Disclaimer: I do not own MLP

Chapter 8: plauge

Lightning was the only one in shape to explain what happened to the mare; she blew up. Straight as that; she warned us then exploded. (I just proof read my last chapter and noticed a spell error. I don't proof read my stuff!)

The charges were dropped at the princess' command; she knew he wouldn't get so shaken by a murder; it would take much more than that. "What happened?" she asked harshly once the trio of ponies were before her. "I honestly haven't figured it out yet myself." Lightning avoided answering. The princess wouldn't have that, "What happened in the hospital?" Lightning smiled; knowing the joy of being with 'friends'. "I was informed that Mist was being held in the hospital by Twilight; I decided to get moving. Once Twilight and I got there we met up with Rainbowdash; then she told us that she was held out of talking to Mist until I arrived." The princess raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt. "Then we went into the hospital room; mist wasn't looking too good; she seemed happy that I showed up. Then she told me that Equestria was in danger. She said I had to keep my friends and that we needed to stick together." Lightning took a breath before continuing. "She then was approached by Rainbowdash who asked why did this happen. But Mist just repeated that we would understand soon; then she exploded; traumatizing all of us." the princess nodded. "I know what she meant."

The princess Celestia led them to a tower; there she said they would understand there. Twilight was getting her voice back. "I can't believe she died that way…" Lightning felt guilt; he felt it was his fault that Mist got attacked. "Is this my fault Twilight?" He asked the only mare he felt he could trust to give him an answer. "I don't think so; it was an attack to get the princess' attention." Lightning looked away from the others. "We have arrived." Celestia said briskly; opening the door to a darkened chamber, inside princess Luna was looking off a balcony opposite to the entrance. Celestia sighed, "It is happening again."

Lightning felt shock, "Again!? What do you mean again!?" Lightning took a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm sorry about the outburst; what do you mean again? This has happened before?" Celestia sighed; "This is a terrible plague that is now affecting this kingdom again. Sit down my little ponies; this will be a long tale." The three ponies sat down; Lightning's mind was running full speed. "It all started 1000 years ago…"

TALE OF THE PLAUGE

(This might be long; if you have to go to the bathroom do it now. Get some snacks or if its late you might want to stop reading and save this story for tomorrow.)

(Everypony ready? If you disregarded my warning I insist you read and consider it.)

One thousand years ago there was a plague that wanted to take Equestria by force; it is the very curse that turned Luna into Nightmare Moon. This curse was purged by several ponies banning together to stop it; it was turning ponies into hateful versions of themselves. This plague is known as the nightmare; it feeds off of evil emotions such as spite hate greed or jealousy. It was consuming Equestria quickly; the band of ponies aforementioned needed to find the magic's that could stop it. These were the elements of harmony that were sought by the ponies. Chief among them was Celestia; she lead the others to find the elements so she could stop the Nightmare from consuming Equestria through her sister; she had lead five ponies to their deaths.

Lightning Twilight Rainbowdash Sketchbook and Pocketbook were all direct descendants of the five ponies that had died. The Nightmare was freed in the body of Luna; Twilight and the other elements had stopped her then; it was up to this group of five to stop it now.

And so the tale ends with a promise from the Nightmare to return; and kill all those who could stop it now.

Lightning was shocked into silence; this was his destiny? To stop a plague that Celestia could barely defeat? Twilight was the first to speak, "You think we can do this princess?" Lightning's gut sank but his heart lifted with a sense of reason. "Not with that attitude Twi." Lightning smiled and spoke with a bit of joke in his voice. Rainbowdash flipped, "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!" Lightning was taken aback; but he still smiled. "This was meant to happen Rainbow; it doesn't mean I'm happy with it. But if it's up to us then it's up to us." there was no fear in his voice; just cool logic. "Do you think I wanted this to occur? No; I wanted to live a normal life with my foster parent. Instead I ended up saving the world. This is what we must do; we must meet up and do what we can to erase the Nightmare from existence." Celestia smiled, "You must work together my little ponies; the Nightmare feeds off dark emotions. You must not let it take you." Lightning stood up, "Can you teleport us to Ponyville? We need to gather supplies." There was a flash of light and the quad of ponies were in Ponyville.

Lightning stood up shakily; he wasn't used to teleports. "Everypony okay?" he asked the group around him; then he noticed the alicorn with him. "Princess Luna? Why are you here?" Luna stood up; almost without effort. "It is my responsibility to assist you in stopping this plague." Lightning shrugged; instead checking on Twilight. "Twilight; get ready. We need to get Sketch and Pocket so we can get started." Twilight stood up; more experienced in teleportation fatigue. "Shall we get started?" Luna asked. "Let's go find the others."

Sketch was all up for adventure; Pocketbook just wanted him to bring a notebook so he could write down the details for his next comic. "We're not getting any younger over here!" Rainbowdash shouted; impatient. "Keep your feathers on; I'm almost ready!" Rainbow sighed explosively, "You've been almost ready for an hour!" Pocket came out of the front door with saddlebags on. "Am I the only one who brought some protective gear?" she asked. "Apparently." Was what Lightning said. "Everypony ready? We need Spike to send a letter to princess Celestia telling her we're ready." Luna just held her hoof in the air before using her 'Royal Canterlot Voice' to shout the message to Celestia. A Chariot came into view not ten minutes afterwards.

Authors note: sorry for the short chapter; I need to move this along to the epic parts and we pretty much get the idea about the Plague. Mist was the first fatality in this story; there most likely will be more. Skarfly out.