Green is start music and red is stop.

Ten minutes earlier...

High up in Canterlot Castle, the alicorn pony that many know as Princess Luna, ruler of the night itself, looked quietly upon a balcony. She stood there every night, looking upon her many subjects, protecting her beautiful night. But that's what made this moment odd: It wasn't nighttime. Normally she might be taking a much needed rest, and Celestia would be doing her duties, watching over the kingdom during the daytime. So what could she be doing here now?

This balcony was also a good place to get some fresh air, or to sort out your thoughts. And currently, Luna's thought's really needed sorting out. She had certain thoughts that were weighing heavily upon her.

Particularly thoughts for a certain red anthropomorphic hedgehog...named Raiden.

Luna clenched her teeth. That name made her angry. She didn't like thinking about that hedgehog. He made her angry. The very thought of him made her angrier than she thought she could be at one living being. But that was the thing that was plaguing her mind.

"Why?" she asked herself.

That was just it. The red hedgehog made her angry, but she didn't know why. Luna didn't want to get very angry at him, and even thought she overreacted when she yelled at him the way she did. She could even understand Raiden's attempts at humor, even if it was annoying. So what about him made her mad? He just seemed to radiate something that she didn't like. But what? She didn't know what she hated about him so much, and she hated that fact itself.

Luna screamed, her frustration reaching it's peak. In her growing combination of emotions, she stomped her hoof to the ground, causing a large crack to be formed beneath her hoof.

At that same moment, she heard a massive BOOM coming from the direction of Ponyville, causing her to jump slightly. She turned towards Ponyville, and her eyes could only keep getting wider. What she saw was a red pillar of...something. Some kind of energy, but unfamiliar energy. It wasn't magic. It was much more chaotic. It also seemed connected to something. It was as if there were two things harnessing this power. Luna didn't know what it was, but it felt unnatural, and that unnerved her. Whether it was dangerous or not, it needed investigating.

The red pillar receded, and Luna ran to find her sister.

Present time...

Raiden was sent several feet back, his feet sliding against the ground before eventually being halted. He looked towards his opponent, Scootaloo, with a glare. "I shouldn't underestimate her," he thought, "especially with that emerald. Still..." He looked down at his wrists, reminding himself that they had somehow snapped off. He had never seen anyone angry enough to do that before. He looked back at the corrupted young filly. Her anger was beyond reasoning.

"This should be a cakewalk." he told himself. Raiden once again charged at Scootaloo, and she responded, both arms pulled back, ready to deliver a destructive blow.

Raiden was just about to attack when he heard Twilight's voice shout "Raiden, wait!"

"Huh?" Raiden turned his head back, which proved to be a grave mistake as Scootaloo's hoof met Raiden's cheek, sending him flying back towards the other ponies. Twilight used magic to stop him before he could crash into them, and gently placed him down.

Raiden stood back up and rubbed a sore spot on his head before turning around and glaring at Twilight. "You'd better have a good reason for interrupting me." he spat at Twilight.

Twilight ignored the threat. "Raiden, please! Don't hurt her!"

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, what!?" he replied stunned.

Rarity spoke. "Dear, you can't just harm her. She's only a little filly."

Raiden turned to Rarity, completely baffled at these ponies. "Uh, yeah; a 'little filly' who's trying to tear us inside-out!"

Applejack stepped in. "That can't be 'er own thinkin'! 't's gotta be that there gem thingamajig she's holdin' on ta!"

"It doesn't matter who's thinking it is," Raiden retorted, "she's too far gone! I can't save her!"

Spike stood on Twilight's back and then jumped over to Raiden. "And you're not even going to try!" he shouted, anger resonating in his voice. "She's still a pony, and she's just a kid!"

Raiden remembered that his rings were off. "Damn! Can't piss 'em off too much. Choose your words carefully, Raiden." He looked Spike in the eye. "I truly am sorry, but I've tried this sort of thing before, and if there was any way for me to save her, than I would. But there isn't, so I can't."

Pinkie Pie pointed a hoof towards Scootaloo's direction and asked "You mean it isn't as simple as taking that em from her hoof?"

Raiden began to reply by saying "No it-" but cut himself off as he processed what Pinkie had said. "Wait...what?"

"Ah already tol'ja'll," answered Applejack, "that there gem thing's gotta be controllin' 'er."

Raiden turned around. Scootaloo was seething with anger, and in her hoof was the gem. Raiden's eyes widened. "That's impossible! She should have already bonded with it by now. Something must be holding it back." He then turned towards the ponies and Spike, who all had hopeful looks in their eyes. "Then...she can be saved!"

Raiden looked at Pinkie Pie and answered her question. "Pinkie, you're half right." He pointed towards Scootaloo. "We're gonna need to get that gem away from her."

"Then...there's still a chance?" asked Spike, relieved.

His relief was quickly replaced with worry when Raiden turned to him with a worried expression of his own. "There is," said Raiden, "but it won't be simple. She's really strong, and she won't just hand it over. If we want her back to normal, we need to be careful." Raiden turned around and pointed towards his rings lying on the ground. "We can make this easier if I get my rings back, so I need all of you to draw her attention from me. Then going for the emerald will be the easy part. Were on a time limit, so let's do this."

"Hold on there, pardner," said Applejack with slight annoyance. "Why're ya 'spectin' is ta just follow long with this 'ere plan?"

"Why?" repeated Raiden as if Applejack had just asked the stupidest question in the world. "Because you have no choice in the matter."

Applejack was about to protest when Scootaloo shouted "Enough talking!" and charged towards the group. "Now you all die!" She flew high into the air and reared hoof back. Raiden and the ponies just barely jumped out of the way before Scootaloo crashed into the ground, leaving a surprisingly large crater under her front fore-hoof.

Raiden landed gracefully on his feet while the ponies stumbled and were made to skid to a halt. "You still feel like arguing?" asked Raiden sarcastically. "This is the only shot we have. Now MOVE!"

Though reluctant to trust Raiden, the ponies realized that they really did have no choice. They all nodded and crouched down in defensive stances. Scootaloo turned her head towards the group with a glare that could stun the Devil. She didn't hesitate for a second and immediately rushed towards the group. She reared back her hoof, and just as she was about to deliver a punch to Raiden's face - who was currently at the front of the group - a force field of purple energy appeared in front of Raiden and blocked Scootaloo's punch. The impact was still felt however, as a massive pattern of cracks was formed on the force field and a small shockwave was formed in between it and Scootaloo's hoof. Twilight grunted from the massive strain of keeping the shield up, but she stood standing.

For a moment, Scootaloo was shocked at the sudden appearance of the force field, but was suddenly snapped back to reality when a pie hit her in the face. Everyone looking at Scootaloo turned in the direction the pie came from, and saw Pinkie holding another pie in her left hoof, standing on her hind legs.

"What'cha waiting for, Rai?" asked Pinkie in a surprisingly cheerful tone, "Were distracting her. You gotta get those rings back, right?"

Resisting the urge to cringe at his new nickname, Raiden stood up straight and nodded. He looked across what was now the battlefield for his rings, as they got scattered in the shock waves of the fight. Scootaloo had already gotten the pie off of her face, and was now even more angry. She reared her hoof back once more, but when she did, it was caught by a rope. Scootaloo tried pulling free, but this was an unbelievably strong rope, and someone had an unbelievably strong grip. She turned around to see Applejack pulling the rope towards her to prevent Scootaloo from going any further. "Sorry, Scoots," she said, "but no one's dyin' t'day!"

Scootaloo's eyes flared in anger. She increased her efforts to free her hoof from the rope, but was stopped when the rope seemed to gain a mind of it's own, and the end of the rope slowly snaked it's way around her body before getting taught. Scootaloo gritted her teeth and struggled to break free with no success. She only now noticed the light blue magical energy surrounding the rope, and found that Rarity was using her magic to control it. She only got angrier as she fell to the ground, her wings restrained.

Applejack wiped the sweat from her brow and walked over to Rarity. "Whoo!" she gasped, "Thanks, Rar'. Dunno how much longer ah could've hel'don there."

Rarity dusted herself off and said "Well, a lady never keeps anypony waiting," she said, "unlike Raiden over there." She turned towards Raiden and asked "Have you found those rings yet, dearie?"

Raiden never lost focus from the task at hand, but after a few more seconds of scanning the battlefield, he spotted the two rings - luckily not to far away from each other - and answered "Yeah, I just did. Keep Scootaloo tied up and try to take that gem out from under the rope, if you can."

"Yessir, Rai," said Applejack. This time Raiden could not hold back the cringe from his nickname as he walked over to his rings. Applejack was oblivious however and looked over to Twilight. "Y'all feelin' good there, Twi?"

"Yeah," she replied, "yeah, I'm fine. Still a bit wobbly in the knees, but I think I can get that gem." She walked over to Scootaloo, tied up and grounded. "Hang on a second, Scootaloo. This will only take a second." Twilight's horn glowed with a familiar purple glow, showing that she was working her magic.

But Scootaloo wasn't going to give up so easily. Nopony was going to take her precious gem from her. Not without a fight. She looked over at the first one to defy her: Raiden. Her eyes flared with pure anger. She raised her back right hoof before quickly bringing it down.

As Raiden approached his rings, he noticed a rumbling sound. He looked over to the where it was coming from, and saw a concentrated mass of earth speeding towards his direction. "What!" was all he had time to say before he jumped out of the way and the mass of earth spawned a massive pillar of rock, scattering his rings across the battlefield once again. Raiden landed gracefully on his feet and looked towards the direction the attack came from. He saw Scootaloo at the end of the trail that the attack left behind, though now she was untied and standing up, the gem still in hoof. Twilight had been knocked down, likely from the quake that had come with the attack, and Spike and Rarity were now helping her up. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were standing in front of her, likely preparing to defend. Just under Scootaloo was a mark that looked like the edge of a hoof, coming just before the trail of destroyed ground.

"Did she really do that?" Raiden wondered in awe. "No one's ever been that strong without being bonded before. Must be something amplifying it."

Scootaloo rose her her head and once again glared at Raiden. She stomped her back left hoof, raising a large circular wall, cutting of the other ponies from her and Raiden. "I have yet to be proven wrong," thought Raiden.

Scootaloo hovered in the air, snarling at Raiden. "You're the first to die," she growled.

"Just you and me, huh?" Raiden sarcastically asked. He crouched in a battle stance. "You're going to regret that decision. A lot."

Scootaloo's eyes flared a very angry look, and she reared back her back right hoof while flying towards Raiden, and unleashing a side kick at Raiden's head, which he easily ducked. Scootaloo then ax-kicked at Raidens head, but Raiden stepped to the right, easily avoiding the attack. Scootaloo dashed over towards Raiden and unleashed three lightning fast punches, though Raiden blocked those before raising his left arm, stopping a roundhouse kick. Scootaloo's hoof went towards Raiden's face, and Raiden caught it, while at the same time catching a hoof heading towards his stomach. "I recognize a feint when I see one," said Raiden.

With each attack that failed to land, Scootaloo just got angrier and angrier. She rose her back right leg upward in a powerful kick towards Raiden's jaw, but Raiden just tilted his head back and let go of her front hooves, causing Scootaloo to miss her attack and awkwardly flail in midair. Raiden then grabbed her leg and threw him over his shoulder, and Scootaloo regained her balance in midair and hover.

"Your form is surprisingly good," Raiden admitted, "but none of your attacks look quite right. It's as if you lazily copied someone else's moves."

Scootaloo's anger was now mixed in with embarrassment, for in fact, she had copied those moves from Rainbow Dash, her idol. "Enough avoiding me!" she shouted, "Fight me properly!"

Raiden stood up straight. "Fight you? Oh, no no no. If I even began to think of attacking you, I'd be public enemy number one through six. I'm not gonna fight you." Raiden then smirked. "I was just stalling until the cavalry arrived."

Before Scootaloo even had time to be confused, a portion of the wall containing the two blew up. Both Raiden and Scootaloo looked at where the blast came from, the ladder being surprised and confused. Through the dust cloud that had formed, a beam of yellow energy blasted towards Scootaloo, immobilizing her when it hit it's mark.

"What!?" Scootaloo cried out in frustration as she tried to move but found the spell to be beyond any kind of power she had. This couldn't have been Twilight. As the dust settled, Princess Celestia could be seen, firing the blast from her horn.

"'bout time, Princess," said Raiden, "I assume Luna's here as well?"

"She is currently attending to Twilight," replied Celestia, "but how did you know?"

"I don't think the rulers of this land would miss out on a light show like that. Seriously, that could have been seen from another kingdom away." Raiden walked up to Scootaloo. "She's immobalized?"

"For the time being, but not for long." As she said that, Celestia grimaced in effort.

"I don't need long," said Raiden. He reached a hand towards the gem in Scootaloo's hoof.

But Scootaloo's hoof emitted a wave of energy that caused Raiden's hand to be pushed back and Celestia to strain a bit more. "What the-?" was all Raiden said before another wave of energy more powerful than the last. Raiden and Celestia had to struggle to hold their ground. But the third one that came was massive, crumbling the arena around them and sending the hedgehog and the alicorn flying back several feet.

Raiden was barely affected and quickly got up. He looked to where Celestia was. The other ponies including Luna felt the need to tend to her, though she was perfectly fine. At first he went back to the current danger. A massive pile of rubble had collapsed on Scootaloo, but Raiden knew that she had survived. However, looking past the rubble, he spotted a golden glint in the distance. He remembered what he was initially looking for and immediately knew what it was. he scanned across the battlefield and, near his position, found a gold ring. His eyes widened for a moment and he dashed over to it and picked it up. "Not gonna get cocky this time," he said, snapping the ring back onto his left wrist. He turned over to where he saw that flash of gold. Now that he was closer he could see that it was indeed his second ring. Not taking any more chances, he rushed over to the ring and picked it up. He was about to snap it back on when he felt a rumble. He immediately knew what it was and turned back to the pile of rubble that contained Scootaloo.

Everyone in the group of ponies was in a defensive stance, with Celestia, Luna and Twilight already charging some sort of spell with their horns. Suddenly, Scootaloo burst out of the rubble, releasing massive amounts of energy as she does so, which breaks the concentration of the princesses and Twilight and throwing them off balance. Applejack and Pinkie Pie tried to throw their lasso/pie at the young peasus, but Scootaloo immediately looks over to Raiden, the anger in her eyes practically it's own entity. She flapped her transparent wings and rushed over to Raiden in midair, avoiding Applejack and Pinkie's attempts at subduing the threat.

At that moment, Raiden smirked and snapped his other ring onto his right wrist.

Scootaloo's formerly narrowed eyes snapped wide open before they slammed closed as she stopped going towards Raiden and clutched her head between her hooves. She screamed towards the sky in frustration and agony. Raiden felt his rings spark heavily and remembered how they had gotten off before. "Right. Gotta concentrate on keeping her in check," he thought. Raiden fought to keep Scootaloo's anger in check while Scootaloo tried to fight him off. Raiden eventually extended his arms towards Scootaloo and suddenly strands of black electricity trailed its way out of Scootaloo's body, finding it's way to Raiden's rings. Scootaloo's eyes shot open as she once again rose her head towards the sky and screamed in pain.

Eventually, Raiden quickly pulled his arms back and the last of the black electricity seemed to find it's way to Raiden's rings. Scootaloo close her eyes and hung her head while still in the air, and her wings of energy seemed to flicker on and off. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked twice. "Huh?" was all she said.

Raiden dashed over to Scootaloo and punched her in the gut, snapping her eyes wide open and knocking the wind out of her. She looked over at Raiden in surprise before her eyeballs rolled into the back of her head and she closed them, unconscious. She dropped the emerald and Raiden caught it.

"Glad that's over," said Raiden, gently laying down Scootaloo's body. He looked down at the pony before him. He pitied Scootaloo. He wondered if her life could ever be the same after this.

Raiden heard foot...uh, hoof steps coming from behind him, and then he felt his rings spark. He turned to see, as expected, the other ponies. Celestia and Luna in particular stood in front of him, glaring down upon him, while the other ponies stood behind them wearing their own angry glares. Apparently they didn't take to kindly to Raiden knocking out Scootaloo. Raiden didn't falter, however. He wasn't intimidated by these ponies. Hell, he could probably take them down.

Before Raiden could indulge in any fantasies about fighting anyone, Luna spoke, "You have much to explain." The other ponies and Spike nodded in agreement. Raiden held up the gem he had gotten from Scootaloo.

"First we need to see Rainbow Dash," he stated simply.

Nearby, at the top of a tree, a two-legged figure clad in a brown robe was watching the whole scene. He had been the first to see the gem take hold of the orange filly. When he saw the red hedgehog enter the fray he smiled, always enjoying a good show. The princesses had been an expected turn. He was disappointed when the fight ended and Scootaloo was returned to normal. He would have hoped for a little more chaos. Though he was pleased to find that those other ponies weren't to happy with Raiden's choice to knock-out Scootaloo. He watched the group of ponies, dragon and hedgehog walk away, and a devilish smile entered found it's way to his face.

"Well, Raiden," said the figure in a very masculine voice, "looks like were going to have some fun here, aren't we?"

He made his way back into the forest, looking forward to how things here would play out.

Twenty minutes later...

The group found themselves at the hospital, and Raiden could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Along the way here, there had been many stares, and while that was understandable, it didn't mean he had to like it. Really, what's so strange about four famous ponies and a baby dragon walking alongside two princesses and an anthropomorphic hedgehog carrying an orange filly towards a hospital? Nevertheless, he was relieved when they finally got to the hospital.

His relief diminished when he opened the doors and eyes continued to stare at them. Raiden suppressed a groan as he and company entered the hospital. He looked to the pony at the desk. "I think you know the drill," he said. The nurse snapped out of her trance and nodded, running off to get something. Probably a sickbed.

Raiden looked around uneasily. Half the eyes in the room seemed to be on him, and he didn't like it. The princesses, he could tell, were used to the attention they were receiving, particularly Celestia, as he remembered Twilight telling him that she ruled over the day. Raiden, however, was never a fan of too much attention, and preferred to be on his own. Back on Mobius, a talking super fast red hedgehog that walked on two legs was perfectly normal. Why can't it be the same here?

The nurse ran back to the group with a sickbed, a doctor, and two paramedics. Raiden placed Scootaloo on the sickbed and the paramedics pushed it away. The doctor ran off with them, and the nurse stayed behind and bowed before Celestia and Luna. "Is there anything we can do for you, your majesties?"

Celestia didn't bat an eye. "We wish to see the patient Rainbow Dash."

Within a minute and a half, that's where they were: Rainbow Dash's room.

As the group entered the room with the unconscious cyan Pegasus, they found Fluttershy already there delivering a few flowers - roses, to be specific - to the jar at the side of Rainbow Dash's bed. When they entered, Fluttershy turned around and flinched in surprise. Her eyes landed on Raiden and her eyes showed an interesting mix of fear and happiness. She then turned to the princesses and her eyes widened as she bowed.

"You may rise, dear Fluttershy," said Celestia, "this is no time for formalities."

Fluttershy hastily rose and said "Oh, of course, Princess Celestia." She alternated between looking at Raiden, the princesses, and her five friends. "But...what's going on here?"

"We are not entirely sure yet," said Luna, "the hedgehog has yet to explain anything." She added that last bit with a hint of disdain in her voice.

Raiden noticed and looked back at her, only slightly annoyed. "You're right, Luna, I haven't" he said, "so it's time to get on that." He showed the gem he had gotten from Scootaloo to the rest of the group. "This is what I needed to wake up Rainbow Dash," he announced.

The room went completely silent, all eyes of disbelief on Raiden. That was until Raiden felt his rings spark, and he knew what was coming.

"But...didn't we just see that thing possess Scootaloo?" asked Pinkie Pie.

Raiden didn't falter. "'Possessed' isn't really the right word, but yes, I suppose your in the ballpark."

The group then looked back and forth between Raiden and the gem with looks of confusion and distrust, both of which Raiden was very familiar with. "They never trust you the first time around," he stated mentally.

His rings sparked again.

Luna stormed up to Raiden until she was right in his face, a familiar hurricane like trace of anger in her eyes. "Do you expect us to trust your word that this is some kind of cure!?" she yelled out, "After what we just saw!?"

Raiden didn't flinch and said "At some point, yes, you are going to trust me."

"And what makes you so sure?" Luna asks defiantly.

Raiden smirked. "What else can you do?" he asked sarcastically.

Luna was about to give an angry retort when Celestia intervened, saying "Stop Luna, I shall now speak." Luna hesitated before begrudgingly backing away. Celestia now stood before the foreign hedgehog. "I must agree with Luna, however. We witnessed with our own eyes the effects that gem had on the young filly Scootaloo. Why should we be under the belief that this should be any different with Rainbow Dash?"

"Because this time, I'm in control." Celestia and Luna each raised an eyebrow, and the other ponies and Spike also looked confused. Raiden sighed. "Alright, time for a lesson." He once again showed the gem off. "It's time I explained just what these are."

Raiden sat in a chair next to Rainbow Dash's bed. The group of friends gathered around him with curiosity. Raiden cleared his throat and explained.

"This thing is called a Chaos Emerald, and there are seven of them in total. They are special gems from my world. The myth is that when all seven are collected, a miracle will happen, however this is not entirely true. With just one Emerald, the holder can unlock unlimited power, so imagine what having all seven could accomplish. If put in the hands of a pure heart, they could create paradise; they could become the answer to all that is wrong in the world. If in the hands of evil, however, the Emeralds could create a living hell, spreading terror and chaos, like it's namesake.

"However, this is also dependent on how one handles this power. If in the hands of an inexperienced user, the power could consume them, controlling them rather than the other way around. I believe you witnessed firsthand what that could result in. I, however, am far from inexperienced. I have actually developed a connection with this power. You might even call me an embodiment of the energy - chaos energy. I'll be the one in control of this energy this time, and I'll be the one who uses it, not Rainbow Dash." Raiden leaned forward in his chair. "You get it?"

The seven ponies and one dragon all stared at the gem in bewilderment. Raiden waited patiently for a reply. He actually couldn't recall going through this routine before, though anyone would have a similar reaction to first being introduced to a Chaos Emerald...at least he assumed so. "Wow," he thought, "never thought anything else could surprise me."

Twilight was the first to speak "Wait, you said there were seven of them in total?"

Raiden nodded. "I did."

"So...it's fair to assume that the other seven are in our world?" asked Twilight.

Raiden raised an eyebrow and cupped his chin in his hand. As if to add to the ponies impatience he tapped his finger on his chin. after a few seconds he finally spoke "No, that's not 'fair to assume'... it's actually a certainty. I'm one-hundred percent sure that the other emeralds are in Equestria."

The group now had a massive cloud of worry over their heads. Fluttershy in particular was shuddering over the thought of the power that the emeralds might hold. "Their right to be afraid," Raiden thought, "Hell, in their position, I'd probably piss myself too."

Luna once again spoke up "And what makes you so sure that we can trust you in particular with this power?"

Raiden thought about it for a moment, than he smirked. "Simple: because you don't have a choice."

Celestia rested a hoof on Luna's shoulder. "Raiden is unfortunately correct, sister. This could be our only chance to wake Rainbow Dash up."

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "Unfortunately?"

Everyone ignored his question, all seeming to focus on Luna. They were obviously waiting for her answer. She looked reluctant. "She obviously doesn't trust me...good, that means she's smart." Luna had a gleam of anger in her eyes. She didn't want to put her subjects fate in this stranger's hands, deduced Raiden.

Luna looked Raiden in the eye. "Are you sure you're someone who can be trusted?" she asked.

Raiden didn't think about the answer for too long. "No, I'm really not sure."

Luna continued to stare at him, her eyes filled with a blend of unreadable emotions. Finally she spoke "...Very well, hedgehog. I will have you hold the responsibility of Rainbow Dash's life." She regained her familiar threatening tone "But if-"

Raiden cut her off with a mocking voice "If anything should happen to your precious subject I will be blah, blah, blah." Raiden got in Luna's face. "Been there, done that, sweetheart."

Raiden got up from his chair, but not before taking notice of the electricity in Luna's eyes. With all eyes in the room on him he walked over to the side of Rainbow Dash's bed. Her eyes were still wide opened, showing a chilling terror that would scare anyone who looked at her. The sudden pang of guilt that Raiden felt was instantly gone. He would not let petty emotions such as guilt prolong him any further.

Raiden began by taking his Chaos Emerald and raising it above Rainbow Dash, closing his eyes. After a few seconds of nothing happening, the Emerald began to glow. Raiden opened his eyes. He let the gem go while still keeping a hand outstretched, and the gem continued to glow while floating in midair. The group of ponies all had loose jaws as they gaped at the spectacle before them.

Suddenly, some form of black electricity seemed to pass between the Chaos Emerald and Raiden's hand. In a few seconds, that same electricity passed between the hand and Rainbow Dash, causing the other ponies to gasp. They couldn't hide their worry any longer as Rainbow Dash began to slightly convulse. She, along with the Emerald and Raiden's hand, began to radiate some sort of...darkness. That was the best word that could be used to describe it, whatever it was. Then, in a spectacle that simply looked nightmare inducing, Rainbow Dash's eyes turned completely pitch-black, and that 'darkness' made it's way out of the corners of Rainbow Dash's eyes. And then as Rainbow Dash started coughing that same darkness came out of her mouth, rising up slowly like smoke.

On instinct, the five friends shouted "Rainbow Dash!" and began to rush towards their friend, while Celestia kept a firm expression on her face, and Luna bellowed "YOU TRAITOR!" before they both joined the other five.

In what sounded like utter fury, Raiden turned his head and shouted "DON'T YOU DARE INTERRUPT ME!!!" There was something that could not be identified in his eyes, but whatever it was caused the ponies to all put on the same horrified expression and back off. Raiden's expression calmed down as he turned back to his task. The strands of darkness continuously rose from Rainbow Dash's body into Raiden's hand and, through that, to the Chaos Emerald. The more the darkness made it's way out of Rainbow Dash, the more she coughed and convulsed. However, just when it seemed like she was going to cough up blood, it appeared that the last of the darkness drained from her body, made it's way to Raiden's hand, and finally into the Chaos Emerald.

Rainbow Dash lay still and slowly closed her eyes. It must have been the first time she's done that in a while. The Chaos Emerald stopped glowing, and Raiden put his hand under it before it fell. Raiden closed his eyes and took a deep breath before releasing it. He turned his head towards the expectant looks on the other ponies. There was a moment of silence, then...

"She's fine," spoke Raiden, "She just needs to rest. She should wake up tomorrow. You can breath now."

At that moment it seemed that all the ponies realized that they were holding their breath and finally let it go. At that point, Raiden was already walking towards the exit. "Take all the time you need," he said, "I'll wait outside the hospital."

It seemed to take the ponies time to register what he had said, and when they did, he was already gone.

It only took the ponies a minute to follow Raiden out; not long at all, and Raiden could understand. What was there to say? Rainbow Dash was out cold, unable to talk or listen to anyone. There was nothing to say. When outside, Twilight was the first to speak. "Raiden, I can't tell you how-"

Raiden held up a hand to interrupt her. "You're welcome," he said, "but we have some more important matters to deal with." He lifted his gaze from an annoyed Twilight to looked towards the two princesses. "Isn't that right, Your Majesties?"

Neither princess broke their hard stares. Celestia was the first to speak "Indeed, hedgehog. If these 'Chaos Emeralds' are truly as powerful as you say - and they seem to be - than we must find them all as soon as possible. They are far too dangerous to be near anypony! Raiden, I plead that you assist us in discovering their location."

Raiden nodded. "You could never find them without my help, princess. I'm in."

"And how!" Spike shouted, determined and somewhat exited, "Wherever Twilight goes, I follow!"

Celestia nodded and looked at the other ponies. "And all of you?"

Twilight had a determined gaze locked on her mentor. "Of course will help, Princess! This could decide the fate of Equestria!"

Rarity bowed her head. "Now what kind of lady would I be to refuse?"

Pinkie started bouncing happily. "Woo-hoo! I bet it's gonna be super-duper fun! I'll help too!"

Applejack scratched the back of her head. "Well, land's sakes. Ah can't j'st leave mah friends hangin', now can ah?" She them pounded her chest with her right hoof. "Y'all can count on me!"

Fluttershy was shaking a bit, but had a surprisingly determined look in her eyes. "Y-yeah...I'll help too!"

Celestia smiled. "I knew you would help. I'm very happy" she said. She lost the smile as she looked over to the red hedgehog again. "Do you have a plan?"

"Only to search every inch of Equestria," replied Raiden, holding up the glowing red jewel, "Chaos Emeralds attract to one another, so as long as we have one, they should be easy to find."

Applejack spoke up, slightly annoyed at Raiden's lack of much of an answer, saying "That ain't mucha'va plan, ain't it boy?" The other ponies and one dragon nodded agreement, Luna seeming to be the most eager.

"No, it's not," he conceded, "but that's not all of it. I have a bit of a...connection with the Emeralds and Chaos energy. I can find them by letting the energy become one with my mind and letting that energy spread. Any Chaos Emeralds nearby will react to that field of energy, allowing me to trace the other Emeralds locations. Call it a form of meditation. Only someone with my kind of connection to these things could pull it off."

Celestia and Luna look genuinely curious, and Twilight's geek-instincts were taking over. "This...connection," she asked, "is it what enabled you to cure Rainbow Dash as well?"

Raiden gave a simple nod "Yes. Only I could have pulled that off."

Twilight couldn't stop herself now. "And how did you become this 'connected' with the Emeralds?" This question brought Raiden's mind back to the past...which gave him a headache.

"Irrelevant," he stated, avoiding the question, "Something more important needs our attention."

Before Twilight could press further for information. Celestia placed a hoof over her student's chest. "I feel that it would be best if we respected his wishes..." Celestia turned to give a half glare half curios look to Raiden "...for now." Twilight hesitated in submitting for a moment, but decided, with a look of annoyance and disappointment, to respect her mentor's wishes. Spike jokingly patted her head, which caused Twilight to give him a sidelong glare.

Raiden nodded "Thank you, Princess." He turned his attention to the entire group. I would like to wait until tomorrow to set out. By then I'll definitely have found an emerald, and I have a feeling that will need the help of that Rainbow Dash girl. You can fill her in tomorrow. Is that something we can all agree on?" He added that last part with a greater hint of authority.

The five ponies and Spike nodded agreement, and Raiden looked to the princesses for conformation. Luna closed her eyes and turned her head before nodding, and Celestia voiced a thought. "Will you need a place to meditate?"

"I will," Raiden confirmed, "but I already have a place in mind."

Celestia nodded, satisfied. "Very well." She turned towards the other ponies, "I put my deepest trusts in your care. The fate of Equestria is in your hooves."

All the other ponies bowed. Spike leaped off Twilight's back and bowed as well. "We would never let you down, princess," stated Twilight.

Celestia nodded and turned "Raiden, I-" but when she looked, her eyes widened in shock as He was gone. The other ponies shared her surprise, and anger bubbled within Luna.

"HOW DARE THE FOOL LEAVE OUR PRESENCE!?" she shouted angrily, "WHERE IS ANY RESPECT FROM HIM!? IF I HAVE TO, I-"

"Leave him be, Sister," calmly stated Celestia, "He now has duties to attend to, as well." Luna glared at Celestia, then to the spot where Raiden once was, before finally releasing a frustrated sigh in defeat. Everyone had there eyes on where Raiden once was.

"Raiden the Hedgehog," thought Celestia, "just who are you?"

In the dark location known as the Everfree Forest, a bulky man in a brown cloak was walking away from a hut hidden in the trees. The hut looked foreign, made of sticks and leaves, like a tribal home. The man didn't even sheathe the Rapier that he had drawn, now stained with blood. The man had made his first kill in this mysterious new land, though it wound certainly not be his last. Of that, he was certain. All he had done was ask the local for directions, though they were directions eventually leading him to great power. He couldn't have the local be a tattletale, now could he?

He gave a soft yet sinister laugh. soon, no one could 'tattletale' on him. Soon, all would bow before him, Soon, all would fear him.

Soon, the world would cry his name.

He laughed again, and this time, it carried throughout the entire forest.

Author's Note

Oh my god, I am SO sorry this took so long, but I have a lot of s**t on my plate. As of now, updates could take a while. But anyway, hope you enjoyed.

(P.S. I know, underwhelming fight was underwhelming, but trust me, they'll get better.)