Chapters Chapter 1: The Celebration
It was nearly two days after the defeat of Eris by the elements of harmony and all was well in the kingdom. Lord Solaris was holding a ceremony in the castle to congratulate the six stallions who defeated her. Dusk Shine, Elusive, Rainbow Blitz, Bubble Berry, Butterscotch and Applejack. I was there attending the ceremony and i watched as the six stepped in front of Solaris.
"Fillies and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to commemorate our saviors, who have not only saved our fair country once, but twice with the elements of harmony. Let them forever more be known as the protecters of Equestria, and let this live on in their memory!" Lord Solaris said as a curtain opened to show the six using the elements on Eris together. The crowd broke out into a roar of cheers and applauds for the six as they looked back at us all. Everypony celebrated and congratulated the six on their bravery after the ceremony as well. I finally approached them and got a chance to speak with them.
"Greetings you six." I said and bowed to them as they looked at me.
"Hello sir. Whats your name?" Dusk asked me.
"My name is Thunder Bolt, mister Shine. It is truly an honor to meet you six. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to someone like Eris and not back down." I said and took a drink of the wine i had.
"Well its a pleasure meeting you too mister Bolt. As you know, these are my friends. Rainbow Blitz, Applejack, Bubble Berry, Butterscotch and Elusive." Dusk said and they all nodded at me.
"Yes i know of your friends mister Shine. Without the six of you we'd be living in a world of darkness and chaos right now after all!" I said and we all laughed.
"So what brings you up here Thunder?" Rainbow asked me.
"Oh nothing. I just wanted to introduce myself and congratulate you on your most recent victory over chaos." I said and nodded.
"Well thanks man. It means a lot to us." He replied.
"It is my honor to know that. Now, if you gentleman will excuse me, i'll be off." I said and bowed again as they trotted off. I chuckled to myself as i trotted off towards the balcony of the room and looked out over the country. "This kingdom is truly amazing....." I whispered to myself as i gazed across the country. I then took the time to look down at the sculpture gardens, where Eris had been placed yet again after her defeat. I sighed and flew down in front of her statue and looked up at her.
"Glad she's gone too?" I heard a voice from behind me say. I turned around and saw a tall stallion approaching me.
"Yes, very." I said as he stopped next to me.
"Names Lottery. Jack Lottery. But my friends call me Lots'o." He said and held a hoof up to me.
"Thunder Bolt. Nice to meet you." I said and shook his hoof.
"Yeah, i tell ya, its things like her that make me wanna move to the griffon kingdom." He said and looked at Eris.
"Me too. I hate how we get all the things trying to destroy us or something. First it was Nightterror and now this? Thats just sad." I said.
"Yeah, tell me about it. I've lived here for sixty long years and all my life nothin' bad ever happens to us. Then all of the sudden we get these to maniacs runnin' around tryin' to do somethin' horrible to the kingdom? Where are they comin' from! I tell ya, were probably gonna have somethin' new in a couple days. I swear it." He said and i chuckled.
"Yeah, probably. So you've lived in Canterlot all your life?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Yep. Its my home. My daddy was born here just like his daddy was before that. I was born here and i still live here. Just like my son." He said and i nodded.
"Its good to know this city still has its roots to look back to for comfort." I said and looked at the statue.
"Well, i gotta get back now. Take care ya hear?" He said and walked off as i chuckled.
"Good ponies. Good ponies." I said to myself and looked back at the statue. I hadn't realized it before now, but when i looked at her face she actually was sort of beautiful. "Aw come on Thunder. Shes crazy!" I said to myself and shook my head. But i couldn't help but look back at the statue and think otherwise. "I wonder how she got out the first time....." I whispered to myself and looked down. I read the plaque engraved onto the front of the pedestal to myself as well.
No fighting, arguing, pushing, shoving, hitting or any sort of hateful conduct in front of the statue please.
~The royal guard~
I tapped a hoof to my chin for a minute then asked a question to myself.
"Is that how she got out? By somepony fighting around her?" I asked silently as i looked at her. I shook my head violently and grunted as i looked down. "No Thunder, your not going to do that!" I told myself. I knew what would happen if i did but i couldn't help myself. "Oh fine, it cant hurt to just see, can it?" I asked and stepped back from it and composed myself. "Dude, shut up!" I told myself. "No you shut up! Im tired of listening to you complain about everything!" I replied to myself and looked at the statue. "Well all you ever do is freak out over the dumbest things!" I said to myself and looked at it again. "Well all you ever do is sit around and do nothing all day long!" I said and shot a glance upward as i heard a crack. I smiled as the stone on her statue cracked further and further until it reached her head and feet. The stone crumbled off and she fell to the ground next to me, nearly unconscious.
"..... W-Why?........." I heard her mumble before she passed out. I inhaled and exhaled as i lifted her onto my back and flew into the air. I flew above the clouds so no one would see us as i flew down to my house at the edge of Ponyville and carried her inside. I laid her down on my couch and ran upstairs and grabbed one of the medical kits in my closet then ran back downstairs. She was wounded really badly over most of her body. Burns, cuts, scrapes, gashes. You named it and she had it. I patched up her wounds and fixed her burns as best i could and sat down in a chair across from her and sighed.
"What am i gonna do now....?" I asked myself. "How am i gonna deal with this? Im an accessory to her escape..... Im a criminal....." I said to myself as i closed and locked my doors and windows then shut all the shades and turned a few lights on. I kept the ones near her off out of respect and let her get some rest. "This will not end well. Not well at all....." I whispered and sat back down in the couch across from her and turned on the t.v. I kept the volume low, but high enough i could hear it clearly. I watched t.v in silence for about two and a half hours before she moved at all. She tried to sit up but couldn't because of a wound. "Woah, take it easy." I said and trotted to her side. "You alright?" I asked her as she looked around.
"What..... Where am i?" She asked me.
"Ponyville. Your in my house." I told her and pulled a chair over next to her and sat down.
"Shouldn't i be in stone or something?" She asked me.
"Yes, you should. But i decided to help you out." I said as she raised an eyebrow.
"And why would you want to help me?" She asked.
"I see no reason not to help you." I told her.
"But im the goddess of Chaos and disharmony. Im Eris? Dont you recognize me?" She asked.
"Of course i do. Thats why i got you out." I said.
"But why? You know what'll happen if Solaris finds out about this right?" She asked me.
"Thats why he wont." I told her.
"And why is that?" She asked me as i helped her sit up.
"Because i wont let him." I said.
"Alright, why are you protecting me? You know what i've done in the past right?" She asked.
"Yes, i do. But that is the past. The effects of what you did do not linger here do they?" I asked her.
"Well, no. But-" She began but i cut her off.
"Then they do not matter. I believe that with a little effort, anypony, or anybody in your case, can change. I used to be a criminal. A thief, struggling to get by. But look at me now. I was formally invited to a ceremony held by Lord Solaris himself. If i can change, Eris, then so can you." I told her and smiled.
"You..... Really believe that?" She asked me.
"I do. Anyone can change if they want to. Do you want to change Eris?" I asked her and she looked down for a moment. She sighed as a tear dropped from her face and she looked back up at me and smiled.
"Yes..... I want to change." She said and i smiled.
"Good. That is the first step you must take. Accepting you want to change." I said and she tried to stand up. "Woah, slow down there Eris. Your in no shape to walk yet." I said and she looked over herself more thoroughly.
"I suppose your right..... But what am i supposed to do?" She asked me.
"Get better. As long as your wanted you can stay here. Just dont do anything bad once your recovered. If you need anything just ask me and i'll get it." I said and smiled. She sighed and slowly laid back down on her back.
"I feel so useless....." She said and i sighed.
"Your not useless Eris. Your hurt, its not your fault. You'll be better in no time. Dont worry. And by the way, my name's Thunder." I said.
"Well thank you Thunder for helping me. There isn't a single pony in Equestria who would do what your doing right now." She said and i chuckled.
"Probably not. But that doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that you get better and that i help you do so." I said and stood up. "So is there anything i can get you?" I asked her and walked into the kitchen.
"A glass of water will be fine. Thank you." She said as i poured her one and brought it out to her. She drank it and set it on the table next to the couch and sighed happily. "Thank you again for all this." She said.
"My pleasure Eris. Try and get some rest now. Your going to need it if you want to get better." I said and she nodded. I looked outside and saw the sun beginning to set and decided to get some rest myself. "Well, good night Eris." I said and smiled as i trotted upstairs. I laid down in bed and smiled one last time. "Today was a good day....." I whispered and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning i woke up and went downstairs to find her sound asleep.
"Guess she really was tired." I told myself as i trotted happily into the kitchen. I got myself a glass of apple juice and sat in the couch across from Eris with it and started watching t.v quietly. The morning went by pretty quickly. She woke up, i got her some breakfast, she ate and then watched t.v for a while with me and everything was fine. Most of the day proceeded the same way, save for the breakfast. I got us both lunch when i went out for a very short while and then later i went and brought back dinner for the two of us. I ate across from her as we watched a couple shows on t.v. I started laughing at a joke someone made on t.v, then Eris asked me a question.
"Hey Thunder, why are you doing all this?" She asked me.
"What do you mean?" I asked her.
"I mean why are you helping me? Giving me a place to stay and nurturing me back to health, all of it." She asked.
"Because i believe no one should be forced to live alone. Especially for as long as you." I said and smiled.
"Well i am truly grateful for all this. Although i do not deserve any of it." She said and sighed.
"And why is that Eris?" I asked her.
"Because. I dont understand how anyone could show me any kindness for the things i've done." She said and i sighed.
"Eris, i told you already that what you have done in the past does not matter. Forget about the past and look towards the future." I said and smiled at her.
"Alright..... I'll try. Thank you for everything Thunder." She said and smiled at me.
"It is my honor to help someone as beautiful as you." I said and smiled as her eyes widened.
"You..... You really think im beautiful?" She asked me.
"I think your one of the most beautiful woman i have ever seen before." I said to her.
"Well.......... I dont know what to say." She said and looked up at me with a slight blush on her face.
"No need to say anything Eris. Silence says a thousand words as i always say." I said and she smiled.
"Well..... Then let this suffice." She said and kissed my cheek.
"I'll suffice with that." I said and she giggled.
"Glad to know. So, what does this mean for us?" She asked me.
"I do not know. What does it mean to you?" I asked her.
"It means very much to me." She said and put her hand on my hoof and smiled at me.
"Then it means that much more to me." I said and kissed her. When we separated she smiled at me as i stood up.
"I guess this means were together then?" She asked.
"If thats what it means to you, then yes we are." I told her.
"But what will happen if ponies find out?" She asked me.
"Nothing will happen. Let them find out, i dont care. I will protect you so long as i can continue to breath." I said and she smiled.
"Thank you Thunder....." She said and hugged me.
"Anything for you Eris..... I love you." I said and nuzzled her.
"I love you too Thunder....." She said and returned it.
Chapter 2: First Day Out
The next morning i woke up and went downstairs to find Eris watching t.v. I sat down across from her in silence for a moment before saying anything.
"Your up early." I said to her and she looked at me.
"You are too." She said to me and i smiled.
"I always wake up this early. Its kind of habit since i was a kid." I said.
"Wo what do you want to do today?" She asked me.
"Not sure. I was going to try and see if your legs are healed enough for you to walk. But that can wait until later." I said.
"So what else do you have in mind?" She asked me and i tapped my chin.
"Hmm.......... I really have no other plans. I usually just go along with whatever happens throughout my day." I said and shrugged.
"I suppose i could try and walk a bit now. If only to pass some time." She said and sat up.
"I see your healed enough to sit up on your own. Thats good. Now then, lets try this again. Take it slowly." I said as she inhaled and slowly tried to stand up. She shook around for a second before getting a good grip and taking a few steps around the room. "Excellent work Eris! Your recovering quicker than i thought you would!" I said as she turned around and smiled at me.
"It feels good to walk again. Its like being a little filly who hasn't seen one of her toys in a long time." She said and continued walking around the room. As i looked closer i could actually see some of her more minor wounds healing over as she walked. It was slow, but steady, and noticeable.
"Thats amazing!" I said out loud and she turned around.
"What is?" She asked me.
"Your healing abilities are astonishing. Look, as you walk, your injuries heal over." I said and pointed a hoof at her side.
"That is amazing actually." She said and chuckled before sitting down on the couch again.
"Do you want to see if you can fly?" I asked her.
"Well, its really not flying. I use the wings i have to sort of glide while i just fly through the air naturally." She explained and i nodded.
"I see. Still though, do you want to try?" I asked her.
"I dont see any harm in it." She said and stood up. She stretched her wings out a bit and lifted into the air and flew around the room at a leisurely pace. "This is wonderful! I cant remember when i last had this much fun flying was." She said and landed again on the couch.
"It seems you've made a near full recovery from when you first arrived here Eris. Although, i shouldn't be surprised. What with your abilities i thought you'd have been better yesterday." I said and laughed.
"Very funny." She said and frowned playfully. I laughed again as i stood up.
"So, i heard from Dusk Shine that you can change your form?" I asked her and she grunted.
"Thats a name i dont want to hear. His or any of his friends." She said.
"Eris, i know what they did to you. But come on, can't you forgive them?" I asked her.
"I could try. It wouldn't be true that i forgive them, but i could try." She said and crossed her arms. "But yes, i can shapeshift. Why do you ask?" She asked me.
"Because i figured we could go out into town for a little while and i didn't want ponies freaking out when they see you." I said and she sighed.
"Yes, i suppose that would be a problem." She said.
"Dont worry, soon enough i'll make sure your able to roam around as you please. I promise you. But for now we'll have to keep you in disguise." I said.
"Its alright. Here, hows this?" She asked me as she changed her figure into that of a pegasus mare. She had a light brown coat with orange-ish red colored eyes. Her mane was long and white as well as her tail.
"Thats perfect. Very well done. I dont think anyone will recognize you for who you really are besides me." I said and she smiled.
"Glad to hear it." She said as i unlocked and opened the door. "So, where do you want to go?" She asked me as i shut the door behind us and trotted next to her.
"I was thinking we could head down to the sweet shop in town. Sugarcube corner, i think it was." I said as we went.
"Sounds like fun." She said.
"Believe me, it will be when we get there. This place has the best sweets in the area. Probably all of Equestria." I said as we walked down the road toward the shop.
"This place sounds delightful." She said.
"It is. I come here all the time." I said to her as i pushed open the door. We walked in and the bell above us rang as the door shut.
"Welcome to sugarcube corner, how may i help you?" Bubble Berry asked as he walked into the room behind the counter.
"Uum, Thunder? Why is he here?" Eris whispered to me.
"Because he works here. Come on Eris, just play along and be nice." I whispered back and she sighed.
"I hope you know what your doing....." She said back.
"Hey Bubble." I said to him as he smiled.
"Hey there Thunder! Good to see you again. Its been a couple of days." He said.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Can i get the usual thing please?" I asked him and put a small bag of bits on the counter.
"Sure thing Thunder! Be back in a couple minutes." He said and trotted into the back.
"So, what is the usual you get here?" Eris asked me.
"Just two cupcakes i always get. Chocolate frosting and white cake itself." I said and she smiled.
"Why two?" She asked.
"I always save one for later. This time its different though. This time i have someone with me." I said and smiled.
"And im glad to be with you Thunder." She said and smiled back as Bubble bounced back into the room with a small tray on his hoof.
"Here you go Thunder!" He said and gave them to me.
"Thanks Bubble. I can always count on you." I said and took the tray and sat down with Eris. She sat across from me and picked p hers and looked at it. "Everything alright?" I asked her.
"Yes, yes fine. Just examining it." She said.
"For what?" I asked and chuckled.
"Just interested. I haven't had one had one of these in a long time." She said and took a bite as i did. "This is amazing....." She said.
"Yeah, Bubble makes the best sweets in the country." I told her and took a bite of my own.
"Well tell him i said they were delicious." She said and finished hers.
"Dont worry, i will." I said and finished mine. "So where do you wanna go now?" I asked her.
"Hmm..... Im not really sure. The only time i was in Ponyville was..... Well, you know when." She said as we got up and walked out of the shop.
"Yeah, lets just try and forget about that." I said as we trotted down the road.
"Gladly. So, do you have any ideas of where to go?" She asked me.
"Hmm.......... I really have no idea. How about we just head back to my house and wait for something to happen?" I asked her and she shrugged.
"I could use some time out of this disguise. Alright, lets go." She said and smiled as we trotted down the road. We passed by quite a few other ponies who smiled and waved at us.
"I told you that disguise would work." I said quietly to her as we trotted.
"I never doubted it." She said and laughed. We trotted along the road in silence as other ponies passed us talking to one another until we reached my house. I unlocked the door and we walked inside and sat down after i turned the t.v on.
"Now we leave our decision up to time." I said and sat back as she returned to normal and stretched.
"Aah, it feels good to be back to normal." She said and curled up on the couch across from me and started watching t.v. We sat there for a good half hour to about forty five minutes before i heard a knock at the door. Eris changed into a pony again as i stood up and opened it, only to see three royal guards standing there.
"May i help you gentleman?" I asked them.
"We were wondering if we could ask you some questions, sir." The shorter one on the right said and i nodded.
"Of course, you ask and i will answer." I said and smiled. Inside i was really feeling a deep knotting sensation in my stomach. I knew why they were here.
"Alright. Where were you two days ago?" The bigger guard asked.
"I was in Canterlot castle attending the ceremony for Dusk Shine and his friends." I replied calmly and he nodded.
"Alright, do you know anything about why we might be here?" He asked me.
"No, i was watching t.v with my girlfriend. I would have no idea why you would be here." I lied to his face as i spoke those words, but i was a great lier.
"Hmm, alright, you two have a good day now." The third guard said and nodded as they walked off. I shut my door with a sigh of relief and sat back down as Eris returned to normal.
"Your a really good lier." She said to me and i chuckled.
"I've had a lot of practice." I said and sighed as i unpaused the t.v.
"So Thunder, tell me more about yourself. What has gone on in your past?" She asked me. I sighed and looked over at her before speaking.
"My past is not something i like to remember. But i'll tell you. When i was a child life for my family was tough. I had two siblings, and brother and a sister. My brother was the oldest of us three, his name was Silver Ash. He was always the one keeping me out of trouble and playing with me and my sister. My father got into an accident when i was little and he didn't make it. It was just me, my mom, my brother and my sister then. Shortly after my fifteenth birthday my mother died of a sickness she had and it left us alone together. We needed money so my brother started working as a miner. It made good money, but it took too long to get. So i took up being a thief, to help my siblings. I would steal from ponies homes, food stands, shops, anything i could steal from without getting caught i would. I stole jewelry, food, money and even cloths. I had never been caught before in my entire life. But one day, i made my way into a jewelry shop and got to the back where the safe was. I unlocked it and stole about a hundred thousand bits worth of jewelry and gems. I was about to make it out of the store..... When i was caught." I said and stopped.
"What happened?" Eris asked.
"I was caught..... By Lord Solaris." I said and sighed. "The guards began to drag me away when he told them to wait and looked at me. He told them to let me go and began questioning me himself, right there. He asked me what i was doing and why i was there. I told him i didn't know, i was helping my family. He asked me how stealing was helping our family and i told him my parents were both dead and what was happening to us. He offered me a large sum of money shortly after and gave my brother a job as a guard in the castle. When i got older i took the same job and my sister got a job as a jeweler in the city up there. I still have yet to own a house in Canterlot but im close. My sister and brother both live up there now." I said and looked out my window.
"My, thats..... That truly is a sad story." Eris said to me and i sighed.
"Yes, it is. I haven't spoken to my brother or sister since then, but i know it may be for the best." I said and smiled at her.
"And why is that?" She asked as she sat up and flew around the room slowly.
"Because my brother is a guard. I know he's my brother but he probably wouldn't keep you a secret. And i dont want to lose you." I said and sighed as she circled around me.
"I dont want to lose you either Thunder." She said and stopped in front of me and kissed me before curling back up on the other couch again.
"Im glad we feel the same way Eris." I said and smiled at her. She returned it and we continued watching t.v. the rest of the night went by about the same way. We'd have a conversation with each other about what was going on in the show if one of us didn't understand it. We just watched t.v for the rest of the night until we got tired.
"Good night Thunder." She said and laid down on the couch.
"Good night Eris. Sleep well." I said and trotted upstairs and went to bed.
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
"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.
Chapter 4: Meeting An Old Friend
The next morning i woke up a few minutes before Eris did and went downstairs. I walked into the much larger kitchen with a yawn and got some supplies out of a cabinet and started on breakfast. I made eggs, waffles and mixed vegetable and fruit soup. I got two plates and two bowls of the food and set them down on the dining room table in the room next to the kitchen just as Eris flew down.
"Mmm, something smells good." She said as she took a seat where her food was.
"I made it special this morning. Eggs, waffles and soup." I said as she took a bite of the waffles.
"Mmm, these are great!" She said as we ate.
"Thanks. Im glad you like it." I told her and continued eating. We sat and ate all of our food after about ten minutes or so and i went to wash dishes off. After i rinsed them i set them in the sink to soak and trotted into the living room as Eris curled up on the couch. "So, what do you want to do while we go through the day? Its five past ten now so we have plenty of time." I said and looked at her.
"Well, we could take a walk around town for a little while. I would be in disguise though." She said and shrugged.
"But why? They dont know who you are." I said.
"I know, but i could use the exercise." She said.
"Hmm, thats fine. Come on, lets go." I said and got up as she did and changed into a pony. "You know, i'll never understand how you do that." I said as we trotted.
"Do what?" She asked me.
"Well, magic." I said.
"What kind of magic?" She asked again.
"Well, just..... Magic in general." I said.
"Well, unicorns have their horns that give them their magic." She said.
"Yeah, i know that much. But how do YOU do magic?" I asked her.
"Oh, well..... Hmm, you know, i've never really thought about it. I guess im just born that way. I am the goddess of chaos after all." She said.
"Goddess of beauty if you ask me." I said and she blushed and laughed.
"Stop it! Your embaressing me!" She joked.
"Its true. If anyone here were to ask me who you were thats what i would tell them." I said.
"Well thank you. It means a lot to me." She said.
"Its my pleasure. It means a lot to me that you even like me at all." I said.
"Why's that?" She asked.
"Well, as a kid i was never really liked, at all, by anyone but my family. I had no friends or anything. Ponies just tried to ignore or avoid me. But then the day after i get caught, by lord Solaris himself no less, robbing a jewelry store EVERYONE wants to get to know me. Its like bad karma gives you popularity or something." I said.
"Well, Im goddess of chaos and im well known everywhere but here and Nightterror was the harbinger of eternal darkness and he was known everywhere. I suppose being bad isn't all bad in itself." She said and shrugged.
"I suppose not." I said and smiled as we walked down the road.
"So, any idea where were going?" She asked me.
"Not at all." I said and kept a straight face. I looked at her and she looked back at me with an eyebrow raised. "What? We were just walking around to kill time, remember?" I asked her.
"Oh, right. I forgot." She said and laughed. "So, are there any places around here we could go to?" She asked.
"Well, i haven't been here since i was at least eight years old or less. Much has changed in the time i've been gone, thats why i brought supplies to the house i've got and renovated it a bit. But, if my memory serves me well and time hasn't changed it, there should be a place right up the road from where we are now." I said and looked around for the place in description as we walked.
"What does it look like?" Eris asked me.
"It was a two story building with red paint for the front and back, blue paint for the sides and the roof was covered with black shingles. Last time i saw it there was a big sign above the door that read something like 'Arthur's Bakery' on it. I hope its still here, that place was awesome....." I said as we walked.
"Thunder, is that it?" Eris asked and i looked to our right. The place was the exact same as i remembered it. Not a thing had changed.
"Wow..... It hasn't changed a bit." I said as we approached it. I pushed open the door and a bell rang as i did. We walked inside and we didn't see anyone so we sat down.
"Just a minute!" Someone called from the back room. We sat and waited for the stallion in question to come up to the front. "How may i help you two today?" He asked us.
"Arthur? Is that you?" I asked and stepped to the counter.
"Do i know you son?" The elderly stallion asked.
"Arthur, its me. Thunder Bolt?" I said and his eyes widened.
"Thunder?! Sweet Solaris its been too long kiddo! Haha!" He said and shook hooves with me. "How've you been since you left?" He asked me.
"I've been alright. Ever since that day i've missed this place more than anything. But i couldn't come back, for more reasons than one. I was a criminal and i had a job out there....." I said and sighed.
"Hey, cheer up son. Thats all in the past now. What've i always told you?" He asked me.
"What's in the past should stay in the past. Because if we always look to the past we are certain to miss the future." I said and he nodded.
"Your memory serves ya well kid. Its good to see you again. So who is this?" He asked me and looked at Eris.
"Oh, this is my marefriend, Eris. Eris, this is one of my oldest friends, Arthur Smith." I said and he nodded.
"A pleasure meet'n ya Eris." He said and held out a hoof.
"A pleasure meeting you two Arthur." She said and shook it.
"So Thunder, what brings ya by here?" He asked me.
"I was coming to see if this place was still here. So much else has changed since i've been gone i was hoping to see a familiar face." I said and he sighed.
"Well, i was actually thinkin' of sellin' the place." He said.
"What? Why?" I asked.
"Business ain't the way it used to be son. Ponies today ain't into the bland lookin' places that used to be here and i don't have the money to make it better for 'em. A stallion offered me sixty thousand for it just last week. I can't turn that down." He said.
"What if i helped you out?" I asked him.
"Whaddya mean?" He asked.
"What if i gave you the money to make this place look more modern for the ponies out here?" I asked him clearly.
"Well, i'd love it! I mean, this is my home. I was born here and i've grown up here. I can't let this place go. Its family to me." He said.
"Then thats what i'll do. I'll come back later tonight and drop off some money so we can start renovations tomorrow. I'll come by and help too." I said and he smiled.
"Thanks kid. I knew i could count on somepony for help eventually." He said.
"Its no problem Arthur. This place is like family to me too. I'll see you around man." I said and turned around.
"Wait, i've got somethin' for you." He said and i turned back around as he walked into the back. "Here, have this." He said and walked back into the room with a bag of muffins.
"Thanks Arthur. Your a real friend." I said.
"You are too son, the best kind around." He said and waved us off.
