//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: With the Shadow of Lightning 
// by oneupthextraman 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 11:
Pinkie Pie adjusted in her chair, and started to tell the story.
Deep inside the minor Ever free forest (a forest far to the south of the main Ever Free), Lightning, Pinkie, and Red. The three were sent to disrupt a Discord worshiping ring that was trying to create a second Discord to usher in a second reign. Their intelligence was rather spotty for this adventure, but Celestia felt that the cause was too great to wait for better intelligence. Lighting had agreed with the princess. 
The three had been traveling for days, tracking down this group. Following various leads, and hints from some of the various locals. The camp ended up not being too far into the forest, but it took a while to find them from the incomplete intelligence.  Red was a young spy in the group, selected for his strength, and general agility. It was felt that his strength as an earth pony could come in handy. 
The three ponies finally came across the camp. Lightning was devising a plan on how to neutralize the camp with some explosions, and destroy the element of chaos they were using to create the new Discord. The three were some distance from the camp, but apparently not far enough away, as they were found by a patrol. 
Lightning used this as a prime opportunity to get some uniforms for Lightning and Pinkie Pie. Red was going to be used a hostage, as a reason to get close to the chief, and maybe destroy the crystal. Lightning later explained after the mission that he incorrectly chose Red as he had feelings for Pinkie Pie at the time, and feared for her possible safety with this plan. He didn’t explain that at the time, but later told Pinkie Pie about it.
Pinkie Pie and Lightning escorted their ‘prisoner’ to the chief of the camp. When they entered the tent, Lightning saw the large chaos gem. But, unlucky for the group, the chief saw right through their ruse, and injured Red by breaking one of his legs. 
There was a quick scuffle, and somehow Pinkie Pie was knocked out. When she came too, the two were being levitated away from the camp, which was now inflames, taking part of the forest with it. Pinkie Pie examined Lightning, and saw that he was bleeding from several places. Somehow, they managed to get to an outpost, and received medical aid. Pinkie Pie ended her brief story.
Pinkie Pie adjusted in her seat. “Light later explained to me that he blamed himself for how bad the mission went, and how he places his personal feelings above the mission. He felt that if I been the prisoner, that Red would have been able to disable the chief, and complete the mission with less causalities. But, he was concerned for my wellbeing, so he did not make that choice. And that is why he has trouble showing the emotion of love; he doesn’t want to hurt others.” Pinkie Pie looked away from Rarity, who was listening intently to the story.
“What happened to Red?”
Pinkie Pie got off of the chair. “He recovered, and is now a palace guard. He said that he wasn’t ready to be a special agent, and felt the royal guard would be more his speed. The last time I spoke with him, he said he was happier as a guard than a special agent.”
Rarity nodded. “But, what caused him to be able to show love to me?”
Pinkie Pie walked over to a cabinet and took out some sugar. “I had convinced him shortly before he ran into you at the market that he had matured enough, and was a stronger colt now so his emotions should not bother him at that level anymore.” Pinkie Pie opened the bag of sugar. “I think the mission would have gone south either way, as the intelligence was faulty. They said it was a small camp, but it was actually rather large, almost an entire battalion. Red said he never blamed Light, but that didn’t stop the internal monologue.”
Pinkie Pie put the sugar back in the cabinet. “Recently, through me pointing it out to him, he did technically destroy the chaos gem, so he did succeed, but only recently did he start believing me.” Pinkie Pie got out the sugar again. “Although he has gone on several missions since then, Light once told me that he finds that mission to be his greatest failing as a spy.”
Rarity nodded. “I think I understand now Pinkie Pie. Thank you.” She paused. “But, why do you keep on playing with that sugar?”
“Because me sitting there giving you extreme exposition wouldn’t be very exciting to read, now would it?” She paused only briefly. Pinkie Pie’s mane and general demeanor returned to normal. “Now let’s get some cupcakes!”

Two days later, Lightning arrived. Several nurses and one doctor arrived with him. They quickly set up some monitoring equipment, and IV’s and quickly left. Rarity examined the poor prince, out cold from the medicine they were giving him so he could heal. He slept peacefully, occasionally stirring a bit, or groaning. The doctor had given Rarity two spells, a healing spell, and a pain spell. She was instructed to use the healing spell twice a day and the pain spell as she deemed necessary. 
It made Rarity sad to see him this way, but it brought her a little joy to be the one to care for him. She just sat and watched him for about an hour after the doctors left for two reasons; to make sure he was ok, and to be close to him. Rarity felt a great amount of pride that Lightning had chosen her be romantically interested in. 
Rarity sat by his bed side for several minutes, just looking at the prince. After a few moments, he woke up, and peered around the room. From the way his eyes looked around, Rarity didn’t think he was all there. She figured the pain spell must have something to do with it. Lightning got around to looking at Rarity, and then smiled a weird odd smile a drunk would give. Rarity was taken aback by this. Rarity smiled back, but it was much more reserved. 
The prince spoke slurred. “Hello there, pretty pony.”
Rarity asked, “Are you ok?”
Prince Lighting laughed a bit. “I’m not super sure. Everything seems a bit more…crazy. Am I on drugs?”
“I have you on a pain killing spell. I think that may be making you a bit…off.” 
The colt smiled. “I think it’s working. I don’t especially feel any pain.” 
Rarity smiled. “I’m going to say that’s a good thing.” Rarity paused. “Can I get you anything? Water?”
Prince Lighting smiled a wicked smile. “I could use some water, and some of that flank!”  He smiled and laughed like a teenage colt. 
Rarity blushed, and smiled. “Well, I can get you that water with ease.” Rarity got up, and found herself wiggling her flank more than usual, but stopped doing that a few steps before exiting the room. 
Rarity closed the door behind her, and breathed a heavy sigh. With her head held a little lower, Rarity walked to the kitchen, and used her magic to get a glass, and put some water in it. She then brought it back to Lightning’s room. But when she opened the door, the colt was already asleep. Rarity smiled. He looked so peaceful while he was asleep. Rarity set down the glass on the end table, and left the room.
For the next few hours, Rarity worked on some dresses, and sewed some things, and did some other things. Rarity was designing a dress when a loud ‘ow’ from the guest room with Lightning. Rarity dashed there, and threw open the door. Lighting was trying to use his magic to get the glass of water. Rarity dashed forward, and used her magic to move the water to Lightning. 
Lightning used his hooves to take a big gulp out of the cup. “Thank you lady Rarity. I found myself rather thirsty, and I did not wish to bother you.” He laughed a little. “I guess that didn’t happen.”
Rarity shook her head. “I’m here to help you heal. If you need anything, just let me know. In fact.” Rarity walked over to chest on the floor, and opened and searched. She then used her magic to pull out a bell. “Ring this if you need anything. Ok?”
Lightning did not seem to be too into it. “I guess I can. I don’t wish to bother you.” He looked to Rarity.
“It’s no bother at all.” Rarity smiled.
“I can see why you are the element of generosity. You are too kind to me.”
Rarity started walking out of the room, and that she was moving her flank more than usual. Just before exiting, Rarity looked back at the prince, and caught him looking at her flank. Lighting discovered that she was looking, and quickly picked up the bell and started examining it, obviously trying to hid the fact that he was staring at her. 
For several days, Prince Lightning stayed in bed, getting healed by Rarity, and acting loopy whenever she used her magic pain killer spell on him. The days passed without much activity. But on one day, Lightning received a package in the mail. Rarity found this rather odd, because only a select few knew he was there. The package was not very big, about the size of a tissue box. 
Rarity used her magic to carry the package to him. Lightning was asleep, and Rarity did not wish to wake him for a package. Upon setting it down, Lightning stirred, and looked at Rarity.
“Oh, hello there.”  Lightning smiled at Rarity. 
Rarity smiled. “Hi.” She paused. “This package came for you.” She held it with her magic. Lightning seemed interested in the package, and reached for it, and tried to use his magic. His horn was still hurting, so that didn’t work out too tell. Rarity hovered it over. Lightning somehow managed to open the package without some kind of knife. 
Once the package was open, Lightning’s face lit up. He used his hoofs to pull the item out of the box. It was some kind of electronic device Rarity was not familiar with. It wasn’t very thick, and was rather flat, looking like some kind of tablet. Rarity gave Lightning a confused look. “What is it?”
Lightning smiled. “It’s my Pony-Tab! I thought I lost it on the mission, but apparently they found it.” Upon closer inspection, Rarity did see the device was rather beaten up, and had several gouges in it. “Me and this thing have been through lots of adventures, and briefings. Luna has attempted to get me to get a new one, but I’ve stuck with it for some time.”
Rarity smiled. It made her happy for him to have gotten his device back. She saw him messing with it, and checking things on it. But then he suddenly frowned.
Rarity asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lightning looked to Rarity, “It ran out of power.” He laughed a little bit, and examined the box further. In it he pulled out a power cable, and some kind of adapter. Lightning looked around, and saw a spare plug nearby. He attempted to use his magic, but it still caused him pain.
Rarity laughed. “One of these days, you will learn to let me do things for you like that.” Rarity took the power adapter, and plugged the device in. Lightning then plugged the cable in, and after a few moments, the device sprang to life. Rarity looked at it. It was a bright screen, with some graphics on it. It seemed to be loading something. 
Rarity decided to leave the room, and leave Lightning to his new toy. Near the door she turned around. Lighting was holding the tablet up in front of his face facing Rarity. He then taped the device, and Lightning lowered the device, looking rather pleased with himself.
Rarity asked, “What are you doing over there?”
Lightning laughed. “Nothing, nothing. Just checking to make sure the camera works.” 
Rarity trotted over, and used her magic to lightly pull the device out of Lightning’s hooves. “Is it?”
Lightning tried to get the tablet back, and had a worried look on his face. He reached, trying to get it back form Rarity’s magic. Rarity looked at the screen, and saw a picture of her looking back over her shoulder at the door. Rarity smiled, and looked at Lightning, who was now trying to slink under the covers. Rarity lightly placed the tablet back on the bed, and slowly made her way back to the door. Just as she was about to step back through the door, she looked back at Lighting, who was still partially below the covers, and said, “Colts,” and laughed as she passed through the door.
Time passed. Two weeks later, Lightning was getting much better, thanks to Rarity, and her magic. Lightning would later say that it was Rarity’s generosity and good heart that helped him heal faster. Lightning was able to use his horn to move light things, and walk around for a little bit if he walked slowly, and carefully. 
Rarity was returning home from a trip to the local fabric shop, when she discovered Sweetie Bell giving Lightning a sandwich to eat. Rarity was too far away, and carrying too much fabric to stop him from eating it. By the time Rarity got to the table, Lightning had just taken a bite of it. Initially, Lightning seemed to be enjoying the sandwich, but then it quickly turned into a severe frown. 
He turned to face Rarity, and said with sandwich still in his mouth “It feels like I am having a baby”
Rarity shook her head, and then looked to Sweetie Bell. “What did you try to make for him?”
Sweetie Bell smiled the most innocent smile she could muster. “I found it in this book. Its call a ‘chili chutney sandwich’. It seemed like a good sandwich. I found it in that book.” Sweetie Bell paused. “I thought he would enjoy it.”  Rarity saw that the book she was pointing to was a rarely used cook book called ‘oddities for the odd pony in your life.’
Rarity examined Lightning. “Are you ok?”
It appears that Lightning had swallowed part of the sandwich. Lightning did not respond to the question, but instead just kept on staring straight ahead, and then promptly fell to the floor.