In the Dawn of Destiny

"Awww. I wish I had a camera." A voice said from behind me. Twilight looked and had a face of confusion, fear, and joy.

I turned around shocked to see a tall white unicorn stallion wearing Canterlot guard armor standing in the door way. I quickly noticed he had a dark gray jacket with the name 'Chris' stitched on a sleeve on his back. One thing flooded my mind as I asked "How?"

"What are you doing here?" Twilight said as she jumped off me.

She cleared her throat while regaining her composure and said "Not that you not welcome here Shining."

"Well I am here to give this jacket to Storms brother and decided to stop by." He said as walked up and gave

Twilight a hug smiling. She returned it nervously. He broke the hug and turned to me and the smile faded a bit but was still noticable.

I stood up still staring at the jacket and asked "How do you have Storms jacket?"

Shining opened his mouth to talk but Twilight's tea keetle whisled. Her horn glowed and the keetle moved to the table. "Sorry." Twilight said with a small blush on her face.

Shining nodded and said"No problem Twiley. Want to introduce me to your colt-friend before I go."

Twilight blushed and said "His name is Chrome Lilac." She nudged me forward. I nervously held my hoof up.

He just stared at me then shook my hoof and said "My name is Shining Armor. I'm Twilights brother." My eyes widened a little in shock and fear. 'Oh crap.' He stopped shaking my hoof and pulled me toward the door.

"Were are you taking him?" Twilight asked in a worried tone.

"I decided I could use some help looking for Storms brother. I'm just going to borrow your colt-friend for a little bit." Shining said as he opened the door. I had was started to panic a little and Twilight must have noticed.

"Let me put up a few things up and I'll come with the both of you." She said. I felt a sense relief when she said that. I felt everything was going to be alright if she was there.

"No. Thats okay, he's more than enough help. See you later Twili." Shining said as he dragged me through the door using his magic to close it behind us. He picked me up using his magic and set me on my hooves. He gestured to follow using his hoof and started to walk. I looked back at the door wanting to go back inside. I sighed and followed Shining.

We walked around town in a awkward silence. Passing ponies looked at Shining and then at me. A slight crowd gathered around. 'Huh probably dont see many gaurds here.'  I heard some soft wispering and tried to listen.

"Is he being arrested?"

"What do you think he's in trouble for?

"I heard one of his friends went missing a couple of months ago."

"Do you think he did something to them?"

That last comment cut deep. I knew it wasn't true but to think that others thought that it was my fault kind of hurt. I lowered my head. Shining noticed and turned to the crowed and said "My friend here is in no trouble. He is helping me find a pony."

The crowd looked at Shining for a moment. Some ponies had a face that said 'yeah right' and others just nodded. The crowd of ponies despersed. "Thank you." I said still looking down.

He looked at me and said "No problem Chrome." He started to walk again. "So." He started as he turned to me "You going to spend Hearth's Warming Day with Twilight?"

I was a little shocked at his question. "I..I don't know. I haven't given it much thought." I said a little nervously. Shining started to stare at me. "What?" I asked .

"Nothing. Just trying to see what Twiley see's in you." He said deciding he would never know.

"Why?" I said forgeting my nervousness.

"Well, Twilight was never the sort of pony to be into romance. I was just seeing what caught her heart." Shining explained.

"Well they were always together. Ah'm more surprised it took this long." A country voice came from behind us. Me and Shining turned to see AppleJack walking to us along with Lightnings.

"Are you Lightnings." Shining asked. Lightnings nodded. A light blue aura engulfed the jacket levitating it in front of Lightnings. "This was to be delivered to you." Shining said.

Lightnings examined the jacket and notice the name stiched on the sleeve. Lightnings smiled and stuffed the jacket under his right wing for safe keepings. He looked at Shinings and said "Thanks. It's good to know he's safe."

Me, Shining, and AppleJack looked at him questioningly. "What makes you say that he's okay?" I asked.

"I've known him longer than any of you." Lightnings said. He looked at his right wing and a warm smile grew on his face as he said "He's my little brother after all." Shining armor thought for a moment and nodded slowly.

"If y'all only needed to deliver this here jacket, why didn't y'all send it through the mail?" AppleJack asked Shining.

"Well" Shining started turning his attention to me rubbing the back of his neck then said "I got letters from Twilight and they were mostly about new friend. They went on and on about him. So I saw this as a opportunity to check it out."

"How did y'all get his jacket anyhow?" Applejack asked raising a good point.

"A unicorn named Star Swift came to the castle and gave it to the princess. He told us to deliver it to Chrome but when the princess told him about Lightnings, he said to give it to him instead and nopony else." Shining explained.

"Well I do have his memories so I know he would want me to give it to his brother." A voice said behind me causing me to jump with a yelp. I turned around and saw a yellow unicorn. He shivered and said "Can we go inside? It's kind of cold out here."

"Were did you come from?" I asked still a little startled.

"In good time. First I'm getting out of the snow." He said as we walked into Sugarcube Corner. A blur of pink went right threw the unicorn, to whom I believe is Star Swift, and rolled out the door.

Pinkie Pie ran back inside and stopped in front of him and yelled "No fair! Why do you get to be all not solid and stuff?!" She wave a hoof through him to prove her point.

Star Swift sighed and said "That's because I'm dead." We all looked at him in disbelief. He turned to us and asked "What?"

"How are we able to see you then?" I asked. He had a look of annoyance.

"Well aftee me and Storms trip to Tartarus, I got a unstable physical body." Star Swift said in a matter of fact tone.

"Unstable? What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well" Star Swift started as he walked to a table. "The further I get from Storms, the less solid my body gets then I could do this." He slid his hoof through the table a few times. "It's kind of like my spirit fused with his."

"Then why are you here and not with him?" Lightnings asked as he took a seat at the table.

"I wont be here for long. I came here to tell you that Storms is on his way. I would give him 2 hours give or take." Star Swift said as he started for the door and disapeared. The rest of us joined Lightnings at the table and sat in silence. Everypony besides Pinkie who was bouncing around the room.

"We have to through him the most super awesome best welcome to Ponyville party ever!" Pinkie exclaimed running into the back of Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie ran out to Lightnings and shot him with a barrage of questions. "What kind of cake does he like? What color ballons should I use? Mmfmfmmh-" Applejack covered Pinkie's mouth whit her hoof.

"If y'all are gonna throw him a party, ya might wanna get started." Applejack stated and pinkie just nodded. Lightnings kissed her on the for head and said "Thank you." Applejack blushed and said "I'll go and get the other girls to see it they want to help."

"That would be a super big help. I could have Twilight do the invitations and Rarity do the-" Pinkie said as she left listening range and went to the kitchen. Applejack walked out the door leaving me, Shining, and Lightnings.

"Well you must be happy to know your brothers coming in such a short notice of time." Shining said to Lightnings. Lightnings shrugged.

"He was always lucky when it came to him almost dying." Lightnings said. Shining was taken aback by this, I was a little surprised too. Lightnings noticed this and asked me "Has he never told you about what happened to him 6 years ago?"  I shook my had no. "Huh." He said as he brought a hoof to his chin and scratched it. He procedded to walk out of the building leaving me and Shining wanting answers and ready for a story.

"Well?" Shining said as ran to cut Lightnings off from the door.

"What?" Lightnings asked confused. I couldn't tell if he was faking or was honestly confused.

"Are you going to tell us what happened?" I asked. I wanted to know.

"NO!" Lightnings yelled as he backed away. I flinched at this. I looked to Shining who was now more curious then ever. "If he hasn't told you then you dont need to know. To be honest I'm afraid of what he will do to me if he found out I was the one who told you." Me and Shining were now really confused.

"Why are you afraid of him? Your twice his size." I said.

"That is something you will have to see for youself." Lightnings said as he moved past shining only turning to say "I pray you dont." With that said he left leaving me alone with Shining once more. I let out a sigh. 'This is weird.'

"Lets go get your friend. If we go to him we could meet him half way and ask him ourselfs." Shining said. I nodded and followed. We walked out side and left the warm bakery and was it with a force of cold air. As we walked down the road to the entrance to town Shining Armor says "We should see if your friends want to come along."

    "I dont see what harm they could do in coming." I looked down the road and saw Lightnings sitting under a tree, looking at the sky. I concentrated on the spot next to him and felt my horn get warm. The feeling stoped and I opened my eyes. I felt a little light headed.

   "What. If this about his past I'm not telling and frankly I dont think he will either." Lightings said. He sounded a bit annoyed but it didnt bother me.

   "No, me and shining were thinking about going to meet him and thought we might bring the others." I said. He looked at me for a second and looked back at the sky.

      "Yeah, why not." He said as he stood up. "So who's all going?"

     "Well, since the girls are staying it will be me, you, Shining, and the others guys." I said walking back to were Shining was standing.

   "Does that include Josh." Lightnings said as he started to snicker. I rolled my eyes.

   "I swear you and Storms share the same sense of humor." I said "His new name is Rosea and he is coming.... maybe."

   "Does that mean I get to go?"  A excited voice said from behind me. I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was.

     "Yes Cheese Cake, you get to go to." I said.

   "Well lets go meet the other at the front of town." Cheese Cake said as he started to bounce to his new destination.

   "Wait, what? How do they know to go there." I was getting confused.

   "Well I told them that you were going to gather everyone to meet Storms." He said matter of factly.

   "How did you know that?" I asked raising a eyebrow.

   "Know what?" Cheese cake asked tilting his head.

     "That we were going to meet Storms." I said.

    Cheese Cake gasped and said "I should bring cookies." He took off into Sugarcube Corner a second later.

    "He so strange." Lightnings said.

   "Who is?" Cheese Cake asked from behind us.

     "How the...never mind lets just go." I said shaking my head.

   We walked for a few minutes and saw that only one of them showed up. It was....uh...what's his name. 'Heat Wave." Right. Heat walked up to us and yawned. "Where are the others?" I asked

   "Rosea had plans with Rainbow, your cousin doesn't now Storms well and said she could careless, and Rosea's ex was preaty much the same." Inferno said.

   "Wait, Josh's ex?" I was confussed to say the least.

     "Yeah they didn't stay together do to the fact that Rosea is still a guy and still likes girls and his ex found another mare. I think her name was Berry Punch." Inferno stated nodding his head as if conferming his thoughts. "So do you even know were we are headed to?"

     "Uh..no. No we dont." I sat down trying to think.

     "Isn't there some way to track him of something." Inferno said.

     "I have been trying to learn new spells but I dont think I learned one for tracking." I turned to Shining. "How about you?"

   "No. I mostly learned spells to imobalize and defensive spells." Shining said.

   "Well its not like the answer is going to fall ou" Inferno was interuped by a flash of light and a worried yellow unicorn.

   "Star Swift? What are you doi-" I started but was cut off by him teleporting us to some road. "Where are we?" I asked.

     "About a mile down the road from Storms. He's in trouble, the poison in his system is reaching a limit to where my powers can't stop it. Follow this road and you will reach him." Star Swift said and disapeared right after the last word.

   We just stood there processing what was just said when the realisation that we needed to hurry hit us like a train. We ran down the road as fast as we could. When we got there we saw a colt sized changling slapping Storms in the face. I was having a hard time trying not to laugh because it looked extremly funny. The changling turned its head to us and started to charge at us. Shinings horn lit up and a blast hit the little changling. Its body fell to the ground.

     "I thought you only new defensive spells." I said.

   "I didn't kill it, just put it to sleep. I will take it to Canterlot and turn it in. Think you can take him to Ponyvilles clinic on your own?" Shining asked lifting up the limp changling up with his magic.

   "Yeah, but I have no idea were we are?" I said looking around taking in my soroundings.

     "I do. It's about 4 miles away from Ponyville." Cheese Cake said pointing behind us to show the way back to town.

     "How do you know that?" Inferno asked helping me put Storms on Lightnings back. Out the corner of my eye I see Shining teleport away with the changling.

     "Know what?" Cheese Cake asked.

   "The way back to town." Inferno said.

   "Its says it right here on the map." Cheese Cakes said looking at a map in his hoof.

   "Were did you get the map?" Lightnings asked.

   "What map?" Cheese Cake asked looking confused. Lightnings was about to say some thing but I didn't want to bear this conversation so I teleported the 5 of us to the clinic. The nurse looked at us shocked then noticed the unconcious stallion on Lightnings back. She trotted up and examined him for a second and asked what happened. After we explained to the best of our knowledge about his condition she waved for Lightnings to follow her into the nearest room. He set Storms on the bed and was pushed out.

   After a few hours it was starting to get late. Inferno said he had things to do tomorrow and to let him know if he wakes up. Cheese Cake left a hour ago to go eat cake or something. Me and Lightnings stayed in the waiting room. The nurse walked up to us and said "We got almost all the poison out of his system. The rest was to deep into his system to get and his wing has some nerve damage because of the poison and should heal in a week or two.  Other than that there appears to be no long term damage." She looked at a clipboard and back at us smiling and continued "He will be awake in the morning, We gave him some medicine to dilute the poison but it also makes the patient really tired." Me and Lightnings nodded.

   "Thank you nurse..." Lightnings started.

   "Redheart." She said offering a nother smile.

     "Thank you nurse Redheart and please watch over my brother. One of the things he hates most are hospitals." Lightnings said.

     "Why's that." I asked.

   "Something to do with everytime he went they had a new shot he had to take." He said laughing a little.

   Nurse Redheart joined in and said "If only he know he had to get a shot to thin the poison." This added to the laughter.

     "Well I'm going to see what Twilights up to." I said walking out. Lightnings followed me out and started for Sweet Apple Acres.

     "Be careful! There supposed to be a snow storm tonight and it's supposed to be bad!" Nurse Redheart yelled.

   "THANKS!" Me and Lightnings yelled in unison and went our separate ways.

     After a minute or two of walking the wind started to pick up and it was getting colder so I started to run to get out of the cold. I reached the library in a little under five minutes of running. I knocked on the door and heard  the voice of Twilight say "Give me a second." She opened the door and gave me a warm smile that could melt the snow that was gathering on me. "Come in Chrome and make yourself at home." I walked in and magicked the door closed behind me.

"Thanks."  I said walking up to the couch and sitting down.

"What are you doing here so late.  You know there is a storm coming right."  Twilight explained.

"Well we didn't spend alot of time together on acount of you brother and besides how bad can one little snow storm be?"  I asked.

10 minutes later

If I ever would regret opening my mouth now was the time.  The snow storm easily matched catagory 3 hurricane back home.  The wind was howling loud enough to drown out any wispering and soft talking.  You couldn't see 5 feet in front of you, or is it hooves... I dont know but you get the picture.  Any hope I had of going home was no lost.  But I had to go home some how.

"You can just stay here tonight."  Twilight suggested.  I couldn't do that, it would be awkward.  We just started to go out today.  I have read story to know how nights like these could end up.

"I couldn't.  I have to get home or else.." 'come on think of a good lie that wouldn't hurt her fellings' "Temperance will destroy the house."  I said.  'nailed it.'

"Who's Temperance?"  Twilight asked.

"My cat."  I simply stated.

I walked to the door and readied myself for anything this weather threw at me.  I opened the front door and was hit almost instantly with the freezing air.  I take a look outside and see that the snow let up some leaving just strong wind.  'At least I can see...whats that.'  I spotted a big mass flying dow the street at high speed.  -MOO- Was..that.a...cow?.....Buck it I'm staying.  I walk inside and lay on the couch and yawned.

"I'll stay here."  I said as my body starts to lose feeling.  Twilight just giggled and levitated a blanket to me and covered me up.

"Good.  I can sleep easier knowing that my colt-friend is safe."  She said in a playful manner.  She kissed me on the cheek, blew out the candles and went up the stairs to her room.  I vision slowly faded to black as my mind drifted to darkness.