The Search for Con Mane

“Thunder….” Said a mysterious voice. “Wake up….”

“Huh?” Thunder tried to look around, but his vision was too blurry to make out anything. When his vision cleared, he was looking up at Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guards.

“Thunder.. Wake up!” Shining shouted to Thunder.

Thunder slowly got up, rubbing his head.

“What happened?” Thunder asked.

“I was driving by and I saw you three asleep on the sidewalk. I had the whole guard looking for you three. Where were you?” Shining replied.

“I don’t remember… It was all a blur..” Thunder said back.

“Not sure if I believe you, but alright. Come on, let’s get to the outpost. All of you.” Shining said, getting back into his chariot, Thunder, Spear and Night also getting in.

While riding through the city on the way to the outpost on the southwest edge of the city, close to the castle, Shining proceeds to question the three.

“So.. What happened that made you fall asleep on the sidewalk? Were you all drinking?” Shining asked.

“Sir, you know I don’t drink, and no, we were not drinking.” Thunder replied.

“Oh, okay then. What WERE you doing?” Shining asked again.

“Uhhh….It’s kinda hard to explain sir…” Spear answered.

“I’m asking you nicely to tell me. What were you all doing before you fell asleep on the sidewalk?” Shining asked for a third time, only to receive no response from either of them.

After arriving at work, they all split up for their posts. Spear, guarding the castle entrance like yesterday, Thunderblast on a street patrol, and Night Shadow, went off to guard Princess Luna’s room, who was asleep at the time.

Nearly 12 hours later, the three meet up at Donut Joe’s donut shop in Downtown Canterlot for donuts and some coffee. Instead of the normal conversation they usually have, they talk about what happened the night before.

“So you two… Who do you think this ‘Con Mane’ guy is?” Thunder asked, eating a donut.

“I already told you, he’s that stallion from the movies! Although, he was an earth pony, not a unicorn.” Night Shadow responded.

“Okay, so he’s from the movies. But, why would HE rescue us, and not the royal guard? Did they not know we got kidnapped?” Spear said.

“I don’t know… I’m afraid to bring it up to Shining, because then he’ll think we kept this from him the whole time.” Thunder nervously stated.

“We ARE keeping it from him, Thunder. We can’t keep the secret for long though. We need to let him know at some point.” Night replied.

Meanwhile, the shop owner, Donut Joe himself, was closely listening while cleaning off the counter, out of the guards’ attention.

“Still though, who could Con Mane be?” Spear said, who was sitting at an angle where he could look over Night’s shoulder and see Donut Joe, still cleaning the counter.

The other two then turn their attention to Donut Joe, closely eyeing him without Joe noticing, then turn back to Spear.

Thunder, however, didn’t lose his train of thought that Donut Joe looked like the stallion that rescued them the night before.

After a little while, the Con Mane talks settled and they started a new discussion before leaving to continue their shifts. Shining Armor didn’t like that they never really answered his question, so he secretly switched their hours so they have night shifts as well, something Night Shadow was used to, as he shares bat pony blood.