Lightning Twister's new life is in jeopardy when becomes the target of a villain nopony Ever thought they would see again.
Ever Since Fluttershy adopted him, Lightning Twister's new life couldn't be any better. He has a loving and caring mother, great friends, a special somepony, and a loving family. However his new life is in jeopardy when he becomes the target of a villain nopony ever thought they would see again. Can the main six protect Lightning as well as the rest of Equestria.
It was a beautiful afternoon in Equestria as Lightning Twister ran down the dirt path to his home after finishing school for the day.When he saw the cottage appear over the horizon, Lightning took to the sky and flew the rest of the way home. When he arrived at his home, he landed on the ground softly and went inside.
"Momma, I'm home!" Lightning called out.
However there was no response Lightning waited for a second before calling out again.
"Momma!"
Once again, nothing but silence, Lightning began to worry, Fluttershy always responded to him whenever he called out to her, and if she wasn't at the cottage when he came home, she always left him a note telling him where she was was and when she would be back. Lightning took a few cautious steps and looked around the empty cottage hoping his mother was nearby
"M-Momma, are you here!?" Lightning called out nervously.
Once more there was no response and Lightning began to get scared. Lightning made his way to the kitchen and let out a sigh of relief when she saw Fluttershy standing in the kitchen with her back turned to him.
"There you are Momma I-"
"What are you doing here?" Fluttershy snapped harshly cutting lightning off.
Lightning stepped back a little bit, Fluttershy never snapped at him like that, even when she had to scold him her voice never sounded that harsh.
Fluttershy turned around and Lightning ears immediately dropped when he saw an angry look on his mothers face.
"Answer me, why are you here?" Fluttershy said harshly again.
Lightning began to tremble a little bit at his mothers tone of voice.
"S-schools over and I-I came home like I always do, M-Momma."
Fluttershy looked at at him as if he had just back talked to her.
"Home, you think is your home? Why would I let you stay here?" she asked angrily
Lightning was scared and very confused at what he was hearing.
"Momma, It's me, Lightning." he said almost pleadingly
"I know who you are!" Fluttershy snapped
Lightning began to choke up in hearing his mothers harshness. She wasn't acting like herself. She was her usual loving self this morning but now she was completely different. Tears formed in Lightning's eyes as he tried to get close to her.
"P-Please, M-Momma, s-stop! Your s-scaring me!" Lightning said almost inaudibly as he tried to hug his mother.
The second Lightning's hooves touched Fluttershy, she grabbed by his foreleg and brought him over her knee. She then brought down four sharp strikes of her hoof across his flank. Lightning screamed in pain and began crying loudly. His mother had never spanked him before, she's never laid a hoof on him.
"Stop crying, you know better than to touch me. Your a bad little foal and bad little foals need to be punished."
Fluttershy brought down three more strikes across lightning sore flank as he continues to cry in pain and sadness. What happened the Fluttershy that had adopted him? What happened to the Fluttershy that loved him more than anypony else in all Equestria.
"Now, get out of my cottage, you bad little foal! I should never have found you in the Everfree Forest, I should never have become you mother!" She screamed.
Lightning said nothing as he ran for the door while crying uncontrollably, but once he opened it he stopped dead in his tracks. Lightning was now scared out of his wits. The cottage was not where it was when he entered it earlier. it was floating over a swirling black hole. Lightning started going backward before bumping into Fluttershy. Lightning gasped in horror as she had a sinister smile on her face and began laughing evily and forcing him back towards the black hole. She grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and held him over the void as he screamed and cried in terror.
"M-Momma, p-please d-don't!" He wailed as Fluttershy continued laughing.
"Goodbye, you little mistake." She said cruelly before dropping him off of the edge.
Lightning screamed in terror as he plummeted into the black hole. The darkness began to surround him as he continued to fall. He then heard a dark menacing laughter before seeing a pair of fiery red and green eyes. Lightning whimpered and trembled as the laughing continued. a shadowy mouth began form under the eyes as well as teeth. The shadow lunged at him with quick speed as Lightning held up his hooves and screamed.
"Noooooooooooo!" Lightning screamed as he shot up with tears rolling down his face. He panted and breathed heavily and rapidly as he noticed he was no longer in the black hole. His surroundings became more and more familiar before he realized he was in his bedroom at the cottage. He brushed his tears away as he trembled in fear. Suddenly his door opened and revealed Fluttershy. Lightning began to tremble again until he heard her voice.
"Lightning, sweetheart, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked softly with worry.
Lightning began to calm his trembling, his mothers voice was not harsh, but the same soft and loving voice he was familiar with. Fluttershy trotted up and saw how terrified he was. He looked like he had just seen a monster. She gently rubbed his shoulder with her hoof to comfort him.
"I heard you screaming and I came here as fast as I could. Did you have another bad dream, sweetie?" she asked with gentlest of voices not wanting to scare her son anymore than he already was.
Lightning nodded his head as Fluttershy looked at him with concern. This was not the first time Lightning's had a nightmare and has woken up looking this upset. He's had these types of Nightmares almost every night for about a week, and it made Fluttershy worried.
"What is as bad as the other ones?" she asked asked worryingly.
Lightning nodded his head again before letting out a yawn and laying back down.
"Are you sure you don't want want to sleep with me tonight, sweetheart?" Flutttershy asked sweetly
Lightning shook his before saying, "I'll be okay, Momma, I'm sorry I woke you up."
Lightning then fell back asleep with Fluttershy smiling softly at him. She gently kissed him on the cheek before leaving the room and closing the door.
At Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna shot up with her head hurting. She had entered Lightning's dream, but before she could find him, the dream ended. She was there trying to figure why Lightning had been having so many nightmares. The only thing she saw was darkness as well as the same pair of eyes and laughter that Lightning saw and heard. Luna stood up and rubbed her head in pain. She then heard an evil sinister laughter. Luna recognized the laughter and growled in anger. It was the same laughter from Lightning's dream.
"I know who you are," Luna hissed "You better not lay a hoof on that innocent child."
The laughter continued for a moment before it vanished. Luna was left in the silence as she let out a sigh and looked out to her beautiful moon. She knew that danger was coming.
It was morning in Ponyville as Fluttershy was flying down the streets with Lightning on her back. Fluttershy was taking her son to school. He had had asked her if she could take him because he was too tired to fly after his nightmare last night. Fluttershy tried to convince to stay home and rest for the day, but Lightning refused the offer. Fluttershy decided not to try and force her son to stay home. However, she did decide that after she took Lightning to school, she would go and meet with her friends so she could talk about Lightning.
When they arrived at the school, Lightning floated off of his mothers back and landed beside before looking her in the eyes. Fluttershy wrapped a foreleg around her son and pulled into a loving embrace.
"Have a good day at school, sweetie." She said sweetly before giving her son a kiss on the forehead.
"I will, Momma, I'll see you when I come home." Lightning responded in his usual soft tone of voice. He kissed his mother on the cheek and ran inside the school.
Fluttershy stayed where she was and watched Lightning leave until he was completely out of sight. She then took to the sky and made her way to Twilight's house where she and her friends were having a get together. When she arrived she knocked on the door and waited patiently for someone to answer. The door soon opened and revealed Twilight who had a happy smile on her face.
"Hi there, Fluttershy, please come in." Twilight said happily before stepping aside to let her friend in.
Fluttershy entered the library and saw that all of her friends were already there and they were eating some cookies. They all waved at the pegasus and she went over to join them with Twilight following her. The two sat down with their circle of friends as the all continued to talk and laugh except for Fluttershy. She nibbled a little bit on a cookie but she was too worried about Lightning to talk much . Rarity notice the distracted Fluttershy and looked at her with concern.
"Fluttershy, darling, is something wrong?" She asked.
Fluttershy jumped a little when she heard her name but then looked at Rarity and the rest her friends before letting out a long sigh.
"Girls, I'm worried about Lightning." Fluttershy said with worry in her voice.
The everyone in the room looked at her in concern when she mentioned her sons name.
"Why are you worried about him, sugarcube?" Applejack asked
Fluttershy let out another sigh before saying, "He's been having a lot of nightmares lately."
Everyone looked at one another for a second before nodding their heads to tell Fluttershy to continue.
"Almost every night I hear him screaming and crying in the middle of the night. When I go to his room I either find him asleep and kicking around in his bed screaming or I find him awake and very afraid. I asked him about his nightmares but he won't tell me what their about. He just says that each one is more scary than the one before. He hasn't gotten a good nights sleep all week and it's starting to worry me."
Fluttershy looked down and sadness as the girls looked around with worry on their face not only for Fluttershy, but for Lightning as well. Twilight got up and began writing something down on a scroll.
"What are you doing, Twilight?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"I'm writing a letter to the princess. I think we should ask her if we could talk with Princess Luna."
Everyone looked confused for a moment before Twilight began talking once more.
"Remember girls, Princess Luna is the princess of the night and has the power to enter our dreams. Maybe we can talk to her and see if she can help us find a way to stop Lightning's nightmares."
The group nodded their heads in understanding as Fluttershy spoke up.
"That's a great idea Twilight. Hopefully Princess Luna can help us, I don't want to see my precious little colt be in any more pain than what he's already been through in his young life."
Everyone frowned in sadness as they remembered Lightning painful past, from when he told them about his real mother's death to when he was foalnapped by his own father. But they also remembered the good times like Lightning's birthday, the Hearths Warming Eve party, and most importantly the day Fluttershy adopted Lightning.
Twilight finished the letter before putting it on a table.
"I'll have spike send it later, right now he's sleeping and I don't want to wake him."
Everyone nodded there heads in understanding as Twilight put a smile on her face.
"Come on girls let's just enjoy the rest of our get together. Aren't we here to have a good time for a while?"
Everyone smile and giggled a little bit before each mare took a cookie and began talking happily.
In Canterlot castle, Princess Celestia entered the throne room and saw Princess Luna standing by the window looking down to the busy streets of Canterlot. She noticed a worried look on her younger sisters face which made her concerned.
She went up to her and places a gentle wing on her shoulder before asking, "Luna, is something wrong?"
The younger Alicorn looked up to her older sister and said, "I'm very worried Celestia. Last night I entered the dream of our young friend Lightning Twister."
Celestia had look of curiosity on her face.
"Fluttershy's son? Why did you enter his dream?" she asked
Luna sighed before saying, "He's been having several horrible nightmares for the past week. I began to become worried about him so I entered his dream last night. However when I entered the dream ended so I couldn't see what the nightmare was about."
Celestia gave her younger sister a sympathetic smile. She knew her job as princess of the night wasn't easy.
"However sister," Luna began once more "I did notice one thing that brings me great worry not for only you and I but the rest of Equestria."
Celestia now had a look of worry on her face.
"When I was in the dream I heard a very familiar laughter and I saw a pair of red and green eyes for only a second."
Luna's face began to turn into a look of worry as well as she looked into her sisters eyes.
"Celestia, you don't possibly think those eyes could have belonged to 'him' do you?"
Celestia let out a sigh and said, "Let's hope not my sister."
Celestia then left the room with more worry than when she entered. Luna left the room feeling the same way as well. She headed upstairs to her bedroom to get some rest so she could raise the moon and do her duties of the night later.
The throne room was now silent and empty until an evil chuckle echoed throughout the room as well as a dark and menacing voice.
"I'm not strong enough to return yet, but I will be soon enough. And when I do return I will have my revenge and Equestria will be mine. Hahahahahaha!"
Lightning Twister walked though the playground to find his friends. When he found them he ran up while calling out there names.
"Hey there girls!" He said happily earning no response. His three friends turned around and all of them were wearing an evil smirk.
"Well, look who it is girls." Sweetie Belle said in an almost teasing manner.
Lightning became uneasy at his friends tone of voice.
"It's the little runt." Applebloom said cruelly
Lightning was at a loss for words as he began to step back. His friends started to come toward him with wicked smirks on there face.
"G-Girls!?" Lightning said before trembling. He then looke at Scootaloo with fear in his eyes.
"S-Scootaloo!?"
Scootaloo smirked and said teasingly. "Aww..the big scaredy cat knows my name."
Lightning now had tears coming down his face which made his three changed friends laugh
"Aww..now he's crying," Scootaloo mocked "I don't know what I saw in you. I mean your nothing but a big, scared, crybaby."
Lightning couldn't believe the words that came out of his special somepony's mouth as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle began to verbally assault him once more.
"I don't know know what we saw saw in you either." Applebloom said cruelly
"Yeah," Sweetie Belle said "I mean why did we want to be friends with such a loser like you."
Lightning began to cry openly as his friends laughed at him and teased him. He then looked up as the tears flowed down his cheeks and he saw another filly, It was Diamond Tiara."
"I told you nobody would want you because your a loser." She said cruelly before joining the CMC in laughter.
The eyes of the four filly's eyes began to multiply and surround Lightning as his their laughs echoed into the air. Lightning became afraid of all the eyes that stared at him. He then saw the same shadowy figure from his dream last night laughing at him and coming towards him. However before anything else could happen he heard a voice call his name."
"Lightning, Lightning!" The voice said loudly
Lightning shot up and noticed he was in his classroom with Miss Cheerilee looking down at him. She had an eyebrow arched before letting out a long sigh.
"I want you to meet me after class, Lightning." She said softly yet firmly.
Lightning let out a sigh and quietly pounded his desk, he knew he was in trouble. When class ended, he went up to Cheerilee with his head hung low.
"Lightning, this is the third time this week that you've fallen asleep in class." Miss Cheerilee said to him sternly before her voice became more gentle. "Are you having trouble sleeping, dear?"
Lightning just nodded his head hoping she would not ask him why he wasn't sleeping well. Cheerilee looked at him with concern.
"Lightning you know if your not feeling well you can stay home tomorrow. After all it's about to be summer vacation. I'm very worried about you dear. It's not like you to fall asleep in class. I want you to stay home and get some rest."
Lightning nodded his head and left the room without saying goodbye. Cheerilee watched him leave with a look of sadness on her face. Lightning was one of her favorite students and she hated seeing him act like this.
Lightning and his friends walked down the streets of Ponyville towards Lightning's house. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were talking about getting their Cutie Marks as Lightning continued to look down in Sadness. Scootaloo watch her coltfriend in concern and decided to talk to him in private.
"Girls, Is it alright me and Lightning go to his house alone?" she asked her other two friends.
The two nodded before heading off in another direction. Scootaloo saw Lightning leaving and quickly went to catch up with him. She stepped in front of him and gently used her hoof under his chin and lifted her head so he looked into her eyes.
"Lightning, you've been way too quiet these past few days Is something wrong?" She asked him softly hoping he would open up.
Lightning shook his head and said, "I don't want to talk about it, Scootaloo."
Lightning continued to walk past his fillyfriend as she stopped in front of him once more.
"Lightning, talk to me, maybe I can help you." She asked almost beggingly
"Scootaloo, please, I said no." Lightning said with irritation in his voice
"Please, Lightning, I'm very worry about you. Let me help-"
"I said NO, Scootaloo!" Lightning snapped harshly making Scootaloo step back and a cause few tears to form in her eyes.
Lightning immediately regretted snapping at her like that. She was only trying to help and he shouldn't have acted like that.
"Scootaloo, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to get mad at you like that. I'm just really tired and want to go to sleep." Lightning explained in an apologetic tone.
Scootaloo looked at him sympathetically and nuzzled his cheek.
"It's okay, Lightning, I understand." she said sweetly before the two continued walking.
When they arrived at Lightning's house the two smiled at one another.
"Will you tell, Auntie Rainbow I said hi?" Lightning asked
Scootaloo nodded her head before saying, "of course I will."
She then hugged Lightning and he returned it. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and flew off back to her house. Lightning watched her leave until she was out of sight. He then went inside the cottage, and looked around for his mother. Fluttershy came down the stairs with a smile on her face.
"Hi, Lightning, how was school today?" she asked her son sweetly
"It was okay." Lightning said sadly before a few small tears formed in his eyes.
Fluttershy quickly went over to him and gently used her hood to brush his tears away.
"Sweetheart, what's the matter."
Lightning suddenly buried his into his mothers chest and began crying.
"M-Momma! I don't want to h-have anymore n-nightmares! Th-they're s-scaring me and I c-can't sleep."
Fluttershy felt completely horrible as her fears began to become real. Lightning's nightmares were finally starting to get to him. She could only hope that Princess Luna could help. However she decided to think about that later, right now she needed to comfort her crying child.
"Shhh...It's okay, Lightning. I promise everything will be alright, sweetheart." Fluttershy said softly as she picked up Lightning and held him in her forelegs. She rested his head against her neck and continued to softly hush him as she gently rocked him side to side.
Lightning continued to cry as Fluttershy went over the couch and sat down. She placed her son on her lap and gently pulled him to her.
"Shhh, It's okay, sweetheart. Close your little eyes, Momma's here, Momma's got you." Fluttershy softly cooed into her sons ear as Lightning began to listen to her gentle heartbeat.
Lightning eventually relaxed in his mothers embrace as his eyes began to close. Fluttershy sang a soft Lullaby to help him sleep. Lightning eventually fell asleep in his mothers gentle embrace as she watched him quietly breath. She got comfortable on the couch as Lightning snuggled into her soft fur. Fluttershy looked out the window and hoped that Princess Luna could help her.
As the sun begins to fade, Fluttershy was getting herself ready to go to Canterlot. Princess Celestia had responded to Twilight's letter and had told all of them to come to Canterlot. However she also said not to bring Lightning Twister. Fluttershy now wondered what she would do because she didn't want to leave Lightning alone. She looked back and saw her son curled into a ball and sleeping on the couch. She was relieved that he was not having any nightmares but she still wanted someone to be here to comfort him if he did have one.
Fluttershy went over to her son and gently stroked his mane until she a knock on her door. She went over to the door and opened it. She saw Rainbow Dash standing in front of her smiling.
"Hi Rainbow, are we ready to go?" Fluttershy asked
Rainbow nodded her head and said, "Yeah, but I'm gonna stay here with, Lightning."
Fluttershy had a look of shock on her face.
"B-but I thought-" Fluttershy was cut off by Rainbow holding a hoof to her mouth
"Twilight figured it would be best if one of us stayed here with Lightning because she thought Lightning probably doesn't want to be alone right now because of his Nightmares. I decided to volunteer because I foalsit him most of the time when your not here."
Fluttershy was still confused a little bit.
"But what if the Princess gets mad because we disobeyed her orders?" She asked with worry
Rainbow put a hoof on her friends shoulder and giggled a little bit.
"Relax, Flutters, Twilight has already asked the princess if one of us could stay and she said yes. Twilight said she'd fill me in tomorrow about what the princess said."
"She and Applebloom are having a sleepover at Sweetie Belle's Tonight." Rainbow Replied
Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief after hearing everything Rainbow had said. She then stepped aside to let the cyan mare into her home. Rainbow stepped inside and saw Lightning on the couch sleeping. Fluttershy went over to her son and gently nudged him with her muzzle until he began to wake.
"It's okay sweetheart, you don't have to get yet. I have to go to Canterlot for a few hours and your, Auntie Rainbow is going to watch you until I get back. You be a good colt and listen to her, okay?"
Lightning gave her a soft smile and nodded his head. He kissed his mother on the cheek and curled back into a ball before falling asleep again. Fluttershy nuzzled her son with her muzzle and kissed him on the forehead before leaving stepping away. Rainbow flew onto the couch and laid down beside Lightning. She let her rainbow tail droop over Lightning's small body and placed a gentle wing over him.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy, he'll be safe with me." she said happily.
Fluttershy smiled and nodded her head. She said goodbye to Rainbow and flew out the door to meet her friends at the station. Rainbow looked down at the colt sleeping under her wing and tail and kissed him on the forehead before laying her head down and falling asleep as Lightning snuggled closer to her.
The train ride to Canterlot was quiet and the streets of Canterlot were quiet and abandoned as only the lamps the lit the streets at night were glowing brightly. Twilight and her friends walked through the quiet town as Applejack tried to get a conversation going to end the quietness between her and her friends.
"So, what do ya'll think Princess Luna's gonna say about Lightning?" She asked curiously.
The rest of the group look at her with concern.
"I don't know, darling, but I do hope she can help stop my sweet little nephews nightmares." Rarity said
"I hope she does too Rarity," Fluttershy said softly "Lightning's nightmares are finally starting to get to him. I want to help him before something bad happens to him."
Pinkie bounced up to her friend and tried to be her usual cheerful self to try and lighten the mood.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy, we'll help Lightning I Pinkie Promise." She said cheerfully while performing the motions for the Pinkie Promise.
The other four friends smiled at the pink pony as they arrived at the castle.
"Alright girls, let's go see Princess Celestia before we go see Princess Luna." Twilight said to the group before going inside.
The rest of the group followed her as the guards closed the door. The five friends made their way to the throne room where Princess Celestia was waiting for them inside.
"Welcome, my little ponies," She said calmly as she approached them. "My sister is waiting for us on the balcony in her chambers."
Everyone nodded their head and followed the princess out of the throne room, up stairway and down a long hall.
As they walked Twilight couldn't help but ask, "Princess, do you think, Princess Luna can help us?"
Celestia lowered her head and said, "I hope so, my faithful student."
When everyone arrived at Princess Luna's bedroom, Princess Celestia knocked on the door before going inside. Luna's room was as elegant and beautiful as Celestia's room. It had glittering granite floors and a large soft four poster bed. In the middle of the room was a dark blue rug with a white full moon in the center and on a nightstand by Luna's bed was a picture of her her sister when they were little fillies.
Outside on the balcony just like Celestia said, was the princess of the night herself. The group went out onto the balcony and Luna gave them all a soft smile.
"Welcome my friends, I thank you all for coming" she said softly.
Everyone nodded their heads as The Princess let out a long sigh and began to speak once more.
"I trust we all know the reason we're here. It seems that for these past few moons, Fluttershy's son Lightning Twister has been plagued with nightmares."
Everyone nodded their heads once more as Fluttershy spoke up.
"Princess, can you help my little boy stop having these nightmares?"
Luna shook her head in response.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I do not have the power to end ones nightmares, that ability lies with the dreamer."
Everyone looked down in sadness. Even the princess of the night was powerless to help Lightning. Tears then formed in Fluttershy's eyes. She felt that nopony could help her son. Princess Luna felt entirely guilty seeing everyone like this, but she urged herself to continue.
"However I can help the dreamer stop their nightmares. When I found out about his recurring nightmares, I entered one of Lightning's nightmares to try and help him. However the nightmare ended before I could find him. That is why I have asked all of you to come here."
Everyone looked at Luna curiously as she let out another sigh
"My friends, even though I can't stop his nightmares myself, I will continue to try and help him, I must ask that you do the same. Help reassure him that everything will be fine. I know that if we work together, we will help this young child."
Everyone smiled and nodded their heads on agreement as Luna smiled back at them softly.
"Thank you all, now I must bid you goodnight, for I must do my duties as princess of the night."
Everyone smiled and bowed their heads in respect before leaving the room however Princess Celestia stayed behind and gave her younger sister a look of concern.
"Why didn't you tell them about 'him?'" she asked
Luna shook her head and replied, "I don't want to give them any more fear than they already have."
Celestia looked down in sadness before leaving the room.
"I hope you know what your doing, Luna." she said softly before exiting her sisters bedroom.
Back in Ponyville Fluttershy made her way to her cottage and entered the living room. Rainbow dash brought her head up and smiled.
"How did everything go?" Fluttershy asked.
"Great!" Rainbow replied "Lightning only woke up once and I read him a story to help him fall back asleep."
Fluttershy smiled softly at her best friend before picking Lightning up in her forelegs. She had his head rest against the side of her neck as Rainbow began to make her way out of the cottage.
"Thank you for watching, Lightning, Rainbow." Fluttershy said thankfully
The cyan mare smiled and said, "No problem, flutters, I'll watch him anytime you need me."
Rainbow flew out of the cottage as Lightning began to wake in his mothers forelegs.
Fluttershy looked down at her son and kissed him on the forehead as she flew up the stairs to his bedroom while speaking to him sweetly.
"Come on, sweetheart, it's time for bed."
In the skies above, the shadow and sinister eyes from Lightning's nightmare watched Princess Luna fly back to her castle before letting out an evil chuckle.
"Enjoy this last peaceful night Celestia and Luna, because it will be your last." The shadow said menacingly before flying down to Fluttershy's cottage and watched the young mother put her child to bed through the window.
"My plan is ready to be put into action, and Lightning Twister, you are the key to the downfall of your family as well as the rest of Equestria. I promise that you and I will soon meet." The voice said before flying away and breaking into crazed and maniacal laughter.
At Ponyville Elementary School everyone was sitting around talking happily. However every student also had their eye on the clock because today was the last day of school. They all couldn't wait for the minute hand to land on the twelve so they could begin their summer vacation. Everyone in the room was cheerful, everyone except Lightning Twister. Even though he had no nightmares last night, Lightning was still having troubles staying awake. Even though Cheerilee told him to stay home, he went against his teachers wishes and came to school anyway. Cheerilee wasn't too happy about this, but she let it go because it was the last day of school and Lightning could then relax after today.
The time everyone was waiting for was about to arrive and everyone was ready to race for the door. Cheerilee however stepped up to her children to tell them one more thing.
"Alright, my little ponies, I hope you all have a wonderful summer vacation. You all have done very well this year and I am very proud of each and every one of you. I'll see you all next year."
After those words left her mouth the bell finally rang and the students shot like bullets towards the door. The CMC were the last to leave the classroom with each of them saying goodbye to Cheerilee. Cheerilee said goodbye to them as well and watched them leave, however her cheerfulness turned into a look of concern as she saw Lightning disappeared with his friends. in the end though she softly smiled and hoped that Lightning would be back to his usual, cheerful self when school started again.
At Ponyville park the CMC were all talking about what they would do this summer. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were talking about getting their cutie marks and Scootaloo was bragging about how Rainbow Dash was going to take her and Lightning to see the Wonderbolts perform in Canterlot. After the young Pegasus filly mentioned her coltfriend's name, her smile grew into concern as she looked back and saw him laying under the tree that they names carved into when they went on their first date. She noticed a look of sadness and unease on his face. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle noticed this as well and Went over to Lightning as well as Scootaloo. The three fillies saw small tears flowing from Lightning's eyes and down his cheeks as he quickly brushed them away with his hoof.
Scootaloo laid down beside Lightning and put one of her hooves over his. She gently nuzzled his cheek with her muzzle affectionately to comfort him. Lightning gave her a weak smile as he nuzzled her as well.
Applebloom began rubbing Lightning's back softly as she asked, "You still upset about not being able to sleep, Lightning?"
Lightning just nodded his head as sweetie Belle gave him a soft smile.
"Don't worry, Lightning, everything will be alright." She said reassuringly "I have an idea, we can all have a sleepover at my house tomorrow."
"That sounds awesome Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo said as her face beamed up with joy.
"You can count me in." Applebloom said right after.
Lightning gave a soft smile, a nice night with his friends sounded like a good idea. Maybe it could help him relax a little bit and help stop his nightmares.
Eventually, Lightning nodded his head and said with a smile, "Alright, Sweetie Belle, I'll come to the sleepover."
The rest of the CMC were excited and were already planning what the four of them should do until the sky went dark and a rumble of thunder erupted in the sky.
The group of friends fell silent as the looked up at the sudden change in the sky.
"What's going on?" Scootaloo asked curiously "the weather team didn't schedule a storm this afternoon."
A flash of lightning lit the sky followed by a rumble of thunder which made Lightning very uneasy due to his fear of storms.
"I think we all better head to our homes." Sweetie Belle said earning a nod of agreement from everyone.
Applebloom and sweetie belle said goodbye before going running to their respective homes. Scootaloo grabbed her saddlebag and went over to Lightning.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Lightning." She said as she looked up at the sky,
She gave Lightning a quick kiss on the lips before taking off to her home, leaving Lightning all alone. Another rumble of thunder ripped the sky and Lightning took off running towards his house as he began to get frightened of the storm. He was trying to be brave but he felt that something was not right about this storm. When his home appeared over the horizon, Lightning could see Fluttershy helping put her animals in their homes so they would be safe from this strange storm. Fluttershy looked up and saw her son running her way. However Lightning tripped over himself and fell flat on his face.
Lightning soon got to his feet and saw his mother flying towards him in concern. He was about to meet her halfway until he stopped dead in his tracks and cover his head in fear as another wave of thunder and Lightning lit the sky. Lightning began to tremble in fear of the storm but tried to continue moving only to find he couldn't. Looking down at his hooves he saw that they were trapped in something glowing and he instantly became even more scared.
"Momma! Help! I'm Stuck!" He screamed in terror as he tried he tried to break himself free.
Fluttershy then saw the glowing objects at her sons feet and gasped in shock.
"Hold on Sweetheart! Momma's coming!" She shouted until a huge bolt of Lightning stopped her dead in her tracks.
Fluttershy yelped as another one struck the ground almost as if it was trying to attack her. Lightning saw all of this and trembled in fear as she watched the bolts of Lightning send his mother further and further backwards. Suddenly something started growing rapidly in front of him, It was a giant dark crystal. Fluttershy saw the crystal grow as well and it looked all too familiar. She tried to get closer until another bolt of lightning shot down and blocked her path.
Another giant crystal formed beside the first one and more continued to appear in a circle around Lightning, .
Now completely scared stiff, Lightning tried to call out once more to Fluttershy but it was almost inaudible.
"M-Momma, h-help me. I-I'm s-s-scared!"
Lightning continued to tremble as tears formed in his eyes. The dark crystals continued to surround Lightning until he could no longer see his mother or the rest of the outside world. Lightning started to cry in fear until he heard a familiar evil laughter, it was the same laughter from his nightmares. Suddenly Lightning found himself being surround by a cloud of dark smoke. He started to cough violently as the smoke began to rise up his body. The evil laughter grew louder and louder as Lightning began to choke on the black smoke. As darkness surrounded him and the laughter continued to grow even louder and more crazed, Lightning used all of his will to shout out a loud and terrified scream.
"MOMMA!!"
Fluttershy heard her son's scream as the Lightning stopped trying to attack her. She flew as fast as she could to the crystals only to see them slowly crack and crumble when she arrived. She saw the smoke inside the crystal begin to fade as well as the dark clouds in the sky. However Fluttershy's eyes went wide and tears began to form in them as smoke faded away but Lightning was no longer there.
"N-No! NO!!! LIGHTNING!!" Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs as she searched around frantically for her son.
"LIGHTNING, MY BABY BOY, WHERE ARE YOU!?" She screamed as her composure began to break.
She tried to take flight but she fell and landed on her stomach. That was the breaking point for Fluttershy as she broke down and cried, she had lost her son again. She began to roll around on the ground and wail as she flailed her hooves around. She then let out the most pain filled scream a mother could make.
"LIGHTNING!!"
Deep in an underground cave A puff of smoke appeared and disappeared leaving Lightning on the ground. The scared little colt coughed and wheezed violently from inhaling the smoke. His vision was blurry but once it became clear he looked around at his new surroundings.
"M-Momma! W-Where are you!?" Lightning called out while trembling with fear.
Lightning quickly heard a response, however it was not the voice of his mother. It was the laughter from earlier as it echoed across the caves and became even more maniacal and crazed. Lighting turned around and his eyes went wide with fear as found the source of the laughter. Standing in front him was a large black unicorn with a curved red horn and had a familiar sinister smiling face and fiery red and green eyes laughing like a mad pony. Lightning was now face to face with the monster from his nightmares. he was now face to face with King Sombra!
Lightning trembled in fear of the monster from his nightmares. The evil unicorn king laughed at the child's fear and slowly approached. Lightning tried to run away, but King Sombra used his magic to create large dark crystals to block the only exit. Lightning then found himself restrained by the same dark glowing magic from earlier. Sombra chuckled in delight as he continued to walk towards the crying, terrified colt.
"There's no point in trying to escape or call for help Lightning Twister," he said menacingly "Your trapped and no one can hear you scream."
Lightning was so scared he felt himself choking somewhat as Sombra knelt down and got eye to eye with him.
"W-who are y-you? Wh-where am I" he said almost inaudibly as his tears flowed down his cheeks.
A grin came across Sombra's face as he replied, "You and I are in the Crystal Caves just under Canterlot, and I am King Sombra."
Lightning began to tremble even harder as he covered his head with his hooves as he began to cry even harder.
"P-please l-let me g-go," Lightning wailed "I- w-want my M-Momma!"
King Sombra laughed at the young colts misery and said, "Your not going anywhere, my little pawn."
Lightning's crying became even louder as he continued to call out for his mother.
"Silence, you little vermin!" Sombra yelled as he struck a bolt of Lightning that landed only feet away from Lightning.
Lightning fell silent and was completely frozen in fear as the evil unicorn king smiled.
"Your not going anywhere because you are an essential part of my plan." he hissed
Lightning was confused, but he was to scared to show it as Sombra began speaking once more.
"I was once the ruler of the Crystal Empire. I had countless crystal ponies under my control and I was the most feared and most powerful king in all of Equestria. Until those blasted royal pony sisters appeared and overthrew me. I was turned to shadow and sealed away in the ice of the arctic north. I had been sealed away for one thousand years, until the seal was somehow broken and I was able to break free. I tried to take back what was mine, but that blasted crystal princess and her idiot husband stood in my way as well as those accursed holders of the elements of harmony. The crystal ponies were able to use that horrid crystal heart to completely destroy me and I lost all of my power. After that, I was nothing but a memory. I was humiliated and reduced to nothing for the longest time, but the fear I left on the crystal ponies managed to help me keep some of my power which helped keep me from being completely destroyed. However it wasn't enough, I no longer had a body, I was nothing but a wondering shadow, and no one's fear was strong to help me return to normal!"
A wicked little smile formed back on Sombra's face as he looked down at Lightning.
"That is, until you arrived." he said with a tone of voice that made Lightning even more scared than he already was.
"W-what do you m-mean?" Lightning stuttered
Sombra let out a sinister chuckled before speaking once more.
"Your fear was greater than any fear that I had ever felt and I could feel my strength slowly returning. Everything you had been through in your life only increased your fear including your nightmares."
Lightning gasped in horror , "s-so y-you-"
"Yes, you stupid little colt," Sombra snapped harshly "I was the one that created your nightmares. I created them out of some of your deepest fears, and I used your fear to help me return to normal."
Lightning couldn't help but cry once more as he remembered every horrible nightmare he had since they started.
"Your fear, is what gives me strength, my boy." King Sombra said "And the more fear I fill you with, the stronger I become. Soon I will be strong enough to take revenge on the ones who caused my downfall and not only will I have control of the Crystal Empire, I will have have control of all of Equestria."
Lightning gasped and became afraid for his friends, family, and most of all, his mother. Sombra smiled as he felt Lightning's fear surge through him from within.
"Yes Lightning, be afraid, be very afraid. You are the key to Equestria's destruction. But don't worry my boy, I won't hurt you..." A wicked smile formed on King Sombra's face once more "...yet."
King Sombra then broke into a fit of maniacal and crazed laughter as Lightning covered his head with his hooves once more and cried while calling out for the one person he wanted.
"M-Momma, h-help me. I-I'm s-scared."
Back in Ponyville everyone at Twilight's Library had tears flowing down there faces. Fluttershy had told them everything with every painful detail. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were both softly and quietly crying by there sisters while Scootaloo was outright wailing in Rainbow Dash's hooves. Spike had finished writing a tear stained letter that was for the Princess to inform her of Lightning's disappearance but Twilight had told him to wait and send it in the morning because it was to late at night now. The young baby dragon was wrapped in Twilight's embrace as Fluttershy continued sobbing in Rarity's embrace.
She had not stopped crying since Lightning was taken and no one could stop her they tried there best to comfort her but it proved unsuccessful. Rarity softly stroked Fluttershy's back as she softly hushed her in her ear.
"Shhh...It's going to be okay, darling." She softly cooed
"N-no it w-won't, m-my b-baby boy is g-gone." Fluttershy sobbed "I l-let him g-get taken ag-gain. I'm a h-horrible m-mother."
"No your not, sweetie." Rarity reassured
"she's right, sugarcube," Applejack said softly while gently rubbing Fluttershy's arm "This wasn't your fault, I promise you we'll get Lightning back just like I promised when he got taken by his father."
Fluttershy began to cry even harder at the painful memory.
"Oops, sorry." Applejack said, realizing that she was only making things worse.
Rainbow quickly took over and said, "What she meant was, we will get Lightning back."
Fluttershy sobs reduced to sniffles as she rubbed her eyes with her hoof. Rainbow pulled her into a sisterly hug and both mares let out a yawn.
Twilight looked at the clock and said, "It's getting late everypony, how about we all stay here tonight."
Everyone nodded there head as Twilight went to Fluttershy and hugged her.
"I promise we'll get him back, Fluttershy." She said softly before laying down with Spike curling up beside her.
Everyone else nodded and promised the same thing before finding a spot to sleep.
Rainbow eventually laid down, but Scootaloo stayed up and went over to Fluttershy.
"Can I sleep with you tonight, Fluttershy." she asked before crying once more.
Fluttershy quickly hugged hugged her and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.
"Of course you can sweetie," she said sweetly before laying.
Scootaloo laid down and snuggled up beside Fluttershy and began to quietly cry herself to sleep. Fluttershy gently stroked the young filly's back with her wing as she looked out the window and looked up at Princess Luna's beautiful moon.
"Please be safe, Lightning." She said softly before falling asleep with Scootaloo snuggling into her soft warm fur.
Deep Within the Crystal Caves, Lightning laid on the ground and cried quietly while trembling in terror. He could feel his hooves cramping from the magical restraints that King Sombra placed on him. He quietly prayed that Fluttershy would find him and free him just like she did when he was foalnapped by his father. He wished that everything that was happening to him was only a nightmare, but he knew it wasn't.
King Sombra reappeared in the caves in a puff of smoke. he smile down at his helpless captive and stroked his mane.
"Oh come now, Lightning, you should be happy, your helping make history by helping the true king of Eqeustria rise to power." he said evilly
"P-please, K-king S-Sombra, I w-wanna g-go home. I wan't my M-Momma." Lightning sobbed
Sombra growled and struck a bolt of lightning towards Lightning. It struck the ground inches from his hooves making Lightning yelp and whimpered.
"Silence!" Sombra roared as Lightning trembled in fear.
King Sombra took a deep breath and smiled.
"There will be nopony that can stop me." he said before chuckling, "Now, I'm going to do something with you, Lightning."
The evil Unicorns horn began to glow as he brought his heads down towards lightning, making the scared little colt whimper and whine.
"Lets see what really scares you.." Sombra hissed in Lightning's ear.
"h-h-h, n-n-n no-no!" Lightning whined as he struggled.
Sombra laughed and said, "There's no point in trying to fight, you helpless little runt, you are mine to toy with as I please."
He then screamed in terror as sombra's horn finally connected with his forehead.
Lightning found himself drowning in a flash of white light. When the light disappeared, he saw that he was no longer in the Crystal Caves and King Sombra was nowhere to be found. Lightning whimpered in fear because he wasn't in Ponyville, he was in a dark cold and damp location he had never seen, his environment looked like a dungeon. Lightning took a few steps around and began to whimper again in fear of the darkness.
"M-Momma!?" He called out hoping she was nearby and he could run into her soft and loving and embrace.
He soon heard something, but it was not Fluttershy's sweet and gentle voice. It was a low and threatening growl sound that made Lightning's hair stand on end. Turning around, Lightning gasped in shock and fear when he saw a familiar Pegasus with a crazed look in his eye snarling at him.
"D-D-Daddy!?" Lightning whimpered.
Cold Wind Lunged at Lightning, the scared little colt screamed and ran towards a stairway that led to an exit. However when he reached the stairway, he was bounced backwards by a magical barrier between him and his exit. He turned around and screamed when his father shoved him to the ground and used his large hoof to pin Lightning's small body to the ground.
"I TOLD YOU THAT IF YOU RUINED MY LIFE, I WOULD RUIN YOURS!" Cold Wind yelled making his son cry.
He then raised a hoof and began laughing maniacally.
"D-Daddy don't hurt m-me p-please!' Lightning cried as his tears flowed down his cheeks
Cold Wind continue laughing until his laughter turned into King Sombra's laughter. He then brought his hoof down towards Lightning's face.
Lightning closed his eyes and screamed out at the top of his lungs, "MOMMA!"
Lightning waited for the hoof to strike him but he never felt a thing. Opening half of one eye he saw that he was no longer in the dungeon he was back in the Crystal Caves with King Sombra standing in front of him, with a large grin on his face.
"That's right Lightning, I can make you experience your deepest fears." he said cruelly "It's only a matter of time. Soon I will have my revenge on the royal pony sisters, The Crystal Princess and her husband, and the elements of harmony!"
Lightning was left in a state of shock and fear. He couldn't say any words, he was to afraid of what King Sombra was going to do to his family. Sombra looked down at his helpless prisoner and laughed.
"The time has come Lightning! You and I will go to Canterlot and you will witness the defeat of the princesses. Soon everyone you know and love will be defeated and it's all because of you." he said before breaking into a crazed fit of laughter. Lightning quietly cried from fear and guilt he hoped that someone would save him soon.
In Canterlot Castle Princess Celestia sat in the throne room with a sad look on her face. After she had gotten Twilight's letter, she had not responded because she was too worried that she and Luna's fears had come true. She feared that King Sombra had foalnapped Lightning and if she dared make one move, he would hurt the innocent little colt. She could only hope that Lightning was safe. She was about to turn in for the night until she heard a dark ominous laughter that made her very nervous.
A large puff cloud of smoke entered the room and began to make two forms one large form and one small. When the smoke cleared for the first form. It revealed Lightning Twister who laid on the ground coughing violently.
A huge smile grew on Celestia's face.
"Lightning!" she shouted before running towards the little colt.
However she was stopped by a huge bolt of Lightning from second cloud of smoke. The shot barely missed her as the smoke began to clear from the second form. The Princess of the sun then saw her worst fears appear in front of her, as the cloud formed King Sombra. Celestia face went from a smile to a glare of hatred. She snarled angrily as her horn began to glow.
"King Sombra! Let that little colt go!" She yelled furiously.
She was about to strike Sombra with her magic but the evil king lifted Lightning with his magic sent a small wave of lightning at the him shocking the scared colt.
"AAAAAAH!" Lightning screamed before wailing in pain
"Don't make another move, Celestia, or he dies." Sombra hissed with an evil glare on his face.
The Princess had a look of fear on her face for the little colt. She would never forgive herself if she was the reason this innocent child got hurt anymore. Reluctantly, she lowered her horn and let her magic fade. King Sombra smiled and tossed Lightning aside as the little colt hit the the ground. He tried to run to the Sun Princess but Sombra made a magic chain around Lightning's body and hid locked him to a pillar. The now scared and restrained colt buried his head in his hooves and cried.
Celestia looked at him sadly, she knew she couldn't go near him and comfort him. She turned her attention to her enemy and looked into his fiery eyes with a glare of pure anger.
"Why did you foalnap that poor innocent child!?" She snapped harshly
Sombra chuckled and said, "because this so called innocent child is the reason for my return."
Celestia gasped and looked at Lightning who was shaking and crying in fear and guilt.
"You used him to regain power, didn't you!?" Celestia hissed
The evil unicorn gave her a wicked little smirk and said, "That's exactly what I did, Celestia, and thanks to him, I have regained all of my power and I'm even stronger than I was one thousand years ago."
Celestia couldn't believe what she was hearing as King Sombra stepped towards the princess.
"Now, I am here to exact my revenge and take what's mine." he said angrily
Celestia shook her head and said coldly, "You will never have the Crystal Empire as long as my niece and her husband rule it."
"I don't want just the crystal empire," Sombra quickly replied. "I want all of Equestria!"
Celestia stepped towards the king and shook her head before getting nose to nose with him. She glared into his eyes and began speaking in a tone that would make Discord himself cringe.
"I have ruled and protected Equestria for over a thousand years. I have made decisions that I regret to this day to protect my subjects so they can live in peace and harmony. I may not be as powerful as I once was, but as long as I'm still Princess you will never rule Equestria, and as long as I'm still standing you will never harm one of my subjects!"
King Sombra chuckled and tool of his cape while replying,"I was hoping you would say that, Celestia, because I want you to go down fighting."
Princess Celestia knew Sombra was challenging her. She looked at the still crying Lightning one more time before glaring at Sombra with her horn glowing.
Getting into a battle stance, King Sombra smiled and said, "I'm going to enjoy, defeating you."
Tears continued to flow down Lightning's cheeks as he watched on in terror as the two powerful ponies began their battle.
Princess Celestia fired a shot of magic at King Sombra but he quickly dodged and fired at her. Celestia teleported out of the way and the second she reappeared she fired her magic once more hoping to catch Sombra off guard. But Sombra used his magic to create a large dark crystal in front of him. The crystal shattered into little pieces as it got full blast of Celestia's magic. Both combatants knew they were evenly matched. However, neither one of them gave up. Both Celestia and Sombra fired their magic at the time and they connected with one another much like what happened when Celestia fought Queen Chrysalis. Celestia tried to overpower King Sombra, but the evil king's magic was more powerful than hers. The magic beam began to come towards Celestia until it exploded and sent her flying into a wall. She landed beside Lightning Twister, but before she could get up, King Sombra fired a wave of lightning that struck both the princess and Lightning Twister.
"AAAAAAH!" they both screamed.
Lightning Twister started crying uncontrollably once more. The lightning felt like one of his fathers sharp hoof strike's whenever he hit him, this only brought back painful memories for the injured colt. Celestia tried to get to her feet but she didn't have the strength as she collapsed on the ground beside Lightning. Celestia knew she couldn't win, and she didn't want Lightning hurt anymore that he already was. Closing her eyes, she solemnly lowered her head in defeat.
"Hahahahahahahahahahaha!" King Sombra laughed maniacally "I win!"
The evil king created a magic chain around the body of the fallen princess connected it to the same pillar that Lightning's chain was connected to.
"Nopony can defeat me, Not even the great, Princess Celestia." He said evilly
"Now what shall I do with you, Celestia?" He asked with a smile on his face while stroking his chin with his hoof. "Should I turn you into shadow and banish you to the ice of the Arctic North like you did to me a thousand years ago?"
The kings smile quickly disappeared he looked around for something.
"Where's, Princess Luna?" he snapped angrily as he searched for the princess of the night.
However, she was nowhere to be found. King Sombra's smile started to return as he looked back at his two captives.
"I know what I'll do to you, Celestia," he said "I'll go find, Luna myself, bring her here and make both you and Lightning watch as I strike her down just like I did with you."
King Sombra laughed evilly before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. Celestia felt tears stain her cheeks. She knew Luna's painful memories would be used against her and King Sombra would defeat her just as easily. She feared for her sister's safety.
However her thought's were interrupted by Lightning's crying. He was still hurting from the strike of lightning. He was also more scared than ever. Luckily the princess was close enough to Lightning to where she could comfort him. She moved herself over to the crying colt and place a gentle wing over him. she brought her head down and made a soft hushing sound in his ear. Lightning heard the Princesses sweet and gentle voice and snuggled up into her side while crying. The Princess gave Lightning a gentle kiss on the forehead and continued to make a soft hushing sound to him while she gently nuzzled him.
Both were unaware that Princess Luna was outside the throne room and had seen everything that had happened. With a worried look on her face, she flew as fast as she could towards Ponyville.
In Twilight's library, Twilight and her friends were all pacing back and forth waiting for a response from Princess Celestia. The CMC and Spike were all sitting in a circle with Applebloom comforting Scootaloo who was sniffling quietly, wishing Lightning was by her side. Fluttershy was no better off than the little filly. She had tears in her eyes and was laying in a fetal position hugging and stroking a picture of her missing son as if were really him. She looked at the picture and was mumbling Lightning's name over and over again. Applejack held her close and made soft hushing sounds in her ear trying to get her to calm down.
An already irritated Rainbow Dash stroked Scootaloo's mane comfortingly before looking at Twilight and asking her, "Why hasn't Celestia responded yet?"
Twilight just shook her head.
"I don't know," she replied. "It makes me a little worried that she hasn't responded yet, She always replies to my letters the second she gets them."
Rainbow was about to respond, until there was a bright flash of light in the library blinding everyone inside for a second.
When the light faded it revealed Princess Luna.
"Princess Luna!" Everyone shouted simultaneously before bowing to her.
Luna shook her and said rather forcefully, "My friends, this is no time for formalities."
Everyone looked at her in confusion before as the Princess let out a sigh to calm herself.
"I have come to tell you that I have found Lightning Twister." she said much more gently this time.
Hearing her sons name, Fluttershy shot like a bullet towards Princess Luna nearly knocking everyone over.
"You found him!? Where is he!? Is he safe!?" She nearly shouted
Luna raised her hoof to silence Fluttershy and responded, "I'm afraid he's far from safe, Fluttershy. He has been foalnapped and is being held prisoner by King Sombra."
Everyone gasped as Fluttershy began to wobble and collapse before hyperventilating. Rainbow put her hooves on Fluttershy's shoulder to try and calm her down as Twilight stepped up.
"King Sombra? The unicorn that tried to take over the Crystal Empire." She asked with worry.
Luna nodded her head in response.
"Yes, Twilight, the very same. He has returned and has become even more powerful than before."
"But the power of the Crystal Heart destroyed him! How did he return!?" Twilight quickly asked
Luna sighed and said, "He has been using Lightning's fear to help him return and gain even more power."
Everyone became even more worried as Fluttershy became even more scared for her son.
"But can't you and Princess Celestia stop him like you did before?" Rarity asked
"No," Luna quickly responded, "King Sombra has attacked the castle and has defeated my sister and is holding her prisoner as well. When I saw Celestia fall to him, I immediately came to all of you to tell you this terrible news and ask for your help."
Everyone remained silent for a moment and let everything they were told sink in. Twilight was worried for both Lightning and her teacher. She knew that if Celestia couldn't defeat the evil king, then Luna stood no chance either and Lightning was in even more danger without anyone's protection.
Breaking out of her, panicked state Fluttershy asked a question that suddenly raced through her mind.
"Princess Luna, how do you know all of this?" she asked
Letting out a shaky sigh, the princess of the night responded, "I-I knew King Sombra was going to return a-and I kn-knew that he was using Lightning to do it."
Fluttershy's face contorted with anger as she flew face to face with the moon princess and began screaming at the top of her lungs.
"WHAT!? YOU KNEW HE WAS HURTING MY BABY BOY AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!? HE'S NOW FOALNAPPED AND PROBABLY HURT, AND YOU KNEW WHO TOOK HIM ALL THIS TIME!?"
Everyone's mouths hung and stepped away from Fluttershy. Princess Luna closed her eyes as tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Tears formed in Fluttershy's eyes as well as she realized she went too far.
"Oh my goodness, P-Princess I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to get mad and yell at you like that." She apologized as she was on the brink of sobbing.
Luna wiped her eyes and shook her head,
"No, dear Fluttershy, do not apologize, you had every right to be angry at me. I know I would have acted the same way if my son was in danger. If anyone should apologize it's me, I should have told you when I first started to fear that King Sombra would return. I just didn't want to add any more fear to Lightning or any of you."
Everyone nodded their heads in Understanding as Fluttershy hugged the Princess of the moon.
"Please Princess, I never should have acted like that, I'm just worried about my little, Lightning." she said as she began to cry in fear and guilt.
Luna wrapped her forelegs and wings around Fluttershy and rubbed her back soothingly.
"I understand, Fluttershy, I'm worried about him too as well as my sister but I promise we will get your son back."
"And I know how!" Twilight said startling everyone in the room.
Twilight gave her friends their respective Element of Harmony as she began to speak once more.
"I know King Sombra is powerful, but with the Elements of Harmony combined with Luna's powerful magic their is no doubt we will be able to defeat him for good this time."
Applejack quickly faced Twilight and began to speak.
"I feel the same way, Twi, but we can't expect to just walk up to him and beat him. He'll no doubt be able to see us coming a mile away if we just storm the castle."
Twilight rubbed her chin with her hoof in a thinking manner.
"Your right, Applejack, we've got to find a way to sneak into the castle and free Lightning and the Princess without being seen by, King Sombra."
Luna pondered for a moment before gasping,
"I know how we can get into the castle without being seen." she said happily
everyone smiled and faced the Princess.
"There is secret underground passage outside the castle that was built long before my sister and I ruled Equestria. Nopony knows about it except Celestia and I. We can use that passage to sneak into the castle dungeon. From there we will sneak into the throne room to free my sister and Lightning Twister. With the combined power of my sister, myself, and the elements of harmony we can destroy king Sombra forever."
Everyone smiled and nodded their heads.
"Sounds like a plan, let's go free the Princess and get my awesome nephew back." Rainbow Dash said.
Twilight turned to face Spike and the CMC and looked at them.
"Spike, girls, I want all of you to stay here and lock the Library. I will come and find you once we have Lightning Twister back and everyone is safe." she said while the baby dragon and the fillies nodded their heads.
Turning back to Luna and her friends, Twilight nodded her head and said, "Let's go."
Everyone nodded their with a look of Determination on their face. Fluttershy was seething with anger. She silently swore to herself that she would make King Sombra pay for taking her son away from her.
"Don't worry Lightning, Momma will be there very soon." she said to herself as Luna teleported her and everyone else to Canterlot.
Outside the castle of Canterlot, the main six followed Princess Luna to the secret underground passage she was talking about. Stopping in front of a wall, The princess of the night used her magic against the wall. At first nothing happened, until a strange design flowed across the wall and then it began to split, revealing the secret passage. Princess Luna smirked in victory before looking at the group of ponies behind her,
"King Sombra must be asleep by now, lets go through the passage and head for the throne room." She said before going into the passage.
The rest of the group looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement before entering the passage with the wall closing behind them. After about five minutes of going through the dark torch lit passageway they soon reached a dead end and Luna once more used her magic to open the path which lead right to the entrance to throne room. The six friends looked around one corner and Luna looked around the other before anyone exited the passage. When everyone believe that the coat was clear, the group stepped out and headed for the throne room doors. Princess Luna kept her glowing ready to fight if something happened.
Pinkie Pie quietly pushed the door open and Fluttershy quickly and quietly flew inside. She looked all around the throne room until she saw two figures by the throne that made her smile with glee. One was Princess Celestia and the other made her smile even larger and made tears flow down her face.
"Lightning!" she shouted with glee as she flew towards her son.
Lightning heard her voice and towards her direction as a smile grew on his face.
"M-Momma!" He shouted with happiness as he ran towards her only to be held back by his magical restraint.
Princess Luna and Twilight ran into the room as well the rest of the group and both the princess and the unicorn saw the trapped Celestia.
"Celestia!" both Twilight and Luna shouted at the same time before heading there direction followed by everyone else.
Fluttershy was about to reach Lightning, until the she was bounced back by a magical force field. Everyone saw this and stopped Where they were. The door to the throne room were suddenly slammed shut with magic and Everyone looked back to see king Sombra staring at them with a look of anger on his face.
"This is as far you go!" he snapped as fiery red eyes flared. He had been waiting for them the entire time.
Fluttershy tried to attack king Sombra for hurting her son, but she was held back by Rainbow Dash who knew that she couldn't take the powerful tyrant alone. Everyone else got into a battle position, ready to fight King Sombra, but Sombra teleported over to Lightning and his horn began to glow at the frightened child.
"I warned Celestia and now I'll warn all of you," he began. "If you dare attack me, I end this brat's life."
The look in Sombra's eyes and the fear in Lightning's eyes told the group that Sombra wasn't lying. Everyone stood down as Luna stepped forward.
"How could you threaten the life of an innocent child!?" she snapped angrily.
Sombra smiled and replied, "because I know none of you would ever forgive yourselves if something did happen to this child."
Fluttershy was in a rage as she began yelling at the usurper king.
"How dare you! How dare you hurt my son! How dare you take him away from me and use him as your shield. If you touch one hair on his head Sombra, I will bucking destroy you!"
Everyone looked at Fluttershy in complete shock. The look in her eyes and the power in her voice told made everyone uncomfortable. They knew she was acting purely on the rage of a mother.
King Sombra however chuckled in amusement.
"The love of a mother, how sweet." He mocked before using his magic to snatch the elements of harmony off of the necks of the main six.
He levitated them over his head with his magic as he spoke.
"It's over you blasted ponies. You all know that your powerless against me without the elements. You also know that you are powerless against me, Luna. Your sister fell to me in a matter of minutes and you know you would fall just as easily as she did. I wanted to destroy all of you here and now, but I have decided to do something else. I will take Equestria and destroy everyone and everything you know and love, and I plan to make you all watch before throwing each and every one of you in the dungeons for eternity."
Everyone was at a lost for words as they imagined heard King Sombra's plan. Tears fell down their eyes as they thought of everyone they cared about suffering at the hooves of King Sombra. Fluttershy looked at her son helplessly and let her tears flow free as she imagined what would happen to him after Sombra was finished with his takeover. Celestia, hearing everything, looked down in sadness, knowing she had no power to stop King Sombra because of her defeat and his magical restraint. Sombra smiled victoriously over his defeated enemies before looking at Lightning. The little colt trembled and whimpered in fear of his captor. Suddenly Sombra used his magic to free Lightning from his restraint. However the little colt dared did not move an inch, in fear of being hurt by King Sombra's magic.
The evil king grinned menacingly at Lightning and stroked his mane.
"I owe all of this to you, my boy." he said venomously "You helped me regain my power, you helped me defeat my enemies, and now you helped me secure my place as the true ruler of Equestria. However there is one last thing that needs to be done, Lightning, and your going to do it."
Sombra levitated Fluttershy's element of harmony over to Lightning and dropped in front of him.
"Smash it, Lightning!" Sombra snapped harshly
Lightning gasped and looked at the king for a second and then at his mother.
"b-but if I d-do that?" He stuttered nervously
"Yes," Sombra quickly replied "If you destroy one element of harmony, the others will be useless and nothing will be able to stop me, not even the magic of the princesses combined."
Sombra then broke into a fit of maniacal laughter. Everyone at this point was completely scared stiff at how far, King Sombra was willing to go to take Equestria. Lightning's fear and guilt were starting to get the best of him as his family looked at him in fear. The looks on their faces begged him no to destroy the element. Lightning didn't want to destroy it either, but if he didn't he knew that Sombra would make him suffer and then make his family suffer. Letting out a long shaky sigh and tears in his eyes, Lightning knew what he had to do.
"No!"
Everyone gasped in shock at the young colts response as the smile on King Sombra's face quickly turned into a glare of anger.
"What did you say?" he hissed at Lightning.
Lightning shook a little bit at the tone of Sombra's voice but kept his ground.
I said, no! I won't destroy my Momma's element!" he snapped at King Sombra with a tear filled glare on his face.
Sombra charged at the little colt and got nose to nose with him.
"You dare defy me, you little brat?" He snapped angrily
Lightning wanted to back down, but instead, he continued to be brave and stand up to the king.
"I won't do it! I won't hurt my Momma or my family, you big bully! I love them all too much to hurt them!"
Lightning then slapped the element away from him and it landed in front of Celestia. Fluttershy closed her eyes and let a single tear fall down her cheek. She was very proud of her son. King Sombra however was far from happy. Stepping away from Lightning and with an enraged look in his his horn began to spark.
"Very well then, you little vermin," he hissed "If you will not destroy the element, then...you...will...die!"
With that said he began to shoot his wave of lightning at Lightning Twister.
"LIGHTNING!!!" everyone shouted in terror.
Lightning howled in pain as he was being electrocuted. He began to shake and wobble as King Sombra got closer. The pain only became worse the more Lightning screamed. He eventually fell over as Sombra continued to electrocute the defenseless colt. Everyone watched in terror as Sombra electrocuted Lightning unmercifully.
Suddenly King Sombra's magic began to weaken much to the kings shock. He tried to use as much power as possible but it was to no avail. His magic continued to fade until Lightning was no longer being electrocuted.
"W-What happened to my magic?" King Sombra asked in a state of confusion.
As those words left his mouth Celestia's magical restraint and the force field between him and the main six and Luna faded away. Before he could react Celestia restrained his legs with her magic and handed the elements of harmony back to the main six.
"What are you doing!?" Sombra shouted
Nopony answered as they all stood together. Celestia and Luna's horns began to glow and the main six began to activate their elements of harmony.
"What!? No! Stop!" Sombra yelled at the top of his lungs when he realized what was about to happen.
The Magic of both the princesses and the elements combined into a large wave of light that was aimed directly at King Sombra. The wave of light flew at King Sombra and engulfed him. Sombra looked down in terror and saw his body beginning to crack much like it did when he was destroyed by the crystal heart.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" he yelled until his body completely exploded from the light.
Once the light faded, everypony saw there was nothing left where King Sombra stood except a shadowy puff of smoke that slowly faded away into nothing. The main six and the princesses smiled at each other knowing that King Sombra was truly dead this time. Fluttershy however ran over to her son and saw that he was unconscious.
"Lightning, wake up sweetheart, please." She said as she gently nudged him hoping he would wake.
However nothing happened as he continued to lay motionless on the ground.
Tears spilled from her eyes as she laid down beside him.
"Oh, please, Lightning, please don't be dead. Please my baby boy, please." She begged as she cried over her sons unconscious body.
Her friends all circled around her and stroked her and let their tears flow free as well fearing that they were too late to save Lightning. Suddenly they heard a small groaning sound. Looking down they saw Lightning's eyes began to open. A huge smile grew on everyone's faces when they saw Lightning's eyes open. Fluttershy's tears continued to spill as she smiled and nuzzled her son.
"M-Mo-M-M-A." Lightning said weakly before passing out.
Now scared stiff, Fluttershy quickly put her ear over her sons chest and let out a huge sigh of relief, Lightning's breathing and his heartbeat were normal he had just passed out.
Princess Celestia stepped and tapped on Fluttershy's shoulder.
"We had best take him to the castles medical ward." She said softly "I'll have one of our doctors come and look at him."
Everyone nodded their heads in as Fluttershy gently picked up Lightning and cradled him close to her soft warm chest. The group followed the Princesses to the medical ward in complete silence. Everyone smiled in relief knowing that the danger was over and both Equestria and Lightning were safe.
In the castles medical ward, Fluttershy and the Princesses, sat in a circle around Lightning Twister. Lightning rested peacefully in the bed the doctors put him in. The main doctor examined him and brought great relief to everyone when he said that Lightning was going to be just fine. However he needed to rest a few days rest because he did suffer several injuries from King Sombra's attempt to kill him. However the injuries were nothing severe. Twilight and the others were relieved when they found out Lightning was going to be okay and decided to head home for the night while Fluttershy stayed behind. While the loving mare gently stroked her sons mane, she pondered the events that had happened when King Sombra was defeated.
As curiosity continued to bother her, she tapped on the shoulder of her teacher.
"Princess?" She said quietly as Celestia looked at her in response.
"There's something I don't understand, how did King Sombra lose his magic?" She asked
The Princess had wondered about that as well but she came up with an answer a while ago.
"Well, Fluttershy, King Sombra had gained all of his power through, Lightning's fear, including his magic. It seems that Lightning's bravery to stand up to him caused him to lose his power. Lightning no longer had any fear of the king, because his love for us was stronger than his fear of King Sombra.
Fluttershy nodded her head in understanding before looking back at her sleeping son, she hoped he would awaken soon.
A few minutes later a small groan escaped from Lightning and his eyes began to open. A smile formed on everyone's faces as they all circled closer to the waking colt. Lightning weakly sat up and held his hoof to the side of his head.
Fluttershy had tears in her eyes at seeing her son being okay she let them flow free as she softly whispered to her son.
"Lightning," was all she said.
Lightning's ears perked up when he heard the voice he longed to hear.
"Momma!" he cried happily reaching out to her only to stop when he felt serious pain surge through him.
Princess Celestia used her magic to gently lay Lightning back down.
"Don't move around too much, Lightning, your still recovering from your injuries." She said sweetly.
Fluttershy sat down on the edge of the bed and wrapped her forelegs around her son. Lightning couldn't help but cry as he was glad to be in his mothers loving embrace after everything he had been through. Fluttershy softly hushed him as she softly kissed the top of his head to help calm him.
"Shhh...everything's alright sweetheart, your safe now." She said sweetly as Lightning began to calm down.
Fluttershy gently helped her son out of the bed and set him into her lap. She nuzzled his forehead lovingly as Lightning relaxed in her forelegs. Celestia and Luna then approached Lightning and smiled at him warmly.
"We are very glad to see that you are okay Lightning." Luna said softly and happily
"You had us all very worried after you passed out in the throne room." Celestia said softly as Lightning snuggled into his mothers chest.
"I'm sorry, I scared you." he said as he lowered his head sadly.
The Princesses shook their heads and gave the colt a small smile.
"There's no need to be sorry, dear child," Luna said "Thanks to you and your bravery to stand up to that monster, King Sombra, you have saved Equestria."
Lightning stared at them in shock at what he just heard. He then pointed at himself in utter confusion.
"M-me!?" he asked as everyone nodded in response.
"Yes Lightning," Celestia began "King Sombra used your fear to regain his power, but your bravery to stand up to him caused him to lose his power."
Lightning said nothing and just laid his against on Fluttershy's neck, while she she stroked his side with her hoof. While he was happy that Sombra was defeated, right now he was just happy to be be in his mothers embrace and was glad she was by his side.
A little while later, the doctors came back into the room and checked on Lightning and told him he could leave tomorrow right now he needed rest. Lightning and Fluttershy nodded their heads in understanding and the Princesses provided them with a room for the night. Fluttershy gently picked up her son and flew up to that room.
Once she was inside she tucked her son into the bed and laid down beside him. She kissed him on the forehead and laid a gentle wing over his body. Lightning smiled and closed his eyes as sleep began to overcome him. Hours later, Fluttershy woke up and looked down at Lightning. She let out a great sigh of relief to see that her son was still sleeping peacefully after so many days. She was more than happy to see that he was no longer having nightmares.
Even though Lightning was asleep, Fluttershy kissed him softly on the cheek and began softly humming a lullaby to him that her mother used to sing to her when she was a baby. Hearing her melodious voice, Lightning let out a sigh of happiness in his sleep and let a smile grow on is face. He snuggled into his mothers side as she laid her head down beside him. Both the mother and son slept close to each other throughout the night as Luna's moon bathed over them in a warm comforting glow.
