*Turn on Webcam*
Me: Hey guys welcome to chapter 14 of Shadow Storm Adventures. In the last chapter my friend Guestspirit gave me a couple ghost guards. Actually, between the last chapter and this one, he sent at least ten or so more of them. They should come in handy in the future.
Me: That aside though, it's time to bring in our—
*Phone rings*
Me: Hello?
Guestspirit: Hey dude, just calling to tell you to make sure to have enough gemstones for when Spike appears in today's intro.
Me: What the-? How'd you know who today's guest was? Are you spying on me or something?
Guestspirit: Let's just say there's a reason they call me GuestSPIRIT. Good luck, man.
*Call ends*
Me: Uhh… thanks?
Me: Like he said, today's guest will be the purple dragon Spike.
*Spike gets transported into the room*
Me: *Looks at the camera to make a side-comment* I know, I was expecting Spyro too.
Me: Hey there, Spike, how's it going?
Spike: Everything's fine. Uh, you got any gemstones to snack on?
Me: Guestspirit was right. Damn, he's good…
Me: *I point to a nearby ghost* You, fetch the dragon some gemstones, pronto!
*The ghost teleported and came back a few seconds later with a rainbow of gemstones*
Spike: Thanks.
Me: So, any questions about the future? And no, you can't ask about Shadow and Twilight.
Spike: Well, that's one of my questions I won't be able to ask. Then I guess there is one thing I want to ask. How is it that Shadow Storm can take so much damage and then be fine within the next few days?
Me: Heh, that's funny. Your question will actually be answered in a future episode.
Spike: Cool
Me: But forget future episodes, let's start today's episode.
Episode 14: The 7th trial
Morning had come to Ponyville. The unicorn Twilight Sparkle was sound asleep in her bed. She wasn't alone though. In her bed with her was her old friend Shadow Storm. Twilight had gone through a bad date the other night and she had asked Shadow to stay with her to keep her company. Or at least he would be there if she could feel his body next to her…
She felt nothing as her hoof simply rubbed across her bed sheets. Nothing there.
"Shadow?" Twilight awoke. "Shadow?" She sat up and looked around her room to see that Shadow Storm was indeed gone. "I guess he must've gone home while I was asleep…"
Twilight then got out of bed and trotted downstairs with a yawn. The sooner she got downstairs though, the more she began to smell the scent of breakfast. "Hm. Spike must be making breakfast"
She was caught off guard after seeing who it was who was actually cooking. Spike was sitting at the table eating a plate of pancakes, and the one making breakfast was…
"Shadow Storm?" Twilight questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, hey, you're up. Just thought I'd make everypony breakfast. Main reason? I wanted to help my friend have a good morning" he told her.
"Aww, that's so nice of you" she said in a thankful tone. "Shadow can be a real sweetie at times" Twilight said as her cheeks turned red while she gazed at the Pegasus before her. "…Wait, am I blushing?"
Twilight thought for a few seconds and trotted up beside Shadow. It was now Shadow Storm's turn to be caught off guard, as he felt something soft and moist press up against his cheek.
"Twilight…?" He looked back at her.
"Consider that a token of my appreciation. For being a good friend to me" she said as she walked past him, taking a plate of food with her magic.
"Well, I'm glad to have—"
*BURP* Spike burped up a scroll, interrupting Shadow's sentence.
"What's it say?" Twilight asked the young dragon.
"It's for Shadow Storm" Spike said as he rolled out the scroll.
"Let me see that" Shadow took the scroll from Spike.
Dear Shadow Storm,
Having known you since you were a colt, I also know your love of adventure. Today your adventuring skills shall be put to the test. You may come to Canterlot Castle if you wish to know more.
Your friend-
Princess Celestia
Shadow rolled up the scroll and placed it on the table.
"Well?" Twilight raised an eyebrow
"Well, it looks like I'm headed to Canterlot. I guess I'll see you when I see you" Shadow turned away and headed out to Canterlot. Twilight and Spike glanced at each other with unsure looks.
-Canterlot Castle (Shadow Storm's P.O.V)-
Wow, Celestia is calling me to the castle to send me on an adventure. I guess I should be honored, usually she'd send for Twilight considering the fact she's her star pupil and everything. I wonder what kind of adventure it is. If the Princess is the one giving me this quest then it must be important.
Soon I had arrived at the castle, the guards recognizing me this time by letting my pass. The castle maybe huge but I still knew where I was going. Actually, I had made it to the throne room soon than expected. Sitting there on said throne was Princess Celestia herself, as she knew I was coming.
"Um, good morning, Princess" I bowed before her, out of both respect and the fact that if Twilight were her she'd nag my ears of I didn't.
"Shadow Storm, my dearest friend" Celestia walked up to me and gave me a quick nuzzle. "I take it that you received my letter?"
"You bet your royal flank I did" I joked lightly. "So, what did you want to see me for? If you don't mind me asking that is" I raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
There was a quick silence between the two of us. If I've learned anything from adventure books and action movies, it's that a pause usually means something important was going to be told.
"Shadow Storm, as you know, a thousand years ago the Elements of Harmony were used to defeat Nightmare Moon and many other villains like her…" she began.
"Yeah?" I cocked an eyebrow.
"What you probably don't know is that, along with the six original Elements, there was also a seventh" she told me.
"A seventh forgotten Element of Harmony?" I questioned. "Wait, if this is an Element of Harmony thing, then why send for me? Wouldn't it have made more sense to call for Twilight and the girls?"
"Because with the other Elements, they were found through with the magic of friendship. The seventh Element, however, is a different story" she said. "Legend has it that the seventh Element of Harmony will reveal itself only to one with a brave and courageous spirit, one who is willing to put their life on the line for the sake of others"
"And that's where I come in, right, Princess?" Celestia replied with a nod of confirmation. "Alright, so where do you want me to start?" I asked her.
The Princess motioned her hoof to tell me to follow her. Walking beside her through the castle, we approached a room closed by a gate. Celestia used her magic to open the gate and within the room were dozens of scrolls and books. If I remembered correctly, these were the Canterlot archives. What were we doing here?
"Why are we in the archives?" I asked.
If I remembered correctly, there were several wings of the archive. The most popular being the Starswirl the Bearded wing—that's Twilight's favorite. This other wing that Celestia and I were entering though, I don't remember much of this part of the archives.
"For this" the princess levitated a glass container with her magic. In the glass container was a scroll, which she then levitated towards me. "Go on. Open it up" she told me.
Doing as I was told, I unrolled the scroll. I was taken back a bit by what I saw… which was nothing. The freakin' scroll was blank.
"Uhh…" I looked up at Celestia with a puzzled look.
"Use your electric powers" she insisted.
"But won't that burn the-"
"Shadow…" she cut my sentence off, giving me a stare and continuing with a light nod of her head.
Putting my skepticism aside, I did what the princess instructed me to do and began charging my hooves up with electricity. Under normal circumstances you'd think when lightning comes in contact with paper it'd combust into flames. However, this wasn't the case with the scroll that I was holding because instead of burning up in flames, it began to glow a cerulean blue. Ok, this must be one of those mystic scrolls. I've come across those a few times during some of my adventures.
"So this scroll doesn't burst into flames?" I looked at the princess with a puzzled look. Celestia simply shook her head.
"This scroll, when struck by lightning, reveals the location of where the 7th element is hidden" she told me.
It was at that moment that a holographic projection of the map of Equestria appeared out of the scroll. On the map there was a glowing white dot southeast of it.
"It's in the Badlands. Terrific…" I rolled my eyes, my voice coated in sarcastic excitement. "And you're sure you want me to go get it?"
"I am certain, Shadow Storm. Who better to use an electric powered mystic scroll than a lightning Pegasus such as yourself?" she said. She had a point, as far as I know, I'm the only lightning Pegasus in all of Equestria.
"In that case, I guess I'm off on my journey. Wish me luck, Princess" I told her.
"Good luck, my little pony. The quest for the 7th is in your hooves" the princess tapped both of my shoulders with her horn. I nodded and head off into the world.
-The Badlands-
Finally, I've made it to the badlands. I wasn't going to fly here all the way from Canterlot, so I took a train here instead.
"Alright, now to find this 7th element" I said, pulling out the map scroll from my saddlebag. The moment I unrolled it an arrow of light came out, pointed straight ahead at a mountain. "A mountain? How come whenever there's an ancient artifact to be found, it's always somewhere in a rocky area?" I asked myself. "Eh, whatever"
I shrugged and folded up the scroll. I then took off in a burst of speed, shooting towards the mountain ahead.
Getting to the base of the mountain was pretty easy. It only took me about 7 minutes or so. As I landed lightly on my hooves, the scroll began to glow from within my saddlebag. Pulling it out, a message of light was then emanated from it.
"To obtain the seventh, one must go through trials that tests one's skills. First trial: Climb the mountain without the use of your wings/horn"
Climb the mountain without using my wings? That might be a little tricky considering there's no slope to walk up. But maybe there was another way up there.
"Hmm…" I rubbed my chin with my hoof. A surge of lightning quickly swirled around my hoof before disappearing. That gave me an idea.
Getting a good distance from the mountain, I sat on my haunches and pointed both hooves towards each other. I then channeled lightning into my hooves until a ball of electricity was formed. Here goes nothing. With the lightning ball fully charged, I fired it towards the mountain. Guiding the ball with my hoof, I used it to carve a pathway into the rocky terrain.
Once finished, the lightning I created dissipated. With the path I created, I could now attempt the trial without the use of my wings. Running towards the mountain, I leapt on to each of the ledges I had created for myself, hopping from one to the next as if I were Pinkie Pie or something. This might take a while considering this is a huge mountain, but I'm sure I can trudge through.
Several moments had passed and I had finally arrived at the top of the mountain. Climb the mountain without using my wings? Not much of a trial if you ask me. Honestly, I've done harder. It was then that, for a second time, my saddlebag began to glow. Pulling out the scroll for a second time, it once again had a glowing message appear after I unrolled it.
"Second trial: Walk through the tunnel in complete darkness. At the end lies great reward and great power"
I sighed as I rolled the scroll back up and placed it back in my bag. This one seems pretty straightforward. Reaching into my other saddlebag, I pulled out a torch. Putting a patch of dry grass into the cup, I used my lightning to light the grass on fire, the torch acting as my light source. Let's get this over with already.
These trials are way too easy. I thought a search for the 7th element would be more of a challenge, but I guess not" I said, talking to myself as I walked through the tunnel for who knows how long. It was at that moment that I had reached a dead end, a chamber with luminescent rocks. At the end was a piece of broken stalagmite, and on top of it was a treasure chest.
"Wow, that was easy" I said. "A little too easy…" I gave a hard glare. Nothing's ever this easy for adventurers like me, something's up…
I walked cautiously towards the object in question, preparing for what might happen. I almost came in contact with the chest. However, the chest vanished as soon as my hoof even came close. Of course. Yet again I pulled out the scroll from my saddlebag, and once again it revealed a message when I unrolled it.
"Face the Thunderbird…"
"Wait, what?" I gave a confused look. It was at that moment I looked over my shoulder, a ball of blue light appearing behind me. Out of the light appeared a giant cerulean and black colored bird with glowing white eyes and a dark blue beard running down from the lower part of its beak, the creature letting out a powerful screech. "Aw crap…" my ears flattened as I gave an annoyed look.
"You. You wish to acquire the seventh element?" The giant bird asked me, having a distorted echo-like voice.
"That's right" I said with a nod.
"Then you must earn it… through this final trial" the thunderbird said, his eyes glowing fiercely, my own eyes shrinking to the size of pinpricks. This can't be good…
The light around me soon dissipated, leaving me to shake my head. I soon found I was in a rocky quarry. The next thing I knew, I heard the screech of a bird. The thunderbird to be exact. Looking up, I saw it circling around in the sky above me. He soon descended and landed at least two or three yards away from me.
"Welcome, young equine, to your final trial" the thunderbird said.
"What, am I going to fight you or something?" I asked, an eyebrow rose in speculation.
"No. You shall be facing… yourself" he said. What? What did he mean by-
My thoughts were interrupted when the bird's body began to glow with electricity. Summoning storm clouds above, a giant bolt of lightning shooting downward to the ground, causing me to cover my eyes with a hoof. When the lightning dissipated, I looked at what was before me. It was me… or a mirror image of me? Either way I was staring at myself.
"So let me get this straight. In order get the 7th element, I have to literally fight myself?" I asked.
"That's right" The thunderbird confirmed.
"Well, that's too bad. Oh well, I guess I've got nothing against kicking my own ass" I said, smirking as I got into a crouching fighting stance.
I made the first move, flying towards my clone. I attempted to punch him in the face, only for him to move his head out of the way. My clone countered with an upward buck to my stomach, knocking the wind out of me and sending me into the air. He flew after me, but I countered with a backflip kick to his face, causing him to cover his face his hooves.
The clone removed his hooves to reveal a bloody nose. He made his next move by quickly going for my tail. Grabbing it, he spun me around and tossed me to the side. The clone flew from under me and wrapped his hooves around my body, making the both of us fly downwards. Just before crashing, my clone released me, causing me to plummet to the ground and hard, creating a Pegasus shaped hole.
Looking at him above me I could see him gathering electricity in his hooves, which he then fired at me. I quickly intercepted his attack with my own lightning attack. The clash of lightning caused a shockwave of thunder to be created, which pushed us back a bit. The clone floated to the ground on to his hooves, giving me a serious looking glare in the process.
I soon got up to my hooves. Neither of us has broken a sweat so far. We weren't even breathing hard. Then again, this fight had barely even started. We must've been thinking the same thing because we soon charged at each other, our hooves coming in contact with each other's jaws. We soon began exchanging blows, attacking and defending with both punches and kicks.
My clone was able to get a hit in by punching me square in the gut, and then delivering a powerful electric surged buck to it, causing me to skid across the ground on my back. I quickly stood back up though.
"Much better. And here I thought this final task would be as easy as all the others" I said, wiping the blood off the corner of my mouth with a hoof.
"So, young equine, do you give up?" the thunderbird asked me. I looked at him with a smirk.
"Heh. Are you kidding? I'm Shadow Storm, the lightning Pegasus of Equestria. As long as there's still breath in my body, giving up is something I'll never do" I told him
"Then it's over. You pass the test" he said. I looked at the clone and he nodded, vanishing soon afterwards. I looked at the thunderbird with a confused look. "You weren't really fighting yourself; you were fighting to see if you truly represented the seventh element"
"Which is…?" I tilted my head.
"Shadow Storm, for your heart, determination, and will to never give up, you indeed represent the seventh element: the Element of Hope!" the thunderbird said.
It was then that a ball of white light appeared above me and descended in front of my face. The light then transformed into electricity, which then materialized into a physical form.
It wasn't a necklace like Rarity's, Rainbow Dash's, Applejack's, Fluttershy's, or Pinkie Pie's, nor was it a crown like Twilight's. No, this element was more like a headband that wrapped around the forehead. The metal part was chrome and the part that had my cutie mark had three pitch black lightning bolts on it, similar to those of the ones found on my flank. This was my element.
"This so cool. I'm a bearer of an element of harmony!" I said with a smile, putting the element in my saddlebag.
"Yes, you've earned it, my friend" the thunderbird said to me.
"Wow, thanks, uhh… actually, I never got your name" I said, sheepishly rubbing the back of my head.
The thunderbird chuckled. "I go by Omicron" he said.
"Thanks, Omicron" I said.
"Anytime. Come back if you wish to learn some new tricks" he offered.
"I'll keep that in mind. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a friend to go see" I said, and then flew off into the direction of Canterlot.
-Golden Oaks Library-
"So Princess Celestia just wanted you to find something for her?" Twilight asked, taking a sip of her iced tea as we sat at the table. I on the other hoof was drinking iced coffee
"You could say that" I replied with a shrug.
When I got back to Canterlot I was told by Celestia to keep the story of the seventh element under wraps until the moment was right. Whatever that meant. So all I told Twilight was that the princess wanted me to find a gemstone or something. Celestia has her reasons, I'm sure.
"Hey, Shadow Storm? Do you think you and I could go on adventure tomorrow?" Twilight asked, looking off to the side.
"Sorry, I'm helping Blitz with something tomorrow. He wouldn't tell me what is, but whatever" I said with a roll of my eyes.
"Oh…" I saw her ears flatten, an upset look upon her face. I can't stand to see her like that, especially after what happened the other night.
"Look, how about sometime this weekend?" I offered.
"Sure, that works" she agreed, giving me a light smile, causing me smile back. There was just one thing on my mind though…
Why did she want to go on an adventure with me?
Me: And there you guys have it, Chapter 14. Sorry it took so long, but it's finally done. Hope you guys enjoyed it.
Me: Next chapter might not take as long, but no promises.
Me: Anyway, remember to Read, Review, and Favorite/Follow.