Lighting strikes twice.

“Thanks, but don’t praise me just yet, I have a nagging feeling this battle isn’t over.” Rider Said with a serious look in his eyes as the others broke away.

Just then a giant shadow came inside the air space over canterlot; Rider figured it was his second form. A large dragon, scales silver and black, it was larger than a drake but had the wings of a wyvern. Rider gave everyone a 5 petal dragon scale mail flower.

“These are Items that tether our hearts together, as long as you have these we will still be connected, no matter how far away we are. Take good care of them, and these.” Rider Said handing his friends acrylic tablets much like his own. He bid a final farewell and took off after the dragon. Rider with incredible speed reached the dragon, who, Rider assumed was oblivion, and began the aerial battle. Rider landed on the tail and was met with beams of darkness rider blocked them all and made his way up to the head encountering more and more of Oblivions goons along the way. Once reaching the head rider proceeded to fly along side the head and continued the fight. Rider knowing this was a fate of the world mission gave the others the flowers in order to keep them close during the length of the battle.

“Let’s see how good you are at aerial combat.”Rider taunted.

As if on queue oblivion launched his largest beam of darkness, obviously enraged by Riders comment, Rider dodged the beam and was face to face with the dragon. Rider gave a little smirk, knowing that skyborn battles were his pride and joy, nopony could beat him. Rider cast the transformation spell and drew his sword, the gold glinting from the suns light. Oblivion launched his lasers at Rider once again. Rider channeling all his light into the blade gave it a forceful throw and was sent spinning blade over hilt. The blade made contact with laser and stopped it, the beam broke in half and the blade progressed toward the dragon. The blade imbedded itself up to hand guard in the skull of the dragon. The wings went limp as  gray blood began to spill from the blade they were now over the town of Ponyville. The ponies down below were looking at the spectacle from the ground and with wide eyes. The dragon glided well a ways a way from the town, and landed with a thunderous crash. Rider closely flying behind the demon to make sure nopony got hurt.

“You’re not done yet, I just know it, and maybe if you were to stay down like a good little nightmare you would learn that you are weaker than I. “Rider said to the unconscious dragon. A black void spilled open and the dragon began to sink in. Rider knowing what would happen if he were to get stuck in that void, jumped to stay out of reach of the void and well away from oblivion. Oblivion opened his eyes and grabbed Rider by the ankle dragging him into the darkness. Rider recalled his sword back to him and swung at Oblivions arm with all his strength, only to be met with a sound of metal hitting metal. Rider looked down to find that Oblivions arm was now armored.

Back at canterlot, Riders Friends have be watching the battle via the tablets, they were dumfounded when Rider was flying faster than Rainbow Dash. Dash her self was staring at the fact Rider was faster than she was. When Rider was dragged into the darkness the screens went to static.

“Oh no, Rider, you can’t be dead, you just can’t, yer to tough fer that.” Applejack said hanging her head.

“I don’t think so girls, look, we’re still getting a feed, but you can’t tell where he is.” Twilight said bringing their attention back to the battle.

“I know where he is, The Void.” Princess Celestia said with a grimace.

Rider woke and righted him self in the weightless vacuum of the void. Rider whipped his head around in search Of Oblivion.

“Welcome to the void. This will be one of the locations that you will most likely remember seeing as you’ve been here before.” Oblivions voice could be heard but not seen.

The landscape soon changed from black and nothingness to gray oblivion. Rider feeling a tremendous power spun around to find that Oblivion was now armor clad with a giant sword with a splintered X near the tip. Rider noticed that Oblivion had gained more power then the other times they had met. Rider knew that the battle was only just beginning. Rider took his fighting stance and waited for Oblivion to make his first move.

Back in reality everything was just out of reach, Riders Friends were watching the battle unfold; even Pinkie was too focused on the battle to be hyper and was sitting still for a change. They finally were snapped back to reality when they heard Rarity gasp.

“My I surly thought that Rider had beaten him in their last battle. I guess that Oblivions just getting stronger and stronger from what Rider told us about him, which wasn’t very much at all. I for one find that armor very awful looking to say the least.” Rarity commented at the appearance of the new form of Oblivion.

“I don’t think that armor is supposed to fashionable, Rarity. Although it looks awful heavy and hard, I don’t know how Riders going to be able to break through it, even If Rider was able to launch his light beam again I don’t think that I will be able to puncture that thick metal.” Twilight said giving the armor a good inspection.

Oblivion rushed in with a swing of his sword and aimed for Riders head, quickly Rider threw up a barrier around himself to block the attack. Oblivions sword took more recoil from the blade hitting the barrier. Oblivion was sent flying back several feet and Rider quickly charged at oblivion. Rider called another blade to his left hand and proceeded with his attack. Rider swift in his movements landed multiple blows to the demon and retreated back to avoid the damage that he would take from Oblivions retaliations. Rider confident in his skills and in the hearts of his friends took one last look at the flower charm he had received from his sister on the day of her death. Swiftly Rider placed the charm back in his pack as Oblivion was rushing Rider, Rider held his position, but leaped out of the way of Oblivions blade as it was launched at Riders stomach.

Rider feeling the strength of his friends hearts, summoned the black flame he had in there first battle. Rider charged towards the demon and planted a well placed punch in Oblivions armor. Oblivion burst into the signature black flames of Riders pyromancy. Rider Jumped back several feet and focused his light into his blades. He pointed them strait at Oblivion, roaring in pain as the flames heated the armor to unbearable levels, far surpassing the normal tolerance limits of the body. Aiming carefully Rider channeled his energy until the eleven rings formed around the blade, Rider focused his pyromancy in to the blade as well to the point they were both engulfed in black flame. Rider unleashed the power he held back the blast hit Oblivion with a force that could not be matched by anything in equestria. The force of the blast was able to scramble the connection of the feed between him and his friends on the other side.

The others were filled with fear once the feed was interrupted. They looked at one another in worry that there friend was going to be lost forever. They were shock to see Rider still standing, exhausted but still alive. The fake was face down on the battle field, another one of the black portals opened on Oblivion. They were nowhere recognizable, even by Celestia. Until Twilight seen the railcar in the background.

“Their in the caves under Canterlot, If they were to make a large enough dent in the walls of the mines the entire city will collapse, we have to get every one out of the city and down to Ponyville. It’s the only safe place at this point in time. We have to evacuate, those two are going to be a danger to the town’s people if they stay.” Twilight said at the thought of the entire city going down and the homes and businesses going to ruble.

Celestia agreed and gave the order to the town’s people to only grab what they can carry in saddlebags. The evacuation was slow coming but well effective in getting the ponies out of the town. Once they were all on there way to Ponyville, the only ones in town were the mane 6 and the Princess.

“Do you think Riders gonna be o.k., Princess ah mean Riders tough an all but can he win?” Applejack asked Princess Celestia.

“I’m sure he’s going to beat Oblivion even if it kills him, not saying it will.” Princess Celestia said answering Applejacks question.

Rider squared off with Oblivion and waited for Oblivion to make the next move. Oblivion looked like Riders silver form, but his clothes looked like gothic thorns rather than flames. The faced off and Rider got a glimpse of Oblivions next attack, and prepared for the onslaught of the next attack. Oblivion launched barbed lances at Rider. Rider did innumerable areal flips and roles to avoid getting hit; little did Rider know that oblivion had a plan. Oblivion let Rider see his next move to get Rider to let his guard down afterwards. Oblivion let the spell fade and proceeded with the next phase in his plan. He rushed Rider as he was landing; Oblivion threw out a beam of red light that stopped after three feet. It connected with Riders chest and he was sent flying with an audible grunt. Rider quickly got back up and threw up his guard once again; oblivion knew little of what rider could really do. Rider then rushed oblivion the way he had rushed Rider.

Rider blocked Oblivions blades by using his own blade, once Rider was out of range Oblivion a dome of red lights encased Rider, him knowing all to well that this was not going to end well.

On the other side there friends gasped at what was going to befall Rider.

“RIDER GET OUT OF THERE, YOU CAN’T WIN!”Yelled Fluttershy fear evident in her voice.

“You don’t think I can? Gee, that was a boost in morale, thanks Fluttershy.” Rider had said sarcastically.

Fluttershy gave a confused look at the others as the lights started to pelt Rider.

Rider held out as long as he could, the lights felt as hard as rocks and were as hot as a blue flame, which to Rider was not all that hot. Rider soon felt a pattern to the blaze of stones. Rider soon began to parry all that came his way. The onslaught soon ended with a bright flash of light, and the battle field was once again the caverns. Rider began to fend off the ever growing power of Oblivion. Rider soon realized that this battle was not going to end until one was dead. Rider breathed a sigh and focused he power in to changing his form. A flash of light and Rider was in blacker clothes then he was before. He rushed forward and lashed out at Oblivion with a swing of his claws. Oblivion didn’t even see the attack coming until It was to late. The claws of Riders new form met the head of his target with a sickening crack.

Oblivion fell and never made another move but to fade away, Rider satisfied with the work he had just finished vanished into a swirl of silver and black, quickly appearing behind the nine ponies. Rider reverted back to his normal state and collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The others ran to help. They soon realized that Rider was too exhausted from his battle and took him back to his room back up at the palace.

Rider woke in the infirmary and got up somewhat sore and found the others in the gardens. He was greeted by a large group hug from Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity. They broke off and rider clutched his side. The pressure form the hug was enough to remind him that he was not in top condition. Rider soon recovered and walked over to Princess Celestia, and judging by the looks of it she was up all night. Rider noticed that her eyes were red and tired.

“Why don’t you get some sleep, Princess, you have been up all night. You must be tired.” Rider said making Princess Celestia jump a little, seeing as she was not wide awake.

“Rider, you’re up already? My you recover quickly, but yes I have been up all night, I was worried about you, seeing as you fought that monster all on your own. But you are right I do need to rest.” Princess Celestia said letting a yawn slip.

She gave Rider a hug ‘good night’ and retired to her own room. Rider turned to find that Twilight was in tears over by one of the numerable trees in the palace gardens. Rider walked over and put a hoof on her shoulder. Twilight noticed him and threw her arms around his neck, Rider responded with another hug, letting Twilight cry.

“I thought you were going to die, we all did, you…you chose to protect Equestria from that thing knowing that it could very well take your life, I bet your family are very proud of you right now, Rider.” Twilight said while trying to stop the torrent of tears spilling from her eyes.

Twilight not wanting to break there hug had to be pried off of Rider. They all congratulated Rider on a job well done. But he didn’t think that it was over quite yet.

“I hate to tell you all this but there is more coming and much worse than Oblivion, some stronger, darker, and more frightening than him. This war is not over yet, we may not know when the next enemy may attack next but all we can do is be ready for what ever comes our way next. And I wouldn’t have it any other way than to have my friends by my side during this time of great need.” Rider said holding up his flower and the others following his lead.

“LET’S FIGHT THROUGH THIS TOGETHER!”

End of book one, but don’t worry the story’s not over yet.