Fight for Friendship

The ground beneath me began to shake, and my eyes snapped open. I shot up into the air, watching as a bolt of white lightning flew through the tunnel just over my head. I looked down the dark path, exepecting to see a source, but the ground was shaking violently. There was a loud roar, and i knew something large was coming. Zecora looked down the passage and narrowed her gaze. She turned away quickly, leading us through the tunnels. Spike was quick to follow her, and i landed, continuing down with the animals shaking on my back. They were terrified, little doubt in my mind about it. There was another bolt, and i froze in my tracks. I shook my head, and continued down the passageway. Our group was stopped at an intersection, and Zecora ran down the furthest one on the right. I looked back, noticing that the thing was gaining up on us. Another roar shook the tunnel. I bolted down the passage, barely noticing that the tunnel was getting smaller as we went. We slowed our pace when the ceiling was only a foot above our heads.

"It should not be able to fit, let us hope the lightning doesn't hit," the zebra looked back at us, making sure we were still following. Spike climbed up onto my back, taking another attendence. I walked alongside Zecora, Winona crouched low beside me, whimpering. Gummy was still sitting on my back, while Angel slept on my back. Tank was on Zecora's back, his propeller broken. How it happened, i simply guessed her crashed into the ceiling or something. Opal was curled up in my saddlebag, the one with the pages. Owlowicous was calmly flying just above us. There was a loud roar, telling us the beast couldn't continue any further. I could see a dim light ahead of us. We picked up our pace, but a bolt of lightning shot through the tunnel, destroying the ceiling above us. Dirt and rocks crumbled down around us, though the tunnel managed to stay standing, though the ceiling was now higher up. I could hear the ground shake, the sounds getting closer. I shot forward towards the light, not realizing it was coming through a crack in the ground. I crashed into the ceiling, but to my surprise it rose up, a nice clean circle of earth rising up into the air and crashing onto the castle floor a little bit away. It was still half sealed, but there was enough space for us to get through. I rubbed my head, which was aching from the hit. Zecora raised her forehooves up, telling me to carry her.

"I won't be able to get everyone up in time," i realized this, i might not be able to. Thankfully, the levitation spell wasn't as hard as illumination. I swooped down, grabbing hold of Zecora's forehooves and carrying her up. Gummy and Angel floated up with us from the spell, and they were set down on the marble floor within what appeared to be an armory. Owlowicous carried Tank up, though it was difficult for him. Opal had leapt out of my saddlebag upon entering the room. I flew down, grabbing hold of Winona. The poor dog was whining, worried. As i was rising up, another bolt of lightning shot through, striking my wings. I crashed into a cavern wall, Winona dropping to the ground with a yelp. I slid down the wall, barely staying concious. Standing up, i attempted to fly but a sheering pain ran through my wings.

"Zecora!! I can't fly!!!" I shouted for help, my wing twisted. Winona pulled close to my, whimpering. The beast was charging down after us, having made the tunnel wider with that bolt. I narrowed my eyes, patting the ground with a hoof. A charged forward, one last act of bravery. If i was going to die, then let me die fighting! The beast reared up, surprisingly startled. As i struck the large eagle-like hind claw, there was a storm of mist filling the tunnel. There was a sound of wing beats, soft, and the mist began to recede. My eyes shot upward, looking up at the reason. There was a tall, colorless alicorn hovering above me. I stumbled back, shocked, but the mist thickened around her and the monster landed before me. I took no time to study it, to register what happened, but once again i charged at her, which i was guessing it was now. The farucan lowered her head, open ing her jaws wide. She was either expecting my speed to prevent me from getting away in time so she could swallow me whole, or she was going to release another bolt of lightning. I jumped up, barely clearing her wide jaws, and landing on her head, right between two curved horns. The beast reared up, and i quickly wrapped my forlegs around the shattered horn in the center. I was thankful that it had a broken horn, meaning no magic.

Zecora held out a hoof, reaching out from the sanctuary. I released my grip and leapt, reaching out a hoof. The zebra barely managed to catch hold of my hoof, Spike helping her me me through. My legs gave out, and i crashed on the solid white ground. Zecora and Spike struggled to slid the ground back over its place, sealing off the tunnel. I heard a yelp, a loud thump, and the sound of scraping claws. My eyes widened up as i realized my mistake. I peered through the crack in the ground and shouted.

"WINONA!!!!!!" I shrieked, unable to locate the small dog. I started to pound at the ground with my hooves, hoping i could get through.

"Dash! Stop it! She's gone!" Spike grabbed my foreleg and dragged me away, and i covered my face with my other forhoof. Tears were streaming down my cheeks, and i grieved for the little dog. I failed Applejack, failed to protect her beloved pet. Spike was trying to cheer me up, patting my shoulder gently. Zecora was walking along a row of armor, locating what appeared to be a mage outfit. She pulled on a dark green cape, holding up a wooden staff. I stood up, realizing that she was getting prepared for something. She put on some charms, making herself appear like a mage. I scanned the row of armor, locating a nice simple cover up. I picked up a metallic helmet, sliding it on. My mane was disheveled, but it just made me look more like a warrior. I put on some leg armor before clipping a small dagger onto some body armor. I used the levitation spell to lift it, sliding it onto my back. Zecora walked over to me, grabbing my injured wing with her hoof. She twisted it, snapping it back into place. The pain was awful, rippling through my body. I pulled the wing close to my body and screamed from the suffering. Spike ran over to me, holding up some bandages. He helped Zecora wrap it around the weakened wing, preventing me from using it.

"Do you still have those pages? I've been seeking to use true magic for ages," The zebra questioned. I nodded, refusing to stand up now. It hurt, the pain still surging.

"Yeah... they're in my saddlebag," i sighed. Zecora flipped open the bag, picking up the pages and placing them in her own saddlebags. I finally mustered the strength to stand, picking up a few weapons, and placing them into my saddlebags. Zecora helped me hang up the saddlebags, and we put our armor back into their places.

Spike was in the castle library, looking for something. I was walking through the halls of the castle. I heard a flutter of wings, and saw Owlowicious land on a bust not too far from me. There was a piece of paper in his talons, and his feathers were all ruffled up. He hooted, telling me in his own language to take the paper. Nodding, I grabbed the page and straightened it out. I was shocked to see what it was.

"Oh my Luna! I cannot believe this! You found the page!" I hugged the little owl tightly, and he let out an annoyed hoot. I released him, studying the image on the paper. Spike must of heard me shout, as he came running down the hall. Zecora trotted over, curious of what lied within the missing page. I looked closely at the paper, reading the name it gave the creature. A swallowed hard, tears swelling up in my eyes. Spike leaned over, looking at the paper.

"Lightning? You, know her?" He pointed at the title, as though he was reading my mind. Zecora peered over my shoulder and her eyes widened.

The Missing Page

"Quite a mighty hybrid indeed, she just may be a friend in need," Zecora was looking closely at the details, reading the small paragraph below it in her mind.

"This is the one I met, she claimed her name was Lightning. She told me she's been like this for several years, though her will is strong and the form is not permanant, though she prefers this form over her old self. She told me the only thing that prevented her from staying like this forever, was her little sister, whom she longs for constantly," I read it aloud, tears streaming down my cheek as i choked on the words. This farucan, was my sister. The one following us arround. Her color was lost, but i was able to recognize her, as much as she's changed. Her mane, was much like my own, and that wasn't a coincidence. I always looked up to her, and to hear that she disappeared the day i earned my Cutie Mark, i was devastated. She used to be so well known, but her fame vanished just as she had. The beast, she wasn't trying to hurt me. She was, trying to keep me away from the danger.

"You care for her, don't you? Who is she?" Spike looked up at me, poking my leg.

"Just, don't worry about it," I sighed, walking into the nearest room. I climbed up onto the bed, crawling under the covers. I buried my face into the pillow, my heart aching, tears staining the soft bed. Zecora began to knock on the door, and a loud roar bellowed out. It wasn't as loud as the one that was following us in the tunnel, and the tone was different. I quickly climbed out of the bed, opening the door. We ran towards the armory, putting on our chosen armor. I slipped on my saddlebags and picked up a spear.

I heard Opal hiss and I ran after her. One of many windows in the hall was wide open, the ground by it soaked with rain water. There was a farucan perched in the window, matching the size of a normal pony. Opal was sitting on its curved horns, and the beast looked extremely annoyed. Its coat was pure white, but soaked with water. It's tail feathers and mane were both purple, styled in a fancy away. I stepped back, dropping the spear. I heard it clatter against the ground. Spike closed his eyes, small water droplets glinting under his eyes.

"She hates the rain..." He whispered, just some hope. Under the farucan's eyes were blue, like makeup. She didn't have wings like the other one, but she still had her horn. Opal jumped down, hissing and spitting, shaking the water off her soft fur.

The beast turned to look at me, tilting her head. I simply smiled, waving my hoof to say hello. "Would you like to come in, Rarity?"