"What do you mean, challenge me?" Midnight asked, glaring at this stranger as he tried to sense his energy and size him up. To his surprise, he felt nothing from this odd pegasus. Nothing at all, almost as though he didn't even exist!

How is that possible?!

"I was sent here to test your worth, Midnight Blaze," Nova answered with an arrogant smirk that rubbed Rainbow Dash the wrong way.

"Hey, who do ya think you are, bub?" Rainbow flared her wings while the others exchanged looks of confusion, including Midnight.

"Dashie, calm down," Soarin stood by his mare while giving Nova a stern look, "Why do you wanna challenge Midnight at all? I mean, he's an alicorn and you're a pegasus."

"I concur with my friend," Blueblood interjected, "I mean, a pegasus challenging an alicorn? No offense to you, gentlecolt, but it doesn't seem like good idea."

"My reasons are between myself and Midnight, which is exactly as it should be if you guys are smart enough not to interfere," Nova all but threatened. Otherwise, somepony... could get hurt!"

"Oh yeah? Well what makes you think you even stand a chance against Midnight?!" Thunderlane snapped, not liking Nova's thinly-veiled threat.

Nova chuckled condescendingly at Thunderlane's boldness though he acknowledged to himself that trouble was starting to brew unless he could get Midnight to answer his challenge of one-one-one combat.

"Look, my business is with Midnight alone, so unless you're all looking for a trip to the emergency room, I'd take a hike right now!!"

Midnight definitely sensed something this time from Nova, a warning of retaliation.  Alas, his friends did not take Nova's threat seriously, as Rainbow challenged, "Why don'cha make us, creep?!"

"I've had enough of his attitude, let's get this punk, Dash!" Thunderlane made the first move, backed up by Rainbow ash, as both weather co-captains charged Nova, ignoring Midnight's warning, "NO!!!"

Too late, as Nova vanished in a flicker of movement, reappaearing behind Thunderlane a split-second later, to Midight's shock, He didn't teleport! That's- That's moving quicker than the eye can follow!

Thunderlane was stunned too, which was followed by an explosion of pain to the side of his head, as Nova back-hooved him, sending the dark gray pegasus flying into a tree.

"Thunder!" Rainbow yelled in concern but this only allowed Nova time enough to whirl about and do the same to Rainbow Dash!

Luckily for her, Soarin managed to intercept her unconscious body and safely catch her in his arms, "Dashie?!"

Midnight was shocked, and had felt it for only a second! Nova's energy had spiked to a level higher than any pegasus he had ever sensed! Hearing the knocked out Rainbow groaning, Soarin sighed in relief but threw a a glare at Nova, "You jerk! Was that really necessary?!"

"Easy, haystack," Big Mac said to him as Soarin came down, holding Rainbow's prone body close while Blueblood stepped forward.

"As a Prince of Equestria, I order you to- Oomph!!" Blueblood was interrupted by the unconscious Thunderlane being thrown onto him whn Midnight stepped forward.

"Guys, take Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane to the hospital, now!" he ordered while keeping his focus on the smirking Nova. "I'll handle this..."

"I gave a fair warning to your friends, but before they skedaddle, I'd like for them to witness this," Nova spoke as he challenged, "Do you accept my challenge? Another fair warning - I don't take 'no' for an answer..."

"I'm ending this nonsense...NOW!!!!" Midnight yelled before he took a deep breath and unleashed a sonic scream!!!!

"Uh-oh...!" was all Nova could say, having foolishly let his guard down. He was unprepared as the sonic vibrations of Midnight's scream sent him hurtling into the Everfree Forest, leaving a trail of destruction as he paved through the many trees and dirt, creating a straight and narrow path into the wild wood.

Midnight panted a little while Big Mac said, "Tha's stickin' it to him, haystack!"

"And stay down!" Soarin shouted towards the wake of destruction.

"Job well done, my friend," Blueblood added but noticed the look on Midnight's face as the alicorn sensed he same energy again.

A rocky burst got their undivided attention and they were stunned to see a pair of red wings flare from the debris as Nova pulled himself out of the mess, quaintly dusting off his coat as though he'd simply tripped. All of them, including Midnight, were stunned to see Nova appeared unharmed!

After confirming he wasn't worse for wear, Nova eyed Midnight with regard, Hmm, well ain't he full of surprises... to think a little push gave me that brief glimpse. But let's see if he can keep up...

Sensing it was coming, Midnight ordered, "All of you, get out of here, now!!"

Hearing the urgency in Midnight's voice, the stallions hurried off, carrying their unconscious pegasus friends with them as quickly as they could.

"TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE!!!" Nova roared as his mane and tail ignited with fiery mana and he took a deep breath... before unleashing a wildfire!!!

Midnight quickly Flashed behind Nova, his tail raised with a blade of solidified shadow, like a scorpion! He'd performed this very same sneak attack many times yet it failed as Nova spun around and caught the strike with his very wings!

"What?!"

Before Midnight saw it coming, he was sent spinning as Nova threw him him skyward and launched himself at him, his hooves ablaze!

Midnight reacted in the nick of time as Nova launched a barrage of fiery punches with his hooves, but Midnight armored his wings with solidified shadow and blocked the hail of hooves, and quickly flared them out, temporarily forcing Nova back!

"My turn!"

Midnight slashed forward like a dervish, his shadowy armored wings extending into blades but Nova easily deflected his attacks with his flaming hooves, sparks flying like liquid fire with each exchange of attacks, and it quickly became apparent that neither combatant was getting anywhere. Finally both fighters jumped away from each other, throwing the other a scowl, trying to size the other up.

After a few tense moments, Nova broke the silence.

"Heh, you're good. Honestly, I wasn't sure you ha the bite to back up your bark but whoa!"

Midnight growled at Nova's smirking and gave a sarcastic, "Yeah, yeah, happy to amuse. But I'm still gonna make you sorry for messing with my friends!"

"They asked for it," Nova waved it off. "Anypony reserves the right to defend himself, especially when somepony else attacks first."

Noticing the rage on Midnight's face, Nova sighed, "Oh would you relax? I barely gave them a slap on the fetlocks, they'll be fine after a rest."

"...I'm not interested in fighting you," Midnight said evenly, Nova's eyes narrowing.

"Well you're gonna have to, Midnight," Nova warned. "Fate has plans for you and I..."

Midnight tensed as Nova flared his wings but he merely took to the air, "You have until dusk to answer my challenge otherwise I'll be back and next time, if your friends act cute again, they'll get off worse than a simple knock-out... HA!!!"

Midnight scrunched his eyes closed as Nova's wings glared a blinding radiance, and when it dimmed Midnight saw that Nova was gone.

He has vanished... Midnight thought when he heard somepony yell, "Midnight!"

He looked to see his Twilight fly to him with worry, "What just happened?! Who was that just now? Why were Big Mac, Soarin, and Blueblood taking Thundy and Rainbow to the hospital?"

"I don't know, Twilight, but whoever this Nova is, he's gonna regret messing with my friends..." Midnight swore. "Twilight, I'm gonna need Spike to send a letter to Celestia."

End of Chapter. Next Chapter: The Meeting Part Two Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 3 Minutes