Child Of The Moonlight

by Thunder Mist

Rating: teen
Tags: Nightmare Moon, Romance, Adventure, Discord, Main 6, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 41197

Do you ever wake up in the morning wondering what the world would be like if you were never alive?

This is the story of Thunder Mist (my OC) as she struggles to find herself in a journey of family and self discovery, all beginning when 6 odd ponies arrived at her doorstep from a distant town called Ponyville

(My OC Thunder Mist and the town Hoovesdale all are from my mind, if I copied someone else it was not my intention I wrote this both for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of a close friend of mine if you like it then I'm happy but if not that's fine too, I'm in need of an editor and if anyone spots any mistakes let me know so I can fix them well anyways :) I hope you enjoy the story) Rated T for safety and I will add more tagged if I need to but Romance is going to come in later chapters

reviews are welcome and if any artists out there want to draw scenes from the story I'd love to see them too :)

Published 2015-08-10 02:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-01-08 22:50:49 UTC

Hidden Lore And The Sixth Element

Child Of The Moonlight

Hidden Lore and the Seventh Element

Twilight Sparkle ran into the throne room followed by her five friends panting from the effort of racing to Canterlot. She sometimes forgot that she could fly now, but she mostly preferred running because it's what she had done her whole life. The reason they were in such a rush was because Twilight had gotten a letter from Princess Celestia asking to talk to them all at once about urgent business involving the elements of harmony, which Twilight made sure to bring along, making Spike carry them as he rode on her back. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna" She said politely dipping her head a moment before looking up at her mentor with a smile.

"Hello Princess Twilight" Princess Celestia greeted with her own smile, she and her sister returning her polite dip of the head with one of their own "I called you and your friends here is because my sister and I discovered something important while looking through the archives, there is a 7th element of harmony and I wanted you and your friends to try and find it, since you have the other 6 it should be easy to find"

"A 7th element?!?" the mane 6 looked at each other in surprise and shock they never thought that this was what they would be called for, but at least it wasn't a dire world issue for once.

"Come on guys lets go!" Rainbow Dash rocketed out of building the others rolling their eyes and simply following with slight grins at Rainbow Dash's eagerness and impatience.

"One moment Twilight" Princess Celestia called waiting for her to tell the others she'd be right there before she lead her away to talk privately "Twilight you and your friends have saved the world time and time again but I'm afraid we're going to need you all once more" Princess Celestia looked down at her accepted students gaze with her own serious one "The stars are starting to disappear, and though Luna has managed to make do so far, I fear something evil is coming our way, I don't mean to say this to worry you, but I feel as though if anyone can figure it out it would be you, but for now, until we know more I'd ask you not to mention this to anyone, I don't want to cause a panic" she nodded silently then let her go to her friends.

"How are we supposed to find the 7th element?" Fluttershy mumbled quietly looking cautiously curious, she was wearing her element necklace with was the same shape and color as her cutie mark.

"Well...I suppose that if we used our elements together it might do something" Twilight theorized being pulled from her thoughts when Fluttershy asked her question, she had been wondering about what Princess Celestia had told her. What could make stars disappear, she wasn't sure, but she knew that the moment she was able she'd be going to look through her books to try and find an answer.

The others nodded and activated their elements aiming them at Twilight's crown and true to Twilight's word her crown floated for a brief moment before starting to speed away, the Mane Six running and flying after it as fast as they could manage.

Nearing sundown

The Mane Six was growing tired from chasing after the crown when it suddenly fell down to the ground at a town line, the sign read Hoovesdale and as the group walk through the small town they noticed that everyone except Applejack and Pinkie Pie were getting glares, and despite Twilight's several attempts to ask some questions no one seemed to want to answer, they just glared and ran off after getting a look at her horn and wings.

"Don't take their behavior to heart, a lot of ponies around here don't trust unicorns or pegasi" a young red filly said with a gentle smile she was an earth pony with a small blue ball cap hiding a short muted red-purple mane with dark pink accents and a matching tail and light yellow eyes "come on I'll take you to my sisters, she'll help you with whatever you need, I'm Red by the way Red Comet" the filly added as she walked through the nearly empty streets toward an old turnip farm.

"Why would your sister help us if everyone here hates pegasi and unicorns?" Rainbow Dash asked as she hovered over the filly with a suspicious and slightly insulted look on her face as someone mumbled something insulting.

"That's cause she's like you, she was adopted by my parents when she was a just a baby, but she has wings like you and your other friends do, she doesn't know how to use them though" Red walked up the steps of the old farm house, falling apart as it was it still had a warm feel unlike most of the other town.

The door opened to reveal a dark blue pony with black hoof tips and white freckles along her nose she was wearing a golden yellow cap which was pulled down to hide her light orange eyes, she was wearing a vest that matched her cap, while her mane and tail had black and white stripes a dark orange shooting star blazed on her flank as her cutie mark. The new pony looked around at the group a little anxiously before spotting Red and relaxing slightly.

"Who are these strangers Red?" her voice was soft like Fluttershy's but it had a firmness to it like Twilight's, as if she were scolding a young puppy from doing something they had been taught not to recently, gentle and understanding but still a scolding all the same.

"I'm sorry Thunder, but they've just arrived here and you know how the town ponies are... and given how late it's getting they'd need a place to stay..." Red shuffled uncomfortably, but not because she feared the blue pony but it almost seemed like she was shy about what she was implying.

"I understand Red, but next time maybe a bit of a warning first hmm" Thunder chuckled before looking at the group and stepping back "come on in strangers, I might not look like much, but it'll suit your needs for the night" Thunder waited until the others were inside then shut the door behind them, her dark blue wings fluttering for a moment before settling down again, they did that sometimes but she never could control them, not like the two pegasi in her house. "as you might have gathered my name is Thunder Mist and this is my turnip farm, turnips aren't the most tasty thing in the world, but they grow easy in most kind of weather, now who are you and what brings you to this dead corner of the world?" She asked while she began to pour her guests some bowls of stew her wings flapping from time to time, which didn't go unnoticed by the cyan pegasus in the group.

Twilight and the others thanked Thunder for her hospitality, and the food, before Twilight began to tell her about their reasons for being out so late and their reasons for stumbling across this tiny town. Thunder nodded from time to time as Twilight spoke and the purple alicorn could practically see the gears in her head turning as she explained about the missing element, Red had the gleam in her eyes that only a child could get when tales of epic adventure were involved.

"Well I do remember some sort of stone like what you're describing...but I don't know if you'll really want to get it back cause a dragon took it from the town hall a few years back and now it's in his cave up on the mountain, not exactly a place that ponies want to go" Thunder looked up from her stew seeing the look in the Mane 6's eyes and chuckled "But if you really want to I can take you to the mountain in the morning" she added taking their empty food bowls before showing them where they could sleep.

Author's Note

Not very good I know but it's my first story I wrote like this so I hope I'll get better, comment below if you spotted any errors or just want to give me suggestions criticism is alright just don't be out right rude, ask any questions you'd like I'll try my best to answer them the best I can without giving to much away Red Comet is also an OC I created so again, apologizes if anyone has the same thing it was not my intention

The Threat Of Dark Star

The Threat of Dark Star

A quiet voice whispered in Twilight's ear, making her tired eyes open, revealing the young foal she had met before, Red Comet "Miss Sparkle....Miss Sparkle, are you awake?" The foal looked anxious and uncomfortable, her mane and fur in disarray from laying in her bed and probably tossing and turning.

"Red Comet?" Twilight mumbled sleepily rubbing her eye a little "What's wrong?" She said as she sat up and stretched. Twilight and the others were all sleeping in the attic of Thunder's small farm house. While normally the attic would probably be freezing, with so many ponies sleeping in there however, there was a pleasant warmth, occasional disturbed by a chilly breeze sneaking through the floorboards of the house.

"I was just wondering... uh...." Red shuffled her hooves a little whilst staring down at the floorboards instead of making contact with the lavender alicorn. "Do you really need Thunder to see that big dragon? I can take you instead!" She suddenly blurted out after a few moments of silence, her head suddenly jerking up to look at a slightly startled Twilight with tear filled eyes.

Twilight looked confused, "Even if we wanted you to take us Red, Thunder would never allow it," Twilight might not know much about the dark blue pony that invited them into her home, but she knew that she cared for Red very deeply, as most sisters would do.

"B-But Thunder can't go to see the dragon! Please!" Red responded rather desperately then bit her lip and sat down. "When I was little I was dared to go up there by some of my classmates and the dragon woke up and found me, but Thunder must've found out about the dare because she came to save me." Red started to scuffle at the floor a little harder starting to wake the others with the noise her anxiety was creating "It was the first time she had tried to fly, and she did it really well at first, but the dragon burned some of her feathers and she fell down, so she got hurt pretty bad. The other ponies in the village began to tease her calling her Featherhead and Cloudbrain, so she hasn't tried to fly since then and she's been so afraid to leave the farm. She's terrified of the dragon, and I don't want her to get hurt again..." Red finished her story almost in a mumble, not making eye contact with Twilight or the other sleepy-eyed ponies in the room.

Applejack trotted over slowly, sitting down beside Red then nudging her gently with her shoulder. "I'll be honest with you kid, if you'd been my sister I'd have done the same thing that Thunder did, but if she's willing to go back to that place for a group of strangers I'm sure she knows that she can do it, maybe you should just show her that you know she can too!" Applejack grinned at the red foal and gave her a slight wink.

A few minutes later when Thunder came up the stairs to check on her guests, she found them sharing stories of their great adventures with her little sister. "Come on," she told them, "If we leave now Charlie might still be sleeping! We could get that ball for you and make it back without disturbing him!" She looked nervous and anxious, but there was a determined glint in her eyes. Applejack nudged Red and suddenly Red came over practically tackling Thunder to the ground and embracing her.

"You can do it Thunder! You're the bravest pony in all of Hoovesdale!" Red held her tightly before stepping back. Feeling much better, she smiled at Thunder, but deep inside there was still an ever present worry for her older sister, so when she and the others left for Charlie's cave she followed quickly trying to keep out of sight as they journeyed to the cave.

Every step they took toward their destination, the quicker Thunder's heart seemed to beat, almost like it was trying to escape her chest and run for cover away from the darkened cave, but she kept taking deep breaths and tried to calm herself. "Stay calm, stay calm..." She repeated to herself over and over again as they approached the cave, but hearing the dragon's breath as it slept froze her front left hoof in midair, and made her pupils shrink to small pinpoints in terror and panic.

Red Comet saw her sister freeze and knew that she wasn't going to get any closer, her new friends seemed to realize the same thing, for after a few minutes of trying to get her attention, they left her where she was and went inside the cave. Red knew she had to do something since the newcomers didn't know anything about Charlie or his hatred of unicorns and pegasi. If Red didn't warn them they could get hurt! Red took a deep breath and ran to her sister's side, "Thunder, please Thunder, you have to hurry they don't know about Charlie's trap!" Red shook her sister to no effect, so she moved back a few steps and after only a brief hesitation charged straight into Thunder like a wild bull, knocking both of them over.

Thunder blinked in surprise as she felt a weight slam into her, noticing that it was Red. "What are you doing here?" She looked around and realized they were alone. "Stay here," she said quickly, ignoring her first question in favor of the more important issue at hoof. There was a reason that pegasi and unicorns didn't come to their town, and Charlie wouldn't have them! Thunder felt a power beyond words fill her, and without a second thought, she charged into the dark cave.

Twilight and the others were deep inside the cave when they found the dragon, commonly known as Charlie. He was large with ink black scales and light blue spines and spikes. His eyes were closed so it was impossible to tell what color they were, but that wasn't the main concern. They snuck around him slowly spotting the large stone element they had been looking for on a pile of jewels. The second they touched the jewels however, the dragon's eyes opened, revealing blue eyes that matched his spines and swung his tail toward them.

"Unicorn, Pegasus, you will not have my treasure!" The dragon's voice boomed in the small cave. His eyes had a slightly crazed look to them as he took a deep breath and trapped the ponies in flaming spheres. "IT IS MINE!" He roared, making the flame spheres start to shrink. Twilight was trying to stop him with her magic, but dragon magic and alicorn magic were very different, and she wasn't doing well.

"Hey you overgrown geeko!" Charlie looked over, as did the others, at the sound of another voice. Thunder was standing in front of them with a fire in her eyes "Come and get me!" She yelled with a smirk while running toward the dragon's jewels.

"My treasure!" Charlie roared, turning to chase Thunder. Since he didn't want to accidently melt his jewels with his fire breath, his focus was broken and the other ponies were freed from his spheres and watched for a brief moment as Thunder teased the giant beast.

"She really is brave..." Fluttershy mumbled as she heard Thunder tease the dragon about his fire breath. Narrowly avoiding getting stepped on in the process, she leapt from pile to pile of jewels looking back at the others and nodding urgently as if to say, 'get on with it, will you?'

Twilight nodded faintly at Fluttershy's words, a sparkle flashing in her eyes before hurrying to get the stone that they were searching for. That is, until Charlie's tail smashed into the jewels and sent the pile crumbling. Rainbow Dash tried to catch it, but the falling jewels made it hard to keep up with the stone. Charlie, in his great rage blaming Thunder for the mess he had caused, turned to her as she ran to try and catch the stone, and crushed it with his tail.

Thunder saw the stone fall, and Charlie crush it, making her feel the hot burn of shame as she failed to help her new friends. "We have to go!" She yelled over the noise of Charlie begining to have what appeared to be a tantrum of sorts, causing the cave to shake and made large pillars of stone fall from the ceiling.

One run later

Thunder panted, she was very tired, she had grabbed Red on their run out of the cave, tossing her on her back as they ran, ignoring her faint protests in favor of keeping her safe until they reached the town. She slumped onto her belly, allowing Red to leap of her back and looked toward the others after she caught her breath. "Sorry guys, I wish I could've helped you out... I'm sorry that your stone thing got destroyed."

Twilight stepped to her side, helping Thunder back into a standing position. "The stone might have been destroyed, but the element is still here:" suddenly Thunder felt a great warmth around her neck, it made her feel... strong... "The element we had been searching for lives inside you, the element of courage." Twilight continued smiling slightly as a necklace appeared around Thunder's neck. The jewel was in the shape of her cutie mark as it was for the others and it was a bright white color.

"What happens now then?" Thunder asked looking down at her new necklace and watching as Twilight put it in a trunk with the other ones. She gave Twilight a look that clearly meant that wherever she went, Red would be coming as well, unless of course it was dangerous.

Twilight nodded at the silent message, she understood it, she was sure if their roles were reversed she'd feel the same way. "Well you and Red should come with us to Canterlot so you can meet the princesses and then we'll have to see what happens." Twilight smiled once again and lead the group toward a train station, getting Thunder and Red a free pass on the train to Canterlot due to Princess Celestia's orders. The siblings, for their joy, had never been on a train before so they ended up exploring everything in their reach. It was going to be a long ride to Canterlot.

Canterlot Luna's POV

Luna looked out at her moon and sighed as her memories swirled just like the stars in the night sky, and with every one, her heart broke, like stars exploding, bright with anguish and regret, There are few ponies in her kingdom that knew her secret, she once had a foal. Before she was banished to the moon, she had met a creature who was one with chaos, she had met him in the dream world and Nightmare Moon, craving the creature's powers allowed herself to be seduced, in her dream world she wasn't a dream entity, and everything that happened to her was real... She found that out a few weeks later when she discovered the life growing inside her. Unfortunately she was soon cursed to the moon, the power of the blast had forced her into labor and her little child was born right there on the moon beside her. It was so small and looked so much like her it make her weep. She nudged her child, trying to get the foal to move or to make a sound, but all she got was some weak breathing against her snout. She felt her heart breaking and cried out as loud as she could for the one pony that could help her child.

Luna could still see her sister's sad eyes as she looked down at the little foal, looking at what Luna had become, dark and in chains. She took the child back with her, but Luna didn't have the courage to ask her what had happened to it when she returned. She pretended she didn't remember it, but still, it broke her heart when she wondered if her child was alright, and where they were right now... If they missed her as much as she missed them…

Canterlot Station Thunder's POV

Thunder leapt off the train, helping Red down. Both siblings looked eagerly around the city, they had never left their small town of Hoovesdale so the capital city was like a whole new world to them. They followed the others through the city looking around at all the sights before them, silently promising to come back later and look through the streets in more detail. They had even gotten the chance to sleep on the train which was rather exciting, though it wasn't the best sleep they had ever had, since they weren't used to a moving bed.

Twilight walked into the throne room and nodded politely to the other princesses before explaining what they had been through while they were gone and introducing Thunder and Red to the princesses in turn. Princess Celestia looked at Red with a happy smile, when she looked at Thunder though, her smile stayed in place. A curious look came to her eyes, she recognized that pony from somewhere, at least she thought so anyway.

Thunder and Red bowed to the princesses when they were introduced, but let Twilight do the talking and the second they could, they left with Rainbow Dash and Rarity when they offered to show them the city. Feeling a bit intimidate, in the large throne room they had been brought to.

Princess Celestia and Twilight began to talk about Thunder and her element. Celestia was still trying to remember where she had seen the young mare before when suddenly, everything went dark. The remaining ponies exchanged confused looks. It was the beginning of the day, so why would it be so dark so early? There wasn't any storm planned for today, so the concerned the ponies raced from the castle and headed toward the center of the swirling darkness in the city.

They found Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Red trying to talk down a dark entity. The being was almost pure black in color with glowing red eyes, suspended in the air by it's dark wings, which flapped lazily from time to time because with all the wind swirling around it, there wasn't much effort to stay in the air. The entity seemed to have its whole focus on Blueblood who appeared to have fainted at some point as dark power pulsed around him.

Princess Luna and Princess Celestia exchanged a glance, not having felt energy like this before... Celestia gathered her magic in her horn, before focusing it on the dark power. Thankfully, the entity wasn't as powerful as Nightmare Moon, so she wouldn't have to do anything like she had done before.

Twilight, letting Celestia deal with the entity, turned to Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Red instead to get the story of what had happened. It turns out the Blueblood had shoved Red out of his way and had spoken down to Thunder when she demanded that he apologize, and then she turned into whatever that thing was. Despite Blueblood finally apologizing, it didn't stop, in fact it seemed to get worse.

Celestia's magic melted away the dark energy coating Thunder. The young mare, not really knowing how to use her wings properly slumped to the ground with a groan shaking her head to clear it.

"What happened?" She croaked while rubbing her eyes, then noticed everyone was staring at her. "What?" She looked at them confused but Rarity and Applejack just helped the young mare to her feet and offer to take her to get something to ease that pain in her throat, explaining on the way. Twilight and the others followed with caution, the entire group ignoring the unconscious Blueblood in favor of less annoying ponies.

"What was that Tia?" Luna looked at her sister in confusion about what had just transpired. What had happened to Thunder? Why had her anger lead her to becoming... whatever she had just become?

"Lulu, after you were banished to the moon, I don't know if you remember this, but you had a foal, I tried to care for it but it had been so weak it took nearly your entire banishment to get the small mare to grow, once it started to however, I tried to find a good home for it, afraid of what Nightmare Moon would do with the child if she had found it." Princess Celestia looked over to where Thunder was walking away with the others, Pinkie Pie trying to cheer up the group, true to her nature and her element. "But it appears your child had found us again" She continued looking back at her sister shocked face.

Author's Note

another chapter up and posted, I hope you enjoy it

Crash Landings

Child Of The Moonlight
Crash Landings
Luna's POV

Ignoring her sisters warning Luna took off chasing after the element bearers the moment the words registered her foal... her little star! She turned into the medical wing and barely managed not to burst into the room the bearers were in in her haste. Now that she got a better look at her mare she did notice the fact that they did look alike, they had the same coloring and she had the same wing span that Luna had when she was younger she was amazed that she hadn't noticed sooner, but she could also see the father in her little foal and hoped that he didn't have an influence in her growth. Luna found herself idly wondering if Discord knew about their child, she supposed he must know on some level if not aware entirely but she wasn't to worried about him, he was reformed now after all.

Luna walked toward the other ponies, the small red one pressed into Thunder's side, listening as a doctor explained whatever had happened before had been a result of Thunder's temper and if she didn't want it to happen again she would have to try and not get angry until they found some sort of cure for it, whatever it was.

"Are you feeling alright?" Luna asked slowly, not sure how to approach this sensitive moment, should she tell her? she wasn't sure now was a good time for that conversation, but then again would there ever be a good time? She shook her head to clear it instead deciding she'd wait for a while longer, get to know Thunder before springing this on her.

Thunder's POV

Thunder smiled a little, feeling tired "I'm fine Princess, I just hope I didn't hurt anypony" she rested her head down on her hooves and closed her eyes to try and relax nodding as the doctor gave her some medicine to try and keep her temper in check not noticing Luna's flinch when Thunder called her Princess. Her eyes opening as another person entered the room, it was Princess Celestia but she didn't stay long, just greeted them talked to the doctor a moment about Thunder's condition then asked her sister to go with her somewhere.

"You know what you need right now?" Rainbow Dash said with a bit of a puff to her chest "flight lessons" she continued causing Thunder to look up at her anxiously her wings fluttering and brushing Red in her surprise.

"But Rainbow, I can't fly at all" Thunder replied looking doubtful her wings folding back down protectively at her sides, Red looking at her as she got settled once again.

"Exactly, but you will when I'm done with you" Rainbow Dash continued confidently sure that she could teach her new friend the talent that pegisi have been teaching each other for thousands of years.

Luna's POV
in an empty room down the hall from Thunder's room

"Sister I can't tell her, not now it isn't safe" Luna said softly looking to be torn between tears and pride at her little foal, albeit not so little anymore. So absorbed in her own thoughts nearly missed her sister's question about Thunder's parentage, but once it reached her ears she flinched slightly, she had hoped this never would've come up. She had confessed to her sister that she did remember what had happened when she was Nightmare Moon and that she has a foal and she admitted she pretended that she didn't remember to try and ease the pain she felt thinking her foal had died, Celestia was a little hurt her sister didn't trust her but she supposed she could understand.

Luna lowered her head slightly watching her hooves as she spoke "Nightmare Moon slowly began taking control of me, as you well know all those years ago but it wasn't long before you banished me to the moon that Nightmare Moon had a plan to over throw you, using Discord" she paused a moment at the word practically feeling her sister's shock but Celestia was silent, wanting Luna to continue. "Nightmare Moon used my ability to enter dreams in an attempt to contact Discord and find some way to gain his assistance in trying to over throw you...and I think the rest is pretty obvious" she added shyly shuffling her hooves a bright embarrassed blush on her face. "I don't even think Discord is aware of his child, he hasn't made an attempt to contact her that I'm aware of and I'm sure we would've heard something" Luna looked up at her sister relieved to see her sister wasn't upset about what she had told her.

"But what I don't understand is how she's alive now, when she was born over a thousand years ago" Luna was confused, her foal should've died out years ago, she wasn't an alicorn after all so how could she be here?

"When you called to me to save your foal, I took it to the castle and examined it using my magic, Thunder had been so full of dark magic it was killing out the light of her life force, I tried to remove it all, though I now doubt I got it completely out of her" Celestia mumbled remembering the incident in the city "I stored her dark energy into a crystal and she grow a little stronger, but she was still very weak, it wasn't until a few years before your return she began to actually grow in earnest, but as she started to grow I began to fear what Nightmare might do to the foal, I wasn't sure if you'd remember having her after so many years on the moon, so I put her up for adoption even though it felt as if I was losing you all over again" it was Celestia's turn to look down as she finished her own story, but Luna didn't mind what her sister had done, if it had been the other way around Luna might have even done the same thing sometimes to protect a life choices had to be made, even if it hurt.

Luna stepped over to her sister draping her smaller wing over Celestia's back giving her an understanding smile "come sister, we should at least check on her, whether I want to tell her right away or not we should at least be there for her" while that might be part of her desire in truth Luna was beginning to crave her child's presence. The pair walked back to Thunder's room looking a bit surprised when they found it empty.

"If you're looking for the element bearers, they went out into the gardens for flight lessons" The doctor said spotting the princesses when they walked into the room "apparently the dark blue pony doesn't know how to use it's wings properly so the rainbow manned one is going to show her how" the doctor explained, then left the room to check on his other patients.

Thunder's POV
in the gardens

"I don't know about this Rainbow Dash" Thunder mumbled nervously watching the cyan pony and Fluttershy stretch and move her wings to ease them into the motion of flying, but that only make them itch, that's why she never used them in the first place. Red was watching curiously with Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie

"No sweat Thunder Twilight is flying great now and she wasn't even born with wings, you can totally do this, you just need some pointers" Rainbow Dash said confidently. And so the pair, along with Fluttershy and Twilight on the side lines in case things took a turn for the worst, began their lesson, at first things were a bit shaky, Thunder wobbling once she got even the slightest few feet off the ground, but Fluttershy and Twilight were there to make sure she kept her balance while Rainbow helped her keep rhythm with her flapping wings. After a few more moments Thunder began to feel braver flying a bit higher telling the others that she wanted to try on her own but the itching continued, she thought maybe after she got used to flying that it would go away but if anything it just got worse.

So distracted by the irritating itch of her wings Thunder wasn't watching where she was flying and yelped a little when she heard Twilight's yell out a warning seconds before a tree branch suddenly moved into her path, catching on her hoof, and she tumbled into a bush.

"Discord that was rude" Fluttershy, in a rare show of temper went over to the tree and yelled at it while Thunder crawled out of the bush, shaking a few leaves off that managed to attach themselves to her, and surprising nearly everyone she started to laugh, the itch of her wings forgotten for the moment.

Discord, with a snap of his claw appeared and blew a raspberry at Fluttershy, a big 'I win' grin on his face "She doesn't seem to think so" he replied smugly, sure he was reformed but that didn't mean he couldn't have fun once and a while especially with the element bearers. But when he noticed their flying lesson he could help the urge to cause a little trouble with the new face. Discord looked at the dark blue mare, talking with the others about maybe trying another time, and frowned a little something seeming familiar about the young pony. He snapped his claw and she appeared in his arms, looking a little startled by her sudden change in location but she didn't have a chance to get a look around before Discord squished their faces together staring deep into her eyes "Who are you?" he questioned suspiciously his eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her.

"Uh, I'm Thunder Mist...can you put me down?" Thunder said looking both uncomfortable and confused but he didn't move to obey her request instead just continuing to stare at her, while the other element bearers exchanged confused glances. Suddenly Thunder was wrapped in a dark sparkling cloud of magic and she was pulled out of Discord's grip by Luna's horn.

"Ignore Discord Thunder, he is a being of chaos but he doesn't mean any harm" Twilight assured her once she was finally set down Discord looking back and forth between Thunder and Luna curiously.

"It's alright" Thunder shrugged with a grin "he's really funny" she looked at Discord again seeing him staring at her once again "even if I don't quite understand him" she continued "do you know why he's staring at me?" she mumbled to the others but Luna spoke before anypony could get a word in.

"Come on everypony, we have a few things to discuss about the elements of harmony" She quickly lead them back into the castle, moving her wing over Thunder protectively, confusing the mare but Luna said nothing not even making eye contact with the smaller mare. The others exchanging confused glances at the night princesses behavior but unable to find an answer to their questions in each others eyes.

It came to him as quick as a lightning strike, how could he be so blind Thunder was nearly identical to the Moon Princess and that meant..... Discord blinked in surprise both turning a few shades paler and grinning in mischievous delight at the same time, oh this was going to be fun.

Author's Note

hope you like this chapter, do let me know if you have any suggestions or comments on the work, don't be afraid to point out if I spelled something wrong or did something wrong I'm a very kind person (at least I think so)

Moonlight Lullaby

Moonlight Lullaby

Thunder and Red pushed the last of their boxes off of the moving cariot and into their new home, Princess Luna had insisted that they move to Ponyville to be with the other element bearers and given the welcoming air of the two were quite happy with the change. Rainbow Dash was happy about the new arrangement cause she'd be able to have a new flying buddy though Thunder hadn't improved much in her flying lessons, just when she'd think she was getting it the itching would distract her so badly that she'd end up crashing into something but Rainbow didn't seem to mind, she seemed to enjoy teaching her, and would eagerly tell answer any question Thunder had about flying. Thunder fluttered her wings hoping to ease the itch that dug itself between them, but it did nothing.

The sound of hooves drew Thunder from her thoughts turning to see her new friends coming in helping Red a little to get the box she was carrying into the house, after Thunder confessed to the Princess that her true talent was the stars Princess Luna had arranged their new house be outfitted with a few telescopes and even gave her free access to the castle's obsevitory whenever she ever visited Canterlot which was rather exciting.

"Hey guys" the once worrisome and anxious pony that they had met seemed to melt away a little the moment they arrived at Ponyville, now that the pressure of being an outcast was off her shoulders Thunder seemed to thrive, much to her friends and Red's delight, though she still had her moments of shyness as any pony would. "Can you believe this place? It's perfect! I bet the night sky is beautiful here" Thunder continued with a mile wide grin, her hat hanging up near the door of their new home. They had moved into a nice three story house near Sugarcube Corner the first story had the kitchen and the living room with everything else they needed to fuction it was decorated with a forest theme giving the rooms an air of contement and beauty that only nature could give. The second story had the bedrooms, Thunder's with a night theme, stars and moons decorating it in homage to her Cutie Mark no doubt while Red's had a sky theme complete with white puffy clouds and blue walls and a couple of guest rooms each part of the house was fully furnished thanks to Princess Luna, who Thunder vowed to repay when she had the funds, and the final floor was actually just an old attic that had a few telescopes set up so Thunder could view the stars.

"Pretty nice place huh?" Thunder said as she finished giving her friends a tour, Red had run out to hang out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she was hoping to join the club herself cause she thought it sounded neat. Thunder grinned a bit and asked the other ponies what they wanted to do today, they decided to show Thunder around Ponyville then Rainbow Dash wanted to try another flying lesson much to Thunder's displeasure the itch making itself known from her wings again.

Canterlot, Luna's POV

Luna laid in her bed an odd mix of contentment and sadness knowing that her child was happy about her new home, Luna has worked extra hard in making sure it was perfect she wanted her to feel comfortable and knew that Thunder liked the stars, a fact that Luna took a great deal of pride in, so she had her room made to look like the night sky she thought Thunder would like that she watched the setting sun and sighed wondering when Thunder would come back to visit. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enter the dream world, looking to see if she was asleep yet her brow furrowing in confusion when she didn't find Thunder's dream world. Luna opened her eyes worry tingling down her spine she's probably just not sleeping yet she tried to reason with herself but couldn't resist the urge to trot out to her balcony and taking flight Just to be safe...

Ponyville, Thunder's POV

Thunder rolled over again groaning in annoyance as the itching got worse her glared at her wings and got up, giving herself a shake before she walked downstairs and left the house to go outside, hoping that the cool night air might help her sleep. She sat down looking up at the stars, ever since she was a filly she loved looking at them something about them just seemed so...eternal and it just fascinated her endlessly. She blinked a moment in confusion, sure she was just seeing things but no, there was Princess Luna flying down from the sky "What are you doing here Princess?" Thunder asked curiously as the princess landed, leading her inside the house to offer her some refreshment after her journey.

"I was merely coming to check on you, I was looking through the dreamscape and I noticed you hadn't gone to sleep so I just wanted to make sure you were settling in alright" she said softly in case Red was already sleeping, she wanted to have a little alone time with her child, even if it was only for a few moments.

"Yeah, the house is wonderful we really love it" Thunder said with a smile "it's just hard to sleep cause...well during my flight lessons my wings start to itch and it gets hard to focus, it'll go away soon I hope, I'm sorry that I worried you Princess" Thunder apologized quickly bowing her head.

Luna seemed to think about what Thunder said and after a few minutes the answer seemed to come to her "Lay down" she said softly waiting a moment for Thunder to do as she asked before she stretched out one wing, moving her hoof gently over the feathers and then leaning down and pulling out the loose ones that she found moving slowly so as not to frighten Thunder. Thunder groaned feeling the itch ease as Luna pulled out some of the feathers in her wings nearly missing what the princess said next.

"This is called preening, it's when you pick out the loose feathers from a Pegisi's wings, the loose feathers were what caused the itching you were feeling, you should check them yourself every once and a while to make sure the loose feathers are pulled out" Luna explained in between tugging out feathers. She knew about Thunder's past a little thanks to Twilight and the other element bearers so she knew that Thunder didn't know much about her kind.

Thunder mumbled a little already beginning to feel sleepy thanks to Luna's pruning it felt so nice feeling those feathers get pulled out, finally she could feel her body relaxing missing Princess Luna's gentle smile or the loving motherly look in her eyes as Luna nudged her up and helped her to bed, tucking her in as the mare was sleeping even before her head hit the pillow. Luna sat watching her sleep a moment her smile turning to one of sadness and out of her sadness a song found it's way to her lips.

"Hush, little star, darkness is here,
But sleep easy, for we are now home
Dream easy now my star.

Softly swaying in the breeze,
let my song drift like leaves,
To the skies where stars dance
I'll show you the way, take a chance
Wander free, only with me

Alone, No more
Alone, No more
Alone, No more, I'm here little star

Softly swaying in the breeze,
let my song drift like leaves,
To the skies where stars dance
I'll show you the way, take a chance
Wander free, only with me

Alone, No more
Alone, No more
Alone, No more, I'm here little star

Hush, little star, darkness is here,
But sleep easy, for we are now home
Dream easy now my star.

Alone, No more
Alone, No more
Alone, No more, I'm here little star

Softly swaying in the breeze,
let my song drift like leaves,
To the skies where stars dance
I'll show you the way, take a chance
Wander free, only with me"

Luna sighed with a smile leaning down to nuzzle her foal gently "good night little star" she whispered "sweet dreams" and then, only looking back a few times, she left pleased that she could help, even if Thunder knew nothing of their relation, but the one thing Luna missed before she left her daughter's side... her daughter's alarm clock had a pair of eyes on it, eyes that were filled with a great deal of mischief.

Author's Note

fourth chapter up and hopefully no one hates me yet haha hope you enjoy it :D

The Bonds We Share

Thunder woke up feeling refreshed for the first time since she started her flying lessons silently thanking the Princess for taking the time to check up on her she leapt out of the bed she trotted downstairs to start on breakfast whistling a slow tone that wandered through her dreams, it was a pretty song, but it sounded so sad she wondered where she heard it before...but nothing came to mind so choosing not to fret about it at the moment focused on her morning routine. Setting their plates on the table Thunder climbed the stairs once again to go and wake her sister Red complained about having to get up, as usual, but the promise of food that was not the turnip variety, managed to get her out of bed. The pair ate in a comfortable silence before their doorbell rang. Waiting on their front steps was Sweetie Bell a white unicorn with a lavender mane, Applebloom a yellow earth pony with a large red bow and a thick country accent, and Scootaloo a orange pegisi with a purple short unruly mane, they apparently heard from Rarity that a new filly had arrived and wanted to give her a warm welcome, and since then the fillies had become fast friends Red often going with them to 'do some crusading' whatever that meant.

Thunder sent Red on her way to play with her friends and began cleaning the kitchen and washing their breakfast dishes wondering what she might do today, Rainbow had weather work to do but they might be able to hang out afterwards, she could go see Applejack at her farm she had never got to explore the orchard much when she arrived in Ponyville. A knock broke her from her musing and her brow furrowed in confusion who could that be? She wondered, she wasn't expecting anyone this early and Red knew she didn't have to knock. "One second!" she called to whoever it was wiping her hooves on a dish towel to dry them and tossing the towel onto the back of a chair. To say Thunder was surprised to see Discord on the other side of the doors was an understatement, the fact that he was wearing a plant pot like a top hat and holding a handful what appeared to be fish, though they looked like they were made of cheese, only made her more confused.

"Mr. Discord, what are you doing here?" she asked struggling between being polite and unsettled that he knew where she lived. She slowly backed up to allow him into her home, hoping he wasn't planning anything, sure in their last meeting she thought it was pretty funny but she wasn't quite ready to trust him yet, at least not completely.

"I'm merely here to offer my apologizes for my behavior at our last meeting" he replied bowing deeply, causing a bit of soul to fall out of his 'hat' and land on her floor but he managed to right himself before he lost the small sprout inside, something she hadn't notice before due to his height in fact he almost seemed shorter now then he had outside. Shrugging off to being just one of those things that she'd probably never wrap her head around she raised an eyebrow at Discord was he really here to apologize? Maybe Fluttershy talked him into it, well in any case it couldn't hurt to give him the benefit of the doubt, could it?

"It's fine sir, really there was no harm done" Thunder said with a half-smile, yelping in surprise when he swept her up into his mismatched arms and with a flick of his tail they next appeared to be in a park of some sort looking around for a moment revealed it to be Ponyville Park, based on the large clock tower sporting the large Canterlot flag, and a slightly smaller Ponyville flag billowing in the breeze. Thunder closed her eyes a moment listening to the sounds of a park in summer, the excited shouts of little fillies running around with their friends and families, when she reopened her eyes she saw Caramel and Sassaflash walking close together, she supposed they were on another date. She saw Derpy Hooves walking down a soft dirt path, though what she was doing wasn't clear, perhaps just enjoying the good weather while it was still gracing Ponyville with its presence. She should take Red here maybe invite their friends, and have a cook out or something, to celebrate their move to Ponyville, she knew Pinkie would love to plan a party for them, nothing stopped that bouncy pink pony when it came to parties... She was brought out of her thoughts by Discord, who scooped her up and began to dance some sort of tango in a frilly pink tutu.

"You and I are going to have a lot of fun today Thunder" he proclaimed as he spun her around a rose appearing in her mouth a moment before he dipped her down and proceeded to drop her onto a fluffy light pink cloud, when had they gotten so high? Thunder looked down at the park, thankful she wasn't afraid of heights as the ponies which had been so close moments before now were just small dots of color against the seemingly endless green of Ponyvile park, which broke into a rainbow of color once her eyes reached the town itself, Twilight's Castle standing tall and gleaming in the sun.

"Doing what exactly?" she turned back to Discord who appeared to be drinking away the glass of a glass of chocolate milk. Her head cocked to the side slightly, feeling her ears flop a little with the movement how did he do that? Did it taste the same? Despite her common sense telling her to keep her distance from the odd creature known as Discord some part of herself, a piece of her that she hadn't realized she possessed whispered tantalizingly in her ear Don't you want to give it a try? Thunder shook her head a little trying to clear it from the odd fuzzy feeling that filled while looking at Discord her wings fluttering anxiously, wondering where that had come from.

"Oh this and that, playing with a bit of chaos, nothing dangerous of course" Discord grinned, he wasn't completely lying when he said he had come to apologize but there was more to his plan than merely saying sorry, he wanted to see Thunder, see how she would react to his chaotic powers, so far she had reacted with laughter and hesitation but he could feel her walls falling down, her own curiosity causing her hesitation to fold. He could feel the urge for chaos coming to the surface in her eyes, he was so eager for he had never had a true playmate before add in the fact it was not only his child but a pony to boot it was going to be an interesting day.

"But isn't chaos something bad?" Thunder asked shrinking down fearfully when Discord jerked his head toward her with a fire in his eyes both literal and figuratively speaking. "I mean no disrespect of course sir" she whispered lowering her eyes and pawing at the cloud beneath her, You really need to get a filter for that large hole you call a mouth she reprimanded herself her ears flattening against her head. But when nothing came of her blunder Thunder slowly looked up only making it to Discords brownish midsection before she could draw her eyes no farther.

"But what's wrong with a little chaos?" Discord responded his voice little more than a purr as he placed his claw under Thunder's chin and brought it up to meet his red eyes "Without chaos there is no way to determine harmony, chaos is as much a part of the world as laughter, loyalty or even courage" He winked with a wide grin pulling a second glass of chocolate milk from his plant pot top hat and held it out for her.

Thunder felt the fur along her spine tingle, the look of in his eyes was earnest but they seemed to almost be swirling she blinked in surprised when he pulled back and pulled out a glass of milk identical to the one that he had drunk moments before. Suddenly she felt as though the options of others didn't matter, all she wanted to do was have fun. She grabbed the glass and drank it down, feeling the crisp clear taste run down her throat before tossing the chocolate milk core aside with a wide grin "What should we do first?" she asked Discord, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

The pair moved through Ponyville pranking anyone who crossed their paths, from turning Applejack's farm into giant blueberries while she was out bucking the trees, to giving Berryshine Twinkleshine's horn and Thunder could easily say she had never had so much fun in her life. She and Discord collapsed on their cotton candy chocolate milk raining cloud in a fit of giggles to take a small break watching as the Cakes trying to control a giant cake as it continued to grow out of their oven and into the store itself, Pinkie Pie was switching between using her party cannon and trying to eat the cake to try to keep it under control. They never did anything to harm anypony but that didn't mean they weren't considered a nuisance.

"Discord!" the pair jerked up noticing a yellow pony flying toward them, clearly Fluttershy, Thunder scooted over so that she could land on the cloud instead of tiring her wings, she wasn't a very strong flyer after all.

"What is this I hear about you and Thunder causing trouble all over town?" she glared at Discord, her usually calm eyes sharp as a Diamond Dog tooth making the pair shift guiltily "Well...at least no one was hurt this time around" Fluttershy continued her gaze softening for a moment but turning sharp again when Discord tried to slip away "But don't go around switch ponies horns and wings, they could cause a lot of trouble, now you're going to come with me and fix everything you messed up mister" she nudged Discord forward determined not to bend to any of his games or tricks "Goodbye Thunder" She added quickly before leaving with Discord, who merely winked at Thunder saying that he'd visit again soon, so they could clean up the mess the two had caused.

Thunder sighed her wings opening as the pink cloud disappeared, gliding down to the ground in a slow corkscrew, her landings weren't the best, stumbling a little as her hooves connected to the ground, but at least she didn't land in a bush or a tree this time around. She folded her wings to her sides, Discord had taken up most of her morning but she still have a few hours before Red came home, she figured Applejack wouldn't want to see her right now, Rarity always turned her visits into dress up and Twilight was always busy with her research so maybe Rainbow Dash would want to hang out, hopeful it wouldn't turn into a flight lesson she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle a training session today. Rainbow Dash was a wonderful teacher even if she pushed Thunder a little to hard at times, Thunder was just happy Rainbow wanted to take time out of her own day just to teach her what she should've learned years ago.

Thunder walked out toward the field where Rainbow Dash usually practiced her tricks hoping to find the cyan mare here, thankfully it seemed luck was on her side and she could see the familiar rainbow streak flying back and forth across the sky, performing dips, twirls, and loop-de-loops. Thunder sat down watching her for a little while, though Thunder was raised without much knowledge of her own pony breed she found herself easily admiring Rainbow Dash for her flying. Rainbow Dash seemed to be fearless in the air, sure she was a bit cocky and sometimes her ego could crush a house, but she was loyal and she would stop at nothing to help her friends and that's what really mattered.

Thunder fluttered her wings before taking off into the air, adjusting her wing position when she felt her body beginning to dip and sway, thankful for all of Rainbow's advice about keeping fit she still managed to break out into a bit of a sweat by time she found a cloud to sit on. "Hey Rainbow!" she called when the color blur zoomed past her, finishing her loop before flying back toward Thunder curiosity in her eyes.

"Hey Thunder, you hear that Discord started a prank spree in town? Wish I could've helped" she chuckled mischief in her eyes "anyway, what's up?" Rainbow leaned back a little in the air, her wings moving to ease her shift in weight and keep her airborne in an automatic way that Thunder could only envy.

"Heh, well actually that was Discord and I" Thunder mumbled rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof giving Rainbow an awkward smile as her mouth hung open a little "But Discord got dragged away by Fluttershy earlier so I thought maybe we could hang out for a little while" she added when Rainbow made no attempt to speak.

Rainbow blinked "I never thought you'd be a pony who would do pranks" she managed to say after she closed her mouth "You're just full of surprises aren't you" she continued regaining her slight smirk as she poked Thunder's side with a hoof.

"I don't know about- EEP!" her words cut off by a squeak as Rainbow poked her side. "Don't do that, I'm ticklish" she protested smacking away the offending hoof but she was grinning proving she wasn't upset, her grin turning into a glare when Rainbow's smirk grew larger.

"Come on, have you ever heard of Daring Do?" Rainbow asked, tucking the new-found knowledge of her dark blue companion away for the time being, a plan already brewing for another time. Rainbow waited for Thunder to take to the air, keeping her wing beats slow so that Thunder could keep up easily while Rainbow talked about Daring Do. Rainbow's cloudhouse was soft to the touch and a little bouncy, Thunder looked around with interest as Rainbow showed her around. Thunder had never seen these types of houses before, she had read about them before but this was her first time actually in one. Rainbow's house was decorated with Wonderbolt paraphernalia and collectables, posters lying the walls accented with Daring Do posters and books scattered around messily throughout the house.

Rainbow Dash, comfortable in her own clutter directed Thunder into a cloud cushion while going to retrieve one of the Daring Dos, coming back a moment later with Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone the first book of the series and the first book that Rainbow had read as well. "Now I'm going to have to warn you, this story is pretty awesome, don't let it overwhelm you" Rainbow warned with a grin as she settled down on her own cushion with the novel. "As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle the wet heat zapped her energy and slowed her every step..." Rainbow dived into the tale bringing Thunder into the familiar world that she trotted many times, neither noticing as the tale sucked them in that the time was passing quickly. "... And so with Ahuizotl defeated and the sapphire statue secured, the world was safe and sound once again, thanks to Daring Do!" Rainbow finished with a flourish never tiring of the story no matter how many times she read it.

Thunder sat up and stretched feeling her limbs start to tingle from sitting for so long, though she had shifted throughout the reading but for the last couple of chapters of the book she had been laying down with her legs folded under her and now she was regretting it. "That was a really great book Rainbow, I can't wait to read the rest" she said with a smile shaking each hoof in turn, in reality she just like watching Rainbow read, she got so excited adding her own effects into it and acting out some scenes, it's was really entertaining to watch, not that she'd mention that to the mare given her attachment to her reputation and everything cool.

"Well not as great as me, but it's pretty close" Rainbow said with a grin, her grin fading when she realized just how late it had become while they were lost in the printed word "Hey, if you want to you can spend the night here" she set the book aside "I didn't realize how late it got while we were reading" she shuffled her hooves with an apologetic smile at the inconvenience.

But Thunder shook her head "I have to get back, Red will be worried that I wasn't home to meet her, thanks for reading to me" she added before she cantered out the door doing the same corkscrew glide down to the ground, the stars seeming to gleam brighter as she continued into the town, hoping that her little sister hadn't gotten into any trouble while she was gone.

Author's Note

Sorry this took so long folks, this chapter was a bit harder for some reason but I hope you enjoyed it in any case :) and thank you for being so patient with me I hope that I'll be able to get the chapters out faster from now on, but I am working on other stories too so please keep that in mind, nonetheless I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you will continue to enjoy the story as it continues :D

The Connections Of Harmony

Thunder opened her eyes and blinked in confusion, she appeared to be in the middle of the large field but no where she recognized, just an endless green, some patches growing so high that she could easily disappear inside them. When she looked up she could see every star clearly, as if she were looking through a high-powered telescope she spun around in circles pointing out a few she recognized to herself until her own dizziness caused her to lay flat on the grass. Thunder rested her head down on the tall grass and took a deep breath enjoying the wild scent all around her content in this mystery land. Thunder looked up once again, remaining in her grassy nest, looking at the moon it was large and bright glowing a golden white. Wait...what was that on the moon? It almost looked that a pony, a unicorn, Thunder tilted her head a little to try to see it clearer but to no avail she just wasn't going to see it down here no matter how good her eyesight seemed to be in this place.

Suddenly a thought struck her, she stood and unfurled her wings from her sides could she get close to the moon in this place? She took to the air surprised to find that her wings seemed to be cooperating with her, she might even be able to compete with Rainbow Dash for wing power, though certainly not speed. With a quick flap Thunder took to the air feeling her wings move smoothly through the positions needed for flight, passing it off as unimportant for the moment as she flew toward the beacon of light that was the moon.

As she got closer she could hear a soft voice singing the voice soft but so full of love it was almost heartbreaking. "Hush, little star, darkness is here, but sleep easy, for we are now home dream easy now my star. Softly swaying in the breeze, let my song drift like leaves, to the skies where stars dance I'll show you the way, take a chance wander free, only with me..." Where had she heard that song before? She often found herself humming to very same tune from time to time but couldn't quite place where she had heard it before.

"Alone, no more, I'm here little star" Thunder found herself singing with the voice finding her curiosity dulled as she stared at the moon. She had been right, it was a unicorn in the moon she wondered what it meant, wishing Twilight was here sure that the alicorn would know, she seemed to know everything. She had started to wonder where she was at before she realized the voice seemed to be coming from the moon, from the unicorn on its surface.

"There was once a mare in the moon, she was consumed by the darkness of her own jealously, blinded by her rage and pain she threatened those closest to her to leave them in the same darkness that filled her heart. But while she was trapped by herself something changed, she felt a life growing inside her, felt love growing in her heart again." The voice spoke, a great deal of sadness in its tone. "But try as she may she couldn't fight the evil that had taken control of her, and she was sent away. But even that didn't seem to be enough for fate had more hardship for her to bare, her foal was born there with her while she was exiled to the moon that foal was so weak, barely managing to breathe on its own." the voice paused, seeming to try to gather strength before it continued "For brief moment the mare's love overpowered the nightmare that had taken her and she called to her closest family for aid, who took the foal and cared for it, that foal was-"

"Thunder!" the dark blue pony jerked awake her wings flaring out as a weight landed onto her, a quick look showed her it was Red, the small earth filly had leapt onto her back to wake her. "You can't sleep all day you know, we're going to park remember?" she said in teasing tone before leaping off her sister and eagerly cantering out of the room to make sure she had everything prepared.

Thunder got up with a stretch, almost hearing her muscles sigh in response to the action as they woke though Thunder was slower to gain the desire to leave her bed, her dream had been interesting even if the details were starting to blur together as the sun drove away her sleepiness, a mare in the moon...who would've thought. She chuckled a little under her breath going to the bathroom to freshen up, taking two of those pills the doctor had given her before swallowing a gulp of water to help the medicine go down she still had to deal with the bitter after taste but another quick glass of water washed that away as well.

Thunder jumped into the shower quickly washing out her coat and mane humming that song again as she stepped out a few moments later grabbing a towel and roughly drying herself pondering over her dream again, she felt like she had heard that voice before but it was so hard to remember it exactly. Slipping her vest on and zipping it up finally walking downstairs stopping for a moment when Red skidded into view then hurried out again. Rolling her eyes with a slight grin at her siblings eagerness Thunder grabbed her hat near the door and slipped it on, grabbing Red's while she was there, and went off to find the filly.

Finding her sister in the living room trying to squeeze a large ball inside her backpack, which she had emptied onto the floor to fill it with things she appeared to find vital for their day at the park. Thunder had told Red two days ago when she got back from Rainbow's that they'd go to the park and to invite her friends, unfortunately it seemed her sister had invited the other element bearers as well. It's not that Thunder didn't like them, she did, they seemed like nice ponies but Thunder wasn't sure about being friends with them. They already seemed to get around so well and she was just the odd pony out, how do you go up to six ponies and try to bond with them? She didn't know, it was easy for Red she was young but Thunder wasn't, how did a grown pony who doesn't understand friendship make friends at all? Maybe she could ask Twilight for pointers, she was the princess of friendship after all...Pushing her worries aside for the time being she walked over to her sister sliding her blue cap on and deflating the ball so that they could fold it up and slide it inside.

"You do realize we're only going there for the day, we aren't moving there" Thunder teased an easy grin on her face as Red Comet zipped up the bag sliding it onto her back. The easy-going air drained away the moment the pair stepped out into Ponyville Thunder's social anxiety, though it had lightened with her move and the accepting air of the town, she still didn't quite feel comfortable going outside. She swallowed her fear at least a little because she knew how much this day would mean to Red and she didn't want to let down her sister. It took all of her determination and willpower just to keep walking when she knew safety was just behind her, beckoning for her return. A quick shake of her head snapped her from her daze we're just going to the park, nothing to be afraid of she tried to convince herself yet the fear lingered.

Waving awkwardly to a few passing ponies the sisters walked into the park approaching the place where they were going to have their get together Red bouncing excitedly when she saw that Rarity and Applejack were already there with their sisters. The three fillies, with the energy that only the young can manage so often, emptied out Red's backpack to try to find something to do deciding for now to play with a small green Frisbee until the others arrived.

Thunder shifted uncomfortably on her hooves as the other two ponies walked toward her what should she do now? Should she say something? Ask them something? She took a deep breath trying to calm her racing heart, her hooves digging into the ground, as a smile tense and slightly terrified made its way onto her face. "He-" her voice came out as a quiet squeak but she cleared her throat and tried again "Hey guys, how are you doing?" she said, the orange earth pony giving her an odd look while Rarity smiled in understanding.

"Happy to get together with the others without having to worry about the safety of the town" Applejack replied only partly joking and based on what Thunder had heard that wasn't much of a stretch, with them being so busy with their daily jobs to Ponyville and every other world destroying threat they probably didn't get a lot of chances to just relax as friends.

"This season has been lovely, I've been able to try out all sorts of different designs, you both should come in some time and look at them" Rarity said with another smile, but Thunder merely nodded unsure what else she should say. Thankfully they were saved from any sort of awkwardness by Pinkie Pie who seemed to appear bouncing out of a bush, from where was anyone's guess cause they hadn't seen her approach but Pinkie was one of those things in the world no pony could explain if they tried. The random pink party pony was quick to put everyone at ease, and was probably the only pony other than Red that Thunder could truly relax around.

Not that was much of a surprise, it was impossible not to have fun when Pinkie was around, her smile was infectious. But even with the pink party pony to lessen the tension while the others arrived and more ponies came, drawn in by the fun and joyous air of the gathering Thunder still found herself on the outskirts of it all just watching and thinking.

She was chosen by the element of courage to be its bearer but...was she really the best choice? Watching the other element bearers it was obvious that they were chosen Twilight was the best magic user in all of Equestria, maybe in all of history, Fluttershy was understanding and willing to put her own needs aside for others. Rainbow Dash was quick and fiery never leaving a friend behind, unless they were racing of course, Applejack was stubborn but always able to offer advice to anypony. So why was she the element of courage when she couldn't even manage to mingle with the small crowd of ponies that had arrived to have some fun? She didn't have the spine to get a glass of punch with so many ponies around that only made her repeat her pondering any pony here would be a better choice so why out of all the ponies in Equestria did it chose her? Thunder was so deep in thought that she didn't realize that the element of honesty herself had approached her until she sat down and sighed in relief.

"Got something on your mind?" Applejack had seen her sitting here for a while now her eyes not quite focused and her entire composure growing heavier and darker each passing second. Concern and curiosity in equal measure had led her to go over not that the dark blue mare had even noticed.

Thunder looked over at Applejack a lump forming in her throat before her looked away again watching Red run around with the Crusaders, watching her sister have such a great time helped her relax at least enough to speak in a quiet mumble. "Just not the most social pony, is all" she shuffled her hooves a little watching a ladybug crawl along the grass. "I grew up knowing where my place is and how to keep it, I'm used to being the odd pony out, when you grew up being the only pony around with wings it's kind of expected" she tried to joke though the humor didn't reach her eyes. "I'm not brave or courageous like you guys, I can barely manage to walk about of my house, the only time I hadn't been self-conscious was when I had spent the day with Discord" something about the chaos loving being had gotten past her walls and set her at ease the whole day of course she had been mortified of her behavior the next day, but thankfully it appeared that Discord was a common troublemaker in town so she was easily forgiven for her part in his pranks. Sure she was friendly enough with Rainbow Dash too, but that was different Rainbow didn't really care much for mushy stuff as she called it so just being able to relax without worrying about being examined was an easy thing to do.

"Well I don't know much about how you grew up, but I know you're a great big sister, I'm one myself and I do my best to make Applebloom as happy as I can and just doing this for Red even though you were self-conscious well that makes you brave doesn't it?" Applejack smiled a little under the brim of her hat "Take Rarity for instance, if you just met her on the street would you think she's one to be called generous?" the country pony pointed toward the white unicorn who at the moment seemed to have pulled the CMC and Red from whatever they had been doing so they could set up a canopy to keep her out of most of the sun.

Thunder opened her mouth about to lie and say yes but a raised eyebrow from Applejack halted her words ".....no" she admitted with a guilty sigh, she knew Rarity wasn't as bad as she seemed, in fact she was actually very nice a bit of a drama queen mind you but she meant well most of the time.

"Exactly but her element chose her didn't it? Cause in her heart she's unshakably generous to those who need it, sometimes she can be selfish and from time to time she forgets to think of others, but when push comes to shove she is the best pony around to represent her element, just like you are the best around for yours." Applejack nudged the dark blue mare with her shoulder with a small smile before continuing "Besides it takes a pretty brave pony to face off a dragon their terrified of to help six strange ponies who had only appeared the day before" the orange earth pony paused a moment to let her words sink in before continuing "The way I see it, each of us is connected, sure the elements may have been the thing to connect us like this, but it isn't the only reason we're all here today. When Twilight first came to Ponyville our lives had been only half lived, sure it didn't seem that way back then but once we found friendship with each other we found ponies we could trust and lean on. We weren't unhappy the way our lives had been, but looking back we weren't as happy as we are now, you're past might be something that haunts you for the rest of your life but at least now you have more ponies around who won't let you suffer on your own, we're all connected and now you have six ponies ready to help you carry your burdens and make you smile...and that's pretty amazing if I say so myself, and I'm not the element of honesty for any old reason." Applejack gave Thunder a playful grin and trotted away to free the young fillies from Rarity reign of terror allowing the mare to slip into her thoughts once again.

Perhaps Applejack had a point, she might not seem very brave but even if she wasn't the bravest pony around she had others around who would help her just because of the bond they shared. A bond that Thunder was still trying to sort out for herself. Maybe she wasn't the coward she thought she was and she wasn't the bravest pony either, but maybe that was enough for now. She may never understand why she had been chosen to bare an element like the other ponies she was just beginning to call her friends but she had been chosen and that had to mean something. Thunder picked up her cup of punch and took a small gulp of the sugary purple fluid inside the sweet taste of grapes hitting her tongue before she set the cup down again. Maybe being brave wouldn't be so bad. That last thought in her mind she took a deep breath and slowly, carefully, stepped toward the small tightly crowd of ponies ready to at least try to overcome some of her fears. Hopefully...

Author's Note

sorry for the wait gang for the chapter I feel terrible making you all wait for long, but I hope you like it :) at first I actually wanted Rarity to have this talk with Thunder but as I was writing I thought it might be easier for Thunder to accept and be put at ease by Applejack instead as they have many similarities, well nonetheless I hope you enjoyed the chapter, we're going to see more bond building with the other element bearers in future chapters, but as for the next chapter I think I might focus on Twilight and her ever curious mind :)

Fears Of All Shapes And Sizes

"Twilight, I don't think this is a good idea..." Thunder managed to say around the lump of fear in her throat as Twilight approached with a small blade. Taking Applejacks words to heart she was trying her best to get to know and befriend the other element bearers these past few months between her various jobs. Thunder was working on creating an observatory here in Ponyville but she worked with Applejack and Rainbow Dash part-time to help keep food on the table for her and Red. Thunder found she was more physically prepared for the work on Applejack's farm due to her own upbringing but she found Rainbow's weather work fit her Pegasus spirit better than the farm work, she still found both jobs interesting in their own way though and it helped her grow closer to Applejack and Rainbow Dash so she wasn't going to complain.

Fluttershy was an alright pony, both of them were so shy that they didn't actually talk much but she would drop by from time to time, they'd have tea make awkward small talk and then she'd leave but despite the tenses of it all she enjoyed the visits and hoped that Fluttershy did too, but it was always hard to tell because Fluttershy was to nice to turn a pony away from her door.

Pinkie Pie was probably the easiest, she was always throwing some sort of party and always wore a large smile proclaiming every pony she met her friend that it was nearly impossible to dislike her even for ponies like Thunder. She stopped in Sugarcube Corner with Red after she got home from school and they'd buy some treats and talk with Pinkie, both sisters smiling by the end of their visit.

The only ponies Thunder was having trouble getting to know were Twilight and Rarity, mostly because they were both very busy ponies, but also because they didn't seem to have very much in common Thunder didn't really have interests in fashion or high society stuff. Twilight was just a difficult pony to talk to because she was always helping someone, doing research, or doing some sort of princess thing and Thunder didn't want to disturb her, but when Twilight asked at their picnic about that burst of dark magic she had soon in Canterlot Thunder saw an opportunity to finally spend time with Twilight and agreed to help her find the cause of the phenomenon. They hadn't been able to do the tests very often given Thunders need to take care of her sister but every month or so Thunder would sit in one of, what she believed at this point to be , Twilight's devices of torture and asked questions while Twilight ran her tests, most of which Thunder didn't understand but allowed Twilight to talk about them because it was still kind of interesting anyway.

"Don't worry Thunder, it's just a sample of your DNA to try to track your family tree, you might have a distant unicorn ancestor, though how you use the magic I still haven't figured out..." Twilight trailed off mumbling theories as she gently cut into Thunder's shoulder to collect a blood sample, then putting a small bandage over it so that it wouldn't stain her costume later in the night. Tonight was Nightmare Night, a night for fillies to dress up in costume and go around asking for candy from ponies all over town, Thunder had decided to dress up as a griffin while Red was going as a phoenix, Thunder had asked Rarity to make the costumes weeks ago and she had done a good job, Red certainly liked hers.

"No, I mean, that I'm fine with" Thunder shifted a little to try to get comfortable on the machine "But is studying this dark magic stuff really a good idea? I mean before I could've really hurt somepony last time, and what if I hurt you?" Twilight had placed a protective bubble of magic around the room so that no one outside could get blasted by uncontrolled magic. This had been Thunder's biggest concern even from the beginning of the tests: hurting some pony, Twilight had reassured her that the bubble would protect everyone outside but Thunder still worried for Twilight's safety.

"Don't worry so much Thunder, I'm the element of magic remember?" Twilight reassured her setting the blood sample aside to study later several files on her writing desk, most of them were records of Thunder before she was adopted but some was blank parchment to write notes about their next test. Twilight rearranged the machine so that it could record the results for Twilight to review later and readying Thunder medicine for when they finished. "Alright, now just try to remember that day in Canterlot, you had gotten mad right?" Twilight watched as Thunder closed her eyes, probably traveling back in time to the day that she had met Blueblood. Her machine almost at once began to give a reading at first it was slow and small, like she was holding back, probably due to her fear. Then in a sudden screech of the machine dark magic burst out of her knocking everything to the floor, Twilight managing to stay on her feet only because she had created a quick field of magic which took most of the blow. Twilight watched her change slowly as waves of dark magic pulsed from her at unsteady and unfocused intervals. Her eyes began to change first her pupils began to turn into narrow cat-like slits, Twilight watched fascinated as her wings arched out and began to change from their normal feather appearance to a wing with thin membranes, like a bat.

Twilight came to her senses as the dark magic that Thunder was projecting began to make the room tremble "Thunder!" she shouted, snapping the Pegasus out of her focus, the machine going silent and her changes melting away in an instant from her surprise. Twilight gently floated the medicine over to Thunder, getting a glass of water as she swallowed it.

"So" Thunder swallowed a gulp of water to clear her mouth of the bitter taste of medicine "did you find out anything interesting?" Thunder didn't seem to be aware of the change that had happened to her during their test but she was a bit more tired then she had been when they started. Thunder watched as Twilight circled around reading her machine and letting her free so she could stretch her legs.

"Actually it's very fascinating, you're able to use black magic, but because you don't have a unicorn horn it comes out wild and uncontrolled without a way to focus it, but how?" Twilight looked over her readings but her brow only furrowed more "Even if you did have a unicorn in your bloodline you shouldn't be able to use magic, dark or otherwise, something isn't fitting in here..." Twilight continued to mumble to herself as she wrote notes but a knock broke her out of her thoughts a few moments later. Thunder walked to the door as Twilight opened it with her magic allowing Red and Rarity to walk inside, Red was already dressed in her costume and looked very eager to start their night. Rarity set Thunder's costume down neatly in a chair, she had helped Red get ready while Thunder was working with Twilight but she seemed relieved to have the rest of the night to herself.

Spike came down the stairs dressed up like a dog, and looking nearly as excited as Red, Thunder would be going out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Spike because Applejack would be doing another game booth this year and Twilight would probably be doing her research for most of the night. Wishing Twilight a happy Nightmare Night the trio left her in peace, Red and Spike chatting excitedly about the candy they planned to get but Thunder wasn't really listening, her mind was still on her test with Twilight. If Twilight studied her family tree would she be able to find her birth parents? Questions that Thunder hadn't dared ask herself since she was a filly rose to the surface as she walked behind Red and Spike. Why did they give her up? Were they still alive? Would they like to see her? Emotions clogged her throat and she had to blink rapidly to clear her eyes of the tears, she wasn't sure how to feel about it, part of her was angry at them for sending her away but on the other hoof she was just uncertain, if she found out who they were she might be tempted to find them and they could turn her away. She wasn't sure she'd be able to handle rejection. Thunder was brought out of her thoughts when she slammed into Red and Spike, curious to know why they had stopped her looked up and saw a small chariot being pulled down toward the ground, ponies sliding back out-of-the-way as it landed. Thunder smiled a little when she saw it was Princess Luna, she had heard that she was coming to Ponyville this year but hadn't expected her to come so early.

Luna looked over the crowd greeting some of the young ponies, Pip being one of the first, who walked up eager to see her again, they enjoyed when she scared them for reasons she still had problems understanding sometimes, when she spotted a familiar red filly, she was standing near Spike and Thunder. The three waved at her clearly deciding to wait until the crowd around her thinned out a little before walking over to greet her, though Pip didn't seem to want to leave anytime soon. Finally Luna found herself free, other than Pip of course, and walked over to the trio "Hello all" she greeted warmly with a smile "lovely costumes" she chuckled a little when Red puffed up proudly at the compliment.

"It's good to see you again Princess" Thunder said with an easy smile, she had missed the Princess terribly but didn't have the courage to ask her to visit given how busy she must be with raising the moon and running all sorts of things as a princess. "I've been sleeping a lot better since you helped me, and I've been improving in my flying, well at least Rainbow says so anyway" she chuckled at her own light attempt at a joke.

"That's wonderful, I'm glad I could be of some help" Luna replied feeling pride ripple along her spine at her foals improvements, but her heart felt heavy at the knowledge that she hadn't yet gained the courage to tell Thunder the truth in the waking world, she tried in her dreams but something always got in the way, first it had Red, then it was usually her alarm, or sometimes it was both she just didn't have the best of luck it seemed.

Suddenly, much to Luna's displeasure and everyone else's surprise, Discord appeared with a dramatic fanfare and a long red carpet rolling into sight from out of nowhere, he seemed to paint himself black and white like a zebra and bowed deeply when he reached the end of his red carpet. "Hiya Thunder, Red, Spike, Moonbutt" he greeted each of them with a hardy shake of the hoof/claw, respectfully, nearly shaking them right into the air with his enthusiasm.

"Uh...Hello Mr. Discord" Thunder mumbled as her eyes spun a little in their sockets "have you come to partake in Nightmare Night as well?" she asked curiously, it didn't seem like his sort of holiday, well he did like to dress up maybe that's why he wanted to partake in the fun tonight.

"Well you know what they say: When you look at your life, the greatest happiness are family happiness, and what better way to spend my holiday then with the family I've made, right Moonbutt" Discord smirked but Luna's only response was a glare.

Thunder looked between Discord and Luna in confusion, they seemed to be having some sort of tension, while Discord seemed to take a sort of joy in it Princess Luna just looked annoyed and angry, thankfully Thunder was saved from the whole situation from an impatient Red tugging on her so they could go get candy so Thunder quickly excused herself and lead Red and Spike away, Discord and Luna beginning to argue the moment they were out of earshot. But the relief for Thunder was short-lived, everywhere she and the other two stopped Discord followed, he always seemed like he was on the verge of speaking but Luna would be on his tail and would force him into silence whether through her magic or though inflicting him with mild pain. Thunder wasn't sure what was going on between the two but she wished they wouldn't keep bringing it around her, she wasn't comfortable with conflict even if it wasn't directed at her. Thunder had been witnessing this same cycle for nearly an hour and she could already feel the anxiety and panic returning to her, the one night she had thought she could relax for a change... She eventually asked Pinkie to take the two off her hooves, much to Spike's horror, and decided to head off to see Twilight, hoping that there she could maybe get some peace.

Twilight, unaware of the tension going on in the world outside her studies, was beginning to piece together Thunder's past using both a mix of her own machines and her magic Thunder's blood sample told a story of pain, confusion, and loss but still something wasn't quite fitting, something in her blood seemed to defy all rules of nature and common sense...wait... the missing piece... could it be? Determined to find the answers that were just barely managing to elude her she took to the streets hoping to find Discord, mildly surprised that when she found him he was not only dressed up for the holiday and in Ponyville, but he also seemed to be in the middle of a heated argument with Princess Luna about something.

"-I don't see the point of waiting, it'll just make the whole thing worse!" He was getting in her face about and judging by the emptiness of this particular street Twilight guessed they must've been having this argument for quite some time already.

"Just because you have the emotion capacity of an insect doesn't mean everypony else does! If you had one serious bone in your body you'd understand why this has to be treated carefully, she's already anxious enough on her own without you making things worse by dropping this on her shoulders!" Luna shouted right back nearly reaching her royal canterlot voice in volume but seemed to be restraining herself, thankfully.

Twilight cleared her throat, cutting off the arguing pair before they could keep arguing about whatever seemed to be troubling them, deciding to ask them a bit later when they weren't quite as willing to rip each other apart. "I don't mean to interrupt, but Discord, I was doing some research on Thunder and I was hoping you could help me" Twilight noticed Discord giving Luna a triumphant smirk though Luna didn't respond other than going a few shades paler than normal.

"Of course Twilight, how may I be of service?" he asked bowing more for effect rather than actual courtesy, sticking his tongue out at Luna, who seemed to be deep in thought a bit of fear in her eyes.

"I'm trying to figure out how Thunder is able to use the dark magic that she had used before in Canterlot I've been doing several tests, with her permission of course, but no matter how many tests I've done I can't understand just how she can do them at all, she shouldn't be able to even if she had unicorns in her blood family and I thought maybe you'd understand it better than I could cause you are the expert on unexplainable." Twilight didn't understand the eager gleam in his eyes but even as he was opening his mouth Luna's hoof appeared from behind him and closed his mouth causing the pair to get in a foalish scuffle for a moment or two before Twilight, beginning to lose her patience and her desire for answers growing to a breaking point, separated them with her magic. "Honestly, both of you behaving like this, I'd expect this from Discord, but what's gotten into you Princess Luna?" Twilight looked at the night princess shocked and confused at her behavior.

"Moonbeam here just doesn't want me telling anyone that Thunder is our foal, but I don't see the point in waiting, I mean what sort of harm could telling her do?" Discord glared at Luna from where he was now standing, the bubble of magic that had torn them apart had already vanished but neither one moved from where they were, seeming to have gained their wits once again.

Before anyone could respond to the spilled secret however, a loud clattering sound took their attention, turning them toward the end of the street opposite the direction Twilight had come from. There stood Thunder, her chest heaving and her eyes wide though her pupils were small pin pricks of black standing before a small shiny object which had spilled out onto the ground in front of her, she seemed to have been carrying a small container filled with snacks, perhaps she was bringing Twilight something to eat so that she wouldn't have missed out on the whole festivities? It was hard to tell at this point. Luna opened her mouth to speak, but before she could even get a word in Thunder turned her wings shooting out and destroying her costume as she took to the sky leaving behind a crestfallen Luna, an embarrassed Discord and a completely bewildered Twilight.

Author's Note

Hope you guys like this chapter, it's both to celebrate Halloween (early I know but I didn't want to make you guys wait) and it's also 'part one' of the big reveal...Discord's big mouth, where is Thunder going? just how will she react to this news (besides what we've seen) will this family get a happy reunion or will Thunder's fears destroy everything? we'll have to see won't we :trollestia:

An Awkward Step Forward

The whistle of the wind and her own blood roaring in her ears were Thunder's only companions as she flew, when she had first heard Discord's words she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She had watched to scream at them bright flashes of anger mixing with her wild panic, she barely even realized that she had taken off until she was already leaving Ponyville behind heading deep into the Everfree Forest. The urge to run pounding through her with every beat of her heart but her wings were beginning to tire cause they were still not very strong. Thunder landed on the forest floor and looked around, she doubted anyone would find her in here. She had been told stories of the dangers in this forest from cockatrice, an odd snake-like creature with a chicken head who could turn you to stone with a glance to timberwolves, enchanted creatures who were made of wood and leaves that hunted in packs like actual wolves.

Thunder sighed closing her eyes as her panic beginning to ebb but her thoughts were still swirling through her mind like a hurricane. "Why didn't they tell us up front?" an angry voice whispered in her ear, sounding a little bit like Rainbow Dash, "We spent all this time with them and yet they didn't seem even inclined to MENTION it?" the voice was nearly roaring in outrage a suddenly blast of dark magic took a chunk out of one of the Everfall trees, causing Thunder to jump, trying to get control of her temper taking deep breaths. "Discord wanted too..." a gentle second voice replied timidly, sounding a bit like Flutterfly "They were probably just afraid... it's not like they were trying to keep it from us, they were very kind to us, Luna helped us when we were having trouble sleeping and Discord DID come to spend some time with us and we did have a good time..." the second voice timidly tried to reason. "But they didn't want to tell us, we heard her, Princess Luna-um...whoever she is, didn't want to tell us, who knows how long she would've kept it a secret?!?" the angry voice returned with a vengeance pushing the timid voice aside with ease. Thunder pressed her ears to her head in frustration listening to her thoughts go from angry to understanding and back again, tears burned in her eyes it was hard to know if they were angry tears or upset tears but they burned like fire behind her closed lids.

"Are you alright?" Thunder jumped in surprise hearing a strange voice looking up to see Zecora a zebra with five rings on her right foreleg and a similar set of ring around her neck and a grey stylized sun on her flank as her cutie mark. Thunder had heard of her in passing from Twilight and a few other ponies around town she was known for her wisdom and unusual remedies.

"Oh...uh no it's alright ma'am" Thunder mumbled quickly wiping her eyes as she sat up "Just a lot going on..." she looked away chewing at her lip secretly wanting some sort of comfort but then noticing for the first time that she had torn her costume she hoped that she could fix it before Rarity found out.

"It's okay to say you have a weak spot, not every pony can be strong all the time, come on back to my house and we'll talk about it" Zecora smiled gesturing for Thunder follow, waiting until the dark blue mare started walking until she lead the way to her tree home, opening the door and allowing Thunder to walk inside before following her inside closing the door behind her.

"...and then I just flew away, I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help it I didn't think I know, but I don't know WHAT to think, I mean I like them both but I don't know what to do..." Thunder sipped from a cup of tea that Zecora had made for her as she told her problem.

Zecora had listened in patient silence as Thunder led her through her emotional rollercoaster, explaining how she met the other element bearers, their fight with Charlie the dragon all the way to hearing Discord spill the secret which had led her to Zecora, the only time she openly smiled was when she talked about her little adoptive sister Red Comet, who from Thunder's words, seemed like a bright little filly.

"Well maybe you should give them a chance to explain their side of the story, I'm sure they didn't mean any harm, they were probably just trying to protect you" Zecora said thoughtfully as finished her story. "They probably wanted to get to know you a little better and you them before telling you so that it wouldn't come as to much of a shock" the zebra advised straightening a little as she studied the conflicted Pegasus. "They obviously want to have some sort of bond with you or they wouldn't have bothered to see you at all, just remember you aren't the only one that nervous about this, you might have to get to know your parents but they have to get to know their foal too" she gave Thunder a small kind smile.

"Well...I suppose hearing their side of the story would be the proper thing to do" she glanced down at the table in shame "I shouldn't have run off..." she repeated to softly nudging her empty tea glass back "But what...what if it's like I pictured it would be?" her voice came out in a tight squeak but thanks to the quite of the tree house Zecora heard her easily.

"Is anything? It might not be as good as you can picture it in your head, but now you don't need to picture it at all now you can finally experience it and that's more than most ponies like you can say" Zecora replied sagely taking the cup and setting it aside "It may be scary, maybe even terrifying but isn't a little fear worth it? Isn't it better to have tried and made some mistakes than to have not tried at all?" the zebra inquired with a curious gaze.

Thunder chewed her lip in thought digesting Zecora's words and her own conscience before she nodded slowly "Yes, you're right it's silly to avoid something because a daydream" Thunder stood dipping her head to Zecora politely "Thank you ma'am for the tea and listening to my troubles if you ever need my help don't hesitate to ask" the mare added with a small shy smile as she headed for the door.

"Nothing is silly in a world where anything is possible, some just don't have their eyes open enough to see it" Zecora opened her down allowing the dark blue mare to go first before following, intent on making sure she made it out of forest without running into some sort of trouble.

"Right..." Thunder mumbled looking up at the stars and sighing "It's just...so much has been happening all at once, I don't know how much more I'm going to be able to take I just fell like I'm going to crack under all this pressure, first as an element bearer, and now as some sort of chaos child I don't know what the others keep their heads with all this weight holding them down" Thunder waited until Zecora pointed her in the right direction and then started walking with her.

"Well just because you were made of chaos doesn't mean that it is all that is to you, you are after all we all have parents and they don't affect what we are, not completely, but you keep forgetting one key thing" Zecora led her through the trees with practiced ease "You aren't alone in this, you have friends and family, ponies all around that would stand beside you and help you bare the weight of your problems and even help you overcome them, you may have felt alone once Thunder Mist, but with friends likes those you won't have to worry about that anymore." Zecora stopped at the edge of the Everfree nodding for Thunder to continue without her and turned back heading toward her tree house again.

Thunder stepped out of the shadows of the trees and into Ponyville, several ponies were still out getting candy eager fillies Featherweight and Rumble waving to her as they spotted her. She waved back with a small smile, she always had a weak spot for fillies, they were a bit easier to talk to compared to older ponies but they weren't in a talking mood anyway, eager to get home so they could eat as much candy as they could with the time they had left before bed. Thunder looked around wondering where she might find her parents. She didn't have to wonder long however because Luna's escorts spotted her and trotted over, easily parting the crowd.

"Miss Thunder Mist" the one on the left greeted her both of them nodding politely before the one on the left continued "Princess Luna would like to speak with you, if you'd like" they looked at her uncertainly and Thunder realized that they must be just as surprised as her with this new information, if they knew at all that is, "She seemed very upset when she asked us to look for you, do you know what could be wrong?" The guard asked quietly.

"Well...uh, Discord said something he shouldn't have and I sort of ran away before we could talk about it" Thunder began to awkwardly explain what had driven her away the guards eyes widening at the tale. They quickly bowed low to the ground making Thunder shift uncomfortably "Uh...Y-You don't have to do that" She mumbled not quite sure how to respond to this sudden show of respect "Lets go see Princess Luna-er..." she cleared her throat awkwardly "let's go" she mumbled feeling a relieved that they finally stopped bowing to led her down the street, flanked on either side of her.

They walked through the streets heading toward Twilight's castle, Thunder was already beginning to regret telling them the whole story, not that she faulted them for their behavior, it was part of their jobs but she wasn't used to being treated as if she were important. They reached the castle in silence and lead her inside, keeping watch for any threats but Thunder doubted anything would happen. Thunder felt the panic rising in her throat as they walked deeper in the castle but remembering Zecora's words she continued forward despite the effort it took to do so until the guards stopped outside a door, standing on each side of it at attention. Thunder glanced at them nervously before taking a shaky breath and pushing the door open.

Thunder could see Luna pacing inside the other element bearers were trying to soothe her, even Pinkie seemed oddly serious, Thunder cleared her throat softly wetting her lips at Luna stared at her silently. Thankfully Red was able to break the tension, Red leapt at Thunder crying out in joy that her sister was alright and soon after the others joined her all talking at once.

"I'm so sorry" Twilight apologized, blaming herself harshly for her part in this whole situation.

"Wish I could've seen you flying like that!" Rainbow encouraged shoving Thunder's shoulder with a hoof floating a bit off the floor with her wings.

"I'll have to treat you to a spa day dear, I'll set something up tomorrow" Rarity smiled in an attempt to comfort her.

"When should I plan the party?" Pinkie cheered, clearly already thinking about what to do for her newest wild party.

"You need anything my doors always open" Applejack reassured with a smile.

"Are you alright?" Fluttershy mumbled shyly barely managing to be heard over the others.

Thunder blushed at all the attention she was receiving and quickly assured them that she was fine but her eyes never left Luna as she spoke, after letting them fuss over her for a few more seconds she gently nudged them aside to walk over to her newly discovered mother. The entire room went still and silent as mother and daughter stared at one another. The silence continued for a few more seconds before Luna pulled her into an embrace letting out a choked sound as she attempted to hold in her sobs. Thunder stiffened in surprise at first, not excepting the gesture of affection, but the warmth and love radiating from the embrace shockingly made her smile.

"This isn't how I wanted you to find out, I wanted to tell you so bad but I was so scared" Luna spoke softly resting her chin on Thunder's head blinking rapidly to stop the tears from falling. "I don't expect you to call me Mom or anything and I know that things might be a little awkward for a while, but if you'll have me I'd love the chance to try to be your Mom" the last few words came out in a strained whisper Luna's fear clear in her voice.

Knowing Luna was just as scared as she was strangely put Thunder a little more at ease, she listened to Luna's words and felt her own tears burning her eyes remembering the small filly she had been desperate to know why she had been given away and her birth parents, her adoptive parents had been kind to her but they could never fill the hole in heart from her own desire to understand, and yet here it was, the one thing she craved more than anything else in the world. "I...I wouldn't mind calling you Mom..." Thunder mumbled shyly "If that's alright with you, I mean uh...it might be a little weird at first but life can't be a daydream" Thunder gave Luna a shaky smile "I know we'll have a lot of things to work out but I'm willing to try" she might have said more if Luna hadn't suddenly clutched her to her chest with her forehooves sobbing openly now, but this time from relief and happiness.

"Hey wait!" Red moved the front of the group a confused scowl on her face "Does this mean I get a new mom too?" she looked around at the ponies as they began to laugh "What?" she questioned, unsure what was so funny.

"I'll tell you later" Thunder chuckled Luna releasing her so she could pull the filly into her side to ruffle her mane "For now...we should get out of these costumes, I kind of tore mine when I took off" Thunder rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly looking at Rarity "b-but I'm going to fix it!" she added quickly hoping the unicorn wouldn't be upset but thankfully Rarity waved away her concern, understanding she hadn't meant to destroy it but was simply swarmed by her own panic. Thunder knew that she'd still have to talk to Discord but she felt as if she had already overcame a hurdle, many still lay ahead but as the first one was always the hardest.

Author's Note

here's the next chapter, we'll be seeing angry nobles and some Daddy Discord bonding time :D

The Upperclass In an Uproar

To say that Equestria was shocked would be an understatement, the news of Princess Luna having a foal spread like wildfire and soon Thunder found herself torn between never wanting to leave her home and wishing she could just disappear. At first it had been innocent enough: ponies approaching her and giving her gifts but soon even that spiraled out of control. Thunder would wake up to a crowd on her lawn and that was only the beginning. Soon ponies began to condemn her calling her a spawn of evil barring her from entering certain buildings, and for a few of the braver ponies, throwing things at her as when she was spotted in town a few nobles, included the insufferable Prince Blueblood had even take residence in town attempting to rally enough supporters to get her thrown out-of-town. But even some of her friends began to act differently Rarity nearly fainted whenever she saw Thunder, pampering her with trips to the spa at nearly every opportunity and making her fancy clothes whenever she turned around. Twilight was supportive, Thunder found out she was made a princess only recently so she understood the most about her problems, but Thunder couldn't help but feel bitter whenever Twilight came around: she had been made a princess but every pony seemed to accept her without hesitation.

But the thing that tested Thunder the most had nothing to do with her at all, it was Red the young filly had been overjoyed when she found out that Thunder's birth mother was a princess but soon even she was feeling the effects of Thunder's lineage: fillies and adult ponies alike began to treat her differently all because she lived with Thunder and the dark blue mare had an influence on her life. Luna tried to help spending time with Thunder at night, telling her stories and teaching her more about the stars to try to ease her discomfort. Even Discord was trying his best to cheer her up in his own way, giving them a large pink cotton candy cloud that rained chocolate milk, but despite every ponies efforts Thunder sank back into her own shell and only left the house when she absolutely had to, or when Rainbow and Pinkie dragged her out, they were both determined to keep her social in their own ways Rainbow would take her out and practice their flying and she would show Thunder her stunts while Pinkie would bake her cupcakes and throw parties for her, but Thunder would rarely enjoy herself at them due to the sheer number of ponies there though she put on a brave face for her friends sake. Thunder heard Red get home from school as she just finished cleaning up the living room "Hey kiddo, how was school today?" she asked as she walked out to meet her.

"Terrible" Red complained tossing her cap onto a hook near the door "I don't know why ponies are so upset with you, you didn't do nothing to them" she frowned sadly "do you think they're going to be like this forever?" she looked up at Thunder curiosity mixing with her sadness.

Thunder sighed "Bullies don't need a reason to get upset" the mare draped a wing over her adopted sibling, pulling her into her side "anything that is different they want to change and I'm different I'm afraid, they only see me as a monster because of the things I can do" She looked down at the filly with a sad smile "I'm just sorry you had to get dragged into this" she sighed heavily.

Red's frown deepened "But you aren't a monster!" she argued "They shouldn't treat you like this without at least knowing you first, it isn't fair!"

Thunder rubbed her mane with a wing "Don't worry about it Red, it's just like in Hoovesdale, just focus on your school work and being a filly you're to young to have to worry about this stuff, what do you want for dinner?" Thunder walked into the kitchen to look through their food supplies for something to eat.

But Red couldn't get Thunder's words off her mind, how could anyone think her older sister was a monster? Thunder didn't even have the heart to kill spiders that wandered into their house, she always trapped them in jars and let them out in the backyard. She ate her dinner in silence and then asked her if she could out and play with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom at the clubhouse... she had a plan.

The four fillies approached the Everfree forest filled with excitement and fear in equal measure running through them "Are you sure this will work?" Scootaloo whispered to Red as they walked into the trees, Red had asked if they would help clear her sister of 'monster' status, by showing Ponyville what a real monster looked like.

"It has to Thunder can't sit at home all day that's all she did in Hoovesdale when she wasn't working and it wasn't good for her, so the sooner we clear her name the better" Red looked around as she lead them through the trees. She knew that lots of monsters lived in this forest they just had to find one convincing enough.

"Rainbow, really you don't have to come and make sure I'm not being a hermit" Thunder chuckled. She had been coming over to check on Thunder once every few weeks, not nearly as much as Rarity but Thunder thought that that was part of the reason that Rainbow visited very little given that usually Rarity would arrive with several outfits for Thunder to try on, sometimes with a Daring Do book under her wing sometime just with the intention of dragging her outside. She heard Rainbow close her balcony window and lock it behind her before she started to walk down the stairs with a scoff.

"I brought the next Daring Do though" Rainbow grinned at her waving the book teasingly near her face, as if trying to tempt her with it. "Can't let you miss out on 'Daring Do and The Ruby Bloodstone' it's awesome!" she waited eagerly for Thunders answer, already knowing what it would be.

Thunder made a show of sighing and shaking her head, but she was smiling "Alright, I suppose a few chapters wouldn't hurt leading Rainbow into her living room so they could settle down to read today was Rainbow's turn to read aloud, at first they had tried reading together in silence but since Rainbow had read them before she read faster than Thunder and always finished the pages first and was forced to wait until Thunder caught up. The pair barely noticed the time passing as they traveled with Daring through a thick jungle searching for the Bloodstone, an ancient artifact said to control volcanos.

So deep they were into the story it took them a moment to realize that night had fallen and some pony was knocking on Thunder's front door. Rainbow marked their place in the book as Thunder got up, looking curious at the urgent knocking. Neither mare expected to see both Rarity and Applejack on her doorstep, but that's just what they found when Thunder opened the door.

"Have you seen the girls?" Applejack asked Rarity had begun to speak but, noticing what they had interrupted, raised a curious eyebrow allowing Applejack to take control of the situation.

"No, Red told me she and the girls were going to the tree house to play" Thunder blinked in surprise suddenly realizing the time "Why when was the last time you saw them?" She questioned already sliding out the door and heading down her walk her dark fur hard to spot in the dark, but the others were quick to join her side before they lost sight of her completely.

"I was told that Applebloom and the others were coming here" Applejack explained, Rarity nodding agreement to Applejack's words to verify she had been told the same thing.

The girls didn't have to look long however when the fillies came tearing out of the Everfree forest some sort of dragon chicken hybrid on their heels. "What is that thing?" Thunder looked confused.

"Rainbow Dash, go get Fluttershy, she's dealt with this beast before, and we might need her again" Rarity ordered, the cyan mare saluting and flying away as quickly as she could without breaking anything. "Princess, you should go find a safe place to wait this all out, you're far to important to risk being turned to stone" Rarity added turning her eyes now to Thunder.

"Rarity first of all, that's my sister that thing is chasing too so I don't plan hiding in either case second of all don't call me Princess I've told you I'm not a princess" Thunder squirmed a little uncomfortable with the title that Rarity insisted upon using at every opportunity.

"But you are the daughter of a princess so wouldn't that make you one too?" Rarity cleverly responded, Thunder had started to open her mouth to object but snapped it shut after a few seconds of silence, not really sure of the answer to that question herself. Their attention was quickly taken from their conversation when the fillies scream, apparently the beast had began to turn Scootaloo to stone using its glowing red gaze.

Without thinking Thunder turned to Applejack and Rarity yelling out orders in quick clipped tones "Applejack, I need you to get something to tie around its head to try to stop it from staring at any ponies until Fluttershy gets here. Rarity, make sure no pony gets to close to it, we don't need ponies becoming lawn decorations" Thunder picked up a stone, tossing it at, what she now realized was a cockatrice, as she hurried forward managing to break its gaze from Scootaloo. "Hey ugly, over here!" Thunder yelled throwing another rock but trying to keep her eyes on the ground making sure the filles were running away from the beast but also away from the forest.

Thunder chewed her lip "Girls, get back...find a place to hide NOW!" her tone was firm, not angry but full of parental scolding, and even as the word echoed through the mostly silent town she could hear the four fillies running away as she had ordered. She wasn't even aware the several ponies began to leave their homes curious at the noise and shouting, but Rarity managed to keep the newcomers up to speed and they kept their distance while Thunder ran the creature in circle praying for some pony to return and help her. Finally she heard Applejack begin to wrestle the beast from behind, waiting until Applejack gave her the go ahead to finally look up again. Applejack had tied a small sack onto its head the thick fabric of the sack managing to uphold against the beast's furious pecking, at least until Fluttershy and Rainbow returned.

Thunder breathed a sigh of relief turning to speak to Red, ignoring the ponies that were either trying to get a look at her or whispering in dark tones as they stared at her. "Red, was this all your doing?" she glared at her sister who nodded mutely her ears pinned back against her head "Why did you do this, you could have been killed, and what's worse you put your friends in danger" She continued to scold but her body finally relaxed from its tense iron like posture.

"I...I just wanted to show everyone you weren't so bad, I thought maybe if they saw what a real monster was like they wouldn't hate you anymore" Red replied hoarsely her throat thick with emotion and her eyes burning with unshed tears.

Thunder sighed sitting down "Red, listen to me, I know you only did this with the best of intentions and I know you don't want this place to turn out like Hoovesdale had been but you can't just go looking for the quickest solution to your problems all the time sometimes that will just make more problems. You have to think about those around you, what if I had lost you tonight what would I have done without you?" She smiled a little before her face melted back into her serious expression "I'm not saying that they way their behaving is the right thing, or that just ignoring it is the right thing either but diving headfirst into danger isn't going to prove them wrong, you just have act as if what they say doesn't bother you and work to prove them wrong" She nodded casually to Fluttershy and Rainbow as they landed to deal with the cockatric, but her focus had turned from Red to the ponies watching her and with a determined jut of her chin she stepped toward them, a few ponies backed away in fear but she stopped until she was at the edge of the group.

"My name is Thunder Mist, I'm sure you all know by now that I'm the daughter of Luna and Discord, because of my parent's pasts I am capable of using dark magic and chaotic powers. My parents did terrible things, like refusing to lower the moon and turning the entire world upside with their hijinks but despite their actions they have reformed and gained most of your trust and understanding" she held up a wing when Rainbow Dash and Applejack moved to flank her. "But what have Idone? Yes I attacked Blueblood once, but that was before I even knew I had these abilities, or even who my birth parents were. I was raised in a town where Unicorns and Pegasus aren't welcome merely because they were born with wings or a horn, when I first came here I thought it was a welcome change from Hoovesdale and many of you agreed that the way they run things was wrong, but there's no difference between there and here in my eyes because I'm being treated like an outcast for something I have no choice about, But I've been working on learning to control my powers with Princess Twilight" Thunder stepped a little closer, now no pony moved, looking at her thoughtfully. "Give me a chance, get to know me and you might even find that I'm no different than you" she finished taking a deep breath to calm her nerves now that she had finally gotten the words out.

"Don't be fools!" Blueblood pushed his way through the crowd until he could glare at Thunder "this creature is just trying to trick you! It can't be trusted look at what its sister brought to us? It's just trying to lull us into a false sense of security before it strikes and ends us! We need to drive it out now while we still our senses!" the white unicorn swung his head around his short golden mane barely moving as he studied the crowd waiting for more ponies to join his side.

"You want to kick her out Blueblood, you'll have to go through me first" Rainbow said stepping in front of Thunder as if to shield her, her eyes fiery with determination and making Thunder blush.

"Don't think I'll just stand by either" Applejack snorted quickly joining Rainbow glaring at Blueblood, making Thunder even more flustered.

Soon other ponies began to join Thunder's ranks, including Derpy, Neon Light, Lyra and Bon Bon. Rarity, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders joining Rainbow and Applejack in the front lines presenting a unified front while Fluttershy took a spot close to Thunder to try to soothe her thin nerves and soon with their words of assurance, and a pointed reminder that Thunder was another element bearer, more and more ponies began to leave Blueblood until he was alone on his side of the invisible line that separated them.

Blueblood looked around in disbelief as he realized he was completely alone before he glared "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you" he growled before turning with a regal sniff and began to return to his temporary quarters his nose in the air.

"Well..." Thunder cleared her throat awkwardly "that was....interesting" she nodded to those who had chosen her side and gave them a wobbly smile "Thank you, for giving me a chance I might make a few mistakes but as long as you all are supportive I'm sure I can prove to be a valuable pony for the town" her smile grew a little more solid as they gave her well wishes and apologizes in equal measure and even a few pats on the back before they to began to head inside.

"You guys really helped me out back there, I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't stepped in" they had truly looked like there were ready to burn her at the stake or something, at least they trusted Twilight and the other element bearers enough to let Thunder stay for a while longer. "Do you need help getting the cockatric back into the forest Fluttershy?" She asked, having for the moment forgotten the odd creature until it ran into a small stack of buckets making them clatter to the ground loudly.

But the yellow Pegasus shook her head "No I can handle him, he just needs another talking to" then releasing the beast from the sack on its head began to lead it back to the Everfree Forest. Applejack also wishing them a good night and taking Applebloom and Scootaloo with her, softly telling them off for their behavior because they knew how dangerous the forest and the cockatrice was to begin with promising to visit Thunder in the morning.

"So...I guess we won't be reading together all that much now huh?" Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck with an almost timid smile making Rarity, who seemed to be forgotten at the moment, raise her eyebrow again curiously.

"Nah, you can come over whenever you want, I was really getting into that book" she laughed then let out a large yawn blushing in embarrassment "sorry..." she mumbled softly her eyes flicking to Rarity again, who waved away her concerns with a dainty flick of her hoof. "I suppose I should go home now..." Thunder shuffled her hooves a little "Uh... well... Goodnight" she said looking between the three remaining ponies before flicking her tail to Red and leading her sister back home eager to get some sleep, though her time with the cockatric had been short it had put her through the emotional wringer and she felt like she could sleep for a thousand years.

Rainbow watched the pair for a moment before, realizing she was now alone with Rarity and her sister, turned away from Thunder and Red wishing the remaining ponies a good night before flying into the air and heading in the direction of her cloud house, also eager to get some sleep.

Rarity began to lead Sweetie Belle home, her mind so distracted she wasn't even thinking about punishing Sweetie for what she had done, she couldn't help but be curious about Rainbow and Thunder's bond, they seemed rather close at first she merely thought they were friends but could there be something else there as well buried under the surface like gemstones... she couldn't help but wonder, determined to try to find some answers after she got her beauty sleep.

Author's Note

sorry for the wait on the update folks, but Star-Crossed wouldn't leave me alone and then I needed a little time to unwind and get my mind back onto this :D what is Rarity going to be doing? Will Blueblood really give up so easily? Well I can't wait to update next so you can get the answer :)

A Leap Down The Rabbit Hole

Rarity had been studying them for days, they didn't interact much at first, with Thunder spending a lot of time with Twilight to learn control of her magic and helping the town to try to gain their trust and favor. But when they did spend time together Rarity was surprised to how at ease they seemed to be with each other, though Thunder was getting better at being more social she still had plenty of moments where she would struggle with ponies but with Rainbow that struggle seemed nonexistent. They could be reading, flying, or just simply hanging out and relaxing but they both seemed increasingly at ease in each others company Thunder improved with her flying bit by bit but still went out with Rainbow for training at every opportunity. Now many could just argue that they were friends and that Thunder wanted to become a strong flyer and Rarity could easily agree with that as well but even with that in mind she couldn't stop herself from watching, thinking and analyzing every time she saw them together.

Thunder, unaware her relationships were under a microscope, was spending the day with Red, she had punished Red's rash actions by giving her more chores and not allowing her to see her friends for the week, but now that the weekend was upon them she decided to lighten her iron hoof and took Red flying on her back. She thought that Red might enjoy the view of the world from the skies so moments before sunrise she woke the red filly, who followed sleepily and they took flight. Thunder flew in silence Red on her back holding onto her tightly so she wouldn't fall off until they found a thick fluffy cloud for Thunder to lay down on, not allowing Red off her back because of the fact that she wouldn't be able to walk on the cloud herself.

Red yawned sleepily, not used to being woken up so early in the morning burrowing deeper into Thunder's fur resting her head on Thunders neck to watch the sun rising in the sky watching the various shades of oranges, pinks, yellows, and reds coloring the sky. "Thunder..." she begins softly as the pair watched the sun quietly "tell me about Momma and Papa..." she rested her head down her ears prickling to listen as her eyes closed.

Thunder sighed deeply watching the sky as she spoke in a quiet measured tone "You'd liked them, they worked hard not only for us but for themselves and the entire town, they took me in when I was just a little foal and raised me like I was their own. Dad worked hard both on the farm and in the local silver mine while Momma, when she wasn't working the land on the farm as well, worked hard to make sure our home was as happy and warm as it possibly could be. They loved each other so much it was hard to see them apart, they had their fights, but at the end of the day they always acted like love struck foals" she chuckled, her eyes distant with the memories. "Things got a little harder when I got school aged, they had just began driving out the Pegasus and Unicorns so many ponies wanted me driven out as well, but Momma and Dad stood against them, pleading for me and trying to convince them that since I wasn't raised to fly I wouldn't be noticed by Charlie so I was allowed to stay though not many ponies were happy about that, older ponies began to ignore me while other fillies began to tease and pick on me but I don't think they really understood why I was so much of an outcast until later years" Thunder shifted uncomfortable with these memories.

"Dad was the first to go, lost in a cave-in at the mine, after that the mine was closed but our house continued to shake from his loss the next few weeks, Momma tried her best to keep us afloat but she missed him gravely so I began to help with the work on the farm it wasn't my favorite work but it seemed to help Momma, she smiled a little more anyways" a note of deep mourning entered her voice as she spoke. "Not long after we lost Dad you were born, Momma wasn't sure what to make of you at first she was so afraid to love again, I think it might have been because you looked so much like Dad that it frightened her" Thunder turned her head, finding Red watching her with rapt attention and continued her story. "But soon after we brought you home Momma got sick we didn't think much of it at first, just a little stomach bug she would say and off she would go to check the turnips but when she began to have fainting spells I begged her to see a doctor that's when we found out just how serious her 'stomach bug' really was" Thunder took a moment to gather herself wiping her eyes quickly with a hoof before continuing. "She didn't suffer long, but it was a painful time for us both regardless she tried her hardest to make sure we'd be well cared for and comfortable for a while after her passing. I had to drop out of school to make sure we didn't lose our farm but Mrs. Buttermilk helped me a whole lot, watching you while I worked and just helping me take care of you" Mrs. Buttermilk was an elderly golden yellow earth pony with brown eyes and a, now white, mane and tail who was a sort of grandmother every pony in town.

"They were good ponies and they wanted us to be the same, they loved us as much as any parent ever could love their children I just wish you could've met them and know them the way I did." She sighed "you have Mommas eyes and her sharp tongue, but your heart is all Dads, you're the perfect blend of both them but you have your own spin on that to make it all you and I think they'd be proud of that" Thunder finally fell silent the sunrise nearly over as she got to her feet, she began to fly gently to the ground so that she could walk home.

"You forgot someone" Red mumbled sleepily, startling Thunder who had thought Red was asleep on her back, "You are always there when I need some pony to talk to, you protect me, teach me and don't mind if I try to sneak into the sweets jar from time to time. You help me when I have nightmare, sing me to sleep sometimes, and you help me with my homework" Red yawned a little as Thunder unlocked the door.

"That's true" Thunder mused "I suppose you have a point little one" She headed up the stairs entering Red's room as she stepped around toys, books, and other general filly mess to pull the blinds down making the bright room dark once more. "Perhaps I have a bit of them too, and helped pass them to you" Thunder pulled Red's covers back carefully, pushing away a few smaller toys off the bed. "Maybe they would've been proud of us both" she gently folded her wings down and in a move mastered though years of practice moved Red from her back into her hooves and into the bed, pulling the blanket back over her and tucking her in. "G'night little fireball" she added softly starting to leave the room.

"You're a good Momma to me too..." Red mumbled sleepily "G'night Thunder..." she added as Thunder slowly shut the door behind her, her throat tightening as she heard Red's words and it took her a few moments to regain the ability to move.

Not feeling nearly as tired as Red and knowing there was work to do around the house Thunder decided to go out and work in the yard for a while until she had to send her to the Applefarm while Thunder went to visit her mother and father in Canterlot for the weekend so she went to work clipping the grass and pulling weeds, she was just finishing up an hour and a half later while debating about going into the market and seeing about some plants to make a small garden when a light blue Pegasus with a dark blue mane and tail and green eyes walked up to her looking a little lost.

"Hello, my name is Soarin, have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere we were supposed to hang out today and I don't know where she would be" The stallion looked very flustered about the whole thing and went a great deal at putting Thunder more at ease.

"Nice to meet you Soarin" she made a motion to shake his hoof, but then realizing she was dirty, decided to settle for a wave "Well her cloud house usually floats around town, but if she isn't there she's probably napping on a cloud near Whitetail Woods" Thunder walked over to the spigot that normally would connect with a hose and turned it on to wash her hooves off quickly. "Come on I'll help you out" she added "So how'd you meet Rainbow?" Thunder asked curiously, going inside a moment to write Red a note and then coming back out to fly low with Soarin listening as he told her a bit about himself and how he got to know Rainbow.

Rarity had been on her way to see Thunder, she had a few interesting outfits she wanted her to try out when she saw her flying overhead with Soarin, wondering what the pair were doing together she began to follow and after a bit of spying guessed they were looking for Rainbow Dash. She chewed her lip in thought she didn't know why but the thought of Soarin spending time alone with Rainbow suddenly unsettled her she knew Soarin was a good stallion and with all the murmurs that he was with Spitfire she shouldn't feel as nervous as she did but the very idea of them made her teeth want to grind, clearly she was getting to involved in the romantic fantasies she was creating. Rarity watched for a few moments, unable to hear what was being said and then turned to return to her boutique, forgetting the plans she had for the outfits she was carrying in exchange for finding out just what Soarin was planning with Rainbow Dash.

"I would stay, I really would, but I have to drop Red off to Applejack's then I have to go to Canterlot to see my parents, Mom thinks that I might have an easier time if I befriend some of the other important ponies of the kingdom, but thanks for offering guys" Thunder waved farewell to the pair before turning and starting home once again. Returning to find her note untouched she tossed it away into the trash and walked upstairs to wake up Red. As usual the filly was resist begging for five more minutes when she shook her but a quick reminder that she'd be able to see the CMC while Thunder was in Canterlot got her moving quick enough.

Thunder had only ridden on a train one other time in her life, and never before on her own like this but as her new 'title' spread through the kingdom she found herself with her own private sitting area on the train and offered several refreshments. She gently turned them down merely opening a book on magic that Twilight had lent her hoping to brush up on things before she had to try and woo a bunch of upperclass ponies. But her early rising and yard work seemed to catch up to her because no sooner then she began to read she was shaken awake by a sharply dressed train pony being informed that they had arrived in Canterlot.

She was quickly greeted by her mothers batpony guard, who bowed low onto their front legs and ushered her into a carriage to take her to the castle "So uh...how long have you been working for my mother?" she asked the pony next to her in an attempt to filled what seemed to her to be a stifling silence.

"We are demons from Tartarus who are bound to her service as will our child and our children's children be and one day, if she wills it, we will be yours as well as you are hers" The tall bat pony sitting beside her, his hoof on his weapon in case of trouble, answered in a quiet monotone.

"Really? You don't look like demons to me and how do you bind demons to your service?" Thunder studied the batpony curiously her confusion growing at his words, other than the dark blue bat wings he could easily pass as a normal pony, he was black with a short sharp flowing dark purple mane and tail. His eyes were a soft yellow color though one of them was pale with sightlessness and his pelt was crisscrossing with scars, the tell-tale signs of his long service.

"We were given these appearances so as not to scare other ponies, we had been summoned by an evil pony known as Sombra to help him take over a crystal kingdom, but when he was defeated and without a master bound to us we began to spread our dark influence through the world, so she used her magic to bind us to her instead and we've served her without question ever since" the batpony gave Thunder a slight smile "we are given much more than we had in Tartarus and we are able to live happy lives, I think that is a fair enough trade for eternal servitude" he stood as the carriage came to a halt and helped Thunder down to walk through the castle gates.

"Thank you uh...." Thunder bit her lip, not sure what her companion's name was.

"Night Wave" the bat pony responded bowing once again his one seeing eye studying the ground but his smile remained.

"Night Wave" Thunder grinned turning around and walking up to the castle door pushing inside, despite the large size of the door it was surprisingly easy to open. She walked through the main hall, her hoof steps echoing slightly in the mostly empty room a few ponies who knew why she was there bowed their heads and one even cleared his throat politely when she nearly took a wrong turn as she tried to find the main throne room. She blushed nodding her thanks and found the right door knocking and waiting for a voice of approval before she stepped inside.

"Lovely sunrise this morning Princess...er...Aunt...uh..." she paused for a moment but then cleared her throat quickly "Celestia, me and Red took some time this morning to see it for ourselves before I left" She smiled awkwardly, she still wasn't comfortable yet with referring to Princess Celestia as her aunt, but Celestia seemed to understand and didn't seem to mind what she was called, merely smiling and nodding toward a door on her right which led deeper into the castle and into Luna's quarters.

"Thank you, I'm glad you both enjoyed it, but your mother wanted to see you before we meet with another, in her room" Celestia winked playfully "You should head up there before she worries herself sick" she chuckles watching Thunder as she turned where she was directed and left through the door before continuing her court.

Luna smiled when she heard the knock on her door, knowing who it was she cheerfully walked over to open the door so Thunder could walk inside. "I hope you don't mind the escort, I just didn't want you to get lost, oh would you look at your mane" Luna began to fuss with her trotting over to grab a brush and begin to comb though Thunder's mane.

"Mom" she whined as Luna began to brush her mane with a gentle hoof "It's fine" Luna didn't seem to hear her whining tone however and continued to groom her until her mane was soft and organized, before moving to her tail. Despite her protest however Thunder didn't make an attempt to get away, secretly she kind of enjoyed being fussed over almost as much as Luna enjoyed fussing over her. After her adoptive parents passed she was forced to grow into a parental role for Red, and other than Mrs. Buttermilk she didn't have anyone to 'mother' her, she just didn't realize how much she craved mothering until her birth mother came along.

Finally Luna seemed satisfied with her grooming and set the brush aside "Now, we have a few ponies to met today but they should be easy to convince" she smiled "and when we aren't meeting with them you and I can do whatever you like, your father will be visiting tomorrow, something about trying to make some cheesy vines, I didn't understand it myself but you know your father" Luna rolled her eyes a little but chose to keep whatever comments she had to herself. Luna and Discord had been trying their best to get along, for Thunder's sake, but they were far from a couple whenever they were together it usually an awkward occasion even with Thunder around to serve as a buffer, chances are Luna would find something to do while Thunder spent time with Discord.

"-And then she comes running out of the Everfree forest being chased by a cockatric, a cockatric of all things" Thunder snorts a little "I understand what she was trying to do but I still can't believe she did it, she knows how dangerous that forest is" Thunder shook her head in disbelief "I'm just happy she didn't get hurt" she added as she and Luna entered the dining room to eat breakfast before going to their first meeting. She usually wrote to her mother to keep her up to date on her daily activities but she held off on this story because she was visiting her anyway.

"I'm glad to hear she didn't get hurt either, I know how much she means to you" Luna knew the pair were close and was pretty fond of the red filly herself. The pair sat down, their plates already set and served, and began to eat talking idly between swallows.

Their first meeting was outside with an important white unicorn named Fancy Pants he had a well-groomed light navy blue mane and tail with light blue hooves and a small blue mustache and three light yellow crowns with dark purple diamonds as his cutie mark. He had blue eyes and was known as the most important pony in Canterlot and usually was dress in a black tux with a dark blue undershirt and purple tie with a monocle. Luna hoped that if Thunder could win over that unicorn more ponies would come to her side given the pull he had in several social circles.

Unlike most of his class, Fancy Pants seemed genuinely interested in getting to know Thunder asking her questions about her past, her upbringing and her family both birth and adoptive. So, under Luna's watchful eye Thunder began to speak telling him everything about what had happened from her perspective from meeting the main six and fighting Charlie to moving to Ponyville and finding about her true parentage. She didn't attempt to hide the quiver in her voice as she told her story, Fancy Pants was a pony who took pride in the kingdom and her stories of discrimination gave him plenty to think about both for Thunder and everyone else who still lived in Hoovesdale. "Even when I was young I wasn't allowed to enter school unless I wore wing weights and I was only allowed to get my food after everyone else had left the cafeteria. I got my own table to eat and no one came near me, well at least in school anyway. I was often called names and beat up by other ponies in town it made my Momma mad but her and Dad did what they could to put an end to it, after they passed things got a bit harder but with Red to take care and my dropping out school things were too complex to focus on the things ponies would whisper as I walked down the streets" She quickly wiped her eyes, not noticing the flare of rage in Luna's eyes as she told her story. "I tried to keep my chin up and worked hard to keep Red unaware of the issues I had been having but of course eventually she noticed the bruises but she didn't quite understand it, not completely, I think that's part of the reason she did what she did in the Everfree forest last week she knew that I suffered and she didn't want to see it happen again." Thunder took a deep breath the tears returning despite her best efforts " They hate me because I exist, I'm different and I shouldn't be, I shouldn't have the happiness I do possess all because I'm not the same as every pony else. I'm a nothing and I'll only ever be a nothing because that's the way they made me feel" Her voice trembled a little and even clearing her throat couldn't rid it of the lump that was lodged there "But I don't want to be a nothing anymore..." she choked out wiping her eyes again stubbornly trying to get rid of the years old tears still flowing through them "G-Give me a moment" she quickly excused herself turning toward the hedge maze to try to calm herself down. despite her brave front she didn't realize just how raw the wounds still were.

Thunder didn't even turn when her mother trotted up behind her, gently pulling her into an embrace and wrapping her protectively up in her wings "It's alright to cry" Luna mumbled hugging her close, feeling her foal tremble in her wings, she tightened her grip and gently stroked her mane "I'm here now, let it out, it's okay..." under her mother's gentle probing and her caring words Thunders resistance crumbled, with a quiet whine she gripped her mother tightly and began to weep in earnest all those years of bottling up her sadness it was a relief to finally have a good old fashion cry. She sat there for a few long minutes, holding onto her mother like an life line as she felt at least a small piece of her burden falling from her shoulders. Thunder pulled away at last wiping her eyes again "Uh, thanks Mom" she smiled awkwardly "I hope I didn't ruin anything" she chewed her lip.

But Luna shook her head "I think that your true emotions will help convince him" she glanced back over to where Fancy Pants was waiting for them and smiled slightly "Do you want to go back now?" she looked back at Thunder in concern.

"No, I think I need some time to collect myself before I try to talk about it some more, give Fancy Pants my best" Thunder turned heading into the maze knowing that if she got lost she could just fly out. She wasn't sure how long she had been walked but she was so wrapped in her own thoughts it took her a moment to realize someone was calling out for help.

"Hello?" She yelled back heading toward the voice in confusion, it sounded like Celestia...but how did she get into the center of her maze without some pony noticing her disappearance? Thunder began to quickly trot toward the voice in concern, it truly sounded like whoever it was, Celestia or not, was scared. But when she got to where the voice seemed to be coming from, it was empty. "Hello? Celestia? It's me Thunder" She called looking around curious, her head jerking back toward what appeared to be a large stone basin almost big enough to bathe four ponies in at once. She slowly, cautiously walked toward the basin climbing up the steps that surrounded it to look in the water that filled it. But it couldn't be water could it?, it had some sort of silver gleam to it, or was that just the sun and water reflecting off the grey stone that created the basin? She wasn't sure but she didn't have long to think it over because she suddenly heard some pony laughing from inside the silvery water and Celestia's face appeared. "Celestia? What are you-?" her question was cut short when the Celestia reached forward, pulling her down into the basin.

She struggled hard to get free from the grip of her aunt needing air, but it was only after hit the bottom, her head scrapping against the side of it painfully, that she was finally released and free to swim back toward the surface of the water. This basin is a lot deeper than it looks she thought dizzily as she kicked toward the water finally breaking the surface taking a deep breath, only to cough it back out once again when she inhaled mostly smoke. Blinking water from her eyes she realized that the maze seemed to have vanished, the castle was in ruins and everything else that would give her the slightest clue that she was in Canterlot seemed to be destroyed as well even the plants seemed to have died off long ago, everything was dull brown and grey. Slowly, her body tired from her frantic swimming, she climbed out of the basin walking down it suddenly cracked steps and hurrying toward where the castle had been standing. "Mom!" She shouted worriedly coughing again as she got a mouthful of soot. She reached the castle in record time looking at the crumbled walls and broken glass panels wondering what could've possibly happened to Canterlot. She unfolded her wings taking to the sky as she called out for her mother, hoping for an answer but finding nothing but barren wasteland surrounding her, suddenly she heard a sharp crackle of magic from somewhere inside the ruins of the castle seconds before it hit her in the chest her body twitched once... twice, before she fell from the sky, hitting the ground with a bone cracking thud. She groaned her eyes going in and out of focus at the blurry shape that had taken her down "M-Mom..." she croaked out as her vision went black sending her deep into the warm world of dreams.

Author's Note

another update yay! I've been very eager to write this chapter for so long you don't even know XD I hope you enjoyed it and I can't wait to update again :derpytongue2:

New Familiar Faces And A Promise In A Dream

The first thing Thunder registered when she began to come to was that her body hurt, a slow pulsing ache running through every pore of her being sharpening to a thick throb at her temple. The next thing she noticed as that wherever she was now was cold the only part of her that wasn't in pain was the frozen tips of her hooves. As she lay there with her eyes shut trying to orient herself again she heard a pair of voices whispering back and forth among themselves.

"Where do you think she came from?" one voice, sounding like a young stallion, whispered as Thunder heard a set of hooves walked past her.

"I don't know but I heard she came from that old cursed basin by the castle" another voice, deeper than the first, responded walking toward Thunder a moment before following the first.

Thunder felt a tickle in the her throat, but despite her best efforts to hold it in, she let out a loud rasping cough that shook her entire body and made her groan in pain. She heard the owners of the voices coming closer to her again and she slowly opened her eyes. What she saw in front of her was baffling: they look like black ponies but their legs were filled with holes, one even had a hole in the middle of his tail they both had large light blue eyes with a white blue color acting as the pupil they had short smooth horns and sharp fangs, Thunder even noticed that they had a dark blue piece of what looked like armor on their backs with see through light blue wings attached one even had a matching helmet on his head giving it a look of a military officer. Looking around she realized she was in some sort of cell: thick black bars blocking her from walking more than five feet in any direction she was laying on a small cot and, thankfully, had not been chained to the wall despite the silver chains being close to her right side attached to the wall. The rest of the room was even darker than her cell so dark it was impossible to see very far into it, the only things she could make out from where she was standing was a small table, probably where the guards sat to relax while watch the prisoners, and a large door on the other side of the room probably the way out of this dark dank room, the shadows so thick that not even the gleaming red crystals lining the wall could cut through them.

She sat up slowly, noticing a small square window with three thick black bars the moonlight bleeding through them proved that the sun had set while she was sleeping though she was not quite sure for how long it had been set for. Sliding off the cot caused more fresh waves of pain to pulse through her body "Where-" she began, clearing her throat to try to clear the rasp from her tone "Where am I?" She asked the odd-looking ponies limping to the bars.

"In our dungeon ma'am" the younger sounding one answered "Your yelling would've alerted Celestia's troops so you were ordered to be shot down by the King" The pony in the helmet smacked him upside the head silencing his loose jaw.

"But now that you're awake, the King will want to speak with you himself" the helmet pony said, walking over to the table picking up a small bronze key that Thunder hadn't seen before then walking over to unlock her cell door. It slid open with a slight rattling sound and the pair of strange ponies flanked her leading her toward the door The helmet pony then lead them up a large black stone spiral staircase. The stone had aged well, those they were cracked in some places it still held strong against her hooves as she climbed them. The walls, also black, were lined with more red crystals which gleamed brightly to light their way Thunder looked along the walls spotting windows every few feet but what really caught her attention were the paintings that lined the walls on the opposite side of the widows.

The paintings seemed to tell a story, the first showed four unicorn fillies: one dark grey with orange eyes, one blue with blue eyes, one white with purple eyes, and one black with green eyes playing in a garden in front of a large crystal castle they looked very happy playing together in the bright colorful flowers the dark grey filly was in the middle of hitting a bright green ball toward the other three fillies all of them smiling and laughing joyfully. The next painting still showed the same ponies, but they were older now, young ponies, the grey, blue, and black ponies seemed to be facing off against the white one which was surrounded by black magic cracking the ground around it. In the third painting the dark grey unicorn pony had his back toward whomever was painting, looking up high above the skyline from the top of a large crystal platform watching the sun, which seemed to have a sort of pattern imprinted on its fiery surface. The grey pony seemed to be sad, his ears were down and his horn was chipped. The final painting rested near the door and other than the first one it was the happiest: the blue, black, and grey ponies were together the blue and black one flanking the grey one on either side facing a colorful mass of ponies underneath a flag of three large connecting triangles one grey with a red crystal, one dark blue with a white moon, and one black with three green feathers. The helmet pony stopped at the door, unlocking that one with another key and stepped into the room beyond then off to the side to watch Thunder walk inside. The pair led her through the large throne room to another door hidden off to the side stopping on either side and flanking it standing at attention as she walked inside.

Inside the room, which was a tea room hurriedly changed to a makeshift war room: an odd clash of fancy upper-class style and hardy middle-class endurance. There were dark blue crystals glowing at every corner of the room and a larger blue crystal hanging from the ceiling like a chandelier leaving the room easy to see but not bright. The room itself was covered in maps some of them as small as counties, others as large as the entire known kingdom of Equestria marked with grey and orange flags and matching colored lines but most were put on the wall because the tables were too small to support the bigger maps. The only thing in the room that was neatly arranged was the armor and weapon racks lining the walls but they could've just simply been moved from one room to another the way they were. Curious at the glowing crystals she walked over to touch one, her just about to graze its surface when a calm voice made her jump.

"We'll have to double the patrols- please don't touch that, they are very sensitive and you might break it" Thunder turned to find herself staring at the very three ponies that she had seen from the painting on the wall, the grey stallion was flanked by the blue one, a helmet hiding her face, on his right and the black one, filled with holes like those two odd ponies guarding the door, was on his left. "My name is King Sombra, who are you?" the grey unicorn addressed Thunder when the silence stretched between them, the black pony was watching her suspiciously while the blue one was nearly impossible to read, but her body language was relaxed so with an uneasy glance toward the black unicorn Thunder began to tell him all she knew of what happened to her.

"So you say your aunt dragged into the basin and you wound up here? Curious....I've had theories about that old basin of course" Sombra explained his distant eyes focusing on Thunder again as he spoke "But I've never been able to study it close enough, because of Celestia's forces" the scholarly stallion shook his head sadly. "Now tell me about your mother we may be able to find her, and she may be able to lead us to your aunt and perhaps a way home you seemed very distressed when we shot you down, with my apologizes, it was for all of our safety, we couldn't chance one of Celestia's drones finding our headquarters.

"But sir that's the part I don't understand..." she began frowning doubtfully "Celestia is my aunt my Mom is Princess Luna, she controls the moon, I was with her before I got pulled into the basin we were talking with Fancy Pants in the garden when I heard Celestia calling for help"

The trio exchanged a glance the blue pony stepping forward to study Thunder a moment before speaking, her voice muffled by her helmet "You're mother is Princess Luna?" she questioned after which Thunder nodded quickly to confirm "Well that is impossible" taking off her helmet the pony revealed her face, a face that Thunder knew well, "Because I've never had a foal in my life" Princess Luna looked at Thunder with a raised brow.

Thunder frowned, not understanding, "Yes you did, when you became Nightmare Moon you met my dad and...." she blushed shrugging letting the obvious hang in the air the grey and blue ponies blushed a little themselves at her implication but the black pony looked unimpressed.

"Sombra you can't be believing this" she scoffed "it's the worst cover story I've ever heard" the black pony stepped forward baring her jagged black horn at Thunder, sending the dark blue back a few hoofsteps before Luna stepped between them.

"Hang on Chrysalis there is a simple way to figure out what's going on here" Luna assured her own blue horn sparking with magic before she turned to Thunder, pressing her horn to Thunder's forehead. At once Thunder heard a loud noise, like water rushing through her ears and pressed them down against the invasion groaning as it made the pounding in her head reawaken. She closed her eyes memories coming to her mind at lightning fast speeds a few she could see clearly: learning about tools from her father, making mother’s day gifts for her mother, her first day of school, the wing weights, her parents deaths and taking on not only the farm but foal Red as well, meeting the element bearers and her birth parents, her flying lessons, talking with Fancy Pants, and then hearing Celestia’s voice calling her into the maze and through the stone basin she didn’t even realize she was crying through it at until Sombra gave her a handkerchief to wipe the tears away.

“I think that clears things up nicely” Sombra said, for the moment finding something interesting on the wall to study so that Thunder could gather herself once again, she hadn’t even known that the others had been watching her memories as well. “Now Miss…” He began, blinking in surprise when he realized he had forgotten to get her name.

“Thunder Mist sir, but you can just call me Thunder” Thunder replied with a quick dip of her head and a small grin, she liked him she decided he kind of reminded her of her grandfather.

“Miss Thunder” He amended with a bashful grin “We know very little about that basin though now it appears to be some sort of portal to another world” he added to himself and based on the look on his face, one Thunder saw on Twilight a lot, he was making a mental note of that discovery “But in our world Celestia was consumed by dark magic and wishes to control all of Equestria” Sombra gestured and Thunder took a seat ready to listen to his story, surprised when the Luna of this world took a seat at her side. “We, that is to say Luna, Chrysalis, Celestia, and I grew up together here in the Crystal Empire we were the best of friends and at one point Celestia and I were betrothed to be wed” Sombra offered her a cup of tea which Thunder accepted hoping it might ease the throbbing in her head and the ache in her throat. “We were a bit younger than you are now when Celestia found the dark crystal, it was deep inside the castle but being young and foolish we wanted to see what was locked away. We wanted to leave but Celestia was reluctant, she was drawn to the dark magic oozing from it and though we dragged her away she must have returned to it. She gathered a small army and tried to attack the citizens, it took all three of us together to subdue her and rid our ponies of her threat, she had been banished from our land and had her magic taken but that leads to a greater question, why did she take you instead of a unicorn?” Sombra studied her with a scholarly orange eye but for once Thunder knew, or at least mostly knew, the answer.

“Well sir, it’s because I can use dark magic” Thunder paused expecting more accusations but when Sombra merely nodded for her to continue she shrugged it off mentally “In my world like I said before it was Princess Luna who had become enthralled with dark magic, and she was banished to the moon for a thousand years, but before she had been sent to the moon she met my father Discord in the dream realm and…” she trailed off a second time rubbing the back of her neck “But my world’s Twilight Sparkle has theorized that it’s my father’s chaotic powers that allows me to use dark magic and that it was my dark mother's plan to try and use my powers to overthrow Celestia and the sun itself, that’s the theory anyway…” Thunder trailed off awkwardly “I don’t really have control of them yet, I’ve been working on it with Twilight but mostly I’ve only managed to activate them so when I had gotten mad, and they don’t really listen to me anyways” she sipped her now cold tea smiling at little as it ease her sore throat just as she wished.

“Interesting… we had an agent named Harmonious who might be your world’s Discord, he went missing nearly a year ago he must have been taken by Celestia in an attempt to make a foal like you, but something must have gone wrong if she had to fetch you through the basin” Sombra stood suddenly “Could I try a small test, judge the power of your magic I’d like to see just how much potential Celestia sees in you” he floated the tea away without a thought ready to move to wherever as he turned back to Thunder. Thunder opened her mouth to speak, surprised into silence when Luna stepped forward moving as if to block Thunder from a blow and began to speak instead.

“Sombra, maybe it wouldn’t be wise testing not only dark magic but wild dark magic at that” Luna kept her tone polite but there was an undercurrent of worry that seemed to catch the stallions attention.

“Don’t worry Luna, I have the perfect room for this, the castle won’t be harmed” He tried to sooth but the blue alicorn merely cocked a brow at him.

“It isn’t the castle I’m worried about being harm Sombra” Luna cheekily replied making Thunder blink perhaps watching Thunder with her real mother made this world’s Luna feel a bit of kinship with her?

“It’s alright ma’am” she said with a polite nod to Luna in thanks for her concern “as long as the room is protected strong enough with magic, my magic shouldn’t be a threat” she stood as well squaring her shoulders and following Sombra, at once being flanked by Luna and Chrysalis, who had been watching the entire exchange with suspicious eyes.

The room Sombra led her to after climbing up almost 3 dozen identical sets of black stairs wasn’t anything impressive, it was merely a plain white room only having an equally plain bed inside “It’s a quarantine room, we have several more on this level of the castle it’s protected against all sorts of magic related illnesses and is probably the strong set of rooms in the whole castle, perfect for testing your magical claims” Sombra puffed up with pride at his words opening the door wide so that Thunder could walk inside “We’ll be able to see you through the window there” he pointed to the window near the door “and if you need us we’ll be able to hear you through the intercom here” He pointed to a small shiny grey device next to the bed “If you need anything just call us and we’ll come running” he smiled kindly then backed out of the room.

Thunder looked around the room “What do you want me to do?” she asked sitting down facing the window, watching as Sombra reached for something under its frame a moment later his voice sounded through the room.

“Just try and activate your dark magic, think of things that make you mad or scared so we can see how strong you are” Sombra’s voice said before with a quiet beep the room was silent once more.

Thunder screwed her eyes shut and tried to focus on the memory she always used in her lessons with Twilight, but though it still upset her, the memory didn’t push her hard enough to using her magic.

“Hurry up!” she heard Chrysalis growl through the intercom breaking her focus Thunder’s eyes blinked open slowly and she her gaze burn through the window as she pressed the button of the intercom a second time.

“Miss. Chrysalis, I can’t just flip a switch and use it” She rubbed her temples where her headache was once again beginning to make its presence known again “I’m trying as best as I can the memory I usually use isn’t quite working anymore and this headache isn’t helping matters either” she blinked an idea coming to her “wait, my headache, is there anyway to make it worse?” she looked toward the trio hopefully.

Thunder watched as Sombra exchanged a confused glance with Chrysalis but nodded, his horn lighting up a second time and after a moment she felt as if her head was going to split in two. Thunder sucked in a sharp breath but smiled focusing on the pain, trying to turn it to anger, she felt it the moment that it worked. Felt the chill of darkness echo through her and watched in slow motion as the energy gathered around her and pulsed out, cracking the window. She felt the pain in her head leave her and the dark magic petered out as her anger turned to worry “Are you guys okay?” she asked through the intercom waiting to hear an answer.

“Yes we’re fine, don’t worry” Luna’s voice replied after a few moments “Sombra’s graphing the power level now… are you alright?” her voice continued after a long pause, as if she wasn’t sure it was her place to ask or not.

“Yes mo- ma’am, I’m alright, a little hungry and I wouldn’t say no to a bit of water but I’m unharmed” Thunder corrected herself quickly reminding herself that though that pony looked like her mother and was her she wasn’t her mother… not really.
After a few minutes of silence the door opened again and Sombra gestured for her to once again follow him, assuring her that the window could easily be fixed by magic. “You’re magic is fascinating, it has no horn to focus through so it just kind of leaks and explodes through your body, but only when it’s urged to the surface it lays dormant until you are in pain or angry like some sort of last minute rescue attempt” Sombra’s voice softened until he was merely mumbling to himself rather than the three ponies following him not that Thunder was really listening anyways.

Twilight had figured out the same thing through her tests and honestly even though they had been very nice to her, other than blasting her out of the sky mind, she just wanted to go home. She missed her friends, her mother, Red, and this world just didn’t make enough sense to her but at least now her headache seemed to have finally left her for good. Thunder would’ve run into Sombra’s legs if Luna hadn’t tugged on her tail to make her stop, she hadn’t realized that Sombra had turned to look at her, his eyes strangely unreadable, and she blushed “I’m sorry sir, I was lost in thought could you repeat what you said” she said shyly.

“I just asked if you’d like to get some rest dear magic is an exerting process, you can rest here and then we’ll see about sending you home in the morning” something in Sombra’s tone didn’t settle quite right with her, he was still using that gentle warm tone but she felt as if he wasn’t telling her everything...

“I’d like that sir, thank you for you offer I’m sorry I’ve been such a burden to you and your troops” she walked into the room he indicated but didn’t try to go to sleep or even bother to look around. She leaned against the wall near the door and tried to hear what he was talking about only hearing three sets of hooves walking away from the door. Perhaps she was just being paranoid so he looked at her a little funny that didn’t mean he was an enemy, maybe he was just surprised at her magic… Still she was unsettled she laid down on the bed hoping that it was all in her head, willing herself to sleep.

She blinked her eyes open in her dream looking around in confusion trying to identify where her mind had taken her. It looked like Ponyville, taking to the sky she hurried through the familiar streets and buildings until she reached home. “Red?!?” She called bursting inside so hard that if it had been real the door might’ve cracked with the force. She hurried upstairs when she didn’t get an immediate response, finding Red fast asleep in her bed “You’re safe… at least in my dreams you’re safe” she mumbled sitting down beside the bed. “I wonder if they’re worried for me, do they know where I went? Do they even know about the basin?” She looked over as Red began to fret mumbling to herself and kicking her bed spread off. “Don’t worry yourself over me little sister I’ll hurry home as fast as I’m able” she got up tucking the spread over Red running her hoof over the filly’s mane “Even if it’s just a promise in a dream… I’ll be home before you know it” she leaned down pressing a kiss to Red’s brow smiling sadly at the grin blooming on the filly’s face. Suddenly the dream seemed to ripple, and Thunder knew she wasn’t alone any longer, she looked back seeing the tall graceful form of her mother walking toward her and tears filled her eyes. “Mom!” She cried hurrying over nearly knocking the blue mare off her hooves in her haste, she buried her face in her mother’s fur breathing in it’s familiar scent.

“Thunder, you need to wake up” Luna said, gently running her hoof through Thunder’s mane like Thunder had done to Red “Sombra is worried about your magic, he thinks you may be a threat he wants to imprison you you have to run… run to the basin and go home” she didn’t resist when Thunder moved to look up at her, but kept her close in her hooves nonetheless.

“Wait… Sombra? The basin…? You aren’t my mother are you?” Thunder’s eyes narrowed a little but the moon mare only smiled hugging her close and despite Thunder’s misgivings she felt herself relax.

“For now I am...” The mare whispered into her ear “now wake up Thunder Mist, wake up and run…” With her voice echoing in Thunder’s ear, the dark blue mare jerked away stumbling out of her bed as fast as she could, hitting the floor with an ungracious thump. She could hear hooves coming her way she noticed in a moment of wild clarity that her bed spread was black and red matching the room and reminding her for a moment of Sombra himself. She noted a small window, it wasn’t wide enough to fit comfortably, but she should be able to squeeze through she rushed over locking the door and pushing a small side table in front of it shaking the small gem on it and shattering it on the floor but she was unconcerned for Sombra’s belongings at the moment. She knew that her little barrier wouldn’t hold against magic and as the hooves came close panic began to swallow her, she hurried to the small window and flapped her wings sliding into the window until the frame hit her wing joints, folding them down just as the doorknob jiggled. She took a deep breath and began to pull herself through the window she felt feathers and fur alike beginning to tear out as she forced herself through the window. Finally she felt herself go free her skin tearing and blood flowing from her sides but a sense of victory filled her as she dived hoping to find a hiding place.

She found sanctuary in a small hole, it was shielded from sight of Sombra’s castle by half a house she laid down in the hole and leaned back to assess the damage, she was missing three secondary feathers in her left wing and one primary feather in her right her sides were covered in scratches but the bleeding had already stopped missing a few clumps of fur… all and all not that bad, flying would feel strange for a while but they’d grow back in a few months. She looked out of her hiding place the smoke making her throat ache and looked around, she must have been near the castle when she was shot down, maybe if she hurried she could get to the basin…

She didn’t have anymore time to waste she stood slowly shaking out her hooves and taking off in run that would’ve made Applejack proud, praying to any pony who would accept it, she hoped she wouldn’t be spotted by Sombra’s guards as she ran through the barren landscape ducking behind what little cover she could find in the wreckage of their war, she was panting when she finally made it to the basin and that is what she would blame on what happened next. She had just began to climb onto the basin stepped when a magical net of some sort surrounded her and dragged her down to the ground with electrical sparks coursing through her.

“Well hello there my little pet, I knew you’d come back here soon enough, I just had to play the waiting game… I’m good at waiting” the voice sent chills down Thunder’s spine she knew that voice… with great difficulty Thunder turned looking into cold purple eyes, eyes that were both her aunt’s and this dark beast before her… The beast that had finally gotten it’s prize and Thunder didn’t have any pony to help her this time.

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait guys, I wanted to take a bit of a break and I didn't mean for it to be so long but life caught up with me and I had so much to do :applecry: but hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter and not hate me for it XD until the next chapter gang, stay awesome!

The Story Of Icarus

Though Thunder kept her head down she was cursing herself she had been so close she should’ve fought harder… ran faster… something! But no, now she was here, smelling of burned fur, in some sort of medieval throne room while this world’s Celestia sat in the throne and leered at her maliciously and Thunder was afraid.

“I’ve been waiting for a pony like you for a very long time you’re just what I need to finally crush this useless resistance” Celestia chuckled gleefully standing to walk toward Thunder. “I never imagined a pony like you could exist, I had theories about it, and I too attempted to creature such a creature but my subject was powerless” She scoffed “I got rid of it” she put her hoof under Thunder’s chin, making the dark blue mare jerk away from her touch. “Feisty now are you?” her eyes turned to ice “Well you’ll be easy enough to break” she shrugged “But first I have to make sure you won’t be able to go running to Princess Luna in your dreams, oh yes” Celestia smirked at Thunder’s surprised look “I know she can go into your dreams, Gray has done plenty of research on you your family tree while you were living your life in ignorance” she chuckled a second time “Follow me, I’ll show you to your room” she flicked her tail and walking from the room.

As if Thunder had a choice… the second Celestia gave the order armed soldiers flanked her and made her follow. Where Sombra’s Castle was cracked and grown over in places Celestia’s seemed to be brand new shining silver and gold everywhere Thunder looked Thunder hated it she kept her head down watching her own hooves as they walked over the soft carpet that quickly turned to cold hard stone as they turned down a brightly lit hall. The sound of something knocking against glass caught her attention as they began passing doors, looking up revealed a very familiar face. Dad! But no, he wasn’t her father, not here anyway. He was still a long noodly like being with his mismatching parts but instead of being brown and gray he was white and black with blue eyes, his mouth was moving but she couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“Poor fellow” Celestia stopped to stare at him as well, a sneer growing across her face “mind has leaked out his ears” she chuckled flicking her tail and forcing them forward once again. Thunder lost track of how far down they walked the stairs seemed endless and the silence left Thunder to her thoughts, until at last they stopped at a large metal door, it was the same height as the wall but only half the width. A black handle the only way into the room. “Come on now dear aren’t you excited to see where you’ll be staying” Celestia’s guards moved to open the large door the group walking into the dark space, one of the guards staying in the doorway while the second walked into the darkness and lit a lantern so that they could look inside. There was very little inside the room only several sets of chains lining the wall and a matching wall of torture devices which included sharp implements , whips, and other things that Thunder wasn’t familiar with. In the center of the room stood a tall metal case, it was a very unassuming thing: just dull silver with faint stains of crimson dotting around a small slit near the ‘face’ of the case.

“We had to make a few adjustments, didn’t want it to actually kill you… at least not before we got what we wanted out of you of course” Celestia jerked her chin and the guard with the lantern opened the case revealed more red stains on the inside blood Thunder realized with a shiver somepony, or maybe more than one, had died in there… she could see several small spaces where something had been removed and with a jolt she recognized the ‘case’ was in reality an Iron Mare an ancient torture chamber that would often kill those inside because of the spikes that filled the inside though it looked like this world’s Celestia decided to file them down until they were dull and non deadly. Keeping me around she glared at the ground once again berating herself before turning her fury filled eyes at the smug Celestia you won’t break me that easily she swore anger abating her fear for the moment.

And that’s where she found herself now, sitting in a cramped case the only source of light was what bled under the tiny crack of the tall metal door other than that she sat in darkness, her only companion her own thoughts. What does she think this will accomplish? Twilight would know… I wonder what they’re doing right now? I hope Red is alright… I wonder how long I’ve been in here? Her thoughts swirled like that for who knows how long before her thoughts were broken by the tall metal door creaking open, making Thunder pull her eyes from the slit to avoid being blinded by the brightness. Two sets of hooves walked into the room and Thunder heard them walking over and suddenly the case swung open making Thunder hit the floor before she was aided onto her suddenly tingling hooves by whoever was on her left. “Thanks” she said softly to the pony shaking her hooves one at a time jingling the chains that still held them.

Thunder blinked until her eyes adjusted to the light so that she could get a look at the ponies who had come to her “Pinkie? Rarity? How did you guys-?!” it took her a moment to realize “O-Oh… right…” she mumbled, these weren’t her friends… Sure the pink pony on her right looked like Pinkie but this pony didn’t have her spirit, her mane was straight and long instead of Pinkie’s normal puffy style and where Pinkie always seemed to have a mile wide grin this pony wore a stiff lipped frown her dark blue eyes hidden behind her mane and Pinkie’s balloons was replaced with a set of three gray rocks. The white Unicorn might’ve been Rarity… Well maybe if Rarity suddenly got into rock music anyway, her mane was still in it’s usually curled shape but it looked to dyed black and purple and cream and was a great deal shorter she wore dark makeup of some kind around her green eyes, Thunder didn’t know makeup well mind you, and around each leg she had spiked bracelets with a matching spiked collar around her neck on her flank taking Rarity’s diamonds was two crossed guitars with sharp pointed ends.

The two ponies exchanged a glance before ‘Rarity’ nudged her toward the door “Come on” she said “Celestia wants to see you” ‘Pinkie remained silent but she did glare at Thunder when the dark blue mare took more than a little prodding to get moving.

“So uh…” Thunder began, still feeling ‘Pinkie’s’ stare burning a hole in the back of her head “Who are you guys?” she asked curiously, were they like Celestia and kept their names from the other world? ‘Pinkie’ almost seemed to growl at the question startling Thunder because of her hostility but thankfully ‘Rarity’ seemed more willing to talk.

“That’s Pinkamena, and I’m Patti, you can call me Pat though if you prefer” ‘Rarity’ introduced as they walked the seemingly endless trek to Celestia.

“Nice to meet you, well…” Thunder cleared her throat “I’m Thunder Mist, but you can call me Thunder” she glanced back at Pinkamena finding only burning eyes and went back to studying the floor as she walked.

“Pat, we aren’t supposed to talk to it” Pinkamena grumbled, her voice wasn’t like Pinkie’s either, it was flatter almost sad but it had an irritated edge to it.

“Hush ‘Mena, it doesn’t hurt to tell her our names unless you’d rather she keep calling us by those other names” Pat sounded almost identical to Rarity except while Rarity’s voice had an ‘heiress’ tone to it, Pat seemed much more relaxed in her manner of speech, even looking back for a brief moment to give Thunder a playful wink as they climbed another set of stairs.

Thunder looked up as they neared Harmonious’s room, he appeared to be talking to a few stuffed animals waving his hands enthusiastically as he spoke, he didn’t even seem to know that they passed. Thunder entered the throne room again the two ponies leading her forward a few more steps before they forced her to a stop. A door opened at the end of the throne room and with a bright flash Celestia appeared, smirking all the while she approached the room glowing with lanterns because apparently the sun had set while she was in that case.

“Bow you idiot” Pinkamena grumbled low pushing Thunder down into an awkward bow, nearly making Thunder press her nose into the chains around her hooves.

“Now now Pinkamena, no need to get rough” Celestia leaned down righting Thunder onto her hooves again “and these will have to go as well” her horn glowed with dark magic and the chains dropped from her legs, Thunder rose a brow in suspicion watching Celestia.

“Thank you” she said stiffly, she wasn’t quite sure what this Celestia was playing at Twilight would know what it’s called she found herself thinking again as she followed Celestia into the dining room still being flanked by Pinkamena and Pat.

“I’ve been doing some thinking while you were away in your room today and I realized I hadn’t been a very good host” Celestia’s horn flashed and suddenly the long wooden dining table was filled with food and drink. “Go on, have some” she smiled widely gesturing for Thunder to take a seat.

Alarms began to ring inside Thunder’s head and she took a step back away from the table, her brows rising again until they hide from sight behind her mane.

“Now now, no need to be so skittish” Celestia’s horn lit up again and Thunder found herself wrapped in magic and forced into one of the chairs which then moved until she was right in front of the table other ponies suddenly filing into the room and taking seats at the table as well, Celestia at the head of the table. “Thunder I’d like you to meet a few ponies” Celestia gestured to the seat across from Thunder “This is Gray and Dusk Gleam they work for me and are my students in different respects, Gray is an academic while Dusk is studying magic under my wing” Thunder looked to where she was pointing spotting ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Twilight’ respectively. Gray was a washed out blue furred pegasus with a short fluffy mane in varying shades of gray, probably where the name came from, she had a smudge of ink on her cheek and thin framed black glasses perched delicately on her nose guarding bright teal eyes, she was looking at Thunder with a look she could only describe as Twilghty. Giving an awkward smile Thunder then turned her gaze to Dusk Gleam: a very dark purple unicorn with a chipped horn and orange eyes muscles rippled under her coat and her mane was short and wild taking color in shades of blue and dark purple, she didn’t really look all that interested in anything going on, preferring to instead tap her hoof impatiently perhaps eager to eat? Thunder couldn’t spot either of their cutie marks from where she was sitting

“You’ve already met Pinkamena and Pattie of course” Celestia nodded to them briefly, they were sitting on either side of Thunder at the moment, before pointing to the two ponies at the far end of the table “and down there is my main benefactor Orange Shine, and a local baker who helps keep this lovely food on our table, her name is Cloudy” Celestia grinned taking a bit of food onto a fork and taking a bite. Orange Shine had red-orange fur with rose colored eyes, her hay colored mane was brushed and styled in a very high class style bun, it’s length hidden from the hairstyle but it looked like it was quite long and she was wearing a long green scarf tied around her neck, when Thunder made eye contact with her she raised her glass to her and grinned Thunder spotting what looked like half an orange on her flank. Cloudy had golden fur and soft brown eyes, she had some flour in her pale pin straight medium length violet mane and a confident smile she merely nodded however when Thunder turned her eyes to her, she appeared to have a loaf of bread as her cutie mark though it was slightly cut off from Thunder’s view.

“Ladies, as I’m sure you’re aware at this point this is our new arrival, Thunder from the other world, she has generously offered her services to us in this time of crisis” Celestia smiled widely as a series of cheers and congratulations flew around the table, but Thunder was pretty far from cheering at this point.

“That’s not true…” she mumbled, her head bowed low so that her eyes were hidden behind her mane as she spoke, her heart almost seeming to stop for a moment before beating rapidly like fire was racing through her veins.

“What was that dear?” Celestia asked sweetly, making the fire in Thunder’s blood burn even hotter and with a noise of outrage rising from her chest she slammed her hoof on the table, startling the table into a dead silence.

“That’s not true!” her head whipped up, her eyes blazing with rage “tell them the truth: you tricked me and stole me from my home through that basin and then when I tried to go home you trapped me and dragged me here to hold me against my will! I want to go home!” As suddenly as her anger flared it went out, like blowing out a candle, and she realized with horror that when she had slammed her hoof on the table she had upturned her plate, covering Pinkamena in her food. She sank down as low as she could go in her chair, berating herself for the millionth time that day her head while the silences in the dining room pressed on.

“Well, it seems our newest dinner guest has yet to learn their manners” Celestia icily said after a while “Pattie, Pinkamena perhaps you should take her back to her room” they didn’t speak when Celestia ordered them, merely pushing back in their chairs and urging Thunder to follow, Pinkamena being especially rough as she clearly wasn’t pleased with being covered in food earlier.

And now she was here again, in the dark case just… waiting… her stomach began to growl at some point but after a while she was able to ignore it, thankfully she didn't have the chains around her hooves now. I wonder what the others are doing? How much time has passed over there? Does time pass here like it does over there or...? Twilight might know… I hope Red’s okay… her thoughts would sometimes repeat like that as she sat in the dark but at least her eyes began to adjust to the dark and after some time she managed to start to doze but as Celestia planned the dull points of the spikes kept her from sleeping deep enough to dream. She jerked awake rather suddenly when the door opened slowly, only a crack, but the light blinded her long enough that when the door closed she hadn’t seen who came inside.

“Hello…” A voice whispered before the lantern hanging in the roof was lit revealing Gray, she still had that smudge on her cheek and her face was covered in a guilt flush as she carefully opened the iron case a small wrapped bundle on her back held in place by her wings “I… uh… thought you might be hungry” she mumbled glancing down at the floor.

Thunder blinked in surprise her stomach making another loud growl as if agreeing with Gray’s words “Yeah…” she replied unnecessarily “Thanks” she added as Gray leaned back to grab the bundle from her back setting it down in front of Thunder as she unwrapped the bundle Thunder got a chance to see her cutie mark: an unfurled scroll with a quill that had been dipped in ink “not that I’m not grateful for this, but uh… why are you here?” the bundle contained two apples and a half of a clover sandwich which Thunder began to devour hungrily, forgetting her manners for the moment in favor of pleasing her complaining stomach.

“Well after that scene at dinner two days ago I sort of felt bad, cause you hadn’t eaten and Princess Celestia didn’t seem to want to let you out yet…” Gray rubbed her hoof against her leg awkwardly sitting opposite Thunder while she ate her fill. “I know we kind of got off on the wrong hoof here, but Celestia really isn’t that bad” Gray continued, clearing trying to make amends.

“Not that bad?! NOT THAT BAD?!?” Thunder looked at Gray in a mixture of disbelief and anger “Did you not hear what I said in there, she tricked me and dragged me here and now I’m stuck in that tin can instead of home. How can you say that someone who does those things isn’t that bad?! Without me…” Thunder took a deep breath as she noticed that Gray looked almost terrified at her show of temper “Look” she started again “I don’t know how much you know about me or about my life in my world, but I have a little sister… well I guess she’s sort of a daughter now too… But she needs me if I’m there to protect her she could be shipped off somewhere else, she could be put up for adoption and who knows where she’d end up then… I don’t want to… No I CAN’T lose her” Thunder glanced off to the side her voice growing soft “I don’t know what you see in this Celestia, but my Celestia would never do this” Thunder fell silent finishing what remained of her food.

Gray’s eyes widened a little as Thunder spoke, she knew a little about Thunder’s life in the other world but she hadn’t looked deep enough to hear about a sibling… “I…” Gray bit her lip “I’m sorry about your sister…” she herself didn’t have a sibling but she knew some ponies who did and knew them a little “But I’m sure after you help us Celestia will let you go back!” Gray added in an attempt to cheer Thunder up.

Thunder looked at Gray she was sincere, at least she seemed it, but at the moment she wasn’t sure what to feel she was afraid… she didn’t know what to do and she couldn’t even talk to her mother or this world’s Luna for advice. An odd numbness was beginning to grow in the pit of her stomach but she nodded slightly nonetheless “I should probably…” she jerked her chin toward the case turning and climbing back into it sure she could’ve tried to make a break for it but she wouldn’t have made it far if Gray even let her leave the room. Everyone here seemed determined to end this war and they seemed to think Thunder was their key to that. “You should probably go before you get in trouble” she added as Gray shut and locked the case back up a slight click at it closed tight.

Why are you allowing this? You aren’t meant to be like a bird in a cage, fight it! a voice in her mind, like a tempting hiss, whispered but it didn’t sound like anyone she knew… or did it? It almost sounded like… Thunder herself. She shivered a little as chills ran up her spine it sounded so, dark. You could easily beat them, look what you did to Blueblood! STOP GETTING PUSHED AROUND! it insisted making Thunder’s head start to throb a little, thankfully the metal of the case was cold That was just an accident… She argued back leaning her forehead against the case Exactly! Imagine what you could do if you actually tried! Thunder’s shiver returned turning into a shudder where were these thoughts coming from? She had never been very aggressive, sure maybe hostile now and again but thinking about hurting ponies to get her way, it make her sick to her stomach. Arguing back and forth with herself she lost even more track of time, dozing in and out of sleep when she couldn’t stay awake any longer eventually time itself almost seemed to have stopped completely.

For the third time she could recall the door to her room open blinding her once again she heard a set of hooves before the door clicked open and she finally was able to stretch her numb limbs out as she stepped from the case.

“Hey there!” it was Pattie, she was alone, “Celestia wants to see you” she gave Thunder a lopsided grin “come on” she flicked her tail and started leading Thunder back up the endless staircase. Thunder blinked her eyes to clear them from the glare of the sudden brightness around her following Pattie stumbling like a newborn foal before her eyes could adjust.

“How long have I been in there?” She asked, her voice coming out with a slight rasp as she asked but she needed to know how much time had passed she could never keep track in the dark case, she didn’t have a window to see the sky.

“It’s been a week since the dinner party” Pattie answered glancing back and waiting while Thunder struggled to get up the first few steps “Gray’s been very upset that you weren’t able to come out, she’s been eager to ask you about your world” Pattie chuckled but near the end it lost its mirth “You shouldn’t’ve yelled at Celestia…” she mumbled softly “You wouldn’t have to have stayed in there for so long” she turned back look at Thunder in concern.

“I won’t let her lie about my reason of being here” Thunder sniffed, feeling weak amusement at the way Pattie recoiled at the sound perhaps there is a bit of Rarity in there after all…

“Well I can understand that, but just please don’t try to press her buttons” Pattie pleaded “She’s just better when she gets what she wants then when she doesn’t…”

Thunder blinked “Is that why you follow her? Because you’re afraid of her?” but even though Pattie didn’t answer, her silence told Thunder more than words possibly could.

Once again she was lead into the throne room brightly lit by the sun it must be early morning or midday then Thunder concluded watching as Pattie was dismissed for turning to face Celestia herself.

Celestia looked her up and down, letting her lip twitch in an attempt at a smile but she obviously wasn’t interested in playing any games at the moment. “Hello Thunder” she greeted icily “has your time in your room taught you any manners?”

Thunder stepped back a step as Celestia’s dark aura washed over her, taking a breath and praying for courage she took back that ground with a shaking hoof “I-If your definition of ‘manners’ is keeping an innocent pony prisoner then I’d rather be swine” she wished her voice hadn’t trembled but Celestia’s eyes narrowed in irritation nonetheless.

“I’ve tried be civil, I’ve tried being nice, I even offered you food at my table, and this is how you repay my generosity?” Celestia’s horn lit with dark magic, seeming to block out the sunlight from the windows Thunder’s pupils constricting until it was nearly impossible to make out their colored rings as Celestia stepped toward her. “Well that just won’t do, I guess I’ll have to teach you the proper manners then…” Those were the last words spoken before Celestia lashed out with her magic.

Thunder was suddenly surrounded in blackness… what was going on? Then there was pain… head splitting bone breaking pain… she tried to scream but the blackness seemed to suffocate the sound. She felt like she was drowning but then it was gone and she being stabbed she felt sharp objects ripping through her fur and tearing her flesh she tried and get away but she couldn’t move. She felt the sharpness press against her throat and her heart stopped beating. She felt an odd fuzzy feeling fill her body and suddenly the pain was gone that was the only conscious thought she could manage at the moment, it stopped and her body throbbed in protest, even attempting to open her eyes seemed to be too much of an effort at the moment behind her eyes was soothing darkness and she could finally rest… so why bother trying to open them? Her mind wandered in a haze and vague sounds filtered through it like radio static some were voices she knew while others were foreign she heard someone talking about an unidentifiable magic but it wasn’t until she received a sharp kick to her already bruised feeling ribs that she mustered the will to slide her eyes open a crack. Pinkamena had returned and was sneering down at her in distaste as she forced her to her hooves, Thunder’s legs shook so hard she could barely remain standing but after a quick survey she realized that she was unharmed, her coat wasn’t even ruffled. What had Celestia done to her?!?

“Well… it seems like you’re even more interesting than I thought Thunder” Celestia purred reaching out to her, but Thunder recoiled away from her making Celestia’s smirk stretch a little wider before she was finally dismissed.

Pinkamena was silent as she lead Thunder back toward her prison but Thunder couldn’t resist the words as they slipped from her throat “Why do you support Celestia?” clearly out of all of them that she had met so far Pinkamena knew the most about Celestia’s cruel ways, did Pinkamena just like being mean? Thunder hoped not, Pinkie Pie was such a nice pony surely Pinkamena had a good side too. Pinkamena grunted in response but maybe it was the pain but Thunder recklessly continued “I mean, I know you don’t really like me, but there must be a reason that she has your loyalty?” she froze when Pinkamena suddenly turned to her ready to flee but surprisingly Pinkamena didn’t strike her… instead she sighed.

“You know, once you and I might’ve been friends… but Celestia has her ways of corrupting pure hearted ponies” without another word Pinkamena turned and lead Thunder down the stairs, being surprisingly considerate as they slowly made their way down, she didn’t even insult her when she tripped up on the last few!

The cold of the case as a blessing on her sore body for the first time ever she was glad to be stuck in it trying to relax her throbbing muscles was no easy task however. Thunder jumped hitting her head off the top of the inside of the case when the door creaked open, surely it hadn’t been that long? Her surprise only grew when her visitor was revealed to be Gray who shut the door and lit the lantern casting nervous and guilty glances at Thunder the whole time before she finally let her out of the case.

“I saw what happened” She suddenly blurted before Thunder could open her mouth to speak “in the throne room” she explained when Thunder only gave her a blank look “I was going to talk to Celestia about the basin… and I heard her talking as I started to open the door so I was waiting before going in and I saw her…” Gray and Thunder shared identical shivers before the Gray continued “I wanted to make sure you were okay” she shuffled awkwardly “I never knew Celestia could be so cruel” she admitted softly.

Thunder opened her mouth to retort but the wounded look in Gray’s eyes stopped her “I’m fine” she said instead “just a little sore” she tried to reassure but Gray merely looked her up and down a fire in her eyes.

“No, you’re clearly not…” she replied and Thunder could almost hear the wheels in her head turning “and if Celestia is truly like that…” she then paused, leaving the pair in silence for so long Thunder wondered if Gray was waiting for her to speak “We have to find a way to get you home” Gray decided at last with a defiant nod.

“But… I thought you supported Celestia?” Thunder looked at Gray in disbelief seeing Rainbow in her fiery teal eyes.

Gray sighed “I do, she raised me but she isn’t the same pony she had been back then” at Thunder confused look she sat “When I was a filly my parents disappeared and Celestia took me in, she helped me find my love for books and she worked hard to make sure I was happy but… after what I saw back there, maybe she isn’t as perfect as I thought growing up… I’ll always care for her, but…” she looked down at the floor her voice failing her

Thunder nodded silently not sure what to say to try and comfort her but Pattie’s words came back to her mind Gray has been eager to ask you about your world… an idea popped into her head and she smiled slightly “You know, in my world you aren’t really into books” she hinted.

Gray’s head jerked up looking interested “Really? What’s it like over there? What am I like? Do I still read? What about the others? Is your world in war too?” Thunder had to hold up a hoof to stop the the onslaught of questions pouring from Gray’s mouth.

Thunder settled down on the cold stone floor of her room and gestured for Gray to do the same her legs were starting to ache from standing like that. “Well first all, in my world, you’re called Rainbow Dash you’re more of a cyan color then this” she gestured to Gray’s fur “and you have a mane that is filled with every color of the rainbow, as the name would suggest, you’re the fastest flyer in all of Equestria and you can perform something called ‘The Sonic Rainboom’ I haven’t seen it myself but from what I’ve heard it’s pretty cool” Thunder chuckled at the excited look on Gray’s face “You’re the element of loyalty in my world and you’d never leave a friend behind, but you can be stubborn at times and very competitive usually with Applejack, or as she’s known here, Orange Shine in my world she runs a large apple farm with her family: Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Applebloom...” Thunder began to tell Gray all she knew of her world: from Rainbow’s unflinching loyalty and her love of Daring Do, Applejack’s clear honesty and her ‘apples to the core’ family ties Pinkie Pie’s vibrate cheerfulness making every pony smile and her fondness for parties of any kind, Fluttershy’s unending kindness and the moments she would face dark and evil for her friends, Rarity’s, sometimes not very easy to see, gentle generosity and her love for making fashions, all to Princess Twilight Sparkle’s mighty magic, and her large heart willing to help any friend in trouble. She told Gray about the elements of harmony, about her father Discord and her mother Luna and her little sister Red, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and her own element of courage, which she still couldn’t believe she possessed and even of Ponyville itself with its kind ponies and crisis’s every other week both magical and not.

“Wow…” Gray said after Thunder finished the story of the Alpha Minor and Twilight saving the town “No wonder you want to go home so bad…” her brow furrowed “I have a story for you now” she smiled, waving away Thunder’s assurances that she didn’t have to tell a story in exchange “No I mean it, it kind of makes me think of you actually” she shifted her wings brushing Thunder’s as she did so “There was a earth pony named Daedalus,a genius architect, who had been banished to a land called Crete for attempting to kill a boy out of jealousy, in Crete there ruled a king named Minos, a strong unicorn. Years passed and he fell in love with a slave of the king and married her and they had a son who they named Icarus Life went on without incident until one day Minos called upon Daedalus.” Gray paused making sure Thunder was keeping up with the story before continuing “For you see Minos wife had fallen in love with bull and gave birth to a being that was half pony and half bull and the king wanted to hide the strange beast, so he asked Daedalus to build a labyrinth to hide it away.”

Thunder’s head tilted curiously was she supposed to be the beast in this story? How did Gray think this story was like Thunder? She shook off her thoughts for the moment realizing that Gray wasn’t done with her tale.

“So Daedalus did as his king requested, building tall towering walls with the beast at its center where it fed on another who was put into its clutches, Unfortunately for Daedalus and Icarus, the king didn’t want them revealing what was inside the labyrinth so he trapped them inside a high tower. But Daedalus was very clever he knew they could only escape by the air because Minos had control over every ship and vessel in the land and they were being checked thoroughly so that they couldn’t sneak aboard.He found himself often watching the birds that were flying around the tower he began to watch the way they managed to fly and realized how they could escape the tower. For a large period of time, he was gathering all the feathers he could find lying around and joining them together with wax he managed to fashion two pairs of wings, one for himself and the other for his son. The day arrived when they were to execute their escape plan but Daedalus had a grave warning for his son. He forbade Icarus to fly too close to the sun because the wax would melt and they wings would fall apart, or to fly too close to the sea because then the feathers would get damp and they wouldn’t fly. Father and son both then perched on the edge of the tower and leapt off and manage to fly away not only from their prison and Crete itself. Unfortunately, Icarus soon forgot his father's warning and filled with the exhilaration of flying, he flew too high and too close to the sun. The intense heat melted the wax on the wings, the feathers came loose. A few minutes later, poor Icarus plummeted down into the sea drowned” Gray finished glancing to see Thunder still looking very confused.

“How does that remind you of me?” Thunder asked she did enjoy the story but she didn’t understand what Gray meant.

“Well… I think if Icarus was a real pony he’d understand how you feel I think” Gray blushed “I’m sorry I guess I might’ve just went out on a limb with it” she stood quickly “I should probably go before someone notices” she adds not looking at Thunder as she stood as well to enter the case.

“Will… Will you come back soon?” Thunder asked softly as she heard the cases lock click and the lantern go out at first she thought Gray wasn’t going to answer, the door pulled open and she could hear Gray’s hooves walking away.

“Yes” she barely heard the whispered reply but as the door closed a small smile stretched across her face for the first time since she came to this place, at last she had something to look forward too… whenever Gray came back...

Author's Note

Sorry for the LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG wait guys, I was having some troubles in real life and my muse for writing kind of tanked but I hope this long chapter makes up for it :D and toward the end 'Gray' tells the myth of Icarus, I added it in because I thought it complimented Thunder's current problem pretty well and I've always like the story :twilightsmile: hope you enjoy this chapter and more will be coming soon

Breaking The Innocent

As the first month of her captivity slipped away Gray’s visit were the only thing that Thunder had to keep herself together, Gray visited often, every chance she could manage to slip away sometimes bringing food with her and they would just lay down and talk. Celestia had begun to get more and more violent as time dragged on but when as her body began to fold knowing that Gray was trying to find a way to contact her world kept her spirit burning bright.

“I wouldn’t be able to travel through the basin myself” Gray had told her a few visits prior “because she has soldiers guarding it day and night and without her permission I wouldn’t be able to set a hoof near it” but she had been trying to think around the problem and every time she visited she filled Thunder with hope.

Today had been particularly vicious, at least Thunder thought so, but she rested contently on the cold stone floor while Gray fretted over her and she talked about the one thing she loved more than any other: Red. “It was terrible at first they tried to take her from me, said a winged pony couldn’t raise one with its hooves meant for the ground but I wasn’t willing to give her up so easily… I ended up dropping out of school and taken on a second job to make sure I could support us, sure I could’ve made more in a mine but after I lost my Dad I didn’t have the courage to step in one of those” she shifted flinching slightly as she pressed down on a tender area of flesh “So I stayed working on the farms around town it didn’t pay as much but it was enough” She lifted a wing so that Gray could check for any loose feathers and continued to talk “I’ll be forever grateful to Ms. Buttermilk, she was an elderly mare who lived across the street, because she helped me with Red she watched her while I was working and she raised quite a few foals too so she knew pretty much everything even if I thought it was a silly question she had an answer” she laughed resting her head on her hooves while Gray groomed her wings sighing in relief as the pain in them faded. “I remember some nights Red would be fussing and I’d end up staying up all night just trying to sooth her, she’d finally fall asleep at the crack of dawn and then I’d have to go off to work and pray she wouldn’t fuss again when I got home” she chuckled softly “It was hard for a while… but I know my Momma and Dad would’ve wanted me to raise her”

“She sounds like a wonderful little filly” Gray commented making Thunder light up “I’ve always wanted a sibling myself, I’ve heard plenty of horror stories from Pattie and Orange but I still always wanted one; it gets lonely sometimes even with… with the others around” She covered quickly but Thunder knew who she had meant. As a unspoken rule during these visits Celestia was not to be mentioned, both to avoid fighting and because Thunder usually had enough of her by the time she was dismissed from their 'meetings'.

“She really is” Thunder mumbled folding her wings to her side again “I just hope she’s still okay…” she added a worried look appearing on her face making Gray frown.

“Don’t worry” Gray replied trying to cheer her up “If you’re friends are half as wonderful as you say they’ll make sure she’s fine” that got Gray a weak smile in return.

“You should probably get going” Thunder was silent for so long before she had spoken Gray had thought she had fallen asleep “She will be wondering where you’ve gone to if you’re gone for too long you know” the dark blue mare stood slowly, her limbs trembling slightly but she managed to make it to the iron case without collapsing.

“I’ll be back soon” Gray promised leaning in to surprise Thunder with a quick nuzzle before she shut the case, the lock clicking quietly before Gray blew out the lantern.

Thunder relaxed against the back of the case, the familiar sting of the dulled spikes digging into her back maybe she could doze for a while… Black half formed shapes crowded around behind her closed lids as she heard her mental voice growing louder. She was so tired. She missed her bed at home, her body was so sore how could she keep this up for much longer? What would Celestia do to her if she felt that Thunder was no longer worth the trouble? Desperately trying to quiet her thoughts Thunder shook her head jolting in surprise when she hit the front of her case with her head, feeling a sting that made her head hurt more than it should have, and shortly after hitting the cold stone floor. Didn’t Gray lock the case? She looked back, it was still locked… What just happened? Slowly standing on her hooves she rubbed the sore spot on her head.

She walked toward the door and pushed it open a crack… the hall was clear, perhaps she could find a way out now! If everyone thought she was locked up no one would try and look for her. Sliding from her dark room and closed the door behind her and blinked in the brightness it was quiet, but as far as she knew that was the norm. Being cautious she approached the stairs her ears prickled for the slightest sound perhaps if she could find a window she could get out. She started up the steps trying as hard as she could to make sure her hoof falls were silent she knew there were no windows in the stairwell she had walked it so many times she could practically remember every crack. Her mind dimmed with the sudden desire to sleep but she shook her head to rid herself of the desire, if she could get home she could sleep for as long as she wanted. Reaching the door at the top of the stairs she pressed her ear against it, she didn’t know what time it was, or if somepony would be coming to fetch her again soon so she had to make sure.

Once again hearing nothing Thunder opened the door… the hall was empty… Alarm bells began to ring in the back of her mind, this wasn’t normal, at least she didn’t think so, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she slipped beyond the door closing it behind her and looking for an escape route. Avoiding the path she knew took her to the throne room Thunder picked the farthest door from it that she could and checked inside, another hall.

Where the heck was she now? Thunder walked down the hall curiously glancing from side to side to study each door she came across but none gave her a hint as to where they led and she hadn’t even come across a single window that she might use to escape. Chewing on her lip she walked to a tall black wooden door on her right and opened it curiously.

And was met with a large lab.

Tilting her head she walked inside hoping that at least here there might be a window.

She nearly jumped out of her fur when the alarm started blaring… Maybe somepony noticed she was missing? She hoped not... She looked around the lab spotting all sorts of odd machines and diagrams, for a brief moment her panic and desire to flee battled with her own curiosity. On one of the table rested some sort of device, it was a helmet, black with dark blue accents and a matching chin strap, but in the middle of the forehead was a sort of false unicorn horn that was sharp and shaped like a bolt of lightning it was a simple enough looking device but it made Thunder's skin crawl and quickly turning away from it she continued her search for an escape. Finding a door on the far wall of the lab she took it, reaching what looked to be another hallway.

Feeling like she was starting to go in circles she wished the alarm would stop blaring, it was starting to make her ears hurt. Picking another door she found herself face to face with a group of Celestia's guard. She froze at first and for a few seconds both groups just stared at each other then with a yelp Thunder slammed the door and fled back the way she had come.

She could hear them chasing after her, no longer unsure if it was just in her head every time she opened a door she was met with more of them, and she still couldn't tell the different corridors apart!

Wondering if it would be wiser to give in then to just keep running in what she could only assume to be circles she found herself back inside the lab.

One moment she was standing, searching for safety, and next she was inside Celestia magical grip struggling to breathe as the blackness seemed to squeeze her throat. But the moment it began it stopped. It wasn't a mysterious power that saved Thunder this time however, it was Gray.

Struggling to regain her bearings Thunder saw the mare, her body tensed with barely restrained aggression and fear as she confronted her closest pony and mentor.

"Please Celestia!" Gray cried "This is wrong! Please, not making this poor pony suffer like this!" Gray had unshed tears in her eyes as she looked up to the one pony she admired above all others "Let Thunder go, let her go home she had a life there, a sister and a mother and friends" Celestia's brow rose as Gray spoke but she said nothing. "All this effort and pain just to get her to join us, it isn't right we don't need to keep fighting, if we could just end this war peacefully than no other pony would need to suffer!" By now Gray's tears began to fall.

Seemingly moved by her student's pleas Celestia frowned "oh dear Gray" she mumbled pulling her student close to herself in a embrace "Don't fret any more, this suffering will end soon, and you can finally have the peace you've been determined for" she whispered to the closest thing to a foal she dared recognize before looking to Thunder and her gathered guard.

"Take our guest to a nice room hmm? I think she needs a rest" she ordered leading Gray from the lab as two soldiers picked Thunder up and placed her carefully on her hooves so they could lead her through the labyrinth of halls toward another identical door. Hurrying her inside they closed the door behind her.

Thunder looked around in surprise, she was actually in a bedroom rather than some sort of cell, the theme of this room appeared to be red, red and gold. She moved toward the bed and looked at it curiously, it appeared to be a normal bed... did Gray's pleas reach Celesta? Was she truly going to go home soon? She dared to hope.

Allowing herself to relax she crawled onto the bed, she was beyond tired, all she wanted was home and sleep but for now she had to only deal with one. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to fall into the blackness of sleep.

Even her dreams seemed tired, a blur of blues and grays, cries of betrayal and for mercy but she couldn't make out much of it before she stirred from her rest. It was dark outside when she looked out the window but she couldn't even tell how much time had passed, so lost she was to the time she had been here for all she knew it could've been years that she laid in that case even though according to Gray it had only been a month. She slipped from the bed, tired but unable to slip back into rest again. Just as she had been about to grab the door knob a knock sounded.

"Miss Thunder?" a stallion's voice on the other side called in.

"Yes?" she answered startled at timing of everything.

"Miss Celestia has requested your presence in the throne room" the voice continued "If you would make yourself decent I'll take you there"

"Oh, uh yes, give me a moment" she said glancing around for something to try and comb her mane. But finding nothing she merely petted it down with her hoof hoping that would help. Was she finally going to go home? Was that what Celestia is calling her for? Deciding to find out she opened the door and stepped out into the hall.

The pony who had been talking through the door was very small, dappled gray in color but with warm amber eyes she couldn't see his cutie mark though his black armor though so she didn't have any sort of idea what he might be like. He didn't bother with pleasantries but merely nodded to her and set off down the hall.

Thunder stared down at the floor, not even bothering to try to find out if she were close anymore, how did the ponies who lived here find their way around when everything was identical? Perhaps she just wasn't used to large buildings? She jerked out of her thoughts as she stopped to avoid running down the pony in front her.

He opened the door with another polite nod and closed it behind her as she passed through it, the throne room was bright with artificial light but was as shiny and cared for as she remembered it being, with very little change though the carpets seemed to be a bit brighter perhaps they had been cleaned recently?

Thunder looked up as she approached the throne, it was empty, strange but perhaps Celestia got held up? Ruling was a full time job after all and Thunder figured that ruling during a war would be even worse though hopefully that part would end for them soon now. Glancing over at a side door she saw that it was opening, and Celestia herself stepped into the throne room.

"Ah, I see you are prompt, good" she said moving to the throne and settling into it.

"Yes ma'am, I'm just eager to return home" Thunder replied, truly feeling an eager thrill run through her.

"Go home? What are you talking about dear?" Celestia asked, looking politely confused.

"Isn't that why you called me here, to take me home?" Thunder asked her eagerness morphing into dread

Celestia merely smiled "Of course not, I fetched you so I could tell you the news"

"N-News?" Thunder repeated the dread creeping higher.

"Yes, it appears Gray has had an.... unfortunate accident and is no longer with us" Celestia's horn glowed and from the blackness of her magic an object floated in front of Thunder's face, a pair of broken and mangled glasses, Gray's glasses.

Thunder's heart stopped, it took her a moment to remember that she had to breathe "You did this didn't you?" She asked but Celestia's grin was all the answer she needed "YOU MONSTER! She looked up to you, she CARED FOR YOU! Why would you do this?!?" Thunder roared, tears burning her eyes as her chest ached for the lost life.

"Because she was a distraction, if she hadn't grown attached to you, perhaps I could've spared her, but you just had to enjoy her company didn't you?" Celestia turned toward the door that Thunder had come from as a set of her warriors stepped through. "Take Miss Thunder back to her room, I feel she'll be more willing to assist us now" she purred darkly

Thunder didn't even resist, she couldn't, she was just.... numb, at first she knew it wasn't her fault, she hadn't lead Gray to her death, it was all Celestia's fault, of course it was, but... was there anything she could've done? If she had done something differently, would Gray have been fine? If she had just stayed in her case maybe Gray wouldn't have had to have met her end this way. Thunder worried her lip in her teeth, was it true? Was it actually her fault? She knew Celestia did the deed but... if she hadn't been talking to Gray.... she rested her head against the front of the case and felt her body tremor, finally a sound escaped her, a sob. Than another. And another. She couldn't hold them in anymore, she was not just weeping for the lost life, but the reality that home would forever be out of reach for her now and the many lives that will continue to be lost in this pointless war.

Time continued to pass as she emptied herself of her tears, she wasn't even sure how long it had been she was fed of course but only when needed to, to make sure she stayed alive. But even the pain of hunger was eclipsed by her grief, she missed Gray. She missed her so much. But she would never be coming back, just like her parents, and all those she loved back home, she was so alone. Thunder looked through the gap in her case into the darkness of her 'room' and felt despair break her wounded heart in two. She couldn't even cry anymore she just couldn't there wasn't enough left. Tilting her head back she let out a sound, it was her admittance of defeat as her cracking mind finally shattered.

Celestia was in her chamber when she heard Thunder's surrender, and the sound make her smile, a gleeful evil smile.

Thunder barely flinched when her door opened, she allowed herself to be led without a struggle, she didn't have any fight inside her anymore.... She didn't even look at as she was lead to Celestia hooves, just stared at the floor resigned.

Celestia however was overjoyed to see her little toy so broken "So Thunder, finally decided to help us?" she asked with a smirk, knowing the answer.

"No..." Thunder replied however, shocking her.

"What?!" she growled, her horn sparking in outrage.

"Not Thunder.... not anymore" she continued, calming the irate dark ruler.

"Oh, so who are you now than?" She asks merely humoring her prisoner.

Thunder finally looked up at her, her eyes red from her grief and pain, but she couldn't feel anymore, her heart had grown numb from the constant pain but she remember something, from a long time ago, something she felt may pay homage to her departed friend, perhaps she owed her that much "Call me.... Icarus" she finally said, bending on her knee to the dark queen Celestia.

Author's Note

Well I'm back! :D I hope this chapter was worth the wait, But like I said in my blog post I lost internet for a while and then as I started writing again my grandfather passed away, but I'm back now and I hope you enjoy the chapter! :)