Chapter 1: on the road again

The idea was to take a hot air balloon and gat to canterlot, on the way the three discussed their concerns. "The thing is that even though some of my past has been revealed, I think there's more to it than what I know now." Lightning told sketch. "I'm not so sure that taking the hot air balloon was the smart choice." Sketch said, pocket practically slapped him, "Are you kidding? Well get to canterlot in no time fl-" a voice full of authority cut her off, "HALT, nopony is allowed to go to canterlot at the moment." The pegusus guard looked at lightning, "nopony whatsoever, not even you-" pocket got up in his face "SHUT UP!" lightning turned towards her, "what are you-?" pocketbook practically knocked the two guards aside as they barreled foreword, "AWAY!"

magical beams rained upon them as they flew foreword, "these aren't easy to dodge in a balloon you know!" sketch called to pocket, right then a blast of energy hit the balloon, and they began to lose air. The last thing lightning saw was the forest below them rushing up to meet them.

Pain, nothing but pain and darkness, cracking one eye open lightning could see they were at the edge of the forest. Sketch was using healing magic on his left wing. "Really pocketbook? That's the second time you almost got us arrested!" pocket turned on him, "hey in my defense prison time makes great comics!" lightning sat up, "the second time?" sketch turned, "yeah, pocket never should have tried to talk with the mares in canterlot." Lightning looked around,"how are we going to get to canterlot now?" sketch pointed behind him "we have to go on hoof." The three ponies gallop off towards the distant castle.

MEANWHILE

Twilight appeared at the train station with the other 6 elements. "So twilight, Why did we need to leave lightning behind?" discord asked twilight looked at her former enemy, "Princess Celestia asked that we go without him, I think it's a test of his cunning to get there on his own." Applejack shifted uneasily, "ah think lightning will still find a way to get there." Rainbowdash sighed, "his wing is really hurt, I don't think he's flying anytime soon." Discord nodded, "His wing is hurt badly but remember, he would want to bring sketch and pocket." Rarity piped up, "we didn't leave anything he could use did we?"

Twilight shook her head, "the only thing we left with him is a sense of betrayal, that and a determination to help." The 7 elements got aboard the train and moved off towards canterlot.

Halfway to canterlot twilight looked out the window and her jaw dropped, there was the hot air balloon she used to get to Cloudsdale with, and sitting inside were lightning sketch and pocket! She rolled down her window and fired magical blasts at the balloon; she wasn't going to let lightning get there until she was sure the princess was okay. The balloon lurched forwards and the blasts missed, until one lucky shot hit the balloon, too late twilight realized that they could all fall to their deaths. The balloon plunged down by the forest.