Storm Shadow awoke in a small clearing. He looked around, and recognized it as the same clearing he had been in only a few days before. He jumped to his feet, and looked around frantically. He tried to fly but his wings wouldn’t obey.

“Calm down Storm Shadow.” said a calm voice from behind him.

He whirled around to see a grey pony with a jet black mane. His storm-grey eyes regarded him thoughtfully.

“Who are you?” Storm Shadow asked, and the pony laughed.

“I’m not surprised that you don’t know. The last time you saw me was when you and your sister were very young foals. I am your father Storm Shadow.” he replied.

“W-w-what!?” he replied, barely able to speak.

“You seem surprised.” he said with a smile. Storm Shadow just sat in the grass too stunned to say anything.

“I suppose I should explain about abandoning you at Canterlot.” the pony continued.

“Our own home was being threatened and you were too young to get involved. I sent your mother to Canterlot, to leave you in the care of the princesses because it was the safest thing for you. In fact I’m not even here. I died during the battle shortly after your mother returned. But my spirit stayed, and I’ve been following you two ever since.” he explained.

“Why are you appearing to me now?” Storm Shadow asked angrily.

“I’m sorry I haven’t appeared before but this is urgent. It is about Arcane Darkness.” he said. Storm Shadow simply waited for him to continue without saying anything.

“Arcane is possibly the worst pony in Equestria’s history. He almost took over Canterlot not long before you were born. I am here because you are one of the ponies who will defeat him.” he said.

“One of them?” Storm Shadow replied.

“Yes, there are three others. One of them you know already while the other two will be found in time.” he said. The dream started to distort and pieces of the ground fell away. “There isn’t much time. You must find your sister. If either of you is captured by Arcane, it could mean the end of Equestria!” he said as he turned to leave.

“DAD!” Storm Shadow yelled, but the pony had already disappeared into the trees.

He woke up and placed his hooves against his forehead, thinking about his dream. Who were the other two ponies his father had mentioned? His father said that they would be found in time. Did that mean they would come to him or would he have to search for them? He pushed these thoughts out of his head and instead focused on getting through the day and getting closer to the Summer Sun Celebration.

He poked his head out the door and looked around. There was no sign of Rainbow Dash so he figured that she was still asleep. He carefully walked down the hall then went outside. The sky was clear except for a few stray clouds that the pegasi had left. He glided off the cloud and touched down near the center of the town. He looked around and noticed that there weren’t very many ponies out and about. He watched a few of them until he looked toward a pony that was looking directly at him. The pony looked normal with his yellow coat and blue mane but the eyes startled him. They were royal blue. The exact same shade as the unicorn he had seen in the castle. But this pony couldn’t be Arcane. It wasn’t even a unicorn, but a pegasus. The pony smiled and waved at him when he saw him looking. He gave a feeble wave in return then walked off.

Twilight woke from her nap, and wandered over to the window. She saw Storm Shadow wave to a pegasus she had never seen before. The pegasus had a yellow coat and blue mane and his cutie mark was a gardening trowel. As Storm Shadow walked away, the pegasus followed him with his eyes. Twilight gasped when she saw them. She had seen that royal blue before. It had been long ago but she was sure those eyes belonged to Arcane Darkness.

“I have to warn Storm Shadow!” she thought to herself as she ran downstairs and out the door. She ran past a lot of ponies before she finally reached Storm Shadow. He was resting on a bench when she reached him.

“What’s wrong Twilight?” he asked.

“That pegasus you waved at. He was Arcane Darkness! I don’t know how. He must have found some sort of transformation spell but I know those eyes anywhere.” she got out between breaths.

“Well is there anything that we can do to stop him?” he said, jumping off the bench as he did so. She waited a moment to get her breath back.

“If I can get the others then we could try using the Elements of Harmony on him.” she said.

“The Elements of Harmony?” he asked.

“We used them to defeat Nightmare Moon.” she explained.

“Ok, sounds like a good idea, I’ll keep an eye on him.” he replied.

He stayed where he was while Twilight left to gather up her friends.

She hadn’t been gone long when he noticed the pegasus from earlier sitting nearby. His royal blue eyes kept glancing over at him when he thought he wasn’t looking.

Twilight quickly gathered up her friends and they put on their necklaces that bore the same symbols as their cutie marks. Twilight quickly put on her tiara then they all followed her to where Storm Shadow was waiting. The instant the six ponies came around the corner, the pegasus who was watching Storm Shadow raised an eyebrow.

“It’s over Arcane. We know it’s you.” Twilight said. The pegasus smiled and clapped his hooves together, his coat and mane darkening while the wings disappeared and a horn appeared on his head. The cutie mark was last and Storm Shadow watched as it slowly morphed into a black wand and fireball.

“Very good Twilight Sparkle. Very good indeed.” he said. She took a step back, surprised that he knew her name.

“How do you know my name..?” she asked uneasily.

“I am kept well informed about everything that goes on in Canterlot. Including Princess Celestia’s students.” he answered with a smile. The smile snapped Twilight out of her stupor and she closed her eyes. Her friends began to float into the air and their necklaces began to glow.

“Going to try the Elements? Be my guest.” Arcane said with an almost bored tone to his voice. Twilight opened her eyes that were now glowing, then the elements shot a rainbow of energy at Arcane. His horn began to glow as the rainbow sped toward him. The rainbow collided with something about 5 feet in front of him and died.

“How..?” Twilight asked as she and her friends came back down to the ground.

“I’ve studied the Elements for YEARS Twilight. I know how to defend myself, or haven’t you noticed that my special talent is combat magic?” he said with a grin on his face. Ponies around them began to scream and flee in terror from Arcane.

“Well if that’s all you’re going to try then I’m afraid your time is done.” he said, still smiling as his horn glowed and a fireball began to form.

“NO! You won’t hurt them!” Storm Shadow yelled defiantly as he jumped in front of his friends.

“Oh so the storm pegasus is FRIENDS with you ponies is he? Pity. I could have used you.” he said. The fireball launched towards them. Storm Shadow stamped his hooves on the ground in defiance. As the fireball grew closer something unexpected happen. The clear sky suddenly turned cloudy and lightning flashed down and crisscrossed in front of Storm Shadow. The fireball collided with it and dispersed. Rainbow Dash flinched back from the dying flames.

“You can control lightning! That’s rare even for a storm pegasus!” Twilight said in awe. Arcane took a step back, looking slightly worried now.

“No matter. Let’s see what you think of this!” he said, regaining his composure. His horn began to glow again, and a pony made of shadows appeared in front of him. The shadow pony launched itself at them, leaving darkness in its wake.

“Here’s what I think of your fancy pony!” Storm Shadow yelled, sending a bolt of lightning after it. The lightning struck the pony and cleaved it in two. As the shadows dispersed, Arcane looked even more worried than before. Storm Shadow prepared to fire a bolt at Arcane, but the unicorn’s horn glowed, and he vanished in a flash of light.

“He’s gone.” Twilight sighed.

“Not for long if you ask me.” Storm Shadow said bitterly.

“I hope he doesn’t come back.” Fluttershy murmured feebly.

“If he does then he’ll have to deal with the fastest flyer in Equestria!” Rainbow Dash replied confidently. Storm Shadow turned and smiled. Even when things weren’t going their way, Rainbow Dash still acted like the toughest pony out there.

Storm Shadow sat on a hill overlooking Ponyville. He looked up at the stars that were beginning to appear in the night sky. Twilight had already sent a letter to Princess Celestia telling her about Arcane Darkness. He hoped that the Princess would be able to do something, because he wasn’t entirely sure if he could defeat Arcane. The words his father had told him returned to mind.

“You are one of the ponies who will defeat him.” he had said. How did he know that? Did you gain an insight to the future as a spirit? He was thinking about it so hard that he didn’t notice Rainbow Dash sit next to him.

“Hey.” she said, breaking him out of his stupor.

“Oh hey Dash.” he replied when he got over his surprise.

“I just wanted to say thanks for saving us from Arcane.” she said quietly.

“It’s not a problem. I just wanted to protect my friends.” he replied with a smile. She returned his smile then looked up at the stars. He looked up as well and stood there for a few minutes. He was about to get up when he felt Dash’s head on his shoulder. He glanced down and saw her looking at the sky with a dreamy expression on her face. He smiled and nuzzled her gently.

Over in the bushes, Applejack was talking with Twilight.

“See I told you that Dash liked ‘im. It’s probably the reason she invited him to stay wit’ her in the first place.” she said.

“Yes I remember what you said. For now we should just leave them alone.” Twilight replied, getting up to leave. Applejack nodded then followed Twilight.

Storm Shadow stayed with Dash until they both felt tired. He helped her up then they took off side by side into the air. They landed at her house a few minutes later. He gave her a quick nuzzle which she returned before he headed into his room. He gave a quick look out the window at Canterlot before climbing into bed and falling asleep.

Author's note: Don't you just love shipping? I like it when the characters being shipped are actually different genders for once :D. Just something to think about.

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