Lightning was now on his way to Ponyville, not knowing what had changed while he was in jail. He looked always looked out from his cell window and saw it grow, but didn't know how it changed. The last time he was there, everypony was still building some of their houses.
He landed in town, and eyes quickly flew to his direction. Ponies shook, ran, and flew away as they screamed. He felt sad, he thought they would of forgotten about him. He looked over and saw the mayor. Then he walked over to talk.
"Hey Mayor Mare, is my lot still mine?"
"Y-you...Your supposed to be dead!"
Lightning shook his head with a sigh, "Can you please answer my question? I would like to know if I have a home or not!" He asked getting impatient.
The mayor nodded and pointed east of where they were at. "That...way, now please go!" She said running inside the town hall.
"Thanks..." He said walking to his old home.
Seems like to Lightning, the ponies of Ponyville didn't forget about him. Not even the mayor forgot, and she looked older then ever.
He got to his house and saw that nothing had changed. The broken window, the burnt side of his house, and his key under his mat. He opened the door then slowly walked in. He saw that the inside was covered in dust, and cobwebs. Some 'Do not cross' tape was on the stairs, and in the kitchen.
"Dammit...they didn't even fix the place up for me..." He said aloud.
"Hey there!"
"Augh! Dammit...don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Who are you?"
"Lightning Dusk..."
Twilight's mane stood up when she heard his name."Y-y-your Lightning Dusk?"
"Yes...now don't worry, I'm good now. If I wasn't, Celestia would of let me take the train to hell via lethal injection." Twilight stood frozen not saying a word. "Can you use some of your magic to restore my house please Twilight? It would be really nice."
Twilight slowly nodded her head as her horn glew. Slowly the house lost all damage, and returned to they way he left it. "S-so Celestia...?"
"Yes...please just go if you don't want to be near me. I understand if you feel a 'bit' uncomfortable around an ex-con."
Twilight shook her head. "N-no...I am just a bit..."
"Shocked? Suprised? Confused?"
"All three...its just...you murdered...your family..."
Lightning let out a sigh. "I know...I regret everything. My children didn't half to die...Look, thanks for helping me, but I wish to be alone...I need...time..."
"Okay...see you..."
Twilight left Lightning standing in his house. He felt angry again, but this time angry at himself. For what he did, there was no way to undo the past.
He walked into his old room and started to cry lightly. Feeling the pain of his past was hell enough, now he had to live in it. His body was in emotional pain. He heard a sound, then turned around to see his ex-wife. She frowned then dissappered. He shook his head for a minuet to see if he was going crazy. He sighed heavely. 'Time to go find a job.." He thought walking down stairs.
He saw smoke, and fire rage from his kitchen. He ran outside seeing nothing was happening. "I'm going crazy...I know I am.."
"We meet again." Said a voice.
He turned around to see the Zebra he saw twenty years ago. "Hey..."
"Your past is haunting you, maybe the princess wanted you to live for this reason." She said. "What was it that made you run out of your house?"
"Fire...I set my house on fire the same day I was arrested. I was trying to kill myself."
"Feeling the pain of the past can do a number on a pony's mind. You must let your past go, but never forget it."
"What's your name, I would like to think of you as a friend. Heck! Maybe you can help me?"
"Its Zecora, tell me when you need to talk... Goodbye, Lightning..."
Zecora walked off into a store nearby. It was tall building full of plants.
He started to walk into town where most of the ponies just staired at him, or ran away. At that point he knew nopony would allow him to work for them. Not even a rock farm would.
As the day dragged on he felt tired. He went to sixteen different stores, and none of them wanted to hire him. His stomach made a noise that made him blush slightly as ponies looked at him. He then ran home hoping tomorrow would be better.
So when he got home he fell asleep on his old couch.
Dear Celestia, I met Lightning Dusk today. Looking at him at first, I didn't know who he was, but now I do. He scares me, and the rest of Ponyville. Please tell me why you set him free.
-Twilight Sparkle
Celestia put down her student's letter, and stood up. She then walked down to her sister's room as she was getting ready to raise the moon, and the stars.
She knocked on the door a few times, and waited for Luna to answer.
"Hello sister, art thou okay?"
"No Luna, I fear I may have done something wrong."
"What would that be?"
"Do you know of Lightning Dusk, the pegasus that murdered his family, ans set fire to Ponyville?"
"Yes, why?"
"I-I-I set him free hoping he cod start over normaly, but...the ponies in Ponyville are in a panic. Twilight just sent me a letter..."
Luna put her forhoof on Celestia's shoulder. "When the ponies of Ponyville saw me for the first time, weren't they scared? I think so, give them time...they may learn to accept him."
"Maybe your right Luna..." Celestia said.
"I need to do my job, have a good night's sleep."
"I'll try Luna, watch over him as he sleeps please. I worry about him."
Luna nodded and flew out her window.
Buildings burned, ponies scream, and all Lightning did was stand there. Reliving his past, seeing, and feeling the fire and its heat. It was the same dream he always had, and it kept him from forgetting what he had done, and how he hurt ponies.
He felt a hoof tuch his side, as he turned the dream shifted from the burning village to a place where the stars seemed to be brighter. He then saw a dark blue alicorn with shifting mane that looked as if it was the night sky.
She smiled. "Hello, Lighting..." She said looking at him. "Don't worry, your not in trouble or anything. I'm just here to help. I understand how you feel."
"Who are you?"
"I was Nightmare moon, but now, Im princess Luna. I understand the pain you feel. Doing a dark deed...it hurts the heart, and weakens the mind."
"Why are we here?"
"Do you want to see your past? I sure don't...Look, Lightning I am here to help."
"How, I mean do you know what I did? I hurt...so many ponies...and..."
"Killed you family...yes I know Lightning. I know all about you, and how you escaped death row with the help of my sister's soft heart. She is worried she made a mistake releacing you. She hasn't done it before, so she's thinking on a way to deal with you."
"What do you mean princess? You mean...kill me?" Lightning asked. "Right now is hell for me..."
Luna sighed looking to the stars. "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"The stars?My old friend is making music."
"What does that haft to do with me?!"
"You are like my friend, living in a 'hellish' life. It hurts him everyday to remember seeing his wife die, as well as his children."
"What's your friend's name?"
"Silver Octave, he is very old, older then Equestria itself. He plays his magical violin, and the stars play a song of sorrow, and happiness."
"How does he live for that long?"
"He calls it a curse, but its a spell his wife put on him. He is to live till he dies happy with his love. Learn to be happy that you get to live Lightning, its what Silver did, and still does." Luna said as the moon started to fade. "Have a wonderful day tomorrow Lightning, bring a smile, and sooner or later ponies will like you once again."
"Thanks princess, I'll do just that."
Luna opened her eyes now looking at Celestia who was waiting to raise the sun. Luna nods slowly, and Celestia gives a sigh.
"I'm still worried..." Celestia said walking with Luna down the steps of the Lunar Tower. "Something about him...makes me...ugh..."
"He's like me sister, and like Silver. We all live through hell remembering our past, and how we could of changed it." Luna said. "In time sister...he...maybe loved again...it will only take a few actions to give momentum to climb back up the mountain."
Celestia chuckled lightly. "How did you ever become a philosopher?"
"Not a philosopher sister, empathic. I can relate to ponies, that's how I get them to feel better deep down in their sad hearts. Come, lets eat some muffins! OH Derpy! Are those muffins ready?"
"Sure are!"
So, that took alot to think how this chapter was going to down. I hope you all enjoyed it, and make sure to spred the word!