Chapter 7: suspicion

Lightning walked into his house and flopped down onto his bed; contemplating the reasons he was so rude to the princess. 'It could be that she killed my father and held my past as a weapo0n against my friends.' He thought sourly. His eyes fluttered closed and he fell into a fitful sleep.

Lightning sat on a hill; the very same hill from the prologue. "And I'm on this hill again; what will my luck throw at me this time?" Lightning asked aloud. Then the very earth rumbled, "THIS IS BIGGER THAN YOU KNOW" Lightning was shaken but could respond. "What do you mean?" He asked the raggedy voice from the grave. "YOU NEED NOT FIGHT YOUR FRIEND TWILIGHT SPARKLE" Lightning huffed, "I know that!" the chilling voice didn't listen, "YOU MUST MAKE AMENDS; YOU MUST GO AND TALK TO TWILIGHT AND SAY YOU'RE SORRY" Lightning was sure that somepony had entered his mind to make him dream this. "Okay then; who are you to enter my mind?" the voice didn't answer; instead the dream faded and Lightning felt the dawn on his face.

Lightning was walking through the market towards the library when he stopped cold; a familiar feeling of dread was trickling down his spine. "I told yall we couldn't trust him!" Lightning heard the voice coming from an alley not too far from where he stood. "I know but I think that he may need our help in case he's going insane!" This was definitely Twilights voice. "Who cares if he goes insane! We all saw how he treated the princess! I say we show him not to mess with us!" Rainbowdash was itching for a fight.

Lightning snuck into the building next to the alleyway; listening in on the conversation. "You think he fell for it?" Lightning knew this was a clever ploy to get him to betray his friends; too bad they thought he left when he didn't. "Hard to say; I think that if he did we're going to be well paid for our 'talents'" he heard another snicker. "I just think that if he was such a problem why didn't they dispose of him before?" another one asked, "I don't know and I don't care." The first one stated. "I just hope he never finds out who we are. Hey Mack!" a voice like gravel grinding a man's face down answered, "Yes?" The voice continued unhindered "Are you sure you locked them elements up?" The gravel voice chuckled, "Of course; they are in the library." Lightning left them to their crap and went at a faster pace towards the library.

Lightning saw a sign on the door; 'closed for re-shelving' Lightning just opened the door anyway. It was dark and smelled of old books; the only thing that confused lightning was the note on the floor. Picking it up he saw it said one thing; one thing to strike something into him.

PACKAGE RECEIVED

Lightning heard a muffled cry coming from the upper floor; he trotted up and saw one closed door; it was unlocked so Lightning eased the door open; inside was Twilight and the others; tied up and gagged. "By Celestia's beard." He muttered; he knelt down and untied Twilight and Applejack; next he untied Fluttershy and Rarity; after that he freed Rainbowdash and Pinkie. "Okay what happened?" Lightning asked; he felt a sharp pain in his face as Twilight hit him; but he didn't rise to it. "So that's what happened?" he asked jokingly. "Why did you do this?" Fluttershy sobbed. "What? I just got here! I was walking to apologize to Twilight for being rude to her when this happened!" The mane six just stopped. "What?" Twilight looked at him, "You said you were here to apologize to me?" Lightning nodded and plunked down on the hard wood floor.

THREE DAYS LATER

Lightning was walking to the library to see Twilight; she wanted to see him for some reason; a new spell or something rather. "Heya Lightning!" A voice sounded from above him; looking up Lightning saw Rainbowdash flying above him. "Oh hey Rainbow; what's up?" Rainbow landed next to him and walked with him. "I heard you were going to see Twilight." Lightning nodded, "Yeah; she might just want to talk or it has something to do with a new spell." Lightning hadn't talked to the girls about what his search turned up; I however will tell you: nothing.

The two pegusi reached the library, "I'll see you later; bye lightning!" Rainbowdash flew off and Lightning turned his attention to the front door; there was an advanced lock on it. Lightning examined it carefully before just deciding to knock. *Knock knock* there was a small creak as the door opened; revealing Lightning's friend; Celestia's student; and the pony you know because I already told you several times: Twilight Sparkle. "Hello Lightning, please come in." She turned and Lightning walked after her; was it just him or was she a bit… robotic?

Lightning walked into the main foyer where Spike sat; sending a letter once he saw Lightning enter the room. "What was the note about?" Lightning asked absentmindedly, "It's a letter to the princess." Twilight answered. "Well enough about that; why did you want to see me Twilight?" Lightning asked. Twilight looked at him; joy in her eyes. "You apologized." Lightning shrugged, "Well you WERE right; I needed the information; but I should have known and respected the princess." Twilight smiled. "You aren't like I was told…" that got Lightning attention real quickly, "You were told? Who told you what?" Twilight looked alarmed, "You heard that?"

Apparently she was told by the princess that Lightning wasn't going to apologize; she was told that he would remain stubborn and wrong. Lightning didn't do that; he told Twilight that she was right when he truly believed it. "So the princess was saying I'm a big stubborn idiot of sorts?" Lightning asked the star pupil, "Yeah; she said you weren't going to apologize for it." Lightning broke into a grin, "Only superstars break the mold." Twilight shook her head; but Lightning could see she was smiling too.

Lightning was at the library reading about the elements; so far he learned that each of the six friends was an element. Discord wasn't in the book so Lightning knew it was out of date; it still gave decent information. Lightning looked up and saw Twilight walk in, "Hey Twilight; what's going on?" Twilight clearly looked troubled. "Nothing's wrong Lightning! Why would it be wrong?" Twilight looked at him with a twitching eyelid. "Twilight; I have seen you act like this before. Something is bothering you; I want to know what it is." Twilight looked at him again; seemingly really upset. "Mist; you know the Pegasus that was put on the weather team? She ended up in the hospital while we were away."

Lightning and Twilight made it to the hospital; Rainbowdash was waiting for him outside. "Rainbow! What happened?" Lightning asked the cyan Pegasus, "I don't know! The doctors say nopony can go in until you arrived!" she added the last comment with a hint of irritation. "Well lets go then!" Lightning and the others went into the hospital. A nurse rushed up to greet them. "How can I help you?" she asked; Lightning took a deep breath, "I need to see mist the Pegasus." The nurse led him and the others into the medical room; Mist was on the treatment bed. Her usual aqua coat was a shade paler; her gold mane had its normal red streaks; but it was soaked in sweat. He couldn't see her cutie mark but Lightning remembered it from his last time meeting her; it was a red heart with a lone wing.

Mist looked up weakly; her eyes lit up when she saw Lightning trot up. "Lightning!" she rasped; her voice sounded as if she hadn't had a drink in a day or two. "It is a grave time for Equestria." Lightning furrowed his brow, "What do you mean?" Mist just closed her eyes, "You must stay with the friends that you have now; your past is darker than you know." Lightning knew this wasn't Mist speaking to him; it was another speaking through her. "What happened to Mist?" Twilight gave a confused look but didn't question what he said. "She is afflicted by the evil you must face… you will understand in time… do not fail; Equestria rests in the hooves of you and your friends now…"

Mist started to close her eyes more when Rainbowdash cut in, "Mist! This can't be happening!" There were tears streaking down the mares face. "It must be done Rainbow… You will understand in time…" she repeated this; then exploded all over the walls. "OH MY GOD! THAT WAS THE MOST GRAPHIC THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!" Lightning was freaking out at what had just transpired; his friend who he had attempted to try and save just exploded. Rainbowdash was in tears over the death of her friend and Twilight was just standing there; too shocked to move. Then the nurse walked back in.