//-------------------------------------------------------// Zap And Screecher -by ThatRedChangeling- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1:A Small Act of Disobedience //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1:A Small Act of Disobedience "Many years ago in the realm of Kryo, a realm much like Equestria but the environment and most of the animals were not friendly.  A war that once raged on for years between the Kryoians, a nation of elemental ponies made up of different races and different elements. Fire, Earth, Machine, Magic, and Lightning.  All five elements were at war against an ancient tribe known as primals.  Primals were savage fighters that once lived in Kryo long before us.  But near the end only a few surviving primals remain, but the tragic lost for our side was the near extinction of the elite group of fast surging powered warriors known as the Lightning warriors.  Only one descendant of the elite warriors lies in the soul of a young stallion.  Apparently too cocky at most times, uninterested in knowing the great evil that approaches, and rejecting of my guidance!  And why would he and his obnoxious friend Screecher want listen to his dear old uncle?  I'm only the brother to the legendary Lightning warrior!  One of the wisest ponies in the entire region!  So it seems their journey to heroism doesn't begin with careful research or sensible thinking, oh no! As with many fates are mysterious, it begins with but a small act of disobedience." It was mid-dawn aroundm6 AM, both Zap and Screecher happened to have stolen the fisher colt's boat and are headed towards an island that his uncle warned them not to go to.  An island that was a graveyard to once giant prehistoric creatures.  As both the young stallions have reached the shore, Zap hopped out from the boat first. Screecher however, looked side to side before looking back at Zap faintly scared before he followed Zap as he was walking around exploring. "U-Uhm Zap, y-your uncle told us n-not to come here...” Screecher said. After a short while of exploring Zap and Screecher heard some faint growling from the right.  Screecher was slightly frightened to see where the growling lead to but Zap, wasn't.  He popped his head above a large rock faintly in awe from what he saw.  Screecher did too but caused a thud as he plopped his belly on the rock as Zap gave him a shushing gesture to him before they both looked towards what it was.  It was a small group of what appears to be primals but they looked nothing like the primals from a long time ago.  They looked more Changeling like but had dagger sharp teeth showing from their muzzles.  They were all grouped up in one place facing towards two primals but they weren't like the small ones.  There was a tall female who faintly looked older then the smaller young one.  She almost looked like Queen Chrysalis but she had no wings, and her muzzle was bazaar.  Unlike changelings they both had cutie marks but her was a red colored hourglass, almost looks like from the species of spiders called Black Widows.  The smaller younger one did in fact have wings but not insect like, he seemed to have dragon like wings.  It was hard to tell if he had an exoskeleton skin like the elder female primal he surprisingly had a mixture of both exoskeleton and thick scales.  His horn was nothing like the female, its more curved like and looked like it was made out of a metal.  His cutie mark seemed strange, it looked like the figure of a purple dragon.  As the smaller primals stared up at the two, for a bit the younger one started to speak but his voice had a deep echo as he spoke. "Continue your search for crystals and magic... The locals possess the lightning crystals… You know what to do." Said the young stallion primal, then the elder mare primal spoke as well. "Deal harshly with anypony who dares get in your way. We will attack, in due time." Both Zap and Screecher looked at one another before hopping off the large rock causing a thud as they both landed, having one faintly larger and bulkier  primal turn towards the direction where it heard the thud, assuming that there is somepony else that is on this island as well. After a while of trotting around they reached a strange area from what it looked like a weird machine, as it was draining a dark energy from a very large dark crystal as they both climbed on top of the machine. "A-Are you sure we should be here, Zap?  This place gives me the creeps." Screecher said, as he tripped over landing on his belly with a thud as Zap turned around looked at him before forming a smirk, making a silent chuckle. Screecher looked back at him frowning, before looking behind himself to see what he tripped over. It seemed to be a strange "relic" it had a blue lightning symbol, looked exactly like Zap's cutie mark as Screecher got up turning around facing it grumbling for a bit. "Ugh, this stupid lightning junk!" He said before picking it up with his mouth as they both walked towards the edge of the pool that was nearly filled with the dark energy from the crystal as they both looked down at the pool curious to what it was. "Eek!  What in the ancient is that?  It sure doesn't look friendly." Screecher said, now holding it in his hoof blowing dust off it before wiping the rest off. "Your uncle keeps yapping about the ancients that built these things long ago.  Where did they go?  Why did they build and leave this crap." Screecher said before tossing it in the air continued mimicking from what Zap's uncle kept questioning about the ancients that once were around Kryo long before the Kryoians and the primals ever walked hooves in this realm.  As Zap quickly catches it in his hooves, it suddenly started to glow blue.  Zap looked at it surprised before shaking his head in disbelief before looking back at Screecher as he was still rambling. "Now I happened to like some Lightning shards and some artifacts but if you ask me they must have been real losers." Screecher turned towards Zap before staring at it as his expression went very surprised. "Whoa!  How did you do that!?" Before Zap could even attempt to "speak" a growl could be heard as the bulk primal flew over landing behind Zap as he hopped away from it standing in front of Screecher as Screecher had gotten really frightened. "Zap, I think we're in trouble!" The primal stood on its hind legs letting out a roar as Zap looked at it before looking back at the bulky primal. As the two charged at each other Zap chucked it at the primal, it exploded as it made impact to it causing them to both fly backwards.  Zap accidentally made impact to Screecher as he was pushed into the pool of the dark energy.  Zap quickly got up looking down with shock looking around quickly but after a few seconds he popped out from the pool before landing.  Zap quickly turned around looking at Screecher shocked even more from what he was turned into.  A dwarf two feet long sky blue griffin . "Aw man that stung!" Screecher said before looking at Zap, even madder than ever. "I told you we shouldn't have come here and you listen!" Zap was still to shock staring at him, Screecher slowly grown a mixture of a confused and angry expression. "Whaat?!" Screecher had his "hoof" in sight of his vision, staring at them noticing he had claws instead of hooves as his eyes slowly began to thin, freaking out. Zap quickly covered his ears while he was screaming. After a short moment he calmed down. "Okay! Okay, I'm fine." Screecher said before observing his entire body now seeing that he was in a form of a griffin. Sigh, he resumed freaking out. "Wuaaaaaaaaaaagh!" It was now 7:30 Am as the sun started to rise over the village as both Zap and Screecher attempt to sneak back inside their hut knowing that Zap's uncle always wakes up very early for his daily hour of meditating.  Zap and Screecher stood there in the entrance looking up and seeing that Zap's uncle has already woke up.  Screecher chewed on his claws for a second, nervously as he slowly makes one step inside causing the floors to creek enough to alert the elderly stallion pegasus. "What in the ancient do you two want!?" Zap's uncle said as Screecher started exclaiming at him. Trying to explain what happened. "W-W-We was!-  There was!-  I was!-" Zap's uncle stopped his sentence. "Don't tell me.  Instead of obeying orders, the two of you when mucking around at the only place I told you not to good.  Graveyard Cove!" Zap's uncle said as Screecher resumed. "That's right!  And there was--" Zap's uncle cut him off again. "And Screecher, you finally took a much needed bath.  But in a bathtub filled with the essences of dark magic!" Zap's uncle said, as Screecher snapped at him. "Look old bag! Are you going to keep yapping? Or are you going to help me out of this mess!?" Zap's uncle snapped back at him. "I'm going to keep yapping! Because in my professional opinion, the change is an improvement." Screecher quietly growled at him for that sentence. "And besides… I couldn't help you if I wanted to." Screecher eyes widens before he yelled. "WHAAAAT!!?" Zap's uncle cleared his throat before explaining. "Their is only one being who has studied all type of dark magic long enough in having a chance in returning you to your previous form, Ashtrail the Primal.  But he lives far into the north, far, far into the north of this region.  Nopony has ever spoken to him in ages.  I would teleport you there, but I can't do that either.  None of the village elders have seen fit to turn their portals on for quite a while.  The only way to get to the east village is through Magma canyon but its intense temperature from the lava makes it very impossible for any organism to cross through it.  You can't just go right through it." A feminine voice could be heard coming from the entrance of the hut. "But you could actually, if you have a cooling shield to withstand the lava's heat." They all turned facing towards who it was. It happened to be Zap's youngest cousin. A pink pegasus mare with blue eyes, a yellow mane and tail, and her cutie mark in a form of gears knowing that she was born to be an inventor as she continued walking inside. "I just happened to be working on such a thing at his very moment. All I need is a few ice shards for the shield to withstand the lava's heat. Isn't that right Pa?" "Y-Yes Tinker that would work. But where would a colt, and a HALF!" He slammed the tip of his staff on Screecher's head, as he rubbed his head growling at him. "Going to get ice shards?” Tinker pointed outside the window towards the village. "From the villagers!  Most of them have a shard you'll need to power the shield and if they're not just going to give them away.  Doing a few tasks that they ask them to do should do the trick.  It would also help redeem yourselves from all the trouble you two had caused over the years." Zap and Screecher both scratched the back of their heads, smiling awkwardly. "Also, there have been rumors that ancient artifacts lay throughout the lands just waiting for some brave adventurers to find." Screecher chuckled. "Well we got the brave adventurer at least." Zap's uncle shook his head in disbelief. "Brave adventurers?  You two couldn't find your way out of the jungle without my guidance.  Before you two do anything else, you better get some practice at the old training course." He said, Tinker hoofed something to Zap before slipping it around his left front hoof.   As Screecher spoke. "Ey, we won't come across anymore of that dark magic stuff?  Because I'd hate to fall in again and turn into you!" Zap's uncle snapped at them before pointing at the portal. "GET IN THERE!  BEFORE I TURN YOU BOTH INTO DUST!" Zap looked at Screecher frowning before dashing towards portal hopping through it as Screecher looked around hopping inside as well. The Training Begins. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: The Training Begins. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: The Training Begins. As Zap hopped out from the portal Screecher popped out as well but landed on the back of Zap's neck causing him to cringe before flicking him off with his wing as he gazed around the area noticing some training dummies in a shape of one of the smaller primal and a few of the larger ones.  There was a weird looking pad that had the same lightning symbol in the middle and further beyond was a racetrack.   Zap looked around in awe, now seeing how his father trained as he heard a beeping noise coming from his left hoof, as he raised it, staring at it before pushing a small red button as Tinker's voice could be heard from the speaker. "Hey Zap, this is a Trans-communicator it will allow us to speak from far away.  Also I installed a camera on it to view your surroundings, just in case you get confused about something important." The transmission ended as Screecher got up dusting himself off with a groan before hopping back on Zap's back.  Zap slowly walked towards one of the smaller dummies as another transmission could be heard but this time it was his uncle. "Listen up my boy, now I may not be a lightning warrior like your father.  But, I've been watching and studying his abilities and attacks he preformed at your age.  One of his moves was a lightning kick. It sends an enemy flying while being electrocuted.  Now close your eyes focus your energy that surges through your veins towards your hind legs.  And kick the day lights out of it." Transmission ended as Zap lets out a quiet sigh before slowly closing his eyes, concentrating.  His hind legs slowly started surging before it started glowing as his hind legs were slowly being wrapped around with pure electricity.  He turned around having his flank facing the dummy before as he bucked it causing it to take off while being electrocuted as the dummy quickly began turning into dust. "And it’s good!!" Screecher said as Zap rolled his eyes with a faint smile before bucking the rest of the remaining small dummies, as he trotted towards the larger ones.  Another transmission came from his uncle. "I sure hope you're an excellent at ballet because this next move requires spinning!  This next move is called The Surging Tornado; use this ability if surrounded by primal minions.  I'll explain about those once your training is complete." Zap nodded before standing on his hind legs, concentrating again having his surge of energy formed around him as Screecher hopped off him.  Zap quickly spun around forming a light blue tornado as he spun towards the large dummy turning it into a pile of ash as doing the same towards the other fewer dummies.  After a short period of time he manages to stop himself as he collapsed on his back, extremely dizzy from all that spinning.   Screecher walked over towards him before letting out a chuckle. "Gees Zap, if you’re THAT good at spinning.  You should have auditioned for The Nutcracker." Zap shook his head as he frowned at him rolling his eyes before getting back up on four hooves. As they walked towards the pad, another transmission came from his uncle. "Those small pads you see are called Lightning pads.  It’s only for the lightning warriors that are an earth pony, unicorns if their magic is drained, or a pegasus that happens to have a sore wing.   Focus your surge of energy while standing on it to activate it, it will send you up to high places." Zap stood on it focusing his energy again as the pad started glowing before instantly sending Zap high in the sky.  Screecher had gotten startle shaking his head. "W-Whoa!  That's quite a boost it gave you!" He said Zap was falling towards the ground before he quickly flapped his wings, hovering in midair landing beside Screecher. They head towards the racetrack stopping half way as they spotted a dark blue rock shaped like a crystal. "Whoa!  That's a lovely crystal." He walked towards it and stood on his hind legs, picking it up nearly out a balance due to it being quite heavy. "I bet this would be worth a fortune!" Zap rolled his eyes, as they resume trotting towards the tracks.  Once they reached it they noticed a few obstacles were placed in the tracks as another transmission from his uncle began. "Now before your training ends, the one most important thing about a lighting warrior is speed. You must be fast enough to fly through Magma Canyon before you’re the percentage of your ice shield drops to zero or you'll both be fried.  Complete this course under a minute and your training is complete." Zaps’ uncle said Screecher hopped off from his back, walked a few inches away from him before he picked up a stop watch. "Alright on your marks." Zap gets in position. "Get set. FLY!" He starts the stopwatch as Zap quickly zoomed off passing through each obstacle, managing to complete a lap in under fifth-teen seconds.  After a bit, he managed to complete the course, he quickly stopped before landing on the starting line as he was panting heavily.  Screecher looked at the stop watch. "Forty-five seconds, not bad Zap!" He tossed the stop watch away as if it was junk before picking up the large blue crystal as he attempted to fly with his wings only to fly long enough to land on Zap's back, as he flew back to the portal in a few seconds before they jumped through the portal. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Journey Begins. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Journey Begins. After twenty-five minutes of training, back at the training course, Zap jumped out of the portal first.  He quickly ducked as soon as Screecher jumped out causing him to skid across the wooden floor.  Screecher shook his head turning his attention towards Zap before growling for a metric second before the blue crystal cluster impacted his beak.  Zap's uncle looked at Screecher and what landed on his face adjusting his glasses intrigued. "By the ancients, that's quite a crystal you two brought along back with you.  May I see it?" His uncle said Zap dusted himself off before and picking up the crystal hoofing it to him, as his uncle began studying it carefully. "Interesting... It seems you two have brought back a type of artifact.  I don't know what it could be?  I'll need some time to study it some more to find out what it is.  Oh!  And while you two are out "adventuring", why don't you two make yourself useful.  Do you see those rods on that mountain over there?" He said Zap looked outside their window looking towards where is uncle was pointing.  There seem to be a few rods sticking out while most of were missing or damaged. But there was also a small crater in the center of the rods.  His uncle hoofed him the few spare metal rods. "I need you to fly over there, and get those rods replaced before the seasonal lightning storm comes.  This time it’s going to be a unique storm then the last because this one only happens once ever century." He said Screecher sat up rubbed his beak before hopping back on to Zaps' shoulders. "Now... Both of you... GET OUT OF HERE!" His uncle said Zap quickly dashed outside of the hut before his uncle went back to researching the crystal they found.  Meanwhile, Zap and Screecher flew over to the most of the rods that were placed in the mountain.  After they reached it they suddenly notice something in the center of the crater... something familiar to them. "Hey Zap doesn't it look exactly like the same crystal we found?  But this one is in a different shape." Screecher said, Zap nodded picking it up before hoofing it to Screecher, Screecher stared at it going into thought . "Hmm, I wonder if this was the artifact that Tinker was referring to from that rumor she told you.  Hmm, wonder how it got here in the first place?" Screecher said, Zap went into thought, thinking for a moment about that topic. He started getting flashback back at Graveyard Cove with him and the large primal. After he chucked it at the primal causing them to fly backwards before his flashback started to slow down, as he noticed that five bright lights flew out from the explosion, scattering through out their region.  Zap slowly shook his head before he could attempt to speak, Screecher cut him off . "Well we better get these rods finished before your uncle throws a fit at us again." Screecher said, Zap rolled his eyes before slowly and carefully placing the rods into place after a bit, he dusted his hoof off. 'Whew!  Hey, why not we go around the village and get this whole "redemption" business taking care of and collect the ice shards that Tinker needs?" Screecher said Zap nodded in response as he flew off towards the village before landing in the center of the village.  Both of them begin to look around the village seeing which of the villagers they would visit first. "Lets start with the mayor, Zap.  He might have an ice shard stashed away somewhere." Screecher said Zap nods before heading towards the mayors' office. Once they were inside the office the mayor looked at them before his eyes immediately thinned as he let out a gasp. "Ooh no no no no no NO.  Not you two again!  Come on now could you guys give me a break?!  I can't risk having my office get TP'ed again!" The mayor said Screecher lets out a snicker; Zap just scratched his head smiling awkwardly. "Yeah yeah, we'll TP you when it’s Shadow Fall but that's not what we're here for.  We're wondering if YOU happen to have an Ice shard." Screecher said as the mayor shook his head averting his expression to default before he cleared his throat. "W-Well well well I happen to have one exactly and I would be willing to give it to you two.  But on one condition... Please, do no TP my office on Shadow Fall again?  O-Oh and another thing, you two have any chance of making a contribution to my re-election campaign and help set up a few advertisements around the village in exchange for both your contributions; you'll be rewarded with hmm five Lightning shards, deal?" The mayor said Zap nods before raising his hoof as they shook each other's hoof. "Good good!  Oh and here's the ice shard as promise." The mayor said before pulling out the shard from his pocket before tossing it to Zap. Right after he caught it, he started giving him signs, flyers, posters etc. "The contribution can be worked out after you take care of these for me, chao!" The mayor said Zap began to wobble around a bit before the two walked out the office.  Two hours of passing out flyers to the villagers, posting signs, and pasting posters to the villagers’ huts.  They returned back to his office all sweaty. "Good work you two.  Now let’s talk business!  Now for the minimum contribution I would say hmm... ninety gold pieces." The mayor said Zap and Screecher looked at each other before Zap passed him a bag with the exact amount of gold he needed. "W-Well deals a deal. Here are the five shards in return." He tossed a small sack that was filled with the shards to Zap before he catches it. "Oh and by the way Mister Mayor…” Screecher said. "Yes?" The mayor responds. "...We're so going to TP you on Shadow Fall!" Screecher said started laughing quickly dashed out the office as Zap followed behind him before the mayor groaned loudly.  The two sat next to the villages' fountain staring at five lightning shards. "That one primal back at Graveyard Cove mention about these, wonder why he need these?  They don't seem useful to him anyway." Screecher said as Zap scratched his chin thinking for the moment, trying to puzzle why he would even want or what purpose was it for him to have lightning shards or artifacts.  He lets out a quiet sigh unable to find the answer as he shrugged to him in response. "Hmm, how about we go visit that super geek?  He might have some shards lying around." Screecher said, as Zap nodded as the two got back up Screecher hopped back on Zaps' back before he trotted.  After a few minutes of walking they reached the hut as Screecher knocked on the door as a sound of a stallion voice could be heard in response. "W-Who is it?" The stallion said. "Peter, it’s us now open to door." Screecher said. "U-Uhm, now is not a good time because uhm uh-- An illness yes! I have a really bad illness and it’s quite contagious so uhm you two should come back again tomorrow!" Peter said, Screecher rolled his eyes slid his door mat aside revealing his key to his door. "Why does he always leave his key under his mat every time we come here?" Screecher said, Zap shrugged as Screecher slip the key into the door lock unlocking before opening as they entered both looking around the room as their was a lot of kaiju ponies stuff like movies, video games, trading cards, action figures, S.H. pony arts.   name it he had all of that.  As the two began to look at Peter, his eyes were widen. "U-Uhm, f-fancy seeing you guys d-drop by?" Peter said Screecher eye faintly twitched. "...Wow, look at all this Kaiju pony crap he has! He certainly has a lot of Destoroyah pony figures." Screecher chuckled. "W-What do you two want even?" Peter said groaning faintly. "Oh just wondering if you may happen to have an ice shards or lightning shards?" Screecher said as Peter slowly calmed down. "Well… I do happen to have some like those but I'm not going to give them away for free to you." "Fine... What do you want in return?" Screecher said. "Weeeeeell, there is this one S.H. Ponyarts figure I've been wanting to get but I never had the money to pay for and only cost 120 gold pieces so maybe you could hoof me some gold. It’s worth an ice shard and 5 lightning shards." Peter said Screechers' eyes slowly began to widen. "Are you kidding me!? 120-- How are we going to come up with that much go--?" Zap tossed him a sack of gold on his desk. "Z-Zap… Please don't tell me that gold… Came from our life savings?" Zap looked at him awkwardly smiling before nodding slowly. "WHAAAAAT!!?" "Awesome this will finally get me that S.H. Ponyarts Destoroyah in her final form! Thank you guys here are the ice shard and the five lightning shards as promise!" He tossed him the ice shard and a sack with the five lightning shards to Zap before he quickly dashed out his hut. "You wasted 120 gold just so a nerd could get A TOY!?" //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4:The Oracle And The Temple //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4:The Oracle And The Temple After a good whole morning of "hard labor" they finally managed to collect a total of five ice shards and twenty-five lightning shards from each of the villagers. As the two trotted back to Zap’s uncle’s hut, they instead walked to Tinker as she was working on a suit. "Hey nuts n' bolts! How's that freeze suit thing going?" She rolled her eyes to his "insult" before turning towards Zap as he hoofed the sack that was filled with the ice shards she needed. "Wow thanks guys! You have gotten enough shards to power the shield. But sadly, I did some calculations on how far the canyon is from the south village to the west village, it is approximately twenty miles. So by the time you reached 10 miles the shield will be at zero and you'll be overcooked." Screecher lets out a loud gasped before he fainted, Tinker rolled her eyes again. "Don't worry luckily theirs cooling vents that are placed in the canyon.  They say one of the ancients once placed those there for a safer travel but it never went as great as they thought, but somehow the vents were closed off.  I've retract the pipelines and they lead straight towards a temple in the jungle near the village.  Maybe there could be some sort of switch inside that could activate all of the closed vents all over Kryo." Zap showed her the sack that was filled with the lightning shards. "Oh, you got these from the villagers?  I've read about these types of artifacts.  They say if you collect all twenty-five of these, you’re supposed to give them to something called the oracle.  It said there has been one spotted in each village.  The one here is near the edge of a cliff just close by the entrance of the jungle." Zap scratched his chin in thought for a second before nodding, giving her the cluster they found back at the mountain. "I'll be sure to give this to father.  It'll help him on his research about these artifacts you found." Zap smiled at her before he carried Screecher on his back flying away.  After a quick five seconds they reached the edge of the cliff.  Zap gently landed slowly walking towards the strange ancient object that seemed to have been around longer then anypony.  He slowly raised his hoof slowly leaning toward it.  As soon as his hoof made direct contact.  Its "eyes" started to glow as it soon spoke with a deep voice. "Who awakens the Oracle?  Wait... one of you has the pure electricity surging within you... from the fore times I've been watching and waiting for the chosen one to stand before me... present to me the Lightning shards you possess to receive a legendary weapon." Zap blinked faintly surprised before shaking his head as he dumped the shards out from his small sack near it.  The Oracle began to levitate the shards in mid air swirling them in a circle. They spun rapidly before all the shards formed into one lightning like whip as it was placed gently on the ground. He picked it up staring at it confused. "Use this to defend yourself and your allies on your journey against this great evil you will soon face in the future." The voice starts to fade away and so did the glow.  Zap blinked staring at his new weapon confused on how it works since he never used an actual whip before in his life but he shrugged before strapping it around the left side of him before dashing off entering the jungle.  Many hours have passed since Zap came across the Oracle as they wanders through the jungle... sigh... they had gotten himself lost again, trying to find the temple that Tinker once told him about not too long ago.  After a very long time of wandering through the jungle and… eating wild animals senselessly because why not?  Zap suddenly smashed his face against a door, causing him to fall backward and Screecher to fall off his back landing with a thud, getting back up with a groan. "U-Ugh, what now I was having a good--- W-Where the heck are we at now!?" He looked around left and right while Zap was staring at what he ran into.  It appears to be a door.  Zap looked straight up noticing a few towards one taller than the rest, scratching the back of his head, Screecher got up dusting himself off standing beside him. "What are we doing here anyway Zap?  Especially out here, now we can't find our way back to the village." Zap blinked looking back at the door as he slowly placed his hoof on the center of it, as he did; the door began to open, shaking his head. "OK.  You with ancient crap are a baaaaad mix." Zap rolled his eyes before he entered as Screecher followed as the two walked down the hall before the door closed.  After a while of exploring from hallway to hallway for hours, they walked through one last hallway, Screecher began to groan. "Ugh, we've been here for the ancient knows how long!  I'm telling you we're lost thanks to your stupid--- Wuaaagh!" Something pulled him by the tail dragging him across the hall leading to a small room where Zap was facing a giant venus fly trap, but its head looked more crocodile like. It hung Screecher in mid-air above its head.  It lunges its vines towards Zap, as he quickly reacted dodging each vine that was lunging towards him.  He quickly pulled out his lightning whip, the vines lunged his jaws towards him, Zap quickly thrashed against its vines cutting half as the giant venus fly trap howled in pain averting its' howl to a snarl.  Zap bit on his whip glaring at the beast as he gets into a battle position, ready for combat. The fly trap lets out a roar, lunging more of its vines towards him, Zap quickly stood on his hind legs spinning around and around having most of its vines shredded up.  As soon as he stopped spinning, it thrashed its vine across his side having Zap impact against the wall.  He groaned getting back on his hooves shaking himself off. He quickly thrashed his whip slicing its' vine in half.  The plant monster let out another howl in pain pulling its vines back into the ground using the one that has Screecher, trying to flatten him it caused Screecher to scream in pain and agony, having been slammed against the ground multiple times.  Zap continuously dodged as he managed to get an opening thrashing his whip against it slicing through, as it lets out another howl, Screecher landed on his beak and yelped in pain before he got back up rubbing it before glaring at Zap. "It’s about time you got me off that--" The giant venue fly trap lets out another roar making Screecher scream before quickly climbing back on Zap’s shoulders. "Hurry up before it tries to eat me again!" Zap stared at the giant venus fly trap observing it as he noticed something blue and faintly glowing in its' belly.  The giant venue fly trap’s vines were popping out from the ground as it lunges every last one of its vines towards him, Screecher yelled out loudly. "ZAAAAAAAAAAAP!" Zap quickly dashed, dodging each vine attempting to crush them, each smashed through the floor as soon as they gotten closer to its belly it attempt to bite them in whole.  Zap bucked his charged up back hooves against the monsters’ head away shocking it as it lets out a long howl in pain.  Zap quickly charged up his hind hooves again bucking the venus fly traps’ belly as hard as he cold.  The venus fly trap was howling and yelping in pain after being electrocuted.  In time its entire body and vines were nothing but pile of ash.  Screecher hops off his shoulders, celebrating. "Wheeew! Oh yeah! That outta teach you not to mess with me." Zap rolled his eyes trotted towards the blue glow from the center, Screecher followed before lifting what appears to be another blue crystal cluster.  He walked back Zap crouches down as Screecher hopped back on his shoulders. "So how are we going to get out of here?" Zap looked around noticing something else was under the pile.  It was a strange button that had a snowflake in the middle.  Zap raised his hoof pressing it down but nothing seems to happen in the room.  A beeping sound came from his trans-communicator as the voice of Tinker could be heard. "Woow!  I'm near the entrance to Magma Canyon and all the vents are now open and maybe all through out the region. Good work guys!  Meet me back at Magma Canyon I have the suit ready for you once we meet up." Transmission ended, Screecher lets out a groan. "But how are we going to get out of here?!" Zap looked around once more before noticing something from his left.  He trotted towards the pile dusting the ashes off and uncovered a Lightning pad similar to the one back at the training course as he looked up, the sky was visible.  He stood on top of the pad charging up his hooves before instantly launching them straight out as they're now way above the temple.  Zap quickly hovered and Screecher kept a good grip of the crystal as Zap began flying off towards the entrance of the jungle now trotting towards Magma Canyon. “Let’s hope Magma Canyon doesn’t have a giant fire breathing plant monster. .  .” //-------------------------------------------------------// Bonus Chapter #1: Shadow Falls. //-------------------------------------------------------// Bonus Chapter #1: Shadow Falls. The origin to how it started was an old folklore that took place many years, one of the ancients that represents the element of Dark Magic was known as the Dark Magician (No, no, not the one from Yu-Gi-Oh). It said that the Dark Magician gave all its might and power to destroy all of what everypony feared but sadly only prevented them due to using all its powers. The Dark Magician slowly turned into a spirit that is said to appear once every October thirty-first at mid-night. But the sliver lining of its sacrifice, is that it increased everyponies bravery and were able to attempt to face what they fear the most. In honor what the Dark Magician did and sacrifice, they announced the first annual Shadow Falls and everypony dresses up on what they truly fear the most and attempt to face it. And that is the origin of Shadow Falls. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5: A Fiery Path Between Life And Death //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5: A Fiery Path Between Life And Death Zap and Screecher  managed to reach the entrance to Magma Canyon in ten seconds flat (Huh.. Where did I hear that line before?..). Once they landed, Tinker was too busy prepping the freeze shield to even notice them.  Zap slowly walked towards her gently tapping on her flank trying to get attention as her ears began to flicker turning her head towards him. "Oh hey there guys, see you found another crystal as well. I'll be sure to give it to father." Zap hoofed her the crystal. "Hey, has Papa Smurf figured out what those crystals are? Or their just crystals that happened to be worth TONS of gold." Tinker rolled her eyes at his insult once again while Zap tried not to laugh. "Very "funny" Screecher but my father know for a certain these aren't ordinary  giant crystals it mention something about them once being a powerful relic. But anyway the shield is set up but happens to have a few bugs that I'm trying to get out." "Bugs? You don't say.. How bad is it?" "W-Well it isn't that bad... Just that the shields will drop quicker then expected." Screecher started to freak out. "Isn't that bad!? We'll be toast before we can even make it to the end!" Tinker giggled. "Look you guys got the vents opened so theirs nothing to worry about. Just go right through each of them until you reach the entrance to the west village if you don't want to get "toasted". And oh, don't forget to activate the portal in the villages' elders hut. Then we get  teleport over and me you. Good luck!" She held the the crystal tightly before flying back to the hut while Screecher was still freaking out. "You better keep us alive otherwise I will not speak to you again! Obviously." Zap rolled his eyes with smirk as he grabbed the suit slipping it on before he stood over a vent as it felt very cooling and so refreshing to them. Their was a button that was on the center of his chest. He pushed it as a faintly visible bubble formed around them. Zap gets into position spreading his wings out. Get ready for the race of your life. Zap started feeling energized as he quickly took flight bolting through. As soon as he took flight, the shield level were already decreasing quickly. Screecher started freaking out preying to the ancients that they'll make it out live and no burns. Just as he hoped Zap managed to find another vent going through it. The shield went back up to one hundred percent. Screecher lets out a sigh. "Thank the ancient there was a vent just ahea-- ROOOOOOOOCK!" Zap looked forwards as they were head towards a tall giant spike shaped rock. Zap quickly shifted left as more and more rocks were ahead. Zap kept shifting left, right, up, and down. After moments of dodging rocks and magma balls the percentage  was at 10. "Zap theirs one up ahead, boost away! Boost away!" Zap slowly increased his speed managed to go through the vent in time before the percentage dropped to zero. Screecher lets out another sigh in relief. "Whew! That was a close one Zap." After awhile of passing through vent by vent, dodging fire ball by fire ball. There were no more vents to be in sight as Screecher looked around left and right rapidly began freaking out again. "Where the vent? WHERE'S THE VENT!?" The shield percentage started dropping slightly quick. "Step on it Zap!" Screecher held on to his mane before he kicked him in the stomach. Zaps' eye widen as his speed started to increased causing him to break the sound barrier. The shield was at 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 0. Just after the shield vanished they finally reached the end of Magma Canyon and the entrance to the west village. Screecher hopped off instantly kissing the ground before celebrating. "Whaaaaahooooo! We made it!" Zap collapsed on the ground panting heavily as Screecher stood right in front of his face. "C'mon Zap we got to open to portal for Tinker and your uncle." Zap nodded slowly before getting back on his hooves. The two quickly trotted to the entrance to the west village after a short bit the villages' elder hut could be seen from plain distant as the two dashed towards  it entrance. But before they entered they stopped noticing  that elders' hut in it a huge as if they were either having a party, or they just been under an attack. They slowly entered  bit  confused to what happened. Zap noticed their was a large button  near the portal on the floor as he raised his hoof pressing it. The vortex starts to appear around the rings of the portal, it was now activated. Just right after the portal was opened Tinker hopped out first, then came is uncle. He shivered faintly considering this was his first time ever using his portal since forever. "I don't think I'll ever get use to that portals tingling sensation. EY, it looks like Cyrus had a party in here." Tinker looked through a telescope letting out a faint gasp. "Oh my, the west village is on fire!" "One heck of  a party." "No. I mean the village is literally on fire look!" They all walked towards the telescope as each of them looked through  as they were in horror to what they saw. Most of the huts were either on fire or a pile of ash. Villagers were either dead or badly injured either way,  the sounds of screaming in pain and agony could be heard from all the way from the hut. Zaps' uncle couldn't bare to hear it anymore. "Zap! Quickly, go down their stop the fire and save the villagers." //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 6: Zap Found Love. The Fight In Stormy Swamp. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 6: Zap Found Love. The Fight In Stormy Swamp. Zap quickly flew outside heading towards the village while Screecher followed behind. Once the two reached the village, Zap hovered over flapping his wings rapidly creating a small hurricane.  The surviving villagers held on to the ground as tight as they could hoping they wouldn't get caught in the wind.  After a short two minutes Zap finally put out the fires through out the village.  He panted slowly hovering down before he fell landing on his back as his wings were quite sore from previous flights.  Screecher walked over looking down at him. "Maybe you should take a break from flying ok?" Zap placed his hoof over his forehead shaking his head, slowly getting back on hooves.  Just right after he had gotten back up, the villagers started cheering for him. Some of the villagers shouted out "Our Hero" at him.  Zap looked at the villagers his ears were raised straight up slowly smiled as he was getting the feeling of satisfaction.  One of them walked over towards him, it was a young mare earth pony she held a medium size brown bag in her mouth.  At the moment she stopped she gently laid the bag in between them.  Zap didn't pay no attention to the bag she dropped instead he pay his attention to the mare.  His heart was beating faster then normal, his eyes thinned as if he just met a goddess.  It was at that moment that Zap for the first time, he was in love.  The mare slowly bowed to him before speaking. "Thank you so much for saving us and our village.  As a reward for your heroism, here is a bag filled with Lightning shards.  I know how much they'll be of use to a Lightning warrior such as you." Screecher looked at Zap noticing that he was staring at her as if he saw something looked so amazing and wondrous.  He even noticed his wings were slowly expanding; he quickly reacted hopped on his back using his whip to tie up his wings around his waist tightly.  He tried to get him back to his senses but it was too late the mare slowly stood back up looked at Zap noticing his expression before forming an awkward expression. "U-Uuh... I-Is he... o-okay?" "Who Zap? Yeah he just uh... so excited that he's... speechless." "U-Uh, Sir Zap?" She whistled at him before Zap managed to get back to his senses.  He stared at her smiling awkwardly as he scratched his head.  The mare smiled awkwardly back before clearing her throat. "A-Anyway, we're really grateful you showed up.  You see, ever since the village elder Cyrus disappeared.   That... m-monster came and attacked our village." Screecher gulped to the word “monster”. "A m-monster?" "A monster that is able to breathe both fire and lightning of its choosing, a head, neck, wings and tail of a dragon and a body of a pony.  We called it Zyris.  It attacked our village just a few moments ago it wasn't that long luckily. But I fear that this isn't the last we'll see of it." Screecher gulped scratching the back of his skull with an extremely nervous and frightened expression. "W-Well h-how big is it?" "The monster is about maybe fifty meters tall I'm not for sure but it’s awfully massive." Screecher's eyes began to widen as his body started shivering in fear. "But with you guys around I'm sure you can save our village from the terrible wrath of Zyris, right?" "Y-Yea sure… we will... maybe in about the next day, next week, next month, or maybe next year. Or maybe... NEVER!  There is no way that we're going face something that darn big, ever!  Are we?" He looked at Zap while he was in thought.  He looked at Screecher then turned his attention towards the mare.  He formed a smile at her before nodding. Screecher jaw dropped as he fainted.  The mare gasped smiling at him. "R-Really? You'll help our village rid that monster for good?" He nodded. The mare stomped the ground in joy . "This is great!  There may be hope for all of us after all, now that we know their still is a lightning warrior around.  Now I got to go treat injured ponies.  Oh and the name is Life Saver, I'll be seeing you around Zap." She winked at him before she trotted around the village attending the injured.  Zap blinked having his jaw faintly dropped, eyes twitched.  Screecher slowly woke back up snapping at him. "What the heck was that about? Is it really worth our lives just win a heart of some mare?" Zap frowned down at him shaking his head. "Then what reason was it!?" Zap let out a sigh before digging under his tunic pulling out a necklace as there was a small sapphire carved into a shape of a lightning. "W-Wait… didn't your dad give you that before…" Zap’s ears folded down, his expression slowly formed into depression as he lowered his head down facing the dirt.  Screecher stood up sighing before gently patting his head. "Hey come on Zap… I'm sorry, I didn't realize you wanted to be… like your old man…" Zap sighed slowly raised his head back up and stared down at Screecher. "Come on; let’s go back to Tinker and your uncle." Zap nodded folding his whip before strapping it back to his side.  Screecher hopped back on his shoulders as Zap took off.  They returned to Cyrus's hut, his uncle and Tinker looked at them as Tinker clopped her hooves. "Congratulations, you guys stopped the fire and save the villagers." "Good work my boy, but it’s far from over.  That monster that attacked the village is certainly not natural.  There's no way a creature can be that big, it has to have been created and mutated.  You two must defeat this monster before it may assault this village or worse, assault others after this place is nothing but ashes." "But how are we going to be able to defeat a mutated dragon pony?  That thing is gigantic from what she said!" Screecher replied . "You know what they say; the bigger they are the harder they fall.  That thing must have a weakness somewhere, and I'm sure you two can find it. "Heroes". " His uncle said sarcastically. "But anyway.  If you're looking for any more Lightning shards, there are some located in the swamp nearby.  But the down side is that their also have been primals spotted in there.  They must be after those shards, but why?" "Maybe because they can give us cooler stronger weapons like what Zap has with his whip." "Yes yes I know that Screecher.  But they can't get any use from shards or any Lightning artifacts.  They must be either trying to stop any Lightning warriors from using them in case if theirs any left.  Zap, you must get to those shards before they do." Zap nodded before he quickly dashed outside and flew off towards the entrance to the swamp. After a short bit they reached the entrance to the swamp, their was a sign near the entrance that said “You are about to enter Stormy Swamp, enter with caution.”  They read it, Screecher was feeling a little discouraged but Zap chose to walk in anyway.  Once they entered, it looked like every average swamp.  Ponds, lilies, swamp rats, etc.  But this swamp was known by its name.  It said that it has been raining over the swamp for years but surprisingly their area was never flooded or just wasn't flooded that badly.  After awhile of exploring around and taking on swamp rats, they spotted a medium sized brown bag just lying in open sight.  Zap slowly walked towards the sack Screecher looked a bit concern now. "Uhm Zap, this doesn't look good.  How come they didn't take it?" Zap went into thought but he picked the bag up anyway.  Just right after he did growling could be heard from around them. "Uhm Zap, do you hear that?" Primals were beginning to hop out from bushes, hollow trees, logs, and even the ponds. "It’s an ambush Zap, ITS AN AMBUSH!" The primals begin to charge and dive bomb towards them.  Zap quickly pulled out his whip and started spinning rapidly sending most of them flying back.  Once he stopped spinning he thrashed his whip as a few having their necks snapped.  More and more kept on charging after them as they finally managed to tackle them but it was short lived for the primals as Zap began spinning rapidly again as all of them were flown back, some of them died while the rest were injured but still were able to fight. "T-There's too many of them Zap... let’s get out of here while we still can." Zap shook his head, and got back into a battle stance while half the remaining primals charged towards him.  He quickly thrashed his whip towards at them electrocuting them, and having them turn into nothing but a pile of ash.  The other half snarled at them before retreating. "Oh yeah, ya' better run you over-sized flys! But in any case… lets get out of here before more come back." Zap nodded before he quickly flew out. After a bit they reached back at the village as most of the villagers were in cast or bandages soon as they walked around, Life Saver trotted over to them. "Hey guys I almost forgot to mention this, if you happened to be looking for a weird looking sculpture.  It’s on your right, beside you.  You should go give it a try, if you have enough shards maybe." "Uh excuse me Nurse Joy or whatever.  But how do you even know all this?" "Oh, some time ago I did my research on the history of Lightning warriors for a project." "Uh-Huh, that explains.  Anyway, lets give it a try from what she said." Zap shrugged slowly trotting towards it placing his hoof as his eyes started to glow as it spoke. "Beware of darkness brave one.. For it has twisted and corrupted one of you.. Place the fifty lightning shards you have obtained for a reward…" Zap gently placed the bag filled with lightning shards. Life Savor was squealing quietly in excitement as the shards were levitated out from the bag slowly merging together. "You seek a way to defeat this abomination that blocks your path of heroism… use this ancient weapon as your aid against it.  For one hit with its arrow will stunt any who cross your path." The shards were done forming as they were formed into a crossbow.  After it was formed the oracles' eyes slowly faded away.  Zap spicked up the crossbow observing and noticing it didn't come with any arrows.  Life Saver clopped her hooves against the ground. "That was amazing! But… what did it mean it has corrupted one of us?" Zap went into thought about that but only shrugged as he resumed observing the crossbow.   Screecher scratched his side. "Maybe it can shoot unlimited arrows, Zap?" Zap thought about it before held on to the trigger gently before aiming at the ground.  He pulled it as it suddenly fired a bolt like arrow.  Zap blinked before staring at the crossbow. 'W-Whoa! I guess it can. S-So I guess we should… go and face, Zyris..." Zap looked at him before nodding.  As Screecher gulped.  Life Saver walked over. "You guys better be careful I'm sure you'll succeed in defeating him you'll be forever remembered as our savior of our village." "W-Well at least we'll get the respect we deserve, right?" "I'll go tell your uncle and your cousin that your about to face Zyris.  Good luck and Zap... make out of it alive." Zap smiled at her before Screecher snapped. "Hey, what about me!?" She giggled. "You too Screecher. Now Zyris should be at the top of that cliff that would lead you to the lava canyon." Zap nodded as Life Saver quickly dashed off towards Cyrus’s hut.  He took flight towards the cliff before landing.  Once they reached the lava canyon a yellow lightning was fired towards them but luckily Zap quickly dodged it before looking towards where it was fired.  Life Saver wasn't kidding, it looked exactly like what she describes it as but it also had a long narrow horn like an alicorn’s horn.  It swung its tail breaking a few giant rock spikes from behind before letting out a roar at them. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 7: Slaying The Dragon. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 7: Slaying The Dragon. Zyris lets out a roar at them again before it blasted fireballs at them left and right. Zap quickly flew dodging them one by one before hovering.  The giant mutated dragon pony swung its tail at him, attempting to swat him into his liquid hot death.  Zap pulled out his whip twirling himself around rapidly causing its tail to reflect back smashing against its face, harshly letting out a quick roar before going dazed.  Screecher nudged Screecher as he pointed at the tip of its horn. "Try shooting an arrow there maybe that's its weak spot... Or... Somewhere else." Zap blinked shaking his head pulling out the crossbow trying to aim at its horn but had difficulty due to it wobbling its head around and around. He closed his eyes pulling the trigger; the arrow was launched but missed horribly. Screecher slammed his talons gently on his shoulders. "You were so close!" The creature slowly got back to its consciousness, snarled at them.  Screecher gulped as Zyris took a deep breath and fully charged fire at them, Screecher screamed as Zap quickly flew out its path as it kept turning following them in hope to turn them into ashes. Pretty soon it stopped firing, panting now, giving Zap the opening he needed. He quickly pulled out the crossbow fired and managed to make a bullseye as the dragon pony roared in pain an agony having been electrocuted in a very sensitive spot.  It attempted to claw out the arrow once it did, it glared and growled at them as its horn started to glow yellow and its mane and teeth were starting to surge. "U-Uhm, I don't like the looks of this Zap." The dragon pony spat out lightning at them, Zap quickly shifted out of range before it fired at them again.  Zyris kept on blasting at them cutting them off in every dodge attempt.  He stared glaring at it before the dragon pony slowly charged up.  He pulled out his crossbow fired at its horn; once it made impact the dragon pony lets out another roar in pain and agony.  The dragon pony clawed out the arrow growling at them enraged.  Screecher hid behind Zap back while he stared back glaring as Zyris charged back up but this time fusing both fire and lightning together in a electrical heat beam.  Zap quickly pulled out his crossbow; the dragon pony slowly opened its jaws as both lightning and fire were forming together.  One second before it released its blast, Zap fired an arrow straight into its mouth before quickly flying out of range towards the other side of the lava lake.  It lets out one last long roar in pain and agony having it being electrocuted on its insides.  After a whole minute the dragon pony slowly fall to its side into the lava causing a wave of magma to hit the cliff side.  It slowly began to sink into the lava.  Screecher hopped off his back wiping the sweat off his feather covered forehead. "Whew! That outta take care of that creep huh?" Zap slowly nodded raising his left hoof leans it towards him.  Screecher pushed a small red button beginning transmission to Tinker. "Well you can tell the villagers that they have no reason to fear. For that WE have slayed Zyris." After he finished his sentence a loud cheerful screams could be heard from their transmission a mare voice spoke but it wasn't Tinker instead it was Life Saver. "Amazing! I knew you guys could do it!" "Life Saver!? How the heck did you--" "Oh right after I told them about you two going to face that monster. I even asked if I could join you guys on your quest and your cousin even gave me this trans-communicator so I can keep in touch with you Zap." Zap smiled wagging his tail as Screecher rolled his eyes. "Oh brother." "Oh by the way guys. The valley behind you will lead directly towards the east village. Just be careful to not run into trees and you should be fine. Good luck!" The transmission ended as Zap looked at Screecher, and he slowly shook his head. Zap rolled his eyes at him with a smile before he sighed. "Let’s just go Zap." Screecher walked towards the valley as Zap followed.  Once they reached it they come across the four remaining primals that were back at the swamp as the one in the back of the group was carrying a large brown bag.  They all stuck their serpent like tongues at the two before fleeing from them. "Zap we can't let them get away this time.  You fly I'll shoot." Zap nodded quickly and flew after them dodging trees and rocks along the way.  Shortly they got close to the fourth primal as Screecher pulled out the crossbow aiming at its side before pulling the trigger.  Once it made impact it lets out a scream in agony of being electrocuted as it ran into a tree. "Oh yeah!  That's one fly we won't have to worry." Zap managed to catch up to the next primal as Screecher shot it down as well.  They suddenly entered a cavern where there was a red crystal all over its walls.  They catch up to the second one taking it down as well before reaching for the last one carrying the large bag.  It was heading towards a small hole that it could fit itself through and the bag. Screecher carefully aimed towards its right hind leg.  As soon as it was nearly close to the hole above the ceiling he fired making a bullseye causing it to shriek in agony as it dropped the bag Zap quickly caught it before making a quick landing.  The primal was slowly turned into nothing but a pile ash.  Screecher untied the small rope before opening the bag as it revealed more Lightning shards approximately one hundred of them. "Great, more shards.  What’s next?  An Oracle right beside us?" Zap blinked pointed towards his left as there actually was one beside him. "..Huh." They walked towards it as the glow from its eyes returned as the Oracle spoke for its final time. "The ancient storm is coming sooner than you expect brave one… bring all four clusters of the ancient relic known as the Lightning stone for it will grant you the powers of the Lightning god.  Present me the one hundred shards for the last ancient lightning weapon." They looked at each other for a short second before Zap pushed the bag slowly towards it as it levitated them out slowly merging them together. "You are near the end of the path of becoming a hero young one.  But you are far from becoming a legend.  Here is a weapon that will cut through any metal." The Oracle formed the shards into both a sword with a lightning bolt shaped blade along with a satchel to carry it.  They were levitated slowly down before the glows in its eyes faded away.  Zap strapped the satchel to his right side before grabbing the sword by the handle as the blade began surging.  Zap stared blinking before slipping it inside.  He dashed towards the entrance that leads to the east village but once they reached it, what came next shocked them as the whole village was covered in giant silky webs. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 8: The Face of Evil Revealed Itself. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 8: The Face of Evil Revealed Itself. Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dOke3taktM) Zap and Screecher were both in horror from seeing a entire village covered in spider web. When you see web that big, then the spider must be that gigantic. It made it made it look like the village been dead for a century, but it was even close to be even dead. Lights could be seen from the inside of each hut it seem to be a sign that their still alive or either a trap to fool its victim into attempting to free the villagers only to find that their wasn't one and suddenly fell into its trap when once you get caught in the spiders web, your life is already at its end. Zap slowly walked carefully observing the web wondering what type of spider that could produce a web this large. In Kryo their has happened to exist two species of spiders that were quite large one their was the Desert Dwelling Tarantula and the Blue spotted spider that found in same jungle near his village but neither of them could  ever make a web big enough to cover an entire village nor even have the chance to attempt to doing so. After a short moment they found the village elders' hut though it was covered in web too but the entrance wasn't block like all the other huts it seem suspicious at start but Zap didn't hesitate and entered once they did the elders hut was allot worse then Cyrus. Zap walked towards the the portal before activating it. Just right after his uncle came popping out landed on his belly, Tinker came second then Life Saver but instead was launched out impacting Zap causing him to fall backwards having the muzzle pressed against each other. They both stared in each others eyes for a short second before Life Saver quickly jump off him her cheeks were as red as a fillys' flank after being spanked for breaking their parents rules. His uncle got back on his hooves, he groaned before looking around now shocked. "By the ancients!  Sylvia hut looks worst then Cyrus." Tinker observed around as well scratching her chin. "Well it definitely looks theirs been a struggle here." Just right after she finished her sentence  a familiar echoing laugh could be heard coming from above them. They all looked above saw they saw the same drake like primal from Graveyard Cove. "I hardly would call a struggle.. Would you dear sister?" The elder mare primal crawled down from the ceiling as half of her body was formed as a body of a spider. "Certainly not, the elder unicorn mare gave up with so little effort no fun at all." The uncle shook his head quickly recognized the two primals. "Ashtrail? Is that you? You finally gone off the deep end ey? And widow I told you that dark magic would affect you both. Nopony ever listen  to me. What have you two done with Sylvia and Cyrus?!" "Don't worry about your elder friends you old fool! Their perfectly safe in our fortress. Our special guest." "They have a graciously agreed to help us on a little "project" of ours." "You were wrong, dark magic of all sort can be controlled. We've learned is secrets and now we can reshape the realm to our liking." The uncle eyes thinned shaking his head again. "But that's impossible! You can't control dark magic by itself. Even the ancients--" Widow interrupted him as she spoke. "Oh now we had scrape what little dark magic we can find near the surface. But soon we'll have vast storage of dark magic hidden deep underground." "Not the chambers!" "Yessss the chambers. They will be opened and all the dark magic in all the realm will be ours!" "But that's impossible only the Dark Magician can--" Then interrupted again by her. "Oh don't be so upset. We got big plans for you." She laughed evilly as the two priamls vanished. Screecher was in thought knowing that was the Ashtrail they were looking for. "Wait a minute?!" They all looked at him. "That was Ashtrail? The same Ashtrail who was suppose to change me back? Ashtrail is primal trying to kill us?" He gulped. "I'm doomed." "We may ALL be doomed. If they somehow open those chambers. The dark magic would twist and destroy everything it touches! We must get to their fortress and stop them." Life Saver look out the window seeing the whole villagers trap inside. "But shouldn't we help the villagers first? They're all trapped inside by those webs." The uncle quickly looked at both Zap and Screecher. "Alright my boy. Take the fleabrain and go help free those villagers." Screecher rolled his eyes hop back on Zap shoulders before Zap dashed out the hut heading towards the closest hut before stopping. "Hmm, try using your new sword Zap." Zap blinked pulling out his sword, the blade began to surge up again slashing through the web cleanly like a scissors cutting through a one sheet of paper. Right after he cut through the web blocking the entrance a pony dashed out shaking his hoof rapidly. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much for freeing! Ever since those two priamls came to our town, that spider one trapped all of us inside an kidnap the village elder." "U-Uhm what purpose was it to trap you all inside?" "U-Uhm I don't know probably plan to eat all of us!" "Yeah, I can imagine  her sinking her spider fangs into your neck and starts feasting however spiders eat." "They suck the blood out from their victims after they--" "Nopony cares! Lets go and help the others Zap and this time speedrun it." Zap nodded stood on his hind lets as he span around rapidly going "door to door" to each hut slashing down all the webs that were blocking the entrance. A total of a good 30 seconds all of the villagers were free at last, they all gathered around Zap and Screecher stomping their hooves in glee shouting out "Thank you so much" at them. A pony trotted towards the two carrying a brown sack. "Thank you so much for freeing us all and in return.." "Oh let me guess. More Lightning shards right?" "This magical blue crystal cluster we found in the center of our village  just this morning right before those two came but luckily  we hid it just in time." "O-Oh.. That's uh.. New." The pony hoofed them the sack before Zap dashed back to the hut. The others stared at him noticing he was holding the sack in his mouth before laying it down pulling the cluster out. The uncle walked over. "You found another cluster? Huh, so that makes four crystal cluster." Zap nodded but then went into thought remembering what the Oracle said about four clusters but remembering when she saw only five lights flung out from the explosion back at Graveyard Cove. But now only one question  that now bothers him, what was the fifth item that burst out as well? His uncle began to placing the three they found and collected around the one they recently found in the middle. "Zap, place your hoof on the one you just collected. If I'm research is correct, you should be able to piece them all together." Zap blinked slowly facing the middle piece before placing his hoof on it. Once he did all the clusters or giant shards began to slowly lighten up. In a blink of an eye they instantly merged together forming into a giant gemstone but then suddenly  instead of just stopping their, Zap somehow absorbed the gemstone and its power Zap freaked up not even sure what or how that happened. His uncle rolled his eyes watching his reaction while i thought. -"Just as I predicted, my bother did a great job hiding those clusters from Ashtrail. His journey to becoming a true Lightning Warrior is complete.. Now.. He must face this corrupted evil to become a true hero. Or.. Maybe defeat him in just dumb luck."- //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 9: The Assault //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 9: The Assault After a good thirty minutes of Zap freaking out and a good twenty minutes of his uncle explaining how and what happened he finally calmed down standing back on his hooves looking at his uncle slightly still confused to how is was able to absorb an entire stone. His uncle sighed knowing his question by the expression on his face as he cleared his throat. "Listen dear nephew I know your a bit scared or straight out confused about you absorbing that stone. But that stone was giving you the power you needed to defeat this foe for good. You see, your father was saving that stone for a certain occasion long ago but after you were born, she choose to give it to you once you old enough for it. But before he was sent out for with the others, he locked those clusters and something else that I couldn't remember into that enchanted chest which can be open by a pony who posses the surge of a Lightning warrior which is the reason why you were---" Screecher interrupted him seem to look a bit frustrated. "Wait so you mean to tell us that you knew what it what and you didn't bother to tell us?!" "Because Screecher, I only found out about it until now! The point is you now posses a power that Ashtrail feared so much. You must go to their fortress up north from here to stop them. The shortest way their is through Fire Tunnel." "Ok ok.. But what about the "bugs" that were in the suit when we first used it? Was that problem taken care of?" "Tinker is right now at the entrance working on the suit even as we speak. Go meet up with her, travel through the tunnel,  and activate Ashtrails' portal so we can join you. Zap, its time you finished off what had started in the past long ago. Its time to be the legend that your father once was. Its time to complete your destiny." Zap nodded forming a confident expression as he flew out the hut after Screecher hopped back on hi shoulder. His uncle lets out sigh. -"Maybe I was wrong about them.. They might have what it takes to be heroes after all."- They both reach the entrance and Tinker in a few second as she was finishing fixing the flaws in her freeze shield before she turned towards the two. "Alright, I've took care of the gremlins in the freeze shield so it should decrease at a normal speed but still make sure you fly through the vents to cool off before its over. We'll be waiting for you to activate the portal and meet you, good luck!" She flew back to the hut Screecher stared at Zap. "Again, you better keep us alive." Zap rolled his eyes at him slipping the suit on activating it's shield gets in position. Extending his wings before zooming off through the tunnel. Two hours later since the Fire Tunnel was as Equally as long as the Lave Tube they reached the end in time before they were both fried chicken (Get it? Because they're both bird hybrids). Zap landed slipping the suit off now the its been worn out he just drops it before walking towards the  last deactivated portal. He pressed the button now activated as Tinker hopped out but only her. She looked very up set and scared. "Hey wheres old goose and Miss stal--" Zap slapped him at the back of his head looking back at Tinker. "This is terrible both father and Life Saver are missing when I got back to the hut! I think Ashtrail and Widow might have kidnap them as well." Zap eyes widen when he first heard not only his uncle but the mare that he loved was captured at well his expression slowly turned to anger. Screecher hopped off his back attempting to calm her down. "Relaxes babe. I got everything under control." "UNDER CONTROL!? Primal army continue to grow across the land, the elders been kidnap, Ashtrail and Widow have enough dark magic to complete their terrible plan, and to stop them you'll have yo fight your way through their fortress!" "Y-Yeah that about uhhh sums it out.." "You got to rescue my father before its too! And Zap.. Please be careful." Zap nodded trotting towards the fortress door charging his hind legs up before he bucked it creating a large hole for them to if as he dashed through. Once they entered, they reached an incredibly gigantic room as Zap slowed down looking around before they heard a scream from above. "ZAP! Up here!" (Play this until you reached the end of this chapter.) Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9lt-pWWBcA) They looked up towards the source of the scream as it was Life Saver with his uncle locked up in a cage as his uncle shouted. "Its about time you two showed up!" "Nice to see you too. What do they have you moping the floors now?" Both Zap and his uncle facehoofed. "Theirs no time for jokes now Screecher. Ashtrail and Widow had drain enough natural magic enough to make an alternative to open the chambers and released all the dark magic. You must free us and the others before its too late." Zap nodded before flew towards Cyrus cage once he landed they notice a machine that were connected to the elder stallions' cage. Zap pulled out his sword slashing the machine in half caused to exploded shutting down the force field around Cyrus as he looked towards them. "Thank you so much for freeing you two and it is an honor having a Lightning Warrior stand before me. Your uncle was right about you, you are allot like your father." Screecher rolled his eyes as Zap formed a confidential smile before zoomed towards Sylvias' cage before slashing the machine in half as well as the elder mare force field faded away. "Heheh you two gentlecolts haven finally decided  to rescue me. What is your name you two?" Zap raised his hoof attempting to speak but gets cut off from Screecher. "I'm Screecher. He's Zap, he's with me." "Well thank you Screecher your a real hero. You two have got to stop Ashtrail before he used our magic to open the doors." Zap took flight heading above towards the entrance to an elevator. After landing near the last machine before slashing it. Life Saver hopped on his uncles' back before he flew towards them as he placed Life Saver down she quickly hugged Zap tightly. Zap blushed slowly hugging her back as she let go before looking back at his uncle. "Good work boys, you're real heroes now! Life Saver, I need you to get the other two elders out of here" She nodded before Screecher spoke. "Yeah yeah but what about us?" "Oh isn't it quite simple? Its up to you two to defeat Ashtrail." "Oooh great. I get to help to the colt who turn me into a fleabrain destroy the only person who can change me back!" Zap rolled his eyes as Screecher sighed. "First save the realm then we'll try to convince Ashtrail to changing you back." The same echo laugh was heard has Ashtrail flew over them as Widow hovered beside him by levitating herself. "Your too late, I already posse enough magic for the key or recreation itself." "This is madness! Releasing that much dark magic will kill off everything we know! Just look what its done to you two!" Widow laughed at his comment. "It has given us a beauty and you can never understand." Screecher eyes twitched as his jaw faintly dropped. "Beauty!? Have you two looked in the mirror lately!?" She snickered. "Just wait until we opened the chambers little one. You think being a dwarf griffin is bad?" Ashtrail lets out a sigh. "And to think, you two travel all this way for my help. FOOLS! Enjoy your front row seats to a birth of a new age!" They zoomed through the entrance of the elevator. "Zap! Take the elevator and stop them before its too late!" Screecher hopped back on Zaps shoulders before Zap dashed inside the elevator as the door closed. The final battle begins. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 10: The Birth of Lightning Zap //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 10: The Birth of Lightning Zap Zap dashed to the center of the  gigantic elevator jump and pressed  the button before it  accelerated up. Once they reached the very top Zap dashed towards the edge noticing five towards around them. All of them have the three same contraptions  around each top all three were aiming towards a seal on each. Both Ashtrail and Widow were twenty feet away from them from beside as Ashtrail was holding a pad with a big  read button(Because why not?). He slowly attempt to press it but was at a sudden halt before the two turned their heads towards Zap and Screecher as Zap charged towards them. Widow instantly charged horn firing out spider webs at them forming a cocoon only wrapping around both their bodies but their heads. They both squirmed attempting to get loose but failed to even break a single thread. Ashtrail laughed evilly before speaking. "Ah nice of you two to join us in the beginning of a new age.. The age of your race demise. The poor old fool didn't do his studies correct,you only need magic of the ancients to open the seals to unleash the all the dark magic through out the realm. Those elders certainly had quite the amount of such magic within them." "Hey! What did we all ever do to you to deserve this!? And what purpose did you want with those Lightning sha--" "SILENCE you annoying little flying rat! We've have lost everything from that war! Our friends, our families, and almost the entire race! I only needed those shards to prevent any newcomer like you to become stronger! But it doesn't matter... Once the seals are open, you two and everypony in Kryo will die and revenge.. Will soon be our." He laughed evilly again but after a few seconds a thundering began causing him to be silent. They all stared at the sky noticing blue lightning bots struck down in random area. Widow freaked out a bit before looking at her brother. "Brother what is this?! This isn't a normal thunder storm!" "N-No... Why now!? Why did the storm began now?!" A bolt struck Zap causing the two primals to quickly turned their heads towards them. The two seemed find but Zap entire body began surging up slowly melting the web. More and more bolts struck at him the web was already broke apart as the two stood back up the two primals were both in fear too shock to make a move Screecher was also shocked. "Uhm, Zap? A-Are you okay buddy?.." Zap slowly hovered in mid air a bit his body surged rapidly every second before his body began glowing light aura. He was glowing brighter and brighter every second before releasing a huge flash and a electrical shockwave long enough to shut down and destroy the contraptions around each chambers. The aura fade away both Ashtrail, Widow, and Screecher slowly uncovered their eyes as their expression were at shock once they looked back at Zap. Zap body was completely dark blue with white colored lightning symbols all over his, mane and tail were white as well blue surge were around them, he slowly opened his eyes but there was not even an eye or a pupal it was all white but glowing. "N-No.. It can' not be.." "Brother, what happened?! What is he now!?" "T-The stone... T-The legend said that if a Lightning warrior posses the stones' power.. I-It will grant them the power of the Lightning God itself.." He stared at Zap slowly enraging. "No.. NO NO NO NO NO! I will not be defeated by a Lightning God wanna be!" He pulled out what appears to be a spell rapidly turning pages before stopping. Forming an aura around his own she freaked but he wasn't bothered as he spoke out a spell. "A dnuos luos sllewd nihtiw a dnuos luos dna a dnuos ydob!" His sister began to brighten up before forming into a demonic looking scythe. He levitated it over before holding it in his hoo-- paws-- eh screwing hand. He stood in his hind legs holding the handle with both hands before chuckling. "After this battle.. You will no longer see the light of day. Lightning scum!" Screecher hopped back on his shoulder. "We'll see about that dragon breath!" Zap pulled out his sword as his blade instantly glow then surged. The two get into a battle stance. (Play this until next phase.) Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQEbmRTRPB8) Ashtrail lets out war cry before charging towards Zap before he swung his scythe towards his neck. Zap instantly reacted before having both their blades clashed against one another. Zap aimed his left hoof at Ashtrail chest as he stared confused before Zap released a beam of pure electricity. Ashtrail yelled loudly in pain as he pushed back further from the two quickly got up panting. Zap stood on his hind legs holding his sword in his right hoof, Ashtrail raised his head up getting back on his hind legs before charging as he attempt to slice him in half but only having both their blades clashing together countless times. Soon as Zap block one last time he swung his scythe away quickly pulled his crossbow before rapid firing arrows towards his underbelly causing Ashtrail to shriek loudly. Zap forcefully pushed him away before aiming his hoof at his underbelly firing a ball of electricity at him launching him back where he stood but further. His scythe was twirling above Zap looked up before he fired a electrical eye beam at it as the scythe or his own sister was obliterated completely. Ashtrail slowly gets back on his hooves feet groaning in pain before panting. "Y-You killed my s-sister!... Oh well you win some you loose some, as what they all say ey?" "Uhm don't even care that the fact that your sister is dead?" "Not really she was kinda a drag, annoying most of the time but I've found use to her until the end. Now shall we take this battle to hmm over at that chamber over there?" Zap frowned shaking his head. "I figured and oh and I have another trick I must show you." "Oh really? What's that?" "Dark blast." "..Wait wha--" Ashtrails'  curved horn formed a purple aura his eyes glowed purple as blasted out a beam of dark magic towards them in a blink of an eye they were blasted backwards towards one of the chambers before making impact against the edge. Screecher flung to the center where the seal was but after the blast the ceased Zap was faintly unconscious but still had a grip to the edges. Screecher dashed over grabbing to one of his hoof trying to pull him but due to his size and lack of lifting weights he barely broke a sweat as Zaps' grip slowly loosen. "Zap wake up! ZAP!" Screecher screamed, Zap dizziness slowly faded as he was back to conscious before pulling himself back up with the help of Screechers' "strengths" he was able to climb back up. Ashtrail teleported over them hovering before letting out a laugh. "Hmm maybe I haven't giving you my all. Lets fix that shall?" His began to form a red electrical surge before glowing red before creating a bright flash of red light before fading away revealing himself. His body was covered one hundred percent think scales, his neck as long and curved, his wings  grew even longer and bigger then before, his eyes were completely red, his claws and fingers were now longer then before. He lets out a deep toned laugh before speaking. "Now that's taken care of lets finally put your regions greatest warriors to rest." Phase Two. (Play this until the battle for phase two has ended.) Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZDG68k1Cn8) Ashtrail lets out a roar before shooting out dark purple flames towards them, Zap quickly shifted out of range but Ashtrail kept firing following his movement before running out of breath panting heavily. Screecher nudged Zap pointing at Ashtrails' metallic horn. "Shoot his horn with your new powers Zap." Zap nodded looking up at Ashtrail standing on his hind legs forming a ball of pure electricity in his left hoof before he threw it like a baseball. Once it made impact Ashtrail cries in pain and agony were a mixture of a shriek and a roar. He shook his head groaning loudly before staring down glaring at them before growling. His horn forming a red aura as he fired red lightning straight out of his eyes striking down randomly multiple times. Zap kept shifting dodging each bolt pulling out his crossbow rapid fire towards Ashtrails' face ceasing his attacking  shrieking in pain and agony. He shook his head letting out a loud roar as his horn began surging. "Zap I'm hoping you have a plan just about now." Zap turned his attention towards the seal then to Ashtrail the back before quickly launching another lightning ball towards his head as Ashtrail shrieked. Zap firing another lightning ball towards the seal as it slowly opening. "Zaaap! I meant one to defeat him, not help him!" Ashtrail laughed evilly. "Thank you for opening that chamber. Now if you kindly open the rest for me." He swung his tail towards him but only slamming into Zaps right hoof but didn't even budged. "What?.." Zap grabbed around his tail before forcefully pulled Ashtrail towards him as  front flip kick him in the jaw after he let go of his tail. He bucked him in the underbelly sending him straight up in the air, he flew after him before rapidly punching him in his stomach. He punched one last time before uppercutting his jaw. He quickly pressed both his front hooves together slowly raising them up forming a ball of energy. "N-No this can't not be! Y-You can not defeat me I am Ash--" Zap released a huge blast of pure electricity sending them crashing in the  pool of dark magic. Right after he ceased fire the seal closed back up. It was now the crack of dawn Zaps' uncle Tinker Life Saver and the two elders came up from the elevator as they were all looking left and right for Zap and Screecher. A loud thud could be heard from behind as they turned around facing towards it. It was Zap and Screecher, Zap was still in his new form but only for a short second before returning to his original form. He rubbed his forehead Screecher hopped off his shoulder as the other gather around them. His walked closer to them. "Well it seem I was too hard on you colts. You do have what it takes to be a hero!" Tinker walked up to Screecher crotch down. "But Screecher, now we can't change you back.." "Don't worry about me baby. Y'know what they say, big things come in small packages." She rolled her eyes facehoofing. Cyrus walked up to Zap patting his shoulder. "Zap you have an incredible talent for activating artifacts or lightning weapons! Y'know, your uncle may have been right about you after all!" Sylvia walked towards Tinker before clearing her throat. "And Tinker, without your inventing and machinery skills none of this would have been possible heheh.. I think this is the day that all of Kryo is now in peace now that Ashtrail is lost." Zaps' uncle walked towards the edge stared at the chamber that Ashtrail "lifeless" body was in. "Yes Ashtrail.. The Dark magic probably destroyed him..Ehm... P-Probably.." Screecher lets out a laugh. "Ah who cares! Bring it on we can take him again right Zap?.. I said RIGHT ZAP!?" Zap and Life Saver stared into their eyes their lips puckered up a bit before slowly leaning towards each others but Screecher crawled in between pushing their heads away. They both stared glaring at him. "WHOA! Put it on ice big guy!" //-------------------------------------------------------// Bonus Chapter #2: The Door //-------------------------------------------------------// Bonus Chapter #2: The Door Zap turned his head towards a giant sized "wall" that had a small lightning shaped hole in the center before dashing toward before stopping at mid point. Screecher followed standing beside him as Zaps' uncle Tinker and Life Saver stared at it for a moment The uncle scratched his bearded chin. "Hmm, what in the gods could that be?" "Don't know what it could be father, looks like some sort of old door." "I think I know what it is!" They all turned towards Life Saver raising one eye brow. "Your actually right, it's a ancient door build by the lightning god it self they say.  Legend say something is locked up from behind that door and the key is a small called the Lightning Sapphire." Screecher groaned. "Oh great here we go again! Another long quest just to find a stu--" A loud screech could be heard coming from beside them and above as they looked. It was a eagle flying over by Zap as it dropped something down as it landed right in front of Zap. He looked down and it was actually the Lightning Sapphire  as he picked up. "O-Oh.. Well... Pop it in Zap." Zap blinked shrugged flew towards the key hole before slipping the small gemstone inside flying back. The door slowly opened as they were all mesmerized. "Whoa what is it?" "It so beautiful." "Amazing.." "By the ancients." The end.