Star-Crossed Lovers: A Pony Tale

Chapters

Presenting Princess Twilight Sparkle
Adventure In The Outlands
One Side Of The Coin....
...Flips Like The Other
The Plans Cross
Training Accidents And Upendi
Ambushing Celestia
Thunder Is Not One Of Them
Love Is Forever Binding
We Are One

Presenting Princess Twilight Sparkle

In the soft glow of twilight they began their journey, predator and prey alike moved in silent agreement not breaking the silence of early morning even the Timberwolves seemed to be at peace this dawn, only the soft whistle of the breeze swishing through the tall wild grasses was heard. Each creature paid no heed to the slow creeping of the sun as it peeked into sight old and young alike seemed to be overtaken by an air of calm moving steadily toward their destination. Their silence broken at last as small insects buzzed and chirped to great the day, but still the animals were silence large beasts pausing to allow the small pause under or around in peace as they arranged themselves to greet both the day and the life that came with it.

Pride Rock stood tall against the early morning sky a stark reminder of the power their land could hold against the elements of nature, at the middle outcrop of rock jutting out into the open air stood a solitary zebra, her name is Zecora who had 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, she had been a wandering Shaman before she had found herself at the Pridelands, now she helped the royal family as an advisor of sorts while also giving medicine and care to the sick and wounded who came to her in need. She wasn't always present in her home, a large tree not far from Pride Rock filled with various herbs and potions, as sometimes she could go out on spiritual journeys and quests to find her inner peace, but for moments like this presenting the heir to the kingdom of the sun she was always ready and available to play her part. Zecora looked to the sky smiling sensing the presence of Starswirl, their previous king, he had been slain in a duel with the chaotic being known as Discord, encasing the draconequus in stone before he passed on. Zecora bowed low in respect for the fallen king, the animals below following suit, though not as in touch with spiritual energies as Zecora was they indeed knew their king was still watching over them.

Zecora slowly returned to her hooves as their new ruler, Celestia slowly walked out of a small cave in Pride Rock, hidden from view unless you were on the rock itself, a small fuzzy body on her back protected from a nasty fall by the alicorn's wings. Celestia was well-known as the eldest daughter of Starswirl and capable of moving the sun to rise and set each day, she was pure white with a mane of light blue, pink, green and purple with a matching tail her eyes, kind and understanding, were a violet color. She wore her gold tiara with its purple stone in the center with grace despite the added weight of a matching necklace around her neck and golden shoes on her hooves. She carried herself gracefully and proudly as any mother would on a day of their child's birth, nodding her head as her loyal majordomo Philomena bowed spreading her fiery wings out as she did so, her beak nearly touching the ground. Celestia's mate, Sombra had been corrupted by Discord and was slain in the final battle, much to Celestia's heartbreak, but she stood strong for her subject pony or otherwise and in time her grief lessened though it still remained in her heart just as the happy memories did. Celestia gently took the foal in her magic passing her to a waiting Zecora who looked down at the small pony in her forehooves.

The foal was a girl, with light purple fur and a mane of muted blue parted by a thick pink stripe and a slightly thinner purple one she was a unicorn like her mother had been before she became an alicorn and had her mother's violet eyes. Turning toward the crowd of animals, pony and otherwise, Zecora leaned back on her back hooves and lifted the foul high above her head for all to see. The animals below went wild, stomping their feet and crying out in joy at the continuation of the circle of life the larger animals causing the ground to shake while smaller animals like monkeys and antelopes tossed up dust and dirt making small swirling clouds of the stuff at their feet. It took them a moment to regain their senses but soon every animal gathered from the mighty elephant to the song birds soon bowed to their future ruler, who looked around at all the commotion with bright eyes and giggled, wiggling in an attempt to get free and see what all the commotion was about.

Zecora allowed Celestia to take to foal again before she returned to her proper hooves walking over to the still wiggling bundle of fur and picking up a small gourd from the ground where she had left it. Inside was very little, merely some red substance commonly used in welcoming a new heir to the world it didn't have any real effect but it was a ceremonial thing, so with a slight smile on her face she dipped the tip of her hoof into the cool red before getting dragging it across the foals forehead, making a slight arch under her horn, her hoof now for the most part clean Zecora lowered it to the ground as Celestia tucked her heir onto her back between her wings once more.

"What have you decided to call her?" the young zebra asked her queen as the animals and ponies gathered began to slowly leave, some hang back to wish the queen well as Zecora and Celestia started walking off Pride Rock to return to Celestia's temporary den as she didn't want to have Twilight running around from so high up until she was older.

Celestia looked back at the now slumbering foal on her back and smiled, seeing not only herself in her but her dear beloved Sombra, how she missed him, maybe one day she'd be able to see him again. "Her name is Twilight Sparkle" she mumbled love and heartache both clear in her eyes and in her heart as she headed into the temporary den remembering the past and hopeful for the future.

Author's Note

this is just something that sort of popped into my head and I decided to write it for fun hope you like it :) and don't worry this chapter is only short because it's a 'prologue' the other chapter will be longer :D

Adventure In The Outlands

Years pass peacefully for the Sun Kingdom though tensions grow between those who lived in the Pride Lands and Discords followers who had been banished to the Outlands, a land where little grew, its earth was brown and cracking and the only thing in abundance there were the termites.

Unconcerned of the tensions a young purple filly cantered out of Pride Rock eager to play, this was Princess Twilight Sparkle, though at first the young princess hadn't understood the point of playing or making friends she soon met five other fillies that quickly became her friends: Rainbow Dash, a young Pegasus cyan mare with her name sake rainbow mane and tail and rose-colored eyes, she was fond of flying and loyal to her friends. Fluttershy, a yellow Pegasus mare with a pink mane and tail with blue eyes she was shy but kind and she could talk to animals. Applejack, an orange earth pony mare with a blonde mane and tail with green eyes the corners of which had white freckles, she was stubborn but honest usually working on her families apple farm, she commonly wore a light brown cowboy hat and could work for ages without getting tired. Rarity, a white unicorn mare who came from a well off family and was very generous even if she was a bit of a drama queen who had a neatly styled mane of dark purple and blue eyes. Finally Pinkie Pie, true to her name Pinkie is a pink earth pony with a puffy pink mane and tail, she was always smiling and worked her hardest to make every pony around her smile as well though no one quite understood how she could do some of the things she could do. The Pridelands, unlike their Outlands counterpart was a large wave of green alive and thriving the Pridelands was enjoying the warm light of Celestia's sun for as long as they could, it was the perfect time to relax and play.

Twilight, though she had hoped to make it off Pride Rock before she was caught her foalsitter commonly called Cadance, a young pink Pegasus with a mane of pink, purple, and a very light yellow her cutie mark was a blue crystal heart while two decorative gold swirls lined the bottom, stopped her with a smile and a chuckle. Though Twilight enjoyed her time with Cadance, she really did, she didn't like all of Cadance's overprotectiveness the purple filly wiggled to try to get out of Cadance's wing grip. "Cadance!" she whined with a giggle "let go" finally she managed to get free and started to run off again, but was stopped by Cadance who stepped into her path again.

"I just want you to be careful" she said with a gentle smile "anything can happen you could easily get-" she continued though Twilight knew where she was headed and finished her sentence for her.

"-Hurt or stepped on or even get lost" the heir half smirked at her foal sitter before continuing "and stay in sight of Pride Rock at all times, and if I see any strangers don't talk to them, come straight home, okay okay can I go now please?" Twilight asked with an innocent grin.

"Mind your sitter Twilight" Celestia gently scolded while Cadance snickered behind a hoof at Twilight's words far used to the filly to be offended in the least. When Twilight nodded Celestia continued "and stay away from the outlands, I know Rainbow Dash has been stirring up trouble on the border but you can't turn your back on the ponies that live there" Celestia warned her face unusually serious.

Twilight glanced between Cadance and her mother looking confused and curious, the filly was always hungry for new information and enjoyed learning new things, sure she had heard of the outsiders lots of times but never in such detail before, maybe she could finally learn what the big deal was! "Really? How come?" her purple eyes bright, looking forward to the answer, but her mother merely shook her head nudging her along promising that someday she'd understand. Twilight, though now free to go and find her friends was not pleased that she hadn't gotten an answer usually her mother was willing to give her whatever information she asked for both because she'd be ruler one day and because Twilight was very mature for her age, at least most of the time anyway.

It was always easiest to find Applejack and Rarity first as they usually were working or at least nearby their family businesses, Applejack's family ran a farm which grow apples for the Pridelanders while Rarity's family, when not advising Celestia, usually spent their time weaving and spinning cloth so they could make clothes as well as making sure that no outsiders crossed the border to cause trouble their main concern was Timberwolves who were known for attacking anything that crossed their path. Fluttershy and Rainbow were a little harder to find as Fluttershy spent more time with the animals than other ponies and Rainbow was usually up in the clouds napping the day away. Pinkie Pie though, no one really needed to ever look for Pinkie Pie as she had a habit of just popping up whenever someone needed her, how she did so was a mystery most ponies had stopped trying to solve though.

Twilight paused a moment as she passed the large statue of Discord, the creature who had taken her father away from her, though she knew she should be afraid or even hate him, she found she couldn't do so, Discord had been lonely he never had any friends and if she hadn't been forced by her mother to make some friends she might have become just like him so no she couldn't hate him or even dislike him the only thing she could muster for him was sadness and regret she would've loved to be his friend, if he had waited.

Twilight cantered off with a shake of her head instead focusing on finding her friends so that they could play, at the top of a small hill spotting the brown mass of land that was the Outlands and felt curiosity tickle her, what was so dangerous about the Outlands, it didn't look all that scary to her, determined to find the answers to the questions that her mother wouldn't answer and she knew just the five other fillies to invite on her mission. Twilight gathered her friends easily, moving through animal herds and greeting other ponies as she saw them, waving to her friend Derpy a grey Pegasus pony with a light yellow mane and tail and crossed yellow eyes, her namesake though she was also called Muffin because of her fondness of the treat of the same name, though not as close to her as Applejack and the others were Derpy was still a nice pony and Twilight easily called her a friend. The princess reach Sweet Apple Acres first greeting Big Mac, Applejack's older brother, a dark red earth pony with green eyes that had white freckles like his sister and an orange mane and tail. Apple Jack and Big Mac, along with a young filly whom Twilight knew very little about other than the fact that she was named Applebloom, lived with their Granny Smith a dull lime colored earth pony with orange eyes and white hair and tail who commonly wore an orange shawl with red apples dotting it. She had an apple pie cutie mark and was known for being a little odd but well-meaning and if given the chance having a few really interesting stories to tell.

Applejack took a little persuading to join Twilight, not that she didn't enjoy her time of course, she was just so hardworking she didn't like leaving the job until it was perfect in her eyes but Granny Smith nudged her along promising that the job would get down and she should have some fun. The others were far easier to convince, most wanting the adventure, and a few just wanting to have fun but soon the six fillies were heading for the Outland's border, curious as to what they find there.

The border was deserted both by ponies and animals alike, most creatures afraid of what lay beyond the dead cracked earth, a terrible omen of what could happen to anyone to goes there. Bones and skull of animals who passed on there dotted the ground, the only thing as far as Twilight could see that was actually a different color other than brown.

Twilight was the first to cross over the others following excitedly, other than Fluttershy who had to be pulled along by Rainbow Dash, but as they were crossing a rotting log it split under Twilights weight and broke sending the purple unicorn into a wild roll, which was soon stop when she hit another filly. Both fillies took a moment to recover from their contact before the new filly leapt up her wings fluttering angrily.

"Who are you Pridelander?" the filly growled gleaming with dark magic, the filly was dark blue with black hooftips and light orange eyes she had a mane of black and white that stopped just in her eyes but not so much as to block her vision with a matching tail and a span of white freckles above her nose. Her body language sent messages of danger but Twilight knew if she remembered her mothers words she'd be alright, at least until the other found a way down her, Rainbow Dash would probably find her first cause she was a strong flyer so all she had to do was wait and avoid any attack this filly might throw at her. When the filly would leap from the left, Twilight would leap right and vice versa until the blue filly straightened looking confused.

"What are you doing?" the filly asked raising an eyebrow, her ear flicking hearing the other voices in the distance but they were to far away to be heard they were probably running away though so she didn't concern herself with it.

"My mother says to never turn your back on an Outsider" Twilight replied her face going from looking scared at the threat to an intense expression of distrust she didn't know this filly and they had done anything worth Twilight's trust as of yet.

"You always do what Mommy tells you?" The filly smirked her tone going from confusion to condescension in the blink of an eye her eyes flashing with disdain.

"No!" Twilight denied her coat ruffling a little she didn't like the way this filly seemed to look down on her just because she took her mother's words to heart but even as spoke the fillies smirk just widened.

"Bet you do, I bet you're mommy's little filly" the dark blue mare laughed for a few seconds before puffing out her chest a bit and turning toward a wide cloudy river walking over the odd-shaped logs that touched the bank "An Outsider doesn't need anybody, I take care of myself" she added looking rather full of herself as she looked back at a mystified Twilight.

"Really?" the purple filly asked in awe, her anger disappearing as her curiosity won out Twilight followed the mysterious blue filly out onto the bumpy logs "Cool!" Twilight watched as the filly turned, her ears going down against her head and her eyes widening as she let out a scream. Twilight turned just in time to see a large crocodile leaning close to snap her up in its jaws, letting out an echo of the other fillies scream she barely managed to leap-out-of-the-way as it lunged.

"Run!" she needlessly yelled as the other filly was already running along more crocodiles to scrambling up a small rock formation that stuck out of the river turning to pull Twilight up behind her. But unfortunately it was not quite tall enough to save them from the threat on their lives as the beast grew closer, eager for a meal. "This way" Twilight ordered, seeming also as much a leader as her mother in this moment, leaping off the rock with the Outsider as the crocodile snapped at their heels. Twilight lead the way stepping stone to stepping stone until, their adrenaline fading, the two fillies stopped to catch their breath next to a bare tree branch, both of them chuckling at their luck.

"That was a close one" the Outsider smirked as she began to regain her breath, Twilight giving a relieved chuckle in return but it seemed that they hadn't hit a lucky streak yet as soon the lumps they had found safety on began to move, revealing themselves to be more crocodiles, once again having to avoid becoming lunch Twilight took to the tree, climbing it clumsily with her hooves only to look on in horror and confusion as her new friend decided to take a different path.

"H-hey what are you doing, wh-what about me?" Twilight asked looking at the growing group of crocs that gathered around her little haven.

"I'll distract them, run!" the filly replied leaping from croc to croc her wings fluttering to make her hover when the distance was too long to jump across. Twilight watched in horror as the filly landed on a crocodiles tail as it dived in the river sending the panting filly into the water. Thankfully however the filly surfaced a moment later her hooves flailing wildly as she coughed up river water in exchange for air. Twilight didn't even notice that the crocodiles were leaving her in exchange for the easier target of the filly in the water.

"Look out!" she cried as the filly swam clumsily toward a branch much like Twilight's own, but the filly didn't seem to have the strength to pull herself onto the branch as the crocodile swam closer, its jaws opening wide as the filly let out another scream...

SNAP!

The stream of rainbow color was barely beginning to fade as the cyan filly known as Rainbow Dash landed on the crocodile's snout closing its jaw inches from the Outsider. "Move it!" Rainbow ordered pushing the filly up toward the branch, before flying over to help Twilight, the other four fillies waiting on the Prideland border ready to help the others reach safety. Twilight and Rainbow reached dry land first as the Outsider climbed the branch hoping to reach the others before the crocodiles, who were now beginning to climb the branch as well, snapped it in half. One croc, a bit smarter than the others, clamped its jaws on the branch in hopes of doing just what the fillies fears. With the last burst of her strength the Outsider leapt her wings arching out slightly to try to glide, she hit the orange earth pony with a grunt and the entire group went sprawling gasping from excitement and fear.

After taking a few moments to catch their breath the fillies moved together to peer over the edge of the cliff of land they were standing on, except Fluttershy who nearly fainted away from fright. They all stood in silence watching the crocodiles crawl over each other snapping and hissing in outrage before Twilight broke the silence.

"We did it!" she cheered sticking her tongue out at the bodies below and blowing a raspberry at them before leading the group away from the edge as Twilight and the filly told the other of their little adventure in excited tones unaware they were being watched.

"We make such a good team!" Twilight nudged the dark blue filly with a mile wide grin "You were really brave" she whisper her eyes full of admiration and awe once again.

"Yeah?, well you were pretty brave to" the filly responded "My name's Thunder Mist, but you can call me Thunder" she added her chest puffing out a little bit once again.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle, this is Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash" the purple filly introduced her friends one at a time point to each friend in turn as their names were said the fillies unaware of their watcher's outrage at the introductions suddenly the puffy pink party pony bound over to Thunder and poked her in the side.

"Tag!" She cried leaping away but unfortunately for the playful pony Thunder merely looked at her in confusion "Hello? You run, I tag get it?" Pinkie Pie questioned but Thunder only looked more confused. "What's the matter don't you know how to play?" understanding suddenly dawn in Pinkie's eyes "Oh...." she crouched letting out a playful growl, and Thunder finally seemed to understand mimicking her pose as the other fillies looking on torn between amusement at Pinkie and sadness for their new friend.

But just as their game was about to begin a blast of magic had Thunder scrambling away though the magic was not close enough to actually hurt the filly it was just a warning shot, which was quickly met another, but of darker magic. The dark pony who appeared was black with a light blue starry looking filled mane and tail with purple lining and light blue eyes. She wore battle armor in the form of a light blue helmet, matching necklace with a crescent moon in the center and matching hooveshoes that nearly went all the way up the front of her legs she bore a light blue crescent moon cutie mark with a splatter of purple behind it like the night sky.

Celestia stood protectively in front of her filly while the newcomer did the same to Thunder. Her violet eyes narrowed a little as she recognized the newcomer and her voice came out stiff and chilled "Nightmare..." and the newcomer smirked

"Celestia..." Nightmare Moon purred in response crouching to leap at the white alicorn, but froze when more ponies appeared in the grass, Cadance, Shining Armor: a white unicorn guard with a blue mane and tail with a light blue highlight and bright blue eyes he had light purple hooves and a dark purple shield which had a pink six pointed star in the center and three light blue stars arching across the top, wearing full golden armor the helmets feathered top matching Shining's mane were the first to arrive, followed by Granny Smith, who lost her wandering look for one of determination, and other guards.

Nightmare's eyes flickered across the group and she relaxed, she may be evil but she wasn't stupid, her eyes locked on Candance and she snorted "Still playing second fiddle eh Candance?" she chuckled as Candace's expression became one of barely controlled rage.

"Get out of our Pridelands" she hissed at Nightmare her eyes flashing as her hooves dung into the ground, Shining setting in front of her both in an effort to protect her and keep her back in case she did try to leap at the Outlander.

"Your Pridelands?" Nightmare raised an eyebrow her horn lighting up in an instant and blasting it toward Cadance, but Celestia blasted the dark magic with her own and after a brief sizzling the two powers cancelled each other out. "These lands belong to Discord!"

"I banished you from the Pridelands!" Celestia stepped forward, knowing she had the upper hand at the moment "Now you and your young foal, get out." Said filly let out a terrified squeak but Celestia barely spared the cowering blue filly a glance, the other fillys' eyes widening at what they were witnessing, but Nightmare was not going to back down easily.

"Oh, haven't you met my daughter, Thunder? She was born to be Discord's heir, to follow in his hoofprints and become ruler of the land" Nightmare spoke in her still confident purr, circling her filly and smirking at Celestia who merely glared back at her before turning her gaze to Thunder, who seeing Celestia's gaze on her crouched low in fear trembling and shaking.

"Pfft, that's no ruler, that a fuzzy maraca" Granny Smith snorted not even flinching when Nightmare glared in the elder pony's direction before returning her dark gaze to Celestia.

"Thunder is my first born, after you exiled us to the Outlands, where we have little food, less water" Nightmare's voice turned soft and sad, as if trying to gain Celestia's pity, but the white alicorn would not bend under her tricks.

"You know the penalty for returning to Pridelands" she said her body tensing her chin jerking up a little in stubbornness, she was as unbendable as steel but her words seemed to be just what Nightmare had been hoping for, because her smirk appeared a tiny bit and she nearly leapt on her next words her tone nearly a snarl as she spoke.

"But the foal does not! However, if you need your pound of flesh, here..." the Outland pony stepped behind the dark blue filly and pushed her toward Celestia's hooves with her snout, her smirk widening as Thunder cowered more and Celestia looked at her in confusion before her eyes narrow and she scowled at Nightmare.

"Take her and get out, we're finished here" Celestia said picking Twilight up with her magic and laying her down between her wings before turning back to a still smirking Nightmare Moon.

"Oh no Celestia, we have barely begun" the dark mare's eyes locked on Twilight and she chuckled causing the purple filly with cower on her mother's back. Nightmare then turned picking up Thunder quickly in her own magic and laying the filly on her back while the two parties parted ways, all of the fillies muttering an awkward goodbye as the adults took them away.

One Side Of The Coin....

The Pridelanders walked in silence toward Pride Rock Philomena flying over head, her red feather glinting like flame in the light of the setting sun, the journey from the border had taken longer than it should have due to the unspoken threat that Nightmare had given before she had left with Thunder, then they had the check the fillies for wounds thankfully other than being shaken up everyone seemed to be perfectly fine. Celestia stopped walking once Pride Rock stood as a tall medium-sized lump in the distance giving Candace a significant look. The pink Pegasus nodded with a slight smile nudging the other fillies along so she could make sure they got home safely. Celestia gently removed her daughter from her back setting her down on a smooth rock making sure Twilight had her hooves under her before completely releasing her magical hold.

Twilight slowly turned toward her mother her ears flat against her head and her tail flicking nervously. She let out an uneasy chuckle and gave her mother the widest most innocent smile she could muster, but her mother face remained in its firm frown of disapproval causing the smile to fade.

"Twilight what did you think you were doing? You could've gotten killed today" Celestia finally spoke her disapproval easing away to worry and fear her rigged posture relaxing.

"But Mommy... I... I didn't mean to..." Twilight mumbled shuffling her hooves in shame because she had caused her mother and everyone else who had worried over her while they had run off for adventure. Twilight might be a very smart filly but she WAS still a filly.

"I'm telling you this because I love you, I don't want to lose you if something happened to you I don't know what I'd do" Celestia said softly nuzzling her foal even as Twilight mumbled understanding of her words. "One day, I won't be here and I need you to carry on in my place, you are a part of the great circle of-"

"Circle of life I know" Twilight rolled her eyes with a sigh, wondering when she would finally get the chance to stop hearing that silly phrase, it wasn't just her mother who said it either, every pony seemed to know it but Twilight just didn't get it life wasn't a circle, it was a straight line.

"Exactly and you need to be careful as future Queen-" Celestia began once again but Twilight was quick to cut her off a second time.

"What if I don't want to be queen!" She spat out angrily turning away from her mother before letting out a burst of air and continuing in a more measured tone "It's no fun" she looked down at her hooves pouting a little.

Celestia straightened looking more curious than upset at her words "That's like saying you don't want to be a pony, it's in your blood as I am, we are part of each other" But when her words seemed to make no impact on the filly Celestia leaned down and pushed her forward with her snout sending Twilight sliding off the rock sending her into a pile of white dandelions, the small seeds flying into the air and on the breeze.

Twlight blinked in surprise moving her tail out of her eyes to look at her mother in confusion, but instead of answering in words Celestia merely grinned innocently at her, the purple filly grinning nervously back, getting up and walking over to her mother to rub lovingly into her fur.

Celestia smiled at Twilight and then straightened up looking toward a small blue bird nest. "As you go through life you'll see there is so much that we don't understand" They both watched a baby bird flutter out of the nest and hurry toward the end of the branch to play on the leaves, Twilight smiled widely at the display. "And the only thing we know is things don't always go the way we planned." Suddenly the mother bird flew in front of the baby bird and gave it a disapproving look, which it returned with an unhappy glare of its own but went back to its nest with its siblings, Twilight frowning as the mother bird sat on her babies to keep them warm, Celestia however didn't see Twilight's unhappiness already trotting up a large rock formation Twilight following slowly after. "But you'll see every day that we'll never turn away when it seems all your dreams come undone." The pair watched in interest as a mother wildebeest nudging her baby so it could practice walking puling it up by its tail when it merely slumped back down on the ground. "We will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride we are more than we are we are one." The baby wildebeest began slowly, getting used to the feeling of moving but soon it was running in wild abandon only to be herded back the way it had come by its mother as Celestia leapt from the rock, Twilight scrambling down to follow curious to see where they were going. The pair trotted past several families of animals including a group of monkey eating small bugs and three hippos playing in the water as they walked across a sturdy log.

Twilight watched her reflection in the water stopping to get a better look "If there's so much I must be can I still just be me the way I am?" She looked up at her mother who simply gave her a kind smile walking toward the end of the log, but Twilight didn't move, studying her own reflection hard, until a large fish leapt out of the water and made a splash. "Can I trust in my own heart or am I just one part of some big plan?" She looked at her mother pleadingly begging with her eyes for the answers she sought, looking over her should toward the sky as a large V of birds flew overhead squawking and chirping noisily. Finding no answers within reach Twilight quickly cantered after her mother who sat on a fallen tree looking at a lone star glinting in the setting sun.

"Even those who are gone are with us as we go on your journey has only begun" Celestia smiled down at Twilight, who had just sat down beside her, of course in this moment she was speaking of two ponies, the brave and courageous Sombra who was her father, and the just and loyal Starswirl who was her grandfather, Twilight would never knew either of them in the living world but they would always be there as a part of her willing and ready to guide her. "Tears of pain, tears of joy one thing nothing can destroy is our pride, deep inside we are one" Celestia lifted her head to feel the breeze ruffle her fur before getting up and trotting off once again, Twilight eagerly following, for the moment her dilemma forgotten just enjoying chasing her mother, who stopped from time to time before she got to far ahead. They passed several herds as they raced across the Pridelands zebras, antelopes, giraffe, elephants, and two ostriches who appeared to be celebrating a new hatchling stuck out the most in Celestia's mind as they neared Pride Rock. "We are one, you and I we are like the earth and sky one family under the sun" Celestia felt her hooves grow damp as she stepping into a puddle creating a quiet splash, smiling a little as she hear two smaller splashes soon after her own. She half leapt half ran along the path toward Pride Rock stopping just before the back entrance to the rocky outcrop. "All the wisdom to lead all the courage that you need you will find when you see we are one" Celestia stood proudly her smile fading to confusion as she looked at the scared and worried look on Twilight's face. She looked back seeming Pride Rock and for a moment she was still before a bemused smile came to her face and she walked toward her filly.

"As long as you live here, it's who you are you'll understand one day" she assured her nuzzling Twilight before turning and leaping up to go inside Pride Rock pausing just before she went out of sight to give Twilight one last smile.

Twilight sighed but her sadness was put on hold as a happy carefree chirping reached her ears, it was the little blue bird! Twirling and flying happily in the air the bird circled Twilight seeming to show off to her as it performed twists and loop de loops before continuing to fly away. Twilight watched it go sadly for a few moments before a small smile found its way to her face, well at least one of them got the freedom they craved.

Twilight watched the setting sun, knowing her mothers magic was weaved in the bright ball of fire still so mystified at her mothers power. Twilight thought back to that moment with the strange outsider, Nightmare... who was she, what did she have to do with Discord, and just who was that filly they had met. Nightmare had said she was Discord's child, but just who was she, she seemed rude and violent when they had met at first and yet knowing very little about Twilight she was willing to risk her life to save Twilight. The purple filly sighed watching the sky as the stars began to appear, she wondered if Thunder looked at the stars sometimes and wondered about the Pridelands the way she wondered about the Outlands, why did they have to fight? Maybe she'd ask her mother tomorrow, though her mother mentioned very little of the Outsiders Thunder didn't seem so bad, they might've even became friends.

Twilight sighed again watching the few stars out this early twinkle, wondering if one of them might be her father "Father...I know we don't talk all that much, but... I'm lost, Mommy tries her best to help me understand but I just don't know what I'm meant to do, I haven't gotten my cutie mark and every time I try to be a leader I always mess it up. Who are the Outsiders, why is Mommy fighting with them? Is Thunder my enemy? How long are we going to fight? What are we even fighting for" Twilight was quiet a moment waiting for a reply she knew would never come "I just don't understand...."

Cadance cleared her throat lightly causing Twilight to jump, she had not heard Cadance approach. "You alright?" the pink pony asked softly sitting down beside the heir and looking up at the sky wondering about her uncle Sombra, would he be in stars after what had happened to him? She hoped so, he was a great king before he was corrupted.

"Just talking to my daddy, sort of" Twilight shuffled her hooves a little "Were we always fighting with the Outsiders like this?" she turned toward her foalsitter curiously, she knew very little about it as she had been born into it and didn't really question it, but now she realized that was just silly, there had to be peace once...right?

Cadance shook her head "Well as much as I think your mother should be telling you this I suppose you have a right to know anyways" she smiled at Twilight, she had always thought of her more as a little sister than their future ruler or her little cousin. "I never actually met your grandfather, but from what I've heard of him he was a great pony: considerate, smart, and kind, he was admired and had many the entire kingdom following him without hesitation when your mother and Nightmare were born" Cadance pulled Twilight close to her wrapping a wing around her to shield her from the coming chill of night. "Nightmare back then had been called Luna, and she had the ability to raise and lower the moon like your mother does the sun, she had gotten that from your grandmother I believe as Starswirl could only control the sun" she shook her head a moment "But anyways, though Starswirl was beloved by all of his subject there was one who wanted him gone" Cadance looked toward stone statue of Discord with a slight frown. "Though Discord had already been defeated once and was never really a harmful presence, as in he didn't go around harming animals or ponies, he thrived on chaos and thus made it impossible for things like food to grow when Starswirl defeated him the first time with the Elements of Harmony, mystical objects of power that bring order and power to those who wield them, and are in turn Discord's greatest weakness."

Twilight listened in awe picking her grandfather fighting the large snake-like statue that rested near Pride Rock looking up at Cadance as she spoke and snuggling into her wing like she always did while Cadance told her stories.

"Instead of casing Discord in stone Starswirl banished Discord from the Pridelands, many didn't agree with his decision given what Discord had done but Starswirl felt that with the Elements of Harmony around Discord wouldn't try another attack and as the years went by in peace the kingdom began to relax" the pink pony however didn't relax instead her back growing stiff as some of the light that mirth had brought faded from her eyes. "But things began to go down hill after your mother, a little bit older than you, began to gain your grandfathers favor after your grandmother passed, Luna began to grow jealous that ponies preferred spending time in your mother's daylight and slept all during her night. I'm not sure how but Discord seemed to sense this and slowly began to make her jealousy grow more and more, until in a few years time Nightmare was born, she challenged your grandfather to a duel and was defeated but her anger, jealousy, and hatred managed to break the Elements, which was all Discord needed to return. He and Starswirl battled magic to magic and your grandfather was slain, using his last breath to turn Discord to stone."

"Nightmare had returned to Pride Rock, and lied about the death of Starswirl saying that he had died protecting your mother and herself from Discord, claiming your mother had died with him while Nightmare herself managed to encase Discord in stone. A few ponies had believe Nightmare and served her without question she turned her dark magic to turn them into some sort of batpony who, like herself, thrived in the darkness. Those like your father and myself weren't so sure of her claims and your father went with me to find help, and through Starswirl will it seemed, I found your mother, she had begun living in a paradise with a warthog and meerkat. We begged her to return now knowing Nightmare's words be long, and I believe this is where your mother and father may have fallen in love" Candace looked down at Twilight and grinned chuckling a little at the disgusted look on her face. "At first your mother was determined to stay, saying something about Hakuna Matata, and she might have stayed just like she wanted if your father hadn't started to suffer from Discord and Nightmare's evil influence, your father tried very hard to make it seem like he was invincible, but even though his heart was strong, he was beginning to become corrupted by dark magic" Cadance gave Twilight a reassuring squeeze with her wing for the both of them before continuing.

"Your mother then realized just what was on the line if she did not return and joined us on our journey back here, Your mother challenged Nightmare for control of Pride Rock just as a fire broke out, revealing all of her lies and defeated her sealing her ability to control the moon, sending Nightmare and her followers into exile in the Outlands and regaining control of the Elements of Harmony in the end, unfortunately she was not quick enough to save your father and the dark magic in his heart turned him nearly as evil as Nightmare, fighting your mother as flames continued to consume Pride Rock, just as your father was about to land a fatal blow, I personally think some goodness inside him still remain, he hesitated and your mother throw him over the top of Pride Rock he disappeared in flames and never came back out..." Cadance nuzzled Twilight slightly when she heard the filly sniffle.

"I wish you had gotten the chance to meet your father I know he'd be proud of you, he was a lot like you, but those brains came from your mother" Cadance winked trying to lighten the mood and was rewarded with a shaky smile and a large yawn "Come on Twilight, we should get you to bed, you have a busy day tomorrow" the pink pony nudged Twilight toward Pride Rock unaware of Nightmares plans in the Outlands just hours before.

Author's Note

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter I decided to use one song in this chapter and the next song in the next just so it's not so 'song heavy' this song obviously being We Are One, teaching young Twilight Sparkle the way of the circle of life and family, the part at the end is stuff that I added in because I thought you'd guess would like to hear more 'history' and I felt that Twilight wouldn't be satisfied with a musical number XD hope you liked it :D

...Flips Like The Other

The deep Outlands changed very little from the outskirts if anything they grew worse, at least on the outskirts water had some presence while the farther you walked from it the dryer the land became until the land was hard as rock and cracked with dryness. Nothing grew here but the few trees who managed to find a home here never bloomed, instead they remained leafless and their branches twisted into dark hands. All over the dead landscape the only thing that outnumbered the sun bleached bones that dotted the ground were the ponies that lived there and the termites that lived on the ponies. Very few of the ponies there were actual batponies, Nightmare gave the title to her most loyal followers, one of which were called Onyx Gemstone a black unicorn stallion with tints of green on his hooves and a white strip on his neck he had green eyes. He had a black and green mane with a matching tail, though he didn't possess wings he was one of Nightmare's most trusted ponies and was known for his twisted evil mind. The second was a purple former Pegasus now turned flying batpony stallion named Blazing Fury, he known for his tall size and bright red mane and tail which darker red accents. He had light purple patches on his chest, face, back, and left leg he had dark brown eyes and a small goatee of red that matched his mane and his left ear had a chip in it at the top splitting it into a V shape. Blazing, obvious to everyone except Nightmare, was deeply in love with the mare and strived to try to gain her favor and attention in hopes of becoming her mate, which caused him to grow jealous of Thunder who seemed to be the only pony that Nightmare paid attention too.

Blazing walked toward a thin tree passing a few ponies fighting over a stick for their training and a third pony digging in the ground in hopes of finding something to eat most of Nightmare's herd however were just trying to avoid the heat by laying in the shadows of the termite mounds. "Thunder, Thunder, Thunder Discord didn't even raise her, he was a statue even before she was born" he complained smirking as he spotted a young red filly named Red Comet with a short muted red-purple mane with dark pink accents and a matching tail with light yellow eyes, she was an earth pony and like most of the ponies that lived here she was thinner then she should be but where most of the ponies here were usually blood thirsty and filled with rage Red mostly just trained and fought because it was all she knew. But despite this as Blazing was walking over she was tugging hard on the root of the dead tree growling as she waited for her play mate Thunder to return.

"Oh hey Red, where's the little termite Thunder, the chosen one?" Blazing sneered but when Red only responded with a glare Blazing pushed on it and easily breaking the weak root to send Red sprawling, causing Blazing to laugh as the filly struggled for a moment to shift from her back to her hooves once again.

"Blazing, where's Thunder? Did you leave her out there on her own again? Red glared openly at Blazing as she stormed almost importantly over to the much larger pony who was now studying the root.

"Hey it's every pony for himself out here that little termite has to learn to be on her own" Blazing snorted sitting down to scratch hard at the actual termites biting at his skin, he seemed to suffer the worst from the small creatures.

"Nightmare's going to be mad, she told you to watch her!" Red's voice grew harder, she didn't get a lot of attention from Nightmare either but unlike Blazing she was content with that, she was just happy that she got to play with Thunder.

"Oh who cares, I should've been the chosen one," Blazing complained which continuing to scratch at his fur "I'm her greatest supporter, I'm the strongest, I'm the smartest- OH THESE TERMITES!!!" Blazing nearly screamed the last part biting and rolling around to try to ease the itch that crawled over his skin. "I could be a leader if she's just give me a chance" Blazing continued dragging himself along the ground toward Red.

Red however merely smirked at him "Yeah right" she replied with a snort and a roll of her eyes, clearly not believing him "Why don't you tell that to her" she challenged, knowing he'd take her bait.

"Yeah? Don't think I won't!" He sat up taller puffing his chest out a little with an air of importance as he stuck his nose in the air causing Red to chuckle at his expense.

"Oh yeah? Well here's your chance" Red watching with dark satisfaction as Blazing faces turned from arrogant condescension to confusion and surprise, unlike Blazing who had been facing Red, Red has seen Nightmare's approach with Thunder placed protectively between her wings.

"What?" Blazing turned spotting the same thing that Red saw and smiled widely "Nightmare, Nightmare hi!" he let out a nervous laugh as he bound toward the dark mare. "Nightmare I found you some apples for your dinner I left it over by the uh.... um... okay..." his eager expression faded a little as Nightmare passed him without a glance but he quickly regained his smile and dashed after her as she set Thunder on the ground near Red.

"Hey Thunder, wanna fight?" Red crouched growling playfully as Thunder found her hooves and grinned eager to play, growling back at Red, either one noticing at first when Nightmare, now free of the burden of Thunder turned to Blazing with a stormy expression.

"You were supposed to be watching her!" Nightmare roared in an angry booming voice as dark magic sparked from her horn, Blazing cowered backing away as he lowered himself to the ground to make himself seem less threatening.

Thunder looked back feeling bad for the bat pony and stood straight again from her play bow "I-It's not his fault, I went off on my own" she mumbled yelping a little as Nightmare turned toward her, though her horn lost its magical coating she was still a very scary presence.

"What were you doing?" She glared walking toward Thunder, who began backing away the second she started forward, Red scrambling out of harms way behind the small tree she had been attacking before, cowering and trembling at the threat of Nightmare's anger.

"N-Nothing" Thunder stammered keeping her body low to the ground as she backed away.

"Who has made us Outsiders?" Nightmare questioned uncaring of Thunder's fear.

"Celestia" Thunder answer fearfully sitting back in her hind hooves as she tried to look into her mother's eyes

"Who took away our chance to rule?" she kept moving forward, causing Thunder to fall onto her back.

"Celestia!" Thunder yelled back scooting away on her back in a desperate attempt to put space between them.

"What have I told you about them!" Nightmare finished nearly panting with her rage but even though she made no attempt to attack Thunder she still flinched covering her head protectively with her hooves.

"I'm sorry Mother" Thunder moved her hooves when she realized that her mother wasn't going to strike her or use her magic against her "uh...they didn't seem so bad...I-I th-thought we could be..."

"Friends!?!" Nightmare sneered leaning close to Thunder making her cower again, her eyes widening with fear before she straightened again and began circling Thunder's form like a vulture. "You thought you'd get to the daughter and Celestia would welcome you with open hooves? What an idea" she rolled her eyes toward the sky stopping and scoffing before her eyes widened and a dark smile creeped across her face. "What an idea!" she leaned close to Thunder causing the filly to gasp in surprise before pulling her toward her with Thunder's tail, pushing Thunder into a sitting position against her front legs. "You brilliant child, I'm so proud of you" she nuzzled Thunder roughly, not even attempting to make sure her horn wasn't scrapping against Thunder, making the filly groan in pain. "You have the same conniving mind that made Discord so...powerful" her voice was back to a loving purr, growling for a moment when Blazing made a noise of disgust, making him chuckle nervously, before picking up Thunder in her magic and heading toward her den.

Blazing only relaxed when Nightmare was turned completely away, scoffing under his breath "ugh, chosen one" he snorted glaring at his hooves as Red crept out of her hiding place and followed Nightmare, Blazing taking up the rear.

Nightmare dropped Thunder, who grunted at the impact, on her nest a small stump that had a tall torn up back and slightly arching rims, almost like a throne. "I now see the path to our glorious return to power!" she spoke softly but her voice echoed in the large space, while several ponies who were nearby stomped their hooves in approval.

"But I don't want-" Thunder began but Nightmare quickly cut her off

"Hush!" she snapped before her voice turned soft as butter once again "Hush, my little one, you must be exhausted." she purred moving Thunder's tail so it curled around her. "Sleep, my little Thunder let your dreams take wing, one day when you're big and strong you will be a queen" Nightmare nuzzled Thunder softly making the filly smile.

"Good night..." she mumbled her smile wavering with sleepiness.

Nighmare smiled back "Good night my little princess, tomorrow your training intensifies." She answered a confident smirk appearing on her face as she headed deeper in her den sliding through the darkness like she was born in it "I've been exiled, persecuted left alone with no defense when I think of what that brute did I get a little tense" she leapt through her den her anger growing until, thinking of what Celestia had done her horn burn with magic. "But I dream a dream so pretty that I don't feel so depressed cause it soothes my inner filly and it helps me get some rest" she passed some of her loyal followers who watched her as she walked, though she paid them no heed climbing and leaping through her den, her hatred leaving her as she pictured her favorite daydream. "The sound of Celestia's dying gasp" Blazing, in another attempt to gain her favor flopped down with a loud gasp as Nightmare leapt down onto an upraised flat platform of stone. "her daughter squealing in my grasp" Red, who had been making fun of Blazing, was picked up by the batpony, and at once began to squirm out of his grip "her ponies' mournful cry, that's my lullaby" She walked onto a sharp outcrop of stone." Now the past I've tried forgetting and my foes I could forgive trouble is, I knows it's petty but I hate to let them live" She watched a small line of termites before smashing them with a hoof.

Blazing walked over and eager grin on his face as he grew closer "So you found yourself somepony who'd chase Celestia up a tree" he nodded excitedly as Nightmare looked at him putting a hoof under his chin.

"Oh, the battle may be bloody, but that kind of works for me" Nightmare shoved Blazing backward the bat pony letting out a yell of surprise but Nightmare was unconcerned sliding down the outcrop a wide grin on her face. "The melody of angry growls a counterpoint of painful howls a symphony of death, oh my! That's my lullaby" her supporters roared and stomped their hooves in approval, hearing, before she stepped on Blazing's tail as he was shaking the dust from him fur to make him howl in pain. "Discord is gone... but Nightmare's still around to love this little lass till she learns to be a killer with a lust for being bad!" Nightmare looked toward the sky as she spoke, approaching the now fast asleep giving her an almost loveable lick before she pointed her horn at the wall next to them and blasting it with her magic, which didn't seem to disturb the filly.

The blast of magic made the den very dark and from the shadows several ponies watched Thunder sleep, Blazing and Red coming from the shadows to see the heir, Blazing reaching her first "Sleep, ya little termite!" he sneered, before realizing he was being watched and trying to cover for himself "Uh-- I mean, precious little thing!" but Red merely knocked him aside as his loud voice had caused Thunder to shift in her sleep.

"One day when you're big and strong" Red gently moved Thunder's mane out of her face not noticing Blazing get up and start to reach toward her to punish her for what she had done, but both of them were quickly distracted by Nightmare once again who was now on a tall spike of rock almost touching the ceiling of the den.

"You will be a queen!" Nightmare cheered pulling on a root and allowing a stream of light fill the den, putting the sleeping Thunder under a natural spot light. Nightmare's supporters creep from the shadows to get a good look at their chosen one, while Nightmare began to stamp her hooves on the ground beneath her in her joy." The pounding of the drums of war, the thrill of Thunder's dark power" pony all around the den leapt across the stream of light imagining their enemies there with them.

Blazing stood tall nearly roaring his words a mad grin on his face "The joy of vengeance" but he was quickly outshined by Red who leapt into the air.

"Testify!" she cheered while Blaze glared at her back.

Nightmare grinned widely "I can hear the cheering" she put a hoof to her ear waiting.

"Thunder! What a pony!" the group cheered, though Blazing didn't have any enthusiasm in his voice unlike the others.

"Payback time is nearing and then our flag will fly against a blood-red sky that's my lullaby!" Nightmare broke the small hole she had made making it larger so she could squeeze through it and sit on top of the den, cheering loudly, others who had done the same and even those on the ground made a ruckus in agreement and joy at her words.

Author's Note

this is introducing some of the outlanders, though one only by name, Onyx will have a larger role in the future however which is why he's mentioned now, he is an OC of a friend of mine while Blazing Fury is a pony I made up on my own so please don't take offense if it just happens to be a pony you made it wasn't may intention, and Red and Thunder are not related in this one either for those of you reading my other story

The Plans Cross

Time passed steadily and the young fillies grew into healthy young mares, Twilight continued to hunger for knowledge learning the ways of ruling under her mother's kind tutoring. Rainbow Dash grew to be one of the fastest flyers in all of the Pridelands though she also grew a rather large ego she was still loyal to the core. Rarity found joy in her family's business of clothes making and was know not only her sophistication but her wonderful fashions. Fluttershy continued to care for animals, helping them make dens and gather food when she could she was the first pony to talk to when animal behavior was brought into question. Pinkie Pie, though still a hyperactive party pony that loved to make people smile, she also began to learn to make sweets and other food item from a kind couple with two foals of their own. Applejack changed the least out of the six, she still worked her families land without tire with her brother and little sister, their granny did little work due to her age but her mind was still sharp as a thorn. But despite all their changes the girls remained close as could be helping each other and everyone else when problems would arise, each of them baring one element from Starswirls famed Elements of Harmony but the mares were more like family before they even discovered their other connection.

But there was more something dark growing on the horizon, that Zecora knew well, she sat inside her tree house listening at the wind blow gently as she mixed paints and talked with the spirit of Starswirl the Bearded. "Oh Starswirl everyday Twilight grows more beautiful, into a queen that will someday make us all very proud" she lifted her hoof dashing a bit of blue above the heads of a group of painted ponies: one was light blue one the right most edge, one pink, one yellow, one orange, one purple, and one white but then she turned her gaze to the pony she had painted next to them closest tot the light blue painting, this one was dark blue and unfinished, she began mixing her paints again. "But this filly Thunder grows stronger, and Nightmare fills her heart with hate" she dragged her hoof down creating the black stripe missing from the paintings mane then dashing the black across the paintings heart. "I'm very worried Starswirl, things are not going well...no" She mumbled wiping her hoof clean but looking up as she felt a strong burst of wind run through her mane and shaking her gourds. "Hmm? You have a plan?" She questioned watching the gourds shake until one finally fell free from its bunch and hit the ground cracking in two and sitting below the painting one half on Thunder's side the other pointing toward the light blue painting. "What?" Zecora picked up the chucks of gourd then looked at her painting "Rainbow Dash...and Thunder...together? This is the plan?" she questioned softly as she brought the two halves together with her hooves. "Are you crazy? This will never work, Oh Starswirl you've been up there to long your head is in the clouds" Zecora set the broken gourd down and shake her head in disbelief at the suggestion. But the wind picked up again nearly blowing Zecora off her hooves "Okay okay okay okay alright okay!" She gave in trying to remain upright until the wind, hearing her admittance of defeat, calmed once more "I don't think this is going to work, but I trust you, I just hope you know what you are doing!" she added yelling toward the wind that seemed to be leaving her tree home and with it, the spirit of Starswirl.

Meanwhile in the Outlands

Nightmare smirked as she began to circle the strong form of a dark blue mare sitting on top of a small chunk of stone "You are ready" she praised studying the steady ripple of dark and chaotic magic that surrounded Thunder's body "Nice, very nice" she chuckled "You have the same blackness in your soul that Discord had" she noted finally look up into Thunder emotionless eyes that we fixed at a point on the wall beyond staring straight ahead as she sat rigged at attention. "What is your destiny?" Nightmare suddenly asked her smirk growing a little wider at the question.

"I will avenge Discord, take his place in the Pridelands" Thunder responded her voice cold as ice as she spoke, her brows coming down into a hardened expression though her eyes continued to reveal little of her own thoughts.

"Yes, what have I taught you?" Nightmare quizzed continuing to circle the mare still.

"Celestia is the enemy" Thunder nearly snarled on the name alone.

"And what must you do?" Nightmare stopped staring at the mare, waiting almost eagerly for the answer.

"I must kill her" Thunder's words were nearly drowned out at the response of Nightmare followers voicing their approval of her words by stamping their hooves or just yelling with sick joy, Nightmare personally puffed up a little in pride.

In the Pridelands

Twilight slowly walked down the path from Pride Rock smiling sheepishly as other ponies wished her luck and complimented her, her friends included though their praise and words had a stronger impact on her. Today was the day she was going to survey the Pridelands on her own, a sort of test to she what she had learned from her mother all these years. Zecora greeted her warmly with a smile gesture for her to go to her mother's side while Philomena and a young owl that Twilight was taking care of named Owlowiscious looked on her with pride. Even Twilight other companion a young dragon, purple with green eyes and matching frills and a light green chin and underbelly, named Spike was present even though the young lizard usually slept until noon if allowed. Cadence stepped toward her first, giving Twilight and affectionate nuzzle and a few words of encouragement before stepping back to rejoin her mate, Shining Armor, who at once began to rub Cadence's swollen belly. "Mom? You have to promise that you won't get in the way, promise?" Twilight said softly, after their adventure in the Outlands and their meeting with Nightmare, Celestia had become very protective of Twilight. Twilight understood why, but she also knew she could learn to rule a kingdom tucked under her mothers wings.

Celestia looked up into her daughter's hopeful eyes before glancing at Cadence, who raised an eyebrow, causing Celstia to sigh "Alright, I promise" she smiled as Twilight bound forward the last bit of space separating them and nuzzled her mother lovingly, causing Spike to burst into tears as Twilight cantered away looking back to give her mother a bright smile before leaping down and out of sight from those gathered to witness the moment. Celestia walking to the edge of Pride Rock to watch her daughter canter out of sight, worry already clouding her eyes.

Twilight walked quietly through some tall grass, not wanting to disturb a grazing herd of antelope, but despite her attempts her back hoof crunched on a stick and she had to leap out-of-the-way to avoid getting any part of her stepped on.

Inside Discord's Former Lair

Blazing and Onyx walked through what appeared to be a large archway of bones, Red following silently behind them, they were here to gather supplies for their plan to get Thunder inside Celestia's herd.

Blazing glanced around in disgust "Ehh... This place is even creepier since the hyenas ran off" he complained idly scratching his leg with a hoof causing both Onyx and Red to roll their eyes and snort at the prima donna. "I'm not scared, okay?" he glared at the two as the leapt down toward their target but just as he spoke steam hiss up through on of the vents causing him to yelp and quickly follow. "I just don't know why we have to be here that's all if Thunder is so special why does she need us?" the batpony had started to walk toward the pair but another hiss of air sent him jumping. "I never even had a chance!" flame burst behind Blazing as he spoke nearly lighting his tail on fire and causing the batpony to scamble toward the pair whimpering as he covered his eyes in fear.

Onyx looked at Red and rolled his eyes again as their sticks were lit by the same sort of flames "That's it" he smirked picking up his stick and Red did the same both glaring at the quivering Blazing.

"Come on" Red growled around her burning stick "Twilight has started her survey, we have to move quickly" she began following Onyx out of the caves while Blazing looked into the hole that had burned their sticks getting caught in the next waves of flame that burst up .

"Ah fire!" he cheered and laughing madly as he hurried to catch up to the others his coat and mane singed and sticking straight up into the air.

Twilight's Survey

Unaware of what was currently coming her way Twilight continued moving through the Pridelands making note of anything she saw that might interest her mother later. She froze as she spotted another herd of antelope, being careful to watch her hooves this time she began to get closer to them. But just as she were about to make them aware of her presence one of them straightened flicking his ear up and looking around and then the entire herd began running around. Curious about what could have spooked them she looked around, her eyes widening as she spotted a pack of Timberwolves, turning tail nearly as fast at the herb she began to run, hearing the pack give chase. She wasn't sure how long she had been running from the pack but once she managed to scare them away with her magic she stopped panting to catch her breath looking around and seeing nothing she knew and unaware she was being watched.

The Outlanders leapt down from their stone perch and began dragging their burning sticks through the tall grass to set it ablaze. Red dragging her stick in a quick straight line before leaping off to light some more grass on fire.

Blazing however seemed to be having a little too much fun on the job, singing "Roasty toast the princess" while he trapped himself in a ring of fire. "Hey it hot in here or is that just me?" he looked around realizing his trap before leaping out of the flames bellowing with laughter.

Onyx took hold of Blazing in his magic looking annoyed "Come on!" he huffed tossing Blazing back toward where they came so that they wouldn't get spotted by Twilight.

Twilight had already began to sense something was wrong, the animals that usually avoided contact were starting to run toward her, looking around them she saw the bright orange tongues of fire eating up the ground, coming straight for her! Turning around again she began to run with everything she had, hoping to avoid the burning flames.

Nightmare and Thunder sat high above the flames watching their handy work come to life "The plan is in motion, go!" she ordered without looking, not that she had to because Thunder was already leaping into the flames ready to play her part.

Back at Pride Rock

Celestia's nerves were stretched to the breaking point, Twilight should've been back by now she paced the outcrop of stone anxiously while Philomena and Cadence tried to ease her fears.

"Don't worry Celestia, she'll be fine what could happen?" Cadance, though worried herself, didn't let it show for Celestia's sake, but as Celestia turned to respond she gasped her eyes turning into tiny pin pricks of color. Cadence turned but then greatly wished she hadn't, rising toward the sky was a thick black smoke.

"No, No! Twilight!" the queen yelled "Philomena, Rainbow Dash, fly ahead, find her!" Celestia order bounding off Pride Rock as fast as she could manage, the other, who had also been waiting for Twilight's return, assure Candence they'd bring her home then followed their queen.

Twilight

Twilight was trying so hard to avoid the flames but it seemed everywhere she turned there was only more of it, and the panicking animals were little help either, she had to be careful or one of them would hit her. She continued to run, her body growing weak for inhaling the smoke and coughing when she spotting a small stone platform, and desperate leapt for it, her hooves digging into the crumbling surface as with one last burst of strength she pulled herself up and at once flopped to her side.

Thunder walked toward the unconscious form of Twilight Sparkle and saw her stir, briefly making eye contact before falling unconscious once more. Thunder turned her head back with a hoof glancing around briefly before pulling her onto her back, she wouldn't be able to fly with the added weight but she was fast enough even without her wings. And soon Thunder leapt from their stone haven, which was quickly becoming covered flames as well and began running through the blazing trees. She skidded slightly to a halt as a limb fell from one of the trees and into her path, growling slightly she turned and leapt from a cliff, losing Twilight as they fell into the water below. Thunder surfaced briefly, just long enough to see Twilight going under the water, a slight moment of panic filled her eyes before she took a deep breath and dived under as well surfacing moments later Twilight held tightly in her teeth, though gently enough not to break the skin. Thunder grunted beginning to drag the princess toward shore, unaware of the eyes in the sky. Philomena spotted and at once turned flying back toward her master with the news. Thunder finally made it to dry land dropping Twilight on safe ground, who began to cough to try to rid her lungs of not only the smoke but water as well.

Twilight groaned, her eyes opening slowly "Where am I?" she managed to ask not yet having the energy to get up from her laid down position but she did move her eyes to look at the pony who was now her rescuer.

"You're safe, in the Pridelands" Thunder informed her a cocky grin appearing on her face as though she knew just what this meant and enjoyed it.

"The Pridelands?" Twilight sat up suddenly, spotting Thunder's cocky grin and glaring "I don't need to be rescued who do you think you are?" She stepped toward the other mare, who backed up leaving space between them even as she scoffed.

"I think I'm the one who just saved your life" Thunder replied a look of shock and disbelief on her face at Twilight's reaction.

"Look, I had everything under control" Twilight began to counter but Thunder interrupted her with a cocky snort.

"Not from where I'm standing" Thunder's response with only served to make Twilight angrier.

"Then move downwind" She replied starting to turn and walk away but Thunder, growling a little to herself leapt in her path and when Twilight would try another route Thunder would cut her off again still smirking that cocky smirk.

Finally having enough of their little game Thunder straighten cocking a brow at Twilight "What are you doing?" she asked watching as Twilight's face turned from anger, to confusion, and finally to recognition.

Twilight smiled a little easing from her tense crouch, finally recognizing the mare who stood before her "Thunder?" She asked to which the mare smiled but their reunion was interrupted rather quickly.

"Twilight!" Celestia bound into sight her horn glowing with magic as she stared Thunder down, Rarity racing over with the other element bearers to make sure Twilight was alright. "No more surveys for you not ever" the worried queen declared making Twilight's eyes widen slightly.

"But I was doing just fine, even before Thunder-" Twilight began, but Celestia's stunned voice cut her off.

"Thunder?" The two stood their ground, magic flowing between them, waiting for one to make the first move while Rarity tried to calm them both down.

"Hey you, how dare you save the queen's daughter" Zecora called, finally managing to distract them from what would've easily became a fight.

"You saved her? Why?" Celestia studied Thunder with distrust, her horn humming in case she needed to fight after all.

"I humbly ask, to join your herd" Thunder sat up straight stepping back as Celestia stepped forward, her horn flashing.

"No, you were banished with other Outsiders" Celestia said as she continued to advance until Thunder spoke again.

"I have left the Outsiders, I'm a rogue, judge me now for who I am, or an I to be blamed for a crime I didn't commit?" Thunder challenged, making Celestia pace as she tried to think.

"Mom, you owe her my life" Twilight intervened "we're in her debt, and royal protocol demands that all debts be paid" now sure that their friend was safe the other element barers began to study Thunder, they too remembering their old friend from so long ago
.

"My father's law will prevail, for now I reserve judgement, we'll see who you really are" Celestia glance at the mare before turning back and heading toward Pride Rock.

Thunder glanced toward the element bearers who gave her a happy smile in return as the followed Celestia back toward their home, no one noticed the way that Thunder's smirk widened as she walked behind Celestia.

The group reached Pride Rock at nightfall and began entering the main den the herd usually slept together here, except for those who were going to give birth soon like Cadance who slept in a lower den with Shining, he refused to leave her side this close to birth, Thunder watched a few of the ponies entering the main den before trying to follow but a sharp glare from Celestia made her turn and seek shelter in the shadow of a pile of stone near the side of the outcrop.

Twilight watched her for a moment, sending the others inside she walked over giving the mare a smile "Hey uh...." she lost her words a moment when Thunder turned to look at her "thanks for saving me today" she finished lamely looking surprised when Thunder snorted.

"What sort of unicorn are you anyway princess? You almost got yourself killed out there" Thunder rolled her eyes a little sitting up to look Twilight in the eyes. "You wouldn't last three days on your own" she added smirking at her.

"Oh and I suppose you could teach me?" Twilight challenged with a raised brow her expression cool and calm.

Thunder chuckled "Uh yeah...I could teach all six of you" Thunder boasted starting to walk toward the edge of the outcrop hear Celestia call for Twilight.

"Coming!" Twilight shouted back before smirking and leaping in front of Thunder "Alright, I'll gather the girls at dawn, impress me" her smirk widening a little at the surprised look on Thunder's face as Twilight walked into the main den.

Thunder watched her retreating back, now recovered from her surprise, flashed to her usual smirk, and chuckled lightly "I look forward to it" she nearly purred, watching as she disappeared from sight.

Nightmare and Onyx watched the display on a branch of a tall tree that faced the outcrop of Pride Rock, Nightmare with pride and Onyx with disbelief.

"Did you see that, she let her go! If that were me-" the unicorn began his horn pulsing with magic Nightmare gently cut him off, mostly because they had to whisper to not be detected.

"Hush" She whispered "The fire rescue worked perfectly and Celestia fell for now the closer Thunder gets to the others... the closer she gets to Celestia...and once she has Celestia alone!" Nightmare blasted a branch behind Onyx with her magic smirking widely.

Celestia, currently unaware of her life hanging in the balance was having nightmare. She ran to the end of a cliff hearing her father's voice calling for help, he was there clinging to the edge looking up at Celestia barely managing to hold onto the rock and dirt under his hooves. "Father!" she cried but unable to get her magic to work she laid down reaching down to try to grab his hoof, to pull him to safety. She looked back still reaching down hearing an evil laugh there was Discord, watching them struggle and laughing gleefully about it. "No!" Celestia turned back to her father and reaching out as far as she could "Dad, just a little farther..." she groaned their hooves nearly touching.

"Gotcha!" Discord said grinning evilly and holding her in place "Trust me" he purred causing Celestia's eyes to widen to turn back to her father, who was slipping down the edge of the wall crying out her name as he finally lost his grip and fell down to the moving shapes below.

"No!" She screamed before turning her furious eyes on the bane of her dream "Discord!" she growl, but he merely continued to laugh at her, suddenly his face began to morph, taking the form of Thunder causing Celestia to gasp "Thunder?" but Thunder didn't respond, still laughing she smirked before releasing her grip off Celestia's hoof and sending her screaming after her father.

Celestia woke panting looking around wildly for any sign of danger, but things were quiet looking over she saw Twilight fast asleep with her friends, still panting the white mare relaxed slightly seeing her daughter safe laying her head down and closer her eyes to try to get some more rest.

Training Accidents And Upendi

The sun had barely started to rise when Celestia left her den, Twilight and her friends were already gone, saying something about having plans for the day with Thunder, Celestia had been nervous about letting Twilight go, but knowing Twilight's friends were with her helped ease her mind a little. Celestia stretched shaking out her mane before walking down Pride Rock to walk toward a small pool of water eager to drink away the fuzzy taste in her mouth unaware she was being watched.

Thunder was hiding behind a rock watching Celestia, chaotic magic buzzing through her fur as she glared at the white alicorn dark magic building up and ready to strike her down. Suddenly to Thunder's surprise a bright pink shape leapt in front of her, it was that loud pony named Pinkie Pie she looked at Thunder with a mile wide grin.

"Good morning!" she said with a laugh bouncing around Thunder while she took a few steps back and turned so that they were facing away from the pool of water. "We're ready for our first lesson, surprised you huh?" She giggled while Thunder looked back toward the pool quickly, but it was empty now. "Hey come on, the others are waiting" Pinkie Pie said nudging Thunder's shoulder and started back through the tall grass behind them. Thunder glanced back at the pool over her shoulder snarling as she began to follow Pinkie Pie to where the others were waiting.

Thunder sat listening to the others step on twigs, kicking rocks, and whispering to each other with a roll of her eyes "Three... Two... One" she stepped aside as the group leapt out from the grass crashing into each other as they hit the ground. Thunder walked over grabbing Fluttershy's tail in her teeth and pulled her free, allowing the group to fall apart from their tangled up mess.

"You could hear us huh?" Twilight looked up at Thunder from her back and gave her a timid smile.

"Yeah only a lot" Thunder leaned down nudging Twilight back to her hooves "You're breathing to hard, you need to relax feel the earth under your hooves so it doesn't shift and make noise and no Rainbow Dash you can't depend on your ability to fly to do it, you can't fly everywhere" Thunder ignored Rainbow Dash's snort and took a deep breath "You guys are good at teamwork but you need to work on being able to use it silently, use tail flicks and ear twitches to communicate things without words, that way your enemy won't hear you coming." Thunder prickled her ears hearing distant voices onto of a hill she looked back toward the others flicking her tail signalling for the others to follow "Shh... watch me and learn" she mumbled bunching the muscles in her legs before she started to run up the hill leaping that the last second toward source of the sound.

Turns out the noise she had heard was two Pegasus stallions the larger one was a very light orange with light blue eyes and a blue mane and tail, he had darker blue streaks that seemed to sweep his hair up, a small chunk of mane fell down to touch his forehead, he had a blue shield with a thick lightning bolt as his cutie mark. The smaller one, who Thunder had leapt at as she cleared the hill was a light grey with darker grey mane and tail, he had purple eyes but was to young to have his cutie mark. The young stallion turned, and spotted Thunder letting out a scream as he noticed Thunder was leaping at him though Thunder managed to skid to a stop before actually hitting him.

"Ah! Don't eat me!" the filly squealed running to hide behind the stallion while Thunder stood once again raising a confused eyebrow.

"Flash? Rumble? What are you doing here?" Twilight looked nearly as confused as Thunder as she saw who it was that Thunder ran into, Flash Sentry was a friend of hers, but not as close as Twilight was with the girls, they're meetings had always been a little awkward because they had been betrothed since they were young but they did get along so and Twilight did have a little crush on him now that they were growing older.

"Oh...uh...hello Twilight" Flash blushed but also looked relieved to see that the 'wild Outsider', as Thunder was being called around the herd, was not alone as more of the main six came to the top of the hill. "I wanted to take Rumble out and show him some of the animals, we're actually here to see this flock of birds, this place is a good place for them to get grub so they eat here all the time" Flash ducked as a couple of birds flew over his head fighting over a bug Flash and Rumble weren't related but Rumble was sort of his junior, he was teaching Rumble the way of the guard so that Rumble would some day take his place when he and Twilight rose to the throne. "But they seem to be a little agitated today and uh....." he rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged awkwardly.

"I got an idea!" Rumble said, seeming to realize he was in no danger leapt out from behind Flash and skipped over to Thunder "What if she helped?" he said grinning as if he had come up with the greatest plan ever.

Thunder glanced at Twilight and raised an eyebrow in confusion, not understanding what the filly was trying to say.

"Sometimes when the animals get to out of hoof we have to move them, for their own safety and the safety of the other animals around, those birds need to be moved somewhere where they won't fight and the flock is to large for Fluttershy to deal with on her own, watch" Twilight lit her horn sending a boom of magic into the air, spooking some of the birds making them fly into the air.

Thunder understood gathering her dark magic and imitating the boom that Twilight had made making Rumble cheer as more birds flew into the air, Pinkie Pie laughed starting to chase the birds away, the others sort of shrugged and followed hooting and hollering as they ran at the birds. "Why are we doing this? What's the point of this training?" Thunder yelled over the noise as she followed the other ponies.

"Training? This is just for fun!" Rainbow yelled swooping down overhead at a group of birds and landing to run beside them.

"Fun?" Thunder looked up at the cyan mare in confusion.

"Hey sugarcube, you gotta get out more" Applejack ran at her other side grinning at her "you know, fun, Yee-haw!" she reared up with her cheer seeming to race Rainbow Dash after the pair exchanged a glance and a smirk.

Thunder slowly began to smile "Yahoo!" she cried starting to run even faster racing head to head with Applejack and Rainbow Dash, even Fluttershy seemed to be having a good time giggling and running along side Rumble. But just as Thunder began to have fun the group skidded to a halt "Uh oh..." she gulped.

Standing in a wall of armored skin and horn was a large group of rhinos covered in the very same birds they had been chasing, the birds looked rather smug at their fear. Turning tail the group began to run back the way they came being chased by the rhinos, Thunder slowing a little to scoop Rumble up onto her back so that the filly wouldn't fall behind. The group rounded a bend and found a hiding place in a wedge of rocks, holding their breath as the raging rhinos ran past them. Pinkie broke the silence as she began to snicker, turning into giggle then outright laughter and soon the whole gathering was laughing loudly.

"What a blast!" Thunder gasped panting to catch her breath, if she had a chance to think she would've flew but she had been so caught up in the moment it didn't cross her mind. "You're alright Fluffhead you're alright" Rainbow said reaching over as best as she could to ruffle Thunder's mane, making Thunder glare but after a moment she smiled.

Then came the most difficult part, getting out of where they had hidden, it had been a tight fit just to get in let alone get out of it Pinkie and Applejack were trying to pull free at the same time pushing the others closer together Thunder got shoved right into Rainbow as everyone shifted around, the back of Rarity's head pushing her own upward so she was facing the ceiling of their hideaway. Rumble looked from behind Thunder's neck, seeing the others struggling to get out and started climbing over the other ponies to get out and try to help he had to climb onto Rainbow's head and jump down from there to get over Thunder. Rainbow however was not expecting the added weight of a filly on her head when Rumble jumped from her head she found herself kissing Thunder. It lasted only a second as Pinkie and Applejack finally managed to get out, freeing up space for the others to climb out but neither mare could look each other in the eye as they walked out stretching their legs.

Twilight and Flash were talking intently, leading the small herd back toward Pride Rock while Rainbow and Thunder followed at the back trying to figure out something to say to overcome the awkward moment that they found themselves in it was a little easier with Rumble, who seemed to have taken Thunder in as his new hero, hopping along in front of them talking eagerly about everything he knew.

"-and then Diamond Tiara started making fun of Applebloom cause she didn't have her cutie mark but then Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle totally told her off and the party got more fun after that, we didn't pay much attention to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon after that, but they still tease us in school all the time cause they don't have them" Rumble was telling Thunder about Diamond Tiara's cute-ceañera, some sort of party Pridelanders have when they get their cutie mark according to what Rainbow whispered in her ear when she looked confused. "How did you find yours" the grey filly asked curiously looking at Thunder's orange shooting star cutie mark with a small amount of envy in his eyes.

Thunder looked at it a moment before turning her gaze to Rumble again "well actually it's not all exciting of a story" but when Rumble seemed intent to hear it she chuckled. "Alright alright, it happened when I was a filly maybe a little older than you, I was supposed to be working on my chaotic magic by changing some of the termites into apples, but chaotic magic is hard to control and I forbidden from going to bed until I could bring five apples into the den so I was outside for hours trying to make the termites change properly. It was about an hour after sundown when I decided to take a break to try to gather my strength and I sat looking up at the stars. I couldn't tear my eyes away from them, I knew some of the stars from my other lessons but something about the wide open sky without having to work so hard just captivated me and as I tried to draw them in the dirt then there was a bright flash and... I had my mark" she shrugged casually "It's not all that exciting most ponies don't even like the stars" but Rumble, hearing her story wanted to see if that might be his special skill as well.

This is how Thunder found herself laying on her back in the grass with Rainbow at her side, Rumble laying between them as she pointed out a few of her favorite stars. Twilight and Flash had left them long ago off on what Thunder could assume to be a date considering how red their faces had become when they were saying their farewells. Fluttershy had to head home to check on a few of her animal patients and softly said she'd love to hang out with Thunder again sometime. Applejack and Rarity had to go home to take care of their sisters and make sure they wouldn't have a large work load the next morning. And no one was really sure when Pinkie Pie left them, but she said something about cupcakes and disappeared as they reached Pride Rock. Rainbow was originally going to leave too but thought it would be best that she stay in case some pony spotted them and got the wrong idea about what Thunder was doing out with Rumble, lots of ponies didn't trust Thunder alone who knows how would react if she were alone with a filly.

"Oh look at that one, it looks like a baby rabbit see the fluffy tail" Rumble pointed up toward a cluster of bright stars.

"Yeah" Thunder whispered looking around until she spotted another shape "Look over there, it's a pair of lions fighting over a scrap of meat" she laughed not noticing the confused look at Rainbow sent her as she spoke. "I've never done this before" she shook her head a little as her laughter faded into chuckles.

"Really?" Rainbow looked at her fully now "The girls and I do it all the time, Twilight says that all the great kings of the past live up there" Rainbow noticed Thunder's brow furrow in confusion and she seemed to think a moment before she spoke.

"Do you think Discord is up there?" she whispered before she jerked a little, realizing what she said sitting up as Rainbow set her a bewildered look. Thunder sat up walking a few steps away before sitting down again staring at her hooves. "He was my father, even though he didn't raise me he's still... a part of me" she said softly not looking toward her companions.

Rainbow put her wing in front of Rumble, shaking her head at the filly before walking toward Thunder herself. "Well Celestia always that there was...a darkness inside him that he couldn't escape" Rainbow sat down next to her keeping one ear on Rumble in case the stallion ran off.

"Maybe there's a darkness inside me too" Thunder looked at Rainbow sadness in her eyes, suddenly leaning forward and nuzzling under the cyan mare's chin, Rainbow froze in surprise but returned her nuzzle with one of her own hoping to offer comfort, Rumble covering his eyes with a noise of disgust at the display of affection.

Celestia watched them from the top of a small hill letting out a small sigh as she looked to the stars "Father I am lost, Thunder is one of them Discord's heir how can I accept her?" She looked back hearing her name to see Cadence walking toward her smiling a little "I was seeking council with the great kings" Celestia explained.

"Did they help?" Cadence asked curiously looking up at them herself for a moment.

"Silent as stars" Celestia shook her head "My father would never-" but a chuckle for Cadence cut her off.

"Oh Celestia, you want so hard to walk the path expected of you, perhaps Thunder does not" she smiled while Celestia gave her a startled look.

"But how do you know what..."she started to say and Candence's smile only widened.

"I can see them down there just as easily as you can, and besides, I didn't get my cutie mark for nothing" she chuckled "Get to know her and see" then she turned walking back to a worried Shining Armor leaving Celestia alone to the hill to study the pair in silence once again. But Celestia left after a few moments still digesting Cadance's words with a thoughtful expression.

Thunder, suddenly realizing what she was doing, cleared her throat and stepped away not even glancing up when Rumble's parents came to bring him home, allowing Rainbow to explain what they were doing and wish the family a good night but she did manage to mumble a promise to Rumble that they could hang out again some time.

"What's wrong?" Rainbow asked look at silent mare once they were alone again.

Thunder seemed to struggle with something for a moment before she shook her head "Nothing" she sighed walking away a few more steps.

"Thunder..." Rainbow began walking toward her for a second time as Thunder turned toward her again.

"It's just that for my whole life I've been trained to...." she bit her lip and sighed "Nothing... I gotta go" she turned once again starting to walk away.

"Thunder...wait" Rainbow said softly, actually making her stop for a brief moment the pair making eye contact for a few seconds before Thunder started walking away once more.

"And where are you going?" a striped hoof came out of the grass to poke Thunder in the nose, it wasn't a voice she knew yet.

"Uh....nowhere" Thunder said glancing off to the side blinking in surprise when a zebra popped out of the grass.

"Ha! that's what you think" she said with a lightly smug tone before sinking down into the grass a second time and seeming to scurry away.

"Who was that?" Thunder looked back at Rainbow bewildered at what she had just witnessed.

"Uh...friend of the herd..." she responded just as confused at Zecora's behavior as Thunder was.

Thunder yelped in surprise as she realized Zecora had somehow managed to get onto her back while she and Rainbow had been talking.

Zecora slid off Thunder's back with a laugh "Come on, you follow old Zecora she knows the way" she said tugging on Thunder's tail before scampering off again.

"Way to where?" Thunder questioned Rainbow who just shrugged, not understanding either.

"You follow, you see" Zecora said heading around a large rock tower "Hurry now!" she added disappearing from their sight.

"Thunder come on!" Rainbow said already flying off, her curiosity getting the better of her, Thunder following quickly nearly as curious at Rainbow Dash about this whole matter.

They didn't to run far before they had to skid to a stop "Where's she taking us" Thunder said softly as the pair, unable to fly any further due to vines, landed on the ground.

"Oh, to a special place in your heart called...Upendi!" Zecora suddenly appeared above them, hanging upside down rather impressively from a vine, turning the two to face each other before making them kiss like they had done before. The pair smiled a little but pulled away after a few seconds as they had done the first time before Zecora lead them to a large heart shape leaf and guided them to sit on it, while she climbed on the back and sent it down the river. "There's a place where the crazy moon makes the monkeys sing and the baboons swoon and the sultry scent of the lotus bloom will carry you away" they just cleared a small tunnel when they heard the singing monkeys, making loud but gentle noises all through the trees while a pair of baboons hung from a thick vine looking quite content, one gave Zecora a small flower who then gave it to Rainbow, but when she held it for Thunder to sniff she sneezed and the petals flew everywhere. "Where the hippos swing from the jungle vines and the rhino rhumba in a conga line and the pink flamingoes are intertwined as the stars come out to play" The entire area seemed to be in full swing, animals were everywhere having a good time but why?

"In Upendi where the passion fruit grows sweet and it's so divine that you lose your mind as it sweeps you off your feet in Upendi without a worry or a care it just takes two to make it true your heart will lead you there" Zecora leaned over grabbing a round orange fruit in each hand, and offering them to the ponies, Thunder ate hers and licked her lips at the taste of the fruit but Rainbow declined, so with a shrug Zecora tossed it away before spotting a bush with large pink heart-shaped leaves. Grabbing a long stick she steered her passengers toward the bush grabbing one of the leaves, it had a rather large hole in the center and with a mischievous grin, put it around Rainbow's neck causing Thunder to laugh.

"Where is it?" Thunder looked up at Zecora while she asked grinning easily now as Rainbow tugged the leaf off her neck.

Zecora leaned down covering Thunder eyes with a hoof as she whispered in her ear "No place you don't take with you" she chuckled "You better watch your step 'cause the path is steep better hold your breath cause the water's deep it's a long way down over Lovers' Leap but falling's half the fun!" Zecord leapt from their leaf boat as it seemed to hit a snag sending Rainbow and Thunder flying off and landing them in a small pool of water which they were soon free of once Zecora pulled on a vine. The pair landed on their leaf boat once again after a brief fall, Zecora soon joining them from a tree. "In Upendi where the passion fruit grows sweet and it's so divine that you lose your mind as it sweeps you off your feet in Upendi without a worry or a care it just takes two to make it true your heart will take you there" when Zecora fell from the tree she knocked several of the sweet orange fruit down into the leaf boat. Thunder was able to catch a few but Rainbow was not so lucky, she seemed to be choking on the fruit. Thunder saw this however and leaned over kissing Rainbow cheek which helped her swallow the fruit she looked very pleased at the taste. The pair looked off to the side spotting animals doing some sort of conga line as butterflies flew into the air, the froze when they felt Zecora touching the back of their heads once more bringing them into a third kiss, this time however either mare seemed eager to end it.

"You can beat the bush like there's no tomorrow from Tanganyika to Kilimanjaro but you'll find Upendi wherever you are oh underneath the sun" Zecora smiled at the pair slowly easing their leaf boat to a stop in the mild of a deep pool of water leaping off just as a tall stream of water shot them upward.

Thunder looked around with awe at what surrounded them and then came to a sudden realization turning to Rainbow excitedly "Upendi it means "love", doesn't it?" even though Rainbow shrugged, not really knowing, the pair exchanged a smile watching Zecora.

"Welcome to Upendi! In Upendi where the passion fruit grows sweet and it's so divine that you lose your mind as it sweeps you off your feet in Upendi without a worry or a care it just takes two to make it true your heart will take you there" She climbed onto a passion fruit tree and began tossing them to the animal couples as they got close.

Thunder and Rainbow, seeing this, leapt from their leaf boat falling into the water below swimming to the shore and joining the end of the conga line Rainbow having to put her hooves on Thunder's hips to keep walking forward while Thunder had her hooves on a hippo. The pair caught the fruit and, following the lead of the conga line leaped into the river next to the tree, floating over a few short hill before they were thrown off a water fall. The pair clung together as they used their wings to gently float toward the ground wondering where Zecora and the other animals had gone. Seeing nothing and realizing just how late it had become the pair decide to head back to Pride Rock, chuckling and singing Zecora's song together as they walked.

Once they reached Pride Rock the pair nuzzled lovingly softly wishing each other a good night as Rainbow headed into the den, Thunder turning to return to the place she had slept the night before. Rainbow took one last look at Thunder before sighing and going inside, unaware that Celestia had seen the whole thing.

Celestia looked at Rainbow's retreating form then to Thunder who was now doing her best to get comfortable in her sleeping place, watching Thunder for a moment longer and thinking about Cadence's words she slowly walked out to the mare a small understanding smiled on her face. Thunder noticed her looking and raised her head up curiously but before she could question the white alicorn Celestia spoke instead. "It's kind of cold tonight huh? Come on in" She turned pausing only a moment to see that Thunder was following before leading her into Pride Rock.

Onyx however did not take the scene well at all at first he was excited thinking that Thunder was finally going to make a move "Get her..." he whispered but seeing nothing his ears flatted against his head and he growled lowly in outrage "What are you waiting for Thunder get her!" Turning away from his hiding place the unicorn hurried back to report what he had seen.

Nightmare was not pleased. She nearly roared in outrage her horn blasting dark magic into the sky briefly blocking out the stars overhead "You're sure?" She questioned looking at Onyx harshly.

"Affirmative, I saw it with my own eyes" he confirmed his back straight as an arrow though he was sitting, Blazing and Red were watching from afar, Red in horror and Blazing gleefully as Onyx explained what he had seen while spying on Thunder and the Pridelanders.

Nightmare paced backward her magic pulsing with her rage "Thunder can not betray us" she growled her horn bared for the kill as she ordered her herd together to form a plan and this time...it would work!

Author's Note

There you are folks, another chapter come and gone and this time Flash Sentry and Rumble make an appearance and don't worry they'll be making more appearances :) I had to change the scene for the song a little bit but I kept it mostly the same :D hope you enjoy the chapter

Ambushing Celestia

Thunder left the den looking worried as she started to walk away from the den, glancing back into the den a moment before continuing forward "Okay" she breathed out reaching the edge of the outcrop "I have to tell them today" she bite her lip before a sigh escaped "Oh where do I start?" she looked down at her hooves before straightening and looking off into the distance picturing Twilight in front of her "Twilight, Nightmare had a plot and I was part of it but I don't want to be" she anxiously pawed at the ground "because...." her tail lashed as she let out a frustrated sigh "It's because I love Rainbow..." she continued on a whisper "Oh she'll never believe me" Thunder turned back around heading back toward the den again "but I have to try" she spotted Twilight coming toward her and started to call out to her but Celestia interrupted.

"Twilight I don't want you talking with her" Her stern expression gentled into a playful smile "I want to talk with her" She winked at her daughter, whose face had turned from upset to relieved as her mother spoke, and lead Thunder away from Pride Rock, finally giving Cadance's advice a try by getting to know Thunder. The pair had left Pride Rock far behind as Celestia began telling Thunder the true story of Discord and by now Pride Rock wasn't even visible any longer "-Discord couldn't let go of his hate and in the end, it destroyed him" her eyes were distant as she remember how she had come to lose her father, all because of jealousy and hatred.

"I've...never heard the story of Discord that way...he truly was a monster" She looked at Celestia with horror in her eyes, seeing this Celestia lead Thunder through the burnt dead trees that had suffered from Nightmare's plot.

"Fire is a killer, sometimes what's left behind can grow better than the generation before if given the chance" She pushed aside a hoof full of dirt revealing a small green sprout. Suddenly the air seemed thick and full of tension the two mares straightened, looking around when they heard a dark chuckle.

Nightmare stepped out of shadows followed by her small herd all of them eager to get at Celestia as Thunder whispered denials under her breath. "Why Celestia, what are you doing out here and so alone" she smirked as her ranks closed in her eyes flashing over to Thunder and her smirk widened "Well done Thunder, just like we always planned" she wasn't going to let Thunder off the hook so easily and was pleased to see when Celestia turned to Thunder, her horn glowing with her rage.

"You!" she yelled feeling strangely betrayed by the dark mare.

"No I didn't have anything to do with this!" Thunder tried to argue but Nightmare was sick of all the talking and ordered her troops to attack.

Celestia was able to hold her own at first, fighting with her magic, but even with magic as strong as hers she can easily be outnumbered, Thunder raced to help but was kicked in the head and slammed into a rock. Celestia was doing her best to hold off the sheer mass of the Lunar herd when they all tumbled into a deep ravine and hit the ground hard. She was in so much pain she could barely get her horn to light, but she didn't have time to catch her breath, Nightmare's herd was already advancing following Nightmare pointer that she shouted down to the from the top of the ravine so she was forced to run. Having no other choice she began to climb a large pile of logs, kicking some down on her pursuers purely by luck as she kept going higher. She looked up seeing Thunder who called out to her and leapt away, hoping to get something to bring Celestia to safety despite Nightmare's urging to finish her off.

"I'll do it! For you Nightmare!" Blazing shouted leaping forward to climb after Celestia wildly barely noticing as several logs snapped under his assault "Nightmare are you watching?" he shouted back to them but continued the rest of his statement in a low growl like sound "I'm doing it for you, and I'm doing it for me" he grabbed Celestia's back hoof in his front one "This is my moment of glory!" he grinned madly, but his grin soon faded when a log he had been using to support his weight snapped falling down and getting pinning down by a log he couldn't move in time before a second log, kicked down by Celestia as she leapt to freedom out of the ravine, landed on his head.

For a moment the entire ravine was silent, Thunder rushing down to see what had become of Blazing, before Onyx ran forward moving the log out-of-the-way and trying to unbury him, he was quickly shoved aside by Nightmare who finished moving things around to finally reveal Blazing's head and right forehoof the rest of him was far to buried to get to the rest of the Lunar herd watching in silence.

He coughed a few times while Nightmare whispered his name, already beginning to grieve, though she had been unaware of his feelings for her she was still a loyal follower. "I'm sorry N-Nightmare, I tried" he managed to gasp out despite her attempts to hush him "Well I finally got your attention didn't I?" he grinned weakly before he seemed to completely relax, his head falling limp as he let the last breath out of his body. Red walked over quietly looking at Blazing for a brief moment before hanging her head in grief, she had liked him, he was funny and she would miss him dearly.

"Discord, watch over our poor Blazing Fury" Nightmare prayed the entire herd hanging their heads to grieve the loss of one of their most powerful members, even Thunder was saddened and grieving the life that they had lost moments ago.

Onyx's grief however, was quickly becoming rage he spotted Thunder and his horn lit up. "You!" he nearly roared blasting Thunder in the face with his dark magic sending the unsuspecting mare sprawling with a pain filled groan. When she got up she had a long jagged scar cutting diagonally the right side of the scar higher than the left.

"What did you do!" Nightmare yelled stopping Onyx with a raised wing as she advanced on Thunder her eyes bright with fury.

Thunder stammered a little before her spine stiffened "I did nothing" she defended but that seemed to be the thing that Nightmare was waiting for her to say.

"Exactly!" she walked around Thunder, the mare watching her with sharp eyes "and in doing so you betrayed your herd...betrayed Discord!" Nightmare continued her face turning into greatly insulted she mentioned Discord.

"I want nothing more to do with him!" Thunder growled back their argument beginning to echo through the air, no one in the herd moving as they watch the two mares argue.

"You cannot escape it!" Nightmare growled "Blazing is dead because of you!" she stalked Thunder into a corner ignoring Thunder's weak protests "You killed your own herd brother!" she roared it right in her face.

"No!" Thunder yelled leaping around Nightmare and running away taking to the air and flying away as quickly as she could.

"Let her go" Nightmare growled when Onyx began to charge his horn again "Celestia has crossed me for the last time, now she has corrupted Thunder!" she leapt onto a small ledge as she turned address her troops. "Listen to me, Celesita is injured and weak, now is the time to attack" she stamped her hoof to emphasize her words "We'll take her entire kingdom by force!" she laughed gleefully as her troops cheered and stamped their hooves in eager joy determined to avenge their fallen herd-mate.

Celestia finally managed to make it to the Pridelands barely noticing the sound of Candence, Shining, and Twilight crying out her name until they came up to her asking her what happened. "...Thunder... Ambush" she gasped out before collapsing completely, the three ponies shifting so that they could carry Celestia the rest of the way home.

Author's Note

Sorry guys but the next few chapters are going to be a bit shorter but only because the next part has two songs very close together but because of that I wrote the next two at once so you get two updates for one story on the same day :) hope you like them

Thunder Is Not One Of Them

"Mother it can't be true" Twilight was sitting, tucked in Flash's wing as she watched her mother in worry while Cadence checked her for serious wounds but a sudden commotion in the form of ponies and animals whispering darkly drew their attention.

"Thunder!" Rumble cheered, starting to go toward the mare but his parents blocked him scolding him in whispers.

Rainbow, having heard Rumble's yell from inside the den attempted to fly to Thunder's side but a quick pull of magic from Celestia grounded her again, everyone began to whisper about the scar on her face as Thunder finally stopped walking, looking around in worry at the hatred on the faces of everyone around her.

"Why have you come back?" Celestia glared at her from where she was standing on the outcrop of Pride Rock.

"Celestia...I have nothing to do with-" Thunder began but Celestia roared over her.

"You don't belong here" She said harshly her glare not letting up in the slightest.

"Please, I ask your forgiveness" Thunder looked up desperately at Celestia her eyes begging for what she couldn't say in words.

"Celestia please, listen to her" Rainbow pleaded watching Thunder sadly.

"Silence!" Celestia snapped at Rainbow before turning back to Thunder "when you first came here, you asked for judgement, and I pass it now!" Rainbow and Twilight exchanged terrified glances while the crowd yelled their approval. "Exile!" she roared after a brief pause ignoring Rainbow cry of denial.

Thunder looked around in fear as animals and ponies began to stomp their feet "Deception disgrace evil as plain as the scar on her face! Deception, an outrage! Disgrace, For shame! She asked for trouble the moment she came!" The animals began to chant, a pair of unicorns backing Thunder up threateningly with their horns until she was forced to leap backwards so she didn't fall of the edge.

"No! Thunder!" Rainbow cried out in heartbreak, Twilight turned away to cry into Flash's fur at the sounds of Rainbow's voice.

"Deception an outrage! Disgrace for shame! You know these Outsider types she asked for trouble the moment she came see you later, agitator! Deception an outrage! Just leave us alone! Disgrace for shame! Traitor, go back with your own! She asked for trouble the moment she came see you later, agitator!" The voices began to blur together as Thunder ran from the attacking animal and ponies, leaping around snakes and trying to avoid hooves as ponies bucked at her. She ran as quickly as she could to avoid antelopes who started to crash together leading her to a line of ostriches who began to hit her in the head. She tried to stop and catch her breath but monkeys began to throw rocks at her causing her to start running again to try to get away from the assaulting creatures.

"Born in grief...raised in hate helpless to defy her fate let her run, let her live but do not forget what we cannot forgive" birds and Pegasus began to fly overhead pecking and kicking her as she ran farther from Pride Rock heading toward the trees hoping to stop them from getting to her. "And she is not one of us she has never been one of us she is not part of us not our kind" Thunder stopped in a small pool of water panting as she turned her head back toward Pride Rock, now she could barely see Celestia at the top surrounded by animals and ponies, all of them shaking their head slowly at Thunder. What Thunder wasn't able to see what Rainbow finally breaking the spell that made her ground and trying to fly up again, only to be stopped by a pair of unicorns cast the spell a second time.

"Someone once lied to us now we're not so blind for we knew she would do what she's done and we know that she'll never be one of us! She is not one of us.... Deception disgrace, deception disgrace...deception..." Thunder flinched at their unfiltered hatred looking down into the water watching her face in the ripples, staring in horror as her face became Discords. She shook her head running through the water to break the illusion splashing through the pool of water noisily until she reached solid ground and turn back toward Pride Rock a second time, this time even the animals were tiny, Celestia was a small white dot against the orange sunset. She sighed turning to walk away, the animals and ponies giving up the chase and allowing her to finally manage to catch her breath but their words echoed in her ears. She glanced back for a fraction of a second as she reached a hill but then unfurled her wings and took to the air a black and white streak the only sign she had been there at all. Zecora shook her head in sadness as she watched Thunder fly away, she sighed in looking away while leaning on her walking stick.

"Mother, please reconsider" Twilight finally managed to recover from her sadness giving Flash a soft nuzzle before hurrying to her mother's side, but Celestia didn't pay her words any heed.

"You and your friends aren't to go anywhere without an escort from now on" She turned to head into the den but Rainbow blocked her way fury in her eyes.

"No! That's not-" She began to argue.

"She used you to get close to us" Celestia tried to reason.

"No! She loves me, for me" Rainbow stubbornly continued but Celestia seemed unaffected by her words.

"Because you're friends with Twilight!" she tried to calm down and spoke a little more evenly "You will stay on Pride Rock, where someone can keep an eye on you, away from her" she said firmly.

"You don't know her!" Rainbow cried but Celestia was unmoved by her words.

"I know she is following in Discord's hoof prints as I must follow in my father's" she stood tall looking over her kingdom with a determined glint in her eyes.

Rainbow gritted her teeth in frustration the words flying out of her mouth without her thinking about them "You will never be Starswirl!" the entire gathering of ponies' jaws fell open in shock at the outraged Pegasus's words before she turned and took of into the den laying down with a depressed sigh, covering her hoof to block the stream of light from her eyes. The sudden realization made her spring up looking at the small hole that the light bleed through the rocks seemed loose enough, she pawed at them feeling them fall away with ease. She glanced back before squeezing through the larger hole she had created quickly running from Pride Rock making sure it was clear of ponies before she opened her wings and took to the sky determined to find Thunder.

Where could she be? Rainbow thought scanning the ground below as she flew I won't be able to see her from up here she glanced at the slowly sinking sun. Sighing she flew toward the ground landing softly and looking around, she had landed near a pool of water on a small clip of rock. She leapt off the clip looking under it just to be safe and slowly walked into the pool of water looking down at her reflection her eyes widening when she noticed that her reflection seemed to be half missing, with a half-hearted scoff she ran through the water. Rainbow didn't stop until she realized she recognized that this was where they had been chased by those rhinos not to long ago Rainbow smiled softly at the memory. We had our first kiss here she looked inside the small wedge of space but of course it was empty so, her heart lost and searching Rainbow turned away and started to walk again.

Author's Note

Like I said, two updates in one, I hope you enjoy both chapters even though they're short :)

Love Is Forever Binding

Thunder was walking through a short field of grass, she was originally flying but when night fell she didn't want to take a chance of getting into trouble so she decided to walk. She didn't know where she was going to go now, she couldn't return to the Outlands because she had chosen the Pridelanders side, but she couldn't stay in the Pridelands because Celestia had exiled her. Thunder jerked back as a pair of birds flew up their beaks touching almost like they were kissing, she watched them for a moment before looking back down at her hooves and continuing forward and found herself thinking once again about Rainbow. In a perfect world one we've never known we would never need to face the world alone she spotted a herd of antelope grazing peacefully, two walked a little closer to where she was standing and began to nuzzle as if mocking her. They can have the world we'll create our own I may not be brave or strong or smart but somewhere in my secret heart. I know love will find a way anywhere I go I'm home if you are there beside me like dark turning into day somehow we'll come through now that I've found you love will find a way. She turned and began to walk another way into a more forest like area watching a pair of butterflies as their beautiful wings glinted in the moonlight deciding not to follow them she found a strong branch and climbed onto it to get some rest. She looked up stopping the shapes in the stars she and Rumble had found in the stars her heart ached at the memory, knowing that Rainbow was far from her with a sigh she laid down watching her reflection in the water, looking startled when she noticed her reflection only seemed to be half. She shifted on the branch to get a closer look, knocking a leaf from its home and sending into the water causing small ripples to obscure her view.

Oh who cared about a silly reflection anyway? Thunder got up from her branch now to restless to try to rest and started walking again, startling a small frog from his hiding place in a small patch of grass near the edge of the water. She wondered what Rainbow was doing now did Rainbow miss her as much as Thunder missed her? Thunder didn't even know it was possible to miss some pony this much, it was like there was a hole where her heart was...no not a hole...like a tender branch...cracking every time it beat inside her chest. She wished she could go back explain herself like she planned on doing that morning but she knew going back now would be a death sentence so she moved forward trying to ignore the splintering pain in her chest as she did so. Keeping her eyes on the stars so she wouldn't get lost Thunder began noticing that she was no longer in the thick green foliage of that the Pridelands offered, instead she seemed to be walking on some sort of white dust, was it ash from the fire? She wasn't sure, but she didn't have the heart to examine it any further sitting down, hopefully, to rest and plan her next step.

I was so afraid now I realize love is never wrong and so it never dies Rainbow stared at Thunder frozen, she had been so determined to find her but now that she had she didn't know what to do, they were from two different worlds how could they ever be together? She heard Thunder sigh sadly as she settled into a sitting position and finally began to move forward her own heart aching at the pain she heard in Thunder's sigh, her resolve returning. She didn't care if Thunder was an outsider, they loved each other and that was all that really mattered. There's a perfect world shining in your eyes... and if only they could feel it too the happiness I feel with you Rainbow started toward Thunder clearing her throat with a small smile, and stopped when Thunder turned around looking startled at the sound, probably not expecting company on her lonely walk, not moving a step even when she saw who it was, as if unsure if she was really there if she was just seeing things. They'd know love will find a way anywhere we go we're home! The pair stared at each other for a few more seconds before Thunder, coming to her senses, leapt up and started running toward Rainbow, the cyan mare doing the same until the pair meet in the middle nuzzling each other with all the love they could squeeze into the single gesture. Thunder looked at Rainbow, love shining in her eyes before she leaned over and kissed her, grinning at the startled look on her face then running off over the hills, Rainbow chuckling a little and following after her. If we are there together like dark turning into day somehow we'll come through, now that I've found you, love will find a way I know love will find a way...

The pair played like little fillies, scooping up the white dust and tossing it at each other and chasing each other around the sadness that weighed them down while they had been apart vanished almost at once now that they were finally together again. Thunder sat down beside Rainbow, leaning into her fur peacefully before spotting a small pile of the white dust and gently pushing it away to reveal a small spout similar to the one Celestia had shown her before, she wasn't sure if Rainbow understood the message but she didn't care she was just happy she was here. Neither of the mare noticed the spirit on the wind blowing away the dust around them as they nuzzled each other but it was clear that Starswirl was watching over them even now.

Thunder looked up suddenly from her contentment noticing the pair of butterflies she had seen earlier fluttering nearby she watched them for a few seconds before starting to chase them, laughing loudly glancing over her shoulder at Rainbow as she did.

Rainbow briefly rolled her eyes with a loving smile before letting out her own burst of laughter and starting to chase Thunder again, this time however she leapt at her mate softly tackling her and sending them both rolling until Rainbow had Thunder pinned beneath her, sneaking her own kiss to Thunder in revenge for her earlier surprise. The mares stopped just content to lay together in the soft grass when Rainbow glanced over into a small puddle of water. "Hey look" she chuckled "we are one" it did appear so, their reflections seemed to have merged in the water making them look like one odd pony.

The words stuck a cord in Thunder she looked up deep in thought she had heard those words before...when she was young, from a soft voice in her dreams... We are one... she had been so young when she had heard them and their mysterious meaning had been lost to her back then making them easy to forget but now hearing them again, seeing their reflection, it all seemed to click into place.

Unaware of her revelation Rainbow began to speak, leaping off Thunder with a flourish of her rainbow tail. "Lets get out of here" she said excitedly "we'll run away together...and start a herd all our own" she smirked proudly making Thunder chuckle.

She walked over to Rainbow, giving her a small nuzzle "Rainbow... we have to go back" she said softly making Rainbow pull away in surprise.

"You're kidding? But we're finally together" Rainbow Dash looked at her mate in disbelief never expecting her to say that.

"Our place is with our herd, if we run away, they'll be divided forever, they need to see what we see Rainbow, they are to blind by old wounds to make peace on their own, we have to show them" Thunder explained watching as Rainbow seemed to think over her words.

At The Edge Of The Pridelands

Nightmare's herd was on the move but no one spoke, they just walked almost casually across the border between their lands sinking almost unnoticeably into mud before continuing on their path, heading to war.

Unaware of the herd coming their way Twilight had gathered the other element bearers, Flash Sentry, and Cadence together hoping that they could find Rainbow Dash before Celestia found out she was gone but their efforts were half-hearted, they knew where Rainbow had gone and they didn't want to bring her home, not if it meant breaking her heart to do it.

Celestia walked in to the den shaking the rain water from her coat, looking confused at the full den before she realized one bright blue Pegasus was missing "Rainbow's gone?!" she nearly growled it, thankfully they were saved from whatever she had been going to say next when Shining Armor burst into the den.

"Celestia, the Outsiders are on the attack heading this way, it's war!" he quickly reported, foregoing protocol for more important matters.

Celestia didn't even pause to think, leaving Rainbow's complete disregard for her rules for another day Celestia looked to the ponies in the den "Cadence, get to a safe den, Flash you'll be guarding her and any other pony who can't fight with Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy, you and Applejack lead the other animal to safety I don't want them getting caught in the cross fire and Twilight you're coming with me and Shining so we can gather the rest of the herd, lets move!" The ponies all scurried to obey their orders as fast as they could manage while the Outsiders began to close in, scaring away any animal that crossed their path.

Thunder and Rainbow ran as fast as they could, ignoring the slippery mud and freezing rain as they approached the ravine faintly able to see their two herds staring each other down on the other side.

"It's over Celestia" Nightmare yelled over the rain "I have dreamed of nothing else for years" she glared at the white alicorn hatred clear in her eyes.

"Last chance Nightmare, go home" Celestia countered her voice cool and her face unreadable.

"I am home!" Nightmare said pleasantly as lightning flashed behind her and thunder boomed "Attack!" she roared, her troops beginning to move forward, first slowly then at a mild trot then full-out running, and Celestia's battle force meet them step by step until the two sides met in furious battle magic flying wildly and Pegasus fighting in the air as Nightmare's herd began to fight dirty hitting their eyes and trying to break jaws.

Thunder and Rainbow watched in horror at what was unfolding at the other side of the ravine and began dashing across the log filled ravine avoiding them when they began to crunch together and move the pressure beginning to hit a breaking point.

Onyx smirked from atop a large rock, recognizing one of the battling unicorns "Where's your pretty wife Shiny?" he teased making the white unicorn bristle.

"Onyx!" he nearly snarled before Onyx leapt down at him his horn gleaming sending the two stallion rolling and shooting magic at one other desperate to see the other defeated at their hooves.

Nightmare laughed watching Celestia being overwhelmed by the sheer number of ponies coming at her but Nightmare wasn't going to let it end so easily "Celestia, you're mine" she growled leaping off her perch to stalk over to the pony pile, Celestia managing to blast the ponies away moments before Nightmare knocked her aside with her hoof. The battle seemed to stop, both sides watching anxiously as the two mares circled one another their horns vibrating with suppressed magic.

Just as they were about to strike however there was a flash of lightning then blue before Thunder and Rainbow leapt in between them panting from their rush over but standing firm and determined.

"Rainbow?" Celestia said both in confusion and disbelief, watch her dip her head quickly in a sign of respect though her eyes kept their fierce light.

"Thunder! Move..." Nightmare glared, but Thunder was no longer afraid, she puffed her chest up a little and met her mother's eyes defiantly.

"Stand aside" Celestia ordered quietly but Rainbow remained in place her gaze softening slightly.

"Celestia, this has to stop" she said gently, making Celestia pause in confusion.

"You're even weaker than I thought, get out-of-the-way!" Nightmare nearly roared it her tail lashing in fury at her prize being so close and yet so far.

"You'll never hurt Celestia, or any pony else, not while I'm here" she growled back dark magic pulsing from her for a moment before, with a touch of Rainbow's wing, she seemed to get control of her temper by taking a deep breath and relaxing her rigged spine "Do you remember your dreams mother? I didn't bother remembering mine, we were trained only to fight any gentleness or innocence was beaten out of us but I remember one dream, a dream of a soft voice that would sing to me and tell me stories most of them I can't remember anymore but one phrase stood about among all the others: We are one" Thunder took a step forward, not seeing the surprised look on Celestia's face when she spoke those three simple words. "Those words always confused me, even after I forgot them, but now I understand I know that voice Mother that voice, is you but a softer you before you were consumed by your own jealousy and hate. Part of you is still that innocent filly you've tried so desperately to avoid, but it's still there crying and begging for freedom from all the darkness weighing you down...let it go Mom, let the darkness go" Thunder begged softly tears forming in her eyes.

"But they-!" Nightmare began, sweat building on her brow and her hooves scrapping anxiously on the ground.

"Them. Us, look at them they are us...what differences do you see?" Thunder glances around the circle of gather ponies, noticing her message was beginning to sink in even Celestia looked thoughtful as she looked between her herd and Nightmare's.

Suddenly there was a bright flash and the sound of shattering glass a force of great magic pushing the storming clouds away and letting sunlight stream through as Princess Luna finally reappeared, shaking her head to clear it as if she had woken from a very long nap.

"I'm so sorry Thunder" she spoke in the same soft tone that Thunder always heard in her dreams, nuzzling her grown filly with all the love that had been bottled up by Nightmare's hate.

Onyx watched the display in disgust turning to the closest pony he knew "Red now!" he ordered but to his surprise she didn't obey.

"No Onyx, Thunder's right" Red walked over to where Thunder was standing with Luna flanking her other side "Enough..."

"If you will not fight, then you will die as well" he snarled but seeing Red, one of Onyx's closest friends, leave his side in favor of the Pridelanders made other ponies grow disgusted with the black and green unicorn beginning to join the Pridelanders as well.

"W-Where are you going?! Get back here!" he yelled as he was left alone on his side of their battlefield.

"Let it go Onyx, it's time to put the past behind us" Celestia said softly stepping forward so Luna had to move back out of her way.

"I'll never let it go!" he roared glaring at Celestia with wild eyes "this is for you, Blazing" he whispered his horn blasting toward Celestia, hitting her horn and covering it in dark crystal making it useless, as he leapt at her.

Thunder was the only one who had been watching him so when the pair flew over the side of the ravine she was the one to follow, the three fell haphazardly, a snapping sound echoing through the air when Thunder managed to land on a small ledge on her back several ponies, the loudest one being Rainbow, crying out for them but unable to reach them due to Onyx's wild fits of magic, he had gotten dirt in his eyes during their fall and he couldn't clear his vision without slipping further down the wall of rock that he clung to. Thunder hurried forward as quickly as her broken wing would allow grabbing Celestia's hoof her own "Got you!" she panted a little keeping as flat as she could to avoid Onyx's magic "Trust me" she tried to assure Celestia but her words only seemed to make her more nervous.

"Hold on you two!" Luna yelled down ducking as a burst of magic nearly clipped her ear trying to think of a way to get them out but nature had other plans. The river finally unable to take the restraints of the logs any longer, finally broke the last few logs that were holding back the water sending it rushing free rapid wild and full of logs, it was a danger all its own. "The river!" she shouted a warning as Thunder struggled to pull Celestia up onto her ledge.

Thunder, not able to pull Celestia up on her own and knowing Celestia wouldn't be able to fly up with Onyx trying to roast them with dark magic, decided to try a different approach. "Onyx stop! You don't have to do this, we can help you!" she yelled over the crashing river as Onyx kept sliding down his hooves unable to get a good grip.

Suddenly the unicorn looked in the direction of Thunder's voice, still unable to see her, and gave her a wide crazed smile "No, never..." he began to laugh, loud and insane as he let go of the rock falling into the water below, the last part of him to be seen was his hoof before it sank into the rapids of the river.

Finally without the threat of dark magic Celestia managed to get to safety stand beside Thunder who was watching the slowly calming water with sadness in her eyes "I tried..." she smiled weakly to Celestia before Luna and Rainbow arrived to help Thunder fly back up to the top of the ravine where she was greeted warmly and nearly nuzzled to death by a terrified Rainbow Dash, who would've told her off for doing something so dangerous if Twilight didn't shove an apple in her mouth.

Celestia stepped toward Thunder and smiled "Thunder I was wrong you belong here, not only did you save my life but also the life of my sister" Celestia looked back at Luna blinking away tears.

"Sister? Wait, wouldn't that mean-?" she and Twilight exchanged a surprised glance before speaking at the same time "we're cousins!"

Both princesses laughed as Luna stepped forward "let go home-"

"All of us" Celestia added looking toward the Outlanders with a kind smile, the bat ponies had changed back to normal ponies when Nightmare's curse had been lifted and finally, after so many years apart the two sisters walked side by side, finally heading home.

Author's Note

Oh dear, one more chapter left until the end :( well at least on the bright side it can always be reread :D I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I changed the ending a small bit to reflect Celestia's/Simba's nightmare instead of the way it was in the movie, the song in this chapter is, of course, Love Will Find A Way and I wrote in italics because they aren't really singing it but more thinking it, just so no one gets confused, hope you enjoyed the chapter :D

We Are One

The Outsiders settled into the Pridelands with surprising ease, with the Nightmare's influence no longer controlling her Princess Luna returned to the gentle spirit she had been as a filly, at first she had been uncomfortable cause of the things she had done but as the days passed, following her daughter's lead she relaxed making friends with the Solar herd, a young filly named Pipsqueak took to her nearly as quickly as Rumble had taken to Thunder. Red had found a surprising companion in Big Mac both of them were very shy but spent a great deal of time together, Thunder had a sneaking suspicion that Red would have some news to share in the future. Flash and Twilight had grown even closer spending afternoons and nights together, sometimes just the two of them sometimes with their friends but it was no surprise when Twilight was spotted with a light orange feather braided into her mane. Rumble was pleased that Thunder would be staying and that their were new ponies to get to know, he was often seem hopping along between Thunder and Rainbow or chatting excitedly with Luna about the stars, other ponies gathering to hear her stories and to spot shapes in the star formations as they lay in the grass at night.

The newly formed herd gathered to witness this grand occasion: Thunder and Rainbow's wedding, not that the two mares were paying any attention at the moment, they were so wrapped up in each other. Thunder stood still long enough for Zecora to wrap her broken wing when they had returned to Pride Rock the few days before but as soon as she was free Rainbow had whisked her away, they had been gone for hours but when they returned Thunder was bright red and proudly displayed a cyan feather braided into her black and white mane.

Celestia and Luna exchanged a smile, watching the pair as Thunder blushed and giggled at something Rainbow whispered into her ear. Despite the awkward mornings and the tense silence that sometimes overtook the herd, every pony was warmed at the sight of love that crossed the borders and fueled their bridge to peace and harmony. Celestia turned to Zecora and nodded, watching as Zecora began to perform the ceremony, her words finally snapping the pair out of their little bubble. They stepped forward into their place in the circle, Luna on Thunder's left side and Twilight on Rainbow's right Flash Sentry on Twilight's right as he watched his wing wrapped around her.

Rainbow cleared her throat softly before Zecora could say anything at the beginning of the ceremony motioning for permission to speak, and after a nod from Zecora she turned to Thunder smiling lovingly. "I know I'm not very good with words or all this mushy stuff but I just wanted to say a few things: First off, I couldn't imagine living without you at my side, corny I know, but I mean it" she nuzzled Thunder pausing for a moment to take a deep breath of Thunder's scent "I had been content before with my friends and my place in life, but it took you to show me that just being content isn't enough...that every pony needs another in their life that they can love the way I love you" Rainbow finished blushing and flustered not quite making eye contact with any of the gathered ponies preferring to watch her hooves until Thunder, blushing as well, nuzzling her back happily.

"I lived a life filled with shadows and hate, it dark icy grip clutched at my heart, I didn't understand anything about happiness or love until I met you, you showed me that their were things more important then physical strength. You taught me the power of a ponies heart can overcome even the greatest of challenges and that being on your own isn't nearly as wonderful as being with ponies who care about you" Thunder chuckled at the way Rainbow's wings fluttered awkwardly at her reply.

The pair fell silent nuzzling each other happily as Zecora started the ceremony in the traditional way "Ingonyama nengw' enamabala Ingonyama nengw' enamabala" she began picking up her staff shaking the gordes as she moved "night and the spirit of life calling oh, oh, iyo, mamela and the voice, with the fear of a filly answers iyo iyo, mamela" Zecora smiled at them picking one grodes from the bunched tied to the staff and opening it up to mix her paints together. "Wait, there's no mountain too great hear these words and have faith oh, oh, iyo have faith hela hey mamela, hela hey mamela hela hey mamela, hela hey mamela he lives in you, he lives in me he watches over everything we see into the waters, into the truth in your reflection, he lives in you" Zecora looked to the sky but kept mixing the colors together, sensing the spirit of Starswirl looking down on them, the wind swirling pleasantly, showing his own approval of the wedding.

"Dream, and the voice in the wind whispers: iyo mamela, wait, there's no mountain too great hear these words and have faith, oh, oh, iyo he lives in you, he lives in me he watches over everything we see into the waters, into the truth in your reflection, he lives in you" Zecora brought her hoof out of her paints tracing symbols on the mares foreheads a stylized small half-sun half-moon and stepped away once she had finished so that the newlyweds could share a kiss. The other ponies smiled a little then after Zecora nodded to them began to join their voices with her. "Ingonyama nengw' enamabale, ingonyama nengw' enamabale he lives in you, he lives in me he watches over everything we see into the water, into the truth in your reflection, he lives in you he lives in you, oh yeah, he lives in me he watches over everything we see, into the water, into the truth in your reflection, he lives in you" their voices rose and fell like waves on the shore.

Celestia slowly stood nodding to Luna, Twilight, and Thunder and began to walk out to the outcrop of Pride Rock Luna beside her, Twilight and Thunder following behind them the ponies gathered around them bowing their heads as the royals passed them, Twilight and Thunder exchanging an awkward smile as the followed their mothers not used to be treated like the royalty they were chuckling as they passed a loudly sobbing Rarity and Pinkie, who were still crying about the wedding. The four ponies sat at the edge of Pride Rock overlooking the gathered animals Celestia was the first to react, her horn glowing with magic shooting a white beam into the sky. Luna looked at her, a brief moment of hesitation in her eyes before her own horn gleamed firing a dark blue beam of her own magic into the air next to Celestia's. Twilight and Thunder exchanged a glance grinning before stepping up next to their mothers firing their own magic into the sky as well, Twilight's a light lavender and Thunder's black due to the fact it was dark magic. The animals went wild kicking up dust and yelling loudly in their joy as the sign of the united herd, other unicorns firing their own magic into the sky as the four royal colors began to fade.

A bright beam of sunlight put the royals in a spotlight as the wind blew gently through their manes well done my children a deep voice whispered on the breeze making them look up into the sky in shock. We are one... Even Zecora seemed to hear the voice, dipping her head bowing her head in respect before nodding with a grin up at the sky.

A Few Weeks Later

"Come on Thunder, we got to hurry!" Rumble yelled buzzing forward on his tiny wings, not quite old enough to actually start flying but he was starting to hover a little, Thunder had been surveying a small family of monkeys when Rumble had nearly ran her down demanding she follow him before she missed it, though he ran buzzed away without tell her what it was.

"What are we rushing around for Rumble?" Thunder yelled her broken wing aching from being moved around so much, it was healing quickly but it still ached from time to time Zecora told her that soon she'd even be able to start flying again much to Rainbow's glee, she often complained about not being able nap with Thunder on a soft cloud.

"Cadance's foal is coming!" Rumble said excitedly slowing as he noticed Thunder was beginning to tire. "Must have gotten pretty lost, if they're just finding us now, wonder where they went..." Rumble looked at Thunder curiously but she coughed shrugging a little hurrying a little so that Rumble would hopefully forget his train of thought.

As the pair approached the den they were quickly joined by the element bearers and Flash Sentry, unlike Thunder and Rainbow whose marks had washed away about a week ago Flash and Twilight's wedding marks were still almost clearly visible, they had only been married for a week and a half ago and had been gone after the ceremony until a few days ago.

Thunder slowly entered the nursing den ponies nodding in respect and backing away a step to give her room, Luna and Celestia were already in there with Shining and Cadence. She stepped forward slowly, cautious and quiet so as not to upset the newborn foal that was laying in Cadence's front legs looking around curiously at all the ponies around her, the new mother smiled at her and nodded when she noticed Thunder coming forward to look at the newest member of the herd. The foal was bright white like his father but he had a pink tint to his fur, that clearly came from his mother. He had large dark blueish purple eyes and a dark blue mane and tail with a dark purple stripe he had a pair of tiny white wings folded at his sides.

"He's beautiful Cadance, have you decided on a name yet?" Thunder whispered smiling down at the new-born stallion "hello there little fella, my name is Thunder, you and I are going to be great friends" she raised her hoof above the foal chuckling when he reached up to bat at it with his own cream-colored hooves, grabbing it and pulling it down to suck on it.

"Well actually...." Candence exchanged a look with Shining, who nodded slightly laying down to watch his son "We were thinking of naming him Lightning, what do you think?" she tilted her head a little.

"Lightning huh?" Thunder looked up gently pulling her hoof away from the small white foal "sounds like a great name to me, welcome to the herd little Lightning" she whispered watching with the other ponies in the den as the new-born yawned and began to drift off to sleep.

Author's Note

this is the final chapter of Star-Crossed, the foal that Cadance and Shining have was also made up by me and the song in this chapter is the soundtrack version of He Lives In You cause I couldn't find the lyrics for the movie version :D hope you enjoyed the story and if there is another Disney type story you'd like to see me write? let me know I'd be happy to try