For the creatures living in Manehattan, this morning was certainly a strange one. To start things off, a unannounced storm had graced their sky, causing severe panic among those who didn't have other things to worry about. In addition, said storm seemed to be very keen on blowing up well-known restaurants and diners for the simple reason of 'Because it could'. Furthermore, a visitng hero of legends, one of the pillars of Equestria itself, got blown away by a bolt of lighting caused by a shape-changing dark cloud (that was also supposedly alive).

The most recent piece of news, however, is an urgent one, as an emergency evacuation has been issued, stating that all those present on Manehattan's streets are to be wary of two ponies. Those two being a lilac unicorn with a purple and teal mane, and a light blue pegasus with a rainbow for a mane. The aforementioned storm that caused a lot of damage seems to have taken these two as its main target. So says the newest issue of Manehattan Time. And now, the story goes on...

*KA-CRACK*

"WOAH!" Rainbow managed to dodge sudden lighting at the very last moment, her muzzle feeling the heat that it gave off as it scraped the air in front of her. She didn't know exactly what Rox was, but if he were to be a pony, she for sure would've placed all her savings on him being a pegasus. The amount of control he wields over the storm pursuing them certainly puts most pegasi on the weather team to shame (not to mention him being a literal part of said storm).

"AAAAAAAAAAH!" Starlight's throat was the second part of her body needing extra rest tomorrow, right after her hooves, of course. For there to be a tomorrow, however, she must first make it out of this weather freakshow. She's good at creating almost unbreakable shields, but it's not as easy to do so when she needs to run. The reason she is running is not because of lightning, no. She's afraid of the clouds catching up to her. If there is one thing worse than being struck by lighting, then it surely is being caught inside a literal factor of them.

"Keep moving! We have to make it out of the city so- WOAH- nopony will be hurt in the process!" Rainbow yelled at the unicorn, dodging another bolt of discharged electricity coming her way while doing so.

"Easy for you to say- gah?!" Starlight had far too many close calls, being almost fried alive as well, "You have way more options to evade with those wings of yours!"

"You're a unicorn!"

"So what- Oh!" a spark of genius came to the unicorn's mind, her horn sparking to life again.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

"Letting you handle the manual labor while I do the thinking!" Starlight explained before teleporting away in the middle of the chase.

"Oh, you mother buck- WHA!" Rainbow was fortunately cut off by another lighting before she could finish the curse, letting her focus on getting out of the city again.

"OH? WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?" Rox's voice thundered from inside the furious storm, "BAH! NO MATTER, I STILL HAVE YOU TO PRACTICE MY AIM WITH, PRISM-HEAD!"

"You're so dead, Starlight!" Rainbow began gaining some proper speed after turning a tight corner, "You hear me?! Dead!"

"I'm glad you had time to spare for wise old me" Starswirl placed his empty cup on the desk, having enjoyed the delicious brew.

Shaking her head with a smile, Meadowbrook finished her fill as well, "Oh, Starswirl, how could I refuse a visit from you?" her muzzled moved to grab the pot holding her homemade tea, "Another?"

"Thank you kindly, it's truly delicious but I'm afraid my stomach won't like me very me if I overdo it" the wizard apologized, "but the recipe would be appreciated!"

"Oh, aiming for my secrets, are we now?" she chuckled faintly.

"Don't be like that, you know your mixtures, both healing and not, are simply spectacular!"

"Speaking of spectaular, have you seen the fireworks show at Princess Twilight's celebration? Simply outstanding!"

"Yes... hard to miss then when they cover majority of Equestria's atmosphere..." Starswirl did not in fact like the fireworks that much (they might have scared him a bit).

"I understand, saving the compliments for once we got to pay her majesty a visit, hm?"

"Whenever that will be... eh..." the elderly unicorn sighed, "You know, even without any major attacks or problems, our lives seems busier than usual. I forgot how tiring it all can be" he admitted.

"Starswirl, I understand you, my dear friend" Meadowbrook came up to the him, placing a hoof on his back, "I personally think we should be thankful for the peace that we were given"

"Yes, yes, I'm not wishing for SOMETHING to happen, it's just very... mundane perhaps?"

"Maybe taking up new hobbies or task could help you?" the sorceress clapped her hooves, "I've recently had Mistmane grace me with a new collection of wonderful potted flowers to decorate my hut! Would you like to tend to them with me?"

"Hmm... it may not be the worst idea there could be" Starswirl stated, earning a glare from the healer, "Y-you know, fresh air is good for one's lungs or so I've heard! So, let's see those flowers, shall we?"

Opening up the door and stepping outside, the old wizard was immidietly startled when a shovel fell from the sky at blazing speed, inbedding itself firmly in the dirt next to him. After taking a step back and bumping into Meadowbrook, Starswirl let out a sigh of relief before inspecting the object.

"Celestia's sake, this could've taken somepony's head off!" he said after a few moments, an image of his own head being seperated from his neck sending a chill down his spine and horn.

"Doesn't it look... familar? I swear, this shovel could do as a proper replic of-" the sorceress began.

*THUD*

"-Rockhoof?!"

Where Starswirl once stood, now lied the Element of Strenght, his powerful bottom half firmly stuck in the ground. His coat and mane were a mess, their colors mixed with a dark paint of black, most likely from an explosion of sorts. The mare rushed over behind him, using what earth pony strenght she still had inside of her to push her fellow pillar out of the ground. Once that was done, she properly sat the stallion done, handing him a mixture for his wellbeing.

"By harmony itself, what happened to you?" the healer asked.

"Uooooh... I need to build up some resitance for lighting strikes..." he took a swing of the potion, "Oh, berries!"

"Lighting?" Meadowbrook pressed further, "What are the chance of that? Did you forget that a storm was scheduled?"

"Neigh! I was taking my time in Manehattan's graces when those nasty dark clouds came about! They seperated, seemed like they were alive, I'm telling ya!" he took another swing, licking his muzzle.

"An unnatural storm?"

"Aye, its lightnings were purple in color! Oh, and how much impact they pack!"

"Purple lightning?" Starswirl's voice joined in, "A sentient black cloud? No it can't... could it?"

"Starswirl?" Meadowbrook looked around the area around her hut, "Where did you go?"

"Down here"

The mare walked up to the crater left by Rockhoof's arrival, a flattened wizard still stuck inside of it, "A little help would be welcomed"

"Oh, right!" he lifted her old friend from the hole, Rockhoof too busy with his drink to properly help (it was tasty though). After succesfully getting Starswirl back on his own legs, the mare began asking, "What do you mean? What can't be?"

"I've seen plently of things in my life and defeated many creatures, often thanks to you, dear friends" the two present pillars smiled, their eyes never leaving the old stallion's form as he spoke, "There was, however, one foe who was beyond even me to handle... if it wasn't for how disturbed his mind he was, he could've surely been the end of our kind"

"What?!" both earthponies questioned before Meadowbrook continued, "But how? I've never heard of such great evil in any history books, not even the most recent one"

"He was... meant to never be, a tragedy best forgotten and left for time to devour..." Starswirl turned in the general direction of where he tought Canterlot was, "But what Rockhoof described... by all means, I hope I am mistaken but if not... we need to be ready for a stormy days to come" he finished, a gust of wind blowing at his hand and making the other two ponies shiver a little.

The ominous silence left by the wizard didn't last long with Rockhoof's 'pop' interupting it, "Ah, what wonderful drinks you brew, old friend!"

"Oh, my pleasure, sweetie..." the sorceress thank him politely.

Author's Note

Shorter chapter this time around, pardon me! My life got a bit stressful so I'll put this and my other works on hold. To those amazing people that read so far, thank you all so much. It means a lot to have a story that's not only viewed but also liked and interacted with.

I hope I can comeback as soon as possible. Until then, I hope you all stay warm and cozy, and get many great stories to read and experience from other talented writers with more experience than me!
I appreciate you all and I'll see you again!

P.s. (few hours after publishing)
There will be one more chapter out at the end of the week since all it needs is a little bit of editing. So yeah, one more quick chapter before the hiatus actually takes places. See you then!