Shadow veil appeared before her majesties, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Candice, Princess Twilight Sparkle, as well as the rest of the ponies who represented the elements of harmony. He knew he was to be judged and sentenced. He knew the chances, and he understood that whatever happened, he would trust the decision.

As he entered the thrown room, he saw Twilight and her friends standing together on the right side of the room, Twilight at the head of the line closest to Princess Celestia, on the left were Prince Shinning Armor, Princess Cadence, a few royal guards and the General, who carried a confident look on his muzzle. Ahead of him, at their throwns were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Everyone except the General showed Shadow veil a hard look, one of either disappointment or disgust. (Well, and Pinky Pie who was smiling, and waved to the dark stallion.) He couldn't never tell which one, but he knew both feelings towards him all to well from so many others, so it barley fazed him. He kneeled before the princesses, then rose to meet there gaze.

"Shadow veil" Princess Luna began, her traditional Caterlot voice, both strong and commanding ."You have been charged with threatening the welfare of not only Princess Twilight Sparkle, but the other bearers of the elements of harmony as well. Despite the control you claim to have over the power of lightning that you poses, harm still could have befallen these young mares. How do you plead?"

"Guilty" his voice was flat, stern, and emotionless.

"Your sentence has been decided..." Princess Celestia's voice carried through the entire room. "As punishment, you will..." Shadow veil held his head up high, ready to endure any punishment that she saw fit. "... Spend the next 30 days and 30 nights performing any and all community service tasks, without the use of magic, which will be assigned to you by either Princess Twilight and her friends, or by the mayor of Ponyvilel, where you will be serving your sentence."

Shadow veil's eyes nearly popped from his sockets. He stared in dumbfounded amazement first at Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, who both had slight, pleased smiles, then at the 6 ponies of the elements of harmony. The girls all looked coldly at Shadow veil (well, again except for Pinky pie and Fluttershy.)

"You have got to be kindling me!" The General shouted as he stepped out of his line and turned to the princesses. "Community service?! The stallion is a hazard! And to send him off to some small town were he could easily just disappear?! Someone needs to control him! He-"

"I give the Princesses my word" Shadow veil spoke over the old war stallion, bowing to the princesses. "That I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities, and not stray from my Objectives. You also have my word that I will allow no harm to any and all of he resistance of Ponyville."

Princess Celestia and Luna smiled, but the girls were all still weary of him. But something tingled in the back of Twilight's mind. A slight since of doubt that he actually was a bad pony, and that he actually did just need a chance. But a strong image of that vicious unicorn who dueled her the other day still burned in her mind. She hoped that she had made the right choice.

"You sure talk awful big for a pony in your positon" The General shot at Shadow veil.

"You sure question authority for a pony who swore loyalty to her majesties, as well as for one who claims to live and fight for the kingdom." Shadow veil shot a cold glance at the general. "It would do you wise to not question the decisions of her majesty."

The General bit his lip then bowed to Princess Luna and Celestia. "Forgive me your majesties. I acted out without thinking. I completely trust your judgments. It's the stallion I do not trust."

"He will be in good hoofs" princess Celestia told the general, then motioned for him to take his place back in line. Turning her attention back to Shadow veil, as well as the 6 girls, Celestia added "your train will leave in a few hours correct? How about I have the royal chefs prepare a brunch so you all can get to know each other better?"

"Forgive me, you highness" Shadow veil interrupted. "Eating meals in the morning upsets my stomach. I wouldn't mind enjoying a morning cup of tea, but I still have much packing to do. Forgive me if I can not join the rest of you."

"I understand," she told the dark stallion. "But please be ready to leave when the girls are."

"I will meet them at the station, with everything packed and Envy close at hand." He said as he rose and was about to walk away when princess Celestia continued to speak.

"That reminds me," she said, drawing back Shadow veil's attention. "I've asked Twilight and her friends to write to me about what they've learned about friendship, when they learn a lesson about it. Since you yourself have an assistant dragon, I am also assigning you the same task. From the first day you start your community service, I would like for you to write to me about anything and everything you learn about friendship."

Shadow veil stood still for a silent moment. Unsure of what to make of the princess's request. Then he simply nodded, and replied. "I will do my best to write to you what i lern about... friendship..., your majesty."

Everyone remained silent as the dark unicorn left the thrown room, followed not long after by the members of the royal guard and the general. Once they left, the girls all exhaled and began to relax.

"I hope you know what your doing" Rainbow dash said to twilight.

"I do," she replied to her Pegasus friend. Then turned to the rest of her friends. "Thank you for trusting me on this. I'll explain fully later."

"We trust ya,Twi" Applejack nodded with a smile.

"Without a doubt" Rarity added.

"Ya, you have a good head on your shoulders!" Pinky Pie commented as Fluttershy just met twilight with an approving smile and nodded.

Twilight smiled brightly as she reached in and gave all of her friends a big hug. She knew she could rely on her friends for anything. Thinking back to the first day she arrived at Ponyville, she remembered how she didn't want any friends at all, and only thought every pony there was crazy. She never thought that they would become such close friends in such a short time, or that they would ever have this strong of a bond. But she knew that this was the magic of friendship.

She looked over at the door where the dark stallion, shadow veil, had left not long ago, and silently hoped that she could help him too. The words came flying into twilight's head again, the words that helped her with her decision;

" ...I'm not surprised you don't remember me..." Shadow veils haunting words reappeared "...a fellow student of Princess Celestia's..."

"...please don't think too badly of him.." Princess Celestia's voice echoed. "...no pony really knows much about him other then he's one you don't want to cross..."

"... He kept to himself so much you might not have noticed..." Stardust's words reappeared.

"...I enjoy my solitude..." Shadow veil's calmed voice echoed again "... "I simply meant to apologize. We don't need to go as far as being... Friends..."

But the words that spoke the loudest to twilight where his words he spoke to his assistant when he thought they where alone"..."We knew this day would come. We don't really have a home. So weather they exile us or condemn us to the Canterlot guard, it won't matter..."

The honest sadness in his voice seemed to touch twilight. It's possible that all he needs is to be shown a little bit if friendship. Maybe there is good in him like princess Celestia said. Either way, twilight wasn't going to turn her back on the stallion, no matter how much he sought to hide in the shadows.

Author's Note

i imagin the General to closly resemble Sarge from the popular web series 'Red vs Blue'8(owned by Rooster teeth) what with his gruff and hard attitude.