Chapter four

Warming up

Author notes: hey there loyal readers! I'm here with the newest chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

Lightning and rarity were sitting in the living room of lightning's house, the stove was lit and made the room a cozy temperature. Lightning had made some tea for rarity with some ingredients he had picked up from his last trip to the super market.

"I don't know where to really start" lightning said.

"why don't you tell me what you are really doing here, in ponyville" rarity said eyeing lightning.

He sighed and said, "okay, well I'm really here to ...to kill clesetia"

Rarity who was sipping on her tea choked and coughed, "to kill princess celestia" rarity repeated.

Lightning only nodded, "he wants me too"

"whose he"

"he is the horrible creature whom I have to serve the rest of my life. He never told me his name" lightning wasn't about to stop talking, "one day as a filly I decided that I had had enough of the treatment I was receiving from everypony. From that day...I killed anypony who ever made fun of me. But when I was traveling to another town I came across him. He came from nowhere and started asking questions. I guess I took it as he was making fun of me so I challenged him" lightning was thrown back into his dark memories.

"do you really want to challenge me" the figure asked in lightning's memory.

Lightning was younger and his white coat was very dirty. The young lightning only got into a attacking position and growled a the figure.

"okay. But when I get challenged there has to be a prize. If you win, you can kill me. But if I win, you serve me until you die" the figure said stepping out from the shadows it stood in revealing nothing but armor with a dark red mist inside the helmet and swirling through the joints.

Lightning stepped back at the figures appearance.

"oh come now lightning runner, Don't back down from a challenge you made. Or maybe a pathetic alicorn like you can't even fight" the figure said.

Lightning yelled out in rage and flew at the figure. His horn pointed directly at the figure, his neck like a tree limb, and his wings beat against the air furiously.

The figure merely sidestepped, bring his armored hand up. The fingers of the gauntlet were sharpened to perfection. Lightning raced by missing the figure but earning himself a single deep gash across his eye. Lightning swiftly brought his hooves down to the ground and skidded to a stop. He glared razor sharp daggers at the figure. His one eye bleeding so much that it started to create a small puddle on the ground. Lightning shot a bolt of the only harmful magic he knew from his horn, a lightning bolt lanced from his horn and sizzled through the air towards the figure.

The figure didn't even bother to dodge, but instead swipe the lightning to the side with his armored arm.

"you're going to have to do better lightning" the figure said smugly.

Lightning shot multiple bolts of lightning at the figure, as the last bolt was fired from his horn lightning them took off staying at the same speed as the lightning he had fired. The figure slapped the bolts of lightning away from him and managed to pin lightning down on the ground with an armored claw.

Lightning struggled, his legs kicking and his wings fluttering. He looked at the figure with pure hate.

"you lost lightning"

Lightning snapped back to reality after realizing he has been babbling on about his memories to rarity.

"after I lost to him, he teleported both of us back to a small castle. He forged my armor from some kind of magic. He trained me to be his little assassin and sent me on multiple kill missions" lightning's eyes were filling up with tears, "I...I killed so many...I should have never killed in the first place...I...I just wanted to be part of a family...but...but no one would take me...so I found a way to release my rage...by killing" by now tears were streaming down lightning's face," but now I can't stop killing because of him...I...I..." he finally broke down into deep sobs.

Rarity set down her tea and walked over to where lightning was sitting, "lightning it's okay, you don't have to kill anymore"

Lightning looked at her through tears and said, "you don't understand rarity. If I don't kill celestia, he'll kill me. I...I just don't know what to do" he said the tears coming back to his eyes.

"now lightning look here, we'll figure something out together and if you want...you can be part of my family" rarity said trying to show lighting concern and compassion, for when rarity first saw lightning she didn't see a pony filled with hate and a instinct to kill, she saw a pony in need of friendship and compassion.

Lighting looked up at her the tears slowing,"r...really" he looked back at the floor," are you sure you want me as part of your family"

"sure! I'm completely positive" rarity said smiling, "I like you lightning runner"

Lightning snapped to attention, "you like me" he asked.

Rarity blushed as she realized what she had just said, "I...I do lightning, I really do"

Lighting looked at her no longer with eyes of sorrow and aloneness but now with eyes of happiness, "I don't know what to say rarity"

"then don't say anything lightning" she said smiling at him.

"thank you ...thank you so much" he said wearing a smile on his face that had not been there since he was a filly.

"come on now. I think it's best if you were to get out of your house for a bit" she said rising to her hooves. Lightning looked at her as he too rose to his hooves.

"where are we going" he asked her.

Rarity sighed and shook her head,"oh lightning. Does it matter where we go? You've been cooped up in this house so long that it would be good for you to get some sunshine"

Lightning only smiled, "I guess your right" he rubbed his head with his hoof," I have been cooped up here to long"

Lightning and rarity walked out of his house and down the path to the town. The two ponies side by side. They walked through the town stopping a few times as rarity got caught up in a conversation or two. During one of those conversations lightning had noticed that the Pegasi were placing clouds over the town.

"um rarity" he tried to capture rarity's attention, "rarity I think it's going to rain"

Rarity only hushed him and continued on with her conversation. Lightning moved under a overhang even though his cloak would keep him dry. In the middle of rarity's little talk a light drizzle began to come down.

rarity squeaked as the first drop of water hit her head. She and the other pony split up running for cover as both of them didn't want their manes to get wet.

"lightning where are you" rarity yelled out looking for him.

"over here" he said smiling beneath the overhang.

Rarity quickly ran over to him as the rain started to really pour, "you could of at least warned me" she said giving lightning a dirty look.

"I did, but you were so caught up in your private talk that you didn't hear me" he said still smiling.

She huffed and looked out at the street, "well I don't think we can stay here for long" she said as the wind started to pick up, "I completely forgot that the Pegasi were planning a storm for today"

"well I sure could go for some food right now" lightning said out of nowhere.

Rarity looked at him confused, but then saw him looking at sugarcube corner. He looked at her, "you don't like to get wet, don't you" he asked.

"heavens no! My lovely mane will get ruined" she exclaimed.

Lightning looked around, his eyes darting back and forth. He took a deep breath and untied his cloak and handed it to rarity.

"lightning! What about your wings" she asked.

"I figure there is no more reasons to hide them" he said, "if you can accept me for who I am or even what I am, then other ponies can also" he looked back at her smiling.

She stood there holding the cloak with her magic, she quickly draped it across her back and pulled the hood over her head. She leaned over to lightning and lightly kissed him on the cheek, "thank you" she whispered into his ear.

At that moment rarity and any other pony who was watching could see lightning blush underneath the simple overhang.

"c...come on, let's go" he said still blushing.

Lightning and rarity walked into the rain to cross the street to get to the dessert shop. While they were crossing the cleared out street a lightning bolt slammed into the ground over in a field scaring rarity.

"it's fine rarity, it's just lightning" he said.

"about lightning. Why are you called lightning. Was it your parents who named you that?" she asked resuming her walk.

Lightning went back to staring ahead," like I said before. My parents denied me as their son, so they never bothered to name me, so I named myself"

"how did you come up with your name" she pressed him on.

"well it was a storm almost like this and I was dared to fly with the lightning in the sky. Naturally since I trying to find friends I accepted the dare, and to my surprise when I was in the air. I was flying right next to a bolt of lightning. Therefore I came up with lightning runner"

"you really flew with lightning" rarity asked as they reached the front door of the shop.

"yep" he simply put as he used his magic to open the door for her.

Rarity and lightning walked in meeting pinkie pie face to face.

"hi there rarity! Hi lightning" she yelled.

"hello pinkie" rarity said.

"hi" lightning said.

"well someone seems to have gotten happier" pinkie exclaimed.

Lightning smiled at looked at rarity,"ooooo I know what's going on!" pinkie yelled out happily, "don't worry my lips are sealed" pinkie made a zipping motion over her lips.

Rarity looked at lightning smiling. Lightning quickly looked straight forward as rarity looked at him.

"Well it's a good thing you came here! You look like your starving" pinkie yelled and zoomed back behind the counter returning with a plate with two cupcakes on it.

Lightning grabbed the cupcake gratefully as Rarity accepted the cupcake also. The two ate their cupcakes in silence as pinkie was back in the kitchen baking more goodies.

When they had both finished their cupcake they thanked pinkie and said goodbye. Pinkie popped up from behind the counter, "no problem! Come back when ever your tummies feel like it" she yelled after them.

When they stepped outside the rain had stopped for now but the clouds still hanged over the town.

"are you sure you're alright without your cloak" rarity said eyeing lightning as he stretched his aching wings.

"I'm so sure of it that I want you to have" he said. Before rarity could respond he starting walking off. Rarity clopped after him. The citizens of ponyville were coming out to cover their belonging from the rain. As the unicorn and alicorn walked past them they gazed at lightning as he strolled onwards.

Rarity glanced up at lightning seeing that he was obviously discomforted from everypony looking at him.

"its fine lightning. They're just curious" she said.

"I...I know. It's just I've never been around so many ponies without my cloak on" he said forcing himself to smile, "by the way. Where are we going now"

"we might as well stop by twilight's and explain things to her"

"yeah" lightning said looking at the ground, "we might as well"

When the two ponies neared twilight's library they saw spike dragging a cart full of groceries towards the house.

"why hello the spike" rarity called out to the small purple dragon.

Spike saw rarity and his eyes filled with hearts,"hi rarity" he slurred out the sentence. He looked at lightning who was right next to rarity, "whose that"

"this is lightning runner" rarity responded.

Spike observed that the two were walking rather closely together "is twilight inside" rarity asked.

"yep. She digging through a book right now" spike said pointing his thumb at the tree.

"good we would like to talk with her"

"hey lightning before you go in I'd like to talk to you real quick" spike said

"okay? I'll meet you inside" he said to rarity as she walked into the tree, "what is it"

"rarity is mine" spike said dryly.

"what do you mean"

"you know what I mean"

"wait...you honestly think you have a chance with her" lightning asked trying to keep from laughing, "look here spike. You are a baby dragon. I don't think she is going to go for you" lightning quickly ended the conversation by walking inside leaving a stammering spike outside.

Lightning closed the door after he had entered the tree. He looked around the room and saw that the shelves were there for books, but most of the books were scattered over the floor opened to various pages. He saw one book that seemed to be the center of attention to whoever was reading as it sat on top of a pile books on the single table in the room.

Lightning walked over to the book and saw the title was "history of the alicorns"

"funny I didn't know there was any book on alicorns" he said flipping through the pages. He saw stories about celestia and her sister Luna, he saw many stories about the two sisters but he also saw stories of other past alicorns. He flipped through more pages but stopped when he came near the middle of the thick book.

On that page he saw a drawing of an alicorn with a white coat and wearing a brown cloak. Beneath the picture read "destroyer of kingdoms"

Lightning stared at the picture," that's me" he whispered to himself. He quickly closed the book trying not to remember his past actions. The book made a loud slamming sound as he closed it and he heard hoof steps from upstairs.

"lightning is that you" rarity came down the stairs still wearing his cloak.

"y...yeah it's me, I just got in" he said walking towards her.

"oh good. Come on I think you should meet somepony" she said gesturing for him to follow.

Lightning followed rarity up the stairs to the next floor seeing that twilight was sitting and talking with another pony. He looked closer and realized that the other pony was much taller than twilight and that she was an alicorn. He could see a beautiful three colored mane flowing down the side of the alicorn's head.

At the sound of rarity and lightning walking up twilight turned around,"ah lightning it's good to see you! I'm sorry for earlier, I just wanted to know what was going on"

"it's no problem twilight. It was mostly me. I just needed...somepony to talk to" he said looking at rarity. Twilight saw how lightning looked at rarity and only smiled.

"well if you two are done staring at each other, there is somepony I'd like you to meet lightning" twilight said gesturing to the alicorn behind her," this is princess celestia"

The tall alicorn got up and walked over to lightning," it is very nice to meet you" celestia said to lightning smiling.

As she walked to him lightning paled and started to get antsy, "I...I..uh..it's ..I have to go now" he ran down stairs and flew out the door back to his house.

"was it something I said" celestia asked looking at twilight. Twilight shrugged and looked at rarity.

"it's sort of complicated" rarity said, "I think we should sit down and have a talk"

Back at lightning's house he shot through the door and locked it. He began pacing the floor. He was still pale from the sight of celestia.

"I can't do it" lightning said, "no! No, it's not that I can't! I won't do it!" he slammed his forehead against the wall for a second time, "I swear! I'm done killing!"

He went to his room and packed his saddlebags with extra food. He looked at the armor laying on the floor at the end of his bed. He walked over to the armor ,"you have enough blood on you" he said to the armor, "no more. From now on, you are a simple suit of armor, no longer the link to my past"

He grabbed the armor and strapped himself in. Lightning looked around to see if anything else was still laying about unpacked. He saw nothing was
, so he grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil jotting down a quick note.

Dear rarity,

If you are reading this. Then you have missed me. I can't live here, I feel that I present a danger to others. Let's face it rarity. I'm a killer. Rarity I know you have certain feelings for me and I wish I could honor those feelings, but I'm afraid that other ponies will find out about my past. Goodbye rarity...I love you
Please don't look for me.

From,
Lightning runner

He wrote on the top of the letter "to rarity, please handle with care" he then placed the letter inside the cloak that had came with his armor. He folded the cloak and placed it in front of the door as he walked out. He took one last look at ponyville,"well I guess this is goodbye" he walked off to the same path that he had came from the everfree forest. His armor shining in the sunlight and clanked as he walked, leaving nothing but memories and hoof prints.

Back in twilight's library rarity had finished lightning's story of his past. Celestia was shocked at the thought of a fellow alicorn sent to kill her.

"but he not as bad as he sounds" rarity said trying to give lightning some good credit.

"that's coming from the one pony who is in love with him" twilight said.

"I...I am not!" rarity blushed.

"it's fine rarity" celestia said, "I'm sure he is good on the inside"

Rarity looked at celestia and twilight, "he really is, and yes...I do love him"

"come on rarity" twilight said moving to her friends side, "let's go find your boyfriend" rarity glared at twilight but the glare softened to smile.

Twilight, rarity, and celestia all walked out of the library. As they walked by the ponies on the street some bowed their heads in respect of the princess while others busied themselves with chores.

"I do so love this town" celestia mentioned, "it's so peaceful and yet has more activity then that dull castle I am forced to live in"

"but canterlot is so gorgeous" rarity said.

"for a short time it is rarity, a very short time"

The rest of the walk to lightning's house was spent in silence. When they reached his house the three walked up to the door, rarity stepping on the cloak as she tried to knock on the door.

She used her magic to lift and unfold the cloak, "this is lightning's" she said. As she unfolded it, the letter lightning had concealed within fell out. Twilight picked it up with her magic.

"its for you" twilight said reading the writing on the letter. The letter went from being covered in a purple aura to a blue one as rarity took the note. She turned away reading it.

"what does it say rarity" twilight asked.

Rarity only kept on reading.

"rarity" twilight walked up to her. Rarity looked at twilight tears swelling up in her eyes.

"he left twilight" she sniffed, "I have to go find him"

Rarity ran off to her boutique to ready herself to go looking for lightning. As rarity ran off princess celestia picked up the note and read it.

"this note says not to go looking for him" she said aloud to twilight, "if rarity is to ignore lightning's last wish, then she really must love him"

"I've never seen rarity so upset...for real upset I mean" twilight said.

"I think you should go with her twilight, it would do her good to have a friend with her right now" celestia devised twilight. Twilight nodded and trotted off to get ready and hopefully meet rarity before she left. The dark clouds started to release their load of rain once again and celestia looked up, "lightning runner..." she said to herself as she remembered seeing his face somewhere before.

Author notes: well I'm not really good at writing romantic stories, but meh ill try. The next few chapters are going to be mostly ….romantic I guess is the word for it, it's not going to be major romantic. Well I'm off. PEACE!