> The Legend of Lightning Ace 2 : Rise of Storms
>  by LightningAce7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Legend of Lightning Ace 2



Rise of Darkness



By LightningAce7



Prologue


It had been three years since Lightning Ace, a blue pegasus with a dark brown mane and tail got his cutiemark, four since he moved to Ponyville, and over a decade since leaving his place of birth, Cloudsdale. When his journey began, he was little more than a little colt, foolhardy and hot blooded. He often found himself in fights with any, if not all the bullies. He would often return home with his dark brown mane and tail roughed up and his blue coat matted and scoffed. It was all to protect his friend, Derpy Hooves, a grey pegasus with a blonde mane and tail and bubbles for a cutiemark. She was often picked on for her strange eye condition, and was a favorite target for Lightning's rival, Cloud Breaker.

Cloud Breaker was a brutish pegasus that ruled the school with an iron hoof, beating up anypony smaller than himself and anyone that erked him in any way. Lightning was often all that stood between him and Derpy, and he hated his guts for it. One fateful day Cloud went too far, and foalnapped Derpy to draw Lightning out.

The next day Lightning's father returned home from his latest expedition to check on his family. After his father, Thunder Ace invited Lightning and his friend Derpy and his new friend Rainbow Dash to come along. Lightning then told him of his getting into flight camp, which he was proud of. Once all that was out of the way the group then set out on their journey. Along the way they faced many dangers on their way to the ruins. They even managed to fend off an alpha timber wolf. They eventually made it into Ghastly Gorge where the ruin itself awaited them.

Upon entering they were shocked to learn of the Thunderstorm Tribe of pegasi. They were an ancient civilization that was around during the times before the rule of the princesses Celestia and Luna. They eventually then learned of what happened to them. They were wiped out by the pegasus empire Pegasopholos led by the Commander Hurricane. While they were contimplating all this, Lightning triggered an ancient passageway that led to what was referred to as the "Warrior's Proving Grounds". After avoiding several death traps the group made it to what they thought to be a resting chamber. They were wrong. Some mechanisms activated that resulted in the foals getting separated from Lightning's father. Then the Alpha Timber Wolf returned and entered the fight as Thunder got overwhelmed by the undead and the wolf itself. The foals escaped, with Lightning's father presumably gone.

After they made their way out of the Everfree they had a moment of silence before returning home. From there Lightning and Rainbow Dash went to Flight Camp, where after another encounter with Cloud Breaker Lightning met Flash Firestorm, a navy blue pegasus with a flame colored mane and tail. His wings also featured flame coloring at the tips. After a few more events Lightning winded up with a broken wing stranded on the ground with Flash.

It was then that they met Applejack, who helped Flash carry Lightning to Manehattan, where she lived. After a month of living with her they then witnessed what appeared to be a Sonic Rainboom from over the horizon. It had given Applejack a sense of urgency to return to her hometown, Ponyville, to see her family again. They then traveled over the Foal Mountains, where Flash displayed an interesting power after they were attacked by a mysterious assassin. They found an unusual iron buckle from her sword's sheath's strap, and took it with them on a detour to Canterlot, where they met a devout student named Twilight Sparkle. After being redirected to the librarian of the Ponyville Library, the group boarded a train with a special book and an escort guard. The book was a copy of "Mare in the Moon". It was on the train that the guard told Lightning and friends that the buckle belonged to a secret society called the "Sons of Pegasopholos". Shortly after the train was attacked by members of the cult, wielding steel and cutting down anypony in their way. When they reached Lightning's car it was revealed that Cloud Breaker was with them, and had come along to kill Lightning and his friends out of sheer hatred.

After Lightning and his friends successfully repel the attack and with the help of the guard get almost everypony out of harms way, they detach the rear of the train where more of the fiends are coming from. The guard gets separated from the group and they make it to Ponyville. As they got off the train Applejack could no longer contain her joy, and gave Lightning a huge hug for helping her get there. She then dragged him off to show him around as Rainbow Dash and Flash are left to find themselves a home. They then found and eventually managed to repair a derelect cloud house on the edge of town.

Meanwhile elsewhere love was starting to spark between Lightning and Applejack, leading to many awkward and embarrassing moments. Such as the school play, in which the final scene had them kissing on stage. Several years passed after that, and as affections between them grew, he eventually noticed his blank flank once more. One dark morning, he decided that it was time to get his mark. He searched for a while until an unusually energenic storm was spotted over Sweet Apple Acres. He entered the storm and soon found himself struck several times by the strange, magical lightning. It did not kill him however, and instead left him with puzzling markings. He now had a mark, though his mane and tail now also sported similar lightning bolt marks.

Three years later he still has no answers to how he got his mark. And so he decided to go on an expidition of his own. He returned to the ruins in Ghastly Gorge to hopefully solve the mystery of his father's death, and maybe learn of other mysteries. All the while the Summer Sun Celebration draws closer.
> Thunder and Lightning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was a dreary morning as Lightning trod through the open plains that streched from Ponyville to the Everfree Forest. He wanted to fly, but did not want to draw attention to himself. He knew his friends would follow if they saw him, and so he kept a low profile. It was a long and rather boring trek, but eventually he made it to the edge of the Everfree. He took a moment to check on his gear. At his side was a sheath, and in it was his father's dagger, an unordinate plain dagger that was well crafted and well maintained. On his other side was his saddlebag, which contained several provisions for his trip.

As he was now out of sight of town, Lightning decided to fly the rest of the way. He stretched out his wings and moved his primaries. After finishing his check he took off, flying low and fast towards Ghastly Gorge. It wasn't long before he reached it, and it only took a moment to reach the all too familiar ruins themselves. He descsended down into the ruins and landed before the entrance itself. He drew his dagger as he carefully and slowly entered the dusty old ruins, teeth clenched on the handle of his blade. His eye's were on the skeletal remains at all times as he passed by them, as he recalled them attacking him and his friends many years ago. The ruins had grown dark once more though. The dark purple lighting between the ordinate stonework long faded.

As Lightning ventured deeper, he began to feel as though he were being watched. His breathing grew heavy as he looked around him, only to see more dust and bones. He was about to resume going further until he heard hoofsteps. He spun around and was swinging the dagger until it met steel. The steel blade belonging to his friend Flash Firestorm.

"Woa! Lightning it's me!" said Flash Firestorm, a navy blue pegasus with flame colored mane and tail. "Did you really think you could just leave like the way you did and nopony at all would get curious? Come on Lightning I know you too well."

Lightning was surprised to say the least, as he wasn't expecting anypony at all to be here. After a brief moment of awkwardness, he and Flash reshethed their weapons. "Y...you shouldn't sneak up on p...ponies like that! At first I thought you were a skeleton or something!" Lightning scowled.

"I'm sorry lightning...It won't happen again..." Flash said through a mischievious grin.

"I bet you won't." Lightning leered back.

"Oh bah," Flash leered back. "And besides...I thought you could use a hoof, considering what you've told me about these ruins."

The duo started towards the far end of the room, where the platform Lightning stood on as a foal was. "Here we are, Flash," Lightning said as he approached the old, dusty runed platform. "If I remember right, standing here on this platform should 'activate' the large door in front of us." Lightning then stood as he did several years ago in the center of the ring of runes. One by one the runes around him began to once again light up. The strange purple light then flowed down the carved spaces between stones as the light made it's way towards the door. After another few seconds the door came to life as it's runes and designs became ablaze with the light. The door then slowly slid down into the ground and purple, unsettling         flames filled sconces and pits set into the walls.

"This is...amazing...,"Flash gasped as the room before them came fully alit.

"Unfortunately this is where the 'ooos' and 'ahhs' end." Lightning said as they passed through the room to a long hallway. "Now we face the..." Lightning gulped, "Trials..." The hallway before them then started to shift into action, as various traps began to activate, waiting to claim their next careless victim. "Now listen very closely Flash, You'll need to follow my actions exactly to the letter. One wrong move and you may lose more than a few feathers."

"Sounds like a plan," Flash said. "Soooo...how do we get through this without getting grinded and various other unpleasant things?"

Lightning trod up to the edge of the traps, the first being a series of rotating bladed stone columns. "Just follow my lead." Lightning, without delay then studied the trap. Once he had the rythm down he jumped into it sideways while putting a slight right spin, dodgeing the first trap.

Flash then did the same, though with difficulty, and nearly losing the tips of his primaries. The process of getting through the traps fell into a similar pattern; Lightning would figure the trap out, then get through it, and Flash would follow. After what seemed like hours of trap evading, they finally reached a new chamber...and it immediately had Lightning feeling unsettled. "What's wrong?" Flash asked as Lightning stood cold for a moment.

"We're here..." Lightning said in a worried voice, as if regretting coming here. His heart was pounding, and he began to sweat as he beheld the chamber before them. "This is the room my Father died in..."

At that Flash approached Lightning, putting a hoof on his shoulder. "I'm sorry..." Flash said, "Would it help if we got through here quicker? Leave this room behind?"

Lightning looked up at his friend, "No...no I'll be fine it's just, I need to know what happened to him...you know, closure."

"I understand," Flash said, hoping to comfort him.

It then all came back to him...They had just gotten past the traps as they entered what they thought was a resting room. But as they entered one of them stepped on a pressure plate, causeing the way they came in to seal shut, two other doors to open, and a wall to slide across the room, separating him and his friends from his father. As the memory fades the Alpha Timberwolf claws it's way into Thunder's area and leaps upon him, and bites down on his foreleg, causing him to scream in agony. Then the rest is a blur as they escape.

"I just...I just don't know what went wrong..." Lightning's mood took a nose dive as he tried to think how things could have been if he was able to save him.

"Come on Lightning, lets find him and solve this," Flash said, helping Lightning up onto his hooves.

"Thanks Flash," Lightning said, a hint of respite in his mood. "I'll be fine now. Let's do this."

They then entered the room, followed by the doors to the room sliding shut, but the traps not activating. "Umm...Lightning? Wasn't there supposed to be a legion of undead, a wall, and a giant Timberwolf?" Flash asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine..." Lightning said, with a tone of newfound worry in his voice.

Suddenly there was an errie sinister laughter that rang throught the ruins, chilling them both to the bone.

"Heh, heh, heh..." Laughed the mysterious mare.

"Who's there!?" Lightning demanded, drawing his father's dagger, causing Flash to draw his katana as well.

"...I'm surprised you don't already know me...tribespony..." The mysterious voice continued.

"Lightning...what does she mean by...tribespony?" Flash asked.

"Ah...I see the problem now...you're both of my blood, but you are different..." The voice said. "In that case...allow me to introduce myself...after all, you're both my subjects..."

"I don't know who you think you are...but we are subjects of Princess Celestia!" Lightning yelled into the dark.

"So SHE is still around then? I am your Empress...Empress Thundaria of the Thunderstorm Tribe. And you?" As an unseen force lifts both Lightning and flash into the air, then slams and holds them against the wall. "You are...not what I thought you were..." The force then pinned Lightning harder to the wall and slammed Flash into another wall, then held him there. Flash then tensed up from sharp pain shooting through his body after the impact, ushering a wimper of pain. "You...bear the markings of the blessing of lightning...how interesting. And yet you can't yet use your powers yet? Perhaps you want a taste of what you really are?"

"What...madness...i....is this?" Lightning sputters out through pain.

"I COMMAND YOU TO AWAKEN AS YOU WERE BORN TO BEAR!" the voice bellowed through the ruins as thunder louder than anypony has ever heard rang all around Lightning. The unseen force released him as a new energy held him in place a few yards from the wall. Red energy enveloped him as his cutie mark furiously glowed a bright red along with the lightning streaks in his mane and tail. His eyes then burst with light as electrical energy trailed from his eyes. All he could see was pure red light as he felt pure energies flowing through him, but it was coming from within him. After what felt like ages the  energy finally died down and he fell to the ground, then collasped. The entities attention then turned to Flash. "I can tell that you've already unlocked a part of your power already...then all is well. I have a task for you...my little ponies...soon a prophecy will come to pass...and you two will meet the challenge." An energy field then appeared out of lightning and cloud in the middle of the room. In it an image of a dark pony came into view. "This is an old...aquaintance of mine if you will...or at least she was...Are you familiar with 'The Mare in the Moon'? It is a tome written by your princess after she bannished her sister to the moon..."

Lightning and Flash could only remain silent.

"You see...there is more to the prophecy than just the six elements. There was also a spark. A catalyst. In time...this will become clear to you. The element of Magic, which is a mystery, will soon reveal itself. You two must protect him or her when he or she makes their appearence." Thundaria continued, "You have passed the first test...warriors of the Thunderstorm Tribe...I will be watching...and waiting..." With that, her voice faded from the room, and soon after Lightning and Flash found themselves outside in a grassy plain, standing on a circular stone platform with the same runes as in the ruin.

"W...what just happened?" Flash asked Lightning.

"I don't know...but whoever this 'Thundaria' is, I don't trust her. There's just something...unsettling about her...IF she's even a being at all." Lightning said.

"I'm more concerned by when she said, 'and waiting'," Flash said back. They both took off and made the flight back towards Ponyville.

"Well...let's forget about what just happened for now and look forward to the Summer Sun Celebration!" Lightning excitedly said.

"Isn't your fillyfriend Applejack in charge of the food?" Flash asked, while noticably drooling over the thought of several apple treats and foods.

"Yeah. She and her whole family. They decided to have their 'Apple Family Reunion at the same time as the Summer Sun Celebration this year," Lightning said. "It's gonna be nuts this year. But I'm looking forward to meeting more of her family." They then reached the outskirts of Ponyville. "Well...I've got to get over to Aj's to help out with the preparations...tomorrow's going to involve A LOT of cooking. Later Flash."

"Yeah see you tomorrow! It's gonna be a blast!" Flash said before going his own way.

As Lightning sped off to his fillyfriend's farm, he could't help but think about what happened in the ruins. What he was mean't to bear? It really didn't make sense to him. But he could feel a power in himself now...like a long forgotten memory now dredged from his subconcious and brought up into the back of his head. Like it was sleeping...waiting.
> Summer Sun Celebration Preparations
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Lightning arrived at Sweet Apple Acres to find it in total chaos. Ponies were running in every which direction in a panic to get everything ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. The very news alone that Celestia herself would be here this year was enough to send them into a frenzy. Half the farm had been converted into a makeshift bakery to handle the daunting task of making enough food for all of Ponyville. In the middle of the insanity was the orange workhorse herself, Applejack. Sporting her stenson and tied back mane and tail, she was busy giving orders and darting between cooking areas making sure that all was going well. After watching the chaos play out for a few moments, Lightning decided to take the plunge into the heart of the mess. He snuck up behind Aj, despite what he told Flash about sneaking earlier, and wrapped a foreleg around her, startling her. "Now what in the hay!?" the mare yelped, dropping a clipboard in the process. She turned her head to see Lightning Ace, who was wearing a mischevious grin. "Oh...It's just you Lightning...for a moment Ah thought you were another official."

Lightning, even to this day still couldn't get over how lovely her accent is. "No...but it looks like you could use my help." Lightning said with a light blush.

"Yup! We sure could! Let me see..." Applejack then looked through her list of what everypony was doing. "Ah, Y'all can help out with the pies. And thanks fer comin' Lightning! It means alot to me!" With that she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and trod off back into the chaos. Leaving Lightning to get to it himself.

He made his way to the pie area where several ponies were working on several pies. Each pie was at a different level of completion, and those that had recently come out of the oven were giving off a heavenly aroma that could even make a completely full pony feel starving again."Well...better get started!" Lightning enthoused as he approached Granny Smith, who was overseeing the pie operation. "Hi Granny Smith! I'm here to help!"

"Thank you kindly sonny!" The light green old mare said. "We need all the help we can get. Y'all can start by gettin us some more flour. There should be some inside the house in the kitchen."

"Consider it done," Lightning said, as he then made for the house.


///////////////


Meanwhile back in town, it was chaos in the library as Moonlight Knight, a dark purple unicorn with a dark brown mane and tail, and a cresent moon for a cutiemark, was in a frenzy to get the place clean for his soon to be roommate. He had only received a letter from the Princess a few days back...

My loyal subject and student Moonlight Knight,

I bid you greetings. You are one of my most gifted and achieved students. And I have a new task for you. I am sending my most loyal and most gifted student to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, as you well know is to be hosted in Ponyville this year. You are to allow this student to stay with you for the duration of the preparations AND the celebration itself. I've also had my scholars and my most gifted mages looking into that theory of yours...about Poison Joke. And they all agree that...though many of the results were hilarious...that it is not a good cure for anxiety or depression. But it does seem to work as a very good addition to anypony's lawn to deter any unwanted pests or intruders. On a more personal note...it works great for pranks...But I digress. Also I'd like you to make two books available to my student. The Elements of Harmony, and The Mare in the Moon for my student to read up on. It was a personal request on the student's part. I would also like to know how the two pegasi, Lightning Ace and Flash Firestorm, are doing. Though they have shown good control of their unique abilities and in fact don't seem to be able to use them, I have recently felt a ripple in the natural flow of mana in the world, like something in one or both of them has been awakened. I await your response.

Your Majesty, Princess Celestia

Moonlight had, of course, immediately responded...

Your Majesty,

Greetings. I have recieved your orders and can assure you that your student will be made comfortable. Considering your info on Poison Joke I would like to ask permission to begin mass production of the plant for the use of a garden defense - as you put it. Though I shudder at the thought of what you mean by 'it works great for pranks'...anyway, thank you and your wise console on the matter. As for Lighting and Flash, I haven't seen either of them in a day or two. Last I heard Lightning was helping the Apple Family with the food  preparations, and Flash is helping the weather teams keep some strong thunderstorms from drifting into town. I'll look into the disturbances and report back when I find something.

Your faithful student, Moonlight Knight.

It wasn't the fact of the Poison Joke or the things concerning Lightning and Flash that was worrying him, it was this student of the Princess that had him in a frenzy. There was no secret that Celestia had many a gifted student. Some even almost powerful enough to move mountains. Some were even like walking libraries, having learned enough to understand the very fabric of space and time. And she was sending one of her BEST. And to his own house! For anyponyelse, this would elect many a cheer and prestige. But for Moonlight, this was a nightmare. For starters, in the letter she evaded mentioning the gender of said student. See, Moonlight was still single, and was awkward around mares, especially if they were bookworms and/or eggheads. There was just something about them that got him going. And every time he'd see one, or have to deal with one, he'd freeze up. And now a student from Celestia's Court, was to stay at his house. He managed to drown out these distracting thoughts as he got back to work. His house had to be spotless.


//////////////////////////


Flash Firestorm and Rainbow Dash were exausted from fending off several thunderstorms. It was odd, because no thunderstorms were scheduled for another week. The obvious anwser was that they were coming from the Everfree Forest, as natural storms weren't uncommon to form there. And so here they were, fighting rogue storms. As a result, many much smaller renegade clouds were loose in the skies over Ponyville...which Rainbow Dash was supposed to keep out. But the safety of the town came first, and so fought she did, as she was fiercely loyal to her home, her friends and her country. Some silly clouds could wait.

They had dissipated some twenty or so storms already, but weather team scouts had discovered an even bigger, super cell on it's way towards Ponyville. They had spotted funnel clouds on it's underside, and reports of hail and strong winds were also evident. Thankfully this was the last of the storms, but it was also the largest they've had to deal with in years. Normally for storms like this the Wonderbolts would be called in, as storms like this were beyond most pegasi to handle. Unfortunately they were busy fighting a dragon that decided to attack the treasury in Canterlot, and therefore couldn't help out. They were on their own.

"I can see it...it's massive!" Rainbow exclaimed as she was the first to see the storm swarming around Smokey Mountain. Lightning could be seen flashing in a frenzy as it tore a wicked path in Ponyville's direction.

"How in the hay are we gonna stop this thing!?" Flash said to Rainbow, fear in his voice. Truth be told this was the biggest storm he'd ever seen.

"Well, I doubt just bucking it apart would work," Rainbow said. "But something has to work. Bucking at it may not destroy it, but it'll slow it down as we find a way to stop it."

"Agreed," Flash said as they went over to the rest of the team, which included fellow pegasi such as Cloud Chaser and Rain Drop.

After coming up with a battle plan drawn into the cloud they were sitting on, they nodded at one another and flew directly at the storm. Forming their patented Horizontal Tornado Cloud Drill, they pierced the massive storm ad attempted to trace a hole through it. Unfortunately the storm was too strong for this approach and sent multiple ponies flying. Some were flung into deeper parts of the storm while others were sent to the ground below, and were then grounded by the intense winds of the storm's wrath.

This left Flash and Rainbow Dash to stop the storm.

"We've got to do something!" Flash yelled, trying to be heard over the growling of the storm.

"I'm thinking!" Rainbow yelled back. She, as the captain of the weather team, had to come up with something. The fate of their hometown, now just miles away, hanged in the balance. She then remembered Flash's unique ability with fire, an dthen it dawned on her. "Flash!"

"What!?" Flash yelled over the storm. "Have you though of something!? Or are we gonna be looking for a new home?!"

"Use your fire powers on the storm!" Rainbow yelled.

"What would that do!?" Flash yelled back.

"Think about it...what do storms AND fire need to stay active!?" Rainbow asked.

Flash only needed seconds to realise what she had in mind. It was oxygen. Air. It hit him that with a big enough explosion, they could starve the storm of one of it's most basic needs. He didn't even need to anwser the question. "I understand," Flash yelled. "Get everypony out of the storm! I'm going to choke it with a massive fire blast!"

With that Rainbow spent the next five minutes rescuing the other ponies and getting them out of the storm. Meanwhile Flash had to concentrate. Over the last few years he had been using his powers, but only for really small tasks, like lightning a fireplace or cooking up an egg or fish on the stove. The last time he ever made a literal firestorm was when he was a foal. But now was not the time to think back. Now was time for action. And he needed to do this, for everypony back home. He drew his energy from deep within and breathed deep. He could feel the heat within building. It did not hurt him though, as the heat was an extension of himself. It felt more like a tingling, and it felt surprisingly good. He let the power build up for at least ten minutes before Rainbow gave him the all clear. The storm was then engulfed in what was likely the biggest firestorm ever seen by anypony in this age or any before. The force of the wave of fire alone was enough to annhilate the storm. When the flames died down Flash flew down to the ground to an astonished group of pegasi.

Flash then passed out.

He awoke hours later in his room, with Rainbow Dash and Derpy standing around his bed.

"Wha...what? Where am I? What happened?" Flash asked.

"Well..." Rainbow started. "You kinda...exploded to stop the storm. After you landed you simply passed out. Don't worry, you aren't hurt...dispite the fact that you exploded."

"You made an explosion! A big explosion. It looked like a muffin!" Derpy added.

"Did anyponyelse see it?" Flash asked.

"I think the better question is, who didn't see it," Rainbow anwsered, raising a brow.


///////////////


A royal chariot had landed in the middle of town as a small crowd had begun to gather. The hooves of a lavender pony landed on the ground next to it as the young unicorn student dissembarked. "Thanks for the ride," The unicorn said to the royal chariot pullers, who neighed in approval at her compliment. After which they took off, and returned to Canterlot. Following the unicorn was a small dragon, who was purple and had green spines and spikes adorning his back, head, and tail.

"Hey, there's somepony now..." The dragon said to the unicorn.

"HMMMPHMMM," The mare sighed.

"Oh come on...just try at least, Celestia said that you needed to make some friends..." The dragon said, pointing at a nearby pony...who happened to be Pinkie, who was on her afternoon stroll.

"Ugh...fine. But we really need to check on preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration." The mare said. She then trotted up to Pinkie who had been transfixed by something on the ground. "Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and you are?"

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Was all Pinkie said before tearing off to her house.

"Well THAT went well..." Twilight said as she looked at her checklist. "Now lets see...the first thing to check on is the food. Come on Spike, we're off to Sweet Apple Acres." They then started for the farm.


///////////////////////



Pinkie Pie was more excited than ever before. Not only was there an awesome massive explosion in the sky that reminded her oof her 14th birthday, but now there was even somepony NEW in town! And she knew exactly what she had to do...

PARTY!!!

"Mr. and Mrs. Cake!" Pinkie called out as she trotted into Sugarcube Corner. "There's somepony new here in Ponyville! And I'm gonna throw her a 'Welcome to Ponyville it's Summer Sun Celebration and I'm Your Bestest New Friend Pinkie Pie and Meet Everypony Party!" She finished with a smile that was half her face, and dispite oddly not running out of breath, her super long title left the Cakes confused at best. Before the Cakes could say anything, Pinkie was already up in her room, getting ready for the soon-to-be-party. She started by writing invitations. "Wait a moment..." The pink pony said to herself. "I need permission from Moonlight to use his library! That house has TONS of room!" And with that she walked through the door of her room and exited into Moonlight's study.

"GAH!" Moonlight was startled by Pinkie. "Where did you come from!?" His freak out had caused a small mess, much to his dismay.

"My room silly!" Pinkie happily chirped back. "Can I please use your house for a party tonight?"

"Uhh..." Moonlight hesitated. "Well considering I have a royal guest from the Princess' court coming today...no."

"Awwww...but it's to welcome the unicorn that just arrived today..." She was a little disappointed, but she wouldn't be beaten... the party had to go on.

"Well...I..." Moonlight was still resisting.

"PLEASE?" Pinkie then used her trademark sad-pony-face...complete with wimper...

"Ugh...fine. You can have your party. If anything it'll get my mind off of the guest," Moonlight finally gave in, as there was no resistance.

"WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Pinkie exploded with cheer as she nearly crushed Moonlight with a thank-you hug. And with that she hopped off around the corner. Moonlight glanced around the corner to see where she went, but she was already gone. He had decided to stop trying to figure out how she did some of the things that she did.

She was already back in her room again, as if she had never left. She then turned her attention back to the invitations, to which she intended to invite virtually everypony in town. Ten minutes later and she already somehow had over half of them written, and at the end of the hour, they were all ready. "Now to deliver them! I can't wait!" and with that she was outside, rushing invites all across town.


////////////////


Back at the farm, Lightning and a few others had finished the last of the baked goods, and had others bring them off for storage until the celebration. "Hey Lightning!" Applejack called out to him. "Can y'all go inside and get a few things fer me?"

"Sure Aj, what do you need?" Lightning asked.

"Ah need you to help gather dishes for the reunion lunch. Just follow the others, they'll help you out," Applejack said.

"Sure thing," Lightning said as he trotted off to help the others.

She nodded to him in satisfaction for his optimism, then turned to buck a tree for more apples to start the next batch of food and drinks. Though after just one perfect applebuck, she then had a visitor. She looked up from the apples to see a lavender unicorn with a small dragon sitting on her back.

"Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and I'm here to check up on the food preparations for the celebration and..." Twilight was interrupted.

"Howdy partner! Mah name's Applejack and this here's Sweet Apple Acres! We love guests here. Now what can Ah do you for?" Applejack said, whilst shaking the life out of Twilight's hoof, Spike let out a giggle at the sight.

Twilight took a moment to get her hoof to stop shaking. "As I said, I'm here to check on preparations, so if you don't mind, I'm on a tight schedule."

"Ah. Yer here to sample the food...right this way!" Applejack said as she pratically threw Twilight in front of a table. She then rushed over to a triangle and started to ring it. "Soups on everypony!" With that there was a varatible stampede of ponies as the whole Apple Family came out to greet the guest and start the lunch. "Now let me introduce you to the Apple Family...Apple Fritter, Apple Bumbkin, Red Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples. Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp,deep breath Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and my colt-friend, Lightning Ace!" By the time she finished there was a mountain of apple dishes now piled in front of her.

"Aheh heh heh..."Twilight laughed after spitting out an apple that was shoved in her mouth. "I'd love to stay but I've still got sooo much to do and..."

"Can't you stay please?" Apple Bloom meelkly said, looking up at Twilight with huge, pitiful eyes.

Twilight was no match for her cuteness, and gave in, much to everypony's joy. Soon multiple tables were set up as everypony sat down and was served lunch. Twilight was seated as the guest of honor, and was doomed to try ALL of the dishes, much to her stomach's dismay. Lightning then saw Twilight...Have I seen her before? he thought to himself. Wait a moment...she was the student at the royal library that we visited when we were foals. "What's up Twilight? I haven't seen you in years." Lightning said to her.

"Wait...Lightning? Oh gosh, it has been a while." Twilight said. "Last I saw you I pointed you to Ponyville after you inquired about a few things."

The conversation then turned to Applejack."So Lightning...How long have you and Applejack been dating?" Twilight asked, which caused Lightning to blush slightly.

"Well lets see...we first met way back when I broke my wing as a foal. She helped a friend of mine carry me to her aunt's place in Manehattan. We spent some time together and we grew close. Since my wing took a while to heal I went with her here to Ponyville. Even after my wing healed and I could fly I decided to stay with her." Lightning said, putting a foreleg around Applejack's neck. "I love her and that's why I moved here." He then nuzzled her, which made her blush slightly, which also cause Applebloom to giggle a little. "As for how ling we've been together? Since we were foals."

They then discussed other things, like the weather, the grass, and a passing bunny. Then before long lunch was over, and they bid an overfed Twilight good-bye. "Well...she hasn't changed since we met her in Canterlot..." Lightning said, giving his wings a quick mini flap then tucking them back to his sides.

"Well at least she stayed fer lunch," Applejack said. "She is definitely an interesting conversationalist."

"That she was...what is all the food for anyways?" Lightning asked,


/////////////////////


Meanwhile Pinkie had transformed Moonlight's home into a rave center. She had tied up Moonlight as well, to keep him from stopping him from doing anything to stop her. She had streamers and balloons as well, strewn across the room. Everything was ready for the party as the guests started to arrive. Thankfully Twilight had plenty of ponies to check on, which kept her from coming too soon. Then the waiting began as the sun began to set, Twilight, unaware of the surprise that awaited her.

	
> Shock and Awe
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"All of the ponies in this town are CRAZY!" Twilight said as she and Spike entered the library, expecting Moonlight to welcome her in. Instead they found only a very dark room, that was unnaturally quiet. "Well...I just need time to figure out the prophecy and-"

"SURPRISE!!!!!" Everypony in the room shouted as the lights came on. Twilight jumped out of her fur as confetti and streamers came raining from the ceiling. 

Pinkie then appeared out of a cloud of confetti in front of Twilight. "Isn't it amazing?!" The pink party pony said.

Twilight only responded with a deadpan.

"Remember when you first got here and I was like: GAAAAAASSSSSSSSSP!	I then realized that you were new in town and therefore I had to throw you a party because that's what I love to do!" Pinkie kept going. Meanwhile Derpy had just finished off the punch with one chugging. This saddened her...so to replace the empty bottle she placed a bottle of hotsauce in it's place. With an oblivious smile of a job well done she returned to the party. Without thinking Twilight then poured herself a glass of what she thought was a drink. Pinkie thought about stopping her, but then reconsidered, thinking to see what would come of it. After all, she could easily down it herself.

Twilight then drank it.

Flames then erupted from her mouth as she rushed upstairs to the bedroom floor, causing many ponies to watch. Spike then discovered the culprit: The hotsauce. "Hotsauce?" The little dragon said, followed by Pinkie forcing his hand to pour more of it onto a cupcake.

Lightning and Flash bore witness to this. "Uh...Pinkie...that's hotsauce..." Flash said.

"What...this is good..." Pinkie said.

The others shook their heads.

"Hey Flash," Lightning said, finishing a cupcake of his own. "I heard you literally blew up a massive storm to save the town."

"Yeah...I still don't know how I managed it," Flash said, taking a drink from his punch. "It felt natural to me. But I usually can only do small stuff, like cook food and start up a fireplace. You know, small things. It's like what ever power I have knew that I really needed it."

"Well thanks all the same. I don't think anypony even saw the storm until you blew it up." Lightning said.

"Do you want to try my new muffin flavor?" Derpy interrupted, shoving a muffin into Lightning's mouth. He chewed for a moment then swallowed.

"Mmmm...What was this?" Lightning asked his wall-eyed friend.

"It's a new flavor! I mixed a cinnamon muffin and a chocolate muffin!" She exclaimed with glee.

"Let me try one..." Flash said as he took one from Derpy. He then ate it, and his reaction was the same, causing Derpy to smile more, then trot off.

"Well...I'm gonna go find my mare Flash, later," Lightning said before trotting off.

Flash then went over to the buffet table.


//////////////////////


Twilight had retreated to the bedroom, hoping to escape the noise and distraction of the party. Only she wasn't alone. She then heard what sounded like a muffled groan coming from the closet. She cautiously approached the door as the muffled noises got louder. After listening for a moment she got enough courage to open the door, only to find a pony bound and gagged within.

"Hmmmpphh mmmpph mmmMMM!" The dark purple unicorn stallion muffled.

With that Twilight promptly ungagged and unbound him.

"WHEN I GET MY HOOVES ON THAT PINK BITCH I SWEAR TO CELE-" Moonlight yelled before Twilight used her magic to zip his mouth shut, electing a moan of annoyance from him.

"Now...I'm going to open your mouth, and you're going to CALMLY tell me what happened, and why you were bound in your closet...and why you didn't properly welcome me in," Twilight said.

Moonlight nodded.

"Good, now hold still," Twilight said as she undid her spell. "Now, what happened?"

Moonlight collected himself, then brushed his mane out of his face. "That party obsessed pony tied me up and left me up here to keep me from interfering with the party."

"Well, anyway, do you have a copy of 'The Mare in the Moon?" I really need to see it," Twilight said. "The fate of Equestria, no...all of Equis depends on it!"

Alright I have it! Just take it easy!" Moonlight said, still annoyed that he was trapped in a closet. He used his magic to levitate the tome off of the shelf and into her magic. "Just be careful...that book is very old. And what do you mean by 'the fate of Equis depends on it?"

"Well," Twilight said, opening the book, "On page three hundred seventy two paragraph two it says something about a prophecy that foretells the return of Nightmare Moon on the eve of the one thousandth Summer Sun Celebration." She then turned to the page in question, while taking a seat on Moonlight's bed. "It says here that on the eve of the one thousanth Summer Sun Celebration, the Mare in the Moon will escape with the aid of the stars."

Moonlight then sat on the bed next to her. "Well that's rather...obscure..." Moonlight said. It was then that he finally got a good look at the mare sitting next to him. Her finely cut mane and tail were a darker purple like his coat, and had a bright magenta streak running through both, and her curves...he then started to turn red as his weakness set in. But for the sake of learning more about the prophecy he pushed his bashfulness aside. "A...any i...idea what it means?" He stuttered lightly. He then hoped she would think his stutter was caused by fear, and not a sudden crush.

"Well...I really don't know what it means," Twilight said as she closed the book and looked out the window and up into the stars. "I just hope for once I'm wrong."

Spike then entered the room, with his head adorned with what looked like a lampshade. "Hey Twi! You really should lighten up and come join us...Pinkie's started a game of pin the tail on the pony!" He then noticed a still blushed Moonlight. After that he then realized what time it was. "Oh! Come on you two! It's almost morning! Time to get to the city hall to watch the Princess raise the sun!" He then went back downstairs.

"Ah...Spike's right," Moonlight said, getting off the bed, "Maybe we shouldn't worry. Com'on, let's get to town hall."

Before Twilight also left the room she looked up at the sky once more. "I hope you're right Moonlight..." She looked for a few seconds as four stars almost looked like they were moving towards the moon. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, and saw no movement. With that she then joined the others in going to the town hall.


///////////////////////


Everypony in town was filing into to the town hall as the nighttime was coming to a close. Lightning was distressed though, as was Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight. Something felt off, like, usually the horizon starts to get a slight glow to it at this time. Such feelings were short lived as they entered the mane central chamber of Town Hall. It was glorified further with many large tapestries and long curtains hanging from the ceiling above. Then a light came on over the stage as the mayor of Ponyville, Mayor Mare, who was a light brown earthpony mare with a grey mane and tail, beckoned the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlecolts..." The mayer began, "Thank you all for coming to this year's Summer Sun Celebration. For this is the 1000th celebration. And in honor, Princess Celestia has chosen our fair town to host it this year. So without further a due, I present to you, Princess Celestia!" With that Fluttershy's birds started the royal welcome fanfare as Rarity opened the curtain...to everypony's sudden fear.

Nopony was there.

The whole audiance gasped as Rarity simply said, "She's gone!"

"Now everypony stay calm," Mayor said, "I'm sure she'll be here any minute and-"

"Ahahahahahaha!" A wicked laughter rang through out the chamber as a thick, star sparkled cloud of darkness began to form on the high platform next to Rarity.

Everypony's eye's grew wide as it began to take the shape of an alicorn like the princess. Armor, black as the void itself materialized on it's hooves and flanks as it came to shape. Once the armor formed it lightened into a midnight blue, as pitch black fur filled the gaps between. Flowing, bellowing clouds of darkness flowed from It's head and flank as It's mane and tail formed. A pair of ravenlike, dark wings then unfurled as it finished taking shape.

"Ah...my little ponies..." The dark alicorn said, with the end of her words dipped in venom. "It's soooo good to be back among you..."

She was only met with stares and fear. "Have you not heard the tails? Do you not know who I am? Does my crown mean nothing to you?"

Twilight stepped forward. "I know who you are!" The unicorn said, "You're the Mare in the Moon! Nightnmare Moon!"

This drew many a gasp and wimper of fear from the crowd. "Then you know why I've returned."

"You're here to...to...gulp," Twilight sputtered in fear.

"Remember this day my little ponies for it was your last...the night will last FOREVER!AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Nightmare Moon laughed as dark storms brewed from her mane, showcasing her power for all to see. Then Rainbow hovered up.

"Where is the Princess?!" Rainbow demanded, then started to rush Nightmare as Applejack stopped her by pulling her tail.

"Seize her!" Mayor said to the guards, "She knows where the Princess is!" With that twi guards flew up at Nightmare, who was still displaying her power.

"Stay back you foals!" She bellowed as she struck them down with her raw power.

Lightning had enough. He stomped a step forward and challenged the alicorn.

"Lightning are you crazy?!" Flash said, "Look what she did to those guards!"

Lightning defiantly then flew up to Nightmare and assumed a fighting pose from the martial arts that he learned along side Rainbow Dash.

"What's this? Another foal who needs to learn their place?" Nightmare stabbed at Lightning with her insult. "Very well welp. Learn who your master is."

Lightning then charged her and tried to land a flying spin buck to her face, only for her to deform and then reform with him in her grasp. With a wicked grin on her face she whiped him down at the railing of the balcony hard, causing it to splinter from the force. Lightning managed to get free and land a hoof into her gut. Unphased, she returned the favor into his gut, then suspended him in the air with her dreaded magic. She twirled him side to side like a rag doll, as several cracking noises came from him as he let out a cry from the pain. She began to laugh as she used her magic to stretch out his limbs till they nearly dislocated. She then pulled him in close and began coursing the lightning from her storm overhead through his body, causing even more pain. The others could only watch as she then dragged him through several support beams around her, and then she deformed, flew across the room and reformed just inches behind him. "Had enough, foal?" She whispered as she then used her mane to hold him in place as she started repeatedly punching him. Every punch got worse as she intensified each hit with a little more magic. After five minutes she finally stopped, and then just hovered while holding Lightning with her magic. "Anyponyelse want to challenge me?" She grinned as she started to choke the life out of Lightning with her mane. Then a red spark jumped across Lightning's mane. She continued to crush him while more and more sparks started to arc across and around him. "No...it can't be..." Nightmare said as she watched him start to glow red with power. "No...NO...NOOOO!!!" She then tried to finish him off, but instead his body tensed up as even more energy built up within him.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lightning yelled as he let out a wave of red lightning, much to the surprise of everypony in the room. The energy knocked him loose from Nightmare's grasp as he renewed his attack. He then found himself almost evenly matched with Nightmare now, matching her blow for blow.

Until she grinned again. After witnessing his newfound ability Nightmare Moon then stepped up her fight, by sending a flurry of lightning and hooves into his gut from seemingly every direction, causing him to lose his concentration and ultimatly his ability to sustain his new power. She then held him up once more. "What a waste." She then threw him down to the ponies below and then deformed again, then took her leave.

"GET BACK HERE!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she broke free from Applejack's grasp. She then flew out after Nightmare a short distance before losing sight of her.

"Lightning! Y'all okay!?" Applejack said with worry as she helped Lightning up.

"Ow...that wasn't a good idea..." Lightning said as he winced at his pain. Thankfully nothing was broken, as if she spared him on purpose. "Wait a minute...where's Rainbow and Twilight?"

"Ah saw them heading to the library! Let's go!" Applejack then motioned for Fluttershy and Rarity to follow. Pinkie had left after them as well. They then hoped to get some anwsers from Twilight, as she seemed to know what was going on. They galloped under the still stary sky as they made for Moonlight's house, hoping to find out what was going on...


	
> The Everfree Forest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Elements, Elements, ELEMENTS!" Twilight yelled as she tore through the bookshelves in her search.

"And just what ARE the Elements of Harmony?!" A very pissed Rainbow said to Twilight. "What are you? Some spy?" As she got in Twilight's face.

"Simmer down Sally," Applejack said as she pulled Rainbow back by her tail. "She's no spy, but she does know something." She then looked at Twilight. "Don't you?"

Twilight then looked down at the floor in worry. "I've read all about the prophecy of Nightmare Moon...who she is, how she returns, and how to stop her...but the only way seems to be a vague reference to some artifacts called the Elements of Harmony." She looked up to a window framing the moon. "I really don't even know what they do..."

"The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide-" Pinkie was interrupted by Twilight shoving her out of the way.

"How did you find that!?" Twilight was surprised.

"It was under 'EEEEEEE'!" Pinkie teased.

The front door to the library then swung open as Flash and Moonlight carried Lightning inside. Everypony was surprised to see Lightning not in a stretcher considering the beating Nightmare gave him. Applejack trotted to Lightning giving a worried and stern look. "Shouldn't y'all be at Ponyville Hospital sugarcube? Yer hurt pretty bad..."

"I'll be fine Aj...just really want to stop Nightmare and...urgh...pay her back for what she did..." Lightning sounded winded as his every breath stung. "I j...just need a healing spell and I'll be fine." He then had a look in his eyes of determination.

Twilight looked over and then looked at Moonlight. "I can heal him but I need another unicorn's help." Twilight said.

"Me?" Moonlight said, taken off guard, "Why me?"

"Because you are a talented mage studying magic like me. If you know as much magic as the Princess says you do, than you'll do fine. Now, are you ready?" She asked Moonlight.

"Er...yes...I'm ready." Moonlight said nervously. Though true he was a talented mage-in-learning, he mainly studied the forces of destruction and advance telekinesis...and VERY basic medical...first aid...magic.

"Then let's get started." Twilight then levitated Lightning onto the table in the center of the room. "Now let's have a look at him..." Twilight said as she powered up her horn and used it to scan for broken bones. "Good news everypony! No broken bones! In fact, he's mostly just bruised and has a couple of dislocated joints. He's quite the strong stallion for having such a small frame." She then looked down at Lightning's face. "You may want to take a deep breath..." As she motioned Moonlight to power up his own horn.

Lightning looked up at them half confused. "Deep breath? What do you mean by-" He was cut off by a cringingly loud snapping sound as Twilight and Moonlight used their magic to force his joints back in place. The pain was even worse than the beating he got from Nightmare. The other ponies around him had fear in their eye's for how much it likely hurt.

They then levitated Lightning off the table back onto his hooves an released him, causing him to stumble like a foal learning to walk for a moment. "How do you feel, Lightning?" Moonlight asked Lightning.

He anwsered with a deadpan, electing a few giggles from Pinkie.

"Now that that's out of the way."Twilight said as she levitated the tome "Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide" off the shelf and opened it. She then flipped to a page describing them. "The Elements consist of 6 elements, five of which are known...kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, and loyalty. The sixth one is a complete mystery, as nopony knows what it may be."

Outside an ominous dark presence watches from a window, listening intently.

"The last known location of the elements are supposidly resting in what is now known as..." Twilight took a deep breath. "The Everfree Forest..."

This news racked everypony in the room with fear and worry, but more so Lightning and Rainbow Dash, who have witnessed it's horrors in pony and know just what lurks in the shadows. It is also here where Lightning and his father and friends passed through to Ghasly's Gorge...

Lightning then stepped forward into the group. "I...I can guide us there," Lightning said with a tinge of fear in his voice.

"Lightning's right..." Rainbow Dash said, joining him in front of Twilight. "I've been there too...and you won't make it five hooves in before you're Timberwolf food! I'm coming with!" She stomped a hoof.

"Really...thanks for the help...but I need to do this on my own and-" Twilight started to say.

"Sugarcube, y'all aint goin' in there alone. Y'all might as well accept that were coming with you." Applejack said as she started packing her saddlebag.

"And I as well," Rarity said as she donned a olive drab explorer's hat. "You may need me if you have a terrible wardrobe malfunction..."

"And you have MEEEEE!!!!!!" Pinkie exclaimed as she shot up into the air. "This could be fun!"

"You also have my steel," Flash Firestorm said as he gave his katana another close inspection.

"Well if everyponyelse is going then I suppose I could come with...if that's alright with you that is..." Came a wimper of a voice from behind Pinkie.

"Fluttershy!?" Lightning was suprised to see a foalhood friend here, even in this dark time. "How did you get here?"

"I ah...well...umm...its a long story..." The shy pegasus whispered.

"I guess it'll have to wait...cause Twilight is already heading out..." Lightning said, motioning to the door.

"WHAT!?" Everyone yelled. With that the eight ponies darted out of the library after Twilight.


\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


After a few minutes of galloping the crew found themselves at the edge of the forbidding forest itself. Standing at it's edge was Twilight, who was busy checking a checklist of preparations one last time before starting her quest. "WAIT!!!" came the familiar voices of the other ponies as she was just about to enter.

"I thought I told you all that I didn't need your help?" The lavender unicorn said to them. "I already said that I didn't ask you to come along! Now go home please! This is too dangerous!"

"And we already said that we are going with whether you like it or not," Applejack assured Twilight.

"All of us!" Everyone chimed.

With that, everypony then started in, much to Twilight's dismay. With Lightning and Rainbow's help, they had planned out the best route through the wretched forest to the ancient castle of Old Canterlot, the resting place of the elements. After a while the group made it to a cliff overlooking an expanse of forest below.

"Lightning," Twilight started to ask,"Where's the fastest way down?" She would ask Rainbow but she was occupied with harrasing the others with spooky stories of the forest.

They were also not alone...

As they were going about their business, an amorphous cloud of dark magic snaked it's way into the very cliff they were all standing on, causing it collapse out from under them. Instintually all the pegasi took to the sky to escape, but the others were less lucky. "Applejack!" Lightning yelled as he darted for his fillyfriend.

"Don't worry bout' me hun, Save Rarity!" Aj said as she pointed him to a white unicorn who was about to loose her grip on a rock. She then slid down to Twilight who was just inches from falling to the deep valley below. She then observed Fluttershy and Rainbow nearby. "Twilight listen to me..." She assured Twilight, "Let go and you WILL be fine..."

"I will NOT!" Twilight rejected as she looked down, only seeing a straight drop.

"What I am saying is the TRUTH...let go..." She gave a very reassuring look.

For an unseen reason, Twilight saw nothing but truth in Applejack's eye. With a deep breath, she let go and fell. After a short free fall, she was then caught by Rainbow and Fluttershy.

"We've got ya Twi!" Rainbow reassured, despite Fluttershy loosing grip for a moment.

"Sorry everypony, I'm not used to holding anything heavier than a bunny or two." The light yellow meek pony said as they placed Twilight onto solid ground.

"Everypony OK?" Flash asked nopony in particular. He was anwsered by many nods. "Great! Twilight, where to next?"

"Through that opening in the cliffs..." Twilight started as they moved forward.

The dark cloud then made it's way to the next clearing and found it's next victim and proceeded to take the form of a sharp object then impale itself into the soft underside of a paw of a great beast. 

The group then made the clearing as the moonlight revealed a large and very angry beast.

"MANTICORE!!!" Lightning said as he immediately drew his dagger, followed by everyponyelse readying themselves as well. Without forethought the beast threw itself at the party in a frenzied rage, causeing the group to split up to dodge it's mighty blow. It missed, shattering a large boulder into dust. Unphased, it flung itself again, this time at Rarity.

"Get back you ruffian!" Rarity bellowed as she planted a firm kick to its face, which only enraged it more. It then roared in Rarity's face, ruining her mane. With her mane now in disarray, she bested a retreat.

"wait..." Came a small voice from the side.

Moonlight then stepped forth to challenge the beast. "How do you like a taste of Fireball!?" He yelled as his horn powered up, unleashing a few fireballs at the creature. The impact slowed it, but could not stop it's approach. "How about some Frost!" His horn lit with a white hue, followed by a spray of sharp icicles...that shattered on impact on the Manticore's thick fur. It reared up to strike when an orange pony lept onto it's back.

"Wooo-we! Get along lil' dowggy!" Applejack exclaimed as she tried to beat it rodeo style. It took her for a wild ride as it tore through bushes and trees and rocks in an attempt to scrape her off. After another minute of this imprompto rodeo show it finally managed to force her off, sending her flying past Rainbow. "All yours sugarcube!" She said as she landed on Lightning's back.

"wait..." Came the small voice again, though alittle louder this time.

Now it was up to Rainbow and Lightning. They decided to try to phase it with a highspeed manuver...to get smacked by it's tail and land at Flash's hooves. He looked up and saw it's gaping maw open and bellow a mighty roar, sending him into the others like a bowling ball. Unphased, the group regrouped and formed a line to try for yet another assault on the beast. They needed to get past, which ment going through the raging monster. Twilight stomped at the ground and let out a small steam cloud out of her nostral as the beast did the same. Then, both the Manticore and the group began the charge.

"WAAAAAIIIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Fluttershy yelled into the frey, this time causing everyone, including the manticore, to halt the attack. She then approached the enraged beast and beheld it. It reared up as if ready to score a one hit ko on the fragile Fluttershy. Instead, it presented it's foreleg to her, and to her surprise, there was a rather large jagged thorn embedded into it's paw. "Shhhh it's OK..." She nuzzled the creature in agony. "Oh you poor poooor little baby," She cooo'd to it. "Now this may hurt for just a second..." She then pulled the invasive thorn out of the beast's paw, causing it to roar in a short lived agony as everyone thought for sure that this was the end for Fluttershy. Instead, it held her in it's forelegs and proceeded to show her it's gratitude with a deadly barrage of licking and purring.

As Fluttershy left the beast and passed by Twilight, she couldn't help but ask, "Fluttershy, how did you know about the thorn?"

"I didn't," Fluttershy answered, "Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness."


	///////////////////////////


The group left the opening behind as they entered a particularly dense part of the forest. "Is it just me or is it a little more...wild than when we last came through here Rainbow?" Lighting asked as the moonlight overhead dimmed out. 

"Like I remember-" Rainbow started as there was a shriek of terror from ahead.

It was only a second before the rest saw what gave Fluttershy a scare...the trees had come alive!  Soon enough even Lightning, Moonlight and Applejack were completely frozen with fear. "You don't scare me!" Flash yelled as he drew his sword and lunged at the closest tree. He then got caught on a root as his sword impaled into a nearby knot in the tree, just out of his reach. The more he twisted and pulled to get free the more entangled in the roots he became. More roots then began to fall upon him as he flailed even more to get free. "noo....NOOOO!!!" He began to scream as he then lay still, frozen with fear now himself.

Then there was laughter...

"Pinkie are you insane!?" Twilight yelled to the pink pony, certain that all was lost. "RUN AND GET HELP!!!"

"Silly Twilly...there's nothing to fear here!" She exclaimed as she broke out in even more laughter.

The others merely looked on with fear and confusion...was she totally insane!? Inches from death and she laughs!?

Then one of the trees ceased it's terror, and was no more than an ordinary tree again.

"There really is nothing to fear! It's really just crazy to fear what isn't real!" Pinkie said between giggles.

"What do you mean NOT REAL!?" Lighting said bewhildered, still frozen with fear.

"When I was just a filly, my granny told me that hiding and cowering isnt' the way!"

"Then what is!?" Rainbow asked, also petrified from fear.

"Face your fears and laugh in their faces! They aren't real so it's just so silly that I can't help but laugh at how rediculous they are!" She then continued laughing at the strange trees, which in turn caused more of them to revert to normal trees.

Lighting then looked more closely at the trees and saw then that they weren't even moving. He then giggled a little to himself after realizing that they were in no danger at all. Without warning he broke out in a laughing fit. The others soon followed the pink pony's example, and laughed all the 'monsters' into oblivion. They continued to laugh even after there were no more ghosties to be seen until they came across a raging river.

"How are we supposed to cross THIS!?" Moonlight said as the river raged before them. Time was running out and the day had to be restored soon.

"Wait...what's that?" Twilight asked as they saw the source of the rapids...a depressed river serpant.

"OOOOHHHHH WOE IS ME!!!" The large purple serpent cried as his tail sent waves crashing into shores and rocks.

"What's wrong with you?" Rarity asked the ruffled creature.

"Well I don't know...I was just minding my own business...when a tacky purple cloud of smoke whizzed past and tore half my mustach clean off my beautiful face!" The serpent complained.

"I can see why you'd be so upset..."Rarity started. "I mean you've got those amazing scales..."

"I know!" The serpent boasted.

"Your perfectly groomed mane..."

"I know! I KNOW!!!" He was getting excited.

"And your perfictly manicured claws...all of it ruined without your mustache!"

"I KNOW! I'm hidious!!!" He then resumed crying again.

"I just can't allow such a crime against fashion go unpunished!" Rarity said as she then tore a scale off of his belly.

"Owww! What did you do that for!?" The serpent asked.

She then used it to slice off her own tail much to everyone's astonishment. Even causing the serpent to faint. She levitated up her tail and used her magic to fuse it to the serpent's face, repairing his mustache. He was now so happy that he stopped his tantrom and thus the river was now calm enough to cross.

"Rarity your tail!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Not to worry...it'll grow back...short tails are in this season..." Rarity bargined.

"So would his mustache..." Rainbow retorted.

"Look! We can now cross!" Twilight said as she started across.

She was then lifted out of the water and found herself on the serpent's back. "Allow me!" He said before diving in, bridging the river for the nine ponies.


////////////////////////////////


After several long hours of bush-whacking and path-finding, the group made it to the gorge that separated them from their destination. Twilight, seeing posts for a bridge in the fog, made a run for it, only to half fall over. Thankfully Rainbow caught her. "What is with you and falling off cliffs today?" She asked her.

Then it hit Lightning and Dashie as to why there was no bridge. Lightning's father had to cut it down as a safety precaution as they camped...for all the good that did. Lightning then trod up to the edge of the pit. He could barely make out the edge of the end of the fallen bridge. "Rainbow...lets get the bridge up..." Lightning said as they both dove down into the fog and came up with the rope ends. They landed at the far end and brought up the ropes to tie them to the opposite posts. There was then an eiree laughter from the forest.

"Raaaiiiinnnnnnboooooowwwww...." The voice said.

"Who's there?" Rainbow asked into the nothingness.

"Who!?" Lightning joined in.

"It is us...the Shadow Bolts!" The voice said as three pegasi entered the clearing before them.

"The Shadow Bolts?" Lightning was skeptical.

"We are the most talented fliers in all of the Everfree...but there is a problem..." The leader of them said.

"What's wrong?" Lightning asked her.

"We may be the best...but we need a leader...and another new member too if you're interested..." She started to fly circles around the duo.

"We need the most powerful..." Into Lightning's ear, "Fastest..." Into Rainbow's ear, "And most fearless ponies in all the land..."

The others caught on..."Rainbow! Lightning! It's a trick and-" Twilight's voice was dampened by a sudden shroud of mist.

"Sooooo," She landed in front of them, "Join us?"

"Sure...we'll join up, just let us finish tieing this bridge and you've got a dea-"

"NO!!!" the leader snapped. "It's US or THEM!"

"You..." Rainbow started, causing the trio to smile sinisterly, "No thank-you I mean..."

They weren't happy...

"Alright...Let's finish the bridge and...Lightning!?" Rainbow looked but both he and the Shadow bolts were gone.

"How DARE you interfere again!?" The lead Shadow Bolt bellowed as she plowed him into Flash, then both into the forest.

With the Shadow bolts now gone and the way forward now clear, the remaining group entered the dark halls of the old castle.
> Battle for Daylight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Lightning and Flash were disorientated as their foes dragged them through the forest immediately surrounding the ruins of the Castle of the Sisters. After a few seconds they finally got the upper hoof and managed to get free of their grasp. Flash then pulled out his sword and ran it through the side of one of the two stallions while Lightning continued to brawl with the leader of the shadow bolts. The dark mare planted a hoof into Lightning's chest then picked him up and threw him into a tree, breaking it in half from the force. Meanwhile Flash, was surprised by the vanquished stallion had gone up into a cloud of smoke, which then flew back to the castle. He then lunged at the second stallion and slashed the form in half. There was no blood, only more smoke as it dissentigrated before him. Lightning seeing this then followed his example and pulled out his own dagger, but was pinned to the ground before he could swing at his assailant. The mare, now holding Lightning down at the ends of his forelegs, then started smothering him with pure darkness. He coughed and sputtered as the darkness began to fill his lungs and force out all the air within him. He struggled as he started to reach for his dagger with is hind legs.She began to kackle as she then recoiled back from his dagger finding its mark in her flank. Like the other two, she also vanished.

"Let's get back to the others!" Flash said. Lightning nodded in agreement as they flew back to the castle to rejoin the group, who was now entering the main chamber. As Lightning and Flash entered the main chamber, Rainbow and Fluttershy were already bringing down some orbs from the statue from the center of the room. 

"Isn't this what you were waiting for?" Applejack asked Twilight, who was transfixed on the orbs.

"One two three four..." Pinkie counted aloud. "Shouldn't there be six?"

"The book said that the sixth element was a mystery...but I have an idea that might solve it..." Twilight said. "Everyone stand back...I don't know what will happen..." Everypony stepped back as Twilight started to power up her horn.

"I've got a bad feeling about this..." Flash said.

"C'mon everypony," Applejack said, usuring everypony out. "Twilight needs to concentrate."

Just as everypony was leaving the room Nightmare's amorphous form rushed into the room and started pulling the orbs into a magical cyclone. Twilight gasped in surprise at this and did the only thing that came to her mind. Jump in. The others rushed back in a moment too late and returned to a now empty room.

"Where did they go!?" Lightning ask, flying around looking.

"THERE!!!" Rarity yelled, pointing at another part of the ruins.

"Don't just stand there...let's get over there pronto!" Applejack said.

Everypony then raced off to the far building where Twilight had managed to follow Nightmare. It was an even darker and far more forboding than the rest of the castle. Flash and Lightning were the first to arrive, much to Nightmare's annoyance. Twilight had decided to assume a fighting pose as well, snorting steam from her snout and stomping her hoof defiantly. Moonlight arrived next. "You've GOT to be kidding me! You're kidding me, right?!" She mocked them. With that Twilight and the three stallions started to charge her, Twilight's horn gathering strength as they closed in. Much to Nightmare, Lighting, Flash and Moonlight's surprise Twilight teleported through Nightmare and was before the orbs. They knew now what to do. While Nightmare was distracted Flash lifted up then threw Lightning at Nightmare, where his hind leg found it's mark causing her to lose her balance. "Moonlight!" Flash yelled to the dark purple stallion. "We'll handle Nightmare! Get a shield up around Twi!"

Moonlight nodded then turned to get to Twilight's side. Nightmare, now recovered from the suprise attack, turned and then casted a dark stream of lightning towards Twilight. With no room for error, Moonlight powered up his horn then lept between Nightmare's bolt and it's target. There was a brilliant flash of light as the bolt struck him.

As the light faded, a cloud of dust gave way to Moonlight standing in front of Twilight, with a crackling shield between them and Nightmare. She let out a cry of rage as she repeatedly rammed the shield with all her spells and power, but to no avail. Lightning then lept onto her back, took out his dagger, and tried to stab her. Instead, his blade met with nothing as she disapated and then reformed behind him. "Foolish little foal..." She venomously said as she planted a hoof into Lightning's side, then swatted him aside. Flash then unleashed a torrent of flames upon her, engulfing her in flames. As flash was helping up Lightning a dark tendril issued from the flames and grabbed Flash, rose him up into the air then slammed him into the floor. He let out a yelp of pain as she grabbed him again and proceeded to whip him through a pillar, decimating it in the process.

"FLASH!" Lightning yelled out as Nightmare started to close in on Flash, who was now in a heap under what was left of a pillar. Lightning then rose up into the air and began to try to dig into his new found power. Just as Nightmare was about to finish Flash off, she was struck by a sizable bolt of red lightning. As she was shaking it off, she was struck again and again, Lightning now having tapped into his power he pulled from deeper as he attacked again and again. As he felt that his reserve was getting low, he condensed what he had left into one final blast of lightning, which he rammed down upon her. The whole ruin was shaken and it's halls ringed with thunder as his bolt met it's mark.

A dark sinister laughter began as the smoke and dust cleared...

"No...that's impossible!" Lightning was bewildered as how anything could of survived such a blast.

"You've got to be kidding me if you think a little lightning will stop me you imputant little pony!" Nightmare taunted as she flexed her wings, her attention now all on Lightning. "Face it, my little ponies...your little 'rebellion' was doomed from the start!" Her voice was escalating. "I WAS DESTINED TO LEAD THIS NATION! ME! NIGHTMARE MOON! AND WILL SEE ALL THE WORLD PLUNGED INTO ETERNAL NIGHT!" Just as she finished, energy was now starting to crackle around Twilight. "Oh...I think I forgot about something...no...THE ELEMENTS!" She bellowed as she started rushing to Twilight.

An arc of magic lept from Twilight to the orbs, knocking both her and Moonlight aside, leaving Nightmare before them.

"No...NO! NOOO!" Nightmare roared as the orbs pulsed with energy.

Just as everyone in the room thought the fight was over, the orbs then fell silent.

Before anypony could react, Nightmare began kackleing as she reared up and then brought her mighty forelegs down on the orbs, shattering them into dozens of pieces, the faces of the stallions and Twilight reflected in them as they fell to the floor. "See now what your little struggle has proven?" Nightmare taunted. "Your 'Elements' are now in ruins! You might as well get comfortable...for this night will last FOREVER!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Twilight then heard the rest of her friends entering the room. Then, a spark crossed her eye.

"Do you really think that you could just destroy the elements just like that!?" Twilight asked Nightmare, with a sudden urge of confidence. Nightmare only answered with a stare. "The elements were never in these orbs...they were with me the whole time! Honesty, Applejack, who had shown me to take a leap of faith! Kindness, Fluttershy, who had tamed a raging manticore by soothing it's pain!" As she continued the shattered pieces started to float to and orbit the other mares in the room. "Pinkie Pie, who showed me to laugh in even the worst of times! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with her generosity! And Rainbow Dash, who could not ditch her friends for her personal gain...Loyalty!"

"But that's only five! You still..."

"But that's where you're wrong Nightmare!" Twilight retorted back. "The spark was never a spell...it...I felt it when my friends fought you to defend me, and when they came back for me! I realized how much I needed them! That is the spark!" With that the last of the pieces rose up and went to Twilight. They then all formed into amulets around the necks of all but Twilight, whom instead now bore a crown.

"NO!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I WON'T GO BACK!!!!!!! NEVER!!!!" Nightmare Moon roared as she unleashed everything she had at the group. But it was of no use. Everyone was now aglow with a brilliance of energy and purity that not even the darkest darkness could pierce. A Brilliant rainbow then shot from the mass, and bore into Nightmare, enveloping her as it swirled around her. She clawed at the air with her hooves in vain attempts to escape as all her strength left her and all once of her evil being left her. All was then quiet as all that remained of Nightmare were the shards of her armor, still softly eminating an omnous darkness.

"Is it over?" Lightning asked Twilight, who was still recovering after her ordeal.

"I...I think so, I see the sun starting to rise..." Twilight said. Then, energy started to envelop the armor pieces, followed by laughter. But it wasn't like Nightmare's, this laughter was of a darker nature.

"Great work my little ponies!" A voice familiar to Lightning and Flash spoke.

"Thundara!" Lightning yelled, barring his teeth.

"Heheheheh!" Thundara laughed as she revealed herself, now in Nightmare's armor. "Now in the flesh thanks to you and you're friends! Now that I'm back...I won't be needing you two anymore!" She then started striking Lightning and Flash down with frightning amounts of energy that made even Nightmare seem tame. Everypony could only watch as she slowly fried the two stallions to the death. But before she could finish them off, a blinding brilliance shined through the room as brilliant beams of sunlight blasted the new alicorn into the wall.

"...So this was you're plan to return...by using my sister...THUNDARA!!!" Princess Celestia boomed as she smited Thundara through the wall.

"This is far from over...Princess...The Thunder Tribe will take back what was stolen from it! Let it be known that Thundara, Queen of the Thunder Tribe has returned!!!" Thundara boomed as she rose up and then vanished into rolling thunder clouds above, which then wafted away out of sight.

Celestia then saw her sister, now half her size, cowering in the corner. "It's been a while since I've seen you like this sister," She said.

"I'm sorry sister...really I am..." The small blue alicorn said, quivering.

"Apology accepted sister Luna. You've got some explaining to do...but it'll have to wait. You're back, and this is a time to-" Celestia started.

"PARTY!!!" Pinkie Pie shouted, startling everypony. With that, they all left the room, except Lightning, who was pondering what had occur'd. He then thought of the nightmare he kept having until now...

He was in a dark forest within an equally dark temple structure. There upon a pedistol stood a strange statue that had five strange stone orbs adorning it. For some reason he couldn't help but approach the statue. But before he could reach it, there was an evil presence in the room. Before him was an amorphous black-as-night form that had an erie similarity to it. Before he could do anything, six lights of various colors entered the temple. The darkness then said some undissernable things and vanished with the orbs. He was then in the forest again, though he was in control of his body now. Before him now was a vaguely familiar pony among three other pegasi that were wearing darkened, twisted versions of what the Wonder Bolts wore. He couldn't hear what they were saying but he found out soon enough when all four of them attacked. He tried his best to fend them off but he was eventually overwhelmed. As they reared for the final blow, he began to scream. Everything became a blur as their hooves came down on him.

"Was it a preminision? A warning?" Lightning asked himself, now realizing that said dream had in fact come true. However one thing eluded him...in his nightmare, there were four ponies...not just three. He then turned to leave himself, still wondering what or who the forth one was. He took off and caught up with the others who were waiting for him outside.

"What took y'all so long hun?" Applejack asked Lightning.

"Just...thinking is all," Lightning replied.

"Everypony ready to go back?" Celestia asked.

"Don't need to ask us twice your Majesty!" Flash said, eager to get out of the dark forest.

With that Celestia promptly teleported everyone back home to Ponyville, where the townfolk had been waiting.
> Return of Luna!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The group appeared in the middle of town square as the crowds erupted in cheer in the return of their leaders. They also cheered the return of their triumphant heros who had braved the worst of the Everfree to save them. Somehow, Pinkie had already decorated the whole town and organized the whole celebration in what was a matter of seconds, much to even Celestia's surprise. Flash Firestorm, on the other hoof, could not seem to take his eyes off of the returning regent, Luna. He felt a certain calm while looking at her, like when one gazes at the night sky.

"Flash..." Lightning said.

He stared more...

"Flash!" Lightning yelled, startling Flash.

"Oh, uhh...what?" Flash was nervous.

"What's up with you? You've done nothing but stare at Princess Luna since we got back. You alright?" Lighting asked. It didn't take much for him to figure it out. "You like her...don't you?"

That was the death blow to Flash's emotional fortitude. "W...what gave that away?" He asked.

"Because I was the same when I first saw Applejack," Lighting said.

"I...I'm gonna go talk to her!" Flash decreed.

"Good luck..."Lightning said as Flash nervously approached Luna, who was shying by Celestia's side. "Your gonna need it..." He turned to find himself no more than an inch from Applejack's face, startling him.

"I'm so proud of you sugarcube!" Aj said as she embraced him in a hug. "I knew I fell in love with the right stallion when I found you back in Manehattan." She drew Lightning closer. "But y'all better keep on yer guard...me being the element of honesty and all." She planted a quick kiss on Lightning's cheek then rejoined the others, followed closely by Lightning.

Celestia approached Twilight, who had a worried look on her face. "Why so sad my most faithful student?" She asked. "Aren't you glad that now that you've finished your quest, you can return to Canterlot and get back ot your studies?"

"That's just it..." Twilight started, "Now that I have good friends I have to leave them?"

There was a glint in Celestia's eye.

"Spike, take a note!" Celestia commanded. Out walked a small baby dragon with purple scales and green spines on his back and head. "Let it be that Twilight Sparkle shall remain in Ponyville, and take on a new study...Friendship!"

There was much cheering from this news, as nopony wanted to see Twilight have to leave, especially Moonlight, who now had a slight blush in his face. 

"Come, sister, there is much to do," Celestia said to Luna.

"Wait...umm," Flash interrupted.

"Yes Flash?" Celestia asked.

"C...can I speak to L...Luna for a moment?" Flash nervously asked, hoofing at the ground.

"Sure, I see no reason why not..." Celestia said with a slight smirk on her face. She had already caught on as well...and had a plan to help Luna adjust to the now...

Flash then cautiously approached Luna, who was now staring at Flash like he was weird. "Um...hi Luna...was it?" He asked. smooth move there he thought, sweat starting to build in his forelock.

"You're one of the ponies who saved us...right?" Luna asked, nervously hoofing the ground.

"Yeah, I was there uh..."

"It's Flash Firestorm right?" Luna asked.

"Well...yeah I..."

"Celestia spoke highly of you...and we need a...friend to help us get used to things again. Will thou help us young stallion?" Luna asked.

"I...I'd be honored to...your Majesty," Flash said.

"Then thou must take thy place next to us, as we will be departing shortly," Luna said.

Flash was then levitated over to Luna's side by a field of golden magic.

"Wait...you're leaving?" Lightning asked.

"Luna would like me to show her around and help her adjust to this new world. A lot has changed since she was banished after all." Flash said. "Come and visit me in Canterlot eh?" 

"Of course! And don't be a stranger either!" Lightning said.

"Good by my little ponies, and have a happy Summer Sun!" Celestia said as she, Luna, and Flash disappeared in a bright flash.

Meanwhile Moonlight was helping Twilight completely move in. "It's a nice home and all but it needs..." Twilight started.

"NO! No redecorating!" Moonlight said, chasing Twilight around the house as she tore down random things. "Be careful! Some of these 'things' your throwing out are sensitive experiments!"

"Wait...what's this?" Twilight asked as she held up a pot with a strange blue plant in it.

"No...wait! That's my poison..." The plant plastered his face. "Joke."


///////////////////////


The rest of the group had also gone back home after the rather exausting party Pinkie had thrown. Rainbow Dash had returned to her cloud home, which sadly now felt empty without any roommates. Rarity and Pinkie left with Fluttershy to calm her down after all the horrors they encountered.

Applejack and Lightning returned home to Sweet Apple Acres to find the entire Apple Family waiting for them. And were nearly deafened by the roaring applause.

"We'd love to stay and celebrate...but we just want to go relax after all the things we went through," Lightning said to the others. "We can party more tomorrow."

Applejack led Lightning upstairs and into her room, where they found no difficulty falling asleep in each other's hooves.


////////////////////////


Meanwhile, in Ghastly Gorge...

Enjoy your victory...Lightning Ace and friends...soon I will unleash a torrent of destruction that not you, or anypony can even hope to stop! I will have my revenge!