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