The Ballad of Flash Sentry

Chapters

Chapter 2: Deep Drive
Chapter 4: The Right Thing
Chapter 5: The Baltimare Trial Part 1
Chapter 6: The Baltimare Trial Part 2
Chapter 7: Flash Sentry
Chapter 1: Solstice Rocket
Chapter 3: Golden Rocket

Chapter 2: Deep Drive

Solstice woke up with a mild migraine. He hadn’t slept well that night, as he kept thinking about what his father had said about him—that all he wanted was the best for him.

I’ve always wanted him to be proud of me. But how can I do what he wants me to do when I already know what he’ll say if I tell him what I want to do? I know him! He’ll never agree with my point of view—not in a million years!

He raised himself up and rubbed his eyes. He felt like a zombie-pony that had just woken up from the world of the dead. Suddenly, his eyes snapped all the way open. What time was it? He leaned towards the nightstand next to his bed and grabbed his small black alarm clock. His face instantly grew pale.

“Good Stallions!” he cried.

Every muscle in his body immediately sprang into action, causing his covers to fly in the air like a light sheet. Before they could float back down onto the bed, the yellowish-orange pony was out of bed and into the bathroom like a roadrunner.

“I’m gonna be late for my interview!”

After making himself look presentable and combing his messy blue hair, he bolted down the stairs and out the front door without even saying “good morning” to his parents who were sitting in the family room.

“I wonder where Solstice is going in such a hurry,” Golden said, returning to reading his newspaper.

Glitter looked up from her crocheting and looked towards the front door where Solstice had just left.

“He didn’t say anything to me last night. It’s strange that he would be in such a hurry on a Saturday. He usually has nothing pressing that he has to do on Saturdays. Although…”

She put a hoof to her chin in thought.

“He did mention something yesterday about a job that he had his eye on.”

Golden lowered his newspaper.

“Oh, is that so? Did he say what type of job it was, by chance?”

“He didn’t mention much about it,” she shook her head. “When I asked about it further, he just said that it had something to do with sales.”

Golden’s mouth curved into a pleased smile.

“Well, well! Looks like he has finally found a suitable job! Very good! What did we tell him—his hard work has paid off.”

He returned to his newspaper and added, “That would explain why he was in such a hurry just now. Though, I do wonder why he did not mention it during dinner last night.”

Glitter nodded, returning to her crocheting.

“I honestly wouldn’t know why, Darling.”

She looked up slightly at her husband, her expression hesitant.

“Solstice also wondered if you could allow him and Clap to go to the rock concert at the Baltimare Stadium this evening.”

The golden stallion lowered his newspaper again, this time his expression was one of surprise.

“You mean the one hosted by Deep Drive? Darling, you know my stance on this, especially when Solstice is concerned.”

“I know, but Solstice has finally been able to find a job and Clap has been doing so well in school lately. Please, Golden…reconsider?”

Golden sighed deeply, taking off his glasses and rubbing the top of his muzzle with his hoof. Finally, he put his glasses back on and replied with a pleasant smile, “All right, Darling. You win. They can go.”

Glitter smiled brightly and was even about to let out a cheer but immediately restrained herself.

“Thank you, Darling.”

Golden nodded.

“You are quite welcome, Dearest.”

With that, he returned to his paper and Glitter returned to her crocheting.

Every pony who knew Glitter would agree that she was exceptionally good at knitting and crocheting. She first started when she was a foal with her mother and grandmother in Cloudsdale where she grew up. She would spend many happy hours knitting quilts and sweaters as she talked with her mother and grandmother about things. Her Cutie Mark, which appeared around the time when she was knitting and crocheting with her family, was of a rainbow with its colors separated from each other and a silver needle and thread running through them. Apart from knitting and crocheting, she didn’t know what else it could have meant.

Unlike Glitter, however, Golden had no idea as to his Cutie Mark’s meaning. His Cutie Mark was of a flaming platinum crown with blue flames and what looked like a crimson cross standing erect behind it like a sentinel. He never knew what it meant and would often feel embarrassed by that. In fact, he would frequently hide it behind his long suit coat or his robe when he wasn’t in his suit. He never revealed it to anypony except Glitter, Solstice and Clap.

After several moments of silence, Glitter asked, “So, what’s in the paper today, Golden?”

Golden lowered the paper slightly as his eyes scanned it carefully.

“It appears that there is a royal wedding being held in Canterlot today.”

Glitter looked up with interest.

“Oh? Is there? I wonder whose it is.”

Golden looked closely at the column.

“It says, ‘Prince Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.’”

He turned to his wife.

“Do you know them, by chance?”

The light lavender pony thought for a moment.

“No…I can’t say I have.”

Her husband nodded and continued looking through the column.

“Oh, what do we have here!” he exclaimed, tilting his head slightly. “It seems that Princess Celestia herself will be attending the wedding today.”

Glitter smiled.

“That’s nice of her to attend gatherings like that. She does have many duties as a princess, after all.”

Golden’s smile turned sour as he let out a sarcastic chuckle.

“Funny…”

Glitter looked up, her eyebrow cocked.

“What is?”

He looked back at her, his eyes narrowed.

“…that they didn’t invite us!”

At that moment, his red irises began to glow brightly like hot, burning coals and the newspaper in front of him immediately caught fire. As his gaze narrowed further, the paper crumpled until it became a small ball of fire. Then, he whipped his head towards the left and the ball flew into the fireplace like a flaming comet, lighting the wood on top of it so that there was a warm, glowing fire in the hearth.

“The absolute nerve of those ponies to not even send us an invitation!” he spat. “They think that they are above us peasants simply because they happen to have a horn upon their foreheads!”

His nostrils flared like a bull ready to charge as his breaths became more audible and distinct. Glitter stood and walked over to him.

“Now, Darling,” she said calmly, putting a hoof on his shoulder, “there’s no need to be angry. I don’t mind.”

His breathing began to slow as his face loosened.

“You are right, My Dearest,” he sighed sadly as he hung his head. “I simply become so frustrated when those pompous ponies in Canterlot treat us as if we are below them when, in fact, we have become just as successful as they have been!”

Glitter smiled gently as she lovingly caressed his shoulder.

“I know. You want everypony to be treated fairly, especially when it comes to the social classes. I just wish that other ponies could see that.”

The golden pony sighed again as nodded.

“Yes…me too.”

After a moment’s silence, Glitter leaned closer to him.

“Don’t worry, Golden. I’m sure that Night Light and Velvet Sparkle had their reasons for not inviting us. And even if it was because we are ‘below them,’ as you said, a Canterlot wedding is not going to change the fact that we are still respectable ponies.”

Golden’s face brightened as he looked up at her.

“You know just the right words to say to make things better again,” he said as he wrapped his hoof in hers. “That is why I married you.”

He stood and tenderly kissed her on the cheek.

“I have to go to work, now. Some clients have scheduled to meet with me this morning.”

Glitter nodded and they both gave each other a “good-bye” hug.

“Good luck,” she told him.

As they parted, he smiled and replied, “With you by my side, I always have it.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Solstice flew through the mansion’s outer courtyard and out the front gate in a flash. Upon reaching the outskirts of Baltimare at the bottom of the hill, he rocketed down the streets like a driver possessed with road rage. He could hear his heart pounding inside of him like a drum. Time was running out!

He hurtled down Main Street, turned a few more corners and flew down another street, barely missing the Red Lightning Records music store in his haste. Red Lightning Records was a fair-sized, red-bricked building with a large neon sign stretched across the top of the store’s entrance. The sign read in large yellow letters “Red Lightning Records” with a giant red lightning bolt placed diagonally behind them.

He quickly entered through the double glass doors and searched for Red Lightning, the owner of the store. Inside the store lay rows and rows of long shelves containing all sorts of music from classical to rock n’ roll. As he trotted towards the back of the store where the offices were located, his eyes caught sight of a familiar record album sitting on one of the shelves in the “Rock n’ Roll” section. He made a detour and looked closely at it. It was an album of his favorite rock band, Deep Drive. All of the members of the band were shown on its cover with “Deep Drive: Greatest Hits” placed across the top.

Deep Drive was one of the most famous rock bands in all of Equestria. Many of his peers listened to their songs many times over. Besides that, Solstice had a personal connection with this band—Deep Drive was the reason why he had become so fascinated with music and with the guitar in the first place. Deep Drive was also known for creating rock music appropriate for all ages.

The band itself was composited of five members: Stormcloud (the drummer), Windsurfer (the lead guitarist), Hurricane Rumble (the bass guitarist), Obsidian Rumble (the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist) and Fire Dancer (the singer and leader of the band). As far as Solstice had learned from other ponies talking about the band, Stormcloud (the buff, purple Earth pony with a jagged, yellow mane and tail) and Fire Dancer (the red unicorn with a bright orange mane that looked like fire dancing on top of his head) were both from Manehatten and were the ones who first thought about starting their own band. Afterwards, they went out and recruited the rest of the band members: Windsurfer (an aqua-colored pegasus with blue and cyan hair that was combed back like Solstice’s) from Fillydephia and the Rumble Brothers from Baltimare, Obsidian (a black Earth pony with short, spiked white hair and tail) and Hurricane (a greyish pegasus with longish black hair and a short tail). With the five of them, they performed throughout Equestria, becoming famous, especially among the younger generation.

“Well, hey there, Stallion!” a friendly voice exclaimed nearby. “Is there anythin’ I can do for ya?”

Startled, Solstice turned and saw a fire-brick red pegasus stallion with rich yellow hair that was spiked to one side as if it had been struck by lightning. He wore black shades on his eyes and had a bright, friendly grin on his face. Based on his Cutie Mark of three round black records with a small, bright-yellow lightning bolt in the center, Solstice suspected that this pegasus was Red Lightning, the boss of the music store.

“Are you Red Lightning?” he asked, nervousness beginning to tug at his throat.

“The one ‘n only!” the red stallion replied proudly with a sweeping bow of his head. “What can I do for ya today?”

Solstice swallowed and, then, cleared his throat. He straightened his posture as Clap had told him and said with as much courage and dignity as he could muster, “I’m here to apply for the job you had advertised in the paper a few days ago. I was wondering if that job position was still available.”

Afterwards, he stiffened.

Did I do that right?

There was a long pause from Red Lightning. Then, he asked, “What’s your name, Son?”

Solstice swallowed again.

“S—Solstice…Solstice Rocket, Sir.”

There was another moment’s pause. Then, the red pegasus suddenly gave Solstice a sound pound on the back that made the young stallion’s wings stand on-end and declared in a jolly, booming voice, “Well, welcome aboard, Kiddo!”

Solstice’s expression was one of pure shock. Did he just mean that he was hired—just like that?

“But—but I didn’t tell you about my job experience or—!”

Red Lightning patted the young stallion’s shoulder, cutting him short.

“I can see just by lookin’ at ya that you’ll be a fine employee for this outfit.”

He gave a shrug and added, “Okay, okay, maybe your name had somthin’ to do with it, too, but I can honestly tell that you’re a stallion of strong, moral character and a good work ethic. I like that!”

With that, he turned and started for the back of the store as he motioned for Solstice to follow him.

“Come with me, Solstice! I’ll get ya your uniform and show ya ‘round the place!”

Solstice followed Red Lightning to the manager’s office where he was given his uniform—a red shirt with Red Lightning’s Cutie Mark on the front and the words “Red Lightning’s Records” in bright yellow letters on the back, and a red baseball cap with the same letters across the front. He took them and followed the red pegasus as he showed him different sections of the store and gave him a few basic instructions about the job. Solstice was informed that he would be working as a type of custodian, as well as helping out any costumers who needed any assistance.

“Come back tomorrow morning when the store opens at eight so that you can get started on your job right away,” Red Lightning said as he shook Solstice’s hoof farewell.

Solstice nodded.

“I understand. I’ll be here on time. You can depend on me, Sir.”

Red Lightning smiled jovially.

“I knew I could count on ya, Solstice! See ya tomorrow!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After secretly dropping off his uniform at the mansion (for he didn’t want any of his parents to discover anything about his new job), Solstice decided to take a little flight around Baltimare and see a few of the sights. He first flew over the Friendship Monument, a tall clock tower located in the central-western part of the city. It had six faces on each side, representing the six founders of Equestria; and whenever it chimed, it played a portion of a Hearts Warming Eve song. Next, he flew over the Baltimare Stadium, a large, rectangular stadium where many of Equestria’s famous sports events were held, including the baseball game that highlighted ‘Rapid-fire’ Easton’s career as a famous baseball player for the Baltimare Centaurs.

Solstice sighed as he beheld the stadium. It was also the place where the rock band, Deep Drive, was scheduled to perform that very evening. He had talked to his mother the day before about him and his brother going to that concert but she told him that she had to relay it to his father first before giving him permission. He highly doubted that his father would ever let them go to that concert. He knew how much his father wanted him to remain focused on his future rather than to become distracted by things that would make him lose that focus.

He next flew over the Baltimare coastline. The sea glistened like diamonds in the sunlight as boats of all kinds navigated the wide, blue waters. He could see sea-faring ponies leaning over the sides of the boats as they harvested fresh sea kelp that typically grew along the coastline. Among other things, Baltimare was famous for its sea kelp and often exported it to other Equestrian cities, including Canterlot and Manehatten.

He turned right and headed back towards the mainland. As he flew over the hills and over the southern part of Baltimare, he looked down and saw the school where his brother attended. He was surprised to see foals hurriedly trotting out of the red-bricked schoolhouse below.

Strange…school usually doesn’t get out for another two hours. I wonder what’s up.

He glided downward to where he could land in front of the school grounds. As he did so, he saw Clap trotting out the front door of the building with a wide grin on his face and carrying a piece of paper in his hoof.

“Hey, Clap!” Solstice called out as he waved to him.

Clap noticed his brother, happily waved back and galloped to him.

“What’s with this grin on your face?” Solstice asked as he smiled at his brother’s brightened face.

The orange foal proudly showed him the paper in his hand. It was Clap’s math test with a big red A on the upper-right corner.

“This is your math test!” Solstice exclaimed, his grin growing wider. “You—you passed!”

Clap beamed as he declared with pride, “Yep! And not bad, if I do say so myself!”

“But—but is that it?” Solstice asked. “I mean, was school just about this math test or something?”

Clap nodded.

“Kinda. Ms. Rosebud said some stuff about ‘multipl-whatever’ before the test. After that, she said we could go home just as soon as we finished the test. It was easier than I thought!”

Solstice smiled brightly.

“This is great! I’m proud of you, Bro!”

He was about to give him a hug when Clap immediately brushed him away.

“Yeah, thanks,” he said quickly. “So, uh, what about you? Did you get that job?”

Though he thought that Clap’s reaction was rather odd, Solstice nodded with a wink.

“Sure did! Red Lightning said I can work for him first-thing tomorrow morning!”

Clap let out a loud whoop that made all the other foals and ponies stare at them for a second.

“That’s awesome, Bro!” he exclaimed. “I knew you could do it!”

Solstice grinned.

“Yep! You sure did!”

After a moment’s pause, he added with a motion of his head, “Hey! Let’s go home and tell Mom all about it!”

Clap emphatically nodded.

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Solstice and Clap burst through the family mansion’s front doors with big, bright smiles on their faces. At that moment, Glitter Rocket came in from the family room, wondering who had just walked in.

“Hi, Solstice, Clap!” their mother greeted them warmly. “My! You two look like you’ve just won the baseball championship! What happened today?”

The two ponies grinned from ear to ear.

“Solstice got the job and I got an A on my math test!” Clap announced happily.

“That’s wonderful!” Glitter exclaimed cheerfully, clapping her hooves. “Congratulations, both of you! Where’s this job at, Solstice? What’s your job going to be?”

Solstice froze. What was he going to say?

“Um…I’d rather not tell you ‘til after a few days, just to make sure that everything’s set.”

His mother had a puzzled look on her face but quickly recovered.

“Okay, well, congratulations again to both of you! This is wonderful news!”

“Thanks, Mom,” Solstice replied. “Where’s Dad?”

“Dad’s in the study right now with a client,” she explained. “He’s going to be so happy to hear the news!”

She approached them.

“And, guess what…? He also said that you both could go see that Deep Drive concert this evening! Dad already bought the tickets.”

She lifted a wing to reveal a pouch. She opened it and took two red tickets from inside it.

“Here they are!” she announced, giving them the tickets.

Solstice and Clap stood wide-eyed as they beheld the tickets.

“We can go to the concert?!” Clap exclaimed. “Ah yeah!”

Glitter put a hoof to her mouth and let out a “shh” sound.

“Not so loud, Clap!” she told him softly. “Dad’s with a client!”

Clap stopped and said softer, “Oh! Sorry!”

Then, he let out a loud, whispered “ah yeah!” His brother and mother softly laughed in response. Afterwards, Solstice went upstairs to his room to get his saddlebag. As they waited, Clap and his mother talked.

“So,” his mother said with a motherly smile, “you got an A in Math today! Was it hard?”

Clap smiled with pride.

“Nah! I was sure I would ace it!”

Glitter smiled and gave her son a big, warm hug.

“I’m so proud of you, Clap!”

Clap blushed, embarrassed.

“Ah Mom…!”

At that moment, Solstice appeared from his room and trotted quickly down the stairs with his saddlebag strapped across his back.

“All right!” he announced. “I’m ready!”

Glitter gave both of her sons a “good-bye” hug.

“Okay,” she said, “have a good time at the concert!”

With that, she let them go and they happily trotted out the front door towards the Baltimare Stadium downtown.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Solstice chuckled excitedly to himself. He was actually going to see a live Deep Drive rock concert! He couldn’t believe it! His father was actually letting him go see it! He never thought that it would have ever been possible.

“Hey, Bro!” a distant voice called. “Earth to Solstice! Hello?”

Solstice shook his head, forcing his mind out of his daydream.

“Wha—what?”

Clap snickered. Solstice sighed.

“I’m sorry, what was that you said again?”

Clap’s snicker turned into a laugh.

“Was Dreamland nice this time of year?”

Solstice smirked.

“Yeah, yeah, very funny,” he said sarcastically. “Well, for your information, Deep Drive just happens to be my favorite band, okay?”

Clap nodded.

“Yeah, I know! You’ve told me that…”

His facial expression turned into one of exhaustion.

“…over…and over…and over…and over…and over…!”

“Okay, fine, I get it! Sheesh!”

Clap chuckled.

“Hey, what are you laughing at?” Solstice pointed out. “I saw your reaction when Mom gave us those tickets! You were just as excited as I was!”

“Yeah, but we both know who likes Deep Drive more….”

Solstice sighed.

“Touché.”

Ever since he heard their songs as a teen-colt, he had always dreamed of going to one of their live performances. However, due to his lack of bits or his father’s lack of approval, he couldn’t go. Now, he was finally going!

After navigating through the crowded downtown area, they finally reached the Baltimare Stadium. The stadium was home to the all-famous baseball team, the Baltimare Centaurs. Clap’s dream was to be part of that baseball team someday when he was old enough. His ultimate dream was to become a famous baseball player like “Rapid-fire” Easton. From what Clap had told him, “Rapid-fire” Easton grew up in Baltimare and, like Clap, always wanted to become a famous baseball player. In the end, he joined the Centaurs and set the record of hitting five home runs in one game, making him a living legend overnight. Clap idolized him just as much as Solstice idolized the band members of Deep Drive.

Solstice and Clap stared wide-eyed at the Baltimare Stadium that loomed before them. The stadium was huge! Solstice suspected that a full-grown dragon (maybe even two) could easily fit inside there, though he had to admit that he had never seen a dragon up-close before. He could only imagine how many ponies could fit inside. The thought simply staggered him.

All around them were ponies of all kinds—some were from Baltimare while others were from the surrounding areas like Fillydelphia and Manehatten. They followed the large crowd of eager ponies to the entrance of the stadium. At the entrance were two buff security guards wearing black sunglasses standing guard on either side. Meanwhile, a third guard checked for tickets as ponies were passing through one by one. As Solstice and Clap were nearing the entrance, Clap turned to his brother.

“You’ve got the tickets, right?”

Solstice nodded and looked into his saddlebag.

“Yep! They’re right—!”

His eyes widened in terror as he fanatically looked back at Clap.

“They’re—they’re gone! I—I don’t know where they went!”

Clap’s eyes also widened in horror.

“They’re gone?! W-what do you mean they’re gone?!”

Solstice looked around frantically.

“I don’t know! They—they were right in here when we left the mansion—!”

He looked up as a thought came to him.

“Somepony must’ve stolen them!”

Clap’s eyes furrowed.

“Well, that somepony’s gonna get it!”

Solstice shook his head.

“No, Clap! There’s nothing we can do about that now.”

Suddenly, a voice interrupted him.

“Hey, you! Get going, will ya? The line’s movin’!”

It was one of the ponies behind them…and he had a big, mean scowl on his face. Solstice timidly muttered his apologies and he and Clap approached the guards at the entrance.

“What do we do now?” Clap whispered.

Solstice shrugged with uncertainty in his voice.

“Maybe, they’ll be nice and let us in just this once…?”

He sighed.

Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.

“Tickets, please,” the third guard said, his hoof stretched towards Solstice and Clap.

For a moment, Solstice only stared back at the guard.

“Um….”

“Is there a problem, stallion?” the second guard asked, his sunglass-covered eyes locked onto the orange-yellowish pegasus.

“Well…there is, actually. Um, see, we've kinda…lost our tickets.”

The other ponies behind them let out a loud groan.

“That’s not my problem, stallion,” the second guard replied, his expression as hard as a rock. “If you don’t have your tickets, we can’t let you in. It’s as simple as that.”

He waved towards them in a shooing motion and added, “Now, stand aside and let the other ponies behind you come through.”

With a sad sigh, Solstice stepped out of the line, allowing the other ponies to pass through the checkpoint. Clap followed him.

“Bro, there must be something we can do!”

Solstice shook his head.

“No, Clap. They’re right. We don’t have our tickets—we can’t get in. It’s as simple as that.”

He let out a deep sigh.

“It’s my fault, anyway. I lost them. I was such a careless mule that I didn’t even notice they were gone!”

Clap looked up at him with pleading eyes.

“Don’t say that, Bro! You’re not careless! We’ll find a way, you’ll see! Maybe, we can sneak in and—”

Solstice put a hoof on his brother’s shoulder, interrupting him.

“No, Bro. Let’s just…go. We’ll find something else fun to do.”

Clap looked back towards the stadium entrance.

“But—but the Deep Drive concert. You’ve always wanted to see them play!”

Solstice managed a smile.

“There’ll be other concerts, don’t worry.”

He put his hoof around his brother.

“Come on. Let’s go get some ice cream down the street. Whatdaya say?”

Clap’s eyes brightened.

“Really?! Sweet!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

They had trotted around the stadium to where the ice cream shop was located just across the street. They could hear the crowds in the stadium already cheering loudly, eagerly anticipating the moment when Deep Drive would appear onstage. Solstice tried to tune out the noise. Hearing the cheering crowds only made it worse for him, knowing that he wasn’t there cheering with them. Nevertheless, he knew that he did the right thing in convincing Clap not to sneak into the stadium. He had lost the tickets and it wasn’t right to see the concert without them. It wasn’t honest. Sure, his father had already paid for them, but he felt in his heart that Clap’s idea wasn’t the right thing to do. There would always be next time…he hoped.

When they had arrived at the street, they saw that it was lined with parked carriages with no occupants in them. No pony was in sight and all was clear to cross. The two brothers were about to cross the street when they heard voices nearby. They sounded desperate and anxious. Something was wrong.

“Clap,” he motioned with his head to where the voices were coming from, “let’s go see what’s up.”

Clap nodded and followed him back towards the stadium. As they neared the voices, they found themselves before a tall, steel fence. They followed the fence until they saw what look like the entrance. It was open. They went inside and saw several trailers parked in two orderly lines before them. On the side where the fence was connected to the stadium’s wall, there was a giant archway that led into a tunnel that led to the inside of the stadium itself.

The voices that they heard were from five stallions, each with different colored, spiky hair and wearing black vests and sunglasses. Solstice froze before the entrance of the trailer complex. He recognized those stallions immediately. They were the members of the Deep Drive rock band!

“Can ya move it a’tall, Buddy?” the red unicorn asked the aqua-blue pegasus lying on the ground and clenching his right hoof.

The injured pony looked up and winced in pain.

“I don’t think so, Fire!”

“This is really bad!” the black pony with short white hair exclaimed, shaking his head. “He needs both his hooves to play the guitar!”

The red unicorn with fiery orange hair (Fire Dancer) nodded.

“Yeah, I know, Obsidian! But we can’t just go out there without a soloist!”

He turned again to the aqua-blue pony lying on the ground.

“Are ya sure you can’t move it, Windsurfer?” he repeated.

Windsurfer shook his head rapidly.

“I’m very sure, Fire! I can’t move it an inch! I—I think it’s broken!”

At this, the buff purple stallion with yellow jagged hair let out a loud groan as he threw his hooves in the air.

“Oh, that’s just great! Just great—now, what? Without a soloist, our songs will be…! I don’t even wanna think about it!”

The other band members nodded in agreement.

“Now, now,” Fire Dancer said, “let’s not get carried away! Let’s just put our heads together and think of somethin’!”

“If only there was somepony that could fill in for me…!” Windsurfer grunted as a light gray pegasus (Hurricane Rumble) came and began wrapping his injured hoof with gauze and a splint.

“Yeah, but who?” Fire Dancer exclaimed in frustration, placing a hoof on his glistening forehead. “There’s no pony in this group besides Windsurfer that can play the guitar as good as he can!”

As the band members were talking, Solstice and Clap hid behind one of the nearby trailers and listened. As he realized what was going on, Solstice looked down sadly. He wished that he could help but what could he do? He could play the guitar but he doubted that he could play it that well.

I wish I could help. I really do! But…I’m not a famous guitarist! They probably wouldn’t listen to me, even if I offered my help. I mean, why should they? Why should they have to listen to an ordinary blank-flank like me dreaming about becoming a rock star? And what about Dad? No, it—it just won’t work! They’ll just have to figure it all out without me.

He turned to sneak out of the compound, assuming that Clap would take notice and follow him out. However, just as Fire Dancer exclaimed “there’s no pony in this group besides Windsurfer that can play the guitar as good as he can,” Clap’s voice pierced the air like a trumpet.

“My brother, Solstice, can help!”

Solstice froze mid-step as his wings puffed out and his heart felt as if it would stop at any second.

Now, why did he have to go and do that for—?!

He slowly turned and saw that Clap had jumped out from his hiding place and was waving towards the band members as if he was trying to call for a taxi. Solstice slammed his hoof onto his forehead and let out an embarrassing groan.

“Hey, yo!” Stormcloud exclaimed as he noticed the foal. “Who the hay are ya?”

“My name’s Clap Rocket,” the foal replied with confidence, “and my big brother’s the best guitarist in Baltimare, probably in all of Equestria!”

Solstice felt as if he was ready to blow like a volcano. What was Clap trying to do?

“Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa, wait!” Obsidian exclaimed as he took off his sunglasses from his widened, amber-colored eyes. “He’s that good?”

Solstice felt as if he wanted to scream. Clap knew that he wasn’t that good…did he?

Clap smiled proudly as he uttered, “Of course!”

That was it. He spread his wings and launched himself to his brother’s side. When he had reached Clap’s side, he exclaimed under his breath, “Clap…aren’t ya exaggerating just a little bit?”

Before Clap could answer, Stormcloud exclaimed, “Hey! This must be Solstice! Ooo, I like the look—yellow-orange with blue. Matches our band pretty well, don’t ya think?”

Fire Dancer adjusted his sunglasses.

“Yeah, I know he looks good but how good is he? That’s the question.”

“I tell ya, he’s that good!” Clap insisted, despite Solstice’s expressions of absolute protest.

Solstice only rolled his eyes in frustration.

“Well,” Fire said with a sigh, “since we don’t have that much time anyway, there’s only one way to find out.”

He turned towards Solstice.

“Pick a guitar and show us what you can do, Kid.”

Solstice stood in indecision. On the one hand, he had always dreamt of performing with a well-known band, especially Deep Drive. On the other hand, he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of the stallions that he had idolized since he was a foal. And there was the issue with his father. What could he do?

“I…” he replied sadly, lowering his head. “I can’t.”

The other ponies’ stood in shock.

“But—but why?” Clap exclaimed, his eyes looking up at his brother with a shocked and confused expression.

“Because—! I don’t think I’m that good enough!”

“That’s not true, Solstice!” Clap chastised sternly. “You are that good!”

“No, Clap! I’m—!”

He sighed and regained his composure.

“Okay, let’s just suppose I’m that good…. What about Dad? We promised him that we would only watch the concert. We didn’t say one of us would actually perform in it! When he finds out, he’s gonna be so mad—!”

Clap’s eyebrow cocked.

“Who says Dad has to know?”

Solstice’s expression turned dead serious.

“Now, Clap…lying to parents isn’t the right thing to do. You know that.”

“But not helping somepony else when they need it most is not the right thing to do, either!” his brother countered with an equal amount of seriousness.

Solstice stopped. He didn’t want to admit it but Clap had a good point. Not helping Deep Drive wasn’t the right thing to do either. Before long, he found himself fighting against his own self.

“Agh, Clap! How did you get to be so smart?” he exclaimed.

Clap chuckled at that.

After a moment more, he finally sighed.

“Fine…I’ll do it. They need my help and I’m the only one that can do it, it looks like.”

Clap hopped with glee.

“Awesome!”

Fire smiled.

“Perfect! Then, let’s see what you can do!”

He motioned towards Obsidian and the black stallion came and handed Solstice a purple electric guitar. Solstice put the guitar strap across his chest and back and balanced himself on his hind legs. When he had checked to see if it was properly tuned and prepared himself, he looked towards Fire Dancer. Fire nodded, giving him permission to begin playing. He began with strumming a few simple cords. Then, he let loose with a series of complicated chord progressions and flourishes. When he had finished, Clap and the band members stared at him with their mouths dropped and their eyes as wide as an owl’s. In fact, Hurricane Rumble was so surprised by Solstice’s guitar solo that he accidentally tightened the bandages that were wrapped around Windsurfer’s hoof too tightly. Windsurfer let out a cry of pain and looked directly at the oblivious gray pegasus next to him.

“Hey, watch the hoof, Dude!” he scolded with a scowl.

Hurricane realized what he had done and immediately fixed his mistake.

“Oh! Sorry, Buddy. Here, uh, let me fix that for ya….”

Windsurfer just shook his head and let out a frustrated grunt.

Fire took his black sunglasses off, revealing his widened orange eyes.

“That…was…so…awesome!” he exclaimed with a hoof in the air. The other band members concurred with their own exclamations of praise. Solstice bowed humbly with a blush.

“Thanks, Mr. Fire Dancer.”

At that moment, Fire looked at his watch and let out a startled gasp.

“Oh, Stallions! We don’t have much time left, do we.”

He turned to Solstice and added, “Kid, can you perform with us onstage?”

Solstice’s heart raced. Him on stage…in front of all those ponies sitting in the gigantic stadium?

“Uh….”

Before he could answer, Clap answered for him.

“He says ‘yes.’”

Solstice breathed out a soft chuckle.

Thanks, Clap.

“All righty!” Fire declared with a grin. “The music’s inside my trailer on the desk.”

He motioned with his head towards the red and orange trailer to his left.

“Look through it and meet us at the stadium’s backstage just over there. Rock yourself out, Kid!”

He motioned towards the large tunnel leading to the stadium’s interior.

“Okay!” Solstice nodded excitedly. Although he felt nervous, he couldn’t wait.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After he had studied the music that was placed on Fire Dancer’s desk and had practiced it as best he could on his borrowed guitar, he headed for the stadium’s backstage area, which was the tunnel area leading into the stadium’s interior. In the tunnel, he could hear the overpowering sound of ponies’ voices from the stadium like waves crashing in the ocean. It made the butterflies in his stomach start fluttering faster.

“All righty, listen up, everypony!” Fire Dancer announced, beckoning Solstice, Clap and the other band members to gather around him. “We all have our parts down, right?”

The members nodded with Solstice nodding with a hint of hesitation.

“Very good! And Solstice…”

Solstice looked up as Fire Dancer’s gaze turned to him.

“…you okay there, Kid? Ya look like you’re preparin’ to jump off a cliff or somethin’!”

The other band members chuckled in response. After a moment’s hesitation, Solstice replied with a nod, “I’m—I’m fine, thanks.”

“Ya sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure!”

Fire nodded.

“‘Kay. Listen, if there’s anythin’ ya need, just let any of us know.”

The others nodded as well.

Solstice felt a sense of honor come over him. All of the members of his favorite band were asking him if he needed anything! He felt as if he could fly to the moon and back with no problem whatsoever.

“Thanks, guys,” he said with a slight bow. “I really appreciate it.”

Hurricane grinned back.

“Anytime!”

Then, a thought came to Solstice.

“Wait—actually, there is something.”

Fire nodded.

“‘Kay, what is it?”

“Could you not say my name when you introduce the band? I’d really appreciate it.”

Fire Dancer looked at the young stallion curiously.

“Why’s that…if ya don’t mind me askin’?” he inquired.

Solstice shrugged.

“I…I have my reasons,” was all he said. It was because he didn’t want his father to find out from somepony else watching from the stands.

Then, he added, “I insist.”

Fire’s eyes widened with surprise.

“Okay, then! Whatever your reason, we’ll have it your way—no sayin’ your name onstage.”

Solstice bowed with his head.

“Thank you, Mr. Fire Dancer.”

Just then, a plumb brown unicorn stallion came from inside the stadium and announced, “Deep Drive, you have one minute!”

Afterwards, the unicorn disappeared back into the stadium from whence he had come. By this time, Solstice noticed that the ponies’ voices from the stadium had risen into a loud cheer as instrumental versions of Deep Drive’s music began playing on the loudspeakers and an announcer declaring loudly, “And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…!”

His heart began pounding more rapidly as he felt anxiety rise up inside of him.

“All righty!” Fire breathed as he put a hoof on every member’s shoulder. “This is it! Are you all ready to do this?”

“Wait!” Windsurfer exclaimed.

He limped over to Solstice and handed him a red electric guitar.

“Give your purple one back to Obsidian and take this one,” he told him. “It’ll bring you good luck!”

Solstice looked back at him with a puzzled expression. He didn’t see why this was such a big deal but he obeyed anyway.

“Okay…” he replied as he took the red guitar and handed the purple one back to Obsidian.

“Uh, Windsurfer,” Obsidian said, his head cocked, “I can just play the spare guitar and Solstice can play mine. It’s really no big deal. The red one’s yours—your very own!”

Windsurfer looked at each of his comrades.

“Guys, it’s ‘cause of my hoof that I can’t be with you all out there today. But, even though I can’t be out there, I want Solstice to play my guitar…so that it’ll be as if I was still out there with all of ya, havin’ fun.”

There was a sound of sniffling from Stormcloud.

“Guys…” he exclaimed, pointing towards the aqua-colored pegasus, “Windsurfer’s awesome!”

He trotted to Windsurfer and added as he extended his hoof, “Bro-hoof, Buddy!”

Windsurfer smiled and bro-hoofed with his good hoof. It wasn’t long before the other members of the band came and bro-hoofed with him as well. Then, they gathered and grouped together in a group-hug, sniffing from the tears in their eyes. As they did so, Clap leaned towards Solstice and whispered with a grin on his face, “Gee, I thought this was a colt band.”

Solstice fought the urge to giggle. He knew what his brother was implying. He turned to Clap and let out a soft “shh” sound, ending the conversation.

Outside in the stadium’s interior, the cheering from the spectators grew louder.

“Okay!” Fire Dancer declared. “This is it! You all ready to do this?”

Obsidian raised his hoof holding his purple electric guitar in the air.

“Let’s shake that stadium with the powa’ of rock n’ roll!”

There was a shout of “all right!” as the band members, including Windsurfer, put their hooves together. At that moment, Hurricane turned to Solstice and Clap.

“Hey, you two!” he called, motioning for them to come. “Come join the circle! Wouldn’t want ya gettin’ left out, right?”

Solstice and Clap looked at each other. Then, they smiled and nodded as they came and joined the circle of hooves.

“On the count of three,” they heard Stormcloud whisper to them, “we yell ‘Deep Drive’. It’s sorta tradition that we do this before ev’ry concert.”

Solstice grinned from ear to ear. This was, without a doubt, one of the best days of his life.

Fire looked around at each of his comrades.

“Ready?” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Then, with a “one, two, three,” they all raised their hooves in unison as they shouted, “Deep Drive!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The crowds of ponies sitting in the stands stood and roared as Solstice Rocket and almost all of the members of Deep Drive charged into the stadium like conquering heroes. They galloped or flew across the open, green field until they reached a large platform that was designed to look like an open stage situated in the exact center of the stadium’s interior. Bright colorful lights shone onto the stage from light fixtures positioned on all of its four corners and microphones stood on stands at each of the band members’ positions. There was also a drum set situated in the back portion of the makeshift stage.

As Fire Dancer set hoof onto the stage and reached one of the microphone stands, he unhooked the microphone from its stand with his unicorn magic and exclaimed into it, “Hello, Baltimare!”

The crowds of ponies standing in the stands roared louder. Fire Dancer grinned from ear to ear as he looked at the pony-filled stands around him.

“All righty!” he further exclaimed, his voice echoing throughout the huge stadium. “Now, who’s ready for some good old-fashioned rock n’ roll tonight?”

The crowds cheered vigorously in response.

“Okay, then!”

He placed the microphone back into the stand as the other band members took their places on the stage. Solstice tried to keep his nerves calm as the deafening cheers from the stands threatened to break them completely. Finally, the cheers gradually died down.

“But, first of all, let me do a little intro for the guys with me here tonight for all ya who are here for the first time, shall we?” the red unicorn said into the microphone as he turned to the other band members. Each time he introduced each band member, he motioned to them with his hoof as he held the microphone in front of him using his unicorn magic.

“Firstly, I’m Fire Dancer, lead-singer and ‘top-dog’ of this joy-ride.”

Just then, Hurricane’s voice exclaimed, “More like ‘top-clown’!”

The crowds roared with laughter as Fire Dancer rolled his eyes and sighed into the microphone.

“And that light gray pegasus you just heard is Hurricane Rumble, who plays bass. He’s what we in the band like to call a ‘colt of heart’…both figuratively and literally.”

The crowds laughed again and Fire Dancer grinned as Hurricane’s voice let out a “hey!” The red unicorn then turned to the next member of the group.

“His brother here, Obsidian Rumble, (he motioned to the black pony with the purple electric guitar) is our rhythm guitarist and keyboardist. We also like to call him our ‘pony from the hood’ ‘cause of his ability to rap and to beat-box. Take it away, Bro!”

The crowds cheered and Obsidian did a little beat-boxing routine for them, which made the crowds cheer even louder in approval. Even Solstice applauded at his performance. Fire Dancer came and bro-hoofed with Obsidian as he said to him, “They love ya, Buddy.” Obsidian nodded as he grinned back.

“And that strong-looking stallion standin’ yonder is Stormcloud,” Fire Dancer pointed to Stormcloud at the drum set. “You could probably guess from the name what he’s good at, huh?”

The crowd cheered loudly and Stormcloud raised his drumming sticks in the air and grinned brightly in response.

“And, lastly,” the red unicorn continued, “we’ve got Windsurfer, our lead guitarist. Sadly…”

His cheerful demeanor changed into one of seriousness and disappointment.

“…he broke his hoof and he can’t play for you all tonight.”

The audience let out a sad groan that could even tug at an ogre’s heartstrings.

“Yeah, I know,” Fire Dancer nodded, “but Windsurfer’s hoof needs to heal up first. Ya know. But…”

He turned to Solstice, who was making sure that his guitar was perfectly tuned, and nodded towards him.

“…this kind stallion here’s offered to fill in for him. Oh, don’t worry! This he’s all right! I can’t say his name, though, ‘cause he’s kindly told me not to. Must be one of those ‘quiet hero’ types or somethin’. At any rate, he’s feelin’ pretty nervous standing up here with us tonight, so give this great guy a round of encouragement, won’t ya?”

He started clapping his hooves and the rest of the ponies in the Stadium except for Solstice joined in, even shouting out cheers of encouragement. Solstice only smiled and looked down in quiet humility. Afterwards, Fire Dancer turned to the audience before him and raised his head with his microphone towards the night sky above.

“And now, without any further ado…let’s get this party starteeeedddd!”

The crowds of ponies stood and let out a loud, deafening roar. When the cheering finally died down, the band members prepared their instruments.

“This first song’s one of the all-time classics,” Fire Dancer said into the microphone. “It’s called ‘Whirlin’ like a Hurricane.’ As a matter of fact, Hurricane Rumble pretty much wrote this song, didn’t ya, Hurricane?”

Hurricane gave a proud salute to the stands and the crowds roared their approval. “Whirlin’ like a Hurricane” was one of the few songs in their repertoire that didn’t have any lyrics. It was all instrumental. This would seem boring to us, but Deep Drive’s instrumental songs were as unique as their regular songs—and the lead guitarist had something to do with it. It was in these songs that the lead guitarist shined the most. “Whirlin’ like a Hurricane” was a song that had the lead guitarist play a short intro. Then, the rhythm guitarist joined in, followed by the keyboardist and, lastly, the drummer. All throughout the song, it was the lead guitarist who led the rest of the band instead of the lead singer. It was a song that all depended on the lead guitarist’s performance. Solstice knew this the moment that he reviewed the music sheet for it in Fire Dancer’s trailer.

By now, Solstice’s hooves were quivering. He didn’t want to ruin this moment for the band. If he did, he wouldn’t forgive himself. He turned towards the tunnel where Clap and Windsurfer were watching from the sidelines. He saw Clap’s face showing a bright smile in an effort to cheer him on. He tried to smile, too, but his nervousness was beginning to become overwhelming.

“Hey, Solstice!” he heard Obsidian’s voice call from nearby.

He turned to the black pony.

“Ya look nervous, Kid! It’s okay. I get nervous, too. Hey, wanna know what I do when I’m nervous?”

Solstice only stared back at him, awaiting his response.

“You go to your happy place. No, I don’t mean that you zone out or anythin’ like that. When I get so nervous that I just can’t stand it, I’d imagine all the ponies in the stands fade away and I’m in my room practicing my guitar. When I do that, I’m more chill and relaxed. Try it—whatever suits ya!”

Solstice nodded and closed his eyes as he tried to steady his breath. He imagined that all of the sounds from the crowds in the stands faded away and he was back on his family mansion’s porch happily playing his wooden guitar. The only difference was that he was playing on a red electric guitar and that he was playing a different song—one that he had just practiced repeatedly in Fire Dancer’s trailer.

“You ready, Solstice?” he heard Fire Dancer’s voice ask.

The orange-yellow pegasus slowly opened his eyes and looked towards the voice’s source. The red unicorn’s fiery-orange eyes looked back over the top of his sunglasses, patiently awaiting his response. After a moment, Solstice took a deep breath and nodded. Fire nodded back with a grin and said, “All righty, Solstice! Whenever you’re ready.”

Solstice put his left hoof on the guitar’s neck and raised his right hoof, ready to play the first notes to start the song. He felt nervousness threaten to overtake him and stopped for a moment. He closed his eyes again and tried to picture in his mind’s eye the Baltimare landscape from the mansion porch—the cool breeze brushing against his fur and the distant sounds of the city before him. He felt peaceful again.

And that’s when he heard it—the first several notes from his guitar, loud and clear. The sound echoed throughout the hushed stadium like a thunderclap. After the echo had died, the crowds in the stands let out a loud cheer. Even the members of the band were clapping and cheering, thoroughly impressed with his performance. Then, when he played again, Obsidian began playing along and Fire Dancer played the keyboard (he only played the simple chords, as he had limited knowledge about playing it). Then, with a drum flourish by Stormcloud, the band altogether played their song. When Solstice played the last note in the song, the crowds cheered again and the band members bowed in appreciation and prepared for the next song.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“So…Clap, was it?” Windsurfer asked the orange foal by his side as they both were watching Deep Drive performing onstage.

Clap turned to the aqua-blue pegasus.

“Yep!” he replied with a grin. “And you’re…Windsurfer, the guitar soloist in the band, right?”

Windsurfer nodded and motioned towards the stage in the stadium.

“That’s right. Your brother, Solstice, is quite the guitarist himself, isn’t he!”

Clap stood proudly.

“Oh, yeah! He’s the best!”

“I couldn’t help but notice he doesn’t have a Cutie Mark. Do ya know why?”

Clap shook his head.

“No. And that’s what’s weird! He’s so good at playing the guitar, too!”

Windsurfer breathed out a chuckle.

“That’s what’s funny about Cutie Marks, I suppose…they don’t just appear when you want them to.”

Clap sighed.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Hey, don’t ya worry! Your brother will get his Cutie Mark one day, you’ll see. It just takes time. Hay! It happened to me!”

Clap looked up at him.

“You mean you didn’t have a Cutie Mark either?”

“Yep! And, Stallions, was it embarrassing!”

He let out a laugh and then sighed.

“But I eventually got it…”

He looked at his flank, which bore an image of a red electric guitar with visible gusts of wind swirling around it like ocean waves.

“…as I was performin’ for the very first time with Deep Drive back in Fillydelphia. Don’t know why it took so long. But, I tell ya, it was well worth the wait!”

Clap nodded.

“I guess you’re right.”

“Is your brother thinkin’ about being a guitarist? Just thought I’d ask.”

“Oh yeah! He’s thinking about being a rock star someday.”

Windsurfer put a hoof on his chin as his expression turned thoughtful.

“Is that right…?”

As the band onstage finished their song and the crowds started cheering louder than ever, Clap turned to Windsurfer again.

“Windsurfer…” he said, his voice pleading, “my brother’s the best brother I could ever ask for! It…it would mean a lot to him if he could be a part of your band.”

Windsurfer smiled as he turned to the foal.

“Don’t ya worry there, Clap!” he replied in an optimistic tone as he put a hoof on Clap’s shoulder to reassure him. “I’m sure that me and the boys can figure somethin’ out.”

Clap smiled in response.

“Thanks, Sir. I really appreciate it.”

Windsurfer nodded, a realization coming to him.

“You care a lot about him, don’t ya.”

Clap’s expression grew serious as he turned towards the stadium interior where his brother was performing.

“Yeah. He’s my hero. He always does the right thing, no matter what. I…I just hope that one day I can be like that, too.”

Windsurfer followed the foal’s gaze and sighed with a far-off look in his eye.

“Yeah. So do all of us, I’d imagine.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The band performed several more songs that were Deep Drive’s greatest hits. Solstice never felt so alive as he played. The cheering of the crowds, the beat of the music—all of it fueled the fire within him. He wished that this moment would never end. When the last note was played in the last song, the crowds of ponies stood as they cheered and applauded loudly. Solstice and the members of Deep Drive gave one last bow and waved to them as they trotted off the stage and headed to the tunnel where Clap Rocket and Windsurfer were waiting.

“That was awesome, Bro!” Clap exclaimed with a bounce and a hoof in the air. “I never doubted you for a second!”

Windsurfer nodded with an impressed look on his face.

“I have to admit, that was pretty cool! You were almost as good as I would be out there!”

Solstice’s face beamed. A compliment like that coming from Windsurfer was indeed a great honor.

“Th-thank you, Mr. Windsurfer!” he exclaimed with a respectful bow.

He carefully placed the red guitar into his hooves and handed it back to the experienced soloist.

“Here’s your guitar back.”

Windsurfer looked back at the guitar for a moment and, then, he smiled.

“Fire, it seems that this stallion’s thinkin’ about being a rock star.”

Solstice’s eyes widened. How did he know—?

“Who told ya this?” Fire asked.

“His brother here, Clap, told me.” Windsurfer replied, motioning towards the foal next to him.

Solstice grinned slightly and gave a slight shrug.

Figures he would.

At that moment, Fire turned to him with a look of pleasurable surprise.

“A rock star, eh?” he exclaimed. “Well, how ‘bout it, Kid? We could really use somepony like you. Hay, we can make all your dreams come true right now! All ya have to do is say the magic words!”

Solstice’s face brightened. Was this actually happening? Did they just invite him to be a part of their band? He wanted to say ‘yes,’ so badly but…what about Clap…and his mother and father…? He couldn’t leave them. Not yet. Besides, he knew that his father would never approve of this anyway.

“Thanks, guys,” he replied with a bittersweet smile, “but…I can’t.”

The band members’ expressions turned downcast.

“Wh-what do ya mean you can’t?” Stormcloud exclaimed with a confused expression. “Kid, you were simply smashing out there!”

“If it’s your dad you’re worried about,” Fire said, “may I give some…advice?”

Solstice nodded and Fire continued.

“You’re old enough to make your own decisions. Your dad may have right intentions, but he’s not you. You know what ya want and you know what would make ya happy.”

“I know that,” Solstice replied, “but I must say ‘no’. My dad and I may not see eye-to-eye in some things but…he’s still my dad. He deserves respect. It—it’s the right thing to do, after all.

Fire nodded as he smiled sadly.

“Okay, Kid. I understand. But if ya need anythin’, just let us know. We’ll be tourin’ ‘round Equestria durin’ the year anyway. Tickets are on the house for you guys if ya thinkin’ about seein’ one of our concerts again, by the way.”

He gave a wink as he said this. Clap’s eyes widened as they sparkled.

“Free tickets to Deep Drive concerts from now on?!”

He leaped in the air and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Best day ever!”

The others laughed at that.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After Solstice and Clap waved Fire Dancer and the other band members “good-bye,” they made their way towards the street. By now, ponies crowded the sidewalks and streets, rushing to get back to their homes. The two brothers nearly lost each other in the crowds several times before the crowds finally began to disperse. When there were only a handful of ponies left trotting up and down the street, Solstice finally noticed an ice cream shop nearby and turned to his brother.

“Say,” he pointed out with a smile as he motioned with his head towards the shop, “that reminds me. I still haven’t bought any ice cream for you, yet. How ‘bout it?”

Clap looked back up at him and grinned widely.

“I say, let’s do it!”

They entered the shop and ordered two ice cream cones, one for each of them. They decided to eat inside and found a table to sit at. After a few minutes of silence as they ate their ice cream, Solstice sighed.

“Clap,” he said, “I just wanna say…thanks…for today.”

Clap turned to him with a puzzled expression.

“Huh?”

Solstice took a lick of his ice cream before its residue could drip onto the table.

“I mean, you told me last night how I helped you to believe in yourself when you won your first baseball game. Well, today, you helped me do the same thing—you helped me believe in myself, that I could play as good as the rest of the band. I—I couldn’t’ve done it without you, Bro. Thank you.”

With that, he continued eating his ice cream. However, it wasn’t long before he felt hooves around him and looked to his side. He saw Clap with a big smile on his face as he was giving him a big hug.

“Love ya, Big Bro!” he exclaimed happily.

Solstice smiled and hugged him back.

“Love you too, Little Bro.”

After a few moments, Clap seemed to snap out of it and immediately retreated with an embarrassed look on his face.

“I mean, uh, your cool to…Big Bro,” he said awkwardly. “Real cool…yeah.”

Solstice rolled his eyes.

“Oh, come on, Clap!” he exclaimed with a sigh. “It’s cool to hug your brother and say ‘love ya’ once in a while, too, ya know!”

Clap shrugged.

“Well, yeah, but…I—I still need to keep my cool, okay?”

Solstice let out a chuckle and replied with another sigh, “Okay, fine. Bro-hoof?”

Clap nodded with a grin.

“You bet!”

With that, they bro-hoofed and finished their ice cream.

Chapter 4: The Right Thing

“Dad!” Solstice called as he entered the mansion and wiped any remaining tears from his eyes and face. “Are you here?”

At first, there was only silence. Then, he heard his father call back from the study, “I am in my study, Solstice! Do you need something?”

“Uh, yeah,” Solstice replied. “Could I talk to you for a minute?”

There was a slight pause.

“Certainly, Son,” came the reply. “I have a good size of paperwork to do still, but you may come and talk with me for a minute.”

Solstice made his way to his father’s study and saw that the door was open. He peeked inside and saw his father sitting at his desk with a pile of papers stacked on top of it on his left. He was looking down through his glasses at one of the papers with a pen in his hoof and his other hoof resting thoughtfully on his chin. After writing something on the paper, he placed it on top of another slightly smaller stack of papers situated on his right. Afterwards, he took off his glasses, placed them neatly right-side up on his desk and rubbed the area between his eyes as he let out a tired sigh.

“Hey, Dad,” Solstice said timidly as he took a step into the study. “I’m sorry, are you too busy?”

His father placed his glasses back onto his eyes and shook his head as he smiled back at him.

“It is all right. I need the distraction anyway.”

He gestured with his hoof towards the empty chair in front of him and added, “Come, sit and tell me what is on your mind.”

Solstice took a seat in the empty chair. He looked at his father’s face—kind and considerate. He fought hard not to cry at that moment. There was only one way that he could know for sure that Mr. Spot On’s claims were indeed correct.

“Dad,” he finally asked, “do you know why Mr. Spot On quit this morning?”

His father looked up at him with a curious look on his face.

“How did you come to learn about that, Solstice?”

“I saw him about an hour ago at the marketplace,” Solstice replied. He hesitated as he added, “He…also told about some other…things.”

Golden raised an eyebrow.

“Is everything all right, Son?” he inquired. “You have been acting rather…odd ever since you came in.”

Solstice shifted in his seat, his voice threatening to break. How was he going to ask him?

“N-nothing…I hope.”

His father rolled his eyes.

“Solstice, you were never a good liar. I can see right through you! There is something wrong!”

He leaned forward and looked at his son with eyes that seemed to burrow into his soul.

“Did something happen at your new workplace today?” he probed.

Solstice shook his head.

“No, everything’s fine there. In fact, it couldn’t be better!”

“Did your brother say or did anything to make you feel upset in any way?”

“No, he’s cool. I can handle him.”

“Is it due to friend or special somepony problems?”

“No, I don’t have that many friends to begin with.”

“Any personal problems?”

“No.”

His father’s eyes widened in frustration.

“Then, tell me what is it that is making you acting strangely!”

The orange-yellow pegasus finally threw his hoofs in the air as he exclaimed in reply, “It’s you, Dad!”

As soon as the words escaped his mouth, his heart immediately sank.

Did—did I just say that to my dad? No—! That’s—that’s not what I meant!

He looked up and saw his father’s eyes—they were sad and downcast.

“Solstice,” he said softly as he swallowed, “if there is anything that I have said or done to make you offended, then I wholeheartedly apologize.”

Solstice shook his head.

“No, no, Dad,” he exclaimed, “it’s not like that! That’s not what I meant! I meant that there’s something I’ve heard about you that’s making me a little…worried, that’s all.”

The golden businesspony swallowed gain. This time, he understood what Solstice was trying to tell him.

“What exactly did Spot On tell you at the marketplace today?” he finally asked.

Solstice took a deep breath, his voice finally beginning to break.

“He—he told me you—you asked Mr. Fancy Pants and his friends for help when we were still living on the streets, but they wouldn’t give it to you. So, you—you took the bits you wanted…and then pinned the blame on Mr. Fancy Pants’ friends, Filthy Rich and Jet Set. He also told me you—you were bribing a Canterlot pony…Ms. Fleur de Lis, to give you Fancy Pants’ bits.”

His chin was quivering as he shook his head and looked directly into his father’s eyes.

“Why, Dad?!” he exclaimed with tears streaming from his blue-colored eyes. “Why would you do a thing like that?!”

For a long moment, his father was silent as he hung his head and stared at the ground. Then, he slowly rose from his chair, walked to the window and looked out at the city lights before him.

“Yes…” he finally said in a sad and grave tone, “it is all true. Mr. Fancy Pants was once a great friend of mine ever since I was a teen-colt. I was alone then and he and his friends soon became the only friends that I had ever known. When they refused to help me, it was as if they all had stabbed me in the heart. Essentially, they were leaving me and my family to live and to starve in the streets! What was I supposed to do? So, I did the only thing that I could do…take the bits that I needed from Fancy Pants. In my mind, he had so many bits that it would not hurt him if I took a small-sized portion…what he had owed me. Looking back on it now, I realize that it was wrong of me to do so. In order to detract any suspicion, I made all evidence point to Filthy Rich and Jet Set as the culprits. And…yes…I anonymously bribed this Ms. Fleur de Lis into giving me the bits that I needed so that all evidence pointing to me as the culprit would fully be erased.”

Solstice sat in a state of utter shock.

“So, all that about you being an ‘honest’ and ‘upright’ businesspony…was just one big lie?”

His father turned and immediately shook his head.

“No, Son! That much is still true! It was only that one time that I was not honest and that was because I had no other choice! Solstice, I would never lie to you! I do hope you know that!”

The young stallion was now conflicted. On the one hoof, he was hurt and angry that his father would do something like this. On the other hoof, now that he had heard the whole story from his father’s own mouth, he understood (in a way) why his father did what he did.

“Yes, of course I do, Dad,” Solstice replied. “You know I love you no matter what. But I can’t just forget about all this and act like nothing’s wrong! Somepony has to say something at that trial tomorrow!”

Golden’s head instantly spun towards him.

“No!” he exclaimed sharply. “Do not say anything about this to anypony at the trial tomorrow!”

Solstice rose from his chair and started for the door.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” he said, his voice quivering, “but I can’t just let this go. This isn’t right!”

However, just as he was about to open the door to leave, his father suddenly dashed across the study and blocked the door, his chest rapidly rising and falling with anxiety.

“Please, Solstice!” his father pled with him, his eyes wide with terror. “I beg of you, do not punish this family for what I did those years ago! What I did…I did it for our family—for our well-being! You must believe me!”

Solstice stepped back. He could see tears appearing in his father’s eyes.

I’ve never seen my dad cry like this before. He must be really scared! Poor Dad! I don’t wanna do this to him, but—!

“Please, Son!” Golden exclaimed, this time falling to the floor before the young stallion. “Please, don’t do this! I beg of you, don’t do this!”

His face, filled with distress, was buried in his hooves as he sobbed, “They will take everything away from us if you tell them these things! They—they’ll laugh at us! For our family’s sake, please, don’t tell them!”

Solstice was beginning to feel panicked. What was he to do? He couldn’t just not say anything but, at the same time,—!

“Promise me, Solstice!” his father cried as their eyes met. “Promise me that you won’t tell them!”

For a long while, Solstice only stood there, torn between doing what was right and doing what was best for the family. What was he to do?

“All right, Dad,” he finally replied as he stooped and hugged his father. “I won’t tell anypony at the trial.”

Golden’s eyes brightened as he smiled and hugged him back tightly.

“Thank you, Solstice! Thank you!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Well, what was I supposed to do—“sorry, Dad, but your feelings don’t matter to me! You’re a liar and a thief, so ‘sayonara’”?! That would've also been very wrong to do and you know it!

Thus was he arguing with himself as he marched up the stairs to his room. But just as he reached his bedroom door, his brother galloped over to him.

“Hey, Bro the Hero!” he exclaimed with a bright smile. “Where did you go after work?”

Solstice turned to face his brother.

“Just went to the marketplace downtown to get some things,” he replied simply.

Then, his ears perked up and his eyes widened.

“Oh, wait! Speaking of which…!”

He reached into his saddlebag, took from it the Flash Sentry necklace that he had bought and gave it to Clap, saying, “Here you go, Bro! Just for you!”

Clap’s eyes widened and his smile grew bigger.

“Oh, thank you, Bro!” he exclaimed as he took the necklace and put it around his neck. It hung down to the lower portion of his chest.

“Well?” he asked as he finished putting it on. “What do ya think?”

Solstice grinned as he nodded his head.

“Looks great on you, Clap! Hope it’s a good fit.”

Clap looked down and held the shield part of the necklace.

“I think so. It’s not too long anyway. Looks fine to me.”

“Good!” Solstice breathed in relief.

He hung his head and uttered another sigh. Clap noticed that something was not quite right with him.

“Is something wrong, Bro? You look pretty tired for some reason.”

Solstice looked up.

“Huh? Oh, nothing. It’s just—”

He stopped and shook his head.

“Clap, can I ask you something?”

Clap nodded.

“Shoot!”

Solstice took a deep breath.

“I have this problem and…well, I know what the right thing to do is, but…what if it’s not that simple?”

Clap’s eyebrow cocked.

“What do you mean, Bro?”

“Well, I mean maybe doing the right thing will end up hurting other ponies instead. I mean, then what? Maybe, doing the right thing isn’t such a good idea after all, you know?”

Clap looked down as he thought for a moment. Then, he looked up and nodded.

“You’ll do the right thing, Solstice,” he said with confidence in his voice. “You always do! Just believe what your heart tells ya!”

Solstice’s expression turned into a skeptical one.

“That’s it? Just like that?”

He let out a snort.

“I wish things were that simple! But what if they’re not? What if I end up doing the wrong thing? What if—?”

Clap put a hoof on his brother’s shoulder, stopping him.

“Whoa, slow down there, Bro! Relax! What does your heart tell ya?”

Solstice looked back at his brother with a petrified expression.

“I—I don’t know, Clap! I honestly don’t know!”

With that, he dashed into his room and shut the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

When morning came, Solstice found it very difficult even to open his eyes. He hadn’t slept much that night. For the better part of the night, he had lain awake on his bed and stared up at the ceiling.

“Please, Solstice!” he remembered his father pleading with him. “I beg of you, don’t do this to our family! What I did, I did it for our family—for our well-being! You must believe me! Please, don’t tell them! Promise me that you won’t tell them!”

His mind began turning.

“You’ll do the right thing, Solstice,” his brother had told him the night before. “You always do! What does your heart tell ya?”

Solstice put a hoof over his face and groaned.

Dad’s been trying so hard to provide for us and to become the successful businesspony he is today. Yeah, he did something bad in the past but he’s not that way now! Why can’t ponies like Fancy Pants just leave him alone? Then again…Dad practically stole those bits from Fancy Pants and then blamed other innocent ponies for it. I can’t just ignore that! But if I tell anypony, Dad’s business will fail and we’ll be back on the streets, this time with other ponies laughing at us! But, if I don’t tell anypony—!

He let out another frustrated groan and practically threw himself off the bed.

“What the hay’s wrong with me, already!” he exclaimed. “This should be easy! I know what’s right but—well, what about Dad and Mom and…Clap? What’ll happen to them if I do this? ‘Do what your heart tells ya’—well, it’s not that simple, Clap! It just isn’t!”

He angrily stomped his hoof on the floor, making a loud noise. A few seconds later, he heard a knock on his bedroom door and his mother’s voice calling from the other side, “Is everything all right, Solstice? I heard a loud noise in there!”

“I’m okay, Mom,” he called back. “I just had a bad dream and fell out of bed, that’s all.”

“All right,” his mother said. “Do you have work today?”

“Not exactly,” came the reply, “but I do have something important to do today, though.”

“Okay, Solstice. Don’t forget that there’s the trial at eleven today.”

Solstice nodded.

Yeah…that’s the problem.

Don’t worry, I won’t!” he reassured.

After combing his hair and fur so that they looked presentable, he grabbed his saddlebag and immediately left the mansion towards Red Lightning’s music store. There was something that he needed to do before anything else—something that he was already wondering if he had the courage to do.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“What?!” Red Lightning exclaimed, almost falling out of his revolving chair. “What do ya mean you quit?! I—I don’t understand ya, Boy! I thought you liked it here!”

“I do, Sir!” Solstice protested. “I do like working here! It’s just—well, my Dad, he—”

“He found out, didn’t he,” Red Lightning finished for him, his expression turning into one of sympathy. “Oh, I’m so sorry! Ya know, if—if ya need me to talk to your dad or anythin’, I’d be more than happy to do that for ya.”

Solstice shook his head.

“No, it’s not that, Sir. Thank you, though! It’s because—well, I just don’t wanna keep any secrets from him, that’s all. I don’t feel right doing all this behind his back anymore.”

The red pegasus swallowed as he lowered his gaze towards the carpeted floor of his office.

“Oh.”

Then, he arose from his chair and said, “Well, I haf’ta tell ya somethin’ before your mind’s made up. Before you signed up for this job, I had another young stallion wantin’ this job, too. If you leave right now, the store’ll be short of one pony. So, I haf’ta tell ya right now that if you’re thinkin’ about leaving, I’ll haf’ta hire that other pony right away.”

Solstice hung his head and swallowed. He hated no longer working at the store anymore, but it was something that he felt he needed to do.

“I’m sorry, Solstice,” his boss said in sympathy as he put a hoof on his shoulder. “I just wanted ya to know that before you make any final decisions. I want ya to be absolutely sure of this, ‘cause…once you go, I can’t hire ya back again if you change your mind.”

The orange-yellow stallion nodded.

“I understand, Sir.”

He looked up at Red Lightning and added as he shook his boss’s hoof, “Thank you for the time I’ve had here.”

Red Lightning smiled.

“Anytime, Boy! And if I’ve a spot open here and you’re still out of a job, I know who to call.”

With that, Solstice thanked him once more, turned in his uniform and left the music store, possibly never to step hoof in it again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Come, Clap!” Golden Rocket called from the bottom of the stairs. “We do not want to be late to the trial, would we?”

“Coming, Dad!” Clap called back from his room upstairs.

The father sighed and adjusted his scarlet tie and his long, black suitcoat as he paced anxiously away from the stairs.

“Darling,” he called into the living room, “are you ready?”

After a moment of silence, Glitter’s voice called back, “Yes, Dear! I’m coming now!”

After several moments more, Glitter Rocket appeared from the living room and Clap came and galloped down the stairs. As Clap reached the bottom of the stairs, he glanced around frantically.

“Solstice’s not back yet?”

His father shook his head.

“No. I do not know where he might be.”

He turned to Glitter and asked, “Did you say that he had ‘something important to do’ today?”

The mother nodded with a puzzled look on her face.

“Yes, he said that, but where is he?” she exclaimed. “I told him specifically that the trial begins at eleven today and he still hasn’t returned, yet!”

“Perhaps, he is meeting us there at City Hall,” the father pointed out. “If that is the case, then there is no reason for us to be concerned.”

At this, Glitter sighed.

“You’re right, Dear. He has always been a bit late to things. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if he showed up fifteen minutes late to the trial.”

Golden nodded.

“At any rate, he will be fine—he will show! As for us, we need to hurry! We are scheduled to be there ten minutes before anyway. We cannot delay any longer!”

With one last quick adjustment to his suit, he headed for the door. When he reached it, he turned to the other two and said, “Let us go! I am sure that Solstice will be there when he is finished with his important business…whatever that may be.”

Glitter looked down in hesitation. Then, she looked at her husband’s eyes and she nodded.

“You’re right.”

She walked towards the door and then turned to Clap, who was looking up the stairs at the rooms on the second level of the mansion.

“Come along, Clap,” she said to him in a gentle voice. “I’m sure that Solstice will meet us there later.”

Clap turned and, with a low and melancholic “yeah,” followed his parents out the door.

Chapter 5: The Baltimare Trial Part 1

The courtroom within Baltimare’s City Hall was designed like an ordinary, standardized courtroom with two sections: The area where the visiting ponies sat (the Gallery) and the area where the actual trial was held (the Well). These two sections were separated by a wooden railing, about a foot in height, called the Bar. In the area where the Gallery, there was also a balcony above shaped like a U that allowed more visitors to sit and watch the proceedings below. In the Well, there was the Bench (or where the judge typically sat) about five feet in height and two tables for the Prosecution and the Defense, each containing two chairs for both the attorney and their respective clients to sit in. All of the tables, chairs, the Bar, etc. were made out of the finest mahogany wood, complete with a reddish-brown finish. Above the Well was a glass-domed roof that allowed sunlight to illuminate the entire courtroom in its splendid glow.

The noise of ponies conversing in the spacious courtroom quieted as a series of loud tapping sounded from the Bench, where a burly-looking dark gray Earth pony with a white wig on his bloated head stood with his gavel in his black-tipped hoof.

“Order!” he bellowed, “Order in the court!”

When the courtroom had completely quieted, the white-wigged pony sat and announced in a loud, sophisticated voice, “This court is now in session—I, Mayor Bottomhoof, presiding!”

With another tap of his gavel, he took a white handkerchief from inside his long black robe and lightly wiped it across his glistened face.

“Are the Prosecution and the Defense ready?”

A Crayola-blue unicorn with midnight-blue hair and wearing a suit very similar to Fancy Pants’ stood and declared in an authoritative-sounding voice, “The Prosecution is ready, Your Honor!”

Likewise, a dark tan Earth pony with dark green hair and wearing a dark gray suit stood and declared with a younger but determined-sounding voice, “The Defense is also ready, Your Honor!”

The mayor smiled and nodded, his double-chin jiggling as he did so.

“Very good!” he exclaimed, tapping his gavel a few times to call the trail to order. “Mr. Night Light, you may begin your opening statement first!”

Night Light, the prosecuting attorney, made his way into the Well and turned to face the ponies before him.

“Honorable Mayor and members of the Baltimare community,” he began, “we are here today to see that justice is rightfully upheld. Today, we are here for the trial of Mr. Golden Rocket, a respected and even feared businesspony of this city. We, the Prosecution, will prove once and for all that this pony (he pointed to Golden Rocket sitting at the Defense’s table) was not only the mastermind of an infamous scandal that occurred five years ago in Canterlot, but that he was the only pony responsible for the crime! We will prove once and for all that this same Golden Rocket scammed my client, Mr. Fancy Pants (he pointed to Fancy Pants sitting at the Prosecution’s table), a quarter of a million bits from his company and then pinned the blame on two of the wealthiest and most prestigious ponies in Canterlot, Filthy Rich and Jet Set. Whatever the outcome of this trial, may justice be rightly served this day.”

With that, he adjusted his dark-colored suitcoat and came and sat down in the chair next to Fancy Pants at the Prosecution’s table. Afterwards, the defense attorney stood and made his way before the Bench. Turning to the ponies before him, he cleared his throat and began his opening statement in a young yet dignified voice.

“Honorable Mayor and fellow citizens of Baltimare, the Prosecution has made bold accusations today. But I assure you, fellow mares and gentlecolts, that my client, Mr. Golden Rocket, is innocent of any crime that the Prosecution claims that he has committed! We, the Defense, will prove once and for all that the Prosecution’s accusations are unfounded and that Mr. Golden Rocket is indeed innocent! As the Prosecution has stated, may the truth come to light during this trial.”

With that, he again took his place in the chair next to Golden Rocket at the Defense’s table. Afterwards, the mayor gave a few distinct taps with his gavel and declared in a solemn voice, “Let the trial between Mr. Fancy Pants of Canterlot and Mr. Golden Rocket of Baltimare now commence!”

He turned towards the prosecuting attorney and added, ““You may call for your first witness, Mr. Night Light.”

The blue unicorn stood and declared, “I call my client, Mr. Fancy Pants, to the stand.”

In response, Fancy Pants stood and made his way to the witness stand next to the Bench and sat down in the chair provided. As he did so, the prosecuting attorney took his place before the witness stand facing Fancy Pants.

“Mr. Fancy Pants,” he inquired, “you are the pony who is responsible for these proceedings, is that correct?”

“That is correct,” the sophisticated unicorn with the monocle replied in his proper English accent.

“And why have you done so?” the attorney further inquired.

“Because the Defendant, Mr. Golden Rocket, stole a quarter of a million bits from my company and then pinned the blame onto two of my colleagues, Filthy Rich and Jet Set. I am here to make absolutely certain that justice is correctly served.”

“As do we all,” Night Light concurred with a nod. Then, he commented, “I gather that this is not your first time petitioning for the Defendant, Mr. Golden Rocket, to be tried in this court, is that correct?”

Again, Fancy Pants nodded, this time with a sigh.

“That is right.”

“Yet, you seem to have high-hopes for this trial. Tell us, what makes this attempt different than the others?”

“Because new evidence has recently come to my attention and I wish to have it presented to the court today,” the white unicorn with light blue hair replied.

As he did so, he used magic from his horn to produce a document from his inside coat pocket. The document looked like a letter, formulated in a formal, business-like fashion. The businesspony handed the letter to the navy-blue unicorn, who held it in the air in front of him using magic from his own horn.

“Your Honor,” the attorney declared, hovering the letter before the mayor sitting at the Bench, “I present this letter to the court.”

The mayor took it and examined it closely using his small, oval-shaped spectacles.

“Why,” he exclaimed, “this appears to be the same letter that Filthy Rich had sent to Fancy Pants the day before the crime was discovered!”

The dark tan defense attorney stood and stomped a hoof onto the table.

“Oh, objection!” he exclaimed with a groan as he pointed at the prosecution attorney with his hoof. “Your Honor, the Prosecution is merely staling! This letter that they have presented as ‘new evidence’ is, in fact, the same letter that was used to convict Filthy Rich and Jet Set five years ago! The Prosecution is purposely going around in circles! As far as the Defense is concerned, there is no point in this entire trial if this be the only evidence that they bring to this courtroom!”

Night Light turned and looked at the defense attorney directly.

“On the contrary, my friend,” he countered with poise, “this document was not the evidence that my client was referring to. As a matter of fact, my client merely brought this letter with him today to illustrate a point.”

He turned his attention to the white unicorn sitting at the witness stand.

“Mr. Fancy Pants,” he inquired further, “you recall that Mr. Filthy Rich was convicted for scamming you of over a quarter of a million bits, is that correct?”

Fancy Pants nodded in response.

“That is correct, Mr. Night Light,” he replied. “Filthy Rich was ordered to pay back all of the bits that he had taken from me. He promised the court that he would do so and the authorities even reported to me shortly after the trial that he did just that.”

“Then, why are you here today?”

Fancy Pants used his magic to adjust his monocle and replied, “Because those bits are still unaccounted for…meaning that somepony somehow must have claimed them for his own.”

He turned to Golden Rocket and pointed at him, saying, “And I have reason to believe that it was none other than Mr. Golden Rocket himself!”

There were sounds of surprise among the pony spectators. The defense attorney, meanwhile, let out a long, irritated sigh and shook his head as he rose from his chair.

“Objection, Your Honor!” he breathed out. “Mr. Fancy Pants has no proof that it was indeed my client who had claimed those bits!”

At this, Night Light turned slightly.

“I was just about to get to that, actually,” he said coolly. “Please, be patient.”

With a frustrated growl, the defense attorney sat back down.

“The Defense…withdraws the objection…for now.”

With a satisfied smile, the Crayola-blue unicorn turned again to Fancy Pants.

“When did you first discover that your stolen bits were still unaccounted for?” he asked.

Fancy Pants put a hoof to his chin in thought.

“I remember that it was about a year after the Canterlot incident—four years ago, to be exact.”

“And where did you find this?”

“On one of the finance reports for my company dated five years ago...the ‘new’ evidence that I had recently discovered.”

The dark tan pony stood and pounded his hoof onto the Defense’s table.

“Objection, Your Honor! Where is this so-called ‘evidence’ that he claims to have in his possession?”

Before the mayor could respond, the Night Light let out a frustrated sigh and looked directly at the dark tan stallion.

“As I had just said merely moments ago…” he exclaimed, his eyes widened with growing irritation, “I was just getting to that! In fact, I have the evidence right here…!”

With that, he went to his black-colored briefcase at the Prosecution’s table and used his magic to produce a document from inside it.

“I present this copy of the finance report of Fancy Pants’ company’s assets to the court,” he declared, handing the document over to the mayor for examination. “It states, based on the total at the bottom, that two hundred fifty thousand bits were still unaccounted for after the Canterlot incident five years ago. It also states that those missing bits were secretly transferred to some unknown account. ”

The mayor looked at it through his round spectacles and nodded.

“I must say…this document indeed looks genuine,” he declared, gesturing to the document with his hoof. “I’d say that this case is officially closed!”

He was about to pick up his gavel to pronounce sentence when the defense attorney stood and interjected with another loud “objection!”

The mayor stopped mid-way and looked at the lawyer. This time, he looked rather annoyed.

“Confound it, Mr. Defense!” he breathed out, taking his spectacles off with his other hoof. “What is it now?”

The defense attorney stopped, rolled his eyes and, then, petitioned, “With your permission, Your Honor, I would like to cross-examine the witness.”

The mayor paused with a surprised expression on his face, as if he had been expecting Mr. Defense to say something other than what he had requested.

“Oh.”

Then, he nodded as he lowered his gavel and said, “Very well. You may cross-examine the witness.”

With that, Defense traded places with Night Light and approached the witness stand.

“Mr. Fancy Pants,” he began, looking at the unicorn directly in the eyes, “I am curious. Who was it that made this discovery?”

Fancy Pants swallowed.

“My secet'ry at the time, Ms. Fleur de Lis.”

Defense’s eyebrows rose.

“Oh, Ms. Fleur de Lis, was it?”

He paced as his expression turned into one of serious thought.

“Interesting…how interesting….”

Fancy Pants’ head and eyebrow cocked as he looked at the attorney with a curious expression.

“I beg your pardon, Sir?”

“Nothing…except something strikes me as odd about that statement,” the dark tan pony replied. “You say that this Ms. Fleur de Lis was the pony who discovered this evidence of yours, do you not?”

Fancy Pants nodded, puzzled.

“Yes, that is true.”

“And can you vouch for this mare’s credibility as an upstanding, prestigious pony from Canterlot?”

“Absolutely, Sir!”

“Yet, this mare that you claim had presented this evidence to you is not who you claim she is.”

Fancy Pants’ eyes narrowed.

“Just what do you mean by that, Sir?”

“I mean…” the attorney stated as he glared at the businesspony, “that I did some research of my own regarding this Ms. Fleur de Lis due to another case of mine a year ago involving a local baker in Manehatten. And do you know what I found?”

There was only silence from Fancy Pants as he stared back at the attorney with narrowed eyes.

“It turns out,” the attorney continued, turning and taking a few steps away from the witness stand, “that Ms. Fleur de Lis was not a wealthy unicorn from Canterlot…”

He suddenly spun around and looked at the white unicorn directly in the eyes.

“…but a poor unicorn from Prance!”

The courtroom was again filled with shocked voices from the pony spectators. However, the noise was soon broken by the mayor’s gavel rapping on the Bench.

“Order!” he bellowed. “Order, I say!”

The noise died away and Night Light immediately stood with his hoof raised.

“Objection, Your Honor! What has this got to do with the case at hand?”

“It has very much to do with it, actually,” the other attorney explained, stepping before the mayor. “Your Honor, if I may be allowed to proceed just a little longer, I can finally put an end to this long and tedious case once and for all.”

Despite the obvious look of hesitation on his face, the mayor nodded, allowing the defense attorney to proceed with his questioning. With that, the dark tan pony went to the chair next to Golden Rocket at the Defense’s table, took a document from inside his dark brown briefcase and again approached the mayor with the document in his hoof.

“I have in my hoof a copy of a news article from The Manehatten Times precisely eight years ago,” he declared as he raised the document in the air for all to see.

When he had reached the mayor, he handed the document to him as he added, “I present this as evidence for the court.”

The mayor took it and proceeded to examine it more closely through his small spectacles.

“It describes an incident that occurred six years ago in Manehatten when a mysterious pony broke into a local bakery and stole a loaf of bread stored therein,” the defense attorney further explained, turning to face the ponies seated in the Gallery.

After the mayor had finished examining the document, he nodded to a guard nearby and gave it to him who placed it next to the letter and the financial report that lay on a table nearby with a sign on top, reading, “Evidence Table.”

Mr. Defense then went to his briefcase again and took from it another document.

“And this…” he announced as he approached the mayor with it in his hoof, “is the identity of this ‘mysterious burglar’ from my recent investigation.”

He gave the document to the mayor, who took it and examined it. Suddenly, he straightened as he stared at it in disbelief.

“That is right, Your Honor!” the attorney declared. “The document does not lie; for this ‘mysterious burglar’ was none other than…”

He pointed a hoof at a tall, white unicorn mare with a flowing pink mane seated among the spectators.

“…Ms. Fleur de Lis!”

The other ponies gasped as their gaze turned to the tall white unicorn mare. The mare looked back at them and then at Fancy Pants with a frightened expression on her face.

“Of course…” Mr. Defense continued as his attention refocused on Fancy Pants, “you knew about this beforehand…didn’t you?”

The light blue-haired unicorn stared back at the attorney, his eyes fixed on the attorney for a few moments. Then, his gaze shifted to the side as he remained silent.

“Answer the question, Mr. Fancy Pants,” the defense attorney pressed. “Did you or did you not know about this beforehand?”

Fancy Pants finally sighed.

“Yes, I did.”

“Objection!” the prosecuting attorney interjected as he flew his hooves in the air. “Your, Honor, the Defense is trying to discredit the reputation of the witness!”

The mayor nodded in agreement and turned to the defense attorney before him.

“Objection sustained. Mr. Defense, what is the purpose of this inquiry and of discrediting Mr. Fancy Pants’ reputation like this?”

“I was not trying to discredit Mr. Fancy Pants’ reputation in any way, Your Honor!” Defense explained, turning to the mayor. “I was about to explain how kind-hearted and merciful Mr. Fancy Pants was in helping Ms. Fleur de Lis back on her hooves all of those years ago. Do not misunderstand me, Your Honor—there is no question about Mr. Fancy Pants’ reputation as an upstanding gentlecolt by any means!”

“So, what are you implying, Mr. Defense?” the mayor inquired.

“I will explain this with another question, if I may.”

The mayor gave a wave of his hoof.

“Very well. Proceed.”

“What I am implying is…if Mr. Fancy Pants (he motioned towards the witness) has been so quick to accuse my client (he motioned towards Golden Rocket seated at the Defense table) of scamming his company of over a quarter of a million bits, should he not have also been just as quick to accuse Ms. Fleur de Lis (he motioned towards the white and pink unicorn mare seated among the spectators) of the same crime, since she was his very own secretary at the time?”

With that, he turned once more to the mayor.

“If it pleases the court, I would like to submit a petition to refer Ms. Fleur de Lis from now on as another suspect in this case and to call her to the witness stand for testimony.”

The mayor sighed, took off his small spectacles and rubbed between his eyes.

“I regret to say, Mr. Night Light,” he said, turning to the confounded, dark blue unicorn sitting at the Prosecution’s table, “that Mr. Defense has brought up some very valid points.”

Turning to the guard standing next to the Bench, he declared, “Let it be written in the record that Ms. Fleur de Lis is now considered another suspect in this case.”

He turned again to the Canterlot gentlecolt and asked, “Mr. Fancy Pants, do you have anything further to add before I call Ms. Fleur de Lis to the stand?”

For the first time throughout the court session, Fancy Pants was paralyzed—his head was lowered, his hooves were tightly gripping the rail, his eyes were widened with his monocle freely dangling from his suit pocket and his breathing growing increasingly heavy. There he sat, silent and still.

What shall I do? If I reveal her secret, it will only worsen her fate! But if I remain silent—!

His mind reflected back to the time when he had first met Fleur de Lis those six years ago. He was in Manehatten at the time presenting his latest art piece in an important art convention. When the convention was over and he was packing his things in preparation to return to Canterlot, he heard from a friend of his that the authorities were searching for a supposed ‘burglar’ who broke into the local bakery. Being a pony who cared about equality and justice, he went to the authorities and volunteered his help. After searching for about an hour, he thought that he saw somepony in the alleyway and separated from the others in order to investigate. Upon entering the alleyway, he saw a bedraggled white unicorn mare with a flowing pink mane sitting with her back resting on the dirtied wall and quietly sobbing with her face in her hooves. Based on the crumbs and the tiny shards of glass stuck onto her fur and hooves, he assumed that she was the supposed “burglar” that the authorities were looking for. However, his heart took pity on her pathetic state and he approached her.

“Miss…? Are you all right? Is there anything that I can do for you?”

The mare sniffed and looked up at him.

“No—!” she replied, her voice cracking. “I—I think that I have done a…terrible thing!”

She buried her face into her hooves and began to sob again. Fancy Pants stepped closer, his mind searching for something to say to her.

“Miss...” he finally said. “I already know what you have done. You are the one who broke into the local bakery, aren’t you?”

The mare looked up at him with an expression of terror.

“Oh, please, Sir!” she begged. “I only stole that bread because I was hungry! You have to believe me!”

It was at this moment that Fancy Pants noticed something particularly different about her than the other ponies in Equestria—her accent.

“Your accent…” he observed. “You are not from Equestria, are you.”

The mare shook her head.

“Pray, tell me, where are you from?”

“From Prance, Sir,” was her reply.

Fancy Pants’ eyes widened.

She is an immigrant—from across the sea!

“From across the sea?” he exclaimed. “My! You have traveled far, haven't you! What brings you here?”

The mare looked down.

“I came here to Equestria because I wanted to become a famous fashion designer,” she replied. “But all I have become is a mare moving from job to job just to make a living. That is why I stole that bread. I have no more bits to buy any more food.”

She looked up at him and added, “What else was I to do, Sir?”

He stepped back. She presented a good point. She only stole because she had no other choice, except to starve. However, he couldn’t just overlook this situation. After all, the owner of the bakery was financially hurt in the process.

“It is still not right to steal,” he explained to the mare sitting before him. “You may have done so solely to survive but, in doing so, you have also financially hurt another pony.”

The unicorn mare hung her head in shame.

“However,” he added with a smile, “there is a way to make things right. If you come with me, I shall pay for the damages, help you find a suitable profession and also help you find a place to live.”

He reached out to her with his hoof.

“You will be safe if you come with me and leave all of this behind you. You will start a new life for yourself—a better one. I promise.”

At first, the mare looked up at him with a look of disbelief. Then, she took his hoof and he helped her stand.

“Why…?” she asked as she sniffed and wiped her tears away. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because, Miss,” he simply replied, “I believe that everypony deserves a chance to redeem himself…or herself.”

The mare gave him a hug and, with tears streaming down her face, she exclaimed, “Thank you, Kind Sir! I can never repay you!”

They parted a step backwards and Fancy Pants replied, gesturing with his hoof, “The only payment I ask is that you become the best pony that you can become. And, with my help, I know that you can achieve it.”

He adjusted his monocle and asked, “What is your name, Miss?”

“Fleur de Lis,” she replied with a smile.

He nodded in approval.

“Ms. Fleur de Lis…what a charming name!”

“And…what is your name, Sir?” she asked.

He bowed slightly in a gentlemanly fashion.

“You may call me Fancy Pants.”

“Mr. Fancy Pants,” the mayor’s distant voice repeated, “do you have anything else to add before Ms. Fleur de Lis takes the stand?”

He looked up at the ponies seated in the Gallery and his eyes rested on Ms. Fleur de Lis. He looked at her with eyes of uncertainty and helplessness. If Golden Rocket succeeded, she would be branded as a thief again, this time for a more serious crime. Then, who knows what would happen to her after that.

Fleur de Lis…forgive me. I am truly sorry. I tried…but I cannot help you any longer. This is something far beyond my control now.

“Nothing, Your Honor,” he replied, using his magic to produce a lavender handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiping it under his moist eyes. “I have nothing further to add.”

As he turned to step down from the stand, he sadly added under his breath as a tear escaped from his eye and fell onto the floor, “Nothing whatsoever.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

With a heavy heart, Solstice slowly opened the front door of the mansion and stepped inside. He had spent many hours thinking as he wandered around the city and the countryside surrounding it. He was thinking about his father and what had transpired ever since he had discovered the truth about him. He needed that time to be alone…to clear his head.

His steps echoed throughout the deserted mansion as if he was in a large cathedral. Nothing stirred.

Mom, Dad and Clap must’ve gone to that trial some time ago. I wish I could go, too, but—

He sighed sadly. He felt bad that he wasn’t at the trial with his family, but he also knew that if he did go, he would not be silent—he would jeopardize all that his father had worked so hard to provide for them. It was better if he stayed behind…for his family’s sake.

He slowly climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway to his room. As he walked to his room, he noticed an open comic book lying on his bed with a letter on top of it. Curious, he sat on his bed and looked closely at the letter lying on the comic book. It was addressed to him. He took it, opened it and started to read.

“Hey, Big Bro,” it said. “Dad’s taking us to the trial pretty soon. Don’t have much time. Don’t know where you are right now but I hope you’ll get back soon. I’ve been thinking about what you said last night—about you doing the right thing. I know you don’t read comics that much anymore but I’d like you to read this one. I read it this morning and it reminded me of you. I know you’ll do the right thing, just like Flash Sentry does. You always do! Just believe in yourself and do what your heart tells you, like you’ve always done! Love you, Bro! Clap.”

Solstice placed the letter back on his bed and looked at the comic book opened before him. It was an issue that he had never seen before. He supposed that it must have been one of the newer ones. He scooted closer to it and started to read it.

The comic strip showed Flash Sentry and another stallion that he didn’t recognize standing on a bridge and looking at a beautiful sunset in the distance. The pony next to Flash Sentry turned to him with a look of concern.

“Why did ya do that, Flash?” the bubble above him said. “You could’ve said nothin’ at the trial and nothin’ bad would’ve happened! Now, the whole city hates ya for it! Why, Flash? Why did ya do it?”

Flash Sentry had a sad but thoughtful expression on his face. He didn’t turn to look at the pony next to him.

“Because, Dino,” the bubble over Flash Sentry said, “it was the right thing to do. I couldn’t just let those ponies accuse that poor griffin for something he didn’t do! That wouldn’t be right at all! I was the only one who knew who done it and it wasn’t that griffin!”

The next scene showed a crowded courtroom with a gray lion-headed griffin sitting in a chair with many ponies leaning and snarling angrily from behind him in the Gallery. From the back of the courtroom, Flash Sentry stood with a look of painful reluctance on his face.

“I knew it was really one of the other ponies who really blew up that factory,” the cream-colored textbox said on the top of the scene, “but I was too scared to say anythin’ about it, at first. If I spoke up, I knew I’d be in big trouble.”

The scene changed to a profile of the actual criminal pony, a prestigious-looking, light blue Earth stallion with a sly look on his face. He was surrounded by other prestigious-looking ponies (no doubt the stallion’s “friends”), all of them with equally sly expressions on their faces.

“Ya know about ‘Sly Fox’ Diamond, right?” the textbox along the top stated. “Well, he was the real criminal! But there was one problem—he had many friends, and if I said anythin’ that clued anypony in that he was the actual criminal, they would turn the whole city on me in an instant. So, I tried stayin’ out of the trial as best I could.”

Next, the scene changed to Flash Sentry bursting through the courtroom doors with a face filled with fiery determination.

“But then,” the textbox above said, “I remembered somethin’ very important—somethin’ that I had forgotten.”

The next scene showed Flash Sentry on the bridge again from the side as the bubble above him said, “Ya see, Dino…a hero isn’t somepony who wears flashy clothes or fights evil-doers. A hero is a pony who does the right thing, despite of what happens. That’s what really counts in the end.”

Solstice sniffed as tears formed in his eyes.

But Clap…I’m no hero! I’m not Flash Sentry! I’m Solstice Rocket…a clumsy, ordinary pony who’s plain scared of doing what he knows is the right thing! What kind of a hero is that?

At that moment, he felt something hard brush against his hoof. He looked down and was shocked to see the Flash Sentry necklace that he had given Clap lying next to his hoof. It must have been hidden underneath the comic book.

Clap’s necklace! Why would he leave it behind? I—I don’t understand….

He picked up the necklace in his hoof and looked at it.

I wonder why he’d just leave it behind. Strange…he seemed very excited to get it—

Suddenly, a thought came into his mind that made him stop in his tracks.

Maybe…he left it for me. Maybe…he wanted to tell me something.

He swallowed as a realization hit him like a train.

I may be just a “clumsy, ordinary pony” in my eyes…but, to him, I’m so much more than that.

He stared at the Flash Sentry necklace in his hoof. Clap had always looked up to him like a role-model. He could see that in his eyes every time he looked at him. To him, it was his big brother who inspired him to believe in himself ever since he had made his first homerun in the baseball game that helped him earn his Cutie Mark. To him, it was his big brother who told him to pursue his dreams. And, above all, it was his big brother who showed, through example, how to always do the right thing, no matter what.

Solstice tried in vain to sniff his tears away. It was as if Clap himself was saying to him, “I look up to you just like Flash Sentry. I know you don’t think you’re a hero, but I know you can do it! You always have!”

He clenched his hoof tightly around the necklace.

“I feel so stupid!” he breathed out. “I’ve always done the right thing! Clap knows it! I know it! And I’ve not been doing that lately!”

He looked up, his eyes filled with renewed determination.

“Clap, I won’t let you down…not this time! I know exactly what I need to do now!”

He put the Flash Sentry necklace around his neck and galloped out of the room and down the stairs. He charged out of the mansion and looked out at the city of Baltimare before him.

“One thing’s for sure…” he declared, his blue eyes flashing as he crouched in preparation for flight. “I hope that trial’s still going on…‘cause I’m gonna crash it!”

With that, he launched himself into the air with all his might and rocketed towards City Hall as fast as his wings could carry him.

Chapter 6: The Baltimare Trial Part 2

“Ms. Fleur de Lis,” Mr. Defense inquired the white and pink mare sitting at the witness stand, “you are from Prance, is that correct?”

At first, the mare was hesitant. She looked towards Fancy Pants for some support and, in response, he smiled and nodded at her reassuringly.

“Yes, Sir,” she replied to the defense attorney with a nod.

“And your family. Could you tell the court a little about that?”

Fleur de Lis shifted in her seat.

“My family has lived in Prance for many generations. However, it is true that we have never been wealthy.”

“So, you and your family were relatively poor farmers throughout your childhood, is that correct?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And yet, as I understand it, you have become quite wealthy…seemingly overnight, in fact. May I ask how this came about?”

Fleur de Lis looked at the attorney with a puzzled expression.

“I became famous through fashion designing and being a model for Mr. Fancy Pants’ company. Surely, you have known this from your supposed 'research' about me.”

As she said this, she nodded towards Fancy Pants’ direction. Mr. Defense nodded in agreement.

“Ah, yes. There is no denying that working for Mr. Fancy Pants indeed contributed to your wealth and status in Canterlot,” he remarked. “However…I wonder if there was yet another factor that also contributed—something that you are not telling us.”

The mare looked back at him, confused.

“I beg your pardon—?”

The attorney went to his briefcase at the Defense’s table and took from it another document.

“I have here a portion of your financial records from five years ago, Ms. Fleur de Lis.”

He returned to the witness stand and glared directly into Fleur de Lis’ lavender eyes.

“Guess what we found in one of your little transactions….”

He looked at the document and began to read aloud a summary of its contents.

“One hundred and fifty bits for clothing from Mink’s Antique Wears, fifty bits at the Canterlot Café, one hundred and twenty-five bits at Sally Shores, one hundred bits for—”

He stopped reading mid-way and retorted as he promptly lowered the document, “You clearly get the picture.”

After a moment’s pause, he asked, “May I inquire as to your unusual spending habits around the time that this financial record was made?”

Fleur de Lis almost stood, her face red with rage.

“Unusual spending?! Sir, I am a famous designer and a model for fashion in Canterlot! Of course I would usually spend bits like that! It is not unusual when other ponies in Canterlot do so! So, why is it suddenly an issue with me?”

Mr. Defense seemed unfazed by her exclamation.

“Of course, you are quite right. It could be just a coincidence…”

He suddenly spun around and stared at her with eyes like a hawk’s.

“…or could it be that you had acquired an unusual sum of bits five years ago?”

At this, Fleur de Lis straightened.

“What?! I would never—!”

The defense attorney maintained his serious demeanor.

“Ms. Fleur de Lis, may I remind you that you promised to be honest and forthright with this court!”

The mare gradually calmed herself and sat back in her chair, her head raised high with dignity.

“I have not forgotten, Sir. And I shall tell you again, I have done nothing wrong.”

“And yet, I remain unconvinced,” the dark tan pony retorted. “There is one thing, in particular, that remains unclear.”

Fleur de Lis’ eyes looked upon the defense attorney.

“Whatever do you mean, Sir?”

“I mean, you may be right about your spending habits being connected with your high status in Canterlot. But…it is most interesting that your financial records dated before and after five years ago indicate that you were actually a careful spender. Yet, your financial records five years ago indicate otherwise.”

He looked at her challengingly and inquired, “So, I must ask you, Ms. Fleur de Lis…why is this the case?”

The mare made no response. Instead, she only looked away.

“Very well, Ms. Fleur de Lis of Canterlot,” he declared. “Then, I shall tell you why. It is because you stole those two hundred fifty thousand bits from your employer and used it to buy expensive things to impress your family and friends back at home. You did all of this as a statement to the ponies you knew back in Prance—the ones who doubted your success as a fashion designer in Equestria—to show them just how wrong they were about you.”

Meanwhile, Night Light at the Prosecution’s table looked as if he was about to stand and make an objection. However, before he could do so, Fleur de Lis looked back at Defense with pleading eyes and exclaimed, “No! I did not steal anything! You have to believe me!”

The defense attorney shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Fleur de Lis, but statements are not good enough to sway this court. Facts are! And from where I’m standing, all of the facts seem to be pointing directly at you.”

As he turned to trot away, he stopped and added, “Unless, you can prove your innocence…?”

The unicorn mare struggled to come up with an answer, but sighed instead and said in replied, “No…I cannot.”

The attorney nodded satisfactorily.

“That’s what I thought.”

At that moment, Night Light stood and pounded his hoof on the table as he exclaimed clearly and powerfully, “Objection, Your Honor! The Defense is—!”

At that point, the defense attorney cut him off by exclaiming as he waved his hoof and stomped away, “Ah, nevermind! I have no further questions for the witness, anyway!”

As he was about to trot away, Fleur de Lis called out to him from the stand, “Wait! May I just say one more thing, first? Please!”

The defense attorney turned and looked back at her for a few moments. Then, he nodded, signifying that she was given permission to continue.

“I—I know I cannot prove my innocence…but I would like to, at least, explain why I spent those bits. I—I didn’t want to reveal this because of my past but now…it seems that that doesn’t matter anymore.”

Her chin quivered as her starry, lavender eyes became moist with her tears.

“Five years ago, somepony discovered what I did in Manehatten and threatened to reveal it to the authorities unless I paid him a certain sum of bits in increments each week in order for him to keep quiet. At that time, I was a careful spender, as you clearly observed in my financial records dated before and after that time. I did not know what to do. I did not have that kind of wealth at that time. So, I turned to Mr. Fancy Pants for help because I could think of no pony else that I could trust. He gave me the bits that I needed each week and told me to pay that pony the bits that he demanded. He then told me to disguise the entries in my financial records so that no pony else would become suspicious. After I had sufficiently paid all of the bits that the pony required of me that year, I never heard or saw him ever again since.”

She brushed her light pink hair and looked up at Golden Rocket seated at the Defense’s table.

“Is this what you wanted, Mr. Golden Rocket?” she exclaimed. “Is this what you wanted to see—two unicorns from Canterlot standing humiliated before you? If so, I do hope you’re satisfied! Not only have you crushed all our hopes in proving your guilt, but you have also exposed our greatest secret for all in this courtroom to hear!”

She shook her head with hurtful disbelief and tears in her eyes.

“Why? Why are you doing this? All that Fancy Pants wants is for justice to be done! But…there’s something else that you’re probably too stubborn to see! All this time, he has wanted you…to remember!”

The mayor was about to rap his gavel on the Bench to silence her but Golden Rocket raised a hoof towards him, signifying that she was to be allowed to continue. Afterwards, he looked back at the mare with a puzzled expression.

“Whatever do you mean by that, Ms. Fleur de Lis?”

“When you and Fancy Pants were young,” she explained, “you both were like brothers! But then, this…cursed incident five years ago happened and you both somehow became bitter enemies. He has since been filled with regret about what had happened between you. He wants you to remember the time before all of this—the time when you both were friends! Do you not remember, Sir?”

There was a period of silence in the courtroom as all eyes turned to Golden Rocket, awaiting his response. To the surprise of all who saw, the golden pony’s expression was grave and…sad. He sat and swallowed with his eyes lowered in thought. Clap, who was sitting on the balcony with his mother, was also surprised by the scene. His father looked so quiet and melancholy at that moment. Rarely had he ever seen him like this since the Rocket family had become wealthy three years ago. What could have caused this? What was Ms. Fleur de Lis talking about? What exactly was going on between his father and Fancy Pants to make him so sad? The entire situation didn’t make much sense to him.

"Yes," the golden pony finally said in a thoughtful tone, "I remember.”

“Then, you know what you must do, Mr. Golden Rocket” the Canterlot mare said to him.

Golden was silent.

“Please, Sir…!” she pled, her eyes reaching out to the golden stallion. “Only you can undo this hurt that has been done…to all of us!”

In that instant, Golden’s head rose as he looked at Fleur de Lis with a surprised and narrowed expression.

“Only I can make everything right again?” he chuckled sarcastically. “Forgive me, Ms. Fleur de Lis, but it seems that you are implying that I am responsible for these events! From where I am sitting, I would have to conclude that it is you who can make everything right again, not I!”

The pink-haired mare immediately stood and exclaimed, “You know that that’s not true!”

The mayor’s gavel slammed onto the Bench multiple times.

“Order!” the mayor bellowed. “Order, I say! I shall have order in this court! Ms. Fleur de Lis, you will sit back down this instant!”

With a heavy sigh, she sat back in her chair and remained silent. Mayor Bottomhoof then turned his attention to Golden Rocket.

“Mr. Golden Rocket,” he said with a hint of irritation, “will that be all?”

The golden pony nodded and replied as he adjusted his glasses, “Yes, that will be all, Your Honor.”

“Good!” the mayor snorted.

He turned to the defense attorney and said in a calmer tone, “And now, back to the trial at hand. Mr. Defense, it would appear that Ms. Fleur de Lis' story may be credible after all, even without adequate proof on her part.”

The defense attorney raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean by that, Your Honor?”

The mayor held out the two documents (the news article and the investigation report) in his hoof and looked at them through his small spectacles.

“Well,” he explained, “according to Ms. Fleur de Lis’ testimony, she was threatened by a certain pony to give her the bits. Therefore, it is possible that the stolen bits were given to this unknown pony who, then, disappeared with them. Would you say so, Mr. Defense?”

The dark tan pony thought for a moment.

“Well…” he finally replied, rather hesitantly, “I cannot deny that that is…plausible.”

He shook his head and added in a huff, “But—but that does not explain why she or Mr. Fancy Pants could not have revealed this to us sooner!”

Fancy Pants stood and used his magic to set his monocle in his eye.

“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Your Honor,” he said, “but is it not obvious? Ms. Fleur de Lis and I could not have done so because it would have also revealed her well-kept secret about her past. We wanted to forget about that and move forward with her new life. But now…”

He sighed sadly as he looked down.

“…it seems that that is no longer possible.”

With that, he sat back down.

“Regardless,” Defense pointed out, turning to the mayor, “neither Ms. Fleur de Lis nor Mr. Fancy Pants has any evidence that can prove this claim. All we have are their words. And even if their words proved to be true, there is still insufficient evidence that my client had anything to do with these events.”

He approached the Bench and added, “Your Honor, as I see it, all evidence at this present time seem to point solely to Ms. Fleur de Lis as the potential culprit and, therefore, to my client’s innocence in this case.”

The mayor’s head lowered, a solemn look spread across his face. After a moment’s pause, he finally lifted his head to the defense attorney’s awaiting gaze.

“Very well. Do you have any further questions for the witness, Mr. Defense?” he asked after he had cleared his throat.

Defense looked at the Canterlot pony and then back at the mayor.

“I have no further questions, Your Honor,” was his reply as he turned and walked to the Defense’s table.

The mayor gave the documents in his hoof to a security pony nearby and turned his gaze towards the Prosecution’s table.

“Mr. Night Light,” he inquired, “do you have any questions for the witness?”

There was a period of time in which there was no response from the blue unicorn. He had risen from his chair and wore a sad expression on his face as he quietly said something to Fancy Pants who was seated next to him. From where Clap was sitting, it appeared as if Night Light was saying, “I am sorry, Fancy Pants. I have done all that I could do but I cannot save Fleur de Lis without sufficient evidence. I am very sorry.”

Afterwards, Fancy Pants nodded and sighed sadly as he appeared to reply, “Thank you, Night Light…for everything.”

Clap’s heart began to break inside of him. He didn’t like what he was seeing. He felt like going down there and putting a stop to it. But he knew that there was nothing that he could do at this point. The trial was nearly over and it was becoming increasingly clear who would become the victim of this ordeal in the end.

“Mr. Night Light,” the mayor repeated, “do you wish to question the witness before she is dismissed from the stand?”

After finishing his conversation with Fancy Pants, the attorney turned to the mayor and replied, “I have…no questions to ask, Your Honor.”

He sat back down and the mayor nodded to the security pony standing nearby. The pony, in turn, walked to the witness stand and escorted Fleur de Lis to the area next to the Evidence table, where he stood guard next to her throughout the rest of the trial.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Based on the evidence hereby presented,” the mayor declared, “I am ready to make my declaration and my verdict. This has become a long and rather notorious case—a case so complex that even I do not have a solid conclusion, as yet. However, what has been found is that there is insufficient evidence to claim that the Defendant, Mr. Golden Rocket, was indeed responsible for the theft of a quarter of a million bits from Mr. Fancy Pants’ company. In fact, it would appear that all of the evidence that has been presented today point to Mr. Fancy Pants’ confidant, Ms. Fleur de Lis, as the pony truly responsible for the crime. Unfortunately, the evidence that we have does not provide a concrete conclusion regarding this claim. In the end, further investigation is required.”

Fancy Pants shook his head in distress and Fleur de Lis became increasingly nervous as she stood next to the burly guard and swallowed hard.

“This court hereby releases Mr. Golden Rocket from all charges and accusations in connection with this case, forthwith. This court also hereby confines Ms. Fleur de Lis for further questioning regarding her connection and her involvement in this case.”

The mayor picked up his gavel.

“Thus, I declare this case closed until further investigation is finalized!”

He was about to give a sound tap with his gavel onto the Bench to signify an end of the trial when there was suddenly a loud smack coming from the roof above them. In response, all of the ponies in the courtroom immediately looked up and were caught off-guard to see an orange-yellow pegasus stallion practically plastered onto the window pane of the glass-domed roof. He must have flown so fast that he couldn’t slow down enough in time before hitting the glass-domed roof in the process.

When Clap recognized who the pegasus was, his mouth dropped as he rolled his eyes and buried his face into his hoof.

Seriously, Bro? Again?! Stallions, you must be the clumsiest pony I’ve ever met! Well, at least you’ve gotten here just in time….

“What…the…hay…!” the mayor breathed out as he lowered his spectacles to make sure that he wasn’t just seeing things.

The wide-eyed pegasus plastered onto the roof was trying to say something but, because his lips were stuck onto the glass, all that the ponies below could hear was a loud mumbling sound. Then, with a prolonged squeaking sound, he slowly slid off the roof and out of sight.

The mayor leaned towards one of the guard ponies standing nearby and said, “Could you go and see who that pony was and if he’s all right?”

The guard ponies nodded and made their way through the aisles of ponies sitting in the Gallery and out the courtroom doors. About a few minutes later, the security guards returned with the orange-yellow pegasus stallion following close behind. Though he had recently crashed onto the City Hall roof, he didn’t appear to be injured, except for maybe his pride.

“Young stallion,” the mayor inquired with an expression of confusion on his face, “I demand to know exactly who you are and what made you disrupt this court by impacting on the City Hall roof!”

The young stallion breathed heavily, a bit weary of the speedy flight that he had recently undertaken.

“So sorry, Your Honor,” the pegasus explained, looking around the room with a look of embarrassment written on his face. “I’m Solstice…Solstice Rocket.”

The mayor straightened in response.

“Solstice Rocket?”

His eyes widened in recognition.

“Ah, yes! You must be Mr. Golden Rocket’s son!”

He sat back in his chair.

“Well, you are a little late, Mr. Solstice Rocket,” he said with a bright smile. “I was just about to end this trial. I have good news for you, though. All charges and accusations against your father have been dropped! You and your family are free to go!”

To his surprise, there was a look of hesitation on Solstice’s face as silence followed for several moments.

“Actually, Your Honor…” he finally replied, “I didn’t come here to watch. I came here…as a witness.”

The courtroom was instantly filled with shocked gasps from the other ponies in the Gallery.

“You—you’re here as a witness?” the mayor exclaimed in surprise. “Well! I did not see this one coming!”

Apparently, neither did Golden Rocket; for he was now standing and staring directly at his son with an expression of horror on his face. He knew exactly what his son was about to do.

As Solstice crossed the rows of ponies and passed the Bar and into the Well, Golden came and stood in his path between him and the witness stand. Just as he reached his father, the golden pony earnestly looked into his son’s eyes.

“Solstice…!” was all he said. Solstice got the message—one last plea not to go through with this.

Solstice swallowed as he hung his head in remorse.

“I’m sorry, Dad…” he replied, his voice choking, “but I can’t stay silent any longer. I have to do this!”

He didn’t want to disobey, let alone testify against his father like this. However, he felt that it was equally wrong (if not more wrong) to let other innocent ponies get hurt or convicted for his father’s past mistake. He would not stand for that!

As Solstice took his place at the witness stand, Night Light approached him.

“Mr. Solstice Rocket,” he began, “you have obviously exhausted much of your energies to get here, so I shall get right to the point.”

The young stallion nodded in appreciation.

“You said that you have come here as a witness,” the attorney continued. “Could you please present your testimony to the court?”

Solstice again nodded.

“Yes, of course, Sir,” he replied.

He took a deep breath and began.

“I was out doing errands yesterday at the marketplace downtown when I bumped into a good friend of the family. He had stopped working at the mansion that morning, so I asked him why. At first, he didn’t want to talk about it, but after I persisted, he finally told me. He said he had stopped working at the mansion because he had been keeping a secret about my dad for a long time. He was planning to quit and, then, write a letter to the whole family, revealing his secret. His secret was that my dad had repeatedly asked Mr. Fancy Pants and his other friends to help save my dad’s business, but they said ‘no’. After that, my dad felt that he had no other choice but to take the bits that he needed from Mr. Fancy Pants’ company so that we as a family could survive. That’s all he said to me.”

There was a moment’s silence. Then, Mayor Bottomhoof exhaled.

“Well…that was surprisingly elaborate,” he commented. “However, I would have to ask as to why this pony that you had spoken with did not come and testify about this himself.”

“He said he couldn’t make it today to testify himself because he would be out of town,” was the pegasus’ reply. “So, he asked me to testify in his place.”

“Yet, why did you not come and testify about this sooner?” Night Light further inquired.

Solstice hung his head.

“I—I didn’t want to testify against my dad…since he’s done so much for me, for my brother and for my mom. I didn’t want to believe it, so I tried to ignore it and run away. But then, I remembered something important…”

He looked up at his brother and his mother sitting at the balcony above.

“…that doing the right thing sometimes isn’t as easy as it sounds—but, in the end, it’s worth to just do it anyway.”

He gripped the Flash Sentry necklace around his neck as he nodded towards Clap seated on the balcony and Clap grinned back with pride. Night Light looked at the stallion pegasus with an impressed look on his face.

“Well said, young stallion!” he declared with a bright smile.

Just then, Mr. Defense stood.

“Objection, Your Honor!” he exclaimed, pointing his hoof at Solstice. “This stallion has no proof of this so-called ‘story’ other than the word of another pony who happened to work for Mr. Golden Rocket and was a supposed ‘friend’ of the family! For all we know, this other pony could be conspiring against my client and has sent this naïve stallion to speak in his place!”

The mayor took his spectacles off and rubbed the area between his eyes.

“I’m afraid that the Defense may be right about this one,” he said as he turned to the young stallion seated at the witness stand. “Young Stallion, though I would incline to believe your story, your word alone does not hold enough weight in this courtroom. I’m afraid to say that unless you have sufficient and liable evidence that supports your story, I will have to dismiss your testimony.”

Solstice straightened as his wings unfurled.

“But—but I do have evidence, Your Honor!” he exclaimed.

He reached into his saddlebag and took from it Golden Rocket’s financial report that Mr. Spot On had given him. He raised it in the air and declared, “Here is the evidence!”

Golden’s eyes widened and the defense attorney’s jaw dropped.

“May I see it, Mr. Solstice?” Night Light asked, extending his hoof towards the orange-yellow pegasus.

Solstice nodded in agreement and gave him the document. Night Light held the document out in front of him using his magic and examined it. Afterwards, his eyes widened.

“Your Honor…” he announced, turning to the mayor, “I believe that this will resolve this case once and for all!”

Intrigued, the mayor quickly put his spectacles back on, leaned towards the prosecuting attorney and took the document. After carefully examining it, his eyes also widened and he looked up.

“I say…!” he declared. “This document certainly helps explain many things…including…”

His eyes narrowed as he turned to Golden Rocket.

“…who bribed Ms. Fleur de Lis in the first place!”

The ponies in the room gasped and muttered among themselves as Golden Rocket swallowed and gritted his teeth. Glitter Rocket put her hooves to her mouth in astonishment and Clap leaned over the balcony rail in disbelief. He had his suspicions about his father but he wasn’t expecting them to actually turn out to be true!

As he saw his father’s reaction, Solstice swallowed as he hung his head. Did he truly do the right thing?

Just then, he felt a strange sensation come over him, as if his body was being filled with light. When he looked down, he stiffened in shock as he noticed that his Flash Sentry necklace had suddenly disappeared.

H-hey—! W-where’s my necklace—?

He looked around frantically, hoping that it had somehow loosened from his neck and had dropped onto the floor somewhere around him. When he couldn’t see it, his heart began to quicken.

Where in Equestria did it go?

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glow and turned towards it. His eyes widened as he saw that the side of his flank was glowing. When the glow faded, an image of a blue shield with a bright yellow lightning bolt on the front remained.

Flash Sentry’s Cutie Mark—! It’s—it’s my Cutie Mark!

He smiled as he remembered his brother saying to him a few days before, “Don’t worry, Bro! You’ll get one soon! And when you get it, it’ll be the best! Trust me!”

“Well…” he breathed almost in a whisper, “whatdeya know. You were right all along, Clap.”

“It would appear that everything has now become clear!” the mayor declared. “I shall hereby change my verdict!”

Just as he was about to pick up his gavel, Mr. Defense’s voice exclaimed with a loud, “objection!”

At this, the mayor let out a long sigh and put a hoof onto his face as he shook his head.

“Mr. Defense…” he breathed out in irritation, “this had better be for a good reason that you have interrupted me like this; for if it is not, I shall personally—!”

“My apologies, Your Honor,” Mr. Defense’s voice quickly said, “but may I be allowed to cross-examine the witness before you change your verdict?”

The mayor stopped.

“Oh. Well—why, yes! Of course, you may, Mr. Defense! Proceed!”

The defense attorney traded places with Night Light and began his inquiry.

“Mr. Solstice Rocket, where exactly did you find this…document?”

“A very close friend of the family gave it to me as evidence for his testimony,” came the reply from the young stallion. “I’d rather not say his name, if that’s all right?”

Mr. Defense rolled his eyes and let out a sigh.

“I guess that’s all right for now. So, where exactly did he find it?”

“He said he found it among my dad’s business’s financial records.”

The dark tan pony nodded.

“So, tell me, young stallion…why should we take this pony’s word for it when he could very well have fabricated this story in order to convict my client through you?”

Solstice immediately stood.

“He wouldn’t do that, Sir!” he exclaimed. “I mean, why would he do that, anyway? He’s been practically a part of the family for many years! He just wouldn’t do that!”

Defense’s expression showed little signs of acceptance of the young stallion’s explanation, but he nodded anyway.

“All right. Though I would have to disagree with you on that point, I am willing to believe that what you say is, indeed, the case. After all, he did take the time to provide evidence to reinforce the credibility of his testimony. So, let us just suppose for a moment that what you say is true. Let us suppose that this evidence that you have brought before us today is, indeed, genuine.”

He moved closer to the witness stand and stared directly into Solstice’s eyes.

“What makes you think that this document proves that my client is guilty of this crime?”

Solstice looked puzzled as he motioned towards the document in the mayor’s hoof.

“W-well…it says ‘G.R.’ under ‘recipient’ on the bottom, Sir….”

“‘G.R.’” the defense pony challenged with a swift nod. “G.R. And…naturally that proves my client’s guilt, doesn't it? Well, allow me to point out something to you, young stallion (Solstice thought this as a bit funny, considering that this pony appeared to be not much older than he was)…‘G.R.’ could mean many things! Those initials could belong to many ponies throughout Equestria! Do you want me to relate to you how many ponies we can find with these exact initials in their names? Quite a few! So how does this explanation of the evidence that you have brought today adequately prove my client’s guilt, Mr. Solstice Rocket?”

Solstice looked back at the pony’s orange eyes with an equally challenging expression. By now, he was feeling a bit threatened by this attorney’s tone of voice—undoubtedly implying that he was stupid for assuming that his father was guilty for this crime based on the document and on what Mr. Spot On had said to him. But he knew that Spot On would not lie to him about this or that what he had brought him wasn’t linked to his father in any way.

“But—but it was found in my dad’s business building!” he protested.

Defense nodded again, this time in a calmer way.

“Well, if that's the case, Solstice Rocket…” he stated, “then, why don’t we ask your father what he knows about it, shall we?”

He turned to the golden pony seated at the Defense’s table and inquired, “Mr. Golden Rocket, do you know anything about this document that your son has just described?”

After a moment’s pause, Golden nodded and replied, “Yes. As a matter of fact, I do.”

The ponies in the courtroom uttered their exclamations of surprise and the defense attorney further inquired, “Would you kindly explain to the court about this?”

“I would be most happy to,” was the golden pony’s reply. “Yes, I do indeed recognize this document and it was kept in my office in my company’s building downtown. That much is true. However, the G and the R listed under ‘recipient’ are not my initials, but are somepony else’s.”

“And what pony’s name has these initials?” Defense asked. “Please, explain.”

“A certain pony by the name of ‘Gusty Rain,’” came the reply. “When I had received word that Mr. Fancy Pants had been scammed of a quarter of a million bits, I decided to conduct a little investigation of my own. Through my private investigating, I discovered that somepony had been secretly stealing the bits from Mr. Fancy Pants’ account through his secretary at the time, Ms. Fleur de Lis.”

He motioned towards the pink-haired Canterlot pony standing with a security guard off to one side.

“When I further investigated about this pony…this ‘G.R.’…I discovered that he was called ‘Gusty Rain’ and that he was living somewhere just outside of Fillydelphia. However, when I began my investigation there, I discovered that this pony had mysteriously vanished without a trace.”

He hung his head and added, “Sadly, Your Honor, that was the end of my investigation regarding this matter. I could find no further clues regarding this ‘Gusty Rain.’”

The mayor nodded, seemingly impressed.

“This does clear up many things about the case,” he said. “Though, there is yet one question that I wish to ask you, Mr. Golden Rocket….”

Suddenly, he slammed onto the Bench and boomed, “Why in Equestria did you not reveal this before things got out of hoof?!”

In response, Golden stood and exclaimed back, “Because, Your Honor, I was not even aware that I so much as had any such document in my possession until now! I must have stored it somewhere in my files and forgot about it over time—a simple mistake, really! But now, I am glad that my son has brought this piece of evidence because it has brought to light this one important fact: That Ms. Fleur de Lis’ testimony is, indeed, true after all!”

Night Light and Fancy Pants exchanged doubtful glances and sighed as they shook their heads at Golden. Although most of the ponies in the room believed the golden pony’s story and explanation, Night Light and Fancy Pants still remained unconvinced.

After Golden Rocket had finished his testimony, the courtroom was instantly filled with gasps of surprise and of muttering. Then, the noise was promptly silenced by the mayor’s gavel tapping a few times on the Bench.

“Order!” he bellowed. “Order!”

Then, he turned to the attorneys and the other ponies present in the Well.

“I must say,” he declared, “this has been enlightening indeed! Thanks to this young stallion’s evidence and subsequent testimony, it would appear that the culprit was not Ms. Fleur de Lis at all, but a mysterious pony by the name of 'Gusty Rain'. Unfortunately, further investigation of this ‘Gusty Rain’ is still required, which forces me to conclude that this case, as yet, remains inconclusive. However, that does not mean that I must detain all of you any longer!”

He smiled as he raised his gavel.

“I hereby dismiss this court and declare that all ponies, including the accused, may be free to go until further investigation of this ‘Gusty Rain’ is complete!”

He was about to tap his gavel onto the Bench when a voice exclaimed, “Your Honor!”

Mayor Bottomhoof had officially reached the end of his rope. He immediately threw the gavel across the room and growled, “Confound it! What is it now, Mr. Defen—?!”

He stopped as he realized that the defense attorney was looking back at him with a confused look on his face. Night Light, meanwhile, could not help but silently chuckle at this moment.

“W-wait—! That—that wasn’t you?” the mayor sheepishly said, timidly pointing at him with his hoof.

The attorney sighed and rolled his eyes in irritation, shook his head and, then, motioned towards the pony standing next to him.

“Mr. Golden Rocket…? Was it you who said that? I—I apologize! P-please, what is it?”

Golden stood with respectful dignity as he replied, “With your permission, Your Honor…before you dismiss the courtroom, I would like to submit one request to this court.”

The mayor, who was now sheepishly trying to retrieve his missing gavel with the help of a security guard nearby, immediately turned back to Golden Rocket.

“Yes? Oh, yes!” he quickly replied with a wave of his hoof. “Of course! Uh, please…proceed with your request, Mr. Golden Rocket!”

Golden nodded and continued, “I wish that this case not be brought up again until the court has finished its investigation of this ‘Gusty Rain’…and only then. All that I want is for me and my family to be left alone regarding this case. Please, Your Honor…this is all that I ask of this court.”

As the security guard handed the gavel back to the mayor, the plump stallion nodded towards Golden.

“That seems reasonably fair to me…”

He then turned to Fancy Pants and motioned towards his direction.

“…if Mr. Fancy Pants does not object.”

In response, Fancy Pants turned towards the golden businesspony and gave a nod of approval.

“I believe that that request is indeed fair, Mr. Golden Rocket. I accept.”

With that, Mayor Bottomhoof beamed as he exclaimed, “Splendid! Then, I hereby dismiss this court until further investigation is finalized!”

With one last tap of his gavel, he quickly made his way off the Bench.

“Whew! Finally!” he muttered dryly, “I thought that that trial would never end!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Solstice stepped down from the stand, feeling a twinge of guilt. He was glad that it all worked out in the end, but he still didn’t like it that his purpose in going to the trial was to testify against his father. And yet, he knew deep inside that he did the right thing in doing so. However, he also knew that he would have to face the consequences that would surely follow, particularly with his father.

He cringed. He dreaded having to face his father now, but he knew that it was the right thing to do—he still needed to be brave and face him about the whole thing.

As he was crossing the Well towards the Bar, he felt a hoof on his shoulder and an authoritative-sounding voice saying, “Solstice Rocket, was it?”

He turned and saw the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Night Light, standing before him with his black briefcase floating in a yellowish magical aura by his side.

“Mr. Night Light!” Solstice exclaimed, giving a slight bow of his head. “I’m—I’m so sorry I was late, Sir! I—I was just—!”

The blue unicorn held out a hoof to silence the young stallion and said, “Actually, I came to commend you for your courage today.”

Solstice raised an eyebrow.

“Courage? For what?”

“For coming here and speaking out the way you did,” the attorney replied. “I could tell that it was not easy for you to testify against your father like that. It took courage to do that.”

Solstice sighed and commented with a wave of his hoof, “Oh, that—that wasn’t ‘courage.’ I just did what every other pony would’ve done.”

The prosecuting attorney shrugged.

“That may be,” he replied, “but I just wanted you to know that you did a good work today. Not only did you stand up and present the truth, but you also saved Ms. Fleur de Lis from potential imprisonment. It is good to be humble, but give yourself some credit, too!”

Solstice let out a soft chuckle. Night Light did have a point. He did do something great today—something that he could be rightfully proud of.

“Thank you, Mr. Night Light,” he said with a slight bow of gratitude. “I’ll certainly try!”

Night Light nodded.

“I do hope that we have the opportunity to meet again sometime in the future.”

Solstice smiled and nodded back.

“I hope so, too, Sir.”

With that, the prosecuting attorney picked up his briefcase with his magic and made his way out of the courtroom. As Solstice was about to continue his way towards the Bar, he was interrupted by another well-known pony.

“I dare say, young stallion,” a distinguished, English-sounding voice behind him said with praise, “that was quite a show you put back there!”

He turned and saw Mr. Fancy Pants and Ms. Fleur de Lis standing there, smiling brightly.

“You were absolutely brilliant, to be sure!” Fancy Pants added.

Solstice was confused. Didn’t Fancy Pants just lose the trial anyway?

“But—but you kinda lost in the end, despite my help,” he pointed out. “How was that a 'good show'?”

“I was not referring to the outcome of the trial, young stallion,” the blue-haired unicorn replied. “Rather, I was referring to your decision in doing the right thing today.”

Solstice cocked his head.

“Huh?”

Fancy Pants’ expression turned solemn as he said, “I understand the importance of doing the right thing, regardless of the consequences…and I also understand the pain and regret of not doing so.”

As he said that last sentence, his eyes and voice trailed off, as if a past memory was haunting him. At this, Fleur de Lis put a hoof on his shoulder to reassure him.

“What was your name again, young stallion?” he finally asked, looking up to meet the young stallion’s gaze.

“Solstice Rocket, Sir,” was the young stallion’s reply.

The distinguished Canterlot business pony smiled a little sadly.

“You, Solstice Rocket, have a unique perspective on life. Never lose it.”

Solstice felt a shiver up his spine as Fancy Pants said those words. It was as if he was somehow speaking based on past experience.

“I’ll try, Sir,” came the reply.

Fancy Pants smiled.

“Take care of yourself, Solstice Rocket.”

With that, he walked away to exit the courtroom while Fleur de Lis stayed behind for a moment.

“Solstice Rocket,” she said with tears of gratitude, “thank you for all that you have done for me and Fancy Pants!”

She suddenly came, gave him a quick kiss on the forehead and left to follow Fancy Pants out of the courtroom. For a long moment, Solstice only stood with his mouth wide open. Then, a goofy grin appeared on his face.

Well…shucks!

Just then, he heard a familiar voice chuckle behind him, "Yeah...and you said I was good with the fillies? Ya Old Smoothie!"

He sighed as he turned to face Clap.

"Hey, now...that wasn't me, I swear!"

Clap only nodded with a big grin on his face.

"Sure...."

At that point, his mother stepped in behind him. Upon seeing her, Solstice’s expression turned solemn as he lowered his eyes in shame.

“I don’t blame you for being mad at me, Mom,” he said. “What I did was a…pretty jerk-ish thing of me to do, testifying against Dad like that.”

When he heard no response, he looked up and saw his mother’s thoughtful expression.

“Honestly,” she replied, “I don’t know what to think. I was surprised that you came as a witness to testify against Dad, but…knowing you, I knew that you would never do anything like this unless it was for a good reason. Luckily, it seems that everything turned out all right in the end.”

She came to him and lovingly put her hoof under his chin.

“It seems that your evidence made the court even more convinced that Dad’s not guilty!”

She gave him a big, warm hug.

“I’m so proud of you, Dear!”

Solstice sighed a little sadly. How was he to reveal the truth to her? He couldn’t! And even though most ponies thought Golden Rocket was innocent, he knew the real truth. He had heard right out of his father’s own mouth that he was responsible for the events in Canterlot five years ago. Yet, he knew that he couldn’t prove this, especially after the trial.

At that moment, he noticed that Clap was staring at him, still with a big grin on his face.

“What?” he said with a cocked eyebrow.

Clap’s grin grew wider.

“Come on…teach me your ways of flirting, O Wise Master of Wooing!” he exclaimed with a graceful, sweeping bow.

Solstice rolled his eyes and chuckled as he stepped away from his mother.

“Oh pony feathers, Clap!” he exclaimed. “That wasn’t flirting by any means!”

Clap’s eyebrow bounced up and down.

“Didn’t look that way to me.”

Solstice laughed as he shook his head.

“Whatever.”

Then, he grinned. There was another surprise in store for the little foal.

“Hey, guess what, Clap?”

Clap looked up at him.

“What?”

“Guess who finally got their Cutie Mark…!”

Clap instantly beamed.

“No…way...!”

He stepped to the side to see his brother’s flank and his eyes gleamed.

“No…way…!”

He leaped in the air with his hoof in the air and exclaimed with a loud “ah, baby!”

Solstice’s eyebrow rose.

“What does that even mean?”

Clap shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

Then, he was instantly back where he had left off.

“But, Dude! You’ve got a Flash Sentry Cutie Mark! That’s just awesome, Bro! Does this mean you have superpowers or something now?”

Solstice laughed.

“I doubt it. If I did, I would’ve felt it by now. I guess, I—”

He suddenly felt a firm pressure on his shoulder as a hoof slowly but decisively forced him to turn around. His smile quickly faded as he saw his father standing over him, his expression serious and authoritative—more than ever in any other time in his life.

"We need to talk...now," his father said with a low tone of voice that demanded no further argument.

Solstice swallowed. He knew what was coming next.

Chapter 7: Flash Sentry

After taking his son to a place in the courtroom where they could talk privately, Golden Rocket looked at his Solstice with piercing eyes.

“What…did you think…you were doing?” he said in a low and precise voice.

Solstice was beginning to feel frightened.

I—I just—!”

“I asked you not to testify today!” his father exclaimed almost in a whisper. “I practically begged you not to! And you went ahead and did it anyway!”

Solstice struggled to find the courage within him.

“I—I was just trying to do the right thing…!”

“Was not the right thing not to testify?” Golden said, his voice conveying a sense of desperateness—a desperateness for Solstice to see his point of view. “Was it not the right thing to prevent this family from becoming disgraced and destitute? Was this not reason enough for you?”

The young stallion stepped back.

“I—I, uh—!”

His father hung his head and let out a frustrated sigh.

“Look…I understand that you do not want to withhold the truth, but you also have to understand…if the truth had come to light in the trial today, we would have found ourselves with absolutely nothing—no more wealth, no more favorable reputation, no more hope for a prosperous future for you and Clap…! Surely, you can understand that!”

Solstice grunted and shook his head. He had understood clearly what would have happened if he had succeeded, but he also knew that he could not have just stood by and done nothing. That would not have been right! And, as a matter of fact, if he hadn’t intervened when he did, Fleur de Lis would have been sent to jail for a crime that she did not commit!

“Yeah, but—!”

“All that I ask is that you say nothing about it,” his father continued. “It is so simple! All you have to do is forget that all of this had ever happened and we can all move forward with our lives!”

Solstice emphatically shook his head.

"No, Dad! I can't do this! I can't just go on and pretend that everything's all right when it really isn’t! It just isn't right! It isn't honest!"

In that instant, his father stood with dignity, his commanding presence looming over him.

"Son," he said with an authoritative tone, "at this point, it is not a matter of what is right or who is right. Rather, it is a matter of what is one's duty."

Solstice's head instantly retreated backwards.

"Duty…? To what?"

Golden's eyebrows furrowed.

"Why...your duty towards your family, of course."

Solstice gave a shake of his head, his expression puzzled.

"Dad, I would never want our family to be back on the streets or be laughed at—you know that!"

"Then, the answer regarding what you must do should be absolutely clear to you..." his father concluded, his voice suggesting his final words on the matter, "forgive and forget."

Solstice hung his head. Forgive and forget? He already did forgive him and he wanted to forget this whole matter. But there was one thing that was also painfully clear.

"You talk about 'forgiving' and 'forgetting'," he said as he raised his head to look at his father directly in the eyes, "when you, yourself, need to listen to your own advice."

His voice wasn't sharp or condemning in any way. It was calm...as if he was simply telling the truth, no matter how hard it was for his father to hear. He loved his father dearly and, because he loved him, he knew that he had to tell him exactly what he needed to hear. However, this did not mean that his father would receive it the way that it was intended; for no sooner had Golden heard his son's words than his eyes immediately sparked and his nostrils flared.

"What...?!" he breathed out the word like a dragon breathing out smoke.

Solstice felt his voice starting to quiver but he stood his ground.

"Wh-what about you and Fancy Pants? I heard from Mr. Spot On that you did all this just to get back at him for what he did five years ago. Is that ‘forgiving’ and ‘forgetting,’ Dad?”

At that moment, Solstice saw a side of Golden Rocket that he had never seen before—rage…pure rage. He had seen his father angry before, but he had never seen him like this before in his life. The sight almost made him want to run away right then, but he still stood his ground.

“How…dare you…!” Golden spat, the red of his irises starting to glow like hot coals. “How DARE you turn this back on ME! I am not on trial!”

He pounded the floor as he further exclaimed, “They made me do it! They abandoned me when I needed them the most! They resigned all of us to live on the streets of Baltimare for the rest of our lives, and you dare to DEFEND them?!”

Solstice backed away and landed onto the cold, wooden floor. His father’s face was almost touching his and his eyes struck fear into his entire system. Then, his father stopped, took a few more breaths and stepped back, allowing his son to stand. Though Golden’s eyes still glowed, his voice was calmer and his composure more subdued.

“You sound very much like them. I am compelled to warn you that if you continue in this way of thinking, you will be a traitor to this family. You can forget about coming home or seeing any of us ever again. What is it to be, Solstice…them or us?”

Tears formed in the pegasus’s eyes. Was his father really disowning him? Was he really being kicked out?

No—!

He was about to retract his resolve and surrender—to beg for his forgiveness. But then, he remembered why he had intervened in the trial in the first place. He wanted to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences would be. Clap looked up to him for that—and, since the trial, so did other ponies. If he retreated now and cowered to his father’s demands, he would disappoint all of them. More importantly, he would no longer look at himself the same way ever again. He would forever look back on this one moment with regret and wish that he only had enough courage to stand up for what he knew to be right.

He swallowed his tears. One thing was for certain—he was no coward! He would not back down! He would face the consequences, as he had agreed to do.

“Go ahead, Dad,” he replied, his face filled with resolve. “If that’s what it’s gonna be, do what you have to do.”

His father let out a snarl as tears started to appear in his eyes.

“Very well, young stallion…!” he sniffed, his voice and chin quavering. “Then, I shall!”

With that, he stomped away towards the Gallery where the rest of the family was waiting. As Solstice followed a distance behind, he was in time to hear his father say to Glitter in a low voice, “Come along, Darling. We are going.”

Glitter looked back at him.

“But—where’s Solstice?”

After a moment’s pause, his father bowed his head.

“He’s not coming with us.”

Clap’s eyes immediately snapped wide open.

“W-wait, what?!”

“He’s not coming with us,” Golden repeated, this time with more emphasis.

He was about to leave when Glitter’s hoof stopped him.

“Golden, please, tell us! What’s wrong?”

Golden sighed and turned.

“I now know why Solstice came to testify today.”

He turned towards Solstice, who had just reached the family circle, and his eyes narrowed.

“He came to discredit me!” he exclaimed with tears in his eyes.

Glitter gasped and Clap looked on with his mouth opened in helplessness.

“Solstice?” she exclaimed. “But—but he would never do that! He just thought that the initials on the document were—!”

“I heard it out of his own mouth, Glitter!” Golden pointed at the yellow-orange pegasus. “He even told me that he thought Fancy Pants and the other Canterlot ponies were right in accusing me—that I am a liar and a thief, just as they say!”

Solstice stood in shock.

W-wait! Hold on! That’s not what I said! What’s Dad trying to do?!

But before he could so much as say a word, his father added, “He’s completely…changed! He has become exactly like them! My own son…betraying me—!”

He turned away as he hung his head and sobbed. Solstice’s eyes and mouth stood wide open. He could not believe what he was seeing. His father…was a master manipulator! But he had always believed that his love towards him and Clap was genuine. Could it be…?

He shook himself.

No, he still believed that his father wasn’t lying about that. He still believed with all of his heart that his father cared for him and Clap dearly. So, why was his father doing this?

Then, a thought came to him. The eyes—whenever they glowed, it was because his father was angry. Yet, there was something else that seemed to happen every time they glowed. He remembered when his father had that fight with Fancy Pants two days ago. When he grew enraged and his eyes glowed, he seemed to lose all control of his emotions. What was even more puzzling was afterwards. When they further talked, his father’s attitude was…rather odd. It was…unusually cold.

“Oh, trust me, Fancy Pants,” he remembered his father saying in a snarky tone and with a grin on his face. “I would not miss this for the world!”

It was as if…he was enjoying humiliating Fancy Pants.

Then, he remembered his conversation with him just moments ago.

“You sound very much like them,” he remembered his father saying to him just after his fit of rage. “I am compelled to warn you that if you continue in this way of thinking, you will be a traitor to this family. You can forget about coming home or seeing any of us ever again. What is it to be, Solstice…them or us?”

Would his father ever say something like that? He doubted it...very much. There was something else at work—something that his father was not telling him...something deep and painful.

Glitter put a hoof around Golden to comfort him and Clap’s head swiveled from Solstice to Golden in absolute confusion.

“What the hay’s going on?!” he finally breathed out.

At this, Golden’s head rose.

“Solstice is not coming with us, Clap,” he replied sadly. “He has made it abundantly clear that he does not want to be a part of this family…especially to be around me.”

With another sniff, he started making his way to the courtroom doors.

“Come along! We are leaving!”

Glitter looked at her son with concern in her eyes.

“Solstice…is this true?”

Now, Solstice was practically painted into a corner. What could he say now? He couldn’t possibly tell them the truth; for he knew that it would be too painful for them to hear it. But he couldn’t deny it because it was…true. He sighed as he hung his head.

“I—I can’t explain!”

Glitter sighed and nodded.

“Well, I know your heart. You can come back with us. I’m sure that your dad will eventually—”

“No!” Solstice suddenly exclaimed. “No, Dad’s not gonna change his mind.”

He glanced at his father across the courtroom and saw Golden’s fiery red eyes staring menacingly back at him. He swallowed.

“I just know it.”

Glitter’s eyes blinked as tears started to gush from them. Solstice’s heart sank as he saw her.

“I…” she said through her tears, “I just wish…that there was some way that…that you could—!”

Solstice came and hugged her tightly.

“Oh, Mom, don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

By now, his mother began sobbing as she likewise hugged her son tightly.

“I—I know that but—but we won’t be able to see you—!”

Solstice tried hard to hold back his tears. He needed to be strong for his mother…and for Clap.

Just then, his brother also joined in the hug.

“I don’t want you to go, Bro!” he cried out with tears gushing out of his eyes as well. “This—this just isn’t fair! I—I hate Dad so much!”

Glitter and Solstice looked at the foal with shocked expressions.

“Clap!” Glitter exclaimed between breaths. “That’s not a nice thing to—!”

Solstice stopped her by gently tapping her shoulder.

“It’s all right, Mom. I’ll take care of this.”

With that, he lowed himself so that he could be at Clap’s eye-level. He tried looking directly into his brother’s eyes but the foal’s eyes were shut tightly as he continued to sob.

“Clap? Believe me, Clap, I don’t want to leave. But I don’t want Dad to get mad either. All the same, I can’t leave you like this. After all, you helped me get my Cutie Mark!”

Clap sniffed and wiped his tears away from his cheeks.

“I know, but—!”

Solstice nodded, trying to smile.

“I know…I don’t want to say goodbye either. But it’s something I have to do.”

Clap gave another sniff as his face flashed in an angry expression.

“Why does Dad have to be so mean?! What’s his problem, anyway?!”

His older brother put a hoof on his shoulder.

“Don’t get mad at Dad, Clap. I don’t know why he’s like this right now. But what I do know is that he loves you…so much! You know that, too, right?”

Clap sniffed again as he hung his head. Then, he lifted it and looked into his brother’s eyes.

“I guess…but what about you?!”

There was a pause from Solstice.

“I’ll…I’ll manage. You know me. I’ll be fine.”

He looked more intently into Clap’s eyes.

“Promise me one thing, though.”

Clap’s eyes were also intent.

“What?”

“Promise me you’ll take care of Mom and Dad while I’m gone, okay? Be good and be kind to them…especially Dad.”

Clap’s eyes became wet again as he gave his brother the biggest hug that he had ever given him in his life.

“I promise!” he sobbed. “I promise!”

Solstice couldn’t help but shed a few tears himself, despite his resolve.

“Now, I’ll promise you something in return,” he said as he clenched his brother tightly. “I’ll write you as soon as I get settled in at my new place, okay?”

Clap nodded with a “mm-hm” and finally drew back from him.

“Glitter! Clap!” Golden called from the opened courtroom doors.

They looked and could tell by the look on his face that it was time for them to go. With one last tearful goodbye, Glitter and Clap broke away and followed Golden out of the courtroom. Now, it was Solstice’s turn to sit in one of the chairs in the empty Gallery and sob.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After he had finished his long moment of crying, Solstice left City Hall and found a cheap motel downtown where he could find lodging for the day. Luckily, he had several bits with him before leaving the mansion—he could get by until he could find a suitable job to support himself.

That night, he received a letter from his Dad telling him to pick up his things from the mansion's front gate. The next morning, he went to the family mansion to pick up his things, as his father had requested. When he had arrived at the front gate, he found his things from his room in the mansion packed in a few fairly large boxes, stacked in the form of a small pyramid off to one side of the gate; and lying on the top was his old, wooden guitar.

Solstice sighed and walked over to the small stack of boxes. At least his father left him his guitar for him to play.

He picked up his guitar, sat on the curb in front of the stack and numbly strummed it, playing nothing in particular. It wasn’t long before tears started welling up in his eyes. He had never expected any of this to happen! How could he have gone from having everything to almost having nothing in such a short time? All because he just wanted to do the right thing.

Was it worth it, I wonder. Was it all…really worth it?

His train of thought was interrupted by a voice commenting, “That is beautiful music you’re playing, young stallion.”

For one brief moment, he thought that the voice belonged to his mother. However, when he looked up, he was caught off-guard to see the ruler of Equestria herself—Princess Celestia. He was so shocked by this unexpected encounter that, at first, he couldn’t speak as he subsequently stopped his playing.

“U-uh…um…!”

The tall, white winged unicorn smiled and put a hoof to her mouth as she giggled at the young stallion’s reaction. Though the regal princess wasn’t his mother, Celestia resembled Glitter in a few ways—their voices and personalities were very similar, as well as their calm, motherly demeanors. Celestia was one of a very rare species called “Alicorns,” a race of ponies who possessed all three traits of the pony races: A taller body (Earth Ponies), a pair of large wings (Pegasi) and a tall horn on the front of their heads (Unicorns). Throughout all of Equestria, ponies saw Alicorns as automatic royalty and as ponies that they revered as wise and powerful rulers. But, most of all, Princess Celestia was revered by many as the kindest and wisest pony in all of Equestria, ruling their land for more than one thousand years.

“Where did you learn how to play the guitar?” she asked him.

After regaining his senses, he immediately put down his guitar and immediately bowed respectfully to Princess Celestia.

“Y-your Highness!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

He winced.

Did I just ask the ruler of Equestria why she’s here…? Real smart, Solstice….

“I-I mean, I was just wondering why you’re…um…”

On second thought, Solstice…don’t say anything. You’ll just make things worse.

Celestia only smiled.

“It’s all right. I shall explain. A few of my subjects in Canterlot told me about the trial yesterday and about what you did."

She bowed her head as she added, "I came to personally thank you for all that you did at the trial, Solstice Rocket. Your actions helped prevent what could have been a disaster. For that, I thank you, young stallion."

Solstice only shrugged.

“It was nothing, Your Highness, really! I just did what was right, that’s all.”

Celestia’s head rose.

“True, but even the seemingly small choices we make can produce great consequences…for good or for ill.”

Her gaze shifted to the pile of boxes behind him.

"What are all of those boxes for?" she asked, motioning with her head.

Solstice sighed.

"They're my things. I'm…I'm leaving the mansion."

Celestia's eyes widened.

"Why are you leaving? I'm sure that your family would be very worried if you left like this!"

"It's my dad," he replied, turning to face the princess. "He's mad at me for what happened at the trial yesterday. He won't change his mind."

Celestia looked back at his belongings behind him.

"And this is all you have? Do you have a place to stay...a place to work...?"

Solstice gave a shrug.

"Well…I'm staying at the motel downtown right now. I used to have a job but I quit because...it's complicated. I have a few bits left...enough, maybe, 'til I get another job...."

He looked up at Celestia and saw that she was shaking her head.

"I have a better idea," she said with a smile. "Why don't you come with me to Canterlot and I will make you one of my guards in the castle?"

Solstice's eyes instantly snapped wide open.

"Wait—what did you say?"

“I said that you can come with me and become a member of the Canterlot Guard, if you like.”

For a long moment, Solstice was too shocked to speak. Was this real? Did Princess Celestia just ask him to be a part of the Canterlot Guard? That was quite an honor for anypony. Not only that, if he accepted her offer, he would have a place to live and a job—a job that, no doubt, paid very well.

He tried not to let his tears appear in his eyes as he let the weight of the offer sink in.

“Thank—!” he finally replied with a smile that quivered a little. “Thank you, Your Highness! You—you don’t know how much this means to me!”

Celestia chuckled sweetly.

“So, is that a ‘yes’?”

After a pause, Solstice rapidly nodded with a big smile on his face.

“Y-yes! For sure!”

Celestia nodded and raised her head towards the sky. As she did so, her long unicorn horn illuminated in a bright yellow aura and a golden chariot pulled by two white pegasus guards, also wearing golden armor, appeared in the sky and landed in the street behind her.

“Now,” she said, motioning towards the chariot, “shall we go, Solstice Rocket?”

Solstice thought for a moment. There was one more thing that he needed to say first.

“Yes, but there’s just one favor I’d like to ask of you first, if I may?”

Celestia turned.

“Of course.”

“My name…I don’t want to be called Solstice Rocket. I know it’s my name but I want another name that’ll help remind me to always do the right thing, no matter what. I know I don’t have to do that but…it’s something personal to me.”

Celestia nodded.

“Very well. Then, what may I call you, young stallion?”

He smiled. He had the perfect name already in mind—a name that would surely remind him to always do the right thing…for Clap, for his mother, for his father and for everypony else.

“Flash Sentry, Your Highness.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It had been a little more than three months since Solstice Rocket (now Flash Sentry) had joined the Canterlot Guard, and he felt that he had learned a lot in those few months. He met new friends, learned how to be more self-confident, thanks to Shining Armor (the captain of the Canterlot Guard), and had done multiple guard duties and training assignments. The downside was that he was very busy seemingly every day, so that at the end of the day, he was so drained from all energy that he promptly drifted off to sleep. Finally, when he had time to breathe, he immediately wrote to his brother, Clap.

“Hey Little Bro!” he wrote. “So sorry that I haven’t written you for some time but a lot of things have happened since I left. I’ve got a job and it’s been keeping me pretty busy. I can’t tell you the details, since my boss wants it to remain confidential. So, let me just say that I’m doing fine and I’ve never been happier. You can tell Mom that, too. I hope you’re still doing well in school. Wouldn’t want you failing in your classes on my account! Hope Dad’s doing well, too. Don’t worry, Clap. I’ll figure out a way to fix this…somehow. In the meantime, how are you doing? Still ‘playin' it cool’ with the fillies…? Don’t worry, I’m just kidding. Well, gotta go. My shift starts soon. Love you lots! Solstice.”

Later that evening, just before he was relieved from his post for the day, Princess Celestia came and spoke with him privately.

“Flash Sentry,” she said with a bright smile, “now that Shining Armor has trained you for the past few months and you have learned much as a Canterlot guard, I am pleased to give you your first official assignment. Next week, you will be assigned to be the new captain over the newly-organized Royal Guard in the Crystal Empire!”

Solstice’s pleasant smile turned into a hesitant frown as he blinked and looked down at the ground in response. He could tell by the tone of Celestia’s voice how excited she was for him. He wanted to feel excited, too. After all, he was finally being given an official assignment; and not just any official assignment—a captain of the Royal Guard in the Crystal Empire! He knew that very few Canterlot guards ever had this opportunity in an entire lifetime. Truly, he was blessed for having this moment, and he knew that he ought to feel grateful and excited for this opportunity. However, what he felt instead was a looming fear of inadequacy.

Me…? A captain over the Royal Guard in the Crystal Empire? I—I don’t know if I’d be good enough for something like that!

At that point, Celestia noticed the change in the young stallion’s expression and inquired in a puzzled tone, “What’s wrong, Flash? I thought that you would be thrilled with the news.”

He looked up at her.

“Oh, I am, Your Highness!” he exclaimed. “I really am! It’s just—well, I just don’t know. I don’t know if I can handle an assignment like this. I—I don’t think I’m even qualified for something like this.”

Celestia cocked one eyebrow.

“Of course you’re qualified for this assignment, Flash!” she declared with her usual warm smile. “You have performed exceptionally well in your duties! As a matter of fact, Shining Armor was the one who recommend you for this particular assignment. He said that you have proven to be very dependable and trustworthy and that you are more than qualified to fulfill this assignment. He and I have great confidence in you, Flash Sentry!”

Solstice let out a sigh.

“But I’ve never led anything in my life before!” he exclaimed in frustration. “How do you expect me to lead a group of well-trained, well-experienced guards—and not just any guards…royal guards in the Crystal Empire?!”

He turned away as he added with a shake of his head, “I’m sorry to say this, Your Highness, but…I think you’ve picked the wrong pony for this job.”

There was silence between them for a short period of time. Then, Celestia’s calm voice broke the silence.

“Well, I’m not sorry when I say…I think I did pick the right pony.”

Solstice’s ears perked up. What she had said pricked his heart. She believed in him and so did his superior, Shining Armor. He needed to do the same.

Celestia turned to leave and added, “Give it some thought before you give your answer in the morning. Have a good night, Flash Sentry.”

With that, she left him to think it over. After he was relieved from his post, he went to his room and sat on his bed as he pondered what had happened. He had been given a once-in-a-lifetime assignment by the Princess herself and was recommended for the job by his superior, Shining Armor. It was obvious that both of them had full confidence in him for this job. Yet, why was he still fearful? He had learned how to be more confident; he learned all of the basics so that he could perform guard tasks in his sleep. So, why was he still reserved to become a leader and to help other pony guards better fulfill their duties as well? Was it not the right thing to do?

He sighed as he remembered what Princess Celestia had said to him before she parted.

“Well, I’m not sorry when I say…I think I did pick the right pony.”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and he raised his head as he called, “Come in!”

The door opened and a white unicorn guard wearing golden armor appeared.

“Sorry to disturb you, Flash,” he said, “but there are several ponies waiting to see you in the main hall.”

Solstice’s eyebrow cocked.

“Really?”

Who could it be at this hour?

“Thanks, Silverhoof,” he replied with a nod. “I’ll be right out there.”

The guard nodded and backtrotted out of the room, softly closing the door as he left. Solstice put his golden armor back on and exited his room with a puzzled look on his face. Who was it that wanted to see him? It couldn’t have been his family, for his father had forbidden any of them to visit him in person. Who could it be?

As he entered the main hall where most events and gatherings were typically held, his eyes brightened as he saw several familiar faces.

“Guys!” he exclaimed as he galloped to the members of the Deep Drive rock band congregated in the center of the vast hall. The band members’ faces beamed as they greeted him in return.

“What are you guys doing here?” Solstice asked with a bright smile.

“Well,” Fire Dancer replied with a grin, “we heard that some stallion friend of ours ‘moved on to greener pastures’ and had become part of the Canterlot Guard. So, we decided to just pop on by and give our congratulations.”

The other band members nodded in agreement.

“Well, thanks so much for stopping by!” the young stallion exclaimed. “It’s so great to see you all again! Why don’t you stay a while?”

“That’s kind of ya,” Fire said politely, putting a hoof out, “but we can’t stay for long. We’ve got a concert in Fillydelphia tomorrow night and we really need to get back home and practice for that.”

Solstice nodded understandingly.

“Okay. Well, that’s great that you guys have a concert coming up! Keep on rockin’ it!”

“Oh, but that’s not all why we came here,” Fire said, his grin starting to grow wider.

The orange-yellow pegasus looked confused.

“What do you mean?”

“We heard about your fallout between you and your family, and we felt really bad about the whole thing,” Stormcloud said.

“So...” Obsidian chimed in, “we decided to make you a part of our family!”

Solstice stood in shock.

“Does that mean…?”

Fire came around and put a hoof around his shoulder.

“Congratulations, Solstice! You’re officially part of our band! We knew how much this meant to ya.”

At first, Solstice was at a loss for words. He tried to speak but the words won’t come out.

“Hey, guys!” Fire said as he turned to the others. “I think our colt here’s speechless!”

They all laughed in response. Finally, Solstice gained the ability to speak.

“I’m—I’m really part of the band?”

The band members nodded.

First a Canterlot guard…and now, a member of the Deep Drive band?

Solstice shook his head.

“I must be dreaming!”

Fire chuckled.

“Oh, this is no dream, Kid! This is as real as this punch I’m about to give to your shoulder.”

As he said this, he gave the young stallion a mild punch to the shoulder.

“Ow!” Flash exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder and looking back at Fire with surprise. “Hey…!”

Fire motioned towards him with a look of glee.

“Ya see…?”

Solstice beamed as he understood.

“This is not a dream!”

At this point, Windsurfer stepped forward.

“And we have a present for ya.”

He reached for his guitar case that was strapped across his shoulder and back and handed it to Solstice.

“Welcome to the family, Bro!” he declared with a wide smile.

Solstice was astounded. He looked at the guitar case and then back at Windsurfer. Afterwards, he opened the case and looked at the guitar inside. His mouth dropped. Lying in the leather case was the same red guitar that he had played in the Baltimare stadium when he had first performed with Deep Drive.

“Hey!” he exclaimed. “This…this is the same guitar that—!”

Windsurfer nodded.

“Yep! The same one!”

Solstice’s eyes widened.

“But—but this is your guitar. I can’t take it!”

The aqua-blue stallion gave a dismissive wave with his hoof.

“Ah, don’t ya worry! I’ve got another. It’s a yellow one!”

Solstice’s eyes widened and his mouth curved into the biggest grin.

“This…is the best day of my life!”

With a loud whoop, he launched into the air with his flashy-red guitar and started playing an entire solo, filling the castle lobby with its loud, electronic melody. Then, he suddenly noticed Princess Celestia out the corner of his eye and stopped in mid-note. He floated back down with a sheepish expression.

“Oh, s-sorry, Your Highness.”

Celestia only smiled.

“That’s quite all right, Flash Sentry.”

She turned around and added, “But keep it down, won’t you?”

Flash nodded affirmatively.

“Y-yes, Your Highness. Of course.”

Princess Celestia disappeared down the corridor where she had previously emerged. After she had gone, Obsidian cleared his throat.

“So, uh, what happened to that little orange kid with the impeccable charm?” he asked.

Solstice’s expression saddened.

“He’s—he’s not with me anymore.”

The band members’ expressions grew sympathetic.

“That’s a big bummer, Man!” Obsidian said, shaking his head.

“Did—did something happen to him or…?” Hurricane asked hesitantly, most likely thinking that Clap had died or something of that nature.

Solstice shook his head.

“Oh, no—nothing like that! It’s just…I can’t see him anymore, that’s all.”

Stormcloud cocked one eyebrow.

“And why…?”

Solstice sighed.

“Well…my dad has forbidden me to see him—”

Stormcloud’s eyes immediately sparked with rage.

“Say WHAT?!”

His loud, booming voice echoed throughout the halls of the castle, its foundations threatening to shake as if it had been struck by an earthquake.

“Shh!” Flash immediately exclaimed in a lowered voice as he put a hoof to his lips. “Remember what the Princess said…?”

Stormcloud instantly put both of his hooves to his mouth, uttered a whispered “oh, sorry!” and repeated in a much quieter voice, “Say what?!”

“But—but that’s just messed up, Man!” Hurricane added with a shake of his head.

“Why would he do that, anyway?!” Obsidian exclaimed.

Solstice crossed his front hooves sheepishly.

“I...sorta testified against him in an important court case that almost made my family lose everything. My dad’s been pretty sore about it.”

Fire Dancer nodded as he took of his sunglasses.

“Yeah, we heard about that,” he commented. “There was that case with Mr. Fancy Pants from Canterlot and Mr. Golden Rocket. Heard it was pretty intense!”

“And he got mad at ya for that?!” Hurricane huffed. “But he can’t just shove ya off like that! He has no right!”

“But he’s still my dad,” Solstice pointed out, turning to him, “and the right thing to do is to respect his wishes.”

He looked at the red guitar in his hooves and added, “And, as for your offer to join your band, I—I’ll have to decline that offer. I’m sorry.”

The band members jerked their necks backwards in surprise.

“Wha—but why?” Obsidian exclaimed.

“Oh, wait! Don’t tell me!” Stormcloud snorted. “It’s ‘cause of that big-shot of a father ya have, ain’t it!”

Windsurfer immediately tapped Stormcloud’s shoulder with his hoof as he cautioned, “Stormcloud, be more sensitive towards the kid!”

Stormcloud spun towards Windsurfer.

“I was talking about the kid’s dad, Einstallion!” he explained in a growl.

Windsurfer only glared back at him with a scowl.

“Well, I knew that! I was talking about speaking about the kid’s dad in front of the kid, ya know!”

“Well, why shouldn’t I?” Stormcloud grunted. “It’s not like his dad deserves it anyway…!”

At that point, Solstice interrupted them.

“Guys, this is my doing. I’ve been given an important assignment. I’m to be transferred to the Crystal Empire in a week, so I can’t be a part of your band, no matter how much I want to.”

“Just curious, what do ya have to do there?” Fire Dancer asked.

Solstice shrugged.

“Well, I’m supposed to be in charge of a new Royal Guard in the Crystal Empire for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”

Obsidian began to grin.

“Ooo! For a princess!” he said, nudging Solstice as he raised his eyebrows up and down a few times. Solstice got the message.

“Dude,” he said in a chastising tone, “she’s married. And besides, I’m not a pony of royalty.”

Obsidian gave a shrug.

“Hey! Didn’t stop Aladdin….”

Solstice rolled his eyes in response.

“So, when will you be back?” Windsurfer asked.

“Well, that’s the tricky part,” Solstice replied. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back. It’s Princess Celestia’s call, after all.”

Windsurfer nodded understandingly.

“That’s true.”

“But I can come back here to Canterlot for a visit now and then,” the young stallion added. “I don’t really know when yet, but when I do, I can play for you guys.”

Fire’s face beamed.

“Really? That’s great!”

He came and shook the young stallion’s hoof.

“Welcome aboard, Solstice!”

“Actually, my name’s not Solstice anymore. I’ve changed it. It’s Flash, now. Flash Sentry.”

The red unicorn stopped shaking his hoof and stepped back.

“Whoa now! W-wait—! Time out!” he said, putting a hoof to his chin in thought. “This…this could be a problem, you guys….”

“What do you mean, Fire?” Windsurfer asked. “I mean, he’s perfect for the band!”

“Yeah, I know that, Windsurfer. It’s his name that’s the problem,” Fire replied. “Flash Sentry…isn’t that that hero in those comics that’ve been around for many years or somethin’?”

“Hey, come to think of it…” Obsidian commented. “Yeah, you’re right! That is a problem! We’ll most likely get sued if we mentioned a name like that onstage!”

Hurricane, meanwhile, was still in thought.

“Maybe not….”

The others looked at him.

“What do ya mean, Bro?” Obsidian asked.

The gray pegasus reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the same issue of the comic book that had inspired Solstice to testify against his father at the Baltimare trial. Obsidian took the comic book from Hurricane and huffed.

“So…” he sighed, “a full-grown stallion and you still have your head in one of these, do ya?”

Hurricane stepped back.

“What? They’re good!”

Before Obsidian could say anything more, Windsurfer stepped in between them.

“Oh, leave your brother be, Obsidian!” he said to the black pony. “Hurricane was always a ‘colt at heart’ anyway. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Obsidian snorted.

“Yeah, fine.”

Windsurfer turned to Hurricane and motioned for him to proceed.

“Maybe, there’s a way that Solst—I mean, Flash—can use his new name and still be part of our band.”

He pointed at the comic book that his brother was holding and explained, “In the comics, Flash Sentry gets kicked out of the city because of… different things that happen…I’m not gonna get into it. So, before he goes away, he tells his old friend, Dino, that he needs to find another pony to take his place so that the city’s still safe.”

He looked up and pointed towards Solstice.

“If we could persuade the company making these to have that kid be the next Flash Sentry (maybe, make the guy in the comics similar to this kid somehow, I don’t know), we won’t get sued and he can still play with us.”

Fire Dancer nodded.

“Well, that sounds good and all, but what if they say ‘no’?”

Hurricane shrugged.

“We’ll promote their comic series through this new Flash Sentry,” he replied. “They won’t say ‘no’ to that!”

Stormcloud huffed as he shook his head.

“All this based on a comic book series? We’re a rock band, for pony’s sake! I think we’re a bit more grown up than that, ya know!”

“It was just a thought,” Hurricane sheepishly replied.

At that moment, Windsurfer stepped in with his hoof out as a way of saying that it was his turn to speak.

“Wait, guys,” he said. “Maybe, Hurricane’s got a point. Maybe, we should start making music for something more than just fame or bits. Maybe, he’s got something here.”

Stormcloud look at him, his jaw dropping.

“Oh, for the love of Pete…you too, Windsurfer?! What’s the matter with ya?”

“Nothing! And I’m not really taking about the comic book series. I’m actually talking about somethin’ a bit more than that.”

Obsidian cocked his head.

“Uh, come again?”

“Don’t ya remember when we first started out? Why did we wanna make music like this in the first place?”

The others in the band thought for a moment. Then, one by one, they smiled.

“Well,” Fire Dancer replied, “Stormcloud and I wanted to share our music with other ponies ever since we were foals. Right, Stormcloud?”

He turned to the purple pony and Stormcloud nodded in return.

“Yeah, we did. We had big dreams. Big!”

“And Hurricane and I wanted to start our own pop group the same way,” Obsidian said.

Hurricane nodded in agreement.

“And I knew I wanted to play guitar ‘cause I loved playing music and I wanted to share it, like you guys did,” Windsurfer added. “I certainly didn’t think I’d turn into a famous guitar player! I doubt any of you guys thought that any of ya would end up being famous either, right?”

The others nodded in agreement.

“Don’t ya see what I’m trying to get at?” he continued. “Maybe, we met this kid the way we did for a reason. Maybe—”

He turned to the orange-yellow pegasus.

“Solstice…I mean Flash…I bet I know why you chose that name of yours. Your brother spoke very highly of you when we talked back in the Baltimare stadium—told me you were a hero to him ‘cause you always did the right thing. So, you wanna be that hero to others, is that right?”

Solstice nodded in reply.

“Well,” Windsurfer said, turning to his comrades, “now I think it’s time for us to follow your hoofsteps. Now’s our chance to do the right thing by making music just ‘cause we love music! Not just that, we can all be heroes like Flash, if we wanna! We can inspire other ponies to be the best that they can be! Whatdeyasay, guys?”

Hurricane’s eyes beamed.

“Yeah! Yeah, we can!”

Obsidian shrugged and smiled.

“Ya know, I have to admit…you guys know just how to make me feel excited again.”

He stomped his hoof on the floor and added, “Count me in!”

Fire Dancer stood and shook his head.

“Windsurfer…once again…your words of pure awesomeness have pierced my soul!”

He thrust his hoof in the air and exclaimed with a huge grin, “Count me in, guys! I’ve a feelin’ this’ll be fun!”

Afterwards, they all turned to Stormcloud, who was staring at the ground.

“Well,” he sighed, “I have to say…if it wasn’t for Fire being a good example for me, all this would never have happened.”

He raised his head as a smile started to appear on his face.

“I’d like to be that pony for somepony else, too.”

He approached the group and put his hoof out.

“Count me in, too, guys!”

The others placed their hooves on top in a brotherly circle.

“Ya ready to do this, guys?” Fire Dancer said as he looked at each of the ponies in the circle.

Obsidian grinned widely.

“Let’s do this!”

They counted to three and then raised their hooves as they shouted, “Deep Drive!”

They turned to Solstice as Fire asked, “Well, Kid? Whatdeyasay?”

Solstice smiled and shrugged.

“Well, I still have to ask the Princess for permission—”

At that moment, Celestia’s voice interrupted, “Of course you can, Flash Sentry.”

Solstice jumped, turned and saw her standing there.

How does she flipping do that?!

“I fully support a good cause,” she added with a smile, “so long as you attend to your other duties, first.”

Solstice bowed and replied, “Yes, Your Highness, and thank you!”

Celestia again disappeared down the corridor behind her. The other band members stared at her as she left and then turned to Solstice. Solstice gave a nod.

“Yeah, she tends to do that a lot.”

Then, he added, “I’ll have to play with you guys sometime after I return from the Crystal Empire. That’ll give you enough time to get everything ready for me to join in. That okay?”

Fire Dancer nodded in reply.

“Yeah, it should be. We’ll have to persuade this comic book company to give us permission to do this and then grab a costume for ya. Wanna look the part, after all!”

“So,” Obsidian asked, “what are we gonna do for that concert with Sol—I mean Flash—?”

He let out a “pff!” and muttered, “Stallions, that’s gonna be hard to remember!”

Fire Dancer chuckled and then replied, “That I do, Obsidian! First, we do our ‘usual routine’ with our greatest hits and all. Then, when we’re down to our last few songs, we give them a big surprise, see. We’ll make a brand-new song that’ll open up our new gig with Flash Sentry. After the concert, Flash can greet the crowd as the comic hero and such. Sound like a plan?”

The others exclaimed in unison, “Yeah, let’s do it!”

At that moment, Solstice added, “And I have just the song that we could do!”

Fire’s eyes widened as he grinned from ear to ear.

“Did ya hear that, guys?” he exclaimed, gesturing at the orange pegasus. “This kid’s one step ahead of us already!”

He turned to Solstice and added, “Well, go on, Bro! Let’s hear it!”

The young stallion took a seat on the bottom of the staircase leading to the upper levels of the castle and laid his red guitar on his lap. He turned off the electronic sound from it and then began to play a song that he had been working on for the past three years. It didn’t have any lyrics yet, since he was concentrating on developing the music portion first. After he had finished the song, the band members and even the Canterlot guards in the room applauded at the performance. Solstice blushed and gave a timid bow in response.

“I haven’t gotten around to making any words for the song yet, but it’s coming along,” he said afterwards.

Fire Dancer nodded, impressed.

“Sounds great to me!” he exclaimed. “Could use a little more work but I smell potential!”

“Sounds awesome, Flash!” Windsurfer complimented with a wink.

Solstice bowed again and replied with quiet pride, “Thanks, guys!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A few more months had passed and the night of the long-anticipated concert had finally arrived. The band members had somehow successfully persuaded the comic book company to have Solstice Rocket (Flash Sentry) pose as the next Flash Sentry in the comics. In addition, the company made it so that the new Flash Sentry in the comics was very similar to Solstice Rocket—a guitar soloist in a famous rock band and a son of a wealthy businesspony (though, they didn’t include him as a captain of the Royal Guard or anything surrounding that due to Princess Celestia’s request). The Deep Drive band members thought that, in this way, Solstice could play in the band and pose as the new Flash Sentry in the comics without getting in trouble for it.

The rock concert that night was to take place in Ponyville as a charity for orphaned foals. Deep Drive was to sponsor raising enough funds to build better places for these foals to live and to grow up in. In this concert, the Deep Drive members were planning to surprise the audience towards the end of the concert by having Solstice (posing as the new Flash Sentry) arrive onstage and play the last few songs with the band. As the concert progressed, Solstice began to grow more nervous. This was the second time that he was playing with a band that he had long admired. Not only that, he was posing as a hero that many foals admired and esteemed to become. He didn’t want to let them down.

As he peeked around the stage to get a better look at the audience, his heart jumped momentarily when he caught sight of his brother sitting with a group of other foals. He looked very happy.

I’ve missed you so much, Clap! It’s only been six months but it feels like an eternity!

Before long, it was time for the big reveal. He took a deep breath and readied himself as he heard Fire Dancer’s voice boom, “All righty, Folks! We have a special guest for ya tonight!”

There was a sound of surprised exclamations from the audience.

“That’s right, Folks!” Fire Dancer declared. “And not just any guest! Oh, no! We have…”

Solstice took another deep breath as his spread his wings.

“…the one…the only…”

Solstice’s eyes narrowed.

Here it goes…!

“...Flash Sentry!”

The crowd roared with excitement and Solstice launched himself into the air as the band played a rock instrumental version of his song that he wrote. After doing some acrobatic flips in the air, he landed on the stage next to Fire Dancer and waved to the ecstatic audience.

“How’s everypony doin’ tonight?” he exclaimed as he waved to the crowd.

The audience cheered louder. He looked towards the direction where Clap and his friends were sitting and saw that their faces were absolutely beaming.

When Solstice had finished greeting the crowd, he joined the rest of the band members and got his red electric guitar from Windsurfer.

“How'd ya like that surprise, Folks?” Fire exclaimed through the microphone.

The crowd cheered loudly in response.

“All righty! So, we have a couple more songs that we’re thinkin’ of doin’ as a wrap-up and Flash Sentry here (he motioned towards Solstice) is willin’ to join in with us.”

The audience roared their approval and the band prepared their instruments for the next song—one that Solstice wrote. Afterwards, Fire Dancer gave the count of three and they started with their song.

In coordinating this song, the band felt that it should be styled as a blend of rock and pop. They agreed that Fire Dancer should play the bass, that Hurricane and Obsidian should sing (since they were pop stars in the past), that the keyboard should be recorded ahead of time, that Stormcloud should be at the drums (as usual), that Windsurfer should play as rhythm guitarist and that Solstice should play as the lead guitarist. In the last round of the chorus, Solstice felt that the lead guitarist should play alongside Hurricane and Obsidian’s singing, as if Solstice’s voice were singing along with them. He remembered that as he and the band worked in developing and rehearsing this song, there was a sense of excitement in the air. They just knew that this song would be a success. All throughout the song, Solstice felt a sense of pride flow through him like a river as he also felt a tingling throughout his entire system. He wrote the music. This was his song—a song that he could call his own.

When they had finished the song, the crowd wildly cheered and whistled their appreciation. Solstice smiled. It was good to see something that he had created making other ponies happy. He felt good doing it.

The rest of the concert progressed smoothly with the band playing two more songs as a finale. Afterwards, Fire Dancer told the ponies in the audience that Flash Sentry (Solstice) would go and personally greet each foal in the crowd as a special treat for them. He also invited all of the adult ponies to come and contribute all the bits that they could in supporting orphaned foals throughout Equestria.

As Solstice trotted down to the audience, all of the foals excitedly came to greet him. As they did so, he shook hooves and talked with each one of them as best he could. He beamed every time he shook hooves with a foal and saw the excited look on his or her face. He loved every minute of that moment talking with each of them. When he finally came to Clap, he smiled and asked, “And who might you be, young colt?”

Clap swallowed as he looked up at Solstice in the traditional blue and yellow Flash Sentry costume. The foal looked up at his idol with eyes sparkling like stars.

“Cl—Clap, Sir,” he stuttered.

Solstice grinned.

“And tell me, Clap…have you read all the comics about me?”

Clap nodded rapidly—so much so that Solstice was afraid that he would hurt his neck.

“Y-yes! Yes! I have! All of them! Every single one!” he exclaimed happily and rapidly.

Solstice chuckled.

“Well! So, you’re quite the reader, huh?”

Clap shrugged.

“Well…I didn’t use to be. See, my brother, Solstice, he…he got me started with it and all.”

As he said this, his expression saddened. Solstice tried not to show his own sadness.

“And this brother of yours,” he inquired. “Is he here in the audience tonight?”

Clap shook his head.

“No, he—something bad happened and…well, we can’t see each other anymore.”

He sighed as he looked down and added, “I wish he was here.”

Solstice nodded understandingly.

Yeah, I feel ya, Bro.

“Say…what’s your last name, by the way?”

“Rocket, Sir.”

“And you said your brother’s name was Solstice, right?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Solstice smiled as he reached for his saddlebag and said, “Well, it just so happens that I’ve a letter from your brother right…here!”

He pulled out a sealed envelope and handled it to the orange colt.

“I ran into him the other day and he told me to give ya this at the concert tonight,” he explained. “Told him I’d be glad to do it.”

Clap’s eyes brightened as he took the letter.

“You’ve met Solstice?! What did he say?”

He chuckled as he added, “I’d bet he just fainted. He’d do that.”

Solstice almost let out a huff but caught himself in time.

Hey…! What’s that supposed to mean?

“Thanks, Flash Sentry, Sir!” Clap further exclaimed.

Solstice nodded with a heroic smile in return.

“Anytime, Clap Rocket! Just doin’ my duty!”

Just then, Clap’s face changed, as if he suddenly noticed something. He leaned closer do Solstice’s face and squinted. Then, his eyes widened.

“Bro…?!” he whispered in shock.

Solstice put a hoof to his lips and let out a quiet “shh”. Then, he spread his hoofs to the sides and said, “I’m sorry ‘bout your brother. You and he must’ve been pretty close.”

At first, Clap looked back at him with a puzzled expression. Then, he noticed that Solstice was subtly motioning for him to give him a hug. Clap got the message—Solstice was trying to speak to him without having any other pony listening in.

In response, Clap pretended to sob as he exclaimed through his sniffs, “Yes…he—he was…the best brother…I ever had!”

He suddenly galloped to the hero and practically threw himself into his hooves while he continued to sob. Solstice put his hooves around his brother and looked around the crowd of foals looking at the scene—some with sad, empathetic expressions on their faces. With all of the foals’ eyes staring at them, Solstice found himself feeling embarrassed for Clap.

Gee, Bro…you didn’t have to overdo it or anything…!

Then, he heard Clap’s voice whisper happily into his ear, “It’s you in there, isn’t it?”

Solstice smiled and leaned to his little brother’s ear.

“Yeah, Bro,” he whispered back, “it’s me.”

I promise you, Clap. This is only temporary. One day, I’ll fix this and we’ll all be a family again. You’ll see.

Author's Note

This is my first fanfic that I've ever written. Comments and feedback are most appreciated! Thank you!

Chapter 1: Solstice Rocket

Solstice Rocket took a deep breath of the fresh, cool night air as he sat on the porch steps of his family’s mansion nestled in the hills overlooking the city of Baltimare and strummed on his old, wooden guitar. It was slightly out of tune but he didn’t care—it was his. Besides, it was better than having no guitar at all. Ever since he was a foal, he had an undying passion for music, especially for the guitar. In fact, six years ago he wanted so much to learn how to play that he had made it himself—using wood that he had found lying around and musical strings that he had bartered from a fellow pony on the streets. He had been having fun learning how to play it ever since.

Baltimare, located along the eastern coast of Equestria, was Solstice’s home city and the third most prosperous city in all of the land of Equestria (the two more prosperous cities being Manehatten and Canterlot—Equestria’s capital city). Apart from Manehatten, Canterlot and Baltimare, there were other cities like Fillydelphia (located north of Baltimare) and Las Pegasus (located on the southernmost part of Equestria). Solstice had never been to Las Pegasus, and he had only been to Manehatten and Fillydephia once or twice in his life.

His family was now one of the wealthiest families in all of Equestria, thanks to his father’s business. He was proud of his father for his undying dedication in making the family business successful, especially considering that he and his family had been living on the streets until a few years ago when the business’s financial success suddenly and miraculously increased.

Solstice brushed his ocean-blue hair back, tilted his head upwards and contemplated the next set of notes that he wanted to play. He had always wanted to create a song of his own, but it was taking him a while to figure it out. When he had finally found the right notes that he was looking for, he played them on his guitar, even adding a trill at the end. A second later, he heard a familiar voice exclaiming, “That sounds awesome, Bro!”

Solstice turned and saw a foal about half his size with a fur coat that was a slightly darker shade of orange than his own. He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head and replied, “Oh, it’s nothing yet. It’s still a work-in-progress.”

The foal leaped in the air and exclaimed, “But you’re always so awesome with the guitar! I wish I could do that!”

Solstice patted his hoof onto his younger brother’s darker blue hair and smiled.

“Well, there’s still time to learn, Clap,” he offered. “Wanna try?”

Clap Rocket’s eyes grew larger than an owl’s.

“Would I?!” he exclaimed with glee.

He sat by his brother’s side as Solstice carefully handed his guitar to him.

“Now,” he instructed, guiding his brother’s right hoof onto the guitar’s neck, “the first thing about being a good guitarist is knowing your basic chords. Let’s start with a simple chord: A.”

He guided his brother’s hoof so that he was holding down the third, fourth and fifth guitar strings. Afterwards, he told him to go ahead and strum the chord, making a clear, musical sound.

“Very good, Clap!” he nodded. “Now, let’s try a D.”

He guided his brother’s hoof so that he was pressing down on the fourth, fifth and sixth strings and Clap gave the guitar another strum. This time, some of the notes in the chord sounded muffled and Solstice looked closely at his brother’s hoof on the guitar’s neck.

“Some of the notes aren’t sounding clear ‘cause you’re not holding down the strings hard enough,” Solstice observed.

Clap strained as he held down the strings in his right hoof and strummed again, the musical chord now sounding clearer than before. Clap grunted from the strain and the pressure on his hoof.

“Whew! This is tough!”

Solstice nodded in agreement. Playing a musical instrument definitely wasn’t as easy as most ponies would have believed. It took many hours of daily practice and dedication. With the guitar, it also required a couple of sore hooves along the way. But, despite the frustration and the pain, the end result was well worth it—he had the ability to play whatever song he wanted. Of course, he knew that playing music wasn’t for everypony.

“Yeah, it is tough,” he concurred, “but it’s all worth it in the end. It just takes a lot of practice.”

Clap lowered his head and sighed as he handed the guitar back to his brother.

“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know if I’ll ever be as good as you at it.”

Solstice put a hoof around Clap’s shoulders.

“You can, if you want to! And, even if you can’t, you still can do things better than I can!”

Clap looked up at him.

“Like what?”

“Well, for one thing, you’re very good at baseball. Your Cutie Mark even proves it!”

Clap looked at his flank with the image of a baseball and a baseball bat with a lightning bolt on it. He remembered when he first got it. A year ago, he wasn’t much of a baseball player. He would keep missing the ball, whether he was at bat or as a catcher. One day, there was a big baseball game between his school in Baltimare and a rival school in Fillydelphia. He had the opportunity to be part of the team but, because there were so many other foals in the team, he doubted that he would ever have the chance to play a big role in the actual game. Luckily, he got that chance halfway through the game and was able to play as a batter. He remembered that the first round was hard for him, as he was struck out in a matter of seconds. He remembered feeling like a failure, both to himself and to the team. When it was the rival team’s turn to bat, he was assigned to be a catcher in the outfield. He hated that position, as it was nowhere near the action. Finally, the game was at a tie and it was Baltimare’s turn to bat. As he sat watching his teammates step to bat, he gritted his teeth, hoping that they would win the game before it was his turn to bat. To his dismay, no pony did. Before long, it was his turn to bat.

He remembered feeling a pit in his stomach as he trotted to the plate with his baseball bat in hoof. When he had reached it, he adjusted his baseball cap nervously and he readied himself for the first pitch. Swoosh! The ball whizzed towards him and he automatically took a hard swing. The next thing he heard was the sound of the ball hitting a baseball glove behind him.

“Strrrrike one!” the umpire bellowed.

The tension was building. He had two more tries before he was out and his team would lose the game. He readied himself again for the next pitch. Swoosh! Again, the ball whizzed towards him and he again swung at it with his bat. Unfortunately, the next sound he heard was the ball hitting the catcher’s baseball glove behind him.

"Strrrrike two!”

Large beads of sweat now started to trickle down his face and neck. He took off his cap and rubbed it across his face in an effort to dry his face. It all came down to this one hit. If he successfully batted the ball, his team would win and he would become the hero of the day. If he missed the ball, his team would lose and it all would be his fault. He knew that he couldn’t afford to miss this next hit.

With a deep breath, he readied himself for the ball. A second later, however, panic overtook him and he found himself frozen with his bat on the ground. He couldn’t do this! He knew how much of an average hitter he was. If he went through with this, he would be responsible for his team’s loss! How could he face his teammates after that?

Then, he heard a familiar voice shout, “You can do it, Bro! I know you can!”

He looked towards the stands from whence the sound had come and saw Solstice standing higher than the other ponies in the crowd around him. He had his hoof in the air and a big smile on his face.

“Your name’s Clap, for pony’s sake!” he added. “Knock that ball out of the ballpark like a thunderbolt! Show it who’s boss!”

As he listened to those words, Clap couldn’t help but smile. Solstice seemed to have just the right words to say. He started to feel empowered, even though he still a little nervous of failing. His brother believed in him and that was enough for him.

His eyes narrowed with renewed concentration as he again readied himself for the incoming pitch with fixed determination. He closed his eyes. All he needed to do was believe in himself and concentrate. Swoosh…smack! There was a loud crack, as if lightning had struck the field, followed by a deafening sound of cheering. He remembered feeling a power in his hooves unlike anything he had ever felt before as he felt something hit his bat. He opened one eye and gasped in shock as he saw the ball soaring upwards and away from him. Not only did he hit the ball, but he also managed to hit it all the way to the other side of the ballpark!

For a moment, he only stood and stared at the ball in the air. Then, he heard shouting from the spectating ponies for him to run…which he immediately and joyously did. As he galloped from First Base to Second Base to Third Base, a feeling of immense pride and excitement overwhelmed him. When he had reached Home Base, his teammates, his coach and his brother were already there to greet him like a conquering hero. They lifted him onto their shoulders and paraded him across the field in victory. It was then that his Cutie Mark—a baseball bat with a baseball and a thunderbolt in between them—appeared, because he had believed in himself and hit the ball like a clap of thunder. Now, one year later, that memory still inspired him to always have confidence in himself and in others. However, he knew that he couldn’t have all the credit.

“But if you hadn’t reminded me to believe in myself,” he pointed out as he turned to his older brother, “I wouldn’t have knocked the ball out of the ballpark like that! You were a big part of it, too, Big Bro!”

Solstice grinned as he pointed a hoof at him.

“But it’s a fact that you can play baseball better than I ever can!”

Clap jumped as he exclaimed with pride, “You bet!”

His brother’s grin grew wider as he added, “And you know what else you’re good at better than me?”

The orange foal stopped as a look of uneasy suspense crossed his face. He had noticed his brother’s sly grin.

“What?” he asked cautiously.

Solstice leaned closer towards him with a sly look on his face.

“You’re good at ‘playin’ it cool’ with the fillies.”

He gave him a wink and his little brother immediately retreated backwards with an unmistakable expression of disgust.

“The fillies?! Are you crazy?! Yuck!”

His tongue flew out of his opened mouth like a lizard’s as his head quickly shook, making his tongue wag from side to side.

“Fillies…are…weird! They do nothing but play with dolls, wear stupid, fancy outfits and sit around and giggle all day!”

He let out a loud groan and buried his face in his hooves. Solstice laughed as he put a hoof on his shoulder.

“I’m kidding! Seriously, though, you do have a way with other ponies. You know just what to say to them and you’re never afraid to speak your mind.”

He sighed as he turned away and sadly looked up at the starry sky.

“I wish I could be like that. But every time I try, I just end up saying the wrong thing or looking just…awkward.”

He shook his head, remembering all of the times when he had tried to impress a mare but ended up knocking into a wall or bumping into something. Other times, he would say something that he thought was cool at the time but it would later turn out that it actually wasn’t. Also, he lacked one other thing that many ponies his age already had.

He looked at his flank where a Cutie Mark should have been.

“I don’t even have my Cutie Mark yet,” he added with another sigh.

At that moment, he felt a hoof on his shoulder and turned to see his brother looking back at him.

“Don’t worry, Bro! You’ll get one soon! And when you get it, it’ll be the best! Trust me!”

Solstice smiled back.

“I sure hope so, Clap.”

Clap grinned and bro-hoofed with him. At that moment, they heard a familiar voice calling from inside the mansion, “Master Solstice, Master Clap! Dinner is ready! Your father wants you to come inside!”

Clap groaned.

“Gee, I wonder what’s for dinner…? ‘Champignon Parmentier au Gratin’…‘Soupe a l’Oignon’?”

As he said this, his voice flawlessly changed into a French accent. Solstice struggled not to laugh. Not only was he good at speaking with other ponies, but he was also good at speaking all of the accents.

“You know what’s funny?” he said, regaining his breath. “A few years ago, we would’ve begged for a big house, fancy food and all the money we want. Now, we can’t stand it!”

He chuckled and added with a shrug, “Go figure!”

Clap sighed sadly.

“What I wouldn’t give for a hayburger right now….”

“Yeah, I know how you feel,” Solstice agreed with a sigh.

Then, he smiled and added, running a hoof through his jet-blue hair, “But hey! It’s not so bad! At least we have food to eat, right?”

Clap shrugged with an understanding nod. They both remembered a time when they went to bed hungry, wondering where their next meal would come from. They remembered how it was like to live on the streets…to smell the dusty, suffocating scent of the alleyways, to hear the noisy clatter of ponies’ hooves and wagons from morning until evening, and to feel the constant irritation of unwashed, unkempt hair and fur.

Though they didn’t remember much of it, their parents told them that they were not always poor. When Solstice was born, his father was a successful businesspony working in the downtown area. They owned a modest home and were very happy. However, shortly after Clap was born five years later, the family business suddenly went under, forcing them to live on the streets. For the next several years, the family struggled to make ends meet while their father tried to get the family business back up and running.

Although life was hard for the Rocket family in those days, Solstice and Clap enjoyed many great memories. At first, Solstice was the only colt old enough in the family that would take odd jobs to help provide the necessary bits for the rest of the family. Then, when Clap was old enough, they both would work together, side by side. They fondly remembered when they used to work as newspaper colts for the city’s newspaper company, The Baltimare Daily. They would try to compete with each other to see which one of them could sell the most newspapers the fastest. This required a basic knowledge about advertising and how to adequately persuade other ponies, of which Solstice was basically average—enough to sell a sufficient amount of newspapers each day. Clap, however, could sell a newspaper as if it was candy, and would, consequently, always win their competition by a landslide. Solstice didn’t mind it, though. He already knew from the moment that Clap could talk that he was the better of the two when it came to charisma. Clap would always say that he wanted to become just like his big brother, but sometimes it was Solstice who wished that he could become just like his little brother, Clap.

Their trip down memory lane was interrupted by the same familiar voice from the mansion calling again, louder this time, “Master Solstice! Master Clap! Come inside, please! You know how Master Golden feels about punctuality!”

Solstice turned to his brother.

“Yeah…we’d better be getting inside before we get in trouble,” he said sheepishly.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The inside of the Rocket family mansion was just as elegant as the outside. All of the walls were pristine white with a golden trim and were decorated with hand-crafted carvings of vines and flowers along the edges. On either side of the room lay a curved staircase that led to the second floor, a balcony with more rooms and hallways on either side. On the bottom of each staircase were two busts of famous ponies that flanked either side of the staircase railings. On the ceiling hung a large golden chandelier holding many candles that gave light to the spacious lobby below it. The floor was of solid white marble that was always cool to the touch. Also on either side of the lobby, lay archways leading into other rooms, such as the living room, the dining room, the family room and the lounge area.

As Solstice and Clap entered the lobby, an old gray pony with white hair that barely covered his head and wearing a black suit with a silver bow-tie met them halfway.

“There you are, Master Solstice and Master Clap!” he sighed in greeting, his voice carrying an unmistakable, dignified English accent.

“Sorry for being late, Mr. Spot On,” Solstice said in reply as he bowed his head respectfully. “Where are Mom and Dad?”

The butler motioned towards an archway leading into the dining room and, then, motioned upstairs.

“Master Golden is already in the dining room waiting for you, and Mistress Glitter is upstairs preparing for dinner.”

Clap rolled his eyes and muttered to Solstice, “Again? Mom would even ‘prepare’ for running from a Timberwolf, if one was chasing her!”

Solstice’s eyes widened as he let out a gasp and exclaimed, “Clap! That’s not very nice to say!”

Clap immediately had a defensive look on his face.

“Well, it’s true!” he contended.

“Just because it’s true doesn’t mean you can just go ahead and say it,” Solstice explained. “It’s not the right thing to do. Remember what Mom said…?”

Clap sighed as he joined in unison with his brother as they quoted, “…‘there’s a time and a place for everything.’”

He rolled his eyes and finished in a monotone, “Yeah, I know….”

Then, he looked up at him with a wide grin and added, “But ya have to admit…it’s kinda funny ‘cause it’s true, right?”

Solstice froze. He didn’t want to but he had to admit that it was funny. Glitter Rocket was renowned in their family as the one who would always make herself look pretty for everything, even for breakfast. He didn’t know when or how she started becoming obsessed with her self-image but, in the end, it didn’t matter. She was still the best mother that he could ever ask for. She was kind and thoughtful. He remembered when he and his mother were out shopping shortly after they became wealthy a few years ago and passed a pony who looked as if he had seen better days—his fur was disheveled, his eyes were drooped and his clothes were very much worn. After a few seconds, his mother stopped and told him that they ought to go back and see if they could do anything to help that pony. He followed his mother and, after some time, they finally found the pony. Afterwards, he and Glitter talked for some time and she discovered that this pony had been going through some hard times and was currently looking for work. She subsequently gave him information for several places of work and even invited his wife to come to a sewing circle that she was holding that very weekend. When they had left, she turned to Solstice and said, “It’s a good thing that we went back to help him when we did, don’t you think?”

Since then, he had always held great respect for his mother and always strived to follow her example.

He gave a shrug and admitted, “Well—maybe—yeah, that was kinda funny. But Mom’s still the best mom we could ever ask for.”

Clap immediately nodded.

“Oh, yeah! The best! She positively rocks!”

Solstice smiled at that. Clap may have joked about their mother sometimes but he also knew how exceptional a mother Glitter Rocket was. He remembered when he was younger how he and Glitter would go to the city park and practice baseball for a few hours. Even recently, she still played baseball with him in the park every now and then. Clap was always impressed with his mother because of that. His father used to play ball with him but, ever since the family became wealthy, he had become too busy with work to do it anymore.

Just then, an authoritative-sounding voice called from the dining room. It was their father.

“Solstice? Clap? Is that you out there? Well, don’t just stand out there idling! Dinner is ready! Mr. Spot On…!”

The butler turned slightly over his shoulder.

“Y-yes, Master Golden?”

“Where are those napkins that I told you to get?” the voice chided. “I don’t see any here!”

The butler swallowed and replied, “Y-yes, Master Golden! Right away, Sir!”

With that, he dashed towards the pantry to get more napkins. Solstice and Clap watched him go and sighed.

“Why is Dad so bossy today?” Clap asked.

Solstice’s eyebrow cocked in thought.

“Dad’s…just having one of those days, I guess,” he replied with a shrug.

“Solstice! Clap!” their father called again. “Where are you? Are you still out there?”

They galloped into the dining room where a distinguished-looking stallion with golden fur and blue hair sat in a soft white chair at one end of a long, white rectangular table. Like the lobby, the dining room was also white with a smaller golden chandelier hanging above the table. The golden-furred stallion sitting at the table raised his gaze from the many-paged book that he was reading to look at his two sons.

“You both are late,” he reprimanded in a low tone, his head lowered slightly so that his fiery red eyes peered over the top of his round, black-rimmed glasses. “You know my rules regarding punctuality. It is not polite to keep other ponies waiting.”

Golden Rocket was a wealthy and successful business pony who held great expectations for his sons. He would take the time throughout the day to teach them the ways of the world—business and time management, finance, promotion tactics, etc. Though Solstice and Clap found these lessons rather boring, to say the least, they recognized that these things would be important later on in their lives.

Golden was strict but was also loving and caring when the situation warranted. Solstice remembered one time when he had accidently tripped over his guitar and broke the neck. When he went to his father for help, he was in a meeting with a few other businessponies. However, despite being busy, Golden excused himself for a few minutes and fixed his guitar. Solstice’s wooden guitar still had the thin layer of duct tape wrapped around the middle of the neck where he had broken it. If he could describe his father, he would have to borrow what his mother had said about him.

“Your dad is like one of those candies,” he remembered her saying to him one time. “He’s hard on the outside but soft on the inside…and sweet all around.”

By just looking at Golden Rocket, one could instantly assume that he was a prestigious businesspony. He was taller than most Earth ponies—slightly taller than Princess Luna. His hair and tail were stylized very similar to a zebra’s (hair combed forward and tail full and uniformed). He also had a thin blue mustache that made him look even more refined. Apart from his natural appearance, he also wore a long black suit coat that stretched all the way to his hindquarters, a dark gray vest underneath, a red tie that matched the color of his eyes, and black horseshoes that completed the overall look. If the weather was cold enough, he would also wear a long black trench coat that was the same length as his suit coat. With his overall appearance, he could stand out in any crowd of ponies. Sometimes, he appeared rather intimidating.

“We’re sorry, Dad,” Solstice apologized as he bowed his head respectfully.

The dad nodded approvingly and smiled slightly as he kept his stern demeanor.

“Very well, then. I accept your apology, on the condition that you both will be more punctual in the future. Is that understood?”

His two sons nodded.

“Yes, Sir.”

Then, there was the topic of dinner.

“What’s for dinner, Dad?” Solstice asked.

His father’s red-colored eyes peered at the long, white table before him laden with extravagant, delicious foods set ornamentally on various decorative dishes.

“I would assume ‘Champignon Parmentier au Gratin’ and ‘Soupe a l’Oignon,’ by the looks of it,” he replied, returning to reading his thick, hard-backed book.

Solstice saw Clap at the corner of his eye giving him a look that clearly suggested, “Told ya.”

At that moment, a female voice announced from behind them, “I’m here! So sorry I’m late, everypony!”

They all turned and saw a heliotrope-colored pegasus mare dressed in a fine white gown standing under the archway. Her cotton candy-colored hair was combed down in front so that it formed bangs across her forehead. The lower-half of her hair wrapped halfway around one side of her neck in an elegant fashion and the end was curled into several frills. Her tail was long and curled in a series of spirals much like a party streamer. She also wore pure white purls that gleamed in the light like tiny stars. She was Glitter Rocket, the mother of the household, and she indeed looked like perfection.

“My, my! Darling!” Golden exclaimed as he stood and put his book away on one of the bookshelves nearby. “You look absolutely radiant tonight!”

The two sons nodded in agreement. The pinkish-purple pegasus blushed and smiled as she crossed her front hooves.

“You really think so?”

“Trust us, Darling,” Golden replied with a bright smile, “you look positively divine!”

Solstice saw his mother blush a bit at that. Then, his father motioned towards the table.

“Now, let us sit down and eat.”

With that, they took their places at the dinner table—Golden at one end, Glitter at the opposite end, and Solstice and Clap at either side of the table’s width. The food was actually made by Glitter Rocket herself. She insisted on it. She was taught how to cook by her mother in Cloudsdale. Ever since then, she always cooked for the family. Though Clap and Solstice did appreciate all of the hard work that their mother had done in preparing their meals, they were growing weary of the extravagantness of it all. They just wanted something simple, for a change. But they never dared to ask, probably due to not wanting to offend or upset her. After all, she took much time in preparing it. The least that they could do was show their gratitude by partaking.

As the family sat down, Solstice noticed that Clap was reading a comic book. A feeling of dread for his brother came over him. He knew how their father had forbidden any kind of reading material at the dinner table. Clap was going to get in trouble.

Sure enough, his fears were realized when he heard their father’s voice suddenly say, “Clap?”

Clap immediately froze with his comic book open in front of him. Solstice could see from the surprised look in his eyes that he had completely forgotten about that family rule.

“What did we agree on about any kind of reading material at the dinner table?” his father chastised with a tone that suggested gentle sternness.

Clap lowered his head, closed the book and placed it on the corner of the table.

“Sorry, Dad,” he timidly said.

Golden nodded and distinctly tapped on the table with his hoof. A second later, Mr. Spot On hurriedly came to his side.

“Y-yes, Master Golden?” he inquired, giving a slight bow.

Golden turned his gaze towards the butler.

“Would you kindly take Clap’s comic book back upstairs to his room?” he requested.

The elderly butler nodded and came to Clap’s side. He put his hoof on the comic book and slid it off the tabletop. Clap didn’t respond. Solstice, meanwhile, silently sighed in relief. He did not know why he always grew tense whenever his father gave correction. Was it his father’s fiery, deep-set eyes that made him intimidating or was it his authoritative-sounding voice? He had to agree that it may have been the combination of both. And yet, his father was actually the best in giving correction—he was neither too lenient nor too harsh in his delivery.

“Did you bring the napkins like I asked, Spot On?” Golden further asked the aged pony.

The butler stopped and turned.

“Y-yes, Sir,” he replied, motioning towards the table. “I placed them on the table for you, as requested.”

Golden smiled and nodded.

“Thank you, Spot On. I shall let you know if I need any more of your assistance.”

The butler smiled back (in a relieved way, Solstice observed) and made his way upstairs to Clap’s room with the comic book.

Weird….

“You seem a little on edge this evening, Dear,” Glitter observed as they began eating their dinner. “Is there anything wrong?”

The golden stallion didn't look up.

“They came by today again...” he replied in a terse tone, “Fancy Pants' little minions.”

Glitter stopped for a moment.

“Oh? And what did they want?”

He waved his hoof dismissively.

“Oh, they merely kept bothering me to go and see Fancy Pants about something trivial. It is not important at the moment.”

Glitter looked down and replied, “All right then, Golden…if you insist.”

With that, she turned to Clap as the family continued with their dinner.

“So, how was school today, Clap?”

Clap groaned as he put his hooves onto his face.

“One word…boring! And I have a math test tomorrow!”

Golden looked up in response.

“And what is wrong with math? You have done rather well with that class, if I am not mistaken.”

Clap hesitated.

“Well, yeah…”

“Then, you should have no problems with that, am I right?”

Clap sighed.

“It’s gonna be on fractions.”

Golden nodded with an understanding “hmm.” Then, he added, “Not an area of study that is to your liking, is it?”

He places a hoof on the table and declared with a smile, “Well, do not fret! If you study and do your part, I know that you will do well!”

Glitter nodded in agreement.

“That’s right, Clap! We know you’ll do all right!”

Clap looked up with a confident smile.

“You bet I will!”

“That’s the spirit!” Golden exclaimed, bro-hoofing with him. Solstice smiled at that. He wished that he could somehow capture that moment in a picture…if only he had a camera to capture it with.

“So, Solstice,” his mother asked, turning to him, “how’s your job-searching going? Any good leads?”

Solstice shook his head.

“No, not yet,” he sighed in response. He had been searching for a good job for about a few months now but still had no success.

“Well, keep trying, Solstice,” his mother reassured. “You’ll find one soon.”

Solstice nodded with a sad smile.

“Right.”

“Remember what I taught you, Solstice,” Golden reminded him. “Persistence is key to finding a successful occupation. Also, do not forget the importance of a good résumé. Employers will take a special look at—”

He stopped and thought for a moment.

“Come to think of it, I do not recall that I have ever asked you what your end-goal was regarding a future occupation….”

Solstice hesitated for a minute. His father had given him counsel and help with business-related or everyday life things. He knew what his father would think about his answer.

“I—I want to become…a rock star—at least, that’s what I’m thinking about right now.”

As he had expected, his father looked back at him with a blank expression and simply replied, “Oh.”

After a period of silence, his father said with a caring sigh, “Solstice…you know my stance in this.”

Solstice looked down and didn’t reply.

“Becoming a rock star will not help you become successful in life. I know it is a hard fact, but it is a fact, nevertheless. Business, law, construction, accounting—those are more practical career choices.”

He paused as he saw Solstice still looking down sadly.

“Understand, Solstice…” he said as he leaned towards Solstice and put a hoof on his shoulder, “all that I want is the best for you. Nothing else.”

Solstice nodded.

“I know.”

He clearly knew that his father wanted only what was best for him. Ever since the family had become wealthy, Golden was always teaching him something about business, about managing time and bits, and such. Although he felt that he could budget his bits and understand and appreciate businessponies for all that they did, he still didn’t see himself as any businesspony—or becoming one, for that matter—by any means. He honestly saw himself as a rock star, playing his guitar and becoming famous. However, he knew that no matter how much he tried to convince his father, Golden would never approve of that decision. Still, he had to admit that he did understand where his father was coming from—regarding his point of view. After all, Golden Rocket had earned his way to the ‘top of the corporate ladder,’ so to speak. He understood the value hard work and how to manage one’s time and bits. He understood the secrets of how to ultimately become successful in life.

“Start your career-searching endeavors with jobs that will help build yourself as a candidate for the future career that you desire,” he had said when Solstice first set out to find a job. “Experience is the key to achieving and ultimately becoming successful in your desired profession. If you don’t have enough experience in that particular career, no employer in it will take you seriously.”

And yet, he knew that he could never be like his father, no matter how much he tried. After all, his father was a wealthy and successful businesspony—everypony respected him! By contrast, Solstice was an odd pony who did not have many career options, or so he himself had concluded. Oh, he knew very well the odds of becoming successful as a musician or a songwriter was…not very good. Still, he wanted to try…at least try. If only his father would let him do so.

He sighed. Of course, Golden would never approve of that in the end. So, he had usually kept his dreams and plans a secret from him.

“I’ll try my best to apply what you’ve taught me, Dad,” he replied.

His father smiled and nodded in approval.

“Do not worry. If you are persistent, I am confident that you will succeed.”

Solstice managed a smile back.

Yes, but…it’s different with me.

“Thanks, Dad.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After the family finished their dinner, Solstice and Clap were allowed to be excused to do whatever they wanted to do before retiring to bed. Clap went to his room (no doubt to finish reading his comic book) while Solstice decided to play his guitar outside for a few more minutes. He liked playing his guitar in the night air; for it was cool and refreshing and helped him feel more relaxed. However, after several minutes of thoughtfully strumming his guitar and receiving no added inspiration for his song, he decided to give up and go inside the mansion.

The family mansion had a total of eight bedrooms, each one colored with various shades of white and stylized much like the Victorian era—complete with hand-crafted golden carvings of Alicorns (Pegasi with unicorn horns) and foliage. Golden and Glitter Rocket’s room was a large room located on the far southeast corner of the mansion. Their bed was a queen-sized bed that had cream-colored bedding with fringes on the edges. On either side of the bed stood a white and gold nightstand with a small white shaded lamp on top, and on the walls above each nightstand hung a small, decorative, oval mirror. On the other side of the room lay a small, round, white glass-topped coffee table with two white soft-cushioned chairs, all set before a cozy-looking fireplace. Above the fireplace hung a beautifully-knitted fiery-red scarf that Glitter gave to Golden when they first dated. It was flanked on either side by two vases filled with cream-colored roses. The bedroom itself also had two large windows—one next to the bed and the other next to the fireplace on the other side of the room. These two windows revealed a commanding view of the city of Baltimare, along with its coast and the hills surrounding it. On the ceiling hung a sliver chandelier that was as large as the one hanging in the dining room with glass ornamentations hanging from it like frozen droplets.

Like his parents’ room, Solstice’s room was also colored with various shades of white and had a nightstand next to his twin-sized bed, which looked similar to his parents’ bed except his bedding was ocean-blue in color. However, unlike his parents’ room, there was no fireplace at one corner of the room or a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Instead, his ceiling was made out of regular plaster mixed with a glow-in-the-dark substance that glowed in the nighttime, causing it to produce a starry effect, as if he was lying outside and looking up at the stars at night. He also had a desk and chair, a closet and a bookshelf, all of which were made out of fine oak wood. Apart from his furniture, Solstice had a record player set on his desk where he would play music from popular artists, including Deep Drive (his favorite rock band). The only window in the room revealed the view of the city, along with the mansion’s outer courtyard below.

Clap’s room was stylized similarly to Solstice’s except it didn’t have a record player or a ceiling that had a glow-in-the-dark effect. Instead, his room had a miniature hoop for soft basketball (not a real basketball), a built-in set for practicing softball (so that he wouldn’t accidentally break anything in his room with a real baseball) and a rack built into the wall to store his various baseball bats. He also had a desk, a bookshelf, a closet and a nightstand next to his bed. His bed was designed similar to Solstice’s, except it was slightly smaller and the bedding was dark green in color. Also like Solstice’s room, Clap’s room had only one window. However, unlike Solstice’s room, his window did not have much of a view. Clap always felt that he had gotten the "short-end of the stick" when it came to the view from his window; for instead of the city or the hills surrounding it or even the outer courtyard in front of the mansion, his only window in his room held the “grand-old view” of...a tree. Yes, a tree—more like a tree trunk blocking almost anything else from view.

Mr. Spot On’s room, which looked rather plain but elegant, was located on the first floor in the northern part of the mansion. The other four rooms were guest rooms—two located upstairs and two located downstairs. As for other servants besides Spot On, they came at certain hours of the day to clean and to tidy-up the place. They were paid, of course—Golden Rocket made sure of that.

As Solstice put his guitar back in his room on top of his bed, he decided to go see what Clap was doing. He went to his brother’s room and found the door halfway open. He peeked around the corner of the door to see what his brother was doing. Clap was sitting on his bed with his comic book opened in front of him, completely immersed in what he was reading.

“Can I come in?” Solstice asked after knocking.

Clap looked up and nodded.

“Sure thing, Bro!”

Then, with a more sophisticated flare, he added after clearing his throat, “Oh, excuse me. Welcome to my humble abode.”

All throughout the walls in his room hung posters of famous sports idols, including a few posters of “Rapid-fire” Easton, a famous baseball player who first began his career in Baltimare. He was also Clap’s idol.

Solstice chuckled as he stepped into the room.

“Oh, you’re rockin’ those accents, aren’t ya, Clap!”

Clap gave a wink and replied, “Hey, I aim to please!”

Solstice approached his bedside and looked at the opened comic book lying in front of the orange foal.

“What’s this you’re reading?”

The young foal looked back at the comic book.

“It’s the new Flash Sentry comic. It’s so cool!”

Solstice nodded with an impressed expression. He used to read those comics but eventually grew out of them. He remembered how he used to read the first Flash Sentry comic series when he was just a foal and how fascinated he was with it. After the family had to live on the streets, he would borrow them from a friend every time the newest one was released. However, after the family business began to become successful again and he started attending school, he couldn’t find the time to read any more of them. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t read any of the comics in four years.

“They’re still releasing new ones?” he commented, surprised that the series was still going.

“Yep!” Clap nodded.

Solstice leaned a little to see the comic. The comic showed a deep-red pegasus stallion dressed in a flashy blue superhero suit with equally flashy yellow lightning bolts on the edges of his hooves and on his chest. What made him even more iconic was his yellowish hair, which even looked like a big lightning bolt penetrating out from the back of his head all the way down his neck in a zig-zag-like pattern. His yellowish tail also looked like a lightning bolt as much as his hair did. On his hindquarters was his Cutie Mark—a blue shield with a yellow lightning bolt in the front.

Solstice nodded. This comic superhero was exactly like the one he had seen when he had first read the comic as a foal.

The comic strip that Clap was reading showed Flash Sentry fighting several masked stallions who were threatening to steal from a unicorn couple, who were both dressed very elegantly and formally. Flash had a look of pure confidence on his face as he stared at the attacking masked stallions.

“You won’t hurt these ponies while I’m around!” the bubble over the superhero exclaimed.

The next series of scenes showed Flash Sentry fighting against the masked ponies until they were all finally tied to a nearby lamppost. The hero turned to the two frightened unicorns.

“You two okay?” the bubble above him read.

“Yes…thanks to you, Flash Sentry,” the bubble over the male unicorn replied. “Those ruffians were about to rob us of all our bits and jewelry! Thank you, Sir! We shall never forget you!”

Flash waved his hoof.

“No need to thank me. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

He crouched in preparation for launching himself to the sky.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are other ponies that need savin’.”

With that, the comic showed him launching into the air, creating a blue and yellow trail in the night sky.

Solstice nodded approvingly.

“Just like those good-old Flash Sentry comics I used to read! They haven’t changed a bit.”

“Aren’t they great?” Clap exclaimed. “I’ve read ten of them just this week!”

Solstice’s eyebrows rose.

“Ten? You’re just burning right through those, aren’t ya! What happens when you run out of them to read?”

Clap’s eyes beamed.

“Then, I’ll just have to survive ‘till the next one comes out!”

Solstice let out a laugh.

“You’re funny, Clap!”

Clap shrugged.

“You saw how good they are. Could you blame me?”

Solstice smiled.

“You know, I believe I’d be the same way if I was still into all that myself.”

He sighed as his expression turned sad.

“Which reminds me…I’ve got that job interview tomorrow.”

Clap cocked his eyebrow.

“Really? You’ve never mentioned anything about that before. What’s the job?”

“Selling music records in Red Lightning’s Records,” he replied with a shrug.

Clap’s eyes widened.

“You mean, the most popular music store in Baltimare?! And you didn’t tell me this before?!”

He threw his hooves in the air and let out a whoop.

“That’s totally awesome, Bro—!”

He was cut short by his brother suddenly putting a hoof to his mouth and making a “shh” sound.

“Not so loud, Buddy!” he whispered. “If Dad were to find out, he’d make me quit the job before I even got started!”

Clap nodded understandingly as Solstice removed his hoof from his mouth.

“Oh, yeah, right,” he apologized. “Sorry, Bro.”

He smiled and added, “Cool, though—that you got the job, I mean.”

His brother looked back at him with a slight grin.

“Well, I haven’t got the job yet, Clap,” he pointed out. “I still have to pass that interview with Red Lightning first.”

“You mean, the boss of the music store?” Clap asked.

Solstice nodded.

“Yep, and I’ve heard that he’s pretty ‘particular’ with whom he wants to work for him.”

He took a deep breath as he rubbed his hooves together nervously.

“To tell you the truth, Clap…I’m…I’m pretty nervous about this. I mean, what if I blow this? What if I say the wrong thing? What if—?”

“Whoa, easy there, Bro!” Clap interrupted, putting a hoof out. “Don’t gallop too far ahead! Leave all that for tomorrow morning!”

Solstice took a deep breath and sighed.

“Yeah…you’re right. I keep doing that, don’t I?”

“You just have to focus on the moment, that’s all,” Clap explained.

“Do you really think I can do it?”

Clap gave a wink.

“Well, there’s one way to find out! Let’s see what you’ve got!”

Solstice took a deep breath.

“I’m—I’m here for the job that you had advertised in the paper and…I was wondering if that job was…um, still available.”

Clap sat on his bed and grimaced. Solstice looked absolutely timid as he said those words, as if he was unsure of himself. He wasn't an expert, but he knew for certain that no employer would take him seriously if he introduced himself like that.

“That…was terrible,” Clap said bluntly, motioning at his brother’s performance.

Solstice let out a huff.

“Gee, well, thanks a lot, Clap!”

Clap hopped off his bed.

“What you need is some confidence!” he declared. “Repeat after me….”

He cleared his throat, straightened and puffed out his chest with confidence in his eyes.

“My name’s Solstice Rocket,” he declared, his voice deep and manly. “I can spin a record faster than pizza—!”

He paused and shook his head as his eyebrows furrowed.

“No, wait, that’s terrible! Hold on, let me try again.”

Solstice couldn’t help but burst out a chuckle or two. Clap cleared his throat again and was about to try again when his brother interrupted him.

“Clap, it’s fine. I’ll try again.”

Clap stopped and turned to Solstice.

“Okay, then!” he exclaimed with a smile as he climbed onto his bed again. “Let’s hear it!”

Solstice straightened his posture, cleared his throat and spoke more clearly and less timidly.

“My name’s Solstice Rocket. I saw the job position that you advertised in the paper and I was wondering if it was still available.”

Clap gave a shrug with his head. Though what he had said could have been better phrased, his delivery was much better than last time—more confident and bold in its delivery.

“Very good, Bro,” he said with a nod. “That was better, much better! But it could be even better….”

Solstice sighed and gave a slight chuckle.

“Since when did you suddenly become the expert in this stuff, Clap?”

Clap shrugged.

“Don’t know. I guess I’ve just watched Dad a lot. I guess I’ve had the habit of…‘eavesdropping’ on your little talks with Dad, too.”

He grinned and added, “Probably that’s how I’ve gotten to be so smart, huh?”

Solstice also grinned as he rubbed the top of his brother’s head.

“Maybe…or probably ‘cause you’re just plain smart!”

They both laughed at that.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Before retiring to bed, Solstice thought about going downstairs to get a glass of cool water. As he was walking down the stairs to the lobby, however, he stopped when he heard his parents talking about Clap. He leaned against the railing of the stairs to better hear what they were saying.

“Clap shows potential,” his father was saying. “He has some rough edges but he has the charisma and the drive to win. He shows much promise.”

“He certainly does,” his mother agreed. “What about Solstice?”

Solstice perked his ears up to better listen.

“Solstice…?” his father replied with a hesitant sigh. “To be truthful, he—he worries me.”

Solstice took a step back. He made his father worried? Whatever did he do to make him so worried about him like this?

“What do you mean, Dearest?” he heard his mother ask.

There was another sigh from Golden.

“Solstice also shows much promise,” he explained, “but I believe that he somehow…resents me.”

Solstice’s eyes snapped open as he let out a soft gasp in shock.

He thinks that I resent him? But—but I don’t!

“Golden—!” Glitter softly breathed out in shock. “How can you say that? Solstice looks up to you more than anypony else! To him, you are his idol!”

Solstice heard his father breathe sadly.

“I know. I know. But no matter what, I can still see how much he is different from me. He knows it as well. I know he does! I…I can understand why he would resent me—he and I do not have that much in common, especially when it comes to our opinions regarding which path he ought to take in life. He prefers to become a rock star and live his dream while I want him to become more practically-minded like me.”

He sighed again, this time more heavily.

“I fear that we will never see eye to eye in anything! I fear that I am…a terrible father!”

Solstice peeked around the corner of the wall that was blocking his vision in order to better see what was happening in the living room. As he did so, he saw his father sitting on one of the white sofas with his head hung and his face buried in his hooves. His mother came by his side and put a hoof on one of his drooped shoulders.

“No, Golden,” she was saying in her soft, gentle voice, “you’re not a terrible father! You and Solstice are just…different, that’s all. And even so, he still very much looks up to you! I can see that in his eyes!”

“How can you be sure of that?” Golden breathed out through his hooves. “How can you be sure that he is not merely acting so that he does not offend me?”

Glitter stepped back and looked directly at her husband.

“You know how genuine Solstice is. You know how much he wants to make you proud of him.”

Golden nodded and lifted his head.

“Yes, I know that, My Dear. I only—I wish—!”

He took off his glasses and rubbed the area between his eyes. As he did so, Solstice noticed that there were a few tears rolling down his face.

“I just want him to know that I just want what is best for him—to have a better life than I had when I was his age.”

His mouth quivered as he hung his head and closed his eyes tightly. Glitter came and wrapped her hooves around him to comfort him. Solstice sighed and hung his head.

Dad…I understand! I really do! I just—I just don’t think I could ever be good at something like what you do.

He stepped back towards the stairs. He decided that it would be best if he went directly to bed and didn’t disturb them and climbed the stairs back to his room.

Chapter 3: Golden Rocket

After Solstice and Clap had finished their ice cream, Clap’s friends came into the shop and invited him to go to a friend’s house to hang out. Solstice thought it best not to intrude and let his brother go with them. With nothing else to do, he decided to return home and take a little nap.

As Solstice entered the mansion and crossed the lobby to climb upstairs to his room, he heard his father calling from his study, “Solstice? Is that you?”

He stopped mid-way up the stairs and turned.

“Yes, Dad,” he called back.

“Could I speak with you for a moment?”

Solstice stood for a moment, his expression thoughtful. What did his father want with him?

“Yes, Sir,” came the reply as he floated back down the stairs and trotted towards his father’s study.

Unlike the rest of the mansion, the study was decorated with Padauk wood walls and a dark brown Walnut wood floor. The cabinets, bookshelves, desk, lamp fixtures and chairs were made out of dark Alder wood, hand-crafted by the best carpenters in the land. At one end of the room was a fireplace, also hand-crafted in Alder wood. A steady fire burned inside, casting a warm glow into the room.

“Have a seat,” his father said as he adjusted his black-rimmed glasses in a proper-like fashion.

He sunk into the soft cushion chair in front of Golden’s desk. He had to admit, his father knew how to make his clients feel comfortable.

“Solstice,” Golden began in his usual fatherly tone of voice, “the reason I have called you here is because I have a slight…concern about your future.”

Solstice shifted in his seat as he started to feel uncomfortable.

“Oh?”

His father took off his glasses and placed them upside-down lightly upon his desk. Afterwards, he rubbed between his eyes and leaned towards his son, his red eyes locked onto Solstice’s.

“You must understand, Son. I only want what is best for you. One day, you will find yourself living on your own and you will either be fully prepared or fully unprepared. I want the former to happen to you. So, that is why…I am concerned for you.”

“I understand that, Dad,” he replied, nodding in acceptance. “But what’s making you so worried about me like this?”

The golden pony sighed as he put his glasses back on.

“Your dream about becoming a rock star,” he replied.

Solstice leaned back in his chair and gave a few slow nods. He suspected what was coming next.

“Oh.”

Golden leaned towards him, his eyes darkened beneath the shadow of his brow.

“I heard from certain sources that you played with Deep Drive at the concert this evening,” he said in a low tone. “Is this true?”

A feeling of terror threatened to overtake Solstice. He found out! He knew it! He knew all along that he would find out! His heart felt sick.

Why did I disobey Dad like that? I feel just awful!

But before he could say anything, his father spoke first.

“I know that playing your guitar and making music brings you a sense of…enjoyment,” he added, “but you must face reality as it is!”

He settled back into his cushioned, revolving chair.

“Believe it or not, I was like you once. I had all of these dreams about who I could become and who I wanted to be. But, in the end, I realized that even though pursuing one’s dream can be exciting and such, it doesn’t guarantee to sufficiently provide for oneself or for one’s own family. So, I decided to focus my attention on something that I could do to better provide for myself and for a future family of my own. Since then, I have had no regrets regarding that decision. My decision then has made it possible for me to adequately provide for you, for your mother and for your brother. That is why I want you to learn this lesson as well—so that you can adequately provide for yourself and for a family of your own someday. Do you understand what I am saying, Son?”

“I do, Dad,” his son replied with all sincerity, “it’s just—I guess, it’s just hard to give up something I’ve always liked doing all my life.”

His father nodded with a sympathetic smile.

“I understand that, Son. And that is why I am willing to help you anyway I can with—”

But before he could say anything more, there was a knock on the door.

“Yes, come in!” he called with obvious frustration in his voice as he put a hoof to his forehead.

The door slowly opened and a nervous Mr. Spot On entered the study halfway.

“Um, sorry to bother you, Sir, but there’s a Mr. Fancy Pants at the door demanding to see you.”

The golden stallion groaned with irritation.

“Him again? What has he to complain about this time?”

“I’m not sure, Sir. He kept rambling on about the ‘integrity of [your] company.’”

Golden’s red eyes narrowed, this time they were flaming like engines on a rocket ship.

“Oh, did he now…?” his voice snarled. “Very well, then. I shall be there shortly.”

The white-haired butler nodded and disappeared back into the hallway.

“Very sorry, Solstice,” he said as he rose from his desk, “But it seems that we will have to continue this discussion later.”

Solstice nodded.

“That’s fine. Is—is there a problem, Dad?”

His father grinned.

“Do not worry. It is of no concern. Fancy Pants is renowned for over-reacting.”

He adjusted his glasses, the light reflecting off them like a camera flash.

“Trust me, this will not take long.”

With that, he exited the study, leaving the door open a crack on his way out. Solstice sat in the chair for a few moments. He had heard about this Mr. Fancy Pants before—how he was a wealthy businesspony living in the Equestrian capitol, Canterlot, and was renowned by many as one who was very formal and polite to everypony. So, what did a distinguished pony like Fancy Pants want with his father?

Soon, his curiosity got the better of him. He went out the door and down the hallway towards the lobby. He stopped just before he reached the lobby and hid behind a nearby wall. From where he stood, he could see and hear his father talking with a white sophisticated-looking unicorn, whom he presumed was Fancy Pants. Seeing them both standing there under the open doorway, he noticed how similar they were to each other. However, there were key features that made them starkly different.

Fancy Pants was a robust, white-colored unicorn with wavy, light blue hair that reached to the bottom of his neck. The top portion of his hair was combed into a part in the middle that made the front strands of his hair curve on either side like distant bird’s wings. His tail was also wavy and was the same color as his hair. If Solstice could describe Fancy Pants’ hair and tail, he would describe them as almost like fluffy, light blue clouds. He also had a thin mustache that matched the color of his hair. Also, resting in one of Fancy Pants’ light blue eyes was a monocle that completed the image of a well-sophisticated unicorn from Canterlot. Apart from his physical features, he wore a long black business suitcoat with coattails, a white shirt with yellow buttons, a darker blue vest on top and a lavender bow-tie around his neck. By the way that they looked and carried themselves, one could have easily assumed that they were brothers.

“Fancy Pants!” Golden Rocket greeted the unicorn at the opened doorway. “What an unexpected pleasure!”

The unicorn showed no signs of amusement. Instead, his face was as cold and stern as a stone.

“Do not attempt to feign your pleasantries with me, Golden Rocket,” he said in a thick English accent as he adjusted his monocle with his hoof. “You know why I am here…and I have some new and rather enlightening evidence regarding that case in Canterlot several years ago.”

Golden Rocket’s pleasant demeanor didn’t waver for a second.

“Oh? And, pray tell, what did you find?”

Fancy Pants raised his head slightly and spoke with dignity in his voice.

“That is not for me to disclose to you at this time, but I can assure you, my friend, that this new evidence will expose you as the fraud and the criminal that you really were!”

At that moment, Golden’s pleasant demeanor faded away like sand giving way to water. For a long while, his face was just as stern as Fancy Pants’. Then, his mouth broke into a sly smile as he began to laugh.

“Oh, Fancy Pants…” he said, shaking his head, “admit it. You are merely jealous of my success! You simply cannot accept the fact that a ‘common stallion’ such as myself could ever reach a station as high as yours! Ever since I became a successful businesspony, you have made it you top priority to grind me back into the Baltimare streets from whence I came. But despite your best efforts, I have always risen above your petty tactics.”

He adjusted his glasses in a gesture of victory, the light from the light fixture above them reflecting off the lens in a bright flash.

“Now, I do hope, for your sake, that this so-called ‘evidence’ of yours is not fabricated in any way, because if it is…”

He tilted his head forwards, his fiery eyes starring directly at Fancy Pants as his voice became low and distinct.

“…I would be extremely disappointed in you.”

Fancy Pants sighed as he took his monocle from off his eye.

“Oh, I can assure you, Mr. Rocket, that my evidence is indeed genuine.”

The other stallion’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“Oh, is that right?” he said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Well then, tell me, what is this so-called ‘evidence’ that you have against me that is so genuine? I would very much like to know.”

The unicorn looked up as he placed his monocle back onto his eye.

“As I had before stated, I cannot reveal it at this time until it is presented at court as evidence.”

Golden breathed out a huff of both surprise and amusement.

“‘Presented at court as evidence?’ Oh! So, you think that you will be more successful this next time around, Fancy Pants?”

“Do not dare mock me, Golden Rocket!” the blue-haired businesspony warned, stomping his front hoof soundly on the ground. “I mean what I say! I am pressing charges against your integrity and you dare treat this as a jest?!”

Golden regained his business-like composure and responded with underlying mockery in his tone, “Oh, quite right. You are very serious about this, aren’t you.”

Fancy Pants sighed in frustration as he shook his head. Then, his voice seemed to curiously change, as if he was pleading.

“Golden, this is not fair.”

In that instant, Golden’s eyes suddenly sparked.

“Fair?!” he exploded. “Do not dare lecture me about what is fair (he stomped his hoof on the floor for greater emphasis), Fancy Pants!”

Unbeknownst to Fancy Pants and Golden Rocket, the light fixtures above them in the mansion began to grow brighter as the fire inside of them began to grow. Solstice noticed it and his eyes widened in response. He had never seen anything quite like that before.

“Unlike you, whose wealth came only through something called inheritance, I earned my way to the top!”

“All the same,” the white unicorn replied as he adjusted his monocle onto his eye, “I have informed the authorities and we are to appear in court the day after tomorrow at eleven o’clock. Do not be late!”

Golden Rocket grinned slyly in response.

“Oh, trust me, Fancy Pants,” he said in a snarky tone. “I would not miss this for the world!”

With that, Fancy Pants turned and stormed off with a shake of his head. Solstice could not help but notice that the prestigious unicorn seemed somehow more hurt than he had appeared to be as he left the premises. In contrast, Golden Rocket closed the door with a satisfied look on his face. As he turned and trotted into the lobby, Solstice approached him.

“Mr. Fancy Pants looked really mad,” he observed in a concerned tone. “Is everything all right, Dad?”

His father met his gaze and smiled brightly.

“Oh, do not fret, my son.” He replied, his expression cheerful. “I have already calculated our success and it is guaranteed to be one hundred percent in our favor. No need to worry.”

As he was about to trot away towards the study, Solstice pointed out, “Mr. Fancy Pants said something about ‘pressing charges against your integrity’. I—I don’t understand what he meant by that.”

His father turned to face his son. His eyes were now stern, as if what he was about to say was the final word in the conversation.

“As I said, Solstice…” he said with the same expression in his voice, “there is no cause for concern. I have everything under control. Is that understood?”

Solstice swallowed. He knew that tone of voice all too well. It was a cold tone of voice that was like the sound of a judge’s gavel, pronouncing the end of all conversation or objection. He refrained from asking any more questions and only bowed his head in quiet submission.

“Yes, Sir.”

His father nodded, still keeping his stern expression on his face.

“Good.”

With that, he turned and walked towards his study to resume any remaining work that he needed to finalize before retiring to bed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Solstice sat on his bed, feeling very much perplexed. Why was his father indifferent about his conversation with Fancy Pants, and why did he suddenly act so serious when he tried to ask him a few questions about it? And there was something else that he found very strange—the lights in the lobby…why were they glowing brighter whenever his father grew angrier at Fancy Pants?

He heard a soft knock on his opened bedroom door and turned to see his mother standing there. He could see that she was still wearing her pearl necklace; for they shined like little diamonds in the warm light.

“Are you busy?” she asked with a gentle smile.

Solstice shook his head.

“No, not really. Come in, Mom.”

She came and sat beside him on his bed.

“I came to say goodnight,” she said.

She always came to bid him and Clap goodnight every time they went to bed. He had always liked his mother for that. His father also did the same but only when he wasn’t pressed with work or something like that.

“Thanks, Mom.”

He gave her a hug and she was about to leave when he stopped her by calling, “Uh, Mom, could I ask you something?”

She turned and sat back on the bed beside him.

“What is it, Dear?”

He hesitated for a moment. He feared that she would think that he was crazy or something for asking this question.

“Um…when Dad and Mr. Fancy Pants were talking at the front door and Dad started to get angry, I thought I saw the lights inside the lobby…glow…brighter. What’s going on, Mom? What’s wrong with Dad?”

Glitter paused for a moment.

“Dad…? He’s special. He’s actually one of the very few ponies in Equestria that has magic and is not a unicorn.”

Solstice’s eyes widened. His father had magic?

“But…how...?”

His mother took a deep breath.

“Remember those stories I told you when you were a foal?”

Solstice thought for a moment.

“Yeah,” he nodded.

“Those stories help explain why Dad has magic.”

Solstice’s eyes grew wider.

“Woah…!”

His mother put a hoof to her mouth as she giggled at his reaction.

“Could you tell me those stories again?” he asked. “I don’t really remember how they went anymore. It’s been a while, anyway.”

Glitter smiled as she nodded.

“Of course, Dear.”

She got into a more comfortable position and began her story.

“Once upon a time, before the land of Equestria was named ‘Equestria,’ there were three factions: The Unicorns, the Pegasi and the Earth Ponies. They didn’t like each other and lived separately from one another.”

Solstice straightened.

“Hey, this kinda sounds a lot like the Hearts Warming Eve story.”

His mother nodded in response.

“This story’s kind of like that, yes. But it’s also different.”

With that, she continued her story.

“One cold winter day, six ponies from these tribes (Chancellor Puddinghead, Smart Cookie, Commander Hurricane, Private Pansy, Princess Platinum and Clover the Clever) came together for a meeting. They argued about how their new country should be run and how their factions would live in harmony with each other. Finally, after they defeated the Windigos, they decided to put their differences behind them and called themselves the ‘Equestrians’ to always remind them of the bond that they shared. Their goal was to unite their ponykind into one faction and to help create the same harmony among them that the Equestrians shared with each other. After many days, they succeeded and their ponykind called the land ‘Equestria,’ after their leaders who had helped them unite into one nation.”

“Sorry, Mom,” Solstice interrupted, “but I don’t see how this story helps explain how Dad got his magic.”

“Actually,” she explained, “I was just getting to that. Soon after the Equestrians formed the nation of Equestria, they realized that they were at a crisis. They feared that one day the Windigos or a different magical force would come again and threaten their ponykind. So, they went to their wise wizard, an Alicorn by the name of Star Swirl the Bearded, for help. He told them that a day would come when two Alicorn princesses would appear and rule Equestria in harmony and peace. In the meantime, he granted them magical power over the elements to ensure that the land of Equestria would be safe. Commander Hurricane was given the power to create a magnificent Sonic Rainboom to blow away any clouds of frost or smoke from the skies. His subordinate, Private Pansy, was given power over the animals, as well as the ability to communicate with them. Chancellor Puddinghead was given power over the earth so that all kinds of trees and flowers would spring forth out of the ground instantaneously. His secretary, Smart Cookie, was given power over fire to help light other ponies’ homes and give them warmth during the fall and winter seasons. Princess Platinum was given power over water in streams, lakes and rivers. Her adviser, Clover the Clever, was given power over keeping knowledge and magic safe so that no evil force could use it for malevolent purposes. When all of their powers were combined, they had the power to raise the Sun at dawn and the Moon at dusk.”

Solstice stared back in shock.

“Well,” he commented with a whistle, “they definitely didn’t teach that in school! How come other ponies don’t know about this? I mean, this is absolutely historical!”

Glitter shrugged.

“This story was passed down from one generation to the next through Dad’s genealogical line. Other ponies would see this as just one side of the story. In this part of the story, Star Swirl the Bearded had intended for only the Equestrians to have their power temporarily. When Princess Celestia and Princess Luna came, the Equestrians gave all the power that they had to the new rulers of their land. However, what Star Swirl did not intend was that a small fraction of these powers would continue on into these Equestrians’ genes, so that every once in a while, somepony in their family line would have power over a certain element.”

Solstice’s mouth dropped.

“Then, that means…!”

Glitter nodded.

“Yes. One of Dad’s ancestors was Smart Cookie, one of the founders of Equestria—the Equestrians.”

Solstice let out a long whistle.

“My family’s just gotten cooler!”

His mother’s expression grew sad.

“Sadly, that’s not the end of the story.”

Solstice’s ears perked up.

“W-wait, what do you mean by ‘sadly’?”

Glitter looked down.

“I…I didn’t tell you this because you were only a foal at the time. But since your older now, you deserve to know the truth. You see, your father has never shown his power to anypony because of what happened to an ancestor of ours who had found himself with this same ability.”

She sighed sadly.

“Though we’ve all lived in harmony since the founding of Equestria, ponies can still be afraid of things that they don’t understand. A few generations after the founding of Equestria, there was a pony in our family tree that inherited this power over fire as well.”

Solstice nodded.

“Yeah, I know a bit about him! He’s the first pony to have the name ‘Rocket,’ right?”

Glitter nodded in affirmation.

“That’s right! Do you know why?”

Solstice shook his head.

“That’s because when he was a foal, he was standing next to a firework during a festival and the firework ignited, shooting right into the night sky. Because of that, his parents also named him ‘Rocket’. Since then, our family’s had the name ‘Rocket’.”

Solstice nodded.

“That’s right. I remember now. You told me this before one time.”

His mother nodded.

“Well,” she continued, “Rocket, our ancestor, also has a tragic story. I didn’t tell you this, since you were young at the time. You see, when he grew up and raised a family of his own, his ‘power’ was beginning to become unpredictable, especially when he became angry. One fateful day, he saw a store vender being threatened by a wealthy pony of the upper class. He stepped in to help the poor vender but, in the process, he became enraged, causing fire to suddenly burst around the wealthy pony. The pony ran off and told many others about what had happened. Though Rocket never meant to hurt anypony, the townsponies didn’t share that same view. So, they took him away from his family and banished him into the Everfree Forest, where he lived the rest of his days in isolation.”

Solstice sat in horrified shock.

“They—they did that to him? But—but why—? Poor…Dad!”

He sadly hung his head.

“So, that’s why he’s afraid about other ponies finding out about his…‘power’!”

Glitter nodded and put a hoof on his drooped shoulders.

“Yes, that’s why Dad’s afraid of what other ponies think of him, especially about his ‘secret.’ It’s also why he’s been very passionate about the family business—it’s a way of proving to other ponies that even somepony like him can accomplish great things.”

Solstice looked back at her with confusion in his eyes.

“But—but Dad’s got nothing to prove! He can accomplish great things, even if he didn’t have millions of bits! I bet he knew it then when we had nothing! Why can’t he remember it now?”

His mother let out a sigh.

“Dearest, you know that and I know that. But Dad—he just needs some…convincing.”

Solstice turned away and nodded. He understood how his father was.

“Right.”

Glitter gave him a kiss on the cheek and said as she arose, “Now, get some sleep. You have a busy day tomorrow with your new job, right?”

The young stallion nodded and smiled.

“Yeah. Right. Goodnight, Mom!”

His mother smiled back as she slowly and softly closed the door behind her.

“Goodnight, Solstice.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Solstice stumbled out of bed early in the morning with a Ka-Thunk. He lay on the floor and starred up at the ceiling for a long time, his eyes wide open.

“What a nightmare!” he finally breathed out.

He dreamt that Fancy Pants and his father were arguing heatedly in the courtroom. As their arguing intensified, they moved closer to each other until their muzzles were almost touching. Solstice, who was sitting with his family on the sidelines, was feeling increasingly uncomfortable for some reason. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and leaped in the area right between them. What had surprised him unconsciously was that he was siding with Fancy Pants in the argument against his father. Afterwards, his father grew taller until he was towering over Solstice like an angry giant. Then, the irises of his eyes sparked into flames and a ring of fire ignited around Solstice, engulfing him completely. When he thought that he would surely be burned, the ground beneath him opened up and he fell into a dark, depthless abyss. That’s when he woke up.

He wondered what that dream could’ve meant, but he swiped that question aside, as he had to get ready for work that morning. He quickly showered, got dressed in the uniform that Red Lightning had given him, combed his hair, grabbed his saddlebag and headed out the door. As he flew towards the front door, he waved at his mother who was sitting in the living room sewing.

“Bye, Mom!” he called.

His mother waved and called back, “Bye, Solstice! Good luck at work today!”

“Will do!” he replied as he exited the mansion, shutting the door behind him.

He arrived at Red Lightning Records and was promptly assigned to help clean the floors and the shelves in the store during the opening hours. He was also assigned to assist any costumer that needed help.

“It’s all pretty simple,” Red Lightning had said as he repeated his instructions to Solstice. “if ya need me for anythin’, I’ll be right in back.”

As he was about to leave, he stopped and turned.

“I saw ya at the Deep Drive concert,” he said with a big grin on his face. “I didn’t know you played the guitar that good! How was it—playing with Deep Drive, I mean? I hear they’re a pretty tight bunch.”

Solstice shrugged.

“Yeah, it was good. I had a good time.”

Red Lightning nodded and gave a wink.

“Good to hear!”

With that, he turned and headed for the back of the store.

So, Solstice started sweeping the floor and dusting the record album selves as customers of all kinds (old and young) came in and out of the store. Finally, as he was dusting behind the special collections stand located at the eastern end of the store, he looked up and saw his brother entering the shop.

“Hey, Bro!” Clap greeted, waving a hoof.

Solstice smiled and returned the greeting.

“Hey, Clap! What are you doing here this time of day?”

Clap grinned.

“School’s not for another hour. So, I just thought I’d stop by and see how my big bro was getting along with his first day on the job.”

Solstice gave a shrug.

“Good so far. Can’t complain. Red Lightning’s such a great boss! He’s so easy-going and—”

Suddenly, his wings unfurled as he glanced over Clap’s shoulder.

“Uh, Solstice…?” his brother asked. “Are you okay?”

Solstice blushed and lowered his head, as if he was trying to avoid somepony’s gaze.

“Her,” he replied, quickly motioning with his head over Clap’s shoulder.

Clap curiously turned to see what his brother was referring to and saw a gray pegasus mare with blond hair carefully searching through a shelf filled with records.

“You mean that filly?” he asked in clarification.

Solstice quickly nodded as he kept his head lowered.

“Yep!” he replied in a whisper.

Clap leaned his head to the side to get a better look at the mare. He was surprised to see that one of her eyes stared at a different direction than the other.

“Hey, Solstice,” he said as he turned to his brother and motioned towards the mare, “did you know that one of her eyes looks weird?”

Solstice suddenly looked up with fire in his eyes.

“Yeah, so?!”

Clap’s eyes widened.

“Whoa, Bro! I was just asking!”

Solstice sighed and hung his head.

“Yeah, I know. Sorry. It’s just—I saw a couple of other ponies passing by her and they looked at her weirdly and whispering among themselves. They didn’t go over and talk to her or anything. They just…gave her 'the look' and trotted away. I knew what they were thinking. They were talking bad about her. I was so close to going over there and giving them a piece of my mind!”

It was at this point that he realized that his teeth were clenched and his nostrils were wide. He stopped and calmed himself.

“But I knew it wouldn't accomplish anything. They'd just get angry and stuff, anyway.”

He looked at Clap, who was looking back at him with a thoughtful expression on his face.

“What?” Solstice finally asked, confused by his expression.

“I just remembered something. You’ve always liked fillies who are different from the rest. Doesn’t surprise me one bit that you like this one.”

Solstice gave a shrug.

“Well, I like different. Different is good.”

Clap looked back at the gray mare and then back at Solstice.

“You thinking of asking her out or something?”

Solstice’s face turned from yellowish-orange to red in a matter of seconds.

“W-well—yeah, I have....”

There was a period of silence.

“Well…?” Clap pressed.

“‘Well’ what?”

“Well…aren’t ya gonna ask her?”

Solstice turned away.

“I—I don’t know. I mean…I’ll just act dumb around her and stuff anyway. Why should I make a fool of myself in front of her?”

Clap breathed out a sigh.

“Bro! With an attitude like that, you’ll never impress a filly!”

Solstice turned back at him.

“Since when did you suddenly become an expert with fillies, anyway?”

Clap let out a chuckle.

“I’m not! But I try anyway. Remember when we moved to the mansion and I started at that new school? I was scared outta my mind! Meeting new friends was scary! But when I saw other colts and fillies talking and having fun, I decided then and there that I was gonna be just like them. So, I made new friends, even though it was hard at first. And ya know what? It was worth it! Maybe, that’s what you need to do! You just need to get out there and try anyway! And when you mess up, try again! And—who knows—you might even make that filly smile and brighten up her day!”

Solstice managed a smile. Clap was right. He could feel it in his bones. In that moment, he didn’t care if he was clumsy or if he said the wrong thing. He was going to keep trying anyway.

“Thanks, Clap. I needed that.”

Clap nodded.

“No prob! Advice is free!”

He turned to the gray mare again and gasped.

“Ooo, ooo! Solstice! That filly looks like she’s lost or something! Now’s your chance!”

He turned to Solstice.

“Go!” he exclaimed in a whisper. “Ask her if she needs anything! Quick!”

Solstice sighed and put down his duster.

“Okay, okay!” he whispered back, patting his brother’s head. “Don’t get your hooves all in a knot! I’m going!”

He started walking towards the gray mare, who had switched her focus to a different shelf.

“You go, Bro!” he heard Clap whisper loudly from behind.

Solstice let out a chuckle.

Clap, I’m seriously surprised that your Cutie Mark’s not in cheerleading.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As he approached the mare, his heart began to pound harder. What if he messed up? What if he said the wrong thing? What if—?

“You just need to get out there and try anyway!” he remembered Clap saying to him. “And when you mess up, try again! And—who knows—you might even make that filly smile and brighten up her day!”

He smiled at those words and his eyes grew fixed with determination. Right!

He cleared his throat and made his move.

“Hey, uh, Miss?”

The gray pegasus mare turned.

“You need help with something?” he asked.

The mare looked as if she was caught a little off-guard.

“Oh, uh, yes! As a matter of fact, I would! I’m looking for a record album.”

Solstice nodded.

“Well, you’ve definitely come to the right place!” he said with a nervous smile, motioning towards the rows of record albums in the store. “We have plenty of those!”

The mare smiled and gave a small chuckle.

“I’m looking for a record of Elvis Parsley.”

Solstice beamed.

“Oh, classics, huh? Well, it’s actually right…”

He turned, trotted to the other aisle and scanned the row of records with the gray mare following close behind. Finally, he took one of the records that read “Elvis Parsley’s Greatest Hits” on it and handed it to her.

“…here!”

She took the record.

“Thank you, Mr., uh…?”

The orange stallion reached out his hoof towards her.

“Solstice.”

The mare shook his outstretched hoof.

“Thank you, Mr. Solstice.”

Solstice chuckled.

“No, no. Actually, that’s my first name. My last name’s Rocket. But you can call me Solstice.”

The mare nodded with one eye looking brightly at him.

“Well, thanks again for helping me out!”

“What’s your name, by the way?” Solstice asked.

“Ditzy Doo. Ditzy Doo Hooves.”

Solstice nodded.

“Well, I’m please to meet you, Miss Hooves!”

Ditzy shook her head.

“You can call me Ditzy…or Ditzy Doo—that sounds good, too.”

“Okay, Ditzy. You live around here?”

“Nope. Just visiting a relative. I actually live in Ponyville.”

“Cool! I’ve heard of it!”

He stopped.

“I-I mean—of course I’ve heard of it! Who hasn’t, right? I was just saying that—um…”

He turned away and let out a sigh.

There you go again, Solstice!

“It’s okay,” Ditzy said. “I understood what you meant.”

He turned to see her and saw that she was smiling.

Well, that’s always a good sign….

“So, what about you?” she asked. “You live around here?”

Solstice gave a firm nod.

“Yep! Lived here all my life! I live up in the white mansion on the hill west of here.”

Ditzy’s eyes widened.

“Wow! A mansion! Must be pretty nice there!”

Solstice shrugged.

“It’s all right.”

After a moment, Ditzy’s eyes widened.

“Oh! I-I have to get going! I’m supposed to meet my cousin downtown soon!”

Solstice nodded understandingly.

“Okay, well, is there anything else you need while I’m here?”

Ditzy thought for a minute.

“Nope! I think I’m good!”

“Okay! Then, I guess I’ll see you around?”

Ditzy smiled.

“Oh, sure! If you’re ever in Ponyville, drop by! I make good muffins!”

Solstice’s mouth started to water.

Muffins! I absolutely love muffins!

“Great! I’ll have to do that! See you then!”

Ditzy waved.

“You too!”

She turned and walked towards the cashier stand, where another pony was waiting to help her. Solstice was grinning from ear to ear.

I did it…I actually did it! I talked to a filly like a Pro! That’s—!

With a grunt, he was knocked to the floor as piles of record albums flew from off the shelf that he had just walked into and fell right on top of him. The noise made all of the ponies in the store turn to look. Clap put his hoof to his face and groaned.

“Oh, smooth, Bro…” he muttered sarcastically under his breath. “Real smooth!”

As Solstice sheepishly emerged from the pile of records scattered on the floor, he heard Red Lightning’s voice from the back of the store say, “What was all that noise? Was that you, Solstice?”

Solstice sighed with unfeigned embarrassment.

“Yes, Sir.”

There was a moment of silence. Then, the silence was broken by Red Lightning’s jovial laughter.

“Okay—okay—!” his voice exclaimed between laughs. “Just—just put the record albums back on the shelf. Don’t worry ‘bout it—!”

His voice trailed off into another series of laughter. Solstice groaned. Now, he felt even more embarrassed and foolish. As he picked himself up and began putting the fallen record albums back onto the shelf, he examined them.

Thank Celestia! None of them are broken! Well, at least I have that to be proud about.

Just then, he heard familiar hooves approaching him.

“Bro! You all right there?” Clap asked.

Solstice put another record album back onto the shelf and sighed.

“Yeah…just my pride.”

Clap edged closer and whispered, “By the way, nice work with that filly! I’m proud of ya, Bro!”

Solstice snorted.

“Yeah, well, up until I made a complete dummy of myself just now, that is!” he muttered with sarcastically.

Clap shook his head.

“No, I think it actually helped!”

Solstice’s ears instantly perked up.

“Wait—what?”

“Yeah! When you crashed into the shelf, I happened to glance over towards where that filly was. She was smiling.”

Solstice scoffed.

“Yeah, of course she would! She was laughing at me!”

Clap moved to where Solstice could see him.

“She had a tear on her face.”

Solstice suddenly stopped.

A tear? Why?

“She was crying…not in a sad way but in a happy way, ya know? I think…I think you brightened up her day!”

He patted his brother’s shoulder and walked away as he added, “I’ll be checking out some records over there. See ya ‘round, Hero!”

Clap trotted away to an aisle a few rows from Solstice. For a long moment, Solstice only sat on the floor, silent.

My clumsiness…actually made somepony happy?

He felt a tinge of wetness on his cheek and realized that it was a tear. He quickly wiped it away and continued putting the record albums onto the shelf.

I…brightened up her day?

He smiled as a warm feeling came over him.

It feels…good.

Just then, he saw Red Lightning step towards him. Solstice felt suspicious—his boss’ eyes still had that sense of humor radiating from them.

“So...” the red pony asked in a serious tone, “let me guess…was it a filly?”

With that, he chuckled jovially. Solstice only sighed and rolled his eyes. He wasn’t going to let this one go, was he?

“Whatever,” he muttered under his breath.

Red Lightning gradually regained his composure.

“Ah, don’t feel bad. It happens. Nothing’s damaged anyway and you’re all right…aren’t ya?”

Solstice nodded and the red pony whistled in relief.

“Good!”

A second later, he came and started helping Solstice putting the albums back on the shelf as he said, “Here. Let me help ya out there.”

As they worked, Solstice’s boss added, “Ya know, I thought it was funny ‘cause…well, apart from the fact that it was funny (he gave a shrug as he said that), I used to be exactly like ya once.”

Solstice’s eyebrows rose.

“You did?”

Red Lightning breathed out a laugh.

“Oh, yeah! Whoo! I was so clumsy! I tried askin’ a filly out one time for a date or somethin’ and when she said ‘yes,’ I turned around and knocked ov’r vendin’ stands so that it made a whole domino effect all ov’r the city plaza! What a mess, that was! Ha! I swear, I never felt so embarrassed before in my life!”

He let out another jovial laugh and shook his head as he continued to help Solstice carefully put the record albums back on the shelf.

“Fun times, fun times.”

Solstice looked up.

“So, what happened that changed it all?”

The red pegasus turned to meet his gaze.

“Ya mean, what happened to make me not so clumsy anymore?”

Solstice nodded.

“Well…” Red Lightning replied, “I guess I just…grew outta it, ya know? Oh, I’m still clumsy sometimes but it doesn’t bother me anymore.”

He returned to putting the record albums back on the shelf. For a moment, Solstice only sat there.

But…how can I not let it bother me? It’s just so embarrassing every time I do!

It was then that his mind remembered Dizty’s reaction.

Well, I guess it hasn’t always turned out badly in the end. At least my clumsiness made Ditzy feel better…somehow.

“So,” he turned to his boss with a slight grin on his face, “you actually did a domino effect in the city plaza, huh?”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After work, Solstice decided to stop by the marketplace to get some things that his mother wanted him to get that evening. The marketplace was located near his workplace downtown, just in the city’s plaza. When he arrived there, he saw that the plaza was relatively crowded but not as much as he had expected.

Perfect! I can just go in, get the stuff and get out in no time!

He bought some vegetables and herbs that his mother wanted him to get and, then, proceeded to a different section of the marketplace to see what kinds of recipe books were available. As he was heading for the stand containing bins of used books, he happened to glance over to his left and saw a stand that contained Flash Sentry souvenirs. He stopped as his eyes rested on a Flash Sentry necklace, a small blue shield with a yellow lightning bolt on the front connected by a thin, fine silver chain. He nodded as the idea of buying that necklace as a gift for Clap came to mind.

Clap likes the Flash Sentry comics so much. He’ll be so happy to get something like that. I think I’ll buy it!

He went over there and examined it more closely. It was the perfect size for Clap—not too long and not too short.

Perfect!

With that, he took it from its stand and went to the seller.

“How much is it for this necklace?” he asked, showing him the necklace.

The vendor looked at the necklace through her rectangular, black-rimmed glasses and nodded.

“Five bits.”

Solstice reached into his knapsack, took five gold coins from it and gave them to the vendor. Afterwards, the vendor put the necklace into a small jewelry box and gave it to Solstice. After giving his thanks, he put the box into his knapsack and went to the book stand to buy the recipe books that his mother wanted.

As he was looking through the bins of books that the vendors were selling, he bumped into a familiar pony.

“Oh, hey, Mr. Spot On!” Solstice exclaimed upon seeing him next to him.

The white-haired pony looked back and smiled in greeting.

“Why, hello, Master Solstice! How are you doing this fine day?”

“Oh, pretty good,” he replied.

Something’s different about him. He seems…happier than when he’s in the mansion, for some reason.

“So, what brings you here?” Solstice asked.

“Well, I am currently searching for a specific cookbook that I had heard was on sale today,” Spot On replied, picking up one book and looking at its cover before putting it back in the bin. “My wife is thinking about trying her hoof on some of the Spanish cuisines.”

Solstice’s eyebrows rose further.

Now I know there’s something weird about him! He doesn’t usually talk this much in the mansion! Usually, he just follows orders and doesn’t talk that much at all.

“How’s your wife doing, by the way?”

“Very well, actually. She and I are planning to spend a little vacation in Neigara Falls this weekend. It is fortunate, indeed, that she is in good health to make the trip. We have been planning this vacation for months!”

Wow! I didn’t know all that! He’s totally different here than in the mansion, for sure!

“Is your family in good health as well, Master Solstice?” the butler asked.

Solstice cocked his head.

“But you work in the mansion, right? You see us every day, pretty much.”

The aged pony sighed as he picked up another cookbook from the bin in front of him.

“The truth is, Master Solstice, I…quit last night.”

Solstice’s mouth hung open.

“Y-you quit?! But—but you’ve practically become a part of the family! W-why?”

Spot On closed his eyes.

“I…cannot say.”

“You’ve just quit being our butler for three years and you can’t tell me why?” he exclaimed.

Spot On turned away as he continued his search through the books.

“What I mean is…I cannot tell you for your sake.”

Solstice trotted closer to him.

“What do you mean?”

There was only silence.

“Please, Mr. Spot On, I have to know! What happened?”

The aged pony sighed and turned to him with a look of hesitation on his face.

“It—it is because of a secret that I have been keeping these past five years and I do not want to be the cause of any strife between you and Master Golden.”

“My dad? What’s he got to do with this?”

Again, there was silence.

“Please, tell me! I really need to know!”

Spot On turned to face him with a hesitant glaze.

“Very well,” Spot On replied. “I did not want to tell you this but you deserve to know the truth. I was going to send you and your family a letter at a future date, explaining all of this, but it seems that it is best if I told you the truth now. You see, I was once Master Golden’s assistant in the family business. When the business’ success started to decline seven years ago, he repeatedly tried to petition his business friends for help. But, in the end, they refused to help, claiming that they could not help a ‘common stallion who [was] not worth their time or bits.’ One of those friends was Mr. Fancy Pants.”

Solstice stood in shock.

“Mr. Fancy Pants and my dad were…friends?” he exclaimed.

Spot On nodded.

“In the past, yes. Master Golden thought that Fancy Pants would certainly help him in rebuilding the family business. Sadly, however, his response was similar to the others. In fact, he would not even see him.”

The orange-yellow pegasus was puzzled and surprised at the same time.

“Why?”

The white-haired pony sighed.

“Well, I have never discovered why that was, but I do have my suspicions. I suspect that it was something to do with Fancy Pants’ reputation in Canterlot.”

Solstice furrowed his eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that he was more concerned about how his colleagues in Canterlot would think of him if he chose to help Master Golden. You see, even though ponies in Equestria have been rather courteous towards each other ever since its founding, there is still prejudice to be found, especially between the Elite ponies in Canterlot and the more ‘common’ Earth ponies throughout the rest of Equestria. In the eyes of many of the Elite, your father was merely a modest businesspony—a ‘commoner.’ Ponies in Canterlot have often looked down upon other Canterlot Elite who helped or affiliated with anypony who is a ‘commoner’.”

Solstice grimaced.

“But that’s—that’s terrible! What about Hearts Warming Eve? What about the Founding of Equestria? What about—”

“Yes, Master Solstice,” he interrupted him, “ponies should and ought to be kinder towards others, regardless who they are or what social class that they supposedly ‘belong to.’ Unfortunately, the truth is that there are still ponies in Equestria who do not see it that way. There are those who still prefer their social classes, their traditions and, above all, their beliefs about other ponies. And, as they say, it is hard for ponies to change old traditions or beliefs in order to sufficiently welcome new ones. Like other things that cannot be bought with money, change—especially positive change—requires two things: Time and Choice.”

He sighed sadly.

“Unfortunately, no matter how much time that is allotted to ponies today, there are still those who do not desire to change by any means. And unless all ponies begin to want to change, I am afraid that there will always be strife and prejudice in Equestria.”

Solstice shook his head.

“That’s just…sad.”

Spot On nodded and then took another breath.

“Master Golden was never the same after that incident. He became even more driven and…well, you know your father.”

Solstice nodded in reply.

“He became angry and vengeful towards Fancy Pants and his other colleagues and he—”

Spot On stopped and looked down, a look of hesitation written across his face.

“And what?” Solstice inquired, his eyebrows raised. When the butler didn’t reply, he added, “Mr. Spot On, you said you’d tell me! Please, don’t hold anything back from me!”

Spot On let out a deep sigh and raised his head.

“All right. I am sorry, Master Solstice. I am hesitant to say this to you because I do not want to be the source of any strife between you and your father. But, if you insist, I shall tell you the rest.”

After a moment’s pause, he continued, “It was then that your father, Master Golden, developed this plan to utterly humiliate Fancy Pants and his colleagues. Among his colleagues were Mr. Filthy Rich and Mr. Jet Set, both from Canterlot. Master Golden plotted to take all of the bits that he needed from Fancy Pants’ company and then frame Filthy Rich and Jet Set for the crime. It played right into his hooves, just as he had planned it. When Fancy Pants discovered what had actually happened, he immediately sought to stop Master Golden. However, what he did not know was that Master Golden had somehow foreseen that he would do so and had already plotted his counterattack. Time and time again Fancy Pants would bring the matter before the court, and time and time again Master Golden would rebuff all evidence that was brought against him. All of this has made Fancy Pants look absolutely foolish before the court. I can only presume that this is what Master Golden had wanted all along—a way to enact vengeance for not helping him in his great hour of need, as a friend ought to have done at that moment.”

As the aged pony said these things, Solstice stepped back and stared at the butler in shock.

My dad is responsible for all that?! No…no, it—it can’t be! It can’t! Dad would never do anything like that! He wouldn’t!

“Mr. Spot On…!” he exclaimed under his breath. “Surely, you’ve got to be mistaken! Dad would never do anything like that!”

Spot On sighed as he hung his head.

“Believe me, Master Solstice,” he said with regret in his voice, “I wish that I was mistaken about all of this! But about a few days ago, I found this among the Master Golden’s business records.”

He reached into his suitcoat pocket, took from it a folded document and handed it to the young stallion, saying, “It is a financial report for a certain businesspony, detailing a transaction between him and another wealthy pony named Ms. Fleur de Lis from Canterlot about five years ago. She was Mr. Fancy Pants’ secretary then.”

As Solstice took the document and examined it more closely, Spot On added, “Master Solstice…your father was and still is not perfect, like any other pony. He also makes mistakes and, like every other pony, he still has certain vices that he has yet to overcome.”

Solstice’s eyes widened in horror as he scanned the rows upon rows of numbers and configurations printed on the document—hundreds of bits being extracted from Fancy Pants’ company with this Ms. Fleur de Lis as a conduit. In other words, somepony was bribing her to give him the bits. When his eyes had finally reached the bottom, they stopped at the grand total: 250,000 (a quarter of a million) bits. Then, he froze as his eyes settled on the space where it listed “Recipient: G.R.”

“Golden Rocket”…my dad?! He was bribing this Ms. Fleur de Lis?! But…why, Dad?!

“I am so sorry, Master Solstice,” Spot On said, his voice filled with complete sympathy. “I wish that there was some way that I could make it untrue. But when I found this document, I could deny it no longer.”

Solstice looked up as he slowly shook his head and muttered under his breath, “No…! No…!”

He stepped back, his eyes filled with disbelief and with tears. Was it true? Was all that he had believed about his father was one big, twisted lie?

The aged pony tried to step closer to him, reaching out his hoof towards him.

“Master Solstice—?”

“You’re wrong!” Solstice suddenly cried out in pain and launched himself into the sky with a loud boom that sent gusts of wind blasting in all directions.

“Master Solstice!” Spot On tried calling to him from the ground. “Wait!”

But it was too late. Solstice had already gone.