Honor of Thieves

The Painful Past

A few weeks past and the six soldiers returned to Canterlot and Crimson spent his time mostly reading and avoiding being social to any pony, unless Pinkie made him go to Sugarcube Corner and made him taste the sweets she made in which he would burn off the sugar by running through the Everfree. Rose on the other hoof was trying to be a good friend to the Elements and their neighbors and reported to Twilight about what Crimson had been doing, since he hardly spoke to her since the argument they had.

Twilight invited Rose to have some tea at the library one day and asked, "Rose what happened to Crimsons parents, he doesn't seem to like to talk about it and avoids the subject altogether."

Rose placed the cup on the table next to her and looked at the ground, "We don't like to talk about it Twilight, but I'll tell you about it about it, I just hoped Crimson doesn't mind."

As if on cue Crimson behind Rose and said, "Go ahead Rose, I don't mind." Then he got on the couch and put his head on her side, "It's been so long but it still feels like it happened yesterday."

Twilight tried to wonder how he got in without making a sound but let it go when Rose started the story, "We were both 14 at the time, and I guess it was like any other day, we didn't have that manor until Crimson was in charge so we lived in a small house in Canterlot... Crimson and I were like any other adolescent pony, puberty and all that, that's when he brought home his first marefriend. When he introduced me to her, I acted calm but I was so sad and angry. Whenever I saw them I felt like that and I wanted to cry, and one day when he went to get her for a date I did cry and I couldn't stop." She started to tear up

Crimson sat up and kissed her and said, "That was the last date that I had with her."

"Yes, but you broke my heart Crimson. Your mom had to console me she said that it's just a simple infatuation and that you just had a crush on her. And when you stopped seeing her I was still angry at you." She said leaning on him

Crimson kissed her again and replied, "I'm sorry sweetie I had no idea that I hurt you. I promise I'll never do it again."

"Sorry to interrupt," Twilight said, "but could you please continue. I would like to hear more."

"Sure Twilight, I apologize." Crimson said with sincerity, "Would like me or Rose to continue?"

"I would like to hear it from Rose, since she already started." Twilight replied

"Like I was saying, when he returned home he said he didn't want to talk about how it went. I remember that he seemed heart broken."
Rose looked at him then looked back to Twilight, "I remember asking if he wanted to talk about it, and he just said leave him alone. Then, out of nowhere, he asked me why ponies betray one another." Crimson nodded remembering it, "He told me how she cheated on him and she tried to lie to him about it even though he witnessed it."

"Then I kissed her and asked her to marry me when we're older," Crimson finished making Rose blush, "I told my parents the next morning and they accepted it."

"But the next month Crimson's parents went on a job and never came back. We waited months for them to return, then our worst fears had come true, they've been killed."

Twilight looked to Crimson who had the look of pure hate on his face, "Do you know who did it?"

"Other thief families have their own ways. Some, like mine, don't kill and others kill for what they want." Crimson said, "Some just kill for money. Somepony probably found out who my parents are after they robbed them and sent murderers to kill them."

"He's right, about the family part. We're not sure how they died, but it wasn't natural they were in perfect health." Rose said putting a foreleg over him.

He looked at Rose his expression softened, "Rose, being a thief makes one paranoid and that's what I believed happened. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be taking my leave, I don't want to be reminded of a painful memory, and Rose I'm still not strong enough to hear it again just continue without me." He walked to the door and left.

Twilight watched him as he left, "I guess it still hurts him to think about it."

"You have no idea. I was the same when I lost my parents, but I was hurt just as much when his died." Rose looked to the floor, "He changed that day, but the scariest part of when we found out was that he didn't cry."

"He was probably trying to stay strong for you Rose." Twilight replied

"He didn't cry because he wanted to kill whoever did it." Rose looked at her, " I was afraid of him at that moment. I could feel his blood-lust that day and it scared me."

Twilight gave her a worried look, "I don't won't to know what would happen if he lost you."

Rose gave her a grave look and said, "He would get rid of every principal his parents taught him."
///

Applejack was working at the Orchard when she saw Crimson lying under one of the trees, "What are you doing here you darn thief?"

Crimson opened one of his eyes and looked at her, "It all depends, can you put aside our petty differences? If not I'm just trying to take a nap."

She groaned, "Fine, what do you want?"

"Believe it or not the guard doesn't pay well, so I want to work here." He said getting up, "If I don't I'm just going to get fat and lazy, and I don't want that."

"How do I know you're not going to rob us blind?" She said glaring at him

"As the Element of Honesty I knew you would dislike me and what I did." He raised his right hoof, "I promise on my parents grave that won't rob your family. Now do you accept the offer or not?"

"Fine, but I expect you to be here early." Applejack held out her hoof to him, "But I'll be watching you like a hawk."

He shook her hoof, "Got it, now if you'll excuse me I'm going to get something to eat." Then he started walking away toward Ponyville.