> With the Shadow of Lightning
>  by oneupthextraman
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the Shadow of Lightning;

Chapter 1:
The gloomy day did little to raise Rarity’s spirits. The sky was overcast, and it was slightly nippy. The other ponies at the market seemed to ignore this fact, but some wore their cloaks. Rarity had some shopping to do. Buying various fruits and vegetables for her and Sweetie bell to eat during the week. Rarity looked around at the various ponies around her. They went about their way, and paid little attention to what was going on. Rarity saw a couple, smiling and laughing with each other’s company. This made Rarity even sadder. She wondered why she could never find some pony like that; to have fun with and be happy with. She sighed. 
After buying some pears, Rarity tripped on a root that was coming up from the ground. A few apples fell out of her saddle bags. A cloaked pony near Rarity picked up a few apples, and offered his hoof to her.
The cloaked pony asked, “Are you all right?” He voice had some moderate concern in it. The pony was cloaked so that Rarity could only see part of his nose, and his horn was sticking out of the top of the hood that was covering his face. The cloak look worn out, weathered to a brown color. Rarity took the hoof, and use it to get up from the ground.
Rarity responded, “I’m ok. I just didn’t see that root there.” She looked at the root, and felt a little embarrassed at how small the root was sticking out of the ground.
The cloaked colt said, “It is well hidden.” The colt walked over to hit, and pushed it back into the ground. “The madness of roots.” The colt smiled a bit, and put the apples he was holding with his magic back into Rarity’s bag and buckled it. 
Rarity smiled and said, “Thank you.” She started walking home. Part way there, at the fountain in town, several colts were hanging around, giving off the perception of looking for trouble. Rarity avoided eye contact, but the colts still approached her. 
A dog stood in her way, smelling of fermented cider, and looking like he used his face to make the apples. His hair was unkempt, and covered one of his eyes. His gray coat had several cuts in it, showing a history of violence.  A second colt approached from the side. His brown coat looked like it had taken much abuse of the years. The brown one was much smaller and lankier than the larger gray dog.
The gray colt asked, “Where is a pretty mare like you heading in such a hurry?”
Rarity responded, “Home. I must be off. It could start raining any second.” Rarity looked up at the dim sky.
The brown one spoke, “It sure could my dear.”
The gray one spoke again, “yes. We will let you be on your way, once you give us all your bits.” He showed off his sharp claws.
Rarity responded, “But I have no more. I just went shopping for food for me and my sister.”  Rarity smiled a weak smile, hoping for some sympathy. 
The gray one spoke, “I find that hard to believe. But in any case, we will just take you. We heard about you and your gem finding ways.” The gray one, in one swoop, picked up Rarity, lightly scratching her. The dogs turned around to run, when they stopped. 
A voice Rarity recognized as the cloaked colt from before spoke, “My good sirs. That does not belong to you. If you could be so kind as to return it to the lady, I shall let you on your way.”
The dogs exchanged glances between each other, and then started laughing. They dropped Rarity, who galloped away a little bit. The gray one spoke, “What are you going to do, little pony?” The two laughed. 
The colt spoke again, “This is you last warning. I offer you the chance to leave peacefully.” 
The dogs continue to laugh. The brown one spoke, “Little ponies like you can do little to us big dogs.” He thumped his chest. 
The colt spoke again, “Then I shall interpret that as a no.” He horn glowed. Then a mighty blast came from it, knocking the brown dog down. The brown dog stood back up. The colt said, “A rather shocking experience there, eh?” He smiled. The brown dog swiped at the pony, but the colt quickly jumped out of the way with such speed. He then jumped through the air and bucked the brown one in the face, knocking him back several feet. Turning to the gray one, the colt zapped him with some kind of laser projectile out of his horn, causing the gray one to be launched back. Then, the brown one stood back up, and swiped at the colt, scratching at his torso mid-section, causing him to yelp a little bit, and jump out of the way.
He examined his back/side, and said, “Your scratched my favorite cloak your dogs!” Charging up his horn, he let out a might twin blast hitting both of the dogs, sending them flying. A mighty crack of thunder rang out. The colt looked to Rarity. His hood had been removed during the scuffle. Rarity stood in shock. The colt looked like Prince blue blood, but his mane was black, and more out of place. His horn was slightly smaller, and his left eye brow had a spot where it was white, as opposed to black. His cutie mark was a bolt of lightning.
The colt said to Rarity, “Are you all right my dear?” All Rarity could do was nod. “Good.” The colt started to walk off, but the pain in his torso caused him to grunt and fall to the ground. 
Rarity ran over and examined the wound. The colt said, “Tis but a scratch my dear.” The colt winced in pain. 
Rarity asked, “What is your name?”
The colt responded, “My name is Lightning.”  The colt then passed out.
At the hospital, Lightning woke up on an uncomfortable bed, lying on his side. He opened his eye that was not pressed up against the pillow he was laying on. He looked around quickly. He saw Rarity reading a magazine. She had not yet noticed that he was awake. Lightning continued to examine the room he was in. There was a window ahead of him. He quickly examined the window, and determined that he could most likely jump out of it. He could see the grass not too far away, so he figured he must be on the first floor. 
In a quick motion, Lighting pointed off in the distance, and yelled, “Hey, look at that!” Rarity jumped. She then quickly looked at where he was pointing. When Lighting saw that she was looking, he quickly jumped out of bed, and bolted to the window, and attempted to open it. The window seemed to be stuck. He examined the frame, and saw that it was not locked. He pushed more on the window, trying desperately to get it open. 
Then the adrenalin wore out, and the pain in this torso/midsection came back, causing him to fall to the ground. Rarity turned back from the direction Lighting was pointing, and saw that he was on the ground. She bolted over to him, and examined him.
She asked, “What are you doing?” She used her magic to guide the pony back to the bed he was in before. 
Lighting said, “I was just trying to get some fresh air. I hear good things about air.” He chuckled a bit. 
Rarity walked over to the window, and opened it with ease using her magic. “There. Fresh Air.” She breathed in deeply.  Rarity then used her magic to adjust the sheets on the colt in an attempt to make the colt more comfortable.
The doctor came in holding a clipboard with his magic, and approached Rarity and Lighting. “Well, I have some good news.” He then looked to the window, and then back to the clipboard. “You can go home, but you will have to take it easy when you get there. Is there somebody at you home that can help take care of you?”
Lighting thought about this for a bit. “I’ll be fine. I don’t need any help.” He jumped out of bed, and posed in a strong pose. But then quickly winced in pain.
Rarity approached the pony, and helped him back onto the bed. “This simply won’t do. You shall say with me if you have nobody to stay with. And that is final.”
Lighting spoke, “I do not wish to impose.”
Rarity said, “You shall not be. It is the least I can do when you saved me from those dogs. You definitely showed them who the boss was.” She pointed a hoof at Lighting, “You.” 
Lighting rubbed his side, and felt some pain. “I suppose for a few days.”
The doctor spoke up, “It’s going to be more like a few weeks.”
Rarity said, “That’s fine. I can handle it!” She smiled a great big smile.
Lighting frowned, “I’m not sure I can.”
	
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2
Rarity was pushing Lighting in a wheelchair toward her home. It was much sunnier now than it was before. Lighting seemed apprehensive about staying with Rarity. Lighting was holding onto his cloak. Rarity opened the door to her house, and let the two of them in. Twilight was playing cards with Sweaty bell.
Sweetie bell yelled, “RARITY!” and jumped on her sister, hugging her. “I was so worried. Are you ok? Who is this colt? What happened to the dogs? Are you ok?”
Twilight got up from the table, and walked over. “I’m glad to see you are okay Rarity. But who is this colt?” Lighting tried to shy away, but sitting in a stationary chair made that somewhat hard.
Rarity said, “This is lighting. He is the one who saved me from those dogs. But he got injured in the scuffle, so I am going to take care of him until he is better.”
Lighting reached out a hoof, and said, “They call me Lighting.” 
Twilight took the hoof with some reservations. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
Lighting’s face lit up. “Really? The pupil of Princess Celestia?” 
Twilight responded, “Um. Yes I am.”
Lighting laughed a bit. “That’s great. If I asked you to deliver a message to her, would it be possible for you to deliver it for me?” Lighting asked with a great big sympathy sucking smile.
Twilight responded, “Sure.”
Lighting turned his head to Rarity, “My dear, could I bother you for some paper and a writing tool?” Rarity nodded, and galloped over to a nearby desk, and retrieved the paper and pencil. Lighting wrote something down on the paper quickly, and then handed it to Twilight. “I would be ever so grateful of you could transport this to the princess for me.” 
Twilight took the un-folded paper, and briefly looked at it. It seemed to be in some kind of code. “Um, sure. I’ll have spike send it right over.”
Lighting said, “Thank you.”
Sweetie Bell looked at Lighting, and asked, “So, lighting. What do you do for a living?” 
Rarity laughed a weak laugh, “Oh, those young fillies. What a crazy bunch.” She rubbed her sister’s mane in a playful manor.
Lighting smiled. “I help people with problems.” He paused a bit. “More like, a problem eliminator.”  He laughed a bit.
Sweetie bell said, “That great, because my sister has a problem. She needs a colt, and….” Rarity poked Sweetie bell.
Rarity said, “Oh, the little fillies, with their big mouths, and imaginations.” Rarity laughed a weak laugh.
Twilight coughed. “Well, I had better be off, and deliver this message to the princess. I’ll see you three around.” Twilight walked out.
Lighting asked, “So, where am I crashing? Hmm? On the sofa?” He pointed to a nearby sofa. 
Rarity responded, “No my dear. I’m going to have you sleep in my second bedroom. We can’t have my savior sleeping on some musty old futon.”
Lighting, “Well, if you say so.” Rarity pushed the wheel chair into another room. The room was not too large, and was somewhat sparse. There was a bed, a chest at the foot of the bed, a dresser, and a closet. It was large enough to maneuver the wheel chair around, but not too much more. The room was decked out in a light pink. 
Rarity said, “And this is your room.” She pushed the chair up to the side of the bed. Rarity helped Lighting into the bed, and adjusted the sheets. “I’ll bring you some water in a moment.” Rarity left the room. Lighting examined his new surroundings. The bed sure was soft, and was very pink, and pastel. The rest of the room seemed like it as well.
Rarity shortly returned with some orange juice for Lighting. “Here you are my dear. Drink up; you have to get your strength back.” Lighting took the orange juice and drank some of it down, and then set it on a coaster.
Lighting said, “Thank you Rarity. For everything. For the place to stay, and the orange juice.”
Rarity blushed a little. “It is nothing my dear. Now, get some sleep. We need you to heal and such.” She smiled.
Lighting said, “I do feel a bit tired.” He yawned a bit, and stretched a bit, which caused him to wince a bit in pain. Rarity adjusted the bed sheets and Lighting adjusted to his side and fell asleep rather quickly. 
Lighting slept uneasy. He did not know Rarity very well, and felt that he may not be able to trust her. He tossed a bit during his sleep. Then, with a start, woke up, sweating a bit in the pink bed. Lighting was not sure what he had dreamed about, but knew he had to get out of there. He examined the clock. It was 3:00 in the afternoon. Lighting felt that now was as good a time as any to try and leave. He got up out of bed, and put on his cloak, and carefully opened the door. Examining and seeing that nobody was there, the quietly went through the door, and into a hallway in the house. The floor creaked a little, but figured there was little he could do to stop that. After carefully walking down the hallway, Lighting could see the front door.
But there was a large area where Rarity could be hiding. Using his magic, he examined the area, and found no pony inside the house. In one quick movement, Lightning jumped to the door, and in the same movement, opened it. On the other side of the door was Princess Luna. This sudden revelation caused Lighting to jump back and screen a little bit, causing him to lose his balance, and land on his back, causing him to wince in pain. 
Rarity came running, and was shocked at what she saw. Lightning was up and about, and Princess Luna had come to visit.  “Oh, Princess. What a surprise!” Rarity laughed a little at what had suddenly come about. “What can I do for you today?” She walked up to Lighting and helped him up.
Luna spoke in a normal speaking voice, and said, “Yes, Lighting, I definitely see that this could be a potential secret base. Why, look at all these pillows! They could just cover you in them and cause you severe trouble.” She smiled at her irony.
Rarity helped Lighting into the wheel chair. “I don’t understand. What’s going on?”
Luna responded, “Prince Lighting here thought you might be kidnapping him to steal information about the crown. So he asked for some help escaping. I thought it was your house Rarity, but I decided to come and confirm that. And I was right.”
Rarity had a confused look on her face. “Wait. Prince Lighting? Secret base?” She turned to Lighting. “What’s going on? I’m confused.”
Lighting said, “I’m sorry Miss Rarity, but that information is strictly classified.”
Luna had a ‘oh come on’ look on her face. “Really Lighting? You are going to pull that one out on the holder of the Element of Generosity? Really now.” She shook her head at Lighting.
Lighting slowly turned his head to look at Rarity. He had a moderate look of shock on his face. “Oh” was all he could muster.
Rarity was still confused, and wore it on her face. “What?”
Luna spoke, “You see Rarity, this is Prince Lighting, and he is a secret agent with the Royal Hidden Task Force.  It’s a spy agency.”
Rarity looked at Lighting, and asked “And you’re a prince?”
Lighting said, “Technically yes.”
Luna spoke up, “Technically? Blah! By definition you are! You and Prince Blue Blood are twins!”
Rarity looked at Lighting, and gasped. “Really?”
Lighting did not make eye contact. “Yes. Yes I am. I don’t go around flaunting it because I don’t like to. Also, in the past some ponies have tried to attack me for being a prince.” He paused. “They seem to think that if they can best me in the field of combat, they can claim they defeated me, and walk around all happy and full of themselves. That’s why I live here, in Ponyville now. For the peace and the quiet.” He looked out a nearby window. 
Luna smiled. “Well. I see that you are in no danger Lighting. I shall leave you in the good hoofs of Rarity here.” She left, and closed the door.  Rarity wheeled Lighting to the room he was staying in before, and put him in to bed.
Rarity took the cloak off of Lighting, and asked, “Why, if you are Royalty, do you wear this old cloak? It looks so worn.”
Lighting sighed. “I have had that cloak for many years. It is dear to me. It was given to me by an old friend. I have not seen him in years.” Lighting looked off into the distance, which was hard as the bed did not face any windows. Rarity looked in the direction Lighting looked, and saw nothing.
Rarity asked, “Why don’t I mend this up for you. Sew up some of these pockets, and give it a good washing?”
Lighting seemed visibly torn by this proposition. “Um. I’m not sure.” He hugged the cloak. “I suppose. But don’t do anything too drastic to it. I wear it on my stealth missions.” He handed the cloak to Rarity.
“Don’t worry. I’ll just spruce it up, and take out some of the wear and tatter of it.”  Rarity left the room, hovering the cloak with her magic, and closed the door.

> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3;

It had been several days since Luna had visited Rarity. Not much had changed. Rarity had gone to Twilight’s place and picked up Lighting a book he had asked for; “Times with Shadow”. He said it was a spy book, and he was compiling a letter to the author to complain about how inaccurate it was. Rarity was not sure if he was serious or not. It was sometimes hard to tell with Lighting. 
The mail arrived at the house. Rarity went to get it, and found that a box addressed to Lighting was there. The box was larger than a hoof-box (like a shoe box, but ponies do not wear shoes). Rarity smiled. Lighting had shown issues trusting her, and she figured this was a good way to help open him up, and see what was inside the box. She lifted it up, and brought it over to Lighting, who was still sitting in the bed. But he looked focused on something, staring straight ahead, breathing somewhat heavy. 
Rarity was confused by what was going on. “What are you doing?”
Lighting stopped what he was doing, and smiled to Rarity. He did not smile very often. “I was simply trying to channel my energy into healing myself.”
Rarity frowned. “Do you not like being here?”
Lighting replied, “I did not say that. It’s that I simply do not wish to impose.” He paused. “And this pink is starting to drive me crazy.” He pointed to one of the walls. “It’s just so intense.”
Rarity moved the box over to Lightning. “Well, maybe this will help with the intense pink.  This came in the mail for you today.” 
Lighting’s face lit up like it was Christmas morning. “All right!”  Pushing various spots on the box, it produced a loud click, and causing the top to pop open a bit. Rarity could not see inside the box, but could see what Lighting removed.
The first item was an eye patch, but one made of some kind of thicker material, and more electronic looking. Next was some kind of electronic brick. 
Rarity asked, “What’s that? A Game Pony?” (Game Boy)
Lighting laughed, “No. It’s a scanner. It lets me scan and detect things that I could normally not detect with either magic, or my eyes.” He set it down, and continued to examine the box. Next was a picture frame. Rarity could not see who was in the frame, but she could see it made Lighting very happy. He put the picture back in the box. Lighting continued to look through the box, and then put it on the night stand. He sighed contently.
Rarity said, “You seem more chipper today than usual. Does the content of that box really make you that happy?”
Lighting said, “It does, but I also came to a realization today.” He leaned forward. “If you were a secret spy, trying to kill me, you would have already done it with either some poison, or some kind of truth serum.” He leaned back. “So I have decided to label you as; not a current threat.” Lighting smiled contently. 
Rarity smiled a weak smile. “Um, thank you. I think.” She turned away from Lightning a bit. 
Lightning responded, “This is a big deal. It normally takes longer for me to label people not a threat, and the list is not very long.”
Rarity turned back to Lighting, “Is that because you don’t meet lots of different ponies?” She asked, poking a bit of fun at the pony. 
Lighting held his hoof up and shook his head no. “No my dear. I meet lots of ponies. But they are usually the rich snooty kind, foreign dignitaries, or are actively trying to kill me. Or are normal ponies that I simply do not know walking down the street.”
Rarity asked, “Do ponies often try to kill you?” She asked hoping the answer was no.
“Often enough. It’s not a daily occurrence, but I would definitely say a monthly occurrence.” Lighting smiled a sincere smile.
Rarity was taken aback by this. She stuttered a bit, “Well. Ok. Me and Sweetie Bell were going to meet up with some of her friends at the park. You are welcomed to join us if you would like.” 
Lighting smiled. “I would like that.” He got out of the bed with ease, and walked over to Rarity. 
Rarity was shocked at how well Lighting was doing. “You can walk rather well there.” Her mouth still open.
Lighting smiled. “Well, it still hurts a bit, but I can walk some distances without too much pain.” He winced a bit. “Shall we go?”
Rarity blushed a bit. “Lets.”
It was a sunny day at the park. Rarity balanced a pick nick basket on her back, with the help of some of her magic. Lighting insisted that he wear his cloak, but at Rarity’s request, he kept the hood down. Rarity, and Sweetie Bell only had to stop briefly to let Lighting rest.  By the time they arrived, Applejack, Apple bloom, and Scootaloo we all waiting.  Sweetie Bell ran up to her friends and they ran off to the jungle gym, making up plans for later. 
Rarity approached Applejack, “Sorry we’re late.  Lighting is still not healed.”
Applejack had a confused look on her face. “Lighting? Who’s that?” Rarity pointed to Lighting, who was still panting a bit from the walk. Applejack walked over to Lightning, and picked up his hoof, and started shaking it vigorously. This took Lightning by surprise; he attempted to jump back, but Applejack’s grip was just too intense.  “Why howdy there melon-cube. My name is Applejack. Mighty glad to meet ya.” She paused briefly.  “I hear you are called Lightning. What do you enjoy Lightning?”
Lightning felt Applejack’s killer grip start to loosen. Sensing this opportunity, he jumped back, and in the same motion, pulled out an expandable night stick, and placed it in his hoof, and stood in a defensive position.  Applejack’s face shows the confusion she was feeling. 
Rarity walked along side Applejack. “Lighting is a bit.” She paused. “Energetic about things.” Rarity paused again. “Lighting, this is Applejack. The element of honesty.” Rarity nodded and smiled to Lightning, whose facial expression turned from stern, to ‘oh man’. 
Lightning collapsed on the ground, and sighed. “Rarity, do all of your friends have elements assigned to them?” Lightning put his expandable stick away. 
Rarity responded, “Not all, but most.” She smiled a fake innocent smile.
Lighting stood up, and walked over to Applejack. “Hello. My name is lightning, and I sell spatulas.” He paused and smiled briefly. “Buy nine spatulas; get the tenth one for just one bit.” He smiled an obviously fake smile. 
Applejack frowned. “Somehow I find I find that hard to believe. The cloak isn’t selling it.”  
Lighting continued; “Remember, they make great winter-wrap-up day presents.” He paused, turning to Rarity. “And what better way to say I care for you, than the give of a spatula.” Rarity blushed a deep red, and looked away. Lighting then yelled, “SPATULA CITY!” Rarity and Applejack both jumped. But then Lighting winced from pain in his midsection. “How about we have a sit down?”
Rarity laid out a blanket, and the three sat down on it. Rarity and Applejack conversed for a few moments about various things. Applejack talked about the trees on her farm, and Rarity talked about some of the newest fashions. During this conversation, Lighting’s head jerked to the side. This caught Rarity’s attention. 
She asked, “What is it, my dear?”
Lightning responded, “Some pony is here.” 

> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4
A unicorn, dressed entirely in black jumped from a nearby grove of trees. The only thing exposed, was the pony’s eyes. Lightning stood up, and pulled out his night stick. He smiled. The ninja pony charged at Lightning. Lightning jumped forward and slightly to the right. The ninja continued to charge. Then Lightning mad a quick little spin, and used his cloak to hit the ninja in the face, causing the ninja pony to lose their balance, and fall over, skidding several feet on the grass. Lighting then jumped over to where the ninja pony stopped on the ground, and held out his night-stick to the pony’s face using his magic. 
Lighting said, “Now leave ninja, and tell your mistress that I am always aware of my surroundings, and it will take a lot more to scare me.” The ninja pony got up, and ran off, using teleportation magic to get away. Lightning retracted his night stick, and put it back in his cloak. He then turned to Rarity and Applejack and said, “Yes, I do sell spatulas, and I’m sticking to that story.” He then smiled and walked over to the blanket, and laid down on where he was before, breathing heavily.
Rarity walked over to Lightning, and asked, “Are you ok?”
Lighting continued to breathe deeply. “Yeah.” He inhaled, “That’s just harder than…(breathe)…I remember.” He smiled. 
Rarity responded, “You’re still recovering my dear. Just lay down and relax. Strenuous activity can be hard on a recovering colt.” 
Lightning fell asleep, rather fast. It took that much out of him. 
Lightning then found himself falling in a nearly starless black void. The stars slowly flew by. Lightings actions were slow, and slightly delayed. Waving his hooves around caused a shadowing affect. He heard voices, but could not make out what they were saying.  Lightning looked around, trying to find something to focus on. Something to help him find where he was. 
Lighting asked the void, “Where am I? What is this place?”
A twisted voice returned, “This is the chaos, the emptiness of the world. A place where nothing happens, and yet everything happens. A place of known, and unknown.”
Lighting responded in anger, “The element of evil! I know of you. You corrupt ponies souls, and make them your pawns! You shall never get away with this!”
The voice laughed. “They always say that. Empires have collapsed because of me. Because of the inherit evil in every pony’s hearts, I exist.” Lighting could not think of a response. “Take this, as a sign of my power, and why all have ever trembled before me.”
Lightning woke up sweating, with a massive jump. Lighting found himself in Rarity’s room. It was much later in the day.  From the window Lightning could see, it was twilight outside. Rarity was talking to a doctor pony. Lightning could not make out what they were saying, but by their facial expressions, it did not sound good. Lighting groaned, and tried to sit up. Rarity ran over, and the doctor walked over. Rarity had a concerned look on her face. 
Rarity asked, “Are you ok? How are you feeling?”
Lightning cracked his neck. “Like a house just got dropped on me. Ugh.”
The doctor replied, “That’s not a surprise. You appeared to have a massive infection, but when I checked again about fifteen minutes ago, the infection just seemed to have disappeared. It’s like a magic virus. But that’s just unheard of. I’m not sure what happened.”
Lighting scratched his chin and thought. “I have some theories.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow. “Care to share them…” He paused looking down at his clipboard continued in a mocking tone, “Seller of spatulas?”
Lighting replied, “Sorry, but its classified to an extreme level.”
The doctor huffed. “Well, ok then. You’ll want to get plenty of bed rest, and drink plenty of orange juice. You need to keep your strength up after an ordeal like that.” The doctor left the room, and walked himself out. 
Rarity turned her attention to Lighting. “I was so worried. You just suddenly became very hot and sweaty, and I became concerned. I rushed you home, and got in contact with the doctor.”
Lighting smiled. “Thank you dear Rarity. But there was nothing you could have done. I believe there are nefarious things in play here.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Nefarious? How so? What so? Hu so?”
Lighting began to explain. “Much like the elements of harmony, there are the anti-elements. But the most powerful one of the bunch is the element of Evil. It’s what gives the other anti-elements their power. And it is so powerful, that it has gain self-awareness, and has started spreading its influence around Equestria.” He paused. “And apparently has tracked me down. It has apparently become aware that several of my previous missions have been to track down the anti-elements and capture them for the crown.”
Rarity had a concerned look on her face. “Oh dear. That sounds dreadful. Do you think there is any risk to Sweetie Bell or me?”
Lighting shook his head no. “The only reason it knows I exist is because I have personally tracked down several of the elements already, and have come in contact with them several times. I think it is starting to develop a grudge. And that its weakness. When you start being too focused on one single element, you lose your ability to see the entire picture.” 
Rarity looked a little confused. “I have the upmost faith in your mission my dear.” 
Lighting examined the sheets. “Thank you dear Rarity. I’m glad some pony does. For you see, I do not. It is very dangerous, and I fear that if I fail to destroy all the anti-elements, Equestria may fall under a shadow darker than the one Discord cast.” Lighting looked off into the distance, which as hard because he was inside, but he still managed to get out some epicenes. 
Rarity smiled. “I had better let you get some sleep. You had some action today. Don’t want to stress that stomach injury too much, now do we?” She smiled again. 
Lighting returned the smile. “No nurse Rarity.” Rarity giggled a bit at this. “I’ll get some rest.” Lightning snuck under the covers, and did he is best to fall asleep. Rarity turned the light out, and closed the door.
The next day, Rarity knocked at Lighting’s door. Lighting responded, “Enter, if you wish.”  Rarity entered wearing what could be considered a nurses outfit. It had a nurses’ hat, and some kind of jacket/scrubs thing going on. It seemed to hug Rarity’s curves a bit more than what would be a practical for a real nurse.  Following Rarity was Twilight Sparkle carrying a bag.
Lighting had his scanner out, and was examining his stomach. “Interesting outfit there nurse Rarity.” He smiled, and Rarity blushed a bit. “Hello Twilight. How are you doing today?”
Twilight was not amused. “I’m doing fine. Rarity asked me to come over and use my magic to check and see if there are any lingering effects from your….incursion with evil the other day.”
Lightning put his scanner down, and replied, “Sure. Go ahead. Check away.” Twilight activated her horn, and waved it over Lightning. “I think it was a Phenom Class-B infection. It was short, but intense. Also, I firmly believe it was sent magically.”
Twilight had a confused look on her face. “A Phenom, what?”
Lightning explained, “It’s a tricky type of spell, rarely used in modern day. Alas, my foe is from a long time ago, so it makes sense.” Lighting smiled.
Twilight responded, “I am not familiar with that…type of magic.” 
“That’s ok Twilight. There is lots of old magic that no pony uses anymore. It things like that that I need to know for my profession.”
Twilight gave Lightning a look, and said, “Rarity tells me you are some kind of spy. Do you come across lots of different kinds of magic in our travels?”
Lighting responded in a nervous tone. “Perhaps.” He looked around nervously.
Rarity stepped forward, and said to Lighting, “Its ok dear, Twilight is the element of Magic.”
Lighting glared at Rarity with a ‘you should have told me that before’ look. “Well, in that case, I am a spy for the Royal Guard. I perform various spy things, and am currently engaged in a personal grudge with one of the anti-elements; the element of evil. It knows my mission is to track it down and destroy it, so it has focused on me.” Lighting smiled, having finished his little story. “And I suspect it used its magic to infect me with a temporary infection.” Lighting smiled again.
Twilight had her doubts. “Then, if it has the ability to give you infections remotely, why not just kill you?”
Lighting replied, “I’m not sure. I suspect it considered that too easy, and either wants to kill me more directly, or make me one of its minions. It’s hard to tell.”
Twilight continued to express her doubts with her facial expressions. “Uh hu.” She turned to Rarity. “Rarity, can I talk to you for a bit in the hall way.” She poked Rarity into the hallway, and closed the door.  Twilight said to Rarity, “I think this colt is crazy. I mean, did you hear what he said? The element of evil? I think we need to call the Princess, and have him committed.”
Rarity laughed a bit. “Now Twilight, I doubt that very much. Princess Luna came over the other day, and confirmed his story as a spy. I doubt she would mislead us like that.” Rarity smiled. 
Twilight seemed unsure of this. “I don’t know. Maybe he has secrets on the Princess, and he makes her keep up the secret, or he would release the secret.”
Rarity did not believe this story. “I find that even more unbelievable, my dear.”
Just then, Lightning jumped through the door, wearing a sock on his horn. He looked around, with his eye patch on, squinting with his not covered eye. He said very quietly, “Something is here.” Rarity looked concerned, but Twilight rolled her eyes. Lightning walked around the house, with Rarity paying close attention, and Twilight not giving a care as to what was going on. After searching for about a minute, they came to the kitchen. There, Lighting focused in on a small rock by the front door. “AH HA!” yelled Lighting. Using his magic, he levitated the small rock, and showed it to Twilight. “It’s a classic observation spell.”
Twilight groaned, and with some obvious reluctance, checked out the rock with her magic. After three seconds of checking, Twilight was able to detect some kind of spell on the rock. “What is that?”
Lighting responded, “It’s a rock.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “But, some one case a spell to be able to track it, and listen in on nearby conversations.”
Twilight asked, “Well, what do we do with it now?” Lighting then walked over to the door, and threw it out. “I had better write a letter to the Princess. She must be informed.”
Lightning interjected, “I can assure you, she knows about the situation. But if you feel like you must, you certainly can.”
Twilight nodded, and bolted out the door, and closed it behind her. 
Lighting sighed. “Well, that was exciting.” He turned to Rarity. “What do you say I take you out to dinner tonight? As a little way of saying thank you for taking me in like this.”
Rarity left her mouth agape, “You don’t have to do that. You saved me from those dogs. It is I who should be doing more for you!”
Lighting held up his hoof. “No. You could have stuck me in a corner, and cared little. You are being so generous to me. You took me to meet your friend, Applejack, and you are just so caring.” He paused and walked up to Rarity to get closer, “And, I also want to get to know you better.” He smiled, and continued to walk past Rarity. 
Rarity giggled a bit, and smiled. But that smile quickly faded. “What about that rock? They know where I live now, and they might suspect something is up, and come searching for it.” 
Lightning turned his head to Rarity. “Don’t worry. It was only here for a short time. They most likely will figure that we stopped to have a chat, or look at the pretty dresses. And when I picked it up, I threw off its tracking magic, so now it thinks it’s somewhere in a field tracking west.” Lighting smiled a devilish smile. 
Rarity said, “Oh. Good thinking.”

> Chapter 5: The Date
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 5;

Rarity ran between her closets, checking for what she felt was the perfect dress for the occasion. Sweetie Bell was sitting on her sister’s bed, watching her run back and forth, comparing the various dresses she had accumulated over the years. Placing some of them on the bed, and some in another pile, Sweetie Bell could not figure out the pattern. 
Sweetie Bell asked, “So, he just asked you out. Just like that?”
Rarity continued to be flustered by her decision to make. Searching in her various closets, and various dressers, searching for what she felt like would be the perfect dress to impress the prince. “What? Oh yeah, he did.” Rarity’s search continued. 
Sweetie Bell was not happy with that answer. “Well, did he at least mention where he was going to be taking you? Maybe he is taking your to some poor restaurant.”
Rarity did not stop her search. “Prince’s do not go to poor restaurants. They go to fancy places, with fancy ponies, and fancy food.” She briefly paused her search. “And he said we were going to La restoracio en la fino de la universo.”
Sweetie Bell returned of look of confusion. “What does that mean? Is that some kind of fancy person language?”
Rarity continued her search. “I’m not sure. And I simply do not have the time to look it up.” Rarity paused. “Ah, here we go.” She pulled out a fancy glittering black dress. It was simple, but it got the point across. 
Sweetie Bell smiled. “That’s a very nice dress Rarity. I’m sure you will.” She paused for effect, “Bedazzle him.”
Rarity smiled. “Oh Sweetie Bell. Princes to not get bedazzled by Ponies like me. So that is why I have to try extra hard to impress him.”
Sweetie Bell grew a coy look on her face, and walked over to her sister. “You like him don’t you? You want to date him, don’t you?” Sweetie Bell raise an eyebrow, in a somewhat mocking fashion. 
Rarity answered calmly. “Perhaps sister. But he is a prince, and deserves to be treated like one.” He patted Sweetie Bell’s head. Sweetie Bell was not expecting that answer. She expected more flustering, and stammering. Rarity had just slipped the dress over her head, when there was a knock at the door. Rarity jumped a bit.  She looked at the clock, and saw that it was getting rather close to the time they agreed to meet. Rarity rushed down the stairs, and opened the door.
On the other side of the door were two ponies. One was Prince Lightning, wearing a tux, and his still worn out cloak. (Rarity had yet to patch it up). Along with some black shoes, and a top hat. The second pony was dressed only in a black sweater, and had a bag on his back. He was a slightly older pony, with a slightly graying mane.  He looked distinguished, in a world worn kind of way.
Lightning asked, “Ready my dear?”  Rarity could only leave her mouth agape, and nod a meek yes. 
She was about to walk out when she said, “Oh, but wait, my foal sitter has not arrived yet.”
Lightning smiled. “Not to worry my dear. That is what my associate Watson is here for.” He pointed to the now smirking colt behind him. 
Watson walked in, and said to Sweetie Bell in a sinister sounding voice, “We are going to have so much fun.” Sweetie Bell had a concerned look on her face as Rarity left. 
Rarity asked, “Is she going to be fine with him? He sounds sinister.”
Lightning smiled, “Yeah, he’s like that.” 
As they left the house, Rarity could hear Watson ask in a more normal voice, “Who wants to play a board game?” 

The two ponies walked down the street. It was late in the evening, but there were still some ponies walking down the street. Some would stop, and look at the two nicely dressed ponies, or quietly mutter something about how nice the two looked. Rarity smiled at the comments, but Lightning was rather stoic about the situation, looking straight ahead, and not really smiling. 
Before Rarity knew it, they had arrived at the restaurant. There was a certain hustle and bustle inside. The outside was rather plane, as a simple brick building with the name ‘La restoracio en la fino de la universo’ written in a fancy script. Lightning opened the door for Rarity to walk in. It sure was a fancy restaurant. The seats looked nice, and the waiters were dressed in completely black pants and shirt, giving them a sleek look. Lightning walked up to the head waiter.
“Table for two, my good sir.”
The waiter did not look up from what he was looking at. “Sorry, we are fully booked tonight. Please come back another night.”
Lightning spoke with a more authoritative tone. “I said, table for two, my good SIR.”
The waiter looked up, “And I said we are fully booked tonight.” There was a pause. “Do I need to get the manager, sir?” The response was snooty.
Lightning smiled, “I think you do.”  The waiter sighed, and left.
Rarity looked at Lightning, sad. “We don’t have to if they are….” Lightning held up a hoof to stop Rarity. 
Just then a chubby pony came out from somewhere. He was dressed also in all black, but had a white tie on. He approached with a big smile on his face. “Lightning! My good colt! How are you doing?” His voice gave a feeling of warmth, and friendship. He hugged Lightning, creating an audible crunch sound from the prince. Lightning grimaced at the hug. 
The chubby pony released Lightning. “It’s been a while! How have you been? Who is this? Your filly friend?”
Lighting cleared his throat. “Rarity, meet Silver Apple, the manager and chef of this fine establishment.”
Rarity smiled. She had heard about Silver Apple, but had never dreamed of meeting him in person. Silver picked up Rarity’s hoof, and kissed it. “It is lovely to meet you my dear.” Rarity blushed. Turning his attention to Lightning, Apple asked, “So, a table for two?” Lightning nodded.  Silver Apple led the two to their table. They were lead to one of the tables set aside from the rest of the tables, overlooking them all. Lighting pulled out the chair for Rarity, and she giggled a bit as she sat down. Silver Apple handed the two their menu’s, and left them to chat, and made their dining choice. 
Rarity examined the menu. “What delectable sounding food they have here.”
Lightning smiled. “I thought you might like it here. This is a place of class, and culture. A place only outshined by my lovely date.” He smiled to Rarity. Rarity was looking around at the magnificent decor. It took a few seconds for her to figure out that he was referring to her, which promptly caused her to blush and hide behind the menu. 
The decor was sleek. It was dimly lit, giving it a very romantic feeling. There were marble pillars, and vines growing around the place, giving it just enough rustic feeling to make it feel romantic, but not enough to make it feel like you were camping.  The various ponies sitting at their various tables, eating their food. The place was packed, creating a light buzz at the location. There was some music playing over some speakers, but it was very quiet, and could barely be heard over the light buzz. The ponies were all very well dressed. Many of the colts wearing top hats, and some just nice suits. The fillies were all wearing nice dresses. 
Rarity looked up from her menu after she felt her blushing died down. “So, how do you know Silver Apple?”
Lightning set his menu down and smiled contently. “Many years ago, someone attempted to hold his restaurant up. It was not this one, but a simple soup restaurant. One I frequented though. He made great soup. I stopped the unicorn, and he garnered a lot of press because a prince frequented his soup hut, and even risked his life to save the owner. That allowed him to expand, and get a bigger restaurant. He said he was successful because of me, I said it was because his food was, and still is, amazing.” Lightning smiled at the end of his story. Rarity basked is Lightning’s slight glow.
A colt waiter appeared beside the table. The colt was a young one, but looked college age. He smiled, and asked, “Anything I can get for you two yet?” He smiled.
Rarity snapped out of her minor stupor, and examined the menu with all haste. “Um….” Rarity continued to search.
Lightning asked, “Need more time, my Dear?”
Rarity continued to examine the menu. “Um.” She paused examining the menu closer.  “I think I will have the Spaghetti and Daffodils, please.” She said with a smile, handing the waiter the menu. 
The waiter turned to Lightning. “And you, sir?” He asked with a smile.
Lightning replied, “I will have the same.” He handed the menu back to the waiter, who left to the direction of the kitchen.
Rarity put her hooves together, and rested her head on them, looking at Lighting. She smiled. “So, tell me about yourself. What do you like? What is it like being a spy?”
Lighting appears uncomfortable with the question. Just then a pony comes around, and offers the couple a bottle of fine wine. “Wine, Colt and Filly?”
Lighting quickly agrees, and the unicorn pours some wine into Rarity’s and Lightning’s respected glasses. Lightning takes a quick swing form the glass, and smiles at Rarity.
Rarity repeated her inquiry. “So, tell me about yourself.” Lighting leans back in this chair, and looks calmly at Rarity, but does not respond? Rarity raises an eyebrow. “You ok over there?”
Lightning clears his throat. “I’m not very good at talking about myself.”
Rarity smiles. “Ok then. Tell me about one of your missions then.”
Lighting through about this. He did not enjoy talking about himself, but figured that since Rarity had one of the elements that she would be authorized to hear one of his stories. Lighting learned forward in his chair. “Very well my dear.”

> Chapter 6: A Little Action
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6
An adventure Lightning is describing to Rarity;
(oh, and I know shining is spelled with a g)
The mighty sand dunes seemed to stretch on forever. Sand everywhere, as far as anypony could see. Well, at least the two ponies traversing mighty sand planes. Prince Lightning and another pony known as Shinin slowly crept up one of the mighty dunes not wanting to attract attention of the group they were stalking. The two were trained very well, but all the training in the world could not prepare them for the hotness of Celestia’s sun and the sand. 
On the top of the dune, Lightning pulled out a spy glass, and examined the group of pony like creatures. 
Lightning said to his friend, “Well, there are a bunch of them over there. I would say maybe 15.” He handed the spy glass to his associate; a colt, only about three years younger than Lightning with two shades of blue in his hair, and a shield on his flank. 
Shinin examined through the spy glass, and said, “Yeah. And not very well organized. Their tents are in an odd formation. Not in a grid, or anything that would make you think they knew what they were doing.” Shinin gave the spy glass back to Lightning. 
Lightning looked to his associate, and said, “Well, you know what Star Wwirl the bearded said about one’s enemy; Sometimes stupidity is the best disguise for genius.” Lightning wagged his hoof at his associate, who then nodded in agreement. Lightning used his spyglass again to examine the camp. “You shall infiltrate at night fall. I will provide radio support. With any level of luck we will be out of here tonight with their secret from these changelings.” Lightning put the spy glass away in his saddle bag.
************************************************************************
After night fall, Shinin was suiting up for the mission; donning his sneaking suit, and his ear piece. 
Lightning said into his mic, “Check, one two three.” 
Shinin replied, “Check. Ready to start the mission sir.”
Lightning replied, “Go for it. And be careful out there; I know you are getting married in a few months.” Shinin smiled, and walked off the edge of the dune. 
The darkness made it impossible for the changelings to see that Shinin was sliding down the front of the dune the two were on earlier. Lightning pulled out his night vision magic binoculars to see what was going on. He could see Shinin approaching the encampment. Lightning said into his head set, “approach from the east. The guards are patrolling around the other side of the encampment. “
Shinin responded, “roger that, approaching from the east.” Lightning could see Shinin approaching the encampment. Lightning pulled out another set of binoculars; heat sensing ones. Lightning examined the heat signatures.
Lightning spoke into his headset, “Shining, I see strong thermal signals coming out from the tent to your north. Be careful.”
Shinin replied, “Oh, be CAREFUL. I was going to be brash.” Lightning smirked at the young agent’s remarks, reminding him of a younger self. Although they were only three years different in age, Lightning had been on lots more missions than his associate.
Lightning replied, “I’m sure you were.” There was a pause. “The guards are making a loop back around to your location. If you hold, you should be fine.” There was no response from shinin, as he did not wish to alert the guards with an acknowledgement. Lightning continued to look through his binoculars to see when it was safe. After a few some-what tense moments, Lightning notified his associate that it was clear to proceed. 
Shinin approached the radio tent. He knew it was the radio tent as it was the one with a large antenna coming out of the top of it. Lightning spoke into the headset, “You are approved for non-lethal actions. Try to avoid killing any of them.” Shinin confirmed by clicking on his radio twice. Lightning could only hear what was going on, and what he heard was a quick scuffle, and some thuds.
Shinin reported over the radio, “Subdued. Examining for codes now.” Lightning could hear some paper ruffling, and movement of some files. “I have captured the codes with my camera, and some other files. Exiting tent.”
Lightning spoke, “Stand by on tent exiting.”
“Roger that.” There were two guards outside of the test. They lingered outside of the communication tent for a good while. They just seemed to be chatting about nothing, from what Lightning could hear. Lightning was getting more and more nervous if the two guards were to enter the communication tent, Shinin would be in trouble. 
But then they went inside of the tent. Lightning could do nothing besides hear his associate get in a scuffle with the two guards. There were grunts, and punches that could be heard. After a few moments, Lightning heard a loud thud, and heard dragging sounds. He figured his associate was knocked out. Quickly donning the heat sensing binoculars again, he tracked him to one of the tents. 
Lightning quickly put on his own spying gear, and checked his equipment. Mirror, check. Horn Silencer, check. Night vision visor, check. It took a few minutes to adjust his outfit, and make sure he was comfortable, and double check his other equipment. He was ready. Dressed like someone who was about to infiltrate the castle of the royals. Lightning slid down the dune, much like his associate did. With a quick gallop, he was at the edge of the camp. Looking around with his magic visor, he saw no guards. Figuring that they were guarding their new prisoner or asleep. Quickly jumping between the tents, Lightning came across the tent he saw them drag his associate into. There was one guard. Lightning mentally scoffed at the fact there was only one. He was somewhat hoping for at least two. In one quick swoop, Lightning jumped through the air, and silently took out the guard, and dragged him around to the side of the tent where it would be less likely that another changeling would see him. 
Using his mirror to see inside of the tent, he saw his associate, a changeling who appeared to be the captain of the camp, and one guard. His associate was now awake, but tied to a chair looking rather beaten up. Sneaking to the front of the tent, Lightning quietly stepped inside. Just as quietly, he snuck up to the guard.
The captain was attempting to interrogate his associate. “Answer my questions pony!” He lightly smacked Shinin across the face. Lightning was shocked to see how lightly he was hitting his associate. It was like the captain was afraid of hurting him. Lightning quietly took the guard out with some chloroform, and dragged him outside next to his buddy. 
Sneaking back inside, the captain seemed to be growing tired of this. “Guard, smack the pony around a bit. I want him hurting so I can get some answers.”
Lightning stepped up the captain and smiled. Shinin did not seem to notice immediately. Lightning spoke, “Can’t even interrogate your own prisoners correctly. How did you elevate to a rank to run a camp like this.” The changeling quickly turned his head to see Lightning, but was quickly bucked in the head. Lightning rushed over to his associate, and undid his restraints. 
Shinin said, “Wow, that was a quick rescue. What was that like 30 minutes?”
Lightning released Shinin, “Yeah, I would have been here sooner, but they only had one guard outside of your tent. That totally threw me off. Do you still have the objective?”
Shining nodded. “Yes I do. They didn’t even search me.”
Lightning thought about this for a bit. “This almost seems too easy. You know what Star Swirl is recorded to have said, ‘Sometimes your enemy knows you better than you know thy self.’”
Shinin sighed. “Yeah. Whatever. Let’s just go. I’m starting to get tired of all this sand.”
The two ponies left the tent, and quickly left the camp. The sun was coming up, and they wanted to be further away from the camp then they were at that moment. Guards started waking up getting ready to guard stuff, but they did not notice the two ponies running away up a dune, as they just woke up.
	
> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 7;

By the time Lightning had finished his story, he and Rarity had finished eating. Lightning had attempted to pay for dinner, but apparently the manager had given instructions to all the servers to not accept food from the colt. Lightning eventually gave up, and he and Rarity left the restaurant. It was late evening now. The streets of Ponyville were nearly empty. A few stragglers were still hanging around, but event hey seemed to be going home. There was a poster on a tree.
Lighting examined the poster. “The return of the Great and Powerful Trixie. Marvel in her wonder.” Lightings tone showed that he was not impressed. 
Rarity groaned. “I remember her. She ravaged my mane, and her associates brought an Ursa Minor to town, and nearly caused a lot of damage. It was an….” Rarity paused. “Harrowing experience.”
Lighting rubbed his chin. “I think I would like to meet this unicorn.” Lighting smiled.
Rarity looked at Lighting with a confused look on her face. “Any particular reason, my dear?”
Lightning replied in a calm tone, “Personal reasons, my dear.” Lightning smiled a coy smile, and then continued walking toward Rarity’s house. “I suspect something.” Rarity followed next to Lightning. 
They walked in silence for a little bit before Rarity said, “I had a wonderful time tonight.” She smiled. 
Lighting was brought out of his small stupor. “That’s great. I had a good time tonight too. It’s been a while since I’ve been with another mare that was not trying to either kill me, or poison me.”
Rarity responded, “I think you mentioned that happens a lot to you, previously.” Lightning nodded. 
The couple arrived at Rarity’s house. Rarity opened the door with her magic. “Would you like to come in?” Rarity flashed her eyelashes as the prince. 
Lightning laughed a bit. “I certainly hope so. I’m still living with you.” Rarity laughed, and entered the house followed by Lightning. 
Sweetie Bell and Watson were playing chess. Sweetie Bell appeared to be beating Watson. Sweetie Bell moved a piece, and declared check mate. Watson examined the board, and sighed. “Is there a game I can beat you at little Sweetie Bell?”
Sweetie Bell smiled. “Nope. I am the board game master.” She smiled a wider smile. Sweetie Bell noticed that Rarity and Lightning walked in, and hopped over to the couple. “Did you two have fun on your…” Sweetie Bell paused for dramatic effect, “Date?” Rarity blushed, and was about to inform Sweetie Bell that it was not a date, but Lightning interjected. 
“It was a splendid evening, little pony. We ate some nice food, and I caught up with a good associate of mine.” Lighting examined a nearby clock. “But I think it may be time for you go to go bed. Don’t want to throw off that internal clock of yours. Young ponies need their sleep to grow big and strong.”
Sweetie Bell was not amused with Lightings ‘young ponies need their sleep’ speech. “Yeah….” The yawn that escaped Sweetie Bell’s mouth betrayed her.  
Rarity spoke up, “Come along. Scoot, Scoot.” Rarity poked her sister along to get to bed. Sweetie Bell slowly walked along in the direction of her bed.  Rarity turned to Lighting. “You didn’t deny that it was a date.” 
Lighting calmly looked at Rarity. “That is correct. That is correct.” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “I think I too am going to ‘scoot’ along, and go to bed.” Lighting started walking toward his room. “I shall see you tomorrow Rarity.” He smiled, and entered the room.
Rarity stood in the entry room of her house, dumbstruck of what the implications of what Lighting was implying. Did he mean that they DID just go on a date? Rarity did not want to be presumptuous, and get her hopes up. But, she did personally hope that her feelings for the colt would be shared. After a few moments of shock, Rarity shook her head, and decided before she got too engrossed with another colt, that she would see where this would take her. Rarity remembered her experience with Blue Blood, and hoped to avoid that moving forward. Rarity headed off to bed.
The Next Day;
Rarity and Sweetie Bell were eating cereal for breakfast at their kitchen table. Rarity was skimming fashion part of the newspaper. Sweetie Bell was sitting at the table as well, eating some cereal. Rarity was drinking some coffee and Sweetie Bell some orange juice. Rarity had her mane done in its traditional fashion, and Sweetie bell seemed ready for school.
Lightning exited his room, and groggily strolled into the eating area. His mane was a mess, his eyes mostly closed, stumbling into the kitchen/dining room. “Good morning Mares.” He smiled a tired early morning smile, and slowly strolled over to the table. 
Rarity looked up from her paper. “Not a morning person I see.” She smiled a little, taking a sip of her coffee. 
Lighting tried to sit down, and missed the chair. “I’m still getting used to beds. I’m used to sleeping in the jungle, or the mountains, or on the ground.” He paused. “But I have been feeling better. I think my side is nearly recovered. I may head back to Canterlot one of these days.” Rarity suddenly shifted, and appeared nervous. “What’s the plan for today Rarity?”
Rarity quickly regained her composure, and cleared her throat. “Well, I was going to go into the nearby city of Mare-waukee, and pick up some fabric.” She turned to look at Lightning. “Would you like to come along?” She raised what could have been called a seductive eyebrow. 
Lighting did not seem to notice. “Sure. Sounds like fun.”  Lighting poured himself some cereal, and started eating it. The first attempt at getting the spoon into his mouth utterly failed, but the second attempt made it right in.
Rarity looked to Sweetie Bell. “Best not be late for school, Bell.” Rarity left the kitchen.
Sweetie Bell leaned over to Lighting. She had a coy look on her face. “You know that Rarity likes you, right?”
Lightning continued to chew the cereal. “What makes you say that?”
Sweetie bell jumped off her chair and picked up her saddle bag for school. “As her sister, I can tell. The way she looks at you. Rarity never invites anybody to her fabric getting trips. She says it’s a way for her to focus her ‘zone.’ Whatever that is.”
Lightning swallowed his cereal. “So, I should consider this a great honor to go and get fabric with her?”
Sweetie bell jumped onto the table, and looked Lightning in the eyes. “Yes, yes you should.” Sweetie Bell jumped off the table. “Well, I am off to school. See you later, prince of love!” She laughed a little filly evil laugh. It was less threating, and more cute. 
Lighting watched the little filly leave the house, and close the door behind her. Lighting leaned back in his chair.  Most mares he dated were either interested in him as a target to kill, or as a prince. Then a thought dawned on him. Was Rarity interested in the prince part, or the colt? This was a perception that he had not taken into consideration before. 
Rarity burst back into the room. “The best fabrics sell out early, so we should get going soon. Are you ready?” Lightning turned to see Rarity with a large saddle bag on each side of her back. 
Lightning blinked. He now saw Rarity in a slightly different light. Was she just interested in princes? He remembered her issue with Blue Blood before. Lightning cleared his throat. “Sure, just give me a few moments to get my things.” Lightning stood up, and galloped to his room to collect his tools. His cloak, belt/saddle bag of things, and his night stick. Lighting returned to the kitchen to see Rarity waiting for him. “Ready!”
Rarity smiled. “Do you really think there will be evil do-ers in Mare-waukee?”
Lightning smiled at her naivety. “There are people always wishing to do evil to various people. I have made many enemies in this world. You never know where they may pop up.” Lighting paused. “They might even be over there!” Lightning pointed toward a window. Nothing happened.
Rarity walked over to Lighting. “Come along. You can be weary of trees on the way.” She smiled. The two ponies left the house for the trip to Mare-waukee.
The sun was bright. There were birds singing, flying around, and singing their various bird songs. There were various ground animals running around, doing various ground animal things. There was a river running along the path the two ponies were currently walking on. The water was doing water related things, mostly flowing downhill. The fact that nothing was happening seemed to put Lightning more on edge than if something actually was happening. Rarity seemed concerned about her traveling companion.
“Is something wrong Lighting?”
“Not yet, but I know there will be soon. I can feel it in my horn.” Lightning’s horn was not glowing. “Or my gut. Let’s go with gut.”
Rarity smiled. “But, can’t you just enjoy the beautiful scenery? It’s a beautiful day! Listen to those birds, and look at that crystal clear water.”
Lighting examined those things. “Yes, maybe too crystal clear. And those birds, maybe just singing too beautifully.” Lighting rubbed his chin. “Maybe you are right, maybe I am being a little crazy.” Lighting paused, and then stopped walking, and adjusted his pose so he would be ready for anything, lowering himself to the ground to lower his center of gravity. 
Rarity stopped and looked at Lightning in his new pose. She signed a heavy sigh. “I always fall for the craziest ponies.” Rarity face-hoofed. 
Lighting continued to look around for several more seconds, and then stood back up, and continued to walk along the path with Rarity. “I’ll check again later.”
“Are you always this paranoid?”
“No.” Lightning paused. “Usually more so.” He turned his head to face Rarity, and smiled a mischievous smile. 
Rarity couldn’t help but laugh at the smile. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re serious or not.”
Lighting turned his face to look down the road they were on. “Sometimes, I don’t even know if I am being serious.” The pair walked for a while down the path, just enjoying the weather. A few times, it appeared as though Rarity was going to say something, but she did not for some time.
“Lighting, have you ever thought about settling down with a nice mare? You know, getting married, and such?”
Lightning was caught off guard by this question. He swallowed, hard, and started sweating a bit. “Well, I’ve thought about it here and there. The life as a secret agent is full of peril. I wouldn’t want to put a nice mare through that. Not knowing if I would come home or not.” Lightning smiled a bit internally, knowing that was a good answer.
Rarity retorted. “But what if you found the right mare to settle down with? Would you consider hanging up your cloak for her?”
Lightning put some serious thought into this, before realizing that they had arrived at the town. “Oh, we’re here already! Let’s get some fabric!” Lightning was glad for this, as it would give him some time to think over this new idea to consider.
	
> Adventures in Shopping
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8;
Mare-waukee was a busy town. Many ponies were walking around the town, window shopping, purchasing things, drinking tea at one of the many outdoor cafés, and doing friendly things with other ponies. Rarity and Lighting walked down one of the many streets that were presented to them. The roads were cobble stone, and produced a nice click as the ponies walked. Rarity was busy looking around. Lighting has been to the city as a young colt, but it had been many years. Rarity quickly ran into one of the stores. It took Lighting several seconds to discover this. He quickly followed her into the store ‘Fabric and Fabric Related Things.’ 
The store was full of spools of fabric, threads, and other things that appeared to be related to fabric. Rarity darted around, looking at the various fabrics, and examining things with her hoof, checking for softness, and texture. Then, just as quick as she entered, she left the store. Lighting had trouble tracking the pony she moved so fast. Lighting wasn’t sure if it was because there were so many other ponies around, or because he did not suspect Rarity to move that fast.  Lightning ran after Rarity. 
The next store was more prosperous. Rarity bought two spools of fabric. Rarity attached the spools to her saddlebag, so she would not have to use her magic to carry them around for the rest of the day. For what seemed like forever, Lightning followed Rarity around from store to store, with her running from store to store. By noon, Lighting found himself getting rather tired. His training was not geared toward this kind of running.  After a while, Lighting even started carrying some of the spools of fabric.
After one of the stores, Rarity walked up to Lighting. “Are you hungry? Let’s get some food.” Lighting panted. Chasing after Rarity all morning was a crazy adventure. Rarity led Lighting over to an outside café. Rarity softly sat down in one of the chairs, and Lightning flumped down into the chair. Rarity looked to Lighting, “Tiring day?”
All Lighting could do was get out a meek nod. A waiter came over, and brought two glasses of ice water. Lighting was so out of it that he did not hear what the waiter asked, and just downed the water, using his magic to levitate the water to his mouth. Rarity ordered some sandwich for both of them. 
Rarity took pity on Lighting. “You’ve done very well, my dear. Very few ponies have kept up with me as long as you have. Big McIntosh only survived two hours on the fabric train.” Rarity made a hoof motion as if she were pulling on the whistle of a train. Lighting was not amused, and his facial expression showed it. Lighting laid his head down on the table. The waiter walked over and deposited two sandwiches in front of the two ponies. Rarity smiled at the sandwich; it looked good.
Lighting opened his eye that was not pressed against the table to examine the sandwich in front of him. He opened his mouth, and stuck his tongue out toward the sandwich. “Darn you sandwich. Get into my mouth.” He stuck his tongue out again. “How dare you disobey your prince?” 
Rarity couldn’t decide if she was charmed by this, or disgusted. Rarity used her horn magic to levitate the sandwich into Lighting’s mouth, which Lighting gladly chewed on. After some chewing, he swallowed it, and noticeably perked up a bit, sitting up, and looking at Rarity. “So, what’s fabric for? Making something big?”
“No. Just needed some more. Never know when inspiration might strike.” Rarity extended her arm out perpendicular to her body, and looking out into the distance. It was a pose mocking that of Lighting’s epic stance. 
Lightning was unfazed by this. “Where to next?”
Rarity returned to her normal sitting pose a little disappointed. She was hoping to get some kind of reaction out of the pony. “A few more stores, and then it’s off back to the store.” Rarity continued to eat her sandwich. “I’m hoping to get to Mega-Mega Fabric store. They have the largest selection, as the most average prices.” Rarity smiled. 
Lightning did not respond to her quip. “Most average prices? That’s a weird slogan.” Rarity stopped smiling. The two finished their sandwiches, and Lightning paid. The two walked a short distance to the Mega-Mega store. By this point in the day, there were fewer ponies around post lunch. Lighting looked around paranoid again, not sure why there were less now. He adjusted the fabric Rarity already bought in his saddle bags Rarity had given him to use.
The two shopping ponies arrived at Mega-Mega. Lightning had been to the city before, but somehow never seen this MASSIVE store. It must have been three stories tall. Lightning stood outside of the store for some time, just looking at the size of it. He wondered how many different kinds of fabric there could be. The large yellow building held a large sign above the main entrance; Mega-Mega Fabric Store; If we don’t have the fabric, then it does not exist. Lighting thought it was an odd slogan, and a bit presumptuous. Rarity entered the store without hesitation; Lighting quickly followed suit.  
Upon entering, Lightning was again shocked by the fabric. So much fabric, everywhere in so many colors. Lighting was not even aware of some of these colors existence before. Rarity strolled into the store more so, and looked around. Lighting followed as best he could. Lighting noticed a light amount of conversation in the store. People talking about fabric, and other things. Lighting listen to some of the conversations using his special training. One couple was discussing if the purple fabric they were thinking about getting was purple enough. Another group was discussing if there could be too much sparkle in certain kinds of fabric. Lightning figured there could be too much sparkle, if one tried hard enough. 
To pass the time, Lightning examined one of the many fabrics on one of the nearby tables. It was a light blue, and soft to the touch. Lighting liked the way it felt in his hoof. 
Two older ponies were discussing what ‘they’ were doing, and what they were hoping to accomplish with being there. Lighting wondered who ‘they’ were. Then, the store got quiet, too quiet. Lightning started to panic. Looking around, he saw no good places to hide. He could hide beneath some of the tables with fabric on them, but that would provide minimal cover, and would not offer enough surprise to the target that has silenced the store. Looking around, he found no other options, and decided that beneath the table was the best option. 
Lightning dove beneath the table. It was not a very good hiding spot, but one must do with what one has. Lightning then looked for Rarity, but was outside of arm’s reach. Two ponies approached his position. Lighting pulled out his baton, and readied for battle. The two ponies talked to Rarity, who then gave away his position. Lighting figured she did not know better than to give his position away to the enemy.
One of the new ponies walked over to Lighting’s position, and bent down to look under the table. Lighting was quick with his baton, and quickly hit the pony in the face, causing the pony to stagger a bit. Lighting took the opportunity to jump from under the table, and quickly survey the situation, briefly looking around, but not acknowledging what was near him. Prince Shining Armor was rearing from the swift hit from the baton, and Princess Cadance was standing near Rarity, both of which looked rather shocked. But, Lightning was in full commando mode so who he hit did not fully register with him, and attempted to flee, jumping into the air almost making it over a table. He was stopped in midair by Cadance’s magic. Lightning started to panic, failing about, trying to get contact with something. 
He was then swung over upside down to meet face to face with Cadance. She had a disapproving look on her face. Lightning made eye contact with her, and quickly exited commando mode. Lighting put his baton back into his cloak, and smiled a sheepish smile. 
Cadance clicked in disapproval. “Getting carried away again, are we?”
Lighting replied, “Well, I thought since the store was getting very quiet, that we were under attack.” He smiled a weak smile. 
Cadance was not amused. “You are not always under attack.” She paused. “And you hit my husband.” She swung him around to meet a now standing Shining Armor.
Lighting smiled slightly in an attempt to dissolve the tension. “Sorry Shining Armor. I thought you were a secret spy from the organization here to kill me.”
Shining smiled and laughed a bit. “Don’t worry about it. I know how you are. Sometimes your paranoid aspects come in handy too.” 
Cadance released Lighting, causing him to land with a thud. Lightning let out a groan, and slowly got up.
Rarity turned to Cadance, “So, Princess, what brings you to Mega-Mega Fabric Store? I figured the royal store room would have enough fabric for some time.”
Cadance turned to face Rarity. Lighting was being helped up by Shining Armor. “Sometimes you just need to get out and experience the different fabrics and see the new fashions the different ponies are wearing.”
Shining Armor laughed. “Yeah, Cadance had been bit by the design bug.”
Rarity smiled. “That’s excellent princess! The fashion leaders have been slacking lately. They could use some pony in power to show how it’s done.”
Cadance smiled a weak smile and looked away sheepishly. “But I don’t know where to start.” She paused, and looked back to Rarity. “You could show me!” Cadance smiled a great big smile.
Rarity returned the smile. “It would be my honor princess!” They both jumped up and down in excitement. 
Lighting looked to Shining Armor, and said, “I don’t like the way this is heading.”
Shining Armor gave an inquisitive look to Lighting. “Why? What’s wrong with them hanging out?”
“I’m not sure yet. But in those situation comedies, this is often a plot point, and this often leads to…” Lightning paused, and thought about the correct words to describe what he was thinking. “Comedic hijinks.” 
Shining Armor smiled. “I like funny things! What’s wrong with that.”
Lighting got super serious, and looked at Shining with a very dark look. “It’s funny when it happens to other people.”
Shining Armor thought about this for a moment, and then grew sad, and concerned. “Oh.”
The rest of the day was rather uneventful. The two mares walked around the store, discussing various fabrics, and fashions, and various other fashion things. Lighting and Shining ended up carrying the various spools of fabric around. Spools upon spools upon spools. The various colors and such started to blend together by the end. Rarity and Cadance one stood for about 10 minutes discussing two apparently different kinds of fabric. Shining Armor almost spoke out about what the difference was, but Lighting stopped him, having seen too many situation comedies to know what would have come of that.  By the end of the day, the two were over loaded. Shining Armor had the advantage of a carriage ride home, but Lighting had to carry everything to Rarity’s house using his physical strength and magic. By the time they arrived, it was early evening. 
There was still some light out, but it was getting late. Rarity opened the door, and Lighting brought the spools in. Upon entering, he collapsed into a pile of cloth. 
Sweetie Bell came running down the stairs. “How was shopping?” She smiled with glee.
Rarity happily replied, “It was fabulous! I picked up tons of fabric…” She paused pointing to the pile that held cloth and some Lighting in there somewhere. “…and I met up with Princess Cadance.” Rarity smiled a big smile. “And she asked me to help her design some outfits for fun.”
Sweetie Bell smiled, and started jumping up and down with excitement. “Really? That’s awesome big sister.” Rarity started jumping up and down as well. The pair jumped around in circles for about two minutes. By this point Lighting had managed to pull himself out from the pile, and was slowly crawling toward his bedroom, wincing from some pain in his side, where he was attacked several days ago.
Sweetie Bell noticed Lighting, and suddenly remembered something. She ran over to the table, and levitated an envelope over to Lighting. “Here, this came for you today.” She passed the envelope to Lightning who quickly opened it, and examined the contents. There was a letter, and some kind of Compact Disk like device. Lighting gave the letter a quick read, and put them both back in the envelope.
He stood up. “Well Rarity, I must be off. It certainly was an…..interesting day. I hope your fabrics work out for you” Lightning left for his room, and closed the door behind him.
Rarity looked at Sweetie Bell. “Did he seem, upset to you?” Sweetie Bell did not seem to notice. 
The next day, Lighting was up early, packing things up. Rarity stumbled into the kitchen to see Lighting packing things in his back pack.
She asked, “What are you doing?”
Lighting did not turn to face Rarity, and continued packing. “I have to go Rarity.”
Rarity was caught off guard by this. “Why?”
Lighting stopped back, and turned his head to face her. “I can’t tell you.” He continued packing. 
	
> Chapter 9: To embark on a new adventure! 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 9
Rarity just stood there for several seconds, looking at Lightning. “How soon do you leave?”
“As soon as I can. But I suspect that to be in an hour or two. But we shall see.”
Rarity asked, “Why are you leaving?”
Lighting did not look up again. “I told you, I can’t tell you.”
Rarity walked over to the table, and saw a map on the table. The picked it up, but Lightning quickly snatched it away. “You’re going on a super-secret dangerous mission, aren’t you?”
Lightning continued to pack and examine his things. “I can neither confirm nor deny what you are accusing me of.”
Rarity thought quickly. She needed Lighting to say. She wanted to get to know this pony better. She felt him becoming part of her heart, and she could not bear to lose him. Especially like this. “Wait here. I have to go and…” She paused. “Get some….ponies.” She rushed out of the door. Lighting admired the speed in which she moved. He wondered what had gotten her so agitated. 
Lightning sat down at the kitchen table and examined a large map he had. Making notes on the map, and a piece of paper with his magic, often mumbling things about ambushes, and trees, and dirt. He did this for some time. Only once or twice getting up to walk around, and think. Then, with little warning, Rarity burst through the main door. This caught Lighting off guard. He found this odd that he was caught off guard so easily. Perhaps it was something else that was districting him, he thought. 
Rarity was followed by several ponies. He had met some of them before. Apple Jack and Twilight he recognized. But a pink pony, a yellow pegasus, and a blue one too, were unknown to Lighting. He looked around at the group.
Rarity spoke up first. “We can’t let you go!”
Twilight walked up to Rarity. “We can’t?”
Rarity did not look at Twilight. “Correct!” She raised her hoof, and then turned to her group. “He is going on a dangerous mission, and I don’t think he should go on his own!”
Apple Jack walked forward. “Well apple cube, we can’t stop him from going. But we can maybe try to persuade him to let us go with him.”
The yellow one tried to speak up, but failed to amass enough volume. 
The blue flying one spoke up. “Yeah! Sounds like an adventure! Its been dulls-ville around here lately.”  The yellow one tried to speak again. 	
Twilight asked, “Why are we trying to stop him again? I didn’t really understand the explanation Rarity gave.”
Rarity turned to face her group again. “It’s too dangerous! He may get hurt!”
Twilight responded, “But isn’t that kind of his job? I think you may be hurting his feelings by saying that he can’t handle it”
Rarity was caught off guard by her friend’s question. “Well, no. But….” 
She was cut off by Apple Jack. “Nah Apple cube, she’s just concerned. She’s a colt friend, and she is just concerned for his wellbeing.”
Rarity quickly agreed quickly. “Yes, let’s go with that one!” 
The yellow one finally managed to speak up, but just barely enough for the other ponies to hear her. “Um, he kind of left.” The others were caught off guard by this.
Rarity looked around. “Where did he go?!”
Pinkie Pie pointed to an open window. “I think he went through there!” 
Rarity quickly looked at the window, and then announced to the group “After him!”
Five ponies left the room, rushing to catch up with the sneaky pony. Twilight used her magic to start tracking down the pony. Pinkie Pie remained behind, but in all of the commotion, nobody seemed to notice. She stood in the entry way, just standing not doing much of anything. Then, after several seconds of just standing there, she looked up. Lightning had somehow jumped up to the celling, and was hanging there, with nobody noticing. 
Pinkie Pie spoke to Lighting. “You can come down now. They left.” Lightning adjusted his view, and confirmed that they had left. He jumped down somewhat gracefully, groaning as he hit the ground. 
“Thank you agent pink. I was afraid they would try to stop me.”
Pinkie Pie smiled. “I have faith that they would not be able to stop you.” She paused. “Are you sure you are up to this mission? Have you fully healed from your encounter with the dogs?”
Lighting rubbed his side where he was scratched all that time before. “Well, I just know that my kingdom needs me, and it is my duty to protect it with my life.”
Pinkie Pie looked disappointed. “Don’t go throwing your life way. I know Rarity cares deeply for you.”
Lighting slowly nodded. “I know. I have feelings for her too, as she has taken such good care of me. But I am not certain I can give her the feelings back. I’m not sure I am capable of it after all of these years.” Lighting went back to packing.
Pinkie Pie smiled. “I have faith that you will discover how to care again. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of poking to get it going again. It will come.”
Lightning looked out the window he supposedly escaped out of. “Only time will tell agent Pink. Only time.” Lighting briefly reminisced about his past, but quickly shook it off, knowing that the group would not be gone forever. 
Pinkie Pie said, “See you when you get back Spatula.” She gave a little salute. 
Lighting was part way through the door, which he paused. “One of these days, I’m going to have to talk to Luna about getting that code name changed.” He then proceeded out of the door. 
The sky was clear; it was crisp, and just a beautiful morning. There were a few birds singing, a hand full of ponies walking around town, doing pony type things. Lighting paid little attention to the ponies and their goings on. Then, he heard a great amount of thumping, coming from what would normally be a stampede of some kind of large animal. Lightning stopped in his tracks, and looked around. To his left was Rarity and her friends, charging toward him at top speed. For the first time in a while, Lightning felt a little bit of fear.
Using a lot of his strength, he started galloping at full strength toward the ever free forest. With Rarity and associates hot on his tail, Lighting attempted to activate a teleportation spell, but was blocked by something. He turned back and saw Twilight using her horn. Lightning figured it was a magic blocking spell. 
Lighting was quickly approaching the boarder of the forest. It looked like he would make it! But then, Lighting found himself being lifted off the ground, and slowly losing his speed until he was about a foot off the ground, and not making an forward progress. He eventually lost all momentum at the very edge of the forest. 
Rarity was using her magic, and flipped lighting upside down and around to face her. She had one of those ‘not amused’ looks on her face. Twilight had a similar look, but it looked more angry, and less ‘what are you doing.’ 
Rarity was the first to speak. “Did you really think you would be able to get away?”
Lighting thought about this for a few seconds. “…Yes?”
Rarity continued to not be amused. She turned to Twilight. “Well, what do we do with him now?”
Twilight stopped being mad, and now looked confused. “I thought you had the plan.”
The blue flying one flew over, and had a recommendation. “I say we tie him to a chair, and make him promise to take us with him on his mission!”
Rarity appeared apprehensive. “I’m not sure about that Rainbow Dash. That seems a bit rash, and extreme.” Rarity set Lightning down on the ground, and Twilight let the magic block turn off. 
Twilight explained, “I think we just need to convince him that we would be helpful to his cause.”
Lighting looked to his right. “HEY! WHATS THAT!?!” The 5 ponies that were there all looked to their left. There was nothing there except for a tree. But that was enough time for Lighting to activate a teleportation spell, and get away. 



It had been several days since Lighting had left Rarity’s house. She had been down in the dumps for several days until Luna and Cadence had invited Rarity out to tea one day to discuss various things. Rarity went, and tried to look excited, but she found that she was missing Lightning more and more.
The three ponies were at a small café, drinking tea. There were very few ponies around. It was earlier in the day, so not everybody was drinking in the middle of the day. There were several tables outside of the shop that were free. The group sat near the back near the side of the brick building. 
Cadence looked at Rarity. “Rarity, you’ve seemed down this entire morning. What’s wrong?”
Rarity jumped a bit at the attention of the princess. “What? Oh nothing. Just things going on.”
Luna poked Cadence with her hoof. “I suspect she is missing Lighting.” Rarity blushed at the mention of this. “Am I right?” Rarity mumbled something quietly, looking down at her cup rather dejected. “What was that? Didn’t quite hear you there.” Luna smiled. She already knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from Rarity, so she could help her with her heavy heart. 
Rarity moved her eyes to look up from the table, but not moving her head. “I am missing him. I felt something when I was with him.” She looked up from the table. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Luna smiled. “Yes.” Luna leaned back in her chair.  “The first part of fixing a problem of the heart is to admit that there is a problem.”
Rarity frowned. “Yeah, but he left. And I don’t even know if he has the same feelings for me.”
Luna looked around the café to see if any pony was nearby that could spoil what she was about to tell Rarity. “Lighting occasionally sends in a list to me of ponies he encounters, and updates me on the status of what he thinks about them.”
Rarity looked questionably at Luna. “What?”
Cadence replied, “It’s an enemies list. A list of ponies he considers a threat, and not a threat.”
Rarity still had a confused look on her face. “Ok.” She paused. “What does that have to do with me?”
Luna replied, “He has you down as ‘not a threat’. That’s high praise on his list.” Luna smiled.
Rarity was not impressed. “Not a threat? I bet he says that for lots of other ponies too.” Rarity frowned.
Luna replied. “Actually, only one other pony is labeled as ‘not a threat’.” Rarity looked up, and seemed a little exited to find out who it was. “Himself.” Rarity seemed a little taken back by this. “On his list he labels me and Cadence as ‘not currently a threat’.” Rarity appeared less than excited about this.
“How about Princess Celestia? Surely she would be labeled the same!”
Luna responded. “On the last version of the list I saw, it labeled her as also not currently a threat. He is very picky about who gets that status. Any pony who he believes could prevent him from ‘protecting the crown’ is considered a possible threat. He once explained to me some other criteria, but I don’t remember what they were, and they seemed a bit crazy when he told me. ”
This made Rarity happier. She knew Lighting held the Princess in high regard, and knew that if she was above the Princess, then she may just be something special. Rarity looked off in the distance, creating a day-dream about marrying Lighting, and becoming a Princess herself, and all the various things she would be able to do. The dream had not real specifics, and only lasted a few moments, but was enough to brighten up Rarity and put a smile on her face.
Cadence looked at rarity with a confused look on her face. “You ok there Rarity?”
This snapped Rarity out of her stupor. “What? Oh yeah. Just thinking about things.” Rarity looked off into the distance again, but then quickly snapped back. “What were we talking about?”
Cadence wanted to change the subject. “I think we were discussing what you thought would be in fashion this upcoming season. Right, Luna?” Cadence slowly turned her head to look at Luna with a somewhat coy smile on her face. 
Luna was caught off guard by this sudden change in subject. “….Yes?”
This snapped Rarity out of the rest of her stupor. “Oh, yes.” She paused and cleared her throat. The three discusses what they thought was going to come up. Rarity led most of the discussion, but the two princesses added things to the discussion. Luna had only a little to add, not knowing the history if fashion, but she brought in a sense of what was popular long ago, and fashion can sometimes be circular. 
After some discussion, a palace guard came flying in rather quickly, and galloped up quickly to Luna, and whispered something in her ear. Luna appeared surprised by the news, perking her ears up. She whispered something to the guard, and then turned her attention to the group. “Lightning has been injured during his last mission. He is in a hospital in Canterlot. I must go!” Luna stood up, to leave. 
Cadence stood up to follow. “I should come too.” 
Luna stopped. “Would you like to come too Rarity?”
Rarity looked at Luna with a sad face. “I don’t think so. I would just slow you two down. I can’t fly.”
Luna smiled a little smile. “Don’t let that stop you Rarity. We’ll ride in my royal carriage.” She motioned for one of the nearby guards to get the carriage ready with some hoof motion. The carriage arrived after a few moments. The three ponies were then off.
	
> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 10:
The three ponies rushed to the hospital room where they were told by the front desk that Lightning was being kept. Ponies left and right were bowing before the two princesses, and Rarity. The hospital was not very crowded, but it was very large. Many of the rooms were empty, and the ones that did have ponies in them were mostly for broken legs, and general non-life threatening things.
Eventually, the three ponies arrived at the room and burst in. In the hospital bed was Lightning, all bandaged up. His horn had a large bandage in the middle, seemingly keeping it together. His two back legs were in casts, and his torso was also in a cast. There were also a mess of bruises on his body. The doctor in the room looked up from his clip board.
“Ah, Princesses, glad of you to join us.” He paused. “And you, miss?”
“I am Rarity, a close friend of Lighting. I think.”
The doctor smiled. “Ah yes, Rarity. Lighting has mentioned you several times in his drug induced state.” He pointed to Lighting, who promptly stirred.
The stallion mumbled something. Rarity walked closer to him to try and hear what he said. “Luna, I have an update.”
Rarity frowned. “Luna, he says he has an update.” Luna raised an eyebrow. 
Lighting grabbed Rarity, and pulled her close with his hoofs. “I am upgrading her status. She is creating a new cauterization of ‘possible love interest’.” Rarity blushed deeply at this. She tried to break free, but Lightings grip was intense for someone in the hospital. Also, she did not want to hurt the pony anymore more. “But don’t tell Pinkie Pie. She would flip her lid. And for her, that could be damaging.” He smiled a bit, but then fell asleep on the bed.
Luna smiled. “What did he say Rarity?”
Rarity blushed a deeper red than before. “He said he is upgrading me to ‘possible love interest’ in his status.” Candace and Luna both looked surprised with their mouths agape. 
Luna was the first to speak. “What?”, was all she could muster.
Rarity thought for a moment. “I don’t think I should have told you that. I suspect it was supposed to be a secret.” Luna and Candace had a look of ‘oh boy’ on their faces. 
Candace was the first to reply. “Well, we will just have to keep this a secret until he admits it publicly.” She smiled at this thought. 
Luna did not respond, and instead intently started at Lighting until Candace poked her with her hoof. “What? Oh yes, capital idea!” She did not seem fully invested in the idea, and continued to stare at Lighting. 
Rarity did not seem to notice Luna acting weird. “Isn’t that a bit mean?” She paused. “Don’t you think he will be hurt by that?’
Luna spoke up. “I do not believe so. I suspect he will be fine.” The two other ponies looked at Luna with a confused look. Luna thought fast as to how to respond. “I’ve known him for several years now. I think I know him fairly well.” She smiled a weak smile.
Rarity smiled. “Sounds like a plan then.” 
The doctor cleared his throat. “Anyways.” He paused, waiting for the other ponies to pay attention to him again. “He’s going to be immobile for several days, but after that, he should be stable enough to move to a more suitable location.”
Rarity was confused. “Suitable? What’s better than a hospital?”
Luna explained, “For security, we had a majority of the hospital evacuated. We were concerned about the patients and the hospital being attacked by the organization.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow. “The organization? What’s that?”
Luna looked around. “I’ll explain later. It’s highly classified.” Luna paused. “Now, where can we put him where he will be safe?” Luna appeared to be deep in thought.
Rarity piped up, “HE CAN COME WITH ME!” Rarity blushed at how much she yelled that. “I mean, he can come stay with me again. It worked out so well last time.” Rarity smiled a weak smile. 
Luna replied. “I suppose that would work.” She paused. “I’m only concerned about if the enemy knows about him being there before. There was that tracker from before.”
Candace spoke up, “I’m sure they will be fine. We can cast a protection spell to prevent any dark element agents from getting in the house.”
Luna did not look convinced. “I’m not sure that will be enough.” She looked at Rarity, who had a smile on her face. “But, I guess it would be more secure and secret than having him in the royal hospital. We should leave soon Rarity, to prepare a room in your house for Lightning and his medical equipment.”
Candace cleared her throat. “I think it might attract unwanted attention if the princess of the night were to show up in Ponyville again.”
Luna groaned. “Next year.” She sighed, “next year.” She shook her hoof at the celling. “Ok. We’ll notify agent Pink, and have her help with the initial preparations. Then we’ll send over a magic generator to generate a shield.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Agent Pink?” She thought it could be Pinkie Pie, but figured it was some code name for some really tough agent in the field. 
Luna smiled. “We are not at liberty to discuss who or what ‘agent pink’ is.” She smiled a coy wicked smile. 
Rarity laughed a little. “Ok, keep your secrets.” 
Rarity went back to her house with one of the royal guards to start setting up the guest bedroom again for the prince. The guard was a gray unicorn, who seemed to be nearing the end of his tenure as a guard, but Rarity did not wish to offend him. With them, they brought some medical equipment, and some pills. It did not take too long to set up, as there were only a few pillows and adjustments made to the bed. And with both of them being unicorns, it went by even faster than anticipated. The guard left saying that the prince should be arriving the next day. 
A little after the guard left, Sweetie Bell returned from school. Rarity was sitting at the kitchen sitting at the kitchen table, drinking what appeared to be teat. Rarity was deep in thought, and didn’t notice Sweetie Bell approach her, and sit at the table with her. 
“Something wrong sis?”
Rarity jumped a little bit at her sister being there. “No. Nothing is wrong Sweetie Bell.”
Sweetie Bell was not convinced. “It’s Lighting, isn’t it?” Rarity attempted shock, but failed. Sweetie Bell gave her best ‘you are not fooling anyone’ look. 
Rarity sighed. “Yeah.”
Sweetie Bell stretched out a hoof to cover Rarity’s. “What happened.” 
Rarity raised an eyebrow at her filly sister’s sudden emotional side. Rarity sighed. “I don’t feel comfortable discussing this with you…..little sister.” 
Sweetie Bell pulled her hoof back. “I understand sister. I am not as wise in the world of love as you.”
Rarity was starting to grow concerned about her sister. “What has gotten into you? You’re acting rather weird.”
Sweetie Bell pulled a book out of her saddle bag. “In school today we read a number of poems by some famous poets. It’s inspired me.” She smiled an oddly big smile.
Rarity smiled a weak smile. “I think I am going to have this discussion with some other pony.” Rarity thought about whom to discuss this with. 
After searching around Ponyville for her friends, she ended up at the door of Pinkie Pie. The other friends were oddly busy at the moment. Rarity didn’t put that much thought into it, and so shouldn’t you.
Rarity knocked at the back door of Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie Pie often answered the door at the back. The front was for customers. After a few seconds, Pinkie Pie appeared. “Hey Rarity, what’s up!?” 
Rarity sighed. There was a reason Pinkie Pie was the last on she asked. “Pinkie Pie, can I ask for relationship advice?”
Pinkie Pie’s demeanor suddenly changed. “Come in Rarity.” She let Rarity into her living section. Rarity was caught a little off guard by the sudden tonal shift of Pinkie Pie. Rarity then thought she was getting caught off guard a lot lately. Maybe she should work on that.
Pinkie Pie motioned for Rarity to sit down in one of the chairs she already had set up. Rarity examined the chair, and then sat down in it. 
“So, Rarity. What is the matter?” Pinkie Pie was being oddly serious. Rarity couldn’t tell, but it seemed like her mane was less bright, and grayer. Not to the point of being sad, or depressed, but a little bit more serious looking. 
Rarity sat down in the chair, and looked at Pinkie Pie uneasily. “Prince Lightning has labeled me as a possible love interest, and I am not certain how to feel about this. He’s a great colt and all…” Rarity paused briefly. “…but I am not sure how to feel about this...”
Pinkie Pie thought about this. “Do you have similar feelings for him? You appear to hold him in high regard.” Pinkie Pie shifted in her seat.  
Rarity was starting to feel uncomfortable. “I do, but I am not sure if they are real feelings, or just from him saving me before. I don’t want to give my heart on such a thing.”
Pinkie Pie nodded, and seemed deep in thought. “Rarity, the question you must ask yourself is this; does being around Agent Spat….Prince Lighting make you happy?”
Rarity thought about this. “I think it does.” Rarity smiled a weak smile. 
Pinkie Pie adjusted in her chair. “Only you can answer that question. And when you can, you will know your answer.” Pinkie Pie smiled. 
Rarity returned the smile. “Thank you Pinkie Pie. You have been surprisingly useful.” Rarity paused. “Wait…” Pinkie Pie paused. “You started calling Lighting something else; agent, something.” 
Pinkie Pie sighed. “I have known Prince Lightning for many years. We trained together as special agents, and have even gone on a few missions together. It was tense some times.”
Rarity was rather shocked at this revelation. “You’ve never mentioned this before. Did something happen on a mission?”
Pinkie Pie nodded a slow nod. “Let me tell you about it….Maybe then you can understand Lighting a little bit better…..”

> Chapter 11
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 11:
Pinkie Pie adjusted in her chair, and started to tell the story.
Deep inside the minor Ever free forest (a forest far to the south of the main Ever Free), Lightning, Pinkie, and Red. The three were sent to disrupt a Discord worshiping ring that was trying to create a second Discord to usher in a second reign. Their intelligence was rather spotty for this adventure, but Celestia felt that the cause was too great to wait for better intelligence. Lighting had agreed with the princess. 
The three had been traveling for days, tracking down this group. Following various leads, and hints from some of the various locals. The camp ended up not being too far into the forest, but it took a while to find them from the incomplete intelligence.  Red was a young spy in the group, selected for his strength, and general agility. It was felt that his strength as an earth pony could come in handy. 
The three ponies finally came across the camp. Lightning was devising a plan on how to neutralize the camp with some explosions, and destroy the element of chaos they were using to create the new Discord. The three were some distance from the camp, but apparently not far enough away, as they were found by a patrol. 
Lightning used this as a prime opportunity to get some uniforms for Lightning and Pinkie Pie. Red was going to be used a hostage, as a reason to get close to the chief, and maybe destroy the crystal. Lightning later explained after the mission that he incorrectly chose Red as he had feelings for Pinkie Pie at the time, and feared for her possible safety with this plan. He didn’t explain that at the time, but later told Pinkie Pie about it.
Pinkie Pie and Lightning escorted their ‘prisoner’ to the chief of the camp. When they entered the tent, Lightning saw the large chaos gem. But, unlucky for the group, the chief saw right through their ruse, and injured Red by breaking one of his legs. 
There was a quick scuffle, and somehow Pinkie Pie was knocked out. When she came too, the two were being levitated away from the camp, which was now inflames, taking part of the forest with it. Pinkie Pie examined Lightning, and saw that he was bleeding from several places. Somehow, they managed to get to an outpost, and received medical aid. Pinkie Pie ended her brief story.
Pinkie Pie adjusted in her seat. “Light later explained to me that he blamed himself for how bad the mission went, and how he places his personal feelings above the mission. He felt that if I been the prisoner, that Red would have been able to disable the chief, and complete the mission with less causalities. But, he was concerned for my wellbeing, so he did not make that choice. And that is why he has trouble showing the emotion of love; he doesn’t want to hurt others.” Pinkie Pie looked away from Rarity, who was listening intently to the story.
“What happened to Red?”
Pinkie Pie got off of the chair. “He recovered, and is now a palace guard. He said that he wasn’t ready to be a special agent, and felt the royal guard would be more his speed. The last time I spoke with him, he said he was happier as a guard than a special agent.”
Rarity nodded. “But, what caused him to be able to show love to me?”
Pinkie Pie walked over to a cabinet and took out some sugar. “I had convinced him shortly before he ran into you at the market that he had matured enough, and was a stronger colt now so his emotions should not bother him at that level anymore.” Pinkie Pie opened the bag of sugar. “I think the mission would have gone south either way, as the intelligence was faulty. They said it was a small camp, but it was actually rather large, almost an entire battalion. Red said he never blamed Light, but that didn’t stop the internal monologue.”
Pinkie Pie put the sugar back in the cabinet. “Recently, through me pointing it out to him, he did technically destroy the chaos gem, so he did succeed, but only recently did he start believing me.” Pinkie Pie got out the sugar again. “Although he has gone on several missions since then, Light once told me that he finds that mission to be his greatest failing as a spy.”
Rarity nodded. “I think I understand now Pinkie Pie. Thank you.” She paused. “But, why do you keep on playing with that sugar?”
“Because me sitting there giving you extreme exposition wouldn’t be very exciting to read, now would it?” She paused only briefly. Pinkie Pie’s mane and general demeanor returned to normal. “Now let’s get some cupcakes!”

Two days later, Lightning arrived. Several nurses and one doctor arrived with him. They quickly set up some monitoring equipment, and IV’s and quickly left. Rarity examined the poor prince, out cold from the medicine they were giving him so he could heal. He slept peacefully, occasionally stirring a bit, or groaning. The doctor had given Rarity two spells, a healing spell, and a pain spell. She was instructed to use the healing spell twice a day and the pain spell as she deemed necessary. 
It made Rarity sad to see him this way, but it brought her a little joy to be the one to care for him. She just sat and watched him for about an hour after the doctors left for two reasons; to make sure he was ok, and to be close to him. Rarity felt a great amount of pride that Lightning had chosen her be romantically interested in. 
Rarity sat by his bed side for several minutes, just looking at the prince. After a few moments, he woke up, and peered around the room. From the way his eyes looked around, Rarity didn’t think he was all there. She figured the pain spell must have something to do with it. Lightning got around to looking at Rarity, and then smiled a weird odd smile a drunk would give. Rarity was taken aback by this. Rarity smiled back, but it was much more reserved. 
The prince spoke slurred. “Hello there, pretty pony.”
Rarity asked, “Are you ok?”
Prince Lighting laughed a bit. “I’m not super sure. Everything seems a bit more…crazy. Am I on drugs?”
“I have you on a pain killing spell. I think that may be making you a bit…off.” 
The colt smiled. “I think it’s working. I don’t especially feel any pain.” 
Rarity smiled. “I’m going to say that’s a good thing.” Rarity paused. “Can I get you anything? Water?”
Prince Lighting smiled a wicked smile. “I could use some water, and some of that flank!”  He smiled and laughed like a teenage colt. 
Rarity blushed, and smiled. “Well, I can get you that water with ease.” Rarity got up, and found herself wiggling her flank more than usual, but stopped doing that a few steps before exiting the room. 
Rarity closed the door behind her, and breathed a heavy sigh. With her head held a little lower, Rarity walked to the kitchen, and used her magic to get a glass, and put some water in it. She then brought it back to Lightning’s room. But when she opened the door, the colt was already asleep. Rarity smiled. He looked so peaceful while he was asleep. Rarity set down the glass on the end table, and left the room.
For the next few hours, Rarity worked on some dresses, and sewed some things, and did some other things. Rarity was designing a dress when a loud ‘ow’ from the guest room with Lightning. Rarity dashed there, and threw open the door. Lighting was trying to use his magic to get the glass of water. Rarity dashed forward, and used her magic to move the water to Lightning. 
Lightning used his hooves to take a big gulp out of the cup. “Thank you lady Rarity. I found myself rather thirsty, and I did not wish to bother you.” He laughed a little. “I guess that didn’t happen.”
Rarity shook her head. “I’m here to help you heal. If you need anything, just let me know. In fact.” Rarity walked over to chest on the floor, and opened and searched. She then used her magic to pull out a bell. “Ring this if you need anything. Ok?”
Lightning did not seem to be too into it. “I guess I can. I don’t wish to bother you.” He looked to Rarity.
“It’s no bother at all.” Rarity smiled.
“I can see why you are the element of generosity. You are too kind to me.”
Rarity started walking out of the room, and that she was moving her flank more than usual. Just before exiting, Rarity looked back at the prince, and caught him looking at her flank. Lighting discovered that she was looking, and quickly picked up the bell and started examining it, obviously trying to hid the fact that he was staring at her. 
For several days, Prince Lightning stayed in bed, getting healed by Rarity, and acting loopy whenever she used her magic pain killer spell on him. The days passed without much activity. But on one day, Lightning received a package in the mail. Rarity found this rather odd, because only a select few knew he was there. The package was not very big, about the size of a tissue box. 
Rarity used her magic to carry the package to him. Lightning was asleep, and Rarity did not wish to wake him for a package. Upon setting it down, Lightning stirred, and looked at Rarity.
“Oh, hello there.”  Lightning smiled at Rarity. 
Rarity smiled. “Hi.” She paused. “This package came for you.” She held it with her magic. Lightning seemed interested in the package, and reached for it, and tried to use his magic. His horn was still hurting, so that didn’t work out too tell. Rarity hovered it over. Lightning somehow managed to open the package without some kind of knife. 
Once the package was open, Lightning’s face lit up. He used his hoofs to pull the item out of the box. It was some kind of electronic device Rarity was not familiar with. It wasn’t very thick, and was rather flat, looking like some kind of tablet. Rarity gave Lightning a confused look. “What is it?”
Lightning smiled. “It’s my Pony-Tab! I thought I lost it on the mission, but apparently they found it.” Upon closer inspection, Rarity did see the device was rather beaten up, and had several gouges in it. “Me and this thing have been through lots of adventures, and briefings. Luna has attempted to get me to get a new one, but I’ve stuck with it for some time.”
Rarity smiled. It made her happy for him to have gotten his device back. She saw him messing with it, and checking things on it. But then he suddenly frowned.
Rarity asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lightning looked to Rarity, “It ran out of power.” He laughed a little bit, and examined the box further. In it he pulled out a power cable, and some kind of adapter. Lightning looked around, and saw a spare plug nearby. He attempted to use his magic, but it still caused him pain.
Rarity laughed. “One of these days, you will learn to let me do things for you like that.” Rarity took the power adapter, and plugged the device in. Lightning then plugged the cable in, and after a few moments, the device sprang to life. Rarity looked at it. It was a bright screen, with some graphics on it. It seemed to be loading something. 
Rarity decided to leave the room, and leave Lightning to his new toy. Near the door she turned around. Lighting was holding the tablet up in front of his face facing Rarity. He then taped the device, and Lightning lowered the device, looking rather pleased with himself.
Rarity asked, “What are you doing over there?”
Lightning laughed. “Nothing, nothing. Just checking to make sure the camera works.” 
Rarity trotted over, and used her magic to lightly pull the device out of Lightning’s hooves. “Is it?”
Lightning tried to get the tablet back, and had a worried look on his face. He reached, trying to get it back form Rarity’s magic. Rarity looked at the screen, and saw a picture of her looking back over her shoulder at the door. Rarity smiled, and looked at Lightning, who was now trying to slink under the covers. Rarity lightly placed the tablet back on the bed, and slowly made her way back to the door. Just as she was about to step back through the door, she looked back at Lighting, who was still partially below the covers, and said, “Colts,” and laughed as she passed through the door.
Time passed. Two weeks later, Lightning was getting much better, thanks to Rarity, and her magic. Lightning would later say that it was Rarity’s generosity and good heart that helped him heal faster. Lightning was able to use his horn to move light things, and walk around for a little bit if he walked slowly, and carefully. 
Rarity was returning home from a trip to the local fabric shop, when she discovered Sweetie Bell giving Lightning a sandwich to eat. Rarity was too far away, and carrying too much fabric to stop him from eating it. By the time Rarity got to the table, Lightning had just taken a bite of it. Initially, Lightning seemed to be enjoying the sandwich, but then it quickly turned into a severe frown. 
He turned to face Rarity, and said with sandwich still in his mouth “It feels like I am having a baby”
Rarity shook her head, and then looked to Sweetie Bell. “What did you try to make for him?”
Sweetie Bell smiled the most innocent smile she could muster. “I found it in this book. Its call a ‘chili chutney sandwich’. It seemed like a good sandwich. I found it in that book.” Sweetie Bell paused. “I thought he would enjoy it.”  Rarity saw that the book she was pointing to was a rarely used cook book called ‘oddities for the odd pony in your life.’
Rarity examined Lightning. “Are you ok?”
It appears that Lightning had swallowed part of the sandwich. Lightning did not respond to the question, but instead just kept on staring straight ahead, and then promptly fell to the floor.
	
> Chapter 12
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 12
Lightning woke up in a bed, and very disorientated. Everything was blurry. He could hear some voices, but could not make out what they were saying. A yellow mass and a purple mass approached the groaning colt. The yellow one said something, and then the purple one. Lightning groaned again. The words started forming from the two masses. 
The yellow one said, “He’s making improvements, but he still seems out of it.”
The purple one said, “Yeah, and he’s farting less too.” The yellow one seemed to agree. Lightning would have been embarrassed, but all he could manage was groaning again, and clutch his stomach. Trying to concentrate, even a little, he tried to activate a healing spell, but his horn then hurt too much to do that. 
The purple one saw his horn activate a bit. “I think he’s at least somewhat awake, I saw his horn activate.” A white pony galloped over. Lightning’s vision started to sharpen. He recognized the purple mass as Twilight Sparkle, the yellow mass as Fluttershy, and Rarity, as the new mass. Rarity looked very concerned. Lightning groaned and tried to sit up.
Fluttershy pushed Lightning back down. “Oh no you don’t. You got a major stomach ache there. You’re going to have to rest up and re-gain your strength.” Lightning groaned again, and then promptly passed out. 
An unknown amount of time later, Lightning woke back up. He thought to himself, “Dang, I keep on passing out lately. I need to work on that.” As everything came into focus, he could hear some pony crying. He looked around, and saw Sweetie Bell near the side of his bed, huddled in a small little mass. Lightning adjusted in the bed, and reached down to the little filly, and pets her head slightly. Sweetie Bell jumps at the contact. There was a little puddle of tears where her head was. All she could do was look up at Lightning, and sniffle. Lightning motioned for her to come closer. She slowly stepped closer, where Lightning then picked her up.
Lightning asked, “What’s wrong Sweetie Bell?”
She managed to get some words out between sniffling, and breathing, “I made you sick. The others said you are very sick. I am sorry.” 
Lightning smiled. “Did you intend to make me sick?”
“No. I wanted to make you a sandwich.” 
Lightning smiled. “Then you have no reason to cry. These things happen. The important part is to learn from them, and grow as a pony.” 
Sweetie Bell slowed her sniffling. “So, you are not mad?”
Lighting got out a little laugh before his stomach made a weird sound. “Of course not my little pony. What you did had no malice to me. I have no reason to be mad.” Lighting smiled, and then Sweetie Bell smiled. “Why don’t you go draw something? I’ve heard you like drawing.”
Sweetie Bell’s smile widened. “OK!” She jumped off the bed, and ran out of the room.
There was a few second pause, and then Rarity came into the room. Lightning initially did not notice her, as he had his eyes closed. But as Rarity got closer, Lightning heard her hoof clops, and opened his eyes to see her standing very close to him. “What you did for Sweetie Bell there was very nice.”
Lighting scoffed at this. “It’s the truth. I hold no malice toward the filly. She tried to do something nice for me, and it did not work out the way she wished. I do not blame her for this. That would be foolish.”
Rarity smiled. “She was so worried. You were asleep for hours. I tried to make her go away, and draw, but she just sat down at your bed side here, and just cried. A few times I think she got some water, but beyond that, she kept on crying.”
Lightning frowned. “That poor little filly. I hope I made her happier.” 
Rarity leaned in, and kissed Lighting on the cheek. This caused Lightning’s stomach to make a weird sound. “You are a wonderful colt.” She started walking away. “I’m surprised some mare hasn’t tried to snatch you up yet.” Rarity started walking to the door.
Lighting laughed a little. “Oh believe me, many have tried.” He laughed a little bit more.
Rarity was caught off guard by this comment. “Oh?”
Lightning laughed. “Auntie Celestia is always trying to hook me up with various ‘upper class’ ponies from canterlot. They are not fun.”
Rarity was not sure how to respond to this. She had always strove to be like the upper class in canterlot. “What don’t you like about them?”
“They don’t especially care about other ponies. They don’t have the heart, and generosity of Ponyville ponies, and ‘normal’ ponies. All they care about are their shoes, and such.” Lighting paused. “I am generalizing here, but it seems that way, at least the ones Celestia tries to set me up with.” Rarity smiled a little bit on the inside.  “And there have been some weird ones too.”
Rarity walked back from the door. “Any you care to share?” 
Lightning laughed, and started to tell a story. 
Lightning was at a fancy Italian restaurant. He was wearing a plain tux that his aunt picked out for him. The unicorn across from him was dressed very well, wearing a dark red dress, with black eyeliner, and dark red lip stick. They had just been seated.
Lightning asked, “So, Diamond Bell, I’ve been told…”
Lighting was interrupted by his date. “Please call me by my spirit name; Blood Spilled.”
Lightning cleared his throat. “Ok…Blood Spilled.” Lightning felt odd saying that. “I’ve been told you are rather gifted at marking art. What kind of art do you make?”
Diamond seemed very uninterested in the cold sitting with her. “I make mostly sculptures, but sometimes I make paintings.”
Lightning enjoyed art himself. “I would love to see them some time.”
Diamond continued to not especially care. “Well, the museums of canterlot refuse my art. They say it’s too graphic or too violent.”
Lightning swallowed hard, and looked down at his menu. The waiter came over after a few moments, and asked if they were ready to order. 
Lightning ordered spaghetti with mushroom sauce.
Diamond asked, “Do you serve anything with goat’s meat?”
The waiter was caught off guard by this question. “I am sorry miss, we do not.”
Diamond responded. “That’s ok. I shall just summon the dark lord of chaos, and have him grant me some meat.” Diamond then proceed to get up on the table, and chant, and start spraying some kind of liquid around the table. 
Rarity laughed at the story. “Oh, you poor colt. She sounds like a crazy one.” 
Lightning agreed. “Yeah, she was a slightly crazy one.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Slightly?”
Lightning laughed. “Yeah, she didn’t try to possess me, or some weird stuff like that.” 
Rarity left the room, and the rest of the day passed without issue. Rarity would regularly check in on Lightning to see how he was doing. Most of the time he was sleeping, but sometimes she would pop in, and see him reading a book, or pretending to be asleep. Rarity had a way of telling is ponies were asleep because of taking care of Sweetie Bell for so long.
Later in the day, there was a knock at the door. Rarity was not expecting any visitors, but decided to see who was at her door. She only saw white. A second more forceful knock at the door came. Rarity decided to open the door. On the other side was a rather cross looking Princess Celestia.  Rarity jumped back several feet at this realization. 
Princess Celestia entered Rarity’s house, and asked, “Where is that buffoon Prince Lightning?”

> Chapter 13
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 13
Princess Celestia continued to stand in the door way of Rarity’s house, looking none too pleased. Rarity stepped back from the door way a few steps. She had not correctly processed the words the princess said. 
Prince Lightning came out of the room, and looked at the princess, and quickly went back onto the room. The princess quickly jumped to door way, and opened the door, and used her magic to pull the prince out of the room.
“You are coming with me, my little pony.” The princess had captured Lightning in some kind of levitation ball, removing Lightings ability to interact with his surroundings. 
Princess Celestia started walking back toward the front door, when a sudden burst of light revealed the sudden appearance of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. Shining seemed indifferent to his sudden appearance, but Cadence seemed upset, and angered by what was going on. 
Cadence quickly got to yelling. “YOU CAN’T DO THIS PRINCESS!”
Celestia was not having any of this. “Out of my way child, there is a prophecy to have happen!”
“You can’t control love! It happens naturally, and you can’t force it!”
Celestia was continuing to not be amused. “I have a kingdom to protect. I can’t take this risk. Do you think Rarity has the ability to bring it out of him? I can’t risk that she can’t.”
Lighting spoke up, still in the bubble. “Can I say anything about this?”
Celestia examined the bubble that held the prince. “Oh, you’re still concessions?” Celestia then started hitting Lighting against the wall in an effort to knock him out.
Cadence spoke up. “STOP THAT! You’ll break him!” Cadence started trying to pull the bubble away from Celestia.
Rarity walked over to Shining Armor, who seemed unfazed by this. “What’s going on?”
Shining Armor sat on the floor unaffected by the madness going on around him. “There was a prophecy that Lightning is going to be the one to save the world, but only after he falls in love, then he will be able to unleash his ultimate power, and destroy the evil that haunts this content.”
Rarity was taken aback by Shining Armor’s general indifference by this. “So, what is Celestia trying to do?”
Shining Armor sighed a heavy sigh. “Well, my wife wants the love to happen naturally, and believes that if it is forced, it will not work correctly. Celestia believes that her love potion from some old book will work, and then she can send him out and then he will just find the evil, and destroy it.”
Rarity was shocked by this. “Oh, is that it?” The two princesses continued to fight. Lightning getting jostled in his energy bubble Celestia had him trapped in in the struggle between the princesses. “Really seems like a lame idea. Something some soothsayer came up with.”
Shining armor laughed. “Yeah. I don’t believe it, but that same sooth….pony also foresaw Luna’s decent, and a few other disasters, so Celestia now believes her nearly without question.”
Rarity nodded. “I understand.” Rarity walked forward closer to the princesses. “Can I say something?” Rarity was ignored by the two fighting, and Celestia ended up swinging the bubble with Lightning in it, and striking Rarity, causing her to be flung across the room, and knocking her out.
Rarity woke up with a massive headache. She reached up to her head, and felt a bandage wrapped around her head. Rarity groaned and slowly opened her eyes. “What happened?” Everything slowly came into view. She was in her main bed room, and Shining Armor was just entering the room. 
“Oh, you’re awake. That’s good. We were starting to get concerned that we would have to call the doctor again.” Shining was bringing in a little table with some food on it. He placed it near Rarity on the empty side of her bed.
Rarity sat up. “What happened? What happening to Lightning?”
“He’s resting peacefully down stairs. He was knocked out too, but he recovered before you did.”
Rarity sighed. “That poor pony. He keeps on losing consciousness, often at my expense.”
Shining laughed. “Yeah, he’s told me that. Something about a sandwich before…” Shining paused, thinking for a moment. “Oh well.”
Rarity laughed a bit. “Oh, poor Lightning. He is such a nice colt.” Rarity sat up in her bed, rubbing her head lightly. It still hurt a bit.
Shining laughed. “Oh yes. His general personality makes him popular with the mares.”
Rarity was caught slightly off guard by this. “I thought Celestia was always setting up dates for him?”
Shining laughed a little bit more. “Yeah, but between those dates, me and him would go out to the clubs, and we would try pick up mares. He was sometimes successful, but most of the time he stuck out.” Lighting laughed a hardy laugh, but then stopped. “But when I met Cadence, I stopped doing that. I’m not sure if Lighting stopped though. We haven’t really discussed it.” Shining paused briefly. “Oh well. Enjoy your breakfast.” 
Shining left the room. Rarity was distraught. She was not aware of Lightning’s clubbing activities. Rarity’s head started hurting more. Then, a brilliant idea came to her; she would use a magic potion to make sure that Lighting would stay in love with her! It was the perfect plan! Rarity carefully made her way over to her small book shelf. On there were several books. One of them; Magical Magic Potions. Rarity tried to pick it up with her magic, but this caused a headache. Picking it up in her mouth, Rarity carried it back to her bed, and started reading it. Paging through the book, and eating some of the eggs and toast, Rarity discovered the potion she was looking for. It was based on the potion used by Sweetie Bell and her friends for Big Mac and Cherilee, but not nearly as powerful, and did not require both parties to consume. Rarity laughed a slightly evil laugh. 
Later in the evening, Rarity had gone shopping, and started making the drink to cast over Lightning. Rarity’s head continued to hurt while making it, but she felt this was the way to go. It did not take long to make the potion. Rarity hid it the back of her refrigerator, and decided to give it to Lightning in the morning.
Rarity didn’t sleep too well that night; her headache and plans with the potion swam through her brain all night. Eventually, sleep took her though. 
The next morning Rarity woke up feeling much better, but still not back to her normal self. Rarity entered the kitchen with her mane and tail a mess from her rough sleep. In the kitchen was Lightning and Sweetie Bell. Lighting had removed the tea from the refrigerator, had consumed some of it already while reading from his tablet. This snapped Rarity wake. 
She galloped to the table. “Did you drink any of this?”
Lightning smiled. “Yes. In the refrigerator, it said ‘Lightning, drink this’. And it had several arrows written on paper pointing to it. I figured you had made some kind of new tea, and you wanted my opinion.” Lighting paused briefly for what he thought was dramatic effect. “I thought it was ok. Not amazing tea, but I am not much of a tea drinker.” Rarity appeared to be distraught at this. “Oh, don’t feel bad Rarity. Tea is just not my thing.” He got up and hugged Rarity.
“I have to go.” Rarity ran out the door. 
Sweetie Bell seemed confused by this. “What’s wrong with Rarity?”
Lighting returned to his tablet, and answered nonchalantly. “She things she gave me a love potion in the tea, and appears to have regretted the decision.”
Sweetie Bell was not expecting this. “Is it affecting you?” Sweetie Bell poked Lightning with her hoof.
“Not at all my dear.” He rubbed Sweetie Bell’s mane in a playful manner. “But I think I will play along for a while.”
Sweetie Bell laughed. “Well, don’t get too carried away. I don’t need a foal in my life at this point.” 
Lighting blushed lightly at that comment. “Well, I shall do what I can do behave myself my dear.” Sweetie Bell left the kitchen to get ready for school. After she had left the area, Lightning ran over to the sink, and grabbed a glass, and started drinking as much water as he could. After he drank the tea, he knew it was a love potion. Many enemy stats had tried to use it on him before, and he had grown able to resist it. But this one was surprisingly more powerful, and his feeling for Rarity would only make it worse. Lightning could only hope that he could resist it for long enough to have it make it out of his system. Hence the water. Lighting jumped as Rarity reentered the kitchen. Something felt warm inside of him.

> Chapter 14
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 14
Rarity walked worriedly down the street of Pony Ville with Lightning following close behind. Rarity had a saddle bag with a some-what large book in it. Lightning found his mind wandering.
‘What a lovely day. The sun is shining, the birds are not attacking me, and I am following such a lovely mare….wait Lighting. Don’t get caught up in her magic drink! You must fight it! She tried to poison us! US? I didn’t know there was more than one of me. Keep it together. KEEP IT TOGETHER!” Lightning could feel his mane getting more messed up as the pair walked down the street. “And what is wrong with Rarity? She is a lovely pony! She took care of us while we were injured, and she hasn’t kicked us out yet. She is so generous. There’s that us again.” Lightning shook his head.
Rarity stopped and waited for Lightning to catch up with her.  She walked alongside Lighting. “You ok there?”
Lightning jumped at the seemingly sudden appearance of Rarity next to him. “I think so dear…Rarity.” Lightning cleared his throat. “I’m just a little tired.”
Rarity nodded. “Don’t worry. I’m taking you to Twilight, and she will be able to help us with your issue.”
“What issue? We started walking before I told you about being tired.” Lightning stopped walking. Rarity stopped shortly after. “Was that tea poisoned?”
Rarity laughed a weak laugh. “Of course not dear. That would be silly. No, I’m referring to….your night terrors.”
Lightning frowned. “Oh darn. I thought I had those cured.” Rarity continued walking, and Lightning quickly followed behind. They walked a short distance, and Lighting found himself staring at Rarity’s flank. Lighting smiled a bit. She sure is a pretty pony. Lightning became memorized. After a few more moments, Lightning found the flank swaying more than before, and then it stopped, and turned around. Rarity had turned to face Lighting with a sad look on her face. “Why so glum my dear?” 
Rarity turned away a little. “I hope it’s nothing long term.”
Lightning gave his warmest smile possible, and walked up next to Rarity. “I have faith Rarity. But, where are we going?”
Rarity motioned to the tree they were at. “Here! I’m going to talk to my friend Twilight, and you are going to wait here.”
Lightning raised an eyebrow. “Why wait here?”
Rarity thought fast. “Well, um. I don’t think Twilight likes you very much. And I need to convince her to help us with your night eating problem.”
Lightning started to suspect something. “Sure Rarity.”
Rarity smiled, and walked into the library. Lightning sat down on the ground and observed his surroundings. Such a lovely day. Lighting’s stomach started turning. It felt like something was gnawing at him. Lighting looked around some more. There was a jewelry store across the way. Lightning started to get up, and slowly walk toward the store. It looked like he was stuck in peanut butter. Other ponies looked at this weird cold slowly walking toward this small jewelry store with a big smile on his face.
Meanwhile, internally Lightning was yelling at himself to stop. “ARGH! What are you doing!? You don’t want to marry Rarity! Sure, she is awesome, and generous, and such, but your mind has been tampered with. You can’t trust your opinions in this state of mind! STOP IT!”
Lightning continued to walk across the surprisingly wide street. After getting rather close to the store, Rarity appeared. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!....dear?”
Lightning continued to look at the store with a smile on his face. “Oh, I just thought I would pop in there and get you an engagement necklace.” Lightning gaze shifted down to Rarity, with a menacing gaze on his face. “What do you think of that?”
Rarity seemed torn between letting Lighting continue, and stopping him. After a few moments, Rarity responded. “There will be time for that later darling. Now I have to get you to Twilight’s lab.” 
Lightning smiled an evil smile, and whispered, “You may try.” Lighting then continued his slow walk. Rarity was having none of this, and started pushing Lighting backwards. It was an awkward sight. Many of the ponies walking by stopped and looked at Rarity pushing a colt away from the jewelry store toward the library with her head. 
Some pony in the crowd asked the question, “Why doesn’t she just use her magic?” Rarity heard this and did just that. 
In a few moments, Rarity carried Lightning down to Twilight’s basement. The room was filled with science things, and the like. There were test tubes, and papers, and books, and some weird sketches on the wall. 
Rarity presented Lighting. “We’re here!”
Twilight looked up from her book to see Lightning being levitated. “Why are you floating him there?”
Rarity sighed. “He was going to buy me an engagement necklace.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “And you stopped him?”
Rarity was caught off guard by this comment. “Of course. I want to make sure he is of right mind if he makes a choice like that.”
“Ok, put him on that table, and strap him down.” Twilight pointed to a table with straps on it designed to hold a pony down.
Lightning was amused by this. Rarity started tightening the straps. “Oh, kinky, eh Rarity?” Lightning raised an eyebrow at this, and Rarity blushed. “So, what are we doing?”
Twilight walked over, and stared attaching sensors to Lighting. “I’m going to study you and see if there is something we can do about your…” Twilight paused and sighed. “...night eating.”
Lightning nodded. “ok, but you are aware that I could just use my magic to escape, right?”
Twilight asked, “Why would you want to escape?”
Lightning smiled. “To be closer to Rarity.” Lightning smiled a bright smile to Rarity. 
Then Twilight pulled out a black ring, and placed it over Lighting’s horn. “There, no more magic for now.”
Lightning had a playful frown on his face. “Aww Twilight. You’re no fun!” Lightning pretended to pout.
Twilight walked over, and placed some electros on Lighting’s head, and stomach. She then used her magic to flip a switch, and some of her equipment sprung to life. Things started humming, and making all kinds of sounds. Electricity started…doing things that electricity did. Lightning looked around. Rarity and Twilight had communed at the far side of the room. They were discussing something. Even with Lightning’s spy training, he could not hear them as the hum of the various devices made that impossible at the distance he was at. 
Then, an idea occurred to Lightning; contact princess Celestia, and have her help him! It was such a good idea! Surely she would be able to help Lightning with the feelings he was having. Lighting looked around. There was nothing nearby in which to use to cut the straps holding him down, and the magic restrictor limited his magic a great deal. With no other options, Lightning started chewing on the leather straps that held down his torso. Thinking if he could get enough leverage, he could fling the ring off of his horn, and be home free.
With so much focus on the bighting of the leather strap, Lightning failed to notice that Rarity had walked back over to the table, and looked at him with a confused look. “What are you doing?”
Lightning tried his best smile. “If I said escape, would you be offended?”
Rarity replied with a flat “Yes.”
Lightning frowned briefly. He had to think of something fast. Nothing came to mind. “Then I was doing nothing.” He smiled a smile like a young colt who had gotten away with eating too much candy with candy still in hoof.
Rarity was not impressed. “Well, anyways, Twilight said that it will take some time to analyze your test results. So she recommends I duct tape you to the wall so you don’t get into any more trouble.” Lightning chuckled lightly until Rarity produced a small box full of rolls of duct tape. The laughing immediately stopped. “Can’t tell if I am kidding, can you?”
Lightning asked, “What kind of trouble could I get into?” He paused. “Also, I thought we were trying to deal with night terrors? Unless I fall asleep, I doubt I will be terrified.”
Rarity was caught off guard by this little bit of continuity, and the fact that he was right. Unless she told him about the tea, she would have no reason to tape him to the wall. Rarity thought about this. “Then I guess I had better let you go?”
Lightning smiled. “Sounds like a plan.” Rarity slowly started undoing the straps that kept Lightning down. She was still trying to come up with an idea to use the surprisingly large amount of tape she had gotten from Twilight. Why Twilight had so much tape, she did not question.  After a few moments, Lightning bolted from the table.
He smiled. “Shall we be off?”
Rarity smiled. Lightning walked up the stairs.
Twilight galloped over.” I thought you were going to duct tape him to the wall?”
“When he asked why, I couldn’t come up with a good reason.”
Twilight replied.  “Well, you had better chase after him. He may try proposing to you. And we don’t want that to happen.” Rarity started putting some sincere thought into that one. “If you say no, it could kill him. And, you don’t want to be married to a colt under a magic spell, do you? That could be bad.”
Rarity snapped out of her dream of a wedding, and quickly agreed, and ran after Lightning. It seemed he already left the library. 
	
> Chapter 15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 15

Rarity bursts out of the library, looking around to see what possible directions he could have gone. Worried that Lightning will get in some kind of lust filled problems, Rarity starts to have a minor panic attack. If she says yes to a marriage proposal from Lightning, he will forever be under her spell. But if she says no, he will fall into a depression deeper than any pony has since known.
Rarity knows this because the plot says so, and at one point in the past, she had read the book of potions, and remembered this being a rather odd situation for that spell. After a few moments, Rarity sees Lightning approaching her with a box. Rarity briefly panics, but then realizes that it is not a box with a proposal necklace. 
Lighting smiles as he levitates a box to Rarity. “Here, I bought you some chocolate.” He smiles a bright loving smile.
Rarity softly says, “Yes.” She continued to look into Lightning’s eyes.
Lightning’s eyes look back and forth. “Yes, it is chocolate.” This quickly snaps Rarity out of her stupor. 
“Oh yes, quite.” Rarity laughs a bit. “Let’s go have a sit.” She points to a nearby park bench. The two walk over and have a sit. Lightning hovers the chocolate to Rarity. But she does not open it. “Lightning, can I ask you a question?”
Lightning looks off into the distance, looking as epic as he can with a video rental store across the way. “If it is what your heart, you can ask anything.” A small gust of wind blew onto Lightning at that very moment. It was rather epic. 
Rarity ignored his odd answer, and the sudden burst of dramatic wind, and decided to ask anyways. “What do you look for in mare?”
Lightning seemed to be thinking deeply about this. “You!” He laughed, and Rarity punched him with her hoof playfully.
“I’m serious.” 
“Well, I would look for a cute one, and one that is nice, and generous, and cares for others. Doesn’t always only think about what they want, but what other needs and want as well.” Lightning turned to look at Rarity, and smiled. Rarity returned the smile. 
Rarity felt she was getting sucked into the moment. She could not let herself get sucked into this. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
Lightning answered in the most dead pan way possible. “Dead.”
Rarity was caught off guard by this. “What makes you say that?”
Lightning stood up and walked a few steps into the road, slightly affecting the flow of traffic. He took a dramatic pose looking off into the distance, or just up the street. “The same legend that foretold I would destroy a great evil that would destroy Equestria, also said I would die in said skirmish.” Lightning stopped posing dramatically, and walked back to the bench.
Rarity looked sad. “Oh.” She looked down at the chocolates Lightning had bought for her.
Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared. “Well, that was a nice exposition dump!” Rarity and Lightning jumped. “Now let’s go do something else!” 
Rarity, still recovering from her sudden appearance asked, “Pinkie Pie, where did you come from?”
Pinkie laughed. “Oh Rarity. You know I can’t answer that question. Your knowledge of quantum mechanics is not NEARLY strong enough.” Rarity was only somewhat aware of what quantum mechanics was. She wondered if it was related to quantum conundrum. Rarity’s thinking was interrupted by Pinkie Pie talking.
“HEY! Let’s go see a movie!”
Rarity was jolted out of her thinking process. “Oh. That sounds like a good idea.” Surely Lightning wouldn’t start proposing to her if he was watching a movie. “What’s playing?”
Pinkie Pie whispered in a hushed tone. “Exploder.”
A short time later (somehow using that quantum mechanics thing Pinkie Pie mentioned earlier) the three found themselves watching a movie in a theater. 
There were two ponies on the screen. One had sun glasses on, and was yelling to the other one “TIM! They have your wife!”
The other one responded, “But I’m not married!”
The sunglasses one responded, “You are now…” He took the glasses off. “… To Equestria.”
Rarity looked over to see Lightning rather getting into the movie. Pinkie Pie had decided to sit between them, much to the chagrin to Lightning, but once things started exploding on screen, he seemed to notice little. Rarity knew she just had to buy some time until Twilight was done analyzing the scans of Lightning to see how to fix him back to normal. 
After everything seemed to have exploded in the movie (and some things that should not have exploded), the three walked out of the theater. 
Lightning breathed heavily. “That’s a good movie. I rather liked the parts where things exploded.”
Rarity looked confused at Lightning. “What part was that?”
Pinkie Pie interrupted. “There was a fifteen minute part at the start of the movie where nothing exploded. What a bore.” Lightning agreed. Rarity felt out of the loop. 
The three left the theater. It was early afternoon. The sun was still out, and many ponies were walking round doing their business, and interacting. Rarity started becoming concerned about how to continue distracting Lightning. There was not enough activity going on that they could start chatting about it. Then, Rarity started feeling some pony start nuzzling her a little bit. It was Lightning. 
Lightning asked, “So, what did you think of the movie?”
Rarity was at a loss. “Well...” She thought about it briefly before saying, “I didn’t much care for it. I’m not as much into those action movies. I prefer a few less explosions, and something with a bit more class.” Rarity smiled. 
Lightning also smiled. “I get it. I think those movies are okay as well, but sometimes you just want to see something go BOOM! It gets the adrenaline going.” At the boom, which he yelled, Rarity jumped a little.
A voice from part way across the theater yelled, “Hey Lightning!” It was Shining Armor and Cadence.  The pair started walking toward the group of three. “It’s been a while since we saw each other! How have you been?”
Rarity smiled an obviously fake smile. “Oh, you know. Hanging out, and such. Doing pony thing?” Rarity laughed a weak laugh.
Cadence raised an eye brow at the obviously nervous Rarity. “Something bothering you there Rarity?”
Rarity looked around suspiciously. “I’m going to say…no”
Cadence turned to Shining. “Hey, Shine, why don’t you take Pinkie Pie and Lightning and see what coming attractions are coming.”
Shining responded, “But I know what movies are coming! You know what I read in the paper.” Cadence gave Shining a look of ‘come on’. He nodded. “Hey Lightning, let’s go see what movies are coming out soon.” Shining put an arm around Lightning.
“But I read the paper, so I know what is coming out!” That did not stop Shining from pulling Lightning along. 
Cadence approached Rarity with a serious look on her face. “You did something, didn’t you?” Rarity felt like she was being integrated. “Did you poison him, and he only has a few days left to life?”
Rarity was barely able to get out “What? No! He should keep on living.”
Pinkie Pie approached. “Rarity, not in the correct state of mind, accidently gave Lightning a love potion that has made him care deeply for her. And now Rarity wants to avoid marrying him, and rejecting him causing him to fall into a deep depression.” Pinkie Pie smiled a Pinkie Pie smile, and then hopped around. 
Cadence, who had turned to look at Pinkie Pie while she was talking, now slowly turned back to Rarity with the most menacing ‘I am disappointed in you’ look her pink face could express. “Is that true?”
Rarity, who is shorter than Cadence, was now beneath her stare. Rarity mumbled, “Yes.”
Cadence lightly activated her horn, and looked at Lightning, and then back to Rarity. “I detect no magic or potion affecting him. He seems normal.”
Rarity cheered up. “Really? So his feelings were genuine for me?” Rarity seemed to have so much hope.
Cadence smiled. “Yes.  I detect he may have had a stomach ache from something. But that could have been a bad sandwich.”
Rarity, who had fallen to the floor during this interrogation, stood up and smiled, and walked over to Shining and Lightning and lightly nuzzled with Lightning. “Something wrong Rarity?” Lightning asked. 
Rarity smiled. “Nope. Nothing at all.”
Lightning resumed looked at the poster he was looking at. “Good. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t love poisoned.”
Rarity was caught off guard by this. “What?”
Lightning laughed. “Yeah. I figured it out before. I thought I wasn’t poisoned, but I wanted to make sure. When we came out of Exploder, I didn’t have an unstoppable urge to get it on with you, so I figured I was good to go.”
Shining Armor was standing on the other side of Lighting, and leaned forward to make eye contact with Rarity. “Yeah, the Royals already have a high mating drive.” Shining adjusts his back two legs. “And with a love potion, a movie would stop a Royal from turning it into a make out session.”
Cadence walked over. “It’s true. It can get crazy some times.”
Pinkie Pie hopped over. “This seems like a good place to end this part.”
Rarity raised an eye brow. “What do you mean, end?”

> Chapter 16
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 16;
Rarity was indeed generous. So generous that she insisted that Lightning say with her for making up for almost poisoning him.  Lightning tried to reject, but then Cadence ordered that he stay with her. Lightning protested, saying that she was royalty just like him, and could not order him to do such things. Cadence pointed out that she was married, and thus higher up the chain of royalty than him. Lightning was not sure about this, but decided that being thrown into the stockade for not spending time with Rarity would look stupid on his resume.
Later on…..Back at Rarity’s house.
Prince Lightning was sitting at the main kitchen table reading off of his tablet, when he heard a loud gargling sound. The sound confused the prince, but after a few moments, went back to the internet. A few seconds later, the sound came back. Lightning became more confused at this weird sound. Then it came again, but this time, was louder, and closer. The prince started to become concerned about this odd sound.
A fourth sound emitted from right behind him. This caused Lightning to fly into full ‘ninja’ mode, and jumped up to the rafters, and examine the form below him. It was Rarity, wrapped up in a blanket, looking rather sick. Rarity looked up to see the prince on the celling. 
Rarity asked in a raspy voice, “What are you doing up there?” She coughed lightly.
Lightning let go of the celling, and fell to the floor with a light thud, but then stood back up. “You’re sick!”
Rarity tried to smile. “Yeah, it’s hard to be beautiful when you can’t breathe through your nose.”
Lightning stood closer, and used his hoof to raise Rarity’s face, so he could look into her eyes. “You will always be a beautiful mare.” There was a slight pause, and Rarity sneezed into Lightning’s face. Rarity wore a sheepish smile while Lightning got a Kleenex from the table nearby to wipe his face down. “I stand by my comment.”
Rarity walked over to the refrigerator. “Here, let me make you breakfast.” She coughed. 
Lightning walked up besides Rarity ,and pushed her aside. “No. You are sick, you need your rest.”
“But I am the element of generosity! I need to be GENEROUS and make you breakfast!”
Lightning did his best ‘the stare’ and imposed his will upon Rarity. “No. You are going to march up to bed, and you are going to lay there until you feel better, and I will be GENEROUS to you, and YOU will feel better. Understood.?”
Rarity had never saw this side of the prince before, and she rather liked it. After two seconds of his glare, Rarity blushed and quietly said, “ok.” And then started to make her way back to her bed. 
When Rarity left the room, Lightning opened the refrigerator, and saw they had plenty of orange juice. He poured himself a tall glass, and then poured Rarity a tall glass, and started making her some leek soup. While the microwave was humming, a thought entered the prince’s mind; was rarity blushing before she went back upstairs? Was it because she was sick, or was it because he was being so strong, and commanding. Then another thought entered his mind; as Phillip Colt-Franco used to say, Mares be crazy.
The soup finished, and Lightning placed the orange juice, and soup on a try, picked it up, and started taking it to Rarity. He knocked at the door, and let himself in. Rarity was not in her bed. Lighting put down the tray, and started searching for her. The first place to look was her studio. 
Rarity was there, with her blanket over her head, slowly moving around the room, slowly hovering things around. Lightning slowly approached Rarity from behind, being careful not to make a sound. He then stood on the edge of her blanket. Rarity went to move away, but the blanket did not move. Rarity pulled, but it did not budge. It took a surprisingly long time for her to figure out she was not moving. Rarity turned around to see what she was stuck on. 
When she realized that it was Lightning, she smiled a sheepish smile. “I just wanted to get a little work done.”
Lightning was having none of this. He used his magic, bundled Rarity up with her blanket, and levitated her to her room, where she was placed under the covers, and tucked in tightly. Lightning leaned in close to Rarity’s face. “If I catch you out of bed for anything besides a fire, or going to the bathroom, I’m going to have to do something very serious.” Lightning gloomed at Rarity. 
Rarity stuck her tongue out, and snuggled under the covers. Lightning smiled. He then levitated the tray of soup and OJ to Rarity. “I made you some soup and found some OJ.” Rarity moved the covers away from her face. Over the next 10 minutes, Lightning fed Rarity the soup. When they were finished, Lightning levitated the OJ to Rarity who took it in her hooves, but looked at it for a few seconds.
Rarity asked, “Now, you didn’t spike this or anything, did you?”
Lightning laughed. “No, no I did not Rarity.” He paused, and Rarity started drinking the drink. “Twilight did.” Rarity stopped drinking, and had a look of concern on her face. “No, I’m just messing with you again. Twilight did not put anything in your drink.” Again he paused, and Rarity continued drinking. “Pinkie Pie did.” Rarity finished drinking the orange juice, and looked into the glass.
Rarity asked, “Really?”
Lightning leaned in, and whispered in Rarity’s ear, “You’ll know when it kicks in.” He then backed away, and took the tray, bowl, and cup away to the kitchen for him to clean. Rarity sat in her bed, not sure what to think of what Lightning whispered in her ear. Rarity snuck back completely beneath her blanket, and started to think about how her mind may be changing. Was it a love potion? Revenge for what she did to him? Or was it a sex drug? Was she going to suddenly want to mount him? Rarity paused. She did not feel a sudden urge to do so, so she put that in the ‘to investigate later’.  Maybe it was going to corrupt her, in some other fashion, like make her a deviant. Rarity sneezed. 
Rarity heard the door open, and heard Lightning ask, “Where do you keep your cold medicine?”
Rarity took her head from under the covers. “I only have filly and colt medicine. I don’t usually get sick.” Rarity could hear Lightning walking closer, and he suddenly came into her vision. “I’ll go get some from the store. That’ll help you sleep so you can feel better. I’ll be back later. Try to get some rest.” Lighting left her vision, and Rarity heard the door close. Rarity felt like she was so lucky to know the prince. For one, he was a prince, and two, he was such a nice colt. Rarity smiled, and giggled to herself a bit.
MEANWHILE!.....
Lightning walked down the street. He knew he saw a pharmacy somewhere nearby. Wondering down the street, seeing all of the happy couples, Lightning thought about his future, and some day settling down, stop being a secret agent, and taking up that teaching position at the University, and having a family. Then he ran into a wall, and noticed he arrived at the pharmacy. Lightning smiled, and went inside
He wondered around for some time, looking at the various medicines. Eventually, he found the cold section, and was flabbergasted by the various colors, types, and other things. Lightning stood at the front of the isle for about two minutes. During that time, a mother and foal walked past him, with the mother telling the foal not to star at the broken colt. That snapped Lightning out of his stupor, and started examining the various colored boxes. 
Lightning quickly became awash with various symptoms. Lightning decided to call Rarity using his horn. Lighting closed his eyes, and focused, and started connecting. The call ran a few times, and Rarity did not pick up. Lightning thought this was weird, but decided to use his expert spy training, and see get the best one he could. 
Lightning continued to examine the various colors and boxes, when Cadence and Shining arrived.
Shining said, “Hey there Lightning!”
Lightning slowly turned his head to face the couple, with the scariest look on his face. “Hello there, you two.” He head then slowly turned back to the medicine in front of him. 
Shining and Cadence were thrown off his odd facial expression. Shining asked, “What cha doing?”
Lightning spoke in a regular tone, “Rarity is sick, and I’m trying to find some medicine to help her feel better.”
Cadence walked forward, to examine what Lightning was looking at. “Oh, that’s too bad. I hope she feels better.” 
Lightning was on to Cadence. “I bet you made her sick, so I would have more of a reason for me to stay. Didn’t you?”
Cadence put on her best ‘wha? Me?’ look, and placed a hoof over her heart in shock. “What? No! I’m the princess of love! That is not how I do things!” She paused. Lightning seemed to accept it. “It was Celestia.” 
Lightning slammed the boxes he was holding down on the shelf. “I KNEW IT!”
Cadence responded, “No you didn’t, you thought it was me!”
Lightning laughed. “Oh Cadence. That was just to throw you off.”
Cadence responded, “No it wasn’t.”
Shining stepped in, “So, need some help picking out some medicine Lightning?”
Lightning excitedly said, “I sure do!”
After a discussion, of what Rarity might have, and what is the best kind of medicine to take, Lightning went back to Rarity’s house. Lightning burst through the door, and was about to announce his presence, but decided against it.  He listened carefully, but heard nothing.
Lightning quietly closed the door, and walked up stairs to see how Rarity was doing. Under so many covers, she was snuggly in her bed. Lightning could hear her breathing through her nose with limited success. Lightning approached the bed, and put the back side of his hoof on Rarity’s forehead, and felt that it was very hot. 
This touch, and the fact that by comparison, Lightning was very cold, stirred Rarity from her sleep. She slowly blinked her eyes open, and looked at Lightning with a small smile. It seemed like she was very tired. Lightning pulled the bag of medicine close. “I got you some medicine from the store. I wasn’t sure what you exactly had. So with the help of Shining and Cadence, I think we found some good things.”  Rarity adjusted her position. “We have Nye-Pony-Que. Some…” Lightning searched through the bag. “Robi-Pony-ssin. And some general vitamins!”
Rarity smiled. “Why do all of our medicines have the word pony in them?”
Lightning responded, “Because horse wasn’t as cute or funny.”
Rarity was confused by this. “Hu?”
Lightning shook his head. “Never mind. So, would you like to take some Nye-Pony-Que? I also have some Vicks Vapor rub!”
Rarity smiled. “Let’s go with some medicine, and some vapor rub.” Rarity sat up farther in bed, now completely straight up. 
Lighting opened the box for Nye-Pony-Que, and briefly read the instructions. He placed some medicine in the little plastic cup, and carefully handed it to rarity, who drank it down and handed the cup back. Lightning examined the instructions to the vapor rub. Lightning’s ears perked up, and looked at Rarity. 
Rarity had the most innocent look on her face that she could muster. “What is it my prince Lightning?” She tried to sound both innocent and sexy at the same time, but it kind of came out weird with her cold. 
Lightning’s ears dropped. “Nothing.” He opened the canister, and dipped his hoof in. Because it was not solid enough, magic could not support it. Lightning had pulled a simple chair from the corner using magic, and sat down on it close to Rarity. Rarity tried to come off as innocent in sexy, looking down with her face, but up with her eyes, but the gurgling from her nose did not help. Lightning started applying the rub to Rarity’s chest.  “Lift your heard up please.” Rarity did so. Lighting took some more rub on his hoof, and applied some more. When satisfied that he had applied enough, he put the cap back on, and placed the canister on the end table nearby.
He then walked out the door, and to the bath room to wash what rub was left on his hoof. Rarity breathed deeply. She could feel herself breathing better already. Or it could have been the touch from the price. Rarity was not sure.
Lightning came back with his tablet, and two large glasses of Orange Juice. Rarity continued sitting up in bed. “I have brought you some OJ, and my tablet, for if you get bored. I have loaded some books, and movies on it. I have the Daring Do and the Troublesome Spirit load on it.”
Rarity smiled. “Thank you prince.” Lightning walked over and placed the cups and tablet on the end table. Rarity leaned over, and gave Lightning a quick kiss on the cheek. 
Lightning raised an eye brow at this. “Why are you being so affectionate and calling me ‘prince’ lately?”
Rarity smiled. “I don’t know. I just feel like it.”
Lightning looked at Rarity, and shook his head. “You crazy Mare. Now, get some rest, and feel better.” Lighting left the room, and left Rarity to it.
Lightning had retired to the living room where he was reading a physical book; “How to tell if your Mare friend is trying to kill you.” It was a book written by a good friend of his. He had been meaning to read it, but had been too busy to read it. But, all of a sudden it felt like a good time to read it.
Part way through the book, about two hours later, Lightning was brought out of his reading by a loud thud from Rarity’s room. “Oh, this can’t be good.” Thought Lightning, as he put his book down, and got up to see what was going on.

> Chapter 17
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 17
Lightning rushed up stairs to Rarity’s room. He flung the door open. Rarity had the blanket over her back, and was searching through a box. She found some sunglasses, and put them on.
Lightning asked, “Rarity, what’s going on? I heard a thud!”
Rarity responded. “I have to go get Sweetie Belle! I walk her home from school.” Rarity coughed.
Lightning placed a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. “I’ll go get her. You get back into bed, and feel better.” Lightning looked at the night stand where the OJ still was. “And drink some OJ. It’s supposed to be good for your immune system” 
Rarity’s eyes lit up and she grew a large smile. “You would do that for me?”
Lightning was confused. “I know where the school is. It’s not that far away. It’s not a very big deal.” Lightning starts to walk out of the room.
Rarity runs over to him as fast as her blanket back can. “But it is!”
Lightning starts showing concern about this. “Um…ok. Now, back to bed with you!” Lightning points back to Rarity’s bed, which she promptly gets in. Lightning pulls the covers over Rarity. 
“What did I ever do to deserve you?”
Lightning responded, “Only time will tell.” And with that, Lightning left the room. Lightning started wondering why it was such a big deal to go walk Sweetie Belle from school. Lightning left the house, and journeyed to the school. 
It was a sunny day. Ponies were wondering around the streets, doing things that they normally do; shopping, chatting. Lyra was playing her instrument with some song about humans. A concept Lightning was all too familiar with, but that is a story for another day…
In a matter minutes, Lightning had arrived. There were few students left, and a few parents milling about discussing things. Lightning had to harness all of his ninja abilities to find Sweetie Belle. Jumping between shadows, and trees, he garnered a number of raised eye brows, and confused discussions. In a matter of moments though, he found Sweetie Belle talking with Cherilee.
Lightning approached from out of the shadows, somehow, and promptly scared Cherilee.
Cherilee jumped. “Oh! Hello there.”
Lightning responded. “Hello. I am here to walk Sweetie Belle home.”
Cherilee raised an eye brow. “Oh? And who are you? Her uncle?”
Lightning laughed. “No, I’m just a friend of the family.” He looked to Sweetie Belle. “You ready?”
Sweetie Belle smiled. “I sure am Lightning!”
Cherilee laughed a little too. “Lightning? Named like the prince, eh?”
Sweetie Belle chimed in. “No, he is the prince!” Sweetie Belle said this rather loud, but by this point, only a few parents were left, and paid no heed to what the little foal said.
On the other hand, Cherilee did pay heed. “Oh? The real prince?”
Lightning sighed. “I am.” He cleared his throat. Lighting bellowed, “Through the ages, through all of time, Lighting strikes fear into those who seek evil in their hearts!”
Cherilee was impressed. “Oh, how dashing! Would you like to come and speak at family appreciation day? I know you are not related to any of my students, but I bet they would get a kick out of seeing royalty. I’m sure we could make some room.” Sweetie Belle started to grow suspicious. Lightning did not notice.
Lightning seemed unsure. “Sure, I guess. When would be a good time?”
Cherilee responded, “I’ll let you know. I’ll give a note to Sweetie Belle.”
Lighting smiled a weak smile. “Ok, I’ll look forward to it. Come along Sweetie Belle.”
Cherilee said, “I’ll look forward to it too.” Cherilee smiled an odd smile, and went back into the school house. Lighting and Sweetie Belle started on their way back to Rarity’s house.
Sweetie Belle looked up to Lightning. “You know she was trying to hit on you, right?”
Lightning apparently did not catch that. “What? No she wasn’t.”
Sweetie Belle replied in a know-it-all style, “Me and the other crusaders tried to fix her up with Big Macintosh.” Her mood dropped. “It did not work out too well.” She resumed a normal demeanor. “But, we think that it made her think, and we’ve seen her on some dates around town, and so we think she is… on the prowl.”
Lightning raised an eyebrow. “What crazy things a little foal like you comes up with.” He laughed it off. “So, what did you learn in school today?”
Sweetie Belle responded with glee, “Today we learned more about history of Equestria. Like the Diamond age.” Lighting stopped, and seemed distracted. “What’s wrong?”
Lightning didn’t reply, but just looked off into the distance, but then came back to reality a few moments later. “Nothing. What did you learn about the diamond age?”
“It was a dark time for Equestria. Luna was just exiled, and there was some unrest.”
Lightning laughed. “Some. Yeah, it was turbulent.”
Sweetie Belle was confused. “Hu?”
Lighting waved it off. “Never mind.” The pair walked along, with Lightning continuing to listen. Eventually, they arrived at Ponyville proper. They walked past Lyra, singing her song.
Sweetie Belle commended. “Oh, there’s Lyra. I bet he’s talking about those humans she things exist.” 
Lightning raised an eye brow. “People give her guff for believing in humans?”
Sweetie Belle replied, “Not really guff, I think. More just mock her behind her back.”
Lightning’s ears dropped. “Oh. Excuse me for a moment.” Lightning walked over to Lyra, away from Sweetie Belle, and talked to Lyra. They talked for a few moments, and then Lyra became excited, and started doing her patented jumping up and down thing, and then hugged Lightning. Lightning walked back to Sweetie Belle. “Ready to continue?”
Sweetie Belle asked, “What did you say to her?”
Lightning smiled. “I just validated her beliefs.” He continued to walk. Sweetie Belle had a confused look on her face, but quickly followed after him.
Shortly thereafter, they arrived back home. Lightning leaned down and whispered to Sweetie Belle; “Now, your sister is rather sick. We should try to be quiet, and let her sleep. Ok?” Sweetie Belle nodded. “Now, why don’t you go up to your room and start on your homework, or whatever you do after school.” Sweetie Belle tip hoofed up to her room. Lightning heard a knock at the door. He looked through the peep hole, and saw it was Derpy. He opened the door.
Derpy held out a package. “I brought Rarity a package.”
Lightning whispered, “Thank you.”
Derpy replied also in whisper, “Why are you whispering?”
“Rarity is sick, I’m hoping that if me and Sweetie Belle are quiet, she’ll sleep more and get better.”
Derpy smiled, “Aww, you’re so thoughtful.” Derpy leaned into the house and yelled, “I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER RARITY!” She then smiled and left.
Lightning frowned. His ear was now ringing. He examined the package. “Sexy Maid outfit; mare fit.” Lightning’s ears dropped. He didn’t think Rarity’s house was a mess, nor did he think she would need a maid. Maybe he could help out more around the house, then she wouldn’t……..Then Lightning figured it out, and his ears now actively pushed against the side of his head.
He decided to confront Rarity about this. He slowly opened the door, and peeked inside. Rarity was drinking orange juice in her bed. The only part visible was her hoof, and part of her face. Lightning walked over with the package, and set it on the ground.
Rarity jumped after reading what it said. “Now, Sweetie Belle, don’t read too much into this. We are not getting a maid. And second of all….” Rarity pulled herself out of the covers, and then discovered it was Lightning who had moved the package. “Oh…Prince…Um…” Rarity paused for a brief moment. “What can I do for you?”
Lightning decided to play dumb. “A costume for Nightmare Night? A little early to prepare for that one, eh?”
Rarity fidgeted in the bed. “Well…Um…”
Lightning knew he had her where he wanted her. “When you feel better, you’ll have to try it on. Make sure it fits before the holiday.”
Rarity froze. Lightning picked the box back up, and carried it out of the room, and closed the door behind him. Lightning was tempted to open the door back up, but decided to let her recover from that, and get some rest.
The rest of the day passed without much fanfare. Sweetie Belle asked for help with her math homework. Lightning was able to help a little, but they both took a trip over to Twilight, who was able to help the rest of the way. Twilight’s eye twitched a lot while helping when she looked at Lightning. He thought it was weird.
After helping Sweetie Belle, Lightning asked, “Are you ok Twilight?”
Twilight looked to Lightning. Her eye continued to twitch. “I’m just fine. How are you?”
“I’m doing acceptable. But your eye is twitching like crazy.”
Twilight closed the twitching eye, and placed a hoof over it. “Just too much studying, I guess. Sometimes you just look at a book too long, and you eye starts going crazy.”
Lightning laughed. “Yeah, I’ve been there.” Twilight’s eye started twitching more. “You may want to get that looked at.” Twilight nodded. “Come along Sweetie Belle, let’s go home.” 
The two left the library. Shortly after closing the door, Lightning heard a muffled ‘argh’. He decided not to investigate, as Twilight was powerful, and you did not want to get caught on her bad side. He once heard she turned a frog into an orange. It was a rumor, but lots of ponies said they saw it happen, or so they said.
The trip back to the house passed without incident. It sure was a sunny and beautiful day. Lightning thought nothing could ruin this day. He smiled at this thought. And then frowned at thinking it, knowing that it would most likely suddenly turn to fail. And Lightning did not like fail.