*Falls from a portal, dropping into the room.* Boy those girls know some sex life. You okay Flair and not made into cupcakes by Pinkamena?

*Flair is missing*

*Looks around.* Pinkamena! Please don't make him into cupcakes or this story will either die or put on ice!

*Pinkamena sticks her head out of a door* Pinkamena: I'm not doing that.

*Sighs in relief.* Then what are you doing to him?

Pinkamena: That is private! *Slams the door*

*Grins.* Aww, young love. *Sits down and waits for them to finish before Pinkie drops in.*

Pinkie: Hey I'm back and I threw a huge party!

*Smiles.* I'm sure of that. Do you know what they are doing in there? *Nodding his head to the door and gives a knowing smile.*

Pinkie: Well let us start.

*Looks to the door.* We should probably wait for Flair. He takes the lead and I handle the filler and most of the talking.

Pinkie: I will channel him and help you. *Pinkie puts on a bucket hat*

*Chuckles* Let's go.

Disclaimer: We don't own anything we don't own.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

Celestia spring up from her bed sweating. "Sister." Luna said barging in.

"Oh Luna I had the most awful dream." Celestia says.

Luna nods. "Yes and I have seen it. You know what this means."

"That your stuffed animal will get up and turn me into a little doll and force me to have tea parties with it for the rest of eternity?" Celestia asks.

Luna looks confused. "What, of course not. My Twilight doll will never do such a thing."

"You renamed your teddy bear Twilight?" Celestia asks.

Luna grins. "Not my teddy bear sister, my pony doll that was named Wane from the moon. Though that name isn't good for a girl name so I named her Twilight."

Celestia looks confused before a potato chip bag and a crate of bananas both with legs walk in. "Discord! Cut that out! I have enough problems." Then from the ceiling drops a giant spider and it looks at Celestia with all its eyes. Celestia screams and shoots up from the nightmare. "Come on!"

"Sister are you ok?" Luna asks walking in.

Celestia sighs in relief before looking to her sister. "Luna, did you rename a doll you have to Twilight?"

"No, his name is Mr. McMuffins the fourth." Luna says.

Celestia sighs in relief again. "Good. Now did you peek in?"

"Peek in?" Luna asks.

Celestia sighs. "My dreams."

"Oh, yes sister, your first one was not a dream, but a vision. The second and third one I advise you to lay off the bananas and chips before bed." Luna says.

Celestia subtly moves the bags and box under bed. "We need to deal with this as quickly as possible."

"What do you want to do?" Luna asks.

Celestia narrows her gaze. "Call a meeting, I will tell everypony there. Only Cadance and Twilight will come in."

"So royalty only?" Luna asks.

Celestia nods and gets out of bed. "Get that letter sent out first light. I need to prepare." She said walking past her.

"Then shouldn't we include Shining Armor because he is royalty by marriage?" Luna asks.

Celestia shakes her head. "No, they don't need to be involved in this. There is enough on everypony's plates now."

"Sister do you have a thing against stallions?" Luna asks.

Celestia glares at her. "Of course not. Now get ready for tomorrow, we have something coming and it's not pretty."

"Much like those chips in your mane." Luna says walking away.

Celestia yelps before rushing into the nearby shower and scrubs herself to death, leaving Luna giggling while heading back to her room. "Oh sister."

Lightning smiled as he sat to the side as he watched Typhoon and Talion playing with the Cake's foals. "Does anypony know if there are other foals in this town?" He asks the Cakes.

"No, our foals over there are the only ones." Mr. Cake says.

Lightning sighs. "Pity, it would have been better if there were more for them to play with."

"I still can't believe that Rainbow is a mother. It only seems like yesterday that she and Pinkie were just hanging out in here planning a new prank." Mrs. Cake says.

Lightning chuckles. "I know, yet she is playing pranks like the old days. Things haven't been changing here, has it?"

"They changed a little, not too much, but a little. Because of the repairs, we even were about to get this new and improved oven." Mrs. Cake says.

Lightning smiles. "I'm sure you can bake more at this point. I'm thinking of just buying treats from you guys now. Only with you two and Pinkie does the treats taste good."

"Somepony call my name?" Pinkie calls.

Lightning laughs a little. "It's okay Pinkie. I was just thinking of just buying treats from here now."

"Oh, which one?" Pinkie asks balancing several different trays with different treats.

Lightning smiles. "Whichever one I need at any time. Maybe from now on, your store is my sole provider of treats for my family and staff and maybe the guards once in a while."

Mr. Cake thinks over the increase in business and faints either from excitement or being overwhelmed just by the thought was unclear. "I think you broke him." Mrs. Cake said smiling.

Lightning laughs out loud for bit before poking him slightly. "Yeah, I sometimes have that effect on others when I need some business. So, what do you think?" He asks her.

"I think we will need to hire more help and expand soon." Mrs. Cake says.

Lightning smiles. "Okay, how about this? I give you some bits to place a store in Pegasopolis and if that takes off then more bits for a place in Canterlot?"

"Are you offering to sponsor Sugar Cube Corner!?" Pinkie yells excited.

Lightning grins. "Keep making treats like this and I will. Besides my wife is bored of eating fancy candy. She wants something close to home." He said taking another cupcake and eating it.

"Well we have a lot of planning to do." Mrs. Cake says.

Lightning nods. "Yes you do, now I need at least two dozen chocolate cupcakes, both the cake and frosting itself, with half without frosting and I'll be on my way."

"Right away. Pinkie wake up my husband and then assist me ok?" Mrs. Cake asks.

Pinkie salutes and grabs Mr. Cake before dragging him into the kitchen. Soon a splash was heard along with slapping. "Wake up! Come on!" More slapping. "That's because I felt like it." Even more slapping. "That's because the readers want me acting like Deadpool that one time."

"I'll watch the foals while you work." Lightning says

Mrs. Cake smiles. "Thank you, now if you'll excuse me." She said getting up and heading to the kitchen.

Lightning walks over to the four foals and starts playing with them. "Okay you guys, what do you want to do?" The four foals exchange looks before lunging at him and starts wrestling with him. "Help! I'm being attacked by loveable balls of fluff!" Lightning cries out laughing.

An hour later Pinkie emerged from the kitchen. "Ok, the food is ready." Pinkie says.

Lightning smiles. "Good, can you get me down?" He asks as he hangs from a bunch of steamers from the ceiling.

"Ok." Pinkie says before walking over and helps him down.

Lightning sighs as he pulls the last streamer off. "Okay, now I know not to mess with the Cake's foals. Those two are evil."

"I saw they only did half the work." Pinkie says smirking.

Lightning mock glares. "Yet, they planned it and my foals went along with it. Who loses?"

"Nopony." Pinkie says bouncing back to the kitchen.

Lightning sighs and takes the cupcake boxes in his saddle bags before getting Typhoon and Talion on his back. "Okay you two, time to head home for now. Say goodbye." Talion and Typhoon wave goodbye as Lightning starts walking.

Lightning walked through Ponyville with the foals as he makes his way to where he would meet Rainbow. "Now you two, stop digging into that box. That's for all of us when we get there." Lightning says feeling the rummaging around as he sees Rainbow coming into view.

Rainbow smiles as she sees the foals looking sheepish. "Tried to grab a cupcake didn't they?"

"Yeah, so how was your day?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow shrugs. "Well we still need to wait for the others. Isn't that right Tank?" Tank blinks slowly.

"Yo, Lightning, Rainbow." Vinyl called as she and Nikolai walked up.

They both smile as all of them sat down. "Hey guys. Where's your pet?" Lightning asks looking for the cat.

"Oh napping at home." Nikolai says.

Lightning grins. "Let's hope she's not ripping up the drapes."

"Lil Scratch would never do that." Octavia says as she and Apollo walk up.

Rainbow smirks. "You sure? Opal always do that when Rarity isn't around."

"Now, now, love no need to start talking about that." Lightning says.

Rainbow just looks to him. "You know it's true."

"Now then Rainbow, you know that dear Opal will never do that." Rarity said coming up with Opal riding her back with Sweetie Bell walking right by her.

"Hey Rarity and Sweetie Bell." Lightning greeted.

Rarity smiles as Sweetie Bell runs to the foals now running around Tank. "Hello dears. How are you doing now?"

"We are doing great." Rainbow says as Applebloom and Scootaloo walk up.

"Hey guys." Scootaloo said as Applebloom joined in the running.

"Hey Scoots, how was school?" Lightning asks.

Scootaloo shrugs. "Boring, those tutors you got me already taught me all of what Miss Cheerilee is teaching now. And that was a few years ago."

"That's my girl." Lightning says ruffling her mane.

Scootaloo just pushes his hoof away. "Cut that out dad. I'm bored now."

"I got a treat for you Scoots." Lightning says taking off the saddle bags.

Scootaloo frowns. "Yeah, what can cheer me up?"

"Cupcakes." Lightning says showing the two cases.

"Oh, that sounds good." Twilight says walking up with Agni, Spike, Ice Fang, and Azure.

Lightning opens the box and tries to stop the foals from getting the cupcakes early. "Yep and it's all for this picnic."

Applejack walks up with Fluttershy with Angel and Winona. "Howdy ya'll." Applejack says.

Everypony looks to them. "Hiya, now we need Pinkie and Gummy." Rainbow said laying down on the large blanket.

"Somepony call my name?" Pinkie asks coming out from underneath the blanket.

Rainbow frowns. "And Gummy?" Gummy peeks his head out of Pinkie's tail before falling onto the ground.

"Oh, you would not believe what Lighty here offered. He offered to sponsor Sugar Cube Corner and we just have to keep making sweets like we are now." Pinkie said.

Rainbow smiles and bumps Lightning's side. "You big softy."

Lightning smiles. "It's just you're getting bored of our candy so I thought of getting a store in Pegalopolis."

"Sure it is." Rainbow says.

Lightning chuckles. "Of course it is. You stopped eating the sweets we had."

"Oh sure it is and I'm the element of sloth." Rarity says.

Lightning just looks offended. "Just be happy that I'm doing this, otherwise I would have left it like it is."

"Oh Lightning, just stop trying to hide the real reason." Rainbow says.

Lightning huffs. "So then you tell me what is the real reason if you know."

"You have a big and generous heart." All ponies, but Twilight says.

Lightning looks to Twilight. "So what do you have to say?"

"No need to say when the answer is obvious." Twilight says.

"So you have learnt a bit more on politics." Lightning says.

Twilight nods. "Yeah, since Luna sent me those books on everything the government is about here. And then she later sent me the books on other types with a monarchy style."

"Twilight…" Lightning begins but was cut off by Twilight. "Experience is better than book learning."

"So you did pay attention." Lightning says after several moments of silence.

Twilight smirks. "Of course I did. Why wouldn't I when I need to take over some things?"

"You also have kept up your studies in magic. I can sense your connection to the magic is more refined and powerful." Lightning says.

Twilight nods and looks to Agni. "Yes and I believe that Agni is following as well."

"With gaining the ability to speak, he has truly come a long ways." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles as she picks up and hugs Agni. "Yeah and he's getting cuter by actually calling Spike big brother."

"So what does that make your phoenix?" Lightning asks.

Twilight shrugs. "Don't know, but a family can always have many brothers and sisters"

"Ok, now everypony get a cupcake while they last." Rainbow says.

Soon afterward everypony was digging in to their cupcake and soon goes off to play with that foals and animals, leaving the couples behind. "So you are going to sponsor the Sugar Cube franchise?" Apollo said chuckling a little. "Oh Lightning, when will you conquer all of the franchises in Equestria?"

"I'm not like the other nobles. Oh and have you heard somepony bought out Duke Bluebrood's business and now he is having a little financial trouble." Lightning says.

Apollo chuckles. "Yeah, he's really looking for more bits."

"Rumors have circulated that he was also recently robbed. Oh and Octavia is that a new bracelet?" Lightning asks.

Octavia covers the gold bracelet with the long tight sleeve she had. "No." She quickly said.

Lightning smiles at Apollo who just grins at him. "So I bought something, so what?"

"No crime against that." Lightning says smiling.

They all start to laugh as they grab most of the cupcakes left behind and eats them as some of the foals grabs them as well. "What about the kingdom, you have been away from a while? Have they been okay without you?" Nikolai asks.

"The Dominion is still holding the same stance as they continue the cold war like state for now. That is good news for us as we are not ready just yet." Lightning says.

Nikolai nods. "Good, now we have to deal with the recruits over in Pegasopolis."

"We need not worry about them any longer as the experienced legionnaires we recruited are hard at work training them and our friends here are working around the clock producing more weapons, armor, and siege weapons." Lightning says.

Nikolai leans over to him. "What about that new weapon?"

"Alexander left with it." Lightning says.

Nikolai grins. "When can we use that thing?"

"See the R&D department when you get back." Lightning says.

Nikolai groans. "Aww, I wanted to use it."

"It would be pointless for us Nikolai, which is all I will say on it." Lightning says.

Nikolai sighs. "Well, maybe once we get over there it may be the best thing ever. When are we going again?"

"Ask your lady." Lightning says.

Vinyl leans over to him. "Don't know."

"He means Lady Rainbow love. I have sworn my service to Lightning Bolt and his house so when Rainbow married him she became the lady of the house as such it is only proper for me to call her my lady." Nikolai explains.

Rainbow chuckles. "And I'm getting tired of it."

"Get used to it love, you signed up for it when you married me and I don't plan on letting one of my four greatest treasure go." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks to him. "Four?"

"You, Scootaloo, Talion and Typhoon." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles. "Thanks, but now you have to deal with your kingdom. Don't we need to check on your assets?"

"There is no need for that." Nikolai says.

"After all, Lightning left his greatest and deadliest retainer back there." Apollo says with a serious face.

Rainbow looks to him. "Who?"

"The only one I have never beaten." Lightning says no sense of kidding or humor in his voice.

"Who?"

"You will meet her when we get to my home base." Lightning says.

Rainbow nods just looks confused. "Now I'm lost."

"You don't need to understand it fully yet. Just know she is far more skilled than either me or Nikolai and she almost killed Lightning." Apollo says.

Rainbow sighs. "Now we just need to ready ourselves for the adventure. Why can't it be closer?"

"Well it is…" Twilight was cut off by Spike belching.

Spike catches the scroll and opens it. "You're needed in Canterlot Twilight. That's all it says."

"Is Celestia up to her old tricks again?" Nikolai asks.

"I don't think so." Lightning says.

Twilight sighs and prepares her magic. "I'll be quick. See you guys in a bit." She said before disappearing.

Lightning sighs as he looks to the castle in the distance. "So Celestia may have another plan. Do you have those politicians ready Nikolai?"

"They are still in Canterlot." Nikolai says.

"Good, inform them Celestia just called Twilight and to keep an ear out and to be ready to move if need be." Lightning says.

Nikolai nods and whistles. Soon a large falcon nears him before he ties a letter to its leg and steps back as he pointed to the city in the distance. The falcon takes off and flies just as fast.

Rainbow watches as it leaves. "It's fast alright."

"No need to race it love." Lightning says petting her mane.

Rainbow purrs. "You know I love going fast."

"We can race anytime, after all you have yet to beat me." Lightning teases.

Rainbow pushes against him. "Shut up." Lightning chuckles as he messes with her a little more. "I'm really starting to hate you with that racing thing. Want to end it now?"

"Maybe later Rainbow, I don't think the foals would like us both leaving." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles as she looks to them. "Guess you're right. I wonder how long it would take for Twilight to get back."

A burst of magic sounded behind them as Twilight appeared with a dejected look on her face before using another spell and teleports everything and everypony into her library. "Don't tell me Celestia blocked you on the queen idea again." Lightning said.

"No, we have a new threat and she chooses to send Discord to deal with it." Twilight says.

Lightning looks to Nikolai and Apollo and they nod before disappearing that makes Vinyl and Octavia fall down. "Guess Shadow was right. But it makes sense to send Discord. What's the new threat?"

"Hey, where are you two going?!" Vinyl yells.

Lightning sighs. "Told them to check up on what this new threat might be by sending out our spies in the area. Now what's the new threat?"

"He is an old enemy of Equestria and he is stealing magic." Twilight says causing Lightning to go quiet.

"Twilight, that's about half of Tartarus, who is it?" Lightning asks.

"His name is Tirek." Twilight says before explaining his backstory.

Lightning sighs. "Now we're in trouble. He can really suck away any magic and that's the problem. Discord is included."

"Wait, he can do what?!" Twilight yells at what Lightning says as he looks to be in deep thought.

"Yeah." He said after a while. "Any magic here is good for eating."

"Lightning I know that look in your eye. It is the same look you had when you decided to try and destroy that shadow spirit." Rainbow says.

Lightning sighs. "Yes and I'm not lying at this point. I may have to fight him since I'm under a different kind of magic."

"Lightning, I also know that look means you are not telling everything." Rainbow says.

"I don't know anything for sure, but I am unsure of what I am sensing. That is if it is even Tirek." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks confused. "What do you mean sense something?"

"I don't know. That is why I'm going to be gone for a few days to look into it personally." Lightning says.

Rainbow groans and lays down again. "I hate it when these things happen."

"I won't be gone love. Twilight, mind watching out for Rainbow and my foals while I am gone?" Lightning asks.

Twilight sighs as she sat down. "Probably the only meaningful thing I could do."

"Twilight prepare yourself, I have a feeling that something big is about to go down." Lightning says.

Twilight nods. "Yeah, I'll prepare the town and everything. Maybe use those unused bunkers we have under the town."

"I mean magically." Lightning says throwing her an amulet.

Twilight catches the amulet. "What's this do?"

"That's a focus amulet, it will allow you to tap more easily into your elemental magic and cast spells using it. I'm giving it to you because you are ready for the next step." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles and puts it around her neck. "Thanks, but what about you?"

"I won't need it, I have already mastered that level." Lightning says heading outside and flying away.

Twilight sighs as she taps the amulet once more before looking to the others. "Alright, let's get prepared and the town."

"Ok, so how do we tell them without causing a panic?" Vinyl asks.

Twilight smiles slightly. "A party, what else?"

"Twi, I think you have been hanging around Pinkie a little too long." Applejack says.

Twilight giggles. "You hang around Pinkie Pie for a while, then you realize that she's the best at gathering ponies together."

"I'll go tell Big Mac to get the militia ready." Applejack says.

Twilight shakes her head. "No, he takes the pony's magic and that's only the magic from here. We can't have them start for a fight. We need to prepare to run just in case."

"I was thinking the weapons Big Mac keeps stored in the barn." Applejack says.

Twilight shakes her head again. "No weapons, when all else fails, run."

Lightning stood on top of a mountain nearby Ponyville. "Shadow, I know you are here." Lightning says.

A tendril of shadow came out of the darkness and comes up against him, almost sensually rubbing against him. "You are good."

"Cut that out and answer me. What is moving beside Tirek?" Lightning asks.

The shadow sighs and steps out of the darkness in a pony form. "Sunt sicut homines, qui non vere fun elephantus Meger iusto, utique in hac, et Umbra." (1)

"Why are you in the form of my wife?" Lightning asks a little mad.

Shadow smirks and rubs against him. "Tolle coniectatio." (2)

"Forget it and just tell me I have work to do." Lightning says.

Shadow smiles and licks his cheek before moving back to the shadow. "Have fun. Haec quoque in tenebris solus tellus." (3)

"I said tell me what is moving!" Lightning says as black lightning tendrils block Shadow's path.

Shadow sighs. "Commodum viderit." (4)

"Ok then, tell me who Umbra is?" Lightning asks.

Shadow walks back to him with a neutral face as she stood in front of Lightning. "Signum dabo illud mihi." (5)

"So who is the one from Tartarus that is using Tirek as its cover?" Lightning says.

Shadow smiles. "Locutus sum, et Umbra." (6)

"Is it a creation of yours?" Lightning asks.

Shadow shakes her head. "Sed longe aliud reiciatur profundissimo putatur spiritus, sed magis aliquid aliud." (7)

"Then where is it now, because we have an appointment, for I am not about to let it complicate any plans of mine." Lightning says.

Shadow smiles. "In cultis placet. Tamen neminem invenit, ubi oportet respicere debet dedisco." (8)

"I see, just perfect. Belcross." Lightning calls and Belcross appears. "I'm going to be unable to contact you or the rest of the lightning realm, so watch over Shadow here as she is the only one who can hold onto this for me." Lightning said before forcibly removing a ball of pure magic from himself causing him extraordinary amounts of pain and bringing him to the ground.

Shadow looks at him with pity as she leans down and rubs his head as she places a hoof over his magic ball. "Suus 'okay. Nisi tu paululum recessisset ab eo." (9)

"I know and if you try anything Belcross and the orb will destroy you." Lightning informs as he himself takes a slightly darker and sinister appearance.

Shadow nuzzles him as she places the orb on her back and seals it away with her shadow. "Ego experiri. Mr Lightning: Quod oculus non vult esse mortuum. Pars autem est, eum non scintillant tenebris." (10)

"What, you mean use the same strategy Twilight used when she was hit on at that bar?" Lightning jokes.

Shadow chuckles darkly which brings a slight twinkling in his ears for some reason. "Tu es equus stulta. Sed facere quod facere optimum, et finis eius est in eo, ut nuper facit." (11)

Lightning says nothing as he is engulfed in darkness and disappears. Shadow sighs as she lays down next to Belcross. "So, how are you doing?" She asks him. Belcross just growls at her.

Lightning appears at the top of a chasm surrounded by a thick mist and several sounds in the fog. Lightning starts walking down the path into the chasm which has no fog in it.

"Have you forgotten?" A voice said making him stop.

"Qui custos est deerrare confu adsum." Lightning says. (12)

"Then you have forgotten like the others that have come before. You have earned the right." The spirit said.

Lightning continues to walk down the path till he comes to a temple at the bottom. "This is new." He said going through the front door that was busted.

"You are quite fun. Met my other half?" A voice asks as Lightning entered a large foyer that looks like it belonged to a mansion, and the weird thing about it, it was clean and new.

"I see you are Umbra. So what is your relationship with Shadow?" Lightning says.

Umbra chuckles. "Nothing really. I just see her as a complete likeness of me because of her shadow powers."

"Well then enough beating around the bush." Lightning says blasting a corner with a dark magic attack forcing Umbra out in the open.

Umbra comes out as a pony about his size. "Now that's no fun." He said before blasting his area with dark magic.

"I don't have time for fun, I have a plan in motion and you are a liability so it is time to go back to Tartarus." Lightning says smacking the magic away.

Umbra sighs and starts to walk closer to him. "Are you really that shallow? Going without a good enough purpose?" He asks as he starts to suck all the shadow in the area into his.

"Funny, coming from a coward. I have been feeling your energy since I arrived on this continent and all you have done is hide and made no moves. You're pathetic and if that is the limit of your desires and ambition then you might as well have stay in your cell." Lightning says as his eyes turned black.

Umbra stops in front of him. "And yet, what are you?"

"I have no reason to tell you see as what you are." Lightning says as the dark energy encased a hoof and formed into a claw and slashes and cuts deep into Umbra's chest.

Umbra tries not to move in front of him as he was slashed. "Lighting, let's just talk for one moment."

"I have no use for you and you are a liability, as such we have nothing to talk about." Lightning says jumping back as a magic circle appears beneath Umbra. Umbra recognized the circle and quickly jumps away scared seeing as it almost dragged him back down to Tartarus.

Umbra sighs as shadows starts to close his wound. "Then I will tell you at the end, whether you or me is going to die in this." He said before throwing most his shadows to him as tendrils.

"You really want to go that route because if I kill you, that is it, you cease to exist." Lightning says raising a dark wall blocking Umbra's attack before disappearing into the shadows.

Umbra just stares at him. "I really don't want to. We both know how this will end." He said as a dark cloud started to swirl around him.

"Oh no you don't." Lightning says and the cloud dispersed. "No leaving." Lightning says.

Umbra sighs and walks to him again. "Just listen to me and I'll allow you to kill me."

"You have two minutes before I destroy you." Lightning says.

Umbra stops right in front him. "Don't attack, don't react or at least try to."

"One minute and forty seconds." Lightning says.

Umbra then smiles. "That's all I need." He said before actually kissing him making Lightning go wide eye in shock.

Lightning throws Umbra off. "Ok, you just canceled the rest of your time out." Lightning says.

Umbra sighs and turns around, showing his back to him. "I know, but that was all I needed. Congratulations, you got something special."

"Yeah and that is why I am here. My plan is to protect all of it." Lightning says shoving the claw through his throat. "Nothing personal." Lightning says.

Umbra just smiles as dark blood started to pour from his wound in front of him. "I know, just remember, I did this for all of us." He said through the shadows and thoughts.

Lightning pulled his claw out and ended his suffering. He watches the body disappears and a crystal was all that was left. Lightning picked it up and put it away. 'I won't dishonor you.' Lightning says starting to walk out of the temple.

Lightning sighs as he steps out from the forest line and sees the devastating destruction. "Wow and I thought I did worse." Lightning says before teleporting back to the mountain to see Belcross and Shadow hadn't moved. "It is over." Lightning says.

Shadow grins. "You should had seen it. Twilight really did a number on him."

"So she defeated him?" Lightning asks waiting for her to hand it over.

Shadow smiles and brings a shadow tendril which then has the orb peek out slowly before just staying on top of it. "Yes, but in a way I never would have expected."

Lightning took the orb and shoved it back within himself. As he suffered from reintegrating it, the darker and more sinister features started to fade. "Anything else happen?" Lightning asks after he recovered.

Shadow grinned. "Just that your wife's magic was taken before Twilight returned it and Twilight's pet has grown."

"What about my wife's magic?" Lightning asks looking angry.

Shadow just shrugs. "Harmony probably gave it back because her color returned, yet the way they defeated him is a good one."

"What happened?!" Lightning yells and storm clouds started to form overhead.

Shadow then just smiles. "She and her friends got together and fought against Tirek and Twilight's little pet changed and combined all their power and sealed Tirek. Great thing to see, all that power."

"Belcross you can go now. Shadow come with me, we are going to visit Celestia's prison." Lightning says his eyes black again.

Shadow grins and jumps on his back. "This will be fun."

Belcross nods before disappearing as Lightning teleports away with Shadow.

Lightning and Shadow make their way through Tartarus. "Been a while since I was last here." She said as she rode his back.

"You mean Celestia's knock off prison?" Lightning asks.

Shadow giggles. "No, just sightseeing."

"Which one is he?" Lightning asks.

Shadow looks over to the central platform. "A troubling one, a little foal."

"The centaur?" Lightning asks.

Shadow nods. "Yes, he was a stubborn foal back then and he still is now. What he had was a tantrum."

"Shadow, when I am done, take his body and put it on ice. I may find a use for his ability to absorb magic later." Lightning says before walking up to the cage. "Tirek right?" Lightning asks.

Tirek looks to him as he adjusts the worn out cloak as his chains clanked against each other. "Who wants to know?"

"A pony with a grudge." Lightning says as Tirek now saw the darkness in Lightning's eyes.

Tirek huffs. "Now that is nice. What sent you here to talk to me? Want to free me for another run at Equestria?"

"Oh nothing sent me, I came of my own free will and my grudge is with you." Lightning says before tearing the cage from the floor and throwing it aside with his magic.

Tirek frowns as he shows his chains. "Still have these. Doesn't mean that I'm free."

"You misunderstand still, huh. You hurt my wife and unlike the princesses I don't forgive such things." Lightning says his dark energy warping his voice a bit before he created dark magic weapons and skewered Tarik into the floor.

"AHHHHH!" Tirek groans. "What the heck? You'll just kill me even though I'm trapped here?"

"Oh, this is just a rest area, I'm sending you to the real thing." Lightning says a little calmer.

Tirek glares at him. "Real thing?"

"Celestia nor Twilight could send you to the true Tartarus and you are a loose end and I don't like loose ends." Lightning says before stabbing him in the face killing him.

Tirek face fell as Lightning pulls his weapon out. "How would you get his power now?" Shadow asks coming up to him as he dispelled the weapon.

"He is dead, but his body, once dissected and examined, will tell me everything." Lightning says.

Shadow rubs up against him. "So he's done, now what?"

"You take his body and freeze it so nopony knows he is gone until it is too late and we leave so nopony even suspects." Lightning says moving away a bit.

Shadow giggles. "Okay, I'll help you, just because you are so cute. Yet, what happened with Umbra?"

"I killed him as well." Lightning says remorselessly.

Shadow sighs. "He did something, did he? I heard he does that."

"I wish I ripped out his tongue before I even started." Lightning says sounding a little sick.

Shadow just smiles. "If he does that, he must have a reason. Just live with it."

"I'm leaving now. Lay low and follow us when we leave the country." Lightning says.

Shadow watches as he leaves as her shadows starts to swallow up the dead Tirek. "Remember, when he did something it was for the good of something that is important at the time, no matter how bizarre it was."

"You just like gay stuff don't you?" Lightning asks.

Shadow giggles. "Silly, I like almost all types of kinks, except for the disgusting ones, that ruins it."

"That was disgusting for me." Lightning says.

Shadow shrugs. "Hey, your likes, your dislikes, your business."

"I swear, sometimes you sound like my wife." Lightning says.

Shadow quickly morphs into the shape of Rainbow. "I can be for you." She said in Rainbow's voice. Lightning does a double take and sees the dark version of Rainbow Dash before shaking his head and teleporting away. "So got him with that last one." Shadow says before laughing.

Lightning takes a deep breath as ended up back on the same spot he was before he got to Tartarus. "Why do they go after me?"

Hearing no answer he extends his wing and flies down towards his home. It had been nearly two days since he had left and he was tired and needed some rest and relaxation. "I need a vacation." He said as he lays down on the couch. Lightning slowly starts closing his eyes and opens them again and sees Rainbow and closes them again before he registers what is in front of him and shoot straight up with eyes open. "Rainbow?!"

Rainbow giggles. "Who else?"

"Uhh, sorry, I am just so tired I haven't slept in two days." Lightning says trying to lay back down.

Rainbow smiles and jumps on top of him, making him yelp. "Then I'll help." She said laying down on him.

'That would be appreciated." Lightning says.

Rainbow nuzzles him. "Good." She said as she covered them up with her wings. "But when you wake up, you have to tell me everything."

"Only if you tell me everything as well." Lightning says falling asleep. Rainbow nuzzles him one last time before falling asleep as well.

Lightning awoke the next morning and yawns. He then tries to get up, but feels a weight on his back. Craning his neck around he sees Rainbow sleeping peacefully on him. He smiles and carefully slides her off so she landed right next to him before he got up and went in kitchen.

"I love and hate my life. And this is a love part." He said to himself.

"What do you love?" Rainbow asks behind him.

Lightning quickly turns around to see Rainbow. "Well, you for starters. Waking up next to you, knowing you're still there."

"Come here you." Rainbow says.

Lightning chuckles as he hugs her. "See, this is a part I love."

"Now what happened?" Rainbow asks letting go of the hug.

"I had to track it over almost of Equestria and finally into a temple." Lightning says sounding tired.

Rainbow nods. "And once you got it?"

"I fought it and killed it, but before I killed him he kissed me." Lightning says almost gagging.

Rainbow stifles a laugh. "He kissed you, why is that?"

"He was...I don't know, insane or gay." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles as she got laughter under control. "Anything else?"

"No, so what about you?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow shrugs. "You know, same old, same old."

"And the craters close by, the hole through the nearby mountain, and the scorch marks and burnt down foliage?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow smirks. "New lakes, new cave, and new land to plant." Lightning raises an eyebrow. "Like I said, same old, same old." She said still holding the smirk.

"Tirek attacked didn't he?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow giggles nervously. "Yeah."

"What happened?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow rubs her hooves together. "Well, first he stole the magic of each of us one by one, Twilight fights him in an epic duel, she gives up her power and frees us, including Discord who betrayed us, and of course we fought back by Harmony giving each us a random elemental power, but I think it's tied to how we live and work. Though it did hurt for everypony else because it probably isn't their element or not ready. She filled us up with too much. And that crystal box was actually the chest for it and then it repaired Twilight's library with something special after we killed him."

Lightning inhaled deeply and walks out the kitchen and into the basement. "Lightning you ok?" Rainbow calls.

After a few minutes Rainbow hears metal clanking and soon sees Lightning with many weapons attached to him with an angry face.

Rainbow sweats. "Uh...Lightning? What are you doing?"

"Going to meet Mr. Tirek." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks worried. "Didn't we kill him?"

"Twilight doesn't kill love, he is probably in a prison somewhere." Lightning says.

Rainbow then pushes him downstairs again with an angry look on her face. "Don't even."

"Nopony messes or hurts my family especially my wife." Lightning says stopping himself halfway down.

Rainbow growls. "And I do the same. So don't even go."

"Why not?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow keeps glaring at him until she slowly looks down and leans her head against him. "I don't want to lose you." She said quietly.

"Rainbow." Lightning says dropping a few of the weapons.

Lightning keeps looking at her until he sees her shaking. "I can't...I can't lose you again...not again." She sobs out.

Lightning wraps his hooves around her and sighs. "Ok you win." Lightning says.

Rainbow inwardly smiles, but stays like she is on the outside. "Let's...let's go home." She said hiccupping.

"We are home love." Lightning says starting to pet her mane.

Rainbow giggles once before hiccupping. "My home idiot, the foals are waiting for you and I will too."

"Ok, let's go see them." Lightning says not stopping.

Rainbow keeps hiccupping until she started to purr. "Lightning."

"Yes love?" Lightning asks just holding her while he pets her mane.

Rainbow smiles. "Carry me there."

"If you ask me to I will to make you happy. Just let me put the weapons back first." Lightning says.

Rainbow hiccups once more before falling down as though she fell asleep. Lightning grabs her and places her down slowly before taking the weapons back down to the basement. After that he comes back up and places Rainbow on his back, who had a smile on her face. He smiles back and heads outside before taking off slowly as to not drop her. Lightning soon arrives at Rainbow's home where he slowly opens the door to find the foals being watched over by Twilight and Fluttershy.

"Hey girls." He said quietly.

"Oh Lightning, your back." Twilight says.

Lightning nods and walks inside and sets Rainbow down on the couch. "So what did Rainbow mean by something special about your library?" He asks Twilight.

"Oh it is half covered in crystal now and the inside has been renovated like a castle and mansion." Twilight says.

"I see your battle with Tirek really did you good. I can see your aura now has the symbol of fire." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles. "Yeah, plus Agni changed. I was so proud when he helped us."

"So what does he look like?" Lightning asks.

Twilight smiles as she looks to the window. "Well he's bigger, his snout's is more blunt, and the amount of flames that can be on his back has increased along with having flame spots on his head, plus he seems to like standing upright."

"I see. So does he still call Spike big brother?" Lightning asks.

"Oh yeah and now he can really talk, not just say a few words." Twilight says.

Lightning grins. "Is he starting to annoy either of you?"

"Oh no, well not me. He is just so curious and wants to learn." Twilight says.

"Sounds like somepony else." Rainbow and Lightning say in unison.

Lightning looks to Twilight. "You know that's you."

"Hey." Twilight says smirking.

Lightning chuckles. "So where's the little guy?"

"He is currently with Spike and they are helping Rarity." Twilight says.

Lightning smiles. "Has he gotten over her?"

"Yeah, he is over her now, he gets jewels every time he works." Twilight says.

"Make sure he doesn't try and eat your new tree." Lightning jokes lying next to Rainbow.

Twilight giggles. "Yeah, but he knows it's his home."

"Just make sure he does start eating in his sleep." Lightning says.

Twilight looks a bit confused. "He starts eating in his sleep?"

"It could happen like sleepwalking." Lightning say wrapping his wing around Rainbow.

Rainbow looks to him. "So can it happen with yours as well?"

"No, I'm talking about my experience with an animal." Lightning says smiling as Rainbow had blown her cover.

Rainbow just frowns. "You are now on my hit list."

"Oh that is too bad, I was thinking of carrying you for a while longer." Lightning says.

Rainbow scoffs. "Now I'm starting to hate you."

"Come on love, I knew you weren't asleep this whole time. So don't be mad." Lightning says rubbing her wing's sensitive part.

Rainbow shivers. "Lightning. Cut that out."

"Ok, I'll save that for later." Lightning says stopping.

Rainbow sighs in relief. "Now you can deal with your foals."

"They're our foals love. So you excited for our trip?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow grins. "Yeah, I can't believe that we are going. Oh and the foals are going to jump you from above."

"Ok, I'll let you handle getting everypony together and ready while I handle the foals." Lightning says turning around and catching the foals.

Rainbow smiles and looks to Twilight. "So you and the others ready?"

"It will take some time." Twilight says.

Rainbow nods. "Then you girls better get ready. The date is getting closer."

"So Rainbow how are we going to get there anyways?" Twilight asks.

Rainbow looks over to Lightning who was being held down by his foals. "Hey Lightning, how are getting to the east?"

"Oh, my friend Edward will sail us there on his ship, the Jackdaw." Lightning says wrestling with the foals.

Rainbow nods and looks back to Twilight. "So now we know."

A few months later all the ponies and griffon were waiting at a cafe waiting for Edward. Spitfire was especially anxious. "Where is he?" She asks after a long wait.

Zegai shrugs. "If I were him I would jump down right about now."

"He is probably just getting the Jackdaw ready for passengers." Lightning says who was playing old maid with Nikolai, Apollo, Hazuki and Vinyl.

Spitfire sighs. "And how long does that usually take?"

"Oh you have to deal with paperwork, deal with port authorities, load supplies, and repairing any damage." Edward says walking up.

Spitfire smiles as he walks up. "Is that all? So are we ready?"

"Yeah we are ready." Edward says lowering his hood.

Spitfire grins. "Great, so we can head out now?"

"Yeah, let's go, we have a few months before we arrive in Saddle Arabia." Edward says.

Lightning and the others starts to grab their bag while Spitfire looks confused. "Saddle Arabia? Why there?"

"That is our next stop." Edward says.

Spitfire sighs and grabs her bags. "Let's go." She said following the others. "Put the bits down and give them back."

"What are you talking about, we didn't bet." Vinyl says.

Spitfire huffs. "I'm talking the nobles who just passed by."

"Sister let's just go." Lightning says.

Spitfire shakes her head. "Fine, but those nobles will have somepony's asses."

"Sister." Lightning says pushing her along.

Spitfire sighs and walks with him. "You're really not caring about the consequences are you?"

"No, I care about not dealing with trouble before we leave." Lightning says.

Rainbow smirks as she looks ahead to the boats. "Leave it alone Spitfire, once you get Lightning's friends going, you can't stop them."

"Kind of like Vinyl and drinking." Spitfire says.

Vinyl chuckles. "You know it Spits. Now let's get on this boat, I'm ready for an adventure."

"Edward, please tell me you are rationing the rum for everypony." Lightning says.

Edward chuckles. "Of course, otherwise there wouldn't be any for me."

"Double the guard on the rum for that one." Apollo says gesturing to Vinyl.

Lightning chuckles. "I'll get that done. Though, I may sneak a few."

Apollo scoffs. "Please, I'm the only one who could do that."

"How about I tie you both to the mast for the voyage." Edward says.

Lightning chuckles darkly. "And you won't have fun beating me in a sword fight."

"Can we not cause a scene?" Nikolai asks.

Edward laughs. "And where's the fun in that?"

"Admiral, I would like to remind you we have to leave." Belcoot says carrying a drunk Hazuki.

Edward laughs. "How much did she have?"

"You are already two days behind." Belcoot reminds.

Edward groans. "You try dealing with paperwork."

"Yes, have you tried doing it without drinking?" Belcoot asks.

Edward huffs. "And hated it."

"Come on captain, let go." Spitfire says lifting her hat.

Edward grins. "Only if you come with me to my room."

"Save that for later captain." Lightning says.

Edward gives a mock frown. "You're no fun."

"Come on captain, let us see your ship." Spitfire says pulling him along.

Edward laughs. "Easy, over there." He said pointing to a large ship in the last dock.

"Ah, the Jackdaw, it's good to see this again." Zegai says.

Edward smiles. "Yes it is. Now everypony get on and my quartermaster will help you to your bunks. Sorry, but the most recent upgrade I could get for living space would be at least common beds."

"I'll stay in the bird's nest." Zegai says.

Edward smiles and walks onto his ship. "One less bunk. Who else wants to stay somewhere else?" No pony spoke up. "Okay, everypony on board. The less time we spend on the land the more time we got on sea."

All the passengers boarded the battleship which soon set sail. "Cast off, we got a long trip!" Edward calls as they sail out of the dock and bay.

It was a few months later when the Jackdaw sighted a Saddle Arabia port.

"There it is." Lightning said as his family stood over the railings near him. "Saddle Arabia."

"You doing ok Granny?" Applebloom asks.

Granny groans. "I'm okay youngin." She said waving her off as she leans over the side. "How...mmgh...longer until we get back to land?"

"We will be docking soon from the looks of it." Applejack says.

Granny still groans. "That's good. Why did I agree to this?"

"A paid vacation." Applebloom says.

Granny looks to them looking green...well greener. "I still should have stayed in my chair."

"Look on the bright side Granny, we are almost there." Applejack says.

Granny nods slowly. "Good, I'm sick of boats."

Lightning shakes his head before looking back to the approaching dock. "Oh we have a greeter." He said seeing somepony waiting at the dock in a queen's knight uniform.

"Haven't we seen that armor before?" Rainbow asks feeding the foals.

Lightning smiles. "Of course, who's the highest authority in Saddle Arabia?"

"Eclipse knows we are coming doesn't she?" Rainbow asks adjusting the bottle for Talion.

Lightning nods. "Yeah, remember she has spies back home. They probably overheard us talking about coming here. Oh well, better take it, she doesn't take no for an answer." He said as the boat came into dock.

"That and you see your eldest foal Midnight." Rainbow adds.

Lightning smiles. "Yeah, that too."

"It will be good to the foals to see their eldest sibling." Rainbow says rubbing the foals' heads.

"Kind of hard to believe they are almost a year old already." Spitfire says.

Rainbow nods. "Yeah, plus both of them are already walking."

"And wrestling." Hurricane adds.

Rainbow chuckles as Typhoon tries to hold down her father while he just stands there with an amused expression. "True, wonder what else they would start doing?"

"Who knows?" Spitfire says.

Lightning chuckles as Typhoon pulls at his wing. "Ok dear, why not get some sleep?"

"What about Talion who is riding on Agni?" Twilight asks.

Lightning smiles. "Let him have fun."

Agni walks over to Twilight. "So how are you Agni?" Twilight asks.

Agni smiles as he slowly sets Talion down. "Fine, after a while of getting use to the rocking."

"Darling it is so hot." Rarity says, using a fan to try and cool herself down.

Agni shakes his head. "Then you better prepare in these lands." He said smirking.

"Enjoy the heat while you can because it is cold in Stalliongrad." Lightning says using his feathers to tickle Typhoon's nose.

Agni shrugs as Typhoon sneezes. "I make heat, so I'm good."

Rarity groans. "Well it's a good thing I pack for almost every occasion."

"Oh and remember other cultures so be on your best behaviors." Lightning reminds.

Everypony looks to him. "So what do we have to do here?" Fluttershy asks.

"Well it is kind of improper for anypony to not walking around without clothes." Lightning says.

Rarity becomes excited. "Oh, this will be my country."

"Which is why all of us and the crew are in clothes even though it is hot." Lightning says as only the ponies from Equestria had no clothes on.

Rarity rushes to her bags. "I'll see if I can make some basic clothing then I'll really work on them once we rest."

"We will need to hit up the market for clothes." Lightning says as Rainbow grabs Typhoon.

Rarity's face falls. "Aww, at least let me give some clothes."

"That is why all of you are coming with us." Lightning says.

Edward comes down near them. "Well we better get going, for some reason, these guys don't like me docking here. Maybe for another important boat, I don't know. So everypony off and I'll place the boat in a holding area and meet up with you."

"You could pay the port cost." Nikolai says.

Edward nods. "Yes well anyways, everypony off and handle the business you need." He said getting off the ship and talking to somepony.

The passengers walk up to the Queen's knight. "Oh Kite it has been awhile." Apollo says.

Kite smiles. "Hi guys, I'm here to escort you to Eclipse, but you may want to wear these, especially the mares." She said taking out some cloaks.

"I see will we also get to see the prince?" Lightning asks.

Kite nods. "Yes, he is probably studying up on his mother's regimen in the palace."

"Has he been informed of our arrival?" Lightning asks.

Kite giggles. "No, Eclipse wanted a surprise for her son about his favorite guardian."

"Oh it will be a surprise." Rainbow says finishing putting on the cloak.

Kite smiles. "Yes, now is everypony ready?" As she sees them adjusting the cloaks.

Everypony follows her and were treated to an ordinary day in Saddle Arabia and noticed the towers had a spherical shape at the top. "What's that?" Applejack asks looking to the spheres.

Lightning immediately holds a hoof to her mouth to quiet her. "Try to not speak, the mares here are not as free as Equestria. Anyway, that's the shape of their towers."

"Well unless they have a higher status like me." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks around and sees most of the mares covered up, while the stallions are just wearing suit like clothing. "Am I allowed to speak much dad?" She asks quietly.

"Children can sweetie." Lightning says.

Scootaloo nods. "Then why are mares here not respected that much?"

"They are highly respected, but they have a code of conduct here." Lightning says.

Scootaloo sighs. "And the stallions, how they different from Equestria?"

"A little more disciplined and have a little more of consequences to their actions like a thief will have his hoof chopped off if he is caught stealing. Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth kind of thing." Lightning says.

Scootaloo nods. "Okay I get that, must have been Eclipse that kind of switched things around because it looks like there are still in the old ways?"

"It's a part of their culture sweetie." Lightning says.

Scootaloo looks around before feeling something or lack thereof. "Why does my pack feel lighter?"

"That is because this stallion sought to steal from you." Apollo says having the stallion in a strangle like hold who was struggling to get free but to no avail.

Scootaloo frowns. "Can I have my stuff back?"

"One second." Nikolai says punching the stallion in the stomach causing him to slump and Apollo let him go and hoofed the pack back to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo smiles. "Thanks and I won't cause an international incident by hitting this guy would I?"

"No need to waste the energy sweetie, just leave him on the street." Lightning says.

Scootaloo sighs and walks away with Kite. "Now that's a bit of fun gone."

"He said that because some of his friends are watching and he doesn't want them to mark you." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks around and sees some stallions glaring at her. "Okay, duly noted."

"And if they make a move then it will start to get bloody." Kite says.

Scootaloo nods. "Okay, try not do anything that might provoke them."

"No, I mean their blood would be everywhere if the stories of those three are to be believed." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks to her. "What stories?"

"There are stories from the Stalliongrad revolution. Some are of how those three massacred an entire platoon in one night." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks interested. "The reason they did that?"

"They are supposedly to be reinforcements for a flanking maneuver in a battle. They never showed up and the legion never found out till it was too late and they were destroyed." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks surprised. "So they aren't praised for that because?"

"It was never confirmed and they already have numerous other achievements." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks back to the stallions tending to the one they took down. "So are they good or bad for us?"

"Good for you, because one of them is your loving father, bad for anypony stupid enough to threaten you." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks at her and then ahead. "So this the market? Looks different from what I excepted." She said as she looks at many open stalls with ponies and some griffons milling about.

"Oh this isn't the market. The market is over there." Kite says pointing to a large building.

Scootaloo looks between the two. "So we get our new clothes?"

"I have orders from the Queen to bring you straight to here." Kite says.

Scootaloo looks back to Lightning. "So what do we need exactly?"

"To see the Queen as she has ordered it." Lightning says shaking his head.

Scootaloo looks confused. "Then what clothes...wait, you mean meet her here?"

"To the palace." Kite says smiling.

Scootaloo just looks around dizzy. "Carry me and don't wake me up till we're there." She said before fainting.

"I got you." Lightning says picking her up and placing her on his back.

Rainbow smiles. "So confused that she faints?"

"No, she is just overwhelmed." Lightning says standing next to his wife.

Rainbow giggles. "Or maybe trying to figure out everything."

"Yeah love." Lightning says leaning closer before they head to the palace.

Rainbow smirks as she looks over the palace. "It looks like the one in Canterlot, just bigger."

"And a different design." Twilight pointed out.

Lightning looks to her. "How do you know of Eclipse's embassy in Canterlot?"

"She has her own embassy in Canterlot? I was just pointing out it had a different design." Twilight says.

Kite smirks. "You better prepare for a glomp sir." Lightning smiles until he looks to the palace again and sees Midnight standing in front of him. "And by glomp, I mean hidden running."

Lightning smiles and picks up Midnight. "Hey there." Lightning says as they enter the palace.

Midnight waits until the door closes behind the whole group does he looks back to Lightning. "Hey dad."

"Hey son, like the surprise?" Lightning asks.

Midnight nods. "Yeah, even mom is surprised at this."

Lightning smiles and rubs Midnight's head. "You ready to spend some quality time with your family?" Lightning asks.

Midnight giggles. "Yeah, can we play now? I'm bored with all these notes."

"After we see your mother in her throne room and you want to see your two younger siblings?" Lightning asks.

Midnight looks confused. "Two, Scootaloo is on your back and she's the only one, is she?"

"Oh than who are these two?" Rainbow asks with Talion and Typhoon on her back.

Midnight looks to them and slowly grows surprised. "I got new brothers and sisters?!"

"Yeah, a little over a year old." Rainbow says smiling.

Midnight jumps for joy and lands on Lightning's back which wakes up Scootaloo. "Yippee! More brothers and sisters!"

"Huh, wha, Midnight?" Scootaloo asked groggily.

Midnight hugs Scootaloo getting her by surprise. "I got another brother and sister!" He said oblivious to her choking.

Lightning chuckles a bit before saying. "Ok son, that is enough, you're choking your sister."

Midnight looks at the blue Scootaloo before letting go. "Sorry sis."

"Oh hey there Midnight." Applebloom greets.

Midnight smiles nervously and blushes. "Hey...Apple...bloom."

"Oh, what is this?" Kite asks.

"Ms. Kite." Midnight whines.

"Come on Kite, time to meet your queen." Lightning says moving them along much to Midnight's relief.

Kite giggles and follows him with everypony else. Soon they reach a large door with was covered with many pictures and cloth. Lightning grins as he looks to Kite. "Eclipse doesn't have anything to deal with today does she?" He asks.

"Yes, she has a full day, but made time just for you." Kite says.

Lightning laughs and kicks opens the door. "Honey, I'm home!"

Eclipse sat there on the silver throne, the walkway had a fountain on each side with water running down the groves. "Now that's appropriate." She said with a smile.

Lightning laughs. "Of course it is. Nice to see you again Eclipse."

"Same here, but I don't think the officials and a few of my Queen's knights like the last comment." Eclipse says.

Lightning shrugs. "Well that's their opinion, besides you free up time for us, so technically your fault."

"Yeah, yeah, I see you also have my son with you." Eclipse says as Midnight runs to his mother's side.

Lightning smiles. "Yeah, he's really excited as you can see."

"Yes, his hero is here." Eclipse says.

"Who does he think he is, talking to our queen like that?" An official says.

Lightning tries to ignore that and keeps smiling. "So you and Midnight got things planned for us?"

"Yes, but I have to do a few more things before that then so Kite please escort them to some guest rooms." Eclipse says.

Kite nods. "Of course ma'am. Come along everypony." She said walking out with them.

Lightning walks away smiling with the rest. "Thanks Clipsy." He said walking out.

"The audacity." A queen's knight says about to charge.

"Enough." Eclipse says stopping him.

The knight turns back to her. "Why should I? He disrespected you."

"He is one of the only two who may talk to me as such, now next order of business." Eclipse says.

Lightning sighs in relief as he held a stupid grin on his face. "You wanted to them to charge didn't you?" Rainbow asks.

"One move." Lightning says as they walk down the hall.

Rainbow looks to him. "What?"

"Lightning would have defeated them right?" Kite asks.

"Correct." Nikolai says.

Rainbow bumps into him slightly. "You're crazy."

"Says the black belt." Lightning says.

Rainbow giggles. "You offered to train me."

"And I taught you a few fighting moves." Lightning says.

Kite stops in front of a hallway which had many doors on both sides that leads to a dead end. "Here we are. All the rooms are the same, so I'm sure you can pick your own with your family and all. Now will there be anything else?"

"Well if you could get all of them some clothes so your guards won't harass them." Apollo says.

Kite nods. "Of course, I'll see to it that it will get done. Though, I'm sure that a tailor is out of the question since you have many with you, so I will see if I can get ready made clothes."

"Thanks, so Octavia want to come with me to see a few acquaintances?" Apollo asks.

Octavia shrugs. "Sure, let me place my bags and then after some clothes we can head out."

"That is fine." Apollo says following her into a room.

Lightning turns to the rest of them. "Okay, pick out your rooms and once you get your clothes then we can head out."

"So they got any clubs around here?" Vinyl asks heading to a room.

"Sorry Vinyl, but no they don't and stuff like that can get you in trouble around here." Nikolai says following her.

Vinyl slouches. "Aww man. So what can I do here?"

"You can spend time with me and I can buy you that." Nikolai says.

Vinyl smiles. "Okay, but you better be good."

"I will and you will get a taste of some good alcohol." Nikolai says

Vinyl gives her usual grin. "Good." She said closing the door behind them.

"Seems like somepony is making it official like us love." Lightning says smiling.

Rainbow smiles. "That's good, now we need our own room. The foals needs a little rest." She said holding the tired foals.

"Well we do have plenty to choose from." Lightning says as they walk into one.

Rainbow smiles as she looks over the room. "Looks basic for one pony each." She said looking over the one bed.

"Ah, may look that way, but looks can be deceiving." Lightning says walking over to a chord and pulls it and two more beds appear from seemingly nowhere. "I don't know how they do it, but it is very impressive." Lightning adds.

Rainbow looks a little surprised. "Wow, let's get the foals to sleep and maybe once they wake up we can head out with the rest." She said walking to one of the beds and placing them down.

"Nah, let's spend time with Midnight and Eclipse. It will do the twins to spend time with their older brother." Lightning says as she lays them down.

Rainbow looks to him. "Is she ready for us to spend time with her?"

"Give her some time, she has to deal with her own court." Lightning says.

Rainbow starts to bundle the foals up. "So when is she ready?"

"Hard to say. She doesn't rush any court affair for any reason. She is both dedicated and diligent when it comes to ruling her country." Lightning says setting Scootaloo down on another bed.

Rainbow sighs. "So when can you expect her to finish?"

"Hard to say, I don't have any informants in her court." Lightning admitted.

Rainbow shrugs and then heads to the main bed. "Well I need a little rest." She said laying down on the bed. "Wake me when you need me."

"I will just get some rest." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles as she opens the covers. "Come on big boy."

Lightning smiles and walks over. "Want me to give you a message as well?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow sighs and turns over a bit. "Go right ahead."

"Ok." Lightning says starting to message her back.

Rainbow moans lightly as Lightning moves her hooves around. "I wonder how the others are doing."

Apollo is inspecting some of his tools while he and Octavia wait. "Fine everything okay?"

Octavia sighs in relief as she came out of the bathroom. "That feels so much better."

"You smell nice too." Apollo says.

Octavia blushes a bit. "Thanks, how are you faring here?"

"Well it seems that the petty thieves have made some strides since I was last here judging from what nearly happened as we walked here." Apollo says.

Octavia walks over to him as she dries her mane with her towel. "And what do you mean by that?"

"Those punks are not true thieves not like me and recently you. They will steal from anyone and will kill if you get in their way." Apollo says.

Octavia huffs. "You're right, that isn't a true thief. Unlike somepony I know." She said walking up to him.

"No, a decade ago they were in the minority and were scared to run the streets at times. What has happened to the guild here?" Apollo says thinking.

Octavia starts to rub her hooves over his shoulders. "Why not forget that for a moment and come with me?"

"We can't leave the room yet. Without clothes the guards will harass you, especially because of their rules and you being a mare and then I would have to knock them around a bit and we would have a lot watching us the rest of our stay here and that would ruin the stay for us. Especially with them all tense because they know a war is coming soon." Apollo says looking out the window.

Octavia huffs. "I meant here and..." She pulls him off the chair and drags him to the bed before throwing him on it. "You talk too much, really that was a mouthful."

"What about you, want to have some fun with your unicorn, huh?" Apollo asks.

Octavia smiles. "Her, I except that she would be out like a light right about now." She said before crawling over him.

"I meant me." Apollo says not resisting.

Octavia smiles as she gets close. "Just hold me close and start kissing me. Nothing too big for now."

Apollo grins. "Anything you want." He said before hugging her and kissing her full on.

Nikolai chuckles as he looks over the sleeping and snoring Vinyl. "Oh well, at least I can stay with you." He said getting in with her and pulling the covers over them.

"Wowza! This is an awesome room!" Pinkie said as she rushes around with the Cakes standing at the doorway with their foals. "What's this?!" Pinkie said looking at a chord before hanging onto to it and pulling it, making two more beds appear. "Cool. A bed maker."

"Pinkie, maybe you shouldn't mess with everything." Maud Pie drones to her.

Pinkie smiles as she keeps looking around. "Aw come on Maud. This place is the coolest and it's my job to figure out its secrets." She said as she takes out a magnifying glass. "Besides, places like this always have a secret room."

"Rest for now Pinkie." Maud says.

Pinkie comes close and stares at her. "Rest? Pinkamena Diana Pie does not rest." She said proudly.

"Then conserve your energy." Maud says.

Pinkie huffs. "Fine, but so are you. Tis only fair." She said in a mock Canterlot accent.

Maud just stares. "Okay." She said going to a bed.

"So Maud, I guess you have no problem seeing as you wear clothes." Pinkie says.

Maud looks to her with the same blank stare. "I never really had a problem since I needed a place to put Boulder."

"I wonder how our parents and other siblings are." Pinkie voices a concern.

Maud shrugs. "Whatever problems they got, I'm sure they're fine. We faced worse."

"Like that time you took on that huge rock monster?" Pinkie asks.

Maud starts to lay down before pulling the covers over her. "Yep." She said before laying her head on a pillow.

"Wait what?" Mr. Cake asks.

Mrs. Cake just smiles as she goes to another empty bed for the foals to sleep in. "It's Pinkie dear, don't question it."

Mr. Cake just sighs. "For once I would like something rational. Wait, this is Maud Pie, the same rules have not been established!" Maud produces a rock from her pocket and places on a pillow before pulling the covers over it. "And it's gone."

The whole Apple family looks over the one bed. "Whelp, Granny is obvious here. She gets the bed, but where does that leave us?" Applejack asks.

"Um sis, what is that cord for?" Applebloom asks.

Applejack looks to a cord hanging from the ceiling before pulling it, making two more beds appear. "Well this solves our problem. Okay, Granny gets the main bed, Big Mac gets his own, and me and Applebloom gets the last one. Sounds good?"

"Well I have no objections." Granny Smith says.

"Ehyep." Big Mac said placing his bags onto his bed.

Applebloom jumps onto their bed. "This is going to be so cool. I can't wait to play with Midnight again too."

Applejack had a knowing smile, but says nothing.

Rarity and Sweetie Bell looks around the five star room. "My word, this is extravagant. Just look at this fabric." Rarity said running her hooves across the cloth walls. "The color, the fabric, the stitching, you can't forget the stitching."

"Sis, do you need a moment alone with the curtain?" Sweetie Belle asks.

Rarity scoffs. "Please, what I am interested in is that bed." She said running over to it.

Sweetie Bell sighs. "And another way for my sister to ignore me." Sweetie Bell just stand to the side till Rarity was done.

Rarity sighs as she 'takes' a few samples for her inspirations and places them away. "Okay Sweetie Bell, now let's get cleaned up and ready for a big day."

"Um sis, what is this cord?" Sweetie Bell asks.

Rarity looks to the hanging cord. "Probably a server cord, pull on it and a server or servant will be called."

Sweetie Bell looks interested and pulls on it, expecting a servant, but instead of that, two beds appear, shocking the sisters. "Or maybe a bed caller." She said after a while.

"Well this place is interesting." Sweetie Bell says.

Rarity nods. "Oh yes, begs the question, what else does this place have?"

"Let's not be rude guests and start ransacking the place ok?" Sweetie Bell asks.

Rarity blushes and moves the fabrics a little deeper into her bags. "Quite right."

Sweetie Bell just shakes her head.

Twilight stares at the large room. "Spike, you still with me?" She asks after a while.

"Yeah and Agni is here as well." Spike says.

Agni looks at the cloth covered walls. "I think I would burn this down."

"Agni please don't burn anything." Twilight says.

Agni keeps looking until he spies a marble fireplace. "Found my spot." He said walking to it.

"For food or sleeping?" Spike asks.

Agni lays down on the cold marble after placing his pack to the side. "Both, at least you two would be safe."

"Oh Agni, your flames only burn if you want." Twilight says walking over and petting his head.

Agni looks to her worried. "I don't want to burn you mom."

"You never have and having a fire nature you won't." Twilight says.

Agni keeps looking at her until he lays his head down again. "I still don't want to take the chance."

"Agni listen to your mother. You won't hurt me." Twilight says sternly.

Agni flinches and looks away. "Okay, I'll take the chance."

Twilight pulls him out and hugs him. "See, it's not hurting me." Twilight says.

Agni hugs back as he tears up a bit. "Why do I hate this?" He said quietly. Twilight smiles and just rubs his head. "Why? Why do I hate having this in the first place?"

Twilight nuzzles him. "You're just growing up, it's normal. Don't worry about it, me and Spike will help you through it."

"Thanks mommy." Agni says hugging back.

Twilight smiles and let's go. "Now, me and Spike have to get cleaned up and unpacked and then we would figure out our next move."

Spike smiles as well. "Yeah, don't worry. I know I had to help Twilight here through some rough patches. I'm sure we can help you."

Agni smiles. "Thanks big brother."

Spikes blushes. "Yeah, I'm not sure how that would work since you're bigger than me."

"But you are older so you are big brother." Agni says.

Twilight giggles. "Can't argue with that logic."

"Speaking of siblings, shouldn't you send a letter to the princesses? You did say you would send the next letter once we arrived." Spike reminds.

Twilight gets a surprised expression for a moment. "Oh right, I'll write it myself." She said taking a parchment and a quill. "Now let's see." She said to herself, holding the quill over the parchment. "Dear Luna and Celestia, I was able to make it with my friends and family to the Saddle Arabia. This place is exactly as you said it would be, but it is even more so. Right now I have yet to leave on any activity until I get some clothing and until then I will write about this place in more detail. But for now, just be careful and wary of the citizens here. Your faithful student and princess, Twilight Sparkle." She said finishing the letter before rolling it up and sending it away with magic. "There, letter sent."

"Come to think of it, has any princess been here yet?" Spike asks.

Twilight looks out through the nearby window. "I don't think so, not to my knowledge."

"Then you are a trailblazer mommy." Agni says.

Twilight smiles. "Guess I am. Now let's get ready and hope an international incident doesn't come out from it." She said rushing into the bathroom.

"Let's try and enjoy ourselves." Spike says.

Twilight peeks her head out. "And since when did we have something to enjoy only for it to blow up in our face?"

"That time you tried to mix a potion from the black potion book you found in Lightning's library only for him to tell you later it was a very advance one after the explosion turned you blue with green hair and me white with yellow spines." Spike says.

Twilight blushes. "That's what I'm talking about, now get ready for a big day." She said closing the door behind her.

"Right…going to sleep." Spike says laying down on a bed.

Agni chuckles. "Big brother, I don't think that's what she meant by getting ready."

"The sun is starting to set and if what we know about deserts is correct it will be freezing soon." Spike says.

Agni groans. "More cold. Now I'm glad I'm not in the frozen north."

"Remember we are heading for Stalliongrad and it is cold there." Twilight says.

Agni moans and lays down. "Great. How long do nights last in a desert?"

"Same as Equestria." Twilight says closing the window and starts a fire in the fireplace.

Agni eats some fire before laying down next to it. "I'll need to sleep here for now and see how a night goes then we can sleep like one big bundle."

"Ok Agni." Twilight says rubbing her head against his.

Agni smiles and nuzzles back. "Goodnight mom."

"Night Agni." Twilight says walking to her own bed.

Agni quickly opens his eyes to find that the room was dark and empty. "Mom?! Big brother?!" He quickly gets up and runs around into the bathroom and finds it empty as well.

He then heads outside and goes to another room. "Auntie?!" He called to Fluttershy. Not finding her he then runs back into the hall. "Is anyone here?!"

"My dear and poor little Agni."

Agni notices a small tone in the voice and quickly turns around and fires at the direction of the voice, but finds it sent into the wall. "Easy now, don't want to hurt yourself in your dream." The figure said as it approached him.

Agni backs up a little. "Who…who are you?"

The figure smirks before it takes form of a bipedal dragon with spouts of flames coming out of its body. "I'm disappointed you did not recognize me. How do you not know your own spirit leader?"

Agni becomes surprised as he stared at the now crouching dragon. "What is going on, where is everyone?!"

The dragon chuckles in her ever present female tone. "They're fine my dear. Just sleeping. The mind can have many tricks and fun added to it. But what are you feeling right now? Pain, can't be anger, maybe death?"

Agni growls. "Shut up!"

The dragon looks a bit astonished. "My word, didn't your mother teach you manners?"

Agni's flames fires out of his back as he charges up a shot. "Send me back!"

The dragon sighs. "My dear, I can't do that until you meet the one thing that will hurt your mother. You can come out now, he's locked in his dream." The dragon said walking away.

Shadow comes out in her form as now Twilight. "Quick fun fact, spirits have many agendas, both good and bad, but they always do it for a purpose." She said in Twilight's voice.

Agni growls as flames start coming from his mouth. "Stay away from mommy."

Shadow smiles warmly to Agni which had a creepy vibe to it. "Oh my dear, she will be a part of this, whether you or her like it or not. Besides, I might have fun." She said letting out a dark chuckle. Agni shoots a fire ball at her, but it just goes through her. "It's just a warning dear, but know this should happen and for the safety of even your big brother and your other family. Just know, I'm doing this for everyone." Agni keeps staring at her before a part of the ceiling collapses between them. "That's all I have to say. You can tell uncle Lightning about this, but no one else."

"Shadow." A deep voice echoed.

Shadow groans. "I'm done here, I won't torture the kid any longer. Besides, when one tries, many will follow. By the way, will Lightning be pleased at your first words." She then notices Agni still in his spot. "Get out of here kid." She said before launching shadow tendrils at him.

Agni screams as he quickly gets up in his spot at the fireplace. He pants as he looks around and sees Twilight and Spike looking worried at him.

"Agni, are you okay?" Twilight asks walking to him. Agni keeps panting before he remembers what he saw and quickly gets up and runs out. "Agni?!" Twilight yells going after him with Spike following close behind.

As he runs through the hall the others open their door and see the chase happening. "Yay, a chase scene!" Pinkie yells before running after them with everypony else following.

Agni comes to Lightning's door and slams it open. Lightning groans as he looks up from his bed and sees Agni standing there with the others standing behind him. "Agni? Guys? What's got you so rattled up?"

Agni just pants. "We need to talk."

"Is it spirit related?" Lightning asks yawning.

"Shadow." Agni said.

Lightning immediately looks awake and starts to get up much to Rainbow's displeasure. "What's going on?" Rainbow whines.

Lightning has a stern gaze on him. "Rainbow can you take the foals and go with everypony else to another room? I'm going to need this room for a while." He said walking to their suitcases.

Rainbow groans as she gets up. "Why?"

Lightning sighs. "Shadow."

Rainbow stood still before getting out of bed and taking the foals carefully. "Come on Scoots." Scootaloo groans and gets out as well before walking out with her and closes the door with only Agni inside with Lightning.

"Shadow, in here, now." Lightning growls.

Dark tendrils come down from the ceiling and comes together on the floor before becoming the shape of Twilight. "Hello, welcome to the Shadow hotline, how may I direct your call?"

Lightning sends her an ice cold glare. "I thought I asked you to lay low and not do anything." Lightning says.

Shadow chuckles. "You said don't harm the friends and family. I didn't harm anyone…yet."

"One more thing like this and I will destroy you." Lightning says, Shadow inwardly smiling at the anger she felt.

Shadow sighs. "Tell him." She told Agni.

Agni looks to Lightning as he glares at Shadow. "Well…a fire spirit in the shape of a dragon came to me and locked me in my dream and did it for Shadow here to tell me that mommy will be a part of this, whether any of us likes it or not."

"Hold on." Lightning says drawing a circle in the air which for some reason, quickly shows a lines and soon a circle forms before he draws something inside of it and places his hoof down.

"You know, I didn't sense a spirit like us from it." Shadow says.

"Interesting. Shadow disappear, Twilight is coming." Lightning says looking like he was thinking.

Shadow quickly sinks into the dark as the door opened and Twilight runs in and hugs Agni. "Are you okay?"

"Twilight we got research to do." Lightning says.

Twilight looks up at him. "What do you mean? What's wrong with Agni?"

"He had a vision or was contacted by this." Lightning says motioning to the magical image.

Twilight looks to the image. "What is it?"

"Unsure, thus we must, in the words of the one who began teaching me magic, we must do research." Lightning says in a fake old stallion voice.

Twilight just looks confused. "So what's the circle for?"

"A spell that helps others visualize things for others." Lightning says.

Twilight looks at the image inside. "Is this what Agni had a nightmare about?"

"I believe so because I asked him to think on it." Lightning says.

Twilight studies the figure carefully. "Well first look says we got a dragon figure, walking bipedal, and has flames coming out of it. Another spirit?" She asks looking over to him.

"Possible or we could be dealing with a demon or monster." Lightning says.

Twilight looks worried to Agni. "Agni, what happened in there?"

Agni takes a small step back. "I…I…I can't."

Twilight starts walking to him. "Agni, what happened in your nightmare?"

Agni now takes a larger step back. "I can't, I promised."

Twilight now looks really worried. "Agni, this won't go away unless you tell."

"A spirit's word is their bond Twilight. If he promised he couldn't tell us even if he wanted to." Lightning says.

Twilight's gaze soften as she stops in front of Agni. "Can you ever tell me?" Agni shakes his head and starts crying before he was hugged by her. "It's okay, if you can't tell then its okay. At least it's not big like I would die, right?" She laughs out.

Agni nervously laughs with her as he looks to Lightning who was looking worried at her, unaware of the peril lying ahead.

Twilight then calms down and looks to Lightning. "You got any books on this?"

"I have an entire library, but I wonder, why now?" Lightning asks out loud.

Twilight looks back to Agni, the same worry in her eyes. "Tell me this, are you going to be okay?" Agni nods.

"Could it be that we entered Saddle Arabia?" Lightning thinks out loud.

Twilight shakes her head with a smile. "I was like that once and still am. Anyway, go be with your big brother and we'll figure this out, okay?" Twilight asks Agni.

"Is it all a part of those who study magic and still constantly want to learn more?" Rainbow asks.

Twilight looks to the door. "Rainbow, what are you doing here?"

"This is my family's room. I just stepped out a moment with the foals so Agni and Lightning could talk." Rainbow says.

Twilight blushes. "Oh…yeah. Can you take Agni out to the others? Me and Lightning has to study something."

"You can do that in the morning." Rainbow says.

Twilight looks to Lightning who was still thinking. "Okay, come on Agni." She said getting up and leaving with him.

Rainbow nods before putting the foals back in their beds before going to Lightning. "Come on Lightning."

Lightning snaps out of his thinking pose and walks to her. "Sorry about that hun."

"Let's just go back to sleep. I was in the middle of a nice dream." Rainbow says.

Lightning smiles. "What was it about?"

"You, me, and a tropical island with a waterfall." Rainbow says.

Lightning grins and gets back into bed. "Then let's hope I can join."

Rainbow pulls him closer. "Better."

Lightning chuckles until he fell asleep. Rainbow smiles and falls asleep with him.

Agni leans against the fireplace wall as it was still lit and he keeps taking bites out of the flames as he watches Twilight and Spike as they slept. "Mom." He whispered quietly.

A shadow tendril comes down behind him until it stroked his cheek. "Relax my boy, she's not going to change yet, but soon."

"You leave her alone." Agni says.

Shadow chuckles. "Can't, the events to come must happen. I have to do this."

"You will not change her." Agni says mad.

Shadow sighs. "My boy, my young naive boy, there are things you can't stop."

"I can protect her from you." Agni says.

Shadow gives a grin from the shadows. "I'll tell you this, you might like her changed."

Agni growls at Shadow as she disappeared. "Bitch." He cursed.

The sun soon peeks out over the horizon and into the window, sending them into Twilight and Spike. Twilight moans and gets up before looking around. "Morning Agni, did you sleep well?"

Agni puts on a smile. "Yep, no more nightmares."

"Good and you feel better sleeping with mommy again?" Twilight asks rubbing his head.

Agni nods. "Yeah, it wasn't that bad of a cold snap so I can sleep with you guys now."

"Yeah, it wasn't as ba…" Twilight was cut off by a horn echoing through the entire palace. She rushes to the door and opens it to find the others having their doors opened as well. "What's going on?"

"Ah, got to love the way they Saddle Arabians wake the palace up." Lightning says sarcastically as he walks up with Nikolai, Vinyl, and Octavia.

Twilight's face blanks. "That's a wakeup call?"

"Mostly for the Queen's knights and the royal guards." Lightning says.

Twilight groans. "Anything else we need to know that would make us think we are under attack?"

"Hug the wall, the royal guards are on parade." Lightning says leaning against a wall.

Everypony ducks back into their rooms or against the walls as guards rush past them that almost packed in the whole hall, but soon passed. "Well that's something." Twilight said coming out of her room.

"Unlike what you are used to, these royal guards are battle hardened and take their jobs very seriously." Lightning says.

Twilight sighs. "So what's next, we get ready and head out for the day?"

"Oh, planning going out naked here?" Lightning jokes.

Twilight huffs. "I said get ready, not step out and hope for the best."

"So where is Apollo partner?" Applejack asks.

"He went out to check something." Octavia says.

Lightning gives a knowing chuckle. "Well, everypony dress up in what you got from Kite or your most concealing outfit, like Octy here, and let's head down the dining room. I'm sure Eclipse has a fine meal ready."

"You heard him lover boy." Vinyl says grabbing Nikolai.

Nikolai chuckles. "All right, all right, but only if you wear something around the same."

"I so hope Kite gave Vinyl the dancer outfit as a joke." Lightning says after they left.

Octavia giggles. "Really, is that even allowed here?"

Lightning looked like he was going to say something but stops and remains silent. He then perks up and starts walking again. "Well, I got mine." He said putting his cloak on and heading away. "Ask the guard here when you are ready to head to the dining room." He said pointing to the guard at the end of the hall.

"Anypony else get the feeling isn't telling us something?" Octavia asks. Everypony left in the hall nods before heading back into their rooms to dress up.

Lightning walks with Rainbow as they carry the kids. Upon reaching the door Lightning stops and he starts trying to hold in his laughter as he sees most of the mane six and Vinyl in dancer outfits. "I am so giving Kite the next drink she wants." He said after a while.

"You find this funny partner?" Applejack asks a little mad as Fluttershy was trying to hide from embarrassment.

Lightning grins. "Nope, just a little payback for disobeying me when we were in the forest."

"So you like it?" Rainbow asks.

Lightning shrugs. "A little."

"Maybe I should request one." Rainbow says freezing Lightning.

Lightning shakes himself before looking at her with a small grin. "I'm sure Eclipse would oblige and maybe teach you how to properly use them."

"Ok, a little too much information dad." Scootaloo says from his back.

Lightning chuckles. "Just having a little fun sweetie. Now, where's our host for this morning?"

"Waiting in the dining room." Eclipse voice comes from the other side of the open door.

Lightning smiles and heads for the table. "Hiya Clipsy, how's it going now?"

"Good, though somepony wants to see you." Eclipse says smiling.

Lightning still smiles. "Now I wonder who that could be." He asks knowingly before he feels something on his head.

"Hey dad." Midnight said looking upside down at him as he leans over his head.

Lightning takes Midnight off of his head before hugging him. "Hey kid, you've been good for your mother?"

"You know it. Hey sis, little sis and bro." Midnight says.

Scootaloo smiles as the foals cheers a little. "Hey bro, I've been wondering, what do you do for fun around here?"

"I get little free time because of all my studying." Midnight says.

Lightning shoots an accusing glare at Eclipse. "Eclipse, do you want me to repeat what we talked about when I learned he wasn't getting enough sleep?" Eclipse blushes from embarrassment.

"Applejack, this outfit is hugging me a little tight." Applebloom said pulling at the waist.

Midnight hearing Applebloom, turns to her direction and stops before falling off his father and landing upside down. "Wha…why uh…I uh…" He stutters as he looks at her.

Lightning chuckles. "What's wrong son, dress caught your tongue?"

Applebloom gains a blush as Midnight kept staring at her. "Why is he staring at me like that?"

Eclipse chuckles at this. "Sorry, Kite please come in here." Eclipse says.

Kite comes in with a smirk. "Yes my queen?" She asks looking over to the two blushing foals.

"Get some proper attire and not dancing outfits." Eclipse says.

Kite chuckles. "Right away ma'am." She said walking away, still trying to contain her laughter.

"I am sorry for the actions of my youngest Queen's knight." Eclipse apologizes.

Applejack nods. "Thanks, but why did she do that?"

"Those are dancer outfits mostly for…" Lightning whispered the last part into Applejack's ear causing her to go wide eyed.

Applejack then blushes before leaning over to Applebloom. "Sugarcube, make sure you don't wear something like this again, got it?"

"No arguments, it is too tight anyways." Applebloom says.

Applejack leans a bit closer. "That's the whole point, never wear it again." She whispered.

Rarity spins a little. "I don't know, it feels like I'm a ballerina."

Twilight just grumbles. "Well I hate these types, get me a cloak any day." Spike holds out a cloak for her. "Thanks." She said taking it in her magic.

"Rarity, don't wear that outside unless you are going to dance for money." Nikolai says.

Rarity then frowns. "Well I never, at least I have some ideas for some new dresses." She said lifting a foreleg and looking at the large amount of cloth hanging there.

"He means that is what that outfit is for." Lightning says.

Rarity huffs. "Please, dancing should only be for the joy and passion of dancing, not money."

"Ok, I am going to say it, that outfit is either for prostitutes and girls in a harem." Lightning whispered the second half to her.

Rarity glares at him. "Then why would Mrs. Kite give them to us?"

"A, there is a harem wing to the palace and b, for humor." Lightning says.

Rarity growls. "Unbelievable, now I'm regretting this trip."

"That is why Eclipse apologized for Kite." Lightning says.

Eclipse still has a smile. "Still have to admit, it's funny seeing Midnight like this." She said looking at Midnight who was still staring at Applebloom who was hiding slightly behind Applejack.

"Oh, does Midnight have a crush?" Rainbow asks.

Lightning chuckles as he pokes him lightly. "Looks like it. Come on boy, wake up. You're going to scare your foal friend away."

"Dad." Midnight whines.

Lightning smiles as he looks to Applebloom who is now peeking out a bit more, but still has a huge blush on her face. "Um…Midnight?"

"Y…y…yeah?" Midnight asks while Scootaloo mouths 'You can do it bro.'.

Applebloom steps out and slowly walks it him. "So…a foal friend, or is there something more?"

"I...I...I..." Midnight starts stuttering.

Lightning feels two elbows to both sides of his ribs. "He defiantly takes after his father." Eclipse says.

"You got that right." Rainbow says as Typhoon stares at Eclipse.

Eclipse looks to over to Typhoon. "Is she wondering what I am?"

"No, but technically isn't she your stepdaughter?" Rainbow asks.

Eclipse stares at Typhoon and brings her head in close to her before Typhoon latches onto her muzzle and hangs on as Eclipse brings her head back up. "I could say yes, besides, we are family."

"She likes you." Lightning says.

Eclipse smiles. "I know a happy foal when I see one." She said taking Typhoon off of her muzzle before giving her back to Rainbow. "You two have made wonderful foals."

"Where is Talion?" Lightning asks looking around.

Rainbow looks around as well before seeing something that made her smile. "Eclipse, how well trained are your guards?"

"They always put Celestia's guards to shame." Eclipse says proudly.

Rainbow then laughs out loud confusing everyone except for Lightning. "Then you better train them some more, Talion just took a few daggers and a few arrows." She said looking to Talion who was sitting on a ceiling ledge with some items near him.

"Looks like an earth pony is climbing up there." Twilight says.

"Oh, I know that old stallion, he gave me directions after I left my room to get something." Pinkie says.

Everypony looks confused at her. "And what did you get?" Lightning asks.

"Cheese for myself and milk for the Cake's foals." Pinkie says.

Lightning shakes his head. "I'm done questioning your motives now."

"I…I…I…" Midnight kept stuttering.

"I think you broke him sis." Applejack says.

Applebloom smiles as she starts to lead him to a seat. "Come on Midnight, let's get you a seat and you can recover."

Rainbow smiles before turning back to Eclipse. "You should really train the guards, if they can't stop a foal from taking their stuff then they're worse than the royal guards back home."

"To be fair, Talion can become intangible." Lightning interjects.

Rainbow still smiles. "And yet, you can still see him. Now who wins?"

"Talion, because even though you can see, you can't touch." Lightning says.

Eclipse huffs. "Unbelievable. Foiled by a foal."

Soon the door opens. "I apologize my Queen, but I caught this foal." The old earth pony wearing similar armor to Kite's said while holding Talion.

"Thank you Galleon." Eclipse says.

Rainbow smirks. "Well, at least not all your guards are bad."

"Hi Galleon, it has been a while." Lightning says.

Galleon gives him a tired old smile. "Hello Lightning, good to see you again."

"You know this stallion?" Twilight asks.

Lightning nods. "Yep, meet Galleon, one of the oldest members of the Queen's knight."

Galleon chuckles. "Please Lightning, you're making me feel old and about to keel over."

"I'll take my son off your hooves." Lightning says.

Galleon smiles as he gives Talion. "You got a sneaky son, a loving daughter, a stuttering son and a mysterious daughter." He said the last one while looking at Scootaloo.

"How did you know about him being Midnight's father?" Eclipse asks a little shocked.

Galleon looks a little shocked himself. "So Lightning is the father? I thought Midnight was just saying dad for laughs."

Eclipse facehooves. "I can't believe I screwed up again."

"You kept it a secret for more than a decade at least." Lightning says.

Eclipse sighs. "Still revealed it."

"My Queen, is there anything you need?" Galleon asks.

Eclipse looks to him. "Yes, bring…the cloth." She said ominously.

"As you wish my queen." Galleon says before leaving.

Eclipse smiles. "Galleon has always acted like a grandfather to me." Eclipse says.

Lightning looks confused for a bit. "What's the cloth?"

"Ah! Not the cloth!" Midnight yells running behind Applebloom.

Everypony now to him before back to Eclipse. "What's the cloth?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse sighs and was about to speak before Galleon steps in with a box. "I have it my queen."

Eclipse nods. "Thank you." She said taking the box. She sighs before opening the box. "The cloth is a little something special. Usually when we want to…" She reaches into the box and pulls out a large white cloth. "Have a little time to ourselves or something special. Observe." She brings the cloth around Typhoon, making her disappear behind it before tapping it a few times before pulling it away to find that Typhoon is gone.

Rainbow grows shocked. "Hey, give me my daughter back!"

Eclipse smiles. "Of course I'll give her back." She said bringing the cloth around her.

Rainbow looks to the cloth. "Don't you…!" Eclipse pulls the cloth away to see that she disappeared as well.

"Clipsy, where is my wife and daughter?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse smirks. "Same place where you're going." She said wrapping the cloth around him and Talion before tapping and pulling it away to find they are gone as well.

Everypony else backs away before Eclipse rushes to Applebloom and Midnight before covering them too. "Wait mom, don't…!" Midnight yells before Eclipse also pulls the cloth away and sees them gone too.

"Where are they?!" Applejack angrily demands.

Eclipse grins. "Come and find out." Applejack growls before launching herself at her before Eclipse wraps her in the cloth and then flings it open to nothing and Applejack gone. "Who's next?" Eclipse asks having the same grin.

"Oh me! Me! Me, me, me!" Pinkie yells shaking a hoof in the air.

Eclipse opens the cloth to her to which Pinkie rushes in and gets wrapped up before Eclipse opens it again and she's gone. "Next in line please."

"Wheeeeeeeee…owie." Pinkie yells as she hits the ground in a large forestry area that was a bit foggy. "Cool. Hello!"

"Very interesting place don't you think Rainbow?" Lightning's voice was heard nearby.

"It's a bit creepy, but it is kind of cool." Rainbow responded.

Pinkie smiles and follows the path till she reaches a stone table where a large amount of food was laid out and the others were seated. "Hi guys! What is this place?" She asks taking a seat.

Midnight huffs. "Mom knows how much I hate place, I think she did this to wake me up."

"Oh do tell son." Lightning says.

Midnight sighs. "We found this place by accident. Mom found the cloth in the basement where nopony goes anymore. When she used it as bed sheets for my bed one time I got covered up in it and ended up here. Somepony was sitting at the table here, telling how he used to live in some type of palace and soon his wing was forgotten and abandoned while even the door was locked to the main hall. Soon he ended up here and decided to live here for now on. Mom found me later after figuring out the cloth trick and brought me back. When we went back for the stallion here, he was gone, but he left a note saying, always have others with you to cheer you up. Still think this place is creepy, I mean, look at this fog."

"Interesting, I am feeling powerful magic here akin to a Daedric." Lightning says as they start hearing a yell. Looking up they see Twilight.

"I hate my life!" She yells before she lands on the table sending everything everywhere. "Ow." She moans in pain. "Lightning, you know these types of things better than me, what is this place and how is it connected to the cloth?" She said just lying there.

"You want the full very complicated explanation that will require a very good understanding of higher mathematics and level four magic knowledge in teleportation, warping, enchanting, and camouflage magic or the short and less complex version?" Lightning asks.

Twilight groans as she gets up and off the table as the food and items float away to be replaced as they leave and enter from the fog. "Short version."

"Basically we are somewhere between worlds. Specifically our world, the spirit world, and possibly the oblivion." Lightning says.

Twilight looks around and the stuff floating around. "So, a pocket dimension?"

"Very good my student." Lightning says.

Twilight looks around before seeing an archway. "What's this way?" She asks herself walking through it and disappearing into the fog.

"She'll be back, everypony, look to my left." Midnight said.

Everypony looks and sees Twilight coming out of the opposite archway where she looked confused. "Looks like a replaying pocket dimension where only you could go to an area and stay there and makes you come back to it if you try to leave."

"There were other areas, but they weren't there after me and mom went into this place a second time." Midnight said.

Twilight keeps looking as she sat down at the table. "Wonder what else this place has?"

"Looks like the thing that lived here has abandoned it so it shapes itself in accordance to who enters." Lightning thinks out loud.

Midnight shrugs. "Or he died after all his time here. He told me that his mind was broken. I didn't know what he meant until I saw a younger version of him looking a bit scared and grabbing some food before leaving. I guess he finally gave in."

"Interesting, let me try something. Belcross!" Lightning calls, but nothing happened. "Strange, he is not able to answer my call." Lightning says.

Twilight then panics when she realizes what Agni is. "Agni!" She yells before hearing another yell coming from above them. Twilight quickly flies up and catches Agni before floating back down. "Thank goodness, I thought I might have never see you again here." She said nuzzling him.

"That was weird." Agni says.

"Seems the only way to enter is through the cloth itself." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles as she places Agni in chair. "Where's big brother Spike?"

As if one que a yell is heard from above. "Ow." Spike yells as he landed on the table. "Okay, whose bright idea was it to have the portal here over a stone table?"

"Seems the portal transport time varies among species as well as the location." Lightning says.

Spike groans as he gets up before sitting in his own seat. "Then how come we always have the worst timing and placement?"

"This a reason you wanted me to visit you Eclipse?" Lightning asks.

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Eclipse cheers as she drops in with all the rest of them. She soon lands behind him. "Sorry, what was that?"

"You know, you all left without getting your new clothes." Kite said carrying a large bag behind her.

"You going to answer Eclipse?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse smiles as she heads to her own seat. "I wanted to show you all that there are many secrets and only those that would trust you well enough would give you the opportunity to see it. For now, I wanted you all to have your own meals. Just call it out. A cold chocolate frappe please." She calls and soon a large cup floats in with the drink.

"Do you want to know what I think this is or just play around?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse groans. "You're such a downer Lightning. Go ahead and tell them." She said drinking.

"A daedra's playground where they drag victims and toy with them before killing them." Lightning says.

Eclipse ignores the gasps as she continues to drink. "Me and Midnight have been coming here for a while now, there is no daedra here."

"Show the victims." Lightning says and nothing happens at first before several cages of light are revealed and hundreds of ponies and other creature that look like they are made of mist inside of them.

Eclipse sighs as everypony looks shocked. "And me and Midnight have gotten use to them, we usually allow them to eat with us. You see ponies, this land has many horrors and many deaths, but out of those brings light. Bring another table for our victims." She calls for the last one.

"Belay that, bring forth the jailer!" Lightning says glaring. The prisoners seem to be terrified by that statement as Lightning gets up.

"You really can ruin a good time." A figure said as it came out from the archway behind Eclipse who looked disappointed. "See I don't care at this point. You could have eaten and left and I wouldn't bat an eye."

"Your soul for their freedom." Lightning says not taking his eyes off the monster.

The monster keeps looking at him. "Which ones, your friends and family or my prisoners?"

"All." Lightning says as the fog starts to clear revealing a thousands of bones everywhere.

Everypony, except Lightning, Eclipse, Midnight and Kite scream as they jump onto the table. The monster sighs. "Take it." He said simply.

"Wise choice. If you hadn't backed down your head would be next to the Daedric lord's that I slew." Lightning says this time shocking the monster.

The monster huffs. "You know how I started out? Do you?"

"You were created from the angst and suffering of the Daedra's victims and were forever tasked to be their jailer and torturer." Lightning says.

The monster sighs before walking over and sitting at the end of the table. "Poor naive boy. These monsters and emotions has to start out somewhere. How about I start from the beginning. I was once a lonely stallion living far from a city. A great city mind you. Now the problem was that when I went there they saw me as a monster already because of my father. He had magic, but only the dark would accept him and nothing else, but he was a kind stallion. After my family died I vowed to show that I'm different than what others think I am. This table here, it is not transported from somewhere else, it was carved by my own hooves. No magic, just me, a hammer and a chisel, right down the last flower pattern on it. Yet, they still saw the same thing. That became apparent when I tried to host a dinner party near my home where I carved the table and chairs, nopony came, not even the creatures of the land that isn't pony. I hoped and waited, until the land took me as I waited too long for somepony to come. Now I got it all, visitors come in and have dinner here, unaware of the curse I was placed under when I died. These victims are the ones that stayed to eat and enjoy the company, and now I'm living the thing I wanted most. Yet now…now I'm wishing I never had all this in the first place. Probably would have been better off as a hermit helping weary travelers."

Lightning listen to the story with his eyes closed. "You know what you have to do to break this curse and be free right?" Lightning asks.

The monster sighs leans back in his chair. "Yes. I was hoping…that at least one day…somepony would come and see something different."

"And that feeling is powering the curse which the Daedra placed on you. Now with it finally gone it is time to end this and finally be free. Break the table." Lightning says.

The monster smiles as it takes the form of a stallion with dark colors. "Thank you. You're different than any other pony I have met, even these two are vastly different than you." He said pointing to Eclipse and Midnight as a hammer and a chisel comes out of the bones as everypony else gets off the table and moves near Lightning.

"No, I know what is like to be alone and longing for a place to call home. You never got the chance to find yours." Lightning says.

The pony closes his eyes as a tear fell from one of them and the chisel was placed at the center of the table. "Thank you my boy. Maybe one day, you can change something that should have never happened." He said before the hammer was brought down on the chisel and the table broke in many places as it fell apart. "Goodbye and thanks again." He said before disappearing.

"Be free, son of Sobra, lead your friends on to the other side." Lightning says.

The souls started to whisk away, one by one as the bones started to disappears too with each soul. "Lightning, I'm sorry for the deception, but I knew only you can hope to end this." Eclipse said as the land slowly started to reveal itself.

"Eclipse, take them and leave now, the true battle begins." Lightning says.

Eclipse looks down as some white cloths start to appear and then wraps around each pony before moving on to the next as they disappear. Only when it reached Lightning did he smile at the broken table. "I'll never let your story die." He said before he was taken by the cloth and dropped into the dining room at the palace.

Eclipse sighs. "Look Lightning, when I saw the land, I knew you had to be the one to deal with it. Not because it's a monster, but because it's a being in need of help. I knew you were the only one who could help him."

"Give me the cloth Eclipse, one last thing needs to be done." Lightning says.

Eclipse takes the cloth from Galleon and gives it to him. "Time to close the doorway like the palace did to that pony a long time ago?"

"Goracho." Lightning says and the cloth bursts into black flames. Everypony watches the cloth burn as all the pieces burn away. Some of them with a sad smile on them.

"Lightning, I'm sorry for all this." Eclipse said.

"Did you find anything else?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse sighs. "No, that was the only thing we have ever found that even relates to this matter. I'm sorry."

"Then there is no need, for there are no more Daedric artifacts here." Lightning says.

Eclipse sighs and looks down. "Enjoy your breakfast everypony. If you need me, ask Galleon." She said walking away.

"Clipsy, walk with me." Lightning says walking with her.

Eclipse keeps looking down as they walk away into the halls. "That had to be the creepiest and saddest adventure we have been on." Fluttershy said.

"At least it had a good ending." Twilight says now fascinated by the term Lightning used for the cloth.

"What did you want to talk about?" Eclipse asks as they sat on a bench in the middle of a large makeshift garden.

"Why did you not alert me the moment you found it?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse sighs. "Because when we did find it, we were already away from the war after you finished it, you were blind and had to deal with the foals. I couldn't place anymore deadly burden on you."

"No, I wasn't, Midnight told me when he was younger. That coupled with you were in Equestria all that time with me." Lightning says.

Eclipse looks to him. "Lightning…I didn't want to destroy the good times and family you have. I destroyed you when you had to leave and I allowed it. I couldn't bear to see you hurt again and revisit that life."

"You are an idiot you know. I never once hated you or anything." Lightning says.

Eclipse smiles a little. "Yes I know, I'm the most stupid mare you ever met. But still, you being hurt with a life like he had, I couldn't let you fall into that when you were coming out of it."

"You never leave that life behind Clipsy. The reason I remain in that darkness is so you and the others can live in the light." Lightning says.

Eclipse giggles once. "And yet you don't even follow your own words. Nopony deserves to be alone, not that Daedric or even you. Lightning…you don't have to be in the dark anymore, not without somepony there for you." She said wrapping a wing around him.

"I'm not alone in it anymore Clipsy, but it is not a place for you or any other thing should be." Lightning says looking at her as one of his eyes turn black.

Eclipse looks a bit worried. "Then lead us and we would help, this is a loved one's curse and we would gladly take it for you."

"No, where I will go you cannot follow. Midnight needs at least one parent in his life." Lightning says as he forces the dark in his eye back.

Eclipse groans a bit. "You do such a better job than me, maybe better than I could ever hope. Maybe I should leave Midnight with you. I'm no good at this. All I do is have him study or get him into very big trouble like the cloth."

"No, what he needs is his mother not his father. With you he can have a bright future. With me he won't." Lightning says.

Eclipse sighs. "And with you he can learn some things I can't teach."

"Somethings are better lost. I learnt magic like that because of my insatiable thirst for knowledge. I will also take them to the grave with me." Lightning says.

Eclipse nods. "I know that, I just meant things that a father and a son would know together."

"Eclipse it is awkward enough to find out his hero is also his father. I still notice a pause before he says father. Besides he has already learnt what I would teach him through you." Lightning says.

Eclipse wraps her wing tighter around him. "Then you would allow your son to grow without a father figure?"

"He doesn't need me Clipsy. He had you. I don't even think I am worthy to call myself his father because I wasn't there for him most of his life." Lightning says.

Eclipse sighs. "Do I need to remind the talk you had with Rainbow?"

"This is different Clipsy and besides he has a responsibility to become a king." Lightning says.

Eclipse looks to the palace. "Lightning, you are making it sound like he shouldn't have a father at all."

"No, you know how some of your citizen's are about their nationality. Some downright hate foreigners in general. If word got out that his father is not from Saddle Arabia at all some would not support him and start to work towards either independence or usurping the throne." Lightning says.

Eclipse looks back to him. "So you want to be gone from his life, forever?"

"No, but I just don't think I can fill the role of a father. Eclipse, I see two Queen's knights coming and they are the two overly patriotic about their nationality ones." Lightning whispers the second part.

Eclipse nods and gets up. "Come on, let's get out of here before they think different." She said walking away.

"My Queen." The mare calls as the two approach.

'Dang it, they spotted us.' Both Lightning and Eclipse think.

Eclipse sighs. "Knights. Come along Mr. Bolt. I'm sure your family and friends are waiting."

"As you wish Clipsy, oh and I have been meaning to say this to you since we last encounter to each other, fuck off Zahhak." Lightning says to the stallion.

Zahhak growls. "Nice to meet you too sir." He said struggling with each word.

"What are you doing here you foreign barbarian?" The mare growls.

Lightning shrugs. "What, an old guard can't come to see how his old charge is doing?"

"You insolent barbarian, how dare you refer her royal highness in such a manner, I ought to…" The mare stops feeling a sword at her throat.

"Watch it Alenia, last time you challenge me I destroyed you in front of everypony and your commander chewed you out for doing such a thing." Lightning says holding his sword, the tip touching her throat before he withdraws it.

Alenia growls. "I loath you Lightning. You are a disgrace among soldiers."

"Oh, go whine somewhere else." Lightning says walking away with Eclipse.

Zahhak sighs. "He's still the same. Let it go." He said to Alenia walking away.

"I can't believe you still put up with those two." Lightning says.

Eclipse looks back to them slightly. "They are the best at what they do, I didn't say best attitude though. Look Lightning…I'm sorry for the deception, but know that Midnight needs a father in his life, all foals do. If you aren't there for him, my life will be all he knows and nothing else. I want him to explore and search, but that drive isn't there, not without you to unlock it. He needs you…I need you."

"When the war starts that will be impossible, you know that." Lightning says after several moments of silence.

Eclipse nods grimly. "But, at least he would have the time the way it was meant to be for that brief period. Give him that time." Lightning says nothing and finally nods. Eclipse smiles as they continue to walk. "Thank you Lightning. You also have made a choice that also makes it possible for us."

"Just prepare for the worst." Lightning says.

Eclipse swishes her tail over him for a few seconds. "If I can help give the best for my family, I can surely prepare for the worst."

"I'm not giving you a second child." Lightning clarifies causing Eclipse to whine in displeasure.

Eclipse huffs as she turns away from him, pouting cutely. "You're no fun."

"You are good, but I can still see right through you like the day we met." Lightning says smirking.

Eclipse smiles as she still faces away from him. "Can we at least spend some time together?"

"Ok, put on a normal mare's outfit and meet me on the courtyard later tonight, we are going to pull that old trick that not even the Queen's knight have figured out." Lightning says.

Eclipse giggles. "And this is one of the reasons I fell in love with you."

"Other reasons are my good looks, my wit, my intelligence, and the fact that I keep you from doing anything too stupid or embarrassing while you are drunk." Lightning lists off.

Eclipse smirks and points her hoof at him. "And another is that tool you have."

"Oh, I forgot one." Lightning says smirking.

Eclipse chuckles. "Yes, yes you did. And boy how could I not forget that night? Probably the best I ever had with you."

"Oh no, not that, this." Lightning says rubbing a certain part of Eclipse's wing.

"Eeep." Eclipse squeaks. "Oh you crazy stallion. How I missed this." She moans.

"That is all you get for now." Lightning says stopping.

Eclipse sighs in relief. "Now that feels a little better. And now I'm wondering what else you have planned." She shakes herself before walking again. "Let's go. The others are probably worried and…I'm sorry for the artifact."

"It's in the past, don't give it another thought, but knowing my student, she will want to know everything on those kind of artifacts." Lightning says.

Eclipse looks a bit worried. "Don't you have a book on everything about the Dadriacs you may have given her?"

"She's not that far along and she, like myself, has an insatiable thirst for knowledge. That's why I mainly learnt magic, how to forge, martial skills, and skills in warfare." Lightning says.

Eclipse now looks even more worried. "Lightning, I know deviled into the dark arts somehow. You know that Twilight will follow."

"No, she won't if I tell her what will happen to Agni if she tries, seeing as their connection is stronger than even mine and Belcross' by far." Lightning says.

Eclipse smiles. "Then I hope for the best. After all, family is important to that mare."

"It is a better course than forbidding study of it like my master did." Lightning says.

Eclipse smirks and then clears her throat. "Lightning, I forbid you to read these texts, it is too dangerous. You would not want to fall into the dark like our neighbor next door who we put down last week." She said in her mock voice of his master.

"Yeah, yeah master." Lightning says in a mock tone.

"One more thing." Eclipse says in her mock voice before smacking him on the head.

"Ow, did you have to imitate him that accurately?" Lightning asks holding his head.

Eclipse smirks. "Always do research. Get that through your head." She said in her mock voice before giggling. "Oh I miss that stallion. Always funny and always had a story."

"And ate lima beans which gave him horrible gas." Lightning adds.

Eclipse waves her hoof in front of her face. "Oh, I can still remember that. All the air fresheners."

"Why do you think I wore an air filter?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse chuckles. "Come on, the others have to be panicking right now." She said walking away.

Twilight poured over the books she had on hoof right now, but couldn't find anything that even sounded like what Lightning said. "It has to be somewhere."

"Looking for the creature Agni saw my student?" Lightning asks.

Twilight looks over to Lightning who just entered the common room with Eclipse. "Umm…yes actually. Agni has been a bit more worried than usual."

"Your left ear and wing twitches when you lie my student." Lightning says.

Twitch. "What are you talking about?" Twilight asks with the best smile she can muster.

"You will not find a reference to Daedric artifacts in any of those books. The entire east knows the dangers of such items and even the Dominion does want them used." Lightning says.

Twilight groans. "Great. Just when I want to know more."

"Some things are best left forgotten my student." Lightning says.

Twilight huffs. "And if it keeps nagging at you?"

"It is dark magic and most of the time evil." Lightning says.

Twilight sighs. "Can I least see a book?"

"Twilight you know your connection to Agni is so great." Lightning says.

Twilight looks to him. "And what does that mean?"

"And that connection is through your magic starts turning dark it will start poisoning him because of your connection is so strong." Lightning says.

Twilight stops and stares at him. "What?" She whispered.

"Dark magic is practically poison to spirits still developing and you share magic through your bond so…" Lightning says letting her fill in the blanks.

Twilight looks down. "He'll die."

"Exactly, besides you have yet to reach that level in your studies in eastern magic. Now let's see if we can learn anything on that creature." Lightning says.

Agni watches as Lightning sits down on the opposite couch and grabs a book as well. "Oh mom."

A dark chuckle sounds out behind him, but nopony seems to notice it. "As such a first seed will be planted and the rest fall into the ground by it. Then they will sprout and bloom into something beautiful."

'Shadow.' Agni thinks and he sees a red eye appear in his shadow.

Shadow chuckles. "Plans are put into place far ahead of their original time to start. And this plan was executed beautifully. Now all I need to do is sit back, relax, and read a good book while the show begins."

'How have the other spirits not destroyed you yet?' Agni asks.

Shadow's eye looks to him almost sultry like. "Listen my dear sweet boy, the reason this is happening is because it is. No one can stop it, not even the grand high spirit. And if I succeed then all will be well. Maybe you'll like the new life. Living under constant reign while she feeds off every dark force. Probably even take the heart of that little dragon…"

"Shut up!" Agni yells before firing a fire ball at the shadow which makes Shadow disappear with the eye. The only thing he can hear after that was the cold laughter ringing through him.

"Twilight, I think the creature is taunting Agni somehow or he is hallucinating." Lightning says.

Twilight looks worried as Agni eats the flames to not let the room burn. "Agni, are you okay?"

"Y…yeah, I'm fine." Agni says as his left ear twitches.

Lightning notices this and when Twilight looks away and back to the book he mouths 'Later.' to him. Agni nods and looks to his shadow again before sitting down near the wall.

A few days later Lightning was in a familiar bunch of ancient ruins that he had made a hideout out of years ago.

"Shadow, get out here right now." Lightning ordered as he paced back and forth.

Shadow chuckles darkly before coming out of the dark wall in his room. "Can I help you?"

"Stop your plot now or I will destroy you." Lightning threatens.

Shadow smiles. "Lightning, do you remember what I said, kill me now and this war will never end? Well, you do that and you will die, along with the rest of you. I just want the safety of everyone here…after all if everyone dies, who will I have to play with?"

"Don't play with me Shadow. I won't let you condemn my student to that path. I have walked down it." Lightning says.

Shadow smirks. "And yet, you still don't know your student very well, do you?"

"Better than you, what, do you want to stop assisting?" Lightning asks.

Shadow giggles and walks around the room. "Now I didn't say that. I have to help you in some way. By the way, the body is ready for you. And the life you had, greatly influenced how you dealt with it. Your young student, she has a lot of potential." She jumps onto the bed and forms into Rainbow. "Both ends of the spectrum." She said in Rainbow's voice.

Lightning facehooves. "Tell me, did you do this just to put me in this position?" Lightning asks.

Shadow shrugs. "I don't know. I may consider this a bonus. After all it has been so long for me."

"Interesting, because from what I have heard you are a virgin." Lightning says.

Shadow smiles. "Want to be my first then? I can be anything you want, even another species."

"Oh my god, this is Eclipse all over again….stay as Rainbow." Lightning says worried she would turn into Eclipse.

Shadow looks a bit surprised. "Really, as your wife and not that mare named…?"

Lightning holds up a hoof. "Don't say it and don't change into her."

Shadow looks around for a bit. "So…you really are going to do this?"

"Do I have a choice?" Lightning asks.

Shadow gets up a bit. "Actually you do. This is completely voluntary."

"Ah, but would you accept a different payment for stopping your assisting of this creature so it can be killed?" Lightning asks.

Shadow smirks at him. "Maybe, maybe not. In the end I always get what I want one way or another." Shadow says and then sighs. "Anyway, I will give you this for free. That creature was something different yes, but there some underlying layer of something. I don't what it is, but it's there. Now, I require payment for my services to help you and as for the creature, which is free."

"What am I paying for?" Lightning asks.

Shadow chuckles. "Me helping you out, Tierk's body, and, of course, an aid in the war. That last one requires a little extra."

"I'm not going to enjoy this, am I?" Lightning asks.

"I'm not so sure of that." Shadow says smiling while touching his cheek and to her inward surprise, darkness covers his eye on that side. "Whether you enjoy this or not, is your choice."

Lightning sighs and holds a hoof to hers. "Just don't change me. I don't think my family can bare it."

Shadow smiles lovingly. "Wouldn't dream of it."

"At least I decided to come here to meet you." Lightning says.

Shadow nods. "Yes and…thanks for this. No one has shown me this much compassion."

"Oh and here I thought you raped Luna to make her Nightmare Moon?" Lightning jokes.

Shadow smirks. "A little, but it was some ghost stallions that I made. Lifeless husks that don't have a soul. And don't worry about her relationship with your student, she's still a virgin."

"Your one to talk, also you mimic everything about Rainbow perfectly?" Lightning asks.

Shadow nods. "Yep, now how do you want her? The take charge mare or the timid and eager to be raped mare?"

"Ok, two things first, when she puts up a tough front and actually is scared or nervous her tail twitches to the right." Lightning says smirking.

Shadow looks back to the tail before fixing that. "Anything else?" She asks as she tests out her new twitch.

"Oh, Shadow is nervous and scared of big bad Lightning and second, I know every one of her sensitive places on her." Lightning says his smirk growing.

Shadow gets a bit nervous as she shuffles her forelegs. "So the shy and timid Rainbow?"

"Let's go with Shadow." Lightning says before jumping on her.

You know what's coming.

Lightning immediately attacks her by kissing her hard and stroking her wings. Shadow moans as she starts to breath heavily from the multiple sensations now running through her. She starts to kiss back as Lightning keeps the pressure up and forces her back into the bed.

He soon let's go and licks his lips hungrily. "I'm going to enjoy this." He said as one of his eyes were already dark.

Shadow moans in anticipation and soon feels something hard hit her. She looks down to see his large dick, but it was being covered in a shadow swirl. Lightning didn't notice it or care and places it right at her entrance. She moans again as she feels it move around outside her.

Lightning pants heavily as he leans down to her ear. "If you get more pain than ever, do whatever you can to lessen it and kiss me." He said before plunging in.

Shadow grunts and hisses as she feels the large dick fill her up. The pain now being subsided by her natural powers, but also by feeling it move around a little, bringing some shocks of pleasure. Lightning smiles as he keeps moving back and forth in her as Shadow now moans happily as she leans back into the bed and grabs the sheets.

He grunts as he fills her up with every thrust into her, making her grunt and moan. Soon she feels it hit something hard inside her as he kept rutting away at her new barrier. Lightning looks to Shadow who nods before he moves back all the way before going back in again and moving a little more inside.

Shadow screams as she feels shocks coming from the hard hit before he moves back and does it again, moving even further in. She keeps screaming out in pleasure until she feels him stop inside her. Panting heavily and looking down, she can see a large bugle from her stomach that twitches with every throb.

Lightning smiles at her. "The dark did give me a few tricks to help." He said as Shadow tried to figure what he said before she feels herself being lifted. She looks behind her to see another Lightning with the same appearance, right down the last scar. "Clones, got to love them."

Shadow breathes out in anticipation as the clone Lightning lied down on the bed and placed her on top of him, while bringing his dick to her plot hole. She groans in some pain before the real Lightning kisses her and the clone slips in. She moans into the kiss as she feels the two dicks move inside her.

Lightning's sighs as he let's go and lays her back down. "Now we got find a better use for that mouth." He said as another dick comes into her view. She smiles before taking it into her mouth and the clone Lightning puts it all the way inside, making choke and gag before he pulls out enough to let her relax. "Now meet our cover ups." He said as more clones appear who were slowly stroking their dicks pointed at her. She counted at least ten of the cover ups and not the ones already in her.

Lightning smirks as he grabs onto her hips. "Now, shall we?" The clone inside her grab her head and ass before they all move out before plunging back in. Shadow moans as they move around now and she can hear the flesh hitting each other from the cover up clones and her. She then was rocked back and forth as they each found their own rhythm and soon her whole body was never left empty.

Her mouth began to slobber all over herself as she was upside down and some onto the clone under her. The dick in her mouth kept going all the way back deep down into her, almost her stomach, making her try to breath from her nose and not her mouth.

The one in her ass worked with the real Lightning as they move in time to opposite of each other, making her feel the many veins and ring on him as they touched each other through a small wall of flesh.

The real Lightning smirks as the cover up Lightnings all got in closer and two of them made her take her front hooves and have her rub them hard. They both moan as the others moan as well as they try to aim it at her.

Lightning grunts and hits hard with every hit as the one under her wraps his hooves around her midsection and also hits hard. He looks to the see the one in her mouth leaning over a little and biting into her neck, making her now scream from the sensation of being used.

Soon it became too much for the one in her mouth as the vibrations from her scream sent him over the edge and made him slam down into her fill her up. Shadow moans as she feels the cum run into her stomach, but then feels him slowly pull out as he kept cumming and soon filled up her mouth and then pulled out with a 'pop' as he now covers her face in cum.

That was the trigger for the one under her and he grunts before slamming in one more time and filling her up from there. Shadow now was lost in pleasure as she moves her tongue all over the cum on lips and mouth, not swallowing yet. She feels the hot liquid run into stomach as she feels the one under her grab on tight as he thrust with each pulse and releases each glob of cum.

Lightning couldn't hold on anymore and when the one under her pulled out he came too and filled her to the brim as the ones around her cummed as well. The ones having her hooves used cummed onto them before aiming at her face. The ones around her just aimed at whatever part of her body is now not being covered and filled the gap. Lightning grunts as he stayed inside her and saw the belly bloat from the insane amount of cum being poured in.

Shadow screams in pleasure as she covered and filled to the brim before they all stop. She then feels the real Lightning pull out before he grabs her waist again and flip her over. "Now let's get everything."

"Yes, do it, fill me, cover me, use me, just fuck me however you want." Shadow moans as she feels a dick enter her, but then looks ahead to see a few dicks in front of her. She looks up to see the real Lightning as told by the shadow eye. She smiles before taking his dick in her mouth and holding onto two other dicks and jerking them off.

The one under her grunts and enters her before they both pound her away into oblivion. Shadow moans as some hits send her deeper onto the dick in her mouth. Lightning moans as he places his hooves on her head before facefucking her as deep and hard as she jerks the other two harder and the ones around her to try and keep up.

The ones in her ass and pussy try to keep up speed until they gave up and went their own pace and tried to hit her hard and send her deeper into Lightning's dick in front of her. She moans heavily as she feels them all about to explode as the panting and breathing started to get slower and quicker between each.

Soon all of the Lightnings scream and release their load at the same time. She feels Lightning's dick in her mouth travel down to her stomach before he pulls back and let's it fill up her mouth. Her pussy and ass was filled even more the brim and she thought it might burst from what they have put in. The ones at her hooves let's themselves go as they aimed at it at her face and covered her up even more. All around her the Lightnings aimed whatever they missed the first time and covered it up with fresh cum.

She then feels the ones in her pussy and ass leave before they were replaced by another pair as they continue to fill her up. Shadow moans as she feels them leave before they were replaced by another. Lightning pulls his dick away before another pushes his in and keeps cumming. Shadow moans as every warm covering and flood came into or onto her. Soon they all finished and pulled away, but they still kept stroking.

Shadow smirks before spreading her legs open. "Come on big boys. Show me what you got." Two Lightnings immediately rushes her and places their dicks in her pussy, at the same time. Shadow screams in pleasure as she feels them both start to move with each other and other times against each other. Then she feels two more at her ass before they plunge inside and start thrusting deep inside her, making her pant breathlessly. A Lightning then grabs her head before bringing it down slightly to reach his dick and brings another right beside him. They both plunge in at the same time, making her go cross eye in pleasure.

After that they all started to move faster, sending her body rocking everywhere as the last ones left out were all jerking off to the show. She then feels two at her hooves and starts jerking them off. Shadow screams were muffled as all the Lightning's breathing got heavily before they all plunge in at the same time and grunts from the extreme tightness. Shadow freezes up as her eyes roll up and shot after shot of cum ran into her before she feels them leave her and lets her fall onto the bed.

She got rolled over once before she got some of the cum landing on her and then rolled over again and this time mostly in her mane and tail. She moans in pleasure as the hot cum lands on her before she looks up and receives some in her eye, making her close it to get the sting out. Lightning smirks and keeps aiming it at her face making her cough slightly from the large amount still leaking out of her mouth. Once they all finished he drags his dick through her mane and wipes it clean before pulling and letting the others do the same before they finish as well and walk away as they each disappear.

"Come back soon." Shadow said breathlessly.

Lightning smiles as the last one was then gone and lays down with her. "You look terrible."

Shadow chuckles and spits the rest of the cum in her mouth onto her chest. "More like, the greatest fuckfest ever."

Lightning smiles and pats her head, ignoring the cum soaked mess. "Glad you like it. So it is a good enough payment?"

Shadow moans and rubs the cum all over her into her coat more. "This and many more to come. Just know that if you want, you can use me like this again and I can still do things your wife can't. Remember, just ask."

Lightning nods and rests his head down on the bed. "Well, let me rest and we can figure out our next move."

Shadow nods as well before snuggling over to him and into his forelegs. "Okay, and don't worry, all of this will be cleaned up by morning."

Lightning smirks. "Good, I hate cleaning sheets."

And that's the end of that portion, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Lightning meets up with Apollo as the sun starts to set. "What do you got?" Lightning asks.

"Apparently the thieves' guild here has been squeezed greatly by a growing death cult." Apollo says.

Lightning nods and shivers a bit as a small sliver of shadow runs by his hooves. "Okay, anything else?"

"They seem to worship a dragon like creature." Apollo says.

Lightning raises an eyebrow. "A dragon? Let's see, death cult and worships a dragon. Nothing else?"

"Nothing unless I try and infiltrate, but sir, this raises a golden opportunity. While the thieves' guild here is weakened locally they still have many strong connections. We can use this opportunity to take them over and turn them into a spy ring for the war." Apollo says.

Lightning smirks. "You just want to keep stealing like the old days and this guild will give you many places and things to take."

"Well that's a bonus." Apollo jokes.

Lightning chuckles. "Alright, grab Nikolai and see what you can do. I got to deal with something else."

"Gotcha." Apollo says walking off.

Lightning sighs in relief as soon as he rounded a corner and looks down. "Can you at least try to make your plan painless?"

"That depends, what are you offering?" Shadow asks as she appeared as a mare wrapped in a cloak.

Lightning frowns. "That payment isn't enough?"

Shadow grins. "Different. That was for my services, basically a wage for being employed under you. Now what are offering?"

Lightning sighs. "I'll let you go along with the plan. Just don't hurt anypony or send them so far away they don't want to come back."

Shadow sighs and smiles. "Now that I can try to do. I don't know about being painless, but not driving them away, I can do that. Now, the next seed needs to fall, so I'll be off. Thanks for the paycheck." She said before sinking into the shadows again.

"You will never get that again if you corrupt my student, but give Twilight a scare, keep her off the path. She deserves a better life than either of us." Lightning says.

Shadow chuckles darkly from the shadows. "And if I don't, many will fall. How about this, she will be herself, but can have more fun than usual. Something along the lines that still represent that pigeon."

"I have a few more things to discuss with you." Lightning says.

Shadow's head came out. "Yes?"

"First, you can sense the guardian spirits of this realm, are the dessert ones around here awakened?" Lightning asks.

Shadow sighs and comes out again. "Yes, anything else?"

"Are you going to keep that dark version of my wife as your form?" Lightning asks.

Shadow smirks. "Only if you want. I can still do things normal mares can't. Just ask and I'll see if I can do it for you."

"I see, so that is a yes just so I will do that every time to you." Lightning says.

Shadow smiles. "I think I might enjoy this. Now, I have to go deal with the next seed and then it's onto give those seeds some water. Bye now." She said before turning into smoke and sinking into the ground and slithering away.

"No Daedric artifacts at this point, they could overwhelm her and turn her into a threat or something you can't control like what happened with Sombra." Lightning says.

Silence reaches his ears so he sighs and walks back to the palace. "Wonder what I missed for the day?" He asks himself.

Twilight sighs and puts the last book away. That had to be the hundredth book she had checked and nothing matches what ever bothered Agni. She looks to him sleeping nearby her, almost peacefully. She smiles and pats his head. "I promise I'll figure this out."

"Are you so sure?" Shadow asks.

Twilight's breathe catches in her throat as she looks around slowly. "Why are you here?" She hissed out as she scowls.

Shadow chuckles darkly. "Oh you know, taking in the sights, sit back and read something, and maybe do some gardening. Have you ever done gardening?"

"Where are you?" Twilight growls.

Shadow sighs in content. "Everywhere and nowhere my mare. My sweet beautiful mare. Do you remember what I said back at the castle? That reminds me, I need a new home back in Equestria."

Twilight grits her teeth. "Yes, why?"

Shadow smiles. "Nothing, enjoy the read."

Twilight looks confused until she looks down on the table full of books and sees a new dark one that wasn't there before. "Yeah right, like I'm going to read that." She said putting the books away with her magic. She sighs and looks to the black book one last time on the empty table before picking up Agni in her magic and taking him away to their room.

When she closes the door behind them does the book become lifted in a magic aura and heads toward the door where it opened again and gets grabbed by a purple hoof.

"A guide to dark magic, Daedra and their artifacts, the beginner's edition." Twilight reads. She sighs and starts walking to their room again. "Oh well, have to start somewhere." She said opening the book with her magic.

Agni moans as he opens his eyes to see himself on Twilight's back. "Hey mom, where are we going?" He asks sleepily.

"To bed Agni." Twilight says smiling to him as she hides the book in her new clothes.

Agni smiles. "Good, but what about tomorrow? Aren't we leaving tomorrow?"

"No, Eclipse has invited us to stay for a while." Twilight says ruffling his fur on his head.

Agni smiles as he was petted. "You know mom, you look better than ever."

"Thanks, I wasn't sure about the headdress, but Eclipse convinced me." Twilight says.

Agni laughs a little. "And you look a little funny."

"Thanks so much." Twilight says sarcastically.

Agni grins. "No problem mom. Now, have you found out what that thing was?"

"No luck so far, maybe Lightning probably had some luck." Twilight says.

Agni nods and then gains a thought. "Mom…have you had nightmares lately?"

"No sweetie, why?" Twilight asks.

Agni shrugs. "Just wondering." They soon came to their door. "Big brother." He called.

The door opens and they see Spike wrapped in towels wearing them like they were robes. "So Spike, were the royal baths any good?" Twilight asks.

Spike smiles. "If I can compare, Canterlot Castle baths can't measure up to these."

"That good huh?" Twilight asks.

Spike opens the door and steps aside. "Try for yourself and you tell me."

"What do you say Agni, want to try them?" Twilight asks.

Agni smiles. "Only you use that soap on me again and help get my back full of flames."

"Ok I will." Twilight says walking into the room and hiding the book when no one was watching.

Agni quickly grabs the towels before grabbing his bag full of bathroom supplies. "Ready. Come on mom, I really want to see how good it is."

"Ok Agni." Twilight says following him and walks into a multi layered bathing area where she sees most of her friends. "Hey girls."

Everypony looks over to them. "Hey. You made it in time for the spa ponies to come in." Rainbow said leaning against the wall on the bath in the ground as some more ponies came in with supplies. "Eclipse really loves to treat good friends."

Rainbow was then splashed in the face with water looking at the source she sees Talion laughing. Rainbow grins. "Okay, you want to do things that way. Two can play at that game." She said before splashing him.

Lightning smiles as Rainbow is then splash from behind by Typhoon. He was unsure if any of them knew he was there for the steam of his bath was thick and was above them all.

Rainbow keeps laughing as she tries to keep splashing both her foals and soon the others joined in as well. Then she stops as she starts sniffing around. "That's not a spa or bathroom smell." She keeps sniffing around the others as they kept playing until she starts flying upward and into the steamy area. She raises an eyebrow before she blows the steam away to show a hanging bowl with Lightning in it, smirking at her.

"Hi honey." He said simply.

Rainbow crosses her forelegs together. "I smell something entirely different from the usual you. Who was it?"

"No one love, just using some herbs as some of my old scars started burning again." Lightning says.

Rainbow raises an eyebrow. "Okay, but why up here? In fact, why not be down there with us?"

"Simple, down there is only one hot baths and for this to work the water must be really hot take a feel." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles. "Really, then why not come down to play with your foals?"

"I have to stay in here for ten more minutes unless you want to join me and have your fur look shiny." Lightning offers.

Rainbow brings a hoof to her chin. "Tempting, okay." She said before throwing herself at him. Lightning smiled as at first she was shocked how hot the bath was. "Hot!" She yells flying out of it.

"Told you it needs to be very hot, but you adjust fast, just take it slow." Lightning says.

Rainbow huffs before easing herself in and then slowly sighs in relief as the hot water covered her up. "This is nice." She said before moving over to him and resting against him. "You're nice."

"So are you and you look sexy with your mane wet." Lightning says closing his eyes.

Rainbow giggles. "Yeah, now hold me, would you."

"Alright, so you like the private bath up here that only those of the royal family and those they give permission to can use?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow nods before snoring a bit. Lightning chuckles and lays his head against the side of the wall before he sees something black on the other side. He opens his eyes and sees the one spirit he doesn't even believe is there. "How…you died?"

Umbra smiles as he rests against the side of the bowl. "Not really. Just…moved."

"You exist right now because I allow it. If you want to continue, never mention that again." Lightning says.

Umbra chuckles deeply. "Let me just say, you are sweet. Anyway, I don't think I would leave you anytime soon. That kiss was not me also having a moment, it was for me to transfer part of me into you. Your dark elemental improved didn't it?"

"Belcross, you may devour this one." Lightning says.

Belcross growls at he slowly rises up out of the water. Umbra remained still as he smirks. "I'm never going away Lightning, I'll tell you what I did. The kiss was for me to transfer part of me into you and the crystal is the focuser so I can talk to you or it would just be a power booster for the part of me inside you. Besides, isn't that the crystal?" He asks pointing to his necklace.

"Maybe not you, but your soul is another matter." Lightning says as Belcross is about to reach out and grab Umbra's soul.

Umbra sighs. "I'm not meant for you."

"Hold Belcross. What do you want Umbra?" Lightning asks petting his wife's mane.

Umbra frowns as he leans forward a little. "Like Shadow has her plans, I have my own agenda. I can't tell you much, not even what I have planned, not yet."

"So tell me, what do you know of this creature?" Lightning asks.

Umbra sighs as he leans back again. "I remember something, but that seems a long time ago. The only thing I can remember is that it is almost part of the fire elementals."

"But yet not?" Lightning asks.

Umbra nods. "Almost as if it stole their powers. I don't know much else. That may be for you to figure out." He then sighs. "Listen, I'm straining myself as it is. But I can now tell you this, you, that mare, and your foals will be placed in danger before I come into play."

"I know, if not from the Dominion, a Daedra, then a new threat will come." Lightning says.

Umbra then smiles. "Then I will be there and my plan will come to a close."

"Go back to sleep Umbra or you will exhaust your little remaining life force." Lightning says.

Umbra sighs as he slowly starts disappearing. "You are different from others and that will lead you to help with winning this war, on all sides." He said as he finally was gone. Seeing him gone, Belcross disappears as well.

Rainbow snorts as she gets up. "What…what happened?"

"You fell asleep against me love." Lightning says.

Rainbow stretches and then leans against him. "How long was I out?"

"Not long, but long enough where we should get out. I have to go soak in cold water now." Lightning says stretching his wings.

Rainbow smiles and gets up before flying out of the floating down. "See you there." She as she disappears over the edge.

Lightning looks down and watches carefully until he smile and cannonballs into the bath below. "Lightning!" Rainbow yells as water splashed everywhere. Lightning laughs as the foals cheer and Pinkie holds up a number ten card.

"Now the whole family has splashed you love." Lightning says before diving.

Rainbow growls before she dives in after him. Everypony watches carefully until they come back up with Rainbow on top of him pulling at his mane. Then went back under and then back up with Lightning having her in a headlock.

"And that's the pony teaching me." Twilight says embarrassed before a dark blue blur tackles both pegasus, sending them underwater again.

They then come back up with both Eclipse and Rainbow snuggling Lightning's wings. "This is even more fluffy than normal." Eclipse said. Lightning, annoyed, spits water out of his mouth to the side.

Everypony giggles or chuckle at his predicament. "Fluffy wings? How do they feel? The softest pillow?" Twilight asks.

"Comparable to a cloud." Eclipse says.

"Oh, do tell about that." Spitfire says.

Rainbow smirks. "Try my cloud home bed and then make it twenty percent softer and fluffier."

"Oh, not twenty percent cooler partner?" Applejack teases.

Rainbow huffs and keeps nuzzling the wing. "Oh let me enjoy this."

"You do every night." Lightning teases.

Rainbow smirks. "Yeah, except you keep me away from them in so many positions."

Hearing that the adult mares all blush a bit. "Oh do tell." Eclipse says as Spitfire covers her ears.

Rainbow laughs. "Maybe when the foals are not around."

"Or the other mares, as Fluttershy in particular, looks like she is about to have a nosebleed." Lightning teases.

Fluttershy squeaks and tries to cover up her face with her hooves and mane. All the other mares try to bring their blush down. Rainbow smiles. "Another reason."

"Now there is only one missing." Lightning says.

Eclipse leans over him. "And who is that?"

"The little guy trying to sneak up on his dad." Lightning says.

"Aww dad, you ruined it." Midnight whines as he comes out of the water.

"Still a few years too soon to get the drop on me, but it was a very good attempt." Lightning says smiling at Midnight.

Midnight smiles as well before swimming around. "Now is that everypony?" Eclipse asks.

"Yes, but we need to do one thing." Lightning says causing Rainbow to smile.

Eclipse looks interested. "And what's that?"

Rainbow grabs onto Eclipse and Lighting maneuver his body to grab her and they both dunk her. "That." Rainbow says.

Eclipse coughs as she comes back up and glares at them. "You two are devious."

"And you aren't?" Midnight asks.

Eclipse then turns her glare at him. "You're supposed to be on my side."

"You told me I should always be on family's side and that's my dad." Midnight says smirking.

Eclipse huffs. "What does that make me?"

"My mom, so I'm doing as you taught either way because you are both family." Midnight says.

Lightning laughs. "Oh he really does take after you Clipsy." Lightning says.

Eclipse huffs. "Yep, a tricky and hidden message finder."

"Well at least he learnt something useful." Scootaloo jokes.

Everypony chuckles and giggles except Eclipse. "Now the family is against me." She said.

"Oh don't be like that." Lightning says wrapping his hoof around her shoulders.

Eclipse suddenly grins and wraps her hooves around him from behind and brings her the tips of her wings up to his neck threatenly. "Alright, nopony move. I got a stallion here and I'm not afraid to use it."

"And I got a colt and a filly." Rainbow says holding Midnight and Scootaloo.

Eclipse huffs. "Please, one's yours and the other I could hardly care less." She said playfully. Eclipse then looks in her son's eye and notices he is trying to do the hypnotizing spell. She smirks and looks away before he could figure it out completely. "Now, this is how it goes, I'll take this stallion here and nopony follows."

"Ok, only if you can get past those two." Rainbow says.

Eclipse looks confused until she feels something land on her back. She let's go of Lightning as she trashes around, then she feels whatever landed on her jump off in front of her. She glares to Talion and Typhoon as they cheer and head for Lightning. "Foiled by foals, yet again." She then turns her glare to Lightning. "Know this, this is not the last you have seen of me."

"Oh, one last thing Clipsy." Lightning says as he lets his foals climb on him.

Eclipse huffs. "What?"

Lightning shows he has a chain attached to his wrist and pulls it and Eclipse is pulled towards him. Looking down she sees the chain attached to her hoof. She then glares to Lightning. "You sneaky bast…"

"Be nice." Lightning stops her.

Eclipse keeps glaring until she smirks. "Oh Lightning, I didn't know you wanted me as your slave." She said as she moves closer. "What do you want?"

Rainbow steps in between them. "You got to go through me first." Rainbow says avoiding eye contact.

Eclipse smiles and pushes her under and leans on her head. "So what do you want?" She asks trying to ignore the obvious drowning.

"What are you talking about?" Lightning asks, the chain now gone.

Eclipse sighs and let's Rainbow up. "Well there goes my fun."

"What, you into bondage?" Spitfire asks as Rainbow spits out the water out the side of her mouth annoyed.

Eclipse grins and turns to her. "Why, you offering?"

Lightning chuckles. "That's enough Clipsy. I think we have stayed enough and the others have had their fun."

"Ok, ok, I had my fun." Eclipse says smiling.

Lightning smiles as well before getting out. "Well, I'm off to my room for the night." He said shaking himself off before grabbing a towel and wiping himself down.

Rainbow follows his example and works with Lightning to dry the foals. "Say goodnight to Auntie Eclipse." Lightning said.

"Night, night." Both of them said waving to her.

"Oh they are so adorable. I remember when Midnight was like that." Eclipse says now holding Midnight and stroking his mane.

Midnight laughs. "And all the hours you had to spend with me just so I don't make a connection with the maid as my mother."

"Shh, we don't speak of that." Eclipse says.

Lightning raises an eyebrow. "Did you ever spend enough time with Midnight?" Rainbow asks.

"Rainbow, remember Eclipse is queen of Saddle Arabia, that is a full time job." Lightning reminds.

Rainbow frowns. "Nothing can excuse spending time with your foals."

"Ok Eclipse, please tell us a normal day at court." Lightning requests.

Eclipse sighs. "Woke up, went to Midnight and gave him his milk, very young mind you, then give him to our maid who takes care of him for practically the whole day, go to court and handle the insatiable amount of request and issues, have lunch with Midnight and try to feed him, then head off again to deal with afternoon court and almost the same requests and issues, go to bed and sleep. A few rare occasions, I put Midnight to sleep."

"How many hours of sleep did you get at best?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse shrugs. "At least five if I'm lucky."

"What were you saying Rainbow?" Lightning asks leaning towards her.

Rainbow still frowns. "Nothing can excuse it. You spend every moment you have with your foals. You don't, then what kind of mother are you? You be almost like the passing maid for them."

"Rainbow that is harsh. I mean Eclipse is responsible for every life in this country that alone is hard for a normal rumor. But to be the sole ruler of Saddle Arabia and a mare that makes the job five times harder because a lot officials don't respect the queens as much without a king and they try and undermine and second guess everything she does." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks to him. "Spending time with your foal, instead of just two times a day, is the best thing that could happen for the foals. Why doesn't she at least sleep with her foal? Spend some time like that. At least Midnight could know how much she loves him."

"Because some officials back then were trying to find some way to discredit the Queen and kill her and install Midnight on the throne to be a puppet ruler, why, they had all the power." Kite says having just walked in.

Rainbow huffs as she looks to Eclipse. "The least you could have done is given him the best time and not just a passing glance."

"Rainbow, enough." Lightning says putting his hoof down. "She did the best she could to do that and protect him and not allow an opening." Lightning says. Rainbow still glares at her until she takes the foals and walk away.

"She has no understanding of politics." Lightning says sighing before walking away. Although his words were meant for Rainbow, the one who was affected the most was Twilight as it caused her to think.

Lightning soon found Rainbow back in their room putting the foals to sleep. "Was I a little too hard?"

"I got where you were coming from." Rainbow says.

Lightning sighs and hugs her as she places the blanket over them. "I'm sorry."

"No, I was a little out of line." Rainbow admits.

Lightning looks to her. "Rainbow, you just wanted what was best for Midnight, any mother would have said what you would say. Maybe Eclipse could have slept with Midnight a few times, but she couldn't take the risk."

"What happened to those officials anyhow asks.

"I heard there was a legendary sandworm attack. In other words, they were lured out to the desert and executed without anypony knowing." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks a little confused. "Why would they go out there?"

"To tantalizing of a target. Eclipse used herself as bait and her queen's knights and soldiers overwhelmed the officials and they were executed. After that, she acted far more motherly to Midnight." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles. "At least Midnight finally got the life he deserved."

"Yeah, just took some time and bodies buried in the sand." Lightning says getting in bed with her.

Rainbow sighs. "Maybe I should see Eclipse tomorrow and apologize to her."

"Or maybe she will come down from the ceiling and stop spying." Lightning says.

Eclipse lands silently at the foot of their bed. "It's okay Rainbow. I understand what you were coming from and that's what a true mother would say. I guess I wasn't a true mother for Midnight at all."

"You are a true mother Clipsy, a true parent provides for their children. You provided a future for him." Lightning says.

Eclipse looks sadly at their foals. "And yet, I didn't spend enough time with Midnight during his younger years like I should have."

"But you couldn't or risk his future." Rainbow says.

Eclipse nods. "I guess I better spend most of my free time with him now. Just to make up for that lost time."

"Oh, but Clipsy, Rainbow wants to make it up to you. So what would you like?" Lightning asks.

"Hmmm, oh I know. Rainbow, ever done it with a mare?" Eclipse asks smirking the entire time.

Rainbow blushes red. "No, why?"

"Be gentle with her Clipsy, I still want her later." Lightning says chuckling a bit.

Eclipse grins. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't have too much soreness."

"And return her before the sun rises." Lightning adds.

Rainbow sighs and gets up. "Let's go." She said walking away.

"Have fun love." Lightning says.

Eclipse smiles as she wraps a wing around Rainbow. "Don't worry, she will." She said as the door closes behind them. Lightning still chuckles before going back to sleep.

Twilight peeks an eye open and sees Spike and Agni asleep before sitting up and taking the book out from the bed and opens it. "What is so special about you guys?"

"Daedra or more commonly known as mid to high level demons." Twilight reads surprised. "Mid to high, huh?" She takes another look at the two sleeping boys before continuing on. "Extremely dangerous creatures that usually inhabit the oblivion plane and are said to be manifestations of the Daedric lord's excess energy." Twilight reads.

Twilight looks a little confused. "And yet the one we met had been forced into it. I wonder how he is now."

She sighs before reading on. "These creatures are known to give tasks to regular beings for a higher purpose for themselves or other Daedras. Usually harmless sounding until the task comes to a close and then the Daedra places in their part of the plan and usually ends in many deaths or whatever they represents."

Twilight frowns as she flips to the next few pages. "Where's the artifacts…here you are. Items either empowered or created by Daedra to usually serve a malevolent purpose. List of known artifacts." Twilight flips the page to find the next page missing entirely. "What the…?" She shakes the book a bit, but nothing comes out. "That's weird." She flips through the book and find their locations in many lands and their types and lesser beings. She sighs before closing the book and places it in its hiding place again. "At least I know something." She said laying down again.

Agni stirs a bit, making her smile. "It's okay, just sleep." She whispered as she petted him.

"Mommy, I can't eat any more." Agni says.

Twilight couldn't help but giggle as he remembered his birthday as she kept petting him. "Oh Agni, what would I ever do without you?" Agni just lays there sleeping. She yawns and wraps her wing around him before heading off to sleep.

"Okay, today's the day we have a little fun." Eclipse announced to the group in front of her as they stand in the back courtyard. "Now, just to be sure, is this everypony?" She asks looking around.

Lightning looks to the group. "Should be." A roar sounded out from the direction of the sea, making everypony on edge. "Looks like a few sea monsters are near the coast. The hunters best get on that." Lightning says.

Eclipse frowns. "That's no sea monster." She soon sees a dark shape in the sky. "What is that?"

Everypony looks to the dark shape coming their way. "That's no sea monster." Lightning said. "That looks like…oh he's coming in fast." He looks worriedly to the rest of them. "You guys might want to take cover."

Scootaloo taps his leg. "Uh dad…I don't think we need too, but the stone workers might want to prepare to go to work again."

Lightning looks at her. "What do you mean by that?"

Scootaloo looks a bit embarrassed. "Because the one problem with that thing coming in is…" She couldn't say anymore as the creature lands or rather skids along the path as it digs its claws in the path to slow it down before coming to a stop. "He likes to make grand entrances." She quickly turns to the creature with a glare. "Tiyries, what did I tell you about landing in high value areas?" She yells to him.

"Your Wyvern followed you?" Lightning asks.

Scootaloo looks back to him. "Of course he did, he can't stand being apart from me and the fact he might get bored seeing as most of us are gone." She turns back to him. "Now answer me." Tiyries growls a bit. "I know you want to impress me, but you don't have to. I'm already impressed by you just by being you." Tiyries growls a bit more. "Yes I'm sure. Look Tiyries, next time you can do that in a field, maybe away from the areas filled with ponies or almost anything and just make a clean hover landing in places like these, okay?" Tiyries nods before licking her. "Okay, okay, I missed you too." She laughed out.

Almost everypony was standing their slacked jawed as they saw Scootaloo dealing with Tiyries as if he was a normal pony. "What?" Eclipse had to ask in disbelief.

"Ok Scoots, since he is here you are in charge of him." Lightning says.

Scootaloo giggles as Tiyries wraps his tail around her. "Got it dad. You hear that Tiyries, be on your best behavior and we won't have an international incident." Tiyries growls in acceptance before licking her some more, making her giggle.

"Again, what is going on?" Eclipse asks.

"I will tell you later." Lightning says to the disguised Eclipse and Midnight.

Eclipse shakes her head before trying to look back at the group and ignore the happy couple. "Okay, well, let's start by going on around the city and see what it can show us for the day. As soon as we finish that, we move on to the fun part, there is an area in this city that most will not go too because it goes against the culture, but I was able to allow it, a club."

"Isn't it a little early to get drunk?" Twilight asks causing Lightning, Eclipse, Midnight, Nikolai and Apollo to break out in laughter. "What?" Twilight asks.

"Oh my young student, clubs here are not like yours in Equestria." Lightning says.

Twilight looks confused. "Then what are they like?"

"Oh this will be entertaining to see." Nikolai says as they all follow Eclipse. When they arrive and enter they see most sitting down drinking tea and reading books or talking.

Twilight stares at the club. "This is a club? I was excepting something…well more."

"What, not happy?" Lightning asks as almost everypony was mentally doing a countdown.

Twilight nods. "Yeah, besides how is this against their culture?"

"This isn't, I thought you would be happy about clubs here being about a calm atmosphere and intellectual conversation." Lightning says.

Twilight takes another looks around before her eyes landed on something she wanted to see. She rushed to the bookcase with a grin and took a whole line of books and sits in a far away empty table.

'Called it.' Most of the group thought.

Eclipse smiles as she steps inside. "Ah, Ms. Silver. Good to see you again. What will it be?" The pony at the counter asks as he spots Eclipse.

Eclipse giggles a bit. "A lot of tea, some of them heavy, lots of sugar and cream as well. I got a big group with me."

The pony nods. "Sure, give me a few minutes. Why don't you find a seat?" He said heading to the kitchen area behind him.

Eclipse smiles and walks over to where everypony say with Twilight. "This is so much better than my books." She heard Twilight say making her smile.

Vinyl didn't look the happiest till Nikolai came back to the table with a slice of pie for her. She then grins as she starts to eat it like there's no tomorrow.

Octavia smiles as she leans against Apollo. "This is the most fun you can have here?"

"For now." Apollo says.

Octavia looks to him. "What do you mean for now?"

"I scoped out a target for us." Apollo whispers.

Octavia smiles. "So we can practice sneaking?"

"And I can get you a new necklace." Apollo says.

Octavia giggles. "You really know to treat a mare."

"That and I got you a new outfit while I was out." Apollo says.

Octavia raises an eyebrow. "Really, is it more revealing or more covered?"

"It's a dignified dress, though I will say I am sad I missed seeing you in that dancer outfit." Apollo says.

Octavia grins. "Maybe I can ask Kite for me to keep one and put on a show for you." Apollo stays silent for a few minutes before bursting out in laughter. Octavia shakes her head. "What's wrong with that?"

"No, I just never expected it. You truly never cease to amaze me." Apollo says leaning back against her.

Octavia smiles. "Well I figure that you earn something for all the trouble I put you through."

"Since when do you put me through anything not fun?" Apollo asks.

Octavia looks to him. "When I make you sleep in the attic, that's one of them."

"Keep trying, because you haven't said something I found displeasurable." Apollo says.

Octavia chuckles. "Okay, then not spending time with me as punishment."

"Oh come on, why punish yourself by denying all of this?" Apollo jokes.

Octavia raises an eyebrow. "Because of the crazy rave pony over there is enough."

"Oh, oh Tavi you wound me." Apollo says imitating Vinyl.

Octavia elbows him, but couldn't stop a smile from coming on her. "Shut up."

"You know there is only one way to shut me up Tavi." Apollo continues to imitate.

Octavia rolls her eyes. "Maybe if you can do something."

"Oh let me try this like we did last Friday." Apollo imitates before kissing her.

Maud just blankly stares at her tea that just arrived. "Is this close to the only fun thing we consider fun in this town?" She drones.

"Just the first thing on the tour and Pinkie, behave." Eclipse says.

Pinkie pauses lapping her tea like a dog. "Okay." She said after pulling her tongue back in.

"Maud you are in charge of keeping her reined in." Eclipse says.

Maud just blinks. "Sure."

Eclipse looks over to the other mane six. "So how are you holding up?"

Twilight didn't respond hidden behind all the books, although some would claim it was a book fort. Lightning chuckles. "Don't bother with her. Once you give her a book, she will never stop. Not even the end of the world as we know it." He dramatizes.

"I've gotten better." They heard Twilight say.

Lightning shakes his head. "Oh my student, what am I going to do with you?"

"Teach me of course." Twilight says.

Eclipse smiles and then turns her head to outside and sees Tiyries holding Scootaloo in his tail as he sat outside. "Care to tell me how that came to be?"

"I said later Clipsy, don't be so impatient." Lightning says.

"Oh, but I want to know now." Eclipse whines.

Lightning smiles. "Please tune in next time for the latest gossip." He teases.

Eclipse pouted cutely. "No fair."

Lightning laughs. "Who said life was fair?"

Eclipse huffs. "Anyway, how about the rest of you? Liking it so far?"

"It's interesting to say the least." Applejack says.

Fluttershy just sips the tea.

Rarity sips with her. "Pretty fine, this place is now on the top of my visit list when I'm here."

Rainbow smiles. "It's good, I just wish they have a wider selection of food and drinks." She said as she took a bite of a pie.

Scootaloo pops up right besides Lightning. "Can I have a chocolate pie?"

"Of course you can sweetie." Lightning says smiling at her.

Scootaloo smiles. "Thanks dad." She said running off to the counter and grabs a whole pie before heading outside again.

"Scootaloo stay in here." Lightning tells her.

Scootaloo looks back at him. "Aww, dad." She whines.

"No buts, it is custom here." Lightning says.

Scootaloo looks down before heading to their table and starts eating what she could.

"You can give it to him when we are done." Lightning says ruffling her mane.

"Mmmm." She moans sadly with her mouth full.

"Why is it not allowed?" Applebloom asks.

Eclipse sighs. "Usually a male accompanies a female when they leave someplace. No ifs or buts about that."

Lightning smirks as he looks to Eclipse. "Remember when we use to sneak around and I literally follow you everywhere and I mean everywhere?"

"Yes, don't remind me." Eclipse says recalling the days he was her guard.

Lightning chuckles. "Ah, the good old days."

"Yeah right." Eclipse says sarcastically.

Lightning still laughed. "Come on, lighten up. What's done is done. So enjoy the now."

"Ok, ok." Eclipse says smiling.

Rainbow looks over to Eclipse. "So where are we going next?"

"Oh, well…" Eclipse says.

All of them were in the private stands watching the fifth game to be played today.

Lightning smiles as he looks over to her. "Did you plan a whole bunch of games just for us?"

"No, they were all scheduled today." Eclipse said.

Rainbow chuckles. "Can't believe we've been here for at least an hour each for these games. Thank goodness that the foals are still awake."

"I can't believe we also got a meal up here too." Fluttershy says.

Eclipse smiles. "Yes, but only one of you is not bothering much on that." She said motioning to Twilight who was engrossed in a book and only absently eating.

"Twilight, I think a pony just dedicated his victory to you." Lightning says getting Twilight's attention.

Twilight comes up and looks to the game. "Who?"

"Ah see, I got her attention off the books." Lightning says.

Twilight growls and heads back. "Unbelievable."

"Now Twilight, pay attention, it is about time for the magic sport." Lightning says.

Twilight hums as she went back to her book and everypony else leans forward.

"Oh look, two fire users are on that team." Lightning says.

Twilight still looked at her book and crunches down on some hard bread while the others were watching with great interest.

"Oh here comes the fire familiars." Lightning says finally getting Twilight to lower the book.

She looks over from her seat and sees many creatures that are almost reptilian in first looks and have fire somewhere on them. She sighs and goes back to her book.

"Come on mom, you're missing the best part." Agni said.

Twilight looks up slightly and sees many flames going around. She groans and looks back to her book, trying to ignore the game.

Lightning looks back at her. "What's so interesting about that book that makes you ignore the game?"

"Locations." Twilight said.

"Zabatso." Lightning says.

Twilight growls as she looks at him as she puts down her blank book. "Lightning!"

"Can't hear you, watching ice familiar fight fire familiar." Lightning says.

"Revelare illud." Twilight said going back to her book.

"Ah, well done, but duck." Lightning says as all other ponies duck to avoid the incoming ice spike that made it through the barrier of the stadium.

"Yipe!" Twilight yells before holding her hooves out in a way to deter it, but found a fire stream coming from her and melting the ice spike to steam. She then opens her eyes and finds Agni eating the remaining fire stuck to their box.

"You see why you need to pay attention." Lightning says coming back up.

Twilight frowns. "Yeah and I doubt the other ponies out there knew that would happen."

"These are familiars my apprentice, watch and learn." Lightning says.

Twilight huffs and closes the book and places it in her saddle before going back to them to watch the game. Lightning smiles as he looks to her and sees the book, but says nothing.

From there was a clash of different magic and familiars which after a bit Twilight's bored stare turning into a focus and analyzing stare.

Eclipse smiles as everypony enjoyed the game and after another close call that hit the barrier, almost everypony came out smiling. "Well that is the end of the games today, now only the fireworks remain." Eclipse says.

Rainbow smiles. "Fireworks huh? In a hot desert?"

"It's starting to chill in the air." Agni points out.

"I also requested Kite and Galleon to meet us here and bring a few things." Eclipse says.

Rainbow sighs. "At least we can enjoy the day away now."

Lightning smiles and leans against her. "And the foals can get some sleep."

"What did you ask them to bring mom?" Midnight asks.

Eclipse smiles as the door opens. "We got the watermelons." Kite said bringing in something on her back with Galleon.

"Yay!" The foals, Pinkie, and even Maud yell or drones as they rush the watermelon and take them to the table before they start eating away.

"Come on love, let's get a slice before it is all gone." Lightning says wrapping his hooves around Eclipse and Rainbow.

Eclipse smiles as she looks to him. "Really, you call me love?"

"No, that is what he calls me." Rainbow says.

Eclipse then gains a hurt face. "Now I feel like nothing."

"Ok, come on Clipsy, let's eat as a family." Lightning says.

Eclipse then smirks. "Really, I'm a wife to you?"

"I will let that slide for now." Rainbow says.

"Oh somepony is jealous." Eclipse says in a sing song voice.

Rainbow blushes. "I'm not jealous."

"Oh then what are you?" Eclipse asks as they walk.

Rainbow turns redder. "I'm…dang it."

"Lovable, sexy, great in bed?" Eclipse asks.

Rainbow huffs. "Yeah right."

"Well you did co…" Eclipse starts, but stopped by Rainbow's hoof.

"Don't even." Rainbow warns.

"Does that mean we go for a second round?" Eclipse asks.

Rainbow scoffs. "In your dreams."

"Or in yours." Eclipse says.

Rainbow huffs. "Please the only thing I dream is either the family or many Lightnings going to town on me."

"Mom, I didn't need to hear that." Scootaloo asks.

Rainbow smirks. "I know, just embarrassing my little daughter."

"Which one?" Eclipse asks.

Lightning chuckles as Scootaloo blushes. "Many Lightnings?" He asks Rainbow.

Rainbow smiles. "With that tool and more of you, I think I'll be passed out from first touch."

"La, la, la, la, I'm not listening." Scootaloo yells covering her ears.

Everypony laughs. "Oh boy. This has to be the most fun we ever had and by the way Scoots, you're not going to care after your time with Tiyries." Lightning said.

Scootaloo couldn't hear him as she was still going. Eclipse laughs as she moved away to a coroner of the room. "You certainly are the best at embarrassing others."

"Maybe, but not as good as you are to Midnight." Lightning says.

Eclipse shrugs. "True, but at least you got something as well on him."

Lightning smiles as they reach the table and he hooves a plate with a watermelon slice on it to Midnight so he could give it to Applebloom. "Yet, I don't want to destroy his life, not yet." Lightning said as both the foals are from the watermelon.

"You won't." Eclipse whispers leaning against him.

Lightning smiles and leans against her. "Still, it might not hurt to check in once in a while. And if this keeps up, then I might be seeing you two more often."

"Oh I look forward to it." Eclipse says tracing her hoof along his chest.

Lightning chuckles and holds her hoof. "Not this again Clipsy. You know who I'm with."

"And I have been with her too. Oh, did you know her most sensitive spot is her right wing?" Eclipse whispers.

Lightning grins. "Yes and I have been using it for a long time and I mean using it."

"Oh you dirty stallion." Rainbow whispers joining in.

Lightning still grins. "Why does it feel like I'm a lucky stallion?"

"Because you are." Rainbow whispered.

Lightning smiles and looks to both of them. "So…am I in trouble?"

"Maybe later if we can get Spitfire to take the kids." Rainbow whispers with a giant smirk.

Eclipse grins. "Can I join?" Rainbow gently pushes her away. "Aww, why not?" She whines.

Lightning leans over to her. "Don't feel bad, she gets this way sometimes." Lightning whispers to Eclipse. Eclipse shows him big eyes that are shaking and tearing up while pouting her lip and whines a bit.

"And how will you explain if you get pregnant again?" Lightning whispers.

Eclipse stops her puppy dog stare and smiles. "Isn't your side done?"

"Huh?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse smirks. "Your wife talked after I was done with her. She went on to how you really used her like crazy. Now, isn't your side not going to do anything for now?" She whispered.

"You mean reproductively or preparing for war?" Lightning whispers.

Eclipse gives him a small glare. "We'll talk about the war later, but for now, reproductively."

"I am still very fertile." Lightning whispers.

Eclipse sighs. "Oh well, I guess I'm never getting that."

"Unless, he uses his spell I have asked him to use lately." Rainbow adds.

Eclipse looks surprised at him. "So…can I?"

"One condition." Rainbow whispers causing Lightning to gape in shock.

"Rainbow? What happened to you? What happen to the mare who just wanted me and me alone?" Lightning asks.

"The condition is you're on the bottom." Rainbow whispers to Eclipse.

'Oh I get it now. She wants payback.' Lightning thinks.

Rainbow smiles back to Lightning. "And I changed after our night with Seeku. I can't stop others from coming on to you. So you can do this, as long as I know about it and they deserve it and maybe invite me so I can watch over it."

"Oh god, please no. I don't want to be turned into a male whore." Lightning said shedding tears.

Rainbow and Eclipse laughs a bit. "Relax, I said those that deserve it, I know about it and if they know you like Seeku and Eclipse here." Rainbow said.

Lightning sighs a little in relief before freezing. 'That means…' Lightning thinks looking a little scared.

"Looks like you and your best general will have something to discuss when we get to Stalliongrad." Apollo says walking up.

Lightning groans. "Why is this happening to me?"

Eclipse giggles. "Because things are always set and they will happen, whether anypony wants it or not."

Lightning freezes as he hears those words. 'That's the same thing Shadow said. No, I refused to be destiny's pawn, I forge my own path, not some predestined plan.' Lightning thinks with a glare.

Rainbow taps his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I am fine." Lightning says derailing his train of thought.

Rainbow smiles. "Good, because you're going to need every energy you need to please us."

"Talk to sis first love." Lightning says.

Rainbow nods. "Don't worry, just make sure your end is good."

"You know my stamina." Lightning says.

Rainbow smirks. "Then get some spells ready."

"Fine." Lightning says defeated.

Eclipse giggles. "The mare always wins, right?"

"You know it." Rainbow says as the two high hoofed each other.

Lightning sighs. "Since when did this all change? Use to be Rainbow would either hold me back or send the other mares away. Now it's an open relationship. What's next, my daughter sneaking out?" He asks Apollo.

"Sir." Apollo says pointing to Scootaloo trying to sneak out.

"Scootaloo Bolt!" Lightning yells.

"Eep." Scootaloo squeaks as she freezes.

"Get over here young lady." Lightning says.

Scootaloo groans as she trudges back to him.

"Now where were you off to?" Lightning asks.

Scootaloo rubs her foreleg with her hoof embarrassment. "Tiyries, I thought he might be getting bored or tired just staying out there."

"We are about to head down there so you can wait till we make our way down there." Lightning says.

Scootaloo sighs. "Fine." She said before heading back to her seat.

Lightning smiles and turns back to Apollo. "How long before she tries again and acts like you?"

"Don't take your eyes off her is all I can say." Apollo says.

Lightning nods and looks to the empty chair. "Yep, except she's gone again. And now probably acting like you when you try to get around the guards. If I'm right, she out there with him."

"Hey, put me down." Scootaloo's voice was heard as she was brought back inside.

"Or not." Lightning said looking at a pouting Scootaloo.

Scootaloo scoffs as she looks to Kite. "Put me down." Kite shrugs and let's go, dropping her on her flank. "Ow." She moans in pain as she rubs her flank.

"Scootaloo you're in some serious trouble now." Lightning says.

Scootaloo huffs. "So what, I'm not allowed to see him again? Just like last time? Or even send him away again on a mission or back to his parents?"

"Do you have any idea what would have happened if Kite wasn't who found you?" Lightning asks obviously angry.

Scootaloo raises an eyebrow before bringing out a cloak from behind her. "And it's close to what Apollo gave me once we got here. Said I might need it to sneak out if I needed something."

"I don't care if Kite didn't find you, one of two things would happen. First you would have been kidnapped and sold into slavery or second if the guards caught you violating their laws they would have publicly stoned you to death!" Lightning yells at her.

Scootaloo growls. "You have no idea what I do or even what I can do. Do you?!"

"Scootaloo Bolt you are grounded." Lightning says.

"Fine! Then see what happens then, I'm sure you've thought of it before." Scootaloo yells.

"Rainbow we are heading back, take your daughter. I have to talk to Tiyries." Lightning says walking out the door.

Scootaloo yells and bangs her head against the wall and just stood there. "Why does this happen?" She asks with tears coming out.

"Your father is protective kid. If the Saddle Arabian guards caught you they know you are Lightning's daughter and a foreigner. The latter is bad enough. But there are some in Eclipse's Queen's knight that hate your father. And if they tried to stone you. This coliseum would run red with blood." Apollo says.

Scootaloo just stayed silent as Rainbow wraps a wing around her. "Galleon, could you take my foals with us while I take her?"

"Of course my lady. Kite, you escort lady Rainbow and lady Scootaloo, seeing how your status makes you exempt from the custom and will shield them from it." Galleon says.

Kite nods and starts leading them out while Galleon takes the foals and follows them. Everypony just watches in slight shock and sadness as they head out. "Was I ever like that?" Applebloom asks.

"At times." Granny Smith says. "But that was you growing up. Seems here it is customs and you can't break tradition and rules."

Eclipse nods. "Yes, but I know what Scootaloo wanted. Seems she is now a mare trapped in a filly's body. That's a bad feeling, especially since she is entering those years."

"And has a very protective father." Nikolai says.

"Also doesn't help with the rumors of a death cult in the area." Apollo says nonchalantly.

Eclipse facehooves. "Great job." Everypony starts assaulting Apollo for answers about this death cult.

Scootaloo sniffs as Rainbow and her step out with Kite out of the arena and they see Lightning talking with Tiyries. Tiyries growls and nods before flying away…in the direction of Equestria.

Scootaloo tears up more before bringing her head down. "What have I done?"

'Let's hope they don't catch you Tiyries, Scootaloo would be devastated.' Lightning thinks.

Lightning stood still and keeps turned away from them as they pass by and stops Galleon and waits until they are out of hearing range. "Listen, I need the training grounds."

"Done sir." Galleon says walking up.

Lightning sighs. "Also…am I a horrible father?"

"No sir, you are just strict and looking after her." Galleon says.

Lightning nods. "Yeah, okay, I want you to get Apollo and tell him to leave his weapons near our door and set up the grounds. I'll take the foals." He said taking them.

"Doesn't your wife want to see you?" Galleon asks.

Lightning nods. "That's why it's not for me." He said walking away as he places the foals on his back.

"Ok." Galleon says.

Scootaloo still had her head down as she and Rainbow entered their room. "He said your daughter." Scootaloo said for the first time since the arena.

"Yeah, was talking to me." Rainbow says.

Scootaloo hops onto her bed. "Why not our daughter? Why didn't he say that? It's almost like…" She didn't want to finish that thought.

"He was referring to me so Eclipse wouldn't get in on it and the fact you are so much like me it is almost scary." Rainbow says.

Scootaloo scoffs. "Maybe you shouldn't have pick me from the orphanage. At least I knew how to survive." Rainbow sighs and bonks her on the head. "Ow." She yells holding her head.

Rainbow sits down right beside her and wraps her in her wings. "Don't ever say that again. You were my sister and now my daughter. Besides, you're not getting rid of me that easily."

Scootaloo still looks away. "Lightning doesn't think that way."

"And what makes you think that?" Rainbow asks.

Scootaloo's ear twitches. "He doesn't know what I can do. He doesn't even bother knowing, not even what I barely learn now."

"Scootaloo, your father loves you deeply and is only concerned for your safety." Rainbow says.

Scootaloo huffs. "You know what he could have done, led me out there to Tiyries and left me with him. Then he could have gone back in and enjoy the day and then we could have all gone back here."

"No, he couldn't have. He and Eclipse are hiding secrets again making me think back to when he hid the Dominion from us." Rainbow says.

Scootaloo clicks her tongue. "Still, I just wanted to enjoy time alone with Tiyries and I could barely do that."

"This isn't Equestria Scootaloo, the rules and customs are different here and mares do not have nearly as many freedoms like in Equestria." Rainbow says.

Scootaloo growls and pushes her way out of Rainbow's wings and heads for the door.

"Lightning was completely serious about them stoning you to death if they catch you." Rainbow says stopping her.

Scootaloo looks back at her. "I'm going do something that would at least make this bearable." She said reaching for the counter and pulls down a small tight cloak before opening the door. She peeks outside only to see guards standing there. She groans silently and closes the door before heading for the window.

"You're not leaving Scootaloo, without either an adult male or one of the queen's knights." Rainbow says blocking her.

Scootaloo stares up at her with an almost blank stare. "Watch me." She said before going around and opening the window.

"Scootaloo, we both know you can't fly just yet, all you would do is hurt yourself." Rainbow says pulling her away and then locks it and takes the key.

Scootaloo glares at her. "Who says I was flying?"

"Scootaloo all you will end up doing is getting yourself hurt and making your father madder at you. Now come over here and talk." Rainbow says.

Scootaloo huffs. "I'm fine here." She said sitting down.

"You know it was Lightning who wanted to adopt you and he had to convince me to do it." Rainbow says making her look over at her slightly.

Scootaloo looks away again. "Maybe, but the same things I was doing over there was gone by the time I got to your home."

"Scootaloo it is time to grow up." Rainbow scolds raising her voice, surprising Scootaloo.

"Maybe, but I already knew too much. So much even after I came into your life, but no, you guys just saw a no-nothing filly." Scootaloo said lowly.

"You think you know everything Scootaloo, but you know nothing of this country, its country, or its rules. The only thing you know is we have family here." Rainbow scolds.

Scootaloo glares at her. "So you really think I don't know anything?"

"You know somethings, but you act like you know everything and are untouchable. It is time you learnt that neither is true. Here you are a foreigner and have to be on your best manners and not just go out and break any rule you wish just to spend some time doing as you wish." Rainbow lectures.

"She's right you know." Lightning said coming in with the foals. "Come with me." He said before grabbing a bag outside and heading out. Rainbow takes the foals so Lightning could talk to Scootaloo alone. "This land is different. You built your life around Equestrian life and now it is the time to change. I know it's more restrictive, but it will soon get better." He said as Kite soon follows them.

Scootaloo stayed silent, but peeks over to the bag and then back to the front. "You'll be back to a life you know and love, just not now. Listen, I love you and will never let you down, but you have to do the same for me." He said as Galleon joins as well.

"Why are ponies following us?" Scootaloo asks.

Lightning sighs and stops in front of a door. "There are many ways to let off steam. For you however…" He drops the bag in between them and pulls the zipper down to show an assortment of weapons. "It's more extreme. You want to show me how tough and smart you are, then load up and get ready."

Scootaloo tries for several minutes, but has yet to succeed in even touching Kite who is the weakest and most inexperienced of the three. She growls and soon surprises some of them by dropping most the weapons and the cloak before grabbing the smallest knife and runs at her before disappearing and then reappearing from Kite's side behind her and swipes at her foreleg, leaving a cut before she disappears and reappears back at where she dropped everything.

"Not bad. Try that again." Kite says and Scootaloo disappears only to be smacked away upon reappearing.

Scootaloo growls as she skids on the rough ground before pushing herself back up and runs at her again. She disappears again and reappears at her weapons and grabs something before disappearing again and then reappears and throws a knife at her before disappearing and then reappearing above her as Kite blocks the knife, but couldn't stop the blade coming down on her hoof, leaving a wound, as she made an attempt to block it. Scootaloo disappears again and reappears near the dropped weapons.

"Kite enough playing, end this or the captain will be cross with you for getting so many small wounds again." Galleon says.

Kite shrugs and nods and, as she reappears near her, grabs onto her hind leg before she feels a sharp pain in her hoof and sees a knife stuck in it as Scootaloo hangs on and takes the knife the in her mouth before she brings the knife near her eye before stopping. "You must be willing to hurt others just to get by in some areas of life." Scootaloo said as she still hangs on.

"Yet, I could have killed you or captured you 187 different ways already." Kite says before head butting her.

Scootaloo gets thrown off and loses her blades as she looks through the pain. She sees Kite grabbing a knife before throwing it at her. Scootaloo's eyes becomes sharp like a predator before grabbing the knife as it almost reached her. She disappears and Kite then sees at least a few knives heading towards her and goes to block it before she feels a pain in her hind legs and sees her joints sliced from behind that sends her to the ground and still blocks the knives. Yet she feels a knife at the back of her neck. "How many ways now?"

"Seventeen." Kite says as Scootaloo found she couldn't move and all the knives fall to the ground in pieces.

Scootaloo scoffs as Kite struggles to get up. "Feel better?" Hitting her on a certain spot on the back of her neck.

Scootaloo sighs in relief as she can move again. "Yeah, a whole lot better."

Kite smiles and looks to her as she sees something. "Scootaloo, I think I know why you moved so fast. But, what do you know about your real parents?"

"The only parents I have are Lightning and Rainbow." Scootaloo says huffing.

Kite looks to Lightning. "Might want to look at her eyes." She said walking away or at least trying to.

"I know already. After all, she is my daughter." Lightning says picking up his daughter. Scootaloo smiles a bit and then falls asleep, right in his hooves. Lightning smiles and places her on his back. "Can you guys clean up, I think she deserves a good rest."

"Very well, come on Kite, the medicine is waiting." Galleon says.

Kite groans. "Come on, its stings like a bitch."

Galleon smirks. "And that little filly took out your legs, maybe not good enough for a fight, but maybe for a quick getaway."

Lightning chuckles as he walks away before looking back at Scootaloo and pulls her eyelid open slowly, revealing her sharp pupil which he then closes them quickly before she wakes up. "No wonder she fell in love so quickly."

Lightning soon knocks on Spitfire's door softly. Spitfire opens it slowly and sees Lightning with Scootaloo on his back. "So…is it all good?" She asks quietly.

"Yeah, she got the anxiety out of her system. Still grounded though." Lightning whispers.

Spitfire sighs. "You know, she is entering those years."

"Do not and I mean, do not remind me." Lightning hisses.

Spitfire frowns. "You have to deal with this soon and for her, it's early. Deal with it the right way and don't try to hold the years." She said before closing the door.

"Take her already, Rainbow is not the most patient mare." Lightning says.

Spitfire groans before opening the door and carefully takes Scootaloo before closing the door again, but stops and looks at him. "Years come and go, but there are some things you can't stop." She said before closing the door.

"I know that." Lightning says walking away.

He sighs as he enters his room and finds Rainbow sitting on the bed and looking out the window. "So it's good for her now?" She asks.

"I think so, but she is still grounded." Lightning says and feels a new weight on his back.

Rainbow smiles a bit as she looks at him. "Good, but you need to talk to her like a father, not a general." She said trying to contain her laughter.

"I have more practice as a general and Eclipse get off my back." Lightning says.

Eclipse smiles. "Am I causing enough problems for you to make me get off your back?"

"No, but how will you get what you want from there?" Lightning asks.

Eclipse smirks. "Do I need to remind you of that sandstorm? Where I was on your back, reaching under you, and…"

"Okay, that's enough." Lightning said quickly.

"Do as he ask Eclipse." Rainbow says.

Eclipse sighs and gets off before heading for the bed. "Take it from me Lightning, act like a parent, not just a pony who orders around."

"Ok, I have a condition before we continue." Lightning says smirking.

They both look to him expectantly. "What is it?" They both ask.

"You two have to go first while I watch." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks a little worried, but Eclipse has a wide grin on her face. "No argument here." She said before throwing herself at Rainbow.

Scootaloo moans as she slowly gets up from her bed and looks around to see Spitfire sleeping in her bed while the foals slept in the other. She sighs as she looks down at her hooves before throwing the covers off and getting out of bed. She yawns as she walks over to the bathroom and looks in the mirror to see herself with bloodshot eyes that were sharp, that was weird to her, and some cuts on her.

She hisses as she touches one of the cuts before sighing. "I really screwed up." She said to herself quietly.

CLICK CLICK CLICK

She looks confused for a second before looking outside the bathroom and sees Tiyries outside the window. She becomes surprised before looking to the still sleeping Spitfire and the foals before to the window and opening it.

"What are you doing back here, I thought you left for Equestria?" Scootaloo whispered. Tiyries growls silently. Scootaloo becomes a little wide eyed. "You came back, for me?" She asks as she points to herself. Tiyries smiles and licks her cheek. Scootaloo smiles and touches his snout with her hoof. "I love you Tiyries. Thank you." Tiyries growls and moves his head away to show his neck.

Scootaloo takes one last look before grabbing her cloak and puts it's on before jumping on his neck. "Let's go." She said before Tiyries carefully flies away to not alert anypony. Scootaloo takes one last look back at the palace before sighing and laying down on his neck. She left almost everything behind, including an open window.

Scootaloo groans after a while of flying. "Why? Why did I do this?" Tiyries growls at her questionably. "I mean with me arguing with dad, not me going with you. I just wonder why I said all that in the first place." Tiyries stayed silent before giving some growls. "Tiyries…maybe…being here with you is starting to sound like a bad idea. We should probably head back to grandma and grandpa back at the castle." Tiyries growls once and nods. Scootaloo smiles. "Then let's go…"

WHACK

"What?!" She yells as she becomes pinned down by a large amount of rope and having the rope also pin Tiyries's wings to his side as they slowly dropped in the air. "Tiyries!" She looks to the approaching ground. "Please promise me this, don't leave me!" Tiyries roars as the ground finally approaches and they hit hard to the ground, making Scootaloo hit her head on his neck, knocking her out as Tiyries growls heavily to the approaching figures in the moonlight.

"What?" Spitfire asks as she got up quickly with blurred eyes. She groans and rubs her eyes before looking to the foals and sees them sound asleep. She sighs in relief before looking over to Scootaloo only to become worried as she sees it empty and an open window. "Oh boy, Lightning's going to kill me."

Spitfire gets out of bed and goes to the foals and checks to see that they are alright, before she hears something. She turns around and sees a black hooded pony standing by the window. She was about to speak before she hears something hiss and feels a sting on her neck. She quickly grabs the thing with her hooves and pulls it away to see a vial that was empty. Spitfire looks back to the pony and sees a blowpipe. "Aww crap." She groans as she fell to the ground, knocked out.

The hooded pony tilts its head before looking to the still sleeping foals.

Lightning turns away from the mares with his eyes wide. "Something's wrong." Lightning says getting up and running out the door.

Eclipse groans as she gets up. "Dang it, I so close."

Rainbow glares at her. "Really, that's all you think about?"

Eclipse glares back before getting up and cleaning herself off with a nearby towel. "You live my life and you would be begging for something like this."

Rainbow scoffs and cleans herself off as well. "I wish." She said before following Lightning with Eclipse close behind.

Lightning kicks down the door to see a hooded pony going for his foals and lunges at him. The hooded pony, fully taken by surprise, blinks several times seeing a headless corpse and not able to feel anything below his neck.

Lightning pants as he puts away his blade and looks to his foals who is now yawning as they get up. He immediately puts himself between the foals and body still standing. "Shh, shh, it's okay guys. Just go back to sleep." He said trying his best smile. The foals shake their heads and motion for them to be picked up.

"I will, your mother and aunty are on their way and I promised them they will be the first to get to hold you." Lightning says. The foals cheers as Rainbow and Eclipse step in and try to hold their stomach as they see the body. "Can you two take the foals while I put the body away?" Lightning asks them.

Rainbow incidentally goes and grabs Talion while Eclipse grabs Typhoon making sure they don't see the corpse as they take them out of the room.

Lightning looks down at his sister on the floor. "Wake up sleeping beauty." He said shocking her.

"Yeow!" Spitfire yells as she shot up. "Feels like a train ran over me." She groggily said holding her head.

"Well considering that was most likely sleeping poison, yeah. So where is my daughter?" Lightning asks.

Spitfire looks at Scootaloo's bed again before looking back to him. "Sorry, but she was gone when I woke up before that pony came in."

Lightning breathes deeply. "Go see Rainbow and Eclipse, I have things to do." Lightning says.

Spitfire nods and groans as she gets up. "Lightning, I'm sorry." She said before walking away.

Lightning says nothing and walks to Apollo and Octavia's room first and knocks loudly. A groan was heard before the door opened slightly and a head pokes through. "What is it?" Octavia asks.

"Get Apollo and tell him to bring all of his blades." Lightning says seriously.

Octavia nods and pulls her head back inside. "Lightning said bring all the blades honey." She said walking back to the bed.

"That serious huh? Octy, best cover your ears, the castle is about to get noisy." Apollo says getting up.

Octavia moans as she slips back into bed. "Whatever, I'm way too tired to hear…now." She starts snoring loudly after she said that.

After Apollo had everything on he moves the covers and kisses her head before walking out the door. "Nikolai is next." Lightning says. As they walk the castle started to come alive as guards started mobilizing yelling about intruders.

They both knocked hard on the door and a scruffy messy head popped out. "Can I help you two?" He said almost sleepily.

"Nikolai, get ready, your wings will soon be dyed red in blood." Lightning says.

Nikolai looks back inside and sees the unicorn sleeping contently. He then looks back to them with a nod. "I'll meet you at the front gate." He said before closing the door.

"Very well. Apollo, help the guards find any other intruders. I'm going to see the Queen and captain Ferid of the Queen's knights." Lightning says. Apollo nods and quickly rushes off with the other guards.

Lightning sighs as he rushes back to his room and sees Rainbow and Eclipse with the foals in their hooves. "Eclipse, I'm going to need some help." He said coming in.

"What has happened?" Eclipse asks as Typhoon starts crawls all over her.

Lightning grimaces. "Scootaloo is gone and I think that pony was part of it. I'm going to need a search party and Ferid."

"Do you know who did it?" Eclipse asks.

"Eclipse, we both know this was the death cult." Lightning says.

Eclipse sighs. "Okay, you got the search party, but why Ferid?"

"They assaulted the castle and abducted a guest, you can show them no weakness." Lightning says.

Eclipse frowns as Typhoon sits on her head. "Alright, but can you try to bring the leader in all this, all the others are yours."

"If they do have my daughter, I make no guarantee for his life." Lightning says rubbing the head of both Typhoon and Talion.

Rainbow sighs. "Being her back and don't you dare come back without her." She threatened.

"I don't plan on it." Lightning says walking out.

Eclipse watches him as he leaves. "Rainbow, do you what lengths he would go for his family?"

"I have seen. He died to save me once already." Rainbow says.

Eclipse looks to her. "But what about you?"

Rainbow looks down as Talion looks up at her with a smile. "Nopony gets in the way of my family." She looks up at Eclipse with a firm smile. "Nopony, even if that means dying for them."

Eclipse just smiles.

Scootaloo groans as she gets up, but hits her head and falls down while holding her head in pain. She moans as she opens her eyes and sees a lot of ponies in hooded grabs. "What?"

"She's awake." A nearby pony said.

"No matter, get the Wyvern to the altar and let us prepare." Another says.

Scootaloo bangs the bars making it rattle. "Hey, let me out!"

A pony who had his hood down looks to her. "Please, like we would do that. We read enough books to know. Besides, you don't want these foals to be included with the Wyvern, do you?" He said pulling aside a curtain to reveal a large table with a lighted see through wall where Typhoon and Talion was and, in a light blue color, Eclipse and Rainbow in their room. "Amazing what a quick switch and some puppets can do along with a few magic tricks and those foals think they are there. Oh and don't bother yelling to them, they can't hear a thing." He said reaching in and pulling a loose feather from Typhoon which doesn't bother her even the slightest bit. "Look, a loose feather. That real enough for you?" He said throwing the feather away.

"Priest, all the warriors we sent to the castle were either caught or slain." A pony wearing a helmet says.

The priest groans. "At least we got these four. Let's get to work before our own squeals."

"Right away." The pony in a helmet.

"The leader is not going to like this." Another says.

The priest huffs. "Please, we'll send the dragon off and then these other three as an extra treat. Maybe we'll get something special and then we can get out without anypony nothing."

"The head priest dislikes any leaks." The other pony says.

The priest looks to him. "That's why there will be no witnesses, not even the foals."

"Let them go! They didn't do anything!" Scootaloo yells as she shakes the bars.

The purest smirks as he looks to her. "Why are you yelling? You know it's pointless. Bring out the Wyvern, we got a lot to do."

Scootaloo just watches as Tiyries was brought out by magic as she starts to tear up. 'I did this. I'm the worst filly ever.' She thought as she bangs her head against the bars. "I'm sorry Tiyries." She whispered.

"This is the place?" A guard asks.

Another guard looks at the features of the place…which is none at all. It looked like just a regular home, not even a smell. "Has to be. This is one of the houses we need to check." He said looking at map he had.

"There is a secret door under the stairs." Apollo says.

They look the slightly open door as Apollo pulls out a knife. "How did we miss that?" A guard asks as Apollo fully opens it and walks in with Lightning following.

Lightning pulls at Apollo's hood and holds him back. "Wait." He whispered as he leans down and looks through a small gap in the wall on the side and sees a large table Tiyries on it, knocked out. "Shoot. He's here as well?" He then sees something that made his blood boil. He sees one of the ponies holding a struggling and silent crying foals in his Hobbes as he places them on the table besides Tiyries. He then motioned to another pony near the cages and the pony pulls out a very struggling Scootaloo as she was then tossed into the table. Scootaloo grunts and rushes to the priest, but was stop by a light blue see through wall as she reached the edge of the table. She starts bashing on the wall as the ceiling above them starts to act weird.

"Apollo do you have a shot?" Lightning whispers.

Apollo growls as he aimed with his bow, but can't aim to the head pony. "Yes, but I don't know how the wall will act on it. It may not go through or I could hit one of your foals."

Lightning growls heavily and starts walking down. "Just aim for the head pony and fire when you have a shot." He soon comes the door separating him from the large room and takes a deep breath, all the while not noticing his necklace slightly shaking and glowing.

"Shadow I know you are there, aid me from the shadows and make sure some of these disappear and are never found." Lightning says

"Sorry, but I can't." Shadow said from the darkness.

"Why?" Lightning asks.

Shadow sighs. "Go in there and find out, as the real help will arrive then."

"Just make sure that the flanking teams are unabated without them noticing." Lightning says.

Shadow smiles. "Now that I can do." She said heading off.

Lightning takes another deep breath before kicking the door open and heading inside the large room. "One chance, let them go." He growled.

The priest smirks. "Let me think…no." He said before taking a knife and pass it through the wall and straight for Typhoon.

"Daddy!" Typhoon yells.

The necklace around Lightning's neck finally became bright and shakes widely before Lightning feels something coming out of him and let's it. He soon groans as a shadowy cloud came out of him and shoots toward the table, passing through the wall, and takes Typhoon in the cloud before flying up, making the priest hit the table. Lightning watches in slight shock as two orbs of bright lights came out of the table as well, taking Talion and bringing him right by his sister.

"You're more trouble than ever, you know that right?" Umbra said as he formed from the cloud and held Typhoon. He then looks to the orbs of light as they held Talion. "Ready?" The orbs just pulse light once. "Hang on you two, this might hurt." Umbra said before changing back into a cloud and starts closing around Typhoon as she screams in pain while Talion screams as well from the heavy burning he's feeling from the orbs as they cover him up.

Lightning could only watch as everypony else watches as well until the cloud started to recede and so did the orbs of light, leaving a bigger Typhoon with slightly darker colors with Talion a little bigger as well with some darker colors as well. They were soon lowered carefully back on the table as they open their eyes and see the first thing which was the priest.

Typhoon grins. "This will be fun." She said before jumping off the table and kicks the priest into the air and then with shadow forming around her she makes shadowy claws and then slices the priest before reaching in the cut with her other hoof. "Bulls eyes!" She yells pulling out part of his spine as the body fell to the floor.

Talion jumps off the table as well before looking to a group of ponies huddled near the corner. "Don't mess with the family." He said before he slams his hooves down onto the ground making the ground rise up and form a wall before he slams his hooves together and making lightning, fire and water form on them before he slams his hooves on the wall, sending the wall and the orb of three elements to combine with the wall as they slam into the ponies, squishing them against the wall.

Typhoon looks to her next victim before running to him and slicing at him which goes through his spear and into him before she pulls his spine as well. "Gotcha!"

Talion starts using a mixture of the elements in many combinations as he dealt with the weapon less ponies in the room and soon there was two left.

The ponies back up as they step toward another set of stairs. It was only Typhoon running to them that makes them try to run before she reaches the one lagging behind and slices him across the back. "We're done here!" She yells before slicing her claws through the back of his chest and puts his heart through the other side, still connected and beating. She grins wickedly as the pony looks terrified before she squeezes her claws together and slices through the heart making him drop dead after she pulls out. She then looks up at the terrified pony still running before she loses her claw and starts forming shadow into a ball in front of her as Talion steps in beside her and starts forming one of his own with all the elements known.

The pony takes a peek back and realizes what's going on and pushes open the door and finds himself face to face with the guards before he feels nothing as a large beam fires out of the basement and right through him, leaving only his legs to fall after the beam stops, leaving a shock group of guards.

Downstairs Typhoon and Talion look to their bloodstained body before they feel a sudden exhaustion on them and they fall asleep before they even hit the ground. Lightning watches in shock and surprise as their body slowly changes back to the foals he knows and loves. "What?"

"Great show, don't you think?" Umbra asks as he stands by him.

"What did you do to my foals?" Lightning asks obviously mad.

Umbra smiles. "Relax, what you saw is not going to happen. They will never act like that unless you teach them the right way. Oh and I gave your daughter my shadow powers with your son having the potential to learn every element besides shadow, that's your daughter's."

Lightning walks over and picks them up and walks over to Scootaloo still on the table with the wall flickering. "Dad, I'm sorry. If I hadn't blown up at you then…" She said as she leans back against Tiyries.

"Stand back angel." Lightning says putting the foals down. Scootaloo jumps over to Tiyries's head and stands behind him as she still tears up.

Lightning punches the wall causing it to collapse on that side. "Now come here." Lightning says.

Scootaloo cries freely as she rushes to him and jumps into his hooves and hugs him tightly. "I'm sorry dad. Please don't hate me." She sobbed.

Lightning hugs her back. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, both your mother and I would be destroyed if you got hurt." Lightning says tears in his eyes.

Scootaloo chokes on a sob. "I'm sorry."

"Shh…it's ok, let's get yo...hold that thought, I got somepony I need to talk to." Lightning says looking at a priest who survived and was trying to crawl away.

Scootaloo was placed down back on the ground before she realizes who's still on the table and jumps onto the table before going to his head. "Tiyries…please open your eyes for me…please." She whispered.

"He is just unconscious. You though, are going to wish I will do that to you." Lightning says grabbing and dragging the pony into another room.

Scootaloo jumps down from the table and looks to Typhoon and Talion as they yawn and look up at her with innocent smiles. She smiles back as she notices their colors are still darker. She sighs and grabs them before jumping back up on the table before laying them down near Tiyries's head and covers them with her wing. "You don't want to see this." She said as she looks to the door.

The priest got slammed into the wall as Lightning glares at him with the maddest look on his face. "So, you decided to take the Wyvern and my daughter, but that wasn't enough for you was it? You also took my foals and now look what happened. I may give you a chance to live if you start talking." Lightning says pulling him forward and slamming him again.

"I don't kno…" The pony stop when he feels a knife at the lower half of his stomach.

"I will cut that part out of you." Lightning says.

The priest sweats heavily as he feels the back of the cold knife press against him. "Okay…we were sent here because we were told a Wyvern would be here. We didn't realize that the Wyvern would go the palace and pick up the filly. She left the window open and saw an opportunity. The foals weren't part of the plan in the beginning, I swear."

"Where is your leader? I know he wasn't here." Lightning says.

The priest tries his best to hold still. "I don't know. He talks by letters and we don't know where they come from."

"Is that all?" Lightning asks using the blade to emphasize his threat.

The priest nods. "Yes, I swear. We don't know where the letter come from."

"I see, well the Queen wanted me to bring at least one of you alive. Though I don't know if that is a mercy or damning you." Lightning says before slamming his head into the wall knocking the priest out.

Lightning sighs as he steps out of the room and closes the door behind him and sees Scootaloo, Typhoon and Talion looking at him with small smiles. "Dad, can we go back now?" Scootaloo asks.

"Soon, the Queen sent her soldiers and a few Queens's knights to help us." Lightning says before bring out a crystal. "Rainbow, you and Eclipse can stop now." Lightning says.

Rainbow's growl was heard through the crystal. "Get back here with our foals, you lead wing. These puppets are not good substitutes as Eclipse is now burning them."

"They did something to them Rainbow, but from the looks of it they only tapped some of their magic aptitude. Though it made their coats a little darker." Lightning says.

Rainbow was silent for bit. "Well get back here now. Eclipse has something special for you guys."

"I will, but her troops seem to be delayed and I smell blood coming from the other exits so they must have met resistance. You want to say anything to our foals?" Lightning asks.

"Scootaloo? Are you there?" Rainbow asks.

"I'm sorry mom, I'm sorry for running away and…" Scootaloo started.

"Stop." Rainbow stops Scootaloo. "It's okay sweetie. I'm just glad you're okay. Just promise me you will never let us down."

Scootaloo smiles. "I will."

"How did you get out there anyway?" Rainbow asks.

Scootaloo blushes a bit. "Tiyries, he came back for me and we were heading back to home in Equestria when we got caught."

Rainbow was silent for a bit. "That Wyvern will be the death of us one day, huh Lightning?"

"I'm going to talk to him and he isn't going to like it while you keep our daughter company." Lightning says.

Scootaloo looks worried to the still sleeping Tiyries. "Are you going to send him away?"

"Oh no, but after I am done he will wish I sent him back home." Lightning says.

Scootaloo faintly smiles. "Just don't make us not see each other. I don't think the both of us can take it."

"You are still grounded." Lightning and Rainbow says tripping her up.

Scootaloo groans. "I don't care anymore."

"Meaning you can't leave our sides. If you do you will be spanked." Rainbow says.

Scootaloo blushes. "I said I don't care anymore. Just…just don't send him away."

"You are not going to see him as much now that we know they are targeting him." Lightning says.

Scootaloo brings her head down and lays down on the table, covering herself up with her wings. Her sobs were heard as Typhoon and Talion start to cheer her up by patting her sides.

Soon the remaining doors are kicked down as Apollo joined Lightning as the soldiers soon were guarding the prisoner and holding him. "Nice firework show. Think you can handle your foals like this now?"

"Don't mention this to anything or pony. Only you, me, and Scootaloo know of it and I plan to keep it so." Lightning hisses.

Apollo nods before he hears a dark chuckle coming from Typhoon. "Might want to give her your necklace since it's useless to you now." A voice said that sounded male.

Lightning walks over and picked up both the foals, silencing the voice. He looks to Typhoon as she looks at him with a smile. He smiles back and takes his necklace off before shortening the loop and places it around Typhoon. "Remember honey, don't lose this and everypony will be happy." Typhoon seemed mesmerized by the necklace. He chuckles before placing them both on his back and looks to Scootaloo. "Angel, it's time to go."

Scootaloo chokes a sob. "Can I at least stay with him?" She asks while still under her hooves.

"They are going to have to carry him out under heavy guard angel. I'm afraid you can't, but you will get to see him when he gets to the castle." Lightning says.

Scootaloo shakily stands up before moving to him. Lightning moves close to the table as possible as Scootaloo struggles to get on before she lays down and covers herself up again.

"Alright that is all. Destroy everything and take this prisoner to the dungeons under heavy guard." The Queen's knight captain, Ferid, says.

Lightning remained silent as he walks out with Apollo before they come out and see Nikolai. "Good news, thanks to your debacle in there, the thieves' guild saw something and sent back a message to the guild and gave it to me saying, 'We'll join if you don't send those two after us.' No idea what they're talking about, but they're on our side now."

"Apollo, go see them personally and take control." Lightning whispers and Apollo nods before leaving.

Nikolai raises an eyebrow as he sees the foals still happily looking around and Scootaloo laying down and covering herself up. "I don't want to know, but it's always best to make them happy, even if that means just a little risk. Not too much, but just enough. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go back to the palace and see if my mare is awake." He said before walking off.

"Make sure to clean yourself and your wings, they are still red." Lightning says.

Nikolai grins back at him. "You got it. Just make sure you treat your family well. Who knows when something like this will happen again?"

"Oh, that reminds me. This was an official declaration of war from me to this cult. Spread the word I won't stop until all of it is destroy." Lightning says.

Nikolai nods. "Sure, just make sure to keep them safe if you're doing that."

"Oh don't worry, I will." Lightning says as they head back.

Rainbow moves the last piece onto the table before she looks to the door and sees Lightning walk in with the foals and Scootaloo. "Hey, you guys made it. Take a look at what Eclipse gave us as an apology for letting this happen." She said pointing to the large table full of food.

"Good and speaking of which, the foals are hungry love." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles and takes the foals. "I'm sure of that. You two hungry?" The foals nods and rub their stomach as it growls. "Okay, let me place you down and you can eat whatever you want." She said placing them down in the dessert area.

Rainbow then sighs and looks to Scootaloo. "Scootaloo, can you look at me?" Scootaloo sniffs and looks at her with bloodshot eyes. "Scootaloo, I'm not mad. I was just worried about you and I don't want to lose you. You're still grounded, but I'll make sure you can see him as much as possible now."

Scootaloo smiles before getting off of Lightning and hitting the ground. "Ow." She groans as she gets up. "I'm not hungry." She said heading to a seat.

"Then you are going to bed." Lightning says.

Scootaloo sighs as she turns around and heads back to their room. "Goodnight."

"I'll go tuck her in and Spitfire, I see you over there. Go get some sleep as well." Lightning says before following his daughter.

Spitfire smiles as they walk past her before going to Rainbow. "So everypony made it out okay?"

"Yeah and it seems Lightning was right." Rainbow says as she looked at the foals playing tug-a-war with a donut.

Spitfire looks a little surprised. "Wow, they do have a slightly darker tint in their coats. What did they do to them?"

Rainbow shrugs. "No idea. Lightning probably won't say anything and all he said was their color is falter and that's it. Except for the fact that he mentioned something about their magic…being something, I don't know. Anyway, they're safe so let's enjoy this spread with them before eat it all and I end up with a fast foal running around my hooves."

Spitfire chuckles. "Yeah, I am a little hungry." She said helping herself to some of the food while Rainbow start to eat herself.

"Are you okay now angel?" Lightning asks as he tucks her in.

Scootaloo nods, but still sniffs. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just…just go."

Lightning sighs before he kisses her head. "It's going to be okay angel. Soon we'll all be together again as a family."

"I'm sorry I keep forgetting that." Scootaloo says.

Lightning smiles. "Just remember, in the end, you'll be with Tiyries and we still would have you by our side. But only when all of this is over."

Scootaloo nods and pulls the covers around her. "Thanks dad…for letting me stay with him."

Lightning nods and pulls the covers even more around her. "I'll never let you be away from him forever. Not anymore. Goodnight angel." He said kissing her head again.

"At one time I hated that name, but I have changed my mind, but only call me that in private." Scootaloo says.

Lightning laughs. "Sure angel. Now go to sleep. It's been a long day."

Scootaloo smiles before she starts to breathe deeply and when Lightning was about to close the door he can hear her snoring. He sighs as he closes the door and heads back to the dining room. "Okay, what did I miss?" He asks looking over the food stained room.

Everypony looked either embarrassed or sheepish. "They started it." Spitfire accuses as she points to the foals.

Lightning shakes his head and walks over to her. "Missed a spot." He said taking a cake and covering her face, making them all laugh as Spitfire soon joined in.

Author's Notes:

1: Meager ones like regular pony folk who would really have fun in these times and of course Umbra.

2: Take a guess.

3: Have fun. Oh, also have fun being alone in the dark.

4: I just did. Figure it out.

5: I'll give you a hint, it's me.

6: I told you, Umbra.

7: No, just another far off spirit that supposed to be locked deep down, but I was something far more different.

8: I like that in a stallion. Yet for finding it, you must look to the place where one must forget.

9: It's okay. You'll only be gone away from this for a little while.

10: I won't try to. Mr. Lightning Eye really doesn't want you dead. Now this is the important part, get him as Twilight Sparkle does.

11: You are a silly stallion. Just do what you do best and end him as Twilight does to hers.

12: Get lost guardian I am here for the one that has taken refuge.

Okay, long ass chapter and too many stuff happening. Now where's Flair? He should be done by now.

Flair: I got back a while ago.

*Grins* Had fun with your favorite pony?

Flair: Why not ask her yourself?

Oh sorry. *Turns to Pinkiemenia.* Your business, your secrets.

Pinkiemenia: Meh, not the best I have ever had.

Burn. Anyway, like my surprise for Typhoon and Talion?

Flair: I didn't see it coming.

Well, lucky virtual cookie to who can figure out where Typhoon's lines come from when she changed. But for now the explanation. The reason we couldn't update on this story is because we have been updating HTTYD story and finally, until the next season, we're finished. So now that the movie and TV show up to now is done we can finally work on this story. Except the way we're going we might take a few weeks before the next update. But now, it going to be a bitch to edit since FimFiction is really tough to at least copy to because it's just words and not the bold and all that. Also, Flair, give the official google document word count at the end, would you, before you leave.

Flair: In total 40479 words at this point.

Pinkiemenia: And 102 pages.

Hard to believe that this might be the biggest chapter we have ever made at this point. Who knows, we might be bigger next time.

Flair: Maybe.

Pinkiemenia: Knowing you it will.

Flair: What are you, my wife?

No, she's your mate, for now, if she doesn't go for somebody else.

Pinkie: Oh, oh, does this mean I can throw a marriage party?

Maybe if these two want it. Do you?

*Flair is about to say something when Pinkiemenia stops him*

Pinkiemenia: Only if you invite Maud.

In your marriage or the party?

Pinkiemenia: I will leave that to your interpretation.

Flair: Do I get a say in this? *Pinkiemenia glares at Flair* Got it, shotgun wedding it is.

*Laughs* Boy, she's like Astrid now and you're Calder. All you need is his tail and it would be complete.

Flair: Don't give her ideas.

Why shouldn't I, it's fun and I'm sadistic.

Flair: I am surrounded by enemies.

And your lover.

Flair with an annoyed expression: Read and review.

And hope you all enjoyed this after a long wait.

Pinkiemenia and Pinkie: Later.