Starting Over 2: Returning Homeby CrystalHero97ChaptersChapter I - 2 Years LaterChapter II - HomeChapter III - Keeper Of The NightChapter IV - Meeting The QueenChapter V - General Kaor Vs. Dark-RedChapter VI - Unexpected VisitorChapter VIII - Unlikely AllyChapter IX - The Marriage Of Spectra And RainbowChapter X - Return Of A GodChapter VII - The Crystal EmpireThank You!Chapter I - 2 Years LaterSpectra Speed was packing his bags inside his cloud house which resided up high in the floating city of Cloudsdale. He had stored all the bits he had saved up inside a giant chest which he will tow along inside a sky trailer. A sky trailer is like a sky chariot, like the one the princesses ride in, except it was a trailer. Anyway, when Spectra was done loading all of his belongings, he hooked himself up to his trailer, and started walking down the main street of Cloudsdale, which was the direction Ponyville was in. Today was the day. The day Spectra had been aching to come. The day he will be reunited with Rainbow Dash. As he walked down the street, Spectra had a huge smile on his face, and was singing the lyrics to a song he loved for years. As he was walking down the street, he noticed a party shop. At first, he instantly thought of Pinkie Pie. His eyes widened, as he suddenly had a great idea. 'I should get them all presents! Yeah! That's a great idea!' Spectra kept walking down the street, looking for the right shops for the right ponies. -----Rainbow Dash's Perspective, Ponyville, Sugarcube Corner----- Rainbow Dash was sitting down at a table in the bakery, enjoying a cupcake and having a chat with her 5 friends; Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity. They were chatting about work and how their jobs were going, when Rarity decided to add to the conversation. "Speaking of jobs, hasn't it been 2 years since Spectra left for Cloudsdale, and became a CEO of a weather factory?" Rainbow froze instantly, and slowly placed the cupcake down and stared at the ground, all eyes on her. "Y-y....yeah. He did...." Rainbow remembered the day he left like the back of her hoof. Rarity placed her cupcake down as well. "Now, darling, I know you won't like what I'm about to say, but....maybe it's time to.....move on?" Rainbow shot up out of her seat and flew right up to Rarity, giving her the darkest glare she could muster. "What are you trying to say?" Rarity backed up a bit, fear evident in her expression. "D-darling. W-what I'm s-saying is, maybe h-he forgot about u-us in all h-his work. Maybe h-he won't come back. Maybe y-you should g-go find yourself another s-stallion?" Rainbow flew down to the ground and walked over to the front door. She stopped and turned, looking directly at Rarity. "He promised me he would return. I promised I would wait for him. And that's exactly what I'm doing. I will wait as long as it takes." And with that, Rainbow walks out of the door and flies to her home. As she flies home, she notices how little Ponyville has changed in the past years. Everything looked the same. Huh. Weird. When she got home, she flew into her bedroom and flopped down. She knew that it has been a while, but she promised. 'Nopony is a replacement for Spectra.' She flew out of her house and found a nice soft cloud. She rested on the cloud and fell asleep. That bed held too many memories of her and Spectra. -----Spectra's Perspective, Cloudsdale----- Spectra left the final shop he had to visit and loaded the presents he got Rainbow and her friends. He walked to the edge of Cloudsdale and look over the landscape. Beautiful mountains and plains graced the land with meadows full of animals. Spectra liked Cloudsdale. It was a nice place. But Ponyville was his home. He spread his wings and took another glance at the landscape. 'To be brutally honest, a thing I don't normally do, I like Cloudsdale much more then I like Ponyville. Can't we stay here?" Spectra rolled his eyes. 'Ever since my marefriend and her friends defeated you with the power of The Elements Of Harmony a few months ago, you've become so negative lately. Just cheer up.' 'Oh, whatever. I don't even care any more. Fine. Let's go. By the way, if I were you, I would make a back story on how you know that information. Just say that word travels fast from Canterlot or something.' Spectra nods in agreement. He jumps off the edge of the floating city and soars through the skies. He was wearing a massive smile as he flew. He was heading home, and he couldn't be any happier. -----3rd Pony Perspective, Hill Below Rainbow Dash's Cloud House, 2 Days Later----- Rainbow's 5 friends were all on the hill below her house, looking up expectantly at the floating home of the cyan pegasus. Twilight looked to her friends. "How long will she stay locked up in her house for?" Applejack shakes her head. "Ah dunno, Twi. Ah think if somepony kept somethin' to themselves, she would be alright." As Applejack says 'somepony' she glares at Rarity. Rarity looks back at Applejack and holds her hooves up defensively. "Well, I was just saying what I thought!" Applejack sighs. "Ah gotta get home. Big Mac will be wonderin' where ah am." As Applejack walks to Sweet Apple Acres, Pinkie Pie gasps. "Oh no! I said I would take care of the twins! Bye everypony!" And with that, Pinkie was gone in a cloud of smoke. Twilight rubs her forehead with her hoof. "I guess we all need to go home. Bye, everypony." The group disbanded, all heading home. Up in the cloud house, Rainbow Dash was lying in her bed, holding a picture of Spectra and her in her hooves. She was crying heavily, the tears soaking her coat. "I m-m-miss y-you s-s-so m-much." -----Spectra's Perspective, Few Minutes Away From Ponyville----- Spectra was flying high above the skies, thinking about how his friends might react to him showing up without a warning. Angry? Sad? Happy? All he hoped was that Rainbow Dash was okay. He decided that when he got to Ponyville, he would visit her last and give her the presents he got her last, so her friends could be there. He had presents for her. And he couldn't wait to give them to her. Spectra flew above the next mountain, to be graced with the sight of Ponyville. He grins and flies down towards the library. He stops at the front door and turns to look around the town. 'Not much has changed. Wow.' Spectra knocks on the front door to the library. "Just a second! I'll be there in a bit!" Spectra stands and waits at the door nonchalantly, as if he visited the library everyday. Moments later, the door opens to reveal Twilight Sparkle. "Welcome to Ponyville Libra-" She stares at Spectra for a few seconds, then grips him in a tight hug. "SPECTRA! It's sooooo good to see you!" "CAN'T. BREATHE. NEED. AIR!" Twilight releases her grip. "Sorry. But it's just really good to see you! Have you been to Rainbow yet?" Spectra shakes his head. "No, I wanna give her presents to her last, so all of you can see it." Twilight's eyes grow wider. "You got her presents?" Spectra chuckles. "I got all of you presents. I'll get yours." Spectra turns around and looks through the pile of bags in the trailer. He pulls out a bag filled with boxes. He pulls a box out that has Twilight's cutie mark decorating it. Spectra turns back and faces Twilight, who was standing in the library. Spectra hoofs her the box. "Here. I think you might like it." Twilight unwraps the present. Her eyes stare at the contents. Inside the box was a book. The book was titled "The Studies Of Ancient Magic". She lifts the book up and checks it over. She gasps very loudly. "This is real! But, this book is meant to be very rare! How could you afford this?!" Spectra laughs heartily. "Twilight, I haven't been staying in Cloudsdale for 2 years doing nothing!" Twilight blushes. "Oh, right." Spectra turns around and hooks himself back up to the trailer. He looks to Twilight. "Meet me under Rainbow's house at 7pm!" He spreads his wings and flies up into the air, and heads straight for Sweet Apple Acres. When he arrives at the farm house, he parks the trailer behind him, and knocks on the door. "Who is it?" Spectra recognizes the voice as Applejack's. "I heard the best apples in Equestria can be found here!" Spectra hears a lot of noise come from inside the house. The door snaps open to reveal Applejack. "Ah thought ah recognize that voice. Welcome back ter Ponyville, Spectra! How ya been?" Spectra shrugs. "I'm alright. I can't stay long. I got ya a present." Spectra turns and rummages through his trailer. "Aww, shucks, Spectra. Ya'll didn't have ta go and do that." Spectra turns back to Applejack with a box in his hoof which bore her cutie mark. "I know I didn't have to. I wanted to. Here." He hoofs her the box. Applejack opens the box and reaches inside. She pulls out a cowpony hat, much like her own. Except it was encrusted with amber, emerald and rubies. Spectra points to the gems. "I got this custom made. The amber represents your coat, the emerald is your eye's and the rubies are the colour of your apples on your cutie mark." Applejack stared in shock at what she was seeing. "Ah....ah can't accept this." She tries to hoof the hat towards him, but he pushes back. "AJ, don't worry. I'm rich, so it's not like I needed the bits, and even so, I want you to have it." AJ pulls the hat back into her grip. She stares down at it and looks back up to Spectra. "Ya don't understand, this hat of mine was mah fathers. He wanted me ta have it." Spectra nods. "Ok, I understand. But I know how you can still keep the hat. Give it to Applebloom. I'm sure she would love it. Anyway, I have more friends to meet. Come to Rainbow's house at 7pm. See ya, AJ!" He hooks himself back up to the trailer and flies off. He turns his head to see Applebloom running around AJ with the hat on her head, with a giant smile. Spectra grins and continues down to Fluttershy's cottage. He lands in front of the cottage and unhooks the trailer. He walks up to the door and knocks. "Coming." The door opens and Fluttershy is standing in her door way with Angel on her back. "Yes? What can I d- Oh! Hello Spectra!" Fluttershy grabs Spectra and hugs him gently. "Hey, Fluttershy. Listen, I can't stay for long. I've got places to be and ponies to meet. I'm here to give you a present." This time, Spectra already had the box in his hand. The box had air holes and was decorated with Fluttershy's cutie mark. He hoofs her the box. She opens it and gasps. "It's a Lightning Wing! Oh my! These are incredibly rare!" She reaches inside and pulls out a bird that looks like a phoenix, except it was surrounded in electricity instead of fire. Fluttershy looked at the bird in amazement. "I-I-I don't know what to say! Thank you Spectra!" Spectra nods his head. "Your welcome, Fluttershy. Come by Rainbow's house at 7pm, okay? Later!" Spectra re-hooks himself again and flies back to Ponyville and arrives at the Carousel Boutique. He parks his trailer and knocks on the front doors. "Just a moment, darling!" The doors swing open with Rarity inside the building. "Welcome to the Carousel Bou- Spectra! Why, darling! It has been years! How are you?" Spectra waves a hoof. "I'm alright, but I'm needed in other places so I have to be quick. I got you a present from Cloudsdale." Spectra hoofs Rarity a box adorned with her cutie mark. Rarity opens the box and pulls out a huge rock, it had all the colours of the rainbow and was the size of her head! "Is....is this what I think it is?" Spectra nods. "It is. It's a Galaxy Diamond. Incredibly rare and beautiful at the same time." Rarity was speechless. "I....I.....Thank you, Spectra!" Spectra was hooking himself back up to the trailer. "No problem, Rarity! Come by Rainbow's house at 7pm, would ya? Bye!" Spectra flies off towards Sugarcube Corner. It was almost 7pm, so he needed to be quick. He stops outside of the bakery and unhooks himself for the millionth time today. He walks inside and stands next to the counter. He had a box with Pinkies cutie mark on it, He rings the bell and gets slammed into the floor by a pink blur. "OmygoshSpectrayou'rebackIcan'tbelieveitIhavetothrowaWelcomeHomepartynow-" Spectra shoves his hoof into Pinkie's mouth. "Pinkie, I have a present for you." Pinkie's eyes grew wide. She hopped off Spectra and let him stand up. When Spectra regained his footing, he hoofed her the box. She rips it open and inside was a recipe book named "Pegasi Sweets". Pinkie looked to Spectra was a giant smile. "Thanks, Spectra! I've always wondered what pegasus like to eat!" Spectra walks towards the door. "You're welcome, Pinkie. Come by Rainbow's house at 7pm. Bye!" And with that, he walks out of the bakery. He hooks himself up and flies around Ponyville, talking to ponies he remembers. He even chats with Vinyl! After a while, he heads for his marefriend's house. When he got there, all 5 mares were there waiting for him. When he lands, he puts his hoof to his mouth and shush's them. He grabs his guitar case out of the trailer, walks over to the group of mares and sits down. He pulls out Melody, his enchanted guitar. He takes a deep breath and looks to the group. "Here goes nothin'." -----Rainbow Dash's Perspective, Cloud House----- Rainbow was lying down on her bed with tears streaming down her eyes as she remembered all the great times she had with Spectra. She remembers how she loved his singing. It was beautiful. She swears she could hear music.... She sits up. She can hear music. It was a guitar, and it was coming from outside, it was a song she never heard, but when the lyrics kicked in, she knew exactly who's voice that was. She bolted out of bed and out the window. She looks down to see none other then Spectra Speed himself playing his guitar and singing his heart out with her friends around him. She stays up in the air and listen's for a while. When the song finishes, she couldn't control herself any more, she bolts down and knocks Spectra to the ground passionately kissing him while resting on his chest. When she pulls away, she hugs him tightly and leans into his ear. "Welcome home." Chapter II - HomeRainbow jumped off Spectra and allowed him to get up. When he did, he turned to his trailer and pulled out a box bearing Rainbow's cutie mark. Spectra hoofs it to Rainbow. "I got you a little something from Cloudsdale." Rainbow grabs the box and opens it. She pulls a necklace out from the box. The chain links were gold, and there were 2 gems hanging off the chains. One of them was Yin and Yang, the other was a lightning bolt. Each gem was made of diamond. Rainbow stared at the necklace for a few seconds before putting it on. She looks to Spectra and wraps him in a hug. "I missed you so much." Spectra hugs back tighter. "So did I." Rainbow lets go and gives Spectra another kiss. When they pulled away, Spectra looked to the group of mares. All of them were on the brink of tears, except for Pinkie Pie, who was already crying like a sprinkler. Spectra walked over to the pink party mare and put his hoof on her shoulder. "Aw, Pinkie. Don't cry. Wouldn't you say, that this calls for a party?" Pinkie sits up and instantly stops crying, and wears a big smile on her face. "Omygosh! YES! We can call it the Welcome Home party! I'll go get it ready!" Pinkie was gone in a cloud of smoke. Twilight walks up to Spectra. "Didn't you say that you had 2 presents for Rainbow Dash?" Spectra puts a hoof to his chin for a few seconds, then waves it. "Now's not the time to show her." Twilight nods. "Okay then. Have a nice day you two!" Twilight walks away and heads home towards her tree library. Applejack walks up to Spectra. "Thank ya fer the hat, Applebloom loves it. She wants ta meetcha and thank ya herself so watch out. Bye, Spectra." Applejack turns and starts walking to Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy walks up to Spectra and gives him a gentle hug. "Thank you for the Lightning Wing, Spectra! He's amazing! I think I'll call him Sparks. Good bye Spectra!" Fluttershy heads home to her cottage full of animals. Rarity starts walking up to Spectra, but Rainbow quickly intervenes in front of her. "See!? I told you he would come back!" Rarity suddenly looks embarrassed. "Darling, I'm ever so sorry for even thinking the thought! I promise you Rainbow, I will make it up to you!" Rarity starts running home to her boutique. Spectra didn't know what that was all about, but as long as Rarity was willing to make up for it, I guess all was fine. Rainbow turns around and walks up to Spectra. She looked just as beautiful as she did two years ago. Spectra couldn't help himself. He grabbed Rainbow in a hug and gave her the biggest kiss he could muster. She returned the hug and the couple just stayed there for a moment before Spectra let go. Rainbow grew a smug smile. "So I guess you missed me, huh?" Spectra chuckles. "You have no idea." Rainbow flies up into the air above Spectra. "Welcome home, hot shot." Spectra turns around and pulls a massive chest out from his trailer. He turns to Rainbow, who had a shocked look on her face. "What's in that thing, Spectra?" Spectra unlocks the chest with a lightning bolt shaped key, and opened the lid of the chest. Rainbow was speechless. The chest was filled with bits. Millions of bits filled the chest. Easily, the chest contained roughly 30 Million bits. Spectra was one of the richest pegasi in Equestria. Rainbow looked to her coltfriend. "How did you gain this much?" Spectra winks. "A lot of hard work and late nights. And it's all ours. I had to cut back and make a very tight budget to get enough money quickly, but it was worth it. Now, we can live in luxury." Rainbow grabbed her coltfriend into another hug. "I can't believe you would do all this just for us." When she let go, Spectra reloaded the chest onto the trailer and hooked himself up to it. He looked up to Rainbow Dash, who was up in the air. "Let's go home." He flies up with his trailer and starts following Rainbow up to her cloud house and places his trailer on a cloud and shoves it next to the house. He follows Rainbow inside the house and looks around. Not much has changed in the past 2 years. He looks outside to see it was getting dark. "Rainbow, I'm kinda tired from the trip here, so I'm gunna go to bed. Night." Rainbow walks into the kitchen and starts making herself a sandwich. She turns to her coltfriend and gives him a wave and a smile. "Night Spectra!" Spectra waves back and walks towards the guest room, and flops down onto the bed. He was slowly going to sleep, until he felt a poke at his side. He looks to see Rainbow poking him with a grin. "You do know that you can sleep with me in my bed, right? Don't you remember?" Spectra sits up and starts walking towards Rainbow's room. "Right, sorry. I kinda forgot." He lies down on Rainbow's bed and starts falling asleep, until he feels the bed shake and snaps his eyes open. He sees Rainbow standing above him with a big smile. "Ya know,we haven't done it in years, and all that energy just builds up over time. All the energy, all the needs all the..." She leans down and kisses Spectra passionately. She pulls away and stares into his eyes. "....all the lust. It just grows." Spectra caught on to what she was talking about the whole time. He grows a massive smile. "Yeah, the same was happening to me." Rainbow leans into his ear. "Then lets satisfy each other." -----The Next Morning, Rainbow's Cloud House----- Spectra woke up in Rainbow's bed with Rainbow Dash herself lying on top of his chest. It took him a while to remember what happened last night, but when he remembered it all, he grew a massive grin. 'Good to be home.' 'I still liked Cloudsdale better.' Spectra rolled his eyes. 'Then you should've made Cloudsdale Chaos Capital of the World, right?' Spectra heard Discord chuckle. 'Touché.' Spectra felt movement and saw Rainbow lift her head from his chest. Spectra smiled. "Mornin', beautiful." Rainbow smiled back. "Mornin', hot shot." She climbed off Spectra and walked out of the room. Spectra got up and followed her. She walked into the lounge room and sat down on the couch. Spectra smiled and opened the front door. Rainbow sat up. "Where're you going?" Spectra grins. "We haven't been on a date in a while. I'm gunna go set one up." And with that, Spectra flies out the door. Rainbow leans back in her couch. "Trust me, Spectra. You being here is good enough for me." Spectra was flying through town trying to find a certain white unicorn. When he found her, he dropped down to the ground in front of her. "Hey, Spectra! What's up?" "Not much. Vinyl, I need to ask you for a favour." Vinyl Scratch steps forward. "Sure! What'd ya want?" "I was wondering if I could borrow some equipment possibly tonight at your club. Me and Rainbow are gunna have a date. And I have a surprise for her." Vinyl lowers her shades and looks at Spectra expectantly. "What kind of surprise?" Spectra waves his hoof. "Ah, ah, ah! It's a secret. You'll see it tonight." Vinyl groans in defeat. "Ok. And sure! Your always welcome to use my equipment! Just come by whenever." Spectra nods and takes off to the air. "See ya tonight, Vinyl!" Spectra was speeding down the street looking for a place they could go to. "Spectra! Spectra! Down here!" Spectra looked down to see Rarity looking up at him. 'Perfect! She can make what I need!' Spectra flies down to Rarity. "What's up, Rare?" "Spectra, I apologize for what I said to Rainbow the other day. And I wish to make it up to you in any way." "Wait what did you say? Oh, it doesn't matter. As long as you're sorry. Now, I need you to make me two things, is that ok?" Rarity nods. "Yes, yes! Of course it's okay! Now, what did you have in mind?" Spectra looks left and right, then leans in to Rarity's ear and whispers something. Rarity suddenly looked surprised. "Oh...oh my! That's wonderful! Alright! I'll have it sorted out by tonight for you, Spectra!" Rarity makes a mad dash towards her boutique. Spectra turns around and starts looking for a decent restaurant to spend the night with Rainbow with. -----Cloud House, 9pm----- Rainbow Dash was wearing her Gala dress and was sitting on her couch looking excited. She and Spectra were going on a date tonight, and she was so happy that she could spend time with him. The front door opened and revealed Spectra wearing a sharp looking tuxedo adorned with multiple gems. "Hello, my good lady. Shall we go?" He held out his hoof, like he did on their first date. Rainbow giggled and grabbed his hoof. "Sure. Let's go." They flew to a fancy looking restaurant that resides on the edge of Ponyville. It was massive! Spectra picked a table at the back. Old habits die hard. Spectra ordered a rose petal sandwich, while Rainbow got the violet salad. The couple were happily eating and enjoying each others company. "Hey, Spectra? Can you tell me of the things you did in Cloudsdale?" Spectra looked up at her and pondered what to tell her. "Sure, as long as you tell me what you did here at Ponyville." Rainbow nodded. "Deal." Spectra clears his throat. "Gather round, my children. To hear the story of Spectra Speed, the lone wolf stallion who travelled to Cloudsdale. Now...." -----Cloudsdale, 1 Year Ago----- Spectra Speed was lying in his bed sleeping. It was the morning of his birthday. He woke up and yawned. He got out of bed, brushed his teeth, had breakfast and sat on his couch with Melody next to him. He was writing the lyrics to the song he would sing for Rainbow Dash when he returned home. Suddenly, somepony knocked on the door. Spectra was confused at this. 'I don't have any friends in Cloudsdale. That's weird.' He opens the door to reveal about 50 mares. "Uuuhhh....Hi?" One mare steps forward with a seductive smile. "Hello, handsome. You know...you're kinda cute." 'Hang on, I've never met this mare before. And she is acting very suspiciously.' Spectra suddenly realizes what's happening. "Uh-oh." 'Not again.' Spectra slams the door shut and runs back up to his room. "Why does there always have to be an estrus on my birthday?! Am I cursed!? Estrus is meant to be random! WHY!?" Spectra stays in his room for a few minutes before he hears a knock come from his bedroom door. "Heeeeey handsome!" Spectra looks around his room to find somewhere to hide. The mares start to bash down the door, so Spectra dashes outside through his window and bolts away from his home. He flies higher and higher until he found a soft cloud to lie on. He sleeps on that cloud for a day, then he flies away from Cloudsdale and goes to one of the mountains that surround the floating city. He finds a cave and stays there for the week. When he comes out, he just flies home and shuts the door, not coming out for a few days. The mares tried to apologize, but he wouldn't listen. Eventually, he came out of his house, and went back to work. -----Present, Ponyville Restaurant----- "They tried to get MY stallion?! Well, at least they didn't blackmail you like I did. Heh, sorry about that." Spectra waved a hoof. "Water under the bridge. Anyway, how did you handle estrus?" Rainbow suddenly looks embarrassed. "It....it was difficult without you with me.....I had to lock myself in my house so I wouldn't go off and find another stallion. It was almost painful not having you around...." Rainbow looked down to the ground. Spectra held her chin and made her look up to him. He was wearing a massive smile. "Hey, don't worry. Now, you won't have to worry about that." Rainbow looked at Spectra quizzically. "What'd you mean?" Spectra pays the bill and motions his head to the door. "Come on and I'll show ya." She follows him out of the restaurant and flies with him down the streets of Ponyville. When the landed, they were outside Vinyl Scratch's DJ club. Spectra steps in front of Rainbow. "Come on, I've got some surprises for ya." She follows him inside. The stage looked the same as always, except the entire club was empty. Spectra jumps up on the stage and looks around. "Vinyl!? Vinyl! Where are ya?!" Vinyl opens a door from the left side of the stage and walks in. "Yeouch. Ya don't hafta shout, Spectra." Spectra mock moans. "Awww. But I like shouting." Vinyl glares at Spectra. "What is it?" Spectra pulls a piece of paper out from one of his saddlebags and gives it to Vinyl. She looks it over and nods. "Sure, man. Let's do this!" Vinyl walks up behind her turntable, while Spectra pulls out his guitar case from the storage room that Vinyl was just in. He sits on a stool on stage and props Melody onto his lap. Spectra pulls the microphone stand up to his height. "I wrote this for a special mare that's in the crowd." Rainbow blushes. Spectra starts playing a few chords and the lyrics come up; You see me soaring through the sky I see you below as you walk on by I could clear the sky in 10 second flat How about that (How about that) I could be sitting here on a cloud Watching the sun as it starts to go down the only thing missing Is you by my side Rainbow was listening to his beautiful voice and paid attention to each lyric. Give me a smidge of confidence Give me a speck of something that makes sense Give me an idea of dependency Give me a dash of loyalty (Loyalty) I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that i'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty The sun shines bright, yet the rain pours on Rainbows here one minute and then they're gone They remind me ... of me and you What did you do? What did I do? Rainbow was loving it so far. His voice plus the music to back it up was perfect. Determination in those eyes Where has it gone? Has it said goodbye? A lot has happened But I'll stay by your side Give me a smidge of confidence Give me a speck of something that makes sense Give me an idea of dependency Give me a dash of loyalty (Loyalty) I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that i'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty Time stands still when you're with me How can i make you see? Your crazy antics make me want to scream Your name so loud till my throat starts to bleed Then when the solo started up, it showed just how good you can be when self taught how to play a guitar, like Spectra was. I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that I'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that I'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty When the song finished, Spectra put his guitar back into his case and walked up to Rainbow. "So, did you like it? I wrote it for you." Rainbow grabbed Spectra and kissed him. When she pulled away she embraced him. "Nothing can top that. That was amazing." "Oh, don't be so sure." Rainbow pulls away, confused. "I have a surprise that I know will beat the song by far." Spectra kneels down on one leg, and pulls out a small, black box. Rainbow was tearing up. She knew what this meant. "Rainbow Dash..... " Spectra opens the box. Inside was a giant Galaxy Diamond ring. The diamond shone with all the colours of the rainbow. "....will you marry me?" Chapter III - Keeper Of The NightRainbow couldn't smile any wider then she did when Spectra said those words. "YES! YES YES YES YES A MILLION TIMES YES!" Rainbow tackled Spectra too the ground in a grip of death and kissed him continuously. She couldn't be any happier at that moment. When she finally got off Spectra, he hoofed her the ring, which she placed on her hoof. The Galaxy Diamond in the ring was beautiful. Spectra had to pay quite a lot for it, considering Rarity still had a huge rock of the stuff. But when you're rich and in deep love, money is no object. Rainbow just stared at the ring for a while before she even said anything. "I'm going to be Mrs.Rainbow Speed. Oh, Spectra!" She re-grips him in another hug-o-death. "Rainbow, I understand that you're happy an all, but you're crushing my lungs!" Rainbow released her deathly grip and just gave Spectra a kiss. "You've made me so happy right now." Vinyl was still on stage, bawling her eyes out. "T-that w-was beautiful!" The couple walk out the doors to the club, but not before hearing some conversation coming from the stage. "Hey, Octavia *sniff* why can't WE be married?" "Vinyl! Honestly, we've only been dating for two months!" "That's two months too long!" Spectra and Rainbow were flying home down the streets of Ponyville with huge smiles on their faces. When they got home, the couple just crawled into bed and fell asleep. -----Spectra's Perspective, Cloud House, Midnight----- Spectra woke up from another nightmare. He had them his whole time in Cloudsdale, but whenever he was with Rainbow, the nightmares were meant to stop. 'Wow, I thought you only had nightmares when you weren't with Rainbow Dash.' Spectra responds to Discord in whispers. "Yeah, I know. This is strange. I need some fresh air." Spectra flies out the window and lands on a soft cloud. He closes his eyes and takes deep breaths. "Hello, Spectra Speed." Spectra shoots up at the sound of a new voice. He turns to his right to see an alicorn, with a dark blue coat, and a cutie mark of the moon. Her mane and tail looked like the night sky. "My name, is Princess Luna. I need to have a talk with you. About your nightmares." Spectra looked confused. "How do you know about my nightmares?" "I can see into the dreams of others. I see your dreams the most, because out of anypony in Ponyville, yours are the most saddening." Spectra looks to the princess with a sad look. "So, what do we need to talk about?" Luna leans in closer. "I know about Discord being in your head to." 'Oh buck.' 'Oh buck' "Oh buck" Luna chuckles. "Do not worry, I won't punish you. It's not your fault he's there. Although, your dreams are the major issue here." Spectra sighs. "So, I guess you've never heard of the infamous Speeds of Canterlot before?" Luna laughs. "I was trapped on the moon for a millennia. Unless their a thousand years old, I wouldn't know them." Spectra takes a deep breath. "The Speeds were the outcast's of Canterlot. Although, we didn't care if they didn't like us." Luna raises and eyebrow. "Go on." Spectra sighs. "One day, we were going on a family walk through the palace maze. We got up to the Discord statue, and that's when my mother got a knife held to her throat. She got killed and so did my father. The pony, Double Edge was his name, didn't want to kill me because he didn't want to be a monster. That's when two guards found me and got Princess Celestia. They decided to take me to Manehatten. They didn't want to explain to Canterlot what happened, so they said we all died. But, the princess moving me to Manehatten was the worst decision she could've made." Luna looks perplexed. "My sister saved you and you're saying that it was the worst decision?" Spectra nodded. "The family she gave me to hated me. They never treated me right, they gave me the worst food and they occasionally beat me. I ran away at age 13 and lived on my own for a while. When I turned 17, I got offered a job as a drug dealer, so me being young and stupid, I took the job. I lived for 11 years in Manehatten selling drugs and not having any friends." Luna looked sad. Almost....sympathetic. "I moved into Ponyville, and got smashed into the ground by the best thing to happen to me." Spectra turned his head towards the cloud house. "Rainbow Dash then took me in. after I lost a bet and sang for her. A few days past, then I did something stupid. I ran away into the Everfree Forest and got attacked by a manticore. When I awoke, I was in hospital. Rainbow was next to me crying. She did something I never expected. She kissed me." Luna was listening with great interest. "After that, we became marefriend and coltfriend. We hung out with friends...." Spectra twitched. "....damnnit. I hoped that stopped. Ah well. Anyway-" "Why did you flinch when you said 'friend'?" Spectra twitched again. "I never had any, so I'm not used to it." Luna wrapped a foreleg around Spectra and looked him in his eyes. "Consider me your friend." Spectra didn't twitch. He just smiled and nodded. "Thank you , princess." Luna laughed. "Please call me Luna." Spectra smiled even wider. "Anyway, after a while of being with her, I got a job offer for Cloudsdale Cloud Factory CEO." Luna gasped. "That's the best paying job for a pegasus!" Spectra nodded. "Exactly. I took the job and stayed in Cloudsdale for two years. I promised Rainbow I would return, and I did a few days ago. I got roughly around 30 Million bits inside a chest." Luna gasped once again. "Woah." Spectra nods. "Yeah. And just tonight I proposed to Rainbow Dash. She said yes and thanks to my massive fortune, we're set for life." Luna clopped her hooves together. "Congratulations! You know, I only came here to learn about why your nightmares are so vicious, but instead I gained a friend and learnt stuff about him! Thank you, Spectra. Shall I visit tommorow night as well?" Spectra nods. "I would appreciate the company, Luna. Thank you." Luna starts flying up towards Canterlot, before she turns back to Spectra. "I shall give you the best wedding present I can find! And, again, congratulations!" And with that, the keeper of the night flew off towards Canterlot. Spectra sighs and flies back into Rainbow's.....No. Their cloud house. He crawled into bed next to Rainbow and fell asleep. -----Spectra And Rainbow's Cloud House, The Next Day----- Spectra woke up in Rainbow's bed. He looked to his sides and doesn't find his cyan fiancée. He gets up and flies out the window. He looks around and doesn't see her. He was about to go back inside when he heard voices. He looks down to see Rainbow with her friends. He flies a bit closer and hides in a cloud so he can listen to what they're saying. "Rainbow, darling, he's only been back from Cloudsdale for a few days! Surely you wouldn't just up and accept a proposal from him!" "Rainbow, Ah hafta agree with Rare. It jus' seems a little rushed, dontcha think?" "Rainbow, you HAVE to let me host the wedding! It will be the best party- I mean wedding I've ever hosted!" "Congratulations, Rainbow. I'll have to tell Angel this." "Rainbow, this is going too fast! Just, tell him that you should wait for the right time!" Rainbow was having the most difficult time holding back her rage. "Listen to me, all of you! I won't back away from this! We know what we're doing! Just, back off!" AJ steps forward. "Rainbow, why are ya so insistent on this?" "Because I love him!" Spectra gasped, as did all 5 of Rainbows friends. "Darling, you can't mean-" "I love him with all my heart! I want to live the rest of my life with that stallion and, if he wants to, grow a family and live happy lives! And none of you can say otherwise!" Rainbow flies up towards her cloud house, but she knocks the cloud Spectra was hiding in, making him fall out and land on the ground with an audible thud. Rainbow turns around and sees him on the ground. She flies down to him. "Spectra, how much of that did you hear?" Spectra pulls Rainbow in for a kiss then gives her a hug. "Rainbow, I love you with all my heart. I want to be with you and grow a family of our own and live happily." Rainbow cries tears of joy. She couldn't possibly be any happier then she was now. "Darling, I still think this is going too fa-" "Can it, Rarity." Rainbow shocked all of her friends with that remark. She turns to them with an angry look. "If none of you support me and Spectra being together, go away." Only Rarity walks off. The other four have smiles on their faces. AJ steps forward and walks up to the couple. "This isn't our decision, Rainbow. We're all happy for ya." AJ turns around and heads home to Sweet Apple Acres, until a small, yellow blur flies past her and smashes into Spectra, knocking him back a few feet. The yellow blur turned out to be Applebloom, who was jumping up and down on the pegasus. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" "Applebloom! That's starting to hurt!" When Applebloom jumps off Spectra, he stands up and notices something. "I see you like that hat I got your sister, huh?" Applebloom nods furiously. "I LOVE it! Thank you!" Applebloom runs into Spectra and gives him a hug. "You're welcome, Applebloom." Applebloom walks back to AJ and heads home. Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy all head home as well. Rainbow Dash turns to her soon-to-be husband and kisses him on the cheek. "So, when's the wedding?" Spectra thinks for a moment. "How about in 2 months time? On your birthday?" Rainbow grew a massive smile and hugged him. "Perfect! So, what do you wanna do now?" Spectra thinks for a while before coming up with an idea. "How about we just sleep today? I'm still tired and I have nothin' to do." Rainbow nods. "Same here. Let's go, hot shot." -----Spectra And Rainbow's Cloud House, Midnight----- Spectra was once again woken up by his nightmares. "Ah, well. At least I have Luna to keep me company." Spectra flies outside the window and spots the night princess lying on a cloud. She speaks to him without moving her head. "How do you think I did with my night sky tonight, Spectra?" Spectra flies up and lands on the cloud next to her. "Each of your nights are beautiful, Luna. You do a magnificent job. Every night in Cloudsdale, I used to look up at the night sky, marvelling in its beauty, before heading to bed." Luna sits up. She was blushing. "Why, thank you Spectra." "Your welcome, Luna." There was mild silence for a moment. Spectra closes his eyes and enjoys the night air caressing his body. "I want to give you something, Spectra." Spectra responds without opening his eyes. "Sure. What is it-" Spectra's eyes snapped open. The dark blue alicorn's face was inches away from his. Luna was kissing him. Chapter IV - Meeting The QueenWhen Luna stopped kissing Spectra, his brain took a while to process what just happened. "Uuuuhhh....Luna?" Luna looked crestfallen. "....I'm sorry. That was out of line. It's not often I get complimented on my night sky. I wanted to give you a gift." Spectra gave her a confused look. "If I wanted a kiss, I could walk up to Rainbow and kiss her." Luna laughs. "No, no, no. A kiss from an Alicorn grants ponies special....powers. I guess you could call them that." Spectra looked excited now. "What's my 'power' then?" "I do not know. I don't choose the power. It will show up one day. Anyway, I best be off. I need to be in charge of the city of Canterlot at night." Spectra nods. "Alright. I think I'll hang out here a bit longer. Bye, Luna." Luna waves to Spectra. "Bye, Spectra." Luna flies off into the night sky, leaving Spectra wondering what kind of special "power" he has been bestowed. He shrugs and stares up into the glorious night sky. Spectra enjoyed the night much more then he liked the day. The night is cool, calm and beautiful. The day is noisy, bright and blue. Spectra flew back inside and cuddled up with Rainbow. Little did he know, he was being watched. Down below, on the hill under the couples home, was a insect-like pony with holes in its hooves, and big light blue eyes, with wings was watching the pegasus with great interest. The Changeling scout flew back to the Everfree Forest, where the hive resides. More specifically, he flew back to the Everfree Castle, where a majority of the hive lives. He walks up to a larger Changeling, which looked more lady-like then the rest. The scout bows before his queen. "My, queen. I have something to report." Queen Chrysalis turned to her subject. "Yes, what is it?" The scout got back up on his hooves. "There is a pegasus with enough love to feed this hive for decades! He lives with the Element Of Loyalty." Chrysalis perks up at this. "Very well. Gather round. I have a plan." -----The Next Morning----- Spectra woke up strapped to a table made of stone. He looked around frantically, trying to figure out what was happening. "Heh. Ok! Rainbow Dash! It's not funny!" "Oh, but this is no joke. Welcome, to the Changeling Hive!" Queen Chrysalis walked out from the shadows and headed over towards Spectra. "What do you want from me? I'm rich, just take all my bits and leave me alone!" Chrysalis chuckles. "What I want is your love. My name, is Queen Chrysalis, the Changeling Queen. You see, Changeling's feed off the love of others, until they're bone dry of it. You sir, have a lot of love. And you intended to give it all to Rainbow Dash. But now, it's all mine." Spectra tried getting out of his chains but couldn't. "Don't bother. The chains are made of a special metal. An infusion of titanium, steel and platinum. You can't break it." Spectra stops struggling, defeated. "That's a good stallion. Now, you lie here until I get bored, if you know what I mean." Chrysalis winks at Spectra. Spectra shudders. "Aww. Don't be like that. Watch this!" In a flash of green light, where there stood Chrysalis, now stood Rainbow Dash. "Isn't this better?" Spectra shakes his head. "No, you're not Rainbow Dash." Chrysalis changes back into her own body. "It doesn't matter. I will return soon. Farewell." Chrysalis steps out of the room, leaving Spectra to his thoughts. 'How am I going to get out of here?' 'What about the power Luna gave you? Just use that.' 'But I don't even know what it is!' 'You're on your own then.' That's when the realization hit him. He can contact somepony to help him. 'Luna.' Spectra closes his eyes, and tries to fall asleep. -----Spectra And Rainbow's Cloud House, Morning----- Rainbow and her friends were all on the hill below her house. Rainbow was holding AJ, crying her heart out. Twilight was reading a letter left by Spectra; 'Dear Rainbow Dash, I never loved you. I only used you until I could get back on my hooves. I'm leaving for Manehatten. Don't come looking for me. From, Spectra' "I-I-I thought h-he loved m-me!" AJ shook her head. "Don't ya worry, Rainbow. Ah'll find 'im and buck 'im till next cider season!" Twilight shakes her head. "This letter's a fake." Rainbow looked up to Twilight with tears in her eyes. "How do you know that?" Twilight puts the letter on the ground, then grabs another from her saddlebag and places it on the ground. "What's the other letter?" Twilight pushes it towards Rainbow; "Dear Rainbow, I have always loved you as well. I wish we weren't so far away. I just want to hold you and kiss you all day! I've been wanting to visit, but, like our plan, I've been saving up the bits. Hopefully nothing stupid happens like the city catching fire and I lose all the bits. With all my love, Spectra." Rainbow gave it back to Twilight. "What's this got to do with anything? It's the letter he wrote to me when he was in Cloudsdale." Twilight gave her the other letter. "Simple. Look at the hoof writing." Rainbow examines the letter she got this morning, then the one Spectra sent her from Cloudsdale. "You're right! It is a fake! Something bad has happened to him! We have to find him!" "Maybe I can help?" The group look up to see Princess Luna flying above them with a serious look on her face. "Queen Chrysalis has taken him to the castle in the Everfree Forest." Rainbow flies up to her. "How do you know this, princess?" "He fell asleep and called out my name. I can see into the dreams of others. He was clever, thinking of contacting me. Your lucky to have him." Rainbow smiled. "I know." Twilight was freaking out. "How do we save him?! What do we do?! What does Chrysalis want with him?!" Luna raised a hoof to silence Twilight. "She wants his love. He has a lot of it." Rainbow looked furious. "There is no way in hay that she will take my stallion from me!" Rainbow zoomed off towards the Everfree Forest. Luna tried to stop her, but she was too slow. Luna turns to the rest of the group. "Go. Follow her into the forest and save Spectra." Everypony nodded, and raced off towards the forest. Luna flew up to a cloud and rested on it. She wanted to be sure that Spectra was okay. That meant staying until he returned with the 6 friends. "He's the only true friend I've had since....Star Burst.....I miss you so much...." A single tear escaped Luna's eye and landed on the ground below her. -----The Everfree Forest, 3rd Pony Perspective----- Rainbow's 5 friends were wondering through the Everfree Forest, searching for their cyan friend. They have been calling her name for hours now, hoping she hadn't got lost or something. "Rainbow! Rainbow Dash! Rainbow!" "Did you say you were looking for Rainbow?" The new voice startled everypony. They look ahead to see a unicorn. AJ steps in front of her friends. "We don't want any trouble, mister. We're jus' lookin' fer our friend." The unicorn rolls his eyes. "Well, duh. I knew that. She's at my place, resting. She ran into a manticore and I saved her. I healed her up and now she's staying with me until she's fully healed. If you're her friends, follow me." The unicorn turns around and starts walking. The group of ponies follow him. "The names Shadow Nova by the way." Each of the ponies introduce themselves. Twilight steps forward ahead of the group and walks along side Shadow. "So, how did you save Rainbow from the manticore?" "I have an immortal demon war general trapped inside me. He comes out whenever there is danger and slaughters the threat." Twilight and the group looked shocked. Shadow scoffs. "I don't care about what you think of me. Only I care about me anyway. My family abandoned me because of the demon. I found this forest and thought it was amazing, so I took refuge here. I've been alone since I was 11. I'm now 29 turning 30 soon." Twilight keeps up with him. "Your story sounds a lot like Spectra's. Except without the demon." Shadow chuckles. "That is exactly what Rainbow said when she woke up. Anyway, we're here." In front of the group was a cave, shaped to look like a house. Shadow walked up to the door and went inside. "Hey, Rainbow. I found your friends." The group walk inside and find Rainbow lying on a bed. Inside the cave house was a single bed, a couch and an ice box. "Hey, guys. Shadow saved me from-" "I told them, Rainbow." " Ah,ok. So, have you guys found Spectra yet?" The group suddenly remember what they went to the forest for. All Twilight could say was "Whoops." Rainbow shot up out of bed and started heading towards the door. She was covered in bandages. "I'm going to find him!" Shadow stops her with his magic. His aura surprised everypony. It was pitch black. "No! You must rest!" "I don't care about me! I need to help Spectra!" Shadow lets go of her and looks her in the eye. "You really care about this stallion?" Rainbow nods. Shadow sighs. "Then, here. This is gunna hurt." His horn glows and Rainbow is surrounded in his aura. Shadow grunts and keeps the spell up. The bandages were coming off one by one, but Shadow was screaming in pain the whole time. When all the bandages were off, Shadow was unconscious on the floor. Twilight tried to wake him up, to no avail. "I'm going to find him!" Rainbow zooms past her friends and out the door. She sped away from the house and headed for the castle. When she got there, she opened the doors to find Spectra tied to a table with some cuts, bruises and a lot of blood. She tries to go to his side, but only to be struck on the side of the head and knocked out. ------Spectra's Perspective----- Spectra woke up and looked around. "Not a dream. Well, buck." "Oh, don't worry. We'll get to that." He looks to his left. What he sees infuriates him. Chrysalis was holding Rainbow Dash upside down by her magic. She was knocked out. "Looks like loyalty isn't good enough, huh?" Spectra was furious with Chrysalis. "You. Hurt. Her." Chrysalis rolls her eyes. "Well, how else was I meant to knock her out? I mean really-" "I'LL DESTROY YOU!" Spectra's iris' were growing darker and darker until they were dark red. He wore a face made of pure anger. "I AM DARK RED SPECTRA! AND I WILL MURDER YOU!" Dark-Red Spectra breaks the restraints with ease, like they were made of toothpicks. Chrysalis was terrified. "What!? But how did you break-!" Dark-Red Spectra ran up to her at lightning speed and smashed her right between her eyes. She went flying a good 20 metres and straight into a wall. Rainbow started falling, until Dark-Red Spectra caught her and gently put her down. 'Woah! I guess this is that 'power' Luna gave you!' "SHUT IT DISCORD!" Dark-Red Spectra turned around and saw Chrysalis getting up. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Dark-Red Spectra ran up to her in the blink of an eye and started smashing her into the ground, not letting up. He wanted her to bleed, a lot. -----3rd Pony Perspective----- Twilight and her friends were almost at the castle, accompanied by Shadow. They were almost at the doors, until they opened. Spectra walked out, covered in blood and with Rainbow Dash on his back. Shadow looked like he didn't care, but the 5 mares looked horrified. Twilight rushed up to Spectra. "Why are you covered in blood?!" Spectra shoves her out of the way. "I'm tired, I've been through a lot, and I'm angry. We are going home, and going to sleep. Don't talk to me until tommorow and whatever you do, do NOT go inside the castle. Bye." Spectra spreads his wings and flies off. Twilight looked confused. "Why can't we go inside?" AJ steps in front of the doors. "Twilight, ah think ya should listen to 'im." Twilight pushes AJ out of the way with her magic. "How bad can it be?" Twilight walks inside, nopony else follows. The next second they hear a scream and Twilight bolts out of the castle. "NOPONY GO IN THERE!" Shadow shrugs and walks in, while everypony else heads home. They hear Shadow talking inside the castle. "Awww sweet! Dinner for a month!" -----Cloud House----- It was dark when Spectra got back to Ponyville. Spectra lays Rainbow in her bed. He watches her for a moment, then heads for the shower. He crawls back inside the sheets and attempts to fall asleep. "Glad to see your alright." Spectra opens his eyes and looks out the window. Luna was lying on a cloud outside the window. Spectra flies out through the window and lands on the cloud next to Luna. "Hey, Luna. Is the 'powers' you gave me meant to be represented by anything?" Luna nods. "Yes, they can represent something about your personality. Why?" Spectra turns to the night princess. "Because I must be a monster." Chapter V - General Kaor Vs. Dark-Red"You are not a monster." "I beg to differ." Luna sighed and inched closer to Spectra. "I think you're over protective. Not a monster." "You weren't there. I was. I couldn't control myself. Now, thanks to me there's a giant mess inside the Everfree Castle." Luna shook her head. "No. Thanks to you, Rainbow Dash is safe from harms way." Spectra shook his head. "Thanks to me somepony was killed." Luna grabbed Spectra and stared deeply into his blood red eyes. "You listen to me! You are not a monster! Your fiancée was knocked out! You reacted the exact same way anypony would've reacted in that kind of situation!" She threw Spectra back on the cloud and huffed. Spectra was contemplating what she said. And you know what? "You're right. I'm not a monster." Luna looked up to the night sky. "About time you realized it." Spectra looked up to the sky as well. "You're nights are amazing, Luna." Luna began to blush. "I mean, who else could carve such beauty into the sky like you do?" 'Stop hitting on the princess. You're getting married ya know?' 'I'm expressing my feelings of the night sky.' "Luna, I don't get it. Why you got jealous of Celestia all those years ago. She can't create beauty like you do." Luna couldn't help herself. She grabbed Spectra and kissed him. When she let go she was still blushing, but she had an embarrassed look on her face. "I...I have to go now! Bye!" She took off before Spectra could say anything. He just shrugged. "Guess she was just showing her appreciation." Spectra flew back inside his cloud house, snuggled up to Rainbow Dash and fell asleep. -----Canterlot Castle----- Luna flew in to the window of her bedroom. She started pacing back and forth for a while before Celestia walked in. "Sister, what's the matter?" Luna looked to her older sister with a saddened look. "Sister, do...do you remember Star Burst?" Celestia's demeanour changed very quickly to one of sadness. "Yes. Yes I do, sister. What's this have to do with him?" Luna leaned her head on the window frame. "The same thing is happening again." Celestia looked shocked at first, then she smiled. "Isn't this good, though? Who's the lucky stallion?" Luna turned her head towards Celestia. "Spectra Speed." Celestia's smile disappeared quickly. She slowly went over to Luna's bed and sat down. "Are you certain?" Tears began welling up in Luna's eyes. "Yes, sister. I'm sure." Celestia nods. "So, you've finally found a stallion you love, after all these years. Luna, normally I would be happy for you. But according to Twilight and what you yourself have told me, he is getting married soon." Luna nods, now crying. "I know." "So, you must understand that you can't have him. He's not Star Burst-" "I KNOW!" Celestia is taken back by her outburst, but recovers quickly. "I'll leave you to your thoughts. The next time you see him, you'll have to explain and figure something out." Luna nods, still leaning on the window frame crying. She hears Celestia walk out of her room. "Star Burst....why did you have to go?" -----Cloud House, The Next Morning----- "Rainbow Dash! Oi! Rainbow Dash!" Spectra is woken up by somepony shouting. Spectra flies out of bed to find a dark grey unicorn with the colour scheme of the grim reaper. Spectra flies down to his level. "What do you want with Rainbow?" The unicorn shakes his head. "Nah-uh! I'm talking directly to Rainbow!" Spectra got into a fighting stance. "What do you- wait. Aren't you the unicorn from last night?" The unicorn got into a fighting stance as well. "Nope. My name is General Kaor, Shadow Nova's demon. Rainbow caused great harm to our host. Now we must harm her!" Spectra's eyes glowed dark red. This pony wanted to hurt her? "OVER MY COLD UNMOVING DEAD BODY!" Kaor grinned. "Ah, Dark-Red, if I'm not mistaken. Forget Rainbow. I'll gladly take you on." Dark-Red gave him an evil smile. "BRING IT!" Kaor lunged forward, only to miss. He gets up and looks around. "Where are you!?" "PEEK-A-BOO, DICKHEAD!" Kaor turns around and has a hoof smashed into his face. He staggers back a bit. When he recovers, Dark-Red was throwing a volley of hoofs at him, knocking him to the ground. "I EXPECTED MUCH MORE FROM A DEMON!" Kaor growled and knocked Dark-Red to the ground by punching him in the knee. Dark-Red fell over, allowing Kaor to get on top of him and pound him into the ground. In mid-punch, Kaor noticed a ball of energy in Dark-Red's hoof. "What the he-" Dark-Red smashed the side of his head with the energy ball, making Kaor roll off him. Dark-Red got up and zoomed behind him. "OI!" Dark-Red held the ball and threw it at Kaor. There was a bang and a bright light. When the light was gone, Kaor was lying on the ground. "Until we meet again, Dark-Red." Kaor did a body spasm and fell limp. Dark-Red got up to his face. "DON'T MESS WITH ME, IDIOT! I AM FUELLED BY LOVE AND ANGER! NOTHING IN EQUESTRIA CAN STOP-" Dark-Red's eyes flickered back to his normal blood-red colour. Spectra looked down at the body and sighed. "I have GOT to learn to control Dark-Red." Spectra went over to the body and started shaking it. "Hey, buddy. Time to wake up." The unicorn groaned and got up. "Ooooh, man. What did Kaor do now?" The unicorn spotted Spectra. "Oh, I remember you. Spectra, right? You got me dinner for a month." Spectra was about to ask what he meant, before deciding not to. "Yeah, and no. Dark-Red got you dinner." The unicorn nodded. "Alright, see ya. The names Shadow Nova, by the way." Shadow walked in the direction of the Everfree Forest. Spectra shrugged. 'I'd live in the Everfree to if I had a demon.' 'Spectra, I have bad news. You're moving.' Spectra chuckles. 'Dark-Red is only dangerous to those wanting to hurt Rainbow Dash.' Spectra flies back u to his room and checks the clock. "The idiot woke me up at 6am." Spectra crawls into bed and falls asleep. -----Spectra's Mind----- Spectra was on a mountain, over looking Equestria. "Least it ain't a nightmare." "Indeed." Spectra turns to see Princess Luna sitting on a cloud. "I have something to tell you. You may not like it, but I hope we can still be friends." Spectra flies up to the cloud and sits down. "Sure, Luna. I know we can always be friends. I don't hate you or anyt-" Spectra stopped himself. "Wait a minute, did I just say 'friend' without twitching?" Luna nods and smiles. "Yes, yes you did. I guess finally having a friend made it stop." Spectra nods. "Yeah. I guess so. So, what'd ya wanna tell me?" Luna looks to her friend. "For you to understand, I must tell you a story. A story that dates back a thousand years ago, shortly after the defeat of Discord" -----One Thousand Years Ago, Canterlot----- Luna was walking down a hallway, leading to her bedroom. It was day time, and Celestia said she could take the day rule. "Hey, Luna!" Luna turns around to find a stallion pegasus running towards her and stopping just feet away from her. Luna giggles. "Star Burst! I'm not the same mare any more! You must show me respect! I'm the new princess!" Star rolls his eyes. "Oh, forgive me your majesty." Luna giggles. "What do you want from me, Star?" Star gets back up. "Can't I visit my marefriend once in a while without a reason? I just wanna be with you!" Star walks up to Luna and kisses her. "Come on, I have something to show ya!" Star flies out a window and Luna follows. When Star stops, they were at the top of a mountain. They could see to the far corners of Equestria from up there. Luna thought it was breath taking. "It's...it's beautiful!" Star leans on her. "Not as beautiful as you." When Star leaned away, Luna looked deep into his eyes. "Star, I love you, you know that right?" Star nods. "Yep, and I love you to." The couple kiss passionately on, literally, the top of the world. -----Spectra's Mind----- Spectra was smiling, but he was confused. "I don't get it. What happened to him?" Luna gave Spectra a sad look. "I eventually outlived him. When he died, the rage and sadness filled my heart. Turning me into Nightmare Moon." Spectra nods. "So, what's this got to do with me?" Luna looks around. "This is the mountain from the story." She turns her head towards Spectra. "Spectra, I love you." Chapter VI - Unexpected VisitorSpectra stared at the princess for a few seconds before coming up with his response. "What." Luna shakes her head. "I know you're going to be married soon, and that I shouldn't push this onto you, but I had to say it." Spectra looks up to the sky. "Luna, I hope you understand that I cannot possibly love you back, right?" Luna's eyes were tearing up. "Yes, I realize this." Spectra nods. "Good. We can still be friends though, Luna." Luna looks up to the stallion with a smile. "Yes, I would like to stay friends with you." Spectra lies back and stares at the night sky. "Good. You're the best friend I've ever had, Luna." Luna giggles. "I'm the ONLY friend you've ever had." Spectra punches her in the shoulder lightly. "It sounds like your teasing me." Luna laughs. "I'm merely stating a fact." Spectra laughs, and so does Luna. The two ponies just lie back and enjoy each others company for a while. -----Cloud House----- Spectra woke up to some voices shouting from down on the hill below the house. "Oi! Oi, Spectra! Heeeeeey, mate!" Spectra looks to his left and sees Rainbow waking up. She sits up in bed and rubs her eyes. "Whajubuhza? Spectra, go see who it is." Rainbow flops back down onto the bed. Spectra flies out the window and looks down to see Shadow. Spectra rolls his eyes. "Not again." He flies down to the ground and gets into a fighting stance. "Look, mate, I can go Dark-Red again and have a repeat of what happened earlier." Shadow shakes his head. "No, mate! I want to apologize." Spectra was surprised to hear he had a similar accent to him. "Kaor told me what he did, and I felt bad about it. Could ya follow me to my house? I wanna talk to ya." Spectra drops out of his fighting stance and nods. "Sure, mate. Let me go tell Rainbow though." Spectra flies up to the window and sticks his head in. "Rainbow, I'm going out to a strange unicorns house who tried to kill me. You okay with that?" Rainbow waves a hoof in the air. "Sure, whatever. Go have fun." Spectra rolls his eyes. "Thanks for caring." Spectra flies back down to Shadow. "Lead the way." -----Shadow's House, Everfree Forest----- Spectra walked inside Shadows house. It was more of a cave, really. Spectra decided to go sit on the couch. Shadow went over to the fire pit. Hanging over it, was a pot boiling. It was filled with green goop. Spectra pointed to it. "Ummm, what's that?" Shadow took a spoon, dunked it in, and ate it. He turned to Spectra. "A Changeling Queen." Spectra was about to puke. "What!? You're...eating Chrysalis?! Why don't you eat normal stuff, like an apple or something?" Shadow put the spoon down and sat next to Spectra. "I grew up in this forest. Most of the plants or fruits in here are lethal. So, I had to grow up eating anything else I could find. Ever tried manticore before?" Spectra shakes his head. Shadow points to an icebox. "Do you want to try it?" Spectra was going green. Shadow laughed. "Mate, I'm joking!" Spectra sighed. "You don't have to eat the manticore, I will later." Spectra ran outside and threw up on a nearby bush. He walked back inside and sat back down on the couch. Spectra looked to Shadow's flank. "So, why don't you have a cutie mark?" Shadow looks to his flank and back to Spectra. "I do. My special talent is stealth." Spectra rolls his eyes. "Oh, yeah? Prove it." Shadow grins. "Alright then. Blink." Spectra blinks. Shadow was gone. Spectra rubbed his eyes and when he opened them, Shadow was back to where he was. "Woah. Wish my talent was as cool as yours." Shadow looks at Spectra's flank. "What's that supposed to be, anyway?" "Arguing. I am great at debates or arguments. When I win, the issue is solved, and creates a balance of harmony. That's what my cutie mark represents." Shadow shakes his head and gives Spectra a confused look. "Wow. Now I'm jealous of you." Spectra and Shadow share a laugh, before an idea strikes Spectra. "Hey, Shadow, It's been fun and all, but can you show me the way outta here?" Shadow stands up. "Sure, follow me." Spectra stands up and follows Shadow out of the Everfree Forest. Spectra doesn't return home, he instead continues on towards Vinyl's Club. He remembered a saying Rainbow once said two years ago when they were going out. =====FLASHBACK===== Spectra was playing a new song he threw together on Vinyl's turntable. Rainbow was listening with great interest. When the song finished, Rainbow put her hoof to her chin. "That was alright. It needs to be cooler. About 20% cooler." Spectra shrugged. "Alright. Vinyl! We need to amp this up! Drop the bass!" =====Present===== Spectra smiled and walked into Vinyl's Club. "Yo, Vinyl! We need a mix to make!" -----Cloud House----- Rainbow Dash woke up and looked around. Spectra was gone, but he left a note; 'Rainbow, meet me at Vinyl's Club. Love, Spectra.' "What's he doing with Vinyl?" She flies out the window and heads to Vinyl's Club. When she walked inside, it was pitch black. "Spectra!? Spectra!" The lights suddenly flash on. Spectra was holding a microphone, while Vinyl was behind her turntable. Spectra leans forward. "Hit it, Vinyl!" Some music turned on and the lights flashed different colours. Spectra puts the microphone to his mouth and starts singing. You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting 20 percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting 20 percent cooler 7 colors in your hair Get your boots on dear 'cause we're going out there Don't care 'bout the dress code Put it on, let's go Girls go wild 'cause we're going "al fresco" Ha! No need to perform Hands on our bodies gonna keep our skills warm We need social reform 'cause we're just so criminal Linguist subliminal, damages minimal Top percentile, largest fraction Massive attraction, girl-on-girl action Stop that, I'm gonna need a redaction Drop that, you already got your reaction Me? I'm gonna keep on smiling You? You're gonna need restyling I got the quote back From the jeweler You're getting twenty percent cooler You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting twenty percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler Shhh Reduce that treble There's an 8 or 9 who think they're on my level Like a rebel in a bunker getting shelled with a mortar Bump up and down 'cause I think you oughta Place your hand on my thigh Don't be coy, I can hear you sigh Grinding your hips, I'll be flashing my pink And in ten seconds flat you'll be back with a drink Wooo! Bring out the Bacardi Twilight Sparkle up in the party Tap that, like a phone in the cold war Room on the third floor, knocking at my front door Me? I'm kind of a Rarity You? Work that dexterity Lean back now, here's what I meant Getting cooler by twenty percent Yeah I own this beat You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting twenty percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler Yeah I own this beat You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting twenty percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting twenty percent cooler When the song finished, Spectra looked to Rainbow expectantly, her jaw was on the floor. Spectra frowned. "That bad, huh?" Rainbow flew up on stage, ran up to Spectra and kissed him. "Are you kidding?! That was awesome!" Spectra smiled and hugged her. "Good to hear you liked it." -----2 Weeks Later, Hill Below Cloud House----- Spectra, Rainbow Dash and their friends were on a hill, enjoying a picnic. They were talking about how their jobs were doing, when everypony noticed Spike running up the hill with a scroll in his claw. He ran up to Twilight panting. "Twilight...huh....the princess....huh.....sent you a letter!" Twilight picks the letter up with her magic and reads it. She looks to everypony on the hill. "The princess wants to give me a test? And she says to bring all of my friends with me to Canterlot!" Spectra twitched. "Celestia damnnit! I thought that went away!" Twilight and everypony else giggles. "Come on, everypony. Let's get on the train." -----Outside Of The Royal Castle----- Twilight had gone inside the castle alone, leaving Spectra and everypony else outside. Luna walked up to Spectra and the group. Everypony bowed, except for Spectra. "'Sup, Luna?" AJ grabbed Spectra and bent him over. "Show sum respect fer the Princess, Spectra!" Spectra wrenches his way out of AJ's grip. "I don't have to bow to my best friend." Spectra runs up to Luna and gives her a hug. Everypony's jaws were on the ground. Luna giggles at their reactions. "What brings you to Canterlot, Spectra?" Spectra released his grip. "Celestia said she wanted to see Twilight about some 'test' and to bring her friends with her." Luna nods. "It would be best if I went inside to." Spectra nods as well. "See ya later, Lulu!" Luna walks up to the doors and giggles. "Bye, Spectra." She opens the doors and walks in. The group wait a long time before Twilight comes out of the castle. When she does, she springs out and lands with a thump on her hooves. "Listen everypony, we've been given a mission!" Spectra rolls his eyes. "I guess I'm coming along as a sort of bodyguard due to Dark-Red, right?" Twilight shakes her head. "No, all of you are coming with me!" Everypony looked to each other. Rarity stepped forward. "Darling, where are we going?" Twilight puffed out her chest. "To The Crystal Empire!" Chapter VIII - Unlikely AllySpectra was walking to Fluttershy's cottage in the afternoon. He wanted to see how the Lightning Wing, Sparks, was doing. How much he had grown, if he was healthy, how behaved he was and all that. Rainbow Dash was training. Performing stunts and doing tricks in the hopes of getting into the Wonderbolts. Spectra forgot about Spitfire's offer to go to the stadium and race a few laps with her. He promised himself he would do it soon. He was nearing the cottage, when suddenly, a black shape jumped in front of him. He staggered back a bit and looked up at the black being. It had holes in it's legs, with big light blue eyes, fangs and wings to go. It was a Changeling. Spectra entered a fighting stance and turned on Dark-Red. "WHAT DO YOU WANT!?" The Changeling recoiled a bit at his volume. "Ah! I'm sorry! I just wanted to thank you for stopping Queen Chrysalis!" The Changeling threw his hooves up in front of his face. Dark-Red gave him a confused look, and turned back into Spectra. He walked up to the Changeling, about a metre away from him. "What? You're happy that I killed off you're queen?" The Changeling put his hooves down and gave Spectra a sad look. "Yes. I have been fighting the Hive Mind for years, but I could never break free. The Hive Mind controls what we do, and I didn't like what it made us do. So I tried fighting it. But other Changelings will come after you, for destroying their queen." Spectra shakes his head ands walks up to the Changeling. "Even if they send all the Changelings at me, Dark-Red will hold them off." The Changeling nodded. "I saw what he did. He made quite the mess." Spectra laughed. "At least Shadow cleaned it up, eh? Hehe." Spectra holds his hoof out to the Changeling. "Names Spectra, mate." The Changeling brohoofed him. "My name is Aeb." Spectra looked left and right, then back to Aeb. "Wanna come with me? I'm going to check on this animal I gave to somepony." Aeb jumped up and nodded. The next second, in a flash of green, he was a grey coated pegasus with a green mane and tail, with the cutie mark of a green lightning bolt. (Authors Note: Sorry, EW, If I get Aeb's description wrong. I was too lazy to search through FotW to find it. XD) "Sure, I'll tag along." The duo walked over to Fluttershy's cottage and knocked on the door. "Who is it?" "Hey, Fluttershy, it' me Spectra! I've got a mate with me!" Spectra found that saying "mate" instead of "friend" was a better choice. "I'll be there in a second!" Fluttershy opened the door a few seconds later. "What can I do for you Spec- AH!" She looked at Aeb and hid behind her mane. This made Aeb look to the ground in shame. Spectra leaned into his ear and whispered. "She's like this with everypony she first meets. Don't worry." Spectra looked back at Fluttershy. "Hey, Fluttershy, how's Sparks doing?" "Oh, he's....um....fine." Spectra looked at her questioningly. "Can...we come inside?" Fluttershy stepped to the side and Spectra looked around for the little bird of thunder. He found him perched up against the window. When Sparks turned his head around and saw Spectra, he flew straight towards Spectra and landed on his shoulder. Sparks started preening his feathers, which were made of lighting bolts. Brilliant. "Well, he looks okay to me. He seemed to have missed me." Fluttershy stepped in front of Spectra. "He hasn't eaten anything I give him! He refuses to eat anything, actually." Spectra walked into the kitchen, Sparks still seated on his shoulder. Spectra looked around and found a leaf of lettuce. He grabbed it and held it up to Sparks, who happily ate the leaf. "There. I think he'll only eat stuff I give him. Hmmm...." Fluttershy smiled. "Well, then you can have him, if you want him that is." Spectra stared at Fluttershy for a few seconds, then looked to Sparks. "Alright, I'll keep him. I'd like some company when I'm bored anyway. I'll go into town and buy some food for him, Fluttershy." Spectra and Aeb stepped out of the cottage with Sparks perched on Spectra's shoulder. Spectra and Aeb headed to town. "Hey, Spectra? Can we be friends?" Spectra twitched. 'Celestia help me.' 'I can help!' Spectra rolled his eyes. "Sorry, Aeb. It takes a lot of time for somepony to become my 'friend'." Twitch. Aeb looked ahead with a disheartened look. "Yeah, I understand. I'll be seeing ya?" Spectra nods. "Where ya living?" Aeb turns his head towards the Everfree Forest. "In the Everfree Castle." Spectra nods. "Oh, by the way, look out for a unicorn with the colour scheme of the grim reaper." Aeb gives him a weird look. "Um..Why?" "He eats anything that moves." Aeb looked terrified. "I'll keep an eye out. See ya, Spectra. Bye, Sparks." Sparks cheeped, and Aeb headed to the Everfree Castle. Spectra and Sparks walk into town and look for stuff to do. -----Hours Later----- Spectra and Sparks fly home and put all the things they bought on the table. Rainbow Dash flew in through the door, and landed next to Spectra. "Hey, Spectra. How'd it go at Flut-" She looked at his shoulder and saw Sparks. "Sparks liked me, it must be like a phoenix. It is a very loyal creature. He reminded me of you." Rainbow blushed and sat on the couch. "Well, at least Tank has a friend now." Spectra nods. "Yeah, where is that turtle anyway?" "Tortoise. And he's outside walking around." Spectra placed Sparks on a perch he bought and placed next to the front door. "Okay, Sparks. Stay here. I'm gunna go to Twilights and learn more about these powers Alicorn's can bestow. I want to control Dark-Red fully. See ya Rainbow! Bye, Sparks!" Spectra flew out the door, leaving Rainbow and Sparks alone. "He's been obsessing over Dark-Red for a weeks now. I wish he would remember that were getting married in a few days! Thank god we let Pinkie sort everything out." Sparks was preening himself, and again, lightning feathers were falling to the floor and zapping the floors. -----Spectra's Perspective, Twilights Library----- Spectra was reading through the fourth book of the night, and he was getting tired. So far, all he found out was that only 3 ponies have received the power of the Alicorn's Blessing, as it was called a long time ago. Himself, Shinning Armour (This book is really up to date.) and Star Burst. Spectra knew about both of them. What Spectra didn't know, was Star Bursts ability he received. None of the books could say what Star's power was, so Spectra packed up his things and left the library. When Spectra made it home he flew up to the cloud him and Luna always meet up at, and sure enough, she was there. "Hello, Spectra." "Hey Luna." Spectra and Luna talked about random stuff for a few minutes. Spectra was rubbing his eyes a lot in exhaustion. Luna noticed this. "Your body has not adapted to staying up so late all the time like mine has, Spectra. You must promise me you will sleep in tommorow morning." Spectra nods. "I promise. Hey, Luna?" "Yes, Spectra?" "What was the power Star Burst got? I read that he was one of 3 to receive a power from an Alicorn's Blessing." Luna gave a sad look to Spectra. "His power was the same as yours." Spectra laughed. "Wow, so I'm not the only unlucky pony to recieve a bad power?" Luna glared at Spectra, then the glare turned into one of sadness again. "I...I didn't outlive him like I said..." Spectra looked at Luna, confused. "He...well...." -----Few Years After Discord's Defeat----- Luna and Celestia were sitting atop their thrones, talking with some ponies about some business to move from the Everfree Castle and live on top of the mountain near the forest. When suddenly, a guard ran in, panting and covered in cuts and bruises. "Your majesty, an Ursa Major is attacking the castle!" Star Burst stepped forward from next to Luna. "What!?" Luna walked up next to him and gave him a kiss. "Calm down, Star. Look at me. I'm fine. Don't get angry. Calm down." Star started calming down, he gave Luna a smile. And when he did the Ursa ran into the throne room. Star's eyes glowed dark blue. "Oh, no. Not this again." "LISTEN TO ME YOU STUPID EXCUSE FOR A BEAR! I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!" "No! Star, calm down!" Star Burst turned to Luna, his eyes were glowing dark blue. "I AM NOT STAR BURST! I AM DARK-STAR!" Dark-Star turns to the Ursa. "YOU THREATEN MY KINGDOM, I KILL YOU!" Dark-Star runs at the Ursa, jumps up and smashes it in the snout,, sending it flying back out the throne room. Dark-Star charges after it. "Star Burst! No!" Celestia runs up to her sister. "We don't have time to save him! We must flee!" Luna turns to her sister, eyes full of tears. "No! I'm going to save him!" Luna runs out the doors, accompanied by Celestia. "Then I won't leave your side." When they get to Dark-Star and the Ursa, they were fighting on the cliff near the castle. Blue-Giant sidestepped a swipe from the Ursa. "OH, YEAH? TAKE THIS!" Dark-Star charges at the Ursa's feet, making it stagger over, and fall over the cliff. But, before the Ursa falls down, it grabs Star's wings. Star and the Ursa are sent crashing down the mountain side. Luna ran up to the edge and looked over. Below was jagged rocks and a river. Star Burst and the Ursa are gone. Luna starts crying a lot. "NO! STAR! WHY!" Celestia runs up to her sister and gives her a hug. The sisters stay there, on the cliff, until Luna stopped crying. They went back and saw the damage that occurred to the castle. Celestia looks around. "We may need to move to the mountain, sister. Sister?" Celestia looks back to see Luna was glowing dark blue. "I am no longer, Luna. The rage and sadness has made me...." Dark clouds swirled around Luna, and when the disappeared, she was wearing armour, and she was taller. "....Nightmare Moon!" -----Present----- "I think you can guess what happens after." Spectra nods. "Star is starting to sound more and more like me each time I hear about him. Strange huh?" Luna nods. Then her face lights up. She looks to Spectra. "Hey, Speedy?" Spectra shudders at the new nickname. "Don't call me that. And yeah, Luna?" Luna giggles. "You're right. You do act like Star. He hated being called 'Starry'." Spectra looked at Luna for a few seconds, before laughing heartily. Luna soon joined in. When they were done, Spectra looks up to the night sky. "Hey, Luna? You're invited to my wedding, okay? Just ask Pinkie for an invite. It's in a few days." Luna looked to Spectra and smiled. "Thank you, Spectra." Spectra shrugged. "It's what friends do. Wait a minute." Spectra didn't twitch at "friend". He looked to Luna. "I guess having a friend around, helps out." Luna giggles. "Indeed." Spectra flies up to his window, and looks back at Luna. "See you again? Same time tommorow?" Luna looks to Spectra and smiles warmly. "Yes, Spectra. Pleasant dreams." Spectra laughs. "I wish. See ya, Luna." "Bye, Spectra." Spectra flew back inside and cuddled up next to Rainbow, who had her back to him, and was awake and heard the whole story. She had tears in her eyes and prayed to Celestia something like that didn't happen to Spectra. 'Please, Celestia, keep him safe.' She heard Spectra snore, and she giggled. She turned around and faced Spectra, gave him a kiss, cuddled him and fell asleep. Chapter IX - The Marriage Of Spectra And RainbowToday's the day. Today is the day that Spectra and Rainbow get married. Neither of them could be any happier. Although, if they were in the same room, it would make it better. Pinkie hosted the wedding outside in a giant tent. Spectra was in a separate tent, with Shadow Nova, Aeb, Sparks and Luna. Aeb looked absolutely terrified of Shadow, Sparks was perched on top of the mirror Spectra was in front of, and Luna was next to Spectra. He was wearing the tuxedo Rarity gave him to go on his and Rainbow's date, the one he proposed on. Spectra was sweating bullets. He was so nervous about everything. Luna was sitting on a pillow next to Spectra, Lunar Guards were outside the door. Luna was trying to calm Spectra down. "Spectra, Equestria isn't in a state of war between another species or anything, why are you so nervous? Usually you're confident and out going!" Spectra looked to Luna with worried eyes. "What if something happens? Like, if Rainbow thought it over, and ran away and didn't want to marry me? What if-" He was interrupted by Luna smacking him across the face. She grabbed him and pulled him in closer to her face. "Rainbow loves you way too much to do that! If she does run away or not want to marry you, I'll promise to give you the kingdom of Canterlot!" Spectra shook his head and made a weird noise while doing it. "Blahlahlahlahlahlah! Alright, sorry Luna. I'll try and keep my cool." Luna smiled and nodded. "Glad to hear it. Hey, Shadow? How do you think he looks?" Shadow looked Spectra over. Shadow smiled and chuckled. "I think he looks like a complete idiot. But if you're getting married, you have to look the part, right?" Spectra laughed. "I guess." Aeb smiles. "I think you look cool. Sorta like a secret agent or something." Spectra chuckles. "Cheers, mate." Luna looked at Spectra curiously. Spectra noticed this. "What?" "....I don't know where I have heard your accent before...." Spectra shrugs. "Ask my parents. If you can bring ponies back from the dead." Spectra laughs and looks at Luna, she didn't laugh. "I wish I could, Spectra." Spectra and the group remained quiet for a while, before Shadow spoke up. "Can we go, yet? Honestly." Luna nods. "Yes, Spectra, head up to the altar, whilst me, Aeb and Shadow will be in the front row. We will be silently cheering you on." Spectra nods. "Alright, lets go." The group head inside the tent holding the wedding of the pegasus couple. There was cyan coloured streamers everywhere, dark blue decorations. There was an altar with a flower covered arc right behind it. There were rows and rows of seats for ponies to sit on, only a few ponies were present. Spectra didn't recognize many of them. Spectra walked up to the altar and stood there, waiting for his wife to come up and marry him. -----Rainbow Dash's Perspective----- Rainbow was inside a tent separate from Spectra's, and she was worrying her pretty head off. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Twilight were inside with her. Nopony knew where Pinkie Pie was, and nopony wanted to know. Rarity was busy putting Rainbow's dress on her, Twilight was reading a book on marriage, Fluttershy was sitting next to Rainbow, talking with her, and Applejack was sitting the opposite side of Fluttershy next to Rainbow. "Rainbow, why ya all nervous? Arn't ya excited?" Rainbow nodded furiously. "Yeah, I'm excited. But I can't help but worry!" Fluttershy gave Rainbow a warm, happy smile. "What are you so worried about? You love Spectra with all your heart, he loves you with more then his heart, what more could you ask for?" Rainbow looked to Fluttershy with a worried look. "That's just it! What if he doesn't love me!? What if he runs off!? What if-" AJ turned Rainbow's head around and gave her a slap. "Rainbow! Think about the words in ya head before speakin' em! Why would he run away?! He loves ya! And if he never loved you, I'll give ya my apple orchard!" Rainbow shook her head and calmed down. "Right, right. Sorry, AJ. Sorry everypony." AJ and Fluttershy nodded. Rarity walked around Rainbow. "I've finished! And may I say, you look lovely!" Rainbow looked at herself in a mirror and gasped. "Wow. He's gunna be stunned! Thank you, Rare!" Rarity waved a hoof. "Think nothing of it, darling." Rainbow nods. "Should we go out yet?" Twilight runs up to her. "NO! According to my book, you have to make the stallion wait a really long time! Not only will that let all the guests get here before it starts, but it'll make Spectra want you even more!" Rainbow laughs. "Twilight, you're such an egghead. Alright, lets wait girls." -----Spectra's Perspective----- Spectra had been waiting for ages. He was starting to get bored, and so was everypony else. All the seats were full and Spectra could swear he could hear boredom just emanate from them. Spectra looked around and found a band set to his side. He got an idea. He ran back into his room and fetched Melody. He ran back inside and went up to Aeb and Shadow. "Do either of you know how to play instruments?" They both nodded. 'How does Shadow know how to play instruments?' 'Magic for all I care.' "Then come up with me. Let's play some tunes!" -----Rainbow's Perspective----- Rainbow and her friends did as Twilight said and waited a long time. For a while, they just chatted, until they heard music play from inside the tent. "Am I missing my own wedding?" They all exited the tent and entered the main room. Inside, Spectra was playing Melody with a microphone up to mouth height, Aeb was at the drums and Shadow was with another guitar. The song was one Rainbow had never heard before. "Spectra must've wrote it." Her friends sat down in the rows and smiled. Rainbow stood in the middle of the walkway, Spectra hadn't noticed her. "There's a chance that I could fall And not come back And never regret a thing I'd never get back on track Darkness all around me, I can't find the light, I let it all surround me, Giving up without a fight. The bitterness and pain inside, Countless tears I had to cry, I was facing all my fears, Just to let you in To dry my tears, but Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, I choose to not let go, Stretching out you somehow reach me, I know this can't be wrong, I'm ready, won't you teach me Your song of kindness Quiet grace surrounds you, And helps me find my own, I can't tell you how you've helped me, And how much I have grown, Even though you're far away, Inspiration comes from you, To shine a littler brighter every day, If you only knew... I will never get upset, And I will never, ever forget, The happiness you made me feel, Almost as if you're actually real, but Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, I choose to not let go, Stretching out you somehow reach me, I know this can't be wrong, I'm ready, won't you teach me Your song of kindness Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, In a way you'll never know. Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, I choose to not let go, Stretching out you somehow reach me, I know this can't be wrong, I'm ready, won't you teach me The way to get along, Even when the cold wind's blowing, And I want to just give in, It warms my heart just knowing, I'll hear your voice again, So won't you sing it loud, And won't you sing it long, I promise to remember, Your song of kindness I promise to remember. I promise to remember..." (Authors Note: I know its a Fluttershy song. Don't remind me.) Everypony cheered. Aeb and Shadow got down, smiling, and walked back to their seats. Spectra slowly opened his eyes and spotted Rainbow. His jaw dropped. Rainbow walked up to the altar with a grin. She motioned with her head for him to come up with her. He put Melody away and walked up to her. "You're absolutely beautiful." Rainbow blushed and giggled. "You look handsome." Princess Celestia walked inside the tent and walked up to the altar. Everypony bowed, but when the couple tried to bow, she stopped them. "This is a day for you two to remember. Don't bow to me today. Enjoy today." The couple nod and let Celestia walk up to the front of the altar. She turned and faced everypony. "Mares, and Gentlecolts. Today, we are here to witness the marriage of one Spectra Speed, or 'Speedy',...." Spectra looked at Luna, who giggled and grinned. "....and one Rainbow Dash, or 'Dashie'. They have shown complete love, loyalty and devotion to each other, and nothing less. They want to make this love for each other official, by getting married. Spectra, say your vows." Spectra nodded and looked at Rainbow. "Rainbow, ever since that day two years ago when you crashed into me, I've had the best times of my life with you. I've never had someone care for me so much as you have for me. And for that, I thank you. I want to make more happy memories with you by spending the rest of my life with you." Rainbow was tearing up, and resisted the urge to leap at Spectra and kiss him. "Now, Rainbow, you will say yours." Rainbow nodded and got a happy face. "Spectra, I don't regret ever meeting you. I've treasured each and every moment that we have spent with each other. When I first met you, I didn't know that I would soon fall in love with you, but I would never say that I regret loving you. You may have a dark past, but I'm always here for you, and I always will be." Spectra put a goofy smile on. "Great, now mine sounds bad." Everypony was thrown into hysterics. Even Celestia was laughing a lung out, she was coughing and laughing at the same time. When everypony calmed down, Celestia looked down at the two ponies. "And now, Spectra, do you promise to love and to care for Rainbow Dash?" Spectra looked at Rainbow with a smile. "I do." "And do you promise to take whatever fate may throw at you along side her?" Spectra nodded. "I do." "Rainbow Dash, do you promise to love and to care for Spectra Speed?" Rainbow smiled. "I do." "And do you promise to take whatever fate may throw at you along side him?" Rainbow was almost crying. "I do." Celestia nodded. A Celestial Guard came from behind her holding a ring with a small chunk of Galaxy Diamond in it. She gave it to Rainbow, who put it on Spectra's hoof. "Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Spectra grabbed Rainbow and gave her the most passionate and loving kiss he could muster. Everypony was cheering, and some were crying tears of joy. When the couple pulled away, Spectra looked at his friend, Luna was smiling a massive smile. Aeb was holding Shadow in a one-armed hug, with them both cheering. Rainbow looked over to her friends, all of them were crying, but they were standing up and cheering at the same time. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie appears next to the couple. "Come on! It's time to party!" Pinkie disappeared and reappeared behind a giant DJ Table, which nopony noticed before. She reaches down and pulls Vinyl up. "What!? What am I doing here? Oh, a DJ table? Alright! Let's party!" Vinyl started playing some beats and a wicked song started playing. Spectra and Rainbow were dancing together on the dance floor.(all they did was move the chairs out of the way) Spectra and Rainbow were the happiest couple in Equestria that day, and nopony could take that away from them. After everypony had left, only Spectra, Shadow, Luna, Aeb, Sparks, Rainbow and her friends were left. "Thank you everypony. That was truly a great experience for me. I must return to Canterlot now. Congratulations, Spectra and Rainbow Da- I guess we have to call you Rainbow Speed now, right?" Rainbow looked at Spectra and smiled. "Yeah. I'm Mrs. Rainbow Speed now." Luna nodded and smiled. "Take care." Luna walks outside and flies off. Everypony else headed off home. When Spectra and Rainbow got home, they threw off their clothing and placed it in the closet. Spectra and Rainbow lied down in bed and....well....take a guess. After they were done, Spectra was holding Rainbow in a hug, smiling. She had fallen asleep ages ago, so he soon drifted off to sleep. He fully expected another nightmare. But, he got a dream. In it, he was flying through the open sky, with Rainbow right next to him. Just soaring the skies, having an absolute blast. Chapter X - Return Of A GodIt had been a week since Spectra and Rainbow got married. All had been well, and they were both very happy with each other. They would almost always be found soaring through the skies, training and practising. They were one of the richest pegasus couple in Equestria, so they didn't need to do any jobs to earn money. They could be found helping out ponies with their jobs, or they could be found enjoying each others company, at a table eating some food. But today, they were in a meadow, enjoying another picnic, with their friends; Shadow, Aeb, Sparks, Twilight, Pinkie, AJ, Fluttershy, Spike and Rarity. All of them weren't talking much, just enjoying the day that Celestia bestowed upon them. Spike was eating a ruby salad when he suddenly burped up a letter from the princess. He unfurled it, closed his eyes and cleared his throat. "To my faithful student, Twilight, I'm coming over to Ponyville with a special guest. Meet us near the Everfree Forest entrance with all your friends. From, Princess Celestia." Twilight looked to all present. She looked to Shadow and Aeb. "You two want to come with us?" They both shook their heads. "Nah, I gotta get home. That manticore meat's about to spoil." Shadow got up and left, leaving everypony with green faces, except Spectra. "I have to go make sure no animals got inside the castle. Bye, everypony." Aeb got up and headed for the Everfree Forest. Twilight looked to Spectra, or actually, she looked to Spectra then to Sparks. Spectra turned his head to Sparks. "Alright, mate. Time for you to head home." Sparks nodded then took off towards Spectra and Rainbow's home. Twilight then nodded. "Okay, lets go." The group of ponies headed towards the entrance of the Everfree Forest. They waited there for roughly 30 minutes. Spectra and Rainbow were lying next to each other. Spectra was holding her with his foreleg, with her head on his chest. "Hey, Spectra?" "Yeah, Rainbow?" Rainbow lifted her head up and looked at Spectra. "You know what you said a long time ago? About having a family? Did you mean it?" Spectra nodded and kissed her forehead. "Of course I meant it. You have no idea how much I would love to have my own little filly to call a daughter." Rainbow smiled. "Look! It's the princess!" Rainbow got off Spectra and let him up. The princess was in a sky chariot. Flying next to her was another sky chariot, with something in it. When they both landed, everypony gasped. Inside the other chariot was the Discord Statue. Spectra grinned, while everypony else had their jaws open. "G'day, Discord." 'Evening, Spectra.' Rainbow looked at Spectra. "Who are you talking to?" 'Oops.' "Uuuummmm.....uhhhhh...." Celestia walked up to the group. "Spectra can hear Discord at all times inside his head." Everypony gasped and backed away from Spectra, except for Rainbow. "Do not fear. Spectra is not dangerous. However, Spectra, what is Discord saying right now?" 'I'd like to say that Celestia can shove a banana up her-' "He says hi." Celestia laughs. "I can hear him to Spectra. Do not lie to me." "Oh. I just didn't want to repeat that." Celestia nods. "I can understand that." Twilight was suddenly right in front of Spectra's face. "HOW LONG HAS DISCORD BEEN INSIDE YOUR HEAD!? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US EARLIER?!" Rainbow ran into Twilight and shoved her away from Spectra. "Back off, Twilight! Spectra, how long?" Spectra walked up to the Discord statue and looked up at it. "He's been inside my head since the night you let me sleep inside your room, Rainbow." "But that was over two years ago!" "I know." Spectra looked to Celestia. "Why did you bring him here?" "To reform him. And I'm sure only one of you can do so." Spectra looked around. "Me? Look we might talk all the time but still-" "No. Not you. Fluttershy." Spectra looked around to Fluttershy, who was shaking. "M-m-m-me?" "Yes, Fluttershy. I believe that only you can reform Discord to use his magic for good." Fluttershy shook her head. "I-I-I c-can't!" Celestia looked at Fluttershy pleadingly. "Please, Fluttershy. At least try." Fluttershy calmed down, looked to her friends and nodded. "I-I-I'll t-try." Celestia nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Fluttershy." Celestia turned to her guards and nodded. They pull out a chest from behind the chariot and lifted it over to Twilight. She opened it and placed the Elements Of Harmony on her friends. "I best be off, Twilight. If Discord gives you any incentive to turn him back to stone, do it." Celestia hoped on her chariot and flew off, leaving the Discord Statue on the ground. The 6 friends surrounded the statue and all nodded. Rainbow turned around and looked at her husband. "You better back up a bit, Spectra." Spectra backed away from the group. They slowly rose in the air with a white light emanating from them. Spectra was blinded by the light. When he opened his eyes, he saw Discord stretching. "Oooooh! Ohohohoh! Well, it's about time somepony released me from that stone prison!" Spectra walked up to him and smiled. "Nice to finally meet you, Discord." Discord kept stretching, but looked to Spectra. "Ah! Hello, Spectra! I've seen you have grown a lot since we last met!" Discord snapped his fingers while in mid stretch and turned a little squirrel into a massive hulk. Everypony gasped but Spectra, who was rolling on the ground laughing. "That. Is. Hilarious! HAHAHAHA!" Twilight stomped her hoof down. "What do you think you're doing?" "Why, stretching of course!" He snapped his fingers in mid stretch again and turned a small bunny into another hulk. Spectra was laughing harder. Rainbow turned to her husband. "Spectra! Don't laugh at it!" Spectra kept laughing and talked in between breaths. "But! *Huh* It's! *Huh* FUNNY!" Rainbow rolled her eyes and flew up to Discord. "Turn those creatures back to normal!" Discord stopped stretching and looked at Rainbow. "Excuse me, Mrs.Speed!" Fluttershy flew up to Discord. "You turn those animals back to normal right now or else me and my friends will put you back in that stone prison!" Discord gave Fluttershy a defeated look. "Oh, all right. Fine!" Discord snapped his fingers and turned the animals back to normal. "Ah, well. I guess I know who I'm going to be bunking with!" Fluttershy appears in his arms in a hug. "I'm staying with Fluttershy!" He started cackling madly, and Spectra stopped laughing. "Okay, let's go to my cottage now." Everypony followed Fluttershy to her cottage, Discord was floating next to her while Spectra and Rainbow were flying next to each other. "I don't like him, Spectra." Spectra shrugged. "You just have to get to know him like I have." "I hope he doesn't get the chance." Spectra and Rainbow flew next to each other the rest of the way to Fluttershy's cottage. -----Fluttershy's Cottage----- Discord was lying on a couch in Fluttershy's cottage. Everypony else was near the door, away from Discord. Spectra and Fluttershy were next to him, however. "Now, Discord. I must teach you how to be a good friend, alright?" Discord smiled and nodded. "Of, course, Fluttershy! I wouldn't dream of not being a good friend! I've been a good friend to Spectra, haven't I?" Spectra twitched every time they said "friend". "Discord, you haven't been so much a fri- a mate to me as much as just somepony to talk to." Discord raised an eyebrow. "You're still not used to hearing 'friend'?" Spectra twitched. "HAHAHAHA! Friend! Friend! Friend! Friend!" Spectra kept twitching until he couldn't take it any more. "STOP IT, DISCORD!" Discord and everypony else looked at Spectra in shock. When his eyes stopped glowing dark red, he backed away from Discord. "If you want my friendship..." Twitch. "...do not do that again." Discord sighs. "Alright. Fine. I promise to never do that again." Spectra smiles and nods. 'Great, now I might be friends with two god like creatures.' Everypony started leaving the cottage. Rainbow and Spectra flew home. Spectra noticed that Rainbow was still wearing her element. "Why have you got the Element Of Loyalty still on?" "Twilight said that we have to wear them in case Discord decides to go bad again." Spectra and Rainbow flew home and did some flight training and went to sleep. -----The Next Day----- Spectra awoke to a gross sound. He got up and tried to track it down. He found that it was coming from the bathroom. Spectra knocked on the door. "What?" Rainbow's voice came from the other side. "Rainbow, you alright? Want me to get ya something?" "No, Spectra, I'm fine. We still going to Sugar Cube Corner today?" "Not if you're like this!" "I said I'm fine!" Spectra shook his head. "Alright, let me know when you're ready." Spectra turned and walked to the lounge room. Inside the bathroom, Rainbow was looking at a pregnancy tester. "Oh my god. I'm pregnant." She looked at the door Spectra was at and smiled. "We are going to have a family, Spectra. When I tell you, you'll be jumping over the moon." She turned her head back into the toilet. -----A Few Minutes Later----- Spectra and Rainbow were walking down the street, heading to Sugar Cube Corner. They were going to buy some cupcakes and then go home, but Discord suddenly ran in front of Spectra. "OH! Spectra! Go Dark-Red and smash them!" He hid behind Spectra as a pack of Timberwolves were running up to Discord. "What did you do to them!? You know how much it takes to get them to come out of the Everfree?!" "I didn't do much I just, um, walked in on their feeding time." "Arrgghh! Alright fine. I'll take care of them." Dark-Red raised his hoof and shot a fireball at the Timberwolves. They caught fire and burnt up into ash. "AH! Thank you, Dark-Red!" Spectra rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You going back to Fluttershy's yet?" Discord shot up and gave a frustrated look. "I wanted to actually hang out with you, Spectra. We talked to each other for over two years and still we haven't truly hung out." Spectra turned to Rainbow. "This alright with you, Dashie?" Rainbow glares at Discord. "Be careful, Spectra." Spectra kisses Rainbow on the cheek. "Since when am I not?" Rainbow turns and smiles at Spectra. She keeps turns around and heads home. "Let's go for a treat at Sugar Cube Corner!" Discord grabs Spectra and teleports them inside Sugar Cube Corner. "Pinkie! Oh, Pinkie!" Pinkie Pie appears out of nowhere in front of the draconequus. "Hi, Discord! What ya want?" "Can me and Spectra here have a cupcake?" "Why, sure! Here ya go!" Pinkie had pulled 2 cupcakes out of nowhere. Neither Discord nor Spectra were phased by this. "Thank you, Pinkie." As Discord says thank you, he does a little bow and hands Spectra one of the cupcakes. The god of chaos and Spectra sat down at a nearby table. "So, Spectra, what's new? I've heard that you beat Spitfire and Soarin in a 20 Lap Race, you over lapped them twice!" Spectra chuckles and nods. "Yeah. I'm not much of a speed freak." "But can't you also do a Sonic Rainboom? I'm pretty sure that if you trained harder and harder, you'd be able to do a SuperSonic Rainboom." Discord took a bite of the cupcake as he finished his sentence. He looked to Spectra, who had his head cocked to the left. "SuperSonic Rainboom?" Discord was now staring at Spectra with his jaw hanging. "You don't know what a SuperSonic Rainboom is? Well, granted, that the last pony to do one lived over a thousand years ago. A SuperSonic Rainboom is when you're in the middle of a Sonic Rainboom, then you go faster." Spectra had his jaw hanging now. "How fast?" Discord counted his claws and looked in deep thought. "About 2.35x faster then a normal Rainboom." Spectra looked shocked. "WHAT?!" "There's a reason I said the last pony to do it was over a thousand years ago. Celestia made them banned. Only 2 ponies have ever done one. One of them was a pegasus named Sirius, another was a pegasus named Star Burst." Spectra was eating his cupcake in the middle of Discord's explanation. When Spectra heard Star Bursts name, he nearly choked. "W-W-What!? Star Burst did one?" Discord nodded. "He did one on the night he and Luna became a couple. He flew over the castle and nearly shattered the interior." Spectra was barely able to take all this in. "So, why should I be able to do one? Celestia made them illegal." Discord waved a paw. "Celestia hasn't reinforced it in a thousand years. She made it illegal the day I lost my throne, when she was writing out Equestria's new law system." Spectra nodded. "So, it's no longer illegal?" Discord nodded. "However, you would hurt yourself very badly. If you break to fast, you will be thrown literally at the fabric of space-time. You have to slow down properly, unlike what Sirius did. Poor pony. Anyway, Star Burst managed to slow down properly, but overshot the castle by miles. He had to fly back. I have no doubt, Spectra, that if you tried hard enough, you could do one." Spectra shrugged. "I'm not interested in racing, much." Discord leaned in. "Then what are you interested in?" Spectra looked up at Discord. "I'm interested in history, which is why I was selling drugs back in Manehatten. I was going to save up and go to the University Of Manehatten, to study Archaeology." Discord nodded. "That's a good career aspect, Spectra. But what happened to studying Archaeology?" Spectra looked around and motioned his hoof. "I moved here. Manehatten sucked, so I moved." Discord leaned in. "There is another university that teaches Archaeology. Canterlot University." Spectra shook his head. "No way. I'm not leaving Rainbow again. I don't think either of us could take it." Discord leaned back. "If she truly loves you, wouldn't she let you go pursue you dreams?" Spectra held his hoof on his chin. Discord got up and started for the door. He turned his head. "Think about it, Spectra. Talk it over with her." Spectra looked up at him and nodded. "Thank you, Discord. You're a great friend." Discord looked back at Spectra. He didn't twitch. Discord looked away. "You're welcome, Spectra." The draconequus exited the bakery, leaving Spectra to his own thoughts. -----The Next Day----- Spectra and the group of friends were at Sweet Apple Acres. There was a massive flooding. The beavers were making a huge dam on the river, and it was huge. Fluttershy was trying to reason with the beavers. "Now, Mr.Beaver, could you please stop making the dam?" The beaver just shooed her away and kept making the dam. "Heeeey, Fluttershy!" Everypony looks to see Discord water skiing on the now made Sweet Apple Lake. He jumps off and stands next to the group and gets a towel to dry himself off. "Ah, Fluttershy. Just the pony I wanted to see. You like what I have done here?" Fluttershy flew up to his face. "You change Sweet Apple Acres back to normal or else we will turn you to stone!" Discord looked shocked, but recovered. "Alright. But you have to promise me two things." Fluttershy flies back down to the ground. "I'm listening." Discord smiles and leans in closer to her. "You have to promise me that you won't use your element against me, and that Spectra can't go Dark-Red and attack me." Fluttershy looked back to Spectra, who shrugged. "I won't use Dark-Red of my own control." Fluttershy looked back at Discord. "Alright, fine. I promise not to use my element." She grabs her element and throws it at Twilight. Discord grins. He snaps his fingers, Everypony was expecting everything to be back to normal. Instead, the lake was now frozen. "Haha! Much better!" Discord was now ice skating on the frozen lake. Fluttershy was furious. "Discord! Change everything back!" "Oh come now, Fluttershy. Just come and join me and have fun!" Discord magicked a pair of ice skates and waved them in front of her. Spike ran up to Fluttershy, holding her element. "Come on, Fluttershy! Put the element on and turn him to stone!" Fluttershy looked between the two of her options, and took a deep breath. "I promised not to use my element, and I won't." She grabbed the skates off Discord and walked with him. "YES! I have won! In your faces, everypony!" Spectra was charging at Discord with dark red eyes. "CHANGE IT BACK TO NORMAL!" Discord looked at Dark-Red and laughed. "Not even you can stop a god, Dark-Red!" Discord launched a ball of energy at Dark-Red. Dark-Red stopped charging and looked at his hooves. His eyes went back to normal. His whole body was slowly turning to stone from his hooves up. Fluttershy flew up to Discord and looked him in the eyes. "STOP IT, DISCORD!" "No! Spectra promised me he wouldn't go Dark-Red against me, and he failed to keep that promise." Rainbow flew up to her husband, who's chest and back were already stone. "Spectra! No!" Spectra looked at Rainbow before his head completely turned to stone. Rainbow stared at him for a few seconds, before crying and holding the Spectra Statue. Everypony walked up to the Statue and looked sad. Rainbow looked up at Discord with a furious face. "Turn him back!" Discord waved a hoof and started walking off. "And why should I do that?" "Because he was the only true friend you've ever had!" Discord stopped immediately. He looked around at everything he done, then back at Rainbow. His eyes had tears in them. "Well, played Rainbow. Well played." He skated over to a tree and sat down on it. A glow emanated from Discord and covered everything around him, turning it back to normal. When he got up and looked around, he noticed something was wrong. He walked up next to the group of ponies. Rainbow glared at him. "Why isn't Spectra back to normal!?" Discord looked at Spectra. He was still a statue. Discord looked terrified. "I don't know! He should be back to normal! I don't understand!" Discord threw his paw in front of him and made it glow, and Twilight made her horn glow. They both started examining Spectra with magic. Discord shook his head and fell on his knee's. "No way! Luna's stupid Alicorn magic is blocking my magic! I can't change him back!" Everypony gasped. Rainbow stepped forward towards Discord. "What about the elements? Surely that could get him out." Discord shook his head. "No. You use the elements on something I made, it'll kill him." Rainbow turned around and hugged the statue of her husband. Twilight was still examining him. Her face suddenly lit up. "No! There's a chance!" Rainbow looked up. "What do you mean?" "The spell has a time limit on it. When that limit is breached, he'll turn back to normal!" Rainbow smiled. "How long is the time limit?" Twilight shook her head. "Looking for it." A few minutes gone by, and nothing happens. Until, Twilight's horn stopped glowing. She gave everypony a sad look. Rainbow flew up to her. "How long is it? Twilight, I need to know!" Twilight looked up at Rainbow, she was crying. Tears were streaming down her face. "5 years." Rainbow stared at Twilight for a few minutes, before laughing hysterically. "Wow, Twilight. That was weird. For a second there, I thought you said 5 years." Twilight nodded her head. "That's exactly what I said." Everypony was in complete silence for a moment, before Rainbow grabbed her husband and cried her heart out. "I-I-I don't w-w-wanna w-wait 5 y-years! The foal will g-grow up without a-a fa-ather!" Everypony and Discord gasped. Discord was now crying. "Oh, buck me." Twilight stepped forward and placed her horn on Rainbow's belly. Her horn glowed and Twilight gasped. "Oh my! A filly! And by what I felt, she'll be here in a few weeks! How have you been hiding this?" Rainbow was still crying. Twilight looked to the statue, disheartened. Discord got up and picked the statue up. Rainbow was still attached to it. "What do you think you're doing!?" Discord looked up at Rainbow with tears in his eyes. "Putting my best friend somewhere he would like." They followed Discord for hours before he stopped. They were on the hill below Rainbow's home. Discord placed the statue down and shot a bolt of magic near it's feet. A stone tablet appeared with the engraving: Spectra Speed, A Great Friend, A Great Husband, A Great Pony Discord saluted and so did everypony else, except Rainbow, who was holding onto the statue with a death grip. Discord walked up to Rainbow Speed. "Rainbow, for what it's worth, I'm truly sorry." Rainbow didn't turn around, she kept on crying on the statue. Discord turned to everypony else. "I promise to never use my magic for chaos again. I lost a best friend today because of my idiotic idea's. I can't forgive myself for what I did today. I ripped a father from his daughter. To everypony here, I am truly sorry. I will now go to Canterlot, and tell Luna. The rest of you, tell Shadow, Sparks and Aeb. They'll want to know." Discord disappeared in a flash of light. Everypony else was still looking at Rainbow, who was holding her husband. "Spectra....I love you so much....please come back to me...." She let go of the statue and faced the group with tears in her eyes. "We waited 2 years for Spectra to come back, and he did. I think I can wait 5 years for him to return." She gave the group a smile and flew up to her house. They were all glad she got over it, but they were all still pretty upset about it. Pinkie Pie's mane was straight as she walked home, Rarity's mane and coat were dirty, Twilight's mane was a royal mess, Fluttershy couldn't stop crying when she got home, Applejack was looking down at the ground on her way to Sweet Apple Acres trying not to be upset about it, and Rainbow Speed was in her bed, crying her heart out. -----5 Years Later----- Rainbow Speed was at Cheerilee's school with Sparks on her shoulder, waiting for her pegasus daughter to come through the doors of the classroom. Rainbow smiled when she saw her running up to her. Rainbow picked her up and gave her a hug. "How was your day, Rose?" Rose was a small filly, with a blue coat like Spectra's, and a dark red mane and tail. She didn't have her cutie mark yet. Rose jumped around Rainbow. "Today was awesome, mom!" Rainbow laughed. "Well, today will be an awesome day. Someponies coming to visit us, today. Rose, you ever notice the statue below our house?" Rose nodded. "Mom, who is that, anyway?" Rainbow flew up and went down the street towards their house. "Come with me, and I'll show ya!" Rose walked below her mother, unable to fly yet. When they arrived home, Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Discord and Luna were all there. When Discord saw Rose, he teleported next to her and grabbed her in a tight hug. "Hello Uncle Discord!" "Hello Rose! Did you have a nice day today?" Rose nodded her head furiously with a big smile on her face. "Uh-huh!" Discord chuckled. "Well, prepare yourself. It's about to get better for all of us as well as you." When they reached Luna, Discord gave Rose to her. Luna hugged her lightly. "Hey, Rose. Are ya excited today?" Rose nodded her head again. "Uh-huh!" Luna giggled. "We all are excited. Today we get to meet a very special stallion, your father." Rose's eyes grew wide. She turned to the statue, then back to Rainbow. "Mom, is that stallion my dad?" Rainbow smiled and nodded. "Yep. And pretty soon, you can meet him." Rose grew a massive smile. She sat down and waited to finally meet her father. Everypony wanted to see Spectra again very badly. And soon, that time would come. Chapter VII - The Crystal EmpireSpectra, Rainbow and her friends were all on the way to The Crystal Empire on a train. Rainbow Dash was in a car with her friends, while Spectra requested to be alone in another car. He was practising controlling Dark-Red. He couldn't figure out a way to control him, but he found something out at least. Dark-Red doesn't come out just because Rainbow's hurt. Dark-Red comes out whenever Spectra is really angry. So, Spectra could become Dark-Red if anypony walked up to him and made him mad. The point of practising was so when he was Dark-Red, he could get out of it. So far, he had no luck. He tried making himself angry, then getting control of Dark-Red and making him turn back to normal. He also found out another wicked fact. Dark-Red has super strength, super speed, fast reflexes and magic! Spectra found this out when he grew an orb of dark red coloured energy at the wall. He got himself angry by thinking of his foster parents, Double Edge and Chrysalis. He turned into Dark-Red and tried controlling his actions. He failed each time. When Dark-Red sees no threat, he retreats back inside of Spectra, ready to attack. Rainbow was looking out the window of the car, listening to her friends conversations. She didn't hear much until Twilight shoved her in the side. Rainbow turned to her friend with an annoyed look on her face. "What, Twilight?" Twilight giggled. "Sorry to distract you from your sight seeing." Rainbow smiled and laughed. "Okay, what is it Twilight?" "You need to listen to this. It's important information." Rainbow nodded and flew next to AJ, who was on the floor with everypony else. Twilight stood in front of the group. "Princess Celestia tells me that an evil unicorn king of The Crystal Empire ruled the empire with an iron hoof. Until the princess' banished him into the ice using The Elements Of Harmony. Princess Celestia tells me that the king was called King Sombra, and that he might be coming back to take control of the empire again, after it was lost for 1000 years." Everypony nodded. Rainbow had one question though. "Well, where are the elements? If we need to stop him don't we need the elements?" Twilight shook her head. "I've figured out two ways we can stop him. Princess Celestia says we need to find the Crystal Heart, and then the empire will flourish with the happiness of the Crystal Ponies." Rainbow nods. "What's the second way?" Twilight grows a sad look and turns her head towards the car that Spectra was in. "If we can't find the Heart, we may need to use Dark-Red again." Rainbow looked shocked and flew right up to Twilights face with a furious look in her eyes. "My soon-to-be husband is NOT YOUR WEAPON!" Twilight staggers back and falls over. Rainbow flies back to her window and rests her head on her hoof, which was propped up against the window. Twilight gets up and sighs. Then a thought struck Twilight. "How did Spectra even get Dark-Red in the first place?" Rainbow answers without turning her head towards the unicorn. "I don't know. I'm thankful he had it in the castle, otherwise we mightn't be here." Twilight puts a hoof to her chin and looks at the door to Spectra's car. She starts walking up to it, before Rainbow flies in front of her. "Do you really wanna go in there when he's trying to control Dark-Red?" Twilight remembered the last time she denied a warning, and turned back around and sat on her seat. -----The Crystal Empire, The Next Day----- The train stopped in the middle of nowhere, and there was a blizzard going on. When everypony stepped off, they looked around for the great empire. All they could see was snow, snow and more snow. Twilight started walking off into a direction, and eventually everypony followed. They were walking for 3 minutes until they spotted a figure. He was wearing a mask of some sort and a scarf. He pulled off the mask and revealed his face. He was a white unicorn with a blue mane and tail. His cutie mark was a shield with what looked to be Twilights cutie mark in the middle. "Twily!" Twilight jumped forward and hugged the unicorn. "Shinning Armour! Boy, are we glad to see you!" (Authors Note: I am not quoting the show on purpose. If I do, sorry.) Shinning Armour looked happy at first, but then he looked terrified. "We have to get to the empire. Something's trying to get in." Spectra stepped forward. "What's trying to get in?" Shinning looked at Spectra confused at first, and was probably going to ask who he is, but his face grew a shocked expression. "Behind you!" Spectra whirled around to see a giant cloud of black smoke. It was charging after everypony. Shinning turned around. "We need to go! Now!" Everypony ran away from the cloud, following Shinning. The cloud shot out bolts of energy at everypony, one of them got Shinning's horn. It grew black crystals. They were approaching a wall of energy, trying to out run the cloud. Shinning turned his head and saw the cloud gaining. "We'll never make it!" Spectra started thinking about all the things that make him angry. 'Foster Parents, Chrysalis, Double Edg-aaaaaahhhh!' Spectra's eyes instantly glowed dark red. "EVERYPONY RUN AHEAD! I'LL HOLD HIM OFF!' Dark-Red turned around and slammed his hooves into the ground. A dark red wall of energy appeared in front of him, stopping the cloud in it's tracks. Dark-Red glared at the cloud, a face of a unicorn appeared inside, looking at Dark-Red with hatred. Dark-Red chuckled. "I hope I get to smash you in later!" Dark-Red's eyes flickered back to their normal blood red colour. Spectra turned around and made a mad dash for the wall. Dark-Red's wall wouldn't hold forever. It soon fell and the cloud charged forward but missed Spectra by mere inches. Spectra went through and landed on some grass. He looked up to see Rainbow Dash looking down at him with a smile. Spectra winked at her. "It'll take more then a pile of air pollution to stop me." Rainbow offered Spectra her hoof, which he grabbed and used to help himself up. Spectra looked ahead to see a giant castle made of crystals. He stared in awe for a few seconds, before Shinning came up to him. "I take it you like what you see?" Spectra nods with his jaw hanging. Shinning chuckles. "Didn't catch your name, buddy?" Spectra turned his head to Shinning. "Names Spectra Speed, mate." Shinning nodded. "I am Shinning Armour." Shinning turns to the city ahead. "I welcome you all, to The Crystal Empire!" The ponies all "Oooh"d. Twilight turns to Shinning and looks at his horn. "Shinning! Your horn!" Shinning raised a hoof and touched his horn, which sparked with black electricity. He swipes his hoof away. "Ah, well. I didn't need it that badly. Come with me. I'll take you to Cadance at the castle." The group followed Shinning through the city. Shinning turned his head to Spectra. "How did you hold that thing off?" Spectra shrugs. "Luna kissed me and gave me some weird 'power'. Turns out my power is anger." Shinning laughs and nods. "Cadance gave me the power to increase my brain capacity." Spectra nods with his lower lip ticking out. "Not bad." Shinning winks at Spectra. Rainbow walked next to Spectra. She had an angry look on her face. "You never told me you kissed Luna!" Spectra shakes his head. "No. That's because she kissed me. I didn't kiss her. I swear, Rainbow. I would never kiss another mare besides you." Rainbow grew a smile and kissed Spectra on the cheek. They arrive at the castle within a short time. Shinning opens the door and lets everypony through and into the throne room. On the throne was a pink coated alicorn with pink-themed mane and tail. She looked weak and frail, though. Shinning ran up to her and gave her a kiss. "Oh, hey Shinning. I see you brought Twilight and her friends. It's so nice to see you all again." She looked over to Spectra, then to Rainbow. She giggled very softly. Spectra looked terrified. "What? Do I have lettuce in my teeth or something?" Cadance smiles warmly. "No. You two love each other so much. It's just nice to see such a wonderful couple." Rainbow walked up to Spectra and gave him a hug. "Thank you, princess." The princess nods, but then she looked like she was in pain. Twilight was going forward to help her, but Shinning stuck out his hoof to stop her. They watched as a beam of magic escaped Cadance's horn, shooting up into the sky. Cadance fell limp on the throne. "I need to keep the shield up. Otherwise King Sombra will get in." Spectra remembered back to when he was outside the shield, and when he saw the unicorn's face. "That cloud is King Sombra?" Cadance nodded. "Yes. If we don't stop him soon, my spell will fail, and he will get control of the empire. Using the Crystal Ponies as slaves, as well as making the empire shine hatred and darkness through Equestria." Everypony looked at each other, trying to find a plan. Twilight stepped forward. "The library! We can go and find a book on The Crystal Empire's history! Don't worry, princess! We will find the Crystal Heart and save the empire!" Everypony nodded, so did Cadance. "Good luck, everypony." The group ran out to find a library. Spectra was walking down the street when he noticed all the Crystal Ponies. "The don't look so happy, do they?" Rainbow turned to the ponies and gave a sad look. "No, I guess being lost for 1000 years must be depressing." The group soon found the library and entered. -----Crystal Library, 30 Minutes Later----- After searching for ages, Twilight finally finds the book that could solve their problems. "It says here that the Crystal Ponies host a thing called The Crystal Fair. By using the power of their happiness, they fuel the Crystal Heart and spread love and happiness throughout Equestria!" Spectra nods. "Alright, then! Twilight, go find this Crystal Heart. The rest of us, set up the Crystal Fair! We don;t have long so move it!" Everypony starts running around, gathering supplies. Rainbow walks up to Spectra and whispers in his ear. "I like it when you take charge like that." She kisses him and winks, making Spectra blush redder then Dark-Red's eyes. -----Some Time Later...----- Everything was in order. The fair was set up, the Crystal Ponies were happy. All was going well. Except that Twilight hadn't returned with the heart. The Crystal Ponies were growing curious as to what was under the tarp underneath the castle. Rarity had made a faux heart to fool them until they found the real heart and put it in it's place. There was a huge crowd of ponies around the heart. Spectra looked around frantically, trying to think of something. That's when a brilliant idea struck him. He ran for the castle and went inside to grab his portable turntable. 'I knew I would need you.' Spectra ran back outside and sat on his flanks and placed "Wubsy" as he called the turntable, in front of him. He starts playing out some notes, getting the ponies attention. "I'm not a fan of puppeteers but I've a nagging fear someone else is pulling at the strings Something terrible is going down through the entire town wreaking anarchy and all it brings I can't sit idly, no, I can't move at all I curse the name, the one behind it all... Discord, I'm howlin' at the moon And sleepin' in the middle of a summer afternoon Discord, whatever did we do To make you take our world away? Discord, are we your prey alone, Or are we just a stepping stone for taking back the throne? Discord, we won't take it anymore So take your tyranny away! I'm fine with changing status quo, but not in letting go Now the world is being torn apart A terrible catastrophe played by your symphony, what a terrifying work of art! Everypony clapped and walked off, Rarity and Applejack, who were holding the ponies off earlier, walked up to Spectra. "Ya wrote a song about Discord? Why" Spectra shrugs. "Discord was pretty cool, all he wanted to do was to have fun. Besides, you can't have harmony without chaos." 'I never knew somepony thought of me like that. Thank you, Spectra' 'No problem, mate.' AJ shook her head. "He was a jerk! And-" "AJ, do you really want to argue with a pony whose special talent is arguing?" AJ looked to his flank, then back at his face, then grumbled and walked off. Spectra smiled and nodded. Suddenly, lighting and thunder filled the area. Spectra looked up to see that the shield was failing, and fast. Sombra was on the other side, trying to smash down the barrier. "Oh, buck." Sombra smashed through the barrier and made his way up to the top of the castle. Spectra looks up to see Spike carrying a heart shaped crystal. Spike kept dodging Sombra's attacks, but eventually he dropped the heart. Sombra flew in faster and faster, trying to get the heart. Then what Spectra saw next would forever bewilder him. He saw Cadance flying at a very fast speed towards the heart. She grabbed it and Spike. She flew down to where Spectra was and placed the real heart in place of the faux heart. Cadance looked out towards all the ponies. "Mares, and Gentlecolts! Make your happiness shine! Let Equestria see you live and prosper! Tell the land, that you have returned!" The road Spectra was sitting on glowed, so he grabbed his turntable and got the buck off there. What he saw next shocked him. He saw Sombra break into a bazillion pieces. Spectra has killed somepony before, Chrysalis. But that was just brutal! They atomized him! Twilight and the rest of the ponies were up on the balcony above him, crystal-fied. Spectra looked down to see that he too, was crystal-fied. His coat was now bright blue, his eyes had hexagons in them and were bright red coloured. His normal shaggy mane was now all neat and slick. (His hair looks like Draco Malfoy's) He jumped up and down in excitement. "We beat him! We beat him! Yeah!" Rainbow Dash and the rest of her friends ran down and met Spectra. Rainbow and Spectra kissed and rejoiced in happiness. They had just saved an entire empire, and Equestria. -----Canterlot, Outside The Royal Castle----- Spectra and the rest of the group just got home, and they were waiting for Twilight to come back from telling Celestia about her test. Luna came up to Spectra and gave him a hug, Spectra returned the gesture. "Well? Did you save the Crystal Empire?" Spectra grins. "Nope. Spike did. We helped." Luna smiles and nods. "Glad to see you know when to be honest." Spectra smiles. Luna walks up to the doors and opens them. "See you tonight, Spectra?" Spectra grins. "Sure, Luna." Luna turns her head and smiles. She turns back and walks inside. Twilight comes bouncing out of the castle. "I passed!" Everypony cheered and got onto the train home. Spectra sits next to Rainbow and gives her a quick kiss. "Were getting married soon, ya know?" Rainbow nodded and smiles. "I can't wait to be Mrs.Rainbow Speed." Spectra smiles and rested his head in Rainbow's shoulder. They would soon be husband and wife. And they couldn't be happier. Thank You!I would like to thank Bazing, EquestrianWriter, Prince Solstice, BetaMaster, spetsnaz pinkie pie, SoarinDashSpaz and bbonet98. Thank you all for supporting me on this series! The sequel: Starting Over 3: Return Of Spectra, won't be out for a while, but hold on! I will be writing 2 other stories! The Book Of Shadow - Shadow Nova's past and present life, Star Burst Chronicles - The tale of Star Burst all the way up to his death. But, those won't be out for a bit anyway. BYE! (Also, how many of you hate me for Starting Over 2's ending?)
Chapter I - 2 Years LaterSpectra Speed was packing his bags inside his cloud house which resided up high in the floating city of Cloudsdale. He had stored all the bits he had saved up inside a giant chest which he will tow along inside a sky trailer. A sky trailer is like a sky chariot, like the one the princesses ride in, except it was a trailer. Anyway, when Spectra was done loading all of his belongings, he hooked himself up to his trailer, and started walking down the main street of Cloudsdale, which was the direction Ponyville was in. Today was the day. The day Spectra had been aching to come. The day he will be reunited with Rainbow Dash. As he walked down the street, Spectra had a huge smile on his face, and was singing the lyrics to a song he loved for years. As he was walking down the street, he noticed a party shop. At first, he instantly thought of Pinkie Pie. His eyes widened, as he suddenly had a great idea. 'I should get them all presents! Yeah! That's a great idea!' Spectra kept walking down the street, looking for the right shops for the right ponies. -----Rainbow Dash's Perspective, Ponyville, Sugarcube Corner----- Rainbow Dash was sitting down at a table in the bakery, enjoying a cupcake and having a chat with her 5 friends; Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity. They were chatting about work and how their jobs were going, when Rarity decided to add to the conversation. "Speaking of jobs, hasn't it been 2 years since Spectra left for Cloudsdale, and became a CEO of a weather factory?" Rainbow froze instantly, and slowly placed the cupcake down and stared at the ground, all eyes on her. "Y-y....yeah. He did...." Rainbow remembered the day he left like the back of her hoof. Rarity placed her cupcake down as well. "Now, darling, I know you won't like what I'm about to say, but....maybe it's time to.....move on?" Rainbow shot up out of her seat and flew right up to Rarity, giving her the darkest glare she could muster. "What are you trying to say?" Rarity backed up a bit, fear evident in her expression. "D-darling. W-what I'm s-saying is, maybe h-he forgot about u-us in all h-his work. Maybe h-he won't come back. Maybe y-you should g-go find yourself another s-stallion?" Rainbow flew down to the ground and walked over to the front door. She stopped and turned, looking directly at Rarity. "He promised me he would return. I promised I would wait for him. And that's exactly what I'm doing. I will wait as long as it takes." And with that, Rainbow walks out of the door and flies to her home. As she flies home, she notices how little Ponyville has changed in the past years. Everything looked the same. Huh. Weird. When she got home, she flew into her bedroom and flopped down. She knew that it has been a while, but she promised. 'Nopony is a replacement for Spectra.' She flew out of her house and found a nice soft cloud. She rested on the cloud and fell asleep. That bed held too many memories of her and Spectra. -----Spectra's Perspective, Cloudsdale----- Spectra left the final shop he had to visit and loaded the presents he got Rainbow and her friends. He walked to the edge of Cloudsdale and look over the landscape. Beautiful mountains and plains graced the land with meadows full of animals. Spectra liked Cloudsdale. It was a nice place. But Ponyville was his home. He spread his wings and took another glance at the landscape. 'To be brutally honest, a thing I don't normally do, I like Cloudsdale much more then I like Ponyville. Can't we stay here?" Spectra rolled his eyes. 'Ever since my marefriend and her friends defeated you with the power of The Elements Of Harmony a few months ago, you've become so negative lately. Just cheer up.' 'Oh, whatever. I don't even care any more. Fine. Let's go. By the way, if I were you, I would make a back story on how you know that information. Just say that word travels fast from Canterlot or something.' Spectra nods in agreement. He jumps off the edge of the floating city and soars through the skies. He was wearing a massive smile as he flew. He was heading home, and he couldn't be any happier. -----3rd Pony Perspective, Hill Below Rainbow Dash's Cloud House, 2 Days Later----- Rainbow's 5 friends were all on the hill below her house, looking up expectantly at the floating home of the cyan pegasus. Twilight looked to her friends. "How long will she stay locked up in her house for?" Applejack shakes her head. "Ah dunno, Twi. Ah think if somepony kept somethin' to themselves, she would be alright." As Applejack says 'somepony' she glares at Rarity. Rarity looks back at Applejack and holds her hooves up defensively. "Well, I was just saying what I thought!" Applejack sighs. "Ah gotta get home. Big Mac will be wonderin' where ah am." As Applejack walks to Sweet Apple Acres, Pinkie Pie gasps. "Oh no! I said I would take care of the twins! Bye everypony!" And with that, Pinkie was gone in a cloud of smoke. Twilight rubs her forehead with her hoof. "I guess we all need to go home. Bye, everypony." The group disbanded, all heading home. Up in the cloud house, Rainbow Dash was lying in her bed, holding a picture of Spectra and her in her hooves. She was crying heavily, the tears soaking her coat. "I m-m-miss y-you s-s-so m-much." -----Spectra's Perspective, Few Minutes Away From Ponyville----- Spectra was flying high above the skies, thinking about how his friends might react to him showing up without a warning. Angry? Sad? Happy? All he hoped was that Rainbow Dash was okay. He decided that when he got to Ponyville, he would visit her last and give her the presents he got her last, so her friends could be there. He had presents for her. And he couldn't wait to give them to her. Spectra flew above the next mountain, to be graced with the sight of Ponyville. He grins and flies down towards the library. He stops at the front door and turns to look around the town. 'Not much has changed. Wow.' Spectra knocks on the front door to the library. "Just a second! I'll be there in a bit!" Spectra stands and waits at the door nonchalantly, as if he visited the library everyday. Moments later, the door opens to reveal Twilight Sparkle. "Welcome to Ponyville Libra-" She stares at Spectra for a few seconds, then grips him in a tight hug. "SPECTRA! It's sooooo good to see you!" "CAN'T. BREATHE. NEED. AIR!" Twilight releases her grip. "Sorry. But it's just really good to see you! Have you been to Rainbow yet?" Spectra shakes his head. "No, I wanna give her presents to her last, so all of you can see it." Twilight's eyes grow wider. "You got her presents?" Spectra chuckles. "I got all of you presents. I'll get yours." Spectra turns around and looks through the pile of bags in the trailer. He pulls out a bag filled with boxes. He pulls a box out that has Twilight's cutie mark decorating it. Spectra turns back and faces Twilight, who was standing in the library. Spectra hoofs her the box. "Here. I think you might like it." Twilight unwraps the present. Her eyes stare at the contents. Inside the box was a book. The book was titled "The Studies Of Ancient Magic". She lifts the book up and checks it over. She gasps very loudly. "This is real! But, this book is meant to be very rare! How could you afford this?!" Spectra laughs heartily. "Twilight, I haven't been staying in Cloudsdale for 2 years doing nothing!" Twilight blushes. "Oh, right." Spectra turns around and hooks himself back up to the trailer. He looks to Twilight. "Meet me under Rainbow's house at 7pm!" He spreads his wings and flies up into the air, and heads straight for Sweet Apple Acres. When he arrives at the farm house, he parks the trailer behind him, and knocks on the door. "Who is it?" Spectra recognizes the voice as Applejack's. "I heard the best apples in Equestria can be found here!" Spectra hears a lot of noise come from inside the house. The door snaps open to reveal Applejack. "Ah thought ah recognize that voice. Welcome back ter Ponyville, Spectra! How ya been?" Spectra shrugs. "I'm alright. I can't stay long. I got ya a present." Spectra turns and rummages through his trailer. "Aww, shucks, Spectra. Ya'll didn't have ta go and do that." Spectra turns back to Applejack with a box in his hoof which bore her cutie mark. "I know I didn't have to. I wanted to. Here." He hoofs her the box. Applejack opens the box and reaches inside. She pulls out a cowpony hat, much like her own. Except it was encrusted with amber, emerald and rubies. Spectra points to the gems. "I got this custom made. The amber represents your coat, the emerald is your eye's and the rubies are the colour of your apples on your cutie mark." Applejack stared in shock at what she was seeing. "Ah....ah can't accept this." She tries to hoof the hat towards him, but he pushes back. "AJ, don't worry. I'm rich, so it's not like I needed the bits, and even so, I want you to have it." AJ pulls the hat back into her grip. She stares down at it and looks back up to Spectra. "Ya don't understand, this hat of mine was mah fathers. He wanted me ta have it." Spectra nods. "Ok, I understand. But I know how you can still keep the hat. Give it to Applebloom. I'm sure she would love it. Anyway, I have more friends to meet. Come to Rainbow's house at 7pm. See ya, AJ!" He hooks himself back up to the trailer and flies off. He turns his head to see Applebloom running around AJ with the hat on her head, with a giant smile. Spectra grins and continues down to Fluttershy's cottage. He lands in front of the cottage and unhooks the trailer. He walks up to the door and knocks. "Coming." The door opens and Fluttershy is standing in her door way with Angel on her back. "Yes? What can I d- Oh! Hello Spectra!" Fluttershy grabs Spectra and hugs him gently. "Hey, Fluttershy. Listen, I can't stay for long. I've got places to be and ponies to meet. I'm here to give you a present." This time, Spectra already had the box in his hand. The box had air holes and was decorated with Fluttershy's cutie mark. He hoofs her the box. She opens it and gasps. "It's a Lightning Wing! Oh my! These are incredibly rare!" She reaches inside and pulls out a bird that looks like a phoenix, except it was surrounded in electricity instead of fire. Fluttershy looked at the bird in amazement. "I-I-I don't know what to say! Thank you Spectra!" Spectra nods his head. "Your welcome, Fluttershy. Come by Rainbow's house at 7pm, okay? Later!" Spectra re-hooks himself again and flies back to Ponyville and arrives at the Carousel Boutique. He parks his trailer and knocks on the front doors. "Just a moment, darling!" The doors swing open with Rarity inside the building. "Welcome to the Carousel Bou- Spectra! Why, darling! It has been years! How are you?" Spectra waves a hoof. "I'm alright, but I'm needed in other places so I have to be quick. I got you a present from Cloudsdale." Spectra hoofs Rarity a box adorned with her cutie mark. Rarity opens the box and pulls out a huge rock, it had all the colours of the rainbow and was the size of her head! "Is....is this what I think it is?" Spectra nods. "It is. It's a Galaxy Diamond. Incredibly rare and beautiful at the same time." Rarity was speechless. "I....I.....Thank you, Spectra!" Spectra was hooking himself back up to the trailer. "No problem, Rarity! Come by Rainbow's house at 7pm, would ya? Bye!" Spectra flies off towards Sugarcube Corner. It was almost 7pm, so he needed to be quick. He stops outside of the bakery and unhooks himself for the millionth time today. He walks inside and stands next to the counter. He had a box with Pinkies cutie mark on it, He rings the bell and gets slammed into the floor by a pink blur. "OmygoshSpectrayou'rebackIcan'tbelieveitIhavetothrowaWelcomeHomepartynow-" Spectra shoves his hoof into Pinkie's mouth. "Pinkie, I have a present for you." Pinkie's eyes grew wide. She hopped off Spectra and let him stand up. When Spectra regained his footing, he hoofed her the box. She rips it open and inside was a recipe book named "Pegasi Sweets". Pinkie looked to Spectra was a giant smile. "Thanks, Spectra! I've always wondered what pegasus like to eat!" Spectra walks towards the door. "You're welcome, Pinkie. Come by Rainbow's house at 7pm. Bye!" And with that, he walks out of the bakery. He hooks himself up and flies around Ponyville, talking to ponies he remembers. He even chats with Vinyl! After a while, he heads for his marefriend's house. When he got there, all 5 mares were there waiting for him. When he lands, he puts his hoof to his mouth and shush's them. He grabs his guitar case out of the trailer, walks over to the group of mares and sits down. He pulls out Melody, his enchanted guitar. He takes a deep breath and looks to the group. "Here goes nothin'." -----Rainbow Dash's Perspective, Cloud House----- Rainbow was lying down on her bed with tears streaming down her eyes as she remembered all the great times she had with Spectra. She remembers how she loved his singing. It was beautiful. She swears she could hear music.... She sits up. She can hear music. It was a guitar, and it was coming from outside, it was a song she never heard, but when the lyrics kicked in, she knew exactly who's voice that was. She bolted out of bed and out the window. She looks down to see none other then Spectra Speed himself playing his guitar and singing his heart out with her friends around him. She stays up in the air and listen's for a while. When the song finishes, she couldn't control herself any more, she bolts down and knocks Spectra to the ground passionately kissing him while resting on his chest. When she pulls away, she hugs him tightly and leans into his ear. "Welcome home."
Chapter II - HomeRainbow jumped off Spectra and allowed him to get up. When he did, he turned to his trailer and pulled out a box bearing Rainbow's cutie mark. Spectra hoofs it to Rainbow. "I got you a little something from Cloudsdale." Rainbow grabs the box and opens it. She pulls a necklace out from the box. The chain links were gold, and there were 2 gems hanging off the chains. One of them was Yin and Yang, the other was a lightning bolt. Each gem was made of diamond. Rainbow stared at the necklace for a few seconds before putting it on. She looks to Spectra and wraps him in a hug. "I missed you so much." Spectra hugs back tighter. "So did I." Rainbow lets go and gives Spectra another kiss. When they pulled away, Spectra looked to the group of mares. All of them were on the brink of tears, except for Pinkie Pie, who was already crying like a sprinkler. Spectra walked over to the pink party mare and put his hoof on her shoulder. "Aw, Pinkie. Don't cry. Wouldn't you say, that this calls for a party?" Pinkie sits up and instantly stops crying, and wears a big smile on her face. "Omygosh! YES! We can call it the Welcome Home party! I'll go get it ready!" Pinkie was gone in a cloud of smoke. Twilight walks up to Spectra. "Didn't you say that you had 2 presents for Rainbow Dash?" Spectra puts a hoof to his chin for a few seconds, then waves it. "Now's not the time to show her." Twilight nods. "Okay then. Have a nice day you two!" Twilight walks away and heads home towards her tree library. Applejack walks up to Spectra. "Thank ya fer the hat, Applebloom loves it. She wants ta meetcha and thank ya herself so watch out. Bye, Spectra." Applejack turns and starts walking to Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy walks up to Spectra and gives him a gentle hug. "Thank you for the Lightning Wing, Spectra! He's amazing! I think I'll call him Sparks. Good bye Spectra!" Fluttershy heads home to her cottage full of animals. Rarity starts walking up to Spectra, but Rainbow quickly intervenes in front of her. "See!? I told you he would come back!" Rarity suddenly looks embarrassed. "Darling, I'm ever so sorry for even thinking the thought! I promise you Rainbow, I will make it up to you!" Rarity starts running home to her boutique. Spectra didn't know what that was all about, but as long as Rarity was willing to make up for it, I guess all was fine. Rainbow turns around and walks up to Spectra. She looked just as beautiful as she did two years ago. Spectra couldn't help himself. He grabbed Rainbow in a hug and gave her the biggest kiss he could muster. She returned the hug and the couple just stayed there for a moment before Spectra let go. Rainbow grew a smug smile. "So I guess you missed me, huh?" Spectra chuckles. "You have no idea." Rainbow flies up into the air above Spectra. "Welcome home, hot shot." Spectra turns around and pulls a massive chest out from his trailer. He turns to Rainbow, who had a shocked look on her face. "What's in that thing, Spectra?" Spectra unlocks the chest with a lightning bolt shaped key, and opened the lid of the chest. Rainbow was speechless. The chest was filled with bits. Millions of bits filled the chest. Easily, the chest contained roughly 30 Million bits. Spectra was one of the richest pegasi in Equestria. Rainbow looked to her coltfriend. "How did you gain this much?" Spectra winks. "A lot of hard work and late nights. And it's all ours. I had to cut back and make a very tight budget to get enough money quickly, but it was worth it. Now, we can live in luxury." Rainbow grabbed her coltfriend into another hug. "I can't believe you would do all this just for us." When she let go, Spectra reloaded the chest onto the trailer and hooked himself up to it. He looked up to Rainbow Dash, who was up in the air. "Let's go home." He flies up with his trailer and starts following Rainbow up to her cloud house and places his trailer on a cloud and shoves it next to the house. He follows Rainbow inside the house and looks around. Not much has changed in the past 2 years. He looks outside to see it was getting dark. "Rainbow, I'm kinda tired from the trip here, so I'm gunna go to bed. Night." Rainbow walks into the kitchen and starts making herself a sandwich. She turns to her coltfriend and gives him a wave and a smile. "Night Spectra!" Spectra waves back and walks towards the guest room, and flops down onto the bed. He was slowly going to sleep, until he felt a poke at his side. He looks to see Rainbow poking him with a grin. "You do know that you can sleep with me in my bed, right? Don't you remember?" Spectra sits up and starts walking towards Rainbow's room. "Right, sorry. I kinda forgot." He lies down on Rainbow's bed and starts falling asleep, until he feels the bed shake and snaps his eyes open. He sees Rainbow standing above him with a big smile. "Ya know,we haven't done it in years, and all that energy just builds up over time. All the energy, all the needs all the..." She leans down and kisses Spectra passionately. She pulls away and stares into his eyes. "....all the lust. It just grows." Spectra caught on to what she was talking about the whole time. He grows a massive smile. "Yeah, the same was happening to me." Rainbow leans into his ear. "Then lets satisfy each other." -----The Next Morning, Rainbow's Cloud House----- Spectra woke up in Rainbow's bed with Rainbow Dash herself lying on top of his chest. It took him a while to remember what happened last night, but when he remembered it all, he grew a massive grin. 'Good to be home.' 'I still liked Cloudsdale better.' Spectra rolled his eyes. 'Then you should've made Cloudsdale Chaos Capital of the World, right?' Spectra heard Discord chuckle. 'Touché.' Spectra felt movement and saw Rainbow lift her head from his chest. Spectra smiled. "Mornin', beautiful." Rainbow smiled back. "Mornin', hot shot." She climbed off Spectra and walked out of the room. Spectra got up and followed her. She walked into the lounge room and sat down on the couch. Spectra smiled and opened the front door. Rainbow sat up. "Where're you going?" Spectra grins. "We haven't been on a date in a while. I'm gunna go set one up." And with that, Spectra flies out the door. Rainbow leans back in her couch. "Trust me, Spectra. You being here is good enough for me." Spectra was flying through town trying to find a certain white unicorn. When he found her, he dropped down to the ground in front of her. "Hey, Spectra! What's up?" "Not much. Vinyl, I need to ask you for a favour." Vinyl Scratch steps forward. "Sure! What'd ya want?" "I was wondering if I could borrow some equipment possibly tonight at your club. Me and Rainbow are gunna have a date. And I have a surprise for her." Vinyl lowers her shades and looks at Spectra expectantly. "What kind of surprise?" Spectra waves his hoof. "Ah, ah, ah! It's a secret. You'll see it tonight." Vinyl groans in defeat. "Ok. And sure! Your always welcome to use my equipment! Just come by whenever." Spectra nods and takes off to the air. "See ya tonight, Vinyl!" Spectra was speeding down the street looking for a place they could go to. "Spectra! Spectra! Down here!" Spectra looked down to see Rarity looking up at him. 'Perfect! She can make what I need!' Spectra flies down to Rarity. "What's up, Rare?" "Spectra, I apologize for what I said to Rainbow the other day. And I wish to make it up to you in any way." "Wait what did you say? Oh, it doesn't matter. As long as you're sorry. Now, I need you to make me two things, is that ok?" Rarity nods. "Yes, yes! Of course it's okay! Now, what did you have in mind?" Spectra looks left and right, then leans in to Rarity's ear and whispers something. Rarity suddenly looked surprised. "Oh...oh my! That's wonderful! Alright! I'll have it sorted out by tonight for you, Spectra!" Rarity makes a mad dash towards her boutique. Spectra turns around and starts looking for a decent restaurant to spend the night with Rainbow with. -----Cloud House, 9pm----- Rainbow Dash was wearing her Gala dress and was sitting on her couch looking excited. She and Spectra were going on a date tonight, and she was so happy that she could spend time with him. The front door opened and revealed Spectra wearing a sharp looking tuxedo adorned with multiple gems. "Hello, my good lady. Shall we go?" He held out his hoof, like he did on their first date. Rainbow giggled and grabbed his hoof. "Sure. Let's go." They flew to a fancy looking restaurant that resides on the edge of Ponyville. It was massive! Spectra picked a table at the back. Old habits die hard. Spectra ordered a rose petal sandwich, while Rainbow got the violet salad. The couple were happily eating and enjoying each others company. "Hey, Spectra? Can you tell me of the things you did in Cloudsdale?" Spectra looked up at her and pondered what to tell her. "Sure, as long as you tell me what you did here at Ponyville." Rainbow nodded. "Deal." Spectra clears his throat. "Gather round, my children. To hear the story of Spectra Speed, the lone wolf stallion who travelled to Cloudsdale. Now...." -----Cloudsdale, 1 Year Ago----- Spectra Speed was lying in his bed sleeping. It was the morning of his birthday. He woke up and yawned. He got out of bed, brushed his teeth, had breakfast and sat on his couch with Melody next to him. He was writing the lyrics to the song he would sing for Rainbow Dash when he returned home. Suddenly, somepony knocked on the door. Spectra was confused at this. 'I don't have any friends in Cloudsdale. That's weird.' He opens the door to reveal about 50 mares. "Uuuhhh....Hi?" One mare steps forward with a seductive smile. "Hello, handsome. You know...you're kinda cute." 'Hang on, I've never met this mare before. And she is acting very suspiciously.' Spectra suddenly realizes what's happening. "Uh-oh." 'Not again.' Spectra slams the door shut and runs back up to his room. "Why does there always have to be an estrus on my birthday?! Am I cursed!? Estrus is meant to be random! WHY!?" Spectra stays in his room for a few minutes before he hears a knock come from his bedroom door. "Heeeeey handsome!" Spectra looks around his room to find somewhere to hide. The mares start to bash down the door, so Spectra dashes outside through his window and bolts away from his home. He flies higher and higher until he found a soft cloud to lie on. He sleeps on that cloud for a day, then he flies away from Cloudsdale and goes to one of the mountains that surround the floating city. He finds a cave and stays there for the week. When he comes out, he just flies home and shuts the door, not coming out for a few days. The mares tried to apologize, but he wouldn't listen. Eventually, he came out of his house, and went back to work. -----Present, Ponyville Restaurant----- "They tried to get MY stallion?! Well, at least they didn't blackmail you like I did. Heh, sorry about that." Spectra waved a hoof. "Water under the bridge. Anyway, how did you handle estrus?" Rainbow suddenly looks embarrassed. "It....it was difficult without you with me.....I had to lock myself in my house so I wouldn't go off and find another stallion. It was almost painful not having you around...." Rainbow looked down to the ground. Spectra held her chin and made her look up to him. He was wearing a massive smile. "Hey, don't worry. Now, you won't have to worry about that." Rainbow looked at Spectra quizzically. "What'd you mean?" Spectra pays the bill and motions his head to the door. "Come on and I'll show ya." She follows him out of the restaurant and flies with him down the streets of Ponyville. When the landed, they were outside Vinyl Scratch's DJ club. Spectra steps in front of Rainbow. "Come on, I've got some surprises for ya." She follows him inside. The stage looked the same as always, except the entire club was empty. Spectra jumps up on the stage and looks around. "Vinyl!? Vinyl! Where are ya?!" Vinyl opens a door from the left side of the stage and walks in. "Yeouch. Ya don't hafta shout, Spectra." Spectra mock moans. "Awww. But I like shouting." Vinyl glares at Spectra. "What is it?" Spectra pulls a piece of paper out from one of his saddlebags and gives it to Vinyl. She looks it over and nods. "Sure, man. Let's do this!" Vinyl walks up behind her turntable, while Spectra pulls out his guitar case from the storage room that Vinyl was just in. He sits on a stool on stage and props Melody onto his lap. Spectra pulls the microphone stand up to his height. "I wrote this for a special mare that's in the crowd." Rainbow blushes. Spectra starts playing a few chords and the lyrics come up; You see me soaring through the sky I see you below as you walk on by I could clear the sky in 10 second flat How about that (How about that) I could be sitting here on a cloud Watching the sun as it starts to go down the only thing missing Is you by my side Rainbow was listening to his beautiful voice and paid attention to each lyric. Give me a smidge of confidence Give me a speck of something that makes sense Give me an idea of dependency Give me a dash of loyalty (Loyalty) I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that i'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty The sun shines bright, yet the rain pours on Rainbows here one minute and then they're gone They remind me ... of me and you What did you do? What did I do? Rainbow was loving it so far. His voice plus the music to back it up was perfect. Determination in those eyes Where has it gone? Has it said goodbye? A lot has happened But I'll stay by your side Give me a smidge of confidence Give me a speck of something that makes sense Give me an idea of dependency Give me a dash of loyalty (Loyalty) I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that i'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty Time stands still when you're with me How can i make you see? Your crazy antics make me want to scream Your name so loud till my throat starts to bleed Then when the solo started up, it showed just how good you can be when self taught how to play a guitar, like Spectra was. I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that I'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty I could save my lonely soul for you But the feeling in my heart can't follow through You can give your broken heart to me Cause you know that I'll stay with you That's why they call me loyalty When the song finished, Spectra put his guitar back into his case and walked up to Rainbow. "So, did you like it? I wrote it for you." Rainbow grabbed Spectra and kissed him. When she pulled away she embraced him. "Nothing can top that. That was amazing." "Oh, don't be so sure." Rainbow pulls away, confused. "I have a surprise that I know will beat the song by far." Spectra kneels down on one leg, and pulls out a small, black box. Rainbow was tearing up. She knew what this meant. "Rainbow Dash..... " Spectra opens the box. Inside was a giant Galaxy Diamond ring. The diamond shone with all the colours of the rainbow. "....will you marry me?"
Chapter III - Keeper Of The NightRainbow couldn't smile any wider then she did when Spectra said those words. "YES! YES YES YES YES A MILLION TIMES YES!" Rainbow tackled Spectra too the ground in a grip of death and kissed him continuously. She couldn't be any happier at that moment. When she finally got off Spectra, he hoofed her the ring, which she placed on her hoof. The Galaxy Diamond in the ring was beautiful. Spectra had to pay quite a lot for it, considering Rarity still had a huge rock of the stuff. But when you're rich and in deep love, money is no object. Rainbow just stared at the ring for a while before she even said anything. "I'm going to be Mrs.Rainbow Speed. Oh, Spectra!" She re-grips him in another hug-o-death. "Rainbow, I understand that you're happy an all, but you're crushing my lungs!" Rainbow released her deathly grip and just gave Spectra a kiss. "You've made me so happy right now." Vinyl was still on stage, bawling her eyes out. "T-that w-was beautiful!" The couple walk out the doors to the club, but not before hearing some conversation coming from the stage. "Hey, Octavia *sniff* why can't WE be married?" "Vinyl! Honestly, we've only been dating for two months!" "That's two months too long!" Spectra and Rainbow were flying home down the streets of Ponyville with huge smiles on their faces. When they got home, the couple just crawled into bed and fell asleep. -----Spectra's Perspective, Cloud House, Midnight----- Spectra woke up from another nightmare. He had them his whole time in Cloudsdale, but whenever he was with Rainbow, the nightmares were meant to stop. 'Wow, I thought you only had nightmares when you weren't with Rainbow Dash.' Spectra responds to Discord in whispers. "Yeah, I know. This is strange. I need some fresh air." Spectra flies out the window and lands on a soft cloud. He closes his eyes and takes deep breaths. "Hello, Spectra Speed." Spectra shoots up at the sound of a new voice. He turns to his right to see an alicorn, with a dark blue coat, and a cutie mark of the moon. Her mane and tail looked like the night sky. "My name, is Princess Luna. I need to have a talk with you. About your nightmares." Spectra looked confused. "How do you know about my nightmares?" "I can see into the dreams of others. I see your dreams the most, because out of anypony in Ponyville, yours are the most saddening." Spectra looks to the princess with a sad look. "So, what do we need to talk about?" Luna leans in closer. "I know about Discord being in your head to." 'Oh buck.' 'Oh buck' "Oh buck" Luna chuckles. "Do not worry, I won't punish you. It's not your fault he's there. Although, your dreams are the major issue here." Spectra sighs. "So, I guess you've never heard of the infamous Speeds of Canterlot before?" Luna laughs. "I was trapped on the moon for a millennia. Unless their a thousand years old, I wouldn't know them." Spectra takes a deep breath. "The Speeds were the outcast's of Canterlot. Although, we didn't care if they didn't like us." Luna raises and eyebrow. "Go on." Spectra sighs. "One day, we were going on a family walk through the palace maze. We got up to the Discord statue, and that's when my mother got a knife held to her throat. She got killed and so did my father. The pony, Double Edge was his name, didn't want to kill me because he didn't want to be a monster. That's when two guards found me and got Princess Celestia. They decided to take me to Manehatten. They didn't want to explain to Canterlot what happened, so they said we all died. But, the princess moving me to Manehatten was the worst decision she could've made." Luna looks perplexed. "My sister saved you and you're saying that it was the worst decision?" Spectra nodded. "The family she gave me to hated me. They never treated me right, they gave me the worst food and they occasionally beat me. I ran away at age 13 and lived on my own for a while. When I turned 17, I got offered a job as a drug dealer, so me being young and stupid, I took the job. I lived for 11 years in Manehatten selling drugs and not having any friends." Luna looked sad. Almost....sympathetic. "I moved into Ponyville, and got smashed into the ground by the best thing to happen to me." Spectra turned his head towards the cloud house. "Rainbow Dash then took me in. after I lost a bet and sang for her. A few days past, then I did something stupid. I ran away into the Everfree Forest and got attacked by a manticore. When I awoke, I was in hospital. Rainbow was next to me crying. She did something I never expected. She kissed me." Luna was listening with great interest. "After that, we became marefriend and coltfriend. We hung out with friends...." Spectra twitched. "....damnnit. I hoped that stopped. Ah well. Anyway-" "Why did you flinch when you said 'friend'?" Spectra twitched again. "I never had any, so I'm not used to it." Luna wrapped a foreleg around Spectra and looked him in his eyes. "Consider me your friend." Spectra didn't twitch. He just smiled and nodded. "Thank you , princess." Luna laughed. "Please call me Luna." Spectra smiled even wider. "Anyway, after a while of being with her, I got a job offer for Cloudsdale Cloud Factory CEO." Luna gasped. "That's the best paying job for a pegasus!" Spectra nodded. "Exactly. I took the job and stayed in Cloudsdale for two years. I promised Rainbow I would return, and I did a few days ago. I got roughly around 30 Million bits inside a chest." Luna gasped once again. "Woah." Spectra nods. "Yeah. And just tonight I proposed to Rainbow Dash. She said yes and thanks to my massive fortune, we're set for life." Luna clopped her hooves together. "Congratulations! You know, I only came here to learn about why your nightmares are so vicious, but instead I gained a friend and learnt stuff about him! Thank you, Spectra. Shall I visit tommorow night as well?" Spectra nods. "I would appreciate the company, Luna. Thank you." Luna starts flying up towards Canterlot, before she turns back to Spectra. "I shall give you the best wedding present I can find! And, again, congratulations!" And with that, the keeper of the night flew off towards Canterlot. Spectra sighs and flies back into Rainbow's.....No. Their cloud house. He crawled into bed next to Rainbow and fell asleep. -----Spectra And Rainbow's Cloud House, The Next Day----- Spectra woke up in Rainbow's bed. He looked to his sides and doesn't find his cyan fiancée. He gets up and flies out the window. He looks around and doesn't see her. He was about to go back inside when he heard voices. He looks down to see Rainbow with her friends. He flies a bit closer and hides in a cloud so he can listen to what they're saying. "Rainbow, darling, he's only been back from Cloudsdale for a few days! Surely you wouldn't just up and accept a proposal from him!" "Rainbow, Ah hafta agree with Rare. It jus' seems a little rushed, dontcha think?" "Rainbow, you HAVE to let me host the wedding! It will be the best party- I mean wedding I've ever hosted!" "Congratulations, Rainbow. I'll have to tell Angel this." "Rainbow, this is going too fast! Just, tell him that you should wait for the right time!" Rainbow was having the most difficult time holding back her rage. "Listen to me, all of you! I won't back away from this! We know what we're doing! Just, back off!" AJ steps forward. "Rainbow, why are ya so insistent on this?" "Because I love him!" Spectra gasped, as did all 5 of Rainbows friends. "Darling, you can't mean-" "I love him with all my heart! I want to live the rest of my life with that stallion and, if he wants to, grow a family and live happy lives! And none of you can say otherwise!" Rainbow flies up towards her cloud house, but she knocks the cloud Spectra was hiding in, making him fall out and land on the ground with an audible thud. Rainbow turns around and sees him on the ground. She flies down to him. "Spectra, how much of that did you hear?" Spectra pulls Rainbow in for a kiss then gives her a hug. "Rainbow, I love you with all my heart. I want to be with you and grow a family of our own and live happily." Rainbow cries tears of joy. She couldn't possibly be any happier then she was now. "Darling, I still think this is going too fa-" "Can it, Rarity." Rainbow shocked all of her friends with that remark. She turns to them with an angry look. "If none of you support me and Spectra being together, go away." Only Rarity walks off. The other four have smiles on their faces. AJ steps forward and walks up to the couple. "This isn't our decision, Rainbow. We're all happy for ya." AJ turns around and heads home to Sweet Apple Acres, until a small, yellow blur flies past her and smashes into Spectra, knocking him back a few feet. The yellow blur turned out to be Applebloom, who was jumping up and down on the pegasus. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" "Applebloom! That's starting to hurt!" When Applebloom jumps off Spectra, he stands up and notices something. "I see you like that hat I got your sister, huh?" Applebloom nods furiously. "I LOVE it! Thank you!" Applebloom runs into Spectra and gives him a hug. "You're welcome, Applebloom." Applebloom walks back to AJ and heads home. Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy all head home as well. Rainbow Dash turns to her soon-to-be husband and kisses him on the cheek. "So, when's the wedding?" Spectra thinks for a moment. "How about in 2 months time? On your birthday?" Rainbow grew a massive smile and hugged him. "Perfect! So, what do you wanna do now?" Spectra thinks for a while before coming up with an idea. "How about we just sleep today? I'm still tired and I have nothin' to do." Rainbow nods. "Same here. Let's go, hot shot." -----Spectra And Rainbow's Cloud House, Midnight----- Spectra was once again woken up by his nightmares. "Ah, well. At least I have Luna to keep me company." Spectra flies outside the window and spots the night princess lying on a cloud. She speaks to him without moving her head. "How do you think I did with my night sky tonight, Spectra?" Spectra flies up and lands on the cloud next to her. "Each of your nights are beautiful, Luna. You do a magnificent job. Every night in Cloudsdale, I used to look up at the night sky, marvelling in its beauty, before heading to bed." Luna sits up. She was blushing. "Why, thank you Spectra." "Your welcome, Luna." There was mild silence for a moment. Spectra closes his eyes and enjoys the night air caressing his body. "I want to give you something, Spectra." Spectra responds without opening his eyes. "Sure. What is it-" Spectra's eyes snapped open. The dark blue alicorn's face was inches away from his. Luna was kissing him.
Chapter IV - Meeting The QueenWhen Luna stopped kissing Spectra, his brain took a while to process what just happened. "Uuuuhhh....Luna?" Luna looked crestfallen. "....I'm sorry. That was out of line. It's not often I get complimented on my night sky. I wanted to give you a gift." Spectra gave her a confused look. "If I wanted a kiss, I could walk up to Rainbow and kiss her." Luna laughs. "No, no, no. A kiss from an Alicorn grants ponies special....powers. I guess you could call them that." Spectra looked excited now. "What's my 'power' then?" "I do not know. I don't choose the power. It will show up one day. Anyway, I best be off. I need to be in charge of the city of Canterlot at night." Spectra nods. "Alright. I think I'll hang out here a bit longer. Bye, Luna." Luna waves to Spectra. "Bye, Spectra." Luna flies off into the night sky, leaving Spectra wondering what kind of special "power" he has been bestowed. He shrugs and stares up into the glorious night sky. Spectra enjoyed the night much more then he liked the day. The night is cool, calm and beautiful. The day is noisy, bright and blue. Spectra flew back inside and cuddled up with Rainbow. Little did he know, he was being watched. Down below, on the hill under the couples home, was a insect-like pony with holes in its hooves, and big light blue eyes, with wings was watching the pegasus with great interest. The Changeling scout flew back to the Everfree Forest, where the hive resides. More specifically, he flew back to the Everfree Castle, where a majority of the hive lives. He walks up to a larger Changeling, which looked more lady-like then the rest. The scout bows before his queen. "My, queen. I have something to report." Queen Chrysalis turned to her subject. "Yes, what is it?" The scout got back up on his hooves. "There is a pegasus with enough love to feed this hive for decades! He lives with the Element Of Loyalty." Chrysalis perks up at this. "Very well. Gather round. I have a plan." -----The Next Morning----- Spectra woke up strapped to a table made of stone. He looked around frantically, trying to figure out what was happening. "Heh. Ok! Rainbow Dash! It's not funny!" "Oh, but this is no joke. Welcome, to the Changeling Hive!" Queen Chrysalis walked out from the shadows and headed over towards Spectra. "What do you want from me? I'm rich, just take all my bits and leave me alone!" Chrysalis chuckles. "What I want is your love. My name, is Queen Chrysalis, the Changeling Queen. You see, Changeling's feed off the love of others, until they're bone dry of it. You sir, have a lot of love. And you intended to give it all to Rainbow Dash. But now, it's all mine." Spectra tried getting out of his chains but couldn't. "Don't bother. The chains are made of a special metal. An infusion of titanium, steel and platinum. You can't break it." Spectra stops struggling, defeated. "That's a good stallion. Now, you lie here until I get bored, if you know what I mean." Chrysalis winks at Spectra. Spectra shudders. "Aww. Don't be like that. Watch this!" In a flash of green light, where there stood Chrysalis, now stood Rainbow Dash. "Isn't this better?" Spectra shakes his head. "No, you're not Rainbow Dash." Chrysalis changes back into her own body. "It doesn't matter. I will return soon. Farewell." Chrysalis steps out of the room, leaving Spectra to his thoughts. 'How am I going to get out of here?' 'What about the power Luna gave you? Just use that.' 'But I don't even know what it is!' 'You're on your own then.' That's when the realization hit him. He can contact somepony to help him. 'Luna.' Spectra closes his eyes, and tries to fall asleep. -----Spectra And Rainbow's Cloud House, Morning----- Rainbow and her friends were all on the hill below her house. Rainbow was holding AJ, crying her heart out. Twilight was reading a letter left by Spectra; 'Dear Rainbow Dash, I never loved you. I only used you until I could get back on my hooves. I'm leaving for Manehatten. Don't come looking for me. From, Spectra' "I-I-I thought h-he loved m-me!" AJ shook her head. "Don't ya worry, Rainbow. Ah'll find 'im and buck 'im till next cider season!" Twilight shakes her head. "This letter's a fake." Rainbow looked up to Twilight with tears in her eyes. "How do you know that?" Twilight puts the letter on the ground, then grabs another from her saddlebag and places it on the ground. "What's the other letter?" Twilight pushes it towards Rainbow; "Dear Rainbow, I have always loved you as well. I wish we weren't so far away. I just want to hold you and kiss you all day! I've been wanting to visit, but, like our plan, I've been saving up the bits. Hopefully nothing stupid happens like the city catching fire and I lose all the bits. With all my love, Spectra." Rainbow gave it back to Twilight. "What's this got to do with anything? It's the letter he wrote to me when he was in Cloudsdale." Twilight gave her the other letter. "Simple. Look at the hoof writing." Rainbow examines the letter she got this morning, then the one Spectra sent her from Cloudsdale. "You're right! It is a fake! Something bad has happened to him! We have to find him!" "Maybe I can help?" The group look up to see Princess Luna flying above them with a serious look on her face. "Queen Chrysalis has taken him to the castle in the Everfree Forest." Rainbow flies up to her. "How do you know this, princess?" "He fell asleep and called out my name. I can see into the dreams of others. He was clever, thinking of contacting me. Your lucky to have him." Rainbow smiled. "I know." Twilight was freaking out. "How do we save him?! What do we do?! What does Chrysalis want with him?!" Luna raised a hoof to silence Twilight. "She wants his love. He has a lot of it." Rainbow looked furious. "There is no way in hay that she will take my stallion from me!" Rainbow zoomed off towards the Everfree Forest. Luna tried to stop her, but she was too slow. Luna turns to the rest of the group. "Go. Follow her into the forest and save Spectra." Everypony nodded, and raced off towards the forest. Luna flew up to a cloud and rested on it. She wanted to be sure that Spectra was okay. That meant staying until he returned with the 6 friends. "He's the only true friend I've had since....Star Burst.....I miss you so much...." A single tear escaped Luna's eye and landed on the ground below her. -----The Everfree Forest, 3rd Pony Perspective----- Rainbow's 5 friends were wondering through the Everfree Forest, searching for their cyan friend. They have been calling her name for hours now, hoping she hadn't got lost or something. "Rainbow! Rainbow Dash! Rainbow!" "Did you say you were looking for Rainbow?" The new voice startled everypony. They look ahead to see a unicorn. AJ steps in front of her friends. "We don't want any trouble, mister. We're jus' lookin' fer our friend." The unicorn rolls his eyes. "Well, duh. I knew that. She's at my place, resting. She ran into a manticore and I saved her. I healed her up and now she's staying with me until she's fully healed. If you're her friends, follow me." The unicorn turns around and starts walking. The group of ponies follow him. "The names Shadow Nova by the way." Each of the ponies introduce themselves. Twilight steps forward ahead of the group and walks along side Shadow. "So, how did you save Rainbow from the manticore?" "I have an immortal demon war general trapped inside me. He comes out whenever there is danger and slaughters the threat." Twilight and the group looked shocked. Shadow scoffs. "I don't care about what you think of me. Only I care about me anyway. My family abandoned me because of the demon. I found this forest and thought it was amazing, so I took refuge here. I've been alone since I was 11. I'm now 29 turning 30 soon." Twilight keeps up with him. "Your story sounds a lot like Spectra's. Except without the demon." Shadow chuckles. "That is exactly what Rainbow said when she woke up. Anyway, we're here." In front of the group was a cave, shaped to look like a house. Shadow walked up to the door and went inside. "Hey, Rainbow. I found your friends." The group walk inside and find Rainbow lying on a bed. Inside the cave house was a single bed, a couch and an ice box. "Hey, guys. Shadow saved me from-" "I told them, Rainbow." " Ah,ok. So, have you guys found Spectra yet?" The group suddenly remember what they went to the forest for. All Twilight could say was "Whoops." Rainbow shot up out of bed and started heading towards the door. She was covered in bandages. "I'm going to find him!" Shadow stops her with his magic. His aura surprised everypony. It was pitch black. "No! You must rest!" "I don't care about me! I need to help Spectra!" Shadow lets go of her and looks her in the eye. "You really care about this stallion?" Rainbow nods. Shadow sighs. "Then, here. This is gunna hurt." His horn glows and Rainbow is surrounded in his aura. Shadow grunts and keeps the spell up. The bandages were coming off one by one, but Shadow was screaming in pain the whole time. When all the bandages were off, Shadow was unconscious on the floor. Twilight tried to wake him up, to no avail. "I'm going to find him!" Rainbow zooms past her friends and out the door. She sped away from the house and headed for the castle. When she got there, she opened the doors to find Spectra tied to a table with some cuts, bruises and a lot of blood. She tries to go to his side, but only to be struck on the side of the head and knocked out. ------Spectra's Perspective----- Spectra woke up and looked around. "Not a dream. Well, buck." "Oh, don't worry. We'll get to that." He looks to his left. What he sees infuriates him. Chrysalis was holding Rainbow Dash upside down by her magic. She was knocked out. "Looks like loyalty isn't good enough, huh?" Spectra was furious with Chrysalis. "You. Hurt. Her." Chrysalis rolls her eyes. "Well, how else was I meant to knock her out? I mean really-" "I'LL DESTROY YOU!" Spectra's iris' were growing darker and darker until they were dark red. He wore a face made of pure anger. "I AM DARK RED SPECTRA! AND I WILL MURDER YOU!" Dark-Red Spectra breaks the restraints with ease, like they were made of toothpicks. Chrysalis was terrified. "What!? But how did you break-!" Dark-Red Spectra ran up to her at lightning speed and smashed her right between her eyes. She went flying a good 20 metres and straight into a wall. Rainbow started falling, until Dark-Red Spectra caught her and gently put her down. 'Woah! I guess this is that 'power' Luna gave you!' "SHUT IT DISCORD!" Dark-Red Spectra turned around and saw Chrysalis getting up. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Dark-Red Spectra ran up to her in the blink of an eye and started smashing her into the ground, not letting up. He wanted her to bleed, a lot. -----3rd Pony Perspective----- Twilight and her friends were almost at the castle, accompanied by Shadow. They were almost at the doors, until they opened. Spectra walked out, covered in blood and with Rainbow Dash on his back. Shadow looked like he didn't care, but the 5 mares looked horrified. Twilight rushed up to Spectra. "Why are you covered in blood?!" Spectra shoves her out of the way. "I'm tired, I've been through a lot, and I'm angry. We are going home, and going to sleep. Don't talk to me until tommorow and whatever you do, do NOT go inside the castle. Bye." Spectra spreads his wings and flies off. Twilight looked confused. "Why can't we go inside?" AJ steps in front of the doors. "Twilight, ah think ya should listen to 'im." Twilight pushes AJ out of the way with her magic. "How bad can it be?" Twilight walks inside, nopony else follows. The next second they hear a scream and Twilight bolts out of the castle. "NOPONY GO IN THERE!" Shadow shrugs and walks in, while everypony else heads home. They hear Shadow talking inside the castle. "Awww sweet! Dinner for a month!" -----Cloud House----- It was dark when Spectra got back to Ponyville. Spectra lays Rainbow in her bed. He watches her for a moment, then heads for the shower. He crawls back inside the sheets and attempts to fall asleep. "Glad to see your alright." Spectra opens his eyes and looks out the window. Luna was lying on a cloud outside the window. Spectra flies out through the window and lands on the cloud next to Luna. "Hey, Luna. Is the 'powers' you gave me meant to be represented by anything?" Luna nods. "Yes, they can represent something about your personality. Why?" Spectra turns to the night princess. "Because I must be a monster."
Chapter V - General Kaor Vs. Dark-Red"You are not a monster." "I beg to differ." Luna sighed and inched closer to Spectra. "I think you're over protective. Not a monster." "You weren't there. I was. I couldn't control myself. Now, thanks to me there's a giant mess inside the Everfree Castle." Luna shook her head. "No. Thanks to you, Rainbow Dash is safe from harms way." Spectra shook his head. "Thanks to me somepony was killed." Luna grabbed Spectra and stared deeply into his blood red eyes. "You listen to me! You are not a monster! Your fiancée was knocked out! You reacted the exact same way anypony would've reacted in that kind of situation!" She threw Spectra back on the cloud and huffed. Spectra was contemplating what she said. And you know what? "You're right. I'm not a monster." Luna looked up to the night sky. "About time you realized it." Spectra looked up to the sky as well. "You're nights are amazing, Luna." Luna began to blush. "I mean, who else could carve such beauty into the sky like you do?" 'Stop hitting on the princess. You're getting married ya know?' 'I'm expressing my feelings of the night sky.' "Luna, I don't get it. Why you got jealous of Celestia all those years ago. She can't create beauty like you do." Luna couldn't help herself. She grabbed Spectra and kissed him. When she let go she was still blushing, but she had an embarrassed look on her face. "I...I have to go now! Bye!" She took off before Spectra could say anything. He just shrugged. "Guess she was just showing her appreciation." Spectra flew back inside his cloud house, snuggled up to Rainbow Dash and fell asleep. -----Canterlot Castle----- Luna flew in to the window of her bedroom. She started pacing back and forth for a while before Celestia walked in. "Sister, what's the matter?" Luna looked to her older sister with a saddened look. "Sister, do...do you remember Star Burst?" Celestia's demeanour changed very quickly to one of sadness. "Yes. Yes I do, sister. What's this have to do with him?" Luna leaned her head on the window frame. "The same thing is happening again." Celestia looked shocked at first, then she smiled. "Isn't this good, though? Who's the lucky stallion?" Luna turned her head towards Celestia. "Spectra Speed." Celestia's smile disappeared quickly. She slowly went over to Luna's bed and sat down. "Are you certain?" Tears began welling up in Luna's eyes. "Yes, sister. I'm sure." Celestia nods. "So, you've finally found a stallion you love, after all these years. Luna, normally I would be happy for you. But according to Twilight and what you yourself have told me, he is getting married soon." Luna nods, now crying. "I know." "So, you must understand that you can't have him. He's not Star Burst-" "I KNOW!" Celestia is taken back by her outburst, but recovers quickly. "I'll leave you to your thoughts. The next time you see him, you'll have to explain and figure something out." Luna nods, still leaning on the window frame crying. She hears Celestia walk out of her room. "Star Burst....why did you have to go?" -----Cloud House, The Next Morning----- "Rainbow Dash! Oi! Rainbow Dash!" Spectra is woken up by somepony shouting. Spectra flies out of bed to find a dark grey unicorn with the colour scheme of the grim reaper. Spectra flies down to his level. "What do you want with Rainbow?" The unicorn shakes his head. "Nah-uh! I'm talking directly to Rainbow!" Spectra got into a fighting stance. "What do you- wait. Aren't you the unicorn from last night?" The unicorn got into a fighting stance as well. "Nope. My name is General Kaor, Shadow Nova's demon. Rainbow caused great harm to our host. Now we must harm her!" Spectra's eyes glowed dark red. This pony wanted to hurt her? "OVER MY COLD UNMOVING DEAD BODY!" Kaor grinned. "Ah, Dark-Red, if I'm not mistaken. Forget Rainbow. I'll gladly take you on." Dark-Red gave him an evil smile. "BRING IT!" Kaor lunged forward, only to miss. He gets up and looks around. "Where are you!?" "PEEK-A-BOO, DICKHEAD!" Kaor turns around and has a hoof smashed into his face. He staggers back a bit. When he recovers, Dark-Red was throwing a volley of hoofs at him, knocking him to the ground. "I EXPECTED MUCH MORE FROM A DEMON!" Kaor growled and knocked Dark-Red to the ground by punching him in the knee. Dark-Red fell over, allowing Kaor to get on top of him and pound him into the ground. In mid-punch, Kaor noticed a ball of energy in Dark-Red's hoof. "What the he-" Dark-Red smashed the side of his head with the energy ball, making Kaor roll off him. Dark-Red got up and zoomed behind him. "OI!" Dark-Red held the ball and threw it at Kaor. There was a bang and a bright light. When the light was gone, Kaor was lying on the ground. "Until we meet again, Dark-Red." Kaor did a body spasm and fell limp. Dark-Red got up to his face. "DON'T MESS WITH ME, IDIOT! I AM FUELLED BY LOVE AND ANGER! NOTHING IN EQUESTRIA CAN STOP-" Dark-Red's eyes flickered back to his normal blood-red colour. Spectra looked down at the body and sighed. "I have GOT to learn to control Dark-Red." Spectra went over to the body and started shaking it. "Hey, buddy. Time to wake up." The unicorn groaned and got up. "Ooooh, man. What did Kaor do now?" The unicorn spotted Spectra. "Oh, I remember you. Spectra, right? You got me dinner for a month." Spectra was about to ask what he meant, before deciding not to. "Yeah, and no. Dark-Red got you dinner." The unicorn nodded. "Alright, see ya. The names Shadow Nova, by the way." Shadow walked in the direction of the Everfree Forest. Spectra shrugged. 'I'd live in the Everfree to if I had a demon.' 'Spectra, I have bad news. You're moving.' Spectra chuckles. 'Dark-Red is only dangerous to those wanting to hurt Rainbow Dash.' Spectra flies back u to his room and checks the clock. "The idiot woke me up at 6am." Spectra crawls into bed and falls asleep. -----Spectra's Mind----- Spectra was on a mountain, over looking Equestria. "Least it ain't a nightmare." "Indeed." Spectra turns to see Princess Luna sitting on a cloud. "I have something to tell you. You may not like it, but I hope we can still be friends." Spectra flies up to the cloud and sits down. "Sure, Luna. I know we can always be friends. I don't hate you or anyt-" Spectra stopped himself. "Wait a minute, did I just say 'friend' without twitching?" Luna nods and smiles. "Yes, yes you did. I guess finally having a friend made it stop." Spectra nods. "Yeah. I guess so. So, what'd ya wanna tell me?" Luna looks to her friend. "For you to understand, I must tell you a story. A story that dates back a thousand years ago, shortly after the defeat of Discord" -----One Thousand Years Ago, Canterlot----- Luna was walking down a hallway, leading to her bedroom. It was day time, and Celestia said she could take the day rule. "Hey, Luna!" Luna turns around to find a stallion pegasus running towards her and stopping just feet away from her. Luna giggles. "Star Burst! I'm not the same mare any more! You must show me respect! I'm the new princess!" Star rolls his eyes. "Oh, forgive me your majesty." Luna giggles. "What do you want from me, Star?" Star gets back up. "Can't I visit my marefriend once in a while without a reason? I just wanna be with you!" Star walks up to Luna and kisses her. "Come on, I have something to show ya!" Star flies out a window and Luna follows. When Star stops, they were at the top of a mountain. They could see to the far corners of Equestria from up there. Luna thought it was breath taking. "It's...it's beautiful!" Star leans on her. "Not as beautiful as you." When Star leaned away, Luna looked deep into his eyes. "Star, I love you, you know that right?" Star nods. "Yep, and I love you to." The couple kiss passionately on, literally, the top of the world. -----Spectra's Mind----- Spectra was smiling, but he was confused. "I don't get it. What happened to him?" Luna gave Spectra a sad look. "I eventually outlived him. When he died, the rage and sadness filled my heart. Turning me into Nightmare Moon." Spectra nods. "So, what's this got to do with me?" Luna looks around. "This is the mountain from the story." She turns her head towards Spectra. "Spectra, I love you."
Chapter VI - Unexpected VisitorSpectra stared at the princess for a few seconds before coming up with his response. "What." Luna shakes her head. "I know you're going to be married soon, and that I shouldn't push this onto you, but I had to say it." Spectra looks up to the sky. "Luna, I hope you understand that I cannot possibly love you back, right?" Luna's eyes were tearing up. "Yes, I realize this." Spectra nods. "Good. We can still be friends though, Luna." Luna looks up to the stallion with a smile. "Yes, I would like to stay friends with you." Spectra lies back and stares at the night sky. "Good. You're the best friend I've ever had, Luna." Luna giggles. "I'm the ONLY friend you've ever had." Spectra punches her in the shoulder lightly. "It sounds like your teasing me." Luna laughs. "I'm merely stating a fact." Spectra laughs, and so does Luna. The two ponies just lie back and enjoy each others company for a while. -----Cloud House----- Spectra woke up to some voices shouting from down on the hill below the house. "Oi! Oi, Spectra! Heeeeeey, mate!" Spectra looks to his left and sees Rainbow waking up. She sits up in bed and rubs her eyes. "Whajubuhza? Spectra, go see who it is." Rainbow flops back down onto the bed. Spectra flies out the window and looks down to see Shadow. Spectra rolls his eyes. "Not again." He flies down to the ground and gets into a fighting stance. "Look, mate, I can go Dark-Red again and have a repeat of what happened earlier." Shadow shakes his head. "No, mate! I want to apologize." Spectra was surprised to hear he had a similar accent to him. "Kaor told me what he did, and I felt bad about it. Could ya follow me to my house? I wanna talk to ya." Spectra drops out of his fighting stance and nods. "Sure, mate. Let me go tell Rainbow though." Spectra flies up to the window and sticks his head in. "Rainbow, I'm going out to a strange unicorns house who tried to kill me. You okay with that?" Rainbow waves a hoof in the air. "Sure, whatever. Go have fun." Spectra rolls his eyes. "Thanks for caring." Spectra flies back down to Shadow. "Lead the way." -----Shadow's House, Everfree Forest----- Spectra walked inside Shadows house. It was more of a cave, really. Spectra decided to go sit on the couch. Shadow went over to the fire pit. Hanging over it, was a pot boiling. It was filled with green goop. Spectra pointed to it. "Ummm, what's that?" Shadow took a spoon, dunked it in, and ate it. He turned to Spectra. "A Changeling Queen." Spectra was about to puke. "What!? You're...eating Chrysalis?! Why don't you eat normal stuff, like an apple or something?" Shadow put the spoon down and sat next to Spectra. "I grew up in this forest. Most of the plants or fruits in here are lethal. So, I had to grow up eating anything else I could find. Ever tried manticore before?" Spectra shakes his head. Shadow points to an icebox. "Do you want to try it?" Spectra was going green. Shadow laughed. "Mate, I'm joking!" Spectra sighed. "You don't have to eat the manticore, I will later." Spectra ran outside and threw up on a nearby bush. He walked back inside and sat back down on the couch. Spectra looked to Shadow's flank. "So, why don't you have a cutie mark?" Shadow looks to his flank and back to Spectra. "I do. My special talent is stealth." Spectra rolls his eyes. "Oh, yeah? Prove it." Shadow grins. "Alright then. Blink." Spectra blinks. Shadow was gone. Spectra rubbed his eyes and when he opened them, Shadow was back to where he was. "Woah. Wish my talent was as cool as yours." Shadow looks at Spectra's flank. "What's that supposed to be, anyway?" "Arguing. I am great at debates or arguments. When I win, the issue is solved, and creates a balance of harmony. That's what my cutie mark represents." Shadow shakes his head and gives Spectra a confused look. "Wow. Now I'm jealous of you." Spectra and Shadow share a laugh, before an idea strikes Spectra. "Hey, Shadow, It's been fun and all, but can you show me the way outta here?" Shadow stands up. "Sure, follow me." Spectra stands up and follows Shadow out of the Everfree Forest. Spectra doesn't return home, he instead continues on towards Vinyl's Club. He remembered a saying Rainbow once said two years ago when they were going out. =====FLASHBACK===== Spectra was playing a new song he threw together on Vinyl's turntable. Rainbow was listening with great interest. When the song finished, Rainbow put her hoof to her chin. "That was alright. It needs to be cooler. About 20% cooler." Spectra shrugged. "Alright. Vinyl! We need to amp this up! Drop the bass!" =====Present===== Spectra smiled and walked into Vinyl's Club. "Yo, Vinyl! We need a mix to make!" -----Cloud House----- Rainbow Dash woke up and looked around. Spectra was gone, but he left a note; 'Rainbow, meet me at Vinyl's Club. Love, Spectra.' "What's he doing with Vinyl?" She flies out the window and heads to Vinyl's Club. When she walked inside, it was pitch black. "Spectra!? Spectra!" The lights suddenly flash on. Spectra was holding a microphone, while Vinyl was behind her turntable. Spectra leans forward. "Hit it, Vinyl!" Some music turned on and the lights flashed different colours. Spectra puts the microphone to his mouth and starts singing. You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting 20 percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting 20 percent cooler 7 colors in your hair Get your boots on dear 'cause we're going out there Don't care 'bout the dress code Put it on, let's go Girls go wild 'cause we're going "al fresco" Ha! No need to perform Hands on our bodies gonna keep our skills warm We need social reform 'cause we're just so criminal Linguist subliminal, damages minimal Top percentile, largest fraction Massive attraction, girl-on-girl action Stop that, I'm gonna need a redaction Drop that, you already got your reaction Me? I'm gonna keep on smiling You? You're gonna need restyling I got the quote back From the jeweler You're getting twenty percent cooler You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting twenty percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler Shhh Reduce that treble There's an 8 or 9 who think they're on my level Like a rebel in a bunker getting shelled with a mortar Bump up and down 'cause I think you oughta Place your hand on my thigh Don't be coy, I can hear you sigh Grinding your hips, I'll be flashing my pink And in ten seconds flat you'll be back with a drink Wooo! Bring out the Bacardi Twilight Sparkle up in the party Tap that, like a phone in the cold war Room on the third floor, knocking at my front door Me? I'm kind of a Rarity You? Work that dexterity Lean back now, here's what I meant Getting cooler by twenty percent Yeah I own this beat You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting twenty percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler We're getting twenty percent cooler Yeah I own this beat You can call me the king or the ruler Felon on bass, getting hoarse at the mic We're getting twenty percent cooler We had a great day out Calling my name like Ferris Bueller It's time to wrap this up We're getting twenty percent cooler When the song finished, Spectra looked to Rainbow expectantly, her jaw was on the floor. Spectra frowned. "That bad, huh?" Rainbow flew up on stage, ran up to Spectra and kissed him. "Are you kidding?! That was awesome!" Spectra smiled and hugged her. "Good to hear you liked it." -----2 Weeks Later, Hill Below Cloud House----- Spectra, Rainbow Dash and their friends were on a hill, enjoying a picnic. They were talking about how their jobs were doing, when everypony noticed Spike running up the hill with a scroll in his claw. He ran up to Twilight panting. "Twilight...huh....the princess....huh.....sent you a letter!" Twilight picks the letter up with her magic and reads it. She looks to everypony on the hill. "The princess wants to give me a test? And she says to bring all of my friends with me to Canterlot!" Spectra twitched. "Celestia damnnit! I thought that went away!" Twilight and everypony else giggles. "Come on, everypony. Let's get on the train." -----Outside Of The Royal Castle----- Twilight had gone inside the castle alone, leaving Spectra and everypony else outside. Luna walked up to Spectra and the group. Everypony bowed, except for Spectra. "'Sup, Luna?" AJ grabbed Spectra and bent him over. "Show sum respect fer the Princess, Spectra!" Spectra wrenches his way out of AJ's grip. "I don't have to bow to my best friend." Spectra runs up to Luna and gives her a hug. Everypony's jaws were on the ground. Luna giggles at their reactions. "What brings you to Canterlot, Spectra?" Spectra released his grip. "Celestia said she wanted to see Twilight about some 'test' and to bring her friends with her." Luna nods. "It would be best if I went inside to." Spectra nods as well. "See ya later, Lulu!" Luna walks up to the doors and giggles. "Bye, Spectra." She opens the doors and walks in. The group wait a long time before Twilight comes out of the castle. When she does, she springs out and lands with a thump on her hooves. "Listen everypony, we've been given a mission!" Spectra rolls his eyes. "I guess I'm coming along as a sort of bodyguard due to Dark-Red, right?" Twilight shakes her head. "No, all of you are coming with me!" Everypony looked to each other. Rarity stepped forward. "Darling, where are we going?" Twilight puffed out her chest. "To The Crystal Empire!"
Chapter VIII - Unlikely AllySpectra was walking to Fluttershy's cottage in the afternoon. He wanted to see how the Lightning Wing, Sparks, was doing. How much he had grown, if he was healthy, how behaved he was and all that. Rainbow Dash was training. Performing stunts and doing tricks in the hopes of getting into the Wonderbolts. Spectra forgot about Spitfire's offer to go to the stadium and race a few laps with her. He promised himself he would do it soon. He was nearing the cottage, when suddenly, a black shape jumped in front of him. He staggered back a bit and looked up at the black being. It had holes in it's legs, with big light blue eyes, fangs and wings to go. It was a Changeling. Spectra entered a fighting stance and turned on Dark-Red. "WHAT DO YOU WANT!?" The Changeling recoiled a bit at his volume. "Ah! I'm sorry! I just wanted to thank you for stopping Queen Chrysalis!" The Changeling threw his hooves up in front of his face. Dark-Red gave him a confused look, and turned back into Spectra. He walked up to the Changeling, about a metre away from him. "What? You're happy that I killed off you're queen?" The Changeling put his hooves down and gave Spectra a sad look. "Yes. I have been fighting the Hive Mind for years, but I could never break free. The Hive Mind controls what we do, and I didn't like what it made us do. So I tried fighting it. But other Changelings will come after you, for destroying their queen." Spectra shakes his head ands walks up to the Changeling. "Even if they send all the Changelings at me, Dark-Red will hold them off." The Changeling nodded. "I saw what he did. He made quite the mess." Spectra laughed. "At least Shadow cleaned it up, eh? Hehe." Spectra holds his hoof out to the Changeling. "Names Spectra, mate." The Changeling brohoofed him. "My name is Aeb." Spectra looked left and right, then back to Aeb. "Wanna come with me? I'm going to check on this animal I gave to somepony." Aeb jumped up and nodded. The next second, in a flash of green, he was a grey coated pegasus with a green mane and tail, with the cutie mark of a green lightning bolt. (Authors Note: Sorry, EW, If I get Aeb's description wrong. I was too lazy to search through FotW to find it. XD) "Sure, I'll tag along." The duo walked over to Fluttershy's cottage and knocked on the door. "Who is it?" "Hey, Fluttershy, it' me Spectra! I've got a mate with me!" Spectra found that saying "mate" instead of "friend" was a better choice. "I'll be there in a second!" Fluttershy opened the door a few seconds later. "What can I do for you Spec- AH!" She looked at Aeb and hid behind her mane. This made Aeb look to the ground in shame. Spectra leaned into his ear and whispered. "She's like this with everypony she first meets. Don't worry." Spectra looked back at Fluttershy. "Hey, Fluttershy, how's Sparks doing?" "Oh, he's....um....fine." Spectra looked at her questioningly. "Can...we come inside?" Fluttershy stepped to the side and Spectra looked around for the little bird of thunder. He found him perched up against the window. When Sparks turned his head around and saw Spectra, he flew straight towards Spectra and landed on his shoulder. Sparks started preening his feathers, which were made of lighting bolts. Brilliant. "Well, he looks okay to me. He seemed to have missed me." Fluttershy stepped in front of Spectra. "He hasn't eaten anything I give him! He refuses to eat anything, actually." Spectra walked into the kitchen, Sparks still seated on his shoulder. Spectra looked around and found a leaf of lettuce. He grabbed it and held it up to Sparks, who happily ate the leaf. "There. I think he'll only eat stuff I give him. Hmmm...." Fluttershy smiled. "Well, then you can have him, if you want him that is." Spectra stared at Fluttershy for a few seconds, then looked to Sparks. "Alright, I'll keep him. I'd like some company when I'm bored anyway. I'll go into town and buy some food for him, Fluttershy." Spectra and Aeb stepped out of the cottage with Sparks perched on Spectra's shoulder. Spectra and Aeb headed to town. "Hey, Spectra? Can we be friends?" Spectra twitched. 'Celestia help me.' 'I can help!' Spectra rolled his eyes. "Sorry, Aeb. It takes a lot of time for somepony to become my 'friend'." Twitch. Aeb looked ahead with a disheartened look. "Yeah, I understand. I'll be seeing ya?" Spectra nods. "Where ya living?" Aeb turns his head towards the Everfree Forest. "In the Everfree Castle." Spectra nods. "Oh, by the way, look out for a unicorn with the colour scheme of the grim reaper." Aeb gives him a weird look. "Um..Why?" "He eats anything that moves." Aeb looked terrified. "I'll keep an eye out. See ya, Spectra. Bye, Sparks." Sparks cheeped, and Aeb headed to the Everfree Castle. Spectra and Sparks walk into town and look for stuff to do. -----Hours Later----- Spectra and Sparks fly home and put all the things they bought on the table. Rainbow Dash flew in through the door, and landed next to Spectra. "Hey, Spectra. How'd it go at Flut-" She looked at his shoulder and saw Sparks. "Sparks liked me, it must be like a phoenix. It is a very loyal creature. He reminded me of you." Rainbow blushed and sat on the couch. "Well, at least Tank has a friend now." Spectra nods. "Yeah, where is that turtle anyway?" "Tortoise. And he's outside walking around." Spectra placed Sparks on a perch he bought and placed next to the front door. "Okay, Sparks. Stay here. I'm gunna go to Twilights and learn more about these powers Alicorn's can bestow. I want to control Dark-Red fully. See ya Rainbow! Bye, Sparks!" Spectra flew out the door, leaving Rainbow and Sparks alone. "He's been obsessing over Dark-Red for a weeks now. I wish he would remember that were getting married in a few days! Thank god we let Pinkie sort everything out." Sparks was preening himself, and again, lightning feathers were falling to the floor and zapping the floors. -----Spectra's Perspective, Twilights Library----- Spectra was reading through the fourth book of the night, and he was getting tired. So far, all he found out was that only 3 ponies have received the power of the Alicorn's Blessing, as it was called a long time ago. Himself, Shinning Armour (This book is really up to date.) and Star Burst. Spectra knew about both of them. What Spectra didn't know, was Star Bursts ability he received. None of the books could say what Star's power was, so Spectra packed up his things and left the library. When Spectra made it home he flew up to the cloud him and Luna always meet up at, and sure enough, she was there. "Hello, Spectra." "Hey Luna." Spectra and Luna talked about random stuff for a few minutes. Spectra was rubbing his eyes a lot in exhaustion. Luna noticed this. "Your body has not adapted to staying up so late all the time like mine has, Spectra. You must promise me you will sleep in tommorow morning." Spectra nods. "I promise. Hey, Luna?" "Yes, Spectra?" "What was the power Star Burst got? I read that he was one of 3 to receive a power from an Alicorn's Blessing." Luna gave a sad look to Spectra. "His power was the same as yours." Spectra laughed. "Wow, so I'm not the only unlucky pony to recieve a bad power?" Luna glared at Spectra, then the glare turned into one of sadness again. "I...I didn't outlive him like I said..." Spectra looked at Luna, confused. "He...well...." -----Few Years After Discord's Defeat----- Luna and Celestia were sitting atop their thrones, talking with some ponies about some business to move from the Everfree Castle and live on top of the mountain near the forest. When suddenly, a guard ran in, panting and covered in cuts and bruises. "Your majesty, an Ursa Major is attacking the castle!" Star Burst stepped forward from next to Luna. "What!?" Luna walked up next to him and gave him a kiss. "Calm down, Star. Look at me. I'm fine. Don't get angry. Calm down." Star started calming down, he gave Luna a smile. And when he did the Ursa ran into the throne room. Star's eyes glowed dark blue. "Oh, no. Not this again." "LISTEN TO ME YOU STUPID EXCUSE FOR A BEAR! I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!" "No! Star, calm down!" Star Burst turned to Luna, his eyes were glowing dark blue. "I AM NOT STAR BURST! I AM DARK-STAR!" Dark-Star turns to the Ursa. "YOU THREATEN MY KINGDOM, I KILL YOU!" Dark-Star runs at the Ursa, jumps up and smashes it in the snout,, sending it flying back out the throne room. Dark-Star charges after it. "Star Burst! No!" Celestia runs up to her sister. "We don't have time to save him! We must flee!" Luna turns to her sister, eyes full of tears. "No! I'm going to save him!" Luna runs out the doors, accompanied by Celestia. "Then I won't leave your side." When they get to Dark-Star and the Ursa, they were fighting on the cliff near the castle. Blue-Giant sidestepped a swipe from the Ursa. "OH, YEAH? TAKE THIS!" Dark-Star charges at the Ursa's feet, making it stagger over, and fall over the cliff. But, before the Ursa falls down, it grabs Star's wings. Star and the Ursa are sent crashing down the mountain side. Luna ran up to the edge and looked over. Below was jagged rocks and a river. Star Burst and the Ursa are gone. Luna starts crying a lot. "NO! STAR! WHY!" Celestia runs up to her sister and gives her a hug. The sisters stay there, on the cliff, until Luna stopped crying. They went back and saw the damage that occurred to the castle. Celestia looks around. "We may need to move to the mountain, sister. Sister?" Celestia looks back to see Luna was glowing dark blue. "I am no longer, Luna. The rage and sadness has made me...." Dark clouds swirled around Luna, and when the disappeared, she was wearing armour, and she was taller. "....Nightmare Moon!" -----Present----- "I think you can guess what happens after." Spectra nods. "Star is starting to sound more and more like me each time I hear about him. Strange huh?" Luna nods. Then her face lights up. She looks to Spectra. "Hey, Speedy?" Spectra shudders at the new nickname. "Don't call me that. And yeah, Luna?" Luna giggles. "You're right. You do act like Star. He hated being called 'Starry'." Spectra looked at Luna for a few seconds, before laughing heartily. Luna soon joined in. When they were done, Spectra looks up to the night sky. "Hey, Luna? You're invited to my wedding, okay? Just ask Pinkie for an invite. It's in a few days." Luna looked to Spectra and smiled. "Thank you, Spectra." Spectra shrugged. "It's what friends do. Wait a minute." Spectra didn't twitch at "friend". He looked to Luna. "I guess having a friend around, helps out." Luna giggles. "Indeed." Spectra flies up to his window, and looks back at Luna. "See you again? Same time tommorow?" Luna looks to Spectra and smiles warmly. "Yes, Spectra. Pleasant dreams." Spectra laughs. "I wish. See ya, Luna." "Bye, Spectra." Spectra flew back inside and cuddled up next to Rainbow, who had her back to him, and was awake and heard the whole story. She had tears in her eyes and prayed to Celestia something like that didn't happen to Spectra. 'Please, Celestia, keep him safe.' She heard Spectra snore, and she giggled. She turned around and faced Spectra, gave him a kiss, cuddled him and fell asleep.
Chapter IX - The Marriage Of Spectra And RainbowToday's the day. Today is the day that Spectra and Rainbow get married. Neither of them could be any happier. Although, if they were in the same room, it would make it better. Pinkie hosted the wedding outside in a giant tent. Spectra was in a separate tent, with Shadow Nova, Aeb, Sparks and Luna. Aeb looked absolutely terrified of Shadow, Sparks was perched on top of the mirror Spectra was in front of, and Luna was next to Spectra. He was wearing the tuxedo Rarity gave him to go on his and Rainbow's date, the one he proposed on. Spectra was sweating bullets. He was so nervous about everything. Luna was sitting on a pillow next to Spectra, Lunar Guards were outside the door. Luna was trying to calm Spectra down. "Spectra, Equestria isn't in a state of war between another species or anything, why are you so nervous? Usually you're confident and out going!" Spectra looked to Luna with worried eyes. "What if something happens? Like, if Rainbow thought it over, and ran away and didn't want to marry me? What if-" He was interrupted by Luna smacking him across the face. She grabbed him and pulled him in closer to her face. "Rainbow loves you way too much to do that! If she does run away or not want to marry you, I'll promise to give you the kingdom of Canterlot!" Spectra shook his head and made a weird noise while doing it. "Blahlahlahlahlahlah! Alright, sorry Luna. I'll try and keep my cool." Luna smiled and nodded. "Glad to hear it. Hey, Shadow? How do you think he looks?" Shadow looked Spectra over. Shadow smiled and chuckled. "I think he looks like a complete idiot. But if you're getting married, you have to look the part, right?" Spectra laughed. "I guess." Aeb smiles. "I think you look cool. Sorta like a secret agent or something." Spectra chuckles. "Cheers, mate." Luna looked at Spectra curiously. Spectra noticed this. "What?" "....I don't know where I have heard your accent before...." Spectra shrugs. "Ask my parents. If you can bring ponies back from the dead." Spectra laughs and looks at Luna, she didn't laugh. "I wish I could, Spectra." Spectra and the group remained quiet for a while, before Shadow spoke up. "Can we go, yet? Honestly." Luna nods. "Yes, Spectra, head up to the altar, whilst me, Aeb and Shadow will be in the front row. We will be silently cheering you on." Spectra nods. "Alright, lets go." The group head inside the tent holding the wedding of the pegasus couple. There was cyan coloured streamers everywhere, dark blue decorations. There was an altar with a flower covered arc right behind it. There were rows and rows of seats for ponies to sit on, only a few ponies were present. Spectra didn't recognize many of them. Spectra walked up to the altar and stood there, waiting for his wife to come up and marry him. -----Rainbow Dash's Perspective----- Rainbow was inside a tent separate from Spectra's, and she was worrying her pretty head off. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Twilight were inside with her. Nopony knew where Pinkie Pie was, and nopony wanted to know. Rarity was busy putting Rainbow's dress on her, Twilight was reading a book on marriage, Fluttershy was sitting next to Rainbow, talking with her, and Applejack was sitting the opposite side of Fluttershy next to Rainbow. "Rainbow, why ya all nervous? Arn't ya excited?" Rainbow nodded furiously. "Yeah, I'm excited. But I can't help but worry!" Fluttershy gave Rainbow a warm, happy smile. "What are you so worried about? You love Spectra with all your heart, he loves you with more then his heart, what more could you ask for?" Rainbow looked to Fluttershy with a worried look. "That's just it! What if he doesn't love me!? What if he runs off!? What if-" AJ turned Rainbow's head around and gave her a slap. "Rainbow! Think about the words in ya head before speakin' em! Why would he run away?! He loves ya! And if he never loved you, I'll give ya my apple orchard!" Rainbow shook her head and calmed down. "Right, right. Sorry, AJ. Sorry everypony." AJ and Fluttershy nodded. Rarity walked around Rainbow. "I've finished! And may I say, you look lovely!" Rainbow looked at herself in a mirror and gasped. "Wow. He's gunna be stunned! Thank you, Rare!" Rarity waved a hoof. "Think nothing of it, darling." Rainbow nods. "Should we go out yet?" Twilight runs up to her. "NO! According to my book, you have to make the stallion wait a really long time! Not only will that let all the guests get here before it starts, but it'll make Spectra want you even more!" Rainbow laughs. "Twilight, you're such an egghead. Alright, lets wait girls." -----Spectra's Perspective----- Spectra had been waiting for ages. He was starting to get bored, and so was everypony else. All the seats were full and Spectra could swear he could hear boredom just emanate from them. Spectra looked around and found a band set to his side. He got an idea. He ran back into his room and fetched Melody. He ran back inside and went up to Aeb and Shadow. "Do either of you know how to play instruments?" They both nodded. 'How does Shadow know how to play instruments?' 'Magic for all I care.' "Then come up with me. Let's play some tunes!" -----Rainbow's Perspective----- Rainbow and her friends did as Twilight said and waited a long time. For a while, they just chatted, until they heard music play from inside the tent. "Am I missing my own wedding?" They all exited the tent and entered the main room. Inside, Spectra was playing Melody with a microphone up to mouth height, Aeb was at the drums and Shadow was with another guitar. The song was one Rainbow had never heard before. "Spectra must've wrote it." Her friends sat down in the rows and smiled. Rainbow stood in the middle of the walkway, Spectra hadn't noticed her. "There's a chance that I could fall And not come back And never regret a thing I'd never get back on track Darkness all around me, I can't find the light, I let it all surround me, Giving up without a fight. The bitterness and pain inside, Countless tears I had to cry, I was facing all my fears, Just to let you in To dry my tears, but Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, I choose to not let go, Stretching out you somehow reach me, I know this can't be wrong, I'm ready, won't you teach me Your song of kindness Quiet grace surrounds you, And helps me find my own, I can't tell you how you've helped me, And how much I have grown, Even though you're far away, Inspiration comes from you, To shine a littler brighter every day, If you only knew... I will never get upset, And I will never, ever forget, The happiness you made me feel, Almost as if you're actually real, but Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, I choose to not let go, Stretching out you somehow reach me, I know this can't be wrong, I'm ready, won't you teach me Your song of kindness Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, In a way you'll never know. Your kindness won't betray me, I feel your heart and soul, Your kindness still can save me, I choose to not let go, Stretching out you somehow reach me, I know this can't be wrong, I'm ready, won't you teach me The way to get along, Even when the cold wind's blowing, And I want to just give in, It warms my heart just knowing, I'll hear your voice again, So won't you sing it loud, And won't you sing it long, I promise to remember, Your song of kindness I promise to remember. I promise to remember..." (Authors Note: I know its a Fluttershy song. Don't remind me.) Everypony cheered. Aeb and Shadow got down, smiling, and walked back to their seats. Spectra slowly opened his eyes and spotted Rainbow. His jaw dropped. Rainbow walked up to the altar with a grin. She motioned with her head for him to come up with her. He put Melody away and walked up to her. "You're absolutely beautiful." Rainbow blushed and giggled. "You look handsome." Princess Celestia walked inside the tent and walked up to the altar. Everypony bowed, but when the couple tried to bow, she stopped them. "This is a day for you two to remember. Don't bow to me today. Enjoy today." The couple nod and let Celestia walk up to the front of the altar. She turned and faced everypony. "Mares, and Gentlecolts. Today, we are here to witness the marriage of one Spectra Speed, or 'Speedy',...." Spectra looked at Luna, who giggled and grinned. "....and one Rainbow Dash, or 'Dashie'. They have shown complete love, loyalty and devotion to each other, and nothing less. They want to make this love for each other official, by getting married. Spectra, say your vows." Spectra nodded and looked at Rainbow. "Rainbow, ever since that day two years ago when you crashed into me, I've had the best times of my life with you. I've never had someone care for me so much as you have for me. And for that, I thank you. I want to make more happy memories with you by spending the rest of my life with you." Rainbow was tearing up, and resisted the urge to leap at Spectra and kiss him. "Now, Rainbow, you will say yours." Rainbow nodded and got a happy face. "Spectra, I don't regret ever meeting you. I've treasured each and every moment that we have spent with each other. When I first met you, I didn't know that I would soon fall in love with you, but I would never say that I regret loving you. You may have a dark past, but I'm always here for you, and I always will be." Spectra put a goofy smile on. "Great, now mine sounds bad." Everypony was thrown into hysterics. Even Celestia was laughing a lung out, she was coughing and laughing at the same time. When everypony calmed down, Celestia looked down at the two ponies. "And now, Spectra, do you promise to love and to care for Rainbow Dash?" Spectra looked at Rainbow with a smile. "I do." "And do you promise to take whatever fate may throw at you along side her?" Spectra nodded. "I do." "Rainbow Dash, do you promise to love and to care for Spectra Speed?" Rainbow smiled. "I do." "And do you promise to take whatever fate may throw at you along side him?" Rainbow was almost crying. "I do." Celestia nodded. A Celestial Guard came from behind her holding a ring with a small chunk of Galaxy Diamond in it. She gave it to Rainbow, who put it on Spectra's hoof. "Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Spectra grabbed Rainbow and gave her the most passionate and loving kiss he could muster. Everypony was cheering, and some were crying tears of joy. When the couple pulled away, Spectra looked at his friend, Luna was smiling a massive smile. Aeb was holding Shadow in a one-armed hug, with them both cheering. Rainbow looked over to her friends, all of them were crying, but they were standing up and cheering at the same time. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie appears next to the couple. "Come on! It's time to party!" Pinkie disappeared and reappeared behind a giant DJ Table, which nopony noticed before. She reaches down and pulls Vinyl up. "What!? What am I doing here? Oh, a DJ table? Alright! Let's party!" Vinyl started playing some beats and a wicked song started playing. Spectra and Rainbow were dancing together on the dance floor.(all they did was move the chairs out of the way) Spectra and Rainbow were the happiest couple in Equestria that day, and nopony could take that away from them. After everypony had left, only Spectra, Shadow, Luna, Aeb, Sparks, Rainbow and her friends were left. "Thank you everypony. That was truly a great experience for me. I must return to Canterlot now. Congratulations, Spectra and Rainbow Da- I guess we have to call you Rainbow Speed now, right?" Rainbow looked at Spectra and smiled. "Yeah. I'm Mrs. Rainbow Speed now." Luna nodded and smiled. "Take care." Luna walks outside and flies off. Everypony else headed off home. When Spectra and Rainbow got home, they threw off their clothing and placed it in the closet. Spectra and Rainbow lied down in bed and....well....take a guess. After they were done, Spectra was holding Rainbow in a hug, smiling. She had fallen asleep ages ago, so he soon drifted off to sleep. He fully expected another nightmare. But, he got a dream. In it, he was flying through the open sky, with Rainbow right next to him. Just soaring the skies, having an absolute blast.
Chapter X - Return Of A GodIt had been a week since Spectra and Rainbow got married. All had been well, and they were both very happy with each other. They would almost always be found soaring through the skies, training and practising. They were one of the richest pegasus couple in Equestria, so they didn't need to do any jobs to earn money. They could be found helping out ponies with their jobs, or they could be found enjoying each others company, at a table eating some food. But today, they were in a meadow, enjoying another picnic, with their friends; Shadow, Aeb, Sparks, Twilight, Pinkie, AJ, Fluttershy, Spike and Rarity. All of them weren't talking much, just enjoying the day that Celestia bestowed upon them. Spike was eating a ruby salad when he suddenly burped up a letter from the princess. He unfurled it, closed his eyes and cleared his throat. "To my faithful student, Twilight, I'm coming over to Ponyville with a special guest. Meet us near the Everfree Forest entrance with all your friends. From, Princess Celestia." Twilight looked to all present. She looked to Shadow and Aeb. "You two want to come with us?" They both shook their heads. "Nah, I gotta get home. That manticore meat's about to spoil." Shadow got up and left, leaving everypony with green faces, except Spectra. "I have to go make sure no animals got inside the castle. Bye, everypony." Aeb got up and headed for the Everfree Forest. Twilight looked to Spectra, or actually, she looked to Spectra then to Sparks. Spectra turned his head to Sparks. "Alright, mate. Time for you to head home." Sparks nodded then took off towards Spectra and Rainbow's home. Twilight then nodded. "Okay, lets go." The group of ponies headed towards the entrance of the Everfree Forest. They waited there for roughly 30 minutes. Spectra and Rainbow were lying next to each other. Spectra was holding her with his foreleg, with her head on his chest. "Hey, Spectra?" "Yeah, Rainbow?" Rainbow lifted her head up and looked at Spectra. "You know what you said a long time ago? About having a family? Did you mean it?" Spectra nodded and kissed her forehead. "Of course I meant it. You have no idea how much I would love to have my own little filly to call a daughter." Rainbow smiled. "Look! It's the princess!" Rainbow got off Spectra and let him up. The princess was in a sky chariot. Flying next to her was another sky chariot, with something in it. When they both landed, everypony gasped. Inside the other chariot was the Discord Statue. Spectra grinned, while everypony else had their jaws open. "G'day, Discord." 'Evening, Spectra.' Rainbow looked at Spectra. "Who are you talking to?" 'Oops.' "Uuuummmm.....uhhhhh...." Celestia walked up to the group. "Spectra can hear Discord at all times inside his head." Everypony gasped and backed away from Spectra, except for Rainbow. "Do not fear. Spectra is not dangerous. However, Spectra, what is Discord saying right now?" 'I'd like to say that Celestia can shove a banana up her-' "He says hi." Celestia laughs. "I can hear him to Spectra. Do not lie to me." "Oh. I just didn't want to repeat that." Celestia nods. "I can understand that." Twilight was suddenly right in front of Spectra's face. "HOW LONG HAS DISCORD BEEN INSIDE YOUR HEAD!? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US EARLIER?!" Rainbow ran into Twilight and shoved her away from Spectra. "Back off, Twilight! Spectra, how long?" Spectra walked up to the Discord statue and looked up at it. "He's been inside my head since the night you let me sleep inside your room, Rainbow." "But that was over two years ago!" "I know." Spectra looked to Celestia. "Why did you bring him here?" "To reform him. And I'm sure only one of you can do so." Spectra looked around. "Me? Look we might talk all the time but still-" "No. Not you. Fluttershy." Spectra looked around to Fluttershy, who was shaking. "M-m-m-me?" "Yes, Fluttershy. I believe that only you can reform Discord to use his magic for good." Fluttershy shook her head. "I-I-I c-can't!" Celestia looked at Fluttershy pleadingly. "Please, Fluttershy. At least try." Fluttershy calmed down, looked to her friends and nodded. "I-I-I'll t-try." Celestia nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Fluttershy." Celestia turned to her guards and nodded. They pull out a chest from behind the chariot and lifted it over to Twilight. She opened it and placed the Elements Of Harmony on her friends. "I best be off, Twilight. If Discord gives you any incentive to turn him back to stone, do it." Celestia hoped on her chariot and flew off, leaving the Discord Statue on the ground. The 6 friends surrounded the statue and all nodded. Rainbow turned around and looked at her husband. "You better back up a bit, Spectra." Spectra backed away from the group. They slowly rose in the air with a white light emanating from them. Spectra was blinded by the light. When he opened his eyes, he saw Discord stretching. "Oooooh! Ohohohoh! Well, it's about time somepony released me from that stone prison!" Spectra walked up to him and smiled. "Nice to finally meet you, Discord." Discord kept stretching, but looked to Spectra. "Ah! Hello, Spectra! I've seen you have grown a lot since we last met!" Discord snapped his fingers while in mid stretch and turned a little squirrel into a massive hulk. Everypony gasped but Spectra, who was rolling on the ground laughing. "That. Is. Hilarious! HAHAHAHA!" Twilight stomped her hoof down. "What do you think you're doing?" "Why, stretching of course!" He snapped his fingers in mid stretch again and turned a small bunny into another hulk. Spectra was laughing harder. Rainbow turned to her husband. "Spectra! Don't laugh at it!" Spectra kept laughing and talked in between breaths. "But! *Huh* It's! *Huh* FUNNY!" Rainbow rolled her eyes and flew up to Discord. "Turn those creatures back to normal!" Discord stopped stretching and looked at Rainbow. "Excuse me, Mrs.Speed!" Fluttershy flew up to Discord. "You turn those animals back to normal right now or else me and my friends will put you back in that stone prison!" Discord gave Fluttershy a defeated look. "Oh, all right. Fine!" Discord snapped his fingers and turned the animals back to normal. "Ah, well. I guess I know who I'm going to be bunking with!" Fluttershy appears in his arms in a hug. "I'm staying with Fluttershy!" He started cackling madly, and Spectra stopped laughing. "Okay, let's go to my cottage now." Everypony followed Fluttershy to her cottage, Discord was floating next to her while Spectra and Rainbow were flying next to each other. "I don't like him, Spectra." Spectra shrugged. "You just have to get to know him like I have." "I hope he doesn't get the chance." Spectra and Rainbow flew next to each other the rest of the way to Fluttershy's cottage. -----Fluttershy's Cottage----- Discord was lying on a couch in Fluttershy's cottage. Everypony else was near the door, away from Discord. Spectra and Fluttershy were next to him, however. "Now, Discord. I must teach you how to be a good friend, alright?" Discord smiled and nodded. "Of, course, Fluttershy! I wouldn't dream of not being a good friend! I've been a good friend to Spectra, haven't I?" Spectra twitched every time they said "friend". "Discord, you haven't been so much a fri- a mate to me as much as just somepony to talk to." Discord raised an eyebrow. "You're still not used to hearing 'friend'?" Spectra twitched. "HAHAHAHA! Friend! Friend! Friend! Friend!" Spectra kept twitching until he couldn't take it any more. "STOP IT, DISCORD!" Discord and everypony else looked at Spectra in shock. When his eyes stopped glowing dark red, he backed away from Discord. "If you want my friendship..." Twitch. "...do not do that again." Discord sighs. "Alright. Fine. I promise to never do that again." Spectra smiles and nods. 'Great, now I might be friends with two god like creatures.' Everypony started leaving the cottage. Rainbow and Spectra flew home. Spectra noticed that Rainbow was still wearing her element. "Why have you got the Element Of Loyalty still on?" "Twilight said that we have to wear them in case Discord decides to go bad again." Spectra and Rainbow flew home and did some flight training and went to sleep. -----The Next Day----- Spectra awoke to a gross sound. He got up and tried to track it down. He found that it was coming from the bathroom. Spectra knocked on the door. "What?" Rainbow's voice came from the other side. "Rainbow, you alright? Want me to get ya something?" "No, Spectra, I'm fine. We still going to Sugar Cube Corner today?" "Not if you're like this!" "I said I'm fine!" Spectra shook his head. "Alright, let me know when you're ready." Spectra turned and walked to the lounge room. Inside the bathroom, Rainbow was looking at a pregnancy tester. "Oh my god. I'm pregnant." She looked at the door Spectra was at and smiled. "We are going to have a family, Spectra. When I tell you, you'll be jumping over the moon." She turned her head back into the toilet. -----A Few Minutes Later----- Spectra and Rainbow were walking down the street, heading to Sugar Cube Corner. They were going to buy some cupcakes and then go home, but Discord suddenly ran in front of Spectra. "OH! Spectra! Go Dark-Red and smash them!" He hid behind Spectra as a pack of Timberwolves were running up to Discord. "What did you do to them!? You know how much it takes to get them to come out of the Everfree?!" "I didn't do much I just, um, walked in on their feeding time." "Arrgghh! Alright fine. I'll take care of them." Dark-Red raised his hoof and shot a fireball at the Timberwolves. They caught fire and burnt up into ash. "AH! Thank you, Dark-Red!" Spectra rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You going back to Fluttershy's yet?" Discord shot up and gave a frustrated look. "I wanted to actually hang out with you, Spectra. We talked to each other for over two years and still we haven't truly hung out." Spectra turned to Rainbow. "This alright with you, Dashie?" Rainbow glares at Discord. "Be careful, Spectra." Spectra kisses Rainbow on the cheek. "Since when am I not?" Rainbow turns and smiles at Spectra. She keeps turns around and heads home. "Let's go for a treat at Sugar Cube Corner!" Discord grabs Spectra and teleports them inside Sugar Cube Corner. "Pinkie! Oh, Pinkie!" Pinkie Pie appears out of nowhere in front of the draconequus. "Hi, Discord! What ya want?" "Can me and Spectra here have a cupcake?" "Why, sure! Here ya go!" Pinkie had pulled 2 cupcakes out of nowhere. Neither Discord nor Spectra were phased by this. "Thank you, Pinkie." As Discord says thank you, he does a little bow and hands Spectra one of the cupcakes. The god of chaos and Spectra sat down at a nearby table. "So, Spectra, what's new? I've heard that you beat Spitfire and Soarin in a 20 Lap Race, you over lapped them twice!" Spectra chuckles and nods. "Yeah. I'm not much of a speed freak." "But can't you also do a Sonic Rainboom? I'm pretty sure that if you trained harder and harder, you'd be able to do a SuperSonic Rainboom." Discord took a bite of the cupcake as he finished his sentence. He looked to Spectra, who had his head cocked to the left. "SuperSonic Rainboom?" Discord was now staring at Spectra with his jaw hanging. "You don't know what a SuperSonic Rainboom is? Well, granted, that the last pony to do one lived over a thousand years ago. A SuperSonic Rainboom is when you're in the middle of a Sonic Rainboom, then you go faster." Spectra had his jaw hanging now. "How fast?" Discord counted his claws and looked in deep thought. "About 2.35x faster then a normal Rainboom." Spectra looked shocked. "WHAT?!" "There's a reason I said the last pony to do it was over a thousand years ago. Celestia made them banned. Only 2 ponies have ever done one. One of them was a pegasus named Sirius, another was a pegasus named Star Burst." Spectra was eating his cupcake in the middle of Discord's explanation. When Spectra heard Star Bursts name, he nearly choked. "W-W-What!? Star Burst did one?" Discord nodded. "He did one on the night he and Luna became a couple. He flew over the castle and nearly shattered the interior." Spectra was barely able to take all this in. "So, why should I be able to do one? Celestia made them illegal." Discord waved a paw. "Celestia hasn't reinforced it in a thousand years. She made it illegal the day I lost my throne, when she was writing out Equestria's new law system." Spectra nodded. "So, it's no longer illegal?" Discord nodded. "However, you would hurt yourself very badly. If you break to fast, you will be thrown literally at the fabric of space-time. You have to slow down properly, unlike what Sirius did. Poor pony. Anyway, Star Burst managed to slow down properly, but overshot the castle by miles. He had to fly back. I have no doubt, Spectra, that if you tried hard enough, you could do one." Spectra shrugged. "I'm not interested in racing, much." Discord leaned in. "Then what are you interested in?" Spectra looked up at Discord. "I'm interested in history, which is why I was selling drugs back in Manehatten. I was going to save up and go to the University Of Manehatten, to study Archaeology." Discord nodded. "That's a good career aspect, Spectra. But what happened to studying Archaeology?" Spectra looked around and motioned his hoof. "I moved here. Manehatten sucked, so I moved." Discord leaned in. "There is another university that teaches Archaeology. Canterlot University." Spectra shook his head. "No way. I'm not leaving Rainbow again. I don't think either of us could take it." Discord leaned back. "If she truly loves you, wouldn't she let you go pursue you dreams?" Spectra held his hoof on his chin. Discord got up and started for the door. He turned his head. "Think about it, Spectra. Talk it over with her." Spectra looked up at him and nodded. "Thank you, Discord. You're a great friend." Discord looked back at Spectra. He didn't twitch. Discord looked away. "You're welcome, Spectra." The draconequus exited the bakery, leaving Spectra to his own thoughts. -----The Next Day----- Spectra and the group of friends were at Sweet Apple Acres. There was a massive flooding. The beavers were making a huge dam on the river, and it was huge. Fluttershy was trying to reason with the beavers. "Now, Mr.Beaver, could you please stop making the dam?" The beaver just shooed her away and kept making the dam. "Heeeey, Fluttershy!" Everypony looks to see Discord water skiing on the now made Sweet Apple Lake. He jumps off and stands next to the group and gets a towel to dry himself off. "Ah, Fluttershy. Just the pony I wanted to see. You like what I have done here?" Fluttershy flew up to his face. "You change Sweet Apple Acres back to normal or else we will turn you to stone!" Discord looked shocked, but recovered. "Alright. But you have to promise me two things." Fluttershy flies back down to the ground. "I'm listening." Discord smiles and leans in closer to her. "You have to promise me that you won't use your element against me, and that Spectra can't go Dark-Red and attack me." Fluttershy looked back to Spectra, who shrugged. "I won't use Dark-Red of my own control." Fluttershy looked back at Discord. "Alright, fine. I promise not to use my element." She grabs her element and throws it at Twilight. Discord grins. He snaps his fingers, Everypony was expecting everything to be back to normal. Instead, the lake was now frozen. "Haha! Much better!" Discord was now ice skating on the frozen lake. Fluttershy was furious. "Discord! Change everything back!" "Oh come now, Fluttershy. Just come and join me and have fun!" Discord magicked a pair of ice skates and waved them in front of her. Spike ran up to Fluttershy, holding her element. "Come on, Fluttershy! Put the element on and turn him to stone!" Fluttershy looked between the two of her options, and took a deep breath. "I promised not to use my element, and I won't." She grabbed the skates off Discord and walked with him. "YES! I have won! In your faces, everypony!" Spectra was charging at Discord with dark red eyes. "CHANGE IT BACK TO NORMAL!" Discord looked at Dark-Red and laughed. "Not even you can stop a god, Dark-Red!" Discord launched a ball of energy at Dark-Red. Dark-Red stopped charging and looked at his hooves. His eyes went back to normal. His whole body was slowly turning to stone from his hooves up. Fluttershy flew up to Discord and looked him in the eyes. "STOP IT, DISCORD!" "No! Spectra promised me he wouldn't go Dark-Red against me, and he failed to keep that promise." Rainbow flew up to her husband, who's chest and back were already stone. "Spectra! No!" Spectra looked at Rainbow before his head completely turned to stone. Rainbow stared at him for a few seconds, before crying and holding the Spectra Statue. Everypony walked up to the Statue and looked sad. Rainbow looked up at Discord with a furious face. "Turn him back!" Discord waved a hoof and started walking off. "And why should I do that?" "Because he was the only true friend you've ever had!" Discord stopped immediately. He looked around at everything he done, then back at Rainbow. His eyes had tears in them. "Well, played Rainbow. Well played." He skated over to a tree and sat down on it. A glow emanated from Discord and covered everything around him, turning it back to normal. When he got up and looked around, he noticed something was wrong. He walked up next to the group of ponies. Rainbow glared at him. "Why isn't Spectra back to normal!?" Discord looked at Spectra. He was still a statue. Discord looked terrified. "I don't know! He should be back to normal! I don't understand!" Discord threw his paw in front of him and made it glow, and Twilight made her horn glow. They both started examining Spectra with magic. Discord shook his head and fell on his knee's. "No way! Luna's stupid Alicorn magic is blocking my magic! I can't change him back!" Everypony gasped. Rainbow stepped forward towards Discord. "What about the elements? Surely that could get him out." Discord shook his head. "No. You use the elements on something I made, it'll kill him." Rainbow turned around and hugged the statue of her husband. Twilight was still examining him. Her face suddenly lit up. "No! There's a chance!" Rainbow looked up. "What do you mean?" "The spell has a time limit on it. When that limit is breached, he'll turn back to normal!" Rainbow smiled. "How long is the time limit?" Twilight shook her head. "Looking for it." A few minutes gone by, and nothing happens. Until, Twilight's horn stopped glowing. She gave everypony a sad look. Rainbow flew up to her. "How long is it? Twilight, I need to know!" Twilight looked up at Rainbow, she was crying. Tears were streaming down her face. "5 years." Rainbow stared at Twilight for a few minutes, before laughing hysterically. "Wow, Twilight. That was weird. For a second there, I thought you said 5 years." Twilight nodded her head. "That's exactly what I said." Everypony was in complete silence for a moment, before Rainbow grabbed her husband and cried her heart out. "I-I-I don't w-w-wanna w-wait 5 y-years! The foal will g-grow up without a-a fa-ather!" Everypony and Discord gasped. Discord was now crying. "Oh, buck me." Twilight stepped forward and placed her horn on Rainbow's belly. Her horn glowed and Twilight gasped. "Oh my! A filly! And by what I felt, she'll be here in a few weeks! How have you been hiding this?" Rainbow was still crying. Twilight looked to the statue, disheartened. Discord got up and picked the statue up. Rainbow was still attached to it. "What do you think you're doing!?" Discord looked up at Rainbow with tears in his eyes. "Putting my best friend somewhere he would like." They followed Discord for hours before he stopped. They were on the hill below Rainbow's home. Discord placed the statue down and shot a bolt of magic near it's feet. A stone tablet appeared with the engraving: Spectra Speed, A Great Friend, A Great Husband, A Great Pony Discord saluted and so did everypony else, except Rainbow, who was holding onto the statue with a death grip. Discord walked up to Rainbow Speed. "Rainbow, for what it's worth, I'm truly sorry." Rainbow didn't turn around, she kept on crying on the statue. Discord turned to everypony else. "I promise to never use my magic for chaos again. I lost a best friend today because of my idiotic idea's. I can't forgive myself for what I did today. I ripped a father from his daughter. To everypony here, I am truly sorry. I will now go to Canterlot, and tell Luna. The rest of you, tell Shadow, Sparks and Aeb. They'll want to know." Discord disappeared in a flash of light. Everypony else was still looking at Rainbow, who was holding her husband. "Spectra....I love you so much....please come back to me...." She let go of the statue and faced the group with tears in her eyes. "We waited 2 years for Spectra to come back, and he did. I think I can wait 5 years for him to return." She gave the group a smile and flew up to her house. They were all glad she got over it, but they were all still pretty upset about it. Pinkie Pie's mane was straight as she walked home, Rarity's mane and coat were dirty, Twilight's mane was a royal mess, Fluttershy couldn't stop crying when she got home, Applejack was looking down at the ground on her way to Sweet Apple Acres trying not to be upset about it, and Rainbow Speed was in her bed, crying her heart out. -----5 Years Later----- Rainbow Speed was at Cheerilee's school with Sparks on her shoulder, waiting for her pegasus daughter to come through the doors of the classroom. Rainbow smiled when she saw her running up to her. Rainbow picked her up and gave her a hug. "How was your day, Rose?" Rose was a small filly, with a blue coat like Spectra's, and a dark red mane and tail. She didn't have her cutie mark yet. Rose jumped around Rainbow. "Today was awesome, mom!" Rainbow laughed. "Well, today will be an awesome day. Someponies coming to visit us, today. Rose, you ever notice the statue below our house?" Rose nodded. "Mom, who is that, anyway?" Rainbow flew up and went down the street towards their house. "Come with me, and I'll show ya!" Rose walked below her mother, unable to fly yet. When they arrived home, Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Discord and Luna were all there. When Discord saw Rose, he teleported next to her and grabbed her in a tight hug. "Hello Uncle Discord!" "Hello Rose! Did you have a nice day today?" Rose nodded her head furiously with a big smile on her face. "Uh-huh!" Discord chuckled. "Well, prepare yourself. It's about to get better for all of us as well as you." When they reached Luna, Discord gave Rose to her. Luna hugged her lightly. "Hey, Rose. Are ya excited today?" Rose nodded her head again. "Uh-huh!" Luna giggled. "We all are excited. Today we get to meet a very special stallion, your father." Rose's eyes grew wide. She turned to the statue, then back to Rainbow. "Mom, is that stallion my dad?" Rainbow smiled and nodded. "Yep. And pretty soon, you can meet him." Rose grew a massive smile. She sat down and waited to finally meet her father. Everypony wanted to see Spectra again very badly. And soon, that time would come.
Chapter VII - The Crystal EmpireSpectra, Rainbow and her friends were all on the way to The Crystal Empire on a train. Rainbow Dash was in a car with her friends, while Spectra requested to be alone in another car. He was practising controlling Dark-Red. He couldn't figure out a way to control him, but he found something out at least. Dark-Red doesn't come out just because Rainbow's hurt. Dark-Red comes out whenever Spectra is really angry. So, Spectra could become Dark-Red if anypony walked up to him and made him mad. The point of practising was so when he was Dark-Red, he could get out of it. So far, he had no luck. He tried making himself angry, then getting control of Dark-Red and making him turn back to normal. He also found out another wicked fact. Dark-Red has super strength, super speed, fast reflexes and magic! Spectra found this out when he grew an orb of dark red coloured energy at the wall. He got himself angry by thinking of his foster parents, Double Edge and Chrysalis. He turned into Dark-Red and tried controlling his actions. He failed each time. When Dark-Red sees no threat, he retreats back inside of Spectra, ready to attack. Rainbow was looking out the window of the car, listening to her friends conversations. She didn't hear much until Twilight shoved her in the side. Rainbow turned to her friend with an annoyed look on her face. "What, Twilight?" Twilight giggled. "Sorry to distract you from your sight seeing." Rainbow smiled and laughed. "Okay, what is it Twilight?" "You need to listen to this. It's important information." Rainbow nodded and flew next to AJ, who was on the floor with everypony else. Twilight stood in front of the group. "Princess Celestia tells me that an evil unicorn king of The Crystal Empire ruled the empire with an iron hoof. Until the princess' banished him into the ice using The Elements Of Harmony. Princess Celestia tells me that the king was called King Sombra, and that he might be coming back to take control of the empire again, after it was lost for 1000 years." Everypony nodded. Rainbow had one question though. "Well, where are the elements? If we need to stop him don't we need the elements?" Twilight shook her head. "I've figured out two ways we can stop him. Princess Celestia says we need to find the Crystal Heart, and then the empire will flourish with the happiness of the Crystal Ponies." Rainbow nods. "What's the second way?" Twilight grows a sad look and turns her head towards the car that Spectra was in. "If we can't find the Heart, we may need to use Dark-Red again." Rainbow looked shocked and flew right up to Twilights face with a furious look in her eyes. "My soon-to-be husband is NOT YOUR WEAPON!" Twilight staggers back and falls over. Rainbow flies back to her window and rests her head on her hoof, which was propped up against the window. Twilight gets up and sighs. Then a thought struck Twilight. "How did Spectra even get Dark-Red in the first place?" Rainbow answers without turning her head towards the unicorn. "I don't know. I'm thankful he had it in the castle, otherwise we mightn't be here." Twilight puts a hoof to her chin and looks at the door to Spectra's car. She starts walking up to it, before Rainbow flies in front of her. "Do you really wanna go in there when he's trying to control Dark-Red?" Twilight remembered the last time she denied a warning, and turned back around and sat on her seat. -----The Crystal Empire, The Next Day----- The train stopped in the middle of nowhere, and there was a blizzard going on. When everypony stepped off, they looked around for the great empire. All they could see was snow, snow and more snow. Twilight started walking off into a direction, and eventually everypony followed. They were walking for 3 minutes until they spotted a figure. He was wearing a mask of some sort and a scarf. He pulled off the mask and revealed his face. He was a white unicorn with a blue mane and tail. His cutie mark was a shield with what looked to be Twilights cutie mark in the middle. "Twily!" Twilight jumped forward and hugged the unicorn. "Shinning Armour! Boy, are we glad to see you!" (Authors Note: I am not quoting the show on purpose. If I do, sorry.) Shinning Armour looked happy at first, but then he looked terrified. "We have to get to the empire. Something's trying to get in." Spectra stepped forward. "What's trying to get in?" Shinning looked at Spectra confused at first, and was probably going to ask who he is, but his face grew a shocked expression. "Behind you!" Spectra whirled around to see a giant cloud of black smoke. It was charging after everypony. Shinning turned around. "We need to go! Now!" Everypony ran away from the cloud, following Shinning. The cloud shot out bolts of energy at everypony, one of them got Shinning's horn. It grew black crystals. They were approaching a wall of energy, trying to out run the cloud. Shinning turned his head and saw the cloud gaining. "We'll never make it!" Spectra started thinking about all the things that make him angry. 'Foster Parents, Chrysalis, Double Edg-aaaaaahhhh!' Spectra's eyes instantly glowed dark red. "EVERYPONY RUN AHEAD! I'LL HOLD HIM OFF!' Dark-Red turned around and slammed his hooves into the ground. A dark red wall of energy appeared in front of him, stopping the cloud in it's tracks. Dark-Red glared at the cloud, a face of a unicorn appeared inside, looking at Dark-Red with hatred. Dark-Red chuckled. "I hope I get to smash you in later!" Dark-Red's eyes flickered back to their normal blood red colour. Spectra turned around and made a mad dash for the wall. Dark-Red's wall wouldn't hold forever. It soon fell and the cloud charged forward but missed Spectra by mere inches. Spectra went through and landed on some grass. He looked up to see Rainbow Dash looking down at him with a smile. Spectra winked at her. "It'll take more then a pile of air pollution to stop me." Rainbow offered Spectra her hoof, which he grabbed and used to help himself up. Spectra looked ahead to see a giant castle made of crystals. He stared in awe for a few seconds, before Shinning came up to him. "I take it you like what you see?" Spectra nods with his jaw hanging. Shinning chuckles. "Didn't catch your name, buddy?" Spectra turned his head to Shinning. "Names Spectra Speed, mate." Shinning nodded. "I am Shinning Armour." Shinning turns to the city ahead. "I welcome you all, to The Crystal Empire!" The ponies all "Oooh"d. Twilight turns to Shinning and looks at his horn. "Shinning! Your horn!" Shinning raised a hoof and touched his horn, which sparked with black electricity. He swipes his hoof away. "Ah, well. I didn't need it that badly. Come with me. I'll take you to Cadance at the castle." The group followed Shinning through the city. Shinning turned his head to Spectra. "How did you hold that thing off?" Spectra shrugs. "Luna kissed me and gave me some weird 'power'. Turns out my power is anger." Shinning laughs and nods. "Cadance gave me the power to increase my brain capacity." Spectra nods with his lower lip ticking out. "Not bad." Shinning winks at Spectra. Rainbow walked next to Spectra. She had an angry look on her face. "You never told me you kissed Luna!" Spectra shakes his head. "No. That's because she kissed me. I didn't kiss her. I swear, Rainbow. I would never kiss another mare besides you." Rainbow grew a smile and kissed Spectra on the cheek. They arrive at the castle within a short time. Shinning opens the door and lets everypony through and into the throne room. On the throne was a pink coated alicorn with pink-themed mane and tail. She looked weak and frail, though. Shinning ran up to her and gave her a kiss. "Oh, hey Shinning. I see you brought Twilight and her friends. It's so nice to see you all again." She looked over to Spectra, then to Rainbow. She giggled very softly. Spectra looked terrified. "What? Do I have lettuce in my teeth or something?" Cadance smiles warmly. "No. You two love each other so much. It's just nice to see such a wonderful couple." Rainbow walked up to Spectra and gave him a hug. "Thank you, princess." The princess nods, but then she looked like she was in pain. Twilight was going forward to help her, but Shinning stuck out his hoof to stop her. They watched as a beam of magic escaped Cadance's horn, shooting up into the sky. Cadance fell limp on the throne. "I need to keep the shield up. Otherwise King Sombra will get in." Spectra remembered back to when he was outside the shield, and when he saw the unicorn's face. "That cloud is King Sombra?" Cadance nodded. "Yes. If we don't stop him soon, my spell will fail, and he will get control of the empire. Using the Crystal Ponies as slaves, as well as making the empire shine hatred and darkness through Equestria." Everypony looked at each other, trying to find a plan. Twilight stepped forward. "The library! We can go and find a book on The Crystal Empire's history! Don't worry, princess! We will find the Crystal Heart and save the empire!" Everypony nodded, so did Cadance. "Good luck, everypony." The group ran out to find a library. Spectra was walking down the street when he noticed all the Crystal Ponies. "The don't look so happy, do they?" Rainbow turned to the ponies and gave a sad look. "No, I guess being lost for 1000 years must be depressing." The group soon found the library and entered. -----Crystal Library, 30 Minutes Later----- After searching for ages, Twilight finally finds the book that could solve their problems. "It says here that the Crystal Ponies host a thing called The Crystal Fair. By using the power of their happiness, they fuel the Crystal Heart and spread love and happiness throughout Equestria!" Spectra nods. "Alright, then! Twilight, go find this Crystal Heart. The rest of us, set up the Crystal Fair! We don;t have long so move it!" Everypony starts running around, gathering supplies. Rainbow walks up to Spectra and whispers in his ear. "I like it when you take charge like that." She kisses him and winks, making Spectra blush redder then Dark-Red's eyes. -----Some Time Later...----- Everything was in order. The fair was set up, the Crystal Ponies were happy. All was going well. Except that Twilight hadn't returned with the heart. The Crystal Ponies were growing curious as to what was under the tarp underneath the castle. Rarity had made a faux heart to fool them until they found the real heart and put it in it's place. There was a huge crowd of ponies around the heart. Spectra looked around frantically, trying to think of something. That's when a brilliant idea struck him. He ran for the castle and went inside to grab his portable turntable. 'I knew I would need you.' Spectra ran back outside and sat on his flanks and placed "Wubsy" as he called the turntable, in front of him. He starts playing out some notes, getting the ponies attention. "I'm not a fan of puppeteers but I've a nagging fear someone else is pulling at the strings Something terrible is going down through the entire town wreaking anarchy and all it brings I can't sit idly, no, I can't move at all I curse the name, the one behind it all... Discord, I'm howlin' at the moon And sleepin' in the middle of a summer afternoon Discord, whatever did we do To make you take our world away? Discord, are we your prey alone, Or are we just a stepping stone for taking back the throne? Discord, we won't take it anymore So take your tyranny away! I'm fine with changing status quo, but not in letting go Now the world is being torn apart A terrible catastrophe played by your symphony, what a terrifying work of art! Everypony clapped and walked off, Rarity and Applejack, who were holding the ponies off earlier, walked up to Spectra. "Ya wrote a song about Discord? Why" Spectra shrugs. "Discord was pretty cool, all he wanted to do was to have fun. Besides, you can't have harmony without chaos." 'I never knew somepony thought of me like that. Thank you, Spectra' 'No problem, mate.' AJ shook her head. "He was a jerk! And-" "AJ, do you really want to argue with a pony whose special talent is arguing?" AJ looked to his flank, then back at his face, then grumbled and walked off. Spectra smiled and nodded. Suddenly, lighting and thunder filled the area. Spectra looked up to see that the shield was failing, and fast. Sombra was on the other side, trying to smash down the barrier. "Oh, buck." Sombra smashed through the barrier and made his way up to the top of the castle. Spectra looks up to see Spike carrying a heart shaped crystal. Spike kept dodging Sombra's attacks, but eventually he dropped the heart. Sombra flew in faster and faster, trying to get the heart. Then what Spectra saw next would forever bewilder him. He saw Cadance flying at a very fast speed towards the heart. She grabbed it and Spike. She flew down to where Spectra was and placed the real heart in place of the faux heart. Cadance looked out towards all the ponies. "Mares, and Gentlecolts! Make your happiness shine! Let Equestria see you live and prosper! Tell the land, that you have returned!" The road Spectra was sitting on glowed, so he grabbed his turntable and got the buck off there. What he saw next shocked him. He saw Sombra break into a bazillion pieces. Spectra has killed somepony before, Chrysalis. But that was just brutal! They atomized him! Twilight and the rest of the ponies were up on the balcony above him, crystal-fied. Spectra looked down to see that he too, was crystal-fied. His coat was now bright blue, his eyes had hexagons in them and were bright red coloured. His normal shaggy mane was now all neat and slick. (His hair looks like Draco Malfoy's) He jumped up and down in excitement. "We beat him! We beat him! Yeah!" Rainbow Dash and the rest of her friends ran down and met Spectra. Rainbow and Spectra kissed and rejoiced in happiness. They had just saved an entire empire, and Equestria. -----Canterlot, Outside The Royal Castle----- Spectra and the rest of the group just got home, and they were waiting for Twilight to come back from telling Celestia about her test. Luna came up to Spectra and gave him a hug, Spectra returned the gesture. "Well? Did you save the Crystal Empire?" Spectra grins. "Nope. Spike did. We helped." Luna smiles and nods. "Glad to see you know when to be honest." Spectra smiles. Luna walks up to the doors and opens them. "See you tonight, Spectra?" Spectra grins. "Sure, Luna." Luna turns her head and smiles. She turns back and walks inside. Twilight comes bouncing out of the castle. "I passed!" Everypony cheered and got onto the train home. Spectra sits next to Rainbow and gives her a quick kiss. "Were getting married soon, ya know?" Rainbow nodded and smiles. "I can't wait to be Mrs.Rainbow Speed." Spectra smiles and rested his head in Rainbow's shoulder. They would soon be husband and wife. And they couldn't be happier.
Thank You!I would like to thank Bazing, EquestrianWriter, Prince Solstice, BetaMaster, spetsnaz pinkie pie, SoarinDashSpaz and bbonet98. Thank you all for supporting me on this series! The sequel: Starting Over 3: Return Of Spectra, won't be out for a while, but hold on! I will be writing 2 other stories! The Book Of Shadow - Shadow Nova's past and present life, Star Burst Chronicles - The tale of Star Burst all the way up to his death. But, those won't be out for a bit anyway. BYE! (Also, how many of you hate me for Starting Over 2's ending?)