//-------------------------------------------------------// The Lying Witness -by Commander Luna- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1:The Big dates //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1:The Big dates A cloudy sky loomed over ponyville when suddenly a large burst emerged though the clouds and a gray stallion with a dark yellow mane emerged his name was Thunder Roller. Thunder roller soared through the sky on a particularly foggy day he was tasked with clearing the sky’s around town hall for the visit of Princess Celestia tomorrow. As he was nearing the town hall he noticed a particular increase of guards flooding the streets. “They must be inspecting the area for Celestia geez their always over careful” he thought. As he reached the town hall he started kicking in the clouds that were left from the previous weather teams it was the only job for today so they let them clear certain sections whenever they felt like. Thunder usually liked working earlier because he didn’t like ponies watching him work. He also had to make reservations at the Royal buck. It was his and flare dancers anniversary today so he had to wait in line early to get a seat at the most popular entertainers club in town. About 15 minutes later he had kicked in the final cloud “Alright lunch time” he shouted He immediately dropped down at increasing speeds landing at the merchant’s stalls then using the momentum to gallop over to Brave Boulder’s stall. “Hey there’s my favorite Pegasus” Brave boulder shouted waving his hoof over to him. “You want the usual triple asparagus and sliced carrots” he said. “Naw the wife would buck my head off if I ate too much before our dinner tonight” Thunder laughed. “Right I keep forgetting your married to an ex captain of the guard observant, cute, and could kick the head of a Manticore” Boulder laughed. “Don’t talk like I’m not here” A loud shout came from the sky when all of a sudden a large red and blue beam burst through the fog and landed right behind thunder leaving a crater. Emerging from the crater was blue pony with a long red mane. “Oh hi flare dancer you sure know how to make an entrance” Brave chuckled. Thunder immediately greeted her with a kiss “Hmm I see you’re happy to see me too thunder did you make our reservation” “You know it Flare so are you as excited as I am”. “Yeah, well I promised cloud chaser I’d see her today so I’ll catch you later okay.” Flare said “Alright bye love you” Thunder said “Love you too Flare said” as she burst through back into the air. “Lucky guy Brave said so you want your asparagus or not” “Oh right” Thunder said. He picked up the food paid for it and took off to eat it on a cloud and nap. Thunder roller took a nap on a cloud above a local firm. Inside was a stallion named Cane Warper. He was a very good lawyer but that was because he was dishonest. A year ago his wife left him because he cheated on her. Almost every case he won was because he produced false evidence and every pony knew about it. Now no one in particular hated him but it’s not like he had any good friends. He would generally keep to himself except to do his job. He was a bit of an artist and had much more time to paint now that he was alone most of the day. “Well this is better than my previous works it really matches Celestias stronger side”. He said finishing off his latest picture. He had painted a photo of Celestia sitting on a throne with the sun shining strong on her ordering her guards to take flight. He dared not show any pony his art save for the few that enter his office though when they asked he completely denied he had drawn them. “Oh crap I have to meet Berry in ten minutes about her settlement with Carrot” He grabbed his briefcase and bolted out the door to head to the stalls by the Royal buck. “Finally your hear Cane now can you please explain to this carrot head why she must move her stand” Berry said as Cane approached her stall. “Who are you calling Carrot head, berry brains you think because you hired some lying bum who will work for a drink at the drunken apple will help you I’ve had this stand here for a year longer then you and the minor nobles who come to the royal buck simply love my carrots.” Carrot Slider said. “Ah yes please continue talking as if I’m not here that will surly earn you your spot and win this case” Cane said sarcastically interrupting her. “Now look Carrot, Berry’s claims are reasonable the smell of carrots and the smell of berry’s clashes making none of you getting any sales” (he had started off with the truth but if he wanted Carrot to budge he had to step this up a notch.) “Besides this place is shady and moist good for berry’s but not good for carrots. An area a mile down from here is very sunny and gives a little protection from the rain and it’s a great intersection you’ll get as many customers possibly even more.” Carrot slider thought about what he was saying(Good she’s buying it he thought) “But the nobles” carrot said. ”The nobles need the wine a lot more it helps them make wiser decisions and carrots interfere with the works of wine you understand now right.” Cane said acting semi sympathetic towards Carrots position. “Gosh I never thought of It that way I guess I can start my garden and stall over there I don’t need the nobles any way” carrot said smiling. “I’m sorry berry and I’m sorry Cane I’ll get going now.” Carrot said as she picked up her carrot stand and plucked most of her carrots trotting along down the road. “Heh thanks Cane you’re a pretty alright guy, now I believe our payment was 100 bits” Berry said handing him a pouch. “Thanks Berry, say are you doing anything later” he asked “um well I was going to make some wine and sell it to the Royal buck, but I’m free in about two hours why?” “Well I was wondering if we could you know get something to eat the two of us kinda like a date?” “Are you asking me out Cane” Berry said “Well I dunno your kinda cute and you did help me but I don’t know if we should take this more than professional. “Well I thought our business was done Berry” Cane said. “Well okay why not” Berry said. “I’ll see you at 7 sharp okay Cane” berry shouted as she waved goodbye. “Ok thanks berry see you at seven” Cane said. Two hours passed, Thunder Roller dressed up in a suite and met up with Flare dancer who was dressed up in a bright red dress “Now do you see why I had to meet cloud chaser we went shopping for new dresses.” Flare Dancer said sweetly “Whoa” Thunder said as he was stunned by her beauty. “Do you like?” Flare asked, “Uh yes I like.” Thunder chuckled regaining himself “Well shall we go Flare?” “Yes we shall” Flare said “but let’s walk over there I don’t feel like flying anymore today.” “Oh yeah sure whatever you want it’s as much your 8 year anniversary as mine” Thunder said. As they walked through the streets it suddenly got very crowded and thunder got suspicious because he swore he saw some pony on the rooftops following them. “Hey flare come on I know a short cut to get out of these crowds well be there in 3 minutes tops.” Thunder said tugging her to the right “Well okay” flare said following him they soon found themselves in a much smaller street almost like any alley but they saw the royal bucks light off in the distance so she felt reassured. Meanwhile berry had just arrived at the Golden Orange a small café offering a wide range of foods seasoned with oranges Cane knew she loved this place which is why he chooses it. Cane was dressed in a suite not unlike the one he wears when he’s at work. This was pretty big for Cane because it was his first date since the divorce he has had a crush on berry for some time now but was always awkward around girls so he never asked her out before now. “Oh I just love this place they have the best souffle” berry said. “Yeah I thought you might like it” Cane said. “So Cane what do you like to do in your free time” berry asked? “Well I spend a lot of time in my office painting I don’t really get out that often since so much of the town views me as scum” Cane said awkwardly. ”Oh come on now not everyone does they just don’t know you that well, anyways you’re a good artist I take it” Berry said. “Oh um yes I think I’m pretty good but I’m kind of self-conscience about my art Cane said. “Well I’d love to see your art sometime I just ardor art a good picture calms the mind much like a good wine” Berry said holding up her glass “cheers to us.” “To us” Cane said. Meanwhile at the Royal buck Flare and Thunder had just gotten there drinks. “So Thunder I think we need to talk about kids” flare said I mean we’ve been married eight years now I think it’s about time we really tried.” “Well it’s not like we haven’t tried it’s just that we’ve been busy I mean you’ve just started your job as a weather pony not just a year ago but, I suppose we could try tonight” Thunder said slyly. “Ha ha well there is that so what should we call it?” flare asked. “If it’s a boy Thunder dancer, if it’s a girl flare roller.” thunder said laughing. “Ha ha that is the most uncreative thing ever thunder, oh this is great when was the last time we were able to do this” Flare said. “I dunno” Thunder said raising his glass “to kids and to us” “to us” Flare said. “Oh look” Flare said excitingly “the shows starting I hear the comedians totally killer.” Both the couples ate their meals and started heading home Cane dropped berry of then headed home to his office. While Thunder and Flare took the same route as last time. Thunder still swore he saw someone following him. All of a sudden a large Pegasus swooped down from the sky and knocked out Thunder. The Pegasus stood next to thunders body the hard hit knocked him to the ground instantly. The Pegasus was hard to make out but when his face turned Flare she knew who he was. She could recognize his black as night mane, green eyes and scar on his cheek anywhere. “You” Flare said “what the hell do you think you’re doing” “You know what this is Flare you think I wouldn’t find out, you think you could just get away.” “ I.. are you seriously going on about that, it’s been years we’ve all moved on.” “ Yeah but you’re a lose end” he said in a low tone with a smirk on his face. “Denarius sends his regards he laughed then began to charge at flare” Flare and the Pegasus took to the air exchanging blows they were both fast but the other Pegasus was much bigger then Flare. Thunder started regaining conscience but was still immobilized by the shock, he saw that Flare knocked out two of the teeth of the pony but he immediately got behind and started choking her until she was barley conscience “I can’t let this happen stop being useless thunder get up,…. Get up… GET UP!” “LET HER GO!” Thunder shouted getting up from his paralytic state. “With pleasure.“ The Pegasus said immediately he flung her into a cement wall crashing through it Thunder tried to catch her but he wasn’t fast enough Thunder flung himself at the Pegasus but he countered and thunder ended up in a submission hold being choked out. “HEY LET GO OF HIM!” A large shout in the distance said, Thunder looked up to see it was Brave boulder. The Pegasus growled but dropped Thunder and flew off. As he flew off both Thunder and Boulder noticed a distinct armor with an even more distinct crest. ”A royal guard they both said aloud!” momentarily trying to grasp what had happened to them all of a sudden they regained themselves and realized about Flare. They ran over to her battered body she was severely injured most of her bones were probably shattered and she had and open wound on the side of her chest she was breathing but uncoinscence. javascript:void(0); “We have to get her to a hospital now Thunder!” Brave said. Thunder was still in almost complete shock “How is this happening this can’t be happening” but he got flare on his back and jumped in the air for lift off, but he was to injured to fly “shit it looks like were hoofing this one” he said and they immediately ran off. “Thunder the nearest hospital to us is five miles” Brave shouted trying to keep up with Thunder. “Well make it there in 30 minutes we have to” Thunder said. About halfway there Flare started to regain consonance “uh…thunder is that you” Flare said meekly. “Yes it’s me don’t worry you’re gonna make it” Thunder said trying to reassure her but, he couldn't reassure himself. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: The worst night ever //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: The worst night ever Now there were three witnesses to what had happened that night the first was of course Brave Boulder that helped out Thunder. The other two arrived earlier. The first was Cane Warper who was walking back to his firm when he heard a large shout he walked over to see a large Pegasus choking another he was about to interfere when all of a sudden he heard a large shout coming close to him The larger Pegasus flew off spooked by the pony’s voice. When he saw who who it was he couldn’t believe it a royal guard harming civilians he knew that there were two of them but he thought the one pony already had things under control if he had known that one of them was about to die he would have gone to help but instead he tailed the guard He followed for about a mile until he finally landed in an abandoned house near the town hall he entered the house and ducked under a table as he saw the royal guard being approached by another guard. He recognized the other one much better he was the captain overseeing the security for Celestia’s speech tomorrow. “Is it done” the captain said, “is she dead?” “Um well I’m pretty sure her husband was a bigger nuisance then I expected so I didn’t see her breath her last but the nearest hospital was far of and I defiantly broke most of her bones some civilian interrupted me before I could finish.” “Smack” the captain slapped the guard down to the ground causing him a bloody nose “errggg Rain you incompetent moron if she survives or if he saw who you where do you know what a problem this could cause it will cost your job that’s for sure.” “Now now im sure the chance of her surviving is a hundred to one beside the fire I caused at the apartment will leave the hospital crowded.” Fire, Cane thought. What in the hay are they talking about. Cane was having trouble grasping the situation. Sure he has seen his share of crimes as a lawyer but nothing this serious. These guards seem to have no remorse about murdering people. He thought to himself. “You’d better hope, now about tomorrow I’m not sure if you should show your face who knows that civilian may yet identify you.” “Oh come on our guards are stretched thin enough as it is he won’t notice me besides I’m the best one in your regime.” “Fine just don’t make a scene just in case alright now that Flares done with we have a last minute meeting before Celestia arrives we have to act natural their probably going to bring up the fire after all eight ponies did die there.” “Eight.” Cane said almost shouting but he stopped himself “Humph you worry yourself too much I know what I’m doing” and with that they disappeared Cane was both puzzled and stunned by what he had heard but he decided to go straight to the hospital and look for a girl named flare and hopefully reveal to her what he saw. Now there was one other witness whose name was Zimsassion he was a comedian at the Royal buck who had performed that night. He had went off in the alley to take a smoke when he heard the commotion in the distance before he went to check it out but what he saw surprised him he saw a large Pegasus choking a women who he recognized as a customer sitting in the front row he knew he should of helped but his body wouldn’t let him the moonlight shinned on the large Pegasus and he couldn’t believe who it was. “r r r Rain Twister he muttered shocked Rain twister, a royal guard who was his friend was trying to kill two pony’s he couldn’t believe it. He had to do something but his body wouldn’t let him finally he snapped he bolted off running a crying sporadically he didn’t care where he was going he just had to get out of there it was dark too dark to see where he was going after a while which felt like a year to him he thought he heard the sound of power tools and people shouting stop but his eyes were clouded with tears and it was dark all of a sudden he tripped over who knows what when he lifted his face up he was in a construction site and the shouts were coherent to him now “LOOK OUT!!!” but before he could react several large planks collapsed on top of him he couldn’t move he was bleeding he could tell but he slowly lost coisenecne he was out two Pegasus’s bolted him to the nearest hospital where they arrived just before Flare, Thunder ,and Boulder who bolted into the door “oh my what happened to you” a nurse said at the counter “help us” Thunder said panting as he collapsed to the ground “alright well get you to rooms but I’m not sure you’ll get a doctor soon there was a fire by an apartment that left five injured and a star who checked in five minutes ago. As they began to pick up Thunder first he said “no just take care of her, leave me here!” They immediately grabbed Flare and rushed her to an emergency room where Boulder and Thunder followed. They stayed there the rest of the night thunder standing over her while boulder eventually fell asleep on the waiting chair “Flare eventually woke up but a doctor still hadn’t come Flare looked worse than ever thunder covered the wound but she looked pale and sick. She still couldn’t move “T~ Thunder I’m not going to make it” “Yes you are a doctor will come, dammit can somebody get over here!” Thunder said frantically.” “Thunder listen the man who attacked us was an old partner of mine his name is Rain Twister” Flare said weakly. “Uhhhh dam I don’t have much longer” she said coughing up blood. “He was after me because I know something that would bring down both him and the captain, he must of thought I would tell Celestia tomorrow” flare went on. “Would you?” thunder asked “No I don’t care what happens to them, but their paranoid” flare said “Flare what did you know we could get back at them I swear.” “It was a while ago during a mission out of country they were making deals with uhh” Flare said almost completely succumbed with pain. “Thunder I always loved you please get back at them make them pay don’t let them ruin equestri….” Flare said passing out and a few seconds later she breathed her last.” “Flare? FLARE NO! Don’t die on me you can’t FLARE NOOO“Thunder yelled but then collapsed on the ground crying.” Boulder put a hoof on him for comfort “she’s gone.” “NO!” Thunder shouted “she’s gone mate” “NO don’t say that we can, we can” “no we can’t I’m sorry.” Soon after they heard voices down the hallway “We tried all we could but I’m afraid Zimsassion is in a coma” the doctor said to the nurse as he entered Flares room “okay what seems to be….” The doctor said noticing the dead Pegasus and the other one crying on top of her. "JUST GET OUT YOU USLESS IDIOTS.” Thunder yelled he knew it wasn’t their faults but he had to vent his anger on someone. The doctor immediately left and went down the hall. The rest of the night went by as the slowest hours in thunders life he just stood there weeping and look at the collapsed body of the one he loved Boulder tried his best to console thunder but nothing he said could help him now. Boulder still stood there by thunder’s side through the night. Hours later Cane Warper had finally reached the hospital. “Excuse me he said can you tell me where Flare’s room is?” “Room 206” she said he walked down the hall seeing many burned ponies knowing who had caused it but he had to reach Flares room and tell her what he saw.” He walked in the door where Thunder and Boulder were standing over Flare. Excuse me is this flares room? Cane said” “It ...was” Thunder said who had just recently stoped weeping.” Mostly due to the fact he was out of tears. Oh my I’m too late look I know who did this and I can help you get back at the guard.” “You know something?” Thunder sprung up finally seeing the stallions face ”wait who are you?“ Thunder said My name is Cane Warper I’m a lawyer and the man who did this was a guard named Rain Twister he was ordered by the Captain of the guard to kill Flare.” “How did you find this out?” Thunder asked “You were her husband? I saw you by the scene and followed the guard to a warehouse where I overheard his conversation with the captain.” “Do you know why they did it? Thunder asked “They didn’t say” Cane replied “Well thank you for the info I’ll keep in touch but right now I need to grieve” Thunder said “I understand here’s my card talk to me when you have some free time.” Cane almost officially but was to shocked to be professional. With that Cane left the room finally heading home. “I have to get going to buddy got set up my stall will you be alright Boulder said a few hours later. “Yeah yeah I’ll be okay” with that Thunder was alone he finally collapsed tired, but he couldn't sleep. He just laid his head next flares dead body a thousand thoughts in his head but only one stood out. He swore he would get Rain Twister he made a promise he intended to keep it.