The day passed slowly for Lightning, his impatience and inability to do nothing giving Rainbow’s friends some idea where she got it from. Introductions were made, and small talk was kept up to pass the time, the stallion becoming very interested in the elements of harmony and their stories of saving the world from impending doom.

“Well I’ll be.” He said with a grin as they finished recounting the tale of Discord’s return, fall, and how he returned again, though reformed. “I expected great things for you Rainbow, but nothing like this. I figured you’d be in the Wonderbolts by now, not off saving everyone every five minutes.” He ruffled the cyan mare’s mane for the fifth time that day with a soft smile. “I’m proud of you. Damn proud.” She smiled back at him, swatting his hoof away playfully.

“Yeah, well it’s your fault I never have any time anymore big guy. If you hadn’t said any of that crap about loyalty while I was growing up, I wouldn’t be one of the elements, and I probably would be a Wonderbolt by now!” she protested jokingly, poking him in the chest multiple times for emphasis. “You gotta make it up to me somehow, you know that right?” He chuckled softly as he rolled his eyes.

“Right, the guy who just woke up in the hospital owes the filly he helped become famous, I see how it is.” He said, putting on a deep, comical frown. “And here I thought you owed me for raising your ass, but I guess having free time is worth more, isn’t it?” his words were taken with a variety of seriousness from the rest of the group.

“No, not by a long shot! Family is always the most important thing, no matter”

“Twilight?” Fluttershy quietly interjected.

“Yes Fluttershy? What is it?” the librarian replied.

“I think he was joking again…” she said quietly, kicking her hoof softly as she looked down. Twilight simply stopped in her tracks, realizing that she had missed the joke for the fifth time that day.

“I’m just going to stop talking now, before I make an even bigger fool of myself.” She said as her eye twitched slightly. “I’m just gonna shut up and sit down, maybe take a quick nap, yeah, that sounds good.” Instead however, she stepped outside of the room for a moment. The rest of the group carried on, unaware that their intellectual friend was quietly breaking down outside. A loud gasp being the main cause of their ignorance.

“Ohmygosh, I almost forgot that you’re new to Ponyville, so as soon as you get out of the hospital you need to come down to Sugar Cube Corner, I work there with the Cakes, they’re really nice, they let me stay there with them and gave me a job and everything, and they have the cutest kids ever, their names are” a hoof over her mouth stopped her words, though she seemed to continue trying to speak through the makeshift gag.

“Don’t mind her, she’s a bit hyper. There’s nopony better for parties though.” Rainbow explained to her brother, who simply nodded his head.

“I take it that’s where she was going with that?” he asked, causing the pink mare to nod vigorously. “Well, if there’s food there you can bet your ass I will be too. I never miss out on free food.” He said with a laugh, though it seemed forced.

“Yeah, ah’ll bet. Anyway, sorry ya’ll, but ah gotta get back to the farm. It’s getting kinda late, an’ ya know ah gotta work in the morning.” Applejack said, tipping her hat as she walked towards the door. “Was nice meetin’ ya Lightnin’. Ah’ll see ya when yer out an’ about.”

“Nice metting you too AJ, see ya around.” He said, waving a hoof in her direction.

“I should go too, the animals really need me back home, and it’s getting dark out… I don’t like walking in the dark.” The timid pegasus stated, and slowly the others also decided it was time to leave and made their goodbyes, leaving Rainbow the only one left with the recovering unicorn.

“You should head home too kiddo, I’m sure you’ve got shit to do tomorrow, like work and all that.” Lightning said, taking a serious tone that Rainbow had heard before.

“No way big guy, I’m not leaving you here alone. I know you’d stay here if it was me, and besides, my boss won’t mind if I explain.” She said, her eyes suddenly narrowing. “Speaking of explaining, I think you’ve got some of your own to do. You never did say why you were arrested.” Her suspicious tone caused him to sigh heavily, looking away from her.

“I know, and there’s a reason for it. I’ll tell you eventually, I promise, but for now we need to focus on getting my shit together. After all, I can’t mooch off you and your friends forever, now can I?” he asked, his laugh almost non-existent. “But in all seriousness, I’ll be fine. Go on home kiddo, I’ll see you tomorrow, promise.” He said, giving a weak smile as he hugged her around the neck. She hugged him back, wrapping her hooves around him tightly, as if she were to let go he’d drift away like a leaf in the wind.

“Fine.” She muttered after a long while. “Fine, I’ll go. I’m not happy about it, though.” She said as she released her iron grip. “I’ll see you tomorrow Lightning.” She slowly headed for the door, looking back as if to say something before opening it and walking out.

Now alone, Lightning sighed heavily, looking down at his shaking hooves. “Yeah, tomorrow. For sure.” Images flashed by his eyes, memories of times passed. Try as he might, he couldn’t shake away the pictures that plagued his vision. Chains, shackling his body in place, but forcing his mind to wander beyond the darkened walls of his prison. A weapon, a means to an end, the end in question more than justifying the means as far as he was concerned, and even worth the punishment for his actions.

Blood. It was everywhere, staining his coat, spattering the walls, flowing in small rivers across the floor. He began to shake and hyperventilate as the scene changed around him. No longer did he lay in a hospital bed, protected by walls of stone. Now he was in a place that haunted his dreams, as it had for years, the blood running together to form messages of condemnation and blame. Was it his blood? He didn’t know anymore. He didn’t know much anymore, but he knew one thing for certain.

He was completely and utterly alone now.
_______________________________________________________________
]Far away in Canterlot, a young stallion sighed as he stood watch over the battlements. He was a member of Luna’s guard, and while he enjoyed his job, he missed his younger days and the ponies he’d shared them with. “All’s quiet on the western front!” he bellowed out, as per protocol since the changeling invasion, and receiving an “aye-aye” from his comrade on the other side of the castle. He looked out over the city, wondering where all of his old friends were now.

“What troubles thee, young Quicksilver?” a voice asked softly from beside him. He glanced to the side, recognizing the voice of Princess Luna.

“Nothing your majesty, just thinking of family.” He said, a small grin finding a way across his face briefly. “It’s been too long since I’ve heard from most of them, and I’m starting to miss them, crazy as they all were.” He laughed slightly.

“We were unaware that thou had a family.” Luna replied, keeping her voice soft. “If we’d known, we would have granted thee leave to visit them long ago.” Another laugh was drawn from the young earth pony.

“I appreciate that your highness, but I don’t even know where they are. We all went our separate ways a few years ago, and we haven’t really kept in touch since.” Quicksilver replied, looking towards the princess of the night again. “But we all agreed that we’d go see our big brother Lightning after he got out of the dungeons.” He snorted slightly, looking down and shaking his head. “Even though none of us even knew when that was gonna be. I’m sure he’s out now though.” The princess sat down beside her guardian, looking over the city with him.

“Why was he imprisoned? Surly any relative of yours is just as much a law-abiding citizen.” She commented.

“I don’t know. None of us did, but whatever it was it couldn’t have been that bad. I know him enough to know that he’d never do anything too terrible.” He said, leaving his vision floor-bound. “But I miss him, you know? He and the others are all I’ve got. They’re all I’ve ever really had.” He glanced over to see his employer nodding solemnly.

“We do understand, and shall try to assist thee in any way we can.” She stated as she stood. “We shall see if our sister’s student Twilight Sparkle knows anything of this brother of yours, and from there the others.” She started to walk away, but stopped short and turned her head back towards the young guard. “Art thou not accompanying us?”

“Y-Yes your highness.” He replied, snapping a quick salute as he trotted over to the lunar princess. “I appreciate this princess, a lot.”

“Think nothing of it. No family should be separated as yours is.”

Author's Note

Sorry about this one taking so long guys, writers block's a bitch. Anyway, yeah, here it is. Don't worry guys, the rest of your OC's will get their own chapter(and Quicksilver will get a full one too since his part in this was kind of small), this was just some plot device that I realized I had. Anyway, hope everyone enjoys it!