"The Test of Leadership?" the friends repeated.

"Just like all of the other tests and challenges you took during your summer here. At Blackmane Manor, the Test of Speed. At Pinewood Pastures, the Test of Grace. At Sunset Stables, the Test of Strength. And here, the Test of Leadership. And I will be your judge. If you win, the Sounds of Thunder will be set free. If I win, you all will be turned to stone," Natalie said.

"But, why are WE being turned to stone?" Samuel asked.

"Like I said before, you're an annoyance in my plan. I can't have you interfere with it. With you guys out of the way, I'll be able to get everything I wanted."

"Which is?" Zachary asked.

"Power and attention. Once Gladys and the others became the new Sounds of Thunder, everyone forgot about me. I was living in their shadow ever since. But not anymore! You guys will finally know what it's like to be forgotten, what it's like to live in someone's shadow forever!"

"We won't let you! We'll take your Test of Leadership, but just so you know, we're not easy to be defeated! Right guys?" Kimberly asked her friends.

"Right!" they replied.

"Well then, let's begin."

The friends nodded their heads and mounted their horses.

"So, what do we have to Natalie?" Kimberly asked.

"Nothing too farfetched. You just have to make the sound of thunder," Natalie explained.

"What...?" the friends asked.

"You four are riding on legendary horses who are unimaginably fast, unbelievably graceful, unspeakably strong, and unmatched leadership. With speed, grace, strength, and leadership, you should be able to pull through, and make the sound of thunder."

The friends looked at each other, and back at Natalie.

"Alright, we're ready," Kimberly said.

"Oh, just a little advice. You three have to depend on your alpha," Natalie said, pointing to Kimberly.

"Me?"

"Yes you. Remember what I said when you first chose Ace? Will you choose Ace, to lead your friends to victory?"

"No way..."

The friends were taken by surprise. Kimberly looked back at her friends with concern.

"I don't know if I can be THAT good of a leader, guys. I mean... our lives are on the line, and don't want to be the cause of losing them," Kimberly said.

"Don't listen to Natalie, Kim! You're an awesome leader! She's just putting pressure on you. Don't let her get under your skin. We believe in you." Samuel said.

"Yeah. We'll free the Sounds of Thunder in no time. You can do it!" Violet said.

"No one is a better leader than you. We know you can do it, Kim!" Zachary said.

"You guys... thank you! You guys are right! I know that we'll be able to free the Sounds of Thunder, but I can't do it without your help."

Her friends smiled brightly at her and nodded. Kimberly smiled back, and turned back to Natalie.

"Alright Natalie, we're ready." Kimberly said.

"Prepare to lose. Follow me." she said.

She started walking to the to the other end of the cave, and the friends followed.

"You can do this guys!" Ezra said.

"We believe in you!" Angelica and Kanan said in unison.

Natalie came to a halt and the friends stopped.

"I going to go back to the other side, waiting for you guys to slip up. I'll be using this to help me with my judgement," Natalie said, pulling out a small gadget.

"What is that?" Zachary asked.

"It's called the Soundwave Tracker. I built it. It can tell me if you sound like thunder or not."

"Hmph, knowing you and your tricks, you probably programed it to say that we didn't sound like thunder." Kimberly said.

"You know me so well, Kimberly, but you're wrong this time. This is serious. Hope you're ready. I'll say go as soon as I get to the other end of the cave. Good luck, you'll need it."

Natalie winked and walked to the end of the cave.

"Alright guys, we can do this!" Kimberly said.

"We got this, no problem!" Samuel said.

"We're unstoppable!" Violet said.

"Unbeatable!" Zachary said.

When they said this, their horse's charms started glowing.

"Ready... GO!" Natalie cried.

The friends were off. As they ran, the ground shook a little. When the passed Natalie, her tracker read, "Low Rumble."

"No good you guys, try again." Natalie said.

The friends didn't waste any time going back to the other end of the cave. They took their positions and waited for the signal.

"Okay. We can do this. This time, let's be a little faster this time. Sam, do think you can deduct some of that speed of yours to match ours?" Kimberly asked.

"Got it." Samuel replied.

"Vi and I will move faster to catch up to you two." Zachary said.

"Right." Violet said.

"Alright, let's do this!"

As before, their horse's charms started glowing, but brighter.

"Ready... GO!" Natalie cried.

The friends were off again, and the ground shook louder. As they passed Natalie, her tracker read, "Loud Rumble."

"Oh, so close you guys, but not close enough. This is your last try." Natalie said.

The friends didn't waste any time going back to the other end of the cave.

"I'm sorry guys. It's going to be my fault that we're going to be part of Natalie's statue collection. I'm not the leader you think I am, or was..." Kimberly said, sadly.

"Kim, don't say things like that. That's just Natalie getting under your skin. Saying you can't do it, but she's wrong. You CAN do it! Because you have something she doesn't." Zachary said.

"What?"

"Friends who love, care, and support you through and through." Violet said.

"Yeah. Remember, the Sounds of Thunder are counting on us to free them. They're counting on YOU to free them. They believe in you, just like us." Samuel said.

"Yeah, you guys are right. I know we can win! If Natalie wants us to sound like thunder, then that's exactly what we're going to do!"

"Right!"

Then, their horse's charms started glowing even brighter. Then, the friends said a quote they never heard before.

"The Brighter the Lightning, the Louder the Thunder!"

Natalie shuddered a bit.

"Ready... GO!" she cried.

The friends were off again. The ground shook violently under the hoofbeats of the horses. Every hoofbeat was in sync with the other. When they passed Natalie, her tracker read, "Thunder." Natalie shuddered again. The friends came back around and looked at Natalie's tracker.

"Alright, we did it!" Violet said.

Ezra, Angelica, and Kanan cheered.

"Okay Natalie. A deal's a deal. Now let the Sounds of Thunder go." Kimberly said.

"NEVER! YOU FOUR CHEATED!" Natalie cried.

"How?" Zachary asked.

"You said the Sounds of Thunder motto. The Brighter the Lightning, the Louder the Thunder. They always said that when the were in a tight spot."

"But we never heard of it before. This is the first time your telling us now." Samuel said.

"Liars! Those three idiots over there told you!"

"We never told them." the three Sounds of Thunder said in unison.

Natalie backed up away from the four teens, and tripped on the edge of the pool of cement. She fell in.

"Natalie!" the friends cried.

They dismounted their horses, and ran over to the pool of cement. Samuel and Zachary grabbed her hands and pulled her out. She was covered from head to toe with cement, and it was hardening fast.

"No... NO! WHY ME? WHY ME!? NO...!" Natalie cried.

She reached out, and tried to grab Kimberly's hand, but it was too late. Natalie was turned into stone. Kimberly walked up to Natalie, and knocked on her head.

"Yup, she's solid stone." Kimberly said.

"Caught in her own trap. A little karma if you ask me." Samuel said.

"Yeah. Come on guys, let's get Ezra and the others out of here." Violet said.

Her friends agreed. The opened the capsules, and they walked out. Samuel and Zachary carefully took out Gladys. Once they placed her on the ground, her charm started glowing very bright, so bright it filled the room. Ace's charm did the same. The statue started to crack and break. In the statue's place, was a girl with copper brown skin and long brown hair, and was wearing a navy equestrian outfit. She blinked once, and fell to the ground.

"Gladys!" everyone cried.

They walked over, and helped her to her feet.

"Gladys, are you okay?" Violet asked.

"Yes, but who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Kimberly, and these are my friends: Violet, Samuel, and Zachary." Kimberly explained.

"Kimberly here is the one that released you from your imprisonment." Samuel said, lightly nudging Kimberly.

"Really? Was she a great leader?"

"You bet she was!" Zachary said.

Gladys just stared at Kimberly. Then, a gentle smile appeared on her face. She walked closer, and stroked Kimberly's hair.

"Thank you, Kimberly, for rescuing me," Gladys said.

"You're welcome, Captain." Kimberly said.

"Hah! Haven't heard that name in a long time."

She turned around and saw her beloved friends.

"Ezra... Kanan... Angelica..." Gladys said.

She walked up to them, and hugged them tightly. They hugged her back even tighter.

"I thought I was never going to see you guys again. I missed you all so much," Gladys said.

"We missed you, too, Gladdy," Kanan said.

"I thought I told you to never, ever, EVER call me that again!"

"And I told you that I wasn't going to listen."

"Yeah, I missed this." Ezra said.

"Me too." Angelica said.

Ace neighed with joy.

"Ace! Oh, my loyal friend, I missed you so much," Gladys said, hugging Ace.

"Now, since that's out of the way, what are we going to about Natalie?" Kimberly asked.

"Leave her. Just like she did with us, she will never be heard from again."

"Okay, good. That aside, let's get out of here!" Kanan said.

"Right!" they all said.

The friends mounted their horses, with a Sound of Thunder behind them. Ezra with Samuel, Angelica with Violet, Kanan with Zachary, and Gladys with Kimberly.

"Back to surface!" Kimberly said.

She kicked Ace, and she started running, with the others in tow. They slowed down when they got to the stairs.

"Oh yeah, that's right. How are we going to get out?" Zachary asked.

"Leave that to us." Angelica said.

The Sounds of Thunder dismounted the horses and walked up to the wall. They took of their chains and inserted them into slots carved just like their charms. When the charms glowed, the wall pushed back, and slid to side. They put back on their chains and walked out. Kimberly and the others did the same. When they walked out to the courtyard, it was dark.

"I acually forgot how this place looked like. Forgot how beautiful it was." Gladys said.

"Well, let's hit the hay. I'm exhausted." Ezra said with a yawn.

"Yeah." the others said.

The four friends put their horses back in the stables and headed for the dorms. They went to their rooms, and went to sleep.