//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: MLP FIM Guardians of the Elements 
// by Hyena King 
//------------------------------//

	After the episode with the bridge, Lightning wasted no time telling everypony about what occurred whilehe tried to save Rainbow Dash. Thunder rolled his eyes at Lightning's bragging, knowing that this was part joy at doing something heroic for once and part joy at being on good terms with Rainbow again. Lightning eventually shut up when the ponies walked into the castle ruins and beheld what was inside.

"Come on Twilight," said Applejack, "Isn't this what you were looking for?" 

"The elements, we found them!" Twilight responded. The pegasi (Rainbow, Fluttershy, Thunder and Lightning.) flew forward and each grabbed a stone jewel from their altar, Twilight warning them to be careful the whole while. 

"One two three four... there are only five." Pinkie said, having counted them as the elements were put on the ground.

"Where's the sixth?" asked Rainbow. 

"The book said that when the five are brought together, a spark will cause the sixth element to appear." Twilight answered. 

"what the hay is that supposed to mean?" both Applejack and Lightning asked at the same time. 

"I don't know." Twilight admitted, "But I have an idea." She then crouched in front of them and looked at the elements with deep concentration. "Now stand back, I don't know what will happen." Closing her eyes, Twilight began to focus her magic through her horn into the elements.

"Come on y'all, let's let her concentrate." With that, the ponies began to file out of the room except for Thunder. 

"Somepony has to stay and watch her, in case something happens to her." Thunder explained. Lightning went to hem and clopped him on the shoulder. 

"Be good Thunder." Lightning said. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do." he added with a smirk and left. Thunder gave a growl and just stood waiting. Twilight was not giving him the time of day, focusing intently on her task.

Thunder watched her, looking at face as he did and noting her purple fur, her glittering horn as the magic flowed through it, the light purple highlights that ran through her dark mane like beautiful rivers of... Thunder gulped and looked away, a deep blush on his face. What was he thinking?! Was he just feeling under the weather or... was he developing a crush. When Rainbow raced against those colt jerks back when they were foals, was this what Lightning felt when he saw her for the first time? His heart slowing when he watched her, noting every detail of her look, bursting with joy when...

Thunder immediately pushed the thought out of his head. No. This was just a phase, that was all. He would get over it in time. Still...

Thunder was pulled back to reality when he heard Twilight's startled cry. Looking over, he saw the elements being sucked into a swirling purple vortex. "The elements!" Twilight cried and leapt forward into the vortex. "Twilight, wait!" Thunder cried and flew after her.

The other ponies heard Twilight's cry and raced towards the ruins. They entered the room just in time to see Thunder and Twilight disappear in a flash of light.