Two ponies were sitting at a cafe in Ponyville. One, a hulking black earth pony with an unkempt orange-and-blue mane, looked almost sorrowful, while the blue pegasus with green-- wait, yellow-green eyes looked like he might erupt like a volcano. Despite this, the pegasus kept an even voice when speaking,
“Look Shade, I know it was a couple weeks ago, but do you think that treatment to Dash was necessary?” His wings flared as he spoke the last half, knocking over the glass of water next to him, which crashed apart on the ground. Shade looked annoyed at this. He replied in a nonchalant tone,
“She wanted to race, so I did. Saved her dignity too. You saw that I let her win.” Shade smirked at the last part. “Blue, I fixed everything, and I saved your mare-friend’s reputation, why are you so upset?” Blue was caught off-guard by that, and his pupils shrunk down, as his eyes seemed to gain more yellow, if that was possible.
“Not. My. Mare-friend.” Blue growled. “And I'm plenty willing to forgive you, unlike some of the others. Shadow, what you did can't be helped, but I can tell you've changed.” It was Shadow's turn to look surprised, but he didn't seem to notice Blue's words. He was staring at his eyes with a confused look.
“Dude, what's going on with your eyes? They're turning all yellow.” Blue tensed at this.
“I dunno, it happens when I'm upset or angry.”
“Then you haven't forgiven me after all. Blue Lightning, you're a horrible liar.” Shade looked smug at this, while Blue's eyes lost all trace of green and were now bright yellow.
“Now shut up! I said I--”
“You said you are upset, hence the eye show.”
“I was FORGIVING YOU.”
“And you didn't mean it whatsoever.” Shadow seemed to be enjoying this, while Blue's eyes now took a turn towards orange. Blue jumped out of his chair and hovered nose-to-nose with Shade. He was glaring into the earth pony's eyes with hatred. Shadow knew Lightning couldn't harm him, but he found the shift from his cool, calculating friend a bit unnerving.
“You are heartless, you know that? You're lucky you're royalty or I'd--”
“Do what? I'm twice your size! And I could break your wings!”
“Like you almost did with Dash? No way!”
“Mare-friend.” Shadow practically whispered that. Blue's eyes now were practically on fire, and he darted back a few feet and let out a scream of rage. His eyes had settled on a red-orange tint, and now crimson electricity began dancing over Blue's form as he landed.
“Take it back.” Blue grunted.
“Well, she is! And if she isn't you're making a poor job of hiding your feelings! I was gone for thousands of years and I can tell you're crazy for her!” That did it. Blue was engulfed in a vortex of red lightning, and a boom erupted from within. It discharged at Blue's vacant seat, singeing it to a pile of ash. Blue's form looked quite different. The eyes hadn't changed for once, but his coat, once a medium blue, was now a reddish hue. His Cutie Mark was changed too, the usual teal-blue triad of thunderbolts was now red and black, and his wings seemed a tad larger.
“Uhh, Blue? You okay?” Shade's jaw had met the floor. He'd spent decades reading the books in the Canterlot Archives, and this was a new one.
“Physically? Great. Mentally? You just infuriated me worse than I've ever been and I feel opt to skin you, but I guess I can't now can I? O prince of evil? I'm leaving. Find me if you want to be civil.” With that, Blue turned and flew off, leaving Shade Shadow looking distraught and saddened.
Does that moron actually think I'm Blue?Red Thunder chuckled to himself.If his friends are all this gullible, it'll be easy making them suffer. Oh poor Blue, he's not gonna like that part. As if I cared. His anguish will be sweet after all these years of imprisonment. Then, he'll pay, out the flank, for as long as I can keep control. Which will be forever.
Shade Shadow trotted down main street, a worried look having intruded on his normally calm expression. This just doesn't make sense. Not only doesn't Blue snap like that, all that magic insanity couldn't have been normal. He seemed fine, but I should do some research, just in case. Not even I’ve heard of this one. The library was in sight, and the large earth pony quickened his pace. Twilight is out of town on royal business, but I should be able to get something. As he approached the building, however, he noticed the 'Closed' sign on the door. After knocking a few times, Shade turned away. Sighing deeply, he began the long walk back to where he was staying. Luckily, he knew an alley that cut several minutes out of travel time. As he entered it, however, a bright red flash blinded him, and he felt a searing pain in his head. He fell with a thud in the dirt, and had just enough time to register a red pegasus on a storm cloud before another bolt of lightning forced him into unconsciousness.
“Well, well... not so powerful when you're not expecting a fight, eh, Shadow?” Red Thunder cackled as he descended from his cloud-top perch to the smoldering stallion below. The cloud dissipated quickly, as summoned clouds usually do, and Red channeled another into existence just above Shade. “I'd have loved to draw out your suffering, to torment our mutual friend... But you're too powerful, and this area's too populated. Best to end you quickly." With that, the crimson pegasus bucked one hoof into the cloud, and a jagged bolt of red lightning burst forth. Red concentrated, and managed to sustain the bolt for thirty seconds, as it bored into Shadow. He ceased as the ash disappeared into a black mist that retreated into nothingness. “That should keep you down for quite some time, pal. Now, on to the others...”
Twilight Sparkle strolled through the polished, well-kept streets of the Equestrian capital city. Coming home was a treat, and for once, what the princess had needed her for had been relatively trivial. She selected a café along the streetside. She'd have a quick bite, settle back in at the palace, and be on her way back to Ponyville by tomorrow afternoon. It was then that it hit her. A magical shockwave nearly carried her off of her hooves. She could feel the agony carried within, the pain of the victim as they were obliterated.
That most certainly can't be good, the lavender mare fretted, as a frown crossed her muzzle. That wave was powerful, but at the frequency it was at, most unicorns wouldn't have felt it. Twilight, however, was not most unicorns. Not only could she feel it, she had a general idea of where it came from. Lunch can wait, Ponyville's in trouble. With that, she started off towards the train station at full gallop, leaving an approaching waiter totally confused.
After a lengthy discussion with the conductor, and a grudging agreement to take the ticket up with Celestia later, Twilight settled into place on the train. Ponyville was a speck among the countryside, the rolling hills carved by the deep blue tides of rivers giving way to a tan-brown dot. It's another beautiful sunny day. Too bad I can't just relax and enjoy it.
That was easy. Red Thunder thought to himself as he darted through the pristine skies of Ponyville. Now, so long as I can keep the element of surprise, I can go about my plans unopposed. The scarlet stallion set down on a small cloud, a contemplative look crossing his face. Who to hit next... Blink lives in Canterlot, and even though that's an easy flight from here, the police force there is much more active, and I'd have to operate right under Celestia's nose. Genesis is off doing Celestia-knows-what, but Starfire's in town. If I could find a way to isolate him, I know he can be eliminated easily. The pieces are falling into place... and Blue's life will be ruined. After that, who knew... Red chuckled to himself. Equestria's next. Then they'll know I'm not to be messed with. All will bow, and it will be glorious! First things first, though. I need to bait the trap. Red sent his unnatural energy away, and tried to imitate Blue's soul. In a quiet crackling wave, cerulean electricity pulsed across his form, slowly rendering his crimson features to a near imitation of his counterpart's color scheme. Red opened his eyes, the yellow-green tint of the iris much closer to Blue than any would have predicted. He inspected the transformation with a gleeful grin. That should be enough to fool anypony... But this weak form can't exactly execute my plans without jeopardizing control. It'll do.
What are you doing? A voice echoed through Red's thoughts. Blue? Guess my transformation let you get a line through, huh? You didn't answer my question. What in Celestia's name are you doing? How are you controlling me? I'm not controlling you, Blue. I AM you. How is that even possible? I'm me! You took my body! You mean you don't remember? Remember when you took over earlier? Yeah! I want my life back! You don't, do you? Your early foalhood is lost to you, isn't it? How would you--? I am you, Blue. I don't remember our early years either, but I remember when we fought for control the first time. The first time? What're you--? How our parents nurtured you into control, and sealed me away... WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? We've clashed before, Blue. You locked me in the farthest, most secluded corner of our mind. Locked away, forced to watch as someone else live my life. Now, if you don't mind, I have business to attend to, Lightning. Stay out of my way, or I will force you back to the hole you crawled out of. One more question, Red. Fine. What is it? What are you really? Think of me as your twin brother. It helps. Now get lost.
Red then felt Blue fade from his immediate awareness, lingering at the edges. Satisfied, he flapped his wings to rise from the cloud and descend to the town below, to find his quarry.