Bloody Storm

Thunder Storm stood frozen in place, her blood was boiling in veins with rage. Her teeth gritted together as she tried to bite back her rage, Vladamir has gone too far this time. She had never heard of anything like this before, she didn’t understand why Lord Morell would want the Elements of Harmony and the Celestial Princesses. Thoran was trying his best to calm Princess Luna, she was really upset from helping Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight tell the story of what happened to them before arriving in Alcadia. She finally walked away from the table and towards the window and stood next to Princess Celestia. She glanced over at her occasionally, hoping she was going to be okay especially now that they all were safe and not in the hands of Lord Morell.

“I’m glad to see you have done well for yourself, Thunder Storm.” Her voice was calm and soft, she smiled down at her. Pride was etched on her face as she looked down at her, even though they were both Alicorns Celestia was at least a head taller than her. She reminded her of the great Amazonian women. “You have come such a long way since the day you were taken from Equestria, you have become everything that I had hoped you’d become. I wish things would’ve turned out differently and we would’ve been able to save you that night.” She sighed deeply as she thought back to that night in Cloudsdale, although it hadn’t been her fault at all to Thunder ending up in Alcadia. She wouldn’t have changed it for the world, if she didn’t end up in Alcadia then she wouldn’t have ever met Thoran or the King.

“Well as much as I want to reminisce with you, Princess Celestia, right now we need to focus. We have a war to win, get you and your people home and bring justice against those who have wronged you. They have gone too far this time and I will not allow Vladamir to get away with this heinous crime!” Thunder slammed her fist onto the table causing a large candle to flip over, spilling wax across the large map of Alcadia and two hand sketches of Lord Morell and Vladamir. Her vision went red and she felt magic begin to course through her, her coat and feathers began to raise up as if she had gotten goosebumps. She began to glow blood red and rise into the air, she growled deep in her throat as she fought through everything coursing through her. This was not right, she could feel it, but the force of the dark magic was almost overwhelming.

Princess Luna rushed forward, her horn already glowing blue with her magic. Her eyes began to glow white as she reached out and grasped Thunder’s hand. A white thread of light sprouted from Luna’s horn and connected to Thunder’s temple. As the thread made contact Thunder stretched out and arched her back, her wings sprung to attention, her mouth gaped is a silent gasp and her eyes changed from red to white. Within Thunder’s mind Luna fought through the black fog that was the darkness trying to take over Thunder’s mind.

“Thunder! Hear my voice! Come to me!” Luna called out into the fog as she pushed through, it felt as though it was thick sludge trying to hold her back.

“Princess Luna?” Thunder sat pressed against an invisible wall, cowering in fear to as she watched the dark fog close in on her. “Where are you?” She tried to move away from the wall, but shied away when the fog seemed to try to reach out to her.

“Do not let the darkness frighten you! You can walk through it, don’t let it take control of you. You are the one who controls your magic, not the other way. Don’t let the anger and fear fuel it! You must stay strong and push back!” Luna pushed even further through the darkness, she could just see the glowing light coming from what should be Thunder. She gritted her teeth and pushed even harder, she used enough force against the darkness to break through and tumbled in front of Thunder. When she looked up at her, she was surprised to see that it wasn’t the same Thunder she had met, it seemed to be a younger version of her. “Thunder?”

“Princess Luna?” She asked in a shaky voice. “What’s going on? What do I do?”

“You must fight against the darkness by forcing your anger away and keeping the balance within. You mustn’t let the anger take over!” Luna pleaded with her and hoped that she would listen. “I let the darkness consume my heart once before, It took control and I became Nightmare Moon, I almost destroyed Equestria and my own sister, because I was jealous of the amount of love our people had for her. It wasn’t until after I returned from my 1000-year banishment on the moon and Twilight Sparkle and her friends showed me true friendship and kindness was I able to be free. Then I created the Tantabus to punish myself for all the pain I had caused before my sister had defeated me and sent me to the moon. I could never forgive myself for all the destruction and pain I had caused when I was Nightmare Moon and again Twilight and her friends showed that nopony was still angry or hurt from my time as Nightmare Moon and that everyone had forgiven me. Please Thunder, don’t let this become you! You are needed here more than you can imagine and you have a good heart, don’t let it become consumed with anger!” Luna pleaded with her and hoped telling her about what had happened to her all the years ago would help her fight through the darkness, to know that she isn’t alone.

“How do I do that?! I don’t even know how to use magic!” Thunder looked at her in a panic.

“You mustn’t let the darkness into your heart! Accept your Alicorn self, embrace it, but do not fear it and do not allow the darkness from your anger in!” The fog had grown as thick as oil and began to churn like the sea during a storm, it seemed to grow arms and tried to reach out to them, it managed to grasp at Thunder’s tail, but couldn’t pull her into it. Luna noticed that a pair of glowing eyes kept resurfacing for brief moments. She dropped next to her, grasped her face, and forced her to look into her eyes. “Look at me! You must trust me, I have been where you are! I have lost this very battle before only to win it once again with the help of friends, you can win it now if you can just trust me and listen to me when I say that you must embrace your Alicorn self and push away the darkness!” She looked at her with pleading eyes, hoping that she had gotten through to her.

Thunder looked at her at first in complete fear and then that fear seemed to disappear from her teary eyes. Her tears finally ebbed away, her trembling ceased and she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She took several deep breaths and felt inside herself for the magic that was within. All Luna could do was sit with her, watch and hope that she could do it. As she sat there she heard a voice, one that sounded like hers but more sinister.

“Oh, sweet Thunder, I can see that my dear friend Luna has tried valiantly to save you, but alas she has failed.” The voice echoed with in her, “There is no need to fear me, for I am a part of you as I am a part of her. I am here to make you stronger, better than all the others.” It whispered sweetly to her, “All you must do is surrender over and give in to me,” Thunder shivered as she felt something brush her cheek, “With my help you can become the most powerful Alicorn the world has ever seen! Even more powerful than Celestia and Luna combined! If you let me in we can become a force that is truly unmatched in combat and soon I will be able to rule this world!” The voice rang out with such clarity is sounded as though she was right next to her, the voice cackled out and rang throughout the darkness.

Luna heard the cackling and looked around to see a figure moving through the blackness, it seemed the blackness was parting to let the figure through. Luna gasped knowing what was coming towards them.

“No.” Thunder said with a voice so commanding that it sounded as though she had instantly turned into the commanding warrior she was. “I will not let you take over me! I will not become some monster! I am Thunder Storm and I am the Commander of the King’s Guard and Commander of Prince Thoran’s army!” With that she rose from her crouched position and stood before Luna. She had a glow about her that make the blackness shrink away, enough that the figure that had been slinking about was now visible. It looked like Thunder, but with a black coat and a mane of dark silver and black, cat eyes that glowed red and fangs that showed through its malicious grin. Luna shivered at the sight of the Nightmare Thunder and looked to Thunder to see she had her wings unfurled and she stood in a battle stance, ready to pounce if the Nightmare Thunder made a move towards her. Luna rose and took a similar pose next to Thunder, even though this was Thunder’s fight she wouldn’t let her stand alone.

“Oh, now this is cute, not only does this little helpless Alicorn think she can fight me but so does sweet little Luna. How have you been Luna? Do you miss me?” She sneered at them, before cackling again. “You really think that you can resist me? I am a Nightmare and without magic you will just become another vessel that I just so need to come into this world! You have no magic and you have nothing! Your own family even abandoned you and this world you live in didn’t even want you as their queen! What makes you think that it will ever change? Do you really think that ‘Prince Thoran’ will ever want to marry you? To make you his queen? I mean why would he want to keep a rose once he’s already plucked the petals and drank the nectar, you would be useless to him as a queen.” She paused and thought for a moment, “No, not a queen, maybe as his mistress when he tires of whatever pathetic queen that he would marry.” She cackled once again seeing as she struck a nerve.

“Thoran would never do such a thing! He loves me and I him! Let’s stop playing this pathetic game of insults and let me show you just what I can do without magic!” Thunder barred her teeth and growled low in her throat, surprising even Luna herself.

“Well if it’s a fight that you want then I shall give you a fight!” Nightmare leered at her as her horn began to spark and glow.

“Won’t be much of a fight, since you’re not even real,” Thunder smirked at her as she crouched lower, preparing to launch herself at the Nightmare. Her insult was enough to throw the Nightmare off her concentration. Her horn stopped glowing as she glared at Thunder, growling at her in response.

“I’ll show you just how rea-,” Nightmare was cut off as Thunder launched herself with such speed and force that Nightmare couldn’t react. She body slammed her to the ground, landing punches as she went.

Nightmare roared in pain and anger, her horn began to glow once more as she summoned her magic. Thunder reacted by grabbing her horn and despite it feeling like fire she through all her weight into it as she wretched it. There was a loud snap, like a bone being snapped in two, then Nightmare began to scream and howl in pain. Blood began to spurt into the air and rain down on them.

“You will never harm my people, you will never take over my realm and you will NEVER take over me. I am not your vessel and I never will be.” With that Thunder stood, she looked every bit the warrior that Luna had seen when she met her. She turned towards Luna, blood dripping down her face and still looked every bit the regal warrioress that she was and is meant to be. “I want to thank you Luna, for coming for me and helping me find myself. Let’s get out of this nightmarish hell.” She reached out to her, ready to return to the realm of reality. Luna looked down at Nightmare; she was lying in a puddle of her own blood and more was still trickling down her horn and face. Her eyes were closed and her breathing ragged, she had given up entirely and was succumbing to her injuries. Luna looked back at Thunder and smiled at her with pride, then took her hand. Everything began to fade away as the light took over.

Both Luna and Thunder’s eyes were glowing white and their bodies covered in a white glow. The pain and fear was gone from Thunder’s face and instead replaced with calm and peace. As they lowered to the ground and landed on their feet Thoran and Celestia rushed to their sides, Celestia beside Luna and Thoran next to Thunder. As the glow faded and the light left their eyes everyone rushed in to their aid.

“Thunder, are you okay? What happened?” Thoran looked at her with concern.

“Sister! What happened in the nightmare realm?” Celestia kept an arm around her sister’s shoulders and a hand on her arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze knowing that it would be difficult for her sister to go to the nightmare realm after having spent 1000 years trapped in that hellish prison.

“Everything is just fine now,” Thunder smiled at Luna and she smiled back, they were still holding hands, “I will be fine and so will everyone else. I fought against the darkness and won.”

“She more than one, she destroyed the darkness!” Luna beamed at Thunder with pride and excitement, “She fought the Nightmare and snapped her horn off, it was incredible to have defeat the Nightmare with no magic!” Luna practically bounced in place like Pinkie Pie, “I have never seen such an act done before in over 1000 years.” Celestia looked at Thunder in shock and Thoran looked at her with pride. Celestia couldn’t believe that someone could have snapped a unicorn’s horn in two, that takes a serious act of strength to do so with brute force.

“Well I’m just glad to see you both have made it back to the realm of reality safely. I was beginning to grow concerned with how long you were there and seeing the change in the colors shift between red and white in Thunder was truly concerning, but I’m thankful you were able to defeat the darkness and stabilizing the balance with yourself.” Celestia smiled at Thunder and real pride shown in her eyes once again and this time Thunder was happy to see it.

“Now before we spend too much time celebrating we should return to bed and prepare for the long days ahead. We will all need our strength for what is to come.” Thoran said in a grim voice before trying to force himself to smile and look optimistic about their situation. Even though they were glad to see that they were now safe and they were happy that they hadn’t wound up in the hands of Lord Morell, but even with training only a few of them will be ready for war.

The others may have saved Equestria as the Elements of Harmony, but they have never fought in a war before. Thoran was worried on how they would fair during training and hoped they would acclimate to their new roles while they searched for the means of returning them to their world. They bid the princesses good night and the guards escorted them to their rooms, Thunder watched as they left the room before turning to face Thoran.

“Are you as worried as I am?” She looked at him with concern in her eyes. He sighed before looking back towards the doors.

“Sadly, my love, yes I am. I’m worried for those they call the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. They may have saved Equestria many times, but I have a feeling that they’ve never once fought in really battle. Especially the pink one and the yellow seraph. I’m worried not all of their party will be able to return to Equestria when this is all said and over.” His face was etched in concern as he thought on what the future held for their new comrades.

“With our help, I believe they will fare well, they are stronger than you believe. If they can wield ancient magical elements and protect an entire world based simply on a special bond they with each other, then I feel they will aid us in this war. In the morn, we will put them through the paces and see how they handle themselves as well as their abilities. We must prepare them to the best of our abilities for them to survive in this world.” Thunder took Thoran’s hand in hers, although she rarely showed emotion even towards Thoran she felt like she should today. Especially after all that had been revealed that night about her mysterious past. She finally knew where she came from after struggling for years to break through the barriers in her mind and it felt like a huge relief that had been lifted off her shoulders, yet it didn’t change who she was now. She was still a warrior, loyal to the crown as well as Thoran and a deep seeded hatred for Lord Morell and that would never change.

“Come, for now let our minds and bodies rest for the night.” Thoran leaned in and pressed his lips to her temple as she yawned. Thunder felt exhausted, which is to be expected with everything that she had experienced that night. He led her to their chambers, pulled the linen shirt over her head, his hand grazing the tender place between her wings before throwing the shirt off to the side of the room. His lips brushed against her tenderly, then pressed them firmly against her forehead directly above the place between her eye brows. A shiver of please rushed over her making her gasp, something that had never happened before. “Are you okay? What’s the matter?”

“Yes,” she took a quick breath and tried to steady herself, her legs were even shaky, “Let us go to bed for now, I’ll figure it out in the morn.” She just wanted to get to sleep, they had been through enough for the day and tomorrow was going to be a new struggle.

Thoran looked at her questioningly he wasn’t completely convinced that she was fine, he always knew if something was wrong or off with her it was how their bond was. “Alright then let us go to bed, you look exhausted tonight.” He removed his linen shirt as well before sweeping her up into his arms and laying her on the plush down feather mattress and silk sheets. He laid beside her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him and her head resting on his chest. She always felt safe in his arms, she drifted off as she watched to flame flicker on the candle on the stand next to their bed. The last thing she saw was a glimpse of the goddess’ face within the flames and hearing Thoran’s heartbeat.