LIGHTNING ROD
Issue #07
We walked home after a long day of training and other fun stuff. I had my bag with me that contained my outfit. We saw all the pegasus ponies transferring masses of cloud for the storm that was scheduled for tonight. The evening got darker and darker with every cloud that came within the city limits of Ponyville. We arrived at the library before the storm hit.
“Spike,” Twilight voiced, “How did your day running the library go?”
“It was a bit slow,” Spike called from upstairs, “But we received a package from Princess Celestia.”
“Wow. Is it another textbook, a reference guide?” Twilight asked.
“Nope, even better.”
Next thing we heard were clicks of hooves coming downstairs, and the first thing to come out of the tunnel was a male black unicorn with a somewhat messy yellow mane split left and right from his forehead to his back. As more of him was revealed, he had a really buff body and yellow colored hooves. His cutie mark was a simple looking lightning bolt.
He introduced himself, “Hey. The name’s Shadow Storm.” He spoke in a higher tone than me, “I got a letter from the Princess about giving a lesson to a unicorn human with a lightning specialty. You must be Rod Kasparov.”
“Yup.” I answered. “And this here’s my teacher…”
“Twilight Sparkle.” Shadow cut me off. “It’s been a long time, eh?”
“Definitely, Shadow.” Twilight smiled at him, “So how’s Canterlot going for you?”
“Ah, same old stuff, but the school’s treating me well. I see you got promoted to teacher since you were transferred.”
“Oh nah. It’s just a temporary job.”
Shadow laughed, “You know, with your skill, you can teach an earth pony how to levitate an apple.”
Twilight laughed as well, “Shadow, I forgot how funny you were.”
“Thanks, Twi.”
Twilight turned to me, “Oh, Shadow and I used to be classmates in Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.”
“But I could never compare to Twilight.”
She laughed again, “Stop it.”
“Okay, I’ll stop. I’ll get right to business. I’ll teach you a few things about being a lightning unicorn, and what a perfect time to teach you with this scheduled thunderstorm that all the pegasi are bringing in.”
“Yeah.” Twilight was looking outside the window, “By the looks of things, it’ll be starting soon.”
I asked Shadow, “So what are you going to teach me?”
“I’m going to teach you how to catch lightning, and make it your friend. All lightning specialty unicorns have the power to use their body as a battery. When using powers in excess, say for shooting at a whole bunch of enemies at one time, your power gets drained. You can regain energy through eating, drinking, and doing physical and mental work. But if you want a charge fast, you should find something to charge yourself with, like a battery or a power source. In this case, we’re using the best charge ever conceived by nature: Lightning.”
“So how do I harness it?”
“It’s kinda hard to explain. It’s mostly science stuff. You just have to find a positive charge somewhere. You can do that by doing a simple light spell. You know how to do that, right?”
“Yeah.” I immediately made my horn’s tip glow an electric yellow.
“Good. Just retain that energy. Don’t let it go anywhere.”
I just nodded. “Okay, the next thing you do is search around the library. There’s bound to be some pockets of static electricity somewhere. It’ll glow a nice yellow, same as your aura, once your horn is around ten meters within the charge. So let’s search for some charges.”
We walked around the house to find a charge. The search took us around the entire library. We tried the kitchen, the bathroom, we even tried Twilight’s study and bedroom. No luck. But as we walked into the reference section, I saw a glow coming from the fifth row of books. As I got closer, the glow got more intense. It was coming from a metal binding of a book.
Shadow said, “Go ahead, Break the light spell and levitate it down here.”
“Alright.” I did so, and placed it on a nearby table. I turned the light spell back on and the glow was still there.
“Twilight, go ahead and touch the charge.”
“Seriously?”
“Don’t worry, it’s safe. Especially when Rod is still casting the light spell.”
She slowly moved her hoof towards the metal binding of the book. As her hoof was millimeters away, she felt a shock, screamed for a quarter second and pulled her hoof back. The yellow glow was gone.
Shadow went on to explain, “During a thunderstorm, huge pockets of positive charges will be spread throughout the earth below lightning clouds. You will have to find a pocket, either absorb its positive energy or stand under it, and concentrate on the cloud to find a negative charge. A lightning bolt will give you a shock, but it will charge you and amplify your powers. The first shock is the hardest one, but after that, it’s smooth sailing.”
After he said that, the sound of thunder was heard.
“Who’s your chief weather pony?” Shadow asked.
“Her name is Rainbow Dash.” Twilight answered. “Why’d you ask?”
“Make sure to thank her for this storm. Okay?”
“I’ll make sure she gets the message.”
“Alright. Are you ready, Rod?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Alrighty then, Let’s go!”
Shadow opened up the front door and darted outside. I walked outside and felt the first drops of the storm.
“Don’t worry about getting pneumonia,” Shadow yelled at me from a distance, “Once you get shocked, you’ll be warmed up.”
I started the light spell and began running through Ponyville, trying to find positive charges. All the while, the rain was slowly intensifying itself. I can see strikes of lightning going around town with thunder following. After around thirty minutes of looking for positive charges, I found one that was near a house. I ran over there and stood on the source. I was a bit hesitant on finding a negative charge in the clouds, since it was a thunder strike that brought me here, but I managed to get some courage and concentrated on finding a negative charge. Within one tenth of a second, I got shocked. I initially got knocked down after taking that shot, but after a few seconds, I realized that I was still in Ponyville. The pony living at that place took a peek outside the window, and found me. He was mainly brown, lighter on the coat, with a bit of a fluffy mane. I waved at him, and he waved back slowly, looking very surprised. I felt more energized and warmer after that shock. I pulled off my light spell and it was brighter than it was a moment ago. I had a feeling that my charge detection range grew from that. so I continued to run down the streets of Ponyville. I later bumped into Shadow near Town Hall.
“Hey, Shadow!” I hollered.
“Hey Rod! Did you find anything yet?”
“Yeah. I found one near one of the houses.”
“Good. I found three of them so far. I forgot to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“You gotta know when you’re full.”
“Okay.”
“Basically, you feel a headache. Don’t take anymore shocks when you feel a headache.”
“Okay, I’ll make sure to do that.”
“We’ll do this for about thirty more minutes, or until both of us are full. Then we’ll head back to the library. Okay?”
“Alright.”
“See ya later, Lightning Rod.”
He galloped off while activating his light spell. I kept on running until I found a charge in the middle of the road. I ran over there and stood on it, and received another shock. This one was certainly more bearable than the last one. After that one, it got easier to find charges. I had more stamina and speed to search for the charges, and my extended light range made it easier to see them. After shock and shock I received, I gained more energy. I would usually find them within the span of five minutes. After five other shocks, I felt a bit of a headache, and I knew it was time to head home. I arrived home with Twilight and Shadow having some conversation in the living room.
“Well, thanks for everything, Shadow. I actually needed somepony who was a lightning specialty unicorn, and you were a perfect candidate.”
“I thought Sparky Watts would have got the call from Manehattan.”
“But Celestia wanted to give me a lightning specialty who lived closer, and Canterlot is just a three hour’s train ride away from here.”
“Yeah, if you put it that way, but I’m still a student.”
“A student from one of the greatest unicorn academies in existence.”
“Yeah, another good point. Twilight, why must you attack my humility?”
“Attack?” Twilight laughed, “I’m just simply stating the truth.”
“Oh hey, Rod.” Shadow noticed me.
“How did you enjoy your lightning catching?” Twilight asked.
“Best workout I ever had.”
“Well that’s good.” Twilight smiled, “I’ll give you your last lesson before your final exam.”
“Last lesson?” I stated.
“Yes. Just a bit of advice, and that is to be creative.”
“Be creative… How so?”
“I discovered a few years ago of the power of friendship. It took some help from the Princess, but I managed to make new friends. The thing was I didn’t know that making new friends was the key to unlocking the powers of the Elements of Harmony, therefore saving Equestria from eternal darkness. After having adventures with my friends, combined with my studies, I have discovered the key to unlocking new spells, the key being imagination.”
“So have you invented any spells?”
“Nope, not for the moment. Knowing about imagination is one thing, but having it is a whole other story. I believe once I have more quality time with my friends, I’ll gain the imagination I need. Or maybe I should do more reading in the Fiction section.”
I nodded, “Yeah, maybe that as well.”
“Okay, but remember to have an imagination. See what you want to do and make it happen with magic.”
“Alright. I’ll take that with me.”
Twilight rhetorically asked, “I wonder what the others are having for a final lesson?”
Rarity and Steven were in the upper room of the Carousel Boutique, not working, but sitting and talking with each other.
“Us six have prepared a final exam for each of you tomorrow, and I have one final lesson for you, Steven.” Rarity spoke.
“Alright, Rarity. What’s your final lesson?”
“When I was a filly, I was designing costumes for my class’s recital. Whilst I was in mid-labor, I was taken by my horn to a far off place. It stopped pulling me when I hit this massive rock. I was immediately cross with that dirty thing, but then a sonic rainboom from Cloudsdale shook the Earth and cracked the rock to reveal lots and lots of gems. I felt it was appropriate to design the costume with these gems. When it came recital time, the gems sparkled their way to a successful recital, and thus, earning my cutie mark.”
“So what’s the moral of the story?” Steven asked just before the roll of thunder was heard.
“Well, what I mainly got out of that story was to let your magic guide you. It may not be pretty or glamorous at first, but it will benefit you in the long run. But for now, you must rest for tomorrow.”
Fluttershy was with Doug inside the living room of Fluttershy’s house. Fluttershy was laying on a couch and Doug was sitting on a chair. A kerosene lamp lit up the room along with occasional lightning bursts.
“Um… Doug?” Fluttershy was first to speak.
“What is it, Fluttershy?” His head was pointed towards the window.
“The other teachers and I have prepared a final test tomorrow, and I’m sorry if I’m interfering with your job, but can you do me one little tiny favor?”
“I’ll try my best, Fluttershy. What is it?”
“Please, use your gun less often, or any gun. I know that it’s part of your job, and you saved my life with it, and I am truly grateful for it, but it’s too scary for a weapon like this to be in existence.”
“I know how you feel, Fluttershy. Some might argue with a saying that goes, ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people.’ That might be a fact, but guns can let people kill people faster, and that’s what makes this weapon scary. But believe me, there are scarier things in my world, such as nuclear warheads and extremists. That’s why I do the stuff that I do, so I can prevent war from happening. I protested war during my youth, and ironically, I was drafted to carry a weapon of war twenty-four hours per day. My only motive not go AWOL was to defend my right to protest against what I hated, even if it has to mean fighting in a war that I felt was immoral. I chose DOUG because killing was a last resort. There will come a day when my hands will be too frail to handle a gun. When that day comes, I will never shoot for good. So I’m going to keep your promise, whether I choose, or age chooses for me.”
“Thank you, Doug.”
Far away in the city of Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash and Greg were enjoying the sunset from a hotel room.
“It’s been a good day gathering up some clouds for that storm.” Dash commented, “The weather crew needed some extra hooves, and we provided ours, transferring groups of clouds from Cloudsdale to Ponyville, and we rocked it.”
“Indeed we have. Rainbow, you’ve taught me a lot; about how to fly, about loyalty, and about how awesome a rainbow laden pony can be.”
“You’re not bad yourself, Greg. Someday, you might beat me in a race.”
“You know I haven’t broken the sound barrier yet, and in three recorded instances, you not only have done that, but made an amazing light show in the process, so you got me there.”
“Yeah, but someday you will. You gotta put yourself through your own boot camp, so you can be stronger and faster than you are today. I always go by the twenty percent rule.”
“What’s the Twenty Percent rule?”
“You gotta strive to be twenty percent better at what you do every day. You gotta be twenty percent faster, stronger, more loyal, and my personal favorite, twenty percent cooler. You have to constantly improve almost every aspect of your life in order to be what you want to be. You’ll need it tomorrow for your final exam. So are you ready to commit?”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
“Is that what they teach you how to be ready in the Military? Louder!”
“Sir, Yes, Sir!”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
Over at Sweet Apple Acres, Tim, Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom got together and sat near the fireplace.
Applejack talked to Tim, “Well thanks, Tim for helpin’ us out on the ranch. You earned every bit of your pay.”
“Don’t mention it, AJ.” Tim responded. “I should be thanking you. I didn’t know I had this strength. I haven’t felt more amazing in my whole life. I feel like doing some work outside the rain.”
“Easy there, partner. You might be strong, but you ain’t immune to cold rain and lightnin’. You don’t wanna catch a cold before the big test me and the other sugarcubes prepared for ya, and I also don’t want you to warp into another world like Rod did.”
Apple Bloom laughed, “Yeah, We don’t want you to go two dimensions away from home, because that’s too far for ya.”
Tim laughed as well, “You know, once I get home, I’m gonna miss this place. You’ve been a great help to me.”
“Don’t worry, sugarcube. Just remember this: We’ll always be with you.”
At Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie and Vern were sitting and staring at each other. Pinkie tilted her head sideways and made a bit of a quirky smile. Vern followed suit, then wiggled his ears. A strike of lightning tries to interfere in the match, but with no avail. Pinkie countered by twitching her ears. She then extended her tongue out, slowly bent it upwards, and was able to lick her cotton candy mane. Vern laughed and broke the stare.
“Tell me, how do you do that?” Vern asked the victor.
“I just simply think of it, and then I do it. Oh, that reminds me, I have one thing for you to teach you before your final test.” She said in her usual cheerful disposition.
“Sure, what is it?”
Pinkie pointed to a wall, “Look at that wall.”
“Yeah,” He looked confused, “It’s just a wall.”
“No, silly. You gotta look beyond the wall.”
After a few seconds of concentrating on the wall, Vern sees something new. It’s you, yes, you, the reader of this fiction.
Vern laughed, “Cool! Now I can see through the fourth wall. Are you sure I won’t ruin the fabric of time and space?”
“No, silly. It’s all part of a not-for-profit fan fiction.”
“Heh, Cool. Hey reader. How ya doin’? I wonder how many of you are reading this.”
“You can always look at the view counter.”
“Oh. Wow…” He looked up to the view counter, “That’s a decent number. But I bet it can get bigger. Go to your friends and tell them that superheroes are being made here, in Equestria!”
And so our heroes take their last bit of advice before the final test.
“Oh cool. This fic has an announcer.”
As I was saying, before the final test , which will take place in the mythical Everfree Forest.
“Bring it on.” taunted a confident Vern.
Will they survive the threats that are laid in store for the six?
Pinkie stated, “Well, I hope so.”
Will Vern use his fourth wall powers wisely?
“Okay, announcer. I will promise to use them wisely.”
You’ll get the answers in the next issue. So Subscribe and watch your shelves, but most of all, tell your friends about LIGHTNING ROD!