The New Friend Part 2

Twilight Sparkle and her friends arrived at the Crystal Empire. They found Shining Armor and Princess Cadence frantically trying to calm down their subjects.

"Twily!" Shining Armor called over.

Twilight galloped to her brother and hugged him. "I've missed you so much!" she said.

"Twilight! Thank goodness! We knew you'd come!" Princess Cadence said, the light of hope in her eyes.

"We'll do anything to help!" Twilight vowed.

"Will you, now?" a voice thundered.

A shadowy form loomed above the Empire. It was Midnight Shadow!

"It appears I've been a little predictable with my targets, since Celestia sent you here." Midnight Shadow scowled.

"You're way too predictable, anyways!" Rainbow Dash retorted.

"But, this time, I have guests..." Midnight hissed.

A huge black crystal erupted from the ground. Standing on top of it, was King Sombra. Queen Chrysalis and her changelings buzzed next to him. Then Midnight Shadow ignited his horn.

Misty shadows rose from the ground, forming legions of shadow ponies of every type. Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, and even a few alicorns. They were all black with glowing red eyes, and black armor.

They were surrounded!

The citizens of the Crystal Empire scattered, fleeing for their homes in utter terror.

"Shining Armor, sir." Lightning Strike said, standing tensely next to Twilight's brother.

Twilight was surprised by Lightning's respect, but then she remembered, her brother was the captain of the royal guard! Lightning Strike was a lower rank, it all made sense!

"Yes, Lightning?"

"You still have your armor?"

Shining Armor nodded.

"I think you should get it. Go! I'll hold them off until you get back!"

Shining Armor galloped off to the castle to get his armor. At the same time, Twilight heard Midnight Shadow speak.

"Today will be the day that we got what we truly deserved. ATTACK!"

King Sombra dissolved into his shadow form and surged forward. Queen Chrysalis led her changelings forward to attack. Midnight Shadow's shadow ponies advanced like a tidal wave. And Midnight Shadow turned into his pony form and dived down toward Twilight and her friends with terrifying speed.

Twilight and her friends tensed, looking at each other with wide, frightened eyes. Only Lightning Strike remained confident. Twilight Sparkle and her friends had never faced this many foes at once. It was all her and her friends could do to fight their way through the masses of changelings at Shining Armor's wedding! How could she do this?

She jolted back to reality when Midnight Shadow barreled into Lightning Strike. Before she could help, the changeling that had attacked Lightning before landed in front of her.

"Ah... Princess Twilight. My Queen will be pleased to know that I got rid of you once and for all!" he sneered.

Twilight ignited her horn, ready to fight.

"Oh... you want a fight, little princess? I'll give you one! Then you will know to fear Metamorphosis!" Metamorphosis flew forward, horn charged with magic.

Twilight tensed, but Metamorphosis stopped an inch from her face, encased in a yellow glow. She peered around the frustrated changeling to see that Lightning Strike had turned his back on Midnight Shadow to use his magic to grab Metamorphosis! The brave alicorn flung the enraged changeling, who crashed into a nearby house and crumpled to the ground. Twilight and Lightning locked eyes for a moment.

Noticing the connection, Midnight Shadow chuckled darkly. He charged up his long curved horn and fired a blast at Twilight Sparkle.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl. There she was, standing there frozen in utter shock and horror, watching the blast of magic hurtle towards her. Then she saw Lightning Strike throw himself forward. He dove in front of her.....

....and took the blast right in the side.

"NOOOOOOO!!!" Twilight screamed in horror as Lightning Strike fell to the ground and lay there.

His helmet clattered to the ground at her hooves.

An overwhelming mixture of horror, devastation, and utter rage coursed through Twilight's body, making her tremble uncontrollably. She glared at Midnight Shadow, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Midnight Shadow chuckled darkly. "Stupid, stupid soldier.... Compassion is always a great chink in the armor."

"You....." Twilight gritted her teeth in rage. "You... have.... gone... to.... FAR!!"

She sent a blast at Midnight, who dodged it easily.

"Ah.... Rage. Be careful, little one... letting your emotions overwhelm you can make you weak." the dark alicorn said, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"I am not WEAK!!" Twilight screamed, sending another blast. "You're the one who's weak! Feeding off of the fear and hatred of others! You don't deserve to be a prince in Equestria!"

Then, something amazing happened.

Light started to shine brightly from behind Twilight Sparkle. Twilight turned and gasped. Lightning Strike was being raised off the ground, encased in the light. An object that looked like a gem slowly descended from the sky, and placed itself in the shield shaped chest plate of his armor.

The light grew so bright that Twilight had to squint to see what was happening.

Lightning Strike's armor started to morph, until it was utterly majestic. Leg protectors appeared on each leg, and the armor on his flank changed so that his cutie mark, which was a navy blue shield with three lightning bolts on it, was exposed. His eyes were open wide, glowing white. Slowly, he was lowered down onto his hooves.

The light vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Bewildered, Lightning Strike stared at his armor and at Twilight.

Behind Twilight, Midnight Shadow gasped.

"No.... It's -- it's... impossible!"

The gem was yellow, and shaped like a shield.

The seventh Element of Harmony had been found!