//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: MLP FIM Guardians of the Elements 
// by Hyena King 
//------------------------------//

	Well, this was quite a pickle. The river that the ponies came upon after their laughing fit had subsided was roiling and impassable. And why was this? Because a sea serpent was throwing a tantrum because apparently a "Tacky" cloud of purple smoke had cut off half his mustache. While the rest of the ponies had been unsympathetic, Rarity was quite different in that regard. After a bit of talking on their part, Rarity finally pulled a scale from the sea serpent and cut of her tail,(Though her actions were suggesting a more violent action.) and attached it to the sea serpent's ruined mustache. The grateful sea serpent then helped the ponies across the river, ending that trial.

That done, twilight saw the ruins through a fog that appeared out of nowhere. Becoming excited, Twilight ran towards it, only to nearly fall over a cliff. There was a bridge, but it was rolled up on the other side. 

"Now what do we do?" Twilight asked. Rainbow cleared her throat and pulled out her wings for emphasis. 

"Oh, right." Twilight said almost embarrassed. As Rainbow prepared to take off, Lightning came up to her. 

"Hey, I'll come with you. After all what kind of hero would I be if I didn't go to protect a-"

Rainbow whirled on him in anger. "That's it! Look, I don't need your help or your protection! I can take care of myself. so make like a goat and butt out!" with that, Rainbow flew over to the other side of the cliff. 

"OK." Lightning said, his head hung low and his ears pressed to his head. The other ponies just sat in awkward silence. Thunder took Lightning by the shoulder and led him away from the others to a more secluded place.

"She hates me." Lightning said, sounding more depressed then Thunder ever saw him. 

"She doesn't hate you." Thunder said reassuringly. "She's just like you. She has a lot of pride in herself, and that leads her to want to do things herself to show how she can do things herself. Your typically be a bonehead about it, but you do your hardest to prove yourself too. That's why I frankly think that you two are perfect for each other."

Lightning smiled at Thunder's words. "Thanks. Hey, Did you call me a bonehead?!" 

Before Thunder could respond, They heard the other ponies cry out Rainbow's name. The pegasi quickly rejoined the mares, wondering what was going on. 

"What happened?" Thunder asked Twilight. 

"Their were some strange pegasi front of Rainbow. We tried to get her attention, but the fog got thicker. Now we don't know what's happening over there." Before they could say more, Lightning ran forward and flew into the fog where Rainbow was a few seconds ago.

"Lightning!" Thunder cried, but it was no use. Rainbow was in possible danger and Lightning flew forth to save his possible future girlfriend. Meanwhile, as the Shadowbolts were talking to Rainbow, their leader looked up to see the white pegasus flying toward them. With a snarl, she sent a shroud of purple smoke at Lightning. Lightning was almost there when the smoke surrounded him in a swirling vortex.

Inside the vortex, Lightning was beset by images of vicious beasts and other terrors, including his greatest foe of all. Owls. Lightning was scared out of his wits and was about to turn tail when he remembered what he was doing. He thought of Rainbow, the day when he first saw her race amongst the clouds, when they actually meet for the first time and other memories of her. He also thought of Thunder, his brother, and all the friends he had made since coming to Ponyville. And he thought of what would happen to them if Nightmare Moon had her way. He had to face her, face these horrors. He had to be brave, brave for Thunder, brave for Rainbow, brave for everypony.

So, with a determined snarl on his face, Lightning faced the beasts and raced forward, breaking out of the vortex and crashing onto the opposite cliff. He recovered to see Rainbow, safe and sound.

"Rainbow! I thought you were in danger."

"Naw," Rainbow responded, "Those guys were offering to give me a spot on their team and help me be the best flyer in Equestria. The catch was I had to leave you guys and go with them."

Lightning did the math. "But you chose us instead! Because your the most awesome pony in the world!" 

Lightning stopped there, slightly embarrassed by his statement. Rainbow, on the other hand, was smiling at him, an action he returned. After a while Rainbow said,"We'd better get the bridge over to the other side. The guys are probably worried about us."

"Yeah" Lightning said in agreement. Together, the pegasi grabbed both ends of the bridge and flew over to the opposite cliff-side.