The Slash of Thunder

Chapters

Light
memories
Training
Encounter
Invitation
discussions
weight
leaving
speech
Thunder
Close call

Light

A sneeze startled Blazing Streak awake. She looked to her wife, her mane was messy and tangled and her eyes had bags under them.

"Applejack? What's wrong? You okay? You look ill-"

"Firefly, Ah'm okay, jus' had a rough night." Applejack said, contrary to her appearance. Blazing Streak followed her gaze to the clock, which read "7:00 am".

"Guess Ah should get ta work." Applejack started to get up, but was stopped by Blazing Streak's hoof.

"Nope, you're ill. I can handle it today."

"Firefly, Ah said Ah'm okay, now let me get ta work." She shoved past Blazing's hoof and ambled towards the door. She huffed, before leaping out of bed and landing in front of her, a stern look on her face.

"No, you are sick, I wont let you." Applejack looked as if she was getting annoyed and was about to protest more.

"You're in no state to do hard labour like that right now, get back in bed and I'll handle it, just for today. No buts." She said, protectiveness overflowing. Applejack was about to reply, but it came out as a sneeze. She sighed.

"Okay, sugar cube. Ah guess yer right, but are ya sure ya can handle all of mah chores on yer own?" Blazing Streak just smirked and briefly kissed her on the cheek before heading downstairs.

As she opened the front door, the bright morning sunlight almost blinded her, it's golden rays blasting at her face. She shielded her eyes from the light with her hoof as they adjusted to the drastic light change.

She noticed Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle running after each other, laughing, most likely playing tag. Despite her worries about her wife being sick, a smile crept onto her face. She stretched her legs and wings before going to find Big Mac so she could ask him what needed to be done.

She figured he'd be out in the orchard bucking, so she trotted through the apple tree forest. She was pretty deep in when her head suddenly started throbbing. She lifted a hoof up to her temple and winced in pain.

Screaming?

She thought she heard numerous ponies screaming in fear in the distance. Confused and in pain, she looked to her right towards Ponyville. She couldn't see anything from here. She started walking towards the screeching. Moments later she was caught off guard by a rumble beneath her.

Earthquake?!

She then started to hear cracking stone and earth under her hooves.

What in Tarnation is going on?!

It all went silent for a moment before the ground around her started to split open, earth falling into crevices which widened. Her eyes shrunk in fear as she saw the gaping cracks begin to light up. Looking down one, she saw the orange glow of magma getting brighter and brighter. She quickly took to flight to avoid falling in. Her head then started to throb again, before she fell to the ground and passed out.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak opened her eyes. She was in her room, looking up at the wooden ceiling. She began to remember what had happened, and she quickly sat up, only to be stopped by an orange hoof.

"Woah there, sugar cube." Her wife's hoarse voice came from her right. She looked around in confusion.

Was it a vision? I can't hear any screaming or rumbling.

"What happened? Big Mac found ya unconscious in the middle of the orchard." Applejack asked.

"I think I had a vision or something. The ground started splitting, and magma started to rise from the cracks. I guess I just lost consciousness after that."

Maybe Thunder Slash was telling the truth, if this means anything, it isn't good... I need to talk to her.

Applejack had a puzzled look on her face before she started coughing. Blazing Streak sighed and started rubbing her back.

"Did you need something to drink?" She asked, pushing her other worries to the back of her mind.

"Can Ah have some water?" Blazing Streak nodded, got up and headed downstairs.

While on the way to the kitchen, she started to think back on the last two days. Thunder Slash had told her about a prophecy, she had originally doubted it, as Slash hadn't given her much information or how she had heard of it. But now, with the vision, she was starting to believe there was some truth in it.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak shot through the air towards Twilight's library. She had to talk to Thunder Slash about what had happened earlier on that morning. She saw the massive tree below her and started to descend. Upon reaching it, the door slammed open and the blue Pegasus she'd been looking for stormed out, with an aggravated look on her face.

"Uh, you okay?" She asked.

"Ugh, worst night ever." Thunder Slash grunted.

"What happened in there?" Blazing pressed.

"Oh, Celestia... Remind me never to let Twilight show me her lab again. She kept recording my heartbeat and vital signs and all that crap, saying it was 'for science'. How do you live with that pony?" Slash replied with a groan.

"Just don't let her lead you downstairs again, or you might end up on an operating table about to be dissected." Blazing chuckled.

"Anyway, I need to talk to you in private, it's important." She went on. Thunder Slash looked at her for a moment, before nodding and taking off. Blazing Streak followed her to a large cloud ahead of the town.

"What do you want?"

"I had a vision this morning, I think it has something to do with the prophecy you mentioned." Blazing started. Thunder Slash looked thoughtful.

"And?.." She made signs with her hoof, signalling for Blazing to go on.

"The ground started to split apart, right down to the magma. Do you know if this has anything to do with what you were told?"

Thunder Slash had an equally puzzled expression on her face, a hoof brought up to her chin, deep in thought. After a few moments, she shook her head slowly.

"Probably." Just after she finished talking, a rainbow blur shot past, close enough to destroy the cloud beneath them. Blazing Streak flailed a bit before flapping her wings to stay up.

"What the fuck?!" Thunder Slash exclaimed from below. Blazing laughed before launching after the rainbow that had interrupted them. Thrusting her wings as hard as she could, she caught up with Rainbow Dash, who was laughing as she looked back at Thunder Slash, who was also soaring towards them. While Blazing Streak had a fiery aura around her as she sped, Slash looked as if she was riding at the front of a bolt of electricity, slowly gaining on them.

"I'm gunna kill you!" She was shouting. She looked pissed.

"Um, Rainbow? You might want to look out." Blazing Streak warned the guffawing Pegasus. Thunder Slash was catching up to her, and when she turned round, she immediately yelped and dived toward the ground, followed by the two other mares.

Rainbow Dash touched down in front of Twilight's library and rushed to hide in some bushes nearby. A moment later, Twilight opened the door with a confused and irritated look on her face.

"What's going on? Rainbow? Why are you hiding?" Thunder Slash touched down as well. Upon seeing Twilight, she scowled at her, causing the Unicorn to step back with an uncomfortable smile on her face.

"Don't, Slash." Blazing Streak could tell that she was about to leap.

"Or what? You gonna burn me with your little embers? Pfff, sure, like you would try." She said with a cocky and spiteful grin.

"Try me." Blazing growled.

"Oh, she will." Rainbow Dash emerged from the bushes. "I gotta see this."

"Rainbow..." Twilight warned, glaring at the rainbow maned Pegasus, who shrugged.

"What?"

Before any pony could respond, Thunder Slash launched herself at Twilight, a direct challenge to the red Pegasus, who accepted it immediately by slamming herself into Slash with her fore-hooves outstretched. Using her momentum, she pushed Thunder Slash into the ground. For a heartbeat, Thunder Slash looked shocked, until the cocky smirk crept it's way onto her face. She lashed out with a fore-hoof, grabbing Blazing Streak by the neck and flung her to the right. She rolled for a moment before gaining her balance, just in time to block a blue hoof and use her other free fore-leg to punch Thunder Slash in the stomach. She heard whooping in the distance, probably by Rainbow Dash, distracting her for a moment, long enough for Slash to electrocute her with the arm that she had blocked. She felt strong pain rupture through her fore-leg and around her body as Thunder Slash laughed and kept pulsing electricity through her hoof.

That's enough!

Fighting the pain, she stomped a hoof into Thunder Slash's shin, disrupting the pulse of energy and sending the cocky mare stumbling for a moment, hissing in pain. Not letting a second pass, she lunged forward, outstretched her wings and flipped over backwards, her hind-legs smashed into Slash's chin, she sailed a few feet into the air. Once Blazing Streak's hind-legs touched the floor, she pushed off. Flame erupted from her two front hooves as she slammed them into the Pegasus, sending her into the building nearby.

"Yeah! Go Blazing! Whoo!" Rainbow Dash shouted from below, accompanied by a worried Twilight. Groups of ponies were gathered nearby, including most of her friends, watching the fight progress. Some cheered and some shrunk back and cringed.

Blazing Streak watched Thunder Slash dislodge her limbs from their tomb, buried in the wall of someone's home.

Shit...

After a few moments, the blue Pegasus recovered. Scowling, Lightning sparked from her front hooves, she raised them forward and four bolts of electrical energy burst out and coursed through the air towards Blazing Streak. She ducked and they barely skimmed her ears. She was about to send bolts of flame at her, but them she remembered their surroundings. She faced Thunder Slash, who looked more angry than cocky now. She growled and then raised her front hooves once more. Blazing Streak prepared to dodge more bolts of lightning. She then realized that instead of sending them at her, Thunder Slash was building up energy in her front hooves.

Beam... Alright then

She pointed her own two front hooves back, fire engulfed them, the flames growing and intensifying as it swirled around them. Blazing Streak gritted her teeth as she built up energy. She was going to need a rest after this.

They both released the energy at the same time, lightning clashed against fire. A light grew at the collision point, building up as both Pegasi struggled to out-do the other. The ponies gathered round were silent, staring up at the spectacle with wide, awestruck eyes. Blazing Streak took notice of the unnaturally bright light in front of her, which got bigger and brighter the more they pumped energy into each other's beam. She had to squeeze her eyes shut to avoid being blinded. The sphere of light suddenly exploded, sending a shock wave which knocked both of them back. Blazing Streak slammed into The Library tree. Agony and fatigue flowed through her nerves as she slid down the trunk and hit the floor. She felt Blood drip from her mouth as she groaned in pain. Through her daze, she also heard Thunder Slash let out a yelp in frustration and pain, accompanied by a cracking sound.

"Blazing? Hey, wake up! You okay? Equestria to Blazing Streak!" She opened her eyes, irritated by Rainbow Dash, who had a genuine look of concern as she loomed over her.

"...Ouch... My everything." Blazing groaned.

Twilight appeared in front of her in a purple flash, startling her.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" She fretted.

"Probably, feels like I just flew into the side of a mountain at super sonic speeds, but I'll live." She stumbled from her limp position to an unstable stand. She noticed Thunder Slash at the other side of the street in a similar situation against the same building she had been flung against before, a few ponies hung around, curious about the newcomer

"What was that light? It's never happened before in any situation like that."

Twilight scratched her chin with her hoof.

"If I'm not terribly mistaken, I'd say the combination of pure flame energy mixed with that of lightning caused a reaction of the two energies which created pure light energy, which can be seen when the elements of harmony are used, along with friendship magic, of course. This type of energy is said to be one of the most powerful in Equestria, among the elements and... Dark magic."

Blazing Streak dead-panned. "A simple 'light energy' would have been enough, Twi." The purple Unicorn smiled sheepishly and blushed.

"Wow, so lightning combined with fire makes immensely powerful energy.." Blazing Streak pondered, confirmed by Twilight with a nod.

"Hey, Blazing! That fight was so AWESOME! Ya gotta teach me how to fight like that.. Not like I can't anyway, but the practice would be cool!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Blazing Streak yawned.

"Well, maybe some day, when I have time." The Cyan Pegasus jumped in the air and whooped once more.

Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy all crowded round her.

"Oh my, are you okay Blazing Streak? That looked painful." Fluttershy said in a quiet voice.

"OH! THAT LOOKED SO COOL! The bright light at the end was my Favourite part! Well except when you did that flip but it was still amazing and we need a party to celebrate the coolness of it and then we can get you and Thunder Slash to fight again and it will be like a movie and we'll have cupcakes, chocolate, punch, cider and O-" Pinkies rambling was cut off by Rainbow Dash, who lodged one of Pinkie's own hooves in her mouth, muffling her squeals of excitement.

"Are you quite alright Blazing, dear? It looked like you took quite a beating in that little quarrel." Rarity asked.

"I'm sure I'll be fine when I get some sleep." Blazing Streak answered, she then noticed Pinkie Pie dragging an exhausted Thunder Slash towards sugar cube corner.

"I'd better get home."

.--...--...---...--...--.

"Well that sounds like an interestin' day. Ah've jus' been up here, bored out of mah mind and feelin' a might useless." Applejack complained. She sounded a lot better, thanks to lots of sleep, and could probably get back to work the next day.

"Hey, you're not useless at all, just because you missed one day because you were ill doesn't mean you're slacking, Applejack. You'll probably be able to get back to work tomorrow, heck, with all the distractions, I don't think I got much done, I'll help you if you want anyway." Blazing Streak reasoned.

"Ah guess that's true."

"Oh Celestia..." Blazing Streak groaned.

"What is it, Firefly?"

"I think Thunder Slash is staying with Pinkie Pie tonight." Blazing Streak said as she face-hoofed.

"Horseapples."

The two laughed a bit before intertwining themselves once more and falling asleep.

memories

Blazing Streak opened her eyes, to her confusion, she found herself facing the mountain on which Canterlot was built, illuminated by the dim moonlight. She looked down for a moment to find that she wasn't standing on anything. Her heart skipped a beat.

What? I must be dreaming.

"Blazing?" She turned her neck to see Thunder Slash floating over to her with an equally confused expression.

"Do you have any idea what's happening here? Blazing Streak asked.

"No." Slash replied, curtly.

Blazing Streak then started to hear stone cracking. Looking to the ground below them, she could she could see trees shaking violently.

"I think it's happening again!" She realized. Instead of the ground splitting apart like last time, she noticed the mountain start to rumble.

"Oh no.." Thunder Slash muttered. A moment later, A loud explosion from the tip of the mountain sent Blazing Streak tumbling through the air in shock.

"What?!" She regained her balance, to see the once peaceful mountain exploding into life, lava was sent flying through the air from the centre, which pumped out thousands of tonnes of smoke and gas.

"An eruption?! But this isn't a volcano!" She exclaimed, dodging a rock hurtling towards her. Then, she witnessed the side of the mountain splitting and cracking, crevices ploughing through the rock, down towards the ground, where Ponyville lay.

"Okay, I've never seen a volcano do that!" Thunder Slash stated.

"I'm never going to look at this mountain the same again, knowing what it could do." Blazing Streak realized.

"Neither do we." A third voice sounded from behind them. Blazing turned around to see the dark shape of Princess Luna hovering towards them.

"Princess? What are you doing here?"

"It is our job to walk in ponies' dreams and reassure them in their nightmares." Luna explained.

Blazing Streak nodded.

"Do you know what's going on here? Is this going to happen?" Thunder Slash asked.

Princess Luna turned her attention to the blue Pegasus.

"Who's this?" The mare in question sighed.

"I'm Thunder Slash, arrived here two days ago and I am part of what's going on here." She explained briefly, sparking her electricity for a moment to show her part in the prophecy.

Princess Luna was staring at her thoughtfully for a moment, before shrugging and changing the subject.

"Me and Celestia, we have felt things. This mountain isn't a volcano. There are deeper evils at work beneath the rocky layer of ground. We are afraid... We fear that.. Tartarus is rising, and we do not know how to stop it. We must warn you, Blazing Streak, old enemies of Equestria are returning, some with... Bloodthirsty intentions."

"Wait, does that mean?..." She cast her mind back to four years ago, she remembered the intensity of the ferocious battle with Night Whisper, her long time hatred for the Unicorn flooded back into her mind.

"Yes, he will return, but so will something much, much worse; we can feel it. It's already started, We think, ponies who died long ago are coming back. Not the bad ones, they are kept at the deepest pits of the underworld, it's said that the ponies who have done great evil in their life are trapped in the darkest, deepest depths thousands of miles underneath the mountain. As you can see, they will one day break free, the eruption you see before you is them escaping. There is nothing we can do to stop them coming back, not even the elements of harmony will be of any help."

"What do we do? When is this going to happen?" Thunder Slash took the words right out of Blazing Streak's mouth. Luna only shook her head.

"We do not know." The Princess said, grimly.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak's eyes shot open. The morning light beamed into her face, heating up her muzzle.

What a dream...

Careful not to disturb her still sleeping wife beside her, which was hard to do, seeing as Applejack had a hoof wrapped around her, she gently moved her hoof from around her chest and placed it on the covers beside her. Not gentle enough, Applejack let out a soft moan and started to open her eyes.

"Mnh.. Mornin' Firefly. Have a good sleep?" She asked, drowsily.

"Sorry for waking you, AJ. I slept okay, I guess. You?" Applejack looked at her for a moment before stating;

"You had a dream, didn't ya?"

"I'm really that obvious?"

"Eyup. Yer shaky wings are givin' it away a bit." Blazing Streak looked to her side, her wings were twitching like they do when something was wrong. She sighed and told Applejack everything about her encounter with Princess Luna.

"Princess Luna told ya this? N' here Ah was thinkin' that we had some peace 'round here fer a change. An infinite army of dark pony thingys, a journey n' now this. Ya'd think that there could only be so much chaos in a single town." Blazing Streak nodded in agreement.

"Well, I guess I'll go and get breakfast, you want anything?"

"Ah'll get mahself somethin' in a bit." Blazing Streak could have sworn she heard some mild sadness in her wife's voice. She turned around, worried, to face her.

"Is something wrong, AJ?"

"I-it's nothin', dont worry, Firefly. Don't worry 'bout me, it's stupid." It was very clear that she was upset.

"Well I am worrying, what's bothering you, Applejack? You know you can tell me." Applejack sighed before replying.

"It's just... How long has it been since we went out n' did somethin', together.. Without impending doom looming over us?" The question took Blazing Streak aback. Now that she thought about it, it had been a very long time. She was going to reply when AJ went on.

"Ah was goin' ta take ya somewhere today, ta take your mind off Thunder Slash n' all that, had a free day n' everything. But now, with that dream ya'll just had, yer goin' ta be worryin' about that until it happens and you stop it, preventin' us from doin' anything nice." Raw disappointment rippled through her words.

Guilt rushed through Blazing. She hadn't thought about anything like that at all. She clambered back onto bed and hugged her wife.

"Applejack... You know, you could have just asked me anyway. I can put my worries to the side if it means you'll be happy. You come first. Tell you what, tonight, I'll take you somewhere, just you and me, no worries, no fear, just us. Alone. I'm more than willing, I'd love to."

"Really? Ya mean that?" Applejack's voice was full of hope.

"Of course!" She separated the hug, so she was holding her wife's shoulders and looking into her eyes. She had a wide smile on her face, mirroring her own. An idea suddenly formed in her mind.

"I already know where to go." She closed the distance and kissed Applejack on her lips for a long moment.

.--...--...---...--...--.

A cool breeze wafted into Blazing Streak's face as she tightened her saddlebags containing a bottle of apple cider, two mugs and some snacks. The trees around her gently swayed, rustling the leaves together in a natural harmony. The evening sky was dotted with clouds, which drifted slowly across the orange tinted horizon. She heard the front door of her home shut behind her, followed by footsteps. She turned around to see Applejack strolling up to her with an excited smile on her face.

"You ready to go?" Blazing asked her.

"Eyup." Applejack replied. Blazing Streak turned and crouched down so that her wife could climb on.

"Get comfortable, it's a long flight."

"where are we goin'?" Applejack asked as she climbed onto Blazing Streak's back. She wasn't worried about flight anymore - she had enough experience to know that it was relatively safe.

"You'll see." Blazing Streak replied with a smile at her wife. She took off into the sky and pointed towards the mountains. She flew at a moderate speed, careful not to scare Applejack, or even unbalance her. Wind flapped her mane and tail around, pushing her orange fringe back.

She climbed higher, until she was just underneath the cloud layer. She had a clear view of Ponyville, the farm and the mountains. To her, it was just an everyday flight, but Applejack was looking around in awe. An idea struck Blazing Streak as she saw a dense forest below. She gently pitched into a dive towards the bundle of trees.

"Woah, what're ya doin', firefly?" She heard the farm pony ask.

"Don't worry, it'll be like a roller-coaster in a theme park. You'll love it." At that, she reached the patch of thick trees. She was moving fast, but easily managed to weave her way through the gaps in the trunks. Applejack let out a loud scream and held on tighter. Blazing smirked as the undergrowth and plants started to blur as she picked up speed, as much as she deemed safe.

She noticed the forest thinning out gradually, focusing ahead, she saw the steep slope of a mountain, quickly closing the distance between them. Deciding this was enough thrill for now, she flapped hard, sending them bolting upwards, her hooves inches above the rough stone of the mountainside. Once she cleared the height of the rock, she slowed to a cruising pace. She could feel Applejack relaxing, her breath heavy and her heart racing.

"Never do that again, ya hear me?" She scorned, before bursting out in a fit of giggles. Blazing Streak just smiled. Looking to her left and down, she recognized the place where Applejack and Rarity had fallen down the mountainside and almost hit the floor. There was a scorch mark down the side, probably from her rapid descent. She cringed and wobbled a bit at the memory.

"Woah, what's wrong, sugar cube?" Her wife asked, concerned.

"Just saw the cliff you and Rarity fell down." She replied, earning a shiver from her wife. Deciding not to talk about it, she carried on. In the distance, she saw the river they had set up camp next to, and where she had confessed her love for Applejack all those years ago. Apparently, Applejack saw it too. She gasped.

"Are we goin' where Ah think we're goin?"

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak slowed to a near hover. Looking down, she saw a clearing surrounded by a dense pine forest. In the clearing, a pool of water reflected the evening sky. She could see tiny yellow specks hovering around, casting a dim glow on the grass below. A lone tree stood near the shining pool. Applejack had her muzzle resting on Blazing Streak's neck, her soft breathing warming the red Pegasus.

She gently glided down to the clearing. Upon touching down, Applejack grunted and opened her eyes.

"Mnh... It's beautiful." She said, still half asleep from the slow flight there from the mountain. Blazing Streak crouched down so Applejack could climb off.

"It feels like only yesterday that we were here last." Blazing Streak commented, gazing around. She saw a small hill and trotted over to it. She put her saddlebags down, laid next to them and started to relax, sleepily followed by Applejack. Blazing Streak extended a wing for her wife's comfort as she settled down next to her, brushing their pelts together. The setting sun could be seen through the gaps in the trees, beaming orange light across the clearing.

Blazing Streak liked watching the sunset, it was beautiful. More so to share it with someone you love. Applejack shifted so that her head was resting on Blazing's chest. Blazing Streak started to gently stroke her wife's mane.

"Thank ya fer this, firefly. Ah love you." She said, brushing a muzzle up against Blazing Streak's upper neck and jaw. Blazing closed her eyes and smiled. This was how things should be, not a care in the world, without the threat of, literally, all hell breaking loose.

"I love you too, Tartarus won't stop that." She kissed Applejack's forehead. The farm mare pulled back before connecting their lips together in a kiss. Blazing softly moaned into the kiss, her spine tingling like electricity had coursed through it, she felt her fur on her neck start to stand up. She brought her other wing up to embrace Applejack. She felt her wife's tongue against her lips, subconsciously, she parted them, allowing entry. The familiar apple and cinnamon flavour swirled in her mouth as Applejack took over. Her wings sharply unfolded, making a 'pomf' sound. The tingling sensation grew stronger, spreading to her wings and lower spine.

Eventually, they had to separate for breath.

"...Wow... It's been too long." Blazing Streak stated, staring up into the emerald pools above her, which stared lovingly into her own. After a while, Applejack lowered herself so that her muzzle was buried in Blazing's neck.

By now, the sun had sunken into the horizon, replaced by a bright full moon, which hung in the sky along with millions of stars.

They laid there, staring up into the sky above in silence. No speech was needed, the two just enjoyed each others' company. Blazing Streak had almost forgotten about the prophecy, it was somewhere at the very back of her mind, but she didn't think about it for now. Applejack's breathing had calmed to rythmatic breaths, telling Blazing that she had fallen asleep. A smile formed on her face. She started to think about the rest of her friends, she realised that she hadn't spent much time with them either, she'd been too caught up with serious events like the recent ones.

I really need to let loose more.

Her mind wandered back to the fight the day before. Why did Thunder Slash have to challenge her like that? She didn't know any sane pony could be so cold hearted towards an innocent pony to attack them. Granted, she had seen worse, but that was insanity. Thunder Slash wasn't insane, to Blazing Streak's knowledge, she was arrogant and cocky, hell, even worse than Rainbow Dash could be sometimes. Inevitably, she started to think about the prophecy. She had learned in that fight that her and Thunder Slash could create ridiculously powerful magic, that worried her. She had always thought about her powers like a gift, but she liked to restrain herself, using light magic could be disastrous to the town, her fire magic alone could burn down several buildings easily, light energy could destroy Ponyville and more in an instant if used wrong. She mentally shook her head, she should't be thinking about that, not now.

Her mind was snapped out of her pondering when the ground began to shake.

No, no, no! Not now!

Applejack woke up.

"What's happening? Blazin'?" They both stood up, Blazing Streak immediately looked towards the mountain, but saw nothing happening. Uncertain relief flowed through her.

"I don't know!" She replied, looking round, she saw the trees shaking, but noticed them calming down a bit over time. Confused, she flew up so that she could observe their surroundings to see if there was anything wrong. She saw nothing. As the trees halted their quaking, she flew back down with a deadpan.

"Why did that have to happen now?" She asked, irritated.

"Ah don't know, well, it was amazin' while it lasted, but we should get back ta Ponyville and check with them." Applejack pointed out, disappointment in her voice. Blazing Streak went up to her and hugged her, before allowing her to climb on. After she had gotten comfortable and the saddlebags were secure, Blazing shot from the ground towards Ponyville, cursing her luck.

.--...--...---...--...--.

It took them about ten minutes to get there with the quickened pace. From above, the town looked relatively okay, a few pots had fallen and smashed, along with other minor damage, but it looked fine. Relieved, she headed back to the farm.

Landing at the front door, Applejack got off and they walked in.

They noticed the living room light on.

I thought everyone would be asleep by now.

They trotted up the door and looked in. Blazing Streak immediately froze.

"Granny?!" Applejack exclaimed. There, in the usually empty rocking chair, sat the deceased Granny Smith. She appeared to be asleep. Princess Luna's words repeated in the back of her mind.

It's already started, We think, ponies who died long ago are coming back.

Applejack rushed over to her grandmother, tears were escaping her eyes. She hugged, the elderly mare, shocking her awake.

"Wha? Who's there n' why did ya wake me? Applejack? What's goin' on baby girl?" Applejak was crying into Granny Smith's shoulder.

Could this be what the tremor was?

She trotted up to the two. Granny Smith was patting her granddaughter on the back with a confused expression on her face.

Blazing Streak didn't know what to make of this situation, she was happy for her wife that her Grandmother had come back, but she was also worried about the prophecy coming true. She opted to stand there with a warm smile on her face, unable to think of anything to say about the situation.

Training

Apple Bloom and Big Mac rushed into the room to see what the commotion was about.

"Granny?!" Apple Bloom shouted, running over to join in the hug.

"What's goin' on ponies? Why are ya'll actin' like this? What time is it?" The elder questioned, confused. Meanwhile, Big Mac was slowly walking in, staring at Granny Smith with a confused and shocked look on his usually expressionless face.

"N' who is this young'un? Seems familiar." Blazing Streak's ear twitched when Granny motioned to her. The Apple family separated, all with tears of joy in their eyes and smiles filled with disbelief on their faces. Blazing waved her hoof.

"I'll introduce my self later, I'll leave you all to yourselves to talk. Got a lot to think on, as you have a lot to talk about." She nodded to Granny respectfully and wandered out of the room, deep in thought.

Thunder Slash needs to know about this, I hope it doesn't end up in another fight.

She could still feel mild pain in her back from when she was flung against that tree. A realization then hit her.

Will Granny Smith be okay about me and AJ being married? She didn't ever get to see us together before she died.

She figured that Granny was probably watching over them. It must be disorienting to be alive again, that would explain why she didn't know who Blazing was.

Why does everything have to be so complicated? I just want a normal life!

It wasn't fair, she hadn't asked for this, she didn't want it. It was too much pressure for her. Sighing, she shook the thought from her head, even if she didn't want it, she had no choice, and it was Equestria and her friends that could be at stake.

She grabbed an empty glass and filled it with water, she hadn't drank anything since lunch time. the cool liquid managed to calm some of her nerves.

"Blazin'? Git in here!" She heard Granny Smith's voice beckoning her. She turned and walked over to the lounge, worried. Reaching the doorway, she saw the elderly mare sitting in her chair with a serious expression on her face. Applejack looked worried, as did Big Mac and Apple Bloom. This made her even more nervous as to what was about to happen.

"Ah understand that yer mah granddaughter's wife." She stated, expression still set in stone. Her stare bore a hole in Blazing Streak's soul. She nodded hesitantly. She glanced to her wife to find that she was also staring at her Grandmother.

Blazing shuffled her hooves at the long silence. Thankfully, it was soon broken by Granny Smith.

"If only Ah had been around ta see that happen." She seemed surprisingly calm considering she'd been dead for four years. Relief surged through her. Applejack also looked relieved.

"So, ya'll don't mind it, Granny?"

"Nope, it's mah Grand daughter we're talkin' about here. N' if she makes ya happy then Ah support it. Family look out fer each other." Granny Smith confirmed. Applejack went and hugged the pale green mare once more along with Big Mac and Apple Bloom. Blazing Smiled.

"Blazin', yer part of the family now, n' ya have been fer the past four years." She motioned for Blazing Streak to join in. The red mare in question smiled even wider as she did as she was told.

"Ah love Ya'll, Granny, Mac, Apple Bloom, Firefly." Applejack stated.

Moments later, they separated. What followed was an awkward pause. Apple Bloom yawned loudly, followed by a drowsy look on her face. Blazing Streak looked at the clock.

"It's 6 o'clock, we should get dinner." She observed. Every pony nodded and headed to the kitchen, Granny smith was about to follow when Applejack lifted a hoof.

"We've got this, Granny. Ya'll should get some rest." The pale green matriarch smiled appreciatively and settled back down.

.--...--...---...--...--.

On a hill, north of Ponyville, where Blazing Streak and Applejack had relaxed and snuggled so many times before, stood the Red Pegasus, accompanied by Thunder Slash. The morning light blazed overhead, the tree casting a shadow over the two. Blazing Streak paced up and down, while Thunder Slash was staring into nothing, thoughtful.

"This is the start of something big." Thunder Slash tilted her head so that she was staring directly at the pacing red Pegasus, who stopped and looked at her. "We must be prepared to face it head on." She finished, grimly. Blazing Streak frowned and nodded. She gazed at the mountain. She couldn't look at it without dread filling her heart.

"We don't have much time. I just hope that I'm powerful enough to fend off hordes of dead ponies." She fretted. An idea began to form in her head. "We need to train, hard, it's been a while since I've had a real fight and I think I'm a little rusty."

"But how are we going to train? we haven't got much to train with." Thunder Slash argued. Blazing Streak looked at the Blue Pegasus.

"Remember that fight we had a couple of days ago? We could do that more often, apart from the situation and the beam crossing." Thunder Slash looked thoughtful.

"It could work, we'd also need to know how to properly use light energy without injuring ourselves." Blazing Streak nodded. She noticed something flash in Thunder Slash's eyes. A moment later she darted towards Blazing. Caught off guard, Slash hit her in her chest with her hooves extended, dragging her across the ground as she powered on. Pain scorched from her back as she grinded through dirt and rocks. Grunting, she used her back hooves to flip the attacking Pegasus over her. She got to her hooves and turned round, to see Thunder Slash lunging again. She darted to the side and caught the blue Pegasus in the side with a hoof. Slash tumbled to the side and rolled a few times. Blazing reared on her hind legs and got into a two legged standing position, like she had last time she fought Thunder Slash, using her wings to balance herself.

When Thunder Slash had managed to get to her hooves, Blazing Streak went on the offensive, she darted forward so that she was directly in front of Slash. She barged her with her right elbow extended. It connected with Thunder Slash's hoof as the blue Pegasus blocked it. Slash then aimed her other hoof to Blazing Streak's exposed stomach, Blazing twisted to her left, causing the hoof to miss. She hit the back of Thunder Slash's head with her other elbow, knocking her forward onto her front, her front legs splayed out in front of her Blazing then pinned her with her hoof.

"I'm not done yet!" Thunder Slash growled. She struggled against Blazing's hoof, but to no avail. Blazing Streak noticed the pinned mare's back fur start to stand on end. She quickly pulled away her hoof, feeling a quick prick of electricity just as she let go.

"Hey, no magic, that could really hurt one of us, and we don't want to get in-" She never got to finish her sentence as a bolt of lightning hit her in the chest. Stumbling back in shock and pain, she tripped and fell on her back. Thunder Slash was quick to dart over and pin her.

"So that's how you want to play it? Fine." She tensed her entire body. A wave of flames burst out, sending Thunder Slash into the air, yelping in pain, her fur singed and her mane smouldering.

"Fine... you.. W-win." the singed mare forced out, holding her side with a hoof. Guilt pierced her heart.

"Are you okay?" Blazing asked, stepping forward to help Slash.

"Yes, I just-" She sighed. "I brought this on myself, I shouldn't have used magic like you said, I could have really hurt you. I'm sorry." Blazing Streak was taken aback, she didn't think Thunder Slash would apologise like that. She shook her head and smiled.

"Pfft, I's nothing." She replied, rubbing the spot that the bolt of electricity had hit her, it still stung and the fur around it was sticking on end. Thunder Slash nodded.

"So, you up for more, or should we get those burns looked at?". They were only mild, because she hadn't used a very powerful attack, in case it really hurt her. When Thunder Slash was about to deny, she spoke up.

"You do know those are going to hurt all day unless we go and see a nurse, even if they are only minor." She persuaded.

"Alright, fine, make it quick. We need as much time to practice as we can get." Thunder Slash followed Blazing Streak as they took off towards Ponyville.

.--...--...---...--...--.

It was still late morning as Thunder Slash and Blazing Streak strolled through the streets of their home town. Ponies milled about around them, going about their own business.

"So, how are things back in... you know.." Blazing Streak asked.

"Meh, still boring and dull as usual, my parents are living in a retirement home at the moment, this place is so much more interesting, well, most of the ponies are ridiculous and... strange, but its a welcomed change from everyone hiding all the time. Honestly, the thing that surprised me most when I came here is that fillies and colts are outside at day, rather than spending their entire lives cooped up in their homes or school."

"Hm." Blazing Streak murmured, remembering with a shiver her own time in her previous home. Shaking the thought from her head, she looked up. Seeing that they had arrived, she motioned to Thunder Slash to follow her in.

.--...--...---...--...--.

By the time they got out of the hospital, it was just past midday. Blazing Streak could feel a slight chill in the breeze.

Winter is on it's way.

She noticed Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy trotting through town with cheery expressions.

"Hey girls! What're you doing?" Blazing called over to them. Twilight turned to them , surprised.

"Oh hey, Blazing, Thunder! What happened? Did Thunder get injured?" She asked.

"Accident while training." Thunder Slash confirmed.

"Oh my, um, what happened?" Fluttershy asked, concerned. Thunder Slash grunted and explained everything from the start.

"Oh dear, maybe you two should not train on each other.." Rarity suggested.

"I see no other alternative." Blazing countered. Twilight looked thoughtful for a moment, before speaking up.

"Well, be careful and don't use magic on each other, or... this will happen." She motioned to Thunder Slash. "Why don't you practice your magic on something else."

Just then, Pinkie Pie bounced up and down towards them.

"Hey guys! What are you doing? OH, did Slashie get injured? how? What were you doing? Can I help? Is it fun?" The barrage of questions was stopped by Thunder Slash, who put a hoof over her mouth. a muffled voice kept on from behind the hoof lodged in the way of her mouth. Thunder Slash looked at her with concern, as if she thought the pony was insane, which she acted like she was.

"Oh, is it okay if I watch one or two of your training sessions? I would like to keep notes on how you two fight so we can all learn, just in case." Twilight asked. The rest of them looked confused, and so Twilight explained the Prophecy to them. Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind Rarity, who supported a concerned and uneasy expression. Blazing Streak nodded.

"I suppose there isn't any harm." Blazing replied, starting to walk down the street.

"That's great, I've noticed you two fight a lot different from how I've seen the Canterlot guards fight in training." Twilight stated, following her along with the rest.

"Awesome! Another chance to see Blazing fight! I'm there!" Blazing heard Rainbow Dash's voice from above. The cyan Pegasus swooped down and landed beside Blazing Streak, who smiled in amusement.

"Of course."

As the group turned a corner, Blazing saw Applejack's stand, made of lightly coloured wood with "Sweet Acre Apples" painted on the the front, along with pictures of apples dotted all over. A familiar looking pony was just walking away from it, his saddlebags containing a few apples. His grey fur and blue mane was strangely familiar to Blazing. Then She saw his crooked jaw and remembered. This was the pony who ridiculed her and Applejack at one of Pinkie Pie's parties ages ago. He noticed her looking at him and shied away, avoiding eye contact. Blazing Streak had long since let that incident go, so why did this pony act like he was scared of her after so long? Shrugging it off, she turned her attention to the rather bored looking earth pony in the stand.

"Hey, AJ!" She waved to her wife, who perked her ears and prentended to look enthusiastic. Blazing Streak trotted up to her.

"Someone bored?" She asked, half serious. Applejack shrugged.

"'S a real slow day t'day." She explained, falling back to leaning her head on her hoof and huffing. "So, what're ya'll doin'?"

Blazing Streak, once again, explained the events of that morning, how she and Thunder Slash had trained and how it had gotten out of hand and then the conversation they were just having.

"Well, Ah might as well come along too. Anywho, Ah should get back ta' work now, when are we gonna do this?"

"North hill at 5 sound good?" Blazing cast the question over her head to the rest of the group. Every pony nodded in confirmation - Even Fluttershy agreed to try and learn something. Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down with an excited grin, showing her teeth.

"Maybe some of us could train with you as well." Rainbow Dash spoke up. They all nodded in agreement, apart from Fluttershy, who backed away nervously. Blazing Streak found herself burdened with the responsibility of training seven other ponies so they could stand a chance in whatever battle was on it's way. She wasn't sure she could handle it.

"Right, if you believe you can do so well before you've done any real training, lets see what you've got." Blazing Streak said calmly to Rainbow Dash, who was boasting, as usual.

"What? You're just going to let me attack you, just like that?" She asked, a slither of nervousness showing on the rainbow maned Pegasus.

"Well, if you think you can handle it, come on, I won't hurt you, this is practice." Blazing Streak confirmed.

Rainbow shuffled her hooves a bit before shaking her head and lunging at Blazing Streak, who stepped to the side and ducked, dodging Rainbow's impact and swipe. She mocked jumping to the right, confusing Rainbow Dash, instead she jumped to the left and hooked the cyan Pegasus' hind legs with one hoof, causing her to buckle and land on her front.

"You shouldn't jump in like that, or it will be easy to predict your movements, this isn't fighting one of those dark creatures. These enemies will likely have intelligence, and can easily dodge, like I did. Instead, you should let your opponent attack first." Blazing Streak was surprised at how easily this came to her.

"Sorry, it's been, like, forever since I've had to fight anyone, I'm a bit rusty."

Blazing nodded her acknowledgement. "Also, you should always watch the enemy, they could pull a trick like what I just did, keep an eye on their hooves at all times, don't let them take you by surprise." Although Rainbow Dash seemed dejected about losing so easily, she seemed to be soaking up this advice, nodding eagerly.

"Did all of you get that?" She turned and called to the audience, who were watching with great interest, and Pinkie Pie, who was cheer-leading on the side. They all nodded like Rainbow did. Applejack raised her hoof, like a school filly in class.

"Uh, yes, AJ?" Blazing prompted. This was new to her.

"Won't one of you have ta attack first? What if they don't attack before ya'll do, how do you avoid getting.. uh, floored, like that?" Applejack asked.

Good question.

"Like I said, you keep an eye on their hooves, even if you are making the offensive. Observe their movements closely and you should be all right. Go for their weaker spots, like their stomach, or if you can't get to that, then go for the head, or the sides." She explained. Applejack nodded.

"Makes sense." The farm pony nodded, thoughtfully. Blazing Streak then noticed Fluttershy hiding behind Rarity again, shaking.

"Come on, Fluttershy, no one is going to hurt you, this is practice, not a real fight." She tried to comfort the shy pony. Fluttershy only let out a squeak.

"Alright, Tell you what, you can watch the training, but I wont ask you to join if you don't want to, but you need to work on these things, so after everyone has gone, we can have private practice where no one can see you, sound fair?" Blazing Streak reasoned. the pale yellow Pegasus nodded and started to stop shaking so much.

"Alright then, Rainbow? Try that again, remember what I told you." Rainbow nodded and, more carefully this time, darted toward her, keeping an eye on her hooves like Blazing had told her. Rainbow swiped her right hoof, but Blazing Streak blocked it with her own. She didn't go in for an attack - she would tell them all about that later on. Not letting up, Rainbow used her other hoof to try and break Blazing's defence, but it connected with nothing as Blazing darted back, avoiding the blow.

"I don't mind if you throw your punches hard, I can take it, don't restrain yourself on me, I need to see how strong, agile and skilled you really are at hoof to hoof." Rainbow did as she was told, and started to go all out, instead of light knocks, they turned into real blows, the gaps of time in between grew shorter as Blazing kept blocking and dodging. After roughly a minute of this, Rainbow Dash started to slow down. Pleased with the cyan mare's progress, Blazing Streak halted the "fight" and backed away, nodding approvingly.

"Much better, keeping in mind I wasn't fighting back, we'll get into that later." She motioned for Rainbow to sit down among the others and then faced them, Thunder Slash also seemed satisfied with Rainbow's performance, she watched, nodding slowly.

"Okay, who wants to go next?" Blazing watched as Applejack and Pinkie Pie raised their hooves.

.--...--...---...--...--.

"Well that was probably the highlight of mah day." Applejack commented, as she and Blazing Streak lay in bed. Blazing nodded.

"You did pretty well on your first try, got one or two hits in too." Blazing praised, proud. Applejack looked at her.

"Did Ah? Oh Ah'm sorry, Firefly, Ah didn-" Blazing put a hoof on her lips, amused.

"It's okay Applejack, that was the whole point of what we were doing, heck, you were faster than Rainbow! I think next time, I might be able to start teaching you all some moves to get out of being pinned or similar situations."

"Yer a good trainer, Ah think we'll learn a lot." Applejack said, blushing at the praise. Blazing smiled and kissed her wife passionately on the lips.

She would carry on with the training, and get everyone ready for the storm that was coming. Now, she was much more sure of herself that she could do it. She thought the calm, peaceful life after it was all over and done with, the happy moments she and her friends would share.

But would they make it there?

Encounter

The sun was just disappearing , Blazing Streak and her friends had been working hard to hone their skills in battle all afternoon, and Blazing was feeling tired. Her legs ached from the constant training. It wasn't easy, but it needed to be done. She kissed her wife goodbye as she and her other friends, aside from Fluttershy, walked down the hill, exhausted looking. She turned to face the timid mare, who was shifting nervously.

"Um, Blazing?... I don't.. want to, um, fight." Fluttershy stuttered. Blazing Streak sighed inwardly.

"It's okay, Fluttershy, this is just practice, no one is going to get hurt." She tried to reassure her.

"I-I know but I didn't mean just now, um, I don't want to hurt anyone." She finished, sinking down. Blazing thought for a moment.

"But what about the last time we all fought together, I saw you ripping one of them... 'shades' to pieces." She pointed out, remembering the name Twilight had given to the dark pony creatures that Night Whisper had conjured.

"Yes, but those weren't real ponies, they were just dark magic." At that she started to shiver, probably at the memory. Blazing nodded in understanding. She put a hoof to her chin in thought.

The only alternative to fighting is healing. That is, if she wants to help.

"Ok, if you don't want to fight, would helping the doctors care for the injured suit you more?" At that, Fluttershy brightened up.

"Oh, yes, I'd love to. I just hope I don't let you down.." She replied. Blazing Streak shook her head.

"I'm sure you won't ,'Shy. After all, you've been looking after all kinds of animals for years, this wont be much different. We can get you some training at the hospital, they won't mind, if we tell them it's important." She soothed. Fluttershy beamed and nodded.

"That would be delightful! But, um, in the morning, it's getting late and I need to tuck my animals in for the night." Blazing Streak smiled with relief at being able to go to bed and rest with her wife. she nodded.

"Okay then, Night, 'Shy."

"Night, Blazing."

Satisfied with the day's work, Blazing Streak also headed home, wobbling in the air slightly from exhaustion. She got to a high altitude, so she could glide. The sun was slowly sinking down beyond the farmhouse, Blazing smiled at the sight of the orange tint that spread across the acres of trees and the barn. It was a welcoming sight. She spotted something at the step of her door, it would have been completely invisible in this light, if it hadn't been for the trademark Stetson that rested on it's head. Blazing Streak smiled fondly. Pitching her nose down, she let herself freefall, closing her wings to reduce air resistance. the usual flame cone started to generate in front of her speeding body.

"Firefly! Yer fallin' too fast!" Blazing Streak heard her wife shouting up to her with a frightened tone in her voice. She could see the ground rapidly approaching.

Now!

She snapped her wings open, feeling the full force of her momentum pushing against her wings. The joints ached a bit, but she kept them open long enough to slow her fall so she could land and do a forward roll to prevent injury. She came face to face with her wife's frightened face.

"Hi!" She exclaimed, smiling. Applejack frowned and hit Blazing Streak's arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" She noticed a playful gleam in the farm pony's eyes.

"Don't scare me like that again, y'hear?"

"Uh.. heh, sorry!" she rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. Applejack looked at her for a moment before chuckling lightly.

"Ya look a mess there, sugar cube!" Blazing Streak realized that she was covered in dirt. She shrugged, scraping it off her shoulders with her hooves.

"Yeah, I'll have a shower in a bit." She stretched, suddenly remembering her fatigue. "Ugh, I'm worn out, blocking you, Rainbow Dash and Thunder Slash's punches is more exhausting than I thought, and I knew it was going to be tiring." She stated, managing to stand on her stiff legs.

"It's the most exhausted I've been for a long time!" She shuddered, remembering the aftermath of Night Whisper's death. Her legs had felt like they had been ran over by a train. She had to have Applejack give her a massage to get comfortable so she could sleep. She hadn't forgotten how good that massage was. She was snapped back into the present by her wife.

"Firefly? Yer starin' inta space a bit there, somethin' up?" She shook her head.

"Uh, nah, just remembering something." She yawned and headed inside.

"Heh, ya really are a bit wobbly there, sugar cube. Take it a bit easier next time, ya hear?" Applejack told her, stepping up to steady the tired Pegasus by pressing up against her.

"mnh.. Thank's AJ." Blazing said. "I think I'll just get a shower n' go to bed, just about ready to fall asleep on my hooves." She decided.

.--...--...---...--...--.

"Of all the things I expected when going into the shower, you joining me definitely wasn't on the top of the list." Blazing Streak stated, blushing hard as she settled in the covers of her bed. Applejack, who was blushing equally deeply, was already lying beside her with a content, half lidded expression, staring into Blazing's eyes.

"Heh. 'S always better when ya don't expect it." She joked. Blazing smiled like Applejack was. She got closer and moved a strand of her wife's mane from her eye and left her hoof on her cheek.

"I love you" She whispered, slowly drifting off for a well earned sleep.

"Ah love you too, sugar cube. Sleep tight." Applejack replied, kissing her on the forehead.

.--...--...---...--...--.

All around her, ponies clashed, blades gleamed as they slashed through flesh like it was paper. Heart pounding, Blazing Streak snapped her head around to see blood spilling into the air everywhere. The air was pierced by shrieks of pain and fury.

What's going on?

Suddenly, a large brown Stallion lunged at her, barrelling her over onto her back and pinning her with a hoof, raising a knife in his other towards her. Her instincts kicked in, she swiftly lashed out with her right hoof, catching the attacker's face, before blasting him with a powerful bolt of fire. He rolled off and lay motionless on the ground. Blazing Streak walked over to him to inspect who he was, but as she got closer, the body faded into nothing, only leaving a trail of blood as a sign that he had once been there.

What in tarnation?

She took to the air to get a better view at what was happening. The first thing she saw was a gigantic horde of angry looking ponies, big and small, growling and lashing out with knives and swords at others. Looking up, she saw something that made her heart stop.

The mountain, it's peak had blown off, lava was flowing down and the ground was separated by crevices.

That means this is...

Her breath came in shorter and quicker as she realized what was happening.

"How nice to see you again, Blazing Streak." She whipped around in the air to see a black Unicorn with a purple mane and ferocious purple eyes that could bore a hole in your very soul. Shock rippled through her.

"Night Whisper!" the Unicorn just laughed. He was floating, much like Blazing Streak was in her last dream. his eyes held such ferocity and hatred, whirling around in purple pools of insanity.

"That's me! You should have known you would never get rid of me so quickly! You're lucky this is just a dream, other wise you'd be dead on the floor right now." He scowled.

Blazing Streak stared into his furious eyes with despair.

"Dusk Shadow... Are you in there? What have you done?" The Unicorn flinched slightly, but then chuckled.

"You should know better, Blazing, ol' pal. You think such a pussy old Unicorn like him could do any of this? No, I'm not him."

"Then where is he?! He became you, I don't know how or why, but he did, I know he must be in there somewhere!" She shoved a hoof into his chest.

"I'll assure you that he was obliterated before he even made it to Tartarus. We couldn't have such a weak minded pony fighting for us. After all, that's how Faint could change him so easily, and corrupt his mind to the point of breaking. He was crippled mentally, his resentment for you weakened his mind, made it vulnerable to Faint's corruption. But, he had potential, Faint saw a spark in him that wasn't in many other ponies. He found fury, anger that plagued his heart and drove him on, anger when he woke up, and when he slept. So, Faint latched onto this spark, and increased it, nurtured it, grew it and built it up until poor little Dusk couldn't hold it all in. He became me, day by day, he would see me in the mirrors instead of his usual self, until one day, his heart gave way completely."

The Unicorn moved his head closer, his expression fierce and full of anger. He continued;

"That anger, that resentment for you was passed down to me, the despair and jealousy of being ignored while your parents spent all their time looking after you, not even glancing in my direction. And all because I wasn't 'special' like you, I couldn't do the things you could. They were so proud of you, they watched you grow up with smiles on their faces and didn't even look at me! I could see it in Daylight sky's eyes, that he didn't have the same fatherly pride in me as he did in you, he stared at me with eyes as dull as a cloudy day. So after you came looking for me and I sent you here, I decided I would follow you, and take everything you came to love here away from you, so you know what it feels like! And if I have to kill a thousand soldiers to get there, then so be it."

Night Whisper finished, gravely.

"What?! So you went as far as killing our parents, attacking an entire world, just because you were JEALOUS?!" Blazing Streak yelled, rage blinding her. Night Whisper only scowled at her. She could feel her muscles tensing up, her pelt started to ignite.

"You would do the same if you were discarded like me, we are alike, anger runs through your veins just as much as mine!"

"WE ARE NOTHING ALIKE! I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING LIKE YOU DID!... What are you accomplishing, what are you gaining by doing this?! A sense of achievement?! Just ask yourself, is it worth it? The pain, the death, the fear you strike on innocent ponies, who have done nothing to wrong you?!" Blazing continued, flying closer to the Unicorn's scowl, gritting her teeth as she tried to calm herself down.

"It will be worth it once Faint sees what I've done, when I've slaughtered you and your petty little 'friends'. Not even you could stop me now, with this power I hold. I will stand by his side and reign hell down on anything that gets in the way of killing you." He retorted, glaring with pure hatred at Blazing, who almost lost it.

"You will not harm my friends, I'll make sure of that! Now tell me who Faint is!" she demanded.

"You'll find out, sooner than you'd like." He didn't give her any time to press him for answers as he vanished with a dark, greeny-blue flash.

Blazing Streak was left staring in rage and bewilderment at where her old enemy had been floating moments before

Faint? What did he mean? Is that really why Dusk Shadow was corrupted?

.--...--...---...--...--.

"Firefly? Firefly, wake up!" Blazing Streak opened her eyes to see a worried Applejack staring at her.

"Wha...? Applejack?" She rubbed her eyes.

"Ya'll looked like you were havin' a mighty bad dream there, sugar cube." Applejack explained, concern lacing her voice.

"I did..." She went on to tell Applejack what happened in her nightmare, by the time she reached the end of the story, she had started to tremble with anxiety. Her wife was quick to pull her into a comforting hug, nuzzling the back of her neck.

"It's okay, sugar cube. It's just a dream, he ain't here, not yet."

"H-he will be though. And what's worse, the thing that corrupted my brother will be. Applejack, what have I done?" Applejack flinched.

"What do ya mean, sugar cube? Ya haven't done anythin' wrong."

"Yes I have, all of this is my fault, I was the thing that stole my parents' attention from my brother, if I had kept my powers to my self, non of this would have happened! I spent all my life training myself so I could kill Night Whisper, when he had the right to be just as angry at me!" Applejack broke the hug, keeping her hooves on Blazing Streak's shoulders.

"No, Firefly, It aint your fault. No one can blame you fer who ya are! Ya'll were born with these powers, so you have the right to tell whoever you want. If he's jealous, that's his own fault and he should'a dealt with it himself! Not take it out on others." She asserted. Blazing nodded with a smile before going in to hug her wife again.

After a long moment, they settled back down. There was no need to go back to sleep - dawn light had already started to shine through the gaps under the curtains. They lay together, Blazing Streak resting her head on Applejack's chest.

"Ah just cant believe all that's been happenin' recently, Who'd have thought that Granny, among other ponies could just come back to life like that, as if nothin' had ever happened? Not that Ah don't like it, Ah don't love Granny Smith, but this ain't normal."

"Hmm.." Blazing Streak murmured absent-mindedly. Applejack glanced down at her.

"I don't think we'll be able to handle this on our own. six of us may be enough to fend off entire armies of 'shades' but those aren't real, intelligent ponies, which I have no doubt will be able to fight better. We need more ponies to fight with us." She decided.

Things were looking grim, Blazing Streak now understood the danger that they were all in. The problem was, who could she find that would be willing to put their life on the line? Princess Celestia and Luna had thousands of soldiers that would without question. But would she order her soldiers into such a tough battle?

Of course she would, Equestria depends on it.

Invitation

Rain gushed down from above, leaving a glisten of moisture on every apple in the orchard that surrounded Blazing Streak as she worked. She used one leg to kick the thick bark of the trees, causing the bright red orbs of fruit to fall into the baskets that laid underneath the shelter of the canopy of bright green leaves. She and her wife were late to harvest this part of the orchard, and had to buck the trees as soon as possible so they didn't go bad, and that meant being stuck out in the rain.

Blazing Streak didn't mind the rain, if anything, it helped sooth her mind. She found the gentle patter of water on soil and leaves to be therapeutic. Even if it did mean getting a soaked orange mane that occasionally dripped in her eyes.

"You sure ya don't want an umbrella? Yer more soaked than an apple pie in a lake!" Applejack called over to her. Blazing looked over to her wife, who stood a few meters away, holding an umbrella in her teeth.

"I don't need one, it's okay." Applejack looked unsure for a moment but said nothing as she continued to buck the trees. Blazing Streak bent down and picked up the baskets, placing one on her back and holding two with her front hooves. She used her wings to glide gently over to the cart that was parked nearby. On her way she noticed Applejack in the corner of her eye. The farm pony was staring at her. She blushed and continued to the cart with her load of apples. As she was about to place her first basket in, a purple light flashed next to her, startling her and causing her to drop the apples on her back.

"Woah!" She exclaimed, before realizing it was Twilight.

"Don't do that, Twilight!" She scolded. The purple Unicorn smiled sheepishly.

"Hey, Twi! What brings ya here?" Applejack trotted over to the two.

"I have a letter from Princess Celestia for Blazing." Surprised, Blazing Streak took the scroll that Twilight levitated over to her. It had a red ribbon tied around it, with the word 'urgent' on the side. Blazing slid the ribbon off and unrolled the scroll to read it out loud.

"Dear Blazing Streak.

It has come to our attention that all is not well under the mountain on which Canterlot is built upon. As you will have heard, my sister and I have been feeling a dark presence stirring beyond the world of the living. Something that not even you have seen before. I'm sure you've heard the legends of Tartarus, and how the darkest minded ponies that ever lived will seek revenge upon the living for their tortured afterlife. And we fear that these legends are true.

My army of three thousand well trained guards won't be enough to stop it, we'll need you and Thunder Slash's help in order to see that this threat is dealt with. A long time ago, shortly after I was forced to banish my sister, I received a prophecy;

'When hell rises, harmony will fall, and only the brightest flame will light the way.'

I believe that this flame is you, Blazing Streak. I have the utmost faith that you will pull through this and I trust you with the fate of Equestria, which is why I am handing you command of my soldiers for this upcoming war.

Your's faithfully,

Princess Celestia.

P.S. I Personally invite you and your friends over to my Palace in Canterlot tomorrow for an important meeting on the subject. You will be staying in the spare rooms available in the north wing of the Palace for three days. Princess Luna will guide you to your rooms. Tell Thunder Slash about this and wait on the hill North of Ponyville for my carriage to come and pick you up at noon."

"Ya mean she's lettin' ya command the entirety of the Canterlot guards?" Applejack asked in disbelief.

"I... don't know... Surely not?" Blazing Streak quickly read through the letter again to make sure she didn't misread something. But it was there, in ink, that Celestia was indeed handing over the command of three thousand soldiers for the upcoming battle. She lowered the letter and started to breathe quicker, with a panicked look plastered on her face.

A whole army?! How am I supposed to do that?! I have no experience in this kind of thing!

"Woah there, Firefly! Calm down!" Applejack was quick to press up against her and nuzzle her neck in comfort. Blazing felt her wings trembling as if Discord himself had possessed them.

"I-I... How in Celestia's name am I supposed to do this?! Last time I took charge in a situation vaguely similar to this, I almost ended up losing you, Applejack! I'm not fit to lead an army like this! Surely she means Thunder Slash? Or Twilight? No, no, no, no!" Blazing Streak started to hyperventilate and pace in circles, much to the concern of Applejack and Twilight.

Eventually, she managed to stop herself and take in several deep breaths. She sat down and stared at the muddy, waterlogged ground.

"I...What if I fail? Equestria will be lost! I don't want this world to end up like Helvada!" She murmured.

"And it wont. Come on, Firefly, what happened ta the headstrong, stubborn hero that ya were only minutes before?" Applejack walked up and sat next to the distressed Pegasus. "Ah can't n' never will be able ta think of a better leader than the one that has already saved the world! Not only are ya brave, but yer smart too, you'll know what ta do when the time comes, darlin', and we'll be there with ya." She gently lifted Blazing's head to face her. Blazing Streak shifted her deeply worried gaze into her lover's eyes.

"Fer now, hon, lets jus' get ready fer tomorrow. It's gonna be a big day." A small smile found it's way onto Blazing's face as she was pulled into an affectionate kiss. She would talk to Princess Celestia about this and work something out.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Before they could leave for Canterlot, Blazing Streak had promised a training session with her friends. Like before, they were gathered at the top of the hill at noon. The rain had cleared up, leaving a dull layer of clouds that blocked the sunlight from heating the land below as much. The air had a chill, and it was cold enough for Blazing to have to set a temporary fire near where they stood, attentions fully on the red Pegasus.

"Okay, like I said, you need to be able to counter attack. This time, I will be on the offensive - but don't worry, I won't hurt you." She added with a smirk.

"Who wants to help me with demonstrations?" She asked.

"I will!" Rainbow Dash immediately piped up.

She did it last time, Someone else.

She noticed Thunder Slash raise her hoof calmly, although she had an uncertain look in her face. Blazing Streak figured she should let the previous incident slide, after all, Thunder Slash hadn't actually meant any harm. Blazing suddenly realized how childish she had been acting over it with a guilty and shameful prick in her heart.

"Rainbow, you did last time. Thank you, Thunder Slash." She motioned the surprised Pegasus up. Blazing noticed that Twilight looked a little taken aback as well.

"What do you need me to do, then?" Slash asked.

"Show everyone your counter-attack. You don't have to be gentle, by the way." Blazing stated, confident that Thunder Slash would be a worthy demonstration. She started with a basic punch, which Thunder Slash hooked with her right hoof. She then rolled on her back and flipped Blazing over by lifting her back using her hind legs to push upwards against Blazing's stomach. The red Pegasus twisted in midair so that she landed on all fours, sending up a cloud of dust as she skidded back. She nodded in approval.

"Did you all get that? Hook their foreleg with yours, the next step is up to you. You can either go the harder and more defensive method like Thunder Slash just demonstrated, or you can do this, which is much easier. Thunder, hit me." Thunder Slash complied, throwing a punch from the right. As Blazing just told the audience, she caught her forearm in her own. This time, she yanked it diagonally to the side, Thunder Slash stumbled on the sudden movement, which in a battle, would give Blazing time to counter attack. As Thunder Slash recovered, Blazing Streak turned back to the gathering of her friends, who were all -except Rarity- looking on with excited and interested faces, even Twilight looked eager to learn.

"Right, everyone pair up with someone who you think would be a suitable opponent, we're going to practice this." Rainbow Dash immediately went up to Applejack, Rarity turned to Twilight and Pinkie Pie, seeing no other alternative, shrugged and bounced over to Thunder Slash with her usual gleeful smile. Thunder turned round, noticing Pinkie, she sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes.

Blazing turned her attention to Applejack and Rainbow Dash, watching them carefully. Applejack, with determination in her eyes, lashed out her left hoof towards Rainbow Dash. The cyan Pegasus, as instructed, hooked it with her own fore-hoof. Blazing was expecting her to yank it as she had demonstrated. She was surprised to witness Rainbow Dash swiftly roll and push Applejack over her in a fluent motion. Blazing quickly flew up and caught Applejack before she hit the floor. Setting her wife down, she turned back to Rainbow Dash, who was standing proudly, with dirt scuffed on her back.

"That was... Dead on! First time, too! You sure you haven't done this before?" Rainbow Dash shifted uncomfortably and averted her eyes. Blazing eyed her suspiciously and curiously.

She was about to ask why Rainbow had acted so shifty, but she was distracted by a squeal from the other side of the clearing. Looking round, she saw Rarity piled on top of Twilight. She was surprised that Rarity and Twilight had actually attempted the exercise at all, knowing that they weren't the type to ever want to fight anything.

"What happened here?" She asked.

"I slipped- OH no, no, no!" Rarity squealed as she desperately tried to brush the dirt off her pelt frantically.

"Uh, you know you can wash it off later, right-"

"Oh, you don't understand! This will take hours to get clean!" Rarity interrupted, still trying to get herself reasonably clean.

"But.. It's a shower.. Surely you can't have been expecting to stay completely clean in a combat training session anyway?" Blazing Streak reasoned, lifting an eyebrow at her friend's antics. Shrugging it off, she told them to try the simpler counter and turned her attention towards Pinkie and Thunder Slash. The blue Pegasus sighed in exasperation as Pinkie bounced around her.

"We'll need some sort of special armor! It will be like one of those super special awesome secret soldiers they have with the cool armor that has one of those energy shield thingy's! Or was that a game I once played? Oh well! We need it pronto!" Pinkie's excited rambling was muffled by Blazing's hoof.

"Um... Pinkie? You do know that you need to learn this stuff, right?" Blazing Streak took her hoof away. Pinkie Pie only started bouncing again.

"Oh, silly! I have this!" She pulled her party cannon, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Where did you... nevermind. Surely you'll need more than a cannon used to make parties?" She pointed out, tilting her head.

"Not if you have confetti bombs!" As if on cue, the cannon fired a projectile which collided with a nearby tree. it exploded into many different coloured strands of confetti and left the tree bent over from the impact.

"...I... Okay then..." Blazing stated, bewildered by how confetti could do so much damage.

"What if one of the enemy get too close to you?" Thunder Slash pointed out.

"Then I'll move, silly!"

"There's no point in arguing with you, is there, Pinkie?" Blazing realized, deadpanned. Pinkie Pie shook her head violently.

.--...--...---...--...--.

It was late afternoon by the time Blazing Streak was satisfied with everyone's progress in the basic counters. The sun had lowered, turning the sky a light pink. Thunder Slash and Blazing were the only two that remained on the hill. Blazing Streak had told her to stay so that they could try something important.

"I think we need to learn how to control light magic properly, the way we did it before ended up hurting both of us." She had told the blue Pegasus, who'd nodded in agreement.

The two stood on the hill, thinking.

"What if we tried angling ourselves so that the beams are perpendicular to each other?" Thunder Slash suggested. Blazing nodded.

"Lets try it." They stood side by side a few hooves apart.

"One hoof?" Blazing asked. Thunder Slash nodded.

"I guess."

"Okay, go." Blazing tensed her arm, releasing a beam of orange fire diagonally to her left. Beside her, sparks turned into lightning as Thunder Slash did the same, electricity clashed with flame once more. The two energies halted in the collision point. Like it had the last time their beams crossed, a ball of unnaturally bright light grew, except this time, instead of exploding, a streak of blinding light shot across the landscape, turning the ground around them completely white. Blazing had to raise a hoof to protect her eyes from such light. A deafening roar also emitted from the three energies. After a short while, Blazing Streak's arm began to tire, and she felt fatigue swamp her. She looked to her left, to see Thunder Slash in a similar state. She nodded to the Pegasus, before ceasing her flames and lowering her arm, breathing heavily. Thunder Slash did the same and the beam of pure energy vanished in an instant.

"Well... That was pretty awesome, I have to admit." Slash stated, in an almost disbelieving tone. Blazing Streak, who suddenly found herself struggling to think of any words, only nodded and sighed, heavily.

They had just learned how to harness levels of magic that rivaled the Princesses' and even the elements of harmony, all it would take was a little effort from the two of them, and they could destroy almost anything that got in their way. Her wings trembled a bit at the thought.

"Hey, Blazing, you okay?" Thunder Slash asked.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Hey, Slash? I'm sorry about how I've acted the past few days, I know you didn't mean it wrong, I acted childish and... I'm sorry." The mare in question looked completely taken aback by the sudden apology.

"N-no, you were right to be angry at me, I was insensitive." Slash stated. They stood there in awkward silence for a few heartbeats before Blazing remembered about the invitation. Her heart plummeted as she remembered the weight she would hold on her shoulders.

"Slash, today I got a letter from Princess Celestia..." She explained what the Princess wanted, and how they had to be on the hill the next morning.

"I don't know how I'm going to do it! It's just too much!" She fretted.

"Don't worry, Blazing, you'll be able to ask Celestia herself tomorrow, she'll understand, I'm sure." Thunder Slash reassured. Blazing Streak was surprised she even cared, knowing how insensitive she could be. She slapped herself mentally at her thoughts, Thunder Slash was only thinking about the well-being of Equestria.

"Well, I hope you're right, or this fight could end up sour."

.--...--...---...--...--.

White frost covered the vegetation around Ponyville's town center, the morning sun made it glisten as it slowly melted into the grass and leaves of trees. Not many ponies were out at this time, it was too early for most, it being a Saturday when everyone was having a lie-in instead of being on their way to work. Blazing Streak was one of these early risers - she didn't like to sleep when she knew she could be doing something productive outside.

"Heya, Blazin'! Hi sis! Are ya goin' ta wait fer the Princess now?" Apple Bloom and her friends trotted over from where they were playing moments before, wearing scarves and hats to keep their heads warm from the bitter cold.

"Eyup, remember to do as Bic Mac n' Granny tell ya. We'll be back soon." Applejack bent over and hugged her little sister with one arm, which the filly returned.

"G'bye sis." Apple Bloom said as she seperated. She turned to Blazing Streak, who put on a smile.

"See you soon. Apple Bloom." She was about to continue to Twilight's the trip, but Apple Bloom had grasped her in a hug again. Her smile turned genuine as she returned the gesture.

"See ya, Blazin'." The filly turned and ran back to where she was playing, followed by there friends.

"She definitely likes ya, firefly." Applejack observed. Blazing nodded, before continuing to walk.

"I heard Thunder Slash was staying at Twilight's again tonight. I just hope she hasn't tried anything yet." At the thought of Thunder Slash snapping, Blazing Streak quickened her pace towards the library.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak knocked three times on the door of Ponyville's library. Applejack stood next to her, close enough that their pelts were brushing. It helped keep them from the cold of the morning. That, and Blazing had started to heat herself up, like a portable radiator, keeping her wife and everypony around them warm.

"Coming!" A purple aura surrounded the wooden door and it swung open to reveal Twilight, Spike and Thunder Slash. The blue Pegasus tilted her head curiously at Blazing's red glowing pelt.

"Um, I didn't know you could do that." Thunder Slash stated.

"Well, what can I say? I'm a walking radiator." Blazing joked, earning amused smiles from everypony - and dragon.

"Okay, lets go!" The three trotted out the door, Twilight and Thunder Slash wore saddlebags while Spike had a small rucksack on. The small dragon rode on Twilight's back, supporting a deeply excited expression.

He doesn't know what's coming. Blazing thought, solemnly.

"Lets go. The rest should be waiting on the hill already." Blazing nodded and led the way out of town towards the hill which Princess Celestia told them to wait on.

She rounded a corner and continued along a dirt pathway, hovering slightly above the ground. In the distance, the path winded up a steep slope which gave way to an even steeper cliff with a small pool of water collected at the bottom - most likely from rainfall. As she got closer, she was able to make out a tree, with the unmistakable Rainbow coloured main of Rainbow Dash underneath along with the rest of her friends.

"HEY GUYS!" Blazing jumped, spinning around to see Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down behind them with her usual over-excited grin.

"Wait, how did you get there? I saw your pelt on the-.... nevermind." Thunder Slash was more confused than Blazing was about how she was there when they had seen her bouncing on the hill a heartbeat before

"Heh, It's jus' Pinkie bein'... Pinkie." Applejack reasoned.

"...Huh..." Thunder Slash sounded uneasy about the Pink earth pony's wackiness.

"Oh my gosh I can't wait to go to Canterlot! It's going to be so FUN! That is, if they're up for a party this time! The last time was a bummer!" Pinkie screwed up her face in an over-exaggerated pout.

As Blazing reached the top, Rainbow Dash had just taken to the skies and was now performing a series of complex aerial maneuvers while Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Derpy Hooves watched in awe. Confused, Blazing looked behind her where the pink party-pony just was, but saw nothing.

"Do physics mean nothing to that pony?" She exclaimed.

"Hey, girls." Fluttershy called over to them. Rarity and Derpy turned their attention towards the four ponies who had just arrived.

Derpy walked up to Blazing.

"Long time no see, Blazing!" She said.

"Yeah, how have you been?" Blazing replied.

"Good, thank you." They were interrupted by the sound of a Pegasus-drawn carriage landing on the hill. It had a group of twelve Pegasi strapped to the front. The carriage itself had a lining of gold, swirling in elaborate patterns around the edges, it had a gold railing around a platform with a dark red carpet and a bench that stretched the length of each side, with a fancier looking chair at the back - probably for the Princess or a VIP.

"Oh my!" Rarity looked like she was about to faint.

A large, stern stallion with a brown pelt and black mane stepped out.

"Princess Celestia has sent a private carriage for.." He unrolled a scroll.

"Blazing Streak, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Derpy. If you would bring your luggage and climb aboard, we will be on our way to her majesty's palace."

Rainbow Dash landed behind them.

"I can't wait! This is going to be awesome! Shotgun the big seat at the back!" She flew over to the carriage and sat on the throne like seat at the back. The rest followed her and took their seats on the sides.

Blazing Streak, who sat near the front, shifted anxiously. She felt her wife's hoof on hers, turning round, she saw Applejack looking at her, worried.

"It's okay, Firefly. You can do this." She reassured her. Blazing nuzzled her cheek in appreciation.

She sure hoped so.

discussions

Blazing Streak sat at a large table in one of the main halls of Princess Celestia's Palace. It was the most decorated and elaborate place she'd ever been in. The walls looked like they'd been polished five times over, not a speck of dust was seen. The floors, although made of wood, seemed to be a mirror, as everything in the room could be seen through it. The walls arched into a roof at the top, with supports that looked as if they were only half there to be practical. The table itself had fine grooves in the sides, creating swirling patterns that would make a furniture sales-pony cry. Red silk banners hung from the walls and ceiling with images of a dark blue Alicorn and a white Alicorn with a sun and a moon in between them printed on every single one.

However, it wasn't the room itself that Blazing Streak had her eyes fixed on. She had taken notice to some stain-glass windows opposite her. The one on the far left resembled her six friends, defeating Nightmare Moon with their elements. The second one from the left showed them defeating Discord, again, with their elements. The next one showed Shining Armor and Princess Cadence wiping away Queen Chrysalis and her changeling army with their love magic. The fourth, which Blazing had her eyes fixed on, showed a black Pegasus with shining white eyes, surrounded by a bright blue orb of fire while holding it's hooves downwards. It had more blue fire in the shape of fireballs that looked as if they were pelting down on a black Unicorn with purple eyes, who had a frightened expression.

She still remembered that moment all too well. She had felt terrible for three weeks after she had 'died' of exhaustion, she still missed her brother, despite what he did to her.

No, it wasn't him, it was Night Whisper.

She kept telling herself that, but something at the back of her mind kept telling her that he was conscious of what he was doing behind the dark outer shell. After all, after she had defeated Night Whisper, Dusk Shadow had still treated her with spite for the last moments of his life; he still hated her.

"Firefly?" She was pulled out of her train of thought by her wife quietly getting her attention.

"Hm?" She looked at Applejack, who sat to her right. The farm mare was looking at her with concern.

"Cheer up, Firefly. That was four years ago now." She nuzzled her neck comfortingly. Blazing put a wing on her back in appreciation. She closed her eyes for a moment, grieving for her lost brother. A tear threatened to break the surface, she struggled to keep it from displaying her sorrow.

"Are you alright, Blazing Streak?" To her left, Princess Celestia sat on a throne like chair, a fork full of some fancy named salad, much like the rest of them.

"Uh, I'm a-alright." She stuttered. She felt a little awkward speaking to the Princess over a dinner.

"Something is bothering you, it's alright, you can tell me." The Princess pressed. Blazing sighed.

"Just grieving for my brother, don't worry."

"What happened, dear?" Blazing Streak realized the Princess still didn't know that Night Whisper was actually Dusk Shadow. she rubbed the back of her head, awkwardly.

"Um... He was Night Whisper." She stated, bluntly. She looked down and sighed. Applejack put a hoof on hers.

"Oh. Well I am sorry for your loss, Blazing." There was a short silence in the room. The others; Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Thunder Slash, Princess Luna and Derpy, who sat around the circular table, all looked at Blazing with sympathy. Well, apart From Thunder, who shifted awkwardly.

The silence was getting awkward. Thankfully, Princess Luna broke the quiet.

"Ahem. We understand that your visit was important, Blazing. After we have finished with our meals, I'll show you your rooms. We shall discuss things at sunrise." Blazing Streak nodded, a thorn of worry impaling her heart. What was she going to say? Should she voice her worries? That would mean questioning her Princess' orders. After all, having the Princess give you control of her military was a great honor, and Blazing should have been flattered. But instead of honor, all she felt was panic and uncertainty.

"That meal was great, Princess. Thank you for inviting us all here." Twilight spoke up.

"Oh, it was simply divine!" Rarity agreed, using a napkin to wipe remnants of lettuce from her mouth with a content smile.

"That was the bestest salad meal I've ever had! But I don't normally eat salad! Normally chocolate or cake or chocolate cake or cakolate choc or sweets or all of the above! Sometimes I eve-" Pinkie Pie's rambling was stopped by Rainbow Dash, who put a hoof over her mouth with an amused and slightly confused expression.

"Any time, my faithful student." Celestia looked toward Rarity, smiling. "Our chefs are the best you can get in Canterlot, and they are very adept at cooking exquisite meals." She complemented. A tall, cream stallion with brown eyes and mane wearing a white apron and hat on blushed at the Alicorn's praise as he took the empty plates and cutlery from each of them and retreated back into the Palace kitchen.

"It's almost time to set the sun, I recommend you visit the Palace spa for the evening to help you relax. Everything there will be free for the honored guests. Now, I must get back to my duties, I wish you all a good night, and I will see you in the morning." Princess Celestia got up from her seat, towering over the rest of them, dipped her head to her little ponies and walked towards a set of double wooden doors. Once she disappeared through the decorative barriers, Princess Luna also stood.

"I'll show you the way to the spa, I will accompany you there." She stated with a smile. Blazing Streak shakily got to her hooves, followed by the rest of them, who harbored excited expressions. They followed the Princess of the Night through some more doors and through a long corridor.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Hot water bubbled up against Blazing Streak's wings and chest, relaxing her tensed muscles and massaging her body. Beside her, Applejack was in bliss as she leaned her head on Blazing's shoulder, letting out gentle moans of contention.

"Mmmh... This is heaven." She mumbled. Blazing smiled, she had to agree. It was like the water was pulling her troubles away from her every minute she stayed there. She had managed to temporarily take her mind off the pressure of the prophecy that Thunder Slash had brought to her.

Subconsciously, she started working her hoof on her wife's upper back, releasing the tension that the water couldn't reach.

"Ooh.. That's great, Firefly, keep doin' that." Applejack mumbled. It sounded more like a purr than comprehensible words.

The whole room was filled with ripples of the reflections from the hot tub, steam blurred their vision and made it harder to breathe in a sort of relaxing way. Looking around, she saw that Fluttershy seemed to have fallen asleep. Her head rested on the back of the tub above the water which was padded with some sort of water proof cushion material. Even in her sleep, she had a warm smile stretching across her face.

Princess Luna, to the left of the massive tub sat with a book, reading it intently. Blazing Streak looked closer at the cover;

'Warrior cats: The Darkest Hour.'

Blazing Streak had heard of that before; it was one of Equestria's best selling book series. She'd been meaning to read it for some time, but never got round to it. Maybe after this was all over, if it's ever over, that is.

"Princess Luna?" She got the attention of the alicorn.

"What is it?"

"Are those books good? I've been wanting to read them." Blazing intrigued.

"Yes, they are fantastic. We shall let you borrow them when you need them" Luna cast her a friendly smile.

"Really? Thanks, Princess!"

"Don't worry about it."

The rest of her friends also sat in the hot tube with similar expressions as the water bubbled around them. Blazing noticed that there was an absence of Pinkie Pie. The party pony was nowhere to be seen. Blazing shrugged it off; she was probably distracted by something.

Minutes later a pink blur launched into the tub, spraying hot water everywhere.

"Eep!" Fluttershy shot awake at the sudden splash.

"Oh my gosh guys! You need to check out the cantine! The cupcakes are amaaziing!" everypony stared with bewildered and frightened expressions. Pinkie, oblivious to the fact that Princess Luna was reading, looked back with confusion. She looked behind her, towards the furious Princess of the Night. The book that had once been in Luna's magical grip was now soaked through, Blazing could see liquid ink running down the inside.

Oh dear..

"Get your enthusiasm OUT OF HERE!" Pinkie Pie shrank back in fright. A blue aura sparked from Princess Celestia's horn. Moments later Pinkie Pie vanished with a blue flash.

"....Uh.... Sorry about the book, your highness." Was all Blazing managed to say. The Princess closed her eyes and took deep breaths.

"Um.. What did you do with the pony?" Thunder Slash asked. Luna, recovering and sitting back down in the tub sighed in frustration.

"I only teleported her out of here." She grunted. "I was just getting to the finale! Now look at it! Ruined!" She lifted the soggy remains of the book.

Don't worry, your highness, I'll get ya another one." Rainbow Dash reassured, grinning at the Princess of the Night, who smiled gratefully back at her.

"No need, Rainbow Dash, I have money, you know." Luna smiled.

There was something about the way they talked to each other that made something in Blazing's mind suspicious. It was almost like a boss in a work place talking to an employee. Rainbow caught her narrowed gaze, she looked down and shifted uncomfortably. This only increased Blazing's curiosity. She was interrupted by a quiet yawn from her wife.

"Tired?" She asked the farm pony.

"Ah think A'hm ready ta hit the hay. Ya comin', Firefly?" She asked.

"Yeah, right behind you." They climbed out of the hot tub. Blazing Streak started to glow, evaporating the water from both of their pelts, leaving them dry in a couple of minutes.

"Heh, convenient." Applejack commented. She turned around and looked at Blazing, half lidded and with a smile that made Blazing Streak feel a shiver through her spine. She blushed as the farm pony pressed her lips on her muzzle for a split second before turning back round and walking out the room with a sway in her hips.

*pomf*

Oh for Celestia's sake.

Apparently, the other ponies in the room had witnessed the embarrassing display. Rainbow Dash burst out laughing while Fluttershy blushed and shrunk back, muttering 'oh my...'. Princess Luna just smirked, while Thunder Slash looked at her with an irritated frown.

"Uh..." She didn't say anything, she just turned and left awkwardly. Applejack looked over her shoulder with a playful smirk.

"Why do you have to be so damn sexy, AJ?" Applejack chuckled, blushed, and brushed up against her wife as they headed for their bedroom for the night. Something wasn't sitting right in Blazing's mind, however. She couldn't help but feel that Rainbow was hiding something from all of them, and she had a feeling it involved Princess Luna.

She thought back to when they had been training the day before, Rainbow Dash had managed to nail the move first try, without any flaws. It was like she'd been trained somewhere before. She decided to confront the multicoloured Pegasus tomorrow.

The two reached a large spiral staircase at the end of a narrow hallway and started to head up it, as shown by Princess Luna earlier that day. After a while of climbing stairs, which would have worn out any average pony, they reached another corridor. They walked for a little while longer before seeing a door on their left with a sign that read; 'Blazing Streak and Applejack." They headed inside.

A large double bed with its own silk roof sat in the middle of the room, accompanied by two sets of drawers at either side. A large wardrobe made of polished spruce wood and gold for the doorknobs and hinges. The floor was made of soft, blue carpet that felt as if it was made from a fur coat. There was a wooden stool with a velvet cushion, lined with gold in front of a desk with a large mirror, also bordered with gold. Even though Blazing had already seen it, it still blew her away.

Applejack led the way towards the bed. She took off her stetson and untied the bands in her mane and tail, leaving her silky mane to freely flow just past her shoulders as she laid down on the king sized bed on her side, facing Blazing. It was rare that Blazing Streak saw her like this, and when she did, it was a stunning sight.

Before she realized she was staring, wide eyed and mouth agape, her wife chuckled and blushed.

"Ya gonna stay like that all night or are ya gonna get over here n' kiss me?"

Wings slowly extending once more, she complied gladly. She swiftly flew onto the bed, crawled over to her wife and pressed her lips on Applejack's. The farm pony moaned and laughed a bit into the kiss. The passion steadily grew. Blazing pushed harder into the kiss and so did Applejack. Before Blazing knew it Applejack had her pinned. She didn't mind. She prodded her wife's lips with her tongue, and was allowed entry. The wrestling match between them changed to a tongue wrestling match as they struggled for dominance over each other. The familiar apple-cinnamon taste swirled in her mouth as they danced. Blazing smiled and rolled them over so she was on top. Doing so separated them from the kiss. She looked down at her wife with love before going in to kiss her again. She felt Applejack's hooves finding their way to her outstretched wings and started to massage the base of them. She gasped as the sensation hit her.

"Ya like that, sugarcube?" Applejack whispered, smirking.

"nh.." Blazing struggled to make a proper reply.

Just then, the door to the bedroom swung open. They froze as they looked at the figure of a more than surprised Princess Celestia standing at the doorway.

"...Umm...." The couple blushed furiously and climbed off of each other. Blazing Streak looked down, ashamed to have been caught by the Princess.

The Princess... Why did it have to be the Princess?!

"..I, uh..." She started. In the corner of her eye, she saw the white Alicorn smirk and giggle softly.

"Well, I just came up to offer you some tea, but it looks like you're pre-occupied right now." She turned and closed the door behind her. The room was left in silence, two mares still blushing at the fact that they'd been caught. By the Princess, no less.

"Oh no..."

"What is it, Firefly?"

"The discussion's going to be really awkward tomorrow." Blazing realized.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak, accompanied by her wife, opened the doors to the dining hall. It was only them, as the rest of her friends had decided to go and look around Canterlot, all except her Applejack, who had insisted on staying with her.

Princess Celestia and Luna sat at the large table that they had eaten on the previous day. The sight reminded her of what had happened last night. She cringed.

"Don't worry 'bout it, sugarcube, Ah doubt she really cares about what happened." She leaned in towards Blazing's ear. "Jus' pretend nuthin' happened and it should go fine."

"Good morning, Blazing, Applejack. Have fun last night?" She smirked.

"Well there goes that idea." Blazing Streak muttered.

"I'm only teasing you." She chuckled. Her face turned serious and she motioned for the two to sit.

"I trust you know why I called you over here?" Blazing nodded, her worries flooding back to her, swamping her mind.

"Um, Princess? I gotta ask, why can't Shining Armor lead the army? I don't think I'm able to lead three thousand ponies into a battle that could potentially be the end of Equestria... Surely Thunder Slash or Twilight would be better?" Celestia sat in her throne, thinking for a moment.

"Blazing Streak. Do you really think I would have chosen you if unless I was one hundred percent sure that you were the pony right for the task? I can't leave the fate of the world in Thunder Slash's hooves, she's missing something you have." Blazing looked up, puzzled.

"She doesn't think before she acts. Princess Luna has walked her dreams, seen the way she thinks and behaves. She wouldn't think twice about keeping the soldiers alive. Shining Armor is busy in the Crystal Empire, so he cannot lead it this time."

"So, is there really no other pony that can do it?" Blazing asked, all hope of getting out of the huge task thrown out of her mind.

"I'm afraid not, Blazing. You must take your role as the flame that will light our way to victory. I will not deny it, a lot of our men will die, but keep in mind, it will not be your fault. These things happen in wars." Celestia admitted.

"You will not be alone in this. There are allies in the shadows that will help you in the final battle." Princess Luna put in.

"What do you mean? Allies in the shadows?" Blazing asked, baffled. The Princess of the Night didn't answer.

"Blazing, this fight is closing in, it has grown closer, the evil under the mountain is rising, we can feel it. Soon, I am going to order a complete evacuation of Canterlot, the only ponies here will include you and our army. Later, I will bring you along with me and introduce you to your fighting force. They know what is happening, and they are honored to have you at their command." Despite her inevitable responsibility, pride swelled in her chest.

"Princess Celestia? May Ah accompany Firefly while she prepares? Ah don't want to leave her." Blazing nuzzled Applejack's cheek and looked hopefully at Princess Celestia.

To her disappointment, The white Alicorn shook her head.

"This is something Blazing must do alo-" The Princess was cut off by the door swinging open, revealing Rainbow Dash.

"Princess, the assassins agreed to help-" The Pegasus froze when she saw Blazing Streak and Applejacks' shocked gazes focused on her.

Rainbow Dash is an assassin?!

weight

Sudden realization hit Blazing Streak. The way she had managed to nail that move first try, the way she spoke to Luna, it all made sense. The pieces fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

"I..."

"Rainbow..." Applejack started. Blazing Streak was still staring in disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell us? What, was this some sort of joke to you?" She asked, piping up.

"What? No I-"

"You hid this from us for Luna knows how long and it never crossed yer mind ta tell your own best friends that you kill for money?! What went through yer noggin' when ya thought this was a good idea?!" Rainbow was stood rigid, eyes shrunken. She stuttered before Blazing stood up and walked over to her.

"Rainbow, how long have you been hiding this from us? Does any one else know?" When Rainbow Dash didn't manage to reply Blazing stepped closer, fury lit like a spark in her heart, replacing the shock. Her hooves threatened to burst into flame, but she tried her best to repress her anger.

"Tell us, right now, Rainbow. How could you deceive us like this?!" She pressed. Rainbow's expression gradually switched from shock to despair and shame.

"I-I'm Sorry! I couldn't tell you! I-I-"

"And why is that?! Can't ya trust us with yer secrets?! Ah thought ya'll were loyal enough to have faith that we wouldn't think less of you jus' told us before!" Applejack shouted. Blazing saw tears sparkle in Rainbow's eyes as she turned and fled down the corridor, leaving the doors to slam in front of her face.

She stared after the Pegasus, bewildered. Slowly, they turned their attention back to the two Princesses that were watching them with surprise. Luna had more of an awkward look on her face.

"You knew she was an assassin, didn't you? You're involved in this." Blazing accused, the fur on her back spiking up. The Princess of the Night didn't reply for a moment, before briefly nodding. Many feelings swirled in Blazing Streak's heart; mostly disbelief and anger that one of her closest friends was willing to lie to her and every pony else she was close to. Looking toward Applejack, she saw that her wife was feeling the same. She had the disappointed dullness lacing her eyes as she would most times she was let down like this. Blazing nuzzled Applejack softly in comfort before facing the Princesses again.

"Your friend meant well, you know." Princess Celestia said. Blazing tilted her head, puzzled.

"When I first found out about the assassins, I was sceptical too, I didn't fully agree with it. But, after some time, I came to realize that it was for the best." She tried to reassure Blazing, who wasn't buying it.

"But to kill ponies, I get that Equestria isn't completely crime free, but killing isn't the way!" Blazing Streak piped up again, gritting her teeth. The Royal sisters looked taken aback for a moment before Luna stepped forward, rage sparking her eyes white.

"You dare to question me? In my own Palace?"

"Luna, don-" Celestia started, before being cut off by Blazing Streak, who scowled at the Princess of the night, outrage bursting from within her.

"How dare you order ponies to kill each other?! It's unjust! You should put criminals in prison, not pick them off from the shadows!"

"Firefly, sto-"

"Who are you to tell your Princess what to do?! It's not as simple as that, subject." Luna spat the last word in anger.

"Besides, the assassins aren't the only ones that kill their enemies!" She continued, snarling at Blazing, who flinched as a vulnerable nerve snapped.

"You know as well as I do that Night Whisper would have been a serious threat to Equestria if I hadn't! I had no choice!" Blazing failed to keep her eyes from flashing white in anger. This time, she was unable, and unwilling, to stop her hooves from igniting. A fiery aura started to surround her. She felt herself lifting off the floor slightly. She struggled to refrain from launching herself at the Alicorn. The Princess of the Night took a step back for a moment. She looked like she was about to retort when Princess Celestia separated them by standing between them.

"Enough! Stop it, both of you!" She turned to Blazing Streak, who was still fuming. "Blazing, I know how you feel about this, I felt it before, but you must understand that the assassins do what they do for the benefit of Equestria alone, a lot of their targets could and have escaped our prisons, so the only way to prevent them from being free to cause corruption in Equestria is to eliminate them. They're just too big of a threat to leave alive." Blazing Streak's rage started to slowly die down, the flames that had engulfed her extinguished, but her eyes stayed white and a scowl still planted on her face. She started to think hard about it. It was true that most prisons had ways of escaping, no prison was completely secure. This combined with the fact that some criminals might be very dangerous to be free.

Maybe... maybe it is the only way...

Even though it made sense to her now, she still didn't like it. She nodded in understanding and her eyes dulled to their normal crimson colour.

"As for you, Luna, you should know that ponies won't all have the same views on things as you do. We'll talk about this later, for now, I must show Blazing Streak around our barracks and training facilities." Luna stared at Celestia for a moment with an un-amused glare before turning her back to the three and walking through the doors that led to the Castle's spa. The Princess of the sun motioned to Blazing Streak and Applejack to follow her through another set of doors leading to the throne room and through the main doors of the Palace.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak walked through a large clearing near the Palace. around her, guards trained with weights and did press-ups. Beside her, Applejack looked around in a similar way to her.

Every single guard wore a tense and serious expression as they powered through training exercises. Some clashed wooden poles - most likely mimicking spears, some were brawling using hoof to hoof combat and some used dulled down swords. This made Blazing Streak realize that she would need a weapon for the upcoming storm, or she would most likely be torn to pieces, no matter how powerful her magic was. She thought back to the Journey she and her friends had embarked on a year ago and was reminded of the two knives she had come back with. Seeing as she had left them at home, she figured she'd be supplied with something to train with.

A voice from her left snapped her out of her thoughts.

"You'd better take good care of these guards, Blazing Streak. I've worked hard to train them up properly." She looked and saw a white Unicorn with a blue main and tail. She recognized Shining Armour, the usual leader of this army. The statement only added to the stone that weighed her heart down. They expected so much of her, yet she wasn't so sure she'd be able to live up to those expectations.

"Princess Celestia said you were in the Crystal Empire." Blazing Streak observed. Shining Armour nodded.

"Yeah, but I decided to have one last check if everything is in order before I leave to sort some things out over there. If Tartarus rises, so will Sombra." He suddenly grew a serious expression on his face. "I've heard a lot about you, Blazing Streak. I know that you will have what it takes to win this war." Blazing was surprised by the sudden reassurance.

"I definitely hope so, or I will be letting down everyone and everything I love." She stated, suddenly realizing the weight of the situation. If she failed this war, Equestria would be doomed, death tolls would rise in the millions, cities would be destroyed, society would fall apart. Overall, it would be another Helvada, only worse. She shuddered at the thought and a web of despair settled in her heart.

After a while of silence between the three, Shining Armour spoke up.

"Blazing? Wanna have a go in the ring? I want to see for my self what you're made of!" He challenged. Blazing Streak stopped and looked at him. After a minute she nodded.

"Fine."

.--...--...---...--...--.

A large crowd of guards stood around a fenced off area of dirt, much like the dusty area that Blazing would give her friends' lessons. All of her friends, apart from Rainbow Dash, gathered at the front of the crowd, eagerly awaiting the action that was about to take place. Pinkie Pie had a cheerleader outfit on and was bouncing up and down with pompoms. Shining Armour stood at the opposite side of the makeshift arena.

"Okay, in this round, be as rough as you want, when one pony surrenders, they lose and the round will be aborted. Remember, no hard feelings!" Shining Armour explained.

"Oh, and Blazing, no magic." He added. Blazing Streak nodded and reared up on her hind legs, much like the Unicorn in front of her.

"Whenever you're ready." Blazing gritted her teeth. The two circled each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Then, after a while, Blazing noticed Shining Armour's hind leg muscles preparing to launch him forward, this gave her a brief warning of the opponent's charge and gave her time to sidestep. As he missed, she landed a swift blow to the side of his head before leaping back to avoid being elbowed in the stomach. The white Unicorn lashed out with his right hoof. Making use of her training, she caught it and swiftly rolled onto her back, pulling the other on top of her. She then pushed up with her hind legs on Shining Armour's stomach as the momentum carried him forward. He sailed over her and landed clumsily on the ground, grunting. Blazing Streak flipped over with her wings to stand, facing him. He looked up at her with new respect in his eyes. After the breif pause he launched himself at her again. She miss-timed her evasion and he caught her wing as she tried to roll away. Instead of quickly rolling and standing once more, she span around and lost her balance. Immediately, the Unicorn had pinned her with his right foreleg and brought his other up to land a blow to her face. She used this time to drive her hoof into the side of his leg, he buckled and she rolled him to the side, allowing her to regain her footing. This time, it was her who went on the offensive. He had only just managed to stand, and was too slow to react in time before Blazing used the same move she had done on Thunder Slash about a week before, flipping backwards and catching the guard's jaw with her back hooves. He reared with the impact and fell on his bac, dazed. Blazing regained her footing and started to breathe heavier in exhaustion. Her wing stung from the impact of his battle hardened hooves.

Once more, Shining Armour regained his footing. He stood there, blood trickling from his mouth and panting just as hard as Blazing Streak was.

"Well... You sure live up to your reputation!" He wheezed. Blazing Streak started to feel bad. She rubbed the back of her head with her hoof.

"Uhm, sorry about the jaw." She apologized. He grinned.

"Sorry about the wing." He retorted with a chuckle. She faked a smile and sighed with exhaustion.

"Come." Shining Armour gestured, exiting the ring.

"You need some rest and something to eat." He stated. She was about to protest when she stumbled and her stomach rumbled.

"Thanks." She stretched her wings before hearing hoof-steps coming from behind her. Turning around, she saw her friends trotting up to her.

"You got him good, Blazing." Thunder Slash commented. "I remember being hit in the jaw like that." She remarked. Something twisted inside her heart at the memory of that fight.

"I'm fine, by the way." She said, hastily before Blazing could voice any concerns.

"Ah knew ya'll were a fighter, but takin' on the head o' the guards like that? Gosh, Ah've married a real warrior!" Applejack exclaimed, eyes wide. Blazing Streak blushed but didn't move her gaze from the ground.

"OhmyGOSH! You learned all that from Helvada?! You must have been at it for ages! OOH! WE NEED A PARTY!" Blazing sighed before noticing Twilight looking worried.

"Where did Rainbow Dash go? I haven't seen her all day." Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy all nodded in thought while Blazing felt a stone drop in her heart. Should she tell them? She'd be betraying Rainbow Dash's trust, and if anything, the Rainbow Pegasus should tell them herself. Spilling the beans could potentially ruin the friendships between Rainbow and every pony else, and that would be the worst move she would ever make. She decided to go against it for now, and try to make Rainbow tell them herself.

" Uh... Don't know, she's probably aslee-" She was cut off by the sound of an explosion and rock cracking. Looking around in panic, she saw her friends and Shining Armour all looking up at the mountain with horror. Following their gaze, she saw a boulder bouncing down the side of the mountain directly above the Palace. With no time to think twice, Blazing Streak launched herself towards the boulder as it fell. Flames formed a cone in front of her as she rocketed towards the threat, a fiery aura causing her to look like a fireball. Getting in range, she blasted the rock with her two front hooves. A beam of orange-red fire struck the debris with force, slowing its descent just above the roof. She knew this wasn't enough, so she flew directly underneath the large slab of stone, flapping her wings as hard as she could with her two front hooves pressing on the bottom of the boulder. Slowly but getting faster, the two started to drift downwards towards the roof, where Princess Celestia was watching in horror.

"Thunder Slash-.... Nngh! Help?!" She wheezed, feeling her arm and wing muscles starting to fail.

Her muscles strained as she put as much force into her wings and arms as she could. Then, the weight started to lift. She noticed a yellow aura surrounding the stone as they managed to haul it out of the way of Canterlot. Although most of the weight had been lifted, it was still really heavy. Her arms shook as she slowly moved over the walls surrounding Canterlot. summoning the last of her strength, she gave one last push forward and the giant rock flew off the edge of the cliff, just missing the walls. Struggling to breathe with exhaustion, she landed back on the ground on all four hooves. Her vision blurred as she saw her friends cantering up to her. Feeling as if she couldn't hold on much longer, she gave one last effort to stay conscious, trying to step forward. Pain and weakness shot through her muscles and she collapsed on the grassy earth beneath her. Head throbbing with dehydration, she lost consciousness.

.--...--...---...--...--.

"It's been a long time, my dear" A voice came from the darkness of unconsciousness. Blazing Streak looked around, feeling her arms numb, like her whole body had been four years ago after defeating Night Whisper.

"Wha..?" She started to recognise the echo's voice. Her heart thudded as she realized who it was.

"Dad?! Where are you? Have I gone and overdone it again?" She heard a chuckle from somewhere in the distance.

"No, not this time. I brought you here." A light overwhelmed to black void, in a flash, the blue and orange figure of her father, lost many years ago in Helvada. Over come with joy, she tried to fly over and hug her dad, but she was restrained by the blackness.

"A storm is coming, Blazing, dear. And soon, very soon. That boulder was the mountain weakening, when they attack, it won't get in their way at this rate." His eyes looked desperate all of a sudden. Blazing Streak looked back, sorrow replacing her temporary happiness.

"Why is this happening, Dad? I thought Cerberus was defending Tartarus!" Her father sighed.

"Cerberus... Is no more. Night Whisper slaughtered him as a trial put in place by Faint, the very being that corrupted him. Blazing Streak, Night Whisper and Faint have become more powerful than you've ever seen before. Together, if not stopped, they will destroy this world, all that will be left is ashes and corruption. Society will fall apart, so many will die." Daylight Sky, her father told her, grimly.

"Then what do I do?! I can't lead three thousand ponies to their deaths!"

"It's too late to do anything about the mountain, but in the fight, you won't be alone. These monsters threaten the good side of Tartarus with their hatred. I have gathered some ponies who would die again and forever to save the land they loved and the world they inhabit. In total, about five hundred of us will be able to join you. Any more would make the rupture of Tartarus worse and even more dangerous." He explained.

"Dad... How many are the enemy?" She dared to ask. Her dad sighed.

"I've estimated around five thousand. They wait for winter to reach its peak before they make their assault, we must be ready!"

Five thousand?...

Blazing Streak felt something strange, yet familiar rise in her chest. Determination was an uncommon feeling for her, yet right now, it shined brighter than ever. It felt like a bolt of adrenaline constantly rushing through her body at breakneck speeds, giving strength to her pained muscles and boiling the despair in her chest into a sizzling pool of anticipation.

"...I don't care how powerful Night Whisper has become down there. All I know is that he must not succeed. I won't let him turn this world into another Helvada! I'd sooner die than let him win! I'll be the one to bring him to his death once more!" She stated, stomping her hoof. She found herself freeing up, able to move her body with each ounce of determination and hatred that burned like a fire inside her. Her father stood there, gazing upon her with pride swelling his chest out.

"I know you will. Now get back to your world, it needs you!"

.--...--...---...--...--.

Warmth surrounded Blazing Streak, a big change frm the bitter cold of the outside winter. She opened her eyes a tiny bit, suddenly feeling the pain of her muscles still echoing through her forelegs. She was in her room iin Canterlot. The large window showed her the darkness of the night time, stars peeked through the window, giving the room a dim glow. She opened her eyes fully and looked around for Applejack. Not seeing the cowpony, she tried to get to her hooves. Her forehooves screamed in protest, but she tried her hardest to ignore them. She ambled through the door that led out into the corridor. A guard was posted next to her door, he looked round and nodded with respect. She reciprocated the gesture before continuing to limp to the stairs. reaching the top, she gave up on walking, instead, she let her legs dangle as she hovered with her wings. Although they weren't nearly as painful, they were still sore from earlier.

Where is everyone? She thought as she hovered through another corridor. As she passed the spa, she heard voices from inside. The muffled voices of Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and the rest of her friends came from inside. She opened the doors and went inside.

"Firefly! Yer awake!" Applejack exclaimed, signalling for her to sit next to her in the hot tub they had used the previous night. Sleepily, she complied. She lowered herself into the hot water, feeling the soothing warmth relax her sore muscles. Sighing in contentment, she rested her head on Applejack's shoulder, drinking in her sweet scent. Her wife rested her own head on Blazing's and started to hum a soft tune in her ear. For the first time in weeks, she was relaxed and certain. Then, her gaze caught Rainbow Dash. The calmness was shifted and replaced with tension. With the new revelation that Rainbow was an assassin, it was hard for Blazing to look her in the eye, knowing there was a killer behind them. The Pegasus looked troubled, she gazed down into the water with a deeply sad expression, while the rest of her friends all had distant expressions, Blazing noticed.

Has she told them?

Even Pinkie Pie wasn't herself, her main had lost some of its puffiness.

So much for relaxed...

"Ahem..." She heard Twilight start.

"Blazing, I need to show you something tomorrow, it's important." She said, simply. She didn't make any eye contact with Blazing

"Oh? Okay then." she replied, surprised and intrigued. The room fell silent again, apart from her wife's gentle, soothing melody. She wrapped her forelegs around Applejack and closed her eyes. Eventually, she slipped from reality into unconsciousness.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak found herself on an unfamiliar snowy mountain. Snow pelted down all around her, making it hard to see where she was going. Wind battered her body, she struggled to move forward in the harsh blizzard. Through the white blaze of snow, she managed to make out a yellow blur of a figure. She struggled on, only to stop dead with her heart pounding as she realized what, or rather, who she had found.

Dusk Shadow?! Where the hell am I?! Am I in..

She shook her thought off as she continued, this time more cautiously, trying not to alert her deceased brother. After a while, they came across a small wooden shack, falling apart from old age and worn from constant storms. Instead of following her brother in, she peered through a gap between the planks of wood that made up the shoddy shelter. She saw her brother walking in, his eyes were dull, yet they held within them a deep fear and anger. She sighed inwardly, her heart twisting. Seeing how he felt at the time, pity drove up from within her.

Dusk Shadow trudged over to a mirror. Gazing in it, he reeled back in shock and let out a gasp of horror. Alert, Blazing Streak looked at the reflection, but only saw her brother's frightened form cowering on the ground.

He became me, day by day, he would see me in the mirrors instead of his usual self, until one day, his heart gave way completely.

She suddenly remembered what Night Whisper had said in the dream she had a few days earlier. Is that what he saw?

she was interrupted from her thoughts when she noticed something in the corner of her eye. She turned to face it. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at a cloud of darkness materialising into the form of a pony. It didn't seem to notice her, giving her the chance to observe it from behind the snow drift she had ducked behind. It was dark grey, almost black with a pitch black mane and tail trailing into the air like Princess Celestia and Luna's'. It had torn, black, bat like wings that didn't look like they worked at all.

Its eyes pulsed with bright green light, standing out like a beacon among the rest of its figure.

It raised its hoof, allowing Blazing Streak to see a crown of sharp, claw-like razors surrounding its wrist. The figure cast a black cloud of smoke into the building, penetrating through the gaps in the wood silently. Blazing once again peered into the wooden structure. She gasped in horror as she witnessed the cloud of darkness entering her brother's brain. Dusk Shadow struggled a bit and squirmed, but then went limp where he was sprawled.

'Oh Celestia, no!' She thought.

'I have to stop this!' She turned her attention to the figure.

To her shock, it was now facing her, staring directly into her soul with its piercing gaze.

'I know you're there, Blazing Streak.' She heard a voice in her head. Confused but too frightened to move, she didn't answer.

'You know, this way of speaking to others is amusing. They all react like this.' Once again she heard the voice, sharp like flint. It was like hearing a teacher scrape something on a blackboard to get their students' attention. She flinched.

'Oh, excuse my manners, I didn't realize that voice hurt.' The painful noise reduced to a voice that sounded a lot like Night Whisper's rasp, only with two simultaneous voices at once. Finally, Blazing Streak managed to find her voice again.

"W-who are y-"

'Oh, you know who I am. Have you not read the fairy tales?' Unfortunately, this was true. Night Whisper himself had told her of a being that corrupted Dusk Shadow, and seeing her brother like this, with another figure that did it to her, she could put the pieces together.

"Faint!" She spat. The figure still hadn't moved an inch since she had returned her attention to it. It unnerved Blazing.

"That's me!" Faint spoke up normally this time, rather than in her head.

"You're leading Tartarus to fight us, aren't you? Haven't you gotten over your rightful punishment?" She growled. "Why did you deserve it? Murder?" She demanded. Faint only chuckled.

"It's been so long, one forgets their first life. I can tell you though, it was a joy to hear those foals scream!" Blazing Streak's pupils shrank and her jaw came off its hinges, dangling uselessly. Her heart was a mess, outrage, fury, sorrow, despair, determination and so many other feelings rushed through her constantly. The figure finally moved. It started to cackle uncontrollably, rolling on its back and kicking the air.

"Your face was priceless! The horror reflected in it!" It laughed. Blazing tilted her head indignantly, confused. "In all seriousness though, I don't remember. Been too busy taking over Helvada in the past four years, and planning my assault of Equestria!" It stood back up and continued to stare into her being.

'He took over Helvada?! When?!' She thought.

"Oh, 'bout a year ago. Equestria will be more fun, though!"

Rage boiled within her.

"No. It. Won't! I'll never let you win!" She gritted her teeth and glared at Faint, who only started laughing again.

"Such bold words, Pegasus. But..." It vanished with a puff of smoke and shortly reappeared right in front of her face. She fell back in shock. "Think you can back them up with actions? I've seen you, back in Helvada all that time ago. Such determination and hate. You know, I could have done the same to you, made you like Night Whisper. But to be honest... I couldn't be arsed. But now I am. That hate towards me inside you? Be wary of it when you're world is being crushed." It smirked.

Before Blazing Streak could retaliate, Faint vanished in a puff of smoke.

leaving

A kiss on her nose woke Blazing Streak from her sleep. She blinked open her eyes to see Applejack leaning over her.

"G'mornin', Firefly! Time ta wake up!" she stated. Sleepily, Blazing smiled back at her. She forced herself awake by sitting up and stretching her wings, feeling the satisfaction of her muscles pop. She was in their room in the castle, light filtered through the gaps in the tall window, illuminating the entire room.

"It sure isn't like a morning at the farm." She said, a drizzle of homesickness passing through her. Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder.

"'S okay, sugar cube. We'll be home later on..." Her voice trailed off as they remembered that Blazing was to stay in Canterlot for at least a week. Blazing Streak frowned. Deciding not to think about it for now and continue with her morning, she shook away the thoughts and got to her hooves. SHe walked towards the door, about to open it, when she was forced back through the room by a flash of white and purple, rolling over and over until the wall stopped her rapid semi-flight. Confused, shocked, and dazed, she looked up to see Twilight standing where the flash had been, a guilty and embarassed look on her face.

"You okay, firefly?!" Applejack was at her side in an instant. She shook her head rapidly in an attempt to regain her bearings. She nodded and started to get up.

"Jeez, Twilight! You're going to kill someone with that someday!" she scolded, irritated.

"I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?" she rushed over and tried to help her up.

"No, it's okay, I'm fine." She said, amused. Twilight visibly relaxed, breathing out in relief.

"So what was so urgent that you had to almost materialize inside of me?" She asked. Twilight stared for a moment, almost unsure of why she was here.

"Oh! Yes!" Her horn sparked in energy as a purple aura surrounded the saddle bag that she wore. A heartbeat later, two objects floated out.

"Why did you bring those?" She questioned, staring at two short swords that were the length of her foreleg. Twilight must have got them from the armoury. If Twilight heard her, she gave no sign of it.

"I have been doing some scientific research recently." She dropped the blades into Blazing's outstretched forelegs before carrying on.

"I was thinking of a way to maximise the efficiency of some weapons for you to use in the battle. My theory is that, with a little help with my magic, you can infuse these knives with your own magic, making them significantly more powerful." Blazing Streak's interest was piqued. She listened closely.

"Once you have done this, you should be able to summon it by your own will, making you a lot more diverse in combat." Twilight finished proudly as Blazing Streak clutched the weapons in her hooves.

"..And this actually works?" She asked.

"Of course it does!" Blazing Streak and Applejack looked at each other in uncertainty for a moment.

"Right... So how do I do this?" She asked.

"Well, we can't do it in here, it would make a big mess!" She didn't give them time to reply as the moved next to them. In an instant, they appeared in the barracks with a flash. surprised and disorientated, Blazing Streak shook her head rapidly. Snow drifted from the sky, covering the ground with a white blanket. Apprehension clawed at Blazing as she remembered her father's prediction.

When winter hits its peak.

"Okay, hold out your swords." Blazing snapped out of her thoughts and did as she was told. Growing more and more uncertain about what was about to happen, she listened on. Twilight's horn lit up and the knives were surrounded by a violet aura once again.

"Now slowly push energy into them." Blazing Streak started to pump her fire magic out of her hooves. Her knives started to glow orange, and then yellow as they heated up. The handle burnt away, leaving searing hot metal underneath. Luckily for Blazing, it was her own fire and it didn't hurt her. Fire started to swirl around the blades, orange, but with a purple spark within them.

"More energy." Twilight commanded. As Blazing complied, flames began to emit from the now white-hot glowing hilts, charging up the blades and sending smoke and embers into the air. Applejack and Blazing watched in wonder at the spectacle.

"Alright, point them straight up and give it all you've got!"

Blazing Streak strained as she pumped as much magic into her weapons as she could. Two large streaks of fire shot up into the atmosphere and flame shot down into the ground from the back of the weapons.

I can see why she wanted me to point them up!

She pushed harder, pouring every ounce of her being into the two objects she held in her hooves.

"Just... a little... longer!" She heard Twilight grunt. The two knives started to glow a brilliant white, forcing Blazing To close her eyes.

She began to feel her strength giving.

"I can't.. nnh! ...hold on much longer!"

"Applejack! Get close to me!" Twilight yelled. The farm mare quickly did so. Beyond the flames, Blazing Streak saw a purple forcefield surrounding the two. Unease dripped into her heart. But there was no time to reflect on this. There was a bright flash before the objects which used to be her knives gave off a large explosion, flames expanded outwards around them, blasting past Blazing Streak and dissipating in the air.

What remained was silence. Blazing Streak opened her eyes to see her two swords, but they had changed significantly. Instead of steel, they looked to be made out of fire. Flames scorched off from the back and the blades were slightly curved backwards. The guards were black with fiery cracks adorning the sides. Underneath the handle, there were sharp, knife-like pommels. These weren't just short-swords any more, they were more than that. They felt lighter than the other knives, but still felt weighty enough to do damage with.

"...Woah..." Was all she managed to say.

Twilight put on a smug grin. "I told you it would work!"

"Now that's somethin' ya don't see everyday!" Applejack commented.

"That could come in handy." They heard Thunder Slash's voice from behind them. Turning around, Blazing saw her trotting up to them.

"Say, do you think it could work for me?" She asked.

"In theory, yes. The problem is, you don't have a weapon to do it on." Thunder Slash looked thoughtful.

"Hm. Oh well, I'll just pick one up from the armoury later." She figured. At that moment, Two doors at the side of the clearing burst open, revealing Shining Armour.

"What's going o-" He froze as he saw Blazing Streak with her two new weapons. His pupils shrunk.

"I... I see." He stated, not sure what to make of the situation. After a moment of silence, Thunder Slash spoke up.

"Blazing, Why don't we have a duel of sorts? I'll get my my weapon, and then we can see who's better at sword-fighting." She suggested, a glint of challenge in her eyes. Blazing Thought for a moment.

"You sure about that? You could get hurt!" She retorted, grinning. Whatever the outcome, she could use some practice with her new weapons. Thunder Slash only smirked.

"Only after you're begging me to spare you, 'Firefly'!" Blazing snarled semi-playfully, only Applejack called her that. She was about to send an indignant retort when Shining Armour stepped in.

"Woah, girls! These weapons will be lethal! You should use our training weapons instead." He warned. Slash and Blazing looked at each other and shrugged.

"Either way works for me. I'm still going to wipe the floor with you!" Thunder Slash boasted.

"I'd like to see you try!" Blazing Streak played along.

"Uh oh..." They heard Twilight mutter.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak stood in a large room with a dark wooden floor and brick walls. The entire building was underground, doubling up as a shelter to protect citizens from Changeling invasion or other threats. A few guards were also in the room, occasionally training with each other.

A few metres ahead of her stood Thunder Slash, stretching her forelegs. In their hooves they held training swords; sturdy, black, rubber, sword-like poles with metal handles wrapped in leather. They stepped closer, waiting for the other to strike. After a few heartbeats, Blazing Streak darted forward, attacking on the right. Thunder Slash whipped round and placed her sword in the way before lashing out with a hoof, which Blazing promptly swatted with her pole. Thunder Slash reeled in pain.

"Ow! What are these things made of?!" She exclaimed. Blazing smiled in amusement before focusing once more. This time, Slash moved forward to stab her 'sword' into her chest. Blazing Streak moved out of the way and blocked it with her sword. Not giving Thunder Slash a chance to retaliate, she ducked under a hoof that the blue Pegasus had swung at her and pushed up with her own hoof into Thunder Slash's stomach.

"Oof!"

She then brought her training weapon to attack the stunned Pegasus, but she was too slow. Thunder Slash darted to her side and swiped the back of her head. She fell forward and grunted in pain.

"Jeez, I see what you mean!" She stated.

"No more messing around!" Thunder said, leaping at Blazing with her back hooves. Blazing Streak used her wings to manoeuvre her way behind Thunder as she glided through the air. She kicked down with her hind legs, striking Thunder Slash in the back. The blue Pegasus fell to the ground before stumbling to her feet again and immediately going for Blazing again.

Blazing Streak blocked a swipe from the left, followed by from the right. Strikes kept coming from all different directions, as well as blocking, Blazing occasionally countered, mostly striking thin air or a leg. Then, She mistimed a counter, and felt the rubber sword strike her jaw. Jarring in pain, she stumbled back and put a hoof to her mouth. She felt hot fluid on her hoof before realizing that a tooth was missing. Looking to where she had been, she saw the small, white bone on the floor, covered in blood. She spat out the blood and looked up to Thunder Slash, who was standing triumphantly. Blazing frowned. Pain still pulsed from her jaw as she glared. Catching her stare, Thunder Slash took a tiny step back, cocky look slightly faltering. They stayed like that for a moment before Blazing Streak growled slightly and darted towards Thunder Slash.

The blue Pegasus tried to block her attack from the left, but she was too late and Blazing's sword struck her arm. She stumbled a bit, wincing in pain. Blazing leaped up and thrust her hind leg into Thunder Slash's stomach. She heard the cocky mare wheeze and cough as she was forced back and over, clutching her stomach with her front hooves and dropping her sword.

A guilty thought entered Blazing Streak's mind that she might have actually hurt Thunder Slash. She stepped forward.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked through a still bleeding mouth. A few guards had stopped doing what they were occupied by and were looking at them. She didn't think she hit Thunder Slash that hard, and she knew that the mare could be tougher than she was. Still, guilt clawed at her. This was meant to be a training exercise and she hadn't meant to hurt her friend.

The mare in question slowly recovered.

"Yep.. Just didn't expect you'd hit that hard." She wheezed.

"Yeah.. I'm sorry about that, I guess I overdid it." She apologized, offering to support Thunder Slash.

"Ah, it's nothing. It's not as if it hurt much." She replied. Blazing Streak inwardly sighed with relief as they headed for the exit.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing felt loss deep inside her, threatening to burst. It was time for her friends to leave and head back to Ponyville. Blazing had been told that she needed to stay in Canterlot for at least another week, which meant that she would be away from her best friends.. her wife possibly until the final battle. She stood at the train station, her friends, except for Thunder Slash, who also had needed to stay, getting ready to enter the train. Shining Armour had left for the Crystal Empire earlier that day too, so she was second in command over the Royal army, Princess Celestia being the first. Applejack walked over to her after packing some things into the train. She smiled comfortingly.

"Okay, Firefly, Ah guess it's time ta leave." Blazing nodded, putting on her own forced grin. Applejack's gazed softened, Blazing guessed she saw right through the smile. She was pulled into an affectionate hug.

"Aw, sugar cube.. We'll see each other again soon, don't you fret none." She reassured. It didn't lift Blazing's spirit much.

"I'll still miss you. I wish I could go with you." She said, her face buried in Applejack's mane. tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she held them back as hard as she could. Eventually, they separated.

"Ah'll miss ya too, Firefly, so much." Applejack's eyes lost some of their usual happiness and contentedness.

"G'bye, hun." She turned to leave. Something fell in her heart at that moment.

"Wait, AJ!" She called. Her wife turned around with a questioning look. Blazing stepped forward, closed her eyes and pressed her lips on her wife's. This time, the tears managed to escape her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. Applejack once again put her foreleg around Blazing's neck. Blazing in turn raised a hoof to caress her wife's cheek. She expected this to lift her spirits, but instead of the usual spark that ran down her spine, her heart started to throb with sadness. Reluctantly, they separated. Applejack stroked her mane once more.

"Ah'll write to ya everyday, ya hear me? Ah love you." She asserted.

"I love you too. I guess this is goodbye, then." Blazing replied with a sigh.

"Firefly, yer talkin' as if this is the last time we'll see each other! It's gonna be okay! Now, Ah have ta go now, Ah'll see ya soon." Applejack smiled before turning and boarding the train. Blazing Streak waved to her as they disappeared down the tracks. She was suddenly aware of how lonely she felt knowing that she'd be away from her family and friends. It was almost as bad as she used to feel back in Helvada. She was vaguely aware of Thunder Slash strolling up to her.

"Must suck, everything you love is in that train."

No need to rub it in..

"You'll see 'em again, sometime... Probably."

Is that supposed to reassure me?

There was a moment of cold silence until Blazing was surprised to feel a hoof on her shoulder.

"Woah, what happened? Is Thunder Slash of all ponies comforting me? The world really must be doomed!" She exclaimed, half serious.

"Yeah, yeah, don't push it. Before you know it I'll be knocking more of your teeth out in the ring." Thunder Slash reassured her.

"That's more like it." The two chuckled a bit, despite their friends leaving. But then her sadness settled as a stone in her heart.

"Well, I need to stretch my wings, wanna go for a quick flight?" Thunder Slash offered. Blazing Streak realized that it would be good to put some use to her wings after the rock that had almost struck Canterlot.

"Sure, but where will we go? We're not allowed to fly more than forty miles per hour over Canterlot." She recalled the flying restrictions on Canterlot.

"Dunno, I just need the exercise. Follow if you want." With that, She took off, completely ignoring the forty miles per hour law. A few guards turned their heads irritably, but carried on their business when they saw Slash leave the City borders. Blazing Streak took flight after her, picking up her pace immediately after passing the outer walls. By now, the Pegasus had pulled far ahead, leaving streaks of lightning in her wake. Even though her wings were a bit stiff, she could feel them gaining strength as she sped up and they got used to the strain. Deciding to try something new, Blazing Streak built up energy at her back hooves as she flew faster and faster. When she felt the energy about to explode, she released it behind her, propelling her forward at beyond break-neck speed. She passed Thunder Slash in a flash, barely catching the Pegasus' astonished reaction. Exhilaration pulsed through her.

Why did I never try this before?!

She felt pressure at her front and noticed the world around her blurring and rippling as she struggled against the sound barrier. She forced more energy out from behind her and pushed harder with her wings. The cone quickly snapped into a narrow, bullet shape.

Moments later, she felt energy pulse through her body and the pressure from the cone disappeared. She heard a deafening explosion and she accelerated to more than twice her previous speed. Behind her, she saw flames spreading out from a white, burning centre. A fiery trail erupted from her as she rocketed across the sky. Deep satisfaction boiled through her and she started to slow down until she was hovering slowly through the sky. She started to take in her surroundings. From where she had just come from, a desert stretched in an outcrop, fusing into hilly moorlands. To her right, she could see the brilliant red and orange cliffs of the desert canyon, dotted with tiny green specks in the yellow sand. In the dimming light, these canyons looked even more beautiful. She made a note to remember this view for sometime later on, when this threat was over. Dull apprehension hummed within her. However determined she was to deal with it, it was still a massive task for her to command so many soldiers in a battle that was sure to leave massive casualties. She shook the thought and continued to look around. To her left, she could see vast moorlands, hills stretching into the distance with a lake that bordered the edge of a pine forest. She realized that the sparkling body of water was where they had gone camping all those years ago. It was where she and Applejack had first confessed to each other. The memory was imprinted deeply into her mind, she'd never forget it.

Thinking of this stirred her thoughts about the upcoming week and beyond. She still didn't know how she could cope for that long, knowing that she didn't have her wife or friends' support. Granted, she had Thunder Slash, but she wasn't the empathetic type and only gave support when it was really needed and effected her as well.

She heard a whisk of electricity behind her. Turning round, she saw that the mare in question had caught up to her, looking winded.

"How... How did you go that fast so quickly?" She asked.

"The years to myself in Helvada gave me time to practice and master a lot of things, flying included. It wasn't just my raw effort and speed that got me the acceleration though, I used my magic to boost me to full speed." She explained. Thunder looked thoughtful.

"And what about that explosion? Sounded like a sonic boom!" She asked.

"It was."

"Then where did the fire come from?" Thunder pressed, confused.

"Dunno, where does the trail that follows you when you fly fast come from? Twilight would probably be able to explain it. Something to do with our magic."

"Hm." There was a lasting silence as Blazing glided above the moorlands.

"So.. Have you ever broken the sound barrier?" Blazing asked Thunder Slash. The blue Pegasus pouted a bit before shaking her head.

"Nah." She stated, simply.

"That's a shame." Blazing replied, surprised that Thunder Slash didn't try to boast that she had or could. Maybe she'd misjudged her. She'd been quick to assume that the Pegasus was just another Rainbow Dash, but on a larger scale. Now, she could see that she was wrong. Thunder Slash didn't boast nearly as much, sure, she was cocky, but if she was outdone, she admitted to it.

After yet another moment of quiet between the two, Thunder Slash spoke up.

"I can't help but feel like the mountain is taunting me." She stated, staring at the large rock while gliding backwards. Blazing Streak knew what she meant.

"It's like Tartarus could break out at any moment." She continued.

"Yeah... I had a dream last night." Blazing Streak began. Thunder Slash looked at her, intrigued. She went on. "I was with my Dad in this weird dark void place. He told me that the boulder that fell from the mountain yesterday was a sign that they are breaking loose. He told me that when winter hits its peak, Tartarus will launch their assault." She explained, wishing that Thunder Slash hadn't brought it up.

"Wait, It's December now... SHIT! It's almost here!" Thunder Slash exclaimed, quickly changing her direction to Canterlot and speeding off as fast as she could. Blazing Streak, heart pounding as she too realized, launched after her. She quickly gained on the frantic Pegasus. She realized that this was the first time she'd seen Thunder Slash look genuinely worried about something.

Something really is up, if Slash is this frantic!

"We have to warn Princess Celestia that winter is going to hit its peak in just over a week and that's when Tartarus is going to attack!"

Winter in Equestria was quick to reach full swing, especially near the mountains. It was only the tenth of December, and by around the seventeenth, Blizzards and snowfall took over the skies in a bitter cold sting.

.--...--...---...--...--.

"Princess Celestia!" Thunder Slash called as they entered her throne room, the biggest hall of the castle. The Princess stopped drinking her tea and looked down, curious.

"You may speak." Blazing Streak stepped forward.

"Princess, we know when Tartarus is going to attack! And you're not going to like it, but it's when winter hits its most wild, next week!" She informed the Princess, panic bubbling in her heart. Celestia's eyes widened and she visibly stiffened.

"We need to get ready for it!" Thunder Slash continued.

"How do you know of this?" She said, with authority and sounding calmer than the rest of the guards in the room, who had suddenly started to hurry to the barracks. Blazing explained her dream the previous night and how her Father had given her the warning. By the end, the Princess was staring at her, intrigued.

"So Luna was right! You do have these dreams!" Blazing Streak tilted her head in confusion. Princess Celestia continued.

"Dreams like those are a special kind of dream that only a few ponies can have, for instance, Me and Luna. How often do you have these dreams? Where you see or hear prophecies from the future?" She suddenly remembered the other dream with Faint, sending a shiver down her spine.

"U-um... Not very often, only when something big is going to happen, like when Night Whisper attacked." She said, puzzled. Princess Celestia nodded slowly.

"You are a gifted pony, Blazing Streak. Let us know if you have any more of these dreams, they will be useful." She commanded.

"For now, we must prepare twice as fast, go to the barracks, I'm sure that the soldiers will be expecting a speech from their new commander. I will inform the Crystal Empire immediately of the news." Blazing Felt anxiety fill her heart. She didn't know she had to do a speech.

What do I say?

The threat looming over them suddenly felt more real and very close.

speech

In front of Blazing Streak, a vast gathering of every soldier in the Royal armed forces. They were all looking serious, with a hint of apprehension in their eyes. To her unease, they were all paying attention to her, staring up, curiously, as if looking for some sort of encouragement. All the attention made her pelt prickle, but she tried her hardest to hide it from her soldiers' view. She had thought hard about what to say on her way here, and was only partially sure what she would tell them to encourage them. Nervously, she stepped up to the podium which overlooked the entire barracks and gazed across the massive clearing. She felt herself begin to panic. She quickly darted her mind back to her wife, Applejack and her friends. The ponies she would protect with her life, the town that she loved, and how it would look if she failed. Thinking of this brought new determination to her, sparking something in her heart. At that moment, she knew what she would say. She stood up proudly, looking down on every pony gathered there. She moved to the microphone and started to speak.

"I'm sure that you've all heard of the news. Tartarus is predicted to attack in a week's time. And you know what? I believe with all my heart that a week is more than enough time for us to be ready! I've watched you all train, you all work hard every day to ensure that you're the best soldiers you could ever be! You will all be heroes! Heroes to your wives, husbands, foals and heroes of Equestria! Every single one of you! I could not be prouder to lead you all into battle! This threat from below will mean nothing so long as we face it together. We will be the strongest force known to Equestria! As yor blades become laced with blood, think of all that you are fighting for and how much blood you're willing to spill to defend it!" Before she had even finished, the crowd of soldiers exploded in applause, they whooped and cheered. Blazing Streak's pride swelled as she watched them throw their hooves in the air with their high morale.

"That was quite the speech, Blazing." She was startled by Princess Luna's voice. Turning around, she saw the Princess of the Night walking up to her. Unease stirred in her heart, remembering the argument the day before. Thinking about this shifted her mind to Rainbow dash's lies. Resentment boiling her blood. After a moment, it was replaced by guilt.

"We have recently developed a new way to communicate over long distances, thanks to your friend, Twilight. We sent this speech to them live, and all of your friends heard it. I thought they could also benefit from it." Blazing Streak nodded in agreement. An idea then came to mind.

"Do you think I could use it to talk to my friends?" She asked. Princess Luna shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Blazing, but it is in early development and only works one way. It also takes a lot of magic to run for more than ten seconds." Blazing Streak's heart twinged with disappointment. She tried to shake it off as she decided to go and overlook the battle training that was about to start in the training gym.

.--...--...---...--...--.

In the same room Blazing Streak and Thunder Slash had trained that morning, two guards wielded the training weapons, one a fake sword and the other a fake battleaxe.

Blazing had instructed them to practice on each other while she gave them tips on how they could do better, along with Thunder Slash. They both watched from the sidelines as a bulky stallion and a small but agile mare Pegasus circled each other, prepared to fight.

"Whenever you're ready!" Blazing called. Moments later, the Pegasus swiftly darted forward, intending to catch the stallion with the tip of her 'sword'. The earth pony Stallion backed up just in time and the Pegasus barely missed, stumbling slightly. The stallion hesitated, as if cautious to go on the offensive. After a heartbeat, he stepped forward and tried to swat the mare with his rubber axe. She jumped to the side and this time, caught his chest with her sword.

"Don't hesitate like that, if she stumbles, it's enough time to counter." She advised the earth pony, who grunted in acknowledgement.

"Well done, Swift." She praised the Pegasus, who nodded and smiled slightly. The two then got back to their practising. This time, the stallion attacked first, swinging his training weapon towards Swift. She tried to sidestep again, but the stallion was ready this time and quickly changed the direction of his axe, striking her in her shoulder.

"Nice hit, Gale. If this was a fight, she would be severely impaired after that." Gale, the stallion. grunted in acknowledgement once again. He reminded her of Big Mac, her wife's brother. Homesickness threatened to stab her heart, but she concentrated on the training. In the next round, Swift managed to get behind Gale and poke the tip of her training sword into his kidney.

"Don't let your opponent get behind you, it will leave even the most skilled fighters vulnerable to attack." She advised, remembering her days of learning back in Helvada and her experience since. This training went on throughout the afternoon with different opponents and weapons. By the end, everyone there seemed tired as the sun started to set. As Blazing Streak was about to dismiss the practice, Swift got her attention.

"Ma'am-"

"'Blazing' is fine, Swift." She corrected with a smile.

"Blazing, is it okay if you and Thunder Slash demonstrate to us how a fight might actually play out? Most of us here haven't been in a real fight and this might help us." She asked, eager to learn. Blazing Streak looked to Thunder Slash, who shrugged.

"I guess we could. Good idea." She and Thunder Slash walked into the clearing. Thunder Slash had previously been through the same process that Blazing Streak had went through to get her new weapons, Slash had chosen hatchets as weapons. Blazing Streak tensed her hooves and thought of her two swords. A moment later, her hooves sparked orange and the two flaming blades materialized. They glowed a bright orange as the flames curled up from the backs. She was acutely aware that this practice could end up fatal, but the experience of a life-threatening situation could give her experience to learn from in a real fight. In front of her, Thunder Slash's hooves sparked with electricity before two bright blue hatchets flashed into existence with a pulsing electrical charge through her arms. Electricity pulsed through the blade, making Blazing Streak a bit nervous. She grit her teeth to shove aside her unease. She nodded to Thunder, who reciprocated the motion. A heartbeat later, Thunder Slash darted towards her, lashing out with one of her axes to hit Blazing in the arm. Thinking quickly, she darted to the side and placed her own blade in the way. Sparks erupted from the clashing and a small bright light emitted from where they had connected. Not standing around to marvel at the spectacle, she ducked underneath another strike, her mane starting to stand up from the electricity. She rolled to the side to evade another downward strike from Thunder Slash and lashed out her wing to trip the other Pegasus. Not prepared for her wing, Thunder Slash stumbled and almost fell over, dropping her hatchet. This gave Blazing time to kick the hatchet out of her other hoof. The two weapons slid across the floor and vanished in a puff of electricity.

Not giving up over the loss of her weapons, Thunder Slash throw a swift right hook, catching Blazing right on her throat. Coughing and struggling for breath, Blazing Streak stumbled back. She saw the two hatchets reappear in Thunder Slash's hooves. She regained her breath just in time to catch Thunder Slash's attack, hooking her hoof with her hatchet still being gripped. She rolled back and pushed against Slash's stomach with her hooves, forcing her up and over Blazing's head. Just before Thunder Slash was out of reach, one of her axes grazed Blazing's ear. Electricity pulsed through her mind, completely messing up her senses. Pain throbbed as energy sparked through her. Panic started to cloud her already straining senses.

After a few minutes of struggling to her senses, she noticed Thunder Slash looking down at her, concern clouding her gaze. Struggling to her hooves, she rubbed her head. Around her, a few of her soldiers had stepped up to help her.

"Thanks guys, but I think I'm okay." She put a hoof to her ear, a sharp twang of pain followed by stinging erupted at the contact. She winced and looked at her hoof to see blood. Sudden embarrassment at being beaten in front of a large group of soldiers found it's way into her, Turning her pelt hot.

"Blazing? Think you're okay for another go?" Thunder asked.

"Yeah, I reckon so." She confirmed, shaking her head to help recover her bearings. Once she could see clearly, and her hearing was back to normal, she put her hoof down.

"Wow, that lightning packs a hard punch." She praised.

"I had good mentors." Thunder replied as her bright blue hatchets reappeared in her hooves. Blazing re-summoned one sword this time. it was longer than her two short swords she could have used, but not long enough to have to use two hooves. She felt like one sword would suit her more. Like before, Thunder Slash was the first to go on the offensive. She swiped with her left hatchet. Blazing Streak was ready, she stopped it with her sword and curled round to the outside of Thunder to prevent her from striking her. She twisted to avoid the other hatchet launching towards her. Turning around, she delivered a hard strike with the pommel of her sword to the back of Thunder Slash's head. The blue Pegasus stumbled forward with an exclamation of pain. Seeing the back of her head where Blazing had struck, she was guilty to see a burn mark on the back of her head.

"Jeez, I underestimated the strength of your magic." Blazing Streak's face got ever so slightly redder at the praise.

"I-I'm sorry, Thunder Slash. Didn't mean to hurt you like that." She apologized. Thunder Slash looked back up, a hoof on her injury.

"No matter, I'll live. Gonna need some water though." Blazing Streak nodded before calling off the meeting. Everyone in the room filed out of the doors at one end of the room and towards the dining room - apart from Blazing Streak, who veered away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Thunder Slash asked. "Don't you want dinner?" Blazing shook her head.

"Nah, I'm just going to sleep. 'Been a rough day." She replied, yawning.

.--...--...---...--...--.

After having a shower and brushing her teeth, skipping dinner, Blazing Streak wearily entered her room and sat on her bed, looking out the large arched window giving her a view of the night sky. Snow drifted down, covering the rooftops of the Palace in a white blanket. For the first time for four years, she started to feel alone. Her wife was nowhere to be seen, all the way in Ponyville so far away, along with all of her friends. She just wished she didn't have to stay so far apart from them. She then realized with a stab in the heart that the next time she saw her friends would likely be in battle. She had to tell her wife. She immediately got up from her seat on the bed and made her way towards the dresser. Opening a small chest of drawers to the side, she took out some paper and a quill and started to write.

Dear Applejack, and all my friends in Ponyville,

I wish this letter was in better circumstances, but Tartarus doesn't allow me this. I'm sure you've all heard the speech, thanks to Twilight's magic; Tartarus is predicted to attack next week. I'm afraid that the next time we meet will be side by side in the battle that could end up destroying all of us.

Keep your Elements of Harmony close and prepare yourselves for the hardest fight we will likely see in our lives. Understand that I would not put you all in a dangerous fight like this unless it was the only way that we have a chance of beating them and stopping them from ruining Equestria.

Applejack, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash,

She decided to add.

I hope all is well for each of you. I know that we can pull through this. We made it through Night Whisper's attack, and you all have faced much before I came to this world.

Applejack, I love you, and hope to write to you again sometime before Faint sends his... her... Its army.

Yours faithfully,

Firefly.

Thunder

Thunder boomed through the early morning sky as rain poured in buckets down to the town of Ponyville. Doors and shutters were closed as Ponies slept in, oblivious to the storm raging outside. On a hill, just out of the town, a lavender Unicorn with a dark purple and magenta coloured mane and a small purple dragon with green spines tried to withstand the high winds, operating a strange machine. plastic poles with cupped edges spun around, powered by the gale. Paper with red lines wavered up and down in a random pattern trailed out the side, to immediately be grabbed in a magenta aura of magic.

"This storm is the worst we've seen in almost a century!" The Unicorn said. Beside her, the dragon pulled at her mane.

"Twilight! Come back inside! it's dangerous out here!"

"No, Spike, I need to record this, it's important!" Twilight denied. Spike let out a frustrated huff. The lightning started to get more ferocious, forks of electricity starting to become visible through the thick clouds. The results from the machine were getting wilder and wilder.

"The electrical pulses are growing! This storm is getting worse!" Twilight exclaimed. The flashes were getting more consistent, the gaps in between shortening. She could sense some magical forces within it, puzzling and intriguing her.

Just then, four burst of lightning erupted from the sky at the same point. They originated from four completely different points, but they attracted together and didn't disappear as usual.

"Something's happening, Spike! Get back to the library!" Spike nodded and scurried off down the hill and towards their home. The lightning then started to build up a ball of energy where they crossed. Twilight stepped back a few paces before a massive bolt of lightning struck the earth in front of her, creating a small explosion of electricity which short-circuited her machine. She let out a squeal and ducked behind a nearby bush. The bright beam of energy that had attacked the ground faded, revealing a Pegasus.

Her pelt was a dark blue colour , adorned with wings that were lined with lighter blue streaks on the tips of their feathers. Her mane was also a light shade of blue, it was spiked upwards at the front, but flowing messily at the back. Her eyes were amber, revealing the spark of adrenaline and the ferocity of lightning itself.

The Pegasus shook her head and stumbled a bit, before looking around at her surroundings, scanning the hillside and undergrowth. Twilight, who was still hiding in the cover of a bush, gasped in confusion.

"I know your there." sounded the Pegasus's deep, raspy voice. Twilight gingerly stepped out of the bush, revealing herself to the newcomer.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked, excited, puzzled and a tiny bit suspicious.

"Eh, the name's Thunder Slash." The mare replied, shrugging off the question.

"Where did you come from?" Twilight pressed. Thunder Slash sighed.

"Listen, I need to speak To Blazing Streak. Is she here? Its urgent."

She knows Blazing?

"Yes, she lives here, but it's very early, why don't you come to my library and stay the night?" Twilight offered, caution growing. Thunder Slash shook her head.

"No, I need to talk to her Now." It was Twilight's turn to sigh.

"She lives on Sweet Apple Acres with her wife, Applejack." The Pegasus in front of her stopped for a second.

"Wife? Huh, didn't know she was a fillyfooler. So where is Sweet Apple Acres?" Twilight signaled for her to follow.

Thunder Slash fell in beside her, revealing details that Twilight couldn't see before. She had some scars on her right cheek.

What has this pony been doing?

Then she noticed her cutie mark. It was three forks of lightning erupting from a cloud.

"Are you sure you want to be outside in this storm?" Twilight reasoned, ignoring the strange symbol. Although it had been dying down since Thunder Slash arrived, it was still a storm, which weren't very nice to be in. The mare just chuckled and kept going.

I'm missing something here..

"So what did you want to say to her?" Twilight attempted to coax some answers out of Thunder Slash, who ignored her question.

The cloudy sky started to grow lighter, clouds drifted apart, revealing the morning sun and stopping the onslaught of rain. Pegasi flew in from ell directions and started to demolish the clouds. Birds perched on trees in the distance, singing their melodies. They crossed onto the path to Sweet Apple Acres, where they could hear the cockerel waking every pony there up. Reaching the top of the hill, Twilight could make out Applejack starting on a row of trees, while a red Pegasus with a flame orange mane took off behind her and started doing laps at breakneck speeds around the orchard. Twilight could see her rocketing round like a fireball.

"That's her." She said

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak and Applejack lay together in bed, arms, legs and tails intertwined in a warm mess. Their muzzles lay just centimeters apart, Blazing Streak could feel Applejack's apple scented, warm breath on her nose. A storm raged outside, preventing either of them from doing anything. Blazing opened one eye, startled at the sound of a particularly loud clash of thunder. Her wife, Applejack, also opened her eyes.

"Mornin', firefly." She whispered, closing the small distance between their muzzles and pressing her lips against Blazing Streak's. She smiled as she returned the kiss, once again feeling the spark flow through her.

"Morning, AJ. This storm has been going on for ages now." She replied as they separated. Applejack just grinned as she stared into Blazing Streak's eyes.

"Ah reckon Ah want it ta last a while longer, Ah'm a might comfortable here." She giggled softly. Blazing Streak smirked in agreement.

She buried her face in the crook of her wife's neck and tried to go back to sleep. No matter the comfort, or how hard she tried, something was preventing her from drifting off. She felt something, deep inside, but couldn't figure out what it was. She felt love, although that was a given, it was something else. It felt like something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it.

"Ya'll okay, Firefly?" Applejack whispered, apparently still awake.

"Yeah, I'm alright." She didn't want to ruin the moment for Applejack.

"Aw come on, sugar cube, Ah've been married ta ya fer three n' a half years now, Ah can tell when something's up" She pressed.

"No, AJ, it's nothing to worry about, I'm okay, seriously." She insisted. Thankfully, Applejack didn't ask anymore questions. The odd feeling inside her began to ebb away. She also noticed the storm outside slowly clearing.

Was it something to do with the storm?

It would make sense, the feeling began at the most ferocious part of the electrical chaos, and faded with it.

But why?

.--...--...---...--...--.

"I'll only be a sec, AJ. Gotta stretch my wings, it feels like I haven't flown in a month." She stretched her wings and launched herself into the sky. The storm clouds had disappeared, releasing a beautiful looking day. She started doing laps a few hundred hooves above the farm. The usual cone of flame appeared, indicating that she was flying at a high speed.

After one or two laps, she spotted something out the corner of her eye. She recognized Twilight, but there was some pony else beside her. Puzzled, she landed near to where Applejack was working.

"Twilight's here, and she's brought someone." She told her. Applejack halted her bucking and trotted over.

"Who'd she bring?" She asked her.

"Didn't recognize her." She replied.

"Hey, girls!" Twilight's voice grabbed their attention.

"Twilight? Who was that with you?" The mare in question appeared beside her.

"This is Thunder Slash." She told them how she found her and that she was looking for Blazing Streak. By the end of the story, Blazing Streak had a skeptical look on her face.

"You mean this Pegasus just appeared in the middle of a storm and wanted to see me for a reason she didn't give you? I'm sorry, but if you wanted to talk to me, Thunder Slash, then I'm not keeping secrets from my friends. They have a right to know as well, what did you want?" She asked, suspicion raising. There was something about Thunder Slash that she didn't like.

"No, I need to speak to you. In private." The mare growled. "None of them need to know about this."

"Like I said, Slash, they're my friends, and I will not keep secrets from them. Tell Us." Blazing Streak retorted. Thunder Slash looked as if she was about to object more, but then she relaxed.

"Fine, have it your way. I've heard about what happened with you four years ago, with Night Whisper. Well..." She looked as if she was trying to find the right words. "Well, there's been a new Prophecy, I'm afraid that was only the beginning."

"What?!" Blazing Streak, Twilight and Applejack exclaimed in shock and confusion.

"I don't completely know what is going to happen, but I do know it has something to do with us, Blazing. I was told that Fire and Lightning must join to meet the coming dark." She warned them.

"What do you mean 'fire and lightning'?" Blazing Streak asked. In reply, Thunder Slash raised a hoof, a moment later electricity sparked from within it. Applejack and Twilight stepped back in unease. Blazing Streak, however, didn't. Instead she raised her own hoof, conjuring a flame.

"Fire and lightning.." Blazing Streak muttered to herself.

.--...--...---...--...--.

The dim light of Luna's moon shone through the window of Blazing Streak and Applejack's room. Inside, they lay together on their double bed.

"What a day!" Blazing Streak exclaimed.

"Ah know. Hey, do ya'll know if 'Slash has anywhere ta stay? Ah mean, as far as Ah know, she can't go back ta Helvada." They had learned that Thunder Slash had come from the same world as Blazing Streak originally had.

"I couldn't help but notice Twilight was... eager for her to stay in the library." She managed to smirk, despite the warning Thunder Slash gave her rattling around in her mind.

"So ya'll are sayin'..." Applejack paused for a brief moment before bursting into laughter, closely followed by Blazing Streak.

After a few seconds of not being able to breath, they both calmed down. Blazing Streak's face became serious.

"I'm not sure I trust Thunder Slash. I mean, she just appears in a storm out of nowhere and then goes and tells me that the whole world is in danger, again. She didn't even tell us how she got the information, for all I know it could be a tr-"

"Sugar cube, yer ranting." Applejack interrupted her.

"Uh, heh, sorry."

"Ah can't say Ah can trust her completely either, but we gotta give her a chance. If she is tellin' the truth, then we'll have ta trust her." Applejack reasoned. Blazing Streak was uncertain, but gave a nod, showing she understood.

"Hey, let's not worry 'bout that now, Firefly. C'mere." Applejack rolled over and pulled her into a warm hug, which she gladly returned. She smiled and kissed her wife on the lips.

"Night, AJ. Sweet dreams." said Blazing Streak.

"Night, Firefly, you too."

They both drifted off in each others' warmth.

Close call

"Night Whisper? This is bad." Thunder Slash stated. She and Blazing Streak sat on a park bench, Blazing was hunched over, a solemn expression dulling her face. She was still shaken by her dream the night before. She sighed.

"It's not just Night Whisper, he told me that someone called 'Faint' was the one who corrupted Dusk Shadow. That isn't normal, it must have something to do with the prophecy." She shuddered. She looked to her left, noticing Thunder Slash glance at her, a surprised and curios.

"Uh, Blazing? You alright? You kinda shuddered a bit there." She asked, eyeing Blazing.

"I'm fine." Thunder Slash just shrugged. Blazing Streak looked back to the ground, deep in thought.

"Nope, you're not 'fine'. You keep staring into space and being silent. Something's up." Thunder Slash asserted. Blazing glared at her.

"I'm. Fine." She repeated, sternly, before gazing down into the stone pavement once more, irritated. Thunder Slash stared at her with a dead-panned expression. Blazing could feel the amber glare burning through her. She shifted uncomfortably and grunted.

"Tell me." Blazing Streak sighed before giving in.

"Fine. I've just been thinking about Night Whisper."

"What about him?" Thunder Slash pried.

"A long time ago, when I was eight years old, he killed both of my parents. Fuelled by rage, I started to train myself up, so I could kill him for revenge. But then, shortly after I was sent here, he came for me, threatened to kill everyone I loved. I ended up killing Night Whisper but... I found out that inside somewhere, he was my brother. Before it was just blind rage that drove me to hate him. But now, knowing he's my brother, it's just so complicated, I hate that pony, but my brother must be somewhere inside him. He's just a result of what this 'Faint' had done to Dusk Shadow."

"But you said that he told you that your brother's spirit had been destroyed before it made it to tartarus, it can't be inside Night Whisper." Thunder Slash reasoned.

"But how can we be so sure?" Blazing fretted. Thunder Slash looked thoughtful for a moment, but then slumped back into the bench, sighing.

There was then a long moment of silence between the two, Blazing leaned her head on her hoof and Thunder Slash looked around the park at the ponies relaxing and the younger ponies running around. The sun was blocked by grey clouds, and it was a colder day than it had been for the past few months. It definitely felt like winter. The question was, would they be fighting in cold conditions? Blazing Streak started to over hear two ponies talking to each other from somewhere behind them.

"Have you heard about what's been happening lately? Dead ponies! Coming back to life! It's the end of the world, I tell you!" Blazing Streak glanced behind her to see a pale orange elder with a white mane talking with an equally aged pink pony with a magenta mane. Both where earth ponies.

"Yes, I bet it's that young purple Unicorn.. eh... Twilight Snarfle? no.. Sparkle! yes, Twilight Sparkle fooling around with her magic and whatnot! I always knew that magic was unnatural and dangerous!" At this point, Blazing decided to speak up.

"It wasn't Twilight." The two looked at her, confused.

"Then what was it, young'un?" The pink mare asked. Blazing decided not to scare them with the truth.

"You don't need to know anything about that, just that it wasn't my friend." If they replied, Blazing Streak didn't take any notice of it, instead, she got up, stretched her legs and started walking back into the town centre. Thunder Slash fell in beside her.

"Hey, don't be like that. Whatever happens, whether Night Whisper turns out to have your brother trapped inside or not, he's still our enemy. It's grim, I know, but it's the truth and you've got to accept that."

"And I suppose you know what it's like to be in my position right now?" She scowled bitterly, with a glare. frustration prickled in her pelt. Thunder Slash looked taken aback. she didn't give her time to reply before she launched into the air towards home.

.--...--...---...--...--.

Blazing Streak heard knocking at the door. she stayed put on the sofa for a moment before going to open the door.

"I've got it!" She exclaimed, before swinging the door open to see Twilight's joyous face along with the rest of her friends.

"Hey Blazing! Is Applejack in there too?" Blazing Streak's spirits lifted at the sight of her friends. She nodded and called to her wife.

"AJ! It's the girls!" A moment later, Applejack came trotting down the stairs to greet the visitors.

"Howdy there, ya'll! What brings ya here?" She said, standing by Blazing's side.

"Are you girls busy? We're going to go on a picnic! It's been a while." Blazing Streak looked over Twilight's shoulder. Pinkie was bouncing with an overjoyed expression. Rainbow Dash wore an excited smile as she hovered in the air above Fluttershy, who also had a happy expression, much like Rarity, who held a basket with a velvet blanket inside. Twilight was using her magic to hold another basket containing treats and other food in general - most likely from Sugar Cube Corner. She also noticed Thunder Slash, who had her back to Blazing, observing the Orchard in the afternoon sunlight, all of it's apples were picked, thanks to Blazing Streak and Applejacks' hard work throughout the morning.

"Ah reckon we've got some free time, what do ya say Firefly? Wanna spend some time with the girls?" Blazing nodded.

"Of course." She confirmed, smiling.

"Alright, jus' wait here a sec." Applejack trotted back into the kitchen. Blazing Streak stepped out of the front door to wait with her friends.

"So how have you been lately, Blazing?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm alright, how about you guys?" Blazing shrugged off the question, not wanting to ruin her friends' spirits.

"I just finished this awesome trick that I have to show you when we get there! It's going to be awesome!" Rainbow Dash gloated, before switching to a more serious expression. "Hey, Blazing? When's our next training session?" Blazing Streak thought for a moment, it couldn't be today, thanks to this outing.

"How about tomorrow morning? I think I should show you about dodging attacks and countering next."

"Cool! It's been aages since I've had to fight anypony."

"Blazing? May I ask how you got to know these fighting skills you're teaching us? I'm just curious." Rarity inquired.

"Well, being alone for a long time gets really dull, you wouldn't believe it. I learnt most of it by beating up thugs and criminals that attacked me. I would wait for night to come and walk down the streets, into dark alleyways and look for fights." Blazing took a moment to glance at Rarity's disbelieving expression.

"Yep, stupid idea. Had a few close calls with armed criminals, but I can deal with that... Anyway..." She tried to change the subject. As if on cue, Applejack trotted out the door with a pile of apple tasting treats, along with the Apple family's famous cider.

"Okay, Ah'm ready ta go!" She stated. Everypony else nodded and turned away towards the hillside north of Ponyville, where they had met up many times before. Blazing Streak glanced to her left as she walked past Thunder Slash, who wasn't saying anything, She grunted and looked away, remembering how insensitive the arrogant Pegasus had been the day before. Apparently Twilight noticed this and sent a questioning look towards Blazing, who met her gaze, irritated.

"What?"

"Can we talk for a moment?" Twilight asked.

"Uh.. sure." Twilight motioned the group to carry on. Applejack cast a confused glance at the two, before shrugging and continuing on with the others.

"Now what was that about, Blazing? Do you have something against Slash?" She asked. Blazing Streak sighed in frustration.

"Blazing..." Twilight pressed when Blazing didn't reply. The red Pegasus didn't see any way out of this, so she sighed once more before explaining what happened.

"Look, she means well, and I'm sure she didn't mean to be so insensitive like that, you two aren't going to let something like this separate you, are you?"

"...I guess not." Blazing stated. Twilight nodded and her face switched from serious back to joyful as she went to catch up with the others.

.--...--...---...--...--.

It was taunting her.

Standing over her, with the potential to blow any moment.

But it didn't. It just stood there, silent, like it was trying to convince the world that it was entirely safe and would not erupt and unleash Tartarus.

If only her friends knew how dangerous it really was. Blazing Streak's eyes were fixed on it's peak, anxiously aware of it's presence.

"Firefly?" Blazing Streak lost the staring contest she was having with the mountain and whipped her head round to face the others.

"Huh?"

"Ya'll were starin' inta space there, sugar cube." Applejack told her.

"Oh, sorry." Blazing apologized, trying to ignore the tower of stone and rock.

She turned her attention to her friends, who were happily eating away at the food they had brought with them, except from Pinkie Pie, who looked more like she was inhaling it. Applejack reached into the basket of food and pulled out an apple fritter, which she offered to Blazing.

"Thanks, hon." Blazing said, taking the fritter.

"Hon? Ya ain't never called me that before." Applejack queried.

"Haven't I? Oh well." Blazing shrugged. Applejack shuffled towards Blazing Streak so that their pelts were brushing together. As Blazing slowly ate her fritter, savoring the taste, she noticed Rarity looking at them with an adoring smile.

"Uh... Did you want something, Rarity?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing, it's just that you two are so adorable together! I can't believe it has taken me so long to realize how much you mean to each other!"

"Aw shucks, thanks 'Rare!" Applejack exclaimed, taken aback by Rarity's words. When they had first told her about their relationship, she had been a bit iffy about it.

"Thanks Rarity! She does mean everything to me." Blazing Streak confirmed, smiling warmly at Applejack, who smiled and nuzzled her cheek.

"Works both ways, ya old sap!" She replied, planting a brief kiss on Blazing's lips.

"Aaaaww!" Blazing Streak's ears twitched when she heard a group of fillies behind them. She turned her head and glanced towards the source of the noise. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle where looking at them with wide smiles on their faces - except Scootaloo, who made gagging faces and crossed her arms. Amused, Blazing let out a small giggle and turned away.

She was about to take a bite from her fritter when the ground began to shake.

"No! Not again!" She exclaimed.

"What in tarnation?" Applejack followed

"What's happening?"

"Oh dear!"

"We-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e!"

"Oh, um, oh my gosh!"

"Ohmygoshohmygosh!"

"The fuck is happening?" Thunder Slash commented.

Blazing Streak got up, discarding her fritter and looked around. She heard a sudden crack and some squeals and snapped her head towards where the fillies had been playing. The ground below them had started to break apart, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle started to run, while Apple Bloom was frozen in shock. At the last second, she started to run, but it was too late, The ground below her split apart and she started falling.

"APPLE BLOOM!" Applejack exclaimed, she started galloping in the direction of where her sister had just been. Heart pounding rapidly, Blazing Streak bolted towards the hole, making it in a split second, without thought, she plunged into the hole. Magma was boiling at the bottom, while Apple Bloom was falling towards it. Wings thrusting twice as fast, Blazing picked up as much speed as she could. A cone formed in the narrow space in front of her hooves before exploding into a ball of flame, encased in stone.

Just a little bit further!

She managed to reach the screaming filly and grab her, mere moments away from plunging into a fiery death. She strained all her wing muscles to pull up, they screamed louder than the filly who was grasping onto her. Blazing gritted her teeth, feeling the heat on her tail before releasing a massive thrust of flame energy downwards with her wings, sending her erupting from harm's way. With Apple Bloom safely in her grip, she rocketed back up to the surface, using her arm to block the passenger from the fire that still hung in the chasm from when she had just broke the sound barrier.

She and Apple Bloom burst from the depths of the earth. Once Blazing Streak was sure they were out of harms way, she started to head for ground.

She put Apple Bloom near her friends, who were all watching in fear, and crouched in front of them, partly to rest her sore wings.

"You all okay?" She was relieved to see that they all nodded. As sheturned away, she felt something grasp her leg tightly. Looking back, she saw Apple Bloom hugging her front left leg.

"Thank ya fer savin' me, Blazin'!" She exclaimed." Blazing had no idea how to react to this. After a few heartbeats, she returned the hug.

"No problem." She stated. She heard hoof steps rapidly growing closer. Breaking the hug and turning around, she saw Applejack with a frantic look plastered on her face.

"Apple Bloom! Are you okay?!" She reached the filly and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Ah'm alright, sis, Blazin' saved me!"

"Ah know! Ah'm so glad yer okay!" She replied breaking the hug and nuzzling her little sister's cheek. When she broke apart, she turned her attention towards Blazing.

"Oh, thank ya so much fer doin' that!" She flung herself into Blazing, hugging her and pressing her lips against her. The red Pegasus at the receiving end blushed and kissed back. A Sparking noise made Blazing break the kiss, she turned to observe the small opening. Light blue sparks were shooting out into the sky at high speeds. She reared up on her hind legs and flared her wings in front of the fillies and her wife protectively. She was expecting something to burst out and attack them, but instead it started to close up again, the bolts of unknown energy ceasing their ascent from the hole. The crevices turned to cracks, which then sealed. Blazing made herself relax. Confused at what she had just witnessed.

The others rushed over, worried looks on their faces.

"Are you all okay?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, we're fine." Blazing replied.

"Oh thank Celesti-"

"Naw, thank Blazin'! If it weren't fer her, Celestia knows Ah could have lost Apple Bloom!" Applejack corrected.

"We saw that." Thunder Slash commented, curtly.

"Do any of you have any idea what that was?" Blazing asked, ignoring Thunder Slash.

"If I were to take a guess, I would say that was how some ponies came back to life the other day." Twilight observed.

"Girls, I have some good news that Ah was gonna tell ya'll." She waited for everyone's attention before she started.

"One o' the ponies that came back was Granny Smith!" She exclaimed. The rest of them gasped before pulling each other into a group hug. The only pony that wasn't in it was Thunder Slash, who sighed, frustrated.

"Oh, don't act so pleased Slash." Blazing stated, deadpanned. Twilight shifted uncomfortably when the rest of them had broke apart from the hug.

"Whatever." Thunder Slash retorted, giving Blazing the cold shoulder.

"I can't believe that arrogant pile of feathers." Blazing muttered, sighing. She suddenly felt guilt rush through her as she realized she might have ruined the happy mood. Turning towards her friends, she was relieved to see them all in good spirits despite the close call that had happened minutes before.

Blazing felt anxiousness rise in her heart. If anything, this was a sign of things to come, things that wouldn't wait long.