Fire and Ice Don't Mix

Silence filled the few seconds in which Rainbow and Soarin stood slack-jawed at their new company. It felt like one of those moments where it feels as though time has stopped and the only thing you can do is sit and stare at something waiting for it to explain. Finally, the new arrival showed signs of life as the figure moved aside to reveal yet another pony figure, but this pony carried themselves as if they were the most important pony in Equestria. Soarin snorted slightly at that, being reminded of the snobby Canterlot ponies he wasn't really fond of. A couple more agonizing seconds later a deep, gruff voice radiated from the bulky figure.

"So, these are the ones that the prophecy spoke of?'' his voice dripped with royal sarcasim. Soarin was as confused as ever, What is with ponies? All I hear is prophecy this, prophecy that. Soarin killed the annoyed sigh that built in his chest, it wouldn't do him or Rainbow any good to cause more trouble, they were already in enough hot water as it is. Soarin almost choked as he spied ice clogging his vision again. Soarin sure as hay knew what or why but somehow he knew that was bad. His head was starting to ache like someone was repeatingly pounding his head with a hammer. His throat went dry and the dungeon started feeling like a freezer. Soarin glanced at Rainbow and was surprised and concerned to see her look haggard a bit. She was literally drooping, her eyelids sagging over her eyes, and her stiff, strong stance that she had carried only moments ago seemed to be replaced by a slump in her shoulders and Rainbow's knees bent a little. The air around her seemed thick and hot, and her cheeks carried a taint of red with them, and Soarin guessed it wasn't because of his handsome face. He stepped closer to her and unfolded his wings out in a protective stance, ready to hurt anyof them if they so much as lay a hoof on Rainbow, despite his aching head and sudden case of the shivers. Plus these guys where really testing his patience, why didn't they spit out what they wanted?

"I swear the ponies these modern days are a disgrace to lay my eyes upon!" the same pony from before remarked snidely. He sighed as if this whole situation was merely an argument on what to have for dinner with his wife, if he even managed to get one Soarin thought, suppressing the snort that wanted to come out. Rainbow had been awfully quiet, and concern wove its way onto Soarin's features. He decided things could be hurried a notch.

"Look, who the buck are you and what the hay do you want?" Soarin barked, fed up with the attitude he was receiving. His migraine and worry for Rainbow Dash only contributed to his rage. The pony Soarin had barked at earlier did nothing but huff in annoyance.

"Hold your tongue! The last time I checked you are in no position to speak to me this way, after all this is my domain and I hold the authority here." the angry stallion huffed and seemed to calm down just a bit. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood today." he muttered under his breath. " I am Chief Nightwalker, and I am the leader of a tribe in the Everfree Forest, you," Nightwalker pointed at Soarin and Rainbow "are the two ponies we have unfortunately had the job to hunt you down and bring you here, as you could plainly see. You two are the ponies that have been described in the prophecy, which I will explain in a minute." Nightwalker added as he saw Soarin open his mouth. "Anyway, my ponies have been searching for months with no avail, that is until today. Now as for the prophecy I mentioned earlier, it speaks of two ponies, and it also described you, one mare of a rainbow mane, and a stallion who has a dark blue mane, and so forth. Mind you the prophecy wasn't as straightforward as that, but I'll get into that later. You see there is a way to test out to see if you two really are what I believe you are." Nightwalker finished with a wave of his hoof in the air, talking like this situation was something that was normal for him. Soarin narrowed his eyes, something felt wrong but try as he might Soarin just couldn't put his hoof down on it, something Nightwalker said caught his attention though.

"What way are you talking about?" Soarin started to get dizzy and his vision was once again being consumed by fuzziness, albeit slowly this time for some reason. He started to panic, this could not be happening. They needed help, and Soarin knew there was just no way in all of Equestria that anypony would find them- or even think to look for them- out here. They were in the middle of a freaking forest that nopony in their right mind would wander in to for Luna's sake. Oh this was definitely not his day. He snapped back into reality when Nightwalker opened his mouth again.

"Well actually there are countless ways your powers could be activated, but from my knowledge you would have to come into contact with one of my clan members, for some reason I'm not even going to try to explain to you, but anyways, after you have made contact, it would really depend on you how your powers are activated, for example if you were mad you would shoot, I don't know something that has to do with ice." Nightwalker sighed and rubbed his eyes as if this was a math problem he was trying to explain to a stubborn filly.  Soarin could only open and close his mouth, his left eye twitching, but he failed to form any words. Finally he managed to string something together.

"How do you know I have ice powers?" Soarin resisted the urge to slap his hoof against his face from the stupidity of his question. Nightwalker raised an eyebrow and snorted.

"Isn't it obvious?" Nightwalker pointed a hoof at Soarin's own hooves, for a second Soarin was scared to look down, and immediately regretted doing so as son as he did. Ice was spreading from his hooves and swallowing the floor, making crinkling sounds as the floor was getting covered in ice. The ice was approaching a pair of cyan hooves, and Soarin started to panic. He stepped away to ttry and stop the ice from getting to Rainbow, but stopped when he noticed that as soon as the ice got within a centimeter of her it would melt and evaporate with a hiss. Soarin let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He turned to Nightwalker and chose to ignore the smirk that was growing n Nightwalker's face.

"Looks like you could use some help in getting your new powers under control hmm?" Soarin was about to answer with his own snide remark but a mumble from Rainbow stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Why is it so hot in here?" Soarin didn't know how to answer her, so he just stepped closer to her once again for protection and comfort.

"Looks like she needs more help than you." Gee thanks bud Soarin thought bitterly. He draped a foreleg around Rainbow and she leaned on him. When he looked down he saw that she had passed out. Hooo boy this is definitely *not** my day*.

Rainbow........ a voice called out to Rainbow. She was wrapped in what seemed an eternal black field.

"Hello! Is anypony there?" Dash winced as her voice echoed back to her. Though she did get an answer.

Rainbow... the voice seemed closer this time and it was sounding vaguely familiar by the second. Rainbow gasped as she recognized the voice.

"Princess Luna!" Rainbow shouted. Said princess materialized in front of Rainbow Dash, making her jump back with a yelp of surprise. Princess Luna smiled warmly.

"Do not fear Rainbow Dash, we shall not harm you." Rainbow rubbed the back of her sheepishly, this was the first time she had made contact with royalty face to face(does a dream count?). Mostly when she actually was in the presence of royalty it was Twilight that did most of the talking.

"Sorry 'bout that princess."  Dash suddenly felt just a little bit self-conscious. After all, it wasn't everyday you get to talk to one of the rulers of Equestria. "Sooo....is this a dream?" Luna smiled sadly.

"Unfortunately, no, we have heard of the strange incident here in Ponyville, as of late you and a Wonderbolt are confirmed missing. Right now you are unconscious, thus the reason I am able to reach you, well more or less." Rainbow took a moment to soak all this in before asking a question.

"Was anypony hurt?"

"Miraculously no, we have quite a few guards working on this situation." Luna paused before going on, this time her voice sounded more urgent and rushed. "Do you know where you and this Wonderbolt are, we are searching for you but we haven't found any trace yet, and it would be impossible to find evidence in the wreck."

"Um I'd love to help you princess, but the only thing I know is that me and Soarin are in the middle of the Everfree, with a bunch of weirdo ponies who are from crazy old tribe or something." Luna nodded and Rainbow noticed she was staring to fade, and panic seized Rainbow. No don't go I don't wanna be alone! she bit her lip.

"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash but I must be going, I will try to come back as soon as I can." with that Luna vanished and Rainbow was lost in a sea of blackness and loneliness once again.