The Journey

Thunder found himself in front of the muffin shop not long after the train accident.

At this point, almost everypony in Ponyville knows about it.

Thunder entered the shop, still with a serious expression on his face. He looked around. The shop was empty; there were no customers which makes sense since it was already 7 P.M... And who would want a muffin at this time?

The only reason Thunder was there was because he didn't have time to eat lunch and it was the closest food shop he could find.

He trotted up to the counter, there was nopony behind it. Thunder rang the bell.

He heard a squeaky but cute voice coming from upstairs.

"I'm commiiiiiing"

A grey Pegasus mare with a yellow mane trotted downstairs. She had seven bubbles as her cutiemark and she was cross-eyed.

"Oh! Hello mister Thunder!" She said with a smile.

"Good evening Derpy, how are you doing?"

"Oh great! Thanks for asking! How was your day so far?"

"It was okay, apart from the accident that just happened."

"What do you mean?" Said Derpy with one eyebrow raised.

It seemed that she didn't know about the big accident. Thunder wasn't surprised; he knew she was a little slow with things.

"Just an accident on the train," Thunder sighed. “don’t worry, it got fixed."

"Oh, well in that case, how may I serve you? Would you like to try some blueberry muffins???" Derpy says while opening her mouth and wings in excitement.

"Yeah sure, three blueberry muffins please."

"Coming right up!" Derpy ducked down to reach the special blueberry muffins and chose the freshest muffins from the batch. She then put them on the counter. "Here you go! Six bits please!"

Thunder put his hoof in his pocket then took out six bits.

"Here you go." Thunder said as he carefully placed the bits on the counter.

"Thank you for coming!"

"No problem." Thunder said with a slight smile on his face.

He grabbed the muffins then placed them on one of the small tables to start feasting.

"Are you sure that there is no other restaurant in sight Twilight? I reeeaaally don't feel like muffins for dinner." Rainbow Dash complained.

"I feel like I am going to starve to death if I don't eat anything tonight Rainbow." Twilight said while patting her stomach.

"Can't you just teleport us to someplace else?

"After teleporting Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, my energy drained. Oh, and I guess that's why all of them got dizzy and needed to go home."

"Fine, I guess a few muffins won't hurt." Rainbow Dash got a little suspicious.  "Heeeeeey, how come you’re hungry for dinner so early?"

"I just want to make sure that I am not hungry when I help Colgate unpack all of those toothpastes for her store."

"Oh, okay."

As the two ponies got closer to the muffin shop, Twilight magically opened the door. When they were a few hoofsteps in the shop they noticed the only customer in the shop. It’s Thunder Shield. He had his back on them and was enjoying his delicious muffins.

Rainbow and Twilight looked at his cutiemark to confirm his identity. Then they trotted up to the counter like they didn’t see anypony. Derpy Hooves was waiting behind the counter for their orders.

"Psst, Twilight, this may be our only chance to bond with Thunder." Rainbow whispered.

"Why do you want ME to bond with him too, why don´t you go and do it yourself?" Twilight whispered back.

"It´s clear that he doesn´t like me and might say no if I try to talk to him, but you’re a princess and he can´t say no to you.”

"Fine, but let me make myself crystal clear, I don't want to..."

Twilight and Rainbow kept whispering to each other while Derpy was stuck there clueless as to why they are whispering when she could hear them perfectly well. When Rainbow talked, Derpy turned to Rainbow and when Twilight talked she turned to her. She placed her hooves on her head to indicate that she’s having a small headache and when the whispering continued, she decided to interrupt the two ponies.

"Enough! I know you’re a princess Twilight but pleeease, please, please, please can I get your order? I am not supposed to be open at these hours!"

Both Rainbow and Twilight looked behind them quickly to check if Thunder heard them talking. Thankfully, Derpy's squeaky voice wasn´t loud enough to fill the whole room.

"Then why are you open for him?" Rainbow asked while pointing at Thunder.

"Oh, it's because he’s a good friend of mine." Said Derpy with a smile on her face.

"What?!" Said Twilight and Rainbow at the same time.

"So you’re telling me, your friends with Thunder?" Rainbow asked.

"Yup. Oh, and I am also friends with that green pony, hhhmmm… whats her name?” Derpy offered while she placed a hoof bellow her chin. “Lyra, that´s her name! She sits weirdly though.”

"But how can you be friends with Thunder? He seems like a boring pony."

Derpy frowned, crossed her two front hooves then said.

"I don't know why you think he’s boring, but he’s always been nice to me."

Twilight and Rainbow's jaws dropped.

"We’re wasting our time here!" Twilight realized." Let’s just get some muffins and execute our plan."

Twilight ordered vanilla muffins, Rainbow went for the chocolate. After they paid, both trotted up behind Thunder.

"Good evening Thunder. Do you mind if we sit with you?" Twilight said with a nervous face on.

Thunder turned and looked at Twilight with a confused face.

Her heart was pounding extremely fast because she found herself in such an awkward situation.

Thunder nodded his head. "Sure, your majesty, I don't see why not." Thunder looked behind Twilight and saw Rainbow Dash. Rainbow realized that he was looking at her. All she could muster was a nervous smile. Thunder rolled his eyes then sighed. "And I guess your friend can sit with us too."

Twilight and Rainbow felt relieved. They sat down with Thunder and started talking.

"So Thunder, what does your cutiemark mean?" Rainbow inquired.

"It means that when I fly at a fast enough speed into a thunder cloud, the energy held in it would transfer to my body increasing my adrenaline and the energy of my wings making me fly faster. But I need to choose the cloud carefully. If the cloud is to big the lightning energy inside it will have enough power to kill me."

“That explains why I saw you fly through that cloud during the train incident. Sweeeeeet.” Says Rainbow with a huge fan girl smile on her face.

Even if Thunder may not be the nicest pony in the world, he is still a Wonderbolt and Wonderbolts are always awesome in Rainbow Dash’s book.

“Let’s change the subject.” Twilight intervened. “How long were you living in Ponyville. I heard that most Wonderbolts live in Canterlot.”

“That’s true, I just rented a flat here for my summer holidays. I hate those crowded places."

Is it possible that his personality is like that because he lives in such a horrible place in the district? I must know more. Rainbow thought.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath.

“So Thunder, where were your born?”

Thunder took a few bites of the muffin.

“Cloudsdale.”

“And why exactly did you move to Canterlot?”

Rainbow Dash noticed that Thunder was biting the muffin faster than before.

“Wonderbolt Military business.”

Thunder managed to finish the second muffin. He started eating the last muffin with huge bites.

“Which school did you go to when you were a kid? There are a lot of schools in Cloudsdale.”

Thunder swallowed a big chunk of muffin in one go.

“It was nice talking to you guys *cough cough* but I got to *cough* go now.” Says Thunder with a nervous tone in his voice almost choking on the muffin he just swallowed.

Thunder flew outside the door into the sky and disappeared behind the clouds.

They galloped outside to see where he went.

“What the hay Rainbow Dash?!”

“Can’t you see it Twilight? He is clearly hiding something!”

“So what if he’s hiding something? Why do you care so much about it?”

“Remember that time when Pinkie Pie tried to make Cranky the donkey feel better? She told us that he wouldn’t tell her why he was so, well, cranky but she didn’t give up on him. She did make him feel better by introducing him to somepony. Exactly who Cranky was looking for. If I am able to make Thunder tell me what’s wrong with him, I am sure that we could help him!”

“I guess you have a point, but why do YOU want to help him?”

“He’s part of the Wonderbolts.” Rainbow said with a big smile on her face.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Really? You know, I thought you would say something like, 'because he is a living thing and I want everypony to be happy'.

"Oh and that reason two of course!" Said Rainbow with a serious face.

"Good."

Rainbow looked at the sun then wiped off some of the sweat that formed on her forehead. “Wow, it sure is hot and sunny today. What time is it?”

Twilight thought for a few seconds and tried to remember the last time she saw a clock, how long ago it was.

Suddenly, Twilight’s expression changed from deep concentration to complete shock. She ran to the muffin shop and scanned the wall for a clock. She found one at the far end… It can’t be…

Rainbow suddenly bursts through the door. “Twilight! What’s wrong?”

Twilight pointed at the clock. Rainbow’s jaw dropped in complete shock.

Its eight o’clock.

Thunder Shield started to fly to Canterlot.  He knew that taking the train was to slow and that there was something wrong with the princesses. Being a part of the Wonderbolt Military, it’s his duty to protect them.

He could see below him ponies looking up to the sky worried and confused.

After flying for half an hour he finally arrived at the castle gate still wondering why the sun was not set yet.

There were about twenty-five guards on the walls and tower and about fifty guards on the gate. Some were being sent out to the woods.

Thunder landed and went straight to the guard in command.

“Shining Armour, what’s wrong? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Crystal Empire?”

Shining Armour turned to Thunder.

“Thunder, I was sent here to bring as many troops possible to investigate.”

“Why?”

Shining Armour paused for a moment then took a deep breath.

“The Elements of Harmony have been stolen.”

Thunder’s reaction wasn’t what Shining Armour expected. Thunder’s expression didn’t change one bit.

“Do we have any leads?”

“No but Princess Celestia is trying to summon an Element Tracker. That’s why she couldn’t lower the sun. And with the sun still in the sky princess Luna can’t raise the moon. After she’s done summoning the tracker, she’s going to need two Pegasi to retrieve them. She asked you to be one of them.”

“I can retrieve them by myself, I don’t need company.”

“You don’t have a choice Thunder, princess’s order.”

“Fine, who’s coming with me?”

“She chose a Pegasus named Rainbow Dash, she’s the fastest flier she could find.”

The emotion on Thunders face changed into a grimace. Shining Armour recognized it and asked.

“What’s wrong? Do you know her?”

Thunder sighed. “Yes, I do.”

“How do you know who Rainbow Dash is?”

“Who doesn’t know the only Pegasus in Equestria or even the whole world that can perform a Sonic Rainboom? And she is also the Pegasus who destroyed all of Ponyville when she did that double rainboom thing. Most of the military needed to fix half of Ponyville!”

“Well Ponyville got fixed up quite quickly.”

“Yeah, I guess. So do you know when princess Celestia’s summoning will be done?”

“She is supposed to be done in a few minutes.”

At that very instance, Celestia herself was seen walking outside the castle gate. She looked extremely serious, accompanied by four other guards.  When she reached them, all of the guards bowed including Thunder and Shining Armour.

Celestia started to talk with her light and clear voice.

“Shining Armour, I see that you already have Thunder Shield with you.”

“Yes ma’am, Thunder Shield here is ready.”

“Do you have Rainbow Dash with you?”

“No ma’am, Thunder Shield came here on his own volition to investigate what’s happening, that’s why he is a bit early.”

“I will be right back, I just need to send a message to Twilight Sparkle to tell her that…“ Princess Celestia was interrupted by a voice coming from the train station.”

“What’s wrong?! Did something happen to the princesses?!” It’s Twilight, galloping as fast as she could to the castle gate. Rainbow Dash is flying there instead.

Shining Armour put a hoof in front of Twilight.

“It’s ok Twili, the princesses are fine.”

Princess Celestia explained to Twilight and Rainbow Dash what happened.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait! Are you saying that I need to go with Thunder on a special mission to find all of the Elements of Harmony?”

“Yes, I am. I know that you two will be perfect for the job.”

“Can’t the Royal Guards go to retrieve the Elements of Harmony? Or maybe the Wonderbolts Military?”

“I know very well that you and Thunder are the fastest, bravest and most loyal of all of Equestria and we don’t have much time to waste, we need the best of the best.”

“How about Spitfire, or Fleet Foot, or even Soarin?!”

“They are part of the military and they have duties to protect Equestria. If they leave, we will be vulnerable. Thunder is not a high enough rank to be commanding the troops back at the Wonderbolt base which means that he is available for this quest.  But he is still one of the best. Do you accept the quest?”

Rainbow was worried, Twilight looked at her confused.

She whispered to Rainbow. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you want to help Thunder everyway you could?”

“Yes I do, but finding all of the Elements of Harmony is a huge responsibility! All of Equestria would rest on my hoofs!”

“Yes it would, but if you don’t do it, there’s a big chance of the mission failing. You need to do this Rainbow. Besides, you don’t see Thunder all worried.”

She turned around to look at Thunder. His expression was that of boredom, his eyes a quarter closed and as always, his face is so serious.

Rainbow panicked, her body trembled, drops of sweat started dripping off her face. After a few seconds of weakness she closed her eyes. She reminded herself that all of her friends need her now. All her friends and all of Equestria. She opened her eyes with a demeanour oozing in confidence. And with her head held up high, she walked up to the princess and bowed. “I accept the quest, your Majesty.”