"Thrash?! What the hay….why are you here and in a cage and ….what did you do this time?" I asked.
"Hey …it um appears that the guards never forgave me for that whole thing at the station. Ain't that right Mr. Stalker?" Thrash said with a smirk at the soldier.
"Quiet you! Just know that you won't be seeing the sunlight for a long time." Night Stalker replied facing me again. "If you'd care to explain to me why he isn't threatening you, if you don't mind me asking?" He asked.
"You see, Thrash and I made…peace with each other. It still wasn't right what he did but we're kind of friends and…" I leaned in close to whisper. "He seems to have changed a bit, he has helped quite a lot and hasn't tried once to go back to the Shadowbolts or even make contact with them for all I know. So what do you say? Let me take him off your han- hoofs and I'll take him to Princess Celestia and fill her in and what not?"
Stalker simply stared at me, wondering if it would be worth it. Then again he had his duties he had to complete or he'd be in deep crap.
"Ok here's another idea; you keep Thrash in holding and I'll talk to Princess Celestia." I offered.
"You really want to…ok that's fine. I can do that. I don't know why I would but I trust you so you got it. You're lucky Lightning! He might save your flank, but he better hurry before I start to remember why I locked you in that cage." Stalker replied.
"Huh?" Lightning Thorn asked.
"No, Thorn not you. The pegasus in the cage is named Lightning Thrash." I said to Thorn. Oh this is going to get confusing.
"Ohhhh ok." Thorn replied.
Prince started to get a little concerned also and asked Stalker why he was in there and as Night explained it looked like Prince was baffled like; no way, I've hung out with this guy long enough to know that he would never do such a thing. I approached the cage.
"Don't worry Thrash, I'll get things sorted out and we'll have you out in no time." I said.
"You have my thanks, when you get me out of here before I bash his head in." He nodded to Stalker.
"Now play nice or I won't be able to get you out." I said.
"Fine. Now go talk to the Princess because I am not going to be in that dungeon all night." He argued.
"Alright, alright don't rush me." I said. "Come on gentleme-…colts, whatever let's just go back to the castle and get this sorted out." I started to hustle my way back with Prince and Thorn right beside me. After I bid farewell to Stalker of course.
We got back not too long after and I had to have Prince lead me because he knew this place better than both of us. Thorn was looking side to side to see if Celestia was in another room, but I think we were heading for the throne room. We, not too gently, burst through the door to the throne room where we saw Princess Celestia and Luna sitting in their thrones discussing some matter that was presumably on the scroll levitating in front of them.
"Mommy! Aunty Luna! We need your help!" Prince ran up to them almost out of breath. "One of our friends is in trouble!"
Celestia and Luna both looked up and Celestia spoke up.
"What's wrong?" She simply asked.
I stepped forward. "Our friend, Lightning Thrash was mistaken by a guard and is now incarcerated. We were hoping that you could free him. Both Prince and I can attest for him." I provided. Celestia arose.
"Follow me" She said as she approached us. When she was next to us she stopped and her horn began to glow. Before I could observe anything else we were standing in a completely different room heck maybe even a different building. The interior looked like that of a cave but more…homey. It was a very long hallway in which where we stood with cell doors lining the walls as well as a guard for each door, as well as some torches here and there so you could see. This place had more security than an average prison I can tell you that for sure. (Than this must be where they keep the very special criminals.) Maybe or they don't take any chances? Either way we gotta find Thrash.
"Lightning Thrash you said?" Celestia asked as if the name rang a bell.
"Yes, the same one that was with me when we saved the others at Sweet Apple Acres." I replied. I was a bit worried, with Thrash being a Shadowbolt and everything maybe they've encountered each other a few times. Thankfully the thought of how she heard that name before related to just the incident I relayed to her. So that means she might not know Thrash from the Shadowbolts (hopefully), yes hopefully.
I called out; "Hey Thrash! Where are you?!" After a moment of silence we heard a voice from quite a ways down the hall. "Over here!" He called back, sticking his hoof out between the bars and waving it. We, when I say that I mean Prince and I, rushed down the hall to Thrash's cell as Celestia and Thorn kind of took their time with Thorn catching up a little quicker than Celestia.
"We're here bud and we brought a friend that may be able to let you out." I said with a faint smile, a little out of breath.
"Great now please get me the hay outa here will ya? It stinks in here!" Thrash replied. Celestia walked up and faced the Pegasus and immediately remembered him, and not in the good way either.
"I do not tolerate these kinds of jokes." She said, looking at me with a serious look on her face.
"Your highness this is no joke, this is the Thrash that helped Prince and I out Sweet Apple." I replied.
"He is also the one who has terrorized the lives of many ponies for his whole life, destroying towns, home and families." She replied.
"Princess, with all due respect, I don't believe he could've done that much bad but on top of that he has done much good. For one, the major one, if not for him Neither I nor Prince, your "son", would standing beside you right now at this moment. Even those three fillies and Apple Jack would be with us. So please allow him his release. Even Prince will agree, right Princey?" I asked, turning to him.
"Right! He's also really nice….-ish." He replied. Celestia looked between us like a mother looking between her two sons who wanted something at a grocery store and were begging for it.
"He has done bad deeds in his past there is no way getting around that…but we can help shape his future for the better." I persuaded.
Celestia let out a small sigh and motioned for the guard to unlock the gate.
"He shall walk free but mark my words; if he pulls any kind of stunt he will be right back here with a far worse punishment." She said menacingly
"You have my word and gratitude your majesty." I said. Thrash walked out of his cell, stretching and stood there until I nudged him hard and nodded towards Celestia who was eyeing Thrash the entire time.
"Yes, thank you Princess Celestia." He said, trying so hard to fake a smile before she nodded and we were transported back to the throne room. Whoa it feels weird when we do that. I'm not use to teleportation and I swear if one of these times my leg switches spots with my arm, I'm going to press charges…
Now that that was settled with little to no bumps in the road I kind of felt lost. What now? I don't have any leads as to what to look for regarding the way home. The "creeps" haven't returned…yet, Princey is almost a master at socializing, and Thrash is out of the slammer. Oh well, if anything I'll ask Princess Celestia and Luna for any leads for a way home during dinner tonight. She took her place at the head of the table- whoa where did this table come from...Oh it seems we teleported into the dining room. Meaning it's time for dinner. Awesome!
I took my place at the table somewhat near the Princess, in case she wished to discuss some topics. Prince sat beside the Princess but on my side, Thrash took a seat across from me and Thorn sat beside him. Immediately plates were set in front of us by kitchen staff that were here and gone in almost seconds, they also brought us napkins and…silverware? This is going to be awesome, I've always wondered if they used utensils. Then the staff came back with platters covered in veggies. (Crap, we need meat man.) I know, but we can afford to go on a green diet. As everypony began to dig in I swiped myself a freshly baked potato, some butter, and cheese that was lying there for the taking. Hahaha diet my butt! This is going to be so fattening and soo goo- just as I had everything ready when a knock came at the big door. Guards opened it up to reveal a pegasus with a Wonderbolt suit on enter the rom.
"I take it we have plenty new graduates for the ceremony?" Celestia asked as the Pegasus walked by us, heading straight for Celestia.
"Yes Ma'am, a good hearted bunch too. Ready to fly." He replied, well either it was a he or it was a girl with a very low voice. He handed the letter to Celestia and caught a glimpse of Thrash eating away at a salad. Thrash looked up to give a glare back.
"Can I help yah?" Thrash asked. The Pegasus just stood there and then turned back to the princess.
"Your highness, some-something just turned up…I have t be going." He said in a hurried tone as he trotted for the door keeping an eye on Thrash who was getting more and more annoyed at the staring.
"Do I have something on my face or something?" Thrash asked. "Or is it because I'm- or was a Shadowbolt?" He looked around at everypony, even me, looking for an answer. He just received shrugs from ponies that were confused as he was.
Celestia looked at the letter as she ate. From what I'm piecing together, I take it that some lucky pegasi passed as Wonderbolts and there is going to be a ceremony in their honor. Ha, I wonder if Rainbow Dash is one of them. Though…I was a bit curious as to why that Wonderbolt gave Thrash that weird look. The thought left me when Thrash spoke up.
"Thank you, for getting me out of there." He said as he looked up at me.
"You're welcome Thrash, if you're ever in a bind I'll help you out. Same goes for you Prince, and you too Thorn. Though you three can handle yourselves quite well I'll be there to help." I said digging back into my potato.
"Princess I-" at that moment Luna entered the dining room, greeted us, and took her place next to her sister. "Oh wonderful, I was meaning to ask you both if either of you has found out any possible clue as to how I can get home. They each look at themselves with the expression that basically said; no, but how do we let him down easy. Luna turned her head to me, but before she could speak I intervened.
"It's ok if you haven't, I'm sure if you find something you'd let me know." I said. "Beside, I'm sure we have plenty of time. Also, I want to make sure those undesired ponies don't return so I can stick through that." I kind of feel bad for bringing that up because now it left us with a fairly awkward silence until the end of dinner. At the end servants came around taking everypony's plates and utensils.
"Well, I think it's time for bed. What do you two think?" I asked, looking at Prince and Thrash.
"Yea, I am feeling pretty tired." Prince said.
"Same here." Thrash replied.
"Well then, if you'll excuse us your highnesses, we'll be heading off to bed now." I said with a small bow. All of us got up, Night, Thorn, Thrash, Prince and I thanked them for the meal and we all walked to Prince's room where I told Thorn and Night to go take it easy at the barracks. I kind of forgot that Celestia arranged for me to meet up with Night Stalker at Ponyville. (Well it seems he came to us.) That he did.
After they left we got everything situated with Thrash, like making a little sleeping spot on the floor for him.
As I was getting ready for bed I went into the bathroom to do the normal routine, clean up, wash my clothes a little and set them out to dry. When I came out of the bathroom I noticed Prince showing Thrash around. I sat down near my stuff, my back-pack basically.
"So Thrash, what have you been up to since we've been gone?" I asked.
Thrash sat down on his spot on the floor. "Well, after you two left I decided to go help AJ around her farm. We finally got the cellar fixed up even though none of us could stand going down in there."
I shivered at the horrendous memory, "I remember that day like it just happened…"
"Yea…we got it cleaned up. That's when those guard boys came snoopin' around and it so happened to be Stalker that was the head of the pack found me and well you can piece together the rest." Thrash replied.
"I still don't get it though, why do they think you're bad?" Prince asked.
"I didn't make very good choices in my life bud, now it's coming back to haunt me…that and I kind of beat up Night Stalker." Thrash responded.
"Not just Stalker…" I said under my breath.
"I said sorry!" Thrash said.
I laughed and told him it was ok. Then sleep started to get to me so I wished them a good night which Thrash started to get a bit of a worried look on him like he feared going to sleep, but he did and so did Prince.
Around what I think was 2 in the morning.
I could hear murmuring, tossing and turning, and finally I Heard Thrash scream "No!" at the top of his lungs. I jumped up, ready to strike anything. Even Prince got up and looked around worriedly. I got down next to Thrash and thought of only one logical thing to do.
I slapped the mcshit out of him to wake him up. (The mcshit? Ok so now you aren't censoring that but what the hell is a mcshit?) The degree of slapping one's friend. (It sounds like a new breakfast item at McDonalds.) Ew, but no that's just how hard I slapped him.
"Ow, what was that?!" Thrash screamed.
"You were having a bad dream so I was waking you up." I said innocently.
"Wouldn't shaking me awake be useful?" He asked.
"No." I responded. "Now dude…what the heck was going on?" I asked.
Thrash sat up sighing. I've been losing sleep to this same dream or nightmare actually. The basic gist is…I'm walking down a hallway and it looks just like the house I used to live in when I was younger. I would walk past my parent's room and over hear them talking." He hung his head. "They were always talking about how much they loved not having a son around. About…about how they wished it happened sooner. Then, when I'd walk into the room they just stared at me. They'd turn around and start walking away. I'd try to chase after but no matter how hard I galloped, or flew they just faded. That's when the voice started to speak to me. He told me how they weren't my true family. He said my true family was with them…the Shadowbolts." Thrash was near tears, and Prince was sitting beside me.
"Who was the voice Thrash?" I asked.
"He's the one who Commands the Shadowbolts nimrod." Thrash huffed. I then looked over to Prince whose eyes were wide, for he knew who Thrash was talking about.
"I would try to get away from him but I just couldn't move." Thrash continued. "He was right there, always trying to make me come back."
"Who?!" I asked impatiently.
"Thrash looked up at me with and uttered that one. Fricken'. Name. "Sombra."
Son of a bit-