A/N: Hey! I'm back with another fic, which is direct sequel to Human Nature and The Aftermath. You will not understand eighty percent of everything written here if you have not read those.

Chapter 1

Storm's Observations

Scootaloo had left her home immediately after the candle incident. Obviously, it was a magical occurrence and she needed an expert. There were only two ponies with enough know-how to be able to come to any conclusion, and Scootaloo didn't feel like going to the library.

She spread out her wings, and flew to Storm Shadows' house. She knocked on the door, which was quickly answered by the white Pegasus. He was wearing a helmet.

"Can I come in?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yes! Put this on!" He slammed a helmet onto Scootaloo's head, and pulled her inside. Scootaloo saw Rainbow Dash's turtle, Tank, flying around with his little helicopter thing on his back.

"What's the helmet for?" Scootaloo asked the odd stallion.

"Rainbow was right! You only get hit in the head with a flying turtle-" He ducked to avoid Tank, "Once."

"Good to know." Scootaloo sighed. "Something finally happened."

Storm knew instantly what she was talking about. "What was it? Magical, I assume?"

"My parents said they were having a foal, and I started cheering, then the candle flame got really big. It was like the more excited I got, the bigger the fire got."

"A foal? I'll have to congratulate them on it. Otherwise, I'll write to Celestia about it. Do you want me to try and give a diagnosis right now?"

"Yes, please."

"Alright, then we'll have to have a test. So, you said that the fire reacted to your emotion?" Storm confirmed.

"Yeah."

"So, then I'll set something on fire! Look at that plant!" Storm suggested.

"Bu-" Scootaloo was cut off by the plant in the corner bursting into flame.

"Now, concentrate on something either really happy or really sad," Storm instructed.

"Okay..." Scootaloo decided to pick a sad memory. There were more of them. She looked back on her time as a slave, when she was separated from her parents just two months after being enslaved, where she was then beaten by an abusive owner, each and every day, until Scootaloo snapped and kicked him in the gut. He threw her off his second-floor apartment, and both of her hind legs were broken as a result.

On the outside, a single tear fell from the filly's eye. The fire flared up, and scorched the ceiling. Storm Shadows immediately put it out with a small burst of magic, then returned the plant to life.

"Well, that answers that question," Storm identified. "I'll write to the princess, but in the meantime, go home and get some rest, and try not to heighten your emotions."

"M'kay," Scootaloo shrugged, and trotted out the door.

Storm was in a bit of a panic. He had expected side effects from the reverse, but nothing to such a scale. He magically removed a quill and parchment, and began to write.

Dear Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,

It's happened.

I've seen proof. Scootaloo has shown a side effect from the combination youth restoration and keeping her memories. However, unlike my revival, it isn't a change on the outside. She has displayed a new kind of magic, one that I can't fully understand. She came to me saying that a flame of a candle flared up when she got excited, and when I tested this by having her think of something sad or happy, while I set something on fire. The fire flared up enough to scorch the ceiling, and then I put it out. My guess: She's been given a sort of power over the element in question. Either that, or Discord is involved. I mean, checkerboard snow and rain in Manehattan? There's something off about what's going on, and I need some help figuring it out. I'll send you another letter if it gets bad enough to require direct goddess involvement, I'll send another letter.

However, on a more positive note, why not a little update! I have a fillyfriend, and her name's Rainbow Dash! What's going on in Canterlot?

From your magical friend,

Storm Shadows

He finished his letter, and teleported it to the princesses. He waited, and another letter appeared in front of him.

Dear Storm Shadows,

It still feels strange to call you by that name. And dating Rainbow Dash? That's a nice way to start off your new life. Things are fine in Canterlot, but that's not the topic of discussion.

Scootaloo has shown a type of power that both Celestia and I recognize the circumstances of, but know nothing about. This hasn't occurred in over two thousand years, and we must consult the royal archives to see if we can find any information, but we cannot confirm anything as of the given time. I wish you further success in determining the nature of Scootaloo's condition.

Luna

Storm set the letter down. Well, shit, He thought.

«{[()]}»

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was just entering coastal airspace. She had received a letter via Spike mail on her way telling her to relocate to the east, as the clouds had moved.

I hope he's doing alright with Tank, She thought. He tends to go a bit crazy with the propeller.

The weather was indeed insane. Clouds covered the sky in the informed checker pattern, alternating between snow and rain.

Rainbow flew over to a nearby Pegasus, who was floating there, gawking at the clouds.

"Oh thank Celestia you're here. These clouds have been running rampant for days, and just watch what happens when somepony tries to touch them," She said, then told a nearby Pegasus to move the cloud.

He nodded, and kicked it. Rather than moving, the cloud absorbed his foot, then sucked him in. It spat him back out a few seconds later. He was unharmed, but it was still strange.

"Um... I have no idea what to do about this," Dash admitted.

"Fantastic. Even the greatest weather patroler can't get rid of these. Worst of all, there's a rogue storm brewing, and we can't do anything about it."

"I'll see what I can do," Rainbow said.

"We'll try anything to sort this out!" She exclaimed.

"Gather all of the Pegasi around here, and we'll try to create strong enough winds to push away the clouds. Are there any villages nearby?" Dash asked.

"A small coastal village. Shall we tell them to evacuate?"

"I'll help with that. You never know, right?" Rainbow Dash shrugged. She flew down to the village resting on the edge of the sea, where most of them were frantic about the odd weather. She began to search the wooden houses, telling everypony to leave. She soon came to a small hut closer to the sea to the rest. She poked her head inside, where she found a filly crying in the corner, and her parents trying to calm her down.

The filly had a turquoise coat and seafoam-green mane, the pony Rainbow recognized from the mind wipes as Seafoam Shells. She had a uncontrollable flow of tears streaming from her eyes, and there was water coming in through the floor.

"What's wrong?" Dash asked.

"She just burst into tears after the weather started, then the water started going crazy! We can't calm her down!" her mother said.

"Go get everypony out!" Dash ordered. "I'll get her to safety!"

Seafoam's parents agreed, then ran outside. Rainbow Dash placed a comforting hoof on the filly's shoulder. She was able to sympathize with her, after all, she had known her in the war. "What's wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"W-war flashback," Seafoam sniffled.

"I'm sorry, but you need to try and calm down," Dash requested. She felt a small nagging in the back of her mind, signifying an incoming mental transmission.

Rainbow, what's going on over there? I can feel the power from Ponyville, Storm echoed into her mind.

Three words: it's Seafoam Shells. She had a war flashback after the crazy clouds got here, and now the water's going crazy. She won't stop crying, and the ocean's getting worse, Rainbow Dash replied.

Damn it! I'll be right there, just hold on! With a flash of white, Storm Shadows appeared in the hut. "Told you. I've already dealt with this sort of thing with Scootaloo, so I know what to do. Scootaloo came to my house telling me that a candle had flared up when she got excited, so I can only assume this is the same principle. They're both memory keepers, so it's likely safe to assume Seafoam has been given similar powers, just over water instead of fire."

"As if we didn't have enough problems already," Rainbow Dash joked. "You calm her down, I'll go finish the evacuation." With that, she left.

"Seafoam?" Storm said tentatively.

"Oh thank Celestia it's you!" She threw her arms around the stallion.

"Now, listen closely. You need to calm down, because your emotions are making the ocean go crazy. No time to explain, just do it."

"I-I'll try," Seafoam replied. She closed her eyes, and took a few deep breaths. She felt her tears cease, and the ocean water receded from the hut.

"Seafoam, I'll get in contact with you when I figure out what's happening. In the meantime, try to keep your emotions under control, positive or not," Storm ordered.

"M'kay," Seafoam complied, and Storm left the home. He found the clouds to be dispersing from the sky, in a seemingly random pattern. He hadn't noticed it until now, but the clouds definitely gave off a small amount of magical power. They weren't even a phenomenon. Some bastard was doing this intentionally.

"How'd you do it?" Rainbow Dash asked, landing next to her coltfriend.

"I dunno. Guess I'm just good with kids," Storm supplied.

"Then we should get back. Have any trouble with Tank?"

He reached up and knocked on his helmet. "That's why I have this. Propeller-powered turtles hurt."

Rainbow laughed. "Yep. Fly or teleport?" Dash asked.

"Which one do you want?" Storm asked.

"I'd rather fly, but considering what we're flank-deep in, we might wanna teleport."

"Teleport it is then!" They ran inside a nearby hut, and Storm transported them into his house.

Rainbow picked up Tank in her mouth, and set him on her back. "See Ya tomorrow?" Dash asked.

"Little kiss before you leave?" Storm requested. Dash complied, and they gave a little one before she left.

Storm sighed. Up until this point and since the end of war, his life had been easy and great. Fantastic fillyfriend, lots of friends, and magical power beyond belief. He trotted out the door, where Rainbow still stood, gawking at the sight before her.

Half of Ponyville was burning.

Various Pegasi were trying with little avail to put it out with rain, so any help would obviously be appreciated. Rainbow Dash went to gather up as much clouds as she could, while Storm went to find Scootaloo.

He placed a powerful fireshield around himself, and poked inside her house. Her parents weren't there, but Scootaloo was. She was sitting in the center of the blaze, but wasn't in pain. She was just sitting there crying, not-so-blissfully unaware of what was going on around her.

Well, Storm thought, this pretty much solidifies my conclusion. A filly with fire powers. What else will I have to deal with in my life? He chuckled a bit. He would have to deal with a lot. After all, he was immortal.

He tried to get her attention, but received no reaction from the filly. Finally, he settled on one thing, and hit her with a sleep spell. The fires didn't just die, but the rain was working now. The fires gradually began to die out, and Storm picked up the sleeping filly and carried her outside. The Pegasi had finished with the fires, but all were grief stricken by the sudden loss.

"And that," Dash said from the air above him, "Is why I have a cloud home."

"I'll have to get one of those. Otherwise, the rebuilding needs to start now. In the meantime, I'll place Scootaloo in a comatose state, while I find the other two foals with their memories." He set Scootaloo on the ground.

"Maybe one day we'll get to be normal couple," Dash said wistfully. "But with you, I can't really see that happening."

"This is the truth. When I find the other two, which I remember correctly, were colts by the name of Starstreak and Cyclone, I'll get Seafoam, and bring them all here."

"Sounds good. Looks like we get to prevent disaster again, huh?"

"It's a little fun. Bye!" He teleported to Canterlot, hoping nopony saw a Pegasus use magic. The world didn't know about Conduits, and he intended to keep it that way. Truth be told, he could have been better prepared.

He was instantly swept up into a tornado whirling right through the center of town. He whirled around in it for a few seconds, then regained a stable flight. He used his wings to reach the bottom of the cyclone, where, sure enough, he found Cyclone. However, the effects on him were more than just the wind powers.

He was now a Pegasus.

The colt used to be an Earth Pony, but he guessed the return had the potential to cause something like this. He had modified the spell to make everypony think any physical changes had been like that forever, but he hadn't expected something like this.

Cyclone was sitting in the bottom of tornado, crying his eyes out. It looked like a war flashback hit all of them at the same time, and was causing minor mass chaos.

He had no choice. Over the roaring winds, there was no way to speak to him. He hit the colt with a sleep spell, and the tornado instantly disappeared. Both of them fell to the ground, and Celestia appeared by their sides.

"Well, I see you fixed things," She said. "We've made a breakthrough on Scootaloo's condition."

"Go on," Storm urged.

"My sister and I found the book in the deepest sections of the archives. As it turns out, she's been granted a long-forgotten power that we thought had gone extinct quite some time ago. However, we noted that each of the recorded cases were caused by rogue spells, and were extremely dangerous. The effects of your spell has left them all with a magical state almost entirely unknown by the populace. Scootaloo is an Elemental."

"And Seafoam, as well as Cyclone. We can only assume Starstreak is one as well," Storm stated, and then teleported the colt back to where Scootaloo was still sleeping.

"Find him, and write if anything bad happens, besides what's already been done."

"Alright. Any clue on the whereabouts of Starstreak?"

"Last I checked, he was living in Fillydelphia. The dark blue Earth Pony, correct?" Celestia inquired.

"Dammit. He was a Pegasus. Cyclone was an Earth Pony, now he's a Pegasus. I'm just glad only two of them changed," Storm sighed.

"Farewell," Celestia flew off. Storm teleported to the indicated city; finding her to be correct. Spires of rock had shot out at all angles from the ground, and he found Starstreak lying in the street, crying.

He wasted no time hitting him with a sleep spell, and setting the colt on his back. He teleported the Seafoam's village, and got her as well. He teleported back to where he had left the other two. Three of them were sleeping.

Assuming that they had had enough time to work things out in their sleep, he woke them up. They all woke up with depressed looks on their faces, but nothing bad happened.

"So, big news. You're all the most dangerous sort of magical being in Equestria, besides yours truly," Storm said outright.

"Wait..." Cyclone suggested. "I know you guys! You're the ones that asked to keep your memories!"

"Yeah," Storm replied. "I'm Bradford, in pony form. Don't tell anypony, or I'll wipe their memories. Remember how I said there might be side effects? Well, as a result, you've all been given power over a certain Element, while Starstreak and Cyclone apparently switched forms. I'm sorry, but I can't fix that. The pony nervous system is a bit too complicated for even me. But anyway, it looks like your power was revealed when you all had your flashbacks, strangely at the same time."

"So... I have fire?" Scootaloo asked in confirmation.

"Since the town caught fire when you had yours, it's safe to say so. Seafoam, you apparently have water, and Cyclone, because you unintentionally created a tornado, I'm guessing you command air. Funny how fitting your names are for them. Starstreak, it looks like you got earth, on account of the rock spires you made in Fillydelphia."

"So..." Cyclone trailed off," What happens now?"

"I train you. It's either that or risk destroying some of the major cities," Storm joked. "Twice."

"Is anypony gonna help?" Seafoam asked.

"I'll join in," Rainbow Dash said from behind them. "No reason for me not to help the ponies who'll probably end up taking the fourth to seventh positions of most powerful."

"Sweet. Trainees and my fillyfriend. Now, you won't be allowed to go home until I deem you fit to control your powers. We'll be training in the same place I did, fifteen leagues away. The portal should still be there, so..." He trailed off.

"What portal?" Scootaloo asked.

"Oh, crap. That's right. The portal leads to what I think's a different dimension, where the air is literally composed of magic. If I do it correctly, I should be able to manipulate the area for you guys, because it's not safe to assume you can absorb magic. Come!" Without warning, he teleported them to what used to be Raven City, and luckily, the portal still stood in it's center.

"Fantastic!" Storm exclaimed. "It's still here!" He took off in a gallop toward the portal, and stood in front of it. "Let me just..." He summoned his scythe, something that hadn't been done in a while. He levitated it into the lock, and turned. "Here. I'll place shields around you all that should resist the magical influence." He did so, and they stepped through.

The area inside was unchanged, much to the delight of the white stallion. "Oh, this is great! For the first time in my two lives, something's going according to plan!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot that you came back from the dead," Dash recalled. "You're strange, you know that?"

"I think that's why you're willing to date me," Storm observed. "Life's rarely normal when you're around me. Now, here's how we're going to do this. If I'm correct, the books once mentioned something right..." He began to move his hooves around on the building's wall, then a small click was heard. "Here."

The wall slid open, revealing a staircase. The only one who wasn't hesitant to descend it was Storm Shadows, who immediately began to trot down them, humming to himself.

"Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked her idol. "Why are you dating him?"

"I don't really know. I might be attracted to the fact that he has enough power to obliterate Equestria, or it might be his personality. Might be both," Rainbow Dash philosophized.

"Works for me," Scootaloo replied, then began to trot down the staircase. It took about ten minutes to walk all the way down, but found it to be well worth it. They emerged on a balcony, where there was a cross bridge over a very large space, which was entirely flat ground of rock.

"Welcome to whatever the hay this room is called!" Storm cried out. "If the books didn't lie to me, it'll give us whatever we need for training! As soon as you set hoof on the ground, it will react to however I say! Not you, because it only obeys the strongest power in the room. Look, I'll show you." He jumped off the bridge, fell ten feet to the ground, and as soon as he made contact, a target dummy sprang from the ground. "See? Scootaloo, you go first."

Scootaloo hesitantly obliged, using her wings to slowly glide to the ground. As soon as she made contact, several target dummies sprung up around her, and the ground beneath her feet burst into flames. "It... It doesn't hurt," She said in astonishment.

"Well, duh," Storm mocked. "You're a fire Elemental! Both it's controller, and resistant to it! Cyclone, I don't have any idea what it'll do to you, so come on down!"

The colt nodded, a descended to the ground below him. Several dummies burst forth, but nothing else. "Nothing happened," Cyclone whined.

"I should have expected that. Air isn't really something that can be seen, so it's just using the air around you," Storm observed.

"I'm next!" Seafoam cried, then jumped. The fall could have easily broken a leg, but to the surprise of those around her and herself, the ground turned to water as soon as she touched it, and a few dummies came from around the pool. Seafoam came up for air, surprised at what happened. The poll was several feet deep. "Wait... What?"

Rainbow Dash laughed. "I've got this one. We all should have seen that one. Water equals water. The ground changed to suit her element."

"Starstreak!" Scootaloo called out. "You're next!"

"Alright..." Starstreak trailed off as if debating it in his head. "Wait. I'm not a Pegasus, so that fall might hurt a little."

"Here," Rainbow Dash said, wrapped a leg around him, and flew him down to the ground. She dropped him from a few feet, and the marble floor turned to rock while the dummies sprang up.

"Excellent. Now, I'll just do with you what was done with me," Storm stated. "I'll sit back while you try to figure yourselves out. Have a bit of fun, and know that you'll most likely be here for around six months, so, you know, time is a principle here."

"Won't somepony get worried?" Seafoam asked.

"Maybe, but not too badly if we're only gone for six days. Time moves a helluva lot faster in here than it does on the outside, so a month in here is only a day on the outside. I would know; I spent a month in here every day for six months on the outside. It slows the aging process, so thank Celestia for that or I would be around thirty."

"Wow. You spent fourteen years in here?" Starstreak inquired.

"Now that's a good head on your shoulders," Storm complemented. "Math's hard. Get going! I'll find something to do while you're at it, so just ask Rainbow a question if you have it!" He ordered, flew up to the cross bridge, and galloped out the door.

"Um..." Scootaloo hummed, "I have no idea what to do."

"Maybe focusing really hard?" Seafoam suggested while paddling around in her pool.

"At least you guys have things to focus on," Cyclone complained. "I can't see mine."

"Just keep calm," Rainbow suggested. "You know what happens when you get really happy or sad."

"Idea!" Scootaloo cheered. "Let's do what Storm's book is saying he did when trying to find his magic! Just search your brain!"

"Worth a shot, I guess," Starstreak said.

"I'll go first!" Scootaloo volunteered, then closed her eyes. She began to focus on looking around in her memories, which was immediately found to be difficult. Tue filly was always a bit hyperactive, and found it difficult to concentrate for long.

However, despite these obstacles, she succeeded in creating a mental clone of herself, just like Storm does when searching his mind. And, regardless of popular belief, this isn't impossible when you don't actually have magic. Scootaloo just controlled fire, but not with magic. It's complicated.

She began to float through her mind, looking at the strange labeled doors that had suddenly appeared. Rather quickly, her attention was drawn to one door in particular, mainly because it was on fire. She floated over to it, and touched a hoof to it. On the inside, not much happened except for a little glimmer of light when she touched it.

Then, Scootaloo was thrown from her own mind, and witnessed what was going on outside. Tongues of flame were flicking out from the flaming patch of ground, and when Scootaloo focused hard enough, she could make them move, of only slowly. They touched a dummy, leaving a few little singe marks.

"That's awesome!" Seafoam cheered.

Scootaloo couldn't keep them for much longer. The strings of fire sunk back into the larger flame at her feet. "Works for me."

The others wasted no time in trying to find their own power. However, their focus was interrupted by an earth-shattering explosion that sounded from the ground above them followed by the shout of Storm Shadows. "I said set phasers to stun, Captain!"

"He's completely insane," Starstreak observed.

"Maybe, but I love it. Makes being with him just a bit more fun," Rainbow said from the bridge.

Another explosion. "What part of 'Stun' don't you understand?!" Storm yelled. One more 'Boom.' "Too much energy!"

"Celestia, I better go check on him," Rainbow said, then began the trot up the stairs.

"All hail the mighty Laser Cannon Pony!" Sounded from up the stairs, followed by another explosion.

"Definitely nuts," Seafoam concluded.

"Yep," The others said in synchronization.

«{[()]}»

The others attempts at harnessing their abilities had met with similar results as Scootaloo's. Seafoam almost drowned inside the pool while trying to get them going, and only managed to get a little water to squirt from the pool at the dummies. Cyclone had managed to get a little wind going, but nothing more. Starstreak had gotten a few rocks to rise of the ground, and tossed them lightly at the dummies.

Rainbow Dash came back down the stairs. "I manages to get him to stop playing with giant magical lasers, but I think he's going to try something else soon, so you might want to-" She viewed the foals successfully getting results. "Wow. You work fast."

They all broke their concentration, losing their hold on their elements. "Can we have some lunch?" Seafoam requested. She tried to get out of her pool, but it just moved. "Also, I can't get out."

"I'll ask Storm to conjure us up a few things," Dash complied. As if on cue, five sandwiches appeared on the ground in front of her, followed by all four of the trainees being lifted onto the bridge by a white magical aura. "Wow. He works faster."

"Let's eat!" Scootaloo cheered, them dove face first into her sandwich, was found to be one of the sunflower variety.

Another one of Storm's insane shouts came down the stairs. "I have stripped myself of my identity as the Laser Cannon Pony! Now I shall be hailed as the Melon Lord!"

A watermelon bounced down the steps. The five just stared at it.

This was going to be a long six months.

«{[()]}»

A/N: So, yeah. If you haven't guessed already, the Elemental powers are inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender. I've always loved the last reference I just made, you know, the one about the Melon Lord. This story is gonna be filled with Avatar references!