A/N: And we're back. Sorry for the fast and slow updates. I'm in college right now so everything is hectic. Trying to rush and buying time is not easy. Especially since I suck at math. Now does Flair have anything to say?

Flair: Not really no.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

Lightning was standing with Rainbow as he watched Twilight's inauguration ceremony all the while pulling at the outfit Rarity made. 'I absolutely hate formal clothes, but I like the hats Rarity made for me and Rainbow.' Lightning thought.

Rainbow bumps him in the side. "Stop fidgeting like a foal. Besides you wear clothes all the time." Rainbow whispers.

Lightning made one more adjustment before he stopped messing with his clothes. "I wear comfortable armor, not formal black tie." He commented.

"Look it's almost over, then there is a party." Rainbow whispers.

"A formal party." Lightning whispers back a little depressed.

"Oh, grow up." Rainbow quipped.

"We have to meet nobles, like what was the name of the prince nopony cares about?" Lightning asks as he brings a hoof to his chin.

"Prince Blueblood?" Rainbow answer.

"Yeah, Prince Bluebrood." Lightning confirmed...wrong.

"Oh, joy bunnies." Rainbow Dash whispered joining his opinion on it.

The ceremony finally ended and they were escorted to the party room. Inwardly all Lightning could do was groan. The room was filled with the richest ponies in the city and shaking hooves with Twilight. Even Twilight was getting tired of it. Luckily Celestia steps in and takes over for all the hoof shaking.

Afterword Twilight spent some time with her friends while Lightning actually starts eating at the concession table. "At least the food is good." He remarked.

The mares were then approach by a very fat elderly stallion. "Oh ho ho ho, my Lady Twilight you look absolutely lovely." The stallion says.

Twilight turns to the stallion as well the rest of the group. "Who the hay is that?" Applejack whispers.

"Some noble we have never met. I believe he is Lord Burrows, the owner of the northern gold mines." Rarity whispers back.

"Ah...thank you...sir." Twilight said back.

"Oh, not at all Princess Twilight. A complement of so low quality to you is not even worthy of acknowledging." Lord Burrows says.

Lightning seeing him, glares, knowing him full well from the description Nikolai gave him, but kept his cool knowing that he was his only lead to Dolph and the rest of the Nether Gate assassins. He stayed at the table still watching them just in case.

"Who we looking at?"

Lightning screams like a filly then turns to Spitfire behind him. "Grandma was right, you do scream like a filly." She put out, commenting on his scream.

Lightning glares at his sister before turning his attention back to Lord Burrows. "To answer your question a stallion who I will stuff and mount on my wall if he makes a pass on Rainbow." Lightning says with anger.

Spitfire looks to the lord. "I don't think he's going after Rainbow."

"I think you're right. He seems to be buttering up the newest princess." Lightning says turning around and his jaw went slack jaw after he noticed his sister was wearing a dress and not her uniform. "What the heck in Tartarus is that barf?"

"What, it doesn't look good?" Spitfire asks looking irritated.

"No, it looks good, it's just I never saw you wear a dress. Grandmother must have made some major headway in convincing you to find a stallionfriend." Lightning says smirking.

Spitfire frowns at the proposal. "No, grandma didn't have anything to do with this. Besides, this is my other formal wear for parties."

"So she hasn't been pestering you nonstop about that?" Lightning says his smirk growing.

She hung her head down. "Unfortunately."

Lightning pats her reassuringly on the back. "Don't worry sis. There is a stallion for you out there."

She glares back at him for that. "That's not what I hoped you say."

"I know I just said that to get a rise out of you, but sis, serious question." Lightning's face turned serious.

"Yes?" Spitfire asks.

"Are you a fillyfooler?" Lightning whispers into her ear.

She turns red and turns him around then slams his head into the punchbowl. Everypony bears witness as she tried to drown him in the bowl. "You going to never ask that again, are you?" She asks calmly as she lifted his head out of the bowl.

"Until I get a serious answer, yes." Lightning says. This earned him another turn in the punchbowl.

Spitfire lifts him out again. "I won't give up until you answer." He told her as he tried to get his breath back.

Spitfire sighs and let's go. "Just go with your marefriend because you're not worth it."

Lightning looks at her worriedly. "Hey, what's wrong?" He then frowns. "Show's over folks, go back to your hoof shaking." He told the other partygoers. They grumbled at the loss of the show that only comes from Ponyville. And when I say Ponyville, I mean it. I mean, that town is the only place in the world where anything interesting happens. Not including Canterlot, of course.

"Come on sis, what's wrong with you?" Lightning asks again.

Spitfire sighs again and kicks up some dust left behind on the floor. "Nothing, it's just…"

"Just…" Lightning speaks on with a raised eyebrow.

She turns to him. "You have a better life than me. Look at what I got and it's got me stuck on one thing in my life. Sure the Wonderbolts are good and it pays well. But after a while, it just doesn't have the flair it use to have. Like doing amazing tricks and stunts. Now everything is a blur of routines and repeats. Yours on the other hoof is better because of the creatures you have to fight and deal with. Since you can use different strategies to deal with them instead of the same thing."

Lightning gains a frown at what she implicated. "You think its fun sis. It's not I risk my life on a daily bases. I never know if the next second is my last. The only thing constant is my fear. What I wouldn't give to be free of the responsibility to just fly like you and the others do having fun." Lightning said wistfully.

Spitfire tears up at that notion. "I meant you keep getting the rush and sometimes if you like it, the thrill of it. I don't have that anymore. It's like walking by something that attacks you every day since you were born and now you can shrug it off with a sidestep or a flick of the hoof because it's routine."

"There is no thrill for me sis. It was for the first few hunts but the first time I saw somepony die in front of me on a hunt, it stopped being fun." Lighting says sadness evident on his face.

Silence came out of them as the party went on in earnest. "I'm sorry." It was faint, but it was there.

Lightning says nothing and just wraps his sister in a hug. "Listen I don't know if this helps, but I picked up a few moves that can never be shown because it's an attack style. You can use it on your own time and not in front of an audience. They would just bring the thrill down. Deal?"

She wipes the tears from her muzzle. "Deal." She envelops him in a hug once more.

"Oh." Luna says watching the two siblings. "I remember once when we were like that." She said to herself as she looks to Celestia still shaking hooves.

"Like what sister?" Celestia asks as she looks to her little sister.

Luna didn't even realized that she was close enough. "When we were young as young mares back in the day." She told her as Luna shook a hoof. At least they trust her enough now to shake a hoof.

"Yes, simpler times." Celestia says a little sorrow in her voice as she remembered times long passed. "Back when we could mess around and have a little fun instead of worrying of how to run a country."

"Oh that reminds me sister, isn't the Queen of Saddle Arabia supposed to arrive tonight?" Luna asks as she looks around for her.

"Yes, a little later, but soon little sister." Celestia says.

After a time Lightning and Spitfire stopped hugging and tried to enjoy the party and then went over to see the mares from Ponyville after Lord Burrows left. "Hey girls, did that lordy Mcblob leave you alone for the rest of your lives now?"

"Ah, hey Lightning." Rainbow says as Lightning and Spitfire come up next to her. "How did the drowning go?"

"Well, I think I sprouted gills." Lightning joked.

"Really?!" Pinky exclaimed as she popped out from behind Rainbow's head before starting to check him all over for gills.

"Pinkie." Twilight says annoyed.

"Not now, checking for gills." Pinkie says rather quickly.

"Pinkie, can you let go, this does not look good." He was right as the position they're in is not one to be shown in public. Pinkie was on Lightning's stomach while he was on his back. Not a pretty sight for some...though some left not for the embarrassment.

"He was joking." Spitfire says blandly.

"Ah, ah." Pinkie was peeking in Lightning's mouth for some inside gills, who looked annoyed. "Soootppp Pinnnnnkkee." He said with his mouth open.

Pinkie lets out a huff. "No gills, come on!" She said to nopony.

Lightning pushes her off and messes with his jaw back into place. "Thanks a lot Pinkie, now I won't eat right for a week." He complained as he finishes his jaw moving with a crack. "Ah, that's better." He sighed as he rubs his jaw line. "So what did that fat stallion want? Don't tell me he made a pass on any of you." Lightning says.

"Oh no, he just complimented us a lot is all." Twilight informed.

"Then he wants something." Lightning says. Rarity looks around and sees the Canterlot ponies and rich ponies from other countries milling about, but keeps sweeping a glance to Twilight. "As the new princess they will want to earn favors from you to advance themselves." Lightning says sounding like he had experience.

Twilight rubs a hoof against her head to alleviate some pressure. "I thought they were just being nice. I guess this is how Princess Celestia feels." She said as she looks over to the sun alicorn.

"And it sounds like you had this problem before." Spitfire spoke up.

Lightning looks back at her then back to the others. "Yeah, I'm used to it because the nobles of Stalliongrad relied on the Stalliongrad Hunters to keep their lands safe from monsters. A lot of times we see them being buttered up for wealth or power." Lightning says.

"Oh, this is going to take some getting used to." Twilight moans.

"It never gets easy." Lightning says before everypony hears trumpets being blown.

"Presenting the Queen of Saddle Arabia." A crier announced as a dark purple pegasus, with batwings instead of the normal feather wings, red eyes, and black mane wearing a regal bright purple with red lines, to highlight her eyes, gown, walks in with an escort of Saddle Arabian soldiers.

Celestia and Luna walks toward the queen as everypony clears a path for them. Lightning just stares wide eyed at the Queen walking towards them. "Good evening Princesses of Equestria." The Queen greets the older ruler as she slightly inclines her head down.

The co-rulers bow slightly in return. "And good evening to you. We have been expecting you." Celestia greets back.

"That is something I didn't expect." Lightning whispered quietly.

"What do you mean?" Rainbow asks as the Queen surveys the crowd and her eyes fall on Lightning. 'She better not do what I think she's going to do.'

"Please excuse me Princess Celestia and Luna, I have just spotted a familiar face." The Queen says before making her way to the table of the Mane Six, Spitfire, and Lightning.

Lightning had tried to slip away but Spitfire held him in place by his tail. 'Oh buck.' He thought forebodingly.

"Greetings, I am Queen Eclipse of Saddle Arabia." Queen Eclipse introduced herself, her escort still flanking her.

"Hello there." Twilight spoke. "I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle. It's a pleasure huh…" She stops as she realizes that Eclipse stayed focused on Lightning, who was hiding beneath the table, even going as far as getting a little close to him.

"It's been a long time Lightning." Eclipse said soothingly.

Lightning groans and comes out into the limelight. "Hey Clipsley." Lightning says shyly as he receives stares from all the other mares at the table. Even the whole room went silent that you could hear a pin drop.

PING

Everypony looks to the sound and sees Luna with a pin on the ground. She looks back at them with a weirded out expression. "What? You were all thinking the same thing. I just wanted to see that it would work."

"How dare you address the Queen in such a manner?!" Her guard escort says angrily before suddenly stopping under the weight of Lightning's glare.

"That's enough. He is allowed to talk to me as such. He is one of the only two who can call me that." Eclipse says in her regal tone.

"My apologies my Queen." The guard says backing away a bit.

Lightning sighs heavily as everypony looks on in shock at what he called her. "You know, this isn't how I wanted how see you again. I'm still expecting a full convoy following you. Remember that escort one time?"

Eclipse laughs with a hoof over her muzzle. "How could I forget? You're the only one that choose to try to beat me in my own game and the whole convey lost all their bits to you." She giggles a little more remembering their reactions.

"Those were the fun days before you became Queen of Saddle Arabia." Lightning says longingly.

"Would somepony explain what is going on?" Spitfire asks with the mane six having their jaws slacked, even Celestia and Luna had their jaws slacked a little.

"Oh, it's simple. Lightning Bolt and I used to see each other." Eclipse says like it was a regular thing to tell.

"Why do you have to be so blunt with that? I swear you do a 180 when it comes to politics." Lightning says.

Eclipse laughs slightly. "Come on Boltie, you know how I act. How else did you put with me?" She teased.

"Pain pills and natural muscle relaxants." Lightning jokes.

"And what natural muscle relaxants they are." Eclipse follows.

"An herb that is grown in Stalliongrad." Lightning answers bluntly.

Eclipse looks at him with a sultry expression. "Well, how about the other relaxant you had with me?"

"That was one time." Lightning says angrily before his eyes widen at what she had tricked him into revealing.

Rainbow looks at him shocked. "Lightning...did you two…?" She said afraid of what he's implying.

Lightning stares face down at the ground before repeatedly slamming his head into the table.

"Oh, that trip to the spa was wonderful." Eclipse adds with a smile.

Everypony facefualts. "Are you serious?!" Rainbow and Spitfire yell as they got back up.

"It is part of my shame." Lightning says sulking in the corner that made him look like he had depressed lines on him.

Eclipse laughs out loud. "Oh, I just love teasing you. Just like the old days." Lightning said nothing as he still sulks in the corner.

"So did you really go out with my stallionfriend?" Rainbow asks.

Eclipse smiles. "Nah, we were just good friends. Like brother and sister." She said casually.

Pinkie Pie looks at the authors doubtful. Don't look at us Pinkie, we're just spicing up the story. Besides turn back to them.

"What is she looking at?" Eclipse asks.

Lightning leans in. "The first rule around here is when it comes to Pinkie Pie, don't ask questions about what she's doing or talking about. Just go along with it."

"I see, so want to come to my room tonight?" Eclipse teased, causing Lightning to start stuttering and Rainbow to pull him away.

Eclipse stared confused at them. "Oh come on, am I not attractive?" Rainbow shot a glare at her in response.

"He is mine." Rainbow says with a glare. Lightning just looks at Eclipse with a shrug.

"So could you elaborate on Lightning's past? He hasn't revealed that much." Twilight asks.

"Oh I would love to..." Eclipse is cut off by a Saddle Arabian soldier that comes up to her.

"My Queen the prince is requesting to see you." The soldier informs.

Eclipse groans out loud. "Can't I spend time with the ponies I want or is the world against me?"

"The prince? You have a son now?" Lightning almost yells as Rainbow hugs him tightly.

Eclipse sighs and walks off. "Excuse me, I have to deal with this." She looks back at Lightning. "Maybe after we can catch up."

Rainbow squeezes him harder. "Not happening sister."

Eclipse shrugs. "Pity, I was hoping of making my famous sweet pie that you love."

"Sweet pie?" Lightning says sounding tempted.

Rainbow looks at him inscrutably. "Are you kidding me? What haven't you done with her?"

"She is talking about a desert Rainbow." Lightning informs.

Rainbow looks to the queen confused. "Really? This is getting more confusing by the second."

Lightning scoffs. "Welcome to my world."

"Has she always been like this?" Spitfire asks.

"No, she used to be much worse. Oh, by the way Eclipse, meet my older sister Spitfire." Lightning says.

Eclipse raises an eyebrow. "Charmed."

"Likewise." Spitfire says cautious of Lightning's ex sizing her up.

"Oh I like you, so much like Lightning Bolt when on a job." Eclipse says.

"That raises the question, how did ya'll meet?" Applejack asks.

"Oh well back when I was just a princess I was being escorted back to the capital after participating in a festival when we were attacked by a large monster. Many of my guards were devoured in a matter of seconds and as the creature bared down on me out of the blue Lightning comes and stabs the monster through the back of the neck. After a bit of fighting Lightning slew the monster saving me and the rest of my escort. After that I insisted on him accompanying my escort and I back to the capital." Eclipse says getting next to Lightning and Rainbow while everypony was preoccupied with the story.

"Privacy space here." Rainbow told her as she got too close.

"Oh, but you are so much fun to mess with and maybe you and I could spend a night in my room." Eclipse suggests.

"Hmm." Rainbow hummed. "Tempting, tempting. Okay." She finally said with a shrug.

"Now she is coming onto you." Lightning says with a smile.

Eclipse smiles. "Great," She clapped her hooves together. "I'll see you two tonight...and maybe your sister for more fun." She added as an afterthought.

Spitfire's jaw just slacked. "Okay, but you better not be thinking of what I think you're thinking." She warns.

Eclipse looks innocent. "What am I thinking that you are thinking what am I thinking?"

"Now comes the mind games. Remind me how you got your country in such a favorable position?" Lightning asks.

Spitfire glares at the queen. "What you are thinking that I think you're thinking that you think I'm thinking is getting me and the others into your bed."

Lightning throws his hooves into the air. "And I'm being ignored."

"Like a slumber party?" Eclipse says innocently.

"I'm going to do some heavy medication, that's illegal drugs for you guys." Lightning yells.

Spitfire throws a hoof in her direction. "One hoof out of line and I'll get you. I don't care if you're the bucking queen."

"I'm going to throw myself off a cliff. With my wings tied." Lightning yells.

"Oh, I'm going to like you in there." Eclipse says grabbing Lightning out of Rainbow's grasp.

"Am I still being ignored or did you guys just paid attention to me again." Lightning asks.

"How did you do that?" Rainbow asks confused.

"Oh, Lightning I could never ignore you." Eclipse says turning her head towards him.

"Oh no, I know that old trick you are not going to get me with it." Lightning says facing away.

"What are you talking about Lightn...?" Rainbow stops as she stares into Eclipse's red eyes.

"And now my Marefriend is under your spell. Just perfect." Lightning says blandly. "So when do you want us there?" He said sounding defeated.

"Just come with me now you'll get to meet my son." Eclipse says happily.

"Fine, but first undo your spell on Rainbow Dash, ok?" Lightning asks.

She sighs. "Fine." She blinks once. "Happy?"

Rainbow blinks rapidly and rubs her head. "What happened?"

"I only did that because of our past together. Got that?" She told him angrily.

Lightning surprised her with a hug. "You're still a good friend." She still held a frown, but then hugs him back with a smile. The guards look like they were about to speak but a glare from their Queen kept them quiet.

"Psst...Sister." Luna whispers.

"Yes Luna." Celestia whispers back.

"Can we exploit the past relationship of those two to get our alliance?" Luna whispers.

Celestia looks at her with frown. "We don't exploit others like that. We do it right."

Luna looks at her with a similar glare. "And what is right sister?"

Celestia sighs. "What we know is right in our hearts. It's not up to us to place the right way into others, but rather have them find their own path. Whether it be right or wrong."

"At least ask him to try and advise her to approve us." Luna whispers.

"Well you do this."

"What?!"

"Your idea, your problem. You still need to learn about politics. So do the easy way or hard way, note that both have consequences." Celestia spoke with experience.

"Fine I will ask him discreetly." Luna says before making her way to the table.

Lightning lets go of Eclipse and stands on his own hooves again. "I hope you didn't make any change to that pie. Still love that damn thing, sent my taste buds tingling."

She giggles. "I can assure that nothing has change, unlike you."

"Hope you don't mind." Lightning asks with care.

Eclipse smiles. "Not at all, in fact I like it. It's very becoming of you. But I'm surprised you aren't wearing that hat of yours anymore. You loved that thing." Eclipse says reminiscing

Lightning subconsciously reaches to his head. "Yeah, that thing saved my life and looked cool while doing it. The ultimate badflankery."

Luna finally reaches the table. "Lightning Bolt, a word please."

"Sorry girls, I'll be back in a second." Lightning says before leaving with the princess.

They both stop towards a balcony that overlooked the city of Canterlot. "Do you know why I wanted to have a word with you?" Luna asks as she looks to the city skyline.

"I presume it has something to do with my relationship with Eclipse." Lightning says, gone was his joking tone.

Luna nods. "Yes, I want you to persuade her to give her approval to Equestria."

Lightning leans up on the balcony terrace. "You do realize that it is better to let them make their own minds rather than using something close to them. That's like blackmail." He threw a stare to Luna. "Something I don't do."

"I'm not asking anything much just put in a good word." Luna requests.

He sighs. "Like I said, no using others or anything. It's not right. Let her make up her own mind." He then smirks. "Besides, she's smart, she can catch on to what others are doing. Comes with the job. Taught her a few things to look out for too."

Luna gains a frown at the situation that was deteriorating fast. "You sound just like my sister."

Lightning hops off the edge and starts to head back inside. "Then listen to a friend and family member." He finished leaving Luna on the balcony. She sighs and looks into the night sky.

Lightning makes his way back to the table to catch Eclipse telling an embarrassing story about him. "Clipsley." Lightning says whining a little.

They don't notice the cheeks turn red rose. "Come on Lightning. You love telling others stories about you." Eclipse stated as a pure fact.

"I don't tell stories about my past much anymore Clipsley." Lightning says as he pouts.

Eclipse puffs her cheeks. "Oh, poo. And here I was hoping to tell about the time you had to…"

"Don't say it!" Lightning says sternly.

She shot him a pitiful look. Lightning sighs then Eclipse says. "Dress up like a jester."

"Gah!" Lightning yells.

Eclipse laughs out loud as the others followed. Lightning just groans, thinking that this is the worst day of his life. "Why me?" He asks to whatever is up there.

"Oh, don't be like that." Eclipse says walking up to him.

He shot a glare in her direction. "Then what do you want me to be like?"

"The stallion I came to love." Eclipse says touching her nose to his.

Lightning held himself there, but then nuzzles her back. "Still too long and too late Clipsley."

"I can dream." Eclipse says before Rainbow tackles Lightning away.

Rainbow gives her worst stare possible to him. "You're crazy."

Lightning gives a smirk. "Who do you think you're talking too?"

She gives a low growl. "And throwing yourself to another mare?!"

"Who is almost like a sister?" Lightning asks. "Besides you're the one who has my heart." He says in a low voice.

Rainbow sighs to herself and gets off of him, but as he gets up Rainbow swings a punch to him right in the nose. Lightning groans in pain as he recoiled from the blow. "OW! My poor little nose. I guess I deserve that."

"You two make a good couple." Eclipse says. They both shoot a glare in her direction, but whether she sees it or not could not be told. "Now it's getting late so let's head home."

Saddle Arabian Embassy

Lightning, Rainbow, and Spitfire follow Eclipse to a very expensive looking home. It looked like one of Canterlot's snob's home. At least this mare has taste. A very good white with purple cloth hanging from the roof and vines growing from the bottom. Flower beds filled with all types, including some rare Saddle Arabian flowers, through to find it in all of that is hard enough, on both sides of the pathways leading up the mansion with a small pond in all the sections. In the middle of the courtyard is a circular three level fountain with Saddle Arabia's countries in separate blocks inscribed on the bottom blocks for an easy map read. On top of the fountain stood the queen's cutie mark that had a candle light inside.

"I see they really went all out with your symbol." Lightning commented.

"Oh yes, they really work hard on it Ligh..." Eclipse was cut off when somepony yelled. "Mommy!"

A black blur came barreling down the path and right into Eclipse as she stepped back a bit to minimize damage. What was revealed from the blur is a young foal about seven or eight years old. And from the look of wearing that ordinary outfit of just a small shirt and pants, this foal didn't like being spoiled.

"Did you have fun mommy? Did ya? Did ya? Did ya? Did ya?" He asks widely. I didn't say he wasn't hyperactive.

"So this is your son Clipsley." Lightning says amused. He stifles a laugh as the little foal snuggles into his mother's fur.

Eclipse seems to bite back a comment. "Young prince." A voice calls as a group of tired guards crawled to them.

Lightning stares at the exhausted guards for a moment. "How far did he have you chase him?"

The guard at the front raises his head to speak, but gives a glare from being tired beyond relief and then crashes back down on the ground.

"Yeah, it's pretty hard for earth ponies to keep up with a pegasus." Lightning says with a smirk.

"Don't push your luck." A guard spoke up.

Spitfire came around to see the little prince still snuggled in. "He is kinda cute and seems a little familiar."

The voice triggers a recognition in the prince. He brings his head out and sees Spitfire of the Wonderbolts standing in front of him. "OH MY GOSH! SPITFIRE!?"

"Oh, looks like your international sister." Lightning teased.

She hung her head down. "Just what I needed." She then brings her head back up. "That's right tyke. Spitfire of the Wonderbolts standing right in front of you."

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm meeting..." The Prince stops suddenly "Wait sister?" The prince asks looking at Lightning. "Oh my gosh, Lightning Bolt, one of the greatest Stalliongrad hunters ever!" The prince yells.

"And you got an admirer." Spitfire tells his brother who is being attack by a seven year old. And by attack I mean by questions.

"Oh my gosh is it true you took on an entire herd of stampeding monsters? What is your preferred weapon? Can you sign your trading card for me? Is it true that you slew a legendary Wyvern?" The prince starts rattling off questions.

Eclipse then covered his mouth with her hoof. "Now Midnight these are our guests. Plus Lightning is a good friend of mine." Eclipse informs her foal.

"Aw mom!" He whines.

Eclipse looks to Lightning and the others sadly. "Sorry, but it looks like he won't stop till he gets answers."

Lightning offers her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'm good with foals. To answer your question in order: Yes, a long curved sword, I will, and yes." Lightning answered all.

Midnight stares at Lightning with wide starry eyes. "Wow, I have actually spoken with the Lightning Bolt, the greatest hunter ever!"

"I wouldn't go that far Midnight." Lightning says.

"Can we continue this inside now? It's getting a little chilly. I didn't know windy mountains can get this cold." Eclipse asks of them.

"It's because you're used to the desert Eclipse." Lightning says as they all walk inside with Rainbow face showing how surprised she was to hear Lightning was so famous. After they were inside Eclipse disappeared into the kitchen. All the rest of them went into the living room to wait for her as Midnight went to his room to get his card. "Not half bad a place. She can give the princesses a run for their bits. This is part of the emissary Canterlot has for Saddle Arabia is all. It's so nice so that the ambassadors don't feel insulted." Lightning explains taking a seat on the beanbag chairs.

The mares stared at the choice of seating. "Bean bags?" Rainbow asks.

"They were invented in Saddle Arabia and are the chairs of their country. The other seats are most likely for guests." Lightning explains.

"That's an interesting fact." Spitfire spoke up as she plops down on a bag only for it to be filled with and let out slowly as she descended. "This whole thing has to be out of a funny comic." Close, but no Spitfire.

"It's all about how you sit on it sister. You need to be gentle and it feels like a cloud." Lightning instructs.

Midnight finally came down with a card in his hooves. "Can I have your autograph?"

"Sure Midnight." Lightning says signing it. Looking at the card he saw it was of him wearing his old hat and drawing his sword. "Never thought that I would see myself like that again." He takes a closer look. "Still a badflankery hat."

"Lightning!" Eclipse shouts from the kitchen with a bowl of dough in her hooves that she was stirring. "Not around Midnight!"

"Sorry Clipsley." Lightning says.

"Thanks Lightning Bolt." Midnight says as he took the card back. "Oh I'm so going to hang this. Where did I place that wire?" He said to himself as he walks off.

Rainbow is trying to lay on the beanbag chair, but fails miserably. "Let me help." Lightning told her.

He grabs hold of her sides. "Like a cloud Rainbow, treat it like laying on a cloud." He moves her around to where she can lay comfortably. Finally Rainbow settles on a spot.

She looks up to him. "Thanks."

Lightning smiles. "No prob."

Midnight comes walking in as a familiar aroma hit the nostrils of both Lightning and Midnight. "SWEET PIE!" They both yelled.

'Whoa that was in sync.' Rainbow and Spitfire think at the same time.

Both the boys rush into the luxurious kitchen and plant their faces on the oven window. "Sweet pie." They drone again as they drooled.

Eclipse smiles at the two antics and continue with some side dishes. The two continued to stare at the cooking pie. "Keep staring boys and you won't get any."

Lightning quickly composed himself. "Sorry about that." Lightning says.

Rainbow walks into the kitchen curious at the dessert that got Lightning to act like that. She steps up right besides Eclipse as she puts some vegetables into a bowl of some kind of dough. "It's a healthy form of pancakes that is from vegetables and the healthy version of pancake batter. Took me awhile to find the right ingredients. Now I guess you want to learn why those two are after the pie?"

"Maybe." Rainbow says embarrassed.

Eclipse laughs silently. "It's just like Lightning says, it sends your taste buds tingling." She sends a flick of her tail to hit a wooden board with a bowl on it behind her on kitchen island to sends to contents into the cooking pot in front of her. "That and I'm the best cook around."

"Can you teach me? Since Lightning loves it I may want to make it one day for him." Rainbow says shyly.

Eclipse leans in while stirring in a certain way. "Are you sure it's because of him going to live with you one day and by that I mean marry?"

"What?!" Rainbow yells causing Eclipse to laugh.

"Admit it, I can see it between you two. The ultimate version of love." She then brings a hoof to her chin. "Or is it the luckiest, could never tell."

"We are seeing each other." Rainbow says.

Eclipse smiles. "Thought so. Never let him go Rainbow, sometimes the one you find can be your last." With that she returned to her cooking. "And yes, I'll teach you later."

"Something happened between you two didn't it?" Rainbow asks causing Eclipse to stop.

After a few seconds she answered. "I made a choice many years ago Rainbow." Eclipse says sounding a little sad.

"What was the choice?" Rainbow asks as she sends her eyes to see Lightning and Midnight having a staring contest, with Lightning failing with tears in his eyes.

"It's...complicated and I would rather not talk about it." Eclipse said with pain in her voice.

Rainbow nods and looks to the cooking material. "So the pie?" She asks in hope of changing the subject.

Eclipse's attitude suddenly brightens and makes her turn to Rainbow. "Of course."

After a while the sweet pie was finished. Everypony sat on the bags in the dining table as they all chowed down to the sweetest thing they have ever tasted.

"Great as I remember it." Lightning commented with a big piece in his mouth.

"Yeah, mom, this is the best one yet." Midnight said with a big smile that could rival Pinkie.

"So you think I can make it?" Rainbow asks.

Eclipse shrugs. "Eh, close enough to like it."

"Rainbow did you get her to teach you?" Lightning asks curious if she can make the make the pie.

"Yes I asked and she agreed." Rainbow says embarrassed.

"Clipsley, you said you would never teach anypony your recipe." Lightning says surprised.

Eclipse smirks. "Well, since you are going to live with her forever it's best to enjoy a good meal."

"Clipsley." Lightning says some emotions in his voice.

She said nothing as she drinks from her cup.

Out of all of them it was surprisingly Spitfire that ate the most of the Sweet pie. "So sister what did you think?" Lightning asks with a smirk.

Spitfire places her fork down and wipes her mouth with a napkin. "Eh." She shrugged.

"Where can I buy more of these?" Lightning says as Spitfire thought about it.

"Buy one of what?" Eclipse asks.

"Sweet Cakes!" Lightning and Midnight yell before looking at each and laughing.

Eclipse shakes her head at the two of them. "This can only be made not bought. You know that better than anypony Lightning."

"I was only saying what Spitfire was thinking." Lightning says as Spitfire's face went red from embarrassment.

"Lightning, I swear that if you weren't over there, I'll pummel you to the ground."

"Love you too big sis." Lightning says.

"Idiot."

"Oh you want me to come give you a hug?" Eclipse asks suggestively.

"Back off."

"Oh maybe I should take you to one of the bedrooms." Eclipse teased.

"What did I say back at the party?"

"You said maybe." Eclipse reminded.

"I hate you now."

"I love you too." Eclipse says mimicking Lightning.

"Hey that's my stich." Lightning says.

"Too bad." Eclipse said gaining ownership of his line.

"Ok, hey Midnight want to hear a story about your mother when she and I visited a town on the border for an annual hunt with the lords?" Lightning asks.

"You wouldn't dare." Eclipse says her eyes narrowed.

"Well you see…WOAH!"

Eclipse tackles him and then carries him away upstairs where she ties him up quickly and locks him in her room. She sighs and came back down where the others had a look of shock on them. "He started it."

"Technically you did mommy." Midnight says.

"You're supposed to be on my side not against me." She argued.

"But you just foalnapped one of my heroes." Midnight says.

She sighs. "There are some things you can't hear. Even the embarrassing ones."

"So what was he talking about?" Spitfire asks with a smirk getting close as Rainbow sneaks upstairs to find Lightning.

Eclipse sighs and sits down. "I'm not talking about it."

"Oh, come on mom." Midnight says but Eclipse says nothing.

"She got drunk and flirted with a stuffed Manicorn." Lightning's voice was heard. Everypony turns to Lightning on the stairs with a roll of rope around his neck. "I didn't know that you carry rope like that, you must really like bondage." He said with a smirk as he fiddles with the roll.

Eclipse face lit up in a massive blush and Midnight just looked confused. "What's bondage?" He asks.

"You're too young to learn the meaning just yet." Spitfire says before covering his ears.

Eclipse turns red mad...or is that a heavy blush. "You embarrass me in my own home, taint my foal, and speak thine words around him. I would have you gilded if you weren't my friend." She threatens carefully.

"The only reason I do it is because you are my friend." Lightning says with a smirk.

Eclipse suddenly brings out a humongous bat from behind her...wait...where was she keeping that? "Uh...where did you keep that?" Lightning asks as he pointed to it.

Eclipse gains a most malevolent grin. "In case of emergency, bring bat. Like pesky friends."

'Oh, dear.' Lightning thinks and a second later he was flying away from the house as Eclipse chased him.

The others left behind just stared at the weird scene playing out in front of them. Eclipse slams the bat down on a flower bed as Lightning hops to it. He then goes to the fountain, but Eclipse doesn't hit him there. Instead she flips a switch on the bottom of the fountain that turns on the pump to maximum output. Lightning slides down the fountain to end up in hot water. Eclipse readies the bat for a home run and swings hard onto Lightning, knocking him out. Eclipse breathes heavily as Lightning lays there under the water. She quickly brings him out and places him on her back.

Walking inside she finds the others in a state of shock. "He started it." She said like last time.

Spitfire sighs. "He really did this time." She said as she brought a forehoof to her head to block out her eyes.

"Oh, bat, I get it." Midnight says flapping his bat like wings.

Everypony shakes her heads at the foalish like behavior. "I'll place him in the guest room. Want to join me Rainbow?" Eclipse asks.

"Only to make sure you don't do anything to him." Rainbow warns.

They both went upstairs leaving the two background characters in the dining room. Spitfire turns to the little prince. "So, what do you want to know of me?" She'll regret that.

Midnight just smiles as he prepares to bombard her with questions.

Author's Notes:

And that's another chapter…I have got to come up with something else other than this. I doubt you guys will give me ideas.

So as always, Read and Review.