//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: MLP FIM Guardians of the Elements 
// by Hyena King 
//------------------------------//

	The dark alicorn looked upon her "subjects" with an evil smile, her eyes glowing with menace. 

"Oh my beloved subjects, It has been so long since have seen your precious looking, sun loving faces." she said this with a bit of a snarl in her voice. Meanwhile the ponies faces where anything but precious as they beheld her with terrified looks.

"What have you done with the princess?! demanded Rainbow Dash, preparing to launch herself at the alicorn. Before she could, however, Applejack grabbed her tail and pulled her back. 

"whoa there filly" she said as she held Rainbow down.

The alicorn became, if it was possible, even angrier. "What, am I not royal enough for you? Does my crown not count now that I,ve been asleep for a thousand years? Don't you know who I am?"

"Oh, oh I know! Is it big angry meanie pants? or..." Pinkie Pie made a list of suggestions, none of them correct, until Applejack silenced her with a cupcake. The alicorn turned on Fluttershy. 

"Don't you recall the legend?" she then turned to Rarity. "Didn't you see the signs?"

Suddenly Twilight approached the balcony, a determined look on her face. "I know who you are," she said. "You're the Mare in the moon. Night Mare Moon."

Night Mare Moon smiled genuinely for the first time. "so there's somepony who remembers me." "Yes" Twilight responded a little nervously. Night Mare Moon laughed evilly. 

"Remember this day my little ponies, for it is your last. From this moment on the night will last forever!" at this the great alicorn laughed evilly, the dark, starry mist that was her mane turning to a swirling vortex in the air. The ponies all gave shocked looks and gasps. Except for two.

Throughout the princess of the night's introduction, Thunder and Lightning were simply staring in disbelief. As the exchange continued, their looks changed slowly into smiles. 

"Are you thinking what I,m thinking?" Lightning asked his brother. "All the way." Thunder replied. As Nightmare Moon laughed, the brothers suddenly leaped into the air. 

"Never fear! Thunder and Lightning are here!" they bellowed together, flying above Nightmare Moon's head.

Everything became silence as everypony looked up at the brothers. Nightmare Moon looked at them with a raised eyebrow. 

"And who are you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. 

"We are Thunder and Lightning, the heroes of Ponyville." Thunder said, taking on the look of a determined warrior. "we will not stand by as you terrorize this town. So, will you surrender or will we have to stop you by force?" Lightning added, his voice and face suggesting that he hoped that she would go for the latter.

Nightmare Moon simply laughed. "Please, I'm not going to be intimidated by the numbskull brothers." At this, Lightning snorted in anger and charged her. 

"Lightning!" Thunder cried following after him. 

"Seize her! Only she knows where the princess is!" cried the mayor. The guards who where standing at attention quickly took off to obey. Nightmare moon snarled at the combined assault. 

"Stand back you foals!" with that, she shot lightning bolts at the pegasi, sending them tumbling to the ground. With another laugh, Nightmare Moon turned to mist and slid out the door. Lightning, the first to recover, saw the mist retreating.

"Hey, come back here!" he said as he took off in hot pursuit. Thunder saw Lightning leaving and followed him.

Lightning was halfway out of town when Thunder caught up and grabbed him. 

"Stop Lightning! We need to think of a plan!" at this Lightning calmed down a little. 

"She's heading foe Everfree forest." Lightning said Thunder nodded. 

"that must be where she's keeping princess Celestia." 

"So what do we do?" Lightning asked impatiently. 

"Now we get prepared." Thunder said simply.

A few minutes later, the brothers where leaving with packs of supplies on their backs. They were flying past the library when they heard voices inside. They quickly flew up to a window, listening in on the mares talking inside.

The mane six were gathered on the fringe of the forest, preparing to go in. "We're sticking to you like caramel on an apple." Applejack was saying when Thunder and Lightning appeared. 

"Oh, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked with obvious annoyance. 

"We overheard you talking about the elements of harmony and we've decided that this is too dangerous of a quest for you without a hero's escort." Thunder said in his gentleman's voice. 

"Besides, we're coming with you whether you like it or not." Lightning added.

Twilight groaned. "Fine, but keep up." She said and walked into the forest along with the rest of the mane six. Thunder and Lightning giggled like school girls with excitement and followed.