Titan was growing stronger thanks to energies that Mysterious brought back for him the last time, and he was busy testing it out in private. Rep-Stallion began to think maybe it was time for him to take matters into his own hands for not having a turn in so long to cause havoc.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Dementia.

When Rep-Stallion explained what his plan was to his comrades, they didn't seem pleased. Not merely by the fact they didn't believe he would succeed, but the fact he had not informed Titan of his plan. "His lordship will not be pleased." Mysterious warned him.

"He will then, when I bring him Lightning Dawn." said Rep-Stallion "And don't either of you go off to tell him. I'd like it to be a surprise." After he left, Mysterious and Dementia felt that by day's end Titan would be more than just surprised.

…

In Titan's secret lab, he had been working hard to combine his magic with the energies he had absorbed form the elements and unicorns. "Yes…!" he hissed with glee "I can feel the power pulsating through my veins!"

He hadn't felt this strong for centuries, since the Grand Ruler sealed him away and drained him of his magic and strength. To further test his new growing powers he stepped outside and began to practice on the storms and grounds of the demission.

He was able to bend and swerve lightning bolts that came right at him so they flew in opposite directions, and even repel them back with a fraction of his powers. He also managed to break many boulders into dust with one swipe of his ghastly hands.

His powers were getting stronger, but just not enough for him to fulfill his ultimate dreams. Especially one in particular that he constantly remembered for so many ages!

He shut his eyes tight and imagined a poor young boy he once remembered being ridiculed by others because he was defeated so easily by so many others before him. Even those that would normally appear weak to him were able to overpower him. He was laughed at, taunted, and physically abused.

Titan opened his eyes and clenched his fists, and acted as if he wouldn't let that boy that he knew down. "Not quite yet, but soon. SOON…!"

…

It was another happy day in Unicornicopia and everyone was up and about, some at work, some playing, and little colts going off to school. It certainly was a nice day, and that worried Krysta a lot. "This is usually the time when Titan or one of his henchmen comes after us again."

"Well if they do…" Lightning said "We'll be ready for them."

All day they had been flying around looking for work, but nobody seemed to need any help that day, which wasn't really a bad thing. They were bound to find work sooner or later as the kingdom was fairly large, and soon they did find work. Cookie had asked them to deliver a specially packed lunch to Brain's place in Greenland. "He's been working another of his secret projects and says he hasn't got time to come here and get it himself."

...

Greenland sure lived up to its name; lush and green fields stretched as far as they eye could see. Grassy hills and pine-trees, the houses were all dome-shaped, and wasn't difficult to tell which one was Brain's because they could see something unusual. "A big balloon…?" Krysta said almost in a slight of dismay. "That's what he's been working on?"

"This is have to see." said Lightning

Brain was standing in the basket of the balloon and was truly proud of his "Ahh…! Satisfactory…! Most satisfactory…" He saw Lightning and Krysta and was glad someone finally showed up to see his work. "Tell me… do you like it?" he asked.

Lightning and Krysta gazed at one another. "Yeah… we do…" Lightning said "But why would you spend all this time making a balloon for? Especially since we all have wings and can fly by ourselves."

Brain was aware of this all and wasn't trying to imply that a balloon could compete with unicorn wings. "But… for the sheer sensation of soft gentle flying, there is nothing that can compare with a gas filled balloon. Come along you two, and join me for a most exciting experience."

Krysta and Lightning decided to go along, and as soon as they climbed aboard did brain unfasten the lines holding them down, "Right…! Away we go…" and the balloon slowly began to rise up into the air.

However, all this time, they were being watched by someone hiding behind one of the pine trees near the house. "Hmm… I think I can turn this to my advantage. Heh, heh, heh…!"

The balloon soared over Greenland, and across Rainbow City, and then back because Brain didn't intend to fly too far for his first test, but Krysta and Lightning were impressed. "This is relaxing, I'm kind of surprised." said Krysta "And the breeze feels just wonderful." added Lightning.

"Did I not tell you so…?" Brain chuckled

The landed safely near Brain's home, fastened the balloon down again and hopped out. "Well that sure was fun." said Lightning.

Brain agreed "And I haven't even told you the most exciting feature… the balloon is made of specially coated fabric making it difficult to puncture so there is little chance of hole being punctured, and a leak being sprung."

"That's just what I wanted to hear!" snapped a voice. The others turned round and saw him standing there.

"Rep-Stallion!" snapped Lightning.

"I say- What are you doing here?" growled Brain

"To cause trouble no doubt." Krsyta sneered.

Rep-Stallion was impressed by how well they caught on. "Nice balloon. Mind if I borrow it…?" before anyone could answer him he had leapt over to the balloon, "Thanks… I appreciate it."

Brain was livid when he saw Rep sprinkling his monster dust on the balloon "I say! What are you doing…?"

He soon got his answer when the balloon began to transform into Rep-Stallion's newest monster, Big-Blowout! Its shape was rather odd. The basket was its head, the ropes and latches were all connected together to serve as the arms and legs, and the big balloon itself served as the body.

At first, Lightning and Krysta didn't seem impressed. "You're going to beat us with a balloon?" asked Lightning "This should be easy."

"I'm not so certain of that." said Brain "I'm certain there is some reason he has used my balloon for a monster." but Lightning didn't listen and just ran on ahead. "Lightning, wait…!" cried Krysta as she chased after him.

Rep-Stallion hopped on the head of his monster and laughed at their feeble attempts. "Show them, my monster." He said and with a swift wave of his scythe, "Now…!" and the monsters unleashed a fierce blow of strong air, and blew it straight at Lightning knocking him far back right into a tree.

Krysta and Brain dashed over to him.

"Lightning…!"

"Oh dear…!"

Lightning wasn't hurt, "But that thing's got a lot of air in it." That was to be expected as it was a balloon, and a giant one to be exact. To make matters worse all it all it had to do was take in a deep breath and it sucked up the air back into its body ready for more.

"Nicely done, Big-Blowout." said Rep-Stallion, "Now seize them!"

The monster began to stomp its way towards the gang, shaking the ground with every step for a monster full of air, to make matters worse, the monster didn't only just blow air out. It drew in another huge long breath and began to suck in the air harder and faster than it did before.

"Hey…!" cried Lightning as he felt himself being lifted off of the ground by the strong winds. He quickly grabbed the tree and held it tight. Krysta and Brain felt the wind two Krysta held onto Lightning's mane, which hurt him because of the pulling force, and Brain held Lightning's tail.

"AAAAH…! OOOWWW…! Krysta… Brain…!"

"Oh my goodness…!" cried Brain.

"I can't hold on!" added Krysta

Poor Lightning was a little preoccupied by the pull of the air and the agonizing pane from Brain pulling on his tail and Krysta holding his mane. The pull of the wind only got stronger as the monster treaded closer!

"They can't hold against the pull forever." grumbled Rep-Stallion, but his patience were wearing thin and he raised his scythe, "This ought to loosen their grip- SCYTHE SLASH WAVE…!"

With a wave of his scythe he fired small blasts of waving-energy at the tree, hoping to hit Lightning so he'd let go. "AAH…! WHOA…!" but his grip still held! He just couldn't let go! Who knew what would happen if he and his friends were sucked into that beast!

"I'm losing my grip!" cried Krysta.

"Just hang on…!" shouted Lightning.

"I hate to admit this… but I believe I am slipping." cried Brain.

Rep-Stallion fired another blast, and the force nearly hit Lightning and created small sparks. "AA-AAH…!" he managed to hang on, but the others finally lost their grip and screamed as they were pulled in! "BRAIN…! KRYSTA…!"

"LIGHTNING…!" Krysta screamed as she and Brain disappeared into the monster mouth, causing the wind pull to stop, and the monster took a big gulp and swallowed hard. Lightning felt this heart ripping in half. "He… He ate them!" he cried as tears of anger and sadness form in his eyes.

"Well…" Rep-Stallion said as he scratched his head "Not quite was I was aiming for, but it will do just as nicely." He also loved the very sight of Lightning on the verge of tears. "Relax…!" he assured him "Your friends are perfectly safe, for the moment; inside the interior balloon of Big Blowout, but how long they remain safe is entirely up to you. Heh, heh, ah, ah, ah, ah…!"

Lightning could only gaze at the giant balloon wishing he could tell if his friends really were in there and if they were safe.

…

It was dark and pretty windy inside the huge balloon, but Krysta's glowing body made it brighter, and Brain has special miniature lights in his glasses on. "You okay, Brain…?" Krysta asked. "I am just fine, Krysta." Brain said, "But I fear we are in deep trouble. We try and escape from here. Who knows what is happening to Lightning out there?"

That's when they felt the monster sucking in more air which shook them all about inside.

…

Lightning was still hanging onto the tree, not willing to surrender. His friends were count on him, but he didn't what to do for them.

"Just give it up…!" snarled Rep-Stallion "You have no choice. Your friends' lives are at stake!"

Lightning growled and groaned in attempt to hang on tight.

…

Inside, Brain and Krysta were blown around hard and were lying flat against the walls so they wouldn't jerk around so much. "There's too much air…!" cried Krysta "This balloon is really driving me crazy!"

But her words made Brain realize, "Air… Balloon…! By word, that's it!"

He explained to Krysta that there only one hope of them getting out and that was to pop a hole in the balloon from the inside where they were. "But how…?" asked Krysta "You said it was impossible to penetrate the fabric."

"No! I said… there is little chance. Meaning that there is a possibility." replied Brain and he reached behind him, "Luckily… I always keep my trusty miniature-drill for such emergencies." and he started drilling.

…

Lightning didn't know how much longer he could last like this, or how much longer his friends would be safe, if they even were safe. "I'll never give into you, Rep-Stallion! NEVER…!"

Rep-Stallion growled and began to fire more blasts at him trying to force him to let go. Some of the blasts even hit him and they hurt! "ARGH…! AH…! DON'T LET GO!" he kept shouting.

Rep-Stallion couldn't believe the determination Lightning was exhibiting, but he was growing angry. "I'll get you yet!" he thundered as he fired more shots.

"ARGH… G'UGH…!"

…

Krysta could swear she could hear Lightning suffering from outside. "Time's running out, Brain…! Hurry!" she screamed.

"All right…!" Brain called "I think I'm… nearly… through, but this… fabric is stronger than I thought!"

…

This was it! The monster was still sucking in air, and Rep-Stallion had lost all patience. "Be prepared!" he thundered as he readied himself for one final, really big shot… when suddenly the monster began to vibrate violently. "Hey! Hey! What's going on… ? HEY…!"

POW! A huge hole popped right through the monster's body for sucking in so much air, and Brain's drill finally breaking through. The monster took over blowing around as the air escape knocking Rep-Stallion off and down to the ground hard. Krysta and Brain were set free, but they didn't exactly have a smooth landing.

"Ouch…!"

"Oh…! I say!"

Lightning fell flat on the ground, bruised and hurt from being hit so much, he looked in bad shape, and so did the monster. It looked like a squeezed out tube of toothpaste, and couldn't even stand. "My monster!" growled Rep-Stallion! "This can't be happening…!"

A golden glow of light forced him to turn round. "Huh…?"

Lightning, despite his injuries managed to stand up and was summoning his great power…

"Magic is believing…

Believing is right

I summon the magic,

In this mystical light…!"

Lightning took great aim, and as Rep-Stallion began to run away Lightning unleashed the "…UNIFORCE!" His blast soared in Rep's direction and just barely missed him, knocking him out! "UGH-AAH…!" and continued forward striking the monster, destroying it in an explosion and dissolve the magic…

WHAAAOM!

WHAAAOM!

"NO...!" shouted Rep "No! What went wrong?" he then angrily turned to face Lightning, who by now was very weak and sore. "No running this time…!" he growled as he gripped his scythe and charged forward, "I'm going to get you ONCE AND FOR ALL…!"

"LIGHTNING…!" screamed Krysta. "GET OUT OF THERE…!" but Lightning could barely move after all he had been through and using the uniforce too. Rep-Stallion continued to run forward ready to strike, when he was suddenly halted by the sudden appearance of a force-field. "AAAHH…!"

Everyone was confused, until the roaring sound of Titan's angry voice was heard. "REP… STALLION…! I think you've done quite enough! You are coming back here immediately!"

In a blazed glow of light followed by a scream, Rep-Stallion vanished.

"He's gone!" cried Krysta.

"Never mind that…" said Brain, "We must help Lightning."

…

Mysterious and Dementia were forced to watch Titan as he showed Rep-Stallion very little mercy by continuously shocking him with his stronger powers. He was raging with furry not only by Rep-Stallion's insubordination, but that he almost destroyed Lightning Daw, the key element to his success and he needed to be alive.

"I warn you, Rep-Stallion!" fumed Titan "If you ever… ever… EVER run off to spring a plan without my clarifications again, I will not be as mercy on you as I am being now! DO YOU UNDERSTAND…?"

Through all the pain and shocking Rep-Stallion acknowledged his master's warning.

…

Doctor Penny was summoned and she helped treat Lightning's injuries. "There! All better…?" she asked.

"Apart from being incredibly exhausted. I'll be fine." Lightning said.

Krysta and Brain were very relieved, but Lightning felt just awful. "I'm sorry I destroyed your balloon, Brain."

Brain shook his head "My dear fellow… The important thing is that everyone is safe, and that's all that matters to me." He was most sympathetic.

Right now it was strongly suggested that Lightning rest, he had taken quite a beating, despite being just healed.

"Oh, Lightning…" Krysta sighed softly as her friend slept "I don't know what we'd do without you."

...

(In The Grand Ruler's Palace)

Grand Ruler: "Poor Lightning… he really took a beating this time, but it cannot be ignored that he was only trying to hang on for the sake of his friends. His courage and determination make me proud to call him my student."

"And all of you out there, there are many ways to show your own determination, but you really should never risk it as much as Lightning did all the time. It can be fatal to you, and or someone you know or care about, but determination and courage are two very powerful forms of magic we all have, and they can never truly be taken from us."

"See you all next time, and keep on believing!"