“Speaking”

‘Thoughts’

(Translation)

The snow crunched under the hooves of the Ponyville residents as they boarded the train back to their home town.

"Well this was fun." Lightning said as he steps on board. "I hope they don't call on me again."

"Oh why not, you play the role of Razor Wind well?" Rainbow asks.

Lightning scoffs. "I just don't do well in front of crowds. Especially when they watch your every move. It's unnerving." He shivers at the thought of it.

"So Lightning, I heard you were a Stalliongrad hunter and that you were the one who saved Ponyville from the creatures Princess Celestia sent guards to help deal with." Scootaloo says.

She suddenly feels herself pick up and placed on somepony's back. "Yep, but the job is never easy."

"Can you tell me a story from those days on our way back to Ponyville?" Scootaloo asks while getting a grip on Lightning.

Lightning chuckles lightly. "Sure kid." He said as he ruffles her mane.

When the rest of the ponies from Ponyville heard this they all followed him to the car all wanting to hear the story.

"Now which one would be a good story?" Lightning asks himself as he thinks it over. "Oh how about my first hunt of a Barroth." Lightning says. All of the ponies look confused at the name. "I guess none of you would know about that creature." Lightning says taking out a book. Looking closely Twilight recognizes it as the book that Lightning showed them the Chamleonsaurus with.

Flipping through the pages Lightning finally showed them a picture of the creature. It looked sort of like a tyrannosaurus with a bolder growing from its head. Next to it was a scale showing how big it was compared to a normal pony. The scale showed it to be bigger than most houses.

"You hunted that thing alone?!" Scootaloo yells.

"Oh no Scootaloo, I was part of a team when in this hunt. I was a part of the assault part of the team. We had about eight members in this team. Two ranged attackers, a trap expert, a scout and tracker, and four assault hunters." Lightning clarified.

"You see, the Stalliongrad hunters got a request from a village in Saddle Arabia to come and hunt a Barroth that had been destroying entire crop fields and attacked a few villages. I was selected for the hunt along with the seven other hunters. The one in charge was a level 4 hunter name Bangorn the Hammer. He was a veteran of the hunter and his great strength was well known in the guild."

"We all boarded a train to Saddle Arabia. On the way there each Hunter did their own thing, one of the ranged hunters was doing maintenance on his equipment, and Bangorn was giving a briefing on our target. Most of the other hunters were listening because this was their big time hunting a colossal monster. While I sharpened my own weapon." Lightning says.

"This wasn't the first time I tangled with a monster of this size. In fact it was the fifth. I had experience on two hunts similar to this. The other two I encountered them while hunting a pack of smallish monsters or going out to retrieve some supplies for a guild mate. Let’s just say both of those monster and I have a history." Lightning continued.

"So you encounter something like this on a regular basis?" Twilight asks intrigued.

"On some hunts, but those two, ever since our first encounter, we keep running into one another thirty seven encounters with both and neither of them have killed me or I killed them." Lightning says.

Twilight's quill stops moving when she hears how much he encountered.

"Those two are a dangerous breed. The first encounter I had with both was when they were juveniles now they are full grown." Lightning says.

Twilight tries to write again as she listens.

"Both are of a wyvern subspecies. As you know a Wyvern is considered a kin to dragons but lack most of the intelligence and are more like a wild animal than a dragon. Neither of them can fly though thankfully their specific subspecies of Wyverns adapted to be ground creatures. But they still are very dangerous."

"But I'm getting off track, back to the story." Lightning trying to continue. "We arrived in the city in Saddle Arabia and I and the veteran Range hunter accompanied Bangorn to speak with the equivalent to a mayor and got all the details. While we did this the other five hunters were preparing their equipment. The next morning hours before the sun rose we set out to find the monster." Lightning says.

"After many hours our scout/tracker spotted the monster and we put the plan into motion. We all started to dig a pit fall big enough to stop the Barroth. After an hour of digging we covered the pit up after our unicorn trap maker was done setting up an additional surprise for the Barroth. The range hunters and our trap maker took cover behind a boulder. Our scout/tracker pegasus took to the air to keep an eye on the Barroth. And I and the rest of the assault team set out to confront the Barroth." Lightning says.

"We all walked until we came to the Barroth who was wallowing in a mud pit. Each one of us unsheathed our weapons and held them until we charged the unsuspecting Barroth." Lightning says.

Rainbow 'hmmms' in thought. "How did you hold the weapons?"

"Ah good question you see some geniuses developed magic gauntlets that allow us hold our weapons with our hooves while also making it to where we don't need walk on all fours." Lightning says.

Twilight scribbles some notes. "Interesting."

Lightning turns to Twilight. "Uh...she won't be stalker like to me, because this is getting kind of creepy?" He asks the others.

"Don't worry about Twilight." Rainbow says.

"Ok, anyways, we readied our weapons and charged the unsuspecting Barroth. The Barroth was caught off guard but quickly recovered and charged us. Throughout the fight we used the monster's size and clumsiness to our advantage as one of our team slipped underneath its stomach and started slicing at its stomach with his two blades." Lightning says.

Twilight pauses in her writing. "How can you cut something that big and tough? It's like throwing a rock at a train and it still comes at you."

"Ah, but like our gauntlets weapons and armor are also magically reinforced. It can differ from weapon to weapon even some bladed weapons are magically infused so their cutting power are multiplied several times, shields can have barrier magic that can also multiple the users strength multiple times over, and blunt weapons can have enchantments that can have them hit with the power of a train. But these enchantments can't be constantly used blunt weapons impact enchantments put a strain on the body and each enchantment only has a limited amount of power until it needs to recharge." Lightning clarifies.

Rainbow counts on her hoof before she realizes that she doesn’t have appendages and gives up on understanding ever single word. "You lost me. But I kind of get the idea."

"Ok so the hunter was slicing the bottom of its stomach which caused the Barroth to roar in pain. The Barroth then swung its body around, its tail hitting another of the team. Thankfully his shield took the worse but was now pinned under its tail. But Bangorn used his great hammer to hit the Barroth in the head, chipping the boulder like head, getting its attention and it raises its tail allowing me and the hunter who was attacking the Barroth's stomach to help retrieve our guild mate from the position he was stuck in."

The train car suddenly bucks upward from a slight raise on the track. Everypony yips at the sudden bump and then settles as the train keeps going. That would give them the feeling of being in the story.

"After that my two guild mates started to pull out and I went back and used my long sword to attack the back of the Barroth's legs causing it to fall over. This gave me and Bangorn the time needed to run as well. Shortly after we started running we heard the Barroth chasing after us."

"We ran and ran until we got back to where the rest of our team was hiding with the Barroth right on our tails. At the final moment we made a made jump. When we landed we skid to a stop and the Barroth feel into the pit we had dug. He was buried up to his stomach and was being electrocuted by the trap our trap maker had set."

"From there our range hunters shot multiple capsules into its face. The Barroth struggled for several more seconds before it collapsed onto the ground dead asleep." Lightning told.

Twilight looks over to him. "Asleep? I would think that after what the creature went through that it would die."

"Ah, you see what was shot into its face was tranquilizer smoke. With the wounds we inflicted plus the trap it didn't had the strength to continue to struggle and resist the gas."

"Ah." Twilight goes back to writing.

"After that we secured the Barroth for transport we used the train's mobile platform to take it back to Stalliongrad. And that was the tale of my first Barroth hunt. But the Hunter who got hit he was in the hospital for a fractured rib."

Rainbow subconsciously rubs her chest from the thought of the injury. "That must have hurt the whole way home."

"He was lucky he had that shield or we would have had to bury him there."

Rainbow smiles lightly. "At least he survived."

"Yeah and last I heard of him he was a level three hunter."

Soon they all got confused. Scootaloo taps Lightning's head from his back. "What does the levels mean?"

"Oh, it's the guilds ranking. New members are level zero and level six is the highest." Lightning answered.

Scootaloo taps his head again. "How does a number help with this?"

"It shows your abilities. The Barroth is considered a level three monster. So if you’re a level three you should be able to handle it." Lightning explained.

"And you were?" Rainbow asks curtly.

"That is a story for another day." Lightning says. Rainbow becomes slightly disappointed.

The train came to a stop as it pulled into the station. Lightning steps out and smells the cool crisp air, telling him that Heart's Warming Eve is coming up. 'I should get Rainbow a gift but what?' Lightning thinks as Scootaloo rode on his back. He turns to Scootaloo to ask her. "What does Rainbow appreciates the most in her life?"

"Besides Apple Cider, Zap Apple Jam, and the Wonderbolts, I have no idea." Scootaloo says.

They both shut up as Rainbow comes out with the rest of the gang.

"So Rainbow what are you gonna do with Lightning for Hearts Warming Eve?" Rarity asks.

Rainbow blushes at the sound of it. "What do you mean?" She asks nervously.

"Rainbow we all know you like him and Spitfire told us she gave your relationship a nudge." Rarity says.

Rainbow huffs. "Yeah...a nudge." She said bitterly.

Pinkie looks like she was contemplating it. "What kind of nudge I wonder." Pinkie...wondered. Pinkie turns to you. "Do you know?"

The others look at her confusion. "What are you doing Pinkie? There is nopony there."

Pinkie turns back to the others. "I'm just asking the readers, since they saw the whole thing." They turn to where Pinkie is looking and see nothing, but the snow covered town.

Lightning inches up to Rainbow and whispers. "Is this normal?"

Rainbow leans to him. "Almost every second of every day of her life."

"Let’s move away very slowly." Lightning whispers as they started sneaking away.

Pinkie kept staring at the town as the others left quietly.

"So Rainbow do you want to go on a date at the Hearts Warming Eve party the town is holding or should we have our own private party?" Lightning asks.

"When did this happen?" Scootaloo asks from Lightning's back. Lightning freezes as he forgot the filly on his back. Rainbow stared wide eyed at Scootaloo. Scootaloo becomes impatient. "What date?"

"W-w-well...you see...I kinda asked Rainbow out on a date after the play." Lightning asked embarrassed.

Scootaloo just stares. "You are going to kiss her, right?"

"K...k...k...k...kiss?!" Lightning stutters uncontrollably.

Rainbow suddenly grabs Scootaloo and places her on the ground. "Wellyoumustbetiredaftertheplay, soyoubestgohomebye!" She said rather quickly.

Rainbow then grabs and drags Lightning through the sky away from Scootaloo. Scootaloo just smirked. "They so have it bad for one another." Scootaloo says with a smirk.

As the two flyers went through the air, Pinkie still stared into thin air. "Come on readers, answer. What kind of nudge?"

"What's that?" Pinkie says. "Oh, ok author." Pinkie says before bouncing away.

Lightning and Rainbow flew through the air as fast as they could to get away from the frustrating and embarrassing questions. Rainbow flew the still flabbergasted Lightning to her home.

Lightning turns to Rainbow. "I'm sure she was just joking."

"Maybe but if you're my stallionfriend we might do it eventually." Rainbow says and Lightning's face burned red.

"Rainboooooooooooow." Lightning whined.

"I can't help it you set yourself up for it." Rainbow retorted.

Lightning groans. "I give up." He sighs. "So what shall we do now?" Lightning says trying to change the subject.

Rainbow stops in midair. "I don't know. How about a flight?"

"But if we do then everypony will bombard us with questions because, knowing Pinkie, she'll tell everypony she meets." Lightning informed.

Rainbow nods. "Yeah. That’s her almost every day."

"So Rainbow what would you like for Hearts Warming Eve?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow's wings locks up as her mind does too and she fell. Lightning rushes downward and catches her as she was about to fall onto the ground. Lightning sighs and sees that she's knocked out and decides to go home. Lightning propped her on the couch and left to pick up his pets from Lyra. Landing in front Lyra's and Bonbon's home he starts to hear animalistic sounds coming from inside and so he knocks on the door.

"Hang on!" A female voice comes from inside followed by more animal sounds. "Get down now. I have to get the door." Lightning just stood there listening when Lyra opened the door. "Hey there." A dog jumped behind her as she just acted as if they weren't there. "Come to pick them up?"

"Yeah, I'm here to pick up Ice Fang and Azure." Lightning says.

Lyra nods and turns to the animals inside. "Ice Fang, Azure, Lightning is here!"

A sudden blur crashes into Lightning, sending him off typing screen. "I guess I'll be going." He said off screen.

"Ok, see you around Lightning." Lyra yells.

Spike pops his head out the door next to her, with a helmet on and Tank flying into him. "Hope he can handle them better."

Later Lightning is looking through a furniture store at a drink dispenser used for a bar. Azure was on his shoulder while Ice Fang sitting by his leg. Taking the box of the drink dispenser he brings it to the counter. "How much buddy?" He hears nothing as he reaches into his bags and gets the bits and sees the cashier looking at Ice Fang and Azure. "Yes they are foreign pets." Lightning tells him.

The cashier shakes his head and looks at him again. "Sorry sir, we don't get much animals like that, but this is the town of weird and crazy."

"So how much?" Lightning asks.

The cashier takes a look at what he has. "Hundred and fifty bits." Is the simply answer.

After paying for it Lightning heads straight home to conceal the gift. He then flies around looking for Pinkie knowing he is gonna need help to surprise Rainbow.

"Hi Lightning!" Pinkie Pie says appearing behind him.

Lightning jumps being surprised by Pinkie again. "Pinkie I need a favor." Lightning says after calming his heart.

Pinkie smiled widely. "What favor?"

"I need you and the rest of your friends to keep Rainbow Dash busy while I set up a little surprise. But don't tell Twilight the real reason cause we both know she can't keep a secret." Lightning says.

Pinkie giggles and snorts at the accusation. "Yeah, I know how that feels." She then frowns and shakes her head side to side. "She failed to keep Spike's secret."

"Yeah, but I need to talk Applejack before you get her, ok?" Lightning says.

Pinkie nods once. "Okie dokie lokie." She then zoom off, leaving a dust cloud of herself.

"One day I will figure out how Pinkie Pie does this." Lightning says before flying towards Apple Family farm. Yeah, good luck with that buddy. We tried for ages till we gave up. "Shut up, you shouldn't be talking to me like that." Sorry.

Landing in the Apple Farm he sees the Apple family bucking trees, except for Granny Smith on her rocking chair, rocking back and forth...doing...nothing.

Lightning walks towards Applejack. "Hey Applejack." Lightning announced.

Applejack pauses in her apple bucking. "Hiya Lightning. You need something?"

"Yeah two things, but right now I need to buy a few barrels of Apple Cider." Lightning says.

Applejack wipes her forehead and waves a forehoof to the direction of the barn. "Come this way. Ya can pay later."

"I have the bits now actually." Lightning says.

Applejack smiles. "That’s mighty fine, but we have the check the barrels individually to see how much, because we mark it by type and amount of time since it was placed in there. It keeps it fair." She informed.

"Ok." Lightning agrees.

After walking a bit they end up at the cellar door near the barn. "Watch yourself, these stairs are a bit old in themselves." Applejack warns.

"Gotcha." Lightning says before descending the stairs.

The old wooden stairs creaks as the two ponies descend the stairs. Reaching the bottom they come across barrels lining the walls and a table in the center. There was about twenty barrels in all much to Lightning’s surprise.

"Dang. This is a lot." Lightning exclaims.

Applejack laughs a little. "The good ones are in the back." She said as she points to the dark back wall.

Lightning waits as Apple Jack goes through the process of determining the best barrels of Apple Cider and brings them forward. Applejack heaves a small barrel of cider from the back end of the room onto her back. "This is the best one we got in a small 'party size' as Applebloom likes to call it." She lays the barrel near the table. "Only fifty bits for this thing or do you want the large version for a hundred?"

"I'll just take three small ones." Lightning says.

"Sure thing." She starts for two more. "Just one question, why are you buying these?" She asks, trying to start a conversation.

"Well you see it's for a present for Rainbow Dash." Lightning says.

Applejack smiled sweetly. "Ah, I see. Don't ya worry, I'll keep my mouth shut." She exemplifies this by zipping her hoof across her mouth.

"I got to say, her knowing my feelings for her really is a weight off my chest." Lightning says.

Applejack hauls the last barrel near the table. "As it should be." She then drops the barrel near the others and leans into him menacingly. "If anything happens to her that hurts her in anyway, so help me..." She threatened as she pushes a hoof on his chest.

"Don't worry I have no plans of doing that. You know it's quite nice here in Ponyville. It's so peaceful and relaxing I think I could spend the rest of my life here. Don't get me wrong I love Stalliongrad but the place has always pushed you to the limit." Lightning says.

Applejack turns back to her normal facial expression. "Good." She holds out her hoof. "Bits please."

Lightning left a small bag of bits as he and Applejack carried the barrels up to the surface. Applejack sets the last barrel down and goes back down for the bag. Coming out she looks into the bag to find a large amount then needed. "The price is one hundred fifty bits, not this much!" She went back up the stairs only to find Lightning had already flown away with the barrels and Applebloom waiting for her.

"We sold party size didn't we?" She asks.

"Yeah, but he overpaid." Applejack says.

"Huh, maybe that’s why Lightning said buy ourselves something nice this year." Apple Bloom says thinking about what Lightning told her. Applejack was speechless at this.

Pinkie Pie then showed up with a few of her other friends.

"Hi Applejack!" Pinkie yells at her, making her snap out of it.

"Oh, howdy Pinkie, Rarity, Twilight?" Applejack sounding confused half way through.

Rarity and Twilight shakes their head. "We're confused ourselves." Twilight said.

"Well I thought we could all have a bit of fun together. Fluttershy is already getting Rainbow." Pinkie told them.

Now they are all confused. "What is this whole thing about Pinkie?" Rarity asks.

"I wanted us to have some fun maybe plan a party as well." Pinkie says.

"That doesn't sound half bad." Applejack says.

Twilight and Rarity nods as well. "Okay then." 'Typical Pinkie.' They both think.

Fluttershy and Rainbow soon arrived and soon all six traveled into Ponyville for some fun.

A few hours later

Rainbow arrives back home the sun already setting. She humms as she looks around. "I wonder where Lightning is." She asks herself. She walks in and finds the lights off. "That’s weird I remember leaving the lights on." Rainbow says to herself.

Rainbow flips the light switch near the door and finds, to her surprise, Ice Fang was right in front of her. Rainbow looks confused. "Hey Ice Fang. Do you know where Lightning is?" Ice fang points to the kitchen with his nose. Rainbow smiles and ruffles his head. "Thanks boy." Rainbow looking inside sees Lightning with a few tools finishing installing a drink dispenser.

"Hey Lightning." Rainbow calls out causing Lightning to shoot straight up hitting his head.

Lightning turns around holding his head looking sheepish. "Ah, ha, ha, Rainbow I didn't think you would be back yet." Lightning said rather nervously.

Rainbow smirks. "Maybe you shouldn't have Ice Fang be the guard dog."

Ice Fang's sneezes loudly, freezing a few clouds in front of him. He blinks and tries to get rid of the ice frantically.

"Yeah." Lightning laughs nervously.

Rainbow looks to the new item he brought. "What is this thing?"

"A drink dispenser." Lightning says.

Question marks appear in Rainbow's mind. "What...?"

"A drink dispenser. I knew you loved apple Cider so I kinda bought you a drink dispenser so you can have Apple Cider whenever you want." Lightning says as Rainbow faints when he finished. "Rainbow if you wake up you get to have Apple Cider." Lightning says eliciting no response from the cyan pegasus. Lightning sighs as he lifts her up and take her to her bed and covers her up while he went back to the living room.

Lightning shuts off the drinking lines and packs up everything. After all the tools are packed he sat on the couch and let his pet join him. Ice Fang jumps onto his lap as Azure glides over to his side. "Guess we can't have a date or anything, right guys?" They both look at him with sympathy.

Lightning soon fell asleep after almost an hour of petting his pets and thinking. In the morning Rainbow walks into the living room to find Lightning asleep on the couch. Ice Fang and Azure's head shot up at the sound of somepony coming in. They turn their heads behind them to see Rainbow coming down the stairs. She spots Lightning asleep on the couch and walk over to him.

Lightly touching him she pushes him slightly. "Hey Lightning, wake up." She said softly.

Lightning begins to stir and slowly opens his eyes. Rubbing them he slowly sat up. "Rainbow?" Lightning asks

Rainbow smile and puts her hoof on his shoulder and helps him up. "So what happened?" Lightning asked groggily.

She laughs softly as it was still early in the morning. "You were asleep, that's what happened."

"Oh buck, I didn't mean to fall asleep." Lightning says.

She waved a hoof in offhoofedly. "It's no biggie. What were you going to show me before all this?"

"The drink dispenser that I filled with Apple Cider from Sweet Apple Acres." Lightning says.

Rainbow starts to whirl around ready for a faint, but not before Lightning catches her in mid fall. "Come on Rainbow not again." Lightning said warningly.

She chuckles a bit. "Sorry. Let's go enjoy some. I've always wanted Apple Cider whenever I wanted." She commented.

"I thought so that's why I got it for you as a present for Heart's Warming Eve." Lightning says as they walked into the kitchen.

Rainbow hugs him suddenly and runs over to the dispenser with a mug in hoof. "Where's the on button?"

"Just put the mug under the dispenser." Lightning says and Rainbow does it that makes the mug filled with fresh Apple Cider.

"Whoo hoo!" Rainbow then chugs the whole mug down and refills for another.

"Rainbow the amount is limited." Lightning informs.

Rainbow looks sad at that point, but perks up that she has some Cider and so she finishes the almost filled mug. She then looks to her savior from cider heaven. "Thanks Lightning."

"No problem at all." Lightning says.

"Oh by the way Pinkie and the rest of us are gonna have a Hearts Warming Eve party." Rainbow says.

Lightning raises an eyebrow. "Really, I guess I should expect that from the party pony."

"Yeah so...um...want to be my date?" Rainbow asks nervously.

Lightning slides a mug of Apple Cider to her like a bartender. "Sure."

"Great it's a date then." Rainbow says taking the mug and chugging it down.

Lightning smiles. "Great, let's go get ready."

"Let me just do a few flybys and I'll be ready."

He nods. "Okay, make sure that you're there before it starts."

"What do you mean you're walking in the door with me?" Rainbow says.

He chuckles deeply. "Yet, I'll be waiting by the door for you. I only have little stuff to do."

"Like inviting your sister?" Rainbow asks with smirk.

He just smiles curtly. "Something like that, just don't go fan mare on them."

"I make no promises, but I will try." Rainbow says.

"Then you better get going and finish your jobs around Ponyville. Party will start soon." Lightning says.

"You kidding I'll clear the sky in no time." Rainbow says.

Lightning turns around. "Yeah, yeah. I bet I can finish my end before you."

"You’re on." Rainbow says taking up the challenge.

She then flies off, leaving Lightning behind in the kitchen. He just stands there when the doorbell sounded. "And there's my only job." Lightning says opening the door.

"Hey Spitfire." Lightning says.

"Hey bro." Spitfire says.

"You know we got the party down in Ponyville, so can you bring the others and yourself. Rainbow would love it." Lightning says.

"Yeah I can do that. So have you gotten into her bed yet?" Spitfire teased.

"SPITFIRE, I don't do that!" Lightning yells.

Spitfire laughs loudly as she teased him like old times. "I still remember that you would try to get every mare that came to you when you were a Wonderbolt. That was trouble, but fun for us."

"I was a stupid foal back then, now I'm a wiser stallion." Lightning retorted.

Spitfire nods teasingly. "Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that. Those urges will come back."

"That won't come back sister. Stalliongrad changed me." Lightning says.

She sighs as she hears this. "I know, I just wish that things can go back to the way they were. We were a pretty good family then."

"Maybe. But time waits for no pony." Lightning says his hoof caressing her face. "By the way when are you gonna get married?" Lightning teased Spitfire.

She blushes hard. "Private and its best you stay out of it." Spitfire rebutted.

"Oh look whose blushing now big sister." Lightning teased.

Spitfire lashes at his outstretched hoof. "Don't turn the tables on me!" She yelled. Lightning laughs. "Come on, let's get going." Spitfire says.

"Ok sister." Lightning says as they went out.

Spitfire and Lightning flies around for a bit. Much to Spitfire's surprise Lightning kept up with her quite well even when she was going fast.

"How did you get so fast?" Spitfire asks.

"I've been away for almost two decades sister you think I would always stay the same speed?" Lightning asks.

"I guess not." Looking ahead of them, she can see the landing spot.

They fly through a few clouds until they come to a cliff or as they know it the Wonderbolts' real base, not the garrison in Canterlot or even Cloudsdale everypony thinks is their base.

Lightning looks outside again and reminisces on the old days. "Feels like the old days." I just said that.

"Yeah it does I think you're the only non wonderbolt besides the princesses that know the true base of the Wonderbolt." Spitfire says.

Lightning shoves a hoof in her direction. "Hey, ex-Wonderbolt, ex-." He reminded.

"Still not a Wonderbolt though." Spitfire teased.

Now Lightning smirks. "Yet, I know the way around and some codes and that."

"Yeah that’s why you're allowed here, now could you hang out in my office while I get a few of the members together." Spitfire says as she opened the door for Lightning.

He nods and walks in. "I hope you still have that ball that you use to bounce on your nose from back then."

"Stress relief." Spitfire corrected.

Lightning chuckles. "I call it play time."

Spitfire slams the door behind her.

Lightning still chuckles. "Still the same sis I know and love."

Spitfire shakes her head with a smile at that and walks down the halls to the barracks. Walking in the locker room, she finds the others packing up their suits from today's training. Spitfire whistles getting their attention. They all snap to attention and stand in front of her in a straight line. "Sir!" They yelled at the same time.

"At ease guys, we are going to a party tonight and no, not one of those Canterlot parties." Spitfire says.
They all suddenly cheer out.

"Finally I can let loose!" Soarin cheers.

"I can drink to my heart's content!" Fleetfoot yells.

"And I don't have to shake hooves every single second!" Rapidfire finished.

"So casual wear everypony. Well that’s all, if anypony needs me I'll be with my little brother." Spitfire says, turning to leave.

"Oh, Lightning is here?" Fleetfoot asks almost excitedly.

Spitfire nods at her. "Yeah, he's here, just don't try to make him come back."

"I wasn't thinking that. I was at the play and saw how he changed. I want to see if he has a marefriend yet." Fleetfoot says with a smirk.

Spitfire looks up in thought. "I think that he's about to make it official or have already got her." Spitfire says out loud.

"Then maybe I can still get him." Fleetfoot says with that same sly smirk.

Spitfire shakes her head. "Doubt it. He may already have her."

"Fleetfoot please we're together." Rapidfire says with a facehoof.

Fleetfoot giggles from embarrassment. "Oops, my bad. Sometimes I just forget."

Rapidfire sighs as most of the Wonderbolts sweat drop on the back of their heads.

"Let's just get ready. We're going to have a lot of fun tonight." Spitfire told them.

With that said Spitfire leaves and goes back to her office. There she finds Lightning sitting in her seat behind the desk, bouncing a ball on his nose. "Hey sis." Lightning said not breaking his concentration.

"Hey Commander I..." Spitfire's assistant stops, seeing Lightning sitting at the desk. "Pardon me, I must have the wrong room." The assistant says.

"Over here." Spitfire calls out.

"Oh commander." He looks to Lightning then back at her. "When did somepony take your position?" The assistant asks.

Laughter suddenly erupts from room as Lightning doubles over. "Just about now." He said busting a gut.

"That, my assistant, is my little brother." Spitfire says.

"Now that you mention it I remember reading a report about you meeting your brother again. Oh that reminds me commander you need to sign these fifty reports." The assistant says dropping the paper onto the desk with a crash, few pieces of paper flying and floating off the top.

Lightning looks at the stack and whistles. "Dang sis, you do this every hour?"

"Not anymore I hereby transfer commandership of the Wonderbolts to you." Spitfire says.

"Oh no you don't, I have to be a member of the Wonderbolts first and I'm not a member anymore." Lightning countered.

"Then I hereby welcome you back into the Wonderbolts." Spitfire retorted.

"Oh no you don't, I have to accept being back in the Wonderbolts and I declined." Lightning retorted.

"You know what,” Spitfire takes the stack and gives it back to the assistant. "You deal with it. Finish early and you can go the party. Come on, little bro." Lightning jumps down after placing the ball back into a drawer and walks out the door with Spitfire following.

The assistant just blinks from the recent conversation. "What just happened?" He said to nopony in particular.

Both siblings hoof bump with a smirk on their faces. "We still got it." Lightning says.

"Yeah we do. Now let's get out of here before he figures it out." She said.

"Hey wait a minute!" The assistant yells and Lightning and Spitfire start running and later flying away.

They both laugh as they caught up with the other Wonderbolts on their flight path. "That was awesome! Just the look on his face was priceless!" Lightning laughs out.

"Ah, Lightning, good have you back." Soarin says.

"What?" Lightning turns to him confused. "I'm not back on the team if that's what you're saying. I'm just here like a visit." He corrected.

"I meant just having you back." Soarin says.

"Ah." Lightning says.

"So you are going to the party?" Fire Streak asks.

Lightning nods. "Yep, and this will be fun. I heard that Pinkie will get some alcoholic drinks for big ponies and there may be a pie as well." Lightning says with a smirk before outstretching his wing which acted like air brakes and every Wonderbolt, but Soarin eyes widen.

"RACE YOU THERE!" Soarin yells as he speeds off.

Everypony but Lightning was spinning from it. Lightning then speeds up again and tries to catch up to him, leaving the others behind with dizziness. Lightning is waiting at the door as the rest of the Wonderbolts arrived. Spitfire looks around and doesn't see Soarin. Then looks to Lightning. "Where is he?"

"Inside." Lightning said simply.

"This pie is delicious!" They heard Soarin yell from inside.

Everypony shake their heads at his behavior. "Typical Soarin. Doesn't he ever calm down?" Fleetfoot asks.

Everypony looks at her with an eyebrow raised. "Seriously?" Everypony said. "This is Soarin."

"He he." Fleetfoot chuckles embarrassed

Rapidfire sighs and facehoof. "What am I going to do with you Fleetfoot?"

"Love me?" Fleetfoot says sweetly, quoting the play.

Rapidfire sighs and waves her over. "Let's just go in."

Lightning watches as they all go inside. "You guys go on ahead. I'm waiting for somepony." Lightning says.

"Ok." Spitfire says as they enter leaving Lightning alone.

Lightning waits by the door as everypony inside enjoys the start of it. Soon a cyan pegasus comes flying in, heading for him. She stop in front of him. "Hey Rainbow." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks at the party behind him. "Looks like you beat me. Fair is fair."

"Shall we Rainbow?" Lightning asks.

"Yeah." They both go inside to find the party in full swing. DJ Pon-3 was the DJ and was being helped by a pegasus as most of the party guests are on the dance floor and Soarin was eating a pie.

Lightning narrows his eyes at the stallion helping Vinyl. He then turns to Rainbow. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't really care right now." Rainbow says catching Lightning narrowing his eyes at the stallion helping Vinyl Scratch.

"Why are you looking at him like that?" Rainbow asks him.

"I know him from somewhere." Lightning said out loud and thinking.

"You know where?" Rainbow asks.

"How did you know that’s what I'm thinking about?” Lightning asks.

Rainbow shrugs. "It's what most ponies think when they narrow their eyes like that at somepony. I have seen it in Daring Do books too."

"Ah that's it. He's a former member of the Stalliongrad hunters, a level three." Lightning said as the memory came back.

Rainbow takes a closer look at the stallion. "I don't know what to look for. For now let's just enjoy the party and you can speak to him later." Rainbow says.

"Yeah, you’re right Rainbow, let’s just have fun." Lightning agreeing with her.

They both step out onto the dance floor for some crazy dancing, as the dancing song everypony wants is on its way. They dance for a while until both Lightning and Rainbow walk to the table to get some refreshments.

Grabbing a cup of punch they are surprised by Pinkie's head popping of the bowl. "Hey guys! Enjoying the party?"

They set the punch back down and look at her. "Pinkie why are you in the punch?" Lightning asks.

Pinkie holds out another cup of punch that came from inside. "To give punch."

"But you're in the punch itself." Lightning says.

Pinkie still has the goofy smile on her face. "Exactly."

Rainbow leans over to Lightning. "Just roll with it." She whispered.

"I think we shouldn't drink the punch." Lightning whispers back taking the punch.

Rainbow nods and places hers back with him. Pinkie stayed still as they back away slowly. She looked confused but shrugged it off and started dancing in the punch bowl. Lightning looks to Rainbow after they got far enough away and dumps their cups into plants that are nearby, thereby making them wilt instantly. "That is the weirdest pony I have met and I have met a lot." Lightning says before adopting a thoughtful look and looking at his cup. “This reminds me of the parties the Stalliongrad hunters used to throw, with heavy drinks that can kill a plant in an instant." Lightning says soberly.

Rainbow smirks. "Nopony can throw a party like Pinkie so I doubt that there is any party in the world like that."

"Oh you have never been to a hunter's party. Pinkie's good but they've had 200 years of practice and there aren't just ponies but griffins as well." Lightning says.

Rainbow huffs. "You obviously don't know Pinkie that well." She then takes out a bag of bits from nowhere. "Hundred bits."

"Ok you're on. I'll get a few hunters to come here one day and we'll show you how we party." Lightning says.

Rainbow places the bits back somewhere. "Then I'll need Pinkie for a bit." As if on cue, Pinkie pops up right beside her.

"You called Dashie?" Pinkie asks.

Rainbow nods. "You need to throw a party that will beat Lightning's hunters’ parties. Think you can do it?"

Pinkie looks thoughtful. "Any rules?"

Rainbow looks to Lightning. "No extensive property damages that isn't in the party area." Lightning lays out.

Pinkie zooms off to her room to plan the party, but not before yelling out. "No problem!"

Rainbow smirks as the pegasus from earlier walk towards to the refreshments. She nudges Lightning, grabbing his attention and nudging him over. "Now's your chance."

"I wouldn't recommend the punch friend." Lightning says getting pegasus' attention.

The stallion raises a knowing eyebrow. "Why is that?" The stallion places the cup down and looks to his old friend.

“Cause a pink pony was literally in it earlier.” Lightning says causing the pegasus to scoot away from the punch.

“Как ты мой друг?" The pegasus asks. (How are you my friend?)

"Не плохо, как насчет вас, я вижу, вы в дружеских отношениях с ди-джеем?” The Lightning answers. (Not bad, how about you, I see you're friendly with the DJ?)

The stallion looks over to Vinyl. "Да, я искал работу, и в итоге оказался содействии DJ Pon3, самый большой DJ вокруг." He said wistfully. (Yeah, I was looking for a job and ended up as the assistance of DJ PON3, the biggest DJ around.)

"Своего рода шаг вниз от всех опасностей охоту." Lightning Bolt saying noticing the confused looks on the other ponies faces from them speaking a different language. (Kinda a step down from all the danger of hunting.)

The stallion looks around too. "Позволяет получить за кулисами, мы привлекая внимания." (Let’s get backstage, we're attracting attention.)

"Na kakoy stadii?" Lightning asks seeing only a room. (What stage?)

The stallion scoffs. "Как вы думаете, виниловые играет?" He asks rhetorically. (Where do you think Vinyl is playing?)

"Vot zdes'." Lightning says pointing with his hoof. The stallion raises an eyebrow. (Right there.)

"What?" Lightning asks.

"Backstage..." The stallion draws out.

Lightning then follows the pegasus with a confused look. They end up behind the curtains close to Vinyl's DJ station. Thankfully she can't hear anything they might say.

"Вы уверены, что она не слышит нас?" Lightning asks. (You sure she can't hear us?)

The stallion looks to Vinyl. "Она носит наушники на голову, чтобы получить музыку прямо и подпрыгивая голову сейчас. Что вы думаете?" (She wears headphones on her head to get the music right and is bobbing her head now. What do you think?)

"Хорошо, дайте мне ваш отчет." Lightning says his attitude changed to serious. (Ok, give me your report.)

"Да, я разыскал его к благородному имени Лорд курганы. Он очень богат, жир, и жадные жеребца. Я также узнал, что он был обмен письмами с дворянами власть империи. Он не лучший в заметает следы, но недавно кто-то был помогать ему в этом." The stallion says. (Yes, I tracked it to a noble named Lord Barrows. He is a very rich, fat, and greedy stallion. I also found out he has been exchanging letters with the dominion empire's nobles. He is not the best at covering his tracks but recently someone has been helping him with that.)

"Что-нибудь еще?" Lightning asks looking thoughtful. (Anything else?)

"Я получил взгляд на его последнем письме он упоминает других существ. Но не было конкретным." The pegasus says. (I got a look at his recent letter it mentions other creatures. But was not specific.)

Lightning nods. "Достаточно хорошо. У вас действительно есть письмо не так ли?" (Good enough. You do have the letter right?)

"К сожалению, нет, но я сделал его копию." The pegasus says. (Unfortunately no, but I made a copy of it.)

Lightning smiles. "Я бы подумал, что вы перешли бы его любовное письмо и взят реальный. Это хороший трюк." He smiles back on the memories. (I would have thought that you would have switched it with a love letter and taken the real one. That's a good trick.)

"Я бы попробовал, но у меня была причина бежать из охранников приближается и если бы я убил его у них есть мой получили подозрительные и как вы знаете, мы не можем позволить себе, что в этой точке." The pegasus says causing Lightning to nod. (I would have tried but I had to escape cause of the guards coming close and if I had killed him they have my have gotten suspicious and as you know we can't afford that at this point.)

Lightning sighs as he held out his hoof. "Ну, дайте ему." (Well, give it.)

"У меня нет его со мной. Это было слишком опасно, и я оставил его с моим оборудованием в укрытие. Но я открою вам следующее утро сэр." The pegasus says. (I don't have it with me. It was too dangerous so I left it with my equipment in a hiding spot. But I'll get it to you by the next morning sir.)

Lightning places his hoof down slowly. "В этом есть смысл. Что-нибудь еще?" (Makes sense. Anything else?)

"Я боюсь, что мы, возможно, придется ссориться с Пустоты Ворота убийц прежде, чем мы закончим." The pegasus informed. (I fear we may have to tangle with The Nether Gate assassins before we're done.)

Lightning facial features grow sharp and scans the crowd for anything. "Где и когда?" (Where and when?)

"Я не воевал любое еще, но я заметил Дольф говорил с Господом курганы." The stallion says. (I haven't fought any yet, but I spotted Dolph talking to Lord Barrows.)

Lightning eyes widen and turns back to him. "Нам нужно, чтобы получить их как можно быстрее." Lightning says seriously. (We need to get them as fast as possible.)

"Я согласен сэр, но позволяет останавливаться на дату и сестры выглядят, как они беспокоились." The pegasus said with a smirk. (I agree sir, but let’s stop here, your date and sister look like they're getting impatient.)

"Согласованные Николай." Lightning says his face changing to a less serious one. (Agreed Nikolai.)

They both walk back and find Rainbow and Spitfire getting impatient and looking around. They spot the stallions walking towards them. "And then she says ‘Pinkie could throw a better party than the Stalliongrad hunters.’" Lightning said as a way of covering up their information.

Nikolai chuckles. "Yeah right." They both shared a good laugh.

Then Rainbow narrows her eyes. "Oh she so can." She says getting the two stallions attention.

Lightning smirks. "The bet is still on, wait for it."

"Oh this I want to see." Nikolai says with a smirk.

Spitfire walks up to the stallions. "So you're a friend of my little brother, huh?" She asks.

Nikolai nods. "Yes, a pleasure to meet the sister of Lightning."

She stares at him for several seconds. "A pleasure indeed." Spitfire says turning back to her little brother.
"Who is he?" She said dryly.

"A former member of the Stalliongrad hunters like myself." Lightning says.

"Uh...uh." She turns back to Nikolai. "You've been watching him right?"

"No, this is the first time I've seen him in this country." Nikolai lies very believably.

Spitfire turns back to Lightning. "I'm convinced."

"So you two having a good time?" Lightning asks.

They both nod their heads as they look around. "Yeah, this is a pretty good party." Spitfire said.

"Meet a stallion yet? If not Nikolai is on the market." Lightning teased.

Spitfire cheeks became red as her mane, while Nikolai had a little blush. "Shut up." Spitfire growls to her brother.

Lightning chuckles followed by Rainbow. "Now who's teasing sis?" Lightning taunted.

Spitfire grumbles and turns away. Lightning and Rainbow start to calm down as a slow song start to play and the lights dim down. They both look at each other as the couples start to head to the dance floor.

Lightning offered a hoof to Rainbow and lead her to the dance floor. Twilight and the rest of the Mane Six saw this and move towards Spitfire and Nikolai.

"She's got it bad for him." Twilight says.

"Are they together now?" Rarity asks.

"I think that’s a safe bet." Spitfire says with a sincere smile.

Lightning and Rainbow both move in sync as they dance to the music. Both looking at each other, not noticing the world around them.

"Yep, definitely in love." Applejack says.

Soon the song ended and Lightning and Rainbow walked back to their friends. Lightning address the group. "So you guys..." He stops as Vinyl starts up a club mix. "I love this song." He then runs off and starts to dance to the beat of the music.

Rainbow's smirk shoots after him. "Lightning always did love music." Spitfire says.

Everypony else starts to head for some back alley club style dancing while Nikolai heads back to Vinyl to help some more. Everypony is dancing like crazy, even Pinkie who is hopping all over the place. Then the doors swung open, making everypony stop in their dance move to see the princesses in the doorway, even Pinkie who is stuck in midair, staying still, not even falling, and the record scratch is heard over the speakers, stopping the music.

"Awkward." Lightning says.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaims happily.

Everypony immediately bows down as Pinkie bows down in midair. Lightning and Nikolai don't bow and just looks curiously. Nikolai walks over and pokes Pinkie with his hoof causing her to start spinning in midair.

Rainbow hits Lightning on his side without even looking up. "Bow down idiot. That's the princess." She whispers harshly.

Celestia snickers seeing Pinkie spinning in midair. "She's technically not my princess." Lightning says.

"It's alright Rainbow Dash." Celestia said to Rainbow, trying to contain her laughter. "You can all rise. I don't think Pinkie wants to vomit all over the place."

Pinkie still spun in place. "I'm getting dizzy." Her spinning voice said.

Nikolai grabs Pinkie making her stop and fall to the ground. Pinkie looks over to him. "Thanks you mister."

"No problem." Nikolai says walking back to Vinyl to help her.

"So what do we owe the honor of your visit?" Twilight asks.

"Well I'm here to see two ponies, Spitfire and Lightning Bolt." Celestia says.

They overheard this and walks over. "How can we help you your highness?" Spitfire asks.

"You see a recent exploration has uncovered the long lost city of Pegasopolis. The city in which Commander Hurricane and Tactician Razorwind established after Equestria was founded and in it is the tomb of both those great pegasus. As such it only seems right that you two be included in exploring the tomb seeing as they were both of your direct ancestors." Celestia says.

"Hold on a second!" Pinkie yells out. She takes a glass of water and drinks before doing a spit take, making a few ponies in front of her grumble.

Rainbow eyes widen and her jaw drops. Lightning and Spitfire facehoof. "Princess you know that has been a family secret ever since we decided to stay out of the Equestrian politics." Lightning says.

Celestia's eyes widen. "Oops, my bad. We probably should have talked in private." She said sheepishly.

"Yeah that would have been nice." Lightning says.

"But anyways I want you two to go help explore the tomb seeing as it is your right and you also your family still owns the rights to all of Pegasopolis." Celestia says.

Lightning feels a hoof on his side and looks over to Rainbow. "So...you're..." She tries to said, but is bewildered.

"Yes the direct descendant of Commander Hurricane and Tactician Razorwind." Lightning says.

Everypony faints at that moment, except for the princesses, Lightning, Spitfire, and Nikolai.

Lightning sighs. "This is one of the reasons I hate letting others know Princess." Lightning says annoyed and Spitfire just nods and Celestia just blushes from containing her laughter.

Author's Notes:

I have nothing to say, but maybe Flair has something, Flair?

Flair:

Primus: Guess not.

And there's another. Now Flair, do you still have anything to say?

Flair: Lord Barrows and Dolph of Nether Gate are from a video game can anyone tell which game it is? Please submit your answers in the reviews.

And remember,

Read and Review.