Storm rushed through corridors, blasting down staircases whenever she found them. To the untrained eye, her path might seem random, to her lens, a line was rapidly being erased as she advanced. She dived down another stairwell.

Desperate times required desperate measures...

The Camp.

That's what they were calling it, and frankly, Storm didn't have a better name for it. Not better as in “more befitting”, but better as in serving to distract from the reason of its existence. Her town had gotten smart, figuring if the Wraith was coming, they needed to move. There were a few, more than a few ponies who stubbornly stood their ground. They weren't around anymore. Far, far beyond the former residence of their former town, the residents of the Camp got to work on keeping things going, keeping them going, they never stayed in one place too long, always moving further, and (if possible) faster. Other ponies with similar ideas had joined the mobile herd, without real aim or goal, beyond staying even a single step ahead of the Wraith.

That was until help arrived. The military had found them, or perhaps they'd finally decided to intervene. It'd gotten hairy for a moment when somepony assumed they'd come to force any able-bodied pony to fight a doomed battle, but even after that, nopony was particularly pleased to see such consistent failures.

Aid went a long way. Food, medicine, and promises of evacuation to a more hospitable place swayed opinions effectively. It was just a matter of getting everything to everypony, more ponies that they'd clearly prepared for. Storm couldn't help but feel some pride, a group of ponies this large living together was a rare thing these days.

Other things were not so rare. Her eye caught a mare, and a colt, both unicorns. The mare was promising the colt that his father would return with food soon.

Storm looked to her own saddlebag, which held a certain something. She smiled, diving from the air. Before either could ask why, she dived into her saddlebag, pulling out a wrapped package.

“Here you go, kid.”

A silvery wisp of magic gently tugged the package away, the young colt smiling up at her. She nodded to him, and took to the air again. The Camp was steadily being packed up, a frequent occurrence. Storm hadn't been given the exact details on where they were headed, the leaders of their little tribe had that information. Her eyes darted through various things being packed away; tools, furniture-she caught a flash of diamonds, and a mare looking over her shoulder suspiciously. Guess some ponies couldn't leave behind their jewellery. Such ponies seriously needed their priorities checked. She rolled her eyes, continuing to looked through the familiar faces going about their-

Wait, she didn't know those ponies. Were they military? Judging by their tight formation, she'd guess yes, even though they weren't wearing uniforms. The gear on their eyes was the only real give-away she needed. Two Unicorns (one white-coated, the other orange), an Earth Pony (also with a white coat), and a Pegasus with a well-groomed mane made way through the crowd, their purpose clear; they had a destination in mind. Storm followed, keeping a few wing-beats behind her fellow Pegasus, their conversation flowing through the air back to her.

Her fellow Pegasus looked troubled. “They're definitely going through with it?”

The white Unicorn nodded. “Yeah. The strike was given the go-ahead this morning.”

The other Unicorn snarled. “Wretched warmongers already had the thing ready to go. Second the final life sign sweep gives the all clear, they launch.”

The Earth Pony sighed. “If there's somepony up above, may they forgive us.”

“If there is somepony up above,” began the white Unicorn, “we should consider changing targets.”

“When none are left to impeach, impeach the gods.”

The Pegasus looked down at the orange Unicorn. “Guys, he's quoting books again.”

“Well excuse me for actually having read-“Hm?” He stopped moving. “Sweep complete. They're commencing the strike. Three minutes to impact.”

The group broke into a gallop, to the nearby hills. Storm followed, past the borders of the camp, beyond the voices of its residents. Without slowing down, the group quickly reached the top of the hill. In the very far distance, darkness could be seen, the mark of places fallen to the Wraith. Such a sight was becoming increasing more common across Equestria, across the world.

There it was, from out of the sky, tiny, from this distance. A metal rod, its base a pillar of fire, heading lower and lower and-

Even so far away, the flash was as clear as day, as it a new sun had been born, rapidly growing in size, lighting up the horizon, contrasting against the dark. It was like the end of the world had come, the great battle between fire and darkness.

The hoof of science. Storm could recall, things her grandfather had told her, that sometimes, ponies made use of what could only be called instruments of destruction. Occasionally, and with the proper tools, they attempted to smite that which they deemed unworthy to go on living, acts with immense repercussions. If such stories were based in history, or cautionary tales, she didn't know for sure, but watching what was unfolding before her eyes, she felt there was more than sliver of truth in the fictions. Even here, far from the blast, a pulse of pure force washed over them.

Ten seconds, from birth to death, the light was born and faded. The battle was over. All that remained, was a still rising cloud of destruction, the signature of a pony-made catastrophe.

The white unicorn turned to his orange comrade. “Did that do it?”

He frowned. “Still waiting for the radiation to clear.”

Seconds passed, the cloud growing larger, and larger, as the ponies were focused on their equipment, waiting for-

“Dammit!”

Storm's blood froze, the Wraith survived that?!

“Not even wound-” The white unicorn looked ready to bust several blood vessels. ”“What makes that thing die!?”

The orange unicorn wasn't far behind him. “Son of a-!” He took a deep breath. “Sharp! I want evac ready here ASAP!”

From his eyepiece came a-“Roger.”

A golden aura removed the eyepiece from its owner. “We're back to the drawing board.”

“Assuming anypony's still willing to try.” The white Unicorn wasn't expect anypony, clearly.

She'd prove him wrong. “I am!” Storm found all eyes upon her, her new team, weather they liked it or not. “I'm Storm Rider. Where do I sign up?”

Storm finally came to a stop, at the beginning of a very, very long corridor. This deep within the castle, so very little light penetrated past the windows, the darkness of the Wraith consuming much of it. Even in the dim light, she could see, at the other end of the wide, long corridor, a single, large white door. She smiled, past that door was something important, something very important, and all she need do is glide down the hall.

Magic Detected

Scratch that. Scanning Storm's naked eye couldn't see anything suspicious, or anything at all, really, the place was empty-ah, that was it, empty. That was suspicious. Source Undetermined Well, it wasn't like she expected this part to be easy. She beat her wings a few times, grinning.

She did so love a challenge.

Now where exactly was it?

Her wings beat thrice. Not a problem, she'd just figure it out.

She rushed forth, like she was shot from a cannon, Strom raced forward, grinning, this was gonna be a breeze. In a minute she'd be opening-“Whoh!”

Storm dived to her left, as crystals sprouted from the floor, shooting towards the ceiling. With a fresh burst of speed, Storm rushed forward, she had to-what?!

The door wasn't getting any closer! She accelerated again, and again, the door not seeming to move at all. What the hay was going on?

Something flashed at the edge of her vision. The last thing she saw was light.

The next thing she saw was Daybreak above her. “Easy there, Storm. You took quite a spell.”

He wasn't kidding, it felt like her brain had been hit with a boulder. “How long was I-?”

“Few minutes. It'd have been a lot more without me. That spell was supposed to keep you out for hours.”

“How did you-?”

“Life sign monitor, the lens told us when you were knocked out.” He looked down the hallway, and Storm finally realized exactly where she was. “Looks like whatever hit you put you back here.”

“Daybreak. Uhn...” Storm clutched her head. “When I flew to the door, it didn't get closer. It's like the hall got longer.”

“Really...” Daybreak's horn lit up, and let lose a pulse of magic, which shot forth, before suddenly vanishing. “Light distortion. It's intended to mask the true length of the room. It may appear a stroll away to our eyes, but it may actually be the length of the castle itself. I wonder...” He let up his horn again, and Storm sworn should could have heard a very faint sound. Daybreak frowned. “Fools Sonar too.” He started walking forward, his horn still aglow. “It's jamming teleports beyond this point.” He stopped, slamming a hoof on the floor. “Everything beyond this point is no mare's land. It's distorting all perception.”

“Can you break the illusion?”

He shook his head. “If I found the source, yes. As is, no. This is expert spellwork, I'm almost impressed. The only way to get past is to power through. Pearl, you're needed here.” Within a second, Pearl had appeared in a flash. “This is a security system. Likely designed so only an Alicorn can pass it. Something's in there.”

Pearl raised her brow. “The Elements?”

Daybreak shrugged. “Or something else important. You don't go to all this trouble for trinkets. Since no Alicorns are on hoof, we'll stand in as a substitute. Something's in there, and we're taking it. On your hooves, Storm.” Storm shot up, her and Pearl taking place beside Daybreak.

“Daybreak,” came Blueblood's voice, “Do you need more backup?”

“No, keep searching. I don't want more hooves here than need be.” Daybreak took one more look at the mares on either side of him. “Don't break formation without my say-so. We move as one, got it?”

“Got it.”

“Okay, now take it slow.”

They took a step, and another, and another, in a slow, and steady rhythm, they slowly made way forward. Half a dozen, a dozen steps, and nothing. Their trot became quicker, every step becoming just a bit faster, becoming-

Orbs suddenly appeared in the air, each with a light inside, some lights were golden, others not.

“HOLD!”

The orbs unleashed a barrage of blasts.

“Nice try!” Daybreak grinned, his magic bursting forth, and forming a wall before them, the barrage hitting and fizzling to nothing. “And for my next trick...” Claws shot forth from the wall, slipping past the stream of blasts, they grasped the orbs, losing form, covering each orb in a golden glow. The wall faded. “That takes care of that.” The orbs only continued to flash, nothing passing beyond the shell which covered them.

Storm's vision shot in several directions, finding not so much as a shard. “It didn't open with that before.”

Daybreak smiled. “It decides tactics based on the intruders actions. Expert spellwork. Okay, now I am impressed. Forward!”

*Clop. Clop. Clop.*

They got perhaps a dozen steps, when they stopped. Before them, came a wall of what appeared as glass, rising from the floor.

“This again!”

Daybreak looked at these crystals, the black and green crystals. The floor was growing some weird kind of emerald? He let lose a blast of magic, a small blade of gold light, smashing against the crystal.

The crystal cracked, slightly. “What the-?” Magic resistance? “Pearl!”

Pearl rushed forth, spinning on her fore-hooves and bucking. Her force burst through the growth, with the wall breaking like glass, shards of pseudo-emerald falling in all directions.

They hit floor, and became as water. The floor was quickly being covered in a layer of liquid black. Even as the tide met their legs, it didn't feel wet. Daybreak raised a hoof, brining up some of the substance with it. “What is this?”

Storm picked up a mass of her own. “You're the expert, Daybreak.”

“True, but I've never-what-?!”

The mass leap from his hoof, slamming into a wall, the black creeping up the wall, leaving only the windows intact. It spread, covering one window, spreading across the surface, covering it in black. The surface rippled, as the light outside seemed to dim. Daybreak's horn lit, as the Unicorn became suddenly pensive. Wisps of gold flowed from the edge of his horn, travelling down, retreating into Daybreak's head.

From the surface of the black, came darkness, wisps of black smoke, emerging from-

It.

The Wraith came forth. It emerged from the black door, floating through the air, as the three backed away. Daybreak was frowning, the stream of magic from his horn growing larger.

Pearl wasn't so composed. “How did it get in?!”

“What do we do?!” Neither was Storm.

Daybreak smiled. “Don't worry.”

Daybreak's horn flared with an almighty flash, and like flipping a light switch, the darkness became light, and the Wraith became nothing.

Storm took to the air, finding-”Explanation, please.”

Daybreak smirked. “That was an illusion. The Wraith's still outside.” He chuckled lightly. “Foal's play. It should have gone with something more subtle.” Storm just blinked, her gaze focused on Daybreak, who must have felt it because-“I wrote a thesis on mind-altering spells once, I know their ins and outs.”

“That spell...” Pearl was quivering lightly.“It was one of, of his.” Storm returned to the ground, putting her hoof over her friend's shoulder.

“Brood later, Pearl, we're on the clock.”

*THUD*

Three pairs of eyes turned to the entrance, which was now gone.

“Swift!” yelled Daybreak.
“I didn't do anything!” was the reply.
“Force of habit!” an understandable one too, but-*THUD*

This time, they saw it, a slate coming from the wall, rendering another section of the room lost to them. Storm gulped. “I think knocking me out was a warning.”

“You think?!” Daybreak rushed in the direction of the only remaining door. “Move your plots!”

You didn't have to tell Storm twice, nor Pearl. On air and on floor, the pair bolted after Daybreak. Storm quickly caught up to the group's all but official leader.

“What's the plan?”
“Get to the door!”
“Good plan!”

*THUD*

Ahead of them, a wall of crystal began to from, from all sides, attempting to-”Pearl!” Daybreak's horn ignited, and with a swift shift of his head, Pearl was sent sailing forward through the air. “Clear a path!”

With a powerful kick, she did, shattering the wall soaring on, before finally hitting ground.

The ground vanished. “HELP!”

“Pearl!” Storm shot off swift as the hurricane, diving down the hole which had consumed her ally in this little break-in. “I got you!” Briefly wondering if an Earth Pony's strength was naturally accompanied by extra weight, she pulled Pearl up. Getting above the hole, she found-”Daybreak!"

Orbs, ready to open fire.

“Give it up, will ya!?” A pulse of gold wrapped every orb in gold, Daybreak taking place in the air before them, his magic-huh, that was inventive. Storm's glance shot up, finding a golden spike indented in the ceiling. “Floor's vanishing!” *THUD* “And we're running out of room!"

Daybreak landed on a piece of ground not yet vanished, Storm putting Pearl beside him, and the trio rushed again. Daybreak and Pearl leapt from what was quickly becoming tile-to-tile, Storm kept back, just above them. She glanced ahead.

“Oh come on!”

Daybreak looked ahead too, and swore loudly. Pearl did too, and swore under her breath.

*THUD*

The door didn't seem closer, but the advancing walls were another story. The trio moved, faster than before, Daybreak leapt for a particularly distant-“Huh?” It was if gravity had suddenly ceased to affect Daybreak. “Anti-grav!?” So it had, and there was Daybreak, turning in midair. “Hang on.” Daybreak's horn lit, along with his entire body. He was quickly upright, smiling. “Pearl.” Pearl leapt too joining Daybreak in midair and in glowing.

Storm grinned. “Show off. Let's move!” She bolted through the air, a rush of air greeting her. Hang on-she turned back, finding Daybreak and Pearl-“What's wrong?”

Daybreak glared. “This is an advanced technique. Not as easy as it looks.” He created two golden ropes, tying him and Pearl together with one, and wrapping one around Storm. “Pull!"

*THUD*

(It was official, each slate was taking more at a time now.)

She pulled. She pulled hard as she soared. Storm couldn't help but smile, this was supposed to be an obstacle? When you were a species that made it a point to defy gravity, removing gravity wasn't exactly changing anything. If she was honestly looking to enjoy this little trial she'd be disappointed by now, what a-

She stopped. “Aw, nuts.”

Fire. From the walls, floor, and ceiling, fire came, coming together to form a singular inferno. The fire took shape, form, becoming a burning Alicorn. It's mane, tail, and body made entirely of flame. It spread its wings, and simply stood there, in midair. An Alicorn of flame was odd enough, but something was odder still.

“Pink fire?” Daybreak raised a brow. “Even I haven't seen this before.”

Storm backed up, testing to see if-“It's not attacking.”

“We haven't approached,” Daybreak took place at her side. “I was right, this place is designed for an Alicorn. No other single pony could make it through this place.”

*THUD*

Daybreak frowned, his horn's magic fading, freeing Pearl and Storm from his binds. “Leave it to me.”

“You got a plan?”

“It's made of fire. I'm gonna extinguish it.”

At that, the Alicorn flared, spreading its wings, the air becoming flooded with sheer heat.

*THUD*

“How long will it take?”

“I'll work as fast as I can.” Daybreak's horn flared.

Storm eyed the door behind their obstacle, still so far away...“Daybreak, do you think getting to the door'll stop all this? Make it all go away?”

“I assume so, yeah. Why?”

She gulped. “...hope you're right.”

“What do you-?”

With that, she took off.

“STORM!”
“Don't do it!”

The Alicorn stood still, but its gaze turned to her. Storm sped up, she just had to slip by-*THUD* She stopped, that was close-she turned around.

“NO!”

They were gone.

“No no no no NO!” She reached the new wall, and started pounding. “Daybreak! Pearl!”

“Storm!” She froze, Daybreak's voice coming from her side of the wall. Her lens! “Do not engage! We'll find a way through!” She thought she heard something else on his side, like magic-“What the-? The windows are fake! Storm, just keep calm and stay away from it!”

Storm smiled, and sighed in relief. They were okay. That was good. She turned around. Now just had to get past the flame. It parted its legs, ready to pounce. She mirrored it

She leapt.
As did it.

Storm took measurement of the corridor, which left a lot of room to fly, more than enough for sharp turns. Yet, her opponent wasn't taking advantage. Then again, neither was she. The Alicorn mirrored her pose, her elevation, her wingbeats. Even its speed mirrored hers...

She stopped.
It stopped.

Face-to-face, in midair, the two stared one another down.

“I'm getting past you.”

Staring into the face of flame was difficult enough to begin with, nevermind making out details, but she could have sworn...it was smiling.

You can try.

She jumped back.
As did it.

Whatever this thing was, could think for itself. That made things...far worse. Wild fire was easy, just head in a different direction than the flame. This fire would hunt her down. The Alicorn spread its wings, flame coming to life around it.

This time, it was for keeps. Storm's hoof scraped the air. This fire was as ice before her own flame. If getting to that door cost her life, then that would be the cost. This was just a storm, a storm of fire, but a storm nonetheless. How fortunate, for her anyway.

Storm Rider was more than just her name. If this time was for keeps, then it was time to play!

She shot forth.

The Alicorn's horn flared, birthing a geyser of holy fire. Storm evaded, the slight hope at the back of her mind that the fire was some kind of illusion quickly being burned away. She gasped, evading another incoming flame, which crashed against the wall. She caught a brief glance of her foe, and another incoming fireball. She shot to the other side of the corridor, then back to the other, then above, and below, up, left, right, left, down, every second leaving a larger inferno behind her, she briefly saw, out of the corner of her eye, a light on the wall, a patch of bright, fiery orange, as if something on the other side was trying to burn through. She ducked another blast, as she advanced closer to the source of the fire.

For a split second, Storm wondered if she might be certifiably insane. For the next split second, she noticed; It wasn't moving. Why? It was definitely watching her, but that gaze, it reminded her of Daybreak reading. What was this apparition thinking?

Wait, it could think? What exactly was this thing?

The Alicorn spread its wings, unleashing another pulse of heat. Storm slammed to a halt. The Alicorn beat its wings, putting more distance between itself and Storm. Less distance between itself and-If it goes to the door I'm not getting near it She bit her lip.

Communication Offline

Discretion is the better part of valor.

Storm rushed forward again, her movement responded to by a spiralling flame. She offered her foe a wide grin, as she dove just under the flame, continuing her path in a spiral, travelling across the spiralling flame.

The spiralling blaze ceased, and the burning spectre slashed down her horn, releasing an inferno blade. Storm jumped to the side, almost slamming against the wall Come on, come on! Before you bloody kill me! Her foe slashed again. Damn! She leapt away, and backwards, another inferno spreading through the halls. She could smell, feel the smoke against her coat, as another blade was born. She dove back into the smoke, the blade following, all the burning Alicorn saw was a burst of flame.

A burst of flame, and a piercing scream.

The Alicorn stopped, stunned. It spread its wings, and leapt forward. It looked in all directions, but most of what it could see was smoke and fire, and no sign of a flesh and blood pony. The Alicorn rushed forward, moving into the heart of the smoke it had been the cause-something burst from the flame, the Alicorn turned to look, just in time to see-“BOOYAH!”

The Alicorn rushed after Storm, roaring, or perhaps that was the roar of the flame, Storm couldn't tell. The heat of the perusing flame, she could feel it, but she would not fear it, she did not, it would not catch her! The door, perhaps even further than before, was her only target, as a cone formed in the air around her growing denser and denser, sparking. She felt her fur pushed back by the sheer force of her rush, but she had to go faster, had to-*THUD*

Oh, she'd hit the door.

Literally.

What was this thing made of? “Owww...”

The fires burned out, not even ash signifying their previous existence. Like a switch had been flipped, the hall became calm again, becoming as it had originally appeared. Daybreak and Pearl discovered their true distance from the door, and rushed forward, as behind them the slates returned to the walls. Storm pried herself from the door, her bone rattling, as Daybreak and Pearl approached. The door began to glow, before it began to simply fade away, leaving what lay beyond open to them.

Storm grinned. “Open sesaus.”

“Lame, Storm. Lame.”

“Shut it, Swift!”

Didn't cost my life, but we got something.

Author's Note

Author's Notes:
Random thought. It occurred to me that Sweet Apple Acres takes care of pigs. Contemplate that, will you?