s the whispering beacon, the oldest lighthouse in Equestria.” He guestered to his lighthouse home. “Most everypony has forgotten we’re out here.” He added, stating that ponies have forgotten about this lighthouse a long time ago. “Ayup, everything here is long in withers, including me.” He admittedly said, saying how old he is while living in his lighthouse for so long.
“Wow. That must’ve been a really long time for you to be here.” Sunset politely said to him of being in his lighthouse for so long.
“It sure has, missy.” Lightning Rod said as he continued. “But being around a long time means you hear things.” He started with a smile
“Things about Discord?” Sunny asked with a hopeful expression if Lightning Rod has heard any leads on Discord as the girls looked at him, soome are amaze like Pipp and Izzy, Pipp is still sipping her hot chocolate ass Izzy got some on her messy muzzle, while the others are suspicious about him, that is Sunset and Zipp, not sure if they could trust him yet.
Lightning Rod then gave the five mares a serious expression. “Hard tellin’ not knowin’, but maybe, just maybe, I know a legend that can guide your ship to port, so to speak.” He said to them, adding boat metaphors themes since he is a sailor as the five mares listen. “Tell me… What do you know about chaos magic?” He asked them, wanting them to know about chaos magic to see if that will help them find any clues about Discord if they knew more about his magic as he brought out his phone and looked at the internet of Chaos Magic and its history. “According to this Wikiponia, chaos magic was the enemy of the elements of harmony, and--” He started out but was cut off when Pipp spoke up.
“--Wait, I could’ve read this at home and saved my mane from salt water damage.” Pipp pointed out with a suspicious look while waving her hooves to prove a point that she would’ve just asked Sunset or searched the web instead of going out in the tough rain. “I wanna know what you know about chaos magic.” She said to Lightning Rod, wanting to know what he knows about chaos magic instead of what it said on the web.
“Yeah. I’m with Pipp. Tell us what you know about chao magic Mr. Rod.” Sunset said with a raised eyebrow, finding that part of the internet true about the Elements of Harmony being the enemy of chaos magic, aka Discord, but she searched the web earlier and find that it was mixed up and didn’t find that part on the web since it was ancient Equestria time with Twilight and her friends, so she is being suspicious and cautious about this.
Lightning Rod lifted his pike to his mouth as he spoke on his chair. “Have you two ever heard about the Mirror of Mayhem?” He asked them. “Don’t botha lookin’ ‘em up on your phones, won’t be nothin’ there.” He said as he got up and stood next to his broken mirror as the girls were listening as Lightning Rod kept going. “You sure you’ve never heard about the bad luck it brings? About the town it destroyed?” He asked them about that kind of tale of what that mirror can do.
“I don’t think so…” Pipp said while turning to her friends, all of them are surprised at this and they are confused since they haven’t heard of that tale.
“Can’t say I have…” Sunset added, since she hadn't heard that tale before either so she thinks it was after Twilight’s time.
Lightning Rod then went to his bookshelf as he brought out a book. “Someponies say it’s just a legend, others say the mirror is cursed, some say it can contact spirits--” He stated but as Izzy interrupted.
“Like Bloody Marey?!” Izzy asks in excitement, having heard tales of Bloody Marey and is interested to see her if that mirror really can contact spirits.
“Don’t believe in that nonsense.” Lightning Rod pointed out to Izzy since Bloody Marey is just a scary story. “But I do think…” He said while thinking that it might be possible.
Sunset raised her hoof as she spoke. “Could it also happen to contact ancient Equestrian spirits of the past of old friends and family?” She asked, interested in that mirror's ability to contact spirits, wanting to talk to Twilight and her friends and family again if that mirror can contact the deceased spirits.
“I believe so, Ms. Shimmer.” Lightning Rod answered to Sunset as he opened up his book as he searched for the right page.
“Scary story time!” Zipp cried out in excitement, since she loves scary stories as her friends huddled close to listen to Lightning Rod’s story.
“What do you think, Lightning Rod?” Sunny asked. “What’s behind the Mirror of Mayhem?” She added, wanting to know what’s behind that mirror.
“Yeah. We like to know as well.” Sunset added, wanting to know what’s really behind that mirror.
Lightning Rod then gave a serious expression to the girls. “I’m pretty sure it’s a certain Lord of Chaos.” He said, which got the girls attention as they know that this must’ve involved Discord as they listen to his story that is titled ‘Lightning Rod and the Mirror of Mayhem’.
Lightning Rod’s Story Telling.
“As it goes, the Mirror of Mayhem made its way here by sea.” Lightning narrated as he tells a scene of the title named ‘Ye Olde Curse’ as it showed a map that showed part of Equestria and how the mirror was brought there when it moved by sea.
The next scene showed a family of Earth Ponies docking their boat to the docks as they lowered their ramp. “Nopony knows where it came from, but when the ship picked up the cargo holding the mirror…” Lightning Rod stated that the earth ponies picked up the mirror while getting the cargo from the dock, they didn’t expect what was brought with them.
“Things dot stove-up real bad” Lightning Rod added when the next scene showed the family being attacked by a group of Earth Ponies pirates as the family screamed in fright as the pirates attacked and their boat was burning from the attack.
The next page showed a blue Earth Pony Mare with a captain’s pirate hat setting the mirror. “They say a pirate by the name of Captain Cannon Bone kept the mirror for herself.” Lightning Rod stated as Captain Cannon Bone looked at the mirror as she admired her reflection, looking good, but then the next scene then showed the captain mare as a skeleton who kept smiling creepy at the bottom of the ocean. “Ayup, didn’t turn out so good for her either.” Lightning Rod pointed out as even Captain Cannon Bone didn’t have the best of luck with the mirror herself.
The next scene, which is titled ‘More Curses’, showed a pony in a diving suit finding a chest at the bottom of the ocean. “Well, the darn thing didn’t want to stay at the bottom of the drink, so it turned up again.” Lightning Rod narrated as the diving Pony opened the chest, which revealed the mirror as it floated up from the water, not before the pony looked at it, freezing him in place as a shark came behind him. “And you could say more bad things happened.” Lightning Rod said, not wanting to say what happened next.
The next one showed being sold on a stand at a coast docks with an Earth Pony stallion selling some sea stuff that his stand is titled ‘Sea Junk’. “The mirror resurfaced a bit later, finally having made its way to dry land.” Lightning said as the Earth Pony mare looked at the mirror, she’s in some kind of trance as she admittedly paid for the mirror. “Yessah, that ghastly glass sure had a way about it.” Lightning started as the mare with the mirror mindlessly walked to the edge of the docks as she fell into the water, except for the mirror that flew out of her saddle bag and into the dock’s floor. “Seemed to bring trouble to everypony it came in contact with. ‘Cept one.” Lightning said as the mirror was being picked up by somepony who is a blue earth pony stallion with a suit and glasses as he looked at the mirror with a mischievous smirk. “...Fet Lockland. Used to be one of the Wealthiest Ponies in these parts. Opened his shop right over in Candlerbright Cove.” Lightning started as Fet's shop is shown. “Lotsa Yarns about Lockland, Yessah. They said all his bits came from Chaos Magic.” Lightning stated.
And then Fet then gave the mirror that is wrapped to an Earth Pony Mare. “But he did earn quite a bit selling the mirror.” Lightning listed as the next scene showed the mare, who is all bandaged up and traumatized, returning the mirror as it was slightly opened as Fet smirked, having planned this to get more bits.
And then the mirror was taking again and again by other ponies, one was a earth pony stallion, who was covered in cactus, to a unicorn mare, who is covered in honey with bees around her and is scared, and then to a pony who has a giant fish on his/her head. “...He sold it a few times.” Lightning pointed out as then another pony that is smokey weakly lifted the mirror to Fet, who is evilly smiling at this outcome, making easy money.
The next scene, that is titled ‘Ye Olde Legends’, showed Fet cheering as bits were raining down on him. “Where everypony had nothing but rotten luck, Lockland downright Flourished.” Lightning explained as Fet’s shop showed ponies waiting in line. “‘Starting Charging’ to see the Mirror of Mayhem, as he called it.” Lightning stated what else Fet planned to do with the mirror.
“He said…” Lightning started explaining what Fet just said to the mare as he pulled the cover off the mirror. “Ayup, just look into the mirror, see what you’re upta in the future.” Lockland said to the mare who looked at the mirror, who was seeing herself in a beautiful wedding dress as she smiled in amazement. “Even though the curse seemed dormant… The mirror still manages to cause grief.” Lightning pointed out as the mare turned to her fiance, who has a scolding look as he lifted up his hoof to reveal the same bracelet the mare has, and in the mirror it’s not there as the mare grew nervous as there will be talking later for her.
And then Lockland is on his desk as he is counting the bits he bribed off the ponies. “And made Lockland very rich.” Lightning stated.
And then by night, Lockland closed his shop as he put up a sign that said ‘Gone Fishing’, as a way to let ponies know he is out as he’s about to do something bad.
Which is why everypony thought it was so odd that his shop just closed one day.” Lightning narrated as now there are three Earth Ponies mares walking to Lockland’s shop as they peek through the window. And what they saw scared them as they saw Lockland's face start to decay and his eyes became completely white as his hooves were grabbed by the spirit of Discord from the mirror with candles in front of it, and started grabbing Lockland. “But Lockland hadn’t gone anywhere. At least, nowhere has anyone gone before.” Lightning started as the three mares rushed off in complete freight after seeing something bad in that shop. “And wherever that was, it scared folks from something awful.” Lightning added, not knowing what has happened in there, and prefer to keep it unknown.
Lightning Rod’s story stops here.
Back to reality, the girls are still listening to Lightning Rod as he keeps going.
“Well--” Lightning continued, about to finish but then that word got Zipp’s attention as she widened her eyes so wide, you can see her pupils shrink a bit.
“Well?!” Zipp cried out as she chugged her entire cup of hot chocolate quickly as she dropped it on the ground. “You can’t just leave us hanging here!” She cried out, really wanted to as she went to Sunny’s side who turned to look at her, but didn’t see that Zipp dranked Sunny’s hot chocolate as well so quickly. Zipp then grabbed Sunset’s cup, who was wide-eyed at Zipp’s sugar rush, as Zipp spoke. “Where did he go?” She asked as she grabbed Izzy by the face after drinking Sunset’s cup. “Why isn’t Candlebright Cove still around?” She asked again as she flew around Izzy, drinking her cup as well, as she grabs Pipp’s hot chocolate next, who is wide eyed as her sister is so hype about this. “Was Fet Lockland even real?” She asked again as she then flew straight to Lightning Rod and grabbed his shoulders, who is wide eyed as well at how hype Zipp is. “What does this have to do with Discord?!” She cried out, and then she lifted the empty cup in her hooves as she stared at it with wide eyes as she began to shake in such a sugar rush. “And may I please have some more hot chocolate?!” She hyply asked, clearly in a state of a sugar rush of this outcome.
Pipp chuckled sheepishly as she should’ve guessed what would happen if her sister had too much sister as she grabbed Hype Zipp from her hind hooves. “Somepony can’t hold their suuuugar…” She sang sheepishly at Zipp’s sugar rush.
Sunset then looked on strangely at this. “And I thought Pinkie was the master of the sugar rush and I thought Twilight was the master of wanting to find an answer.” She said to herself, never seen this side of Zipp before, and finding it funny when Zipp goes into a sugar rush and how obsessive Zipp is when wanting to solve a mystery.
A little bit later, Lightning Rod made a fresh back of hot chocolates as the girls are enjoying their refills as Lightning Rod gave a fresh cup to Zipp, who is embarrassed of showing her sugar rush side to the others.
“Figured I’d answer the easy question first.” Lightning Rod spoke with a smile. “Especially considering you were buzzin’ around here like a bee in a mitten.” He joked about Zipp’s sugar rush and asked a lot of questions about the story and how it’s connected to Discord and any clues to find him.
Zipp smiled sheepishly as she grabbed the cup as she spoke with a chuckle. “Ha. I’m sort of a detective, and when I can’t crack a case, I just get a little…” She started, but then was cut off when Izzy got in front of her on her hind legs as she waved her hooves in a cheerful tone.
“Tell me who, tell me where, tell me NOOOW!” Izzy was intimidated on how Zipp just reacted as she got on all four hooves as the four girls laughed at this as Zipp crossed her hooves in annoyance.
“Sorry, Zipp! But you sorta asked for it. Remind me to never let you eat too much sugar.” Sunset said through her laugh, going to limit Zipp’s sugar time if she is that obsessive in her detective work.
“Oh, for hoofness sake! Okay, okay, I’ll chill.” Zipp said in an annoying expression, promising to calm down when something interesting popped up as she pointed at Lightning Rod. “But we still need to know about Discord!” She said to Lightning, wanting to know more about Discord.
Lightning Rod smirks as he responds. “As I was saying…” He started where he left off as he grabbed another book from a shelf. “This is where things get complicated.” He said to the girls.
“Things get more complicated?” Sunny asked, wondering what he meant by that.
“Ayup.” Lightning Rod answered.
“And this has something to do with the history of Discord?” Sunset added, seeing the connection to it and knowing so little since she only heard about Discord from Twilight and old Equestrian history but not much about him.
“It sure is.” Lightning Rod answered again as he told them the rest of the story.
Lightning Rod’s story continues.
And then the glass tapestry shows how Celestia and Luna defeated Discord the first time. “Even though Celestia and Luna imprisoned him, Discord found a way around it.” Lightning explained, and then Discord, in his youth, growled as he was defeated. “He’s always been a clever one.” Lightning Rod added as Discord now smirked at the janitor pony and the mirror behind him as he rubs his chin with a smirk, having a plan. “Too clever, maybe.” Lightning Rod added as Discord then appeared in the mirror the janitor was washing.
And then sometime later, the janitor stallion was hypnotized by Discord, who got the mirror on his saddle bag as he walked upfront a unicorn mare with a bread cart.
“I reckon that Discord found a way to travel using Glass. And the poor folks who got in his paths.” Lightning Rod theories on how Discord get around so easily while being trap in stone for a thousand years, with the scene showing the janitor getting hit by the cart with a bucket on his head while in dizziness as the unicorn mare trotted off, with the mirror on her cart without knowing.
“Used them how?” Sunny asked Lightning Rod.
“Yeah. How did he use them?” Sunset asked as well, never heard how Discord traveled through glass to get around.
“That nasty fellow draws his energy from the havoc he creates.” Lightning Rod explained while there is a scene of Discord laughing in the mirror. “While his spirit hides somewhere safe, he spreads trouble. And with that escape, he was on his way to become unstoppable.” Lightning added.
And then overtime, other ponies who have found the mirror fallen under Discord’s trance while passing it down to one pony to another while traveling around Equestria as a unicorn mare put it in a box. “He made his way here.” Lightning said after many ponies, he made his way to the pirates and to where they are now.
The mirror laid on Captain Cannon Bone’s desk as it showed a little swirl on one side of it. “Maybe he sensed Fet’s magic…” Lightning stated how Discord senses Lockland’s magic.
And then Fet Lockland’s clothes and glasses are on the floor as smoke was coming out of it. “...And took those powers for himself.” Lightning said the fate of Lockland and what Discord did to him.
And then the ponies start cleaning out Lockland’s shop as they are moving boxes and taking out the sign, with Lockland gone, there’s nopony to run the business now. “Eventually, the shop was cleaned out, and folks went on with their lives.” Lightning said, and then in one of the boxes is Discord’s talon claw coming out with a smoke as Discord in the mirror smiled evilly. “But Discord was still waiting…for some naive fool to come along.” Lightning finished the story of how Discord traveled around in the mirror.
Lighting Rod’s story ends here.
Lightning Rod then looked at the broken mirror with a look of regret and guilt. “And a fool surely did come along.” He said.
“What do you mean?” Pipp asked in confusion as she and the rest of the girls were confused on what he meant.
“Let’s go up top.” Lightning Rod said as he led the girls upstairs to the top of the Lighthouse.
At the top of the Lighthouse, Lightning Rod turns on the Lighthouse light signals as he points it to one direction as the group looks in the direction.
“See that?” Lightning Rod asked the girls at the sight they were seeing.
Sunny then answered. “I think… I sorta… Kinda..” She said as she tries to see clearly, but can’t make out what she is seeing. “No, I absolutely don’t.” She honestly said.
“What are we looking at right now?” Sunset asked Lightning Rod, not sure if she is getting at what they are seeing.
“That used to be Candlebright Cove.” Lightning Rod revealed to the girls, saying that spot right there with the square spots and barren wasteland used to be Candlebright Cove, a long time ago.
The girls are shocked at this as they see the barren remains of what used to be Candlebright Cove as Zipp flew in the air. “What happened to it?” She asked, wanting to know how this happened to a town like this.
Lightning Rod then closed his eyes as he grabbed his hat and lowered it to his chest, and revealed that he is a Unicorn, but his horn is cut in half. “Me.” He revealed, saying that he is the cause of this once town.
The girls are shocked at this, both shocked at Lightning Rod being a unicorn and thought he was an earth pony and saw his horn cut in half and how he just said that he was the one responsible for what happened to Candlebright Cove.
Zipp regained her composure as she spoke in a serious tone. “We’re going to need more hot chocolate for this. And maybe some snacks.” She said, stating that this will be another story to tell and for her detective side as well, while adding snacks to it as well.
“Follow me.” Lightning Rod said to them as they followed him back downstairs to tell the rest of the story.
In the kitchen in the Lighthouse, the girls are sitting on the table as they listen to Lightning Rod from the side of it.
“I knew when I sent that email that I was ready to come clean, but--” Lightning Rod started explaining right before Zipp came to his side with an eager look on her face as she pointed to the cabinets.
“Do you mind if I just… Y’know.” Zipp said to Lightning Rod with a smirk, eager to grab some snacks.
“I’m all mug up from the hot cocoa, but help yourself.” Lightning Rod answered to Zipp his permission as she zipp to the cabinets as she dug through them for snacks as Lightning Rod brought out his photo album. “These photos are from just before… Well, see for yourselves.” He said as he brought the album to the girls as they saw pictures of what Candlebright Cove used to be, one picture with a seapony statue fountain, the second one with Lightning Rod, in his youth with his horn not cut while taking a picture of himself and his Lighthouse, and the third one with him waving to the crowd in some parade. “Candlebright Cove was a real nice town. I had good friends, did an important job, and felt like part of the community. Back then, bein’ a keeper was a big deal. But things changed. Things always change.” He said as he spoke in a little sad tone, getting to the part where his life changed forever.
“Except Zipp.” Izzy pointed out with a smile as the girls see Zipp bringing in snacks while in flight, cookies and some snack bags she is carrying in her hooves with a donut in her mouth with a smile as the girls chuckled a little at Zipp.
“Sometimes, I just keep getting surprised that Zipp even has a sweet tooth.” Sunset said with a chuckle, finding it funny that Zipp is showing her sweet tooth.
Pipp smirked at her sister as she started recording Zipp with her phone. “The Pippsqueaks are going to love this, especially if she drops it!” She teased, wanting to see if Zipp drops the snack if she loses her balance.
Lightning Rod then gave a serious expression as he looked at the girls. “You ready for one last scary story?” He asked the girls, a little scared to hear it but needs to know his backstory of that mirror.
Lightning Rod’s Backstory.
In the past, young Lightning Rod shook an old stallion’s, that used to work in the Lighthouse, hoof as they smiled to each other. “I came to Candlebright Cove because they didn’t mind magic, unlike some other places.” Lightning stated, meaning that unlike the other three tribes hometown in Equestria, Maretime Bay, Bridlewood, and Zephyr Heights, Candlebright Cove was one of the few places left in Equestria that allow everypony, unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies, to come together even if they are different.
The next scene showed Lightning Rod looking at the view of the ocean at the top of the Lighthouse as he saw a boat in the distance as he shined the light to help guide it back to safety from the rough waves. “The harbor used to be the main port, yessah. Led lots of boats to shore, helped a lot of folks. Over the years, Candlebright Cove grew. Got more modern.” Lightning stated.
And then the next scene showed Lightning Rod walking out of the Lighthouse as he sees ponies using their phones. “Technology meant boats were guided differently, they didn’t need an old Lighthouse anymore.” Lightning explained that since technology is now around, the Lighthouse was obsolete since the phones can help guide them.
“Or the keeper.” Lightning added as it showed his young self packing his things that it was time to move from the Lighthouse since it wasn’t needed anymore. “I decided it was time to move down the road apiece. Didn’t want to stick around to watch myself become obsolete.” Lightning added, not wanting to become obsolete like the Lighthouse so he decided to move on from it.
“And then…” Lightning then started as his younger self started opening up a chest and saw the mirror in it, and once he picked it up, he saw Discord in it as he was shocked to see the legendary Lord of Chaos he heard from the old stories. “...I’d had the thing for years, nothing bad had ever happened. Until that day in my Lighthouse.” Lightning stated.
“Yesss, your Lighthouse…” Discord smirked evilly to the viewer, somehow knowing that Lightning Rod is telling his backstory.
“He said he’d make sure the town will always need me, that I’d always have a home.” Lightning stated as his past self got grabbed by a smoke claw version of Discord’s claw as he grabbed him by the head with Lightning freaking out. “What he wanted in exchange though…” Lightning stops for a moment as a scene of boats crashing into shore in a tremendous wave in a dangerous storm. “Imagine the chaos of just a few boats running up shore, he said.” Lightning narrowed down so that he doesn't have to say something that is hurt to just say it as Discord then surrounds him in fog form as Lightning Rod lower his head. “I should just use my powers, he said. They’d help me free him. Sure there must be another way, I asked him.” Lightning told what he and Discord said to each other in a conversation as he looked at the view of Candlebright Cove with Discord, in the mirror, next to him. “If it was my powers he wanted, well, I was gonna make sure he got ‘em.” Lightning said as his young self got in front of Discord, who was ‘eeing’ excitedly for Lightning to do it, as Lightning blasted the mirror with a powerful magic from his horn as it broke the mirror apart. “I should just use my powers, he said. They’d help free him.” Lightning repeated.
Once he was done, his horn had broken off from the overpowered magic as it smoked, as he looked in despair at what he’s done. “It was like the town had never existed. I’ve never meant--I thought I’d just destroyed the mirror.” Lightning said in a sad tone, stating that he was planning to destroyed the mirror to prevent Discord from messing with other ponies, but somehow, not only did he destroyed the mirror, he destroyed the entire town of Candlebright Cove as Discord magic smoke breeze off from the spot it was blasted as Lightning Rod looked on in despair at the damaged he done with the broken mirror Discord once imprisoned next to him. “What was left of it shows some things, but with that piece broken…Well, Discord was gone.” Lightning Rod finished his backstory of how Candlebright Cove was gone and what had happened to the mirror.
End of Lightning Rod’s backstory.
“That’s my story.” Lightning Rod said to the girls with a sad look at the consequences of his actions. “And that’s why I asked you out here.” He said his reason for bringing the girls out here was for a clue for Discord and to tell them what had happened to his home.
The girls feel bad for Lightning Rod and the fate he was in and for the destruction of the town, while Sunset feels suspicious on that since Discord wasn’t always trap after he was freed the second time from Twilight and the others, he shouldn’t have used the mirror to get around as Sunny then gives Lightning a comforting smile. “That was very brave of you. It must’ve been hard.” She said to Lightning of what he has done, having lived in a lighthouse herself.
Lightning Rod then gives a small smile to Sunny. “What woulda been brave was letting the town grow, letting things change.” He states what could have been for the town, but then gives a sad look again. “Instead I held on to the past and ended up alone--But at least the mirror isn’t hurting anypony anymore.” He said, looking at the bright side of things, that now the mirror is broken, it shouldn’t hurt anypony anymore.
Sunset placed a wing on Lightning Rod as she spoke. “I know that feeling. I want things to go back to the way they were before. I wanted to see my old home as it was and see my old friends again. But that time has passed and those times are long gone. All I can do is embrace the changes and learn to adapt to the times. Even if everypony I know and loved is gone, they will always be with me as long as I remember them, and have new friends by my side to help me embrace the changes so I wouldn’t have to be alone anymore.” She said, sharing how she felt when she came home to Equestria to find so much has changed and how all the ponies she knew and loved, her friends and family, are gone, but she knows they will always be with her in spirit. Understanding how Lightning is feeling while facing the same feeling in a different way.
Lightning Rod smiled at Sunset for her comforting words of wisdom. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. All I can do is remember the ponies I once knew and embrace the changes.” He said, keeping Sunset’s words by heart.
Pipp gasped at what Sunset and Lightning just said, having an idea. “Change! That’s it! Discord doesn’t want anything to change. I bet he still uses the same hideout he did back then!” She said aloud, saying that Discord could be in the same hideout he was hiding underneath Canterlot since he doesn’t want things to change, and the caves below Canterlot goes around for miles, making it the perfect hiding place. “We can just look in the mirror--’ She suggested using the mirror to find Discord, but then realized something as they walked out of the kitchen. “I forgot, it’s broken. You really can’t see where he’s at, Lightning Rod?” She asked the old Unicorn.
Lightning Rod smiled in response as they walked to the mirror over the fireplace. “No, no, you can’t see there from here with it broken. But…” He adjusted it a bit. “The other piece is out where the town used to be, probably buried under the rumble.” He said what happened to the other piece of the mirror after he broke it.
Sunset then spoke while placing a hoof on her chin. “From what I learned, and knowing my history and experience of lost Equestrian artifacts, magic doesn’t just disappear from the artifacts, it just lays dormant until the artifacts become whole again.” She said, having learned from her experience and research during her time and from the Unity Crystals as well, that magic doesn’t just get destroyed, just sent elsewhere or lays dormant until its release. “So maybe if we find that piece of the mirror and place it back together to restore its magic…” Sunset started off with a wide smile as she thought of a plan.
Pipp smiled as she was catching on to what Sunset was saying as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. “We can really find him with this can we? We can still save magic.” She said with a hopeful smile, seeing that they have a chance to find Discord if they find the other piece of the mirror and bind them back together to restore it’s magic.
The next day, the girls are ready to start their search again with the broken mirror in Pipp’s saddle bag as they say their goodbye to Lightning Rod as Sunset is shaking hooves with him.
“Thanks for letting us have the Mirror of Mayhem, Lightning Rod. Because of you, we have a chance to find Discord and get the Pegasus Crystal back.” Sunset thanks Lightning Rod for his help and a lead to find Discord and letting them have the mirror to help them once they find the other piece of it to restore its magic.
“It was my pleasure, Ms. Shimmer.” Lightning Rod replied with a smile, glad to be of some help to them.
Pipp then spoke with an uncertain look. “You’ve been keeping this safe for so long, as I do the math, an exceptionally long time. Are you gonna be okay without it?” She asked Lightning Rod if it’s okay for them to have the mirror since he spent all this time guarding it.
Lightning Rod smiled in reassurance. “Oh, I think it’s well past time for me to find a new hobby. Maybe I’ll try blogging like you.” He said, maybe start blogging like Pipp as a hobby since his time guarding the mirror is over.
Pipp then smiled as she brought out her phone. “Thanks for reminding me! Can we get a selfie--Y’know, for my next update.” She said, wanting her and her friends to take a selfie with Lightning Rod to remember him for his help and something to let her Pippsqueaks to know.
Lightning Rod smiled in agreement as the girls huddled around him as Pipp took a picture of him and his Lighthouse, with Zipp having a suspicious look at Lightning Rod as she flew close to him.
“When exactly did all of this start?” Zipp asked when this all happened after hearing Lightning Rod’s story. “It does seem like you’ve been here a really, really, reeeeally long time… Something isn’t adding up.” She pointed out how old Lightning Rod is right now if he was around for that long as Lightning Rod gives a smirk in response.
Sunny grabbed Zipp by her leg as she gave a scolding look. “Zipp! You said you’d chill!” She lectured, not wanting Zipp to sound rude to how old Lighting Rod really is of how long ago his story was. Sunset however, gives a strange look, finding Zipp’s question suspicious as well, after hearing Lightning Rod’s story, he would be really, and I mean really old, to have lived that long to tell that story, something isn’t right.
And then a few moments later, the girls continue on their journey as Lightning Rod waved bye to them. “Thank you all. For listening. For helping me put things right.” Lightning Rod called out to them as he thanked them for helping redeemed himself and setting things right.
Pipp waved back at him with a smile as she and the others continued their way. “We’ll let you know how it goes.” She said to him, going to let him know how things will turn out once they complete their mission to find Discord and get the Pegasus Crystal back as she turned to her friends with a wide smile. “Wow, I mean wow! Can you believe that?” She asked her friends cheerfully as Lightning Rod helped a lot and they finally have a lead to find Discord.
“Not really, no.” Zipp is the first to answer as she has a lot of thoughts in her head. “I believe the story but I have so many questions.” She added.
“I agree with Zipp. Things don't add up.” Sunset said. “Like Discord using the mirror to get around, that’s not what I know from Twilight told me. If he was still, he would’ve still been a statue, but Twilight and the girls set him free some time after his second defeat.” She said, from what Twilight told her, Discord never really mentioned mirrors of any kind when Discord was friends with Twilight and the girls, and he definitely would’ve told Fluttershy about it during those days.
“And not only that.” Zipp spoke again. “How does he get cell service out here? Where does he go grocery shopping? This place is desolated!” She pointed out, question on how Lightning Rod got cell service sent that text and where did he get all the food that she and her friends ate during that time if this place is desolated for miles. Zipp stopped as she gestured to where they were without looking. “Why didn’t he just give us the mirror to begin with? Why tell us--” She asked again as Pipp spoke up with an assuring smile.
“Zipp, if I’ve learned anything from streaming… Lightning Rod is a natural content creator.” Pipp stated what she learned from being a streamer. “Everypony loves a story. Everypony loves a little story.” She said that anypony would love to hear a story before going straight to the point.
Sunset and Sunny turned their heads to say something, but then gave a shock look at what they just saw. “Uhh…” Sunny started as Sunset continued.
“Girls. Where did Lightning Rod’s Lighthouse go?” Sunset stared in shock with wide eyes as the rest of the girls turned and looked at what she and Sunny were seeing as they were shocked as they saw Lightning Rod’s Lighthouse gone, as if it was never to begin with.
“Did somepony request a mystery?” Sunny asked in shock at this.
Pipp turned to her friends, with a wide eye at this. “I said a little!” she cried out, surprise that Lightning Rod and his Lighthouse is gone.
“It’s another mystery that needs to be solved.” Sunset added with wide eyes, seeing that this is another story that if the Lighthouse is gone, along with Lightning Rod, to begin with, then how did they see or see him and his home, it felt and looked so real to begin with and they were actually there. This is a mystery that needs to be solved while finding Discord as well.
End of Issue 5.