Lightning sat in his seat onboard the train, waiting for it to leave. He looked around in awe, having never been on a train before.
"This is amazing... wow..."
Twilight smiled and giggled.
"Haven't you been on a train before?"
Lightning shook his head, he had always ridden a carriage.
"Oh, well, I hope you'll like the ride." She left to her friends.
Lightning started staring out the window, but his ear began twitching when a hooded stallion walked by, he could feel something strange about him. He noticed he had a weapon with him, it looked like a dagger.
Lightning followed him, but when he entered the car he was in, he couldn't find a thing.
"Huh? How did he...?" Suddenly, Lightning was pinned down, the dagger at his throat.
"Who are you... and what do you want?" The stallion had a serious look in his eyes.
Lightning noticed the dagger, it was no ordinary one. It was enchanted, there was poison along the edges.
"My name is Lightning Buckheart... and... I don't know, I guess to be honest, I was curious about you."
The stallion watched him for a moment, then climbed off.
"There's nothing to learn about me. I'm alone and prefer it that way. This dagger was a gift from the lord I served."
Lightning looked down and began thinking.
An idea hit.
"So... where are you going?"
The stallion only scoffed.
"Don't worry about me. I've been everywhere, now, it's not about WHERE I'm going, but more what I'm doing now. I'm looking for a new purpose."
The stallion sat and began polishing his dagger.
Lightning knew this was selfish, but he could use an experienced fighter like him.
"I um... have a job for you... I-"
Suddenly, the stallion shot a glare.
"Do I look like a mercenary to you, boy?"
Lightning took a step back.
"I didn't mean it like that... I guess I said it wrong, but I could use your help... I'm off to stop Sombra..."
The stallion looked behind Lightning and smirked.
"You already have the Princess of Friendship and her friends. Why me? They not enough?"
Lightning turned to the girls and sighed.
"Not that... it's just... the more... the..."
He stared at Twilight and felt his heart pick up speed. He was in love and knew it.
"Hmm... yeah, sure. Beats walking around doing nothing. But I accept the offer before, payment will be needed. I'm known as the Sandpony. My real name isn't important. But I'll take out anyone you ask, no questions, no evidence."
Lightning looked shocked.
"You're an assassin..."
Sandpony only smiled.
"Damn good one too, I never miss my mark. And I always get any job done. No matter who it is."
"In case the girls heard of you... can't I call you something else?"
He looked down.
"...my name is Nigel. Tell anyone else but those girls you're with and you'll be my NEXT mark."
Lightning nodded.
"Alright... wanna come with me?"
"Discuss nothing we spoke of. And the robe stays on."
Lightning led him to the next car and hoped for the best.
Meanwhile, in the back seats of the now empty car, Ryder and Quell couldn't believe who Lightning recruited. One of the most wanted ponies in all of Equestria.
"Dude... are you sure he needs our help?" Quell asked nervously.
"Come on, you can wield a spear like it's nothing, you don't miss either." Ryder praised.
"I'm not a professional assassin, Ryder."
The both of them just sat and began thinking, they were this far, they weren't gonna quit now.
"Quell..."
The stallion seemed afraid, and felt useless.
"Ryder... you're on your own, man... we can't help with him involved. We'd only be in the way."
Ryder walked over to him.
"Come on, you know he could use us, don't start losing heart now. If not for Light, then for Equestria, the world is counting on us."
Quell shook his head.
"I... don't know. Think about it. An assassin, and a famously wanted one at that!"
Ryder knew he was right, but he decided to do the next best thing, he attracted Lightning by quickly knocking at the door and hiding.
"Hello? Is someone here?" Lightning entered alone.
"Us." Ryder said, him and Quell appearing.
"You guys came too? So... am I getting help or an apology? If it's the second, this a heck of-"
"Lightning, stop. We want to help. Please let us."
Lightning walked over to Quell and patted his back.
"You ok? You don't have to fight..."
Quell only followed silently, he felt weak and pathetic.
Later, Lightning had a car full of allies. The Mane Six, Sandpony and his two friends from Canterlot. He felt ready.
Quell was sitting next to Nigel and felt like he was gonna faint.
"Fear will only help your friends get hurt." Nigel said, his eyes closed.
Quell relaxed a moment and looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Look at it like this. Fear causes hesitation, hesitation causes you to pause at the wrong moment. And that moment? It could be the death of a friend, family member, or even someone important to you."
A tear went down his cheek. He lost a mare he loved due to hesitation, it made him cold and distant.
"Why did you join Lightning?"
"He mentioned Sombra... the one that took the life of the one I loved, I want revenge."
Quell only looked down then looked at him again.
"You know... Quell, was it? You have a cheerful friend. I haven't seen anyone like Lightning in a long time. And I've lived a long time... you should value that."
Quell looked at Lightning and watched him smile and laugh. He felt happy that he and him were friends.
"Don't tell anyone anything... or I'll show you why I'm the best damn assassin ever."
Quell nodded and quickly went to Lightning.
"Wow, Lightnin, what a crew ya got here." Applejack mentioned, hinting at the 3 more joining them."
"That's not true." Said a dark stallion. He stood there, smiling, but the air felt tense around him.
"Who are you?" Lightning asked, getting up.
"I'm the guy that's been sent to end your life." He zoomed over and knocked Lightning through the door into the empty car.
Lightning shook the blurry vision away and looked up, the door was welded shut, it was just him and his dark sibling, he looked and noticed Twilight was in his hooves, he had her in a neck snapping hold.
"Now... I have a simple demand. Get really angry, old tales I've read say 4 ponies power Xeno as they get mad and unlock the rage inside. Obviously, the wielder of said sword. Now be a good brother of mine and do as I'm asking. Or else she dies."
Lightning began to stand.
"Hey, Twilight, wanna know something about him? He's got a MAD crush on you. I can see why, you are awfully pretty. How about you come with me?"
Lightning quickly could feel the anger flood his mind and heart. He couldn't see straight, and his vision went red slowly.
"No! Let me go! Lightning!"
"Don't be like that... I could take GOOD care of you..." he gave her a kiss on her cheek.
Jealousy pushed Lightning to his limits and beyond as he screamed in anger and electricity formed out of nowhere and kept dancing all over his body. He was furious, and his power to create electricity with just thoughts Unleashed.
"Get your filthy hooves off her! Or I'll break them!" Even in Lightning's eyes, electricity everywhere.
"There you are. I'm glad I wasn't wrong." He threw Twilight to the side and smiled. "Well? Don't hold back or I'll kill them all. Show me what you got."
Ryder tried getting in, but little success.
"Lightning! Remember what I taught you! Keep a clear mind and watch for your opponents move!"
Lightning kept what he said in mind as he swung and missed.
"Pathetic! Shape up or I'll start killing!"
Lightning stabbed him and swung him into the window, the dark stallion hung onto the pole and flew right back in.
"Oh brother..." he went over and socked Lightning in the face. The hit didn't do anything. "What?!" He kept trying, but finally, Lightning grabbed him and slammed him through a seat.
"Big mistake to come after us! After me!"
Twilight yelled to him.
"Lightning! Don't do it! Be better than him!"
Lightning had the tip of his sword at the shadows heart, but he backed off.
"Be grateful, and get lost."
The shadow only crawled to the door and shook his head.
"Such power... I'll be ready next time." He flew away.
"Good. He's gone... Lightning? Are you ok?"
The power wore off and Twilight helped him stand.
"What happened to me...? I could only see red..."
"You went in a crazy rage..." even Rainbow was shook to her core from what she saw.
Lightning tried standing, but passed out.
"Lightning!"
Deep in Lightning's dream he saw a strange pony made of electricity looking at him.
"So... you called on me, huh? Can't say I'm surprised. I'm your inner rage, as you can see, I'm not at all normal anger. I'll provide you the power you need to stop Sombra and that rotten little son of a that was here."
Lightning only stared.
"Look, when he did the worst and told Twilight your secret, you created me unknowingly, and I gave you incredible power, enough to scare him off. But he'll back. The only thing that kept you under control was the necklace you wear. It prevents total possession. So I can only lend you my power. Which isn't enough. You need to find these other 3 ponies with rage similar to yours."
Lightning was about to say something, but he can feel himself begin to awaken.
"I'll keep you safe. But remember, you can't use me too much at once, it'll leave a nasty headache. That and it could kill you. Be safe, Prince!"
Lightning shot up and gasped. He looked around and only Twilight and Nigel were with him.
"Lightning!"
"Hey kid... what a show that was."
Lightning looked at himself, then felt a familiar presence.
"...mom?"
Luna entered the room quickly and hugged him.
"I was horrified when I was notified about what happened... are you ok?"
Lightning nodded.
"Mom... you told me before that I'm not your actual son, I... need to know what you mean by that."
They had some time before they reached Manehattan, she sat and nodded.
"Listen to me carefully."
Nigel closed his eyes, but his ears were perked up.
"I found you alone in a destroyed town when you were about 2 or 3. At the time, i had no idea what happened to the town, but I couldn't just leave you. To this day I have no idea what happened, but all I care about is the fact that you're safe. But...
She held a strange symbolic coin, it had Sombra's mark.
"Only his family could have this... you are Sombra's son. His blood son."
Lightning only slowly opened his mouth and shook his head in denial.
"Me and my sister had a huge fight about you... she wanted nothing to do with you. Later, I noticed something about you. You were oddly healthy and had Magic no child should have at such a young age. A year later, I received an odd message. It was about you. And it said: "protect and raise the one that can wield the blade." Someone knew you could use Xeno. I didn't know how. But it's why I chose you."
Lightning was processing it, then he looked at Twilight.
"I... what he said... I... um..."
"It's ok... but that's something we can talk about after all of this."
Lightning smiled.
"Sandpony..." Luna noticed.
"Sorry, Luna. I can't go with you yet for what I've done. I promised Lightning that I'd help him with his quest. Do whatever with me after."
Luna nodded.
"I'm asking you keep him safe. After all, you still owe me one favor."
Nigel smiled and nodded. "Alright. I will."
"You'll be arriving soon, Lightning. I may not be your mother, but I do love you."
Lightning stood and hugged her.
"I don't care, you are my mother now. And I'll always love you. Like a good son should."
Luna could feel tears, but she embraced the hug and finally let go.
"I believe in you, Lightning. If anyone can stop Sombra, it's you."
After she left, Lightning sat alone and looked at himself. How could he process all this? That rage... and being Sombra's son... what could he do now?
"Now isn't the time for doubt, kid. Look at your group."
Twilight and her friends were trying to figure out what they got roped into.
"Girls, relax. After all, we have to help him, if not, Sombra may actually win."
Her friends looked past her at Lightning.
"Is it even safe? Look at what he did to the empty car! I'm not doing this." Rainbow said.
Nigel only sighed.
"Better get moving, boy. Otherwise you'll have plenty of trouble. Worst case, send them home."
Twilight heard and snuck away.
"No. I am not going home. Equestria needs us. Yes, Lightning's ability is scary... but he didn't hurt us. That's what matters."
Nigel smiled.
"You remind me a lot of her, Princess..."
It went silent.
"Who do I remind you of?" Twilight tilted her head in confusion.
"My daughter. After her mother was killed, she disappeared too. I've been searching for her."
Twilight only shook her head.
"I'm so sorry..."
He smiled. Then looked at Lightning.
"It's ok. I have this strange feeling that if I stick with him, I may find atleast a clue to what I'm looking for."
Suddenly, Nigel faced Lightning entirely.
"Strange... have you always kept this calm? And that look on your face... it just screams that you won't stop until the job is done."
Lightning nodded.
"It's because I won't until I bring Sombra in for what he's done."
Suddenly, the speakers flared up with noise.
"2 minutes until we stop for Manehattan, thank you for joining us. We apologize for the noise heard earlier in the rear car. We would like to ask that all passengers stay for questions."
Lightning only shook his head. Who knows what Sombra could do with time like that?
"Lightning, we have to s-"
Without a word, Lightning looked out the window at the water below.
"See you guys there. We can't let him have that extra time."
Nigel tried grabbing him, but it was too late, Lightning already hopped out the window.
"Damn him... what is he doing..."
Lightning landed wrong and knocked himself out against the water and a pole.
"Hey... are you ok?"
Lightning moved his head slightly.
"Excuse me! Please get up!"
Lightning opened his eyes and looked at the mare above him.
"Oh good... I saw you and that nasty fall and land... what happened?"
Lightning stood and realized his sword was gone.
"This? Sorry, here."
The mare handed him his weapon.
"Please, come with me... we need to talk."
Lightning had never met her in his life. But he chose to follow her.
Right now, she was the only help he had, none of the scenery looked familiar.
Author Note: I've been gone a while, life hit a busy time. But I'm free now.
There's not too much to mention here except for a bit of what happens next time. As I'm typing this, I'm just not feeling it right now. So much going on.
Next time, Lightning and the mare talk a bit, and with her help, is reunited with his friends. The scene in the train gives Quell even more doubt. The evil sibling decides to watch them, planning carefully when to test his new weapon, as they head to the Crystal Empire, a series of bad things happen, from train tracks missing to a serious injury. And finally, Lightning meets a new friend.
As usual, reviews are welcome, see you later.