Thunderspite

The inquiry concluded not long after that. Princess Celestia closed by saying that she had not yet decided whether to punish or commend Thunderspite for his actions, but that he would be informed of her decision soon.

A week later, the Princess assembled her court for a special ceremony. Thunderspite was to receive a special commendation, and the fate of the wraith king Talionis was to be decided. The great hall had been decorated for the occasion, and a full detachment of guards was present in their dress uniforms.

With full ruffles and flourishes, the trumpets sounded, and Princess Celestia entered the great hall and stood before her throne. When the trumpets finished, she spoke.

“Bring forth the prisoner,” she said, her voice filling the hall.

The doors at the rear of the hall swung open, and King Talionis entered, escorted on all sides by four guards. The mood in the great hall quickly sombered, and the sounds of the wraith king and the guards marching down the aisle echoed eerily in the crowded hall. Every eye was on Talionis, glaring at him with some mixture of fear, contempt, and curiousity. It seemed that he was not faring well in the dungeon. He looked very haggard, his coat no longer glowed, and he looked very afraid.

They reached the end of the aisle, and the guards took their positions around him. Talionis stood at the steps of the Throne, looking very nervous indeed. The Princess stepped forward and took a long moment to regard him, her face showing an anger that was rarely seen.

“Talionis, King of the Cloud Wraiths,” she began. “You have conspired to bring war to our peaceful land, and you have murdered two of my subjects. Do you deny these charges?”

“No...” Talionis’ word was barely audible. He cleared his throat and tried again. “No.”

Celestia continued. “Under the law, your actions are punishable by death. However...” The Princess clenched her jaw and took a breath. “I believe that an act of hatred can only beget more hatred. Therefore, I am releasing you.”

Thunderspite’s jaw dropped. A low murmur went up from the court, and some of the guards glanced at each other in surprise.

The Princess continued. “You will be escorted to the western boundary of my kingdom and set free. But know this:” The Princess spread her wings menacingly at him. “If you ever set hoof in my kingdom again, I will not hesitate to destroy you. Now, be gone from my sight.”

No one seemed more surprised than King Talionis himself. After some prodding by the guards, he finally turned and started walking back down the aisle, his mouth slightly agape. As he passed the last row, his one good eye caught Thunderspite’s, who fumed with rage. Talionis’ expression was still shock and surprise. They held each other’s gaze for just a split second, then Talionis was hustled out the door.

She let him go? Thunderspite thought to himself. Talionis murdered Dawn Glimmer, murdered Blitzwing, and tried to destroy Equestria, and she just let him walk out the door? Thunderspite was confused, and practically shaking with rage.

The silence of the door slamming behind Talionis and his guards echoed through the hall for a long moment, then Princess Celestia spoke again. “Captain Thunderspite, step forward.”

Thunderspite nearly missed his cue. He stepped into the aisle and marched down the aisle as best his injuries would allow, confused and angry with the Princess for letting his friends’ murderer go free.

He reached the steps of her throne and bowed, but did not meet her eye. Instead, he stared through her like a pane of glass.

The princess’s aide stepped forward and read from a scroll. “To all who shall see these presents: greetings. Know ye that in recognition of special services rendered to crown and country, above and beyond the call of duty...”

Thunderspite knew that the Princess was trying to catch his eye, but still he ignored her, staring at a distant point far behind her. His jaw was clenched, and if his ears felt hot. His thoughts went back to Talionis, by now probably already on his way westward, to happily live out his days.

The royal aide continued. “…singular act or valor and courage, I do hereby award this Royal Guard, Thunderspite the Pegasus, the Order of the Royal Cross.”

Thunderspite dipped his head, and the Princess placed the medal around his neck, then touched him on each shoulder with her horn, taking the opportunity to look directly into his eyes, but still he stared through her, his face betraying his anger.

When the ceremony was over, Thunderspite turned and walked back up the aisle, and vowed that he would never forgive Princess Celestia for letting his friends’ murderer go free.

* * *

After the ceremony, on the steps of the castle, the entire guard cheered for him, surrounding him and clapping him on the back. Thunderspite accepted their congratulations as graciously as he could manage, but then excused himself back to his house, saying he wasn’t feeling well, which was actually true enough. Once safe inside his own home, he screamed, stripped off his medal, and flung it against the wall. He then ripped off his uniform, sending several brass buttons flying. His anger still not satisfied, he screamed and ran around the his house. He flipped the table, bucked a hole straight through the wall separating the kitchen from the living room, hurled all his dishes against the wall, and ripped every cabinet door off its hinges. When nothing in his home remained upright, he stood in the middle of the living room, panting in the center of the chaos around him.

To think, Princess Celestia had been disappointed in him! If he had known she was going to let the coward off scott-free, he would have run the bastard through himself when he had the chance. He had a mind to go after Talionis’ convoy, take it by force, and finish what he had started, but after some consideration rejected the idea. Though he hated the Princess, hated her with a fiery passion, even now he knew he could not disobey her. He had taken The Oath, and even now he would abide by her decision. But he could never forgive her. Never. In fact, he didn’t think he would ever again be able to tolerate being in the same room with her. The solution was clear.

Going to his closet, he quickly got out his olive drab saddlebag and stuffed in his few sparse possessions. He paused for a moment when he got to the copy of Daring Do that Dawn Glimmer had given him, running his hoof carefully along the spine. He took care to wrap this in a thin strip of cloth, then placed it his bag on top of everything else.

Securing his pack, he walked out his door and into the early evening air. He got a short running start, then took to the sky and headed east. He took one last look below him at his house, the royal castle, and Canterlot. He doubted he would see any of them ever again.