Honor of Thieves

A Lesson Learnt

Spike looked around the cart everypony was sleeping, except for Crimson and Pinkie. Crimson was looking out the window and Pinkie was trying to guess what he was looking at, the answer being no every time.

Pinkie poked his nose, “Come on Crimson tell me what you're spying with your little eye.”

“I'm not really looking for anything I'm just looking out the window, thinking about family.” He sighs

Spike looked at him, “They were fine when we left.”

Crimson looked at him, “I don't consider them family, sure we're related by blood, but I don't know any of them. My real family has been gone for awhile.”

Spike scratches his neck and Pinkie tilts her head, “What do you mean?”

Crimson closes his eyes, “You should already know by now.”

“Boy, he's a real downer right now.” Pinkie looked to Spike

Crimson opened an eye, “Do you really want to know why I'm like this now?” He leans in toward her, “Because, I realised something a long time ago.” He looked to Rose, who was sleeping on his shoulder, “That the two of us would leave everything behind, because of a mistake I made.” He gets up, sets her down gently, and heads toward the car door, “Tell Rose I'll be home later tonight.” He leaves the train car and flies away.
///

“He what?!” Rose yelled when they arrived back in Ponyville.

Spike nodded, “That's what he said.”

Rose groans and puts her hooves to his temple, “I swear his pride is going to be his downfall.”

Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder, “Do you know where he goes?”

“No, there's even things he wouldn't tell us.” She sighs, “Now let's get to work on that dress Rarity.”

“Sure thing darling.” Rarity smiled at Rose.

“How can ya not worry about him? I mean he could do something reckless.” Applejack said as she looked at Rose

“Oh, Crimson’s capable walking home.” Rose giggled, “He’ll be fine on his own, besides the more he worries me the bigger his punishment is.”

Twilight tilted her head, “Like what kind of punishments.”

Rose looked at Twilight smiling, “Last time he made me worry before our petrification, I took away his right to drink cider.” She giggles, “He's not an alcoholic but I liked to see the look on his face when I drank it in front of him.”
///
Rarity sat at her desk where she made dress designs, thinking of ideas of Rose's dress. She looked to Rose, “So what's going on with Crimson?”

“He's sad that Halo and Cross can't attend our wedding. We were a family and it was hard on him when we left them.” Rose sighed, “And the last thing Cross and Crimson did was fight.”

“Was the fight about what happened when he said he wanted to be petrified?”

Rose nodded and sighed, “It was hard on all of us. I almost lost a lover, Cross lost his best friend, Halo lost the one pony she looked up to, and Crimson lost everypony he called family, besides me.”

Rarity looked at Rose, the blue mare staring into space holding back tears, “Don't worry darling they must have had great lives.”

Rose nods blinking away a tear, “Yeah you could be right. It's just that when I woke up from that being that statue it seemed like it was all a bad dream and I would see him lying next to me telling me it's alright.”

Rarity looks as a tear rolls down Rose's cheek, “Deary don't worry about staying I've gotten all your measurements.”

Rose wipes the tear away, “Thank you.” Rose leaves the shop and walks home. When she arrived there was no one there. She went to her bedroom and lied on the bed. She took an old, faded, picture of Crimson’s crew and smiles with tears rolling down her cheeks, “If we could only have brought you two along with us, but I couldn't, I didn't have the energy for the others.”
///

Crimson yawned as he walked into the town. He looked around at the empty streets as he walked home. He saw the door to his home. He unlocked it and went inside and was immediately got slapped by the blue unicorn.

“How dare you leave me without telling me first!” She growled at him, “Just for that, no cider until I say you can have it.”

“As long as you don't cut my supply to the whiskey I'm fine with it.” He goes to the cupboard and gets a shot glass and a bottle of whiskey from the pantry.

“Crimson what's wrong?” Rose went to him and leaned against him.

“Let's just say I saw a ghost today and I have to deal with the loss of our loved ones.” He pours the whiskey into the glass and quickly downs it, “Oh, I found a book you might be interested in. If you want to read it it's in my bag.”

Rose got the book and started to read through it, “Crimson whoever wrote this is either a genius or crackers. Most of the stuff written here is complete malarkey. It’s full of theories that aren't even possible!.” Rose giggles to herself, “It even says that every pony can use magic, not just unicorns and Alicorns. And secret organizations run the world.”

Crimson laughs lightly, “Well there are secret organizations, but they are far from ruling the world.” He takes another shot, “Besides I found it in a old shack a few miles from where I left the train.” Crimson gets another glass and pours the whiskey into it, “Here drink up.” He smiles as Rose takes the glass.

“Fine.” She smiles and drinks from the glass, “Now come on Crimson, let's go to bed.”

“I'll meet you there in a few minutes.” He puts the whiskey away and the shot glasses in the sink, then lies next to Rose. He kisses her head as the two slowly fall asleep.