A Strange Love

Chapter 3: Found Out

The next morning i woke up yawned as i looked out the window before heading downstairs. I walked downstairs to wake up Eris but she was gone. I gasped and looked around the house for her but found her nowhere. I began to panic when i heard the sound of running water in the other room. I sighed with relief to myself when i realized she was just taking a shower.

"Thank Solaris......" I said and sat down on the couch. I turned on the t.v and walked into the kitchen to start on breakfast when i saw it was already made. "Hmm, thats nice of her." I said and chuckled. I got myself a glass of orange juice and set it down next to my plate and sat down and waited for about five minutes until she got out of the shower. She flew into the kitchen still drying her hair off and set the towel down on the towel rack i had built onto the dishwasher and sat down across from me.

"Good morning." She said and smiled at me.

"Good morning. Your up early." I said and took a bite of my food.

"Well, i figured i could make breakfast for us but when i was done i was filthy so i needed a shower." She said and a glass appeared in her hand and filled with chocolate milk.

"Well that was thoughtful of you. You did a great job on the pancakes Eris. Very good." I said and took another bite.

"Thank you. Its actually quite easy for me to make them, its just been a long time since i've made them." She said and took a bite of her own.

"Well its still good. They taste better than mine actually. Whatever you did with these its perfect." I said and she blushed.

"Well thank you Thunder. Im glad you like them." She said and we continued eating. After we were finished i washed the plates off and left them to soak in the sink as we went into the living room and sat down. I turned on the t.v and we sat and watched for about an hour together.

"Hey Eris, would you want to come with me to work? I've been gone for a while and i think its time i got back." I said and she looked at me.

"Are you sure that would be the best idea?" She asked me.

"Im sure it wouldn't be a problem. Seeing as how you can disguise yourself. If you need a break from the disguise just head outside somewhere secluded and go right ahead." I said and stood up.

"Alright, i'll come with." She said and changed into a pegasus pony as she stood up.

"Glad to hear it. Come on, we've got some air to cover between here and there." I said and opened the door for her. She walked out and i shut it behind us as we lifted off and flew through the air.

"So where do you work again?" She asked me.

"In the castle. Solaris gave me a job as a guard there a few years ago and i've-" I started to say but she cut me off.

"You work as a guard in the castle?" She asked me.

"Um, yeah. Its alright though, i'll make sure nothing happens to you. I promise." I said and smiled at her as we neared the castle.

"I just hope you know what your doing." She said as we landed on the ground and folded our wings. We walked into the throne room and saw Solaris talking to Artemis.

"Good morning your highness'. Lieutenant Thunder Bolt reporting for duty." I said and bowed to them as they took notice to me.

"Ah, good morning Thunder. Good to see you again." Solaris said and smiled.

"An honor your highness." I said.

"So, we-..... I, wish to welcome you back myself Thunder." Artemis said.

"Thank you your highness. Im glad to be back." I said and smiled as Eris stepped next to me.

"And who is this young mare?" Artemis asked but before i could answer Solaris called him over. I couldn't hear what they were saying but i heard muffled whispers and a gasp after a moment as they looked at us.

"Thunder, who is this?" Solaris asked me and motioned towards Eris.

"This is my marefriend, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Star." I lied, making a name for her.

"Hmm..... Where did you two meet each other?" He asked me.

"We met at the ceremony for Dusk Shine and his friends." I said.

"How old is she?" He asked.

"Shes twenty three. Not to be rude, your highness, but why are you asking me all these questions?" I asked him. He did not answer but instead motioned me over to him. I walked up to him and he leaned in closer to me and whispered.

"Look carefully at her eyes and hair. Does she not look rather 'Familiar' to you at all?" He asked me and i looked at her. I gasped silently to myself as i realized what he meant. Anyone who had gotten a good look at Eris before she was defeated would have recognized her due to her eye color and hair color almost instantly.

"I dont recall, no." I lied.

"Its Eris." He said and i looked at him.

"How could this be Eris? Eris was imprisoned in stone." I told him.

"But she broke out. Look into the sculpture garden and see for yourself." He said and i shook my head and backed to Eris' side.

"I need not look your highness. For i know already that this is Eris." I said and looked at her.

"Guards." Solaris said and a few walked into the room and i growled at them.

"Stay back. I will warn you only once." I growled at them and they all took a step back.

"Thunder, what are you doing?" Solaris asked me.

"Keeping an open mind." I said angrily at him.

"You know that this mare is Eris in disguise, correct?" He asked me.

"I know very well who this is. Im the one who set her free." I said and he gasped.

"You did WHAT?!" He half shouted as the guards approached again.

"i said stay BACK!" I yelled out at them. "I said that im the one who freed Eris, Solaris." I said.

"But why would you do it? What would have possessed you to do that?" He asked me and stood up.

"Nothing possessed me to do it. I felt bad for her so i figured out a way to set her free." I said.

"Why did you not tell me about her?" He asked me.

"Because i knew how you would react if you found out about her." I said as Eris changed back to normal.

"Why did you take her in?" He asked me.

"Because if it weren't for me she would have died. Would you not have done the same thing if you were me?" I asked him.

"After what she has done to me and my kingdom, no, i would not." He said and Eris whimpered.

"Its alright Eris. I think we'll be leaving." I said and turned around slightly.

"I cannot allow that Thunder. You have aided a criminal and im placing you under arrest. As well as Eris." Solaris said as two guards grabbed my forelegs and two other guards grabbed her arms.

"Eris! No! Let go of me!" I screamed as they tried to drag her away and they held me.

"Thunder!" Eris called out to me.

"Eris!" I screamed and smashed my hooves into the guards faces. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!!!" I howled and smashed through all the guards and kicked the two holding Eris in the face. "Come on! Lets go!" I shouted to her as i galloped towards the balcony. Eris flew alongside me as we went until i leaped from the balcony and flew with her.

"THUNDER!!!!!" Solaris screamed. When i turned around i saw a beam of light headed straight towards Eris and i gasped.

"NO!!!!!" I screamed and dived in front of it as it blasted into my chest and knocked me out of the sky. I crashed to the ground and lay there for a minute as Eris landed and looked at me. In my blurred vision i could see Solaris land on the ground a few feet away. I stood up and pushed my right foreleg into place again as i looked at him. "Are you happy now Solaris? Are you happy?" I growled at him.

"Thunder i cannot allow this threat to go unchecked!" He yelled.

"What threat?! The only threat i see now is you! The ponies of this kingdom fear you more than they fear Eris or even Nightterror Nebula! So ask yourself this, who deserves to be locked in stone more? Eris, or YOU?" I growled at him as he stepped back. "Come on Eris, were leaving." I said and flew off with her as Solaris stood there, dazed by my words. Eris and i flew through the air away from Ponyville and Canterlot in silence for a short while until she said something.

"Why did you do it?" She asked me.

"Do what?" I replied.

"You stood up for me. You did the one thing nopony else would ever do. Why?" She asked me.

"Eris..... I stood up for you because i know you can change. I know you will change and that you want to change. Your not a threat to anyone anymore. I love you. But if Solaris cant accept any of that, then he can go to the pits of Tartarus for all i care. I will always stand by your side, through thick and thin, i will always be there for you." I said and smiled.

"I..... I dont know what to say..... Thank you." She said and smiled back at me as a tear slid down her face.

"Anything for you Eris. Come on, i've got someplace we can stay. Its secluded in a town away from the rest of Equestria so news doesn't travel here well. I doubt they've heard about what happened in Canterlot so its a perfect place to stay. And most other ponies have forgotten it even exists." I said as we approached a town built into a crevice of what looked like a burnt out volcano. It looked more like a dome with the top carved out partially and the inside was hollow, save for the town built within.

"It would be nice to catch a break for once." Eris said as we flew in through the hole in the top. We landed in the town and looked around. Nopony was paying any attention to either of us so we continued down the road towards a house that looked old. I lifted a rock off the ground and sighed happily.

"Good, its still here." I said and picked up the key underneath it. I unlocked the door and we walked inside of the pitch black house and i shut the door.

"I can barely see a thing in here. Where are the lights?" Eris asked and i stamped my hoof on the ground twice. The lights flickered a few times and turned on around the room, illuminating a room like no other. The walls were painted as if they were coated in silver. The carpet was crimson red. There was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling as well as a few lamps on the walls.

"It is an old house, but i came here recently and made some more modern changes to it. It used to be falling apart and there was no heat or air conditioning and it was lit by candles. I made some installments so it could be livable just recently though, so its fine." I explained as she looked around.

"Wow, this place is amazing. Who lived here?" She asked me.

"My grandfather, before he died and my father moved to Ponyville with me and by siblings." I said and turned on the t.v. "You wanna come watch?" I asked her.

"Sure, i could use a break right about now." She said as i sat on the couch. She curled up next to me and watched a few shows with me. After a while i looked up at the clock and saw that it was about eleven at night.

"Hey, i think its time we get some rest. We've had a long and stressful day." I said and stood up.

"Alright, good night Thunder." She said and laid her head down on the couch.

"What, dont you wanna sleep in a bed? We have three rooms here." I said.

"Sure, that'd be nice." She said and got back up.

"I'll stop by my house in Ponyville tomorrow and pick up a few things. If you want to come with that'd be cool. I dont think Solaris has much of a reason to mess with us anymore." I said.

"Oh believe me, he has plenty of reasons. I just dont think he will after what you said to him back there." She said to me.

"I know. I could have been a bit nicer about it, but what would i have said? That ponies aren't scared of him? I mean, he just shot me out of the sky for helping someone he doesn't like. I dont know anyone beside his brother, Dusk and his friends who would stick by him after that." I said and sighed.

"I know what you mean. Its just that-" Eris began but there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." I said and walked to the door. I sighed and opened it with my eyes closed. "Hello, how may i-" I did not finish because of what i saw when my eyes opened. I growled and stepped back from the door a few steps. "Solaris..... What do YOU want from us?" I growled as he stood there.

"Calm down Thunder. Im not here to fight you or take Eris." He said.

"Then what do you want?" I asked him and stood up straight.

"I came to talk with you. Nothing more. That, and i may have a request for you." He said and i raised an eyebrow.

"Speak your piece Solaris. I will listen." I said and calmed down.

"Thank you Thunder. What i've come to tell you is something of grave importance." He said.

"Hmm..... Alright then. What is it?" I asked.

"I have thought about what you told me this morning..... Many, many times..... I cannot deny it any longer. You were right. They are afraid of me. Everytime i look at somepony or another they look back at me with pure fear in their eyes." He explained.

"I understand. Why have you come to me with this information?" I asked him and let him in. I walked to the couch with Eris and sat down as Solaris took a seat in a chair.

"Because..... I need to know exactly why..... Why are they afraid of me? Is it my power? What about me is so terrifying?" He asked and looked up at me.

"For me, i cannot name anything. I do not fear you Solaris. But as for the rest of your ponies..... I cannot say why exactly they would fear you. They still fear you ever since Nightterror Nebula returned because they know you are the stallion from the legend. They know about how much power you hold and what you can do to them without a single thought otherwise." I said.

"But i wouldn't do anything to hurt them! They should all know this by now!" He said.

"I know Solaris. I do not understand why they think all of this but i cannot change their minds. You must try to show them how much you care for them. I would honestly have you speak to Butterscotch about this matter more than i, seeing how he is the element of kindness and all." I said and Solaris nodded.

"I will take that into consideration..... And Thunder, i do have a request." He said as he stood up.

"Ask what you will Solaris." I said to him.

"Would you and Eris mind joining me and Artemis for dinner at the castle tomorrow evening? I want to personally thank you for showing me the truth." He said.

"Hmm, i suppose we could stop by. What do you think?" I asked Eris.

"I would be fine with that." She said and nodded.

"Alright, we'll go." I said and Solaris opened the door.

"Wonderful. I shall see you-" He began.

"Wait, how did you find us here?" I asked him.

"Its not difficult to track someone by air Thunder. You should know this." He said and flew off.

"Well, what do you think Eris?" I asked her and shut the door.

"I do not trust him. But i will go, if only to see how it plays out." She said and yawned.

"Yes, let us hope he is true to his word. Come on, lets get to bed." I said as we went upstairs. "Good night Eris." I said to her as she went into the room next to mine.

"Good night Thunder. Sleep well." She said.