Arcby The MirageChaptersPrologueChapter 1 - BeginningsChapter 2 - The World TodayChapter 3 - The ReturnChapter 4 - AftermathProloguePrologue Only one stood in the ashes of what used to be a graveyard, his greying fur matched the ashes almost identically, his mane and tail had not yet become as dull as his fur, but even they had began to fade. He stood unmoving, looking down at a large rock protruding from the ground. He stared down at the flower on his own grave, a black rose, recently placed. On the grave beside his, it was labeled “Candy Corn” which another rose, identical to his lay, the petals lightly blew in the breeze. It had been many years since the war, yet it felt like yesterday he was in his prime, fighting off Celestia and his father, going to war with Spitfire at his side, ultimately defeating the sun goddess’ prized army. It felt like only yesterday that he saw his daughter for the first time. Mirage carefully leaned down, gently picking up his flower and holding it in his hoof, he gingerly caressed one of the petals. The old stallion wondered who was leaving these, he had been visiting Zephyr since his daughter had turned ten, letting her come with him to the town. Mirage turned around to look for his daughter, who had gone off to explore the ancient town. “And who might you be?” A pony asked, standing before the elderly stallion. Mirage studied him, he was a younger stallion, probably in his late teens or early twenties. “Nopony that you would know.” Mirage said to the unknown stallion. “Who are you?” “Nopony you would know.” The stallion said, his eyes studying Mirage from head to hoof. “What are you doing near these graves?” “Someone I know is buried here.” Mirage said, going to pass the red pony. Just as Mirage went to pass the younger stallion, he was stopped. The stallions light blue mane and tail swung at the sudden movement. Wise and powerful violet eyes stared into an unpredictable blue. The unknown stallion noticed an abrupt spark in the older stallions eyes, like arcing electricity. In fact, it was electricity. “Mirage?” The stallion whispered, a powerful wave of nostalgia invading his senses. Mirage raised an eyebrow, pushing the stallion back a few inches. “How do you know my name, boy?” “Y-you’re dead!” The stallion said, backing away. “I saw you die!” “Maybe I am.” “Phoenix, do a complete body scan.” Mirage felt a rush of adrenaline inside of him, charging a powerful electrical bolt. “Impossible...” The pony said. Just as he took another step back, a bright light invaded his vision, an extremely forceful shockwave blew the stallion away from the older one. “Wait!” He tried, just as another struck by his side, launching him into a crumbling building. Another pony came from the next lightning bolt, diving from the sudden blast of purple electricity. The stallion reacted quickly, ducking under as the white furred pony dove over him, surging with electricity. Her cyan eyes burned with power, her cardinal red and royal blue hair wavered in the powerful wind. Her body let off electrical surges into the ground, but with less power than Mirage’s. Cyber Burst stood with his mouth opened, he recognized this mare as well. Rain Whisper. He had seen when this mare was first born in Appaloosa during the Great Equestrian War. She was the offspring of a Elemental Pony, the Element of Electricity. Mirage. Cyburst reacted just in time as a shining blue bolt of electricity blasted in his direction, making the ash fly up around it from the speed it traveled towards him. Cyburst knew there was no talking his way out of this, he was going to have to fight no matter what he said. He reached behind his back, pulling his prized sword, Silverbolt from it’s sheath. “Cy, are you sure you are just going to fight?” Phoenix asked in his mind. Cyburst thought. “I won’t kill her, just disable her until she calms down. “And Mirage?” Cyburst looked over the elderly stallion, his lightning had stopped, and he stared at his daughter with a knowing look, his body had run out of energy in those strong lightning bolts before. He returned his attention to Rain Whisper, who pulled out a sword of her own with her magic, one that was much straighter and slimmer than his own, it was made from conductive material, letting the mare’s electrical power wrap around it. Cyburst never relied on his magic to keep ahold of Silverbolt, but had used it to retrieve the blade numerous times. “Be careful, Cy.” Phoenix said, “You may be experienced, but you haven’t been in much combat since Celestia.” “Don’t worry, she won’t be a problem.” Rain Whisper lunged at Cyburst, swinging her sword down on his, grinding them against each other. Cyburst was surprised by the amount of power the mare had, being so young. Cyburst felt electricity begin to burn his hooves, and pushed the mare away, shaking the tingling feeling off. The mare struck again, Cyburst parried and struck the mare across the face, knocking her down, which she quickly recovered from. She struck my blade with a bolt of lightning, throwing it from my hooves. I dodged another swipe from her sword, then rolled towards mine, picking it up quickly and turning back around to dodge another attack. “You’re smart, I’ll give you that.” Cyburst said. “Aww, thanks.” She said cutely, all electricity seemingly disappearing from her body and sword. Just as she raised her blade again, her electricity came back on like it was powered by a switch. She struck down and I rolled away. “But you can’t flatter your way out of this.” She said. Cyburst swung for the first time with his sword, which the mare expertly blocked, the stallion swung again, the mare slid under it and swiped at his hooves, which he jumped over. “I’m usually quite good at things like that.” Cyburst said, swinging again to test the mare’s reaction time. Silverbolt was blocked again, the mare had noticed his technique just like he had noticed hers, and both seemed to never hit their mark. Cyburst surprised her by charging and slashing sideways, catching her under her eye. Blood quickly seeped out, he slashed again and was blocked by the recovering mare, holding her hoof against her cheek. “Didn’t expect that, did you?” He asked. The mare took a breath, the world slowed around her, she felt the electricity arc off of her fur and sword, she studied the stallion fast, dashing at him at speeds high enough to break the sound barrier right then. She shot a wild lightning bolt and directed his attention, then she jumped up over him, dragging the tip of her blade over his spinal cord. The world sped back up, Rain heard the pony shout in pain, watching him as he turned around and slashed blindly, getting blocked and dodged. Her blade once again met his skin across his side, leaving a much deeper gash than the last. She made a horizontal cut across his back legs, dropping him down. Rain Whisper charged up a spell quickly, the electrical lines in the area sparked to life for the first time in twenty years. Cyburst saw the change and jammed Silverbolt into the ground, shrieking as electricity passed through his body and into his blade, making the electricity disappear into the ground. As soon as he felt his body begin to regenerate he quickly whipped around and smashed his hoof into the mare’s throat, dropping her to the ground instantly. Next he brought his hoof down on her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and finally picked up the mare’s sword and slashed downwards at her forehead. Rain Whisper braced for the cut, but it never came. When she looked up at the stallion, the blade was inches from her face, and he was heaving for his breath, he had lost all looks of aggression, but still looked determined. “Now, let me explain.” He said, holding his hoof out to her. She didn’t have much of a choice, he did practically have her life in his hooves. She took his hoof and got up, rubbing her neck and trying to regain her breath, they walked towards her father quickly. Then the stallion explained. Most of which Rain Whisper did not understand, it had been before her time. Yet her father stood quietly, listening to what the stallion had to say. Mirage brought up many problems, but Cyber Burst quickly explained further. My father was amazed, as was I. Chapter 1 - BeginningsChapter 1 Rain Whisper: The blade in my hooves shined brilliantly, surges of electricity shot through it when I charged up my body. My father stood before me, studying the sword. “I don’t know why you insist to use a weapon to control your power...” He said, “I only trained with the raw power.” I looked up, “I can’t control it as well as you, dad.” I said, feeling the electric current fade from my sword. “I can’t control any of my powers as well as any of you.” “Thalassa said you were becoming much better with hydrokinesis.” He said, sitting down beside me. “I suppose,” I said, levitating a sphere of water near us, circling the two of us. “But electricity and fire seems to be what I am struggling with the most.” I held the sphere a few moments longer, than let it drop into the koi pond outside, making me notice the trickling water. “You remind me so much of your grandmother.” He said, smiling. “Oh?” “Always enjoying the little things.” I smiled, sheathing the sword with my magic. I hadn’t ever known any of my grandmother, I hadn’t ever met her, at least I didn’t think so, my father had always said she would love me, but never spoke much of her. I stood up, staring outside through a glass window, seeing the koi swim carelessly and gracefully through the water. I looked down at my cutie mark, an orange and white koi swimming head to tail of each other in a raindrop. “Why don’t you go check on Twilight, I’m sure she’d love to see you.” The unicorn flashed in my mind, every time I would walk into her library, from the time I was a filly until now, she would have her nose in a book, occasionally she would be in the middle of an experiment. “I will.” I said, turning for the door. Mirage: I sighed. I would of told her to be careful, but I did not want to frighten her. She would need the last of her training sooner than I expected. I didn’t know why, or how, but for weeks I had noticed a shift in the air, something had changed, something I thought would never come back for my daughter, was coming back. The others would not be ready for this, nor would I. Even in my prime I was no match for Celestia, growing so old would only make it easier for her. Celestia made the mistake of leaving me behind once, I knew she would not make it again unless she was certain I would not be getting back up. She needed to be ready, she didn’t need to be afraid of what would happen around her. I pressed my old body up, I swore one of these times I would sit down, and never get back up. “Mirage, you need to tell her.” She said. “In due time, Clock Star.” I said, seeing the mare appear from nowhere, she still had not aged, just like the others. A sequence flashed in my mind, a bright energy concealed my body in a bubble-like shape. Celestia: I open my eyes, utter nothingness surrounds my being. The darkness felt as if was engulfing me, rippling down my throat and suffocating me. I knew where I was, death had finally taken me away. Part of me was relieved, I had lived for so long, seen so many of my friends and family die off, I could finally see them all again. But the other part of me burned with hatred, I had not wanted to die, dying was for the weak, dying was for the mortal. I was immortal, I couldn’t die. “You were killed.” A voice said. I noticed that the feeling of nothing around me returned, I felt on my back one moment, then on my hooves, then I was falling, fast. “Who said that?” I called, my voice seemed to fade off around me. A figure was in the distance, a black outline of a stallion, seeming to be a pegasus. He stepped closer, his crimson eyes seemed to pierce through my own, his pure black mane had red dripping from it. Blood. The crimson colors that were once in his mane were fading, the red streamed from his eyes, flowing down his cheeks like tears leaving behind black, lifeless eyes. “It doesn’t matter who I am, we are both dead.” He said, his fur was also losing its black color, streaming onto the ground as a new, sticky substance. Oil. “What matters is who you are, you are Princess Celestia, arguably the only pony that can kill who needs to be killed.” He said. “Wh-” “Mirage. My Son.” He said. Sequences flashed in my head, a felt an electrical current rush through my body, trailing down my spine and bouncing through my chest. A purple and coal-colored stallion in a magical bubble, a white mare, begging for his release and an avian creature, standing over me. Anger flared in my chest. “Mirage is dead! I killed him already!” I yelled at the stallion that was still losing his features. “True, but he came back, killed me, and returned to Equestria, keeping watch on his daughter and wife.” He said, even though he faded, his voice stayed strong. “The foal...” Celestia muttered, remembering Vinyl’s bloated stomach. “Not a foal anymore, a full grown mare.” The stallion said. I looked up, but said nothing. “Now, you get this last chance, it was originally given to me, but I know I can never beat him and her together. You on the other hoof-” “I will kill them all.” I interrupted. The stallion raised an eyebrow. “Elements of Harmony and The Elementals.” I said, hate and fury engulfing my mind. The stallion smiled lifelessly. “Good.” I spread my wings and stopped the falling, flying towards Canterlot as fast as my colossal wings could let me. Chapter 2 - The World TodayChapter 2 Rain Whisper: Ponyville had become much quieter than the older ponies said they remembered it, when it was founded after the war, ponies came flocking to the newest town in Equestria. Families from Zephyr, Equestius and even a few griffons from Griffonia had come to live in Equestria. Twenty years had passed since the war ended, and the cherry blossom trees dedicated to fallen family and friends had began to fall today, some ponies sat under the majestic and symbolic trees, reading or picnicking. As I walked down the streets of the town, I caught sight of Cyber Burst, strolling through the marketplace, talking to a shopkeeper. I walked up behind him, then tapped him on the back, making him turn around. “What are you doing here?” I asked, adjusting the sheath on my back with my magic. “Shopping, browsing, socializing.” He listed, “How about you?” “Heading over to Twilight’s.” I said, “Wanna tag along?” He walked with me, “Sure, kid.” I frowned, he always insisted on calling me ‘kid’ even though we seemed to be maybe a few years apart. “Why do you call me that?” “Because you’re a kid?” He said, a comical look on his face. “But you’re just as young as me...” I deadpanned as he patted my head. He stretched out, “Am I really that attractive?” He asked, flexing. I blushed lightly, “That’s what you think, Romeo.” “Hey, that’s not nice.” He said, trailing behind me. Twilight’s house came into view, a giant oak tree standing out among the rest, she sat up on her porch reading a scroll. A confused look on her face. “Hey Twilight!” I shouted up to her, she immediately dropped the scroll to her hooves. “Oh! Hey Rain!” She shouted down, waving quickly. I charged a spell in my horn and teleported up there, feeling a sudden haze in my head from the powerful spell. “What’s up?” I asked, shaking my head. “Rain, you should really be careful with that kind of spell, it isn’t very safe when you haven’t studied on teleporting much.” She explained, looking worried. “You’ve been teaching me a bunch of spells, so I thought I might surprise you with something a bit harder.” I said, teleporting again, this time onto a nearby roof. The haze came back, this time much harsher and more like a headache. I teleported back up to her and stumbled, catching myself on the railing. “See? I’m fine!” I said, feeling like I was about to be sick. “You’ve been around Rainbow Dash too much.” She said, straightening my poise with her magic. “You need to wait until I teach you how to do it without over-exerting yourself.” I frowned, my surprise hadn’t gone over as well as I planned. I thought she would have been more excited and less worried about me. Cyber Burst teleported up next to me, “Tryin’ out teleportation, kid?” He asked with a smirk. “Nice to see you too, Cyburst.” Twilight said, the two had gotten acquainted in the week he’d been in Ponyville, yet none of us knew where he stayed. “Oh, hey Twilight.” He said, turning to her then quickly turning back to me, “Bet you can’t do this-” He cut himself off by teleporting quickly around on the roofs of Ponyville, balancing on some chimneys and pretending he was going to fall off of the sides of some before teleporting back to our side. “Not even a headache.” He said, crossing his arms and leaning against the railing I slid over next to him with a smirk, “Oh really?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow. “Yup.” He said, “Unli-” I smacked my hoof against his chest, knocking him off balance and sending him over the railing. I watched him land with a loud thump! He stared up at me with a scowl and I gave him a playful smile. “Why didn’t you teleport out of that?” Twilight asked with a chuckle. I was surprised to see the librarian crack a joke, a funny one at that. We both broke out in laughter. “Well ha, ha.” He said, teleporting back up and listening to the two of us. I looked up at him while laughing, he had a smirk on his face, somewhere under that shell he was laughing too. “So what’s going on today?” Twilight asked. I looked at Twilight, “Well, I was going to hang around town and say hello-” “But now we’re going to spar.” Cyburst said. Twilight gasped. I looked back, Cyburst wore a grin. “I’ll meet you behind Rarity’s shop.” He said, teleporting off. “You’re on.” I whispered to myself. Twilight spun me around, “You sure about that, Rain?” She asked, “Cyber Burst has had a lot more training than you.” “I can handle it.” I said with a toothy grin, “I’m sure he won’t go too hard on me, Twilight, we’re only going to practice.” Twilight still wore a worried look. “Be careful.” She said. She reminded me so much of my mother, she was like an aunt to me. “I will.” I gave her a hug and lept off of the porch, landing on the ground and rolling to catch myself and took off for Rarity’s. Cyburst stood across from me in the grassy field, letting the wind blow through his mane. His sword sheath appeared on his back, he pulled out his sword, the sun shined off of it’s silver surface. “You never told me, what do you call your sword?” He asked. “Serenity.” I said, pulling it out of the sheath with my magic and watching the light glare off of it. “How about you?” “Silverbolt.” “Well, time to put it to use.” I said, lunging at the stallion and slashing downwards with the blade, connecting with his block. He smiled as I pushed down against him. He pushed back, letting the screeching sound of metal on metal to ring through the air. He swiped wide left at me, I shot my sword upwards and slid under it, grabbing it again as it neared the ground and rocketing it towards the stallion’s head, he deflected it again, my momentum made it go by his head, dragging me closer to him, I used the momentum to slam into him, smashing him to the ground. Serenity returned to it’s sheath and I jumped on top of the stallion swinging at him and connecting with his face a few times before he delivered a bone-jarring headbutt into my forehead. I stepped off of him and he charged with his sword, I quickly jumped up and grabbed the hilt, when I landed behind him, I pulled back, putting it to his neck and disabling him. I held him for a few seconds before I spoke. “Looks like I won.” I said, giggling girlishly. He chuckled along with me, “Not so fast, kid.” The stallion teleported from my grasp, reversing the maneuver and holding my now unsheathed sword to my neck. “Looks like I win.” He said. I sent an electrical current through the blade and shocked his hooves, making him drop the blade and stumble backwards. I whipped around, slashing wildly, parrying his attacks and attacking him whenever I could. He was just as good as me, we seemed to counter each other no matter what. My sword rose to stri- “EXCUSE ME?!” A voice shouted. We both stopped, looking to my right. Rarity stood with a frown on her face at the back door of her store. She looked as pristine as ever. “I do not remember allowing such brutality to happen behind my store!” Rarity shouted over at us. She was stomping out towards us. “And if I did, I promise I was not in my right mind and would never say such a thing again.” She continued. I smiled sheepishly at Rarity, who glared furiously at the two of us. “Sorry Rarity, we didn’t even think about it.” I said. “Yeah, what she said.” Cyburst said. “Well, considering the amount of time you spend with Twilight I would expect you to think on such a matter. She said, “And Cyber Burst, for a stallion of your age you should know better than to participate in a barbaric activity such as this.” Cyburst’s head hung low, I was really beginning to question how old the stallion was. “Now, if you two are done, I will allow you in my shop to show the both of you something.” Rarity ended, taking a breath. We had no other choice than to follow the mare back into her shop. When we entered, the smell of many different perfumes, invaded our nostrils, Cyburst looked like he was about to choke, but I was enjoying the smells. “Miss Rain Whisper, let me introduce to you one of the most fabulous things I’ve ever put together.” Rarity said, pulling a white cloth. “Rarity, you didn’t have t-” When my eyes fell upon the dress, my heart stopped and I think I took in the largest breath in pony history. It was a stark white dress, from the bottom, a black tree branch jumped up to the middle of the dress, shedding cherry blossom petals until they fell to the foot of the dress, where real petals encircled the rim of the dress, at the top there was a pink petal still on the stem to go behind my ear. “Well?” Rarity asked, looking like she was going to pop. “It’s...” I stuttered, “Beautiful.” Rarity squealed with delight, trying to keep her lady-like composure. “Excellent!” She shrieked, “No use in keeping you waiting then!” The mare dragged me into a dressing room, Cyburst began to follow but Rarity stopped him with a hoof to his chest. “Ah, ah ,ah,” She cooed. “this is the ladies only room” she said, gesturing to the sign above the door. Cyburst frowned, Rarity frowned back, then darted back in the room. Just because I wasn’t as much a girly-girl as some other mare’s in town didn’t mean I didn’t like to get dolled up every once in awhile. I liked to get dirty and wrestle around with the stallion friends in town, but I also liked to go to the spa with my mare friends. I was in the dress within seconds, staring into a mirror at my shimmering self, Rarity had somehow done my hair in such a short time frame, but it too was prettier than I would have ever guessed it could be. Rarity had always had a knack for those things. Rarity shoved me out onto a stage after a quick puff of makeup and walked along side me, bowing dramatically. I rolled my eyes, when I looked down, I was sure I would see only Cyber Burst, but he had been crowded by some of my older stallion friends from town. “Really pretty.” Lemon Bounce said, clapping his hooves. “It brings out your eyes.” Cloud Buster complemented. I blinked my eyes a few times, staring down at them, “Ya think?” The four stallion nodded in agreement, even Cyber Burst was with the other three. “Yer’ real cute like that.” Apple Pie said. I jumped off of the stage and smiled, “Thanks guys, I didn’t know you three would be here. Lemon Bounce hopped in place, “Of course we would, we love to check you out when you let us!” He said. “You guys know you always can.” I joked, I had fooled around with Lemon Bounce a lot in High-School, but never too serious. He was always really energetic and always finding a hint of optimism in anything. “We reckoned you’d come and chop off our heads If you found out.” Apple Pie said, he’d always been the most laid back of the three, but was definitely the biggest of the three, taking after his father, Big Macintosh. “You three are more predictable than anypony else checking me out.” I said with a laugh. “Y’know, I’m sure these two were always predictable, but I am always smooth in what I do.” Cloud Buster said, brushing his hair dramatically. He had always thought of himself ‘the best’ in good fun, but sometimes he was so proud it was overwhelming. “Like how you were so smooth at prom?” I chuckled, getting a bit of laughter out of Apple Pie and Lemon Bounce. Cloud Buster narrowed his eyes, “Hey, don’t bring Twist into this.” He said. “Don’t worry,” I said, trying to hold back laughter. “we won’t.” Cyber Burst came closer to me, looking at the other stallions with a very unamused face. “Well done Rarity,” He said, looking over at her with a smile. “It is beautiful.” “Why, thank you!” Rarity gushed. Cyburst stepped in the middle of the three stallions. “You three better treat this mare with respect, or I will not hesitate to step in.” He said slowly. The three nodded quickly. “Good.” Cyburst said, looking over at me. “You look beautiful, kid.” He said. I watched him teleport away, then smiled. “Thanks.” I said to noone. Chapter 3 - The ReturnChapter 3 Rain Whisper: While we walked, Lemon Bounce and Cloud Buster were arguing nonstop, I could have swore Cloud Buster was going to throw a punch sooner or later. As we passed Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie darted out, bouncing over us and landing next to me. “Hey guys, watcha doin’?” She asked. “We’re just walking, Mom.” Lemon Bounce said. “We haven’t got much to do.” “Oh, that sounds cool, See ya!” When I looked over to her again, she had completely disappeared. With Pinkie Pie being Lemon Bounce’s mom, I had gotten to know her much more than some of the other older mares in town. She was friends with everypony in town, no matter how they acted and no matter who they were. Most of her questionable antics had been passed on to Lemon Bounce, like the constant hopping around, the contagious smiling, outstanding parties and all around randomness. “Where’d she go?” I asked eventually, looking around for her. Lemon Bounce laughed, “You really think I know?” He moved around Cloud Buster and stood to my left, bumping into me. “I swear you get prettier and prettier by the day.” He said, looking into my eyes. His golden eyes shined brilliantly in the sunlight, his orange-yellow mane caught in his face, drawing his attention from me. I looked down his muscular, toned body and saw his cutie mark, a balloon with the string hanging on to a lemon, keeping it in the air. “Watcha lookin’ at?” He asked, wiggling his rump. “Just returning the favor.” I said with a giggle. Hey gasped dramatically, “What is that supposed to mean?” “I know what you’ve been looking at for the past five years.” I said matter-of-factly. “Whatever you say, sugar.” He joked. Sweet Luna I hated that nickname, ever since our freshman year in high school he would call me that. “Don’t call me sugar.” I growled playfully. “Are you not my sugar?” He asked, rubbing his nose against mine. I rubbed back, “Of course I am.” I said, giving him my best ‘bedroom eyes’. Of course I was only fooling around with him, he had always known I would tease him whenever I could, and maybe give him a little secret session every once in awhile. He was the best kisser I knew, well, he was the only person I had kissed out of my family and mare friends. Lemon Bounce and I always had fun together, and I just liked to be with him when I could. My dad would never let me date anypony, he probably would hunt Lemon Bounce down if he knew half of the things we did together. We had never had sex, just little kisses and a tease every now and then. “How about we go somewhere... a bit more... private?” He said, giving a small smooch. I thought for a few seconds, there were surely customers at sugarcube corner, and my dad was at home, and we wouldn’t just go in an alley somewhere. “Hey! Rain Whisper!” Someone called. I immediately pulled away from Lemon Drop and looked around, Twilight was standing in front of the library waving. We had walked a complete circle around the town. I walked up to her, “What’s up?” I asked. “Oh, I’m so lucky that you showed up,” She said, “could you watch over the library for a few hours? I really need to get over to Pinkie Pie’s.” I smiled, this was perfect. “Of course.” I said. “Great, thank you so much.” She said, walking away. I walked inside, Lemon Bounce followed. Cloud Buster and Apple Pie took off, of course they knew what was going on. “Soooo.” I said, spinning around and getting in a pouncing position to look at Lemon Bounce. “You are so sexy when you do that.” He said, coming close to me. I giggled, “Dirty talking already, Bounce?” “You know it.” He said, practically tackling me down. I let him take control of me, Serenity’s sheath was slid off of my back magically. “No use in having that.” He said, dragging it away. He leaned down and kissed me, eliciting giggles out of the both of us. A mint like taste invaded my mouth when his tongue journeyed around, sliding against my tongue and whipping against the inside of my cheeks. I pushed him off and ran my hooves across his bright yellow fur, he did the same to me. I squirmed around at the touch, he laughed and I laughed with him as our lips met again and again. I reached my hooves up around his neck and pulled down, making the kiss last longer. Just as I felt a hoof against my flank, the door opened again. Twilight and Cyber Burst stood, Twilight with a shocked expression, Cyburst with an angry one. Cyburst stomped into the room, Lemon Bounce quickly jumped off of me, backing away from the larger stallion. Twilight rushed over to me, picking me up. Cyburst was thinking wrong, as was Twilight, they thought I was being raped. “Wai-” I tried. “What did I say for you to do?” Cyburst growled at the cowering stallion, pulling his sword from it’s sheath. “Sir, it’s not what you thin-” “No?!” Cyburst shouted, picking the stallion up with his free hoof and slamming him into a wall. “Then what was it?” All of the sudden, Cyburst stopped, he looked up at the ceiling. “Impossible...” He whispered. Everypony froze when a loud crash was heard on the top of the tree. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE?!” Somepony shouted. Twilight’s eyes shrunk in fear, we all stared at her as she opened the door, looking upwards as she walked away from her home, behind her, ponies were either running away, or frozen, staring up at the roof. “Princ-” I didn’t know what came over me, but my horn charged and shot a spell, covering Twilight in a small dome just before a yellow beam of light struck it, threatening to shatter the shield. I rushed outside, but Cyburst held me in place, moving outside himself. I followed after him no matter what, magically equipping Serenity once again. The beam stopped just as I appeared outside. I stared up, a giant Alicorn, different, but resembling Princess Luna in size stood alone, her eyes narrowed with a large sword by her side, held in a magical grasp. “Who are you?!” I shouted. The alicorn let out a deep, shaking laugh. “Do you not remember me, little pony?” She asked. Just as I was about to speak, Cyburst cut me off. “How are you here?” He asked, “I killed you myself.” “What?!” Twilight and I said in unison. “I’ve been brought back to kill you, every last one of you.” She said, “I am here to seek revenge on the ponies who aided in my downfall!” She screamed. I shot up next to her, swinging my sword rapidly in her direction, every single time I swung at her, she blocked easily. I went to swing again, but I felt a sharp pain in my side, I looked down to my side as I fell, three daggers were put into a triangular shape on my side. The impact with the ground snapped me back to reality, the pain was unbearable, I screamed, feeling my blood leave my body extremely fast, the world around me spun, all I could see was the alicorn, looking down at me. I was picked up by a magical aura, at first I assumed it to be Twilight’s, but as I was launched into the side of a building, I thought differently. I blacked out for a few seconds, the pain was overwhelming my senses. When I opened my eyes, I was in the living room of the building I had been shot into, a family of ponies looked down at me in fear. I stumbled as I stood back up, falling over a few times before I regained my footing. Whoever this alicorn was, she was stronger than anypony I had ever fought against. I leapt back through the hole I entered from, leaving the daggers in my side. Cyburst lie on the ground, getting repeatedly slammed into it. He was muttering something I couldn’t hear. I quickly picked up Serenity and jumped up at the alicorn again, slashing across her wing. When I went to take another swing, the pain in my side stopped me, giving the alicorn enough time to slap me off the side of the building with her newly injured wing. I rolled before I impacted the ground this time, not feeling as much pain. I charged up my body quickly, the electrical lines in the area hummed loudly, arcs of electrical power generated from my body. The alicorn looked down at me, her horn glowed brightly as she shot a spell in my direction. I let my power loose, watching it impact her spell and fight against it. The charge in my body was fading fast, her spell was gaining ground quickly, I put everything I had into it, pushing her spell back a few feet. “After you, I go for your father!” The alicorn shouted over the sound of our spells colliding. She pushed back again, overwhelming my spell altogether, my lightning disappeared as her spell engulfed the ground round me. A burning sensation lit across my entire body, I felt like I had been set on fire, I closed my eyes, wishing for the pain to stop. I felt my blood rush from my side, my head pounded intensely and I was being pressed into the ground from the raw power of her spell, the earth around me crumpled and disappeared from her spell. I dared opening my eyes, only to close them immediately, it was like staring into the sun. I felt the world flip and swirl in my head, my mind turned blank, then was filled with pain. I blacked out completely. Chapter 4 - AftermathChapter 4 Mirage: I looked down onto my daughter’s fallen figure, she wasn’t breathing, she wasn’t moving. I dropped by her side, holding her charred hoof. Then I cried, for the first time in a long time, I just sat and cried. I never knew Celestia would come so quickly, she wasn’t ready to face Celestia, and now she never could be ready. “Please... don’t you take my daughter...” I prayed slowly. “Take me, but for fuck’s sake, do not take my daughter...” Thalassa walked into the room, holding my shoulder. She put a hoof on Rain’s chest, making some of her burnt fur fall off. “Hey, champ.” She said with a weak smile. “You did good, you did good.” A tear fell from Thalassa’s eye. I looked back up at Rain Whisper, her body had almost been completely burned away, her mane and tail, as well as most of her fur was gone, only one of her ears remained, one of her eyes had a large cut through it. Her cutie mark had been reduced to only one koi, and half of the raindrop. Twilight entered next, casting a spell around her limp body. I didn’t question what she was doing, I already knew. When she was set back down, her body was returned to it’s normal state, all of the burns had disappeared, and she went back to the beautiful state she was in the last I saw her. But she still would not breathe. “I’m so sorry Mirage, my magic won’t let me bring her back.” Twilight said. Vinyl entered as well, she had been on tour when all of this had happened, but she came back immediately. She cried, she laid on top of her daughter, begging her to come back, shouting in her face, her tears dripping down onto her lifeless daughter. “Mirage, I need to speak to you.” A voice said, Princess Luna stood in the doorway of our home. As much as I didn’t want to leave Rain Whisper, I knew Princess Luna could be the only pony powerful enough to bring her back. We walked together on the streets of Ponyville, Celestia had left shortly after destroying most of the town, leaving ponies to drown in sadness. “I can bring her back.” Luna said. “I thought you would say that.” I said, looking up at her. “What’s the catch?” Princess Luna looked down at me, a very serious look on her face. “I have revived many of my Nightguard after they have fallen in battle, the bat ponies and vampires and lycans.” She said. “I know your daughter inherited your vampirism, and she can control it well.” “We’ve touched on the subject extensively.” I said, “She can go for years without a single drop of blood.” Luna sighed, “The Nightguard can barely go for a few hours, and still want more.” She explained, “I fear if I revive your daughter, she will become that way as well, if not worse.” “How bad?” “Will most likely need large doses daily, unless you can keep her from waking up the vampire.” The alicorn explained. “Waking it up?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, this already sounded like a bad idea. Luna gave me a small necklace. “If she would wear this, she could go on living just like normal, but if she were to take it off, she will transform into a full vampire, and be more powerful than ever before, and be extremely dangerous.” She explained. “It is your choice whether this happens or not, even then, it still may not work.” There was nothing in the world I wanted more than my daughter back, and everyone would need her if Celestia were to attack again. “Do it.” Rain Whisper: A chain was jingling, I could hear it. When I opened my eyes, nothing surrounded me, when I tried to walk, I could feel the ground, but I couldn’t see it. Suddenly, a sharp pain elicited in my mouth, making me yelp in pain, I could taste blood in my mouth, but instead of the nasty, metallic taste I had remembered, it tasted sweet, like melted chocolate. I swallowed it, licking my lips, trying to get another taste. I blinked, when my eyes opened, a blinding light invaded my vision. I screamed, swinging my hooves in random directions, I was being held down, making me even angrier. I could feel my muscles tense and expand, my eyes tingled violently, and my teeth cut into my gums. I blinked again, trying to get the feeling out of them, all I could hear was ringing, all I could see was light, burning into my eyes. Burning, my body felt like it was on fire, everything was burning. Then, everything stopped. My eyes focused, I was staring at the ceiling of my room, I was in my bed. I looked to my left, My father, my mother and Princess Luna stood, holding different parts of my body down. On my right, Cyber Burst, Twilight and Thalassa stood, doing the same. “Sweetie?” My mom said. I licked my teeth, then opened my mouth. “Yes?” I asked. “Oh, thank goodness.” She said, falling onto my chest. “Glad to have you back, kid.” Cyburst said, scratching my head and ruffling my mane. I didn’t understand, I was just in... My mind blanked, Where had I fallen asleep? Where was I last. Suddenly, my mind screamed, bombarding my thoughts with images of fighting, the alicorn, her final spell that I couldn’t fight off, and the burning. “Did I...” “Yes.” Princess Luna said, “My sister, Princess Celestia has come back to fight for leadership of Equestria again.” “Your sister?” “Yes, she is a tyrant, she has gone mad with her own power and thinks she alone should rule over Equestria.” Luna explained. “She tried to once, but was ultimately defeated.” I had heard much about the war before, but never asked anypony about their role in it, I always thought that would be disrespectful. “She seeks to destroy the Elements of Harmony and the Elemental Ponies, giving her the power to overthrow Equestria without any resistance.” Twilight said. “But, if we all work together, we can beat her like before.” Cyber Burst added. I tried to sit up, but Luna pressed me back down. “There are things we must go over, before you can leave.” She said. Luna’s magic pulled on a necklace I hadn’t noticed before that was around my neck. “Whatever you do, do not ever take this off.” Luna spoke carefully and slowly, like I was a foal. The six ponies surrounding me studied me carefully, I began to feel claustrophobic, like I was encased in between them. “What happens if I do?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “That is for you to find out.” Luna said, pulling me up. “Come with me.” I walked behind her, trying to keep my balance, my body seemed to be slightly off, I felt like a foal first learning to walk. I fell to my left, but felt a presence, holding me upright, it was my father. “Try to regain your senses.” He said, holding me upright as we followed Luna. When we exited the house, I gasped, most of Ponyville lie in ashes, the few buildings that remained had long burn marks on the sides and some had crumbling walls. “She did this.” I said, looking up to Luna, “Celestia, I mean.” “Yes, we all underestimated her power when she came back.” Luna said, looking towards the horizon, where the sun was just beginning to come up. “It seems she has grown stronger since we last saw her.” “But you have too, right Luna?” I asked. Luna stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke carefully. “Of course I have.” She said. We remained quiet as Princess Luna took us to the center of town, eventually only I stood in front of the two. “Now, for the town’s safety.” Luna said, charging a spell. I felt the necklace shudder slightly, I looked down at it, the dark red cross was now glowing brightly. Suddenly, a large dome appeared around me, stretching throughout the center of town, but leaving my father and Luna out. “What is this about?” I asked, studying the spell. “If you are going to transform, you need to be alone, out of harm’s way.” Luna said. My father nodded, “Luna is right, you need to learn to control this as best you can.” “But, you told me to never take it off.” I said. Luna stepped closer to the dome, putting her hoof on it. “I meant when you were capable of being harmed, or harming somepony.” I narrowed my eyes questioningly, but nodded nonetheless. “Take it off whenever you are ready.” Luna said. “But try to remain in control as much as you can.” I put a hoof on the necklace, feeling in vibrate in my grasp. I pulled upwards, taking the necklace completely off. I braced myself, waiting for anything to happen. I cracked open an eye, had it worked? I didn’t feel any different than before, had I kept complete control? “Did it wo-” Just as I spoke, an overwhelming amount of pressure pressed me to the ground, it felt like I was hit over the head with a sledgehammer, I tried to scream, but all that came out was a quiet hiss. My eyes rolled back in my head, the pain was excruciating, I closed my eyes when dizziness began to overcome me. I felt my horn tingle then begin to ache badly. I opened my eyes again, darkness was invading the sides of my vision. I heard angry wing flapping in my direction, looking up I saw a swarm of bats coming down around me, encircling my body and lifting me completely off of the ground. All of my senses failed all at once.
ProloguePrologue Only one stood in the ashes of what used to be a graveyard, his greying fur matched the ashes almost identically, his mane and tail had not yet become as dull as his fur, but even they had began to fade. He stood unmoving, looking down at a large rock protruding from the ground. He stared down at the flower on his own grave, a black rose, recently placed. On the grave beside his, it was labeled “Candy Corn” which another rose, identical to his lay, the petals lightly blew in the breeze. It had been many years since the war, yet it felt like yesterday he was in his prime, fighting off Celestia and his father, going to war with Spitfire at his side, ultimately defeating the sun goddess’ prized army. It felt like only yesterday that he saw his daughter for the first time. Mirage carefully leaned down, gently picking up his flower and holding it in his hoof, he gingerly caressed one of the petals. The old stallion wondered who was leaving these, he had been visiting Zephyr since his daughter had turned ten, letting her come with him to the town. Mirage turned around to look for his daughter, who had gone off to explore the ancient town. “And who might you be?” A pony asked, standing before the elderly stallion. Mirage studied him, he was a younger stallion, probably in his late teens or early twenties. “Nopony that you would know.” Mirage said to the unknown stallion. “Who are you?” “Nopony you would know.” The stallion said, his eyes studying Mirage from head to hoof. “What are you doing near these graves?” “Someone I know is buried here.” Mirage said, going to pass the red pony. Just as Mirage went to pass the younger stallion, he was stopped. The stallions light blue mane and tail swung at the sudden movement. Wise and powerful violet eyes stared into an unpredictable blue. The unknown stallion noticed an abrupt spark in the older stallions eyes, like arcing electricity. In fact, it was electricity. “Mirage?” The stallion whispered, a powerful wave of nostalgia invading his senses. Mirage raised an eyebrow, pushing the stallion back a few inches. “How do you know my name, boy?” “Y-you’re dead!” The stallion said, backing away. “I saw you die!” “Maybe I am.” “Phoenix, do a complete body scan.” Mirage felt a rush of adrenaline inside of him, charging a powerful electrical bolt. “Impossible...” The pony said. Just as he took another step back, a bright light invaded his vision, an extremely forceful shockwave blew the stallion away from the older one. “Wait!” He tried, just as another struck by his side, launching him into a crumbling building. Another pony came from the next lightning bolt, diving from the sudden blast of purple electricity. The stallion reacted quickly, ducking under as the white furred pony dove over him, surging with electricity. Her cyan eyes burned with power, her cardinal red and royal blue hair wavered in the powerful wind. Her body let off electrical surges into the ground, but with less power than Mirage’s. Cyber Burst stood with his mouth opened, he recognized this mare as well. Rain Whisper. He had seen when this mare was first born in Appaloosa during the Great Equestrian War. She was the offspring of a Elemental Pony, the Element of Electricity. Mirage. Cyburst reacted just in time as a shining blue bolt of electricity blasted in his direction, making the ash fly up around it from the speed it traveled towards him. Cyburst knew there was no talking his way out of this, he was going to have to fight no matter what he said. He reached behind his back, pulling his prized sword, Silverbolt from it’s sheath. “Cy, are you sure you are just going to fight?” Phoenix asked in his mind. Cyburst thought. “I won’t kill her, just disable her until she calms down. “And Mirage?” Cyburst looked over the elderly stallion, his lightning had stopped, and he stared at his daughter with a knowing look, his body had run out of energy in those strong lightning bolts before. He returned his attention to Rain Whisper, who pulled out a sword of her own with her magic, one that was much straighter and slimmer than his own, it was made from conductive material, letting the mare’s electrical power wrap around it. Cyburst never relied on his magic to keep ahold of Silverbolt, but had used it to retrieve the blade numerous times. “Be careful, Cy.” Phoenix said, “You may be experienced, but you haven’t been in much combat since Celestia.” “Don’t worry, she won’t be a problem.” Rain Whisper lunged at Cyburst, swinging her sword down on his, grinding them against each other. Cyburst was surprised by the amount of power the mare had, being so young. Cyburst felt electricity begin to burn his hooves, and pushed the mare away, shaking the tingling feeling off. The mare struck again, Cyburst parried and struck the mare across the face, knocking her down, which she quickly recovered from. She struck my blade with a bolt of lightning, throwing it from my hooves. I dodged another swipe from her sword, then rolled towards mine, picking it up quickly and turning back around to dodge another attack. “You’re smart, I’ll give you that.” Cyburst said. “Aww, thanks.” She said cutely, all electricity seemingly disappearing from her body and sword. Just as she raised her blade again, her electricity came back on like it was powered by a switch. She struck down and I rolled away. “But you can’t flatter your way out of this.” She said. Cyburst swung for the first time with his sword, which the mare expertly blocked, the stallion swung again, the mare slid under it and swiped at his hooves, which he jumped over. “I’m usually quite good at things like that.” Cyburst said, swinging again to test the mare’s reaction time. Silverbolt was blocked again, the mare had noticed his technique just like he had noticed hers, and both seemed to never hit their mark. Cyburst surprised her by charging and slashing sideways, catching her under her eye. Blood quickly seeped out, he slashed again and was blocked by the recovering mare, holding her hoof against her cheek. “Didn’t expect that, did you?” He asked. The mare took a breath, the world slowed around her, she felt the electricity arc off of her fur and sword, she studied the stallion fast, dashing at him at speeds high enough to break the sound barrier right then. She shot a wild lightning bolt and directed his attention, then she jumped up over him, dragging the tip of her blade over his spinal cord. The world sped back up, Rain heard the pony shout in pain, watching him as he turned around and slashed blindly, getting blocked and dodged. Her blade once again met his skin across his side, leaving a much deeper gash than the last. She made a horizontal cut across his back legs, dropping him down. Rain Whisper charged up a spell quickly, the electrical lines in the area sparked to life for the first time in twenty years. Cyburst saw the change and jammed Silverbolt into the ground, shrieking as electricity passed through his body and into his blade, making the electricity disappear into the ground. As soon as he felt his body begin to regenerate he quickly whipped around and smashed his hoof into the mare’s throat, dropping her to the ground instantly. Next he brought his hoof down on her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and finally picked up the mare’s sword and slashed downwards at her forehead. Rain Whisper braced for the cut, but it never came. When she looked up at the stallion, the blade was inches from her face, and he was heaving for his breath, he had lost all looks of aggression, but still looked determined. “Now, let me explain.” He said, holding his hoof out to her. She didn’t have much of a choice, he did practically have her life in his hooves. She took his hoof and got up, rubbing her neck and trying to regain her breath, they walked towards her father quickly. Then the stallion explained. Most of which Rain Whisper did not understand, it had been before her time. Yet her father stood quietly, listening to what the stallion had to say. Mirage brought up many problems, but Cyber Burst quickly explained further. My father was amazed, as was I.
Chapter 1 - BeginningsChapter 1 Rain Whisper: The blade in my hooves shined brilliantly, surges of electricity shot through it when I charged up my body. My father stood before me, studying the sword. “I don’t know why you insist to use a weapon to control your power...” He said, “I only trained with the raw power.” I looked up, “I can’t control it as well as you, dad.” I said, feeling the electric current fade from my sword. “I can’t control any of my powers as well as any of you.” “Thalassa said you were becoming much better with hydrokinesis.” He said, sitting down beside me. “I suppose,” I said, levitating a sphere of water near us, circling the two of us. “But electricity and fire seems to be what I am struggling with the most.” I held the sphere a few moments longer, than let it drop into the koi pond outside, making me notice the trickling water. “You remind me so much of your grandmother.” He said, smiling. “Oh?” “Always enjoying the little things.” I smiled, sheathing the sword with my magic. I hadn’t ever known any of my grandmother, I hadn’t ever met her, at least I didn’t think so, my father had always said she would love me, but never spoke much of her. I stood up, staring outside through a glass window, seeing the koi swim carelessly and gracefully through the water. I looked down at my cutie mark, an orange and white koi swimming head to tail of each other in a raindrop. “Why don’t you go check on Twilight, I’m sure she’d love to see you.” The unicorn flashed in my mind, every time I would walk into her library, from the time I was a filly until now, she would have her nose in a book, occasionally she would be in the middle of an experiment. “I will.” I said, turning for the door. Mirage: I sighed. I would of told her to be careful, but I did not want to frighten her. She would need the last of her training sooner than I expected. I didn’t know why, or how, but for weeks I had noticed a shift in the air, something had changed, something I thought would never come back for my daughter, was coming back. The others would not be ready for this, nor would I. Even in my prime I was no match for Celestia, growing so old would only make it easier for her. Celestia made the mistake of leaving me behind once, I knew she would not make it again unless she was certain I would not be getting back up. She needed to be ready, she didn’t need to be afraid of what would happen around her. I pressed my old body up, I swore one of these times I would sit down, and never get back up. “Mirage, you need to tell her.” She said. “In due time, Clock Star.” I said, seeing the mare appear from nowhere, she still had not aged, just like the others. A sequence flashed in my mind, a bright energy concealed my body in a bubble-like shape. Celestia: I open my eyes, utter nothingness surrounds my being. The darkness felt as if was engulfing me, rippling down my throat and suffocating me. I knew where I was, death had finally taken me away. Part of me was relieved, I had lived for so long, seen so many of my friends and family die off, I could finally see them all again. But the other part of me burned with hatred, I had not wanted to die, dying was for the weak, dying was for the mortal. I was immortal, I couldn’t die. “You were killed.” A voice said. I noticed that the feeling of nothing around me returned, I felt on my back one moment, then on my hooves, then I was falling, fast. “Who said that?” I called, my voice seemed to fade off around me. A figure was in the distance, a black outline of a stallion, seeming to be a pegasus. He stepped closer, his crimson eyes seemed to pierce through my own, his pure black mane had red dripping from it. Blood. The crimson colors that were once in his mane were fading, the red streamed from his eyes, flowing down his cheeks like tears leaving behind black, lifeless eyes. “It doesn’t matter who I am, we are both dead.” He said, his fur was also losing its black color, streaming onto the ground as a new, sticky substance. Oil. “What matters is who you are, you are Princess Celestia, arguably the only pony that can kill who needs to be killed.” He said. “Wh-” “Mirage. My Son.” He said. Sequences flashed in my head, a felt an electrical current rush through my body, trailing down my spine and bouncing through my chest. A purple and coal-colored stallion in a magical bubble, a white mare, begging for his release and an avian creature, standing over me. Anger flared in my chest. “Mirage is dead! I killed him already!” I yelled at the stallion that was still losing his features. “True, but he came back, killed me, and returned to Equestria, keeping watch on his daughter and wife.” He said, even though he faded, his voice stayed strong. “The foal...” Celestia muttered, remembering Vinyl’s bloated stomach. “Not a foal anymore, a full grown mare.” The stallion said. I looked up, but said nothing. “Now, you get this last chance, it was originally given to me, but I know I can never beat him and her together. You on the other hoof-” “I will kill them all.” I interrupted. The stallion raised an eyebrow. “Elements of Harmony and The Elementals.” I said, hate and fury engulfing my mind. The stallion smiled lifelessly. “Good.” I spread my wings and stopped the falling, flying towards Canterlot as fast as my colossal wings could let me.
Chapter 2 - The World TodayChapter 2 Rain Whisper: Ponyville had become much quieter than the older ponies said they remembered it, when it was founded after the war, ponies came flocking to the newest town in Equestria. Families from Zephyr, Equestius and even a few griffons from Griffonia had come to live in Equestria. Twenty years had passed since the war ended, and the cherry blossom trees dedicated to fallen family and friends had began to fall today, some ponies sat under the majestic and symbolic trees, reading or picnicking. As I walked down the streets of the town, I caught sight of Cyber Burst, strolling through the marketplace, talking to a shopkeeper. I walked up behind him, then tapped him on the back, making him turn around. “What are you doing here?” I asked, adjusting the sheath on my back with my magic. “Shopping, browsing, socializing.” He listed, “How about you?” “Heading over to Twilight’s.” I said, “Wanna tag along?” He walked with me, “Sure, kid.” I frowned, he always insisted on calling me ‘kid’ even though we seemed to be maybe a few years apart. “Why do you call me that?” “Because you’re a kid?” He said, a comical look on his face. “But you’re just as young as me...” I deadpanned as he patted my head. He stretched out, “Am I really that attractive?” He asked, flexing. I blushed lightly, “That’s what you think, Romeo.” “Hey, that’s not nice.” He said, trailing behind me. Twilight’s house came into view, a giant oak tree standing out among the rest, she sat up on her porch reading a scroll. A confused look on her face. “Hey Twilight!” I shouted up to her, she immediately dropped the scroll to her hooves. “Oh! Hey Rain!” She shouted down, waving quickly. I charged a spell in my horn and teleported up there, feeling a sudden haze in my head from the powerful spell. “What’s up?” I asked, shaking my head. “Rain, you should really be careful with that kind of spell, it isn’t very safe when you haven’t studied on teleporting much.” She explained, looking worried. “You’ve been teaching me a bunch of spells, so I thought I might surprise you with something a bit harder.” I said, teleporting again, this time onto a nearby roof. The haze came back, this time much harsher and more like a headache. I teleported back up to her and stumbled, catching myself on the railing. “See? I’m fine!” I said, feeling like I was about to be sick. “You’ve been around Rainbow Dash too much.” She said, straightening my poise with her magic. “You need to wait until I teach you how to do it without over-exerting yourself.” I frowned, my surprise hadn’t gone over as well as I planned. I thought she would have been more excited and less worried about me. Cyber Burst teleported up next to me, “Tryin’ out teleportation, kid?” He asked with a smirk. “Nice to see you too, Cyburst.” Twilight said, the two had gotten acquainted in the week he’d been in Ponyville, yet none of us knew where he stayed. “Oh, hey Twilight.” He said, turning to her then quickly turning back to me, “Bet you can’t do this-” He cut himself off by teleporting quickly around on the roofs of Ponyville, balancing on some chimneys and pretending he was going to fall off of the sides of some before teleporting back to our side. “Not even a headache.” He said, crossing his arms and leaning against the railing I slid over next to him with a smirk, “Oh really?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow. “Yup.” He said, “Unli-” I smacked my hoof against his chest, knocking him off balance and sending him over the railing. I watched him land with a loud thump! He stared up at me with a scowl and I gave him a playful smile. “Why didn’t you teleport out of that?” Twilight asked with a chuckle. I was surprised to see the librarian crack a joke, a funny one at that. We both broke out in laughter. “Well ha, ha.” He said, teleporting back up and listening to the two of us. I looked up at him while laughing, he had a smirk on his face, somewhere under that shell he was laughing too. “So what’s going on today?” Twilight asked. I looked at Twilight, “Well, I was going to hang around town and say hello-” “But now we’re going to spar.” Cyburst said. Twilight gasped. I looked back, Cyburst wore a grin. “I’ll meet you behind Rarity’s shop.” He said, teleporting off. “You’re on.” I whispered to myself. Twilight spun me around, “You sure about that, Rain?” She asked, “Cyber Burst has had a lot more training than you.” “I can handle it.” I said with a toothy grin, “I’m sure he won’t go too hard on me, Twilight, we’re only going to practice.” Twilight still wore a worried look. “Be careful.” She said. She reminded me so much of my mother, she was like an aunt to me. “I will.” I gave her a hug and lept off of the porch, landing on the ground and rolling to catch myself and took off for Rarity’s. Cyburst stood across from me in the grassy field, letting the wind blow through his mane. His sword sheath appeared on his back, he pulled out his sword, the sun shined off of it’s silver surface. “You never told me, what do you call your sword?” He asked. “Serenity.” I said, pulling it out of the sheath with my magic and watching the light glare off of it. “How about you?” “Silverbolt.” “Well, time to put it to use.” I said, lunging at the stallion and slashing downwards with the blade, connecting with his block. He smiled as I pushed down against him. He pushed back, letting the screeching sound of metal on metal to ring through the air. He swiped wide left at me, I shot my sword upwards and slid under it, grabbing it again as it neared the ground and rocketing it towards the stallion’s head, he deflected it again, my momentum made it go by his head, dragging me closer to him, I used the momentum to slam into him, smashing him to the ground. Serenity returned to it’s sheath and I jumped on top of the stallion swinging at him and connecting with his face a few times before he delivered a bone-jarring headbutt into my forehead. I stepped off of him and he charged with his sword, I quickly jumped up and grabbed the hilt, when I landed behind him, I pulled back, putting it to his neck and disabling him. I held him for a few seconds before I spoke. “Looks like I won.” I said, giggling girlishly. He chuckled along with me, “Not so fast, kid.” The stallion teleported from my grasp, reversing the maneuver and holding my now unsheathed sword to my neck. “Looks like I win.” He said. I sent an electrical current through the blade and shocked his hooves, making him drop the blade and stumble backwards. I whipped around, slashing wildly, parrying his attacks and attacking him whenever I could. He was just as good as me, we seemed to counter each other no matter what. My sword rose to stri- “EXCUSE ME?!” A voice shouted. We both stopped, looking to my right. Rarity stood with a frown on her face at the back door of her store. She looked as pristine as ever. “I do not remember allowing such brutality to happen behind my store!” Rarity shouted over at us. She was stomping out towards us. “And if I did, I promise I was not in my right mind and would never say such a thing again.” She continued. I smiled sheepishly at Rarity, who glared furiously at the two of us. “Sorry Rarity, we didn’t even think about it.” I said. “Yeah, what she said.” Cyburst said. “Well, considering the amount of time you spend with Twilight I would expect you to think on such a matter. She said, “And Cyber Burst, for a stallion of your age you should know better than to participate in a barbaric activity such as this.” Cyburst’s head hung low, I was really beginning to question how old the stallion was. “Now, if you two are done, I will allow you in my shop to show the both of you something.” Rarity ended, taking a breath. We had no other choice than to follow the mare back into her shop. When we entered, the smell of many different perfumes, invaded our nostrils, Cyburst looked like he was about to choke, but I was enjoying the smells. “Miss Rain Whisper, let me introduce to you one of the most fabulous things I’ve ever put together.” Rarity said, pulling a white cloth. “Rarity, you didn’t have t-” When my eyes fell upon the dress, my heart stopped and I think I took in the largest breath in pony history. It was a stark white dress, from the bottom, a black tree branch jumped up to the middle of the dress, shedding cherry blossom petals until they fell to the foot of the dress, where real petals encircled the rim of the dress, at the top there was a pink petal still on the stem to go behind my ear. “Well?” Rarity asked, looking like she was going to pop. “It’s...” I stuttered, “Beautiful.” Rarity squealed with delight, trying to keep her lady-like composure. “Excellent!” She shrieked, “No use in keeping you waiting then!” The mare dragged me into a dressing room, Cyburst began to follow but Rarity stopped him with a hoof to his chest. “Ah, ah ,ah,” She cooed. “this is the ladies only room” she said, gesturing to the sign above the door. Cyburst frowned, Rarity frowned back, then darted back in the room. Just because I wasn’t as much a girly-girl as some other mare’s in town didn’t mean I didn’t like to get dolled up every once in awhile. I liked to get dirty and wrestle around with the stallion friends in town, but I also liked to go to the spa with my mare friends. I was in the dress within seconds, staring into a mirror at my shimmering self, Rarity had somehow done my hair in such a short time frame, but it too was prettier than I would have ever guessed it could be. Rarity had always had a knack for those things. Rarity shoved me out onto a stage after a quick puff of makeup and walked along side me, bowing dramatically. I rolled my eyes, when I looked down, I was sure I would see only Cyber Burst, but he had been crowded by some of my older stallion friends from town. “Really pretty.” Lemon Bounce said, clapping his hooves. “It brings out your eyes.” Cloud Buster complemented. I blinked my eyes a few times, staring down at them, “Ya think?” The four stallion nodded in agreement, even Cyber Burst was with the other three. “Yer’ real cute like that.” Apple Pie said. I jumped off of the stage and smiled, “Thanks guys, I didn’t know you three would be here. Lemon Bounce hopped in place, “Of course we would, we love to check you out when you let us!” He said. “You guys know you always can.” I joked, I had fooled around with Lemon Bounce a lot in High-School, but never too serious. He was always really energetic and always finding a hint of optimism in anything. “We reckoned you’d come and chop off our heads If you found out.” Apple Pie said, he’d always been the most laid back of the three, but was definitely the biggest of the three, taking after his father, Big Macintosh. “You three are more predictable than anypony else checking me out.” I said with a laugh. “Y’know, I’m sure these two were always predictable, but I am always smooth in what I do.” Cloud Buster said, brushing his hair dramatically. He had always thought of himself ‘the best’ in good fun, but sometimes he was so proud it was overwhelming. “Like how you were so smooth at prom?” I chuckled, getting a bit of laughter out of Apple Pie and Lemon Bounce. Cloud Buster narrowed his eyes, “Hey, don’t bring Twist into this.” He said. “Don’t worry,” I said, trying to hold back laughter. “we won’t.” Cyber Burst came closer to me, looking at the other stallions with a very unamused face. “Well done Rarity,” He said, looking over at her with a smile. “It is beautiful.” “Why, thank you!” Rarity gushed. Cyburst stepped in the middle of the three stallions. “You three better treat this mare with respect, or I will not hesitate to step in.” He said slowly. The three nodded quickly. “Good.” Cyburst said, looking over at me. “You look beautiful, kid.” He said. I watched him teleport away, then smiled. “Thanks.” I said to noone.
Chapter 3 - The ReturnChapter 3 Rain Whisper: While we walked, Lemon Bounce and Cloud Buster were arguing nonstop, I could have swore Cloud Buster was going to throw a punch sooner or later. As we passed Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie darted out, bouncing over us and landing next to me. “Hey guys, watcha doin’?” She asked. “We’re just walking, Mom.” Lemon Bounce said. “We haven’t got much to do.” “Oh, that sounds cool, See ya!” When I looked over to her again, she had completely disappeared. With Pinkie Pie being Lemon Bounce’s mom, I had gotten to know her much more than some of the other older mares in town. She was friends with everypony in town, no matter how they acted and no matter who they were. Most of her questionable antics had been passed on to Lemon Bounce, like the constant hopping around, the contagious smiling, outstanding parties and all around randomness. “Where’d she go?” I asked eventually, looking around for her. Lemon Bounce laughed, “You really think I know?” He moved around Cloud Buster and stood to my left, bumping into me. “I swear you get prettier and prettier by the day.” He said, looking into my eyes. His golden eyes shined brilliantly in the sunlight, his orange-yellow mane caught in his face, drawing his attention from me. I looked down his muscular, toned body and saw his cutie mark, a balloon with the string hanging on to a lemon, keeping it in the air. “Watcha lookin’ at?” He asked, wiggling his rump. “Just returning the favor.” I said with a giggle. Hey gasped dramatically, “What is that supposed to mean?” “I know what you’ve been looking at for the past five years.” I said matter-of-factly. “Whatever you say, sugar.” He joked. Sweet Luna I hated that nickname, ever since our freshman year in high school he would call me that. “Don’t call me sugar.” I growled playfully. “Are you not my sugar?” He asked, rubbing his nose against mine. I rubbed back, “Of course I am.” I said, giving him my best ‘bedroom eyes’. Of course I was only fooling around with him, he had always known I would tease him whenever I could, and maybe give him a little secret session every once in awhile. He was the best kisser I knew, well, he was the only person I had kissed out of my family and mare friends. Lemon Bounce and I always had fun together, and I just liked to be with him when I could. My dad would never let me date anypony, he probably would hunt Lemon Bounce down if he knew half of the things we did together. We had never had sex, just little kisses and a tease every now and then. “How about we go somewhere... a bit more... private?” He said, giving a small smooch. I thought for a few seconds, there were surely customers at sugarcube corner, and my dad was at home, and we wouldn’t just go in an alley somewhere. “Hey! Rain Whisper!” Someone called. I immediately pulled away from Lemon Drop and looked around, Twilight was standing in front of the library waving. We had walked a complete circle around the town. I walked up to her, “What’s up?” I asked. “Oh, I’m so lucky that you showed up,” She said, “could you watch over the library for a few hours? I really need to get over to Pinkie Pie’s.” I smiled, this was perfect. “Of course.” I said. “Great, thank you so much.” She said, walking away. I walked inside, Lemon Bounce followed. Cloud Buster and Apple Pie took off, of course they knew what was going on. “Soooo.” I said, spinning around and getting in a pouncing position to look at Lemon Bounce. “You are so sexy when you do that.” He said, coming close to me. I giggled, “Dirty talking already, Bounce?” “You know it.” He said, practically tackling me down. I let him take control of me, Serenity’s sheath was slid off of my back magically. “No use in having that.” He said, dragging it away. He leaned down and kissed me, eliciting giggles out of the both of us. A mint like taste invaded my mouth when his tongue journeyed around, sliding against my tongue and whipping against the inside of my cheeks. I pushed him off and ran my hooves across his bright yellow fur, he did the same to me. I squirmed around at the touch, he laughed and I laughed with him as our lips met again and again. I reached my hooves up around his neck and pulled down, making the kiss last longer. Just as I felt a hoof against my flank, the door opened again. Twilight and Cyber Burst stood, Twilight with a shocked expression, Cyburst with an angry one. Cyburst stomped into the room, Lemon Bounce quickly jumped off of me, backing away from the larger stallion. Twilight rushed over to me, picking me up. Cyburst was thinking wrong, as was Twilight, they thought I was being raped. “Wai-” I tried. “What did I say for you to do?” Cyburst growled at the cowering stallion, pulling his sword from it’s sheath. “Sir, it’s not what you thin-” “No?!” Cyburst shouted, picking the stallion up with his free hoof and slamming him into a wall. “Then what was it?” All of the sudden, Cyburst stopped, he looked up at the ceiling. “Impossible...” He whispered. Everypony froze when a loud crash was heard on the top of the tree. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE?!” Somepony shouted. Twilight’s eyes shrunk in fear, we all stared at her as she opened the door, looking upwards as she walked away from her home, behind her, ponies were either running away, or frozen, staring up at the roof. “Princ-” I didn’t know what came over me, but my horn charged and shot a spell, covering Twilight in a small dome just before a yellow beam of light struck it, threatening to shatter the shield. I rushed outside, but Cyburst held me in place, moving outside himself. I followed after him no matter what, magically equipping Serenity once again. The beam stopped just as I appeared outside. I stared up, a giant Alicorn, different, but resembling Princess Luna in size stood alone, her eyes narrowed with a large sword by her side, held in a magical grasp. “Who are you?!” I shouted. The alicorn let out a deep, shaking laugh. “Do you not remember me, little pony?” She asked. Just as I was about to speak, Cyburst cut me off. “How are you here?” He asked, “I killed you myself.” “What?!” Twilight and I said in unison. “I’ve been brought back to kill you, every last one of you.” She said, “I am here to seek revenge on the ponies who aided in my downfall!” She screamed. I shot up next to her, swinging my sword rapidly in her direction, every single time I swung at her, she blocked easily. I went to swing again, but I felt a sharp pain in my side, I looked down to my side as I fell, three daggers were put into a triangular shape on my side. The impact with the ground snapped me back to reality, the pain was unbearable, I screamed, feeling my blood leave my body extremely fast, the world around me spun, all I could see was the alicorn, looking down at me. I was picked up by a magical aura, at first I assumed it to be Twilight’s, but as I was launched into the side of a building, I thought differently. I blacked out for a few seconds, the pain was overwhelming my senses. When I opened my eyes, I was in the living room of the building I had been shot into, a family of ponies looked down at me in fear. I stumbled as I stood back up, falling over a few times before I regained my footing. Whoever this alicorn was, she was stronger than anypony I had ever fought against. I leapt back through the hole I entered from, leaving the daggers in my side. Cyburst lie on the ground, getting repeatedly slammed into it. He was muttering something I couldn’t hear. I quickly picked up Serenity and jumped up at the alicorn again, slashing across her wing. When I went to take another swing, the pain in my side stopped me, giving the alicorn enough time to slap me off the side of the building with her newly injured wing. I rolled before I impacted the ground this time, not feeling as much pain. I charged up my body quickly, the electrical lines in the area hummed loudly, arcs of electrical power generated from my body. The alicorn looked down at me, her horn glowed brightly as she shot a spell in my direction. I let my power loose, watching it impact her spell and fight against it. The charge in my body was fading fast, her spell was gaining ground quickly, I put everything I had into it, pushing her spell back a few feet. “After you, I go for your father!” The alicorn shouted over the sound of our spells colliding. She pushed back again, overwhelming my spell altogether, my lightning disappeared as her spell engulfed the ground round me. A burning sensation lit across my entire body, I felt like I had been set on fire, I closed my eyes, wishing for the pain to stop. I felt my blood rush from my side, my head pounded intensely and I was being pressed into the ground from the raw power of her spell, the earth around me crumpled and disappeared from her spell. I dared opening my eyes, only to close them immediately, it was like staring into the sun. I felt the world flip and swirl in my head, my mind turned blank, then was filled with pain. I blacked out completely.
Chapter 4 - AftermathChapter 4 Mirage: I looked down onto my daughter’s fallen figure, she wasn’t breathing, she wasn’t moving. I dropped by her side, holding her charred hoof. Then I cried, for the first time in a long time, I just sat and cried. I never knew Celestia would come so quickly, she wasn’t ready to face Celestia, and now she never could be ready. “Please... don’t you take my daughter...” I prayed slowly. “Take me, but for fuck’s sake, do not take my daughter...” Thalassa walked into the room, holding my shoulder. She put a hoof on Rain’s chest, making some of her burnt fur fall off. “Hey, champ.” She said with a weak smile. “You did good, you did good.” A tear fell from Thalassa’s eye. I looked back up at Rain Whisper, her body had almost been completely burned away, her mane and tail, as well as most of her fur was gone, only one of her ears remained, one of her eyes had a large cut through it. Her cutie mark had been reduced to only one koi, and half of the raindrop. Twilight entered next, casting a spell around her limp body. I didn’t question what she was doing, I already knew. When she was set back down, her body was returned to it’s normal state, all of the burns had disappeared, and she went back to the beautiful state she was in the last I saw her. But she still would not breathe. “I’m so sorry Mirage, my magic won’t let me bring her back.” Twilight said. Vinyl entered as well, she had been on tour when all of this had happened, but she came back immediately. She cried, she laid on top of her daughter, begging her to come back, shouting in her face, her tears dripping down onto her lifeless daughter. “Mirage, I need to speak to you.” A voice said, Princess Luna stood in the doorway of our home. As much as I didn’t want to leave Rain Whisper, I knew Princess Luna could be the only pony powerful enough to bring her back. We walked together on the streets of Ponyville, Celestia had left shortly after destroying most of the town, leaving ponies to drown in sadness. “I can bring her back.” Luna said. “I thought you would say that.” I said, looking up at her. “What’s the catch?” Princess Luna looked down at me, a very serious look on her face. “I have revived many of my Nightguard after they have fallen in battle, the bat ponies and vampires and lycans.” She said. “I know your daughter inherited your vampirism, and she can control it well.” “We’ve touched on the subject extensively.” I said, “She can go for years without a single drop of blood.” Luna sighed, “The Nightguard can barely go for a few hours, and still want more.” She explained, “I fear if I revive your daughter, she will become that way as well, if not worse.” “How bad?” “Will most likely need large doses daily, unless you can keep her from waking up the vampire.” The alicorn explained. “Waking it up?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, this already sounded like a bad idea. Luna gave me a small necklace. “If she would wear this, she could go on living just like normal, but if she were to take it off, she will transform into a full vampire, and be more powerful than ever before, and be extremely dangerous.” She explained. “It is your choice whether this happens or not, even then, it still may not work.” There was nothing in the world I wanted more than my daughter back, and everyone would need her if Celestia were to attack again. “Do it.” Rain Whisper: A chain was jingling, I could hear it. When I opened my eyes, nothing surrounded me, when I tried to walk, I could feel the ground, but I couldn’t see it. Suddenly, a sharp pain elicited in my mouth, making me yelp in pain, I could taste blood in my mouth, but instead of the nasty, metallic taste I had remembered, it tasted sweet, like melted chocolate. I swallowed it, licking my lips, trying to get another taste. I blinked, when my eyes opened, a blinding light invaded my vision. I screamed, swinging my hooves in random directions, I was being held down, making me even angrier. I could feel my muscles tense and expand, my eyes tingled violently, and my teeth cut into my gums. I blinked again, trying to get the feeling out of them, all I could hear was ringing, all I could see was light, burning into my eyes. Burning, my body felt like it was on fire, everything was burning. Then, everything stopped. My eyes focused, I was staring at the ceiling of my room, I was in my bed. I looked to my left, My father, my mother and Princess Luna stood, holding different parts of my body down. On my right, Cyber Burst, Twilight and Thalassa stood, doing the same. “Sweetie?” My mom said. I licked my teeth, then opened my mouth. “Yes?” I asked. “Oh, thank goodness.” She said, falling onto my chest. “Glad to have you back, kid.” Cyburst said, scratching my head and ruffling my mane. I didn’t understand, I was just in... My mind blanked, Where had I fallen asleep? Where was I last. Suddenly, my mind screamed, bombarding my thoughts with images of fighting, the alicorn, her final spell that I couldn’t fight off, and the burning. “Did I...” “Yes.” Princess Luna said, “My sister, Princess Celestia has come back to fight for leadership of Equestria again.” “Your sister?” “Yes, she is a tyrant, she has gone mad with her own power and thinks she alone should rule over Equestria.” Luna explained. “She tried to once, but was ultimately defeated.” I had heard much about the war before, but never asked anypony about their role in it, I always thought that would be disrespectful. “She seeks to destroy the Elements of Harmony and the Elemental Ponies, giving her the power to overthrow Equestria without any resistance.” Twilight said. “But, if we all work together, we can beat her like before.” Cyber Burst added. I tried to sit up, but Luna pressed me back down. “There are things we must go over, before you can leave.” She said. Luna’s magic pulled on a necklace I hadn’t noticed before that was around my neck. “Whatever you do, do not ever take this off.” Luna spoke carefully and slowly, like I was a foal. The six ponies surrounding me studied me carefully, I began to feel claustrophobic, like I was encased in between them. “What happens if I do?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “That is for you to find out.” Luna said, pulling me up. “Come with me.” I walked behind her, trying to keep my balance, my body seemed to be slightly off, I felt like a foal first learning to walk. I fell to my left, but felt a presence, holding me upright, it was my father. “Try to regain your senses.” He said, holding me upright as we followed Luna. When we exited the house, I gasped, most of Ponyville lie in ashes, the few buildings that remained had long burn marks on the sides and some had crumbling walls. “She did this.” I said, looking up to Luna, “Celestia, I mean.” “Yes, we all underestimated her power when she came back.” Luna said, looking towards the horizon, where the sun was just beginning to come up. “It seems she has grown stronger since we last saw her.” “But you have too, right Luna?” I asked. Luna stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke carefully. “Of course I have.” She said. We remained quiet as Princess Luna took us to the center of town, eventually only I stood in front of the two. “Now, for the town’s safety.” Luna said, charging a spell. I felt the necklace shudder slightly, I looked down at it, the dark red cross was now glowing brightly. Suddenly, a large dome appeared around me, stretching throughout the center of town, but leaving my father and Luna out. “What is this about?” I asked, studying the spell. “If you are going to transform, you need to be alone, out of harm’s way.” Luna said. My father nodded, “Luna is right, you need to learn to control this as best you can.” “But, you told me to never take it off.” I said. Luna stepped closer to the dome, putting her hoof on it. “I meant when you were capable of being harmed, or harming somepony.” I narrowed my eyes questioningly, but nodded nonetheless. “Take it off whenever you are ready.” Luna said. “But try to remain in control as much as you can.” I put a hoof on the necklace, feeling in vibrate in my grasp. I pulled upwards, taking the necklace completely off. I braced myself, waiting for anything to happen. I cracked open an eye, had it worked? I didn’t feel any different than before, had I kept complete control? “Did it wo-” Just as I spoke, an overwhelming amount of pressure pressed me to the ground, it felt like I was hit over the head with a sledgehammer, I tried to scream, but all that came out was a quiet hiss. My eyes rolled back in my head, the pain was excruciating, I closed my eyes when dizziness began to overcome me. I felt my horn tingle then begin to ache badly. I opened my eyes again, darkness was invading the sides of my vision. I heard angry wing flapping in my direction, looking up I saw a swarm of bats coming down around me, encircling my body and lifting me completely off of the ground. All of my senses failed all at once.
